FLOATIN’ A CONCRETE BOAT
Move Over WoW
The UW-Madison Concrete Canoe Team takes on the challenge of designing a buoyant canoe made of concrete.
There’s a new open-world role playing game in town. Review of “Reckoning,” +ARTS, page 4
+SCIENCE, page 7
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dailycardinal.com
Thursday, February 9, 2012
UW students arrested for sexual assault By Abby Becker
CONNECTION
THE CHINA
University of Wisconsin-Madison
The Daily Cardinal
Story By Alex DiTullio
Photo Courtesy of Uw communications
The UW delegation to China visited the country in November, where they met with educational leaders, business and government officials.
While the UW aims to strengthen ties with China, the communist nation has been criticized for its treatment of Tibet. A small, but vocal Tibetan population in Madison questions the partnership. This three-part series explores the issue.
As UW-Madison students mobilize to protest the Chinese government’s alleged human right’s violations in Tibet, university officials plan to open an office in the communist nation that is widely considered one of the world’s most emerging countries. Kerry Hill, the Communications Coordinator for the Division of International Studies, said the office set to open in Shanghai this June will provide the university with a way to facilitate American business, enhance faculty collaboration and create new opportunities for students to
study abroad in China. But while administrators are optimistic about the benefits of an increased UW presence in China, some members of Students for a Free Tibet, an organization dedicated to promoting Tibetan independence, have serious reservations. Some members said the university is on the road to compromising its ethical mission for the sake of preserving a free and democratic academic environment. In the past year, 19 Tibetans have lit themselves on fire and widespread protests have engulfed the small mountainous region to oppose alleged human rights violations from the Chinese government. “Coming from a Tibetan’s perspective … and any person who would believe in human rights, I would strongly urge [the UW] to reconsider why they would want relations with a country that is known for atrocities,” said a Tibetan UW-Madison student who wished to remain anonymous. However, not all members of Students for a Free Tibet share
this student’s opinion. UW-Madison student Tenzin Dechen said he approves of the office as long as its purpose is purely academic and eases the process for students to study abroad in China. While the program may foster study abroad opportunities in China for most students, UW-Madison student Tenzin Kesang said she is skeptical if UW’s foot in China would benefit Tibetans who wish to study there. Since she has Tibetan friends who allege the Chinese government followed them while they were studying in China,
china page 3
Vinehout to run in potential Walker recall By Tyler Nickerson The Daily Cardinal
After weeks of speculation, Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, officially announced Wednesday she will run against Gov. Scott Walker in the potential recall election expected to take place in late spring or summer. The two-term state Senator joins former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, who announced shortly following the filing of petition signatures on Jan. 17, as the only two to officially declare entry into the already widely publicized race. “We need a governor who will lead with self restraint; who will be clear and open about her intentions; who will respect Wisconsin’s traditions of good government;
who supports and takes pride in our schools; who values the skills workers bring to their jobs,” said Vinehout in her announcement. Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin Mike Tate said
Vinehout’s experience in health care, education and as a dairy farmer helps her understand challenges facing Wisconsin.
UW-Madison Police Department arrested three UW-Madison male students Wednesday for an alleged second-degree sexual assault occurring in September. Two of the suspects were reportedly receiving full tuition from a prestigious university scholarship. The UWPD arrested students Brian K. Allen, 18 of Menomonee Falls; Prentice A. Williams, 18 of Milwaukee; and Bruce H. Beckley, 18 of Milwaukee for alleged seconddegree sexual assault for an incident in Witte Hall, 615 W. Johnson St., last September, according to Sgt. Aaron Chapin. Wisconsin State law defines second degree sexual assault as sexual contact or intercourse with threat of force or without consent. Penalties for the crime include fines, prison time or both.
Allen, Williams and Beckley are UW-Madison freshmen living in Witte Hall, according to a friend of all three suspects. Chapin said the suspects knew the female victim, who does not attend UW-Madison. According to Chapin, the suspects are in Dane County Jail and follow-up continues in an open investigation. Allen and Williams, as part of the Pre-College Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence, were receiving a fulltuition scholarship. PEOPLE is a pre-college program designed for students of color and low-income students who are typically the first in their family to attend college. Once admitted to UW-Madison, students receive a full academic scholarship as long as
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Task force talks tuition, UW structure By Anna Duffin The Daily Cardinal
Amid discussions of who should set tuition in Wisconsin and how the UW System should be structured, UW-Madison Chancellor David Ward told members of a state task force Wednesday there is no ‘one size fits all’ model for flexibilities needed across campuses system-wide. Ward said individual institutions would benefit from having “university councils” to facilitate communication between the campus community, the Board of Regents and the state. The councils, which Ward suggested include members of the Board of Regents and campus alumni, would be able to understand and communicate the needs of the insti-
tutions. The councils would not have the authority to set tuition. “The key to change in higher education is that we have mutual respect in every facet of the system,” Ward said. “We’re all in this together.” While members of the council had different opinions as to who should set tuition at institutions, Ward said raising tuition is a “zero sum game,” because as tuition increases, state support typically decreases. Ward said to increase accountability between the system and the state, the institutions need to determine how they impact communities in the state and what the state gives
councils page 3
vinehout page 3
Teacher’s union endorses Falk The state’s largest teacher’s union, representing 98,000 Wisconsin teachers and Education Support Professionals, endorsed former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk for governor Wednesday. “Despite being a challenging year for Wisconsin educators, we have remained focused on what is most important – our students,” said 2010 Wisconsin Teacher of
the Year Leah Luke. “However, we are ready for a change. Kathleen Falk shares our values and vision for a better tomorrow for all Wisconsin students.” The endorsement comes after the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Falk, if elected governor, agreed to veto the next state budget if it does not restore public workers’ collective bargaining rights.
bEN KOEPPEN/CaRDINAL fiLE photo
UW-Madison Chancellor David Ward said UW campuses would benefit from having their own advisory boards.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”