Question on Lovell

[Marq2003]

I'm new to the site, but did graduate from Marquette back in 2003.  I've been a donator for years, but in all honesty have not kept up with the University news in some time.  I have noticed a lot of dislike for Lovell.  What's that all about?  Does it stem from a certain event/situation, or is there a series of problems?  Thanks for the info!

[Badgerhater]

Not a Jesuit.  Basketball sucked when at UWM.   Not a dynamic fundraiser. 

[Mu8891]

I've met him twice/ as an Alum that is somewhat involved at the school:

Fundraising and enrollment is lagging
And they have laid off employees

He has not connected with the
" average " Alum / Fan

I don't think he understands hoops or the important part it plays at MU

Not a Jesuit and is moving mu in a
" secular " direction

Etc

[marqfan22]

Haven't they secured a few absolutely massive donations?

Law school was like $60million

[warriorchick]

Haven't they secured a few absolutely massive donations?

Law school was like $60million

Also $30 million for the Nursing School.

[Mu8891]

Not " massive "

The New law school opened 10 years ago, and the funding was raised before
Lovell got there.  They did just have
one donor pony up $$ for nursing school

Let's put it this way, Fr Wild was a better Prez and better for hoops

[The Sultan]

The not a Jesuit thing shouldn't be an issue. Many Catholic universities no longer have priests or nuns as residents any longer. Marquette was actually late in the game in that regard.

[The Sultan]

To be honest he wasn't all that great at UWM. His advantage was that he knew Milwaukee but that hasn't proven to be much of an advantage.

[PuertoRicanNightmare]

To be honest he wasn't all that great at UWM. His advantage was that he knew Milwaukee but that hasn't proven to be much of an advantage.

I haven't liked him since I noticed he wears bangs.

[cheese ball chaser]

I don't know that much about him other than that he's big into expanding/upgrading MU from a real estate perspective. Hope he understands the importance of hoops.

[Dr. Blackheart]

To be honest he wasn't all that great at UWM. His advantage was that he knew Milwaukee but that hasn't proven to be much of an advantage.

One of his moves was bringing basketball back to the Klotsche Center from the Arena for "cost savings". He screwed up the MU Sports Performance deal with the Bucks by jumping the gun with Aurora, who then later backed out of that commitment when it was downsized. Not a deal maker. But he likes to build.

That said, he has had his share of successes as noted. The university is in a strategic transition and not everyone is on board, including the faculty and many alums.

[The Sultan]

Yeah I shouldn't have implied he's been terrible at Marquette by any means.  He's done some good things and has some challenges.  And UWM is a really tough place to be good.  They really want to break away and upgrade their profile, but they really don't have the resources to do that.  In reality they are closer to UW-Whitewater than they are to UW-Madison.

[Mu8891]

Right...

Lovell is not terrible.  Just MEH ...
Average.  Many alums I talk to are not thrilled

Sound familiar?

[mu_hilltopper]

I have noticed a lot of dislike for Lovell.  What's that all about?  Does it stem from a certain event/situation, or is there a series of problems?  Thanks for the info!

I share your interest and perhaps confusion on Lovell dislike.    I've only bumped in to him a minute here and there, but he seems like a solid, personable guy.   The past 8 years, MU has built a bunch of buildings, typically paid for by donations, so I don't see how he can be faulted there.

That being said .. 8 years ago MU was probably in a better spot, new buildings notwithstanding.   MU is shrinking, enrollment is down, staffing is down via layoffs.  The McAdams issue wasn't great.   MU's largest public relations vehicle, men's basketball, is a dumpster fire leaving alums apathetic. 

Not a great 8 year stretch.

[Warriors4ever]

Interesting. He was considered a home run hire by people I knew who worked in college administration, I was congratulated at the time, and now after eight years it seems that people perceive at least that the university is in a worse place (I don't have enough knowledge for an opinion either way, tbh)
Wojo was pretty much seen as a great hire as well, a good fit with the Duke pedigree, and now the program is in a worse place as well.

[SaveOD238]

Many alums I talk to are not thrilled

As far as I've seen, the distaste is most from Alums, but current students I think generally like Lovell.  Though the faculty cuts issue may have changed that

[Viper]

I've met him twice/ as an Alum that is somewhat involved at the school:

Fundraising and enrollment is lagging
And they have laid off employees

He has not connected with the
" average " Alum / Fan

I don't think he understands hoops or the important part it plays at MU

Not a Jesuit and is moving mu in a
" secular " direction

Etc

I think the moving of MU in a secular direction is of concern for Catholics and nonCatholics alike. Some alums wonder if on-campus construction projects has been money misspent. Not all projects, but some. Or, opportunities missed. Seemingly apathetic toward our marquee sport, etc etc.

[The Sultan]

I think the moving of MU in a secular direction is of concern for Catholics and nonCatholics alike. Some alums wonder if on-campus construction projects has been money misspent. Not all projects, but some. Or, opportunities missed. Seemingly apathetic toward our marquee sport, etc etc.

How is Marquette moving in a secular direction?

[Royale]

To be honest he wasn't all that great at UWM. His advantage was that he knew Milwaukee but that hasn't proven to be much of an advantage.

This is correct.

I haven't liked him since I noticed he wears bangs.

As is this.

He's been perfectly average. He is poor public speaker, which is a problem for a president of a university. He does not have a dynamic personality, which is fine. He is reactive. He rarely leads or has real direction for the university. He's been invisible during the downsizing discussion on campus, letting the provost and COO handle it all.

There are larger issues regarding financial planning, the student population and academic standards, and I imagine that sits at his doorstep as well, but it's hard to say on some of these bigbig issues who's to blame (are there broader trends at play?).

[naginiF]

I think the moving of MU in a secular direction is of concern for Catholics and nonCatholics alike.

Why would moving in a secular direction be of concern to non catholics? It's becoming more and more a secular world. If MU doesn't adapt....

[panda]

Why would moving in a secular direction be of concern to non catholics? It's becoming more and more a secular world. If MU doesn't adapt....

Marquette has been moving in a more secular direction for years. It's not a bad thing. Always remember the mission while broadening your reach.

[5DollarPitcher]

Why would moving in a secular direction be of concern to non catholics? It's becoming more and more a secular world. If MU doesn't adapt....

It's a Catholic school. If anyone doesn't like what that means (or should mean) and everything that comes with it, there are thousands of other options freely available to them.

[Dr. Blackheart]

Marquette has been moving in a more secular direction for years. It's not a bad thing. Always remember the mission while broadening your reach.

OUR MISSION
Marquette University is a Catholic, Jesuit university dedicated to serving God by serving our students and contributing to the advancement of knowledge. Our mission, therefore, is the search for truth, the discovery and sharing of knowledge, the fostering of personal and professional excellence, the promotion of a life of faith, and the development of leadership expressed in service to others. All this we pursue for the greater glory of God and the common benefit of the human community.

[The Sultan]

Marquette has been moving in a more secular direction for years. It's not a bad thing. Always remember the mission while broadening your reach.

I am a non Catholic who attended Marquette 30 years ago. I don't think it is significantly different.

[panda]

I am a non Catholic who attended Marquette 30 years ago. I don't think it is significantly different.

Appreciate the input. I graduated in the late 2000's and my comment comes from a good friend who is a priest in the Milwaukee area. Certainly not meant to be interpreted negatively, but just my two cents.