THEUWMPOST est. 1956
the student-run independent newspaper
September 12, 2011
page 11
Issue 3, Volume 56
page 6
page 5
Pantherfest welcomes back UWM community
Festivities bring almost 15,000 students, staff and alumni together at the Summerfest grounds
UWM losing experienced staff Number of retiring professors up 100 percent this year By John Parnon Assistant News Editor news@uwmpost.com
Students pile up outside the entrance to the Marcus Amphitheater, eagerly awaiting performances by rapper Lupe Fiasco and electronic artist Girl Talk. Post photo by Austin McDowell By Steve Garrison News Editor news@uwmpost.com
Over 14,000 UW-Milwaukee students, staff and alumni alike flooded the gates of Pantherfest Friday night, almost beating attendance records set last year for this uniquely UWM-centric event. Although the gates opened later
than expected, the concert capping the night ran smoothly, with Milwaukeebased rapper Prophetic kicking off the performance at 7:30 p.m., followed by Lupe Fiasco at 8:30 p.m. and Girl Talk at 10:00 p.m. Before entering the Marcus Amphitheater, concert-goers were welcome to participate in a variety of school-sponsored activities, including Euro bungee, a giant slide, carnival games
and intramural sports competitions. Senior Colby Shoemaker, who was working on behalf of the Recreational Sports and Facilities Department, said she liked the Euro Bungee but was hesitant to try it. “I’m kind of scared of heights, so it’s frightening,” Shoemaker said. First Friday, sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs, also welcomed UWM community members
to socialize and enjoy traditional First Friday fare before the concert began. Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Michael Laliberte said Pantherfest’s importance lays in its ability to unite students, staff and alumni under the common banner of UWM. “It gives us an opportunity to kick the year off with a great celebration,
See PANTHERFEST page 2
Guns on campus, not in buildings UWM is expected to ban weapons from campus buildings, despite new law allowing them on campus grounds By Aaron Knapp Assistant News Editor news@uwmpost.com
With less than two months left before Wisconsin’s new concealed-carry law allowing licensed individuals to bring weapons onto campus goes into effect, the UW System has announced that it will support universities in banning weapons within campus buildings. However, universities are responsible
INDEX
NEWS SPORTS
for placing signs at every building entrance on campus in order for the ban to be legal, giving each institution some flexibility. So far, UW-Madison is the only institution to announce that it will post these signs, but all UW members are expected to adopt the same policy. “I think in general it’s a good idea throughout the country, but here in Milwaukee, just knowing the attitudes… there’s so much tension in this city. I just really am not for it here in Milwaukee
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FRINGE EDITORIAL
County,” UW-Milwaukee senior Michael Haarstad said. Over the summer, the state legislature passed 2011 Wisconsin Act 35, which Governor Scott Walker signed into law, allowing properly-licensed individuals to possess certain types of firearms, tasers and knives on public grounds, except some buildings like schools, courthouses and law enforcement facilities. “The UW specifically requested that the legislature exempt colleges
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and universities from the law, but the legislature declined to insert the requested provision,” a FAQ page about concealed carry on the UW System’s website said. “The law does, however, contain special provisions allowing colleges and universities to take action to prevent people from carrying firearms in campus buildings.” Although police have been unable to enforce the ban on concealed weapons
COMICS PUZZLES
Nearly twice as many professors retired from UW-Milwaukee in 2011 compared to 2010, some citing concerns about loss of benefits. Vice Chancellor of University Relations Tom Luljak said that 37 professors retired between 2010 and 2011, up from 20 the previous year. UWM History Professor Michael Gordon was one of the 37 professors to have retired this year. Gordon taught many courses ranging from freshmen seminars to graduate courses, and he received mostly positive reviews on the website ratemyprofessor.com. “My favorite part of teaching, hands down, is the students. Being able to work with students, learning from students, taking some courses once in a while,” said Gordon. “I could help some students, make some progress. That’s the whole reason I love to be here – because of the students.” Gordon has taught at UWM for 24 years and said he left UWM over concerns that the Walker administration would seek to end the Supplemental Health Insurance Conversion Credit program. The SHICC program helps state employees pay for their health insurance after they retire. State employees were able to exchange unused sick leave credits accumulated over their career to pay premiums on state health insurance. The Wisconsin Department of Employee Trust Funds estimates that a state employee that has worked for 28 years and made $22.50/hour would receive about $100,000 towards health insurance premiums after retiring. “There were many rumors that the Walker administration planned to make key changes in key health insurance benefits,” said Gordon. “Those rumors persist even though there have been no efforts to make such changes so far.” Gordon said he consulted with family and friends before deciding to leave UWM. He hopes to be able to teach courses periodically but has no plans to return to a permanent teaching position. “I’m really very much worried about the ability of the students to be able to pay tuition. Tuition
See GUNS page 5
See RETIRE page2 uwmpost.com
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