Two Drake alumni join Drake Board of Trustees A pair of Drake University alumni who exemplify the value of a broad-based education offered at Drake have joined the University's Board of Trustees. Daniel Jacobi, vice president and general council for Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc., and David Golder, of Golder Investment Management in Winnetka, Ill., begin the first year of their three-year terms this month. Jacobi, 50, of Des Moines, graduated from Drake in 1976 with a bachelor of arts in psychology. While studying for a master's degree in applied behavior analysis, he worked with Polk County doing budgeting and system planning for county programs on mental health, mental retardation and substance abuse. Jacobi helped raise money for the construction of the Sands wing at Broadlawns Medical Center in Des Moines, which offers inpatient and outpatient psychiatric services. He turned from psychology to the law, earning his law degree from Drake in 1986. After a time in private practice, Jacobi joined Pioneer and rose to lead counsel of the agricultural giant headquartered in Johnston, Iowa. Jacobi also worked as general counsel at the Wittern Group in Des Moines. "I grew up a lot at Drake," said Jacobi, who cited Scott Wood, professor of psychology, and Robert Hunter, professor of law, as key influences in both phases of his academic and professional development. "The course offerings, the experience-based learning and the quality of teaching helped me grow up a lot. I have a very special place in my heart for Drake and I want to repay that in some way." Golder, 48, of Winnetka, Ill., graduated from Drake with a bachelor's in speech communications in 1979. He worked as a still and video photographer for many years, producing corporate videos. After his father died, Golder entered into the family business - Golder Investment Management - where he works in financial management and private equity trading. He also works with the Golder Family Foundation, a charitable organization that donates to education, health care and senior causes. "I make money with the one hand and give it away with the other," Golder said. Golder recalls top-flight instruction with his professors, including Jon Ericson, professor emeritus of rhetoric and communication studies, and Allen Scult, professor of philosophy and rhetoric, during his Drake undergraduate days. "My experience at Drake, more than almost any experience in my life, made me into what I am today as a person," he said. "It shaped how I think and how I question the world." Breyer's lecture is titled "Reflections of a Junior Justice." The lecture is free and open to the public. In addition to giving the Opperman Lecture on Thursday, Breyer will participate in a question-and-answer session with law students at 11 a.m. in Sheslow Auditorium in Old Main, have lunch with Law School faculty and student leaders at Cartwright Hall and tour Drake Law School facilities and the American Judicature Society, which is based in the Opperman Center at 2700 University Ave.
Iowa Public Television will broadcast exclusive television
coverage of the remarks by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Stephen
Breyer at Drake University on Thursday, Oct. 6, as part of
the Dwight D. Opperman Lecture in Constitutional Law. The
lecture will be broadcast on IPTV-Digital (Channel 50) at
5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9. Monday's On Campus contained the incorrect
date, based on information from IPTV. Breyer, a member of the Supreme Court since 1994, believes
in and will speak about his interpretation of the "living
Constitution," and how his views differ from those of
Justice Scalia and others who believe in strict interpretation
of the Constitution. Breyer recently published a book titled
"Active Liberty: Interpreting Our Democratic Constitution." McNeany, 22, of Loves Park, Ill., was named the national winner of the Venus Vibrance "Legs of A Goddess" contest last week. Celebrity sisters Hilary and Haylie Duff fronted the national search in June. The pair celebrated McNeany's win by flying her out to Los Angeles for Hilary's 18th birthday party at trendy celeb hangout Mood. McNeany, a former competitive swimmer who stays in shape by running and lifting weights, defeated hundreds of women from across the country to win a prize package valued at $50,000, including a Jacob and Co. five-time-zone watch featuring a pink and black diamond bezel. "One minute I'm studying tort reform and the next I'm told I have the best legs in America and am flown to Hollywood for Hilary Duff's birthday party," McNeany said in a Gillette press release. "Now I know how a celebrity feels; this is a dream come true!" David Stark, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Iowa Methodist Medical Center, will discuss "The Health Care Environment: The Perfect Storm" as part of Drake University's fall "Let's DU Lunch" speaker series. Stark's speech is set for 11:30 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 5, at the Polk County Convention Complex, 501 Grand Ave. The cost is $15 per luncheon. The Drake University Central Iowa Alumni Chapter and the Greater Des Moines Partnership sponsor the luncheon series, which is open to the public. The fall series will conclude Nov. 2 with a speech by Jeff Chelesvig, president and chief executive officer of the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines. His speech is titled "From Backstage to Center Stage: Creating the Magic of Broadway in Iowa." Due to limited seating, reservations are recommended. For reservations, contact the Office of Alumni and Parent Programs at x3848 or The Iowa Freedom of Information Council will celebrate the 25th anniversary of Expanded Media Coverage - "cameras in the courtroom" in Iowa - with a program Friday, Oct. 7, at Drake. In addition, two Iowans who took their fight against government secrecy to the state Supreme Court will be honored. The Iowa FOI Council will host a program celebrating and examining Expanded Media Coverage of Iowa judicial proceedings, beginning at 1 p.m. in the courtroom at the Drake Legal Clinic in the Neal and Bea Smith Law Center. The program is free and open to the public. Speakers include Justice Jerry Larson of the Iowa Supreme Court; former Waterloo broadcast journalist Grant Price; Gerald Feuerhelm, representing the Iowa Trial Lawyers Association; Iowa State University journalism professor Barbara Mack, and J. Michael Downey, a Des Moines businessman and former Des Moines Register and Tribune attorney. Herb Strentz, emeritus professor of journalism at Drake and former executive secretary of the Iowa FOI Council, will moderate. A reception will follow the program. Prior to the afternoon program, the council will host its annual meeting and luncheon, beginning at 11 a.m. at the University's Olmsted Center. The council will honor the three winners of this year's Friend of the First Amendment award, which is given in memory of longtime Iowa journalist Harrison "Skip" Weber. Mark Gannon of Ames and Arlen Nichols of Des Moines sued the Iowa State University Foundation to force the foundation, a fund-raising entity for ISU, to open its records to the public. Quoting Thomas Jefferson that "an informed citizenry is the bulwark of a democracy," the Iowa Supreme Court earlier this year ruled that the foundation is covered by the state open records law and must open its financial records to the public. Clark Kauffman, an investigative reporter for The Des Moines Register, will also be honored for his work this year, including a series on injustices in the handling of traffic tickets by public officials. Reservations for lunch are $15 and can be made by calling x2295 or e-mailing The Iowa Freedom of Information Council is a coalition of journalists, librarians, attorneys, educators and other citizens concerned about open government. The council is based in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Drake University. For more information, call the Iowa FOI Council at x2295. "Perry Today and Tomorrow/Perry Hoy y Manana," a bilingual dialog process about immigration, culture change, and the future began in Perry last week. The dialog groups are part of a documentary about the history and recent past of Perry, focusing on immigration, ethnicity and the economy, called "A Little Salsa on the Prairie: The Changing Culture of Perry, Iowa." Research and writing of the documentary is being shared by Jody Swilky, professor of English at Drake, and Kent Newman, an independent writer/producer, with direction and production by Full Spectrum Productions, Newman's company. Several dialog groups, called study circles, have been formed in Perry, including three community groups in English, a group of Anglo and bilingual Latino students at Perry High School, a group of city employees and two community groups in Spanish. Gloria Mengual, a program director from the Study Circles Resource Center in Pomfret, Conn., came to Perry to meet with Latino leaders and provide facilitator training Sept. 22 and 23. The study circles, which began meeting for the first time this week, are using a discussion guide developed by the Study Circles Resource Center in English and Spanish called "Changing Faces, Changing Communities: Immigration and Race, Jobs, Schools and Language Differences." A rough cut of the first half of the documentary (history and culture change during the recent past) is being shown to study circle participants at their first meeting in English and Spanish. Participants respond to the documentary and continue discussion during a sequence of five meetings, leading to recommendations for action. The remainder of the documentary will portray the study circles process and outcomes, including recommendations that will be presented at a community forum in November. Primary goals of the study circle process include improving civic engagement, communication and collaboration between diverse residents of Perry to capitalize on the positive attributes of cultural diversity and collectively address shared concerns. Funding for the project has been provided by grants from Humanities Iowa, the Iowa Arts Council and the Bock Family Foundation in Perry; cash and in-kind support from Drake University; cash contributions from Tyson Fresh Meats, Raccoon Valley Bank, other businesses and key individuals; and the participation of more than 100 people in Perry serving as facilitators, participants and members of the Planning Committee. Spanish groups began meeting at 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 2, at the Perry Public Library. The third English group will begin at 6 p.m. today (Monday, Oct. 3), at the Carnegie Library in Perry. The other English groups meet from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays at the Public Library and Thursdays at the McCreary Community Center. There is a city employees group that meets from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Thursdays at City Hall and a student group at Perry High School that meets from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Wednesdays. Each of the dialog groups is scheduled to meet for five consecutive weekly sessions. These meetings will lead to a community forum in November that will be open to the public. The Drake University School of Journalism and Mass Communication will honor a pair of graduates as the 2005 Alumni of the Year during an alumni event from 4 to 7:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 6, at Meredith Hall. Donna Tweeten, a 1984 graduate, is president of the Meyocks Group, a Des Moines-based advertising agency with clients including Hy-Vee, the American Red Cross-Midwest Region Blood Services, Farm Credit Services of America, Blank Park Zoo and Croplife International. She lives in Clive. "Donna's dedication to her profession and craft is equaled by her dedication to the School of Journalism and Mass Communication," said Todd Evans, professor of journalism. "Donna has kept an open door for our students needing information, internships and jobs. Donna exemplifies our core values at work in the real world. I believe she is deserving of the recognition and stature this award represents." Tweeten will also deliver a speech titled "Take The Hard Way Out. Ethics: What I Have Learned From Life … And Life In Advertising." The talk will be at 6 p.m. in Meredith Hall, room 101. Neenah Ellis, a 1977 graduate, is a National Public Radio reporter whose "If I Live to Be 100: Lessons from the Centenarians" series later became a best-selling book. Ellis also worked on a 10-year oral history project for the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. She lives in Takoma Park, Md. "Neenah has had a distinguished, award-winning career in broadcasting that combines good journalism with public service," said Kathleen Richardson, assistant professor of journalism and executive secretary of the Iowa Freedom of Information Council. "She is a professional role model and would be an inspiration for our students." For more information about attending, call Shari Tenney at x3194 or e-mail at Drake's Center for Professional Studies now offers a Certificate in Business Technology designed to enhance understanding of personal computer software applications used in today's office environment. The 15-hour program, which begins at 9 a.m. Friday, Oct. 7, will consist of five three-hour sessions in Drake computer labs. There will be one section that meets Friday afternoons and another section that meets Saturday mornings. Among the applications to be covered are Excel, Word, PowerPoint, FrontPage and Access. In addition, the program will deal with e-mail, Internet research, legal issues and security. The cost of the program is $299. For more information, contact Lance Noe at x2008 or The Drake Business Link is offering interactive workshops on the second Friday of each month throughout the fall semester. Each will be three hours in length and taught by Drake faculty. The enrollment is limited to 35 participants, allowing more in-depth coverage of each business topic. There is a $40 registration fee for each workshop course. The next one will be on the topic of Leadership Skills from 9 a.m. to noon Friday, Oct. 14, in room 112 of Aliber Hall. There are lots of ideas about what good leadership involves, but experts generally agree that leadership behaviors that are effective in one situation might be unhelpful - or maybe even counterproductive - in another. Steve Scullen, associate professor of management and organizational behavior, will facilitate this workshop on an applied view of leadership in today's organizations. A number of techniques, including self-assessment, role-plays, and group discussion will be used to help participants determine the types of situations in which certain leadership approaches may be more effective than others and develop skills that can be applied in different leadership roles. Scullen holds a Ph.D. in human resource management from the University of Iowa. He has taught courses in organizational behavior, managerial effectiveness, and human resource management at Drake and at North Carolina State University. Before beginning his career in academics, Scullen was a track coach at Drake. In that role, he became involved in the leadership of the Drake Relays, serving as chair of the Drake Relays Committee in 1993. He continues to serve on the Relays Committee. For more information about the workshop, contact Delaney Kirk, director of Drake Business Link, at x3724 or The Drake Choir and Chamber Choir, conducted by Aimee Beckmann-Collier, and the Drake Chorale, conducted by Barbara Sletto, will present a concert titled "With a Voice of Singing" at 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9, on the Jordan Stage in Sheslow Auditorium in Old Main. The program will feature works by Bach, Palestrina, Brahms, and Debussy as well as music by contemporary American, Hungarian and Icelandic composers. Admission is free. The Drake Symphony Orchestra, John Canarina conducting, will open its concert on Tuesday, Oct. 11, with the "Academic Festival" overture by Brahms, in observance of the 125th anniversary of Drake University. Brahms composed the piece in 1881, the same year that Drake opened. The concert, which is free and open to the public, will start at 8 p.m. on the Jordan Stage in Sheslow Auditorium in Old Main. Clarence Padilla, chair of Drake's Music Department, will be the featured soloist in Mozart's Clarinet Concerto. Also on the program are Virgil Thomson's suite from "Louisiana Story" and the ever-popular "Bolero" by Ravel. Fanning worked as a filmmaker in his native South Africa before moving to the United States in the 1970s. "Frontline," which premiered in 1983, is the only regularly scheduled public affairs documentary series on television and has won every major award for broadcast journalism, including the Emmy, the Peabody and the George Polk award. Fanning's visit to Drake was sponsored by Iowa Public Television. He encouraged the journalism students to "go out, visit someplace nobody knows about, come back and tell us about it," and to find the surprising elements even in everyday events. Fanning said that "Frontline" is known for its evenhanded treatment of complicated and controversial topics. Fanning said the "great test" for a journalist is being able to step back from one's own political opinions and examine an issue with "dispassion and care," to find "the truth at the heart" of public debates. |
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