HOCKEY2, PAGE0 6 08 ElVALLEYec VOTE,t PiAGEo 7 n IssVOuTER eGUIDE, PAGE 8 Falcon women begin UWRF campus television Candidate season Nov. 7 at stations to broadcast live information, polling Augsburg College election coverage locations & more TUDENTUNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN OICERIVER FALLS OSctober 31, 2008 www.uwrfvoice.com V Volume 95, Issue 7 Political clubs prepare as election looms Nathan Sparks [email protected] With the 2008 election in sight, UW-River Falls’ politi- cal clubs have been busy preparing for the big day. The College Republicans, College Democrats, the Union of Democratic Progressives and Rise Up for Women’s Rights all have their own plans lead- ing up to Nov. 4. College Republicans stu- dent contact Casie Kelley said in an e-mail interview that the organization is a marketing tool for the Republican Party on both the state and national levels. “In my group we do as much as possible with the lit- tle manpower we have to get out our information,” Kelley said. The College Republicans have also done literature drops in various communities near River Falls. Other activi- ties included “Running for McCain,” in which the club jogged around campus wear- ing shirts promoting McCain Sarah Schneider/Student Voice and one member representing UWRF College Democrats freshman Lee Monson and sophomore Charlie Guerin talk to an interested student Wednesday at their table in the the group on an episode of University Center. Other student political groups include the Socialist Alternative and the College Republicans, who also had a table set up Focus on U, a UWRF broad- throughout the week at the University Center in lieu of Election Day on Nov. 4. See page 8 for extensive coverage and a Voter Guide. cast news feature. Chair Thomas Friant said his which was the same thing three other students founded and plans to campaign for tion with pre-election plans is Finally, the College group was also hosting a table Sen. Russ Feingold talked the club this semester after Ralph Nader before Nov. 4 to Rise Up For Women’s Rights, Republicans had set up a table in the University Center from about when he visited the leaving the Socialist draw attention to his presi- advised by assistant English in the University Center to Oct. 29-31 to endorse campus on Oct. 27, Friant Alternative group. dential campaign. Other plans professor Greta Gaard. Co- inform people about Democratic candidate Barack said. The group meets “We thought we could bet- include two group discus- founder Teresa Pollock said Republican candidate John Obama. Wednesdays at 7 p.m. in the ter realize our ideals with a sions, one about alternative the group was started earlier McCain and his policies. The “Every week I would say we 1874 Room of the University new and fresh political organ- political parties and the other this year. group, which Kelley said has have anywhere from 15 to 30 Center and is advised by ization rather than trying to about reforming the current “I formed Rise Up for between 15 and 20 members, people at our meetings. Of political science professor work within Socialist voting system in the U.S. Women’s Rights with another is advised by business and course this is pre-election, so Davida Alperin. Alternative, which is part of a The group is advised by student, Nikki Shonoiki, who economics professor Brian that’s pretty high,” Friant said The Union of Democratic larger national organization,” economics professor Jackie is on the Diversity and Huffman and meets on in a telephone interview. Progressives is one of the Halverson said in an e-mail Brux and meets on Thursdays Women’s Initiatives Mondays at 7 p.m. in the St. The College Democrats newer campus organizations. interview. in the Resource Room of Committee on the Student Croix River Room of the have primarily been working Student contact for the group, The UDP emphasizes third- Davee Library. Senate,” Pollock said in an e- University Center. on getting votes for Obama, Alex Halverson, said he and party candidates and ideas, Another student organiza- College Democrats co- See Clubs page 3 University copes with change, Obama, McCain on higher education looks to fill 7 interim positions creates mixed feelings on campus secretary, said. “No one should expect that Lindsey Rykal viously served as dean of the before moving into the asso- Joy Stanton college students will get assistance from a College of Arts and Sciences. ciate dean position this [email protected] lindsey [email protected] McCain presidency—financial or otherwise.” Brad Caskey, who previously semester. Federal funding for higher education may Obama has proposed an American UW-River Falls currently was associate dean of CAS, is “The University is not not be on the forefront of either Sen. Barack Opportunity Tax Credit of $4,000 to make col- has seven senior administra- filling her position on an standing still while we are Obama or Sen. John McCain’s talking points, lege affordable. In order to receive the tax tors serving in interim roles interim basis. waiting to fill the positions,” but both of their platforms receive criticism credit, 100 hours of public service is required, while national Interim President of Mark Kinders, director of from all sides. according to Obama’s Web site. searches are either the UWRF public affairs, said. “We have Seventy-five percent of UW-River Falls stu- “I think this is a great plan to help students in progress or will Foundation Dan a strategic plan and we are dents use some type of federally funded finan- pay for college while giving back to their soon commence for McGinty previously acting on it.” cial aid according to the outgoing Financial communities at the same time,” Alexandra the campus leader- was alumni director. The changes in senior lead- Aid Director Sandra Oftedahl. Dorgan, a recruiter for Obama’s campaign sta- ship positions. IT Services Chief ership have no affect on the One issue that the presidential candidates tioned in River Falls, said in an e-mail. “The people we Information Officer direction and overall priori- agree on is that difficult federal aid process for Dale, director of legislative affairs for the have in place [as Lisa Wheeler has ties of the institution, which college needs to be simplified. Student Senate, said that although UWRF has interims] have a replaced Vice remain the same due to the The current free application for federal stu- one of the lowest tuition rates, he does not see long history with Chancellor for vision outlined in the strategic dent aid is eight pages long and contains over the trends of increasing fees changing. this institution,” Connie Foster Administration and plan, “Living the Promise.” 100 questions. “The Obama credit is necessary to keep this Interim Provost and Vice Finance Mary Halada since The plan is a five-year vision “You never feel like it’s done right,” Brian school accessible,” Dale said. Chancellor Terry Brown said. her retirement last week. emphasizing 10 operational Huffman, advisor for College Republicans, Obama’s tax credit requiring service does All individuals on the 13- Interim Dean and strate- said. “Hopefully there will be a movement for not sit well with Huffman, chair of the man- member Chancellor’s Cabinet of College of “The University is not gic func- change no matter who gets elected.” agement and marketing department, who have been at UWRF for more Education tions standing still while we If elected, McCain would like to simplify the called the idea fascist. than two years with a majori- and including higher education tax benefits, simplify federal “Service learning is another attempt to make ty of members having more Professional are waiting to fill the globaliza- financial aid, improve research by eliminating Hitler youth out of all of you,” Huffman said. than a decade of experience at Studies Faye positions. We have a tion, earmarks and fix the student lending pro- Alex Halverson, member of the Union of UWRF, Interim Chancellor Perkins start- diversity, strategic plan and we grams, according to his Web site. Democrat Progressives, said he looked into Connie Foster said. ed out in the sustain- “Sen. McCain wants to simplify the higher joining the Peace Corps, but found out that Foster joined UWRF as a health and are working on it.” ability education tax code because many families do one cannot say anything bad about the health and human perform- human per- Mark Kinders, and lead- not claim higher education tax credits,” Casie American government while serving. ance professor and subse- formance director of public affairs ership ini- Kelley, the student contact for the College “It seems ridiculous that you need to com- quently was college dean and department tiatives. Republicans, said in an e-mail interview. pletely support the government before you get interim provost before being and chaired it UWRF Beyond basic ideas, McCain has no solid the money for school,” he said. promoted to interim dean. for five years; Interim Dean remains a desirable destina- proposals. The government pays for Dale’s college When Foster became the of College of Business and tion for students. Fall enroll- “My guess is that [McCain’s] complete lack tuition because he is a medic in the 34th interim dean, Terry Brown Economics Brian Schultz ment was the largest in its of proposals means [higher education] is not a took over as interim provost served as the associate dean priority,” Matt Dale, the College Democrats and vice chancellor; she pre- for the economics department See Interim page 3 See Higher education page 3 Student Voice 2 NEWS October 31, 2008 VOICE SHORTS Students prepare to cast their ballot UWRF to broadcast election results UWRF Students in a digital film and television produc- Sara J.