1. David Lapidus
UW-Madison freshman David Lapidus burst onto the campus political scene this semester as a candidate for the Dane County Board of Supervisors and a founder of the anti-Associated Students of Madison organization Student Government. Preaching common sense conservatism, Lapidus won over the support of the College Republicans and private-dorm dwellers in his push for county board, defeating two liberal candidates in the February primary. Further, when a computer glitch botched ASM's spring election—twice —Lapidus led the call for reform and accountability in student affairs. Although he was defeated by Ashok Kumar and Student Government has since closed its doors, Lapidus left his mark on Spring 2006.
2. Student Labor Action Coalition
During perhaps the groups' most lively semesters to date, the Student Labor Action Coalition worked to increase wages for Limited Term Employees of the Wisconsin Union, convince Chancellor John Wiley to adopt stricter policies regarding worker wage disclosure for UW-Madison apparel manufacturers overseas, and put a halt to building a new Union South using student segregated fees. Josh Healy proved one of the most outspoken of the group, actively advocating for workers rights, and initiating a campaign, creatively titled WUFUCK,\ to counteract the seg fee-funded Union effort, WUFIP. In its activism, SLAC traded up professionalism and an ethical higher ground for a shot at student attention, and it worked. This semester, SLAC has inarguably debunked its ""SLACker"" reputation.
3. Paul Barrows
Paul Barrows, former vice chancellor for student affairs for UW-Madison, ushered in the spring semester as a beleaguered professional. But, on April 14, the UW Academic Staff Appeals Committee determined that the university took unfounded punitive action against Barrows. ASAC will issue its written recommendation May 5, and Provost Patrick Farrell will issue a final ruling on the committee's recommendation by June 5.
Barrows hopes to redirect judgment on the recommendation from Farrell to the Board of Regents' Personnel matters Review Committee. So far, both the UW administration and regents have declined the appeal. Still, Barrows plans to continue his quest for justice via confrontations with and pending civil lawsuits against former work associates Hong and Wiley.
4. UW Athletes Gone Bad
Tucked among the Capital One Bowl victory and three NCAA championships and tainting an otherwise banner year for Wisconsin sports were the amount of criminal allegations that plagued Badger student athletes, especially the football team. During a 42-day span from mid-December to the end of January, eight football players were arrested or issued citations by the police; of those eight, five were suspended and two eventually dismissed. Recently, defensive end Joe Monty suffered injuries after a moped crash that police say allegedly involved alcohol.
Also, academic ineligibility ended the basketball seasons of freshman forward Marcus Landry and sophomore center Greg Stiemsma.
Booker Stanley, the most notorious student athlete this year, was perhaps the worst representative of Badger athletics. The night he was due to appear in court to face charges of alleged battery at last year's Mifflin Street Block Party, he was arrested and later charged with nine criminal charges, including second-degree sexual assault and four counts of misdemeanor battery. His delayed dismissal from the football team renewed criticism that the student-athlete discipline policy was too lenient and hopefully will force the Athletic Department to scrutinize the policy next year.
5. U.S. Congressman Mark Green
Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate U.S. Rep. Mark Green, R-Green Bay, created waves this semester by championing his fiscal and moral conservatism to reach out to Republican voters. On campus, he dived headfirst into religious issues. He told Chancellor Wiley in a letter that not funding the UW Roman Catholic Foundation could be discrimination for religious beliefs. In addition, he showed support for housefellows fighting for the right to conduct bible studies in their dorm rooms.
Of course, those pesky Democrats never let Green's name leave the headlines either. They have spent the semester consistently attacking Green for questionable campaign donations linked to Jack Abramoff and former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas.
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