Drake University Wellness is again making massage therapy available to Drake faculty, staff, and students in the Wellness Center. Special Drake rates are offered at $30/30 minutes, $50/60 minutes, $75/90 minutes. Add-ons are also available. Contact massage therapist Anne Boal directly at 515-988-8760 or www.anneboalwellness.com to schedule an appointment. Extended morning and afternoon appointment times are available.
—Submitted by Anne Boal
DESCRIPTION OF THE WRITING WORKSHOP: The workshop is staffed by peer tutors, all of whom have taken at least one course to train them and familiarize them with writing theory and pedagogy. Tutors help students identify areas of difficulty and work with them on a range of issues including fluency, organization, development, analysis, and argument. Tutors also help students copyedit their work as needed. Tutors do NOT write papers for students, nor do they simply act as proofreaders. All work on development and copy reading takes place within the context of the student’s own writing.
HOW TO SIGN UP: Students can sign up online at https://library.drake.edu/writing. This site is also linked to the English website. The website itself will give students directions on how to proceed. Typically, an appointment is for one half hour. Students can sign up for more than one session if they choose. They may also request that a tutor keep a regular time slot available for them if they would like to come in each week. If students are having difficulty signing up, have them call the Writing Workshop at 271-4712. They could also email me with any concerns (jody.swilky@drake.edu).
LOCATION: The Writing Workshop is located in
Cowles Library, Room 47, on the lower level. Hours:
COMMUNICATION WITH PROFESSORS: If you refer your student to the workshop, please let us know via email (jody.swilky@drake.edu). Have them bring the assignment they are responding to, as well as any writing they have done to complete the assignment. As part of the first visit, tutors always ask students if they have been referred. If a student is referred, the tutor will send an email letting you know that your student has attended and will briefly describe what work was done. If you do not receive an email from us, your student did not attend. If a student attends on his or her own, we do not inform professors unless the student specifically asks us to.
WORKSHOP SERVICES: In addition to tutoring students, workshop tutors are available to speak briefly to classes about the workshop. If you would like a tutor to come to your class, please call or email me. Please also feel free to call or email me with questions about writing, about working with students for whom English is not a first language, or with questions about any student who is having particular difficulty with writing.
—Submitted by Art Sanders on behalf of Jody Swilky, Writing Workshop Director
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.
On Saturday, Feb. 13, Tracy Martin, father of Trayvon Martin, will visit Drake as part of Black History Month programming. Mr. Martin will speak in Sheslow Auditorium from 5 to 7 pm. The event, which is free and open to the public and sponsored by the Coalition of Black Students (CBS), will include a brief lecture, a moderated conversation, and a Q&A session with the audience. CBS is designing the programming in a manner that respects and honors Mr. Martin’s grief while joining him in discussing the difficult questions that follow in the wake of his son’s death.
Attendees may submit questions online that they would like the moderator to ask Mr. Martin.
Following the lecture, CBS will host the Black on Black Banquet in Levitt Hall. The dress code for the banquet is black tie and will be ticketed. Mr. Martin will be the guest of honor. Click here to get your free ticket.
Mr. Martin’s visit is taking place due to generous co-sponsorship from the Slay Fund, the Office of the Provost, the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, the Medbury Fund, the Women and Gender Studies program, and the Center for the Humanities.
—Submitted by Melisa Klimaszewski, Associate Professor of English, Faculty Adviser, Coalition of Black Students; and Jacques Goavec, President, Coalition of Black Students
As we have all been made aware in recent weeks there are numerous reports of hoverboards overheating and catching fire. Many U.S. airlines have now prohibited the transport of hoverboards, and Amazon has decided to stop shipping many models. Until a time that the safety standards of these devices are improved, Drake has decided to institute a temporary ban on the use, possession, and storage of hoverboards. The ban applies to campus as well as Drake-owned real estate properties.
Thank you for your understanding as we work to keep our campus safe. If you would like additional product safety information on hove boards, view this statement from the Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
—Submitted by Venessa Macro, Chief Administration Officer
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
The Adult Literacy Center at Drake University is seeking volunteers eager to change the lives of local adults by helping them achieve basic literacy (reading, writing, and/or speaking) skills. A tutor training will be held Friday, Jan. 22, 5–8 p.m., and Saturday, Jan. 23, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., at the Drake University School of Education, 3206 University Ave. To register, contact Anne Murr, anne.murr@drake.edu, 515-271-3982. Click here to learn more.
At a time when many Americans believe civil discourse has declined in American politics, the Ray Center at Drake University and The Des Moines Register will co-present a panel discussion on the state of civility in politics. Panelists for the free Jan. 13 event will explore what voters can do to demand respect and civility from their candidates and elected officials, and how all Americans can create a political system in which civil debate is the expectation and not the exception. Titled “Election 2016: Will voters choose civility?” the panel will take place from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at The Des Moines Register Community Room, 400 Locust St., Des Moines.
Panelists will include:
Visit this link to RSVP and submit your questions for the panel.
The panel is hosted in conjunction with the Ray Center’s “Show Some Respect” campaign, which promotes respect and civility. The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, Interfaith Alliance of Iowa, and the Greater Des Moines Partnership are co-presenters of the campaign and the panel discussion.
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:
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
The commencement ceremony for those students—graduate and undergraduate—graduating at the end of this semester will be held in The Knapp Center on Saturday, Dec. 19, beginning at 10 a.m. If faculty are planning to attend—as I encourage you to do—please plan to be in the Bell Center for robing and assembly no later than 9:30 a.m.
To assure that we have a sufficient number of chairs on the floor for faculty, please RSVP at https://drakefallcommencement2015.eventbrite.com no later than Tuesday, Dec. 15. Please, only RSVP is you DO plan to attend. As this is President Martin’s first commencement at Drake, I ask that you do him—and the students who have earned their degrees—the honor of your presence.
—Joe Lenz, Interim Provost
