1. Father Wild honored by New York school

Marquette President Robert A. Wild, S.J., received the Cura Award for dedication and leadership in higher education from St. Aloysius School in Harlem Wednesday night.

St. Aloysius is a two-campus archdiocesan school in central Harlem dedicated to educating inner city children at risk of never reaching their potential. Jesuits lead St. Aloysius parish.

Previous recipients of the Cura award have included both educators and corporate executives.
Robert C. Reardon, chairman of the St. Aloysius Advisory Board, noted the high percentage of Marquette students who are the first generation of their families to attend college and said of Father Wild, “The commitment you have made to education as an issue of justice for our young people is why we call you friend and why we honor you tonight.”

In accepting the award at the dinner attended by more than 300 people, Father Wild acknowledged the common missions of the two schools: “Marquette and St. Aloysius share a bond in our pledge to seek out and form well-educated leaders. They start as youngsters at St. Al's; we carry on as they reach young adulthood.”

Back to Top

2. George Washington economist to discuss mortgage industry

Dr. Anthony M. Yezer, professor of economics at George Washington University, will present “Mortgages: The Bad, The Good and The Optimal,” at 8 a.m. Friday, March 20, in the John. P. Raynor, S.J., Library. Check-in for the event begins at 7:45 a.m. The talk and Q&A will run until 9:15 a.m. Rocky Marcoux, commissioner of the Milwaukee Department of City Development, will deliver opening remarks. Registration is required by tomorrow, March 13, to Christine Heebner, office associate, at 8-7946.

Yezer, a specialist in regional and urban economics, researches credit risk, fair lending and real estate finance. He has been a fellow of the Homer Hoyt Advanced Studies Institute since 1991 and serves on the governing board of the Financial Services Research Program. Yezer has also testified to the U.S. Congress on the definition and measurement of subprime lending.

The free event is sponsored by the Center for Global and Economic Studies and Center for Real Estate, both housed in the College of Business Administration.

Back to Top

3. RSVP for research commercialization seminar

Faculty interested in the commercialization of their research in the sciences, dentistry, engineering, health sciences, and nursing are invited to attend a free faculty commercialization seminar from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, March 28, at The Milwaukee Club, 709 N. Jefferson St.

To register, contact Steve Laczniak, graduate intern, at 8-0673 by Monday, March 16.

The seminar will feature panel and roundtable discussions and case study presentations from leaders in higher education and research commercialization. The seminar also includes a luncheon presentation and a networking reception.

Topics presented will include characteristics of successful academic commercialization and venture creation projects; commercialization potential in faculty research areas; pathways to research commercialization; and advisers and supporters.

Sponsored by the Kohler Center for Entrepreneurship, College of Business Administration and Graduate School of Management, and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs, the seminar has been underwritten by a grant from the Helen Bader Foundation.

Back to Top

4. Former Detroit mayor to discuss challenges facing American cities

Former American Bar Association President Dennis Archer will serve as a guest for “On the Issues with Mike Gousha” on Tuesday, March 17, at 12:15 p.m. in Sensenbrenner 325.

Archer, who is also the former mayor of Detroit, will discuss his legal career and challenges facing American cities. Archer made history in 2003 when he became the first African-American president of the American Bar Association. He is a former Michigan Supreme Court Justice and was appointed legal guardian for civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks and helped settle her estate.

Register online.

Back to Top

5. Law School hosting conflict resolution conference

The nationally ranked dispute resolution program at the Law School will host an interdisciplinary conference examining the relationship between media and conflict resolution Saturday, March 21, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. The International Media and Conflict Resolution Conference will host experts from diverse fields to discuss the influence of different forms of the media in the development, escalation and de-escalation of conflict.

The cost of the conference is $40. Registration is due Tuesday, March 17.

For more information, contact Natalie Fleury, program coordinator for dispute resolution, at 8-8038.

Back to Top

6. Jesuit to discuss reforming the Vatican

Rev. Thomas Reese, S.J., senior fellow at Woodstock Theological Center at Georgetown University, will present “Reforming the Vatican: What the Church Can Learn from Other Institutions,” at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 19, in the Tony and Lucille Weasler Auditorium.

Reese is former editor of America magazine and authored a trilogy of books examining church organization and politics on the local, national and international levels — Archbishop: Inside the Power Structure of the American Catholic Church; A Flock of Shepherds: The National Conference of Catholic Bishops; and Inside the Vatican: The Politics and Organization of the Catholic Church.

The program is sponsored by Marquette University and Gesu Parish. It is part of the series Gathering Points: Tracking the Spirity in Challenging Times.

Back to Top

7. Alcohol’s impact on Marquette addressed in two programs

To raise awareness about the impact of alcohol on the Marquette community, the Division of Student Affairs is hosting “Alcohol Summit: What is the Culture of Alcohol at Marquette?” and “Take the Pledge Drive.”

“Alcohol Summit: What is the Culture of Alcohol at Marquette?” will be held Tuesday, March 17, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the AMU ballrooms. The event will feature a program facilitated by Janine Geske, distinguished professor of law, panel discussions, information tables and refreshments.

For “Take the Pledge Drive,” Marquette community members are asked to

sign a pledge to either abstain from or, if of legal drinking age, to use alcohol responsibly on St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday, March 17. Contact the Office of Student Development at 8-7205 or AMU 121 for a pledge card.

Back to Top

8. Père Marquette Lecture presented by Notre Dame professor

Dr. Cyril O'Regan, Huisking professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame, will present the Père Marquette Lecture in Theology on Sunday, March 22, at 2 p.m.

O’Regan, who has held academic positions at Saint John’s School of Theology and the Department of Religious Studies at Yale, will discuss "Theology and the Spaces of Apocalyptic" in the Tony and Lucille Weasler Auditorium.

O’Regan identifies himself as a systematic theologian who is interested in a wide variety of topic areas and contemporary figures in theology, both Catholic and Protestant. He is especially interested in Trinitarian thought, eschatology and the variety of forms of postmodern theology.

Lecture is free and open to the public. Refreshments will follow.

Back to Top

9. Sexual harassment prevention training due tomorrow

All employees required to complete their online sexual harassment prevention training need to do so by Friday, March 13.

As part of Marquette’s commitment to providing a respectful work environment, periodic and ongoing sexual harassment prevention training is required. Depending on when/if employees previously completed the online training, many employees received a Feb. 23 memo from Greg Kliebhan, senior vice president, and Dr. John Pauly, provost, stating why the training is necessary and providing directions to access the online training.

Employees who completed their training in calendar 2008 or 2009 did not receive the memo and won’t need to complete the renewal at this time.

For more information contact the Human Resources Department at 8-7305.

Back to Top

10. Proposals for nonviolence conference due Sunday

The Center for Peacemaking, the Wisconsin Institute for Peace and Conference Studies and the Peace and Justice Studies Association are soliciting proposals for “Exploring the Power of Nonviolence,” Oct. 8-10, 2009, at Marquette.

Faculty and staff proposals are encouraged from a wide range of disciplines that address topics relevant to promoting nonviolent communities and practices, especially addressing the nature, history and skills of nonviolent approaches to managing conflict.

Proposals must be submitted online by Sunday, March 15.

For more information, contact Dr. Michael Duffey, associate professor of theology, at 8-3748.

Back to Top

11. Neuroscience and engineering colloquiums scheduled Tuesday

Dr. Ning Xi, professor of electrical and computer engineering at Michigan State University, will present “Nano Robotics Manipulation and Assembly for Manufacturing Nano Sensors and Devices.” The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering will host the program at 3 p.m. Tuesday, March 17, in Olin Engineering 202.

The Integrative Neuroscience Research Center will host Dr. Kevin Keenan, assistant professor of human movement sciences at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Tuesday, March 17, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:40 p.m. in Schroeder Complex 256. Keenan will present "Hand function: Assessing the Complex Control of Finger Forces and Movements."

Back to Top

12. Faber Center to host speaker series, rosary praying

Rev. J.J. O’Leary, S.J., associate director of the Faber Center, will lead a praying of the rosary from noon to 12:30 p.m. at the Faber Center, Schroeder Complex 111, March 15, April 1, April 29, May 6 and May 20. All faiths are welcome. No RSVP is needed.

O’Leary will also present “A New Look at the Sacrament of Reconciliation” Wednesday, March 18, from noon to 1 p.m. in AMU 252. RSVP by Monday, March 16, to 8-4545. Lunch will be provided.

Back to Top

13. $7 massages at Massage-A-Thon

Physical therapy students will host a Massage-A-Thon from Thursday, March 19, through Friday, April 17, on the third floor of Schroeder Health Complex.

Hours are Mondays from 3 to 9 p.m.; Wednesday 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Thursdays noon to 9 p.m.; and Fridays noon to 6 p.m.

Cost is $7 for each 15 minutes up to one hour. Appointments can be scheduled online. Walk-ins are also welcome.

Back to Top

14. Lenten menus and Irish lunch provided by Dining Services

Dining Services will provide an Irish lunch in four residence hall dining rooms on St. Patrick's Day, as well as Lenten menus on Fridays throughout Lent.

In observing Lent, Dining Services is preparing menus on Fridays during Lent across campus. Union Sports Annex will provide a beer-battered cod sandwich, a shrimp basket and New England clam chowder; the Lunda Room will offer baked and fried cod; Marquette Place will have a fish sandwich, grilled cheese, tuna salad sub, roasted veggie sub, salads and black bean burrito; and Brew Cafés will serve tuna salad croissant sandwiches and salads.

Cobeen, Straz, Mashuda and McCormick halls will serve boiled sliced corn beef, steamed cabbage, glazed carrots, grilled vegetable reuben and more for lunch on St. Patrick’s Day, Tuesday, March 17, for $7.25 (meal plans and cash).

Back to Top

15. FSA expenses need to be submitted for 2008

Employees who re-enrolled in the health care FSA for 2009 have until Sunday, March 15, to incur eligible expenses and get reimbursements from the funds they contributed in 2008. (This extension does not apply to the dependent care FSA.) EBC, Marquette’s third-party FSA administrator, will automatically verify this for employees. Any FSA funds from the 2008 calendar year not used by March 15, 2009, are forfeited.

Employees with unused funds in their 2008 health care or dependent care flexible spending account need to submit their receipts and reimbursement forms to EBC by March 31, 2009.

Back to Top

16. Save money when filing federal income tax return

Parents of students can take advantage of thousands of dollars in federal tax credits when filing income tax returns.

Students attending colleges and universities in Milwaukee and certain other Wisconsin counties can take advantage of increased Hope and Lifetime Learning tax credits for 2008 taxes that are double those of last year. In addition, the definition of qualified education expenses has been expanded.

• The Hope credit for students in Milwaukee County is 100 percent of the first $2,400 of qualified education expenses and 50 percent of the next $2,400 of such expenses for a maximum credit of $3,600. This expanded credit is due to a disaster area declaration announced following severe flooding in June.

• Students can also take advantage of an increased Lifetime Learning credit of 40 percent of qualified expenses paid with a maximum credit of $4,000.

The amount that can be deducted for miles driven has changed for 2008 for students who drive their car to and from school for work-related education and qualify to deduct transportation expenses.

Credits for the Hope, Lifetime Learning and education savings bond programs are gradually reduced if modified gross adjusted income matches new thresholds.

Back to Top

17. Take shelter during severe weather

Members of the Marquette community are reminded to take shelter immediately when the local emergency sirens sound for severe weather. A tornado warning means that a tornado is in the area and everyone should take immediate shelter, preferably in a basement or below-ground location.

A tornado watch means that conditions are right for a tornado. Continue normal activities but monitor the situation.

For more information, see the Emergency Procedures Guide.

Back to Top