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On Campus - Stories
October 27, 2000 - Vol. 53, No. 20



Drake accepts national Well Workplace award

On behalf of Drake University, President David Maxwell recently accepted the Bronze Well Workplace Award from the Wellness Councils of America. He was one of 11 Drake officials who attended the awards ceremony at the Annual Conference on Worksite Wellness at the Iowa Methodist Education and Research Conference Center.

"Drake University has put a lot of effort into building a quality health promotion program and integrating it into the way the organizations does business," said a reviewer for the Wellness Councils of America. "With a diverse Wellness Committee representing many departments, along with David Maxwell endorsing the wellness efforts, support for the wellness initiative is clearly indicated."

Maytag CEO to speak at lunch

Lloyd Ward, chairman and chief executive officer of Maytag Corp., will discuss "The Attributes of Unassailable Leadership" during a luncheon on Wednesday, Nov. 1, at the Younkers Tea Room in downtown Des Moines.

The luncheon, which is open to the public, is part of the Let's DU Lunch series sponsored by Drake University's Central Iowa Alumni Chapter and the Greater Des Moines Partnership.

The event will begin with networking at 11:30 a.m. followed by Ward's presentation from noon to 1 p.m. The cost is $15 per person. For reservations, x3152.

Drake to join "Get Wired!" expo

Contributing sponsor of "Get Wired! Plug in to a Greater Des Moines," a celebration presented by the Greater Des Moines Partnership to promote and showcase the community and its businesses, non-profit organizations, spirit, diversity and success.

The event will be held at the Polk County Convention Complex in downtown Des Moines from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.

Drake also is a finalist for the event's "Celebrate Business! Community Champion Award," which seeks to recognize a commercial or non-profit organization that most champions a high quality of life for Greater Des Moines by its donation of time, financial resources or expertise of the organization and its associates.

Recipients of all the "Celebrate Business!" awards, as well as the 2000 Economic Impact Awards and the A. Arthur Davis Leadership Award, will be presented on Thursday, Nov. 2, at 4 p.m. at the Polk County Convention Complex.

"Get Wired!" includes a free expo featuring businesses, cultural groups and non-profit organizations as well as free presentations and entertainment. A free Asian Cultural Talent Expo will be presented on Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m.

In addition, nationally recognized speakers will make presentations during lunch and breakfast events; for information on times and costs for those events, call the Greater Des Moines Partnership at 286-4950 or visit its Web site,
www.getwired-desmoines.com.

For information on Drake's booth at the event, or to help staff it, please contact Barb Dietrich Boose, publications director and interim director of marketing and communications, at x3273 or
barbara.boose@drake.edu.

Resource Guide deadline nears

Faculty and staff are invited to participate in the 2001 edition of the Drake University Resource Guide, which is being compiled by the Office of Marketing and Communications. This publication is designed to generate opportunities for Drake faculty and staff members to speak or comment on their subject areas of expertise.

To indicate whether or not you wish to participate in The Resource Guide, please complete the form on the Drake Web site at
www.drake.edu/newsevents/resourceform.html. The deadline for completing the form is Monday, Oct. 30. For more information, contact Lisa Lacher, director of media relations, at x3119.
Drake mourns Joyce Onnen

There was standing room only at the recent memorial service for Joyce Onnen in Levitt Hall. Onnen had served Drake for 30 years. She joined the University in January 1971 as a secretary in the development office. She became an administrative assistant in that office in 1977 and retired in July 1994. She returned to Drake in November of that year as a part-time records clerk and continued to work until her health declined in late August. She died of cancer on Oct. 17. She was 71.

"Joyce was a person who liked to work. She enjoyed and truly liked the people she worked with," said her nephew, Marv Brewer, who officiated at the memorial service.

"I loved everything that Joyce was," said John Amato, director of Campaign Drake. "She was intelligent, strong, genuine, witty, demanding, calm, had a great laugh, and was liked by everyone. She was even liked by the squirrels when she officed in Old Main. Her pet squirrel is now a legend.

"Even over the past couple of months when it was obvious that things weren't well with her, she never showed weakness," Amato added. "She always kept her bright face and warm personality. During my last phone call with Joyce a couple of weeks ago, she showed her usual strength. While she shied away from visitors, the last thing she said to me was that she misses us and to share her love with everyone at the office. I think I just did."

Onnen is survived by her husband, Robert; two daughters, Linda Usher of Elkton, Md., and Susan Onnen of St. Louis; a son, Steve of Norwalk; two sisters, two brothers and eight grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to the elementary department, Des Moines Public Schools, for the purchase of library books for elementary schools.

Drake to present two versions of 'Hamlet'

Drake Theatre will present not one, but two versions of William Shakespeare's "Hamlet" in alternating repertory from Nov. 9-12.

Theatre arts professor William S. E. Coleman will direct two versions of this timeless play as the actors alternate roles in revolving repertory. This will enable audiences to see differing actors reveal their interpretations of Shakespeare's great characters.

"'Hamlet' is one of the landmarks in world literature," Coleman said. "Drake's production is set in a modernistic decaying kingdom. Each performance sheds new light on Shakespeare's classic play and its enigmatic title character."

Performances will start at 8 p.m. Nov. 9, 10 and 11 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 11 and 12 in the Hall of Performing Arts, Harmon Fine Arts Center. Tickets are $5 for adults, $2.50 for students and senior citizens. For reservations, call the Drake Fine Arts Box
Office at x3841.

The Friday, Nov. 10, performance will be preceded by a TalkAbout featuring a Danish supper and Coleman's discussion of "Hamlet: A Never-ending Enigma; An Eternal Fascination." The TalkAbout will start at 6 p.m. in St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Student Center. Tickets for the TalkAbout and Friday performance are $15. Reservations are required. Call x4747 for reservations.

Prof. Torry collaborates on study of complications of pregnancy

A Drake University professor and colleague have received a three-year grant of $426,000 from the National Institutes of Child Health and Human Development to study complications of pregnancy.

Ronald J. Torry, associate professor of pharmacology at Drake, is co-director of the grant. The principal investigator is his brother, Donald S. Torry, associate professor of medical microbiology-immunology and clinical associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, Ill.

The grant will support their research on mechanisms responsible for abnormal placental development during human pregnancy. One of the most common obstetrical complications in humans is preeclampsia or toxicity of pregnancy, a condition that is associated with increased fetal and maternal complications throughout pregnancy.

The grant will fund research designed to determine the role a naturally occurring protein, placenta growth factor, and its receptors have in the stimulation of blood vessel growth and function in the human placenta. The Torrys' research has shown that changes in the production of this protein are associated with the development of preeclampsia and may occur long before clinical symptoms of the disease are evident.

Four students in the Doctor of Pharmacy program at Drake are assisting with research in Ronald J. Torry's laboratory at Drake. They are Angie Arlen of New Vienna, Iowa; David Hsu of Houston; Joanna Schwartz of Montoursville, Penn.; and Kristi Snyder of West Des Moines.

Prof. Taylor to give debut recital

New faculty member James Taylor, baritone, will give his debut recital at Drake at 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 29, on the Jordan Stage in Sheslow Auditorium in Old Main. The program includes music by Rossini, Schumann, Barber, Rachmaninoff, Verdi and Drake alumni Jon Spong, FA'56, GR'58, and Alice Jordan, FA'38. Admission is free.

Sneak preview set for Sunday

Central Iowa area basketball fans can catch a sneak preview of the Drake University men's and women's basketball teams by attending the Bulldog Haunted Hoops at the Drake Knapp Center Sunday, Oct. 29.

Doors to the Drake Knapp Center open at 4 p.m. with festivities scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m. Both the men's and women's basketball teams will be introduced to the public followed by 12-minute intrasquad scrimmages from each team.

Other activities include a Halloween parade, for kids 14 years and under; a three-point shooting contest involving members of the Drake women's team followed by a dunking display with members of the Bulldog men's basketball team.

Concert tickets go on sale Nov. 1

Tickets will go on sale Wednesday, Nov. 1, for Drake's annual Christmas Madrigal Dinners on Dec. 2 and 3 and the Nov. 19 performance of "The Creation" by Franz Joseph Hadyn by all of Drake's choral ensembles and the Drake Symphony Orchestra.

Tickets for the Christmas Madrigal Dinners typically sell quickly. "Last year, we sold out the Saturday performance in 48 hours and the Sunday performance in a week," said Aimee Beckmann-Collier, director of choral activities at Drake.

Tickets will be available through the Drake Fine Arts Box Office, x3841. The cost is $32 per person.

The Drake Fine Arts Box Office also will begin selling tickets Wednesday, Nov. 1, for the Nov. 19 concert featuring all Drake choral ensembles and the Drake Symphony Orchestra performing Hadyn's "The Creation." This concert, with Beckmann-Collier and John Canarina conducting, will start at 8 p.m. in the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines in downtown Des Moines. Two faculty soloists will be featured: Leanne Freeman-Miller, soprano, and James Taylor, baritone.

Tickets are $6 for students and $12 for non-students. In addition to the Drake Fine Arts Box Office, they are available at the Civic Center Box Office and all Ticketmaster outlets. Tickets also can be charged by phone through Ticketmaster at 243-1888.

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