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By Abby Sears THE DAILY CARDINAL
KYLE BURSAW/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Nani Agbeli, a guest in African Dance Performance, dances during the improvisation section of the class Thursday in Lathrop Hall.
Judge rules UW not required to finance religious groups THE DAILY CARDINAL
UW-Madison can give money to religious student organizations, but is also allowed to deny funding to the groups, according to a federal district judge’s ruling Wednesday. Judge Lynn Adelman ruled in favor of UW-Madison in a lawsuit filed by the Roman Catholic Foundation in September 2007, saying student religious groups could receive funding from the General Student Services Fund, but that the university can deny them money. The university denied RCF’s request for university funding for its activities in the 2006-’07 and 2007’08 school years. In response, the group argued the refusal was a violation of First Amendment rights—the
freedom of religious expression. Though previous decisions had been ruled in RCF’s favor, Adelman said Wednesday the decision to deny funding for activities like prayer and worship was constitutionally permissible. David Hacker of the Alliance Defense Fund, the Christian legal group that represented RCF, said the decision threatens religious organizations at UW-Madison. “Religious groups are in danger at this point, and have been for a while, of not receiving funding and equal treatment by the university,” Hacker said. Student organizations can receive money from the General Student funding page 3
Inmate awaiting trial on homicide charges attempts suicide in county jail By Abby Sears THE DAILY CARDINAL
A 20-year-old male inmate facing homicide charges attempted suicide by trying to hang himself in the shower of the Dane County Jail early Thursday, the Sheriff’s Office said. A deputy was able to free the inmate from Stillwater, Minn., from the jail-issued uniform pants he attempted to hang himself with after another inmate alerted the
Weekend, September 26-28, 2008
Violent robberies target students, officials say
Guest atten-dance
By Nico Savidge
PAGE 8
BIG BLUE vs. BIG RED
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University of Wisconsin-Madison
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deputy to the situation around 5:24 a.m. The Sheriff’s Office said the inmate who attempted suicide was conscious and alert at the time of the rescue. The inmate was transported to UW Hospital by the Madison Fire Rescue for evaluation and then returned to the jail. The inmate is now being housed in segregation suicide attempt page 3
City and university officials teamed up Thursday and urged Madison residents to be on high alert after a string of violent robberies in the downtown area. Madison Police Department South District Captain Jim Wheeler said police from Madison, Fitchburg and UW-Madison are joining forces to track down a pair of criminals they believe are responsible for more than a dozen robberies since March. MPD Lt. Joe Balles said the central district has actually seen a drop in robberies since a serious spike of robberies in 2006. In the first eight months of this year there have been 37 robberies in the central district compared to 79 at the same time in 2006. Balles said it is the violence involved in recent robberies that has police concerned. Wheeler said many of the incidents have occurred South of Regent Street and student-frequented locations in the downtown area, such as a Laundromat on Mound Street and Bascom Hill. “UW students and staff members have been the victim of many of these assaults,” Wheeler said, citing as examples one student who was shot in the leg and another who was pistol-whipped. Dean of Students Lori Berquam applauded students for their increased awareness in light of recent crime. While walking in the campus area with University of Wisconsin Police Chief Susan Riseling last Friday from 1:30
a.m. to 4 a.m., Berquam said she observed many people taking active safety precautions such as walking in groups of friends.
“UW students and staff members have been the victim of many of these assaults.” Jim Wheeler south district captain Madison Police Department
“I want to thank our UWMadison students for their diligence and for their awareness both reacting to this current string of incidents and also the follow up to the Brittany Zimmermann murder last spring,” she said.
Despite the positive changes she saw among students, Berquam said she also noticed too many doors and windows left unlocked and opened, leaving many people vulnerable to crime. She emphasized a “24/7” approach to safety and encouraged students to remain alert around the clock. In the meantime, both city and university officials remain dedicated to finding the people responsible for the recent violent robberies. Wheeler said police believe the perpetrators are two black males, one of whom is typically armed with a gun, however sometimes the presence of the weapon is only indicated and not seen. Anyone with information regarding the robberies is urged to call Madison Area Crime Stoppers at 608-266-6014.
JAMIE MCMAHON/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Dean of Students Lori Berquam said students should always be aware of their personal safety, especially after recent robberies.
Police urge students to track safety University and city police departments detail crime threats By Jack Zeller THE DAILY CARDINAL
Members of the city and university police departments addressed a group of Madison residents Thursday in the Memorial Union in an effort to increase awareness about safety and crime prevention measures. Madison Police Central District Captain Mary Schauf spoke at the meeting and outlined some of the major crime threats students and campus-area residents face. Schauf said some of the most common crimes committed in the downtown area are alcohol-related or “easy burglaries,” meaning home or apartment burglary cases in which the perpetrator does not have to
force entry and can enter through an unlocked door or window. According to Schauf, these types of theft can be prevented with common sense and attentiveness. “If we could just get 30 percent more of those people to lock those doors and windows, now when [burglars] go into the tower apartment building, it doesn’t look like someone just trying to open a door—now they’ve got to kick the door or break the window,” Schauf said. “Up goes the chance of apprehension.” Schauf also stressed the importance of residents not hesitating to call the police when they see suspicious behavior. “If you see something … and it just doesn’t look right, we need a call,” she said. “The reality is people don’t call ... The time to call is when you see that person go through the window.” Ald. Eli Judge, District 8, said
while the students may have heard this message before, it is important to continue discussing safety issues. Judge said students have a lot of power in determining their personal safety.
“If you see something ... and it just doesn’t look right, we need a call.” Mary Schauf central district captain Madison Police Department
“Its really a massive priority, something that the student population has in the past and can focus on more now, when it comes to the little things,” he said. “It’s those personal choices that are really going to turn the tide on a lot of this.”
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”