1. Graduation, Baccalaureate Mass and Senior Celebration this weekend

Nearly 500 graduates will be recognized at the Mid-year Commencement on Sunday, Dec. 19, at the U.S. Cellular Arena, 400 W. Kilbourn Ave. The program will begin at 9:30 a.m. and will feature a keynote address by Dr. Joseph Daniels, professor of economics, as well as remarks from President Robert A. Wild, S.J., and featured student speaker Jackie Steuter, who is graduating from the J. William and Mary Diederich College of Communication.

Graduation events will also include the Baccalaureate Mass at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, at the Church of the Gesu. The Mass will be celebrated by Father Wild, who will be joined by members of the Marquette Jesuit community and diocesan priests.

MUSG will sponsor Senior Celebration on Saturday, Dec. 18, in the AMU ballrooms from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. for seniors graduating in December. The celebration will immediately follow the Baccalaureate Mass. This is the last time that graduating seniors can be together in a social setting to mingle with one another as well as Father Wild, who will attend. An ice cream bar, cake, light appetizers, beverages and music will be provided. Tickets are available in AMU Brooks Lounge. Tickets are free, but are required for each person attending. E-mail for more information.

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2. Law School announces $2 million gift

The Law School today announced a $2 million gift from Milwaukee business leader and philanthropist Sheldon Lubar for the creation of the Sheldon B. Lubar Fund for Public Policy at the Law School.

Joseph D. Kearney, dean of the Law School, said the Lubar Fund will allow the school to expand the scope and participation in public policy initiatives and encourage law students to be knowledgeable about and involved in community issues. The fund will specifically support public policy research and initiatives, including conferences and symposia; faculty research; curriculum development; and programs that enhance the teaching of public policy issues at the Law School.

Marquette President Robert A. Wild, S.J., praised Lubar’s commitment to education, to Milwaukee and to Wisconsin: “Shel Lubar has long been a driving force in Wisconsin, and he understands the importance of broad civic engagement on public policy issues and the role that our law school plays in the region. We are truly appreciative of his confidence in Marquette Law School and grateful for all he does for the greater Milwaukee community.”

“It is clear that, as Milwaukee’s law school, Marquette can play a critical role in convening discussions on the most critical public policy issues of our day,” said Lubar. “It is my hope that the Lubar Fund for Public Policy will further establish Marquette Law School as the place that convenes a wide group of individuals to address hard problems, and I look forward to collaborating with them in the future.”

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3. Marquette to add men’s and women’s lacrosse

Marquette will add men’s and women’s lacrosse to its NCAA Division I varsity sports offerings, Athletic Director Steve Cottingham announced today. Both teams will begin competition in spring 2013.

Lacrosse will become the eighth men’s sport to be offered at MU, as well as the eighth women’s team to be added, bringing the total number of varsity programs at the university to 16.

“Lacrosse is a thrilling sport, loved by fans and participants, and a natural fit for Marquette,” said Cottingham. “The national growth of lacrosse and Marquette’s membership in the BIG EAST make this exactly the right time for us to move forward with lacrosse as a varsity sport at Marquette. We are confident we can build programs that compete successfully at the national level.”

Marquette plans to hire head coaches in advance of the 2011-12 academic year to allow the respective coaching staffs to recruit student-athletes for the first season in 2012-13 with varsity competition starting that spring. The Golden Eagles will play as an independent their first season of competition before becoming a full member of the BIG EAST Conference in men’s and women’s lacrosse in 2013-14.

There are currently nine BIG EAST schools that sponsor NCAA Division I women’s lacrosse, including Cincinnati, Connecticut, Georgetown, Notre Dame, Louisville, Rutgers, Syracuse and Villanova. Loyola-Maryland is an associate member of the conference, competing in women’s lacrosse only.

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4. University offices closed Dec. 23 to Jan. 2

Marquette University offices will be closed from Thursday, Dec. 23, through Sunday, Jan. 2, to observe the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.

Limited campus services, including Public Safety, Facility Services and the Rec Plex, will remain open (see No. 5, below, for additional services). All dining halls will be closed, but Marquette Place will be open Dec. 20-22.

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5. Some hours of operation change for winter break

Departments and services with special hours of operation for winter break include:

Alumni Memorial Union and Information Desk
Friday, Dec. 17 — 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 18 — 7 a.m. to midnight
Sunday, Dec. 19 — 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 20-21 — 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 22 — 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 23, to Sunday, Jan. 2 — closed

Haggerty Museum of Art
Friday to Saturday, Dec. 17-18 — 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 19 — noon to 5 p.m.
Monday to Thursday, Dec. 20-23 — 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, Dec. 24-25 — closed
Sunday, Dec. 26 — noon to 5 p.m.
Monday to Friday, Dec. 27-31 — 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 1 — closed
Sunday, Jan. 2 — noon to 5 p.m.

IT Services Help Desk
Friday, Dec. 17 — 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 18 — 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 19 — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Monday to Wednesday, Dec. 20-22 — 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 23, to Sunday, Jan. 2 — closed

Marquette Neighborhood Health Center, by appointment
Friday, Dec. 17 — 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 18 — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 19 — closed
Monday, Dec. 20 — 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 21 — 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 22 — 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday to Sunday, Dec. 23-26 — closed
Monday, Dec. 27 — 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 28-29 — closed
Thursday, Dec. 30 — 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday to Sunday, Dec. 31 to Jan. 2 — closed

Raynor Memorial Libraries
Friday, Dec. 17 — 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m.; 24-hour access ends
Saturday, Dec. 18 — 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 19 — closed
Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 20-21 — 7:45 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Wednesday, Dec. 22 — 7:45 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 23, to Sunday, Jan. 2 — closed 

Rec Center
Friday, Dec. 17 — 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 18, to Sunday, Jan. 9 — Closed for renovations; members are invited to use the Rec Plex. The pool is also closed for renovations until Monday, Jan. 10.          

Rec Plex
Friday, Dec. 17 — 5:45 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Saturday, Dec. 18 — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 19 — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Monday to Thursday, Dec. 20-23 — 5:45 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday to Sunday, Dec. 24-26 — closed
Monday to Thursday, Dec. 27-30 — 5:45 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday and Saturday, Dec. 31 and Jan. 1 — closed
Sunday, Jan. 2 — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Spirit Shop
Friday, Dec. 17 — 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 18-19 — 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday, Dec. 20 — 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 21 — 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday, Dec. 22-23 — 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Friday to Sunday, Dec. 24-26 — closed
Monday to Friday, Dec. 27-31 — 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 1 — 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 2 — closed

Student Health Service
Friday, Dec. 17 — 8:30 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday, Dec.18-19 — closed
Monday, Dec. 20 — 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Dec. 21 to Jan. 5 — closed

Union Sports Annex
Friday, Dec. 17 — 1 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Saturday, Dec. 18 — 1 p.m. to close
Sunday and Monday, Dec. 19-20 — closed
Tuesday, Dec. 21 — 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Wednesday to Tuesday, Dec. 22-28 — closed
Wednesday, Dec. 29 — 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Thursday to Tuesday, Dec. 30 to Jan. 4 — closed

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6. Bring formal attire back from break for Winter Flurry

Students should bring back their formal attire after the winter break for the annual Winter Flurry Snowball Dance, Friday, Jan. 21. This year’s theme for Winter Flurry week, Jan. 17-22, is “Snowed In."

Winter Flurry 2011: Snowed In, sponsored by the Office of Student Development, features a week of activities to kick off the spring semester.

Events include a tailgate before the Marquette vs. DePaul men’s basketball game, a "Gamers' Paradise" night with laser tag, the annual Spotlight Talent Show, Snowball, and a Late Night featuring an ice skating rink and music headlined by the a cappella group Six Appeal.

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7. News Briefs schedule to change during break

Due to the winter break, News Briefs will be distributed Dec. 20 and Jan. 3, 10 and 18 (not Jan. 17, due to Martin Luther King Day), before resuming its twice-weekly schedule Jan. 20. The submission deadline is noon Friday for Monday editions.

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8. Rec Plex massage gift certificates available through Wednesday

Individuals who would like to purchase a Rec Plex massage gift certificate in time for Christmas need to make the purchase by Wednesday, Dec. 22. Costs are $26 for 30 minutes; $42 for 60 minutes and $68 for 90 minutes. Contact Sandy O'Donoghue, Rec Plex office coordinator, at 8-7778 for more information.

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