Tag Archive | "Milwaukee"

Little did I know thee, Pizza Man. Actually, none did I know thee; I never went. I’m not really all that upset over it. I suppose that on some level I’m still trying to get over the loss, but it’s kind of like when someone really close to someone you kind of know passes away. You feel like you’re not really allowed to be upset, but you just kind of feel bad anyways? I’ve narrowed down the reason: I love pizza. It just hurts me so much that I never had an opportunity to sample the delights of Pizza Man.

As an homage to the pizza that never was (in my stomach that is), I’d like to rank the top five pizza places in Milwaukee and the area immediately surrounding. These rankings are designed on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being awful and 10 being fantastic, or in other words, with 1 being Angelo’s and 10 being Heaven.
#5 – Brick 3 Pizza: Score – 7.5
Okay, so maybe this could be viewed as a shameless plug for someone who advertises with us, but really. I first had Brick 3 over the summer when I was working at ESPN radio downtown. It is actually really good. Located on Old World Third, Brick 3 Pizza is a great place to stop in before or after a Marquette game.

#4 – Pizzeria Piccola: Score – 8.5
A Wauwatosa classic. I think the rest of Tosa would disown me if I didn’t mention that perhaps the widest selection of good pizza in the city comes from this western suburb. Located on what would be about the equivalent on 76th and State, Pizzeria Piccola offers personal-sized pizzas that are fantastic. Don’t skip on the flatbread, it’s fantastic! If you’re still not convinced on finding your way into Tosa for this pizza, then perhaps a quote from Fr. Naus might suffice. “If I could eat one thing for the rest of my life, I think I would eat this pizza.”
#3 – Ricardo’s Riverfront Pizzeria – 8.7
The top three were tough to score. I’d have to say that Ricardo’s barely loses out to the top two by the slightest of margins. The pizzas are marketed as specialty pizza, meaning that you shouldn’t come in if you aren’t at least willing to entertain bacon, spinach, pine nuts, Thai curry, or any other interesting flavors on your pizza. That’s not to say that the regular pizzas aren’t unbelievable, but there is something to be said about a place that thinks outside the box. Located on East Erie Street in the Third Ward, Ricardo’s Riverfront is a new location for a pizza that has been in town for over 40 years.

#2 – Balistreri’s 68th Street -
Come on, you have to go. If you’re a fan of just good food in general, Balistreri’s on 812 N. 68th street is THE quintessential pizza place in Milwaukee. Although Balistreri’s didn’t win in my rankings, they do win almost every award in the city for best pizza. I recommend the Balistreri’s special, as well as the fried eggplant and calamari. For your own good, just go (They also offer take out).

#1 – Zaffiro’s – Score: 9.9
I recently debated a Chicagoan on the best type of pizza: thin crust vs. thick crust/deep dish. Of course, being from south of the border, this person thought they knew everything about everything. I’m sure it probably doesn’t need to be said then that this person was completely wrong (as all Chicagoans tend to be on most issues: See “Chicago Cubs are totally gonna win the World Series after adding Milton Bradley this offseason” conversation that took place in every sports bar known to man this past year). Being a Milwaukee man, my conclusion is straightforward. Thin crust!

Zaffiro’s is the best pizza in Milwaukee. The cracker thin crust is unreal good. I mean it, it’s unreal. The ingredients are basic, and the atmosphere is as close to “hole in ht wall” as you can get, but take my word for it, Zaffiro’s pizza will blow your mind. Zaffiro’s is located just north of Brady on Farwell.

Runners-Up:
Mama Mia’s on Burleigh
Barbiere’s on Bluemound – Best Garlic Bread in town
Lisa’s – I’ve never been there, but its because every time I go, there is an hour and a half wait.
Lali’s – North Ave. and 89th street in Wauwatosa. Really good.

Although bailouts, derivatives, and mortgage defaults dominate the headlines about the economic recession, the downturn has left more people homeless right here in Milwaukee. Last January 28, the Milwaukee Continuum of Care, a broad-based alliance of area organizations committed to ending homelessness, counted 1,660 homeless people in shelters, transitional housing, and on the street. The MCC volunteers surveyed 919 homeless adults, of which 34 percent were chronically homeless. Obviously, these numbers do not even take into account those who had found temporary shelter with family or friends. Joe Volk, executive director of Community Advocates, a local group serving low-income individuals and families, said in October that he expected even more Milwaukeeans had become homeless since January due to increased unemployment.

The winter brings added hardship for the homeless as the search for shelter becomes crucial. Some municipal governments, including New York City, have put in place “Code Blue” systems, where the government takes specific and public actions to protect the homeless when the temperature falls below certain thresholds. Milwaukee does not have an official “Code Blue” alert system in place, but not because the city doesn’t care about homelessness.

In fact, the city and county governments and the Milwaukee Shelter Task Force, a group of shelters and other organizations serving the homeless, collaborate during cold weather to suspend rules so shelters can take in more people, identify additional facilities that could be used to keep the homeless warm, protect those serving the homeless, and educate the public. According to Ken Schmidt, chair of the Milwaukee Shelter Task Force, “on the surface, the ‘as needed’ cold weather response in Milwaukee may not appear to be as organized as other urban centers,” but “this may be because the preventative activities are not publicized in the same way.” Schmidt commended the city and county officials, calling them “sensitive to the issue, quick to action and more than willing to be cooperative with the shelter system’s efforts.”

Of course, every person in the Marquette community realizes homelessness’s persistence just by walking around campus. Like everyone else, I have been asked for money countless times, and I have also witnessed public safety officers removing the homeless from campus. On many occasions, I have been just as guilty as most students of refusing to make simple eye contact with the homeless, of passing by faster than I need to, of failing to acknowledge their humanity. I find it easy sometimes to emotionally distance myself from “them” instead of reflecting on why I am walking to class while others walk the same streets just trying to survive. Even referring to these children of God as “the homeless” allows us to mentally separate ourselves from their lived reality. Although we seldom refer to ourselves as “the housed” because we are so much more than where we sleep, we write off a diverse group of people by labeling them for what they lack.

At an urban Jesuit university like Marquette, discussing homelessness almost seems cliché, a rite of passage on the journey toward becoming men and women for others, or something along those lines. Although often failing to acknowledge the homeless people we pass by, we at least acknowledge homelessness as a problem in Milwaukee. Yet the problem seems too immense and intractable for overstressed college students to deal with. Homelessness does not lend itself to easy long-term solutions, and even participating in community service activities can feel pointless and frustrating.

If they decide to “be the difference” on this issue, many students end up advocating for yet another government program, such as Milwaukee’s housing trust fund. Regardless of the merits of any individual government, non-profit, or business program, we set ourselves up for disappointment by relieving ourselves of a certain level of personal responsibility and projecting our hopes and expectations unto a given program. With a complex social problem such as homelessness, a successful program certainly relieves suffering and saves lives, but no social engineering scheme or technocratic magic can “solve” the problems of social marginalization and deprivation and the spiritual decay which permits this to continue.

When Jesus said, “What you do unto the least of these, you do unto me,” he challenged the social hierarchy that pushed “the least of these” to the margins of society and called upon his followers to acknowledge that everyone has intrinsic worth in God’s eyes, regardless of the artificially constructed norms of ostracism and division. Until we, as individuals, can meaningfully reach out to the homeless fellow travelers of our streets, “we” collectively, whether viewed as society or the church or the government, can never truly come alongside them and address the problem.

Direct action and advocacy remain important tools but fail to address the way we emotionally distance ourselves from those in need and the resulting dehumanization of us all. As Lilla Watson and other Australian aboriginal activists told sympathizers in the 1970s, “If you have come to help me because you feel called to help me, please go away … but if you have come because your liberation is bound up with mine, please stay and let’s work together.” Only when we realize our own individual responsibility to our homeless neighbors will we ever be able to work together with them to end homelessness.

As exams approach and the weather warms up it becomes apparent that summer is quickly approaching and soon golf courses everywhere will be open to relieve the stress of the long school year.

Milwaukee County offers fifteen great golf courses across the Greater Milwaukee area that range from professional grade such as Brown Deer to courses for beginners like Zablocki. The best part about the golf courses around Milwaukee is their variety of difficulty. It does not matter whether you see yourself as the next Tiger or you don’t know the difference between a driver and a putter, chances are at least one golf course will fit you perfectly. If you are someone who has a low to handicap (or none at all), then Milwaukee County’s Brown Deer Golf Course is the perfect fit for you. This bunker filled golf course is home to the annual Greater Milwaukee Open and offers eighteen of the most challenging holes in Wisconsin.

Even if you’re the best golfer among anyone you know, chances are you will run into some trouble here. It is a par 71 golf course with a course rating of 72. 9; meaning that if you make a mistake at this eighteen, its hazards will punish you. If you are able to register with Milwaukee County as a resident, green fees for Brown Deer can run for under $25, but if you call your home state some place other than Wisconsin, chances are it is going to cost you about $70 to play at this prestigious public course.

There are also several great courses outside of Milwaukee County that offer great variety and interesting game play. Silver Spring Golf & Banquet Center located in Menomonee Falls is a 36-hole treasure with a price that would have even the stingiest golfer willing to play a round of eighteen. This course has two signature courses, both providing challenging fun for a mediocre to good golfer. Silver Springs is also the proud owner of the only natural grass island hole in all of Wisconsin which provides a unique experience for any golfer. With a course rating of 71. 6 and 67. 4 for the two courses, it provides golfers with the option of choosing their degree of difficulty they wish to play.

If you can find yourself able to get out of bed early enough, you can play this par 72 golf course for around $25 if you book your tee-time online. If that is not enough to convince you to reserve a tee time right now, every round comes with a GPS equipped cart. Unless you are an avid golfer, you probably get frustrated hitting six balls into the woods or into the sand traps. Luckily for you Milwaukee offers several par 3 golf courses that are great for golfers who rarely go and may not even own a set of clubs. Courses such as Doyne and Zablocki are short nine-hole courses for less than $10 and are great for anyone who is unfamiliar with the game. Even if you are an experienced golfer these courses will help refine your short game, and the best part is that due to its short layout you will only need a few clubs, and if you don’t have them you can rent them from the clubhouse.

Whether you are a long time golfer or someone who wants to give it a go for the first time, Milwaukee and the surrounding area offers an excellent array of golf courses. These courses are fun for every level of play and even with an entire summer to waste, it would be hard to get bored with the dozens of available courses. So any student spending their summer in Milwaukee would have to work real hard to find enough excuses not to get out there and tee up a ball for a great day on the links.

Now that the weather is getting nice – well… nicer – many students will be busting out their trusty bicycles from the basement and taking to the streets.

There are many good bike trails located near the Marquette campus that students can easily access for a good time. The main trail that many people use in the Milwaukee area is the Oak Leaf trail. The Oak Leaf trail covers several different parks, streets and multi-use trails in Milwaukee County. Probably the most popular part of the trail runs along Lake Michigan. From Marquette it is easily accessed by riding east down towards the art museum. Once you ride past the art museum you can pick up the trail and head along the lake.

The trail heads north for several miles right along the lake before heading inland near UWM. You can also take the trail south for another entertaining ride, especially south of the Summerfest grounds in the area commonly known as seven bridges. Here the trail is almost entirely separate from street traffic, which is not always the case for the entire trail. While this trail can get crowded in the summer, especially on the weekends, it is still nice to be right along the lake and feel the cool breeze out of the east.

A new trail in Milwaukee is the Hank Aaron trail. It starts just southwest of downtown near 13th and Canal Street, runs along the river past Miller Park and continues toward Doyne Park. This is a fully paved bike and running trail. The eventual plan is to link Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River. While this is clearly a very long term project it is moving forward and new sections are constantly opening. It is best to look online in order to see what sections are open each season. Most of you know this trail as the one that runs along the river next to the east Miller Stadium parking lots. Because the trail is new, it typically is not as crowded as the lakefront trail, which is nice, especially if you are looking to really fly down the path.

The Milwaukee area also has several other trails further out in state parks. Many of these include off-road mountain biking trails and other trails with a variety of surfaces. In order to look up a list of these, simply google “Milwaukee bike trails” and you will run into several Web sites and maps that can provide you with trails that fit what you are looking for.

I have noted, often cynically, that there are few restaurants that people go to these days that really impress.

Have you noticed this? You go to a restaurant and then leave satisfied but underwhelmed. It is because of this that makes going to someplace that turns out to be fantastic so surprising and delightful. Such a place can be found in Milwaukee’s Third Ward with the Japanese restaurant Nanakusa.

Nanakusa, which according to the restaurant’s website means “seven herbs” in Japanese, is a great place. In fact, it is easily one of the best restaurants in Milwaukee.

Now, if you passionately dislike Japanese food it might not be for you. But if you like good food in general and Japanese food in particular, this place will not disappoint.

Just as you would expect, Nanakusa has a sushi bar with a wide variety of sushi to choose from. All of the traditional dishes found in most Japanese restaurants like Chicken Katsu and Udon and Soba noodle dishes are there as well.

Japanese culinary techniques place a large emphasis on freshness and it is clear that Nanakusa respects that completely in their dishes.

Nanakusa offers something for just about anyone. If you are vegetarian, are looking for seafood or just want something with chicken or beef in it, you can find it.

Japanese food is often thought of as being exotic, and it is. However, there are options for those who do not particularly like the thought of eating raw fish.

Nanakusa also offers a selection of Kobe beef dishes, which is more expensive but much better than regular beef. They also offer a wide selection of sake and other beverages such as plum wine.

The Gyu Maki and the soba noodle dishes come highly recommended, as does the sushi.

Nanakusa offers a wide variety of specialty dishes and seasonal items as well. Many of the dishes tend to be on the smaller side. It is perhaps best to go there with a group of friends where you can share various dishes.

Also, the dishes tend to be presented as soon as they are made, which can make the order in which they arrive seem somewhat strange compared to other restaurants where everyone is served at the same time.

Nanakusa has won numerous awards and according to their website is one of only three Japanese restaurants in the world to win the “Award of Excellence” in 2004 from Wine Spectator.

Perhaps the only negative aspect to the restaurant is the price. The prices for some dishes are high, but this is to be expected in such a fancy place.

Nanakusa’s hours are from Tuesday to Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch and for dinner from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. They are closed on Monday.

Nanakusa is located in the Historic Third Ward in Milwaukee at 408 E. Chicago Street.

Make A Difference – Wisconsin, Inc. was the non-profit organization that Lloyd Levin was writing the proposal for on the plane two years ago. According to their Web site, the mission statement of Make A Difference – Wisconsin, Inc. is “to empower students to make sound financial decisions by increasing their financial knowledge and awareness.”

MAD-WI sends out volunteers to Milwaukee Area high schools to deliver a financial literacy program in the classroom to eleventh and twelfth graders. The volunteers are local business students and business professionals who visit a classroom six times to give three seminars on budgeting and saving, understanding checking accounts and understanding credit cards, credit history and credit reports.

Marquette’s involvement began with that plane ride. After reading the proposal, Wild told Levin to contact him if Marquette University could do anything to participate in and help Levin’s organization. Wild then had Margaret Bernhard, a professor in Marquette’s College of Business Administration, follow up with Levin a few months later.

Two senior Marquette business students, Andy Parker and Chris Teff, met with Levin and Brenda Campbell, the executive director of MAD-WI, and agreed to organize a student volunteer effort among students in the College of Business Administration. And so far, Marquette student efforts have enabled MAD-WI to reach out to the Milwaukee high school students in a more meaningful way.

“Because the Marquette students are closer in age to the high school students, I believe that they are often better able to relate to our audience. For example, we want students to know about and understand the risks associated with credit card use. We tell them that they will be bombarded with credit card offers when they get to college. We show them the real cost and dangers associated with making the minimum payment. The college student is experiencing that right now and brings first-hand knowledge and experience to the presentation. They speak the same language,” Campbell said.

So far the Marquette students have been assigned to various high schools paired with another student or with a Milwaukee business professional.

“We are happy to partner students with a volunteer from a specific field or business sector and we ask if students have a preference. This provides the student with an incredibly valuable networking opportunity as well as an opportunity to make a difference in our community,” Campbell said.

And, of course, making a difference truly is the goal of the students involved.

“By making students aware of the consequences of poor financial decisions, I hope we are able to help students start their lives out in better financial condition than they would be otherwise,” Parker, who recently began the seminar program at Bradley Tech High School with his younger brother Joey, said.

Financial decisions might be an interesting topic for many Milwaukee high school students as they figure out how to pay for college or save money from their respective jobs, but sometimes a class of high school juniors or seniors may be hard to engage. Marquette students seem to be handling this challenge well through various innovative means.

“It was important to relate what we were saying to how it would make them wealthy. The sessions where they were most engaged were the ones addressing savings because we did time value of money calculations and showed them how five dollars a month in savings could make them a million dollars over time,” Elena Braun, a senior in the College of Business Administration whose most recent teaching experience was at Riverside University High School, said.

There are often difficult topics to teach because of negative views held by the students.

“One of the biggest challenges was overcoming the overwhelmingly negative view of banks. Most kids had a general feeling that banks stole their money when they charged fees, which is a big problem as they grow up and need to establish credit. Most of the students come from families that don’t have well-established relationships with banks and breaking that cycle was challenging,” Braun said.

But what the high school students most often were interested in were personal stories about how the students handle their finances.

Parker said the students ask questions like, “Have we ever missed a credit card payment? Bounced a check? Do we have a budget?”

It is hard to know whether or not the high school students will actually be able to take something away from this experience and use it in the future, but the Marquette business students remain optimistic.

“The five or six kids who were totally engaged and interested in what we were saying made me feel good about being there. I know a few of those kids will ask the important questions that will help them make good financial choices in the future,” Braun said.

It is not only the Marquette students who believe in this program. Carl Dabols, the teacher at Bradley Tech High School whose classroom Andy and Joey Parker visited on Monday, thinks this program can help his students.

“I think that financial literacy is extremely important for all students. Most students understand taxes and savings, but they do not realize the power of saving early. Anytime I can have someone else stress the importance of starting to save early, open bank accounts and keep good credit scores is a huge benefit… Starting good habits will lead to financial success in the future,” Dabols said.

As of now, Make A Difference – Wisconsin, Inc. is only promoted by the College of Business Administration indirectly in spite of quite a few faculty, staff and students who are volunteers for the organization. Bernhard, a member of MAD-WI’s Board of Trustees, has been quite involved in coordinating campus participation. But along with the other Marquette faculty and student volunteers, many believe the program should receive more support and promotion is worthwhile to.

Because this program has “the potential to really change our community in terms of bankruptcy rates and the number of families crippled by debt as these high-schoolers graduate and join the local workforce” according to Parker, the College of Business Administration should consider promoting this volunteer opportunity to all of its business students. After all, volunteering for Make A Difference – Wisconsin, Inc. is a great way to “be the difference.”

“You look like somebody who’s ready to make a difference.” It is this attention grabbing statement that serves as the pitch for Southeastern Wisconsin Common Ground, one of the newest organizations in the Milwaukee area involving Marquette students, staff, faculty and alumni coming together to address “critical social issues like health care, jobs and crime,” according to their Web site. The group is planning a formal commencement, coming together as one alliance to address community concerns at the Founding Convention on April 13, 2008, at the Midwest Airlines Center.

“As far as we know, Common Ground is the first organization of its kind here at Marquette, so it will be a little hard for people to understand quite what we are here for, for a little while,” Barbara Timberlake, Director of Marquette’s Service Learning Program, who has been involved with the development of Marquette’s Common Ground steering committee said.

The group hopes to attract at least 150 members of the Marquette community to the Founder’s Day Convention, which will host a variety of speakers, proclaim an issue agenda and adopt a dues-based budget. As many as 2000 community members are expected to attend. Those confirmed to speak include County Executive Scott Walker, Mayor Tom Barrett and Waukesha County Executive Daniel Vrakas, while Governor Jim Doyle has been invited but has not confirmed.

“The event will be a mix between a religious revival and a political convention, and is our way of introducing ourselves to the greater Milwaukee area,” Mark Fraley, Lead Organizer of Common Ground, said.

As a non-partisan organization working with congregations, religious groups, schools, civic associations, social agencies, unions and businesses, Common Ground’s leaders come from and aim to bridge a variety of racial, ethnic, religious, cultural and political backgrounds.

“When you look at the politics of the region, it’s pretty partisan,” Fraley said. “Our group is saying that there is a common ground we can find.”

Started in 2004, Common Ground began with 38 religious, civic and business leaders, who “have raised over $700,000 in seed money to sponsor the development of the group,” according to the Common Ground Web site. The seed money comes from a diverse group of religious organizations in addition to foundations, individuals and unions.

Common Ground currently has 75 volunteer leaders and employs Mark Fraley as a professional organizer. The group follows a model of grass-roots organizing that emphasizes relationship building and communication.

The cycle of organizing, according to Common Ground literature begins with small conversations about local specialized issues, moves to house meetings and neighborhood walks to discuss the issue, breaks down the issue to research and analyze solutions, then works to take action with a larger group of people at the local level.

“I have faith in this organization because it follows such a sound, proven model,” Kerida O’Reilly, junior in the College of Health Sciences said. O’Reilly has been involved with recruiting people and convening “listening session” meetings where individuals have the opportunity to voice community concerns. “Common Ground helps form a legacy for Marquette. Students can affect change and be involved in the community even though they’re only here for four years.”

Social issues that are addressed by Common Ground fall into eight categories: health care, education, jobs and economic development, crime, mental health, youth activities, immigration and housing, according to their Web site.

“It has been important for me to remember that each one of us has some sort of personal story or has a relationship with someone who is affected by these issues,” Kate Novotny, sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences who is active in Common Ground, said. “That is the key to our common ground. It is only in honoring these personal relationships that a commitment to community change will arise and take place.”

Southeastern Wisconsin Common Ground is affiliated with the Industrial Areas Foundation, the “oldest and largest institution for professional organizing in the United States,” according to the Common Ground Web site.

The achievement IAF has had in its grassroots organizing in the past has contributed to the high hopes Common Ground members have for its future.

“I have a lot of faith in the organization and where it’s going, because IAF has had so many successes,” Katie Coldwell, junior in the College of Arts and Sciences and Common Ground member, said. “It’s not a rag-tag bunch of anarchists; it’s about empowering people to affect change in their communities.”

Common Ground also offers organizing and training through Leadership Institutes designed to “teach leaders the skills necessary for successful public action and what a broad-based power organization is and does,” according to the Institute’s curriculum.

Finding common interests among individuals is a pivotal aspect of what those involved are sure will make Common Ground successful.

“Before someone joins the movement, they will ask, what’s in it for me? It’s all about gathering troops and getting people excited,” Coldwell said.

Unlike other groups students might get involved in at Marquette, Common Ground does not require an extensive time commitment, although the imapct and effect is significant.

“Nothing I’ve done for Common Ground has been a waste of time,” Coldwell said.

In the end, it all comes down to personal contact.

“It’s all relational, you build relationships and that’s how things happen,” Fraley said.

For those of you who are nostalgic for your vacation down in the Caribbean there is a restaurant downtown that might help you relive your trip. Located on Water Street and near Wisconsin Avenue, Edgar’s Calypso serves up quality Caribbean cooking in a delightful atmosphere that makes you feel miles away from Milwaukee. Continue Reading

Busy students no longer need to go to the grocery store for their fruits and vegetables – there is now a veritable farmer’s market right on campus every Friday. Each week, Students for an Environmentally Active Campus sells market baskets containing fresh produce from Growing Power Community Food Center, a Milwaukee-based, non-profit organization that provides fresh fruit and vegetables for city residents.The market baskets contain a variety of fresh produce including white and red potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, celery, carrots, lettuce, spinach, greens, tomatoes, peppers, winter and summer squash, cabbage, sweet corn, peppers, beets, cucumbers, eggplant, melons, apples, peaches, bananas and grapes.According to the Growing Power website, “Market Basket is an alternative distribution system similar to Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs. This weekly, year-round, food security program supplies safe, healthy, affordable vegetables and fruit to communities at a low cost.”Market baskets come in several sizes including a Senior basket ($8 serves 1-2 people), a Regular Basket ($14 serves 2-4 people), an Organic Basket ($26 serves 2-4 people) and an All Fruit Basket ($14 serves 2-4 people). Orders are placed via email, and are collected on Friday afternoon in the lobby of the Union.Neal Styka, a fifth year senior in the College of Engineering, has purchased market baskets regularly for the past two years, and is continually impressed with the quality and variety of his baskets.“One of the best parts is that it [the baskets] varies each week so that I never get tired of eating the same vegetable,” he said. “And it’s a great way to get produce without the hassle of going to the store.”Market baskets are available to faculty, staff and everyone in the community, not just students. Administrative assistant to the College of Engineering, Jessica Bulgrin, for example, has been an avid market basket customer ever since she discovered the group last year.“My main reason for doing it is to support local growers, and I keep buying the baskets because the price and quality is good,” Bulgrin said.In 1995, Allen started the market basket program to enable people of all income levels to eat healthy.“You shouldn’t have to be rich to eat organic food,” he said. Allen is very pleased to be working with Marquette students.“When I started Growing People, I wanted young people to learn about food systems,” he said. “I want young people to learn to eat healthy food.”In 2005, Allen was one of 17 recipients of the Ford Foundation Leadership for a Changing World award.“These leaders are a welcome reminder that people can make a difference,” said Susan V. Berresford, president of the Ford Foundation, as quoted in the Riverwest Currents newspaper.“They have brought not only concrete gains to their communities but a determination to stand for justice that builds hope and inspires others. It’s never been more important to listen to them.”To order a market basket, students can email their name, phone number and order to marketbaskets@gmail. com. More information about Growing Power is available on their website, GrowingPower.org.

Americans are soft. Where is the spirit that gave rise to the pioneers? Where is the spirit that forged a nation out of nothing, and set the precedent for worldwide adoption of democracy and human rights? Where is the spirit that defeated Nazism and Communism, winning two world wars in the process? Instead in cities like Milwaukee and New Orleans, children suffer from neglect, and homelessness is rampant. Instead of supporting our troops who embody the spirit of hard work and sacrifice that our soft nation used to have, we demand that our politicians cripple the troops’ mission.

How did this happen? Because Americans are soft, because the highest goal in life is self. Americans are infected with a blame others mentality. Whereas independence and individualism were the spirits that made our country great, America is now characterized by gated communities that shield themselves from the world.

What are the symptoms of American softness? 50% of American marriages ending in divorce. Men who are too addicted to online pornography and sports to play ball with their kids. Women who spend enough money on their dogs and hair to feed an African village. People who worship youth and think that the way to solve their problems is to buy newer, better things and go further into debt.

Americans will congratulate themselves for being diverse for having a friend from Africa on an internet social site while they are hard pressed to name the last time they said hello to their neighbor across the street. The greatest generation is stuck sitting in lonely nursing homes, their brains melting from “The Price is Right” and “Wheel of Fortune” while their children’s and grandchildren’s greatest concerns are whether or not to get the options package on their new Lexus. America’s softness starts with education. Instead of learning values like honor, discipline, integrity, and respect, children are being spoon fed ‘values’ like diversity, tolerance, and self esteem. How do you instill values of hard work and a competitive spirit into kids when our nation’s education system is more interested in teaching politically correct nonsense instead of actual academic skills?

Little Johnny is forced to sit in class all day long while his teacher talks about self-esteem. He is no longer allowed to have recess outside because his mother thinks his sensitive allergies might act up. He is no longer allowed to play dodgeball during gym class because it hurts kids feelings to get hit with a ball. Since he cannot sit still in class, he’s put on drugs like Ritalin. If he plays cops and robbers with his classmates, he gets suspended for pretending he has a gun. When he gets home to suburbia, he sits in front of the television for five hours playing video games.

That is America’s future. Is there something wrong with this picture? Americans need to stop expecting the government to solve their problems, and learn to take responsibility for their own lives.

We need stronger families, more responsible schools and people who are unafraid to fight for freedom and what is right. It starts at the individual level, but impacts the entire community. That Marquette’s motto is ‘Men and Women for Others’ is a step in the right direction.