August 22, 2011

New school year begins for Marquette students and their new president

More than 2,000 freshmen move into residence halls Wednesday, Aug. 24

MILWAUKEE – A record number of freshmen will join President Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., in calling Milwaukee home next week when more than 2,000 freshmen begin moving into the residence halls on Marquette University’s campus. Earlier in the month, Pilarz, the 23rd president of Marquette University, moved into an apartment on campus as well.

Through Sunday Aug. 28, the freshmen will participate in New Student Orientation with organized activities on campus and throughout Milwaukee.

Wednesday, Aug. 24
The great residence hall move-in is in full swing from 9 a.m. until about 2 p.m. The best photo opportunity is usually at McCormick Hall on the corner of 16th and Wisconsin Avenue, but students will also be moving into Cobeen (729 N. 11th St.), O’Donnell (725 N. 18th St.) and Abbottsford (722 N. 11th St.) halls.      

**Please note: media must contact Andy Brodzeller, (414) 288-0286, or Kate Venne, (414) 288-4181, for permission to enter Residence Halls.**

New this year is the Wednesday Welcome at 7 p.m. featuring Father Pilarz at the Al McGuire Center.  The Wednesday Welcome is a festive kick-off to Orientation for students and their parents, including an address by Father Pilarz. Orientation staff, who will be joined by the Golden Eagle, will teach students (as well as Father Pilarz) the Marquette fight song.

At 9:45 p.m., the 30-year-old tradition of the back-to-school Square Dance will teach Marquette staff and students how to do-si-do and promenade. The dance runs until midnight in Central Mall behind Raynor Memorial Libraries (1355 W. Wisconsin Ave.)

Thursday, Aug. 25
Father Pilarz will also speak briefly at the New Student Convocation, mandatory for first-year students, at 10 a.m. in the Al McGuire Center. The official academic welcome to the Class of 2015, the convocation is the first time, and until graduation the last time, that the class will all be in the same building together. Wes Moore, author of The Other Wes Moore, will be the guest speaker. Moore’s book was chosen for the First Year Reading Program and he will lead faculty, staff and student leaders in a discussion later in the day.

Friday, Aug. 26
Orientation to both campus life and the Milwaukee area continues for students.

Saturday, Aug. 27
Approximately 300 students will participate in Urban Connection: Service Immersion, from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Students will volunteer at sites throughout Milwaukee doing clean-up work, painting, renovation work, or recreational activities/outings with community members. Locations include Growing Power and Repairers of the Breach.

Sunday, Aug 28
Father Pilarz will celebrate his first mass at Marquette during the all-university Mass of the Holy Spirit at 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26, in the Church of the Gesu (1145 W. Wisconsin Ave.). The Mass of the Holy Spirit brings together the entire campus community for the first time this academic year.