Question on Lovell

[muwarrior69]

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.

I graduated 50 years ago and it is significantly different. All Catholic students were required to take 12 credits in Catholic theology. The only required theology course back then was Christian marriage. The emphasis on Catholic teaching has been significantly reduced. The Church itself is to blame in this regard as the sexual abuse scandal by priests on young boys and to some extent girls has compromised its moral authority.

[forgetful]

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

The job of a University President is not to appeal to current students. It is first and foremost to be a public face to alumni to raise funds and grow the endowment. From what I've heard, Lovell has failed there.

The other main task (and they really are coupled), is to drive a University strategic plan for the future, to direct and sell that plan to the community, and alumni donors. From what I've heard, Lovell has had mixed success there, more success on the building side, but not good at really selling his vision to the public.

[muwarrior69]

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.

Then drop the Catholic affiliation and be honest about it just like all the Ivy League Schools.

https://christianheritagefellowship.com/the-christian-founding-of-harvard/#:~:text=Only%20eighteen%20years%20after%20the%20Pilgrims%20landed%20in,meeting%20the%20academic%20needs%20of%20the%20New%20World.

[naginiF]

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.

The post I quoted specifically said moving in a secular direction should be a concern to non Catholics. If Catholic institution of higher learning becomes more secular I can't imagine it would be anything but the opposite of a concern for non catholics who want that higher education.

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 think this is spot on and I think that Marquette understands that many like minded individuals share the same end goal of service/giving back/searching for truth/common benefit without having the same commitments to Catholicism and faith.

[NolongerWarriors]

I've run into Lovell while jogging a few years ago and tried to talk MU basketball and it was obvious he wasn't even paying attention to the games.  Just isn't a bball fan, I guess.

[panda]

I've run into Lovell while jogging a few years ago and tried to talk MU basketball and it was obvious he wasn't even paying attention to the games.  Just isn't a bball fan, I guess.

That's sad. I've been fortunate enough to spend a fair amount of time with Father Wild. He lives and breathes Marquette and Marquette basketball. He truly understood what men's basketball means to the university.

Always great to see him at mass wearing his final four jacket. He is a true fan with an incredible vision for the school.

[Steve Buscemi]

I've run into Lovell while jogging a few years ago and tried to talk MU basketball and it was obvious he wasn't even paying attention to the games.  Just isn't a bball fan, I guess.

Maybe he was just trying to jog and didn't want to talk to you lol

[warriorchick]

Maybe he was just trying to jog and didn't want to talk to you lol

Or he is too busy chatting up donors during the games to pay attention.

[Royale]

I've run into Lovell while jogging a few years ago and tried to talk MU basketball and it was obvious he wasn't even paying attention to the games.  Just isn't a bball fan, I guess.

Knowing the starting center for the basketball team should be 154th on Lovell's priority list. I know this is a basketball board, but if you think otherwise you probably need  a primer on the operations of a university.

[5DollarPitcher]

Knowing the starting center for the basketball team should be 154th on Lovell's priority list. I know this is a basketball board, but if you think otherwise you probably need  a primer on the operations of a university.

Men's basketball is part of the lifeblood of the university. As the program fades into irrelevance, so too does the university in some ways. So while I'd normally agree with what you just said, it's just not true at Marquette, in particular.

[Farley36]

Knowing the starting center for the basketball team should be 154th on Lovell's priority list. I know this is a basketball board, but if you think otherwise you probably need  a primer on the operations of a university.

So you're saying the President of Marquette University isn't smart enough to know 154 things about the University he is president of?

[Royale]

So you're saying the President of Marquette University isn't smart enough to know 154 things about the University he is president of?

Yes, that was the takeaway, the specific number and order of things the president should know.

Men's basketball is part of the lifeblood of the university. As the program fades into irrelevance, so too does the university in some ways. So while I'd normally agree with what you just said, it's just not true at Marquette, in particular.

Athletics are part of the puzzle, and I know what drives donations and applications, but, first and foremost, universities are about education not sports. Again, this is a basketball board. I don't expect that to be a popular opinion, but the basketball team should take a backseat to the Klinger College of Arts and Sciences.

If Marquette is going to stick around for another century-plus, it'll be as an educational institution not a semi-pro sports organization.

[Farley36]

Yes, that was the takeaway, the specific number and order of things the president should know.

You're obviously too dense to get the point which is the President of a major University should be smart enough to know all the really important stuff and know about the basketball team which is super important to a large percent if the school's alumni base.   Your excuse to let him off the hook is a stupid one.

[The Sultan]

You're obviously too dense to get the point which is the President of a major University should be smart enough to know all the really important stuff and know about the basketball team which is super important to a large percent if the school's alumni base.   Your excuse to let him off the hook is a stupid one.

LOL, and you are damning him because some poster tried to talk him up while jogging.  This place is hilarious.

[The Sultan]

I graduated 50 years ago and it is significantly different. All Catholic students were required to take 12 credits in Catholic theology. The only required theology course back then was Christian marriage. The emphasis on Catholic teaching has been significantly reduced. The Church itself is to blame in this regard as the sexual abuse scandal by priests on young boys and to some extent girls has compromised its moral authority.

Taking courses on Catholic theology isn't the only way a school can be defined as Catholic.  In fact I would argue is a poor way to define it

[#UnleashSean]

Taking courses on Catholic theology isn't the only way a school can be defined as Catholic.  In fact I would argue is a poor way to define it

One of the few reasons I didn't choose Marquette for undergrad is because of required catholic teachings.

[tower912]

The problem for some is the broad spectrum of Catholic teaching.   Catholic teaching, and particularly Jesuit philosophy on Catholic teaching on multiple issues regarding social justice, racism, the environment, capitalism, the death penalty, are quite liberal.    If any Catholic university focuses more on those, they are accused of drifting from Catholic teaching.   

Neither current American political party matches up with Catholicism across the board.

[The Sultan]

One of the few reasons I didn't choose Marquette for undergrad is because of required catholic teachings.

When I was in school, you had to take three THEO classes.  One was the required THEO 001, taught by a Lutheran, and the other two I took were comparative courses - Islam (taught by a Jesuit) and Eastern Christianity (taught by an Orthodox monk)

But again it isn't just about the classes you take.  It's about how the Catholic, Jesuit mission is interwoven thoughout the University and reflects itself in multiple ways.  I would argue in an increasingly secular world, and in one where more MU students don't identify themselves as Catholic, I think the mission is even more important.

[Viper]

How is Marquette moving in a secular direction?

Lovell's, hence MU's support of the BLM organization is one example. The organization BLM is pro-choice. Another has to do with LGBTQ.

[Viper]

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....

i come from a family of MU grads. We are not Catholic. I'm a Christian. All Christians, regardless of denomination  should be concerned with secularism. And, just because the world is moving secular does not mean we give-in on our convictions. However, with Lovell MU appears to be doing so.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

Maybe he was just trying to jog and didn't want to talk to you lol

When I'm running don't expect more than a "Hello" out of me or stopping unless it's a stoplight or traffic.

[naginiF]

i come from a family of MU grads. We are not Catholic. I'm a Christian. All Christians, regardless of denomination  should be concerned with secularism. And, just because the world is moving secular does not mean we give-in on our convictions. However, with Lovell MU appears to be doing so.

I don't understand the concern with secularism from Christians. As an atheist (I credit Marquette with making my path to atheism shorter than it otherwise would've been) I understand that LGTBQ rights/equalities and pro choice positions are not what the church preaches. Are there other areas of secularism that are a concern?

There is only one non religious private school in our neighborhood so our social circle is made up of people who choose to send their kids to religious schools and, granted it's not a huge sample size but I can't imagine its too far from the norm, I can tell you with certainty a) very few see abortion as a black and white issue, b) most support LGTBQ rights to the same extent I do (which is total). The catholics struggle with trans issues but not as much as 3 - 5 years ago, and c) there are a surprising number of atheists, and people of faith that will encourage their kids to find their own beliefs, that send their kids to Christian/Catholic schools.

[The Sultan]

Lovell's, hence MU's support of the BLM organization is one example. The organization BLM is pro-choice. Another has to do with LGBTQ.

For the one millionth time, they support the BLM *movement* not BLM, LLC.  Two different things.

And Marquette supported LGBTQ organizations when I was in school.  That hasn't changed.

[Marq2003]

I appreciate all the insight in this post.  It's interesting the divide, even evident on this board.  Either way, here's to hoping like hell we can get the basketball program respectful again!

[swoopem]

I bumped into Father Wild a few times when I was on campus and he was always down to talk hoops.

If Lovell doesn't understand or care about how big basketball is for MU that is a major problem.