When Republican Senator-elect Scott Brown takes office later this month, he will give his party back the crucial forty-first senator needed to block any unwanted votes on legislation. His victory in the Massachusetts special election finally hands the Republican congressional minority a real voice in the legislative process for the first time since Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania defected to the Democrats last April. Even President Obama acknowledged the Republicans’ new power in his State of the Union address last week, telling the opposition that if they “insist that sixty votes in the Senate are required to do any business at all in this town, then the responsibility to govern is now yours as well.”

Yet the president’s challenge to Republican leadership meant next to nothing in terms of actually generating bipartisan support for his partisan policies. Instead, he sought to launch a preemptive strike in the blame game already playing out to decide whom voters ultimately will hold responsible for Congress’s record in the November elections. With the near-universal healthcare plan, the cap-and-trade legislation aimed at fighting global warming, and other key initiatives now facing likely failure or at least significant reduction in scope, Democrats hope to blame Republicans for the lack of major legislation this year.

With all due respect, however, I believe President Obama has it all wrong. Rather than blaming Scott Brown and the Republicans for gridlock, we ought to thank them for at least temporarily slowing the political sausage-making machine. Regardless of Obamacare’s propriety, its legislative history has been embarrassing. From the Democratic negotiations with healthcare corporations hoping to making even more profit by getting in on the deal to the special treatment included for Louisiana and Nebraska to secure the votes of Senators Mary Landrieu and Ben Nelson, respectively, the appearance of corruption and insider deals marked every step in Obamacare’s progression from lofty campaign promise to the House and Senate bills. As for the president’s audacious campaign pledge to open healthcare negotiations up to the public, or at least the political junkies, by broadcasting the sessions on C-SPAN, the Democratic leaders now seem to believe that industry and union lobbyists and Democratic politicians represent our interests, so the people apparently don’t need to actually see the great ones at work.

Besides angering conservatives and many independents, the Democrats also disgusted and disappointed some genuine progressives, who watched their priorities, such as a separate floor vote on universal healthcare and a meaningful public option to compete with the corporate health plans, die in the negotiations. The corporations and Democratic political insiders, along with the Democratic leadership itself, have thus far succeeded in manipulating and defeating the people power movement of hope which gave the Democrats the presidency and the largest congressional majorities in decades. Likewise, the “Tea Party” movement, itself an angrier version of people power, may well sweep the Republicans into Congress this fall only to discover just how quickly the Republican power players manage to crush their anti-government dreams.

The healthcare reform process reveals the structural weaknesses of representative democracy, which remains what British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill called “the worst form of government except for all those other forms.” The voters arguably hold their representatives accountable in elections, but congresspersons rarely face serious reelection competition and can use their connections to raise significant amounts of money to fight off any legitimate challengers who emerge. Whether “conservative” George W. Bush or “liberal” Barack H. Obama sits in the Oval Office, and whether a Republican or Democrat holds the House Speaker’s gavel, the political realities remain the same. Most voters don’t have the time or interest to effectively organize, while the bureaucrats of Big Government and the lobbyists of Big Business and Big Labor have a much easier time making their voices heard. This fundamental collective action problem undermines democracy’s ability to represent the people and maintain limits on government power.

With the State’s machinery gridlocked through the 2012 elections, perhaps we can actually voluntarily work together to address our problems. President Obama and many of his Republican opponents operate on the simple premise, usually left unstated, that only the government can address major problems such as healthcare and so, despite the problems with special interests, we should rely on the government to fix healthcare, banking, the BCS, and anything other industries or activities important to us. By channeling our aspirations through the State’s system of control, we lose hope in our ability to meaningfully and concretely act on the status quo through our own consumption choices, boycotts, and voluntary organizations. The combination of political gridlock and voluntary action will not magically solve our problems, but it has to be better than waiting on our political would-be messiahs.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Dr. Chris Miller of Marquette speaks at the Kapco Challenge kickoff event at the Bradley Center

At Marquette University we are challenged to “Be the Difference.” It’s a simple and bold statement that can have a profound impact on our campus and community. On January 27th Jim Kamarcik, president of Kapco Metal Stampings, took the initiative to allow students to be the difference and make an impact on our local Milwaukee community through the “Kapco Challenge.” Inspired by “Oprah’s Big Give” Kamarcik created the challenge so that we can be the difference.

The Kapco Challenge consists of teams from Concordia University, Wisconsin Lutheran College, & Marquette University. Each school has 5 teams and every team receives an initial $1000 for phase 1. Each group then creates a service project to give back. On February 15 each group will present to a board and the most deserving project from each school will enter phase 2.

While each group aspires to enter phase 2, it’s not about winning or losing, it’s about what we do for others. Please consider each group and what they will do for our local community this month—meet our Marquette difference makers. (Each first statement is the group’s Mission Statement)

Men Serving Others:“As a group of young men inspired by Jesuit ideals, we are called to be men working for others by immersing ourselves into the community we are serving,
empowering others to reach their own potential, and actively working to help close the gap of poverty and privilege in the Greater Milwaukee area.”

MSO is a group of male leaders on campus. Together they will work with Repairers of the Breach to create a Career Center to help their fellow man or woman get back on his or her feet. Additionally, MSO will provide workshops on resume writing & interview prep. They will accept any donations, but especially business clothes & usable computers. Please contact Phillip Hanson at mensleadership@gmail.com & visit http://menservingothers.weebly.com/

Kappa Sigma:“Founded on the noble principles of Fellowship, Scholarship, Leadership and Service, the Kappa Sigma Fraternity is dedicated to the promotion of the youth and their education at Pierce Elementary. It is our belief that a quality education is the way to a brighter future. With this in mind, we then have the duty to promote the best education possible, on every occasion, for every student at Pierce Elementary School.”

Men of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity believe in fostering education & are working with Pierce Elementary School. Pierce currently has a wired computer lab for years, but for never any computers or technology in the room. By working with students and various local businesses KS looks to raise funds and accept donations to help Pierce Elementary educate our future. KS will accept any technology donations (Computers, Software, Printers). Please contact Joey Kimes at jfkimes@gmail.com & visit http://tinyurl.com/Team283

Sober Party Kids:“We recognize that our world is in need of hope. Together we commit ourselves to opening our hearts to those around us. Our family stretches beyond the walls of our house–we are called to give shelter to our brothers and sisters on the streets, open our closets to our parents without clean clothing, share our tables with children lacking a meal, and empty our pockets to family members in need. We can change the world we live in, we can change the lives of those around us, and we can make this community a family. Through charity we can build a family of love.”

Sober Party Kids are a group of active & driven students. These driven students are actively working with Pathfinders Shelter on Project S.H.Y- Support Homeless Youth. SPK wants find a way to help these youth by promoting/creating a drop in center. Additionally SPK wants to raise awareness of the 400+ current homeless youth in Milwaukee. Please help them so that no youth has to live without a home. Please contact Stephen Moser at shymilwaukee@gmail.com

O-Staff: This energetic group is looking to help the community at large by working with either mental health issues or cancer. More details are to come soon. Please contact Dave Kruse at david.kruse@mu.edu

Burke Scholars:“In the spirit of Dick Burke, who transformed each of our lives, we seek to use the resources entrusted to us to create transformative, sustainable change in our community that will continue in perpetuity. Above all, we seek to serve the voiceless in our community, to see them as whole people and to use the gifts, resources and talents entrusted to us to bring about meaningful, empowering change.”

The Burke Scholars remarked that they are hoping to use their funds to help the community at large to create a sustainable change. More details are to come soon.

At the kickoff event for the Kapco Challenge Kamarcik quoted legendary coach John Wooden by saying “You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.” As our Marquette student groups begin to serve those who cannot repay, may they remember Wooden’s quote, for he was one of the most remarkable men and winners in recent history. Like Wooden, we are all winners because of the generosity of Kapco, Kamarcik, and our fellow peers. Together lets join as a Marquette community and help each group by giving our time and what we have so that together we can “Be the Difference.”

Popularity: 2% [?]

Look around Marquette…in every classroom across campus there is crucifix, often with a plaque stating its country of origin. On November 3rd, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that crucifixes hanging within each classroom in Italy violated “the freedom of parents to educate their children according to their own convictions and of the religious freedom of the students” (CNS).

Unlike the United States in its origin, Italy has been a traditionally Catholic country from birth. Religion and faith are tied very closely to the cultural and historic identity of the Italian people. As is typically the circumstance with many morals-pertaining court cases, the case was brought as an exception to the norm, and now will be enforced upon all. In this particular scenario, the case was submitted by a Finnish-born Italian, who had been fighting for the removal of crucifixes from her sons’ school in Abano Terme (Italy) for almost eight years. In previous attempts to pass the case, Soile Lautsi, the above-mentioned mother, had taken it to Italian courts, where it was refused because of the engrained Catholic cultural identity on Italians. Hence, Lautsi then took the case to the European court located in Strasbourg, France.

In reaction, the Italian government says it will appeal the European court’s decision. Even Mariastella Gelmini, the minister of public education in Italy, believed that the crucifixes “[do] not mean adhesion to Catholicism, but is a symbol of our tradition” (CNS). She even went further, so as to say that “…removing [the symbols] would be to remove a part of ourselves” The Catholic bishops, however, suffered sorrow and grief at the ruling. The Italian Conference of Bishops expressed their disappointment in the following written statement: “It does not take into account the fact that in Italy the display of the crucifix in public places is in line with the recognition of the principles of the Catholicism as ‘part of the historical patrimony of the Italian people,’ as stated in the Vatican/Italy agreement of 1984” (CNN). The bishops also noted the significance of the crucifix is meant for all of humanity, not solely Catholics. The crucifix represents God’s love to every human person, the gift of his life for every member of the human race. Hence, it is a symbol that should be respected and revered by all, whatever the nationality, religion, or age; it is the universal symbol of love that transcends time and space. Must a mother really go to such an extent if she is, in fact, the “exception” in her desire for the removal of crucifixes from her children’s classrooms? Must she really make such a statement? In doing so, she has offended not only Our Lord, but all of Italy, including the wealthy and governmental rulers. As Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re concluded, “It is a God that teaches us to learn to love, to pay attention to each man…and to respect the others, even those who belong to a different culture or religion. How could someone not share such a symbol?”

Popularity: 5% [?]

For centuries, people have debated the merits of drinking alcohol. One of the more current discussions began in the late 1980’s, when French scientist Serge Renauld set out to explain why, despite eating a diet full of cheese, butters, and other saturated fats, the people of France reported few instances of heart disease. Surprisingly, in a 1992 interview on CBS’s “60 Minutes,” Renauld attributed these benefits to alcohol. He claimed that his research showed that red wine, another staple of French cuisine, protected the French against heart disease. Alcohol sales in the US soared and college students everywhere felt a little less guilty.

In the almost twenty years since Renauld’s “60 Minutes” interview, the idea that moderate alcohol intake is good for a person’s health has begun to be incorporated into mainstream knowledge. But what exactly is moderate? And just what types of benefits does a person gain from drinking alcohol?

In many studies, moderate levels of alcohol intake have been shown to lower the risk of heart disease.  According to Barbara Troy, Assistant Professor of Dietetics in the College of Health Sciences, “the health edge that’s most provocative right now is in relationship to cardiovascular disease.” She said, “alcohol has a favorable effect on lipid levels because it tends to elevate HDL, or ‘good’ cholesterol.” This puts a person at a lower risk of dying from heart disease, the leading cause of death in America. The benefits don’t stop there; other studies have shown that alcohol has a positive effect  in reducing the risk of diseases ranging from gallstones to type II diabetes.

Many of the benefits of red wine have been attributed to the phytochemicals, or plant chemicals, found in it. Some of these phytochemicals are thought to have antioxidant and even anti-cancer effects.  A growing number of studies also show that regardless if a person drinks wine, beer, or spirits, the alcohol in itself contributes to improving health.

But before you raise a glass to your health, it’s important to note that the benefits derived from alcohol come only from moderate intake.  Most college students are well aware of the short-term consequences of drinking too much: loss of coordination, decreased inhibitions, debilitating hangovers. The long term risks, which include liver disease, weight gain, certain cancers, mental health problems, and even reduced fertility are even more serious.

Yet college campuses are notorious for promoting binge drinking habits, and Marquette University is no exception. AJ Hill, a senior co-op in the College of Engineering, said “students here don’t drink moderately. They drink five to ten drinks on one or two nights a week.”  In such an atmosphere, it can be difficult to discern what truly constitutes moderate alcohol intake.

Troy, citing the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, objectively defines moderate drinking as one drink a day for women and no more than two drinks a day for men. One drink consists of 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof spirits. Troy said, “once you cross that line, the risk benefit ratio starts to change.” Any possible benefit derived from moderate intake is almost certainly negated once a person starts to drink in excess.

Other guidelines state that in order for a person to derive health benefits from alcohol, drinks cannot be “stockpiled.” This means the benefits derived from drinking once every day for a week are not similarly seen in a person that abstains all week and drinks seven drinks on Friday night. Even though a person may not exceed their weekly drink allowance, Troy emphasizes that with such behavior, “the benefits simply will not follow.”

Furthermore, there are some groups of people who simply should not drink alcohol. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding, people with liver or pancreatic disease, and those who are on certain antibiotics are all groups of people who should not consume any alcohol.

Finally, and perhaps most importantly, there is no reason for any person to start drinking in order to gain these benefits.  The benefits that alcohol confers are modest, and all can be achieved by alterations in diet and lifestyle. For example, the phytochemicals found in red wine are present in grapes, and modest aerobic exercise has also been shown to increase HDL levels.

So this holiday season, raise a glass to your  health (or don’t).  But if you do, remember the key word when it comes to drinking alcohol for health benefits: moderation.

Popularity: 5% [?]

In 2009, Marquette University will be conferring six honorary degrees.  The individuals receiving the honors are selected through an annual nomination process.  Father Robert. A Wild, S.J. said “they should be outstanding individuals who are recognized for their scholarship or for excellence in achievement.  This achievement may be shown by acknowledged leadership in a profession or by exemplary service to society.  In all cases there must be an appropriateness of the nominees to the distinctive mission and values of Marquette University.”

Marquette has the list of recipients of honorary degrees listed on their website through 1980.  Since 1980, a total of 131 honorary degrees have been given.  The process is as follows: nominations are open for a period of time, the nominations gathered are given to the Committee on University Honors for consideration.  Father Wild then gives the short list of names to the Board of Trustees; the Board approves those on the list they believe to be worthy and then Father Wild takes those names from the Board to invite recipients to Marquette where they will receive their honorary degrees.

This year, as mentioned earlier, Marquette will be gifting 6 honorary degrees.  The recipients are, Frank Busalacchi, Clifford G. Christians, Shirin Ebadi, Dick Enberg, Maria Rosa Leggol, and Helen Prejean.  Here is a bit of information about these recipients.

Frank Busalacchi is the Wisconsin Secretary of Transportation and was the leader in the state’s efforts to complete the Marquette Interchange project, the largest construction job in the state to date.  He was presented by Dr. Stan Jaskolski, the OPUS Dean of the College of Engineering.  According to Jaskolski, he nominated Busalacchi for the degree of Doctor of Laws “because of his distinguished commitment to public service and to the people of the State of Wisconsin.”

Clifford G. Christians was nominated by Dr. William Thorn, a journalism professor in the College of Communication.  Christians is one of the world’s leading media ethics scholars and has had a 30 year career in ethical studies, he has examined and written about ethical implications for journalists in democratic societies and other media professions.  He received an honorary Doctor of Letters “because of his important contributions to the philosophy of technology, media ethics, and communication theory,” Thorn said.

Shirin Ebadi was both the first Iranian and the first Muslim woman to receive a Nobel Peace prize.  This honor was bestowed on her in 2003 for her “pioneering work for democracy and human rights, tirelessly advocating on behalf of women and children.”  She was nominated by the Dean of Marquette’s Law School, Joseph Kearny, because of “her exemplary career as a lawyer, judge, writer, and activist on behalf of our human family.”  She has worked diligently in the legal system for the rights of those who have been victim of extremist interpretations of the law of Islam and continuously works for peaceful solutions to social problems in a contemporary Islamic world.

Dick Enberg is one of the most awarded men in sports.  He already has 14 Emmys, including a lifetime achievement award, 15 Sportscaster of the Year awards, and several other big titles.  He was nominated by Phylis Ravel, a professor of the Performing Arts.  Enberg has become a sports icon in the broadcasting world and was nominated because of “his distinguished career as a broadcaster, writer, philosopher, educator and playwright.”  He was also May’s commencement speaker.

Sister Maria Rosa Leggol never received a formal education past the fifth grade, but through her work as a sister, she has helped over 40,000 orphans in Honduras.  She is celebrating her 60th year of religious life in 2009 and throughout this time, she has comforted the dying, educated, fed the living, and convinced several other agencies to help the suffering in Honduras.  She was nominated by Senior Vice President Thomas Peters, for “her extraordinary acts of compassion, for being an inspiration to people all over the world, and for exemplifying the spirit of magis by being a woman for others.”

Sister Helen Prejean was nominated by Fr. Harak, the Director of the Center for Peacemaking.  Her work has helped formally shape and vocalize the Catholic Church’s stance on the death penalty.  Prejean’s passion for the subject stemmed from her correspondence as a spiritual advisor with a death row inmate.  She now spends much time counseling death row inmates as well as acting as an advocate of the Pro-Life position.  Her book, Dead Man Walking: An Eyewitness Account of the Death Penalty, was a New York Times best seller and was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize.

Clearly honorary degrees are conferred for a variety of different reasons and talents as demonstrated by the diverse set of honorees this year.

Popularity: 4% [?]

Throughout the year Marquette’s student government (MUSG) sits down to discuss Student Organization Allocation (SOA) for recognized and registered student organizations on campus. With over 250 organizations,, each one is unique in terms of how much funding it needs in order to have a successful event or year.

“The allocations are not arbitrary at all.  The SOA committee evaluates each application objectively looking for the benefits that the program or trip will provide to our campus,” said MUSG Communications Vice President and senior in the College of Communication Lauren Lakomek.

The MUSG SOA Committee makes the final decision on allocations. The committee is comprised of the Financial Vice President, Executive Vice President, Program Board Assistant, two Residential Senators, and two Academic Senators.  This year’s advisor for the committee is Kate Trevey, Coordinator for Student Organizations & Leadership for the Office of Student Development.  A week before every deadline, MUSG holds informational workshops for student organizations to educate them on the process.

“Its hard because you want to do a good job so your team may receive the most funding possible and yet unless the executive board before you leaves a sample of what they did its hard to know exactly how to write these out. MUSG holds a workshop on it and it is very helpful when you stop in their office but I think it would be very helpful if they posted some past requests they thought were well done,” said Marquette Crew President and senior in the College of Arts and Sciences Julie Knyszek.

In addition to workshops, this particular year the SOA Committee created a powerpoint presentation to give visual step by step instructions and information about the SOA process. This can be found on the MUSG Web site.

“The SOA budgetary process is divided into two lines; one for club sports and one for non-club sports.  Club sports have two deadlines throughout the year; one for the spring season and one for the fall season.  Non-club sports have eight period deadlines that they can apply for throughout the year,” said MUSG Financial Vice President and senior in the College of Business Administration Jonathan Giel . “During the fiscal year 2010, MUSG has successfully allocated to 58 student organizations totaling $60,383.14.”

Depending on whether or not the organization is in the non club sport or club sport categories, there are several deadlines throughout the year for each to respectively apply for funding. This year there are eight periods for non club sports and two periods for club sports. Each period is based on when the organization plans on having their event or activity. Though organizations are encouraged to apply for funding as early as possible, funding is generally given for specific events that the clubs plan on having. MUSG SOA funds speakers or educational events, documentaries and performances, advertising and publicity for events, and any event or services that are open to all of Marquette and enhance the community. For organizations that have more expenses this means working twice as hard on their SOA applications.

“I’m one of the co-presidents of the rowing team and because we are one of the most expensive club sports on campus, making sure we submit thorough and detailed funding requests is very important,” said Knyszek. “During the SOA funding workshops MUSG stresses that due to the large amount of clubs and requests they get the more detailed your request is, the better. Writing this out takes quite a bit of personal time because, at least for me, I know that the work I put in this could mean a big difference in dues for every member of our team. I would say so far the other co-president and I have spent about 6 hours on this and we are still not completely done yet.”

In terms of how decisions made, detail is considered a key factor in the allocation process. According to the MUSG SOA Committee, the more detail organizations put into their request the more prospective funding that can be received. The MUSG SOA said that although applications that do not provide complete event or season details are generally not given funding. A clear defined plan for each season with a through breakdown from tentative costs, to number of participants, to specific lodging and transportation details has a better chance of receiving more funding.

“Our goal as members of MUSG and the SOA Committee is to be financial stewards of the Student Activity Fee (SAF),” MUSG Executive Vice President and College of Business Administration senior Stephanie Stopka said. “We fully understand that it is our job to look at all of the applications with an impartial eye.  When discussing the applications we do not bring in any outside knowledge.  We only take into consideration the information that is provided on the application,” Stopka said. “The committee is looking to sponsor and support events that enhance the overall Marquette experience, aligned with the Jesuit ideals.”

However, not every organization will receive the funding they want or need. As the SOA Committee members are inclined to make decisions based on applications, they sometimes cannot give organizations all the funding they request. For these situations, there is an allocation appeals form that organizations can submit. Reasons for appeal include: the SOA Committee incorrectly deeming the application insufficient, the SOA Committee decision seeming arbitrary and inconsistent with similar funding decisions and practices, or MUSG not following its stated application procedures and policies.

Though the SOA typically covers organizations’ expenses towards their events, there are specific things the MUSG SOA cannot fund. These things include recruiting or fundraising events, capital goods (t-shirts or prizes), operating expenses (office supplies), non-current expenses (expenses that came outside of the current funding period), and any event that charges admission fees.

“In the past MUSG has been pretty helpful in allocating us money, I believe we are usually one of the clubs that receives the larger amounts of funding and every bit helps but it’s still hard because MUSG must split the fund between 250+ clubs on campus,” Knyszek said. “Because of the amount of clubs and the high expenses our club incurs any mention of reduction in club sports allocations is especially nerve-wrecking. Ultimately for the rowing team the amount of time we put in to the process is usually more than given back to us in allocation money it just comes at the end of the semester.”

Popularity: 4% [?]

After multiple deadline extensions, Michigan’s governor, Jennifer Granholm, signed the newly proposed “Budget for Higher Education” bill. The bill contains legislation that will leave nearly 96,000 students scrambling to finance their college education.

The Michigan Promise Scholarship (Michigan’s Broken Promise as it has come to be known) and its predecessor, the Michigan Merit Scholarship, have been providing important financial aid to in-state Michigan students who show exemplary performance in high school on statewide standardized testing. This financial aid was provided under the conditions that the student was a Michigan high school graduate attending an in-state institution. The assistance totaled $4,000 per student in $1,000 installments the first two years and the balance paid after the completion of the second year. This program also provided assistance to students pursuing their associate’s degree.

Since mid-summer the Michigan Congress has been quarreling with the Governor’s office over the future of the Promise Scholarship. To many, the program was seen as a necessary cut to help fight Michigan’s ever-growing deficit. Governor Granholm, who signed the Promise Scholarship into existence, was reluctant to see it cut. “It’s upsetting that the education programs are the ones getting cut,” Christie Scott a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Michigan native said.  “I’m afraid that this will be a defining moment, for those students, in their relationship with the government; one that will breed mistrust.” Scott, who had considered attending University of Michigan, expressed relief at the same time. “If I had chosen to go to U of M, I would be in the same situation that so many of my friends are in now.”

While programs like the Promise only help students who remain in their respective state, many students here could be facing the very same problems. Of the 10,000+ students on Marquette’s campus, a very high percentage rely on some sort of financial aid, be it federal, state or privately sponsored. What kind of cuts, in Wisconsin or across the nation, could affect our nationally diverse student body? At an institution like Marquette, losing any amount of financial assistance could result in disenrollment.

Some students will have to move to smaller, less expensive schools, at the cost of quality in their education. Others may be forced to drop out altogether, in hopes that they will be able to pay off any other loans they had taken out under the pretense of having financial aid. “Earlier in the year I found out that some of my expected aid would not be available. I was extremely lucky to find a grant that kept me here at Marquette,” said Scott.

As Wisconsin begins to look at its own growing deficit, could Michigan’s Broken Promise prove to be a bitter foreshadowing of what is to come? State officials have stood behind their collegiate scholars with bold slogans boasting, “Wisconsin values education – even in tough times.” The fact, however, is that the recent budget saw many cuts to the state’s K-12 school districts and, while  financial aid spending for technical colleges saw minimal increase, there’s no telling what could happen in 2011.  With other states, such as Ohio and Illinois, resorting to similar education and scholarship cuts, it puts into whether the state of Wisconsin could be next.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Proselytizing is generally understood to be the act of converting one to a specific religion or belief. Marquette has had an evolving policy on the issue, but now uniformly bans active proselytizing by any University affiliated individuals or organizations.

“Accept Jesus, save yourself from the hell you deserve.” The shouts rise above the noise of traffic on Wisconsin Avenue as “Good News” pamphlets are extended to hurried students on their way to class.

Know what proselytism is? If not, you do know. You’ve just experienced it.

Proselytizing is generally understood to be the act of converting one to a specific religion or belief. Marquette has had an evolving policy on the issue, but now uniformly bans active proselytizing by any University affiliated individuals or organizations.

Dr. Christopher Miller, Vice President for Student Affairs said the policy is “more of an operational, logistical piece…it’s not a single entity, it’s a broad based policy.”

The Office of Student Development (OSD) updated the Religious Activities Policy last year, adding the phrase, “and their activities,” to its description of protocol regarding religious event approval.

The inclusion of “activities” in the scope of the University’s proselytizing policy has been felt by evangelical Christian student groups on campus, who say that since the change, OSD has restricted many of their outreach events. One student organization, the non-denominational Christian group, Campus Crusade for Christ was also asked to change their mission statement and re-submit their constitution.

Campus Crusade was asked to remove phrases from its purpose statement that Dr. Jon Dooley Senior Associate Dean of Student Development said, “could appear to contradict the University’s Religious Activities Policy” including, “winning, to lead others to personal faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior” and the organization’s mission as “turn[ing] lost students into Christ centered laborers.”

Michael Waller, a junior in the College of Engineering who runs Campus Crusade’s Men’s Ministry and is on the organization’s core leadership team said this year there has been an increase in OSD and Campus Ministry restrictions and stipulations to their outreach events.

“We have engaged in outreach/evangelism activities in the past which have never clashed with MU’s proselytizing policy before…even though these policies have always been here, they have never been enforced as they are this year,” Waller said.

Dooley said the addition to the Religious Activities Policy did not represent a change in how the policy was implemented, but rather just clarified the existing expectations that were in practice. “No changes were made in how those events were reviewed or approved, it was simply an addition to help organization leaders,” Dooley said.

Student Development does consult and collaborate with Campus Ministry regarding the University proselytizing policy and approval of religious events, but Campus Ministry declined to comment on their role in the implementation of the policy.

Although OSD says there has been no change in the approval process of religious events, other campus Christian groups say they are experiencing a tightening in event rules as well.

Matthew Gerhard, a senior in the College of Engineering and president of the non-denominational student group, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship at Marquette said that although his organization was not required to resubmit their constitution, OSD and Campus Ministry are “enforcing their rules and regulations much more strictly than ever before.”

Gerhard said earlier in the semester OSD cracked down on a survey the group was distributing because it was interpreted as proselytizing and therefore “unacceptable.”

“They had us redo the survey and make it completely anonymous and we weren’t allowed to talk to anyone taking the survey. They said this had mostly to do with survey policy,” Gerhard said.

While activities such as “personal witnessing, Scripture study, worship, discussion, faith sharing” are appropriate, they “cannot be done for the purpose of converting others,” Dooley said. “The goal of “winning” people for Christ or “changing” or “converting” them is proselytizing and is contrary to the Religious Activities Policy,” he said.

Both Waller and Gerhard agree that Marquette’s ban on proselytizing through the Religious Activities policy is too restrictive. “Personally I think Marquette’s proselytizing policy does go too far in curbing student’s religious freedom on campus. Christians are commanded by God to spread the gospel in both word and action,” Waller said.

“I think what OSD is comfortable with in terms of evangelism is to allow students to come to us and then we can say what we want to say; they don’t want us going to students and saying what we want to say,” Gerhard said. “They want a very passive form of evangelism.”

The Definition Debate

The University’s evolving definition and classification of proselytism has been a contentious issue at Marquette for decades with much of the debate has focused on Marquette’s Catholic identity and obligation as a Catholic institution.

The current Religious Activities Policy currently provides two definitions for proselytizing:

1. “the University does not allow any other individual or organization to actively proselytize its members…That is, no individual or organization can coerce or pressure others or misrepresent themselves,”

2. “No individual or organization…may hold activities on campus the specific purpose of which is to proselytize, that is to make converts of members of the university community to another church or religious affiliation.”

The University’s classification of proselytism has been debated in years past and remains a point of contention for student groups like Campus Crusade and InterVarsity.

“Not only does Marquette’s policy on proselytizing curb students’ freedom, but it also is difficult to understand exactly how they define proselytizing,” Waller said. “In one sentence they refer to proselytizing as coercion and pressure while in another it is referred to as making converts of a person, which are two very different things.”

Dr. Christopher Wolfe, Marquette Professor Emeritus of Political Science and current co-director of the Ralph McInerny Center for Thomistic Studies, said the policy is well-intentioned, but not very coherent or precise.

Wolfe said that while he agrees with the University’s prohibition of coercion or misrepresentation of any kind, the policy goes too far in equating all proselytism with any effort to convert others – “even, apparently, if there is no coercion or pressure or misrepresentation,” Wolfe said.

“…Isn’t it an obligation of all Christians to help others come freely to see the truth of Christianity as they understand it?  I think the answer is clearly ‘yes,’” Wolfe said.

Wolfe also disputed the policy back in 1988 when changes were made by Campus Ministry to restrict proselytism that did not include coercion or misrepresentation. In a 1988 memo to then Director of Campus Ministry, Fr. David Haschka, Wolfe disputed the University’s across the board ban on proselytism, writing, “I think a bald prohibition of proselytism would be incompatible with the Catholic, Christian and Jesuit character of Marquette.”

In his letter, Wolfe cites the Second Vatican Council’s Declaration on Religious Liberty, stating that the Declaration “asserts the right of religious communities ‘not to be prevented from publicly teaching and bearing witness to their beliefs by the spoken or written word.’” The Declaration also indicates that there are reasonable limits that should be considered.

Dooley said that Marquette does support the Declaration on Religious Liberty and that the University is committed to the quest for truth, “which implies the need for investigation, conversation, and dialogue,” Dooley said. “Religious questions are part of that search and part of students’ development of a religious identity.”

But for Wolfe, Marquette’s definition of proselytizing and Religious Activities Policy remains muddled.

“I think what has happened is twofold.  First, people have rightly become more sensitive about coercion, pressure, misrepresentation, and harassment.  That’s good.  But, second, many people have come to adopt a position of religious indifferentism:  it doesn’t matter what you believe, but only that you are sincere. That is a deep misunderstanding of Christianity,” Wolfe said, “Sincerity is good, but believing the real truth matters.”

Popularity: 3% [?]

The Resident Assistant position remains one of the most sought after and highest paying jobs on campus. RAs receive free room and board, a $1000 cash stipend and professional development. Many people apply for the job because of positive experiences with their own RAs. Others want the high compensation or a boost on the résumé.
Marquette RAs work for the Office of Residence Life, called ORL in RA lingo. ORL hires RAs based on their individual and group interviews, letters of recommendation, and grade evaluations. Often ORL hires only one-third of the applicants, making the position one of the most competitive on campus. “From the time we begin the interview process for RA candidates, we concentrate on helping them understand the responsibilities of the position,” Dr. Jim McMahon, Assistant Vice President and Dean of Residence Life said.
RAs play a major role in the implementation of programs and policies, according to ORL’s Web site. Many of ORL’s policies, however, are unpopular with students. These include visitation hours, opposite sex overnight policy, and alcohol regulations. Some policies like quite hour restrictions are more appreciated by residents. “Quiet hours are the only way that I get any sleep at night. Otherwise the people next door to me would never turn their music down,” Laura Dowd, a sophomore in the College of Business, and Schroeder Hall resident said.
Like their residents, RAs praise and condemn various policies too. “Upon taking the job you understand it is more important for you to follow the policies even if you don’t completely agree. RAs sign a contract saying they will follow all policies. An RA shouldn’t take the position if he can’t completely follow ORL policies,” said Ryan Samz, a former O’Donnell RA and current Teach For America teacher in New Orleans. “Do I wish I could share a beer with some friends? Yes. Do I understand why it’s important that we don’t allow underage drinking? Yes,” another RA said.
Both students and RAs said they sometimes feel antagonized by the rules in their residence halls, though for different reasons. A common gripe among freshmen and sophomores is that their RAs are “out to get them.” Others suggest that their RAs handle policy violations inconsistently. “A friend of mine was allowed to throw her alcohol away rather than being written up,” Becca Levernier, a sophomore in the College of Business and Schroeder resident said. Levernier added that the opposite sex overnight policy is enforced differently from RA to RA.
Some RAs maintain that their residents do not understand the purpose of the policies they must enforce. Others say their residents do not realize that an RA’s job is on the line if he or she fails to document a violation. For these reasons, trying to maintain open relationships while living with residents becomes difficult, Andrew Glaser, a senior in the College of Business and former O’Donnell RA said. Upholding seemingly unfair policies makes RAs the bad guys and “puts us at odds with our residents,” he said. The RAs and McMahon agreed that enforcing rules in the community RAs personally are a part of is a unique and challenging aspect of the job.
The RA position is demanding in several ways: academically, professionally, socially and emotionally. While there were many responses from former RAs as to what type of person it takes to succeed in the position, the common theme between them all was an emotionally mature one. As an RA, you are not only responsible for yourself, but you are also responsible to up to 30 other people. Says one former RA, “at times you are carrying a burden for other people, and it can become really heavy.” Adds former McCormick and O’Donnell RA Frank Karioris, who is now the Operations Coordinator of Housing Services at the Illinois Institte of Technology. “As college students, we are not necessarily prepared for things we are presented.”
Besides having their disciplinary duties, an RA must “take a sincere interest in the welfare of his/her fellow students,” according to ORL’s website. However, ORL does not do nearly enough to help RAs with this emotional burden, said many RAs, including Alex Elliott a graduate of the College of Arts and Sciences and a former Cobeen RA. “We have to maintain confidentiality, and our hall directors are often busy,” Elliott said. Though there are many resources in place to help RAs deal with this extra emotional burden, many former RAs said they are not always used or advertised by the residence hall directors or ORL. The former RA adds “the system is there, but it’s not used as it should be.”
Dr. McMahon disagrees. “We do intensive training, some of which includes simulations of very real issues that they are likely to encounter, and a great deal of which introduces them to the support services that are in place to assist them in their work. This includes the Counseling Center, Health Services, Campus Ministry and Public Safety,” he said.
To further help RAs deal with many of the emotional challenges involved in the position, Elliott suggests that RAs be required to have mandatory meetings with their hall ministers. Although hall ministers live in every residence hall, she said they are often too busy to provide emotional support for RAs. Other improvements proposed by former RAs include more compensation, staff development, and discussion of the issues RAs face.
Although former RAs agree that application materials do not – and realistically cannot – provide an accurate picture of what RA life is really like, Dr. McMahon said ORL does their best to ensure that RAs are well equipped to handle the requirements. “I understand that we cannot prepare staff for all of what they may encounter, so we look to hire candidates who demonstrate positive leadership, good judgment and decision-making skills so that they will utilize the tools that we provide to respond well to situations and issues that arise,” he said.
Despite ORL’s efforts to prepare students, some former RAs said that they received inadequate preparation to help others with their emotional crises. “The first year is really the training for the second year,” said Amber Erickson, a former Cobeen RA and Arts and Sciences graduate. “RA training lacks quality social counseling training,” added Remington Tonar, a former Schroeder RA and current graduate student at Loyola in Chicago. “While the University would like to restrict formal counseling and mentoring duties to the Counseling Center, much of what an RA deals with, especially with freshmen, is related to counseling and mentoring their residents. I personally know many students who feel their RAs were ill-equipped to handle their own emotional and social isolation needs.”
But given the burdens of the job do many RAs come back? Many said they return because of close relationships with their staff members. “The best aspect of the job is learning and growing with your staff and residents,” Samz said, adding “I loved my staff and wouldn’t have traded it for anything else during my tenure at MU.” Former RAs say the relationships they form with their staffs are some of the strongest they have ever had. “I developed wonderful relationships with my staff members and cannot even count the number of good memories I have with them,” said Erickson. Another former RA says her mostly negative experience was worth it because “I wouldn’t have met my best friends if I hadn’t been an RA.”
This benefit may be due in part to ORL’s focus on teamwork. “Teamwork is stressed during all of the training programs, during weekly staff meetings, and in a Peer Facilitation class. These relationships are often cited as among the most rewarding part of being an RA,” McMahon said. Though this is not the case for everyone, it is a major perk in a position where you’re liable to spend breaks, holidays, and basketball games in an empty building rather than with your family or friends.
Other RAs stressed that the relationships developed with residents are the best part of the job. Though it is sometimes forgotten by RAs themselves exactly what the purpose of being a resident assistant is, the residents should be the main focus of the job. “The best aspect of the RA job was the residents,” said Glaser. Tonar added, “The RA position is rewarding in many aspects, but primarily for the opportunity to help younger students through the myriad of collegiate experiences that we all face year after year. As a fellow student, the RA is given this unique opportunity to counsel and guide his or her residents on their journey.”
The professional development is another large draw. While being an RA alone isn’t enough to engender job prospects, the position does supplement the Marquette educational experience. One hall director agreed that the experience of a Marquette RA is one that helps develop maturity, dedication and character. “It is easy for me to tell the difference between students who have served in leadership positions such as the RA role from those who have not, just by their outlook and professionalism,” he said.
Generally, what offset the emotional burdens and possible social and academic pitfalls were the financial support, the lasting relationships with staff members, and resident interactions.
What can be improved about the RA experience? Perhaps there should be a more realistic representation of the challenges applicants will face if selected. Perhaps mandatory meetings with hall ministers are key. Or maybe it would take a reminder to RAs that they do not need to always share those burdens. Says the former hall director, “One of the common missteps of RAs is to let their residents’ emotional burdens become their own. It is something that is talked about during training and throughout the year, and in some ways a testament to our RAs on how much they care about our students. At the same time it is important to remind staff that they are responsible to their residents, but not responsible for them.”
“This is an on-going concern for us at Marquette,” McMahon said. “Students today arrive on campus with a fair amount of emotional baggage. Most of our RA’s choose this job because they care about others, are empathic and want to help wherever they can. A good counselor knows how to help others without taking on their burdens, but this can be difficult for RA’s. That is why we stress how to refer troubled students to the various support services across campus.” He stressed that ORL continually strives to help RAs through referral services, Hall Director development, and an RA class in which RAs can come together and discuss their issues with professional staff.
The RA position undeniably produces headaches and hassles, but a large majority of current and former RAs said the overall experience was worth the troubles. “I don’t want to lie and say it was amazing all the time. It’s tiring. It’s stressful. It’s a lot of work,” Erickson said, “but I felt like I made a difference for some people.”
One would be hard-pressed to find a perfect job on or off campus. The RA position is no exception. Though he finds the entire experience worth it, “the loss of social life, terrible working hours and no privacy almost made it not so,” Glaser said.
Because of its scope, complexity, and requirements, the resident assistant position is probably never going to be summarily presented in all its full detail. The experience of a Marquette resident assistant varies as widely as the experience of a Marquette student. It is important for residents and their RAs not to forget that an RA is still, and foremost, a student. Trying to maintain a healthy balance of being a student, employee, friend, and enforcer is a tough test.
As a former RA himself, McMahon outlined the best aspect of the job. “What I find most rewarding is the large number of RAs who report that being in that role was the most challenging and rewarding student experience that they had ever had. And once in the work world, they realize the importance of the training and experience they had as an RA.” And Karioris puts it best when he says, “RAs are still growing into what they want to become and the RA position can be such a monumental change that whether they know that or not, the impact the job

Popularity: 6% [?]

Memories from Past

Sheena Carey sits in her dimly lit office in the fourth floor of Johnston Hall. It’s full of books, and music streams into the hallway. During her office hours, several students go in and out seeking her advice on how to get an internship. She casually tells each student what is required for a communication internship, points them in the direction of where to find one and then processes the applications.

“Marquette’s always been my home,” Carey said. “I never felt like I didn’t belong.”

In her twentieth year working at Marquette, Carey, a communication alumna, thought back to her undergraduate days as a journalism major.

Carey wasn’t a traditional student as an undergraduate in the mid 1970s through the 1980s. She was a single mother.

“There wasn’t a lot of resources,” she said. “I had to struggle through. There was not a lot of support available on campus, and not a whole lot to do. It was a time when Marquette began to recognize that not everyone was a traditional student.”

Carey said she ended up taking as many classes as were available in the evening so she could work to support herself and her young daughter. Eventually she discovered the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). The EOP specializes in working with low income students to help first generation college students graduate. It was then she quit her job and was able to take classes while her daughter was in daycare. Carey was far from being the traditional student, she said.

“Just as parties were starting I was heading up to 20th Street to take care of my child,” Sheena reminisced.

But she never felt like she didn’t belong. After graduating from Marquette with an undergraduate degree in journalism, Carey went on to graduate school in communication and eventually became the internship director in the Diederich College of Communication.

Carey said she’s noticed a lot of changes in her 30 years at Marquette.

“I was here when O’Donnell was the female dorm and McCormick was all male,” she said.

She also said there weren’t as many options for classes about gender and race.

“Even taking sociology classes, there was nothing about women,” she said. “The biggest difference is I can’t recall having any female instructors,” she said. “All of my instructors were male.”

She also said there weren’t as many women in her classes as there are now in the classes she teaches.

“When I look out in my classrooms it’s rare I see a male,” Carey said. “There are fewer and fewer men. In one class there are two out of 20 students that were male.”

Carey said the main thing that hasn’t changed is diversity on campus, but there are more female tenure-track faculty members and women in leadership positions.

“If you look at our history, we were first to admit women,” Carey said. “Marquette does seem to be at the forefront of change. We’re seeing how society is changing and we’re rushing up to greet it.”

Marquette’s Present

Elizabeth Fincher, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, has always wanted to help others. She’s double majoring in English and secondary education because she wants to be an urban teacher.

Fincher transferred to Marquette from a small community college in Tennessee two years ago, and admits she had to adjust to the more rigorous course schedule.

“I knew the workload was going to be challenging,” she said. “The homework load was so much more, but I’ve learned more here in two years than I did in three years at community college.”

Fincher said there was about the same ratio of women to men at her old school, but she was surprised there was such a strong feminist voice on campus.

“Marquette seems to have a really open mind,” she said. “It changes with the times which I think is fantastic.”

Fincher differs from other transfer students because she’s 30 years old. Before deciding to go back to school full time in 2005, she worked overseas doing missionary work in Malta. The service learning program is her favorite program at Marquette. She said she always knew she wanted to be a teacher, but having the opportunity to volunteer in an urban school has inspired her to work in one after she graduates.

Until then, Fincher is connected with the Center for Urban Teachers. She says the program connects her with other successful urban teachers. She’s currently working at St. Margaret’s grade school and middle school.

Fincher’s one complaint about Marquette is the lack of diversity.

“I hope in the future that Marquette will have more diversity… with more non-traditional students,” she said.

Looking into the Future

According to Marquette’s website, 53 percent of students enrolled are women and 47 percent are men.

“It’s a really interesting issue,” Amelia Zurcher, an English professor in College of Arts and Sciences, and the chair of the Gender and Women’s studies program said. “They’re having to do affirmative action for men.”

According to Zurcher, the women’s studies program has existed for many years, but has had little success. The revised program was launched this fall, and has been launched as a full stand-alone major and minor. There is also a revised required introduction course and a new senior capstone that will be available in spring 2011.

“The biggest goal is to build the program in terms of majors and minors,” Zurcher said. “For a long time there was no recruitment or programming.”

Zurcher said the program can be interdisciplinary and students can build their own program. She said it’s very transferable into the business world.

“It’s a great entry way,” she said. “Employers are really interested in increasing the number of people who are knowledgeable about gender and women’s studies.”

Zurcher said the increased interest in the program shows Marquette’s shift to the global world.

“A lot of theory [depends] on international fields,” she said. “What happens world wide greatly depends on gender. We’re joining the mainstream with this program.”

Zurcher said men are also welcome in the program.

“Gender structures everybody’s world,” she said.

Popularity: 4% [?]