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Little Shapiro, Big World:
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University of Wisconsin-Madison
Complete campus coverage since 1892
Online threats target SSFC members By Anna Duffin The Daily Cardinal
University officials are investigating a threatening comment directed at members of the Student Services Finance Committee left on a Badger Herald comment section Tuesday. SSFC members shared the text of the anonymous comment, which said the committee’s ruling that the Multicultural Student Coalition committed an intentional policy violation could lead affiliates of the group to resort to violence to “fight for what they believe in.” “When all else fails, sometimes it is necessary to take up arms,” the comment said. “This misstep could come at a great personal cost to many and that cost could include their safety.” Kevin Helmkamp, chair of UW’s Threat Assessment Response Team, said the UW Police Department are aware of the comment and university officials are working with the Herald staff to identify the poster. SSFC Chair Sarah Neibart said the comment took the debate surrounding MCSC too far. “SSFC has been harassed emotionally, mentally and intellectually all throughout the year, however this crossed the line to violence,” Neibart said. “My top priority right now is
to keep every one of my SSFC members safe.” MCSC volunteer Selma Aly said the comment was not posted by an MCSC member and that the group does not condone threatening student safety in any way. “We’re a group that is for student power, and no one would write threatening words because we represent all students’ interests,” Aly said. Helmkamp said while the comment cannot be ignored, he does not know if there is any legitimacy to the threats. “I certainly would encourage everybody to maintain a sense of balance and not let something like this inflame an emotional situation,” Helmkamp said. “In this day in age, there are way too many people who simply think because they have a thought they’ve got to write it down.” However, Helmkamp said the university “cannot afford” to discredit the comment. A member of the UWPD was present at Tuesday’s student council meeting and SSFC members walked home together to ensure each other’s safety. The Badger Herald removed the comment several hours after it was posted. Alison Bauter contributed to this article.
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dailycardinal.com
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Dean responds to Mifflin video criticism By Sam Cusick The Daily Cardinal
Student backlash toward Dean of Students Lori Berquam’s “Don’t Go” to Mifflin video prompted UW-Madison to pull the video from its YouTube channel. But despite the criticism, Berquam said Tuesday she stands behind her original message that students should not attend the party. Berquam said she launched the video Monday, after she met with students who suggested her message would reach more people in a video format, rather than through her usual email messages. Within hours of uploading, video commenters criticized Berquam for the speech that they said was awkward and filled with stutters and pauses. One student even created a parody remix video that has received over 20,000 views and another student submitted the original video to Tosh.0, a comedy show that mocks YouTube videos. But over the course of the next 24 hours, some commenters
Top Comments shes the dean of students at the university of wisconsin, and she’s telling her students not to go to mifflin.. you’re right, that’s TOTALLY reasonable haha f*****g idiot. attendance will higher than ever, no matter what this dumb c**t says brianoliver101 Wow, I’m really kind of ashamed to call myself a badger right now. You don’t have to agree with this video, but act like an adult and at least be respectful in your criticism, people. mlonergan05 Can someone please autotune this? kshef831
began posting offensive and hateful personal attacks, including insults targeting her sexual orientation. Berquam said these remarks prompted the university to remove the video. “To those who felt that they needed to personally attack me in this way, I have to say, my door is open,” Berquam said.
“Email me. Have a conversation with me. If you really think that I am that bad, let’s talk about it.” Steven Olikara, UW’s senior class president, said he was disturbed by the offensive comments directed at Berquam. “I think personal attacks on
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Car hits student, flees down Lakeshore An unidentified suspect hit a student with their car on Park Street near State Street Tuesday afternoon and fled down Lakeshore Path. The student was hit by a “grayish” Toyota Camry while walking in the crosswalk at the bottom of Bascom Hill around 12:40 p.m., resulting in facial cuts and bruises, according to the police incident report The driver, described as an Asian male in his 20s wearing a baseball cap, continued toward Lake Mendota and drove down Lakeshore Path before exiting at an unknown point.
Police are looking for the car, license plate 468 ETG. One passenger was in the car at the time of the incident. Student Scott Memmel said he was walking from the Memorial Union when he saw the car, which was “coming down the road pretty quickly,” hit the pedestrian. According to Memmel, the driver “didn’t get out of the car to see how he was.” “The Toyota stopped just momentarily and then sped off again,” Memmel said. Other witnesses gave the pedestrian napkins to stop
bleeding from his mouth and cuts on his head as well as stayed with him to ensure he was safe, Memmel said. The student was later taken to the hospital. “He seemed aware of everything around him and…was obviously shaken up, but looked to be okay,” Memmel said. If caught, the suspect could face several citations for traffic violations, according to Madison Police Department Lieutenant Trevor Knight. The police ask that anyone with information on the driver or the car call 911. —Meghan Chua
Student council further delays MCSC funding decision By Anna Duffin The Daily Cardinal
On Campus
Singin’ hey mama
UW-Madison senior Lindsey Meyer won All Campus Idol after performing “Hey Mama” by Mat Kearney. The event took place at the Capitol Theatre Tuesday night as part of the week-long “All Campus Party.” + Photo by Wil Gibb
Tensions ran high Tuesday as student council debated whether the Multicultural Student Coalition is eligible for funding, ultimately further delaying the decision. Associated Students of Madison representatives voted to not allow individuals who were not present when MCSC gave its eligibility pitch to student council to participate in the
vote that will decide if the group receives funding, although some of the individuals listened to the recordings of the meeting and spoke with MCSC members. Student Services Finance Committee Chair Sarah Neibart said the decision violates the body’s “viewpoint neutrality” by judging MCSC’s eligibility through a different process than SSFC did in October, where representatives who were not present at the hearing could vote if
they had met with members of the group. Former SSFC representative Michael Jackson said representatives should recognize they are not experts when ruling on MCSC’s eligibility. “I think there is a clear demonstration of individuals who have not been humbled and as you sit around this room, realize that it is your responsibility to
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“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”