Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
Calling on UW-Madison Administrators to make changes to the ‘Smart Restart’ Plan.
Body
WHEREAS, coronavirus (COVID-19) has infected millions worldwide, over six million in the US, and nearly 9,000 in the Madison community; and,
WHEREAS, the University of Wisconsin - Madison, is a highly accredited research institution founded in Madison in 1848; and,
WHEREAS, the University of Wisconsin - Madison promotes the Wisconsin Idea; a belief that education should influence people’s lives beyond the boundaries of the classroom; and,
WHEREAS, the University of Wisconsin - Madison has a fiduciary responsibility to protect the health and promote the wellbeing of Madison-area residents; and,
WHEREAS, WI Statute 62.11(5) directs that “the council...shall have power to act for the government and good order of the city, for its commercial benefit, and for the health, safety, and welfare of the public”,
WHEREAS, on June 17th, 2020, Chancellor Rebecca Blank, sent a university-wide communication titled ‘Planning a Smart Restart for UW-Madison,’ which indicated an executive decision to welcome students back on campus; and,
WHEREAS, on August 24th, more than a third of the Dane County Board of Supervisors and nearly half of the Madison City Council signed a letter demanding virtual learning and public disclosure of COVID-19 metrics; and,
WHEREAS, August 26th, 2020 was the first-day having university students on-campus; and,
WHEREAS, on August 27th, 2020, Public Health Madison & Dane County reported a record spike of 84 cases in one day; and,
WHEREAS, on September 4th, 2020, the Associated Students of Madison, the official student government on campus, released a statement in support of a Moral Restart; and,
WHEREAS, on September 9th, 2020, the University of Wisconsin - Madison reported a record-high 290 new positive cases in one day; and,
WHEREAS, on September 9th, 2020, the University of Wisconsin - Madison decl...
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