1. Chinese writer and media commentator to give Chalmers lecture

Jianying Zha, a noted writer and social commentator, will present “Transformation in Modern China” at 6:30 p.m. today, Oct. 10, in the Weasler Auditorium.

An award-winning author and social commentator, Zha was born and raised in Beijing. She is the author of Tide Players: the Movers and Shakers of a Rising China, China Pop: How Soap Operas, Tabloids and Bestsellers are Transforming a Culture and the award-winning The Nineteen Eighties. Her writing has appeared in the New York Times and the New Yorker and she received a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship in non-fiction in 2003.

The presentation is part of the Allis Chalmers Distinguished Professor of International Affairs Lecture Series sponsored by the Helen Way Klingler College of Arts and Sciences.

2. Education reform advocate to speak at Law School

Abby Ramirez, executive director of Schools That Can Milwaukee, will be a guest for “On the Issues with Mike Gousha,” tomorrow, Oct. 11, from 12:15 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. in Eckstein Hall.

A former business executive, Ramirez has become a leading voice for education reform in Milwaukee. The goal of the organization she co-founded, Schools That Can Milwaukee, is to have 20,000 children in high-performing urban schools — public, charter and choice — by 2020. To do that, Ramirez and her organization work to identify schools where children are succeeding and attempt to replicate those models across the city.

3. Two McNair students to present undergraduate research

The McNair Scholars Program and the Office of Multicultural Affairs will co-host a colloquium showcasing the undergraduate research of two juniors in the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences on Thursday, Oct. 13, at noon in Raynor Beaumier Suite D.

Eduardo DeLaCruz will present “Drug Development In Schizophrenia: Efficacy In Preclinical And Clinical Trials To Show Role Of Antipsychotic Drugs,” and Jason Raymond will present “Are There Differences in the Neurological Adaptations to Resistance Training?” A complimentary light lunch will be served. For more information contact the McNair Scholars Program at 8-1771 or the Multicultural Center at 8-7205.

4. Milwaukee Aging Consortium holding conference

The 2011 Annual Networking and Professional Development Conference for the Milwaukee Aging Consortium will be held Friday, Oct. 14, from 7:30 a.m. to 2:15 p.m. at Potawatomi Bingo Casino convention center. Register online.

The Wisconsin Geriatric Education Center in the College of Nursing has a limited number of scholarships available to Marquette faculty and students who wish to attend. Contact Stacy Barnes, director of the Wisconsin Geriatric Education Center, at 8-3709 by Thursday, Oct. 13.

5. Social Innovation Design Contest beginning

The Social Innovation Design Contest’s first informational meeting will take place Saturday, Oct. 15, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in Zilber 025. Refreshments will be served. Participants in the contest, which has the theme “Change the World, Solve a Social Problem,” are invited to transform their vision for change into a plan to solve a social problem.

Faculty and staff can assist and advise, but the actual innovation and presentation must be student-led. Prizes will be awarded at judging, which takes place Dec. 1. For more information contact Jeff Snell, special adviser to the president, at 8-4758.

6. Marquette role in transition from prison to community highlighted at nonprofit gala

Project Return, a Milwaukee-based nonprofit that facilitates the transition from prison back into the community, will highlight its connection with Marquette faculty and students at its annual gala Saturday, Oct. 22, at 6 p.m. in the AMU Ballroom. Dr. Ed de St. Aubin, associate professor of psychology, and Department of Social and Cultural Sciences faculty Drs. Heather Hlavka, assistant professor; Rick Jones, associate professor; and Darren Wheelock, assistant professor, have conducted research with Project Return, which has supported dozens of Marquette interns. Former Green Bay Packer Kabeer Gbaja-Biamila will be the keynote speaker. Cost is $25 for students and $50 for all others. For more information contact de St. Aubin at 8-2143. The event is sponsored by the Office of the Provost and the Department of Psychology.

7. $2,000 student peacemaking fellowships available

The Center for Peacemaking will hold an information session about 2011-12 Szymczak Peacemaking Fellowships Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 7 p.m. in AMU 163.

The Center for Peacemaking awards nearly $16,000 in Szymczak Peacemaking Fellowships each year. These $200 to $2,000 grants allow Marquette students to work for peace and explore nonviolence. At the end of their experience, peacemakers present their discoveries to the community and invite students to apply for their own fellowships.

Past peacemakers have created a documentary on racism in Kirkwood, Mo., examined how nonviolence is being used to transform the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and established a virtual community between students in South African segregated townships with Milwaukee’s inner-city students.

8. Farmers' market to be held on campus tomorrow

A “Fresh Fall Farmers’ Market” will be Tuesday, Oct. 11, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in parking lot A (next to the Weasler Auditorium). Items for sale include apples, potatoes, onions, carrots, squash, cider and fresh cut flowers. Free green grocery bags will be given to the first 200 people. The market is sponsored by MUSG, Sodexo, the Center for Health Education and Promotion, the sustainability program, the Office of Residence Life and the Alumni Memorial Union.

Marquette employees can also receive one punch on their Wellness Rewards punch card for each weekly visit made to the Westown Farmer’s Market, which runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Wednesday until Oct. 26. The market is located on Michigan Street between Third and Fourth streets — approximately a 10-minute walk one way. Cards and card punches will be provided at the Westown information tent located in the center of the market. Every time employees attend a qualifying employee wellness program, they’re eligible to receive a punch on a Wellness Rewards Card. Employees who complete a punch card with 10 punches earn a Wellness Reward Package and entry into an annual grand prize drawing, from participating partners. Wellness Rewards Punch Cards are available at all qualifying employee wellness programs. Marquette is a sponsor of the farmers’ market and the free River Rhythms concert series, which is held from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesdays at Père Marquette Park.

9. Biology and chemistry colloquiums to be held this week

The Department of Biological Sciences will host a seminar Friday, Oct. 14, at 3:30 p.m. in Wehr Life Sciences 111. Dr. Paul Cox, director of the Institute for EthnoMedicine in Jackson, Wyo., will present “Cyanobacteria, ALS and Alzheimer’s Disease.”

Dr. Robert Glaser, professor of chemistry at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel, will present “Illusions of Symmetry: Achiral Pseudosymmetry Quantification in Asymmetric Environments or Kryptoracemate Molecular Crystals” for a Department of Chemistry colloquium. The program will be Friday, Oct. 14, at 4 p.m. in Todd Wehr Chemistry 121. Refreshments will be available beginning at 3:45 p.m.

10. Praise and worship to be offered tonight

Praise and worship-style prayer will be offered today, Oct. 10, in the AMU Chapel of the Holy Family from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. followed by fellowship. This event is co-sponsored by Campus Ministry, Campus Crusade for Christ, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, the Knights of Columbus, and Lutheran Campus Ministry. For more information contact Stephen Blaha, assistant director of campus ministry, at 8-6873.

11. Eastern Orthodox vespers service to be held Wednesday

Campus Ministry and the Marquette Chapter of Orthodox Christian Fellowship will hold an Eastern Orthodox Vespers service Wednesday, Oct. 12, at 6:30 p.m. in the Saint Joan of Arc Chapel. Vespers is an evening prayer service that is spiritually beautiful and peaceful, filled with God’s love in Christ through the Holy Spirit, according to Campus Ministry. For more information, contact Rev. John Jones, professor of philosophy, or Maria Tsikalas, president of OCF.

12. Grades and financial information available through guest access

Students can also create guest accounts on CheckMarq to provide access for parents, guardians and others to view mid-term and final grades, and bursar account and financial aid information. Students may share the login information for their guest account with anyone they choose. Students control the access and the password and can change them at any time. Log in to CheckMarq to set up guest access.

13. Gender Sexuality Alliance holding "Chronicles of the Closet"

Gender Sexuality Alliance will celebrate LGBTQA diversity on campus with "Chronicles of the Closet," an open-mic night for sharing coming-out stories. The event will be held at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, in the AMU Brew. GSA will also hold a bake sale from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 11, in the Wehr Chemistry lobby.

Oct. 11 is National Coming Out Day, an internationally observed civil awareness day for coming out and for discussion of LGBTQA issues. The date was chosen because it is the anniversary of the 1987 National March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights.

14. Follow Marquette updates online

Marquette community members can get information and stay up-to-date with Marquette happenings through multimedia and social networks. Connect with Marquette through:

• Marquette on Twitter – in 140 characters or less.

• Marquette’s Facebook page, as well as many Marquette departmental pages. There are more than 17,000 followers of Marquette’s Facebook page.

• Marquette on foursquare to discover tips about places on campus, including historical trivia and campus activities.

• Marquette News Center — RSS subscription available to receive university news announcements.

• Marquette’s YouTube channel, where viewers can watch, rate and comment on videos about Marquette.