Opinion

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Conservative presence growing on campus

On September 11th the University of Wisconsin-Madison Student Organization Fair was held at the Kohl Center, and I had the opportunity to work at one of the organization booths. Over the course of the fair, which was three hours, thousands of people passed me, and after a while I started noticing a prominent trend that made me very optimistic for Wisconsin’s future. There is a conservative wave sweeping this state that will turn the liberal agenda of fiscal irresponsibility on its face and lead to a new era of prosperity, both for the middle class and especially for recently graduated college students now entering the workforce.

New sexual assault program relates better to students

University Health Services has taken it upon itself to create a brand new sexual assault awareness program titled Tonight. The program is an interactive video that asks students to evaluate situations and reflect on how they would react.

Preventing violence should be a priority

Those with the power and responsibility to look after the public’s safety are faced with a task of epic proportions. The job is never done, and any progress seems to eventually roll back down the proverbial hill.

Official review for police shootings needs to improve in Wisconsin

Earlier this summer, Wade Page opened fire at a Sikh Temple in Oak Creek Wis.  The first reporting officer, Lt. Brian Murphy, was shot 15 times before another officer brought Page down with a rifle shot to his mid-section.  Footage from the officers’ dashboard cameras was released yesterday, allowing the curious to gain a more complete image of the grisly scene and the role the two officers played in ending the attack.  

E-Books cheaper but with drawbacks

UW-Madison and more than two dozen other higher education institutions are taking part in a project to evaluate the use of e-books and other electronic alternatives to conventional learning. The idea is to look at the impact e-books have on student learning and interactions between professors and students.

Obama is the right leader to deal with tense Middle-East

With the presidential election looming in the not-so-distant future, several key issues remain effervescent within the news.  Clearly, headlines regarding the economy are inescapable, and abortion, healthcare and gay marriage ride just behind in its wake.  At the same time, international policy, an arena that also demands much attention, garners its share of media coverage.  And with the Middle East as politically charged as ever, we look to our fearless leader, our commander-in-chief, el presidente, to guide us past murky waters.

Economic assumptions damage society

As we move through the world, there come times when we can’t help but interact with other people or make decisions. When this happens, I would argue that we rely on two things (among others) to see us through the trying process: our assumptions and our values.

Landlords at fault for tenants' messy move-in

It is the beginning of a new school year and many students have chosen to leave University Housing for the liberating spirit of apartment life. Unfortunately, that feeling of freedom may be short-lived as inexperienced tenants move into their new homes.

Organizations' displays on Bascom Hill should be held to higher standard

As students, fresh or weary from their summer breaks, walked onto Bascom Hill for their first day of classes Tuesday they were treated to a commercial and educational display on Bascom’s lawn. The display, which promoted a new grocery store in Dejope Hall, featured dozens of plastic flamingo lawn ornaments embedded all across the grassy expanse below Bascom Hall.  The display itself might come off as esoteric, but is actually a call-back to the infamous Pail and Shovel student government party which ascended to power in 1978.

Chinese investment risky for university

A little over a year ago, the University of Wisconsin-Madison opened up a new office in Shanghai to help further its reputation and to establish more research and business associations. To help open up the office in Shanghai, which is officially called the “UW-Madison Shanghai Innovation Office,” Chancellor David Ward joined with a delegation that included local Chinese officials and Wisconsin business representatives; some of these included the representatives of major multinational corporations such as Promega and Abbott Labs. A few months ago, Abbott Labs pleaded guilty to knowingly selling inappropriate and subsequently harmful medication to elderly people in the U.S.; they are also paying a mammoth $1.6 billion fine.

Student organization creation process needs to be simpler

When I attended my Student Orientation and Registration (SOAR) session three years ago I was told the requirements to form a student organization on this campus were minimal. The University only demanded that the organization be composed of at least three students, and I don’t even remember hearing that an adviser was needed. Because I have held “leadership” positions in two organizations, I can tell you first hand that the requirements to form and register an organization have expanded dramatically. This is my complaint letter.

New CAFE standards good for economy

Just in time for day one of last week’s Republican National Convention, the Obama administration announced its finalized plans for fuel efficiency regulations on American car manufacturers.

Romney and Ryan lie for political gain

Iranian threat does not represent the Muslim population as a whole

It is no secret that Iran is currently developing nuclear capabilities. Their program was actually given a head start by none other than the United States in the 1950’s in the Atoms for Peace program. Obviously, a nuclear-powered Iran has not always been a threat to the world, or else the United States wouldn’t have supported their program in the first place. In fact, under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the Islamic Republic opted to disband its nuclear developments as they served as a hindrance to peaceful Islamic values. Unfortunately, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s sentiments are not shared by the regime currently in power in Iran, and with the nation’s present advancement within the realm of nuclear power, the entire world is threatened by an Iran armed with nuclear weapons.

New committee’s future rests on student’s shoulders

How to stay engaged on campus without losing too much sleep

Get involved and have fun. This is common advice for both new and returning students, and the tried and true method works: people who are involved in extracurricular activities and have healthy social lives are proven to have higher test scores and healthier minds.

How to thrive in Madison's political environment

As the 2012 presidential election draws nearer and nearer, political commercials and propaganda are pounded into the minds of voters across the United States. So what does this mean for students here at the University of Wisconsin - Madison? As a new batch of freshman roll in, be prepared for student organizations, local lobbyists and the occasional nut job to spread their own opinions on who the new president should be.

Topics to track this semester

Madisonians have grown accustomed to political excitement over the past couple of years. Fall 2012 promises to be just as exciting in terms of political conflict. The items listed below are hot topics to follow as the school year starts.

Romney-Ryan: Radicals? Ridiculous

The rhetoric spewed from the bowels of propaganda machines during presidential election seasons can sometimes seem daunting. How can one separate fact from fiction? This cycle, it seems that democrats have gone to new lows by trying to incite racial tensions in their attempt to divide America. Vice President Joe Biden described the GOP’s goals in a speech he gave in Virginia when he stated, “they gonna put y’all back in chains.” Democratic Virginia state Sen. Louise Lucas proclaimed that “Mitt Romney, he’s speaking to a… segment of the population who does not like to see people other than a white man in the White House or any other elected position… I absolutely believe it is all about race and for the first time in my life I’ve been able to convince my children finally that racism is alive and well… All across this nation, and especially in Virginia.” Because the Republican Vice Presidential nominee, Paul Ryan, is a born and raised native of Wisconsin, it’s important that we go beyond the petty racism of the left and actually examine policy. The large bulk of attacks levied at Paul Ryan are aimed at his controversial budget proposal that Mitt Romney has now incorporated into his platform. While serving on the House Budget Committee in 2011, Ryan proposed budget reforms that included reforming Medicare, Medicaid and the Food Stamp Program. Democrats charge that his proposal is a radical exercise in fiscal austerity that would let poor orphans starve and deny grandma and grandpa the medical services that they need. I find this completely laughable because I don’t think that Ryan’s budget goes nearly far enough.

How to survive as a non-liberal on a liberal campus