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Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Student representatives reveal secession plan New committee to address StateLangdon issues By Abby Sears THE DAILY CARDINAL
Representatives from the State and Langdon Street neighborhood formally presented a plan to separate from a downtown neighborhood association at an executive body meeting Tuesday. Jessica Pavlic, chair of the State-Langdon neighborhood, said the area was considering seceding from Capitol Neighborhoods, Inc. in order to pursue the creation of a campus-wide neighborhood association. “There’s this disconnect between State-Langdon and the campus as a whole,” Pavlic said. “Through my experience in talking to students, the biggest pro I saw from this is having an entire student neighborhood incorporat-
ing the entire campus.” A CNI panel discussion on downtown drinking in January yielded many student complaints about CNI’s suggestions of stricter alcohol policies, according to Ald. Eli Judge, District 8. The StateLangdon neighborhood falls within the District 8 boundaries. Despite student disapproval, Pete Ostlind, chair of the Bassett District, said CNI presented the policies as strategies to address alcohol problems throughout the downtown community. Ostlind said the proposal is intended to target unwanted behavior, not students. The suggestions hampered CNI’s image among students and made them reluctant to become active in the association, according to Mikaela Louie, student member of CNI’s executive body. “I think that now that this alcohol issue has been brought forward, it’s kind of tainted the students’ idea of CNI, so trying to get more students involved in
the State-Langdon district might be harder if we are associated with CNI,” Louie said. The goal of a campus neighborhood association would be to encourage more student participation in residential and city matters, according to State-Langdon representatives. CNI vice president Bob Holloway said the association’s bylaws do not detail how to handle secessions, but encouraged further discussion prior to an official separation. Ultimately, the CNI executive body voted to create a subcommittee of interested members to address the secession possibility and issues related to organizing a campus neighborhood association. Both CNI members and State-Langdon representatives agreed to work closely and maintain communication throughout the process. “‘Us’ and ‘them’ is not going to get any of us any place constructive … we can do this together,” Holloway said.
Touring duo address conflict in Middle East By Caitlin Gath THE DAILY CARDINAL
Reza Aslan, an internationally acclaimed writer, and Gideon Yago, a former MTV news correspondent, stressed the importance of addressing the crisis in the Middle East to UW-Madison students at the Memorial Union Tuesday evening. Aslan and Yago are currently touring college campuses to speak on the intersection of faith, politics and society in the Middle East. “It fundamentally comes down to the War on Terror and the demand on campus for people to hear different perspectives, different stories, different experiences of what the war actually is,” Yago said. Aslan and Yago both answered audience questions, first from a moderator, then from members of the audience. While Aslan and Yago came from similar philosophical backgrounds, they were able to offer differing viewpoints on some of the questions. “We enjoy doing this together,” Aslan said of touring with Yago. “We complement each other very well and we’re the best of friends.” Yago and Aslan agreed the current events in the Middle East are a serious and pending problem. According to Yago, students— the future political, religious and social leaders—will be the ones faced with the consequences.
CECILIA CONWAY/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Writer Reza Aslan and former MTV correspondent Gideon Yago speak about students’ diverse viewpoints on Middle East issues. Aslan said awareness is much more important than students give it credit for.
“More than anything else that university students can learn is how to be global citizens.” Reza Aslan writer
“You can’t have action without understanding,” Aslan said. “If nothing else, when you walk away today and do nothing, at least you have broadened your perspective. You were given the opportunity to hear that every-
thing you hear in the media may not be correct.” According to Aslan, the United States is stuck in a war it cannot continue but cannot leave. Yago said regardless of this unyielding U.S. diplomacy, he still has expectations for the future. “I don’t think war is the natural pose of humanity … [but] peace is something you have to create,” Yago said. “A globalized perspective … is the only hope we have.” Aslan agreed. “More than anything else that university students can learn is how to be global citizens,” Aslan said. “That in and of itself portends a very positive future for us.”
CHRISTOPHER GUESS/THE DAILY CARDINAL
The Chairman of the Democratic Party, Howard Dean, advocates for Democrats to target voters more precisely in the next election.
Dean calls for new Dem. election strategy in 2008 By Sara Lieburn THE DAILY CARDINAL
Democratic Party National Committee Chairman Howard Dean held a rally at the Majestic Theatre in Madison Tuesday, and said Democrats need to reevaluate how to win elections. Dean, joined by Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton, and Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Joe Wineke, addressed the November elections and their party’s efforts to ensure Democratic wins at the state and national level. According to Dean, the efforts of the Democrats need to come from a grassroots level. He encouraged individuals to speak to neighbors and co-workers on the importance
of voting for the Democratic Party. Dean said the Republicans have used such grassroots strategy, along with studies on how to precisely target Republican voters, to win elections for over 15 years. He said the Democratic Party is now taking similar action. “The Republican Party is completely incompetent in terms of running the country, but they do know how to win elections,” Dean said. According to Dean, these efforts will increase percentages of voters enough to influence the results in November. Cieslewicz and Lawton addressed the debate among Democrats dean page 3
UW student receives Truman Scholarship By Grace Kim THE DAILY CARDINAL
A UW-Madison undergraduate became the 16th UW-Madison student Monday to win a prestigious Truman Scholarship. The Truman Foundation honored Jeffrey Wright, a UW-Madison senior doublemajoring in political science and international studies, with a $30,000 WRIGHT grant for graduate studies in any field. The Truman Foundation, named after former president Harry Truman, honors students who plan to have a career in public service through the government, a non-
profit sector or education. Wright said he looks forward to representing the university. “It’s truly exciting and I’m just so honored to be among very bright students and alumni who received the scholarship,” Wright said. With a great interest in politics, human rights and public service, Wright said he has been pursuing his goals by involving himself in the service and leadership at UW-Madison. He has served as chair of the Associated Students of Madison’s Shared Governance Committee, conversational English volunteer in Greater University Tutoring Service, staff editor for Wisconsin Undergraduate Journals of International Studies and a member of the faculty honors committee. scholarship page 3
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”