State sees little impact from Iraq troop increase

After President Bush’s Jan. 10 speech planning intense troop increases to Iraq, representatives from Wisconsin’s armed forces said they don’t see huge troop increases coming from the state.

“We don’t believe there will be any direct impact,” said Lt. Col. Tim Donovan, Wisconsin National Guard director of public affairs.

Donovan said the Wisconsin National Guard’s combat brigade came back within the last two months, and it is unlikely they will be sent back so soon. He said the combat brigade is what they need in Iraq now for the tasks at hand.

It has been those in the Reserve or the National Guard who have gone to war and joined the ranks of active duty soldiers, but recruiting efforts and recruits have remained steady despite the threat of being sent to war.

Currently incentives to join the armed forces include $65,000 in student loan repayment, $40,000 cash enlistment bonus and full tuition reimbursement while serving.

But regardless of current probability of getting sent to war, soldiers know it is a possibility.

“Every soldier has taken an oath to defend the Constitution and the American way of life,” said Pat Grobschmidt, public affairs director for the U.S. Army recruiting battalion Milwaukee. That includes going to war if called to duty.

Fake $50 bills found on East Side

Milwaukee police recently found several cases throughout the East Side of fake $50 bills altered from $5 bills, according to 5th District Community Liaison Officer Ray Robakowski.

In the cases recently reported on North Farwell Avenue, East Brady Street and East North Avenue, someone came into the store with a $50 bill and bought something of low value “so they can get the change and get out the door,” Robakowski said. Police would not be more specific about the incidents’ dates

Robakowski warns businesses that testing the bills with ultraviolet lights will not work because the bills are altered and not fake currency. According to Robakowski, the bills are washed $5 bills and easy to mistake for real $50 bills.

Police are uncertain of the money’s origin or the connection between the cases. The investigation has been turned over to the U.S. Secret Service for further scrutiny.

$150,000 moved from Union to Athletics

Interim Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Jim Hill answered questions about the reallocating of $150,000 from the Union to the Athletic Department at the Union Policy Board Meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 13.

Student Association President Samantha Prahl questioned Hill repeatedly on where exactly the money was coming from. Hill says that the reallocation was a “budget situation” and was not done at any costs to students.

“It’s not a student fee, it’s a fee resulting from contract negotiations,” Hill said.

According to a statement Hill read, the Athletic Department is getting the money to help alleviate a debt the Athletic Department has carried since the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee made the move to Division I. Hill said that the Union money being used came from the school’s beverage contract with Pepsi and that no student funds are involved in the transfer.

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