Spanish slip-ups
Speculations on the 2013 NFL Draft
The trials and errors of studying abroad in Spain
+ SPORTS, page 8
+PAGE TWO
University of Wisconsin-Madison
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dailycardinal.com
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
State, UW leaders respond to surplus By Mara Jezior The daily cardinal
The release of a state audit that revealed the University of Wisconsin System held a balance of over $1 billion at the end of June 2012 has prompted discussion among state legislators, system administrators and campus leaders over the role of tuition dollars and cash reserves. According to an April 18 memo UW System administrators sent to the state’s Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the recommendation for a reserve fund is 25 percent of the sys-
on campus
Hoop, hoop, hooray
Hula hoop performer and artist Gabriella J. Ricci displays her talents on East Campus Mall Monday. + Photo by Grey Satterfield
By Tamar Myers the daily cardinal
The Student Services Finance Committee voted Monday to adopt changes to its standing rules with an amendment that will limit the amount of money student organizations can request in funding. The new rules will limit General Student Service Fund groups’ request to $100,000. This total does not include the maximum $75,000 organizations can request for professional staff and some graduate student positions. Prior to the meeting there were no caps in place to limit GSSF funding. Among other restrictions, the new rules also place limits on how much organizations can spend on travel, events and student hourly positions. Wisconsin Public Interest Research Board Chair Emily Ten
Eyck spoke in open forum, asking SSFC to increase the $75,000 maximum for professional staff and project assistantships. Ten Eyck said the organization’s professional staff are “at the core of the work that we do.” Greater University Tutoring Service Director Robin Matthies also spoke and requested the $60,000 maximum for student hourly positions be raised to $80,000. Matthies said the organization currently spends $90,000 to pay student employees. SSFC members ultimately voted to increase the maximum amount for student hourly positions to $70,000. SSFC Chair Ellie Bruecker said she was “incredibly happy” with the adjustments to the poli-
ssfc page 3
Revelry Arts and Music Festival tickets to remain $5 for UW-Madison students Revelry Arts and Music Festival organizers announced Monday tickets for the event will remain $5 for University of Wisconsin-Madison students, after organizers originally stated ticket prices could increase. Revelry, to take place May 4, will feature artists including Hoodie Allen, Toro Y Moi and Delta Spirit.
Additionally, tickets became available Monday for Madison College students, UW System students, and UW-Madison faculty and staff for $25. Revelry organizers will also sell tickets May 4 at Union South for $10. Tickets are currently available at the Vilas Box office or online with an additional $3.50 fee.
with disappointment and frustration toward the system’s repeated tuition increases over the past six years despite its excess funds. Sara Goldrick-Rab, associate professor of educational policy studies and sociology at UW-Madison, said in an email although it is not uncommon for large university systems to keep “rainy-day funds” to maintain long-term financial security, it is an issue with the UW System’s surplus that
budget page 3
Premilinary approval granted to convert Catholic school into student apartments By Kristen Tracy
SSFC passes cap on GSSF group funding
tem’s gross spending. Despite what appears to be a large surplus, the UW System’s total reserve ratio is approximately 17 percent, based on the UW System’s reported $6 billion operating budget. Also according to the memo, over $420 million of the UW System’s $1 billion surplus came from UW-Madison’s cash reserve, and of that total $100 million came directly from UW-Madison students’ tuition. After the announcement of the surplus April 19, student and faculty leaders reacted
The Daily Cardinal
City officials approved plans Monday to convert a downtown Catholic school into a studentoriented apartment complex Monday and permitted Essen Haus to build an outdoor volleyball court. The proposal to convert Holy Redeemer Catholic School, located at 120 W. Johnson St., into an apartment complex, called Lumin House, triggered opposition from parishioners of the disconnected, adjacent Holy Redeemer Church. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said parishioners and community members attended neighborhood and city meetings throughout the approval process to express their disapproval of the proposal, which he said “in many respects, has torn apart the members of the Redeemer Parish that worship at Holy Redeemer Church.” Holy Redeemer members’ expressed concerns about overcrowding in the area and losing the school with which they have close family and personal ties, as well as worry Lumin House would not share the same tax exemption as Pres House. During Pres House’s development, the state passed a law excusing the owners from paying property taxes because they offer faith-based housing exclusively to University of Wisconsin-Madison students. Lumin House will offer Catholic housing to students, and meeting attendees argued it deserves the same legal status
as Pres House. Attorney Fred Mohs said the law was never meant to become a standard for new developments. “Pres House was not supposed to be a precedent; it was supposed to stand alone and be the only facility that would have this exemption,” he said. “But how naive to believe that real estate developers would not seek the holy grail in real estate ownership.” Still, Verveer said Lumin House meets the law’s standards and will therefore be granted immunity from paying property taxes.
However, Holy Redeemer acknowledged Lumin House residents will enjoy city services, such as public safety protections, and agreed to pay $15,000 annually to the city in recognition of those services. He also said due to non-discrimination laws, Holy Redeemer will not be able to limit Lumin House apartments to Catholic students. The Plan Commission passed the proposal, which will now go before the City Council April 30 for final approval.
housing page 3
Abigail waldo/cardinal file photo
The Holy Redeemer Catholic School, located at 120 W. Johnson St., could become faith-based student housing.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”