University of Wisconsin-Madison
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ASM passes diversity statement, most reps of color did not favor By Maggie Chandler COLLEGE NEWS EDITOR
Although many students of color did not vote in favor of the resolution, Associated Students of Madison passed UW-Madison’s institutional statement on diversity, which asserts the university’s commitment to such efforts. Last council, Vice Provost and Chief Diversity Officer Patrick Sims informed ASM that they were the only governing body on campus that had not endorsed UW-Madison’s institutional statement on diversity.
Sims presented the resolution to council in fall 2016 and said it seemed to be initially supported. However, after the presentation, a photo of a person dressed in a Barack Obama mask and a noose around their neck surfaced on social media during a Wisconsin football game last year. Students were angry with Chancellor Rebecca Blank’s statement. While the costume was offensive, she said that the person had the right to exercise their free speech and wear it. Some representatives of color said this is one example of the
university failing to adequately serve minorities on a predominately white campus. “I would just like to say that as a student of color I don’t really feel like the university has really shown a commitment to [diversity] and I will be voting against this,” Rep. Ekenedilichukwu Ikegwuani said. The statement reads: “Diversity is a source of strength, creativity, and innovation for UW-Madison. We value the contributions of each person and respect the profound
Hate crimes increasing in Madison, on campus By Lawrence Andrea CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR
Reported hate crimes on UW-Madison’s campus dramatically increased in 2016 — and anti-Semitic vandalism was the most prominent. UW-Madison’s Annual Security Report showed an increase from two reported hate crimes in Madison in 2015 to 20 in 2016. Fourteen of the reported hate crimes in 2016 were incidents of vandalism “motivated by bias against Judaism” and performed by a single offender, according to the report. Although Timothy Arnold, the man responsible for last year’s anti-Semitic acts — which included graffiti left on a wall outside of the Jewish Experience of Madison and on signs posted near sororities with Jewish members — has since been arrested, such vandalism in Madison has continued. Swastikas were recently spraypainted in red on a historical marker at the start of Rosh Hashana in James Madison Park, a park close to the Gates of Heaven Synagogue. Phoebe Kiekhofer, a student
liaison for Jewish Experience of Madison, said the spike in antiSemitic hate crimes must be addressed. She said the “silent form of hate” makes her feel unsafe on campus. “I think that anti-Semitism in Madison is uncovering itself,” Kiekhofer said. “Seeing swastikas in Madison and on campus is alarming, and it’s a way of us knowing that there are people who don’t think we belong. There are people who think we should be obliterated.” Although the majority of crimes reported were motivated by bias against Judaism, crimes targeting people based on race, gender and national origin increased as well. According to the report, there were two incidents of vandalism, one incident of aggravated assault and one incident of intimidation motivated by bias against race in 2016. Additionally, there was one incident of intimidation against gender and one against national origin. Gabriel Javier, director of UW-Madison Multicultural Student Center, attributed the rise
ways their identity, culture, background, experience, status, abilities, and opinion enrich the university community. We commit ourselves to the pursuit of excellence in teaching, research, outreach, and diversity as inextricably linked goals. “The University of WisconsinMadison fulfills its public mission by creating a welcoming and inclusive community for people from every background— people who as students, faculty, and staff serve Wisconsin and the world.”
KATIE SCHIEDT/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO
Most ASM reps of color did not favor accepting UW-Madison’s diversity statement, which was drafted in 2016 by the school.
Drinking citations on campus have decreased, report shows By Lawrence Andrea CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR
COURTESY OF MADISON POLICE DEPARTMENT
Hate crimes like the vandalism in James Madison Park have greatly increased since 2015. in hate crimes to an increase in reporting. According to Javier, promoting the reporting process contributed to the increase. “I think that the hate and bias incident report form is part of [the increase in reported incidents], and I think the system is more public,” Javier said. “People are talking about it in more places, and places like the Multicultural Student Center, the LGBT Campus Center and other places help students feel heard when they experience [incidents of hate].”
First-year students on campus are more likely to be low-risk, rather than high-risk, drinkers, according to a new report from University Health Services. The UHS AlcoholEdu survey results showed 25 percent of the 2016 freshman class were non-drinkers and remained non-drinkers after six weeks on campus. Additionally, 62 percent of the class were classified as low-risk drinkers, meaning they reported having 0-4 drinks when they go out. The increasing percentage of low-risk first-year student drinkers has been a trend at UW-Madison over the past few years and has been increasing since 2013, according to UHS Substance Abuse Prevention Specialist Jennifer Rabas. According to Rabas, the university has seen a five percent increase in the number of low-risk drinkers since 2013. Rabas attributed this increase to campus-wide efforts to crack down on underage drinking. She said efforts from
UW-Madison University Housing have been effective in curbing excessive drinking. “University Housing has changed several of its policies to make sure its policies reflect wellness and safety,” Rabas said. “House Fellows have received better training every year on how to give motivational interviewing, how to build community and how to deal with alcohol use on the floor.” A UW-Madison Police Department Annual Report, released in March, echoed these results. According to the report, the number of alcohol-related citations on campus decreased from 1,131 in 2014 to just 766 in 2016. Rabas said preliminary AlcoholEdu results for 2017 already show an increased percentage of low-risk drinkers in this year’s incoming class. While just 25 percent of first-year students have completed the survey, 65 percent of them are classified as low-risk drinkers, according to Rabas. The second half of the AlcoholEdu survey closes Nov. 10.
Following string of incidents, crackdown on University Avenue crime continues for city officials By Adam Maisto STAFF WRITER
City officials, downtown residents and local business owners are grappling with a wave of crime in a popular bar district near the UW-Madison campus. Three times in the past three weekends, police encounters have resulted in the use of pepper spray. According to Ald. Mike Verveer,
District 4, this recent spike comes in the face of a multi-faceted effort to curb crime on the 600 block of University Avenue. “To say that this trend is alarming would be an understatement,” Verveer told The Daily Cardinal. “It is an unbelievable coincidence that this happened three weeks in a row.” Verveer recently co-sponsored
an initiative to reduce late night food cart presence in the area, but he says that food carts are only one part of the equation. The city also moved a taxi stand off the 600 block of University Avenue and imposed stricter parking regulations nearby. The Madison Police Department is increasing officer presence in the area, as well as stepping up video surveillance.
MPD has deployed between six and 14 additional patrol officers downtown on weekend nights and Verveer noted this number may increase even more in light of recent incidents. According to Verveer, MPD representatives have met with neighborhood bar owners twice this past summer, and are planning another meeting next week.
That cohort includes owners of establishments whose dress codes, purported to address the crime wave, sparked controversy on campus last spring. While underage drinking continues to be a concern in the city of Madison, Verveer characterized the present wave of violent crime as a much higher priority for city officials.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”