WHITE: In Belize, Kelly learns the value of shoes and a pencil – Viewpoints, page 8
The Marquette Tribune SPJ’s 2010 Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper
MU dance groups make all the right moves
Golden Eagles’ struggles continue in loss to UC
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Since 1916 www.marquettetribune.org
Volume 96, Number 34
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Walker rakes in grassroots funds Contributions to counter recall top $12 million to date By Allison Kruschke allison.kruschke@marquette.edu
Photo by Andy Manis/Associated Press
As recall elections approach, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign team has raised more than $4.5 million in its most recent reporting period, and $12 million overall. Although there have been allegations that Walker’s funding has been based largely on wealthy out-of-state donors, his campaign reports 77 percent of the 21,443 individual donations were $50 or less.
Walker’s high volume of small donations points to his campaign’s success in stimulating a grassroots movement motivating Wisconsin residents to make donations, regardless of the amount. “Governor Walker’s message of moving Wisconsin forward continues to resonate with voters,” campaign Communications Director Ciara Matthews said in a statement. “It is this message, and the success of the governor’s reforms, that have inspired people to contribute to his campaign in overwhelming numbers.” Volunteers around Wisconsin began collecting signatures to recall Walker in November. Democrats were able to collect more than 1 million signatures, See Walker, page 7
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker gave his State of the State address last week amid Democrats’ efforts to recall him.
Res. Life: Single rooms only, for some RAs Larger class sizes prompt downsizing for next year’s staff By Erin Caughey erin.caughey@marquette.edu
After last fall’s rooming controversy due to an increase in freshman class size, some residence halls will be making changes to accommodate next year’s incoming class. Jim McMahon, associate vice president for Student Affairs, said Marquette is expecting a class of about 1,900 freshman students along with an estimated 150 transfers. In order to accommodate the continuing increase in the university’s population, the Office of Residence Life decided some dorms’ resident assistants will be moving into single rooms instead of doubles, which they now occupy. These buildings so far include Straz Tower, Carpenter Tower, O’Donnell Hall and some floors of Cobeen Hall. McMahon said current RAs may be disappointed, but incoming RAs should not be affected by the shift. The other option would have been placing RAs with roommates, he said.
RAs receive the benefits of free room and board from the university. A sophomore dorm RA, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said if the job is taken for the right reasons, the room size shouldn’t make a difference. During the fall, some common rooms in McCormick Hall were converted into four-person rooms to help with the overflow in the dorm. The quads in O’Donnell Hall were once the dorm’s study halls but were repurposed in response to increased residents. The sophomore dorm RA said she believes the current solution is temporary until a new building can be acquired or built for future students. It was speculated that the recent raise in tuition for the 2012-’13 academic year had an effect on this decision, but McMahon rejected that idea. “There is no connection between the two,” he said. A current RA applicant, who also spoke anonymously, said the situation is not ideal but is understandable considering the university’s recent swell in applications. “Regardless of placement or selection, the benefits far outweigh the smaller room size for me,” the applicant said. See RA, page 7
INDEX
DPS REPORTS.....................2 CALENDAR.......................2 VIEWPOINTS.....................8 MARQUEE...................10
STUDY BREAK....................14 SPORTS..........................16 CLASSIFIEDS..................18
Prayer room in progress MUSG supports Muslim org’s need for new space By Simone Smith simone.smith@marquette.edu
Marquette Student Government last Thursday unanimously voiced support for the Muslim Student Association’s search for adequate prayer space on campus. The action was in response to concerns raised by Steve Blaha, assistant director of Campus Ministry, who works closely with students of the Islamic faith. “We hope that this recommendation will show the university (both students and the administration) that we are very serious about becoming a more inclusive campus for now and years to come,” said Sterling Hardaway, a sophomore senator for the College of Arts & Sciences, in an email. “MUSG is hoping that this recommendation will further demonstrate MUSG’s support of improvements regarding inclusivity and accessibility for the university.” The present Islamic Prayer Room is on the fourth floor of the Alumni Memorial Union, but according to Wajiha Ahmad, president of the Muslim Student Association, the room poses problems
Photo by Elise Krivit/elise.krivit@marquette.edu
While the Muslim population on campus is estimated at approximately 100 members, the prayer space allocated can only hold 20 people.
to Muslims practicing their faith on campus. One pressing issue is that the size of the room and the Muslim population on campus are disproportionate. Ahmad, a senior in the College of Health Sciences, said there are approximately 100 Muslims on campus, and half are active in the Muslim Student Association. She said the current prayer space is used by students and faculty and
is not specifically designated for members of the organization. According to Ahmad, the prayer space can only fit 20 people maximum. The Muslim faith dictates that men and women must pray separately, and, with the use of a divider, this is accomplished. However, the current divider being used in the prayer room at
NEWS
MARQUEe
sports
Washington
Vinyl
Men’s Basketball
Same-sex marriage soon to be legal in Evergreen State. PAGE 4
Record sales spike in spite of the digital era. PAGE 10
See Prayer, page 7
Vander Blue comes through when MU needs him the most. PAGE 16