March 11, 2015
Local bar closed after �ire last week
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Head to head
Whitewater Student Government candidates debate days before election
By Michael Riley Editor In Chief
Kimberly Wethal photo/WethalKM20@uww.edu
Candidates Savana Staggs and Alexandria Zamecnik (left) and Allison Hetz and Brian Carlson (right) respond to questions in the debate on March 10.
By Josh Hafemeister Managing Editor/Interim News Editor
By Vesna Brajkovic Lifestyle Editor
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Among last night’s participants in the Whitewater Student Government presidential debate, the audience included several members of the Black Student Union (BSU), whose weekly meeting was rescheduled in favor of attending the debate. Questions were asked about diversity and LGBT, the on-campus tobacco policy, safety, parking and the budget cuts. Presidential candidates Allison Hetz and Savana Staggs, along with their vice-presidential candidates Brian Carlson and Alexandria Zamecnik respectively, responded to questions posed by WSG Student Affairs Director Rob Emmett at 5 p.m. on March 10 in the University Center’s Down Under. Questions were written by members of the audience and handed to a panel of three WSG members. Then, if the questions were deemed appropriate by the panel, Emmett would direct the question at the slates. For each question, one slate was asked a question, and they had two minutes to answer. The other slate was then given one minute to respond. Then vice versa. The topic of different cultures and diversity constantly came up in questions. One such question asked the slates what they have planned to make the campus more welcoming to African-American students. “There’s no one kind of Warhawk,” Staggs said. “So I think it’s really, really
important that we have [diversity] in our ed technology,” she said. “So what they are community and in our senate.” doing now is just continuing to push cellBoth slates were in support of a Presi- phones.” dent’s Forum. It would be a place where all The recently announced cuts in Gov. Scott students, as well as members of all campus Walker’s proposed budget were another topic organizations such as BSU or Latinos Uni- of concern for students in attendance. dos, can come and bring their ideas and issues When asked whether the budget cuts will to WSG. effect student organizations, Carlson said it The candidates also were in support of will. WSG members becoming more culturally “That’s just the way it is,” he said. “But, aware and promoting a diverse campus. we are going to do the best that we can to “I would like to see more student govern- make sure that the budget cuts effect the least ment e-board members – ideally senators – to amount of students.” be going to the [cultural] events,” Carlson See Debate Page 3 said. “I think that’s the best way we can show our support, and I think that’s how we will become more educated.” When asked what their ideas were for supporting the LGBT community, both slates said education was the key. On the topic of safety, Hetz said she was interested in promoting the Campus Security Officer (CSO) programs and of UW-Whitewater students the police escort service, failed to vote in last year’s as well as looking into putting an emergency light WSG Presidential system in the six-pack. Election. Zamecnik countered the emergency light system by commenting about a conversation she had with UW-Whitewater Police Chief Matthew Kiederlen. uww.edu/join “Those safety lights are actually outdat9% 3.
A fire at Fat Jacks Sports Bar & Grill on the morning of March 5 caused an estimated $125,000 in damages but no injuries were reported. The Whitewater Fire Department arrived at 7:42 a.m. at the 146 W. Main St. tavern after a call alerted authorities to smoke coming from the two-story building. Firefighters found heavy smoke inside the building, but the fire was contained within about 15 minutes according to a Whitewater Fire Department press release. The fire started in a dishwasher behind the bar, according to the same release. Rock and Walworth County fire departments were asked to assist, but the call was soon canceled. The family-run business is owned by Mark and Dawn Wokasch, who took over in 2009. Owners and employees gathered for a meeting later on March 5 to discuss what had happened. UW-Whitewater sophomore and accounting major Sam Bryan is a cook at Fat Jacks and found about the damages about two hours after the fire had subsided. It was only a few hours before his shift would have started. “I was simply shocked,” Bryan said. “Fat Jacks was not only a place I worked, but a place I made friends and made memories with my coworkers and owners.” A weekly Trivia Tuesday Night and a Wing Wednesday deal attract local communties members. Fellow cook Michael Colt said damages and figures were not discussed at the meeting because they have a contractor coming in this week. “It’s saddening to see something like this happen to people I care about,” Bryan said.
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Vote: March 11 and 12
RileyMP30@uww.edu
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