The Marquette Tribune campus news since 1916
Volume 110, Number 5
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
www.marquettewire.org
Students celebrate sustainability month
Photo by Lily Wooten lily.wooten@marquette.edu
Marquette University Student Government hosted a Thrift Fair on Oct. 9 for Marquette's Campus Sustainability Month programming.
Colleges across the country host events in October By Izzy Paracuelles
izabella.paracuelles@marquette.edu
E
very Tuesday in October, the second floor of the Alumni Memorial Union hosts a small table dressed in a neon green cloth bearing the words “Marquette University | Sustainability.” The table is covered in scattered candy, evenly lined wooden pens and cooking utensils and a collection of stickers, bookmarks and flyers to detail Campus Sustainability Month.
Marquette seniors Brandon Kud and Avery Pugh, both students in the College of Arts & Sciences, sit behind the table, encouraging passersby to take a flyer, a sticker or a piece of candy — and to attend future sustainability events, including the Pocket Prairie seed collection excursion on Oct. 14th and the Rooted in Service day on Oct. 17. The events are part of a month-long series dedicated to campus sustainability practices and engagement. Throughout October, Marquette University’s Campus Sustainability program holds a handful of events every week surrounding collaboration and
environmental stewardship. “When you engage in sustainability, it’s an act of service for the world and the environment, but also for the communities we take part in,” Sarah Knott, Marquette’s sustainability specialist, said. Knott, alongside interns Kud and Pugh, oversee many of the sustainability events that occur throughout October. She said Campus Sustainability works closely with departments across Marquette, including the Arrupe Center for Community Service and Social Responsibility and the Marquette Student Government Sustainability Committee. The pro-
gram also often collaborates with other students and professors across all colleges, inviting them to partake in the events and initiate their own. “Environmentally friendly practices have a positive effect not only on the environment, but also the university as a whole,” Kud said. Campus Sustainability Month, established by the Association for the Advancement of Sustainability and Higher Education, is recognized nationwide. Throughout October, universities and colleges across the country, including Marquette, hold events to raise awareness about sustainable practices and
engage in different service opportunities. “A really important part of sustainability is building a community that’s oriented around [conservation],” Nate Lemoine, a professor of See MONTH on page 3
YouTuber responds to receiving speech ban Tommy McGee was set to speak to MU students By Lance Schulteis
lance.schulteis@marquette.edu
Lamp posts around Marquette University’s campus were adorned with red flyers on Oct. 9, secured with a strip of tape on each side. At the top of the paper read, “Marquette silences
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free speech.” Students for Justice in Palestine invited YouTuber Tommy McGee to speak at event they had planned for Oct. 9 in O’Brien Hall. Leaders from the organization were then called to a meeting where they were told a committee decided McGee wasn’t allowed to speak on campus, saying some of his online content does not align with Marquette’s Mission-Based
Free Expression Statement. “As stated in our Mission-Based Free Expression Statement, there may be occasions when proposed content is antithetical to our Catholic, Jesuit mission; human dignity; the university’s guiding values; and an inclusive educational environment,” the university said in a statement to the Wire. “In those cases, the university will not provide a forum for
such content.” McGee has just under 3.8 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, “Tommy G,” where he uploads videos documenting his journeys to places his page says “few dare to go,” like prisons and locations with histories of violence. The university told the Wire it offered SJP the opportunity to invite a different speaker that aligned with the Mission-Based
Free Expression Statement. Instead, SJP relocated the event to the Islamic Society of Milwaukee’s University Center, located across the street from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s student union. McGee, who has previously talked to sociology and criminology classes on campus, spoke about surveillance, technology and global conflict to an
Index
News
Sports
Arts & Entertainment
Rule change allows RAs to be moved to different buildings.
The 2025 graduate is doubling up between pro-play and coaching.
Performers showcase acts outside their typecast.
SPORTS.......................................................5 OPINIONS..................................................9 FUN & GAMES......................................10 A&E................................................................11
RAs express concern about new ORL policy PAGE 2
Former middle blocker on MU's sidelines PAGE 5
See BAN on page 4
Marquette Players Society Cabaret PAGE 11
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The Marquette Tribune
The Marquette Tribune Managing Editor of The Marquette Tribune Emma Fishback NEWS Executive News Editor Lance Schulteis Assistant Editor Elena Metinidis Reporters Ava Johnson, Lilly Peacock, Nolan Leonard, Izzy Paracuelles ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Executive Arts & Entertainment Editor Elise Emery Reporters Sara Scorsone, Allison Scherquist, Nate Oif OPINIONS Executive Opinions Editor Jane Patterson Columnists Owen Parker, Jaylen Hill, Alex Wassilak SPORTS Executive Sports Editors Sofie Hanrahan, Raquel Ruiz Assistant Editors Eamon Bevan Reporters Conor McPherson, Andrew Tropp, Joe Mussoline, Gavin Olen, Caleb LaBlanc COPY Copy Chief Marin Rooney Copy Editors Elizabeth Belmont, Annie Goode, Bella Gruber VISUAL CONTENT Design Chief Allegra Delli Carpini A&E Designer Evelyn Riordan Sports Designer Amery Thompson Opinions Designer Allison Lueddecke Photo Chief Lily Wooten Photographers Sara Scorsone, Samera Osman
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.
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
RAs uncertain after policy changes New rule allows moves after one year on staff By Elena Metinidis
elena.metinidis@marquette.edu
At their training over the summer, Marquette University resident assistants were caught by surprise when Residence Life staff announced they could be switched to different buildings after one year — a brand-new possibility for returning RAs. After staff opened the floor for questions, a single voice rang out: “What if I don’t want to be moved?” The whole room erupted in applause. Since that day, many RAs have felt anxious and uncertain about being moved to another building. One RA even said they are considering not returning next year due to the new rule. Marquette is one of few schools nationwide that doesn’t move RAs to other buildings from year to year, Heather Whitmill, assistant director of education and student staff selection for ORL, shared. But the RA placement
process will be adjusted according to the new policy, which allows RAs to be moved to different buildings after their first year of work. Whitmill said working in different communities will give RAs professional development opportunities and ensure buildings are adequately staffed for moveout day, which usually falls on graduation. ORL did not comment on when RAs will find out if they will be moved or what percentage of RAs they plan to move. Eric Vacek, a second-year RA in Schroeder Hall and a junior in the School of Education, said each building requires a different approach to leadership. Vacek said he spent his first year as an RA learning the ropes, but feels in his second year in the building, having more experience has helped things go smoothly. He worries having to adjust to a new building will feel like going back to square one. “Experienced RAs add to campus culture and support younger staff,” Vacek said. A third-year RA told the Wire the new rule is counterproductive to the department’s mission, as it disrupts RA growth and community building. After three years, they said being
in the same building has allowed them to give residents the best experience as a seasoned RA. Shuffling RAs between buildings, they said, would make the RA position less stable and would turn away qualified candidates who don’t want to deal with the possibility of changing buildings every year. Joseph Rifelj-Hammernik, a first-year RA and junior in the College of Arts & Sciences, said that when he was hired, the understanding was he would work in the same building every year. Now, ORL told RAs they are “RAs for ORL,” instead of RAs for their buildings, which he said came as a surprise. RAs get assigned to buildings upon being hired. With the new rule, Rifelj-Hammernik said, ORL will first ask RAs to volunteer to switch buildings, but the final decision is still made by ORL staff. While RAs can go into any building and know the blanket rules and practices, Rifelj-Hammernik said there are different expectations and operations in every building that make RA responsibilities vary, such as the hall’s staff size, the residents’ age and the
overall hall culture. Rifelj-Hammernik, who works in one of Marquette’s six Living Learning Communities, said LLCs also add extra responsibilities to the role. LLCs allow firstand second-year students to live in dorms with peers with similar areas of study or interests. RAs in LLCs, he said, put in extra time to build another layer of community and non-LLC RAs may not be used to those additional expectations. Rifelj-Hammernik also said the new rule could change how RAs build community within campus dorms — their Hall Director told them they selected RAs for the building because they knew they would get along well. Vacek said Whitmill gave RAs the opportunity to meet with her to discuss the rule and give feedback on it. Some RAs, however, say their pushback isn’t being received well, and ORL’s decision is concrete, without room to workshop the rule. “[ORL Staff] believe this shift in RA placement will have a positive impact on both the RAs, their communities and the department as a whole,” Whitmill said.
If you have documents you'd like to send us, you can send anything to wiretips@marquette.edu.
Graphic by Allegra Delli Carpini allegra.dellicarpini@marquette.edu
The Office of Residence Life can move RAs to different buildings after one year, according to a new policy announced this summer.
University guidelines for absences, sick days Not attending classes can result in a withdrawl By Lilly Peacock
lilly.peacock@marquette.edu
Given the heightened sense of freedom students may feel in college, decisions like attending class can seem discretionary. However, Marquette University expects students to abide by an official attendance policy. Marquette’s undergraduate policy, listed on the university bulletin, says students are responsible for
attending all class sessions and being on time to the courses they are enrolled in. The official policy doesn’t require professors to take attendance, but many do. If a professor does choose to take attendance, it is required they disclose it in the course syllabus, along with any consequences for missing class. Attendance records are accessible via a class’s D2L page under the Resources tab. Here’s what else to know: Attendance policy University policy states students may be withdrawn from a course for excessive unexcused absences. The
specific number of absences depends on the meeting pattern of a course; if a class meets three times a week, a minimum of six absences is needed before faculty can withdraw a student from the course. For classes that meet two days a week, a minimum of four absences is needed. Withdrawal is at the discretion of the professor teaching the class, but Marquette policy states a student’s effort and ability to pass should be taken into consideration when making the decision. Each college may also have additional regulations. Excused and unexcused
absences There are four cases in which an absence is completely excused and does not count toward the withdrawal threshold, unless a student is failing the class. Marquette considers jury duty, days of religious observances, participation in a varsity sport or a university sanctioned event and anything resulting from a legal accommodation requirement, such as Title IX or ADA, an excused absence. Missing a class due to illness is not considered an excused absence under Marquette’s policy. Sick days The campus medical clin-
ic does not give out any form of a doctor’s note for illnesses lasting less than five days. For longer-term absences due to illness or hospitalization, the clinic will work with the student to provide documentation. Marquette’s general recommendation is for students to use their own discretion on whether they’re too sick to attend class and communicate with their professor to sort out any missed assignments. Cases involving COVID-19 follow separate guidelines, most often outlined in the course syllabus alongside the professor’s specific attendance policy.
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Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Changes to parking meters Enrollment rises Direct credit card payments paused temporarily By Ava Johnson
ava.m.johnson@marquette.edu
Milwaukeeans and city visitors temporarily paused making direct credit card payments for meter parking Oct. 1 due to an “unexpected” cease of operations from the city’s parking software partner, Park-O-Meter. As the city searches for a new partnership, coins and online credit card payments are still accepted through the ParkMobile app, MKE Park, available for download on the App Store and Google Play. Of all City of Milwaukee parking meter revenue, 82% comes from credit cards, with 84% of those payments being made through the MKE Park app, Tiffany Shepherd, Department of Public Works spokesperson, said. Shepherd said the city tracks payment methods according to the amount of money collected rather than the number
of users. While the city works to transition partners, physical payment by coin remains an option for users. On meters around the city, including ones on Marquette University’s campus, the silver coin slots are located just under the credit card slots — which have been taped over with signage since the changes to operation. The stickers instruct users to pay with coins or with the MKE Park app. To commence the search for a new parking management and payment technology, the city is developing a Request for Proposal to send to candidates. An RFP is a formal invitation for businesses to submit solutions to another company’s need, and typically includes an overview of the project, timeline and budget parameters, among other submission requirements. The Department of Public Works said in a press release that it had already begun looking for new partners prior to Park-O-Meter’s closure, which it said was
decided “with limited advance notice” to the city. However, because the department is in the beginning stages of RFP development, possible new partnerships have not been disclosed. Change can be expected after Milwaukee’s budgeting process is completed, Shepherd said. “The City is working to transition to a new vendor as soon as possible,” the Department of Public Works said in a press release.
Latest stats show nearly 12,000 total students By Nolan Leonard
nolan.leonard@marquette.edu
For the fifth consecutive year, Marquette University’s undergraduate enrollment has grown. In the 2026-27 school year, 8,238 undergraduate students will call Marquette home, according to data provided by the university’s Office of Institutional Research and Analysis. There are nearly 12,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students combined at Marquette this school year. Five years ago, Marquette had 7,500 undergraduate students and the university now has 8,238. In line with the school growing by nearly 800 undergraduate students, the number of undergraduate applications has also grown. In 2021, Marquette received 15,000 applications, but it received 20,000 in 2025. The university welcomed 2,079 first-year students this fall, while graduate and professional programs gained an additional 3,761 students. The College of Arts & Sciences welcomed 578 new students, the highest across all colleges. There
are 451 new students in the College of Business Administration, 428 in the College of Health Sciences, 257 in the College of Nursing, 214 in the College of Engineering and 151 in the College of Communication. Of the first-year undergraduate class, 35% are students of color, 25% are first-generation college students and 13% are commuter students. Each of these statistics have marginally increased in each of the last three years. Last year’s first-year students achieved a 91.5% retention rate, returning to Marquette this year to continue their academic journeys. Retention rates have been at or above 90% four years in a row. Illinois and Wisconsin are where 75.2% of all firstyear students hail from. Beyond the Midwest, California and Washington brought in the most students, accounting for the fifth and sixth most common home states for Marquette first-year students. Marquette posted a 74.2% four-year graduation rate. According to the Education Data Initiative, 54.6% of students in the United States complete their degree in four years, putting Marquette above the national average.
Photo by Clay Ellis-Escobar
Photo by Elena Metinidis elena.metinidis@marquette.edu
The City of Milwaukee's partner for parking software unexpectedly ceased operations Oct. 1.
There are over 8,000 students on Marquette's campus this fall.
MONTH: Events happening across campus Continued from page 1
biology, said. “These events bring people together to do that.” The sustainability events at Marquette include both structured and more relaxed functions. A thrift fair hosted by MUSG on Oct. 9th, seed collections from Marquette’s Pocket Prairies on Oct. 14th and a Sustainable Landmarks Guided Walk on Oct. 28th — where patrons can visit different green spaces across campus — are CSM’s bigger showcase events, Knott said. With activities like the Arrupe Breakfast Collective, students and faculty are encouraged to come together to learn about
aligning sustainability and mental health through arts and crafts. Knott believes the agenda for the events like the breakfast are more centered around smallscale action while taking a break and having fun. “There’s a spectrum of engagement that we try to fulfill,” Knott said. Outside of October, Knott says Marquette’s sustainability program also tries to uplift other programs on campus, such as the Backpack Program, Marquette’s food and household items pantry, and the Career Closet that provides free business attire to students. However, October is an especially important time, she said, as students spend the start of the school year
developing new routines and becoming settled on campus. She hopes CSM being early in the semester will inspire students to incorporate sustainability practices into their lives. Knott also hopes sustainability events during CSM and throughout the year bridge the gap between people and nature. Ultimately, she wants to continue giving people the accessibility and opportunity to engage with the environment through collaboration and community. “It’s a time to educate and inspire our Marquette community to become change-makers,” Knott said. “You don’t have to wait. You can start now.”
Photo by Lily Wooten lily.wooten@marquette.edu
Campus Sustainability Month is observed in October nationwide.
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Tuesday, October 13, 2026
BAN: McGee hopes to maintain ties with MU Continued from page 1
Photo by Lance Schulteis lance.schulteis@marquette.edu
Tommy McGee was scheduled to speak on campus Oct. 9.
estimated crowd of 100 people. After the event ended, attendees lined up to meet and take pictures with McGee, who stayed for over an hour. “I love Marquette,” McGee told the Wire. “I’ve always been impressed by the students and faculty there. So, it was a shock to realize that I couldn’t come.” Before speaking that evening, McGee came to Marquette’s campus to attempt meeting with university leaders from Campus Ministry and the Office of Inclusion and Belonging. Later that afternoon, he received an email from Stephen Blaha, Director of Campus Ministry, saying the process for speakers coming to classrooms is different from events for student organizations. For the latter, all events go through a standard university review, which includes determining alignment with the Mission-Based Free Expression Policy. Per the policy, examples of restricted speech include slurs intended to dehumanize others, explicit calls for the harming of or discrimination of others or
targeted use of images or symbols, all on the basis of race, ethnicity, ancestry, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or disability. The policy also outlines restrictions for speech not protected by the First Amendment and speech that interferes with university policy or events. According to the guidelines, Marquette may also impose certain time, place and manner restrictions. Even after reviewing the policy, however, McGee didn’t understand why the university prevented him from speaking on campus. “It’s very shadowy and unclear why I can’t come,” McGee said. “They sent me a very generic, corporate, PR-type of email that didn’t get specific about anything.” SJP said in an Instagram post that the university “refused” a meeting with the committee that made the decision and did not give them anything in writing. McGee then posted a video to Instagram, saying he was banned from speaking on campus because he “incites hate.” He alleged the ban was due to his coverage of the war in Gaza and
his criticism of Israel. “I want to know what in particular they declare to be hate speech or inciting hate, because I think that’s a pretty serious charge to label someone,” McGee said. Despite the cancellation, McGee said he would love to have a healthy relationship with Marquette and return to campus in the future. “It’s been a stressful situation,” he said. “I would like to be friends and shake hands and say, ‘Let’s find the way forward.'” Recognizing the role student organizations play on campus, the university made clear they are still allowed to host guest speakers on campus as long as they meet policy criteria. “Marquette’s student organizations are a vital part of campus life and regularly host speakers on a wide range of topics,” the university said in a statement. “The university will continue to support opportunities to develop intellectual, personal and physical growth outside the classroom.”
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Sports
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Tuesday, October 13, 2026
.edu
letics
ette.edu
Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics
The 2025 graduate is on double duty between her own professional career and coaching at Marquette.
BRAY'S BIG-LEAGUE RETURN The former middle blocker plays for the MLV's Minnesota Forge
By Raquel Ruiz
raquel.ruiz@marquette.edu
"D
on’t blend in. Go be impactful.” That’s the message head coach Tom Mendoza said Hattie Bray is sending to the Marquette volleyball team. After graduating in May 2026, Bray left Marquette, thinking she’d never be back. The only time she thought she’d return would be for alumni weekend. Now, she’s back on campus a lot sooner than she ever expected. But not on the roster like she has been the last five years. Instead, she’s on the sideline as a director of player development, where she is a bit of a jack of all trades. She assists with stepping into a director of operations role one day and helping to be a position player coach the next. When she pitched the idea of her return to Mendoza, he went straight to the athletic department to make it possible. “It was a no-brainer,” Mendoza said. “It aligned in a lot of good ways. [Hattie] is a really good mentor, especially given how young our team is.” Bray finished off her Golden Eagle career as one of the most decorated middle blockers in the program’s history. After playing for the Golden Eagles for four
years, she was a four-time All-Big East selection, a two-time AVCA All-North Region First Team honoree, an AVCA Honorable Mention All-American and an NCAA All-Regional Team selection. Her accolades helped elevate her to the next level as she was selected by the Grand Rapids Rise in the fourth round of the 2025 Major League Volleyball Draft. She appeared in 19 matches for the Rise as a middle blocker before signing with Minnesota MLV, where she will continue to play in that position. Professional volleyball seasons start in January and run through May, which gives her the ability to coach pre-season and most of the regular season. But that’s only part of her volleyball story from a player's lens. She isn’t
‘blending in.’ Back in the Al McGuire Center as a coach, Hattie works with position players in the spot she knows best: the middle. “She brings an energy driver. A couple of times, in practice, she'll get on us if we need to cover a ball, and I think that comes from [being] fresh out of playing, and that she has a relationship with the team," sophomore middle blocker and Bray’s former teammate Keira Schmidt said. "Obviously, we respond to her.” Bray coaches her middles with the intention of being quick to move in transition, hitting the ball fast and swinging big. One wouldn’t think that basketball and volleyball are sports that can be played simultaneously. And maybe not, but Bray finds ways to use a back-
board as part of her drills. Middles practiced jumping up to touch the backboard of a hoop, working on their speed and jumping height. “I made my career out of being a 6’1 fast middle,” Bray said. “So I wanted to implement that here.” She works on having players find their tempo, finding the ball at its highest point and following through. Bray also works with them on the blocking aspect of the position. Suiting up in practice and taking a couple swings gives players the opportunity to try and read where the ball is going, using their fast-paced attempts to put their hands up and stuff the professional. “When she hops in with practice, obviously we struggle to block her spot,” Schmidt said. “I think that is super important to have
Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics
As a MU middle blocker, Bray amassed 408 total blocks.
somebody who can hit the ball like that.” And when she isn’t working with middles on the roster, she’s playing a double life, training for her own season. When the whistle blows to mark the end of practice, it might mean it’s over for her players, but not for herself. Coaches find the time post-practice or whenever the gym is available to give her extra swinging reps or hit into her block so that she can continue to keep up her training. But as much work as she puts into getting herself better, Mendoza gets to see why pushing for her to be on the sidelines worked out so well. “She's 100% focused on helping the team right now,” Mendoza said. “She's all in on hoping this team has a great season, helping the middles continue to develop and helping the team.” The Golden Eagles have just under a month left with Bray before she makes her way to start her second year as a professional with Minnesota. But until then and even after her departure, her mentality will long remain true to what this Marquette team is made up of: a family. “If I can continue that legacy of ‘We are family, we're a unit,' I’d love to give it to you,” Bray said.
By M
mich
sophia.woods@marquette.edu
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Tuesday, October 13, 2026
MEN'S SOCCER
Through injury, a captain that can't quit The fifth year defender's bumpy half decade By Eamon Bevan
eamon.bevan@marquette.edu
Late into a Saturday night in September 2026, Marquette men’s soccer was taking on Creighton when team captain Tristan Ronnestad-Stevens landed hard on his knee and hit the floor in pain, prompting every Golden Eagle fan, coach and player to think “not again.” Senior goalkeeper Renan Salum watched from the sideline as his close friend fell to the ground and got carried to the sidelines, an itch in the back of his mind knowing his teammate would return soon. Further forward in his head were flashbacks to the few times before when #5 put his body on the line, only for his season to be cut short. Three years prior, not even 10 minutes had gone by in an early October matchup with Xavier when Ronnestad-Stevens' posterior cruciate ligament tore off the bone. Ever since that fateful Saturday evening, the Australian center back has played in just 21 of the Golden Eagles' subsequent 46 games. Despite this, he has certainly participated in that remaining share. Now in his fifth consecutive year with the program, he is the only player on the roster of that kind. Even with his injury setbacks and the transfer-rampant landscape of modern college sports, Ronnestad-Ste-
Photo courtesy of Erin Johnson
Despite injuries and setbacks, the Australian continues to give his all to the program.
vens has given half a decade of everything a single program could ask for, to no surprise from his peers. "He's had every reason to be bitter and callous because of all the things he's gone through, and he's just a smiley, happy kid and great to be around," head coach David Korn said. Ronnestad-Stevens traveled more than 10,000 miles from the land down under to join the Golden Eagles as a first-year in 2022, starting 27 games across his first two campaigns. In his sophomore season, he received the captain's armband at age 20. After his PCL tear that fall, he was projected to miss over a year, including the entirety of what would have been his junior season. Korn and his staff joined the program the following spring, inheriting a captain who couldn't take the field. But few players could have taken the sidelines quite like Ronnestad-Stevens.
"He became sort of a coach during his junior season," Salum said. "He still helped us out so much." Confined to crutches as his teammates played without him, Ronnestad-Stevens described his inability to get on the field as more agonizing than his recovery. The team's training staff helped him through those struggles, particularly Eric Khondaker (now with Marquette women's basketball) and Matt Martin. "Eric was like an uncle to me, or maybe a big brother," Ronnestad-Stevens said. "They were really a rock on my side." Ronnestad-Stevens returned to his starting role in 2025, captain’s armband on his bicep as he played 98% of available minutes in games he featured in. He also scored an 83rd-minute winner against UWM to help the Golden Eagles claim the Milwaukee Cup. In late September, another knee injury limited him
to eight appearances in what was supposed to be a standout season. He again watched his team navigate Big East play without its captain. However, that sadness didn't stop him from embracing his familiar player-coach role. "It's really remarkable how professional and committed he remained to the team while on the sideline," Salum said. Those 2025 Golden Eagles claimed just one conference victory in a 7-7-2 campaign, with Korn describing the center back's absence as particularly sore. "Tristan's a humble competitor; it helps us a lot in possession," Korn said. "When we lost him, we lost a lot of that composure." For Ronnestad-Stevens and the coaching staff, his recovery became a matter not only of his health in 2026, but also of his playing career. "We were even thinking he would consider retiring
at that point," Korn said. Nonetheless, he elected to play a fifth year, appearing in 97% of available minutes through his first 10 games. It was in that 10th game when disaster nearly struck against Creighton, leaving teammates and coaches fearing another season-ending injury. He missed the next two games, but two weeks later, on what may have been just as fateful of a Saturday evening as that one in early October 2023, he started at home against Butler. Salum, who has spent almost his entire Marquette career training in goal behind Ronnestad-Stevens, knew his captain well, and knew he would return. Ronnestad-Stevens had been a pseudo-counselor when the Brazilian goalkeeper tore his ACL before his senior campaign, helping him through recovery and toward a brief appearance on Senior Night. After all, Ronnestad-Stevens is trying to make the most of his remaining time playing soccer with his friends. "It's the little moments that have been great: spending time together, having lunch, going somewhere or playing golf," Salum said. Those little moments helped Ronnestad-Stevens through his low points. They helped him not let those low points define him, and they certainly haven't defined what he hopes his legacy will be as a Golden Eagle. "Just a good bloke," he said.
MEN'S SOCCER
Marquette bags first Big East win of season a minute later, the Nor“Relieved in a sense,” head said. “After some games, ball in contest. Horgoien brace coach David Korn said. “A I’ve had some chances and Marquette held Butler to wegian received the ball, of the week was trying decisions not going my just a pair of shots in the turned on his defender and sinks Butler 4-0 at lot to figure out how we can way; I feel like I should first and a single in the fired a volley. His brace and score a goal against a really have had two penalties in second, to outscore the assist contributed to his Valley Fields earlier games.” five-point night. good defensive team.” Bulldogs 18-3. By Sofie Hanrahan
sofia.hanrahan@marquette.edu
Two teams took to the Valley Fields pitch Saturday night, vying for their first Big East wins. Marquette men’s soccer (7-4-1, 1-3-0 Big East) went 0-3 in its first three opening conference matches, against ranked opponents No. 3 Georgetown, No. 6 Creighton and No. 18 Xavier. Butler (0-6-3, 0-1-2 Big East) gained points with draws against No. 12 Akron and Seton Hall. It was the home blue & gold to tack the three points onto its record in a 4-0 uncontested victory.
That ‘really good defensive team’ was led by goalkeeper Brooks Boersmam, who ranks fourth in the Big East and a backline that hadn’t conceded goals since Sept. 12 at Dayton. But when graduate midfielder Mateo Stoka was taken down in the box in the 11th minute, sending junior forward Mads Konrad Horgoien to the penalty line for the third time this season, the Norwegian kept his 100% conversion rate. It was the first goal for Horgoien since Sept. 9th against St. Thomas, and Butler’s first conceded goal in conference play. “Amazing,” Horgoien
The 1-0 scoreline appeared to be the final, as the bulk of the next 48 minutes were spent with the
Photos courtesy of Marquette Athletics
Horgoien has six season goals.
It wasn’t until the 75th minute when sophomore midfielder Joey Buchanan kick-started a three-goal pile-on. He took the ball around three defenders and sent it off his right boot, barrelling past Boersma. “I’m not surprised he wins those duels, but then he showed his quality in the finish,” Korn said. “He’s continued to grow as a footballer.” Three minutes later, an unmarked Tom Adewumi pounced on a cross sent in by Horgoien, coming back into the action since his red card against Creighton. Completing the trifecta
Horgoien, Adewumi and Buchanan combine for 21 out of the team’s 31 total goals. Junior goalkeeper Cameron Simpson earned his fourth clean sheet of the season. Despite the high of the first Big East win, the work is far from done. “This game is over,” Horgoien said. “If we want to have a chance in the tournament, we got to beat every opponent that comes our way.” The next opponent to come to Valley Fields in the three-game homestand is UConn on Sept. 16. Kickoff is set for 6 p.m. CST.
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Tuesday, October 13, 2026
CLUB SPORTS
The rise of Marquette pickleball
From a few dozen people to national tournaments By Gavin Olen
gavin.olen@marquette.edu
I was in my 6th grade gym class when I first heard about pickleball. It looked like a median between tennis and ping pong, so I thought it was just some off-brand game that my gym teacher made up. Eight years later, the game has grown at a record rate, and the pickleball club here at Marquette shows just that. Marquette’s pickleball club has rapidly grown in the past couple years, both within the university as well as nationally. Last year, the pickleball club had between 50 and 60 people come to their open play. This year, they doubled that number to around 110. The pickleball club is also taking a step in a new direction, as they recently decided to make a travel team that will compete across the Midwest. The first tournament they competed in was the Boiler Bash 300, hosted by Purdue on Oct. 2nd. The team played against teams such as Illinois, Iowa, Notre Dame and
more colleges across the Midwest. For junior Katarina Pljevaljcic, president of the pickleball club, she is focused on how to retain these numbers throughout the year. "We have a system where we have beginners and recreational play on the leftside courts, and then on the right-side courts, we have competitive open play. And this has kept our pickleball growing.” Pljevaljcic said. By doing this, they are able to make games more structured and competitive, rather than games that would be unfair and draw people away. I went into the action of competitive pickleball when at the club’s practice, teaming up with Plejevaljcic. While I was actively learning the ropes of pickleball, she was able to carry us to a 10-4 win. The pop of the paddle and the screeching of shoes filled the gymnasium, but what stood out most, however, was the talk on the court. There was a happy medium of both communicating with your teammate to get the point, while also talking about relational topics with both your teammate and opponents after the game. The spirit of community comes together with a simple clap of the paddle,
either with your teammate in between points or with your opponents to offer a good game. The community that it creates is another reason why people want to join and stay in club pickleball. For first-year Audrey Peterson, she shared the importance of a welcoming community and how the
"They've been good leaders and good examples"
Sam Gutierrez Marquette class of 2023 alum
pickleball club has been that for her. “Since there are people from all ages, it's fun, because I get to know people and the freshmen, which is really cool. They can give you advice that’s just pickleball-related, which is fun. They’ve been good leaders and good examples,” Peterson said. Those leaders, such as Plejevaljcic, who Peterson has played with multiple times, have been the roots in building the pickleball community and branching out to others for years to come.
WOMEN'S SWIMMING
Photos courtesy of Gavin Olen.
The community continues to grow inside Helfaer.
Pljevaljcic's introduction to pickleball and background in tennis helped to expand what the club is today. Pljevaljcic started out playing tennis, and because tennis is so similar to pickleball, she easily made the switch over. She only played for fun at first, but with her competitiveness, she wanted to create something that could build up serious players while also maintaining the fun and community of the sport. So, when given the opportunity to become president of the club, she took it upon herself to make two different divisions, so all players could feel included. Not only does pickleball build community, but it can also help with an individual's mental health, especially when balanc-
ing tuition, homework, exams, etc. “You can relieve that stress by hitting the ball as hard as you can. You can relieve that stress by just talking to people,” Pljevaljcic continued. “I think it also eases people's minds that they actually showed up, and you don't have to be the best player, but in your mind, you know that you can [become]." The team is also hoping to host their own tournament in the spring, allowing for colleges across the nation to compete. The growing rate of the game has students and people of all ages not only joining to stay in shape, but also eager to be a member of a vibrant community, branching from the Marquette community to the rest of the country.
Making waves at first home meet UNI defeated the Golden Eagles by only one point
By Lilly Peacock
lilly.peacock@marquette.edu
The bleachers lining Wellness + Helfaer Recreation Center's pool filled up over 30 minutes before the first swimmers dove in Friday evening. Marquette was on deck for the first women’s swim meet at home against the University of Northern Iowa. Students, faculty, parents
and Marquette’s men’s lacrosse team lined all three rows of the stands, cheering in a standing ovation as the roster exited the locker room to the familiar game day sound of the Marquette Fight Song. Time improvements and significantly faster finishes contributed to a strong start for Marquette, but the meet ultimately ended in just a one-point loss with a score of 102-103. “I think it definitely is really hard to come in as a team that nobody knows, so no one is expecting anything from you,” first-year distance swimmer Brid-
Photos courtesy of Marquette Athletics
MU recorded two first-place finishes.
By Sofie Hanrahan
sofia.hanrahan@marquette.edu
get Corro said. “I'm really proud of everyone. I think everyone did really, really well considering all the circumstances and things, and we'll always see them again next year.” Despite the loss, Marquette started strong with a third-place finish in the medley relay, up from placing in the bottom three last week against the University of Iowa. Relay team A — made up of Mackenzie Choinski, Enya Linson, Evelyn Chin and Nina Newton — brought the first-ever home points for Marquette, while also establishing a home and relay team record of 1:48.38. "We're really young and learning how to compete,” head coach Joel Rollings said following last Friday’s inaugural meet. Marquette’s founding roster is made up of just over 75 percent freshman swimmers. That didn’t show today. Corro once again led throughout the 1000-yard freestyle event, the official’s bell sounding to mark her final lap, first-place po-
sitioning and another topthree finish. She shaved off 1.73 seconds from last week’s time and established yet another school record for the event with a time of 10:32.04. Finley Warren, a freshman freestyler, placed first in the 100-yard freestyle and second in the 200-yard freestyle. The deficit between the results of the latter was just five hundredths of a second. Marquette teammates stood at the end of each lane cheering on their peers as they completed another lap in the 200-yard freestyle, bringing a second- and third-place finish. That energy wasn't reserved for just teammates; when Northern Iowa’s Paralympian gold medalist swimmer Olivia Chambers completed an exhibition event as the only swimmer in the pool, Marquette's swimmers stood at the end of her lane and showed extensive support. They cheered her on throughout her race and celebrated her finish. The rest of the pool deck followed suit.
Graduate swimmer Enya Linson showed promise in medley events again, taking a lead at the start of the 200-yard individual medley and ending the race with Marquette’s second firstplace finish of the meet. She swam a 2.09.13, establishing another new home record and a personal season record. Corro continued to establish her skill as one of the team’s distance swimmers, finishing just three seconds behind sophomore Kayla Wieckowski in the 500yard freestyle. This time around it was Northern Iowa who rang the bell for the last lap, but Wieckowski brought an incredibly strong second-place finish for Marquette. The meet closed with an exciting freestyle relay, but it wasn’t enough to continue the lead Marquette held throughout the meet. “I'm just super proud of our whole team,” Warren said. “It's our second meet, and we all gave it our all.” Marquette will participate in the Wisconsin Showcase in Brown Deer, Wisconsin next Saturday, October 17.
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The Marquette Tribune
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
MEN'S GOLF
Mischa Candinas' double duty The sophomore brings his Swiss resume to MU By Caleb LaBlanc
caleb.lablanc@marquette.edu
To begin his 2026 season, Mischa Candinas didn’t suit up for the Golden Eagles but instead for his home country of Switzerland. Candinas made his professional debut Sept. 3 on the DP World Tour at the Omega European Masters in Crans-Montana, Switzerland. His debut marked him as one of nine Swiss golfers to represent their home country, and for Candinas, he did so by having Switzerland on the side of his bag. “It’s always a huge honor to represent your country. There were a lot of people I’d never met in my life rooting for me because it said Switzerland on my golf bag. The support was great.” Playing professionally brings a different atmosphere and Candinas recognized that immediately once he touched the grounds the week of the event. During preparation, he noticed the competition around him ranging from players who have represented in the Ryder Cup, such as European Ryder
Cup champion Rasmus Hojgaard, to major champions such as Masters champion Patrick Reed. “In the morning you go to the range with big names warming up next to you and it’s a different kind of feeling. At first, a very uncomfortable feeling,” Candinas said. “I’d be comparing myself to them and seeing that my game is still not as good as them, but it’s not too far away.” Although he missed the cut to make the weekend, that experience and confidence gave Candinas just what he needed to begin the season for Marquette. “I had a great week on the greens,” Candinas said when circling back to his pro debut. “I put a lot of work in, and seeing statswise I was on top of the leaderboard at the pro event
edu Photo courtesy of Carson Tyler
Candinas was the top-ranked Swiss under-25 golfer in 2024.
sports in someone’s apartment or talking about anything but golf. Banas’ friendship with Candinas testifies to that. “Mischa would still be one of my best friends if it weren’t for golf,” Banas said. “If I’m ever having a rough day or if he’s ever having a rough day, you can talk to him or anyone else on the team, which I think has been really good for our team culture.” The goals Candinas has align directly with his teammates, and winning the Big East is at the top of Photos courtesy of Marquette Athletics the list. He says this team Candinas made All-Big East First Team for the 2025-26 season. has “unfinished business” gave me a lot of confi- team, and before I came heading into spring with dence going into the week to campus we were kinda one tournament left before texting and he was giving the winter offseason. at Minnesota.” After missing the first me some tips. He was a Touching on his personal two events of the year great support.” goals, Candinas’s passion He also noted how senior for the game of golf is drivwhile in Switzerland, Candinas traveled to the Go- Ryan Banas has inspired ing him to go the distance pher Invitational at Wind- him with his process while beyond Marquette golf, song Farm Golf Club in practicing, playing and but more specifically, the Minnesota, where he tied even off the course, despite PGA Tour. for third place with team- them being the same age Candinas described but in different grades. mate Vincent Cervantes. playing professionally as “We are just nine best the ultimate goal he’s had The team aspect of golf can be tricky because play- friends. Guys like Ryan since he was a little kid. He ers only have control over Banas, I look up to a lot. He knows it’s more possible what they shoot on any is a really structured indi- than ever, with Marquette given day. Despite tying his vidual and does everything golf alum Hunter Eichorn teammate in his return, with a plan and a pur- recently receiving his PGA he wouldn’t want it any pose. That’s something I’ve Tour card after grinding on picked up from him.” other way. the Korn Ferry Tour. CanWith the amount of time dinas knows it’s “very pos“I don’t feel like I’m competing against Vinny, Marquette golf spends to- sible” to take his game to honestly,” Candinas said. gether, think they’d be sick the next level. “If I were to come in sec- of each other, but that’s “Golf is my passion,” ond place and he were to wrong according to Can- Candinas said. “I love playwin the tournament, that dinas. If there’s an off day, ing golf and doing it for a the guys are either eating living would be a dream would be a win for me.” The brotherhood be- dinner together, watching come true.” tween the players of Marquette golf extends further than just the game, with Candinas finding support from teammates before arriving to campus. Golden Eagle golf alum Johan Widal, who shares the same European roots as Candinas, helped give him tips and support as he made this transition into Marquette. “I think last year, Johan, our Swedish senior, he was a big help,” Candinas said. Photo courtesy of Carson Tyler “The two of us were the The sophomore tied for 21st at Windon Memorial. only internationals on the
WIRE SPORTS ROUNDUP LAST WEEK
STANDOUTS
STANDINGS
WVB @ Creighton........................W, 3-2 WSWIM vs. Northern Iowa....L, 102-103 MSOC vs. Carroll.........................W, 7-2 WSOC vs. Creighton...................W, 2-1
Konrad Horgoien
Big East Men’s Soccer
Golden Eagle Sports Report
MSOC No. 9
Mads Konrad Horgoien found himself back on the score sheet after scoring a brace and notching an assist against Butler to help MU collect its first Big East points. The junior forward is up to 16 points on the season.
Emi Juric VB No. 2
Tune in every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. CST to hear the latest Marquette sports news!
The first-year libero had a spectacle game against Villanova on Saturday evening in the four-set win. Juric recorded a career-high 23 digs, the second 20-plus performance of her collegiate career. The 23 digs were a match high and most recorded by a Golden Eagle in Big East play so far this season.
NEWS
Ovr. Conf. Home Away Neut.
G-Town 10-1-1 4-0 Seton Hall 3-2-6 1-0-2 St. John's 5-5-1 1-1-1 UConn 5-6-2 1-2 Providence 5-4-2 0-2-1 Villanova 5-5-2 0-3-1 Creighton 10-0-3 2-0-1 Xavier 8-0-3 2-0-2 Akron 7-1-2 1-1-1 DePaul 3-3-4 1-1-1 Butler 0-7-3 0-1-2 Marquette 8-4-1 1-3
7-0-1 0-0-4 4-2 4-5-1 4-0-1 5-3-1 6-0-3 6-0-1 5-1-2 2-1-1 0-3-2 7-1-1
3-1 2-2-2 1-3-1 1-1-1 1-4-1 0-2-1 4-0 2-0-2 2-0 1-2-3 0-4-1 1-3
0-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Big East Volleyball
Ovr. Conf. Home Away Neut.
St. John's 15-4 Marquette 10-6 Xavier 11-5 Creighton 9-8 DePaul 12-5 G-Town 11-6 Butler 9-9 Villanova 9-8 Providence 9-8 UConn 8-11 Seton Hall 8-10
5-1 5-1 4-1 4-1 4-2 3-3 3-3 2-4 1-5 1-5 0-6
7-3 5-0 6-1 4-4 7-4 5-1 6-3 4-0 4-3 6-5 3-3
4-1 4-5 3-2 2-2 3-1 5-4 2-5 2-6 1-4 1-3 1-5
4-0 1-1 2-2 3-2 2-0 1-1 1-1 3-2 4-1 1-3 4-2
The Wisconsin Showcase for women's swim will take place this upcoming weekend in a cross-town match-up between Marquette and UWM. It will take place in Brown Deer at the Walter Schroeder Aquatic Center.
GAMES THIS WEEK
10/16 WVB @ St. John's Queens, NY
10/16 MSOC vs. UConn Valley Fields
Follow us on Twitter/X @MUWireSports
10/17
WSWIM @ WI Showcase Brown Deer, WI
10/17
WSOC @ St. John's Queens, NY
The Marquette Tribune
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Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Opinions
Baseball is harder than ever
By Owen Parker
owen.parker@marquette.edu
Sunday, Oct. 4 — Bottom of the 9th, 2 outs, 2-2 count, bases loaded. Milwaukee Brewers right fielder Jackson Chourio hit a 101.3 mph fastball thrown by San Diego Padres closer Mason Miller with a 75.5 mph bat speed and a 109.5 mph exit velocity. Jackson Merrill fielded it in center field to throw a 99.1 mph dart that was late to catch Sal Frelick out at home plate, running at 30.2 feet per second. This entire play only took 7.43 seconds from windup to Frelick crossing the plate. In a game where every inch matters, the margin of error has withered. Baseball is hard, and it’s only getting harder. In a season that showcased the hardest throwing starting pitcher of all time, Jacob Misiorowski, and 13.33 100 mph+ pitches per game (so far) in the playoffs, it’s still argued the game was harder before the 2008 statistical renaissance which implemented pitch
tracking leaguewide. Rules and training were different before pitch tracking, but the argument that baseball is easier now is disingenuous. Players pitch faster, run quicker and hit harder than ever before — the statistics tell the story. On Oct. 3, National League Divisional Series game one between the Brewers and the Padres set a record for highest average fastball velocity in a single playoff game — 98.50 mph. This broke the previous record of 98.47 mph set during an Aug. 9 game between the Brewers and the Twins. Game one also broke the record for most 100+ mph pitches in an entire postseason series (56) in just one game with 64. Fastball velocity is at an all-time high, and it’s projected to keep improving. Four-seam fastball velocity averaged 94.8 mph this year, keeping a trend of six straight years of increased average fastball velocity. These numbers aren’t on accident.
Technology and training keep improving. Younger players have access to greater tools as they grow through high school systems and professional training camps. As Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale told ESPN, strategies evolve with the player pool. “I don’t think it takes a rocket scientist to know that getting 97[mph] by someone is a little easier than 91[mph],” he said. The argument for baseball being more difficult in past generations stems from radar gun placement and “actual” velocity. Radar guns were originally placed to measure velocity as the pitch crossed the plate. This created sporadic readings that didn’t measure peak velocity as the pitch is affected by air resistance as soon as it leaves the pitcher’s hand. Velocity today is measured out of the pitcher’s hand, providing a more consistent number and what is generally the pitch’s
Photo courtesy of J.J Cooper/Baseball America
Fastball velocity has steadily increased.
peak velocity. Since this change, players from older eras often believe the pitches today are not as fast as the pitches they saw. “When you’re seeing velocities at 95 [mph] today, those aren’t velocities at 95 we saw,” former Angels outfielder Tim Salmon said on the “Halo Territory” podcast. This might be true, but accuracy and variance of velocity tracking technology have vastly improved even since Salmon last played in a major league game
in 2006. The aforementioned 2008 statistical renaissance involved the implementation of the league’s first league wide pitch-tracking system, PITCHf/x. This marked the beginning of the pitch-tracking era, allowing the league to accurately collect and store all major league pitch data from 2008 onward. Continue reading this story at marquettewire.org. Owen Parker is the assistant opinions editor. He is a junior studying journalism.
The NFL must face CTE head-on
By Alex Wassilak
alexander.wassilak@marquette.edu
"A tormented soul." That was the title of a 2005 ESPN article about Mike Webster, the first NFL player diagnosed with progressive degenerative brain disease Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) after his death at age 50. Webster was a broken man. He took a medley of narcotics to numb his pain from the headaches, depression and anxiety that beset him. He would repeatedly stun himself with a taser until he went unconscious — his son said it’s the only way he could fall asleep. Almost 20 years later, public understanding of CTE has become more ubiquitous. But the problem is still the most pressing issue facing the NFL, and it’s not much closer to being resolved. The NFL needs to step up their game to confront the protracted CTE epidemic. In 1994, the NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue directly dismissed the problem during a panel on the future of sports. “I think [concussions] is one of these pack journalism issues, frankly,” Tagliabue said. “There is no increase in concussions, the number is relatively small… The problem is a journalist issue.” It would take 15 years after Tagliabue’s words for the
league to acknowledge the potential long-term effects of concussions. Four years after Webster’s death, NFL Spokesman Greg Aiello told Alan Schwarz from The New York Times that “it’s quite obvious from the medical research that’s been done that concussions can lead to long-term problems.” In an attempt to appear vigilant, the NFL has issued no shortage of rule changes aimed at reducing concussions. The most visible of all of them has been the guardian cap, a piece of protective padding that goes over the helmet. The problem is that the guardian cap and the rules changes haven’t really moved the needle. Chris Nowinski, co-founder of the Concussion and CTE Foundation, called them a scam. “It’s very clear from their behavior and the conversations I’ve had with them, they love that the public sees the Guardian Caps because it’s basically virtue signaling,” said Nowinski. Based on NFL concussion data, the number of concussions per season has trended down over 30% from 2015 to 2025. But Nowinski is unmoved. “You do want people to invest in tools that can reduce the risk of concussion. I do want NFL players to be safer,” Nowinski said. “But the big crisis facing the NFL and
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. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Brains affected by CTE can only be diagnosed postmortem.
players — it’s CTE, not concussion.” According to Nowinski, 1 in 5 people diagnosed with CTE did not have a diagnosed concussion in their career. CTE is a result of years of impacts, even if they are subconcussive. Researchers are wrestling to understand the scale. A study published by the British Medical Journal revealed that at least 1 in 4 NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE. The authors say even that is a conservative estimate. Out of a sample of 338, 315 — or 93% — of the NFL players’ brains studied had the diagnosis of CTE. Marc Weisskopf, a professor at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, pushes back on this study. He says the sampling bias distorts the real occurrence of the disease. The study only analyzed 9% of the total NFL player population over that time
period and since it only looked at autopsied brains, it wasn’t a random sample. This means it’s misleading to extrapolate the 1-in-4 statistic to the population as a whole. The issue with studying CTE is that you can only diagnose postmortem. In order to make significant progress in understanding the extent of the problem and effective prevention strategies, a test on living players must be developed. The NFL should be much more invested in research to make this happen. Various players from around the league have expressed interest in taking a test if it became available. The NFL generated $24 billion in revenue last year — they owe it to them. It’s the bare minimum for the severe risk of irreversibly altering players’ brains. Alex Wassilak is an opinions reporter. He is a junior studying civil engineering.
Our editorial board consists of the managing editor of the Marquette Tribune and all executive editors including news, sports arts & entertainment and opinions. 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: jane.patterson@ 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 city of residence.
The Marquette Tribune
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Fun & Games Words After Pumpkin
Pie
Latte
Pudding
Bread
Spice
Patch
Head
Harvest
Seed
Carving
Vine
Eater
Football Season Across 3. a move that brings the ball carrier to the ground 4. a team's leader, strategy maker and morale booster 5. rectangular point-scoring area at each end of the field (two words) 6. illegal action penalized by free kicks, cards, etc. 7. a loss of ball possession
Down 1. score! six points! 2. protective headgear to decrease CTE/ brain injuries (see the Trib's opinions section) 4. enthusiastic sideline supporters with pom poms
Submit finished puzzles to emma.fishback@marquette.edu by December 18. Most accurate crossword submissions wins a grand prize. Last week's answers- ACROSS 3.) Bracket 4.) Miller 5.) Sweep 6.) Playoff DOWN 1.) World 2.) Nine 4.) Walk-off
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The Marquette Tribune
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Tuesday, October 13, 2026
Arts & Entertainment
MUPS cabaret lets performers experiment Actors explore unfamiliar character types By Nate Oif
nate.oif@marquette.edu
Marquette University’s Players Society held its annual Miscast Cabaret Oct. 7 in Straz Theater. For one night, traits that often influence casting selection — age, gender, race, voice type were set aside as actors stepped outside their usual typecasts and got the chance to become someone they aren’t “supposed” to be. The Miscast, held at the beginning of every school year, lets people get involved without making a long-term commitment. Each performance is independent; actors prepare their own act, and outside the night of the performance, they only rehearse once. “It allows people to
just show off what they can do without somebody else needing to allow them to do it beforehand,” MUPS Coordinator Betsy Brill said. While character type provides stability in acting, Brill said such freedom takes away much of the pressure of performing. “It is meant to be silly and fun, rather than somebody putting too much pressure on themselves,” she said. The Miscast featured seven different performances and a special guest appearance by the Meladies, Marquette’s all-women acapella group. The Straz Theatre filled with laughter and applause throughout the night. Students packed the venue supporting their friends and club members. Draped in a royal cape, jeweled crown and fake beard, Ayah Otallah, a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences, stepped onto the stage to perform Ham-
ilton’s “You’ll Be Back.” For Otallah, this was her first time participating in a musical theatre group. Despite numerous opportunities to get involved at Marquette, she had never taken that step until Miscast. Hamilton was one of the first musicals Otallah discovered growing up. Performing “You’ll Be Back” allowed her to portray, “a character that meant so much to [her] when [she] was younger,” Otallah said. Nerves crept in as she took the stage. Her family sat among the audience. They had always supported her interests, but rarely saw this side of her; now it would all be on display. As she performed, the audience sang along unprompted, and despite her initial nerves, her family embraced her performance. “It really made me feel like I had this sense of community in those few seconds that I’ve always
been looking for,” Otallah said. While Otallah performed, Megan Fitch, a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences, accompanied her on piano. Fitch has spent seven years accompanying soloists and choirs, an experience she says is one of her favorite parts of playing the piano. “Being able to provide the support for a soloist or a group to shine is such a rewarding experience, and I’m so grateful that Ayah trusted me to be a part of that performance,” Fitch said. After “You’ll Be Back” concluded, Fitch took the stage herself, singing “Being Alive” from the musical “Company.” Bobby, the character who sings “Being Alive” in Company, has historically been portrayed as a man. Although the musical has recently cast more women in the role, they have done so
by raising the song’s key to align with a soprano/mezzo-soprano range. Fitch, however, chose to perform it in its original form. “I wanted to show another take on genderbent casting in which the performer is just anyone who can sing in the range… by performing ‘Being Alive’ in the original key,” Fitch said. Fitch not only sang in a lower key but also accompanied herself on the piano. “It is definitely an added layer of difficulty to accompany yourself, especially on musically complex pieces like Sondheim’s, but I love that challenge,” Fitch said. While each performance was different, the audience remained supportive and cheerful. “Hearing those laughs and seeing those smiles really is such a valuable experience for people who enjoy performing,” Brill said.
REVIEW: Alejandro G. Iñárritu's 'Digger' By Davoren Doyle
davoren.doyle@marquette.edu
Before deciding to dedicate his middle age to popcorn flicks, Tom Cruise was the most fascinating type of Hollywood star: one who was actually good at acting. While nearly everyone loves the “Mission Impossible” franchise, audiences have yearned to see him back in something that wasn’t guaranteed to make a truckload of money. Years later, after an onslaught of action movies, sequels to those action movies and whatever “The Mummy” was, Tom Cruise has finally decided to play an interesting character again. Alejandro G. Iñárritu’s “Digger,” released Oct. 2, stars Cruise as the titular Digger Rockwell, an oil tycoon whose refusal to shut down one of his company’s drilling sites leads to an ecological catastrophe, putting him under fire from the entire world. In one of the strangest movie marketing campaigns in recent years, nearly any sense of plot or story was left out of the trailers and advertisements, instead jumbling together random scenes of Cruise’s performance with little explanation. However, after seeing the final product, one could argue that any attempt to explain the plot in the trailers would’ve been futile. The movie is a parody, but also a parody of parodies.
It’s a comedy about comedies. It’s social commentary that’s aimed at social commentary. It’s understandable why this film is so hard to advertise, but that doesn’t compute well with a nearly $200 million budget. Cruise’s lead performance is pretty impressive once you get past the initial shock of actually evaluating a Tom Cruise performance. He plays Digger as more of a symbol than a person, a corporate entity only concerned with wealth, power and his elderly cat. Cruise hams up nearly every scene, managing to highlight the absurdity of the beliefs held by most members of the ruling class while still selling the sincerity they barely manage to hold on to. Cruise is backed up by a phenomenal supporting cast. John Goodman as President Compson, who allows Digger’s oil sites to do their drilling, is inept, petty and avoidant of trivial things such as accountability. He delivers every line with anger, spite or a charming mixture of the two, masterfully displaying his disdain for the people he specifically signed up to serve. Riz Ahmed plays Ganesh, Digger’s head of environmental safety, and serves as a vessel for the common rage felt towards the ultra-wealthy. His character slowly unravels throughout the film, introduced as a shaky but well-meaning
Photo courtesy of REUTERS/Hannah McKay
Tom Cruise is joined by John Goodman and Riz Ahmed in Iñárritu's latest film.
right-hand man to Digger before fraying into a drunken mess unafraid to tear him apart. Ahmed’s performance is depressing but oddly cathartic in the current media landscape where voices against the elite are often drowned out. Iñárritu’s film direction has always been met with division. Some call him a genius, others call him pretentious. With “Digger,” it seems like he’s happy to be both. The messages in his latest film are anything but subtle, but he undoubtedly takes pride in how accurate they are. As shown by some of his recent films, namely “Birdman,” “The Revenant” and “BARDO,” Iñárritu’s unusual screenplays are often paired with undeniably gorgeous filmmaking. Breathtaking cinematography and brilliant production design el-
evate his films to cinematic experiences that very few directors are able to achieve. This film mainly uses 35mm VistaVision cameras, same as last year’s “One Battle After Another,” which unites impossible scale with incredible detail, creating an immersive experience that engulfs the audience in the world of the film. This is highlighted in certain scenes, such as Digger’s bombastic speech at the European Parliament and the jaw-dropping ending. Given how absurd Iñárritu’s storytelling is, it’s impressive that the film manages to reach these heights at all. “Digger” is undeniably a hard sell, which is probably why the marketing focused on the most sellable actor of all time. That strategy unfortunately didn’t work, as with only an $8 million opening weekend, the movie is
tracking for one of the biggest box office bombs of the year, potentially of all time, making this the first time in decades Tom Cruise’s bank account has gone down. It’s a sad result for such a creative endeavor, but that’s the risk in not telling audiences what your movie is about. The film doesn’t always hit the mark, with some awkward comedy and sluggish pacing holding it back from greatness. If nothing else, “Digger” is a fascinating and overall enjoyable attempt at deconstructing the people that rule over the world we live in, and the art that helps us cope with that world. “Digger” is currently playing in theaters. Get your tickets at diggermovie.com. For more movie discussions, tune in to “Final Cut with Ben and Dav” on MURadio, Fridays at 5 p.m.
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The Marquette Tribune
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
MURadio: Recommended tracks for fall
By Jane Patterson
jane.patterson@marquette.edu
As the musical brainchild of the Wire, Marquette University Radio offers a 24/7 stream of tunes, podcasts and music chats. As one cog in that machine, I host the flagship show New Music Monday – a genre-spanning accumulation of that week’s fresh songs, paired with my music history ramblings and personal breakdown of obscure metaphors hidden in the tracks. But that passion project extends past what is new, though it’s ever-important to uplift the up-and-coming – I crave a curation that embraces feeling over freshness. Put simply, the not-so-new tunes deserve love, too! As the air gets chillier, I’ve been looking for songs that feel uniquely autumnal, whether that be the vibe of confessional indie ballads, lyricism that mirrors the changing leaves or a guitar solo as crisp as October air. Here are five picks to put on your fall playlist (or not – but it’d be an honor to recommend what’s in your earbuds on the way to class). "Gym Shoe Rocket Show" – Dwaal Troupe Chicago indie rock outfit Dwaal Troupe released an insanely underrated album entitled “Lucky Dog” in 2021, and the whole thing’s perfect for fall. It’s fuzzy, warm and nostalgic – almost gut-wrenchingly so. The spirit of the album culminates in “Gym Shoe Rocket Show.” I don’t necessarily know what it means; I’d only have to imagine the “gym shoe rocket show” is a literal pair of sneakers with rockets attached. The imagery in the line “you and your aircrew come to land now // It’s a cloudy day,” can doubles as a reference to the grey Milwaukee days that’ve been roll-
ing over our skyline. The concept, with rocket shoes and an accompanying aircrew is silly, but it’s deeper than that. It has a sweet, slow melody with soft piano notes and a steady, pronounced drumbeat that feels like a brisk fall day in elementary school. It has the imaginative – almost at times childlike – lyrics to match, but it’s complicated by the messiness of aging and the relationships that come with it. It devolves throughout into “I could not amuse // you and your gym shoe rocket show // I’m coming undone,” and the fun aspects meet with the more emotional. It’s what a lot of autumn is – change. "Several Got Away" – Dinosaur Jr. This one was featured on New Music Monday, and it’s a favorite of mine among the first few weeks of tracks featured on the show. Dinosaur Jr. has returned with their first album in five years, “There Near,” and it’s delightfully in character for the legendary trio. It’s noisy, distorted and guitar-filled enough to call to mind earlier works like “You’re Living All Over Me” and “Bug,” which are also worth checking out for the upcoming months. “Several Got Away” has a slacker rock (the nonchalant, often-apathetic child of indie rock) feel that perfectly encapsulates fall. I find myself hungry for Pavement, Silver Jews, Sebadoh and others often grouped in that category (though I find them to be more than that demeaning-seeming, genre-boxing title), and this song is no exception. It’s catchy and repetitive with frontman J. Mascis’ drawling vocals, and right after the two-minute mark, it explodes into a satisfying-as-ever classic guitar solo before launching back
Graphic courtesy of MURadio
New Music Monday host Jane Patterson compiles a tracklist to fit the cooler months.
into the chorus. The lyricism is transitional; it’s about moving on and finding oneself while caught in those in-between-stages of life. Mascis told Paste Magazine in a recent interview that he was “sick of this perfect guitar sound,” and that he was looking for one that’d “sound fine.” The seeming lack of effort makes it all the more laidback and cozy. "The Coward Forgets His Nightmare"–Chanel Beads Chanel Beads’ June 2026 release “Your Day Will Come” is absolutely packed with chantable hooks and a haziness I can only describe as hauntingly beautiful. I’m not sure how to categorize it, with a synthlike tone and distorted repetition throughout the album breeding a certain uniqueness untouched by typical genre boxes. “The Coward Forgets His Nightmare” is as catchy as it is introspective. The deep reflection is equal parts self-loathing and an attempt to break free of lingering negative emotions. To me, it’s a reset song that is part of that “change” theme I’ve been trying to curate – it’s getting out of a nostalgia-ridden rut. The dreamlike quality and
background violin give the glimmer of vulnerable hope and renewal that comes with the switching of the seasons. "Somewhere a Weekend of Sin" – The Karl Hendricks Trio The criminally underrated Karl Hendricks Trio, currently with only slightly over 2,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, released their 1996 album “For a While, It Was Funny” with witty titles and heartfeltyet-smug reflections on love and loss. The fall season just screams fuzzy, distorted warmth with an air of self-reflection, and this delivers that vibe in full. “Somewhere a Weekend of Sin” is a droning, almost six-minute song with frequent dissolutions into distortion, oscillating between haze and clear guitar riffs. Mentions of rotting fingers, demons and webs has me yearning for my month-long celebration of Halloween. "You’re the Reason I Believe in Ghosts"–Starry Cat I’ve made a fall-themed playlist every year since my early high school days, and this song has been on it every autumn – time to share! Indie lo-fi extraordinaire Sam Ray of bands
Teen Suicide and Julia Brown, along with solo endeavor Ricky Eat Acid, created Starry Cat as a solo side project to help a bandmate with medical expenses. Aside from the appeal in its selfless starting mission, Starry Cat delivers the perfect autumnal coziness in “You’re the Reason I Believe in Ghosts.” Other than the title itself bringing about a Halloween-like energy for obvious, spirit-centered reasons, it’s a bittersweet ballad about renewal that’s lo-fi enough to be cozy and upbeat enough to sprout a glimmer of hope as the air gets colder: “Nothing was the same // I woke up feeling new.” The digital synth beat and twinkling background noises contrast with monotone, mostly spoken vocals. It’s strikingly beautiful in its simplicity. At about two and a half minutes, it’s absolutely perfect for the walk to class. If you have 18 minutes to spare, go ahead and listen to the full 2015 self-titled album. For more musical recommendations, tune in to MUR or check out the schedule to find flagship shows or anything that strikes a chord.
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