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Senate to vote on wage hike
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OPINION
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dailycardinal.com
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Immigrant rights protest
Lawmakers expect bill increasing minimum wage to $7.60 to pass By Claire Wiese THE DAILY CARDINAL
The state Senate will vote Tuesday on a bill that would raise the minimum wage in Wisconsin to $7.60 per hour. Wisconsin’s minimum wage has not been raised since June of 2006, when it went from $5.70 to $6.50 per hour for general employees. Carrie Lynch, spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Schofield, said she expects this bill to pass easily. “This isn’t a new topic, so I don’t think there will be a lengthy discussion about it,” Lynch said. State Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, agreed it is likely to pass, but on a “straight partyline vote.”
He added the increase would negatively affect Wisconsin’s economy because companies would be forced to lay off workers to pay the higher wages. “If something costs more, you use less of it … and if the price of starting labor goes up, you use less starting labor,” he said. “It will have a ripple effect.” Grothman projected this ripple effect would cause high school and college students to make less money and therefore spend less money. Lynch, however, said this bill would encourage spending and stimulate the economy. “When you put money in the hands of people at that end of the wage page 3
UW receives honor roll status for community service efforts By Grace Kim THE DAILY CARDINAL
The Corporation for National and Community Service recently recognized UW-Madison for its service to the U.S. community in 2008. The organization awarded the university with placement on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll. UW-Madison was one of 546 schools that received the award. According to university officials, the Community Service Honor Roll is the highest federal award a school can receive for civic engagement. This
is UW-Madison’s second time receiving the award. UW-Madison’s Morgridge Center for Public Service currently provides many opportunities for public service, service learning and community-based research programs. “We are thrilled,” Randy Wallar, associate director of the Morgridge Center, said. “It’s a wonderful honor to be included in the membership.” Wallar said the national service award is not just for the Morgridge Center, but is a campus-wide award, service page 3
Under his um-ba-rella
LORENZO ZEMELLA/THE DAILY CARDINAL
The Immigrant Workers Union held a vigil for family justice at the Madison Court House Monday night.
WUD kicks off Human Rights Week at Union By Beth Pickhard THE DAILY CARDINAL
Human Rights Week kicked off last night in the Memorial Union as a panel of experts answered students’ questions about immigration rights. The Wisconsin Union Directorate Society and Politics Committee, the WUD Art Committee and other student organizations will host celebratory events throughout the week. Although the events will be student-run, The Human Rights Initiative and World Affairs and Global Economy will also help promote awareness on campus. “We think [the collaboration] is such a great idea,” Florence Chenoweth, managing director of the Human Rights Initiative, said. “We’ve been participating in their meetings and brainstorming with them.” Topics being covered this week are derived from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, established by the United Nations in 1948. According to Amanda Schmidt, member of the WUD Arts Committee,
the declaration deals with many things people consider human rights, but also some that people would not. “We’re hoping through this week we can bring awareness to this declaration and to the rights that are being violated on a daily basis by ... millions of people,” she said. Leaders from the Madison community spoke about their experiences where immigrants’ rights have been infringed upon, and what can be done to change the situation. Documentary filmmaker Dan Banda said the issue extends beyond Mexico and the United States. “We’re really looking at an enormous amount of people moving every year to find work,” he said. “This is a global issue.” Alex Gillis of the Immigrant Workers Union said the way to protect workers so their rights are not being infringed upon is to pass legislation so immigrants have the rights to live. “I think how we treat the immigrants says a lot about our society and
Human Rights Week schedule Tuesday, Feb. 10 LGBT rights around the world TITU, 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11 Portraying Genocide TITU, 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12 “The Order of Myths” TITU, 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13 Grassroots Campaigns for International Human Rights. Grainger Hall, 3:30 p.m. how brutal or not—how civilized or not—we are,” he said. The WUD Arts Committee will be running a campaign this week called the Button Project to spread awareness about the issue. Members will distribute 5,000 bright buttons around campus for students to wear. For more information about the events this week visit today.wisc.edu.
Police intervene in woman’s suicide attempt with Taser By Lauren Piscione THE DAILY CARDINAL
CHARLIE BAKER/THE DAILY CARDINAL
The unseasonably warm weather Monday caused several areas of campus to flood. The spring-like weather is expected to continue through Tuesday afternoon.
Madison police responded to a call from a witness who identified a 24-year-old woman making suicide threats on the 2000 block of East Dayton Street early Sunday morning. According to a police report, the woman held a knife to her throat and appeared to have already cut her neck and arm. Public Information Officer Joel DeSpain explained the protocol for dealing with suicide attempts. “Generally, officers are taught to try to engage in a dialogue with the
attempted suicide victim in order to reach a peaceful resolution,” DeSpain said. After unsuccessfully attempting to calm the distraught victim and trying to convince her she had things worth living for, the woman asked the officer if he would shoot her should she point the knife toward him. The officer explained his intention was not to harm the woman. However, when the woman made a quick slashing motion toward her neck, another officer responded immediately by firing a beanbag
round that hit the victim’s arm, causing the victim to move the knife away from her neck for just a moment. When the woman motioned the knife toward her neck yet again, a second officer responded using a Tasertype device, causing the woman to drop the knife. When asked if he felt the use of the Taser and beanbag round was necessary, DeSpain said, “Yes, the officers made it clear they believed it saved her life.” The victim was taken to a local hospital to receive help.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”