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July 2023
Dear Faculty, Staff and Students in the Klingler College of Arts & Sciences,
Summertime greetings! I hope that this month has brought you a somewhat slower tempo—at
least during the Gift of Time when campus was largely closed—to rest and contemplate.
I am reminded of the encyclical Laudato Si’ where Pope Francis describes “the urgent need for us to move forward in a bold cultural
revolution” and in the same paragraph remarks that “we […] need to slow down and look
at reality in a different way” (114). These two imperatives go hand in hand. Sometimes
to know how to proceed, we need first to pause and go deeper.
July brings out such a mode in me, partly because this is my birthday month, a moment
to reflect upon the passage of time and what matters most. It’s also the month of
my parents’ wedding anniversary. Even though my mom died almost 23 years ago, I continue
to honor that date. We can still have a relationship with those who are no longer
in this life. Their teachings can continue to guide us. If there is one thing at which
my mother excelled, it was relaxing! She was quick to laugh, loved a good nap and
was skilled at entertaining in a low-key manner. She possessed a gift that is all
too rare: being around her was calming. My wish for all of us is that we can find
relationships that provide such welcoming and loving settings in which to refresh
and recharge.
These lessons about calm, community and contemplation bring me back to our college
tagline, “the difference is in the and.” This and points to the power and importance of integration. Recently I took another look at
Grace Lee Boggs’ The Next American Revolution and was again inspired by the author’s emphasis on grassroots efforts to foster community.
Echoing the sentiments of Pope Francis and the lessons of Catholic Social Teaching,
Boggs writes that “we must have the courage to challenge ourselves to engage in activities
that build a new and better world” (72).
At the end of last month, the Supreme Court made a decision that affects the criteria
universities may consider in admissions decisions. Marquette issued a statement reaffirming
our commitment to enrolling a diverse student body; in case you missed it, here is the link. I was struck by an introductory passage from the amicus brief referenced in that statement: “Marquette strives to enroll and graduate individuals
who will live as servant leaders with a commitment to the Jesuit tradition and Catholic
social teaching for all people, beliefs, and faith traditions.” A member of our A&S
College Leadership Council contacted me to ask how, in the wake of the Court’s ruling,
he and others can support current students and recent alumni. Please know that in
Arts & Sciences we will continue to work to ensure that all students find a welcoming
place in our college and at the university. My faith in what Marquette values was
reaffirmed when I attended on July 25 a wonderful “Be The Difference Youth Town Hall”
organized by the Educational Opportunity Program. The Town Hall, which included a
panel of student Peace Ambassadors from area high schools who have worked with our
Center for Peacemaking, focused on making Milwaukee and the world a safer place. All
of these developments call to mind a favorite quotation from Sr. Macrina Wiederkehr’s
Seven Sacred Pauses: “I have seen too many stars to let the darkness overwhelm me” (42).
As always, please feel free to contact me with questions, concerns or suggestions. I appreciate hearing from you and exploring
ways we can all work together for the common good.
Dr. Heidi Bostic
Dean, Klingler College of Arts and Sciences
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