The school year is ending and summer is almost here. There is nothing better than a cold beer on a hot summer night. Unfortunately, many people get stuck in habits and drink the same old thing. Instead of having another Corona, try something else at your next cookout. I have four suggestions: New Glarus Totally Naked, Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse, Bell’s Oberon Ale and Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale.

Wisconsin’s own New Glarus Brewing Co. produces a variety of summer seasonal beers. One of my favorites is called Totally Naked. The suggestive name refers to the beer’s character. Totally Naked is beer in its basic and pure form. The aroma and the flavor are dominated by malts. The beer goes down smoothly with a small bit of hop bitterness detectable at the end. Totally Naked is a fairly light beer that’s very drinkable. It is the perfect choice for casual beer drinkers. This variety from New Glarus is available from May through September.

If you are in the mood for an import, I would suggest the Franziskaner Hefe-Weisse. The Hefe Weizen is a German-style wheat beer. This beer is golden and cloudy. The cloudiness is from the unfiltered yeast remaining in the beer. The aroma is a combination of sweet yeast and fruit. The flavor combination reminds me of a banana. Hefe Weizens are often served with a lemon wedge. Some people believe that the lemon ruins the flavor of the beer. The lemon will definitely alter the flavor. Whether that is a good thing or a bad thing depends on personal preference, and I’ll let you decide for yourself.

Bell’s Oberon Ale is produced by Michigan’s Kalamazoo Brewing Co. The Oberon Ale is an American Pale Wheat Ale, the domestic cousin of the German Hefe Weizen. It has a cloudy, orange-amber color. Poured properly, the Oberon Ale will have a thick head. The light aroma is dominated by citrus and wheat. It reminds me of fresh oranges and lemons. The fruit flavors are crisp and sweet. The background flavors add spice, yeast and grain to the experience. Oberon Ale is complex, but definitely drinkable and refreshing.

If you are in the mood for something exotic, I would suggest the Hitachino Nest Red Rice Ale. Rice and fruit dominate the aroma and flavor of this Japanese ale. The flavors are subtle, cool and crisp. Light hops and berries are detectable before the wheat-like finish. Be mindful that the Red Rice Ale has slightly higher alcohol content than the other reviewed beers, but this beer is so smooth that you probably will not notice it.

This summer, don’t be afraid to try something new when you are looking for a cool drink on a warm evening.

Popularity: 15% [?]

Valley Fields are alive once again with the hard work and positive attitude of the Marquette men’s lacrosse team. The men are back with a vengeance for the spring season with a few fresh faces and the same great attitude. Men’s lacrosse has grown a lot since fall, and is back and better than ever this spring. Through a tough practice schedule and constantly being on the road for away games, the team has kept a clean image and is motivated to improve and be the best team Marquette has ever had.

The guys practice at Valley fields three to four times a week. If that isn’t a commitment in itself, then consider the fact that team members practice from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. all of those nights. They are also constantly traveling in order to play other teams. This spring, the men have already traveled to numerous schools including Vanderbilt in Tennessee, Kansas State, Iowa State, MSU Mankato and the University of Wisconsin at Steven’s Point. For most club teams, this amount of travel is a lot to handle, but the lacrosse team doesn’t mind the grind of the road. For the most part, the men look at the traveling as an opportunity to see places they otherwise may not have gotten the chance to see and as a great team bonding experience. The spring season has brought many new faces to the team, and the traveling has helped bring the guys together and get to know each other better.

It may seem that the spring team has no differences from the fall team, but the spring season has brought many changes. Along with the many new players and the vigorous traveling schedule, the team has also matured to a great extent. In the fall season, there was an excessive amount of new freshmen, which made the team seem young and inexperienced. The freshmen now have played a season and know what it takes to play at the college level. Due to the team’s intense practice schedule and the amount of hard work they have put into their sport, the lacrosse team has made the conference tournament, which means the hard work will become more challenging. But it also gives the club an exclusive opportunity to show off their efforts and make a name for themselves among other college teams.

Keeping up with a promise the team made to themselves, the administration and the Marquette community, the lacrosse team has remained sober and could not be happier about it. Freshman goal keeper Pat Dahl explained that the team has worked hard to stay alcohol-free and the men do not miss it at all.

“We are very strict on the drinking policy,” Dahl said. “The team has learned its lesson from the previous year and we are a better team for it.” The team also has made a great commitment to participate in community service. They already took part in Al’s Run/Walk in the fall, and brought their best to help with Hunger Clean-Up, last Saturday, April 21.

The men’s lacrosse team has made leaps and bounds toward a better team this year, bouncing back from an embarrassing scandal the year before. Throughout the fall season the men built the team back up from the ground and have done nothing but bring positive recognition back to the club. This spring is looking promising for men’s lacrosse as they are continuing to be better than ever.

Popularity: 15% [?]

How hard is it to start an expansion team? To find out, just ask Bob McNair and Bob Johnson, the Houston Texans’ and Charlotte Bobcats’ respective owners. If you need an even better example, shoot an e-mail to two-year owner Stuart Sternberg of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, whose team still hasn’t come close to even a glimpse of the Yankees’ living room from their nine-year crawlspace in the American League East.

Now, obviously the creation of a college club team is less difficult than that of a professional franchise, but the basics of starting a new team — finding players, facilities and financial means — are the same.

For the second-year Marquette water polo team, the transition has not only included accomplishing these three tasks, but also accomplishments where they count most: the pool.

Although the team was officially started last year, 2007 is considered the inaugural year of Marquette’s participation in the Great Plains Division of the Collegiate Water Polo Association (CWPA). The Golden Eagles finished with a more-than-respectable 10-6 fall season record in the division, which consists of Marquette, the University of Minnesota, Iowa State University, Kansas University and Minnesota State University at Mankato.

Success didn’t just accompany the approximately 20-member team in the regular season, however, as it reached the division championship in its first ever try, eventually falling to Minnesota 16-9. The great season was hopefully one of many to come, said club President, Founder and Treasurer Peter Mohan.

“We have a large recruiting hot-bed in Chicago, and once we tap into that potential, our team can be one of the top in the nation,” Mohan said. “I expect the team to grow every year in regards to popularity and skill, and hopefully next year with a good returning team we can make it to nationals.”

A win in next year’s division championship will give them that opportunity, which, if not for Mohan, would never have been a reality two years ago.

After gathering interest on www.Facebook.com and O-Fest, Mohan then had to ask the Recreational Sports Department for pool time, fill out paperwork to apply for club status and finally go in front of the club sports presidents for a majority vote.

“There was some dissent by some clubs because they felt we would be cutting into their money, but the majority was in our favor,” said Mohan.

Needless to say, he was glad it was.

“I really enjoy the sport and the opportunity was not offered here at Marquette,” said Mohan. “Plus, I knew there were a lot of people here that played water polo in high school.”

One such player is Davor Mitrovic, a four-year starter and All-State selection at Mount Carmel High School in Chicago and the 2006 Great Plains Division MVP.

“I think I was lucky to get selected,” Mitrovic said about his award. “The team was very balanced and everyone contributed; the other teams could not double team anyone because some one else would step up. Guys like Pete [Mohan] and Bob [Conrath] and Billy [Doerr] in the goal were a wall so we saved a lot of energy on defense because we knew if the other team got a shot off Billy could stop it.”

While the fall season is where most of the fierce competition takes place, the team is still active in the spring, and went 2-2 in a tournament at Iowa State the weekend of March 23, defeating St. John’s College of Minnesota as well as the host.

Like all new organizations, however, Marquette has faced some problems dealing with all of the facets that running a club entails. So far this spring the team had to cancel participation in tournaments two times; one for lack of members and the other for lack of transportation.

Nonetheless, Mohan has worked diligently in order to find quality and consistent competition for the team and his efforts have paid off. Marquette, despite not having adequate facilities on campus, will be hosting the 2007 Great Plains Division CWPA Championship at Schroeder YMCA in Brown Deer, a distance advantage the team surely will relish.

“Every other school in our division is at least a five-hour drive, so it will be easier for us to get in a rhythm before our games,” Mohan said. “Also, we should have the entire roster present; a benefit we don’t usually have.”

Popularity: 16% [?]

Marquette men’s basketball finished on a sour note this year with a loss in the first round of the tournament and the injury to Jerel McNeal. But next year there are plenty of reasons to be optimistic.

One of Marquette’s problems this past year was height. The average height of many teams Marquette played was significantly taller than Marquette’s. And the only real rebounding presence the team had was Ousmane Barro. Next year will be a different story. The team has brought in some tall power forwards.

One recruit that has garnered some attention is 6-7 forward Trevor Mbakwe, a top 150 prospect. Mbakwe, who is from Mendota Heights, Minn., has been projected by rivals to be an All Big East player and a key contributor to Marquette’s success.

The other players Marquette is bringing in are Scott Christopherson, a 6-2 shooting guard from Melrose, Wis.; Pat Hazel, a 6-7 power forward from Blair, N.J.; and Damian Saunders, a 6-7 power forward from Fitchburg, Mass.

All of these recruits are ranked as three star prospects, which means they should be good players, but not probably not superstars. Keep in mind that rankings are not final, so there might be a diamond in this class, and many are expecting it to be Mbakwe.

Besides the new recruits, Marquette is expected to bring back their entire starting lineup from last year. If Dominic James can become more consistent and McNeal fully recovers from his injury, the team should be a force to be reckoned with.

Lazar Hayward, Dan Fitzgerald, David Cubillan and Ousmane Barro are also coming back, the only players lost were role-playing seniors who were important but not irreplaceable.

Marquette has also locked up a four star recruit for the 2008-09 season in Nick Williams, a 6-3 shooting guard from Mobile, Ala. He is ranked in the top 75 prospects for the class of 2008. So the future looks bright for the Golden Eagles; as long as Coach Tom Crean stays, the team will stay competitive and hopefully championship caliber.

Some information from: www.Marquette.rivals.com

Popularity: 10% [?]

Usually, basketball, football and baseball come to mind immediately when asked to think about sports. When asked to think about cheerleading, the first thought to come to mind again would most likely be basketball or football. Cheerleading is almost always associated with bigger, more popular male sports and is rarely considered a sport in its own right. The trouble with that, however, is that cheerleading is in fact a sport capable of standing on its own; it is not only a sport, but a rather difficult sport at that.

People associate cheerleading with catchy slogans shouted out by a group of girls on the sideline of a football field or basketball court. A cartwheel here and a wave of a pom pon there is basically what makes up the fundamentals of cheerleading right? Wrong. Cheerleading is one of the most underrated sports today. Although it is sometimes thought of as mindless shouting, it incorporates difficult dance routines, extensive gymnastic tumbling and intricate stunts. Serious cheerleaders practice for hours each day: working on choreography, practicing dangerous stunts and spending time in the weight room building their muscles. Cheerleading is not just a sport to these athletes but a lifestyle. When they are not at practice, they continue to stay fit and remain on a healthy diet so they can perform at a top level.

Cheerleading has been stereotyped over the years as a safe, simple sport with no real risk involved when compared to other sports. The truth of the matter is that cheerleading is one of the most dangerous sports around, and the risk factor has been growing significantly over the past few years. According to a research study done at the Columbus Children’s Hospital in Ohio, there were 22,900 cheerleading related injuries in emergency rooms across the country in 2002 which was a significant increase from 10,900 in 1990. These figures also do not include private consultations for similar injuries, so the actual cheerleading injuries could be much higher. Another study performed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association’s Catastrophic Injury Insurance Program found that in 2005, 25 percent of money spent on claims for student athletes since 1998 resulted from cheerleading accidents. Clearly there is more risk to cheerleading than it is given credit for.

A recent article posted online by the New York Times featured a story about a young woman who was a member of the cheerleading squad at Sacramento City College and was asked to perform a difficult stunt, a stunt that almost cost her her life. In the article, journalist Bill Pennington told of how this young woman was thrown into the air to do a particular flip, but was not caught by her teammates and ended up breaking her neck. Although incidents such as this are not common, they are more prevalent than they may seem and are another illustration of just how dangerous the sport truly is.

Alongside the obvious danger of breaking bones through challenging gymnastic stunts, cheerleading also comes with a great risk for eating disorders which can lead to even more serious problems. Since cheerleaders must remain relatively small to successfully do certain dance moves or become “fliers” (a cheerleader who is thrown into the air), and also to look attractive in the barely there uniforms provided, it is not uncommon for them to be concerned with weight and body image. Along with gymnasts and dancers, cheerleaders are at high risk for developing eating disorders in order to maintain a certain image. The Boston Globe featured a story in 1991 about a young woman at the University of Connecticut who had been kicked off the cheerleading squad for being overweight. She turned to a restrictive diet of water and lettuce for five weeks, and also abuse of diuretics to drop her weight from 147 to 123. She was let back on the team after her massive weight loss, but soon after had to leave the squad for a second time due to severe illness caused by her eating disorder.

Cheerleading continues to be overlooked as a real sport by many and is typically seen as a safe alternative to real sports. When examined closely however, cheerleading comes out on top as one of the most challenging and dangerous sports available today. Think twice before you dismiss cheerleading as a sport for the weak, because chances are that cheerleaders are tougher than they appear.

Popularity: 11% [?]

Over the past month, anyone associated with Marquette basketball became quite familiar with coaching vacancies at schools like, oh I don’t know, let’s say the University of Kentucky. We all thought the waters had calmed since Kentucky’s hiring of now former Texas A&M coach Billy Gillispie. However, Marquette Basketball supporters learned this past week that men’s basketball coach Tom Crean is not the only enviable item here at Marquette.

Terri Mitchell, Marquette women’s basketball coach for the past 11 years, interviewed for the head coaching position at Duke last week. But this news should not come as a shock to fans or members of Marquette. Let’s take a step back and look at this from an outsider’s angle.

In her 11 years at the helm, Coach Mitchell’s teams have made the Big Dance six times, but have never advanced past the second round. In a sport in which you are judged by your success during March, Mitchell’s résumé isn’t exactly at the top of the heap. But look a little closer and you can find the reason the Blue Devils came calling.

The past two seasons for Marquette women’s hoops have been the best in program history. As a fledgling team in the Big East conference, the Golden Eagles posted a solid 9-7 record. Even though they just missed the NCAA Tournament, the team finished the season strong, reaching the WNIT Championship Game. And if you didn’t pay close enough attention this past season, allow me to inform you: a 26-7 overall record that was the best in school history, a second place finish in the Big East Conference, the first ever sell out at the Al McGuire Center, two First Team-All Big East selections in Krystal Ellis and Christina Quaye and a run to the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

Mitchell’s leadership has made Marquette the best up-and-coming team in the Big East. So in turn, one of the so-called “powerhouses” was a little interested. For Marquette’s sake, Duke decided to go with now former Michigan State head coach Joanne McCallie. But their decision to bring Mitchell to Durham for an interview speaks volumes for her and the program. Don’t look at it as if Terri Mitchell is looking to get out of Milwaukee. IT WAS DUKE! If she wants to move on and up, she has the right to do so.

Schools and athletic directors across the nation have begun to take notice of what Mitchell has done here at Marquette. Currently her name is in Penn State’s search for a new women’s basketball coach. Now this threat could prove to be the most dangerous threat to Mitchell’s future at Marquette, as she is a native of Harrisburg, Pa. Time will only tell as to how serious Penn State is about Mitchell, and how interested she might be.

But this makes me smile going into next year. Even with a host of talented seniors graduating, Marquette will field a team that will once again be capable of competing with the best in the Big East. With Mitchell’s guidance, Krystal Ellis could have All-American potential, and a second straight trip to the Tourney could be on the horizon.

Unfortunately, it looks like we’ll all just have to hold our breath.

Popularity: 7% [?]

I’m sure that virtually all of us are still reeling at the horrific events which took place on at Virginia Tech. Such mindless evil is dreadfully hard to contemplate. There are no easy answers to difficult questions.

And yet . . .

And yet . . .

Like we have seen so often before, during times of immense tragedy, amid all the suffering and pain, amid all the questions and the anger – there are also miracles. There are those who “were supposed to be somewhere, but weren’t,” and later realize that they have been spared. There are those who, in moments of unspeakable horror, act with incredible courage. There are those who “rise to the occasion,” when the need is greatest.

We see the Finger of God.

I see the Finger of God in the heroic sacrifice of a professor, who literally blockaded a classroom door with his body so that his students could escape. Greater love hath no man.

I see the Finger of God in the presence of an Eagle Scout in one classroom, who was able to render emergency first-aid to those around him – and was never touched by a bullet.

I see the Finger of God on the life of a young man who decided to have a quick coffee with his girlfriend, rather than rush off. They are both alive today.

I see the Finger of God on the life of a young woman who, although always early, was, for some reason running late.

I see the Finger of God in the very fact that these tragedies are so rare; that this sort of wanton evil remains, for the most part, checked.

It was St. Thomas Aquinas who pointed out that, if God wanted to destroy the Universe, He would not have to do anything – He would have to STOP doing something. It is His Finger on the pulse of the Universe which keeps everything going.

I grieve with all those who have lost friends and loved ones. I grieve for the loss of life – and for the loss of innocence. And I am filled with wonder and great gratitude at the little miracles, those actions by the Finger of God, which kept this terrible, terrible tragedy from being infinitely worse.

May the souls of the victims — and the souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Submitted by David Zampino, lecturer in the Theology Department

Popularity: 16% [?]

Humor me. Keep that question in the back of your mind as I talk about the elephant in the room at this month’s presentation of The Vagina Monologues.

Turns out, the elephant has a lot to do with how you answer this question. What struck me most at the end of the day was not what the play says about sexual violence, but what it takes for granted about sex in general. I noticed how you, my fellow students, responded to these assumptions. I noticed what you questioned, but, most of all, what you didn’t.

In her introduction, Heather Hathaway, associate dean of academic affairs in the college of arts and sciences, listed a number of concerns about the play. None of them were based on its view of sex. She didn’t mention that none of the relationships in The Vagina Monologues are depicted as lasting or lifelong or that the play takes it for granted that we’ve all had sex, from an early age, and that we all masturbate frequently.

In fact, it relies on our familiarity with these actions for much of its humor and popular appeal. Nobody asked why none of the sexual encounters claim to be in the context of “true love.” Bob stares at the woman’s vagina meaningfully for hours, but he’s just the guy she met at the grocery store and promptly slept with. The 24-year-old woman seduces the 16-year-old girl, but that was a long time ago.

Apparently, our concept of sex has lost its relationship to, well, relationships – especially committed lifelong relationships. It’s now a recreational pursuit, solely dedicated to finding maximum pleasure, having fun and responding to the ultimatum of the sexual urge. And maybe that doesn’t bother you and Hathaway, but it sure concerns me.

Doesn’t sex belong in the context of true love, not just satisfying some urge? Pope John Paul II was not the first to affirm that it is never acceptable to use another human being as a means to an end. Rather, all expressions of affection should show a disinterested desire to affirm the other person (made in the image and likeness of God) for their own sake. Christians believe sex is meant to show us God’s love. It’s meant to be a participation in the love of God and Jesus, a love so great it becomes another person (the Holy Spirit). This love is identified as a free, total, faithful and fruitful self-gift. When one of these attributes is missing, the whole thing collapses. In human terms, this true love finds its fulfillment in marriage.

Let’s compare this with what we find in The Vagina Monologues. Casual, promiscuous sex? Not total and not faithful: You’re using someone for your own selfish kicks and moving on. Masturbation? Not a gift of self to another person: You’re using a human being (yourself) as a means to an end. Contraception and homosexual sex? Are they really total gifts of self? Are they really fruitful, open to new life? The Church asks us not to do these things, not because the body and sex are bad but because they mean something too good, too significant to water down.

I think it’s important for you to understand the logic behind that stance even if, like one of those Saturday panelists, you flat-out disagree with it. If you’d like to compare these issues more, I’d recommend that you Google Pope John Paul II’s Theology of the Body and get Christopher West’s Good News About Sex and Marriage from our library.

The Christian view of sexuality demands self-denial, maturity and generosity. It promises freedom, fulfillment and lasting happiness: nothing short of heaven on earth. It affirms the beauty of sex and the body. Personally, that’s a lot more appealing than the prospect of getting my heart broken, engaging in meaningless sexual encounters, getting STDs and ending up alone and unloved.

I’d rather love one person forever, for who they really are. I’d rather love as God loves, even if it means making sacrifices, laying down my life for my beloved. I’d rather stay open to nurturing new life and hope in every form, even when it hurts.

I’d rather believe… and live… in true love.

Submitted by Margaret Smith, junior in the College of Arts and Sciences

Popularity: 14% [?]

They promote social justice, but don’t fast or engage in sit-ins or protests; they preserve freedom, but don’t petition or lobby for legislation; and they develop passionate leaders for change, but don’t sponsor outreach awareness events.They are the students of Marquette’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC), and although the value of their dedication to social justice, freedom and leadership development may not always be clear to or acknowledged by the Marquette community, the commitment and calling of these students has a lasting impact.

Often spotted walking briskly in uniform or exercising early in the morning, the ROTC students are a visible part of campus. Despite their clear presence, does anyone really know what the ROTC program is about?

ROTC is a training program, integrated within many college campuses, intended to produce commissioned officers in the United States Military. ROTC is one of three ways officers are commissioned into the military, the other two including military academies and Officer Candidate School (the United States Air Force calls this commissioning source Officer Training School (OTS)).

The unique ROTC experience brings together not only the education, traditions and ethos of the military profession, but allows members to engage in and live in a civilian community, according to the 10 Year History of U.S. Army Cadet Command.

Marquette has three ROTC units on campus: the Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC), the Army ROTC and the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (AFROTC).

According to the NROTC Web site, students can begin to consider ROTC before their freshman year at Marquette and apply for an ROTC four-year scholarship. Scholarships are awarded by all branches at Marquette, and include tuition, books and a monthly stipend. There are also two- and three-year scholarships, which are for sophomores and juniors who join after their freshman year.

In addition to Marquette students, all three ROTC branches at Marquette also bring in students from other area colleges, including University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and Milwaukee School of Engineering.

Army ROTC: Learning to be Leaders
The Army ROTC differs in its focus of leadership development and programming. The national Army ROTC program was established in 1915, in the years preceding World War I. According to the 10 Year History of U.S. Army Cadet Command, “institutions of higher learning were the source from which the United States should draw the bulk of its reserve officer training corps.”

Those involved in Army ROTC must fulfill physical fitness standards and supplement their coursework with military science courses.

Lieutenant Colonel Clark Backus, professor of military science, adds that Army ROTC focuses on leadership development and familiarization with small unit infantry.

“We’re trying to train college students for leadership roles and opportunities, and the Army’s way to lead,” Backus said. “Understanding infantry tactics within squad and platoon levels is a piece that we’re trying to combine with leadership experience by the times students are commissioned.”

When successfully completed, participation in Army ROTC leads to a commission as a second lieutenant with either full time service in the U.S. Army or part time service in the Army Reserve or Army National Guard.

As students progress through the program and take on leadership roles, they are evaluated on seven character qualities: loyalty, duty, respect, selfless-service, honor, integrity and personal courage.

“The leadership we’re teaching isn’t non-transferable,” said Backus. “It is not an indoctrinated leadership curriculum, but one grounded in behavioral science. The environment and technical piece might be different, but the application is the same.”

In addition to normal coursework and leadership training, Army ROTC students must complete physical training three times a week. The program also has several distinctive extra curricular activities, including a Bataan Memorial Death March, Cadet Rangers and Ranger Challenge.

According to the U.S. Army Cadet Command guidebook, the Army ROTC’s definition of leadership is “influencing people by providing purpose, direction and motivation while operating to accomplish a mission and improving the organization.”

The Army’s emphasis on leadership development is evident in the roles given to upper-classmen cadets. All lower classmen must participate in Leadership Lab, where cadets practice battle drills and learn some of the technical aspects of becoming commissioned. As students progress, they become responsible for planning and carrying out Leadership Labs.

After graduation, cadets are assigned to different branches to train for specific army positions

“To get into the branch you’d like, it can be very competitive, especially with what I want to do, which is aviation,” said Sam Thompson, College of Business freshman and cadet. “Grades are 60 percent of what’s considered, when you’re placed in a branch.”

Two of the four Marquette pillars—leadership and excellence— are also listed on the Army ROTC badge

“What Army ROTC and the University are trying to do is a good confluence of desires. Just as the Jesuits are service oriented, so are those in ROTC—they are serving their country. A lot of people at Marquette, whatever they believe, recognize that students are providing a service that should be admired,” said Backus.

In the midst of political conflict over military affairs overseas, Backus said he has only received positive feedback from the Marquette community.

“The faculty and students I’m in contact with express their support and admiration at what our students accomplish,” said Backus.

Although they may have a unique college experience, the average cadet has career goals and professional aspirations that aren’t so different from their peers.

“They happen to choose a calling that calls attention in a different way. It’s important to recognize that it’s a different commitment our country is asking people to acknowledge. The calling is this intangible, its not politically driven, but intrinsic kind of thing, not indoctrinated, and it ought to be acknowledged,” said Backus.

Air Force ROTC: Exercising excellence
Also an outpour of the need for military personnel during World War II, the Air Force ROTC gained momentum in 1946.

The AFROTC is another component of Marquette’s ROTC program and is focused on training, educating and commissioning officers in the Air Force.

One of AFROTC’s primary goals is to “recruit, train and retain America’s best young men and women to provide global vigilance, reach and power to our nation in the 21st Century.” AFROTC aims to cultivate an atmosphere where students can, “lead effectively at all levels – with decisiveness and concern for our people and provide an environment that encourages all our people to achieve personal and professional excellence,” according to the AFROTC Web site. Integrity first, service before self and excellence are three pillars of the AFROTC curriculum.

Like NROTC and Army ROTC, AFROTC also has fitness standards as well as specific training requirements, which can include summer programs and academic classes.

The Air Force also requires students to participate in leadership laboratories and assume specific roles in their groups within their Cadet Wing. The Command staff then oversees different Groups within the Cadet Wing. Each Group consists of underclassmen with a specific job to help the Wing function.

Joeli Anderson, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences and the AFROTC Recruiting and Retention Squadron Commander spends 25 to 35 hours a week involved with AFROTC activities.

“I am basically in charge of organizing and recruiting events and making sure we have personnel there. I also oversee that morale activities are run and planned well to further professional development within our Cadet Wing.”

AFROTC has its own extra-curricular activities to further develop leadership within the Wing.

“There are unlimited activities to practice leadership and communication skills in almost everything that you do,” said Anderson.

Although often a challenge, physically, emotionally, academically and spiritually, Anderson said that through AFROTC she has accomplished things she never would have imagined.

“I am ultimately a better leader, student, sister, daughter and person because of it. The training I’ve received and the way I’ve grown as an individual is amazing,” said Anderson.

Throughout her four years in AFROTC, Anderson has seen both sides of the spectrum in others reactions and views of ROTC.

“Yes, I’ve been discriminated against by peers. Yes, anti-military protests and conflicts have arisen, but I’ve also been thanked by a random stranger,” said Anderson. “What it ultimately comes down to is the fact that I am confident in what I am doing and through both the disrespect and praises, I still feel the call to serve.”

Naval ROTC: Cultivating character
Established in 1926, the national NROTC has grown to 57 units in 34 states. According to Marquette’s NROTC Web site, the Marquette NROTC tradition dates back to 1940 and was the first unit in the country established at a Catholic university. In the midst of World War II, the program was formed with the goal of being ready in the event of a serious national emergency.

There are three obligations for students involved in the program: intellectual development, physical growth and moral and ethical development, said Captain Jay Smith, commanding officer of Marquette’s NROTC. Just as Marquette emphasizes “cura personalis,” or care for the whole person, students in the NROTC program are expected to perform well academically, stay in good physical shape and develop as a Naval Officer.

“It’s a huge amount of responsibility placed on their shoulders at a young age,” Smith said.

Students accepted into the NROTC program come from a variety of majors, but must also take several Naval Science courses in addition to their regular course load.

Students enrolled in NROTC can choose a Navy or Marine option, and although both groups train and work together, their requirements throughout their years at Marquette and after graduation differ.

Students on a NROTC scholarship must serve four years on active duty, according to Marquette’s NROTC Web site. But while Navy students begin serving directly in the Navy’s warfare areas – including surface warfare, aviation, submarines and special warfare –Marine options will report to the Basic School to undergo additional training after graduation.

Before NROTC midshipmen are commissioned, much of their time at Marquette is devoted to leadership training and experience. Students participate in Naval lab once a week, which consists of drill and general military training. They are also encouraged to participate in extra curricular and service activities through NROTC, including drill team, color guard and field meets between battalions.

NROTC students also participate in a Prisoner of War-Missing in Action vigil, Veteran’s Day celebrations, Hunger Clean-up and Al’s Run. Participating in these activities builds a sense of camaraderie among the midshipmen. For College of Engineering freshman and Marine NROTC student Dominic Chiaverotti, this is especially true:

“We spend so much time together that we practically live with one another. It kind of feels like an extended family.”

As students progress through NROTC, there are opportunities to fill leadership positions.

“They do a good job of picking roles to suit different personalities and progressively giving you leadership roles,” Chiaverotti said.

Peter Schunk, Navy NROTC senior in the College of Business, is a Battalion Commanding Officer and acts as a liaison between the officers and the rest of the unit. He is constantly evaluated by his superiors to make sure he is fulfilling his role to the best of his ability. He also said Thursdays, the days NROTC wear their uniforms on campus, reinforces the students commitment to their role in the military.

“We really live what we’re trying to learn… uniform day is practice time in uniform for those days after college when we’re going to be wearing a uniform every day,” said Schunk.

Smith said the NROTC program directly applies to the mission of the university.

“NROTC is really a program about the values we share with Marquette. Our commitment to service correlates with the values of the university.”

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As the weather gets warmer, college students look forward to summer activities like playing frisbee, grilling or sitting on the porch and listening to some music. Here’s what you might want to know about downloading music this summer:

EMI and DRM
Apple recently announced that it will be releasing music from the EMI Group on the iTunes store without DRM, or digital rights management, security on it. In the past, the iTunes store has sold music with a security system that allows only the user who purchased the songs to listen to them. There were also limits to the number of times a particular playlist could be burned.

Most record companies have insisted on the use of DRM to prevent listeners from illegally distributing their music. But many users feel restricted by the security system and wish they could use their purchased music however they choose, without subjecting it to hacks that circumvent the DRM (hacks which are technically illegal under both American and international law).

Under a new agreement with EMI, Apple will distribute music through the iTunes store without any DRM at all. This will allow consumers to use their music in any way they see fit without having to use technical tricks to gain access. It will, however, still be illegal to share music, unless you own the copyright to the song. The reaction to this change has been almost unanimously positive.

Keep your eyes open for more labels to jump on the bandwagon in the near future. Another side note to consider is that EMI owns the rights to the Beatles’ music, which has never been released legally online before. There are rumors that Apple is negotiating to bring John, Paul, George and Ringo into the 21st century.

Colleges and Illegal Downloading
In spite of DRM security on iTunes purchases, online file sharing is still prevalent. Programs like LimeWire and Kazaa are available for users to share files, frequently copyrighted MP3s. These programs are especially prevalent on college campuses, where students have little money to buy music with and plenty of access to high-speed Internet connections.

Sales of CDs have been falling steadily for several years, including an 8 percent drop just reported on April 18. Some of that drop is due to factors such as legal online music purchases, but a significant portion is due to illegal file sharing. The RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) is looking for ways to fight back.

Recently, the organization has begun suing people who download music. Because many downloaders are on college campuses, there are not always names associated with the file sharing. Frequently it can be seen coming from a college network, but there is no individual information. The RIAA then subpoenas the college for the names of the students. So far, some colleges are resisting, but many have already handed over the names of downloaders.

This summer, you will hear warnings about applying sunscreen or not swimming for two hours after eating. But take my advice: practice safe downloading.

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