Thursday, February 28, 2019 - The Daily Cardinal

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University of Wisconsin-Madison

GREEN NEW DEAL: unrealistic yet promising

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Thursday, February 28, 2019

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WHO WILL REPLACE HORNIBROOK?

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+SPORTS page 8

Honoring UW African-American alumna By Aylin Merve Arikan STAFF WRITER

In the 2017-’18 academic year, the UW System set a new record by awarding a total of 959 degrees to African-American students — a 42 percent increase over the past decade. Despite this increase, AfricanAmerican students comprised only 2.6 percent of the UW System graduating cohort in the last academic year. As Black History Month comes to an end, the nationwide awareness it brings does not. African-American UW System alumni have successfully accomplished many “firsts” since 1875 in both academia and athletics, when William Smith Noland became the first African-American to graduate from UW-Madison. Nearly 30 years later, George

Coleman Poage became the first African-American to win a Olympic medal, two in fact, in 1904. Poage claimed many achievements throughout his life in both academics and athletics. He also became the first AfricanAmerican individual Big Ten track champion in league history when he took first place in both the 440-yard dash and the 220-yard hurdles. Poage graduated from UW-Madison in 1903 with a history degree as well. Another UW-Madison alum, Gwendolyn Brooks, published “Annie Allen,” a poetry book which shares the turbulent story of a young African-American girl growing into womanhood. One year after its publication, Brooks won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1950. Afterwards,

Staff firing prompts ethics investigation into Soglin’s actions By Michael Parsky STAFF WRITER

A former Madison city employee filed a complaint against Mayor Paul Soglin alleging the city launched an unjust investigation into her actions after she voiced concerns about possible unfair property assessment practices. Laura Doherty, former Madison assistant city assessor and commercial supervisor, filed the complaint on Dec. 13, 2018. She was later fired from her post on Dec. 31, 2018. Doherty alleged that Soglin, along with other city personnel, started a “deceptive and inappropriate investigation” to “find a way to remove her from

a position of valuing commercial property,” according to the complaint. Doherty also believed that Soglin sought “to find a way to remove her from the city’s employment altogether.”

“Doherty alleged that Soglin started a ‘deceptive and inappropriate investigation’ ... to remove her from a position of valuing commercial property.’” During the investigation, Doherty was demoted to property appraiser. Doherty’s supervisor, former City Assessor Mark Hanson reportedly signed off on

when asked about her writing process, she said she would “drop the mop, broom, soap, iron or carrot grater to write down a line, or word.” ”Writing is the only work in which I am interested,” she said. Brooks was on campus during the Black Student Strike of 1969 and later documented her observations in a letter. “Cars are trying to run them down! I saw it happening. One tried desperately to run me down,” Brooks said, referring to an African-American student on campus at the time. “I don’t feel my time was wasted, because of the lengthy and ‘soul searching’ exchanges with manuscript-bearing and very earnest students,” Brooks said in an interview. Another notable alum is the investigation. According to the complaint, Hanson denied any involvement with the investigation despite the paperwork showing otherwise. Doherty reportedly aired her grievances to Soglin and Deputy Mayor Enis Ragland multiple times in 2016 and 2017. Doherty and Hanson informed the two officials about the persistence of inequitable and poor commercial property assessment practices under their watch. According to a Capital Times article, the city raised hotel and apartment property values in 2017. While the majority of properties saw their value increase, the Madison Board of Assessors ended up lowering many of the property values. Following 76 appeals, the Board of Assessors reduced the property values of 26 hotel and 24 apartment assessments.

Soglin page 3

GRAPHIC BY MAX HOMSTAD

UW System African-American alumni have achieved many firsts since 1875. Milton Coleman — a former senior editor of The Washington Post — who graduated from

CAMERON LANE-FLEHINGER/THE DAILY CARDINAL

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Wisconsin PEOPLE program revamps its learning services By Lexi Schweinert STAFF WRITER

The Pre-college Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence is revamping their program and opening a new office at Milwaukee’s Rufus King Middle School this week. The program started in 1999 and is designed to assist minority and low-income students on their path from high school into college. Services they offer include ACT prep sessions, tutoring and other afterschool programs. Assistant Director Gail Ford said the changes aim to increase the number of students who complete the program. Previously, around 68 percent of students who enrolled in the pre-college program ended up completing it. One change that the program hopes will increase the amount of students finishing the program is by creating an age restriction for applications. Starting in 2019, students will no longer be able to apply at any grade. Now they will need to apply in eighth grade or after.

“Previously, around 68 percent of students who enrolled in the program ended up completing it.”

Mayor Soglin could face penalties if the Ethics Board finds a violation against his actions in Doherty’s case.

UW-Milwaukee in 1968.

“In the old model, students enrolled in PEOPLE as early as second grade, so we expect that over the years we will lose some students, but we can certainly do better than 68 percent,” Ford said.

In years past, the program enrolled students in 15 districts across Wisconsin, including Waukesha, Racine and Kenosha. Now it will only provide services in the Madison Metropolitan School District and the Milwaukee Public Schools. “PEOPLE began in these two communities,” Ford said. “These are the two largest districts in the state with the highest number of students of color and economically disadvantaged.”

“In the old model, students enrolled as early as second grade, so we expect that over the years we will lose some students, but we can certainly do better than 68 percent.” Gail Ford assistant director PEOPLE program

Two of the main goals with these changes are to offer equitable services for all students and a more sustainable program structure. Nearly 100 percent of students who complete the PEOPLE Program enroll in college. Roughly half of them will choose UW-Madison, and those who do are awarded free tuition. The 2019 PEOPLE application is currently open and recruiting eighth graders in Madison and Milwaukee who plan to attend a partnership high school.

“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”


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