T h e
TheAdvanceTitan
February 23, 2017
INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN OSHKOSH VOL. 123, NO. 15
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Student Health Advisory Committee looks to ban tobacco, e-cigarettes on campus by Kierra Carr carrk01@uwosh.edu
The Student Health Advisory Committee has collected more than 200 signatures, with more coming in, to pass a bill which would make the UW Oshkosh campus tobacco-free. Amy Hodel, a member of the Student Health Advisory Committee said if you grow up in a home where tobacco use isn’t normal, and you go to a school where tobacco-use isn’t the norm, you are much less likely to become addicted to tobacco products. “Our primary goal of this initiative is to help people to not start smoking and prevent tobacco use initiation,” Hodel said. Aaron Wojciechowski, a lead-
ing member of the Tobacco-Free Campus Initiative, said he strongly believes this is the right step for UWO even though there have been some opponents who say this is marginalizing smokers or attacking someone’s right to smoke. “The bottom line is that this proposal is to better the environment and health of UW Oshkosh, for the students,” Wojciechowski said. UWO senior Tyler Hahn said he thinks this policy is a fullfledged ban and is not only unnecessary, due to its absolute inability to be enforced, but also infringes on personal liberties. “I, myself, am not a smoker, and I know plenty of other non-smokers who are not for such action,” Hahn said. “They
would rather see better designated smoking area, and more resources to quit than a moral ban which achieves nothing and costs us money.” Hodel said the policy could help students fight their tobacco addiction. “This policy is to help motivate students to quit and support those who are trying to quit/ cut back or maintain a tobacco-free lifestyle,” Hodel said. UWO junior Taylor G ilmet said if this campus becomes tobacco-free, the University will experience a drop in enrollment because it discourages smokers from wanting to apply to UWO. “It’s a stupid idea and if people are worried about secondhand smoke then don’t walk by me when I’m smoking,” G ilmet said.
Wojciechowski said students ing on campus can be affected. deserve to walk around campus “I don’t think that the policy without smoke being blown in is a bad idea,” Pickett said. “I their face, or without having to think that the policy will make step on cigarette butts on the side- the campus and the individuals walk and grass. on this campus “I stress the It’s a stupid idea and if people healthier.” main purpose Hodel said are worried about secondhand she believes the of the initiative which is to smoke then don’t walk by me student body create a clean- when I’m smoking. now has the er, safer and opportunity to — Taylor Gilmet take a stand in healthier environment for the regards to the UWO student values of health UW Oshkosh campus and of all people its students,” for our learning Wojciechowski said. community through the use of the UW Oshkosh junior Jasmine referendum. Pickett said people are old enough “We went around campus to be able to smoke if they would and asked students the question: like to. However, the health of the Do you support a Tobacco-Free individuals around people smok- Campus at UW Oshkosh and
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want the opportunity for students to vote via referendum?” Hodel said. Hodel said she publicized the Student Health Advisory Committee’s primary goals through the use of social media and written works to ensure the student body has ample amount of information about the tobacco-free policy. “Aaron Wojciechowski and I, along with other members of the Student Health Advisory Committee, have sent our various emails to clubs and organizations,” Hodel said. Hodel said the Student Health Advisory Committee is very dedicated to making this a student-run decision-making process and voting will take place on March 14 and 15.
Wells receives extension to respond to UW lawsuit by Alex Nemec
ALICIA KAHL/ADVANCE-TITAN
A man dressed in a pizza costume, representing Papa Murphy’s, belly flops into Lake Winnebago. The Polar Plunge is an annual event that invites participants to jump into ice cold water to benefit the Special Olympics of Wisconsin.
Read the story on A5.
UWO discusses Black Thursday legacy by Collin Goeman goemac32@uwosh.edu A presentation on the legacy of Black Thursday was held Wednesday to talk about the history of the “Oshkosh 94 ” and how the event impacted UWO’s future. “[Black Thursday is] one of the more trying and difficult times in the modern history of this University,” history professor Stephen K ercher said. “But it left us with a legacy that is complicated, and one that we need to be very mindful of.” On N ov. 21, 1968, 94 African-American UWO students gathered in the president’s office at Dempsey Hall with a list of written demands concerning equality on campus. In his presentation K ercher said the students’ demands included new courses about African-American history and literature, as well as fair
treatment on campus. After their demands were denied by former UWO President Roger G uiles, students participated in a brief act of vandalism, tearing apart the office These students, known as “The Oshkosh 94 ”, were expelled following the incident, and were not allowed to pursue higher education in the UW System until years later. K ercher said the event was life changing for these students, especially because only a few of them returned to college to finish their degrees. “The fact that African-American students came back to this University and helped inspire future generations of students tells us something about the legacy of Oshkosh and of Black Thursday,” K ercher said. Student Ronisha Howard said students should be aware of Black hursday due to historical signifi-
cance to UWO. “It’s important for us to know the events that happened, not just African-American students, but any student attending UW Oshkosh,” Howard said. “It’s vital to understand the history of Oshkosh and what exactly happened during the past so we can understand what not to do in the future.” Two members of the original Oshkosh 94 protesters, Wanetta Hazelwood and Sheila K nox, attended the discussion and answered student questions afterwards. Hazelwood said they were afraid to come bac to sh osh at first due to what they went through. “It was such a bad experience and it still stays with me in the back of my mind,” Hazelwood said. “It was hard at first to come bac to sh osh K nox said she has fought against discrimination all her life, and continues to speak out in any way she can.
“We speak out, not in a formal way, but in our actions, in our words, and in whatever we do in the jobs that we take,” K nox said “We speak out against discrimination and unfairness every day of our lives.” K ercher said discussing Black Thursday is a key part of Black History Month on campus. “I think there is a small, hopeful and encouraging side to the story,” K ercher said. “That we’re doing this, and that we are using the legacy of this event to inform ourselves about what happened in the past, and to make us more clear minded about how we see things today.” K nox said progress has been made since Black Thursday, but more can be done. “Listen, talk, communicate, show compassion and respect for one another,” K nox said. “That would have prevented the events.”
nemeca14@uwosh.edu With the UW System’s recent response to Thomas Sonnleitner’s countersuit, former Chancellor Richard Wells’ lawyer, Raymond Dall’Osto, said Tuesday he will be filing ells’ response around the end of March. Dall’Osto said Wells received an extension to file due to travel he ystem’s response, filed riday, stated former Chancellor Wells and former V ice Chancellor Thomas Sonnleitner never formally met with the full UW System Board of Regents. “[The UW System denies] that Chancellor Wells and Mr. Sonnleitner made a presentation to the Board of Regents on or about October 8, 2010,” the response stated. “[The UW System admits] that nine members of the Board attended a joint meeting of the Business and Finance Committee and the Capital Planning and Budget Committee.” The response said four parties agreed to enter a $3.8 million agreement to help fund the anaerobic biodigester on Witzel Avenue, but that the University and the UW System were not included in those parties. The UW system denied that Wells or Sonnleitner disclosed any University funds besides the $1.2 million in student fees which were being used to pay for the Oshkosh Sports Complex, according to the response. According to the response, Wells and Sonnleitner told the UW System Board of Regents group that the $1.2 million was included in a $10 million total, and instead added it to the total $11.2 million they did to pay for the Oshkosh Sports Complex. “[The UW System denies] that the projects included any commitment by the University to pay or guarantee payment of any project costs beyond the stated commitment of student fees,” the response stated. The response stated the UW System denied Sonnleitner’s actions which were within the scope of his employment and that he signed letters in good faith. In Sonnleitner’s response, he claimed he as entitled to indemnification, hich means he wouldn’t be liable for any losses the University would suffer because he was doing his job. The UW System’s response denied this. According to court documents, the University Foundation has acknowledged that Sonnleitner has named it as a third-party defendant, but has not filed any statements regarding the suit.
Chancellor Column
Polar Plunge
Alerting Titans
WIAC Playoffs
News
Campus Connections
Opinion
Sports
Chancellor Leavitt talks about investments in increasing enrollment. Read more on A2
Community members and UWO students jump into Lake Winnebago for a good cause. Read more on A5
Editorial: Titan Alerts need to reach students sooner. Read more on A7
Men’s and Women’s basketball prepare o os playoffs Read more on A10