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September 23, 2025

Research

UW-Madison’s first African American research lab conducts survey on Black affirming spaces

WMTV - Channel 15

University of Wisconsin-Madison’s first research lab in the African American Studies department is collecting data on spaces where Black people thrive throughout the city.

The UW-Madison research lab, Soulfolk Collective, partnered with the Center of Black Excellence and Culture to determine how to amplify Black voices, stories and lived experiences.

Higher Education/System

Federal cuts to foreign language grants leave UW-Madison programs, students in limbo

Wisconsin State Journal

UW-Madison graduate student Olivia Kusuma received a competitive federal grant allowing her to study advanced Indonesian this fall for her research on Southeast Asian American communities.

Kusuma is one of more than 50 UW-Madison students who, after weeks of waiting in limbo, got notice this month that the Trump administration canceled the university’s federal Foreign Language and Area Studies.

How Kirk’s campus work will go on

Politico

“What happened to Charlie Kirk was a tragedy, it was wrong,” Jennifer Mnookin, the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said last week.

“The fact that it happened on a college campus is even a step worse,” Mnookin said during a panel discussion at the Reagan Institute Summit on Education. “Because college campuses should be part of the places within society where ideas are explored and bump up against each other, and the ways that we should be disagreeing with each other should never include what happened there.”

Campus life

Historic UW-Madison frat searches for new house after plans get pricey

The Cap Times

A chemistry fraternity is again looking for a new home at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Alpha Chi Sigma is a professional co-ed fraternity founded at UW-Madison in 1902. With about 80 active members, the chapter supports Badger students entering STEM fields — in science, technology, engineering and math.

Members of the Alpha Chapter lived and met in two houses at 619 and 621 N. Lake St. for decades, near Lake Mendota and UW-Madison’s Memorial Union.

Community

Badgers partner with MMSD to get students excited about reading and develop better literacy habits

WKOW - Channel 27

Badgers were spotted at Sandburg Elementary on Monday helping students get excited about reading.

The partnership between the Wisconsin Badger football program and Madison Metropolitan School District helps UW athletes give back to the community through the support of the district’s reading literacy initiative.

Athletics

Barry Alvarez says Wisconsin fans are ‘spoiled rotten’ after ‘Fire Fickell’ chants

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Barry Alvarez is not a fan of the “Fire Fickell” chants that occurred during Wisconsin’s Week 4 loss to Maryland. The revered former Wisconsin football coach and athletic director made that abundantly clear during the Sept. 23 episode of ESPN Madison’s Barry Alvarez Show.

“I think it’s embarrassing,” Alvarez said. “I think it’s terrible, despicable. They’re spoiled rotten.”

Wisconsin chancellor weighs in on AD after Chris McIntosh gives support to Luke Fickell

Wisconsin State Journal

Chris McIntosh expressed his confidence in University of Wisconsin football coach Luke Fickell after a second straight blowout loss Saturday.

UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin now has given McIntosh, the Badgers athletic director, a public vote of confidence. Mnookin declined an interview request by BadgerExtra through a spokesperson Monday but issued a brief statement.

“We all know what a complicated time it is for college athletics,” Mnookin wrote in the statement. “Our Athletic Director, Chris McIntosh, has my full confidence as we navigate these challenges here at UW-Madison.”