Undun does it well
O Christmas Beers...
A preview of the season’s best brews +PAGE TWO University of Wisconsin-Madison
The Roots’ latest album inspires praise +ARTS, page 6 Complete campus coverage since 1892
l
dailycardinal.com
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Walker implies recall workers are paid By Tyler Nickerson The Daily Cardinal
Groups central to the recall effort of Gov. Scott Walker are denying the governor’s claim that some petition circulators are being paid for their work. “I’ve assumed all along that between activists and paid circulators, if they paid enough people they’d ultimately be able to get that number,” Walker said in an interview with Channel 3000.
Shoaib atlaf/the daily cardinal
Memorial Union Reinvestment Project Manager Wendy von Below told the Union Council new plans for a proposed student and theater lounge would reduce the addition’s size by more than 35 percent.
Council passes plans for Memorial Union changes By Corinne Burgermeister The Daily Cardinal
Members of the Union Council approved renovation plans for the Memorial Union Tuesday, which include reducing the size of the new student and theater lounge, as well as modifications to the building’s basement and first floor. The group also approved controversial plans to remove a large oak tree next to the Union after an environmental impact assessment determined the tree to be unhealthy. In order to move forward with the construction process, the design will be presented to the UW Board of Regents Thursday. If the BOR approves the design, it will advance to a city committee for approval after which a state committee will make the final decision.
MUR Student Manager Colin Plunkett said if the board does not grant permission to begin construction, members would revisit renovation plans at a meeting in February, which would delay the project. However, he said he is confident the BOR will approve the design. Using student feedback from an October Associated Students of Madison referendum, the Memorial Union Reinvestment project agreed to adjust the proposed Union Theater lobby to better blend with the original building and to reduce its square footage by more than 35 percent. Plunkett said most of the changes, although minimal, were to the Hoofers area on the basement level.
The next steps for Union renovation: UW System Approval The Board of Regents will vote on the design Thursday. If the board does not grant permission to begin construction, members would revisit renovation plans at a meeting in February, which would delay the project.
City Approval The Joint Southeast Campus Committee already passed the updated design. The Madison Plan Commission will vote on the plan Dec. 19.
State Approval
“The kind of enthusiasm we’ve seen from people, I really don’t think you have to pay anybody.” Alex Hanna co-president Teachers Assistants Association
In response to Walker’s statements, United Wisconsin and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, the two groups lead-
ing the recall effort, said they are not paying anyone except the groups’ supervisory staff. Teachers Assistants Association Co-President Alex Hanna also doubts Walker’s assertions. The TAA has been very active in the recall effort. “The kind of enthusiasm we’ve seen from people, I really don’t think you have to pay anybody,” Hanna said. “It sounds silly.” State Rep. Chris Taylor, D-Madison, is also unaware of people paying petition gatherers. “I can tell you from the party’s perspective we are focused on making sure our 24,000 volunteers are doing everything right and are abiding all the laws and collecting signatures properly,” Taylor told Channel 3000. During the summer Senate recall elections, the Republican Party of Wisconsin hired a Colorado company to bring in petition circulators.
A capella group ‘MadHatters’ receives invitation to White House By Sam Cusick The Daily Cardinal
The White House will welcome a group of UW-Madison’s own when the MadHatters, a men’s a capella group, performs at a holiday reception for guests of the president and first lady Wednesday, Dec. 7. The White House first made contact with the MadHatters to request sample music as representatives from Wisconsin. Later, the group was asked to fly to Washington D.C. and perform. “After we got the confirma-
tion on it, it was just thrilling.” MadHatters Music Director Miles Comiskey said. “I don’t know if there is some Badger in the White House that is looking out for us, that asked us to apply initially, but we are excited.” The group consists of 15 singers and a vocal percussionist, all male. Their performances contain everything from oldies to current Top 40 hits. A fixture on campus since their inception in 1997, the UW-Madison MadHatters
madhatters page 3
The Building Commission will also vote on the design in December. This is the final approval needed for the project to move forward.
union page 3
UW student’s funeral held in La Crosse Friends and family attended funeral services for Zach Zenk in La Crosse Tuesday after the UW-Madison senior’s death early last week. A memorial service was held at La Crosse’s Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home late Tuesday morning, and friends and family were invited to call at the funeral home from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the ceremony. Zenk, 23, was found dead in
his home Tuesday, Nov. 29, after going out drinking with friends earlier in the week, sister Rebecca Zenk said Monday. The death is under investigations, the Madison Police Department ZENK said, and investigators are awaiting results from toxicology tests.
Meanwhile, the Dane County Medical Examiner’s office said investigations into the cause of death should be completed within the next three months. UW-Madison officials expressed their condolences for the death, and continue to encourage students to contact the Division of Student Life should they need counseling services.
danny marchewka/cardinal File photo
The White House invited the MadHatters, a 15-member a capella group, to perform Dec. 7 at a holiday reception.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”