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Category: Campus life

UW detox cases double

Capital Times

Susan Crowley, project director of PACE (Policy, Alternatives, Community and Education) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, identified some overall drinking trends among students.

An annual UW alcohol survey found the binge drinking rate to be 66 percent. The national average is 44 percent. Binge drinking is defined as four drinks in one sitting for a female and five for a male.

Meanwhile, admissions to detox so far this year have been twice as high as for the same period last year, 30 compared to 14. The good news was that students who reported five or more problems as a result of drinking fell from 30 percent in 1999 to 25 percent in 2005.

Fed up with Madison’s drinking problem?

Capital Times

Madison has a drinking problem. There’s no doubt about that.

And much like a loved one with an addiction, everyone sort of tiptoes around it, not quite sure what to do.

Well, Thursday night a group of downtown residents met with Madison police and city and UW-Madison representatives and discussed whether an intervention is necessary.

UW men’s basketball: Ryan defends academic safety net

Capital Times

Although three players who started the season on the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball team have been declared academically ineligible to play this semester, the director of the athletic department’s academic services does not believe that points to any breakdowns within his group.

Coach Bo Ryan is equally confident in how he and his staff handle academic issues even though sophomore Greg Stiemsma, redshirt freshman DeAaron Williams and freshman Marcus Landry became the program’s first academic casualties in 11 seasons.

Depression Affecting Student-Athletes

NBC-15

Depression on campus. Like anyone else, UW-Madison students are vulnerable to becoming depressed, and that certainly includes student-athletes.

Badger Basketball Sophomore Greg Stiemsma says depression contributed to his being declared academically ineligible this past week.

Downtown Fights and Vandalism

WKOW-TV 27

From vandalism to fights, residents near the Capitol say they’re seeing more alcohol-related crime downtown.

Thursday night, the Capitol Neighborhood, Inc., which represents residents living near the capitol, held a meeting with police, city leaders, and UW to talk about a solution.

Members of CNI say they don’t feel safe.

“A number of our neighbors have been chased off of the street because of the violence that they’ve seen,” says Jamie McCarville, a member of CNI

UW men’s basketball: Academics, depression sideline Stiemsma

Capital Times

Greg Stiemsma put an end to speculation about his possible return to the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball team this season when he issued a statement Wednesday saying he was academically ineligible to compete with the team this semester.

Stiemsma, a 6-foot-11 sophomore center, said in the statement that he was dealing with depression. He said that affected his grades and caused him to take a leave of absence from the team starting last Wednesday.

Students face daunting price of higher ed (Appleton Post-Crescent)

Appleton Post-Crescent

Malee Lee stressed out last fall about which colleges to consider, and how to weigh their pluses and minuses.

Now, the Menasha High School senior is in a panic, thinking maybe that was the easy part of her college search.

“What if I can’t afford the one I want? What if I have to get a college loan? I haven’t thought that far ahead,” she said.

UW advances own political agenda

Badger Herald

Student speech codes were supposed to be a thing of the past on this campus. But sometimes the causes of repression continue to rear their problematic heads � often in a different form.

Negotiations begin to fund SAFEride

Badger Herald

University of Wisconsin Transportation Services and Associated Students of Madison began preliminary negotiations to continue to provide SAFEride cab services through the end of this fiscal year.

Mike Lucas: Bielema has transition plan with a purpose

Capital Times

It’s standard operating procedure for the head coach to meet with the team at the start of the second semester. But, for the first time in 16 years, a different voice was addressing the Badger players. “I don’t want any surprises,” Bielema told them. “You guys understand what we’re going to do and where we need to be, and I expect the (right) attitude to be there when we get there.”

….Last week, two UW redshirt freshmen, Antonio Freeman and Jameson Davis, were pulled over for speeding and arrested after marijuana was found in the car. Both have been suspended from the team for violating the school’s student-athlete discipline policy.

“One of the things that has to be a mainstay is consistency in discipline to make sure there is an understanding and everybody is on the same page,” said Bielema, who brought the incident to the attention of everyone in the room just in case somebody wasn’t aware of the consequences: the subsequent publicity, media scrutiny and the ramifications to the program.

Students: Sexual harassment all too common on campus

USA Today

Nearly two-thirds of undergraduates, male and female, say they have been sexually harassed either verbally or physically while in college, and another student or group of students usually is the perpetrator, a new report says. And though more than 70% of women and 40% of men said they ââ?¬Å?would be somewhat or very upsetââ?¬Â to be on the receiving end of sexual comments, jokes, gestures or looks, 51% of men and 31% of women had harassed someone. Most (59%) said they did so because they thought it was funny.

Parents should evaluate risks

USA Today

The USA TODAY analysis of student deaths finds that a disproportionate number of freshmen die. They represent 35% of undergraduate deaths in the study ââ?¬â? but only 24% of the undergraduate population ââ?¬â? from such causes as illness, suicides and accidents. Parents should be ââ?¬Å?aware of the potential risks to college students and take reasonable measures,ââ?¬Â says Ann Franke of Wise Results, a Washington-based education law and risk management firm.

Off-campus fires claim young lives

USA Today

A USA TODAY study of deaths of four-year college students found that fires were a leading cause, especially for seniors. Seniors account for 36% of the fire fatalities in the study, which also found that when students die in fires, it usually happens just off campus. Near-campus housing often lacks smoke alarms, sprinkler systems and easy escape routes. Ed Comeau, director of the Center for Campus Fire Safety in Amherst, Mass., says such houses are often older buildings, packed with electronics and young adults hosting parties and cooking for the first time in their own kitchens.

Schools use ââ?¬Ë?tough love’ to help curb risky behavior

USA Today

Weeks before they show up for their first class at the University of Missouri-Columbia, the 7,500 or so incoming freshmen, along with their parents, are called to campus for an early July flurry known as ââ?¬Å?Summer Welcome.ââ?¬Â Though it’s mostly a friendly affair, the two-day welcome also features frank talk from upperclassmen, campus police and counselors about binge drinking, partying and bad behavior in general. ââ?¬Å?We hit them with that in the summer before they even get on campus,ââ?¬Â says Kim Dude of the university’s Wellness Resource Center.

First year in college is the riskiest

USA Today

Students away from home for the first time are more likely to die of accidents or illness. For Danny Reardon, a fraternity ritual was fatal. Daniel Reardon’s nightmare began at 5:30 a.m. with a call from the University of Maryland police. His 19-year-old son, Danny, had taken part in a fraternity drinking ritual and was unconscious.

Open casting call seeks students for admissions video

Daily Cardinal

This spring, cameras will roll for UW-Madison�s new admissions recruitment video. It will replace the old video, which is currently seen by 20,000 people annually, according to Karen Mittelstadt, communications manager in the Office of Admissions.

All-female campus co-op last of a dying breed

Daily Cardinal

In the face of Elizabeth Waters becoming co-ed and the number of local co-ops diminishing, the Zoe Bayliss Women�s Co-op represents one of the last havens for specialty housing on campus. However, in recent years this unique co-op has also faced difficult times.

UW men’s basketball notes: Landry vows to succeed academically; Stiemsma’s status unclear

Capital Times

Marcus Landry ended nearly a week’s worth of speculation about his future with the University of Wisconsin men’s basketball team when he stepped up to the microphones Monday afternoon and told reporters he’s academically ineligible for the rest of this season.

….The reserve, who had been averaging 6.0 points and 3.1 rebounds a game, said he waited to make a statement about his eligibility until he had exhausted appeals to regain it.

Group finalizes proposed U Square plans

Badger Herald

Madison design firm Potter-Lawson unveiled final plans for the renovation of University Square to the Madison Joint Southeast Campus Area Committee Monday. The University of Wisconsin also discussed the addition of a new weekday free bus route beginning next fall semester.

Will state be able to pay for Doyle’s tuition plan? (Portage Daily Register)

While it’s still more than four years away, Portage Junior High School eighth-graders Mackenzie Bornick and Melissa Koch say they are already thinking about where they’d like to go to college — and how they and their families will pay for it.

That’s why both girls say they would support Gov. Jim Doyle’s new education plan, dubbed the “Wisconsin Covenant,” which aims to alleviate the financial burden on families trying to send their children to college.

4 local teens accused of hate crime in Wisconsin (Chicago Tribune)

Chicago Tribune

Four suburban teenagers have been charged with felony hate crimes, accused of shouting slurs at a gay University of Wisconsin-Madison student and vandalizing his property, authorities said Monday.

No one was injured in the early morning altercation in Ogg Residence Hall on Dec. 21, and property damage was limited to torn photographs and posters promoting a campus center for lesbians, gays and others.

Google hitting the books

Daily Cardinal

Traditional library research may go the way of the typewriter thanks to a new alliance between Google, universities and libraries from across the world.

Who�s afraid of Virginia Sapiro?

Badger Herald

When the search and screen committee for a new provost reported back with a list of three candidates that did not include Virginia Sapiro, an active wound was inflicted upon the University of Wisconsin by denying the most qualified applicant the job that she would so ably perform.

Athletic department wins diversity award

Badger Herald

For the first time, the University of Wisconsin athletic department received an award for overall excellence in diversity from the Laboratory for Diversity in Sport at Texas A&M University. UW was one of 10 NCAA Division 1-A athletic departments recognized and the only Big Ten school to receive an award.

UW responds to hate crime

Badger Herald

In response to the alleged hate crimes that occurred in Ogg Hall, University of Wisconsin Interim Provost Virginia Sapiro issued a statement Friday condemning the crimes.

Facing the Facebook

Chronicle of Higher Education

Information technology in the classroom was supposed to bridge digital divides and enhance student research. Increasingly, however, our networks are being used to entertain members of “the Facebook Generation” who text-message during class, talk on their cellphones during labs, and listen to iPods rather than guest speakers in the wireless lecture hall.

Waubonsie graduates accused of anti-gay hate crime (Naperville, IL Sun)

Three members of the Waubonsie Valley High School class of 2005 and another man face trial later this year for their alleged roles in a hate crime on the campus of the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

An attorney for one of the accused men, Kevin R. Sochacki, expressed confidence his client will be acquitted of the felony criminal damage to property and misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges lodged against all four suspects.

Hate crime charges disheartening to UW

Capital Times

Students, faculty and staff at the University of Wisconsin-Madison were shaken after learning this week about an apparent hate crime in Ogg Hall.

Earlier this week, four men were charged with hate crimes after a Dec. 21 incident in which an Ogg Hall lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender liaison had his door defaced.

Baggot: For UW, truth can be an ally

Wisconsin State Journal

Ask anyone in the media relations business about their strategy for handling a controversy and they will all start with the same objective.

Get it off the front pages, the TV teleprompters, the talk show topic list and the Internet message boards as soon as possible.

So, here we are, now four days into the curious story about University of Wisconsin men’s basketball players Marcus Landry and Greg Stiemsma.

Students question health services despite ratings

Daily Cardinal

While Big Ten Conference schools all provide nearly identical health services for no additional fees, some UW-Madison and other Big Ten students said they harbored concerns about their health services� competency levels and adherences to confidentiality.

mtvU launches network at UW

Badger Herald

The University of Wisconsin got its MTV.

For the first time, students living in campus residence halls received mtvU � the popular cable channel�s 24-hour college network � Thursday as part of the basic cable package provided by UW Housing.

Alleged hate crime not surprising to UW

Badger Herald

While many students were shocked to hear of the felony hate crime charges brought against two University of Wisconsin students, representatives of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Campus Center said they were not.

Catholic group wants UW fees

A Catholic organization serving University of Wisconsin-Madison students wants to be the first group to spend student fees on activities that are openly religious.

The UW Roman Catholic Foundation, which operates the private St. Paul’s University Catholic Center at 723 State St., is pushing to get $205,000 in segregated fees, a portion of which would pay for Lenten booklets.

Catholic group wants UW fees

Capital Times

A Catholic organization serving University of Wisconsin-Madison students wants to be the first group to spend student fees on activities that are openly religious.

The UW Roman Catholic Foundation, which operates the private St. Paul’s University Catholic Center at 723 State St., is pushing to get $205,000 in segregated fees, a portion of which would pay for Lenten booklets.

….The Catholic foundation’s budget request was scheduled for a vote Wednesday night by the Associated Students of Madison Council. But the council decided to delay it and seek legal advice.

UW freshmen face hate crime charges

Daily Cardinal

Four men, two of whom are UW-Madison freshmen, face charges of criminal damage to property and disorderly conduct for their alleged involvement in a hate crime that occurred in Ogg Hall shortly before winter break. Maximum penalties could mean nearly four years of jail time and $30,000 in fines for each defendant.

Legislators: College incentive plan a great idea, but too much money (Waukesha Freeman)

Greater Milwaukee Today

WAUKESHA – Local elected officials and educators agree that Gov. Jim Doyleââ?¬â?¢s proposed college incentive program has merit, but some question the potential cost of the program to taxpayers.

Doyle spoke of the idea in his State of State address Tuesday night.

The plan would guarantee financial aid to students who sign a pledge in eighth grade promising to maintain at least a B average, attend college-prep classes and live a clean life.

Antiwar Protests on 8 Campuses Appear on Pentagon List of ‘Threats’ to National Security

Chronicle of Higher Education

Antiwar protests at eight colleges have made a Pentagon watch list of “suspicious incidents.”

The 400-page list, which was obtained by NBC News, includes information on 1,500 “threats” to national security that occurred over a recent 10-month period, and characterizes them as either “credible” or “not credible.”

UW football players arrested

Capital Times

Two UW Badger defensive backs were arrested Wednesday night in Jefferson County when an officer found marijuana after stopping the car for going over 100 mph.

Antonio Freeman, 20, and Jameson Davis, 19, were released after being booked into the Jefferson County Jail. Both await dates for their court appearances in Jefferson County Court.

Police Investigate Violent Robberies

WISC-TV 3

Two men went to the hospital after a pair of similar violent robberies in Madison during the past few days. Police aren’t connecting the two robberies, but said that both are troubling.

The first incident occurred when a 38-year-old man was hit in the head with an unknown object and robbed of cash on Saturday night. The robbery occurred at about 10 p.m. on East Lawn Court. The victim had severe head injuries and was taken to the hospital for surgery, WISC-TV reported.

In a second incident on Wednesday morning, a University of Wisconsin-Madison doctoral student was attacked by two men. The robbery occurred at about 2:40 a.m. at the corner of University Avenue and Chamberlain Avenue, police said.

4 college students charged with hate crimes

Capital Times

Four college students were charged with hate crimes for an incident during which they allegedly wrote anti-gay statements and spit on a dorm room door.

According to a criminal complaint, the victim, whose door displayed a red sign reading “LGBT Liaison” and several gay-themed posters, told police he was awakened in his Ogg Hall dorm room at about 2:30 a.m. on Dec. 21 by someone yelling, “All faggots should die” and “I hate f– faggots.” He opened the door to find “I hate f— faggots. Die,” written on the dry erase board on his door and saliva dripping down his door.

UW women’s basketball: Alexander ineligible, aims for 2006-07 return

Capital Times

Juggling responsibilities with classes, practice, travel and competition poses challenges for student-athletes.

Akiya Alexander is aware that finding a balance with all of those tasks is crucial, and hopes to return to competition with the University of Wisconsin women’s basketball team next season.

Alexander was declared academically ineligible on Tuesday for the second semester and won’t play or travel with the Badgers (6-10, 1-5 Big Ten Conference) for the rest of the season.

The iPod Took My Seat (Los Angeles Times)

Los Angeles Times

Americ Azevedo taught an “Introduction to Computers” class at UC Berkeley last semester that featured some of the hottest options in educational technology.

By visiting the course’s websites, the 200 enrolled students could download audio recordings or watch digital videos of the lectures, as well as read the instructor’s detailed lecture notes and participate in online discussions.

UW Students Charged With Damaging Property, Hate Crime

WISC-TV 3

MADISON, Wis. — Two University of Wisconsin students are among a group of four men charged with criminal damage to property and a hate crime for allegedly tearing down a bulletin board in a University of Wisconsin-Madison residence hall.

The four men are accused of ripping the bulletin board off a wall in Ogg Hall because it directed gay students to support services, WISC-TV reported.

Time to close Bascomgate

Badger Herald

Although he worked a mere quarter of the year in Madison, Paul Barrows did much to harm the University of Wisconsin in 2005. The actions of the former vice chancellor for student affairs, who spent last summer embroiled in a high-profile scandal over allegations of inappropriate behavior with a graduate student and coworkers, led more than a few officials in the state Capitol to publicly criticize the school.

Visions of a better year for UW

Badger Herald

If ever a school needed a year to end, it was the University of Wisconsin System in 2005. In what will surely go down as one of the most trying and difficult years in school annals, UW became a personal punching bag for the media, lawmakers and others throughout the state as one sordid scandal after another erupted in headlines throughout the year.