U. Wisconsin top party school ranking invites mixed reviews

(U-WIRE) MADISON, Wis. ÷ As University of Wisconsin officials continue spending millions of dollars and hours trying to change the school's reputation as a party school, a recent survey conducted by Princeton Review makes it seem this unofficial title will never change.

In the popular student survey, UW was again listed in the top 20 party schools, down one notch from last year to No. 10. Among the other top rankings that concern some UW officials are "reefer madness," "lots of hard liquor" and "lots of beer."

While some students argue that these titles are what makes UW great, Don Zeigler, deputy director of A Matter of Degree for the American Medical Association, warns the consequences may be harmful.

"There's no question that the Princeton Review has been a great resource for years, but it's not scientific and legitimizes drinking on campus," he said.

"We don't need this problem glamorized by the Princeton Review."

Student set to plead insanity in mailbox pipe bombs trial

(U-WIRE) MADISON, Wis. ÷ Former University of Wisconsin-Stout student Luke Helder, accused of planting pipe bombs in mailboxes throughout the country, will plead insanity when he goes on trial Nov. 18, court records show.

Jane Kelly, Helder's lawyer, filed a notice of an insanity defense with Judge Mark Bennett and the U.S. District Court of the Northern District of Iowa. Kelly said she plans to use expert witnesses to testify to Helder's mental condition.

Helder is accused of depositing 18 pipe bombs in mailboxes in Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Colorado and Texas in early May. Six of the bombs exploded, injuring four letter carriers and two residents. He told officials he had been attempting to map out a smiley face.

The 21-year-old from Pine Island, Minn., also authored anti-government letters, including one sent to The Badger Herald which warned, "I will die / change in the end for this, but that's ok, hahaha paradise awaits!"

Helder faces charges in Illinois, Nebraska and Iowa. He was arrested May 7 outside Reno, Nev., and returned to Iowa May 10, where he remains in custody in the Linn County Jail. He is charged with using an explosive to damage personal property, which resulted in an injury to a person, and using a pipe bomb during a federal crime of violence.

Judges OK reading of Koran in lesson at U. North Carolina

(U-WIRE) MADISON, Wis. ÷ Being thrown into the national spotlight was the last thing incoming freshmen at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill expected when returning to campus to complete their summer reading assignment. But that's just what happened.

The assignment was to read a book about the Koran. The book, "Approaching the Koran: The Early Revelations," by Michael A. Sells, a professor of religion at Haverford College, was supposed to be a lesson in understanding a culture. To some, it was forced indoctrination.

A conservative Christian group is suing the university, saying the school is violating First Amendment rights. Another group, the Family Policy Network, accused the university of state-sponsored religion.

"I can't imagine [this constitutes] anything illegal," said Michael Apple, a professor of educational policy studies at the University of Wisconsin. "A lot of what is behind this is ultraconservative evangelicals who only believe God speaks to them. Had this been the Bible, they would have never objected."

In Richmond, Va., the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit agreed with Apple and upheld a lower court's ruling allowing the discussions to take place.