University of Wisconsin-Madison
+OPINION, page 6
Since 1892 dailycardinal.com
Monday, February 29, 2016
l
+SPORTS, page 8
Fly outside your comfort zone
A Badger legacy Walker signs bill establishing mental health pilot programs By Andrew Bahl THE DAILY CARDINAL
ROBERT DARLINGTON/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Madison has no ordinance explicitly requiring taxicabs to be accessible to people with disabilities.
Commission pushes for taxicab accessibility By Ellie Borstad THE DAILY CARDINAL
The Disability Rights Commission renewed its commitment to improving the accessibility of Madison taxicab services at a meeting Thursday night. The commission discussed drafting an ordinance to ensure equal access to taxi service for disabled people, and approved a letter it plans to send to the Madison Common Council urging the city to make the issue a priority.
The commission, which works through the City of Madison Department of Civil Rights, recommends policy in areas that affect disabled individuals and their families. Commissioner and Disability Rights and Services Program Coordinator Jason Glozier said that although there is technically a transportation ordinance on the books, there is no requirement for accessible services. “Without any major ordinance
or legislation in place, we’re unable to ensure that people with disabilities are ensured their federal right to equal access and their ability to fully enjoy their community,” Glozier said. Last year the Common Council voted to accept a report by the commission that shared concerns about the lack of accessible services, but since then it has not followed up with any action.
accessibility page 3
Gov. Scott Walker signed a bill Friday that would streamline bureaucratic hurdles for Medicaid patients with chronic mental illness and create pilot programs for alternate mental health care. The bill, authored by state Sens. Leah Vukmir, R-Brookfield, and Janet Bewley, D-Ashland, and state Reps. Mary Czaja, R-Irma, and Debra Kolste, D-Janesville, passed both houses of the state Legislature unanimously. Walker praised the measure as a way to continue providing high quality mental health services for all Wisconsinites. “Treating mental and physical health together is of great importance for Wisconsin citizens,” Walker said in a press release. “We want to break the stigma associated with mental health issues and assist people in getting the care they need by continuing to invest in resources which support a healthier and more prosperous Wisconsin.” Under the law, the state Department of Health Services
will create pilot programs to test new payment methods for Medicaid patients with chronic mental illness, help patients seek out care more easily and experiment with different methods of providing mental health services. The measure also creates an online system to track open beds at adult and youth psychiatric facilities throughout the state. It will be available to all hospital emergency rooms in an effort to reduce wait times for mental health care. After signing the bill at the Bellin Psychiatric Center in Allouez, Walker said the pilot programs could be expanded if they prove successful. “If they’re able to provide better, coordinated, effective and efficient care in a more cost-effective way, we’re going to look to expand beyond just the pilots,” Walker said, according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette. The bill earned support from the Wisconsin Hospital Association and the Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians, among other groups.
Blank shares recent progress, need for improvement surrounding campus diversity By Madeline Heim THE DAILY CARDINAL
UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank detailed data about enrollment, retention and educational outcomes for students of color on campus in a Friday blog post, saying although there is still work to be done, the university has improved its efforts in these areas. During the last decade, Blank reported a 32 percent increase in targeted minorities, which include students with African American, American Indian, Hispanic/ Latino(a) and Southeast Asian backgrounds. In fall 2015, the university enrolled 1,200 more minority undergraduates than it did 10
years ago, according to the post. Blank also addressed criticism of the UW System Board of Regents’ recent decision to waive the nonresident enrollment cap. Although some said the action would undermine efforts to enroll a racially diverse student population, Blank said in the post that over the last decade, the highest growth in minority undergraduates has come from states other than Wisconsin and that waiving this cap would help diversity efforts. Additionally, Blank said she was “particularly proud” of retention and graduation rates for minority students, which both increased over 10 percent from 2000. Several on-campus initiatives
will work to enroll more students of color, Blank said in the post, including the expansion of PEOPLE, a pre-college program directed toward students from diverse backgrounds. Blank also said UW-Madison experts are researching strategies to help minority high school students graduate at the same rate as other students. Vice Provost for Diversity and Climate Patrick Sims spoke on similar initiatives to improve campus diversity at the Faculty of Color Reception Thursday. Sims said his office is currently working on a survey that will assess
blank page 3
KAITLYN VETO/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO
UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank discussed data on retention and enrollment of minority students in a Friday online blog post.
Memorial Union Rathskeller, Subskeller close temporarily for additional construction and renovation The Rathskeller dining room and Subskeller station in Memorial Union closed Sunday for further renovation, according to a press release from the Wisconsin Union. The closing is part of a larger,
ongoing construction project that began in 2012. According to the release, the project will preserve and enhance the union as a campus icon and is funded through student segregated fees, private donations and
Wisconsin Union operating revenue. Wisconsin Union Director Mark Guthier said preserving classic spaces in the building is an important aspect of the project. “We are committed to preserv-
ing the places where generations of guests have made memories,” Guthier said in the release. “We look forward to unveiling a more sustainable, more accessible, and even more beautiful Memorial Union.”
The Rathskeller will reopen in fall 2016. Customers can still purchase food and drinks from the adjoining Stiftskeller, and Babcock Dairy ice cream will still be available in the nearby Paul Bunyan room.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”