1. Message from John F. Ferraro, chair of the Presidential Search Committee

The following letter is from John F. Ferraro, Bus Ad '77, chair of the Presidential Search Committee and vice chair of the Board of Trustees:

Dear members of the Marquette community,

On behalf of the Presidential Search Committee, I am writing to update you on our progress and what you can expect will take place this semester.

Since the Board of Trustees' approval of the Presidential Position Description in early December, the Presidential Search Committee, in partnership with Jesuit leadership and our national executive search firm, Witt/Kieffer, have been actively engaging with prospective candidates – both Jesuit and lay. We're encouraged by the level of interest and the excitement around the search. To date, more than 1,200 individuals have been recommended or nominated, expressed interest, or were targeted as potential candidates.

Through thoughtful and candid discussions, the search committee began vetting the names to narrow the pool to the best candidates. With several Jesuits and numerous lay people, the pool is strong and includes a majority of sitting presidents as well as provosts, deans, and other distinguished leaders. The committee continues this high level of engagement with top candidates as we move toward identifying our recommendation for our 24th president.

Our conversations with top prospects confirm the importance of confidentiality to protect the integrity of their current positions, especially as some are still discerning where they can make the most impact. I know that many of you are eager for this process to conclude. We are in the most critical phase now, and know that it would not be prudent to rush. The process is on schedule; we continue mutually discerning with candidates as we move toward our recommendation to the Board of Trustees.

Thank you for your help in developing the position description, the thoughtful nominations, the useful suggestions on the process and your support. As a result, this is a robust, productive search that will, no doubt, be very successful. For that, the search committee and Board of Trustees are most grateful.

Warm regards,
John

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2. Tomorrow will be a day of atonement and forgiveness to end Mission Week

The concluding day of Mission Week, Friday, Feb. 7, will be spent in reflection on the week's events, the dimensions of our lives that are in need of forgiveness and how we are called to forgive others. Historically, Christians have marked important moments of reconciliation with God through the acts of prayer, fasting and almsgiving (charitable giving). Members of the campus community are asked to consider donating to Catholic Relief Services on the Mission Week website and fasting from attitudes or habits that inhibit forgiveness of others.

For more information and a full schedule of events, visit the Mission Week 2014 website.

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3. Final morning prayer service is tomorrow

Begin each day of Mission Week with a brief interfaith prayer experience, focusing on one dimension of forgiveness. Morning prayers will be held from 8:10 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. in the AMU, Chapel of the Holy Family, each day of Mission Week. The daily morning prayer for tomorrow, Friday, Feb. 7, "Forgiveness and the Protection of the Earth," is co-sponsored by the College of Engineering and Campus Ministry.

The St. John's Bible will be on display during the week, as a source of reflection and inspiration. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit the Mission Week 2014 website.

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4. Lecture on celebrating God's mercy is tomorrow

Timothy Johnston, assistant director of Campus Ministry, will deliver "Celebrating God's Mercy," Friday, Feb. 7, at noon in the AMU, Chapel of the Holy Family. Across faiths and throughout history, religious ritual has played an important part in helping individuals reconnect with God. This reflection on sacramental reconciliation and the reconciling traditions of many faiths is a reminder that forgiveness is found in community.

This event is co-sponsored by the College of Engineering and Campus Ministry. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit the Mission Week 2014 website.

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5. Individual sacramental reconciliation and conversations on forgiveness available tomorrow afternoon

Individual sacramental reconciliation and spiritual conversations on forgiveness, will be available Friday, Feb. 7.

Reconciliation (for Catholics) will be available:

  • 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Faber Center, Schroeder Complex, 111
  • 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the AMU, Chapel of the Holy Family
  • 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the Schroeder Hall Chapel on the first floor of Schroeder Hall

Spiritual companioning (for individuals of other religious traditions) will be available:

  • 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. in the Faber Center, Schroeder Complex, 111
  • 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the AMU, Chapel of the Holy Family
  • 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the Schroeder Hall Chapel on the first floor of Schroeder Hall

No RSVP is required. For more information and a full schedule of events, visit the Mission Week 2014 website.

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6. Mission Week reflection on forgiveness is tomorrow

Join others in the Marquette community for an Ignatian reflection, "Examination of Consciousness: A Reflection on Forgiveness," Friday, Feb. 7, from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the AMU, Chapel of the Holy Family. Participants will quietly look back at the words, images and key learnings of the week.

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7. Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science colloquium to focus on high-dimensional joint Bayesian variable and covariance selection

The Department of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science will host a colloquium Friday, Feb. 7, at 3 p.m. in Cudahy Hall, 401. Dr. Anindya Bhadra, assistant professor of statistics at Purdue University, will present "High-dimensional Joint Bayesian Variable and Covariance Selection: Applications in eQTL Analysis and Cancer Genomics."

Refreshments will be served prior to the colloquium at 2:30 p.m. in Cudahy, 342. For additional information, contact Dr. Rong Ge, assistant professor of mathematics, statistics and computer science, at (414) 288-6344.

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8. Writing Center hosting workshop on writing literature reviews

The Ott Memorial Writing Center and Raynor Memorial Libaries will host a workshop on writing effective literature reviews Tuesday, Feb. 11, from 11 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in Raynor Memorial Libraries, Conference Room D. Participants will analyze the textual features of effective lit reviews and discuss helpful research and writing strategies. To register, email or call the Writing Center at (414) 288-5542.

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9. Participate in Raynor Memorial Libraries survey

All faculty and one third of students (randomly selected) will receive an invitation to participate in LibQual+, an assessment survey of the Raynor Memorial Libraries on Monday, Feb. 10. This survey will assess the satisfaction with the libraries' collections, services, access and space, and is administered by the Association of Research Librarians. All responses will be confidential. All student participants will be registered to win a Kindle.

The LibQual+ survey closes Feb. 28. For additional information, contact Jean Zanoni, associate dean for administration and planning, at (414) 288-5979.

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10. Women's basketball hosting breast cancer awareness game this weekend

The Marquette women's basketball team will host Butler University for its annual Play 4Kay Breast Cancer Awareness Game on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 4 p.m. in the Al McGuire Center. Tickets will be buy-one-get-one-free for fans wearing pink.

Pink shirts will be sold at the game to benefit the Kay Yow Cancer Fund. There will also be a pre-game health fair with a variety of displays, activities and educational materials.

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11. Free group fitness classes on Friday

The Department of Recreational Sports is offering the following free group fitness classes to members tomorrow, Feb. 7. The following classes will be offered free of charge:

Rec Center:

  • Cardio Kickboxing at 1 p.m.
  • Power Yoga at 4 p.m.
  • Spin Class at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Rec Plex:

  • Variety Class at noon

For more information, call the Group Fitness Office at (414) 288-6979 or contact Shannon Bustillos, assistant director of recreational sports, at (414) 288-7778.

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12. Mission Week daily reflection: Forgiveness within the Church

Each day of Mission Week, Dr. Michael Dante, director of the Faber Center for Ignatian Spirituality, will offer a reflection to echo the theme of the morning prayer. The Faber Center has also developed video reflections for the campus community, which are available on the Faber Center website.

Today, Dante explores forgiveness within the Church:


Across denominations, churches, synagogues, temples and mosques are seen as places of holiness. People gather and participate in a community where love and forgiveness are practiced. These spiritual homes are viewed as places to support and foster our spiritual growth, nearness to God and sense of belonging to a faith community.

Yet, what happens to our faith in a religious institution when it becomes a source of pain? How do we learn to forgive when the very place that offers comfort and peace also inflicts suffering within its members? Certainly the sexual abuse crisis and the instances of cover-up that occurred within Roman Catholicism globally have left a gaping wound in the hearts of many. Similarly, people in various denominations feel the scars of war resulting from religiously motivated violence or the painful sting of exclusion based on gender, sexual orientation or race. Sometimes interpersonal conflicts within our faith communities run counter to what we say we believe about a loving God. Our communities of faith are by no means exempt from the need for forgiveness.

Bringing a spirit of forgiveness into places where forgiveness was thought to originate is extremely challenging. The process is a long and slow one. It requires great love and inner strength. One good step is earnest prayer, individually and with others. From these gatherings we start to draw support from others, no longer feeling alone and powerless, and we re-invest ourselves in the community’s true purpose. We also start to find the voice to speak our hopes and desires for conversion, both personally and within the spiritual home we have known. As we experience a change of heart, we can speak encouraging words to our churches, synagogues, temples and mosques to grow in openness. Forgiveness within our faith communities requires great patience and great love.

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