THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1969 Volume XLIV, Issue 79
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
www.badgerherald.com
Walker to invest $181M in System Gov. proposes boost in education funds to be included in new biennial budget Noah Goetzel State Politics Editor Gov. Scott Walker announced a $129 million investment in public education and an additional $181 million in funding for the University of Wisconsin System would be included in his upcoming budget announcement on Monday.
After ranking 38th out of 41 states with complete data from a 2012 National Assessment of Educational Progress, Walker said in a statement it is time for Wisconsin to improve its education system. The State of Wisconsin has to reward and repeat success while assisting struggling schools to improve, he said. The announcement comes two years after the budget imposed cuts that totalled around $1 billion from state educational institutions. Walker cut $834 million from state K-12 education and $315 million
from the UW System in the 2011-2013 biennial budget. “My goal overall is to tie things based on performance,” Walker said in a press conference Monday. “I didn’t pick schools or districts that were part of this, the report cards did.” Walker’s new budget, which he will unveil Wednesday, proposes a one percent increase in funding to public schools. Rep. Sondy Pope, D-Cross Plains, was not satisfied with this amount of funding for public education after such severe cuts in the last budget cycle.
“I would call it paltry and stingy and miniscule,” Pope said. “He’s giving a nine percent increase to K-8 voucher schools, a 22 percent increase to high school voucher schools and then this paltry sum for all public schools after his 10 percent cut. Ridiculous.” Pope said she thinks Walker and Republican legislators nationwide are attempting to “starve” public education to make the case for privatizing these institutions. She added she feels the same way about the $181 million budget increase
funding Pope desires is not as simple as she makes it out to be. The amount of money the state can invest in public education is dependent on the amount of money the state has at the current time, Mikalsen added. He said neither Wisconsin nor the U.S. economy are doing well right now and increasing spending would only lead to another structural deficit for the state. “The governor and the Legislature are committed to only spending the money
to the UW System and suggested Walker is taking away a “huge chunk,” of funding and then giving back a small amount so he can go into his next election campaign saying he returned funding to education. “It’s very clear Gov. Walker’s priority is not public education,” she said. “He’s paying back the campaign contributors who got him there and kept him safe during the recall.” Mike Mikalsen, spokesperson for Rep. Steve Nass, R–Whitewater, said the issue of adding the degree of
WALKER, page 2
City alder candidates eye primary Downtown area contestants speak on campaign priorities for upcoming election Sarah Eucalano City Hall Editor
Taylor Frechette The Badger Herald
University of Wisconsin students reflected on the relevance of the requirement in a roundtable event.
Student opinion center of event Diversity Committee hears potential improvements to ethnic studies credit Muge Niu Higher Education Editor Students suggested adding a service-based component and more relevant course topics among possible changes to the University of Wisconsin’s ethnic studies requirement at a roundtable event hosted by the student government Monday night. The Associated Students of Madison’s Diversity Committee and the Wisconsin Union Directorate’s Society and Politics branch cosponsored the Ethnic Studies Roundtable Dinner to solicit student feedback on their experiences. The purpose of the event was to gauge students’ opinions on how to better fulfill the mission of the ethnic studies requirement in today’s ever-changing multicultural world, 20 years after the original proposal. Students expressed support for the requirement to include service learning with a greater emphasis on majors and expansion of topic. “I hope participants give honest feedback on how and whether ethnic studies courses change people’s mind about things so that…it will empower the university to realize that we have student feedback and use it to shape our education,” Diversity Committee Chair Mia Akers said. The event kicked off with an overview of the historical context of the ethnic studies requirement at the university and a performance from First Wave Hip Hop and Urban Arts Learning Community.
The ethnic studies requirement first began as a response to various racial issues in the 1980s and stemmed from the idea that students should work to actively counteract these negative forces, Beth Huang, United Council for UW Students vice president, said. “UW-Madison should take a lead role in combating bigotry and racism by instituting the program,” Huang added. The ethnic studies requirement was reviewed in 2002 and again in the 2011 evaluation by the Academic Planning and Analysis Department of the Office of the Provost, she said. The Diversity Committee will synthesize student feedback at next week’s meeting for common themes, committee member Maddy Schmid said. Participants in the roundtable filled out note cards sharing their own experience with the requirement, adding suggestions for reform. Mary Bechtol, a UW senior who attended the event, said it is important to educate students about ethnic issues early in their college career. “I’m a senior and taking an interesting ethnic studies course now,” Bechtol said. “I would have taken more [ethnic studies] classes, but now I’m graduating.” Other students who shared their suggestions at the open mic forum suggested possible improvements of the ethnic studies requirement could include dialogue-
EVENT, page 2
Candidates will face off in Tuesday’s primary race in hopes of moving onto the aldermanic general election on April 2 and gaining a seat on Madison’s City Council. So far in the race, the downtown-area candidates have run their campaigns primarily on development, environmental issues, economic growth and providing a new voice for the community they hope to represent. The District 2 race currently has three candidates: Bryan Post, Dennis Amadeus DeNure and Ledell Zellers. Incumbent Ald. Bridget Maniaci, District 2, will not be seeking re-election. In District 13, incumbent Ald. Sue Ellingson is seeking reelection. Her challengers are Zach Madden and Damon Terrell. The Badger Herald spoke with the candidates about the issues facing their districts, the city of Madison and their goals for reform if elected into office. This content has been edited for length and clarity. Bryan Post, District 2 The Badger Herald: Why do you want to be alder? Bryan Post: I want to help the city of Madison continue to move forward in a progressive and balanced way. I want to continue to grow the city in an environmentally friendly, forward-thinking way. BH: What do you want to accomplish in the next two years? BP: The first priority is redoing Johnson Street in 2014 and making sure it is an environmental success and the business district is as vibrant as we can make
District 13 District 2
Lake Mendota
Madison
it. This is a district that is growing. Development is the most important issue to me. If the district grows then the tax base grows and the city can provide stronger services. BH: What is your favorite place in Madison? BP: The State Capitol building. It is a priceless gem and the tours are great. Ledell Zellers, District 2 BH: Why do you want to be an alder? Ledell Zellers: I love these neighborhoods because we can live more sustainably— walking, biking and catching the bus to get places. I want these areas to be successful. I
Lake Monona
am interested in what makes a city work, what makes a city successful. BH: What do you want to accomplish as alder? LZ: I want these neighborhoods to continue to be wonderful places to live so that all kinds of options really thrive—coops, rentals, owner-occupied houses, Greek life. I want schools that people feel comfortable sending their kids to, fantastic parks and good development. BH: What is your favorite place in Madison? LZ: I love the farmers’ market, the Capitol and State Street— It is why we moved within walking distance of
things like that. Dennis Amadeus deNure, District 2 BH: Why do you want to be an alder? Dennis Amadeus deNure: I just want to promote the museums. My platform is the Madison Museum Mile. Museums do not just preserve history but they celebrate the history this community has. BH: What museums do you want to advocate for? DAD: Madison does not have its own historical museum; I would like to see that happen. There are
PRIMARY, page 2
End for same-day voter INSIDE registration to cost $14M Agencies would have to offer same services to comply with federal law Sean Kirkby Senior reporter Eliminating Election Day registration could cost Wisconsin taxpayers between $13.1 and $14.5 million, nearly three times as much as was originally estimated, according to a report released Monday by state election officials. According to a Government Accountability Board
statement on their report, if the state eliminated Election Day registration, it would no longer be in compliance with federal law and other state agencies would have to offer voter registration services. Last December, the board conducted a preliminary report providing a general overview of what would happen under the policy change, GAB spokesperson Reid Magney said. That report estimated eliminating Election Day registration could cost $5.2 million. Magney said the December report did not take into account the cost
© 2013 BADGER HERALD
other departments would incur because of the services they would have to provide to comply with federal law. According to a statement, while the GAB revised its cost estimation under the change to be $3.9 million, four other state departments, Transportation, Health Services, Children and Families and Workforce Development, would need between an estimated $9.1 million and $10.5 million to meet requirements in the National Voter Registration Act. “Employees of those partner agencies would
REGISTRATION, page 2
Punk-rock ain’t going down swinging
Fall Out Boy reunites to release new album certain to tug at your emo teenage nostalia
ARTSETC | 5
Mueller swings for the fences this season The junior worked out with her older brothers to get stronger in the offseason.
SPORTS | 8