Joseph Koss: Trying to shed ‘light’ on the university and city safety problem OPINION
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University of Wisconsin-Madison
SLOPPY AND TRITE, BUT ‘IGOR’ NOT TERRIBLE Morbid Disney heir to “Nightmare Before Christmas” squanders potential
Complete campus coverage since 1892
Forum leaders stress revision of diversity plan By Beth Pickhard THE DAILY CARDINAL
UW-Madison faculty, staff and students discussed ways to move beyond Plan 2008, the campus’ previous 10year diversity plan, at the ninth annual Diversity Forum at Memorial Union Tuesday. The forum focused on how to create a welcoming, respectful and empowered community for the future. The day-long forum brought together many campus administrators, including College of Letters & Science Dean Gary Sandefur, Wisconsin Union Director Mark Guthier and Provost Patrick Farrell, who introduced the forum’s keynote speaker, Duke University professor Eduardo Bonilla-Silva. “If you care to look back 10 years or more, [we’ve made] really significant strides in diversity of the student body,
staff, faculty … that impact the lives and success of the people who come to this campus,” Farrell said, admitting the campus community is not ideal. “I can’t say that we have always been able to alter the climate as much as we would like. Success doesn’t just happen in this field; it happens because people put a lot of energy into making it happen.” Bonilla-Silva said minority students across the nation still encounter a hostile climate on campus. “[Today’s students] still complain about things we complained about 20 years ago ... the limited number of students, faculty and staff of color, as well as a hostile climate, limited support from staff and a curriculum that is not multicultural and relevant,” he said. diversity page 2
THE DAILY CARDINAL
After survey results suggested many UW-Madison alumni living outside Wisconsin would return to the state, the Wisconsin Alumni Association announced an effort Monday to retain the university’s graduates. The survey came in response to a trend, dubbed the “brain drain,” of UW-Madison alumni leaving Wisconsin to work and live in major metro areas around the country. In partnership with Competitive Wisconsin Inc., the WAA will use a $25,000 grant from the Wisconsin Department of Commerce for mar-
keting efforts to reverse this trend. Bill McCoshen, executive director of Competitive Wisconsin, said the alumni already have a connection to Wisconsin, but the organizations must inform them of the opportunities in the state to attract them back and achieve a “brain gain.” According to the survey, over half the respondents would consider moving back to Wisconsin for the right opportunity. “[Alumni] said they would move [to Wisconsin] for their family and friends and for the good quality of life in Wisconsin,” said Kate Dixon, WAA director of
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Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Cautious optimism
DANNY MARCHEWKA/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Alta Charo, a UW-Madison law professor, advocates a spirit of cautious optimism regarding stem-cell research in Tuesday’s keynote speech at the fourth annual World Stem Cell Summit. Charo described several difficulties, including the accessibility of treatment and who will pay for it. Check out Thursday’s Science section for a more in-depth look at Charo’s speech and the conclusion of the summit.
Wis. Alumni Association announces initiative to reverse ‘brain drain’ By Hannah McClung
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media and public relations. When well-educated people live and work in Wisconsin, it leads to a higher per-capita income, which is better for the state of Wisconsin, she said. According to Dixon, the WAA holds Badger Career Expos in different cities in the United States, and more than a dozen Wisconsin companies will be visiting these cities to showcase job opportunities in the state. “[Wisconsin] has a lot of opportunities for people, and the quality of life is second to none,” said brain drain page 2
Free trade agreement
U.S. House of Representatives passes Great Lakes Compact By Jessica Feld THE DAILY CARDINAL
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Great Lakes Compact Tuesday by a vote of 390 to 25. According to Tyler Schwartz, spokesperson for U.S. Rep. Tom Petri, R-Wis., the compact passed without much opposition. The bill, introduced to Congress in June, provides a legal framework for states and Canadian provinces bordering the Great Lakes to protect the bodies of fresh water. It prevents long-distance water diversions and presents a plan for sustainable water use. Gov. Jim Doyle signed the compact in May, and the U.S. Senate passed it in August. The only remaining step to the compact becoming law is President George Bush’s signature, and he has openly supported the bill. According to Schwartz, it is only a
matter of scheduling before the bill is signed and put into law. Concerns of low water levels have many Great Lakes legislators, including Petri, a member of the Great Lakes Task Force, calling for immediate passage of the compact. “The compact is an absolute necessity to protect our environment and economy. Its passage is a great step forward both for the environment and for the economies of states like Wisconsin,” Petri said in a statement. Protecting the Great Lakes, which contain 90 percent of America’s surface freshwater and supply 30 million Americans with drinking water, has been a longtime project of Wisconsin lawmakers. Doyle said in a statement the lakes are crucial to Wisconsin’s economy. “One of our greatest competitive advantages in a 21st century global economy is our water—water that will help Wisconsin businesses grow and attract new businesses to our state,” Doyle said.
Coroner identifies driver in deadly crash on Midvale, says alcohol was involved
KYLE BURSAW/THE DAILY CARDINAL
A large crowd of Mexican-food fans waits in line outside Chipotle on State Street, which offered free burritos and drinks to all customers between 2 and 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Alcohol was a factor in the car crash that killed three UW-Madison students on Midvale Boulevard less than a week before the beginning of fall classes, the Dane County coroner said Tuesday. The crash occurred Aug. 27, when the vehicle carrying Richard Putze, 22, Lindsay Plank, 23, and Daniel Myers, 22, lost control and crashed into a tree at 215 S. Midvale Blvd. around 1:45 a.m. Coroner John Stanley identified the driver of the vehicle as Putze,
who Stanley said had a blood alcohol content of .14 percent at the time of the crash, nearly twice the legal driving limit of .08. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Myers and Plank were transported to UW Hospital, where they later died. Putze and Plank were about to begin their senior year as chemistry majors. Myers, a talented pianist, completed graduation requirements for a degree in music performance during the summer and was not enrolled in fall classes.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”