Race issues on U.S. college campuses continue to be contentious again after the appearance of Facebook pages (some apparently phony) for “white student union” groups founded to counter recent anti-racism protests.
Category: Campus life
Harsh truth on campus: Wisconsin not immune from nationwide crisis
Quoted: Research shows graduation rates fall for students of color when they’re forced to pursue their collegiate education in a hostile environment.
“That struggle has been true on every campus I’ve been on as a student and a professor,” said Gloria Ladson-Billings, a professor in curriculum and education at UW-Madison, who has also been at the University of Washington, Stanford University, and Santa Clara University. “It’s not always overt racism, either. They tend to be what is identified now as ‘micro-aggression’ or what is called ‘1,000 tiny cuts.’ Constantly little things. It’s constantly seeing the inequitable ways things play out on campus. That’s a frustration the students are facing.”
“I just hate to see students come out of the university as survivors rather than thrivers,” she said. “But that is the reality.”
The University of Wisconsin wasn’t attracting diverse applicants. So it did something bold.
Ashley Thomas, a Harlem native and senior at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, never thought she’d end up in the Midwest.When she started looking for schools, she was interested in diversity. But according to UW’s website, over 70% of the school’s students identify as white. So, why did Ashley choose UW? Because of a hip-hop and urban arts program called First Wave. UW is the only school in the country with anything like it.
Man kicked out of Camp Randall pranks UW police with 240 coconut doughnuts
A man who was kicked out of Camp Randall Stadium during Saturday’s Wisconsin football game let UW-Madison police know he wasn’t happy about what happened — but that there were no hard feelings — by sending them 240 coconut doughnuts on Monday.
Photos: 1966 Badgers football team and UW campus scenes
In 1966, an “American Graffiti” atmosphere was giving way to the tumult of the Vietnam War era on the UW campus in Madison. Many of these photos from that year are from the UW-Madison Archives.
Ejected fan sends UW-Madison police 20 dozen coconut doughnuts
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Police Department received a strange, anonymous delivery of 20 dozen coconut doughnuts on Monday, the department posted on Facebook.
Man ejected from football game sends police 240 doughnuts
A California man sent 20 dozen coconut doughnuts to police officers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison as payback for getting kicked out of a Badger football game.
UW-Madison enlists parents in fight against campus carry bill
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Alumni Association has sent an email to parents of current students telling them how to lobby on a bill allowing concealed weapons in campus buildings.
The email, sent Friday morning, tells parents about the bill and why UW System leaders oppose it. There’s no explicit request to lobby against the bill, but the email encourages families to discuss campus safety and the impact the legislation might have on learning.
Winter storm to increase wait times at Badger football game Saturday
(Video) Officials say a winter storm rolling through Southern Wisconsin Friday evening will cause increased wait times at Saturday’s Badger football game, as traffic moves slower and security personnel search fans’ coats. Dannika Lewis reports.
UW alumni tells parents how to lobby on campus carry
The University of Wisconsin-Madison alumni group has sent an email to parents of current students telling them how to lobby on a bill that would allow concealed weapons in campus building.
The UW Alumni Association sent the message Friday morning. The email tells parents about the bill and how UW System leaders oppose it. The message doesn’t explicitly ask parents to lobby against the measure but encourages families to discuss campus safety and the impact the legislation might have on learning.
Terrorism tension fills international students’ first Thanksgiving
The recent terrorist attacks in Paris and across the Middle East are weighing heavily on some international students at the University of Wisconsin as they prepare to experience their first Thanksgiving meal thanks to a citywide volunteer program.
Activists call on UW-Madison to divest from fossil fuel companies
UW-Madison students were joined by community activists Thursday in demanding that the university divest itself of investments in fossil fuel companies to support efforts to slow the pace of climate change.
Harsh Truth On Campus: Wisconsin Not Immune From Nationwide Crisis
There’s endless data and statistics that tell the story of what it’s like to be an African-American student at a predominantly white college. Those numbers across the nation paint a dismal picture.
Snow causes problems in Camp Randall
Friday and Saturday’s winter storm brought about 4 inches of snow to Madison. With snowfall ending around noon Saturday, crews did not have time to clear seating sections before the 2:30 p.m. game against Northwestern. Fifty people were ejected from the stadium for throwing snowballs and other hard objects, according to UW-Madison police.
UW, UWM ramp up efforts to attract grad student assistants
The state’s two public doctoral research universities are stepping up efforts to more effectively compete for top graduate students who play key roles in research and teaching undergraduates.
UW-Madison student from Middleton named Rhodes Scholar
Colin Higgins of the University of Wisconsin-Madison has been named a Rhodes Scholar, the university announced Saturday.
Around Town: Art supply swap meet offers vision of public market potential
Sunday’s event on the sixth floor of UW-Madison’s Humanities Building on Park Street was its 11th outing since 2008. By midday, it was on pace to attract about 100 people.
UW-Madison student: Winning Rhodes scholarship ‘surreal’
A University of Wisconsin-Madison student said Sunday he plans to use his Rhodes scholarship to study how governments can better focus their environmental policies on meeting people’s needs.
Students and community members urge chancellor to reconsider investments
A swarm of UW-Madison students and community members, led by the student organization Climate Action 350 and its city affiliate 350 Madison, protested in front of Chancellor Rebecca Blank’s office Thursday to demand the divestment from fossil fuels.
Divestment would include the university and the UW Foundation taking all the money that is invested in fossil fuels, which scientists have attributed as a cause of global warming, and putting that money into ethical and sustainable entities, according to the organization. Once it is removed, Climate Action 350 will have no control over where it is placed, but will have suggestions of what would be better.
Blacklisted screen writer has ties to Madison
A man once blacklisted from the silver screen is making a return. He’s Dalton Trumbo, one of the most famous screen writers of all time. A new movie chronicling his life is set to be released later this month. While many know him for his films, he actually has a tie to Madison.
“Not many people get to be down here,” said Mary Huelsbeck as she leads us to the basement of the Wisconsin Historical Society. There, more than 20,000 films are stored as part of the Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research, WCFTR.
UW to increase security at Saturday’s football game
The University of Wisconsin announced there will be an increased police and security presence at Saturday’s football game versus Northwestern.
‘It’s going to be a mess’: Badgers fans advised to arrive early, wear boots for Saturday game
Madison is under a winter storm watch starting Friday evening and ending at 3 p.m. Saturday, not long after the 2:42 p.m. kickoff, with the forecast calling for a snow accumulation of between 4 inches and 7 inches.
Activists call on UW-Madison to divest from fossil fuel companies
UW-Madison students were joined by community activists Thursday in demanding that the university divest itself of investments in fossil fuel companies to support efforts to slow the pace of climate change.
TAA members, graduate school dean respond to new pay policy
Members of the Teaching Assistants’ Association gripped posters and picket signs on top of a blustery Bascom Hill Wednesday, chanting “We are the TAA, we deserve fair grad pay.”
The first graduate student employee union in the nation, TAA formed in 1966 due to a lack of representation in educational policy.
UW-Madison administration announced a new policy Tuesday that will adjust the rate of pay to set a stipend amount for research assistants.
UW System police chiefs oppose concealed carry in campus buildings
Every chief of police in the University of Wisconsin System opposes a proposal in the Legislature to allow concealed carry permit holders to bring weapons into college and university buildings, the law enforcement officials said this week.
Paul Fanlund: UW terrorism expert puts Paris attacks in context
By a show of hands in two classes Monday, Andrew Kydd helped illustrate why last week’s terror attacks in Paris have resonated so profoundly across the United States.Kydd, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an expert on terrorism and nuclear arms, is teaching undergraduate classes on each topic this semester.
Graduate student assistants demand UW-Madison scrap new pay plan
About 100 University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate students and their supporters rallied outside Bascom Hall Wednesday to demand that Chancellor Rebecca Blank scrap a change in how they are paid for their work as assistants, a measure they say will amount to unequal pay for equal work.
ISIS 101 & the Paris Attacks: UW Madison Terrorism class returns for another packed year
For the second year in a row, Professor Kydd’s Terrorism 319 class is full.
Once again, more than 60 students and auditors alike are filling up the special political science class at UW Madison.
The emphasis is on the headlines. This week, the Paris Terror Attack is the topic. And this year, Professor Kydd says more than 2/3’ds of his class have ties to the Paris.
UW Grad Students Protest Payment Changes
Dozens of graduate students crowded around Bascom Hall on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus Wednesday afternoon to protest the university’s new payment policy for graduate assistants.
More UW-Madison Students Studying Abroad Than Ever Before, Officials Say
A record number of University of Wisconsin-Madison students are studying abroad.
UW-Madison plans changes to graduate student pay, hours
UW-Madison officials are planning several changes to how graduate students are paid, including new rules that let departments decide how much money their research, teaching and project assistants make, and limit how many hours those students can work.
Rebecca Blank: UW-Madison ready to work with African-American students
The University of Wisconsin-Madison is well positioned to work with African-American students on campus climate and other race-related concerns, chancellor Rebecca Blank said Monday. “We do have students who experience real isolation on this campus. The question is what we can do to reduce those experiences,” Blank told members of the University Committee, the executive committee of the Faculty Senate.
UW-Madison has treasure trove of Dalton Trumbo papers
Sometimes, the easiest way to gather a collection of historical papers is to simply ask.
UW Graduate School dean: Students should been consulted on new pay plan
The University of Wisconsin-Madison would have been better off if graduate students had been included in the process of developing a new pay scheme for their work as assistants, says Graduate School Dean William Karpus.
Steve Jobs’ father a Syrian migrant, settled in Reno
As the refugee debate continues in America, some note that a Syrian migrant living in Northern Nevada had a part in helping change the world. That man was Steve Job’s biological father.
Student debt panel warns of tuition freeze perils
Noted: Panelists included Madison Laning, ASM chair; Sara Goldrick-Rab, professor of educational policy; Noel Radomski, director of Wisconsin Center for the Advancement of Postsecondary Education (WISCAPE); and Scot Ross, director of One Wisconsin Now (non-UW).
UWPD to receive tools to better serve students of color on campus
The Multicultural Student Center hopes to equip University of Wisconsin Police Department with the proper tools to combat issues of racial biases in a new training initiative program.
Racial biases against students and community members of color have sparked a conversation between UWPD and the student center about how biases should be addressed.
UPDATE: Madison community gathers in support of France
The French House, near the UW-Madison campus, hosted a gathering in solidarity with the people of France on Monday evening.
UW students and staff members, many of whom have ties to France, said coming together helped them cope with last week’s attacks in Paris, which killed roughly 130 people and were carried out by militants of the Islamic State terror group.
Muslim UW students hope immigration not curtailed
Some Muslim UW-Madison students take personally moves by Governor Walker and other governors to try to suspend the resettlement of refugees from war-torn Syria to the U.S.
“I understand people’s concerns that they don’t want the terrorism attacks that happened in Paris to come back and happen here in the U.S.,” Syrian-American and UW-Madison student Rama Shoukfeh says. Authorities say one of the Paris terrorist suspects had credentials as a refugee from Syria.
UW French House opens doors in solidarity with Paris
Andrew Irving never imagined so many people would show their support in Madison.
“What’s been nice is the unexpected messages we get from people we barely know just saying we want to reach out and say we’re sorry or we’re thinking of you,” Irving said.
Irving, director of the University of Wisconsin-Madison French House, decided the community needed a place to come together to mourn and stand in solidarity.
Madison recognized as platinum-level Bicycle Friendly Community
The state capital joins Boulder and Fort Collins, Colo., Davis, Calif. and Portland, Ore. as the only cities to earn that distinction. The University of Wisconsin-Madison reached gold status in the league’s Bicycle Friendly University program earlier this month.
Steve Jobs’ biological father was Syrian migrant, some note
According to the authorized Steve Jobs biography written by Walter Isaacson, in the early 1950s, Jandali went to study at the American University in Beirut, and eventually on to the University of Wisconsin.
UPDATE: Gathering in solidarity with France scheduled for Monday in Madison
Noted: Andrew Irving, Director of the French House in Madison, said the attacks have taken a toll on locals who study and immerse themselves in French culture, as well as on French students currently living here in Madison.
“Emotions were very high Friday and also on Saturday. A lot of people just didn’t know what to think,” Irving said.
Irving said the French House, a private residence hall run by the UW-Madison’s Department of French and Italian, houses both American and French students.
“All of our residents speak French here almost all of the time,” Irving said.
Clement injured in off-campus assault
The University of Wisconsin has issued a release detailing how running back Corey Clement suffered a cut to his hand following an assault at his off-campus apartment early Sunday morning.
According to the release, Clement was returning to his apartment building when he witnessed a dispute between a security guard and a group of people. Clement stepped in to the dispute. According to UW, Clement and the security guard were then assaulted by the individuals.
Developer may demolish long-vacant building near UW-Madison for housing project
A developer is proposing to demolish the hulking creme and brown brick structure at 126 Langdon St. — once a private student residence hall — and replace it with a market-rate student housing tower of roughly the same height and size.
‘Black Out’ rally organizer: UW-Madison students joining forces with Young, Gifted and Black
The “Black Out” march that amassed up to 600 UW-Madison students and their allies to protest marginalization of college students of color is just the beginning, rally organizer Kenneth Cole said Friday. Cole said he has worked with Young, Gifted and Black — a grassroots community group — to form a new organization, the Black Leadership Action Coalition, that will plan and carry out actions on the UW-Madison campus.
Wisconsin colleges report their students in Paris are safe
One by one, colleges and universities across America, including in Wisconsin, took to social media to tweet the relief that all of their students studying in Paris were safe after Friday night’s terrorist attacks.
#StandWithMizzou protests spread nationwide
Noted: At the University of Wisconsin-Madison, hundreds of students marched to the state Capitol Thursday night.
The Daily Cardinal Will Reduce Print Edition To 2 Days Per Week
One of the oldest student newspapers in the country is cutting production of its print edition from four to two days a week.
UW-Madison TAs Protest Working Conditions
Teaching assistants at the University of Wisconsin at Madison are planning to protest next week over a proposed restructuring of their working conditions and compensation.
No daily newspaper left at UW-Madison as Cardinal cuts production
The Daily Cardinal plans to cut production of its print edition to two days per week, leaving UW-Madison without a daily student newspaper only a few years after the campus had two of them.
UW-Madison paper cutting print production
The Daily Cardinal at the University of Wisconsin-Madison will print Mondays and Thursdays next semester. Editor-in-chief Jim Dayton says the 123-year-old paper will shift its focus to web and mobile products.
Daily Cardinal cuts production at UW-Madison
UW-Madison will no longer have two daily campus papers now that the Daily Cardinal plans to cut production of its print edition to two days per week, the Wisconsin State Journal is reporting.
UW-Madison students march in solidarity with Mizzou
Hundreds of people, mostly UW-Madison students, gathered in front of Bascom Hall Thursday night surrounding the statue of Abraham Lincoln in solidarity with their peers at the University of Missouri. After listening to speeches, they marched to Library Mall chanting what has become a common refrain at rallies locally and around the country: “Black lives matter!” and “No justice, no peace!” The group reconvened for more speeches before marching up State Street to the Capitol Square.
Racial incident on UW campus prompts calls for student help
The defacing of a publicity poster for a theater production at UW-Madison prompts a letter from school officials, urging students to watch for, and confront racial insensitivity.
The poster depicted Japanese women and others in connection with the staging of the production “Tea,” with the vandalism involving the obscuring of the women’s faces in yellow. The play is about Japanese women marrying U.S. servicemen and returning with them to live in the United States.
“Here we are doing this Asian American play and someone sees fit to do something like this,” “Tea” director and UW School of Education professor David Furumoto says.
A new era in Daily Cardinal history
For 123 years, The Daily Cardinal has been at the forefront of student journalism on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. As editor-in-chief, it is my responsibility to put this newspaper in a position to keep it thriving for 123 more.
UW-Madison freshmen work to overcome homesickness hurdles
Freshman Julia Addis left the warmth of Redwood City, Calif., for UW-Madison because she wanted a different experience than she felt schools in her state offered.
UW-Madison alumni involve campus in nationwide discussion of racial prejudice
UW-Madison alumni, staff and students weighed in on the nationwide discussions about racial prejudice at an event Wednesday evening.
Students look for affordable housing as roofs, rent prices rise
On the corner of North Bedford and West Mifflin Street, a crane towers over the steel and concrete skeleton of Uncommon, Madison’s next apartment complex—just one of the many high-rise housing projects marking the downtown skyline.
The Badger Herald, WORT host panel discussion on student debt
With the average debt of Wisconsin college graduates at $28,810 last year — up 74 percent in a decade — and 70 percent of state graduates leaving college with debt, student loan debt is a hot issue.