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SPORTS, 12
Volume 104, Number 07
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
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Diversity rises, Mayor takes on record reached ‘On the Issues’
Graphic by Annie Mattea anne.mattea@marquette.edu
Photo courtesy of Marquette Law School
Mayor Tom Barrett visits Marquette Law School, touching on various concerns in Milwaukee.
Admissions efforts could play role in student of color increase at MU By Annie Mattea
anne.mattea@marquette.edu
Twenty-five percent of students at Marquette University are students of color, making it a record-breaking year for the university in terms of overall diversity, according to a university news release Sept. 27. The first-year class is 29% students of color, up from 27% last year. The class is also 24% first-generation students, the highest percentage Marquette has seen since fall 2006. The Office of Institutional Research and Analysis compiled this data, along with overall enrollment, as part of its annual report. “These are positive strides, and it reflects a shifting culture that has been core to the long-term, challenging work of so many on this campus — students, faculty and staff alike,” acting provost Kimo Ah Yun said in an email. Compared to the following Jesuit universities, Marquette has a lower diversity percentage. Loyola University-Chicago’s
first-year class in 2018 was 39.9% students of color. Saint Louis University’s first-year class in 2019 is 34.5% students of color. Boston College’s first-year class in 2019 is 34% students of color. Brian Troyer, dean of Undergraduate Admissions, said Marquette admissions launched initiatives this past year that could have played a role in the increased diversity, including First Families. First Families is an event where 30 firstgeneration students come to Marquette and receive a highly individualized admissions process in their senior year of high school, Troyer said. Troyer said admissions holds multiple on-site events at high schools in the area. In some cases, students receive their admission decisions at the events. Another program admissions offers is Mi Casa es Tu Casa. Hosted in the spring, this event is for families whose primary language spoken at home is Spanish, Troyer said. Spanish-speaking staff in admissions and financial aid welcome the families and have an open house for students to see Marquette, he said. Admissions partners with organizations such as Chicago Scholars, College Possible, Girls for Teen Girls and Boys See DIVERSITY page 2
INDEX CALENDAR......................................................3 MUPD REPORTS.............................................3 A&E..................................................................8 OPINIONS......................................................10 SPORTS..........................................................12
Tom Barrett discusses coming challenges ahead of potential 2020 reelection By Nicole Laudolff
nicole.laudolff@marquette.edu
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett made an appearance last Tuesday at Eckstein Hall for a segment on the local interview series, “On the Issues with Mike Gousha.” Barrett discussed a wide variety of obstacles and opportunities facing the city in the near future including the imminent 2020 budget, the lead crisis and the upcoming Democratic National Convention. If the proposed 2020 budget passes, the Milwaukee Police Department would subsequently lose 60 positions as a result of retiring individuals not being replaced. This substantial cut is the result of Milwaukee’s policing budget exceeding the entirety of the city’s property tax revenue for the fifth consecutive year. Additionally, city officials are speculating a major rise in annual pension contributions from $70 million to an estimated $160 million in the year 2023. With these growing costs and no new sources of revenue, the mayor explained even deeper cuts would ensue in budgets to follow 2020.
“Our financial situation has never been so precarious,” Barrett said. In an effort to pay for rising expenditures, the mayor has advocated for a county sales tax increase of 1%. Barrett acknowledged that gaining the support of a Republicancontrolled state legislature and the local business sector would be difficult. However, Barrett also drew upon endorsements like that of Tim Sheehy, president of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce – the largest business lobbying group in the region — to conclude that such an increase is possible. Concerning the lead crisis, Barrett made the distinction between the lead paint issue and the lead piping issue. Though the city of Milwaukee recently received $5.6 million in federal grants to aid in the removal of lead paint, the matter of lead piping remains largely unresolved. The mayor explained that because other Wisconsin cities, including Madison and Green Bay, already or are currently managing similar problems with lead independently, the state legislature has been hesitant to intervene on behalf of Milwaukee. Barrett pointed to the already fragile budget and urged for change. “If you love this city,” Barrett said, “We must find a way to fix this issue.” See MAYOR page 2
NEWS
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
OPINIONS
March for Our Lives
Food on Four Wheels
Spotify focuses on users
New club sheds light on gun violence awareness at MU
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Zócalo Truck Park in Walker’s Point supports small businesses PAGE 8
The music app provides unique interactive environment PAGE 11