Faculty approve free-speech proposal
By Kelsey Gunderson | Apr. 13, 2010The Faculty Senate voted to approve a proposal Monday to ensure that faculty members can freely criticize the actions of UW-Madison administrators and policies.
The Faculty Senate voted to approve a proposal Monday to ensure that faculty members can freely criticize the actions of UW-Madison administrators and policies.
The state superintendent may get more control over struggling Wisconsin schools under a new plan proposed by Gov. Jim Doyle Monday. The legislation aims to increase the involvement of parents in their child's education, the use of ""consistent"" curriculums across struggling districts and increased state superintendent power over teacher and principle assignments. The plan follows multiple public school education reform proposals, including a controversial mayoral-takeover plan, aimed at making Wisconsin more viable in the competition for federal Race to the Top dollars. Michael Apple, UW-Madison professor of educational policy studies, said the new proposal is a ""compromise"" but said he is worried about the idea of a consistent curriculum across districts. ""I worry that the notion of consistent curriculum could have a negative effect on those schools' that are willing to take risks of linking their curriculum to students culture,"" he said, noting bilingual schools. He said the proposal is ""by and large about money"" and said he is worried about blaming schools and teachers for larger problems. ""Obviously Wisconsin needs the money; there's no doubt about that, but I don't think we want to sell our soul in the process of doing this … This proposal has a little of that, though again, it's an interesting compromise.""
For the last six months, gubernatorial candidates Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker and former congressman Mark Neumann have been engaged in a close competition in an invisible primary–a race for campaign contributions.
The rezoning request of a Dayton Street property was filed in a Madison Plan Commission meeting Monday.
Members of the Wisconsin Student Public Interest Research Group announced Saturday that WISPIRG's monthlong Hunger Cleanup raised over $10,000 to help fight hunger and homelessness.
Members of Madison's Polish community held a vigil at the Capitol on Saturday afternoon in memory of the 96 people, including the Polish president, killed in a plane crash earlier in the day.
Friday night's Alcohol License Review Committee ""bar walk-along"" revealed no major problems with downtown and campus establishments.
The UW System Board of Regents unanimously approved a measure Friday that requires state universities to seek student input when raising differential tuition costs.
The Labor Licensing Policy Committee announced its plan to end UW-Madison's contract with Nike Friday, saying the company failed to address several alleged labor violations in Honduras.
In an attempt to curb the number of car break-ins in Madison, the Madison Police Department announced Thursday it will begin to issue report cards to vehicles on the north side.
Supporters and opponents of proposed Natatorium renovations met Thursday in the Humanities building to debate a possible increase in student segregated fees.
Wisconsin residents want Congress to make the economy and jobs the top national priority, according to a poll released Wednesday by Wisconsin Public Radio and St. Norbert College.
The Student Labor Action Coalition marched from Library Mall to Chancellor Biddy Martin's office Thursday to encourage her to cut UW-Madison's apparel contract with Nike.
The Downtown Subcommittee of the Alcohol License Review Committee met Thursday to discuss proposed changes to the downtown Alcohol License Density Ordinance, including the controversial 365-day limit put on property owners to find new tenants if they want to keep their liquor licenses.
UW System leaders met Thursday in hopes of raising total graduation by 30 percent in 15 years through outreach and financial improvements.
Gov. Jim Doyle announced the creation of a Wisconsin Office of Health Care Reform at Meriter Hospital Wednesday, which he said will help facilitate the statewide implementation of the recent national health-care bill.
Wisconsin Department of Commerce Secretary Dick Leinenkugel will leave his post Friday to pursue another course.
The Madison Housing Committee discussed a proposal to push back lease renewal signing for rental properties at its meeting Wednesday night.
The Urban Design Committee granted initial approval of the Charter Street Heating Plant upgrades on Wednesday. The project includes demolishing the current coal-burning Charter Street Heating Plant and replacing it with an environmentally friendly biomass plant.
Chancellor Biddy Martin returned to Madison last week after visiting China with hopes of increasing UW-Madison's visibility with several Chinese universities.