[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 80 (Tuesday, May 25, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H3784-H3785]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF WOMEN AT MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY

  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
agree to the resolution (H. Res. 1161) honoring the Centennial 
Celebration of Women at Marquette University, the first Catholic 
university in the world to offer co-education as part of its regular 
undergraduate program.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 1161

       Whereas Marquette University was founded in Milwaukee, 
     Wisconsin, in 1881 as a Catholic, Jesuit educational 
     institution;
       Whereas Marquette University was created to educate first-
     generation and low-income students under the premise that all 
     people should be able to pursue higher education;
       Whereas Marquette University was the first Catholic 
     university in the world to admit women to be educated 
     alongside men in its regular undergraduate programs in 1909;
       Whereas because of the courageous vision of its then-
     president, the Rev. James McCabe, S.J. Marquette University 
     pioneered the inclusion of women;
       Whereas today, 53 percent of Marquette University students, 
     7 of the 33 members of the board of trustees, and 12 of the 
     27 members of the university leadership council are women;
       Whereas Marquette University is celebrating the 100th 
     anniversary of the admission of women during the 2009-2010 
     academic year through an alumnae memory project, guest 
     speakers and lectures, commemorative publications, and 
     faculty, staff, student, and alumni events;
       Whereas Marquette University continued to expand access to 
     education in 1969 by creation of the Educational Opportunity 
     Program, which enables low-income and first-generation 
     students to enter and succeed in higher education;
       Whereas Marquette University is celebrating the 40th 
     anniversary of the Educational Opportunity Program, which now 
     serves more than 500 high school and college students 
     annually through 4 Federally funded TRIO programs;
       Whereas the Educational Opportunity Program continues 
     Marquette University's tradition of serving as a model of 
     success for more than 1,200 colleges and universities with 
     Federally funded TRIO programs;
       Whereas Marquette University's continued focus on its 4 
     core values of excellence, faith, leadership, and service 
     challenges students to integrate knowledge, faith, and real-
     life choices in ways that will shape their lives and those of 
     others in order to better society;
       Whereas Marquette University recognizes and cherishes the 
     dignity of each individual regardless of age, culture, faith, 
     ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, language, 
     disability, or social class; and
       Whereas Marquette University continues to adhere to its 
     tenet of asking who has yet to gain access to higher 
     education and who needs support in succeeding once through 
     the door: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives honors the 
     Centennial Celebration of Women at Marquette University and 
     commends the largest independent institution in Wisconsin for 
     continuing to fulfill its Catholic, Jesuit mission of 
     offering premier higher educational opportunities to all 
     students who have a desire to learn.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Bishop) and the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Roe) each will 
control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.


                             General Leave

  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days 
during which Members may revise and extend and insert extraneous 
material on H. Res. 1161 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from New York?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1161, which 
celebrates 100 years since Marquette University became the first 
Catholic university in the world to admit women as part of its regular 
undergraduate program.
  Marquette University started as a dream of the Most Reverend Martin 
J. Henni, the first Catholic Bishop of Milwaukee. At the time of its 
establishment, Marquette University was Marquette College. It was a 
small liberal arts school for men named for the Reverend Jacques 
Marquette, a French missionary and explorer in North America. The 
school was founded in 1881 by the Society of Jesus, a Catholic 
religious order established in 1540 by St. Ignatius Loyola.
  Only 30 years later, Marquette University became a more inclusive 
institution when it made the pioneering move to embrace coeducation. In 
1909, Marquette University became the first Catholic university in the 
world to offer coeducation as part of its regular undergraduate 
program. This gallant move was led by the president of the college, 
Reverend James McCabe, S.J.
  Just one year after becoming president of the school, Father McCabe 
saw the need to further the education of teachers, who were primarily 
females, in Catholic elementary and high schools. While father McCabe's 
significant action was met with opposition within the local Jesuit 
community, Marquette prepared to open the first summer session in 1909 
in Catholic higher education and to permit women to study alongside men 
in their bachelor of arts program. Father McCabe's groundbreaking 
decision was the introduction of coeducation to Catholic higher 
education.
  Since 1909, the role of women at Marquette University has changed 
dramatically. Marquette now has a student body where women make up more 
than half of the student population. In addition, seven of the 33 
members of the board of trustees, 12 of the 27 members of the 
University Leadership Council, and 39 percent of the full-time faculty 
are female as well.
  Mr. Speaker, once again I express my support for House Resolution 
1161 and congratulate Marquette University on this remarkable 
milestone. I urge my colleagues to join me in support of this 
resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.

                              {time}  1700

  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of House Resolution 1161, 
Honoring the Centennial Celebration of Women at Marquette University, 
the first Catholic university in the world to offer co-education as 
part of its regular undergraduate program.
  Marquette University was founded on August 28, 1881, as Marquette 
College by John Martin Henni, the first Catholic bishop of the 
Archdiocese of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The university was named after 
17th-century missionary and explorer, Father Jacques Marquette, S.J. 
The highest priority of the newly established college was to provide an 
affordable Catholic education to the area's immigrant population. 
Marqette College officially became a university in 1907. Marquette 
University High School, formerly the preparatory department of the 
university, became a separate institution the same year.
  In 1909, Marquette University became the first Catholic university in 
the world to offer co-education as part of its regular undergraduate 
program. Since that time, the role of women at Marquette has changed 
and expanded dramatically. In 1923 the first dean of women was 
appointed. In 1936 the first female academic dean at Marquette provided 
leadership for the all-female college of nursing. By 1944, the 
enrollment of women at Marquette grew to

[[Page H3785]]

more than 40 percent of students during World War II.
  Today, five of Marquette's 12 academic deans are women. Seven of the 
17 key university leaders are women. Marquette's faculty is 
considerably enriched by the presence of women, 42 percent of part-time 
faculty and 39 percent of full-time faculty. In 2006, Marquette's board 
elected its first female chair, Mary Ellen Stanek. Today, women make up 
more than 50 percent of the student body.
  With a student body of 11,500, Marquette is one the largest Jesuit 
universities in the United States and the largest private university in 
Wisconsin. It is one of 28 member institutions of the Association of 
Jesuit Colleges and Universities and is accredited by the North Central 
Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. The university has 11 
schools and colleges; and in 2009, Marquette ranked 84th overall among 
undergraduate programs for national universities by the U.S. News and 
World Report.
  I want to extend my congratulations to Marquette president, Rev. 
Robert Wild, the faculty, the staff and students on their 100th 
anniversary. Today, we recognize Marquette University for focusing on 
its four core values of excellence, faith, leadership and service, and 
honor them for 100 years of service of offering premiere higher 
educational opportunities to all students who have a desire to learn.
  I ask my colleagues to support this resolution.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield 5 minutes 
to the author of the resolution, the gentlewoman from Wisconsin (Ms. 
Moore).
  Ms. MOORE of Wisconsin. Mr. Speaker, today I am so proud and honored 
to be able to offer this resolution to my alma mater, Marquette 
University, which, of course, is celebrating the 100th anniversary of 
its admission of women during this academic year, 2009 to 2010.
  Not only have we noted in this resolution that Marquette was the 
first Catholic university in the world to admit women to be educated 
alongside men in its undergraduate programs; but in doing so, it paved 
the way for women's access to higher education in the United States of 
America.
  This, of course, was very controversial, the admission of women in 
these programs, and the objections among the religious communities in 
Milwaukee and elsewhere were rampant. But Father McCabe bravely 
persisted in admitting women to Marquette University for 4 years before 
he got word from Rome that it was okay to do so. And we certainly 
applaud that legacy, as well, today.
  In the century following this landmark event, the role of women at 
Marquette has expanded and evolved. Not only is 50 percent of the 
Marquette student population women, but the university offers a Women's 
and Gender Studies major and minor. Marquette counts women among its 
student body leaders, its most outstanding students and its 
internationally recognized faculty and staff.

  In the decades following this historic inclusion of women, the 
university has become known for its commitment to expanding access to 
higher education, not only to women, but also to low-income students, 
to veterans and to students who are the first generation in their 
families to attend college. This year, Marquette celebrates the 40th 
anniversary of its Educational Opportunity Program, of which I am among 
its first beneficiaries, which now serves over 500 high school and 
college students every year.
  I am so proud of my alma mater, and Milwaukee, that they were on the 
front lines of change, and recognized long ago, before many other 
similar institutions, that in order to grow and move forward as a 
society we can't leave half our population behind. Expanding 
opportunities and access to education for women benefits our families 
and our society. I am so honored to recognize Marquette in this way.
  I congratulate Marquette, its board of trustees, its student body, 
all of its alumni, and urge passage of H.R. 1161.
  Mr. ROE of Tennessee. Mr. Speaker, I associate my remarks with the 
gentlelady. I think it was a historic occasion; you're absolutely 
right. Some would say more than 50 percent of the brain power, if women 
are left out.
  It's a historic time for them, and that was a big step for the 
Catholic Church in 1909. And so I agree with you, it did pave the way 
to the 19th amendment that occurred less than 10 years after that. So 
this is indeed a pleasure to be on this bill, and I thank you for that.
  I yield back the balance of my time
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, as a proud graduate myself of 
Jesuit College, I urge my colleagues to pass this resolution, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from New York (Mr. Bishop) that the House suspend the rules 
and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 1161.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
  Mr. BISHOP of New York. Mr. Speaker, I object to the vote on the 
ground that a quorum is not present and make the point of order that a 
quorum is not present.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.
  The point of no quorum is considered withdrawn.

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