THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1969 Volume XLIV, Issue 8
Friday, September 14, 2012
www.badgerherald.com
ASM may still see structural changes Despite rejection of constitution, student government could soon make alterations Lauren Tubbs Herald Contributor Although the student government voted to reject a proposed constitution to make structural changes to Associated Students of
Madison Wednesday night, some changes to the body may still be in store in the future. ASM Chair Andrew Bulovsky said the main points of concern with the proposed constitution included the power of the executive and whether students should be able to decide on the constitution. Bulovsky said members of Student Council expressed concerns about the potential powers
of the new position of president the new constitution would have created. He also said some Student Council members also were concerned with the idea of students having the chance to vote on changes or new proposals for the council. Bulovsky added some people did not think University of Wisconsin students would care or be informed enough to vote on the constitution.
He said this was disappointing to hear because he felt putting the constitution and possible changes on a ballot for students to vote would increase the turnout of votes for elections and raise awareness of ASM. According to a statement from ASM, discussion regarding changes to the way student government operates could still continue in Coordinating Council, the body
composed of the chairs of different ASM committees. Legislative Affairs Chair Daniel Statter said one of the main disagreements at the meeting regarded the effect structural changes put forth by the constitution would have on ASM. “There was a fundamental disagreement: whether the new structure would have been a step in the right direction
toward improving the student government’s accountability to the student body, or further isolate the organization,” Statter said in an email. Statter added he sees potential for more debate and discussion on the possibility of incorporating the supported parts of the proposed constitution to the existing one in the scheduled Coordinating
ASM, page 3
GAB at odds with Van Hollen Citing administrative concerns, Kennedy says board wants voter ID ruling after November Polo Rocha State Legislative Editor The Wisconsin Government Accountability Board director does not want the Wisconsin Supreme Court to rule on the voter ID law until after November, disagreeing with the attorney general’s suggestion that the board rule before the elections. GAB Director Kevin Kennedy said the board would have administrative concerns if the Supreme Court were to uphold the law prior to the elections. As the GAB is an independent board made up of retired judges, the agency does not favor a certain ruling on the law and only wants the decision to come after the elections, as election clerks have little time to be trained about the details in the law. League of Women Voters of Wisconsin Education Network Executive Director Andrea Kaminski, whose group has won one of the two permanent injunctions on the law, said she was pleased with Kennedy’s statements on the issue and added her group has been working to eliminate any potential confusion on election laws. “We are trying to get
everyone on the same page so that there isn’t confusion at the polls,” Kaminski said. “To change the rules at this point would be disastrous.” She added a reversal might also be bad for not only election clerks, but also voters themselves, as many might be impeded from voting. Kaminski said the reason why some may not be able to vote is it can take time to get a proper identification. She said this is because there is lots of “jump[ing] through hoops,” such as some acquiring a birth certificate. Last month, Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen said in a statement the Supreme Court should take up the case before the elections and not delay the issue further. “People in this state are very frustrated that a common sense law enacted by the Legislature and signed by the governor has been blocked,” Van Hollen said in August. “While I respect the judicial process and the right to challenge a law in court, it is time for our Supreme Court to take control of these cases.” Van Hollen spokesperson Dana Brueck noted the law, prior to the permanent injunctions,
GAB, page 3
Associated Press
Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., is running against former Gov. Tommy Thompson in November’s senatorial race and is openly gay. Democrats are calling for Thompson to fire an aide for making a remark about her sexuality.
Democrats call out Thompson aide Conflict arises after staffer for former governor jokes about Baldwin’s sexuality in email Polo Rocha State Legislative Editor A number of Democrats called on former Gov. Tommy Thompson to remove a high-ranking member of his staff who recently made a joke about the sexual orientation of Thompson’s opponent, Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis. Thompson’s political director, Brian Nemoir, sent the email making
Rap meets poetry Saul Williams of New York performs a blend of poetry and hip-hop at the Memorial Union Terrace Thursday night. Minneapolis rapper Dessa opened for him. Andy Fate The Badger Herald
fun of Baldwin’s sexual orientation last week to a group of reporters. He also attached a video of Baldwin dancing in a gay pride event near the University of Wisconsin campus. In a statement, Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate called for Thompson to “take responsibility” for his campaign’s actions. Thompson told the Associated Press his
staffer “shouldn’t have done it.” “It is time to hold him accountable for his record, the positions he takes and what his campaign does and says,” Tate said in the statement. “If Tommy Thompson is afraid of standing up to his political handlers then what makes anyone believe he will stand up for us in Wisconsin.” Tate also characterized Thompson as someone
who has spent too much time in Washington, calling the situation similar to the “divisive Washington politics” people no longer want to hear. Thompson had said Nemoir was moved to another position in the campaign, but emails he sent out last night had the same official title. Tate also said Thompson was given
BALDWIN, page 3
Expert offers advice for graduate school applicants In web seminar, U.S. News and World Report contributor provides inside tips Camille Albert City Hall Editor Higher education admissions expert Donald Martin spoke in an online seminar Thursday to lay student’s
fears to rest about graduate school and provide tips on how to survive the application process. Martin, a regular contributor to U.S. News and World Report, decided to hold the seminar to help students with the process of applying to graduate school and taking the GRE exam because graduate and business schools have
rapidly increased their GRE score acceptance, according to an Educational Testing Service statement. Martin advised students to start thinking about their future plans and what type of graduate school they would like to attend. He said there are lots of myths about graduate school, one being that it
EXPERT, page 3
INSIDE Pressure needed on UW and SSFC
Porn, drugs, cancer, fame and death
Redemption on line for UW under the lights
After the recent loss of SAFEcab, students ought to keep pushing for safe transit.
Bruce Wagner’s newest novel, Dead Stars, attacks Hollywood in all its shiny smutty splendor.
After a shocking loss to Oregon State, the Badgers face a shifty, blitz-happy Utah State defense.
OPINION | 4
ARTS |6
SPORTS | 8
© 2012 BADGER HERALD