MARCH 2, 2009

IN THIS ISSUE

1. Marquette partners with Teach For America

Teach For America will expand to Milwaukee next year, with Marquette as one of its university partners.

Teach For America places recent college graduates with strong academic and leadership records in school districts nationwide with the highest needs. The program will bring 30 corps members to Milwaukee each year for the next three years as part of a national growth plan.

“There was never a moment in my household when I wasn't aware that public education was tied to the future of democracy,” said Provost John Pauly, whose father was a shopteacher and assistant principal in Chicago's public schools. “In its principles and actions, Teach For America reflects our own long-held Jesuit ideals of excellence, social justice and the dignity of others.”

Pauly spoke at Friday’s press conference at Westside Academy along with Mayor Tom Barrett, Congresswoman and Marquette alumna Gwendolynne Moore, Milwaukee Public Schools Superintendent William Andrekopoulos and others.

Corps members teaching in secondary and elementary programs will begin their training at Marquette in fall 2009, while those in special education, early childhood education, or bilingual education will take coursework at Cardinal Stritch University. They will complete the requirements for Wisconsin teacher licensure and have the opportunity to obtain a master’s degree in education.

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2. Student chapter a finalist for national engineering award

The Marquette chapter of Engineers Without Borders, in partnership with the Wisconsin Professional Partners chapter of the organization, is one of six finalists for the prestigious National Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award for construction of a bridge in Guatemala.

The Guatemala project involved building a 67-foot concrete bridge across the Motagua River, replacing a pedestrian bridge that made transportation difficult during the rainy reason in the city of La Garrucha. The new bridge provides residents on both sides of the river with access to schools, medical facilities and other programs via buses and other forms of transportation.

Mollie Bednarowski, James Ritter, Paul Silva and Andy Thoreson, 2005 graduates, designed the bridge as part of their senior design project, working with mentor Mike Paddock, Dr. Dan Zitomer, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, and other professional engineers from CH2M Hill and GRAEFF, two engineering firms. Financial support came from CH2M Hill, Marquette College of Engineering and the Southminster Presbyterian Church in Waukesha, Wis.

La Garrucha has remained a focus for the College of Engineering. Students have planned and constructed a potable water system for the community, including a sand filter, spring boxes, distribution tanks and break pressure tanks.

The annual, national award from the American Society of Engineers recognizes outstanding infrastructure and public service projects from among 10 different categories. The Quadracci Pavilion of the Milwaukee Art Museum, created by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, won the OCEA Award in 2003. Projects are judged based on their contribution to the well-being of people and communities; resourcefulness in planning and solving design challenges; pioneering in use of materials and methods; innovations in construction; and impact on the physical environment.

The 2009 OCEA Award will be presented April 23 in Arlington, Va.

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3. Lecture to address Luther studies in a Catholic context

Dr. Markus Wriedt, distinguished professor of historical theology and a Reformation historian, will present “‘We’ve said nothing new!’ Luther on Tradition and Innovation,” Thursday, March 5, at 4 p.m. in Straz Hall 105. A discussion will follow. The event is free and open to the public.

Wriedt takes Luther’s claim, that he had not said anything new, as the leading principle of his theology and his attempts to reform the Church. Wriedt will discuss why the Church was divided even though Luther was both conservative and Catholic.

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4. Students can prepare for spring break safety at health fair

The Peer Health Educators will host their annual Spring Break Blitz health fair tomorrow, March 3, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the AMU second floor lobby for students who will be traveling over spring break. Vendors will provide information about skin safety; tattoo and piercing safety; travel security; financial safety; personal safety and sexual assault prevention.

Attendees can also enter a drawing for gift certificates to area vendors, such as Sobelman’s, the Hilton Milwaukee and the Milwaukee Admirals.

For more information contact the Center for Health Education and Promotion at 8-5217.

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5. Register for vacant house watch over spring break

The Department of Public Safety encourages students residing in the nearby off-campus neighborhood to take advantage of its Vacant House Watch during spring break. Students can register their residences with Public Safety prior to leaving campus for Christmas break and DPS officers will monitor the vacant residences during routine patrols. The information provided to Public Safety remains strictly confidential. Students must complete a form, which is available online, and return it to Public Safety prior to leaving campus.

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6. Biological sciences, philosophy and chemistry holding colloquiums

The Department of Biological Sciences will hold a colloquium Friday, March 6, at 3:15 p.m. in Wehr Life Sciences 111. Dr. Margaret Wong-Riley, professor of cell biology, neurobiology and anatomy at the Medical College of Wisconsin, will present "Bigenomic Regulation of Cytochrome c Oxidase in Neurons."

Dr. Nelson Maldonado-Torres, associate professor of ethnic studies at the University of California-Berkeley, will present “Reconsidering Race, Class and Gender in Fanon’s Black Skin, White Masks” at the Philosophy Department colloquium Friday, March 6, at 3:30 p.m. in Raynor Library Beaumier Suite A.

The Department of Chemistry colloquium Friday, March 6, at 4:15 p.m. in Todd Wehr Chemistry 121 will feature Dr. Claudio Verani, associate professor of chemistry at Wayne State University. Verani will present "Metal-containing Soft Materials as Precursors for Molecular Electronics.”

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7. Law School to hold information session

The Law School will host an information session for prospective students Friday, March 6, at 11:45 a.m. in Sensenbrenner Hall. The session will provide information about admissions and financial aid, curriculum and intellectual and student life. A brief tour of the Law School will be led by a current law student. No registration is necessary.

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8. Gesu starting Young Adult Ministry program

Young adults between the ages of 22 and 35 are invited to a listening session at the Gesu Parish Center to discuss developing a Young Adult Ministry at the parish. The session is Wednesday, March 4, at 7 p.m.

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