Chancellor David Markee had a coronary artery bypass surgery on March 28.
“The last thing that I heard is that he is doing well,” Michael Viney, assistant chancellor of student affairs, said.

According to WebMD.com, coronary artery bypass surgery consists of using healthy blood vessels to create detours around narrowed or blocked arteries. Bypass surgery is usually [...]

Student Senate voted not to remove business manager Eric Hopfensperger a week after receiving notification of the intent to terminate and recall from Sen. Nathan Wait.

Photograph by Emily Yttri
Student Senate business manager Eric Hopfensperger views a projector screen displaying the terms of his disciplinary probation at the March 31 meeting. Hopfensperger was not recalled after [...]

Habitat for Humanity is sponsoring the poverty simulation Shantytown from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, April 3, at the Pioneer Student Center.
The UW-Platteville chapter is hoping to raise $1,000 towards building a house in Grant County, Megan Klemm, UW-Platteville Habitat for Humanity secretary, said. Ten organizations are expected to participate by building a [...]

On March 14, Gov. Jim Doyle signed a law that requires all hospitals in Wisconsin to provide rape victims with information about emergency contraception and dispense it at their request.
Typically, emergency contraceptives are given out when an assault or an error in the current method of birth control occurs, Vickie Dreessens, Student Health Services administrative [...]

The Society of Manufacturing Technologists held their annual raffle for the robotics team to raise money for two projects that will be entered in competitions.
Andy Karnick, an industrial studies major, won this year’s grand prize, a signed football by the now retired Brett Favre. Other prizes were bobblehead dolls, donated by the Milwaukee Brewers, and [...]

Sofia Carlos-Cuellar, a chemistry lecturer involved in a two-car collision on Feb. 4, has improved enough to be moved from Madison to Mercy Hospital in Dubuque for intense rehab.
Carlos-Cuellar had a hematoma in her brain, her husband Ramon Cuellar said. There was pressure on her brain and the doctors inserted a drain for a week [...]

Keeping concerns of voters close to hear, the League of Women Voters in Wisconsin tracks the concerns of their constituents with unbiased research.
Professor Scott Nikolai, political science and history professor, brought in lobbyist and executive director of the Wisconsin League, Andrea Kaminski, to talk about the organization.
Kaminski was brought in to explain what the organization [...]

UW-Platteville is looking into adding biomedical engineering as an option as a minor for students. A committee will go over the options and benefits of adding biomedical engineering as a minor.
The minor must be approved by the departments and college. The process of creating a minor takes a year or two to finalize.
David [...]

Student Senate business manager Eric Hopfensperger has been charged with failing to fulfill the duties of his position and to adhere to Senate ethics guidelines. He is facing the possibility of being recalled by the Senate.

Photograph by Exponent

Nathan Wait, senator from the College of Liberal Arts and Education, notified the rest of the Senate of [...]

Student Senate voted in favor of the proposed changes to Chapters 17 and 18 of the Wisconsin Administrative Code. If passed by the state Legislature, the changes will be put into effect for the Fall 2009 semester.
A review committee was set up in Spring 2007 to look into the chapters, Kyle Duerstein, a student member [...]

The UW-Platteville Athletic Hall of Fame committee is accepting nominations for people who have outstanding past or current coaching performances for 15 or more years, or outstanding performance in intercollegiate athletics with a graduation date 15 or more years previous to the current year.
John Krogman, associate vice-chancellor for information services and chair of the hall [...]

Graphic by Becky Ninneman

A large portion of Platteville and some surrounding areas were without power during the early hours of March 13, and it was the fault of a small mammal.
A raccoon near the town of Rewey shut down two substations serving Platteville, Alliant Energy spokesperson Steve Schultz said. The raccoon was on a kilovolt [...]

Madison is looking to raise prices at local bars in an effort to combat underage drinking by college students.
“I’m open to any kind of strategy to stop alcohol abuse,” Michael Viney, assistant chancellor for student affairs, said.
Alcohol issues are common among college campuses, regardless of location. The easiest way to offset the number of underage [...]

If the campus community has its say, UW-Platteville’s academic sector will be smoke-free.
The results of the campus-wide poll regarding a proposed smoking ban were released on March 10. According to the poll results, of the 2,130 people who voted, 69 percent were in favor of the ban. Chancellor David Markee will now make a final [...]

Student Health Services held their 14th-annual Wellness Fair on March 11, focusing on the seven dimensions of wellness.
“The theme for this year’s fair was the seven dimensions of wellness, creating a balance in your life,” Jean Schlueter, a nurse for Student Health Services, said. “Traditionally, we are just here to help when students get sick, [...]

Student Senate passed a resolution in favor of a proposal that would increase tuition at UW-Platteville by 1.6 percent for the 2008-09 academic year.
According to the proposal presented by Assistant Chancellor for Student Affairs Michael Viney, the money raised would help fund enhancements to the Writing Center, Tutoring Services, the Career Center and Counseling [...]

Changes to Wisconsin Administration Code Chapter 17 and 18 would give UW-Platteville the power to punish students for off-campus offenses if deemed severe enough. The Chancellor’s powers on campus are also being reconsidered in the proposed changes.
Postponed from the March 3 Student Senate meeting, the goal of the organization is to form a statement on [...]

Members of the UW-Platteville community will be able to cast their vote on the proposed smoking ban for the academic sector of campus.

The online poll is scheduled to run from midnight March 6 until 6 p.m. March 7. Members of the student body, faculty, academic staff and classified staff are all eligible to vote, Rich Egley, dean of students, said in an e-mail. According to the UW-P voting booth Web site, in order to participate, voters must have a UW-P user name and password. The online ballot can be found at uwplatt.edu/vote.

The committee has been publicizing the poll through the use of posters, notices on the Student Senate bulletin board, and a campus-wide e-mail sent by Egley. A second e-mail reminder will be sent on Thursday morning, Jeffrey Schwan, ad hoc committee chair, said.

The annual spring blood drive gives students a chance to give back to the community, and 554 units of blood were donated during the three-day event. This year also marked the 30th year for the American Red Cross to hold blood drives at UW-Platteville. In celebration of the anniversary, the Residence Hall Association gave away [...]

Filled with worldwide possibilities, the International Programs Fair brought study abroad programs into focus Feb. 28.
The fair showcased the possibilities for students to travel abroad, Donna Anderson, director of the Institute for Study Abroad, said. Students were able to talk to spokespersons from UW-La Crosse and UW-Stout as well.
UW-Platteville has a tie with [...]

For the first time, UW-Platteville is hosting a forensic camp for high school students. The Office of Continuing Education started the project.
“It’s designed to give students insight into the reality of crime scene investigation,” Aric Dutelle, forensic investigation professor, said. The Forensic Camp is meant to pique student’s interest in forensics and recruit them [...]

The UW-Platteville lecturer injured in a car collision Feb. 4 has been transferred out of intensive care.
Sophia Carlos-Cuellar, general chemistry lecturer for the College of Engineering, Mathematics, and Science, is showing progress and is now in the Neurology Wing of the University of Wisconsin Hospital in Madison.
“She’s on the road to recovery,” Ramon Cuellar, [...]

The UW-Platteville Foundation Phone-a-thon is getting ready to launch the Community Scholarship program again this spring. Their goal for this semester is to raise $1,250,000.
The community scholarship program funds scholarships to any student that is accepted into UW-P through their high school.
“Our goal is to eventually have a scholarship program set up in [...]

With tax season in full swing, an alternative is available for those dreading the paperwork.
Volunteer Income Tax Association is a program run by UW-Platteville accounting students who are licensed by the IRS. VITA is free of charge to low-income individuals making $39,000 or less. The service is not limited to just students, faculty and staff. [...]

On Jan. 31, the Internet failed in Asia, the Middle East and Africa due to undersea cables being damaged. Those areas experienced problems with their businesses, television and phone services. If similar damage occurred to the cable to Madison, causing it to be disabled, UW-Platteville has no back-up Internet connection.
UW-P doesn’t have a redundant connection, [...]

On Feb. 1 the Wisconsin Newspaper Association presented awards to collegiate journalists at the annual conference in Lake Delton at the Kalahari Resort.
Although unable to attend, former Exponent staff members Corey Nechkash and Craig Wild were awarded honorable mention recognition in graphics and photography, respectively.
Besides distributing awards, the conference provided students the ability to have [...]

Results from a survey done on Jan. 30 by the Business Industry Life Science and Agriculture Diversity and Equity Committee imply a need for better relationships and more open communication between minority and non-minority faculty and teaching academic staff.
Diversity is a big topic right now on campus, Annie Kinwa-Muzinga, assistant professor of agribusiness and committee [...]

Tyler Austin, left, and Kerry Siekierzynski score points in a bout tournament. The UW-P fencing club meets in Boebel Hall 211 from 5 to 8 p.m. every Tuesday.

Assistant chancellor for student affairs Michael Viney presented a differential tuition proposal to the UW-Platteville Student Senate Feb. 11. The proposal would cost students $150 over the course [...]

Charles Dreis works on a project during his Ceramics 1 class in the newly renovated Art Building.

The exterior of UW-Platteville’s Art Building hasn’t changed much since it was originally built in the 1940s. However, due to a recent renovation, the students that go inside have something to smile about.
“For someone who was familiar with the [...]

Due to winter weather, the UW-Platteville campus closed at 2 p.m. on Feb. 6. This is the first time campus has closed since 1973.
“At noon, we received word it wasn’t going to stop snowing until 6 p.m.,” Chancellor David Markee said. “If it would have only been snowing, we wouldn’t have closed campus, but the [...]

Three bars in downtown Platteville have changed hands. Dale Jacobs, owner of Brothers on Second and Players, purchased Roosters, Two Bucks and The Holiday from a group of four businessmen.
Included in the group are Scott Neuwoehner and Greg Prehm, owners of Da Vinci’s Ristorante & Pub in Dubuque. Neuwoehner and Prehm could not be reached [...]

Sofia Carlos-Cuellar, a UW-Platteville lecturer, remains in the hospital after she was involved in a two-car collision on Feb. 4.
“As of Monday morning, we received an e-mail that she had severe head trauma and is still unconscious,” Carol Sue Butts, vice chancellor, said. “She is in critical, but stable condition.”
On Feb. 7, Carlos-Cuellar’s sister, Anita [...]

Student Senate approved a motion to authorize a referendum regarding the UW-Platteville smoking policy. The vote will be non-binding, meaning the Senate’s decision would not have to be based on the referendum results.
“I don’t think it’s appropriate for us to authorize a binding referendum for this,” Eric Hopfensperger, Senate business manager, said. “You get an [...]

The Greek community at UW-Platteville is working to increase enrollment during Rush, an event that takes place during the first three to four weeks of this semester.
Rush is another form of recruitment, Abby Felix, Kappa Alpha Sigma sorority member, said. Rush is when a sorority or fraternity plans events that help people get to know [...]

Grant County Relay for Life participants are raising money for the third annual Daffodil Days by selling flowers.
Daffodil Days, a nationwide fundraiser that began over 30 years ago, is the oldest fundraiser sponsored by the American Cancer Society, Brittany Lee, American Cancer Society community relations representative, said.
“The idea to use daffodils was because it represents [...]

UW-Platteville’s Student Senate reopened discussion Monday on proposed changes to the campus smoking policy that were made Jan. 28. The Senate will vote on whether to put the proposed smoking ban on the academic sector of campus to a referendum at their next meeting Monday, Feb. 11. In addition to voting whether to call a referendum, the Senate will also consider whether to make the referendum vote binding or nonbinding. If the vote is binding, the Senate will go along with the campus’s decision. A nonbinding referendum allows Student Senate to make a decision independent of the campus, Frank Moullet, Student Senate president, said.

As of today, the Exponent can be found at a new Web address. The newspaper developed a new site unaffiliated with the UW-Platteville Web site. The new URL for the Web site is www.uwpexponent.org.
“We needed a new Web site for a long time,” Andrew Reuter, managing editor for the Exponent, said. “There are a lot [...]

The UW-Platteville Career Center is hosting the Spring 2008 Career Fair for students to find potential jobs after college. There will be two sessions for those who are interested in contacting potential employers and breaking into the business world.Diana Trendt, interim director for the Career Center, said the Career Fair is scheduled for 10 a.m. [...]

UW-Platteville faculty member Sofia Carlos-Cuellar was injured in a traffic collision at approximately 7:05 a.m. on Feb. 4 according to a Wisconsin State Patrol Press Release. Carlos-Cuellar is a lecturer of general chemistry for the College of Engineering, Mathematics and Science.
According to the State Patrol Press Release, Carlos-Cuellar was northbound on State Highway 80 when [...]

After a year and a half of renovation and construction costing $25.67 million, Ullsvik Hall is once again filled with students, staff and faculty.
The project began construction May 9, 2006, and has not been used since the summer of 2006 when the renovation project required that all services in the building be moved to other [...]