SEPTEMBER NINTH: A day to remember in music history +ARTS, page 5 University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Monday, September 9, 2013
Obama’s ‘threshold of proof’ Federal Wisconsin legislators face decision on intervention in Syria
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Story by Jack Casey
fter President Barack Obama surprised analysts by deferring his decision to intervene in Syria to a vote from Congress, federal representatives and senators nationwide have blurred party lines and undertaken individual efforts to collect information from intelligence reports, experts and their constituents to decide whether they will vote to authorize a military intervention in the civil war-wracked country. In Wisconsin, all legislators have either taken a position against an intervention or remain undecided, pending the extensive intelligence briefings and congressional hearings scheduled this week about the ramifications surrounding recent chemical weapon use in Syria. Obama first proposed military intervention after it was made clear that sarin gas had been used on a large number of Syrian citizens living in a Damascus suburb. Undecided members of the House will also wait for a poten-
tial late in the week final decision from the Senate, whose Foreign Relations Committee narrowly approved a trimmed down version of Obama’s original request for intervention. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., sits on the 17-person Senate Foreign Relations Committee and was one of the seven votes against the plan for intervention. He cited “unanswered questions” and a voting process that was “inappropriately rushed” as his reasons for voting against the proposal, which would allow military intervention for a 60-day period with the possibility of one 30-day extension. It would also forbid the introduction of ground troops in the area. “It is the job of President Obama and members of his administration to demonstrate why military action in Syria is in our national security interest,” Johnson said in a Sept. 4 statement following his vote. “Until I cast the final vote, I will keep an open mind as I continue to seek answers to my questions.”
graphic by haley henschel
Wisconsin’s other senator, Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., has yet to take a side on the debate, but called Obama’s decision to engage Congress in the decision “the right one” in a statement. However, she added the decision before both branches of government is filled
with “no good options.” Baldwin added the U.S. should talk and cooperate with the international community to establish a “precedent” for the “global atrocity” that was Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s alleged use of chemical gas in Syria.
The fear of “no good options” and the call for international discussions has also extended to Wisconsin’s House delegation. Rep. Ron Kind, D-Wis., who remains undecided on interven-
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A diverse array of motivations Shanan Peters studies propel 2013 Ironman participants the data of evolution
Professor Profile:
By Melissa Howison the daily cardinal
India, China and parts of the daily cardinal Europe during his career doing University of Wisconsin- fieldwork and geologic research. Madison Professor Shanan Peters said his main interPeters says the only way we can est is in compiling the data have any hope tof determining sets we can use to test hypothwhat the future holds is by ques- esis about the evolution of tioning past changes Earth and life. that have taken place This month, on Earth. Peter will start work Peters is a paleoon a project called biologist who looks at GeoDeepDive, a collong-term evolution in laborative project he our Earth’s systems. is working on with He focuses on a few other researchers in different areas, prithe country he thinks marily compiling large could change the way PETERS data sets that tell us people and researchsomething about the ers use science in their history of life and environment. everyday lives. “I like being able to conGeoDeepDive will use vey my excitement for how “machine learning approachthe world works to people that es” and “cognitive computing” haven’t thought about it before,” to generate scientific informaPeters said. profile page 4 He has traveled to Egypt,
By Megan Stoebig
Almost 2,900 individuals traveled across the country and abroad to Madison Saturday to compete in the annual
Ironman triathlon, which involves swimming 2.4 miles, biking 112 miles and running a full marathon. Athletes participating Saturday, each motivated by
erika rabas/the daily cardinal
Brandon Engle from Naperville, Ill. finished the Ironman triathlon in 10 hours and 43 minutes, placing 119th overall.
something different, dove into Lake Monona at 7 a.m., marking the beginning of what for some is the ultimate test of human endurance. Among the triathletes was University of WisconsinMadison alumna Kristin Korevek, who earned her ninth Ironman medal. Korevek got her start as an Ironman regular in 2003, just after graduating with a degree in marketing and management. During her time as a student, Korevek was a member of the triathlon team and said one of the reasons she continues competing is because many of her former teammates competed as well. Korevek finished the race in 11 hours and three minutes and said she plans to take next year off, but hopes to compete again sometime in the future. “I just love it. I love the challenge, and I love the training,”
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“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”