2012.10.19

Page 1

“I want you to kill every gopher on the course!” Badgers prepare to defend the border in the 122nd installment of the longest rivalry in college football

THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1969 Volume XLIV, Issue 31

Friday, October 19, 2012

www.badgerherald.com

Senate race gets heated In second debate, Thompson and Baldwin face off over middle class support , taxation Polo Rocha State Legislative Editor The candidates for Wisconsin’s open Senate seat portrayed each other as candidates who would not stand for the middle class in a notably heated Thursday night debate. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Madison, and former Gov. Tommy Thompson both focused on their records and policies they would support to ensure the middle class grows. Thompson spoke of his record as a reformer and a job creator, while he said Baldwin “drives jobs out of the state.” Among the contrasts he made, Thompson said he cut taxes 91 times as governor, while Baldwin voted for 155 tax increases. “Every chance my opponent gets to vote for a tax increase, she will vote for it,” Thompson said. He also painted Baldwin as one who is among the most liberal in Washington and more liberal than President Barack Obama or House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. Baldwin said an important part of her platform was to ensure fairness in taxation, calling the current system “rigged,” with some millionaires paying less in taxes than the average family. “It is wrong people who make [more than] a million

dollars a year shouldn’t have to pay at least the same tax rate as hard-working middle class families,” Baldwin said. A tactic that has been used in races across the nation, Baldwin tried to tie Thompson to vice presidential candidate Paul Ryan’s budget plan, although Thompson distanced himself from it and said he had his own plan. Both parties would probably come off thinking their candidate won the debate, and neither came out with a “knock-off punch,” University of Wisconsin journalism professor Michael Wagner said. “Most Republicans who watched the debate probably thought it was a win for Tommy and most Democrats probably thought Tammy cleaned his clock,” Wagner said. He added Baldwin came off as more polite in the debate, while Thompson was more aggressive. He noted some in the live crowd in Wausau booed Thompson when he called Baldwin “Joe Biden” for interrupting him, referring to the vice president’s debate performance last week. The moderators asked each candidate to speak to which part of the other’s plans they would support. Wagner said

SENATE RACE, page 3

Matt Hinz The Badger Herald

Two students enjoy Freakfest on State Street last year. This year, the event is expected to draw record numbers with Mac Miller and Big Gigantic as headliners.

Freakfest preparation finalized Committee addresses final planning measures for event expected to draw big crowd Camille Albert City Hall Editor Members of the Downtown Coordinating Committee addressed how to prepare for the uniquely large crowd Freakfest is expected to draw next Saturday. Frank Productions spokesperson Charlie Goldstone said State Street will be gated off starting at 7 p.m., and the event will last until 1:30 a.m. Goldstone said a few new VIP areas ticketed at $35 — compared to

$8 for an average ticket — will allow close access to the stage, and Frank Productions has received a considerable amount of interest in terms of ticket sales. He said the benefit is not waiting in line for the concert early in the evening because VIP ticket holders are guaranteed a spot by the stage. He added Frank Productions wants to provide a unique and convenient experience to some willing to pay more for tickets while keeping regular ticket

prices the same in the hope of appealing to a wide audience. Goldstone said ticket sales are among the largest seen in years. He said they have sold around 1,500 tickets so far and anticipate to sell 45,000, 80 percent of which are normally purchased either Friday or the day of Freakfest. “We’re pretty pleased with how things have gone so far this year,” Goldstone said. “We’re significantly ahead of where we were last year and we’re anticipating a

large crowd.” According to Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, having Mac Miller and Big Gigantic perform at Freakfest has drawn many students. He said Frank Productions spent more money on talent this year than in previous years. Madison Police Department Capt. Carl Gloede said the main entry access points will be on West Johnson Street, with everything south of West Johnson

FREAKFEST, page 2

Orpheum may reopen this winter Frank Productions in talks to take over closed theater; applies for liquor license Camille Albert City Hall Editor The Orpheum Theatre, which has not been open to the public since last summer after losing its liquor license, could potentially reopen in December under new management. According to Frank Productions spokesperson Charlie Goldstone, the attorney receiver contacted Frank Productions to manage

Sloane Oxley-Hase The Badger Herald

Members of Badger Catholic addressed SSFC in its meeting, where SSFC approved the group’s budget. The committee also approved funding for MEChA during the meeting.

Committee passes budgets in meeting Badger Catholic, MEChA receive funding from SSFC, both with few changes made Julia Skulstad Campus Life Editor A student government committee approved budgets for Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlán and Badger Catholic in a meeting Thursday. Student Services Finance Committee voted to approve the entire budget for MEChA at $90,153 by a vote of 11 in favor, zero opposed and three in abstention. Regarding the budget decision for MEChA, a group that has previously run into

issues with obtaining funding within the past few years and experienced conflict over gaining funding for its location last year, committee members mainly raised concerns regarding how many members should attend the national MEChA conference. SSFC voted to reduce airfare, hotel and registration in its national MEChA conference program budget. Ultimately, the committee granted MEChA $1200 for airfare, $540 for hotel fees and

COMMITTEE, page 3

the Orpheum, and the company signed the contract Wednesday. He said Frank Productions would be essentially running the Orpheum on behalf of the bank that has owned and operated it since it shut down last summer. Goldstone said Frank Productions will eventually bid on purchasing the Orpheum in eight to 12 months once the foreclosure takes place. He said Frank Productions

has been promoting shows in the Orpheum most likely longer than anyone in Madison and has been pursuing to operate it for several years. “We feel pretty good about it,” Goldstone said. “We’ve always had an interest in operating the Orpheum. Operating it for about a year will give us a really good idea of what the value and potential of the theater is.” Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said Frank

Productions applied for a liquor license with the city Tuesday, which will be heard at an Alcohol License Review Committee meeting in November. He added the theater has not had its liquor license since July 1. He said assuming the license is granted, Frank Productions hopes to reopen the venue to the public in December. Verveer said the

ORPHEUM, page 3

City Council seeks to restore Overture funds

EVENTS today

Majority hopes to allocate more to center, opposes mayor’s cuts

145 Education

Stephanie Awe Herald Contributor The majority of Madison’s City Council hopes to allocate more funds toward the Overture Center in the 2013 operating budget after the proposed budget cut its funding by $1 million. The 2012 operating budget allocated $1.85 million to the Overture Center, and Mayor Paul Soglin proposed to decrease its funding to $850,000 in 2013. Soglin’s spokesperson Katie Crawley has said Soglin focused his proposed budget on services including

increased allocations to the Madison Police Department to address and maintain a safety focus on certain neighborhoods and areas like the downtown area. Verveer said the majority of City Council members opposes the decision to significantly cut funding to the institution, as it may affect the downtown community. He said 14 of the 20 City Council members have committed to supporting the Overture Amendment, which proposes to dedicate $1.75 million to it in the budget. “For me this is personal, and [I’m] very familiar with what an asset [the Overture Center] is to the downtown [area],” Verveer said. Verveer said ideally,

© 2012 BADGER HERALD

he would like to give the Overture Center $2 million in the 2013 operating budget, which is as much as it received in 2010. He said even though it is unlikely because the budget is tight, he is still optimistic in proposing $1.75 million. He said he believes Mayor Paul Soglin’s proposed budget puts the Overture Center’s programming and employees at risk. He added he does not yet know what programs would be eliminated, but it has the potential to affect the University of Wisconsin student events, children’s shows and many free and lowcost tickets the center provides. Rob Chappell, spokesperson for Overture , said most

OVERTURE, page 2

2:30 p.m. Global Health Film Series 8 p.m. Faculty Concert Series Mills Concert Hall Mosse Humanities Building

INSIDE LaBahn Arena hosts first game Wisconsin women’s hockey prepares to break in its new home ice in a weekend series against Bemidji State.

SPORTS | 8

Politics in the classroom The Editorial Board weighs in on professors taking politics too far in the classroom.

OPINION | 4


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
2012.10.19 by The Badger Herald - Issuu