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September 15, 2000 Vol. 53, No. 14


Symonds to give Stalnaker Lecture Thursday

Deborah A. Symonds
Deborah A. Symonds, associate professor of history and chair of the history department, will give the annual Luther W. Stalnaker Lecture on Thursday, Sept. 21. The lecture, which is free and open to the public, is titled "Rob Roy's Sons or Communities in Crisis in 18th Century Scotland." It will start at 8 p.m. in Sheslow Auditorium in Old Main. A reception will follow in Levitt Hall.

The notorious Rob Roy MacGregor was a Scot, a Highland gentleman, a thief and an entrepreneur -- a true man of two worlds living on the verge of rapid social and economic change. His sons had an even harder time.

In this lecture, Symonds will read from a work in progress on Rob Roy's sons, as well as discuss how history gets written.

Symonds is a graduate of Bennington College, the University of Edinburgh, and Binghamton University. She has taught European and women's history at Drake University since 1989, teaching previously at Mount Holyoke College and Bucknell University. Her research and writing interest is the economic transformation of 17th through 19th century Scotland.

Symonds' lecture will be the 16th 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.
Molenburg recieves Levitt award for community service

Larry Molenburg, right, receives congratulations from President Maxwell and Modelyn M. Levitt.
Larry Molenburg, Drake's real estate manager, received the 2000 Madelyn M. Levitt Distinguished Community Service Award at the Fall Faculty and Staff Convocation. In presenting the award, President David Maxwell said Molenburg exemplifies community service "from the cell phone on his belt to the paint on his hands to the miles of shoe leather he has invested in the Drake neighborhood."

Dr. Maxwell noted that as manager of Drake's hundreds of residential and commercial properties, Molenburg was a neighborhood activist long before it was politically correct. In his more than 32 years of service to Drake and the surrounding community, Molenburg has never taken a sick day. He's come to work each day equipped with "a supercharged work ethic and unsurpassed levels of integrity, honesty and openness" in counseling and working with neighborhood residents, small business owners, city officials and landlords.

He is responsible for much of the good will and progress in the Drake neighborhood, Dr. Maxwell added. Because of his behind-the-scenes diplomacy, there is an active Drake Area Business Association, a police traffic unit in a previously empty building and fewer weeds in the nearby business district.

In accepting the award, Molenburg commended his colleagues for keeping the honor a secret until then. "This was quite a pleasant surprise," he said. "I am deeply honored and I am greatly humbled."
Drake University awards three Medals of Service

Donald Zarley, President David Maxwell, Cornelis Kirschenbaum and Monrow Colston at Old Main.
President David Maxwell presented three Drake Medals of Service at the recent Fall Faculty and Staff Convocation. This honor is reserved for people who have played key roles in the University's development to give added meaning to the rich heritage of service that symbolizes the true character of Drake.

The first medal went to Monroe Colston, a member of Drake's governing boards since 1991 and retired president of the Greater Des Moines Community Foundation. In presenting the medal, Dr. Maxwell noted that Colston has encouraged Drake to examine the University's ties to the greater Des Moines community. He then quoted Jacqueline Easley, a member of the Board of Governors, who said, "Monroe pushed the Board of Governors to recognize how valuable a role Drake plays in the total community."

Also receiving a medal was Donald Zarley, LW'54, senior partner in the Zarley, McKee, Thomte, Voorhees and Sease law firm. He has served as a lecturer and an adjunct professor in the Drake Law School as well as president of the Law School Board of Counselors. He also has been a member of Drake's Board of Trustees and served as its chair in 1990-92. In presenting the medal, Dr. Maxwell also praised Zarley for "working quietly behind the scenes, supporting and befriending law students over the years."

Another Drake medal was awarded to the late Jules Kirschenbaum, the Ellis and Nelle Levitt professor of art and an internationally renowned painter. His widow, Cornelis, accepted the award on behalf of her husband. Dr. Maxwell lauded Kirschenbaum as "a rare individual who possessed both extraordinary talent in his discipline and the ability to teach it well." He also was instrumental in the establishment of the Friends of Drake Arts and the Anderson Gallery.
Theater season to open with 'Blood Wedding'

Greg Marcy and Julie Burt star in Drake's production of "Blood Wedding."
Drake University Theatre will open the fall season on Thursday, Sept. 21, by producing "Blood Wedding" and completing the trilogy of powerful 20th century tragedies by Spanish poet and playwright Federico Garcia Lorca.

"Blood Wedding" is directed by Clive Eliott, Drake's Daniel B. Goldberg artist in residence. Elliott also directed Drake's productions of the other two tragedies: "The House of Bernarda Alba" in 1993 and "Yerma" in 1997.

Based on a real occurence and first presented in Madrid in 1935, "Blood Wedding" is the most powerful of the trilogy in terms of incident and poetic imagery. It tells the tale of a runaway bride and the fatal consequences of her actions.

Performances start at 8 p.m. Sept. 21, 22, 23 and 24 in Studio 55 of the Harmon Fine Arts Center. Tickets are $4 for adults, $2 for students and senior citizens and free with a Drake ID. Reservations are required due to limited seating. For information or reservations, call the Fine Arts Box Office at x3841.
Pharmacy student named NCPA Foundation Presidential Scholar

Pharmacy student named NCPA Foundation Presidential Scholar Amanda Zahasky, a third-year doctor of pharmacy student from Cresco, Iowa, has been recognized as a 2000-2001 Presidential Scholar by the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) Foundation. She is one of only 15 pharmacy students chosen nationally for the presidential scholarships.

Presidential scholarships are awarded for both academic achievement and leadership. At Drake, Zahasky has excelled both academically and professionally. She has been president of the Student Chapter of NCPA for two years and has been active in Phi Delta Chi, a professional fraternity in pharmacy; the Association of Students of Pharmacy; and Phi Lambda Sigma, the pharmacy leadership society.

Chuck Phillips, faculty adviser of the Drake student chapter of NCPA, describes Zahasky as "one of the first people to volunteer when there is work to be done." He added that "She not only works, but leads by following through on her commitments to the organizations and activities she dedicates herself to."

Zahasky will also receive $2,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to the NCPA Annual Convention in San Antonio, Texas, where the scholarships will be officially presented.
This untitled painting by Connie Webb, a senior art major at Drake, is one of her works on display at Urban Anthropology, and alternative art event that concludes Friday, Sept. 15, in the Arlington/Hallet buildings at 13th and Locust streets. The final evening of Urban Anthropology, which is free and open to the public, runs from 5 to 10 p.m. Webb is one of three supporting artists for the event. The other two are Drake alumni-- David Bergeron, FA'81, and Ian Leckie, FA'00.
Community walk set for Sunday

Faculty, staff and students are invited to participate in the Walk as One Community event on Sunday, Sept. 17. Registration will start at 12:30 p.m. and the walk will begin at 1:30 p.m. at Hoyt Sherman Place, 15th Street and Woodland Avenue.

The walk is designed to help raise funds for the National Conference for Community and Justice, a human rights organization dedicated to fighting bias, bigotry and racism through education, conflict resolution and advocacy.

"Drake faculty and staff have worked for years with Rudy Simms and NCCJ members on programs and outreach efforts," said Don Adams, executive assistant to President Maxwell. "We look forward to the Walkathon not only as a means of raising important funds, but to once again meet the people of common interest for a better community."

To get involved, call Melissa Junge at x2027 or send an e-mail message to melissa.junge@drake.edu.
Hitzel to direct Career Center

Joan Hitzel went back to school to earn her master's degree, did an internship in the Drake University Career Center, and never left.

The new director of the Career Center has been serving Drake students for six years, organizing resume workshops, career fairs, internships and offering career advice. She's modest about her accomplishments, but her leadership is readily apparent.

"The longer I work with Joan, the more I grow to respect her leadership style," said Michael Cheney, associate provost and director of research. "She embodies a genuine kindness while being hardworking, thorough and direct."

The Career Center's mission is to empower students at all levels by providing services that focus on the three E's: Exploration, Experiential opportunities, and Employment or Entrance into graduate/professional school. "Sometimes," said Hitzel, "it's just transitional counseling, a push in the right direction or advice on how to move forward in a career search."

Last year she headed up the first annual Actuarial Evening, an event that allowed Drake actuarial students to talk with representatives from 31 companies and start networking for their future jobs.

Hitzel and the Career Center staff know how to listen to students' needs and actively meet them as well. They put together a student advisory group to give input about what programs work well, how to better reach students and to assist with promotion of events, such as mock interviews and the annual internship and career fairs.

Her hope for the future? "I hope students don't wait until they're seniors to come to the Career Center," she said.

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