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dailycardinal.com
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Inclusive Excellence to focus on integrating entire campus Part 2 of 2 in a series examining the university’s diversity programs By Anna Discher The Daily Cardinal
After evaluating the effectiveness of Plan 2008, UW-Madison’s 10-year plan to increase diversity on campus, officials are focusing on the creation of a more comprehensive plan to improve campus diversity. The main goal of Plan 2008 was to increase the numbers of several target minority groups on campus. Although the plan generated greater numbers of these targeted minorities on campus, many felt the plan could have done more to include the campus community as a whole in diversity discussions. Using the results of Plan 2008 as a stepping stone, UW-Madison officials announced the university’s new “Inclusive Excellence for Diversity” plan this fall. Vicki Washington, associate vice president for equity, diversity and inclusion for the UW System, said under Inclusive Excellence, UW-Madison institutions are looking at all dimensions of diversity and developing strategies in each department on campus where needed. According to Damon Williams, UW-Madison vice provost for diversity and climate, the program’s concept, which was approved by the UW System Board of Regents in March 2009, does not stand alone as a static plan. Williams said it is infused directly into UW-Madison’s strategic goals as a university. “The chancellor is very committed to infusing this conversation throughout the university and not having it be a standalone enterprise, but being an enterprise that’s actively incorporated into all that we do,” Williams said. “But at the end of the day, it is not about increasing numbers, but it’s fundamentally about how we’re going to prepare all of our students for the world that we live in today.” Steven Olikara, Associated Students of Madison’s Diversity
Committee chair, said he is excited about the concept of Inclusive Excellence because, unlike Plan 2008, it does not simply focus on just numbers. “It’s talking about connecting diversity to the institution’s core missions, making sure it’s reflected in student life and how campus units operate,” he said. “I think that’s exactly the direction we need to go in.” According to Washington, for Inclusive Excellence to succeed, it must build on the aspects of Plan 2008 that were successful. “They really need to have a clear sense of what is working well for all of the student populations and where they need to focus their time and energy, and then integrate the strategies into their existing academic planning so that they work to really utilize diversity to the benefit of learning,” she said. “As opposed to having a separate standalone plan that doesn’t work very well.” Olikara said because Plan 2008 successfully increased the numbers of certain minorities on campus, UW-Madison officials must take their efforts to the next level to include the entire campus community. “They talk a lot about recruitment and retention of these specific minorities, but now we need to focus on improving the climate on campus,” he said. Olikara said UW-Madison’s campus has come a long way in reaching greater diversity from 11 years ago when Plan 2008 started, citing that “we now live in a postBarack Obama world.” An example of the sort of actions Inclusive Excellence should include, according to Olikara, is the way the campus has focused attention on hip-hop as a way to foster greater understanding of diversity. He added that UW-Madison needs a diversity program that is up to date with the current diversity climate on campus. “Clearly our generation is more connected and more diverse, and therefore our diversity programs need to reflect that,” he said.
Danny Marchewka/the daily cardinal
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz spoke in support of renovating the Madison Central Library. The Common Council approved two budget amendments Tuesday night to move the project closer to construction.
Common Council moves library project forward By Caitlin Gath The Daily Cardinal
In its first day of deliberations on the 2010 executive capital budget, the city’s Common Council approved two amendments pushing the new Central Library closer to completion. The first amendment guaranteed that the city would not begin any significant portion of the construction of the library until it has received complete assurance that certain federal tax credits have been made available to them. Ald. Michael Schumacher,
District 18, said the fundraising aspects of the project are extremely important. “[The current building is] embarrassing and overdue for a replacement.” Mike Verveer alder District 4
Schumacher removed the original requirement of raising $4 million in private fundrais-
ing for the project, but said he would still like to provide comfort to taxpayers. “This is good comfort language for those worried about the price tag and for it continuing as planned,” he said. These New Market Tax Credits would potentially provide a “real opportunity” that might not exist a year from now, according to Tom Landgraf, a resident and member of the city’s Alcohol License Review Committee. council page 3
Mayor backs Central Library renovations By Beth Pickhard The Daily Cardinal
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and Public Library Board members called for renovations to the Madison Central Library Tuesday night. The proposition is included in Madison’s capital budget, which is awaiting approval by the Common Council. According to Madison Public Library Board President Tripp Widder, building a new Central
Library would cost $37 million, with $17 million coming from taxpayer-supported borrowing. “This is an expensive undertaking, and through the hard work and advocacy of the mayor, the costs have been narrowed substantially,” he said. Cieslewicz said now is the time to act to “reinvent” the city because the library serves an important community base. “It’s about making meeting
spaces where people will come together to share ideas,” he said. Cieslewicz said Madison is filled with intellectuals who wish to reinvent their public resources. “The Central Library makes a statement about the value of education and learning in our community,” he said. According to Cieslewicz, renovations would benefit library page 3
Veterans recognized by Cell Phones for Soldiers By Maggie DeGroot The Daily Cardinal
AT&T showed support for soldiers across the nation Tuesday at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum along the Capitol Square. AT&T is helping out the Cell Phones for Soldiers charity, an organization that uses its proceeds from recycled cell phones and accessories to buy calling cards for soldiers serving in the military overseas. Jeff Bentoff, a spokesperson from AT&T Wisconsin, said peo-
ple would be able to drop off their cell phones and accessories to be recycled and donated at all 21 AT&T-owned stores in Wisconsin. State Sen. Mark Miller, D-Wis., who served in the Air National Guard for 30 years, was also in attendance. Miller is also the author of a new law regarding the recycling of consumer electronic goods. He said this program would help the soldiers, as well as the environment. Bill Kloster, deputy secretary
of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, said once a pay phone is installed at bases overseas, soldiers fill the machines with coins to call home. Cindy Berge, whose son Andrew is now serving in Afghanistan, noted how much a phone call home means to both the people at home and the soldier. Berge said that while her son is able to communicate through the computer, it is not always as readily available as a cell phone.
Isabel Álvarez/the daily cardinal
Bill Kloster reinforced the importance of the soldiers’ ability to communicate with loved ones back home.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”