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EDITORIAL: Presidential candidates for MUSG need to focus on policy, not campaign tactics
Mistakes cost men in 2 OT loss to Friars
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2010, 2011, 2012 SPJ Award-Winning Newspaper
Volume 98, Number 45
www.marquettewire.org/tribune
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Legislators push for MU police
No plan in place to fill old Campus Dollar spot By Matt Barbato
matthew.barbato@marquette.edu
Photo by Rebecca Rebholz/rebecca.rebholz@marquette.edu
Holly Schaller, communication operator in the Department of Public Safety, monitors security footage across campus in the dispatch room located in DPS’ main office. DPS may receive police powers through the state legislator, pending legislation in both the State Assembly and Senate.
State lawmakers work to improve DPS efficiency, security By Rob Gebelhoff and Matt Kulling
robert.gebelhoff@marquette.edu matthew.kulling@marquette.edu
When State Rep. Dale Kooyenga (R-Brookfield) visited Marquette in November to see Steve Forbes
speak on campus, he returned to his Marquette’s police,” Kooyenga car to discover its side mirror was said. “It would give them more missing. Officers in the Department credibility. Also, it’s a force multiof Public Safety, however, plier. Marquette could help were unable to file a reeature out Milwaukee police in port on the damage. the area.” tory Instead the officers On Feb. 14, Kooyenga walked Kooyenga to the was one of four reprenearest Milwaukee Police Depart- sentatives who introduced the bill ment to file an incident report, an to the Wisconsin State Assembly experience which partially motivat- to do just that. A counterpart bill ed the legislator to support granting was also introduced with bipartiDPS police and arrest powers. san support of seven senators to “From a practical standpoint, the Wisconsin Senate. it would be a time saver for State Sen. Nikiya Harris (D-
F S
Milwaukee), one of the senators who helped introduce the bill, expressed support for police power on Marquette’s campus after attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a campus where safety enforcement already possesses police powers. “Because of Marquette’s location in the city, it may have access to dispatch very quickly,” Harris said. “It’s more about knowing that it’s there for peace of mind. You know, See Police, Page 4
MU finance responsibility rating declines University’s fiscal health still deemed in good shape by DOE By Benjamin Lockwood
benjamin.lockwood@marquette.edu
Marquette’s “financial responsibility” score decreased 0.4 points from its perfect score of a 3.0 last year, according to the U.S. Department of Education. The department issues an annual financial responsibility test to all degree-granting private universities, grading them on a scale from a negative 1.0 to a positive 3.0, based on three ratios: their primary reserve, equity and net income, according to its Federal Student Aid website. Universities are considered to “pass” the test if they receive a
grade from 1.5 to 3.0. Universities with a grade between positive 1.0 and negative 1.0 are “failing,” and are required by the U.S. government to post a letter of credit in order to keep their doors open. A score between a positive 1.0 and positive 1.4 are also subject to additional government oversight, but are still considered to be passing. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, 168 private universities failed the test for the 2012 fiscal year, 18 more than the year before. Despite Marquette’s drop in score, Noel Stuiber, the director of financial research and analysis, said the school is doing just fine fiscally. “At its current measurement of 2.6 out of a maximum of 3.0, Marquette is not near any financial danger zone,” Stuiber said in an email. “In fact, we diligently manage this issue in knowing that the
INDEX
CALENDAR...........................2 DPS REPORTS......................2 CLASSIFIEDS........................5
MARQUEE...................6 VIEWPOINTS..............8 SPORTS.......................10
Campus Dollar Plus closed at the 1616 W. Wisconsin Ave. location in 2011, but the university is still searching for a retailer to fill the 4,000 square-foot vacancy more than two years later. Jenny Alexander, director of the purchasing staff, said Marquette is still speaking with prospective tenants. “We are in initial discussions with potential retailers and it is our policy not to disclose any details until a formal partnership is agreed upon and a timeline is set,” Alexander said in an email. “We look for potential partners who provide quality and needed goods and services to our students and our community.” Alexander added that her staff does not have a target date in place, but the university is trying to find a tenant in a timely manner. Thomas Schick, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences and Marquette Student Government offcampus senator, said has an active role in trying to find suitable vendors for the space. “The space where the now-defunct Campus Dollar was has been a point of discussion around MUSG since the business closed,” Schick said in an email. “Senators, including myself, who serve on the Off-Campus Caucus have brainstormed vendors with administrators based on pure outreach efforts regarding the issue.” Pita Brothers, a popular local food truck, was interested in purchasing part of the location in 2012, but Marquette would not let them split the vacancy. Schick said he is not sure who the university will select, but he hopes the decision is made before the semester ends. “Personally, I don’t have a strong preference,” he said, “but I hope the business can open soon so that it can begin to carve out its place on campus and become known to students.” The Ivy on Fourteenth apartment development is also still searching for tenants to join Subway as an occupant on the first floor of the building. Elizabeth Hummitzsch, a spokesperson for the Opus Group, said no agreements were reached, and Opus is still seeking out potential occupants. The Tribune reported in November that Redeemer Lutheran Church approached the university about bringing a grocery store to Marquette’s campus. The closest supermarket is a Pick n’ Save store, which is about two miles from campus.
revenue for operations are generated mainly from our students and their families.” If the U.S. Department of Education’s score is a direct indicator of fiscal health, this “financial danger zone” is a very real concern for many universities. Schools like the University of Miami, which received a passing score last year but failed this year, are now required to post letters of credit to stay open – which could actually accelerate the financial damage to the school, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education. The test has become controversial in the academic community due to its tendency to drastically change grades from one year to the next. Bethel University in Minnesota challenged its score in 2011, which was a 0.4, and rose to a 2.1 by the next year. Jay Barnes, the president of Beth-
el University, told The Chronicle of Higher Education that if a school’s score changes so significantly, it “tells you that something is screwy.” Stuiber, on the other hand, does not see anything wrong with the test. “The financial responsibility test is a valid financial metric used by the U.S. Department of Education that currently portrays Marquette in a positive light,” he said. “We consider it valid because it measures the institution’s ability to cover its operating expenses, build its asset base and sustain operational integrity.” Stuiber said the financial responsibility test is not the only public measure of the university’s fiscal health. Moody’s Investors Service granted Marquette an A2 bond credit rating since it began evaluating the university.
NEWS
VIEWPOINTS
SPORTS
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Killian
LVP third candidate in MUSG presidential race. PAGE 2
Jeff Snell brought a wave of social innovation to campus. PAGE9
Buzz Williams’ squad could run through Big East Tournament. PAGE 11