CARROLL UNIVERSITY
OCOTOBER 26, 2010
Gender theorist Speaks at Carroll
Carroll professor appointed to water commission amid controversy
Campus celebrates ‘Coming Out Week’
Matt Hoffman Staff Wrtier
fer Wall, who was rejected while the other three were appointed. Piatt attended his first monthly Water Utility Commission meeting on Oct. 21, a four-hour meeting. “As a scientist it’ll force me to meld the policy and the science. There’s not many people willing to cross those boundaries,” he said. Piatt’s positions have largely been informed by scientific analysis of regional water supply issues, especially an 8-year Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission study which developed a set of regional groundwater recommendations. The application recommends discontinuing the deep aquifer as a water source for Waukesha, and deems Lake Michigan a viable alternative. “Originally I was hoping that a local watershed would work [but] I just don’t see how that’s going to be feasible,” said Piatt “Generally speaking, the application is a reasonable thing. It would be an easy system to maintain and make sure that everyone’s in compliance.” Scrima has expressed concern about Waukesha’s water independence, and advocated continued use of the deep aquifer while treating water for radium and salt contamination, creating new wells in the shallow aquifer, and pulling water from nearby quarries. Piatt, however, said there is little to fear from Milwaukee’s involvement thanks to government oversight from the Public Service Commission, which would regulate water rates. “If the Public Service Commission does its job, then they won’t allow rate hikes that aren’t justified,” he said. He also aligns with the study’s recommendations. “Continued pumping of [the deep aquifer] would present a sustainability problem,” he said. The technology for treating radium and salt is available, but
MacAllister Haunts: What kind of spooks does Carroll’s piece of history hold?
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Melissa Graham Editorial Staff
Photo courtesty of Jinz-Stock
Joe Piatt has a red book sitting on a file cabinet in his office; “The Great Lakes Water Wars”. The Carroll chemistry professor will now have the opportunity to write his own chapter in Waukesha’s battle for Lake Michigan water. On Oct. 5 he was appointed as a member of the Waukesha Water Utility Commission, along with two others. Water has been a divisive subject for Waukesha politicians, especially between the common council and Mayor Jeff Scrima. Dan Warren, the commission’s president and a 21-year veteran whose term expired in October, notified the council of his intention to seek reappointment. Scrima, however, nominated Piatt — an environmental chemist specializing in soil and water resources — to fill Warren’s slot. Traditionally, Waukesha’s mayor has nominated water utility commissioners which the council then confirmed. However, common council president Paul Ybarra referenced state and city laws make the selection the responsibility of the common council. Warren has supported using Lake Michigan water, while Scrima has been a vehement opponent. Piatt’s stance was largely unknown. Piatt received an official letter from Scrima on Sept. 10, asking if he would accept a nomination for the commission. Piatt was surprised by the letter, having never met Scrima. “I’m not exactly sure how he got my name,” he said. Piatt met with the mayor to discuss the commission and his possible role on Sept. 16. He had reservations about the wellpublicized political discord between the mayor and the council. “I didn’t want to walk in on an agenda,” he said. “To the mayor’s credit, he never asked me whose water policies I supported. If he had asked that question, I don’t think I would have accepted.” Piatt did accept, and his nomination became the latest chapter in a controversial process. Over the course of two weeks, the council decided to expand the commission from 5 to 7, leaving slots for Piatt, Warren, and William Boyle, a retired civil engineer who had expressed interest in the commission. However, Scrima then made another nominee, attorney Jenni-
Piatt said that implementation and use for a large water supply isn’t realistic. He was also wary of using quarries, saying that it presents a new set of environmental issues. His concerns about new wells in the shallow aquifer were legal rather than scientific. The city would need to reach outside city limits for new wells in the shallow aquifer, and already is facing legal challenges from the town of Waukesha. Cooperation between communities in managing water supplies is difficult, Piatt said. “Political boundaries and community identity are human issues that are tough to get around,” he said. “No community’s going to want to give up the autonomy of their water system.” However, Waukesha will have to look to others in the region, according to Piatt. “There is no viable source of water within the city limits,” he said. He was optimistic about the current direction of Waukesha’s application. “This is one situation where people say ‘we have a great resource. Let’s do something now rather than later,’” he said.
Bed Bugs: Creepy pest population on the rise in Wisconsin.
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Kate Bornstein gave out Emily Groves, MBLGTACC very peculiar business cards Chair of Q&A. during the annual “Coming “I think the message Out Week,” a series of events that Kate stated was imporsponsored by Carroll Uni- tant because it keeps students versity’s Queers and Allies, from taking their own lives,” Questions and Answers, also said Groves. “It’s a message known as Q&A. The cards that needs to be heard to save could have come from a Mo- lives within the LGBT comnopoly game, except that munity.” they said “Get Out of Hell Bornstein spoke for sevFree.” eral different functions, inBornstein is a gender the- cluding small workshops with orist who came to campus to Carroll classes and smallspeak to large and small au- er groups within the Camdiences about topics ranging pus Center Ballroom as well from gender identity to reli- as large audiences of Carroll gious controversies involving students, faculty, and staff in the LGBT community. venues such as Shattuck Au“When Q&A went to ditorium, two of which were Midwest Bisexual Lesbian convocation points. Gay Transgender Ally ColOne of the presentalege Conference (MBLG- tions was titled “Hello CruTACC) last year, Kate was el World” which is the title the key note speaker,” said of one of her books that is Darlyn Buelow, President taught by universities worldof Q&A. “After we saw her wide. speak, we knew we wanted “[Kate’s] amazing,” said her to come to Carroll.” Robin Kopec, Vice PresiThrough almost half a dent of Q&A. “I hope peoyear of planning, the mem- ple [could] walk away with bers of Q&A worked to se- something useful from her.” cure the finances and plan One of Q&A’s hopes the dates that Bornstein from Bornstein’s presentawould come to campus. tion during Coming Out “Kate’s main message to Week was to create more of Carroll was that you can do an awareness of LGBT issues whatever you that are occurneed to do in ring on Carroll’s order to make campus. sure your life’s “Having her more worth here was defliving as long initely someas you are not thing that Carmean,” said roll needed to Buelow. help make this One of a more LGBT the main topfriendly camics of Bornpus,” said Buestein’s talks low. and workThe latest shops is bulinformation on lying in the Bornstein can LGBT combe found on munity in reher blog: http:// sponse to the www.katebornrecent LGBT stein.typepad. teen suicides --Darlyn Buelow com. For more which, acinformation recording to garding resourcAOL Health, reached a total es on suicide prevention for of six during the month of gay and lesbian youth, please September alone. Bornstein’s visit The Trevor Project on message was well received by their website: http://www. several members of the Car- thetrevorproject.org/ roll community, including
Women’s Soccer: Lady Pios win Midwest Conference, again.
“Kate’s main message to Carroll was that you can do whatever you need to do in order to make sure your life’s more worth living...”
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