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Author: jplucas

Oates: Big Ten Network could tune viewers out

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Wisconsin State Journal

The Big Ten Network might well turn out to be a good thing for University of Wisconsin fans when it is launched later this year.

More likely, though, the Big Ten’s venture into television will result in changes – some short-term, some long-term – that viewers won’t consider positive. It’s not an exhaustive list, but here are five potentially negative consequences for fans:

1. The Big Ten can’t strike a deal with the major cable providers (including Charter in Madison) and a significant number of football and basketball games won’t be available to viewers who now get them on ABC, CBS, ESPN, ESPN2 or in local syndication from ESPN Plus.

Panelists debate admissions policy (The UWM Post)

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Panelists at the 4th Street Forum debated whether factors other than academics should be used in part to help determine admission to the University of Wisconsin-System.

It is not a race-based policy, UW Board of Regents member Danae Davis said. We are not admitting unqualified individuals.

She said the policy keeps academic achievements as the No. 1 factor in admissions, while standardized test scores are the second factor. The third, she said, are other experiences which include race, ethnicity, gender, age and geographic location.

Tune In Yesterday: The making of broadcast television

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The New Yorker

Television swept across American society as rapidly as the Internet is sweeping across it nowâ??and with even greater immediate effects. At the midpoint of the twentieth century, radio was the dominant broadcast medium, newspapers were the dominant news medium, and movies were the most popular form of visual entertainment. Within ten years, television had taken over. Vast wasteland though it may have been (Newton Minow, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, called it that in 1961), television had become the basic forum of American culture.

So itâ??s easy to forget that everything about it was once up for grabs. There was a lot of earnest debate about what form it ought to take, and people in the business stumbled around trying to figure out how to make money at it. In â??Same Time, Same Station: Creating American Television, 1948-1961â? (Johns Hopkins; $35), James L. Baughman performs the basic historianâ??s function of taking a story whose conclusion we all know and showing that it didnâ??t necessarily have to turn out that way.

Even moderate drinking affects sleep (Food Consumer)

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Drinking alcoholic beverages at any time during the day would increase the risk of breathing problems during sleep. The effect was seen in men, but not in women, according to a new study.

It has been known that sleep disordered breathing is associated with high blood pressure and blood vessel disease, and drinking alcohol before bedtime increases the odds of abnormally shallow breathing, according to Dr. Paul E. Peppard and colleagues from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Teachers Union Wants Different Name For New School

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WISC-TV 3

MADISON, Wis. — The union representing Madison teachers is urging the school board to reopen the naming process for a new West Side elementary school.

The Madison School Board recently voted to call it Vang Pao Elementary.

Pao is a hero of the Hmong community who helped the United States fight communists during the Vietnam War.

But University of Wisconsin-Madison history professor Alfred McCoy said that Pao is also a very controversial figure. McCoy said that Pao might have been involved in war atrocities and drug trafficking.

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Big Ten Network Still Working On Deal With Charter Cable

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NBC-15

Madison: The Big Ten Network doesn’t launch until August, so there’s still time to reach a deal, but right now it’s a cable channel without a home.

“We fully expect your neighbor and yourself to be able to see the network,” says Mark Silverman,President of the Big Ten Network. He wants you to know he’s doing everything he can to get Charter Cable to carry the channel. “I don’t know the odds. I’d like to think they’re pretty darn good. We’ve had great conversations with all the cable operators. I think they all value the content that we have here today.”

UW Ceremony Honors Victims of Virginia Tech Massacre

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NBC-15

U-W Madison’s bell tower rang out 33 times to pay tribute to those killed in Monday’s massacre at Virginia Tech. Virginia Governor Tim Kaine declared Friday a day of morning and called for a moment of silence at noon eastern time to support those touched by Monday’s tragedy.

The UW is made up of thousands of students from hundreds of different backgrounds, but on Friday they all came together with one purpose, to do something.

UW Mourns VA Tech Massacre

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WKOW-TV 27

The bells at UW tolled for Virginia Tech Friday, as the Madison campus mourned victims hundreds of miles away.

At 11 am, the carillon bells at UW rang 32 times…once for each victim of Monday’s massacre at Virginia Tech.

And at that moment, some students and staff stopped what they were doing to send their thoughts and prayers to the families and friends of the victims.

Madison Women Learn to Kick Butt (WKOW-TV)

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WKOW-TV 27

It’s a scary statistic that hits close to home–one in four women will be sexually assaulted in their lifetime.

We’ve recently seen it in Madison.

Last month, a UW student says she was raped by two men on Spring Street.

Students reach out after tragedy

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Wisconsin Public Radio

(UNDATED) College students across the country have tried to comfort those at Virginia Tech, through vigils, memorial funds and other means. Friday at UW-Madison is orange and maroon day — Virginia Techâ??s school colors. Sometimes that support extends beyond those directly affected by the tragedy.

Since the shooting on Monday there have been vigils across the country. Not all the displays of grief and comfort are so public. Less obvious and sometimes harder to uncover is the anxiety that campus counselors are on hand to deal with.

Greg Smith, the director of counseling services at UW-Green Bay, says students identify with others students. Thatâ??s why, he says, even those far removed from the tragedy at Virginia Tech may feel disturbed, especially those who may have gone through some trauma. Smith says even though the trauma may be very different from this event, it can still stir up memories and concerns.

Panelists differ on UW Admissions Policy (WisPolitics.com)

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University of Wisconsin System Regent Danae Davis said today the schoolâ??s new policy of holistic admissions gives the stateâ??s business community students who can succeed in a growing global economy.

She said business leaders want students who have a â??total understanding of diverse cultures and diverse backgroundsâ? and have told the regents the System is not producing that type of talent. The policy, which was approved by the regents at their February meeting, puts more emphasis on non-academic factors than the previous admissions policy and â??achieves consistencyâ? for the entire system, she said. (Second from bottom.)

NIH BUDGET: Boom and Bust (Science)

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Kurt Svoboda knew from day one that science meant sacrifices: pulling long hours, sweating over the data, and starving his personal life for professional success. What the young assistant professor at Louisiana State University (LSU) in Baton Rouge didn’t realize was that time spent on grant proposals, not groundbreaking experiments, would be the big stressor.

Big Ten Network still searching for spot on the TV dial (AP)

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Capital Times

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — When it launches in August, the Big Ten Network wants to be available in every cable- or satellite-wired home in eight states where its schools play.That’s the goal, anyway.So far, only satellite provider DirecTV and a handful of small local cable companies have signed on, Mark Silverman, the new sports network’s president, said last week during a news conference at the University of Illinois.

UW sports: Master plan could be expensive

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Wisconsin State Journal

A plan that could drastically change the imprint of the University of Wisconsin athletics complex is quietly moving forward.School officials, in tandem with architectural and design consultants from Kahler Slater of Milwaukee, are meeting with coaches and UW Athletic Department administrators to devise a master plan for future capital projects.

Wisconsin’s Thomas keeps pushing to top of O-line stock

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USA Today

MADISON, Wis. â?? University of Wisconsin offensive tackle Joe Thomas acknowledges he reads many of the pre-NFL draft online scouting reports about him. But it’s not an exercise in ego-tripping.

“The thing that I always look for right away is ‘weaknesses,’ ” the 2006 Outland Trophy winner says. “I really don’t care what people think I’m good at. I want to know what I need to work on.”

Editorial: Too cozy a relationship?

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Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

Financial aid offices on college campuses and the companies that make student loans must keep a proper distance from one another. But on some Wisconsin campuses, the two are entangled, as reporting by the Journal Sentinel’s Megan Twohey has documented. State and federal lawmakers are reviewing the propriety of those relationships in Wisconsin and around the nation, and the result must be laws barring close ties.

The current controversy over highly profitable student loan companies also gives Congress an opportunity to look at whether the companies deserve the generous federal support they get. These firms compete with the government’s own direct-lending program, which costs taxpayers less.

New Trial Delayed For Man Convicted In 1980 Murder

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WISC-TV 3

The trial date for a man convicted of murdering a college student in 1980 has been pushed back.Ralph Armstrong was serving a life sentence for the murder of 19-year-old University of Wisconsin student Charise Kamps at her downtown apartment when the Wisconsin Supreme Court reversed the conviction and said he has the right to a new trial.Armstrong’s defense team maintains that DNA evidence at the crime scene didn’t belong to Armstrong.

Wisconsin’s Thomas keeps pushing to top of O-line stock

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USA Today

University of Wisconsin offensive tackle Joe Thomas acknowledges he reads many of the pre-NFL draft online scouting reports about him. But it’s not an exercise in ego-tripping. “The thing that I always look for right away is ‘weaknesses,’ ” the 2006 Outland Trophy winner says. “I really don’t care what people think I’m good at. I want to know what I need to work on.

Mental illness strains school counselors

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USA Today

Across America, college counseling centers are strained by rising numbers of mentally ill students and surging demand for mental health services â?? a challenging trend as campus officials try to identify potential threats like the unstable Virginia Tech gunman. And even when serious emotional problems are detected, university officials often feel constrained in how they respond due to an array of laws and policies protecting students’ rights and privacy.

UW Students take Steps to Make Area Neighborhoods Safe

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NBC-15

Studies show criminals often target college students because they’re seen as easy victims, but one step at a time students at the UW Madison are working to change that perception. A second neighborhood watch program is going into effect tomorrow night in the College Court and Spring Street area to help deter crime. The neighborhood watch program is already proving to be successful at doing just that along Langdon Street, and now one student organization is working to make more neighborhoods just as safe.

UW Officials Propose Tuition Hike For Engineering Students

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WISC-TV 3

MADISON, Wis. — The cost of an engineering degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison could go up in the near future, and some students seem to be accepting the idea.

Every year, students gather and try to launch their careers at the UW Engineering Expo at Engineering Hall. Their concepts show the genius that will qualify them for high-paying careers after graduation, WISC-TV reported.

Students Protest War At Kohl’s Office

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WISC-TV 3

MADISON, Wis. — More than 50 University of Wisconsin-Madison students walked out of classes Wednesday in protest of the war in Iraq and held a demonstration at the office of Sen. Herb Kohl.Many protestors said they planned to stay the night or until Kohl speaks with them in person. They are asking for an immediate withdrawal of troops from Iraq.

Shakespeare is not to be at most colleges

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USA Today

Researchers for a non-profit group say fewer colleges appear to require students to study the influential author. Just 15 of 70 institutions studied require English majors to take a course on Shakespeare, says a report by the American Council of Trustees and Alumn. Three Big 10 schools â?? Illiniois, Minnesota and Wisconsin â?? require Shakespeare.

Naming School After Hmong Leader Debated (AP)

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San Francisco Chronicle

A plan to name a new elementary school after a Hmong military leader is winning praise from Hmong but criticism by some who question his past, particularly his ties with the CIA.

The Hmong community says it’s the first time their most prominent leader, General Vang Pao, has been honored with a public school in his name.

“It is a historic moment for the Hmong people,” said Madison school board member Shwaw Vang, a Hmong who persuaded the board to unanimously approve the name last week. An Asian ethnic group, the Hmong in the U.S. came mainly from Laos as refugees after the Vietnam war.

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UW professor: It could happen anywhere (Wisconsin Radio Network)

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Wisconsin Radio Network

UW-Madison engineering professor Tom Lipo was leading a conference seminar on the Virginia Tech campus while a gunman was opening fire just two buildings away.

Lipo and the other UW students and faculty at that conference are now back in Wisconsin unharmed but with vivid memories of the tragedy.

At first, Lipo says, their building was locked down following the dorm shooting that left two dead. They were told not to leave and stay away from the windows.

UW Police Review Safety Plan (WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee)

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MADISON – The University of Wisconsin Police Department has a special division that deals strictly with emergency management and tragic situations similar to what happened in Virginia Monday. But police are quick to point out that students have to be vigilant about their own safety as well.

UW-L dorm gets all-clear after bomb threat

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La Crosse Tribune

A University of Wisconsin-La Crosse residence hall was evacuated for about three hours Wednesday after a worker found a written bomb threat in a bathroom.

A search of Sanford Hall, 1815 Farwell St., turned up nothing suspicious, and students were allowed to return about 5:30 p.m., La Crosse police said.

UW Students Remember Victims of Virginia Tech Massacre (WKOW-TV)

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WKOW-TV 27

Virginia Tech may be hundreds of miles away, but tonight the pain of that campus was felt on UW’s campus.

Students, faculty and staff remembered the 33 victims killed during Monday’s shooting rampage.

The names of those killed in this week’s shootings in Virginia echoed throughout Bascom Hall tonight.

Students and staff listened. Some crying or sitting in silence and all trying to make sense of what happened to their fellow students.

For some, Monday’s killing spree hit even closer to home.

Students, Others Attend UW Memorial Service For Virginia Tech Mourners

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WISC-TV 3

MADISON, Wis. — Hundreds of members of the University of Wisconsin-Madison community gathered on Wednesday night for a memorial service for those affected by the Virginia Tech shootings.

The non-denominational program that aims to support mourners at Virginia Tech began at 5:30 p.m. in Bascom Hall on the school’s campus.

As part of the program, a quartet played inspirational music and microphones were near the audience for those who wish to express their feelings, WISC-TV reported.

Laws Limit Options When a Student Is Mentally Ill

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New York Times

Federal privacy and antidiscrimination laws restrict how universities can deal with students who have mental health problems.

For the most part, universities cannot tell parents about their childrenâ??s problems without the studentâ??s consent. They cannot release any information in a studentâ??s medical record without consent. And they cannot put students on involuntary medical leave, just because they develop a serious mental illness.

Nor is knowing when to worry about student behavior, and what action to take, always so clear.

Counselors Say Cases Like Cho’s Are Hard to Spot as Students’ Behavior Becomes More Extreme

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Chronicle of Higher Education

In hindsight, the signs seem crystal clear: A loner on depression medication writes violent stories and frightens his peers. In the Virginia Tech shootings, as the machinery of blame turns, people are asking whether this could have been recognized and stopped.

But college counselors say that cases like that of Cho Seung-Hui are difficult to identify, even as counselors have seen more and more troubled students in recent years. And even when signs do point to serious problems, counselors say their hands are often tied.

Here’s why Wisconsin’s stem cell patents are being challenged

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Wisconsin Technology Network

Madison, Wis. – In a criminal trial, as any fan of TV cop-and-court shows knows, the prosecution states its case first and the defense goes second. The accused can appear in deep trouble, at first blush, but the weight of evidence submitted by the defense often carries the day.

Not only does that make for appealing television drama, but it’s pretty much how the legal system works in real life. Those who file the charges speak first, the accused then get a chance to rebut.

UW Madison works to make environment as safe as possible (Wisconsin Radio Network)

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Wisconsin Radio Network

The assistant police chief at UW Madison says communication is one way to avert campus tragedy. Assistant Chief Dale Burke says that, in the vast majority of cases, people don’t just “snap,” and the shootings at Virginia Tech appear to bear that out. “This young man (Virginia Tech shooter Cho Seung-hui) had pictures on Facebook, showing him with guns and ammunition,” notes Burke. “That kind of information needs to be brought to the attention of people who can do something about it.”

Should college applicants get background checks?

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USA Today

The Virginia Tech student who went on a shooting rampage Monday before killing himself may have had a troubled past, but it’s not yet clear whether he had a criminal one. Even so, the tragedy has prompted some calls for background checks on college applicants. “It’s an idea whose time has come,” says Catherine Bath, executive director of Security On Campus, a national advocacy group based in Pennsylvania that has pushed for federal legislation aimed at keeping students safe.

Iowa State athletic director has already made his mark (Sioux City Journal)

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Two decades ago, while excelling in track and field at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Jamie Pollard learned a valuable lesson.

“I was in individual sports, swimming and running, so I never had to say I didn’t score because somebody didn’t pass me the ball,” said Pollard. “What you put into it is what you get out of it and I think that’s rubbed off on how I work professionally.”

Iowa State University has been the beneficiary.

Since being named athletic director at Iowa State on Sept. 19, 2005, the 42-year-old Pollard has poured his heart and soul into Cyclone athletics. The results have been swift and efficient.

Colleges seek faster warnings (AP)

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The two hours it took for Virginia Tech officials to e-mail students a warning about a gunman on campus has raised concern about how schools can get critical news out faster in a crisis.”When you’re in the middle of something, two hours is not very long. But when you’re looking in, it does seem like a long time,” says Mitchell Celaya, the assistant chief of campus police at the University of California, Berkeley.

Badgers’ Alvarez takes an unflinching look at his life (Appleton Post-Crescent)

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Appleton Post-Crescent

Of course, Barry Alvarez went with “Don’t Flinch” as the title of his autobiography.

After all, it was the mantra he lived by in resuscitating a hapless University of Wisconsin football program into a Big Ten power during his 16 seasons as head coach.

But “Don’t Rest” might be the perfect title for the chapter he’s currently writing.

Wisconsin Ag Connection – UW-Dairy Research Center to be Brought into Compliance

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Wisconsin Ag Connection

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has set a May 1 deadline for getting the Dairy Forage Research Center Farm in Sauk County into compliance with state and federal laws that protect water quality. Since 2002, all Wisconsin farmers have been required to prepare annual Nutrient Management Plans to protect our lakes, streams, and groundwater from polluted agricultural runoff. And according to the Sauk County Land Conservation Department, federal agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture are not exempted from these requirements.

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Trip Turns Into a Nightmare (WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee)

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MADISON – Several students and faculty from the University of Wisconsin in Madison were at Virginia Tech on Monday when 30 people were shot and killed.

The five graduate students and three faculty members experienced first-hand, the horror and all of the emotions of the massacre.

UW Professor Tom Lipo had addressed about 100 people when the group was made aware of an emergency, first described as a possible bomb threat and later as a shooting.

Jean Daniels: It’s time for me to leave this town

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Capital Times

My youngest uncle, now a retired law enforcement officer in Chicago, was involved in a stakeout many years ago and was shot in the chest. It was an extremely tense time for everyone but my grandmother because family members decided not to inform her that her youngest son was struggling for his life. They told her he was busy on a case out of town.

Action and Realism on Security (Inside Higher Ed)

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Inside Higher Education

Last Friday at the University of Michigan, there was a small fire in an academic building. The alarms went off and police arrived quickly. They found students in another part of the building. â??So our police officers had to go argue with them and boot them out â?? not a great use of resources,â? said Diane Brown, senior information officer for facilities and operations at Michigan.