UW System Clipsheet

October 22, 2008

Note that some links may expire. If you need assistance with a specific article, please contact us at clipsheet@uwsa.edu

On Campus

"Campus long known for activism churns out few rallies," Capital Times, Oct. 22.

...Yet as active and enthusiastic as (UW-Madison freshman Mackenzie) Heinrichs is herself, she's frustrated by what she sees as a general apathy among her classmates toward important political issues -- especially the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan...Although students today rarely assemble in large numbers to protest and make their views known, some say it would nonetheless be a mistake to label younger people as politically apathetic...

"UW fundraising shaken," Badger Herald, Oct. 22.

With the stock market fluctuating daily and many people’s portfolios shaken, the University of Wisconsin and other nonprofit organizations are concerned whether money will continue to pour in from private donors. Even the university’s portfolios are taking a big hit as the endowment fund to date is down 20 percent or at least $300 million since the stock market’s started tumbling this fall, according to UW Foundation President Sandi Wilcox...

"UW asks programs to stay within budget despite soaring transportation expenses," Capital Times, Oct. 22.

When the University of Wisconsin athletic department started to set its 2008-09 budget about this time a year ago, officials knew they would have to adjust for the normal inflationary increases. But they didn't know the price of oil would skyrocket, sending travel costs upward with it. That means UW teams are operating under budgets that didn't take into account higher airline prices, including eye-opening cost increases for charter flights. But the message has been clear: Squeeze existing resources as best you can, because the budget is firm...

"UWS athletics score for local economy," Superior Telegram, Oct. 22.

Student-athletes and athletic staff at the University of Wisconsin-Superior spent approximately $1.9 million in the local economy in 2007-2008, according to a new economic impact study by two university employees...

"Officials pushing fire safety," Badger Herald, Oct. 22.

The University of Wisconsin, in partnership with the Madison Fire Department, will give students the ultimate hands-on experience in fire safety on Wednesday, which is Campus Safety Day. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on the lower third of Bascom Hill, students will be able to practice using hand-held fire extinguishers to put out miniature, controlled fires under the supervision of Madison Fire Department Community Education staff...

"UW-Stout forum to look at keeping food out of landfills," Leader-Telegram, Oct. 21.

Finding a use for organic waste rather than dumping it in a landfill will be discussed Thursday by city and Dunn County representatives, local business owners and UW-Stout officials. UW-Stout is hosting a forum to talk about the possibility of creating a regional composting network...

"Former UW-Parkside candidate indicted," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 22.

A federal grand jury in Louisville returned an indictment today charging the man who nearly became the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside with conspiracy to commit money laundering, mail fraud and conspiracy to defraud the Internal Revenue Service...

"Felner indicted for fraud in Kentucky," Kenosha News, Oct. 22.

Robert Felner – the original pick to take over as chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Parkside – was indicted today on 10 counts related to money he misspent on education grants...

"UWS, city partner in project funding," Superior Telegram, Oct. 22.

A partnership between the city and University of Wisconsin-Superior to fund campus construction earned the city council’s endorsement Tuesday night. The council approved a finding by the city’s Redevelopment Authority declaring portions of the campus as “blight,” which will allow the city to bond for ongoing construction projects...

"Name-the-eagle contest seeks student involvement," The Racquet, Oct. 22.

Since 1989, the UW-L Eagle has been the athletic and all around mascot for the university but up until now, as Director of UW-L Intercollegiate Athletics Joe Baker, explains "right now our mascot's first name is 'The'." In following the collegiate tradition of personifying the university mascot, like Madison's Bucky Badger and Minnesota's Goldie Gopher, the UW-L Athletics department is giving students, faculty, and staff the opportunity to name the beloved UW-L Eagle mascot...

National

"Survey: Students stop, slow degree work due to economy," Associated Press, Oct. 21.

The credit crunch has officially arrived on campus. In a new survey, private colleges report their students are finding it significantly harder to secure the private loans they need to pay tuition bills. More alarmingly, nearly half of colleges say some students have been forced to take time off or go part-time as a result. The survey, released Tuesday by the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, confirms anecdotal evidence that the federal financial aid system has held up reasonably well during the financial meltdown. But it paints a more troubling picture for students who need private loans to supplement their federal ones...

"For '09 grads, job prospects take a dive," Wall Street Journal, Oct. 22.

College seniors may have more trouble landing a job next spring than recent graduates, as employers trim their hiring outlooks in response to the slowing economy and financial-sector turmoil. Employers plan to hire just 1.3% more graduates in 2009 than they hired this year, according to a survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. That's the weakest outlook in six years and reflects a sharp recent downturn...

"College's attempt at fundraising gives alumni the blahs," USA Today, Oct. 21.

An attempt to reach younger donors with a breezily written letter that uses the word "blah" 137 times has some Framingham State College alumni questioning the school's professionalism, judgment and ... blah, blah, blah...

"Fulbright emphasizes diversity among its fellows," Chronicle of Higher Education, Oct. 22.

The Fulbright Program is one of the most successful fellowship programs around. About 1,500 students and 1,300 scholars from the United States and abroad are studying and working on Fulbrights this academic year...But the U.S. State Department, which oversees the program, has been concerned in recent years about the lack of diversity among American applicants. They have been, and still are, overwhelmingly white and from four-year institutions... (paid subscription required)

"Surprising impact of student loan crunch," Inside Higher Ed, Oct. 22.

Cries of financial distress from students unable to find private student loans have been relatively few and far between this fall, despite lots of newspaper headlines about a lack of availability of such loans. Interviews with many campus officials in recent weeks have indicated that while some campuses and students experienced delays in getting their money, and some borrowers were forced to pay more for their loans, few were deterred in any real way from pursuing their education...