Former Badgers quarterback John Stocco is returning to the university. He has been hired as Director of Development in the athletics department. According to a press release, Stocco will focus on “prospect identification, cultivation and solicitation of major gifts to fund student-athlete scholarships and capital projects.”
Author: Kelly Tyrrell
Monona’s SHINE medical co. approved for Janesville expansion
Noted: The founder of the company, Gregory Piefer, studied at UW-Madison. The company performed a national search for places to locate their new facility, but Pitas said keeping the local company in Wisconsin brings the company full circle.
“The idea that work that goes on at the university should help people throughout the state. So, this is a great example of technology coming out of the university and helping people in Janesville with great-paying jobs,” she said.
Also quoted: Richard Steeves, professor emeritus of human oncology.
UW heart transplant patient meets teen donor’s family
Doctors at UW Hospital performed the heart transplant surgery, but the heart traveled more than 1,000 miles to save Wright’s life.
The donor was Brooke Dawkins, 19, who died in a traffic accident in Orlando, Florida.
New student-casted play to open discussion about race at UW
A new theater production opened Thursday at University of Wisconsin, aiming to inspire conversations about race and diversity on campus.
“Smart People,” the latest work by Lydia Diamond, a Chicago-native playwright, centers around the life of four intellectuals in Harvard University and the racial issues they deal with on a daily basis, Grace Schneck, production stage manager, said.
What does Black History Month mean to students at UW?
(Video) Through race dialogues, open mic events, theatre productions, and other community events, Black History Month brings students together to celebrate diversity and collectively consider how to create a more inclusive campus for everyone.
In photos: Behind the scenes of the historical Carillon Tower
All University of Wisconsin students know the familiar chimes of the Carillon Tower.
The tower is open to visitors from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. every Sunday, where carillonneur Lyle Anderson has been on duty for 30 years.
Business, research interests likely stalled fetal tissue bill this session
A controversial bill that would have banned the use and sale of aborted fetal tissue failed to make it through the Assembly this session, but one expert said he expects similar bills to be proposed in the future.
University of Wisconsin political science professor Barry Burden said the Legislature did not take up the bill likely because of overwhelming opposition from businesses and research organizations that were worried it would push jobs out of the state and shut down essential research.
Desbiens, Pankowski earn spots on Patty Kazmaier Top-10 list
Wisconsin women’s hockey goaltender Ann-Renee Desbiens and forward Annie Pankowski were named top-10 finalists for the 2016 Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, the highest individual honor in women’s college hockey, USA Hockey announced Thursday.
It marks the first time that Desbiens and Pankowski earned spots on the top-10 list during their Wisconsin careers.
Much higher success rate this year for the flu vaccine
Quoted: “70 to 80% of the time we get this correct, and every now and then there’s a miscalculation,” Dr. Jonathon Temte, UW Health, says
That’s because he says they are making the predictions 9 months before the flu season.
“Last year was one of those situations where the virus that emerged or started circulating was different than what was in the vaccine,” Dr. Temte says.
UPDATE: Gard appears to be the guy after Wisconsin posts hoops job
Wisconsin has posted a job opening looking for a men’s basketball coach, a sign that interim coach Greg Gard is one step closer to becoming the permanent successor to Bo Ryan.
Universities working to tackle sexual assault on campus
Sexual assault is a problem on college campuses nationwide, including UW Madison, and it’s sparking conversations across the country.
A survey from the Association of American Universities shows one of every four female students say they’ve been sexually assaulted. That same survey also showed more than three-quarters of women who reported being a victim said the offender had been drinking.
“We have a substantial problem at this campus and many campuses across the nation that we need to address,” said Carmen Hotvedt, with UW Madison’s End Violence on Campus.
UW posts head Men’s Basketball coach job
The UW-Madison athletic department officially posted the position for a head men’s basketball coach.
The position lists applications are due by March 3, 2016 and the start date is March 8, 2016.
Greg Gard is currently the interim coach after Bo Ryan retired in December.
Laughter may not be medicine, but it sure does help
Noted: Research “is accelerating right now,” said Dorothy Farrar-Edwards, chair of the department of kinesiology at University of Wisconson-Madison and core leader of outreach, recruitment and education at the Wisconsin Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, referencing recently passed legislation that will give $300 million to the National Institute of Health specifically for Alzheimer’s research in 2016.
Also quoted: Barbara Bowers, professor and associate dean for research in the school of nursing at UW, said “decades of research” have shown that “social engagement is actually one of the most important things you can do for quality of life and longevity.”
UW posts job opening for men’s basketball coach
Interim UW basketball head coach Greg Gard may have a chance to remove the interim label from his title very soon.
UW-Madison research team creates model to predict climate change
A research team led by UW-Madison atmospheric and oceanic sciences professor Galen McKinley released new information regarding the capacity for oceans to absorb carbon dioxide emissions, according to a university news release. The researchers hope their model will more accurately address climate questions.
Campus Master Plan looks to expand research facilities, preserve natural beauty of campus
Keeping future needs of University of Wisconsin in mind, creators of the 2015 Campus Master Plan preliminary draft outlined the possible expansion of green infrastructure and research and transportation facilities across campus in a public open house Wednesday.
UW report says Wisconsin poverty level at 30-year high
According to a recently published University of Wisconsin Applied Population Laboratory report, the state’s poverty level has worsened significantly in the last several years despite economic growth.
The lab’s analysis of U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey data collected between 2005-09 and 2010-14 revealed poverty reached 13 percent — its highest level in 30 years — during the latter period, Malia Jones, assistant scientist at the Applied Population Laboratory, said.
UW talks about ‘moving forward’ in conversations about race, ethnicity
University of Wisconsin administration and students tackled tough questions regarding race and diversity Wednesday in an effort to create a plan that could fuel changes to campus culture.
More than 400 people came together in an open discussion on diversity issues, possible solutions to incidents of hate and bias, increasing retention rates and cultural competency.
Campus Master Plan consultants update community on sustainability, commuter access
UW-Madison students, faculty and community members gathered Wednesday at the Gordon Dining and Event Center to hear updates on the 2015 Campus Master Plan and ask questions of lead consultants.
While the Master Plan is not definite, its concepts will ensure the entire campus remains aesthetically united and easily accessible for commuters over the next 10 years, according to members of the planning committee.
“Moving Forward” event fosters campus conversation on race
Approximately 400 students, faculty and staff members took part in the “Moving Forward: Conversations on Racial and Ethnic Diversity” event Wednesday at Gordon Dining and Event Center.
Participants joined the conversation at different themed tables, including “Building Cultural Competency, Awareness and Capacity;” “Hate and Bias Incidents and Conflicts with Free Speech;” and “Admission and Recruitment of Underrepresented Groups.”
UW System Board of Regents rack up campaign donations
Current members of the UW System Board of Regents have given more than $245,000 to political candidates over the past 25 years, according to campaign finance documents.
Ferrell earns Big Ten Conference Player of the Week honors
Brooke Ferrell earned her second Big Ten Conference Player of the Week honor after earning co-medalist honors at the Westbrook Spring [Golf] Invitational Feb. 21-22 in Peoria, Ariz. The Big Ten Conference office today announced the shared honor with Michigan State’s Sarah Burnham.
Six Badgers earn spots on Team USA for IIHF World Championship
The United States’ roster for the 2016 International Ice Hockey Federation Women’s World Championship has a Wisconsin flair as six Badgers, one current and five former, make up more than one fourth of the 23-player roster that was announced Wednesday by USA Hockey.
UW sophomore Annie Pankowski will join former players Hilary Knight, Meghan Duggan, Brianna Decker, Jessie Vetter and Alex Rigsby in defending the gold medal won by Team USA last year.
UWPD investigates string of thefts and burglaries
The UW-Madison Police Department said they are investigating a string of thefts and burglaries that happened in and around UW Hospital and Clinics.
According to a release from UW-Madison Police Department, it happened on Monday around the hospital on Highland Avenue.
Badgers share special bond with their “hydration specialist”
At the Kohl Center is where Gregory Orwin reports to work.
“My job is the hydration specialist. I’ve been working here for nine years and I’m definitely enjoying it,” Orwin said.
At practice and at games, Gregory can be seen behind the Badger men’s basketball team’s bench, keeping the Wisconsin players fueled.
UW Health slashes salad bar prices; sales soar
At the beginning of 2016, UW Health cut the price of its cafeteria salad bar almost in half, from $8.00 a pound to $4.99 a pound. In just the first month of the price cut, the hospital reports it sold 5,000 more salads than it had in other months.
ONLY ON 27 NEWS: Sex offender admits to being at Zimmermann’s home day of student’s homicide
In an interview with 27 News, a registered sex offender admits to being at the home of former UW-Madison student Brittany Zimmermann on the day of her unsolved homicide.
But 49-year-old David Kahl tells 27 News he was not responsible for the 21-year coed’s 2008 death.
News 3 catches up with Frank Kaminsky
Video: News 3 catches up with former Badger and current NBA player Frank Kaminsky.
Entrepreneur creates marketplace for rare digital art
A computer science major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison working towards a degree in computer science, QuHarrison Terry recently quit school to pursue his dream. He’s finding out real quick that being a full-time entrepreneur is an exhilarating – yet intimidating – life decision. His company is supported by Gener8tor.
State Supreme Court candidates to debate at UW-Madison
Wisconsin Supreme Court candidates Rebecca Bradley and JoAnne Kloppenburg are set to meet in a debate next month on the University of Wisconsin campus. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports it will sponsor the March 18 debate along with Wisconsin Public Television and Wisconsin Public Radio. The debate is set to begin at 7 p.m. at Wisconsin Public Television’s studio on the UW-Madison campus.
THIS WEEK ON FOODIE: Stoney Acres Farm
Video: Stoney Acres Farm, near Wausau, hosts a popular pizza night with ingredients from their farm. (Subjects are both UW-Madison grads who met in class as undergraduates.)
University Affairs discusses halting efforts to make Wiscard eligible form of voting ID
After originally making plans to petition changes to Wiscards, a student government committee discussed whether they should focus on getting students registered to vote instead.
UPDATE: UW Madison holds a town hall meeting about anti-Semitism
Seeking the truth, that’s what UW students wanted from meeting held on the Madison campus Tuesday night.
A few weeks ago images of swastikas and Hitler were posted on a Jewish student’s dorm door.
Students called it a hate crime.
Dalai Lama visiting Madison on March 9 for live-streamed panel on global well-being
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama will visit Madison next month for a panel event on global-well being.
The event, titled “The World We Make,” is hosted by the Center for Healthy Minds at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and will take place on Wednesday, March 9th, at 1:30 p.m. in the Capitol Theater at the Overture Center for the Arts.
Leon Varjian honored in Madison
The Madison city council honored a man Tuesday whose humor was so remarkable that a 1992 book on college pranks dedicated an entire chapter to him.
Members passed a resolution declaring February 23 Leon Varjian Day.
UW-Madison to raise minimum wage for student employees
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is raising the minimum wage for student employees and the pay rate for graduate assistants.
The school said in a news release Tuesday that the student hourly minimum wage is set to go up from $7.25 to $9 on Sept. 1. Graduate assistants will get a 2 percent pay increase July 1.
UW South Madison Partnership celebrates one year
A milestone was reached for a UW-Madison outreach efforts.
Tuesday, the UW South Madison partnership celebrated its 1 year anniversary.
The partnership is a space in the Villager Mall on Park Street that connects the university with people who live on Madison’s south side.
The Wisconsin Idea: Alive, but how well?
Noted: Kathy Cramer, director of the UW–Madison’s Morgridge Center for Public Service, says the university’s historic role helping policy makers solve state problems has shrunk due to suspicion on both ends of State Street. However, she says, some initiatives continue, including student internships and leadership programs, and embedding graduate students from the Wisconsin Center for Education Research in state legislators’ offices.
12 on Tuesday: Trent Jackson
As a basketball player for the University of Wisconsin in the late 1980s, Trent Jackson was in on the beginning of the transformation from Big Ten doormat to Final Four contender. Following a basketball career in Europe, he served as CEO of the Boys and Girls Club and later founded the ROUGH Foundation and ROUGH Sportswear to help athletes and other youth through their journeys, no matter how rough. (Jackson is senior director of development at the UW Foundation.)
Thefts, burglaries reported around UW Hospital
University of Wisconsin police are investigating a string of thefts and burglaries around UW Hospital and Clinics. Police said that, in most cases, the thief got access to valuables because of an unlocked door or vehicle. The thefts happened Monday.
UW-Madison to increase wages for students
The University of Wisconsin is increasing hourly wages for students on campus from $7.25 to $9 an hour effective Sept. 1, according to a release from the campus. The university will also increase graduate student pay 2 percent starting July 1.
What’s happened to progressivism?
Quoted: Mike Wagner, associate professor of journalism; Kathy Cramer, director of the Morgridge Center for Public Service and political science professor; Donald Downs, professor emeritus of political science, law and journalism; John Sharpless, history professor.
UW holds town hall meeting in light of anti-semitism
The University of Wisconsin held a meeting on antisemitism, Tuesday. It was in response to an incident January when a student posted pictures of Adolf Hitler and swastikas to a Jewish student’s door at Sellery Hall. The student targeted in the incident said it was an “insensitive prank gone wrong” between floor mates. But the students and staff at the meeting, held at Gordon Commons, feel that it was anything but a joke.
“We are still reeling from this,” said Dean of Students, Lori Berquam, said at the start of the meeting.
At Rutgers, Wisconsin and Vassar, anti-Semitic incidents prompt different responses
A Jewish student is accusing Rutgers University of mishandling a mid-January incident in which one of her roommates taped a swastika to the ceiling of their shared living room. Meanwhile, the University of Wisconsin-Madison is responding to a similar swastika incident by hosting a campus-wide forum on anti-Semitism.
UW-Madison grad student updates research on Wisconsin prairies
UW-Madison graduate student Amy Alstad released survey findings Friday about human influence on the rate of species change in Wisconsin prairies.
How Planned Parenthood foes are thwarting research Into Alzheimer’s, Ebola, and more
After an anti-abortion organization released videos portraying Planned Parenthood as callously haggling the price of aborted fetuses, legislators have attempted to restrict research using such material, while scientists have found their work limited and riskier. Interviews with Anita Bhattacharyya, Gail Robertson and Alta Charo.
UPDATE: Madison Police release surveillance photos of man suspected of grabbing student
Madison Police have released surveillance images of the man they believe grabbed a UW-Madison student early Monday morning as she was walking home from a library.
He’s described as being 6′, 150 pounds 18-22 years old with a dark complexion. If you have any information contact Madison Area Crime Stoppers.
Annual banquet brings out a crowd for United Cerebral Palsy
Noted: “We invite over 35 local celebrities and UW athletes come and they help out and they act as our servers,” says Ellen Breunig with UCP.
Leonhard returns to Wisconsin, named Badgers defensive backs coach
The Wisconsin football program has turned to one of its own to complete its coaching staff for the 2016 season.
Head coach Paul Chryst on Saturday announced the addition of Jim Leonhard as the Badgers’ defensive backs coach. Few could be considered more knowledgeable on the ins and outs of the position than Leonhard, a 2015 inductee to the UW Athletic Hall of Fame who was one of the most successful players to ever patrol the UW secondary.
Dane County police chiefs agree to use-of-force recommendations
Noted: The Special Community/Police Task Force was formed after the incidents in Ferguson, Missouri by the NAACP, United Way, law enforcement and Leaders of Color Collaboration. It was co-chaired by University of Wisconsin Police Chief Sue Riseling, Christ the Solid Rock Baptist Church Pastor Everett Mitchell, and Urban League of Greater Madison President and CEO Ruben Anthony. The 12 task force members met 15 times and held listening sessions in the community.
Study shows high school athletes at greater risk to lower body injury
The first comprehensive study of lower extremity body injuries in high school athletes shows those who specialize in one sport are at a much higher risk of injury.
Quoted: “We found overall slightly less than 40 percent specialized in a sport, meaning they really concentrated on that one sport. They may play in multiple sports, but concentrated on one,” says Tim McGuine, senior scientist at UW School of Medicine and Public Health and author of the study’s findings.
Badgers hire Jim Leonhard as DB coach
Former Badger football star Jim Leonhard is Wisconsin’s new defensive backs coach. Head coach Paul Chryst announced Saturday that Leonhard, a 2015 inductee into the UW Athletic Hall of Fame, would join the Badgers’ coaching staff.
Critics: State’s plan to save bees provides little protection from pesticides
Quoted: Claudio Gratton, professor of entomology, who worked on the pollinator proposal for the state Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection; Paul Mitchell, associate professor and co-director of the UW-Extension’s Nutrient and Pest Management Program; Russell Groves, an insect ecologist and vegetable crop specialist at the UW-Madison Department of Entomology.
UW-Madison plans to replace “Tonight” sexual assault program
The University of Wisconsin-Madison plans to replace its required Tonight sexual assault program with a new program in 2017. Incoming students are required to take the online Tonight course, which teaches students how to spot, prevent and cope with sexual assault.
Lavelle named to U.S. U-23 Women’s National Team roster
Rose Lavelle of the Wisconsin women’s soccer team has been named to the U.S. Under-23 Women’s National Team roster that will travel to Croatia and play three matches in the eight-team Istria Cup, which runs from March 2-7.
Assembly to take up dementia bills
The state Assembly is set to approve a package of legislation designed to help people cope with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
The 10-bill package includes proposals to spend $50,000 for virtual dementia tours, in which participants wear goggles to simulate dementia effects, and give the University of Wisconsin-Madison an additional $50,000 for Alzheimer’s research.
Family: DNA match in Zimmermann homicide more than year old
The mother of former UW-Madison student and 2008 homicide victim Brittany Zimmermann tells 27 News a DNA match in Zimmermann’s case was made in 2014.
Jean Zimmermann tells 27 News she was also informed of the match by authorities in 2014, and knows the name of the person associated with the DNA, but is not divulging the name at this time.
The existence of the DNA match in the high-profile killing of the 21- year old university student in a campus-area apartment was first reported on WIBA’s The Vicki McKenna show last week.
UW student disciplined for taping swastikas to dorm room door
A student has been disciplined by the University of Wisconsin Division of Student Life after he taped swastikas and a picture of Adolf Hitler to the door of a student in Sellery Hall Jan. 26, according to the University of Wisconsin. The university plans to send a communication to all students about the incident Thursday afternoon.
The victim involved posted a statement on Facebook, calling the incident an “insensitive joke/prank gone wrong.”
Wal-Mart Earnings Preview: What to Know About WMT Stock
Noted: To gauge which way the stock will tilt, it pays to think like an everyday consumer making the shopping list. “The upcoming quarter is going to be very interesting as investors will get a glimpse into how the company’s sales results were impacted by the holiday season, some huge winter storms and lower gas prices over the last two months,” says Brian Hellmer, director of the Hawk Center for Applied Security Analysis at the Wisconsin School of Business.
The Ultimate Guide To Saying No To Things You Don’t Want To Do
Noted: Another way to decline your boss’s request is to say no to right now and suggest a different timeframe, says David A. Ward, communications lecturer at the Wisconsin School of Business. “For example, ‘There’s no give in my schedule for the rest of this month, but things ease up for me in March, and I’d be glad to get involved then if you still need some help on this.’”