John Hawks, a UW-Madison associate professor of anthropology, was one of several scientists who disputed news reports that the “first homosexual caveman” was found in Prague.
Category: UW Experts in the News
Naomi Schaefer Riley: Why professors shouldn?t be activists
The Republican Party of Wisconsin wants to see what William Cronon has been emailing about. Through an open records request, the state GOP is asking to see correspondence from Cronon, a professor of history, geography and environmental studies at the University of Wisconsin, that includes the terms ?Republican,? ?Scott Walker? and ?collective bargaining,? among many other keywords and names.
(Naomi Schaefer Riley, a former editor at the Wall Street Journal, is the author of the forthcoming ?The Faculty Lounges … and Other Reasons Why You Won?t Get the College Education You Paid For.? This column appeared first in The Washington Post.)
Wisconsin high court race yields mixed results as both sides gird for recount
When a little-known liberal challenged a conservative Wisconsin Supreme Court justice, the once-sleepy race suddenly looked like a back-door way for Gov. Scott Walker?s opponents to sink his agenda.
Quoted: UW-Madison political science professor Ken Mayer
Chris Rickert: When are we going to find a better way to pick a Supreme Court?
There may well be no stupid questions. But answers? Undoubtedly. Witness the standard partisan responses Wednesday to the question burning on the lips last week of just about every journalist, pundit and activist from Kenosha to Bayfield:
Quoted: UW-Madison political science professor Barry Burden
Is Wisconsin ‘broke’? Answer is in the eye of the beholder, experts say
In his inaugural budget address, Gov. Scott Walker stood before a joint session of the Legislature and delivered the somber news: We?re broke.”
Too many politicians have failed to tell the truth about our financial crisis,” he said. “The facts are clear: Wisconsin is broke and it?s time to start paying our bills today so our kids are not stuck with even bigger bills tomorrow.”
Quoted: Andrew Reschovsky, a professor of public affairs and applied economics at UW-Madison’s La Follette School of Public Affairs
Ask the Weather Guys: How does hail form?
Q How does hail form? A Hail is precipitation in the form of large balls or lumps of ice.
UW-Madison’s musical ‘genius’ has visions of an improved double-keyboard piano
It won?t come as a surprise to anyone who knows Christopher Taylor that the internationally acclaimed pianist and UW-Madison professor of music is now inventing a musical instrument.
Swearing off swearing (Deseret News, Utah)
Quoted: Utahns swear less than anyone else in the country, said Daniel Huffman, the University of Wisconsin lecturer who put the map together.
Tasering could pose greater risk to child?s heart: expert (Vancouver Province)
Quoted: However, University of Wisconsin professor emeritus John Webster, who testified at the inquiry into the death of Polish immigrant Robert Dziekanski, told Postmedia News he does believe there are situations where police could be justified in Tasering a child.
Scientists speak out to discredit ‘gay caveman’ media reports – CNN.com
Noted: “Dudes! I could be wrong, but I think that to have a ?gay caveman,? you need a skeleton that is both gay and a caveman. And this ain?t either!” John Hawks, an associate professor of anthropology at University of Wisconsin-Madison, wrote on his blog in bold type.
Fears About Radiation Bigger Than Actual Risk
Interviewed: Nuclear engineer Michael Corradini thinks he knows the answer. Corradini is a professor at the University of Wisconsin. He says even though the likelihood of a major catastrophe is very small, the fact that he can?t absolutely rule it out…
Vote-count mishap in Wisconsin election raises eyebrows, distrust – CSMonitor.com
Quoted: ?Most of the time when we see races decided by 10 percentage points, no one pays attention to a stray 7,000 votes,? says Charles Franklin, a political scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. ?It?s not unusual to see a change of half a percent statewide to a full percent statewide between the unofficial results and those that are certified two weeks later.?
U.S. nuclear evacuation order based on risk assessment (AP)
Quoted: Michael Corradini, chairman of the nuclear engineering program at the University of Wisconsin, said, “You were doing a what-if calculation.”Corradini continued, “Thirty-two years ago, if Japan had done a what-if calculation about Three Mile Island and said all the Japanese living within 50 miles of Harrisburg should get out, what would our response be to that?” He referred to the partial meltdown of a nuclear reactor in Pennsylvania in 1979.
Scott Walker Struggles To Downplay Wisconsin Election That His Allies Built Up As A Referendum
Quoted: Charles H. Franklin, a professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, told The Huffington Post that the return of the western part of the state to the Democratic side was one of the most notable parts of Tuesday?s election.
Wisconsin Democrats Submit Second Recall
Quoted: University of Wisconsin-Madison political science professor Barry Burden said Tuesday?s elections gave a boost to the recall efforts, but forecasting a recall?s ultimate success is tough to gauge.
‘Gay caveman’ theory gets a rocky reception (LiveScience)
Quoted: Not only is “gay” an oversimplification, “caveman” is flat-out inaccurate, said John Hawks, a paleoanthropologist at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Kloppenburg declares victory over Prosser in Supreme Court race
Quoted: Charles Franklin, a UW-Madison professor of political science.
The big chill? UW?s Cronon sees ?intimidation? in GOP records request
William Cronon still is struggling to make sense of the past few weeks.
?I feel like I went down a rabbit hole and I?m in Wonderland, or just a really strange world,? says the University of Wisconsin-Madison professor. In the span of 10 days last month, Cronon started a blog, penned an op-ed for the New York Times and let the world know his emails were the target of an open records request from the Republican Party of Wisconsin, a move roundly criticized as an attempt to intimidate a professor for offering his perspective on political issues.
1,850 municipal clerks another complication
Quoted: Barry Burden, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
U.S. nuclear regulator meshes physics and politics
Jaczko was a “socially conscious” student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said his thesis advisor Loyal Durand.
Democrats probe worst fears for U.S. nuclear power
Quoted: A nuclear engineer from the University of Wisconsin-Madisonsaid the modeling exercise did not consider the various levels of risks at the plants. “It?s as if I was flying in an airplane and I lost a wingor two engines, and then asked, ?What would happen?? It?s a consequence thing,” Michael Corradini told reporters.
Wis. top court election adds fuel to ‘powder keg’
Quoted: “The surge in turnout is not only remarkably large, but also remarkably balanced between the two sides,” said Charles Franklin, a professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Challenger wins in Wisconsin proxy union fight (Reuters)
Quoted: “The 50-50 split proves how evenly divided the state is over the Walker agenda. And the turnout shows how deep the feelings run,” said Charles Franklin, a political scientist at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
Crash in state government networks disrupts services
Quoted: “It could be due to problems with a network, it could be due to problems with applications, it could be due to problems with servers that run those applications,” said Brian Rust of the Division of Information Technology at UW-Madison.
Wisconsin Elections Become Fight on Gov. Walker?s Leadership
Quoted: ?The way it looks right now, both sides are so motivated and so turned out that it would be very hard to forecast how a vote would go down the road,? said Charles H. Franklin, a political scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Professor testifies on nuclear crisis in Japan to U.S. House subcommitee
Less than one month after explaining technical and public health aspects of Japan?s nuclear crisis to UW-Madison students on campus, UW-Madison Engineering Professor Michael Corradini has been asked to testify to a U.S. House subcommittee that specializes in the state of U.S. nuclear plants and safety practices.
How Safe Is Safe Enough? To Engineers, It Depends (All Things Considered)
Quoted: Michael Corradini, a professor of nuclear engineering at the University of Wisconsin, says first, engineers design for normal operating conditions. “Then with any engineering design, anything at all, you say, ?That?s fine, that?s what it operates on. But what if something happens that it experiences some unusual conditions?? “
UW professor Michael Corradini to testify on nuclear crisis (AP)
A Wisconsin professor is set to testify in front of a congressional committee about Japan?s nuclear crisis.
‘Mayor Dave’ no longer
Quoted: UW-Madison political science professor Charles Franklin.
Panel hears plan to cap fees in $3.4B settlement
Quoted: Richard Monette, a University of Wisconsin-Madison law professor and former tribal chairman of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa.
Long lines as Wisconsin goes to the polls (Los Angeles Times)
Quoted: “The political impact is almost impossible to understate,” said Charles Franklin, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. “The defeat of Justice Prosser as a result of the blowback against the governor?s politics would send a powerful signal to Republicans across the state that the governor has overreached. … If Justice Prosser holds on, that says to Republicans that they can weather this storm.”
Lawmaker: Indian trust attorneys’ fee request ‘stonewalling’ U.S. House panel (AP)
Quoted: Richard Monette, a University of Wisconsin-Madison law professor and former tribal chairman of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, said the plaintiffs? attorneys should have revealed it to Congress and others in the lawsuit if they had some kind of agreement to recover more than $99.9 million in fees.
Wisconsin Union Law?s Future May Hinge on High Court Election
Quoted: The election will send a strong message, said Charles Franklin, a University of Wisconsin-Madison politics professor.
Great Wolf redefines itself
Quoted: Deborah Mitchell, executive director of the Center for Brand and Product Management at the UW-Madison School of Business.
Chris Rickert: Political records requests part of the price of having open government
I suppose it was only a matter of time before the partisan throw-down at the Capitol reached Madison?s eminent institution of higher learning. A heretofore below-the-radar UW-Madison history professor named William Cronon writes a blog post saying that ? surprise! ? political parties sometimes take their cues from ideological organizations and seek to crush their opponents.
Madison360: Celebrating academic freedom at UW like it?s 1894
A University of Wisconsin professor is at the “head of his profession” with expertise “recognized both in academic circles and by the social and governmental leaders of the day.” But the times in which he teaches are tumultuous; the economy is severely depressed and organized labor is an electric issue. Against that backdrop, his allegedly pro-union comments bring a public counterattack and thrust him into an unwanted spotlight.
Researchers make reprogrammed cell breakthrough
University of Wisconsin researchers are one step closer to the ability to treat individuals with genetic disorders using their own reprogrammed cells ? a finding that carries potential applications in gene therapy treatments for diabetes, cystic fibrosis and other illnesses.
Republicans start look at Cronon emails
After University of Wisconsin officials complied with an open records request from the Republican Party of Wisconsin, members of the campus community weighed in on the perceived threat to academic freedom.
Attack Ads Fill Airwaves Despite Supreme Court Public Financing Law
Quoted: “I don?t think it is working out quite as they hoped,” said Ken Mayer, a political scientist at University of Wisconsin-Madison, of the law passed by the Legislature. “The idea is that you would free the candidates from the need to raise any money at all, and the problem is that the amounts that candidates are given is about $300,000, which isn?t nearly enough to run a high-visibility campaign.”
8 Tips for Telling Your Partner a Health Secret (FoxNews.com)
Quoted: Before you drop a bomb on a potential mate, rehearse your speech with a trusted friend or visit a therapist to talk it through, suggests Dr. Ken Robbins, a clinical professor of psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin?Madison.
Voters To See Referendum On Corporate Political Spending
Quoted: “It is part of a national campaign that is trying to put these on the ballot in cities or states around the country, but ultimately it is purely a symbolic effort that?s not going to have any impact on what the Supreme Court does or any laws,” said Ken Mayer, a political scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Wisconsin?s Prosser-Kloppenburg Court Race a Test of Gov. Walker
Quoted: ?This has really become a proxy battle for the governor?s positions and much less a fight about the court itself,? said Charles H. Franklin, a political scientist at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.
University releases some of Prof. Cronon?s e-mails to GOP
UW-Madison released some of Professor William Cronon?s e-mail records to the Republican Party of Wisconsin Friday following the open records request the group filed March 17.
Collective bargaining law on hold until legislators testify
Quoted: Dennis Dresang, professor emeritus of public affairs and political science for the La Follette School of Public Affairs at UW-Madison.
Helen Noeldner: Don’t roll back state’s water quality standards
Noted: UW-Madison limnologist Stephen Carpenter, who has devoted to life to studying inland fresh water, was recently awarded the prestigious 2011 Stockholm Water Prize.
State budget, bargaining issues dominate mayoral race
Quoted: UW-Madison political science professor Charles Franklin.
Ask the Weather Guys: When is the severe weather season?
Steven A. Ackerman and Jonathan Martin, professors in the UW-Madison department of atmospheric and oceanic sciences.
Tea party, labor spend big in Wis. high court race
Quoted: Charles Franklin, a professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
The Healthy Skeptic: The sticky issue of kinesiology tapes (South Florida Sun-Sentinel)
Quoted: For products that have become so popular on and off the playing field, there?s surprisingly little evidence that kinesiology tapes actually relieve pain, says Dr. John Wilson, an assistant professor of family medicine at the University of Wisconsin in Madison who specializes in both sports medicine and arthritis treatment. “People often ask me, ?What does that stuff do?? I think it?s mainly just window dressing.”
Wisconsin’s medical assistance faces uncertain future
Quoted: “I think it is a false dichotomy to put those things head-to-head,” said Michael Jacob, project coordinator at Covering Kids and Families, a grant-funded project through the University of Wisconsin-Madison that works to reduce health disparities.
U.S. Rep. Sean Duffy says slip potential won’t stop town hall meetings
Quoted: Charles Franklin, a professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said town hall meetings dominated by clashes over national health care reform legislation during the summer of 2009 changed the dynamic of similar events for members of Congress in both political parties.
Tea Party, Labor Spend Big In Wisconsin High Court Race (AP)
Quoted: But the electorate, along with lawmakers, is certain to find deeper meaning in the outcome, said Charles Franklin, a professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Wisconsin judge vote turns into proxy fight over unions (Reuters)
Quoted: Charles Franklin, a professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and the co-developer of the website Pollster.com, says the results will be a barometer.
Technology brings wider range of efficiencies to farming
Quoted: Jeremy Foltz, associate professor of agricultural and applied economics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, said genetics ? both in livestock and crops ? and more precise feeding of animals have played a larger, if not quieter, role in transforming agriculture in recent decades.
UW professor discusses spring election
Wake Up Wisconsin Weekend spoke with UW Political Science Professor Charles Franklin about the Supreme Court race, voter turnout, and more.
UW to release some of professor’s emails to GOP
UW-Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin announced Friday that she will release some of the emails from a history professor requested by the Republican Party of Wisconsin, but she is withholding others that “fall within the orbit of academic freedom.”
Collective bargaining rights hopelessly bill tangled in legislation
Considering the immense amount of opposition Gov. Scott Walker has faced regarding his controversial collective bargaining rights bill, it should come as no surprise that enacting the bill into law would be an equally torturous journey. That is exactly what is happening.
GOP misuses open records law
Academic freedom is the hallmark of any great university. Especially in times of societal turmoil and uncertainty, the work of researchers and professors is tantamount to understanding and forward progress.
Campus Connection: UW-Madison to release Cronon’s emails
UW-Madison received an open records request from Stephan Thompson, deputy executive director of the state?s Republican Party, for email records of history professor Bill Cronon two weeks ago. On Friday, Chancellor Biddy Martin revealed in a letter to the campus community that the university will release those emails.
Students Want To Start Dialogue On Debt
MADISON, Wis. — As part of nationwide effort, students on the University of Wisconsin Madison?s campus are trying to raise awareness about the national debt.