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THE DAILY CARDINAL
With both a black and a female candidate on the presidential ballot this November, observers agree racism and sexism are evident in this historic
election, but not playing dominant roles in most voters’ decisions. Experts say racism and sexism are even less prominent in the minds of younger voters because they grew up in a nation more tolerant of diversity than it was for previous generations. Although racism and sexism are still present in politics, electing a black president or female vice president would eliminate the question of whether America can or is ready to do so, according to UW-Madison Afro-American Studies Department Chair Craig Werner. It would also cause the issues of race and gender to play even lesser roles for voters in future elections, Werner said. The downplaying of the ‘race card’ Two white supremacists’ plot uncovered Monday to assassinate Democratic presidential
candidate Barack Obama proves racism is not absent from this election. However, it generally exists in a much more subtle form, and is not very influential overall. UW-Madison political science professor Katherine Cramer Walsh said no one in the United States is truly “color blind” and voters’ predispositions will determine if they judge candidates based on race. Obama’s race could hinder how he is seen among racially intolerant voters, according to Walsh, but may also be beneficial because the opportunity to elect the first black president is inspirational for some voters. Mark Korshak, leader and founder of Project Youthanize, an organization promoting
By Rebecca Holland THE DAILY CARDINAL
The Madison Board of Estimates met Monday to discuss the 2009 operating budget and debated a proposed 50-cent increase in the Metro Transit fare, which would put the cost of a bus ride at $2.
“This is another basic decision to keep fares affordable, help citizens and better the city.” Satya Rhodes-Conway alder District 12
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Police clear out downtown bar after crowd becomes unruly Madison Police were forced to shut down the Madison Avenue bar early Sunday when chaos erupted after officers came to help a woman who had passed out from excessive drinking. MPD public information officer Joel DeSpain said police initially responded to the bar and dance club located at 624 University Ave. at 1:41 a.m. to help a 20-year-old female
from Janesville, Wis., who was drunk and unconscious. When police found the woman, who friends said had been celebrating her 20th birthday, her breathing was shallow and her jaw was clenched. DeSpain said an officer was able to unclench the woman’s jaw to help her breathe better. As rescue personnel attended to the woman, police noticed the crowd becoming increasingly hostile and
interfering with paramedics’ efforts. DeSpain said officers reported seeing patrons pushing, shoving and fighting. “It was just a very chaotic scene, and that there was genuine concern by officers who were there that persons could fall and be crushed by a large number of people,” DeSpain said. Fearing a stampede or people being crushed, police called for
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Committee looks into possible bus fare increase
Racism, sexism alive, not crucial in election By Sara Lieburn
SPORTS PAGE 8
backup. It took 25 officers from the MPD and University of Wisconsin and Capitol police departments to break up the crowd, which DeSpain said officers estimated to be over 200 people, and clear the bar. The intoxicated woman was treated for excessive drinking at a local hospital and cited for underage drinking on a licensed premise. —Abby Sears
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz’s executive budget for 2009 presents a 50cent general bus-fare increase to raise Metro revenues and fund new programs. These include Metro service enhancements, transit for jobs, security personnel at transfer points, a marketing position and funding for Clean Air Action Days. Amendments to the budget, sponsored by Alds. Satya Rhodes-Conway and Mike Verveer, would eliminate the fare increase and reduce spending in other areas. Rhodes-Conway said that in the past—and in other cities—when fares increase, ridership goes down. bus fares page 3
University celebrates anniversary of human-rights document By Erin Banco THE DAILY CARDINAL
The UW-Madison Human Rights Initiative hosted Micheline Ishay Monday as part of its Fall Lecture Series to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Ishay, professor and director of the International Human Rights Program in the Korbel School at the University of Denver, spoke about the progress made in the area of human rights since 1948. The Dane County United Nations Association brought Ishay to Madison and asked UW-Madison’s HRI to host the historian for a lecture at the university. In her lecture, Ishay used 20year intervals to illuminate the journey of human rights from 1948 to 2008. “Each [interval] represents moments of dramatic struggle … They represent affirmations that can also generate new human rights responses—responses that
will be deepened and golden as the meaning of human rights,” Ishay said. Scott Straus, a UW-Madison political science professor and member of the Human Rights Initiative, said Ishay’s focus on progress is essential for the future of human rights.
“The questions [Ishay] raised are really important for all of our futures.” Scott Straus political science professor UW-Madison
“She pushed us to reflect on the 60th anniversary of this landmark document of the Universal [Declaration] of Human Rights. The questions she raised are really important for all of our futures,” he said. According to Ishay, a poster display at an airport in Tel Aviv, Israel, inspired her to think about the
future of human rights. She said she started to picture a poster for each 20-year interval to depict the progress of human-rights activism. Ishay said two images came to mind when depicting a poster to represent human-rights activism after 2008. “The United States is at a crossroads, and I see two images: an image of an angel of death with a black hood resembling the ones we saw at Abu Ghraib, and then I see the angel of progress,” she said. Ishay emphasized the importance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. “It would be clearly wrong to conclude that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights has left no imprint in history,” she said. “We would not be here talking today in this manner if it was not for this documentation.” Ishay is also the author and editor of several books, including “Internationalism and its Betrayal,” “The Nationalism Reader” and “The History of Human Rights.”
LORENZO ZEMELLA/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Micheline Ishay, director of the International Human Rights Program at the University of Denver, spoke about the progress made in activism since the writing of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”