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University of Wisconsin-Madison
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ARTS PAGE 5
Jicks’ frontman Stephen Malkmus talks about the band’s new album, Real Emotional Trash
Complete campus coverage since 1892
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dailycardinal.com
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Financial crises do not hurt Wis. student loans By Solly Kane THE DAILY CARDINAL
MATT WISNIEWSKI/THE DAILY CARDINAL
University Committee Chair Robert Mathieu introduces a scholarship fundraising initiative Monday to help prospective low-income students.
UW faculty to launch fundraising campaign By Shira Nanus THE DAILY CARDINAL
The UW-Madison Faculty Senate approved a resolution Monday to help support needbased financial-aid fundraising. In recent years, access to the university by fully qualified students from average-income families has continued to decrease, while equally qualified students of low economic means rarely attempt to gain entry. In response to the decreased funding, the UW-Madison Faculty Senate proposed a resolution advocating for faculty contributions toward need-based scholarships to ensure accessible education at UW-Madison for
qualified students. Faculty members voted almost unanimously in favor of the resolution, and many further praised it as a rewarding opportunity. English professor Richard Knowles was one of a few who voted against the resolution, specifically questioning the language and how it would benefit faculty. Robert Mathieu, chair of the University Committee, the executive body of the faculty, discussed two primary goals for the resolution. First, it would enable students to come to UW-Madison who otherwise would not be able to
Despite rising costs at colleges across the country, a weak national economy and the imminent Wisconsin state budget shortfall, UW-Madison officials say most students will not see an impact on their student loans. Susan Fischer, director of student financial services for UWMadison, said about 17,000 students receive Stafford loans and only 200 of them will have to find a different lender. Fischer said this is a result of a handful of companies deciding not to be involved in the federal loan process because of recent changes by Congress that have made it less profitable. “They were risky anyway, and
now they’re just a little too risky,” Fischer said. Stafford loans are federal loans that give between $3,500 and $5,500 for undergraduates. The federal government pays interest on them in some instances. Federal loans are governed by federal rules and regulations, and generally have a lower fixed interest rate. They rely on the private-loan sector to provide the capital. Fischer also said some students choose to take out private loans, which tend to be more conservative in their lending. These companies are not federally connected and often have higher interest rates. Connie Hutchinson, the executive secretary of the Higher
Education Aids Board, which administers the state financial aid programs, said students are taking out more alternative loans than they have in the past. “When money is difficult to come by, [students] resort to alternative methods,” she said. According to Hutchinson, she is not expecting any cuts in the already appropriated money from the state for the 2008-’09 academic year. “I think that all of the state programs will be affected when they set the budget,” she said, referring to the upcoming budget repair bill. Gov. Jim Doyle is expected to propose a bill this week to repair the budget shortfall, possibly affecting funding to the UW System.
Right on cue
fundraising page 3
UW Pharmacy school student dies after Arkansas marathon By Abby Sears THE DAILY CARDINAL
UW-Madison pharmacy student Adam Nickel died shortly after completing a marathon Sunday, according to race officials. Officials said Nickel, 27, collapsed just after he crossed the finish line at the sixth-annual Little Rock Marathon.
“He truly cared more about everyone else than he ever did about himself.” Molly Johannessen friend
“After collapsing at the finish line, the medical team addressed the needs of the runner,” race
director Gina Marchese-Pharis said in a statement. According to race officials, emergency respondents attempted to revive Nickel using CPR and a defibrillator when paramedics arrived. Marchese-Pharis said Nickel was taken to the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences Hospital, where medical personnel pronounced him dead. Nickel, originally from Kaukauna, Wis., was in his thirdyear studying pharmacy at UWMadison. Jeannette Roberts, dean of the UW Pharmacy School, said Nickel was actively involved in Wisconsin Society of Pharmacy Students, a professional student organization. As an undergraduate, Nickel attended Lawrence University in nickel page 3
GABRIEL SEHR/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Polina Pogo Syan takes a shot during “Bargain Billiards!,” which allows students to play pool for $3.25 from 6 p.m. to close on Mondays and from 8 p.m. to close on Saturdays at the Union South Games Room.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”