This week, UW-Madison took some small steps to change that narrative with the dedication of a new heritage marker on Bascom Hill that recognizes the historical significance of the campus as the Ho-Chunk’s ancestral home.
Category: Opinion
The ‘Nail’s Tales’ sculpture is leaving. Here’s what I want to replace it.
All 85 Bucky on Parade statues in a row.
Borsuk: Is low-grade high school diploma better than no diploma at all?
A recently released study by researchers from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Vanderbilt University offers a thought-provoking and somewhat unsettling look into the realities of how some students get credits that they need for graduation.
Plain Talk: Dick Wagner tells us what we didn’t know about Wisconsin’s gay history
Wagner, who holds a doctorate in history from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has put together a well-organized volume.
Editorial: Combat Blindness International
For 35 years Combat Blindness International, headquartered here in Madison and founded by UW ophthalmologist Dr. Suresh Chandra, has been restoring sight to more than 360,000 people in five countries.
Monkey Cage: Why Facebook is pushing Libra
Facebook is issuing Libra, a new electronic currency, and everyone is rushing to explain it; perhaps the best overall explanation comes from Bloomberg’s Matt Levine. Most of the commentary focuses, unsurprisingly, on the economics. Yet there is also a very important political economy story. Here’s what you need to know about the politics of Libra.
Editorial: Uniting behind UW-Madison
Years of antipathy towards University of Wisconsin-Madison by majority Republican lawmakers and then-Gov. Scott Walker have taken their toll.
Editorial: Birdies for Health
The idea is simple: You make a pledge for every birdie made during the tournament to support The UW Carbone Cancer Center, American Family Children’s Hospital, Imitative to End Alzheimer’s, Department of Ophthalmology, or Transplant and UW Organ and Tissue Donation. American Family will match your donation up to $100,000.
Credit chancellor for UW’s record on unrest — State Journal editorial from 50 years ago
This State Journal editorial ran on June 13, 1969: The end of the school year at the University of Wisconsin has come, and this is a good time to assess the student unrest and the success or failure with which the university has reacted.
Paul Fanlund: So, if you could, would you scrap our Constitution?
Howard Schweber is an expert in constitutional law, judicial politics and American democratic theory as a University of Wisconsin-Madison professor. I called him to talk about the play.
Jerry Hanson: Republicans are rejecting the voters’ message
The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature is rejecting the voters’ message. They are cutting the budget requests to fund our public schools and the UW.
Editorial: Freshwater is smart strategy
In addition to addressing one of the most important human health and environmental issues of our time, creation of the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin is a smart economic development strategy for the UW System and for the state.
Bollinger: The Free-Speech Crisis on Campus Isn’t Real
Earlier this year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order requiring colleges and universities that receive federal funds to do what they’re already required by law to do: extend free-speech protections to men and women on campus.
Come as you are: UW increasingly works toward inclusivity
Personal biases aside, UW-Madison is objectively one of the best universities to attend.
The world has changed, Dave, and student loan debt is a bad thing
To be generous, it may just be a lack of knowledge or personal experience that led Dave Cieslewicz to dismiss student loan debt as no big deal (Citizen Dave, 5/30/2019). It certainly isn’t the facts, as the 45 million people in the United States today saddled with over $1.5 trillion in student loan debt can attest.
Trump’s Misguided Ban on Federal Fetal-Tissue Research Can Only Hurt Science
Quoted: Bioethicist R. Alta Charo from the University of Wisconsin–Madison said the new measures are significant for two reasons. “First, it is a clear indication that this administration values symbolic statements over research aimed at saving lives,” she wrote to Gizmodo in an email.
Helen Sarakinos: Madison and its anchor institutions can do more to build a healthy food system
By leveraging a small part of its purchasing power, UW Health has been building a system that upholds community health, minimizes pollution of air and water that diminishes health, and improves economic well-being of our rural residents.
Editorial: Madison’s transplant pioneer
MADISON, Wis. – Madison certainly has its share of unsung heroes; people who have made a profound difference in the world yet remain unrecognized or at least underappreciated here in their hometown.
Plain Talk: GOP budget stabs UW in the back
The Republicans on the budget-writing Joint Finance Committee, who hold a 12-4 majority because of arcane legislative rules, have been making a mockery of the state’s political process as they go through the budget recommendations made by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. If Evers likes it, throw it out. If there’s something he doesn’t like, put it in.
How Korea was divided and why the aftershocks still haunt us today
New missile tests in North Korea have put the region back in the spotlight. The tests portend trouble ahead for President Trump’s extremely ambitious Korean agenda no matter how much confidence he has in Kim Jung Un.
–David P. Fields is the associate director of the Center for East Asian Studies at the University of Wisconsin and the author of “Foreign Friends: Syngman Rhee, American Exceptionalism, and the Division of Korea.”
Diamond: Respectability Politics Fail to Address Urgent Challenges in Madison Schools
In a recent OpEd published on Madison 365, Kaleem Caire chastised Madison youth of color and their adult allies for their demeanor and their “foul, abrasive, and derogatory language” as they raised legitimate concerns about the important issues they face in the Madison Metropolitan School District.
Artificial titles won’t fix UW issue — Eric A. Johnson
Letter to the editor from Johnson, a professor, department of bacteriology at UW-Madison.
Margaret Krome: Food purchasing practices influence our health and our environment
Column: It would be a shame to lose the moral high ground and esteem of those of us who have enjoyed bragging about UW Health’s commitment to the broader community and not just the bottom line.
Gail Bailey: Prevent the horror of losing your college student
Guest column: My beautiful child was 20 years old when he died of a vaccine-preventable disease as a UW-Madison student in the University of Wisconsin System. The horror and pain was unspeakable. That was 17 years ago.
Megan Waltz: UW Health remains committed to local vendors, products
Letter to the editor: I was dismayed to see Lindsay Christian’s May 16 article “UW Health shifts focus from local food” since I have been in charge of food operations for six years and there has been no shift away from using local products, nor any change in our commitment to a local spend of at least 20 percent of our total food budget.
Jessie Opoien: Access to health care versus access to fresh food is a false choice
[R]ather than abruptly canceling contracts with local suppliers, UW Health should have taken an approach similar to the city of Madison’s response to SSM Health’s plans — seeking ways to avoid an unnecessary choice.
Dairy research could be bipartisan — Donald Miner
It may be that more money needs to be appropriated to research at University of Wisconsin System campuses to help the struggling dairy industry. But state Sen. Howard Marklein, R-Spring Green, and 27 other Republicans have taken a partisan path to address the problem.
Be prepared for life
Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt delivered the commencement address at the University of Wisconsin-Madison over the weekend, and delivered what I thought to be a brilliant message to 2019 graduates.
Ray Cross: UW System is delivering more graduates, deserves strong state support
UW System president’s column: An investment in UW System will help us continue these successes and generate more graduates — especially in high-need areas such as nursing, engineering, business, computer science, information technology and data science. Across the System, our campuses have plans to expand these vital areas through our 2019-21 state budget capacity-building initiatives.
Nerissa Nelson: UW-Stevens Point’s plan to keep majors is a pyrrhic victory
My campus, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, has had a tumultuous year of dealing with a projected budget deficit of $8 million over the next three years. It started as an announced administrative “document/plan” to cut 13 liberal arts majors, followed by a “reduced plan” to cut six majors and tenured faculty, and then ultimately a “pulled-back plan” to not cut those majors or lay off tenured faculty.
Column: In-state tuition for Dreamers would benefit all of Wisconsin
If approved, the lower fees would make college much more accessible.
What Doug Ford could learn from Wisconsin about higher education
Written by , PhD Candidate, History, University of Wisconsin-Madison
I was sore about losing to Caster Semenya. But this decision against her is wrong
Noted: Madeleine Pape is a PhD candidate in sociology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a former athlete
Pete Buttigieg doesn’t speak seven languages. I know, because I do
Noted: I discussed the matter with one of the nation’s experts — Dr. Dianna L. Murphy, who directs the Language Institute at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She pointed out that people can have a variety of language strengths and weaknesses; and rather than treating language competency as a “switch yes or no,” learners can tell more of a story about their abilities.
Column: When campus housing costs more than in-state tuition, it’s time to reevaluate
As cost of UW housing continually increases, administration must reassess priorities, aid students with accessibility.
Charging stations a poor investment — Sanford A. Klein
Letter to the editor from Sanford A. Klein, UW-Madison emeritus professor of mechanical engineering.
Tom Still: Idealism or inevitable? Greening of America well underway
The Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, part of the UW-Madison Energy Institute, launched in 2007 to focus on sustainable production of fuels and chemicals from non-edible plant materials such as corn residue, poplar and switchgrass. It is one of four such labs in the country and was recently renewed – with an increase in federal dollars – by the Trump administration.
Column: Bill that allocates grant money for out-of-state students overlooks valuable occupations
Though Murphy’s bill would benefit out-of-state students, it ignores low-income graduates who need grant money the most.
Column: The case for Warren’s student loan debt cancellation plan
Plan addresses racial, wealth disparities, making it particularly relevant, beneficial to Wisconsin
Earth Day 2019: Find common ground on conserving our environment
It’s kicking off at the Gaylord Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, which hosts an annual Earth Day Conference conducted in the spirit of the original 1970 “teach-in.” The event is called Imagine and Adapt: Possibilities in a Changing World.
Add railing to all of Camp Randall — Jennie Larson
Letter to the editor: I was appalled that UW-Madison will be doing a trial on railings in four sections at Camp Randall. Why are they doing a trial run they know the railings are sorely needed?
Going Green: how UW students can start being environmentally friendly today
Simple changes such as turning off lights, recycling, composting and using the bus can make a difference, and are easy to implement.
The return of ‘reefer madness’
Noted: Lucas Richert is the George Urdang Chair in the history of pharmacy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and author of “Strange Trips: Science, Culture, and the Regulation of Drugs.”
Human viruses threaten the future of Uganda’s chimpanzees
My colleagues and I recently analysed two outbreaks of respiratory disease in two different chimpanzee groups, both located in Uganda’s Kibale National Park…Initially, we feared that the same virus caused both outbreaks, which would mean a single virus had been rapidly transmitted throughout the forest. But our team leader, Dr Tony Goldberg of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, tested samples, and we learned that the outbreaks were caused by two different viruses commonly found in humans.
Column: Trend of UW students joining the Peace Corp is promising for future of the US, world
For the second year in a row, UW was awarded No. 1 for Peace Corp’s 2018 Top Volunteer-Producing Colleges and Universities.
Reflecting on 30 Years of Forgiveness Science
It was great to be able to share our knowledge on the science of forgiveness, which we began to examine at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1985, to aid in the advancement of this important area of research.
–Robert Enright, UW–Madison
Leckrone put on a great final show — Curtis Haugen
Letter: The spirit of Wisconsin grabbed me from the moment I entered the Kohl Center where I was surrounded by a sea of cardinal red and white worn by everyone from toddlers to elderly fans moving enthusiastically through the crowd with their walkers.
Foxconn announces protest center in Madison
Taiwanese flat screen maker Foxconn has announced that it is purchasing a building on the Capitol Square to make it easier for local protesters to gather at the building to denounce the $4 billion subsidy for the company, its skirting of environmental regulations and its history of backing out on its agreements.
Editorial Agenda 2019: Trees in the city
A new study, co-authored by a UW Madison professor, finds trees play a big role in keeping towns and cities cool. That’s important for humans, but it’s also important for other organisms essential to life.
Column: Increased funding for computer science will prove beneficial for Wisconsin
As universities struggle to keep up with increasing demand for computer science, government has a duty to fund these programs.
David Ward: Congress should invest more in ag research to keep US ahead of China
Since 2014, Wisconsin universities have received 74 AFRI grants totaling $38 million. These grants have gone to projects such as studying the impact of climate change on dairy production at UW-Madison and research on improved food access for rural, low-income communities at Northland College in Ashland. Locally, this means we are improving an industry that is a cornerstone to our economy. Globally, this allows us to maintain food-supply chains and remain a world leader in agriculture.
Samuel Ropa: How the Center for Religion and Global Citizenry is bringing inclusive interfaith dialogue to Madison
Column by Samuel Ropa, Center for Religion and Global Citizenry interfaith student fellow.
Aaron Yarmel: Classrooms — and society — need balance of structure and freedom
Noted: Aaron Yarmel is the director of Madison Public Philosophy and a Ph.D. candidate in philosophy at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Column: Music programs are integral to higher education curriculum
Music is ever-present in college students’ lives. Music education should be too.
Arboretum deserving of honor — Donna Silver
Letter to the editor: Congratulations to the many people over the years who have created the UW Arboretum on Madison’s West Side. This Wisconsin treasure has recently been added to the National Register of Historical Places.
Letter to the Editor: UW recognizes need for sexual assault reporting software and is dedicated to supporting students
Administration officials provide context for decision to reject Callisto sexual assault reporting software in favor of more productive changes.
Column: In light of Trump’s free speech executive order, UW’s existing policy is worthy of praise
UW should be applauded for its commitment to freedom and should continue striving to protect rights.
Column: University Health Services work to ‘support sisters, not just cis-ters’ is promising for a more inclusive future
While institutional efforts to increase inclusivity are important, such efforts need to be part of a greater, campus-wide conversation.
Column: Rec Sports is a major player in student wellness
The state’s inability to move forward with the new Natatorium could have serious consequences. Millions of dollars in private donations have been pledged to the project with the understanding that it will move forward on a certain schedule.
Campus free speech laws being enacted in many states, but some may do more harm than good
Continuing a recent trend, more states are passing laws that deal with free speech rights on college campuses.