On Campus - Stories June 1, 2001 - Vol. 54, No. 1 Governor signs landmark legislation at Drake Historic Home Tour starts Saturday, continues Sunday Art exhibit extended until June 15 Grant to fund a new course Farmers Market opens this week

Drake University welcomed Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack to campus last week for the signing of two important pieces of legislation: Senate File 476, the "policy" bill for teacher compensation, and House File 413, the teacher compensation funding bill.

Under these bills, Iowa will spend $40 million in the first year to link teacher-pay increases with a rigorous new evaluation system and a four-step career ladder. The legislation also improves teacher mentoring and awards bonuses to schools meeting goals for student achievement.

Gov. Vilsack signed both bills in the Reading Room of Cowles Library, where he was surrounded by legislators, state officials, Drake administrators as well as faculty and students from the School of Education. Several local TV stations later interviewed three Drake students majoring in education about their reactions to the landmark legislation.
During the signing ceremony, Gov. Vilsack said, "Iowa has always been, and I think with this legislation will continue to be, a leader in education."

The Drake Historic Home Tour on June 2 and 3 will focus on the Carpenter Square, which is celebrating its centennial this year.

Carpenter Square - named for George Carpenter, the first chancellor of Drake University - is located between Cottage Grove Avenue and Kingman Boulevard and 24th and 25th streets.

Although it is now an oddly shaped traffic island, it started out in 1901 as a proper park, studded with large shade trees, benches and a fountain. Carpenter's house was located on the square at 2401 Kingman Blvd.

Carpenter brought the University to its present location from Oskaloosa, Iowa. He hoped relocating the college to the capital city would help its shaky finances. The site for the new campus: a wilderness area northwest of Des Moines.

The University opened in September 1881 with 50 students. To fund the new campus, the University Land Co. was formed to sell lots around the campus. When Carpenter died in 1893, the University was thriving and the neighborhood was growing.

The houses on the tour will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. June 2 and 3. All tours start at the Neal and Bea Smith Law Center, also known as the Drake Legal Clinic. Advance tickets, which cost $7.50, are on sale at the Drake Diner, DrugTown and the Alligator's Tale. During the tour, tickets will cost $10. For more information, call 360-8311.

Don Adams, executive assistant to President Maxwell and secretary of the University, receives the Krause Gentle Person of the Year Award from W.A. Krause, president and CEO of Krause Gentle Corp. The award is presented annually by Krause Gentle Corp., which owns and operates a Kum & Go store near campus. Adams was selected for this honor because he has touched Krause Gentle Corp. and its associates in a very real, authentic and supportive fashion.

Drake University has received a $10,000 grant from the Science and Religion Course Program at the Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences (CTNS) to fund the development of a new course focusing on the ongoing dialogue between science and religion. The grant is one of 100 awards given to colleges and universities around the world in CTNS' annual Science and Religion Course Award Competition.

Daniel T. Spencer, associate professor of religion and ethics at Drake, received the award for his course titled Interpreting Evolution & Creation: Scientific and Religious Perspectives.

"As the pace and scope of scientific discovery increase, as science and technological discoveries permeate the everyday world of religious and cultural traditions, courses that critically address the relationship between science and our religious experiences become increasingly vital," said Ted Peters, director of the CTNS Science and Religion Course Program. "By bringing science and religion into contact with one another at universities, our goal is to foster a worldwide community of scientists and religious intellectuals actively engaging in formulating and addressing questions of ultimate concern."

The Drake Neighborhood Farmers Market begins its fifth season Wednesday, June 6, at 4 p.m.

With the exception of July 4, the market will be held every Wednesday through Sept. 26 from 4 to 7 p.m. in the parking lot of First Christian Church, 25th Street and University Avenue.

On opening day, Anderson Erickson Dairy will distribute free product samples and information regarding health benefits of calcium. Opening day also will feature representatives of Citizens for Community Improvement providing information about available programs.

Future guests include the Concrete Cruisers car club, which will display classic cars on June 20. The Polk County Conservation Commission will bring an animal and information about Polk County parks on June 27. A free ice cream social featuring Bauders ice cream will take place on July 11.

"The market is a great place to have group meetings, family suppers, fellowship dinners, as well as to pick up a take-home dinner and fresh produce," said Don Adams, executive assistant to President Maxwell.

The Drake Neighborhood Farmers Market has been selected by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship as a pilot venue where the market is a certified Food Stamp retailer. IFMNP/WIC checks and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition checks are also accepted at the market. The market is a non-profit community project sponsored by the Drake Neighborhood Association, Drake University and First Christian Church.