from literature to #twitterature University of Wisconsin-Madison
Queen of the ice: +ARTS, page 4
Brianna Decker is in the running to win the coveted Patty Kazmaier award
+ SPORTS, page 8
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dailycardinal.com
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
‘KONY’ viral video impacts campus branch By Sam Morgan The Daily Cardinal
As controversy over the “KONY 2012” viral video continues, the founder of UW-Madison’s Invisible Children chapter said Tuesday that criticism aimed at the group at large should not be attributed to the local branch. The national non-profit organization released an online video last week to raise awareness of African warlord Joseph Kony, whose “Lord’s Resistance Army” kidnapped children and forced them to fight against the Ugandan government. The video spread quickly through Facebook and Twitter, and has since garnered over 75 million views. But the video’s tactics, as well as Invisible Children’s financing and factuality, soon came under attack, including criticism from human
rights activists who question the group’s support for military intervention and for the Ugandan government, that is also accused of human rights violations. Others criticize Invisible Children for sending only 37 percent of its donations directly to Central African relief programs. Because the rest is spent on travel expenses, staff salaries and video production, critics allege the nonprofit group has been deceiving donors who think their money goes directly to Africa. But Marissa Mora, founder of UW-Madison’s Invisible Children group, said all money donated to her chapter goes directly to Central Africa. According to Mora, last semester’s donations went to the
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Stephanie Daher/the daily cardinal
Democrats delayed a vote on a bill co-authored by Sen. Frank Lasee, R-De Pere, that would alter landlord-tenant relations.
Senate Dems. delay tenant bill vote By Adam Wollner The Daily Cardinal
State Senate Democrats delayed a final vote on a bill Tuesday that limits certain restrictions local governments can place on landlords and alters relations between landlords and student renters in Madison. The bill would allow landlords to deny housing to potential renters based on conviction records, credit and employment history, and income level. Among other provisions, landlords could also show a property at any point during the lease, rather than during a designated viewing period, and charge more than a month’s rent for a security deposit. Democrats attempted to add sev-
eral amendments to the bill, such as allowing tenants more time to move out if evicted and preventing police from evicting tenants on observed holidays. However, Republicans rejected every amendment. On the Senate floor, state Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, called the legislation “the anti-tenant bill” because it strips away provisions that protect those who are at a disadvantage when dealing with landlords, especially students. “Anybody that has a college in or near their district should think very clearly about what this bill does,” Larson said. “It really stacks the bill against tenants, against particularly students,
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On Campus
On dailycardinal.com A meeting held by a planning group for the Mifflin Street Block Party to gain student feedback on changes to the upcoming event saw a low student turnout Tuesday. + Photo by Wil Gibb
Potential recalls may be delayed The Government Accountability Board will finish certifying recall petitions against Gov. Scott Walker, Lieutenant Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch and four state senators by Friday, March 30, according to a request for a second extension filed with the Dane County Circuit Court Tuesday. In the formal request, the GAB concluded it would not have reviewed enough of the petitions by the March 19 deadline to rule on the necessity of recall elections. Extending the deadline back to March 30 would push the primary elections to May 8 and the general recall elections to June 5.
The GAB’s proposed March 30 deadline extension was determined in conjunctions with both the recall-organizing committees and recall-targeted politicians. While all petitions have been filed, the GAB has not yet started checking for duplicate signatures, and does not believe it will have checked for enough to make a decision about recall elections unless given more time for review. Additionally, the request pointed out problems with potential elections following the March 19 deadline. According to state laws, recall elections must be held on the
Tuesday six weeks following the board’s ruling. If a ruling was made on March 19, the general recall elections would be held the Tuesday following Memorial Day, presenting problems for preparations, many of which are completed in the days immediately preceding the election date. The federal holiday would give municipal clerks “significant difficulties, if not impossibilities” in adequately preparing for elections, according to the GAB. Judge Richard Niess will consider the request at a Wednesday hearing. —Ben Siegel
No abortion coverage from federal healthcare By Alison Bauter The Daily Cardinal
The Assembly passed a bill prohibiting the coverage of abortion under the federal healthcare law in Wisconsin following heated debate Tuesday. Bolstered by a Planned Parenthood-sponsored rally that drew hundreds Tuesday morning, many democratic representatives wore pink shirts as they argued fiercely against a Republicanbacked bill they said infringed on private healthcare decisions. Republicans strongly defended their bill, which they said prevents taxpayer dollars from funding abortions through President Obama’s federal healthcare law, or “Patient Protection and Affordable Healthcare Act.”
“Do the people of Wisconsin approve of the possibility of their tax dollars being used to kill babies?” asked Rep. Chris Kapenga, R-Delafield, adding he wished the bill went further and fully banned abortion. Democrats countered that the bill oversteps Republicans’ policy of minimum government intervention. “Don’t impose your own personal beliefs on me and my family,” said Rep. Chris Taylor, D-Madison. Taylor argued not having insurance when a woman feels she must seek an abortion “can make or break a family financially.” She also proposed amendments to mandate, rather than simply allow, insurance providers
to cover abortions in cases of rape, incest or when the mother’s life would be endangered by continuing her pregnancy. “I can’t understand this impulse… to control women’s bodies, to control women’s lives,” said Rep. Kelda Roys, D-Madison. “This bill will endanger the health and the autonomy of women… for the most base of political reasons.” Although Democrats, including Roys, disparaged the bill as an extension of the “national war on women,” self-identified prolife legislator Rep. Joan Ballweg, R-Markesan, disagreed, calling for civil discourse between the two sides. “It’s not a war,” Ballweg said. “It’s what we believe whole-heartedly.”
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”