THE UNIVERSITY OF W WISCONSIN’S ISCONS INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER PER SINCE 1969 mee XLIII,, Issue m Isssu Is ue 55 Volume
Monday, November 21, 2011
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SPORTS | BASKETBALL
OPINION | EDITORIAL
NEWS | HUNTING
Wisconsin whacks Wofford
For the 100 block of State Street, gentrification could harm the character of the area by forcing renters out. | 4
Hunt them down
In game No. 3, the Badgers shot 50 percent en route to laying down a 69-33 victory over the visiting Terriers. | 8
Hunters around the state celebrated Sunday as the deer hunting unting season officially took full swing. | 3
Recall brings 25K people to rally Matt Huppert State Editor
POSSIBLE FUTURE OF RECALLS
A look at what the next few months hold should petitioners gather the necessary 240,000 signatures to trigger a recall election. 1st anniversary of Gov. Walker’s inauguration
Recall petitions begin circulating
GAB verifies signatures
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In a scene reminiscent of last spring’s demonstrations over collective bargaining, tens of thousands of supporters of a recall against Gov. Scott Walker gathered at the Capitol Saturday to express frustrations with his policies and sign petitions for his removal. An estimated 25,000 to 30,000 people descended on Capitol Square in support of an effort to recall the governor. During the rally, supporters of the recall marched around the Capitol, signed petitions and listened to a diverse range of speakers. Organizers for the recall effort will have to collect 540,206 signatures from Wisconsinites by Jan. 13 in order to mandate a recall effort. As of Friday evening, 105,000 signatures had been signed only four days into the effort, according to a statement from United Wisconsin. Beth Huang, a University of Wisconsin student, said she is supporting the governor’s recall because his approved budget cuts and financial decisions have weakened secondary education in the state. “I have seen the impact of budget cuts first hand,”
Huang said to the crowd. “Not only has my tuition increased by over $1,500 per year since I started school two years ago, [but] there are fewer sports in classes available for students directly because of budget cuts.” Huang said the $250 million dollar cut to the University of Wisconsin Systems, along with the $47 million cut to UW, has deteriorated higher education in the state. Calls from the governor of creating a more balanced budget, Huang said, did not merit the cuts to the state’s educational institutions. “When every dollar invested in [UW-Systems] returns $21 to the state, cutting higher education is the least fiscally responsible move Walker could make,” Huang said. In a statement, a coalition of Tea Party groups in the state denounced the recall effort. The collective bargaining reformations, the statement said, has led to a more financially stable environment for Wisconsin’s local communities. “Governor Scott Walker’s bold and courageous approach to reforming the collective bargaining process that has been a stranglehold on our local municipalities is already working across our state,” the statement said.
Jan. 13
Nov. 20 Nov. 15
Four weeks after petition verification
Six weeks after petition verification
PRIMARY ELECTION
ELECTION
Jan. 3
Petitions hit more than 1000,000 signatures
Deadline for 540,000 signatures
The statement said unions have been “flooding” Wisconsin with out of state volunteers and funding in order to bring more leverage in their efforts to recall the governor, which it said would lead to more taxpayer dollars going to unions instead of back into the economy. Al Peltier, a welder and member of Ironworkers Local 881, said the work of Walker and Republican Legislators to curb the bargaining rights of unions in the state was in drastic conflict with Wisconsin’s history of protecting workers rights. He said Walker implemented the union bargaining limitations not to save the budget, but
Taylor Frechette The Badger Herald
Between 25,000 and 30,000 Wisconsinites gather on the steps of the state Capitol building Saturday afternoon as part of a celebratory rally to kick off the recall efforts against Gov. Scott Walker. Petitioners must gather more than 500,000 signatures by Jan. 13.
RECALL, page 2
Officials say special elections bare hefty price tag Anti-Walker effort expected to cost Wis. $650K for staffing, supplies, office space Leah Linscheid Deputy State Editor Officials from the Government Accountability Board estimated they would need more than $650,000 to fund the recall against Gov. Scott Walker and other legislators in the upcoming months, providing a stark figure of the size and gravity of the recall efforts.
According to the GAB budget summary for processing the 2012 recall petitions, the agency will request $652,000 for expenses such as temporary staffing, additional office space and supplies and equipment. The summary was compiled based on the assumption that eight recall petitions will be filed. According to GAB spokesperson Reid Magney, the estimated costs have risen compared to the costs of the summer recalls, which were estimated at $88,000. “The agency’s current budget does not include
funds for recall elections in 2012,” Magney said. “We are looking at unprecedented recall activity. The constitution guarantees the people the right of recall and if recall petitions do get filed in January, the GAB needs the resources to process those petitions and determine whether recall elections must be held.” According to the budget summary, $250,000 would be allotted for public education on the voter ID law, which now requires voters to present a valid Wisconsin driver’s license, a Wisconsin ID card from the Department of Transportation or a
Bring it on! Drag performer Kandi Barr engages the crowd Friday at QueerFest, a Queer and Allied Talent Show with Drag. Admission for the night at Memorial Union was $5, with proceeds from the 50/50 raffle going to a lifeline for LGBT youth contemplating suicide. The first place prize of the night was $100. Zhao Lim The Badger Herald
current ID card issued by a U.S. uniformed service. The GAB filed its expected costs with the Joint Committee on Finance Thursday. According to University of Wisconsin political science professor Barry Burden, the estimates show the scope of the current political atmosphere in Wisconsin. “This is a major effort for the agency to have to verify over half a million signatures in a relatively short period of time,” Burden said. “This is unprecedented.” Dennis Dresang, political science professor at the La Follette School
of Public Affairs, said the cost analysis is just a notice and the funds have not yet been requested by the agency. Burden said the board’s request for additional funds could be turned down by the committee, as they had been turned down recently in the past year. Burden said that, should the GAB’s request be denied, the agency would probably be granted additional time to review the signatures, similar to the time frame from this summer. He also commented on the fact that Republicans currently have a majority in the committee, and
said they would not necessarily vote against supplying the GAB with the extra funds to address the recall efforts. “I think they would like to see the signatures verified,” Burden said. “Even if that takes more money or time, they want that process to be done thoroughly. I can imagine Republicans supporting that because they want to make sure the petitions are valid.” Dresang agreed with Burden, saying Republicans would want to challenge the signatures and call to
SPECIAL ELECTIONS, page 2
University student claims Rhodes Scholarship title Senior to study English at Oxford under full funding for up to three years Selby Rodriguez Campus Editor A University of Wisconsin senior will be packing her bags along with 31 students from around the U.S. to continue her studies at Oxford this October after being awarded a Rhodes Scholarship announced Saturday. Alexis Brown, a senior majoring in English and history from Algonquin, Ill., was named a 2012 Rhodes Scholar Saturday, according to a statement from The Office for the American Secretary of the Rhodes Trust. Associate Vice Chancellor for General Educational Administration Aaron Brower said the university is proud of Brown’s success.
© 2011 BADGER HERALD
“Alexis is just a fantastic student,” Brower said. “We’re very proud of her and her accomplishment and can’t wait to see what she does next.” In addition to her studies, Brown is founder and editor of The Madison Journal of Literary Criticism. She also tutors children from low income households, is a writing fellow at UW and has worked for The Madison Review, the statement said. She plans to study modern English literature at Oxford, the statement said. Brower said Brown’s accomplishment reflects highly upon UW and its educational standards. “[Brown’s achievement] validates the really good educational experience we provide to our students,” Brower said. “We’ve had four Rhodes Scholars since 1994 and about 15 finalists in the last four years alone.” Brown was chosen
from a two-stage application process where she first received endorsement from UW and then interviewed for her district. This year, 830 students received endorsement, and 210 made it to the final interview, according to the statement. The average value of the Rhodes scholarship is $50,000 a year, the statement said, though this can vary depending on field of study and length of stay. The scholarship will cover all of Brown’s college and university fees at Oxford University, a stipend extending during vacations and transportation to and from England, the statement said. American Secretary for The Rhodes Trust Elliot Gerson said in an email to The Badger Herald that while he has not yet met Brown in person, he is excited
RHODES, page 3