Opinion

Fact vs. Spin

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Feb. 17, students will turn out to vote in the spring primary election. While the Presidential election is certain to attract many a UW voter, the referendum to expand the DeJope bingo hall into a full-fledged casino also deserves serious attention. We again call on students to look at the cold hard facts and vote against an expansion.

The social and economic impacts of gambling on the UW community cannot be ignored. That is why we previously cited the work of Professor William Thompson who studied these impacts on behalf of No Dane Casino. He conclusively showed a net loss in economic and social resources to Dane County if the casino is expanded ? to the tune of at least $33 million annually.

Some have claimed that this study is biased, since it was funded by the leading anti-casino group, No Dane Casino.

But two University of Wisconsin School of Business professors disagree. According to Kerry Vandell and Donald Hausch, who have independently reviewed the economic impact studies both sides in the battle have cited, the casino expansion will hurt Dane County. The two professors acted independently and without compensation by any group or individual.

Vandell stated that the money the Ho-Chunk Nation would pay to the city and county is not enough. He believes it does not constitute a good deal when one considers the social costs that the proposed Casino will create, the money that it will take out of the community and the substantial profits which the casino will realize.

But just what are these social and economic costs? Socially, it means increased crime, bankruptcies, incarceration and addicted gamblers. Economically, it means significant numbers of patrons will leave the downtown Madison area. A study published by the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute in 1995 (a group not funded by either the Ho-Chunk Nation or No Dane Casino), showed that gambling patrons in Wisconsin were spending 10 percent less on food, 25 percent less on clothing and 37 percent had depleted their savings in order to gamble.

What will this mean for students? There is a very real possibility students may see fewer stores, bars and restaurants on State Street, among those establishments which cannot compete. Their city will spend more and more money dealing with crime on the southeast side of Madison when students are dealing with safety issues right here on campus. Most important for students dealing with ever-increasing tuitions, students will have fewer opportunities for good employment to supplement their education.

Since we last issued our endorsement of a ‘No’ vote, a small group of students have gathered on campus to back an expansion. This group has been primarily led by Steven Singh and Danica Sorensen, the co-coordinators of a supposedly ‘volunteer’ student group.

However, information received by the State Elections Board on Feb. 9, 2004 shows that Singh was paid $800 and Sorensen $700 in “consulting” fees by the Ho-Chunk Nation. We find these figures telling, and we ask students to consider the facts. Experts at this University, acting independently, agree that this expansion will hurt the community.