Badgers become NFL rookies Wisconsin’s Frederick, Ball, Wagner all selected in 2013 NFL Draft SPORTS | 10
THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1969 Volume XLIV, Issue 114
Thursday, April 29, 2013
www.badgerherald.com
Gov. reconsiders UW System funding Noah Goetzel State Politics Editor After promising to maintain the UW System’s $181 million budget request last week, Gov. Scott Walker backed off that plan Thursday, proposing to redirect most of the money to other educational needs. The governor said much of the proposed funding for UW schools could now go to public schools and toward a
systemwide tuition freeze, according to the Associated Press. Walker initially advocated for a two-year student tuition freeze, as did the bipartisan Legislature and students statewide after the Legislative Fiscal Bureau uncovered approximately $650 million in available System assets. For further scrutiny, Joint Legislative Audit Committee’s co-chairs Sen. Rob Cowles, R-Green Bay,
and Rep. Samantha Kerkman, R-Randall, said in a statement last week the nonpartisan Legislative Audit Bureau will carefully review UW System’s balances. UW System Board of Regents President Brent Smith said officials will wait to make any judgments on potential fluctuations in the state’s proposed funding until Walker and the Legislature formalize their changes. Smith and UW System
said. “There’s also been a misperception that this money is available to us — that we’re sitting on all this money and we can pay it out whenever we want.” About $400 million is restricted federal aid, grants and other monies, Smith said. He added another approximately $400 million is “clearly committed” to funding plans at the system’s various colleges and universities.
spokesperson David Giroux also said these reserve funds represent only a quarter of the system’s spending, which is a rate lower than many other systems and universities nationwide. However, Smith said the System’s reserves have risen by more than $200 million in the past two years due to repeated 5.5 percent tuition hikes. “It’s been a big increase in the last two years,” he
Giroux said the UW System should make its financial reserves data more visible to the public. “We have to do a better job of explaining this and presenting it in a more transparent way,” Giroux said. Rep. Stephen Nass, R-Whitewater, said the UW System should freeze tuition rates for the next four years, according to his spokesperson
WALKER, page 2
City campaigns against fossil fuel Mayor Paul Soglin encourages divestment of local, state funds in unclean energy companies Allie Johnson City Life Editor
That shit cray More than 17,000 participants ran the “CrazyLegs Classic,” a University of Wisconsin Athletics sponsored five-kilometer fun-run. Andy Fate The Badger Herald
The City of Madison’s Mayor Paul Soglin became one of 11 mayors across the country to actively discourage the investment of city funds in fossil fuels after joining a nationwide campaign Friday. According to a statement, Soglin joined others to launch the city’s divestment campaign in an effort to discourage cities and states from investing in fossil fuels and the companies that produce them. The campaign is part of a coordinated effort between the international climate campaign 350.org and the mayor’s Innovation Network, the statement said. Soglin’s spokesperson Katie Crawley said the mayor decided to join the campaign because the city has already been working toward
Porchlight opens east side location Allie Johnson City Life Editor A city homeless advocacy organization officially opened a new shelter, which focuses on aiding individuals coping with addiction, on Madison’s east side on Thursday. The new Porchlight Inc. facility, located at 4006 Nakoosa Trail, is a safe haven designed to provide temporary affordable housing and connect people to the resources they need, Beatrice Hadidian, the development director for Porchlight, said. The shelter has been housing individuals since late last year, but held its official grand opening last week, she said. “The shelter was part of a four-year campaign to really focus on providing permanent housing and supportive services for chronically homeless men and women who are struggling with mental illness and addiction,” Hadidan said. “It provides a positive supportive environment.” Unlike the other facilities throughout the city operated by Porchlight, this shelter is more for individuals than families, Hadidian said. The shelter has 48 housing units total for single adults, she said. There are 14 units for people in need of a temporary space to stay and where people can take the first step in getting the services they need, she said. There are an additional 34 units that are low-income
housing for people who are chronically homeless, Hadidian said. These units are geared toward people who have been in and out of shelters for years, often because they cannot afford the rent in Madison, she said. Hadidian added 18 of these units are specifically for a transitional recovery program for people struggling with drug and alcohol addictions. The program connects participants with valuable resources, she said. “We give people the tools and resources they need to actually make their recovery and be successful,” Hadidian said. Although there are only 18 units available for the program, most people graduate in less than two years, Hadidian said. The program is able to serve about 30 people every year, she said. The additional 16 efficiencies are permanent affordable housing available for an average of $300 a month, Hadidian said. “There is a huge need for affordable housing,” Hadidian said. “It is the right movement toward decreasing homelessness.” Hadidian said opening the shelter was a community effort. The city provided the land for the shelter at an affordable cost because they realized this was something that was needed for affordable housing and supportive
PORCHLIGHT, page 4
divestment in the industry. The city does not currently invest in any fossil fuel companies, she said. “We are embracing sustainable approaches for the economy and for the community,” Crawley said. “[Soglin] understands the impact of climate change and understands the importance of everyone doing their part.” In addition to being good for the environment, Crawley said divestment has a financial payoff as well. A study by the Aperio Group, a financial advisory firm, found the financial risk of divestment is around 0.01 percent, the statement said. Divestment also encourages investment in sustainable sources of energy, the statement said. “[Divestment in fossil fuels] can lead to sustainable jobs
FOSSIL FUEL, page 2
INSIDE Madison’s Fr3shest Dance Crew Ghanaian-born dancer featured on MTV’s “MADE” finds home with hip-hop.
ARTS | 8
BioHouse to bridge classes, social life in new residence A new learning community focused on biology majors is slated to open in 2014. Andy Fate The Badger Herald
A State Street redevelopment project could force out popular downtown restaurants such as Husnus, Buraka and Roast Public House, if passed.
State St. restaurants plan for possible displacement Allie Johnson City Life Editor A newly proposed mixeduse building is slated to displace several popular State Street businesses with student off-campus housing, office and commercial space. The proposal from Mullins Group and Core Campus Chicago is for a 12-story building,
tentatively called The Hub, with more than 200 apartments, retail and office space and 150 to 200 aboveground parking spaces, Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said. The developers plan to demolish the University Inn at 441 N. Frances St., an apartment building at 431 N. Frances St., a commercial building at 529 State St. and a large surface parking lot
© 2013 BADGER HERALD
to make way for the new building, he said. The new building would also displace the businesses currently occupying the desired space, including Husnu’s, a Turkish restaurant, Kabul, an Afghani and Mediterranean restaurant, and the recently-opened Roast Public House, Verveer
STATE STREET, page 4
NEWS | 2
Mifflin party is a privilege, not a right Violence, sexual assaults at past block parties have forced city to make common sense decision about event’s future.
OPINION | 5