SHOOTOUT
race to nowhere: The debate over affirmative action needs different direction. +OPINION, page 5
at Soldier Field
Expect offensive fireworks when the Badgers battle the NIU Huskies in the Windy City on Saturady. + SPORTS, page 7 University of Wisconsin-Madison
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dailycardinal.com
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Students rally, march to debate By Alex DiTullio The Daily Cardinal
Behind a banner reading “You cannot oppress the unafraid,” an estimated 850 students with signs chanted and marched to Union South Tuesday to watch a debate over affirmative action on college campuses. Students’ outrage began Monday after a conservative think tank released two studies saying UW-Madison discriminates against white and Asian students by favoring African American and Latino students in its admissions decisions. Roger Clegg, president of the Center for Equal Opportunity, the group that
released the studies, argued against affirmative action while UW Law professor Larry Church spoke for it. Despite students’ anger toward CEO’s studies, the debate focused on affirmative action as a whole and did not address details of CEO’s studies. Students gave Church a standing ovation as he walked toward the podium, where he vigorously argued for affirmative action. “We can’t wait forever to achieve the glacial path to full integration to the US. 220 years is enough,” Church said.
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Victor Bittorf/the daily cardinal
Spurred by controversial studies of affirmative action at UW-Madison, students rallied on Bascom Hill and packed a debate at Union South Tuesday.
Demonstrators take over release of disputed studies By Scott Girard and Aarushi Agni The Daily Cardinal
Lorenzo zemella/the daily cardinal
Students rallied outside a press conference held by Center for Equal Opportunity president Roger Clegg, in which he formally announced the studies.
Students took over a Center for Equal Opportunity press conference Tuesday, protesting the conservative group’s claim that UW-Madison’s admissions process discriminates against Asian and white applicants by favoring black and Latino students. About an hour into the closed-door press conference, protesters flooded the conference room, surrounding CEO president Roger Clegg and confronting him with questions regarding the center’s findings. The press conference’s official purpose was for Clegg to answer queries regarding two studies released by the conservative think tank Monday.
The CEO studies contend UW-Madison’s undergraduate and law school admissions processes discriminate against whites and Asians in favor of black and Latino applicants, whose test scores and class rank were demonstrably lower, according to the study. Clegg said his organization is “not anti-diversity, but … against discrimination” like affirmative action, which Clegg called “divisive, insulting, unfair.” Clegg said all students bring diverse experiences from their personal backgrounds, including whites. “We shouldn’t ignore the fact that diamonds in the rough come from all colors,” Clegg said.
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Protesters say state’s new housing bill would limit tenants’ freedoms By Adam Wollner The Daily Cardinal
Over 150 people gathered on the steps of the Capitol Tuesday evening to protest a Wisconsin bill, which opponents say would allow landlords more freedom to deny tenants housing. The rally, which was organized by The Wisconsin Alliance for Tenants’ Rights, featured several speakers from across the state, each voicing their opposition to the Senate Bill 107, which passed in the Senate this past summer and is awaiting vote in the Assembly. “In a time of economic crisis, we should not be limiting tenant rights,” Wisconsin Alliance for Tenants’ Rights member Colin Ginnis said. “We should be protecting tenant rights.” The bill would allow landlords to deny prospective tenants housing based on their credit histories, employment histories and conviction records, according to critics. Even though supporters of the bill say it will give landlords the tools they need to protect their properties, many of the speakers
said allowing landlords to see personal information would unfairly discriminate against minorities and those under the poverty line. Housing activist and Progressive Dane member Heidi Wegleitner said the bill will “increase homelessness in our community and … increase racial segregation.” She called on public officials to reduce poverty in the area. UW-Madison graduate student of Sociology and TAA member Charity Schmidt said the American dream is “fast becoming nothing but an illusion,” and called the bill the latest attack on “our communal values.” “Housing is a right, not a privilege,” Schmidt added. Opponents also fear the repercussions the bill could have on students who historically are viewed as living more transiently, moving each year. UW-Madison student and United Council member Damon Terrell encouraged the protesters to remain united and keep fighting.
Grace Liu/the daily cardinal
United Council member Damon Terrell spoke at a protest Tuesday against a bill that would allowa landlords to access tenants’ personal information.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”