UW-Madison campus responds to Final Four berth
University of Wisconsin-Madison students took to State Street after the Wisconsin Men’s Basketball Team won their Elite Eight matchup, advancing to the Final Four for the first time in 14 years this winter.
While officers from both the city and university police departments were on-site and prepared for potential chaos, the crowd was relatively respectful and “peaceful,” UWPD spokesperson Marc Lovicott said after the event.
Passions ran high and school spirit was especially robust after the win as thousands of fans came out to the Kohl Center to welcome home the Badgers. Leading up to the Final Four, Badger supporters remained hopeful and enthusiastic, with many saying they believed Wisconsin could win the entire NCAA tournament.
Following the Final Four loss, students once again headed to State Street, this time in a state of melancholy. The police made “a dozen” arrests and reported several minor injuries, Lovicott said.
Madison discovers severity of racial disparities
The Race to Equity report released in 2013 reveals severe differences between living conditions of African Americans and whites in Dane County that city officials have begun to address.
According to Project Director Erica Nelson, “The state of Wisconsin is ranking 50th for the well-being of African American children. Dane County is very much a part of that and contributing to the ranking.”
Nelson said the most significant areas of disparity are found in the differences between African Americans and whites in employment and incarceration rates.
A Racial Inequality panel held in April allowed local equality advocates to speak up against issues with Madison’s racial disparities, on behalf of the report.
The panel was crucial for representatives speaking on behalf of the minority population in Madison to address findings in the report. Everett Mitchell, a Dane County assistant district attorney, said the results were “shocking.”
City Council members have begun an open-ended discussion on how to close the racial gap at their latest meeting and will continue to seek beneficial changes.
Students vote in support of Rec Sports Master Plan
During the second-highest student election voter turnout in University of Wisconsin-Madison history, the Recreational Sports Master Plan passed with 12,070 of a total 13,984 referendum votes in the Associated Students of Madison Spring Election.
The approximately $223 million Master Plan targets the renovation of the Southeast Recreational Facility, the Natatorium and outdoor fields in the lakeshore neighborhood.
Students voted in favor of a maximum $108 increase in student segregated fees per semester, to be implemented once the first renovation is completed. Additional funding sources for the plan include UW Athletics, the state and gifts.
The 34.4 percent turnout was a steep increase from the 14.9 percent turnout in 2013. The highest percentage of ASM voters stemmed from Rec Sports’ previous renovation effort in 2010, NatUp.
While students and campus members can stay updated with the plan’s implementation efforts on the Rec Sports blog, current projections have the SERF renovation planning beginning in 2015.
Federal judge strikes down Wisconsin Voter ID law
U.S. District Court Judge Lynn Adelman ruled that Wisconsin’s voter identification law passed in 2011 is unconstitutional in a late April decision.
Adelman said in his April 29 opinion he thought the voter ID law unfairly hindered minority citizens’ ability to vote.
He also said voter fraud was a non-issue because “virtually no voter fraud occurs in Wisconsin and it is exceedingly unlikely that voter impersonation will become a problem in Wisconsin in the foreseeable future.”
Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen and Gov. Scott Walker both released statements following the decision underlining their belief in the validity and necessity of the law.
Walker said April 31 he would not convene a special session in the state Legislature to pass another voter ID law, according to Wisconsin Public Radio.
Van Hollen said in his statement he would appeal the decision in federal court. The appeal could push the case to the U.S. Supreme Court.
UW-Madison finalizes campus Diversity Plan
The Ad Hoc Diversity Planning Committee released the first draft of the Diversity Plan Framework Feb. 18, the first new diversity plan since 2008.
The Ad Hoc committee’s plan, which began forming in 2012, aims to improve the campus climate and overall diversity efforts of the university. The working “framework” outlined potential areas of implementation with input from campus engagement sessions and various shared governance groups.
The Associated Students of Madison voted against the proposed framework in its last session April 23. Chair David Gardner said the framework did not have enough strength in support of the committee’s initial purpose to enact concrete changes.
“This plan needs to have teeth,” Gardner said. “It needs to really impact our campus in a way that’s clear and specific.”
Students are working to improve the draft and ensure the future implementation of enhanced diversity efforts on campus.
Gov. Scott Walker extends tuition freeze
Gov. Scott Walker proposed a two-year extension on the current tuition freeze for all University of Wisconsin System schools.
Walker’s previous budget had included UW System’s first tuition freeze in the system’s history.
“After years of tuition hikes, it is important to give our students and their families a break,” Walker said in the statement. “Our proposed second two-year tuition freeze will go a long way to helping working families and students have access to higher education.”
The first tuition freeze was the result of an audit that revealed the UW System had a nearly $1 billion surplus.
UW System President Raymond Cross underlined his concern for rising student debt.
“We will continue to work with the governor and the Legislature to meet our shared goal of delivering value to the state of Wisconsin,” Cross said in the statement. “I intend to work vigorously to find a reasonable solution.”
City officials to implement new downtown alcohol policy
The city’s new alcohol license ordinance has been completed after about a year’s worth of planning.
The ordinance, which will take effect July 1 of this year, has undergone various amendments since its initiation until its final approval in April. It will replace an alcohol license density ordinance implemented in 2007 that restricts alcohol licensing to a small downtown area.
Once effective, the new ordinance will expand the vicinity in which establishments can obtain alcohol licenses downtown and provide clear definitions for different alcohol-serving businesses. By implementing strict definitions, establishments will follow the rules associated with their titles.
The larger licensing perimeter will boost the growth in Madison’s food and drink industry.
“I do think it’s important that the city and downtown stakeholders continue to do what we can in strategizing and thinking about how to ensure a long-term, healthy retail mix downtown,” Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said.
UW-Madison Chancellor Blank requires university licensees to maintain safety standards in Bangladesh
University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank signed an agreement March 14 requiring all UW-Madison licensees to uphold a set of standards ensuring the safety and well-being of Bangladeshi garment workers.
Blank signed the Accord on Fire and Building Safety in Bangladesh following pressure from a Student Labor Action Coalition campaign launched in September. The adoption of the accord came approximately 11 months after a deadly factory collapse in Rana Plaza killed 1,134 workers.
With contracts up for renewal in the coming months, most licensees should be in a position to make a decision regarding the accord by the middle of summer, Blank said in an April meeting with SLAC.
UW-Madison has already discontinued its contract with VF Imagewear due to the company’s unwillingness to sign on to the accord, Blank added during the meeting.
The chancellor will meet with UW-Madison’s Labor Codes Licensing Compliance Committee Wednesday to discuss the status of the university’s contract with JanSport, a subsidiary of VF Corp., SLAC member Melanie Meyer said.
Raymond Cross selected as new UW System president
January 2014 presented a title change for former chancellor of University of Wisconsin Colleges and UW-Extension Raymond Cross: president of the UW System.
After an almost two-month search and screen process, a Board of Regents committee announced its unanimous decision for Cross to assume the position.
Cross is the seventh person to serve as system president, following Kevin Reilly who stepped down at the end of 2013.
“To be entrusted with serving as president of one of the country’s most respected university systems is truly an honor,” Cross said at a UW-Milwaukee news conference after his appointment.
In addition to overseeing the work and functions of the Board of Regents, the president also has responsibility for managing administrative and fiscal activity of the UW’s 26 universities and 13 colleges.
While his tenure has just begun, Cross has already emphasized his dedication to ensuring college affordability and engaging with campus communities.
Late-night food vending ordinance passed to expand vending locations
At a city meeting in January, an unprecedented amount of students turned out to support food cart vendors.
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said it was “the biggest, singular turnout of students at any city meeting I have seen in recent memory.”
Needless to say, students love their food carts.
Vending Oversight Committee members amended a late-night food vending proposal in February to improve licensing and spacing ordinances.
The prior ordinance allowed food cart owners with seniority-first choice of late-night locations, placing some owners at a disadvantage if senior, daytime license holders chose to apply for late-night licenses.
The amendments increased the number of late-night food vending sites downtown to avoid concentration on North Broom Street.
Steven Lawrence, owner of Fried and Fabulous, asked committee members to reconsider a map with more locations to choose from.
“It is an excellent way to go in that each vendor has an opportunity to build a successful business,” Lawrence said.
