Clipsheet

April 9, 2021

Research

Research on Coronavirus Variants at UW Lab Buoyed by CDC Funding

Posted on 4/9/2021

PBS Wisconsin

The kind of work being done at a Wisconsin lab could be a shot in the arm, so to speak in the fight against the shifting terrain of COVID-19. As the number of variant coronavirus cases increases, lawmakers are hopeful funds from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 can fuel research labs like the AIDS Vaccine Research Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. The $1.75 billion package signed into law in March funds COVID-related research focused on detecting variants of the virus.

Higher Education/System

UW Regent: Campuses Shouldn’t Be Compelling, Coercing Students To Get Vaccinated Against COVID-19

Posted on 4/9/2021

Wisconsin Public Radio

A member of the University of Wisconsin System’s governing board says state universities shouldn’t be “compelling or coercing” students to get vaccinated against COVID-19. This comes a day after interim UW System President Tommy Thompson announced a plan to incentivize vaccinations by lifting testing requirements for students that get them.

Jewish groups ask UW-Madison, other UW campuses to change next year’s calendar

Posted on 4/9/2021

Wisconsin State Journal

Wisconsin’s Jewish community is calling on six University of Wisconsin System campuses, including UW-Madison, to reconsider their academic calendars for next year because the first day of classes conflict with Rosh Hashanah, one of the holiest holidays on the Jewish calendar.

Campus life

Three UW students receive Barry Goldwater scholarships for innovative research

Posted on 4/9/2021

Badger Herald

The scholarship is awarded to students who excel greatly in natural science, engineering, mathematics and have high academic and research achievements.

UW to offer masters degree in psychoactive drugs

Posted on 4/9/2021

Daily Cardinal

The fully-online Psychoactive Pharmaceutical Investigation program will look to examine the relationships between psychedelic drugs and mental health, including MDMA, also known as ecstasy; psilocybin, the active ingredient in mushrooms; ketamine and more.

Crime and safety

UW-Madison international student scammed out of $10,000 by someone posing as ICE agent

Posted on 4/9/2021

WISC-TV 3

After a dozen calls demanding more money, the student found information online saying this was likely a scam and reported the calls to Madison police.

ICE scam costs UW international student nearly $10K

Posted on 4/9/2021

NBC-15

A University of Wisconsin-Madison student is out nearly $10,000 following a scam involving someone who claimed to be from U.S. Immigration Services and threatening to deport the student.

Health

Medical experts notice ‘significant’ increase in liver disease among young people

Posted on 4/9/2021

NBC-15

According to UW Health, liver disease and cirrhosis, or significant scaring of the liver, can be caused by multiple different conditions. It includes viral hepatitis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and also heavy alcohol consumption.

UW encourages students to consider all vaccination sites available

Posted on 4/9/2021

Badger Herald

UHS does not currently have the supply to serve all students who are eligible, encourages students to seek vaccine at a variety of locations.

Athletics

No. 1 Wisconsin Badgers Prepare For Unusual NCAA Volleyball Tournament

Posted on 4/9/2021

Wisconsin Public Radio

It hasn’t been a normal year for the University of Wisconsin-Madison women’s volleyball team, and it won’t be a typical NCAA tournament either.

Sydney Hilley, Dana Rettke lead Badgers’ 4 All-Big Ten first-team selections

Posted on 4/9/2021

Wisconsin State Journal

Hilley and senior middle blocker Dana Rettke were among seven unanimous choices on the 22-member first team announced Thursday. They were joined by senior outside hitter Grace Loberg and freshman right side Devyn Robinson.

UW Experts in the News

Many states use outdated rainfall predictions when designing roads, bridges and dams – that’s a problem as the climate changes

Posted on 4/9/2021

The Washington Post

“The take-home message is that infrastructure in most parts of the country is no longer performing at the level that it’s supposed to because of the big changes that we’ve seen in extreme rainfall,” said Daniel Wright, a hydrologist at the University of Wisconsin at Madison and co-author of the study.

UW-Madison Related

Steven Olikara, founder of the Millennial Action Project, weighs joining Democratic race for U.S. Senate in 2022

Posted on 4/9/2021

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Noted: A graduate of Brookfield East High School and the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Olikara launched the Millennial Action Project in 2013.

UW regent committee erases excess credit surcharge

Posted on 4/9/2021

Wisconsin State Journal

The Regents’ Education Committee approved a plan that calls for eliminating the surcharge at all campuses except UW-Madison with a voice vote. The full Board of Regents will take up the proposal Friday.