Breathe Deeply
One point at a time
Catch Michigan folk group Breathe Owl Breathe at The Project Lodge Friday
Despite a poor shooting performance from the field, the Badgers rode free throws to a victory over Minnesota +SPORTS, page 8
+ARTS, page 5 University of Wisconsin-Madison
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dailycardinal.com
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
State supreme court votes to close some meetings to public By Adam Wollner The Daily Cardinal
The Wisconsin state Supreme Court voted Monday to close its discussions over administrative and procedural matters to the public, reversing an open meeting policy that had been in place for over a decade. In a sharply divided decision, court’s the three liberalleaning justices voted to keep administrative discussions open, while the four conservative-leaning justices voted to
end the practice. Under the new policy, a majority vote from the court is now required on to open conferences on most administrative matters to the public, except for meetings to hear proposals on changing court policies. The state’s highest court became the first in the nation to open its administrative conferences to the public in 1999, when former Justice William
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$2.5 million renovations open at College, Wendt libraries By Carolyn Gasiorowski The Daily Cardinal
College Library and Wendt Commons Library, debuted $2.5 million in renovations designed to centralize technological resources for students Tuesday. The Wisconsin Collaboratory for Enhanced Learning Centers are made up of tables equipped with laptops and television monitors that allow students to display documents. The centers also have tutors
and teaching assistants available to help students, as well as software to provide immediate feedback on homework. Wendt, an engineering library, currently offers tutors and TAs for engineering courses, while College Library offers pre-calculus and calculus assistance. “The things that we are doing focus on individualized learning. Our hope was that by bringing formal instruction into a
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Stephanie Daher/the daily cardinal
The city council passed the nuisance party ordinance Tuesday, which attempts to curb the number of house parties in Madison and will be in effect by the Mifflin Street Block Party.
City ordinance targets outof-control house parties By Abby Becker The Daily Cardinal
After four revisions and an ongoing debate since July, the city unanimously approved an ordinance to help reduce the number of out-of-control house parties Monday. Under the ordinance, a party is classified as a nuisance if it violates one of 17 criteria including noise complaints, underage drinking or fire-code
regulations. Only Madison Police Department captains can decide whether or not an event is a nuisance party. If classified as a nuisance party, tenants may be fined in addition to attending mandatory meetings with their landlord and police. After the third violation, residents may receive citations or fines. Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, said the combination of alco-
Understanding the Ordinance:
Stephanie Daher/the daily cardinal
Students study in the newly renovated top floor of Wendt Commons Library Tuesday.
A party is classified as a nuisance party if it violates one of 17 criteria including excessive noise or underage drinking. Only a Madison Police Department police captain can determine whether or not an event is a “nuisance party.” Tenants who violate this ordinance will be fined and are required to meet with their landlord and police. Common Council will review the ordinance every six months using information regarding the number of house parties broken up, the average and maximum fines given, the number of citations and the number of repeat offenders. After two years, the city council will vote whether or not to keep the ordinance in place.
hol, breaking one of the criteria and essentially any event that goes “above and beyond your standard house party” would lead to a nuisance party classification. City Alcohol Policy Coordinator Mark Woulf said the ordinance gives the police department another tool in keeping house parties under control. “If the party-goers in that situation do not disperse when a nuisance party is determined, then they can start citing people,” Woulf said. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said significant improvements made to the ordinance since its first draft include taking away eviction as a possible punishment and removing any additional fines a tenant would owe after violating the ordinance. “My comfort level has increased substantially from the original proposal,” Verveer said. “This ordinance mandates communication and education and face-to-face meetings.” Included in the ordinance are regular surveys of how well police are implementing the ordinance and will include information about house parties broken up by police, the number of nuisance party citations and the amount of fines
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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.”