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Monday, September 24, 2012
Students fight Congo mineral conflict at UW By Taylor Harvey The Daily Cardinal
When former University of Wisconsin-Madison student Tosha Songolo visited her family in the Eastern Congo for a week in 2010, she entered a country “clearly torn apart” by the deadliest conflict the world has seen since World War II. “A lot of the houses didn’t have strong foundations and it was kind of chaotic,” Songolo, whose Congolese family was forced to move numerous times to escape the violence, said. “Even going places, my relatives would be apprehensive about letting me go.” Today in the Democratic Republic of Congo, minerals harvested from mines controlled by rebel groups cause severe turmoil within the nation. Six million people have died since violence began in 1996, and hundreds of thousands of women have been raped, according to UW-Madison Conflict-Free
Campus Initiative campus organizer Katy Johnson. But Johnson said U.S. college students, more than any other demographic, fuel the deadly war by consuming electronics, such as cell phones and computers, which contain these conflict minerals gathered in Congo. “We, without meaning to, play a role in this conflict,” Johnson said. “We are the ones who support these rebel-controlled mines.” Johnson led an informative session Friday to announce CFCI’s plan to join the 100 other U.S. universities in creating student movements that push university administration to pass resolutions urging companies to produce conflict-free products. “UW-Madison has such a legacy of being this progressive, politically active campus,” Johnson said. “This is an incredible opportunity
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Madison voted top college football city Badger fans have always claimed Madison is the best place for college football, but now it is official. A USA Today reader survey named Madison America’s best college football town on Friday, based on over 50,000 votes. Madison beat out Blacksburg, Va., home of Virginia Tech, for the title. A late surge in voting made Columbus, Ohio, home of Big Ten rival Ohio State University, the contest’s third-place finisher. Other towns among the top finishers included Athens, Ga., Columbus, S.C. and South
Bend, Ind. Readers voted for their favorite college football town from a list of 15 finalists nominated by five sportswriters and broadcasters. University of WisconsinMadison sophomore Nathan Graetz said he was not surprised by the high ranking the city of Madison received. “We’ve got a lot of spirit here,” Graetz said. “Even on the Big Ten Network, the broadcasters are always talking about how the Madison student section is one of the most enthusiastic of any university.”
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The President criticized his opponent Mitt Romney and the GOP’s message of limited government involvement in the economy at a rally Saturday in Milwaukee.
Obama speaks in Milwaukee, makes appeal to middle class By Andrew Haffner The Daily Cardinal
President Barack Obama appeared before around 18,000 people at the Summerfest grounds in Milwaukee Saturday to drum up support and make the case that he deserves four more years in the Oval Office. The President seemed relaxed on stage, joking about sampling some of the state’s famous bratwurst. Obama, a Chicago Bears fan, received loud applause after referencing the recent BearsGreen Bay Packers game, saying no matter what the score, “we are not Bears fans first or Packers fans first, we are Americans first.” Obama referred to unity regularily in the speech, but he also tried
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also to look out for one another.” In response to Obama’s visit, Republicans said the President’s message was full of empty rhetoric and his appearance is proof Democrats are worried they will lose the state. While the last time Wisconsin voted for a Republican candidate was Ronald Reagan in the ’80s, recent polls suggest a close race in the state. “They can either elect the same people who got us into this fiscal mess or look to proven leaders who will provide a plan for economic recovery,” U.S. Senate candidate Tommy Thompson said in a statement Saturday. To view the full speech, visit dailycardinal.com.
Police eject 91 students from football game By Abby Becker The Daily Cardinal
UW-Madison students participate in numerous traditions on game day in Madison, from “Jump Around” to the fifth quarter.
to appeal directly to middle class voters. The President repeatedly touted his own party’s eagerness to assist working class families by raising taxes for those making over $250,000 and keeping taxes low for working class families. “In this country, hard work should pay off,” Obama said. “Everyone should get a shot.” Obama framed the upcoming election as a turning point for the United States, claiming the choice is larger than just between two candidates. He said it is a choice between two different paths for America. “Their philosophy is that you’re on your own,” Obama said. “I believe we need to take responsibility for ourselves, but
If the student section looked empty at Saturday’s game, it may not have been because of the early 11 a.m. kick-off time. University of WisconsinMadison Police Department officers supplied extra officers to monitor the student section during the Wisconsin v. UTEP game on Saturday due to increased seating complaints from students over the past two games, according to UWPD Sgt. Brent Gruber. Gruber said students have complained about not being able to sit in the section designated on their ticket because their seats have already been filled by the time they get to the stands.
UWPD ejected 91 University the student section and fill Sections of Wisconsin-Madison P, O, N, M, L and K on a students from the game first come, first served Saturday, which is up basis without regard to from the past two games. the section, row or seat Officers ejected 49 stunumber marked on their dents from the Utah State tickets. Number of game and 20 students UW-Madison sophstudents ejected from from the game against omore Lauren Peterson UTEP game. Northern Iowa. said not only did an offiExtra officers on duty cial direct her to sit in during the game checked her designated section, Number of tickets and made sure which was already full, students students sat in the section but also the assigned ejected from marked on their ticket, seat on her ticket. Utah State according to Gruber. A Another change game. majority of the ejections students noted at at the game were for peothe game was that ple sitting in a section other than officers closed off Section K what was marked on their ticket. game page 3 Traditionally, students file into
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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.”