News - The Daily Cardinal

Two UW-Madison student organizations, including We’re Better Than That, are taking advantage of national Sexual Assault Awareness Month by running campaigns throughout April surrounding issues of sexual violence.Two UW-Madison student organizations, including We’re Better Than That, are taking advantage of national Sexual Assault Awareness Month by running campaigns throughout April surrounding issues of sexual violence.

CAMPUS NEWS

Sexual assault awareness month sparks creative events from student organizations

By Hannah Malone | Apr. 3, 2017

Several UW-Madison student organizations are looking to raise awareness of sexual violence throughout April, national Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Two organizations on campus—Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment and We’re Better Than That—are addressing the sensitive topics that surround sexual assault through student activism. WBTT Incoming Students Committee Leader Rachel Nicolaison is running the “Share Your Why” campaign, which aims to create open conversations on sexual assault through personal storytelling. “We want people to get more of the personal touch which is often missing from the conversation,” Nicolaison said.

CAMPUS NEWS

Rep. Evans proposes shared governance group on socioeconomic diversity

By Nina Bertelsen | Apr. 3, 2017

When Brooke Evans graduates in May she doesn’t want the university to put low-income students’ challenges on the back burner.

The 48th Annual Spring Powwow welcomed Native Americans from across the nation and members of the Madison community at the New Holland Pavilion over the weekend.

CAMPUS NEWS

Spring powwow connects UW-Madison community with Native American culture

By Luisa de Vogel and Hannah Malone | Apr. 2, 2017

The sound of drum beats filled parts of the Alliant Energy Center as dancers in traditional native regalia performed at the 48th On Wisconsin Annual Spring Powwow. The UW-Madison student organization Wunk Sheek coordinated the powwow in the center’s New Holland Pavilions Saturday and Sunday.

A number of state Democrats have declined to challenge Wisconsin’s current governor, Scott Walker, in 2018.

STATE NEWS

Prominent Democrats decline to run against Walker in 2018, some citing funding challenges

By Noah Habenstreit | Apr. 2, 2017

A well-known former state senator recently announced he will not challenge Gov. Scott Walker in Wisconsin’s 2018 election, making him the most recent of a number of state Democrats who have already ruled out a gubernatorial run.

A UW-Madison sophomore who received an organ donation and the student organization Donate Life Wisconsin will hold events to inform the community about registering as a donor throughout April.

CAMPUS NEWS

Student group, transplant recipient promote National Donate Life Month

By Matthew Whitney | Apr. 1, 2017

The Wisconsin branch of Donate Life America strives to “help students combat the misconceptions that surround organ and tissue donation,” according to Sydney Kelly, a member of the group.

Demonstrators gathered on Library Mall to promote agendas for Industrial Workers of the World, Young Americans for Liberty and Young Americans for Freedom Friday.

CAMPUS NEWS

Demonstrators protest against fascism, promote free speech on Library Mall

By Megan Provost and Kate Daniels | Mar. 31, 2017

The Madison branch of the Industrial Workers of the World held a demonstration speaking out against fascism and recent violence against members of their union Friday. The demonstration, titled “All Out Against Fascism and Hate,” and organized by the union’s General Defense Committee, attracted roughly 45 people to Library Mall. Demonstrators gathered at Library Mall to listen to speakers such as Alex Gillis of the Union de Trabajadores Inmigrantes, Lariisa Stewart of the Madison Feminist Directory and Sam Olson of the Wisconsin Bail Out the People Movement.

Multiple appeals against the expulsion of Alec Cook, a former student accused of numerous cases of sexual assault, have been denied.

CITY NEWS

Another person comes forward in Cook case; count now up to 11

By Gina Heeb | Mar. 31, 2017

Another victim has come forward in the case of former UW-Madison student Alec Cook, who is currently facing 21 criminal charges in a sexual assault case involving nearly a dozen women, according to a county district attorney.

NEWS

Study: UW System has 17 times more students from the bottom 60 percent than the top one percent

By Noah Habenstreit | Mar. 31, 2017

A recent study shows that UW System students are far more likely to come from the bottom 60 percent of the income distribution scale than the top 1 percent, in contrast to a number of other American universities.

Madison Water Utility signed onto a letter Thursday asking Scott Pruitt to not cut a water conservation program the city has been in partnership with since 2008.

CITY NEWS

Madison urges Pruitt to keep water conservation program

By Gina Heeb | Mar. 31, 2017

Anticipating massive funding cuts to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency under President Donald Trump, the city is acknowledging the risk of the federal government slashing one of its major environmental programs.

UW Chamber Orchestra, James Smith, conductor

CAMPUS NEWS

Symphony Orchestra director to retire after 34 years at UW-Madison

By Noah Habenstreit | Mar. 31, 2017

James Smith, a professor in the UW-Madison Mead Witter School of Music, will also retire from his posts as music director of the University Opera and conductor of the Chamber Orchestra.

CAMPUS NEWS

Two finalists chosen to fill Title IX coordinator position

By Claire Campbell | Mar. 30, 2017

UW-Madison announced Thursday they are in the final stages of hiring a new Title IX coordinator after David Blom announced he will retire from the position in May. The university is currently under investigation for its handling of sexual assault cases for possible Title IX violations. Two finalists—Nicholas Oleksy and Lauren Hasselbacher—are vying for the position.

UW System President Ray Cross praised Gov. Scott Walker’s budget proposal in an appearance before the state Joint Finance Committee Thursday.

STATE NEWS

Cross: Proposed budget is best in a decade

By Andrew Bahl | Mar. 30, 2017

UW System officials praised Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed budget Thursday in an appearance before the state’s powerful budget-writing committee, saying they were “very pleased” with the suggested funding level. In his testimony, UW System President Ray Cross told the Joint Finance Committee that Walker’s proposed 2017-’19 biennium budget is the most investment in the UW in over a decade. Walker’s proposal calls for $140 million in new funding to the state’s 16 public universities, including $42.5 million tied to each university’s performance in certain metrics.

STATE NEWS

Walker appoints two citizen members to UW System Board of Regents

By Lilly Price | Mar. 30, 2017

Gov. Scott Walker appointed two new members to the UW System Board of Regents Wednesday. A Milwaukee attorney and a Green Bay bank executive will join the 18-member board.

Over 200 students attended an ASM meeting to discuss a bill with controversial language regarding Israel, which the student council later tabled indefinitely.

NEWS

ASM tables divestment bill despite representative’s proposal to remove inflammatory language

By Noah Habenstreit | Mar. 30, 2017

An Associated Students of Madison representative proposed an amendment late Wednesday night that would have struck controversial language regarding Israel from a hotly debated piece of legislation, but the student council voted instead to table the bill indefinitely.

Darrick Anderson, a 23-year-old Columbus resident, was charged with the murder of Andrew Nesbitt Monday. Blood found on Nesbitt’s kitchen floor matched Anderson’s DNA.

CITY NEWS

Police find probable cause to arrest suspect for downtown homicide

By Sammy Gibbons and Gina Heeb | Mar. 30, 2017

Madison police arrested a suspect Thursday for the murder of downtown resident Andrew Nesbitt. Twenty-three-year-old Anderson, who does not have a permanent address, may receive charges of first-degree intentional homicide, Madison Police Department Chief Mike Koval told the Wisconsin State Journal.

Reza Aslan told audience members that bigotry is based on fear not ignorance.

CAMPUS NEWS

Award-winning religious scholar says fear leads to otherism

By Nina Bertelsen | Mar. 30, 2017

For Reza Aslan, an award-winning religious scholar, author and producer, the rise of xenophobia and fear of Islamic terrorism in the United States isn’t a Muslim problem, it’s an American problem.

Attorneys Marilyn Townsend and Jill Karofsky are competing for a Dane County judge seat in Tuesday’s municipal election.

CITY NEWS

Marilyn Townsend, Jill Karofsky vie for Dane County judge seat

By Claire Lancaster | Mar. 30, 2017

Both candidates vying for a Dane County judge seat have said they will spend the two-year term serving individuals who are disadvantaged in the justice system, each insisting that their background prepares them best for the job. Two attorneys—Marilyn Townsend and Jill Karofsky—are competing to fill the seat for Branch 12 of the Dane County Circuit Court. Townsend spent 30 years as a union and civil rights lawyer before being elected for three terms as a municipal judge for the Village of Shorewood Hills.

STATE NEWS

Part of an anti-crime bill package would tighten penalties for teen criminals

By Lilly Price | Mar. 30, 2017

Youth who commit crimes could face tougher penalties in Wisconsin due to two bills included in a package of anti-crime bills considered by a state Senate committee Wednesday.

NEWS

Student Judiciary considers new categories for Student Council representation

By Nina Bertelsen | Mar. 30, 2017

The Student Judiciary considered recognizing new academic groups when reapportioning student council seats in a Monday meeting.

In a meeting last year, UW-Madison's Associated Students of Madison discussed a piece of legislation that was critical of Israel.

NEWS

ASM legislation to divest from Israeli ties draws debate, condemnation

By Noah Habenstreit | Mar. 30, 2017

Controversial Associated Students of Madison legislation that harshly criticizes Israel drew impassioned backlash from Jewish students and other members of the UW-Madison community at a tense and packed ASM open forum Wednesday.