EDITORIAL: It’s never too early to fight for your dream career – Viewpoints, page 6
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Volume 96, Number 15
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Alumni network goes global Verdict in doubt New technology forces retrial for convicted man By Matt Gozun benjaminmatthew.gozun@marquette.edu
Photo courtesy of Ashley Nickel
Ashley Nickel, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences, is studying abroad in Italy this semester.
New program helps grads abroad connect with the university By Allison Kruschke allison.kruschke@marquette.edu
A new initiative started this year aims to create a better study abroad experience for students, and to provide resources for alumni in Europe. The European Alumni Network, as well as its connected Internation-
al Student Ambassador program, bring together several regional networks already in existence abroad. Belton Flournoy, the regional lead for the network in the United Kingdom and a 2003 graduate of the College of Business Administration, said the main goal of the network is to foster community among those connected to Marquette. “The EAN re-connects alumni who might have lost contact with Marquette during the move to Europe,” Flournoy said. “As the world is becoming more global, so is Marquette. It is important to develop a
strong European alumni program to support our growth worldwide.” The idea was spearheaded by Flournoy and Kelly Kliebhan, a 1999 graduate of the College of Arts & Sciences and the regional lead for France. The network covers students studying in any European country. “We create a support network for many students who will be away from their family and friends for the first time,” Flournoy said. “We have an informal mentorship program in some of the cities and host See Alumni, page 5
Golden Eagles GoGeddit Alumnus creates new coupon service for Wisconsin By Pat Simonaitis patrick.simonaitis@marquette.edu
Move over Groupon.com. There’s a new online coupon provider in town — and this one is run by former and current Marquette students looking to localize and improve the money-saving experience. Richie Burke, a 2011 graduate of the College of Business Administration, launched new online deal website GoGeddit.com in mid-September. The site was the
manifestation of an idea he has been working on since graduation. “Our goal has been to create a better (coupon) alternative for both consumers and businesses alike,” Burke said. “Right now, we’re a lean organization, we have a ton of flexibility and we feel we can offer consumers the best packages.” Burke said his business, which has grown to nearly 3,000 subscribers since inception, is distinguished from other deal sites because of its commitment to work with businesses as well as consumers. “We offer businesses that work with us better retailer margins and take the time to sit down with the people we work with and build good relationships,” he said. “We will also look to work with
INDEX
DPS REPORTS.....................2 CALENDAR.......................2 VIEWPOINTS........................6 CLOSER LOOK....................8
STUDY BREAK....................10 SPORTS..........................12 CLASSIFIEDS..................14
these businesses repeatedly in the future.” Currently, Burke splits his time between Madison, where he grew up, and Milwaukee, the two cities where the site offers deals. In Milwaukee, current hot deals include $10 off at National Liquor Mart on a purchase of $25 and $4 off at The Broken Yolk on a purchase of $11. Burke said while college students are not necessarily the most likely to use coupon sites, he and his staff can relate to the college experience and offer deals that will entice Marquette students to frequent the site. One upcoming collegiate deal to look out for will be a pitcher at Murphy’s Irish Pub and a Papa
In 1994, 19-year-old Brian Avery confessed to and was convicted of robbing two Milwaukee food stores after being caught on security footage. But today, over fifteen years later, Avery is getting a new trial, thanks to new technology that suggests the suspect on tape may have been several inches shorter than previously thought. In a 2-1 decision, the Wisconsin First District Court of Appeals overturned a trial court’s decision to deny Avery a new trial, based on new evidence from enhanced security footage unavailable in 1994. The dissenting justice, Kitty Brennan, argued that the new evidence would not lead to a change in reasonable doubt. “The trial court did not err in its application of the newly discovered evidence test,” Brennan wrote. “And was correct that there is not a reasonable probability that Avery’s new (video) evidence would create a reasonable doubt when viewed alongside all of the other evidence.” If found not guilty, under Wisconsin law, Avery will be eligible to receive $5,000 for each year he was imprisoned, for a maximum total of $25,000. Avery was convicted of robbing Malone’s Find Foods and Atari Food Market as part of an armed gang over the course of two days in July 1994. Security footage from
both stores was recovered, with the footage from Malone’s used to match Avery to one of the robbers. After the tapes were enhanced by the FBI through Video Image Stabilization and Registration, Gene Grindstaff, an expert testifying on Avery’s behalf, explained that information gained from the security footage revealed that the suspect had to be less than six feet tall. Avery was 6 feet 3 inches tall at the time of his arrest. However, the prosecution has argued Avery was convicted based on two eyewitness testimonies and a previously provided confession Avery has since recanted. “(The officer) said, ‘Well, if you cooperate you will be able to go home,’” Avery said, according to court documents. “And that’s when I told him and I agreed that I had did it.” One of the eyewitnesses at the Malone’s robbery, then 15-year-old Archerie Simmons, testified that the suspected robber was between 5 feet 10 inches to 6 feet tall, and approximately 16 years old. After being given a stack of photos, Simmons identified Avery as the suspect, but during the trial denied ever choosing him. Five eyewitnesses to both robberies also could not identify Avery, although an Atari employee, Mueen Hamdan, was able to. Daniel Blinka, a professor of law and an adviser to the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Innocence Project, said the Avery case is proof that new technology, although helpful in solving crimes, is not an endall solution. “We have to deal with human witnesses who may be lying or who See Crime Tech, page 5
#BroughtWadetoMadness
Photo by Aaron Ledesma/aaron.ledesma@marquette.edu
NBA star and former Marquette basketball player Dwyane Wade made a surprise guest appearance at Marquette Madness on Friday. Also in attendance were four other former Marquette and current NBA players.
See GoGeddit, page 5 NEWS
News
Sports
Recall
Battle
GRESKA
Wisconsin Dems prepare to take on Gov. Walker in 2012. See, PAGE 2
Campus political groups square off over ‘Occupy.’ See PAGE 3
Picking a favorite Marquette team is harder than it looks. See PAGE 12