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Curt Phillips impressed, but Dustin Sherer will likely land the starting position
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Monday, April 20, 2009
Doyle approval rating reaches all-time low By Megan Orear THE DAILY CARDINAL
Results from a new poll released Friday show Gov. Jim Doyle has his lowest approval rating since he took office in 2003. According to DOYLE the poll conducted by the St. Norbert College Survey Center and sponsored by Wisconsin Public Radio, the amount of people who are very satisfied or somewhat satisfied with the way Doyle is doing his job has fallen to 45 percent. The poll was administered April 1-9. His approval rating was 68 percent in the spring of 2003 and 59 percent one year ago, according to
data collected by the Survey Center. Doyle spokesperson Lee Sensenbrenner said in a statement the survey results have little importance. “I’m sure we’ll see all kinds of polls that show all kinds of things as the election season gets closer,” Sensenbrenner said. “But what matters right now is getting our economy back on track.” According to UW-Madison professor of political science Charles Franklin, the slumping economy and the state’s budget problems are to blame for the drop in Doyle’s approval rating. “Governor Doyle is not directly responsible for the national economy or even the Wisconsin economy, [but] he is directly responsible for doyle page 3
Cymbalism PHOTO COURTESY EMMA ZAFFIRO
UW-Madison students involved in the Allies Program marched from Library Mall to the Capitol Friday as part of the Day of Silence to show support for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights.
Students march to Capitol for Day of Silence supporting LGBT rights By Kelsey Gunderson THE DAILY CARDINAL
The UW-Madison Allies Program raised awareness and support for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights in a march to the Capitol Friday. Tony Giuffre, a member of the Allies Program, said participants gathered at Library Mall Friday to protest with signs and listen to speakers before marching down State Street to the Capitol. “[The march] helped get our message across that ... everyone should be able to be who they are.” Tony Giuffre member UW-Madison Allies Program
Giuffre said the event was part of the national Day of Silence that recognizes the discrimination faced by students who identify as LGBT. “The Day of Silence is a national holiday that raises awareness to show support for the LGBT community,” Giuffre said. “The silence
reflects the silence faced by people who identify themselves as LGBT on a daily basis.” Emma Zaffiro, Allies Program co-president, said the event specifically raised awareness for the name-calling, bullying and harassment that many LGBT students experience. Zaffiro said the Allies Program is a student organization that works to educate the UW-Madison community about LGBT rights by organizing activities like the Day of Silence throughout the year. “Allies welcomes everybody regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identification,” Zaffiro said. “We are a peer education group, and we work to inform people about LGBT rights and issues that face the community.” According to Zaffiro, approximately 100 community members participated in the march, a significant increase from the 2008 Day of Silence. “It went much better than last year,” Zaffiro said. “We organized it a lot better, we had perfect weather and so many people turned out to show their support.” Giuffre said several anti-gay rights activists protested along with
the group, but said he was satisfied with how the participants handled the opposition. “We just stood next to them and silently protested,” Giuffre said. “It was great.” Giuffre also said he felt the event was a success, and the group did a great job expressing their support for LGBT rights. “We organized [the march] a lot better, we had perfect weather and so many people turned out to show their support.” Emma Zaffiro co-president UW-Madison Allies Program
DANNY MARCHEWKA/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Seniors in the University of Wisconsin Varsity Band throw their music into the air at their concert at the Kohl Center Saturday.
UWPD trains SAFEwalkers in campus safety awareness By Beth Pickhard THE DAILY CARDINAL
“[The march] helped get our message across that people in Madison still care about LGBT rights, and also that everyone should be able to be who they are,” Giuffre said. According to Zaffiro, the Allies Program organized the march in conjunction with Gay Straight Alliance for Safe Schools, an organization that promotes LGBT rights among high school and middle school students.
UWPD officers trained members of SAFEwalk for Badger Watch, a UW-Madison crime prevention organization, at Memorial Union Sunday. According to Heidi Laundrie, UWPD lower campus community officer, Badger Watch is a program that encourages members to watch for and report crime in the UWMadison community. Laundrie said Badger Watch began in 2002 as a volunteer program. She
said it has now expanded to include over 1,400 members. “Volunteers do as little or as much as they want to do,” Laundrie said. “If it’s nothing it’s just to keep yourself safe, you’ve done your job.” According to a release, Badger Watch training is easy and no further commitments are required. It allows community members to be better aware of their surroundings so they are able to report crimes when they see safewalk 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.”