Tag Archives: politics

Featured Events Archive

“Behind the Numbers: Polling in Campaign 2016”

Public opinion pollster J. Ann Selzer will discuss the roller coaster U.S. presidential campaign at Drake on April 5. “Behind the Numbers: Polling in Campaign 2016” will begin at 7 p.m. in the Cowles Library Reading Room.

The conversation, which is free and open to the public, will include time for audience questions.

Selzer, president of the public opinion research firm Selzer & Company that runs The Des Moines Register’s Iowa Poll, will discuss the current chaotic political climate and what the polls have taught us this presidential campaign season. The conversation will be facilitated by Professor Jennifer Glover Konfrst, who leads Drake’s new strategic political communication program.

Selzer’s appearance is sponsored by the School of Journalism and Mass Communication and Drake’s new multidisciplinary data analytics program.

—Kathleen Richardson, Dean, SJMC

Featured Events Archive

Students to host caucus simulation

Drake University Student Senate, Drake College Republicans, Drake University Democrats, and the Drake Political Review will host a practice caucus at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, in the Shivers Basketball Practice Facility’s hospitality suite in the Knapp Center on Drake’s campus. The event will include a simulation of both the Republican and Democratic caucuses, and is designed for students, staff and faculty to learn how the Iowa Caucuses work. Read more in the Drake Newsroom.

News & Achievements Archive

NPR to broadcast live from Smokey Row

NPR host David Greene will broadcast Morning Edition live from Smokey Row Coffee in Des Moines on Monday, Feb. 1, and Tuesday, Feb. 2, from 4 to 9 a.m. Drake faculty, staff and students are invited to come for a behind-the-scenes look at radio journalism and to meet David at anytime either day. (Although they are especially eager for people to be there at 4 a.m.) Plus, you’ll have the chance to participate in live discussion about the Iowa caucuses with such people as political commentator David Yepsen, pollster Ann Selzer, and maybe a presidential candidate or two.

—Kathleen Richardson, Dean, School of Journalism and Mass Communication

Campus Announcements Archive

CNN Town Hall today

Today, Jan. 25, Drake will host the CNN Democratic Presidential Candidate Town Hall in Sheslow Auditorium, which will be broadcast live. This event provides an excellent opportunity for Drake to once again be featured as a leading center of political discourse and deliberation.

As a campus community, we will be in the national spotlight, offering us a chance to demonstrate our collective commitment to respectful and civil discussion of current events and public policy issues. In addition to CNN, we will have hundreds of national and international media outlets on campus. Please be aware that your words and actions reflect on the Drake community as a whole.

The Town Hall will affect a number of spaces on campus, as detailed below.

Parking
Today, Lot 16 (Olmsted parking lot) will be reserved for those attending the forum. In addition, a few parking spaces in Lot 13 (just south of Forest Avenue by Wifvat Plaza) will be reserved for satellite trucks.

Street Closures
From 2 p.m. today until midnight, the following streets will be closed to traffic:

  • 25th Street, between University Avenue and Carpenter Avenue (including the west sidewalk, which will be closed to pedestrians)
  • Carpenter Avenue between 25th and 27th

Building Access
Beginning at 2 p.m. today a number of buildings will be accessible only to those with approved credentials:

  • Old Main will require credentials beginning at 2 p.m. All personnel will be required to leave the building by this time.
  • Sheslow Auditorium will require credentials all day on Monday.
  • Howard Hall will be closed at 2 p.m. on Monday.

We apologize for any inconvenience and urge you to plan accordingly.

—Joe Lenz, Interim Provost

News & Achievements Archive

Drake news: Week of Jan. 19

Pharmacy student joins Tour for Diversity in Medicine

Andrea Prince-Gomez, a third-year Drake pharmacy student from Ferguson, Mo., has been accepted to the Tour for Diversity in Medicine, a program that advocates for students from underrepresented populations to join health care fields. She will travel the country with other members of the organization beginning in February as its first representative for the field of pharmacy. Learn more in the Drake Newsroom.


Rachel Paine Caufield publishes new book

A new book by Drake Associate Professor of Political Science Rachel Paine Caufield provides a pictorial history of Iowa’s first-in-the-nation caucuses.

The Iowa Caucus (Arcadia Publishing, 2016) colorfully illustrates with more than 200 photos the vibrant political culture that has emerged as a result of the state’s unique role in presidential politicking. Learn more about Rachel’s book here.

For Students Archive

Attend a press conference with the nation’s mayors

The U.S. Conference of Mayors (USCM) would like students to attend and participate in a special press conference this afternoon about issues facing our nation’s urban areas. USCM is encouraging students to come prepared with questions for the mayors, who represent Columbia, SC; Santa Fe, NM; Baltimore, MD; and Des Moines. The event takes place today at 2 p.m. in the Turner Jazz Center. The USCM press release follows:

THE NATION’S MAYORS TO BRING URBAN AGENDA TO IOWA

Washington, D.C. – The nation’s mayors will bring their urban agenda – The 2016 Compact for a Better America: A Call to Action – to Des Moines, Iowa for The Brown & Black Presidential Forum on Monday, January 11, 2016. The Compact calls on the Presidential candidates and Congress to INVEST in and PROTECT America’s cities and metro areas (www.usmayors.org).

Under the leadership of USCM President Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, a bipartisan group of mayors from cities large and small will attend the Brown & Black Presidential Forum to stress to Presidential Candidates how important city/metropolitan issues are to the country and a growing number of Americans.

With more than 85% of people in the United States living in our nation’s cities and metro areas, mayors clearly understand how urban issues impact everyday Americans and are calling on candidates to focus on these issues. Mayors are convinced that despite their geographic location, cities large and small across over the country are plagued by the same challenges including access to healthcare, job creation, affordable housing, immigration, crime and illegal guns, failing public schools and climate protection.

Billed as the oldest Forum addressing minority issues, The Iowa Brown & Black Presidential Forum is an element of Urban Dreams’ non-partisan Project V.O.T.E. (Voting Opportunities Through Education). It is the nation’s only presidential forum in which all candidates have the opportunity to answer essential concerns of African-Americans and Latinos. The non-partisan event began in 1984 and has figured prominently in the Iowa caucuses. It is recognized as the oldest continuous minority forum for presidential candidates in America and one of the longest-running presidential forums in the nation.

“The issues of Des Moines and of cities around Iowa are the same issues that face mayors around the country each and every day. We support The Brown & Black Forum in its mission to present to the next President of the United States the challenges and opportunities before us and we believe it is critical that mayors participate,” said Tom Cochran, USCM CEO & Executive Director.

WHO:
Baltimore, MD Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, USCM President
Columbia, SC Mayor Steven Benjamin, USCM Trustee
Des Moines, IA Mayor Frank Cownie, USCM Trustee
Santa Fe, NM Mayor Javier Gonzales, USCM Member
Tom Cochran, USCM CEO & Executive Director

WHAT: PRESS CONFERENCE – MAYORS WILL REACT TO CANDIDATES AND SPEAK TO URBAN ISSUES IMPACTING AMERICA’S CITIES
WHEN: Monday, January 11, 2016 | 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
WHERE: Drake University | Turner Jazz Center

—Submitted by Jarad Bernstein, Director of Public Relations and Media Management

Strategic Updates Archive

Volunteer at tonight’s Brown and Black Forum!

Tonight is your chance to get up close and personal with political movers and shakers at the Brown and Black Forum! Although Drake’s entire ticket allotment has been distributed, a few volunteers are still needed for positions following the event. Volunteers would need to arrive to Olmsted Center by 8:30 p.m., so anyone attending the forum is not able to participate in this opportunity. If interested, please contact Rachel Paine Caufield at rachel.caufield@drake.edu.

—Submitted by Jarad Bernstein, Director of Public Relations and Media Management

Featured Events Archive

Brown and Black Forum details

On Monday, Jan. 11, Drake University will host the Democratic Brown and Black Presidential Candidate Forum. The Forum will be broadcast on Fusion, Iowa Public Television, and C-SPAN and is sponsored by Urban Dreams, a Des Moines-based human services agency. This is one of the longest-running presidential forums in the country, and the only forum specifically dedicated to the concerns of minority voters.

Drake’s mission statement promises students an exceptional learning environment, and hosting the Forum exemplifies this commitment. Specifically, there are four important ways in which hosting this event reflects the University’s mission. First, the Forum exemplifies our role in a civic democracy—the university is the place where the community (in this case, the nation) comes together to discuss the important issues of the day. Second, Fusion will be hiring student interns who will work on all aspects of the production prior to the event. Third, a limited number of tickets are available for Drake students, faculty, and staff to attend the Forum itself, participating directly in the democratic process (information about how to request a seat is included below). Finally, the Forum brings national attention to our University, increasing visibility and attracting the next generation of outstanding students to campus.

Hosting the Brown and Black Forum requires a substantial amount of logistical planning, and the campus community will need to be aware of a number of issues.

Tickets
Urban Dreams has exclusive control over distribution of tickets to attend the Brown and Black Forum. A limited number of tickets have been made available to members of the Drake community, and priority will be given to current Drake students.

All Forum attendees must be seated by 6 p.m. and will need to remain in Sheslow Auditorium for the entirety of the program, until 9 p.m. If you are unable to commit to attending the entire Forum, please do not request a ticket.

Tickets will be distributed by lottery. To request a ticket, go to http://tinyurl.com/BrownBlackForum2016. You may request a ticket at any time prior to Friday, Jan. 1, 2016, at 5 p.m. Please submit your name and information only once, as duplicate entries are not permitted. In order to guarantee equal opportunity for all members of the Drake community, only one submission per person will be eligible. Each request is for only one ticket, and Drake is not providing tickets for family, friends, or alumni. Those who received a ticket to the DNC Debate via the online ticket lottery will not be eligible to receive a ticket to the Brown and Black Forum through the online ticket lottery.

Please be aware that attendance will require Secret Service screening procedures.

Should you be chosen to receive a ticket to the event, you will be notified by Monday, Jan. 4, using the preferred email address you provide in your request. Once you confirm your acceptance of the ticket, additional instructions and information will be provided. Please remember that tickets are nontransferable—they are only valid for the individual who has been designated to use the ticket and IDs will be checked at the door.

Housing
Students who are selected to attend or work for the Brown and Black Forum will have access to campus housing. The Office of Residence Life will work with those students selected to receive tickets and/or those students selected by Fusion as event staff to arrange for housing options based on J-Term daily rates and space availability. Following selection, more information will be provided to those ticketed recipients through the Office of Residence Life.

Facilities and Security
This event will bring a large number of people to campus (approximately 1,000–1,500 people are expected). This creates security concerns and all members of the campus community should be aware of this. Please observe the following guidelines to ensure safety:

  • Old Main and Olmsted Center will be restricted to those affiliated with the Forum for security reasons. Credentials will be necessary to enter these spaces on Sunday evening and all day Monday (Jan. 10 and 11). If you need to use facilities in these buildings, please plan to do so before or after they are secured for the event.
  • Areas immediately surrounding Old Main and Olmsted Center will be restricted for security reasons. Prior to the Forum, information will be available regarding street closures, parking restrictions, and other logistics. Please plan accordingly.
  • Please carry your Drake Card (ID) with you at all times. Should an emergency arise, this will allow security and Secret Service personnel to identify you as a member of the Drake community.
  • For students living on campus or in the immediate area, please be extra cautious about allowing access to living spaces to individuals who are not known to you. Do not prop or leave doors open, do not let people into your building unless you know them personally, and do not accept “credentials” from any individual not affiliated with the University, the Des Moines Police Department, or the Secret Service.

Things to Keep in Mind
Hosting a nationally-televised live candidate forum provides invaluable opportunities for the Drake community. It also means that our campus and our community are in the national spotlight. Many credentialed members of the press are expected. Three presidential candidates will be on campus. You may have interactions with Fusion staff, Urban Dreams staff, candidates, campaign staff, Secret Service personnel and/or the media. Please take care to be respectful and responsible. You may well have the opportunity to show the nation who we are as the Drake community and our collective commitment to civility and the open, respectful exchange of divergent views. Together, we can ensure that this is a positive experience for all of the individuals visiting campus, as well as for all members of the Drake family.

Additional details regarding building access, street closures, and parking restrictions, will be distributed the week prior to the event.

—Joe Lenz, Interim Provost

Featured Events Archive

Debate week at Drake!

Drake will host the Democratic National Committee Debate, which will be broadcast live by CBS, on Saturday, Nov. 14. Those faculty, staff, and students who received tickets in the lottery were alerted last week. While not everybody can be in the audience for the debate, there is still plenty of opportunity to get involved in political activities throughout the week.

NPR Presents: Michel Martin: Going There
Tuesday, Nov. 10, 7 p.m.
Olmsted Center

Together with Iowa Public Radio, NPR Presents kicks off a second season of Michel Martin: Going There events in Des Moines, Iowa, with a look at this much pursued but little understood portion of the electorate. This unique live event, to be held at Drake University’s Olmsted Center on Nov. 10 at 7 p.m., blends interviews with a panel discussion between some of Des Moines’ most dynamic young activists, storytelling and live music, with a special performance by the Des Moines-based rock/folk band Canby. Tickets are available here. You can learn more about the event in the Drake Newsroom.

Digital Democracy: The Yahoo Conference on Technology and Politics
Thursday, Nov. 12
Parents Hall, Olmsted Center

The former head of digital strategy for the Obama White House and the president of production for the website “Funny or Die” are among the confirmed participants in “Digital Democracy: The Yahoo Conference on Technology and Politics,” an all-day conference that explores the future of our democratic process and the relationships between citizens and their government. The event will be held in Parents Hall on the upper floor of Olmsted Center. To RSVP and for up-to-date agenda information, visit this link; a limited number of seats will be held specifically for Drake students. You can learn more about the event here.

Face the Nation
Sunday, Nov. 15
Sheslow Auditorium

Face the Nation will be broadcast from Sheslow Auditorium the morning of Nov. 15. While this is a closed taping (no audience), it’s yet another exciting, high-visibility moment for Drake!

News & Achievements Archive

Drake news: Oct. 26

The former head of digital strategy for the Obama White House and the president of production for the website Funny or Die are among the confirmed participants in “Digital Democracy: The Yahoo Conference on Technology and Politics” to be held at Drake on Nov. 12.

The Robert D. and Billie Ray Center at Drake University celebrated CHARACTER COUNTS! Week in Iowa with a proclamation by Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad and the announcement of a high-profile award for former Major League Baseball player Casey Blake.

Plus, three Drake students were quoted in an article in The Washington Post, “What is a democratic socialist? Bernie Sanders tries to redefine the name.”