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THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1969 Volume XLIII, Issue 117

Thursday, March 29, 2012

www.badgerherald.com

Students bring final appeal for funds Jackie Allen Campus Life Editor As the extended time period allotted for open forum lasted for the entirety of a student government meeting Wednesday night, University of Wisconsin students raised grave concerns surrounding recent racial incidents on campus in addition to budget cuts to multicultural organizations. A victim of the recent incident at the Delta

Upsilon fraternity, which is currently being investigated by UW administrators for alleged racist and classist slurs, was one of the first to speak at the meeting and criticized representatives for not participating more in diversity training to serve in their offices during an open forum that spanned five-anda-half hours. She said as elected representatives of the student body, Associated Students of Madison members should

give a voice to all students and stand up against potential hate crimes. “The worst part of that wasn’t the language. It wasn’t the bottle. It was the guy that ran after me after the bottle was thrown and said, ‘he’s drunk, he didn’t mean it,’” she said. “The worst part about being a victim of anything is silence.” She added campus is not a safe place for many students on campus, and others have raised similar concerns,

showing how ASM needs to take action against these types of incidents, attempt to impact the campus climate and ensure students do not go unheard. One way many speakers said representatives can make sure these incidents do not go without a response is by attending diversity trainings and events on campus, a statement echoed by diversity organization members throughout the meeting. Multicultural Student

Mind Your Manners, kids As a part of AXE’s One Night Only Concert Tour, the Majestic Theater played host to a free, short-notice Chiddy Bang and Diplo concert Tuesday night. Concert-goers crowd surfed to hits like “Opposite of Adults” and “Ray Charles.” Andy Fate The Badger Herald

Center member Amberine Huda said ASM’s cuts to diversity organizations has illustrated a “multicultural incompetence,” which could be rectified by diversity training. “The Diversity Committee right now is the only committee that applies multicultural competencey to its decision-making process, and the resolution to provide training for these issues is absolutely imperative,” Huda said.

The Multicultural Student Coalition recently sent a 15page long letter to Chancellor David Ward as a final appeal for student segregated fee funding after being denied for not meeting direct services to student criteria and missed deadlines from the Student Services Finance Committee. The group was also denied in multiple appeals before the Student Judiciary. Huda, with other speakers

APPEAL, page 2

La Follette starts run for governor Wis. Secretary of State pledges returning respect to citizens in recall race campaign Julia Jacobson Reporter

For story see page 9

Voter ID filed with Supreme Court High Court to decide whether to take up 2 cases on law based on majority vote Leopoldo Rocha Reporter Two Wisconsin Courts of Appeals asked the Wisconsin Supreme Court Wednesday to take up two separate lawsuits against the voter ID law approved last year for a final ruling on whether the law should be enforced. One of the lawsuits was filed jointly by immigrant rights group Voces de la Frontera and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, while the other lawsuit was filed by the

League of Women Voters of Wisconsin. Although recent injunctions in the Court of Appeals have halted enforcement of the photo ID requirement in the April 3 elections, the groups still claim the law disenfranchises voters in the state. The decision to ask the Supreme Court to take up the cases falls less than a week before the April 3 elections, which include the Republican presidential primary along with a number of local elections. According to a statement released by Voces de la

Frontera and NAACP, Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen appealed the two injunctions filed by two Dane County Circuit Court judges. Since the two courts certified the challenges, the appeals could be sent to the Supreme Court for review. The Supreme Court will now either deny or agree to take up the case, which will require a majority of four of the seven Supreme Court justices to agree on. Dana Brueck, spokesperson for the Wisconsin Department of Justice, which will

be arguing for the implementation of the law in the case, said they were pleased with the certification from the courts. “Today’s certifications are a good step toward getting this matter of great importance and urgency resolved,” Brueck said. “The Supreme Court still has time to enter an order ensuring the voter ID law will be followed at the April 3 election, but it needs to move quickly.” Government

VOTER ID, page 4

Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug La Follette announced his candidacy for governor Wednesday, saying the need for Wisconsin to return to a mutual respect for all its citizens would be a focus of his campaign. In a statement, La Follette said he was the best choice to defeat Gov. Scott Walker in the likely upcoming recall election since he would listen to all the people rather than a select few. “There has been far too much hostility and focus put on how to divide us rather than focusing on how we can respect each other and work together to move Wisconsin forward,” he said, referencing Walker’s tenure at governor. La Follette said his most important priorities as governor would be a respect for businesses, teachers, health care and the environment, and he was running because he could not stand “idly by while everything we hold dear is torn down.” Wisconsin Democratic Party spokesperson Graeme Zielinski said La Follette would be a substantial contender in the race because of his public recognition as Secretary of State. “He is a big believer in the Wisconsin Idea and respects some of the best of our traditions,” Zielinski said.

He added La Follette’s emphasis on issues surrounding the environment, education system and job training would be key to his potential success as a candidate. La Follette has more than proven his ability to raise campaign funds and win elections by holding the statewide position of Secretary of State for decades, Zielinski said. University of Wisconsin Political Science Professor Barry Burden said in an email to The Badger Herald La Follette would add a new dimension to the Democratic primary contest. “La Follette has both name recognition and lengthy experience in state government. He might also be appealing to middle-ofthe-road voters because he has not been heavily involved in the contentious politics in Madison over the past year,” Burden said. Contrary to Zielinski, Burden said La Follette may have some problems competing with gubernatorial candidates Kathleen Falk and Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, because La Follette is less organized and might not be able to raise as much money to support his campaign. His capstone issues may also lose individual recognition, since Falk also champions environmental policies, Burden said. As a result, he said La Follette

LA FOLLETTE, page 2

Candidate’s wife touts Gingrich’s experience in national offices Callista Gingrich says campaign has been ‘roller coaster,’ race is not over Sean Kirkby State Politics Editor With the Wisconsin presidential primary less than a week away, Callista Gingrich, wife of former Speaker of the House and current contender for the Republican presidential nomination Newt Gingrich, spoke to voters Wednesday asking them for their support on the campaign trail. Callista Gingrich spoke to a group of supporters at the Madison Club, reflecting on her experiences on the campaign trail and her Wisconsin background. “There are only a few months left before the

most important election of our lifetime,” she said. “We believe America is an exceptional nation and must remain so. I believe my husband is the only candidate with the experience and the knowledge necessary to rebuild the America we all love.” She said over the past few months her husband’s campaign has been a “roller coaster” as various frontrunners have emerged in the race. Gingrich said the Midwestern values she received growing up in Whitehall, Wis., helped shape her life and her parents taught her the value of hard work, personal responsibility and common sense. “Growing up in Whitehall, I have had many wonderful memories of family, friends and some of Wisconsin’s finest traditions including

cheese curds, brats, the polka, bowling and, of course, the Green Bay Packers,” she said. Wisconsin has 42 delegates for the Republican convention and has a bound delegate system where a candidate who wins one congressional district gets three delegates. Robert Lorge, state director for the Newt Gingrich Campaign, said 15 of the other 18 delegates are at-large, while the two Republican National Committee members can vote for any candidate as well as the state chair. He said the Republican convention this fall could be a contested convention. He said the last time this happened was in 1920 when Republican President Warren Harding was running for the nomination. Harding entered the Megan McCormick The Badger Herald

GINGRICH, page 4