15 minute read
OPINIONS
Tuesday, March 22, 2022
The MarqueTTe Tribune OpiniOns
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Aimee Galaszewski, Executive Director Benjamin Wells, Managing Editor of The Marquette Tribune Skyler Chun, Managing Editor of The Marquette Journal
ediTorial board
Alexandra Garner, Executive Opinions Editor Hope Moses, Assistant Opinions Editor
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 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
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 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.
Zelenskyy embodies true leadership
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.
Laura Niezgoda is a sophomore studying communication studies and criminology and law studies. She can be reached at
laura.niezgoda@marquette.edu
Grace Cady
Although we may seem to take one step forward in society everyday, we are met with laws that push us three steps backward. As a country, there is still a lot of room for growth.
In late February, the Florida House of Representatives passed legislation titled Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Bill – by opponents, it is widely referred to as the “Don’t Say Gay” bill. If adopted, the bill would prohibit “classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity” in Florida’s primary schools. Florida Governor (Rep.) Ron DeSantis has also expressed explicit support for the bill.
There are several issues with the bill – one of the most significant being how vague it is.
From a legal enforcement standpoint, the bill has a lot of holes. One section of the bill states, “...classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity may not occur in kindergarten through grade 3 or in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students in accordance with state standards.”
The main issue with this is that the bill does not go on to define what can be classified as “classroom instruction” or “developmentally appropriate.”
There is also a lot of gray area in the bill. For Florida teachers, the bill presents an issue because it limits their instruction capacity and freedom. If students have a woman as a teacher and she is married to another woman and references this in class, that could arguably be an issue according to the bill. In another instance, if a teacher presents their class with reading or viewing material that includes non-heterosexual relationships, this could also violate the parameters of the bill.
There are so many unanswered questions and undefined terms in the bill that can lead to serious issues. A lawsuit being filed against a school, if suspected of violating the bill, could potentially be costly. The bill relies on private lawsuits for enforcement, which means ultimately it’s up to the parents to present violation accusations. If those parents prevail in court, they can win “money damages” and this will hurt the school’s funding.
Another issue with the bill is that it is fundamentally a form of government overreach. Many Republican lawmakers have given their support for the bill, despite the fact that it contradicts alleged Republican values of limited government methodologies Although, this is not an entirely new concept. Despite preaching pro-limited government values, Republican lawmakers continue to push for restrictive legislation such as abortion laws.
Above all, the bill presents a persistent issue in America: There are still many people who only feel comfortable with heteronormative values. If people are not in heterosexual relationships and conform to gender norms, many people consider them to be “different.” Whether it be in movies, books or everyday conversation, it seems as though we are living in a country divided; some people are open to discussing gender and sexual identity and some people are resistant to normalizing different gender and sexual identities – but they have always existed, just not in a mainstream manner as they do now.
With strides being made for the LGBTQ+ community including the legalization of gay marriage, expansion of adoption rights and workplace protection, the Florida education system needs to catch up. If they don’t, America will continue to have people who are uncomfortable with the discussion of sexuality, identity and relationships of all kinds.
Much of the bill is left up for interpretation, which is something there shouldn’t be room for in the law. The bill also creates a harmful environment for students and teachers alike when they are limited in their conversations. Discussing hypersexual or inappropriate material in a classroom of young children is commonly recognized as being unacceptable, but to create an overarching idea that gender and sexual identity cannot be discussed at all is alarming.
It is time to eliminate the stigma surrounding nonheteronormative values; Children should be taught that there is room and love for everybody regardless of their gender or sexual identity.
Grace Cady is a sophomore studying journalism. She can be be reached at grace.cady@mar-
quette.edu
Rides, conversations: two things that should be shared
RJ Siano
Well, here you are again. In the back of an ’07 Corolla, uncomfortably packed into a musty seat and on your way to wherever you may find yourself in the nightlife of Milwaukee, or maybe even on your trek home after a long night.
You’ve confirmed to the driver that “Yes! That’s me,” and “Yep, that’s where we’re headed.” Despite the pleasantries, there remains an air of awkwardness in the cabin settled in between the sirens in the distance and the low vibrations of FM radio from the speakers around you.
Well, guess what? You’re not the only one feeling awkward. There is a person who’s more exhausted and dreading another awkward ride down Wisconsin Avenue, and they’re in the driver’s seat. If you ever find yourself complaining about a silent, awkward ride, just remember that the driver about eight inches from your cramped legs has been doing this for hours.
It’s easy to settle into the awkwardness. You can go on your phone — they don’t (or if they do, you could be in for quite an interesting ride but not in a fun way). You can easily hold a conversation between you and your friends, and ignore the fact that there is a living, breathing and tired human sitting in the same dimly lit airspace as you.
I’ve done it, and I’m sure you have too.
The best rides of my life, however, happened when I engaged with the driver. I’ve learned that it doesn’t take much to turn a whirring of wheels on pavement into a joyful 10 minutes filled with laughs and stories.
The two phrases that proceeded the best ride-hail experiences of my life were “how’s your night going?” and “how long have you been driving?” — and I can promise you the ensuing conversation was more vibrant than that.
On the way to a Chicago Bulls game over fall break, my friends and I crawled into the seats of a dingy blue minivan, filling into the cabin like a game of sweaty human Tetris. We were in a new city and living a ‘we’re-notin-Kansas-anymore’ moment, all of us hailing from various cities across the Midwest and Northeast (none of them being Chicago or Milwaukee).
Figuring we could use some advice from a local, we began to ask the driver about his time in Chicago. Our driver, however, was not from the city at all. As a matter of fact, he had been a teacher in the Middle East for about a decade before moving to Chicago. He didn’t just teach, either. He lived in a beautiful waterside condo where he would go and spearfish — wetsuit, harpoon and all — during lunch hour while teaching online school. We nodded along in amazement as he both reminisced and even pulled up a few pictures (safely... somewhat) to show us.
He returned our politeness after that and asked about us — where we were from, why we were here — although our answers were quite bland following up his own. However, we were rewarded for our kindness. When he found out we were en route to the United Center for a game that began in 15 minutes, he put pedal to the metal for his now-companions. We assured him that being late was not an issue, giving glances to each other that said, “getting there alive would be nice” after he started to aggressively weave along the crowded highway.
Nevertheless, he showed us more gorgeous underwater photos from his old home as he continued to use lanes that were evidently not for driving in as he flew through downtown Chicago doing his best Dom Toretto impression. And I say Dom Toretto, because our ride’s end had the same conclusion as every “Fast and Furious” film, we felt like family.
During that ride we laughed, learned about each other and even exchanged a few
winces in response to the orchestra of horns blaring at us that were dismissed by our driver, or maybe he was just having too much fun to notice.
As a part-time retail worker, I feel for ride-hail drivers. The best parts of my day at work were always when a customer took the time and courtesy to treat me like a little bit more than an item search device with a mop of dirty blonde hair and a pair of legs. It gets pretty stale out there, so when you’re bored, they’re bored too.
And sure, there are those who are introverted, both passengers and drivers, and it’s pretty easy to read the situation when that’s the case. There’s nothing wrong with a silent ride, but from experience, I can confirm that the best ones are the ones that get maybe a little too rowdy.
Whether it’s spearfishing stories, career advice or a much-needed venting session about their daughter’s new fiance, most ride-hail drivers have something they’d love to share with you if you care to ask.
So, I strongly suggest that you do. You’ll almost always make someone else’s day, and maybe even arrive to your next location with a heck of a story in your back pocket.
RJ Siano is a first-year student studying advertising. He can be be reached at ryan.siano@marquette.
edu
Statement of Opinion Policy
The opinions expressed on the Opinions page reflect the opinions of the Opinions staff. The editorials do not represent the opinions of Marquette University nor its administrators, but those of the editorial board.
The Marquette Tribune prints guest submissions at its discretion. The Tribune strives to give all sides of an issue an equal voice over the course of a reasonable time period. An author’s contribution will not be published more than once in a four-week period. Submissions with obvious relevance to the Marquette community will be given priority consideration.
Full Opinions submissions should be limited to 500 words. Letters to the editor should be between 150 to 250 words. The Tribune reserves the right to edit submissions for length and content.
Please e-mail submissions to: alexandra.garner@marquette.edu. If you are a current student, include the college in which you are enrolled and your year in school. If not, please note any affliations to Marquette or your current city of residence.
