THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1969 Volume XLIV, Issue 61
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
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Faculty Senate accepts HR plan Body votes to pass new HR Design framework on to Board of Regents for debate next month Julia Skulstad Campus Life Editor
Henry Erdman The Badger Herald
Student Libby Wick-Bander apeaks in favor of MCSC Monday. SSFC ultimately decided to fund the group at a minimum, giving it $10,600 of the requested $1,396,929.68 in funds.
MCSC partially funded 2013-2014. Denying the budget initially proposed by the organization by a vote of 5-9 mandated that SSFC minimally fund the organization at this level. This comes after MCSC’s fight for funding last year, which ultimately resulted in the group gaining eligibility in a contentious decision made by the ASM Student Council. But SSFC voted to place a 52-week freeze on the group’s budget after four intentional policy violations surfaced. According to ASM Press Director David Gardner,
Allison Johnson Reporter The Associated Students of Madison’s Student Services Finance Committee voted to minimally fund a student organization and continued budget hearings for this fiscal year, hearing budget proposals from two student organizations in a meeting Monday. After tabling the budget decision at its previous meeting, SSFC approved a budget of $10,600 for the Multicultural Student Coalition for fiscal year
when an organization is minimally funded, it receives enough funds for one student position, office space and supplies. He said the funds allow the organization to continue to exist. SSFC Rep. German Larrain said he supported minimally funding MCSC because he felt the organization had changed since the controversial eligibility decision made last spring by ASM Student Council to approve the group’s eligibility. Before voting, committee members had
amended the budget down to $137,156.32 from the initial budget request of $1,396,929.68 submitted by MCSC. However, some members still did not feel comfortable funding the organization at this level. “I think we made a really good attempt to make this budget reasonable,” said SSFC Rep. Kyle Quagliana. “I don’t know what it would take for me to feel comfortable with this budget.” The committee also heard a budget proposal of
MCSC, page 2
The University of Wisconsin’s Faculty Senate voted to accept the resolution for the Human Resources Design framework in a meeting Monday, meaning the HR restructuring plan will now move on to be addressed by the Board of Regents. Last month, the Faculty Senate voted to postpone a motion to accept the framework brought forth by the University Committee due to concerns with lack of details on how the plan will move forward and a desire to hear the responses from executives. University Committee Chair Mark Cook said some of the changes made to the framework since then include the need to balance compensation on not just market but equity as well, the issue of multidisciplinary work, the continued role of shared governance and training. In last night’s meeting, Interim Chancellor David Ward said trust between various forms of governance is of great importance to the shared governance process. “If I have failed in understanding with great empathy the notion of shared governance, I need to be told, because I haven’t been told,” Ward said. “Yet there have been implications that I have somehow failed in the shared
governance process in what went on in the discussion [at last month’s meeting].” With the HR Design process, Ward said he would hope for a complete discussion of issues before any legislation were to come before the Faculty Senate. “I do think that we need to understand governance in a fairly complex array of issues and therefore if there is something about tying my hands on this issue, so that in fact I can only utter what you utter to me, then I am not your chancellor,” Ward said. “That’s not me.” Ward said he needs the trust that he has judgment with added value to what the Faculty Senate brings forward. He said the issue of content is a serious issue for the HR Design process but added the issue of governance and discussing what he, as chancellor, can and cannot do in discussing with other government entities needs to be a separate issue. During the meeting, the Faculty Senate debated and ultimately voted down an amendment proposed by Noah Feinstein, UW assistant professor in the school of community and environmental sociology. The amendment would have altered notions in the proposed framework concerning shared governance regarding faculty engagement
FACULTY SENATE, page 3
Chinese international students struggle with integration Muge Niu Herald Contributor When David Chen decided to transfer to the University of Wisconsin from a Chinese university two years ago, he knew what he was leaving behind: his job as a radio DJ, his rock band and his position as student government president. However, he was
uncertain of what his future at UW would hold and has found the transition to be a difficult and desolate one. “My life here is less colorful than my life in China,” Chen said. “Many times I feel anxious, pressured and lonely. That is a big problem all Chinese international students have.” According to surveys by the UW International Student Services, the biggest concern for
international students is “making friends with Americans.” Still, Eve Chen, 20, a senior from southeastern China, said the problem is more than that. “I have a lot of American friends, but when it comes to close friends or roommates, Chinese are easier to get along with,” Eve said. “When you become close [with Americans], it becomes
hard.” Both Eve and David said it is difficult to join conversations with American students unrelated to coursework. Cultural psychology professor Yuri Miyamoto said the inability to integrate to the host culture causes lots of anxiety and poses threats to one’s psychological wellness. Even for international students who plan to go
home after graduation, integration is a serious problem. Eve said she feels the pressure of integrating, at least for the time being, on a constant basis. “Even though you know you are going back eventually, you have to make sure for the time period that you stay here, you feel integrated or somehow included,” Eve said. “Otherwise you won’t
Reporter Coming after months of debate involving an injunction and the state Supreme Court declining to take on lawsuits until after the election, the Legislature will again have to address Wisconsin’s contentious voter ID law in its next session. The voter ID law, in whatever form it will take, would require Wisconsin residents to validate that they are residents of Wisconsin by showing their government-issued photo IDs to vote if the law ultimately stands. One version of the voter ID law is currently being looked over by the courts, and another is expected to be presented to the Legislature in its next session, according to Rep. Mark Honadel, R-South Milwaukee. Honadel said he believes if the court does finally make a decision on the current voter ID law that is being reviewed, it will stand. As for the other possible proposition, he said he
is not sure what it might encompass. “As of now, nothing has been crafted yet,” Honadel said. “Once we have something crafted, then we can start seeing how much support it has.” Honadel pointed out that if it is similar to the law being reviewed by the courts, it may see the same opposition among Democrats that the previous one did. However, he said he is hopeful it will receive bipartisan support, as he feels that it has the support of the people. Erik Kirkstein, political director for United Wisconsin, said he is not thrilled with the voter ID law in a United Wisconsin statement. “Trotting out their canard about rampant voter fraud in Wisconsin, the Wisconsin GOP has been relentless in pursuing their dream of attacking voter rights in Wisconsin by implementing a photo ID law,” the statement said. “[It is] a law that will only serve to suppress the vote
INTEGRATION, page 3
EVENTS today
Voter ID law may return this session Jake Ebben
be able to live for a single day.” The CSSA As the largest international student body on campus, Chinese students formed organizations to cope with the pressure of cultural adjustment. The Chinese Students and Scholars Association is the largest Chinese
4-8 p.m. Mental Health Fair Education Building Commons, First Floor
8-11 p.m. Open Mic Night The Rathskeller Memorial Union
INSIDE Fashion is ephemeral What exactly does your fashion say about your ideology? Arts columnist Maggie Schaefer weighs in
ARTS | 5
Badger hockey bounces back Nic Kerdiles makes Wisconsin debut as team finishes 1-0-1 against leagueleading Denver.
SPORTS | 8
UHS counseling raises concerns
Baking for a cause Senior Dana Pavelsky looks on at her offerings at her bake sale fundraiser for multiple sclerosis. Kelsey Fenton The Badger Herald
VOTER ID, page 2 © 2012 BADGER HERALD
In the wake of two student suicides, UW to address mental health -- UHS services should be a priority
OPINION | 4