Weekend, April 28-May 1, 2016 - The Daily Cardinal

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University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Weekend, April 28-May 1, 2016

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Blank meets with graduate students for discussion on racial progress demands Story by Sammy Gibbons UW-Madison graduate students met with Chancellor Rebecca Blank Tuesday to present demands on the campus environment for students of color. Vice Provost for Diversity and Climate Patrick Sims, Dean of the Graduate School William Karpus, Director of Community Relations Everett Mitchell and the chancellor’s Chief of Staff Matthew Mayrl participated in the meeting. The 12 graduate students had various racial

backgrounds and were primarily seeking degrees in education, leadership and policy. “This campus has been a space where racist action has been a consistent of part of the campus community, and we are here to interrupt that cycle,” student Jacqueline Forbes said. The group highlighted three specific demands. The first requested “transparency and community involvement” in climate change proposals. One hundred and two proposals were submitted but are not yet available for public viewing. The students suggested a community forum be established to

THOMAS YONASH/THE DAILY CARDINAL

The graduate students highlighted three specific demands in their meeting with Chancellor Blank. review the proposals, and want them posted by May 9; Mitchell said this is not possible, but they will hopefully be made available that week. “We are not going to be able to do 15 things at once,” Blank said. “We are going to try and pick off a few areas where we have good proposals, and do what we can do well in the next year, and not try to do 102 things.” The proposals are not yet public because the writers were not required to give consent at time of submission. The documents contain personal information that, accord-

ing to Mitchell, would have to be “scrubbed” in a long process, or consent must be granted, before they are opened. Next, the group insisted that legal counsel be prioritized for students of color beginning in August 2017, after an exploratory committee forms in May 2016. According to student Gwendolyn Baxley, UW-Madison is the only university in the Big Ten without a formal legal counsel for students of color. Blank claimed she was not aware of this issue and committed to collecting more information to educate herself.

“Of all the events that continue to be highlighted around racial events this semester, one resulted in an arrest, and it was a black male,” Forbes said. “This is another example of the situations people of color find themselves in Madison.” The group also demanded improvement of mental health resources for students of color. Blank stated in a letter to all students in March that she plans to hire two additional health service staff members that specialize in serving students

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City officials prepare for 2016 Mifflin Street Block Party By Miller Jozwiak THE DAILY CARDINAL

Madison Police Department Chief Mike Koval released a statement Monday detailing policing strategies for this year’s Mifflin Street Block Party and held a press conference Tuesday to address the event. Mifflin, which MPD considers a “non-event” because the city does not sanction it, has a long and checkered past. The first party arose from Vietnam protests in 1969, according to Koval’s statement. During that first year, current Madison Mayor Paul Soglin was arrested when riots broke out. In 1996 riots again broke out, and perhaps the darkest year came in 2011 when two students were stabbed, nearly killing one. Since then MPD has used different tactics for policing the event. The tactics varied from issuing around 545 citations in 2012 to approximately 40 in 2015. Last year the policing strategy was to ignore the event. Students could even be seen posing for fake arrest photos with officers. This year will

THOMAS YONASH/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Madison Police Chief Mike Koval outlined the policing strategy for Mifflin after a relatively quiet 2015. not be different, Koval said during Tuesday’s press conference. “Some people have assumed or will infer that engagement applies only to what happens with boots on the ground at the event,” Koval said. “We’re doing engagement with landlords’ property owners, student groups, the tenants who reside there, well before come this Saturday’s time.

“That’s the Madison method personified. There will be lots of selfies. Although I will tell you that by 6 o’clock, we’re going to strike a better pose… than you guys will be,” Koval said during the press conference. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said he thinks the policing strategy has reached a happy medium. “Luckily since 2012 the police

have from my perspective been a lot more chilled and laid back,” Verveer said. “And so I was reassured again today by the police they do not have a zero tolerance approach to Saturday.” Koval said their point of emphasis is to hold residents and guests accountable. Officers will inform residents of how to prevent parties from getting

“unruly.” He said one effective tool has been posting no trespassing signs on properties to allow MPD to enforce trespassing violations by “raucous attendees.” Another mitigation factor has been the UW-sponsored event Revelry. However, due to construction on Library Mall and budget cuts, Revelry will be substantially smaller this year and will be hosted in the Orpheum Theater rather than outside. Koval said in his blog that this could leave a wider window for a greater amount of attendees to consume alcohol at the block parties. He ended the post by saying MPD will work to find a suitable replacement due to the fiscal cost and public safety concern. “This date has outlived its useful life and historical significance. MPD will continue to do our part in efforts to downsize and eliminate the event,” Koval said in the post. “While I am generally big on supporting ‘traditions,’ this is one ‘party’ that would be better left behind as an institutional memory.”

“…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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