Campus Kitchen volunteers pose for a group picture after preparing meals. These volunteers passed the 100,000 meal mark at this session. The program uses leftover food on campus to feed others ranging from school children to the elderly. Campus Kitchen runs Monday through Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in the Straz cafeteria. (Photo by Matt Dixon)

From left: Colleen Fiocchi and Jacki Adrians, freshmen in the College of Buisness Administration, help sort tomatoes for meals as part of Campus Kitchen, Monday, April 19.

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Popularity: 2% [?]

Many college students reminisce about their high school exploits on the sports field. An amazing catch in the outfield, a perfect jump shot to win the game, making the playoffs in the high school hockey league. But of all things, the most prominent memories are those made on the high school grid iron. Many of these experiences are left to faint recollection as students move on to college, where competition is fierce to earn a spot on the squad. Some universities don’t have varsity teams at all. However, there are those who find a place to play at their school, merely for the love of the game. It’s called club football, and for Sophomore Matthew Rainey it’s his way of continuing his high school passion. Far from all the pressures and politics of Division 1 athletics, right here at Marquette, a young group of students come together a few times a week and perfect their game, testing their mettle against their peers here. The goal? Saturday’s game.

For Rainey, it’s all about the love of the game, “I like the camaraderie, and the chance to continue to play the sport I love. I didn’t think I’d get the chance to play football again after high school, I thought it was over. This gives me the chance to continue to play football, and that’s a great feeling.” “The great thing about football is that it’s really a team sport. When one person fails the team fails. If I look over and the guy next to me is struggling, I’m struggling too. You really learn to rely on each other and build that brotherhood.” The team doesn’t just stop at the field either. “We go hang out on the weekends, and everyone of us is a student here,” says Gorham. The best part for some is the relaxed atmosphere. Most players like that they only have to practice twice a week and still get the college experience, while playing football without all the politics.

So, who does our club team play? What’s the season like? The Golden Eagles start practice in August as the school year begins. They practice every day for about two to three weeks to develop cohesion and have a solid base to work from. This also helps knock off the dust and get everyone back in shape for the season. As the school year starts the team scales it back to two days a week to ensure that no one’s studies suffer. Game days vary between Saturday and Sunday depending on the match up that week. Generally when they play Division 3 schools the game is typically Saturday. For conference games against other club teams the games are usually on Sunday. The season spans eight games during the fall semester. The team battles other clubs like Miami Ohio, University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, and SIU Edwardsville, as well as Division 3 teams like Concordia of Wisconsin and UW Parkside.

Marquette’s Club also plays a short spring season. “The spring is more or less for recruiting purposes and to dust off our game. We get out there and hit some people. It’s a chance to develop our offense with our new players and really a great time to have some fun,” Rainey says. This year the team will cap their spring season with a scrimmage against University of Wisconsin-Parkside.

With recent rumors circulating about the possibility of a D1 football team Gorham doesn’t seem worried that it will affect the club negatively. “The great part about club football is that it’s for the love of the game, the guys we play with now could have easily played on a D3 team no problem and maybe even on a D1 squad. We love football, and we chose to take on the academic challenge at Marquette. It would be cool to have a D1 team but I don’t think that it would detract from the club at all.”

So…where do I sign up? Marquette Club football maintains a web site at www.marquetteclubfootball.com. Here, interested students can find rosters, practice schedules and contact information for players and the officers of the club. If you have any questions about joining, dues, or anything else you can also send an email to   marquettefootball@yahoo.com and an officer will respond as quickly as possible. Even easier, show up to a practice and talk to one of the staff. Have a friend on the team…that works too. If you love football, then this is the place to play.

by Joe Defelice
joseph.defelice@mu.edu

Marquette Club Football Team (Photos courtesy of Marquette Football)

Popularity: 2% [?]

Last weekend Chicago played host to the annual rugby All-Star tournament for the Midwest. Wisconsin, which is perennially seen as the powerhouse of the tournament, was one of just eight teams that participated in the tournament hosted by the Local Area Union (LAU). This year Marquette was well represented in the tournament, sending four players to the All-Star tournament which tied for most amongst any college in Wisconsin.

The four players represent the depth of Marquette’s club team. Seniors Adam Kreutter, Austin Ryan, Kevin Ryan and Vince Kelly each played for the Wisconsin All-Star team with most of them having earned multiple selections. Austin and Adam were selected for their third consecutive selection while Kevin earned his second selection. This is especially impressive considering that just four years ago Marquette’s club team did not have anyone represent the Golden Eagles in Chicago.

The tournament is broken down into two tiers each containing four teams. The first tier is comprised of the top four teams from the Midwest as determined from the previous year’s tournament, with the second tier containing the remaining four teams. The winner of the first tier is deemed champion of the Midwest while the loser of both games is forced to swap places with the victor of the second tier.

Wisconsin entered this year’s tournament as the reigning champion, and found itself sitting pretty with a number one seed. Wisconsin’s dominance has been so prevalent that it has assumed a dynasty-esque appearance over the past decade so expectations were high for this year’s team. Combine that with the fact that Marquette’s four reps were seniors, it isn’t hard to see how bad they wanted to win another championship. Wisconsin has proved their run as a dynasty by winning four of the past five Midwest All-Star tournaments and this year showed no reason why they should not repeat.

Wisconsin opened their weekend slate Saturday afternoon against arch-rival Minnesota and looked to score an early win from a hated opponent. Unfortunately, after a tough fought out game Wisconsin fell 25-17 in a heart wrenching loss. After a big team dinner and plenty of sleep, the Wisconsin all-stars followed on Sunday and pounded Iowa 29-0 in a game that was never close. Kreutter summed up the feeling saying, “Before this year we had won four of five, so definitely we wanted to defend our title, we just weren’t able to.”

Next year’s all-star team will go down as the number three seed and once again will be faced to match up with the second seeded Minnesota once again which fell in the championship to Ohio. Since Iowa was unable to score a victory they will be sent to the second tier and forced to play their way back to the top tier.

Although all fours reps from Marquette were seniors, it has not lowered expectations for more players being invited by the Wisconsin team in the coming years. When asked whether Marquette is expected to send anyone next year, the assistant captain, Austin Ryan simply replied, “Definitely! We had thirteen guys tryout this year and almost all of them could easily be on the team next year.”

Kreutter, a senior in the College of Engineering, completely agreed saying that, “Marquette’s team is filled with all-star caliber talent and the fact that four of us made the team shows the depth of the entire team not just the individual players.”

Although MU’s involvement in the tournament is extraordinary, each of the players noted the importance of moving past simply a Marquette affiliation and identifying themselves as the Wisconsin team. Ryan claimed that it was actually one of the best parts of the tournament, because “the ability to build camaraderie across the state and allows us to compete with others across the Midwest that take rugby seriously.”

The ability to play alongside some of the best players in the state, not to mention the Midwest, means that rivalries with other schools are temporarily forgotten in favor of the ability to represent this great state. Kreutter remembered a specific instance about which he said “I really could not stand this one guy from Wisconsin-Whitewater whenever we played them, but once I played with him my opinion quickly changed and we became great teammates.”

The importance of cohesion is shared by Ryan who lamented that “At this tournament, individuals do not win games, which was why we lost our first game. A lack of team cohesion is one of the biggest weaknesses a team can have.

Wisconsin is a team that specifically focuses on team cohesion, making the loss due to individualistic play that much harder to swallow. After they trimmed down the original 70 Wisconsin all-star hopefuls to the final 25, they have two scrimmages that focus largely on cohesion. This cohesion has proved invaluable for the players under the system as many have their play elevated to a whole new level. Two-time all-star Kevin Ryan recalled what his first selection did for his game saying, “After playing at a higher level, it gives a perspective of where you are, and allows you to elevate your own expectations. This improvement is hard to see at a local level.”

The exposure to some of the best talent is also the direct result of the ability to play under some of the best coaches in the Midwest. The rugby players’ performance also provides a great opportunity to showcase their skills allowing them potentially to play for the Midwest team. Austin Ryan performance warranted an invite to the Midwest Developmental game a great accomplishment. The depth of Wisconsin has been continually proven by past players as over the past 5 years; three guys have gone on to play for the All-American team.

Regardless of the outcome in Chicago, all four players agreed that it was an incredible experience. Hopefully
the recent past will prove true next year as Marquette hopes to once again send more players to represent Wisconsin in the 2011 All-Star game.

by Joe Beres
anthony.beres@mu.edu

Popularity: 2% [?]

Dear Marquette,

Congrats you made it through another school year. In the school year of 2009-2010 we enjoyed a year that caused each of us to take a deep breath & realize nothing burned down (yet). During the year we sipped just a few more cups of Brew coffee, incurred just a few more hours of lost sleep, learned just a little more, shared just a few more drinks with our friends, spent just a little more money (tuition did go up), and just spent another year finding ourselves. Whether you are graduating or just surviving another semester let this article be a send off for all, a space to state all the lessons we take away from our college experience.

Handshake after handshake, we continuously have introduced ourselves to hundreds of people. At the end of the day a few of those people have stuck and made an impact on our lives both small and large. We found people who would help us study and we found those who would just YouTube video after video with us and sing Miley. We found people would who would wait outside in the cold before basketball games with us and those who stayed up all night with us just to talk about life. We met people who drove us crazy and showed us who we didn’t want to be, and met those who inspired us to want to be a better person. We found friends who would drive us to Kopps for custard and others would prefer to run to the lake instead. We found people who would drink with us until all became blurry and those who would stay in on a Saturday to watch a movie. We found those who would be there unconditionally for us and those who came and went. We found those who would walk to church with us and those who would go on a beer run with us. No matter what we searching for or needed, chances are we could find someone here.

Somewhere amongst the people we meet, we became someone and a part of something. At times it was not being afraid to keeping dancing or playing intramural volleyball–even if the score is never quite in our team’s favor. Maybe it was taking a chance and trying something you never dreamt of doing such as being part of a Fraternity or Sorority. Maybe it was just doing what you were already passionate about. At college we all have a chance to be a part of something greater. We are Fanatics and Big Brothers. We are RAs and Senators. Some of us are Athletes and others are Midnight Runners. We are people at with Active Minds and people looking to Clean Up Hunger. Here we are a part of something—we are Marquette.

And after you are done meeting all these different people and doing all those things, don’t forget to set your alarm and go to class in the morning. In between everything it’s hard to remember we came to learn. We learned the slope of supply curves & demands curves. We learned how to handle ad-campaigns, how to act, and how to speak. We learned differential equations, how to brew beer in chemistry labs, and learned how to wire circuits. At times we take that knowledge and just let it flourish, fully prepared to use it in the real world. Other times we bury it, acknowledge it, and move on. Hey its college, we can’t learn it all but at least we are learning something daily.

Chances are whatever we learned, some classes had phenomenal professors who helped you discover areas you would excel in and chances are some classes had professors who should consider moving to another profession. Good or bad they still taught us and that’s what we are here for. Each helped us add a little more to our learning process and refine it. From Day 1 freshman year until now we are always refining that process. We will use this process daily for the rest of our lives. Whether we use it to keep ourselves entertained or help further our academic and professional careers everything we learned, attempted to learn, failed to learn, and have yet to learn is helping us forge our future.

College makes us find ourselves. It enables us to ask the tough questions. What do I want in life? What do I want to do? Will I be happy? Should I be worried or unworried for tomorrow, for next week, or for what comes next? What will my impact be on Marquette, my friends, or my career after I leave this place? What am I capable of? We continually get to ask and ask and ask ourselves these questions. Perhaps the best part of college is that every day we can slightly change our answer and just keep defining and redefining ourselves.

College gives us a chance to keep meeting, keep learning, at times to keep drinking. It allows us to just keep being ourselves because we all need time before we get to the next step. So take your time because after we leave this place we will all just long to be back–longing to be back drinking beer, sitting in class, sipping coffee, paying tuition (ok maybe not that part), and just asking ourselves what the future holds for us. No matter what you learned in college just don’t forget to set an alarm, because tomorrow will come too soon.

By: Andrew Sinclair
andrew.sinclair@marquette.edu

Popularity: 3% [?]

There’s something about moving on that inspires desperation to leave nothing unsaid. It is on the way out that the most important words come to mind. This past semester I was focused on life beyond college and struggled to find something worthwhile to write about. It seemed that every topic on which I wanted to express an opinion had been covered. Then suddenly it was April and I realized this was the last time I’d write anything for a collegiate publication. With that realization, I immediately thought of a thousand experiences and ideas to put onto paper.

The past four years have flashed by in many ways, yet I am anxious to graduate and put my new found knowledge into practice in the real world. College is more than an education, it is an experience. As is true of most experiences worth noting, its value is predicated upon the people with whom we share those experiences and the guides who show us the way. Like most students who make it through college, there are a litany of people I need to thank for my being here – don’t worry, I have no intention of making this article sound like a bad Academy Awards speech, I will not name them all. However, it is important to remember that our collegiate experience is as much a reflection of our parents, teachers, friends and mentors as it is of our own hard work.

The hardest part about starting anything new is overcoming the uncertainty that surrounds the next portion of our lives. Not knowing what comes next is unnerving, and at the same time, it is also what makes it worthwhile to get up in the morning to see what lies around the corner and meet those new challenges. My time at Marquette was full of new experiences and new challenges which, though difficult at the time, made the experience I had here the best years of my life. In navigating those challenges, a few key lessons were learned, and ways in which Marquette could improve also come to mind.

To start I’ll give just three critiques – things everyone knows need to change, but that the University seems to ignore. (It’s the last chance I’ll have to say them). First, the dorm food here stinks. Perhaps the necessity for politeness has precluded students from being blunt with the administration, but really, it’s bad. Second, it should not be a trial of patience and bureaucratic navigation to get guests into the rec center or to conduct business between the different colleges. Lastly, (and this one goes out to my predecessor at The Warrior, Rob Christensen), Lalumiere is an eye sore; the product of a combination of poor mid-century architectural design and someone’s misguided attempt to be ‘trendy.’ Not to mention it is the first building passers-by see on I-94. Let’s admit our mistakes and move forward by knocking it down and building something new.

Much more important than the discovery of Marquette’s imperfections, were the lessons gleaned from the classrooms, classes, professors and friends. Everyone here is a unique source of ideas and ways of life that create an environment bursting at the seams with new experiences and lessons. The most crucial things I have learned here are also the simplest.

I have learned that the greatest obstacles in many homework assignments are personal computers.
From being a camp counselor working with children, to deciding which career path I’d like to pursue, I have learned that the best things you do in life are often the result of the biggest risks you take. Further, it is usually one’s own limited point of view that makes risks seem more dangerous than they are; take a leap of faith from time to time.

I have learned that the worst situations are the greatest opportunities to lend a helping hand.

I have held jobs that I hated, and I have found a job that makes me excited to go to work every day. As a college student I have also found that I can live quite happily with almost no money. So, to be entirely cliché based on those two discoveries, I have learned that it is in your best interest to pursue happiness, not material goals or visions of success. Success usually follows happiness, but happiness does not necessarily follow material rewards.

Lastly, I have learned that to be wealthy is not to make millions or drive a Ferrari. Rather being wealthy is to observe sunrises over mountain peaks and sunsets at sea, to spend time with friends and family, to watch children playing and to take risks and enjoy the experiences that follow.

The lessons I take from Marquette have little to do with my degree, yet they best prepare me for the real world. To those who will return to Marquette in the fall, I wish you all the best – do try and make the most of your time here, it goes fast. To my fellow graduates, I hope your time in college has been as rewarding as mine. Congratulations to all of you. All that remains is for each of us to find out what comes next.

by Austin Wozniak
earl.wozniak@mu.edu

Popularity: 1% [?]

The man is wearing white Nike’s, track pants and a puffy, black coat. He is African American, with missing teeth and a graying goatee. He is warm, friendly and articulate; Many others would be bitter in his position. Like nearly 50 percent of black men in Milwaukee, the man lost his job and hasn’t been able to find his footing since. The man said he is a resident of Milwaukee Rescue Mission, an enormous operation located just on the edge of the Marquette campus.

He used to be a forklift operator at the General Mills plant on Lincoln. When they began downsizing, he was let go. He moved in with his son and grandchil­dren but said he “didn’t like being a burden.” When his unemployment benefits ran out, he decided to strike out on his own. Four months later, he still can’t find a job. He’s been trying to pick up small labor jobs, here and there, and last week he made $35 for picking up shingles. He refuses to become a panhandler, hustling for cans or for cigarettes.

“A lot of people think that because you’re in a homeless shelter that you’re just a drug addict,” he said. “You would be surprised at the intelligence in there. You got people in there with degrees… But, a lot of them just lost their families, or houses or jobs.”

When asked whether he felt the stigma of being homeless, the man stares at the sidewalk.

“It’s kind of bad that we are right by those college apartments,” he said look­ing up. “We can tell the college kids feel…threatened. Some of the guys might say something to the girls, but we’re not going to bother nobody.”

MARQUETTE’S JESUIT NEIGHBOR
by Stephanie Beecher
stephanie.beecher@mu.edu

The Milwaukee Rescue Mission, at 830 N. 19th Street, is the largest homeless organization in Milwau­kee. The building nearly takes up an entire city block, with separate wings for men, women and their children. Marquette’s O’Donnell hall faces the shelter’s Southside, but the two worlds sitting on Nine­teenth Street couldn’t be more different. Where the two institutions find similarity, however, is through the Jesuit tradition.

The Milwaukee Rescue Mission is a faith-based nonprofit working to restore the lives of the poor and displaced. Funded entirely by donors, more than 300 people sleep in its dorms on any given night. But, the center is much more than a homeless shelter, it is also an inner-city school, resource center and church. Their mission is clear: “transform lives through the love of Jesus Christ.”

The Milwaukee Rescue Mission was created by a group of Christian businessmen in 1893. Back then the center only served alcoholic and homeless men. Today, the center operates out of the old Wells Middle School building, which once also operated as “normal” school, educat­ing college professors who taught around the city. It has also expanded its services to include a Christian elementary school, Crosstrainers Academy (K-5th grade), and a women and children’s sector. The or­ganization employs more than 100 full and part-time staff members, and relies on nearly 900 volunteers for extra support. Several of their volunteers are Marquette students.

Ben Parmon is the assistant volunteer coordinator. He said while the center offers emergency services, such as shelter and food, the center’s goal is to help residents reach sustainable stability. To reach this goal, the center offers residents long-term and transitional living programs – LifeSkills and the FOCUS programs for men; New Life and the Fresh Start programs for women. Each program provides individu­als with shelter and food, but also services like debt repayment, budgeting, job search skills and ministry. When participating in one of the transitional programs, FOCUS or Fresh Start, residents receive their own rooms. By agreeing to the terms of the program a profession of faith is required. While this may seem unfair or controversial, the center’s staff believes it is necessary.

“Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life,” Parmon said. “While there are physical needs, we feel such a need to share the spiritual side. These people can’t make a permanent change without a personal relationship with God.”

While a profession of faith isn’t required to receive services like shelter or clothing, participation in Christian-oriented activities is. In order to receive meals, for instance, men must attend a church service. A chapel is located within the center.

“Chapel service is daily for men before lunch and dinner,” said Courtney Wiher, the facility’s grant writer. “Mothers with children have chapel and worship together weekly, and are encouraged Sundays to find a church outside of the facility.”

SUSTAINABLE STABILITY

Parmon explains that all of the residents are encouraged to find resources outside of Milwaukee Rescue Mission to deter any long-term dependence on the organization. “We really want to help them become independent in the long run,” Parmon said of the residents.

As simple as that may sound, Parmon said independence is a difficult trait to teach. Many of the residents are dealing with severe physical and emotional issues such as drug and alcohol addiction, broken or non-existent familial bonds, domestic violence and poverty. The shelter’s counselors, ministers, mentors and case managers work tenaciously to address these problems, Parmon said.

On a tour, Parmon shows off the facility’s many wings. The center is very clean and spacious. Although, residents mill about in the corridors or in recreational areas, The Warrior was not permitted to speak or photograph them. Parmon said this is to ensure the resident’s privacy. Colorful murals and inspirational quotes fill several of the center’s walls, and the rooms are all furnished with matching furniture. Nearly all the furniture is donated, Parmon said.

“We’re blessed,” he said. “We really try not to buy anything, unless we really, really have to.” This includes all of the resident’s clothing, toiletries, food and supplies, he said.

In Joy House, the women’s side of the facility, mothers begin their stay with a two-week instructional program. The classes teach parenting skills, nutrition, job search skills and Christian values. While mothers are learning the children are brought to a vibrant, childcare center, complete with games, books, arts and crafts supplies and toys. Parmon said it is important to make children feel safe and secure while they endure the pains of homelessness. Childcare volunteers are required to stay for months at a time, in order to ensure some sense of stability for the children, he said.

The women’s classes can last up to eight tedious hours a day, but the center feels this step is crucial for success.

“A lot of these women don’t even have a productive paradigm,” he said while showing off the women’s library. “They don’t have self-respect, or know how to discipline their children without hurting them.” According to Wiher, more than 40 percent of the women at the Milwaukee Rescue Mission have fled an abusive situation.

The women come to the sun-lit library to read or to search for jobs. Above the library’s entrance a woodcarving reads: “The Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins With One Step,” fitting encouragement for overwhelmed mothers. The inscription was discovered a few years ago when, after renovators tore down old dry wall, the quote and row upon row of wall bookshelves were revealed.

NOT THE HILTON

In the bedrooms, four beds and dressers sit against pale blue walls. The bedroom is empty, but Parmon said when the women and children are in for the night, it can get “intense.” Every resident is allowed to bring their belongings, which, along with bustling families, can create chaos. The women and children share a bathroom with other families.

“We always tell people ‘This is not the Hilton,’” Parmon joked.

In Safe Harbor, the men’s division, the rooms are filled with rows of bunk beds. They have a beautiful library with exposed timbers and brick and a day room, too. It is filled with games, books and computers. In an overflow room, men sit in plastic chairs. Parmon explains that the room is used for sleeping when the shelter is overcrowded.

“When you have that many people, you have to institutionalize it or it could crumble,” Parmon said.
Starting at 5:15 a.m. residents are awakened out of bed. From there, they go about their routines, eating breakfast, gathering their laundry, attending service, meeting with counselors, and searching for jobs. The residents are not allowed to be in the bedrooms during the day. Parmon said this is to ensure that they “don’t sleep all day and get out in the community.” While all residents must abide by an evening curfew, they are free to leave the shelter during the day.

When asked about those with drug addictions, Parmon notes that residents are drug tested in long-term programs. The center does their best to keep drugs and alcohol out of the facility, but Parmon points out:

“As long as the person is not harming themselves or others…” the center looks the other way. As “the hands and feet of Jesus Christ,” Parmon said the center’s staff members merely hope to reach all residents, and share the good news.

Popularity: 2% [?]

Remember peer mediation from elementary school? Yes, the group of your peers that helped you cope when the big bad bully pushed you off the slide in the tot-lot. Well, there is a peer mediator for part-time and full-time staff, administrators and faculty at Marquette University—the Ombudsman. One would walk right past Dr. Kerry Egdorf’s office on the fourth floor of Cudahy Hall, and be unable to figure out what her job was except for the telltale bowl of rocks in the middle of her conference table etched with such words as: “harmony” and “peace.” So, if Egdorf is a peer mediator, why call her an Ombudsman? “It is a Swedish word used to describe someone who served as a liaison between citizens and the government,” said Egdorf.

Although one would think all faculty members agree on most things, Egdorf is there for the bumps in the road. “I am available to part and full-time staff, administrators, and faculty to listen to their concerns, and help them solve problems they might have with procedure or a colleague,” said Egdorf.

With a Ph.D in Communication Studies, Egdorf, who was once a professor on a tenure track at Marquette from 1997-2001, describes her role more like a “conflict coach” than peer mediator. She has a graduate certificate in dispute resolution and maintains a position as an adjunct assistant professor in the College of Communication and the College of Professional Studies. She believes that these roles allow her to both bind and detach when necessary, which is crucial to her job.

“ I see myself as, and want to maintain the role of, familiar outsider. I know how the university works, and can maintain an independent seperateness from the majority of what the university does. I can remain impartial to conflict between staff and administrators or faculty and staff or any other combination,” said Egdorf.

If the idea that those who educate and advise us sometimes have disputes with one another is foreign, that is the way it should be. Confidentiality is a major part of the role of Ombudsman and Egdorf does not keep record of who comes and goes in her office. Egdorf admits that her job is mostly listening and people often leave differently than when they arrived.

“Sometimes people feel better having a confidential resource where they can vent. After that they may or may not do anything about the conflict, “ said Egdorf.

Those who come into her office know that it is informal, a place to talk and generate possible solutions to conflicts and concerns. Egdorf redirects those looking to file formal grievances to the Human Resources Department, and stresses that the Office of the Ombudsman is just one of the places on campus where employees have a voice. “ One is Human Resources, and another is the Employee Assistance Program, which is a resource for all employees who have stress or workplace problems, “ said Egdorf.

Dr. Egdorf also emphasizes that her job is not to implement change, or take sides in a conflict or dispute. “ If I do any intervention it is known that I do not have any authority to change policy or processes,” said Egdorf. “My job is to get the conversation started and help keep it going if it stalls.”

Popularity: 1% [?]

There is no question; Saturday’s loss to Notre Dame was hard to watch. When I think about the final fifteen seconds of regulation that loss becomes even more heart wrenching; Buzz why did we not just foul any of their players and take a one-point lead with the ball?

I am sure he had his reasons and after the job he’s done this year it is hard to question a call he made, but as the potentially last game I am going to see at home for quite awhile I need to blame someone. The loss on Senior Night was probably the hardest for Hayward, Cubillan and Acker, guys who have poured their heart and soul into this team over the past four years. But I know for me, each of these guys have been crucial elements to my continued obsession of basketball over my past four years at Marquette.

It is not even that Marquette lost, but that once again that we had to go through a fourth overtime in five games with fingers crossed, and this time our luck ran out. It is made all the worse by the fact that it ran out against the Fighting Irish of all teams. I am being completely honest when I say I would rather have lost to Depaul again then to Notre Dame. But the one good thing about Saturday’s loss was that in the long run it meant about as little as it could.

Yeah, the Golden Eagles could have picked up some ground in the eyes of the national public, but that is about as far as the damage went. Saturday was more about what was not gained instead of what was lost. With that being the last regular season game we kept our vital fifth seed in the Big East and even with a win the Golden Eagles could not have gotten the coveted double-bye.

We are still considered locks for the Big Dance and with Selection Sunday coming up this weekend it does not look like we are in any danger of losing that lock status. Heck, as long as Marquette can pull off at least one victory in the Big East tournament it probably did not even change where the Selection Committee is going to seed us. Aside from the wounded pride, this was a game that is not going to come back and haunt Marquette.

Right now most analysts have MU somewhere between a ten and a seven seed. A spot we have been in that spot for the past couple weeks, so unless we make a fairly deep run in New York that range should be expected come Sunday. That being said, Marquette has a strong chance to reach the semi-finals if not further in the Big East Tournament.

The Golden Eagles are playing either St. John’s or UConn for their first game Wednesday at 1 CST (do not forget to set an alarm). I think the Huskies are going get past St. John’s but either team can pull off the win and both are going to provide some stiff competition for Marquette. UConn is an especially difficult case because their inconsistent play means that any given game they can beat the best teams in the Big East (just ask West Virginia). However, either way I think Marquette can get past both teams because we have already both teams once this year on the road.

That would mean that the Golden Eagles would then match up with a struggling Villanova team. I know the Wildcats have not played their best ball lately, but I think this is going to be a battle to the wire because in case you have not seen any game the past four years: Scottie Reynolds is ALWAYS on fire when he plays Marquette. I do not expect this game to be anything different, so if we want to win Reynolds has to be shut down.

Provided we get past the first two rounds, Marquette would have to presumably match up against a stacked Syracuse team. I realize Syracuse was just beaten by Louisville for a second time, but this team has no holes and is my pick to win not just the Big East tournament, but the Big Dance as well. That combined with the prospect of Hayward, Butler and Johnson-Odom having to play a 30+ minute game three days in a row is not promising. Even if we lose this game, you can be rest assured it will be close because Marquette loves the nail biters.

If we can win two games in the Big East Tournament and keep it close in the semi-finals, a 6 seed is not out of the question. This would give Marquette a strong chance to win at least one game in the NCAA Tournament. Regardless of our seeding come Sunday, if you like MU basketball your thirst will hopefully be quenched for the rest of the week.

by Joe Beres
anthony.beres@mu.edu

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Last Monday’s game against Cincinnati was another ‘Marquette style game.’ Following Marquette women’s basketball is always exciting because it always has that unpredictable ending. The best minutes of the game are always the last five minutes of the game. This was another one of those games.

On Senior night, the last home game of the season, senior Lauren Thomas-Johnson played superbly. With a total of 17 points, including scoring 10 of her 12 points in OT, it was nearly a perfect game. Senior Janelle Harris racked up six points as well, which helped the team come out of a five game losing streak dating back to a February 13 loss to Providence at home.

The game started out close, with the Cincinnati Bearcats leading 12-5 early. The score would remaine close all the way up to half time; Marquette went into the locker room at the end of the half with a 32-28 lead over the Bearcats. During the first half, Jessica Pachko had some great baskets as well, scoring 4 points for Marquette under the basket, and hitting Paige Fiedorowicz for two back-to-back buckets. Fiedorowicz then went on to make two more shots, giving her a total of eleven points before the end of the first half.

In the second half, Tatiyiana McMorris showed off a little with a three pack of beautiful 3’s, netting Marquette 9 crucial points. Pachko returned and put some solid baskets in, putting up a couple baskets in the second half, including her first-ever three-pointer. Scores of both Cinncinati and Marquette in the second half were neck-and-neck, until McMorris and Pachko put Marquette up 57-51, with 4:05 left to play. Then, with 4.5 seconds left, Cincinnati’s Shareese Ulis made a lay-up, tying the score at 57-57.

With five minutes to get the job done in overtime, Marquette got to work early with Thomas-Johnson scoring ten points, and had some help from McMorris, as well as Fiedorowicz who was able to chip in two. Cinncinati, for their part, keep it close with a jump shot by Ulis and two free throws by Kahla Roudebush, but ultimately it was not enough. Thomas-Johnson’s last shot brought the final score to 69-63.

All in all, the game was as exciting as it gets. As Lauren Thomas-Johnson said in her comments after the game, “This game we just smiled…it was a fun game…we basically just had fun.” With a win and an attitude like this, the women’s basketball team was able to carry their momentum for another win at Villanova before tripping up Depaul in a ten point loss.

by Joanna Parkes
joanna.parkes@mu.edu

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Many argue that ROTC may have a legal right to be on campus, but morally it doesn’t deserve place. but that it does not so on a moral ground. This argument is based on the premise that the teaching of war and values contrary to the Catholic faith and the Gospel.

It is true that war is against the teachings of the Catholic Church, but only in the case of unjust war. St. Thomas Aquinas, one of the greatest theologians and doctors of the Church, addresses this issue in the Summa Theologica. In Part II, Question 40, he says that in order for a war to be moral “a just cause is required, namely that those who are attacked, should be attacked because they deserve it on account of some fault”. In other words, if nation A attacks nation B, nation B may rightfully strike back at nation A. St. Thomas also cites Romans 13:4, saying that the nation that attacks out of self defense “beareth not the sword in vain: for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil”. Clearly, it is not against the teaching of the Catholic Church to wage a just war.

In order to carry out a just war, a military is needed, which in turn requires soldiers. Any Catholic would hope that these soldiers would be trained under the guidance of the Catholic Church, so that they may be led to make morally sound decisions in war. It is not contrary to Catholic teaching to train soldiers for this purpose. Therefore, ROTC does, morally speaking, have a rightful place here at Marquette.

While this justifies the presence of ROTC at Marquette in light of just wars, this argument does not justify, however, the presence of ROTC at Marquette in light of unjust wars, which, unfortunately, are all too common. So what is one to do if he is called to fight a war that is deemed unjust by the Catholic Church? And how can we justify training soldiers to fight these unjust wars at a Catholic University? To answer these questions, I quote the gospel of St. Mark, which says to “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s” (Mark 12:17). The meaning here is that Catholics have a twofold duty in life: to God and to country. Catholics who do wish to serve their nation by joining the military, although there are many other ways to serve one’s country, do so because they recognize the need for soldiers to fight just wars in order to preserve and protect the ground you walk on. In doing so, they pledge, out of the humility that the Catholic Church so strongly instills in its faithful, to do the will of their country, whatever it may be. As citizens, all should vote for the candidates who will keep us out of unjust wars, but that is not always going to be the case. A soldier cannot pick and choose his battles; as such would be detrimental to the cohesion of the armed forces. Just as it is not our choice to decide what God asks of us, so it is not our choice to decide what our nation asks of us.

Finally, the classes that the ROTC students receive do not teach them to kill blindly, and “without conscience”. They simply give our nation’s future officers some of the tools they will need to carry out the wars this nation sends them to fight. How they choose to employ those tools is based entirely on their moral compasses, which are formed through their education.

To say that ROTC does not have a rightful place here at Marquette because it supports war, or because the ROTC classes teach future military officers to kill without conscience is clearly an uneducated opinion.

by John Schelstrate
john.schelstrate@mu.edu

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