Marquette University In the News

Dr. Emily Mazzulla, director of SWIM collaboration and innovation and associate professor of psychology in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, discussed the children’s book she wrote, “School in the time of the Coronavirus,” to help kids and parents adjust to the new school environment as a result of the pandemic. “We don’t know exactly what it (grade school) is going to look like in the fall or in the spring, but at some point, we will be going back into school and the transition is just that: it’s a transition,” Mazzulla said. “Kids are going to be looking to adults, to parents, to teachers to help them with that transition.” The book follows the story of a girl named Maria who, while nervous to return to school, shows great resilience in learning the importance of hand washing and face masks and preparing to safely return to school.

President Michael R. Lovell discussed serving the greater good through trauma-informed care. “It (trauma-informed care) is really a set of practices of trying to promote a culture that allows people to heal, which happens through caring relationships,” President Lovell said. “Many of us, more than 50% of adults, have had traumatic experiences in life, particular when they were children, and we need to heal from those to be the best version of ourselves. Trauma-informed care is actually setting up an environment to allow people to become the best versions of who they are.”

Prof. Lisa Grabert, visiting professor of research in the College of Nursing, commented on best practices for properly using face masks. “If you have a cloth mask that fits very tightly around your nose and around your mouth, that’s going to be a little bit better than the disposable surgical masks that could have some air pockets.”

Dr. Kate Ward, associate professor of theology in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, participated in a panel discussion sponsored by the Fordham University Theology Department and Curran Center for Catholic Studies. Ward discussed decisions Catholic universities will have to make in the fall. “All Catholic colleges should plan for a year of lamentation when this over,” Ward said. “(Once the pandemic is over), we will have lost people who are with us now, our institutions will be changed and each of us will be changed by the choices we’ve made during these days.”

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Politifact analyzes claim that university threatened to rescind incoming student’s admission
A Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Politifact analysis rated “mostly false” a claim that Marquette University threatened to rescind an incoming student’s admission for views she expressed on social media.

Dr. Philip Rocco, assistant professor of political science in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, commented on the Department of Labor’s view that the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act may violate the law as it applies to Wisconsinites with disabilities. “I do think there could be a viable (lawsuit) about the federal labor officials' interpretation of the CARES Act, since it could in fact disproportionately lock people with disabilities out of (pandemic unemployment assistance) coverage," Rocco said.

Dr. Abdur Chowdhury, professor emeritus of economics in the College of Business Administration, discussed rising grocery prices as nearly two-thirds of Americans say groceries cost more than they did before the pandemic. “The increase in price is because of a disturbance in the supply chain,” Chowdhury said. “Suppliers, they couldn’t bring the supply to the grocery shelves, so as a result we saw an increase in price.”

Dr. Paul Nolette, associate professor and chair of political science in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, commented on the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision to allow the legislature to take on cases the attorney general refuses to take, and to require the attorney general to get approval from the legislature any time the attorney general's office is going to settle a case. "Introducing the legislature and putting another barrier to settlement is something that the AG's office has argued is going to fundamentally change what they do and how they can actually conduct themselves in office," Nolette said. "The court upholding [the legislation] really creates a situation for the Wisconsin AG that no other AG in the country is really dealing with.”

Prof. Edward Fallone, associate professor of law, discussed Milwaukee County’s mandate requiring anyone over the age of three to wear a mask while in public. "I think almost certainly it will be challenged,” Fallone said. “Mask mandates across the county are facing challenge. People are primarily asserting constitutional infringements, but it's important to remember, there is no such thing as a right to put other people's lives and health at risk."

Dr. David Clark, executive associate dean in the College of Business Administration, commented on Wisconsin’s housing market and how home sales showed some signs of improvement during June. Clark said while home sales for the first half of the year are down 4.9% compared to the same period in 2019, home prices rose 7.9%, with a median price of $209,900. “The key will be whether or not we see continued job gains, or whether the economy remains in a recession for an extended period of time,” Clark added. “The pandemic has thrown a lot of curveballs our way. It will be interesting to see what the next few months reveal.”

Dr. James Pokrywczynski, associate professor of strategic communication in the Diedrich College of Communication, commented on the Buffalo Bills’ announcement they are releasing New Era from their stadium naming rights agreement, and the challenges at play amid the pandemic. “The economic turmoil caused by the pandemic might alter the list of candidates for the naming rights,” Pokrywczynski said. "Some companies, such as pharmaceutical companies and supermarket chains, might be in better financial shape to make such a deal. There is still value to a company to connect itself to an improving team like the Bills, whose games are getting more exposure in coveted national TV time slots.”

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