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THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1969 Volume XLIII, Issue 79
Monday, February 6, 2012
www.badgerherald.com
Walker will speak to DA Governor announces plan after months of John Doe controversy, several arrests Sean Kirkby State Politics Editor After a 20-month investigation into former campaign staff that has resulted in multiple arrests, Gov. Scott Walker has announced plans to voluntarily meet with a district attorney investigating the case. In a statement released Friday, Walker said his campaign and office has cooperated with information requests from Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm. Chisholm has been conducting a John Doe probe of Milwaukee County employees who worked under Walker when he served as Milwaukee County executive. “My cooperation in this matter extends beyond a willingness to supply any and all requested documents,” Walker said in a statement. “I have already said that I would be happy to sit down with the people looking into these issues and answer any additional questions they may have. To make that point clear, last year, my representatives voluntarily contacted Mr. Chisholm’s office to arrange a time to discuss any outstanding issues. I will be
voluntarily meeting with Mr. Chisholm.” Walker also said in the statement he has hired two attorneys, Mike Steinle and John Gallo, to help assemble background information and to continue aiding the inquiry. He said in the statement no public money has been used or will be used to review material for the meeting. The announcement drew doubt and suspicion over Walker’s motives from a liberal advocacy group and Democrats. Erik Kirkstein, a spokesperson for the United Wisconsin PAC, one of the main organizers behind the recall petition signature gathering, expressed skepticism over whether Walker really is voluntarily meeting with Chisholm. “At this time, we’re taking him on his word,” Kirkstein said. “But with the hiring of so many attorneys and his press release [announcing his decision] on a Friday evening when the press did not have much time to contact him casts in doubt the nature of this voluntary meeting.” Kirkstein also said the two attorneys Walker has hired are prominent criminal
WALKER, page 3
Kelsey Fenton The Badger Herald
SLAC members gathered outside Interim Chancellor David Ward’s office Friday to speak out against allegations Adidas violated its factory workers’ labor rights.
Ward responds to Adidas claims Interim chancellor promises a thorough investigation in light of controversy, protests Ben Vincent Herald Contributor Amid controversy and student protests, University of Wisconsin Interim Chancellor David Ward announced Friday he will conduct a thorough investigation into allegations of labor rights violations brought against Adidas. In a letter distributed at a meeting held by the Labor Licensing Policy Committee to voice concern over the inability of PT Kizone, a company subcontracted by Adidas, to fairly compensate former employees, Ward
acknowledged he found Adidas’s response to the initial report insufficient, but also said he will consult with university officials this week before contacting Adidas again. Ward also said in the letter UW has refrained in the past from terminating contracts prematurely without a thorough process. Instead, the emphasis has been on working with the sponsor to “cure” the sponsor’s failure in performance. “I plan to discuss this matter with the university’s lawyers, business officials, Athletic Department
All that jazz The Tom Ryan Jazz Combo performs at Der Rathskeller in the Memorial Union. Piccolo player Tom Ryan is famous around Madison for playing his piccolo on State Street and in the downtown area while sporting his signature orange jumpsuit. Rebecca Hovel The Badger Herald
administration, the University Committee, the president of the Board of Regents and others to make certain I have consulted with all interested parties and relevant governance groups who advise under such circumstances,” Ward said in the letter. Ward had previously requested and received a report from the Worker Rights Consortium that was shared with Adidas. In response, Adidas denied liability for any unpaid severance to the PT Kizone employees. Ward’s letter came shortly
after a Student Labor Action Coalition protest outside his office. SLAC members said they were concerned by allegations of labor rights violations and sweatshop abuses by the sportswear giant. Members chanted in support of workers’ rights and read from a “UW Ethics 101” syllabus outlining the SLAC’s goals in the protest. The SLAC sought a concrete date for the meeting between Ward and university officials, citing past delays in the process. They also urged
ADIDAS, page 2
Police: Parkside hate crime a hoax Student created fake ‘hit list’ to draw attention to noose left in dorm hall Jackie Allen Campus Life Editor A Kenosha County Sheriff ’s Department investigation into into apparent raciallymotivated hate crimes at the University of Wisconsin-Parkside has determined one incident was a student hoax. On Wednesday, a UWParkside student reported she found a noose in her university residence hall to housing personnel, who notified police. Early Thursday morning, the person who reported the incident received a threatening note, UWParkside police officer
Dave Buchanan said. Buchanan said the written threats were in the form of a raciallycharged hit list, and police were treating the incident as a hate crime because the students involved were black. The nooses in question were made from rubber bands and plastic strings. The investigation led detectives to question a female student about the threats. On Friday the Kenosha Sheriff ’s Department confronted the suspect, who was listed on the hit list. According to a
HOAX, page 3
INSIDE
GAB may accept duplicate names Court of Appeals allows a less stringent review process, decision called ‘victory’ for Dems Mike Kujak State Legislative Editor State election officials may not have to scan recall petitions for duplicate or fictitious names, according to a recent appeals court decision. The Wisconsin Court of Appeals unanimously overruled a lower court’s decision Friday, deciding
that recall committees should have been allowed to participate in a lawsuit filed by Gov. Scott Walker’s campaign against the Government Accountability Board. According to the court’s decision, the lawsuit originally filed by the Friends of Scott Walker against the GAB alleged the board was not planning to be aggressive
in verifying the legitimacy on recall petitions, such as not striking fictitious names or checking for duplicate names. Consequently, Waukesha County Judge Mac Davis ordered the GAB to change its review processes, the decision said. However, Davis denied an intervention by recall committees to provide testimony. The recall
Athletics ignoring facilities in need One columnist thinks money for the new Athletic Village and renovations to Camp Randall would be better spent on forgotten other UW athletic facilities in need of major upgrades.
SPORTS | 8
committees appealed the decision. The new appeals ruling reversed Davis’ decision. The court ordered the case be sent back to Davis, who will have to hear testimony from recall committees. Davis will then have to issue a new order on the GAB’s responsibilities with regard
Arts Corner: The Sports Guy flirting with sellout status
DUPLICATE, page 2
ARTS | 6
© 2012 BADGER HERALD
Bill Simmons’ new website offers opportunity to showcase talent, but comes with the risk of becoming a pawn of ESPN.