1. Nieman Lecture will address intellectuals and the media

Dr. Robert McChesney, research professor in the Institute of Communications Research and the Graduate School of Information and Library Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, will present “Intellectuals, the Media, and the Crisis of our Times” Tuesday, April 28, at 1:30 p.m. in AMU 227.

The speech is the J. William and Mary Diederich College of Communication Nieman Lecture.

McChesney is an author, activist, journalist and co-founder of national media reform organization Free Press.

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2. Value of strong relationships to be discussed at Boheim Lecture

Dr. Alberta Gloria, Association of Marquette University Women Chair in Humanistic Studies, will present “Cura Personalis in Academia Today: The Value of Building Strong Relationships,” for the Eleanor H. Boheim Lecture on Wednesday, April 29. The free, public lecture will take place at 7 p.m. in the Beaumier Suites of the John P. Raynor, S.J., Memorial Library. A reception will follow.

A professor of counseling at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Gloria researches psycho-sociocultural factors for Chicana/os and other racial and ethnic minority students in higher education. She also examines issues of cultural congruency for these students within academic and cultural environments.

Register online as “guest,” or call 8-8441.

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3. University chooses new emergency text messaging system

Marquette will test a new emergency text messaging system on Tuesday, April 28, at 10 a.m.

All students, faculty and staff with university-owned cell phones or who registered their own personal phones through PeopleSoft or CheckMarq will receive a message that says, “MU has new text sys.” If you do not receive this message by 11 a.m., please send an e-mail, including your cell phone number and your cell phone carrier, to: security@marquette.edu.

The Office of Administration, IT Services and the Department of Public Safety, in conjunction with other offices on campus, researched and previewed a number of vendors following delays in the delivery of text messages earlier this spring in connection with the fire at the Law School construction site. The new system should deliver text messages to the 8,000 registered users within two minutes.

The university will use the text messaging system, coordinated through the Department of Public Safety, when there is an imminent threat on campus.

In the case of an emergency on campus or severe weather, information will be made available to the campus community through e-mail, text messaging, voice mail and/or the Marquette Web site, as the situation warrants.

To enroll in the emergency text messaging system, students should enter their cell phone number in the “Personal Information” section of Checkmarq and keep it updated. Instructions are online.

Entries added today and tomorrow will not be included in Tuesday’s test.

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4. New university choir performing Thursday

The inaugural concert of the MUsical Staff, a new choir made up of university employees, will take place Thursday, April 30, at 11:30 a.m. and noon in the Tony and Lucille Weasler Auditorium.

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5. Libraries extend hours for finals week

Raynor Memorial Libraries’ extended finals week hours begin Friday, May 1. The bridge, second floor and lower level of Raynor Library will be open until 2 a.m. through Thursday, May 7. The Brew at the Bridge will also be open for special hours on Saturday, May 2, and Sunday, May 3, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. There will be free late night coffee and snacks on Sunday, May 3, and Monday, May 4.

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6. Swine flu alert issued; no cases in Wisconsin

As a precautionary measure after an outbreak of swine flu in Mexico, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has declared a nationwide public health emergency. As of Monday, there have been no cases of swine flu reported in Wisconsin or neighboring states, and health organizations are telling people to use caution but saying there is no need for alarm.

State health officials are urging people to stay home if they are exhibiting symptoms of the flu and to seek medical assistance to get tested for swine flu if they develop symptoms within seven days of traveling or being in contact with someone who has traveled. Symptoms to watch for are a fever of more than 100 degrees, sneezing, coughing, sore throats, body aches; in some cases, vomiting or diarrhea could occur in conjunction with the other symptoms.

The university works closely with the City of Milwaukee Health Department and will continue to monitor the situation. Members of the university community are reminded to take common-sense precautions to prevent the spread of germs, including frequent hand-washing, covering your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze, avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth, and avoiding close contact with sick people.

People with plans to travel to Mexico should monitor the CDC Web site for more information. The CDC has not recommended that people avoid travel to Mexico at this time.

For additional information on swine flu and normal precautions against the spread of influenza, see the Student Health Service Web site. Contact Student Health Service with additional questions at 8-7184.

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7. Write your legislators to support the Wisconsin Tuition Grant

Marquette community members are invited to share their thoughts with their state legislators regarding the importance of state-supported financial aid before a crucial legislative decision. The Joint Finance Committee of the Legislature will review the budget for the Wisconsin Tuition Grant, the state’s need-based financial aid program for Wisconsin students attending the state’s private colleges and universities, on Wednesday, April 29. Although Gov. Jim Doyle has proposed to increase funding for the WTG by 3 percent over the next two years, state legislators must still approve the plan in light of a $5.7 billion state budget deficit.

Comments about the benefit that state-supported financial aid provides would need to be received before Wednesday.

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8. Tell us about interesting May graduates

The Office of Marketing and Communication is seeking stories about graduates this May for possible use with area media. May graduates with unusual backgrounds; who overcame substantial obstacles in getting their degree; who will be doing something unusual after graduation; with recent exclusive awards, academic recognition, publications or scholarship; etc. are some ideas that would be appropriate.

What graduates do you know who have fascinating stories to tell? E-mail their names and plenty of details by Monday, May 4.

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9. Chemistry and biology department to hold colloquiums

The Department of Chemistry will hold colloquiums Thursday, April 30, and Friday, May 1, in Todd Wehr Chemistry 121. Dr. Michael Ketterer, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Northern Arizona University, will present “Plutonium in the Environment: Forensic and Geochemical Studies with Mass Spectrometry” at noon Thursday. Dr. Rohit Bhargava, assistant professor of bioengineering at the Beckman Institute for Advanced Science and Technology at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, will present “Infrared Spectroscopic Imaging for Translational Pathology” at 4:15 p.m. Friday.

The Department of Biological Sciences will hold a colloquium Friday, May 1, at 3:15 p.m. in Wehr Life Sciences Building 111. Dr. Dmitri Boudko, assistant professor of physiology and biophysics at Rosalind Franklin University, will present "Molecular Ontology of Essential Amino Acid Transport.”

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10. DPS to honor campus and community members

The Department of Public Safety will hold its annual awards ceremony Friday, May 1, at 2 p.m. in the AMU ballrooms. Campus and community members will be recognized for their partnership with the department in maintaining a safe campus. The ceremony is open to the campus community. For more information, contact DPS at 8-6800.

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11. Raynor Memorial Libraries “Spotlight” Dorothy Day

The Raynor Memorial Libraries Special Collections and University Archives’ April “Spotlight” features Dorothy Day’s sit-ins for peace. Day was arrested 50 years ago this month for protesting mandatory civil defense drills by sitting on a park bench in New York City. The exhibit features digitized documents, including letters and Catholic Worker articles, highlighting Day’s actions.

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12. Libraries announce Dittman research paper winners

Raynor Memorial Libraries have announced the winners of the 12th annual Dittman Research Paper Competition.

The undergraduate category winner was Mark Kelley for his paper The Golden Age of Comic Books; Representations of American Culture from the Great Depression to the Cold War, written for American Cultural and Intellectual History. The winner in the graduate/professional category was Kathy Lemley for her paper Does Plasma B-Endorphin Influence Exercised-Induced Hypoalgesia in Healthy Adults? written for Advanced Exercise Physiology.

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13. Media literacy to be discussed at event

"Empowering ME[dia], Empowering YOU" will take place Wednesday, April 29, at 6 p.m. in AMU 407.

Media literacy, independent media and self-ownership of the media will be discussed through a workshop approach. Two students who recently attended the "Women, Action, and Media" conference in Boston, will share their experiences. Refreshments will be provided.

The program is hosted by the student organization Empowerment.

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14. Push-up and sit-up winners receive a gift card

The student organization Jeanette Kapus Silver Wings will host a fitness challenge Wednesday, April 29, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. under the Raynor bridge. Participants will be challenged with push-ups and sit-ups in men’s and women’s categories. Winners will receive a gift card. Contact Michelle Blaschke for more information.

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15. Free meal includes presentation about Belize

Campus Ministry will host a Soup with Substance program "Socioeconomic Development in Belize," by Darla Bowman, director of Socioeconomic Outreach in Belize, on Thursday, April 30, from noon to 1 p.m. in AMU 252. A light meal of soup, bread and water will be served.

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