Our pick The Cardinal Editorial Board’s recall primary endorsement +OPINION, page 6 University of Wisconsin-Madison
Summer cinema “Django Unchained” is one of many exciting movies set to be released this summer +ARTS, page 5 Complete campus coverage since 1892
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dailycardinal.com
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Selection process for graduation speakers draws criticism By Kelly Kallien The Daily Cardinal
Mark Kauzlarich/Cardinal file Photo
Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk will face off in the Democratic primary Tuesday. The winner will challege Gov. Scott Walker in the June 5 recall election.
Collective bargaining defines Dem. primary By Jack Casey The Daily Cardinal
After a year of political controversy across Wisconsin, Tuesday will mark the first round of elections in an historic gubernatorial recall process. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, the two frontrunners in the Democratic primary, have campaigned across the state, hoping to run against Gov. Scott Walker in a general recall election June 5. Both candidates have similar positions on most state issues,
but differ on their plans for what is likely the most contentious one: restoring collective bargaining for public sector workers. Falk’s staunch stance won her the support and monetary backing of labor unions, while Barrett stayed moderate with a multistep process that garnered him contributions from individual state donors. State Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, and Secretary of State Doug La Follette, the two other candidates in the primary, are running less prominent campaigns.
Collective bargaining has been a focal point in Wisconsin politics since Walker introduced Act 10 in February, a bill that eliminated most public workers’ access to the negotiations. It has also led to a well-heeled campaign on all sides, with donations pouring in from contributors from inside Wisconsin and elsewhere. Political science professor Barry Burden said the primary hinges on two issues: electability and collective bargaining. “It is still about who can win in
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Campaign fundraising Money raised by Gov. Scott Walker and the top two Democratic candidates since Jan. 1, 2011, and the percentage of that money coming from in-state donors.
Graphic by Dylan Moriarty
Since they have only been campaigning for a few months, both Democratic candidates have raised far less money than Gov. Scott Walker, who has spent nearly $21 million since January 2011.
In the weeks leading up to former Yahoo! CEO Carol Bartz’s speech at commencement, senior class officials and the university have disagreed over the process for selecting future commencement speakers. The University Committee, made up of six professors and with the help of senior class officials, selects commencement speakers from a pool of notable UW-Madison alumni and local figures. Senior Class President Steven Olikara said this selection process allows the university to obtain speakers without paying them an honorarium, because speakers want to give back to their alma mater. But according to Olikara, this policy needs to change. He said the university could attract speakers outside of UW alumni if it offered monetary compensation. While Olikara said he recognizes UW has prestigious alumni, he said expanding speaker
options beyond alumni could help attract a wider range of worldrenowned speakers who would bring the university national attention. He added most schools in the Big Ten offer honorarium to commencement speakers, and UW is “falling behind.” “We are in fact, a globally competitive university and we ought to reflect that in graduation activities to create a memorable send off for the graduating class,” Olikara said. But Secretary of the Faculty David Musolf said paying commencement speakers is not part of UW culture, and the university can attract excellent speakers without a monetary incentive. Musolf pointed to Bartz, a UW-Madison alumna, as a prominent individual who will keep ties to the campus community. “We like to have people who have a connection to the state or to the university,” Musolf said. “I say without exception that the people I call and invite are hon-
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Berquam: Mifflin block party safer than last year By Abby Becker The Daily Cardinal
UW-Madison Dean of Students Lori Berquam, who gained viral fame for telling students not to attend the Mifflin Street Block Party, said Monday this year’s party was safer than the last, though she is still concerned about the event. While Berquam jokingly said she followed her own advice and did not attend the party, she said the event was more successful than it was in 2011, despite lingering issues. Berquam said there were reports of sexual assault and many students were taken to detox, but overall, the event was an improvement from last year. “I think it was a safer event and for that I am glad,” she said. While Madison police reported there were 393 arrests as of midnight on May 5, Captain Carl Gloede told the Wisconsin State Journal the unofficial count for arrests totals over 500. Berquam said she was happy to know a number of students did adhere to the rules and hosted legal house parties.
“I do appreciate many students took the advice and direction from police and complied,” Berquam said. “I appreciate the efforts students actually put forth to make it a safer event and take care of each other.
“If the event is going to continue, I want it to continue in a safe way.”
Lori Berquam Dean of Students
As for the future of the block party, Berquam said the city needs to decide how they are going to plan for the event, especially when deciding how to police it. “If the event is going to continue, I want it to continue in a safe way, so that students don’t have to worry about the impact that this will have on their lives,” Berquam said.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”