Government shutdown furloughs workers, hurts Congress’ image
Compromise left the U.S. Capitol as September drew to a close and a federal budget agreement failed to come to fruition. The resulting government shutdown, waged over party lines that blurred as the 16-day affair played out, soured politicians and the general public to Congress’ ability to make legislative progress.
The Democratic Senate and the Republican House of Representatives,were caught in astalemate after the far right members of the House refused to pass a budget without a significant unraveling of the Affordable Care Act. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., refused the House Republicans’ requests and both legislative houses spun their wheels up to and past the Oct. 1 deadline.
The shutdown put approximately 800,000 federal employees out of work and cost the nation’s capitol approximately $200 million a day.
After 16 days and a drop in Republican popularity, legislators voted to end the shutdown and push major fiscal decisions to Feb. 7.
Armed robberies puts campus on high alert
Almost immediately after students returned to campus this semester, WiscAlerts of armed robberies in the area filled university inboxes. For several weeks, it seemed safety was on everyone’s mind and the libraries were desolate soon after the sun went down.
That is, until Oct. 24, when police arrested 21-year-old Kendredge Dillard in Illinois for his alleged role in an armed robbery on the 500 block of West Mifflin Street.
Police suspect Dillard played a role in an estimated 20-30 armed robberies prior and that he had accomplices. His arrest brought an end to the nearly two-month-long armed robbery spree.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said on Oct. 24 “the news today is not only welcome, but I think a huge relief.”
Dillard’s jury trial will begin Jan. 23.
Still, Associated Students of Madison Secretary Carissa Szlosek said Nov. 4 “I hope that everyone is still engaged in this, regardless of whether the crime rate is up or down.”
State Street to change drastically in near future
This semester brought about multiple changes to the future of State Street. Madison’s Common Council approved a downtown development Aug. 6 and the Comedy Club on State owner bought The Orpheum Theatre Oct 25.
The Hub project, a 329-unit mixed apartment and retail complex will replace the University Inn on the 500 block of State Street and displaced several restaurants. They include Husnu’s, Kabul, Buraka, Roast, Jimmy John’s and Campus Candy, which all vacated their buildings Oct. 31.
Core Campus, the Chicago developers, began demolition in November and hope to complete the project by fall 2015. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, likened the housing complex to that of Lucky Apartments.
New Orpheum owner Gus Paras said he intends to restore the theater’s historic marquee. He is also allowing Frank Productions, which managed the Orpheum under the authority of Monona State Bank after the bank foreclosed on the property in fall 2012, to produce booked shows through February.
Biennial state budget creates two-year tuition freeze, controversial future provisions
The 2013-’15 state biennial budget, which passed this summer despite heavy Democratic lambasting, saw both sides of the aisle join together to support a provision to freeze University of Wisconsin System tuition through the 2014-’15 school year.
The tuition freeze developed from a much-debated discovery of approximately $648 million in unrestricted UW System funds. Legislators saw the large reserve as an affront to students, who had faced a 5.5 percent increase in tuition for the past six years. The initial freeze applied only to in-state students, but the UW System eventually extended it to all UW students.
Walker signed the budget June 29, saying it would lower taxes to benefit citizens. However, his decisions to change state Medicaid coverage in the face of Affordable Care Act implementation and to expand the statewide voucher school system have been controversial with Democratic legislators.
The state is scheduled to continue implementing the budget provisions as the year progresses.
Affordable Care Act deadline extended on state, federal levels after problematic rollout
President Barack Obama pushed through an unprecedented health care reform bill that would allow children to stay on their parents’ health care longer, make premiums cheaper and stop insurance companies from denying coverage based on pre-existing conditions.
Millions of optimistic Americans logged onto healthcare.gov Oct. 1, hopeful they could sign up for health care through the federal exchange.
Not only was the website unusable, but citizens who had been promised by Obama they could keep their health care coverage if they so wished, were getting kicked from their insurance plans.
In Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker declined federal funds to expand the state’s medicaid program, BadgerCare.
After the federal government extended deadlines for people to sign up for insurance, Walker called Wisconsin’s Legislature back for a special session to align the state’s deadline with the federal deadline.
The Assembly approved a bill extending the deadline, but leaving a coverage gap for 83,000 childless adults.
UW System President Kevin Reilly announces retirement
University of Wisconsin System President Kevin Reilly announced July 2013 he will step down from his position at the end of this year.
Reilly became president of the 26 UW campuses in 2004. During his tenure, Reilly appointed over 31 chancellors, increased enrollment by 8.9 percent and established himself as the second-longest president of the system.
At Reilly’s last Board of Regents meeting Friday, multiple regent members commended the outgoing president on his nine years of service, highlighting his continuous integrity.
“I just feel very privileged to have played a role for nine years in helping to advance the university and the quality of life for all,” Reilly said.
Board of Regents Chair Michael Falbo said the search for a new system president has been overseen by a search and screen committee comprised of both regents and notable UW figures.
The committee will narrow down the applicant pool and will potentially make a recommendation to the board Jan. 10.
Commencement moves to Camp Randall
Since 1991, the University of Wisconsin-Madison has held spring commencement away from Camp Randall, but this May, the graduation ceremonies that attract nearly 6,000 graduates and 40,000 guests, will once again be consolidated into one ceremony at Camp Randall.
Traditionally, there are four ceremonies over the course of the three-day weekend. The switch was made by Chancellor Rebecca Blank and representatives for the class of 2014.
Part of the reasoning behind the change was likely to attract a larger commencement speaker, because often times, speakers are unable to commit to all four ceremonies
Following the announcement in October, concerns about weather and length of the ceremony arose from different groups. However, campus leaders have insisted the ceremony is still expected to run approximately two hours and will be held rain or shine.
Dean of Students Lori Berquam said students will have a chance to hear their names and receive diplomas at smaller ceremonies held by individual departments and colleges.
Madison Police Chief retires after nine years
Madison’s chief public safety official stepped down Sept. 27 after nearly nine years at the head of the Madison Police Department.
Noble Wray, born in Milwaukee in 1960, said one of the biggest challenges he faced as the police chief was upholding first amendment rights while keeping the public safe during the 2011 protests.
The most important thing Wray said he learned during his 28 years at the MPD was to “take a moment to recommit” to the unconditional pledge of public service.
“It’s unconditional because you know that at some point in time you may be put in a situation life or death and you can’t run away from it, you’ve got to run to it,” Wray said. “And we tend to lose that along the way.”
Assistant Police Chief Randy Gaber is serving in the interim chief until the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners appoints a new chief, hopefully in early 2014.
Classified staff becomes part of shared governance
Classified staff officially became part of campus governance in September.
The Board of Regents approved the UW-Madison Classified Staff Executive Committee Sept. 6, following in the footsteps of other UW institutions. The advisory committee will be part of shared governance, a system of faculty, academic staff and student groups that give input on campus governance and policy development.
Classified staff make up 30 percent of campus employees. Classified positions are those that have similar descriptions as other jobs in the Wisconsin government and include custodians, accountants and administrative assistants.
Committee Vice Chair Gary Mitchell told The Daily Cardinal in November the formation of the committee was a response to Wisconsin Act 10, which reduced the staff’s collective bargaining rights.
Classified staff elected the executive committee in October, and it met several times over the course of the semester. The committee’s work was largely focused on creating bylaws and solidifying the structure of the organization.
Detroit Lions player apologizes for remarks against UW-Madison marching band, vows to make donation
Following the Packers-Lions football game at Lambeau Field Oct. 6, rumors surfaced that Detroit Lions center Dominic Raiola verbally assaulted members of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Marching Band during their annual trip to Lambeau Field.
In a Facebook post, band member Zachary York accused Raiola of making several verbal insults, some sexual in nature at members of the marching band before they played the National Anthem and during halftime of the game.
Raiola later apologized to the band in a phone call to long-time director Mike Leckrone and offered to make a “significant” financial donation to the band.
A statement released by the team said his behavior was “extremely inconsistent with the standard of behavior we expect from our players.”
The Lions’ team president Tom Lewand and Raiola also both apologized in statements after the incident. Lewand also said Raiola would not be punished any further, because he was overall satisfied Raiola had taken responsibility and apologized for his remarks.
