1. Groundbreaking ceremony for engineering facility is March 5

Marquette will break ground for a new engineering facility, the Discovery Learning Complex, Friday, March 5. The groundbreaking 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.

“With a history that spans more than a century, Marquette’s College of Engineering continues to educate engineers with the highest level of technical skill,” said Father Wild. “Today we demand even more of our engineers. This new facility will foster the development of the skills we need in the 21st century — innovative thinking and creative problem-solving, experience in team dynamics and both oral and visual communication.”

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 with University Special Events at 8-7431.

2. Forums for dean candidates this week

Dr. David Cohn, director of business informatics at IBM, will participate in an open forum as a candidate for OPUS Dean of the College of Engineering from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24, in AMU 163.

Dr. Howard Brown, professor of history at Binghamton University State University of New York, will participate in an open forum as a candidate for dean of the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences from 12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 25, in AMU 157.

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., Tuesday, March 2.

Information on the arts and sciences candidates' backgrounds can be found online.

Information on the Engineering OPUS Dean candidates' backgrounds can be found online.

3. Former AIG executive to discuss crisis communication

Nicholas Ashooh, Jour 76, former senior vice president for corporate communications at American International Group, will discuss “Crisis Communication: Navigating AIG Through the Storm” tomorrow, Feb. 23, in the AMU ballrooms. The free, public event will begin with a continental breakfast at 7:15 a.m.; the program will start at 7:30. Registration is required and available online.

Ashooh, who in January became vice president of corporate affairs at Alcoa, led AIG’s crisis communication response efforts during the federal bailout of the insurance giant, which many observers deemed “too big to fail.”

Mike Gousha, distinguished fellow in law and public policy and an award-winning journalist, will moderate the discussion.

4. Author to speak about achievement of African American students

Dr. Theresa Perry, professor of Africana Studies at Simmons College, will present this year’s Tommy G. Thompson lecture, “Toward a New Conversation about the School Achievement of African American Students.” Perry will speak at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 25, in the AMU Monaghan Ballroom. Perry received her master’s in theology from Marquette in 1970 and her doctorate in education from Harvard University. She is the author of four books, including Young, Gifted, and Black: Promoting High Achievement Among African-American Students and Teaching Malcolm X: Popular Culture and Literacy.

5. Reparative justice is topic of Aquinas Lecture

The 2010 Aquinas Lecture, “What is reparative justice?” will feature Dr. Margaret Urban Walker, professor of philosophy and Lincoln professor of ethics at Arizona State University, Sunday, Feb. 28, at 3 p.m. in the Raynor Library Beaumier conference center. The lecture is free and open to the public.

Walker is the author of three books — Moral Understandings: A feminist Study in Ethics; Moral Contexts; and Moral Repair: Reconstructing Moral Relation After Wrongdoing.

The lecture is sponsored by the Department of Philosophy.

6. Study abroad applications due this week

The study abroad application deadline for summer 2010, fall 2010 and the 2010-2011 academic year is Monday, March 1. Students must submit all required application documents by the deadline to be considered. Students can apply using the new online application.

7. Senior speaker nominations due Feb. 27

Nominations for senior speaker at Commencement are now available for eligible seniors interested in speaking at graduation. Nominations are due Saturday, Feb. 27.

For more information e-mail Ryan Michaels.

8. Center for Peacemaking offering $2,000 grants

The Center for Peacemaking is offering $200 to $2,000 grants for full-time undergraduate students to explore the power of nonviolence through the Szymczak Student Peacemaking Fellowship Program. Fellows are encouraged to develop a proposal in which they will work independently or with existing peacemaking organizations. Fellowships support individuals to explore the power of nonviolence. The application deadline is 5 p.m. Monday, March 1.

9. Book Marq closing for renovations

Book Marq will be closed Saturday, Feb. 27, through Sunday, March 7, for renovations. There will be no access to the store during that time. Book Marq will reopen for business on Monday, March 8, at 9 a.m.

10. Neuroscience, chemistry and biological sciences holding seminars

Dr. John Mantsch, chair and associate professor of biomedical sciences, will present a seminar for the Integrative Neuroscience Center on Tuesday, Feb. 23, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in Schroeder Complex 256. Mantsch will discuss “Neurobiological mechanisms underlying stress-induced relapse in cocaine addiction.”

The Department of Chemistry will hold a colloquium Friday, Feb. 26, at 4:15 p.m. in Todd Wehr Chemistry 121. Dr. Charlie Riordan, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Delaware, will present “Chalcogen activation by monovalent nickel.”

Dr. Vern Schramm, professor of biochemistry at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, will present a seminar Friday, Feb. 26, at 3:15 p.m. in Wehr Life Sciences 111. The title of the presentation is “Design of New Drugs from Enzymatic Transition States.” The program is sponsored by the Department of Biological Sciences.

11. Free lunch provided at discussion of African American professionals

African American career professionals will discuss decision-making about their careers, challenges and successes at the POWER Lunch on Wednesday, Feb. 24, from noon to 1 p.m. in AMU 157. Lunch is provided.

Participants are:

• Jacqueline Schultz, executive team leader at Target

• Vincent Lyles, president — Community Development Corporation at Marshall & Ilsley Corporation

• Sharon Jordan, DSSI financial services & DSI community involvement lead at Direct Supply

• DJ Todd, coordinator for intercultural programs at Marquette

For more information, contact the Career Services Center at 8-7423.

12. Environmental sustainability forum Wednesday

The Office of Sustainability is hosting forums starting Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 2 p.m. , in Zilber 256A to promote sustainability and share insights that will help connect students, employees and staff in developing a more sustainable campus. The campus community is encouraged to think about ways to save money on transportation, electricity, water, building maintenance, waste stream or any other cost source while making a positive impact on sustainability and the environment.

13. Dr. Carolyn Smith to talk about ultra-endurance racing and motivation

Dr. Carolyn Smith, medical director of Student Health Service and an ultra-endurance athlete, will present “Get motivated!” Thursday, Feb. 25, at 7 p.m. in Cudahy 001. Smith will share her experiences of running through nature's most intense conditions, including a 135-mile race through Death Valley, Calif. She will also offer personal wisdom for maintaining motivation and mental focus in life and athletics.

14. Applications for social justice community due Feb. 26

Applications for the Dorothy Day Social Justice Living/Learning Community for 2010-11, available in Carpenter Tower 203, are due Friday, Feb. 26.

The community comprises a select group of 44 sophomore students who will be housed together in Straz Tower and will enroll in special service learning sections of Philosophy 1001, “Philosophy of Human Nature,” in the fall semester, and Theology 2400, “Christian Discipleship,” in the spring semester. Students will be actively involved with social justice issues within the Milwaukee community.

Faculty, staff and students will also create out-of-classroom experiences that bring students together in meaningful reflection on concepts taught in the classroom, on their service experiences, and on other out-of-classroom experiences that help shed light on the meaning of social justice in their lives.

The program is named to honor Dorothy Day, the inspiring Catholic advocate for social change in the United States.

15. Law School to hold information session

The Law School will host an information session for prospective students Friday, Feb. 26, at 11:45 a.m. in Sensenbrenner 239. The session will provide information about admissions, 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.

16. CRS Webcast to address relief efforts in Haiti

Catholic Relief Services and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops will hold a Webcast from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 24, to describe the agency’s relief efforts in Haiti. CRS is one of two agencies that Marquette has identified for fundraising, confident that they will continue to reach and address needs in Haiti.

The “Catholics Confront Global Poverty Webcast: The Church Responds to Catastrophe in Haiti” will feature Annemarie Reilly, vice president for overseas operations at CRS; Joan Rosenhauer, executive vice president for U.S. operations at CRS; and Steve Colecchi, director of the office of international justice and peace at the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

RSVP online.

17. DPS plunging into Lake Michigan for Special Olympics

The Department of Public Safety is coordinating a team for the 2010 Polar Plunge to benefit Special Olympics Wisconsin.

The Polar Plunge will take place at Bradford Beach on Saturday, March 6, at noon. DPS is providing free round-trip transportation from the DPS office to Bradford Beach beginning at 11 a.m. Plungers and non-plunging supporters can register online for the Marquette team.

For more information, contact Sue Cooper, crime prevention officer, at 8-5244.

18. Players society selling tickets to Hairspray and tributes to the Beatles and Queen

The Marquette University Players Society is selling tickets tomorrow, Feb. 23, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside of the AMU Brew Bayou and Wednesday, Feb. 24, from 10 a.m. 2 p.m. outside of AMU Marquette Place.

Tickets will be available for:

• Hairspray, March 5 at 8 p.m. and March 6 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

• Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles, March 14 at 7 p.m.

• One Night of Queen, March 18 at 8 p.m.

All tickets are $20 for balcony seating at the Milwaukee Theatre.

For more information e-mail the Marquette University Players Society.

19. Blood drive Wednesday

The Alumni Memorial Union will host a blood drive Wednesday, Feb. 24, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the AMU ballrooms. Go online to schedule an appointment. Drive ID is DRV0099431.

20. Celebrating women at Marquette — carillon and St. Joan of Arc Chapel

Marquette saw many physical improvements to its campus during the 1960s; two are beloved landmarks: the St. Joan of Arc Chapel and the carillon both originated in from France. 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.