UW-Madison’s history traced back through its buildings FEATURES
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University of Wisconsin-Madison
BLUE DEVIL BEATDOWN IN MADTOWN
The Badgers led from start to finish in defeating undefeated No. 6 Duke 73-69 SPORTS Complete campus coverage since 1892
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dailycardinal.com
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Thursday, December 3, 2009
“Sconnie” co-founder lends students advice
Parting the Grateful Red sea
By Andrew Kasper The Daily Cardinal
kyle bursaw/the daily cardinal
Badger fans stormed the court after the Badgers defeated the No. 6-ranked Duke Blue Devils Wednesday night. The win ensured the Big Ten conference’s first-ever win in the Big Ten-ACC challenge. For more photos from the game, check out dailycardinal.com/media.
Edgewater appeals to council By Caitlin Gath The Daily Cardinal
The Hammes Co. chose to appeal to the Madison Common Council against the decision of the city’s Landmarks Commission to deny a certificate of appropriateness to the proposed redevelopment of the Edgewater Hotel on Wednesday. “We’re hoping that the Common Council will review the Landmarks decision and weigh the benefits of the project … and will find that the project is in fact compatible and a
positive impact to the area,” Amy Supple of Hammes Co. said. On Monday, the Landmarks Commission voted down the approval of the certificate largely because opponents of the project said the proposed tower is too big and would not blend in with the existing neighborhood. Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said in his blog on Tuesday that the commission’s decision to not approve the project “reveals a broken City approval process that needs to be fixed.” “I do think they erred signifi-
cantly … by interpreting the language of the ordinance with regard to ‘buildings directly affected by the project’ to mean all buildings in the historic district,” he said. “I see this building as being compatible.” Supple said the proposal has been substantially reduced and, in doing so, the financial aspects of the project have become more difficult. For the item to be repealed, it will need a 14-vote supermajority of the 20-member council. Cieslewicz called the need for the superjamority to overturn the deci-
sion “fundamentally undemocratic.” Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said the appeal has all the makings of a close vote. If the appeal is approved, Verveer said it would set a very dangerous precedent against historic preservation. “I would like to see the Edgewater redeveloped, but not at the expense of the historic district,” he said. The Council will discuss the appeal Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the City County Building.
Activists protest abortion restrictions in health-care bill
Stephpanie Moebius/the daily cardinal
Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton speaks to a crowd standing up against the Stupak amendment in a current health-care reform bill. By Rebecca Autrey The Daily Cardinal
Activists gathered Wednesday on the steps of the state Capitol to protest abortion restrictions in the healthcare reform bill in the U.S.
House of Representatives. The rally was part of a national day of action against the Stupak amendment in the bill. The amendment, named after Rep. Bart Stupak, D-Mich., would not allow federal
funds to pay for insurance plans covering abortion outside of rape, incest or medical risks to the mother. Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton spoke at the rally and said she was angry that women are being treated “like a special interest group.” She said women’s rights should not be politicized in order to get the health-care bill passed. “We just want honest healthcare reform and stay out of our decision-making on medical choices and just give us full insurance coverage in the same way that men are given full coverage,” she said. “No amendments to it.” State Rep. Terese Berceau, D-Madison, said the Stupak amendment is a step backward in the fight for women’s equality. Not only does it separate women from men, she said, it separates “women from themselves.” Berceau also said a democratic government has no right to control women’s decisions regarding their own well-being. Berceau, a two-time cancer survivor, said a woman’s control over her own body should not be given up in order to gain support for the bill.
Chris Taylor, the public policy director for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin, said the Stupak amendment is the biggest barrier to women’s reproductive rights since 1973 and the U.S. Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade. She said citizens of Wisconsin should ask Senators Russ Feingold, D-Wis., and Herb Kohl, D-Wis., to keep a similar amendment out of a Senate health-care bill. “If we do not stand up for our rights and our health, no one will,” Taylor said. UW seniors Nicole Steffens and Monica Sundal attended the rally to express their opposition toward the amendment. Steffens said she agrees with the need for a national healthcare bill, but thinks people should slow down and educate themselves about the specifics of the legislation. “We need to get every single piece of the picture, and that’s what bothers me about it,” she said. Wednesday’s rally was sponsored by over a dozen organizations, including NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin.
Troy Vosseller, a UW-Madison graduate student and co-founder of the “Sconnie” brand of merchandise, discussed the advantages of starting a small business while attending college to a group of business students Wednesday. Vosseller’s advice drew on experiences from his own business, which he said began as a small venture in which he and his friend sold “Sconnie” T-shirts out of their dorm room and eventually developed into a retail brand which has seen revenue increases of over 100 percent each year of business.
“As a student, you’re at a great time to start a business.” Troy Vosseller co-founder Sconnie
He said students are at a perfect point in their lives to start their own businesses. “As a student, you’re at a great time to start a business,” he said. “You have access to all sorts of low-interest loans, and if you fail, you will still gradusconnie page 3
Housing Committee gives more rights to housing tenants By Ryan Hebel The Daily Cardinal
Madison’s Housing Committee approved two measures bolstering tenant protections against landlords with potentially questionable practices Wednesday night. One of the amendments narrows the rules landlords must follow for apartment showings. Wisconsin statutes currently require landlords to notify tenants “a reasonable amount of time” before showings. The update requires landlords to provide notice at least 24 hours in advance and specify no more than a three-hour window for touring tenants. “It’s just common sense that you’d want to tell your tenant when you’re going to be there tenants 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.”