FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 14, 2003

CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, 271-3119, 979-9188 (cell)
Erin Downs, 271-2986, 707-1337 (cell)

DRAKE TO HOST A MYRIAD OF RELAYS FESTIVITIES

Drake University will host a myriad of festivities in celebration of the 94th annual Drake Relays.
Here is a comprehensive list of activities.

FRIDAY, APRIL 18

• 6 p.m. ~ Student Life Event: Bacchanalia
  Site: Helmick Commons
  Free concert featuring Umphreys McGee along with performances by Pomeroy, Ephraim Zehn and Ryan Patrick Imming.

SATURDAY, APRIL 19

• Noon to 4 p.m. ~ Student Life Event: Street Painting
  Site: The Painted Street (Carpenter Avenue between 27th and 28th streets)
  Student organizations will paint squares displaying their interpretation of this year's Relays theme: "Speed of Life."

MONDAY, APRIL 21

• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ~ Beautiful Bulldog Contest
  Site: Nollen Plaza
  Bulldogs from near and far will strut their stuff for the honor of being named the Drake Relays most beautiful bulldog. This event has been the cornerstone of the Drake Relays festival week. It has received international recognition for its uniqueness. Come join the fun as local media and celebrity judges make their decision and crown the Drake Relays Beautiful Bulldog.
• 9 to 11 p.m. ~ Student Life Event: Karaoke
  Site: Cool Beans, Hubbell Dining Hall

TUESDAY, APRIL 22

• 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. ~ Mascot Relays Preliminaries
  Site: Nollen Plaza
• 5:30 to 7 p.m. ~ Mascot Relays Finals
  Site: Prairie Meadows
  Drake Mascot Spike and his friends will be competing in fun Relays related races throughout the downtown area of Des Moines. The finals will take place at Prairie Meadows.
• 9 to 11 p.m. ~ Student Life Event: Outdoor Movie: "My Big Fat Greek Wedding"
  Site: Helmick Commons

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23

• 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. ~ Drake Relays
  Site: Drake Stadium
  Decathlon and Heptathlon
• An all day event ~ Wear your Blues
  Site: Everywhere in Des Moines
  Drake University encourages support of the Drake Relays by asking all greater Des Moines residents to wear blue today. Local businesses will participate to see who can be the most blue. (Downtown retailers and restaurants will participate by having discounts for blue-clad customers.) Blues and jazz bands will perform downtown between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
• 7 to 11 p.m. ~ Student Life Event: Carnival
  Site: Helmick Commons

THURSDAY, APRIL 24

• 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. ~ Drake Relays
  Site: Drake Stadium
  Decathlon and Heptathlon
• 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. ~ "Fake Relays"
  Site: Nollen Plaza
  This action-packed afternoon pits downtown CEOs, media celebrities and others in races of non-traditional kinds. Come join the fun and be ready to laugh with some of Des Moines leading personalities.
• 4:30 to 8:20 p.m. ~ Drake Relays Distance Carnival
  Site: Drake Stadium
• 7 - 9:30 p.m. ~ Hall of Fame Reception & Induction
  Site: Drake Knapp Center

FRIDAY, APRIL 25

• 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. ~ The 94th Annual Drake Relays
  Site: Drake Stadium
• 7 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. ~ Drake Relays, Court Ave Celebration
  Site: Fourth Street and Court Avenue
  Bands of differing styles and tastes liven up the night at eleven different venues in the historic Court Avenue and Fourth Street area. The Drake Relays and the Court Avenue Association sponsor this event. This event is free to the public. Street acts will start at 7 p.m. and will be followed by participating venues at 8:30 p.m.
• 7 p.m. ~ Student Life Event: Comedy Show
  Site: Sheslow Auditorium, Old Main
  Comedians Stacey "Nard" Holston, Roland Powell, Barton "B Rich" Richardson and Pat Brown will perform. Tickets are $5 or free with a Drake ID.

SATURDAY, APRIL 26

• 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. ~ Day 2 of the 94th Annual Drake Relays
  Site: Drake Stadium
• 10 a.m. ~ Relays Parade
  Site: State Capitol
  The traditional Relays Parade will start at the foot of the State Capitol (East Sixth and Grand Avenue) and continue west on Grand Avenue to 12th Street.
• 10 a.m. ~ Paul Morrison Relays Lecture
  Site: Bulldog Theater, Olmsted Center
  Drake graduate Barbara Robinette Moss, author of the memoir "Change Me into Zeus•s Daughter," Scribner (2002), will discuss "Finding a Voice." In 1996, Moss received the Gold Medal for Personal Essay in the William Faulkner Creative Writing Contest for an essay that eventually grew into her memoir. In the memoir, Moss chronicles the heart-breaking story of how her family survived the tyranny of her alcoholic father.
• 11 a.m. ~ Dedication of Helmick Commons Projects
  Site: North end of Helmick Commons
  Drake officials, students, alumni and friends will dedicate several projects that play a key role in the development of Helmick Commons. They are the Paul and Dorothy Helmick Courtyard, the Kragie Newell Agora, the Wells Fargo Financial Reflecting Pool and the Wells Fargo Bank Iowa Garden.
• 12:30 - 1:05 p.m. ~ 94th Annual Drake Relays Opening Ceremonies
  Site: Drake Stadium Victory Stand
• 8 p.m. - 2 a.m. ~ Student Life Event: Step Show and Party
  Site: Parents Hall, Olmsted Center
  Tickets are $7 for the Step Show and $10 for the Step Show and Party.