Clipsheet

December 27, 2023

Research

Study: Lack of childhood nurturing linked to accelerated aging

Posted on 12/27/2023

Wisconsin Public Radio

A new study by a researcher at the University of Wisconsin-Madison found that a lack of nurturing as a child is associated with accelerated aging later in life. The research looks at changes to a person’s genome that have been linked to their environment or behaviors — what’s called epigenetics. These markers can indicate a person’s biological age, or how much their body has aged physically.

Lauren Schmitz, professor at UW-Madison’s La Follette School of Public Affairs, said the field of research around these epigenetic changes is still new because data is limited. Studies require both survey data on people’s health experiences and a blood sample.

Novel helmet liner 30 times better at stopping concussions

Posted on 12/27/2023

New Atlas

To improve their effectiveness, helmets worn by military personnel and sportspeople must employ a liner material that limits both. This is where researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison come in. Determined to prevent – or lessen the effect of – TBIs caused by knocks to the body and head, they’ve developed a new lightweight foam material for use as a helmet liner.

Higher Education/System

UW Board of Regents to hold special meeting to consider chancellor punishment

Posted on 12/27/2023

Wisconsin State Journal

The UW Board of Regents plans to hold a special closed-door meeting Wednesday to consider “taking a personnel action to discipline or terminate a chancellor,” an agenda released Tuesday night states.

UW Board of Regents to discuss whether to discipline or fire a chancellor

Posted on 12/27/2023

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

The board overseeing University of Wisconsin System campuses will meet behind closed doors Wednesday evening to consider disciplining or firing a UW chancellor.

Universities of Wisconsin looking to double its international student population

Posted on 12/27/2023

Wisconsin State Journal

International students make up about 4% of the UW system’s undergraduate population, although much of that comes from UW-Madison, where about 10% of its undergraduates come from other countries. Of the regional schools, UW-Superior has the highest percentage of its undergraduate enrollment from international students, about 6.4%.

What to know about the UW System funding deal

Posted on 12/27/2023

The Daily Cardinal

Republican lawmakers and UW System President Jay Rothman reached an agreement earlier this month to restructure diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) positions in exchange for pay raises and building projects.

Campus life

New UW partnership allows direct donations to students in need

Posted on 12/27/2023

Madison365

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is partnered up with Purposity to match students up with donors to help meet their basic needs. Purposity, an Atlanta based philanthropic fundraising service founded in 2016, developed a platform for school systems and local non-profits to match community members with donors.

Health

Virtual reality gives a boost to the ‘lazy eye’

Posted on 12/27/2023

National Public Radio

“In all cases of amblyopia, there’s a stronger eye and a weaker eye. And it’s winner-take-all in the cortex. And the cortex learns to ignore the signals from the weak eye,” says Elizabeth Quinlan, a neuroscientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Athletics

Celebrate outstanding UW women student-athletes — Daniel Grant

Posted on 12/27/2023

Wisconsin State Journal

Letter to the editor: I am writing to celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of women student athletes at UW-Madison.

Wisconsin filling wide receiver coaching vacancy with one of Luke Fickell’s former players

Posted on 12/27/2023

Wisconsin State Journal

University of Wisconsin football coach Luke Fickell is turning to a player he once coached to lead his wide receivers.

Opinion

UW Board of Regents right to accept DEI compromise

Posted on 12/27/2023

Kenosha News

Common sense prevailed recently when the Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents flip-flopped and voted 11-6 to agree to a compromise deal with Republican legislators. The agreement limits diversity positions on system campuses in exchange for money to cover staff raises and construction projects.

The DEI Rollback of 2023

Posted on 12/27/2023

The Wall Street Journal

The diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) bureaucracy on campus has proliferated in recent years, but there are signs it’s finally meeting resistance. The latest good news is from Wisconsin, where public universities will pare back some DEI programs and freeze them going forward.

Business/Technology

Bipartisan bills aim to reform payday loans in Wisconsin

Posted on 12/27/2023

Wisconsin Public Radio

“There are companies out there lending to Wisconsin consumers at really just exorbitant interest rates. I mean, I’ve seen 400 percent, 300 percent APRs,” said Sarah Orr, director of the University of WIsconsin-Madison Law School’s Consumer Law Clinic.

“And although the repayment terms are more like an installment loan, they’re really just terrible financial traps for people,” Orr continued. “A person who gets one of these products really spells ruin. I don’t know any other way to express it.”

UW Experts in the News

‘Pregnancy’ used to be the focus in abortion local news stories. Now, it’s ‘vote.’

Posted on 12/27/2023

Politico

“It’s important who wins the White House for a whole host of reasons,” said Michael Wagner, the director of graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication, who has published research on how abortion became a partisan issue in the news. “But for those who have become pregnant and don’t want to be, the election does not come in time to provide them a remedy.”

Republicans likely to take Wisconsin gerrymandering case back to the U.S. Supreme Court

Posted on 12/27/2023

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

In order to get the U.S. Supreme Court to look at the case, the Legislature and its allies will need to make the argument that there was a violation of federal law. That’s because, explained Rob Yablon, University of Wisconsin Law School professor and co-director of the State Democracy Research Initiative, the core legal claim in the case — contiguity — is a matter of state law.

The case brought to the court argued the maps violate Wisconsin’s Constitution because some legislative districts include pieces of land that are not connected. “The Wisconsin Supreme Court has the last word on state law questions,” Yablon said.

‘Trojan horse’? Wisconsin Supreme Court ruling likely to boost legislative Democrats

Posted on 12/27/2023

Wisconsin State Journal

Had the Wisconsin Supreme Court found only a couple of districts with noncontiguous territory in violation of the Constitution, it could have called for a tailored approach to fix just those boundaries, UW-Madison Law School associate professor Robert Yablon said.

Obituaries

Ruth Leona Schumacher Lutze

Posted on 12/27/2023

Wisconsin State Journal

She worked as a visiting nurse in Kenosha, Wis., and spent the greater part of her nursing career in Madison as the coordinator for UW-Extension Wisconsin Inactive Nurse Studies (WINS) program until her retirement in 1996.

UW-Madison Related

Looking for a babysitter? Badgersitters has a team of 180 of them at your service

Posted on 12/27/2023

Wisconsin State Journal

Most of the Badgersitters are UW-Madison students, whose class and extracurricular obligations make them more available for irregular schedules and overnight shifts, which Chung says has taken a lot of the stress out of finding child care.