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PAGE 8
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Local Dems debate schools, environment
Slug goes here
By Ariel Shapiro The Daily Cardinal
Danny Marchewka/the daily cardinal
Atmosphere frontman Slug performed to a packed Orpheum Theatre Wednesday night.
Local Democrats vying for the 77th district Assembly Seat debated at the Concourse Hotel in Madison Wednesday night, outlining their views on issues ranging from education to the environment to employment. Five district members will compete in Tuesday’s primary. The contenders include Dane County Supervisors Dianne Hesselbein and Brett Hulsey, attorney Fred Wade, entrepreneur John Imes and former Middleton Mayor Doug Zwank. Education dominated the discussion. Hesselbein, who grew up in Madison and received the endorsement of former Madison Mayor Paul Soglin, said, “Our
school finance system is broken, and I believe sincerely that I received a better education in the Madison schools than the kids do today.” Imes said the solution to fixing the system would be benchmarking school districts and creating a “penny for kids” tax on some combination of the sales and income taxes, which he said would help raise another $800 million for schools. Wade, who was endorsed by Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton, said he was not sure the formula was necessarily broken, and that the real focus should be on protecting funding for UW-Madison or the UW system. “I would like to present a moradebate page 3
Student Judiciary Committee, ASM head in new direction By Andrew Kasper The Daily Cardinal
The Associated Students of Madison Student Council initiated its fall legislative session yesterday by passing reforms to the Student Judiciary. The judicial branch of student government hears appeals and makes rulings on controversial and disputed ASM committee decisions. The Student Judiciary has gained a negative reputation among many council members for lack of attendance at council meetings and a general lack of knowledge of judicial procedures. However, the judiciary hopes to change its negative image under newly elected Chief Justice Kathryn Fifield. At Wednesday night’s meeting, Fifeld attempted to show her early commitment to revitalizing the sometimes controversial judiciary by proposing and successfully increasing the term limits of the justices in the ASM constitution from two years to four years and apologizing for the court’s past. “S.J. is a new body now, and we are going to be operating by much stricter ethical and professional standards than we have been in many, many years,” Fifield said. Initially, the proposed constitutional amendment faced scrutiny from certain members of the council who believed it might impede access from other students wishing to join and hinder the
removal of an unsatisfactory justice. Eventually, the concerns were addressed and the amendment passed without any opposition. Fifield also promised to hire an outreach consultant within two weeks to help student groups and non-committee members navigate the complicated terrain of ASM bylaws. Fifield said the consultant is important because outsiders are typically disadvantaged when fighting cases against ASM members who are often more knowledgeable. “The scales are tipped very far in ASM’s direction. [Council members] know what’s going on—we’ve been here, we know the rules, we know the procedures and we’ve had time to figure them out,” Fifield said. “Student groups, ASM members, they don’t have that kind of time, nor should they have that responsibility.” Chancellor Biddy Martin addressed the council about her vision of UW-Madison being more independent from the state in decision-making and applauded council members for their commitment to the student body. Chair Brandon Williams also made a presentation about the new direction in which he hopes to take the Council. Williams plans to revitalize the ASM diversity committee and change the internal budget process, among other initiatives.
New director in at UW primate center By Kayla Johnson The Daily Cardinal
Former Northwestern University researcher, professor and neurophysiologist Jon Levine assumed the position of Wisconsin National Primate Research Director this month. The Wisconsin National Primate Research Center is based in UW-Madison’s graduate school and is one of eight federally supported primate research centers. More than 250 scientists conduct research at the center. Levine said he took the role because he sees it as a very high-impact position. “It gives me an opportunity to accomplish some big objectives,” Levine said,
“particularly the great potential to develop new avenues of biomedical research and to enrich and advance existing ones in areas that I feel are very important to human and animal health.” The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued UW-Madison 20 citations for sanitation, ventilation and enclosure violations at research centers in December 2009. The department later dismissed the violations, but it still sparked controversy and debates about the ethics of primate research in the community. Assuming the position as director in the wake of the controversy, Levine defends primates page 3
Matt Marheine/the daily cardinal
Democratic candidates for the 77th district Assembly Seat debated issues including education at a debate held at Madison’s Concourse Hotel Wednesday night.
Lisa Link Peace Park to re-open next Friday By Maggie DeGroot The Daily Cardinal
The renovated Lisa Link Peace Park will re-open Friday, Sept. 17, despite stirring controversy among Madison residents. A water spout, performance stage, police station and grassy area with tables and chairs are some of the new features added to the park, which was closed for remodeling this past March. The park will feature a “peace pole” with the inscription “May peace prevail on earth” written in multiple languages to keep with the original peace theme of the park. A visitor center with public bathrooms will be located next to the park. An ATM will be located inside this building despite some controversy caused by the issue of panhandling. Before the construction began, panhandlers often gathered at the park as it is one of the only two places on State Street where panhandling was allowed. However, with the addition of the ATM, panhandling will no longer be allowed in accordance with a city ordinance that prohibits
panhandling within 50 feet from an ATM. Even after the plans were approved, debate continued in July over the Lisa Link Peace Park Visitor Center Code of Conduct. The Visitor Center Code of Conduct was approved at the Sept. 1 meeting with some modifications from the original proposal by the Board of Parks Commission in July. The Parks Commission took extra time to refine and narrow the rules, and Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said he hopes UW students and downtown residents who live near Peace Park will start to use the park more frequently once renovations are complete. “I have always been very bothered by the fact that Peace Park is used by so few downtown residents or others for that matter, and so my main mode of motivation and fighting to get Peace Park renovated all these years has been to try to encourage a much greater utilization of that space,” Verveer said. The Madison Common Council decided to move forward with the $1.1 million remodeling plans for the Peace Park back in November, 2009.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”