gdp's Comments

North Park Street : A Koch Habit to Cost Students $10,000, Don't Cut ASM any SLAC

Wed, 7 Mar 2012 20:17:19 +0000

either way, the point is moot since UW Madison will not be direct members of USSA

North Park Street : A Koch Habit to Cost Students $10,000, Don't Cut ASM any SLAC

Wed, 7 Mar 2012 20:15:19 +0000

I did not say that they would coordinate with SLAP, only that they would be eligible for grants and other help, Whether or not they would use that would obviously be up to them.

North Park Street : UW Memes Contest: Submissions Needed!

Tue, 7 Feb 2012 21:52:58 +0000

Winner will receive a Babcock Hall Dairy Store cheese box!

North Park Street : Can a White person be African-American?

Sun, 5 Feb 2012 01:53:50 +0000

I've met a few black people who won't identify as an African-American. We have to realize that there are many different family histories in the US and one label doesn't work for everyone. For example, Obama was criticized early in his political career for not being "black" enough since he wasn't a descendent of slaves and couldn't relate to that shared history of many Americans. Found this on yahoo news today and thought it was relevant: http://news.yahoo.com/blacks-insist-im-not-africa...

North Park Street : Komen Denouncers: Why U Mad?

Fri, 3 Feb 2012 22:26:33 +0000

I was incredibly disappointed to see Planned Parenthood affiliates and supporters of both organizations call for a boycott of donations to Komen, and it will be incredibly disheartening if large donors put their own politics ahead of women and decide not to give to Komen simply for this reason. More and more, I'm feeling this was an attempt at Komen to gain money from pro-life people who had been withholding funds from Komen because they gave to PP (also wrong to do in my opinion). Komen choosing to give to other women's health orgs other than PP still meant the same amount of money going to women's health. People choosing to give less to women's health is not the same.

North Park Street : Komen Denouncers: Why U Mad?

Fri, 3 Feb 2012 21:15:36 +0000

Thanks Kristin for commenting. I used "slaktivists" because yes, many of the people who complained via twitter, facebook, etc are those that write online about it but dont donate to the causes they "support" or actually take part in any political activity behind them. This is true of every major news story, not just this one. Im not discounting yours or anyon'es right to be upset at a non-profit org for an action they take. Complaining about certain non-profit orgs has been a staple on this blog. However, in this case because of the outcomes of Komen's actions- more money for Komen, more money for Planned Parenthood, more people talking about and caring about women's health, I simply don't understand WHY you're upset.

North Park Street : Komen Denouncers: Why U Mad?

Fri, 3 Feb 2012 19:15:56 +0000

No, I think it's you who has missed the big picture, especially if you believe this was a win for anyone "anti-women." The total grant amount affexted was $680,000, or 0.7% of the total of Komen's grants, and 0.06% of Planned Parenthood's income. I focus on the money, because the money is what was cut. Komen never said they disagreed with the goals or practices of PP. This move doesn't stigmatize women's health at all. Like I said, this spurred a large number of pro-life acticvists to donate money to a well-respected women's health charity. If you think this is a bad thing, then you're the person putting politics ahead of all the women that will be served with this money. Additionally, do you truly believe that because of this move by a private organization that women in need will stop going to Planned Parenthood when they want services?

North Park Street : Screaming Eagles Fly High in Debate

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 20:14:01 +0000

Leave it to you Kurt to turn high school students into master debaters! :p Congrats to you and your teams!

North Park Street : Did ASM Appoint the Most Qualified Candidate?

Fri, 4 Nov 2011 12:51:46 +0000

In the past two years, Sam has devoted his life to ASM and to working for student's rights. Even though he did not get elected as a Freshman, Sam started working with the University Affairs, Leg Affairs, and Shared Gov Committees. In the first semester last year, Sam got the UW Libraries to do a study on the effects of extending Steenbock's hours to better serve Lakeshore students. Seeing a problem with ASM, Sam authored and aggressively fought for the Open Government Act, which made Student Council members more accountable for their actions and helped open ASM to ideas from outside the organization. On Legislative Affairs, Sam worked as the Vice Chair for state affairs. With Sarah, Sam led the educational efforts for the New Badger Partnership, setting up student forums, and gathering student and RSO feedback. Sam was the first to suggest a university wide committee on the NBP/Public Authority, and wrote the blueprint for how ASM should select students to sit on higher governance bodies. With Shared Gov, Sam spent DAYS scouring the UW archives in order to put together a history of shared governance on this campus and in the UW System. He wrote and championed Shared Gov bylaws that place student authority where it belongs according to 36.09(5). He started the Shared Gov Defense Fund, and as a member of Union Council, has been ensuring accountability in their building process. Along with his work with ASM, Sam has worked with state and national organizations. He served on the Board of Directors of United Council, where, as Chair of the Shared Gov Task Force, he spearheaded the creation of an Ad Hoc Committee on Institutional shared governance. He is currently working with other System Schools to ensure the adherence to Shared Gov implementation plans adopted decades ago. He also worked with the Financial Aid Task Force in creating policy papers on work study aid. Sam drafted a paper in support of Pell Grants that was used by the Association of Big Ten Students to lobby the United States Congress. Sam joined ABTS on this trip, and gained valuable experience and connections with staffers on the Hill. These are the major things that I could think of that Sam has done. Sam has from the start taken the initiative to search out issues affecting students and has found creative means for fixing problems. I have not exaggerated his work, in fact, in many cases I have probably downplayed it. Niko has done nothing but ineffectively run the Nominations Board, leaving it in confusion after he was removed for cheating during the elections. What issues has he worked on? What legislation has he helped write other than the one to put himself back in office? Sam is more qualified, has worked harder for students, and deserves the position more than Niko. Niko has spent a few months on Council, where he made it clear that he doesnt understand ASM's processes, disregards election rules, bylaws, and basic respect, and has not done any significant work to help out the student body at large. Oh wait, he did volunteer a bit for the bookswap. Give him a gold star, but not a seat on Council.

North Park Street : We are the One Percent

Wed, 2 Nov 2011 00:01:15 +0000

And that was the 1% of my day that I wish I had back. Congrats on the 60,000 hits! (this sadly being one of them)

North Park Street : ASM Budget: By the Numbers

Tue, 1 Nov 2011 15:48:15 +0000

Textbook swap saved students around $30,000 last year. $12,000 in the first semester alone.

North Park Street : ASM Constitutional Crisis Day 14 - Preliminary Budget Reactions

Wed, 26 Oct 2011 05:22:31 +0000

You know what, its fine. Keep the trainings from alumni in. I'll just work from San Francisco to get people I like elected, then they can pay me 10k to teach them Robert's Rules. I have a good thing going for me here!!!!! *rolls eyes* Staff are paid to give trainings. If you have ANY leadership ability whatsoever, you do what I did and nurture leadership skills in others that will be there when you're gone, and trust them to be able to handle trainings along with staff. If Student Council thinks they need to have this line in, then they have no faith in ASM staff, and no faith in themselves to be able to bring up leaders while they're there. Either that, or they're just looking to get their friends elected and make a quick $5,000 after graduation.

North Park Street : ASM Constitutional Crisis: Day 2

Fri, 14 Oct 2011 03:38:26 +0000

You know, it would be ONLY a student government, except they can effectively tax students, and make recommendations that cost each full time student over $1000 a year. SSFC has been doing a great job at this for a few years now, and those in charge of Student Council and MCSC are simply trying to help themselves and their friends by corrupt means. And they called LAST session corrupt.

North Park Street : ASM's Constitutional Crisis

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 07:35:18 +0000

Patrick doesnt think that, hes being sarcastic. sadly, however, current members of council have that mentality

North Park Street : ASM's Constitutional Crisis

Thu, 13 Oct 2011 05:13:46 +0000

Correction: 6 White males and one mixed male

North Park Street : Wisconsin Recall Election Results and Analysis

Tue, 16 Aug 2011 08:25:09 +0000

I was right in my assumption. Wisconsin Right to Life announced today that Senator Mary Lazich (R-New Berlin) and Representative Michelle Litjens (R-Oshkosh) will be bringing forward the Woman's Protection Act that will ban "web-cam" abortions, require that doctors ensure women arent being coerced into an abortion, require that an ultrasound be performed before an abortion, and place stronger restrictions on abortion clinics, including requiring that they be licensed for the procedure.. http://www.wrtl.org/pdf/2011%20Legislative%20Anal...

North Park Street : Warren Buffett wants more taxes!

Mon, 15 Aug 2011 22:24:57 +0000

The tax problem along with the class warfare and constant politicking around it could be mostly solved by a switch to a consumption tax such as the Fair Tax. With that system, businesses could know exactly how much in taxes they will have to pay, and wouldnt be at the mercy of the government every single budget cycle. This would remove a lot of the need for lobbying around "tax loopholes" since they wouldnt exist, and potentially could remove a lot of the Big Money Controlling Politics issues we have in this country. Also, if we all CHOSE to tithe 10% of our income (to the church or the poverty-related charity of your choice), we wouldnt have much of a need for large-scale, government-run social programs in this nation. If Warren Buffet and other rich folks would like to, they should write the IRS another large check up to the amount they are willing to pay in taxes. Not everyone truly has that luxury.

North Park Street : Wisconsin Recall Election Results and Analysis

Wed, 10 Aug 2011 15:34:32 +0000

No large-scale Pro-Life legislation has been passed. I expect that the legislature will attempt some things on the scale of what has been passed in many Republican controlled states this year (Kansas, Indiana, North Carolina) such as an attempted defunding of Planned Parenthood by proxy, a form of the Fetal Pain Bill, and extended wait periods between consultation and abortion. Wisconsin is filled with many Pro-Life Democrats (read: working class Catholics) and this type of legislation would only bolster support for the Governor if a recall was to occur by firing up his base. Those who would be extremely angry by this sort of legislation would most likely have gotten to the polls to vote him out anyway.

North Park Street : Former Campus Blogger Resumes in the City by the Bay

Sun, 7 Aug 2011 22:43:01 +0000

If you're going....to SAAAAN FRANNNNCISCOOOO...... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmyaDrAzq6o

North Park Street : Shit my Legislature Does: Rosa's Law in Wisconsin

Wed, 3 Aug 2011 00:40:19 +0000

This should be "Shit Adam Johnson Gets Done." Way to be man!