The Marquette Tribune
Opinions
Tuesday, March 22, 2022
PAGE 10
Editorial Board
Alexandra Garner, Executive Opinions Editor Hope Moses, Assistant Opinions Editor Aimee Galaszewski, Executive Director Benjamin Wells, Managing Editor of The Marquette Tribune Skyler Chun, Managing Editor of The Marquette Journal
Megan Woolard, News Executive John Leuzzi, Sports Executive Randi Haseman, A&E Executive Lelah Byron, Projects Editor
Eleanor McCaughey, Copy Chief Grace Pionek, Design Chief Izzy Bonebrake, Executive Photo Editor Nancy Flaherty, Social Media Executive
Andrew Amouzou, Station Manager of MUTV Reese Seberg, Station Manager of MURadio Alex Rivera Grant, Editor of Diversity and Inclusion
STAFF EDITORIAL
Invest in campus spaces now, maintain for future
The type of college experience students have at Marquette University can largely be dependent on the type of access they have to different spaces on campus. And sometimes, students may find that access is not equitable. Recently, the university has announced several future campus development plans. In his 2022 presidential address, University President Michael Lovell shared plans to transform the Helfaer Tennis Stadium and Recreation Center into a Wellness and Recreation Facility. Additionally, the new Business Administration building, which will occupy the space where McCormick Hall previously stood, is set to be completed in December 2022. Lovell also announced Feb. 26 that alum Marcus Lemonis donated $15 million to create the Lemonis Center for
Laura Niezgoda National leadership has lost its definition to years of political unrest in modern American society, but there is a chance that we can learn from Ukrainian President Voldomyr Zelenskyy what the true definition of leadership is in our world today. We shouldn’t need a war to teach us what true leadership is, but unfortunately, that is what it has come to. Former comedian Zelenskyy was elected to the Ukrainian presidency in 2019 due to his role in “Servant of the People,” a slapstick comedy about a history teacher who is then accidentally elected to the presidency. Zelenskyy stated in his campaign that he would end the conflict in Donbas and make peace with Russia. With no former political experience other than his role on television, Ukraine’s leader has
Student Success. While these developments will support future students, Marquette should make efforts to increase the accessibility of academic buildings and the livability of residence halls that students are currently using on campus. Many academic buildings are marked on the Campus Master Plan as being between the “evaluation” stage and the “major repair” stage, such as Cramer Hall, Straz Hall and the Wehr Sciences buildings. Many students, faculty and staff who utilize these buildings may like the diversity across their exterior architecture but want to have updated features inside. If the university intends to keep these buildings, investing in projects to improve accessibility is important. This can entail
assessing the number of accessible stairways and elevators, bathrooms and automatic doors. Last May, the university announced it would be adding light and HVAC improvements to Lalumiere Hall, which has been marked as needing “major repair” since Marquette adopted its Campus Master Plan in 2015. Marquette should pursue more projects like this in the near future. Marquette community members who use these buildings shouldn’t feel that their learning or teaching experience is vastly different from their counterparts in newer buildings like Engineering Hall or the soon-to-be business building. Additionally, the living experience of students may look drastically different depending on where they live. Several residence halls don’t have air conditioning, like Carpenter Tower and
Schroeder Hall, and many don’t have working automatic doors, ramps or accessible private bathrooms. Although many of these buildings were built before the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act was passed, which required public and private spaces to provide accessible means and accommodations to people with disabilities, Marquette should take its own action to update these spaces. Current residence halls and academic buildings need to be invested in. Students are paying a lot for their college experience at Marquette, and the campus environment should reflect their investments. Marquette should look at The Commons’ livability and accessibility to update other living spaces. This is especially important considering the Gilman Building, which the university owns, is
labeled as needing “major repair” and Humphrey Hall, Mashuda Hall and Carpenter Tower are orange in between “evaluation” and “major repair” on the Campus Master Plan. While the university should seek out donors who can fund these projects, alumni also have a responsibility to invest back into these buildings, and reflect on their time at Marquette. Although pursuing new building projects will benefit future students, investing in the infrastructure we have now can help current Marquette students, faculty and staff. Current students’ voices should not be lost or ignored. The experience students have at Marquette should be diverse, but the spaces they occupy should create equitable experiences.
proved to be an inspiring leader to Ukraine’s citizens who are in desperate need of hope. The Russia-Ukraine war will be a defining moment in our history, seeing that Russian President Vladimir Putin has committed war atrocities against Ukrainians. Since invading, Russia has destroyed Ukrainian cities and attacked military and unarmed civilians, including children. Photos and videos depicting buildings in ruins, rubble covering streets and kindergarten classrooms destroyed show the state of Ukraine due to Russian military weapons. Although the death toll is hard to track right now, the Kyiv Independent reports 847 civilians killed, 64 of them children, as of March 19. The United Nations has stated that the actual numbers are likely to be much higher, as it is challenging to verify information in intense and hostile situations. The fight in Ukraine is regarding the neutrality of Ukraine since there has been discussion
revolving around Ukraine joining NATO. This conflict has roots in the fall of the Soviet Union in the 1990s when Ukraine declared its independence from the Soviet Union in 1990. In 2014, Russia, under the leadership of Putin, annexed Crimea from Ukraine beginning the modern-day conflicts. Fighting that still continues to this day broke out in Donbas. In 2016 to 2017, Russian hackers launched exploitative cyberattacks on Ukraine which froze banks and the country’s electrical grid. The United States offered Zelenskyy to evacuate Ukraine and yet he stayed with the people of Ukraine, his people. In this video, he demonstrates that he is fighting on the streets and protecting their nation alongside each and every Ukrainian who believes in the freedom of their country. Leadership is a trait that not many possess, as it cannot be taught. A leader needs confidence, humility and courage. A leader
must stand with their people, not above them. A leader must demonstrate care for those they are leading, not merely leading for prestige or praise. In the shadow of global leaders like Putin, United States President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Zelenskyy is the exemplar leader that we, as the people, should look for in a leader. Courage. In a March 2 address, Zelenskyy stands not behind the podium, but sits aside it and speaks to his people. Without this physical barrier of the podium and the theoretical boundary of power, Zelenskyy stands as one with the people as they look to him for hope and guidance. Humility. Zelenskyy addressed Congress March 16 and delivered a remarkable speech, primarily urging the United States to order a no-fly zone over Ukraine. He urged Congress to remember the trauma their country went through
during events such as Pearl Harbor and 9/11. He thanked the United States government for their help thus far but asked them to do more to help the citizens of Ukraine. Zelenskyy asked one of the most influential world powers to do more. In helping Ukraine, he asked the United States to go against Russia, another world power with an arsenal of missiles that Putin has already threatened to use. Confidence. The leadership Zelenskyy has displayed is awe-inspiring, but it should not have taken a war for people to realize what a country needs in a leader. Biden knows the gravity of this invasion, as he has called Putin a “war criminal.” A strong leader would take initiative, as Zelenskyy has, to fight for people who are being killed due to unethical Russian leadership.
Zelenskyy embodies true leadership
Laura Niezgoda is a sophomore studying communication studies and criminology and law studies. She can be reached at laura.niezgoda@marquette.edu
