University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Wednesday, October 8, 2014
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Michelle Obama rallies young Dems By Andrew Hahn THE DAILY CARDINAL
First Lady Michelle Obama visited Madison Tuesday to encourage students to turn out on Election Day and volunteer for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Mary Burke. The first lady, flanked by UW-Madison students clad in their school colors, lauded Burke’s position on education, women’s rights and the economy. Obama said the margin of victory of a close election, as she expects Wisconsin’s to be, can come down to a majority of just 10 votes per ward. Last week’s Marquette Law School poll found that 50 percent of likely voters favor current Gov. Scott Walker while 45 percent will vote for Burke. Among registered voters Walker received 46 percent to Burke’s 45. Obama said turnout could be the deciding factor in the race. “If women and minorities and young people show up, Mary wins,” Obama said. “She wins.” Mary Burke made her case to voters and volunteers when she took the podium, attacking Gov. Scott Walker for his jobs record. “I am a business person,” Burke told the crowd of 1,250 at the Overture Center. “I know
that tax cuts to those at the top and special interests, they do not create jobs. Neither do cuts to public education that are strangling our schools.” Burke reiterated her plan to raise the minimum wage and balance the budget, to standing applause from those in attendance. Susan Happ, running for state attorney general, and U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., also spoke at the event. Pocan echoed Obama’s sentiment that increased voter turnout among students would ensure Burke’s victory on Nov. 4. “Wisconsin is not a purple state,” Pocan said. “When people vote, we are a beautiful shade of indigo blue.” State Republicans attacked Burke in a statement Monday for favoring the policies of President Barack Obama’s administration, but the first lady used her husband’s track record to energize attendees Tuesday. “By almost every economic measure, we are better off today than when Barack Obama took office,” Obama said. The president is scheduled to campaign with Burke in Wisconsin before the Nov. 4 election, Burke’s Communications Director Joe Zepecki told the Associated Press.
THOMAS YONASH/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Michelle Obama visits Madison to encourage young voters to register and vote for Mary Burke.
Mayor highlights budget challenges
UWPD intends to find Terrace chairs The UW-Madison Police Department announced a new retrieval program Tuesday to crack down on the theft of sunburst chairs from the Memorial Union Terrace. Thieves steal an “excessive” number of chairs each year from the terrace, approximately 250, according to a UWPD brief. Beginning in 2013, an overnight security guard began patrolling the area to combat the thefts. Each chair is reported to cost $250 each to replace and fines for being caught with a stolen chair can be approximately $500. Stolen chairs cost approximately $62,500 per year to replace. These chairs are colored blue, orange, yellow and green. Students can purchase a red or white starburst chair through the Wisconsin Union. UWPD urges all members of the UW-Madison community to look out for stolen chairs and to file a report if any stolen chair is seen around campus. UWPD assures those who report stolen chairs will remain anonymous.
Madison Mayor Paul Soglin pledged continued support to public employees, denouncing the Wisconsin State Legislature during his introduction of the 2015 Operating Budget at a press conference Tuesday. “The short-sighted policies of the State Legislature have set up a two-tier labor-management system for public employees,” Soglin said. “Despite these politically motivated changes to long-standing state law and basic employee
rights, I have made it a priority to ensure that compensation for all our hard-working employees is as equitable as possible.” The Operating Budget includes provisions for a 3 percent pay increase for police and firefighters, as well as a 1.5 percent pay increase for all other city employees, according to Soglin. However, apart from the
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Food disparity, Public Market project cause heated debate By Irene Burski THE DAILY CARDINAL
UW ARBORETUM
Strut your stuff
Fall has arrived in Wisconsin and trees are changing color in the UW Arboretum—home to more than 20 miles of trails open year-round. + Photo by Wil Gibb
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Terry ‘T.A.’ Oliver: Private Eye What you never knew about your T.A. in the trenchcoat
Testimony on food disparity and debate on Madison’s Public Market project triggered a broader discussion regarding existing citywide inequalities at Tuesday’s Common Council meeting. During a public hearing, members of the Allied Community Co-op called for the creation of a grocery store
in the Allied Dunn’s Marsh Neighborhood, which currently does not have one. Members of the Council consider the neighborhood a “food desert.” “We need a grocery store in our community,” Madisonian and Allied Dunn’s Marsh resident Sina Davis said. “You’re the ones who can make a dif-
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SHOTS SHOTS SHOTS
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”