Drake Blue fall 2007

Fall 2007

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ing Face of Education

( ution is underway in America’s classrooms — and D ducation is leading the charge.

T Changing Face of EducationEDUCATION

EDUCATIONThe Changing Face of


A REVOLUTION IS UNDER WAY in America’s classrooms —and Drake’s School of Education is leading the charge.

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D R A K E blue The Magazine of Drake University22

DRAKE UNIVERSITY in 2007 is healthy, vital andexciting, with powerful indicators that we arekeeping the promise of the University’s missionto our students and their parents, our alumniand friends and to the community. Needlessto say, the University’s present vitality did not happen by accident. It is the direct andintentional result of a collective vision of theUniversity’s future and a detailed plan identi-fying the steps necessary to realize that vision,carried out through the dedicated efforts ofhundreds of faculty, staff, students, members ofthe board of trustees, alumni and other friends.

This past year, the campus was deeplyinvolved in the preparatory stages of our nextround of planning. In the fall, all departments(academic and administrative) undertookenvironmental scans that identified thetrends, challenges and opportunities thatconfront them in the next five to six years. In the spring semester, each unit prepared a“white paper” that outlined their aspirationsand proposed goals for the next five years.

All of these efforts culminated in late Juneat the first-ever Drake University SummerFutures Conference attended by nearly 200faculty, staff, students and members of theboard of trustees. At the conference, theplans of each unit were subjected to extensivesmall-group discussion. For all of us, it wasone of the most remarkable and rewardingexperiences of our careers: a large cross-section of the University community comingtogether to discuss, in a highly focused, collaborative and creative manner, the futureof Drake University.

This fall, the Planning Council (chaired by the president and comprising faculty, staffand students) begins the creation of the nextiteration of the Drake University Strategic Plan.The discussions from the Futures Conferencewill play an important role in the PlanningCouncil’s deliberations. At various stages ofthe plan’s development, it will be shared forfeedback and guidance with the campus community, the board of trustees and theexternal advisory groups that provide suchimportant guidance to the University (including

the Alumni Board, the Parents Board and theNational Advisory Councils connected to theschools and colleges and to Cowles Library).

There are two vitally important considera-tions that frame the strategic planning process:Drake University’s mission statement and ourcollective vision for the University’s future. Toput it in simple terms, the planning process ispushed by the mission and pulled by the vision.We have to ensure that everything we do aswe go forward is faithful to the promise of theUniversity’s mission to provide an exceptionallearning environment and prepare studentsfor meaningful personal lives, professionalaccomplishment and responsible global citi-zenship. We have to ensure as well that weremain faithful to the core values and coresensibilities embodied in that mission thathave informed a Drake education for morethan 125 years — that we preserve and enrichthat sense of community, the opportunitiesfor personal development and those vibrantpersonal relationships that define the Drake

experience for our tens of thousands of alumniand our current students.

At the same time, we must keep movingforward to meet the challenges, needs andopportunities of the future. Our aspirationfor Drake in the next five years is ambitious,but realistic and vital to the ongoing fulfill-ment of our promise. We believe that Drake’sapproach to higher education — the deliberateintegration of the best of liberal arts and scienceswith professional preparation carried out inan intensely interactive and collaborativeenvironment — is a very powerful and veryeffective model. We have already been recog-nized by U.S.News & World Report as the topMaster’s Large University in the Midwest andby Kiplinger’s as one of the top 50 universitiesin the country. But our goal, as stated in DrakeUniversity 2012, simply put, is to become —within five to six years — a national model forexcellence, effectiveness, innovation, accessi-bility and accountability in higher education.

Our purpose is not recognition for its ownsake, of course, although recognition is animportant factor in admissions and fundraising.Recognition is a consequence of fulfilling our

promise, of ensuring that Drake continues tobe an exceptional learning environment. Thearticulation of our aspirations in these termsraises many questions about what it means tobe a national model for the best in highereducation, and our planning discussions thisyear will focus at the outset on the answers tothose questions that reflect Drake’s traditionsand values. I look forward to sharing ourprogress — and our excitement — with youas we move forward.

From thePresident. . .

Dr. David E. Maxwell, president

“We have to ensure that everything we do as we go forward is faithful to

the promise of the University’s mission.”

DepartmentsCAMPUS 4Drake Initiates New Exchange with South African University • Drake To Play Key Rolein Transforming Language Instruction • Students Win Top Honors at Model EUSimulation • First-Year Student Speaks to Legislators in Washington, D.C. Conference •Drake Named Best Value by Kiplinger’s Personal Finance • Journalism Students Score SixSPJ Awards • Drake Student Leader Awarded Fulbright Scholarship • Faculty, StudentsTravel to Uganda for Inaugural Travel Seminar • Students Lead Bone Marrow Registryin Support of Professor • Journalism Students Launch New “Green” Magazine •Recent Grads Selected to Teach For America

10 FACULTYCBPA Faculty Member Receives Fulbright Award • Drake Law School Names FirstIntellectual Property Law Professor • Krypel Honored by American PharmacistsAssociation • CBPA Honors Faculty at Business Day Banquet and Awards Ceremony

SPORTS 20Relays Records Routed • Century Marks • Loney’s Legion • A New Season, a NewDavis • Softballers Chosen • Tennis Ace • For the Love of Relays

22 ALUMNIBroadway Actor Speaks to Theatre Students • Law Alumni Honored • Cowles LibraryLaunches Digital Oral History Project • Swim, Bike, Run

The Magazine of Drake University D R A K E blue 33

contents

Features

5 GREATER THAN THEIR NUMBERS

Drake’s Black Student Law Association Proves That Size Doesn’t Always Matter.

13 THE REEL WORLDDrake Entrepreneurial ManagementMajor Launches Nation’s First Student-Run Traveling Film Festival

21FOR THE LOVE OF RELAYS

Drake Students find Fellows, Raise Future Generations of RelaysAttendance Record Breakers.

PresidentDr. David E. Maxwell

Director of Marketing & Communications

Brooke A. Benschoter

Director of Alumni & Parent Programs

Barbara Dietrich Boose, JO’83, GR’90

EDITORIAL STAFF

Editor Casey L. Gradischnig

Art DirectorCourtney Hartman

Graphic DesignerAmber Baker

Contributing WritersTim Schmitt • Abbie Hansen, JO’01

Lisa Lacher

Drake Class Notes EditorAbbie Hansen, JO’01

InternsAaron Jaco, JO’07 • Jeremy Holtan

Katie Shaw • Michelle Thilges

Publication SupportJaquie Summers • Andrea McDonough

Drake blue is published as a service to Drake alumni, parentsand friends by the Drake University Office of Marketing andCommunications. Views expressed in Drake blue do not necessarily reflect opinions of the editors or the University. Wewelcome articles by and story ideas from and about Drakealumni. Send correspondence to Editor Casey L. Gradischnig,Drake University, 2507 University Ave., Des Moines, IA50311-4505. E-mail: [email protected].

Copyright Drake University 2007

To submit news or update your alumni file, contactDrake’s Office of Alumni and Parent Programs.

Call: 1-800-44-DRAKE, x3152E-mail: [email protected]: www.drake.edu/alumni

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DRAKE’S MISSION is to provide an exceptionallearning environment that prepares students formeaningful personal lives, professional accomplish-ments, and responsible global citizenship.

The Drake experience is distinguished by collabora-tive learning among students, faculty, and staff andby the integration of the liberal arts and scienceswith professional preparation.

Art


CAMPUS IMPROVEMENTSCONTINUE

With summer come cranes andconstruction crews. Several proj-ects began on campus in recentmonths, including the renova-tion of Crawford, Stalnaker andMorehouse residence halls; ren-ovation of Cole Hall; the cre-ation of new parking spaces onthe west side of Drake Stadium;relocation of the entrance to theOlmsted parking lot; updating ofthe Medbury Honors lounge andcompletion of the HVAC projectin Cartwright Hall.

The space at 30th Street andCarpenter Avenue will soon betransformed as construction iswell underway on the $37 mil-lion mixed-use housing andretail complex that will officiallybe called “Drake West Village.”

The development consists ofthree buildings totaling 226,000square feet that will providehousing for up to 500 students,primarily juniors and seniors aswell as graduate students in thepharmacy program and DrakeLaw School.

The buildings will provide avillage atmosphere on the westside of the campus where stu-dents can live, work, study andsocialize, while the communitycan patronize businesses in TheShops at Drake West Village.

Additionally, a 34-foot-longdecorative steel archway placedatop two brick pillars now servesas the entrance to the plaza atDrake Stadium. The archway,with the words “Drake Plaza”incorporated into the design,provides access to the new redbrick walkway that serves as theentrance to the facility that hasbeen home to the Drake Relayssince 1926. The project wasmade possible by a $500,000 giftfrom Peggy Fisher, FA’70, andher husband, Larry Stelter.

DRAKE INITIATES NEWEXCHANGE WITH SOUTHAFRICAN UNIVERSITY

Three representatives from DrakeUniversity spent last spring breakformalizing a partnership withthe University of KwaZulu-Natalin Durban, South Africa, to

establish Drake’s first studyabroad exchange program inthe southern hemisphere.

Gretchen Olson, directorof international programsand services, Rahul Parsa,professor of actuarial science,and John Rovers, associateprofessor of pharmacy andhealth sciences, met withUKZN officials and arrangedfor undergraduates from thetwo universities to exchangeplaces for one semester oracademic year, effectivespring 2008.

In addition, sixth-yearpharmacy students will havethe option of completing aportion of their clinical train-ing in Durban at KingEdward Hospital, McCordHospital or The Center forAIDS Programme ofResearch in South Africa.

“This exchange will be aneye-opening experience forour students — the kind thatcan change lives,” said Olson.“And we are equally excitedabout having South Africanstudents at Drake.”

Sixth-year pharmacy stu-dent Natalie Bainbridge com-pleted the debut SouthAfrican rotation last fall andprovided feedback to Drakefaculty that was used to devel-op the program.

“I had an amazing experi-ence,” Bainbridge said. “It’s acompletely different world.Here, people hear a lot aboutHIV/AIDS, but it’s a distantproblem — not up close andpersonal like it is in Africa. It really provided me with a perspective on what theHIV/AIDS epidemic meansin other places.”

STUDENT WINS REGIONAL ART AWARD

Tara Lange, a junior drawingand environmental policy student,

was recently awarded secondplace in the National Society ofArts and Letters NationalCareer Awards RegionalCompetition in the Visual Arts.

campusbuzzThe Drake campus was overflow-ing with politics, music and art inthe early part of 2007. ArkansasGovernor Mike Huckabee spokeon campus at a luncheon spon-sored by IowaPolitics.com. U.S.Senator Chris Dodd (D, Conn.)spoke to a national audiencefrom Olmsted Center. Australianrock group Jet performed at theKnapp Center for students whovolunteered through the 10,000Hours Program. Drake OperaTheatre presented the Englishversion of the comic opera DieFledermaus (The Bat) byJohann Strauss. The AndersonGallery hosted the department ofArt and Design’s 36th AnnualJuried Student Art Show.Drake Law School hosted a sym-posium on the topic of renewableenergy and alternative fuels.Internationally acclaimed pianistSvetlana Belsky taught a piano master class in SheslowAuditorium. More than 300Drake musicians joined forces toperform Ein DeutschesRequiem (A German Requiem)by Johannes Brahms. Faculty andstudents participated in thefourth annual Conference onUndergraduate Research in theSciences. Neenah Ellis, JO’77,best-selling author and reporterfor National Public Radio, spoketo a packed house for the Live!at Cowles Library lecture. U.S.Senator Joseph Biden (D, Del.)lectured at the Law School oncivil liberties in the UnitedStates. And Craig Armstrong,vice president and general man-ager of Iowa Speedway, concludedDrake’s spring 2007 “Let’s DULunch” lecture series.

theHOT list

CULVER SIGNS BILL CHAMPIONED BY DRAKE LAW STUDENTS

Iowa Governor Chet Culver, GR’94, recently signed legislation draftedand championed by Drake University law students that mandates visitation rights for siblings split up through foster care and adoptive placement in Iowa. Before signing the bill, which tookeffect July 1, Culver praised the work of the Drake Legal Clinicand the students who worked to get the legislation passed.

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spotlight


FORTY YEARS, SIX REGIONS, 168 CHAPTERS ANDMORE THAN 6,000 MEMBERS. The numbersare impressive and more than enough tomake the National Black Law StudentAssociation the largest student-run organi-zation in the country. But the numbers tellonly part of the story.

Founded in 1968 at New York UniversityLaw School, the organization has sincegrown to include chapters at almost everyaccredited law school in the country. Andamong the 42 chapters in the Midwest,Drake University’s Black Law StudentAssociation is one of the smaller groupswith only about 25 members last year —even fewer actively participate.

A MIGHTY SPIRIT

“A lot of schools have double the size organi-zation that we do,” explains Nekima Hill, theoutgoing president of the Drake BLSA. “We

just don’t have the same number of studentsat Drake as the larger schools.”

Though smaller in number, the Drakechapter has proven larger in spirit than itscounterparts elsewhere, a fact acknowledgedwhen the organization was named last year’stop chapter in the Midwest.

COMMUNITY ACTION

In addition to actively working with Drakelaw and undergraduate students to promotethe professional needs and goals of black law students, Drake’s BLSA has also beeninvolved in the larger Des Moines community.

Not only did the organization raise fundsfor victims of Hurricane Katrina, they alsoadopted a family of seven from the area thatrelocated to Des Moines, taking them to dinner, shopping and providing them withresources to get on their feet in central Iowa.

“Bonding with the family made the entire

experience very personal,” says Hill. “It madethe effort we put in that much more real andmeaningful.”

Additionally, the Drake students presenteda “4-11 on the Five-O” street forum in theDes Moines area last year to provide infor-mation on law enforcement procedures tocommunity residents, working in coalitionwith the National Bar Association, UrbanDreams, area high schools, the Hispanic andAsian law school student groups as wellDrake undergraduate organizations.

“We did a lot of work preparing under-graduate students at Drake to apply to lawschool and help them succeed in theprocess,” says Hill. “We live in an Americathat is all colors and I think Drake shouldlook the same way.”

— Tim Schmitt

Greater Than Their NumbersDRAKE’S BLACK LAW STUDENT ASSOCIATION PROVES THAT SIZE DOESN’T ALWAYS MATTER.


Lange received $300 from theregional competition for hergouache drawing titled, “Culture#2,” which depicts humans inter-acting with insects. The two-piece drawing also received theProvost Purchase Award inDrake’s 36th Annual JuriedStudent Art Show in March.

“Both pieces are about takinga closer look at organisms innature, insects in particular, andthe way they live and how ourlives intersect and paralleltheirs,” Lange said.

NSAL, which is dedicated toproviding resources to establishyoung artists, helped Langereceive recognition for her art.Three of her water-based mediaworks were showcased through-out April at the Opie Gallery inthe Leedy-Voulkos Art Center inKansas City.

“I feel honored to be able todisplay my art in another cityand in a real gallery,” Lange said.

NSAL is a nonprofit volunteersociety that encourages artisticsuccess by providing scholarshipsand career opportunitiesthrough competitions.

DRAKE TO PLAY KEY ROLE INTRANSFORMING LANGUAGEINSTRUCTION

The W.M. Keck Foundationrecently awarded the Council ofIndependent Colleges a grant of$360,000 to implement theNetwork for Effective LanguageLearning in cooperation withDrake University. The programwill assist small and midsize private colleges and universitiesin transforming their offeringsin language instruction to meetthe needs of students in the 21stcentury. Jan Marston, foundingdirector of the Drake UniversityLanguage Acquisition Program,will serve as project director.

Twenty-four liberal arts collegeswill be selected to participate inNELL over three years. Each year,

four-person teams from eightinstitutions will attend a summermeeting that will introduce themto the core features of DULAP.

“Drake University’s role as aninnovator in the developmentand application of alternativemethods to enable students toacquire foreign languages is wellestablished,” said Drake PresidentDavid Maxwell. “We look forwardto sharing what we have learnedwith colleges and universitiesand to learning ourselves fromthe successes of others. Together,CIC and Drake will work towardreversing a serious decline in ournational capacity to understandother cultures through the func-tional use of their languages.”

STUDENTS WIN TOP HONORS ATMODEL EU SIMULATION

Student teams from Drakeearned three first-place awardsat the recent Midwest ModelEuropean Union Simulation inIndianapolis. Accompanied by

Eleanor Zeff, Drake associateprofessor of politics and inter-national relations, 13 Drake students participated in theevent, which involved three daysof discussions and negotiationswith more than 150 studentsfrom 11 universities. Drake alsoreceived the Best DelegationAward and brought home thewinning plaque to display oncampus for the year.

First-place winners were juniorMaria Cosma, who participated asthe prime minister of Hungary;junior John Flowers, who actedas the environmental minister ofHungary; and junior CharvalMoltzan, who participated asforeign minister of Hungary.

“The experience was a greatway to practically apply the theo-ries that we are learning aboutin our study of the EuropeanUnion,” Moltzan said. “Winningwas definitely unexpected. Ithink it came down to expressingideas, while at the same timeuniting people.”

The EU-Midwest is one of only four events of its kind inthe United States. Founded in1993 and hosted by IndianaUniversity, it is designed to helpcollege and university studentslearn about the workings of theEuropean Union through ahands-on simulation.

FIRST-YEAR STUDENT SPEAKS TO LEGISLATORS INWASHINGTON, D.C.CONFERENCEBusiness major Robert JamesJohnson is used to speakingabout his pet issues to an audi-ence. As a first-year student, hedid so every Friday and Saturdaymorning on his campus radioshow on KDRA, “The Dog.” Onone issue, however, Johnson isparticularly well versed, and hewas recently given the opportunityto discuss it with a much morepowerful audience.

admissionupdateDRAKE NAMED BEST VALUE BY KIPLINGER’S PERSONAL FINANCE

Drake is the only private university in Iowa to earn alisting in “The Kiplinger 100: the best values in privateinstitutions across the country.” The rankings, based onacademic quality and affordability, appeared in theApril 2007 issue of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine.

The Kiplinger 100 ranks the top 50 universities andthe top 50 liberal arts colleges in two separate tables.Drake ranks 40th among private universities nationwideand offers an average financial aid package of $18,860,which includes grants, scholarships, need-based loansand work study.

“Our high ranking demonstrates Drake’s commit-ment to maintain a high-quality education that is moreaffordable than many students and families realize,”said Tom Delahunt, Drake’s vice president for admis-sion and financial aid. “Approximately 98 percent ofDrake students receive financial assistance, includingmerit- and need-based assistance. Each year more than$50 million in financial assistance is provided to Drakeundergraduate students.”

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campusbuzz


In March, Johnson participatedin a forum titled “PromotePermanent Families: ReformFoster Care Now” in Washington,D.C. Johnson spoke as an advo-cate for the national availabilityof subsidized guardianship andmet with U.S. Senator BarackObama (D, Ill.) and other politicalfigures in an effort to convincethem that children who havebeen removed from their homesshould have the opportunity tobe reunited with family members.

As a child, Johnson and two ofhis sisters were removed fromtheir mother’s custody and even-tually placed in the permanentlegal custody of their aunt inwhat was one of Illinois’ firstcases of subsidized guardianship.

“Every child is different,”Johnson said, “but the subsidizedguardianship program should beavailable to every kid who wantsto go into a family situation.”

JOURNALISM STUDENTS SCORESIX SPJ AWARDS

Drake University journalism students earned two first-placehonors and a total of six Region 7Mark of Excellence Awards fromthe Society of ProfessionalJournalists for work in the 2006calendar year.

“I am especially proud of thebreadth of our awards this year.We won for print and onlinepublications and for photography,news reporting and feature writing,” said Patricia Prijatel,GR’79, director of Drake’sSchool of Journalism and MassCommunication. “This demon-strates the diverse nature of aDrake journalism education and,of course, it once again showsthe talent of our students.”

Drake winners were: AlexHarkness, JO’06, first place, fea-ture photography; the DrakeMagazine Online staff, first place,best affiliated Web site; juniorPiotr Jakubowski, second place,

photo illustration; junior SheenaGebhardt, second place, onlinenews reporting; Nic Young,JO’06, third place, magazinenonfiction article; and juniorTim Laehn, third place, onlinefeature reporting.

SPJ is the nation’s most broad-based journalism organization,dedicated to encouraging thefree practice of journalism andstimulating high standards ofethical behavior.

20TH ANNUAL PHARMACY DAYPRESCRIBES CHANGE

The College of Pharmacy andHealth Sciences’ 20th annualstudent-organized Pharmacy Daycentered on the theme“Prescription for Change” andexamined issues of the changingpharmacy world and develop-ments to come in the profession.

“We’re trying to make this dayabout breaking out of the shellthat keeps pharmacists workingas only dispensers and aboutchanging the pharmacy world tobe more patient-oriented,” saidsecond-year student MalloryHeath, co-chair of Pharmacy Day.

Keynote speaker Michael C.Pucci, vice president of externaladvocacy for GlaxoSmithKline,spoke on “The Value of Medicine:The Triple Solution to ImprovingHealth and Lowering HealthCare Costs” at the event. The lecture focused on recent nationalhealth care statistics, key driversof health care costs and an analysisof three case studies demonstrat-ing the role of compliance andpharmacists in improving healthand lowering the cost of treatingchronic disease.

Dean Raylene Rospond presented alumni achievementawards to several Drake alumniin recognition of their contribu-tions to the pharmacy profession.The 2007 Alumni AchievementAwards went to SuzanneSietsema Blackburn, PH’73, and

Mary Walbridge, PH’74. The 2007Young Alumni AchievementAward was presented to DeeAnnWedemeyer-Oleson, PH’99.

MCCORMICK TRIBUNE GRANT FUNDS POLITICALREPORTING INSTITUTE

The McCormick TribuneFoundation recently awardedDrake’s School of Journalismand Mass Communication$50,000 for a specialized reportinginstitute. The workshop titled“McCormick Tribune SpecializedReporting Institute: Coveringthe Presidential NominatingProcess,” was offered to 16 mid-career journalists from aroundthe nation and was held onDrake’s campus June 3-5. Drakepartnered with the PoynterInstitute to present the program.

Led by Journalism ProgramDirector Clark Bell, JO’73, theMcCormick Tribune Foundationhas launched a new grant initia-tive to sponsor specializedreporting institutes on coveringtimely niche issues.

“I’m fortunate enough to beable to put good people togeth-er with good programs to createwin-win situations,” said Bell,past member of Drake’s ChicagoAdvisory Board. “This is a goodexample of what I hope toaccomplish with the McCormickTribune Foundation, and the

fact that I’m able to include myalma mater shows my greatrespect for Drake.”

The specialized reportinginstitute at Drake began with a“community conversation” — amoderated town hall meeting —about how media organizationscan help the public make betterdecisions during the presidentialnominating process.

“Drake and the School ofJournalism and MassCommunication value partneringwith media leaders such as theMcCormick Tribune Foundationand the Poynter Institute to helpjournalists better understand theIowa Caucuses and how to betterreport about the presidentialnominating process,” saidCharlie Edwards, dean of theSchool of Journalism and MassCommunication. “The caucusesprovide a unique opportunity forour students to learn and interactwith national news media outlets.”

DRAKE STUDENT LEADERAWARDED FULBRIGHTSCHOLARSHIPLauren Smith, Drake Universitystudent body president for the2006-07 year, was the recentrecipient of a FulbrightScholarship, which is funding a13-month English teaching assist-antship in South Korea.

Emmy Award winner Bob Costas (left) shared stories from his27-year career as the leading sportscaster for NBC during theannual Martin Bucksbaum Distinguished Lecture Series.Democratic presidential candidate Senator Joe Biden (D. Del.)paid two visits to Drake, speaking to Law School students inApril and at the “cookies and conversation” event in July.

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Smith left in July for SouthKorea, where she underwent sixweeks of intensive training tolearn about Korean values andlanguage before being assignedto a school. Following this training,Smith will teach English languagecourses to middle school or highschool students and help themdevelop an understanding ofAmerican culture and society.

“I’m honored to receive aFulbright Scholarship and amgrateful to the Drake communityfor all the support I’ve receivedover the years,” Smith said. “I’mconfident my coursework andpreparation at Drake will helpme achieve success in whateverchallenges and adventures maycome my way.”

Drake has been ranked as one of the top producers ofFulbright Awards for studentsamong the nation’s masters uni-versities in recent years. Smith is

the seventh Drake student toreceive a Fulbright teachingassistantship or research grant inthe last four years.

FACULTY, STUDENTS TRAVEL TOUGANDA FOR INAUGURALTRAVEL SEMINAR Jimmy Senteza, associate profes-sor of finance, recently led sever-al faculty members and morethan 20 students on Drake’s firsttravel seminar to Kampala,Uganda. Senteza, a Ugandanative, and Glenn McKnight,associate professor of history,drew on their personal connec-tions in Uganda to help developthe seminar. McKnight studiedin Uganda for a year while com-pleting his doctoral dissertationon development policy in colo-nial Uganda.

“It is a very unique and excit-ing opportunity for students,”said Senteza. “It undoubtedlywill be an invaluable eye-opener

for anyone with limited workingknowledge of sub-Saharan Africa.”

Participants in the seminar visited the source of the NileRiver, a peasant shamba in ruralUganda, Kasubi tombs, QueenElizabeth National Park, urbanmarkets and various nongovern-mental organizations, governmentoffices and small businesses. Inaddition, participants attendedlectures by Ugandan experts,engaged in directed readings,research and discussions, andkept reflective journals and ablog posted on the Drakerecruitment Web sitewww.choose.drake.edu.

The faculty and student partic-ipants also worked in partnershipwith colleagues at MakerereUniversity Business School inKampala. During the 22-day trip,the group explored a wide varietyof subjects related to sustainabledevelopment, including the legacyof colonialism, HIV/AIDS inAfrica, availability and constraintsof micro-finance, tourism as asustainable industry, tribalismand democratization. Drakerecently hosted delegates fromMUBS for 10 days to further fortify the two institutions’ budding exchange program.

LEGAL SCHOLARS DEBATEWHETHER THE U.S.CONSTITUTION THWARTSDEMOCRACYThe Drake University Law SchoolConstitutional Law Symposiumpresented a bold topic fordebate: “Does the U.S.Constitution Thwart Democracy?”

The annual event, this yeartitled “Our ‘Undemocratic’American Constitution,” broughtlegal scholars from across thenation to address ideas aimed atreinvigorating democracy in thenation, including the prospect ofaltering the Constitution.Former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack,Drake visiting distinguished pro-

fessor of law, delivered thekeynote address, titled“Reflections of a Participant onAmerican Democracy and theConstitution.”

The topic was chosen basedon the premise that Americandemocracy is at a crossroads.After all, the Electoral Collegeallows a candidate who failed toearn a majority vote to becomepresident; the representative sys-tem distributes an equal numberof senators to Wyoming andCalifornia; and the president’sveto can halt the will of themajority. In an era when scan-dals in Washington and faultyvoting procedures are the norm,many citizens have becomeincreasingly disillusioned — andsome say little can be done tochange the gridlock facing thegovernment.

STUDENTS LEAD BONE MARROW REGISTRY INSUPPORT OF PROFESSORPharmacy students, staff and faculty have rallied behind LonLarson, PH’71, professor ofpharmacy administration, withan outpouring of support sincehe was diagnosed last fall with arare, aggressive type of cancercalled mantle cell lymphoma.

In addition to the deluge ofkind words, cards, balloons andbaked goods sent from alumni,faculty, staff and students toLarson and his wife, LindaKrypel, PH’74, associate professorof pharmacy, students have settheir Drake pharmacy educationin motion.

Pharmacy honor society RhoChi recently conducted a bonemarrow registry drive in honorof Larson. The drive prompted124 members of the campuscommunity to get their cheeksswabbed to join the nationalbone marrow registry.

“It’s a testament, not only toLarson, but to the students and

STUDENTS FOLD 1,000 CRANES FOR VIRGINIA TECH VICTIMS

Drake students carefully folded 1,000 paper cranes and sentthem to the Virginia Tech campus in a show of support for thevictims of the tragedy there earlier this year. Creation of theorigami cranes, an international symbol of peace, gave studentsan opportunity to reflect on the tragedy and remind the survivorsthat someone cares. “This will show that people across thecountry are thinking about them,” said Ben Olson, a first-yearbiochemistry and microbiology major.


campusbuzz


what they gain here at Drake,”said Raylene Rospond, dean ofthe College of Pharmacy andHealth Sciences.

Students also participated inDrake’s Relay for Life, a 12-hourwalk that drew 700 participantsand generated approximately$30,000 for cancer research andtreatment. Third-year pharmacystudents organized and filledtwo teams, “P3s for Larson” and“P3s for Larson Continued,” andsold lime green T-shirts bearingLarson’s photo.

“Teaching extends beyond theclassroom,” Larson says on hisDrake faculty Web page. Astronger testament to his successwould be difficult to find.

JOURNALISM STUDENTS LAUNCHNEW “GREEN” MAGAZINE

Senior magazine andnews/Internet majors in DrakeUniversity’s School of Journalismand Mass Communication joinedforces last spring to create THiNKmagazine, an environmentallyfriendly news publication focusingon topics aimed at socially con-

scious Iowans. Articles examinesubjects such as the use of technology in war, stem cellresearch and the ethanol debate,which are intended to inspireinterest and action in the politi-cal process.

The inaugural issue celebratesthe collaboration of both journalism disciplines and thefirst student-led initiative for anenvironmentally sound publica-tion. Hannah Hacker, THiNKproduction manager and dualnews/Internet and environmentalpolicy major, headed up theeffort to keep THiNK magazineeco-friendly.

“The chance to add green toTHiNK furthered my passion toincrease awareness among thepublic that small changes areeffective,” Hacker said.

With support from THiNKpublishers and SJMC professorsPatricia Prijatel, GR’79, and Jill Van Wyke, JO’85, Hackerconducted research to discover environmentally conscious production techniques that canbe used without sacrificing quality.

The magazine’s staff is proud ofthe publication’s small environ-mental footprint — from the origins of paper stock andchemicals released into the airto different types of ink andcover varnish.

Copies of the free publicationhave been distributed to Des Moines area businesses and organizations.

RECENT GRADS SELECTED TOTEACH FOR AMERICA

Recent Drake University gradu-ates Taylor Corley, ED’07, andJeremy Holtan, JO’07, wereselected from among 19,000applicants to join Teach ForAmerica along with other out-standing college graduatesnationwide.

Teach For America corpsmembers are placed in strugglinglow-income schools for two-yearteaching commitments, andboth Corley and Holtan willteach in Denver Public Schools.

“At Drake, they made sure wewere in the classroom a lot,which gave me a wide range of

experiences,” Corley said. “I’vehad the chance to see severalmanagement styles and differentmethods of teaching.”

The biggest teaching chal-lenge she expects to encounterin her Denver classroom will belanguage barriers, consideringthe high percentage of Hispanicstudents enrolled in DenverPublic Schools. Luckily, shecomes equipped with valuableexperience gained from com-pleting her student teachingsemester at Willard Elementary,a Des Moines school with a largeHispanic population.

Holtan, who studied publicrelations at Drake, is determinedto influence the future of educa-tion. “I look forward to workingwith students and believe thatbecoming a part of Teach ForAmerica gives me an excellentopportunity to help othersachieve their goals as I strive toachieve my own,” Holtan said.Holtan is also keeping a blogabout his experience in the pro-gram on the Drake recruitmentWeb site www.choose.drake.edu.

MORE THAN 1,300 STUDENTS JOINED THERANKS OF DRAKE ALUMNIduring three commencementceremonies in May. Picture 1: Jenna Wilcox, winner of the Oreon E. ScottAward, Drake’s highestaward for undergraduate students, spoke at the 126thundergraduate ceremony. Picture 2: Herb Strentz, professor emeritus of journalism and mass com-munication, gave the addressat the graduate ceremony Picture 3: Chief Justice ofthe Iowa Supreme CourtMarsha Ternus, LW’77, wasthe featured speaker at theLaw School commencementceremony.

1 3

2


CBPA FACULTY MEMBERRECEIVES FULBRIGHT AWARD Chip Miller, professor of market-ing, has been awarded a FulbrightScholar grant to lecture at theUniversity of San Carlos in Cebu,Philippines, from November 2007to April 2008. Miller will teachglobal marketing to executiveMBA and PhD students and willwork with the business school on local outreach projects andcurriculum development.

“I’m elated for the chance tomake a significant impact in athird-world country,” Miller said.“Getting a Fulbright is a greatrecognition for a professor andsucceeding on my first attemptwas especially exciting. I hope tohelp my students make bettercontributions to the local economyso that the Philippines can bettercompete in world markets.”

Miller is one of approximately800 faculty members and profes-sionals in the United States whowill travel abroad this year throughthe Fulbright Scholar Program.Recipients are selected on thebasis of academic or professionalachievement, as well as demon-strated leadership potential intheir fields.

DRAKE LAW SCHOOL NAMESFIRST INTELLECTUAL PROPERTYLAW PROFESSORPeter Yu, associate professor oflaw and the founding director ofthe nationally ranked IntellectualProperty and CommunicationsLaw Program at Michigan StateUniversity College of Law, hasbeen named the inaugural KernFamily chair of intellectual property law and director of theIntellectual Property Law Centerat Drake University Law School.

“Peter has built two nationallyranked intellectual property lawprograms, and he shares ourvision for a program at Drake,”said David Walker, dean of DrakeLaw School.

Born and raised in HongKong, Yu is a leading expert in

international intellectual propertyand communications law. Hewrites and lectures extensivelyon international trade, interna-tional and comparative law, andthe transition of the legal systemsin China and Hong Kong.

“Intellectual property is one ofthe most fascinating areas intoday’s legal field,” Yu said. “Icannot think of a better place tolaunch a new global interdisci-plinary center for intellectualproperty law.”

Yu’s position was made possibleby an endowment gift of $1.5million from Wayne, LW’72, andDonna Kern of Dallas. TheIntellectual Property Law Centeris also being supported by a$750,000 commitment fromPioneer Hi-Bred International Inc.

KRYPEL HONORED BYAMERICAN PHARMACISTSASSOCIATIONLinda Krypel, PH’74, associateprofessor of pharmacy practice,is one of four individuals select-ed nationwide as a 2007 Fellowof the American PharmacistsAssociation by the APhAAcademy of PharmaceuticalResearch and Science.

The appointment recognizesKrypel’s service to APhA and herscholarly pursuit as an expert onnonprescription medications.She has been an active participantin the Nonprescription MedicinesAcademy since its inception,serving as coordinator of itssteering committee for sevenyears. In addition, she is theauthor of a chapter in the APhA’sHandbook of Nonprescription Drugsand has given numerous presen-tations at the APhA’s annualmeetings and Self-Care Institute.

“I have always embraced theconcept that faculty and studentsmust work together to ensurepositive educational outcomesjust as pharmacists work togetherwith their patients to ensure posi-tive therapeutic outcomes,” shesaid. “As the profession is tryingto move pharmacists beyond the

dispensing role, educators mustact as role models and movebeyond merely being dispensersof education.”

Krypel joined the Drake facultyin 1991 and was named theCollege of Pharmacy and HealthSciences Teacher of the Year in2003–04.

CBPA HONORS FACULTY ATBUSINESS DAY BANQUET ANDAWARDS CEREMONYThe College of Business andPublic Administration honoredfaculty members at the annualBusiness Day Banquet held April11 and welcomed back a success-ful alumnus to share his experi-ence with those in attendance.

Mark Ernst, BN’80, chairman,president and CEO of H&RBlock Inc., was the keynotespeaker at the banquet. Ernst

joined H&R Block in 1998 andwas responsible for developingand implementing a long-termmarketing and strategic plan forthe company. Over the past fiveyears, the organization’s annualresults have achieved rankingsin the top 10 percent of all companies in the S&P 500 forfinancial performance.

Among faculty members honored at the annual event:Paul Judd, assistant professor ofstatistics, was named the DavidLawrence UndergraduateTeacher of the Year; AndrewNorman, assistant professor ofmarketing, was named theGraduate Teacher of the Year;and Troy Strader, associate pro-fessor of information systems,was presented with the HarryWolk Research Award.

faculty focus

STUART KLUGMAN (LEFT), BN’70, the Principal Financial Group distin-guished professor of actuarial science, was presented DrakeUniversity’s highest teaching honor, the Madelyn M. Levitt Teacherof the Year Award, at Drake’s 126th UndergraduateCommencement Ceremony. The award is given annually in recog-nition of outstanding teaching, service and scholarship. Studentsand co-workers nominated Klugman for the award based on hissupport of students in and out of the classroom, dedication toimproving Drake’s actuarial science program and exceptionalknowledge in the field of actuarial science.

LON LARSON (FAR RIGHT), PH’71, the Ellis and Nelle Levitt profes-sor of pharmacy administration, was presented Drake’s highestmentorship award — the 2007 Madelyn M. Levitt Mentor of theYear Award. The only faculty member to have received the awardtwice, Larson was honored at Drake’s Undergraduate andGraduate Commencement Ceremonies where he served asUniversity marshal and master of ceremonies.


spotlight

HER REPUTATION IN THE MAGAZINE INDUSTRY precedes her. Not because Patricia Prijatel, GR’79, director of the School ofJournalism and Mass Communication and E.T. Meredith distin-guished professor, seeks the spotlight, but because of all she hasaccomplished during her 23-year career at Drake University.

Under Prijatel’s leadership, Drake’s magazine sequence hasbecome an award-winning program of national prominence — asignificant accomplishment considering there was talk of eliminat-ing the program altogether before her arrival. “I was given a lot oflatitude and encouragement to do what I wanted to do, but at thesame time, I was given a lot of support, direction and mentoring,”she says.

CROWNING ACHIEVEMENT In 1984, Prijatel’s first year at Drake,the magazine program had dwindled to only four students. Butthrough her efforts, that number increased sevenfold to nearly 30in 2007. Students and alumni alike are reaping the rewards of thementorship she has provided. Her former students work for someof the most prominent publications in the business includingInStyle, Entertainment Weekly, Glamour and Country Home.

Prijatel also cultivated the University’s relationship with MeredithCorporation, one of the industry’s publishing giants, to establishthe E. T. Meredith Center for Magazine Studies. Currently 34

Drake magazine grads work as editors for the company. And, withPrijatel’s supervision, student publications such as Drake Magazineand 515 have achieved national acclaim. In fact, Drake has sweptthe national award competitions for student magazines for severalconsecutive years

FINDING PERSPECTIVE With an exhausting list of career accom-plishments behind her, Prijatel plans to define herself beyondMeredith Hall as she retires from Drake this fall. “I’m a writer. Iwant to do more of that,” she says. “Now I can be — I am — ahealth writer.”

A breast cancer survivor, Prijatel recently had articles about herexperience published in Meredith’s Beyond: Live & Thrive AfterBreast Cancer. “Once a woman is diagnosed, quite often shechanges direction in life. Maybe that’s caused a change in mydirection — to retire and write,” she says. “I didn’t realize howimportant it is for other women to know that someone else withbreast cancer is doing well or that she is a survivor.”

She’s left a lasting legacy at Drake. Her emphasis now is on her-self, on taking responsibility and acknowledging all aspects of life.For Prijatel, it’s about maintaining perspective and balance with asense of vitality.

— Abbie Hansen, JO’01

AFTER FINE-TUNING DRAKE’S MAGAZINE PROGRAM,RETIRING PROFESSOR FOCUSES ENERGY

ON A BALANCED PERSONAL LIFE

’Zine Master


MISSIONinMOTION

That sense of exploration is evident acrosscampus — in the types of extraordinary experiences Drake offers students both inand out of the classroom. “[My junior year] Iwas encouraged by some of my professorsand my adviser to go ahead and take sixmonths off and study abroad. It reallyopened my eyes to the fact that the world isnot just Des Moines, and the world is notjust the United States,” says Lain.

“I’ve gained valuable experience not justthrough that particular opportunity, butthrough the different activities I’ve beeninvolved in on campus, from participating indifferent forums to listening to differentspeakers. There are so many people from allover the world here at Drake. And I thinkthat the diversity at Drake is well represent-ed. Just meeting different people — having aplace where you can experience that type ofdiversity — helps foster responsible globalcitizenship,” adds Lain.

“Meaningful personal lives don’t simplybegin or end here at Drake University,” saysWanda Everage, vice provost for studentaffairs and academic excellence. “Studentsreally can determine the quality of theirmeaningful personal lives beginning now bythe ways in which they engage themselves.”

CHANGING LIVES“Drake changes lives by caring about stu-dents and caring about each individual student’s success,” says Sturm-Smith. “It’s notabout a general formula for ‘the Drake student’ but it’s about that individual’s success and what [Student Life] can do incoordination with all those other departments that make success possible.”

And helping students achieve success isthe true meaning and purpose behindDrake’s mission.

“I love to take all six tenets of the missionstatement and, beginning with orientation

When Beth Younger visited Drake to interview for a faculty position she was over-come by a sense of community. Through herinteraction with various people on campusshe knew this was where she wanted to teach.And since she was hired as an assistantprofessor of English, she has been deter-mined to make a difference.

“My role is trying to challenge students tolearn and to challenge students to listen,”says Younger. “It’s my job to help students recognize that they’re part of a larger structure that has value and meaning,” shesays. “They are not just an individual; theyare part of something bigger.”

That type of determination isn’t unique toYounger. And that exceptional learning envi-ronment isn’t limited to the classroom.

“Whether it’s sitting down with a studentand talking with them about a resume ortalking about a class they are in — any ofthose things are about our students andhelps create that mission and helps a studentmove on past Drake,” says Melissa Sturm-Smith, assistant dean of students. “I feel likethose individual conversations that happenin my office often times are real learningexperiences, those kind of ‘aha’ moments.”

EXPLORING DIFFERENT PATHS “There are opportunities at Drake to getinvolved in all sorts of things academically,socially and philanthropically,” says ErinLain, JO’96, a current Drake Law School student.

“That has encouraged me not to just takeone path, but to explore many differentpaths. By having those different experiencesI’m able to relate to different people andultimately that’s what life is about — beingable to form relationships. I’m going to bemuch more successful if I’m able to take thedifferent experiences I’ve had and use themto create a well-connected, well-rounded life.”

and Welcome Weekend, introduce studentsto what we mean when we talk about anexceptional learning environment, meaningful personal lives and responsibleglobal citizenship; when we emphasize professional accomplishments, collaborationbetween faculty, staff, and students, and theintegration of liberal arts and sciences andprofessional preparation,” says Everage.

“We want students to practice it and see it intheir daily lives. [The mission statement] is notjust something we have on a piece of paper, butit’s something [students] use to make what theyare experiencing meaningful.”


Living the MissionIT ISN’T THE WORDS OF THE MISSION STATEMENT THAT

MAKE IT SUCCESSFUL, BUT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IT.

Drake's mission is to provide an exceptional learning environment that prepares students for meaningful personal

lives, professional accomplishments, and responsible global citizenship. The Drake experience is distinguished by

collaborative learning among students, faculty, and staff and by the integration of the liberal arts and sciences with

professional preparation.

Drake is currently seeking comments

from the public about the University in

preparation for its evaluation by its

regional accrediting agency. The University

will undergo a comprehensive evaluation

visit February 3 – 6, 2008 by a team

representing the Higher Learning

Commission of the North Central

Association of Colleges and Schools.

Drake University has been accredited by

the Commission since it was established

in 1913. The team will review the institu-

tion’s ongoing ability to meet the

Commission’s criteria for accreditation.

If Drake has touched you, submit com-

ments to: Public Comment on Drake

University, The Higher Learning

Commission, 30 North LaSalle Street,

Suite 2400, Chicago, IL 60602.

Comments must address substantive

matters related to the quality of the

institution or its academic programs and

must be in writing and signed; comments

cannot be treated as confidential and

must be received by January 6, 2008.

DRAKE SEEKS REACCREDITATION,ALUMNI AND FRIENDS INVITED TOPROVIDE FEEDBACK


spotlight

DRAKE JUNIOR STEVEN AMOS HAS A NEW CURE FORTHE SUMMERTIME BLUES. Amos cruised the countrythis past summer with his brother, Brian, a graduate of Cornell University, showing off thewinners of their first national film festival, StudentFilms Across America. The student-run, student-produced festival received submissions from college and high school students representing 44states and 15 countries.

A FESTIVAL IS BORN In winter 2006, Steven andBrian made a national call for short film submis-sions. By the following spring they had receivednearly 600 entries from aspiring student film-makers all hoping for a future beyond YouTube.The brothers then recruited a panel of eight professional judges from the entertainment industry including Drake graduates John August,JO’92, screenwriter for Big Fish and Charlie and theChocolate Factory and Michael Emerson, FA’76, anEmmy Award winning actor currently starring inABC’s “LOST.”

Before beginning their 40-city trek in their official Student Films Across America tour bus, the festival premiered in the Amos brothers’hometown of Sturgeon Bay, WI.

BIG PAY-OFF “There are a lot of festivals out there,probably thousands,” Brian recently told areporter from one of the dozens of newspapersthat have covered the festival. “Most of them willhave just a student category, but very few of themare only for students. We wanted to have thatvenue where it was just students. We’re going toend up showing 55 to 60 films total, and very fewfilm festivals are that heavy on student films.”

In addition to silver screen exposure to audi-ences around the country, the entrants vied for$35,000 in prizes.

As for how the Drake entrepreneurial manage-ment major spent his summer vacation, Steven isquick to answer, “We would have loved to hit morecities,” but he had to get back in time for fall classes.

— Aaron W. Jaco, JO’07

DRAKE ENTREPRENEURIAL MANAGEMENT MAJOR LAUNCHES NATION’S FIRST STUDENT-RUN TRAVELING FILM FESTIVAL

THE REEL WORLD

rin Tonne, GR’07, has taught in New Orleans and Chicago. She has workedwith the Drake Legal Clinic, conducted independent research and taught inDes Moines Public Schools for four years. She studied in the Urban Educationprogram in the School of Education and graduated with a master’s degree ineffective teaching. Still, she proudly admits to having many questions that

remain unanswered.“I came out of the program with more questions than answers,” she says.In other words, explains Eric Johnson, director of the SOE’s Urban Education

program in which Tonne studied, her education was a success.“I didn’t design this program to come up with answers,” he explains. “Answers are

illusions. All we can do is learn to ask better questions.”And the two most important questions Johnson hopes students learn from the

Urban Education program are: “How do we live in a world with people who are differ-ent from us?” and “How do we make ourselves better because of these differences?”

“You spend your whole life answering these questions,” Johnson explains.

LAYING THE FOUNDATIONJohnson came to Drake in 2003 to create a program that prepares teachers for thechallenges in urban school districts and provides students with real-world experienceteaching in these areas. He spent two years developing relationships with communityorganizations and local school districts, and Urban Education coursework was addedto the curriculum by 2005.

Today, the program has graduate and undergraduate components and studentswork collaboratively with public schools, community groups, Drake’s legal clinic andother organizations. Students also have the opportunity to participate in servicelearning and action research components.

“People wanted to see a program, but I don’t think they envisioned what we havenow,” says Johnson. “This is much more comprehensive than initially imagined.”

A CHANGING LANDSCAPESince 1990, when the U.S. Census indicated that for the first time more Americanswere living in urban areas than elsewhere, the question of how education needs toevolve has been a burning issue.

“It’s not just about educating children, it’s about dealing with a new reality in ourcountry,” says Johnson. “Urban education has less to do with the students themselvesthan the context within which they are educated.”

But the concept of urban education, adds Johnson, is often misunderstood.“We connect ‘urban’ with ‘poor’ and that’s incredibly inaccurate,” he says. “And

‘urban’ is often associated with poor black and Latino children.”

(SUBHEAD) A revolution is underway in America’s classrooms — and Drake’s School of Education is leading the charge.

The Changing Face of EducationEDUCATION



A REVOLUTION IS UNDER WAY in America’s classrooms —and Drake’s School of Education is leading the charge.

– By Tim Schmitt

E

Clockwise from leftJessica Hart, Erin Tonne,GR’07, Ella Cowherd,Deborahanne Daleiden,ED’05 and Sonal Khokhari.


The reality is that only one-third of stu-dents in urban settings are black orHispanic, and the population in urban areasruns across the socioeconomic spectrum.

“Simply put,” says Johnson, “UrbanEducation is teaching across differences.”

As a teacher in the Bridges special educa-tion program in the Des Moines PublicSchools, Deborahanne Daleiden, ED’05,knows about differences.

“If you’re going to be a good teacher youhave to relate to your students,” she says. “Ifyou want to build a relationship with stu-dents you do that by learning somethingabout their environment, and the UrbanEducation program provides that opportunity.”

As a graduate student in the UrbanEducation program, Daleiden found collabo-rative research work on Children in Need ofAssistance cases with students at theMiddleton Center for Children’s Rights inthe Drake Legal Clinic especially helpful.

“That was an eye opener, realizing howimportant it is to have that educational com-ponent in the legal system,” she says. “A lotof times that educational bridge gets brokenfor kids in foster care and it needs to bemended. Without educators involved it justdoesn’t happen. It’s phenomenal to find auniversity here in the middle of Americathat is so ahead of the curve.”

But this was not always the case.

AN EARLY ARCHITECTAbout eight years ago, Joan, ED’63, GR’77,and Lyle, AS’61, LW’64, Middleton broughtsome middle schoolers to Drake to get a feelfor college. They visited dorms and partici-pated in an educational program taught bystudents about to graduate from the SOE.

“It became very apparent, even on the firstday, that some Drake students were not pre-pared to deal with those kids who’ve seenthe seamier side of life,” recalls Joan.

One even told her that her decision tobecome a teacher was a mistake.

“That particular Drake student wasn’t con-fident at all,” says Joan. “Faculty within theSOE saw this happening and said, ‘We have ahole in our program.’”

Recognizing this, the Middletons gener-ously provided a substantial donation toDrake to fund a faculty position dedicated tocreating an Urban Education program —the position filled by Johnson today.

“We knew that some of those studentswere not going to make it in the profession,”says Joan. “That’s why the Urban Educationprogram exists today. When I was in school Ididn’t have any help dealing with studentswho were different from me.”

That is no longer the case.

PROMOTING QUALITY AND DIVERSITYThe Urban Education program is not onlyattracting a more diverse student body toDrake, but through working collaborativelywith Teacher Quality Program, it is ensuringdiversity among future teachers. The TQP isa result of a multimillion-dollar grant fromthe federal government meant to increasediversity among teachers in urban areas. InDes Moines, nearly 30 percent of studentsare minorities, yet fewer than 2 percent ofteachers have minority status.

“The goal is to educate more than 40 area residents to become teachers in theDes Moines Schools,” says Janet McMahill,dean of the School of Education. “It’s a collaborative effort among Drake, DMACCand the Des Moines Public Schools.” Thegrant provides funding for four years of certification coursework.

Students in the program are providedtuition, books, a laptop computer and childcare. In exchange, they agree to teach in DesMoines Public Schools one year for each yearthey are in the program. In fact, students arehired by the DMPS before they even enterthe program.

“Having a workforce in our local schoolsthat is qualified to serve the population wenow have is crucial,” says McMahill. “Weneed to help students become skillful andproductive in any educational setting in arapidly changing world. Instead of having allthe answers, we’re asking more questions.”

PREPARING TEACHERS FOR SUCCESSAn incoming senior in the SOE, SonalKhokhari was recently accepted to the TQPand will spend at least a year teaching in DesMoines when she completes her education.She was hired by the Des Moines PublicSchools as a teacher before she began herfinal year of school. As a participant in theprogram, Khokhari will meet with a mentorwho will continue to offer her guidance as sheenters the workforce as an educator next year.

“While in school the mentor providesencouragement and career advice. Onceemployed, the mentor will provide structureand guidance,” explains McMahill. This isimportant, she says, because of the hugefallout of teachers in their first five years onthe job. National statistics indicate that 20 to30 percent of certified teachers leave theprofession early in their careers.

“Because our TQP advisor selects a mentorand we have access to so many resources, Ifeel like I’ll have a head start when I beginteaching,” says Khokhari. “This will provideme with more experience and a betterchance at success than my peers.”

Ella Cowherd has worked for the DesMoines Public Schools for several years, butafter a year in the TQP as a graduate stu-dent, she realizes she still has much to learn.

“When I started the program, I did notunderstand the difference in urban and sub-urban education,” she says. “I did not realizethe many cultural and socio-economic issuesaffecting students. In a way it’s like being anintern in a company — I work with my men-tor and instead of just learning to become ateacher, I learn what it takes to become anexceptional classroom manager.”

This is exactly what Middleton loves to hear.“I see the potential for great growth on

Drake’s part with this.”Johnson agrees 100 percent.“I think we should be the premiere institu-

tion in dealing with issues relevant to urbaneducation,” he says. “We can become thenation’s leading university for urban studyand preparation.”

Cowherd is working to make this a reality.“Through the program and my Drake

experience, I want to be able to say that Ihave become one of the best teachers in thenation,” she says.

That possibility seems more likely every day.

“How do we live ina world with peoplewho are differentfrom us?” and “Howdo we make ourselvesbetter because ofthese differences?”

Many tales passed along to generations of Drake students are simplytoo good to go away — and sometimes too good to be true. Facts, it’s been said, are secondary to a good story. And though this is true of some of the tales that

abound on campus, many have at least some truth behind them.

Mb

bustingSOME STORIES JUST WON’T DIE.

(AND THE GOOD ONES DON’T DESERVE TO.)

OO OOTim Schmitt

Mythx

Built in 1974 at a cost of more than $4 million, Olmsted was never designed to look like a bulldog.The fact that it does is sheer happenstance. Paul Johnson, director of the physical plant at the timeOlmsted was conceived and constructed, said the round windows, often thought to represent the eyes of the bulldog, are merely concessions to the fire code — an access route for firefighters to get into thebuilding in an emergency. “There was never any conversation with the architect about designing it tolook like a bulldog,” says Johnson.

On June 29, 1970, a bomb was detonated

inside Harvey Ingham Hall, causing

extensive damage and shattering windows

in Meredith, Fitch and Herriott halls.

Don Adams, vice president of student

life at the time, recalled to The Times-

Delphic recently that police had a sus-

pect in the incident, but the individual

was killed in a bombing gone awry

in Minneapolis before he could be

arrested or prosecuted.

Tim Harper, JO’72, wrote an article titled “Is Beatle Paul McCartney Dead?” for theSeptember 17, 1969, issue of The Times-Delphic. This is the first known written

report of the rumor and conspiracy aboutMcCartney’s alleged demise, but the accountmerely fanned the flames of a myth already in place. The rumor originated with a carcrash in 1967 involving McCartney’s Mini Cooper. Bystanders on the scene assumed

McCartney had been injured, which ultimatelyled to the “Paul is dead” rumor and cover-up

conspiracy to which Harper’s story helped give national prominence.

The “Paul is dead”rumor began becauseof an article that ranin The Times-Delphic..

The remains of former Drake President Daniel Morehouse andhis wife are interred in the Drake Observatory.

LEGEND:

LEGEND: LEGEND:

LEGEND: LEGEND:

VERDICT: TRUE

VERDICT: FALSE

R

Q

VERDICT: FALSEQVERDICT: TRUER

(TECHNICALLY)

O

Olmsted Center was designed andbuilt to look like a bulldog.

In his graduate studies at Drake, Daniel Morehouse discovered a comet and as president of the University heraised funds to create the Drake Observatory, which became his final resting place after his passing in 1941.

VERDICT: TRUER

“Quad tray sledding has always beena rumor but in all the years I’ve beenat Drake, I’ve never actually seen itoccur,” says one current student. “I

think it’s more of a myth.” Butdozens of alums have confirmed thepractice, including Vice Provost for

Student Affairs and AcademicExcellence Wanda Everage, LA’72,

who sheepishly admits to participating.“Unfortunately, I did use a Hubbelltray for sledding. Of course I was

much younger then.” Linda Burke,BN’80, adds: “We certainly went

sledding on Hubbell trays. Not onlydid we use them on campus, we

used to go to Waveland Golf Coursefor the really big hills.”

Students pilferedtrays from Hubbelland used them for

sledding in the quad, an activity known as

“Hubbelling.”

P

Political radicalsbombed a building

on campus.

G“As far as I know and as far as the family is concerned, it’s true,” says Charles Nelson, professor of astronomy. “Unless it’s an elaborate

hoax, it’s absolutely true.” There is a plaque inside the main rotunda of the observatory and Nelson confirms that family membersoften come to the room to hold memorial services for the couple.

Comedian Steve Allen was expelled from Drake

because he somehow got a cow on the roof of

Morehouse Resident Hall.

Steve Allen, creator of “The Tonight Show,” did attend Drake in the ’40s but did not graduate, according to Nancy Geiger, GR’92,student records analyst. Like writer Bill Bryson, LA’77, the bug gothold of him and he left Drake early. At the time, records weren’t keptto indicate why a student left school, so there is no indication if thecow on the roof story has any truth to it. Drake presented Allen anhonorary doctor of fine arts degree in 1993, and, adds Geiger, “Idoubt we would have done that for someone so mischievous.”

This rumor, though wide-spread at Drake, is not specific to the University butis a common urban legend oncampuses nationwide. Drake’spolicy is clear and simple: “It’snot true,” says Tom Delahunt,vice president for admissionand financial aid.

The “U” shape on the eastern side of the FAC exists because thebuilding was erected in 1972 around the property of, yes, a littleold lady who would not sell her home. “She lived there and shejust didn’t want to move,” recalls Johnson. “She had no interestin even discussing it. She passed away and we worked with oneof her relatives and purchased it at that point.” However, theaddendum to this legend — that the red sculpture on the westside of the building is located where the home once sat — is false.

The Harmon Fine Arts Centerwas built around the property of“a little old lady” who refused tosell her home to the University.

The rooms in Goodwin-Kirk — rumored to be thesame size as prison cells — were illegal becausethey were too small, so Drake added bay windows

to each room to make them legally habitable.

Though admittedly small, the rooms in Goodwin-Kirkwere not illegal when the building was constructed in 1965or at any time thereafter.“The rooms were reasonably small,”says Johnson. “Drake was growing by leaps and bounds inthose days and we were trying to maximize the amount ofpeople we could get in there.” The bay windows, he says,were added to make the rooms look and feel bigger and toadd architectural detail to the outside of the building.

N

D

F

LEGEND:

LEGEND:

LEGEND:LEGEND:

VERDICT: TRUER

VERDICT: FALSEQ

VERDICT: FALSEQ

O

VERDICT: FALSEQ (PROBABLY)


RELAYS RECORDS ROUTED

The newly renovated DrakeStadium moved closer to thecenter of the track and field universe this spring. First off wasthe 98th running of the DrakeRelays. The 2007 Relays markedthe 42nd consecutive selloutcrowd for the Saturday sessionand the 14,000 fans in attendancegot quite a show. Athletes ofevery level set a combined 16records, the most since 18 marksfell at the 1985 Relays.

On a breezy and pleasantweekend, the Jim Duncan Trackproved fast for elite competitors.At the Saturday session, AlanWebb ran the fastest outdoormile in the world at 3:51.71,University of Minnesota ran thefastest women’s outdoor 4x1,600relay time in the world this yearin 19:07.75 and South Alabama’sMulzat Ajoke Odomusu, a nativeof Nigeria, ran the fastestwomen’s outdoor 400-meter hur-dles in the world at 55.37. For acomplete list of records, visitwww.GoDrakeBulldogs.org and clickon Drake Relays.

RACES RUMBLE ON

Drake Stadium got no rest afterthe Relays. Drake hosted theMissouri Valley Conference track

championships and the Iowaboys’ and girls’ combined statetrack meet before welcoming theNCAA Division I MidwesternRegional track and field champi-onship on May 25-26, which drewmore than 9,000 fans across thetwo days.

Bulldog track fans got a specialtreat. Junior hurdler DerekJohnson qualified for the nationalchampionships by taking fifth inthe 110-meter high hurdles. Theregional sets the stage for Draketo host the 2008 NCAA track andfield championships June 11-14.

CENTURY MARKS

Missouri Valley Conference fanspaid homage to the long-standingtradition of excellent student-athletes on Drake women’s basketball team by adding sixBulldogs to the All-Time Team.

Wanda Ford, ED’86, theNCAA’s all-time leadingrebounder, and her mid-1980steammate, Lorri BaumanRecord, ED’84, Drake’s all-timeleading scorer, made the listalong with standout All-AmericanJan Jensen, JO’91. Drake’s legacyof powerful centers in the mid-1990s through the early 2000salso won praise. Tricia WakelyWatts, PH’96, who played from

1992–96, Tammi Blackstone,AS’00, who followed Watts from1996 –99 and Carla Bennett,JO’05, 1999–03, led Drake to acombined six NCAATournament appearances.

LONEY’S LEGION

Drake named Steve Loney, a veteran coach with 30 years ofexperience, as interim head football coach in June. Loney

succeeds Rob Ash, who served ashead football coach at Drake for18 years before being namedhead coach at Montana State.

“It is humbling and a greathonor to accept this position atDrake,” said Loney. “Spending asmany years in the state of Iowaas I have, I have a lot of familiaritywith the program and the greattradition of Drake football datingback to Chuck Shelton (Drakecoach 1977-85). I look forwardto being able to continue theexcellence that has marked theprogram over the years.”

A Marshalltown, IA, native,Loney has coached in the NationalFootball League and at NCAADivision I schools Iowa State andMinnesota. He most recentlyserved as an offensive line coachwith the Arizona Cardinals.

A NEW SEASON, A NEW DAVIS

Keno Davis succeeded his father,Tom Davis, as the Bulldog’s 24th head men’s basketballcoach in April.

Keno Davis served six years asan assistant coach under former

RACKET RUCKUS

The Drake men’s tennis team defendedits Missouri Valley Conference champi-onship in April and earned a berth in theNCAA championships for the second con-secutive year. The Bulldogs posted a 23-2 record and earned a No. 52 nation-al ranking — the highest in school histo-ry. Freshman Bokang Setshgo, whoenrolled in Drake in January, earned MVCFreshman of the Year honors for helpingthe Bulldogs reach their fourth overallNCAA Tournament appearance.

DRAKE ATHLETICS RECOGNIZED FOUR OUTSTANDING ALUMNI withthe Drake Double D Award in February. The award, the highesthonor bestowed on Drake student-athletes, is presented annuallyto Drake letter winners for achievements in their chosen fields ofendeavor and/or community service since leaving the University.From left: Spike; Jack Stapleton, LA’78; Mike Murphy, JO’75; JimStalnaker, JO’79; Jan Jensen, JO’91, GR’96; and Sandy HatfieldClubb, Drake athletic director.

sports sideline

champions


Drake head coach Gary Garnerat Southeast Missouri Statebefore being named the firstassistant to join the men’s basket-ball coaching staff at Drakeunder Tom Davis in 2003. Healso served as an assistant coachat Southern Indiana from 1995to 1997 under coach Bruce Pearlwho is now the highly successfulcoach at the University ofTennessee. Keno won’t be theonly Davis on the bench next sea-son. He named Rodell Davis, norelation, as an assistant coach, andpromoted Chris Davis, also norelation, to associate head coach.

SOFTBALLERS CHOSENMissouri Valley Conferencesoftball fans named six Bulldogplayers to the conference’s All-Time Team. The team was chosenthrough an online ballot to markthe MVC’s 100th anniversary.

Leading the list was standoutshortstop Dani Tyler, BN’97, whoknocked in a school record 115RBI from 1993–95. Her .395career batting average is tops inschool history. Tyler made the1996 U.S. Olympic Team, whichwon a gold medal during theAtlanta games. Also notchingtheir marks in history are currentassistant softball coach KatieShimon, BN’03, who is theBulldogs’ all-time home runleader with 25, Aimee DeKeyserHamilton, AS’98, who recorded218 career hits as a Bulldog, PamSchaffrath, AS’93, who swatted193 hits and 15 homers from1990 to 1993, Kris Cox, ED’93,Drake’s hits leader with 221, andLaurie Bowden Mardis, BN’93,who won 66 games — 31 of themshut outs — and struck out aschool record 670 from 1990-93.

TENNIS ACE

In her finest season, sophomoreVeronika Leszayova was namedto the Missouri Valley ConferenceWomen’s Tennis All-Select team.

Playing No. 1 singles for theBulldogs, Leszayova enteredaction at the State Farm MVCWomen’s Tennis Championshipswith a 13-8 singles ledger in thedual season. In league competi-tion, she finished with a 4-4 mark.

SPEED READERGraduating Drake senior AshleyAnklam has been named to theESPN The Magazine AcademicAll-District 7 Women’s Track andField/Cross Country team.Anklam, who owned a 3.73 GPAwith a degree in biochemistrycell and molecular biology, wason the national ballot for theAcademic All-America award,which was disclosed June 27.

Anklam was a nine-time All-Missouri Valley Conference per-former, having won the individualtitle at the 2006 MVC CrossCountry Championships. Shewas third in the 10,000 andfourth in the 5,000 at the 2007MVC Outdoor Championships.She was third in the 5,000 andfourth in the 3,000 at the 2007MVC Indoor Championships.Anklam ran the 5,000 at the2006 NCAA Midwest Regionaland was third in the 10,000 atthe 2006 MVC OutdoorChampionships.

To be nominated, student-athletes must be a starter orimportant reserve with at least a3.2 cumulative grade point aver-age (on a 4.0 scale) for theircareer. Athletes are eligiblewhen they reach sophomore ath-letic and academic standing attheir current institution.

NEW FACES

Erin Hirsch, a volleyball star atNorthern Iowa, has joined theDrake women’s volleyball teamas an assistant coach. FormerNorthern Iowa assistant women’sbasketball coach Allison Pohlmanhas joined the Bulldogs as anassistant women’s coach.

It’s not that she didn’t like track. It’s probably more thatEvelyn Zirbel, FA’36, didn’t have a vested interest in it until sheand classmate Dorothy Posten, FA’36, met the Gallagherbrothers, Leonard (Len), BN’33, and Rolland (Rollie), BN’36.Then, it seems, the sport took on a whole new meaning.

As Drake runners, it’s likely Len, a sprinter, won overDorothy with his speed, while Rollie, a distance man, earnedEvelyn’s affection with his endurance. Both women cheeredon their beaux as they competed in the Drake Relays. Rolliewas the 1936 Drake track captain, who, according to Evelyn,“died with cinder in his knees.”

Evelyn attended the Drake Relays for the first time as astudent in 1932. And she’s attended every year since exceptfor the two years she missed during World War II when she wasstationed as an army hostess at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis.

Relays became a family tradition in 1938 when theGallagher brothers’ wives first hosted a gathering for collegefriends who returned to campus for the event; tables were setat Rollie and Evelyn’s house a few blocks north of the stadium.Most years, some 50 to 60 guests are served at the annual picnic.

Rollie and Evelyn’s daughter, Mindy Neumann, ED’72,was born in 1950 and attended her first Relays when she wasjust nine months old. And her record is even more astonish-ing than her mother’s; Mindy hasn’t missed the event in 57consecutive years.

Once her sons were born, Mindy would be seen in the stadium with them in tow, while her husband, John, wouldbe on the field officiating.

“Dad used to have the boys bet nickels on who would wineach race so they would pay attention,” says Mindy.

The boys, Andy now 27 and Scott 24, no longer leave the stadium with pockets full of change. John has retired fromofficiating. And Evelyn no longer hosts the noontime picnic— she’s passed that on to the third generation. But onething remains the same: The Gallagher-Neumanns will befound in the same seats across from the finish line wherethey have been sitting for more than 70 years.


For the Love of Relays

DRAKE STUDENTS FIND FELLOWS, RAISE FUTUREGENERATIONS OF RELAYS ATTENDANCE RECORD BREAKERS.


NOMINATE ACCOMPLISHEDALUMNI

Make your choice known for the2008 alumni awards. The alumniawards honor individuals for out-standing achievement in acareer or profession and reflectthe pride of Drake University inthose achievements. When mak-ing a nomination, consider thefollowing categories: AlumniLoyalty, Young AlumniAchievement, Young AlumniLoyalty, Alumni Achievementand the Distinguished ServiceAward. Contact Barb DietrichBoose, director of alumni andparent programs, with the name

of your nominee and reason forrecommendation by December14: [email protected].

BROADWAY ACTOR SPEAKS TOTHEATRE STUDENTS

Just a few hours before hisStageWest performance of I AmMy Own Wife in which he played42 characters, Philip Lehl, FA’86,reflected on his lengthy careerand offered valuable advice toDrake theatre students. Lehlshowed a mix of humor and serious reflection as he recalledhis years at The Juilliard School,where he earned his graduatedegree, and his various acting

gigs in New York, Houston, LosAngeles and Des Moines.

Lehl grew up in Des Moinesand beamed about the city andhis time at Drake. “Drakeoffered me a broad education— I learned acting, sets, lights,everything a young actorshould,” he said. “And I lovethis town, although I thinkthere should be a professionaltheatre here.”

In search of further lessonsand a larger professional com-munity, Lehl left for New York.He appreciated the orderedatmosphere that The JuilliardSchool offered, helping himtransition smoothly into thebustling New York acting com-munity. He picked up an agentbefore graduating, worked inregional theater for a few yearsand scored a lead role in theBroadway production BloodBrothers, which opened in 1993.In 1997, he appeared in the firstnational tour of the Broadwaymusical Titanic.

Since then, Lehl has contin-ued to work in live theatre andcurrently resides in Houstonwhere he regularly appears inproductions at the Alley Theatre.He says he loves the variety —and more importantly, he justplain loves acting.

LAW ALUMNI HONORED FORACCOMPLISHMENTS,DEDICATION TO DRAKEBonnie Campbell, LA’82,LW’84, and Wayne Kern, LW’72,were named Alumni of the Yearat the 2007 spring SupremeCourt Celebration. Each year,the Law School honors alumniwho exemplify outstanding char-acter, exceptional achievementand distinguished service toDrake, the legal profession andthe community.

Campbell, a native of SouthPlymouth, NY, is the only womanto have served as attorney general

of Iowa, a position she held from1990–94. She then joined theClinton administration as one ofits key officials on crime andgender-equity issues. Appointedhead of the Justice Department’snewly created Violence AgainstWomen Office in 1995,Campbell emerged as a nationalleader for her work to bring vic-tim-rights reform to the coun-try’s criminal justice system. Timemagazine named her one of the25 most influential people inAmerica in 1997. She now worksin private practice, was co-chairof the successful Culver-JudgeElection Campaign in Iowa, is anadvisor to the governor and inmany ways is vitally and promi-nently engaged in public service.

Kern, of Dallas, attendedDrake Law School as a nontradi-tional student after a career ashigh school teacher and bankerin Macomb, IL. He went on toan outstanding career in busi-ness and law, the majority of itin the cable television and com-munications area. He has longbeen involved with Drake LawSchool, including team-teachinga mergers and acquisitionscourse. Kern and his wife,Donna, have endowed a Drakescholarship and most recentlycontributed generously to estab-lish the Kern Family chair inintellectual property law.

COWLES LIBRARY LAUNCHESDIGITAL ORAL HISTORY PROJECT

Just in time for the influx ofalumni and visitors on campusfor the 2007 Drake Relays,Cowles Library launched a newdigital collection, called “What aTime We Had … WomenRemember Drake,” as part of theDrake Digital Heritage Collection.

Nearly 25 women gathered fortea at Cowles Library on April 24to celebrate the completion ofthe oral history project, which

alumniupdate

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ALUMNI AWARD WINNERS The Drake University National AlumniAssociation celebrated the achievements of outstanding graduatesat the annual awards dinner.

Madeleine and President David Maxwell (center) congratulate therecipients (from left): Betty Grandquist, LA’74, former executivedirector of the Iowa Association of Area Agencies on Aging and secretary and program chair of the RaySociety at Drake, who wasawarded the Distinguished Service Award; Charla Lawhon, JO’78,managing editor of InStyle magazine, who was presented theAlumni Achievement Award; Jonathan Azu, BN’99, vice president,strategic music partnerships, CBS Radio, Infinity Broadcasting, New York, who won the Young Alumni Achievement Award; VinayaSharma, BN’93, credit analyst and actuary with Quantitative RiskManagement in Chicago who was presented the Young AlumniLoyalty Award; and William “Bill” Buchanan, BN’57, member of the College of Business and Public Administration National Advisory Council and innovator in the insurance industry and Fellow in the Society of Actuaries who was presented with theAlumni Loyalty Award.

spotlight


AFTER MORE THAN 40 YEARS OF WORK, THIS DRAKE GRAD ISSTILL BRINGING JUSTICE TO DECADES-OLD CIVIL RIGHTS CASES.

Cold Cases No More

While a student at Waukee High School, Donald Burger, AS’62, readabout Emmett Till, a 14-year-old boy who was tortured and killed inMississippi in 1955 for whistling at a white woman. The image of Till’sface, swollen and distorted from torture and drowning, has hauntedBurger since. So much so that a half-century later, he was still working tobring justice to the case, which many credit with mobilizing the CivilRights movement.

“I read in the Kansas City Call in 2002 about Mamie Till-Mobley seek-ing to get this case pursued by the Department of Justice,” recalls Burger.“It was about 48 years since Emmett’s death and she’d worked her entirelife trying to get justice for her son. I was so impressed with her and herefforts that I committed myself to her personally to get the Civil RightsCommission to reopen the case.”

Till-Mobley died just seven days after he made this promise to her, butBurger, now retired from the Department of Justice, kept his word. Thecase was reopened in 2005, and though no further indictments wereissued, his work led to the creation of a cold case department within theDOJ that will reopen other civil rights cases for further investigation.

FOUNDATIONS OF BELIEF: While studying political science at Drake, Burgerserved as leader and booking agent of the Drake dance band.

“I became interested in civil rights as a result of my studies at Drake,”Burger recalls. “But the band, which included several Black and Jewishmembers, experienced firsthand a lot of discrimination around DesMoines and that really opened my eyes.”

He put this interest and experience to work as the first director of theIowa Commission on Civil Rights in 1965 and later as director of theKentucky Commission on Civil Rights where he led desegregation effortsin the Louisville metro area.

Burger is pleased that his work has led to the reopening of other CivilRights cases, including the 1964 kidnapping and murder of two Blackteenagers in Mississippi. James Seale, a 71-year-old former Klansman wasconvicted of kidnapping in the case earlier this year.

Though retired, Burger continues as a volunteer with several civilrights organizations.

“There’s still work to do,” he says. “We’re still having many problems.” — Tim Schmitt

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calendar

* For more information and a full listing of all Drake events — including athletics and fine arts events — visit:

www.drake.edu/newsevents/calendar


special experience of sharing Iwill never forget.”

The digital collection is avail-able at www.lib.drake.edu/heritage.

SWIM, BIKE, RUN

A group of Drake alumnidemonstrated their athleticismwhile participating in the ama-teur division of the Hy-VeeTriathlon held in Des Moines inJune. The event hosted athletesfrom around the world whogathered in the heart of theMidwest to compete in the inau-gural event. Members of theDrake group included RobFornoff, AS’97, Tom Hamilton,JO’87, Trisha Haszel, AS’03,Heather Martindill, ED’98,Nolan Mitchell, AS’95, BryanPtak, JO’96, Doug Schaefer,AS’99, Tyler Schwiesow, AS’99,and Chad Westberg, AS’98.

alumniupdateSeptemberWEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12Let’s DU Lunch Drake men’s basketball coachKeno DavisDes Moines

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15Twin Cities Drake Law Alumni EventDakota Jazz ClubMinneapolis

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16Drake Alumni at theHollywood BowlPicnic and concertLos Angeles

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 22Drake vs. University of NorthernIowa Football Game pre-gameand tailgate partyDes Moines

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25Bucksbaum LectureNicholas Kristof, New York Timesop-ed columnistDes Moines

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28 – SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30African-American Alumni ReunionDes Moines

Parents and Family Weekend

OctoberWEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 3Let’s DU Lunch Nancy Sebring, superintendent,Des Moines Public SchoolsDes Moines

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4College of Arts and SciencesAlumni DayDes Moines

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5 – SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6Homecoming Weekend

features interviews that reflecton a collective history spanningmore than 65 years — from JaneAlexander, a 1933 Drake graduate,to Lisa Brinkmeyer, a 1998 Drakegraduate and former women’sbasketball player.

“This was an incredibleundertaking,” said Tracy Codel,a 1986 Drake graduate. “Theproject will be something tobring alumni to the Web site tomake a connection with the sto-ries of other alumni.”

In addition, memorabilia andvintage photos of women atDrake are on display in theJames M. Collier Heritage Roomand various display casesthroughout Cowles Library.

“The outcome of this projecthas surpassed all of our sevenexpectations,” said project coor-dinator Claudia Frazer. “It was a

A special celebration of Drakeathletic historian Paul Morrison’s90th birthday

1957 Sun Bowl team reunion

Francis Marion Drake Society DinnerDes Moines

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13 Drake vs. University of San DiegoPre-game football partySan Diego

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 25Law Alumni EventWashington, D.C.

NovemberWEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7Let’s DU LunchMarsha Ternus, LW’77, Chief Justice, Iowa Supreme CourtDes Moines

FebruaryDATE TO BE DETERMINEDNaples Alumni EventNaples, FL

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 13Let’s DU LunchJ. Scott Johnson, GR’90, presidentand COO, Wells Fargo Bank N.A.Des Moines

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28 – SUNDAY, MARCH 2Missouri Valley Conference Men’s Basketball TournamentSt. Louis

MarchTHURSDAY, MARCH 6 – SUNDAY, MARCH 9Missouri Valley Conference Women’s Basketball Tournament

Visit www.drake.edu/alumni fordetails regarding alumni eventsand services, to update your contact information, to sharenews and more.


DRAKE GRAD RECEIVES LONG-OVERDUE CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDALMore than 60 years following his service as a Tuskegee Airman,James Bowman, ED’47, GR’49,’75, finally received a long-overduetoken of thanks. Bowman was one of nearly 400 African-AmericanWorld War II pilots to receive a Congressional Gold Medal, the highestcivilian honor bestowed by the federal legislative branch. The TuskegeeAirmen were the nation’s first African-American military airmen.

spotlight


ON ANY GIVEN WEEK, Erik Peterson’s schedule might look like this:

Monday: Battle terrorism. Tuesday: Fight violent crime.Wednesday, Thursday, Friday: Do away with narcotics, childpornography and corporate corruption. Saturday: Playsome rock ’n’ roll.

By day, 1992 speech communications grad Erik Petersonsupervises 22 federal crime-fighting lawyers as a U.S. Attorneyfor the state of Wisconsin. By night and on weekends, hefinds time to beat the skins for a rock band called Alibi.

A PASSION FOR RHETORIC: “I learned more from professor JonEricson and the speech department than I ever thoughtpossible,” Peterson says. “I learned a respect for procedurefrom Ericson’s parliamentary procedure class, and I learnedhow to speak and write collectively from all my professors— to speak effectively, to communicate a message.”

As a member of Sigma Chi fraternity, a first-year studentorientation counselor, community advisor at Goodwin-Kirkresidence hall, and dormitory resident assistant, Petersonalso began acquiring the much-needed people skills heuses today. “I learned to work with many other individuals asan orientation counselor, and as an RA I had to deal withevery personal problem you can imagine,” he says.

Prior to being nominated by President Bush for the U.S.Attorney position — and unanimously confirmed by thesenate — Peterson was elected as a district attorney fourtimes. He beat out a 13-year incumbent his first time out.

BUSTING BAD GUYS AND ROCKING THE HOUSE: His bandmates arelegally oriented, too: Guitarist Randy Schneider was namedWisconsin’s Homicide Investigator of the Year in 2005;Brad Schimel, bassist, is an assistant district attorney; andvocalist Heather Zander is a former community develop-ment director.

On stage, Peterson replaces his crime-fighter suit with a“Simpsons” T-shirt and dark sunglasses. And while theydon’t cover Judas Priest’s “Breaking the Law,” — they play amix of ’70s, ’80s and ’90s hits. Mellencamp, Springsteen,The Goo Goo Dolls — Peterson and his bandmates aren’tgoing to let the criminals stand in their way.

“We’re just a band full of guys who graduated from collegeand got real jobs,” Peterson says, “but never left the garage.”

— Aaron W. Jaco, JO’07

Jailhouse RockA CRIME-FIGHTER BY DAY,

THIS ALUM ROCKS THE HOUSE AT NIGHT


Picture 1: John Garcia, JO’86, Mark Owsley, and Henry Hamilton,JO’88, LW’92, reunited with other ’Dogs during the 20-year clusterreunion. Picture 2: Art Cady, LA’74, LW’77, and Barb Cady attend theDrake Law School reunion. Picture 3: Erin Schnobrich Swartz,Elizabeth Soike, Kelly Vander Pol Kaminskas, and Sandy Bretzlauf, ofthe Class of 2002, at the five-year cluster reunion. Picture 4: PatO’Brien, GR’99, John Jennett, ED’53, GR’59, and Jim Pilkington,ED’54, accepted an SOE alumni award in honor of Jim Heslop,ED’54. Other award recipients were Connie Cohen, ED’72, GR’77,LW’87, and Tom Andersen, GR’72,’88. Picture 5: Drake Trustee AnneDelger Hilton, BN’78, David Novick, JO’86, and William Dillon, JO’87,celebrate Drake’s 125th birthday at Gallery 1261 in Denver on February 20. Picture 6: Marcella Washington Hill, GR’49, (center)and granddaughters Eshe (left) and Safiya Hill celebrate following theacceptance of the Weaver Medal of Honor awarded posthumously toWendell T. Hill Jr., PH’50.

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alumniupdate

For more information or to make a contribution, contact Director of Planned GivingAmy Peters at 1-800-44-Drake, x4069 or go to www.drake.edu/alumni and click “Support Drake.”

ROBERT, LW’62, AND NANCY LANDESS THANKED DRAKE FOR THE ROLE THE UNIVERSITY HAS HAD IN THEIR SUCCESS BY GIVING BACK. The couple

recently bequeathed a gift to the Drake Law School providing funding for

the Landess Endowed Faculty Research Fund.

You, too, can make a difference in the lives of future Drake grads through a

bequest. A bequest is a gift you pass to a person or entity through your will.

You can bequeath money, property or a share of your estate’s residue.

Of all the gifts you can offer to Drake University, one of the most meaningful —

and one of the easiest to make — is a bequest.

“ ”We hope the creation of this endowed

faculty research fund will assist in some small way in the enhancement of faculty knowledge and continued

excellence of the law school.

Office of Alumni and Development2507 University AvenueDes Moines, Iowa 50311-4505

pictorial

Nonprofit Organization

U.S.POSTAGE PAIDDes Moines, Iowa

Permit No. 762

DESPITE EARNING COVETED GREEN MASTERS JACKET,

GOLF CHAMP REMAINS DRAKE BLUE AT HEART

“IT’S THE IOWA SUPPORT AND DRAKE SUPPORTTHAT KEEPS ME GOING. I loved my four yearshere at Drake,” said Zach Johnson, BN’98, to a Drake campus crowd. Still walking onclouds after winning the Masters and theAT&T Classic, Johnson returned to DesMoines in May for a celebration where Gov. Chet Culver proclaimed May 24 “ZachJohnson Day” in Iowa. “I am beyond proudto be a Drake Bulldog,” said Johnson, asDrake President David Maxwell(above left)presented him with the framed original art-work from Brian Duffy’s editorial cartoonabout the Masters that appeared in The DesMoines Register featuring a putting greenlabeled “Field of Dreams.” Johnson thendonned a blue jacket sporting the Drakelogo that was presented to him by DrakeAthletic Director Sandy Hatfield Clubb(left), turned to his wife, Kim, and said,“We’ve got one more jacket, honey. This is awesome.”

DRAKE’S MISSION is to provide an exceptionallearning environment thatprepares students formeaningful personal lives,professional accomplish-ments, and responsibleglobal citizenship.

The Drake experience is distinguished by collaborative learningamong students, faculty,and staff and by the integration of the liberalarts and sciences with professional preparation.

Drake Blue fall 2007

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