Univeristy of Wisconsin Madison
Recent News About Univeristy of Wisconsin Madison
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Commencement Profile: Chandra Chouhan's Work Amplifying South Asian Voices
Chandra Chouhan, a graduating student from the University of Wisconsin–Madison, has made significant strides in mobilizing South Asian voters through her organization, "Chup! Go Vote." Chouhan's upbringing in a politically engaged household inspired her to address the historically low voter turnout among South Asians in the U.S.In an interview, Chouhan shared her motivation, stating, "Growing up, a big part of my life was watching the news, talking about issues at the dinner table, and seeing my parents vote." She emphasized the nonpartisan nature of her organization,...
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Universities of Wisconsin President Addresses Enforcement Action at UW-Madison
Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman responded to the recent enforcement action at UW-Madison, emphasizing the institution's commitment to free speech and upholding the law. In a statement released today, Rothman stated, "The free exchange of ideas through open dialogue and debate is a hallmark of the Universities of Wisconsin. We support the First Amendment and the right to free expression – including through legal protest – and we continue to uphold these ideals, even in the face of difficult and competing demands."Rothman further expressed the university's...
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Wednesday UWPD Update on Library Mall Encampment
UWPD provided an update on the events that unfolded at Library Mall on Wednesday morning. According to the report, a total of 34 individuals were arrested, with a majority being released without citations. However, four individuals faced serious charges. Caleb A. Brown was charged with attempted disarming a police officer and resisting arrest, while Leo A. Randle was charged with battery to a police officer. Karl M. Schultz faced charges of battery to a police officer and resisting arrest, and Trevor H. Carter was charged with battery to a police officer.Regarding the law...
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Chancellor Mnookin Addresses Tent Encampment Situation at University of Wisconsin-Madison
Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin of the University of Wisconsin-Madison has provided an update regarding the recent events surrounding the tent encampment on Library Mall.In a message to the campus community, Chancellor Mnookin announced the clearance of the unlawful tent encampment by the University of Wisconsin Police Department in cooperation with partner law enforcement agencies. She emphasized that individuals present at the encampment were given opportunities to peacefully leave and avoid legal consequences. However, some protesters were cited, and others were...
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'Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body' Chosen as 2024-25 Go Big Read Book
Rebekah Taussig, a Kansas City writer and teacher with her doctorate in Creative Nonfiction and Disability Studies, has had her book "Sitting Pretty: The View from My Ordinary Resilient Disabled Body" selected as the 2024-25 Go Big Read book. Taussig, who has been paralyzed since the age of 3, felt a lack of representation of disability in mainstream media, leading her to create the Instagram account @sitting_pretty.Reflecting on her journey, Taussig shares, “I’d never considered disability an identity worth understanding, let alone worth celebrating, and I was pretty...
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Commencement: Meet two new grads
In a recent article published on May 1, 2024, it was highlighted that some students set to graduate at the upcoming spring commencement have already made significant contributions. Among them are Chandra Chouhan and Brelynn Bille.Chandra Chouhan was recognized for her role in founding "Chup! Go Vote," a nonpartisan civic organization with the aim of amplifying the voices of South Asians across America. On the other hand, Brelynn Bille was acknowledged for her leadership within the student coalition that successfully advocated for the establishment of a Disability Cultural...
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UW-Madison Physicist Francis Halzen Elected to National Academy of Sciences
University of Wisconsin–Madison physicist Francis Halzen has been elected to membership in the National Academy of Sciences. Halzen is one of 120 scientists elected this year in recognition of their distinguished and continuing achievements in original research, according to the academy’s announcement of the new members this week. Election to the academy is among the highest honors that a scientist can receive.A Vilas Research Professor and Gregory Breit Distinguished Professor of Physics, Halzen directs the UW–Madison Institute for Elementary Particle Physics Research...
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Wednesday evening update on Library Mall encampment
Chancellor Mnookin of UW–Madison provided an update on the situation at Library Mall following the clearing of an unlawful tent encampment by the University of Wisconsin Police Department. According to Chancellor Mnookin, "During the operation the morning, some protestors actively resisted officers’ efforts to clear tents, leading to 34 being briefly detained. Most were released without citation but four were booked into the Dane County Jail for acts that include battery to police officers."Despite the ongoing safety concerns, conditions on Library Mall were reported to...
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Photo gallery APIDA Heritage Month builds community through food and fellowship
The celebration of APIDA Heritage Month at the University of Wisconsin–Madison in April focused on the theme of “Ingredients, Identities, and Intersectionality,” highlighting the connection between food and identity within the APIDA community. The event emphasized the cultural diversity and richness present in the community.According to the APIDA Heritage Month Planning Committee, "Just as ingredients come together to create unique recipes, each individual within the APIDA community has a blend of different identities, enriching our collective experience."Events...
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Update from UW–Madison experts on bird flu spread
Following the recent spread of the bird flu virus to dairy herds across multiple states in the U.S., experts from the University of Wisconsin–Madison have been actively involved in monitoring and analyzing the situation. As the virus, identified as Type A H5N1, continues to pose challenges to both animal and human health, researchers are diligently working to understand its implications and mitigate potential risks.Keith Poulsen, Director of the Wisconsin Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, emphasized the importance of implementing measures to control the spread of the...
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81 Students Inducted into Phi Kappa Phi at UW-Madison
Phi Kappa Phi Chapter 021 at the University of Wisconsin–Madison welcomed a total of 81 students and 3 honorary members into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society this year. The 104th Phi Kappa Phi Induction Ceremony, featuring a keynote address by Professor Dietram Scheufele, was held on April 21 in Tripp Commons.In addition to the student inductees, three distinguished individuals from UW–Madison were granted honorary membership in the society. These include Professor Dietram Scheufele, Liza Chang, and Heather Mialik, who have made significant contributions to their...
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Experts Available for Interviews on H5N1
Experts from the University of Wisconsin–Madison are available for interviews regarding the spread of avian flu H5N1 to mammals, including cattle, and its presence in grocery store milk. Keith Poulsen, an expert in zoonotic disease, is tracking the highly pathogenic strain of avian influenza in dairy herds and can discuss the disease's spread and what Wisconsinites should watch for in their herds. Another expert, Thomas Friedrich, studies how viruses from animals could cross over to humans and is available to discuss the potential human risk from H5N1. David O’Connor, an...
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An Electrifying Discovery in Gene Therapy Delivery
Electrical engineering PhD student Yizhou Yao states, "What we started talking about was local, targeted delivery and whether there was a way of getting the treatment DNA directly into the liver without passing it through the entire body and triggering the immune system."PhD student Yizhou Yao, who led the research, comments, "Before this, the last time I used a microscope was in high school. It was quite a steep learning curve, learning to culture cells and carry out biology protocols. But I really enjoyed this project and liked its ultimate goal, which is to make the...
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Update on Monday Library Mall protest
The University of Wisconsin-Madison recently addressed a protest that took place on Monday at Library Mall. In a message posted at 7:15 p.m., campus leaders reaffirmed the institution's commitment to free expression and peaceful protest within the boundaries of state law and campus policies. Jennifer Mnookin, Chancellor of UW-Madison, along with other campus leaders, emphasized their support for protesters to exercise their First Amendment rights.In response to the protest, which involved the erection of several tents in violation of state law, campus representatives...
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Photo gallery Crazylegs racers embrace the day
Madison, Wisconsin - April 28, 2024 - More than 9,000 participants took part in the 42nd Annual Crazylegs Classic in Madison, embracing the sunny spring day as they ran through the University of Wisconsin (UW) campus. The event, which included an 8-kilometer run and a 2-mile walk, is a beloved tradition hosted by Wisconsin Athletics to support Badger athletics teams.Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin, serving as the grand marshal, enthusiastically cheered on the racers, including her husband, Joshua Foa Dienstag. The race, named after the legendary Elroy “Crazylegs” Hirsch, a...
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Campus protests: Rights and responsibilities
The Dean of Students, Christina Olstad, and UWPD Interim Chief, Brent Plisch, have delivered a message to the UW–Madison community emphasizing the importance of upholding rights and responsibilities during campus protests.In their message, Olstad highlighted the campus's commitment to promoting the free exchange of ideas through open dialogue, free inquiry, and healthy debate, stating, "A longstanding priority of our campus... is to promote the free exchange of ideas through open dialogue, free inquiry, and healthy and robust debate."Plisch echoed this sentiment,...
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168 students inducted into Phi Beta Kappa at University of Wisconsin-Madison
On April 13, 168 University of Wisconsin–Madison Letters & Science undergraduates were inducted into the prestigious academic society Phi Beta Kappa (ΦΒΚ). The ceremony, held at Varsity Hall in Union South, was attended by 350 individuals.The Phi Beta Kappa chapter at UW–Madison, established in 1899, aims to recognize students who delve deeply into the sciences, arts, and humanities. The event was marked by a procession led by L&S Dean Eric M. Wilcots and a welcome from Chapter President David W. Johnson.During the ceremony, Chancellor Jennifer L. Mnookin emphasized the...
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Popular Social Media Apps' AI Analysis of User Photos Introduces Bias and Errors
Digital privacy and security engineers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, led by Kassem Fawaz, have discovered concerning issues with the artificial intelligence-based systems utilized by popular social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The researchers found that these AI systems, which extract personal and demographic data from user images, can lead to misclassifications and introduce errors and biases into the platforms.The team's findings, to be presented at the IEEE Symposium on Security and Privacy in San Francisco in May 2024, shed light on the...
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Nanomaterial that Mimics Proteins Holds Promise for Treating Neurodegenerative Diseases
A newly developed nanomaterial that mimics the behavior of proteins could revolutionize the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS. The innovative research, published in the journal Advanced Materials, is a result of collaboration between scientists at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and nanomaterial engineers at Northwestern University.According to Jeffrey Johnson, a professor at the UW–Madison School of Pharmacy, the nanomaterial targets two key proteins in brain cells, Nrf2 and Keap1, to combat oxidative stress and...
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Evjue Chair, Hilldale professors named
Six members of the University of Wisconsin–Madison faculty have been honored with prestigious titles, with Michael Wagner appointed as the William T. Evjue Distinguished Chair for the Wisconsin Idea. The chair, established to recognize exceptional contributions to outreach and service, is named after the late William T. Evjue, founder of The Capital Times. Wagner, director of the Center for Communication and Civic Renewal, will focus his scholarship on the influence of news and political messages on individuals' beliefs and civic engagement.In addition to the Evjue...