H 78°, L 55° | Tomorrow: 
H 85°, L 67°The debate over how to optimize the college system has been approached from countless angles. Is it best to aim for smaller class sizes, increase scholarship funding or explore new methods of learning? For my part, I believe the best way to improve a college education is to start at… Read more »
Opinion
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Professors should put teaching first
Humanities building functional, but could be much more
Labyrinths piss off tomb raiders and, worst of all, the students at the University of Wisconsin who need to get to class. The Mosse Humanities Building is what we have all come to know as the labyrinth on campus. Sure, the bridge connecting it to Vilas makes external navigation fairly easy,… Read more »
Obama must stay true to ‘progressive vision’
I am hopeful President Barack Obama will expand on the progressive vision for the country he laid out in his inaugural address. As a student, I am most excited to hear his plans for this country’s education system. He campaigned on hiring 100,000 new math and science teachers, and I… Read more »
Humanities blight on UW
“Abandon all hope, ye who enter here.” These memorable words are inscribed on the gates of Hell in the work Inferno, the first part of Dante’s Divine Comedy. And there is no better description in the written world that should represent the moniker of the dark, sunlight-deprived crap stain that… Read more »
UHS hard at work to prevent suicide
There have been several reports about suicide prevention efforts on the University of Wisconsin campus over the past few weeks. We commend our community for caring so much about each other and hope to provide some additional context for these issues. University Health Services’ (UHS) mental health services has been… Read more »
More action needed in Tibet
Dec. 10 is human rights day. It’s a day that’s marked all around the world to remind us and raise our awareness of the importance of basic fundamental human rights, which demand justice, dignity and equality to all human beings without distinction or discrimination. So we, the Tibetan Student Association… Read more »
Matt Manes, MWL and GSSF poop dollars
As I was reading The Badger Herald this past Tuesday night, I stumbled upon a familiar story and an all-too-familiar name: Matt Manes and his attempt to get student segregated fee funding for the Medieval Warriorcraft League. Along with the fact that “warriorcraft” isn’t a word, I’m going to let… Read more »
Republican Party needs to make over their image
The results of the 2012 presidential election reveal a need for the Republican Party to reinvent itself. The party’s reputation outside active, registered membership is what caused Romney to lose. Shy of scrapping the primary system for selecting its presidential candidate, the GOP needs to substantially disavow itself of pure… Read more »
Judge Sumi honorable, source of pride
In his column titled “Sumi should not run for Supreme Court,” Reginald Young conveniently forgot in his rant against a “judge who has one party clearly and strongly associated with her” she was appointed in 1998 by then GOP Governor Tommy Thompson. Most importantly, Wisconsin’s Open Meetings Law states: “In conformance… Read more »
Varsity Day to bring prestigious speakers
Last year, the visit of Neil deGrasse Tyson created an excitement on campus and also placed the University of Wisconsin in the national spotlight following his moving speech. The Associated Students of Madison Student Government has taken notice of this student interest and began addressing the idea with the proposed… Read more »
All animals deserve sympathy felt for UW cats
For once, it’s easy to support People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. It usually isn’t. Here in Wisconsin, almost everyone has some ties to agriculture, and the idea that animals deserve near-human rights is enough to send chills down the spine of anyone who enjoys a frequent burger or… Read more »
Gay marriage rhetoric does not make sense
On Tuesday, North Carolina voters passed a state constitutional amendment banning gay marriage. This is nothing new; the last few years have seen an increase in anti-gay sentiments from state governments, and we even saw an overtly anti-gay presidential candidate run for office and actually do well. Why are gays so discriminated… Read more »
Despite uncertainties, no reason not to vote
The May 8 Democratic primary to elect a candidate to run against Gov. Scott Walker in the recall is quickly approaching. Over the past few weeks, much confusion has been brought to the surface over the general rules and regulations of voting in this particular election. Because of all the… Read more »
Cinco de Mifflin insensitive, disrespectful
I get it. It’s Mifflin. I’ve heard about this hallowed party long before I stepped foot on this campus in late August. It’s a party so infamous it even has its own Wikipedia article. But there is something this year that just gets at me. It’s not the obscene amount… Read more »
Inconsistencies in Diversity housing necessitate audit
Why is it so difficult to obtain information on the characteristics and financing of the Minority and Disadvantaged Student program operated by the University of Wisconsin’s University Housing Division? Undergraduates living in the dorms may be interested in knowing that University Housing reported M/D expenditures, which averaged between $450-500 per… Read more »
Mifflin rules can improve our safety
The highly anticipated Mifflin Street Block Party is less than a week away. However, there seems to be so many rumors about this year’s Mifflin that it is hard to figure out what to believe. We are here to put these rumors to rest and explain what is really going… Read more »
ASM members rate UW administrators
We are both accountable to the student body for our actions and responsible for engaging the student body in our work. Our power is in our numbers, and we cannot realize that power without effective communication to you, our constituent students, about our interactions with administrators to hold them accountable… Read more »
Catholic school suffers financial woes
As reported by the Wisconsin State Journal, I question the strategy of Platteville parishioners who withheld their donations in protest of a bishop’s refusal to remove the Rev. Faustino Ruiz and the Rev. John Del Priore from their positions. This strategy seems to have caused undue harm to St. Mary’s Catholic… Read more »
Trayvon’s case shows need for prevention, proaction by the ASM Diversity Committee
According to information found at the Southern Poverty Law Center, a nonprofit civil rights organization dedicated to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of society, consistent findings show African American and Latino youth are over-represented in middle school suspensions and that the increased use of suspension has been largest… Read more »
Sensationalist media takes away from childhood abuse
In an address to Penn State University’s graduating class of 1973, Joe Paterno shared these words: “Success without honor is an unseasoned dish; it will satisfy your hunger, but it won’t taste good.” More than three decades later and in light of child sexual abuse charges against Paterno’s colleague Jerry… Read more »
UW needs cross-faith discussions
The most momentous issue of the 20th century, W.E.B. Dubois asserted, was “the problem of the color line.” Presidential adviser and founder of the Interfaith Youth Core, Eboo Patel proposed to National Public Radio that the problem of the 21st century is “the faith line.” Patel argues that the “faith… Read more »
Our generation needs more leaders like Walker
It was a cold evening in Madison last February when I decided to take a walk around the Capitol Square. I was curious to see what was making megaphone-wielding protesters barge into classrooms. A friend had just forwarded me an email from his professor saying class was cancelled – citing… Read more »
UW crimes alarming, but can be remedied
In fall 2008, my brother was staying with a friend on College Court. It was 1:30 a.m., the lights were off and everyone in the apartment was in bed. Suddenly, a rattling at the exterior door woke everyone in the apartment. Through the peephole, it was clear that a man… Read more »
Consent culture promotes less violence
I am blessed with two pretty cool jobs — one as a sexual violence prevention educator, the other as a sexual health educator. During my commute, I make the personality switch from a sensually energetic instructor of pleasure to bracing myself for handling the daily atrocities that are rape, sexual… Read more »
Vigor and student involvement key to improving US educational system
Our public education system in America is at a crossroads. One doesn’t need to look hard to see examples of failing schools, unknowledgeable students and reform measures that fail to redress the woes befalling our public schools. In the latest PISA reports on world education, the U.S. ranked 14th in literacy, 17th… Read more »
Hoodies and headscarves: Trayvon and Alawadi murders show overall pattern of racism in America
Two weeks ago, Madison students and community members gathered on Library Mall to call for justice for Trayvon Martin and Bo Morrison. As more cases of senseless violence and outright racist killings come to light around the country, it is important to understand the underlying system of oppression that allows… Read more »
Senate recall elections nuanced
The second round of upcoming recall elections in Wisconsin promises to be just as memorable as the last round of elections held in 2011. While much of the focus is on the race between Gov. Scott Walker and his yet-to-be-determined challenger, we cannot forget about the four equally important Wisconsin Senate… Read more »
ASM members fight loan debt
In February 2011, when the budget repair bill threatened the wages of our University of Wisconsin educators as well as the university budget as a whole, students and educators activated en masse. Their goal: to put a stop to what they deemed an attack on their institution and their education.… Read more »
Mifflin needs more structure
Police Chief Noble Wray may just have been speaking his mind when he told the news media recently that he hoped the Mifflin Street Block Party would soon be a thing of the past. It’s not an unreasonable position for the police chief to take. After all, last’s year’s event… Read more »
To advance labor dialogue, TAA won’t endorse Falk
On Feb. 23, the Teaching Assistants’ Association passed a resolution that said the TAA would only consider endorsement of a candidate for the recall on the condition that they pledge to repeal Wisconsin Act 10. This includes the restoration of collective bargaining, “fair share” dues for public sector unions and… Read more »
Although conflicted, Isreal still part of the modern world
Israel in general and the Israeli-Arab conflict is one of the world’s biggest obsessions. On a daily basis, people die all over the world in places like Darfur. People like Joseph Kony get some seasonal attention in the media and a bit of a reaction from the American government. Israel,… Read more »
Teacher performance best way to combat learning gap
Schools throughout America are failing. One doesn’t need to look far to see how badly schools are doing: Graduation rates of our nation’s inner cities, such as Milwaukee or Detroit, are disturbingly low, particularly when compared to the suburbs that surround these urban centers. At the heart of the issue,… Read more »
Voter ID will hurt more than help
Voting in Wisconsin has always been a cherished and respected right, and recently, this right has been under attack by a nationwide movement to impose stringent voter ID laws that disenfranchise people, rather than prevent, voter fraud. This past Monday, a column was printed in The Badger Herald that, sadly,… Read more »
Newest ASM slate would give voice to all students; boop!
Boop! However odd the name is, it signifies a distinct shift in the potential of a group of individuals running for the Associated Students of Madison Student Council. The calm, yet determined nature of the Boop slate reminds me of something one of the best visionaries in the movement to… Read more »
Student health care needs focus
On Feb. 28, The Badger Herald published an article titled “Bill would halt health care crisis” on the recently-proposed bill appealing cuts to BadgerCare. The article detailed the effects the bill would have on life for Wisconsin’s workers and young children. However, noticeably absent from this article was any mention… Read more »
After budget cuts, school board needs priorities
The activism of University of Wisconsin students has changed the face and direction of our city. From Mayor Paul Soglin, whose leadership in the anti-war and civil rights movement on campus presaged a history-making career in public service, to the teaching assistants and UW students who were the very first… Read more »
Defunding and privatization threaten public schools
Public education currently stands under twin towers of threat — de-funding and privatization. This is consistent with a conservative agenda to eliminate many public programs — including public education. In Wisconsin, school districts have been under strict limits on their revenues and spending since 1993. These limits have not kept… Read more »
Elitism does little to improve education
It is a terrible understatement to say that the last year has been tumultuous for Wisconsin public higher education. We have witnessed a crisis of finance, politics and leadership. However, we can’t claim to have been blindsided, since this crisis was decades in the making and partly our own doing.… Read more »
ASM constitution revisions need more student interest
Commenting on the proposed Associated Students of Madison constitutional rewrite is like stepping into a field of chirping crickets that is also full of landmines. Most students probably have no interest. The few who are interested tend to enjoy explosive arguments. Still, a discussion of the proposal needs to take… Read more »
Achievement gap needs public’s greater scrutiny
You’ve undoubtedly read about the Madison Metropolitan School District’s recent initiative to close the racial and socioeconomic achievement gap that’s been plaguing the city for decades. This sudden shift in collective focus is likely the result of the Urban League of Madison’s recent Madison Prep charter school proposal. If not,… Read more »
New Voter ID rules should not deter students from polls
The Spring Primary is being held tomorrow, and it marks the first election in which the new voter ID law takes effect. For most of this newspaper’s readers, it is a primary between Roger Allen, Ellen Berz and Francis Sullivan for Dane County Circuit Court Judge in which the top… Read more »
ASM lays down concrete goals
ASM leaders on the Coordinating Council, the organized group of all ASM committee chairs, have created a Strategic Plan to monitor the success of ASM and advance the rights of students. We share these goals with you in an effort to engage you in the work of positively impacting the… Read more »
Young misleads: Pan ideal candidate
This letter is a response to Reggie Young’s 2/15 Badger Herald column about my candidacy for Dane County Board. Mr. Young argues that I would be ineffective as an elected official because of his perception that I am too “hot-headed” and “partisan” to work productively with other supervisors. As proof,… Read more »
Cuts to UW disproportionate, unfair
Today, the Joint Committee on Finance will hold a hearing regarding the disproportionate budget lapse to the University of Wisconsin System. It is proposed that the UW System take a $65.6 million cut, 38 percent of the total lapse. This, after the System received a $250 million cut in the… Read more »
Money as speech problematic for democracy
In a press release from President Barack Obama’s administration last week, campaign manager Jim Messina announced Obama’s disdain for the Citizens United ruling. The release, titled “We Will Not Play by Two Sets of Rules,” clarified that while corporate super PAC funding is dangerously altering the fabric of our democracy,… Read more »
UW System lacks venue for dialogues on diversity
There is a lack of adequate help from the University of Wisconsin System in restoring justice and integrity for underrepresented students when hateful acts of discrimination occur. A system of larger problems was exposed during last week’s events at UW-Parkside when two nooses appeared on campus. The mock lynching that… Read more »
ASM forum looks at wages for students
Workers’ rights have become an increasingly important issue in Madison since the uproar of protests at the Capitol last year. During the budget repair bill protests, I became interested in worker’s rights not only for public workers, but for students here at the University of Wisconsin. When I heard that the Associated Students of… Read more »
Alcohol used as a scapegoat for Chadima
Due to the allegations that Athletic Director John Chadima assaulted a student worker at a party while in a California hotel, University of Wisconsin Chancellor David Ward has suggested the university alcohol policy should be subjected to a review. If you failed to follow that, it’s because it makes no… Read more »
UW tackling disaster preparedness
A planning team consisting of University of Wisconsin staff and consultants are in the middle of a two-year Federal Emergency Management Agency-funded grant to develop a Disaster-Resistant University plan for the Madison campus and outlying properties. The goal of this plan is to help mitigate and minimize potential damage from… Read more »
Pan’s positions desirable for students
As a citizen of Dane County and as a student of the University of Wisconsin, I believe this year’s Dane County Board election marks an important opportunity for participation. Because of the events that have taken place in Wisconsin in the last year, there has never been a more important… Read more »
Students must take action on opinions
“Next semester the page will again seek out the opinions of many, but will likely be left with the opinions of the dedicated few. Our efforts of inviting guest editorial board members will continue, as will our acceptance of letters to the editor and guest columns from those who have… Read more »
Indiana Gov. Daniel’s rebuttal outshines Obama’s
If your viewing of this year’s State of the Union address was anything like mine, it involved good friends, adult beverages and a playful willingness to poke fun at John Kerry’s ghastly hockey bruises. Unfortunately, if you turned off your TV after Obama’s departing “God Bless the USA” to catch… Read more »
UW’s tradition of controversial architecture
On Jan. 10, without notice, the 150-year old oak tree next to the Union Theater was removed. The tree, as well as the glass box theater addition and the ultimate financing of the entire renovation, have stirred a year-long debate. Looking back at the Memorial Union building’s 84-year-long history, the… Read more »
Student dialogue needed to improve hourly wage
A common adage students hear from family members is how they “worked through college.” It’s the quintessential American Dream notion that yes, college costs money, but if you work hard enough you could make enough money to pay for your own tuition and not owe anyone else anything. Sadly, that… Read more »
All ideas welcome at Educational Innovation sessions
2011 has been a year to try the University of Wisconsin’s soul. I won’t recount all the particulars of the blows, attacks and harassment UW has faced this year, but as we approach the depth of winter, it’s easy to believe that even hope and virtue won’t survive this time.… Read more »
Reading Corps tutoring meaningful job for alums
Graduating this semester and need a job? Minnesota Reading Corps has 1,100 tutor positions to fill for the 2012-2013 school year. These literacy tutors serve in schools across Minnesota, working toward ensuring that all kids read at grade level by the end of third grade. Currently, somewhere around 15,000 third… Read more »
SLAC: Adidas violates Wisconsin Idea
While celebrating the victory of last week’s football game, many of us will undoubtedly be purchasing Wisconsin attire in our excitement for the Rose Bowl. But it doesn’t occur to most of us how our sweatshirts were made, and it shouldn’t have to. In fact, any brand that licenses with… Read more »
HIV positive need more outreach
Today, Dec. 1, is World AIDS Day. Created in 1988, it is intended as a day for observance of those who have died and for focus on issues currently facing the HIV/AIDS community. HIV/AIDS is an important issue in Madison, which is home to the AIDS Network and AIDS Resource… Read more »
6-year-old’s felony charges overzealous
I can’t imagine six-year-olds get a lot of mail. Why would they need to? And in addition to the danger of being hit by a moving vehicle, they aren’t even tall enough to retrieve it from the box. However, a young boy in Grant County recently got some interesting mail… Read more »
Circulation of petition goes against university tenets
Before break, four professors here at the University of Wisconsin knowingly engaged in an illegal activity. That’s right, our leaders, our role models, and those who are supposed to be molding us students into good citizens, have trampled the law under their feet. In a small department meeting with several… Read more »
Though not infectious, diabetes a real, growing threat in U.S.
Everyone is familiar with the media-hyped epidemics of the past 10 years: H1N1 (swine flu), SARS and West Nile virus to name a few. For many Badgers, the memories of quarantined dorm floors and respiratory masks cast these diseases in a dangerous light. However, there is another epidemic for which… Read more »
Progressives: Recall Walker for affront to education
Monday night, at locations around the state, hundreds gathered to await midnight, which would mark the beginning of the collection of more than 500,000 signatures to recall Gov. Scott Walker. On State Street at Hawk’s Bar and Grill, the air was charged, with chants of “Recall Walker!” and “This is… Read more »
United Council should lobby more
To the students of the UW System: Despite the fact that the Madison student body voted last spring to remain in United Council of UW Students, Inc. for another two years, many students have questioned the utility of UC membership. Badger Herald Editor-in-Chief Signe Brewster perhaps summarized the skepticism best… Read more »
College Dems: Momentum key in recall movement
Remember the inspiring display of democracy that occurred in Madison last winter and made international news? Remember the protests that attracted hundreds of thousands of people to the Capitol and continued for weeks? Remember what it was all about? At the time, the primary purpose was to “kill the bill,”… Read more »
Student Council breaches authority by reinstating members
The recent decision of the Student Council to reappoint Beth Huang and Niko Magollon to their former seats was a disturbing but unsurprising revelation. It is blatantly obvious that a cabal within Student Council has an agenda to undermine the legitimacy of the Judiciary as a co-equal branch of ASM… Read more »
SSFC denial of MSCS funding empty exercise of authority
The Associated Students of Madison’s Student Services Finance Committee decided last week to revoke the Multicultural Student Coalition’s eligibility for segregated fee-based funding. This is the last move in what has become a trend of targeting student organizations who work to promote a more diverse and inclusive campus climate, including… Read more »
Better answers required to justify holistic admissions process
Exactly how are minority applicant admissions decisions made at the University of Wisconsin? At Monday’s Legislative Assembly committee hearing, Provost Paul DeLuca and Admissions Director Adele Brumfield described the process. They also dismissed the Center for Equal Opportunity study of UW undergraduate admissions that reported “severe discrimination” favoring African Americans… Read more »
Acceptance of sexually violent language degrades us all
While playing a pick-up game of volleyball the other night, I experienced a rude awakening: A friend of mine —who typically has a mild, friendly disposition — casually shouted, “Backhand that bitch!” after a team member spiked the ball with the back of his hand. I froze. “Did that really… Read more »
Media coverage distorts domestic violence issue
How we interpret social phenomena often depends on how we see them depicted in the media. Whether understood through television, cinema, music or advertisements, much of what we believe is influenced by the messages we consume. Most of the time, this is not a bad thing. The media is a… Read more »
Glass box is moot without funding
Student lounge? Theater reception? Both silly questions. It seems there is some misplaced attention regarding the upcoming Memorial Union renovation. I encourage all of my fellow students to help correct the priorities in the upcoming Oct. 16 referendum. The building is over 75 years old and has never been fully… Read more »
Opposition to development leaves Madison stuck in the past
A new controversy is brewing in Madison over whether to build a large modern office building on State Street that would partially remove the street’s historic buildings. The issue of historic preservation versus development is nothing new in Madison, and historic preservationists intend to dig in on this one despite… Read more »
Drawing line between protest and disruption
It has been over a week since the UW community was torn by the debate over affirmative action on Sept.13. As is well known, the conflict was precipitated by the presentation of a study conducted by the Center for Equal Opportunity, which alleges reverse discrimination in UW admissions policies. Neither… Read more »
Colorblind, merit-based admissions needed
In my first political science class freshman year, I found myself in an honors discussion debating public policy. In our first week, we were asked to debate the various systems of college admissions, ranging from a lottery system to a complete meritocracy. Among my 20 or so counterparts, I was… Read more »
Glass box abomination on historic Union
The current student-subsidized renovation project is aimed at modernizing the 83-year-old Memorial Union. It will reorganize the internal spaces, provide better ADA accessibility, modernize wiring, plumbing and safety infrastructure and repair leaking roofs, broken fixtures and damaged interior surfaces. If the University of Wisconsin Memorial Union is going to be… Read more »
PAVE: Media undermine severity of stalking issue
As Sexual Assault Awareness Month draws to a close, we at Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment hope students have learned a lot about rape and how it affects this campus. It’s important, however, that we recognize sexual assault is not the only issue PAVE and the campus at large need to… Read more »
Wisconsin Republicans target voter fraud within universities
The Wisconsin State Legislature is considering a new proposal that would increase the difficulty of college students to register to vote, by requiring them to present identification with an up-to-date address on it. The plan, which according to Republicans would curb voter fraud, has been raising eyebrows of young people… Read more »
College Republicans to host conservative pundit at event
Esteemed conservative pundit and author, frequently featured in the New York Daily News and Sean Hannity’s “Great Great Great American Panel”, S.E. Cupp will be speaking to students from across the political spectrum on campus today. Cupp will bring a common sense conservative voice to campus; a political view that… Read more »
Public apathy most troubling trend in emerging fight over education
I’d like to start today with an admission: I recently joined the Twitterverse. Yes, after many months of lampooning friends and the site alike, I finally caved and joined what is in reality one of the two most important social networks in the world. My justification? I could start following… Read more »
Innovative Event Unites All UW Service Travel Organizations
Many students at the University of Wisconsin wish to travel and volunteer. Unfortunately, many do not know where to turn to find opportunities and often get turned off by the hunt. For the first time in recent history, all the service travel organizations at UW are being brought together to… Read more »
Observe Sexual Assault Awareness Month with PAVE
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and across campus students will engage in and discuss the prevention of sexual assault. However, many of these discussions will likely focus on cases where the victim is a woman and the perpetrator is a man. While these assaults are extremely important to address,… Read more »
Spring elections were historic
The state of local politics is strong. During the election last week, voter participation was at a historic level. In Madison’s District 8 alone, 2,658 votes were cast. This is in comparison to the last major spring election, in 2009 — in which only 574 ballots were cast for the… Read more »
Ald. Maniaci: Good for students, good for District 2
For the last two years, I’ve served as the 2nd District alder on the Madison Common Council. I am proud of my time serving as alder and hope to earn your vote to represent the 2nd District for another two years. I am confident my hard work, advocacy, passion and… Read more »
Ald. Eagon: Vote for Madison’s future, our mayor, Mayor Dave
There are many important and contentious races on the ballot this Tuesday, April 5. From the State Supreme Court to Dane County Executive to City Council races, the outcomes of these elections will shape our state and community for years to come. Another significant race is for mayor of our… Read more »
Message from District 2 Candidate for Alder Sam Stevenson
Madison’s near east side has for decades acted as an anchor for Madison’s most iconic and attractive attributes. From our quiet pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods to our exceptional level of community activism and the progressive vision for the city that ties the isthmus together, the district I hope to represent embodies so… Read more »
Regent opposes separation of UW-Madison from UW System
Students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison know their school can hold its own as a first-class public research institution rivaled by only a few dozen universities across the world. But our state’s current budget debates forecast spending cuts that could slash into the core of what makes the campus great.… Read more »
Scott Walker perfect fit for looming void left by Tressel
In an earlier column, I claimed that Bo Ryan would make an efficient and fair governor of the state of Wisconsin. I still stand by my assertion that our silver-haired hoops guru possesses the administrative and problem solving skills necessary to hold the state’s highest executive office. Now it seems… Read more »
Support from society needed for all sexual assault survivors
I am writing in response to a Milwaukee judge’s decision to dismiss the civil case against Sigma Chi, two years after a girl said she was raped there. I am not writing to discuss the case itself, however appalling the judge’s rationale may be. I have no interest in starting… Read more »
Students of various religions respond to Peter King hearings
During Madison’s monumental protests, we have come to various realizations about ourselves as Muslim-Americans and about America itself. The protest against Scott Walker’s bill embodies the struggle against dictatorial legislation, attitudes and violations against basic civil liberties and the dignity of a people. While the policies of this bill won’t… Read more »
New student group champions truth, support for New Badger Partnership
This university was given a simple but essential mission at its founding: to create an educational environment that would encourage the pursuit of knowledge and truth for both students and faculty alike to benefit the state of Wisconsin. In recent years, this institution’s ability to fulfill this mission has slowly… Read more »
Foreign governments should proceed with caution in Libya
Discussions are heating up over the option of the international community imposing a no-fly zone over Libyan airspace as a way to protect rebels and civilians from aerial attacks by the Qaddafi regime. Key political figures in the United States, including the president, secretary of defense and several senior… Read more »
Online exclusive: An Apologia from a former anti-leftist leftist
When I was an Editorial Board member at The Badger Herald in spring 2009, I wrote several columns harshly critical of the Madison left. When I served for a truncated stint as Editorial Page Editor from July to October 2009, this did not abate. Kyle Szarzynski, campus activist and current… Read more »
Open letter to Walker from UW med students
Dear Gov. Scott Walker, We are students at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and are writing to ask you to change your stance with regard to the budget repair bill. We are opposed to this legislation because it will negatively impact both the University of… Read more »
Letter to WI from Gov. Scott Walker
The budget repair bill is now in the hands of the Legislature. Although it is getting a lot more attention than most bills, it is still just a bill working its way through the process. In our state, budget bills are introduced by the governor, reviewed by the Joint Finance… Read more »
Both sides degrade democracy in budget debacle
I have never seen such gross misuse of domestic democracy as I have seen in Wisconsin in the last week and a half. Gov. Scott Walker’s budget proposal is controversial, and while unfortunate for teachers, nurses, graduate students like myself and countless others, it’s important to remember that over 2… Read more »
As country watches, Wisconsin must hold strong
Wausau, Wis. is my hometown, and I am a proud University of Wisconsin graduate. I take umbrage at Gov. Scott Walker’s “budget repair” proposal for many reasons, these three in particular: First, some of this budget crisis is a product of the governor’s millions in corporate tax breaks. At best,… Read more »
Walker’s proposed budget bill gives power back to the people
Dear Editors, As I’m sure you know, our governor has proposed a budget repair bill that would reduce the collective bargaining power of public employee unions to salaries. To evaluate this, think about what unions do. Unions gather employees to negotiate against the employer. The employer of public employees, however,… Read more »
No matter how tumult plays out, private support will be critical to UW
This week’s protests at the capitol, along with Chancellor Martin’s proposed Badger Partnership and her plan to hire an outside consulting firm to examine the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s finances, prove that “budget” has become more than a buzz-worthy term for 2011. And yet, despite all this focus on the university’s… Read more »
Bo Ryan capable substitute for fouled out Walker
Today, I curiously joined hundreds of Wisconsin students in a march to the doorway of Scott Walker’s office. During the march, I had some time to reflect on the problems facing our state. My conclusion was this: The right person to solve our state’s growing deficit problem is not Scott… Read more »
College Republicans dispute ASM e-mail
Monday morning, the Associated Students of Madison sent an e-mail to the student body attacking Gov. Scott Walker’s ideas to solve the budget crisis. The message claimed to be informative and representative of the stance that is supposedly in the best interest of the students. “Most importantly, you should know… Read more »
Szarzynski: A potential local counterweight to anti-student GOP forces
Many students might be unaware, but the local primary elections are today. Considering the disappointing and even frightening outcome of the last election, we as students need to look to the future. We need to focus on how we can ensure our interests are taken into consideration. As a student… Read more »
Fight to defend Title X with UW’s Advocates for Choice
The newly elected leaders in the House of Representatives have launched the most devastating legislative assault on women’s health care in American history. They want to eliminate Title X, the national family planning program that has provided millions of women with preventive care since 1970, when Richard Nixon signed it… Read more »
Walker: Austerity for the poor, prosperity for the rich
Watching Gov. Scott Walker’s state of the state address last Tuesday, I could not help but notice how the speech seemed to have a very specific audience. The audience was the working public. The upper class was not much addressed in the state of the state speech because it was… Read more »
Men needed to win fight against domestic violence
There are countless stereotypes associated with domestic violence, but one of the most common has to be that it is a crime solely perpetrated against women. While there is some merit to this thought, it is not completely true. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, 73 percent of domestic… Read more »
Call for civility includes Nazi comparisons
After the shooting of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords last week, there was a surge of calls for more civility in national public discourse. NPR was running radio spots calling for a more civil debate, and in Washington there were politicians pleading that the rhetoric be toned down. It seems like all… Read more »
WID highlights plight of area workers
The Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery, a research center that both Chancellor Biddy Martin and Gov. Jim Doyle fervently hope will fund the university for the next 20 some years, will open today to harsh cries of protest from those who wish to uphold Madison’s tradition of social justice on campus.… Read more »
Walker’s opposition to rail puts Wisconsin on the right track
Governor-elect Scott Walker should continue with his plans to refuse a “free” $810 million federal grant for a high-speed rail between Madison and Milwaukee. High-speed rail has historically been a money-losing proposition. Indeed, only two high-speed rail lines in the world have ever broken even, both of which were overseas… Read more »
CFACT: Programs relevant to campus
On the University of Wisconsin campus, Collegians For A Constructive Tomorrow offers a variety of campus programs available to not just CFACT group members but also other individuals on campus. It examines issues ranging from clean air and water, to safe food, to wildlife preservation, to energy, to garbage disposal,… Read more »
Choosing peace at the forefront of the Israel-Palestine conflict
Short of choosing “sides” in the Israel-Palestine debate, I think it is important to identify specific policies that currently block the path to peace. Unfortunately, some observers of this conflict remain mired in polarizing generalizations about ‘the other side,’ and in doing so they fail to display the very same… Read more »
U.S.-Israel partnership in the best interest of both nations
It is no mystery that the strongest ally to the United States in the Middle East is Israel. Israel is a dynamic, modern democratic nation with free elections where all citizens can vote. Israel is the only country in the Middle East that allows free press and free speech, and… Read more »
Walker’s stance on trains not in the interest of Wisconsinites
Just a few short weeks after Election Day, Wisconsin’s high-speed rail project appears to be dead. Gov. Jim Doyle has deferred the fate of the $810 million project to Gov.-elect Scott Walker, a fiscal conservative who has been outspoken against the project. Wisconsin residents — especially students — cannot accept… Read more »
The other side of the US-Israel Debate
It is no mystery that the strongest ally to the United States in the Middle East is Israel. Israel is a dynamic, modern democratic nation with free elections where all citizens can vote. Israel is the only country in the Middle East that allows both free press and free speech,… Read more »
Wisconsin Experience valuable to many potential employers
The economy is stagnant. The unemployment rate is, sadly, very high. College students are saddled with skyrocketing levels of debt from student loans. Why would it be time to celebrate if you are about to enter the workforce? Because you, my friends, are students at the University of Wisconsin. What… Read more »
UW’s planned photoshoot sorry attempt at ‘diversity’
An e-mail was recently sent out to lots of multicultural student orgs, scholarship programs and stakeholders on campus and in our community that reads as follows: Hi Student Leaders:In an effort to improve the images we have of diversity on campus, we’re holding a photo session at three specific spots… Read more »
Guest Column: National Diabetes Awareness Month
November is upon us and with midterm exams in full swing, most of us cannot stop thinking about the two days this month where it is just us, family and a huge turkey dinner. But before you go back for that second piece of pumpkin pie, or third if you’re… Read more »
Walker’s dangerous birth control policy
Talking to students about the upcoming election over the past couple of weeks has been exhilarating. Most students I talk to are fired up and ready to vote, but there is the occasional student who believes this election is not about them. I’m sorry, but they’re wrong. There is one… Read more »
Top five reasons to vote in the midterms
1) Your great-great-grandmother couldn’t. It’s been less than 100 years since women won the right to vote in the United States, and it only happened because suffragists organized, demonstrated and wouldn’t give up. It was less than 75 years ago that African-Americans were being locked in jail, assaulted and even… Read more »
Walker the logical, reasoned candidate for WI governor
On November 2nd, voters across Wisconsin will go to the polls to elect the next governor of our great state. Students right here at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have the opportunity to play the deciding role in who leads our state for the next four years. I know that when… Read more »
Community should seek to heal, prevent
Though we shouldn’t minimize the tragedy inherent to the suicides of the past few months, I am growing increasingly concerned with the LGBT community’s responses to the issues surrounding these deaths. Without turning the departed into victims or martyrs (whose memory will probably fade from the public spotlight along with… Read more »
Shedding some light on the top five non-voter myths
One of the biggest stories of this election season, including an article that ran in this paper last week, has been the supposed enthusiasm gap between Democratic and Republican voters. There are many people in the media and political campaigns that are taking this “gap” to mean that turnout will… Read more »
PAVE educates on emotional abuse for awareness month
The term “domestic violence” tends to bring up sharp images of physical and sexual assault. Granted, these are severe and frighteningly common tragedies (1 in 4 women experience rape or attempted rape during college), but the term doesn’t necessitate physicality. The problem is far more wide-ranging and covert than outright… Read more »
PAVE supports Domestic Violence Awareness Month
College is a time for experimenting with a number of things, including a potential career path, new friends or social groups, different student organizations and even with dating. Most college-aged students have at least one intimate partner throughout their college careers. What most people don’t know is that during this… Read more »
Fall of Nike, Alta Gracia’s rise laudable
This past July, lawyers from Nike Inc. sat down and directly negotiated with representatives of the Central General de Trabajadores (CGT), the Honduran labor federation, and agreed to pay 1,800 laid-off Nike workers their legally-mandated severance pay after refusing to do so for 21 months. Let’s just stop and think… Read more »
The key to fighting Tea Party - GOP Voter Caging Plot
One Wisconsin Now filed a formal request last week for investigation with federal and state authorities to combat a coordinated plot it uncovered by the Republican Party of Wisconsin, Americans for Prosperity-Wisconsin and organizations in the so-called Tea Party movement targeting university students and minority voters in a possibly illegal… Read more »
ASM: Our campus, our commitment
Every student comes to UW-Madison with different expectations, especially when it comes to something like student government. After all, we’ve all seen how high school student governments work — by mainly planning dances and bake sales, they could hardly be considered a government. But here at UW, the Associated Students… Read more »
Help keep UW green
Welcome back, Badgers! Summer has come to an end, and soon a beautiful Wisconsin fall will settle in. As we watch the leaves change from Bascom some for the first time, some for the last, let us not forget one of the things that make Badgers special: a commitment to… Read more »
A message from Mayor Dave: Welcome back Badgers
By far, Madison’s greatest asset is the University of Wisconsin. The UW provides well-paid, stable jobs to 16,000 faculty and staff in our city. Ideas hatched at the UW often spin off into successful businesses that create wealth and employ still more people. But the biggest asset of the UW… Read more »
Corporate taxes should fund schools
Editor’s note: Andy Ambler is a member of the UW-Madison chapter of the International Socialist organization. The Madison Metropolitan School District is facing a $30 million shortfall for the 2010-11 budget. To add to the bad news, an assessment prepared by Durrant Engineering indicates the district faces approximately $86 million… Read more »
Truth and scholarship greatest tools in combatting falsehood
For the past week, members of the UW-Madison community have been debating the extent to which denials of the Holocaust, or more specifically, ads that deny the Holocaust constitute free speech. As a scholar in German studies, I want to take a few moments to address a slightly different set… Read more »
Horn misguided on his views of Israel, Taglit-Birthright trips
I just finished reading Steve Horn’s opinion piece in The Badger Herald (“Just because it’s your Birthright, doesn’t mean it’s not wrong,” Feb. 16) about the Taglit-Birthright Israel program that provides all expenses paid trips to Israel for young Jewish students. According to Mr. Horn, the organization is nothing less… Read more »
UW needs mental health reeducation
“Did you hear Alex goes to therapy?” “But she seems so normal!” Yes, how strange, because according to common consensus, she is by no means normal. She might have a mental illness! And of course mental illnesses entail complete dissociation from reality, arms flailing in the air, fingers wound tightly… Read more »
Proposal to push back leasing season in students’ interest
This Thursday, ASM’s Legislative Affairs Committee will be attending a meeting of the Landlord and Tenant Issues Subcommittee, and it is important that as many students as possible join them to show support for fixing something that has hampered students for a long time. Usually, a meeting of this obscure,… Read more »
ASM’s backdoor budget deserves serious student scrutiny
I have expressed dismay at the way the ASM Internal Budget has been handled since the time it was first debated in Student Council back in November. The current budget contains line items totaling approximately $1,118,205. This money is paid for by students and is extracted out of student segregated… Read more »
Diversity initiative more words than actions
“Inclusive excellence” has quietly replaced “diversity” and “Plan 2008” as the guiding star in UW-Madison’s four-decade long effort to increase minority representation and success. Why adopt a new name for its diversity program? The reason is clear. Something had to be done to divert attention from the failed Plan 2008… Read more »
Controversial campus speaker deserves to be hosted and heard
The notion of losing one’s religion — undergoing an apostasy — is part of the human story. In some of the most famous words in fiction, James Joyce’s Stephen Dedalus declares, “I will tell you what I will do and what I will not do. I will not serve that… Read more »
Journalism school needs open discourse
When I try to wrap my mind around the frustrating and often-asked-at-family-gatherings-now-that-I’m-graduating-and-somehow-qualified-to-answer question, “What is the future of journalism?” my head feels like it may just explode. As a journalism student, about to graduate in May, I am absolutely terrified. But this column is not about the fact that the… Read more »
If disco came back, Edgewater can too
Everything was bad in the 1970s. Our presidents ranged from the criminal to the criminally self-righteous. Our economy figured out a way to be in both recession and hyper-inflation at the same time. Rock music had become so overproduced that that day’s music ain’t got no soul. There was… Read more »
Johnson for District 5: Fair housing, local labor are key
Students in Madison have always taken the opportunity to make a significant impact on the community around them, by being innovative and proactive in their advocacy on numerous issues. From mobilizing on issues as diverse as homelessness and the environment, this drive to improve the human condition, even on… Read more »
Eicher for District 5: County board affects our everyday lives
My name is Analiese Eicher. I am a senior here at UW-Madison and a candidate for the Dane County Board of Supervisors in District 5. I am very excited for this opportunity to serve the Madison campus community. I was born and raised just south of here in Janesville,… Read more »
Martin looking to resolve Nike issue
I write to bring you up to date on an important issue. Some of you have been following the news and publicity about the workers of two now-closed apparel factories in Honduras, Hugger de Honduras and Vision Tex. When the factories were closed in early 2009, their owners distributed… Read more »
SO outlines ignorance about consent
As many of you may be aware, The Badger Herald printed an ASO Oct. 28 that read “ASO to the girl who not only passed out while we were fooling around, but then woke up and asked ‘Is it gonna hurt?’ then proceeded to pass out again. I’m still wondering,… Read more »
Campus voice can go beyond ALRC
My name is Bryon Eagon — and no, my first name isn’t misspelled. In addition to being a student at UW, I have the privilege of representing the 8th district as an alder on the City Council here in Madison. Technically, we call it the Common Council, but that’s… Read more »
Alcohol make smart concession for business
If one ever wants to see the true stripes of a bureaucrat, it often requires looking no further than an issue of civil freedom, even those remotely polemic in nature. As any good public servant will tell you, taking an individual’s basic liberty into account is at best a troubling… Read more »
Blame buildings for coastie image
The coastie-sconnie dilemma. I’m sure you’ve read a column or two related to this subject for the past several semesters. But before you turn the page, understand that my perspective is one you’ve probably never read before.If not, send me a hateful e-mail or something for wasting your time. I… Read more »
Where in the world is Rene Gonzalez?
Like many members of the UW Greek community, I couldn’t get ahold of officer Rene Gonzalez for this article. Several phone calls, voice mails and strolls along Langdon Street and the surrounding area — the one neighborhood Gonzalez patrols — weren’t enough to find the elusive policeman. Now, for the… Read more »
Democrats optimistic about field
When Wisconsin governor Jim Doyle shook up the electoral landscape by announcing he would not run for reelection in 2010, it took mere hours before one Democratic candidate jumped into the race. Many other potential candidates were surrounded by speculation. In the next few months there will be an exciting… Read more »
Republicans ready for 2010
Gov. Jim Doyle’s decision not to seek a third term has made Wisconsin’s gubernatorial race one of the most competitive in the country. With the state at a political crossroads after two terms of irresponsible government, Wisconsin will be in the national spotlight. Everyone is well aware of the dire… Read more »
ASM ready to fight for students, improve on-campus visibility
Dear Student Body, As we begin to finalize our schedules and select the best way to maneuver campus construction from Grainger to Van Hise, the leadership of your student government — the Associated Students of Madison — welcome you as the summer comes to a close. Student leaders have… Read more »
Fellow Badgers: Enjoy the journey
My greatest memory of 2009: It’s All-Campus Idol and Kari Rongstad is on stage, beaming. She’s just finished an unbelievable song to wild and enthusiastic applause. How many students get to perform from the stage of the historic Orpheum Theater? Only a few weeks later, I sat and watched… Read more »
Words for ASM’s new leaders
“Due to my numerous personal, academic and organizational responsibilities, I have decided to step down from any and all leadership capacities in the progressive slate. I will continue to stay on as an L&S Candidate, but will not be continuing any of my leadership obligations. … Please let me… Read more »
Mifflin’s success proves rankings downright stupid
Over the past few weeks, the streets of Madison have been filled with endless dialogue and debate as to how the University of Wisconsin could so drastically fall from the graces of the likes of Hugh Hefner. UW deteriorated into mere mediocrity in the eyes of the world’s most… Read more »
Grad school no promised land in tough times
With graduation a mere fortnight away for the class of 2009, many students feel like they are out of options on the job front and are hoping graduate school will be their saving grace. Although this option provides a seemingly acceptable solution, students need to be sure they are… Read more »
Party rankings insignificant to UW reputation
It seems like yesterday I arrived in Madison to start my freshman year, boasting about the recent announcement the University of Wisconsin was blessed with the highest position on Playboy’s list of the country’s biggest party schools. I was at first worried this newly esteemed regard the party gods… Read more »
Diversity plans lack coherence, shaft university
With the end of Plan 2008, which aimed to improve the diversity of our student body, we are once again facing some serious questions that demand thoughtful answers. And with a new initiative on the horizon, those answers gain an extra degree of importance, since they might very well… Read more »
Cynicism justified on conduct code
Cynics might get the impression (perhaps justifiable) that it really doesn’t matter what we say about the proposed changes to University of Wisconsin System Codes 17 and 18 — they’re probably going to pass because that is the way things work in this world. But that really doesn’t change… Read more »
Changes in misconduct policy not draconian
The ongoing revision process of University of Wisconsin System non-academic misconduct policies (UWS 17 and 18) has elicited a prolonged and lively debate on the merits of these amendments. In addition to a campus forum co-hosted by the Offices of the Dean of Students and the Associated Students of… Read more »
Madison leftists should take cue from moderates
Back in 2004, after a particularly bad game against the hated Yankees, Red Sox star pitcher Pedro Martinez was asked about his struggles against the Evil Empire. Instead of making excuses, all he could offer was “What can I say? I tip my hat and call the Yankees my… Read more »
Balance needed in Israel
Often I write in order to present an opinion I feel strongly about; one that I feel has been silenced or even demonized on our campus. Other times I write in order to get people thinking outside the box; I may be slightly satirical, but I am also advocating… Read more »
Initiative critical for campus progress
Leave it to libertarians to reduce every single issue on earth, be it political, economical or social, to absolutism. Leave it to them to turn an innocuous and practical initiative like Chancellor Biddy Martin’s Madison Initiative for Undergraduates into a new battlefront between those who value freedom and self-reliance… Read more »
Bishop Morlino danger to rational Catholicism
“The kind of community we are seems to indicate a high comfort level with virtually no public morality.” These are the words of Madison Bishop Robert Morlino, which appeared in his weekly article in The Catholic Herald newspaper. Morlino was transferred to Madison last summer and has been, until… Read more »
CNI’s long road to insignificance
I enjoy reading attempts at gentility. To elaborate, I enjoy watching writers put the proverbial fluffy layer on their criticism. After all, nobody wants to get feelings hurt, right? Such was the case in an article regarding CNI’s ditching of their “booze plans.” For the countless individuals who are… Read more »
Assault dialogue should continue
Following up on recent Herald coverage and a campus forum held on March 10, we write today in the hopes of furthering campus dialogue on the subject of sexual assault. To truly address this problem, the campus will need ongoing dialogues, support of prevention efforts, compassionate response to victims… Read more »
CAN delivers bottom up change for campus
Yesterday, this paper published an op-ed trashing the Campus Antiwar Network for attempting to get students involved working against the occupations of Iraq, Afghanistan and Palestine. The writer claimed these wars are not connected and the activism of opposing the militarism of the U.S. was silly. First off, he needs… Read more »
CAN’s ‘activism’ ill-advised, silly
It’s rare the written word can bring laughter to its reader. Therefore, it is with great gratitude to the Campus Antiwar Network that I write the following editorial. The opening line of an e-mail I recently received read, “End the occupation of Afghanistan, Iraq and Palestine — No war… Read more »
Students can help fight oppression
Anytime the issue of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict has been brought up in the company of my friends, fellow students and peers, I’ve always received the same general response: The violence needs to stop. I’m the last person who would disagree with that sentiment. As a Palestinian from a small… Read more »
Misconduct code changes draconian
Let me start by saying I’m not someone who refuses to compromise on rights. Rights are a good thing, but they’re also incredibly expensive and can be corrosive to community cohesion, thus potentially disabling the machinery of real social and policy development. Insofar as we can balance concern for… Read more »
Editorial board attack on collective bargaining misrepresents facts
Things are looking up for organized labor after decades of attrition under the Reagan, Clinton and Bush administrations. With Barack Obama, we finally have a president who understands the fundamental role that the labor movement should play in a strong American economy. As he said in his announcement of… Read more »
Sigma Chi deserves a chance to defend reputation
I am in an uncomfortable situation when it comes to discussing the horrendous acts of which brothers of the Sigma Chi fraternity have been accused. On one hand, I am a staff writer for The Badger Herald; I pride myself above all else on giving a perspective, regardless of… Read more »
Move to Library Mall would benefit carts, students alike
For many members of the University of Wisconsin-Madison community, there is, for some reason, a large cultural significance to eating greasy, fried goods out of a cart in the waning hours of a drunken night out. To some students, right up there with progressivism, UW sports and the live… Read more »
Dean of students ready to help campus victims
I would like to thank The Badger Herald for Tuesday’s coverage of a critical campus issue (“Alleged rape in Sigma Chi,” March 3). This article provides a powerful reminder of the toll of sexual assault on a survivor. While sexual assault remains a constant issue on this campus, in… Read more »
America and its violent problem
There are very few who haven’t heard Rihanna’s lyrics “You can stand under my umbrella,” and even fewer who haven’t heard of what happened when that proverbial umbrella was lifted to expose a violent attack by singer Chris Brown. Shamefully, the coverage of this story did not extend beyond… Read more »
Traffic cameras needed, fast
As part of his two-year budget plan, Gov. Jim Doyle has proposed re-introducing photo traffic enforcement to Wisconsin. The change would be aimed at drivers that run red lights and speed through work zones and would allow local agencies to install cameras and ticket violators through the mail. The… Read more »
Amtrak proposal unrealistic
As this state is about to receive its share of the stimulus package signed last week, there are many ideas being thrown around for public projects to spend the money. A proposed Minneapolis to Chicago Amtrak line is being seriously considered. Gov. Jim Doyle traveled to Spain this week… Read more »
Feds ought to support vegetarianism
These days the world is beginning to see how smart environmental decisions can lead to efficient economic solutions. Being green has never been cooler. Everybody from college students to CEOs is seeing the light and making concerted efforts to change the way we use energy. While we’re in the… Read more »
Criticism of SLAC off-base, unwarranted
Sam Clegg’s Feb. 12 column (“SLAC’s good intentions no good”) makes the argument that the situation resulting in the termination of the Russell contract was “considerably more nuanced” than we are willing to admit. Nuanced it might be, but unfortunately, he got several facts wrong and made a few curious… Read more »
Activity Center: good resource
As we come back after a month of winter break, the campus is a little different. Unfortunately, I am not writing about the how the ever-present fenced-off scar in the middle of Library Mall is gone, because it will probably always be there costing me time to and from… Read more »
Ed board misses bus on fare hike
I’ve only been in France for three weeks and already I’ve lost track of the number of conversations I’ve had with locals about the services they take for granted and we Americans pay dearly for. The shame I feel for my country when I tell Europeans how much I pay… Read more »
Sobriety worthy weekend goal
In my fair share of nights at Hawk’s, the City and Ian’s… blackout was a good friend of mine. As my longtime roommate would say, “Every story you tell starts with ‘Apparently last night…’” Regarding to the murders and attacks that happened on campus in the last two years, my… Read more »
American tragedy abroad extends beyond Iraq borders
Many people have come to the conclusion that the war in Iraq is unjustified because of the obvious absence of WMDs and the lack of evidence that al-Qaida is linked to Iraq. But what about the war in Afghanistan? Up to this point it has earned the title of “the… Read more »
What student leaders are doing and the help they now need
The semester is more than halfway over, and students already have finals and Christmas break on their minds. After the surge of civic participation surrounding the presidential election, it seems students are ready to re-enter a dormant state of political engagement. Instead of shutting off, I recommend you spend a… Read more »
University must fight for workers
Russell Athletic is currently under fire after announcing its plans to close one of its factories. The factory Jerzees de Honduras is located in the city of Choloma and employs 1,800 people. Jerzees produces licensed collegiate apparel for more than 50 universities, including the University of Wisconsin. Although last week… Read more »
Taking a break from the beer goggles
Thirsty Thursday is a new series that will examine alcohol-related issues on the University of Wisconsin campus in hopes of sparking discourse on our official UW Binge Blog. Future columns will feature student, campus and community leaders who have a stake in the university’s drinking scene. This week’s segment chronicles… Read more »
Support Madison education Nov. 4
I won’t be surprised if you haven’t heard much about the Madison school referendum on the ballot next month. As Obamamania sweeps campus, the poor referendum hasn’t recieved much attention this fall. It’s easy to feel sorry for the referendum. It has no tall, dark and handsome spokesperson like Barack… Read more »
Homeless in need of student help
There is a significant portion of the Madison population that experiences criminalization, neglect and abuse by both the populace and government. While they have an unalienable right to live in peace and prosperity, they are relegated to the lowest dregs of society, where both citizens and institutions look down upon… Read more »
Progressive Dane proving self through real activism
“OK, you’ve convinced me. Now go on out and bring pressure on me!” The sentiment behind this challenge from Franklin Roosevelt to a group of reformers has never been more relevant than today — namely that real political change extends far past voting. It’s always easiest for a Madison progressive… Read more »
ASM a student voice on campus
Soon after I transferred to this campus, I heard talk of a large, puzzling organization. While walking to class, students behind tables tried to convince me to come to this organization’s kickoff, promising me new experiences and opportunities. However, it was not until I got involved in ASM that I… Read more »
Marxism to break country’s chains
More than a century after Karl Marx lived, it is clear the world still needs changing. The American Dream is dead, as wages have been sinking for the past thirty years. Our generation will be the first in memory to be poorer than our parents, and the first in U.S.… Read more »
Setting the record straight: TAA advocacy both legal, essential
As a member of the Executive Board of the Teaching Assistants’ Association, I would like to address some misinformation from the office of state Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, which ran in the Sept. 8, 2008 article “Baldwin, Democrats applaud teaching assistants.” Nass spokesperson Mike Mikalsen’s assertions that the TAA has… Read more »
Lottery ticket system a snub to seniors
Like a lot of students who checked their inboxes to see if they received student season football tickets in July, I’m pissed. As it turns out, I made the mistake of assuming that after consistently receiving season tickets as an underclassman, I’d be virtually guaranteed tickets as a senior. I… Read more »
McCain a freethinker’s choice
A couple of weeks ago, I was on the PostSecret website and came across a submission that hit very close to home. Now, don’t get scared. I am not talking about confessing to cheating on a lover or having a crazy sex fetish, but about the upcoming presidential election. The… Read more »
Obama ready to save Oval Office
Students in Wisconsin have an opportunity to play a significant and decisive role in determining the next president of the United States, and the stakes could not be higher. From ending the war in Iraq, increasing financial aid for college, expanding affordable healthcare to all Americans, protecting the environment while… Read more »
University governance must permit conservative values
The University of Wisconsin System is a vitally important component of state government. The mission of this higher education institution is documented in many places including the state’s historical development, the statutes and its traditional role as positive irritant in the political and social debate of the people. There has… Read more »
Not death, nor divorce: Strong ‘counseling’ will rescue ASM
From my experience many failed relationships don’t stop after one. People often seek divorce assuming there is someone or something else better out there, when in reality many problems can be solved just by taking the time to look inward. With that in mind, I think that rather than throw… Read more »
Seven years after Sept. 11, ignorance still the norm
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of Islam and Muslims? Sadly, I feel I can already anticipate the most common response. Perhaps some of the responses will pertain to some form of terrorism or oppression of women. If not directly stated, then these… Read more »
Stretch it out: Busting condom myths
What can latex do for you? For most college students, the answer to that question is probably, “A lot.” Whether we wear gloves in chemistry lab, use glue to create artistic masterpieces or have a penchant for kinky boots, various forms of latex are found in a number of common… Read more »
Israeli twist of terms hints at opressive intentions
You know things are bad in a country when the Red Cross declares �there is no solution that can be provided by humanitarian organizations.� To what is this grim prognosis referring? The massive conflict-ridden Sudan? Occupied Iraq? Warlord-ruled Afghanistan? According to the Red Cross, humanitarian aid still holds promise in… Read more »
Make Chelsea’s mom president
We all met Hillary Clinton at different times, in different places and at different stages in our lives, but our stories are remarkably similar. All of us were filled with nervous excitement at the prospect of meeting the first lady of Arkansas, the first lady of the United States or… Read more »
The audacity of open, transparent government
When Senator Barack Obama visited Madison in October, he told us something we hadn’t heard for a long time from a presidential candidate. He declared, "I will always tell the American people the truth." With the recent revelation that the CIA destroyed two videotapes documenting interrogation of al-Qaida operatives, Mr.… Read more »
Stop America’s ‘green scare’
This time of year — while most people are out shopping, buying gifts for loved ones, planning their holiday festivities and simply counting down the days until winter break — marks the anniversary of two animal rights cases: the Operation Backfire arrests two years ago and the incarceration of most… Read more »
Despite ban, Fair Wisconsin within reach
It has been more than a year since Students for a Fair Wisconsin went knocking on doors and putting up signs all across UW's campus. The constitutional ban on civil unions and marriage in Wisconsin had been both demonized and applauded, families had been torn apart and millions of dollars… Read more »
Activists out cold on homelessness
Wednesday night, some students gathered on Library Mall to participate in a "sleepout" held by the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group in order to raise awareness of homelessness and hunger. WISPIRG meant well by holding this event, but it will do nothing to help the homeless or end hunger.Unfortunately, some… Read more »
Open Letter to Chancellor Wiley: Stadium security ruin game day
Dear Chancellor Wiley,I am writing to describe to you my experience at this week's football game, which was one of the best and worst experiences I have had at a Badger game. After reading the front-page article in The Badger Herald on Friday about our infamous rowdiness ("'Keep fit, thank… Read more »
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