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Community rallies behind Madison school guard who lost job for using racial slur

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Teachers and students are rallying behind a high school security guard who was fired for saying the “n-word.”

Marlon Anderson is black, and admits he used the slur, but he was scolding a student for using it himself. He tells WKOW-TV he wants his job back.

“I believe that when God created me, he called me to work with kids. If you ever saw me, you’d probably be like ‘Yeah I agree, that guy’s silly’.”

Anderson says he has a strong bond with students at West High School.

“I love working with the kids, and the outpouring on social media lets me know that they see that and they love me back.”

The teacher’s union has filed a grievance, West High School students rallied in a Friday walk-out, and there’s an online petition to support Anderson. The school district says it has a zero-tolerance policy for employees who use racial slurs.

Report finds 1 in 4 women undergrads at UW report sexual assault

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A new report says one of every four undergraduate women at the University of Wisconsin in Madison say they’ve been sexually assaulted. The American Association of Universities heard from only about 20 percent of women at the University of Wisconsin’s flagship campus. Of those who responded, 26 percent reported unwanted sexual contact. That covers everything from being touched without consent — to sexual assault.

Chancellor Rebecca Blank writes that sexual assault numbers on her campus are “distressingly high.”

Non-Wisconsin freshman at UW at 25 year high

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Just barely half of freshman on the University of Wisconsin campus are home-grown. Fifty-point-three percent of the freshman class comes from Wisconsin high schools. The rest are from other states or other countries.

It’s the largest percentage of non-Wisconsin students in 25 years. UW officials say they’re not discriminating against in-state students, but out-of-state and international students are very attractive, since pay much higher tuition than students here at home.

State Patrol reminds drivers to stop for school bus red lights

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School is back in session, and the State Patrol is reminding you to stop when you see a school bus with its red lights on.

You might think that’s a no brainer, but D O T Spokesman Rob Miller says a lot of people just either don’t seem to care about stopping for buses, or are in too much of a hurry to wait.

“Last year in Wisconsin there were over 1000 traffic convictions for failure to stop for a school bus.”

Drivers must stop for stopped buses at all times, unless there’s a median or curb between them and the bus. Miller says failing to stop is not only dangerous to kids, it’s also pricey. 

“The citation for that totals 326 dollars, and also carries the potential of four demerit points against the person’s license.”

You can also get a ticket even if officers aren’t around, because bus drivers can report you to the police to follow up on a violation.

Have a Family Communication Plan this school year

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Send the kids to school with a Family Communication Plan. That’s a recommendation from Andrew Beckett with Wisconsin Emergency Management.

“A Family Communication Plan is very important, because it allows kids to have a list of emergency contact numbers so they know who to get in touch with, and how to get in conact with them in the event of an emergency.”

In addition to family members in the immediate area, there should be a contact for someone outside the area. And, “text first, talk later” is a good idea.
“Because a text message will almost always get through. It may not get through right away, it may be delayed a little bit, but you may have an easier time connecting through tex message than you would if you were to try and to place a voice call.”

Keep a copy of your emergency plan on file at your student’s school, and check out ReadyWisconsin’s website for sample communication plans. Beckett also says an emergency kit, with items like a flashlight, non-perishable food items and cash, is a great idea for college students.

Pulling ‘Nails” – UW landmark being removed

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A widely reviled landmark on the University of Wisconsin campus is going away. “Nails’ Tales,” a pile of footballs in roughly the shape of an Egyptian obelisk, has graced the south plaza near Camp Randall Stadium and the UW Fieldhouse for 14 years.

And for all those years, Badger fans have been more or less unanimous – they don’t like “Nails’ Tales.” Contractors began prepping the site on Monday, and according to a UW press release, the sculpture will be removed Wednesday and stored off-campus.

Even the foundation should be gone by the time the Badgers’ host Central Michigan for their home opener, September 7th. The removal is part of a larger plan to reconfigure the area.

UW reinstates Quintez Cephus

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Quintez Cephus WRN photo

Badger football player Quintez Cepuhs is again a student at UW Madison. The university announced Monday that Cephus has been reinstated, effective immediately. Cephus was acquitted of sexual assault charges earlier this month in Dane County Circuit Court.

A press release from the UW quotes Chancellor Rebecca Blank, who said her “decision is based on the availability of substantial new information” not brought out during an earlier review. Blank said she recognizes some people will disagree with the decision.

UW-MADISON STATEMENT ON QUINTEZ CEPHUS

UW-Madison has a responsibility to investigate allegations of sexual misconduct in a prompt and thorough manner, as directed by state and federal laws. The university applies its code of conduct impartially and consistently regardless of the identities of the individuals involved.

In the case of Quintez Cephus, this process functioned appropriately and in accordance with state and federal guidelines and proceeded based on the information available to UW-Madison at the time of the university’s investigation and hearing process.

UW-Madison obtained information following the criminal proceeding that was not provided to the university during the student conduct process. Chancellor Rebecca Blank conducted a review of this information and the petition for Quintez Cephus’ reinstatement as quickly as possible and in a complete and impartial manner.

As a result of this review, sanctions for Quintez Cephus have been reduced and his expulsion lifted. There were findings of responsibility of the student non-academic misconduct code that were upheld.

Mr. Cephus has been reinstated as a UW-Madison student, effective immediately.

“All three of the primary participants in this case are our students, and I know the past year has been painful for everyone involved,” said Blank. “My decision is based on the availability of substantial new information that wasn’t made available to us during the earlier process. I recognize that some will disagree with this decision.”

“To those in our community who have experienced sexual assault, I sincerely hope that there is nothing in this case that will deter you from coming forward for support,” she added. “Our university continues to be prepared to listen and respond.”

Monday’s announcement came one week after a press conference by Cephus’ trial attorneys, during which they pressured the UW to reach a  timely decision on his request for reinstatement.

Keep a close eye on your money for back-to-school shopping

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It’s back to school season, and that means shopping to get your student ready for the year. But be sure you’re getting exactly what you need.

State consumer protection administrator Michelle Reinen says it’s important to always check out exactly what you’re getting in a deal, especially on things like electronics.

“Reading the fine print or the details, if you will, to understand what it is you would be purchasing to see if you need all the bells and whistles that one product might include.”

You also want to be careful with buying the full list of school supplies from a school. You might have a number of those items left over from last year, or even from another child in your home.

“So being sure it doesn’t already exist in your household, or maybe some other family member has it from an older cousin or something.”

Reinen says many parents will turn to outlet stores to help buy clothes during school sales, but you need to keep a close eye on just what you’re getting. 

“You might think you’re getting a great deal on a jacket, but if you look at the outlet version of that jacket it may not have a full lining in it. It might only be in the body area, not in the arms.”

You can find more tips on back to school shopping online at http://datcp.wi.gov.

Mary Burke steps down from Madison school board

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Mary Burke PHOTO: WRN

A former Democratic candidate for Wisconsin governor announces she’s leaving public life. Mary Burke has been a member of the Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education for seven years. In a press release issued by the school district on Friday, Burke said personal and professional commitments do not allow her the time and energy needed to fulfill her term.

“I am proud of the progress we’ve made, and acknowledge the work still to be done.”

Burke is 60 years old, and did not say what she will do next. Burke lost to Scott Walker in the 2014 governor’s election. She used to be an executive at Trek Bicycle, her family’s company.

The School Board will discuss filling the vacant seat when it meets Monday night.

 

Key Evers veto increases per-pupil schools funding

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Wisconsin school districts could see more money, thanks to a veto by Governor Tony Evers. One of Evers’ 78 separate vetoes increases per-pupil aid by $87 million more dollars than the Republican-controlled Legislature approved. Evers on Wednesday called that “easily the most important veto that we had.”

It’s one that state Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald said was “a legitimate veto.”

“If there’s enough people upset by that, than obviously you could consider a veto override,” Fitzgerald said. “Hard for me to make that call today, whether or not a lot of legislators would fall into that category.”

Fitzgerald was unhappy, that the Wisconsin Association of School Boards publicly lobbied Evers on using his veto to increase that funding.
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