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Wednesday, October 28, 2015
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Activist to run for circuit court seat
Lawmakers approve state hiring, firing alterations By Andrew Bahl THE DAILY CARDINAL
The state Assembly approved a bill Tuesday that would initiate major reforms to the state’s civil service system, along with other measures to eliminate the state treasurer position and relax concealed carry restrictions for knives. Civil service reform passes after lengthy debate After almost four hours of deliberation, the Assembly moved 57-35 to approve a bill that would change how the state hires and fires public servants. The proposal, authored by state Rep. Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna, and state Sen. Roger Roth, R-Appleton, would speed up the hiring process for positions in state agencies, remove civil service exams in favor of a resume-based system of awarding positions and make it clearer which offenses are fireable.
By Negassi Tesfamichael THE DAILY CARDINAL
Recent updates remove a requirement that applicants disclose some prior criminal offenses and would set aside $6 million for merit bonuses to state employees. ANDREW BAHL/THE DAILY CARDINAL Proponents of the bill argued it included common sense The state Assembly approved a series of bills Tuesday, including reforms to the system and would one that would change how the state hires and fires employees. increase the state’s abilities to hire talented applicants. your best friends serving the state.” Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said “The truth is [civil service The argument turned heated Tuesday it is not likely to be taken reform] accelerates the hiring at points, with Jorgensen accusing up by his body until January. process so Wisconsin can com- Steineke of “running away” from pete with the private sector for the the debate. Assembly Speaker Treasurer amendment passes best employees,” Steineke said. Robin Vos, R-Rochester, hit back The body also approved the Democrats argue the bill would that Democrats weren’t “using first iteration of a constitutional create corruption and allege it would facts” in the debate and accused amendment to eliminate the state open the floodgates to Republican the minority party of not giving treasurer position. associates being appointed to pub- proper notice on the amendments The treasurer has lost much of lic service positions. they offered, all of which failed. its responsibility in recent years and “By and large the civil service The bill now moves to the state the bill’s author state Rep. Michael system has delivered the best,” Senate where it has a more uncer- Schraa, R-Oshkosh, argued that the said state Rep. Andy Jorgensen, tain future. Steineke has said he position is unnecessary. D-Milton. “Today you’re scrapping is working with the Senate to “It’s a do-nothing job,” Schraa said. the whole thing … Instead of the pass the bill in its current form, best serving the state, you want although Senate Majority Leader lawmakers page 2
Community activist and attorney Rev. Everett Mitchell now aims to bring restorative justice approaches to the Dane County Circuit Court, after launching a campaign for the fourth branch seat Tuesday. “Given the disparities we’ve had in our communities, I’ve realized that if we are going to have any systemic change, we need to have people involved in the systemic change itself,” Mitchell said. Mitchell currently works as the Director of Community Relations at UW-Madison, and also serves as a pastor at Christ the Solid Rock Baptist Church in Madison. Mitchell previously worked as a domestic abuse prosecutor for Dane County, which he said informed him of the various issues people of color face in the courts. “The issue was a mix of race and poverty,” Mitchell said. “If people were of color and poor, they
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Latest Campus Master Plan nears final stages By Peter Coutu THE DAILY CARDINAL
The Facilities Planning & Management project team unveiled the newest stage of UW-Madison’s Campus Master Plan during its third public open house Tuesday. The Campus Master Plan is a collective effort between Facilities Planning & Management, planning consultants and the univer-
sity community to establish a process of orderly growth for the campus. The plan is updated every 10 years, with the most recent being finalized in 2005. The current master plan is now in month 10 of the full 24-month planning period. The broad goals for the new Campus Master Plan are focused on making the landscape of campus more intentionally connected
while better utilizing green spaces and parking locations. In this stage of the project, there are still multiple concept designs for each of the several main areas of campus, which are separated into seven areas: Observatory Hill, the Central Superblock, South Campus, University Avenue,
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MUSIC HALL
‘Le nozze di Figaro’
The University Opera performed “The Marriage of Figaro,” a Mozart-composed 18th century comic opera, for the final time Tuesday night. + Photo by Michael R. Anderson
COURTESY OF UW COMMUNICATIONS
Many areas of campus, including Observatory Hill, will be affected by the 2015 Campus Master Plan. Proposals include creating a large demonstration wetland and reducing water runoff on the hill.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”