Opinion

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Letter to the Editor: Breakdown in communication not political

 While it is true that Walter Ellis' sample appears to have been taken from the wrong inmate by the Department of Corrections over 8 years ago, it is not true that the samples which the DNA Databank does not have but should have under the law is due to ""mismatches"" or ""incorrect filing."" Nor are they ""missing,"" as that term is commonly used. All indications are that the samples were never collected or sent to the DNA Databank in the first instance.

Manning fails to represent students

It's been a little over a year since we tepidly endorsed then-candidate Wyndham Manning for Dane County Supervisor of the 5th District. It was a decision made with a certain amount of reserve and precaution—one that was not made without considerable skepticism of Manning's ability to perform and execute in the position of supervisor and adequately represent the student voice. During his year in office, Manning has done little to challenge the low bar that was set for him, and his awkward and secretive announcement to not seek re-election only validated our earlier preoccupations with endorsing him.

Human experience gets lost in translation

Contrary to popular belief, the end of human kind will not come suddenly, taking the shape of a mushroom cloud in the red sky. The destruction of society is already underway, and you can see it at the library, in lecture halls, on Bascom hill, walking Charter Street and in State Street cafés.

YouTube merger can enhance online content

 After a lively debate about musical prodigies, I wanted to show someone a quality recording of the Jackson Five's ""I'll Be There"" on YouTube as some evidence of undeniable talent. Then a red ribbon popped up to my dismay, saying, ""This video has been removed due to copyright violation.""

Seek to raise awareness about domestic violence

This week The Daily Cardinal is introducing a new series called the Student Organization Neighborhood. Biweekly we will be inviting contributions from various student groups across campus, advocating for issues important to their mission. Our first editorial comes courtesy of Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment, in anticipation of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Look for further editorials from other organizations in the coming weeks.

Loss of DNA samples shows incompetence

Up to 3,000 convicted felons who perhaps should still legally be in prison may be wandering the streets of Wisconsin. That's a comforting thought, isn't it?

Wisconsin should weigh nuclear power option

Most Wisconsinites have never thought to choose between global warming and nuclear power. Today Wisconsin seems to be much more afraid of things heating up than of things melting down. But 26 years ago it was a different fear that kept environmental studies professors awake at night.

Unpopular SSFC Decision Tolerable

There are few organizations on campus that can puzzle students as much as the SSFC. Many people don't even know what it does (allocate a select amount of your segregated fee dollars to various eligible student groups) or for that matter what those letters stand for (Student Services Finance Committee). Those who do know tend to think of it as the most stereotypical of bureaucracies, the kind of group in which jargon is thrown around so often they almost speak a different language and you need to fill out three different forms just to get permission to sneeze (though with the looming threat of swine flu, additional paperwork may be required).

Partner benefits long due at UW

Last Monday saw a long-due celebration for the authorized domestic-partner health insurance benefits at UW-Madison. After years of fierce debates, Gov. Jim Doyle signed the plan into law this summer. This is also seen as a solid move to support education and promote equity.

Vegetarian Day puts new focus on dietary options

Snaking through the crowds, I found myself sitting in front of an ideal gameday brunch: an omelet sprinkled with shredded cheddar, toast and slices of crispy bacon, all washed down with a blueberry milkshake. Then, time to wobble your way to Camp Randall for the second half of a greasy, sweaty day. It's not until now that you start longing for a refreshing bite of tomatoes.

Letter to the Editor: ASM should champion rights of LGBTI community

 As many of you know, there has been a recent outcry over the ASM endorsement for the LGBT Equality March in Washington D.C. Perhaps you didn't know that over 50 student body presidents around the country have endorsed this march already, among them being leaders from UCLA, Princeton, Yale, Cornell, Tufts, Stanford, University of Chicago, University of Minnesota, and American; need I go on?

Focus on humanities all talk, no action

This year we find ourselves in the midst of the university's Year of the Humanities, a series of lectures dedicated to esoteric topics in hopes of increasing visibility of the humanities on campus and to promote the worth of a well- rounded, humanistic education in the job market. A liberal arts education is often composed of a lot of intangibles, but if the university is truly serious about its commitment to a humanistic education and the worth of the humanities to mankind, it needs to commit something more tangible to the cause.

Co-op system no more inclusive than Greeks

Many criticize the Greek system for the exclusive social scene it promotes, often claiming that cooperatives are a more inclusive alternative. However, due to poorly run jury systems for selecting members, it appears that many co-ops are no more accepting than the fraternities or sororities of Langdon Street.

Student vote will bring reason to ALRC

Though the city of Madison has often ignored student voices in the past, students achieved a victory last spring when Mark Woulf was appointed to the Alcohol Licensing and Review Committee (ALRC) as a non-voting student representative. Now alder Bryon Eagon wants to expand student input on the committee by making the student representative a voting member, and his plan is both sound and reasonable.

Logical plan needed to change drinking laws

 I've never actually heard someone say ""thank goodness the drinking age is 21! Remember how bad it was back before in the '60's?"" The idea that the drinking age should be 18 is more or less a given, especially here in Wisconsin. Even though most of us disagree, we continue to ticket our fellow citizens who are old enough to die for their country, vote and live on their own. The reason for the gap between what the public thinks and does and the laws our politicians continue to support is the lack of a safe, cost-effective plan to lower Wisconsin's drinking age.

Student financial aid revision overdue

 On Sept. 17 Congress approved far-reaching legislation that would expand federal aid to college students and end federal subsidies to private lenders. The Students Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, if passed by the Senate and signed by the president, would allocate $87 billion in post-secondary education over ten years. The bill would increase the amount of federal aid available to university students and increase funding to community colleges. Perhaps most importantly, the bill would simplify the spiteful Federal Application for Student Aid, infamously known to students as the FAFSA.

Law school difficult enough without bar

Law school is hell. Ask your average first year what their life is like, and chances are their answer will involve screaming, incoherent frustrated mutterings and a whimper or two. Maybe even a little sobbing. Law students start off with a huge workload that fails to let up until they graduate three years later. And even after that wondrous graduation day, there is still the looming spectacle of the bar exam hanging over them, just waiting to squeeze that last extra teaspoon of life out of those enterprising legal minds.

Struggle for health care defining presidency

 By Maggie Bahrmasel and Evan Giesemann

Mifflin Street not safe from progress

 The invisible force that is progress seems to constantly be wreaking havoc on the city of Madison. Someday, the city skyline will no longer be peppered with cranes and the streets won't be covered with dump trucks, but that day keeps moving farther away. Last week, Madison's Planning Department met to discuss what to do about the historic Mifflin Street area.

Twitter tearing down sensible communication