This issue of The Warrior is filled with something for everyone. We have a piece on the MUSG Student Organization Allocation Committee, an investigation on religious freedom and proselytism on campus, a winter sports preview and even a wedding announcement.

The Warrior continues to exist through the support of the Marquette student body, our advertisers and a dedicated group of staff writers, editors and business managers, all who work hard to deliver a real student voice in campus journalism and a fair, investigative look at campus issues that would otherwise go unreported. Our paper receives a diverse range of responses from readers: some hate us, some love us, and some are indifferent, but the response I find most appalling is the one we so often get from Marquette’s own administrators, faculty and staff. Although there are those who do support our efforts and have been very helpful, we continue to be routinely stonewalled by certain departments on campus for either no reason at all or for bureaucratic desires to protect and shield the University from a critical eye.

The pushback from Marquette has occurred since our founding in 2005, but this issue’s center spread provides a clear example of what continues to occur when our reporters ask for comment.

In this issue’s feature, comment was requested from Campus Ministry regarding their role in the formation and implementation of the University Religious Activities Policy. I received no response from most people I contacted in that department, but one staff member e-mailed me and refused to comment because of the paper’s continued embrace of the name “The Warrior”, which he said reflected an “unfortunate part of our Marquette history.”

If Marquette exists, as we so often hear, to not only educate students but facilitate debate and the exchange of ideas on campus, why are some at Marquette so reluctant to provide comment to a completely student-run paper like The Warrior seeking to do just that? The Warrior exists to support the free exchange and discussion of ideas on campus, and we welcome a robust debate regardless of one’s background, ideology or views. Don’t agree with an article we’ve published? Write in, contribute! Want another side represented or have an idea for a story or an issue to be investigated? Let us know and we’ll do our best to find the answers for you.

As a proud Marquette student, it is truly disheartening to see such a closed-minded and unwelcoming attitude from so many in the administration and various departments across campus. I would hope University administrators, faculty and staff would be proud to see Marquette students dedicated to the pursuit of truth in print with no strings attached, no subsidies from the College of Communication, and no oversight from a faculty member; just students, caring enough to face the challenges of working on an independent paper and dedicated enough to stand outside in wind, rain and snow to pass our product out.

But unfortunately that hope has yet to be realized.

Archbishop Dolan came to Milwaukee after demoralizing revelations about former Milwaukee Archbishop Rembert Weakland’s inappropriate sexual activity and efforts to keep his actions secret. In the midst of this scandal, Dolan brought a boisterous Irish personality to the Archdiocese, full of energy and orthodoxy. However, far from raising his crosier (the staff that the bishop holds) against those who would dissent from Catholic orthodoxy, Dolan employed his personable and persuasive character to effect change.

Aside from being pastoral, Dolan also has proven to be a capable administrator, for which his experience as the rector at the Pontifical North American College prepared him. It definitely has not been easy, especially considering the recent financial burdens of the Archdiocese due to sexual abuse settlements. Just last year, Dolan managed to escape a multi-million dollar deficit by consolidating Archdiocesan offices and staff. In addition, his presence and candor have allowed him to successfully navigate the secular media, making him well liked by many.

While New York is certainly a larger and more diverse Catholic community than Milwaukee, Dolan will surely leave a positive impact out East, just as he has done here in the Midwest. His staunch opposition to abortion and his adherence to Catholic orthodoxy are essential for such a prominent and visible position such as the Archdiocese of New York. Of course, as he has done in Milwaukee, Dolan will undoubtedly express these positions gently and with understanding.

Archbishop Dolan has raised the level of religious morale in Milwaukee. His larger than life personality and perennially happy demeanor are magnetic, and his uncanny ability to remember names helps him build a strong relationship with Catholics in his flock. Milwaukee will miss Dolan’s style and personality, which has captivated many and renewed Catholic spirituality here in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.

As his Excellency makes this transition to what is arguably the most visible diocese in the nation, there is little doubt in this writer’s mind that he will be welcomed and successful.
Thank you Archbishop Dolan for your leadership and inspiration in the short time you’ve been with us. You will be greatly missed.

Also in this issue is a great point-counterpoint editorial on the recent government bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, a debate that anyone concerned about the unstable economy should find relevant. If you don’t know much about the nuances of this crisis, you may also want to take a look at the Finance column in the News section, where Jacob Jasperson provides some tips on how you can help keep the economy stable.

Regular readers will notice a significant change in the News section this week. Joseph Schuster, formerly The Warrior’s MUSG reporter, will no longer be writing for us in that capacity. Mr. Schuster was recently appointed to MUSG, and as such Molly Petitjean will be replacing him on the MUSG beat. On that same note, I would like to thank everyone who submitted letters to the editor in response to Joseph’s article in the previous edition of The Warrior. It is heartening to see the level of dialogue that Joseph’s articles have created, as it is this type of discourse that ultimately makes us more informed and aware students.

In addition, I would like to draw your attention to Cathleen Bury’s article on John Tefft, the United States’ ambassador to Georgia, who is a Marquette University alumnus. Cathleen was in contact with the ambassador’s office, and had scheduled an interview, which unfortunately had to be cancelled due to an emergency meeting between the ambassador and NATO representatives. The article is still very informative and definitely worth reading.

Tom Klind joins us in this issue as our Religious beat reporter and Catholic columnist. In this edition, Mr. Klind reviews and responds to the latest book by controversial professor, Dr. Daniel Maguire, who was reprimanded last year by Milwaukee Archbishop Timothy Dolan for publishing teachings contrary to established Catholic doctrine.

On a personal note, I would like to recognize Dr. Chris Miller, the new Vice President for Student Affairs, for his outstanding work at Marquette thus far. His predecessor, Father Andy Thon, was well respected and left big shoes to fill, and I am glad to see that the University hired a man capable of filling them.

Once again, thanks for visiting TheWarrior.org!

The next four years – or five for those of you who will choose to stay a little longer – have the potential to be some of the most memorable of your life, and surely will challenge and impact you immensely. In addition to offering a notable academic program, Marquette offers its students many opportunities outside the classroom, and I encourage you to take full advantage of all that this school, and this city, has to offer. Get involved in student organizations, Greek life, intramural sports, volunteer work, Campus Ministry and the vibrant social life that binds this community together.

Tell your parents not to worry about you; you are going to be just fine here. The friends you make will help support you and you will surely help support them through this first year of your college journey. To help you adjust to that experience, The Warrior, Marquette’s independent student run newspaper, has published this issue. In this edition you will find an overview of some of the things you should know as you begin this year. We hope that you find the information we have collected useful and will continue to pick up a copy of The Warrior throughout the school year.

Thanks for reading, and I hope that the coming year is full of new and exciting opportunities and experiences. Welcome home.

In this issue, we have a great account of Pope Benedict XVI’s recent trip to New York City by Remington Tonar. When we realized that we had the opportunity to send Remington to the N-Y-C, it was a no-brainer. So, check that piece out… it’s the centerspread.

Katelyn Ferral wrote two good articles: One an interesting piece about Marquette’s treatment of Joseph McCarthy, who I would consider to be the most influential Marquette alumnus, historically speaking. And the other, she writes about her one-on-one, exclusive interview with former Attorney General during the Reagan years, Edwin Meese III. Also in news, Daniel Suhr has a wonderful tribute piece to Dr. Wolfe who’s teaching his last class session at Marquette today.

Adam Covach headed up a collaboration in an effort to decide what MUSG should do with its ever-expanding reserve fund. A joke amongst my friends is that some of the senators in MUSG said they would actually raise the activity fee if given the chance despite the fact that we don’t even use all the money as is. Thus, MUSG has a pool of unused money. Luckily for everyone, MUSG has decided to invest in an electronic LIMO, instead of buying us something we truly want like a country music act or some new squat racks in the rec center. Joseph Schuster also writes about the MUSG Senate in this issue. And his piece seems satirical and borders on funny until you realize it’s all true; then it’s just sad.

America’s post-secondary education system has largely turned into a liberal breeding-ground of intolerance, secularism and morally relativistic mushiness. And, to some degree, Marquette has fallen into this trap. But, for the student who truly desires an education oriented towards truth and discernment, there are professors on this campus who can help. At the risk of hurting their reputations amongst their liberal colleagues, here’s the list… Oh, and one more theme: they all tend to be very demanding.

The Rev. Steven Avella in the History department makes history come alive by telling it as a story. He frames most of American history as a continuation of the Hamiltonianism-Jeffersonianism battles that were so instrumental in the formation of our nation. He genuinely cares about his students, frequently talking with them outside of class.

Michael Donoghue, Ph.D., teaches using a give-and-take method with his students and assigns applicable books, which consequently results in a better understanding of the Carribean history and culture.

Darrell Dobbs, Ph.D., is perceived by many as intimidating, but I suspect that’s due to Dobbs’ lack of patience for those who do not prepare for class. Anyone who assigns C.S. Lewis’ “The Abolition of Man” is good to go in my book. Plus he has instilled a love of political philosophy in many students that gets brought out more in subsequent classes with Ryan Hanley, Ph.D., to whom I’ll always owe credit to for any defense of Adam Smith or capitalism I engage in.

John McAdams, Ph.D. has always been a personal mentor for me, helping me remember to never be afraid to take someone on, intellectually speaking, if I think correctly. And obviously, Dr. Christopher Wolfe, Ph.D., who has been a friend, mentor and teacher.

And finally, I think I speak for every student who ever took a classes with the Rev. Phillip Renczes, S.J., when I say to Marquette: Hire the man. His class on Joseph Ratzinger was amazing – he taught us well and remained faithful to the Cathechism. Fr. Joseph Mueller, S.J., was another great lecturer who has a knack for getting results from his students.

Almost all of these professors have a few things in common: I’ve seen most of them out having a beer or two with students; they see their students as people they need to mentor, not just teach. They are all tougher professors in terms of expectations. And they all encourage and demand classroom participation.

Also, on the Wednesday evening edition of Wheel of Fortune, my friend Sabrina Stephensen, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences will represent Marquette during the show’s College Week. Without being blatant about the results, let’s just say there are 20,000 reasons to watch Sabrina compete for Marquette.

The Marquette Tribune, which receives funding from Marquette University and serves as its sanctioned paper, has twice refused to run pro-life, anti-abortion advertisements this semester. First, it rejected an ad geared towards spring breakers, “Be good to yourself over spring break,” the ad continued, “Make smart choices the night before…that way you won’t have any emergencies to deal with the morning after! ‘Emergency contraception’ is a powerful, high dose of steroids that tricks your body into thinking it is pregnant. These steroids can cause chemical abortions and deadly blood clots” (emphasis in original).

Then — and this is where The Warrior comes in — the Tribune rejected the 12-page insert you see in this issue of The Warrior.

So, in order for Pro-Life Wisconsin to get its message out on a Catholic campus, the group had to come to The Warrior, a paper that is not allowed to be distributed in campus buildings or on campus property. That’s why we have to hand-distribute The Warrior on public property outside of Raynor and Cudahy. To get out a Catholic message on a Catholic campus, they had to come to a paper that accepts no money from Marquette.

It had to come to The Warrior. At a moment like this, you can’t help but say it… We are (Embarrassed for you), Marquette!

In the past, administrators and professors have called The Warrior an “underground” or “rogue” paper. Whatever… The day that a Pro-life group is forced to come to an “underground” or “extreme” paper at a Catholic university, it’s a sad day for Marquette, intellectual honesty and Catholicism as a whole.

As our Business Manager, Katie Wycklendt, said when asked about our decision to run the ad: “The question isn’t why we would run it… The question is why wouldn’t we. One of [The Warrior’s] nine goals is to ‘Cherish Marquette’s Catholic Identity’ and in this instance we have the opportunity to do so while providing students with a very informative and moving piece of literature.”

Kudos, Katie, couldn’t have said it better myself. All these administrators, Jesuits and professors, so caught up in the culture of intolerance towards truth and consequence, refuse to fight for some Catholic principles they so obviously disagree with. But to all you level-headed observers out there, have no fear. Marquette does not simply belong to these liberal “adults.” It has students who understand right from wrong, who recognize foolish arguments and who will always fight to keep Marquette truly Catholic — true to the Pope and Catechism.

And if us running this advertisement changes one woman’s mind about killing her offspring, I say it’s all worth it.

Late Breaking News: According to Warrior reporter Remington Tonar, the Marquette Tribune will be running a full-page pro-life ad on Thursday that will highlight the fact that babies feel pain during abortions.

Assuming this is, indeed, the case, congratulations. I still wonder why it took three tries to put a pro-life ad in a school newspaper at a Catholic school. I’d be willing to guess that enough people with common sense were disgusted and complained that they had to run it.

That’s something I thought I’d never be able to say during this winter of nearly 100 inches of snow. Yesterday on our Web site, The Warrior was the first campus-wide news outlet to report on this story, but as of press time, it looked as though Marquette men’s basketball head coach Tom Crean didn’t orchestrate some elaborate April Fool’s Day joke and was actually planning to leave Marquette and accept the head coaching job at Indiana.

The Warrior brought you the scoop first when we confirmed it with one of his players shortly after dinner yesterday. IU is considered one of the top four or five coaching jobs in the nation and we shouldn’t necessarily blame Crean for leaving. After all, it’s an upgrade for him in term coaching prestige- although some loyalty would have been nice. But, it does show that Marquette is not yet considered in the highest echelon of college basketball programs. That’s fine, it leaves something to strive for. And I can’t imagine anybody better to bring us there than the man who brought Indiana into that upper echelon: Bobby Knight.

So, I hope the administration looks seriously at hiring the current ESPN analyst and former head coach of Army, Indiana and Texas Tech. Read on below for more on the Crean departure from Warrior reporter Eric Hart and be sure to check out our Web site for tons of information.

Equal competitive regattas are held in Britain and Canada, but none are as big as the Head of the Charles. The best and most talented teams compete in this race, and it’s an honor just to go.

Thanks to Katie Scheidemantel, Diana Mitsche, Mary Kaleta, Rachel Stoll, Julie Knyszek, Coach Ruth Blahnik and both Marquette Women’s and Men’s teams, Marquette can claim to be among the best in their sport. Such a feat deserves recognition from our community.

These five women truly exemplify what Marquette is all about. They all balance their school work and their training. Not too many students wake up five days a week for a 6 am practice.

Striving for excellence. The women’s crew team has accomplished this and has set an example for the rest of us to follow. So congratulations Katie, Diana, Mary, Rachel, Julie and the entire crew team for an amazing accomplishment. The Marquette community could not be more proud. Send your own congratulations to the team to: rblahnik@hotmail.com.

But those things, you can see for yourself. And in regards to The Warrior’s future, that’s still to be seen.

I’m not an expert college student or even expert editor, but the best piece of advice I’ve ever received is this: Don’t settle.

Settling is the ultimate act of cowardice. It’s putting your hands up in the air and saying, “I give up, I don’t care, do with me as you will, world.”

Settling manifests itself in many ways. Sometimes it’s indifference, not caring. It’s knowing the student government is spending your money unwisely, and then accepting a higher student activity fee. It’s finding out the Vagina Monologues will be performed on campus and not voicing your disapproval.

Sometimes, settling is tolerating the status quo – Knowing tuition rises every year but never asking why; accepting that Daniel Maguire will be on campus next year and trying to pretend he isn’t as loud and obnoxiously anti-Catholic as he really is. This is the type of settling, I would say, that allows for situations to worsen.

Other times, settling is letting somebody else tell you how things should be. It’s hearing a Theology professor cite universal health care as a part of Christian discipleship but not speaking up in class.

Settling is letting others get the best of you. It’s letting opportunities pass you by, and not caring enough to realize they could have been yours. It’s lowering your standards for the sake of peace-making and compromise, or for the sake of remaining favorable in the eyes of people who may not even matter in a few years.

Of course, it is hard to be bold all the time, but I hope you can draw strength from this verse a friend shared with me last week: “Put on the armor of God so that you may be able to stand firm against the tactics of the devil… stand fast with your loins girded in truth, clothed with righteousness as a breastplate, and your feet shod in readiness for the gospel of peace. In all circumstances, hold faith as a shield, to quench all flaming arrows of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God.” -Ephesians 6:10

I understood the concepts of political parties, and watched the Republican and (some of) the Democratic National Conventions with my father. I proudly wore a “Go Perot!” sticker on my lunchbox and backpack. And I had no shame in trying to talk with my fellow six-year-old neighbor about why her parents shouldn’t vote for Bush.

An intense enthusiasm surrounded the 1992 presidential election, in my six-year-old mind and the Sroka household. As I grew older, that interest in politics cultivated.

But elections, while exciting to me, have become very routine. Presidents come in every four years, and in between there are smaller elections to keep my political taste buds active. I’ll by no means ever make it to apathetic, but I almost miss in myself the excitement that surrounded seeing a presidential candidate speak on television or give an interview in the local newspaper. The decline in enthusiasm around elections is evident in our age group. Maybe people don’t care enough to vote and keep up with the news. Maybe they don’t like the candidates (I can say that as I’ve gotten older, I have lost the admiration I once had for candidates). Or maybe they are just lazy.

But we have to realize that as Americans and as the future generation of leaders (isn’t that line old? But it’s true…), that we can’t become complacent about the way our country is run. If we do not hold fast to our liberties, they will quickly be devalued and taken away.

So if there’s one thing you do before picking up our next issue, take a stroll over to the Alumni Memorial Union or your designated polling place (www.mu.edu/vote) and cast a ballot. If not for you, do it for the six-year-olds somewhere out there who still get excited about elections.