“SSFC cut nearly $4,300 from MCSC's $440,000 proposed budget by zero-funding their multicultural spring barbeque, a program many members felt was a duplicate of a multicultural barbeque held in the fall.”

multicultural BBQ? LOL 440k? good lord.

The fact that this piece ran on the same day as the news story announcing that SSFC made a bunch of cuts to MCSC’s budget is hilarious. You’d think that Darryn would find this a successful year for SSFC, considering the amount of whining from the various groups she hates on how much they’ve been cut.

Or is she mad that groups she disagrees with get funding at all? Wait, that’s silly - since she’s clearly a Southworth expert, she knows that’s not a valid reason. Can’t be that. Nope.

Do something more then write about the problem, or what you think are solutions. Action is the key to getting things done. Get yourself and some like minded people on the SSFC and take back the administration of your fees.

Back in the 90’s students did by voting to get rid of student government. The administration then set up ASM with help from WISPIRG as without a student government the administration could not funnel money WISPIRG. As a memeber of SSFC in 96-97? I fought to reduce funding to many groups whose main reason for existing was collecting Salaries for the students running the organization. Most student groups have questionable value on Campus and should be forced to raise their own funds. However, the administrators are interested in teaching students, especially those interested in politics, how easy it is to spend other people’s money. SSFC and ASM would not exist but for the Vietnam era administrators who want radical left student groups funded. You will note Students against the Death Penalty, in a state without a Death Penalty, has been funded. I once tried to get equal funding for a group called Students for the Death Penalty. You can guess how that ended.

Tom Flynn

Perhaps you should look at the non-allocable portion of segregated fees, those fees which SSFC does not have control over and which account for 78% of the total seg fees. This is where the majority of the increase has come from. The allocable portion has stayed relatively constant the last 5 years.

“multicultural spring barbeque”

WFT? How could something so stereotypical be supported by anyone with PC sensibility? Did they serve greens and cornbread?

They fund MEChA???

They are completely racist. It’s like funding the Hitler Youth or white power Nazis.

Thank you. Finally, an article with a realistic portrayal of seg fees problems. People need to WAKE UP.

There is in fact accountability in the seg fees system, and after Southworth, student groups of all stripes who DON’T apply for fees are idiots. Fees are legal, constitutional, and encouraged by universities around the country. As long as students are forced to pay the fee, they should pay to hear all viewpoints.

Here is what should be done. All or nothing. Either fund every group that comes before the committee by applying the exact same fiscal stewardship criteria, or fund no groups at all.

If the University wants to fund something, it should pay for it with tuition dollars, or at the most, allow students to make voluntary contributions using University infrastructure (this is how PIRGs are funded in other states).

However, if mandatory fees exist in their current form, the University is obligated to fund everyone - or no one - that expresses a value judgment on issues of the day. Period.

If there is a LGBT group, there should be a family values group. If there are command-and-control environmental advocates, there should be a capitalist, free-market alternative.

Conservative students that bitch and moan about fees equaling welfare are idiots. Name for me the last army that won a battle by unilaterally disarming? Southworth settled the battle. Student fees, while ridiculously stupid by their nature, are constitutional and should be used to advance ALL ideas and ensure a marketplace of ideas, equally funded. Most of the past thirty years demonstrate the problem with the opposite.

Wow, Tom Flynn, I hope your tinfoil hat isn’t too worn out. The lefty administrators are spying on your thoughts AS WE SPEAK.

For someone who hates student government on this campus, you sure do have your hands in a lot of it:

http://www.asm.wisc.edu/advocacy/appointees.html

Beckstrom is just another Moral Majority hypocrite. Recall how she whined when SSFC did the right thing and tried to unfund her pet organization, The Roman Catholic Foundation. SSFC got reversed on that and what happened? RCF asked for a more than 100% increase in their already bloated and unconstitutional $86K seg fee award for this year. Now she’s flip flopped, screaming about waste. She’ll flip flop again if the RFC gets cut any for next year. I said it once, I’ll say it again - hypocrite. (Hypocrisy is a mortal sin, btw.)

“They are completely racist. It’s like funding the Hitler Youth or white power Nazis.”

I’m invoking Godwin’s Law. All discussion on this article must cease immediately.

Do we Badgers need to fight every single thing at our university? EVERY other major public univesity has a segregated fee system, and there is no where near the uproar about them there as we have. Why do we always have to be such babies about EVERYTHING.

“Is Plan 2008 really not enough?” HA, WOW…Thank you for opening the door on that one. How about you write an article about how effective Plan 2008 has been for: minority enrollment, campus climate, classroom diversity, campus diversity, minority recruitment, minority retention, faculty diversity, faculty diversity training, diversity initiatives, employers looking past UW students for incompetence with diversity, lack of locations for cultural celebration/prayer/worship/tradition that doesn’t fit within the mainstream white student body, want me to keep going? And then why don’t you throw in why The Madison Plan of 1998 was SO successful they decided to do another one. And you could make an addition about how we’re slightly more than 2 years away from 2008, and where the goals of Plan 2008 lie. Write about how successful it is Darryn, and how any underrepresented student at UW-Madison is simply asking for too much to feel like they belong on this campus. Plan 2008 isn’t enough for these s, *s, and **s??? What more could they want? We’re alreadygiving them one half-assed, non-committed effort. Now they want money to try to do it themselves???

And I must have missed the memo where 600+ attendees at the BBQ and 6,000 attendees for the multiple-day Poetry Slam is not widely attended.

If Darryn could forward me that memo along with it that states why the RCF (which I have no problem with) should be exempt from her attempt at scathing commentary, I’d also like that.

To cap it off, The guy who said it earlier is right, non-allocable fees is where the vast majority of your student seg fees come from, and you have NO control over that. Most student orgs are between $1-10 out of your pocket. Why is there nobody ever asking about the hundreds and thousands you’re spending on these other services, some of which you probably don’t use but have no control over expenditure-wise? I’d like that memo too, Darryn. XOXOXO

FLIP FLOPPING IS RIGHT. Don’t worry — Self proclaimed conservative demagogue Tim Schulz will make it better. BAH.

TOO MANY WORDS. TOO LITTLE PEOPLE MAKING TANGIBLE CHANGE.

See Janell Wise’s editorial from last week for a more comprehensive and less biased argument regarding the segregated fee process.

http://badgerherald.com/oped/2005/11/10/studentorgsabuse_s.php

Hey Darryn, remember when you were elected to ASM Student Council, but then you resigned because you were too lazy to come to meetings? You had the power to vote to approve or disapprove of SSFC budgets, yet you gave it up.

As usual, it’s easier to bitch about something than to actually do something about it. Even when you had the power to initially.

Here’s a brilliant idea: instead of robbing me of my last dollar, why don’t the student groups who want money get off their fat asses and do some fundraising?

Wise’s editorial may have been more comprehensive, but less biased, give me a break!

Why does Darryn write about the SAME SMACK every TUESDAY??? If it’s not about infringing on her rights, it’s about diversity not benefiting her. Somebody please tell her to get over herself!

It’s not that these orgs are excluding you…it’s you choosing to exclude yourself by not going to any of the events. No activity set up by these organizations have signs posted saying “NO WHITE PEOPLE ALLOWED”…Come on, people of color have been through that enough to understand how that would feel!

this article was obviously written by someone who is not trying to get out and explore the different things that the UW campus has to offer. Myself, being a caucasion euro-american student am a member of MEChA. For an entire year I was the National MEChA Coordinating Council member in charge of traveling all over the country to meetings with other Chicanos to discuss issues on campus and ways to resolve these and create awareness of them. There was just a Wunk-Sheek event this Friday that had over 100 diverse attendants… They are the ignorant people like yourself that are not taking advantages of the plethora of opportunities that this campus has to offer. You should complaining about the so called money you are throwing away and look at the valuable opportunites that you are throwing away instead.
-Tane Perrigoue Senior

Anyone who thinks Janell’s article was without bias is sadly mistaken. She may be right about what she wrote. But the reason she wrote it was unquestionably personal. But she would never list those reasons, it would undermine her article. In the end you should be on one of three sides, you like the money, you don’t like the money, or you don’t like the money but realize its the law. Make your decisions from there and stop making absurd arguments to make yourself sound right to the public who doesn’t care.

On November 15, 2005 Editorial board chairman Darryn Beckstrom wrote an article which advocated an auditing system to be implemented on the campus' numerous student organizations and programs. However, Beckstrom's editorial was written with about as much research done on the subject as a sixth grade report on whales. Beckstrom contends that there are numerous organizations here on campus that take advantage of the "excessive" amounts of funding provided through the student segregated fees. I found it rather interesting, however, that the ONLY programs mentioned by Beckstrom happened to be organizations that are meant to promote diversity. Beckstrom also argues that the multicultural organizations on campus are exclusive and inclusive and do not benefit the entire student population. These are completely unfair and unfounded accusations made by Beckstrom. Not once has a single multicultural organization stated that their sole existence here on campus is to serve only the colored population. In fact, one of the main purposes and goals of the multicultural programs is to educate the entire student population about the many different cultures represented in our student population. There are often chalkings on the sidewalks advertising events such as the Hmong Culture Night or the Latino/Latina Salsa Dances. These types of events or not only meant to educate our student population, but create opportunities for integration, in hopes of fostering a tolerant and more accepting campus climate. How many multicultural events have you been to, voluntarily on your own, Beckstrom? It's not the job of the multicultural organizations here campus to force every white student to attend our events. In fact, we would really love it if people instead showed a genuine interest in our cultures and made the initiative to come to our events. I have never been to an event where the student of an organization has said, "Leave, you don't belong here." If Beckstrom has been to an event where she has been kicked out because she is white, then I would love to hear about that example. I have brought black and white friends to HASA (Hmong student org) events, and they've all been welcomed and enjoyed themselves quite a bit. Beckstrom also asked: Is Plan 2008 not enough? And I would like to give the answer: No, it is simply not enough. As many students know, Plan 2008 has been taking place for quite awhile now, but its goal is to increase enrollment of minority students, NOT to change the campus climate, educate the student population about diverse cultures, and create a support group for oppressed students. While it may come as a shock to many students, our beloved Wisconsin campus is not free of racism and oppression. In fact, I can't even begin to count the numerous times I've been called a "chink" or "gook" while trying to have a good time on campus on a Saturday night. Plan 2008 may increase the enrollment of minority students, but I can tell you that those minority students are going to leave this campus faster than you can blink if the multicultural student organizations disappear due to lack of funding. Sometimes, it's just nice to be able to sit down after hearing "I LOVE CHINKS" on State Street, and hear from someone of my own ethnicity, "Hey, it's okay; you're no alone here on campus." When I first started writing this letter I was filed with rage, disgust, but most of all shame. I am ashamed and shocked every time I read articles like that of Beckstrom's because the optimist in me has always wanted to believe that we've all evolved past the 1950's mentality of xenophobia. The multicultural organizations here on campus serve a very important purpose and before Beckstrom bashes those groups, she should make a deeper investigation for herself, instead of telling administrators and policy makers to do it. I'm sure Beckstrom didn't want to sound like a racist, but she sure did a good job of it by singling out only the multicultural organizations. Next time, perhaps she should at least make the attempt to be politically correct and throw in the example of the Masturbation club or some non-race related group? Just a suggestion.

i’m deeply offended. diversity is to be embraced here on the madison campus. students of color will continually fight to become more visable here on the campus and in doing so, we will continue to push our efforts forward regardless.

This article is ridiculous! This is one of the most irresponsible and slanted pieces of literature that I have ever read from this newspaper. Anyone could be understanding of this woman’s claim if she had some supporting evidence to support her claims: Tuition increases are being caused by the “rise” or irresponsible allocation of the seg fee dollars, seg fees are financial aid to students who work for the organizations that she attacked. It is pretty clear that she is only talking about the student organizations that deal with diversity. What about CFACT, WISPERG, CALS, PAVE, CWC, LGBTCC, RCC, SAFE, CCTAP. The only thing that this woman was able to effectively demonstrate was her clear and gross hatred for the Student of Color organizations on campus and disregard for diversity and her ignorance of the seg fee process. Her being a member of student council, this scares me, we have people like her representing us on this level…GOD WHAT IS THE WORLD COMING TO?

Clearly this university pales in comparison to other universities around the country in the area of diversity, so it is an issue. Further more the administration has proven their inability to execute plan 2008, so students have taken it upon them seleves to support the administration:MCSC, MEChA, APAC, the LGBTCC everyone one of these orgs have mentorship programs, open to all students, that serve to help retention rates. If anything I think we should be thanking our student organizations for the work they do, and praising our SSFC for the countless hours they spend going over eligibility and budgets of these orgs. If this girl’s article had any real teeth, it wouldn’t be in the opinion section of the paper. But because it is poorly written, lacks quantitative and qualitative evidence, it is clearly just an opinion…which could have been better written by my little sister in the 7th grade who is learning the importance of research and citing sources. ALSO lets not zoom in so much, what percentage of the actual seg fee pot are allocated to student organizations? LESS THAN 10% I am positive, Where is the money really going? Look at the memorial union, union south, the serf, the nat, rec sports, etc, etc….the list goes on and on. Also clearly CFACT, CCTAP, UWRCF are easier organizations to pick on in terms of seeing what services are exclusive…why did she only choose the student of color organizations.

CCTAP primarily supports student who are parents…is this segment of the student population, what proportion of the total student population are parents?

UWRCF: need I say more, would a Muslim student organization claiming the same thing, would not be able to receive ssfc dollars, most definitely not! The president himself would come and veto them back to the corners of the red gym.

CFACT: is just a waste, what have we seen come from this organization besides headaches and empty promises of services that they claim to offer.

Let’s keep it real, this girl is racist, classist and should never be allowed to write anything anywhere but a simple, personal diary that will never see the light of day!

A faithful reader of the Badger Herald. I love this newspaper, i never respond to anything but this was crazy, lets keep the inexperienced writers in the gutter where they belong! FEEL FREE TO PUBLISH this, it needs to be seen by the public!

Nice going criticizing all the ethnic minority organizations, does a lot for you image. Have you ever even attended any of these events? I guess not, and we all know the answer to why that is. And you do know that is not all this organizations do, of course you wouldn't know about the rest. And you can place plan 2008 wherever it pleases you the most, because is trash…just like you.

This article is a crossed eyed representation about segregated fees and student organizations. The article's representation reflects the completely ignorance of Darryn Beckstrom and her poor understanding of GSSF funded student organizations.

To call segregated fees "student welfare" is just another example of sensationalism brought upon an editorial board made up of button up, cardigan wearing, over priviledged, white conservatives who are too quick to judge and looking to fill the spaces of disdained newspaper.

The goals of the Asian and Pacific American Council, Multicultural Student Coalition, Wunk Sheek, and MEChA promote diversity and serve a real purpose on this campus. Since individual attention towards each individual ethnic group do not receive any credible attention from the University, it is left in the hands of student organization to pick up the slack. In an ideal world, the task of promoting the heritage and history of each underrepresented ethnic group would be accomplish by the University administration, but it does not have the adequate resources to accomplish such a task. The administration of the University can only promote wider scope campaign on diversity and it is up to student organizations to promote individual ethnic awareness.

Beckstrom claims that Student of Color GSSF organizations "promote exclusiveness more often than inclusiveness" but that is further from the truth. The groups mentioned in her article have a primary constituency and are more than welcome to anyone from any background, but do majority students of dominant culture willing to attend?

The criticisms of how GSSF funds are ONLY focused on Student of Color organization. Doesn't anyone find that suspicious, there are more than just 5 organizations on GSSF who share the same salary/hour rate? Year in and year out, it's the same backward opinions by the editorial board of the BH.

Beckstrom highlighted only a few small events that are done student organization (mostly the social events), but failed to mentioned lecture events, state and regional conferences, campaign initiatives and other educational efforts set forth by GSSF student of color organization.

Furthermore, Beckstrom highlighted diversity events held by SOC organizations aren't widely advertised, but ask yourself this, "where you even looking?"

How effective are chalkings and flyerings since they only reach a targeted audience and not an adequate vehicle to promote a campus towards the entire campus. If you see a flyer that has Asian, Black, or Latino and don't fall into those categories, are you going to give it another glance?

The real underlining question is John Q. White Majority getting the best bang for his buck. How do diversity event that highlighting a specific ethnic heritage include his people. Now the next question would be, "why can't they [student of color organizations] do events that pertain to me [John Q. White Majority." It's simple, read the mission statement of their organization; to serve and promote the [insert ethnic group] heritage and history. It's called the Asian Pacific American Council not the Asian Pacific American Council for White America organization.

Honestly, how interested is White students interested in attending a lecture on the "exoticification of Asian woman in the media?" If the student of color population of the campus were to increase, there would spike in the attendance of GSSF student organization events.

Additionally, there is always the option of promoting diversity events through newspaper adds, but the high prices for ad space isn't worth it. So put your money where your mouth is, dedicate FREE space in your newspaper to promote diversity events, even a discount would help. Increase your coverage of the large events held by student of color organization. If not, then shut up and stop talking about things you know nothing of.

As for the attendance of GSSF student of color event see the Asian Pacific American Council's Regional conference that boasted an attendance of 1,200 students from 20 different campuses across the Midwest. Is that enough people for you? The event was made up of predominately Asian American student because it touched on their issues. The number in attendance was only reached because we had to outsource Asian American students from different campus because the White majority did not same the same interest. And where was the coverage by the Badger Herald? There was none.

Incredible. However, the likelyhood that any of the comments here will be taken into her consideration, is highly un probable. Or prove me wrong by coming to grips with reality or even by proving every one of these comments wrong. Not such an easy task, but if you’re as anti-diversity as you appear to sound, I’m sure you’ll find a way. Am I assuming you are anti-diversity? Not in the least. You clearly imply that by hiding any facts that may cause your purpose harm. Forgive me for using such a harsh explanation, but you clearly have something against people of color. What you’re suggesting is that we cut segregated fees from specific groups excluding those you find interest in. You should work to make the world a better understood place rather than trying to degrade anything that doesn’t please you. Multicultural is just that, everyone working together using their backgrounds to futher define themselves and help others understand. I guess what I’m asking is what is your source stating that the diverse groups are excluding caucasians? Understanding your sources is also another variable that we must take into consideration.

yours ideas are unproven and unjust.

ur doing this upon yourself.. you think that htese groups all the ones you listed arent helping the asian groups, minoriteiss and sex ones.. they are our money we have a part in what we want too.. not you, your not hte one paying for us to go to school, its our parents and the government if we dont have enough money. these groups are just a way of knowing each other on this campus, there is nothing wrong with making friends through all these groups out there.. were you a student here, did you particpate here in all these groups you stupid whit racist women..

Ms. Beckstrom—although your article seems quite researched and poised, I find it rather smug and misleading. I have a few comments that you may find eduational for your own good. It is not a surprise that the Badger Herald printed your article, but that is besides the point. I suggest that if you so choose to judge grassroots organizations on this campus, especially when it comes to the topic of segregated fees, you choose your opponents wisely. The multicultural organizations on this campus are meant to educate and magically turn rich white suburbanites into well-rounded (both academically and worldy) accomplished individuals. It is for certain that since the creation of race, people of color and culture are faced with the task of educating you about the world. People of color join these grassroots organizations to empower themselves as well as send a message to the larger student body (of course, which is white) that there is more to life than the cookie cutter lives they lived in Manhattan, Skokie, or Evanston. Organizations such as APAC, hold huge events and venues every year. They impact a large mass on this campus and yes, even advertise their events. It is not APAC’s fault however, if the greek kids cannot get their asses out of the bars to attend something that will broaden their dim horizons. The multicultural organizations do not have the responsibility of making your white children well-rounded or cultural. They are an outlet that is open to all to learn more about others as well as themselves. Maybe instead of pointing fingers at the 10 percent-ers, one should look at the majority. Diversity on this campus has always been an issue. That’s why large companies avoid recruiting on our campus…they say the grads are not well-rounded. They say that our student body is lacking…in culture, in color, and in life. 90 percent-ers, it’s not our responsibility to make your life experience more whole by adding a bit of color. Step out of your comfort zone, experience life, experience people! ..your segregated fees are paying for it..

I would love to have a panel with Darryn Beckstrom. It is an editorial and she is entitle to her opinion but I will still like to know if she has any negative past involvement with people of color. Because I do agree she shouldn’t just single out multicultural organizations. So Darryn if you’re reading this you should hold a little panel and express your view to the whole multicultural community here on campus and give us your direct reasons why we should be shut down. Before I end this I just want to say one last thing, I understand that you may not capable of comprehending multicultural issues or topics because you being caucasian and all have never encounter racist experiences. But by making claims like you did you should be smart enough to think beyond the horizon and not make make such narrow minded accusations.

I agree with all of the people who have focused on Seg Fee spending that goes to promote diversity on the Madison campus. It is impossible for any individual to learn chemistry, calculus or C++ unless they are sitting in a classroom that is equally representative of the US population. Using that logic we should all stampede to the all black colleges with our diversity banners waving. The issue with Seg Fee’s is and always has been one group of students mainly socialists and liberals spending the money of the 90% of students who rightly believe that Student Government is and should be a joke. When conservative students took over the student government they disbanded it. They stopped spending other peoples money for their own benefit. How many members of ASM are also on the dole of a student group and getting a stipend for being on ASM while working for the beloved liberal cause and getting paid a living wage by the student group they should be volunteering to help. Do you think those people who are using Seg Fee’s to keep them in Beer money while other students pay their tution want to change the system? You want to expose the problem with ASM and Seg Fee’s just follow the money.

As for my tinfoil hat it fits nicely. Of course the reality of the 1970’s that changed the way student government was treated came out of something. Thankfully tin foil does not effect my ability to think critically. Something that the name callers on the left have forgotten how to do, or have they just been indoctrinated. Diversity for the UW is key but not for Howard University. Puzzle through that.

Tom Flynn

Darryn had the opportunity to attend a meeting in her grad department last night, the agenda of which included whether or not to form a grad student association (which would, presumably, apply for a share of seg fees).

Darryn not only attended the meeting, but participated and engaged her colleagues in debate.

No - that’s a lie. She rolled her eyes and left when asked to come.

Who the hell is Tom Flynn anyway? Someone fill me in…

Tom Flynn…get over yourself!! Just because one university out of thousands has more diversity than others does NOT mean you can single it out!
Since we’re all being so immature now…why don’t you and darryn just marry each other! kiss choke and die

I’m asian and this *hit is funny as *uck! More than asian, I’m Hmong and this article is too damn funny. I don’t know how to take it. Should I be mad or not? I guess my feelings doesn’t really matter. To be honest, things such as this article have always pended culture against culture. So why can’t we all just *ucking get along. But yeah, this article is too *ucking funny. I need to tell everybody about this *hit. I’m not trying to start anything but it’s just to *amn hilarious. It’s similar to Jay Leno giving a joke on the Tonight Show, it’s *ucking crazy and funny.

I’m asian and this *hit is funny as *uck! More than asian, I’m Hmong and this article is too damn funny. I don’t know how to take it. Should I be mad or not? I guess my feelings doesn’t really matter. To be honest, things such as this article have always pended culture against culture. So why can’t we all just *ucking get along. But yeah, this article is too *ucking funny. I need to tell everybody about this *hit. I’m not trying to start anything but it’s just to *amn hilarious. It’s similar to Jay Leno giving a joke on the Tonight Show, it’s *ucking crazy and funny.

I’m asian and this *hit is funny as *uck! More than asian, I’m Hmong and this article is too *amn funny. I don’t know how to take it. Should I be mad or not? I guess my feelings doesn’t really matter. To be honest, things such as this article have always pended culture against culture. So why can’t we all just *ucking get along. But yeah, this article is too *ucking funny. I need to tell everybody about this *hit. I’m not trying to start anything but it’s just to *amn hilarious. It’s similar to Jay Leno giving a joke on the Tonight Show, it’s *ucking crazy and funny.

Like I said earlier, this article is funny. They probably didn’t post my comments earlier because I had a few profanity in it. I don’t know why they won’t post it? It wasn’t referencing anyone. It was just explaining how I felt towards this article, that this article is crazy and funny. I don’t know how to take this article? I’m Asian, but what she said really didn’t affect me. I guess I’m just too grown up and mature. So for everyone else, get over it and start *ucking again. It’s articles like these that separates and pends culture against culture. But for me, I’m cool with it. This article is too hilarious, it needs to be on the New York Times so everyone could read how funny it is. It’s………..your boy! Hahahahahaha, pardon me I had to laugh at that!

It’s me again. I said that this article was truly funny on my behalf. I have only one thing to say: GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG-Unit

I’m positive that agruing about the value of diversity, is neither childish nor does it warrant the idiotic responses that this article has generated from the majority of people who have posted on this site. The problem on the left is that most vocal complainers are the most vacant. If you had met the Southworth in the oft thrown about supreme court decision or realize that one Sandra O’Conner was the swing vote in that decision you might better understand that this fight is not settled or over. Scott Southworth filed his lawsuit as his effort to disband student government forever was thwarted by an adminstration and some WISPIRG flunkies who couldn’t get their money without a student government signing off on the budget. Southworth did not agree with the court decision, not to put words in his mouth, because equal funding for divergent ideologies didn’t exist. Which is what O’Connor hung her hat on by the way. Let us not forget that the case was appealed to the Supreme Court by the UW System as Southworth had won in the 7th Circuit Court. So, you folks on the left better really start hammering on Alito to keep your free money rolling in.

The only portion of this article that was lacking was a rational and available solution. I beleive that the University of Iowa allows each individual student to decide which studnet groups recieve their student fee’s. Note this applies only to student groups and not University Offices. So if the GLB&T group is doing such great work on campus they will have not problem getting their fellow students to pony up some dough.

As for Diversity those who have posted that large companies don’t recruit at the UW because of a poor diversity may have confused what the recruiters were expressing. Most large companies are interested in the diversity of ideas within the minds of people they recruit. If UW-Madison continues to be a hot-bed for anti-globalization nut jobs then why would a large multinational company come to the campus to recruit. Although, lets be honest recruiters from large Multi-Nationals are usually coming to Grainger Hall and most of us graduating from the Business School are not upset with Wal-Mart, Nike, Or Exxon Mobile. We have spent time trying to figure out what those organizations have done right to create the wealth that they have and not marching against them while also bashing George Bush.

But again if Diversity is so important the worse practioners of exclusion are the historic black colleges and all woman colleges, but I never hear anyone on the left demand that they allow Whites, Hispanics or Men. VMI and the Citadel got hasseled in the 90’s for being all Male but what about Hilary’s alma mater? This is not an attempt to diflect the issue as I have no problem with Howard, Grambling, or Wellesley College. I do not feel that those educated at those instutions have received an inferior education because they are not surrounded by Whites or split equally in classes with Men. Learning and education is not helped or hampered by race, ethnicity, sex or sexual orientation.

Does the UW need a more ethnically diverse student population? I don’t know. Nor do I think platitudes about the value of diversity are useful. What would be useful is finding out why students of certain ethnic groups who apply, meet the standards set by the school for all students, are accepted by the UW and then decided not to attend. Did they choose another University and why did they make that choice? As for people not feeling comfortable in Madison, Conservatives feel your pain.

Tom Flynn

Tom -

There are so many things wrong with what you just typed I don’t have the time to cover them all. I think that you need a life. If you went to school here back in the mid-1990s and still bother to check the Badger Herald’s editorial page and write novels about them, perhaps it is you who needs to rethink things.

I like to keep track of what drives the left, which is comes from poor critical thinkers living off the fat of our bloated University systems.

Ward Churchill hasn’t been making 100K plus a year working for IBM while calling Americans little Eichmans. To fix what has gone wrong in this country we need to focus on the areas where communist thought not only thrives but is spoon fed to pathetically prepared 18 year olds. The fact that most College Students don’t understand how similar Facism and Communism are speaks volumes regarding what is being taught. Just as German children belonged to Hitler so to did Elian belong to Castro.

But Hey again insult the messanger because you can not make a substantive arguement. Why do I occassional read the BadgerHerald? Well they do cover sports last time I checked and I would rather support electronically a student paper rather than the Communist Times or the supposedly conservative Wisconsin State Journal. So you see I am one of those people that is killing the circulation of newpapers around the US. I understand that all Newspapers are inhabited by left of center staffers and that a conservatie editorial board saying vote for Republican candidate X does not make up for 4 years of ridicoulos coverage on Terrorism, Homelessness or whatever other topics the left trots out whenever a Republican is in the Whitehouse. But as for me I learned how to think critically before I went to UW.

Ironically, the commenter points out that no one understands that communism is very similar to fascism, yet fails to be able to tell the difference between communism and socialism. Also, half of your posting does not make sense, the other half is grammatically incorrect and is really just you talking about your reading habits. Give me a break…

*uck all this *hit! Did anyone catch the Colts and Steelers game on Monday night? The Indianapolis Colts are just to damn good. If they’re not winning it all this year, I don’t know who will? No one can stop their explosive offense. #1 pick of the “06” draft? Reggie Bush of USC. He’s is to damn exciting and explosive to watch. I told yall mutha fuckas to watch out for him during his freshmen year. And what did yall do, didn’t listen to me. And now everybody is on his nuts. Why are they on his nuts you ask? Because he’s the best damn football player in America. So let’s get our minds off these fascism and communism crap.