The Marquette Tribune campus news since 1916
Volume 109, Number 5
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
www.marquettewire.org
Lab instructors looking to fill gaps
Photos by Clay Ellis-Escobar clay.ellis-escobar@marquette.edu
Biological sciences faculty cite outdated equipment, lack of air conditioning and inefficient teaching space as issues that impair their ability to conduct classes.
University is still without funding for science district By Mia Thurow
mia.thurow@marquette.edu
M
arquette University included a BioDiscovery district in their 2017 $600 million campus master plan. In 2025, it’s the only capital project in the plan that hasn’t been completed. In an August interview with the Marquette Wire, University President Kimo Ah Yun said he hopes to create a definite plan this academic year. But in the meantime, students and faculty in the
biological sciences department will have to work with the equipment and facilities currently available. Faculty cite outdated equipment, a lack of air conditioning and inefficient teaching space as some issues that impair their ability to conduct labs and classes. Students work on new research in Wehr Life Sciences In the Wehr Life Sciences building, Marquette students are often working to make novel scientific discoveries, but some faculty are unsure if the building can keep up with the demand for what’s inside. Wehr Life Sciences houses two types of laboratories, said Martin St. Maurice,
professor and chair of the Department of Biological Sciences. The upstairs labs serve as research spaces for graduate students while the labs on the first floor are designed to accommodate larger classes. Students in the biological sciences department aren’t just doing step-bystep labs, St. Maurice said, they’re working on “cutting-edge” research. He said students find their passion through the process of scientific discovery. “I think that’s so critical to our mission,” St. Maurice said. Take, for example, a cell biology lab class that focuses on generating yeast strains and conducting re-
search experiments and analysis on their results. Emily Sontag, assistant professor in the biological sciences department, teaches the class and said her upper-level students are doing hands-on work that has never been seen before. “This is a totally new discovery,” she said. Sontag’s students also focus on writing about their research to prepare for future scenarios in the workplace. Overall, the Wehr Life Sciences building is successful in preparing students for the future and offers adequate resources, St. Maurice said. But, he added, the Department of Biological Sciences is always thinking
about both limitations and potential for the future. Lack of equipment, outdated features can limit students Sontag’s lab has enough state-of-the-art microscopes for a full class of students. Not all biological sciences professors are so fortunate. Sukanya Lodh, teaching assistant professor, instructs an introductory lab class. She teaches more students than professors who teach upper-level and graduate labs but doesn’t always feel she has the ideal space or budget to do so. Lodh’s classroom is split — literally — by a wall, meaning she has to constantly
Jones’ website, Ruckdashel’s law firm, she graduated from Marquette University Law School and received a bachelor’s in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. According to Ruckdashel’s LinkedIn, she graduated from law school in 2024. She specializes in criminal defense work. Brunner didn’t have an attorney ahead of her Sept. 18 preliminary hearing date, so the hearing was delayed
until Oct. 2. Ruckdashel said in a statement to the Marquette Wire that she plans on entering Brunner’s not guilty plea at the Oct. 2 preliminary hearing. Ruckdashel declined to comment on representing Brunner while having academic ties to Marquette. Four other students sustained non-life-threatening injuries from the crash, which happened at the intersection of North 27th and West St. Paul Avenue.
According to a criminal complaintreleased Sept. 10, Brunner had a blood alcohol level of 0.133, nearly double the legal limit. An officer reported in the complaint that Brunner had “bloodshot and glassy” eyes, slurred speech and couldn’t keep her balance. They requested Brunner perform Standardized Field Sobriety Tests and placed her under arrest after she failed. Brunner had one prior OWI charge in 2003.
There is a $75,000 cash bail for her pre-trial release. The complaint said Brunner told police there was alcohol in her vehicle and she’d had two drinks prior to the crash. The officer found an opened can of Miller High Life behind the passenger seat, saying the can “did not appear to be opened by crash forces.” Jack Albright contributed to this report.
Index
News
Sports
Arts & Entertainment
Acting Provost Sarah Feldner explains possible restructuring
Tom Mendoza earns first signature win in MKE against ranked Florida
Gold 'n Blues plans to take team to the next level in 2025-26 season
See LABS on page 3
Brunner's lawyer attended MU Law School
By Sophia Tiedge
sophia.tiedge@marquette.edu
Abigail Ruckdashel is listed as the attorney representing Amandria Brunner, the 41-year-old woman from West Allis who has been charged with two counts of homicide by intoxicated use of the vehicle that killed Marquette students Scott Michaud and Noah Snyder in a Sept. 5 car crash. According to Cleghorn
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SPORTS.......................................................5 OPINIONS..................................................9 FUN & GAMES......................................10 A&E................................................................11
Exclusive interview with university leaders PAGE 2
Former MUVB coach bested by successor PAGE 8
A capella group to compete in ICCA PAGE 11