The Marquette Tribune campus news since 1916
Volume 109, Number 15
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
www.marquettewire.org
Gordo's sets sights on expansion
EMS system in works Students would work with MKE fire department By Lilly Peacock
lilly.peacock@marquette.edu
contracts, they received a $10,000 raise. When Gosizk got an email from the university about his raise over the summer, he had a feeling other faculty had received one too. After knocking on office doors and sending out emails, Gosizk and Gooding came to the conclusion that nearly 90% of non-tenure track faculty in the College of Arts & Sciences received a raise of around $10,000 depending on their original salary. When Gosizk was discussing the raises with other
faculty members, he noticed an overwhelming feeling of relief. “The fact that people were struggling so much that $10,000 is making a significant difference in the lives of faculty at Marquette, I think we should be pretty embarrassed about that as an institution,” he said. Non-tenure track faculty like Gosizk and Gooding don’t have the same job security as their tenured counterparts. They aren’t promised a job for the coming school years— rather, they
sign short term contracts. Gosizk had already signed his next 10-month contract when he got the email from administration. Now, aside from paying off some of his student debt, he can also provide financial stability for himself and his partner. “This provides a level of security for us that, frankly, I’ve never had since I came to Marquette,” he said. But being an English professor is more than just a job for Gosizk. He won’t consider leaving his job for a
A plan for a new emergency medical service — run by students, for students — is currently being developed at Marquette University. Proposed by Avary Benavides Shefland, a senior in the College of Nursing, the program would be established in collaboration between Marquette and the Milwaukee Fire Department. On Nov. 24, Marquette University Police Department Assistant Chief Jeff Kranz accompanied Benavides Shefland to a Milwaukee Ambulance Service Board meeting. There, she proposed the idea to start an EMS run by Marquette students who are nationally registered EMTs. The proposed EMS would serve both the main campus and Valley Fields, similar to MUPD’s current jurisdiction. In its early stage, it wouldn’t have transportation abilities; rather, it would function as an emergency medical response system responsible for administering basic life-saving treatment on the scene. According to meeting notes, logistics for vehicles are still being worked on, but both the Marquette administration and Milwaukee Fire Department are “in full support of the program.” The Marquette Wire reached out to Benavides Shefland and the university for comment about the proposed student-run EMS. Both parties responded saying they were currently unable to speak on the matter but would follow up with more information at a later date. At the November meeting, Assistant Chief Joshua Parish represented the
Index
News
Sports
Arts & Entertainment
Marquette inducted class of 2026 'M Club' Hall of Famers.
Amy Madigan performs as Aunt Gladys in the hit horror "Weapons."
Photo by Clay Ellis-Escobar clay.ellis-escobar@marquette.edu
Suhib Badwan (left) and Mohammed Otallah (right) own and operate Gordo's Bubble Waffles with their cousin, Omar Daher.
First out-of-state franchise to open in Mississippi By Lance Schulteis
lance.schulteis@marquette.edu
S
tudents on Marquette’s campus are often bound by routine, following paths from place to place as habit or tradition. After Marquette men’s basketball games, crowds of students follow one of those trails from Fiserv Forum to Gordo’s Bubble Waffles, regularly filling the shop to order from an expansive
dessert menu. Soon, Marquette won’t be the only college campus that Gordo’s calls home. But before its expansion, Gordo’s began as a single shop — and it didn’t even specialize in desserts. From 2021 to early 2022, an eatery called Gordo Burger stood on the corner of Howell and Lincoln Avenues in Bay View, Milwaukee. Then, its owners overhauled the entire restaurant, swapping out savory for sweet in a leap-of-faith rebrand to Gordo’s Bubble Waffles. Now, in 2026, the family-owned business is set to expand to Oxford, Mississippi — and the path from
suburban Milwaukee to the deep south runs right through the heart of Marquette University’s campus. Gordo’s opened its second location on Wells Street in April 2024, and it has since become a staple of nightlife for Marquette students. Throughout the school year, students flock to the dessert shop in droves to indulge in milkshakes, mini pancakes and, of course, ice creamtopped bubble waffles. “It’s amazing,” Mohammed Otallah, Gordo’s co-owner, said. “We have the students coming in, spending time here, hanging out. That’s the vibe we wanted.” The journey from Bay View
to Mississippi has come with late nights, viral online videos and countless scoops of ice cream. But each rung up the ladder has been calculated by a small team with the dream of making Gordo’s a nationwide name. From burgers to bubble waffles Gordo’s Bubble Waffles is run by three cousins: Otallah, Suhib Badwan and Omar Daher. The trio grew up walking side-by-side, even before they ventured into the business world. “Our whole upbringing was always sticking together,” Daher said. “Creating See GORDO'S page 4
Non-tenure track faculty get raises Staff received pay increases of around $10,000 By Sophia Tiedge
sophia.tiedge@marquette.edu
Grant Gosizk can now pay off some of his student loans. Chris Gooding can stop looking for a higher paying job. Both are non-tenure track faculty members at Marquette University in the College of Arts & Sciences, and in their most recent
www.marquettewire.org
SPORTS.......................................................5 OPINIONS..................................................9 FUN & GAMES.......................................10 A&E.................................................................11
Milwaukee community protests ICE presence
Marquette's newest immortals
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Steve Szymanski has been leading efforts with his Catholic parish.
See EMS page 4
See RAISES page 3
Alumna nominated for Golden Globe PAGE 11
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The Marquette Tribune
The Marquette Tribune Managing Editor of The Marquette Tribune Sophia Tiedge NEWS Executive News Editor Mia Thurow Assistant Editors Lance Schulteis, Lilly Peacock Reporters Sahil Gupta, Elena Metinidis, Mina Marsolek-Bonnet, Jaylen Hill, Daria Stepanich ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Executive Arts & Entertainment Editor MaryKate Stepchuk Assistant Editor Joseph Schamber Reporters Elise Emery, Allison Scherquist, Annie Goode OPINIONS Executive Opinions Editor Rachel Lopera Columnists Isabella Gruber, Amelia Lerret, Lexi Childers SPORTS Executive Sports Editor Jack Albright Assistant Editors Matthew Baltz, Raquel Ruiz Reporters Benjamin Hanson, Mikey Severson, Ben Ward, Eamon Bevan, Conor McPherson COPY Copy Chief Emma Fishback Copy Editors Elizabeth Belmont, Shea Lancaster VISUAL CONTENT Design Chief Murphy Lealos A&E Designer Evelyn Riordan Sports Designer Amery Thompson Opinions Designer Allegra Delli Carpini Photo Chief Clay Ellis-Escobar Photographers Lily Wooten, Owen Weis, Leo Stallings
HAVE A TIP FOR US? Have you seen something that you think should be a story? Do you have a tip about something we should be looking into? Do you have documents or other materials that we should see? We want to hear from you. If you have documents you'd like to send us, you can send anything to wiretips@marquette.edu.
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Milwaukeeans protest ICE presence Parish director, college students taking to streets By Mia Thurow
mia.thurow@marquette.edu
The office is quiet at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church on Friday mornings. Most parish employees take the day to rest or work from home, preparing for the weekend services ahead. But social justice director Steve Szymanski — rather than starting his end-ofweek mornings with a leisurely cup of coffee as he would prefer to — zips up his coat and heads into downtown Milwaukee to fulfill a personal commitment. The Milwaukee School of Engineering’s campus is noticeably louder than Szymanski’s parish office. Passing drivers lay on their car horns, some in support and others in opposition of an ongoing protest on the sidewalk. Families occasionally make their way in and out of the doors at 310 E Knapp St. for varying appointments. From 9-10 a.m. every Friday, about 20 protesters — many who are older, retired or Our Lady of Lourdes parish members, as well as some self-proclaimed “Grandmas For The Constitution” — gather around the building used as a processing center by the Department of Homeland Security’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement field operations. And this group isn’t the only one protesting in Milwaukee. On Jan. 9, around 500 to 700 people made their way downtown to Cathedral Square Park to protest the U.S. government in
Photo by Mia Thurow mia.thurow@marquette.edu
Steve Szymanski has emerged as the protest group's leader.
the wake of Renee Nicole Good’s death. The 37-yearold Good was shot repeatedly in the head by ICE agent Jonathan Ross in Minneapolis, sparking further nationwide contention about the Trump administration’s recent actions regarding immigration enforcement. Throughout the year, Szymanski has slowly emerged as the core protest group’s leader. The decision to protest ICE, he said, is informed by his faith and understanding of Catholic Social Teaching, a peace-focused doctrine based on the words of Jesus Christ. “What would Jesus be doing?” he said. “I don’t think Jesus would be cheerleading what this administration is doing. I certainly don’t think Jesus would be running around in unmarked vehicles with his face covered up and abducting people.” There are seven principles of Catholic Social Teaching, Szymanski explained, including life and dignity of the human person, solidarity and positive treatment of the poor and vulnerable. According to Our Lady of Lourdes’ social justice page, this teaching is an essential element of their Catholic faith, and any threat or harm directed at an individual “rips apart the dignity of each person and unravels the ‘seamless garment of life.’” MSOE acquired the Knapp Street property in March 2023, which came with a preexisting federal lease held by the U.S. General Services Administration since 1999. MSOE said it was understood that GSA intended to vacate the space within a few months and the school would renovate the facility for academic use shortly after. Over two years later, that renovation still hasn’t happened. GSA has elected to continue occupancy and maintain authority over federal operations taking place in the building, a commitment MSOE is obligated, under eminent domain, to accommodate. In October, ICE spokesperson Nina Pruneda said in an email the government was “evaluating its operational needs” regarding the building. A December report revealed that ICE currently plans to leave the Knapp Street building for a new location on Lake Park Drive, but the transition between facilities could take years. Some protesters even worry the government could decide to operate from both locations as a way to expand ICE operations in Milwaukee. Katie Wagner, a regular protester outside of the Knapp Street building, said
Photo by Mia Thurow mia.thurow@marquette.edu
Protesters gather outside an ICE processing facility downtown.
she and others, like Szymanski, are looking to build a “community of resistance” and clarify MSOE’s involvement with the property, as well as its future plans for the space. But she can’t do this without the help of those most directly involved on campus — students. “Students are going to be crucial in these coming months and years,” Wagner, a local community organizer, said of youth participation at the anti-ICE protests on Knapp Street. On June 13, about two months before most students returned to campus, Szymanski began protesting weekly with three people in attendance. But once the academic year started, he knew he would need to connect with more youth. As school began, MSOE students gradually started attending the Knapp Street protests, including one who Szymanski coached in middle school baseball years ago — Noah Dinan. Dinan, a sophomore and member of the school’s Young Democratic Socialists of America chapter, has protested ICE both on and off the street. He and other YDSA members sent MSOE President John Walz roughly 150 emails in an attempt to “piss off” the college into ending their lease with the federal agency. “We’re pretty upset because this building was going to go to students,” Dinan said. “Also, we have a pretty good international student population, and it feels really counterintuitive, almost aggressive, to have immigration control on campus.” Dinan said many people are scared to walk past the building, so by being present on Friday mornings, he wants immigrants entering the ICE processing facility to feel supported. He added that it’s a nice touch when students like himself get to interact with different kinds of protesters, like those from Our Lady of Lourdes, the retired or the elderly. Wagner said both the older and younger generations
have different abilities as activists, so she also appreciates seeing them collaborate. Some of the older protesters and parish members bring their grandchildren or plan their protesting around bingo nights with friends, while students pop in and out of classes or morning meetings to make their voices heard. “There’s strength on both sides, and I’m in the middle, not super old and not super young, either,” she said. “I love connecting people; it’s really important. We need both sides right now.” Not all of the students or protesters share Szymanski’s Catholic faith, but he isn’t worried about that. Rather, he ends every Friday morning protest — or vigil, as he calls them — with a prayer that uses language inclusive enough for atheists or those of different faiths to join in. Though different protesters come from different religious backgrounds, many of the group’s signs are inspired by Catholic beliefs that consider the actions of ICE immoral. One of Szymanski’s frequently used signs says, “Stop crucifying migrants and refugees.” “Nobody’s being crucified,” he recalled a security guard commenting on the sign. “Why weren’t you guys out here when Joe Biden was president? Immigrants were being deported then, too.” But through the lens of Catholic Social Teaching, which promotes the protection of the vulnerable and care of others, Szymanski believes the Trump administration and ICE are violating human rights. According to an Oct. 12 NPR report, ICE is averaging more than 600 immigration arrests every day since the start of Trump’s second term. Agents have turned to more aggressive — and less targeted — tactics under the Trump administration and its mass deportation plan to remove 11 to 13 million undocumented immigrants from the United States. Read the rest of this story at marquettewire.org.
The Marquette Tribune
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Tuesday, January 13, 2026
RAISES: Increase follows efforts to unionize
Continued from page 1
higher-paying gig, though he sometimes wishes his compensation matched the hard work he puts in every day. Unlike Gosizk, Gooding, a professor in the theology department, said he was looking at switching career paths before receiving his raise. “You can be a pastor in a small parish and earn more than teaching here. I could go into grassroots organizing,” he said. “The starting salary was $15,000 above what I’m making at Marquette.” When Gosizk got the university’s email about a raise, he didn’t just read it and delete it; he wanted to know more. Why the sudden change from the administration, and why now? He suspects the answer lies with the non-tenure track faculty’s ongoing efforts to be recognized as a union, with a priority of fair compensation. Gosizk said he thinks pressure and news coverage of the unionization efforts forced Marquette to make a change. However, the university has not associated the project with the unionization efforts. From talking with other
faculty Gosizk found the lowest non-tenure track faculty salary was raised from $43,000 to $50,000. University administration doesn’t release information on salaries, so the Marquette Wire was unable to confirm this information. However, Kevin Conway, university spokesperson, said the raises were given to faculty that were “critically below the average salaries of faculty at comparable institutions in the Midwestinthesamediscipline and rank.” The Wire requested the list of comparable institutions, and this request was denied. The university was also unable to release the total number of faculty who received raises and to which college they belonged. Acting Provost Sarah Feldner told the Wire in an interview that the salary adjustments are loosely associated with the university’s strategic plan, and that she was involved in the process to align salaries with other institutions. “Last year we realized that we had some work to do to reach benchmarks and get in range, particularly with our participating faculty,” she said. She also said this is the
first year of a multi-year reevaluation of compensation but was not able to share the full scope and timeline of the project. Gosizk said the university explained in an email that the raises were a “market adjustment” to match other college’s non-tenure track faculty salaries. He and other faculty don’t agree. “I don’t think there’s any confusion from faculty about, ‘Wow, the administration’s just opened up their hearts and their wallets out of the goodness of their own hearts,’” Gosizk said. Over the past three years, Gosizk and other faculty have been protesting, holding picketing events, collecting data and communicating with the administration to gain recognition. This isn’t the first time non-tenure track faculty have tried to unionize; rather, it is the most recent iteration. Last spring, at President Kimo Ah Yun’s inauguration, students and faculty protested outside of the Al McGuire Center, where the event was taking place. They held signs saying, “Unions are an indispensable element of social life” and “Underpaying workers is theft.” A month after the protest, faculty from the college
received what Gosizk called a “spontaneous and unceremonious” email from the administration saying they would be receiving raises. And what Gosizk doesn’t see as an accident, the $10,000 figure was the lowest point the bargaining group requested for a raise, based on compensation data from colleges similar to Marquette. “It seems coincidental in timing and coincidental in terms of how our raises came about,” Gosizk said. In 2024, when the non-tenure track faculty union was seeking National Labor Relation Board recognition, Gosizk and other members met with administration. The group sat down with university leadership and general counsel Ralph Weber to lay out their concerns. With 70% of Arts & Sciences non-tenure track faculty signing union cards, they had a supermajority status and considerable leverage for a union fight. The university declined to recognize the union, citing a religious exemption shortly after the meeting and explaining they wouldn’t bargain with the group. “Marquette continues to believe that our community, and especially our students,
are best served by working collaboratively with all our faculty — who have a distinct role in delivering our Catholic, Jesuit mission — without needing to engage the union as an outside third party,” the university said in its statement signed by Ah Yun and Weber in 2024. This statement came at a time when the NLRB had rolled back regulations on religious institutions, meaning even if the NLRB conducted an election for the union in Marquette’s College of Arts & Sciences, the university wouldn’t be bound by law to recognize it. Gooding said in issuing a religious exemption, Marquette was “invoking a right to religious hypocrisy.” “They’re saying the law isn’t compelling them to do the right thing,” Gooding said. So, when the raises came about, Gosizk and Gooding were both caught off guard. “This is a direct demonstration of how, when we work together, regardless of whether or not we have federal protections or federal oversight, we can create a safer and fairer workplace,” Gosizk said. Read the rest of this story at marquettewire.org.
What to know about upcoming WI elections State battles may have national implications By Sahil Gupta
sahil.gupta@marquette.edu
After a year of political violence, social tension and controversy, the United States has officially closed the book on 2025. With President Donald Trump nearing one full year back in office, Americans are gearing up for another intense midterm election campaign. Democrats will seek new momentum to counter the polarizing policies of the Trump administration, whileRepublicans prepare to go on defense, seeking to protect the unpopular policymaking of the Trump administration. The mood going into the 2026 elections will be mirrored through several key elections in Wisconsin, being held in all three branches of the state government. Further, these elections could have national implications, providing a preview of what’s to come in the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential campaign. Here are the elections Wisconsin pundits will be watching this year. Spring Supreme Court election
Incumbent Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Bradley announced at the end of August 2025 she is not seeking reelection to the state’s highest court, setting up yet another showdown for a spot on the bench. While ideological control will not be up for grabs in 2026, liberals are seeking to expand their current 4-3 majority on the court after Justice Susan Crawford was elected in April 2025. While judicial elections are officially “nonpartisan,” campaigns have become increasingly political in recent years. Wisconsin Democrats have already endorsed State Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor in the spring election, with conservative Judge Maria Lazar of Waukesha County challenging her. An October Marquette Law School Poll found that while name recognition for both candidates is under 20%, 69% of registered voters surveyed said they are “absolutely certain” to vote in the Supreme Court election. Another 20% say they are “very likely” to vote. The election will be held in the spring cycle, with final votes being cast on April 7. Control of governor’s mansion Incumbent Democratic Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers announced in July
2025 he would not seek a third term. This means — for the first time in over 15 years — no incumbent governor will seek reelection in the gubernatorial election. On the Republican side, Representative Tom Tiffany from Wisconsin’s 7th Congressional District is facing off against Washington County Executive Josh Schoemann. The same October law poll found that Tiffany has a substantial advantage over Schoemann amongst GOP voters; however, 70% of GOP respondents identified as undecided between the two. The Democratic side is more crowded, with more than six candidates tossing their hat into the race, including: - Sara Rodriguez, incumbent Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin - Mandela Barnes, former Lieutenant Governor and 2022 candidate for U.S. Senate - David Crowley, Milwaukee County Executive - Francesca Hong, Representative from Assembly District 76 (Madison) - Kelda Roys, Senator from State Senate District 26 (Madison) - Missy Hughes, former CEO of the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation - Brett Hulsey, former
representative from Assembly District 78 (Dane County) - Joel Brennan, former Wisconsin Department of Administration Secretary Battle over congressional maps Two separate three-judge panels are set to hear lawsuits challenging Wisconsin’s current congressional map. The lawsuits allege that the state’s current maps are unfairly gerrymandered to favor Republicans, a controversy that has been ongoing in Wisconsin for more than a decade. Republicans currently hold six of Wisconsin’s eight seats in the House of Representatives, despite the state alternating between Democratic and Republican candidates in the last four presidential elections. It is currently unclear whether new maps would be drawn in time for the 2026 midterms should the lawsuit be successful. Conservative justices on the Wisconsin Supreme Court have labeled the move a “political stunt” as the three judge panels were appointed directly by the liberal majority of the Wisconsin Supreme Court justices. “Handpicking circuit court judges to perform political maneuvering is unimaginable,” Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Annette
Ziegler wrote in her dissenting opinion in November 2025. “Yet, my colleagues persist, all in furtherance of delivering partisan, political advantage to the Democratic Party.” Fight for Wisconsin Legislature Democrats are seen as contenders to take back the Wisconsin State Senate majority for the first time in over a decade. This comes after Democrats picked up four seats in the chamber following redistricting in 2024, shrinking the GOP majority from 22-11 to 18-15. Some of the most competitive districts in the upcoming elections include: - Senate District 5, currently held by Rob Hutton (R-Brookfield) - Senate District 17, currently held by Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) - Senate District 21, currently held by Van Wanggaard (R-Racine) - Senate District 31, currently held by Jeff Smith (D-Brunswick) The spring elections in Wisconsin will be held on Tuesday, April 7. Midterm election primaries will be held on Aug. 11, before the general election on Nov. 3. Voters can visit myvote. wi.gov for information about how to vote in all elections for the 2026 cycle.
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The Marquette Tribune
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
GORDO'S: Social media reaches millions
Continued from page 1
this partnership was kind of second-nature.” Otallah and his father, Marwan, were the minds behind the original Gordo Burger location, which first opened in 2021. With most of their immediate family working in business, Daher said opening the shop was a natural and almostpredictable step. But making the jump from burgers to desserts veered from the original plan. Despite success running the shop, Otallah made the choice to rebrand in 2022, searching for an opportunity to stand out. “We were like, ‘Let’s try to do something different that Milwaukee doesn’t have,’” Otallah said. Looking around the city, Otallah made the decision to convert his burger restaurant to a dessert counter. But he wanted to do it with the same team he grew up with. “He reached out to us and was like, ‘Hey, you guys want to do a dessert shop?'” Daher said. “And we were all for it.” Next stop: Marquette University After nearly two years of slinging bubble waffles out of its revamped Bay View location, Gordo’s made its second major change in April 2024 — opening a second shop. With national franchising as an ultimate dream, moving to Marquette’s campus was a step up the ladder in building the Gordo’s name. The same owners could oversee both locations and service a new audience, including thousands of sweet-toothed college students living just blocks away. And when students aren’t around over the summer, the shop still sits on a well-traveled road. With the prospect of enticing both foot and vehicle traffic, the Gordo’s team set their hopes high for their second shop. And it wouldn’t take long for them to meet those expectations, especially with a 2 a.m. closing time.
Soon after opening, students began flocking to Gordo’s, eating desserts alongside Milwaukee-themed murals and TV screens airing live sporting events. “We basically became the late-night spot for a lot of people,” Badwan said. While students fill Gordo’s from the beginning of the school year to the end, the shop hits its busiest moments after Marquette men’s basketball games. After the final buzzer, students, fans and even players make the journey from Fiserv Forum to 1633 W Wells St. Some see the shop as a safe haven, stopping by to relish in victory or ease the sadness of defeat. That haven includes music, the steady hum of customer chatter and the smell of dessert waffles, all circulating through the air in a stream of shared warmth. “The environment that we’re trying to create here is when you’re here, all your problems stay outside the door,” Daher said. “As soon as you’re in here, you’re having a good time.” Gordo’s takes to the internet With increased name recognition in Milwaukee, the Gordo’s team wanted to bring their brand to as many people as possible. While the Marquette location was still in its infancy, Otallah, Badwan and Daher began following the example of other small shops: posting online to advertise their products. But, just as they had changed from a burger shop to a dessert stand, the trio of owners wanted to stand out. So, they hit the drawing board to brainstorm a plan to master the online world. “People didn’t just want to see our products,” Badwan said. “They wanted to see the people.” That creative process inspired the Gordo’s team to post skits of work life, aiming to be relatable to others who run similar businesses. The familiar bits of content portray managers, coworkers and customers, with the
faces behind Gordo’s front and center on the internet for over 50,000 combined followers on Instagram, TikTok and Facebook. The individual skits regularly reach tens of thousands of views — and in some cases, tens of millions. “[It’s] showing that it’s a fun atmosphere,” Otallah said. “We’re just normal people like everybody else, we’re not robots. We don’t just come to work, do our job and go home. We like to have fun here.” Otallah and Badwan fill the screen for most of the videos, giving dramatized reenactments of their experiences in the shop. Though the skits were first crafted to promote the items for sale behind the counter, they have also built a following for the actors that star in them. “‘You’re the Gordo guy,’” Badwan said customers have told him. “Some people ask for pictures.” With the owners launched into their own corner of local fame, guests often come to Marquette’s campus just to visit the store on the other side of the screen. Some patrons even travel for hours — from as far south as Chicago and as far north as Appleton, Wisconsin — just to get a taste of the
Gordo’s experience. That digital following means the Gordo’s owners aren’t just craftsmen of desserts — they’re devoted content creators with a set Monday-through-Friday posting schedule. With hours of time devoted to social media, the videos filmed at the corner of 17th Street and Wells Street are reaching screens from coast to coast. Due to its growing fame, the shop finally put out an all-call in May 2025: an announcement that it would begin national franchising. To Mississippi and beyond In the coming months, Gordo’s Bubble Waffles’ first out-of-state location will open on the University of Mississippi’s campus. Being the first to express interest in a franchise, a separate group of owners will run the next shop after meeting the requirements of the original Gordo’s team. “We’re looking for people that have experience with the restaurant business, have the funds, have the ambition and have the same outlook: ‘We’re all in this together,’” Daher said. While Daher, Otallah and Badwan will travel to Oxford to train the staff, the new location will run on its own, just as a franchise
does. When the doors finally open, it will be yet another step up the ladder to reach the company’s ultimate goal, which Badwan said is a Gordo’s in every state. While Daher, Otallah and Badwan seek to grow their business further — both online and with brick and mortar — the personality of Gordo’s will stay fluid. Through the internet stardom and national franchising, it will run on the same family-owned character that lifted it from a burger spot to a dessert hangout just four years ago. “We don’t want to be like a big franchise where it becomes corporate,” Otallah said. “We want you to come in and have the experience of being like, ‘I know the people that own this, I know the people that are serving me.’” Those owners, as devoted businessmen and content creators, will also stay the same. While they craft skits to relate to others, their personas away from the camera are no different — approachable, friendly and human. And they show no signs of changing. “We’re just regular people,” Otallah said. “We just want to have fun.”
Photo by Lance Schulteis lance.schulteis@marquette.edu
Gordo's Bubble Waffles has colorful Milwaukee and Marquette-themed artwork on the interior walls.
EMS: Mayor Johnson supports partnership
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Milwaukee Fire Department. According to the meeting agenda, MFD aims to support Marquette if the university “wants to incentivize and support their students in providing some of the essential services that the direct student community and the near community needs.” The proposal matches the fire department’s desire to engage the community and could help solve the challenge of recruiting young employees, as stated in the agenda.
In a Dec. 4 interview with the Marquette Wire, Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson also said he supports the partnership. “Whenever there’s an opportunity for us to be able to work collaboratively with partners in order to provide better service delivery to my constituents, including those constituents who live on campus here, who live off campus, students at Marquette University, then I want to see that,” he said. The Aurora Sinai Medical Center and Dr. Anne Johnson, who works in the
center’s emergency medicine department, would fill in the roles of service director, medical director and state licensure, as well as create operating guidelines for the proposed EMS. A communications system connected to MUPD is being configured to oversee emergency calls; however, according to the meeting agenda, it’s atypical for law enforcement to have oversight of an EMS. Officials involved in developing the service at Marquette are looking at the University of Roch-
ester and Georgetown University, which both have established student-run EMS, as models. Rochester operates the River Campus Medical Emergency Response Team, a volunteer-based program with New York State-certified EMTs that operates from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m. every day. The response team is made up of 48 members, each receiving extensive training in first aid and emergency care. While equipped with a service vehicle to respond to calls, it operates as a
non-transporting agency and only provides necessary care until another agency arrives. Georgetown’s service operates similarly, with 50 to 70 undergraduates who are EMT certified, but with the addition of transporting ambulances marked “Georgetown Emergency Response Medical Services.” Services at both universities are free to all patients. It is currently unknown whether Marquette will have a service that is free of charge.
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Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Sports
‘M Club’ Hall of Fame Special Edition
MARQUETTE’S NEWEST CLASS OF IMMORTALS
Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics
Marquette honored 2026 ‘M Club’ Hall of Fame inductees (left to right) Noah Richard, Allie Barber, Oliver Farrell, Natisha Hiedeman, Calum Mallace and Dusan Medan.
A legacy commemorated where it was built
Barber posted VB record 1,871 kills on .324 hitting By Raquel Ruiz
raquel.ruiz@marquette.edu
Volleyball fans in Wisconsin have known Allie Barber’s name for years. The Cedarburg High
School alumna came to Marquette as PrepVolleyball’s No. 45 class of 2016 recruit and was named a 2015 first team All-State selection after posting a career-best hitting percentage (.506) and kills (542) as a senior. In her four seasons on varsity, she collected 911 kills, 288 blocks, 154 digs and 92 aces. But her legacy in
Marquette Wire Stock Photo
Allie Barber is Marquette volleyball’s all-time kills leader (1,871).
Wisconsin didn’t end with her time as a Bulldog. It continued when former Marquette women’s volleyball head coach Ryan Theis recruited her in 2016. After four years as a Golden Eagle, she graduated in 2020 just as decorated as she was in high school, becoming Marquette’s alltime kills leader (1,871) and fourth in hitting percentage (.324), making her part of the 2026 ‘M Club’ Hall of Fame class. The outside hitter’s record night happened in a fourset win against Georgetown back in 2019. Barber totaled a match-high 22 kills and achieved the all-time most kills, which was previously set by 2005 graduate Theresa Coughlin. “It was just a really exciting moment,” Barber said after breaking the record. “My teammates were obviously all here cheering for me, and we knew leading up to this week I was one kill away. It was just a really special moment that I got to share with my teammates.” The Marquette Wire was unable to set up an interview with Barber. Barber’s contributions
helped spur her senior class to 101 wins, tied for the winningest class in program history. “[The seniors] really stepped into leadership roles at the end of their freshman year, believe it or not,” Theis said back in 2020. “After their first semester, they started leading the way and I think they’ve been hugely responsible for all the success that we’ve had.” In her four seasons, Barber led the team to four straight NCAA tournament berths, including the program’s first Sweet 16 appearance in 2018. In the 2019 tournament, she was one of four players who averaged at least 4.66 kills per set. She was a three-time AVCA All-American, the AVCA East Coast Region Player of the Year in 2018, a four-time All- Big East first team selection, Big East co-freshman of the year in 2017 and the unanimous 2019 Big East player of the year. Away from the court, Barber dedicated time at Marquette to serve the community and others, traveling to Costa Rica in 2018 for an
international service trip where she built multi-purpose sports courts for young athletes. After graduating from Marquette, she decided to take a gap year and not pursue a professional volleyball career. Instead, she focused on her passion for helping others and applied to the Medical College of Wisconsin, graduating in 2025. Although she chose a different path, what Marquette gave her meant so much more than just playing the sport. “It’s really hard to put into words everything that this program has given us seniors,” Barber said in 2020. “I know it’s something that we’ll remember forever and take it along with us the rest of our lives, and it’s really fun to be a part of.” Just as her Marquette teams are immortalized on banners inside the Al McGuire Center, the name ‘Allie Barber’ is too — on a plaque on the arena’s main concourse. A place in which she used to compete. Where her legacy was built and will now remain.
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Tuesday, January 13, 2026
‘M Club’ Hall of Fame Special Edition MEN’S GOLF
From a Major to the ‘M Club’ O.J. Farrell second golfer inducted into Hall of Fame By Trevor Hilson
trevor.hilson@marquette.edu
Former Big East player of the year Oliver (O.J.) Farrell is being honored as a member of the ‘M Club’ Hall of Fame induction class of 2026, joining Mike Van Sickle as the only other former men’s golfer in the Hall of Fame. A native of Worcestershire, England, Farrell was a member of the men’s golf program from the 2015-16 season through the 2018-19 season, collecting his fair share of hardware during his time with the program. On top of his player of the year honor as a senior, he was a member of the All-Big East teams all four years as a Golden Eagle. Aside from his second-team nod his first year, he was a firstteam honoree the other three seasons. The Golden Eagles also won the Big East Championship title twice, in 2017 and 2019. “Marquette has been such
a big part of my life, I had four amazing years here,” Farrell said. “To be able to represent Marquette both when I was at college and now professionally, it’s meant a lot.” Farrell is also in elite company with Van Sickle as the only two Marquette alumnus to compete in one of golf’s four Major championships. Farrell outlasted local qualifiers to secure his position in the 153rd Open Championship at Royal Portrush last summer. Farrell took a great honor in being able to represent the university on the world’s biggest stage. “From the moment I had to turn pro, I had the MU logo on my golf bag along with all sort of bits and pieces,” Farrell said. “No matter where I’m playing, I’m representing it because it’s such a great university, great institution and I want people to know that I’ve been there but also let people know what Marquette’s about.” Farrell’s head coach Steve Bailey said his former golfer’s legacy of accolades and Major appearances is a byproduct of the daily work
Farrell put in during his four years on campus. “He was someone that, from day one, or it spans long ago when he was a little kid, that was like, ‘I want to be a professional golfer,’” Bailey said. “He’s been driven since a young age. It’s no surprise to me that he’s had the success, and I know he’s going to continue to move his way up the ladder in what he’s doing because of what has gotten him to this point.” Farrell said that competitive edge throughout his ‘stacking bricks’ mindset, which Bailey and Co. have indoctrinated into the program, helped to set him apart. “My goal coming to campus was that I wanted to be the hardest working athlete on campus, not just in golf, but in all sports,” Farrell said. “I always wanted to be the first person in the gym, and those qualities helped me improve year over year.” Bailey said that on top of his discipline, Farrell’s commitment to moving across the world to join Marquette for college helped him pursue his dream. “So many people who
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL
Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics
Oliver Farrell was named the Big East golfer of the year in 2019.
have played in the UK or internationally know that the States provide the best opportunity to elevate their careers,” Bailey said. “He’s been so appreciative of everything that he experienced here and all those people who’ve helped him along the way, that allowed him to get to where he is today.” Farrell was honored along with the rest of the
induction class during the men’s basketball game Saturday against the Villanova Wildcats. “It’s hard to put into words how much Marquette means to me,” Farrell said. “Thank you to everyone who was here when I was and is still currently here. It is truly an amazing honor [to be in the ‘M Club’ Hall of Fame].”
Hiedeman displayed ‘superhuman qualities’
2019 guard third Golden Eagle drafted to WNBA By Ben Hanson
benjamin.hanson@marquette.edu
Natisha Hiedeman wears her heart on her sleeve. Literally. It’s been there in an orange Connecticut Sun jersey, a red Atlanta Dream one and in blue and green for the Minnesota Lynx. Her shoulder is tattooed with ‘Blood makes you related. Loyalty makes you family.’ This mantra articulates her bond to Marquette women’s basketball, where she set records from 2015-19. A career so strong
the university welcomed her into the ‘M Club’ Hall of Fame on Jan. 10. “If I’m at a different university,” Hiedeman said. “There’s no telling if I’d be in the WNBA or what the future would have looked like for me.” The seven-year professional helped lead Marquette to its first Big East tournament championship (2017), first of two conference regular season championships (2018 and 2019), three NCAA tournament appearances (two wins) and first full season ranked in the Top 25 AP Poll (2018-19). In her final year, Hiedeman was unanimously awarded both All-Big East firstteam and Big East player of
Marquette Wire Stock Photo
Natisha Hiedeman is one of three MUWBB players to be drafted.
the year. She finished her career as a Golden Eagle with the most 3-pointers (301) and third most points (1,913) in program history. These accomplishments are some of the biggest contributors to the WNBA player Hiedeman is today. “It was going through the tough moments with my teammates that really made us come close together,” Hiedeman said. Carolyn Kieger coached Hiedeman during her time at Marquette and now coaches at Penn State. She even brought Hiedeman on the Nittany Lions coaching staff from 2022-24: one season as the director of player development and another as assistant coach. The success both had at Marquette launched them to where they are now. When the two spent countless hours in the Al McGuire Center together, Kieger realized how much potential Hiedeman had. Sure, she never saw her miss a sprint—in fact she led most of them—but more importantly, she saw how big of a contributor she was to team success. Hiedeman showed up in many big moments. “Early on in her career, I
knew how coordinated she was,” Kieger said. “I’ve never seen another player that I’ve coached as coordinated as her.” During her sophomore year, Hiedeman put down a 24/6/5 stat line against nationally ranked Oregon State on the Beavers’ home floor, and as a junior she dropped 32 points against Dayton in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, then the most by a Golden Eagle in an NCAA Tournament game in program history. But coordination isn’t everything. Hiedeman’s admiration for basketball propelled her into Marquette acclaim. “She absolutely loves the game.” Kieger said. “She’s just got the superhuman quality of making others around her happy and joyful and bringing that passion.” Hiedeman’s coaches would “bring the army people on us” during practices that may have closer resembled basic training. But she shifted how she and her teammates viewed that tough work. When the Golden Eagles would go through shooting drills at practice, Hiedeman set the mood.
It would be easy to forget about teammates’ scores while focusing on shooting form, release and aim. Not for Hiedeman. She was hyper-focused and vocal about getting the highest score, morphing the affair into a competition. That, in turn, pushed everyone else to become better. Especially the four teammates who played all four years of their collegiate basketball careers with Hiedeman. “We grew together,” Hiedeman said. “Those were the most memorable moments.” Through a busy yearround WNBA and Unrivaled schedule, Hiedeman remains in contact with those she formed relationships with at Marquette, especially her former coach. “She not only just made me a better coach,” Kieger said. “She made me a better person.” On induction day, Hiedeman had those closest to her in the stands cheering as she was honored. As she walked to half-court to receive her commemorative plaque, her smile and tattoo said it all. “I was right where I was supposed to be.”
The Marquette Tribune
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Tuesday, January 13, 2026
‘M Club’ Hall of Fame Special Edition MEN’S BASKETBALL
Record book darling enshrined in HOF
Howard set many men’s basketball program bests By Jack Albright
jack.albright@marquette.edu
Markus Howard’s name appears in 143 different places in Marquette men’s basketball’s Record Book, almost double its 85 pages. Naismith Hall of Famer Dwyane Wade, whose magnum opus returned the Golden Eagles to the Final Four, is there only 46 times. Rafters resident Jerel McNeal can be found a mere 51. National champions Butch Lee and Bo Ellis are featured 38 and 46 times, respectively. That’s the impact Howard had in his four years in the blue & gold, and the legacy he still leaves on the program he departed 2020. Both are historic enough to warrant a jersey retirement and an ‘M Club’ Hall of Fame induction only six years after his graduation. “Just a tremendous honor,” he said on a December phone call with the Marquette Wire. “For all the names and the storied legacies that have come through Marquette, to be mentioned among them, and to join in a great tradition of players that have been recognized
Marquette Wire Stock Photo
Markus Howard is in the men’s basketball record book 143 times.
throughout the program. I’m just so grateful.” But where in the record book is he? And, most importantly, for what? Perusers can find him on page 49, the All-American selections, which he unanimously earned twice: on the second team as a junior and first team as a senior. Scroll down to the individual conference awards on 51 and see him four times — once for every year he played at Marquette — as a two-time All-Big East first teamer, all-conference second and rookie teams member and a Big East player of the year. Fifteen pages later comes what he is most-known for, being the Golden Eagles’ alltime leading scorer (2,761)
— by over 700 points — a feat he achieved in only the first game of his final year. It’s one of his many scoring accolades. On 73, readers will learn the top-5 single-game scoring — including three 50plus point performances — and 3-pointers records all belong to him, not to mention the most field goals made in a match. Page 76 educates that he finished his final two years with the most points scored by a Golden Eagle in a season: 851 as a junior and 806 as a senior, the latter of which ended prematurely because of COVID-19. Over the final 19 pages, all dedicating individual records for every statistic
across single games, whole seasons and entire careers, “Markus Howard” appears, drumroll please, 120 times. His list of accomplishments casts a far longer shadow than his 5-foot-10 frame. “I have a lot of great teammates and a lot of unselfish teammates, and I had a lot of understanding and patient coaches,” the ever-humble Howard said about his record book presence, denying even a modicum of credit for the umpteenth time in his 26 years on Earth. Reclassifying to join Marquette one year early, Howard found his name on the Big East all-freshman team days after gaining the right to vote. Months later, Howard broke the Golden Eagles’ single-game scoring record for the first time, posting 52 points in Marquette’s 95-90 overtime victory at Providence. He further shattered possibilities one year later against Creighton, with a career, program and conference record 53 points in front of a brim-packed CHI Health Center. Video game numbers. Howard’s senior season began less than ideal, with a turnover on Marquette’s very first possession. Then, in the second possession of the second half, he dribbled down the court, stopped
at the top of the key and drained a three to become the program’s all-time leading scorer. None of those accomplishments are what he is most proud of, though. The two he cited were, unsurprisingly, about more than just himself. Asked about a favorite memory, he cited his founding of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Marquette. And what takes the cake of his laundry list of records is one he shares with his older brother Jordan: being the NCAA’s top-scoring brother duo, with 4,738 points. “That’s bigger than myself,” he said. It’s been over six years since then, and Howard’s life has changed a lot. He is no longer a 17-yearold with self-admittedly bad haircuts but a married man with a 1-year-old son, Kylo, and another child on the way. He — after two years in the NBA — traded the blue & gold in Milwaukee for blue & red in northern Spain. It is not the Big East he leads in scoring, but the Liga ACB. But, no matter where in the world he is scorching nets, he will be a Marquette Hall of Famer. And, next year, his name will hang in the Fiserv Forum rafters.
MEN’S SOCCER
HOF Calum Mallace’s latest accolade
Former midfielder appeared in 85 MLS matches By Eamon Bevan
eamon.bevan@marquette.edu
For Marquette men’s soccer, Calum Mallace’s induction into the most recent ‘M Club’ Hall of Fame class recognizes the lasting contributions the former central midfielder made to Golden Eagle athletics. Mallace helped shape the men’s soccer program and reflected the university’s values beyond on-field output alone. For Mallace, that recognition arrived without anticipation. Underscoring his individual pursuits, the news came to him early last fall with a wave of collective memories with the university. “I mean, I was shocked,” Mallace said. “It’s something that is obviously a big deal, a big honor, but it wasn’t something I had always strived for.” During his time as a Marquette athlete, his role was a formative one in the greater
history of the men’s soccer program, as elevated expectations met him every time he stepped out on the pitch. Over four seasons (20082011), Mallace emerged as one of the most influential midfielders in both stats and accolades in the history of the program. Finishing his career with 13 goals and assists respectively, he also ranks second all-time amongst the Golden Eagles in game winning goals. While his most productive statistical season came in 2010, where he led the team in goals and assists with six each, it was the next year when his contribution really shined through. In 2011, Mallace was a vital cog in a Marquette team which went on to win its first ever Big East regular season championship. Leading the team with six assists for the second year in a row, Mallace earned a series of individual honors that placed him among the conference’s elite, including Big East midfielder of the year, All-Big East first team and multiple national recognitions. “I think just the camaraderie and the
culture of the team that we had in that moment was one of the most driving forces I’ve ever seen in a group of guys,” Mallace said. While Mallace’s induction is rooted in his collegiate impact, he also got the chance to carry his ability into the professional ranks. His selection with the first pick in the second round of the 2012 MLS Superdraft further reinforced that success at Valley Fields could translate to the next level, with 85 MLS appearances and a key role in the Montreal Impact’s run to the 2015 Concacaf Champions League final. Today, Mallace remains closely tied to the program after joinging his alma mater as an assistant coach in 2024. Working directly in training, recruiting and player development, many people, head coach David Korn included, view Mallace’s presence as a meaningful bridge between generations of Marquette soccer. “I think it’s a really great example for our current group of guys,” Korn said. “You know, hearing from our alumni, that this [his
Marquette soccer journey] is one of the best experiences of your life.” Mallace’s return to Marquette also reflects the broader culture that defines the program, one that encourages former players to remain engaged long after their playing careers end. “I think that’s what attracted me to the job,” Korn said. “Seeing how many administrators, coaches and staff were all athletes here.” In his current role, Mallace now mentors players navigating the same
aspirations he once held, now employing a hall of fame resume into the program’s future. “I’ve been kind of reflecting on that in the last few weeks and I’m just truly honored and blessed,” Mallace said. Having been formally inducted into the Hall of Fame on Saturday, the honor signifies more than past achievement, but a celebration of a career that continues to shape Marquette men’s soccer.
Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics
Mallace is second all-time in MSOC in scoring game-winners.
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The Marquette Tribune
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Special Edition ‘MMen’s Club’ Basketball Hall of Fame Special Edition TENNIS
‘Leave my mark’ as player and coach
Medan vaulted both tennis teams to new heights By Mikey Severson
michael.severson@marquette.edu
Dusan Medan finished his Marquette playing career as the men’s tennis program’s career leader in singles wins (88). He contributed to the team not just as a player, but by returning to help coach the next flock of Golden Eagles from 2016-23. This year, he will be inducted into the ‘M Club’ Hall of Fame, becoming the second player to receive the honor in Marquette men’s tennis history. “It’s a great honor to be inducted,” Medan said. “Just being in a conversation and on the same list of so many amazing coaches
and athletes.” Growing up in Serbia, he came to the United States for his first collegiate season at Troy, posting 10-plus singles wins in his lone year with the Trojans. Moving to Marquette, he said, boiled down to striking a balance between the individual and team nature of college tennis. “When I came to Marquette, I was really hungry, I want to say that the recipe for my success was my competitiveness,” Medan said. “I like to win and really wanted to play for something that’s bigger than myself.” But what drove Medan’s success was the mission of putting Marquette tennis in the spotlight, en route to two All-Big East selections during his tenure with the program. He ascended to as high as No. 64 overall in the
Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics
Dusan Medan coached the MUWTEN team from 2016-2023.
NCAA individual rankings. Despite all the individual achievements during his career, he said they were a stepping stone towards building up the team, in each of Medan’s three seasons playing for Marquette, MU had 15-plus regular season victories as a team. “We did everything to put Marquette on a tennis map, and to make sure people know who we are from a tennis perspective,” Medan said. “Basketball was always the common denominator in every conversation that revolves around Marquette; we wanted to make sure that when a coach goes out to recruit, the tennis community has something positive to say about our team. So, my wins and our wins as a team helped.” Medan returned to Serbia after graduating from Marquette in 2010, but the desire to coach college tennis ignited him and his girlfriend (now-wife), Sofija, to move back across the pond, due to tennis’ unique blend of individual and team components. He started in South Carolina as a junior tennis director at the Topspin Racquet and Swim Club, eventually finding his way back to Milwaukee to teach at the Western Racquet Club. When longtime Marquette women’s tennis head coach Jody Bronson reached out to Medan to rejoin the blue
Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics
Medan graduated MU as the MTEN all-time singles winner (88).
& gold as an assistant coach in 2016, he said it was a no-brainer. “Marquette was the place where I wanted to be and leave my mark,” Medan said. “Not just as a player, but as a coach.” He helped lead Marquette women’s tennis to four 10plus win-seasons, three of them as an assistant and one as the program’s associate head coach, in 2021-22. He left Marquette after the 2022-23 season due to family reasons, namely raising two young children, where the demands and travel of college coaching are a tough balancing act. But he still coaches in the community through
as the Milwaukee Tennis Education Foundation tennis director. Medan said that the collective team effort that goes into college tennis cannot be understated in helping achieve his induction. “There’s people that I want to say made more impact than I did on Marquette’s tennis program, with all my wins, because they were the ones setting the team up for success,” Medan said. “Without being surrounded by teammates and coaches like that, there’s no way I would be successful-- it’s an individual sport, but definitely not an individual effort.”
MEN’S LACROSSE
All-American. Navy Seal. Hall of Famer.
Noah Richard adds ‘M Club’ to illustrious resume By Matthew Baltz
matthew.baltz@marquette.edu
The Richard name has always been synonymous with Marquette men’s lacrosse. The team has never existed without a Richard, whether it be the team’s current head coach Jake, or his younger brother Noah. Now, thanks to Noah, the family is also connected to the ‘M Club’ Hall of Fame. Noah, who racked up countless achievements and accolades in his fouryear career as a defenseman — such as winning Big East Defensive Player of the Year (2019) or helping Marquette to its first two NCAA tournament appearances in 2016 and 2017 — became the third men’s lacrosse player to enter the hall of fame on Saturday. Before he was a Golden Eagle, Noah was a
three-year letter winner at B. Reed Henderson High School in West Chester, Pennsylvania, serving as captain his junior and senior seasons. He recorded 125 points during his high school career, including 78 goals, and was named to the all-league team three times and all-district team twice. After Noah shared the field with Jake at Marquette in 2016, the brothers helped the team win its first Big East tournament to earn an auto-bid to the NCAAs. As a first-year, Noah only played in two games on a loaded Golden Eagles team that featured future ‘M Club’ Hall of Fame members Liam Byrnes and Ryan McNamara. In his sophomore season, Noah played in all 16 games, grabbing 44 ground balls and causing 15 turnovers, also helping MU to its second consecutive Big East tournament championship and NCAA tournament berth. His breakout season
came as a junior, where he posted a team-high 48 ground balls and caused 11 turnovers to earn his first all-conference selection. Noah was named to the preseason All-Big East team heading into his senior season in 2019, and he didn’t disappoint, posting a season that is remembered fondly by the record books. His 71 ground balls
scooped up rank No. 3 alltime in a single season, his 5.07 ground balls per game rank No. 2 on the single season list and his 23 caused turnovers and 1.64 caused turnovers per game fall No. 4 respectively on the single-season records list. Unsurprisingly, this all led to Noah being tabbed the Big East de-
Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics
Noah Richard won Big East defensive player of the year in 2019.
fensive player of the year and a USILA All-America honorable mention. The road to becoming a two-time all-conference award winner and All-American wasn’t easy, but Noah worked tirelessly and was able to reap the benefits of what he sowed in his final year at Marquette. “When he first got here, I don’t think anyone would expect that he would be in the talks of being an All-American,” Jake said in 2019. “Those goals are a testament to his work ethic.” Noah could not be reached for comment by the Marquette Wire. Noah was a third-round selection in both the MLL (Chesapeake) and PLL (Atlas LC) drafts in 2019. He chose to join Atlas LC, joining his brother, who was already signed. Noah then played for the Waterdogs in 2020 before leaving professional lacrosse to become a Navy Seal.
The Marquette Tribune
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Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Opinions
ICE shooting sparks division in the U.S.
By Rachel Lopera
rachel.lopera@marquette.edu
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency pledges to protect public safety, but it is creating a massive divide among the American people instead. The backlash and arguments over ICE’s actions are leading to an alienated country and a grim outlook for our people. A devastating death occurred in Minneapolis when Renee Nicole Good was shot and killed by ICE agent Jonathan Ross on Jan. 7. Good was a mother of three and only 37 years old. In her Honda Pilot, Good was partially blocking traffic on a residential street when she was approached by Ross. A conversation ensued between Good, Ross and Good’s wife, Becca, who stepped out from the passenger side. The confrontation ended with Good attempting to drive away and Ross firing his weapon, shooting through the driver’s seat window. The shooting has sparked national debate. With
different video angles and witnesses, many have made their own interpretations of the incident, causing further division. Some say Ross’ actions were self-defense, while others say that Good was not a threat at all. The violent altercation has only fueled the fire between our political figures. President Donald Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem accused Good of trying to use her vehicle to harm or kill ICE agents. Noem went as far as to call it an “act of domestic terrorism.” On the opposing side, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey demanded that ICE “get the f*** out of Minneapolis,” and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called the shooting “totally avoidable.” Minnesota Police Chief Brian O’Hara also shared strong statements. “This egregious disregard for human dignity is appalling,” O’Hara said. “It is deeply concerning that there appears to be a lack of accountability from our federal partners.”
Trump’s ongoing immigration crackdown is a major topic of controversy, as ICE has been seen using aggressive tactics on immigrants and bystanders. This past year was the agency’s deadliest year in over two decades, with 32 people having died in ICE custody. In December 2025, 68,440 people were being held in detention, with about 75 percent having no criminal convictions. Good’s death serves as another reminder of our country’s systemic issues of political polarization and injustice. This comes more than five years after George Floyd’s death, which also took place in Minneapolis. The parallels between extreme government actions and police brutality are concerning and detrimental to our local and national communities. The weekend following Good’s death, over 1,000 events were planned in support of the movement “ICE Out For Good Weekend of Action.” It was organized by Indivisible, a progressive grassroots coalition of
Photo by REUTERS
Flowers lie at the makeshift memorial of Renee Nicole Good.
activists who aim to resist the Trump agenda fight for more progressive policies. A protest occurred in Milwaukee at Cathedral Square Park on Jan. 9. Around 500700 protesters attended, a significant increase from the 150 who gathered outside the Milwaukee Federal Immigration Office on the day of the shooting. These protests not only demand justice for Good; they allude to significant issues within our government system. They are highlighting the rift between political parties and citizens, demonstrating the disastrous
outcomes of populism. Instead of taking responsibility and making a government for the people, Democrats and Republicans are blaming one another. Policies are inconsistent from a lack of leadership, resulting in injuries and death. These incidents, no matter how fatal, are no longer a warning sign. They are the brutal reality of what America has become — a fearmongering country with divisive leaders. Rachel Lopera is the executive opinions editor. She is a sophomore studying journalism.
Show more empathy and compassion By Bella Gruber
isabella.gruber@marquette.edu
The rush and chaotic nature of life can make it difficult to slow down and appreciate the small moments. It is important that we exercise empathy and compassion throughout the year and recognize those who have meaningful impacts on our lives. Especially during the new year, our focus turns to trying to better ourselves, but we often don’t turn our resolutions towards how we can improve the lives of others. Empathy and compassion: It goes beyond just being a kind person; empathy requires one to genuinely feel the weight of others’ emotions to resonate with what they experience, not simply feeling for them. Empathy can create a ripple in one’s life past what we may see. For a person receiving true empathy, they feel supported in both positive and negative emotional experiences. The vulnerability of emotional trust formed through empathy creates a bond, for each person knows that they are able to authentically express their emotions without fear of judgement. However, being empathetic isn’t always beautiful. Resonating with someone’s emotions may mean suffering with them, carrying an
internal, heavy weight. Yet, this negative side of empathy must be recognized as a reason to lift others up through one’s solidarity with their suffering. Since the pandemic, 66% of people in different countries have experienced increased stress, with 42% reporting a decline in mental health. Knowing this, people must take the time to act compassionately towards others to help them avoid burnout, depression and social isolation. Although empathy is a vulnerable emotional state, it is also important to express it not only to our close friends and family, but to those encountered on a superficial level – coworkers, acquaintances, patients, etc. People must express genuine interest in others‘ lives to make them feel heard and valued. Sonder: In relation to empathy, sonder is the understanding that everyone experiences the world differently. Every person that we encounter has a story just as complex as our own. Sonder awareness can improve how day-to-day situations are approached — from getting road rage over a driver eagerly going above the speed limit to a mother struggling to quiet her infant on an overnight flight. Maybe the driver is late for an important event or
maybe the infant on the plane is traveling to visit family for the first time. While sonder is a complex idea to comprehend and everyone’s lives are different, we’re all experiencing life together. All humans have emotions; all humans have the same instincts. Knowing this, one should carry themselves with an open mind to how they appreciate and react to situations. On a deeper level, one must express empathy and gratitude to those with whom one has true, lasting connections. Out of eight billion people in the world, one must acknowledge the fact that they are fortunate enough to form a bond with family and friends. When thinking about the people one is close to in their life, the phrase “I love you” is often reserved for close family or romantic partners. But how often do people pause to express gratitude and love for those who have an impact on one’s everyday life? Many actions deserve recognition, no matter how simple. It is also formed through a lasting bond with someone beyond a superficial friendship. It is easy to look past forms of love that exist outside of romantic relationships, but this strong emotion takes form in the relationships we have with our families and friends.
Love’s fluidity is why it drives many of our memories and bonds formed throughout life. Having someone there for you, to cheer you on after receiving great news, is a heartwarming feeling that cannot be described as anything but love. Having someone listen to your little triumphs is love. Having someone put everything aside to listen to your woes is love. Going forward, one must recognize those in their life that provide solace and comfort to them — family or not — and express compassion to them. Slow down in your dayto-day activities and look at those around you — friends, family or even strangers. What are they all going through? When was the last time someone told them that they are valued and loved? Be the person to make someone’s day by giving them recognition and validation that they deserve. Empathy and compassion are skills that will only boost human connection year-round. Put your own needs aside and slow down to show a genuine concern and appreciation for others’ needs to make them feel seen and valued. Bella Gruber is an opinions columnist. She is a sophomore studying public relations.
Statement of Opinion Policy The opinions expressed on the Opinions page reflect the opinions of the Opinions staff. The editorials do not represent the opinions of Marquette University nor its administrators, but those of the editorial board. The Marquette Tribune prints guest submissions at its discretion. The Tribune strives to give all sides of an issue an equal voice over the course of a reasonable time period. An author’s contribution will not be published more than once in a fourweek period. Submissions with obvious relevance to the Marquette community will be given priority consideration. Full Opinions submissions should be limited to 600 words. Letters to the editor should be between 150 to 300 words. The Tribune reserves the right to edit submissions for length and content. Please e-mail submissions to: rachel.lopera@marquette. edu. If you are a current student, include the college in which you are enrolled and your year in school. If not, please note any affliations to Marquette or your current city of residence.
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The Marquette Tribune
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Fun & Games
Winter Wonderland
Coat
Cold
Dark
Valentine's Day
Frozen Lake
Gloves
Hat
Windy
National Marquette Day
Scarf
Short Days
Wool Socks
Snow
Happy New Year
Across 3. The ninth-generation Crystal Ball dubbed "The ______ Ball." 4. New Year's Day month. 6. Some people eat 12 of these at midnight. 8. A goal someone makes for the year. 10. Workers and trucks clean up about 3,000 pounds of this. 11. Host of Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve.
Down 1. Popular New Year's Eve drink. 2. Reflective song often sung on New Year's Day. 5. Explosives in the sky. 7. A celebration. 9. Where the ball drop happens. 10. People say numbers in reverse approaching midnight.
Submit finished puzzles to sophia.tiedge@marquette.edu by May 4. Most accurate crossword submissions wins a grand prize. Last week's answers- ACROSS 5.) A Christmas Carol 6.) Frosty 8.) Elf 10.) Its A Wonderful Life 12.) DOWN 1.) Love Actually 2.) A Christmas Story 3.) The Santa Clause 4.) Polar Express 7.) Home Alone 9.) The Grinch 10.) Rudolph
The Marquette Tribune
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Tuesday, January 13, 2026
Arts & Entertainment
Amy Madigan nominated for Golden Globe
By Annie Goode
annie.goode@marquette.edu
Marquette alumna Amy Madigan was nominated for Best Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role in any Motion Picture for a Golden Globe for her performance as the demonic Aunt Gladys in the hit horror “Weapons.” Originally from Chicago, Madigan graduated from Marquette’s College of Arts & Sciences in 1972 with a degree in philosophy before studying at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York City. She then went on to star in movies like “Uncle Buck,” “Streets of Fire” and most famously, “Field of Dreams,” where she played Annie, the wife of Ray (Kevin Costner). Not only was Madigan nominated for her fourth Golden Globe of her ca-
reer, she also won the Critics’ Choice Award on Jan. 4 for Best Supporting Actress for Aunt Gladys. Madigan made history as the oldest actress to win this award, at age 75. Released in August 2025, “Weapons” was one of the biggest movies in 2025, grossing over $151 million domestically and $117 million internationally, according to Box Office Mojo. It was also nominated by the Golden Globes for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement but lost to “Sinners.” “Weapons” also took home the Critics’ Choice award for Best Hair and Makeup. The film follows elementary school teacher Justine Gandy (Julia Garner) after all but one of the children in her class disappear on the same night, at the same time (2:17 a.m.)
and in the same fashion – all with their arms extended out behind their backs, running full speed to one specific house in the neighborhood. The film also follows Archer Graff (Josh Brolin), a father to a child who disappeared on that fateful Wednesday night, school Principal Miller (Benedict Wong), police Officer Paul Morgan (Alden Ehrenreich) and junkie and thief James (Austin Abrams), who all get caught up in this mystery. Aunt Gladys is director Zach Cregger’s nightmarish idea of a witch who comes to take care of Alex (Cary Christopher), the only child in Ms. Gandy’s class who did not run away, after she possesses his parents. As Gladys, Madigan dons white face paint, messy
red lipstick, scribbled blue eyeshadow and a bright red wig with micro bangs. Visually, she can be off-putting – it’s not hard to see that this woman is hiding something. Madigan’s performance itself is even more unsettling. She will do whatever it takes to hide her wickedness, killing whoever blocks her path. Aunt Gladys’ visual presentation is obviously a little campy, which is something Madigan takes advantage of, with her overly polite voice and eccentric facial expressions. She’s the movie’s idea of complete evil, but confident and safe in this portrayal. Madigan’s performance as Aunt Gladys really sells the horror in this movie. Madigan was nominated against stars includ-
ing Ariana Grande and Elle Fanning and ended up losing to Teyana Taylor for her performance in “One Battle After Another.” Madigan won a Golden Globe back in 1990 for her performance as Sarah Weddington in “Roe v. Wade.” Based on the real story, Madigan plays one of two lawyers who work to file a lawsuit in an attempt to change the abortion laws in Texas. The 2026 Golden Globes took place on Jan. 11 and were hosted by comedian Nikki Glaser. While neither “Weapons” nor Madigan took home any awards on Sunday, they won four Critics’ Choice Awards the previous Sunday and both are suspected to be nominated for Oscars. Madigan remains the only Marquette alumna to be nominated for a Golden Globe.
The five must watch TV shows of 2025
By Elise Emery
elise.emery@marquette.edu
As we enter 2026, we leave behind some great television from 2025. Between heated romance and nail-biting action, 2025 was a year of unique stories, drama and excitement. In honor of the new year, here are some must-watch recent TV show additions that graced screens in 2025. Overcompensating A new start, new environment, new people and one huge secret. All of these things are tackled at once in “Overcompensating” as Benny, the token popular jock at his high school, struggles to navigate whether to use his start at university as an opportunity to accept his homosexuality or continue to maintain his persona as the straight football player. Struggling to uphold his phony identity, Benny consistently finds himself woven in drama. Lying about his sex life and joining a hyper-masculine fraternity in attempts to fit in continuously push people away. He begins to wonder if he’s embracing this new beginning the right way. As he continues his first semester, he realizes that maybe popularity isn’t always the most important. Season 1 of “Overcompensating” is available for streaming on Prime Video, with the show being renewed for a second season, although no official release date has been confirmed. Heated Rivalry The enemies-to-lovers trope blossoms in this se-
ries, as the token hockey rivals in Major League Hockey, Ilya Rozanov from the Boston Raiders and Shane Hollander from the Montreal Metros, find unexpected passion and romance between their battles on the ice. Based on the novel by Rachel Reid, the two players continue their decade-long situationship as they achieve career heights and tackle developing feelings for one another. Continuing their relationship in secret, it becomes a conflict of whether the couple should maintain their secrecy to preserve their careers or prioritize their love. Season 1 of “Heated Rivalry” is available for streaming on HBO Max. The show has been renewed for a second season, but no release date has been set. I Love LA “I Love LA,” despite what the name suggests, tackles some of the worst moments for this cast of characters in Los Angeles. Through influencer scandals, job losses and the occasional physical injury, Maia Simsbury, a struggling talent manager, and her group of friends continue to find ambition in the city lights of LA. Attempting to navigate the treacherous social media scene for her client and close friend, Tallulah Stiel, Simsbury tackles self-absorbed personalities and relationship problems on her path to career success. Season 1 of “I Love LA” is available for streaming on
Photo by Rachel Lopera
Stranger Things Season 5 released in three parts, over a month and a half, concluding the series.
HBO Max. The show has been renewed for a second season, but no release date has been set. Stranger Things After a decade of following the supernatural-hunting group of friends in Hawkins, Indiana, “Stranger Things” finally concluded its suspenseful battle with the Upside Down in an action-packed final season, after leaving the audience with unanswered questions in the Season 4 finale. As a result, Season 5’s arrival was much-awaited by Netflix subscribers. After the crew’s intense battle with Vecna, an otherworldly psychic being and main antagonist of the series, throughout Season 4, viewers wondered how the group would save Hawkins from him, and more importantly,
who would meet their demise in the process. In the “Stranger Things” final season, the series’ overarching question was finally answered; “Will they succeed?” Seasons 1-5 of “Stranger Things” are available for streaming on Netflix. Squid Game The third and final season of the South Korean drama “Squid Game” was released in June 2025, leaving viewers rattled by not only the new games that contestants were playing, but the shock of the series ending. “Squid Game,” while more commonly known as a South Korean children’s game, is used in this series to illustrate a dystopian experience in which contestants can play children’s games to win a hefty
cash prize. But accompanying the potential riches also comes the threat of being killed in the process. The experience is high risk, high reward, and with that comes sabotage, violence and betrayal. As characters become more focused on increasing the pot of money with each player’s death, they gradually become less concerned about the survival of their teammates. “Squid Game” continues to pull viewers through each stage of grief, with the last episode of the series perfectly encapsulating its acceptance. Seasons 1-3 of “Squid Game” are available for streaming on Netflix.
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The Marquette Tribune
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
New MKE restaurants opening in 2026 By Joseph Schamber
joseph.schamber@marquette.edu
This year, Milwaukee will welcome an array of new restaurants dishing up global flavors and fresh concepts. Many of the spots are just a short bus ride from campus in Milwaukee’s East Side, Lower East Side and Third Ward neighborhoods. From fast-casual Korean to French bistro cuisine, Marquette students are sure to find a new favorite spot among the myriad of new names joining Milwaukee’s vibrant dining scene. Whether they are excited for a new cafe or a chic date-night reservation, diners can expect big things coming in 2026. Nakama Screaming Tuna co-owner Cristian Vega and chef Jason Morimoto from Screaming Tuna Mequon are opening an omakase and hand roll restaurant on Milwaukee’s Lower East Side. Morimoto was the winner of Season 2 of “Morim-
Photo by Joseph Schamber
oto’s Sushi Master.” At Nakama, he will serve a 14-course menu of carefully prepared sashimi, nigiri and other fine Japanese fare. The dinner, like most omakase experiences, will come at a steep cost that might turn away the average student from making a reservation. Luckily, upstairs, Nakama will serve a cheaper, more casual 14-course meal, featuring handrolls, a conical sushi roll wrapped in nori, along with other small plates. The restaurant will be open from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday and Thursday, and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The owners say Nakama will open its doors at 1600 N Jackson St. this winter, but no official opening date has been released yet. CASSIS Kyle and Meghan Knall of Birch are opening a new French bistro on the ground floor of 333 Water. The couple—whose flagship restaurant earned
Soban Korean Eatery offers fast-casual Korean food options.
a spot on the New York Times’ list of best restaurants in America in 2023— promise CASSIS will be a more relaxed concept while maintaining the quality standards diners expect from Birch. The more approachable format makes CASSIS a fitting spot for Marquette students to grab dinner after a Third Ward shopping spree or a place to take their parents who might be visiting for the weekend. The menu will feature rustic French dishes, including foie gras eclairs, pork crepinette and croque monsieur sandwiches. Unlike Birch, CASSIS will be open daily for dinner, serve lunch on weekdays and brunch on weekends. From 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., diners can come in for apéro, the French version of happy hour, for light snacks and drinks. CASSIS was originally planned to open at 333 N Water St. on Jan. 5, but due to construction delays, a soft opening has been re-
scheduled to the 20th. The Deep Groove This vinyl listening lounge, located on Milwaukee’s East Side, will feature an art and music-focused cafe and bar. They will also serve a small menu influenced by the neighborhood’s Italian and Polish heritage. The lounge is owned by couple Tom Dunsirn and Kim Forbeck and housed inside the old Brady Street Futons building. At almost 150 years old, this retail space is also one of the oldest buildings on the East Side. While further from campus than some other places on this list, The Deep Groove may still be worth the trip for students looking for a relaxing place to study during the day and a spot to unwind in the evening. For much of last year, the couple had been renovating the space, keeping fixtures like the hardwood floor while installing new ones like the back bar handmade by Dunsirn.
The Deep Groove, located at 1200 E Brady St., maintains it will soft-open in January but has not indicated a date. Soban Korean Eatery This fast-casual Korean restaurant from Hales Corners, Wisconsin, opened a second location in downtown Milwaukee on Jan. 1. Owners Hyelim Song and Solki Lee were raised in South Korea, and their menu, full of authentic family recipes, reflects that heritage. Diners can to order boxes filled with proteins, including BBQ pork and bulgogi, along with sides like fried mandu and kimchi. Students on the go will appreciate their quick, convenient format that uses an ordering system like Chipotle and Cava. The restaurant is inside the old Ouzo Cafe spot on the Lower East Side, at 776 N Milwaukee St.
Photo by Joseph Schamber
Nakama is one of the restaurants opening in Milwaukee in 2026 and will serve Japanese cuisine.
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