Marquette postpones New Student Convocation due to student demonstration

[Macallan 18]

Marquette University’s New Student Convocation was postponed after a demonstration held by members of the Black Student Union, Marquette University Student Government, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People at Marquette University and the Latin American Student Organization.

“They have us as a diversity token, always tokenizing us and profiting off of us, showing us all over social media that we are this diverse university when in reality they do not have our back and it does not feel that way,” Teresa Godinez, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences and MUSG legislative vice president said. “That is why today we came out here to show that we are not going to stop, we are not going to be silenced.”

https://marquettewire.org/4079276/news/marquette-university-postpones-new-student-convocation-due-to-student-demonstration/

[Jay Bee]

“…Provost Kimo Ah Yun and Vice President of Student Affairs Xavier Cole would also be speaking at the convocation. Both identify as people of color.”

Lol

[MUfan12]

Not saying MU is perfect when it comes to diversity, far from it. But the staffing problems for these offices/programs are legitimate.

[panda]

“…Provost Kimo Ah Yun and Vice President of Student Affairs Xavier Cole would also be speaking at the convocation. Both identify as people of color.”

Lol

Lol that is just a wild statement

[Uncle Rico]

Spin before the lock

[tower912]

Sounds like fun.   Fight the power.

[Jay Bee]

Further proof that freshmen worth a damn should be busy boozing or puffin, not “meeting the Dean” at the convocation. A bunch of future RAs & library frequenters

[Hards Alumni]

Further proof that freshmen worth a damn should be busy boozing or puffin, not “meeting the Dean” at the convocation. A bunch of future RAs & library frequenters

I'd think you'd appreciate the future debate-lords.

[withoutbias]

Further proof that freshmen worth a damn should be busy boozing or puffin, not “meeting the Dean” at the convocation. A bunch of future RAs & library frequenters

Says the permabanned CPA.

[mu_hilltopper]

One of the reasons tuition is high is .. due to adding more and more admin staff.

[Jay Bee]

One of the reasons tuition is high is .. due to adding more and more admin staff.

#PayTeachersLess

[MU82]

Can't get more American than peaceful protest.

[tower912]

Plus, it is a flashback to the good old days of student activism.

[Herman Cain]

I enjoyed the comment from the tuition paying parent that was not too pleased with this circumstance .

[rocky_warrior]

Marquette still gets new students?  I've heard about a dentist of two that would doubt such things.

[MU82]

Marquette still gets new students?  I've heard about a dentist of two that would doubt such things.

CRIME!!!!

Enrollment down to zero, no matter what you say.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

One of the reasons tuition is high is .. due to adding more and more admin staff.

Disadvantaged / first generation students (who are often racially diverse) are going to require more support than your traditional population. You can decide not to provide that support, but it will show up in your retention and graduation rates. Then what?

That being said I have no idea if this is really a problem at MU.

[muwarrior69]

Marquette University’s New Student Convocation was postponed after a demonstration held by members of the Black Student Union, Marquette University Student Government, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People at Marquette University and the Latin American Student Organization.

“They have us as a diversity token, always tokenizing us and profiting off of us, showing us all over social media that we are this diverse university when in reality they do not have our back and it does not feel that way,” Teresa Godinez, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences and MUSG legislative vice president said. “That is why today we came out here to show that we are not going to stop, we are not going to be silenced.”

https://marquettewire.org/4079276/news/marquette-university-postpones-new-student-convocation-due-to-student-demonstration/

Didn't the University set aside scholarships for low income families in the Milwaukee community? Didn't Shaka just donate a large chunk of change towards scholarships for minority students? How is that profiting off POC? Yet it seems the complaints by parents who are paying a good chunk of the tuition of incoming freshman has fallen on deaf ears as the Convocation has yet to be rescheduled; and if it is most of the parents will be long gone.

[Merit Matters]

They are welcome to find another University. It will never be enough.

[Billy Hoyle]

Further proof that freshmen worth a damn should be busy boozing or puffin, not “meeting the Dean” at the convocation. A bunch of future RAs & library frequenters

It wasn’t freshmen doing it though. It was  perpetually victimized upperclassmen for whom more is never enough.

Got to love the BSC protesting over something that didn’t happen too. Should be a fun year at MU.

[tower912]

Be the change you want to see in the world.   

[mu_hilltopper]

Disadvantaged / first generation students (who are often racially diverse) are going to require more support than your traditional population. You can decide not to provide that support, but it will show up in your retention and graduation rates. Then what?

That being said I have no idea if this is really a problem at MU.

Right.  And we don't disagree.  I think my main question is .. Has there been a time when a diverse student asked for assistance/tutoring/support/counselling and was told, sorry: no.

Sure, maybe there's a line, maybe they need to make an appointment.  And sure, if wait times are 3+ days, ok, that's a problem.   I would bet the farm that's not the case, and any student, regardless of color, can get help in a reasonable timeframe.

So .. what's the protest about, again?

[Billy Hoyle]

Right.  And we don't disagree.  I think my main question is .. Has there been a time when a diverse student asked for assistance/tutoring/support/counselling and was told, sorry: no.

Sure, maybe there's a line, maybe they need to make an appointment.  And sure, if wait times are 3+ days, ok, that's a problem.   I would bet the farm that's not the case, and any student, regardless of color, can get help in a reasonable timeframe.

So .. what's the protest about, again?

If you go throughout the university one would find short staffed departments. It’s a reality in higher Ed right now. My employer has 80 empty positions throughout the campus departments. Having to wait to get an appointment is not racism and MU has shown effort to address these grievances and shortcomings, but it’s never enough.

[muwarrior69]

If you go throughout the university one would find short staffed departments. It’s a reality in higher Ed right now. My employer has 80 empty positions throughout the campus departments. Having to wait to get an appointment is not racism and MU has shown effort to address these grievances and shortcomings, but it’s never enough.

Why are departments short staffed? As one parent commented, it costs a lot of money to go Marquette. I surmise all that tuition money is not going to staff but elsewhere. Why isn't the Marquette Wire looking onto this?

[withoutbias]

So we’re admitting we don’t know if there are legitimate concerns, but we’re going to slam the minorities for wining because they’ll never have enough? Interesting viewpoint.

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

If you go throughout the university one would find short staffed departments. It’s a reality in higher Ed right now. My employer has 80 empty positions throughout the campus departments. Having to wait to get an appointment is not racism and MU has shown effort to address these grievances and shortcomings, but it’s never enough.

Moved my daughter into UVM yesterday.  She was told Saturday move ins we're not happening this year due to staffing so the wife and I hear to take Friday off

[mu_hilltopper]

I suppose some data would be good:

https://employment.marquette.edu/postings/search

153 openings at MU .. 103 staff + 50 faculty.

2 positions are open (posted June 10th and Aug 9th) for Black/African initiatives.   One wonders if these two positions had been filled before the protest, would there have been a protest?

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

So we’re admitting we don’t know if there are legitimate concerns, but we’re going to slam the minorities for wining because they’ll never have enough? Interesting viewpoint.

Exactly.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Right.  And we don't disagree.  I think my main question is .. Has there been a time when a diverse student asked for assistance/tutoring/support/counselling and was told, sorry: no.

Sure, maybe there's a line, maybe they need to make an appointment.  And sure, if wait times are 3+ days, ok, that's a problem.   I would bet the farm that's not the case, and any student, regardless of color, can get help in a reasonable timeframe.

So .. what's the protest about, again?

Yeah that’s not really a good way to judge “support.”  It’s a little more proactive than that these days.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

To follow this up, there is a lot more early intervention these days. Schools use programs to track everything from class attendance, to grade, to code of conduct...to even things like meal usage and failing to show up for a student group meeting.  The goal is to identify students really early who might be in trouble. Professors, RAs, student employers, etc. are expected to be WAY more proactive than they were in our day.  Very often the people who intervene for underrepresented students are those from the office that these students are protesting over.

If that work has even a 1% impact on retention, you are talking about a low to mid six figure impact on the University's budget.  On to of that, they plan programming, accept appointments, etc.

Again, I have no idea what the staffing situation is at Marquette. But if you are going to recruit a significant number of underrepresented students, you are going to have to ramp up programming to make sure they are retained. As an admissions friend of mine once said, without it you are heating the house while keeping the windows open.

[jesmu84]

More is never enough?

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

More is never enough?

Well of course at some point it is. But again I have no idea if MU is at that point or not.

[Lennys Tap]

More is never enough?

Human nature and experience say “true”.

[Macallan 18]

Kimo and Company dropping the ban hammer on the disruptive students. Maybe they should become Scoop moderators.

Some students have to pay a fine of $300, write an apology letter, complete 20 hours of community service and write an educational program on the demonstration policy. If a student is placed on probation, they will likely have to step down from any leadership role.

https://marquettewire.org/4082040/news/convocation-consequences/

There was a student walk in support of the students this afternoon.

The Provost released this in response -
https://today.marquette.edu/2022/09/a-message-on-campus-climate-from-provost-ah-yun/

[rocket surgeon]

The Marquette University Police Department was present at the demonstration. This led to confusion about whether the police were called on the demonstration or not.

University spokesperson Kevin Conway said since the convocation is a larger event, MUPD was already planned to attend the event.

“I think it’s nothing from the usual that Marquette does,” Teresa Godinez, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences and MUSG legislative vice president said. “We came here peacefully demonstrating and protesting and here they call the police. We didn’t do anything violent so I don’t know why that was necessary and canceling the event … This isn't the end, this is just the beginning."



   so what if MUPD was present.  maybe that was part of the reason the demonstration was as peaceful as it was reported.  teresa godinez seems to take offense at this but states that "it's nothing unusual that MU does".  so what's the big deal?  if all hell breaks out for whatever reason, the same people who would question why MU wasn't prepared to protect or keep the area safe.  so many things could have gone wrong, but thankfully did not as far as i am aware. 

  for me, i would have welcomed the fact that security was present AND if this is just the beginning, they better expect at least the same amount of security if not more.  the veiled threat as it seems, kind of encourages MU to be proactive for the protection of ALL involved.  kudos to MU for getting that part right

[Hards Alumni]

The Marquette University Police Department was present at the demonstration. This led to confusion about whether the police were called on the demonstration or not.

University spokesperson Kevin Conway said since the convocation is a larger event, MUPD was already planned to attend the event.

“I think it’s nothing from the usual that Marquette does,” Teresa Godinez, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences and MUSG legislative vice president said. “We came here peacefully demonstrating and protesting and here they call the police. We didn’t do anything violent so I don’t know why that was necessary and canceling the event … This isn't the end, this is just the beginning."



   so what if MUPD was present.  maybe that was part of the reason the demonstration was as peaceful as it was reported.  teresa godinez seems to take offense at this but states that "it's nothing unusual that MU does".  so what's the big deal?  if all hell breaks out for whatever reason, the same people who would question why MU wasn't prepared to protect or keep the area safe.  so many things could have gone wrong, but thankfully did not as far as i am aware. 

  for me, i would have welcomed the fact that security was present AND if this is just the beginning, they better expect at least the same amount of security if not more.  the veiled threat as it seems, kind of encourages MU to be proactive for the protection of ALL involved.  kudos to MU for getting that part right

Stick to teeth. 

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Kimo and Company dropping the ban hammer on the disruptive students. Maybe they should become Scoop moderators.

https://marquettewire.org/4082040/news/convocation-consequences/

There was a student walk in support of the students this afternoon.

The Provost released this in response -
https://today.marquette.edu/2022/09/a-message-on-campus-climate-from-provost-ah-yun/

I wondered if MU would take this route. While almost all universities including private ones guarantee first amendment rights including right to protest, they do have a limited ability to control when and where protests happen. Almost every university has some version of a "disruptive activity" rule which is there to keep a protest from happening in the middle of a class. I think using this rule to protect convocation is a legally safe one. I wasn't sure if MU would use it because sometimes punishing protesters can cause a public backlash and some universities decide it's not worth the headache.

The Marquette University Police Department was present at the demonstration. This led to confusion about whether the police were called on the demonstration or not.

University spokesperson Kevin Conway said since the convocation is a larger event, MUPD was already planned to attend the event.

“I think it’s nothing from the usual that Marquette does,” Teresa Godinez, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences and MUSG legislative vice president said. “We came here peacefully demonstrating and protesting and here they call the police. We didn’t do anything violent so I don’t know why that was necessary and canceling the event … This isn't the end, this is just the beginning."



   so what if MUPD was present.  maybe that was part of the reason the demonstration was as peaceful as it was reported.  teresa godinez seems to take offense at this but states that "it's nothing unusual that MU does".  so what's the big deal?  if all hell breaks out for whatever reason, the same people who would question why MU wasn't prepared to protect or keep the area safe.  so many things could have gone wrong, but thankfully did not as far as i am aware. 

  for me, i would have welcomed the fact that security was present AND if this is just the beginning, they better expect at least the same amount of security if not more.  the veiled threat as it seems, kind of encourages MU to be proactive for the protection of ALL involved.  kudos to MU for getting that part right

You know that MU secrurity there because they have security at all large events right? They didn't call security because of the protest.

[dgies9156]

To follow this up, there is a lot more early intervention these days. Schools use programs to track everything from class attendance, to grade, to code of conduct...to even things like meal usage and failing to show up for a student group meeting.  The goal is to identify students really early who might be in trouble. Professors, RAs, student employers, etc. are expected to be WAY more proactive than they were in our day.  Very often the people who intervene for underrepresented students are those from the office that these students are protesting over.

If that work has even a 1% impact on retention, you are talking about a low to mid six figure impact on the University's budget.  On to of that, they plan programming, accept appointments, etc.

Again, I have no idea what the staffing situation is at Marquette. But if you are going to recruit a significant number of underrepresented students, you are going to have to ramp up programming to make sure they are retained. As an admissions friend of mine once said, without it you are heating the house while keeping the windows open.

Oh good God!

If a person can't handle basic daily responsibility -- eating, going to class, making grades, doing the homework -- then they truly don't belong on their own. I get there's always going to be someone who needs help but to build whole programs and intervention efforts around monitoring basic living is just a bit much.

Gosh, the nanny"state" is becoming a bit much.

[tower912]

You really need to get out more.   There are entire neighborhoods, small towns, trailer parks, where basic daily responsibilities aren't being met.   Bad parenting and lack of life skills are being passed from generation to generation.   Anything that breaks that cycle in a positive way should be celebrated.

[Uncle Rico]

You really need to get out more.   There are entire neighborhoods, small towns, trailer parks, where basic daily responsibilities aren't being met.   Bad parenting and lack of life skills are being passed from generation to generation.   Anything that breaks that cycle in a positive way should be celebrated.

Freaking boomers

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Oh good God!

If a person can't handle basic daily responsibility -- eating, going to class, making grades, doing the homework -- then they truly don't belong on their own. I get there's always going to be someone who needs help but to build whole programs and intervention efforts around monitoring basic living is just a bit much.

Gosh, the nanny"state" is becoming a bit much.

Yes, it would be better to let students pay thousands of dollars and fail rather than trying to intervene when problems first arise and direct them to resources that may help them.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

The Marquette University Police Department was present at the demonstration. This led to confusion about whether the police were called on the demonstration or not.

University spokesperson Kevin Conway said since the convocation is a larger event, MUPD was already planned to attend the event.

“I think it’s nothing from the usual that Marquette does,” Teresa Godinez, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences and MUSG legislative vice president said. “We came here peacefully demonstrating and protesting and here they call the police. We didn’t do anything violent so I don’t know why that was necessary and canceling the event … This isn't the end, this is just the beginning."



   so what if MUPD was present.  maybe that was part of the reason the demonstration was as peaceful as it was reported.  teresa godinez seems to take offense at this but states that "it's nothing unusual that MU does".  so what's the big deal?  if all hell breaks out for whatever reason, the same people who would question why MU wasn't prepared to protect or keep the area safe.  so many things could have gone wrong, but thankfully did not as far as i am aware. 

  for me, i would have welcomed the fact that security was present AND if this is just the beginning, they better expect at least the same amount of security if not more.  the veiled threat as it seems, kind of encourages MU to be proactive for the protection of ALL involved.  kudos to MU for getting that part right

First, I really doubt the part you highlighted in red is a veiled threat of violence.

Second, I agree with you that there is a lot of Monday morning quarterbacking here. Campus security is provided at all large events - as it should be. But this is one of the drawbacks going to a full police force versus the campus safety model.

I wondered if MU would take this route. While almost all universities including private ones guarantee first amendment rights including right to protest, they do have a limited ability to control when and where protests happen. Almost every university has some version of a "disruptive activity" rule which is there to keep a protest from happening in the middle of a class. I think using this rule to protect convocation is a legally safe one. I wasn't sure if MU would use it because sometimes punishing protesters can cause a public backlash and some universities decide it's not worth the headache.

Yeah, this was clearly within Marquette's rights to do. But my guess is that they would have gotten plenty of backlash for NOT doing something. I'm not a big fan of convocation as a concept, but it is a big deal for a lot of people. Your right to protest does not include the right to shut down a University event.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

Oh good God!

If a person can't handle basic daily responsibility -- eating, going to class, making grades, doing the homework -- then they truly don't belong on their own. I get there's always going to be someone who needs help but to build whole programs and intervention efforts around monitoring basic living is just a bit much.

Gosh, the nanny"state" is becoming a bit much.

Not everyone has you as parents Dgies. I'm sure you would agree that you and your wife were instrumental to preparing your children for success in college. Not every college student has that benefit. If you don't have these types of intervention programs, the alternative is that the student fails out, while still owing tens of thousands in student loans with no degree to show for it. That is potentially setting up an already struggling individual for a lifetime of debt and put them in a position where they have to rely on government assistance programs.

IMO, the true value of college is not in the technical knowledge that gets learned in the classroom but rather that it gives young people who (for the most part) have never had to live on their own before and have always had someone else directing their life, a place to learn how to live on their own and be successful while having access to additional supports that don't exist in the real world. Theoretically, college helps take someone who may have no idea how to live on their own and launches them into the working world as a fully (or at least mostly) capable adult.

[MU82]

Kids today!

(Said every oldster, generation after generation after generation.)

[rocket surgeon]

I wondered if MU would take this route. While almost all universities including private ones guarantee first amendment rights including right to protest, they do have a limited ability to control when and where protests happen. Almost every university has some version of a "disruptive activity" rule which is there to keep a protest from happening in the middle of a class. I think using this rule to protect convocation is a legally safe one. I wasn't sure if MU would use it because sometimes punishing protesters can cause a public backlash and some universities decide it's not worth the headache.

You know that MU secrurity there because they have security at all large events right? They didn't call security because of the protest.

   tamu, i actually applaud the fact that MU had their police there as they should for any event of certain size or potential volatility.  don't know what i said that you interpreted to mean anything contrary.  don't be like hards et.al. and put me on auto argue because, well, there goes rocket again.

[rocket surgeon]

Stick to teeth.

  i don't know where you get your chutzpah from, but for a "professional" taxicab driver, you sure do think your $hit don't stink

ok reeko, i'll save you the time- 10/10 a smiley face, a squish ball and a trophy

[Uncle Rico]

  i don't know where you get your chutzpah from, but for a "professional" taxicab driver, you sure do think your $hit don't stink

ok reeko, i'll save you the time- 10/10 a smiley face, a squish ball and a trophy

This is only a 7 out of 10.  You did you use air quotes which is nice and used an expletive.  However, I’m not sure why you felt obligated to call Hards a taxicab driver, as if that’s an insult. 

[Hards Alumni]

  i don't know where you get your chutzpah from, but for a "professional" taxicab driver, you sure do think your $hit don't stink

ok reeko, i'll save you the time- 10/10 a smiley face, a squish ball and a trophy

You need an intervention.

Again, stick to teeth.

[rocket surgeon]

You need an intervention.

Again, stick to teeth.

i think you and reeko need to get a room

[Uncle Rico]

i think you and reeko need to get a room

5 out of 10

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

   tamu, i actually applaud the fact that MU had their police there as they should for any event of certain size or potential volatility.  don't know what i said that you interpreted to mean anything contrary.  don't be like hards et.al. and put me on auto argue because, well, there goes rocket again.

You seem to be implying that MU knew there was going to be a protest and called the police in response. That wasn't the case.  If I misinterpreted, I apologize

[MuggsyB]

Not everyone has you as parents Dgies. I'm sure you would agree that you and your wife were instrumental to preparing your children for success in college. Not every college student has that benefit. If you don't have these types of intervention programs, the alternative is that the student fails out, while still owing tens of thousands in student loans with no degree to show for it. That is potentially setting up an already struggling individual for a lifetime of debt and put them in a position where they have to rely on government assistance programs.

IMO, the true value of college is not in the technical knowledge that gets learned in the classroom but rather that it gives young people who (for the most part) have never had to live on their own before and have always had someone else directing their life, a place to learn how to live on their own and be successful while having access to additional supports that don't exist in the real world. Theoretically, college helps take someone who may have no idea how to live on their own and launches them into the working world as a fully (or at least mostly) capable adult.

I'm not sure your theoretical example exists anymore for the majority of 18-22 yr olds.  Also, "Having no idea how to live on your own" is ostensibly ubiquitous for people that have never lived on their own.   No matter where they're from, their race, ethnicity, creed, gender, or height.   Additionally a child brought up in a difficult environment, with neglectful parents, may be more equipped to live on their own at an earlier age than brother dgies was.  I'm  not sold that the purpose of college today is actually to teach kids how to be adults, take care of themselves, or be a panacea for bad parenting. 

[cheebs09]

I would expect a school with a stated goal to attract more first generation college students would have support systems in place. I don’t think MU should be looked down on for providing extra support.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

I would expect a school with a stated goal to attract more first generation college students would have support systems in place. I don’t think MU should be looked down on for providing extra support.

Every school is doing this. Recruiting students only to see them leave for whatever reason is nonsensical. Retaining students is way cheaper than recruiting new ones.

[MuggsyB]

Our focus as a country should be on pre K education in our economically disadvantaged areas.  It should be free and the teachers should be well compensated.  We should use our resources to teach kids ages 2-5 in lieu of a lot of wasteful spending.  The national goal should be for kids to read before kindergarten and there's zero reason why they can't.   I've yet to hear a politician on either side propose this and it's basic common sense.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

Our focus as a country should be on pre K education in our economically disadvantaged areas.  It should be free and the teachers should be well compensated.  We should use our resources to teach kids ages 2-5 in lieu of a lot of wasteful spending.  The national goal should be for kids to read before kindergarten and there's zero reason why they can't.   I've yet to hear a politician on either side propose this and it's basic common sense.

Cool.

Not sure what that has to do with what we are talking about.

But cool.

[MuggsyB]

Cool.

Not sure what that has to do with what we are talking about.

But cool.

It doesn't and I'm sorry for being  tangential.  But anytime there is a discussion about education this is what I think about.  It makes no sense to me why we don't reevaluate and change our priorities.  It would be enormously successful for our entire society.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I'm not sure your theoretical example exists anymore for the majority of 18-22 yr olds.  Also, "Having no idea how to live on your own" is ostensibly ubiquitous for people that have never lived on their own.   No matter where they're from, their race, ethnicity, creed, gender, or height.   Additionally a child brought up in a difficult environment, with neglectful parents, may be more equipped to live on their own at an earlier age than brother dgies was.  I'm  not sold that the purpose of college today is actually to teach kids how to be adults, take care of themselves, or be a panacea for bad parenting.

That's a lot of words to say that you disagree but give no reason for why.

[MuggsyB]

That's a lot of words to say that you disagree but give no reason for why.

I disagree with your basic premise..  The purpose of college (at least historically) is to give students the tools and passion necessary to pursue life-long learning.  I'm not sure this is the case anymore for a myriad of reasons.

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

I disagree with your basic premise..  The purpose of college (at least historically) is to give students the tools and passion necessary to pursue life-long learning.  I'm not sure this is the case anymore for a myriad of reasons.

That doesn't disagree with what I said, just uses different words to say the same thing

[MuggsyB]

That doesn't disagree with what I said, just uses different words to say the same thing

Okay...maybe I misunderstood you.

[MU82]

Our focus as a country should be on pre K education in our economically disadvantaged areas.  It should be free and the teachers should be well compensated.  We should use our resources to teach kids ages 2-5 in lieu of a lot of wasteful spending.  The national goal should be for kids to read before kindergarten and there's zero reason why they can't.   I've yet to hear a politician on either side propose this and it's basic common sense.

Lots of politicians have proposed free Pre-K and it has been passed in a lot of areas -- including the county where I live, NC's largest. Except for the "well compensated teacher" part. Hopefully that's coming.

[MuggsyB]

Lots of politicians have proposed free Pre-K and it has been passed in a lot of areas -- including the county where I live, NC's largest. Except for the "well compensated teacher" part. Hopefully that's coming.

Kids need to be taught how to read pre- kindergarten.  That should be a national goal that both major political parties should agree to immediately. 

[MU82]

Kids need to be taught how to read pre- kindergarten.  That should be a national goal that both major political parties should agree to immediately.

Yessir. Sounds like a good platform for you to run on, Muggs!

[MuggsyB]

Yessir. Sounds like a good platform for you to run on, Muggs!

.
I'm not cut out to be a politician and would get frustrated dealing with most of them. 

[lawdog77]

Kids need to be taught how to read pre- kindergarten.  That should be a national goal that both major political parties should agree to immediately.

At what age should dolphins learn to read?

[Hards Alumni]

i think you and reeko need to get a room

Only if you'll watch

[Uncle Rico]

Kids need to be taught how to read pre- kindergarten.  That should be a national goal that both major political parties should agree to immediately.

Disagree 100%.  Last thing we need to do is teach kids to read.  The problem with this country is educated people.  Plus, if they learn how to read, they might learn CRT or read “To Kill a Mockingbird”.  The damage would be catastrophic.  Show them pictures of Noah’s Ark and teach them how to handle a weapon and they’ll be fine.

[dgies9156]

Well, here goes this "freakin boomer" again!

TAMU, I want people to succeed in college, probably as much as you do. I've given to colleges over the years so people who didn't have some of the benefits I did and my children did have the opportunity to try to be what I became because of Marquette. That's how we push out of poverty.

That said, we selected Southern Illinois University for my children because both had learning disabilities and SIU has a program called Achieve, which works with LD students to get them through college. Achieve was somewhat expensive but we paid the bill because we needed to. In the years since, we have donated substantially so that disadvantaged students could have what our children had. We quietly and kinda privately put one student who needed Achieve through it because they would have flunked out of SIU otherwise.

As a side note -- if anyone needs LD support for their college aged student, I'd strongly recommend Achieve at SIU. It's an unbelievably good program and the folks there really care!

I don't question the need for some specialty programs like Achieve, or SIU's MAPP program for disadvantaged potential college students. But a widespread program aimed at the bulk of the student body just raises a boatload of questions about how ready students are to live on their own. I get the temptations are out there -- booze, drugs, sex etc -- but these challenges will be out there when these students leave college. If they're not ready to live on their own, maybe they need to attend college locally where they can live at home. Or maybe they need to work a year... or go to a community college! With one exception, the last person I'd want intervening in my life in college was my resident advisor!

There's a lot of things about living far from home in an alien environment that are disconcerting. But that's going to be true whether it's college, your first job, getting married or joining the military. As Dan Hampton would sday, "time to put the big boy (or girl) pants on.

A final thought: maybe many of us "freakin boomers" created the problem by being helicopter parents. My wife and I were frequently criticized for not being helicopter parents -- by letting our children "do their thing," so to speak. We gave them just enough rope to hang themselves but knew we could cut the rope before they actually did!

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

If they're not ready to live on their own, maybe they need to attend college locally where they can live at home. Or maybe they need to work a year... or go to a community college!

This is the disconnect right here. I don't disagree that maybe it would have been better for some students do something other than college right after high school. The problem is, by the time they've gotten to college they've already made their decision, and it's a costly one. One semester at a school like Marquette likely means 5 figures of student debt. So rather than Marquette washing their hands of them and saying "thanks for the 40 grand", why not offer a few supports/interventions to try to help them persist to graduation? They may still fail and some may still choose to go elsewhere but these programs have been shown to help. I think given the choice between taking $40 grand from an 18 year old and wishing them luck and having a quick conversation with a student who has been missing a few too many classes, option B is the more Jesuit thing to do.

[MU82]

Disagree 100%.  Last thing we need to do is teach kids to read.  The problem with this country is educated people.  Plus, if they learn how to read, they might learn CRT or read “To Kill a Mockingbird”.  The damage would be catastrophic.  Show them pictures of Noah’s Ark and teach them how to handle a weapon and they’ll be fine.

Exactly. Until we reach the very worthwhile goal of banning 1 billion books a year, real Americans have no chance against the woke mobs. The only thing kids need to know how to read is the bible, and even there only the non-sexy parts.

[The Hippie Satan of Hyperbole]

I don't question the need for some specialty programs like Achieve, or SIU's MAPP program for disadvantaged potential college students. But a widespread program aimed at the bulk of the student body just raises a boatload of questions about how ready students are to live on their own. I get the temptations are out there -- booze, drugs, sex etc -- but these challenges will be out there when these students leave college. If they're not ready to live on their own, maybe they need to attend college locally where they can live at home. Or maybe they need to work a year... or go to a community college! With one exception, the last person I'd want intervening in my life in college was my resident advisor!

The mistake you are making is that you think I am talking about a program like Achieve.  I am talking about a computer system that tracks things to see who might need an early intervention by our academic support office...or an RA...or the advisor of their student group.  That's not a "program."

[Macallan 18]

University forces convocation demonstrators to step down from leadership positions

Students leaders who participated in a demonstration at Marquette’s new student convocation Aug. 25 will be forced to step down from their leadership positions, the Marquette Wire has confirmed. At the convocation, demonstrators called for more support for students of color on campus, citing staffing and resource deficits.

https://marquettewire.org/4083205/news/breaking-university-forces-convocation-demonstrators-to-step-down-from-leadership-positions/


An article in the Marquette Tribune earlier this week included reaction to the $300 student fines and the disciplinary process.

https://marquettewire.org/4082393/news/mu-community-walks-in-support-of-sanctioned-students/

[TAMU, Knower of Ball]

While true, my guess is the title is a little misleading. A pretty standard sanction for a rule violation like this is something along the lines of "probation" or "discipline review" (every school as their own language). A pretty standard part of probation at all universities is that students on probation can't hold leadership positions in recognized student organizations. So, yes it is true that the students will be stepping down from their leadership positions, but that would have been the result for any student found responsible for this rule violation whether they were in high profile positions like this, or if they were the treasurer of the tiddlywinks club.