Nothing to Swoon over: Silversun Pickups fail to live up to Pumpkins comparison hoopla ARTS
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NO LUCK AGAINST FIGHTING IRISH Softball musters only two runs in two-loss sweep versus Notre Dame SPORTS
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University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Wednesday, April 15, 2009
State economy still faces uphill battle in crisis By Charles Brace THE DAILY CARDINAL
Officials including President Obama have recently stated the economic crisis that has gripped the country might be bottoming out. However, financial indicators across Wisconsin point toward some uncertainty and tough decisions for several months ahead, with no recovery guaranteed, according to numerous economic observers. Dean of the Wisconsin School of Business Michael Knetter said in an e-mail the most affected areas of the state include the eastern corridor between Kenosha and Green Bay, with industries like durable goods, heavy machinery and car manufacturing hit hard. Unemployment data is already showing those areas facing difficult times. Beloit, less than an hour
from Madison, has the highest unemployment rate in the state at over 16 percent, according to recent statistics from the state Department of Workforce Development. In nearby Janesville, where the General Motors manufacturing plant is set to close in the coming months, unemployment has ratcheted up to 14 percent from six percent a year ago. Knetter said he hopes for signs of recovery by midsummer, but that it might take another six months after that for labor markets to improve. He said state officials are obligated to pass a balanced budget and support should be given to help businesses. “The best response is to make sure we are doing what we can to create a transparent and open climate for business creation and making
THE ECONOMY AND YOU
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Stats point to lingering hardships February harsh for job-seekers The state lost nearly 20,000 jobs in February, with unemployment almost double what it was a year ago. Madison weathers storm Unlike the rest of the state, Madison unemployment stayed low, even lower than the national unemployment rate. Deficit looms in budget debates The state’s projected shorfall next year has reached over $5.7 billion. Source: Department of Workforce Development
Obama’s ‘Organizing for America’ kicks off series of meetings in Wisconsin By Megan Orear THE DAILY CARDINAL
Following President Obama’s success in the Nov. 4 election, volunteers and workers for his election campaign are remaining active in promoting the policies of the Obama administration. Organizing for America is a national grassroots movement stemming from Obama’s campaign and affiliated with the Democratic National Committee. OFA kicked off a series of Wisconsin meetings Tuesday night with a town-hall-style discussion in Sun Prairie. According to OFA State Director Dan Grandone, the two purposes of OFA are to build on the grassroots organization and activism that developed during
LORENZO ZEMELLA/THE DAILY CARDINAL
In a student panel hosted by the Campus Women’s Center, several campus officials who specialize in sexual abuse and women’s issues gave suggestions on how to maintain a healthy relationship.
Campus experts outline sources of abuse in unhealthy relationships By Rory Linnane THE DAILY CARDINAL
Campus experts on sexual assault urged students to look for the roots of abuse in unhealthy relationships at a forum hosted by the Campus Women’s Center Tuesday. “There’s this huge myth that we have to look out for the ‘guy in the bushes,’” University Health Services Violence Prevention Specialist Carmen Hotvedt said. “It’s really the people we already know.” UW-Madison senior Patrick Gavinski, one of seven who attended the panel, said many students stay in unhealthy rela-
tionships out of fear they can’t find anything better. “They get manipulated into thinking that what they have is good,” he said. “Relationships shouldn’t be like sales where you work so hard through those 99 no’s to get that one yes.” Gavinski said he attended the panel to learn how to better aid his friends in unhealthy relationships. He said he sometimes found his advice wasn’t enough for the gravity of the situation. “I can only tell them so much,” Gavinski said. “They need to hear it from people
knowledgeable about it, because that’s much more comforting and empowering.” Jenny Wagner, legal services coordinator for Domestic Abuse Intervention Services, said students tend to think they can change abusive partners by themselves when they cannot. “You can’t change the other party when they have the power, no matter how much you love them,” she said. Gavinski said many students try to help each other but are unaware abuse page 3
Some let down by ‘College Life’ premiere By Beth Pickhard THE DAILY CARDINAL
the campaign and to promote Obama’s agenda on health care, education and energy. Tuesday’s listening session was the first of 20 stops Grandone will make throughout the state. “We’re very excited of course about winning the election and President Obama becoming president … but people I think by and large realize the job is not done and now it’s time and an opportunity for us to try to pass the policies that were at the root of his platform during the campaign.” Grandone said. He said since the campaign, the enthusiasm for Obama has not died out and OFA has received “thousands”
UW-Madison students had mixed feelings about the MTV show “College Life” �following its premiere Monday night. The idea for the show came from a UW-Madison alum who sold the idea to the network. The university originally supported the show and then helped to organize a casting call. However, according to UW-Madison officials, the university �decided to end its cooperation with MTV this past fall because it believed the show would be detrimental to its image. UW-Madison student Amanda Jagodzinski said Tuesday’s premiere had a narrow focus on partying,
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PHOTOS COURTESY MTV
Several UW-Madison students chosen as cast members for the MTV series ‘College Life’ showcase the day-to-day activities of a college freshman.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”