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University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Weekend, April 10-13, 2014

Dems request special session to create jobs By Andrew Hahn THE DAILY CARDINAL

Democratic state representatives held a press conference Wednesday and called on Gov. Scott Walker to convene a special session of the Legislature to further discuss jobs legislation. Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, said the Legislature left a number of important policy items on the table before adjourning for the year. His office released a proposed agenda for the session comprised of 24 bills concerning Wisconsin’s economy, education and job-training programs and healthcare. Assistant Assembly Minority Leader Sandy Pasch, D-Shorewood, added the legislation her colleagues acted on in the previous legislative session would not improve Wisconsin’s economic situation or create jobs. “It’s time for [state Republicans] to stop their obses-

sion with fixing elections and take the call of Democrats and everyday Wisconsin families across our state to put their focus on real programs facing people in Wisconsin,” Pasch said. The proposed agenda includes legislation that would raise the minimum wage, reinstate the Equal Pay Enforcement Act and allow students to refinance their student debt. State Rep. Andy Jorgensen, D-Milton, said the Legislature failed to address Wisconsin’s economic concerns in the last year and a special session is necessary to discuss them. “Going into the campaign season, and not focusing on jobs, is a missed opportunity,” Jorgensen said. “Governor Walker has said he wants a lazer-like focus on jobs. I want him to prove it now.” Walker previously said he would call a special session this

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Badger Aviators to organize skydiving event in May Thrill-seeking University of Wisconsin-Madison students will have an opportunity to test their limits May 3 at a skydiving event organized by Badger Aviators, a student organization aimed at offering its members access to flight training. Upon completing eight hours of safety and technique training, which will be facilitated by Seven Hills Skydivers,

Inc., participants will perform single jumps from 4,000 feet in the air using instructorassisted deployment. As opposed to tandem jumps, which are common practice for most skydiving schools in the Madison area, IAD allows first-time skydivers to jump from the airplane by themselves. As they leave

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BASCOM HILL

Sketching spring

Jeff Beczkiewicz uses the good weather to his advantage during an Art 212 drawing class on Bascom Hill Wednesday + Photo by Jane Thompson

Lawmaker suggests loan alternative U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and U.S. Rep. Tom Petri, R-Wis., introduced legislation Wednesday that would provide individuals seeking higher education with an alternative to student loans.

“Far too many students struggle to obtain enough financing through traditional sources to pay for college.” Tom Petri U.S. representative R-Wisconsin

The Investing in Student Success Act proposes to create a legal framework where individuals or organizations can provide students with money in exchange

for receiving a percentage of the student’s income for a set period of time following graduation. “Far too many students struggle to obtain enough financing through traditional sources to pay for college, and many others are saddled with unaffordable payments after graduation,” Petri said in a release. “These plans would help all students get the financing they need— students from disadvantaged backgrounds—but without the anxiety that comes with traditional loans.” With no loan balance to repay, students with low earnings would be required to pay less than those with higher incomes. The arrangement would be beneficial for both students and investors, according to Petri’s press secretary, Lee Brooks.

“As with any company investing in a startup business, there is going to be some risk involved, but the company or the organization offering these types of plans to students would have a vested interest in their success,” Brooks said. Both Rubio and Petri have talked about the need to reform higher education financing and Rubio discussed the possibility of also expanding income-based repayment of federal student loans last February at MiamiDade College. “Fostering more choice for students to fund their education guarantees opportunity and equips people with the tools needed to achieve the American Dream,” Rubio said in the release. —Jane Roberts

Student Council approves eligibility criteria in first vote

COURTNEY KESSLER/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

A member of Badger Aviators practices flight skills during one of the organization’s scheduled fly-outs.

Let’s talk about sex (Not in a heebie-jeebies kind of way)

+SEXUAL HEALTH page 4

The Associated Students of Madison Student Council approved new eligibility criteria for groups trying to receive funding from student segregated fees in a first vote Wednesday. Student Council voted 19-3 to approve the new criteria that the Eligibility Criteria Review Committee created to move away from the direct service language of the current criteria. Student Services Finance Committee member Thuy Pham spoke in open forum and asked council to pass the criteria because she said SSFC and the General Student Services Fund groups worked together to create criteria that wouldn’t be as

restrictive to GSSF groups. “Given this new criteria, the groups can actually go out and do what they think is best for them,” Pham said. Pham and other SSFC members said they believe the new criteria would be better because groups would not be limited by the current direct service criteria that require groups to calculate and prove that the majority of their services are benefitting students. Council made one amendment to the criteria that allows SSFC to zero-fund groups if they have had a policy violation in the past year. Currently, groups who have intentional policy violations

I’m on top of the world! Party girl elevates above the rest of the betches

+OTHER NEWS page 5

lose eligibility for two years and receive minimal funding. With the new amended criteria, groups

“Given the new criteria, the groups can actually go out and do what they think is best for them.” Thuy Pham member Student Services Finance Committee

would lose eligibility for only one year and would not be funded. Student Council will have

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