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The story of free speech on campus

Morning Update: Thursday, April 7

The story of free speech on campus

Happy Thursday, Madison!

The Milwaukee Brewers will kick off their 2022 season today in a matchup against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

April 7 is a historic day for the Brewers because on this day 52 years ago, the team played their first game ever against the California Angels in front of 37,237 fans.

Unfortunately, things didn't go too well for the team back in 1970. The Brewers lost, 12-0. Ope.

Here's to hoping today's game doesn't repeat history!

— Hayley

đź“Ł Free speech on campus.

🚌 More federal funds are headed to Wisconsin for transportation projects.

  • The state is set to receive more than $115 million in federal funding for transit projects this fiscal year. The funding comes from the $1 trillion infrastructure bill, which President Joe Biden signed into law in November.
  • As the Cap Times reports, Madison will get $12.5 million from the pot. Milwaukee will receive $32 million, Green Bay will get $3.4 million, and Appleton will receive just under $4 million.

🎻 What's new with the Madison Symphony Orchestra.

  • The Madison Symphony Orchestra (MSO) announced its 2022-23 season with a range of performances including a show from twin pianists Christina and Michelle Naughton, a performance of Rachmaninoff’s third piano concerto, and Beethoven’s ninth symphony. The season kicks off in September but you can get your subscription to the shows today.
  • This year, MSO is also welcoming a new executive director Robert A. Reed. Reed is a clarinet player with roots in Louisville, Kentucky. According to the Cap Times, he comes to Madison with decades of experience at symphonies in San Francisco, Buffalo, New York, Nashville, Louisville, and Corpus Christi.

🏥 As Covid-19 lingers, Madison hospitals are working to adjust.

  • The national nursing shortage, exacerbated by the global Covid-19 pandemic, continues to push hospitals to their limit and Wisconsin is no exception. The problem is a result of burnout, early retirements, and faculty shortages in nursing school programs.
  • SSM Health working to address this problem by getting creative in their hiring practices. The health care company has created a new position, titled "clinical support assistant," to help offload tasks from overworked nurses and nursing assistants.
  • UnityPoint Health-Meriter is offering monetary incentives for shifts considered “critical,” the State Journal reports. Additionally, the company is offering bonuses of up to $3,000 for nurses who refer other nurses. SSM also announced bonuses in January for nurses who choose to stay at their jobs for another year.
  • Related: Mayo Clinic doctors: Communities need to be vigilant as subvariant becomes more prevalent in Wisconsin (WPR)

🧪 Bill Nye is coming to town to talk about climate change.

  • Everyone's favorite Science Guy will be at the Khol Center April 25 as part of the Wisconsin Union Directorate’s Distinguished Lecture Series.
  • Nye was originally supposed to give his talk "Let’s Talk Climate Change” in April 2020, but we all know why that didn't happen.
  • The event is free but signing up for a general admission ticket is required. The Cap Times reports University of Wisconsin students can register for tickets starting April 11 at 10 a.m. Everyone else can register April 13 at 10 a.m. The event is also offering a virtual option, which you can register for today.

🍻 Have a drink, support Olbrich Gardens.

  • The folks at Starkweather Brewing and Olbrich Gardens have teamed up to brew something delicious — Calamondale Fruited Sour Ale. The drink uses nearly 60 pounds of Chinese Calamondin citrus fruit (harvested fresh from the Bolz Conservatory) along with citra and bergamot dry hops, which add a grapefruit flavor. Additionally, $1 from each pint sold will go to benefit Olbrich Garden.

đź’€ Your lunchtime read: The dogs of Science Hall.

  • From Tone Madison: "As one of the earliest buildings on the UW-Madison campus, Science Hall has experienced many of the indignities that accompany old age. [...] The scars are everywhere: doorways that have been bricked in, stairways that seem to lead nowhere, brick columns that poke out of the plaster... If the walls could speak they would probably just scream in agony."

đź“… Events: Thursday, April 7

Wondering what that 🟠 means? That symbol next to an event listing means that Tone Madison’s team of writers and editors recommends checking it out.

Plan your whole week with the help of our full events post here.

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