Category Society & Culture
More than a footnote: Remembering the life of William S. Noland, the first known Black graduate of UW–Madison
Noland, a member of the first Black family to establish permanent residence in Madison, received his UW degree on June 17, 1875.
When perseverance is the only option: Mabel Watson Raimey
Raimey is believed to have been the first African-American woman to graduate from UW–Madison. And that is just the beginning of her story.
Uncovering winter’s blanket
As we awake from winter and flirt with the warmer, snow-melting temperatures of early spring, let’s reflect on the found beauty of Mother Nature’s seasonal transitions.
New UW–Madison campaign highlights Badgers stepping up
A new UW–Madison campaign, “Can’t Stop a Badger”, explores the stories and people whose relentless drive are making Wisconsin – and the world – a better place.
UW alumna confirmed as ambassador to United Nations
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, who received a master’s degree from UW–Madison and maintains close ties to the university, has extensive experience navigating issues on the world stage.
20 million years of life lost to COVID-19
In heavily affected countries, the pandemic has surpassed influenza and traffic deaths in years of life cut short and is comparable to heart disease, says UW–Madison political scientist Adeline Lo.
UW–Madison UniverCity Year program to partner with four communities in 2021
The program links university resources with local knowledge to improve sustainability, resilience, livability, and the general well-being of Wisconsin communities.
Steven Wright’s ‘The Coyotes of Carthage’ depicts realities of race, money and politics
USA Today ranked the UW law and creative writing professor as one of “100 Black novelists and fiction writers you should read."
Search underway for new director of Division of the Arts
The director will help to shape and advance a collective, new vision for the division and its programs in alignment with the university's plans and direction.
Remembering Rachel Feldhay Brenner
Rachel Feldhay Brenner, the Elaine Marks WARF Professor of Jewish Studies at UW–Madison, died Feb. 4. Born in Poland, Brenner moved to Israel with her family before coming to Madison, where she became an internationally recognized scholar of Hebrew, Polish and Canadian literatures.
UW–Madison launches new online degrees in business and marketplace studies through UW–Madison Online
UW–Madison Online is adding four more degrees in an ongoing effort to increase access for nontraditional students and meet demands of employers across the state and beyond.
Going after winter — with an axe
Participants learned how to use ice climbing equipment during a Wisconsin Union Winter Carnival event presented by the Hoofers Mountaineering Club on Feb. 5.
UW–Madison Arboretum designated a National Historic Landmark
The designation is based on the Arboretum’s pioneering work in restoration ecology, its place in the history of conservation, and its commitment to Aldo Leopold’s land ethic.
New Badger Precollege programs offer enrichment, community-building, college readiness for youth
Badger Precollege is ramping up for an all-online summer 2021, revising options and ready to offer an array of programs for a wider diversity of students — from advanced learning and STEM classes to music clinics and college readiness programs.
A big-time installation
Worker used a gantry earlier this month to guide a 15-foot wide painting into place at the Chazen Museum of Art. The 1971 acrylic painting called "Danse Élanse" by artist Jean Dubuffet can now be seen on a wall of the main lobby.
Collaborative effort will look at ways to enhance campus response to mental health crises
The primary goal is to further ensure the well-being and safety of students, de-escalate potentially high-stress situations, and promote a shared commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.
‘Caste’ author Isabel Wilkerson to headline MLK Symposium
“Isabel Wilkerson is a distinguished author with writings that synthesize history and personal narratives to help our generation consider the implications of a system of oppression and racism,” says Cheryl Gittens, interim deputy vice chancellor for diversity and inclusion and chief diversity officer.
UW researchers develop tool to equitably distribute limited vaccines
The School of Medicine and Public Health and UW Health have developed a tool that incorporates age and socioeconomic status to prioritize vaccine distribution among people who otherwise share similar risks due to their jobs.
Sociologist battles inequities in artificial intelligence
Alumna Alex Hanna is a research scientist on Google’s Ethical AI Team, which focuses on responsible artificial intelligence systems. “There’s a very strong chance that those data are exacerbating existing race, gender, and class inequalities,” she says.
Embracing the cold, dark winter
Instead of complaining about the long, cold midwinter nights, a group of enthusiastic hikers have been embracing them, joining a series of socially distanced nature hikes sponsored by Outdoor UW.