Thursday, October 31, 2013 - The Daily Cardinal

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Madison welcomes of Montreal

One-on-one with lead singer Kevin Barnes +ARTS, page 6

University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Bring ‘em out Men’s basketball pummels Platteville in its first exhibition game of the season +SPORTS, page 8 l

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Thursday, October 31, 2013

Political tides ebb in 20th session of ASM Representatives see less partisan divisions in Council Story by Tamar Myers

graphic by haley henschel

USSA at forefront of internal budget talks By Emily Gerber the daily cardinal

The University of Wisconsin’s Associated Students of Madison approved the internal budget Wednesday. In addition to debating the “green fund,” the council voted to eliminate funding for United States Student Association membership. Allotment for USSA membership for the 2015 fiscal year had a proposed budget of $10,000. The USSA, an education and advocacy group, aims to give all students a voice in issues pertaining to students on both a local and national level, according to its website. The controversy behind ASM

funding the USSA stemmed from issues such as the association’s link to various partisan issues, including abortion and military involvement. Student Judiciary Chair Nicholas Checker motioned to zero the fund, stating that the association’s intended purpose has not been upheld. “For an organization that is supposed to be about inclusivity, this group has somehow managed to insult such a myriad of students it is unbelievable,” Checker said. “In general, I just don’t understand how we could give even a penny to [this] orga-

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The last few sessions of Associated Students of Madison Student Council have been characterized by bitter debates over a host of issues, according to many representatives. Members have battled over hiring a speaker for the senior class, ASM constitution changes and funding travel to conferences. Often these arguments were split across partisan lines. The political climate now in the 20th session, many representatives say, has the least animosity in years. “It’s a lot more tame ... things are a little bit less contentious,” Student Council representative and former Vice Chair Maria Giannopoulos said. ASM Chair David Gardner said he is focused on removing partisan factions from student council. “This year we’ve seen that there are no political divisions. People have learned to set aside political allegiances and slates,” Gardner said. At an internal budget hearing Wednesday, Gardner said the conversation was much more rational than in years past, even throughout disagreements. One dispute at the hearing, which has come up for several years, was whether the internal budget should include membership dues to the United States Student Association, a student education and advocacy group. Some ASM members criticized

the group as too liberal, citing examples such as the group’s position on immigration reform. Gi a n n o p o u l o s said although disagreements did occur in the way they had among past political groups, the divisions were less clearcut than in years past and involved individuals took stances that may not have been expected.

“Having a sense of political allegiance is absolutely counterproductive to serving students.” David Gardner chair Associated Students of Madison

Gardner said he believes the lack of division is a reaction to issues that have divided the council in previous years. “We really firmly decided that having a sense of political allegiance is absolutely counterproductive to serving students,” Gardner said. In terms of the political atmosphere as a whole, Giannopoulos said, the council this year is much more moderate. “People are a little bit more closer to the middle but still on the left,” Giannopoulos said. “I think it’s kind of like a mirror effect. I’m closer to the middle but

on the right, other people are closer to the middle but on the left.” Some members said many representatives on Student Council may still be getting used to the process. Giannopoulos said some of the more extreme council members from previous years are not in council anymore. The 18th session of Student Council, from 2011-’12, was “dominated by the progressively minded folks,” former Chair Andrew Bulovsky said. Allie Gardner, the chair of the 18th session, said many representatives were focused on activism and social justice work, but this did not necessarily mean they leaned right or left on the political spectrum. Nineteenth session, from 2012’13, by many accounts was dominated by a faction calling itself the “Good Old Boys,” which Bulovsky organized and Giannopoulos also identified with. “My own faction … had about two-thirds of Student Council,” Bulovsky said. “We all ran together, we ran the campaign and we mobilized and we took most of the seats in Student Council. And it made for a more conservative, more moderate, more rational year of ASM.” Giannopoulos said the group’s name stemmed from a derogatory remark made by a former Student Council representative

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Lecture and haunted tour shed light on Science Hall’s 125-year history The University of WisconsinMadison’s Science Hall celebrated its 125th anniversary with a series of events Wednesday, including a haunted tour and a public lecture about the building’s history. The 125th anniversary marks the year the building was re-opened to students and faculty after it burned down in 1884. Though construction on a new Science Hall was completed in 1887, people did not move in and start using it again until January 1888. At the lecture, University Archives Director David Null described some of the various rumors that exist about the building, including popular ghost stories.

Null said rumors about the building started because of the building’s general appearance and because students used cadavers in the building during the 1950s for dissections. However, Null said though many rumors circulate about the building being haunted, there is not much evidence to prove it. Although many people believe Frank Lloyd Wright was involved with the planning or building of Science Hall, Null also clarified Wright was only a student in the building. Null said though there have been various attempts to renovate

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DREW GILMORE/the daily cardinal

Campus community members toured Science Hall Wednesday as part of its 125th anniversary celebration. The building is protected as a National Historic Landmark.

“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”


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