Celebrating 100 years of journalistic integrity
Shaka’s first day
New basketball coach, women’s baskaball coach, university president all welcome campus NEWS, 4
WSOC aims for the skies
Frank Pelaez leads Marquette to first winning season since 2017 SPORTS, 14
Volume 106, Number 01
Tuesday, August 31, 2021
WWW.MARQUETTEWIRE.ORG
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Vaccine required for all
Personal, religious, medical are the only exceptions for exemption
By Claire Driscol & Megan Woolard claire.driscol@marquette.edu megan.woolard@marquette.edu
Marquette University President Lovell announced June 7 that students who will be attending classes during the 2021-22 academic school year must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Aug. 1 unless granted an exemption. “Scientific evidence has shown that vaccines are safe and effective at reducing transmission of the virus. A vaccinated student population will allow us to provide you with a richer in-person experience, reduce testing and let you interact more freely across campus,” Lovell said in a Marquette Today release June 7. Students could be granted an exemption for religious reasons See VACCINE page 2
Photo by Josh Meitz josh.meitz@marquette.edu
Despite a vast majority of the Marquette community uploading proof of vaccination, masks are still required indoors on Marquette’s campus.
Dr. William Welburn Masks required for fall semester says farewell to MU Campus community 12-year career at Marquette reaches its conclusion By Bailey Striepling
bailey.striepling@marquette.edu
William Welburn, vice president for inclusive excellence for the Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion, officially retired today, Aug. 31. Welburn has spent the last 12 years in his 42-year career in higher education at Marquette University working with faculty, staff and
students to lead the campus’ direction on diversity, equity and inclusion. “When I look at my accomplishments, they all point to working with others that want to turn their ideas into a reality,” Welburn said. “My ongoing efforts to support the work of other people on this campus to do the amazing things that they have done around diversity, equity and inclusion would be my greatest single accomplishment.” Welburn’s accomplishments have included diversity, eqSee FAREWELL page 3 INDEX
MUU TV
COVID-19 TRACKER.........................................3 MUPD REPORTS..............................................3 A&E...................................................................8 OPINIONS.......................................................10 SPORTS...........................................................14
will still wear facecoverings indoors By Julia Abuzzahab
julianna.abuzzahab@marquette.edu
Marquette University required all undergraduate, graduate and professional students attending classes on campus to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Aug. 1, according to June 7 university news release. Certain students were granted exemption from this authorization for medical, personal and religious reasons. However, those who are granted exemption from being vaccinated must undergo surveillance testing for COVID-19. Shortly after July 30, Marquette recommended that all students — NEWS
regardless of vaccination status — wear masks again in indoor spaces. Then, in alignment with the City of Milwaukee Health Department’s indoor mask advisory after Milwaukee was considered to have an “extreme transmission” status regarding COVID-19, Marquette announced Aug. 17 it would be requiring masks on campus in public indoor spaces. This is due to the rapid increase in Delta variant-related cases. Marquette’s COVID-19 response team is continuing to follow rates of transmission, monitor the Milwaukee Health Department’s advice in how to slow the spread and assess other protocols in adjustment to mitigation strategies. Students have expressed a variety of opinions about Marquette requiring masks in shared spaces. Brigitte Lindell, a first-year stu-
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
OPINIONS
The show must go on, even if it’s a little later than usual
Commend the administration for mask mandate in indoor spaces
Commons goes green
The Big Gig is back
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Plant-based meal options open a variety of new food choices
dent in the College of Arts & Sciences, does not mind having to wear a mask on campus this year since as it is “for our safety.” “I think it is a precautionary choice that could very well benefit the Marquette community and the amount of COVID-19 cases on campus,” Lindell said. “Although it may be annoying for some people, I think it is the right choice because there is so much that is still unknown.” Overall, Lindell said that the mask mandate was a good decision because if COVID-19 cases rise again, the university will know that they took every safety precaution possible to prevent an outbreak. “Because we do not know a ton about the Delta variant and how it will impact those with or without the vaccine at this point, I think it is a See MASKS page 2
Protecting our health PAGE 10