What's going on at MU, bigger picture

[Tugg Speedman]

This was an answer to another thread but thought it was worth it's own discussion ...

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Their is no doubt MU is transitioning.  Go back and see the 12 page tread about MU adopting a vision for the future.

http://www.muscoop.com/index.php?topic=38621.0

They are attempting to remake the University into an elite institution.  Step 1, get rid of the deadwood.  With the director of admission going to Regis, and Pilarz going to GU prep, I'll let you decide if they were in the right positions for this transition.

So, the leaderless University is not accurate, it is changing by design.  Apparently part of that design did not include Buzz.

Their is a bigger picture going here, possibly the biggest in MUs 125 years.

Question, do you want MU to be a top flight instruction, one that, frankly, many of us probably could not get into?  If so, grin and bear this transition.

Or, were you happy with the stays quo? 

I was not happy with the stays quo and I'm happy for this attempt.  But I completely understand it means tough times and growing pains.  One of them is Buzz, he became expendable.

[Whereisal]

In the meantime, while Marquette is getting its act together, my youngest son is looking forward to enrolling at Loyola next fall.  That is after his two brothers attended MU.  Transitions take time.  Four years goes by fast for students.

Something or things had to be very bad at MU in order for Buzz to leave. 

[mu_hilltopper]

Oooohhhh, it's changing by design!  Well, that's a horse of a different color.  

Sorry for the sarcasm .. I guess .. I just don't have that kind of faith in what looks like a house in shambles, not a calculated shift.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

What a bunch of BS. None of this is by design. We are the proverbial rudderless ship, with a BOTs of like 40 people trying to make decisions. There is zero leadership at Marquette at the moment.

What they ought to do is find somebody who takes Marquette back to its CATHOLIC faith. And find a great basketball coach.

[warriorfred]

What they ought to do is find somebody who takes Marquette back to its CATHOLIC faith. And find a great basketball coach.

Agree entirely.  I would add, Marquette should focus on three (3) goals:

1.  Restore catholic faith and traditions (if Marquette is going to be an"Elite" school, it needs to be an "Elite Catholic" school).
2.  Hire a President that supports these values.
3.  Hire an established coach that supports these values.

[Skatastrophy]

What a bunch of BS. None of this is by design. We are the proverbial rudderless ship, with a BOTs of like 40 people trying to make decisions. There is zero leadership at Marquette at the moment.

From my helter-skelter meetings with UA in Zilber in the past couple of weeks, this is absolutely true. Complete lack of competent management, driven only by fear and self preservation. Really an odd time at MU right now.

What they ought to do is find somebody who takes Marquette back to its CATHOLIC faith. And find a great basketball coach.

Even the pope is trying to distance himself from what was traditionally considered catholicism. You old guys are out of touch

[Frenns Liquor Depot]

This could be worse -- we could have Pilarz and Williams making this decision.  I will take Wild and Cords.  It may be the only reason I am not more upset at losing Coach -- those guys have done this before.

[Tugg Speedman]

What a bunch of BS. None of this is by design. We are the proverbial rudderless ship, with a BOTs of like 40 people trying to make decisions. There is zero leadership at Marquette at the moment.

What they ought to do is find somebody who takes Marquette back to its CATHOLIC faith. And find a great basketball coach.

All of this was by design and it was announced last May, sorry you were not paying attention.  You should go re-read the 12 page thread from many months ago because it was all about these changes.

Why do you think everyone is leaving (President, Provost, B-School Dean, Director of Admissions, AD and now Bball coach)?  Hint, not a coincidence.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

All of this was by design and it was announced last May, sorry you were not paying attention.  You should go re-read the 12 page thread from many months ago because it was all about these changes.

Why do you think everyone is leaving (President, Provost, B-School Dean, Director of Admissions, AD and now Bball coach)?  Hint, not a coincidence.

Our BOTs can't even decide on a nickname and you think they're organized and clever enough to do something like this? They're all leaving because of incompetent and/or ineffective leadership. Marquette is a disaster at the moment.

[forgetful]

What a bunch of BS. None of this is by design. We are the proverbial rudderless ship, with a BOTs of like 40 people trying to make decisions. There is zero leadership at Marquette at the moment.

What they ought to do is find somebody who takes Marquette back to its CATHOLIC faith. And find a great basketball coach.

MU is not alone in this regards.  The changing economic climate, approaching the ceiling on what is possible for tuition is altering the landscape.  Since the crash in 08/09 a lot of Universities have been playing whack-a-mole.  Just trying to put out fires without having a clear vision going forward.

They create visions on paper, but implementing them is not remotely planned and often not possible.

[warriorfred]

Competence or incompetence, it does not matter, Marquette is at a turning point.  They could go secular like DePaul and Georgetown, or refocus on Catholic traditions.

Maybe the hiring of a basketball coach is secondary to the turnover in senior positions across Marquette, but hiring a coach that embraces Catholic traditions should be a requirement.

[Tugg Speedman]

Our BOTs can't even decide on a nickname and you think they're organized and clever enough to do something like this? They're all leaving because of incompetent and/or ineffective leadership. Marquette is a disaster at the moment.

The nickname was 20 years ago and those Trustees are long long gone.  

It is the leadership that is leaving.  Who is the incompetent and ineffective that causes the leadership to leave?  According to you that has to be the BOT.  Like it or not the BOT is running the University and looking for people that agree with vision laid out last May.  Again, this was well telegraphed.

Again, most scoffed at that document when it came out and I argued that is meant a lot more than you thought.  This is part 1 (get rid of the deadwood).  Part 2 start next month with the announcement of the new President.

I'm not saying it will work and I'm not saying it is not risky.  What I'm saying is they want to become the "GU of the Midwest" or the "BC of the Midwest" and the Trustees want to take the risk and try.

[mu_hilltopper]

All of this was by design and it was announced last May, sorry you were not paying attention.  You should go re-read the 12 page thread from many months ago because it was all about these changes.

Why do you think everyone is leaving (President, Provost, B-School Dean, Director of Admissions, AD and now Bball coach)?  Hint, not a coincidence.

Sorry, disagree.  Look, the BoT sets the mission.  The executives execute it, by definition.  

Sure, the BoT got together and approved a "mission" / "mission change" (that, oh by the way, was written by the executive branch,) but they gave it to that executive branch to make happen.  

In no way was the BoT holding secret meetings away from those top executives, (as it would have to be) .. plotting their wholesale removal so the new mission could get executed.   Each of those personnel moves were unique.  (I imagine some were just that the admin got a better job, leaving MU.)

If you see a grand scheme in this chaos, well, you are a brighter bulb than all of the rest of us.

[SERocks]

"....with a BOTs of like 40 people...."

Seriously?  Sheesh more than about six or seven and you cannot accomplish a damn thing.  That is just sick....

[nycwarrior]

So, if this is the BOT: http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustees.php

Who's calling the shots, driving the vision and forcing the change?

[mumike22]

Here's something the BoT and new administration should consider: transparency. Come clean on what has happened, admit you screwed up with LW and pilarz and move forward.

[Tugg Speedman]

Since we are going to blast the BOT as a bunch of incompetents, lets get their name an accomplishments down here so we all know who they are.

(Hint, you're right 40 people do not run everything.  See the first three names, that is all you need to know)

http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustees.php

John F. Ferraro (He is leading the search for a new President)
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-ferraro.php
He is the Global Chief Operating Officer for Ernst & Young, responsible for the overall operations of Ernst & Young worldwide.

Charles M. Swoboda
Chair of the Marquette Board
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-swoboda.php
He is chairman and chief executive officer of Cree Inc., where he and Cree are leading the LED lighting revolution and setting the stage to make obsolete the incandescent light bulb through the use of energy-efficient, environmentally friendly LED lighting. Cree is an innovator of LED lighting as well as semiconductor solutions for wireless and power applications.

rev. Robert A. Wild, s.j.
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/ulc-wild.php
is the interim president of Marquette University. From 1996 to 2011 he served as the 22nd president of Marquette University. Under his leadership, Marquette has improved academic quality, increased and stabilized enrollment, and enhanced partnerships with the City of Milwaukee and community groups and in 2005 completed the most successful comprehensive campaign in the history of the university with a total of $357 million.

Richard J. Fotsch
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-fotsch.php
He is the principle member of Olde School Industries LLC, a private corporation focused on small entrepreneurial businesses, with holdings in retail hardware and magnetic sensor companies.
From 2004 through 2012 he was president of the Kohler Global Power Group, a leader in engines, generators, switchgear, transfer switches and controllers for the residential, small business, marine, industrial, mobile and rental markets worldwide. Prior to joining Kohler Co., he was president of the engine group at Navistar International Corp. from 2002 to 2004.

Rev. James G. Gartland, S.J.,
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-gartland.php
He is the rector of the Blessed Peter Faber Jesuit Community at Boston College. He served as president of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in Chicago from 2004 to 2012. He was part of the founding team of Cristo Rey Jesuit High School in 1996 and became president in 2004.

Darren R. Jackson
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-jackson.php
He joined Advance Auto Parts as president and chief executive officer on January 7, 2008. He had been a member of the Board of Directors since 2004. Headquartered in Roanoke, Va., Advance Auto Parts is a leading automotive aftermarket retailer of parts, accessories, batteries, and maintenance items in the United States and serves both the do-it-yourself and professional installer markets. For 80 years, Advance Auto Parts has been a leader in the automotive aftermarket industry in parts availability, price, and customer service. But more than anything, the company values the hard work, dedication, and commitment of its team members. The company operates over 4,000 stores in 39 states, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and employs over 55,000 team members.

James F. Janz
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-janz.php
He is the managing director of the Joseph and Vera Zilber Family Foundation as well as a vice chairman of Zilber Ltd. and the Towne Group of Companies, a diversified real estate development and asset management organization.

Rev. Timothy R. Lannon, S.J.
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-lannon.php
He is the president of Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, a position he assumed in 2011. In his inaugural year, Father Lannon initiated a university-wide planning process driven by newly defined strategic goals and initiatives and created a provost position, bringing together academic leadership from all nine undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools.

Rev. Thomas A. Lawler, S.J.
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-lawler.php
He is the provincial superior of the Wisconsin Province of the Society of Jesus, directing the activities of Jesuits in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. A native of Milwaukee, he was ordained a priest in 1999.

Patrick S. Lawton
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-lawton.php
He serves as managing director of fixed income capital markets at Robert W. Baird & Co. He is responsible for all areas of fixed income capital markets, including public finance banking, sales and trading.

John P. Lynch
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-lynch.php
He is a retired senior partner in the Chicago office of Latham & Watkins, LLP.

Kelly McShane
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-mcshane.php
She worked as a school psychologist serving special needs children. She was employed by special education cooperatives in the public school system and had a variety of assignments. She worked with preschool-age children through young adults and has experience with a wide range of disabilities, including students in mainstream classrooms through those in residential treatment.

Dr. Arnold L. Mitchem
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-mitchem.php
He is the retired president of the Council for Opportunity in Education, and has been a voice for low income and disabled Americans his entire career. As a result of his work, the federally funded TRIO programs, the largest discretionary program in the U.S. Department of Education, have expanded by nearly 400 percent and now serve nearly 850,000 students at more than 1,200 colleges and universities.  

Joseph M. O’Keefe, S.J.
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-okeefe.php
He is a professor of education at Boston College, where he served as dean of the Lynch School of Education from 2005 to 2011. He has been at the Lynch School since joining the faculty as an assistant professor in 1991. Father O’Keefe has served as coordinator of the Educational Administration Program and of the Catholic School Leadership Program at the Lynch School.

James D. O'Rourke
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-orourke.php
He is the chief executive officer of A&A Manufacturing Company. A&A manufactures machine tool accessories, fabricated metal and rubber products, and custom engineered protective covers.

Dr. Janis M. Orlowski
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-orlowski.php
n 2013 Dr. Orlowski joined the American Association of Medical Colleges as Senior Director, Health Care Affairs. Dr. Orlowski serves as the senior clinical leader in the Clinical Transformation Unit and will be responsible for developing healthcare policy.

Kristine A. RappÉ
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-rappe.php
She is special advisor to the Wisconsin Energy Foundation in Milwaukee.  Ms. Rappé serves on the boards of Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, PAVE (Partners Advancing Values in Education), WaterStone Bank, and is chair of the board of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee. She has also served on the boards of Catholic Memorial High School, Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin, the United Performing Arts Fund (co-chair of the 2006 campaign), State Financial Services Corporation, State Financial Bank, St. Elizabeth Hospital of Appleton, Betty Brinn Children's Museum, Milwaukee Repertory Theater and Skylight Opera Theatre. Ms. Rappé is a member of the Greater Milwaukee Committee and Professional Dimensions (past president).

Glenn A. ("Doc") Rivers
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-rivers.php
He was named the 16th head coach of the Boston Celtics in April 2004. He is a 14-year NBA veteran as a player and in his seventh year as an NBA head coach. In 2008 Rivers won his first NBA Championship as a head coach. He is the fourth coach in Celtics franchise history to have earned the NBA Coach of the Year Award.

SCOTT A. ROBERTS
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-roberts.php
He serves as president, CEO, and chairman of Ziegler Lotsoff Capital Management (ZLCM). Mr. Roberts has been in the investment management business for over 25 years.

Hon. W. Greg Ryberg
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-ryberg.php
Senator Ryberg was elected to the South Carolina State Senate in 1992 where he served for five full terms before retiring in 2012.

Scott H. Schroeder
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-schroeder.php
He is a founding partner at Balyasny Asset Management, a globally diversified, multistrategy hedge fund manager focused on combining high-quality, proprietary, fundamental research with top investment talent, a dynamic capital allocation process and comprehensive risk management. He is directly responsible for oversight of the trading desk, firm-wide accounting, recruiting, finance and reporting, and the legal and regulatory aspects of the firm.

Owen J. Sullivan
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-sullivan.php
He is the retired president of Specialty Brands for ManpowerGroup, where he served multiple roles, including CEO of Right Management and Experis, as well as leader of ManpowerGroup’s global sales organization.

Cherryl T. Thomas
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-thomas.php
She is president and chief executive officer of Ardmore Associates, an engineering consulting firm specializing in infrastructure, transportation, and construction management.

Ben Tracy
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-tracy.php
He is a national correspondent for CBS News based on Los Angeles. He reports primarily for the CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley and CBS This Morning as well as CBS Sunday Morning.

Peggy Troy
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-troy.php
She became president and chief executive officer of Children’s Hospital and Health System, an independent health care system dedicated solely to the health and well-being of children, in 2009. The 12 entities that make up the health system work to improve the lives of children through care giving, advocacy, research and education.

Rhona Vogel
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-vogel.php
She is a CPA and investment advisor representative, and the CEO and founder of Vogel Consulting Group. Rhona began her career as an Internal Revenue Agent and soon after began her climb through the ranks at Arthur Andersen. In 1987 she was named one of Andersen's first female tax partners, where she led the Family Wealth Planning Group.

James M. Weiss
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-weiss.php
He is the president of Weiss Capital Management, Inc., which provides investment management services to individuals, trusts, estates, and corporations.


Thomas H. Werner
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-werner.php
He has served as SunPower Corporation's chief executive officer and as a member of the SunPower Board of Directors since June of 2003. SunPower is a publicly traded corporation that delivers the highest-efficiency solar cells and solar panels, and the most advanced solar energy systems. Prior to joining SunPower, he held the position of chief executive officer of Silicon Light Machines, Inc., an optical solutions subsidiary of Cypress Semiconductor Corporation. Previously, Werner was vice president and general manager of the Business Connectivity Group of 3Com Corp., a network solutions company. He has also held a number of executive management positions at Oak Industries, Inc., and General Electric Co.

Hon. James A. Wynn, Jr.
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-wynn.php
Was nominated by President Obama to serve on the United States Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit in 2009 and confirmed by unanimous voice vote of the United States Senate in August 2010. Previously he served for nearly twenty years as an appellate judge on both the North Carolina Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court of North Carolina.

Rev. Michael A. Zampelli, S.J.
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-zampelli.php
He serves as rector of the Jesuit community and is the Paul Locatalli, S.J., Professor in the Department of Theatre and Dance at Santa Clara University. Father Zampelli teaches courses in performance and culture, gender/sexuality in performance, theatre history, and literature. Father Zampelli's scholarly work has appeared in journals such as Theatre Survey, Text and Presentation, and Religion and Theatre. He has also contributed essays on pre- and early-modern performance to several book volumes

Anne A. Zizzo
http://www.marquette.edu/leadership/trustee-zizzo.php
She is the CEO of Zizzo Group Marketing + Public Relations + New Media, one of Wisconsin's top 10 full-service, integrated marketing communications companies. The firm provides award-winning marketing, branding, research, digital, public relations, creative and media strategies for clients throughout the United States.

[Tugg Speedman]

Here's something the BoT and new administration should consider: transparency. Come clean on what has happened, admit you screwed up with LW and pilarz and move forward.

They did, they are no longer part of the University.  That's how its done

[T-Bone]

OT: Cherryl Thomas's company is named after the Ardmore bar.

[classof70]

Agree entirely.  I would add, Marquette should focus on three (3) goals:

1.  Restore catholic faith and traditions (if Marquette is going to be an"Elite" school, it needs to be an "Elite Catholic" school).
2.  Hire a President that supports these values.
3.  Hire an established coach that supports these values.

1.  I didn't know MU was no longer  a Catholic university.   When did that happen?  I graduated long ago.
2.  I didn't know Wild and Pilarz didn't support "these" values, whatever "these" are? 
3.  Did Pilarz undermine those values in just two years?
4.  Buzz, though not Catholic, ran around wearing his Christian values on his sleeve and  supporting Christian values all the time.  How'd that work out?

[Warrior Code]

All of this was by design and it was announced last May, sorry you were not paying attention.  You should go re-read the 12 page thread from many months ago because it was all about these changes.

Why do you think everyone is leaving (President, Provost, B-School Dean, Director of Admissions, AD and now Bball coach)?  Hint, not a coincidence.

So if we're starting over, coach included, let's get new uniforms and a new (old) nickname while we're at it. 

[ChitownSpaceForRent]

Yea guys, the catholic thing isnt going to happen. Whether you like it or not MU is not as strong in terms of catholic commitment. If they would have forced the catholic idea down my throat when I was visiting, no way would I have ended up here along with many other friends I know. This is not the same MU you all went to. Times are changing and religion in general is not as big as it used to.

[JamilJaeJamailJrJuan]

Yea guys, the catholic thing isnt going to happen. Whether you like it or not MU is not as strong in terms of catholic commitment. If they would have forced the catholic idea down my throat when I was visiting, no way would I have ended up here along with many other friends I know. This is not the same MU you all went to. Times are changing and religion in general is not as big as it used to.

As a somewhat recent graduate, I agree with you here.

[Eldon]

Yea guys, the catholic thing isnt going to happen. Whether you like it or not MU is not as strong in terms of catholic commitment. If they would have forced the catholic idea down my throat when I was visiting, no way would I have ended up here along with many other friends I know. This is not the same MU you all went to. Times are changing and religion in general is not as big as it used to.

This sounds good.  I think MU currently strikes a good balance. 

You don't want to jam it down kids' throats, but you also want them to realize that this is not any ol private school.  I think for the Catholic students should have their beliefs questioned and let them reaffirm them so that they understand the philosophical and historical justification for the Church's teachings.  For those who are atheist or otherwise irreligious, I think it is important that these students also have their faith (or lack of) questioned and at the very least, come away respecting the role that religion plays in society.

Many of my MU friends are irreligious, but they have a profound respect for the Roman Catholic faith because of their experience at MU.

[warriorfred]

1.  I didn't know MU was no longer  a Catholic university.   When did that happen?  I graduated long ago.
2.  I didn't know Wild and Pilarz didn't support "these" values, whatever "these" are? 
3.  Did Pilarz undermine those values in just two years?
4.  Buzz, though not Catholic, ran around wearing his Christian values on his sleeve and  supporting Christian values all the time.  How'd that work out?

Outside of basketball, when the only national news I read about Marquette are:

1.  The production of the "Vagina Monlogues," and
2.  Interviews with Jesuits and other faculty who signed the "Repeal Walker," petition,

I do wonder about Catholic values.  But hey, I could be really old school.