1. Construction will begin on new Law School
2. Arnold Mitchem elected to Marquette Board of Trustees
3. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor speaks to law students
4. New parking structure to be built on Clybourn Avenue
5. Faculty to pick up caps and gowns in AMU
6. Faculty symposium to address service learning
7. Submit professional accomplishments for Compendium newsletter
8. Marquette Place to close for summer
9. Musicians and ushers needed for Baccalaureate Mass
10. Toastmasters to provide free demonstration meeting
11. Summer fitness classes offered at Rec Plex
12. IT Services launches new Web site
13. SOHI District to host Taste of SOHI Fish Fry

 

1. Construction will begin on new Law School

Marquette will break ground for a new Law School on Thursday, May 22.

The Marquette University Board of Trustees approved the project Wednesday. The building will be named Eckstein Hall in honor of the $51 million donation in May 2007 from Raymond A. and Katherine A. Eckstein, an alumni couple from Cassville, Wis. Inside, the four-story structure will feature the Zilber Forum, recognizing the generosity of Milwaukee real estate developer Joseph Zilber, an alumnus who last August contributed $30 million, of which $5 million will be used toward construction of the building and $25 million will go to student scholarships. The $85 million project has also been supported by an early $1 million gift from the Bradley Foundation as well as several seven-figure gifts from anonymous donors.

Located on Tory Hill, at the southeast corner of the Marquette campus, the 200,000-square-foot building will include two courtrooms, classrooms, faculty office suites, library space with a two-story reading room, a conference center and a café. Two stories of parking below the building will accommodate 170 vehicles.

“Eckstein Hall will be the realization of an extraordinary vision articulated so persuasively by Law School Dean Joseph D. Kearney and the law faculty,” Marquette President Robert A. Wild, S.J., said. “In addition to providing our students and faculty with a facility specifically designed to meet the needs of 21st century legal education, the new Law School building will serve as a magnet for the discussion of the legal and social issues that affect our society — and as a catalyst for action to address those issues.”

The building is being designed by Shepley, Bulfinch, Richardson & Abbott Architects and Opus Architects & Engineers, with Opus North Corp. as the general contractor. It is targeted for completion by fall 2010.

The groundbreaking ceremony on May 22 will begin with a picnic for the entire campus community at 12:15 p.m., followed by a program at 1:15 p.m. Watch for details in next week’s News Briefs.

In June the Law School will begin the broad-based phase of its fund-raising campaign, with the goal of raising $19 million in the next two years and increasing participation among various Law School constituencies.

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3. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor speaks to law students

Retired Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor joined Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson for a discussion about judicial independence with invited Marquette law students and faculty Wednesday. Mike Gousha, distinguished fellow in law and public policy, moderated the event at the Helfaer Theatre.

O’Connor noted that she has concerns about the impact of massive spending on judicial elections and called recent elections, including the recent Supreme Court race in Wisconsin, “shocking.” Describing the current system in some states, she said, “It is not how you get fair and impartial decision-making, and it is contrary to what the framers of the constitution had in mind.”

O’Connor said she supports a merit selection system for judges, similar to one that exists in her native state of Arizona.

Abrahamson was also critical of the influence of outside money on judicial elections. She issued a call to action to lawyers and others to educate people on the appropriate role of a judge. “We are not loose cannons on the ship of justice,” she said. “We have laws and the rule of law.”

O’Connor cited a growing lack of knowledge in the areas of civics, government and American history among the nation’s high school students as another large concern, pointing to the fact that more people can name a judge on American Idol than on the Supreme Court. To that end, she is supporting the development of a free Web site to teach young people about the courts and the role of judges through interactive programming, and she strongly supports increasing outreach activities to teachers and students.

O’Connor and Abrahamson emphasized to students the importance of serving others and urged them to “save time for public service … for your family and for a normal life.”

4. New parking structure to be built on Clybourn Avenue

The university will begin construction of a new parking facility in the southeast quadrant of the campus next month.

The parking structure was included in the bond issue approved by the Board of Trustees Wednesday to provide financing for the new Law School and address parking needs.

The 2007 Marquette University Campus Facilities Master Plan included an evaluation of existing parking capacity and concluded that the university had adequate parking in the northeast, northwest and southwest quadrants of campus. The master plan called for 500 parking spaces in the southeast quadrant of campus, which includes many of the core academic buildings. Below ground parking in the new Law School building will accommodate 170 vehicles.

The new precast concrete parking structure, to be built on the north side of Clybourn west of 13th Street, will have at least 300 parking spaces, according to the information shared with trustees. It will be designed consistent with the 16th Street and Wells Street parking structures, including safety and security features and accommodations for handicapped accessibility.

Construction on the new parking facility is scheduled to begin in June, with completion by December 2009. Parking rates are not expected to increase.

5. Faculty to pick up caps and gowns in AMU

Graduation caps and gowns will be available for pick-up in AMU 227, Tuesday, May 13, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Wednesday, May 14, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Snacks and special gifts from the Marquette Alumni Association will also be provided in the second floor lobby.

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6. Faculty symposium to address service learning

The Service Learning Program will host a Service Learning Faculty Symposium and Showcase Wednesday, May 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the AMU. Faculty from Marquette and other Midwestern colleges and universities will share service learning practices and projects at a variety of workshops and presentations.

Dr. Ken Reardon, associate professor and chair of city and regional planning at Cornell University, will give the keynote address, "From Charity to Service to Justice: The Challenge of Achieving Social Change.”

Registration is free for Marquette faculty and is open until Monday, May 12. Contact Bobbi Timberlake, service learning program administrator, at 8-3261 to register and for more information.

This regional event is co-sponsored by Wisconsin Campus Compact, the Institute for Urban Life and the Manresa Project.

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8. Marquette Place to close for summer

Marquette Place, AMU's food market, will close for the summer beginning Monday, May 19. New dining venues will be added for a grand opening in August. Other summer dining locations, including the temporary Marquette Place Patio Grille on the first floor patio of AMU, will be available.
Summer dining options include:

Marquette Place Patio Grille (for summer only) — Open weekdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., AMU first floor, west patio. The grille will feature chicken breast, brats, hamburgers and portabella mushroom sandwiches, and pasta, potato salads and fresh fruit. Rotating weekly menu items will include corn on the cob, grilled turkey legs and a honey mustard barbecue chicken breast.

The Lunda Room — Open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., AMU second floor. In addition to its fine dining menu, it will also offer weekly "Lunda on the Run" carryout selections. “Lunda on the Run” selections for May 19 to 23 are a Nicoise salad and smoked turkey breast wrap. Call 8-3073 for carryouts and reservations.

Brew Bayou — Open weekdays from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., AMU first floor. In addition to chai, coffee and tea, Brew Bayou will also offer grab-n-go salads, sandwiches, wraps, sushi, fruit, yogurt and bakery.

The Union Sports Annex — Open Monday to Thursday from 4 p.m. to midnight, at 16th & Wells Street. The Annex offers, wings, pizza, salads, burgers and sandwiches. Call 8-7769 for carryouts.

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13. SOHI District to host Taste of SOHI Fish Fry

The SOHI District will host its third annual Taste of SOHI Fish Fry with free live entertainment Friday, May 16, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 2632 W. Wells Street (West Point Condominium parking lot).

The university is connected with West End Development Corp. and has been involved with the SOHI project as part of its neighborhood and community engagement.

The event will feature a fish fry and musical entertainment from jazz musician James Dallas.