Marquette Matters Feb 2012

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MARQUETTE In his first Presidential Address to faculty and staff, Marquette University President Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., highlighted his plans to use the remainder of the spring semester to lay the ground work for strategic planning.

Fathr Pilarz noted that, “We will never agree on our university priorities, much less reach them, without a sound plan.” With the help of the Office of the Provost, he wasted no time in setting up the initial planning meetings, which are open to all faculty (within their respective colleges) and staff (see chart to the right for times) and will be moderated by Provost John Pauly.

Father Pilarz said that the meetings will be focused on key questions that guide the early stage of strategic planning, including discussions of Marquette’s strengths, successes, challenges and areas of distinction. The sessions will specifically seek to answer: n What does Marquette do right? What do the

colleges do right? nW hat should Marquette be doing? Where do we want to go? n What

does success look like? How will we know when we’ve achieved success? How should we measure success? How do we take the next steps? nW hat are the challenges that Marquette is facing?

What are the challenges facing this college?

Father Pilarz emphasized that the strategic planning will strive for excellence and will aim to answer the call from Rev. Adolfo Nicolas, S.J., superior general of the Society of Jesus, to re-imagine Jesuit higher education for today’s world. There will be “no predetermined outcomes, except one: The process and the plan will be grounded in Marquette’s Catholic and Jesuit mission,” Father Pilarz said.

For those unable to attend the sessions, please watch for additional information about how to submit input online.

Photo by Dan Johnson

Father Pilarz names strategic planning a key priority in Presidential Address

Marquette President Scott R. Pilarz, S.J., closed his Presidential Address by thanking the faculty and staff assembled for their work on behalf of the university, calling it “the great privilege of my Jesuit life” to join the Marquette community.

Strategic Planning Meetings with Father Pilarz Faculty sessions

Administrators and staff sessions

College

Date Time Location

Communication

Jan. 31

3-4 p.m. Johnston Hall, 103

Arts and Sciences

Feb. 8

3-4 p.m. Weasler Auditorium

Business

Feb. 22

3-4 p.m. Raynor, Beaumier B & C

Law School

Feb. 23

3-4 p.m. Eckstein Hall, 433A

Engineering

March 28 3-4p.m. Olin Engineering, 202

Dentistry

March 29 3-4 p.m. Dental School, 194

Education

April 3

3-4 p.m. Schroeder Complex, 112

Professional Studies April 4

3-4 p.m. Zilber, 470

Health Sciences

April 18

3-4 p.m. TBD

Nursing

April 24

3-4 p.m. Clark Hall, 123

Thursday, February 9 at 1:30 p.m.

AMU Monaghan Ballroom All non-faculty administrators and support staff within colleges and schools, Provost-area departments, Student Affairs, Mission and Ministry Wednesday, April 4 at 10:30 a.m.

Weasler Auditorium Administration, Advancement, Finance, General Counsel, Human Resources, Intercollegiate Athletics, Public Affairs, University Marketing and Communication

* Faculty are encouraged to attend the assigned times within their respective colleges.

CAM PU S H A P P E N I N GS ManpowerGroup’s Joerres to keynote Business Leaders Forum Jeff Joerres, Bus Ad ’83, chairman and CEO of ManpowerGroup and a Marquette Trustee, will deliver the keynote speech at Marquette University’s annual Business Leaders Forum luncheon Friday, Feb. 17, in the Alumni Memorial Union Monaghan Ballroom. Registration is at 11:30 a.m., followed by a noon lunch and 12:30 p.m. program. Joerres joined ManpowerGroup in 1993 and has led a transformation of the company’s business strategy, adding new business lines that have expanded the company’s ability to assist clients and candidates in navigating the changing world of work. He was elected to the Marquette Board of Trustees in 2000. Registration is $40 per person and available online at muconnect.marquette.edu/businessforum2012 or by contacting University Special Events at 8-7431.

Sportscaster Dick Enberg to give Axthelm Lecture Award-winning sports journalist Dick Enberg will deliver the 2012 Axthelm Lecture on Wednesday, Feb. 15, at 4 p.m. in the Alumni Memorial Union Monaghan Ballroom. Known for his versatility, Enberg has covered nearly every major sporting event since his debut on NBC in 1975. In January 2000, he joined CBS Sports, working on the NFL on CBS, college basketball and the U.S. Open Tennis Championships, as well as contributing to other sports broadcasts. Enberg delivered Marquette’s May 2009 Commencement address. The

Pete and Bonnie Axthelm Memorial Program was established to acknowledge and recognize the life of Pete Axthelm, a former writer at the New York Herald Tribune, Sports Illustrated and Newsweek, and his sister Bonnie, a former Media Networks and 3M executive. Since 1996, a notable journalist or executive has given the Axthelm Lecture.

Performing Arts to perform Defying Gravity The Department of Performing Arts will perform the play Defying Gravity, Feb. 16–26. Inspired by the life of Challenger astronaut Christa McAuliffe, this uplifting play explores the need to reach beyond ourselves and embrace the universe. Specific show times and tickets, which are $19, are available at the Helfaer Theatre Box Office or online at theatretickets.marquette.edu.

Gathering Points Lecture will be Feb. 28 The annual Gathering Points Lecture will take place at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 28 in Monaghan Ballrooms C and D of the Alumni Memorial Union. “Does the Theology of the Laity Have a Future?” will be delivered by Dr. Richard R. Gaillardetz, the Joseph McCarthy Professor of Catholic Systematic Theology at Boston College. Gaillardetz received his Ph.D. in systematic theology from the University of Notre Dame and has published numerous articles and authored or co-authored seven books. He was recently elected vice president of the Catholic Theological Society of America and in two years will succeed to the office of president.

MARQUETTE MATTERS

History professor returns to China on Fulbright Scholarship

by Lexi Lozinak, Comm ’13

Photo by Ben Smidt

Thirty years ago, Dr. Daniel Meissner, associate professor of history, traveled to China with his wife to teach English and American history at a teaching college in China. The experience helped instill a fascination of the country and inspire him to pursue a doctorate in Chinese history and set the course of his academic career. This semester he will travel back to China as a Fulbright Scholar to teach at South China Normal University in Guangzhou.

Meissner’s first stay in China was a memorable one. Not able to speak Chinese, he found it difficult to complete daily tasks such as buying food or finding his own way. The locals helped with the language barrier and embraced him and his wife, including when Meissner and his wife had their first daughter.

“The propaganda car drove through the village announcing the news,” recalled Meissner. “They all came to look in the windows at the hospital to see the foreigner’s baby.”

Although Meissner has since learned the language and taught Chinese history classes at American colleges and universities for 15 years, including the past 10 years at Marquette, he expects Dr. Daniel Meissner, associate professor of history, traveled to China with his wife in 1982 as China was coming out of the Cultural his time as a Fulbright Scholar will bring new experiences and Revolution and reopening its schools to Chinese students and its doors to foreign teachers. “I originally was going just to accompany lessons. “Studying abroad encourages you to put yourself in a my wife and see a bit of the country,” he said. “Shockingly, I was assigned my own courses and for the first time had to design and new environment,” he said. “It challenges you to cope with new teach classes.” He returns to China this month as a Fulbright Scholar to teach at South China Normal University. situations and kinds of people.” something new, from strange dishes in food stalls, to bicycles piled with While in China, Meissner will teach Charlie Chan Meets Uncle Sam, a squawking geese, to new, modern architecture.” class on Sino-American relationships that will cover the evolution of relaIn addition to his teaching, Meissner will work on an upcoming book, tions, attitudes and impressions between China and the United States. The Seward’s Shanghai: The Roots of American Diplomacy in China?, taking trip will be his fourth extended stay in China, and he admits that he has a advantage of materials in the Guangzhou and Shanghai archives. He also special bond with the country and looks forward to returning. “I continue plans to travel to Vietnam and Thailand and enjoy as much Asian cuisine to learn something new about Chinese history, its people, traditions and as he possibly can. culture,” he said. I can walk down any street in China and experience

Marquette University Law School Poll debuts

by Brian Dorrington

Marquette University Law School successfully launched the largest independent polling project in state history on Jan. 25. The initial poll results showed Gov. Scott Walker leading Democrats, President Barack Obama leading potential challenger Mitt Romney and the state divided on various policy issues.

News coverage of the poll appeared on more than 100 outlets nationwide, including the WashingtonPost.com, ChicagoTribune.com, CBSNews.com and ABCNews.com.

Professor Charles Franklin, director of the Marquette Law School Poll and visiting professor of law and public policy, assessed the results this way: “This split in opinion on some parts of Governor Walker’s policy initiatives sets the stage for the upcoming campaign. Democrats can point to some issues where the majority opposes the governor’s initiatives, while the governor can point to areas where the majority backs his policies. Despite the polarization of current politics, there is actually a wide range of support and opposition across the various issues.”

The Law School seeks engagement in the polling project by faculty and others throughout the university. For example, Franklin met last fall with members of the Department of Political Science and the J. William and Mary Diederich

College of Communication to invite their participation in the project.

Dean Joseph D. Kearney said: “The poll is a major addition to our dynamic but still developing public policy initiative, so ably advanced by our fellows in public policy, Mike Gousha and Alan Borsuk. With the support of Provost John Pauly, we are seeking increasingly — through the poll and otherwise — to make common cause with other faculty at the university, as we seek to merit the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel’s recent characterization of the Law School as ‘Milwaukee’s public square.’”

The poll will publish monthly and provide the most extensive data on record of public sentiment in Wisconsin. Borsuk, senior fellow in law and public policy, explained the rationale behind the ambitious project: “Amid the amazing tumult on the Wisconsin political scene, with partisanship and passion running so high, how can you get straight information about what voters are thinking?

One good answer: You can run a large-scale polling project, adhering to the highest standards of professionalism and nonpartisanship.

You can poll repeatedly throughout the year, so that you can follow trends. You can make all the results available promptly to anybody.

You can go to lengths to give others a chance to see what you’ve found out.”

Glad to see @MarquetteU’s poll results getting out there. politicalwire.com JOSEPH F. DONAHUE @JOSEPHDONAHUE

Love that @Marquetteu @muLaw is doing political polling now.

JUSTIN PHILLIPS @JUSTINPHILLIPS

For updates on the latest Marquette University Law School Poll, follow: @MULawPoll @mulaw @PollsAndVotes law.marquette.edu/poll law.marquette.edu/facultyblog

Williams takes reins as vice president and director of athletics Larry Williams began his new role as vice president and director of athletics on Jan. 2. He reports directly to Father Pilarz.

“The Marquette community appears to be more passionately engaged than I imagined,” Williams said. “The generous enthusiasm of all members of the community is impressive.”

Under Williams’ leadership, the Portland Pilots won an NCAA Division I Championship in women’s soccer in 2005 and student-athletes also succeeded in the classroom, with nine programs recognized in the past three years for performing in the top 10 percent in the country.

Williams has been busy in his new role getting to know his team.

“My commitment from day one was in learning this department from the inside out, beginning with the students, the coaches and the staff,” Williams said. “In concentric circles, I am looking forward to extending my learning from this team to the larger university community and beyond.”

Above the many accolades, accomplishments and milestones on Williams resume, one item jumps off the page. While playing in the NFL from 1985–93, he earned a law degree from the University of San Diego School of Law in 1992.

How did he manage? Williams is quick to credit his wife, Laura Lee. “We were just starting our family, so we had a bunch of munchkins running around with all kinds of demands,” Williams said. “I would go to work as a professional player at about 7:30 a.m. every day. I’d lift weights, discuss game plans, study opponent films, practice, receive injury

Photo by Maggie Casey

by Brian Dorrington

At his initial news conference, Larry Williams described a memory “seared into my mind” of watching the “crazy coach” and the team with untucked jerseys win the 1977 national championship. Williams came to Marquette from the University of Portland, where he had served as athletics director since 2004.

treatment, watch a little more film and then return home at about 6 p.m. Four days a week, Laura Lee would make dinner and I would jump in the car and go downtown to class from 7–9 p.m. I would then stay at school to study and brief cases until 11 p.m. I had great support and encouragement. I could play athletically at the highest levels on Sundays, which was an absolute thrill, but at the same time I immensely enjoyed the mental gymnastics that law school required.”

Williams and his wife have five children.

Though he will now oversee all of the Golden

On the Side

Kurt Gering – 7,250 miles and counting

Photo courtesy of Curt Gering

by Tim Cigelske, Comm ’04

Unlike many people, Kurt Gering can keep a new year’s resolution.

He started a daily bike streak on New Year’s Day 2011 and hasn’t missed a day since after more than 7,250 miles — or about 19 total days in the saddle.

“As I rode my bike on New Year’s Eve and crossed over the 7,000-mile mark completing my journey, I remember feeling overcome with a sense of gratitude,” he said.

It hasn’t come easy. His streak survived a broken foot, bouts of flu with a 103 degree fever and two broken ribs after he was hit by an unleashed dog. But Gering said others he heard from who faced difficulties inspired him to keep going.

In one case, he received an email from a woman who lost vision in her left eye but read Gering’s blog and said she found hope to ride a bike one day. On another occasion, he took part in a bike ride across Iowa and met an amputee who completed the 500-mile journey with one leg. Even at a Christmas Eve service he met an usher who told Gering he was the man’s inspiration to bike 3,000 miles in 2012.

“It made me realize the power each of us have to impact the lives of others, often without knowing it,” Gering said.

Now that he has reflected on a full year of daily biking, he believes more people could do something similar. This year, his goal is to bike 10,000 miles and do 100,000 situps.

“Too often,” he said, “we place false limitations on ourselves.”

“On the Side” offers a glimpse of faculty and staff interests outside of Marquette. Email your story suggestions to ­marquettematters@marquette.edu.

Eagles’ coaches and staff members, he has fond coaching memories himself.

“Of all the fun I ever had playing any game at any level, or watching any game at any time, I never enjoyed anything as much as I did coaching my kids’ youth baseball teams,” he said. “I saw how my kids interacted with their peers and how they dealt with adversity in a completely genuine setting. Coaching sports is a special calling.”

TAKE

5

Marquette.edu is the front door for people looking for information about the university across the globe. Here are five interesting web analytics from 2011 about the Marquette website, according to the Office of Marketing and Communication.

11,699,728 – Total number of visits to the Marquette website 56,824 – The number of visits to the website that derived from China, the second most popular country behind the United States 1,474 – The number of visits to the website from Kenya, the least amount of visits from a single country 50 – Total number of countries from which visitors to the website came 6.16 – The average minutes spent on the website by visitors from Ghana, the longest average of any country

“Take Five” is a brief list about an interesting aspect of Marquette life. Email your list suggestions to marquettematters@marquette.edu.

Marquette Matters is published monthly during the academic year, except for a combined issue in December/January, for Marquette University’s faculty and staff. Submit information to: Marquette Matters – Zilber Hall, 235; Phone: 8-7448; Fax: 8-7197 Email: marquettematters@marquette.edu Editor: Brian Dorrington Graphic design: Nick Schroeder Copyright © 2012 Marquette University

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MARQUETTE MATTERS

Mission Week 2012 asks: “Who is my neighbor?”

by April Beane

Who is a neighbor? What does it mean to be a neighbor in the Christian tradition?

That is the topic for Marquette’s Mission Week, the annual exploration of the richness of our Catholic and Jesuit tradition.

Mission Week runs Feb. 19–24 and will feature speeches, conversations and ­reflections inspired by the theme, “Who is My Neighbor?” — the question in the Gospel of Luke that prompts Jesus to share the story of the Good Samaritan.

The parable reminds us of Jesus’ challenge to “love your neighbor as yourself.”

“To achieve solidarity, each of us needs to reflect on how we can break down our own walls, put aside our prejudices, and put compassion into action to help our fellow neighbors here on campus and across the globe,” said Rev. Douglas J. Leonhardt, S.J., associate vice president for the Office of Mission and Ministry. “As Jesus instructed in the Good Samaritan story, a neighbor is one who shows mercy for those in need. This week is an opportunity for us to come together as friends, colleagues and ­neighbors to discover how we can ‘Go and do likewise.’”

In addition to considering outreach to our neighbors in need, some of the Mission Week events will promote discussions about the need to create international partnerships to address issues of faith, justice and ecology.

One example of this kind of network in action is seen in how Marquette engineering students work with communities in Honduras and Guatemala to build systems for distributing clean water and electricity.

Dr. Bernard Amadei, founding president of Engineering Without Borders USA, the organization that sponsors those engineering trips, will deliver the keynote address on Tuesday, Feb. 21 (See the Mission Week sidebar for event details.)

The Marquette community is invited to all Mission Week events, beginning with the opening Mass at 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 19, at Church of the Gesu.

Mission Week event highlights Sunday, February 19

Thursday, February 22

Mission Week Mass 4 p.m. — Church of the Gesu Monday, February 20 Dr. Jennifer Beste, associate professor of theological ethics at Xavier University and author of God and the Victim Faculty and staff luncheon Confronting the realities of hookup culture: How can we as faculty and staff at Jesuit universities foster college students’ holistic growth?

Noon, Alumni Memorial Union, Ballroom E Student group discussion Does hooking up make college students happy? Exploring college students’ perspectives and experiences of the hookup culture 7 p.m., AMU, Ballroom E

Dr. Phil Nyden, professor of sociology and director of the Center for Urban Research and Learning at Loyola University Chicago Next steps: How to become engaged in community research 8:30 a.m., Schroeder Complex, Room 112 A faculty and graduate student workshop on community research 1:30 p.m., Raynor Memorial Libraries, Beaumier Suite A Do we know it all? Combining university and community knowledge in research 4 p.m., AMU, Ballrooms A and B Part of the 2011–12 Presidential Inauguration Academic Event series Visit marquette.edu/missionweek for a complete schedule.

Tuesday, February 21 Keynote address Dr. Bernard Amadei, founding president of Engineers Without Borders USA Engineering for the developing world: From crisis to development 4 p.m., AMU, Monaghan Ballroom

M A R Q U ET T E H AP P E NINGS Real estate professor named director at Federal Home Loan Bank

period by promoting enlightened thought and attitudes that steered between the extremes of secularism and reactionary Catholicism.

Dr. Mark Eppli, professor of finance and the Robert B. Bell Sr. Chair in Real Estate, was appointed an independent director at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Chicago. Eppli, who also serves as director of the Center for Real Estate in the College of Business Administration, will serve on the FHLBC board until Dec. 31, 2013. The FHLBC is a $73 billion wholesale bank serving the needs of member housing finance institutions located in Illinois and Wisconsin.

Four new exhibitions at the Haggerty Museum

Theology professor honored for book Dr. Ulrich Lehner, assistant professor of theology, was awarded the John Gilmary Shea Prize from the American Catholic Historical Association for his 2011 book, Enlightened Monks: The German Benedictines (1740–1803). The book adopts the notion of an 18th-century religious enlightenment to argue that a large number of German Benedictines in southern and middle Germany (as well as Austria and Switzerland) responded to the unprecedented challenges of the

The Haggerty Museum of Art has four new exhibitions on display through May 20. Philip Guston’s Inevitable Finality: The Gemini G.E.L. Prints features all 25 lithographs created in the last two months of the artist’s life. The Europeans: Photographs by Tina Barney provides an intimate look at wealthy Europeans at home through the eyes of the American photographer, known for her large, lush and colorful photographs. Marriage is an exhibition of nine “Film Portraits” by British conceptual artist John Stezaker. The artist mined boxes of vintage film stills and publicity shots of classic movie stars to create a new series of collages that are whimsical and ironic. Lastly, the Haggerty will present select works from the permanent collection purchased with funds provided by the Mary B. Finnigan Art Endowment Fund, including paintings by Lovis Corinth, Jean Fautrier, Wifredo Lam and Jacob Lawrence, among others.