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A HUGE CAT-ASTROPHE (We’re not kitten around right meow) +PAGE TWO University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Appeal filed, stay requested of Act 10 ruling By Adam Wollner The Daily Cardinal
Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen officially asked for a stay and filed for an appeal Tuesday of a Dane County judge’s ruling that struck down certain portions of Act 10, the law that eliminated most collective bargaining rights for many public employees. In a motion requesting the stay the Department of Justice filed with the Dane County Circuit Court, Van Hollen argued Judge Juan Colas’ decision, which declared much of the bill passed by Gov. Scott Walker and his Republican allies last year unconstitutional, would cause confusion for local governments if it went into effect immediately. He added the ruling would likely be overturned by the state’s appeal, which Van Hollen filed with the Madison-based 4th District Court of Appeals hours after the request for a stay. “Act 10 addressed real and significant financial problems faced by local governments,” Van Hollen said in a statement. “It makes no sense to force a return to a broken system before the appellate process is completed.” Last Friday, Colas ruled Act 10’s limits on collective bargaining violated public sector unions’ state and federal constitutional
rights to free speech, free association and equal protection. His decision only applied to local and county government workers, not to those at the state level. Madison Teachers, Inc. initially brought the lawsuit with several other unions. MTI’s attorneys sent a charged letter to Van Hollen Tuesday asking if he agrees with Walker’s accusation that Colas is a “liberal activist judge,” a term Walker used in a statement following the ruling. The lawyers said that if he does not share Walker’s opinion he should clarify his position, but if he believes Colas is biased he should ask for his recusal from the case. University of WisconsinMadison political science professor Donald Downs said the court will likely grant Van Hollen’s request for a stay because the basis of many of Colas’ arguments, especially his classification of collective bargaining as a constitutional right, are up for discussion. “The constitutional foundations are certainly open to different interpretations,” Downs said. “This is certainly a debatable issue.” If the court stays the decision, Downs said Act 10 would go completely back into effect until the appeals court rules on the case.
Abigail Waldo/the daily cardinal
Protesters gather at Library Mall Tuesday to protest alleged animal mistreatment during UW-Madison research. Participants held signs and pictures of the cats involved in the study.
PETA protests alleged animal cruelty in UW-Madison study By Sam Cusick The Daily Cardinal
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals visited the University of WisconsinMadison Tuesday to protest the university’s alleged mistreatment of animals during research. The protest group congregated at Library Mall at noon and grew to approximately 40 people who displayed signs and pictures of the cats involved in the research to alert students of the alleged animal cruelty. PETA initially filed com-
plaints with federal agencies last Wednesday, accusing UW-Madison of harming animals during research by drilling holes into their skulls and intentionally deafening the cats. Following PETA’s complaint, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Institutes of Health launched a formal investigation into the allegations, according to a statement released by PETA. PETA spokesperson Jeremy Beckham said supporters rallied Tuesday to inform
UW-Madison students about the allegations as well as convince them to sign a petition to end the research. “What these experimenters are doing to cats in this laboratory would be criminal abuse if it weren’t happening in a laboratory,” Beckham said. “And just because they have Ph.D.’s and wear lab coats doesn’t make their acts of cruelty any less deplorable.” A group of research students
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City passes legislation allowing cabs to cruise State Street during peak bar hours By Abby Becker The Daily Cardinal
Stephanie Daher/the daily cardinal
Madison’s Common Council passed legistlation allowing cabs to cruise on State Street for one block from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.
After hours of discussion, Madison’s city council approved legislation to allow taxi drivers to cruise on State Street from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. According to the legislation, taxis can now drive on State Street from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. but can only cruise along the street with the intention to stop and pick up passengers for one block before they must turn off again. Associated Students of Madison representative David Gardner said the student government’s top priority this year is safety, and students should be able to easily locate a cab when they are out on State Street late at night.
“We need to ensure that our students feel safe when they’re going to class, out on weekends or on State Street, they need to feel protected and welcome,” Gardner said. Due to recent budget cuts, University of WisconsinMadison Transportation Services cut funding to SAFEcab, a nighttime cab service, in addition to altering several Metro Transit bus routes including the late night 81 route. Associated Students of Madison Legislative Affairs Chair Dan Statter said the issue should be a “common sense decision” for city council. “There’s no negative in ensuring that there are a plethora of responsible options available for students
to get home safely,” Statter said. Mayor Paul Soglin said the city needed to consider all the characteristics of State Street, such as the roles of local businesses and pedestrian-friendly streets instead of only resident and student safety. Director of Planning & Community & Economic Development Steve Cover said more vehicles on State Street could detract from its unique character. “I think by adding more vehicles and more traffic on the street, you are going to make it a less desirable street,” Cover said. But taxi drivers said they play a part in increasing safety
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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.”