1. University to lease Norris Park

The Milwaukee Common Council on Wednesday voted unanimously for the city of Milwaukee to lease what has been known as Norris Park to Marquette for 25 years following enhancements to the facility. The park is located between 18th and 19th streets and Kilbourn Avenue and State Street.

Pending the mayor’s review and execution of a lease, Marquette will improve and schedule activities at the park by fall 2011; community organizations will be able to use the park through arrangement with the university. Proposed improvements include removing remaining asphalt, installing new turf and landscaping for intramural sport use, and installing new lighting, fencing and security cameras. Under the proposed agreement, the university will invest in the improvements within a year of the lease and pay $1 to the city each year through 2035.

Marquette’s effort to renew and reuse the Norris Park property has been led by President Robert A. Wild, S.J., in response to the desire by students for additional green space in the Near West Side neighborhood that Marquette calls home. In concert with Marquette University Student Government, university offices worked with Ald. Robert Bauman, Arts ’74, the alderman for the 4th District including Marquette, as well as the Department of City Development and the Avenues West Association, to arrange the lease agreement. Each was instrumental in creating the proposed lease agreement.

The 1.95-acre site currently includes a 1,200-square-foot field house with restrooms and an 11,250-square-foot paved area for basketball, with the remainder open land. In 2004, the Near West Side Area Comprehensive Plan identified the park as a catalytic development project for the neighborhood and recommended a partnership with a local institution for operation of the facility.

2. Tomorrow is last chance to enter iPod drawing

Tomorrow, Jan. 22, is the last day of the Marquette Central open house, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the first floor of Zilber Hall, 1250 W. Wisconsin Ave. Students can enter a prize drawing to win an iPod. Free hot chocolate and cookies will also be provided.

Marquette Central opened in December, centralizing the services of the offices of the Bursar, Financial Aid and Registrar. Attendees can meet staff, learn more about enrollment and financial services, and how to access their information using their Marquette Central Access Number.

Tours of Zilber Hall will be offered at the building’s formal dedication and open house, scheduled for spring.

3. Gesu holding Mass in support of Haiti

The Church of the Gesu will hold a Mass at 7:30 p.m. today, Jan. 21, in support of the people of Haiti. Attendees are invited to join in prayer and learn more about Gesu’s longstanding relationship with St. Jude Parish, located in Mon Opital, Haiti. A forum on Haiti will precede the Mass, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the lower church.

Immediately following the Mass until 9 p.m., a Holy Hour for Life, featuring Eucharistic Adoration and Benediction, will be held in the upper church. The Holy Hour is in conjunction with other celebrations around the Archdiocese of Milwaukee to provide opportunities for prayer during the annual March for Life in Washington D.C., an annual gathering to promote respect for the dignity of human life from conception to natural death that falls on the anniversary of the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision. Thirty-seven Marquette students, sponsored by Students for Life and Campus Ministry, will make the pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., for the March.

4. Theologian to discuss almsgiving and heavenly treasure

Dr. Gary Anderson, professor of Old Testament/Hebrew Bible at the University of Notre Dame, will present “The Treasury of Merits Theologically Considered” at 3:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 25, in Raynor Library Beaumier Suite A. Anderson will discuss the Biblical concept of almsgiving and accumulating a treasury in heaven, drawing from his recent book, Sin: A History. The event is free and open to the public.

The program is sponsored by the Marquette Scripture Project, with the support from the Simmons Religious Commitment Fund.

5. Art museum holding Freak Parade gallery walk-through

The Haggerty Museum of Art will host a gallery walk-through with Thomas Woodruff for his Freak Parade exhibition at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 27, at the museum. A reception and book signing with Woodruff will follow.

The exhibition includes 34 large scale drawings/paintings, each of which is rendered in detail and delicately embellished with tiny rhinestones. Thomas Woodruff began this project in late 2000 as a reaction against the global standardization of culture.

6. Community development expert to speak at Law School

Vincent Lyles, president of M&I Community Development Corporation, will be a guest for “On the Issues with Mike Gousha” at the Law School Wednesday, Jan. 27, from noon to 1 p.m. in Sensenbrenner 325.

Lyles will discuss how and why M&I, the largest bank based in Wisconsin, invests in housing and economic development projects and the importance of revitalizing economically distressed neighborhoods in Milwaukee and across the nation. Before joining M&I, Lyles was an investment banker at Robert W. Baird & Co. and the former executive director of the City of Milwaukee Election Commission.

7. Update personal contact information in university records

All students are strongly encouraged to update their personal contact information via CheckMarq. The university needs an updated address and telephone number (preferably a mobile number) for each student. This information is used by university staff to contact students in emergencies and for vital university business.

Students should log on to CheckMarq, scroll to the “Personal Information” section, and update their information by Tuesday, Jan. 26.

8. McNair sessions prepare students for graduate school

Applications for the McNair Scholarship Program, which prepares qualified students for graduate school, are now available online. Students are encouraged to attend three informational sessions about the program. Each session is offered twice, but students need to attend just one of each session. Monday sessions are in Marquette Hall 402 and Thursday sessions in AMU 121.

Informational Session — Monday, Jan. 25, and Thursday, Jan. 28, 5:30 p.m.
Developing a Research Topic — Monday, Feb. 1, and Thursday, Feb. 4, 5:30 p.m.
Finding a Mentor — Monday, Feb. 8, and Thursday, Feb. 11, 5:30 p.m.

Applications are due March 1. For more information, call the McNair Program Office at 8-1771.

9. Libraries holding Google workshop

Raynor Memorial Libraries will host a free workshop, “Google It,” Wednesday, Jan. 27, from 11 a.m. to 11:50 a.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.

10. Graduate School of Management holding information sessions

The Graduate School of Management will hold information sessions covering curriculum, admissions requirements, application process and other information in February. Each session begins with a 5:30 reception before the 6 p.m. presentation:

Monday, Feb. 1 — Waukesha MBA Program, at MRA, the management association, N19 W24400 Riverwood Dr., Waukesha.

Tuesday, Feb. 2 — On-campus MBA and MS programs, College of Business Administration Executive Center, Straz Hall 105.

Wednesday, Feb. 3 — Executive MBA program, College of Business Administration Executive Center, Straz Hall, second floor.

To RSVP or for more information, call 8-7145 or e-mail.

11. Students can win $200 for an A-grade paper

Students can win a $200 cash prize for entering Raynor Memorial Libraries’ 13th Maria Dittman Research Paper Competition, which recognizes the importance of effective library research. $200 prizes will be awarded in freshman/sophomore, junior/senior and graduate/professional categories. All A-grade research papers written during the 2009 calendar year are eligible. The submission deadline is Friday, March 5.

12. Free kickboxing classes to held

HAVEN (Helping Abuse and Violence End Now) and the Helfaer Rec Center will host two free kickboxing classes Tuesday, Jan. 26, from 4:30 p.m. to 5:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. at the Rec Center. Participants can take part in as much or as little of the two classes as they want.

Members of HAVEN will accept donations for the Sojourner Family Peace Center, which provides support services for Milwaukee families affected by domestic violence. All participants who make a monetary donation will automatically be entered into a drawing for prizes.