Propagandhi’s Supporting Caste reaches a whole new level ARTS
University of Wisconsin-Madison
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MARCHING ON TOWARD THE MADNESS
We take a look at all teams heading into the Big Ten Tournament this weekend SPORTS Complete campus coverage since 1892
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dailycardinal.com
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Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Low-income housing may lose tax breaks By Rebecca Holland THE DAILY CARDINAL
Rulings enforcing stricter laws on property tax exemptions pose a serious threat to nonprofit housing in Madison, and by December 2009 more than 1,000 housing units could lose the exemptions that have kept their rent low. Previously, a 1983 state law permitted a range of property tax exemptions for benevolent institutions like low-income housing providers. However, a 2003 state Supreme Court ruling and later Dane County cases interpreted the law more strictly. Now exemptions are only allowed for properties that
use rental income for building maintenance. For years, many housing providers used rent income to cover expenses such as insurance, mortgage payments, social and health services for residents with disabilities and a number of other operating expenses outside of physical maintenance. Howard Mandeville, executive director of Movin’ Out, one of Madison’s low-income housing providers, said those who must cover the hole between what rental income can legally cover and their total expenses are left with few options. housing page 3
NICK KOGOS/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Dean of Students Lori Berquam directs questions from the audience to panelists at a forum held to address sexual assaults on campus Tuesday. The forum was open to all of the UW-Madison community.
Forum urges student dialogue on sex assault By Rory Linnane THE DAILY CARDINAL
Over 50 UW-Madison community members attended a forum about sexual assault on campus Tuesday. Dean of Students Lori Berquam hosted the discussion as a reaction to stories The Badger Herald ran about alleged sexual assaults on campus. However, as intended, the forum broadened its focus to all sexual assaults on campus, only touching briefly on the published allegations. Ally Cruickshank, chair of Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment, said the recent allegations published in The Badger Herald brought extra attention to an issue that had always existed more quietly on campus.
“This is something that occurs much more often than people like to think,” she said. “I think the particular allegations were so uncomfortable because it’s so close to home. You get drunk, you hook up with people.”
“This is something that occurs much more often than people like to think.” Ally Cruickshank chair Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment
Panelists said students can prevent sexual assaults by opening a dialogue among peers.
“You have to light a fire under yourself to have these conversations with other people,” Cruickshank said. “We need to change things that are simple and small, because they mushroom up into this huge issue.” Panelists also said it is important for the university to unite to change the campus atmosphere concerning sexual assault. “The things that are really going to challenge masculinity and identity issues are about personal change,” Kelly Anderson, director of the Rape Crisis Center, said. “An online module isn’t going to change 15 years of learning what it means to be a man in this society, but it will show what we stand for as a campus.” forum page 3
Poll: Doyle holds slim lead over potential GOP candidates By Jessica Feld THE DAILY CARDINAL
Wisconsin’s gubernatorial race in 2010 may be a close election, according to a poll released Tuesday. The poll, funded by the conservative think-tank MacIver Institute for Public Policy, surveyed 500 likely voters statewide on issues concerning the 2010 election as well as the state Supreme Court election April 7. Results suggest voters are equally divided between the incumbent Gov. Jim Doyle and each of the two potential Republican candidates, former Congressman Mark Neumann and Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker.
In a race between Walker and Doyle, 50 percent of respondents said they would vote for Doyle, while 43 percent said they would support Walker. The numbers were similar for a contest between Neumann and Doyle, with 49 percent reporting in favor of Doyle and 42 percent for Neumann. All three possible candidates have yet to officially announce if they are running. According to Mike McCabe, director of the non-partisan advocacy group the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, it is too early to name a Republican candidate. “Currently, candidates are testing the waters and primarily communicating with party faith-
ful,” McCabe said. Although 45 percent of voters polled said they are undecided in the race for Supreme Court justice, incumbent candidate Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson emerged as the leader, receiving 43 percent of the vote while challenger Jefferson County Judge Randy Koschnick DOYLE received 13 percent. Because the first TV advertisements for the court race only poll page 3
CHARLIE BAKER/THE DAILY CARDINAL
More than 1,000 affordable housing units in Madison could lose the tax exemptions that have kept their rents low.
Housing director reacts to resignation of house fellows By Caitlin Gath THE DAILY CARDINAL
The Associate Director of Housing responded Tuesday to the resignation of house fellows across the UW-Madison campus. Kay Reuter-Krohn said over the course of the current school year, four house fellows have resigned. During the ’07-’08 school year, three house fellows resigned, which she said is in the ballpark for most resignations. “It’s not so unusual to have
students resign if something changes in their life and they can’t do the job that is expected of them,” she said. “House fellow jobs are pretty demanding. They’re 24 hours a day, seven days a week.” According to Reuter-Krohn, house fellows are in a position where they get paid every two weeks. If they choose to resign from the position, part of their compensation is the room they fellows page 3
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”