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December 29, 2022

Top Stories

UW Odyssey to help veterans transition into college with ‘Beyond Wars’ program

Posted on
Wisconsin State Journal

The Odyssey Project will start a new initiative specifically for veterans, named Odyssey Beyond Wars. It joins the project’s umbrella of offerings, which includes the original Odyssey Project, which serves people with financial or other barriers to a college education; Odyssey Junior, for children of students; and Odyssey Beyond Bars, a program offering classes to those incarcerated in Wisconsin.

Research

UW Madison Joins National Harm Reduction Research Network

Posted on
WORT FM

In 2021, over 107,000 people lost their lives to opioid addiction across the country. Public officials across the country have been working to address the issue for years, but a new nation-wide harm reduction research network is looking to find new ways to address the problem.

Today, UW Madison announced that they are joining a new nationwide network to research and evaluate harm reduction services.

Dr. Ryan Westergaard is a professor of medicine at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health, and is leading UW Madison’s research wing of the initiative.

In praise of the monthly water bill

Posted on
The Hill

The cost of delivering safe, clean tap water to every household and business in a community is massive. In fact, it may be among the most expensive of all human undertakings. That is why only the wealthiest countries have achieved it at high rates and why 2 billion people on our planet still lack it.

Co-authored by Manny Teodoro, an associate professor of public affairs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

UW-Madison joins national network evaluating harm reduction services

Posted on
Channel 3000

The nine-member network, established by the National Institutes of Health, will test the effectiveness of a range of tools designed to prevent drug overdoses, disease transmission and other harms. Researchers at UW-Madison will look at methods such as smartphone applications that improve access to services in urban and rural areas of Wisconsin.

Higher Education/System

Hillel International is in the fight against antisemitism – in Wisconsin

Posted on
The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle

Hillel International has gotten into the fight against antisemitism in the University of Wisconsin system, enrolling administrators in a free educational program and presenting to the UW System Board of Regents. 

It’s not clear if there has been a speaker before at a board of regents, on antisemitism, at a large public university anywhere. If so, it’s likely a rarity. 

“We were pleased to provide Hillel the opportunity to address the board,” said Mark Pitsch, spokesman for the UW-System. “It’s critical we identify issues so we can educate and sensitize our university communities to these issues.” 

Audit shows UW System schools misspent $239,000 of COVID relief funds

Posted on
Wisconsin State Journal

Four University of Wisconsin System universities misspent a total of $239,000 in federal COVID-19 relief money, directing the cash to consultants, online maps and student entertainment, according to the Legislative Audit Bureau.

System administrators dispute some of the findings, however.

The report by the Legislature’s nonpartisan audit bureau found UW-La Crosse, UW-Superior, UW-Platteville and UW-Stevens Point all misspent federal relief funds in the 2021-22 fiscal year.

Campus life

Reporter’s notebook: The key county for Wisconsin Democrats

Posted on
NBC News

Noted: For young voters in Dane County, it was a message that worked. Abortion access was regularly listed to NBC News a top issue motivating voters.

University of Wisconsin student Valerie Howell, who said she supported Democratic candidates, told NBC News that she likely would have turned out to vote in any case, “but I wouldn’t have been as passionate about it.”

State news

2022 was a ‘historic’ year for abortion. Now, advocates on both sides are looking ahead to next year.

Posted on
Wisconsin Public Radio

Noted: According to an analysis of a national study by the University of Wisconsin Collaborative for Reproductive Equity, health care providers have not performed any abortions in the state since the fall of Roe vs. Wade.

“In April and May of 2022, Wisconsin abortion providers reported 590 and 620 abortions, respectively. In July and August, those numbers fell to zero,” it said.

Health

Athletics

Obituaries

UW-Madison Related

James Cromwell Happy to Be ‘Offensive’ and ‘Unpopular’ On PETA’s Behalf

Posted on
Newsweek

Noted: “I’m really delighted that my small contribution, because I have a face and because I’m loud because I can talk, that we made a difference.” He goes on to list some of his achievements which included getting SeaWorld to change their policy on orca whales, releasing cats that were allegedly being mistreated at the University of Wisconsin (he was arrested at both protests). He’s also satisfied if a protest ends up in just one person changing their habits after learning about animal cruelty.