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Category: Crime and safety

UW-Madison offers support after student death

Posted on
WKOW-TV 27

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, Lori Reesor, said the student died at their Mifflin Street residence. She said Madison police determined the death to be accidental, but she said she knows the death “had a profound effect” on many in the university community.

‘Here & Now’ Highlights: Daniel Kelly, Justice Jill Karofsky, Cecilia Klingele

Posted on
PBS Wisconsin

“Under the law, you’re not supposed to use cash to keep people detained. Cash bond is always supposed to be just a way of making sure people are complying with the rules to decide if they actually are guilty or not,” said Cecelia Klingele, a professor at the University of Wisconsin Law School. “The idea is if you have money, you get to be out pending release, and if you don’t have money, you’re stuck, and so we should set high bonds that people can’t meet. In fact, under existing law — U.S. and state law — you have to set reasonable bonds in amounts that people are expected to be able to pay. People are supposed to be out pending release. And we use conditions to keep everyone safe, not money, which has disparate effects on different people.”

April bail referendums: What they’re about, who supports them and who could be most affected by them?

Posted on
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

“There’s two parts to the discussion about bail in Wisconsin,” University of Wisconsin-Madison law professor Adam Stevenson said. “One is what, if any, cash is required for release and the other is what conditions or rules do folks have to follow when they are out in the community on bail.”

Referendums are increasingly being used by both political parties, particularly with nonpartisan spring elections, which don’t usually generate great voter turnout, said Barry Burden, a University of Wisconsin-Madison political science professor.

“These elections just don’t generate the same level of media coverage or public discussion so these gimmicks are one way to get the attention of the voter,” Burden said. “The effect on overall turnout probably won’t be great, but in Wisconsin, most people assume elections are going to be close, so even a change in the balance of things by a percentage point or two could tip the race and tip the balance of the Supreme Court itself.”

Student dies outside UW-Madison residence hall

Posted on
WKOW-TV 27

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Lori Reesor said the student died outside Smith Hall. She said UW-Police reported they are still gathering information, but they don’t suspect foul play. She also said police believe there is no ongoing threat to the community.

Former UW-Madison student indicted for making graphic threats to professors, students

Posted on
Wisconsin Public Radio

A former University of Wisconsin-Madison graduate student has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges he threatened students, professors and their families.

Arvin Mathur was arrested at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport March 10 after emailing victims that he was returning to campus for “an evening of fun” on St. Patrick’s Day. Mathur, 32, of Grass Lake, Michigan, now faces six counts sending online threats to nine individuals associated with UW-Madison.

E-bicycle lithium ion battery fire prompts evacuation of Cole Hall at UW-Madison, authorities say

Posted on
Wisconsin State Journal

The Madison Fire Department was sent to Cole Hall, 625 Elm Drive, at 7:34 p.m. for reports of a battery fire in a dorm room. An occupant used a fire extinguisher from the common hallway to put out the fire just prior to the arrival of fire crews at 7:39 p.m., and no one was injured, Fire Department spokesperson Cynthia Schuster said in a statement.