University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Weekend, February 25-28, 2016
The view from the Hornets’ nest
‘Rape’ is not a casual word
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Regents rack up campaign donations By Andrew Bahl THE DAILY CARDINAL
Current members of the UW System Board of Regents have given more than $245,000 to political candidates over the past 25 years, according to campaign finance documents. The issue has come to light after it was reported that one of the most recent appointments to the 18-member board was a campaign contributor to Gov. Scott Walker. According to the campaign finance database run by the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, Tracey Klein gave over $7,000 to Walker in the 2014 recall election and over $16,000 total to Republican state politics over the past 20 years. Walker’s other recent appointment, Bryan Steil, has given $1,305 to Republicans in past elections. But Klein and Steil are not alone. The 13 members of the board appointed by Walker have given $124,000 in the past 25 years, with the overwhelming majority of that money going to Republican candidates.
TOMMY YONASH/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO
UW System Board of Regents have donated over $245,000 to political candidates, including Gov. Scott Walker. One regent, José Delgado, founder of the American Transmission Company, has given over $14,000 specifically to Walker’s campaign and $60,000 overall to Republican candidates.
Another board member, Michael M. Grebe, has donated over $8,500 to campaigns and family has given even more to state Republicans. His father, Michael W. Grebe, has donated over $100,000
to Republican candidates. Grebe’s confirmation in 2015 was contentious, with Democrats alleging the appointment was because of his close association with Walker.
“Unfortunately, putting more of Gov. Walker’s close, personal friends and campaign supporters on the Board of Regents will only weaken its authority,” said state Sen. Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse. Matt Rothschild, head of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, said the appointees are effectively partisan due to the amount of money given to candidates. “It is a joke that these appointees are non-partisan when they’re giving thousands and thousands of dollars to candidates,” Rothschild said. Board members have also given to liberal candidates. Three members who were appointed under former Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle have given almost $100,000 to mostly Democratic candidates in the past 25 years. The bulk of that money has come from one member: Mark Bradley, who has given roughly $80,000 to Democratic candidates. Bradley, an attorney with the law firm Ruder and Ware in Wausau,
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2015 Campus Master Plan consultants focus on accessibility, sustainability By Nina Bertelsen THE DAILY CARDINAL
UW-Madison students, faculty and community members gathered Wednesday at the Gordon Dining and Event Center to hear updates on the 2015 Campus Master Plan and ask questions of lead consultants. While the Master Plan is not definite, its concepts will ensure the entire campus remains aesthetically united and easily accessible for commuters over the next 10 years, according to members of the planning committee. Tommy Chitwood, the student representative on the Campus Planning Committee and Master Planning Steering Committee, said as a student he is most excited for the “sustainability aspect and idea of optimizing pedestrian space.” The committee proposed an elevated crossing above the Linden and Charter intersection. Building
on the idea of sustainability and “green space,” this pedestrian bridge would alleviate traffic concerns during transitional periods between classes and incorporate the landscape. Stan Szwalek, head landscape consultant from Hoerr Schaudt, said he has plans to preserve and protect the university’s diverse and iconic natural spaces with “social, working, natural and active landscapes.” Social landscapes in the heart of campus will need continual maintenance, as they are part of the walking tour for prospective students and enhance the overall campus look, Szwalek explained. These updates could include adding a new South Quad between Park and Mills streets, additional green space by the horse barns and a new
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CONG GAO/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Dean of Students Lori Berquam speaks at a town hall Tuesday to address the anti-Semitic incident.
Town hall meets in response to recent campus anti-Semitic incident By Jessica Dorsky THE DAILY CARDINAL
Six panelists from the university held a town hall meeting Tuesday to address a Jan. 26 incident where photos of Hitler’s face and swastikas were taped to a student’s door in Sellery Hall. Three weeks after the inci-
dent, photos of the door began circulating Feb. 17 on Facebook, and spread quickly around the Madison community as well as the country. University administration sent an email the following day to the entire student body to inform them of the incident.
Vice Provost and Dean of Students Lori Berquam said she wanted to address four main areas of concern, including how the university labeled the incident, how quickly the incident was responded to, the severity of
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Madison Police Department rules northside death of 24-year-old woman second homicide of the year The Madison Police Department has detained a suspect in the domestic homicide of a 24-year-old woman, according to an incident report. The woman was found dead in her Calypso
Road apartment Tuesday after her family asked officers to check on her welfare. The detained suspect is the victim’s 39-year-old boyfriend. MPD has not released the victim or the
suspect’s identity. According to the report, the victim’s name and cause of death will be released at an “appropriate time” by the Dane County Medical Examiner. The suspect’s identity
will be released if he is arrested. The homicide comes less than a month after the murder of Caroline Nosal outside a Metro Market on the east side. This is the second homicide
of 2016. There were 11 in 2015, which was the highest number since 2008. MPD also noted in the report that there is no ongoing threat to the community.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”