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Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Sellery Hall robberies raise safety concerns By Erin Banco THE DAILY CARDINAL
CHRISTOPHER GUESS/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, and Madison Police Department Central District Captain Mary Schauf remind students to be cautious and lock windows and doors during the May 3 Mifflin Street Block Party.
Mifflin music rules stand By Evan Hall THE DAILY CARDINAL
With the Mifflin Street Block Party just days away, Madison officials reiterated ground rules for the festivities at a neighborhood meeting Tuesday. Students packed the Madison Senior Center to voice questions and concerns of their own, many focusing on a crackdown on noise violations. UW-Madison junior Tom Wangard presented a petition with some 150 signatures from Mifflin residents asking for more reasonable limits on noise violations, but city officials did not budge, saying they had already made concessions to keep the noise level as high as it is. “My biggest concern is the ability to communicate safety both for
my staff and improving the overall safety of this event,” Madison Police Department Central District Captain Mary Schauf said. “You don’t have a right to have your music override your neighbors.” Schauf also emphasized the need for students to take responsibility for their guests. “You have some ownership for the safety of the people who come to your residence to party with you,” Schauf said. “Our biggest priority concern is the safety not only for you, for your property, but for all these people that are attending this event.” Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, who organized the meeting, echoed Schauf’s appeal for accountability and cooperation. Verveer recommended
James Thomson elected to society with highest honors By Erin Banco THE DAILY CARDINAL
Members from the National Academy of Sciences elected UW-Madison stem-cell researcher, WARF member and anatomy professor James Thomson into the society Tuesday. Seventy-two other competitive scientists were selected to join the group along with Thomson. The NAS is a society of scholars who dedicate themselves to helping the future of science, technology and engineering research. More than 200 of its 2,100 members are Nobel Peace Prize winners. According to WARF Managing Director Carl Gulbrandsen, Thomson is a pioneer in his field and was the first to successfully culture and maintain human embryonic stem cells. “He is really the reason why UW-Madison is the center of the universe for stem-cell research,” Gulbrandsen said. Thomson’s lab is involved in producing the first completely defined medium that did not
have other species’ proteins in it. They focus on the study of embryonic stem cells in general and how it is possible for stem cells to replicate any type of cell in the body. Last year, Thomson THOMSON and Junying Yu discovered the genetic reprogramming of human skin-cells. Earlier this year, Thomson was appointed director of regenerative biology at the Morgridge Institute for Research. Gulbrandsen said the distinction of being invited to the NAS is long overdue but well deserved. Scientists from a large spectrum of fields recognize Thomson’s research. “He is in the top echelon of having citations to his papers,” Gulbrandsen said. “He is brilliant, a very focused individual and committed researcher.”
students lock doors and windows and be aware of who their guests are whenever possible. “We can expect thousands and thousands of people to descend on your neighborhood on Saturday,” Verveer said. “Unfortunately a very small percent will be there to commit crimes of opportunity.” Madison Fire Marshal Ed Ruckriegel laid out a number of recommendations for keeping one’s property and home safe during the block party, including avoiding grills and bonfires. Ruckriegel warned especially against overcrowding balconies, which he said are prone to collapse. If parties grow out of control,
After several separate incidents over the weekend at Sellery Hall, officials reminded residents to lock their doors and take caution while walking at night. According to Sellery Hall Area Coordinator James Franzone, two Sellery Hall residents were harassed by an individual in the ally near the Double Tree Hotel last weekend. One of the victims’ bags was stolen and they left the scene with bruises to the head. That same night in a separate incident, two other Sellery residents had more than $2,000 worth of possessions stolen. The items taken include a laptop, iPod and digital camera. The residents left their door unlocked at night and the individual stole their possessions while
they were sleeping, according to Franzone. “We have camera footage on the first floor, for every exit of the building,” Franzone said. “We have requested that camera footage so that we can view it between the time frame of when they went to bed and when they got up.” With the recent violence on campus, dorm officials are re-evaluating their strategies for safety. Franzone said that it is a constant process to ensure dorm officials do everything possible in terms of securing the facility. “We have implemented things like the automatic locks on the doors, the keys to get up into the stairwells and to get to a floor from the elevators,” he said. sellery page 3
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The University of WisconsinMadison’s Student Tenant Union names ‘Worst House in Madison’ Apartment at 617 Mendota Ct. “wins” title for safety concerns, management issues
KYLE BURSAW/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Most young residents worry about state economy, poll says
Members of the Wisconsin Alumni Student Board give away free pizza for “Wear red, get fed” Tuesday, a postponed All-Campus Party event.
First ‘State of Black Madison’ report shows racial disparities in city
Court ruling favors state voter-ID bill
Madison students, residents receive information about first-time real estate purchases
By Lance Janssen THE DAILY CARDINAL
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Monday that a law requiring photo identification to vote is constitutional, stirring calls for such a law in Wisconsin. Advocates for a voter-ID bill in the Republican-controlled Assembly have stated it is needed to stop voter fraud. Michael Pyritz, spokesperson for state Rep. Jeff Stone, RGreendale, said Stone first heard questions and concerns about voting issues in 2000. Stone
authored a voter identification bill in the previous legislative session. According to Pyritz, voters would feel more confident in the legitimacy of elections with such a law, along with a faster voting process. However, Carrie Lynch, spokesperson for state Sen. Russ Decker, D-Weston, said mandatory voter photo identification would decrease the number of voters using same-day registration. voters 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.”