1. Provide feedback to university mission statement online

As part of the Higher Learning Commission's reaffirmation of Marquette's accreditation, the university is undergoing an update of its current mission statement. The current mission statement was written and approved by the Board of Trustees in May 1998 and continues to serve as a guiding document for the university's identity and decision making. The purpose of updating the mission statement is not to replace the four pillars that have guided the university in recent years, but rather to bring the mission statement current with the spirit and direction of the university at this time.

Members of the campus community are invited to participate in the updating process by submitting feedback via an online form through March 31.

The Office of Mission and Ministry is also conducting feedback sessions with key university constituencies, including University Academic Senate, University Leadership Council, Marquette University Student Government, Marquette University National Alumni Board, the Jesuit Community and the Board of Trustees.

In April, the Office of Mission and Ministry, in cooperation with representatives from the Academic Senate, will review the input and share a draft of the updated mission statement with the university community. Members of the Marquette community will be invited to offer comments about the draft online. The final draft of the mission statement will then be submitted to the University Academic Senate, President's Cabinet, and University Leadership Council for endorsement before being submitted to President Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., and the Board of Trustees for approval in September.

For additional information, contact the Office of Mission and Ministry at 8-1881 or email Dr. Stephanie Russell, vice president for mission and ministry.

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2. National Weather Service sends inaccurate text message

At approximately 10:45 a.m. this morning, a number of cell phone users received an emergency weather text message for a tornado warning to their mobile devices. This message was only a test and was sent by the National Weather Service.

The weather service sent the message out as part of Severe Weather Preparedness Week, but inaccurately coded the text so that it didn't indicate the message was a test. More information regarding the text is available on the NWS's website.

This message was not sent out through Marquette's emergency text messaging system, ConnectEd. Marquette uses this system to send out campus alerts including weather-related closing, safety alerts and if there is an imminent threat on campus. To receive these messages, students need to register their personal phones through CheckMarq in the "Personal Information" section. Complete instructions are available online.

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3. Counseling Center offering free anxiety screenings

The Counseling Center will offer free, confidential anxiety screenings Thursday, March 7, from noon to 2 p.m. in Holthusen Hall, 205. Symptoms of anxiety can include excessive worry, nervousness, rapid heart rate and stomach ache. Anxiety can interfere with both academics and relationships.

No appointment is necessary. For additional information, contact Linda Somppi, office associate in the Counseling Center, at 8-7172.

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4. Receive spring break safety and travel tips at health fair

The Center for Health Education and Promotion will host the 13th annual Spring Break Blitz health fair Tuesday, March 5, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the AMU, second floor lobby. A variety of campus and community representatives will be available to answer travel questions and provide safety and travel tips. Students can receive free goodies, be entered into a raffle to receive prizes and receive spring break survival kits.

For additional questions, contact the Center for Health Education and Promotion at 8-5217.

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5. Registration deadline extended to March 15 for ImpactNext business model challenge

ImpactNext, a new venture contest that has replaced the Business Plan Competition, is open to undergraduate and graduate students, alumni and staff. The competition is sponsored by the Kohler Center for Entrepreneurship. Applicants must submit a registration form, which includes a summary of and questionnaire about the proposed business model, by Friday, March 15, 2013. The registration fee is $50. Student scholarships are available.

The competition will culminate with an event on Friday, April 12, 2013. Participants will showcase their business models during a networking and poster session. Preliminary judging during that time will determine one winner from each category: undergraduate, graduate, alumni, staff and community. Each category winner is eligible to receive $1,000 toward their venture.

Judges at that time will also determine the top five finalists (not necessarily category winners) who will move on to the next round. Those finalists will deliver one- to two-minute pitches to the judges and the audience; judges will have the opportunity to ask questions. Winners will be announced later in the evening. The grand-prize winner among the five finalists will receive $2,000.

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6. Soup with Substance to address role of nonprofits in uniting communities

The Center for Peacemaking's Soup with Substance will host Serve 2 Unite, a nonprofit that serves to join people of diverse backgrounds in various forms of community service to build stronger, more peaceful communities for a discussion Wednesday, March 6, at noon in the AMU, 157. This event will address the roles individuals can play as teams in working to better the community, as well as the challenges faced in trying to unite a community while upholding social justice.

Serve 2 Unite was founded by Kanwardeep Singh Kaleka, an active member of the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin who lost his uncle and friends in the tragic shooting this past summer. This event is sponsored by the Office of International Education.

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7. Applications due Friday for Social Justice Living Learning Community

The Social Justice Living Learning Community is accepting applications for freshmen interesting in spending their sophomore year living with others who have similar goals of advocating for justice issues. This is an opportunity for students to live on two floors in Straz Tower and focus on creating positive social change. Participants will take one class with fellow community members each semester, which includes a service-learning component designed to enhance students' academic experience through engagement with Milwaukee.

Applications are due Friday, March 8. For additional information, contact Andrew Levy, residence hall director in Straz Hall.

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8. Panel to discuss workers' rights abuses in sweatshops

JUSTICE and the Center for Peacemaking will host a panel on workers' rights abuses in Adidas factories Thursday, March 7, at 1 p.m. in the AMU, 252. Two former Adidas employees and a representative from United Students Against Sweatshops will discuss how members of the campus community can take action.

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9. Association of English Graduate Students selling canvas tote bags

The Association of English Graduate Students will sell canvas tote bags featuring Joan Didion's phrase, "We tell our stories in order to live," Wednesday, March 6, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Raynor Memorial Libraries' Bridge. Bags will be sold for $8, or two for $15. Proceeds from the sale will fund English graduate students to attend professional conferences.

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10. Maria Dittman Library Research Competition now accepting student papers

The Maria Dittman Library Research Competition is accepting submissions through Friday, March 8. The competition recognizes the importance of library research in academia and offers a $200 prize in three categories: freshman and sophomore, junior and senior, and graduate and professional papers. Submissions must be A-grade papers written during the fall 2012 semester at Marquette. Full submission details and the entry form are now available.

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11. Freshmen and seniors asked to complete the National Survey of Student Engagement

Freshmen and seniors have received an email from President Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., asking them to participate in the National Survey of Student Engagement. The NSSE survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete, and helps the university understand how students are spending time in and out of the classroom.

In appreciation for participating, all students who complete the survey by April 1 will be entered into a drawing for one of 10 Marquette Cash gift cards worth $50 each. Approximately 1,500 students are eligible to win.

For questions about this project or how the university plans to use the results, contact Alexandra Riley, associate director of the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment, at 8-8049.

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12. Student Health 101 March issue now available

The March issue of Student Health Service's Student Health 101 magazine is now available, and features how-to videos and articles on topics such as the five components of fitness, the advantages of eight hours of sleep, the benefits of antioxidants, determining one's learning style and the dangers of study drugs, among others. Follow Student Health 101 on Facebook for insider stories, videos and articles on how to stay healthy in mind, body and spirit.

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13. Marquette Literary Review now accepting submissions

The Marquette Literary Review is now accepting submissions of creative fiction and poetry works. Email works for consideration to mu.litreview@gmail.com by Sunday, March 24. The Marquette Literary Review is sponsored by the Department of English.

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14. Alpha Sigma Nu to honor Marquette professors at spring Mass and brunch

Alpha Sigma Nu Father Danihy Alumni Club of Southeast Wisconsin will host its annual spring Mass Sunday, March 24, at 10:30 a.m. in the AMU, Chapel of the Holy Family, followed by an awards brunch at 11:30 a.m. in the AMU, Lunda Room and Henke Lounge. Two members of the Marquette community who have lived out the Alpha Sigma Nu Jesuit Honor Society values of scholarship, loyalty and service will be honored at this event:

  • Dr. Lawrence Pan, professor and chair of physical therapy – Alumnus of the Year
  • Dr. John Pustejovsky, associate professor of German – Lifetime Service Award

Tickets for the brunch are available for $20. Alumni can sponsor a ticket for a current Marquette student to attend the brunch for $15. Checks can be made out to the Daninhy Alumni Club and sent to c/o Susan Mountin, 7424 W. Wisconsin Ave., Wauwatosa, Wis. 53213. Registration is also available online. Register by Friday, March 15.

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15. Strategic Planning Coordinating Committee hosting office hours Thursday

The Strategic Plan Coordinating Committee co-chairs will host office hours Thursday, March 7, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the AMU, 362. Other strategic planning office hours throughout the semester include:

  • Monday, March 18, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the AMU, 231
  • Wednesday, March 27, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the AMU, 233

Those interested in attending any of the office hours should RSVP to Laura Hagan, office assistant in the Office of the University Architect, at 8-4439.

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16. Law School to hold information session Friday

The Law School will host an information session for prospective students Friday, March 8, in Eckstein Hall. The session will cover admissions, financial aid policies and procedures, curriculum, intellectual and student life and information from current students.

The session begins at 11:45 a.m. and lasts approximately one hour, followed by a brief tour. Register online.

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17. Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science Colloquium Series continues Friday

The Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science Colloquium Series will host "Efficient Use of Geophysical Simulations for Developing Probabilistic Hazard Maps," Friday, March 8, at 1 p.m. in Cudahy, 401. Dr. Elaine Spiller, assistant professor of mathematics, statistics and computer science, will deliver the lecture.

Pre-colloquium refreshments will be served at 12:30 p.m. in Cudahy, 342. For additional information or questions, contact Dr. Rong Ge, assistant professor of mathematics, statistics and computer science, at 8-6344.

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18. Seminar to address development of epithelial barriers in drosophila

The Biological Sciences Seminar Series will host "Development of Epithelial Barriers in Drosophila: Lessons From the Drop-Dead Gene," Friday, March 8, at 3 p.m. in Wehr Life Sciences, 111. Dr. Edward Blumenthal, associate professor of biological sciences, will lead the seminar.

Refreshments will be served prior to the seminar at 2:45 p.m. in Wehr Life Sciences, 108. For more information, contact the Department of Biological Sciences at 8-7355.

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19. Department of Chemistry Spring Colloquium series to continue Friday

The Department of Chemistry Spring 2013 Colloquium Series will host "Experimental and Computational Insights into Manganese-dependent Enzymes from Biomimetic Peroxo- and Oxomanganese Complexes," Friday, March 8, at 4 p.m. in Wehr Chemistry, 121. Dr. Tim Jackson of the University of Kansas Department of Chemistry will lead the seminar.

Refreshments will be served prior to the seminar at 3:45 p.m. in Wehr Chemistry, 121. For more information, contact the Department of Chemistry at 8-3515. A complete schedule of the Spring 2013 Colloquium Series can be found online.

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20. Delta Xi Phi hosting ice cream bar to benefit American Cancer Society

Delta Xi Phi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. will host an all-you-can-eat ice cream bar Wednesday, March 6, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. in Cudahy Hall, 118. The cost is $5, and all proceeds will go to the American Cancer Society.

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21. Sign up for all-access fitness class pass

Students can purchase a Fit Pass, which will serve as an all-access pass for fitness classes after spring break. The pass is $20, and participants can choose to have access to aerobics classes only or spin classes only. An Ultimate Pass can be purchased for $30, and will give participants access to any class at either facility. Passes may be obtained between 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. from the Group Fitness Office at the Rec Center. For additional information, call 8-6979.

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