1. Annual Christmas Tree Lighting is Friday

Marquette’s annual Miracle on Central Mall will be Friday, Dec. 10, at 5 p.m. in front of St. Joan of Arc Chapel. This year’s theme is “Jingle Bell Rock: WILD about Christmas.” The evening will include the tree lighting and blessing by Marquette President Robert A. Wild, S.J., and Christmas carols and reflections from representatives of the International Learning Center. A social will follow on the Raynor Library bridge with hot cocoa, cider and cookies.

2. University mourns the death of Hank Raymonds

Hank Raymonds, a successful coach and administrator at Marquette, passed away early this morning after a long battle with cancer.

Funeral arrangements are pending. Please remember Raymonds, his family and friends in prayer.

In more than 25 years at Marquette, Raymonds served as the program's 10th head men's basketball coach, athletic director and assistant coach under Al McGuire and Eddie Hickey.

Raymonds, who played under Hickey at St. Louis University, joined Hickey's staff at Marquette in 1961, where he remained when McGuire took the program's reigns in 1964. Perhaps the most indelible image of Raymonds' career was him sitting with his arm draped over McGuire's shoulder following the Warriors' victory in the 1977 NCAA National Championship game over North Carolina.

After Marquette captured the national title, Raymonds succeeded McGuire as Marquette's head coach, a position he would hold until 1983. He was inducted into Marquette's M Club Hall of Fame in 1996 and is also a member of the Wisconsin Athletic, Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association and the St. Louis University Sports Halls of Fame.

3. Cancer pain at the end of life is topic of tomorrow’s nursing lecture

Dr. Judith Paice will present “The War on Cancer Pain — Making a Difference at the End of Life” for the James J. Wake Memorial Lecture tomorrow, Dec. 7, at 5:30 p.m. in Clark 111. Paice is director of the Cancer Pain Program in the Division of Hematology/Oncology and a research professor of medicine at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Much of Paice’s clinical work has been in the relief of pain associated with cancer and HIV disease. Her research interests include adverse effects associated with pain medications and quality improvement measures to foster pain relief.

The lecture is presented by the Institute for End of Life Care Education at Marquette’s College of Nursing in memory of James Wake, late husband of former Marquette Provost Madeline Wake, who is now Raynor Chair and university professor. James Wake was a chaplain who devoted his career to helping others through social work and chaplaincy. As chaplain, he specialized in end-of-life ministry.

4. Poster session and colloquy focuses on future research

The Office of the Vice Provost for Research and the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs will host a Forward Thinking Poster Session and Colloquy Tuesday, Dec. 7, from 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. in the AMU ballrooms. The event will celebrate collaborative faculty and student research to take place in the next 12 months. The program will begin with a brief address by Dr. Jeanne Hossenlopp, vice provost for research and dean of the Graduate School.

Poster and oral presentations will include research in the humanities, behavioral and cognitive sciences, social and economic sciences, engineering, computer and information sciences, education, math and physical sciences, medical and health sciences, nursing, business, law, biological and biomedical sciences and interdisciplinary research.

A reception will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

5. Wisconsin Province of the Society of Jesus names new provincial

Rev. Thomas Lawler, S.J., has been appointed the next provincial of the Wisconsin Province of the Society of Jesus by Very Reverend Adolfo Nicolás, S.J., superior general of the Society of Jesus. The appointment will take effect at the tri-province gathering in Cincinnati in June 2011.

Father Lawler, who is also a Marquette University trustee, became vocation director for the province in 2006. As provincial, Lawler will be responsible for the ministries sponsored by the Society of Jesus in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wyoming. His other major responsibility is for the Jesuits residing in this six-state area who teach at the two universities, three high schools and three Nativity-style schools as well as the Jesuits who work with Native American ministry, pastoral ministry, retreat ministry and social ministry. Father Lawler will also collaborate with the other eight American provincials in national planning for the mission and ministry of the Society of Jesus in the United States.

6. Roles change in OIRA

Alexandra Riley has been named associate director of the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, effective Dec. 15, 2010. Currently assistant director, Riley has worked in OIRA since 2007; she has a master’s degree in statistics and a bachelor’s degree in statistics and computer science from UW-Madison.

Riley will lead OIRA following the resignation of Gary Levy, associate vice provost for institutional research and assessment, who is leaving Marquette to become associate provost for academic resources and planning at Towson University in Maryland. OIRA reports to Dr. Gary Meyer, vice provost for undergraduate teaching and programs.

Marquette’s Office of Institutional Research & Assessment is the official source of university information regarding students, faculty, departments, colleges and certain indices, including student headcount enrollment and full-time equivalency, enrollment projections, student credit hours, student and faculty demographic information, and graduation and degrees awarded information. The office also serves as the point of contact for IPEDS reporting, course evaluations, faculty activity reporting, reporting to external agencies (such as US News & World Report), student surveys, the Board of Trustees Information Book, the Freshman & Undergraduate Profiles, and other aggregate ad-hoc analyses.

Please direct all OIRA inquires and requests to Riley at 8-8049.

7. Rev. James Heft to present dialogue on Catholic identity seminar

Rev. James Heft, president of the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at the University of Southern California, will present “Six Challenges Facing Catholic Universities: A Dialogue about Catholic Identity,” Friday, Jan. 14, 2011, in the AMU Ballrooms. The faculty seminar will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and includes lunch.

For more information or to register, contact Dr. Susan Mountin, director of Manresa for Faculty, at 8-3693. Register by Friday, Dec. 17.

8. Register for All University Christmas Party

Join faculty and staff in sharing the spirit of the season at the All University Christmas Party from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22, in the AMU Monaghan Ballroom. Departments and offices are asked to inform University Special Events of the number of faculty and staff attending from their area by Wednesday, Dec. 15. Call 8-7431 for more information.

9. Tell us about interesting December graduates by Thursday

The Office of Marketing and Communication is seeking stories about December 2010 graduates for possible use with area media. Graduates with unusual backgrounds; who overcame substantial obstacles in getting their degree; who will be doing something unusual after graduation; with recent national-level 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 Thursday, Dec. 9.

10. Fair trade fair taking place this week

The student organization JUSTICE will host its annual Fair Trade Holiday Fair on Thursday, Dec. 9, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the AMU Ballrooms. Items for sale include Christmas ornaments, tea, coffee, hats, mittens, handicrafts, purses, bags and more.

11. Pre-game reception scheduled for men’s game against Wisconsin

The Alumni Association is hosting a pre-game reception before the Marquette vs. Wisconsin men’s basketball game Saturday, Dec. 11. The reception will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Pabst Brewery-Best Place, 901 W. Juneau Ave., within walking distance of the Bradley Center for the 1:30 p.m. game. Tickets are $5 and include a Saz’s barbecue buffet. Children age three and under are free. Game tickets will not be available through the Alumni Association, but raffle tickets will be sold for an opportunity to win two tickets.

12. Free blood pressure screening tomorrow

The Employee Wellness Program is holding a free blood pressure screening tomorrow, Dec. 7, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in AMU 252. No appointment is needed.

Attendees receive a punch on their Wellness Rewards Card by participating. The Employee Wellness Program offers a Wellness Rewards Program in which employees can earn rewards by participating in wellness activities.

Every time an employee attends a qualifying employee wellness program, they’re eligible to receive a punch on a Wellness Rewards Card. Employees who complete a punch card with 10 punches earn a Wellness Reward Package and entry into an annual grand prize drawing, from participating partners. Wellness Rewards Punch Cards are available at all qualifying employee wellness programs and from Mandi Richter, wellness coordinator, at 8-4581.

13. Final projects for e-teaching workshop series to be presented

The Center for Teaching and Learning and Information Technology Services will host the final project presentations for the D2L e-teaching workshop series Wednesday, Dec. 8, in Raynor Library 320H, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

The projects are a result of the series, which focuses on a variety of course design and multimedia resources to enhance teaching in D2L. A certificate is presented to participants who complete all seven sessions. The e-teaching workshops are offered every semester, but it is not necessary to attend all seven sessions in one semester.

14. Buzz Williams appearing at Spirit Shop on Wednesday

Men's Head Basketball Coach Buzz Williams will meet members of the Marquette community at the Spirit Shop’s Christmas sale Wednesday, Dec. 8, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.

15. Math and chemistry departments hosting colloquiums

The Department of Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science will hold a colloquium Friday, Dec. 10, at 4 p.m. in Cudahy 401. Dr. Michael Papka, interim division director at Argonne Leadership Computing Facility, will present “Efforts to Enable Analysis at the Petascale.”

The Department of Chemistry will host a colloquium Friday, Dec. 10, at 4:15 p.m. in Todd Wehr Chemistry 121. Dr. Preston Snee, assistant professor of chemistry at the University of Illinois at Chicago, will present “Synthesis and functionalization of novel, emissive semiconductor nanocrystals.”

16. TIAA-CREF representatives available for financial counseling

TIAA-CREF consultants will be available to faculty and staff for individual and confidential financial counseling sessions from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 9, and Friday, Dec. 10, in AMU 233. The session can include overall financial advice, asset allocation, retirement income options, diversifying financial portfolios and learning about mutual funds, brokerage, life insurance and annuities.

Call 1-800-842-2005, ext. 255674, to schedule an appointment.