Years ago, armed with super soakers loaded with cheap perfume, members of the Ten Fat Tigers commandeered the University of Wisconsin student government — holding them hostage until campus police arrived. Taking the student government hostage was only one of the outrageous pranks staged by the group to subvert normal… Read more »

Though University of Wisconsin Housing has a system in place for reporting discriminatory and hateful incidents, one campus leader in the LGBT community says many incidents in the campus community still go unreported. Homophobic graffiti found in Sellery Hall earlier this week currently being investigated by several departments on campus… Read more »

Hateful homophobic graffiti left on Sellery Hall residents’ door this week has spurred an investigation from the University of Wisconsin Police Department, University Housing and the Division of Student Life. The graffiti — which one of the residents found around 1 a.m. Monday — was aggressively targeted at gay people.… Read more »

The persistent Edgewater Hotel project cleared another hurdle in its race to completion last week when a private financing plan was approved and finalized, but the project still has to undergo a city vote during Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Project Developer Robert Dunn said the project received all the private… Read more »

Interim Chancellor David Ward will officially spend a second year at the University of Wisconsin campus, UW System officials announced Tuesday afternoon. UW System President Kevin Reilly said Tuesday Ward will have his appointment as interim chancellor extended to two years, according to a UW System statement. At Monday night’s… Read more »

The University of Wisconsin Faculty Senate voted unanimously to forbid any university employee from carrying a concealed weapon without explicit permission at Monday’s meeting, members of the senate confirmed.University employees will now be prohibited from carrying a concealed firearm in the “course and scope of employment.” The recommendation passed unanimously… Read more »

A Dane County judge ordered a south side bar to remain closed indefinitely after a Madison attorney filed a restraining order against the bar following a shooting last weekend. While attorney Jenifer Zilavy filed the restraining order on Friday right after the shooting near R’ Place, Dane County Judge David… Read more »

Nasty weather literally rained on Madison’s parade Sunday morning, causing Ride the Drive to close two hours early. By 12:30 p.m., approximately 1,000 people had turned up for the free family biking event, said Anne Whisner, who helped coordinate this fall’s Ride the Drive. “Usually we have closer to 20,000,”… Read more »

View Shootings in Madison in a larger map A southside bar was the center of a whirlwind of controversy this weekend after a nearby shooting left three people injured, resulting in a city-mandated shutdown of the bar and a Madison Police Department SWAT team searching an apartment seeking links to… Read more »

The Madison Police Department is investigating a shooting that took place early Friday morning which left three injured on the 1800 block of South Park Street. The victims all sustained injuries that were not life-threatening and were taken to University of Wisconsin Hospital, said MPD spokesperson Joel DeSpain. Some injuries… Read more »

SOUTH PARK STREET Robbery A Madison man claimed a man who robbed him proceeded to sit down and have lunch with him Wednesday afternoon at the Taco Bell on South Park Street, according to a Madison Police report. The victim said a man rapped on the front window of Taco… Read more »

The judicial branch of the University of Wisconsin student government ruled Tuesday night to remove the vice chair from office for violating student council policy. Associated Students of Madison Student Judiciary Chief Justice Kate Fifield said Vice Chair Beth Huang’s dismissal stems from the community service she was required to… Read more »

The judicial branch of the University of Wisconsin student government ruled Tuesday night to remove the vice chair from office, according to one justice. Associated Students of Madison SJ Justice Kate Fifield said Vice Chair Beth Huang’s dismissal stems from the community service she was required to do after admitting… Read more »

Two letters from leaders at the University of Wisconsin that express support for Interim Chancellor David Ward to stay through the 2012-13 academic year were made public Tuesday. The letters stress the term extension would help steer the UW campus through economic and structural changes. In a letter from members of… Read more »

A highly contested proposal for a student high-rise on University Avenue got approval from a city commission Monday night, after nearly two hours of public forum from two rivaling campus ministry communities. In a 4-3 vote, the Madison Plan Commission approved a plan for an eight-story high-rise as part of… Read more »

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is looking to roll back some tax benefits for religious leaders through a lawsuit filed in a Wisconsin district court last week. The suit lists the Internal Revenue Service and Secretary Treasury Timothy Geithner as the defendants and cites Tax Code 107, which excludes members… Read more »

The driver involved in a fatal Madison Metro bus crash earlier this summer will not be charged, the Dane County District Attorney’s office announced Monday, after the office determined the driver had not been under the influence and the vehicle itself obstructed the driver’s view. In June, Maureen Grant, 58,… Read more »

On a bright September morning, Kevin and Jean Zimmermann stood at the finish line of the race named in honor of their daughter, high-fiving the runners and walkers who filtered through the final stretch in front of the Memorial Union. Saturday marked the second annual Brittany Zimmermann 5K Run/Walk, held… Read more »

Pro bono law efforts at the campus level are expected to boost in the coming months after the University of Wisconsin Law School announced its receipt of federal funds to bolster its mission. The Pro Bono Program at the Law School announced in a statement yesterday it received a grant… Read more »

Two reports released today allege the University of Wisconsin discriminates against whites and Asian applicants and have electrified both UW administration and some student leaders. A crowd of more than 150 students filled the Multicultural Student Center in the Red Gym on Monday after an ominous message from UW Vice… Read more »

A new expo is looking to bring together local growers and buyers to strengthen the market for local food in Dane County this month, officials announced Monday. Dane County Executive Joe Parisi announced in a statement that an expo will be organized Sept. 20 so local growers can meet buyers… Read more »

The City of Madison’s capital budget took the first step toward approval Monday night when a few city departments presented part of their 2012 budget to the Board of Estimates. Madison Mayor Paul Soglin set the tone for budgets earlier this month when he said deep cuts would be necessary,… Read more »

Under a proposed plan from the University of Wisconsin System president, chancellors and administrators from individual campuses across the state would have more influence in financial and operating decisions for their respective institutions. The plan is a product of a committee assembled by UW System President Kevin Reilly with the… Read more »

Earlier this summer, Gov. Scott Walker signed concealed carry into law for Wisconsin, allowing citizens to apply for a permit to carry a concealed weapon in many public and private places. Yet politicians remain divided on whether concealed carry will make Wisconsin safer. Open carry, concealed carry and constitutional carry… Read more »

“I never thought it would happen in Norway,” said University of Wisconsin senior Max Fries. This summer, eight people were killed in a bombing near the government headquarters in Oslo. Anders Behring Breivik has been arrested in connection with the attack — which has since been deemed a massacre —… Read more »

The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents approved a 5.5 percent tuition increase for four-year campuses and lifted a tuition freeze for two-year campuses for the first time in five years during its July meeting. The increase means in-state students at the UW will see an additional $659 added… Read more »

Today was not the day to hit the snooze button for a Badger football fan. It only took 40 minutes for Badger football tickets in the student section to sell out, with ticket sales for undergraduates ending at 8:10 a.m. Monday morning. “It’s not the quickest [they have sold out],… Read more »

While the amount of complaints University Health Services received between 2008-09 and 2010-11 decreased, claims of professional misconduct among staff were still a common thread, according to documents obtained by The Badger Herald. UHS, which has 85,000 annual visits, received 33 complaints filed electronically through a form titled “Tell Us… Read more »

R’ Place gives an OK first impression. Some regulars buzz in the corner, telling stories about their day as they sip their drinks. There is a game on TV and the liquor cabinet is fairly stocked. On an early Thursday evening in March, it’s nice, but nothing exceptionally remarkable or… Read more »

Check back at The Badger Herald website and Twitter account for further updates.… Read more »

A memo from University of Wisconsin Chancellor Biddy Martin to a state official alludes Martin had prior knowledge of Gov. Scott Walker’s intent to provide UW with more flexibility. “I appreciate knowing that Governor Scott Walker wants to provide flexibility and intends to propose public authority status for UW-Madison,” said… Read more »

Around this time last semester, the University of Wisconsin administration introduced the idea for the New Badger Partnership, an equivocal vision of the university’s future, to the campus. Since that day, supporters have been adamant about its necessity at the university, while others have voiced concern over the lack of… Read more »

A former University of Wisconsin student was found guilty of two counts of sexual exploitation of a child and eight counts of possession of child pornography last week. Dane County District Attorney Robert Kaiser, who acted as the prosecuting attorney, said some of the photos were of Rajib Mitra’s then-underage… Read more »

 During Gov. Scott Walker’s Jan. 3 inauguration, the call for more Wisconsin jobs was audible both outside on the Capitol’s steps as well as inside, with a celebration for his election victory in the rotunda. After being sworn into office, Walker spoke of his love for Wisconsin and for his… Read more »

UW A Cappella group MadHatters sang during a sold-out show at the Orpheum.… Read more »

As if one was not appalling enough, this Sunday the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater had its second alleged hate crime on its campus this semester. On Sunday night, a female student was held against a fence by a man with another man close by, according to a statement from the UW-Whitewater… Read more »

There was no pretense in Ben Manski’s voice when he said his life’s work is to start a new progressive movement in the United States. In an interview with The Badger Herald, Manski highlighted his achievements as an activist at the University of Wisconsin and beyond, and what electing the… Read more »

As far as Internet behemoths go, Google may be the most versatile, with services that have changed the way people at the University of Wisconsin search, read and research. Google’s facets are many and often beneficial to its users, but the nature of cloud-computing poses challenges for UW researchers and… Read more »

The Urban Design Commission attempted to fit tentative city plans, including the Madison High-Speed Rail Station and parts of the Downtown Plan, into the actual city atmosphere during their Wednesday meeting. Members of the Wisconsin Department of Transportation who are working on plans for the Madison High-Speed Rail Station presented… Read more »

The audience at the University of Wisconsin, which has been buzzing over the pending arrival of the President of the United States, erupted into applause as President Barack Obama took the stage Tuesday night. With the general election for the senate, assembly and governor weeks away, Obama’s message was loud… Read more »

When one sees a person on the street, it is unremarkable. When one sees a person peeled away to their blood, bones and muscles, it is incredible. Such are the specimens for Bodies…The Exhibition, coming to Madison next month. The exhibits are as fascinating as they are startling. Past exhibits… Read more »

Real power. If you ask Associated Students of Madison Chair Brandon Williams why you should care about the University of Wisconsin’s student government, that is the answer he will give you. This year marks the 17th session of an organization that decides where hundreds of your tuition dollars go while… Read more »

Members of the University of Wisconsin’s student government spent three days at the Kalahari Resort, training for their positions for the upcoming semester and enjoying water slides, with the trip paid for by student tuition dollars. According to Matt Manes, the chair of the Student Services Finance Committee, SSFC has… Read more »

What would you do with an additional $83 million? The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents answered this question during its August meeting with a requested and incomplete budget, asking the state for an additional $83.6 million for the UW System Growth Agenda. Whether or not the university gets… Read more »

One summer day at the Memorial Union, Jack Holzhueter, a former UW instructor, finished his lunch and was preparing to leave the Rathskeller before one of his students called out to him. The student told Holzhueter he would be living underground in Canada, for reasons he did not disclose and… Read more »

Had the Gulf oil spill exploded in Lake Mendota instead of the Gulf of Mexico, the oil would have not only ravaged the city of Madison, but Eau Claire, La Crosse and Minnesota’s border, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration data. From Madison and even Wisconsin, the scale and… Read more »

The University of Wisconsin System may have violated its hiring policy earlier this summer with the interim appointment of a prominent fiscal administrator, according to a letter from Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen. Van Hollen said in the letter the Board of Regents did not follow its usual policies… Read more »

An administrator from Oklahoma City University will be the next University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point chancellor if approved by the Board of Regents today. After a search for a new chancellor began earlier this year, Bernie Patterson, former Oklahoma City University Provost for Academic Affairs, was the top recommendation for chancellor.… Read more »

Members of a Muslim student group at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee crashed a celebration thrown by one of the campus’ Jewish Student groups. This confrontation ended in the arrest of a Muslim student who allegedly punched a Jewish student. In a Facebook message to The Badger Herald from Diana Azimov,… Read more »

Students looking for loans outside of the federal government may be pleased to hear Sallie Mae will be lowering its interest rates on one of its student loans. Sallie Mae announced in a statement Tuesday its interest rate for the Smart Option Student Loan will be lowered to the range… Read more »

The University of Wisconsin System released this year’s academic “snapshot,” which highlighted goals they have met and where they have come up short. The UW System Accountability Report for 2009-10 came out Monday, along with reports from each university in the system, and records the system’s goals in The Growth… Read more »

With universities across the country facing financial difficulties due to the ailing economy, some are getting multi-million dollar boosts in federal earmarks, according to a report released Thursday. The University of Alabama-Tuscaloosa took the cake with $58,755,000 for unshared earmarks in fiscal year 2010. Mississippi State University followed at $47,919,000,… Read more »

The world may become a little more healthy thanks to new University of Wisconsin Extensions certificates, which will teach students green ways of doing business. Students will be able to enroll in the two certificate programs starting June 2010. The Sustainable Management Science Certificate focuses on the science aspects of… Read more »

Part-time teachers at Madison College may be seeing pay increases thanks to an agreement the college reached with the teacher’s union earlier this week. After nearly a year of deliberation, Madison College agreed to allow part-time teachers a 3 percent annual pay increase and for those who have been employed… Read more »

Bankrupt student loan holders may have access to a new safety net if they have private loans, thanks to a bill introduced to the United States House of Representatives earlier this month. The “Private Student Loan Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2010” was introduced in the House April 15 and if… Read more »

After a current student government leader withdrew his seat for next year’s session to pursue other interests earlier this week, another current member stepped up to fill the seat. Current Associated Students of Madison Vice Chair Tom Templeton withdrew his seat for a position on Student Council as a Letters… Read more »

The world will be a little greener thanks to the winners of the University of Wisconsin 2010 Climate Leadership Challenge who were chosen earlier this week. The four winning teams, composed entirely of UW students, had $100,000 distributed among them for their efforts. The highest scoring team, which created a… Read more »

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee is closer to making campus expansion a reality after the state Assembly approved funding for new building projects Tuesday night. Senator Jeffrey Plale, D-South Milwaukee, was one of the creators the bill, which will lend the university $125 million for the redevelopment of Columbia-St. Mary’s Hospital… Read more »

The Obama administration announced a major change to Title IX that would overturn changes made under former President George W. Bush and allow schools to be compliant solely by giving a web-based survey to evaluate interest in programs. Title IX, which began in 1972, aims to make participation in athletics… Read more »

A student group is contesting its Student Activity Center space allocation, saying the size of their allotted office may stifle some of its art-based services. Associated Students of Madison Student Judiciary ruled Monday for the Student Activity Center Governing Board to send a letter to El Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de… Read more »

Facing a $1 million budget deficit, the University of Wisconsin Transportation Services will be hosting a number of public forums for members of the UW community to voice their opinions on possible changes and cuts to transportation services. There will be cuts from programs, UW Director of Facilities and Management… Read more »

University of Wisconsin-Stout students voted April 15 to make their campus the first smoke- and tobacco-free four-year university in the state. A referendum in the UW-Stout Student Association elections let students decide if they wanted to make their campus tobacco-free in addition to smoke-free. Fifty-five percent of the ballots were… Read more »

Several University of Wisconsin graduate school programs rank among the best in the nation according to the U.S. News and World Report 2011 edition in rankings of graduate programs published April 15. The UW School of Education was ranked ninth out of 278 programs nationally, and it was the highest… Read more »

After the dust had settled around the historic Associated Students of Madison election, University of Wisconsin community members gave their responses Thursday on the results. With the highest voter turnouts on record, UW students voted the NatUP 2010 referendum down and named the new union “Union South.” Students did not… Read more »

A record-breaking 34.5 percent voter turnout in the Associated Students of Madison elections brought the NatUP 2010 referendum down Wednesday night with just more than 60 percent of those casting ballots voting against the renovation. Of the 13,788 who voted, 8,354 students voted against the referendum, which would have added… Read more »

Both veterans and newcomers will be welcomed into the ranks of the Associated Students of Madison Student Council and Student Services Finance Committee after the election’s results were released Wednesday night. A number of current representatives were reelected and the Madison People Organizing for Wisconsin Education Rights had 10 of… Read more »

The state chose four health care providers Monday as potential contractors with the BadgerCare Plus Basic Plan. UnitedHealthCare, Abri Health Plan, Children’s Community Health Plan and Community Connect Health Plan were chosen as the providers that could best suit the needs of southeastern Wisconsin BadgerCare Plus Basic members, Wisconsin Department… Read more »

Chancellor Biddy Martin highlighted systematic pay increases and other proposed solutions as methods to improve the University of Wisconsin’s retention of faculty at a UW System committee’s meeting Monday. As the university with the lowest full-professor salary among its 12 peer schools and with attractive positions offered by other universities… Read more »

A Student Council freshman representative has filed a complaint with Student Judiciary alleging four ASM leaders violated bylaws by accepting salary increases they initially voted for. Student Council Rep. Max Love filed a complaint against Student Council Chair Tyler Junger, Student Services Finance Committee Chair Brandon William, SC Vice Chair… Read more »

The Board of Regents acknowledged the long road ahead to achieving the University of Wisconsin System goal of 80,000 graduates by 2025 during their Thursday meeting in Fond du Lac. While UW System President Kevin Reilly even referred to the goal as “scary,” he said it is attainable as long… Read more »

After bouncing around the city of Madison, the Greyhound bus line stop will now be across the street from the Madison Metro North Transfer Point. Ald. Satya Rhodes-Conway, District 12, said the Greyhound’s new stop at 1213 Huxley Street is an interim solution until the line finds a permanent home… Read more »

Associated Students of Madison is one step away from a final decision on chair stipends, which have been under development since November, after Student Council gave them initial approval Wednesday. At its meeting, the council unanimously approved a bylaw change that would tie ASM chair stipends to a percentage of… Read more »

One candidate in the upcoming Associated Students of Madison elections is not enrolled in the college whose seat he is vying for. Ajit Iyer, a senior in the University of Wisconsin College of Letters and Sciences, is running for the Law School seat on Student Council this election. Iyer has… Read more »

University of Wisconsin-Stout administrators hope students will spend less time hungover and more time in class on Fridays this fall as a part of a package of initiatives to combat alcohol use on the campus. The university is currently working internally and with city representatives to explore the bundle of… Read more »

Go Big Read announced “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” will be the next all-campus read for the 2010-11 school year Tuesday with the book weaving together a story of cell research, diversity and medical ethics. Written by Rebecca Skloot, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” tells the story of… Read more »

The University of Wisconsin System will strive to increase its graduates by 30 percent in the next 15 years, a plan that will be presented at the Board of Regents meeting in Fond du Lac today. As part of the UW System Growth Planning Agenda, the system announced April 5… Read more »

With the end of the Associated Students of Madison session on the horizon, Student Service Finance Committee ironed out a number of issues during their Monday meeting, including chair stipends and the Campus Services Fund. SSFC Chair Brandon Williams highlighted some of the end of the year items he said… Read more »

The University of Wisconsin System ranked nationally for money spent on lobbying last year, with UW-Madison accounting for a majority portion of the spending. The UW System was ranked 27th out of all universities and colleges in the country, spending $460,000 in 2009, the most it has spent on lobbying… Read more »

Of the 58 University of Wisconsin students who announced their candidacy Tuesday for the 2010 Spring Associated Students of Madison elections, nearly one third are members of a new student rights slate. This year’s candidate turnout is higher than last year’s spring elections, according to Student Election Commission Chair Noah… Read more »

Student Council approved a new textbook affordability committee, which will be a collaborative effort between students and faculty, Wednesday evening. Academic Affairs Chair Jonah Zinn said the committee would work for a switch to e-books on campus and to require professors to issue book lists, among other initiatives. The committee… Read more »

The Wisconsin Technical College System Board approved a 4.5 percent tuition hike for the next academic year at its meeting last night. WTCS Board President Dan Clancy said the increase was driven by increased enrollment over the last few years, and he anticipates this for next year because additional funding… Read more »

Associated Students of Madison Finance Committee allocated $133,361 for Operations Grants to 91 student groups Tuesday night. The total amount of grant requests from all the registered organizations was $291,021.85. The committee only had $160,000 to allocate, all of which comes from segregated fees and 15 percent of which will… Read more »

The Associated Students of Madison Student Services Finance Committee made final recommendations for changes to bylaws that determine stipends during its Monday night meeting. A SSFC subcommittee led by Secretary Matt Manes established a non-arbitrary measure for stipends that links the previous year’s tuition with any known upcoming increases, such… Read more »

Students at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire are remembering a fellow student and beloved campus game show host who died last week in an alcohol-related accident. Kyle Joswiak, a 22-year-old senior, was found unresponsive in an off-campus parking lot and was pronounced dead hours after being rushed to the hospital… Read more »

The University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point is one step closer to having a new chancellor after six final candidates hailing from around the nation were announced Friday. Neil Heywood, chair of the Chancellor Search and Screen Committee formed by the UW System and chair of the geology department at UW-Stevens Point,… Read more »

The first ever Student Leaders Diversity Dialogue held Thursday evening laid the groundwork for future diversity initiatives on the University of Wisconsin campus. The dialogue was shaped as a safe space for participants to share their own personal experiences with diversity on campus if they chose to do so and… Read more »

A college administrator from New York will most likely be the next chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Platteville after a committee recommended them to the Board of Regents Wednesday. The Board of Regents could officially appoint Dennis Shields, who currently serves as the Vice President for Student Affairs at the… Read more »

General Student Service Fund’s student groups voiced their feedback and criticism of this year’s Associated Students of Madison budget process Monday at a mixer sponsored by the Student Services Finance Committee. SSFC Chair Brandon Williams said the hostile appearance of SSFC and the lack of approachability for students presenting their… Read more »

Engineering majors yield the highest starting salaries for students nationally according to a survey released last week. Of the top ten majors with the highest starting salaries, eight were in the engineering field. The College of Engineering at University of Wisconsin, which participated in the Winter 2010 survey released March… Read more »

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Chancellor Carlos Santiago announced a possible review of police conduct during the rally and arrests, which took place on campus March 4. Santiago met with a number of student leaders March 11, including UW-Milwaukee Student Association President Jay Burseth, who was detained during the arrests. According to… Read more »

Coercive questions on a possible method for research assistant unionization raised concern among those in attendance at a Thursday Wisconsin Election Relations Commission meeting. Members of the American Teachers Federation-Wisconsin said they felt having union members not only sign the card, but also put the location and time they signed… Read more »

The Associated Students of Madison Student Judiciary announced Wednesday there will be a shift in representation in Student Council seats. Representation will be lowered in the University of Wisconsin School of Education by one seat, and representation in the Graduate School will be raised by one seat. As per the… Read more »

Legislation proposed at the Associated Students of Madison Student Council meeting March 10 would allow the council to seek legal counsel over the University of Wisconsin’s use of $180,000 in segregated fees taken out of the council’s reserve fund last summer. Rep. Max Love introduced the legislation, saying he felt… Read more »

Research assistants at the University of Wisconsin will be able to voice their opinions Thursday on tentative rules for unionization during a Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission hearing. The meeting, which is open to the public, will allow research assistants across the UW System to make suggestions on how they want… Read more »

Campus and research growth at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee has recently faced debate and temporary hitches to the school’s master plan expansion. The two plans currently seeing complications include the School of Freshwater Science, where community members are in a disagreement on its location, and the university’s expansion to land… Read more »

A protest at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee last Thursday that resulted in 15 arrests and the detainment of the student body president has resulted in pending litigation and what organizers deem a strengthened following for their cause of fiscally responsible education. A lawyer who sympathizes with the students’ cause is… Read more »

The average 2009-10 salary of a University of Wisconsin professor has decreased from previous years due in part to state mandated furlough days. UW is part of approximately 33 percent of public and private universities that have had salary decreases, according to a report released March 8 from the College… Read more »

Any possible viewpoint neutrality violations were ironed out before the Student Activity Center Governing Board finished allocating office spaces to student organizations at its March 7 meeting. After controversy with their previous allocating process, SACGB Chair Katy Ziebell met with University of Wisconsin Legal Counsel, discussed the problems and formed… Read more »

The Student Election Commission began accepting applications Monday for candidates for the April 12-14 spring 2010 Associated Students of Madison elections. The election ballot will include student representative seats and the NAT UP 2010 referendum, which could increase segregated fees by $54.19 to allow for additions and renovations to the… Read more »

Thursday’s rally to protest budget cuts at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee ended in 15 arrests and the detainment of the student government president. As part of the National Day of Action for Education Rights, UW-Milwaukee students gathered to protest budget cuts and an alleged pay increase to UW-Milwaukee Chancellor Carlos… Read more »

An impromptu walk out by three members of Associated Students of Madison Student Council prevented members from covering all of their agenda items at their Wednesday meeting. The special meeting was called to introduce the Union Naming Referendum to the council to be voted on at the next Student Council… Read more »

Two separate incidents involving racist flyers appearing on Wisconsin college campuses sparked preventative measures against hate speech this week. An individual who put flyers on the St. Norbert’s campus in De Pere, Wisconsin was caught and given a warning for trespassing. Director of Campus Safety at St. Norbert’s Jim Skorczewski… Read more »

A 97 percent employment rate for recent University of Wisconsin-Stout graduates can be attributed in part to a lack of humanities majors, officials said Wednesday. An annual undergraduate employment report announced by the university March 3 also shows an increase in median salaries for 2008-09 graduates. “I was surprised by… Read more »

University of Wisconsin Colleges and Extensions Chancellor David Wilson has been appointed to a board that will advise President Barack Obama on ways to enhance postsecondary education in black colleges and universities. As part of an executive order issued by Obama Feb. 26, Wilson will be part of an 11-member… Read more »

A bill that would grant $17 million to University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for renovations on a campus building is one step closer to realization after advancing through its legislative committee Tuesday. The funds would go to Carlson Hall, which currently stands empty on the campus. While those at UW-Whitewater feel the… Read more »

A live web chat offering financial aid advice through the University of Wisconsin Financial Aid office and the Badger Parent Program received a steady stream of questions Tuesday. The web chat received questions from both parents and students with topics ranging from student loans to scholarships for continuing students at… Read more »

College credit awarded for lessons learned outside the classroom is associated with higher graduation rates, according to a Council for Adult and Experiential Learning study published last week. The study by CAEL, a non-profit organization that partners with employers, higher education bodies and other organizations to aid working adults seeking… Read more »

Researchers at the University of Wisconsin discovered a new chemical compound that may be more effective than other drugs at treating avian flu in humans. In a study published Feb. 26 in the Public Library of Science, a team of researchers led by UW virologist Yoshihiro Kawaoka discovered that a… Read more »

Preparation for making sure each student in the residence halls is counted in the 2010 Census is underway at the University of Wisconsin, with measures in place for the Census Bureau to be able to use information from the university if students do not comply. Students living in the residence… Read more »

Decisions on office space allocations in the Student Activity Center for student organizations were postponed at the Feb. 28 Student Activity Governing Board meeting until March 7 in order to have legal consultation with the allocation process. After the Feb. 21 SACGB meeting where the allocation process was questioned on… Read more »

A representative from the NAT UP 2010 referendum presented proposed renovations to the Natatorium to the Shared Governance committee Thursday. The amount students will pay was called into question. Recreational Sports Representative Mike Bernatz highlighted all the new renovations to the Natatorium, including a hardwood floor, a multi-purpose room, a… Read more »

In a decision that came down to content over process, Student Council approved the $1,118,204.05 Associated Students of Madison internal budget for 2010-11 at its Wednesday meeting. The committee debated at length whether passing the budget for the approval of Chancellor Biddy Martin would be fiscally responsible considering the programs… Read more »

A tentative merger where all student governments in the University of Wisconsin System would join the United Council could revitalize the council and create a unified student voice at the state level, representatives say. Last weekend, student representatives met in Oshkosh and discussed possible future collaboration with United Council, a… Read more »

Although the University of Wisconsin Spring 2010 commencement speaker may not be as esteemed as President Barack Obama, who will be speaking for the University of Michigan, UW speakers are chosen with student dollars in mind. The University of Michigan announced Feb. 11 Obama will be the keynote speaker at… Read more »

A new committee tied to Associated Students of Madison’s Shared Governance Committee will provide students with a voice in allocating tuition used to pay for technology on campus. The Student Information Technology Initiative Advisory Committee will advise the University of Wisconsin administration on money that is left over from the… Read more »

Student Judiciary dismissed Campus Women’s Center’s appeal for an appeal hearing to reapply for eligibility in a decision released Feb. 23. CWC appeared in front of SJ Feb. 9 to convince the court it was subject to viewpoint neutrality violations from Student Services Finance Committee members during its eligibility hearing… Read more »

Four power plants in the University of Wisconsin System may undergo renovations as a result of a Department of Administration report released last week, which claimed they failed to comply with environmental regulations. State-owned, coal-fired power plants at UW-La Crosse, UW-Eau Claire, UW-Oshkosh and UW-Superior have been identified as facilities… Read more »

The Student Services Finance Committee passed next year’s Associated Students of Madison Internal Budget Monday night, sending the package to Student Council for a final vote. While some committee members were unsatisfied with the process, the Internal Budget was passed by an “up-down” vote of 6-1-4 and will be presented… Read more »

The process of allocating Student Activity Center office space left room for bias at the SAC Governing Board meeting Feb. 21. After Student Judiciary deemed it necessary earlier this month for office space to be reallocated to student organizations, an emphasis was placed by SAC on three questions student organizations… Read more »

Associated Students of Madison members passed the Associated Students of Madison internal and General Student Services Funds budgets onto Student Services Finance Committee Sunday after weeks of additional meetings because ASM failed to pass the budgets on time. The Conference Committee passed the ASM internal budget of $1,118,204.05 onto SSFC… Read more »

The Student Services Finance Committee officially recommended the budgets of the Wisconsin Union and the Child Care Tuition Assistance Program for next year without much debate or alterations to any specific budget items. The Union budget, which includes a $5 increase in segregated fees for students for next year, received… Read more »

The rate of minority students graduating in six years is on the rise at the University of Wisconsin, corresponding to an overall increase in graduation rates. Underrepresented minority freshmen that entered UW in 1999 had a six-year graduation rate of 54.8 percent, compared to the freshmen entering in 2003, who… Read more »

During an emergency Associated Students of Madison Student Council meeting Wednesday, the ASM internal and General Student Services Funds budget decisions were postponed. Student Council passed the budgets for the Student Services Finance Committee and the Student Activity Center Governing Board. The date for final decisions for the other budgets… Read more »

The Office of the Wisconsin Covenant underwent a leadership change when its former director submitted her resignation last month, a year and a half before the foundation’s first class will enter college. The Wisconsin Covenant is signed by eighth graders before they enter high school, and if they meet the… Read more »

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee will pay the campus newspaper legal fees and release previously withheld files after settling its lawsuit Friday. The UWM Post originally sued UW-Milwaukee in Nov. 2009 when administrators redacted copies of a governing board’s documents for information the paper claimed was public record. The student newspaper… Read more »

The Associated Students of Madison Student Services Finance Committee recommended budgets for University Health Services and Recreational Sports to Chancellor Biddy Martin Feb. 15. Although the committee ultimately commended Rec Sports for their fiscal responsibility and a budget that did not include segregated fee increases, they engaged in a much… Read more »

A lawsuit between former University of Wisconsin-Whitewater Dean Howard Ross and the Board of Regents et al over alleged racial discrimination was settled Feb. 12. Ross will reimburse the defendants $1,000 in legal expenses and the charges were dropped. Lawyers on both sides negotiated the final settlement. The original case… Read more »

The University Competitive Workforce Commission held its first meeting Feb. 12, laying the groundwork to ensure quality faculty for the University of Wisconsin System. Steve Wildeck, member of the commission and vice chancellor at UW Colleges and UW Extensions, dubbed the first meeting an information-sharing day. The commission was charged… Read more »

The Wisconsin Union presented its budget for hearing to the Student Service Finance Committee Thursday. The proposed budget of $39,063,500 in expenses contains a 6.9 percent increase to their 2009-10 budget and a $786,800 deficit. Even though the threshold for increases in budgets presented to the SSFC is a 1.9… Read more »

With the spring Text Book Swap in the past, the Associated Students of Madison’s Academic Affairs is working to increase its efficiency through increases in security and new technology. According to Academic Affairs Chair Jonah Zinn, 400 students participated in the spring Text Book Swap — approximately 1 percent of… Read more »

A decision on the Associated Students of Madison internal budget for 2010-11 was postponed during the Feb. 10 Student Council meeting. The meeting allotted three hours for approval of a number of budgets, including the Student Judiciary, Student Services, Student Activity Center Governing Board, General Student Services Funds and ASM… Read more »

A differential tuition system being instituted at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse is drawing the ire of students at another UW campus, who fear it devalues the voice of students across the UW System. UW-La Crosse Student Association officials said they are concerned the decision to approve the BluGold Commitment,… Read more »

University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire began the first of many trial runs Wednesday to test the efficiency of wood as a biomass in its coal-fired power plant. The power plant, which provides energy to university buildings on campus, is exploring biomass options with high-efficiency wood pellets expected to replace 10 to… Read more »

The lawsuit between a former University of Wisconsin-Whitewater dean and the UW System Board of Regents along with other members of UW System over allegations of racial bias began Monday. Former UW-Whitewater Dean of Letters and Sciences Howard Ross filed a lawsuit, which said a consultant hired through the Board… Read more »

The Campus Women’s Center made its fifth appeal to Associated Students of Madison during a hearing held by the Student Judiciary Feb. 9 between CWC and Student Services Finance Committee. The case regarded the definition of “viewpoint neutrality” and the extent to which it applies in cases like CWC’s. ASM… Read more »

University Health Services presented a budget increase to the Student Service Finance Committee Monday, while the Recreation Sports program did not request any increase for the 2010-11 academic year. Sarah Van Orman, director of UHS, said with the projected number of visits students will make next year, there must be… Read more »

After extensive deliberation the UW System Board of Regents approved the BluGold Commitment, a controversial differential tuition increase for University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, at their meeting last Friday. In the wake of student opposition on the UW-Eau Claire campus, the Board of Regents debated over the right course of action… Read more »

The UW System Board of Regents stressed the importance of higher education’s role in economic recovery on the state level at their meeting Thursday. University of Wisconsin System President Kevin Reilly showcased the core goals of the UW System’s Growth Agenda plan for economic recovery and renewal, which includes generating… Read more »

A new branch of the Distinguished Lecture Series will showcase speakers who use business to cure social ills. Changemakers@UW is a new series created by UW junior Vignesh Valliappan that will bring in speakers to the Memorial Union to show the benefits of social entrepreneurship. The first speaker will be… Read more »

The Board of Regents will vote on tuition increases for University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and UW-La Crosse during their next meeting at UW Feb. 4 and 5. The proposals are the BluGold Commitment, which would phase-in a $1,200 increase in UW-Eau Claire tuition over the course of four years, and… Read more »

The Haiti Relief Day of Action held by Associated Students of Madison raised $7,765.25 in donations for the American Red Cross. According to ASM Vice Chair Tom Templeton, WSUM’s dance party held the night of the Haiti Day of Relief brought in a considerable amount of money. Held at the… Read more »

University of Wisconsin-Baraboo/Sauk County is in the developmental stages for a new four-year bachelor’s degree in applied arts and science. The degree, aimed at non-traditional students, whom are defined by UW Colleges Chancellor David Wilson as students who are 22 years of age or older, would tailor some of its… Read more »

A University of Wisconsin Systems virtual student union has launched a trial run, offering students studying sustainable management online at various system schools a place to foster communities with fellow students. The virtual union is currently only available for students studying online and at universities where the bachelor of science… Read more »

Freshmen at universities nationwide, including those at the University of Wisconsin, are showing less interest in business as a major or career, according to a recent study. In a study from the Higher Education Research Institute, freshmen interest in business — both majors and careers — has declined from 2008-09.… Read more »

While the number of University of Wisconsin students seeking counseling at University Health Services is on the rise, the percentage of students making use of services is in line with a recently announced national average. According to the 2009 National Survey of Counseling Center Directors, the national average of students… Read more »

Associated Students of Madison’s Student Judiciary decided Tuesday to grant the Campus Women’s Center another appeal to determine whether its viewpoint neutrality case against Student Service Finance Committee holds any merit. Jessi Indresano, interim finance coordinator for CWC, and Tina Trevi�o-Murphy, program coordinator for CWC, crafted the new appeal based… Read more »

Associated Students of Madison Chair Tyler Junger presented the ASM internal budget for the 2010-11 academic year to the Students Service Finance Committee Monday night. The budget, totaling $1,185,436.80, included the creation of an off-campus housing support center, wage increases for financial staff, a proposal for a Creative Works Fund… Read more »

President Barack Obama announced a proposal Monday that would extend loan forgiveness and reduce monthly payments for students working low-income jobs after graduation. According to a White House statement, students would receive loan forgiveness in 20 years as opposed to 25 years and monthly payments would not be more than… Read more »

The Madison Initiative Student Oversight Board chose 22 recommendations after sifting through more than 100 second round proposals for funding as part of the Madison Initiative for Undergraduates last weekend. The recommendations are not the final decision on which projects are funded. They will be submitted to Chancellor Biddy Martin… Read more »

The first elections for a new University of Wisconsin School of Business student government will be held this week focusing on student life. The Wisconsin Business Student Collaborative will work to give students input on Business School faculty and curriculum, said co-founder of WBSC and chair of the Associated Students… Read more »

The stipend reports and spring semester plans required for most Associated Students of Madison committees were revealing, as some committees have well-laid out plans for the upcoming semester, while others are still in the dark. ASM Chair Tyler Junger said he requested all ASM committees create their own stipend reports… Read more »

The Wisconsin Union Directorate gave permission Wednesday night for the Distinguished Lecture Series to bring controversial anti-Islamic and feminist speaker Ayaan Hirsi Ali to campus. In her memoir, “Infidel,” Hirsi Ali spoke out against the Muslim religion and outlined some of the horrors she faced during her childhood in her… Read more »

A University of Wisconsin System official agreed Wednesday to take on the role of interim chancellor for UW-Colleges and UW-Extension, pending approval by the UW System Board of Regents next month. Marv Van Kekerix will be the interim chancellor for both institutions beginning July 1, filling in for David Wilson,… Read more »

The University of Wisconsin and UW-Milwaukee announced a joint grant program this week that would create collaborative research initiatives between the two universities. Currently, UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee are offering $300,000 in grants through the Intercampus Research Incentive Grants Program, according to UW-Milwaukee spokesperson Tom Luljak. Each university is contributing half… Read more »

Four University of Wisconsin System schools’ goal to produce as much renewable energy as they consume by 2012 was simplified to reducing overall carbon dioxide emissions after energy independence was deemed unfeasible by state officials. The original plan, proposed in 2006 for the UW-Oshkosh, UW-Green Bay, UW-River Falls and… Read more »

The University of Wisconsin placed first in the Big 10 for the best value in a public university by Kiplinger Personal Finance, ranking 14th overall. Jane Clark, senior associate editor for Kiplinger Personal Finance, said the survey measured academic value and affordability. The original pool of 500 universities was narrowed… Read more »

The University of Wisconsin-Fox Valley implemented a new policy allowing parking privileges for “green” cars, stirring controversy among students who consider the policy elitist. UW-Fox Valley designated 17 of 600 parking spaces on campus as preferred parking spots for fuel-efficient vehicles during the construction of a new communication arts building.… Read more »

The University of Wisconsin Board of Regents approved three UW-Milwaukee research and development projects for funding during a special session called by the UW System regents Jan. 8. Carlos Santiago, chancellor at UW-Milwaukee, presented plans at the meeting to purchase and redevelop Columbia St. Mary’s Hospital in Milwaukee to… Read more »

Students will soon have an easier time applying for financial aid after several changes were implemented in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid for the 2010-11 academic year. Most of the changes aim to make the online version of the application more user-friendly, as both the paper and electronic… Read more »

Student groups that operate as governmental bodies are subject to open meetings laws, according to an informal opinion issued by Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen in December. The opinion was requested in regard to an ongoing lawsuit between University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee’s student newspaper The Post and the university’s… Read more »

University of Wisconsin Chancellor Biddy Martin showcased the Madison campus as a premiere research institution and praised it for the work being accomplished with diversity and affordability as a university at the UW System Board of Regents meeting Thursday. Martin opened with a presentation highlighting UW’s status as a… Read more »

University of Wisconsin System Office of Operations Review and Audit submitted a report evaluating the use of energy and energy conservation projects in the UW System, saying funds for some of the large-scale projects are running low. Large-scale and high-cost energy conservation projects in the UW System have received no… Read more »

Student Judiciary and Student Activity Center Governing Board presented their budgets with minimal increases to the Student Services Finance Committee Monday night. Student Judiciary proposed no increases from its 2009-10 fiscal year budget of $52,700, while SACGB only proposed a 0.8 percent increase, excluding the cost of maintenance for the… Read more »

States with laws permitting the use of medicinal marijuana are seeing an interesting development in the education field — “cannabis colleges” and universities offering courses on the history, growth and use of the plant. One such example is MedGrow Cannabis College in Southfield, Mich., outside of Detroit, founded last April… Read more »

Associated Students of Madison’s Coordinating Council decided Wednesday night to have all ASM intern projects passed through Student Council and addressed the nature of the Committee of Recruitment Endeavors. For the fall semester, ASM has eight interns who work with the different committees on projects assigned at the beginning… Read more »

The trial date for a former University of Wisconsin-Whitewater dean who claims his demotion was the result of discrimination was postponed by mutual request from both the defendant and prosecutor. The original trial date was set for Jan. 4, according to Andy Nolan, clerk of the office of United States… Read more »

An economic futurist spoke of the looming, apocalyptic future for mankind and outlined the plan for humanity’s survival and enduring empathy during Monday night’s Distinguished Lecture Series. Founder of the Foundation for Economic Trends Jeremy Rifkin pointed to the climbing unemployment rate in the United States, the dependence on finite… Read more »

Starting next year, it may not matter if students of one Pennsylvania university have 120 credits and a GPA of 4.0 - they may be just too fat to graduate. According to James DeBoy, professor and chair of the department of health, physical education and recreation at Lincoln University, all… Read more »

The Student Activities Center Governing Board decided Sunday to deny office space to nine different student organizations that did not meet the requirements to use the space. According to a statement released Monday by the Associated Students of Madison, groups denied office space include Collegians for a Constructive Tomorrow, Student… Read more »

Three University of Wisconsin System universities, including UW-Madison, will have one of their state-mandated furlough days this Friday, Nov. 27. Along with Madison, UW-Green Bay and UW-Whitewater have a scheduled furlough for the majority of their faculty and staff. Employees are traditionally not required to come to work the day… Read more »

Student Services Finance Committee set forth its internal budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year and the requested budget for 2010-11, enumerating their salaries, supplies and services Thursday night. The budget approved for fiscal year 2009-10 amounted to $161,524, and the requested amount for next year came to $163, 446. Increases… Read more »

Students at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse will have the opportunity Wednesday to vote on a proposed increase in their differential tuition to fund services offered through its Academic Initiative. According to a statement released by UW-La Crosse, students would have to pay an increased amount of approximately $45 per… Read more »

An e-mail sent by University of Wisconsin-Whitewater to inform students of a “prayer vigil” for a student killed in the Fort Hood shootings was met with criticism from a Madison-based nontheism group, claiming UW-Whitewater was out of its jurisdiction as a public university to invite the student body to… Read more »

The Student Services Finance Committee finally came to a decision on the budget for the MultiCultural Student Coalition after postponing the decision twice before, ultimately approving its funding for next year. Currently, MCSC’s budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year is $273,363. MCSC saw its proposed budget of $296,952 cut down… Read more »

Even people with good intentions cheat, as long as it allows them to still feel good about themselves, a behavioral economist told a crowd at the Wisconsin Union Theatre Tuesday. As a part of the Distinguished Lecture Series, Dan Ariely, a behavioral economist at Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business,… Read more »

The Student Services Finance Committee postponed the budget decision for MultiCultural Student Coalition a second time after a heated debate but approved the budgets of the Supporting Peers in Laid Back Listening, Working Class Student Union and Wisconsin Student Lobby Monday night. SSFC representatives debated the necessity of paid staff… Read more »

The Board of Regents honored two professors and an academic department at three University of Wisconsin System universities with their 2009 Teaching Excellence awards. The regents announced Nov. 6 Michael Cox, professor of biochemistry at UW-Madison, D�na Warren, associate professor of philosophy at UW-Stevens Point and the UW-Parkside Theatre Arts… Read more »

The University of Michigan was ranked the number one college in a recent survey based on measurements of social media mentions and Internet traffic according to an independent national analysis, topping Harvard University, previously ranked number one, and accompanying UW-Madison in the top 10. “We wanted to measure what people… Read more »

The chancellor of the University of Wisconsin Colleges and Extensions has been named a finalist for the position of president at Morgan State University in Baltimore, Md., which could raise some concern about finding a replacement if he were to be offered the position and accept. The final stages of… Read more »

Salaries for private college presidents have hit more than $1 million for 23 private colleges across the country, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education.. Tony Pals, spokesperson at the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, said it is important to note the years the Chronicle of Higher Education… Read more »

Starting in January 2011, students who fulfill the Wisconsin Covenant Pledge and demonstrate considerable financial need will receive a $1,500 grant from the Wisconsin Covenant Foundation, Gov. Jim Doyle announced Friday. According to Shannon Loredo, development director at the Wisconsin Covenant Foundation, the grant is applicable to students who fulfill… Read more »

Illinois’ Cook County State’s Attorney Office is subpoenaing the grades and notes of former Northwestern University students involved in a program investigating the conviction of a man accused of killing a security guard in 1978. In 2003-06, the murder case was reinvestigated by undergraduate students in a journalism class at… Read more »

Student Services Finance Committee made cuts to the Vets for Vets budget and heard the budget for Student Leadership Program Monday night, while also unanimously removing Kyle Szarzynski from its committee. Vets for Vets saw its proposed budget of $27,470 drop to $24,549. While its budget saw major cuts from… Read more »

The Wisconsin Innocence Project will receive a grant from the National Institute of Justice to start a post-conviction DNA testing program. A nonprofit organization based on the University of Wisconsin campus, The Wisconsin Innocence Project is comprised of UW law students who work to free those in prison who have… Read more »

The Student Services Finance Committee granted funding to F.H. King and the Adventure Learning Programs Thursday in a unanimous vote. F.H. King, a student group which promotes sustainable agriculture, proposed some added positions to better facilitate their direct services. “We asked for a couple new positions this year. We’ve seen… Read more »

The Student Services Finance Committee heard the budgets of Badger Catholic and Wisconsin Student Public Interest Research Group Thursday night, while approving next year’s budget for Sex Out Loud and deferring Greater University Tutorial Service’s funding decision until Monday. Badger Catholic Chair Nico Fassino brought up several areas of the… Read more »

The Madison Initiative Student Oversight Board met Monday night to discuss 20 proposals submitted by almost every college on campus, ranging from a new certificate in nanotechnology to a shared adviser note system.The Madison Initiative is a differential tuition measure passed last year by the Board of Regents with the… Read more »