News

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New research paints negative view of Wisconsin economy

In an election season dominated by doom and gloom about workers and the economy, some of this pessimism may ring true in Wisconsin, according to a new report by UW researchers. In the report, the researchers from UW-Madison and the UW Extension said Wisconsin is faced with a disproportionate loss of talent caused in part by a low domestic immigration rate of people with college degrees. In terms of educational attainment, Wisconsin has a strong high school graduation rate compared to both neighboring states and the rest of the country.

UW-Madison students aid protesters at Standing Rock

Indigenous students at UW-Madison are assisting protesters at the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation in North Dakota by raising funds and donating items such as lanterns, sleeping bags and firewood. Co-president of Wunk Sheek Faith, a member of the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of the Mohicans, has partnered with the American Indian Campus and Community Liaison to coordinate the donation drive. “We have this initiative ... to collect donations from the UW campus and community addressing the immediate needs of the people at the Sacred Stone Camp and in Cannonball, North Dakota who are the water protectors,” Faith said. Faith hopes the donations will help sustain the fight at the construction sites.

LSU president: More funding vital for public higher education

Declining levels of state funding pose a potentially fatal threat for public higher education, Louisiana State University President F. King Alexander told a group of faculty, students and researchers Friday.

Badger football attendee dons controversial costume, university officials and others respond

MPD ‘pleased’ with how Freakfest turned out

The Madison Police Department was “very pleased” with how Freakfest went this year, according to a press release from Public Information Officer Joel DeSpain. The crowd reached 30,000 total throughout the event and there were no “serious incidents” reported.

Boy possibly breaks leg on Regent Street

A 14-year-old boy walking across Regent Street at Brooks Street suffered a “possible” broken leg early Friday morning, according to a Madison Police Department incident report.

‘Very intoxicated’ student cited for starting fire in Witte

Students were evacuating Witte as the Madison Fire Department arrived to an alarm activation around 2 a.m.

Alumni criticize university's response to Obama costume featuring noose

A President Barack Obama costume including a noose worn at the Saturday Badger football game sparked outrage on social media from alumni and students, including critiques of the UW-Madison official’s defense of free speech.  The university quickly issued a statement on the costume, labelling it as offensive while still defending the individual’s right to wear a mask of the president with a noose around their neck.  “The costume, while repugnant and counter to the values of the university and Athletic Department, was an exercise of the individual’s right to free speech,” read a statement from the university.  A person at the game tweeted out a picture of the costume, which quickly spread through social media, sparking a debate about the line between free speech and offensive imagery.

SSFC approves Working Class Student Union's annual budget

UW-Madison’s Working Class Student Union, a student organization focused on providing support to “working class, first-generation, and low-income students,” presented their budget proposal for the 2017-’18 fiscal year to the Student Service Finance Committee Monday.

UW professors speak on educational journalism, finding identity in art

Two UW-Madison professors explored education in journalism and discovering identity through art at the DeLuca Forum Thursday. The event, part of the Wisconsin Union Directorate Distinguished Lecture Series, featured professors Gloria Ladson-Billings and Faisal Abdu’Allah. Ladson-Billings is a decorated professor in the education at UW-Madison.

UW budget listening session allows students to voice concerns

This past Thursday, state Rep. Chris Taylor, D-Madison, hosted the first open panel of the year for UW-Madison students to voice concerns about recent budget cuts to the UW System and what they hope to see this upcoming budget season.

Green Party supporters rally amidst groundswell of third-party support

Green Party supporters rallied Thursday for their nominee Jill Stein in an attempt to reach out to dissatisfied voters in the progressive hub of Madison. Stein was scheduled to speak at the event, but ultimately canceled due to a minor sickness contracted from campaign travel, according to party surrogates. In an election between two of the least popular major party nominees in history, voters, especially millennials, have shown an increased interest in third party options. “I heard [Stein] was going to be speaking today, so I thought it would be really cool and interesting to see a new perspective,” said UW-Madison freshman Michael Gilger.

Cole announces intent to resign from ASM

Kenneth Cole, a Student Council representative, has announced his intent to resign from his role in the Associated Students of Madison, quickly following a petition circulating on social media calling for him to step down.

Driver accidentally gets car stuck in ‘hole’

When officials from the Madison police and fire departments arrived at the intersection of Hammersley Road and South Midvale Boulevard, they found an elderly woman sitting in her minivan that was stuck in an 18-inch pit dug for construction. The call came in from a bystander who reported to authorities there was a driver stuck in a “hole” at the intersection.

Parts of Langdon Street to close near Memorial Union

The 700 and 800 blocks of Langdon Street, on which Memorial Union and the Pyle Center are located, will close Monday at 9 p.m. Miron Construction will close that part of Langdon, which is between North Park Street and North Lake Street, in order to complete a concrete crosswalk and finish the asphalt paving of the same section of Langdon. The Madison Metro 80 bus route will be detoured, according to a city press release.

Attorney General calls for special prosecutor in John Doe case

State Attorney General Brad Schimel asked the state Supreme Court in a letter Thursday to appoint a special master to investigate the leak of John Doe documents. The John Doe investigations, looking into Governor Scott Walker’s alleged illegal acceptance of corporate campaign contributions, began in 2010, but were halted in 2015 by the state Supreme Court.

Snapchat filter promoting consent gets trial run Halloween weekend

A group of student activists collaborated to create a Snapchat filter that reminds students to get consent before sex and raise awareness about the sexual assault climate on campus.

Judge sets Cook's bail at $200,000

Bail was set at $200,000 for suspended UW-Madison student Alec Cook Thursday, as the 20-year-old made his initial appearance in court.

University confirms third student with meningococcal disease

Despite an aggressive vaccination campaign, meningococcal disease is believed to have spread to a third UW-Madison student, according to a Thursday release. The student, who is being treated at a local hospital, will receive further testing to confirm if the illness is related to the rare serogroup B that had infected two other students earlier this month. University Health Services is urging all undergraduates under the age of 25 to get vaccinated, and so far more than 12,000 students have received the vaccine since it became available last Thursday.

WARF grants university $99 million for 2016-'17 school year

The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation has announced a $99 million gift to UW-Madison to support faculty recruitment and retention, as well as to further opportunities for students during the current school year.