1. Manpower chairman and CEO to visit campus

Jeff Joerres, Manpower, Inc. chairman and CEO and a member of the university board of trustees, will be the guest for “On the Issues with Mike Gousha” on Wednesday, Oct. 15, at noon in Sensenbrenner Hall. Joerres will offer his perspective on recent economic developments, drawing on his experience with Milwaukee-based Manpower, which does business in more than 80 countries and territories. Manpower is a world leader in the employment services industry, ranks 120th on the Fortune 500 list and was recognized by Forbes Magazine as one of the “Best Managed Companies in America.”

Register online.

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2. Ethiopian bishop to speak about the global food crisis

Bishop Abraham Desta of Ethiopia will address “Water and Hunger, Education and Hope,” Monday, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m. in the Monaghan Ballroom, AMU. Bishop Desta works with Catholic Relief Services to offer social service and development programs to alleviate world hunger. Desta communicates his faith while living amidst a 99 percent Muslim population. A reception at 6:30 p.m. will precede the program, with a question and answer session following Desta’s address.

Visit the Office of Mission and Identity’s Web site for more information.

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3. Rev. Bryan Massingale to speak about religion, race and politics

Rev. Bryan Massingale, associate professor of theology, will present “Religion, Race and Politics” Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 7 p.m. in the Weasler Auditorium. This free lecture, sponsored by Marquette and the Gesu Parish, is part of the Gathering Points: Tracking the Spirit in Troubled Times, lecture series on the contemporary Catholic Church.

Massingale specializes in Roman Catholic moral theology with a focus on Catholic social thought, liberation theologies, African-American religious action, racial reconciliation, environmental justice and terrorism and the challenge of peacemaking.

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4. Registration open for SySTEM Now! Conference

The 5th Annual SySTEM Now! Conference, a consortium of businesses, educational institutions, citizens and public officials dedicated to improving the competency and diversity of youth entering the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields, will be held Tuesday, Oct. 21, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the AMU. The theme of the conference is “Emerging Opportunities Ahead,” and the day will include a keynote speech by Dr. Irving Pressley McPhail, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering, Inc.

The conference schedule and registration are available online. For more information, contact Corey Jackson at 414-297-7293.

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5. Exploding stars topic of Coyne Lecture

Dr. J. Craig Wheeler, professor of astronomy at University of Texas at Austin, will present “Exploding Stars in an Accelerating Universe” at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23, in the Tony and Lucille Weasler Auditorium. As the Rev. George V. Coyne, S.J., lecturer in astronomy and astrophysics, Wheeler will explain how supernovae produce elements necessary for life, exotic compact objects like neutron stars and black holes, and the energy to drive the evolution of galaxies.

Wheeler specializes in the astrophysics of violent events: supernovae, neutron stars, black holes, gamma-ray bursts and the relation of these events to astrobiology. He has published approximately 200 papers in refereed journals and conference proceedings, and has edited books on supernovae.

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6. Former chaplain to Desmund Tutu to visit campus

Rev. Chris Ahrends, former chaplain to Desmund Tutu and the Center for Peacemaking’s peacemaker in residence, will address the concept of nonviolent peacemaking Thursday, Oct. 23, through Wednesday, Oct. 29. Ahrends will conduct a retreat Saturday, Oct. 25, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Chapel of the Holy Family, on the second floor of the AMU. Retreatants will reflect on the inner personal peace one needs to make outer peace in the world. The retreat is free and open to the public. Registration is recommended, but not required. Call the Center for Peacemaking at 8-8444.

Ahrends will also provide a series of presentations to discuss “Theory W,” an integrated approach to personal and group dynamics that empowers peacemaking, Thursday, Oct. 23, in AMU 157, Monday, Oct. 27, in AMU 252, and Wednesday, Oct. 29, in AMU 254. All presentations are 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and are free and open to the public.

Ahrends was ordained an Anglican priest in 1983, serving as a priest and chaplain to Archbishop Tutu and sub dean of St. George’s Cathedral in Cape Town for 18 years. He was later appointed executive director of the Desmond Tutu Peace Trust. In 2005, Ahrends founded Four Consulting, a therapy and consulting practice “offering therapy, counseling and consulting in the field of transformation, healing, wholeness and personal growth.”

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7. Session to address how to create a Web site

Information Technology Services, the Office of Marketing and Communication and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs will host a brown bag lunch, “A Web site for Your Project: How, What, How Much, How Soon?” The session will take place Wednesday, Oct. 29, from noon to 1 p.m. in Cudahy 208. The event is open to faculty and staff interested in creating a Web site that includes information on Marquette-related activities.

The program will cover:

• the process for requesting assistance with Web sites for projects, centers, programs, etc. — whether funded by a grant or some other means.

• becoming familiar with IT Services and the Office of Marketing and Communication expertise and resources to assist in Web planning and design

• approved Web design vendors

Refreshments will be provided. Register by Oct. 24 by calling 8-7225.

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8. Wisconsin Public Radio to broadcast live from AMU

Kathleen Dunn, host of Conversations with Kathleen Dunn on Wisconsin Public Radio, will present a “Your vote, Your future” broadcast with special guest Mike Gousha, distinguished fellow in law and public policy, on Thursday, Oct. 30. The broadcast will run from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. in the AMU, Monaghan Ballroom. The first hour will feature a panel of guests from both major political parties, and the second hour will feature Marquette students discussing what has been happening on campus to get the vote out.

Free admission tickets are available to members of the Marquette community. Tickets are available between noon and 11:30 p.m. in the Brooks Lounge, AMU. A limited number of tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Call the Office of Public Affairs at 8-7491 for more information.

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9. Marquette addresses impact of financial turmoil

Marquette's finances are in good condition, according to Vice President for Finance Chuck Lamb, because the university budgets conservatively, plans for changes during budget cycles, and has strong operating and capital budgeting controls. “Academic operations are stable and financial reserves sufficiently liquid to fund operations,” he said. Recently Moody’s, a major credit rating agency, reviewed Marquette’s finances and gave the university an A2 rating. Lamb said only four other Catholic universities have a higher rating than Marquette.

The Office of Finance has posted a Q&A online regarding other aspects of the financial situation, including university borrowing, endowment returns, student financial aid and the security of retirement accounts. In addition, TIAA-CREF has extended its phone hours to answer employee questions. Call 1-800-842-2776.

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10. Benefit packages arriving at employee homes

The complete packet of annual enrollment information for Marquette employees is now arriving at employee homes. All employees are encouraged to read the information packet and use MyJob to add and modify benefits during the annual enrollment period from Oct. 27 (Benefits/Wellness Information Day) through Nov. 17.

Employees can also schedule their health risk assessment to qualify for the discounted health insurance premium. Call 1-877-765-3213 and press "1" to make an appointment for your on-campus HRA. Appointments are available Oct. 27 through Nov. 14. Employees can also see their primary care provider for a health risk assessment.

Actions that employees must take during the enrollment period are:

• Update and/or verify personal information, including beneficiaries, covered dependents and emergency contacts.

• Choose whether or not to participate in the new stand-alone vision plan, which is no longer part of medical plan. Employees who enroll will have routine eye care coverage and other benefits.

• Choose whether or not to participate in a Flexible Spending Account. Employees who do not enroll will not have a FSA.

• Complete both parts of the health risk assessment to qualify for the discounted health insurance premium.

Employees who are not changing their health or dental coverage do not need to update their coverage on MyJob (except for the vision election). Their 2008 plan elections will default to their current elections.

Additional information is available on the Department of Human Resources Web site.

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11. Faculty and staff survey will examine freshman experience

Faculty and staff are encouraged to provide opinions of the experiences of Marquette freshmen in a survey that will run Oct. 15-31. The survey is part of the year-long assessment Marquette is conducting in cooperation with the Foundations of Excellence Project of the Policy Center on the First Year of College (see Oct. 6 News Brief).

All faculty members, both full- and part-time, and staff who work with first-year students, will receive e-mail invitations from Greg Kliebhan, senior vice president, and Provost John Pauly to participate in the Web-based survey. The survey itself should take approximately 10 to 15 minutes, even less for those who have little or no contact with freshmen.

Responses are compiled by EBI and the Policy Center on the First Year Experience. The aggregate findings will be used by the steering committee and on-campus work groups to help in the evaluation of the current first-year experience. A freshman student survey is scheduled later this fall.

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12. Flu shots available at Shoo the Flu, walk-in flu clinic

Flu and pneumonia shots will be available to the Marquette community at Shoo the Flu, Oct. 27 and 28, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., first floor AMU. No appointment is necessary. Flu shots will cost $30 (EPO reimbursement at 100 percent and PPO reimbursement at 80 percent, by year’s end). Medicare part B and Medicaid will also be accepted. Pneumonia shots will cost $45 (no insurance reimbursement). Cash and checks will be accepted.

The Marquette Neighborhood Health Center will also provide flu vaccines (shots or nasal spray) at walk-in flu clinics, 1834 W. Wisconsin Ave. The flu shot is available to anyone two years of age and older. Cost is $40 for those without insurance. MNHC will bill MU insurance, which will cover the cost. MNHC can bill some other providers, as well. No appointment is necessary, but the vaccines will be administered first-come, first-served.

Dates for walk-in flu clinics:

• Saturday, Oct. 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

• Tuesday, Oct. 21, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

• Tuesday, Nov. 4, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

• Saturday, Nov. 8, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Call the Marquette Neighborhood Health Center at 933-9100 for more information.

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13. Panel to discuss American Indian Studies courses

MUSG’s Diversity Commission will host a Case for American Indian Studies panel tomorrow, Oct. 14, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Multicultural Center, AMU 227. Dr. Donald Green, associate professor of sociology, and Dr. Cary Miller, assistant professor of history, both from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, will address the importance of universities and colleges having courses pertaining to the American Indian population. Refreshments will be served. For more information, call 8-7416.

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14. President of Central Kitchen to speak

More than 100 students and staff from 17 campuses will attend the fifth annual student-powered National Campus Kitchens conference Oct. 16. The three-day conference will feature leadership development, networking and strategic planning to enable students to start Campus Kitchens projects in their own communities. Robert Egger, founder and president of Washington, D.C.’s Central Kitchen, will kick off the conference with a keynote address on Thursday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. in the AMU. The keynote address is free and open to the public. Egger has been on the Non Profit Times' “50 Most Powerful and Influential Nonprofit Leaders” list in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Marquette’s Campus Kitchen serves more than 4,000 meals per year and partners with nine area agencies to offer free meals to Milwaukee’s hungry and homeless.

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15. Office of Finance to close at noon Friday

The Office of Finance will close at noon Friday, Oct. 17, including budget, bursar, payroll, purchasing, student financial aid, student employment and the treasury. Normal business hours will resume Monday, Oct. 20. Call 8-0823 for more information.

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16. Sidewalk between Cudahy and Marquette halls closed

A temporary sidewalk will be erected this week to divert pedestrians around the area on the south side of Wisconsin Avenue between 12th and 13th streets this week, Oct. 13 through Oct. 17, as chilled water lines are extended to the new student services building. Use an alternate route while this work is being done and use caution around the barricades.

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1. Manpower chairman and CEO to visit campus

2. Ethiopian bishop to speak about the global food crisis

3. Rev. Bryan Massingale to speak about religion, race and politics

4. Registration open for SySTEM Now! Conference

5. Exploding stars topic of Coyne Lecture

6. Former chaplain to Desmund Tutu to visit campus

7. Session to address how to create a Web site

8. Wisconsin Public Radio to broadcast live from AMU

9. Marquette addresses impact of financial turmoil

10. Benefit packages arriving at employee homes

11. Faculty and staff survey will examine freshman experience

12. Flu shots available at Shoo the Flu, walk-in flu clinic

13. Panel to discuss American Indian Studies courses

14. President of Central Kitchen to speak

 

15. Office of Finance to close at noon Friday

16. Sidewalk between Cudahy and Marquette halls closed