When you think of Marquette, you may think of the university’s global perspective on education or its dedication to service both here and abroad. That was one of the reasons I chose to come here. For a university to move up in the national rankings, as seems to be the goal lately, it needs to constantly reinvent itself and be on the cutting edge of the programs offered.Marquette seems to be lagging behind in one area: its foreign language offerings. “Nontraditional” foreign languages, specifically Mandarin Chinese and Arabic have been added to the curriculum at five other Jesuit universities, including Georgetown and Boston College, but are not offered at Marquette. Marquette’s administration recently declared its intentions to become one of the top five Catholic universities in the nation. One of the things the university can do in order to achieve this goal is to diversify its foreign language offerings.

But why Arabic and Chinese? You may think that Marquette’s interests would be better served by enhancing existing programs in other departments, but based on informal student surveying, there seems to be enough of an interest to warrant Mandarin and Arabic programs. Japanese is one of the smaller foreign language programs, but it has enough of a student base to sustain.

Today foreign languages are often tacked on to other majors to boost resumés and increase marketability after graduation. A language minor almost always enhances a business major. A cover story by Time Magazine said that Mandarin is the world’s fastest growing language to learn, a fact that coincides with the phenomenal growth of the Chinese economy. While English is the universal common language, Mandarin, with 1.4 million speakers, has quickly become second.

Chinese is also a new language to learn in high schools. In a recent survey by the College Board, Chinese came back as the most requested Advanced Placement course option. This 2006-2007 school year is the first time that it will be offered with the other AP exams. If Marquette were to promote Chinese, it would be an incentive to students who are committed to learning Mandarin to come here, whereas these talented prospective students go elsewhere.

With the current conflict in the Middle East, and our dependence on foreign oil making the global political sphere evermore complicated, students with Arabic skills are also in high demand.

Madeline Wake, Marquette provost, stated that, “Student interest will be a major determinant in the way we address adding these languages.” She added, “Dr. Castenada, chair of Marquette’s Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures is exploring the issue at present.” Dr. Castenada could not be reached for comment. Wake said even the Rev. Wild supported the idea.

It seems that for either an Arabic or Mandarin program to become reality, it will be up to students to put pressure on the administration.

Ideally, the university should take the initiative. If Chinese or Arabic were offered, they might start off small. With the proper development, however, they could become valuable additions to Marquette’s reputation as an educational leader as well as an institution that prepares students to become truly global citizens.

Popularity: 11% [?]

“Art and Conflict in Central Asia” is a beautiful but rare exhibit. After touring Italy, this compilation of modern cultural art has made a one-time stop in the United States at Marquette University’s very own Haggarty Museum of Art.Organized by the Soros Center for Continuing Arts, as well as international curator Enrico Mascelloni, this exhibit is a great honor for Marquette. Touching on topics such as war, politics and religion, the Milwaukee community has been quite receptive to this exhibit.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the “stans” of Europe were created, which include Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan. Using the contemporary work of 13 artists, the exhibit is able to capture the violence and conflict that still exist between these neighboring countries.

The central themes of the art are expressed through video, photography and video stills. In the case of the sculpture “Monument to a Hero,” a pair of cut off horse hooves is used to represent the epidemic of state monuments being destroyed in response to the independence of Kazakhstan. In another piece entitled, “My Brother the Enemy,” two men are depicted facing each other with pistols in their mouths. These graphic and uniquely modern works emphasize the continuing violence and aggression in this area. The exhibit also focuses on the roles of women, war and dervishes, or Sufi Muslim ascetic religious fraternities.

“This exhibit shows interesting art that works well with many classes at Marquette,” said Lynne Shumow, Haggarty’s Curator of Education.

So far, broadcasting classes at Marquette have taken advantage of this opportunity, filming interviews with Mascelloni and creating a Web Site with the footage. With a grant from Institute of Museum and Library Services, Haggarty is also working with the Marquette School of Education to teach future teachers how to integrate art into classes.

In addition to Marquette students, Haggarty is working with the Milwaukee Public School System and the Milwaukee Art Board.

“[This exhibit] definitely works well with what we’re trying to do here,” said Shumow. Aside from students, other organizations have come to learn and reflect about this exhibit. On Nov. 6, the Jewish Community Center began a three-part program about Asia culture. On Nov. 14, Dr. Uli Schamiloglu will be giving a talk about the exhibit concerning popular religion and Islam in Central Asia. Schamiloglu, a faculty member at University of Wisconsin-Madison, is an author and professor of languages.

Overall, “Art and Conflicts of Central Asia” is a rare window of opportunity to see the world around us with the ease of walking behind Johnston Hall.

“Art and Conflicts in Central Asia” is showing at the Haggarty Museum of Art through Jan. 21.

Popularity: 28% [?]