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Tuesday, February 5, 2008
SUPER TUESDAY
ROAD TO THE WHITE HOUSE CANDIDATE FUNDING FROM WISCONSIN
Women’s studies to become department UW joins growing trend among large universities By Amanda Hoffstrom THE DAILY CARDINAL
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‘Super Tuesday’ will likely decide the GOP nomination, but with Clinton and Obama so close in the polls, will the road to the Democratic candidacy wind through Wisconsin? By Charles Brace THE DAILY CARDINAL
“Super Tuesday” is one of the most important days in presidential politics, and it will likely affect the two parties in different ways, according to political observers. Twenty-four states hold primaries or caucuses Feb. 5, including Wisconsin’s neighboring states of Minnesota and Illinois. UW-Milwaukee associate professor of political science Kathleen Dolan said the Republican race might be decided Tuesday if U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., wins convincingly. “If John McCain wins a lot of states overwhelmingly, that might put the final nail in Mitt Romney’s coffin,” Dolan said, though she said the race still appears “fluid”. The Democratic candidates, according to Dolan, are less likely to be knocked out of the race Tuesday. She said the large amount of money U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., raised in January could sustain his campaign even if he does not win as
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many states as U.S. Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y. Dolan said if Clinton wins, the “media narrative” would make it appear to be less of an important victory than if Obama won. Obama appears to be getting more positive coverage from the press than Clinton, according to Dolan. Charles Jones, UW-Madison emeritus professor of political science, also said the Democratic nomination would not be decided Tuesday. Jones said McCain is likely to do well, though he agreed many conservative Republicans have been dissatisfied with him in the past. According to Jones, Obama benefited from other Democratic candidates leaving the race before “Super Tuesday.” Former U.S. Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C., ended his campaign Jan. 30. Jones said because many states, like California, award tuesday page 2
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By Jillian Levy THE DAILY CARDINAL
Working groups of scientists from the UW System and state agencies have joined together in a project designed to assess the potential consequences of climate change in Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts will use the research efforts of scientists across the state to analyze the effects of climate change on Wisconsin’s ecosystems, industries and human health. The initiative also aims to offer adaptation strategies for the future. Scientists from the UW System, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and other state agencies will study how local and regional changes in temperature,
precipitation levels and extreme weather conditions could affect the quality of life in Wisconsin. “The purpose of WICCI is to anticipate and recommend adaptations to climate change regardless of its cause,” Jack Sullivan, director of science services at DNR, said in a statement. According to DNR research scientist and initiative co-chair Richard Lathrop, scientists have been working on the project since September 2007. “[The initiative is] a long term thing
“[The program] is one of the best known and most prestigious ... in the country already.” Julie D’Acci chair UW-Madison women’s studies program
that will be a dynamic process.” Lathrop said many aspects of Wisconsin life would be affected in the future by climate change, including winter tourism, northern forests, wildlife and water quality. “The climate is already changing—we expect those changes will continue even with the most optimistic thoughts about [greenhouse gas] mitigation,” John Magnuson, co-chair of the
Women’s Studies Program Chair Julie D’Acci said the move would particularly benefit students who want a degree or a certificate in women’s studies. “I think it carries a different kind of weight in terms of the general public’s understanding of what the degree is coming from,” she said. UW-Madison’s Women’s Studies Program was established in 1975, and has since gained a reputation both nationally and internationally. “It is one of the best known and most prestigious women’s studies programs or departments in the country already,” D’Acci said. According to D’Acci, UWMadison joins a trend of large universities making women’s studies programs fully developed departments, including Penn State University, Ohio State University, the University of Iowa and Indiana University. Crystal Moten, a teaching assistant of a women’s studies class, said there are pros and cons, but that department status could give women’s studies more
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Scientists collaborate on Wisconsin climate change initiative Temperature shifts may affect future state legislation
UW-Madison women’s studies majors and certificate-seekers will soon receive their degrees from the Department of Gender and Women’s Studies, not from the Women’s Studies Program. Women’s Studies presented a recommendation to gain department status at Monday’s Faculty Senate meeting, which no senate member opposed. “It’s basically done,” Provost Patrick Farrell said, adding the department would most likely be functioning by fall semester. Farrell said he did not think further approval from the UW System Board of Regents was necessary. However, he and Chancellor John Wiley will write a letter to inform the Regents of the administrative change.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”