Students and Administrators Reading and Discussing Enlightening Literature

The Sardel Evenings seek to bring together Honors students and top administrators of Drake University for thought-provoking discussions of scholarly literature.  The texts serve as vehicles for the participants to reflect upon their own lives and the world in which they live.  The Sardel Evenings represent one avenue by which intellectual life and scholarly discourse at Drake University extend beyond the confines of the classroom.  

The Drake University Honors Student Council would like to propose the conception of The Sardel Evenings, a program designed to facilitate intellectual discourse between Honors students and the President of Drake University.  The proposed program is outlined below.

One Sardel Evening will be held each semester, one in September and one in January or early February.

The President (in conjunction with the Honors Program Director if he so desires) will select a book to be discussed and a date for the Sardel Evening to be held.

Students will apply to participate in The Sardel Evening during the semester prior to the event.  (Applications for the January/February date will be taken in the fall semester, and applications for the September date will be taken in the spring semester.)  This will allow students to read the selected book during the winter or summer break so the reading does not interfere with their regular academic coursework.

A group of approximately fifteen students will be selected to participate in each Sardel Evening.  Preference will be given to students who have demonstrated exceptional intellectual curiosity and who have not previously been granted the privilege of participation.  The Honors Program will assume responsibility for recruiting and selecting the participants.

On the appointed date, the President will host a reception or dinner for the students, which will be followed by a discussion of the designated book.

The Honors Program Director or a member of the Honors Student Council will be prepared to open and facilitate the discussion.

Art Sanders