Monday, February, 28, 2011 - The Daily Cardinal

Page 1

Dropkick Murphys still putting up a fight on seventh studio album ARTS

University of Wisconsin-Madison

l

Ed Board: Speaker pro temp must resign State Assembly speaker Bill Kramer’s rule violations are reprehensible OPINION

PAGE 4

Complete campus coverage since 1892

l

dailycardinal.com

l

PAGE 7

Monday, February 28, 2011

Morgridges to speak to grads By Kayla Johnson and Scott Girard The Daily Cardinal

John and Tashia Morgridge will be the speakers at the UW-Madison Spring Commencement ceremony. The UW-Madison graduates have used their fortunes made through John’s career as CEO of Cisco to give back to their alma mater in the form of over $80 million dollars to fund building projects. They have helped to fund the Wisconsin Institute for D i s c ov e r y, Grainger Hall MORGRIDGE and the new Education building, among others. The Daily Cardinal interviewed Tashia Morgridge via e-mail: Q: How did you two meet? A: We started dating as sopho-

mores in high school. Q: What was the most important lesson you learned at UW? A: The most important thing we learned while at UW was that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. We also learned that I really loved to teach and that John found business interesting enough to apply to graduate school. John went right onto the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and I went to Lesley University in Massachusetts several years later for a Masters in Education. John had a successful business career, and I loved my teaching career. Q: What is your primary message to UW graduates? A: A message to graduates would be to think about their goals, to enjoy the work they do, and to think about what their Facebook picture will say about them five years from now. Q: What philosophy drives morgridges page 3

Kathryn Weenig/the daily cardinal

A UW-Madison student threatened to jump off of the Van Hise building Friday before authorities talked him down.

Man threatens to jump from Van Hise A young man threatened to jump off the top of Van Hise Hall Friday, according to UW-Madison Police Department Spokesperson Ruth Ewing. UW police received a call at 4:06 p.m. Friday that there was a suicidal subject on the corner of the roof overlooking Charter Street and Observatory Drive. A professional negotiating team was prepared to come to the scene, but university police in the building succeeded in convincing the man to come off the roof around 6 p.m. Officers rerouted traffic down University Avenue and blocked off the perimeter of the building to ensure there was no danger to

people in the surrounding area, according to Ewing. Observatory Drive was shut down from Babcock Drive to Park Street. Dean of Students Lori Berquam said she hopes other UW-Madison students who may have similar feelings will be open in the aftermath of the incident. “This is not a time to suffer in silence,” Berquam said. “If this resonates with anybody or this triggers anything, then I hope that students will talk to each other, talk to trusted professionals and colleagues so that they can get the support that they need during this time.” —Kayla Johnson

Ben Pierson/the daily cardinal

Protesters were infuriated by the Assembly’s vote on the budget repair bill early Friday morning, and since then have flooded the Capitol area to voice their anger.

Protesters undeterred by Assembly vote After the Assembly passed the budget repair bill early Friday morning, tens of thousands of demonstrators turned out at the Capitol, culminating in the largest protest to date Saturday. Union leaders, dissenters from around the state and even a few television actors showed their fury over the weekend for the bill that would strip state workers of their collective bargaining rights. Some protesters applauded Democratic representatives for delaying the inevitable for as long as they did, while others said they should have fought harder. “I’m proud that the Assembly was able to extend the debate for over a week, so our voices could be heard,” said Randy Becker, a public school teacher from Verona. “I’m disap-

pointed that Republicans didn’t want to listen.” Other protesters weren’t so sympathetic and blamed both parties for allowing the measure to pass, but pledged not to let the setback deter their protesting. “I think they’re a bunch of cowards,” said Linda Kolodzne, a custodian at Fort Atkinson High School, who took the day off work to join the protests. “Those that would have probably stood with us probably felt like they were shackled into to doing what their party wants them to, because they feel like they won’t have job.” Demonstrators who have been camping out in the capitol for almost two weeks were asked to leave at 4 p.m. Sunday, and while

many left, those who stayed were not forcibly removed and remained in the building Sunday night. The budget repair can now be taken up by the state Senate, but it still does not have the quorum necessary for a vote as the 14 Democratic Senators are still in Illinois. Despite this, Senate Republicans were able to move the bill past the stage where it can be amended Friday morning. However, Senate Republicans are not completely unified on the budget repair bill. State Sen. Dale Schultz, R-Richland Center, is planning to vote against the bill, according to a post by liberal blog The Daily Kos. Two more Republicans would need to vote against the bill in order to keep it from passing. —Patrick Tricker

Martin defends Partnership to Board of Regents By Alex DiTullio The Daily Cardinal

Chancellor Biddy Martin met with the Board of Regents Friday to discuss the potential UW-Madison split from the UW System as protesters of the deal gathered outside. The plan, which will likely appear in Gov. Scott Walker’s budget Tuesday, would give UW-Madison a separate 21-member board of trustees, which would be capable of setting tuition and would have more authority to manage building projects. UW-Madison student leaders supported Martin’s plan, which she said is necessary following a likely budget cut. “My approach has been to say, begin with the hand we’re dealt,” Martin said. “And the hand we were dealt has no money in it. And it’s for that reason, my staff and I have been developing and present

the New Badger Partnership.” Other UW System chancellors fear, however, that this spinoff will create unnecessary competition for state resources between the schools, create difficulties in recruiting new faculty and will hurt the prestige of the UW System. Martin assured these schools that UW-Madison is not going anywhere, and emphasized that shared prestige comes from the quality of institution and the service they provide to young people and the state. “Surely the pride that faculty, staff, students and alumni feel for their particular institutions in the system is derived from something other than UW-Madison,” Martin said. She said each of the UW schools has something unique to offer students. Martin pointed to the unparalleled music program at UW-Eau Claire, a great film and productions unit at

UW-Milwaukee and strengths in energy and environmental studies at UW-Stevens Point. Chancellors from other UW schools continued to worry, however, about negative repercussions from these changes. “It feels like we’re getting a divorce,” UW-Stevens Point Chancellor Bernie Patterson said. “It feels like in every divorce, the ones who come up short are the children. In this case we need to be thinking about 182,000 students.” Others advocated for more flexibility not only for UW-Madison, but also for their respective schools. Martin agreed these universities deserve more flexibility, but said, along with support from Madison student leaders, UW-Madison is just different. Student leaders, including Associated Students of Madison regents 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.”


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.