Before students leave for the summer, I thought it might be helpful to revisit the UW dorms’ prohibition against campaigning and offer some ideas that could be implemented in time for the fall gubernatorial and congressional elections, as well as the spring elections for mayor and City Council.
“Obey only good laws!” was the campaign slogan of Eddie Ben Elson, a candidate for Dane County district attorney some years ago. Elson’s recipe for anarchy came to mind recently as candidates for city and county government — in violation of UW dorms’ prohibition against campaigning — defended their actions by observing, “The policy is a bad policy.” Try that approach next time you get stopped for speeding.
The conceptual problem with UW’s policy is that it treats campaigners for elective office the same way as those who go door-to-door raising money for particular causes or selling magazine subscriptions.
Those who set policy for UW-run housing might consider taking on a summer project to develop a policy that addresses the need for dorm residents to be informed about electoral politics but does not compromise their security and privacy. One such approach is for UW housing to set a date by which all candidates could submit a one-page message to potential voters that UW housing would distribute to residents through the residence hall mail system.
Ron Rosner, UW alumnus
Was I disgusted when I read the Badger Herald’s article, “Wiley bans 46 oz. cup at Terrace” (May 6, 2002)? You’re darn right I was.
Is it because I disagree with Wiley’s decision to discontinue 46 oz. cups at the Memorial Union? No, not at all. Wiley did say he was going to reinstate the sale of pitchers at Memorial Union, so people can still get large amounts of beer in a single order.
What I am disgusted at is the pettiness of students’ response to this decision. It is my impression from that article that many students feel that the decision is “traumatic” because they will have to walk their sorry drunken selves one more time to the Stiftskeller in order to get a lousy dollar back. That sentiment is so petty The Badger Herald would have to let me write 750 words as a guest commentator in order for me to list the reasons completely.
It appears to me that none of the students the Herald interviewed were upset by Wiley’s decision for the right reasons. Banning drink specials in bars and banning 46 oz. cups at the Union will not decrease alcohol consumption by UW students of all ages, will not decrease sexual assault on this campus and will not decrease any other harmful drunken behavior.
These three issues are far more important than students whining about losing $1.
Nick McCabe, UW senior