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September 13, 2002 Vol. 55, No. 13

Major awards to be presented at convocation

Several prestigious awards will be presented at the annual Fall Faculty/Staff Convocation, which will start at 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 19, in Sheslow Auditorium. A reception will follow in Levitt Hall.

"This meeting is an opportunity for us to reflect on the continuing development of our University and to consider the major goals and challenges for 2002-03," said Provost Ron Troyer. "In addition, it is an occasion to welcome new faculty and staff colleagues to Drake. We also will announce and recognize the recipients of the 2002 Madelyn M. Levitt Award for Distinguished Service to the Community, the Drake Medal of Honor and the Employee Excellence Award."

The Drake Medal of Honor will be presented to three alumni who have played key roles in the University's development and demonstrated a high level of commitment to community service. The recipients of the medals are:

Mary L. Brubaker, FA'57, who worked for almost 30 years at KCCI-TV as a talk show host, producer and news reporter. Since retiring in 1995, she has devoted herself to a wide variety volunteer efforts, including the Alzheimer's Association Board.

Don C. Nickerson, LW'77, an attorney for Welmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield Inc. who served as U.S. attorney in Iowa from 1993 to 2001. He has overcome brain cancer and dedicated himself to numerous community organizations serving at-risk youth.

Martha Willits, FA'69, GR'72, GR'97, president and chief professional officer of United Way of Central Iowa and member of the Polk County Board of Supervisors from 1984 to 1996. An active volunteer throughout her life, she has served on the boards of several community organizations.
Campus, community to celebrate Campaign Drake on Oct. 5
Thanks to the generous support and commitment of Drake faculty, staff, alumni and friends throughout the nation, Campaign Drake, the University's national capital campaign begun in 1997, ended on a high note May 31 by meeting its goal of $190 million -- the largest amount of money ever raised by Drake University. The campus community is invited to commemorate the success of the Campaign Drake at an outdoor celebration open to all Drake students, faculty, staff and the community.

"The success of the Campaign is compelling testimony to the leadership of Maddie Levitt (chair, Campaign Drake) and the generosity of thousands of alumni, friends of the University, and members of the community," President David Maxwell said. "It is also a reflection of the hard work of the advancement staff and of deans, faculty members and other Drake staff who participated in and supported this unprecedented fundraising effort."

By achieving its $190 million goal, Campaign Drake will allow the University to rise to a new level of national prominence in higher education.		 Saturday, Oct. 5

Homecoming Tailgate
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Tent on Forest Avenue across from Drake Stadium. Cost: $6.50 (students may use board plans)
Football Game
1 p.m.
Cost: adults $7, faculty/staff $5
Branson Plaza Dedication
11:30 a.m.
Helmick Commons
Campaign Celebration
4 - 7 p.m.
Helmick Commons
Rain location: Knapp Center
Free:

  • barbeque dinner
  • hot air balloon rides
  • concert by The Nadas
  • blow-up games

For more information about the celebration, click here.

David Skidmore to give Stalnaker Lecture Sept. 25

David Skidmore, professor of politics and international relations at Drake University, will give a lecture on how grassroots globalism, a new force in world politics, and the growth of transnational networks in civil society promise hope for our world's future. The event will be held at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 25, in Sheslow Auditorium.

The lecture, which is free and open to the public, is titled "Global Visions: Fukuyama's Dream, Huntington's Nightmare and a Grassroots Reverie."

Skidmore will address Francis Fukuyama's argument - that the end of the Cold War has ushered a golden age of international peace and prosperity built upon economic globalization, liberal democracy and multilateral diplomacy - and Samuel Huntington's prediction - that the coming decades will be characterized by a clash of civilizations over fundamental cultural differences.

Skidmore has authored, co-authored, edited or co-edited four books on international politics and has published numerous journal articles and book chapters. He serves as director of the Drake Curriculum, coordinator of the First-Year Seminar Program and director of the Drake International Relations Program and Elsworth Woods Fund.

The lecture will be the 17th of the series at Drake honoring the memory of Luther W. Stalnaker, dean of the College of Liberal Arts from 1940 to 1954. This series is a joint undertaking of the College of Arts and Sciences and its emeriti faculty.
'Taste of Drake' celebration offers food and fun on Friday

Faculty and staff are invited to "Taste of Drake" on Friday, Sept. 20. The annual Drake celebration, sponsored by the Student Activities Board, will be held in Aliber Field and Olmsted Circle from 5 to 9 p.m.

This year's celebration will feature food items from Papa John's Pizza, Maggie Moos, Taste of Thailand, Big Daddy's BBQ, Great Harvest Bread Company, Buca di Beppo, Don Pablo's and Sodexho Campus Services. Food prices will range from $1 to $5.

Entertainment will include Yawo, a Minnesota band, performing world peace music. The band will play from 5:30 to 8 p.m. There will be inflatable games free to students and $1 for visitors. Also, campus organizations will host fun booths.

The rain location will be Parents Hall in Olmsted Center.
Drake moves up on U.S. News magazine's 'Best Value' list

Drake University has moved up to fourth from fifth place in the "best value" category for Midwestern institutions classified as Universities-Master's in U.S. News and World Report magazine's 2003 edition of America's Best Colleges. The magazine noted that 58 percent of Drake students receive grants based on need.

"Our improved ranking in the 'best value' category demonstrates Drake's commitment to maintain a high quality education that is more affordable than many students and families realize," said Tom Willoughby, dean of admission and financial aid.

In the overall rankings of 141 Midwest Universities-Master's, Drake remained in the top five and again received the top score in academic reputation (peer assessment), tying with Valparaiso University and Creighton University.

The newsstand book, America's Best Colleges, which contains the U.S. News and World Report college rankings, will go on sale Monday, Sept. 16. Most of the rankings will be in the Sept. 23 issue of U.S. News and World Report. The rankings also are posted here.
Memorial service to be held today for Jack Manders

Jack Manders


A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. today (Friday, Sept. 13) at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Student Center for Jack Manders, professor of business law in the College of Business and Public Administration. Manders, 69, died Tuesday of cancer at Hospice Kavanagh House.

A native of Dubuque, Iowa, Manders was general counsel to the Iowa Insurance Commission for nine years before joining the Drake faculty in 1970 as assistant professor of business law. He was named associate professor in 1981 and was promoted to full professor in 1987. He held a bachelor's degree from Loras College, a master's degree from Drake and a law degree from Notre Dame University.

Although Manders was not teaching this fall, he had planned ease into retirement by serving this year as co-director of Drake's Kelley Insurance Center before taking full retirement next year. "He was really looking forward to retirement," said Steve Clapham, associate professor of management and international studies. "His sudden illness and death have come as a huge shock to everyone."

Manders was "an eloquent fighter for causes he believed in and a real champion for the faculty," Clapham said. "He believed in the University and always sought opportunities to make it better. He was the kind of individual that you could have an argument with and five minutes after that you could have lunch together and everything was fine. He didn't hold grudges. On occasions he had what appeared to be a bit of a hard surface, but he had a very big and soft heart."

Harry Wolk, professor emeritus of accounting, knew Manders for 30 years. "Jack was a fiesty but delightful colleague," Wolk said. "He could certainly add spice to a faculty meeting (and he would be very pleased that I said that). He was a very warm and deep-feeling person and he will be very much missed."

Rahul Parsa, associate professor of statistics, described Manders as "a great teacher who cared deeply about his students." He added that "While some students thought he was tough and demanding, they appreciated how much he taught them - usually after the class was over."

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Joseph Indian School or Hospice Kavanagh House.
Drake Theatre to open fall season with 'How the Other Half Loves'

If laughter is the best medicine, then the Drake University production of "How the Other Half Loves," a comedy by Alan Ayckbourn, is the best tonic in the world. Originally a huge success in London and then on Broadway, the tale of marital mismatch and mayhem is delivered in a wildly inventive format.

The production will open at 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 26, in Studio 55 in the Harmon Fine Arts Center. Additional performances will be held at 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 27 and Saturday, Sept. 28, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29. Tickets are $4 for adults, $2 for senior citizens and non-Drake students or free with a Drake ID.

The play, which shows two households on stage at the same time, is about three married couples and a secret love affair that develops within the circle of friends. Matters come to a hilarious head at a dinner party that takes place on two alternate nights, but is shown on stage in the same time and space.

Clive Elliott, the Daniel B. Goldberg artist in residence at Drake, directs the play with set design by Josie Poppen, Drake's theatre costume designer. The lighting designer is Anne Thornton, a senior from Appleton, Wis., and the costume designer is Kate Mortimer, a senior from Lake Bluff, Ill.

Reservations are required due to limited seating. Call the Fine Arts Box Office at x3841.
Tangled lines of communication add to the mayhem in Drake's production of "How the Other Half Loves."

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