‘MILK’ ONLY A LUKEWARM BIOPIC
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A solid production overall, ‘Milk’ doesn’t stand out among other films in its genre.
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100-0: A case of poor sportsmanship or playing the game with honor and integrity?
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dailycardinal.com
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
UW’s Acacia house renovations put on hold By Rebecca Holland THE DAILY CARDINAL
LORENZO ZEMELLA/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Amira Hanania, journalist for the Ma’an News Agency, spoke to dozens of UW-Madison community members Monday about her experience as a Palestinian reporter.
Palestinian reporter shares difficult story By Grace Kim THE DAILY CARDINAL
UW-Madison students and faculty members gathered in the Wisconsin Union Theatre Monday to listen to Amira Hanania’s experience as a Palestinian reporter. According to Hanania, the Ma’an News Agency is the only independent news network in the Palestinian territories that advocates both sides of the IsraeliPalestinian conflict free from any political power. Hanania, who challenges western stereotypes of Palestinian political opinion, said the Israeli-Palestinian issue is a political conflict but it also presents a problem for journalists who want to report against government-sponsored propaganda. Hanania spoke of her expectations for President Obama, saying there is a need for mutual respect for a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “I really believe that Israeli government and other people change their attitudes toward Palestinians.
It will not be easy. It will be hard as anything in history,” Hanania said. “We have so much hope that Barack Obama can make a change … we are excited for the future but we are also worried.” “As a future leader, you have to support the lives of all the people ... regardless of what politicians say.” Amira Hanania Palestinian journalist
Before the lecture began, directors of the lecture displayed Live from Bethlehem, a documentary film about the difficult situations of Ma’an. Michael Curtin, professor of communication art and director of global societies, said the documentary, which portrays Hanania as a subject, is “remarkable” because it deals with the management of
governments, partisanship as well as the demanding tasks of video production. “The video focuses on people who confront the challenges every day working for the Ma’an … news service in a very complicated and contentious environment,” Curtin said. In addition, Hanania encouraged all UW-Madison students to think about the ways to prevent war in Gaza and conflict between Palestine and Israel. “As a future leader, you have to support the lives of all the people, especially people who have faced the challenge for so long, regardless of what politicians say,” Hanania said. “This is what you should look forward in your leader and this is what you should be when you become a leader.” The next lecture in the Distinguished Lecture Series will take place Feb. 2 with the guest speaker Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium and host of the PBS magazine “NOVA Science now.”
UW administrators respond to Iowa senator UW System President Kevin Reilly and UW-Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin responded to an Iowa senator Monday about conflict-ofinterest policies at the UW School of Medicine and Public Health. Sen. George Grassley, R-Iowa, wrote to university officials Jan. 12, citing his distress over rules for conflict of interest among physicians. In the letter, Martin and Reilly mentioned the contro-
versy over Dr. Thomas Zdeblick receiving over $19 million in royalties from Medtronic, a medical-device company based in Minneapolis, Minn. The administrators said several changes are being made to address the concerns of both Sen. Grassley and Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wisconsin. According to Martin and Reilly, Zdeblick did not break any uni-
versity rules while inventing the new medical technology, stating, “he has been operating under the terms of a management plan developed by the Conflict of Interest Committee, also consistent with University policy.” Kohl and Grassley established the Physician Payments Sunshine Act of 2009 Jan. 22. If passed, the act would require manufacturers to report payments to physicians.
A proposal for extensive renovations to UW-Madison’s Acacia fraternity house met a tied vote Monday night at the City of Madison Plan Commission meeting, and may go to the Common Council for further review. The Langdon Street fraternity house has been working with the Alexander Company to transform the upper levels of the 81-year-old house into apartments, as well as build an additional four-story apartment building in the parking lot. Together, these buildings would be completed for leasing in August 2009 and are to be called Vesta Apartments. Dan Peterson, communications director for Alexander Company, said the house was in need of some repairs, which would be completed at the same time as the new building. “It’s a fraternity house, so it’s quite old and it’s quite beat up,” Peterson
said. “The same amenities that are going to be included in the new apartments are going to be in the existing house as well.” The new building would also have a lower parking garage and outdoor parking for mopeds and bicycles. Opponents to the renovations claim undesirable aesthetics ruin the charm of the neighborhood, and the size of the building hinders a small walkway from Langdon Street to the lake. Alderwoman Lauren Cnare, District 3, said her main concern was, “lack of useable, open space.” The Alexander Company argues that it is within the guidelines of the Urban Design Commission, and has already made revisions to the plan. Further, they maintain that space at the apartment buildings is unnecessary, as this is an area of lots of widely used communal space, including State Street and Memorial Union.
RESTAURANT EEK Eat classy on a student budget. During Restaurant Week, participating restaurants will offer three special, fixed-price, three-course menus for just $25 per person (beverages, tax and gratuity not included). Some restaurants are also offering a three-course lunch menu for $15 in addition to the dinner special. To see which restaurants are participating and for more information, visit
madisonmagazine.com/winterrestaurantweek.
PICK OF THE DAY Capitol Chophouse
KYLE BURSAW/THE DAILY CARDINAL
A main course of New York strip steak with Idaho baked potato. Boasting the greeting, “Recovering vegetarians welcome,” Capitol Chophouse, 9 E. Wilson St., Capitol Chophouse handpicks the best cuts of meat from local suppliers and flies in the freshest seafood to ensure freshness and amazing quality. For lunch, warm up with an appitizer Capitol chowder, or keep it light with a field green salad or the Capitol chop salad. Main entrees include a grilled pork tenderloin sandwich with red wine reduction, grilled chicken bruschetta topped with fresh mozzarella, tomatoes and asiago cheese.
Vegetarians, enjoy a portobel lo panini topped with black olive tepenade and goat cheese. Just because it’s lunch doesn’t mean skimping on dessert. Indulge in a chocolate terrine, banana bread pudding or harvest carrot cake. For dinner, enjoy a mini shellfish sampler or wedge salad with steak and potato or seared scallops. To learn more about Capitol Chophouse, visit chophouse411. com/capitol. Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner from 5 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. To make reservations, call 608255-0165.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”