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Category: UW-Madison Related

Federal science budget cuts ahead

USA Today

Federal research funding cuts of 5-10%, or more, look likely for the next two years, says a former federal science official and science publisher. “The consequences would be severe,” says Science magazine executive publisher Alan Leshner, in an editorial. “The science and engineering community must mobilize now to stave off these funding cuts, which could be decided very soon.”

Wisconsin?s budget troubles may worsen

Already reeling from a projected deficit in its next budget starting in July, the state faces an even more immediate challenge – rising costs in several programs that could set up a shortfall for the current year ending in June, budget documents show.That possible shortfall was not included in budget estimates released Friday but could easily top $100 million without action from either outgoing Gov. Jim Doyle or Governor-elect Scott Walker after he takes office January.

On Campus: New chancellor for UW Colleges and Extension recommended

Wisconsin State Journal

The next chancellor of UW Colleges and Extension likely will be Raymond Cross, president of Morrisville State College in New York. University of Wisconsin System President Kevin Reilly and a special committee of the UW Board of Regents recommended Cross for the job Friday. If approved by the full Board of Regents on Dec. 10, he would begin in February.

Audit: Losses Will Affect State Retirees For Years

WISC-TV 3

MADISON, Wis. — A new audit said that losses in the state of Wisconsin?s investments in 2008 will affect retired government workers for years.

The Legislative Audit Bureau report released on Friday shows that $23.6 billion in investments were lost in 2008 but $13.5 billion was gained in 2009. The total value of the state?s pension funds was $72.8 billion at the end of 2009, down from $87.8 billion in 2007.

Pulitzer Prize winner Shadid to speak at UW on ethics and journalism

Capital Times

Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner and UW-Madison graduate Anthony Shadid will speak about ethics and journalism in a lecture on campus in December. Shadid, foreign correspondent for the New York Times, will deliver his lecture “The Truths We Tell: Reporting on Faith, War and the Fate of Iraq” at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 2, in the alumni lounge of the Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St.

A drive for higher education

Madison Times

The University of Wisconsin-Madison Odyssey Project Director Professor Emily Auerbach believes that higher education should be open to all those eager to learn and willing to work, not just to a privileged few.

Economy starts to improve financial situation of some UW campuses

Wisconsin Public Radio

Giving, fundraising, and investment returns for the UW System campuses are faring okay, as the economy keeps trying to climb out of the recession. Kimera Way, executive director of the UW-Eau Claire Foundation, recalls the tumble her organization took a couple of years ago, when its endowment value fell 19-percent, resulting in a $10-million drop.

As for the UW Foundation in Madison, the outlook is mixed. CEO Mike Knetter says to date ? through the end of October ? his organization has raised about $125-million, which is a flat match for last year?s efforts at this time.

UW athletics: Alvarez to ask for increases in Badger Fund contributions, hockey ticket prices

Madison.com

University of Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez will ask for a $2 increase for tickets to men?s hockey games at a finance committee meeting of the Athletic Board on Tuesday, as well as increases to funding for preferred seating and parking programs for Camp Randall and the Kohl Center.

The increase to UW men?s hockey ticket prices would be the first since 2005, Alvarez said in a letter to season ticket-holders and Badger Fund contributors in several sports.

Next stop is Madison: Wisconsin Vets Museum explores Vietnam War era through music – Isthmus | The Daily Page

Isthmus

While it?s far from a hard and fast rule, during the past few decades overseas companies have more often than not done the most thorough job of archiving American music, at least in part due to more relaxed copyright laws. A longtime leader in carefully compiled sets has been Bear Family in Germany, one of the pioneers of multi-disc sets dedicated to single artists or labels in rock and country music.

UW-Whitewater deals with another hate crime

Wisconsin Radio Network

UW-Whitewater officials say two hate crime style incidents this week are highly unusual for the campus. Campus police are investigating an incident that occurred Monday overnight, in which three African-American students had their car tires slashed and ?KKK? spray painted on their vehicles.

Police probe more hate crimes at UW-Whitewater

Madison.com

Police are investigating more hate crimes at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater _ this time involving vandalism to the cars of three black students. The university says someone slashes the tires of the cars and spray-painted “KKK” on the doors and hoods. The incidents happened between 11 p.m. Monday and 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Vehicles belonging to black students vandalized in UW-Whitewater’s 3rd hate crime this semester

Wisconsin State Journal

Three cars owned by black students at UW-Whitewater were vandalized this week, in what university officials are describing as the third hate crime incident on campus this semester. The owners of the vehicles notified police that their tires were slashed and “KKK” was written in spray paint on the doors and hoods. The cars were parked in residence hall lots and the incidents happened between 11 p.m. on Monday and 10 a.m. on Tuesday.

UW System consolidates online education

Wisconsin Public Radio

The UW System has offered classes online for years. But finding them wasn?t always easy. Now that information?s consolidated at a new website, eCampus. Officials hope it will help increase the number of degree holders in Wisconsin.

UW starts online course portal

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

In 1885, the University of Wisconsin College of Agriculture began distance education for the state?s farmers, through what became known as the Farmers? Institutes. By 1907, the Extension Division had been created to increase educational opportunities to people across the state.

Wednesday, the UW System announced the launch of eCampus, a new website intended to act as a central portal for all online degree programs offered across 26 two- and four-year campuses.

Chancellor highlights technology?s global importance

Badger Herald

During her third trip to Beijing, University of Wisconsin Chancellor Biddy Martin hosted a video conference for those back at UW Friday, emphasizing the responsibility UW has in building international relationships and the large role video conferences play in maintaining them.

Utility work to close campus street until Wednesday

Capital Times

An underground utility relocation project for UW-Madison will shut down the 1100 block of Spring Street through Wednesday. The Madison Traffic Engineering and Parking Divisions announced on Monday that through traffic will be barred Monday through Wednesday but local vehicle access will be maintained.

Cops give lightless night bikers lights instead of tickets

Capital Times

Bicyclists riding without lights after dark Wednesday night got a pleasant surprise when stopped by Madison police: lights instead of tickets. Instead of $76.20 citations for not having proper lighting, the bicyclists received $35 worth of front and rear lights, along with a good talking-to about safety.

….Several officers from the central police district, as well as community police team officers, stationed themselves on bike paths Wednesday night, including the popular path behind the Kohl Center, stopping bikers without lights.

Credit Card Companies Pay Millions to Colleges

Inside Higher Education

Noted: The recipients of the largest payments from the companies were the University of Illinois Alumni Association ($3,272,457), the Penn State Alumni Association ($2,835,000), the University of Notre Dame ($1,860,000), the University of Wisconsin Alumni Association ($1,652,449) and the Golden Key International Honour Society ($1,540,442).

Gubernatorial candidates mum on budget fixes

Wisconsin Public Radio

With a little more than a week to go before Election Day, neither candidate for Governor has given a complete picture of what he?d cut to balance the state budget.The next two year budget deficit is at least $2.5 billion, but experts say it?s probably closer to $3-billion. In other words, it?s $1.5-billion in the first year alone.

Regent Street road work set for this weekend

Capital Times

Pavement work on Regent Street, including at the busy intersection with Park Street, could make for slow going on Friday and Saturday. Crews will be working on Regent Street on Friday and at the intersection of Regent Street and Park Street on Saturday, making repairs to deteriorated pavement and utility patches that have failed.

There?s no Wisconsin Badgers football game at Camp Randall Stadium on Saturday, which is a reason the work was scheduled for this weekend.

New technology allows us to draw, erase, and redraw wires on circuitboards (io9.com)

Proving that our childhood years spent with crayola firmly in hand haven?t gone to waste, new research from University of Wisconsin-Madison uses a scanning probe microscope to draw and erase conducting nanowires. The researchers put three-atom-thick layers of lanthanum-aluminum-oxide on top of strontium-titanium-oxide, which then forms an “electron gas” between the layers. The tip of the microscope is then used to turn the gas layer conductive, allowing the team to draw, and erase, nanowire lines in order to create delicate nano-scale circuits.

Purloined coin: Downtown parking meters under attack

Capital Times

Thieves in downtown Madison apparently have decided parking meters are an easy source of cash. More than 20 parking meters in the downtown area have been broken into during the past week, with thieves damaging the lock boxes to gain access to the money inside. Streets with damaged meters include Henry, West Johnson, Langdon, Winnebago, Russell, and East Main.

“Breaking into the meters likely creates a good amount of noise,” said Madison police spokesman Joel DeSpain. “Anyone who hears or sees suspicious activity around parking meters should call 911.”

Teen gets a year and a day in prison in marijuana growing operation

Wisconsin State Journal

A Cross Plains teen who “figured he?d found the pot of gold” when he learned his employer was cultivating marijuana in his Madison home will serve a year and a day in federal prison for his role in the operation. U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb on Monday also sentenced Zachary A. Czerkas, 19, to four years of supervision after his release. In August, Curtis J. Faustich, 23, a former UW-Madison horticulture major, was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison for what was a sophisticated marijuana growing operation.

Wilcox made big things happen

Wisconsin State Journal

Andrew A. ?Sandy? Wilcox may not be a household name in Madison. But you won?t find many people who have had as big of an impact on our city and its great university than the retiring president of UW Foundation. Wilcox deserves sincere thanks for his hard work and tremendous success over the last 22 years. The foundation, which raises, invests and distributes money to help UW-Madison, had assets of $190 million when Wilcox took over in 1988. Since then, that figure has grown to $2.3 billion. Gifts have totaled nearly $3 billion during Wilcox?s tenure, with more than $2 billion distributed.

On Campus: UW-Madison bills the DNC total of $13,400 for Obama rally

Wisconsin State Journal

Putting on a presidential rally is thirsty work. UW-Madison is billing the Democratic National Committee for the following for President Barack Obama?s rally on Library Mall last month: $990 for portable toilets, $1,273 for bottled water, $632 for parking. University spokesman John Lucas said those charges are in addition to the $10,500 the university has already charged the DNC.