No doubt to their chagrin, opponents of embryonic stem cell experiments have only helped Wisconsin hold the high ground in this promising branch of research. But that edge is eroding fast.
Category: Opinion
Badgering fans
For many, Badger fandom is life at the University of Wisconsin. Students use Badger football and basketball games as opportunities to escape the rigorous pressures of academic life. Traditions have been built and upheld by fans, while UW student sections have gained notoriety for their enthusiasm and are considered among the best in the nation.
Wolfe exposes obsolescence of moral charater on campus (WSJ)
Out of the thousands of sociological details Wolfe gets right, you pick out some he gets wrong (thus establishing your superior hipness). Wolfe takes risks in his novels to describe the moral climate of the age.
Tom Still: UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Santiago determined to build on research base (wisbusiness.com)
MILWAUKEE ââ?¬â?? At the State University of New York in Albany, Carlos Santiago helped forge a partnership between IBM and the campus that led to the creation of a $1.5 billion “center of excellence.”
Now that he’s taken up residence in Wisconsin, Santiago sees no reason why UW-Milwaukee can’t aspire to do the same.
It�s all about the Benjamins
We are firm believers in the method of consistent reminding. One rally, one article and one protest are not enough to send a message. The student body must continue their plea for help.
University of Wisconsin students are stuck with a hefty tuition bill every semester. Students must pay their bill in one large chunk whether it be through financial aid, hard-earned cash or gracious parental assistance.
Salary hikes needed to preserve UW quality
Much hoopla has been raised at UW-Madison over a Nov. 5 vote by the UW System Board of Regents to hike the salaries of top university figures across the state.
Fun times can be had without a single drop of alcohol
“But can she still wear a toga?” You bet I can – even though I went through four years of college without drinking a single drop of alcohol, says Kathryn Audie Sturino who graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2003 and now lives in New York.
Law spotlights mental health (WSJ)
This September, Rebublicans and Democrates in Congress passed The Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act.
Patrick Keeffe: Friend’s tales brought home reality of war
“The Vietnam War was raging in the summer of 1968 when I heard that one of my high school classmates had returned from Saigon in a body bag. I didn’t know him that well, but the horrible news brought the war much closer to home.”
COMMENTARY: UW’s new compliance officer knows plenty about Clarett
When Maurice Clarett lit the fuse and rolled that stink bomb into the Ohio State football headquarters Tuesday, you could smell it at Camp Randall Stadium.
Foreign student drop dangerous
Administrators at American universities have one more thing to worry about.
COMMENTARY: Alvarez right not to run up score
Just as we all have a personal code of ethics, we also have moments when we wish we didn’t.
Barry Alvarez is no different.
Remembrance of campus of long, long ago.
What’s the spot on the UW-Madison campus nearest to your heart?
Article currently not available on line.
Halloween: See You Next Year?
Provided you are reading this in the comfort of your own home, or in a lecture hall, and not still behind bars or nursing sore wrists, congratulations on successfully surviving Halloween 2004. That weekend was full of crazy costumes, overcrowded parties and, of course, the usual herds of police officers equipped with tear gas and riot gear. The benefit of hindsight lets us calmly look back and ask the serious question: was Halloween weekend successful, tear gas and all, or is it time for UW students to say goodbye to Halloween and hello to an October sans looting and arrests?
Holding accountable
No Wisconsin student can claim that in the past year they haven�t been directly affected by rapidly rising tuition costs. Repeatedly, the University of Wisconsin has been forced to tell its students that, because of the Governor, Legislature and Board of Regents, more money will be needed in the form of tuition hikes.
It’s time to move beyond election
What a relief that the election is over! And, thanks to Sen. John Kerry�s swift and gracious concession, we were able to feel that relief early the day after the election. An op-ed piece by UW Law School Professor Ann Althouse.
Tough enforcement is best response
The Halloween hooligans come to town to see a riot. If we want them to stay away, Madison must deliver only disappointment.
COMMENTARY: Which UW numbers beg retirement?
The greatest honor a University of Wisconsin student-athlete can receive has been bestowed only four times.
Josh Healey: Affordable higher ed needn’t be a dream
….Because of the unwillingness of our elected and unelected officials to take a stand for struggling students, we are organizing to stand up for ourselves. We have formed a growing coalition of student organizations, unions, PTAs, local Green parties and progressive Democrats around the state to demand that the state reinvest in the UW System.
Admit one?
Once upon a time, it was easy for students to get season tickets for Badger basketball. But, over the past few years, the popularity of Wisconsin basketball has skyrocketed dramatically as the team has won a share of three Big Ten titles. Times have quite obviously changed. The demand for season tickets by students has grossly outweighed the supply. It is for this reason that the recent calamity involving the ticket lottery is so problematic, merely serving to further frustrate the patience of students.
The youth vote: It didn’t rock
By Laura Vanderkam
I am what pollsters call a ââ?¬Å?likely voter.
For young readers: All about elections
Merri Lindgren is a librarian at the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, a noncirculating library of the School of Education at UW-Madison
Staff Opinion: Halloween warrants measured response
In many ways, this Halloween looks to be the last straw. Comments from city officials ranged from perturbed to infuriated and Mayor Dave Cieslewicz in particular had the harshest words, saying, “I have had enough. This must come to an end.” Although we are disturbed by the vagueness of his sentiment, we agree with it in principle. Because people cannot seem to act in a sane manner, the Madison police department is entirely justified in using draconian measures to deter future Halloween incidents. However, city officials should hesitate to make rash policy decisions when emotions are running high. The backlash might rival the behavior they are trying to stamp out.
Bill Wineke column: A lousy way to get kicks
In Baghdad on Saturday night, thousands of young American men and women wished for nothing more fervently than to spend the evening safely.
Your guide to a fun and safe Halloween
Halloween on State Street was a big part of campus life even before I was a student here in the early 1980s. For the most part, it has been a peaceful celebration that reflects the energy and creativity of students. Madison wouldn’t be the city it is if not for the 40,000 students on the UW campus. Students bring excitement, ideas and optimism to the city. Some of us like Madison so much that we find excuses to stick around after we graduate. That’s what I did, and now I’ve got a great excuse to keep living in Madison. In fact, my job requires it.
Plans promise more treats than tricks
Halloween is quickly approaching, and as you are putting the finishing touches on your costumes, the Associated Students of Madison is finalizing plans for an inclusive, fun and safe weekend celebration. ASM, in collaboration with Madison business associations, the City of Madison, the University of Wisconsin and the UW Greek System, is trying to make safe space for the entire community by holding costume contests for children, trick-or-treating at State Street businesses and having complimentary hay rides throughout the downtown area during the day.
Make them pay
During Monday�s news conference regarding the basketball ticket fiasco, a front row girl walks up to basketball head coach Bo Ryan and puts her arms on his shoulders.
COMMENTARY: UW handles basketball ticket fiasco right way
We have been watching this educational process unfold with officials at the University of Wisconsin Athletic Department since late last week. That’s when its original plan for distributing student season tickets for UW men’s basketball went kerflooey thanks to two computer-related problems.
Broder: A less than ideal choice (Washington Post)
Quoted: Charles O. Jones, the presidential scholar who has ties to both the University of Wisconsin at Madison and the Brookings Institution
College Students Should Steer Clear Of Credit Cards
When my niece Lauren came home recently from her first semester at Spelman College in Atlanta, one of the first things we talked about was money.
I asked Lauren if she needed any. She gave me that look teenagers give when asked an obvious question.
Lampert Smith: Class focuses on ethics of body modification
Don’t mind the three-eared guy with the robot arm.
He’s Stelarc, an Australian performance artist, who will give a guest lecture Nov. 4 for one of the hottest new classes on the UW-Madison campus.
John Wiley: Sports funding critics reflect bias, not facts
A recent caller to your “Sound Off” feature complained about apparently mistaken university priorities, citing coach salaries and stadium renovations during a time of state budget retrenchment and course cancellations.
Dave Zweifel: TABOR supporters won’t face taxpayers
The absolute frustration that local government officials have with those legislators pushing the so-called Taxpayer Bill of Rights was underscored in an e-mail I received last week from a former Lake Mills City Council member.
Dow Chemical Riot on Madison campus changed many forever (Fond du Lac Reporter)
Thirty-seven years ago today ââ?¬â? Oct. 17, 1967 ââ?¬â? I was an 18-year-old freshman on the University of Wisconsin campus in the city where I was born.
Research from abroad
In the last 50 years, airplanes, internet, telephones and global markets have all shortened the divides between countries to make the world a truly porous place. Front and center in this globalization project has been the United States.
OPINION: Bolster Investment In Research
Wisconsin is once again gaining economic ground, and to keep the momentum going, local and state policymakers should focus more intently on creating jobs in promising technology-oriented industries.
Dave Zweifel: TABOR would cut our quality of life
The results of a poll conducted in Wisconsin at the end of September had some disturbing results – up to two-thirds of those responding feel there ought to be a constitutional amendment limiting spending by state and local governments.
State continues to display lack of concern for the university
Last month, Gov. Jim Doyle told a group of students who asked him to make the University of Wisconsin more affordable that they “must be living in a dream world.” In fact, we do have a dream-one where all people, regardless of their race, class or social circumstances have equal access to high-quality, low-cost higher education. Unfortunately, it seems that Doyle, along with the state Legislature and the Regents, do not share our vision.
Stem cell technology too valuable to be tampered with
Some six years ago, a bright scientist at the University of Wisconsin introduced his work to the public through the prestigious journal Science. He reported the first case of isolating human embryonic stem cells. The ground breaking announcement made the scientific, and particularly the medical community, sit up and take notice; the possibilities appeared astonishing.
EDITORIAL: Stagger bar time to cut melee risk (WSJ)
State Journal recommends staggering bar closing times to cut down on problems during Halloween.
Tom Still: Academic R&D helps bring federal bucks back to Wisconsin
In one important category, however, Wisconsin brings home its share of the bacon. When it comes to merit-based competition for academic research and development dollars, Wisconsin moves much closer to the head of the class.
Editorial Observer: The Graduate Students Search for Signs of Intelligent Campaign Life
Madison, Wis. ââ?¬â? Into the night, candidates from everywhere caper nonstop across the television screens. Bragging, unflagging and just plain posing, their television images rain into the archives of a voracious academic project dedicated to measuring the now-you-see-it, now-you-don’t advertising stratagems of the political campaign. Graduate students at the University of Wisconsin trek through these reams of glossy wholesomeness and focus-grouped promises in each day’s catch of TV commercials from across the nation. They weed attack ads from bouquets of self-praise, ever grateful for an aberrational candidate.
UWM can be catalyst for economic development
I believe the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is viewed as a crucial catalyst for the economic well-being of the city of Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.
TABOR helps your future
Often times in Madison, talking politics can prove a frustrating affair. Frequently people so well informed as to the national and international scene remain blissfully unaware of local issues. Somewhere between the perpetual addressing of the Patriot Act and the 107th mention of Bush, hair begins to fall out. And yet, bring up the issue of TABOR and the question is met with a quizzical look.
No entry fee too high for hayride hilarity
When I first heard one of the latest weapons the Madison Police Department has added to its arsenal to combat drunken disarray at this year’s State Street Halloween extravaganza was the family hayride, I sincerely thought someone was kidding.
Carlos Santiago: UWM: Discovery, growth, service
The challenge facing the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee at this point in its historic trajectory is to fundamentally enhance our academic profile. We do that in an environment that is less than optimal from a budgetary perspective, but I believe we have real strengths with which to accomplish our goals.
Dave Zweifel: New report but old push for TABOR
Wisconsin conservatives never die or even fade away, they just go to work for the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute.
Another ineffective prohibition
As many students have read, been told and repeatedly reminded, the use of empty alcohol containers as room decoration by underage residents of UW-Madison Housing is no longer permitted. Although the campus staff may have had the best intentions in mind while devising this new policy, the only noticeable changes will be superficial at best.
Mary Conroy: Still wearing blinders on minority hiring
Joyce Jones has lived in Madison all her adult life. She went to UW-Madison as an undergraduate, did very well academically and enjoyed her experience. Even though other African-American students have experienced discrimination at the UW, Jones says she had a very positive undergraduate experience.
Smith: SI’s Halloween promo is no joke on State Street
Of course Sports Illustrated On Campus picked Madison as its only Midwestern stop on its annual Road Trip.
They loved Wisconsin’s traditional tailgate parties, Bucky Badger and our beautiful campus, right?
Wrong.
They’re visiting Wisconsin because we have really great riots.
Considering college climate, parents must stay involved
By John Zmirak, editor of Choosing the Right College, published by the Intercollegiate Studies Institute.
I don’t have a child in college this fall. But millions of Americans do, and parents often find it difficult to just let their children go, unsure of exactly what they will encounter this semester and beyond.
PACE works to stifle speech in student newspapers
Flipping through the pages of The Pitt News last year, University of Pittsburgh students could read a feature called ââ?¬Å?Drink Specialsââ?¬Â where prices of drinks at local bars were published by the newspaper, free of charge
Tuition hikes necessary
Arizona State University’s overarching goal is to provide access to as many academically qualified students as possible, regardless of financial need.
New limits on college access sting students and states
No one disputes the value of a college diploma. Not only do college graduates earn $20,000 a year more than high school graduates, but they’re more likely to find jobs in an increasingly demanding global economy.
Administration rolls up the red carpet
The University of Wisconsin “rolled out the red carpet” last Saturday, unveiling a new initiative that was supposed to create a friendlier environment to opposing fans at Badger football games. In response to several incidents of harassment that occurred last season, the Athletic Department and the administration created this initiative to make fans of teams visiting Camp Randall feel safe and welcome.
Redeclaring independence
Today marks the 35th anniversary of the University of Wisconsin�s independent student newspaper, The Badger Herald. As editor of this publication, I am proud to be a part of the success that surrounds the Herald and excited to welcome alumni back to Madison and the BH office.
Help local merchants stay on State Street
Wisconsin is by and large a suburban state. Most in-state students come from towns characterized by cul-de-sacs, malls and McDonald’s. Virtually the only way to tell if you are in Appleton, Green Bay, or Eau Claire is by looking at what high school is supported by the stickers on the area residents’ bumpers. Madison, being a college town, has thankfully been bereft of such local insubstantialities
TAA becomes political
In recent years it has become commonplace for some students to complain that school officials, professors or TAs are somehow ideologically biased. There have been grievances from across the country of grades lowered based upon a professor�s disagreement with a student�s conclusion.
WHAM, MEChA abuse fees
Last week, this newspaper reported that Christopher Loving, former president of the Black Student Union (BSU) chapter here on campus, was charged with stealing, having withdrawn approximately $1,400 for personal use from the student group�s segregated fee funds account.
Affiliated bookstore would help students
Here we are again: Another year at UW-Madison filled with football games, parties and-overpriced textbooks? The first week of school has brought about one very unfortunate reminder: The students aren’t always first. Without a university-affiliated bookstore on the UW-Madison campus, targeting the specific needs of students has become a thing of the past.