THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1969 Volume XLIV, Issue 3
Thursday, September 6, 2012
www.badgerherald.com
New constitution returns ASM also commemorates drowned UW student at first meeting of academic year Julia Skulstad Campus Life Editor The Associated Students of Madison began their first meeting of the fall semester with discourse on constitutional reform and the commemoration of the UW student who drowned on campus last week. Badger Catholic budget facilitator Nico Fassino said he believed the proposed new constitution would improve ASM’s efficiency. “ASM needs to be more efficient, deliver its
testified his support for the proposal. Manes outlined areas of leadership, culture and structure as areas of focus regarding the need for improving the ASM constitution. Of these, he said structure is the area where ASM has consistently failed. Manes said it is the structural changes that will affect ASM’s ability to act as an organization. He added that students will take notice only if ASM starts to spend years actually doing things, instead of spending
services more directly, make more sense in general to students and actually get things done,” Fassino said. Fassino said the constitutional reform would address the problem areas with the current constitution, including the lack of a single figurehead for the government and the need for students on campus to understand how the student government operates. UW student Matt Manes, a former Student Services Finance Committee chair, also
years not accomplishing anything. Manes cited the distribution of power as a main reason why ASM has failed to accomplish tasks assigned to them. Several student government members, including the majority of last year’s Student Council, did not support the new constitution and did not adopt the proposal. Shared Governance Chair Sam Seering presented a plan for the constitutional proposal’s
Andy Fate The Badger Herald
ASM Vice Chair Maria Giannopoulos takes questions and responds to concerns centering on the student government’s constitutional reforms, a main topic of discussion at the Wednesday meeting.
ASM, page 4
Marriage equality takes center stage in Wis. politics Polo Rocha State Legislative Editor As same-sex marriage continues to play an important role in national politics this year with Democrats adopting the issue into their platform, senatorial candidate Tammy Baldwin could make history by becoming the first openly gay U.S. Senator. The race to replace retiring Sen. Herb Kohl has gained national
sexual orientation, despite her potential to make history, has not been talked about much in the news or from both campaigns, Chavez noted. She called this interesting and reflective of Baldwin’s ability to connect with average voters. “You could not even imagine this happening five or six years ago,” Chavez said in an interview with The Badger Herald. “I think it says that a lot of average middle class people have
attention mainly because of Wisconsin’s increasing influence on national politics, but LGBT groups recognize the historic opportunity the race brings, according to University of Wisconsin communication arts professor Karma Chavez. The focus of the Senate campaign between Baldwin and former Gov. Tommy Thompson has been on the economy, the national debt and health care. Baldwin’s
All that jazz The “Jazz at Five” band drew a considerable crowd of Madisonians Wednesday at the Capitol square. Jazz singer Cheryl Bentybe, who sang with Mark Winkler at the performance, crooned popular jazz tunes as onlookers listened.
realized that there is a certain kind of gay person that is essentially just like them, and I think that is what Tammy Baldwin represents.” According to Wisconsin Family Action President Julaine Appling, if Baldwin loses, it will not be because of her sexual orientation, but because she is the “epitome of a good liberal” since she has held “very liberal” positions on every issue. “We have a severe
financial crisis in this country that is threatening the independence of families from the government,” Appling said. “If Baldwin loses, it will be for all of the things she stands for.” Appling was highly critical of the Democratic National Convention platform including samesex marriage, saying that a statement supporting gay marriage renders 236 years of the country’s tradition “meaningless.” She added
there is no stronger show of support the Democrats could have had for the issue. Chavez said same-sex marriage and the benefits that come along with it would only help those who want to get married and have a job with good benefits. She added same-sex marriage on the platform might actually hide other issues that may be more important. “I think it is a good
MARRIAGE, page 4
Soglin rolls out city annual capital budget
Jen Small The Badger Herald
Camille Albert City Hall Editor Mayor Paul Soglin released his annual capital budget with plans to delegate funds toward the creation of a public market and a skateboard park in Madison. Soglin introduced a $192 million budget that includes more than $23 million in federal grants. Ninety-three percent the grant funds will be used for transportation, six percent to open space and recreation and one percent to public safety, according to a city budget summary. He said there are several commitments to public transportation in the budget, though he also intends to build a public
market within the city. “A public market that focuses on access to quality, fresh food not only provides a health benefit to a community, but it also provides some economic savings and an opportunity to grow locally owned and controlled businesses,” Soglin said. “This is one of the real opportunities for our community.” He added that the city also has the opportunity to sustain more than one market in the future. Soglin said the city has received negative responses concerning the proposed funding for a skateboard park. He said a number of years ago, the city received an open spaces grant to do work on the “central park,” and the
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city is only allowed to use that money on that project site. “I did make an effort in the past year to talk to the feds to see whether or not they chose some flexibility both in terms of transportation and outside the project boundary lines,” Soglin said. “They were very clear those monies have to be used on that project site.” Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said he supports the skate park. He noted that Madison is one of the few cities that does not already have one, and some University of Wisconsin students may use it because of its proposed location on the east side of
BUDGET, page 4
Bicyclist collides with vehicle on Johnson St. Camille Albert City Hall Editor A collision between a bicyclist and a motor vehicle took place Wednesday on the corner of Johnson Street and Lake Street after the bicyclist ran a red light, according to a Madison Police report. The bicyclist was cited for failing to stop at the red light and was transported to a local hospital for treatment of non-life threatening
injuries, the statement said. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said these types of incidents occur more frequently than many would imagine, and the vast majority of them are not reported by the MPD unless they involve a tragic fatality or serious injury. “Bicycling is hugely popular in Madison, so with that popularity does bring accidents that occur from time to time,” Verveer said.
He added this is a reminder for pedestrians to follow the rules of the road. It is likely that these accidents occur downtown more frequently than the rest of the city because bicycling is particularly popular downtown, Verveer said. He added bicyclists can bike safely by riding on the dedicated bike lanes or on the network of bike paths in the city.
CRIME IN BRIEF, page 4
INSIDE
2013 Executive Capital Budget--Fund Sources
© 2012 BADGER HERALD
Federal $23,036,970, 12% General Obligation Bonds-Other $34,299,803, 18% General Obligation Bonds-Funds supported, $63,058,050, 33% Other (Reserves, Room Tax, etc.) $17,245,000, 9% Private Contributions $5,555,600, 3% Assessments/Impact Fees $12,131,000, 6% Revenue Bonds 19% $36,467,000
Cutting SAFECab puts students at risk
sports here sports here
Since UW discontinued the late night taxi service over the summer, campus safety solutions have been lacking.
Discovered by Fall Out Boy bassist Pete Wentz, Jordan Witzigreuter built The Ready Set from his bedroom as a teen.
OPINION | 5
SPORTS | 10