New Chancellor: A Blank Slate?

New Chancellor: A Blank Slate?

By now, you probably know that Rebecca Blank has been selected as the next Chancellor of UW-Madison. We here at North Park Street welcome her to campus and hope she will carry on the mission statement of our great University with a focus on bringing UW-Madison to even greater heights. It’s fair to suggest Blank [...]

Why Teach Black History Month? (responses requested)

I remember when Morgan Freeman called Black History Month “ridiculous.” I was surprised at the time, hearing a prominent black actor say such a thing, because it never occurred to me that black people might not actually be fans of Black History Month. After some thought, however, Mr. Freeman’s frustration made a lot of sense. [...]

On Learning to Be Wrong

Hello, long-lost friends. I’m sure the readership of NPS has been just dying to know what I’ve been up to and where I’ve been all this time (sassy backtalk not needed…). Where have I been… let’s see… getting my ass kicked by a bunch of 12 year olds. Writing this post almost feels like coming [...]

Breaking: Wendy Kopp to step aside as Teach For America CEO; will serve as board chair

Breaking: Wendy Kopp to step aside as Teach For America CEO; will serve as board chair

Yesterday, the Teach For America Board of Directors appointed the TFA President and COO as co-CEOs, effective March 1.  They will succeed TFA Wendy Kopp in this position who is will remain involved as Chairman of the Board and as CEO of the relatively new Teach For All organization of which she is a co-founder. [...]

Christian Hansen's campaign gives big middle finger to Madison unions as Resnick picks up AFSCME endorsement

Christian Hansen’s campaign gives big middle finger to Madison unions as Resnick picks up AFSCME endorsement

Yesterday, I received a tip from a North Park Street Observer about the issue. Christian Hansen was a NO SHOW to the AFSCME endorsement meeting. A tipster said about the ordeal: This is seen as a big fuck you to city employees and unions in Madison. Resnick won the AFSCME endorsement after losing it to Kyle Szarzynski [...]

Christian Hansen and Jonathan Dedering did not do their homework before jumping into District 8 race and they apparently have no ideas to support unions

Christian Hansen and Jonathan Dedering did not do their homework before jumping into District 8 race and they apparently have no ideas to support unions

Our last post on District 8 read like a piece from Slate or The Atlantic, but it was important to flesh out early campaign issues. While we are critical of some media coverage and Christian Hansen’s campaign team and tactics, perhaps worse is his policy agenda. 1. Hansen and Dedering did not do their homework [...]

District 8 opening post: The Isthmus exposed; Hansen campaign has no political soul

District 8 opening post: The Isthmus exposed; Hansen campaign has no political soul

It is no surprise this blog enthusiastically endorses Scott Resnick for another term as Alder of the 8th District in Madison. And it has been about 8 years since the District last saw a re-election campaign for what is notoriously the most prestigious “student” (and in some years, recent graduate) political seat of the downtown [...]

Nice Touch, Mission Creep and an ASM Committee Seeking a Purpose

Nice Touch, Mission Creep and an ASM Committee Seeking a Purpose

As UW-Madison begins a new semester, I write this post in hopes of more regular posting from our cadre of authors over the next few months. Over the next few months, there will be much to cover concerning our great University community – City Council elections (and particularly the District 8 campaign as District 8 [...]