Thursday, December 2, 2010 - The Daily Cardinal

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UW Madhatters ramp up for fall concert, CD release ARTS

University of Wisconsin-Madison

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COMPETING IN THE CLOSET

Do fewer athletes identify as LGBT, or are athletes less likely to be out?

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By Scott Girard The Daily Cardinal

Ben Pierson/the daily cardinal

Madison’s Hillel hosted a Hanukkah celebration Wednesday night with latkes, jelly donuts and a performance by Madison’s Mad Hatters a capella group.

Student groups recognize World AIDS Day with speeches, artwork The Daily Cardinal

In commemoration of World AIDS Day, Bob Bowers, founder of the HIVictorious program, spoke to promote education and raise awareness of HIV/AIDS throughout the state of Wisconsin Wednesday. Sex Out Loud and the Campus Women’s Center sponsored the speech. Bowers, who has lived with HIV for the past 26 years, spoke to students about his life struggles with HIV/ AIDS and how the disease has changed his outlook on life.

“I started to understand and appreciate the real problems that drive this disease,” Bowers said. “It’s not necessarily about people making bad choices, it’s about the stigma, the hate, the unwillingness or inability to address these core issues.” Over 56,000 new infections of HIV/AIDS happen every year in the U.S., with over 400 new infections occurring annually in Wisconsin, Bowers said. Bowers said that while it is good to have a day to promote HIV/AIDS

Kathryn Weenig/the daily cardinal

Twenty-six-year HIV/AIDS survivor Bob Bowers spoke to students about HIV/AIDS awareness as part of World AIDS Day Wednesday.

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Thursday, December 2, 2010

Doyle says labor contracts will go forward

Eight crazy lights

By Molly Reppen

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awareness, he said that people must advocate more to those who need medical care to help treat their HIV/ AIDS conditions. “It’s not a one-day thing—every day should be World AIDS Day. This is a treatable and preventable disease,” Bowers said. “We have the tools. We have the medications. Please, find your way to make a difference that we can ensure future generations do not have this disease.” Other student organizations on campus took part in World AIDS Day Wednesday. The Wisconsin Union Directorate Art Committee participated in the Day Without Art project in the Wisconsin Memorial Union art galleries. The project covers artwork with black cloths to mourn those killed by the AIDS epidemic. Pre-med students from the American Medical Student Association also handed out AIDS awareness ribbons and hot chocolate on Library Mall to increase awareness and fight prejudice against HIV/AIDS. Students enrolled in the HIV/ AIDS Prevention course in the Genetics Department gathered for a live video conference with teachers and students in South Africa to discuss major problems that are affecting South Africa’s treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS. Junior Steven Olikara said the video conference was a good way to connect with people active in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa. “It was a fantastic way to gain a more global perspective on a critically global health issue,” Olikara said.

In his appearance on Mike Gousha’s program “On The Issues,” Gov. Jim Doyle discussed how he plans to move forward with the labor contracts and why he cannot halt proceedings as Governor-elect Scott Walker has requested. “It’s illegal for a state to say we’re simply going to cut off negotiations with you,” Doyle said. Doyle pointed out that state workers have not had a contract for 18 months, mainly because the state has not given them an offer for one. He said the new deal involves no pay raises as well as furlough days, and it had all been provided for in the previous budget. Doyle noted that even though Walker faces a “very legitimate challenge” in balancing the next biennial budget, the negotiations taking place are over a contract that will end June 30 of next year. However, incoming Joint Finance Committee Chairs

Rep. Robin Vos, R-Racine, and Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, sent a letter to Doyle and Administrative Secretary Dan Schooff to state they are “adamantly opposed to consideration of these contracts,” asking for them to be delayed until the newly elected legislature convenes. Vos and Darling also said, “If a lame duck session is to occur, we should provide maximum transparency to the taxpayers.” The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees revealed in a statement that the contract they are currently working with includes no pay raises, a 6.9 percent increase in health care premiums and a .2-.8 percent increase in employee pension contribution. Vos and Darling also cited the need for more time to review the documents, pointing out that the current contract is over 300 pages long, and comparing it to the new contract will take time for the public.

State Supreme Court agrees to hear new campaign finance challenege The State Supreme Court accepted a case Monday that will challenge Wisconsin’s new campaign finance laws. Wisconsin Prosperity Network, a special interest group advocating for deregulation, is bringing the suit against the Government Accountability Board for regulations established in March. In the aftermath of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that allowed for unlimited corporate spending in elections, the GAB put its own rules in place that would provide for greater trans-

parency in the corporate funds given to campaigns. “We look forward to a full airing of the issues in this case,” GAB director Kevin Kennedy said in a statement. “We also look forward to a resolution of all the litigation in this area so candidates, organizations, and the public may benefit from greater certainty in Wisconsin’s campaign finance rules.” The case is scheduled for oral arguments this March, and the GAB will be represented by the Wisconsin Department of Justice.

Doyle travels to Washington D.C. to meet with President Obama Gov. Jim Doyle met with President Barack Obama in Washington, D.C., Wednesday. “President Obama and his Administration have been important partners in helping move Wisconsin forward and our close relationship has been a great benefit to this state,” Doyle said in a statement. Doyle and Obama worked together to bring a high-speed rail to Wisconsin with federal funding, but Governor-elect Scott Walker has said repeatedly he will try to block the project. However, Doyle praised the work Obama and his adminis-

tration have done so far. “There is still work to be done but today, in Wisconsin and across the country, businesses are starting to expand and make new investments, more working people have access to affordable health care, and we have protected education from major cuts that would have set our economic growth back for generations,” Doyle said. Doyle also met with cabinet members Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Energy Secretary Steven Chu, and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

“…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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