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Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Michelle Obama pushes female, youth activism By Sara Lieburn THE DAILY CARDINAL
Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, visited Madison
Monday and spoke to voters about the important role of women in the 2008 election. She and Barack made several stops in Wisconsin Monday to encourage
Obama promises focus on student loans, energy Michelle Obama discussed the importance of young people in the upcoming election during a teleconference Monday. She said young people have played a major role in how far her husband’s campaign has come and grassroots actions have been crucial for Sen. Barack Obama. “[Young voters] are the true movement for change but the work is not over yet,” she said. This coming election will determine the course of an entire generation, according to Obama, and young voters need to express their values and priorities on Election Day. There are so many choices made in the White House that affect young voters and the Obama campaign has plans for many of those issues, Obama said.
She said the campaign focuses on issues from student loans and Pell Grants to developing renewable resources to achieve energy independence and ending the war in Iraq responsibly. According to Obama, it is not accidental that there are a lot of young people working for her husband’s campaign and many students have found a voice through it because they know what is at stake. “The next president will be inheriting crises here and abroad, which is why [the campaign] is focusing on young people’s voices,” Obama said. She said young people need to register to vote and become informed voters no matter which candidate they support. —Hannah McClung
female, grassroots-level activism leading up to the 2008 election. Michelle Obama said the way for women and their communities to create change is to work on electing Barack as president. “We have within our reach an opportunity to rebuild our world at some level … the first thing we must do is get Barack to the White House,” Obama said, adding, “While we love the fellas, women can get it done.” Obama also drew attention to the role of young people, calling them “the backbone of the movement for change.” She argued that her husband can relate to the needs of the middle class, contrary to his competitor, Republican presidential candidate John McCain. “The issues that are at stake in this election aren’t just political issues, they’re personal, and I know Barack gets it because he’s been there,” Obama said. Other speakers at the rally included Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., and UW-Madison senior
CHARLIE BAKER/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, spoke in Madison Monday on the role of women in the election. Vickie Pietrus. Each speaker emphasized the potential difference women could make in the November election. They said making such a great impact begins simply with individual voter registration and discussing the election with neighbors. Cieslewicz said U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., plays an important role in election. “It was Hillary Clinton who stepped to the microphone [at the
Democratic National Convention] and very graciously reunited our party behind Barack Obama,” Cieslewicz said. Pietrus, who works for the Obama campaign registering voters, knocking on doors and hosting events, introduced Michelle as “a mentor for young people.” “I’m inspired by her sincere interest in supporting women like me, who are working hard against the odds to achieve their dreams,” Pietrus said.
Doyle speaks at Stem Cell Summit By Megan Orear THE DAILY CARDINAL
KYLE BURSAW/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Colored flags adorn Bascom Hill to raise awareness about racial and ethnic diversity within the UW-Madison student body.
Gov. Jim Doyle highlighted Wisconsin’s important role in the stem-cell industry during his keynote speech at the World Stem Cell Summit in Madison Monday. Doyle said he was honored Wisconsin was chosen to host the summit and proud of the state’s early and prominent role in stem-cell research. “In working together to move science forward, we are advancing our most fundamental understanding of life sciences, and we are working to bring breakthroughs from the labora-
tories to the patients,” Doyle said. He said there has been a political battle in Wisconsin over the ethical aspect of stem cells, but it never hindered the progress made in the state. According to Doyle, Wisconsin values research and considers the advancement of science a high priority. “The battle, in political terms, is really over in this state,” Doyle said. “The people of Wisconsin chose science over religion and politics.” Researchers greatly consider the moral elements of stem-cell research and must remind people of how
carefully decisions are made, according to Doyle. Doyle said while Wisconsin has made important advancements in the stem-cell industry, it has never been about winning a competition against other states. He said it is more important to advance science overall, and that breakthroughs in Wisconsin could lead to advances throughout the country. “Whether there’s a winner or loser, Wisconsin is going to be a major factor in stem-cell research for many, many doyle page 3
UW to look beyond Plan 2008 at day-long Diversity Forum
UWPD, housing officials say elevator problems not uncommon
By Rory Linnane
THE DAILY CARDINAL
THE DAILY CARDINAL
UW-Madison faculty and students will attend the ninth annual all-day Diversity Forum at the Memorial Union Tuesday. In 1998, the university attempted to improve diversity on campus with the creation of a 10-year plan, “Plan 2008: Educational Quality Through Racial/Ethnic Diversity.” The program’s goal included increasing diversity within the UW-Madison community and lessening the achievement gap by 2008. During the Diversity Forum, students and faculty will ana-
lyze the successes and failures of the plan, as well as discuss how to move forward, with the forum’s theme, “Beyond Plans and Promises: Active Leadership for the Future.” University Communications spokesperson John Lucas said this year’s forum is one of the most interesting forums the campus has had in a long time. “They’ve been well-produced and very interesting, but this one has multi-focus,” Lucas said. In addition to focusing on moving beyond Plan 2008, this diversity page 3
By Kelsey Gunderson After three UW-Madison students were caught in a Sellery Hall elevator Sunday night, university officials said dorm elevator breakdowns are a frequent problem on campus. According to University of Wisconsin Police Sgt. Jason Whitney, the students were in the elevator for approximately 30 minutes before the Madison Fire Department arrived to let them out. “Stuck elevators are a re-occurring problem in all buildings across campus, not just the dorms,” Whitney said. “The weird thing about this was that it took so long.” According to Paul Evans, director
of University Housing, housing staff cannot try to remove students from the elevators for safety reasons. He said students could be stuck for a length of time because the fire department officials are the only ones who can open the elevator doors. Whitney said removing the students from the elevators might have been delayed because the fire department was responding to another call. According to Jim Franzone, Sellery Hall area coordinator, dorm elevators are generally safe as long as residents do not destroy elevator equipment. “When [the elevators] do malfunction, the most common reason is because residents try to fit too many people in at once,” Franzone said.
“The most unsafe thing a resident can do in a situation like this is to try to pry open the doors … the elevator is not going to fall, it’s not like the movies.” Evans said situations like the Sellery elevator incident are not unusual or hazardous. “This wasn’t a maintenance problem, the elevators were actually doing what they were supposed to do,” Evans said. “The elevator stopped because a device called an ‘over speed trip’ triggered and stopped it from a high speed.” Although Evans said malfunctions are inevitable because residents in the dorms frequently use elevators, he stressed that students need not worry about their maintenance.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”