Viewpoints
The Marquette Tribune
PAGE 8
The Marquette Tribune Editorial Board:
Kara Chiuchiarelli, Viewpoints Editor Tessa Fox, Editorial Writer Matthew Reddin, Editor-in-Chief Tori Dykes, Managing Editor Marissa Evans, News Editor Caroline Campbell, Closer Look Editor
Mike Nelson, Sports Editor Sarah Elms, Marquee Editor Elise Krivit, Photo Editor Zachary Hubbard, Visual Content Editor
STAFF EDITORIAL
Marquette needs to give the arts a chance
Thursday, February 23, 2012
TRIBUNE TRIBUTES MAKING EVERYONE’S DAY THAT MUCH BETTER
To: My homework ... Where did you come from? To: MUBB ... There you go. To: Whoever left a note for me last week in one of the Mashuda study rooms ... I graciously thank you. It means so much!
To: The weather ... Make up your mind already. To: Lent ... Bring it on. To: Mom : ... Can’t wait for the free meals and car this weekend!
READER SUBMISSION
Capitalism a contentious issue
Photo by Daniel Alfonzo/daniel.alfonzo@marquette.edu
Every student and graduate is proud to country. Yet something is lacking when we say: “We are Marquette! We are engineers. are not addressing every element of the huWe are nurses. We are resident assistants. man spirit in our curriculum. We are athletes. We are theologians.” But Yes, Marquette and the Milwaukee Instiwhat about, “We are ... artists?” Now that’s tute of Art and Design have a partnership something you don’t hear at this school. that allows Marquette students to exercise As a Jesuit institution of higher educa- their creative juices by taking classes at tion, Marquette University stands firmly MIAD’s campus in the Third Ward. Howby the ideal of cura personalis. Marquette ever, MIAD’s three-hour classes are diffinot only incorporates this principle into cult to fit into a schedule already packed its curriculum but encourages students to full of Marquette courses, and they fill up put it into practice fast. The program is not a realistic in their everyday way to make artistic opportunities Isn’t fine art in its many accessible to every student. lives so that we might graduate as forms a part of the human In addition, Marquette is lackwell-rounded in- spirit that at some level ing in fine arts facilities. We’re not dividuals ready to needs to be nurtured? forgetting about our lovely Helsuccessfully take faer Theatre or the beautiful Hagon whatever this gerty Museum of Art, but there is world can throw no space on campus designated for at us. the sole purpose of creating and practicing If Marquette endeavors to be an institu- fine art. If you are part of Marquette’s band, tion that strives to care for the whole per- orchestra or choir groups, you are fortunate son, then isn’t fine art in its many forms a enough to have swipe access to the practice part of the human spirit that at some level rooms in the Weasler Auditorium, but the needs to be nurtured? Whether it is some- rest of us are out of luck. Even our art club thing as simple as creating studio spaces — did you know we have an art club? — across campus for the purpose of making meets at the museum, not in a separate stufine art or going as far as to institute a fine dio space conducive to creative expression. arts department, we at the Tribune feel that The Rec Center and Rec Plex are both something here needs to change. on-campus locations where any student Some might argue that Marquette is not a can go and get their sweat on. So why don’t fine arts school; therefore, if students want we have studio spaces where students can to study the fine arts then they should at- exercise their creative sides? tend an institution specific to those interThese propositions are for a better future ests. In response to that noMarquette. As for now, get out tion, we point to all of the and take advantage of the creother core requirements that ativity already blossoming on As for now, get out campus. Catch a performance make us such a wonderful Jesuit institution. For example, and take advantage of of “Defying Gravity” at the not every student who enrolls the creativity already Helfaer, wander though the latat Marquette is interested in est exhibitions at the Haggerty theology or philosophy or blossoming on campus. or head over to the Annex for foreign language, yet every Marquette Radio’s Spotlight student, regardless of maMKE event this weekend. jor, is still required to take at There is incredible creativleast one of each of these classes in order to ity already buzzing throughout this camfulfill their graduation requirements. pus, and it’s growing. It’s time Marquette These core requirements are essential embraces these talents and makes them a to a Jesuit education, and they are part of part of what this school is all about. what makes Marquette stand out — for the better — from other universities across the
Mr. Maechtle’s response to Ms. Malloy’s Feb. 16 Viewpoints contribution (“Consider Broader Impact”) seems, in my mind, to have missed the point of her criticism of the “Pro-Capitalism Rally” staged by the College Republicans. Mr. Maechtle seems to believe that Ms. Malloy has no right criticizing capitalism because she has benefited a great deal from the current economic order. Furthermore, he claims it would be unreasonable to see a celebration of capitalism as demeaning to anyone. The truth is, the success of capitalism has historically relied on the privilege of few built upon the poverty of many. No serious student of economics or history could make the claim that the global North’s rise to economic power has not depended on advances made possible by the exploitation of workers, enslavement and colonization in the global South. Though Ms. Malloy’s criticism was not of global capitalism, there is a lesson here. Mr. Maechtle may not consider himself part of the American elite, but the mere fact that he is attending a four-year university suggests he is. The 2011 Census reports that only 27.9 percent of Americans have a bachelor’s degree and fewer still have the opportunity to earn their degree from an institution as well-regarded (and expensive) as Marquette. While Mr. Maechtle rejects Ms. Malloy’s “narrow worldview” separating Marquette students from our neighbors, it would seem to me that this division is true: we are among the most fortunate people in the country and often forget it. I was also concerned by the sentiment that suggests Ms. Malloy ought not to criticize
capitalism because she attended “a private high school in Virginia with five-figure annual tuition.” I think most people could agree how much our parents earn, where we go to high school and the values instilled in us are largely out of our control — none of us choose how we grow up, but we do get to choose what we make of that experience. To suggest that a privileged upbringing undermines one’s ability to criticize the system that one benefited from is a position that runs contrary to the ideals of this university. Lastly, I would resist Mr. Maechtle’s claim that rallying around capitalism is a reminder that “we can choose any career we desire and achieve anything we put our minds to.” While this sentiment may be true in certain cases, such a conclusion is not supported by the facts. The United States has relatively low social mobility — in fact, one of the lowest — amongst comparable industrialized nations. This suggests that our future success will be highly determined by our parents’ success. In the context of Mr. Maechtle’s claims, low social mobility means that a Marquette education is, for the majority of the underprivileged, very improbable. Make no mistake, though we may not be part of the “1 percent,” Marquette students occupy the higher ranks of privilege in this country and would do well to remember how unequally wealth, health and opportunity are distributed in the United States. Christopher Frenier Senior, College of Arts & Sciences
Statement of Opinion Policy The opinions expressed on the Viewpoints page reflect the opinions of the Viewpoints staff. The editorials do not represent the opinions of Marquette University nor its administrators, but those of the editorial board. The Marquette Tribune prints guest submissions at its discretion. The Tribune strives to give all sides of an issue an equal voice over the course of a reasonable time period. An author’s contribution will not be published more than once in a four-week period. Submissions with obvious relevance to the Marquette community will be given priority consideration. Full Viewpoint submissions should be limited to 500 words. Letters to the editor should be between 50 to 150 words. The Tribune reserves the right to edit submissions for length and content. Please e-mail submissions to: viewpoints@marquettetribune.org. If you are a current student, include the college in which you are enrolled and your year in school. If not, please note any affliations to Marquette or your current city of residence.
ys, He sa
“The Marquette Tribune is
GREAT!” Read it.