THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1969 Volume XLIV, Issue 69
Thursday, January 31, 2013
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Community members voice housing concerns Meeting centers on proposed student apartment project by Dayton, Broom Ailya Iftikhar Herald Contributor
Jen Small The Badger Herald
The Frequency saw a shooting incident on Monday, which prompted the owner to put an end to all future hip-hop performances at the venue.
Local venue bans all hip-hop shows Stephanie Awe Reporter Local hip-hop artists have one less place to perform after a shooting at a city club led the manager to eliminate hip-hop shows from its bookings. According to a report
from the Madison Police Department, a fight broke out between two men and one pulled a gun at The Frequency at 121 W. Main St. early Monday morning. The fight proceeded to move outside, where one shot was fired, the report said. No one was injured,
according to the report, but both individuals had fled before police arrived. The Frequency announced on its Facebook page Tuesday it will no longer host any local, regional or national hip-hop
HIP-HOP, page 2
Community members voiced their concerns and support at a neighborhood meeting Wednesday as yet another high-rise apartment building looks to make its way into downtown Madison. The proposed development by Dayton Square Apartments is set to be placed at West Johnson, North Broom and West Dayton Streets, according to Eric Lawson, spokesperson for the architecture firm, Potter Lawson Inc. It requires the demolishment of the three existing properties, he said. Lawson said the proposed development will range in height from four to 12 stories and includes plans for a swimming pool and a fitness area, along with ample space for bike, moped and vehicle
parking. The building will consist of studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments and will be targeted toward young professionals and University of Wisconsin students, he said. Many community members expressed concern about the ability to find affordable housing in the downtown area with the elimination of the current properties. Sam Seering, a resident of Dayton Square Apartments, explained there is a lack of apartment complexes downtown that have affordable housing for students and young professionals. He wanted to know whether the aspect of affordable housing was incorporated into the design considerations. While strict rates have not yet been developed, Scott Kolar, the vice president of Capitol Neighborhoods Inc., explained there will be variances in price. Still, residents continued to express concerns about how the development will fit in with the neighborhood. “The building looks
great, but if we can’t afford it, it doesn’t matter,” CJ Terrell, a Madison resident said. Community members also took issue with the increased urbanization of the neighborhood and the pedestrian experience. Area resident Jeffery Willis said sidewalks are already crowded, not just with the snow, but with groups of students and bikes. “There’s going to be volume, but I’m not sure we’re ready for it on the street. So what can we do actively? We should be expanding the sidewalks,” Wills said. Les Orosz, an adjacent property owner, said the neighborhood is in vast need for more sidewalk space. He said it would be a much friendlier area and people would not have to worry about being pushed into traffic. Additionally, some current tenants and neighbors were upset they were not properly informed about the project in the beginning stages.
HOUSING, page 4
Mining company continues input on contentious bill Alice Coyne State Politics Editor Proposed mining legislation continued to drum up controversy this week after legislators drafting the bill once again incorporated input from Gogebic Taconite, a mining company interested in developing northern Wisconsin under the bill’s provision whose involvement in proposed mining legislation last year drew wide criticism. GTac has offered input since mining legislation was introduced two years ago.
Opponents have long criticized this collaboration, and in tandem with the recent findings that mining bill advocates contributed millions to Gov. Scott Walker and Republican legislators, these opponents are accusing bill writers of allowing money to dictate legislation. “It’s tougher to characterize which is a bigger outrage: out-of-state special interest groups throwing money to get their way, or [the] Legislature allowing it and rolling back their environmental standards,” One Wisconsin Now spokesperson Mike Browne said.
GTac wants to make changes to sections of the bill dealing with input in the mining permit approval process and environmental standards. Browne said a number of groups, especially environmental ones, with interest in the legislation have not been provided with a preview of the bill. One Wisconsin Now Executive Director Scot Ross said the drafting records raise concerns about which publics legislators are working to protect. “The drafting records and
their actions demonstrate they’re more interested in fattening their campaign accounts and serving the interests of an out-of-state mining company than protecting the people of Wisconsin and our clean air and water,” Ross said in a statement. The statement highlighted the discovery of seven emails titled “GTac requests” containing many of GTac’s suggestions to the legislation. The statement noted legislators wrote many of these suggestions into the bill before its introduction Jan. 16. Mining bill co-author Rep.
Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, said it is not uncommon for legislators to work with stakeholders affected in some way by the legislation. “We wouldn’t be doing our job if we didn’t ask questions, particularly for a company that would create thousands of jobs,” Suder said. He stressed GTac is not writing the bill. Rather, he said, the company is providing input as a company affected by the legislation and he said it is important to know “legislators are controlling the process.” Suder also said GTac
promised to compensate for any environmental damage and recognized its financial responsibility. Though many stakeholders have come forward with concerns about GTac’s involvement, Suder said he and other bill writers invited other concerned parties to contact them and talk about the issue. He said they reached out to various tribes and worked closely with the Department of National Resources. Suder said he was surprised such groups
MINING, page 4
Textbook prices undergo scrutiny ASM committee tackles concerns about alternatives for high book costs Noah Goetzel Higher Education Editor A committee of Wisconsin’s student government regrouped for its first meeting of the semester Wednesday with plans to tackle the university’s textbook affordability, financial literacy and mental health issues. During an open forum addressing the high costs of textbooks on campus, various members of the Associated Students of Madison University Affairs Committee noted the “ridiculous” sellback prices from the University Book Store, the knowledge gap in rental opportunities and the physical heaviness of textbooks. Committee members also highlighted the shortage of online or more affordable course reader options. Still, University Affairs Committee Chair Becca Buell said reinstating the ASM Textbook Swap, where students buy and sell books from each other at reduced prices, could be a logistical nightmare. “A lot of the problem comes from the fact that ASM doesn’t
have storage for all of the books,” Buell said. “Storage, volunteers to actually do the exchange and the liability of having all those books underneath volunteers are an issue.” Buell added the textbook swap, which previously occurred each semester from Fall 2008 through Spring 2011, had been “a little unstructured.” ASM is not a business, and therefore liable to mishandle students’ cash or books, she said. According to Buell, University Affairs is trying to pool its resources for a similar exchange with less financial risk. “The students tried for years to get it institutionalized and have somebody pick it up in a way that would be feasible, but university at the time didn’t want to touch it,” ASM Campus Organizer and Assistant Director Kelly Krein said. Limited accessibility textbook requirements and prices for courses are additional flaws that prevent ASM from keeping textbooks affordable for students, according to Krein. She added obligations for instructors to list reading requirements for their courses have not been enforced. Krein said the requirement came from a federal law and
Winter wasteland Students brave the weather on campus. The city declared a snow emergency Wednesday, just a day after highs reached the 50s. Claire Larkins The Badger Herald
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