‘Girls’ doesn’t run the world this season Connections to reality haunt many viewers of the HBO hit, but opinions differ greatly. ARTS | 8
THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1969 Volume XLIV, Issue 96
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
www.badgerherald.com
Candidates set for race 2 downtown residents prepared to face off in April 2 election for alder seat on City Council Sarah Eucalano City Hall Editor The Madison community is gearing up for the approaching District 2 election that will take place in the beginning of April to choose an alder who will represent the area in the City Council. The current incumbent, Bridget Maniaci, will not seek re-election. Voters will have their choice April 2 between Ledell Zellers, an active member of the local neighborhood association, or Bryan Post, a University of Wisconsin graduate and Democratic Party of Wisconsin employee. Each candidate said he or she wants to listen to and work closely with the members of District 2’s diverse community, which includes homeowners, renters, students, young professionals and members of sororities, fraternities and co-ops. Both candidates agree it is important to maintain the district’s unique character, but they each have their own perspective on how to do so. Zellers said she is against the controversial Iota Court development, which is slated to be built in the Langdon
neighborhood. She said the student-oriented apartment building is too massive and does not fit in with the neighborhood’s character. Post said he supports the Iota Court development because it is energy efficient and allows for more affordable housing, something he would like to see more of in District 2. He said in 15 or 20 years, residents in the area will look back and see that the development enhanced the neighborhood’s character. Zellers, who has served on various government boards and is an active member of the local neighborhood association, said she would advocate to improve safety measures, make the district more walkable, create affordable housing and see the current character of the Langdon neighborhood respected. She said as alder, she will listen to and inform her constituents. “That’s what I think is really important about an alder,” she said. “Providing information and listening to the residents of the district.” She said she would like to see the Saferide program reinstated, and she plans to help launch two housing-
RACE, page 2
The Associated Press
Even though large artists such as Jay-Z and Kendrick Lamar are confirmed to perform in London, it is currently unknown who will perform in Madison May 13.
Details on Yahoo! fest unclear Headliners not known yet; Timberlake, Ocean possible for other locations Julia Skulstad Senior Campus Editor Madison is among the 21 cities that will host an international music tour this spring. The tour is set to come to Madison May 13. Although lineups are not officially announced, the tour, called “Yahoo! on the Road,” will feature artists such as Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar, J. Cole, Macklemore and Ryan
Lewis, with special guests Justin Timberlake, Frank Ocean and Trey Songz, Billboard reported Thursday last week. Yahoo!’s official tour website states the threemonth tour starting in May will encompass 32 performers, ten comedians and one yodeler, reaching audiences spanning New York, Chicago, Paris and London, to name a few. Other details about the Madison event were not
available. The festival is a somewhat unexpected addition to Madison’s music scene, which will include another new music event on May 4. Frank Productions’ spokesperson Charlie Goldstone said “Yahoo! on the Road” could either be a major festival or one very small stop within the larger tour. Associated Students of Madison Vice Chair
Maria Giannopoulos, who is among the student leaders involved with the alternative Mifflin Block Party music festival Revelry to take place May 4, said she thinks Yahoo! could have picked a much better day to come to Madison. The event might draw some people, Giannopoulos said, but because May 13 is the
TOUR, page 2
Craft beer sales increase in state Sarah Eucalano City Hall Editor
Andy Fate The Badger Herald
New Glarus, one of Wisconsin’s most popular craft brewing companies, has increased in popularity because young adults are starting to care more about their quality of alcohol, according to the founder.
The Brewers Association released new figures on the growth of craft breweries in the United States Wednesday, which showed a growth in Wisconsin’s local breweries. According to a Brewers Association statement, there has been a net increase of 366 breweries in the country during 2012, which brings the total to 2,403 — the highest it has been since the 1880s. Craft brew sales were up 6.5 percent in 2012, compared to overall beer sales in the United States, which are up 0.9 percent, the statement said. Deb Carey, the president and founder of New Glarus Brewing Company, attributes
the rise in craft beer’s popularity to the increasing amount of people who are becoming more aware of the quality of its foods and drinks. “It’s not just beer,” she said. “It’s coffee, chocolate, cheese, ethnic food — good beer is part of that movement.” The New Glarus Brewing Company began in 1993 and has been growing in the double digits ever since, Carey said. She said the company has made more than 60 different beers and beer brands, but it usually keeps a rotation of 20 beers each year. She said the company’s growth has led to an $11 million expansion, which will be finished next year.
BEER, page 4
Voucher system likely for local public schools INSIDE Polo Rocha Senior Legislative Editor A top Madison school district official joined a few other school districts Tuesday in talking about how Gov. Scott Walker’s proposed voucher school expansion would affect them. Rep. Sondy Pope, D-Cross Plains, held a conference call that included officials from Madison, Superior, West Allis-West Milwaukee and Kenosha. They all face an expansion of voucher schools in their districts, which means taxpayers would give families vouchers to attend private schools. A majority
of Senate Republicans disagree with Walker’s proposal as written, so there will likely be some changes to it. Madison Metropolitan School District Chief of Staff Steve Harvey said voucher schools do not face the same standards and often do not provide better results. “Our concerns are really around accountability to the public and also that vouchers do not necessarily raise achievement,” Harvey said. As voucher costs would be taken from public school budgets, Harvey said that was also a major concern. MMSD is still working on estimating how
much the expansion would impact taxpayers and the district’s budget, he said. Walker’s plan calls for an expansion of voucher schools in nine districts, adding to the existing programs in Racine and Milwaukee. Those school districts were targeted because they have more than 4,000 students and have at least two schools that scored a D or F in the school report cards that rolled out last year. But the report cards were also a target of criticism from the school officials, as they noted the report cards are new and were not meant to be used right away. Brian Vissers, a
WAWM School District spokesperson, said voucher schools would not be subject to the same report cards, which was originally intended. “If voucher schools had the same accountability standards as public education, then maybe we could understand a little better, but that’s not the case,” Kenosha Superintendent Michele Hancock said. In an email to The Badger Herald, School Choice Wisconsin President Jim Bender said voucher schools will be included eventually, after they implement a statewide student information program.
© 2013 BADGER HERALD
The public largely does not understand the voucher school proposal, or that there needs to be a strong grassroots effort, Pope said. In a Marquette University Law School statewide poll released Tuesday, 49 percent of those polled said they did not know enough or do not know what they think of voucher schools. While 27 percent support voucher schools, 24 percent do not. In Milwaukee, where voucher schools have been in place for about 20 years, 34 percent support voucher schools and 21 percent do not.
VOUCHER, page 4
The Capitol saga continues New “emergency” rules could affect assembly in state house
NEWS | 4
ASM? Shmaysmess-mem Students might not care about their own government, but campus organizations stand to gain influence by becoming involved in student government
OPINION | 5