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Community continues to protest Outdoor sit-in focuses on administration transparency, working conditions, among other topics By Benjamin Wells
benjamin.wells@marquette.edu
Not even the wind of a cold April afternoon could stop the continuing protests and sit-ins that the Marquette Academic Workers Union has held over the school year, as the organization most recently held a sit-in Monday. On the lawn outside of Jesuit Residence, members of the Marquette community adorned signs that read “No one gets fired” and “Marquette is not a business.” These slogans have become prominent in the continuing protests across the year ever since the university announced budget cuts that have lead to 39 staff members being laid off and not renewing the contracts of a “single-digit percentage” of nontenure-track faculty. “Well, the Jesuits are an apostolate of the Catholic Church, and the Catholic Social Teachings are very clear that workers are entitled to a living wage and they’re also entitled to organize to attain living wages and benefits,” Stephen Beal, associate professor of classics, said. “We’re hoping that the Jesuits will assert their moral authority on campus. ... Our message is for
Photo by Isabel Bonebrake isabel.bonebrake@marquette.edu
them today.” Beal said members of the Marquette community have been trying to have a “real” conversation with administration, but felt at the same time as though they haven’t been acknowledged or taken seriously. “I think we can say that one of the things that brings us all together is a concern about the direction the university is taking,” Peter Staudenmaier, associate professor of history, said. Staudenmaier has been present at multiple protests this semester that have been urging the Lovell administration to be more transparent about a $12 million budget surplus as well as $23 million more in additional COVID-19-related financial aid. Among general transparency about the university’s funding, the protests were calling upon the Jesuit community to heal a “fractured” Marquette community, according to a flyer with a list of demands that were handed out at the sit-in. These demands included ensuring that Marquette commits to its students and faculty of color by funding scholarships promised to the Black See PROTEST page 2A
Members of the Marquette community staged an outdoor sit-in protesting specific university actions.
Professor John McAdams dies at age 75 Scholar specialized in John F. Kennedy assassination By Claire Driscol
claire.driscol@marquette.edu
Associate professor of political science John McAdams died last Thursday, April 15 after teaching at Marquette for nearly 45 years. He was 75.
McAdams was a “globally recognized scholar” on the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, and authored the 2011 book titled “JFK Assassination Logic: How to Think about Claims of Conspiracy” and the 2015 book titled “The New Class in Post Industrial Society.” Prior to McAdams’ time at Marquette, he built up his credentials at three universities. INDEX
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A native of Alabama, McAdams began his studies at the University of Alabama in 1964, where he later received his bachelor’s in sociology, according to his curriculum vitae. McAdams then went on to Columbia University in 1970 where he received a master’s in social studies education, and then later received his doctorate in political science at Harvard University in 1981. WATCHDOG
While at Marquette, McAdams taught classes surrounding American politics, public opinion and voter behavior. A popular course of McAdams’ was “The Logic of Social Inquiry: The Kennedy Assassination,” a class where students got to examine who killed John F. Kennedy through evaluating competing theories. Due to COVID-19, this year the class was taught in a
See MCADAMS page 2A
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fully virtual format. “I looked forward to logging onto his class every single day to listen to him speak about the Kennedy assassination,” Nina Winkler, a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences who took his class, said.“There was never a day that went by where he wasn’t equally as excited to teach his
Be the change PAGE 10A
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News
The Marquette Tribune
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
PROTEST: Concerns about university direction Continued from page 1A
Student Council, re-engage with full funding, toward the university’s progress toward becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution, changing the Marquette seal and encouraging the university to follow the Jesuit “just employment policy.” So far, the university has made progress on becoming a Hispanic Serving Institution by increasing Hispanic undergraduate enrollment and has had active conversations in trying to change the university seal. The “just employment policy” was developed by the Kalmanovitz Initiative for Labor and the Working Poor. In this context, it ensures that Marquette’s unionized janitorial and food staff have “unobstructed” negotiations with the university, establish meaningful shared governance and a commitment to labor neutrality with Marquette graduate works and nontenure-track faculty, according to the flyer. “We feel that ... people matter more than property,” Staudenmaier said. “The current university leadership, I worry, has forgotten that point.” Since these protests began in August as protests for safer working conditions, Staudenmaier said the process from its inception has been “inspiring” working with many people, some of who he never knew before. “It’s been challenging, many of us feel like we’ve been heard very well,” Staudenmaier said. “But the inspiring part is bringing part very different parts of the university.” One of the effects of cutting staff members and faculty is that it can lead to increased class sizes, something that members of MAWU in
the past said can affect education in a negative way. When class sizes increase, teachers in return have less time to spend with individuals students Chris Crowley, a junior in the College Arts & Sciences, said that he has had positive experiences with “all” his professors at Marquette. He also was present at the sit-in. “I feel like ... maybe laying off people isn’t the right idea right now,” Crowley said. “It’s hard financially for everyone right now, people are getting cut ... probably not the best move.” The Marquette Wire reached out to the Office for Marketing and Communication for a comment on the matter but the university was unable to provide a statement.
Photos by Isabel Bonebrake isabel.bonebrake@marquette.edu
People sit out in the April cold for several hours protesting and holding signs condemning university actions such as this semester’s layoffs.
MCADAMS: Classes discussed public policy Continued from page 1A students as we were to learn.” Winkler said McAdams was a cornerstone to her Marquette education. “He was a worldly man, who had accomplished and seen more than most will ever,” Winkler said. “McAdams gave every student the opportunity to expand their thinking and remain in question of information presented, allowing each the chance to form an opinion for themselves.” McAdams also authored the website “The Kennedy Assassination” and “Marquette Warrior,” a blog that later got McAdams suspended with pay and banned from Marquette due to a controversial post in which he criticized a teaching assistant by name for a disagreement
she had with a student about gay marriage. McAdams later sued the university in 2016, won the case in 2018 and returned to the university in 2019 following a sabbatical in the fall of 2018. However, Gabe Fernandez, a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences, said he appreciated McAdams’ ability to never exclude students for the opinions they held. “He didn’t make students feel dumb or excluded for any opinions they had,” Fernandez said. “He was such a professional guy, Marquette Wire Stock Photo it was awful to hear the news.” John McAdams was considered a scholar on the John F. Kennedy assassination, writing a book on the topic. Looking forward, Winkler said McAdams will be deeply missed. after his long teaching tenure. family, friends, colleagues and “I will miss his insight, laugh able to learn from him.” “The Marquette community students,” Conway said. and knowledge,” Winkler said. University spokesperson Kevin “But have nothing but the utmost Conway said that the university extends its deepest sympathies appreciation for the time I was mourns the loss of McAdams and prayers to Dr. McAdams’
News
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
The Marquette Tribune
Academic Senate discusses enrollment Provost Kimo Ah Yun said applications are up from last year By Claire Driscol
claire.driscol@marquette.edu
The university hosted an Academic Senate meeting Monday which mainly discussed motions brought by the University Board of Graduate and Undergraduate Studies, student success initiatives and provost reports. The meeting began with Sumana Chattopadhyay, chair of the university’s Academic Senate and associate professor of digital media and performing arts/media studies, who discussed feedback and surveys from shared governance discussions that took place March 22. “One general thing I got from these sessions was how much faculty care about the institution,” Chattopadhyay said. “Everyone is thinking about the welfare of Marquette.” In evaluating this feedback, Chattopadhyay said there should be further consideration in issues regarding senators on a committee that represent everyone’s interests.
She said this is a “daunting” role and the committee should work on creating clearer guidelines for people in these positions in next year’s academic senate. A proposal Chattopadhyay mentioned that would improve shared governance would be an “orientation for senators” to get a clearer expectation for individuals in these roles. Provost Kimo Ah Yun discussed undergraduate and graduate enrollment. For undergraduate enrollment, Marquette is up 4% in applications and up around 11% in admissions, however, it is down 8.3% in deposits from last year. The target amount of deposits for next year is 1,770. Marquette currently has 1,043. However, Ah Yun said diversity is “tracking well” in regard to these deposits, as the Black student population of deposits are up around 26% over last year. Ah Yun said this has to do with the intentional efforts to increase the number of full scholarships for Black students. Hispanic student deposits are also up around 11% from last year. For graduate enrollment, admissions are up 13%, and new students that have declared they will
be attending next year are up 51% from last year. “These are strong indicators that graduate enrollment will continue to grow,” Ah Yun said. According to an April 1 press release, many of Marquette’s graduate programs, which include those in business, nursing, engineering and law, have moved up in U.S. News and World Report rankings. Ah Yun also said the university will be doing an in-person commencement event May 23, however the details on the ceremony have yet to be ironed out. Vice Provost for Academic Affairs John Su and associate professor of nursing Karen Robinson then discussed student success initiatives. Robinson said the reasons students leave the university is due to personal and academic reasons, along with a sense of belonging and campus climate. “We as faculty have multi-roles in which we serve our students,” Robinson said. “We as faculty have a huge part of the climate and sense of belonging.” Clear initiatives on how to improve student success will be discussed at a campus input meeting April 29.
“What we’re really doing next week is looking across all of the various reasons why students leave and why they stay,” Su said. “The next phase is prioritization.” The Academic Senate then discussed a variety of motions to either approve or endorse regarding undergraduate and graduate studies. A motion the committee endorsed was a revision to Marquette’s core curriculum, which would revise the fourth learning outcome known as “Collaborators Engaging Social Systems and Values” to “Collaborators Promoting Equity and Justice across Cultural Contexts,” with the addition of acknowledging class-based structures of privilege and access. According to the proposal, “the revision would be for the purpose of “promoting a new engagement of race, racism and racial justice in the MCC that better meets the demands of our current moment.” The senate also approved three new majors for undergraduate students, which include environmental science, statistical science and an interdisciplinary major in Middle East and North African studies. The next senate meeting will take place May 3.
MU makes progress to becoming HSI Initiative has gained 4.2% more students since 2016 By Vanessa Rivera
vanessa.rivera@marquette.edu
Marquette University’s Hispanic-Serving Institution initiative has gained 4.2% more undergraduate students since the fall of 2016, making this year’s student body the most diverse in Marquette’s history. The initiative has a goal to increase Latinx undergraduate
enrollment to represent 25% of the student body by the 2026-27 academic year. “Our vision is to be among the most innovative and accomplished Catholic, Jesuit universities in the world — that cannot happen unless we embrace the perspectives, cultures and knowledge of our diverse students, faculty and staff,” Provost Kimo Ah Yun wrote in an April 15 Marquette Today news release. Some efforts Marquette has made to establish itself as an HSI include an overall 15.4% increase of the Hispanic population between students, faculty and staff. Funds for the community include $33 million in financial aid for
the 2020-21 academic year and over $200,000 raised by 2020 for the Ellacuria Scholarship for undocumented students. “I am proud of you and of the progress being made through your efforts. But the work is nowhere near done,” Kimo said in the news release. “While we are in tough financial times, I have been working with the HSI Steering Committee to determine our way forward. Rest assured, the important work of attracting and supporting underrepresented students will continue.” To become an HSI, the institution must be a 2 or 4-year accredited college, have a significant enrollment proportion to
MUPD REPORTS APRIL 18 A student affiliated with Marquette damaged the door to a Marquette student’s apartment on the 900 blocks of N. 17th street. The subject agreed to pay for damages caused to the door. An unknown subject implied they had a weapon and removed an MU student victim’s prop-
erty on the 800 blocks of N. 17th street without consent. The subject fled the scene prior to MUPD’s arrival and the investigation is ongoing. APRIL 17 An unknown subject removed a non-MU subject’s property outside a business in the 2100 block of W. Wells Street. APRIL 16
be of low-income students and have Hispanics represent 25% of the full-time undergraduate student body. Becoming an HSI opens eligibility to apply for Title V funds, but is not the reason the university is pursuing this goal. The funds may be used for educational materials, improved facilities, faculty development and more, according to their diversity and inclusion website. Ah Yun said in a virtual coffee chat Sept. 29, 2020 that the HSI initiative was no longer part of the university’s strategic plan, Beyond Boundaries, though the initiative was included in a document from 2019.
The Marquette Tribune EDITORIAL Executive Director of Marquette Wire Natallie St. Onge (414) 288-1739 Managing Editor of Marquette Tribune Annie Mattea NEWS News Editor Benjamin Wells Assistant Editors Megan Woolard, Claire Driscol Reporters Natalija Mileusnic, Julia Abuzzahab, Karsyn Hartfield, Finn Askin PROJECTS Projects Editor Lelah Byron Assistant Editor Amanda Parrish Reporters Grace Dawson, Maria Crenshaw, Aspen Ramos, Beck Salgado ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Arts & Entertainment Editor Skyler Chun Assistant Editor Charlotte Ives Reporters Quinn Faeth, Ryan Lynch, Ariana Madson, Tommy Shaffer OPINIONS Executive Opinions Editor Alexandra Garner Assistant Opinions Editor Aminah Beg Columnists Jenna Koch, Hope Moses, Max Pickart, Lucia Ruffolo SPORTS Executive Sports Editor Zoe Comerford Assistant Editors Nick Galle, Molly Gretzlock Reporters Sam Arco, Bryan Geenen, Jackson Gross, Matt Yeazel, Matthew Valente, Jack Lewandowski COPY Copy Chief Eleanor Mccaughey Copy Editors Kendra Bell, Emily Reinhardt, Kimberly Cook, Bailey Striepling VISUAL CONTENT Design Chief Grace Pionek Photo Editor Zach Bukowski Sports Designer Kayla Nickerson Arts & Entertainment Designer Lily Werner Opinions Designer Mariam Ali Photographers Claire Gallagher, Joceline Helmbreck, Isabel Bonebrake, Nathan Lampres ----
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COVID-19 TRACKER A subject unaffiliated with Marquette removed merchandise from a business in the 800 blocks of N. 16th street without consent. The subject was cited by MUPD.
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Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Marquette theater hosts in-person show ‘Antigone’ debuts as outdoor, socially distanced program By Skyler Chun
skyler.chun@marquette.edu
When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit in March of last year, theater arts was one of the first programs to be postponed, and then canceled. However, one year later, Maaz Ahmed, a senior in the College of Communication, can now take a front-row seat to see his classmates and friends perform on an outdoor stage, live again. “I walked into the theater because I got here a little early, and it kind of hit me,” Ahmed said. “I was like ‘oh my god I’m about to see live theater again.’ We’re actually seeing it in person. This is happening.” This school year, Marquette University’s theater department adapted to a virtual learning and performance experience. Ahmed said it was tiring to constantly watch a computer screen or sit in the dark theater watching somebody record shows as they performed. The department has worked to put on four different shows throughout the year, but ‘Antigone’ is the first play to be performed in person with a live, socially-distanced audience throughout the month of April. The past shows throughout the 2020-2021 school year were “Songs of Note,” live-streamed from October 9 to 25 and November 23-30, “Dead Man’s Cell Phone,” streamed from November 13 to 22 and “Silent Sky,” streamed from March 12 to 21. “Antigone” is a Greek play originally by Sophocles, but the students are performing a translated version by Jean Anouilh. In the story, a young woman named Antigone, is faced with the dilemma of having to choose between her family’s honor and her own life. Stephen Hudson-Mairet, an associate professor and chair of digital media and performing arts at Marquette, said this adaptation calls for a smaller chorus, but it’s still the story of Creon and Antigone that most people will recognize. Hudson-Mairet said they had planned to open the season with “Mamma Mia” in October, but because it was difficult to socially distance for that show, they had to pivot, and changed their program to perform an original music revue, “Songs of Note,” which was streamed for viewers to see. A revue is a theater act
that combines unrelated songs, dance and monologue into one entertainment event. “(‘Mamma Mia’) was figuring out as we went. Then we got better at it and our second show in November, we streamed ‘Dead Man’s Cell Phone,’” HudsonMairet said. “By the time we got
show outside. “(Antigone) made the most sense because this is about the only time of the year that we could do an outdoor show. It’s going to be a little chilly, but I think it’s going to be totally worth it,” Hudson-Mairet said. He said this particular
other throughout this whole process, ranging from rehearsing inside at a social distance to figuring out how to build a set in the shop, and then bringing it out here.” At every performance, students carry out all the parts to their stage design, set up and then take it back down and bring everything
Photo by Joceline Helmbreck joceline.helmbreck@marquette.edu
‘Antigone’ tickets are $12 each and can be purchased online. It will be performed April 21-25 in person.
to the third show, we had everything in place, which was a full set, full costumes, full show and we streamed that.” Hudson-Mairet said they eventually decided that their cast needed an audience, and he began working with colleagues to figure out how to move the next
performance is a company model, so the students are challenged to work in a collaborative, artistic field in the space between Helfaer Theatre and Lalumiere Hall. “It’s been a really interesting year,” Hudson-Mairet said. “I’ve been really impressed by how supportive everyone is of each
back inside after the show. “(The students) have been doing a really good job of continuing the art form in a time when most theaters have shut down,” Hudson-Mairet said. “This is an opportunity for Marquette to see live theater that you can’t see anywhere else in Milwaukee.”
He said he is so proud of all of his students’ work every day. “You have to be willing to take risks to be able to do theater at all, and the risk here is that, in the middle of April, it could be snowing right now,” Hudson-Mairet said. “In fact, two years ago, there was plenty of snow on the ground, so we just had to be prepared to react.” Pia Russo, a junior in the College of Education, said she is very involved with the theater department because she hopes to be a teacher someday. “Antigone” was her first time being a stage manager. As stage manager, Russo said she makes sure everybody is where they need to be at the right time, and facilitates the communication between the director, actors and designers. “A lot happens,” Russo said. “There’s a lot of taking care of people that comes with it that I really appreciate. I like to joke that people always email me with their problems. I wake up and I have a lot of problems to solve. I have to be available, not 24/7, let’s say 20/7.” Aside from all the hard work and dedication it has taken to plan the show, Russo said she has loved working with everyone and that socially distancing in ‘Antigone’ worked really well for them. “There’s this enormous sense of space and the story is so important to ‘Antigone,’” Russo said. “It’s life or death for (Antigone), so having it be so big and having it outside, there’s this real feeling of epicness to it.” Russo said one her favorite parts of “Antigone” is the real ensemble feel because everybody has to work together to put on the show. She said all but two actors play multiple characters, and even one of those actors acts as a statue or helps to carry things on and off the stage, so everyone has their own unique role to play. “I have never felt so ready,” Russo said. “This wasn’t our first plan, but the show feels really good. … When the first person walks up and takes their seat, I know my stomach’s gonna be flipping because I haven’t even seen live theater myself.” Just like Ahmed, this is the first piece of live theater Russo is seeing in over a year. “I’m really proud that we were able to make show,” Russo said. “It doesn’t even look like a COVID show, it looks like a real show and I’m really, really excited.” “Antigone” was performed live from April 16 to 18, and will be performed again from April 21 to 25 from 6-7:25 p.m. Tickets are $12 each and can be purchased online.
News
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
The Marquette Tribune
April raises awareness for sexual assault
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Denim Day honors survivors, shows support to victims By Julia Abuzzahab
julianna.abuzzahab@marquette.edu
The month of April is dedicated to raise awareness for sexual assault. Throughout this month, it is encouraged to raise public awareness and educate individuals about sexual assault and how to prevent it. At Marquette, the university has spent this month to raise awareness of the issue of sexual assault on campus. One of the ways they are doing that is by the Denim Day event Wednesday, April 28. Denim Day will honor survivors of sexual assault by encouraging the Marquette community to wear denim to show their support toward the victims, and to end myths surrounding sexual assault and violence. Those who are celebrating Denim Day are encouraged to post a photo of themselves tagging the Wellness Center Instagram. Denim Day has been celebrated on Marquette’s campus for 20 years. Kristen Kreple, Title IX coordinator, said that this month is extremely important to Marquette because it brings a renewed focus to what the resources on campus are to help and support victims/ survivors of sexual assault. “This is so prominent on college campuses, and it’s something that I think is especially important this year, because even though so much is remote because of COVID-19, these are still issues that we are seeing and that we need to address,” Kreple said. Kacie Otto, violence prevention specialist and campus victim advocate, said that Sexual Assault
Photo by Joceline Helmbreck joceline.helmbreck@marquette.edu
The Title IX coordinator is among several support services offered for Marquette students who are struggling or need help.
Awareness Month is important because it provides everyone with an opportunity to concentrate on how they can support survivors of sexual assault, and participate in ending violence within their realm of authority. “SAAM at Marquette is especially important because college students are a population of people that face higher risks of sexual violence. Sexual violence happens far too often and SAAM is an opportunity for our campus to come together in support of survivors and remember our obligation to believe survivors and intervene when we see situations that could lead to violence,” Otto said in an email. Marquette offers support and help that survivors can utilize on
campus. Kreple said Marquette’s primary support resource is their Advocacy Services Office. Kacie Otto and Katy Adler are two of Marquette’s victim advocates. Marquette also has their advocacy line which one can call overnight for guidance. “The biggest change this year as compared to years in the past with the victim advocates is they used to be non-confidential, which meant that they had to report if a student discloses sexual violence to them. They had to report it to me, and some students aren’t comfortable with that,” Kreple said. Now, this is the first year that the victim advocacy service is confidential. Kreple said the advocates are a place where students can share their experiences and get
the help they may need, or help in directing them to what could help them heal. Otto said in an email that the victim advocacy office is also “work(ing) with a team of undergraduate Wellness and Prevention Peer Educators who implement awareness and prevention programs on campus all year so students can learn more about how to support survivors and prevent violence.” The Title IX office also offers supportive measures for victims of sexual violence such as helping students find a better living situation and helping with academic accommodation, which is offering flexibility in terms of attendance and due dates for assignments. Marquette students are raising
awareness throughout the month of April, and some are understanding why Sexual Assault Awareness Month was implemented in the first place. “I think it’s important to bring awareness to this issue. Teaching especially young girls and boys what harassment and assault is helps not only prevent but lower numbers, because the more it’s talked about, the more people will realize what is happening, and intervene during those times,” Maddie Connell, a first-year in the College of Engineering, said. Connell said that Sexual Assault Awareness Month is extremely important in bringing survivors closer together and providing them with support.
Weʼre hiring for the 2021-2022 school year! Various applications are available at marquettewire.org/apply Email applications to Aimee Galaszewski, incoming Executive Director, at aimee.galaszewski@marquette.edu
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The Marquette Tribune
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Libraries on campus provide resources J.R.R. Tolkien manuscripts among MU’s collections By Karsyn Hartsfield
karsyn.hartsfield@marquette.edu
Marquette’s libraries are a big part of the MU campus. The Law, Raynor and Memorial Libraries located on campus not only provide academic resources but also allow students a place to study with others who are more knowledgeable about certain subjects. Valerie Beech, a reference librarian, said Marquette’s libraries have many things that make them unique. One is the special collections and archives. The one that is most original, Beech said, is the J.R.R. Tolkien manuscripts collection. “We’re the only ones in the world that have his original papers and manuscripts,” Beech said. William B. Ready, the director of libraries from 1956-1963, recognized “Lord of the Rings”
as a masterpiece soon after publication, before the series had gained popularity. “Ready approached Tolkien in 1956 through Bertram Rota, a well-known rare book dealer in London. At the time, no other institution had expressed an interest in Tolkien’s literary manuscripts. After a relatively brief period of negotiation, an agreement was reached whereby Marquette purchased the manuscripts for 1,500 pounds (or less than $5,000),” according to Marquette’s website. Along with this special collection, Beech said Marquette also has Dorothy Day papers, which includes lots of material on the Catholic Worker Movement and another big collection on the Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions, all of which she said are pretty special. The Catholic Worker Movement is a movement that focuses on faith-based actions for peace and social justice. The Bureau of Catholic Indian Missions was an institution that has a mission to protect and promote Native
Americans in the United States. Another thing Beech said is special to Marquette’s library is the Digital Scholarship Lab located in the lower level of Raynor. The Digital Scholarship Lab allows students to use various editing software as well as check out various audio and visual equipment. “We have so many resources, for so many students, for so many projects,” Claire Dinkelman, a research and instruction librarian, said. Another resource is the staff at Marquette’s libraries. Elizabeth Wawrzyniak, a librarian in the Digital Scholarship Lab, said those working in the library really make it special. She mentioned part of this reason is that many staff members, including herself, are Marquette graduates who did their undergraduate or attended graduate school at Marquette. Because of this, Wawrzyniak says they have a great connection to Marquette. “These people are people who loved it so much they came
back to work here, and so I think that is one of the really great features about the library,” Wawrzyniak said. Even for those staff members who don’t have an “educational connection to Marquette,” and who aren’t alumni, Wawrzyniak said they still make the library special. “The people I work with at the library here, whether they are in circulation, whether they’re in technical services, on the other side, whether they’re in the reference department, they all really care about Marquette as a place and Marquette students as people,” Wawrzyniak said. Dinkelman also acknowledged that the workers, whether helping students with research or ensuring things in the library are labeled correctly, are a really dedicated group of people. Dinkelman said another thing that’s unique to Marquette’s libraries are the programs they have for students. An example Dinkelman spoke about was passing out snacks on the bridge between Raynor and
Memorial during finals. “You just see this long line of students waiting and it’s great. Library staff is on hand to help with that, handing out stuff and making sure the line is moving,” Dinkelman said. Of course, with the COVID-19 pandemic, this event has not been able to occur, but, once everything goes back to normal the staff hope to continue such programming. It’s with these small things that Marquette’s libraries are more than just a place to find books. “Back in the day the library was really just a place to come and study,” Wawrzyniak said. However, she said it’s become much more than that now, as students meet with friends, teaching assistants hold office hours, students have lunch on the bridge and people come to collaborate. “The library (has) became sort of a place where (students can) get together, study, and build a little community amongst themselves,” Wawrzyniak said.
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
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The Marquette Tribune
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Georgia’s controversial voting law passes gives context toward why it was proposed: “Following the 2018 and 2020 elections, there was a significant lack of confidence in Georgia election systems, with many electors concerned about allegations of rampant voter suppression and many electors concerned about allegations of ramBy Finn Askin pant voter fraud.” finn.askin@marquette.edu The law was curated after Georgia was narrowly won by Georgia’s new and controversial now-President Joe Biden in Novoting law will go into effect be- vember. Biden won the state by ginning July 1, according to USA 11,779 votes. Georgia also had Today. The bill, which was signed two Senate runoff elections this by Republican Governor Brian past January. The runoffs were Kemp, will overhaul Georgia’s both won by Democratic candidates, which switched control of voting protocol. Gov. Kemp said the law will the Senate. The two Democratic aim to ensure that elections remain candidates are Jon Ossoff and. accessible and fair to all parties Raphael Warnock. Paul Nolette, the department involved. However, Democrats, alongside civil rights groups, have chair of political science, said expressed their extreme distaste this feat was incredibly surprising. The surprise came due to the and haste toward the new law. The controversy behind the bill fact that Georgia is historically a is rooted in many things. This in- Republican-leaning state in presicludes a proposal to restrict the dential and senate elections. The number of dropboxes, restrict ear- fact that the state legislature wantly voting and force absentee vot- ed to make changes to voting laws ers to provide extra identification. after this is, however, not surprisThe opening statement of the bill ing at all, said Nolette.
Act will close several absentee drop boxes in populous counties
“The timing definitely suggests Republicans are looking for a partisan advantage,” Nolette said. “This is very clear.” Republicans are looking to regain partisan advantage due to the fact they lost it after the aforementioned senate run-off in early 2021. The law, which is being deemed “The Election Integrity Act of 2021,” will close upwards of 70 absentee drop boxes that reside in Georgia’s four most populous counties. All four of these counties were won by Joe Biden in the 2020 Presidential Election. Additional drop boxes will be restricted to one to one per 100,000 active voters within a county. These drop boxes will only be available during early voting periods and will be held inside early voting locations. In addition to the elimination of many drop boxes, runoff elections will now be shaved down from nine weeks to four weeks long, and voters will be required to verify their identity upon returning their ballot. This is similar to Wisconsin since you must have an ID to vote here. This is
replacing the signature-matching system that had previously been in place. Since the creation of the bill, it has been revised to actually widen the amount of early voting initially allowed. There was a very large concern and push back from the Black community after it was said that early voting on Sundays would potentially be eliminated. “Souls to the Polls,” a phrase that encapsulates the trek that Black church communities make from their congregations to the voting locations, will be able to stay intact for years to come. There will be two Sundays of early voting and one Saturday. Eliminating early voting on Sundays wasn’t ever looking to keep the voting process secure, Avery Farmer, a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences, said. “I felt the potential elimination of early voting on Sundays was just another attempt to disenfranchise the Black community’s place in this democracy,” Farmer said. Requiring more identification on absentee ballots will mean that people will undoubtedly have their votes not counted due to
errors. African Americans are also being directly affected because of the amount they utilize “Souls to the Polls.” Many use “Souls to the Polls” as their main means for transportation when voting as well. Nolette said he felt the democracy of this nation was in question. “While I wouldn’t characterize the laws to be that drastic, it seems clear that there is a partisan motivation. Which is the complete opposite of what is needed within a well-standing democracy,” Nolette said. Bruce Deal, a sophomore in the College of Business Administration and student activist, also noted “The state is receiving major backlash for this. For example the MLB All-Star game was moved”. The All-Star game was previously going to be held in Atlanta, Georgia. More stringent voting laws are currently in discourse everywhere, not just Georgia. Six bills have been enacted in four separate states since President Biden entered office. The four other states that have enacted bills are Iowa, Arkansas, Kentucky and Utah.
Graphic by Benjamin Wells benjamin.wells@marquette.edu
The Marquette Tribune
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Arts &
Entertainment
Page 8A
The Dogg Haus on Wells Street closes its doors for good COVID-19 causes restaurant to shut down after 15 years By Charlotte Ives
charlotte.ives@marquette.edu
After 15 years of good food and memorable experiences, The Dogg Haus on Wells Street has closed its doors. Due to economic constraints the business experienced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the owner, Mazen Muna, said it no longer made sense for him to remain open. “If anything, it wasn’t a decision that I could say was completely on my own, but it was a decision that was somewhat handed to me by COVID and what happened in general with everything that’s going on even up to this point,” Muna said. “Had a pandemic not happened, we would still be there.” He said he is not happy about having to close down, but he remains optimistic. “Am I disappointed? Of course. Of course I wish things were different. But at the same time, what can I do about that?” he said. It all began in 2005 when 25-year-old Muna, a business development manager with no experience in the restaurant business, decided to open a Chicago-style hot dog joint in Milwaukee called The Dogg Haus. After leasing a space on Brady Street, he went straight to Milwaukee’s City Hall for some help. “I walked up to the first clerk and I said ‘I’d like to open a restaurant, and I don’t know what to do or how to do it, can you help me?’” Muna said. He took notes as they sent him from office to office. He filled out the appropriate paperwork, got all of his licenses in order and started construction. He said his reasons for a Chicago-style hot dog restaurant were simple. “I thought ‘well, I spent a lot of time in Chicago and Milwaukee has a lack of Chicago-style hot dogs,’” Muna said. One year after opening his first restaurant, Muna began to notice
Photo by Claire Gallagher claire.gallagher@marquette.edu
For a decade-and-a-half, the Chicago-style hotdog joint acted as a staple to Marquette’s campus.
Marquette students frequently piling up into cars and coming down to Brady Street for a taste of his food. He said they eventually began asking him to open a new location on campus, especially because a large portion of Marquette students were from Chicago, and missed the Chicago-style hot dogs they had grown up with. In response to these requests, Muna opened The Dogg Haus on Wells Street, in September 2006. When it first opened, he said the line was out the door and past Real Chili, the restaurant right next door. What followed was a decadeand-a-half long experience, during which Muna said he made long-lasting friendships with Marquette students as The Dogg Haus became a landmark on campus. Amalia Liguori-Coneff, a junior in the College of Communication, said she has been to the Dogg Haus on campus a few times, and said it is about more than just hot dogs. “I honestly think people go there more for the atmosphere than the food,” Liguori-Coneff said. “It
was a fun place to see friends and the workers were all very kind the times I went. A lot of my friends love going and rave about it.” She said she thinks the Dogg Haus is important to a lot of students at Marquette, which is why some are disappointed to see it go. “I think a lot of people are sad about it closing because it became a staple of so many of our Marquette experiences,” LiguoriConeff said. Ashley Murphy, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences, said she will miss the sense of community at The Dogg Haus. “My friends and I used to go there on the weekends, which was always a lot of fun,” Murphy said. “It was almost guaranteed that you would run into someone you know at Dogg Haus, so I’m gonna miss the socialization that happened there and I think a lot of people would agree they’re going to miss it as well.” Akhil Tummala, a junior in the College of Engineering, said the food at The Dogg Haus was great for recovering after a night out. “I remember trying their
Chicago dog and it was like out of the world, you know,” Tummala said. “I used to go there with my friends when we got smashed back at parties and stuff and I would really enjoy it. It kind of would be the hangover food.” He said going to The Dogg Haus brought him closer to his friends. “It helped me bond a lot with my friends too, just going out to The Dogg Haus after we got lit, you know,” Tummala said. “It’s kind of sad seeing it go from this uni.” He said he is sad to know that newer students will not have the opportunity to enjoy The Dogg Haus like he did. “I obviously want people younger than me coming in freshman year — like next year, this year — I want them to enjoy it the same way I did,” Tummala said. “Go to the same things, do the same things I was doing with my friends, have the same experience. It’s kind of like a tradition, a Marquette tradition, almost.” Belle Fleming, a first-year in the College of Education, said she never had a chance to go to The
Dogg Haus on campus, but she has walked past it several times. Looking forward, she said she is not picky about what will take its place on Wells Street. “I don’t know. It is kind of a weird corner on campus and I don’t think many people go there, so I don’t know if there’d be anything that would be super beneficial,” Fleming said. Jack Zidar, a sophomore in the College of Business Administration, said he frequented the hot dog joint last year and appreciated that it remained open until 2 a.m. He said he has good memories of going to The Dogg Haus late at night and he hopes it is replaced by another restaurant with similar hours. “I’d like to see them put something there,” Zidar said. “I hope it’s not vacant for too long. Something like, maybe like a late-night fast-food type of deal. Anything that’s really just open late. Something like that.” Tummala said he thinks it would be funny if it were replaced by a Chipotle, as it would give the Qdoba on campus some competition. He said he also likes the idea of The Dogg Haus being replaced by a multiethnic mom-and-pop shop. “Because the world’s becoming global, we need this,” Tummala said. “A lot of international students come to Marquette, so I feel like that’d be good for them as well.” Looking ahead, Muna said he has some hopes for this available space as well. “I’m also excited to see whatever business comes into that space,” Muna said. “Hopefully they can create the same memories for the students that we did. And hopefully they can make it a success for themselves as well. My hopes is that it is a local brand outside of a national chain and it’s some business that somebody has their heart into.”
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Arts & Entertainment
The Marquette Tribune
9A
Students share thoughts on road, building construction Green space near AMU being replaced by business building By Ariana Madson
ariana.madson@marquette.edu
As the spring semester is coming to a close, the construction for the new business building is picking up. For some students on campus, it’s exciting to see the construction, whereas for others, it’s a loud wakeup call. Joey O’Connor, a senior in the College of Business Administration, talked about his experience with the construction, because he lives in the Ardmore, an apartment complex right across the street from the new business building. “Construction starts at right about 7 a.m. … it’s kind of like my built-alarm clock,” O’Connor said. O’Connor said he has also had to reconfigure his walking route since some of the sidewalk has been blocked off. He also said he is excited for upcoming business students to experience the new building, especially because he is graduating this year. O’Connor also said he has heard from some students that they will miss the green space. “A lot of people wish we could’ve held on to that green space … those are the kinds of thoughts I heard,”
Photo by Zach Bukowski zachary.bukowski@marquette.edu
The building is to be completed at the end of 2022. In the meantime, construction affects student’s schedules.
O’Connor said. Alex Kimmet, a senior in the College of Engineering, said he also will miss the green space, especially because he and his roommates would utilize it. “Last semester we played frisbee a lot there … this semester, before they closed it down, we went and made some snowmen when it was really snowy,” Kimmet said. “It definitely stinks that they are using the greatest green space on campus and turning it into a building.” Kimmet said that though the
construction has woken him and his roommates up a few times, he is a civil engineer and enjoys seeing the progress on what they are building. “I’m kind of biased in that I enjoy looking out the window every day, seeing what goes on… our windows are pretty decent at blocking out the noise, so the noise doesn’t effect too much,” Kimmet said. Kimmet also said the construction has made it harder to walk, especially since the blocked sidewalk is where he typically walks to class with
most of his classes being either in Olin Engineering Center or the Engineering Hall (E-hall), a similar issue as O’Connor. Justin Zwiefelhofer, a junior in the College of Engineering and Kimmet’s roommate, lives in Campus Town East, an apartment building located on Wells Street, and said construction, to him, has not been too bad. “I personally haven’t heard anything from on site, but when dump trucks are coming from the site, it can get pretty loud and it can
kind of keep you up,” Zwiefelhofer said. Zwiefelhofer said the last time he was around this kind of construction was during the teardown of McCormick, which is the site of the new business building. He said he had classes close by where you could hear the wrecking ball hitting the building. “It is kind of annoying that the whole east side of the sidewalk is blocked … that gets pretty annoying, and it can get pretty congested,” Zwiefelhofer said. He said that it probably would have been nice for them to wait until 8 a.m. to start. He also gets that construction is a scheduled thing so if they start earlier, they can get done earlier. Zwiefelhofer said he thinks a compromise could have been to start at 8 a.m. for the remainder of the school year and then start at 7 a.m. when classes are done. The building is scheduled to be completed around Christmas of 2022.
Members of Marquette community celebrate Ramadan The Muslim holiday is one of the Five Pillars of Islam By Rashad Alexander
rashad.alexander@marquette.edu
Although not everyone on campus celebrates it, the first day of the Muslim holiday Ramadan took place April 12 in the United States. Ramadan is the ninth month in the Arabic calendar, where those who celebrate go through a month-long fast. Fasting, in this case, is the process of not eating or drinking anything during the day. They are allowed to break their fast when the sun sets, a period of time called Iftar. Ramadan is also one of the Five Pillars of Islam, which are five important principles and beliefs to the Muslim community. The five include the Profession of Faith, Prayer, Fasting and Pilgrimage, with Ramadan falling
under prayer. This year will be the second Ramadan to take place during the coronavirus pandemic, where not everyone who celebrates can enjoy the holiday like they usually do. But for Tesneem Al Fadhel, a first-year in the College of Arts & Sciences, COVID–19 has not changed the way she and her family celebrate. “COVID hasn’t changed the way my family celebrates because we usually spend most of our time with direct family and not relatives,” Fadhel said. Despite her being on campus during Ramadan, Fadhel still knows the importance of the holiday to her and her family. “To my family and I, Ramadan means cleansing ourselves and doing good deeds. The whole month is a way for us to get closer to God by worshipping and reading the Quran,” Fadhel said. Fasting for a whole month is a very difficult task for many. But despite this, Fadhel embraces it,
as she knows that there are less fortunate who barely eat at all. “We also keep in mind to those who are living in hunger and find ways to donate food and clothes,” Fadhel said. COVID-19 has unfortunately changed the way people celebrate Ramadan, including Mandy Bader, a sophomore in the College of Health Sciences. “I haven’t been able to attend Taraweeh prayers anymore at the mosque,” Bader said. “I really do
miss praying it though and I also miss the community events or Iftars that the Muslim community or local mosques would host during the month of Ramadan.” Bader is the co-president of the Arabic Culture and Language Club at Marquette. The club is meant to teach the Marquette community about the Arabic language and culture, as well as spread awareness about the contributions and influences the Arab world has had on a global
Photo via Flickr
This year, Ramadan is from April 12 to May 12 in the United States.
scale. The club also celebrates various Arabic holidays, including Ramadan. “In the MU Arabic Club, we recognize and honor all religions, as many Arab Americans come from different faiths, especially Islam and Christianity. For Ramadan, the club is honoring this month, especially for our Muslim community,” Bader said. Despite the changes in the way she can celebrate, Bader has not lost her passion for Ramadan. “Celebrating Ramadan is a special time for so many of us because for most of us, it is a time where we really are at our highest faith,” Bader said. This year, Ramadan ends May 12. The ending of Ramadan is a holiday called “Eid al Fitr,” which is Arabic for “Festival of Breaking Fast.” Eid is a threeday celebration, where families come together for prayers and celebration, as the great holiday of Ramadan comes to an end.
The Marquette Tribune
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
O pinions One Planet, One Home
PAGE 10A
Alexandra Garner, Executive Opinions Editor Aminah Beg, Assistant Opinions Editor Editor’s Note: The stories in this edition are honoring Earth Day this year. We are taking a moment to draw attention to and discuss different environmental issues facing our local communities and our planet.
As we continue to address climate change and other environmental issues like pollution and waste in our day-to-day lives, it is necessary that students at Marquette University do their part to be more environmentally aware on campus. Since the beginning of the 20202021 academic year, there has been a lot of trash on campus. According to the Milwaukee Department of Neighborhood Services, the organization has investigated 16,325 garbage violations and orders during 2020 and the beginning of 2021. Since Marquette is part of the Milwaukee community, we need to take more responsibility for our actions and where we put our trash. We need to do better. In an effort to keep Marquette’s streets free of trash, student organizations like Students for an Environmentally Active Campus have arranged campus clean-ups to pickup trash and litter throughout the spring semester. While SEAC’s efforts are commendable, it is unfortunate that the group has to host campus clean-ups at all. Marquette students need to be more aware of where they put their trash. Additionally, we need to remember that we are not the only ones living in this area.
We must act more sustainably
Marquette’s campus is surrounded by residential areas where members of the Milwaukee community live. It is wrong and unfair to those living near campus to deal with our trash. Many of us are not originally from Milwaukee, so it is that much more important that we are conscious of our actions and respect the land that we are staying on during our time at Marquette. According to Wisconsin First Nations, Milwaukee is built on historical Indigenous lands of the Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk and Menominee tribes. Consistently acknowledging the land we are on could help us be more mindful of how our decisions impact the environment we’re in. Additionally, if we can view ourselves as guests of Milwaukee, we can better behave like guests and treat Milwaukee respectfully. If we were visiting a friend or a family member, we would not throw our garbage on the floor of their home because that is wrong and inconsiderate. We shouldn’t treat campus streets or areas around apartments that way either. While littering may just seem like throwing trash on the ground, that piece of trash doesn’t just stay there. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, littering can contaminate water supplies, harm
wildlife and emit toxic chemicals into the environment. The university can support students’ efforts to be more sustainable on campus through sufficiently informing students about where they can put their waste, the impact of their waste and where their waste goes. Additionally, in campus buildings like residence halls, dining halls, academic buildings and apartments, Marquette should provide consistent recycling, trash and composting options across all dining halls on campus, as well as proper signage to educate students on how to divide up their waste. Currently, not all dining halls have multiple waste bin options or proper signage. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, the university had composting options in dining halls around campus as well as a partnership with Compost Crusaders, a composting management group that picks up compost materials from residential areas. Now, however, many dining halls on campus only have a single-waste option, or a single bin, which increases the amount of waste that goes from Marquette to landfills. Even in the ongoing pandemic, we can still find ways to be sustainable. Additionally, with the challenges of protecting our health during
the COVID-19 pandemic, many Marquette dining halls like The Commons and on the on-campus cafe the Brew have reverted to using more single-use plastic and disposable containers. This makes having recycling and composting options that much more important during this time, so we can limit the amount of waste we are producing. Marquette should also work to ensure students have the knowledge to take more sustainable actions, as well as potentially work with the City of Milwaukee to support both Marquette students and Milwaukee community members by making sure there are more waste options near off-campus apartments, such as more recycling bins. Sustainability at Marquette has not seemed to be a priority in recent years. The university is still invested in fossil fuels and there wasn’t a Marquette sustainable coordinator for the entire 2019-2020 academic school year. The university must make sustainability a top priority and must instill this mindset in all areas of campus. Marquette should follow the example of Loyola University Chicago, which is a similar Jesuit institution, for thinking and acting sustainably. Loyola has numerous sustainable
surprise that these cities also tend to sorely lack in transportation options like light rail systems and passenger trains in urban areas. Investing in transportation options, especially trains, is the first step in decreasing environmental issues. President Joe Biden recently devoted a $2 trillion infrastructure plan, and $80 billion of that is meant to help improve train service, specifically Amtrak services. Train services have always been subpar at best in the U.S., especially in the Midwest, South and West Coast, where sprawling highways take priority. Compared to most developed nations, the state of train travel in the United States is undeveloped. High-speed rails, rail systems that run significantly faster than traditional trains due to specialized tracks, have been proven to be efficient and environmentally friendly over many nations in Europe and
Asia, like Germany and Japan, alleviating the pollution produced by cars. Most trains in the U.S. are freight, meant for carrying cargo, not passengers. While it is true that much of the United States is rural and sparse, train travel, especially interstate train travel, can be implemented if prioritized and funded. Transportation options must also be reformed so that public transportation is both an efficient and affordable option. Currently, taking a train from one part of the country to the next often takes more time than driving there, and train tickets can sometimes cost more than roundtrip flights on budget airlines. Expanding railroads and investing in high-speed trains would improve the efficiency of train travel. However, train travel is more environmentally conscious than both those options, and if a cheap, speedy
way of travel was produced, like high-speed rails, Americans should take it. In Milwaukee, public transit, though not perfect, is better than in most American cities. The Milwaukee County Transit System ranks within the top 50 transit agencies in the United States. However, the state of Wisconsin as a whole, outside Milwaukee and Madison, has little transit options. Culturally, attitudes toward public transit also need to shift. Many people see public transit as being dirty, dangerous and inconvenient. Sadly, many transit systems in the United States, due to poor funding and maintenance, live up to this stereotype. However, improving train travel might help change people’s attitudes and make train conditions better, and emphasize collective safety and well-being, which may help combat the aggressively
projects in transport, energy, food, waste, water and biodiversity focal areas. For waste, Loyola has an intercampus shuttle bus that runs on biodiesel, which is an alternative fuel source to reduce toxic fossil fuel emissions, a campus-wide recycling program and composting throughout dining halls and gardens. Additionally, Loyola has a commitment to using green cleaning supplies on campus, a battery, ink-jet and small electronics recycling program and has a recycling competition program. Marquette should consider implementing similar programs to prioritize sustainability as well as engage students to take action in their own lives. Acting more sustainably is a way students can “be the difference.” And when it comes to striving toward a sustainable lifestyle and greener campus, it only takes the action of one, from not littering to recycling a single-use water bottle, to be the difference. This editorial was crafted with leadership by the executive opinions editor. The executive board consists of the executive director of the Wire, managing editor of the Marquette Tribune, managing editor of the Marquette Journal, general manager of MUTV, general manager of MUR and nine additional top editors across the organization.
U.S. should improve, utilize public transportation
Lucia Ruffolo Improving public transit and encouraging more ridership is a vital step in reducing carbon emissions. Public transit is far more sustainable for the environment as opposed to single-occupancy travel vehicles. They emit 33% lower greenhouse gasses per passenger mile, and lowers the amount of pollution given off by vehicles overall. Car pollution is a significant problem in the United States, as a typical passenger car emits 4.6 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year. The state of transportation is dismal, and environmentally damaging, causing many cities to have air quality that is simply not safe, such as places like Phoenix, Arizona and Los Angeles, California. It is no
individualist car culture in the United States. Marquette students can help individually make the shift in their own lives. While a car on campus may sound convenient and cool, consider walking, riding a bike or taking the bus instead. Not only is it more environmentally friendly, it promotes good physical health as well. Transportation is an essential service, and in a world devastated by the effects of climate change, sustainable and low-pollution options are a global imperative. In order to promote harmonious and healthy living, it is time for the United States to politically and culturally shift toward train travel and other public transportation options. Lucia Ruffolo is a first-year student and is undecided. She can be reached at lucia.ruffolo@marquette.edu
Opinions
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
The Marquette Tribune
11A
Energy burden on MKE Black, Latinx families an injustice Hope Moses Energy is not a luxury: It is a basic human right. In Milwaukee, though, it is anything but. A recent study from the Alliance for Climate Education, Black Leaders Organizing for Community, Citizens Action of Wisconsin–North Side Rising Co-Op, Sierra Club-Wisconsin Chapter and Voces de la Frontera released at the beginning of April shows that energy burdens are greater in Black and Latinx communities than on those living in predominantly white neighborhoods in Milwaukee. The term “energy burden” refers to the percentage of household income that goes toward energy costs. For example, if your household spends $2,000 annually on energy bills, and your annual household income is $20,000, your energy burden is 10%. A high energy burden is considered 6% or more. In other words, the less you make, the greater your energy burden will likely be. According to Sierra ClubWisconsin Chapter, more white and economically well-off neighborhoods have an average energy burden of 1% or less while predominantly Black or Latinx neighborhoods have an
average energy burden between 7% and 10%. This study attributes energy burdens in economically disadvantaged neighborhoods to redlining: the discriminatory, race-based home lending restrictions implemented through the mid-1900s. Needless to say, energy burdens are a deeply rooted issue that requires a well-rounded understanding of Milwaukee’s past. For starters, Milwaukee is the most segregated city in the United States. As the Alliance for Climate Educations study acknowledged, this is a result of redlining. Beginning in the 1930s, redlining became a practice used by the real estate industry resulting in a different and changed sociocultural environment throughout the entire nation. After decades of fighting against this oppressive system, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Fair Housing Act of 1968 prohibited discrimination in housing opportunities based on race. Unfortunately, the prohibition of housing discrimination was not an easy fix. The effects of racial practices like redlining have left a stain on Milwaukee’s neighborhoods, reducing opportunities for generational wealth accumulation among minority populations. This has manifested in a multitude of problems, one of them being the energy
burdens in Black and Latinx communities. Energy is necessary for survival, especially during extremely warm summers and cold winters in Wisconsin — a climate that is changing. We need energy for almost everything we do. Storing food, cooking and cleaning, lighting and heating and cooling all require energy. Yet for Black and Latinx communities, necessities like these come at high risks. High energy burdens can threaten a household’s ability to pay for energy, risking disconnections and forcing people in these communities and people of color to make difficult choices to meet costs of living. So many families have to decide between paying energy bills and buying food. It is horrifying that there are families who have to decide between keeping their electricity and nourishing their bodies, or keeping a roof over their heads or buying medication that is needed to treat a condition. According to the Alliance for Climate Education study, addressing the energy burden issue requires a cooperative approach among public and private sector decision-makers, led by those most impacted to address their direct needs and concerns. Increasing investments in energy efficiency and affordability programs and targeting these initiatives to the
Graphic by Alexandra Garner alexandra.garner@marquette.edu
communities that experience high energy burdens as laid out in this report is an important and necessary way to address the clear disparities. These programs can help reduce high energy burdens, make energy bills more affordable and improve health disparities worsened by COVID-19. As Earth Day approaches, it is essential to acknowledge energy burdens and their effects on marginalized communities. We cannot continue treating energy as a
luxury and treat those living in energy-burdened neighborhoods like numbers. This issue affects thousands of families, thousands of people being neglected of a basic human right. So, moving forward, we need to put more energy into the energy crisis that has plagued Milwaukee. Hope Moses is a first-year student studying journalism. She can be reached at hope.moses@marquette.edu
Space travel inaccessible backup plan for the future Jenna Koch Space travel has always seemed like a mere dream to the general public. Only 550 people have gone to space, but that number may grow rapidly within the next 10 years. Plans for commercial space travel have been in the works for years, with space companies and organizations like NASA, SpaceX and Axiom leading the way. Now, those ideas are becoming a reality as a vacation to space could soon be available for some. In October 2021, a group of three astrotourists will take the first privately funded trip to the International Space Station. Additionally, former President Donald Trump created the Space Force military branch in late 2019, and NASA is planning on sending a crew to the moon in 2024. All this news about space seems like the planet’s next step to becoming a futuristic, high-tech civilization. However, not only does space travel contribute to climate change and colonialism, but even entertaining the possibility of space travel in this crucial time for our planet is, frankly, unnecessary. In the 2017 movie “Valerian and the City of a Thousand Planets” the
opening scene features various cultures and countries coming to the ISS, and all are warmly greeted. The final visitors, however, are aliens, but they are also greeted in the same manner. While this picture of all cultures (including extraterrestrial) “singing Kumbaya” amongst the stars is a nice one, it will never be a reality considering the way space travel has a history of harming marginalized people. Space organizations have a history of displacing marginalized communities in order to create launch sites. The equator is the ideal place to launch space crafts, so companies in the Global North, or more developed countries, make agreements with countries in the Global South, or less developed countries, in order to gain access to those launch points. In some cases, developed countries are already occupying land near the equator. The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 states that no country will be able to claim space as its own. The peaceful, anti-imperialist sentiments expressed during the start of space travel may hold true in space, but on Earth, space travel efforts are anything but peaceful. In 2017, protesters occupied the Guiana Space Center in Kourou, New Guinea, which halted nearly half of the world’s space launches that April. The protest occurred
due to the continuous exploitation of New Guineans by the French government in order to operate the space center. This event is a prime example of how space colonies will never be the utopia some hope they may be. In 2019, Brazil gave the U.S. access to its Alcântara Launch Center, which is currently occupied by quilombolas, Brazilian descendants of formerly enslaved Black Africans. The deal will result in the displacement of 2,100 of one of Brazil’s most marginalized groups. It is clear that the Global North values its own scientific advancement and glory to the lives and dignity of people of color. With the promise of space travel comes the oppression of already marginalized people and the exploitation of our planet. Space will never be a great equal place in which all people can join. Commercial space travel prices are incredibly high. For a 30-day trip to the ISS via Axiom, one passenger must pay $35,000 per night. While that’s to be expected considering how expensive space travel is, it also means that down the line, the wealthy will have options that the rest of the population won’t. Space colonization cannot be seen as an option when it comes to climate change, because it is not an option that will be accessible to
everyone. We need to focus on creating a sustainable Earth rather than relying on space as our backup. According to the travel website Champion Traveler, a single SpaceX rocket emits the same carbon emissions as 395 flights across the Atlantic. Around 100,000 flights take off and land everysingle day, so SpaceX’s emissions pale in comparison to the emissions of airlines and other forms of transportation around the world. However, if commercial space travel became more popular, the emissions produced from it would be cause for concern. Space travel is very unsustainable, even as organizations like NASA are developing cleaner forms of space fuel. This research may be helpful for scientific research in space, but they should be putting energy into researching sustainable forms of terrestrial travel. Additionally, it seems unnecessary to even go on scientific expeditions when the money and research put into them could be going towards researching global warming and ways to stop it. Children who want to become astronauts tend to grow up and realize how unrealistic their career choice is. American companies and government organizations should have outgrown their insistence on going to space, but they haven’t.
It’s not because they’re naive, as a child would be, but because they do not care about the effects space travel has on the planet and its people. Governments and companies in the Global North need to put their time and resources toward sustainability efforts. The glory of space travel will be temporary if there are no humans left to remember it. Jenna Koch is a first-year student studying journalism. She can be reached at jenna.koch@marquette.edu
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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.
Sports The Marquette Tribune
RACHEL JOHNSON OVERCOMES ADVERSITY OF TORN ACL IN 2017 SPORTS, 15A
Tuesday, April 20, 2021 PAGE 12A
Joe Keys breaks 15-year-old record
ock photo
Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics
Joe Keys runs at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s Panther Tune-Up Feb. 14. The senior set Marquette’s decathlon record April 10 with a nation-best 7,537 points.
Senior captain sets new decathlon mark with 7,537 points By Sam Arco
samuel.arco@marquette.edu
Marquette senior Joe Keys continued to turn heads this season as the Golden Eagles’ captain set a new school record in the decathlon at the Hurricane
Alumni Invitational at Miami University April 10. Keys collected six personalbest marks throughout the event to secure a first-place finish in the decathlon with a total of 7,537 points, which is currently the nation’s top effort across the NCAA in 2021. Finishing the decathlon with the 1500-meter run, Keys said he knew he was in a good position to break the record for the race. “It was definitely very painful, but when I came through
the finish line there was a lot going through my head,” Keys said. “I knew I hit the mark I wanted to right away, so it was pretty exciting.” The previous school record was held by Matt Piekarski, set back in 2006. He held the record for almost 15 years with a mark of 7,236 points. Keys crushed his previous best in the decathlon, as the Downers Grove, Illinois native’s previous best mark was 7,138 at the Bryan Clay Invitational during the
2018-19 season. Keys also finished first in the decathlon at the 2019 BIG EAST Outdoor Championships, with 7,112 points. Keys has come a long way throughout his Marquette career and is looking to continue to break records during his senior season after last season came to a disappointing end because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Before last season was cancelled, Keys had qualified for the NCAA Indoor
Championships in the heptathlon and was named a U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Indoor All-American. Keys is looking to qualify for the NCAA Outdoor Championships for the first time in his career this season. The event is scheduled to be held in Eugene, Oregon, from June 9 to June 12. In his fine form right now, Keys is well on his way to making more history for the Golden Eagles this season.
Sports
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
The Marquette Tribune
13A
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Lott goes undrafted in WNBA Draft, Lynx pick her up Senior guard signs training camp contract in Minnesota By John Leuzzi
john.leuzzi@marquette.edu
Marquette women’s basketball senior guard Selena Lott did not get drafted into the WNBA April 15 during the 2021 WNBA Draft. Though Lott didn’t get drafted, she will have an opportunity to make a WNBA roster as the guard signed a training camp contract with the Minnesota Lynx April 16. “Selena has truly made an impact over these last four years at Marquette,” Marquette head coach Megan Duffy said in a
statement. “Her growth both on and off the court has led to another great opportunity ahead in professional basketball. We cannot wait to see the next steps of her career and appreciate her commitment to making Marquette basketball special.” In her senior season, Lott led the Golden Eagles with 14.7 points, 5.2 assists and 4.2 defensive rebounds per game. Additionally, she earned All-BIG EAST First Team honors. The Troy, New York native ended her Marquette career ranked 23rd all-time in scoring (1,193) points, 10th in assists (383), ninth in steals (223) and eighth in blocks (81). Lott was also named the BIG EAST CoDefensive Player of the Year this past season, the first Marquette player to win this award.
Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics
Selena Lott (24) dribbles the ball. She led the Golden Eagles with 14.7 points and 5.2 assists in her senior season.
MEN’S SOCCER
Bennett’s squad struggles during BIG EAST semis Team falls 4-1 to eventual tournament champions Seton Hall By Nick Galle
nicholas.galle@marquette.edu
After allowing two goals within the first nine minutes of action, the Marquette Golden Eagles (82-1, 5-1-1 BIG EAST) lost 4-1 to Seton Hall in the BIG EAST Conference semifinals April 15. First-year midfielder Mattias Sundell and junior defender Maurice Williams scored the early goals for Seton Hall (91-3, 5-1-2 BIG EAST) as they connected with the back of the net against redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Jackson Weyman. Weyman got the start on Thursday after playing just 45 minutes of the regular season. He had not seen time since Feb. 3 against Loyola Chicago. The Golden Eagles were outshot 6-4 through the first 45 minutes of play. They also were not able to get any opportunities from the corner, while the Pirates had three. The first half was a feisty one, as both squads combined for 24 fouls. Only one card was issued before the break, as Marquette defender Jonathan Robinson picked one up in the 38th minute. It was more of the same story following the break, as Williams scored his second goal of the day in the 59th minute. Just over a minute later, Sundell set up junior forward CJ Tibbling for his first goal of the day to push the Seton Hall lead to four. Marquette did show some
fight, as redshirt junior forward Sam Thornton scored the first goal of his career in the 73rd minute to put MU on the board. After being named BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, first-year forward Beto Soto was held to three shots, two of which came on goal. All-BIG EAST First Team selection Lukas Sunesson
was neutralized by the Pirates’ defense. The junior forward took just one shot on the afternoon after scoring a team-high six goals during the regular season. He was able to record the assist on the team’s lone goal of the day. Weyman played all 90 minutes, allowed four goals and tallied one save. On the opposite
end, senior goalkeeper Andreas Nota made six saves and allowed just one goal. The Golden Eagles were outshot 12-11, but put two more shots on goal than Seton Hall. MU also had 19 fouls, which was one more than the Pirates. Despite the loss, Marquette still received an at-large bid into
the NCAA Tournament. For the first time since the 2013 season, the Golden Eagles are continuing their postseason with an NCAA berth. The team will face Loyola Marymount University May 2 in Cary, North Carolina. However, the game’s start time has not been set yet.
Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics
Redshirt sophomore goalie Jackson Weyman (32) warms up before a match March 17. He started the BIG EAST semifinal match against Seton Hall.
14A
Sports
The Marquette Tribune
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
MEN’S LACROSSE
Granger joins SHAPE to break mental health stigma Redshirt sophomore advocates for student athletes’ well-being By Nick Galle
nicholas.galle@marquette.edu
An athlete’s on-field performance is just a sliver of their life. It can be easy for fans to forget when they are cheering for their favorite teams and players on game day. But in the grand scheme of things, these athletes share more experiences with the everyday person than one would think. Athletes have to get their oil changed in their car every 3,000 miles, although they might push the envelope a little bit further like the rest of us. They might find themselves waiting in a long line at the grocery store on a Sunday afternoon because all the registers are swamped with shoppers. They spend time with friends and family around the holidays, catching up with one another while getting bombarded with questions by the aunt they haven’t seen since the fourth grade. These athletes so often come off as superhuman figures, but in reality, they go through the same, often mundane, daily routines that the rest of society does. With these preconceived notions of how an athlete lives, often times there is one thing that tends to get lost in the mix: mental health. Redshirt sophomore defenseman Zach Granger is a peer leader for Student Health Allies & Peer Educators, better known as SHAPE, a group that supports student-athletes and gets them connected with helpful mental health resources. Granger said the group caught his eye and he decided to join because he wanted to get more involved on campus. Although it was outside of his comfort zone, the group’s message resonated with him and he decided to make the commitment. One of SHAPE’s primary goals is to break the stigma surrounding mental health and to show that no one is alone in their journey. Granger said that masculinity is a huge contributor to that stigma. “I think it’s especially stigmatized with male athletes because we talk about being tough, and toughness, and that sort of thing,” Granger said. “And it’s kind of hard to talk about feelings and things of that nature just because of masculinity in general.” The Media, Pennsylvania,
native said that he did not like to talk about his own mental health because he felt like the only person struggling. However, after joining SHAPE, Granger began to realize that he was not alone. “I felt like having that tightknit community allowed me to listen to other people and realize that this is a thing that happens to everybody,” Granger said. “It’s pretty normal honestly and if we can just make it more of a normal conversation, maybe we can help to alleviate those stresses a little bit more.” While it might have been
through those moments, the better relationships you form with your guys.” With both collegiate and professional experience under his belt, Richard said that the longer he is around lacrosse, the more he has realized the stigma being lowered. But sometimes, it’s not even the stigma that holds athletes back from talking about what’s on their mind. “I think a lot of times, it’s not even the stigma that gets in the way, it’s more (that) people play comparing games and they think, ‘well people are going through
getaways from your day-to-day life. You can get out into the city away from campus for a little bit.” Granger said that lacrosse has served as an outlet for him in times where he might be feeling down. Not only has it been a big part of his life, it has also been important to his entire family. “I think lacrosse is huge,” Granger said. “All my friends are lacrosse players, my brother’s a lacrosse player, my parents love lacrosse. We’re a lacrosse family, so that’s always been something I’ve fallen back on. … My
Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics
Zach Granger (27) runs during Marquette’s game against St. John’s April 14. He is a redshirt sophomore defender.
tough to talk about his emotions at the start, Granger said that once he started to build a rapport with certain teammates and coaches, it became natural to be vulnerable. One of those coaches that he built a rapport with was assistant coach and defensive coordinator Jacob Richard. Granger said he and Richard have had plenty of talks about things going on off the field, and Richard was actually the first person he opened up to. “A big reason why coaches work in this business is for the opportunity to be a mentor, and that’s a huge responsibility, and I take it very seriously,” Richard said. “I definitely don’t claim to do it perfectly but sometimes a kid just needs someone to listen to him, and the more you go
worse, I shouldn’t be complaining,’” Richard said. “But really, everyone deals with things differently and if something’s affecting you, than it’s affecting you, no matter how small you perceive it to be.” In order to take a step back from all of the stressors and struggles that arise throughout the season, Richard said a lot of players have found different activities to help them reset and recover. Extra sleep has often helped and a lot of the guys have taken a liking to going out to eat with one another or in a small group to the numerous restaurants Milwaukee has to offer. “That’s just one of the many reasons why Milwaukee’s a great city to go to school in,” Richard said. “It offers those kind of
life revolves around lacrosse, and family.” He has also been able to fall back on his teammates, such as redshirt first-year defenseman Mason Woodward, who is also a member of SHAPE. The two started to build chemistry the summer before Woodward’s first year. Granger had reached out to the incoming players to ask how they were doing and assured them he would be there if anybody needed to talk or hang out. “We kind of started playing wall ball in the fall of freshman year. He goes to the Schroeder wall outside, and then our relationship started to build out there,” Woodward said. “As we got deeper into the season, and playing together, it just continued to grow which was super
fun. We’re super close.” Woodward said that in a year with so much uncertainty due to the pandemic, the team has been trying to do as many things as possible off the field to keep each other’s minds in the right place. Players have been taking advantage of talking with each other over Zoom and Xbox, going outside and socially distancing and finding ways to have some type of face-to-face connection. “I think this year especially has been super important for everyone’s mental health,” Woodward said. “But I think we’ve done a great job of getting guys to different people’s houses to meet new people, but also just trying to have conversations through them if they need to talk during this time, they have us as an ally.” It takes a certain skillset to effectively help others, a skillset that Granger learned through the various mental health workshops that he has been a part of. He said the workshops talked about the resources available on campus, signs of emotional distress and active listening, which Granger considers one of the most important tools in his toolbox. “There’s just certain strategies that we always go over that are really helpful,” Granger said. “Active listening is huge. I never knew any of that stuff before those workshops, and they’re really important for everybody because there’s so many strategies that I’ve never even thought of.” Improving one’s mental health is not a one-day effort. It is a process that takes time. Granger said starting with individual conversations can be a good step on the road to recovery. “I think individual conversations are a lot easier than group ones, at least at the beginning,” Granger said. “Start small and get those few people comfortable. And as you continue to get more and more people comfortable with it, then you can have a team that’s more comfortable. I think our team’s been exposed to it a good amount.” Although everybody is different when it comes to their willingness to open up about how they are feeling, Granger said that for those who are struggling, leaning on someone you care about, who also cares about you, can be a great first step toward healing. “It’s definitely a process,” Granger said. “And if you just learn to love that process and just continue to stick with it and have those support people around you, I mean there’s really nothing that you can’t accomplish with those people. Support at the end of the day is what everybody needs.”
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Sports
The Marquette Tribune
15A
WOMEN’S SOCCER
Rachel Johnson conquers ACL injury in 1st year going to practice and she stood out to me,” Pelaez said. It is the way Johnson plays the game that left a strong first impression with the longtime MU assistant coach. “Her work rate and coachability was so high that I was alBy John Leuzzi ways drawn to her and what she john.leuzzi@marquette.edu was doing,” Pelaez said. “I was Three games into her first-year like, ‘I need this kid on the field season, Marquette women’s soc- because she kind of has everycer redshirt junior midfielder Ra- thing that I’m asking for from chel Johnson’s life changed. all the players when it comes to “It was really defeating,” John- being coachable.’” son said. “I was getting playing As she made a strong first imtime my freshman year and it was pression on her new coach, there really something that was awe- was one Pelaez left on her after some. I was like, ‘OK, I’m get- finding out what he wanted to see ting my name out there. I’m get- out of her and her teammates. ting playing time.’” “He has always said from day After recording a shot on net one that he wants people that in MU’s victory over Drake Aug. want to be here, want to compete, 25, 2017, the Omaha, Nebraska want to better the culture,” Johnnative would suffer a torn ACL son said. “That has always been injury that ended her season. rolled in front of my head, like I “It (just) snapped,” Johnson need to prove something to him said. “It was something that I’ve and to the rest of the team.” never had to deal with. It was While preparing for the upreally tough for me, like men- coming season at home during tally and physically, but with the winter break, Johnson suffered teammates that I had, coaching another setback. staff and athletic training team, In December, she got COthey brought me back to where I VID-19, which put her back a am now.” few weeks. One of those teammates was Johnson said that despite this, senior forward Kylie Sprecher, she kept herself motivated by who knew Johnson prior to com- making sure she would be preing to Marquette, as both par- pared to the best of her ability for ticipated in the 2015 U.S. Youth training camp in January. Soccer Olympic Development She did so by continuing the Program Region II. workouts sent by the team’s “It brought us all closer togeth- strength and conditioning coach er because we lived in McCor- Emily Jacobson. mick which wasn’t necessarily “I had no idea who is starting, super injured-people friendly so who’s playing and nor does that we all worked together to make even matter. It’s, ‘how much do sure she was comfortable and we want it? How much do we kind of support her through that want it to be as a team? How process because that’s a really much do we want to fight for each long, hard journey to come back,” other?,’” Johnson said. “That’s Sprecher said. kind of what led a little fire Johnson said she learned a under me.” sense of appreciation of not Pelaez said in the time he knowing when your last game has been with Johnson, he has might be, among other things seen a form of resiliency which during the recovery process. helped her find a way into the “The recovery process itself starting rotation. taught me a lot about just who “The kid is a warrior when it I am as a person and how much comes on the field and we needgrowth that I had to develop and ed her on the field at all times still do all the time,” Johnson because she’s kind of a defensaid. “But just knowing how to sive midfielder who covers so be vulnerable and asking for much ground and just wreaks help, is something that I learned a havoc against any forwards or lot too.” attacking midfielders constantly,” Despite returning to the pitch Pelaez said. last season for MU, it wasn’t until Johnson said Pelaez’s emthe spring 2020 season that John- phasis of working on the little son began to feel fully healthy things in practice — passing, and like herself again. first touches, shooting — reIt was at the same time Frank minded her of the importance Pelaez took over the program of honing your craft in on the as its fourth head coach and be- basics because it would lead to gan to instill his philosophy for bigger things. the program. She would be rewarded for that “At the very beginning of my work March 18 in the Golden first two weeks of practice, I tried Eagles 3-1 victory over Xavier to set a standard on how we’re as the midfielder scored her first
Midfielder sees hard work pay off, scores first goal March 18
Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics
Redshirt junior midfielder Rachel Johnson (23) dribbles the ball in Marquette’s game agiainst Michigan in 2019.
collegiate goal. “I don’t even remember doing it, I just remember cheering afterwards,” Johnson said. “I’ve never been someone that cares a lot about who gets what goal or what, but it was something that was super exciting for me, as it’s been a long time since I’ve scored in the real game.” Sprecher said it has been very fulfilling for her to see everything come into fruition now for her friend and teammate. “To go through this entire journey with her and see her where it started, where it wasn’t as great and very unfortunate to now where she’s making such a difference in feeling like her best self. That’s a really cool experience to be able to go along with her,” Sprecher said. Sprecher mentioned one strength that Johnson brought to the offensive unit this year was her ability to never give up. “She just never gets tired. Frank (Pelaez) describes her as a motor and she’s definitely the motor of our team,” Sprecher said. “So it makes you want to also do that.” For Johnson, it was her work ethic in action. “Frank likes to call us horses, like, he wants horses on the team who will always fight, always running around, work their ass off
to get the ball back, to score goals and that is something I would help kind of emphasize too,” Johnson said. Through adversity and challenges, Johnson’s confidence grew on the pitch this season. Pelaez said that was the biggest area of growth he saw from her, as she started all 17 games. “She knew she had a role. She knew that she was going to work for her teammates and it was one of these things that I just see her confidence growing and growing,” Pelaez said. “She’s more invested. She’s not a renter. She’s like a homeowner now, and that’s what you want from the whole team.” Pelaez said from the outside, people don’t get to see an important trait Johnson has that allows her to be the person she is on and off the pitch. “She’s very businesslike, but not in a cold way,” Pelaez said. “She’s got a great tenderness to her on how she talks to people. But then, when you go 1 vs. 1 against her, she is like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde: She wants to win. She’ll do anything for it and I think that makes her so different because she’s able to turn it on that aggressiveness when it comes to competing.” In what was an unprecedented
season, Marquette finished 6-4 overall, 4-4 in BIG EAST play and the team placed third in the BIG EAST Midwest Division. Though the Golden Eagles came up one game short from ending a two-year postseason absence, Johnson said it was incredible how everyone on the team came together this season. “I could just tell from the first couple games, ‘OK we got a whole freaking journey to go through. We are on fire, where is this team coming from? We haven’t done this in the last couple years.’ But yeah, it was unfortunate that we did fall short,” Johnson said. After one of Marquette’s games this season, an opposing coach came up to Pelaez and said “Marquette’s back,” according to Johnson. Since then, it has stayed with her as she now goes into preparing for her final season in the blue and gold. “Ever since then, I’ve gotten these chills (because) I’ve never had that experience being like a true Marquette winning, tough team,” Johnson said. “The last time that kind of happened was my freshman year, when I wasn’t able to kind of play with the team, so being a part of it this last year and kind of getting it going really excites me for the future.”
Sports
16A The Marquette Tribune
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Shaka Smart adds five players, refines coaching staff Roster changes include Theo John transferring to Duke By Nick Galle and Matt Yeazel
nicholas.galle@marquette.edu matthew.yeazel@marquette.edu
Marquette men’s basketball head coach Shaka Smart announced the addition of five players to the program April 15. Three high school recruits, who committed to Smart at Texas, have re-committed to Smart at Marquette: guard Emarion Ellis and forwards David Joplin and Keeyan Itejere. Additionally, two transfers have committed to the program, guard Tyler Kolek, who is leaving George Mason, and forward Oliver-Maxence Prosper, who is leaving Clemson. Smart said that he expects the transfers to get a waiver to play right away next season. These five newcomers are in addition to high school guards Kameron Jones and Stevie Mitchell, who have remained committed to the program after originally signing under Steve Wojciechowski. “We knew with the coaching change that there was some work to be done in terms of managing our roster,” Smart said. “Trying to add pieces that may fit with who we want to be, we’re excited about the progress we’ve made, but we’re not done yet.” Joplin, a Brookfield, Wisconsin native, announced his commitment to Marquette on Wednesday morning. The 6-foot-7 forward is a four-star prospect and is ranked 74th nationally in his class by 247Sports. “We would have re-committed to Joplin no matter where he was from, but it was serendipitous
that he is from here in the Milwaukee area,” Smart said. “He knows that I trust and believe in him, and there’s a positional need for him here.” Joplin and the other two forwards, Prosper and Itejere, could have key roles next season since the program will be losing some size in Theo John and Jamal Cain, who entered the transfer portal, and the potential loss of Dawson Garcia, who is testing the NBA Draft process. The 6-foot-8 forward, Prosper, from Mexico, was a four-star prospect out of high school, but averaged just 9.7 minutes per game with Clemson last season. Smart said he’ll look to Prosper in many different positions on the court. “He’s very live bodied and athletic. It’s exciting because I think he’s going to continue to get stronger,” Smart said. “He’s gonna be a guy who makes a good impact on our program from day one.” Finally the tallest of the group, 6-foot-9 forward Keeyan Itejere, from Raleigh, North Carolina, is a three-star prospect. Smart is impressed by his notable length. “He’s a great mover, can really defend and block shots,” Smart said. “I don’t know if I’ve seen many guys that size move laterally.” Smart mentioned for both Joplin and Itejere, strength will be the key factor in their development. “If we can get Joplin into elite shape, he’s really going to be able to affect the game in different ways,” Smart said. “For Keeyan, he’s thin. The first thing after he signed was get on a Zoom with Todd Smith (Marquette strength and condition coach).” If Garcia were to leave for the NBA, the forwards remaining from last year’s Golden Eagle
Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics
Senior Theo John (4) shoots a hook shot in Marquette’s win over University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill Feb. 24.
team would be Justin Lewis and Oso Ighodaro. Smart said that both have looked good in the workouts he’s had with the team to this point. “I’m really excited about their growth, and I’m proud of Ighodaro and how he’s grown since we were recruiting him at Texas,” Smart said. “Justin’s been really good, I’m excited about his potential and the type of player he can become.” Onto the guards, 6-foot-3 transfer from George Mason, Tyler Kolek is originally from Cumberland, Rhode Island. The lefthanded shooter averaged 10.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.3 assists, while connecting on 2.4 threes a game at a 35.8% clip. “He’s about the things that go into winning,” Smart said. “He has a chip on his shoulder, and he can really shoot the basketball, I’m really excited
Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics
MUBB men’s basketball head coach Shaka Smart added two transfers and three commits to his roster April 15.
about him.” Ellis is a four-star recruit from Davenport, Iowa. The 6-foot-5 guard just missed the 247Sports top 100 ranking in his class, at 103 in the nation. He averaged 18.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 2.1 steals a game in his senior season at Assumption High School. “He’s the youngest of the guys we’ve signed, really young for his grade, and he’s really on a great trajectory,” Smart said. “Has good size, can pass the ball and is very smooth with the ball. He’s got a really bright future.” Smart also spoke about Stevie Mitchell and his conversations with him since he took over as head coach. Mitchell, a four-star, 6-foot-2 guard, is ranked No. 93 on ESPN’s Top 100 list for the 2021 class. “We’ve had great conversations, I’ve really enjoyed getting to know him talking about basketball and stuff not related to basketball,” Smart said. “He told me that he just wants to win, and that’s really exciting. He absolutely fits into what I believe.” As Smart said, the work on the roster is not done, however, the roster does currently stand at 14 scholarship players, with 13 being the maximum. Garcia’s decision to either go to the NBA or remain in college, as well as other players potentially transferring will have an impact on the finalized roster for next season. Additionally, Theo John will be using his final year of eligibility to play under Mike Krzyzewski at Duke University, the forward announced April 16 on Twitter. It was originally reported that John was going to pursue professional opportunities, but he
will now head to Durham, North Carolina, to join the Blue Devils. He averaged eight points, five rebounds, 1.5 blocks and 1.2 assists this past season as a senior for the Golden Eagles. Marquette Athletics also announced the additions of Neill Berry, Cody Hatt, DeAndre Haynes and Nevada Smith to the men’s basketball coaching staff. Berry will serve as an assistant coach after spending three seasons with Shaka Smart at Texas. He also has coaching experience with Iowa State, High Point University, the University of South Carolina and Western Kentucky. Hatt will also serve as an assistant coach after six seasons on the Texas staff. He served as an assistant coach and the director of basketball operations during his tenure with the Longhorns. After serving as an assistant coach at Kent State, Toledo, Michigan and Maryland, Haynes comes to Milwaukee after helping lead the Terps to a 2020 Big Ten Championship. He has been a part of three NCAA Tournament teams and assisted the Wolverines to a Final Four appearance during the 2017-18 season. Following five seasons as a GLeague head coach, Smith spent last season at Texas under Smart as Director of Program Development. At Marquette, he will serve as Special Assistant to the Head Coach. During his time in the GLeague, Smith coached current NBA players such as Clint Capela, Robert Covington, Duncan Robinson and former Milwaukee Buck Torrey Craig, who was with the team for about four months this season. The team’s first game of next season will be played Nov. 9.
WIRE WATCHDOG Tuesday, April 20, 2021 This investigative edition will focus on concerns and issues that have risen due to COVID-19.
Putting vaccine questions to the test
1B
Some concerned about long-term effects, use of fetal tissue, FDA approval
By Beck Salgado
beck.salgado@marquette.edu
As Milwaukee businesses, classrooms and sports stadiums are all starting to open their long-closed doors to the public, the availability of various vaccines in recent weeks at locations like the Wisconsin Center have played a large part in getting life back to normal. More than 27.5% of Wisconsin residents are fully vaccinated, with 3,870,751 total doses administered, as of April 18. Endless social media posts of vaccine cards aside, there are some students who have protests about getting the vaccine. But what information is available to aid or abate these anxieties? Do the COVID-19 vaccines have long-term effects? Jaque Contreras Saavedra, a Junior in the College of Engineering, was initially on the fence about getting vaccinated. Contreras Saavedra, despite her concerns, said that ultimately she decided to get vaccinated because “the pros outweigh the cons,” but this doesn’t change the fact that she was and is worried. “At first I had a lot of uncertainty and doubts about getting vaccinated because I was just worried about the lack of research about the long-term effects … honestly it is still a worry of mine,” Contreras Saavedra said. While Contreras Saavedra’s long-term worries are not uncommon, there is evidence to suggest that long-term effects are highly unlikely. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website, “Vaccine monitoring has historically shown that if side effects are going to happen, they generally happen within six weeks of receiving a vaccine dose.” as for short term side effects, these are more common and include: swelling, redness and pain at the injection site, fever, headache, tiredness, muscle pain, chills and nausea. It was because of this information that the Food and Drug Administration made the decision to require each of the authorized COVID-19 vaccines to be studied for at least two months — or eight weeks — after the final dose to ensure there were no complications. This is also why the CDC states that longterm side effects are unlikely, as “these vaccines will undergo the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history.”
The three most prominent vaccines available in the United States are Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson, according to the CDC. As for what type of vaccines all of the three major options are; the Moderna and Pfizer options are both mRNA vaccines which teach our cells how to make a protein—or even just a piece of a protein—that triggers an immune response inside our bodies. The Johnson & Johnson option is different in that it is a vector vaccine. The vector vaccine will enter a cell in our bodies and then use the cell’s machinery to produce a harmless piece of the virus that causes COVID-19 and in turn an immunity. As for how a vaccine does get approved, and how math and science can assure its effectiveness and safety, Henry Kranendonk, a professor of statistics at Marquette, gave some clarifications. “It’s important for us to realize the process (of how a vaccine gets approved) itself. If you follow the statistics, then when more data is being collected and analyzed, we can realize that getting the vaccine is the safest thing to do,” Kranendonk said about how a lack of complications suggests that the vaccine is safe. Kranendonk emphasized that science is sometimes “fluid,” or changing, and because of that statistics can help determine the safety of certain vaccines because seeing numbers can be more assuring. He also mentioned the recent halt of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine distribution at federal sites because of risk of blood clots. The more accessible a vaccine becomes, the larger the sample size becomes, and you could see rare adverse effects, he said. Kranendonk didn’t say that halting the vaccine was unjustified, but rather that statistics can allow us to see the risk factors for a situation like that versus the danger that you put yourself and others in by not getting the vaccine. Do the vaccines use fetal tissue? Some students are not worried about the science associated with the vaccine, but rather the moral questions that stem from its production and use. Ellen Sharp, a Sophomore in the College of Education, is a contributing writer for the Eagle Free Press — a conservative publication run by five Marquette students. It was there she published an article questioning the morality of the
COVID-19 vaccines, specifically the Johnson & Johnson option. Her worries were predicated on her passionate Catholic belief that abortions are immoral and the use of fetal cell lines in the vaccines is also immoral. According to Nebraska Medicine, the COVID-19 vaccines do not contain aborted fetal cells, but cell lines. The difference is that rather than being direct fetal cell tissue, a fetal cell line is grown in a lab and derives from cells taken from elective abortions in the 1970s and 80s. Sharp further expressed worries about the use of the fetal cell lines in the stages of vaccine development, confirmation and production. “Pfizer or Moderna are okay (morally) because they only use it (fetal cell lines) one (development) out of the three stages…However, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which I am not for, uses these fetal cell lines in all three of their stages,” Sharp said. In December the Catholic Church officially announced, in response to anxieties about the fetal cell lines, that getting the COVID-19 vaccine is morally OK. In January Pope Francis received doses of the Pfizer vaccine, and last month the Catholic Church announced that it is OK to get the Johnson & Johnson vaccine specifically. In a January interview, Pope Francis has already made comments encouraging people to get vaccinated, “I believe that morally everyone must take the vaccine,” justifying his statement by explaining, “It is the moral choice because it is about your life but also the lives of others.” Additionally, other common vaccines like the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, Hepatitis A vaccines, Varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, Zoster (shingles) vaccine and the rabies vaccine all use fetal cell lines. In response to this, Sharp said that she still has worries about the issue as she is “passionate about pro-life,” but Sharp did eventually say that she encourages everyone to get any COVID-19 vaccine as it is the safest thing for everyone: She just prefers the Johnson & Johnson vaccine be avoided. Are vaccines effective against variants? Alex DeSimone, a first-year in the College of Arts & Sciences, said he does not want to get a vaccine. Like Sharp, he is also worried
about the morality of the vaccines, but he said his biggest anxieties stem from whether it will work against variants. He cited complications in South Africa with how the various vaccines are adapting to a new strain of COVID-19. “They started getting the vaccine (in South Africa) — I’m not sure if it was Pfizer or which one it was —but if you look at the people who got vaccinated, and people who got coronavirus after they were vaccinated, you see that this rare strain is actually making people more susceptible to getting coronavirus, for that reason I’m going to pass on it,” DeSimone said. The strain in South Africa that DeSimone is talking about is the B.1.351 strain, which is regarded by experts as one of the most challenging variants to date. The idea that vaccines are ineffective against this particular strain isn’t quite true, however. According to a New York Times article citing a large study of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine in South Africa, it was found that “it (the Johnson & Johnson vaccine) was about 85% effective at preventing severe disease, and lowered risk for mild to moderate disease by 64%.” In comparison, AstraZeneca, the most common COVID-19 vaccine in South Africa, is believed to “not do much to protect against mild illness caused by B.1.351, but scientists said they believed the vaccine might protect against more severe cases, based on the immune responses.” It is important to note here that the term efficacy is not as simple as it may seem. For example, 90% efficacy does not mean 10% of people will be infected. This number is determined by how much better the vaccinated group in a study performs when compared to the unvaccinated group. If both groups have 100 people in them and a vaccine has 90% efficacy, this does not mean that 10 vaccinated people got infected. Rather, this means that if the unvaccinated group has 10 people get infected and to achieve 90% efficacy the vaccinated group must only have one person become ill. When looking at the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines’ effectiveness against the South African strain, it is believed, according to the previous NYT article, that those vac-
cines could reduce risk by 60-70%, which Adi Stern, the study’s senior author and a professor at the Shmunis School of Biomedicine and Cancer Research at Tel Aviv University, said is still an “extremely high” efficacy. DeSimone also expressed befuddlement at why the vaccines are not fully effective. A USA Today article states that is a combination of two main things: bad luck and variants. Is the vaccine FDA approved? Grace Armstrong, A Junior studying English Education at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, is already vaccinated but has only one concern, that the COVID-19 vaccines are not Food and Drug Administration approved. While none of the three main vaccines — Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson — are approved, all three have been given emergency use authorizations. According to the FDA website, emergency use authorizations allow the “FDA to help strengthen the nation’s public health protections against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats including infectious diseases, by facilitating the availability and use of medical countermeasures (MCMs) needed during public health emergencies.” To get an FDA emergency use authorization the website states “for an EUA to be issued for a vaccine, for which there is adequate manufacturing information to ensure quality and consistency, FDA must determine that the known and potential benefits outweigh the known and potential risks of the vaccine.” It has been reported by ABC that Moderna has released the results of its vaccine trial after six months, which will allow it to seek full FDA approval, and is an indicator that it may be able to get said approval. Armstrong did say that she has confidence in the vaccine, however, and said that there are other things that we put in our body which she is more worried about. “I’ll hear people say that they are worried about what’s in the vaccine and then see those same people do hard drugs at a party,” Armstrong said in response to speculation about what is in the vaccine. There is definitive and clear information about what is in each vaccine, and it is posted on the CDC website.
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Loss of community
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Underclassmen struggle with new version of residence hall living, off campus options By Maria Crenshaw
maria.crenshaw@marquette.edu
Hope Johnson, a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences, opened her computer and scanned her inbox Nov. 10, 2020, searching for the email containing the final decision to her housing exemption form. The decision made by the Housing Appeals Board would determine where she would be staying in the spring semester: an apartment or at home, away from campus. Whether from concerns about safety, mental health, quick deadlines or a lack of community, housing during the 2020-2021 school year has been different and difficult for many students. “Based upon the information available, the Housing Appeal Board has denied your Request for Termination, Release, or Exemption from the University Housing Agreement,” the email from Rachel Tepps, the assistant director of University Apartments and Off Campus Student Services, stated in its finality. Johnson, a previous resident of Schroeder Hall, had filled out a housing exemption form after the Schroeder lockdown in September where residents were quarantined for 14 days after 3% of the building testing positive for COVID-19. Johnson had hoped to take advantage of the opportunity to live off campus as a sophomore during the spring semester. After the lockdown, Johnson recalled experiencing feelings of isolation and discomfort from how the university and other students around her were responding to COVID-19. She stated these concerns in her exemption form. “I said that the isolation from the lockdown was affecting the mental health; They declined me, that’s why I’m home,” Johnson said. Johnson recalls being shocked and frustrated that she wasn’t allowed to get an apartment. As a final option, she decided to finish the school year virtually from home. “I can only be accountable for myself. There are so many people
living in dorms that I don’t have control over ...” Johnson said. Tepps stated in her email to the Marquette Wire that she did not have access to the number of sophomores who were denied exemption from living in the residence halls, but did state the requirements changed between the fall and spring semesters. “Sophomores could be released for any reason, as long as they requested an exemption prior to the start of the fall semester ... in spring, any first or second year students who were enrolled in all online courses and living at their permanent address could request to be released from their housing requirement,” Tepps said in an email. This means that the requirements of exemption changed for sophomores after the start of the fall semester. Before school started in August, if sophomores filled out the exemption form and stated they wanted to be released of their residence hall requirement, they would be. Sophomores who completed this form in the short time period could choose to be in an apartment the start of the fall semester, the start of the spring semester or they could remain at their permanent address completely online. Claire Flynn, a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences, was able to get an apartment her second semester because she filled out the housing exemption form before school started in the fall. Johnson, however, was not allowed to due to the changes in requirements and the fact she filled out the form later in the year. Due to this, Johnson’s only options were staying in her residence hall or returning home for the spring. Flynn also lived in Schroeder Hall during the fall semester but had made different living arrangements for the spring before the fall semester started. Flynn is currently living in an off-campus apartment near campus. Flynn and her roommates anticipated problems that could come
with living in a dorm, especially one that had communal bathrooms. “We decided we’d do a semester in the dorms and a semester in the apartment when we got that email from Marquette (in August). We got to the dorms and people weren’t being safe and we were like ‘oh we have to share a bathroom, with them’ so that is why we made that decision to not keep living there,” Flynn said. Similar to Johnson, Flynn recalled the first semester being stressful with the lockdown in September and overall feelings surrounding her safety in communal housing during the pandemic. Once the lockdown occurred, Flynn decided to finish the fall semester at home and then return in the spring to her apartment. When sophomores received the email Aug. 5, 2020, granting them the option to be released from their residential living requirement, they had just over two weeks to decide whether they wanted to live in a dorm or an apartment, find an apartment and sign their leases. This quick turnaround meant that many sophomores, like Johnson and Flynn, did not have the time to find an apartment before the start of the fall semester. “I wish that the university would have told us earlier about sophomores being exempt from the housing requirement,” Johnson said. “I just thought (having an apartment) would give me more control over everything.” Tania Avallone, a sophomore in the College of Communication, has lived in Cobeen Hall during the entire school year. “I feel like Marquette didn’t give us enough time to prepare and actually find a place,” Avallone said, “I would have definitely gotten an apartment, it would have saved me so much money.” Based on 2020-2021 tuition and housing fees, room and board in the residence halls at Marquette can cost anywhere between $11,000 to almost $15,000 dollars a school year. In contrast, the rates for Mar-
quette apartments during the 20202021 school year ranged from $500 to a little over $2,000 dollars per month. This cost can be split between roommates. While Avallone was not denied the opportunity to live in an apartment, she felt she was unable to research her options properly with the timeframe given and ultimately decided staying in the residence hall was easiest. Traditionally, students are required to lived in residence halls their first two years at Marquette. However, this year, in many ways, has proven to be different. “We (the Office of Residential Life) were looking for a way to de-densify the residence halls as the pandemic was continuing to evolve,” Mary Janz, executive director of Housing and Residence Life, said in an email. The final decision was to allow a one-time release for current sophomores to move offcampus and first-year students with all online courses were allowed to live at their permanent address. Janz said in an email during this past year, 3,475 students, not including Residential Assistants, lived on campus. She also said 2,380 lived in residence halls and 1,095 lived in university apartments. According to the Office of Residence Life’s website, about 3,406 students normally live in residence halls. According to Janz, the office did not track how many underclassmen signed leases this year. Even sophomores who were able to successfully opt out of their residence hall living requirements experienced stress from adjustments that come with living in an apartment. “I’m definitely very happy with the apartment right now, but if it wasn’t for COVID I would have wanted to stay in the dorm for the whole two years … being in a floor with a bunch of other students was really nice,” Flynn said. The experience in dorms and apartments can be different in a variety of ways. Students not in apartments pay for Marquette’s Anytime
Dining meal plan, whereas students in apartments either don’t have a meal plan or only have the Loyalty 50 meal plan, which is limited. In residence halls, Residential Assistants are responsible for implementing floor meetings, which helps build community in the dorms. Students in apartments have a much more independent experience and do not have this built-in floor community. In residence halls, there are also more enforced rules with drinking, quiet hours, pets, decoration, visitation, etc. Max Mantych, a sophomore in the College of Health Sciences, was also very happy to be able to live in an apartment during the fall and spring semesters, but misses the community often found in residence hall living. “I definitely miss the idea of living in the dorm. Especially because Library Hill (Apartments) is a quieter apartment and I’m more extroverted person so I miss being able to walk out in the hallway and talk to my floormates,” Mantych said. “That’s also a version of the dorms that doesn’t exist right now.” Zach Molcyzk, a first-year student in the College of Engineering, said he is struggling with this new version of form life that has come with the pandemic. “I’m going to be very honest, it kinda sucks. The dorms are a little different than what I expected. When I first got to Cobeen I was really excited… (but) with COVID and everything there aren’t many events and you can’t really tell if people are smiling or talking to you,” Molczyk said. In the future not as actively disrupted by COVID-19, all first-year and sophomore students will be required to live on campus if they choose to attend Marquette University, Tepps said in an email to the Marquette Wire. Molczyk, and other underclassmen, hope for and miss the social community normally associated with residence hall life that has been absent this past year.
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Planning for post graduation Seniors forced to rethink, adjust to uncertain pandemic job market
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
By Lelah Byron and Amanda Parrish
lelah.byron@marquette.edu amanda.parrish@marquette.edu
Ravi Patel feels lucky. At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic last spring, Patel, a senior in the College of Business Administration, had secured a finance internship at a distribution facility in Illinois. Although he worried the internship would be canceled or pushed back due to COVID-19, from May until August, Patel gained firsthand experience with the booming e-commerce economy. “Experience is key,” Patel said. “A lot of people get hung-up on GPA, which is important, but what I found employers are looking for are people who have real-world experience they can give to a company at a very young age.” But for other graduating seniors, COVID-19 impacted their original plans for their lives after graduating from Marquette. These struggles are reflective of obstacles faced by last year’s graduates. Forty percent of respondents answered “yes” to the question of whether the pandemic had impacted post-graduation plans, according to Marquette’s Undergraduate First Destination Survey for the 20192020 graduating cohort. When students were invited to elaborate on how their plans had changed, several themes emerged, including general difficulties with the job search process, canceled internships and hire freezes on fields of interest. “If employment is lower, and unemployment is higher, there will probably be a little bit harder of a time finding the ideal job right after graduation,” Nicholas Jolly, associate professor of economics, said. For Daniel DeWald, a senior in the College of Health Sciences, with COVID-19 came the unexpected loss of pre-med research opportunities, and his next steps became less certain. “No hospitals were open to visitors this past summer, so I really wasn’t able to get that experience I wanted to,” DeWald said. DeWald made plans to take the Medical College Admissions Test his senior year rather than his junior year like most pre-med students. But because clinical experience was hard to come by during COVID-19, his plan for one gap year became plans for two. Students may feel ashamed of taking a gap year, or feel nervous about telling others about their decision, DeWald said. Although his friends and colleagues have been supportive of him, the pre-med majors can be competitive and drive students to compare themselves to others. “It makes me sad, and I wish I could have my future laid out
for me like they do already,” DeWald said. Courtney Hanson, director of Marquette’s Career Services Center, said in an email that while the pandemic has caused a bump in the road for students’ futures, there has been a wide array of reactions. Some students have had the fortune of pursuing careers that have thrived through the pandemic, while others are entering hard-hit industries. “Some students have career interests that align with industries
remains unclear. While unemployment, as of March 2021, is down from April 2020, at 6%, it is still significantly higher than its pre-pandemic 3.5% in February 2020, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Longterm unemployment (those without a job for 27 weeks or more) numbers are up 3.1 million since prepandemic, but haven’t changed significantly over the past month. “It seems like we’ve reached this plateau, and things are slowly getting better, but that recovery
The Marquette Tribune
nesses reported that they would be decreasing their college graduate hires, compared to the fall. Some, however, still fear the uncertainty of the labor market, and have opted for pursuing volunteer opportunities or shifted their focus to graduate school, Hanson said. “Other students have realized they need to consider their skills and knowledge more broadly and are pivoting to work that will use their skills and help them grow, but may not be the exact path they imagined for themselves pre-pan-
Undergraduate First Destinations Survey: Impacts of COVID-19. COVID-19 Impact on PostGraduation Plans
35%
Fully Engaged*
59%
Other, Not Seeking**
67%
Seeking Employment
74%
Unsure of Plans
40%
Overall
Impact
Themes
19%
Job Start Delay
Location Change
15% 14%
Rescinded Job Offer/Furlough/Laid Off
Difficulty Finding a Job
13% 10%
Hire Freeze
10%
Internship Cancellation/Delay/Availability
*Includes those employed full-time, in graduate/professional school, in the military or engaged in service **Includes those employed part-time, those planning to enroll in graduate/professional school and those not seeking employment or further education
Source: 2019-2020 Undergraduate First Destination Survey Executive Summary
Graphic by Amanda Parrish amanda.parrish@marquette.edu
that have done well during the pandemic and they are able to secure a position that aligns directly with their career goals,” Hanson said. Among the fields that have done well are e-commerce, information technology support services and medical research. For Linus Gilius, senior in the College of Business Administration, the pandemic has not affected his confidence in the post-graduation job market. “The pandemic created a new normal moving forward in this working environment and I think graduating seniors will be at advantage of this,” Gilius said. The COVID-19 pandemic caused substantial short-term disruptions to the labor market, but the long-term improvement of specific industries
hasn’t been fully achieved yet,” Jolly said. “We’ve kind of stalled, from a national labor market point of view.” Among the hardest hit industries from COVID-19 shutdowns are air transportation, food services and hotels. However, the decrease in unemployment from April seems to be pointing toward job growth as businesses and industries continue to re-open, which may be promising for graduates. With vaccine rollouts and the re-opening of businesses, many employers report that they will be increasing their college graduate hiring numbers, compared to the fall, according to the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Further, significantly fewer busi-
demic,” she said. While graduate school had always been the plan, the pandemic expedited the process for Grace Kaniewski, senior in the College of Arts & Sciences. Kaniewski said she had planned to take a gap year, but feared she wouldn’t find a job, and opted to apply to graduate school right away. “COVID actually kinda pushed me almost a little more ... I always wanted to go into health care, but everything seemed so bad and it seemed like a way I could be a part of the help,” Kaniewski said. While she is confident in her decision to attend Northeastern University in the fall to pursue a career as a psychiatric nurse practitioner, Kaniewski is apprehensive about not being able to save up prior to
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attending graduate school. She said she also feels nervous jumping back into a rigorous schedule after the flexibility of hybrid learning, though she doesn’t necessarily feel unprepared skill-wise. “I’ve kinda begun to teach myself a little at this point,” she said. “I was nervous if I was going to be ready to go back into the classroom at high speed when I had been in this weird academic transition period for a year and a half.” With a year of self-teaching and lost experience, Kaniewski said she expects the integration of new graduates into the workforce to be slowed down as extra on-the-job training may be required. Some of her friends feel similarly, with lost internships taking a toll on their feelings of preparedness, she said. “Eventually, (graduates) will be mobile through different jobs and different employers, and eventually their earnings will accumulate and grow … it just takes a lot longer,” Jolly said. DeWald feels assured in taking more time to sort out his future. “The world is so different from what it was when I was studying a year ago,” DeWald said. “With all the stress going on with COVID-19 and other academic things, a lot of people are spending a lot more time trying to get their lives together.” The more vocal DeWald is about his plan with others, the more students he finds who are in similar boats, he said. “I had a conversation with one of my classmates, and I was telling her about my gap years, and she was like, ‘oh, I’m so happy talking to you about this, because I think I’m going to have to do the same thing,’” DeWald said. This month, the Office of Institutional Research Analysis launched the 2021 Graduating Senior Survey with a few COVID-19 adjustments to the current senior class. The survey catalogues graduating seniors’ overall experiences with their Marquette education, engagement in cocurricular activities and immediate plans for the future. “They have now had over a year to adjust to our remote learning environment and are in a unique position to reflect back on their years at Marquette both pre-pandemic and currently,” Laura MacBride, associate director of institutional research, wrote in an email. Despite all of these obstacles and adjustments, plans are ultimately being made, even if not to graduates’ original trajectory. In his two gap years, DeWald plans to take his MCAT, apply for clinical experience and apply to medical school. “I am going to be a completely different person two years out of college than I would be if I had gone straight to medical school,” DeWald said. “I’m looking forward to that person I am going to be.”
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Teaching and technology Professors, students develop new strategies for hybrid coursework
technology and the different learning modalities that were new for many. grace.dawson@marquette.edu “It is important to take advantage Marquette professors across dis- of what we have learned and expericiplines have been implementing enced to continue growing and procreative teaching strategies and viding multiple pathways to reach shifting course materials to most ef- educational goals,” Parés-Toral said. Jennifer Fenton, who teaches refectively teach during this period of motely as an adjunct in the public mixed course modality. Although Marquette has been of- service graduate program, said that, fering online courses for over a de- with what happened last March, cade, the pandemic has accelerated she learned that a lot of faculty the implementation of different on- were “not using online infrastrucline technologies and opportunities. tures to support their courses and For the spring 2021 semes- course management.” “There is a lot of lack of literacy ter, there are 1,176 students who are enrolled fully online. Moving here, especially among senior faculforward, the goal is to be fully in ty, and some are unfortunately very person by fall 2021, María Parés- skeptical of the value of online learnToral, director of online pedagogy ing management systems to support and e-learning production, said. student learning,” Fenton said. Fenton distributed an accessibilWhile there may still be undergraduate courses in the strategic ity survey to her students when the communication degree offered on- shutdown happened, which allowed line, as the degree is fully online for her to adapt courses accordingly. “We need to build space into our normally, the plan is to return to courses to listen to students, and to pre-pandemic modalities. Several professors who will be take their concerns and their perreturning to teach in person shared ceptions of their learning needs seriously,” Fenton, who will cona sentiment of excitement about it. “I thoroughly want that to hap- tinue to teach online courses next pen,” Anthony Bowman, research semester, said. Bowman said that his homeassistant professor of mechanical engineering, said. “As professors, work policies have changed due we like the engagement of stu- to COVID-19 and the changes in dents, teaching and doing research. course modality. “We’ve tried to reduce the amount And I think the students feel the of homework, but increase the qualsame way.” A fully online course takes about ity,” Bowman said. For next semester, Bowman cites five to six months for professors to plan, Parés-Toral said. Faculty have online exams as something he wants therefore developed skills with to get rid of. By Grace Dawson
“They’re not a great assessment tool,” Bowman said. In response to feedback from the recent survey on university climate, which gauges how Marquette community members feel about different aspects of the culture and resources at the university, Marquette formed the Electronic Technology Accessibility Committee to ensure electronic information and technology is accessible to “all members of the Marquette community and beyond.” Part of that effort was the campuswide implementation of Microsoft Teams, which was accelerated at the onset of the pandemic, Parés-Toral said. Alongside the rollout were facilitated training and online resources for faculty and students. Back in the spring of 2020, Bowman tried different recording software to give students as much of an immersive experience as possible. One of these was Panopto, where students could switch between different video streams in order to see different parts as they were explained. Michael Danduran, clinical associate professor of exercise science, implemented a variety of creative strategies to help engage students throughout their online classes. In his exercise testing prescription course last spring, he took efforts to split lectures up into smaller chunks. These lectures could be watched at any time by the students, which Danduran also found helpful. Within these lectures, Danduran incorporated what he called “Easter
eggs,” offering extra credit to students who found them. “It kind of guaranteed me that if nothing else, I had people watching the lectures or listening to them because I’d hide them at any point in time during the lecture,” Danduran said. A major new element of Danduran’s teaching this year has been roundtable group discussions. Similarly to breakout groups, he will have students sit in a socially-distanced area during the in-person lab sections of his class and work through a clinical case or a problem. He anticipates that this new element will remain a feature of his classes going into the future. “Those are things that I’m definitely going to keep in the lab situations, and even in the classroom settings,” Danduran said. Danduran and Bowman both plan on continuing to record their lectures even when their classes go back to an in-person modality. “As long as they’ll support Teams and keep the files stored, I’ll continue to do that,” Bowman said. However, Danduran wonders if this might result in the loss of students who will no longer come to class if they know they can watch the lecture at a separate time. Danduran has noticed that, while his in-person labs had good attendance, the hybrid lectures had lower attendance than lectures normally would. Mickey Mattox, professor of theology, said he has been in person all
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
year, and has felt safe doing so. He anticipates a broader return to normalcy next semester. “There’s been a lot of measures taken nationally, internationally and certainly at Marquette. I have no quarrel with what’s been done, but given the protocols that were in place, I never felt uncomfortable going to the classroom,” Mattox said. Mattox also said that, for many of the undergraduate students in his THEO 3230 class, this was their only in-person class. “I know that I heard from many of them that it was a relief to have something that seemed at least seminormal,” Mattox said. In terms of attendance, Mattox has emphsized the importance of focusing on everybody doing the best that they can. Zoom meetings allow quarantining students to not miss material, and Mattox is making an effort to check up on students outside of class. “I did this because I know the way things have been were lonelinessinducing. Everyone was prone to loneliness and maybe feelings of despair,” Mattox said. “So it was really great, to catch up with folks and hear how people are doing and get to know them a little bit better.” Bowman has worked to make inperson options available to students whenever possible. He has implemented an “ABC” rotation for his course that meets Monday, Wednesday and Friday, for students to alternate coming in person. Read more at marquettewire.org.
Tutoring available for burnout
Although students are tired of virtual commitments, services remain accessible for those struggling By Aspen Ramos
aspen.ramos@marquette.edu
The phrase “burned out” has become ubiquitous throughout the pandemic. Across colleges, Marquette undergraduate and graduate students alike have reported consistent levels of academic stress resulting from COVID-19 challenges in the classroom. As the pandemic continues to challenge students’ mental health, tutoring programs have provided academic support during the anxiety-inducing school year. Marquette’s tutoring program accommodates around 5,000 tutorial requests per year, according to its website. Dawn Barrett, associate director of the tutorial program at Marquette, said that a common theme among students who visit the tutoring center is how they have become increasingly overwhelmed by the chaotic amount of information that is included on D2L pages, emails and other on-
line correspondence. “There is a lot of information coming at everyone via various media so it can be overwhelming trying to disseminate,” Barrett said. A full-time student at Marquette is committed to at least 12 credits. On average, a student with this many credits will spend 24-48 hours a week studying and completing assignments in addition to actual class time. With the potential for added extracurriculars, athletics, employment, hygiene, eating and transportation, it is a challenge in itself to process all the information given, while also devoting time to additional studying, Barrett said. “Students and staff must seek out and utilize all resources available to them,” Barrett said. Marquette offers 318 tutoring groups each week, with 100 trained tutors who are certified with the college reading & association. But improvements can be made to ensure the success of students and staff, Barrett said. For Skyler Demis, a senior in the College of Health Sciences, her
burnout is at an all-time high. The transition to fully online classes made it difficult to hold herself accountable for attending class and not falling behind on assignments, she said. Demis has one in-person class a week. “There has been the addition of smaller assignments and it can be difficult to keep track of those,” Demis said. “I have found this semester to be the most challenging because it is extremely difficult to group study, or work on group projects via Microsoft Teams. Students are also sitting on their computers all day every day and it is difficult to continue to do so once classes are done at the end of the day.” As an undergraduate student, it is easy to become discouraged and lose motivation, especially when there is a lack of appraisal, Demis said. Demis exemplifies a great deal of diligence with her academics and career goals with an almost perfect attendance record, extracurriculars, volunteer work and spending most of her free time dedicated to her
academics, she said. Alana Young, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences, has also been challenged by online learning. “To be completely honest, the pattern of the academic career shifted drastically following COVID-19. I have really struggled with attention, motivation and productivity which is reflected in my performance,” Young said. “I think it has been really easy to feel discouraged, especially over time.” Because of this lack of motivation and productivity, students are having a tough time catching up on or even completing schoolwork, Demis said. Barrett said with 168 hours in a week and computers being the main work medium, it is common that students become overwhelmed within the hybrid learning system, possibly more so than what used to be a reality of in-person learning. Because students spend so much time on their devices, it is difficult to engage with extracurricular events that are virtual, including tutoring sessions, Barrett said.
“As is with many areas on campus, student engagement (in the tutoring program) has decreased compared with past semesters,” Barrett said. “Both the number of students and number of requests are down.”