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THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1969 Volume XLIII, Issue 71
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
www.badgerherald.com
Sexual assault allegations surface UW investigation reveals Chadima reportedly forced contact on student Jackie Allen Campus Life Editor University of Wisconsin officials released a report Tuesday night detailing an incident in which John Chadima, former senior associate athletic director, allegedly sexually assaulted a male Athletic Department student employee during the football team’s trip to
the Rose Bowl. The 30 page report, completed by a four-person independent review panel assembled by interim Chancellor David Ward, details an interview with a male student, “John Doe,” in which he described the alleged sexual assault that led to Chadima’s resignation Jan. 6. According to the report, Chadima hosted a party the night of Dec. 30, 2011 for Athletic Department staff and student employees, some of whom were under the age of 21. Alcohol was present. Later that night,
Chadima asked Doe to continue drinking with him. Doe alleges Chadima removed his belt and placed his hand inside his pants on his genitals. Chadima allegedly then asked “What are you going to do about it?” and threatened to fire the student. Doe brought his allegations to his immediate superior at around 3:15 a.m. Though he detailed the incident, he said he did not want to disrupt preparations for the Rose Bowl. Several more people were told in the ensuing hours, but
it was not until the crew returned to Madison that police and university officials were alerted. In response to the report, Chadima said in a statement released earlier in the day he was “deeply saddened by the contents of this review.” He said the report was not reflective of his lifestyle, but added he is taking steps to correct problems with alcohol. “I make no excuses and have come to the realization that over the past few months, alcohol has controlled and consumed my life,” Chadima said in the
Walker bags recall funds
They found a series of text messages from his phone sent to a student employee the same night of the sexual assault allegation, demanding the student come to Chadima’s hotel room and threatening to fire him if he did not comply. “This has been a tragic and deeply disturbing experience for John Doe, his fellow student employees and the staff in the Athletic Department,” the report said. “What has been alleged is not only a sexual assault but also a
CHADIMA, page 4
ACC proposal draws debate Grassroots student movement to modify ASM constitution faces student response
Gov. raises $4.5M in campaign contributions from supporters, mainly out-of-state donors reforms inspired people to contribute to the campaign. State Legislative Editor “Walker’s message of Gov. Scott Walker’s moving Wisconsin forward campaign announced continues to resonate with Tuesday it has raised more voters,” Matthews said in the than $4.5 million in recall statement. “These donations funding throughout the will allow us to fight last five weeks, including back against this baseless millions in contributions recall and ensure Walker can continue to lay the from out-of-state donors. foundation A statement for a more released by successful spokesperson “In normal Wisconsin Ciara keep Matthews said circumstances, no and government there were more than $10,000 working on 21,443 total can be contributed the side of contributions. 16,406 to a campaign, but taxpayers.” The donations were the recall elections statement $50 or less, don’t have that also said representing 76.5 percent limit.” the Walker campaign of the overall number of Mike McCabe finished the contributions. Wisconsin Democracy quarter with a combined Sixty-one Campaign total of more percent than $2.6 The statement said million in cash on hand. The Wisconsinites should note campaign has raised more the grassroots aspect of than $12 million since Jan. 1. Mike McCabe, executive the donations and said the success of Walker’s director of the Wisconsin
statement. “I will take full responsibility for my lack of judgment and actions that evening.” The report added no other interviews suggested an abuse of authority by Chadima prior to the sexual assault allegation. Other student employees reportedly described him as friendly and highly respected. UW’s Division of Information Technology staff also examined records contained in Chadima’s office computer and university-issued cell phone at the panel’s request.
Katie Caron Higher Education Editor
Mike Kujak
Megan McCormick The Badger Herald file photo
Gov. Scott Walker faces a possible recall election in the coming months, but has snagged millions in aid from donors who reside and work outside of Wisconsin. So far, 61 percent of all contributions have come from out of state, whereas typically about 10 percent of support to politicians come from outsiders. Democracy Campaign, said although it is normal for politicians to release statements showing a credible amount of donations coming from small donations throughout the state, it is unusual to see the amount of out-of-state donations over the last year. “What is unusual about the out-of-state donations is the size of the biggest donations,” McCabe said. “In normal circumstances, no
more than $10,000 can be contributed to a campaign, but the recall elections don’t have that limit. In this case, Walker had four donors each donate $250,000, totaling $1 million. He’s getting donations 25 times [more than] the normal law.” McCabe said normally about 10 percent of donations come from out of state. He said the state
WALKER, page 2
After a student grassroots coalition unveiled plans to reconstruct the student government’s constitution this week, members of the University of Wisconsin community have provided a mixed reaction to the announcement, beginning a dialogue that will likely continue throughout the semester. During the group’s Monday kickoff, some of the 13 members of the Associated Students of Madison Constitutional Committee presented on their constitution, which they said aims to make ASM more representative and effective. ACC Chair Alex Brousseau, a UW law student as well as the Badger Herald Editorial Board chair, said the general response so far has been mixed and that it’s too early to say how people will be coming down on the proposed document.
“So far I think it’s been a mixed bag, but everyone is definitely very curious about it,” Brousseau said. “It’s clear from the meeting people want to be involved and that’s great.” The constitution includes an executive branch with a president, vice president and cabinet of directors, a senate as the legislative branch and a judicial branch, which will remain mostly unchanged. “There has been some deadlock and some inconsistency in our current constitution,” Sarah Neibart, an ACC Greek representative who is also a current Student Services Finance Committee member, said Monday. “With this, we want to be more effective in serving students and not caught up in our internal bickering.” Brousseau said the constitution as it stands is a baseline with which to begin and ACC will hold
ACC, page 4
Obama: Income inequality puts responsibility on rich State of the Union address tailors focus to financial crisis, economic options Mike Kujak State Legislative Editor President Barack Obama delivered his State of the Union address Tuesday night, emphasizing his plans for an economic revival and attacking income inequality. While Obama opened the speech with foreign policy issues like the death of Osama bin Laden and ending the Iraq War, the majority of the speech focused on his economic agenda, consisting of education, energy and manufacturing. “Think about the America The Associated Press within our reach,” Obama President Barack Obama addresses the nation Tuesday evening during the final State of the Union address of his term. While Obama continued to reassure the said. “A country that leads country of his leadership, the Republican Party of Wisconsin responded to the speech by saying the president would have to defend countless failed promises. the world in educating its © 2012 BADGER HERALD
people. An America that attracts a new generation of high-tech manufacturing and high-paying jobs. A future where we’re in control of our own energy, and our security and prosperity aren’t so tied to unstable parts of the world. An economy built to last, where hard work pays off, and responsibility is rewarded.” Obama also spoke about the financial crisis’ relationship with Wall Street and announced plans to establish a financial crimes unit of highlytrained investigators to crack down on large-scale fraud. He also asked the attorney general to create a special unit of federal prosecutors and leading state attorneys general to expand investigations into the abusive lending and packaging of risky mortgages that led to the
housing crisis. A large portion of Obama’s speech addressed income inequality and called for the rich to pay more in taxes. “If you’re earning a million dollars a year, you shouldn’t get special tax subsidies or deductions,” Obama said. “On the other hand, if you make under $250,000 a year, like 98 percent of American families, your taxes shouldn’t go up. You’re the ones struggling with rising costs and stagnant wages. You’re the ones who need relief.” Republican Party of Wisconsin spokesperson Ben Sparks released a statement regarding the president’s speech that said Obama would have to stand in front of the American people and defend countless failed promises throughout
OBAMA, page 4