Author: Kelly Tyrrell

The Memorial Union Reinvestment Project Design Committee met Tuesday to discuss changes to the proposed renovations in wake of the recent Associated Students of Madison referendum and budget cuts facing the university.

Following a recent student vote against a proposed redesign project of the student theater lounge addition to the Memorial Union, members of the Memorial Union Reinvestment Design Committee considered their next steps in moving the project forward at a meeting Tuesday night.

The Student Service Finance Committee approved a budget of nearly $150,000 for the Wisconsin Student Public Interest Research Group (WISPIRG) Monday.

Members of a student government committee voted almost unanimously to pass the budget of an advocacy-based student organization, though with several caveats, at a meeting Monday.

City of Madison officials are redoubling their efforts to recruit Madison residents to fill numerous vacancies on a diverse pool of city committees, including targeting students to lend their perspective to city politics.

Saturday?s Freakfest was a success from a safety and security standpoint, but this year?s paid attendance was one of the lowest in recent years.

Freakfest, the city-sanctioned Halloween celebration in downtown Madison, came and went on Saturday night with fewer arrests than in years past.

With Freakfest fast approaching, both city officials are making last minute preparations to ensure optimal security and fun on Saturday night.

While the UW-Madison student government?s Diversity Chair said students in the past had called the Diversity Committee unproductive, she said the committee is now working to improve diversity within ASM and on campus.

At a press conference Monday, city leaders outlined final details regarding Freakfest, including plans to reduce police presence compared to previous years.

Frank Productions and the Madison Police Department released details about the Freakfest entertainment schedule and costume contest and reviewed safety precautions at a press conference Monday morning.

In the efforts to continue the ?Occupy Wall Street? and ?Occupy Madison? movements, University of Wisconsin protesters kicked off an ?Occupy UW? movement Monday afternoon, demanding more equal opportunities to higher education and reduced student debt.

The cost of higher learning is the focus of an “occupy” movement emerging on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus.

Madison police said they would reduce the size of their force at Saturday?s Freakfest event downtown, a decision that concerned nearby business managers.

UW-Madison named Karen VandenBosch the new dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Friday.

The search for a new College of Agricultural and Life Sciences Dean has ended, the University of Wisconsin announced Friday.

The University of Wisconsin has named Kathryn VandenBosch as its new dean of the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences.

Police said they forsee minimal problems Halloween weekend at a city meeting where city officials discussed last minute Freakfest updates and changes Thursday.

The city?s Downtown Coordinating Committee heard an update on Freakfest and reviewed the city?s increased focus on underage drinking at the event, as well as the possibility of bringing larger acts to Madison in future years.

Changes to the University of Wisconsin bias incident reporting model have come under discussion with the intent to bring more streamlined responses to incidents and to foster a safer environment.