1. Minorities in engineering executive to speak tomorrow

Marquette will host the 5th annual sySTEM Now! (Strengthening our Youth in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Conference tomorrow, Oct. 21, in the AMU.

Dr. Irving Pressley McPhail, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the National Action Council of Minorities in Engineering, will deliver the keynote address, “A Call to Action: Confronting the ‘New’ American Dilemma for Scientific and Technological Leadership,” at 12:45 p.m.

The conference will explore ways to motivate the next generation of scientists, engineers and technology leaders by discussing the role of education and public and private employer perspectives.

The conference is free for students. Register by calling (414) 297-7239.

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2. Former Rutgers research director appointed ORSP executive director

Keith Osterhage has been appointed executive director of Marquette University’s Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, effective Nov. 3. Osterhage succeeds Erik Thelen, who resigned at the end of the 2007-08 academic year.

Osterage formerly served as the director of the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs at Rutgers University, where he managed a staff of 20 and oversaw the distribution of awards totaling more than $295 million in a single year. In addition to stints as an independent consultant, he has also worked in the research offices at Georgetown University and American University.

“The Graduate School is pleased to have attracted a research administrator with Keith Osterhage’s breadth of experience and knowledge,” Dr. William Wiener, dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for research, said. “His skills in proposal development, project management and contract/grant negotiation and analysis will be invaluable as we seek to assist faculty in growing Marquette’s research base.”

Osterage, a certified research administrator, earned master’s degrees in both political science and public administration from Ohio State University. He has a bachelor’s degree in history and political science from Northern Ohio University. Osterage has also completed several research-related courses sponsored by the National Institutes of Health and George Washington University. He is a member of the National Council of University Research Administrators, the Society of Research Administrators and the Council on Governmental Relations.

In fiscal year 2008, the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs assisted 101 Marquette faculty and administrators in obtaining 154 awards totaling $16.1 million for their research, instruction, and other projects.

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3. Voter fraud is topic for “On the Issues” at Marquette Law School

With the election two weeks away, voter fraud will be the topic of “On the Issues with Mike Gousha” Wednesday, Oct. 22, at noon in Sensenbrenner Hall, Eisenberg Memorial Hall. Sue Edman, executive director of the Milwaukee Election Commission, and Bruce Landgraf, assistant district attorney, will discuss what is being done to prevent voter fraud, as well as what voters can expect at the polls Nov. 4 in Milwaukee. Edman is a former Milwaukee police captain and oversees the city’s entire election process. Landgraf is helping lead a non-partisan task force charged with investigating voting fraud allegations.
 
Register online. Seating is limited.

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4. Annual lecture to explore Tolkien’s ecological vision

Dr. Matthew Dickerson, professor of computer science at Middlebury College in Vermont, will deliver the annual Tolkien Lecture on Thursday, Oct. 23, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the Prucha Archives Reading Room, Raynor Library. Dickerson is the author of three books about J.R.R. Tolkien, most recently, Ents, Elves, and Eriador: The Environmental Vision of J.R.R. Tolkien.

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5. Exploding stars is 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 speak

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.

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. 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 Tony & Lucille Weasler Auditorium. This free lecture, sponsored by Marquette and 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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8. Program to examine campaign advertising

The Office of Public Affairs, the Les Aspin Center for Government and the Law School are hosting “The Way Forward,” interactive forums leading up to the Nov. 4 general election. The series will examine the way forward for our nation on several topics.

“Politicking, Polls and Public Perception: Behind the Scenes of Campaign Advertising,” will be Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 5:30 p.m. in the AMU ballrooms. Speakers will include:

• Dr. Ken Goldstein, professor of political science at University of Wisconsin-Madison

• Dr. Charles Franklin, professor of political science at University of Wisconsin-Madison

• Christopher Murray, lecturer in political science at the Les Aspin Center for Government

For more information contact the Office of Public Affairs at 8-7491.

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9. Five departments holding seminars this week

The Department of Biological Sciences will host a seminar Thursday, Oct. 23, at noon in Wehr Life Sciences 111. Dr. Tim Stearns, associate professor of biological sciences at Stanford University, will present “The Centrosome, Microtubules, and the Cell Cycle.”

The Department of Psychology will hold a colloquium Thursday, Oct. 23, at 3:30 p.m. in Cramer Hall 038. Dr. Alberta Gloria, professor of counseling psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the 2008-2009 MU Women’s chair in humanistic studies, will present “Latina Student Coping and Well Being.”

The Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science will offer a colloquium Thursday, Oct. 23, at 4 p.m. in Cudahy Hall 401. Dr. Scott McKinley, assistant research professor of mathematics at Duke University, will present “Ergodicity of a Bead-Spring System Convected by Stochastic Stokes.”

The Department of Philosophy is having a colloquium Friday, Oct. 24, at 3:30 p.m. in Raynor Conference Center A. Dr. Rocco Gennaro, professor of philosophy at Indiana State University, will present “Representational Theories of Consciousness.”

The Department of Chemistry will provide a colloquium Friday, Oct. 24, at 4 p.m. in Todd Wehr Chemistry Building 121. Dr. Scott Weinert, assistant professor of chemistry at Oklahoma State University, will present “Synthesis, Structures and Properties of Linear and Branched Oligogermanes.”

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10. Colombian artist and musicians to exhibit their work

The Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures will host Colombian artist Andrea Rojas on Thursday, Oct. 23, from 6:45 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Todd Wehr Chemistry 100. Rojas will present her abstract art, which is “{filled with natural energy and color from the jungle, sea and mountains of Latin America.” from her studio in Bogota.

Colombian musicians Arley Otalvaro and Diego Mosquera will also lead a live informational presentation about diverse regional folkloric music from Colombia from 7:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Todd Wehr Chemistry 100.

Both events are free and open to the public.

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11. Free book for Late Night Marquette Book Club series

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz is the featured book for the Late Night Marquette Book Club Discussion Series. Copies of the book are available in the Office of Student Development, AMU 121. The first 25 students to pick up the book receive a free copy. Other students are welcome to participate but will need to purchase the book.

Dr. Stephanie Quade, senior associate dean of student development, will facilitate the discussion of this month’s book Thursday, Oct. 30, from 9 to 11 p.m. in the AMU Multicultural Center. The next LNMU Book Club meeting will be Thursday, Nov. 6. Coffee and snacks will be provided.

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12. Students to generate power for musicians at concert

Students for an Environmentally Active Campus will sponsor “Power by the People Concert” Thursday, Oct. 23, at 7 p.m. in Varsity Theatre. The concert will feature two local bands, Off the Grid and Soul Purpose, which use ingenuity and technology to play music as environmentally friendly as possible. The energy required for the concert will be completely produced by volunteers from the audience as they ride stationary bikes affixed with small generators. Demonstration booths will also provide attendees with information about conserving natural resources and protecting the environment. Hot chocolate and free food will be provided. The event is free and open to the public.

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13. Sign-ups for HALLoween gHOSTs end tomorrow

The Residence Hall Association will host HALLoween Thursday, Oct. 30, in which local families and members of youth organizations will trick-or-treat in the residence halls and participate in a Halloween Party at the AMU. Volunteers gHOSTS are needed to lead groups of trick-or-treaters through the residence halls.

Sign-up sheets are located at the front desk of each residence hall and the University Apartments front desks. Volunteers will receive a HALLoween T-shirt. Sign-up sheets to hand out candy to the kids trick-or-treating in the hall are also available at the residence hall’s front desks. Sign-up sheets will be available until Tuesday, Oct. 21. For more information, contact the Residence Hall Association at 8-5851.

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14. Blood donors have a chance to win Packers tickets

The Fall All-University Blood Drive will be Tuesday, Oct. 28, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in AMU 227. All donors will be entered in a drawing to win tickets to the Nov. 16 Green Bay Packers vs. Chicago Bears game along with a round-trip limo ride, behind-the-scenes broadcast and dinner, sponsored by the Blood Center of Wisconsin.

Early sign up for blood, dual red and platelet donations is encouraged. Contact Ali Myszewski, assistant director of AMU, or call 8-3129 for more information or to make an appointment.

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