The Marquette Tribune
Exclusive: Interview with President Ah Yun
ty's 25th president on Nov. 20, following the death of former President Michael Lovell.
By Mia Thurow mia.thurow@marquette.edu
Marquette University
President Kimo Ah Yun will officially be sworn into his role the morning of April 29. He previously served as acting president before being named the universi-
By Sophia Tiedge sophia.tiedge@marquette.edu
Kimo Ah Yun is being inaugurated as Marquette's 25th university president April 29. He'll move into the presidency with promises for the kind of university he wants to create — similarly to dozens of university leaders before him.
But where do those promises go? And which ones are remembered? This article will break down the late
The Marquette Wire had the opportunity to sit down with Ah Yun on Thursday, just days before his inauguration ceremony. Here's what he had to say in this exclusive interview:
Journey to Marquette
Ah Yun is a native of Compton, California, and never thought of leaving his home state until a Milwaukee search firm called him,
inquiring about a job opportunity. He initially hung up the phone, but the firm called back a week later and convinced him to have a conversation.
"The turning point was when I met Mike Lovell — President Lovell at the time — and his commitment to the students and this university was unmatched," Ah Yun said.
After that, Ah Yun decided to uproot his wife and three children from their life in California and travel to
Marquette. He began as the dean of the Diederich College of Communication for two years before stepping into the Provost's Office and eventually the President's Office.
Ah Yun credits his wife as being his greatest support system throughout the family's journey to Marquette and his time in university leadership.
"She's the one who decided to take a chance to move across the country from California to Milwaukee
to give ourselves a different life," Ah Yun said. President Lovell's influence Ah Yun spent eight years working under the leadership of Lovell before Lovell's death in June 2024. The late university president passed away at the age of 57 following a battle with sarcoma. Ah Yun is quick to speak about the influence Lovell had on him throughout the duo's near-decade together. He called Lovell a good
President Michael Lovell's presidential promises and where they stand.
Lovell was inaugurated Sept. 19, 2014. His presidency lasted 10 years, until his passing last June after a three-year battle with sarcoma. Even though his presidency was cut short, nearly all of his inaugural promises were fulfilled.
$5 million strategic innovation fund
Lovell announced a $5 million strategic innova-
tion fund, later changed to The Marquette Impact Challenge. Since its introduction, it's awarded more than $7 million to 70 students and faculty around campus for their projects.
The explorer challenge gives Marquette students, faculty and staff the opportunity to submit proposals that can earn up to $25,000 for innovative projects.
Land on the 800 block of W. Michigan St.
At the 2014 inaugura-
tion, Lovell said Marquette bought a 7.5-acre tract of land on the 800 block of W. Michigan St. and called it a "once in a lifetime opportunity" for the university. At the time of the announcement, the university didn't have plans for the land.
But in May of 2022, the university announced it sold the land to Bear Development, who plans to turn the land into the Iron District — a stadium for a professional soccer team that
will also be used as a concert venue. Since its introduction nearly three years ago, construction hasn't started.
However, the project is supposed to be back on track to be completed in 2026 and Marquette's men's and women's lacrosse and soccer teams will play there.
Marquette's own police department In the spring of 2014, legis
Photo by Juan Carlos Ampie
Marquette University President Kimo Ah Yun will be sworn into his role the morning of April 29. He sat down with the Marquette Wire to talk inauguration and more.
AH YUN: Personal heritage and identity
Continued from page 1
friend and mentioned his deep faith, as well as his ability to discern and lead at a high level.
"The single thing he would regularly say is 'All of us are called to be the best version of ourselves,'" Ah Yun said. "That kind of constant reminder of how to get a little bit better regularly was a really big influence on my life."
Inauguration and personal heritage
The theme of this year's presidential inauguration is "Open your heart. Find your compass. Change the world." Ah Yun sees this as a reflection of Marquette's mission to serve God by transforming the lives of students. He said it is important for students to leave Marquette as young adults who are prepared to lead a fulfilled life and serve others with an open heart.
"You have to be engaged, and engaged in action to change the world," Ah Yun said.
After reflecting on the theme, Ah Yun compared his upcoming presidential inauguration to a wedding, where a variety of people from different time periods in his life will be reuniting under one roof. He said he is looking forward to bringing together friends from his childhood, high school, college and professional career.
"This is like a second wedding for me," Ah Yun said. "That's what I'm most excited about."
Along with reunion, presidential inaugurations at Marquette have been historically full of personal tradition. One aspect of his personal life that Ah Yun has been outspoken about is his Hawaiian heritage and the impact it has had on him.
Ah Yun mentioned how family, community and respect are large pieces of who he is and how he was raised. He said his family's Hawaiian culture will be on full display April 29.
"Leis are an important symbol, and they're already starting to roll in," Ah Yun said. "I suspect that there will be a lot of leis at the inauguration."
Faith and identity
Ah Yun attributes the good that has happened to him in his life as the result of his faith.
"It's just an incredible experience to come to a university where you're able to bring your faith to work," Ah Yun said. "To be able to openly pray and use God as the guide for the steps that we take [is] phenomenal."
Ah Yun said having a personal compass that is rooted in faith can inspire confidence in making difficult decisions, a sentiment
he has heard from various Marquette alumni. He also believes in the power of a college education to transform one's life.
As a first-generation college student who grew up around a number of people who did not attend college, Ah Yun said he deeply cares about providing the best possible university experiences for the students he leads.
Interaction with students
Being present with the Marquette community on a daily basis is Ah Yun's favorite part of the job. He incentivizes conversation by offering to buy students Starbucks if they see him outside and tell him, firstly, what they like about Marquette, and secondly, how he can make college a better experience for them.
In his inauguration speech, Ah Yun is planning to read some of the appli-
cation letters written by incoming students who are committed to Marquette. "What I like about interacting with the students is that they are our purpose," Ah Yun said. "They are just quality individuals who will become even better after they spend four years at Marquette."
Inauguration information
Ah Yun's inauguration will take place in the Al McGuire Center April 29 at 10 a.m., with a musical prelude and student organization procession beginning at 9:30 a.m. The ceremony will be immediately followed by a reception at the Ray and Kay Eckstein Common. Undergraduate, lecture-based classes will break until 12:30 p.m. so students may attend the inauguration and reception. Contact University Special Events with any questions.
LOVELL: Campus innovation, local partners
Continued from page 1
lation to create Marquette's own police department was passed, and the university was shifting from having a Department of Public Safety to Marquette University Police Department.
Since then, MUPD has implemented a Behavioral Health Unit that works with repeat offenders to find them the help they need. The unit includes police officers, but also a trained civilian crisis worker. The unit was introduced in 2023 and was a biproduct of Lovell's safety task force. Innovation campus and bioengineering department
Lovell was the chancellor at UW-Milwaukee before coming to Marquette and said during his inauguration that he wanted the university to have presence with UWM's Innovation Campus in Wauwatosa. The campus works on research in the engineering, health sciences and biotechnology fields, but Marquette doesn't have involvement now, and wasn't ever a part of this initiative.
However, Lovell also announced launching a bioengineering department with the Medical College of Wisconsin, which was made official in 2016 and is still operational today.
Near West Side Partners and Global Water Center
Involvement
Included in Lovell's inaugural promises were two other initiatives: Creating a presence in the Global Water Center in the Fifth Ward — an organization that facilitates water-related research — and a partnership with Near West Side — a non-profit organization that's aimed at "development and revitalization" for the neighborhoods surrounding Marquette.
As of 2021, Marquette still has a presence on the sixth floor of the Global Water Center and has partnered with Near West Side on a number of initiatives since 2015.
Some partnerships with Near West Side worked on
projects to reduce crime, scholarship programs and create summer job opportunities.
Moving forward into Ah Yun's presidency, inaugural promises are sure to be
made. And as he continues through his years at Marquette, his progress will be followed closely, not just in the policies alone, but the way he embodies Marquette's values.
Trump announces list of "non-tariff cheating"
By JJ Vander Loop jj.vanderloop@marquette.edu
President Donald Trump recently clarified some of his administration's tariff objectives through a list indicating ways in which countries are “non-tariff cheating." The administration argues that these forms of "cheating" allow other countries to gain unfair advantages in international trade.
The list details eight forms of "cheating," including currency manipulation, some government subsidies and intellectual property theft.
Currency manipulation
Laurna Prantil, adjunct instructor of economics at Marquette University, explained that currency manipulation allows a country to prop up its own currency and thus make its own goods artificially cheaper
relative to other countries.
This leads people to buy goods from that country because of the lower price. After the president accused Japan of currency manipulation, former Bank of Japan Gov. Haruhiko Kuroda said, "[Japan] is not intentionally guiding the yen lower ... If there's any misunderstanding on that point, it needs to be addressed."
China has also been a target for currency manipulation. In 2019, the U.S. Treasury formally labeled China as a currency manipulator after the Asian country allowed the value of the Chinese Yuan to fall below the historically maintained 7:1 ratio.
China's central bank refuted the allegations, saying that their actions did not meet the broad defini-
tion of currency manipulation proposed by the Trump administration. Limiting currency manipulation is a part of Trump’s attempts to rebalance large trade deficits between the United States and other nations. In March, he posted on Truth Social, “Massive Trade Deficit with the World, just announced, compliments of Sleepy Joe Biden! I will change that!!!” Government subsidies Government subsidies also are a way for a country to increase exports. Subsidies involve the government providing funds to targeted industries to ease pricing and increase production. When subsidized, a company can sell their goods at a lower price and maintain a profit because of the government funds. For example, South Kore-
an Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok announced on April 15 that, in response to U.S. tariffs, South Korea would “strengthen the competitiveness of [Korean] companies in the face of a global trade war” by providing 3 trillion won ($2 billion) in subsidies to the semiconductor industry.
The United States also provides subsidies for its industries. In 2022, the CHIPS and Science Act provided $39 billion in subsidies for the American semiconductor industry, for instance. Intellectual property
In addition to government subsidies, Trump argued intellectual property theft was a form of “non-tariff cheating.” Intellectual property theft involves the illegal use of another’s creation, such as music, patents and copyrights. This
theft is often seen in industries such as the arts and manufacturing.
The argument dates back to 2018, when Donald Trump issued a proclamation stating, “Our country will no longer turn a blind eye to the theft of American jobs, wealth and intellectual property through the unfair and unscrupulous economic practices of some foreign actors … Intellectual property theft is estimated to cost our economy as much as $600 billion per year.”
In 2022, CBS reported that Chinese hackers stole everything from blueprints for warplanes to obesity drug designs. Trillions of dollars in intellectual property were stolen from about 30 multinational corporations, according to the report.
Lovell fulfilled almost all of his inaugural promises in 10 years.
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What happens underneath campus?
By Lance Schulteis lance.schulteis@marquette.edu
For cars driving through Marquette’s campus, the continuous humming of tires rolling over the road is sometimes interrupted by the “thump” of hitting a manhole cover, briefly altering the university’s soundscape.
Those covers, though rusted over and opaque, are a window into the labyrinth of pipes and mains that run underneath Marquette and the city it calls home.
Marquette accounts for a stretch of less than 100 acres within Milwaukee. However, the sewerage system that serves it spans across approximately 430 acres of land, writing Marquette’s pipes into a larger story about sewerage management in the city.
“During normal dry weather days, the peak flow in the total area is estimated to be 26 cubic feet per second, or about 14 million gallons per day,” Tiffany Shepherd, marketing and communications officer for the City of Milwaukee Department of Public Works, said in an email. “During wet weather, the largest pipes can accommodate flow rates of up to 940 cf/s or about 500 million gallons per day.”
All of the pipes running to and through campus work with gravity to guide water underneath the city and to Jones Island, a topographical low point along Lake Michigan. The island faces the American Family Insurance Amphitheater on the Summerfest grounds from across the Kinnickinnic River, at the southern foot of the Hoan Bridge.
Inhabiting Jones Island is the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District Water Reclamation Facility, which treats the water and sewage that reaches it before putting it into Lake Michigan.
“There are a lot of mid to large-sized cities that would love to have the infrastructure that we have here,” Bill Graffin, MMSD Public Information Manager, said.
But before water reaches Jones Island, it first has to hit the ground and travel through its system of pipes, including those on Marquette’s campus. On campus, running un-
derneath the walkway connecting Wells Street and Wisconsin Avenue at 15th Street lies a 72-inch-wide main, lined with three layers of hand-laid brick. Aligned with 13th Street on the other side of Wisconsin Avenue, the main is a little bit smaller, measuring 64 inches wide—roughly the size of a two-seat sofa.
“There's different sizes in different locations, depending on how MMSD set up the system at the time,” Mike Jahner, senior director of Facilities Management and university engineer, said.
Marquette’s campus operates with a combined storm and sanitary sewer system underneath, differing from other parts of Milwaukee which contain separate systems.
The original setup was established in 1870 and ushered all contents into an output point near the Menomonee River. However, the Jones Island location was introduced in the 1920s to treat water and limit pollution that reached the
waterways, in conjunction with the Milwaukee Sewerage Commission. With the introduction of the new final destination, construction of combined sewers was shelved, and separate systems were built moving forward.
Though the existing combined sewers were then connected with a new output location, situations of extreme rainfall would fill the system with more water than it was built to handle, causing overflows.
The solution?
“You can think of it as a big bathtub,” Graffin said.
MMSD introduced the Deep Tunnel in 1993, a 28.5mile reservoir that sits 300 feet under the earth. The tunnel works as a large basin to hold excess water, preventing overflows throughout the city when the sewerage system has too much water on its hands.
Once the content already within the system makes its way to Jones Island, the Deep Tunnel then empties back out into the pipes, eventually releasing its contents to be treated.
Prior to the introduction of the Deep Tunnel, the system averaged 50-60 overflows a year, equating to 8-9 billion gallons of water, according to Graffin.
Since its construction, completed over three phases, the number of overflows is down to 1-2.
Though the Deep Tunnel runs under Canal Street, on the south side of the university, Marquette has its own
reservoirs for excess water—just not quite as far underground. The university’s tanks likewise prevent its systems from being forced to handle more water than they were built for, evident in recent building projects. Underneath O’Brien Hall and Engineering Hall are tanks that hold excess rainwater for safe keeping, slowly putting it back into the sewerage system once the storm begins to calm. “It's like a buffer tank,” Jahner said. “You take a certain amount of volume, [and] you hope that volume is enough to keep it from going to the system when the system's taking the volume from everywhere else.”
While the ground below Marquette’s campus is a network of tanks, pipes and mains, those systems also share the space with steam tunnels and electrical systems. Each manhole cover, the rusty, opaque window into the world below, is labeled with a name, giving a glimpse into what takes place beneath it. For water that trickles down the coats of students caught in a rainstorm and down the drains of early-morning showers, each droplet works its way through and below campus. Beneath the ground surface of students navigating college, water works its way through the city below, flowing past the manhole covers that let in glimpses of light and the occasional “thump” of a car rolling by.
Manhole
Photo by Jack Belmont jack.belmont@marquette.edu
MUSG continues improvement initiatives
By Sahil Gupta sahil.gupta@marquette.edu
“The tool MUSG uses to enact change has always been the relationships that we build..."
Logan Meyer MUSG Financial Vice President
Marquette University Student Government is continuing their efforts to invest their nearly $900,000 budget surplus into various improvement initiatives around the Marquette campus through the “Omnibus Projects." Efforts to advance the process of executing a variety of ideas has ramped up since MUSG President Julianne Browne and Vice President Adam Brzezinski took office on April 1.
The MUSG Senate has passed resolutions supporting three specific initiatives on campus. All initiatives are designed to improve the experiences of students and make spaces more inviting and conducive to
collaboration.
MUSG Financial Vice President Logan Meyer, a junior in the College of Business Administration, along with Legislative Vice President Ian Reagen, a junior in the College of Engineering sat down for an April 24 interview with the Marquette Wire. Senators Vanessa Ahmad, a sophomore in the College of Health Sciences, and Ethan Burdin, a senior in the College of Engineering, also spoke about the status of the various elements of the Omnibus Project.
The "Madonna Project"
The first resolution passed was dubbed the “Madonna Project.” It expresses support to refresh the Madonna room student lounge at the bottom of Olin Engineering Hall. The room is rarely used by students and is often locked during the day. MUSG is specifically working to develop a collaboration between two colleges that could provide students with an opportunity to practice real life entrepreneurship skills in that space.
“What we’re trying to do is work with the College of Engineering and College of Business Administration to set up some kind of program … where students would propose a project, either on their own or as part
of a class, and then they would get funding to develop a product. And then in that space, they would sell the product to students,” Reagen said.
The four MUSG leaders acknowledged that this idea is still new, and they said that it is not set in stone.
“We like the idea we have right now, but we definitely know that it’s going to change,” Reagen said.
The "Sakinah Bill"
Another resolution that has been passed has been dubbed the “Sakinah Bill,” which calls for an expanded and improved prayer space for Marquette's Muslim student population, which is over 200 students. The current Muslim prayer space sits in the Alumni Memorial Union near the Campus Ministry Offices.
Marquette’s Muslim community has been advocating for an improved prayer space for years, with records showing advocacy going all the way back to 2012. Senator Ahmad, a Muslim student herself, says the goal of a prayer space is to provide a safe location for members of the community to engage in their faith. She indicated that MUSG is utilizing a newly vacated space in Holthusen Hall, saying that the space can be used for much more than prayer.
“It’s a space where we can host events for everybody in Milwaukee, everybody at Marquette,” Ahmad said.
The "Lalu Resolution"
The third resolution calls for enhancements to Lalumiere Language Hall.
MUSG is currently looking to revitalize a room that has sat empty on the second floor of the building into a new student lounge. They are also seeking to paint murals on the walls to showcase the diversity of content that is taught in the building.
“[Lalumiere] houses departments that should be showing the different diversity and culture that we have on campus,” Meyer said.
This sentiment was echoed by Languages, Literatures and Cultures chair Sarah (Sally) Gendron,
emphasizing the importance of showing the cultural backgrounds that are taught in the building.
"We are excited to see Lalumiere become a true home where all voices are honored and every culture is valued," Gendron said in an email.
When talking about execution of these projects, Meyer emphasized the importance of building and maintaining relationships with university administration. He says that keeping lines of communication open allows MUSG and administration to be on the same page about ideas and pathways forward towards execution.
“The tool MUSG uses to enact change has always been the relationships that we build with administration,” Meyer said.
'Main Street vs. Wall Street' in Oconomowoc
By Mia Thurow mia.thurow@marquette.edu
OCONOMOWOC, Wis.
– Oconomowoc is a city located roughly 35 miles west of Milwaukee in Waukesha County – a county that has voted Republican in every presidential election for the past quarter century.
In the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections, an average of 66.35% and 66.1% of Oconomowoc voters respectively picked Trump on their ballots.
But recently, a number of Waukesha County residents have been gathering in this city of 18,400 people to voice their displeasure with the current Republicans leading the United States government.
Hands Off! in Oconomowoc
Hundreds of protesters took to the sidewalks of downtown Oconomowoc the morning of April 19, wearing political attire, carrying colorful homemade signs and hoisting large flags for passersby to see.
The city's Hands Off! protest against President Donald Trump and Department of Government Efficiency leader Elon Musk was held just two weeks after a prior protest with 200 to 300 people in attendance. It was organized by Mike Van Someren, a Marquette University Law School graduate who previously ran for election to represent Wisconsin’s 5th Congressional District as a Democrat.
Oconomowoc protesters gathered in the Village Green at the corner of Main Street and Wisconsin Avenue around 11 a.m., where they acquired a permit to assemble. Some of the homemade signs featured messages like "Hands Off My Social Security," "Project 2025 Is Un-American," "We Have No King" and "Stand With Immigrants."
“It’s good to know that there is support and there are other people that care,” Shannon Majewski, a
Waukesha, Wisconsin, resident who attended the April 19 protest, said.
Van Someren addressed the group before leading them to march through downtown Oconomowoc. He emphasized how protesters must keep moving on the sidewalks so as not to disrupt local business.
Angela Milliken, a second-time protester from Delafield, Wisconsin, said both of her experiences have been peaceful and informative displays of opinion.
“It was hopeful and supportive to gather with people who have the same feelings you do about what's happening with our democracy and with the Constitution,” Milliken said. “We're concerned, and we're showing our concern.”
The protest's theme was "Main Street versus Wall Street," which emphasized the need to protect small towns from the Trump administration's tariffs, inflation and the stock market. Milliken felt the theme resonated strongly with a town like Oconomowoc, where she said she sees individuals being affected by these issues at the ground level.
Van Someren's motivation for organizing the Hands
Off! protest was growing frustration with these political issues being turned into a war of "right versus left," when he believes it is more of a class issue.
“We have people that have sold us out to Wall Street to the detriment of Main Street," Van Someren said. "What we need is Main Street standing up and people fighting for it."
What's next for Wisconsin
Van Someren is hoping that Hands Off! protests like his and others across the country encourage peo-
ple to have more political conversations with their neighbors.
“What policies are you getting on the people you keep putting into power? If they're not doing anything for you, why do you keep putting them into power? That's what we're trying to do,” Van Someren said.
Majewksi mentioned how these protests can be representative of larger national issues.
“We have to look above party,” Majewski said.
Protestors gathered in Village Green before beginning to march.
Photo by Mia Thurow mia.thurow@marquette.edu
Senate has passed three specific initiatives to improve campus.
Marquette Wire Stock Photo
Photo by Mia Thurow
THE RETURN TO GLORY THE RETURN TO GLORY
Bailey's squad wins Big East for the sixth time
By Trevor Hilson trevor.hilson@marquette.edu
Marquette golf claimed its sixth Big East Championship Monday afternoon after beating the field by 11 strokes at Callawassie Island in Okatie, South Carolina. The Golden Eagles' strong second round propelled them past the runner-up Xavier Musketeers en route to the fifth title under MU head coach Steve Bailey. Four of Marquette's six titles have come at Callawassie, which uses its Magnolia Course as the front nine and Dogwood Course as the back nine and has hosted the tournament seven times.
Marquette shot 8-under as a team on Sunday during the second round to have a five-shot advantage entering the final 18 holes on Monday. The Sunday charge was led by senior Max Lyons, who fired a 5-under
67. Lyons finished tied for seventh individually after posting a 2-under 70 on Monday.
Junior Johan Widal and first-year Vincent Cervantes added a 3-under round of 69 and a 1-under round of 71 on Sunday. Widal was the only Golden Eagle to shoot under par in the first two rounds of the tournament.
Lyons has been a top20 finisher at the Big East Championship in all four years at Marquette.
The Golden Eagles closed the tournament with a 6-under final round. Senior Patrick Adler posted a 5-under 67 and was tied as the low finisher for Marquette. He and Widal both finished the tournament at 3-under to tie for fourth individually.
Marquette held the lead after each round of the tournament. Sophomore Mason Schmidtke was the individual leader after 18 holes, firing a 5-under 67 in the first round. Schmidtke finished tied for 13th at one-over-par after
shooting 4-over 76 and 2-over 74 rounds on Sunday and Monday.
UConn sophomore Alex Heard was the Big East's individual champion, shooting 11-under over the three rounds, including a tied-for-low tournament round of 6-under 66 on Sunday.
Up next
The Golden Eagles will find out which region they will compete in for the national championship during the NCAA Division I Men's Golf Selection Show at 12 p.m. CST on Golf Channel.
Marquette last competed in the NCAA Regional in 2023 in the Auburn region at Auburn University Club. The top five teams advanced to the national championship and Marquette finished 10th. Max Lyons was the only member of the current team to compete in 2023, and was the team's low finisher at 2-over-par, good for tied-for-17th. Auburn is a host site for this year's NCAA Regionals.
RESULTS
1. MARQUETTE
2. XAVIER
3. CREIGHTON
T4. UCONN
T4. VILLANOVA
6. DEPAUL
7. GEORGETOWN
8. BUTLER
9. SETON HALL
10. ST. JOHN'S
INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS
T-4. Johan Widal
T-4. Patrick Adler
T-7. Max Lyons
T-13. Vincent Cervantes
T-13. Mason Schmidtke
The Marquette men's golf team finishes its 2025 season with its fifth Big East Tournament championship title under head coach Steve Baiiley and sixth overall.
Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics
SPORTS COLUMN THIS WEEK: PEACOCK ON The WNBA
The next class of professionals entering the WNBA have been selected, but less than half of them will secure a place in the league.
In 2024, 36 players were drafted to the league but only 13 made it onto an official roster. 2023 saw 15 draftees secure a roster spot, and 2022 had 17. The 2025 draft welcomed 38 new players to the league, however, with training camp rosters finalized last Friday, the number is bound to shrink by the start of the season on May 16.
Roster expansion hasn’t been able to occur yet because of the salary cap, which will amount to $1.5 million for the 2025 season. For reference, the NBA’s salary cap is $154.6 million, meaning each team can pay their players up to a total of this amount.
A collective bargaining agreement is still in progress after the WNBPA opted out of the last one, which was set to last until 2027.
The new CBA, required to be completed before the start of the 2026 season, will hopefully discuss an increase in salary capping.
As the league expands, more roster spots are opening, having gone from 144 to 156 with the addition of the Golden State Valkyries, and will amount to 180 in 2026 when the Portland and Toronto franchises start their play. Despite this, there’s still tension when it comes to roster finalization.
Certain draftees, such as number one pick Paige Bueckers, USC star Kiki Iriafen and French international player Dominique Malonga, are pretty much guaranteed to end up on a roster. Unfortunately, several other first, second and third round picks won’t be granted a spot because of space and salary limitations.
Most franchises currently carry the minimum 11 players because of the salary cap, but the maximum is 12. The NBA has 15 roster spots with three spaces dedicated to players with two-way contracts, which makes sense for the size of the league; the expansion of the WNBA without internal expansion is only going to increase tensions when it comes to the draft.
This year, the game schedule has been increased to include 44 games per team, making the upcoming season the longest in league history. These increases have been made to accommodate the addition of the Valkyries, but with no plans to add more roster space, load management on an individual basis can become more cluttered and difficult to handle, which impedes on the prioritization of athlete health and injury prevention.
Because of the salary cap, the Phoenix Mercury only had 11 signed players in the 2024 season, which led to difficulties in the 2024 regular season after five players were ruled out of a game due to injury. Seven players remained available for the game, however, Brittney Griner sustained an injury early on and Rebecca Allen was on a minute restriction due to a back injury.
With no G League crutch like the NBA, there aren’t many backup choices for newly drafted athletes. Not making a roster doesn’t mean the end of a career for an athlete – they can still go overseas and have a chance to get signed to the league at a later time – however, the reliability of these options isn’t sustainable in the long term.
Unrivaled, a new league created by the WNBA’s Napheesa Collier and Breanna Stewart, helps to open options, providing a chance for pro athletes to play in a league from January to March and earn money that they would otherwise earn overseas.
With a league growing as quickly as the WNBA, internal growth has to closely follow to ensure proper management of athletes. As the new CBA is created, both the WNBA and WNBPA should prioritize roster expansion to create the most prosperous environment possible for their athletes.
MEN'S LACROSSE
Securing a postseason spot
MLAX exceeds expectations in 2025 campaign
By Matthew Baltz matthew.baltz@marquette.edu
Almost a year ago to the day, there was a seismic shift inside the Marquette men’s lacrosse program.
The Golden Eagles were coming off another season in which they missed the Big East Tournament and had also just lost 19 seniors. On the heels of that came the announcement that Andrew Stimmel was stepping down from the head coaching role.
With the program in sort of a limbo, it was unclear what to expect from MU heading into 2025. Big East coaches agreed, picking Marquette to finish in a tie for last with St. John’s.
Fast forward to Friday night at Valley Fields, where the Golden Eagles punched their ticket to the Big East Tournament for the first time since 2022. Under the lights, Marquette and Denver were both playing for their playoff lives, and it was MU that came out on top thanks to a dominant senior night performance.
“I’m just so happy for our team,” MU head coach Jake Richard said after the game. “They’ve done everything the right way all year, all summer, game after game. They were trusting and energetic every day and they did everything the right way.
“It was unclear if we were going to get an opportunity like this today, but to be able to point to something and say was the team that changed the story here at Marquette, and winning tonight against Denver to punch a ticket to the Big East Tournament, it was amazing and I’m glad we have that validation.”
Richard, who was promoted from defensive coordinator to head coach just three weeks after Stimmel's departure, has experienced the highs and lows of being
at the helm of a program in his first season with the Golden Eagles. There have certainly been high points for Marquette, who got off to its best ninegame start since 2017 after posting wins against programs that had plagued it in recent years, such as Utah and Bellarmine. The Golden Eagles took nationally ranked Harvard down the wire before eventually losing 20-16. MU also took Big East regular season champion Georgetown to double overtime before running out of gas and eventually falling 10-9.
But there have also been some extremely deflating moments for the Golden Eagles this year, including getting thumped 14-1 by Michigan in the team's lowest scoring effort in program history in the season opener. Marquette also put up the program's second-worst scoring performance just over two weeks ago in a 14-2 loss at Providence.
In short, it hasn’t been entirely smooth sailing for the Golden Eagles in 2025, but with a chance to advance to the postseason on the line heading into the final game of the regular season, it was the work and belief that won out.
“As coaches, you're always talking about process, process, process and the standard and being so committed to it,” Richard said. “You just hope the guys get a break to see the fruits of their labor, and you just pray that you get opportunities like this to point to and say, ‘This is what you guys earned and deserve.’
“For a long time here, we’ve had to find moral victories and to be able to point to this and celebrate is amazing.”
Marquette’s senior class has been one of the main driving forces of the turnaround this spring. But they all had an opportunity to leave last spring due to the coaching change, and none of them did.
“No one cares about Marquette lacrosse more than
Jake Richard,” senior midfielder Will Foster said. “I can’t really put into words how much he means to all of us. Not only the belief he has in us, but the way he challenges us every day to better people on and off the field. Winning this one for him is pretty special.”
Marquette held a senior day celebration before the game, honoring 14 student-athletes and three team managers. MU’s seniors showed out on their night, with senior attacker Nolan Rappis scoring five times and assisting on another score. Senior attacker Bobby O’Grady also scored
“No one cares about Marquette lacrosse more than Jake Richard. I can’t really put into words how much he means to all of us."
Will Foster Marquette senior midfielder
a goal and two assists, while Foster dished out two assists and scored a hat trick.
“Coach Richard really just preaches playing for each other,” Foster said. “There’s no better night to play for each other than senior night. I’m so proud of this team, our class, for sticking with it. This has been an amazing ride, we’re just playing for more time so there’s no better motivator than that.”
The Golden Eagles will get a chance to avenge themselves against the top-seeded Georgetown Hoyas in the semifinals of the Big East Tournament on Thursday. The opening faceoff is set for 5 p.m. CST from Denver, Colorado.
Lilly Peacock is a sports columnist. She can be reached at lilly.peacock@ marquette.edu or on Twitter/X @LillyPeacockMU.
Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics
Marquette men's lacrosse was picked to finish last in the BIg East this season, but finished fourth.
Ending the campaign on a positive note
Black's group finishes with third 10-win season in program history
By Benjamin Hanson benjamin.hanson@marquette.edu
Marquette women's lacrosse (10-6, 4-3) was playing its game against Eastern Michigan University (8-8) Friday afternoon with something on its mind other than the matchup — their postseason chances.
The only way the Golden Eagles could have clinched
a spot in the Big East Tournament is if Georgetown won against UConn on Saturday. Eastern Michigan had already clinched its conference tournament, so the Golden Eagles were alone in postseason uncertainty.
Despite Marquette's lagged start, it overcame the deficit with junior attacker Tess Osburn's career-high-tying six goals and by capitalizing on Eastern Michigan's turnovers to win its regular season finale 18-14 in Ypsilanti, Michigan.
Eastern Michigan finds a rhythm early
Against a team that Marquette had beaten by a combined 22 goals in its previous two meetings, it found itself down 3-0 only six minutes into the first quarter to Eastern Michigan.
The Eagles were playing patient offense and the Golden Eagles couldn't find a way to break up the Eastern Michigan-established pace.
Sophomore midfielder Sarah Beth Burns found
herself in a free position attempt with 7:41 left in the first quarter, but shot high and missed because of a stick deflection. Burns found redemption only a minute later by breaking her defender and taking a callous high to low shot near the cage to make the game 3-1.
The simple sound of a Golden Eagle shot ripping the back of the net gave the team inspiration to start fighting back.
Marquette flips the script
Despite Eastern Michigan scoring the following goal, Marquette created six unanswered scores to bring the game to 7-4 with 12:49 left in the first half.
Senior attacker Meg Bireley stamped her name on three of these.
A big catalyst of Marquette's success was capitalizing on Eastern Michigan's turnovers. At the end of the six-goal run, the Eagles had let up six of them.
Eastern Michigan's Emerson Henry recorded a hat trick by breaking her team's 10-minute scoring drought with 11:22 left in the half and Mackenzie Blackwell duplicated the effort four minutes later to make the score 7-6.
Though, this hardly dis-
couraged Marquette because they continued to capitalize on turnovers and out-draw Eastern Michigan to go into the half leading 13-7.
Last punches
After Schwab's score, Marquette went silent for nine minutes and EMU cut its deficit to just three by getting more shot opportunities than the Golden Eagles.
Though, similar to the beginning of the game, Burns scored when it mattered most — and did it twice. This increased the gap once again and made it a 15-10 game with a minute left in the third quarter.
Eastern Michigan made Marquette fight for the game down the stretch when it scored two in a row to make it 17-13. But the Golden Eagles remained patient on offense to limit scoring and close out its regular season finale, earning its 10th win of the season. It marks only the third time in program history that the Golden Eagles have achieved this feat.
Despite the win, Marquette will miss out on the postseason for the second year in a row as Georgetown did not beat UConn Saturday.
MLAX defies the odds against Denver
MU heads to Big East Tournament
By Eamon Bevon eamon.bevon@marquette.edu
Marquette's men's lacrosse (6-6) walked into Valley Fields Wednesday night with a conference record of 1-3, and walked out with a postseason berth.
If the Golden Eagles had wanted to make the Big East Tournament in their first year under head coach Jake Richard, they would have had to beat the Denver Pioneers, who led the all-time series against them 13-2.
As if those stakes weren't enough, the stands on Canal street were packed more-so than usual for senior night, and the excitement among the Class of 2024 players as well as their families was palpable surrounding the pregame ceremony.
Despite the high stakes, Marquette pulled out the win, defeating Denver 1811 in its final regular season game of the year. However, the Golden Eagles didn't start the game like they would have hoped. The Pioneers scored in three of the game's first four possessions before Richard called for timeout.
"We've had that situation a couple of times this year," senior midfielder Will Foster said. "In a game like Utah, we go down, man, but we're a team full of fighters."
And as if nothing had happened at all, the Golden Eagles battled back.
Thank to senior attackers Bobby O'Grady and Nolan Rappis, Marquette got two goals within the next 24 seconds, and didn't stop there. After leading 5-4 at the end of the first period,
the completion of a first half hat-trick by Foster allowed the Golden Eagles to hit the halftime break with an 8-5 lead.
After Marquette finally started to see the light at the end of the must-win game, a visible confidence arose in the players as sophomore attacker Carsen Brandt's two goals extended the lead to as far as five.
As the Pioneers started to gather a second wind in the fourth quarter and got within three goals, MU
went on a 5-0 run to close out the remainder of the game. Rappis's led the team with five goals and junior goalie Lucas Lawas earned 16 saves in the win.
As the overjoyed Golden Eagles sprinted off the sidelines in celebration having shown out on senior night, they knew that there was more to come as well as that their work was not quite done.
"I think it's just more exciting, you know," Richard said. "We know our oppo-
nents, and we have the week to make some adjustments. But we're real excited to get another week together, spend time together, and chase a championship."
Marquette will now travel to Denver to compete in the postseason tournament for the first time since 2022 in hopes of bringing home a conference championship for the first time since 2017. As the No. 4 seed, MU will face top-seeded No. 14 Georgetown May 1 at 5 p.m. CST on CBS Sports Network.
Senior attacker Nolan Rappis (left) and senior midfielder Will Foster (right) scored a combined eight goals in MU's win over Denver.
MEN'S LACROSSE
Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics
Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics Marquette women's lacrosse finishes the regular season with a 18-14 win at Eastern Michigan.
WOMEN'S LACROSSE
The organization faces lawsuits over various issues
By Eamon Bevon eamon.bevon@marquette.edu
The deadline to enter the NCAA transfer portal passed April 22, and in the chaos of it all, standouts such as Kansas's Zeke Mayo, Maryland's Julian Reese and Villanova's Jordan Longino threw their hats in the ring.
This would be an interesting enough narrative — if they had any years of eligibility left to play with.
And they are far from alone in this head-turning move, as more than 150 players across men's basketball alone have entered the transfer portal without any years of eligibility remaining. In almost every case, the player is hoping for help from a potential swath of NCAA rule changes that could shake the landscape of college sports as we know it. For several men and women across the NCAA, the fallout of Diego Pavia v. NCAA, which concluded late in 2024, will prove vital for many athletes in the foreseeable future.
such as Clemson's Jaeden Zackery who spent one year at JUCO and had to use their COVID eligibility, might not be so lucky and will have to appeal, although they are still hopeful to continue their college careers.
Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia won a lawsuit that landed him one more year of eligibility after contesting the NCAA rule that qualified his two years spent in junior college (JUCO) equal to two years of NCAA Division I play. This reportedly prevented him from using his name, image, and likeness, and Pavia is projected to make over $1 million in NIL this upcoming season as a projected 2026 NFL Draft pick.
Despite the win for Pavia, the NCAA is hotly contesting this as a general rule, as handing out another year of eligibility to those who fall under the same criteria will reportedly conflict with the year of eligibility awarded as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, players
House v. NCAA has also been a glaring point of interest in the last four months or so.
The premise of that case is based in the lawsuit made by former All-American Arizona State swimmer Grant House, who filed for damages for himself and thousands of other players prior to 2020 who were not not able to receive NIL compensation. While the NCAA will be forced to issue over $2 billion among its programs as part of the case's settlement, that number could have been much worse.
According to The Athletic's College Football Staff, "the settlement allows for a revenue-sharing plan that lets schools start directly paying players" and is "expected to
start at roughly $20.5 million and increase on an annual basis."
This new pay-distribution system is also paired with a scholarship-based rostering system, which will effectively eliminate roster spots for walk-ons (at least in most power conference schools).
On top of that, there is potential for this new landscape to change the NCAA's outlook on its previous policy of players completing four seasons in five years. What many are referring to as the prospective "5in-5" rule will combat the eligibility complications surrounding House antitrust rules such as the ones brought up by Pavia. While nothing is finalized, the concept of redshirting (medical or not) and the idea of four seasons in five years could be completely done away with for better or for worse.
This opens the window for players who have currently completed four sea-
sons of play to jump into the air of the transfer portal and let the wind of these cases take their sails wherever it leads them.
For example, Clemson men's basketball standout Ian Schieffelin is eyeing the NBA draft, but could also see many positives in returning for a fifth year under potential new policies. He posted earlier this week on X: "While I am pursuing my options on the professional level, I have been advised, due to pending NCAA cases, to enter the portal on the very outside chance more eligibility is allowed."
Whatever happens, though, the NCAA has been and will be a hotspot for some of the most controversial movements in global sports. We shouldn't expect that to change anytime soon with several of these massive steps that could change the landscape of college athletics as we know it set to come sooner rather than later.
MUWBB adds Sam Logic as assistant coach
The Wisconsin native is a former WNBA player
By Mikey Severson michael.severson@marquette.edu
Marquette women's basketball head coach Cara Consuegra has hired Samantha Logic as an assistant coach, the program announced Monday afternoon.
"I am very excited to be back home and join the Marquette women's basketball family," Logic said in a press release. "I believe in Cara and her vision for her program and I cannot wait to get to campus and help build on the success of this team."
Logic is from Racine, Wisconsin and was a fivestar recruit coming out of
J.I. Case High School. She was named a McDonald's All-American and earned the title of Gatorade Wisconsin Girls Basketball Player of the Year for the 2010-2011 season. She was also honored as Miss Wisconsin Basketball and was a Parade All-American in high school. According to ESPN, Logic was considering Marquette in the recruitment process before ultimately committing to play collegiately at the University of Iowa. In her time with the Hawkeyes, Logic played under former head coach and MVC Hall of Famer Lisa Bluder. She started 135 games at Iowa, averaging 11.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 6.7 assists per game during her career and racking up six career triple-doubles. Logic was then select-
ed in the first round of the 2015 WNBA Draft by the Atlanta Dream. However, she played most of her games with the San Antonio Stars (now Las Vegas Aces) during her lone season in the WNBA, appearing in 27 games between both squads over the course of the campaign.
After her stint in the WNBA, Logic spent a decade playing overseas professionally, spending time in an array of countries, most recently in Romania for CSM Constanta in 2024. She also played for the Wisconsin GLO, a professional team based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, from 2019-2023, while playing overseas.
"We are excited to have Sam join our staff," Consuegra said in the release. "Sam is someone I've known and respected for
a long time. She is a high character individual who aligns with our program's core values. Her outstanding college experience and years of playing professionally will bring a unique perspective to our players and impact our program right away."
Along with Logic, Marquette also just added the De Pere, Wisconsin native transfer guard Jordan Meulemans to its squad, and first-year Jasonya "JJ" Barnes, who is also from Racine, will be joining the Golden Eagles in the fall.
This will
32-year-old's first coaching job after retirement.
Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics
LEBRÓN: Laying down the law
By Clara Lebrón clara.lebron@marquette.edu
My college experience was defined by many moments. It was a big move from home for me; every second spent in Milwaukee has been one that has felt almost integral to my becoming. Whether it was the first time I went to the Public Market or attending my first Marquette basketball game, the experiences that I have accumulated throughout the last four years have been unforgettable fragments that constitute the person I am now.
However, I truly believe there is no moment that I have considered more pivotal to my development than the one where I knocked on the glass doors encasing the Marquette Wire newsroom in 2021.
As a very awkward yet eager teenager, I felt as if the present was my opportunity to overachieve, a verb I had attached myself to through my previous academic endeavors. I began my time as a news reporter, slowly learning the basics of reporting while applying the principles I would learn in my journalism courses. However, this discipline is not just a subject you can learn. Good journalism is more akin to a craft, a fact
DREWEL: You are the Wire Senior Columns
By Izzy Fonfara Drewel isabella.fonfaradrewel@marquette.edu
I’ve recently gotten into the habit of saying, “I am the Wire,” and I’m not lying when I say that it hasn’t always been out of joy. Senior year has been really hard. Being the student director was never my plan for this year. I was supposed to have more help, but in the end, this was a gift. You guys have all kept me on my toes, and I've learned so much from all of you.
When I started at the Wire, I was an Arts & Entertainment Reporter just trying to get some experience under my belt by writing some fun articles. Journalism was still relatively new to me, but that year was eye-opening. Classes taught me so much, professors shared a wealth of knowledge and the Wire was an outlet for me to practice what I learned.
After that year, I was pushed to apply for Executive A&E Editor, and it was all over from there. My career at the Wire had really
that made 18-year-old me very impatient. I wanted to be outstanding immediately, to tell stories that matter, but that is admittedly very difficult to do with minimal experience and a lack of nuance. Over time, the Wire became not just a place where I learned how to be a writer, but where I learned how to be a person. My work has taught me how to write stories. However, it has also taught me to assert my beliefs and dignity, verify personal biases and overall become a person that younger me would be proud of.
Whether through my previous positions as News Reporter and Assistant Opinions Editor or in my current role as Print Production Manager, some of my most important growth has occurred in the past four years. Although I am admittedly not the best at being vulnerable in my writing, I hope my sincere appreciation for this organization and its members is palpable on this page. To all the underclassmen that will be staying in the organization: I hope to check in and see your work as time goes on! You are all such inspirations, working in an underappreciated field in a critical time in its
development. Be confident and seize every opportunity; your time here is what you make it!
To Juan Carlos: Thank you so much for putting your trust in me this year, especially as it's your first with us. I genuinely thank you for your mentorship and patience throughout this year, and I know your leadership will continue to inspire great journalism at Marquette.
To Izzy: As the only member of the management team to also have been on the Wire all four years, I just wanted to say thank you for getting it and for being the kind of person who made it all a little easier.
To Jack: Thank you for
letting me bother you enough to come work with us! You have always been a friendly face I look toward both in class and outside of it, and that disposition I know will take you far in life.
To Shannyn: I am so excited to see what you do in the world. Your drive and passion are unmatched, and I am often thankful that we sat next to each other that first day of class. Thank you for being my first friend when we were both so far from home.
To Sofía: Your friendship has been one of the greatest things I’ve gained from the Wire. Being able to work with you is a blessing that I will most definitely miss as graduation comes upon
us and forces our moves, but know you’ll be able to count on me at any point.
Conocerte ha sido una de las sorpresas más lindas que me ha dado Marquette, y verte crecer dentro y fuera de casa me inspira un orgullo inexplicable.
To the Wire: thank you for giving me a space to grow, stumble and find my voice. Thank you for every lesson, every memory and every word we put into the world.
And to every student dreaming of finding their place here: I hope you knock on the door too; you never know what it might open for you.
begun and it grew close to my heart. I know my friends have heard me complain endlessly about stories, crises and Late Night so much over the last three years, but it could never push me away. The complaints come from a place of love. I know how amazing this organization is from radio to print, design to circulation, and it’s all made possible by the incredible people. It’s no secret that this organization was struggling coming into this year, but I’ve made it my goal to leave it in a better state. Every time a crisis happened or a correction was issued, I felt like I had failed. Throughout my four years at the Wire, I’ve taken on more and more responsibility to the point where I felt every problem was my problem. That I was the only one that could fix it all. But that’s not true. This staff is more than capable of not only producing great journalism but also solving their own problems. Thank
you to Dr. A. Jay Wagner for reminding me of the strength of this team and for telling me to stop taking blame that isn’t mine.
It’s a silly bookend to my career at the Wire, but when I was a first-year, Dr. Wagner asked me if I would ever become the student director at the Wire and my answer was, “Absolutely not." Funny how that worked out.
I am so proud of everyone who works on the second floor, and I can’t wait to see what happens next. I won’t be there, but thank you to everyone who helped me get this far.
To Megan, thank you. Thank you so much. Please know that I wouldn’t have gotten through everything at the Wire without your help.
To Sophia, Jack, Kaylynn and Adrian, thanks for sticking around even when it got rough. You are all going to do amazing things, no matter where you end up.
To Joey, Mia, Mikey, Raquel and every other person I toured through the news-
room, I’m glad I made such an impact on you. It has made me so happy to see you grow, lead and thrive. The next few years are going to be even better.
To Phoebe and TJ, I know you don’t work at the Wire anymore, but I am so grateful that it brought the three of us together.
To Mari and Mary, what would I have done these last four years without you two?
Thanks for always being
there for literally every single thing that has happened. I can’t believe I have to live 500 miles away from you guys now. That's so jail. And to my wonderful staff, thank you all so much for letting me be your student director. I hope you had a great year. You are all the Wire.
Photo courtesy of Clara Lebrón
Clara Lebrón is the print production manager.
Izzy Fonfara Drewel is the exectutive director.
Photo courtesy of Izzy Fonfara Drewel
By Sofía Cortés sofia.cortes@marquette.edu
At the beginning of my sophomore year at Marquette, I had changed my major three different times before finally settling on Journalism. This was merely due to the fact that everything else I tried just felt wrong, and creative writing was something I had always turned to my entire life.
One day in December, around three years ago, I saw a flyer advertising a position at the Marquette Radio. My roommate at the time, Shannyn Donohue, was brave enough to apply with me, and we both found an outlet that has stuck with us until graduation. I have so many memories of collaborating on radio shows together, bringing friends to participate with us and even spending some shows talking about an album for an entire hour.
Later on, I decided to apply for an arts and entertainment reporter position and at first, it was hard for me to find my footing. Then, I discovered how my love for music and my pas-
By Gabriel Sisarica gabriel.sisarica@marqutte.edu
With graduation nearing, I’ve had the chance to reminisce about my four years here at Marquette University. That’s what senior year does, that’s what senior year is. It’s a jumble of emotions that you deal with all at the same time.
People ask you, "What’s next? Are you excited about the future?" Or even something as simple as, "How do you feel?" These questions stir up a lot of emotions, and a sense of dread kicks in, knowing that soon, life will change.
The realization that an end is near makes people appreciate what they have that much more. My time at Marquette leaves me with nothing but gratitude, something I could have never imagined when I committed here four years ago.
Marquette was always a school that was in the back of my mind when looking at college. One of my closest friends grew up in a Marquette family. From time to time, they would take me with them to watch Marquette men’s basketball games. Who knew that those times were planting a seed in
The MarqueTTe Tribune
Tuesday, april 29, 2025
CORTÉS: Saying goodbye
sion for writing could join forces. Since that moment, I have had the opportunity to interview and write about countless talented artists; it was my absolute dream job. By far, my favorite memories at the Wire are going to concerts with Shannyn, who would take all of the photos and sometimes co-write articles with me about them. Over the years of knowing each other, we have attended more than thirty or forty concerts together, inside and outside of work.
Over these past three years at the Wire, I have grown as a writer after finding something I absolutely love to write and continuously learn about. Today, as a senior, I was entrusted with the leadership position I had always dreamed of: Journal Director. I was excited to venture into long-form, creative reporting. Working hand in hand with talented reporters, designers and my co-director as well as lifelong friend, Clara Lebrón.
With so many years spent working with Marquette Radio, the Tribune and
now the Journal, I truly can’t believe it’s come to an end, but I am forever grateful for the friendships I’ve made throughout my time here.
To Shannyn Donohue: From the moment we were roommates who hardly knew each other, up until senior year where you became one of my closest friends, thank you for truly being my partner in every creative endeavor here.
To Jack Belmont and Ellie Nelsen-Freund: My roommates and dear friends, who also work on the Wire, thank you for everything— nothing has brought me as much joy as being able to call you guys my friends and work on creative projects together. Coming home after all-staff together, working on editing photos and writing articles together at home is something I'll never forget.
To Clara Lebrón: Thank you for being one of my first friends at school and taking on this Journal with me. We truly have put our blood, sweat and tears into this project. Even in our moments of doubt, we made something
amazing together. In my bedroom, my door is entirely covered in articles I've written and Tribunes filled with collaborations with all of my friends here. Sometimes I look at the first article I ever wrote, where I was extremely scared and lost, next to some of my latest ones, and think about all of the growth I've made as a writer and a person; articles I will never forget.
SISARICA: Live for today
my mind.
Going to a new city that was still close to home was exciting for me. Once I looked into Marquette’s journalism program, the decision was a no-brainer. Marquette had everything I wanted.
Still, as an 18-year-old, you have no idea what college will be like. Gaining independence and attending university is a big wake-up call. For me, I realized maybe I didn’t have everything figured out,. I needed to reassess my values.
Marquette has been the perfect place to do that. If you haven’t gone to school here, it’s almost impossible to describe. Marquette’s values, the idea of being the difference, caring for the whole person and giving back, started to resonate with me more.
After freshman year, I focused on figuring myself out. I was finally ready to get involved and start growing as a person. That’s when I joined the Marquette Wire and Marquette Mentors.
At the Wire, I was hired to work as a sports multimedia journalist. For two years, I got to work alongside Kristin Parisi, Adrian Fraga and Lunden Davis to put together a sports show. I sat court-
side at games, covered the Big East Tournament, interviewed players and made connections that will last a lifetime. I also met Kelly Kauffman, the Head of Human Resources with the Milwaukee Bucks and my mentor through the Marquette mentor’s program. Kelly has been one of my biggest influences. She helped guide me through difficult times, ensuring that I would be ok. Besides the Wire and Marquette Mentors, I’ve done work with the Marquette O’Brien Fellowship. Here, I’ve worked alongside Chesnie Wardell and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Reporter Rory Linnane. I’ve spent the year writing stories on the issues plaguing Milwaukee Public Schools. I felt like I'd been able to make a difference in the community. Looking back, the work that I’ve done here leaves me with a sense of gratitude. Meanwhile, I tackled a psychology major. I worked a year doing ABA research with Marquette’s SSAIL Lab. I also worked as a student wellness ambassador in Dr. Gerdes and Dr. Gordon’s program. I taught a group of students wellness techniques like yoga, nutrition and emotional regulation.
For what Marquette has given me, I’ve given all I’ve had back to this university. Next, I will be attending graduate school to become a clinical counselor/mental health therapist But I couldn’t completely leave journalism behind. I’ll also be a contributor to the FantasyBrainz Podcast, covering the ins and outs of fantasy football. As I graduate, I leave you all with this: No matter
who we are or what we do, all we really have is today. Live in the moment and try to find something you enjoy doing every single day. Soon enough, the moments will turn into memories, and you’ll be left with the one question I’ve been asking myself: Where did the time go?
Sofía Cortés is the Journal director and A&E audio producer.
Gabriel Sisarica is an MUTV producer.
Photo courtesy of Gabriel Sisarica
Photo courtesy of Gabriel Sisarica
Arts & Entertainment
Remi Wolf brings 'Big Ideas' tour to MKE
Dana and Alden
opened for Wolf
April 14
By Rachel Lopera rachel.lopera@marquette.edu
Electric energy rattled the Riverside Theater stage on April 14 as Remi Wolf’s “Big Ideas” tour hit Milwaukee.
Named after her second studio album, the tour delivered a vibrant, dynamic concert that left me dancing all night. The album was released last July and consists of alternative-pop music with disco and funk influence. Wolf brought her songs to life, prompting loud cheers and screaming echoes — which made for an extremely memorable night.
Dana and Alden Opener
While I had never heard of them before, I appreciated Dana and Alden’s jazz and indie inspired music. With Dana on the saxophone and Alden on the drums, the brothers created a groovy atmosphere along with their multi-talented troupe.
The saxophone harmonies had me hooked, and
the vocals were crisp and bright, scratching an itch in my brain. The chemistry between Dana and the troupe was soulful and enjoyable to watch and had me warmed up and ready for Wolf.
Remi Wolf
Before she took the stage, an introduction played over the sound system that reminded me of a Halloween-esque voiceover. The, honestly, creepy intro had me on edge but also amplified the anticipation buzzing in the audience.
Sporting a sleeveless tee that said “Funk” and a blue necktie, Wolf walked on stage around 9 p.m. Bathed in a golden, ethereal light, she opened the show with the first track off her “Big Ideas” tour setlist, “Cherries & Cream.” To follow, she sang one of my personal favorites, “Cinderella,” which had the crowd jumping and singing along. Hearing hundreds of people singing “Me and the boys in the hotel lobby” is now a core memory.
Wolf had everyone engaged as she guided us through some vocal warmups. Be-
forehand, she even acknowledged 414 day, a Milwaukee holiday that refers to the city’s area code. The crowd went ballistic, and Wolf fed off that energy to deliver an outstanding performance.
She was bouncing across the stage and doing some impressive high kicks. Her powerful vocals alongside the vibrant, flashing stage lights created a lively sensory experience.
She sang about half the songs off “Big Ideas,” including “Kangaroo,” “Alone in Miami” and “Toro,” which featured a fun dance break with her band members. Wolf’s interactions with her band throughout the show was amusing and lighthearted. It was evident that they were all enjoying themselves.
While her newer songs were exciting to hear live, I was ecstatic to hear tracks from her debut studio album, “Juno.” The rhythmic chorus of “Sexy Villain” and the upbeat playfulness of “Disco Man” burst throughout the theater, adding to the rowdy atmosphere. Something unique Wolf
does at each of her shows is perform an improvised song. She asks audience members to give her random words that she’ll make a song about right on the spot. The words she was given at this show were “f***,” “lizard” and “green,” which led to the creation of “F*** Me Lizard Green.” Her ability to make up words and a melody in real time was quite impressive and unexpected. The band also did an amazing job with creating a beat and rhythm to match.
After a rollercoaster of a night, Wolf closed the show with “Soup” and exited the stage before psyching the audience and returning for an encore. She sang “Photo ID” as a last hurrah for the night and took a gracious bow with her band.
With no doubt, the most memorable aspect of the concert was Wolf’s energy and enthusiasm that simply radiated into the audience. She truly gave it her all in order to deliver a spectacular show.
If you missed her in Milwaukee, she’ll be performing at Lollapalooza Aug. 3.
MU orchestra presents final concert of season
The group performed three different pieces
By Alison McMillan alison.mcmillan@marquette.edu
Marquette Orchestra held their final performance of the year in Varsity Theatre on April 27 at 2 pm. They performed three other concerts throughout the year, mostly made up of strings; however, this performance contained a full orchestra, which accompanied select members from the brass, wind and percussion sections of the band.
They performed three different pieces, the most wellknown being, “Symphony No. 5” by Ludwig van Beethoven that has been featured in countless movies and commercials.
Matt Waters, a junior in the College of Business Adminis-
tration, is the principal violinist for the 1st violins. With this position, he said he helps lead his section through small group interactions in rehearsals so that they can perform as a cohesive group.
“This concert is my favorite of the year because it encompasses the strings as well as the wind and brass. Especially with these huge pieces that I’m sure all of the audience will enjoy and recognize. It’s going to be powerful for the audience, and I really want to share a good time and feeling with the audience,” said Waters.
However, a lot of preparation goes in before these students hit the big stage to perform. Waters said they have rehearsals twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays and are also expected to practice outside of these hours.
Sophia Hart-Liepert, a first-
year student in the College of Education, is the principal bassist for the orchestra.
“I was definitely surprised when I came here and got that role in the beginning as a freshman,” Hart-Liepert said. Hart-Liepert said she has been playing for 10 years. However, this year she faced a new challenge of having to navigate an injury. At the beginning of the year, she experienced some tendinitis in her fingers and thumb. This later turned into her being diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome in her left hand — the same hand she uses to pluck her bass.
However, she said she does not let that stop her from playing but rather ignites her love for music even more. She wants to use this time to not only get better at her craft but also to instill this love of music in others. Over
the summer, she worked at a music camp teaching younger kids how to play musical instruments and now teaches private lessons.
“I teach lessons to a few people privately and so getting better at these skills will help me be better for others,”
Hart-Liepert said. “It causes my love of music more because it is not something that I will always be able to do.”
Since the first concert, she has adjusted to a new style of conducting, made friends with other people in the orchestra and lead the bass section in each of the concerts.
Erik Janners, the Director of Music at Marquette, said that watching students grow is the most rewarding part.
“What is really rewarding for me is watching students grow throughout their time in the program,” Janners said. “The orchestra that started
in October would not have been ready to play this, but through the music we have done together over the course of the year and how much their playing has improved over the year they are able to take on the challenge of these pieces.”
Four members of the orchestra will be graduating this year. To those members, he has a message.
“Keep music a part of your life because this is something that will be different from the career you’re in and can be an outlet to let off steam and be around different people to socialize,” Janners said.
As for next year’s concerts, Janners previewed that he has selected “Winter” by Antonio Vivaldi and Franz Schubert’s “Unfinished Symphony.”
Marquette Orchestra had a unique performance that accompanied the full orchestra strings along with select brass, wind and percusion sections of the band.
Photo courtesy of Harrison Dilts
Photos by Alison McMillan alison.mcmillan@marquette.edu
The "Big Ideas" tour was named after her second studio album that was released in July.
april 29,
Lorde to release new music after 4 year pause
Singer last released an album in 2021
By MaryKate Stepchuk marykate.stepchuk@marquette.edu
On Wednesday, April 9, Lorde (Ella Marija Lani Yelich-O’Connor) posted a TikTok of her walking and running through Washington Square Park in New York City with a clip from her new song. Since then, the internet has been in shambles.
It has been almost four years since Lorde released new music, with her last album, “Solar Power,” released in August 2021; however, it did not receive as much attention as her previous 2017 album, “Melodrama.”
Nevertheless, this new seven-second song clip felt very reminiscent of
“Melodrama,” quickly drawing attention from many influencers and “Melodrama” lovers.
The video has now surpassed 30 million views, and over 25,000 videos have been posted under the sound. To say the least, people loved the tease.
Jake Shane, a popular content creator on TikTok, known for his humor, even made a silly little dance to it to express his excitement — thus spreading the clip even more. As people were soaking in the excitement of new Lorde’s music, she made a surprise cameo at Coachella.
Charli XCX, known for her 2024 album “Brat,” performed at Coachella this past weekend. With her and Lorde collaborating on a new song, “Girl, so confusing,” last summer, the rumors of a guest performance were high — espe-
cially after her song tease just days before.
During Charli’s set, she started singing “Girl, so confusing,” and from the first note, the crowd went wild.
Lorde appeared on stage for a guest performance, and people’s suspicions of a new album only rose, especially since Lorde stays under the radar more often than not.
Lorde is known for her often nonchalant way of sharing information with her listeners, avoiding most social media. She usually only uses Instagram to hint at or announce new music and often spreads news through her email newsletter instead. So, if Lorde uses social media and makes more public appearances than normal, assume that means new music is coming. So, for her to announce
new music on a random Wednesday in a TikTok video with no other context makes perfect sense for her brand, and it definitely worked to bring traction to her new music — along with her email, encouraging people to sign up for text messages.
After the Coachella performance, on Monday, April 14, she sent a voice message through her text sign-ups. She went on a bit of a ramble about her Coachella performance, enjoying this new way of communicating, and then said, “I just wanted to say hi, because everything is about to change, and these are really the last moments where it’s just us.”
Once again, the rumors of a new album kept piling up, and it was getting harder and harder to deny the very real possibility at this point.
Two days later, the text Lorde fans were impatiently waiting for finally arrived, stating, “My new song, ‘What Was That.’ Out soon.” Soon after, her headshot with the same announcement was posted on Instagram, once again confirming the album.
Naturally, chaos within Lorde fans ensued. The comment section was ecstatic, with singer Gracie Abrams commenting, “Exactly,” and many other brands and celebrities commenting as well.
After almost four restless years, people are beyond excited for her new music, even hinting at a “Lorde Summer.” It may just be time to relive that “Melodrama” era.
Lorde’s new song can be pre-saved, even though a release date has yet to be announced.
Lemonis Center presents student art exhibiton
Center featured eight student art pieces April 24
By Annie Goode annie.goode@marquette.edu
The Lemonis Center for Student Success welcomed students, parents and faculty to view eight student art pieces centered around the themes of “Culture & Career,” “Inclusivity at Marquette” and “Defining Success.”
Courtney Hanson, director of the Career Center at Marquette, organized the event which was also sponsored by the Lemonis Center, the Office of Inclusion and Belonging and Enterprise Mobility.
“Our space was kind of bland, and we wanted to draw students into the space more and make them feel like they belong … and see a representation of
themselves,” Hanson said.
The exhibition featured work from Bailee Barton, a sophomore in the College of Communication; Kyra Carviou, a senior in the College of Nursing; Indira Kahate Desouza, a first-year in the College of Engineering; Nicole Gant, a first-year in the College of Arts & Sciences; Kayla Puangco, a senior in the College of Nursing, Jia Kamin, a first-year in the College of Arts & Sciences; Fiona Mulloney, a firstyear in the College of Engineering and Elyse Kaitson, a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences.
“Artists were asked to submit a proposal, and then we had a committee decide who the artists were that we were gonna ask to make the paintings,” Hanson said. “They get a $500 stipend for when they win, and then they have a period of time where they
make their art and then they write their own titles, descriptions, all of that.”
The art from this year’s exhibition seemed to depict a wide array of scenes – from a dorm room titled “Friday Night In” created by Mulloney to an oak tree “Rooted in Marquette,” created by Kaitson to a nurse and their patient in a “A Moment of Compassion,” created by Carviou – but each was connected by the artist’s chosen theme.
Carviou, the artist behind “A Moment of Compassion,” said she just began her journey as an artist a year ago and has found it to be an outlet for her in the stressful major of nursing.
“I decided to choose [the theme] ‘Culture and Career’ because nursing is so diverse and we work with so many patients, so I really wanted to bring that in my art piece,” Carviou said.
“I wanted the two people in my art to have two different races to show how diverse and how many people we work with in the nursing career. You can see the anatomical features of the old man, so that’s showing that we’re all the same under our skin and I added a heartbeat, the symbol for health care, and a ton more colors.”
Each piece of art had a short description written by the artist attached to it, describing their work and how it connects to the theme that they chose to work off.
“What I really liked about this year that I noticed is that the artists are from a variety of colleges – we have nursing, arts and sciences, engineering,” Hanson said. “We’re finding artists from across the entire university, lots of different backgrounds and the stories that they tell
in their descriptions are really personal. I would love to see students walking around the center and really reading them and seeing themselves in some of these.”
The 10 other paintings from the past two years of Student Art Exhibitions are displayed throughout the Lemonis Center, and the eight paintings from this year are soon to join them.
“Honestly, I’m really excited about this and I imagine retiring or coming back years from now and there just being art all over,” Hanson said. “It really is about belonging at Marquette, being able to see yourself in the art or being able to express yourself in the art or being able to express yourself as one of the artists, knowing that this is really appreciated and we really value the story of the individual student.”
Left: Kyra Carviou, a senior in the College of Nursing, created "A Moment of Compassion" to go along with the exhbitions theme of "Culture and Career."
Photos by Lily Wooten lily.wooten@marquette.edu