MARCH 1, 2010

IN THIS ISSUE

1. President's Address is Thursday

Marquette President Robert A. Wild, S.J., will give his annual President's Address on Thursday, March 4, at 3 p.m. in the Weasler Auditorium. All faculty and staff are invited to attend. A reception will follow.

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2. Final dean candidate forum scheduled

The final open forum for dean candidates will be for Dr. Steven Leigh, head and professor of anthropology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., tomorrow, March 2, in AMU 157. Leigh is a candidate for dean of the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences.

Information on the arts and sciences candidates' backgrounds can be found at https://www.marquette.edu/klinglerdean/klingler_candidates.shtml.  

Information on the Engineering OPUS Dean candidates' backgrounds can be found online at https://www.marquette.edu/opusdean/candidates.shtml.

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3. Groundbreaking ceremony for engineering facility is Friday

Marquette will break ground for a new engineering facility, the Discovery Learning Complex, Friday, March 5. The ceremony will begin at 11 a.m. in parking lot N, just south of the construction site, on the southwest corner of 16th Street and Wisconsin Avenue. Speakers will include Marquette President Robert A. Wild, S.J., and OPUS Dean of Engineering Stan Jaskolski.

The building will feature an innovative Discovery Learning Laboratory and a two-story engineering materials and structural testing laboratory, as well as other new teaching and research laboratories, common areas for students and office space. The five-story, 115,000-square-foot building is being constructed on the south side of Wisconsin Avenue between 16th and 17th streets. Demolition of several university-owned buildings on the site has been completed, with materials recycled. The new $35-million building is the first phase of a $100-million, 250,000-square-foot facility.

RSVP to University Special Events at 8-7431.

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4. Wade Public Lecture to address illegal immigrants

Rev. Dean Brackley, S.J., the Rev. Francis C. Wade Chair for spring semester, will present “The Migrants: Illegals or God’s Ambassadors?” Wednesday, March 10, at 4 p.m. in the Raynor Library Beaumier Suites. He has served as a professor of theology at the Universidad Centroamericana in El Salvador since 1990.

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5. Mulla, Bellegarde-Smith to discuss Haiti

Dr. Sameena Mulla, assistant professor of social and cultural sciences, who was in Port-au-Prince when the Haiti earthquake struck in January, will join Dr. Patrick Bellegarde-Smith, professor of Africology at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, to present “Haiti Educational Forum: Haiti in Context.” The program, which will be held Thursday, March 11, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in the Raynor Library Beamier Suites, is sponsored by the Office of International Education.

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6. Senior speaker nomination deadline extended to March 2

Nominations for senior speaker at Commencement are still being accepted for eligible seniors interested in speaking at graduation. The nomination deadline has been extended to tomorrow, March 2.

For more information e-mail Ryan Michaels.

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7. Student art featured at Haggerty exhibit

The Haggerty Museum of Art will host Student Fine Arts Night on Wednesday, March 3, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., featuring an exhibition of artwork in all media by Marquette students. The event is coordinated by the museum and the Marquette Art Club and will include refreshments and live music by Sanchez!, Annie Chung, Gold’N Blues, The Brew City Big Six, and Brian Harper.

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8. All-you-can-eat soup event benefits Hunger Clean-Up

Hunger Clean-Up will host Sample the Soups on Thursday, March 4, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the AMU Ballrooms. For a suggested donation of $5, participants can enjoy all-you-can-eat soup while listening to live music and learning about hunger and homelessness. Cash and Marquette Cash will be accepted.

Hunger Clean-Up, which is April 17, is Marquette's largest one-day service project. For more information, e-mail co-coordinators Vincent Howard or Christina Starkey.

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9. Men's spirituality group, scripture sharing and rosary scheduled

The Faber Center for Ignatian Spirituality Men's Spirituality Group will meet Thursday, March 4, from noon to 1 p.m. in Schroeder Complex 111. Marquette men of all faiths are invited to a discussion about the ways men relate to God and God's world. Lunch will be provided. RSVP by Wednesday, March 3, at 8-4545.

Mike Hogan, director of the Faber Center, is facilitating a weekly Lenten Scripture group on Wednesdays during Lent, from 7:45 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., in Schroeder Complex 111. All faiths are welcome. No RSVP is required.

Rev. J.J. O'Leary, S.J., associate director of the Faber Center, will lead praying of the rosary Wednesday, March 3, from noon to 12:30 p.m. in the AMU Chapel of the Holy Family. No RSVP required.

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10. Libraries featuring Google workshop; Zablocki digital collection

Raynor Memorial Libraries will host a free workshop, “Google It,” Thursday, March 4, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in Raynor 227. The workshop will explore basic and advanced searching using Google, along with using Google Scholar and Google Books. Attendees will learn how to use library resources with Google to find information more effectively. Registration is encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome.

The libraries’ “In the Spotlight” for January/February features a new digital collection, “Clement J. Zablocki: Photographs of Wisconsin’s Mr. Democrat.” Rep. Zablocki, a 1936 Marquette alumnus, served Milwaukee’s south side from 1949 until his death in 1983. The photographs are a significant addition to his papers, located in Special Collections and accessible through an online inventory.

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11. Psychology, biology and chemistry departments hosting colloquiums

Dr. Ed de St. Aubin, associate professor of psychology, will present a Department of Psychology colloquium Thursday, March 4, at 3:30 p.m. in Schroeder Complex 256. He will present “Lesbian Self Narratives: A Window into the Individual/Society Dynamic.”

Dr. Jianhua Fu, professor of biochemistry at the Medical College of Wisconsin, will present a seminar Friday, March 5, at 3:15 p.m. in Wehr Life Sciences 111. The presentation for the Department of Biological Sciences is “Recognition of RNA polymerase II by RNA capping enzyme and functional significance of the interface.”

The Department of Chemistry will hold a colloquium Friday, March 5, at 4:15 p.m. in Todd Wehr Chemistry 121. Dr. Jennifer DuBois, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Notre Dame, will present “Making dioxygen using heme: O–O bond formation by chlorite dismutase.”

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12. Study group to address topics of nonviolence

The Center for Peacemaking will hold a Nonviolent Study Group from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Thursday, March 4, in Academic Support Facility 201. Employees, graduate students and members of the community are invited to discuss topics of nonviolence.

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13. Workshop offered about online student activities

The Center for Teaching and Learning and the Instructional Media Center are offering “Online student activities and e-portfolios” Monday, March 8.

The workshop is part of a hybrid teaching series that focuses on developing and teaching hybrid/blended courses. Hybrid courses combine classroom-based and online teaching and learning. A goal of the workshop series is for each participant to prepare an instructional module for use online this coming spring semester. Faculty who attend the six workshops and prepare an online module will receive a certificate of completion. All requirements do not need to be met in one semester. The series will be offered every semester. Space is limited.

Workshops are 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in Raynor 320H. Additional workshops will be:
March 29 — Graphic design, assessment and social networking tools
April 19 — Instructional design, blogging and learning communities
May 3 — Project presentations

Register with Dr. Dave Buckholdt, director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, at 8-0268.

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14. Rec Plex taking registrations for triathlon challenge

Registrations for the Rec Plex Triathlon Challenge, taking place through May 7, are now available at the front desk of the Rec Plex. Participants may sign up to complete three different activities throughout the remainder of the semester. Those who finish will receive a T-shirt.

The challenge is free and open to all students and members. Non-members may participate, but will have to abide by the guest policy and pay appropriate fees to enter the facility. Call 8-6979 for more information.

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15. Save money when filing your federal income tax return

Parents and guardians of students can take advantage of thousands of dollars in federal tax credits when filing income tax returns because of their enrollment status. Internal Revenue Service Publication 970 outlines all tax benefits for education when filing returns for 2009, including:
 
•  The American Opportunity credit: This new tax credit has a maximum of $2,500 per student (100 percent of the first $2,000 and 25 percent of the next $2,000 of qualified education expenses), is available for the first four years of postsecondary education. The National Association of College Stores and the Internal Revenue Service have also created a new Web site to help students recoup expenses on textbooks and other course materials due the American Opportunity Tax Credit.

•  Revised Hope and Lifetime Learning credits: The Hope Credit for students in Milwaukee County remains at 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. Those electing to file for the Hope Credit cannot also file for the American Opportunity credit. A third option for students in Milwaukee County is the Lifetime Learning credit, which is 40 percent of qualified expenses paid with a maximum credit of $4,000 allowed.

•  The definition of qualified education expenses for the education credits and tuition and fees deduction remains expanded for students in the county.

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

The Raynor Library information desk has free copies of I.R.S. booklets for 1040, 1040A and 1040EZ. Other state and federal tax forms, schedules and instruction booklets are detailed in a research guide that also links to sources of free local help.

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16. Follow Marquette updates online

Marquette community members can get information and stay up-to-date with Marquette happenings in multimedia and social networks. Connect with Marquette through:

• Marquette on Twitter – in 140 characters or less.

• Marquette’s Facebook page, as well as many Marquette departmental pages. Nearly 8,000 fans follow Marquette’s Facebook page.

• Marquette’s YouTube channel, where viewers can watch, rate and comment on videos about Marquette.

• Videos of key thought leaders speaking on campus on the Difference Network.

• Marquette photos on Flickr.

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17. Celebrating women at Marquette — first female trustee

During the 1975-76 academic year, President John P. Raynor, S.J., nominated the first female to the Board of Trustees: Joanne O’Malley Pier, a nursing alumna. Want to know more? Go to the Centennial Celebration of Women Web site. A new note will be featured each week.

In 1909, Marquette became the first Catholic university in the world to offer coeducation as part of its regular undergraduate program. To help honor the centennial, a year-long series of historical notes highlighting turning-point moments and figures in Marquette’s collaborative past is running in News Briefs.

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