THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSINâS INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1969 Volume XLIII, Issue 133
Monday, April 30, 2012
www.badgerherald.com
Tangled up in blue Rose Appleton rappels from Memorial Union, overlooking the new âMendota Blueâ chairs just introduced at the Terrace. She was attending the Memorial Union Reinvestment Kickoff Party to celebrate the next 100 years of the Union. Kelsey Fenton The Badger Herald
SSFC alleges ASM breach 6 file petition amid viewpoint neutrality concerns regarding recent MCSC decision Katie Caron Higher Education Editor Following last weekâs meeting of the 18th session of Associated Students of Madison Student Council last week where the Multicultural Student Coalitionâs fight for funding came to a successful end, some members of student government have petitioned for a reconsideration of the approval of the groupâs eligibility. Six members of the Student Services Finance Committee, the committee which originally denied MCSCâs funding, have petitioned the Student Judiciary to hear their allegations that several Student Council members committed viewpoint neutrality violations during last weekâs meeting, where the MCSCâs funding eligibility was approved in a 10-9-4 vote split by Chair Allie Gardner. The petition calls for SJ to either negate the votes of several members who
allegedly made viewpoint neutrality violations and mandate a recount, remand the hearing back to Student Council so three members have to recuse themselves or mandate that all committee members mark ânoâ on the question of MCSCâs intentional policy violation. SSFC Rep. Cale Plamann, who filed the petition, said the situation is so unprecedented that he wanted to provide a few possible remedies, but that any of the suggestions would render Student Councilâs decision void. SSFC Chair Sarah Neibart, one of the petitioners, said it was necessary to file the complaint to ensure that the decision made last week would be effectively null and void. âAt the decision there were multiple viewpoint neutrality violations and much unbridled discretion was used by members of Student Council,â Neibart said.
SSFC, page 2
Cross-party line voting approved for recall primary Unprecedented decision prompts separation into 6 different elections Paige Costakos Reporter
Tori Thompson Herald Contributor The unprecedented nature of the upcoming recall primary elections has led a state board to determine that voting rules will differ
from past primaries, allowing voters to vote for both Democrats and Republicans instead of receiving a single party primary ballot. Normal primaries, like the one that will occur on August 14, are considered one election, Government Accountability Board spokesperson Reid Magney said. However, he said because of the upcoming recall election, there will be six primaries, one for governor, one for lieutenant governor and four for the state senators, which are legally separate but held on
the same day. Even though the elections are separate, there will only be one ballot, Magney said. Because there is also only one Republican primary election in the case of Gov. Scott Walker running against Madison citizen Arthur Kohl-Riggs, Magney said, those who wish to also participate can vote in the Democratic primary for lieutenant governor and the four senators. However, voters will not be able to vote in both the Republican and the Democratic primary for
governor, Magney said. Still, Scot Ross, spokesperson for former Dane County Executive and gubernatorial candidate Kathleen Falk, said crossover voting, in which a person who supports one primary votes in another partyâs primary, will not affect the upcoming primary election, despite the unique conditions of these primaries. âItâs never been an issue before, and it wonât be one now,â Ross said. According to Madison City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl,
the rules allow different voting rules for absentee ballots that prevent voters from changing their minds. âIf you request an absentee ballot and return it to the clerk, you cannot go to the polling place to vote for a different candidate,â WitzelBehl said. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said Madisonâs City Council has appropriated additional money in this yearâs city budget for election administration to account for the cost of the contest. Witzel-Behl added that the city does not have the
figures to accurately say what the total cost of the recall election will be, citing the uncommon nature of the recalls. âWeâve never had an election like this before,â Witzel-Behl said. âWe do not know anything of the consequences or the turnout.â The cost of the election will be paid for mostly by the Contingent Reserve Fund, a fund that sets aside about $1,000,000 per year for contingencies. However,
VOTING, page 4
Crazylegs raises crowd, money for UW Adrianna Viswanatha City Hall Editor Annual race and Madison tradition the Crazylegs Classic drew nearly 20,000 athletes and fundraisers Saturday, despite the gloomy weather. Crazylegs, held every spring in Madison, raises money for University of Wisconsin Athletics, and is put on by the National W Club organization and other contributors. According to the Crazylegs website, three UW enthusiasts, Tom Grantham, Ken Sparks and Rich Backus, came up
with the idea for the race in 1981 to raise money for UW Athletics. The first race was held in 1982 with 676 participants, the website said. National W Club Executive Director Terry Murawski said the race typically draws 20,000 people every year, this year with just under the norm. âI canât say how many participants are students, but we market heavily to the university community,â Murawski said. He said the race for runners is around 8 kilometers long, just more than five miles. According
to the Crazylegs website, the running and wheelchair participants start at Pinckney Street and East Washington Street, while walkers start at State Street and Mifflin. All participants finish near Camp Randall Stadium. UW senior Bailey Ferdler said her participation in Crazylegs was her first race ever, as she just started running this past year. âIt was definitely interesting to say the leas,â Ferdler said. âI never thought I would be doing this ever in my life. It made
CRAZYLEGS, page 5
Crazylegs by the numbers
12,408
Total runners who completed this yearâs event
30
Number of runners over the age of 70
24:00
The time of Tyler Sigl, of Seymour, who finished first in this yearâs race
Megan McCormick The Badger Herald
Runners continue a longtime Madison tradition despite gloomy weather by taking off at the start of this yearâs Crazylegs Classic, raising money for the UW Athletic Department.
Athletic Board approves Ryan INSIDE extension, talks Big Ten policy New conference standards being deliberated in light of Penn State saga Sean Kirkby State Politics Editor The University of Wisconsin Athletic Board approved one-year extensions for UW coaches Friday, including menâs basketball coach Bo Ryan,
as well as deliberated on developing new standards for institutional control of athletics. The UW Athletic Board approved extending Ryanâs contract through May 31, 2017. According to a statement, the Board also approved extending contracts for menâs hockey coach Mike Eaves and womenâs hockey coach Mark Johnson through June 30, 2017. The board approved an extension for womenâs basketball coach Bobbie
Kelsey through May 31, 2017, wrestling coach Barry Davis through May 31, 2015, and menâs and womenâs swimming and diving coach Whitney Hite through June 14, 2013, the statement said. The board also discussed developing a new standard of institutional athletics and the possible role of the Big Ten Conference. Walter Dickey, UW senior associate athletic director, said in the wake of the Penn State sexual assault
âWar on Womenâ backlash hits Capitol Hundreds of protesters turned out against legislation concerning womenâs rights
NEWS | 2
FCC lets Super PACs be...too much
Springing forward
With the rise of PACs, television networks should be held to a higher standard for ads
Check out Herald Sportsâ coverage of the Wisconsin football teamâs 2012 spring game
OPINION | 6
SPORTS | 10
ATHLETIC BOARD, page 5 Š 2012 BADGER HERALD