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The Marquette Tribune campus news since 1916

Volume 110, Number 6

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

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Women’s Basketball Special Edition

BIG EAST, BIGGER STAGE Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics

Eight years after Fiserv opened , women's basketball gets its first planned occasion in the stadium.

Marquette will host UConn at its local NBA arena for the first time By Gavin Olen

gavin.olen@marquette.edu

or only the second time ever, the Marquette women’s basketball team will play a home game at Fiserv Forum. The Fiserv Forum is the pinnacle of where to play basketball in Wisconsin. Fiserv Forum has been a host to the NBA Finals, where the hometown Milwaukee Bucks would win for the first time in 50 years. It has hosted multiple NCAA tournament games and has hosted Marquette’s men’s basketball games since its opening in 2018. Set for Sunday, Feb. 7 at 1:30 p.m. CST, the Golden Eagles will play Big East rival, preseason No. 2-ranked UConn Huskies and will be the second half of the National Marquette Day weekend. The last time Golden Eagles played at Fiserv was when they steamrolled UIC 96-32 in 2018. However, the UIC vs.

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Marquette game was only scheduled at Fiserv because an intoxicated driver crashed into the AL McGuire Center the morning of the game, which damaged both the main entrance and a part of the bleachers, where the car would be found hanging. This forced the game to be switched last minute to play at the Fiserv. This means the UConn vs. Marquette game would be the first time that a women's basketball game was preplanned to play at Fiserv. For players who grew up around the Milwaukee area, playing at Fiserv brings a dream to life. Transfer junior forward Noelle Anthon grew up and played high school basketball in Oconomowoc, which is just 40 minutes away from Fiserv Forum. “I have been to the Fiserv Bucks games growing up,” Anthon said. “I’m just so excited to actually play on the court.” The same can be said for

graduate student guard Jordan Meulemans, who grew up in De Pere, Wis., which is less than a two-hours from the Fiserv. While ecstatic about the opportunity to play there in her final year, she is also psyched about the competition taking place on the big stage. “It’s going to be super exciting,” Meulemans said. “UConn is one of the best teams in the nation and being able to play at the Fiserv with so many fans, I hope Marquette shows up for this”. In her third year leading the squad, head coach Cara Consuegra is looking forward to playing on the big stage for the first time in her tenure. “It’s an exciting opportunity,” Consuegra said. “Obviously, to play in an NBA arena, we see our men play there a ton and the way Marquette nation supports them in that environment, I think we are all excited for.” With this excitement can come distraction. With the

stage set, the game is prepared for the expected increase of fans, but the team cannot be sidetracked by the setting and still has to execute. “We want to play the best in the country,” Consuegra said. “Those types of environments prepare you for the NCAA tournament, prepares you for other tournaments. Playing bigtime competition in a bigtime venue, that’s where we want to position our program. It’s something we have to walk into and not be intimidated.” Coach Consuegra also spoke on the expectations she has for the Marquette crowd and the hope they have for them to show up big in support for their Golden Eagles. “I know the Marquette fans will show up at Fiserv,” Consuegra said. “The last two years we’ve played UConn at the Al McGuire Center, each year the crowd got better. We need Marquette to come out, fill that place out, and

show why the Fiserv is so special.” The Fiserv crowd is an experience that is unforgettable and has created memories for everyone, especially for these local players. Muelemans' favorite memory at the Fiserv was being able to see the Bucks vs. Lakers game court side, where she was able to see Lebron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo battle it out. For Anthon, it was being able to go to a game with her grandpa, where they saw the Bucks play against the Miami Heat, and she was marveled by how big the arena was on the inside. Marquette’s women’s basketball team has been given a chance to upset not only a rival, but also one of the favorites to win the NCAA tournament, and to do it on the biggest basketball stage in Wisconsin.

Index

News

Sports

Arts & Entertainment

Fraternity chapters on campus raised over $1,000 in a week.

Consuegra greets eight newcomers and four veterans..

The perfromance group adapted the classic film into a play.

SPORTS.......................................................5 OPINIONS..................................................9 FUN & GAMES......................................10 A&E................................................................11

Greek life fundraises against sexual violence PAGE 3

Women's returning players relied upon PAGE 5

MUPS presents 'Steel Magnolias' PAGE 11

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. If you have documents you'd like to send us, you can send anything to wiretips@marquette.edu.

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Powwow honors Indigenous culture The gathering happens annually in Milwaukee By Ava Johnson

ava.m.johnson@marquette.edu

The beat of rawhide drums, the jingle of little metal bells and distant aroma of fry bread all create the atmosphere of a powwow — an Indigenous celebration that brings people together to dance, sing and embrace culture. The Hunting Moon Powwow, which started in Milwaukee in the early 2000s, is an annual competitive event that takes place at the Baird Center. Dancers, drummers and singers come from around the state — and sometimes outside of Wisconsin — to compete in dancing and singing events to win cash prizes up to $1,400. In recent years, all 12 Indigenous tribes in Wisconsin have seen a resurgence in Woodland-style dance, a fast, hopping-like form that originated with the Anishinaabe tribes surrounding the Great Lakes. Originally, the war dance was meant to celebrate victories in battle but has since shifted to support those battling personal struggles like drug and alcohol abuse. “They say that we can heal from dance, and I believe it,” Nick Shepard, Hunting Moon’s male head dancer, said.

Photos by Ava Johnson ava.johnson@marquette.edu

Shepard, 48, is of the Forest County Band of the Potawatomi nation and has performed since he was five years old. He began dancing at cultural ceremonies after feeling like there was a lack of dancers his own age. He was chosen to be head dancer for the powwow by a committee, which evaluates candidates based on their skill and cultural knowledge. He filled in for the position over a decade ago for one day of the same powwow, but in 2026, the Woodland dancer got the got the title all to himself. “It feels like a long-time coming,” Shepard said. “I’m very grateful to the community and tribe.” Shepard said the steps he makes during powwows are more than just part of a dance — they carry the prayers of loved ones who are struggling or have passed on. He said during July powwows in Lac Du Flambeau, he will think about his father, who celebrated his birthday around the same time before his death. Katarina Lowell, of the Pokagon Band of the Potawatomi nation, also served in a leadership role at the powwow as the female head dancer. The 25-year-old started dancing in her childhood, shadowing her older sister’s dancing from the time she learned to walk. After growing up in a small town in Indiana,

Lowell put dancing on pause when she moved away to attend the University of Alabama. But after feeling like she had lost a part of her identity, she picked it up again in her senior year of college. “It makes me feel alive,” Lowell said. Now, as the mother of an 11-month-old, she hopes to keep cultural traditions alive as much as she can. She and her boyfriend come from dancing families and are showing their daughter her culture by traveling the country and exposing her to dance. In addition to the visual rhythm of dancing, culture rang through the powwow with drumming. Groups gathered for competitions, embracing the dance floor in one big circle with large drums, microphones and speakers. Bullhorn, a drumming and singing group, hosted the 2026 Hunting Moon Powwow. Host drums are entrusted with kicking off and closing out the powwow with several songs, such as an opening, a grand entry, a veteran or victory song and a flag song. “We’ve been singing our whole lives,” Billy Wadsworth, one of the current members of the group, said. “[It’s] something that you’re born into.” The 28-year-old group of ten men hails from Alberta, Canada, from the Kainai nation of the Blackfoot Confederacy.

The group was also at the Hunting Moon Powwow in 2025, when they won the drumming competition. Wadsworth said over his years of performing, he has learned the importance of doing things with grace and gratitude, especially when others are around for support. Wadsworth mentioned the group’s devotion to the sacredness of speaking their native languages and participating in their tribal ceremonies, such as the sun dance and smudging. Bullhorn has also held the host drum position at several other powwows around North America. This year, they’ve hosted the Urban Nations Powwow in Salt Lake City, Utah and the Spokane Tribe of Indians Labor Day Celebration in Wellpinit, Washington. They will also perform at the Manito Albee Powwow in Winnipeg starting Oct. 31. From Oct. 16-18, however, Bullhorn made Wisconsin its home. As with other performers, dancers and attendees who came from near and far, the threeday celebration was a chance to celebrate culture in Milwaukee. “Once you get grounded in your own community, your whole outlook changes and puts you in a better place,” Shepard said. “We’re all one people.”

The 2026 Hunting Moon Powwow took place Oct. 16-18 at the Baird Center in Milwaukee and included groups performing in singing and dancing competitions..

The Marquette Tribune

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Greek life anti-sexual violence efforts Campus Title IX policy Discrimination, harassment cases can be reported By Elena Metinidis

elena.metinidis@marquette.edu

Photo by Izzy Paracuelles izzy.paracuelles@marquette.edu

Marquette University's fraternity chapters tabled for a week to spread awareness, fundraise for an anti-sexual violence organization.

MU fraternities raised more than $1,000 in a week By Izzy Paracuelles

izabella.paracuelles@marquette.edu

Marquette University’s fraternity chapters lined a sidewalk in the middle of campus Oct. 13, standing beside a sign that read: “A Little Pie, A Bigger Impact.” The chapters’ pie-throwing event kicked off a week of fundraising over $1,000 for the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network — the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization. Armed with protective garbage bags, paper plates and cans of whipped cream, the chapters encouraged passing students to pie any fraternity brother of their choosing for $3. Logan Thomas, a junior in the College of Engineering and risk manager for Delta Tau Delta fraternity, organized the event and support for RAINN alongside his brothers after being motivated by recent conversations surrounding sexual violence. The rise in attention to sexual violence comes after a civil lawsuit filed in September alleged seven Cornell University students drugged and raped another student at a fraternity house, according to the Cornell Daily Sun. The case sparked national conversations about how universities handle on-campus sexual assaults, particularly with Greek life. “We decided that it’s

our [job] to do something about it,” Thomas said. “Marquette always says, ‘Be the difference.’” Jayna Dighe, a sophomore in the College of Communication, attended the event with hopes of pieing one of her closest friends, but also to support a cause that mattered to her. “As students on a campus, we have to be aware and stand up against acts of violence in our communities,” she said. “[DTD] is doing it for a good cause — I know it was worth it.” RAINN partners with both media and collegiate institutions to provide public education services, and collaborates with Greek life chapters across the country. At Marquette, it helped Thomas set up a GoFundMe and sent t-shirts, drink covers and RAINN pamphlets and stickers for the fraternity to share with donors and students across campus. RAINN also operates the National Sexual Assault Hotline, which has 24/7 service and connects callers directly to trained specialists and other resources. Sam Foster, a junior in the College of Communication, initially raised the idea to target sexual assault prevention, Thomas said. Foster said he wanted to go beyond simply voicing opinions and take real action. While Thomas facilitated the event outreach and setup, several members of Delta Tau Delta worked together to reach out to all of Marquette’s Greek life, inviting other chapters to participate in the pie event and tabling initiatives throughout the week.

For Steven Kappus, a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences and a member of Delta Tau Delta, the cause felt personal because he has four sisters. “I want to make sure this campus is safe – if my sisters were here, would they feel safe?” he said. Carlos Betancourt, a graduate student in the College of Engineering and Triangle Fraternity member, said he and his fraternity share many of the same sentiments as the Delta Tau Delta brothers. For Triangle members, the drive to participate came from wanting to remind students of the morals fraternities are supposed to uphold. Betancourt said any fraternity supporting and facilitating acts of sexual violence should be shut down. “We want to build a world with better men,”

Betancourt said. “There’s something wrong. We have to fix that.” Thomas said the overarching goal of supporting RAINN is to make a difference at Marquette, in Milwaukee and the world at large. Although organizers surpassed their initial donation goal Oct. 16, raising over $1,055, both Thomas and Foster encourage students to continue taking action however they can. Participating in Greek life, Thomas said, is about more than finding a collegiate community — it’s about serving a greater one. “Obviously, we’re just a small piece in the whole puzzle,” Thomas said. “But to do something like this makes us feel like a bigger piece — like we can [make] an impact.”

Photo by Izzy Paracuelles izzy.paracuelles@marquette.edu

Students could pay $3 to throw a pie at a fraternity brother.

Federal law requires all universities that receive federal funding to have Title IX offices to handle reports of misconduct on campus, including sexual violence. Offices around the country, including at Marquette, aim to mitigate instances of discrimination and harassment. Marquette University’s Office of Title IX and Student Civil Rights Compliance is available for students to report incidents, find resources and navigate policies. Along with reports of sexual harassment and sex discrimination, the office oversees discrimination against characteristics like race, gender identity, religion, disability, age, national origin, pregnancy and military status. Per Marquette’s policy against discrimination and harassment, the university will respond to incident reports promptly and provide support for equal access to campus programs and activities. The university can respond to on- and off-campus incidents that affect a student’s ability to participate in school. Anyone can report alleged misconduct to the Title IX office in person or by phone or email. Students won’t receive retaliation for reporting incidents to the office, the policy says. While many staff members are encouraged by the university to report incidents of harassment, the policy says confidential resources include professionals at the Medical Center, Counseling Center, Center for Psychological Services, ordained clergy and university victim advocates. Formal complaints are documented and signed by the Title IX Coordinator, Kristen Kreple, and request the university investigates allegations of prohibited conduct outlined in the policy. Title IX was initially implemented in 1972 to prevent sex-based discrimination on campuses, but has since expanded to include other incidents to protect student participation in academics, athletics, research opportunities, housing, educational activities and other aspects of campus life.

The Marquette Tribune

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Students preview upcoming midterm election Voters share opinions on race for WI governor By Nolan Leonard

nolan.leonard@marquette.edu

Wisconsinites will cast their ballots for the state’s next governor in just two weeks. On Marquette University’s campus, several students will vote for the first time. The journey to the polls will come after months of seeing mailers, text messages and TV commercials with “I approve this message,” attempting to influence which boxes students mark on their ballots. Races across the state include candidates running for the House of Representatives, Senate and local positions, but most campaigning has been for the gubernatorial election. Democratic Milwaukee County Executive David

Crowley and Republican Congressman Tom Tiffany are vying to be the 47th governor of Wisconsin after winning party nominations in the primary election Aug. 11. “This is a very important election season,” Matthew Camacho, a sophomore in the College of Arts & Sciences, said. “We need to elect representatives who will put community above corruption and corporations.” Camacho is planning to back Crowley on Nov. 3, but he initially voted for state representative Francesca Hong in the primary election. Hong was projected to win the nomination by every poll in the state, including the Marquette Law School Poll. Crowley then emerged victorious by half a percentage point in what many voters considered a shocking upset. Just a month prior to the

election, Crowley dropped out of the race before entering once again with an endorsement from Governor Tony Evers. Tiffany emerged from the primary with over 95% of the vote to win the Republican nomination. As candidates gear up for the midterm election, so are political organizations on Marquette’s campus, including College Democrats. Anne Polomsky, a senior in the College of Arts & Sciences and member of the College Democrats’ executive board, said that young people’s votes matter because the demographic is directly affected by the policies. Marquette College Republicans and Young Democratic Socialists of America at Marquette did not respond to the Wire’s request for comment on this story. Polomsky said the Democratic Party is finding

success with younger candidates on both the state and national level. However, she said, her party sometimes struggles with “boots on the ground” campaigning, as candidates often find difficulty having a strong physical presence, particularly on college campuses. “The Democrats want the vote, but they have to get out from behind a screen and get out to show people what it is they believe in,” Polomsky said. Lukas Nahm, a first-year student in the College of Engineering, is also planning to vote for Crowley. Nahm said his decision stems from a dislike for AI data centers and Tiffany’s support for Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.” The law created potential tax returns, which could incentivize an increase in data centers springing up throughout neighborhoods and rural areas.

For other students, the election is an opportunity to look at morality before policy. “I want the candidates to show more mercy and treat one another and their constituents with kindness,” Kaylee Zehm, a first-year student in the College of Nursing, said. Polomsky advocated for the importance of voting and wants students to know their vote matters. As campaigns work to connect with student demographics, she believes they have done an above average job of utilizing social media, especially platforms like TikTok and Instagram. In the latest Marquette Law School poll, Crowley held a 49%-46% lead among likely voters. The law school will be releasing another poll live to the public with a Q&A panel Oct. 28 at 12:15 p.m., which will be free and open to the public.

University programs offer groceries, clothing Several resources are housed in Holthusen Hall By Lilly Peacock

lilly.peacock@marquette.edu

In 2024, 23% of college students were reported to struggle with food insecurity. To combat disparities in food access among students, Marquette University has the Backpack Program, an on-campus food pantry. The program provides necessities like groceries and toiletries to any students who may be experiencing financial hardships. “Having that access to healthy food is really important,” Christine Little,

assistant director of the Arrupe Center for Community Service and Social Responsibility, said. The Backpack Program started in 2018 Eight years ago, the program found its unofficial start in the offices of various faculty members in the College of Health Sciences. Little said some professors in the physical therapy department began handing out food to students. Around the same time, Noreen Siddiqui, a 2021 graduate of the College of Arts & Sciences, did a study and found that just over 20% of Marquette students were experiencing food insecurity. The study prompted the development of a food pantry, Little said. The project quickly received support from

Photo by Lance Schulteis lance.schulteis@marquette.edu

Students can get up to 25 pounds of groceries at Iggy's Market.

Photo by Lily Wooten lily.wooten@marquette.edu

Marquette's Career Closet allows students to add donated clothing to their wardrobes for no cost.

Student Affairs and led to the Backpack Program’s original opening in the east side of Mashuda Hall’s lobby in 2018. In January 2025, once Marquette’s Career Center was moved from Holthusen Hall into the Lemonis Center for Student Success, the Backpack Program was able to take over the old location. It now exists as part of Iggy’s Market, Marquette’s basic needs hub for students. Backpack Program and Iggy’s Market In its new location, the Backpack Program has three times the space it did in Mashuda Hall and is now in a more central spot on campus, Little said. Current Marquette students can visit the pantry once a week and use of the market is always confidential. Students are allowed 30 minutes to shop and are limited to 25 pounds of grocery items each visit. Grocery options include fresh produce, frozen meats and

non-perishable items. A limited number of hygiene and personal products are also available. Iggy’s Market also houses the Career Closet, an appointment-based resource that allows students to add various donated pieces of professional clothing to their wardrobes, available in all sizes and at no cost. Students are welcome to walk in and will be accommodated if there is an open slot but are strongly encouraged to make an appointment to ensure they get all of the designated 30 minutes, Little said. Students are required to register and check in at the front desk of Iggy’s Market before accessing the pantry or other resources. When students register, they are also added to a weekly newsletter that lists available products. “There are no financial requirements,” Little said. “We assume that if a student is using us, they need us, and they get to define

for themselves.” Emergency aid is also offered through Iggy’s Market for students experiencing urgent financial hardships. This includes textbook and course material costs, utility bills and any other financial needs originating from unique circumstances, which are determined on a case-by-case basis. MarKept is another resource within the basic needs hub, allowing students to purchase donated household items at a discounted price. The store is not located in Holthusen Hall — students can access the store on 16th Street, across from the Book Marq. The front desk at Holthusen for both the Backpack Program and Career Closet is typically staffed from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. during the week, but hours can fluctuate due to reliance on student volunteers.

The Marquette Tribune

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Sports

Women’s Basketball Special Edition

Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics

Meulemans (left) and Herring (right) have already stepped up as leaders being two of four returners.

THEN THERE WERE FOUR Herring, Barnes, Meulemans and Vice make up only returners

By Andrew Tropp

andrew.tropp@marquette.edu

Kam Herring stood at the foul line with the ball in her hand. Making or missing this free throw was the difference between practice ending or having to run another gauntlet of drills. With the weight of the team's Wednesday afternoon on her shoulders, the sophomore guard drilled the shot, and celebrations ensued. To unfamiliar eyes, the camaraderie on display would appear similar to a team that had grown up with one another, playing basketball for years or even decades. In reality, the 2026-27 Marquette women’s basketball roster has eight new players, and only four returners from last year's team. Only three of these returners had playing time last season. Senior forward Halle Vice, senior guard Jordan Meulemans and Herring each combined for 26% of the team's total playing time last season, meaning that head coach Cara Consuegra was left with the job of filling the 74% left behind from graduated players and transfers. The fourth returner is sophomore guard JJ Barnes, the former Ms. Wisconsin Basketball finalist who was injured before

her freshman season last year and forced to redshirt. Of the eight new players to the team, two are firstyears, two come from overseas and the remaining four are all transfers. Consuegra was intentional in her actions all offseason, ensuring that the few returning players played their part in welcoming the new faces to the program. “We had some meetings in the spring of what specifically we wanted to make sure we focused on,” said Consuegra. "So when the newcomers came in, it wasn’t them just figuring it out.” These teachings focused on things beyond just learning schemes and actions on the court, but how a player should conduct themselves throughout the day. “We were very focused on… simple things, but they all matter,” Consuegra said. “How we lift, how we transition from lift to workout, how we bring our notebooks.” So far, the veterans have quickly adapted to their new roles. “The younger kids always want to accompany [and] talk to me, so I’m just really trying to get their confidence up,” Meulemans said. Meulemans is just a second-year member of the

program herself. The De Pere, Wisconsin native spent her first three collegiate seasons with Butler, before transferring to the Golden Eagles last season. The senior spent most of last year coming off the bench, appearing in 27 of 30 games, finishing sixth in total minutes. For Herring, her experience is a bit more limited than her fellow guards. As a first-year, Herring made appearances in 12 games, averaging four minutes a game with 19 total points on the season. “As a freshman, just being able to be taken under [last year’s team's] wing has helped me [to] be a little bit more experienced for our underclassmen,” Herring said. No player on the team has more experience under Coach Consuegra than senior forward Halle Vice. The second-highest scorer on last year's team is returning for her fourth year at Marquette, and third year under Consuegra. This year, she will be expected to take more of a prominent role for the team. “Halle was kind of the Robin to the Batman last year, and I think she kind of gets an opportunity to be the Batman,” Consuegra said. “I think it’s a great op-

portunity for Halle.” Last season, the Golden Eagles were led in points and blocks by Skylar Forbes, who took her talents to West Virginia via the transfer portal this spring. Forbes was a twotime member of the All-Big East First Team and was named to the All-Defensive Big East team as well last season. Vice is up to the challenge of making that up, and she emphasized keeping her style of play the same even in the new role. “It is my responsibility to rebound, to have the motor the whole game, to play good defense, and then… be someone that Coach can trust to score when we need it,” Vice said. Despite the loss of Forbes, Consuegra believes that this season's team has already vastly improved on the defensive end. “We love the way that we play,” Consuegra said. “I think the difference you might see is on the defensive end, we are [one of] the biggest teams that Marquette has had.” The players share this belief as well. “We are a lot faster," Meulemans said. "We really want to go down the floor and also we take pride in defense a lot more this year.”

Herring emphasized the wide adaptability and flexibility of the roster, “I don’t think there’s really anything that we can’t do…we are all very versatile.” Last year's team averaged seven three-pointers per game, with a 35.1% shooting percentage from beyond the arc. This was a major improvement from the 2024-25 team, which averaged 5.2 three-pointers per game on 30.1% shooting. This year, Consuegra expects that upward trend to continue. “We did a better job [this year] of recruiting players with the skill set that work well on our offense,” said Consuegra, “11 of our 12 players can shoot the three.” Despite only knowing each other for a few months, the Marquette women’s basketball team is ready to win. “They all want to get better and they want to win,” Vice said. “And so I think just that alone is great for the team.” An offseason that could have been filled with headaches and growing pains has instead come together very well for Consuegra and the Golden Eagles as they prepare for the start of the 2026-27 season.

The Marquette Tribune

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

From Taiwan and France to MKE

Han Lin and Traore bring foreign flare By Conor McPherson

conor.mcpherson@marquette.edu

Entering her third season in charge of the Golden Eagles, Cara Consuegra has had one of the most tumultuous jobs in college basketball. Last year, Consuegra’s season ended on a positive note, as Marquette women’s basketball became the only Division I program in the country to retain its entire roster. However, just one season later, Consuegra returned only three players heading into her third season at the helm. Marquette’s two leading scorers in 2025-26 were both juniors, Halle Vice and Skylar Forbes, but only Vice remains with the program. The All-Big East guard returns for her senior season, while twotime All-Big East center Skylar Forbes transferred to West Virginia. To overcome their roster turnover, Consuegra and her staff widened their recruiting pursuits. This time to an international scale, adding Taiwanese guard Yu Han Lin and French center Amina Traore for the 2026-27 season. Consuegra’s global hunt led her to Traore through an unexpected connection.

“We still had a roster spot open and my assistant coach, Sheila Boykin, traveled to Sweden for a FIBA U-18 Women’s EuroBasket Tournament," Consuegra said. "We were looking for a late international addition, and Traore’s agent happened to be at the game with Sheila.” By pure chance, Traore became the addition Consuegra was looking for. “I really liked our interview, what they said, and the culture and competitiveness of this conference," Traore said. "I really have a good feeling with the coaching staff.” Although Consuegra has enjoyed the success of her past international players, recruiting international talent has guidelines that frequently shift and force Consuegra and her coaching staff to be constantly mindful of the ever-changing rulebook. “We had to get Amina admitted to school, and then we had to get her visa and paperwork all done in a very short amount of time, so that was extremely challenging,” Consuegra said. On Sep. 14, 2026, a federal judge temporarily blocked a rule that would have replaced the current visa system for international student-athletes. Consuegra had to jump through several hoops to get Traore on the court, but her team is now ready for the season.

“Shoutout to everybody at Marquette that was so wonderful about putting students first, it was a team effort,” Consuegra said. Although the Al McGuire Center is just over 4,000 miles from Traore’s home in Paris, she is excited for her time in the United States and sees a lot of similarities between the two. “I really like the way we play, it’s like European basketball, it's fast and we want to score quickly, so it’s great with me,” Traore said. Traore, originally from Paris, France, has a wealth of international experience playing for Pôle France, Charnay, Mondeville and most recently Monaco Basket Association for the 2025-26 season. Traore has been a part of France’s youth national system since the U-16 level. “That's the thing with international players, they're thrown into the professional leagues very quickly,” Consuegra said. “The ability for her to bring her international and pro experience to our team that's relatively inexperienced, was obviously a big advantage in terms of r ecruiting her here.” Consuegra will be the first to say the advantages of international recruiting. Last season’s roster included four international players: Abbey Cracknell and Ayuen Akot from Australia, and Skylar Forbes and Jada

Traore's six-foot-two stature will feature in the center for MU..

See MKE page 6

Han Lin averaged 4.7 points per game at Middle Tennessee.

Photo courtesy of Marquette Athletics

The international students are two of eight newcomers to the team.

Dakota Barnes-Rush is a sports reporter. He is the beat report-

The Marquette Tribune

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Alumni pursue professional careers abroad Volker, Mason and King take talent to Europe By Caleb LaBlanc

caleb.lablanc@marquette.edu

Passion for the game of basketball is one thing, but traveling thousands of miles to continue playing takes that passion to a whole other level. That's what former Marquette women's basketball players Jaidynn Mason, Lee Volker and Jordan King are doing across the pond in Europe for their respective clubs: chasing that dream of playing professional basketball. For the program's former "X-factor," Jaidynn Mason, all she wanted was one shot and she got it. In late August, Mason signed a contract to play professionally for FCC UAV Arad, a women's team based in Romania that plays in the Liga Națională. With little time in the country, Mason says it's been a "culture shock" when describing her adjustment to the city of Arad, Romania, which holds a population of around 145,000. "It was my first offer and I took it," Mason said. "They say people can be mean and scary here, but everyone I've met here is really nice." Mason said her game translates well to overseas play, and credits Coach Cara Consuegra for instilling that during her time at Marquette. "Patience within my game helped me because they play slower. It helped me stop and think before I go and make a play." About 1,500 miles northwest of Mason, two more Golden Eagles are attempting to leave their mark on the European women's basketball scene in Germany. Marquette guards Jordan King and Lee Volker both signed contracts within a month of each other with Syntainics MBC

of the Damen Basketball Bundesliga, Germany's top professional league. Volker joins Jordan King, who has already established herself in Europe after playing in the Luxembourg Basketball League (LBBL) this past season. There King averaged 20.8 points, 7.2 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.9 steals per game, before being named to the Eurobasket All-Lux Second Team and winning the MVP of the Luxem-

bourg Cup. At Marquette, they were merely locker buddies. Now playing overseas together, their relationship has grown into a closer friendship that extends off the court. Whether it's grabbing coffee together or FaceTiming each other out of the blue to ask a "dumb question you would only ask a close friend," the two have grown closer in ways they never expected.

"I FaceTimed Jordan one day and said, isn't it weird that we are calling like all the time now?" Volker's process while deciding to go pro was almost a no-brainer. She described how her goal kept growing through the process and work she put in during her time at Marquette. The confidence Volker has can be attributed to head coach Cara Consuegra, who recruited Volker out of high school.

Photos courtesy of FCC UAV Arad's Instagram

Mason (right) ranked third in the Big East in assists per game her senior season.

Photos courtesy of Lee Volker's instagram

Volker (left) and King (right) shared the MU court for a season before reuniting in Germany.

"I knew it was my goal," Volker said. "If I can get paid to put an orange ball in a hoop, that's the dream." One of the biggest differences in overseas play is the physicality, and Volker described how her experience playing three-onthree against her current team while at Marquette helped her prepare for that physicality. She shouted out her former weight coach at Marquette, Maggie Smith, who Volker claims takes pride in making the team stronger within each session. Volker also called back to a drill that pops in her mind constantly when on the hardwood. "We had finishing school, which is a drill we do in practice," Volker said. "It's just funny because sometimes when I go up for layups I think to myself, finishing school, 'What would coach Cara say?'" Volker continuously pushed herself while on campus. Overloading classes on top of each other and even chasing her masters degree. Now, her mind can be at ease so she can focus solely on basketball. Transitioning to a different country brings challenges, and Volker has accepted that. Although she is away from family, she says this "forced alone time" has continued to help her grow as a person. Taking the next step as a professional in a different place can be challenging in itself. However, Mason and Volker believe that any players considering it should jump on the opportunity as they did. "People don't realize how big the game is over here," Volker said. "Our coaches at Marquette did a great job conditioning us for this when they would practice with us." "Take the risk, take a chance," Mason said. "Try it for one year and you will get a great experience out of it."

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

MKE: Consuegra expanded search worldwide Continued from page 6

Bediako from Canada. After an 18-12 (12-8 Big East) 2025-26 season, Consuegra will look for Traore to welcome a French revolution on the court at the Al McGuire Center. The 6'2" Traore averaged 2.8 points and 2.3 rebounds in nine minutes per game for Monaco in the second tier of women's professional basketball in France, the

Ligue Féminine 2. However, Traore isn’t the only player with global roots suiting up for the Golden Eagles this season. Lin, the Marquette sophomore from Hualien, Taiwan, proved to be an unexpected recruiting find for Boykin and the recruiting staff. Although originally from Taiwan, Lin spent her freshman year in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, play-

ing for Middle Tennessee State University. Entering her second season of college basketball, Lin was enthusiastic to join Consuegra’s program. “During my conversation with Consuegra, I felt like she was really honest and told me what I could improve on and she did not hide anything,” Lin said. “I feel like she’s a good coach and a good person to have a

connection with.” Like Traore, Lin’s playing experience extends far beyond Division I basketball. Lin represented Chinese Taipei in multiple FIBA youth competitions, including the 2024 U18 Women’s Asia Cup, where she averaged 10.6 points per game. “We liked her at Middle [Tennessee], but we really liked the way that she

played for Taiwan,” Consuegra said. “Once we saw that, it was full-court press, trying to get her here.” With her roster now fully assembled, Consuegra is excited for the international experience Traore and Lin can bring to the team. The women’s team kicks off its season at the Al McGuire Center against Mississippi Valley State on Nov. 3.

The Marquette Tribune

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL

Laying the Wisconsin roots under Consuegra

Squad went from zero to four from MU's home state By Mikey Severson

michael.severson@marquette.edu

In the season before Cara Consuegra took Marquette's head coaching job, the Golden Eagles did not have anyone from Wisconsin in the blue & gold. Now, heading into Consuegra's third year leading the Golden Eagles, Marquette has its largest crop of Wisconsin-born talent since the 2018-19 set to suit up this season. Graduate student guard Jordan Meulemans, a De Pere, Wis., native, returns for her second season with the Golden Eagles.Sophomore guard JJ Barnes, hailing from Racine, Wis., was one of Consuegra's first recruits to Marquette but missed her first year due to a torn ACL. Kayl Petersen and Noelle Anthon became Golden Eagles this offseason through the transfer portal to help offset the program's slew of recent departures. The junior forwards also happen to be natives of Waupun, Wis., and Oconomowoc, Wis., respectively. "We want the best players in the state to want to come to Marquette and stay home," Consuegra said. "When I took over the job, I was surprised that we didn't have a Wisconsin player on the roster, so that has been an emphasis of our recruiting and coaching staff." Anthon made her Wisconsin homecoming after spending her first two years at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, but Petersen initially committed to the Golden Eagles in October 2022 under former Marquette head coach Megan Duffy. She followed Duffy to Vir-

practice, Barnes found a way to challenge herself– knocking out some pushups while cheering on her teammates. Her intentionality stood out to Consuegra in finding a way to challenge herself despite the circumstances. "Her upper body strength is tremendous, that goes again as a credit to her," Consuegra said. "When coming back from surgery, she couldn't do anything other than work on upper body; she did that, then when she had the ability to start working on her legs, she went after that." As the Golden Eagles got ready for summer camp, they all read and discussed the book “The Twin Thieves”, focusing on the pillars of the fears of failure and judgment and how it relates to a team culture, which ended up being one of Barnes' favorite reads. Barnes said that despite not being too far away from family, college has helped calm her nerves for her Al McGuire Center debut. "I think it's taking a big step, just watching last year on the sidelines and Photos courtesy of Marquette Athletics how things have developed Petersen will make her homecoming after playing two seasons at Virginia Tech. to be more of a patient ginia Tech, playing through and take the next step as player when I come back," Barnes said. her sophomore year there a sophomore. As Marquette women’s before wanting a change of "With Jaidynn being in basketball looks to turn scenery, as well as the emmy position group, defithe page to a new chapter brace of family. nitely her resilience and this season, Petersen said "Knowing that I was gopoise, and with Lee, her that the surge of Wisconing to be able to get that resilience too, being that sin talent donning the blue here was a big pull for me," fifth year and pretty much & gold is more than taking Petersen said. "It was hard the head of the team, I’d the floor– it brings a new at first going away, you say her leadership as well,” angle to her college career. learn to live with it a little Barnes said. "Being able to retain Wisbit, but it's something that Working her way back consin kids brings a differI couldn't quite get away from the ACL tear, Barnes ent level of fight within us," from, was having family at is taking it one step at a Petersen said. "It brings every game." time, patiently, before she more community, Jordan As Consuegra's first Wistakes the floor in front of has a big following, Noelle consin recruit, Barnes her home crowd. has a big following, who Cara Consuegra felt that learning from After her surgery, she knows, most of Waupun Women's basketball former players like Lee picked up a love for readhead coach ing and cherished time will probably be at games, Volker and Jaidynn Mason — both of whom have with her friends and fam- but I think that's a really Barnes said that both inked overseas professionily while growing stronger big piece of it, is to bring of the veterans’ resilthe community together." al contracts — was invaluphysically and mentally. ience helped her adjust able as she adjusted to the As Marquette ran some to college basketball sprints during a spring collegiate environment.

"When I took over the job, I was surprised that we didn't have a Wisconsin player on the roster."

The Marquette Tribune

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Opinions

By Owen Parker

Keep going to the movie theater

owen.parker@marquette.edu

The gigantic screen, the overwhelming sound, the emotions manifested, the cultivated sense of belonging — all cinematic experiences incapable of replication on a television or computer. Movie theaters will always have a place in our society, and it is our job to sustain them. Cinematic viewing is not only consumption of the film itself, but the experience and emotion it cultivates. A cinema allows you to feel the roar of a monster or grasp intense heartbreak. The sheer scale is intimidating, helping each scene feal more real. The experiences generated by movie theaters have existed since their first iteration. “The Horse in Motion” was shot in June 1878, the preliminary version of a motion picture. The first dedicated cinema is debated but is commonly believed to be built in Atlanta in 1895

By Alex Wassilak

to demonstrate the Phantoscope, a revolutionary film projection machine. Cinema as an artform was born out of revolutionary tactics to help people feel and see more than a still picture. This innovation hasn’t stopped, but it seems less appreciated in our current media climate. With the birth of streaming services came the inevitable descent of the economic viability of movie theaters. After the COVID-19 pandemic, film production companies turned to athome services for movie releases instead of the traditional theater-exclusive release format. The total gross of the domestic box office reached $2.1 billion per Box Office Mojo, an 81.4% drop from the 2019 total of $11.4 billion Theater numbers have steadily recovered, reaching $8.7 billion in 2025, but haven’t come close to the 2019 total. Film production has gradually shifted toward

streaming services, with companies such as Netflix and Amazon Prime headlining funding for popular projects including “KPop Demon Hunters” and “Project Hail Mary." These streaming services have greatly influenced traditional film release formats, putting greatly anticipated films in theaters for a limited time or not at all to push more viewers to their streaming service. Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos even went as far to say the traditional theater format is “outdated." Sarandos told Time magazine the struggling global box office tells us what the consumer wants. “The [consumers] like to watch movies at home,” he said. “The studios and the theaters are duking it out over trying to preserve this 45-day window that is completely out of step with the consumer experience of just loving a movie.” Sarandos is wrong. 2026 domestic box office

numbers show the total gross passed $7 billion on Aug. 23, a 20% increase from the same 2025 date. If this pace holds, the domestic total gross will be around $10.6 billion, the highest value post-COVID by a significant margin. People still want to go to the cinema. That feeling of going into a theater with the sun still up, cutting off the outside world for two brief hours and leaving as the stars take over the sky can’t be beaten. The theater creates community, inspires creativity and instills emotions that someone might not be able to access otherwise. It is the peak viewing experience of film, and it can’t be taken away. Milwaukee Film is Milwaukee’s leading force in preserving traditional film style, owning and operating the famous Oriental Theatre since 2018 and the Downer Theater since 2026. The Oriental first opened in 1927 and is described as a “stunning movie pal-

ace" by Milwaukee Film. Movies are screened daily, including new releases, classics and the coveted 70 mm film projection. 70 mm film refers to the physical size of the film, making each image contain more visual information, creating a huge screen and appalling viewing experience. The Oriental presented a “70 mm Film Series” this past summer to showcase how different film formats affect viewing experiences. The Oriental Theatre is also “one of less than 20 [theaters] in the country” that can project 70 mm year-round, making Milwaukee a perfect place to view cinema’s optimal viewing experience. Cinema isn't dying, it's reviving. Continue reading this story at marquettewire.org.

Owen Parker is the assistant opinions editor. He is a junior studying journalism.

Banning McGee, hosting Shapiro

alexander.wassilak@marquette.edu

Students for Justice in Palestine invited YouTuber Tommy McGee to speak at an event they had planned for Oct. 9 in O’Brien Hall. Marquette then told them that McGee was not allowed on campus as a speaker. Marquette decided his content was antithetical to their Free Expression Statement. After reading through the statement and watching McGee’s video on Israel, I think this was a mistake. In this video, he talks to a wide range of people including U.S. politicians, IDF soldiers and doctors who spent time in Palestine. He examines Israel’s grip on American politics through AIPAC, the IDF's mistreatment and killing of innocent civilians and the people suppressed for speaking out against Israel's actions. McGee is not antisemitic or discriminatory simply because of his negative views of the Israeli government. Nothing in the video suggests hostility to Jewish people. McGee frames the video as unveiling the reality of the Palestinian conflict and the connection to American politicians. Perhaps if Marquette views McGee as biased, they should suggest an accompaniment that holds

opposing views for a more comprehensive dialogue. Banning him outright without providing evidence of any specific violations of their own policy is an overstep by Marquette. Marquette’s Free Expression Statement states students should "vigorously debate ideas, in and out of the classroom.” It is certainly true that the Israel-Palestine conflict and the American involvement is a controversial topic, but it is one that should be questioned and contended to attempt to have a more well-informed opinion. Marquette’s decision calls into question its regard for free expression on campus. McGee could certainly be seen as a polarizing figure, but that alone is not enough to ban him from speaking on campus. In fact, it could be argued Marquette allowed a much more controversial speaker last week to talk to the Marquette University Law School Federalist Society. Ilya Shapiro, a senior fellow and director of constitutional studies at the Manhattan Institute, resigned from his former position at Georgetown University after his online critique of Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson as a “lesser black woman." Shapiro has also spoken up in support of

the Israeli government. According to the Reverse Canary Mission, “he dehumanizes Palestinians as ‘subhumans’ and ‘barbarians,’ and endorses the deportation of students protesting the occupation to shield Israeli settler-colonial violence and apartheid.” Marquette, as a private institution, has the ability to put certain restrictions on free speech. But this instance where Shapiro is allowed and McGee is not appears to be a double standard and unfair enforcement of their policy. Shapiro’s language is demeaning and could be an example of someone who is barred because of the Free Expression Statement. University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a public institution, has a less-restrictive guideline on speakers. UWM condemns hate speech, but they say that is the extent of their limits because of the First Amendment. “The university cannot prohibit speakers based on their viewpoints, even though their words may be abhorrent to many students, faculty and staff,” UWM notes on their website. Marquette has a unique power as a private school to disallow speakers who they feel don’t align with

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

Speech is often a protest topic.

the school’s mission. But they should be more aware of their current abuse of this authority. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression ranked Marquette 231 out of 261 schools in their 2027 College Free Speech Rankings. Marquette should be inspiring its students to listen to a variety of perspectives, thinking critically about what they believe and banning speakers only in extreme cases. Removing McGee and allowing Shapiro to speak fell short of that standard. Marquette must improve in enforcing their own guidelines for speakers.

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 20, 2026

Fun & Games Basketball Terms

Comic by Evelyn Riordan evelyn.riordan@marquette.edu

Airball

Assist

Swish

Fadeaway

Freethrow

Dribble

Steal

Floater

Block

Fake

And-one

Carry

Marquette Basketball Across 2. The Golden Eagles' home venue, _______ Forum 4. Name of Marquette's golden eagle mascot 5. "Ring out _____ !" Chanted at basketball games 6. ACDC's hit song that plays at every game

Down 1. MUBB's conference (two words, no space) 3. The first name of Coach Smart 7. Marquette's b-ball term for a positive influence whose actions set off a chain reaction: "Be a ______"

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.) Tackle 4.) Coach 5.) Endzone 6.) Foul 7.) Fumble DOWN 1.) Touchdown 2.) Helmet 4.) Coach

The Marquette Tribune

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Arts & Entertainment

REVIEW: MUPS and 'Steel Magnolias' By Sara Scorsone

sara.scorsone@marquette.edu

This past weekend, Marquette University Players Society made the audience laugh and cry with a stage performance of the critically-acclaimed film “Steel Magnolias” on Oct. 16 and 17 at Straz Tower Theatre. Overview of the play Jayne Sullivan, a junior in the College of Communications and MUPS artistic director, chose this show because of her personal connection to the original film. “Steel Magnolias” was a family favorite for Sullivan, and her love for the movie made her want to bring it to life with MUPS. “My mom loves this movie, but always cries while watching it,” Sullivan said. The play is about a group of ladies in a small town in Louisiana who love to gossip while getting their hair done. M’Lynn, Shelby, Truvy, Ouiser, Annelle and Clairee love to share details about everyone’s life in town, including their own. Shelby battles with

Type 1 Diabetes, and that puts her in danger both for her wedding and for the birth of her child. Over the course of a few years, the others witness Shelby’s deteriorating health until, ultimately, they must cope with her passing. Thoughts and review I immediately noticed the details of the stage as soon as I walked into the theatre. The set design was flawless: the cans of hairspray, the pink accents, the numerous combs and diverse magazine collection. I felt as if I had just traveled back in time and entered a 1980s hair salon. As the performance began, I appreciated even more the costumes and wigs worn by the actresses: everything was well thought out, adding to the characterization of the protagonists. For two hours I forgot that I was in the Midwest, feeling the Southern energy all around me, thanks to the set, props, costumes and acting. The cast had such

Photo courtesy of Draylin Pickett

The dramatic play was directed by junior Jayne Sullivan.

Photo courtesy of Draylin Pickett

"Steel Magnolias" follows a group of southern women who bond at their local salon.

perfect southern accents that if I didn’t know them, I’d think they were actually from Louisiana. While the movie was shot in multiple locations, the play takes place only in one. The choice to have the story be told only within the four walls of the salon was strategic, but it strengthened the story even more. This choice highlighted the connection the women had— no matter what was happening in their life, they had the certainty of going to get their hair done and share their troubles with the others in the meantime. The stage crew was able to portray changes in time with simple prop swaps within the beauty parlor. By switching a simple plant to a pot of poinset-

tias, I immediately understood that a time skip had happened and it was now Christmastime. The acting was phenomenal. The actresses took those roles and made them unique. They embraced the characters they were portraying and became them. Claire Baxendale, a junior in the College of Arts & Sciences who played Shelby, delivered such a powerful performance throughout the whole show that it almost didn’t seem like acting. Her emotions and thoughts were so raw and realistic that they elevated Shelby’s personality and struggles even more. The other members of the cast were just as talented, bringing a depth to the relationships between such different people who

simply loved to gossip and have defined curls in their hair. Every so often, I would look around me, and I could always see the stage lights reflecting the tears of those sitting next to me, moved by the performance just as much as me. For the first time while watching a play, I cried. Seeing a group of women be on stage, laughing, fighting and even crying together reflects the power of girlhood and solidarity among women. The fragile emotions shared between all these strong characters reflected the title of the show: something sturdy and durable like steel, that can be delicate and dainty like a magnolia.

All for the love of music: Irish tin whistle

By Nate Oif

nate.oif@marquette.edu

“We spent 45 minutes doing an Irish dance in class.” Josie Joyner, a junior in the School of Education, could not believe this was part of her college experience. “When you’re in high school, your teachers are always telling you, ‘Your college professors are never gonna put up with this,” Joyner said. “And then I’m dancing and playing the tin whistle in college instead.” The class is MUSI 1500 Introduction to Irish Tin Whistle, taught by Rev. Ryan Duns, S.J., a Jesuit priest and chair of Marquette’s theology department. Duns began teaching the course at Fordham University in 2003 and has since brought it to Marquette as part of the Irish Studies minor. Each class, Duns introduces a new song for the class to practice. When they return

the following week, they spend time polishing that piece before moving on to the next one. The 1.5-credit course welcomes students from all academic backgrounds and varying music experience. Students enroll for multiple reasons: some to get a break from academia, others to get back into music. “It [playing instruments] dwindled down when I got to college, and I wanted to try to get back into it a little bit more,” Dylan Guiliano, a junior in the School of Education, said. The class brings together students from all different years and majors. Classmates who otherwise rarely interact create a special community every Tuesday, built through a shared bond over trying something out of the ordinary. Strangers soon become friends. Students who

have been playing music since they were kids share a space with those who have never even touched an instrument.

"It's not about how good you are in the end; did you take the risk to grow and push your boundaries?"

Rev. Ryan Duns, S.J. Professor for Introduction to Irish Tin Whistle

“Having the class slowly become friends is really fun to experience, and watching everybody in the class grow as a musician is really great too,” Joyner said.

But the class is much more than an outlet back into music or a break from education; it’s about stepping out of your comfort zone and being okay with making mistakes. Duns hopes that, with a little perseverance and encouragement, students can appreciate that they are capable of doing difficult things. He adds that the value isn’t being good at something, but in trying something new. “It’s not about how good you are in the end; did you take the risk to grow and push your boundaries?” Duns said. New challenges bring the inevitability of failure, but the students see the mistakes as just another step towards growth. “We’re gonna mess up and suck, but that’s just a part of learning the instrument,” Guiliano said.

As Duns puts it, it’s a great way to build the skill of being bad at something. The class shares Irish culture with students of all backgrounds. Duns hopes to build appreciation while giving students opportunities to engage with it. At the end of most classes, he reminds students to come to the Jesuit residence, where every Thursday night the Jesuits play music and invite students to play the tin whistle along with them. And most importantly, the class puts Marquette’s Ignatian mission, cura personalis, the care of the whole person, front and center. “I think accounting is a good class because it teaches you a skill. I think organic chemistry is a good class. I think finance is important. But art, or music or acting — those are courses that teach you, in a way, how to be human,” Duns said.

The Marquette Tribune

Tuesday, October 20, 2026

2026-2027

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL SEASON SCHEDULE NOVEMBER

JANUARY

3rd: vs. Mississippi Valley State 6:30 PM 7th: vs. Minnesota 2:00 PM 10th: vs. Presbyterian College 11:00 AM 13th: @ Missouri State 6:30 PM 17th: @ Wisconsin 6:30 PM 21st: vs. NIJT 2:00PM 27th: vs. Illinois 10:00AM 29th: vs. Belmont 3:00PM

NOVEMBER 1

FEBRUARY

4th: @ Xavier 10:00 AM 6th: vs. Butler 2:00 PM 10th: vs. Villanova 8:00 PM 13th: vs. Wagner 2:00 PM 20th: vs. St. John's 2:00 PM 22nd: vs. Alabama A&M 11:00AM 31st: @ Providence 12:00PM

3rd: vs. Xavier 6:30 PM 7th: vs. UConn 1:30 PM 10th: @ Georgetown 6:00 PM 18th: @ Villanova 7:00 PM 21st: vs. Providence 3:00 PM 24th: vs. DePaul 6:30PM 27th: @ Creighton 11:30AM

UConn 38-1 20-0 Villanova 25-8 16-4 Marquette 18-12 12-8 Seton Hall 19-13 12-8 St. John's 22-12 11-9 Creighton 16-15 11-9 Providence 15-18 7-13 G-Town 14-17 6-14 Butler 12-19 6-14 DePaul 8-24 5-15 Xavier 11-19 4-16

17-0 12-3 11-4 10-6 11-4 8-6 11-7 8-8 9-8 7-10 8-9

Away

Neut.

12-0 10-3 7-5 8-6 8-7 6-8 2-9 5-9 2-9 1-13 3-9

9-1 3-2 0-3 1-1 3-1 2-1 2-2 1-1 1-2 0-1 0-1

Marquette women’s basketball is coming into its third year under head coach Cara Consuegra. In the 2025-26 season, the Golden Eagles were the only Division 1 program to return its entire roster. After being selected second in the preseason poll before the 202526 season, Marquette finished third. This year, the program has dropped to the No. 6 spot with four returning players on its squad.

Marquette’s former head coach Terri Mitchell will have a banner hung in the rafters of the Al McGuire Center on Jan. 17. In her 18-year tenure with the Golden Eagles, Mitchell earned three Coach of the Year awards, appeared in seven NCAA Tournaments, led Marquette to four conference championships and finished her career with 348 wins.

MS 18

NIJT 25

BEL

DECEMBER 01

XU 06

BU 13

VU 14

ABM 28

JANUARY 03

SHU 10

DPU

UC 18

SHU

BU 25

CU 31

SJU

FEBRUARY 01

XU 07

PRESEASON POLL 1. Uconn 2. Villanova 3. Creighton 4. St. John's' 6. Marquette

7. Providence 8. Georgetown 9. Xavier 10. Butler 11. DePaul

PRESEASON AWARDS HalleVice

Senior guard Halle Vice was selected to the Preseason All-Big East Team. Vice enters this season leading the Big East in rebounding (8.9 RPG) and double-doubles (11). Vice ranks third among the league’s returning scorers, averaging 13.7 points per game in the 2025-26 season.

No. 22

NEWS

SJU

WIRE SPORTS ROUNDUP

Ovr. Conf. Home

UWM

2025-2026 Big East Standings

LAST YEAR

PBC

DECEMBER

MVS

3rd: vs. Seton Hall 2:00 PM 10th: @. DePaul 2:00 PM 13th: @ UConn 6:00 PM 17th: vs. Georgetown 2:00 PM 20th: @ Butler 6:00 PM 23rd: @ Seton Hall 12:00PM 28th: vs. Creighton 6:00PM 31st: @ St. John's 1:00PM

VU 25

DPU

MARCH 01

BIG EAST TOURNAMENT 07

BIG EAST TOURNAMENT

HOME AWAY NEUTRAL