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Category: Campus life

UW student is beaten near campus

WKOW-TV 27

A UW student is beaten near campus.

It happened just before midnight near the intersection of Park and Johnson Street.

Police say Nathaniel Angelo Showers was arrested for drunk driving Showers, along with Yusef Wafford, are tentatively charged with substantial battery.

On Campus: UW-Madison’s health clinic seeing more flu patients

Wisconsin State Journal

UW-Madison’s student health clinic is seeing more patients than usual for this time of year with flu-like symptoms, according to university officials.

The university has ramped up its efforts to prevent and control an outbreak of influenza, especially in light of concerns about H1N1, or swine flu.

Dorm room shortage at Wisconsin colleges

Wisconsin Public Radio

Thousands of college students have been moving onto University of Wisconsin campuses across the state. But hundreds more canâ??t, due to housing crunches.

The UW-Eau Claire housed most of its student body on campus. But nearly 230 students, including 66 freshmen, will stay in two local hotels. Thatâ??s due to a higher than expected number of upper classmen returning to the dorms. UW-Eau Claire housing director Chuck Major says thereâ??ll still be dorm staff and services for the hotel students. Major says it really does resemble a residence hall on campus.

Meanwhile, Paul Evans of UW-Madison housing says theyâ??re in a crunch too, but expect relief soon. Evans says historically, the university has always had to turn away students in the hundreds it was unable to house. UW-Madison got approval in the state budget for two new residence halls that will include 560 beds. The first dorm is scheduled to open in 2012. (Eighth item.)

Schmidt wrong on mental health services

Badger Herald

We read Eric Schmidtâ??s recent opinion article regarding the mental health services at University Health Services with great interest. The staff at UHS is interested in providing effective, evidenced-based treatment in a timely fashion and welcome feedback that will assist in providing the highest quality of care possible. Genuine and constructive feedback is the foundation for improvement in any endeavor, but we are concerned that Mr. Schmidtâ??s article contains information that is inaccurate and does not accurately reflect the services provided at UHS. We would like to correct any misinformation which may prevent students from seeking treatment.

Madison, Wis., names the lawn flamingo its official bird

Los Angeles Times

30 years ago, a group of University of Wisconsin-Madison students played a prank that’s remembered fondly — by some, at least — in Madison to this day.

The students — members of a group called the Pail and Shovel party, which ran UW’s student government at the time — planted more than 1,000 pink plastic flamingos on the grassy expanse near the dean’s office. (Interestingly, the student government’s president at the time was Jim Mallon, who went on to become executive producer of TV’s “Mystery Science Theater 3000.”)

UW starts school mindful of H1N1

WKOW-TV 27

Students and faculty on the UW campus have one more thing to think about as school starts: H1N1.

Monday, UW leaders sent a memo to staff and students, reminding them to be proactive in preventing the spread of the virus. Click here for more information on what they’re doing to be proactive.

It’s not just introductions and summer recaps in UW classrooms this year.

Waunakee man punched on UW-Madison campus

Madison.com

A 19-year-old Waunakee man celebrating his birthday was punched in the mouth by a stranger while walking down a street on the UW-Madison campus, police reported.

The attack happened at 12:20 a.m. Wednesday in the 800 block of West Johnson Street, according to Madison police. Police said the victim was walking with friends when three men got out of a Ford Explorer and started walking toward them.

Administrators move Madison Initiative forward

Badger Herald

Since the May 8 vote to adopt the Madison Initiative for Undergraduates by the University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents, administrators have been working diligently toward its implementation, hiring new staff and taking a close look at need-based student aid.

Woman sues Sigma Chi

Badger Herald

As the Milwaukee County Circuit Court awaits a response to the lawsuit filed earlier this summer relating to the alleged rape at the University of Wisconsin Sigma Chi house last fall, ongoing and past cases may provide clues for future proceedings of the suit.

To catch a cold

Capital Times

While area police have been able to crack a string of cold cases in recent years, more than 11 years after the Rev. Alfred Kunz was found with his throat cut at St. Michael Catholic Church in Dane, detectives are at a loss. They think they know who did it, but they can’t prove it.

“They’re tiring,” says Steve Gilmore, lieutenant of detectives at the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, of murder cases that drag on for years. “But if you solve them it’s all worth it.”

The oldest case, now in the hands of the UW Police, is the murder of Christine Rothschild, who was strangled on the UW campus in 1968. Her body was found behind some bushes near Sterling Hall, her gloves stuffed down her throat. Last year, a friend organized a ceremony on the campus to mark the 40th anniversary of the murder.

Rothschildâ??s was one of seven unsolved area murders of young women between 1968 and 1982 that investigators theorized were connected, as all the victims were in their late teens or early 20s, similar in build and with similar hair styles. The last was Donna Mraz, a 23-year-old UW student who was stabbed to death near Camp Randall Stadium while on her way home from work at a State Street restaurant.

Our GIs: out of sight, out of mind

Capital Times

….The call was from the College Republicansâ?? national office, asking me if Iâ??d join the campaign to tell President Barack Obama to quit his reckless spending, saddling future generations with trillions of dollars of debt.

When I said “no,” but Iâ??d join a campaign to tell the president to bring the troops home from the wars and use the hundreds of billions weâ??re spending there to pay for a national health care plan, the telemarketer hung up.

The countryâ??s disconnect is frustrating. College Republicans, old Republicans and a lot of Democrats and independents as well get all lathered up over plans to spend money so that 45 million Americans are at least minimally covered by health insurance, but they canâ??t be bothered to even think about the nearly trillion dollars weâ??ve already thrown down the rat hole weâ??ve created in the Middle East.

On Campus: UW-Madison to send tuition bills by e-mail

Wisconsin State Journal

The days of getting a college tuition bill in the mailbox will soon be gone.

UW-Madison is transitioning to a system of sending tuition bills by e-mail, rather than snail mail. Students and parents can also pay the bills online, see immediately when their payment has gone through, and view a real-time balance.

Options for high textbook costs

Wisconsin Public Radio

UW campuses are again swarming with students, many of whom are feeling the pinch of textbook prices. There are ways students and administrators are trying to ease the financial burden a little.

At the UW-Madison, students are holding a â??book swapâ?. They man a table covered with laptops, scraps of paper, and tall stacks of books.

The UW system says on average, college students shell out $900 a year on books. UW-Madison sophomore Jonah Zinn says the book swap lets students sell books for about 30% more than what theyâ??d get from the campus bookstore, and buy them for 35% less than the retail price, which saves them $300 to $400. (First item.)

Philanthropist, jewelry store owner Irwin Goodman dies at 94

Wisconsin State Journal

Irwin Goodman, a pillar of the Madison community who along with his brother Robert gave more than $10 million to philanthropic causes, died Sunday at his Madison home. He was 94.

Though he amassed his fortune selling jewelry, Goodman was able to give so much because of his frugal lifestyle, colleagues said.

….The Goodmans have been among the cityâ??s most philanthropic citizens, providing millions of dollars for civic events, UW-Madison athletics, the United Way of Dane County and the Madison Community Foundation.

Cheryl Anderson column: A love of the Lord and of song drives Ethan Cook of Appleton

Appleton Post-Crescent

Ethan Cook has musical goals he’s yet to achieve. But the 20-year-old Appleton native â?? known on stage as American Fiction â?? also has a loftier ambition.

Currently a junior at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Cook is majoring in religious studies and wants to become a pastor.

“I think I’ve realized a true calling that really I feel is transcendental, and it doesn’t matter with this whole music thing,” he said. “(Music) is a huge part of my life, but I mean this is a greater part of my life

Sigma Chi faces reduced sanctions

Badger Herald

The University of Wisconsin Sigma Chi fraternity will face reduced sanctions this fall after the punishment levied for one of two violations committed during the spring semester was dropped by the Offices of the Dean of Students.

UW-Madison student attacked downtown

Capital Times

A 20-year-old University of Wisconsin-Madison student was mugged early Friday morning while outside his residence downtown, police reported. The attack happened shortly after midnight Friday in the 400 block of West Gorham Street.

Campus Connection: Binge drinking to end on UW-Madison campus?

Capital Times

Thought Iâ??d share this entertaining blog post I stumbled across which talks about UW-Madisonâ??s decision to prohibit beer ads on its statewide radio network during football, basketball and hockey broadcasts. This type of advertising had been worth about $425,000 per year to the UW athletic department.

Here is one sentence from the blog post: “Yep, when all those students in Madison are huddled around the AM radio in their dorm rooms listening to the broadcast of Badgers games, their will be nary a mention of beer. And I donâ??t need to tell you that without those evil beer companies convincing these innocent and naive kids to overindulge while imbibing their immoral product via radio waves, binge drinking in at the University of Wisconsin will be but a distant memory.”

College football: Michigan investigates alleged violations (AP)

Capital Times

ANN ARBOR, Mich. â?? The University of Michigan announced Sunday that it has launched an investigation into allegations that its football program regularly violates NCAA rules limiting how much time players can spend on training and practice.

The announcement from Michigan athletic director Bill Martin came after a Detroit Free Press article in which players from the 2008 and 2009 teams said the amount of time they spend on football during the season and in the offseason greatly exceeds NCAA limits. The players spoke to the newspaper on condition of anonymity because they feared repercussions from coaches.

Two arrested for knife assault on Mills St.

Capital Times

Madison police arrested two young men late Saturday night after a knife assault required stitches for one victim.

Jason M. Bischoff, 22, and Alexander M. Miller, 19, have been charged with second-degree recklessly endangering safety and carrying a concealed weapon after the incident in the 100 block of North Mills Street at around 1 a.m.

(The young men who were arrested are UW-Madison students.)

College experts offer words of wisdom for new students

Capital Times

Is there something you wish every college student would know before the start of the school year?

The Capital Times posed that question to a range of people associated with higher education in the Madison area and asked them to share some â??words of wisdomâ? with students as the 2009-10 academic year gets under way.

(A variety of UW-Madison faculty and staff members offer their advice in this article.)

Zimmermann family offers to settle lawsuit (Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune)

The Zimmermann family, of Marshfield, has offered to settle their lawsuit against Dane County and all defendants alleging the wrongful death of their daughter, Brittany, for $150,000.

In the offer filed Tuesday in Dane County Circuit Court, the estate of Brittany Zimmerman, Jean Zimmermann and Kevin Zimmermann each seek $49,999 to dispose of the suit. The suit alleged negligence by the county, county executive and a 911 dispatcher in responding to a call from Brittany, a University of Wisconsin-Madison student, before she was murdered at her downtown apartment.

UW-Madison Issues Plans For H1N1 Virus

WISC-TV 3

University of Wisconsin-Madison officials have announced plans in case the H1N1 virus arrives on campus this fall.

Much of the university’s plans include how classes can continue, even if students are not able to attend. Professors are being asked to have online lesson plans ready.

UHS officials describe swine flu precautions

Daily Cardinal

Officials from University Health Services discussed ways for students to protect themselves from the H1N1 virus at an information session Thursday.

Dr. Sarah Van Orman, UHS executive director, said she coordinated the meeting to inform people on how to minimize the impact and spread of the diseaseâ??which is also known as swine fluâ??across campus.

According to Van Orman, students should wash their hands frequently, cough and sneeze into their sleeves and keep their hands away from their eyes, nose and mouth to avoid getting sick.

UW chancellor emails students, staff to stay home if sick (AP)

WKOW-TV 27

UW-Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin is the latest campus official to urge students and staff to stay away if they begin to feel ill. The move comes as another precaution to prevent a potential widespread outbreak of the H1N1 flu virus.

In an e-mail, Martin acknowledged that it will require people to change their mindsets, as they have to make a decision whether to not show up to commitments when they feel slightly sick.

Rothschild Murder: Person of Interest

NBC-15

Professor Claudia Card was in her second year of teaching in 1968, when Christine Rothschild was murdered on the UW campus. “I’ve never forgotten Christine. She was in my honors philosophy class. She was such a lively and smart participant in the class.”

Forty-one years later, it came as a shock to hear there is a person of interest in the case. “My reaction was Oh gosh,” says Card. “It’s the first clue that I’ve heard that might actually turn out to help solve the case.”

NBC 15 News has confirmed serial killer William Floyd Zamastil is a person of interest.

UW-Madison named military-friendly school

Capital Times

The University of Wisconsin-Madison was one of 23 Wisconsin colleges named to the first-ever list of military-friendly schools created by G.I. Jobs, a veterans magazine.

The 2010 list recognizes the top 15 percent of colleges, universities and trade schools that provide recruitment, retention and other services for veterans.

“This list is especially important now because the recently enacted post-9/11 GI Bill has given veterans virtually unlimited financial means to go to school,” G.I. Jobs publisher Rich McCormack said in a statement.

UW-Madison Issues Plans For H1N1 Virus

WISC-TV 3

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is addressing its H1N1 virus concerns for the upcoming fall.Much of the universityâ??s plans include how classes can continue, even if students are not able to attend. Professors are being asked to have online lesson plans ready.”Weâ??re preparing as much as possible for a not entirely predictable event,” said Aaron Brower, UW-Madison Vice-Provost of teaching and learning. “Weâ??ve been preparing for [something like this] for almost two years.”

Fighting H1N1 on UW’s campus

WKOW-TV 27

Freshman Derrick Borlie is looking forward to a lot of things this year, especially the upcoming wrestling season.

“It’s important that I stay healthy for my school work and my athletics. So I am going to really try hard,” he said.

The UW hopes other students follow in Borlie’s footsteps.

Especially with the expected return of the H1N1 virus, which experts fear will be more dangerous this flu season.

“We worry with larger type cases that this could disrupt our normal activity so that’s why we are taking it so seriously,” says Dr. Sarah Van Orman, Director of University Health Services.

Zimmermann Family Seeks To Settle Lawsuit

WISC-TV 3

The family of slaying victim Brittany Zimmermann is trying to settle its lawsuit against Dane County.

The mother and father of Zimmermann are asking the county for $150,000 to settle their wrongful death lawsuit, WISC-TV reported.

No decision on the offer has been made.

ASM continues book swap

Badger Herald

The Associated Students of Madison and Academic Affairs Committee will be holding their semi-annual book swap Friday, Aug. 28 through Sunday, Aug. 30.

According to Jonah Zenith, chair of the Academic Affairs Committee, students will buy books for 35 percent less than what the University Bookstore sells the same book for and the seller will make 30 percent more than if they were to sell the book back to the bookstore.

Downtown Bars Prepare For Students To Return

WISC-TV 3

MADISON, Wis. — Campus-area bars are working with the Madison Police Department to prepare for the return of students for the fall semester.

Bar employees attended tavern safety training on Wednesday night in Madison to review the basics of maintaining safe and trouble-free establishments.

“We go into everything. We go into legal issues, what can happen to you; we go into capacity issues,” said Katherine Plominski, the cityâ??s alcohol policy coordinator, who used to work as a bartender herself.

Leaders Outline Plans To Combat H1N1 Flu Virus

WISC-TV 3

Since the most at-risk population for contracting H1N1 is under age 24, the University of Wisconsin-Madison has a flu plan in the works. The plan includes teaching classes from a distance to sick students who would be asked to return home to their parents if they become ill.

“Part of our preparation from an instructional standpoint is also making sure that we’re able to support students that need to stay home. Can they complete their assignments and do what they need to do while they’re not able to go to class?” said Sarah Van Orman, of University Health Services at UW-Madison.

All schools in Dane County to offer swine flu vaccinations

Wisconsin State Journal

Swine flu vaccine clinics will be set up at all public and private schools in Dane County this fall, when the illness is expected to start spreading widely again, health officials announced Wednesday.

UW-Madison will take the unusual step of having clinics at Memorial Union and campus recreation centers â?? in addition to dormitories and University Health Services â?? to protect students against the virus, also known as H1N1.

On Campus: Laptops common at University of Wisconsin-Madison

Wisconsin State Journal

Almost every student on the UW-Madison campus owns a laptop computer, according to a new survey. The annual survey on technology use, which is conducted by the universityâ??s Division of Information Technology, found that 93 percent of students own laptop computers, while 26 percent own desktop computers.

Anheuser-Busch pulls ‘Fan Cans’ at some colleges

USA Today

Anheuser-Busch InBev is dropping its “Fan Cans” promotions from communities around the country where colleges have complained that the effort â?? which sells cans of Bud Light in school colors â?? promotes underage drinking and infringes on trademarks.

In some cases, such as at the University of Wisconsin, the campaign hadn’t even made it near campus yet, but the schools didn’t want to wait to tell Anheuser-Busch to drop the program.

“If you don’t protect your trademarks, you eventually lose them, so we felt it was important to at least communicate to them that we didn’t think it was an appropriate tact,” said Vince Sweeney, vice chancellor for university relations at University of Wisconsin.

He said the school in Madison, Wis., received a letter from Anheuser-Busch this week saying it would stop selling the red-and-white cans in the area.

SAT scores show disparities by race, gender, family income

USA Today

Average national SAT scores for the high school class of 2009 dropped two points compared with last year, a report out today says. And while the population of test takers was the most diverse ever, average scores vary widely by race and ethnicity.On one end, students who identified themselves as Asian, Asian-American or Pacific Islander posted a 13-point gain. On the other end, students who identified themselves as Puerto Rican posted a 9-point drop in average scores.

Student Bloggers Watch over College Media (Poynter Online)

Student journalists at the University of Wisconsin-Madison can breath a sigh of relief. Their biggest critic, a fellow Badger, is on break. At least for now.

“The site will remain up for historical record and in case I break out of retirement,” but that’s not likely, said Danny Spirn, also known as the Critical Badger.

Captured in Ethiopia: An American nightmare

Daily Cardinal

A strong hand planted stiffly on my shoulder and sent shivers through my body, freezing every muscle as I stood on my host familyâ??s front lawn in Ethiopia. I slowly turned as my eyes traveled up a large arm and over to the other arm, which was grasping an AK-47. I looked up at his face as he glanced back at two other armed men and his lips parted into a grin.

Student Move-In Begins In Downtown Madison

WISC-TV 3

One of the busiest times of the year for downtown Madison is getting started as students begin to move in on campus.

Tuesday is considered “early move-in day” for student employees, resident assistants and other students who need to come to the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus a little early.

Campus Hopes to Contain H1N1

NBC-15

Experts say up to half of the U-S could be infected by H1N1 this fall and worse, a prediction that thousands could die from the virus.

There is a sobering warning for UW students tonight as they head back to school and into the dorms.

Health officials there say it’s not if any students get H1N1 but how bad the spread will be.

It is the beginning of a new beginning, move in day for some at the UW Madison dorms. A day that’s normally filled with excitement is now coming with a warning, more specifically concerns about a major fall outbreak of H1N1.

Financial aid applications up

WKOW-TV 27

According to financial aid officers at UW-Whitewater the tough economy is causing more students to apply for financial aid late in the process.

UW-W has also run out of work-study grants and Wisconsin Higher Education grants for the first time in memory before the fall. Those programs typically run out of money by November or December.

“It makes me feel very bad,” said Carol Miller, director of UW-W’s financial aid office. “That’s the rewarding part of the profession, helping kids be able to go to school.”

U.S. colleges prep for H1N1

USA Today

As millions of students head back to campus this month, college and university health care workers are stocking up on masks and flu-fighting drugs such as Tamiflu as they encourage students to get both annual seasonal flu vaccine and the H1N1 vaccine in mid-October.A University of Wisconsin committee brainstormed how to get food to sequestered students in dorms and what routine appointments to halt at the student health center if thereâ??s an influx of flu patients, says epidemiologist Craig Roberts. “We think about it almost constantly.”
(Roberts is clinical assistant professor with the School of Medicine and Public Health at University Health Services.)

Nagy learns crash course in safety (Badger Beat)

Capital Times

There are conflicting emotions tugging at Bill Nagy as he deals with the physical and mental scars left from a moped accident that occurred more than a month ago.

Part of Nagy, a junior right guard for the University of Wisconsin football team who has been sidelined throughout the first two weeks of preseason camp because of injuries he suffered in the crash, feels unlucky that he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

The other part of Nagy feels fortunate his injuries werenâ??t more severe. Heâ??s out indefinitely with strained ligaments in the heel of his right foot and is wearing a cast to protect his injured right wrist, but those injuries will heal in time and Nagy eventually will begin his pursuit for a starting spot he so cherishes.

â??Iâ??m just lucky I didnâ??t hit my head,â? Nagy said.

On Campus: Textbook swap starts Friday

Wisconsin State Journal

In whatâ??s becoming a semi-annual event, UW-Madisonâ??s student government is holding a textbook swap from Friday to Sunday.

This is the fourth semester the Associated Students of Madison is holding a textbook swap among students.

The idea is that students can essentially cut out the middle man (a book store) and save money by selling books directly to each other.

Getting the green light: Local campuses take steps to give ‘green dining’ the old college try (77 Square)

As college students head back to school in Madison this week, theyâ??ll be greeted at their campus dining halls by new ways to practice environmentally-friendly eating.

From greener packaging for carry-out meals to reducing plastic water bottles to finding more options for eating food thatâ??s raised in the area, they can enjoy options that didnâ??t exist even last year.

Students learn the dressed-up art of lobbying

Wisconsin State Journal

In Room 411 South of the state Capitol, a gathering of college students could well be the future of K Street, the lobbyistsâ?? boulevard in Washington, D.C.

The men have swapped typical campus attire of T-shirts for ties; the women, sneakers for skirts. Theyâ??re all there to learn the slick art of influence and persuasion. In other words, theyâ??re being trained as lobbyists.

Move-in days will jam up campus streets next week

Capital Times

The veterans made their moves last week.

The rookies (and their moms and dads) will hit the streets next week as thousands of fresh-faced frosh cram into dorm rooms on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, UW said in a news release.

Move-in days are scheduled for Tuesday, Thursday and Friday (Aug. 25, 27 and 28) at the residence halls on campus, so traffic will be bollixed up more than it has been (due to road construction all over campus) as confused parents in SUVs, cars and an occasional U-Haul, try to find parking to unload the stuff thatâ??ll help little Jimmy become a Badger.