FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Nov. 6, 2000 CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119 DRAKE BOARD OF GOVERNORS GETS NEW NAME; DRAKE BOARD OF TRUSTEES DISSOLVED The Drake University Board of Governors recently voted to change its name to the Drake University Board of Trustees, a more traditional way of referring to a university governing board. The Board of Governors also voted to dissolve Drake's existing Board of Trustees, which in recent years has functioned primarily as an advisory group. Five life members of the previous Board of Trustees are moving to the new Board of Trustees while other former trustees are joining the President's Council, an informal advisory panel established this past summer by Drake President David Maxwell. In addition, some of the former trustees are becoming members of Drake's eight national advisory boards and of the various committees of the new Board of Trustees. "This action is creating exciting new opportunities for former trustees to connect to the University in ways that are more meaningful to them and to the University than attending two meetings a year," President Maxwell said. "Drake is still going to benefit from the knowledge, experience and devotion of these longtime friends of the University." The idea to dissolve the previous Board of Trustees originated with Drake alumnus Ronald Roark, chair of that board. He took the proposal to the Board of Governors Committee on Board Affairs after the former Board of Trustees voted to explore ways for members to become more involved with the University. The Committee on Board Affairs appointed a subcommittee to study the issue. The subcommittee was chaired by Drake alumnus Benjamin B. Ullem, now chair of the new Board of Trustees. Roark and Drake alumna Karen Goodenow also served on the subcommittee. "It turned out that the best way to get people more involved was to get rid of the old Board of Trustees," Roark said. So that's what the subcommittee and, later, the Committee on Board Affairs recommended to the Board of Governors,