https://wiki.math.wisc.edu/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=Johnsonm&feedformat=atomUW-Math Wiki - User contributions [en]2024-03-29T11:37:04ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.39.5https://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Guide&diff=5387Graduate Student Guide2013-06-10T15:57:46Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Stuff your landlord might not tell you */</p>
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<div>[[Image:Exams.png|400px|right | Grading Exams in the Lounge]]<br />
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= Food =<br />
<br />
There are many ethnic and interesting restaurants in Madison – Indonesian, African, Italian, Himalayan, Laotian, Peruvian, Mexican, Bakeries, Brew Pubs, Coffee Joints, you name it -- and everyone has their favorites.<br />
<br />
The biggest resource for finding food (and entertainment!) in Madison is probably the [http://www.thedailypage.com/eats/ Daily Page] (the online version of our local paper, the Isthmus), where you can search local restaurants by name, locality, and cuisine. There, they have reviews, hours, contact info, pricing, etc. Be sure to peruse their [http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Restaurants Madison's Favorites] section for some quick tips! Of course [http://www.yelp.com/ yelp] is always useful as well. At one point a couple spent a few years trying to sample every restaurant in Madison and blogged about their journey on the [http://www.madisonatoz.com/ Madison A to Z].<br />
<br />
Here are some general food facts:<br />
<br />
== Campus Food ==<br />
*Food Carts: Open for lunch in Library Mall at the foot of Bascom Hill near Lake & State Street. Very good and very cheap, and out as long as it's not too cold.<br />
<br />
*Badger Market at Ingraham Hall: Very close to Van Vleck, and has acceptable coffee (bring your own cup to save money!) and decent snacks. Try the Badger Bundle lunch special: sandwich, drink, and a side for $1 off your total. Halfway down the hill is the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/crossroadscafe.htm Crossroads Cafe] which has much better coffee and is open later.<br />
<br />
*Memorial Union: The Rathskeller has food and next door is Lakeside cafe with much better food. Summer afternoons on the terrace is an excellent place to hang out in the sunshine with a beer and brat.<br />
<br />
*Union South: Features a pizza place, a pan-Asian restaurant, a sandwich shop, a sports bar (burgers and sandwiches) and an ice cream stand. <br />
<br />
*State Street (past the food carts) is full of restaurants and Coffee shops – there are at least a half dozen coffee roasters in town, and each supplies a different set of shops. In particular for lunch, there are the popular chains, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Einstein Bros. Bagels, or Chipotle... or hit the more independent spots such as the Sunroom Cafe or Ian's Pizza.<br />
<br />
*Residence Hall Cafeterias are pretty decent here, but filled with undergraduates! Enter at your own risk!<br />
<br />
== MadTown food ==<br />
<br />
Traditional Madison foods are German varieties such as beer, cheese, and bratwurst. Twice a year Madison hosts [http://www.bratfest.com/ Bratfest], a record breaking event. <br />
UW has [http://babcockhalldairystore.wisc.edu/ Babcock Hall Ice Cream] on campus which creates delicious ice cream available in the Unions. The [http://www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com/ Chocolate Shoppe], [http://www.ilovemichaels.com/ Michael's Frozen Custard] and [http://www.culvers.com/ Culvers] have nice deserts.<br />
Micro breweries in town include the [http://www.greatdanepub.com/ Great Dane], [http://www.capital-brewery.com/ Captial Brewery] and [http://www.aleasylum.com/ Ale Asylum]. Nearby there is the famous [http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/ New Glarus Brewing Co] which only sells beer in Wisconsin. You can join a free beer tour or walk through the brewery on a self guided tourn.<br />
<br />
In early September (Labor Day weekend), check out [http://www.tasteofmadison.com/ Taste of Madison] to see many restaurants all in one place at one time.<br />
<br />
Try a good ol' midwestern Fish Fry on Friday night – All you can eat fried fish generally served with a bran muffin, clam chowder, or coleslaw. Most Brew Pubs and some churches have them, and the [http://www.avenuebarmadison.com/ Avenue Bar and Grill] runs a Friday night Fish Fry.<br />
<br />
== Farm fresh food ==<br />
<br />
The [http://madisonfarmersmarket.com/ Dane County Farmer's Market] is amazing and HUGE. The big one is open every Saturday morning, and is located on the capitol square for most of the year. In addition to the ludicrous amount of fresh produce, there are also bakery stands, coffee, and fresh juice carts for quick breakfasts.<br />
<br />
There are also a few smaller [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farmers_markets.htm#danecounty markets] scattered around town, almost every day of the week:<br />
<br />
*Sunday: 8:30am to 12:30pm in front of Pierce's Northside Market<br />
*Monday: (none)<br />
*Tuesday: 4pm to 7pm on Ingersol at Williamson, 2pm to 6pm at 1602 S. Park St,<br />
*Wednesday: 8am to 2pm on MLKJr Blvd, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center,<br />
*Thursday: Thursdays, 2pm to 6pm at the Villager Mall on Park St., 2pm to 6pm in the McFarland Centre, 7:30am to 1:30pm in the Greenway Station shopping center,<br />
*Friday: (none)<br />
*Saturday: 6am to 2pm on the Capitol square, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center, 9am to 2pm at 1602 S. Park St, 7am to 1pm at Sheboygan Ave. and Segoe Rd., and 8:30am to 11am in Watertower Park.<br />
<br />
During the summer and fall, there are many [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/index.htm local farms] where you can [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farms/u_pick.htm pick] your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, or pumpkins when they are in season.<br />
<br />
If you're in town for the summer, you might consider signing up for a [http://www.macsac.org/ Community Supported Agriculture] food box. CSA is a way to support a local farm by paying an annual fee in the winter or spring which buys you a share of the season's harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick-up a weekly box of fresh foods which may include produce, fruits, cheeses, eggs, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. The typical CSA season in Wisconsin runs from the end of May through mid-October. You do have to pay the lump sum up-front, and some weeks you'll find yourself with five pounds of chard... but for most of the summer you'll have your produce needs met, and you can feel good about supporting small local farms. Better yet, most of the university's insurance providers offer [http://www.macsac.org/rebates.html rebates] for signing up for a CSA -- somewhere between $50-$300, depending on the plan and how many people you're sharing with (for example, if two people on GHC share a box, they might pay $450 for the box for a box lasting 25 weeks, but they they could each get $100 back, making that $5/week per person). If you're interested, remember to sign up early -- most programs are full by May.<br />
<br />
= Grocery Stores =<br />
<br />
== Generic Groceries ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.capcentremarket.com/ Capitol Centre Market]: Given their small size, they have an excellent selection of groceries. They tend to be a bit pricey. In addition, they deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.freshmadisonmarket.com/ Fresh Madison Market]: A reasonably large general grocery store, not too expensive. Has a large selection of "typical college items" (lots of frozen foods). Located on University, not too far from Van Vleck. They also deliver groceries.<br />
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*[http://www.copps.com/ Copps]: Your standard grocery store with multiple locations.<br />
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*[http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=1020&lang=en-US Costco]: Your friendly big-box bulk store. They treat their employees incredibly well. Good buys on computers, 2 lbs of sockeye salmon or button down oxford cloth long sleeved shirts. You'll need a membership or go there with someone who has a membership. You can also get a free trial membership if you simply ask.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.walgreens.com/ Walgreens]: Pharmacy/Grocery store. There is a Walgreens on the corner of Lake & State Street near Van Vleck, on the Capitol Square, at East Campus Mall, and in University square.<br />
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*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Whole Foods]: Kinda pricey, but good bread, specialty stuff, and produce through the winter.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.woodmans-food.com/ Woodman's]: two locations -- [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=725+S+Gammon+Rd+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=43.055217,-89.50304&spn=0.05381,0.171661 East] and [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3817+Milwaukee+St,+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.103615,-89.319363&spn=0.053768,0.171661&om=1 West]. If you have a car and the time, go here. Very large, very cheap, but time consuming. They don't take credit cards, so bring a debit card or check book. Check out the liquor store for a large selection (you can buy all types of alcohol in grocery stores in Wisconsin... but not after 9pm).<br />
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*[http://www.traderjoes.com/ Trader Joe's]: Located at 1810 Monroe St. They have good prices for select specialty food items such as wine, cheese and fancy snacks. Their basic foodstuffs tend to be a bit pricey.<br />
<br />
*The Jenifer Street Market located on 2038 Jenifer Street is a nice little grocery store if you happen to live in the area.<br />
<br />
== Co-ops ==<br />
Co-ops are a good source of local organic food. If you are a member they provide discounts, but you can also shop there at your own will.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.regentmarketcoop.org/ Regent Market Cooperative], 2136 Regent St. 233-4329.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.willystreet.coop/ Willy Street Co-op] The largest and most active co-op in the Madison area. They have been able to survive the decline in co-ops over the years. They offer a large selection of bulk foods and spices at an excellent price. For a quick bite, they have an excellent deli, salad bar, and in-store coffee shop. 1221 Williamson St. 251-6776. They recently opened a second store in Middleton located at 6825 University Ave. Both locations deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
== Specialty Foods ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.aldifoods.com/ Aldi Foods]: Very cheap! Little selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=keJ&q=asian+midway+foods&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,304616636444102595&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Asian Midway Market]: The go-to market for anything Thai, Chinese or South-East Asian, this centrally-located store comes highly recommended. In particular, they offer a great selection of specialized produce. 301 South Park Street; 255-5864<br />
<br />
*[http://www.brennansmarket.com/ Brennan's Market]: Great for Produce, Meats, Cheese, Micro brews and Wines. You won't find things like Flour and Saran Wrap here, but definitely worth the trip.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/ Farm Fresh Atlas]: Not a grocery store, but a good resource for where you can buy local foods and a list of farms in the areas.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madseafood.com/ The Seafood Center]: The name says it all. Great fresh fish and live lobsters.<br />
<br />
*[http://frabonisdeli.com/ Fraboni's]: An awesome Italian grocery store and deli. They have very good [http://frabonisdeli.com/oils olive oils], [http://frabonisdeli.com/pastas pastas], and make-your-own pizza fixings.<br />
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*[http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3723579948/garden-asian-market-middleton Garden Asian Market]: A full service Asian food market specializing in fresh meat, produce, and seafood. Mostly Chinese-leaning, they do a good job of providing a wide variety of items within their niche. It may be far out, but it's worth the trip in its pleasantness and selection.<br />
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*[http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=india+house+grocery+store,+madison,+wi&fb=1&gl=us&hq=india+house+grocery+store,&hnear=Madison,+WI&cid=0,0,8495347478199843118&ll=43.050466,-89.503019&spn=0.007871,0.019183&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A India House]: Really well done Indian grocery store. Good place to buy Kari leaves.<br />
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*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=TMe&q=lee%27s+oriental&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,92533124768468793&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Lee's Oriental]: Next to Penzey's spices. 3240 University Ave; 231-1593<br />
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*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=2Me&q=oriental+shop&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,13628497956998458364&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Oriental Shop]: They carry mostly dry-goods, and tend to lean toward stocking more Korean items. 1206 South Park Street; 255-0326<br />
<br />
= Housing =<br />
<br />
Haven't found a place yet? Already hate your apartment?<br />
<br />
* [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/ UW Off-Campus Housing Search]: Probably the best search site for students.<br />
<br />
* Again, [http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List] is a good resourse. Also a good place to look for roommates outside of the department.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/ University Apartments]: On campus graduate housing, particularly popular with married couples (especially with children). Singles are also welcome. Many of them are on the bus route #80, a free route which runs from the apartments through campus every ten minutes throughout the day.<br />
<br />
== Location, Location, Location ==<br />
<br />
If you would like to keep your commute down, there are many places near campus. Many graduate students prefer to live close enough to Van Vleck to be within walking distance, yet far enough away to stay away from partying undergraduate students.<br />
<br />
Many graduate students live in the Vilas neighborhood, which is located South of Regent Street and between Park and Monroe. East of the Capitol building, we also have the Willy St. neighborhood (between Williamson and Rutledge streets, between Paterson and Thornton) and the other side of the Isthmus, between Mifflin and Lake Mendota. The university offers on campus housing at Eagle Heights with regular buses. Many students also live near Sheboygan and University Avenues (not on this map), and there are regular buses that run up University Avenue that will drop you off right in front of Van Vleck. The large apartment complexes in that area include the Normandy, Chapel Hill, Carolina, Monticello, Hilldale Towers, Park Towers, and Sovereign Apartments which are cheaper to live in than spots on the square.<br />
<br />
Because there is no parking on campus, you will need to plan on living within walking distance of a bus route or campus itself. You will receive a free bus pass for the [http://www.cityofmadison.com/metro/ Madison Metro] system, which is very reliable. Check out the “plan your trip” link to find bus routes near you.<br />
<br />
Here is an approximate map of many areas where you will be likely to find housing: <br />
[[Image:gradhousingmap.jpg|400px| center | Housing Map]]<br />
<br />
Basically, shoot for zones 2-6, the North parts of zones 7 and 8, or the far East part of zone 10 on [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/map_all.asp this map] (the map from the UW Off-Campus Housing Search).<br />
<br />
== Stuff your landlord might not tell you ==<br />
<br />
*Utilities:<br />
Lots of apartments have water, sewage, heat, and and sometimes electricity included in rent. For those which don't, be sure to find out what to expect through the [http://mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/ Madison Gas and Electric] web page. Just tell them the address of the place you're looking at, and they'll tell you what the highs, lows, and averages have been over the last year.<br />
<br />
*Property information:<br />
The [http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/property.html City Assessor] has all of the basic information about Madison properties on file, including how many units are on the property, how much square footage there is, if there's AC in the building, what school district it's in, who your alderperson would be, and what else is on the property (e.g. garages). They'll even tell you how much the property is worth, and how much your landlord is paying in property taxes. Sometimes the square footage isn't broken up--for example, maybe there are two units on the first floor, but they'll only tell you that there are 1,700 sq ft on that floor, not how it's split up between the two units. It can be a useful site for rounding out your knowledge of places you're considering renting.<br />
<br />
*Tenants rights:<br />
The [http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/ Tenant resource center] is a small non-profit membership organization which provides housing counseling, mediation services and office assistance. Their website includes tips for new renters, generic rental forms, and advice for what to do if your landlord just won't get back to you about repairs, returning deposits, etc.<br />
There is also the Student tenant union, which is specifically targeted to UW students.<br />
<br />
== Rental Companies ==<br />
Many properties in Madison are run by rental companies -- some large, some small -- some good, some not-so-good. Larger companies tend to have lower prices, and more people working toward maintaining rentals. However, they may have less of an investment in taking care of each individual property or screening their tenants. Some people feel better renting from small companies, or landlords with only one or two houses. You may get more individual attention and care. Individuals have more investment in protecting each property, and renting to good tenants, so the properties tend to be in more reliable condition. However, with fewer properties comes fewer resources and higher prices.<br />
<br />
Whatever choice you make, be sure to have a conversation with your potential landlords about their polices, especially if you aren't going to be able to see things in person. It may also be good to Google the company or person to see if other people have had something good or bad to say about them or their properties. In particular, [http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Madison.html ApartmentRatings.com] has a few of the apartment complexes around town listed.<br />
<br />
Here are some general impressions/very subjective opinions that some of us have gotten from/about a few of the larger local companies:<br />
<br />
*AB Holdings: In particular, they have a couple small apartment buildings on Vilas that are particularly ideal for two people. Quite a few people from the department have rented these units and have been pretty happy.<br />
<br />
*[http://apexrents.com/ Apex Property Management]: Great company. Well-maintained properties, with many of the more recently remodeled rentals being very nice. Their representatives are helpful and responsible, and their tenants seem to be generally satisfied.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.centralmadison.com/ The Christensen Company]: Not terribly up-to-date apartments, but worth taking a look at.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonproperty.com/ Madison Property Management]: Lots of choices, but notoriously junky properties. They tend to cater mostly to undergraduates, and their rentals show it. We wouldn't recommend renting from this company unless you visit first.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.mcbridecompanies.com/ The McBride Companies]: Nice properties, good management. Really good website if you turn the sound off.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.tallardapartments.com/ Tallard Apartments]: Nice properties with very friendly and responsive staff. Their rentals tend to go early in the season.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wimci.com/ Wisconsin Management Company]: Nice enough properties, but kind of flakey representation. Make sure to ask lots of questions.<br />
<br />
*The Wright Company (or Norris Ct. Apartments): Very nice older buildings, but kind of sketchy management. Nothing is going to be in stellar shape, but they do tend to rent more to graduates and professionals, so they aren't beat up either. If you do rent from them, don't expect them to be very responsive, and be sure to be especially careful about protecting your security deposit by taking photos and keeping a record of your move-in report.<br />
<br />
= Furniture =<br />
<br />
*[http://www.svdpmadison.org/ St. Vincent DePaul's]: Like Goodwill. Has cheap dressers, desks, chairs, and general household stuff. Will deliver for a small charge. This is also a great place to donate any furniture or other items that you no longer want – they will pick up the items from your apartment. There is also a Goodwill in town, but they won't have nearly the same volume of furniture.<br />
<br />
*[http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List]: a free online classifieds site. Great not only for furniture, but also pet resources and last minute apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
*Eagle Heights Apartment Bulletin Boards: Lots of cheap stuff from people graduating, many of whom are moving overseas. You can even find cars. You can try posting your own wanted posters on the boards. You can find these boards at the bus stops for the (free) bus 80 route.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/madisonfreecycle/ Freecycle]: A community "give stuff away for free" website with a Madison branch.<br />
<br />
*Hippie Christmas ("Move-Out Day"): For some reason or another, the evening of August 14th is when the bulk of leases near campus turn over. This is a fantastic day to pick up free furniture from the street. If you already have a rental van, why not help municipal waste by pickup up a bookshelf for them?<br />
<br />
*The Todd Drive Area: Just west of park street on the beltline. American Furniture for furniture and electronics, Home Concepts for cheap but nice looking furniture, and Steinhafel's for furniture and mattresses.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html SWAP]. The UW's surplus supply store.<br />
<br />
= International Student Resources =<br />
Here are a few links specifically for international students. There are international grocery stores listed in the [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Graduate_Student_Guide#Specialty_Foods groceries] section.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcssa.net/ Chinese Student & Scholar Association]: A connection to the university's Chinese community for incoming students. They offer rides from the airport, list general information about madison, and organize get-tegethers/Chinese celebrations. International Conversation & Coffee Hour: meet other international students and americans interested in other cultures. Every Friday, 12-2pm, Cooper Hearth Room 160, Union South.<br />
<br />
*[http://iss.wisc.edu/ International Student Services]: the UW's International Student Services<br />
<br />
*[http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MADindians/ MadIndians]: a Yahoo online group for students from India in Madison. Good place to search for an Indian roommate.<br />
<br />
*[http://mtsa.rso.wisc.edu/ Madison Association of Turkish Students]: Very helpful for incoming Turkish students. It includes information about how best to get to Madison from Turkey, information about housing, and how to reach other Turkish students in Madison.<br />
<br />
= Newspapers =<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/captimes/ The Capitol Times]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the afternoon. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more liberal.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.thedailypage.com/ The Isthmus]: Free independent Madison newspaper. Has a liberal voice and is full of entertainment, including family fun, outdoor attractions, and fine arts. Also puts out the Annual Manual - the yearly guide to all things Madison.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.theonion.com/ The Onion]: While hilarious, this paper is only really good if you're already in on the joke. We get free paper copies in Madison. There is a stack near the elevators in VV. The local edition has local entertainment listings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Wisconsin State Journal]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the mornings. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more conservative.<br />
<br />
= Religious Groups =<br />
*[http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/ Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/ Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church]: Near Sheboygan Ave. at 110 N Whitney Way. A huge church, but with opportunities to get involved and meet people. It has services in the sanctuary, with a mixture of traditional and semi-modern worship, and also "video cafe" services with more lively, modern worship. Very good teaching.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cpcmadison.com/ Christ Presbyterian Church]. Just east of James Madison Park on Gorham. Has a great choir and organist!<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fusmadison.org/ The First Unitarian Society of Madison]. "A liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue." Looking for something new? They're open to all types. Also, they are housed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.folmadison.org/ Fountain of Life]: 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. A multi-ethnic church with a lot of eclectic music styles, including a lot of Gospel music<br />
<br />
*[http://genevacc.org/ The Geneva Campus Church]: On Campus Reformed church. They describe themselves as "a university church for the whole family"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwhillel.org/ Hillel]: UW-Madison's on-campus center for everything Jewish: religious, cultural, political, traditional, and alternative. Located on Langdon Street, it serves both the school population and, to a far lesser extent, the entire city.<br />
<br />
*[http://islamiccentermadison.org/ Islamic Center of Madison]: Has a masjid inside. 21 N Orchard St, (608)251-9851<br />
<br />
*[http://ivgcf.rso.wisc.edu/ InterVarsity Grad Christian Fellowship]: It's a welcoming place for Christians and non-Christians alike. (You might even find your future husband/wife there) They also have a website with info about local churches. There is a new student picnic at the beginning of the fall semester.<br />
<br />
*Latter Day Saints: There are a number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wards in the Madison area. The Madison First Ward covers areas closest to campus and meets at 4505 Regent Street, two blocks south of Hilldale Mall, at 9am. The University Ward serves single adults and meets at 1711 University Avenue at 10 am. The Madison Third Ward serves areas close to campus and meets at 701 Bear Claw Way on Madison's far west side at 11 am. Visitors and the curious are always welcome.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lccmadison.com/ Lutheran Campus Center]: A fairly young, enthusiastic, and liberal-minded congragation, found right on campus.<br />
<br />
*[http://madcitychurch.org/ Mad City Church]: A non-denominational, casual christian fellowship. Services are held in the LaFollette High School located on Madison's east side - very near the corner of Pflaum Rd. and Monona Dr. Office at 2713 E. Washington Ave.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.muuyacm.org/ Madison UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry (MUUYACM)]. One of the largest and most active Unitarian Universalist young adult groups in the U.S., they are open to young adults (ages 18-35) of all denominations. In addition to worships, they organize social-justice-oriented activities, and are an active member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcatholic.org/ St. Paul's University Catholic Center]: On campus in Library Mall near Lake & State. Has a lively Catholic grad student group called Mustard Seed with Bible studies, Thursday night speakers, retreats, service projects, and large quantities of food and euchre.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.unityofmadison.org/ Unity of Madison]: (from their site) "Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community focused on Truth Seeking and Spiritual Growth through the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire, nuture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live Jesus' message that 'the kingdom of God is within you.'"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.isthmuszencommunity.org/ Zen Buddhism]: A local zen buddhist center is located next to Willy st co-op. New comers are especially welcome.<br />
<br />
= Arts and Entertainment =<br />
<br />
Madison is a medium sized city with a not so medium sized arts and entertainment scene. There are cultural events on campus<br />
and at the [http://www.overturcenter.com Overture Center]; sporting events; art, science, natural history, and history museums; parks, the<br />
[http://www.uwarboretum.org arboretum], and [http://www.olbrich.org botanical gardens]; a free [http://www.vilaszoo.org zoo]; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; a [http://www.madfarmmkt.com Farmer’s Market] on the<br />
Capital Square every Saturday morning from April-October; and lots of other things. The [http://www.thedailypage.com Isthmus], is the local free newspaper which posts many current events.<br />
The Isthmus can be found in many stores, in campus buildings, and on street corners.<br />
<br />
== Athletic Activities ==<br />
* [http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/ Rec Sports] runs the gyms on campus. There are three such on-campus gyms -- The SERF, the Nat, and the Shell, which are free with student ID. For $10/semester, you can attend any of their Group Fitness classes, which cover everything from aerobics and weights to yoga and dance. Also, both the SERF and Nat have indoor pools.<br />
<br />
*The University of Wisconsin has a long standing heritage of being proud of their [http://www.uwbadgers.com/ athletic events]. Men's basketball, football and ice-hockey receive the most attention and as a student, you can obtain season tickets for all of these events.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.mufa.org MUFA] is an ultimate frisbee league that has summer as well as spring and fall seasons. This is a really fun way to stay active and meet some new Madison friends! You don't need to form a team-- just see the link for info about how to join a team looking for more players. Note: the games are often played all over the city and burbs, and are not necessarily reachable by bus. You'll need a car, or a teammate with a car. Also see the link for info about local pick-up games.<br />
<br />
== Dancing ==<br />
<br />
*Ballroom: [http://www.uwmbda.org/ UWMBDA] is the big ballroom dance group here. They have dances with lessons every week on Friday or Saturday and a practice group every Thursday.<br />
<br />
*[http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/dances.htm Contra Dance]: Meetings every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
*International Folk club: meets biweekly Library Mall, Wed/Sun 7:30PM-late.<br />
<br />
*Swing: [http://www.uwswing.com/ Jumptown Swing] is UW's swing club. They host (mostly) weekly dances at Union South, and provide lessons for a nominal fee. See their site for scheduling and links to other swing orgonizations. Also, on Wednesdays, there's dancing at the [http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ Brink Lounge] from 8-11.<br />
<br />
*Salsa: Venues include [http://www.cardinalbar.com/ Cardinal Bar] on Thursdays, [http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/details.php?event=176610 Frida's] on Friday nights. Don't know how to Salsa? There are lessons before dances at Cardinal, and instruction is offered through the Union's minicourses.<br />
<br />
*Tango: the [http://www.madisontango.org/ Madison Tango Society] provides lessons and dances for Argentine Tango. Their site has a good list or other events in and around Madison.<br />
<br />
== Libraries ==<br />
In addition to the many [http://www.library.wisc.edu/ Libraries of UW], the [http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ Madison Public Library] is a great place for books, movies, and music.<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
The Daily Page has a [http://www.thedailypage.com/movies/listing.php listing] of movie times for most of the theaters around town (both big and small):<br />
<br />
*Eastgate, Point and AMC (Star) Cinema are the three larger movie theaters in town.<br />
<br />
*Market Square shows second runs at a good discount. <br />
<br />
*The [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/ Orpheum] is an old cinema within site of the capitol on State street. They tend to show less mainstream movies.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.sundancecinemas.com/madison.html Sundance 608] shows independent film as well as blockbuster movies. They have a rooftop cafe that's open during the summer months, 2 bars (you can take a drink into your movie), and a restaurant!<br />
<br />
For on-campus movies:<br />
*The Wisconsin Union Directorate runs on campus screening of films. Their film site can be found [http://www.union.wisc.edu/WUD/film.aspx here.]<br />
<br />
*The UW film department hosts free screenings of a wide array of films based on a given theme for that semester through their [http://cinema.wisc.edu/ cinematheque.] Their department has many contacts with other film institutes and are able show rare original 35mm films that you can't see anywhere else.<br />
<br />
*In late March/early April, go check out some of the many many films showing at the [http://www.wifilmfest.org/ Wisconsin Film Festival.] Sites all over town take part in hosting the showing of these films.<br />
<br />
Madison also has a number of independent video stores:<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ Four Star Video Heaven] has been voted as a Madison Favorite for a number of years. See their site to browse their collection online.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bongovideo.com/ Bongo Video] has a smaller, but quite tasty selection. Lots of personality, and good daily specials.<br />
<br />
== Music ==<br />
Whether you're looking to play music, or just go watch free or (in)expensive concerts, there are many options in Madison.<br />
<br />
*Our very own [http://music.wisc.edu/ Music Department] hosts many music events. Their website has a calendar listing current music events including faculty concerts and student recitals.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonsymphony.org/ The Madison Symphony Orchestra] (MSO) is the professional symphony based here in Madison. With your student ID, you can get student rush tickets for as little as $10 per person.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wcoconcerts.org/ The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra] is Madison's professional chamber orchestra. Each summer, their widely popular [http://www.wcoconcerts.org/new/cos/concertsonthesquare.php concerts on the square] draw many people from all over the place for a free outdoor concert.<br />
<br />
*[http://madisoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Madison Community Orchestra] (MCO) is an informal group run by Madison Area Technical College that meets once a week. There are four free concerts a year and no auditions to play with the group.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.middletoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Middleton Community Orchestra] is a second newly formed community orchestra run by community musicians. Their concerts are extremely affordable, and they may run auditions.<br />
<br />
== Outdoor Activites ==<br />
Madison is a very bicycle friendly town, and there are many parks either in town or within a short drive. Here are some suggestions about outdoor activities to engage in:<br />
<br />
*Take a nice long walk along one of the many paths around [http://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/imap/LakeshoreNaturePreserve.html Picnic Point]... bike the path from Memorial Union out to the tip, or bus/drive out to the base of picnic point and wander the foot trails in the area.<br />
<br />
*Head towards Monona Terrace on Lake Monona, and take one of the paths that wraps around the lake (great bike ride!).<br />
<br />
*You can also go walking and/or biking around the [http://uwarboretum.org/ Arboretum] south of campus and tour their gardens, or head to the free [http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Vilas Zoo]. Lake Wingra is essentially totally surrounded by wooded areas including Henry Vilas Park, the UW-arboretum and Edgewood college. You can rent canoes at Knickerbocker for fairly cheap and relax on Lake Wingra.<br />
<br />
*Community Gardens: There are a number of community gardens run by the [http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/ Community Action Coalition]. Nominally, you can sign up for a plot for a small fee, and learn how to garden if you don't already know, or go to town if you already do. The [http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/ Eagle Heights Community Garden] is open to both residents and non-residents alike. All of the gardens are fun to look at if you haven't ever seen one.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.olbrich.org/ The Olbrich Botanical Gardens] are located east of lake Monona. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including their award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden, or enjoy the year-round tropical Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds.. Outdoor gardens are open daily and free to the public, while entrance to the conservatory is $1 per person.<br />
<br />
*Catch a festival; Madison is home to a number of festivals -- big festivals, small festivals, arts festivals, music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals -- we've got all kinds.<br />
<br />
The Winter opens itself up to new activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing and other options. The hoofers club runs ice boats on the lake.<br />
<br />
*The city of Madison parks open up outdoor [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct2.html ice skating] at Tenney, Vilas, and Elver parks. No skates? No worries. They will rent skates to you there ($6.00 for the first hour, $2/hr after that).<br />
<br />
*There is also [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct4.html cross-country skiing] at a number of Dane county parks, with passes starting at $5/day. No skills? Check out lessons at the [http://www.madnorski.org/page/ Madison Nordic Ski Club] or, again, [http://sns.hoofers.org/ Hoofers] has lots to offer in that area.<br />
<br />
== Student Clubs ==<br />
The University of Wisconsin, being a rather large institution, has got so much stuff going on for all of us student-types. Here are some ways people around the department have been taking advantage:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop]: Located upstairs in the Memorial Union, they are "here to satisfy your creative urges in a variety of craft media." Their facilities include a darkroom, a woodshop, a ceramics studio, metal working tools, etc. Friday afternoons, they open their studios to all union members (that means you!) for free!<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hoofers.org/ Hoofers]: Student outdoor recreation club. The Outing and Sailing clubs in particular have lots of graduate students.<br />
<br />
* [http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]: Graduate Student Collaborative Organization<br />
<br />
* [http://cfli.wisc.edu/student_organizations.htm Student Organizations]: at UW Madison (this is a directory of all registered student organizations at the university; you can search by topic or name)<br />
<br />
== The Student Unions ==<br />
The Memorial Union is located on the lakefront, on Park and Langdon. Be sure to check out the Terrace while the weather is still good -- it's a great place to go to get out of the office, grab something to snack on, and study out in the sun. You'll find the Daily Scoop (yummy ice cream!) and Der Rathskeller (beer and deep-fried goodness). You'll also find all sorts of stuff to keep you busy, like the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop], the Union Theater, the Hoofers' headquarters, and a wide array of Mini Courses with which to expand your horizons.<br />
<br />
Also useful: the travel services center and STA Travel will get you good deals on trips (including bus tickets to O'Hare, Midway, and Milwaukee airports), and the theater's box office will get you good deals on shows (theater, music, etc) all around town. In addition, the Union has always got other special events going on to keep all of us entertained -- see their complete [http://www.union.wisc.edu/activities/ list of activities].<br />
<br />
The Union South was recently completely renovated and also has many activities available. They have a climbing wall, a bowling alley, pool tables, a beer garden, a wine tasting room, a ballroom, a movie theater and many other things.<br />
<br />
= Van Vleck Miscellany =<br />
Here's a bit more info about the happenings in and around the Math Dept.<br />
<br />
== Getting money ==<br />
*Paychecks: The first paycheck of the year arrives in October, though you may request an advance on about 30% of your first paycheck when you arrive. If you are not working over the summer, the last will come in June, so be sure to plan for the three month gap.<br />
<br />
*Fees: You will be charged for segregated fees in both semesters, and are not covered in your tuition. The amount depends on your credit load and status, but will be about $500 for most people and due about the time of your first paycheck. If you are on fellowship, this will be taken care of for you, and shouldn't appear on your bill.<br />
<br />
*TA union: The teaching assistants of Wisconsin are unionized. Even if you are not a TA, but are an employee of the department, you're still connected to them through advocacy and campus issues. For more information check out the [http://www.taa-madison.org/ TAA].<br />
<br />
== Getting stuff done ==<br />
See the Contacts section for a list of people who will help you get stuff done.<br />
<br />
If you want to reserve rooms in Van Vleck for review sessions or meetings you can fill out a green form with Sharon Paulson on the second floor. Sharon does the scheduling for about 4 or 5 rooms in the building, so you can also ask her about these rooms directly. If you need to reserve the 9th floor lounge, talk to Joan Wendt (also second floor).<br />
<br />
Each grad receives 200 photocopies and 250 black and white print outs a month for personal math use. If you are a TA, Sharon in the Copy Center on the second floor can photocopy materials for classes (which does not count toward your quota)– such as worksheets and quizzes. Just give her at least 24 hours notice. To check your printout quota, open a terminal logged into the math server, and type "pages". If you do go over your quota, you will simply get a (probably very small) bill at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
We get free office supplies on the 2nd floor – just ask the Receptionist for pens, folders, etc.<br />
<br />
You can pick up and send out your mail from the second floor. You might even want to have packages delivered to the department, to avoid missing them being delivered at home (UPS, for example, won't drop off to apartment complexes if you aren't there, so you'll have to drive out to Middleton to pick up your packages).<br />
<br />
It's never too early to start studying for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/graduate/quals.htm quals]... early and often, my friends. Early and Often.<br />
<br />
== Getting together ==<br />
Historically, some afternoons and Friday before colloquium, we have a cookie and coffee social hour on the 9th floor lounge. Keep your eyes open for announcements.<br />
<br />
Definitely check out some of the colloquia and seminars. The earlier you get involved the better. This is a great way to learn more about potential research areas, meet other people in the areas, and meet other mathematicians in other departments. There is a list posted on the 9th floor each week in addition to online.<br />
<br />
Once a semester, our group for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ women in mathematics] get together for an informal potluck. We also have been known to bring in women speakers funded by the [http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/ WiSELI] grant.<br />
<br />
= Miscellaneous Wisconsin Stuff =<br />
This section describes miscellaneous Wisconsin stuff that doesn't belong in any other section, such as, a [[Wisconsin Dictionary]] for those who aren't familiar with the Wisconsin vernacular.<br />
<br />
== Voting ==<br />
Frequently asked questions for Wisconsin voting can be found <br />
[http://wisconsin.gov/state/core/faq_wisconsin_voting_elections.html here]. <br />
As of the April election, Wisconsin has a law that allows for same day registration at the polls:<br />
<br />
''If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.''<br />
<br />
Out of state licenses work, and utility bills, bank statements, or pay checks with your name and address on them work for proof of residence.<br />
<br />
== Car Stuff ==<br />
Madison has a DMV out on the west side, just past Midvale, at 4802 Sheboygan Ave, and one on the east side out near the airport. <br />
<br />
*Licenses: As they say on their page for licensing new residents, if you're looking to put your permanent residence here and vote here and generally show up on the radar, you should apply for your [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/nonreside/index.htm WI license] within 60 days of establishing residency. Your first baseline license costs $28, and is valid for three years. Note: you will need to take with you, among other things, something like a rent agreement, or a utility bill, UW transcript, or bank statement actually mailed to your WI address (no e-bills). We'll note that math students have been known to wait longer than 60 days to officially apply for residency, but we recommend you don't wait until an out-of-state license expires to get a WI license.<br />
<br />
*Vehicle Registration: If you own a car and officially become a WI resident, you need to get WI plates. All the information you need is available [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/new/resident.htm here].<br />
<br />
*Parking: First, unless you have a motorcycle, '''don't''' plan to park on campus regularly. For parking near your residence, there are some options. Depending on the neighborhood, it's possible to rent a place that has parking included or available for an extra charge. Additionally, if you live in an area surrounded by 2-hr parking [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/documents/RP3allmap.pdf zones], you can usually buy a permit (for a little over $20 per year) allowing you to park on the street all day near your home. More information can be found on the City of Madison Parking Utility [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingUtility/index.cfm page]. Most importantly, "the vehicle for which you are requesting a permit must be owned by you, your child, your parents/step parents, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner, or be a leased or company vehicle which is assigned to you." <br />
<br />
BE AWARE! Winter parking gets all crazy in Madison (from November 15 - March 15). Most of town is on an alternate side parking schedule: cars should be parked on the even (resp. odd) house numbered side of the street from 1:00a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on even (resp. odd) numbered days. If you live on the isthmus in the Snow Emergency Zone, you will only need to do this when the weather gets really bad. You can sign up for alerts when this happens.<br />
<br />
If you leave your car in the wrong place -- with winter nonsense or for any other reason -- and it gets towed, you can call the Madison Police Department (266-4260) or Schmidt's Towing (257-0505) to find out what they've done with it.<br />
<br />
== Taxes ==<br />
Once you've lived here for an entire calendar year, be sure to look into the [http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/home.html Wisconsin Homestead Credit]... it's usually worth the time and effort for graduate students. Until then, you can look into [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html deducting moving costs] for relocating here on your federal taxes.<br />
<br />
A warning to students on fellowship: taxes will not be taken out of your paycheck, but you still have to pay them. You may want to consider filing [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199807,00.html quarterly].<br />
<br />
== Wisconsin benefit programs ==<br />
We don't exactly get piles of money for teaching. In fact, most people who are not on fellowship or receiving summer funding can qualify for some heating aid (up to $380/year), and electricity aid (up to $285/year). You can check your eligibility at [https://access.wisconsin.gov/ Access WI]. <br />
There may be some residency requirements, like the Homestead credit. You can find your annual salary in our [http://www.taa-madison.org/contract/index.html contract].<br />
<br />
== Residency ==<br />
While it's usually a good idea to become a WI resident, if, for some reason, you're looking to declare residency in WI for tuition purposes, the answer is usually "no." It seems that one has to be in Wisconsin for a full year before enrolling at the UW, and one has to prove that one did not move here primarily for educational purposes (according to the Wisconsin statutes, you have to provide "clear and convincing evidence"). More on that at the [http://www.registrar.wisc.edu/students/residence/index.php Office of the Registrar]'s site.<br />
<br />
= Contacts and Other Resources =<br />
*[http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/gradguide/index.html Guide to Graduate Student Life]: The Graduate Student Collaborative's ([http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]) guide to grad student life in Madison -- like this one, but different.<br />
<br />
* [[Teaching Assistant Guide]]: from real live Van Vleck TAs<br />
<br />
*[http://www.yelp.com/madison-wi Yelp.com]: Find reviews of local stuff- restaurants and things to do, but also dentists, auto shops, etc.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.vip.wisc.edu VIP], the Visitor & Information Programs office, located in the Red Gym, near [http://www.union.wisc.edu Memorial Union]. They are open M - F 8am - 5pm and Saturday 11am - 2pm. <br />
<br />
*[http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu Student Orientation Handbook] is a valuable resource for information including entertainment, recreational and varsity sports, student organizations (including those for cultural groups, international students, LGBT students, women, veterans, and people with disabilities), health services, jobs, transportation, safety, and housing. It’s also a great place for referrals to counseling services, including drug and alcohol and sexual assault issues. You can find all this information on the web, at http://www.wisc.edu/visitingCampus/ or call them at 263-2400. You can also email any questions you have to askbucky@uwmad.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lgbt.wisc.edu LGBT Campus Center]: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Center (265-3344; lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu) provides support, social, educational and research services to the campus community, and serves as UW-Madison's first stop for those looking for information about campus LGBT organizations. The Memorial Union office on the 2nd floor includes a library, a television and DVD player, plenty of comfortable seating, open computers, and has a staff of students and professionals that work to bring events, speakers, and programs to campus. The Center also publishes a weekly events e-letter and offers support and social groups.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ WIMAW] (Women in Math at Wisconsin.)<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Got Questions? Here are some folks who might just have the answers...<br />
<br />
== Counseling Services ==<br />
Counseling services are available through Counseling and [http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/ Consultation Services (C&CS)], located at 115 North Orchard Street, (265-5600, TTY number 265-3300). C&CS offers brief psychological treatment, personal counseling, and psychiatric services to UW-Madison students. Frequent services include help in overcoming depression, managing anxiety and other psychological issues, and in developing greater self-awareness, independence, and self-direction. They also provide personal problem counseling, couples relationship counseling, marriage and family counseling, cross-cultural counseling, and alcohol and drug assessment and referral. Specialized groups have included: graduate women support, women and self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, survivors of troubled families, rebuilding relationships. C&CS also provides crisis response at the above phone numbers. Services provided are covered by the student health fee (included in your student fees).<br />
<br />
== Administrative and Support Staff ==<br />
The administrative and support staff are the folk that keep our department functioning. Without them, we as mathematicians would be lost. :) Their pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/support_staff.html here] and their contact info can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/academic_staff.html here]. If one person doesn't know how to deal with a problem you might have, they certainly know who might be able to help you out.<br />
<br />
TBD<br />
Position: Timetable/Undergraduate<br />
Office: 207 VV<br />
Email: ????@math<br />
Ask them about: Registration (for you and your students), MyUW stuff, classroom assignments.<br />
<br />
David Camacho<br />
Position: Assoc Fac Assoc<br />
Office: 321 VV<br />
Email: camacho@math<br />
Ask David about: the Math Tutorial Program (if a student needs extra attention)<br />
<br />
Mark Castillo<br />
Position: Grants/Proposals<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: castillo @math<br />
Ask Mark about: grant money, coffee club<br />
<br />
Chris Uhlir<br />
Position: Payroll/Benefits<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: grenie@math<br />
Ask Mike about: Payroll, hourly positions, taxes, tuition, healthcare, and benefits. <br />
<br />
Sara Nagreen<br />
Position: Sr IPC<br />
Office: 515 VV<br />
Email: nagreen@math<br />
Ask Sara about: all things computing.<br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson<br />
Position: Copy Center Manager/ Room Reservations<br />
Office: 220 VV<br />
Email: paulson@math<br />
Ask Sharon about: Room reservations (review sessions/exams/other), Copy Center stuff, private tutoring list.<br />
<br />
Mary Rice<br />
Position: Grad Prog. Admin<br />
Office: 203 VV<br />
Email: mrice@math<br />
Ask Mary about: Math dept records (teaching letters, transcripts, etc), how you go about graduating.<br />
<br />
Diane Rivard<br />
Position: Placement Advisor<br />
Office: 720 VV<br />
Email: rivard@math<br />
Ask Diane about: Placement questions (what class your student should be in, placement exam issues)<br />
<br />
Joan Wendt<br />
Position: Chair Secretary<br />
Office: 223 VV<br />
Email: wendt@math<br />
Ask Joan about: office assignments and keys<br />
<br />
Barbara Erlenborn<br />
Position: Dept Administrator<br />
Office: 218 VV<br />
Email: erlenborn@math<br />
Ask Barb about: admin stuff<br />
<br />
== Current and Former Graduate Students Interested in Meeting YOU ==<br />
You can find a complete list of current graduate students [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/psdbgrad.html here], and pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/grad.html here]. Email addresses that end with @ are intended to finish with @math.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
Hans Chaumont<br />
Email: chaumont@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~chaumont Website:]<br />
Grad-Age: Started 2012<br />
Area of interest: Undecided<br />
Ask Hans about: Pretty much anything, but especially about tea or the math weightlifting team.<br />
<br />
Laura Cladek<br />
Email: cladek@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~cladek Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2011<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Laura about: Anything ... Especially analysis or on campus housing.<br />
<br />
Nathan Collins<br />
Email: nathan.collins@gmail.com<br />
[http://cs.pdx.edu/~ntc2 Website]<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2008<br />
Area of interest: Computer Science and Logic.<br />
Ask Nathan about: Pittsburgh, bicycles, and being inferior to Mason at TAing. He dislikes printers and bad margins.<br />
<br />
David Dynerman<br />
Email: dynerman@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~dynerman Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask David about: programming video games, trying to do Hartshorne problems, <br />
going to the gym, Mushfeq Khan, Andrew Bridy<br />
<br />
Thomas Hangelbroek<br />
Email: hangelbr@math.hawaii.edu<br />
[http://math.hawaii.edu/people/hangelbr/ Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2007<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Thomas about: Anything Madison. Thomas is an expert in all things Madison.<br />
<br />
Sara Jensen<br />
Email: jensen@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jensen Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask Sara about: Teaching, topology & algebra quals, knitting group, going to the gym <br />
<br />
(Evan) Alec Johnson<br />
Email: ejohnson@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson Website]<br />
Grad-age: Ph.D., 2012<br />
Area of interest: Applied Math and Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask Alec about: teaching, advanced calculus, gardening, and Geneva Campus Church.<br />
<br />
Christine Lien<br />
Email: lien@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lien Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2005<br />
Area of interest: Complex Geometry<br />
Ask Christine about: anything, including bridge/card games, organizing women's events, <br />
the Association of Asian American Graduate students, and the Graduate Student Topology Seminar.<br />
<br />
Hao Lin<br />
Email: lin@<br />
[http://genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=156703 Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Hao about: sports and anything about China.<br />
<br />
Jonathon Mason<br />
Email: jonathan.f.mason@gmail.com<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2010<br />
Ask Mason about: Wisconsin hiking, the local film scene and being "way better than Nathan Collins" at TAing.<br />
<br />
Jason Murcko<br />
Email: murcko@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~murcko Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2006<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Jason about: the TAA and the local film and music scenes.<br />
<br />
Mike Schroeder<br />
Email: schroede@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~schroede UW Website]. [http://science.marshall.edu/schroederm/ Marshall Website].<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Combinatorics<br />
Ask Mike about: softball, bowling, sailing, racquet ball, and the Florida Gators.<br />
<br />
David Seal<br />
Email: seal@math.msu.edu<br />
[http://www.math.msu.edu/~seal Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2012.<br />
Area of interest: Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask David about: movies, biking, hiking and board games.<br />
<br />
Beth Skubak<br />
Email: skubak@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~skubak Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2009<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Beth about: anything, including this wiki<br />
<br />
Mike Woodbury<br />
[http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woodbury/ Website]<br />
Email: woodbury@math.columbia.edu<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011.<br />
Area of interest: Number Theory<br />
Ask Mike about: anything, including number theory, road biking, UW basketball tix.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Guide&diff=5386Graduate Student Guide2013-06-10T15:54:06Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Location, Location, Location */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Exams.png|400px|right | Grading Exams in the Lounge]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
= Food =<br />
<br />
There are many ethnic and interesting restaurants in Madison – Indonesian, African, Italian, Himalayan, Laotian, Peruvian, Mexican, Bakeries, Brew Pubs, Coffee Joints, you name it -- and everyone has their favorites.<br />
<br />
The biggest resource for finding food (and entertainment!) in Madison is probably the [http://www.thedailypage.com/eats/ Daily Page] (the online version of our local paper, the Isthmus), where you can search local restaurants by name, locality, and cuisine. There, they have reviews, hours, contact info, pricing, etc. Be sure to peruse their [http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Restaurants Madison's Favorites] section for some quick tips! Of course [http://www.yelp.com/ yelp] is always useful as well. At one point a couple spent a few years trying to sample every restaurant in Madison and blogged about their journey on the [http://www.madisonatoz.com/ Madison A to Z].<br />
<br />
Here are some general food facts:<br />
<br />
== Campus Food ==<br />
*Food Carts: Open for lunch in Library Mall at the foot of Bascom Hill near Lake & State Street. Very good and very cheap, and out as long as it's not too cold.<br />
<br />
*Badger Market at Ingraham Hall: Very close to Van Vleck, and has acceptable coffee (bring your own cup to save money!) and decent snacks. Try the Badger Bundle lunch special: sandwich, drink, and a side for $1 off your total. Halfway down the hill is the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/crossroadscafe.htm Crossroads Cafe] which has much better coffee and is open later.<br />
<br />
*Memorial Union: The Rathskeller has food and next door is Lakeside cafe with much better food. Summer afternoons on the terrace is an excellent place to hang out in the sunshine with a beer and brat.<br />
<br />
*Union South: Features a pizza place, a pan-Asian restaurant, a sandwich shop, a sports bar (burgers and sandwiches) and an ice cream stand. <br />
<br />
*State Street (past the food carts) is full of restaurants and Coffee shops – there are at least a half dozen coffee roasters in town, and each supplies a different set of shops. In particular for lunch, there are the popular chains, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Einstein Bros. Bagels, or Chipotle... or hit the more independent spots such as the Sunroom Cafe or Ian's Pizza.<br />
<br />
*Residence Hall Cafeterias are pretty decent here, but filled with undergraduates! Enter at your own risk!<br />
<br />
== MadTown food ==<br />
<br />
Traditional Madison foods are German varieties such as beer, cheese, and bratwurst. Twice a year Madison hosts [http://www.bratfest.com/ Bratfest], a record breaking event. <br />
UW has [http://babcockhalldairystore.wisc.edu/ Babcock Hall Ice Cream] on campus which creates delicious ice cream available in the Unions. The [http://www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com/ Chocolate Shoppe], [http://www.ilovemichaels.com/ Michael's Frozen Custard] and [http://www.culvers.com/ Culvers] have nice deserts.<br />
Micro breweries in town include the [http://www.greatdanepub.com/ Great Dane], [http://www.capital-brewery.com/ Captial Brewery] and [http://www.aleasylum.com/ Ale Asylum]. Nearby there is the famous [http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/ New Glarus Brewing Co] which only sells beer in Wisconsin. You can join a free beer tour or walk through the brewery on a self guided tourn.<br />
<br />
In early September (Labor Day weekend), check out [http://www.tasteofmadison.com/ Taste of Madison] to see many restaurants all in one place at one time.<br />
<br />
Try a good ol' midwestern Fish Fry on Friday night – All you can eat fried fish generally served with a bran muffin, clam chowder, or coleslaw. Most Brew Pubs and some churches have them, and the [http://www.avenuebarmadison.com/ Avenue Bar and Grill] runs a Friday night Fish Fry.<br />
<br />
== Farm fresh food ==<br />
<br />
The [http://madisonfarmersmarket.com/ Dane County Farmer's Market] is amazing and HUGE. The big one is open every Saturday morning, and is located on the capitol square for most of the year. In addition to the ludicrous amount of fresh produce, there are also bakery stands, coffee, and fresh juice carts for quick breakfasts.<br />
<br />
There are also a few smaller [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farmers_markets.htm#danecounty markets] scattered around town, almost every day of the week:<br />
<br />
*Sunday: 8:30am to 12:30pm in front of Pierce's Northside Market<br />
*Monday: (none)<br />
*Tuesday: 4pm to 7pm on Ingersol at Williamson, 2pm to 6pm at 1602 S. Park St,<br />
*Wednesday: 8am to 2pm on MLKJr Blvd, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center,<br />
*Thursday: Thursdays, 2pm to 6pm at the Villager Mall on Park St., 2pm to 6pm in the McFarland Centre, 7:30am to 1:30pm in the Greenway Station shopping center,<br />
*Friday: (none)<br />
*Saturday: 6am to 2pm on the Capitol square, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center, 9am to 2pm at 1602 S. Park St, 7am to 1pm at Sheboygan Ave. and Segoe Rd., and 8:30am to 11am in Watertower Park.<br />
<br />
During the summer and fall, there are many [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/index.htm local farms] where you can [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farms/u_pick.htm pick] your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, or pumpkins when they are in season.<br />
<br />
If you're in town for the summer, you might consider signing up for a [http://www.macsac.org/ Community Supported Agriculture] food box. CSA is a way to support a local farm by paying an annual fee in the winter or spring which buys you a share of the season's harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick-up a weekly box of fresh foods which may include produce, fruits, cheeses, eggs, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. The typical CSA season in Wisconsin runs from the end of May through mid-October. You do have to pay the lump sum up-front, and some weeks you'll find yourself with five pounds of chard... but for most of the summer you'll have your produce needs met, and you can feel good about supporting small local farms. Better yet, most of the university's insurance providers offer [http://www.macsac.org/rebates.html rebates] for signing up for a CSA -- somewhere between $50-$300, depending on the plan and how many people you're sharing with (for example, if two people on GHC share a box, they might pay $450 for the box for a box lasting 25 weeks, but they they could each get $100 back, making that $5/week per person). If you're interested, remember to sign up early -- most programs are full by May.<br />
<br />
= Grocery Stores =<br />
<br />
== Generic Groceries ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.capcentremarket.com/ Capitol Centre Market]: Given their small size, they have an excellent selection of groceries. They tend to be a bit pricey. In addition, they deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.freshmadisonmarket.com/ Fresh Madison Market]: A reasonably large general grocery store, not too expensive. Has a large selection of "typical college items" (lots of frozen foods). Located on University, not too far from Van Vleck. They also deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.copps.com/ Copps]: Your standard grocery store with multiple locations.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=1020&lang=en-US Costco]: Your friendly big-box bulk store. They treat their employees incredibly well. Good buys on computers, 2 lbs of sockeye salmon or button down oxford cloth long sleeved shirts. You'll need a membership or go there with someone who has a membership. You can also get a free trial membership if you simply ask.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.walgreens.com/ Walgreens]: Pharmacy/Grocery store. There is a Walgreens on the corner of Lake & State Street near Van Vleck, on the Capitol Square, at East Campus Mall, and in University square.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Whole Foods]: Kinda pricey, but good bread, specialty stuff, and produce through the winter.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.woodmans-food.com/ Woodman's]: two locations -- [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=725+S+Gammon+Rd+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=43.055217,-89.50304&spn=0.05381,0.171661 East] and [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3817+Milwaukee+St,+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.103615,-89.319363&spn=0.053768,0.171661&om=1 West]. If you have a car and the time, go here. Very large, very cheap, but time consuming. They don't take credit cards, so bring a debit card or check book. Check out the liquor store for a large selection (you can buy all types of alcohol in grocery stores in Wisconsin... but not after 9pm).<br />
<br />
*[http://www.traderjoes.com/ Trader Joe's]: Located at 1810 Monroe St. They have good prices for select specialty food items such as wine, cheese and fancy snacks. Their basic foodstuffs tend to be a bit pricey.<br />
<br />
*The Jenifer Street Market located on 2038 Jenifer Street is a nice little grocery store if you happen to live in the area.<br />
<br />
== Co-ops ==<br />
Co-ops are a good source of local organic food. If you are a member they provide discounts, but you can also shop there at your own will.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.regentmarketcoop.org/ Regent Market Cooperative], 2136 Regent St. 233-4329.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.willystreet.coop/ Willy Street Co-op] The largest and most active co-op in the Madison area. They have been able to survive the decline in co-ops over the years. They offer a large selection of bulk foods and spices at an excellent price. For a quick bite, they have an excellent deli, salad bar, and in-store coffee shop. 1221 Williamson St. 251-6776. They recently opened a second store in Middleton located at 6825 University Ave. Both locations deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
== Specialty Foods ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.aldifoods.com/ Aldi Foods]: Very cheap! Little selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=keJ&q=asian+midway+foods&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,304616636444102595&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Asian Midway Market]: The go-to market for anything Thai, Chinese or South-East Asian, this centrally-located store comes highly recommended. In particular, they offer a great selection of specialized produce. 301 South Park Street; 255-5864<br />
<br />
*[http://www.brennansmarket.com/ Brennan's Market]: Great for Produce, Meats, Cheese, Micro brews and Wines. You won't find things like Flour and Saran Wrap here, but definitely worth the trip.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/ Farm Fresh Atlas]: Not a grocery store, but a good resource for where you can buy local foods and a list of farms in the areas.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madseafood.com/ The Seafood Center]: The name says it all. Great fresh fish and live lobsters.<br />
<br />
*[http://frabonisdeli.com/ Fraboni's]: An awesome Italian grocery store and deli. They have very good [http://frabonisdeli.com/oils olive oils], [http://frabonisdeli.com/pastas pastas], and make-your-own pizza fixings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3723579948/garden-asian-market-middleton Garden Asian Market]: A full service Asian food market specializing in fresh meat, produce, and seafood. Mostly Chinese-leaning, they do a good job of providing a wide variety of items within their niche. It may be far out, but it's worth the trip in its pleasantness and selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=india+house+grocery+store,+madison,+wi&fb=1&gl=us&hq=india+house+grocery+store,&hnear=Madison,+WI&cid=0,0,8495347478199843118&ll=43.050466,-89.503019&spn=0.007871,0.019183&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A India House]: Really well done Indian grocery store. Good place to buy Kari leaves.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=TMe&q=lee%27s+oriental&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,92533124768468793&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Lee's Oriental]: Next to Penzey's spices. 3240 University Ave; 231-1593<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=2Me&q=oriental+shop&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,13628497956998458364&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Oriental Shop]: They carry mostly dry-goods, and tend to lean toward stocking more Korean items. 1206 South Park Street; 255-0326<br />
<br />
= Housing =<br />
<br />
Haven't found a place yet? Already hate your apartment?<br />
<br />
* [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/ UW Off-Campus Housing Search]: Probably the best search site for students.<br />
<br />
* Again, [http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List] is a good resourse. Also a good place to look for roommates outside of the department.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/ University Apartments]: On campus graduate housing, particularly popular with married couples (especially with children). Singles are also welcome. Many of them are on the bus route #80, a free route which runs from the apartments through campus every ten minutes throughout the day.<br />
<br />
== Location, Location, Location ==<br />
<br />
If you would like to keep your commute down, there are many places near campus. Many graduate students prefer to live close enough to Van Vleck to be within walking distance, yet far enough away to stay away from partying undergraduate students.<br />
<br />
Many graduate students live in the Vilas neighborhood, which is located South of Regent Street and between Park and Monroe. East of the Capitol building, we also have the Willy St. neighborhood (between Williamson and Rutledge streets, between Paterson and Thornton) and the other side of the Isthmus, between Mifflin and Lake Mendota. The university offers on campus housing at Eagle Heights with regular buses. Many students also live near Sheboygan and University Avenues (not on this map), and there are regular buses that run up University Avenue that will drop you off right in front of Van Vleck. The large apartment complexes in that area include the Normandy, Chapel Hill, Carolina, Monticello, Hilldale Towers, Park Towers, and Sovereign Apartments which are cheaper to live in than spots on the square.<br />
<br />
Because there is no parking on campus, you will need to plan on living within walking distance of a bus route or campus itself. You will receive a free bus pass for the [http://www.cityofmadison.com/metro/ Madison Metro] system, which is very reliable. Check out the “plan your trip” link to find bus routes near you.<br />
<br />
Here is an approximate map of many areas where you will be likely to find housing: <br />
[[Image:gradhousingmap.jpg|400px| center | Housing Map]]<br />
<br />
Basically, shoot for zones 2-6, the North parts of zones 7 and 8, or the far East part of zone 10 on [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/map_all.asp this map] (the map from the UW Off-Campus Housing Search).<br />
<br />
== Stuff your landlord might not tell you ==<br />
<br />
*Utilities:<br />
Lots of apartments have water, sewage, heat, and and sometimes electricity included in rent. For those which don't, be sure to find out what to expect through the [http://mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/ Madison Gas and Electric] web page. Just tell them the address of the place you're looking at, and they'll tell you what the highs, lows, and averages have been over the last year.<br />
<br />
*Property information:<br />
The [http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/property.html City Assessor] has all of the basic information about Madison properties on file, including how many units are on the property, how much square footage there is, if there's AC in the building, what school district it's in, who your alderperson would be, and what else is on the property (e.g. garages). They'll even tell you how much the property is worth, and how much your landlord is paying in property taxes. Sometimes the square footage isn't broken up--for example, maybe there are two units on the first floor, but they'll only tell you that there are 1,700 sq ft on that floor, not how it's split up between the two units. It can be a useful site for rounding out your knowledge of places you're considering renting.<br />
<br />
*Tenants rights:<br />
The [http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/ Tenant resource center] is a small non-profit membership organization which provides housing counseling, mediation services and office assistance. Their website includes tips for new renters, generic rental forms, and advice for what to do if your landlord just won't get back to you about repairs, returning deposits, etc.<br />
There is also the [http://studenttenantunion.rso.wisc.edu/ Student tenant union], which is specifically targeted to UW students.<br />
<br />
== Rental Companies ==<br />
Many properties in Madison are run by rental companies -- some large, some small -- some good, some not-so-good. Larger companies tend to have lower prices, and more people working toward maintaining rentals. However, they may have less of an investment in taking care of each individual property or screening their tenants. Some people feel better renting from small companies, or landlords with only one or two houses. You may get more individual attention and care. Individuals have more investment in protecting each property, and renting to good tenants, so the properties tend to be in more reliable condition. However, with fewer properties comes fewer resources and higher prices.<br />
<br />
Whatever choice you make, be sure to have a conversation with your potential landlords about their polices, especially if you aren't going to be able to see things in person. It may also be good to Google the company or person to see if other people have had something good or bad to say about them or their properties. In particular, [http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Madison.html ApartmentRatings.com] has a few of the apartment complexes around town listed.<br />
<br />
Here are some general impressions/very subjective opinions that some of us have gotten from/about a few of the larger local companies:<br />
<br />
*AB Holdings: In particular, they have a couple small apartment buildings on Vilas that are particularly ideal for two people. Quite a few people from the department have rented these units and have been pretty happy.<br />
<br />
*[http://apexrents.com/ Apex Property Management]: Great company. Well-maintained properties, with many of the more recently remodeled rentals being very nice. Their representatives are helpful and responsible, and their tenants seem to be generally satisfied.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.centralmadison.com/ The Christensen Company]: Not terribly up-to-date apartments, but worth taking a look at.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonproperty.com/ Madison Property Management]: Lots of choices, but notoriously junky properties. They tend to cater mostly to undergraduates, and their rentals show it. We wouldn't recommend renting from this company unless you visit first.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.mcbridecompanies.com/ The McBride Companies]: Nice properties, good management. Really good website if you turn the sound off.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.tallardapartments.com/ Tallard Apartments]: Nice properties with very friendly and responsive staff. Their rentals tend to go early in the season.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wimci.com/ Wisconsin Management Company]: Nice enough properties, but kind of flakey representation. Make sure to ask lots of questions.<br />
<br />
*The Wright Company (or Norris Ct. Apartments): Very nice older buildings, but kind of sketchy management. Nothing is going to be in stellar shape, but they do tend to rent more to graduates and professionals, so they aren't beat up either. If you do rent from them, don't expect them to be very responsive, and be sure to be especially careful about protecting your security deposit by taking photos and keeping a record of your move-in report.<br />
<br />
= Furniture =<br />
<br />
*[http://www.svdpmadison.org/ St. Vincent DePaul's]: Like Goodwill. Has cheap dressers, desks, chairs, and general household stuff. Will deliver for a small charge. This is also a great place to donate any furniture or other items that you no longer want – they will pick up the items from your apartment. There is also a Goodwill in town, but they won't have nearly the same volume of furniture.<br />
<br />
*[http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List]: a free online classifieds site. Great not only for furniture, but also pet resources and last minute apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
*Eagle Heights Apartment Bulletin Boards: Lots of cheap stuff from people graduating, many of whom are moving overseas. You can even find cars. You can try posting your own wanted posters on the boards. You can find these boards at the bus stops for the (free) bus 80 route.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/madisonfreecycle/ Freecycle]: A community "give stuff away for free" website with a Madison branch.<br />
<br />
*Hippie Christmas ("Move-Out Day"): For some reason or another, the evening of August 14th is when the bulk of leases near campus turn over. This is a fantastic day to pick up free furniture from the street. If you already have a rental van, why not help municipal waste by pickup up a bookshelf for them?<br />
<br />
*The Todd Drive Area: Just west of park street on the beltline. American Furniture for furniture and electronics, Home Concepts for cheap but nice looking furniture, and Steinhafel's for furniture and mattresses.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html SWAP]. The UW's surplus supply store.<br />
<br />
= International Student Resources =<br />
Here are a few links specifically for international students. There are international grocery stores listed in the [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Graduate_Student_Guide#Specialty_Foods groceries] section.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcssa.net/ Chinese Student & Scholar Association]: A connection to the university's Chinese community for incoming students. They offer rides from the airport, list general information about madison, and organize get-tegethers/Chinese celebrations. International Conversation & Coffee Hour: meet other international students and americans interested in other cultures. Every Friday, 12-2pm, Cooper Hearth Room 160, Union South.<br />
<br />
*[http://iss.wisc.edu/ International Student Services]: the UW's International Student Services<br />
<br />
*[http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MADindians/ MadIndians]: a Yahoo online group for students from India in Madison. Good place to search for an Indian roommate.<br />
<br />
*[http://mtsa.rso.wisc.edu/ Madison Association of Turkish Students]: Very helpful for incoming Turkish students. It includes information about how best to get to Madison from Turkey, information about housing, and how to reach other Turkish students in Madison.<br />
<br />
= Newspapers =<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/captimes/ The Capitol Times]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the afternoon. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more liberal.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.thedailypage.com/ The Isthmus]: Free independent Madison newspaper. Has a liberal voice and is full of entertainment, including family fun, outdoor attractions, and fine arts. Also puts out the Annual Manual - the yearly guide to all things Madison.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.theonion.com/ The Onion]: While hilarious, this paper is only really good if you're already in on the joke. We get free paper copies in Madison. There is a stack near the elevators in VV. The local edition has local entertainment listings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Wisconsin State Journal]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the mornings. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more conservative.<br />
<br />
= Religious Groups =<br />
*[http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/ Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/ Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church]: Near Sheboygan Ave. at 110 N Whitney Way. A huge church, but with opportunities to get involved and meet people. It has services in the sanctuary, with a mixture of traditional and semi-modern worship, and also "video cafe" services with more lively, modern worship. Very good teaching.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cpcmadison.com/ Christ Presbyterian Church]. Just east of James Madison Park on Gorham. Has a great choir and organist!<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fusmadison.org/ The First Unitarian Society of Madison]. "A liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue." Looking for something new? They're open to all types. Also, they are housed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.folmadison.org/ Fountain of Life]: 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. A multi-ethnic church with a lot of eclectic music styles, including a lot of Gospel music<br />
<br />
*[http://genevacc.org/ The Geneva Campus Church]: On Campus Reformed church. They describe themselves as "a university church for the whole family"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwhillel.org/ Hillel]: UW-Madison's on-campus center for everything Jewish: religious, cultural, political, traditional, and alternative. Located on Langdon Street, it serves both the school population and, to a far lesser extent, the entire city.<br />
<br />
*[http://islamiccentermadison.org/ Islamic Center of Madison]: Has a masjid inside. 21 N Orchard St, (608)251-9851<br />
<br />
*[http://ivgcf.rso.wisc.edu/ InterVarsity Grad Christian Fellowship]: It's a welcoming place for Christians and non-Christians alike. (You might even find your future husband/wife there) They also have a website with info about local churches. There is a new student picnic at the beginning of the fall semester.<br />
<br />
*Latter Day Saints: There are a number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wards in the Madison area. The Madison First Ward covers areas closest to campus and meets at 4505 Regent Street, two blocks south of Hilldale Mall, at 9am. The University Ward serves single adults and meets at 1711 University Avenue at 10 am. The Madison Third Ward serves areas close to campus and meets at 701 Bear Claw Way on Madison's far west side at 11 am. Visitors and the curious are always welcome.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lccmadison.com/ Lutheran Campus Center]: A fairly young, enthusiastic, and liberal-minded congragation, found right on campus.<br />
<br />
*[http://madcitychurch.org/ Mad City Church]: A non-denominational, casual christian fellowship. Services are held in the LaFollette High School located on Madison's east side - very near the corner of Pflaum Rd. and Monona Dr. Office at 2713 E. Washington Ave.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.muuyacm.org/ Madison UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry (MUUYACM)]. One of the largest and most active Unitarian Universalist young adult groups in the U.S., they are open to young adults (ages 18-35) of all denominations. In addition to worships, they organize social-justice-oriented activities, and are an active member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcatholic.org/ St. Paul's University Catholic Center]: On campus in Library Mall near Lake & State. Has a lively Catholic grad student group called Mustard Seed with Bible studies, Thursday night speakers, retreats, service projects, and large quantities of food and euchre.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.unityofmadison.org/ Unity of Madison]: (from their site) "Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community focused on Truth Seeking and Spiritual Growth through the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire, nuture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live Jesus' message that 'the kingdom of God is within you.'"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.isthmuszencommunity.org/ Zen Buddhism]: A local zen buddhist center is located next to Willy st co-op. New comers are especially welcome.<br />
<br />
= Arts and Entertainment =<br />
<br />
Madison is a medium sized city with a not so medium sized arts and entertainment scene. There are cultural events on campus<br />
and at the [http://www.overturcenter.com Overture Center]; sporting events; art, science, natural history, and history museums; parks, the<br />
[http://www.uwarboretum.org arboretum], and [http://www.olbrich.org botanical gardens]; a free [http://www.vilaszoo.org zoo]; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; a [http://www.madfarmmkt.com Farmer’s Market] on the<br />
Capital Square every Saturday morning from April-October; and lots of other things. The [http://www.thedailypage.com Isthmus], is the local free newspaper which posts many current events.<br />
The Isthmus can be found in many stores, in campus buildings, and on street corners.<br />
<br />
== Athletic Activities ==<br />
* [http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/ Rec Sports] runs the gyms on campus. There are three such on-campus gyms -- The SERF, the Nat, and the Shell, which are free with student ID. For $10/semester, you can attend any of their Group Fitness classes, which cover everything from aerobics and weights to yoga and dance. Also, both the SERF and Nat have indoor pools.<br />
<br />
*The University of Wisconsin has a long standing heritage of being proud of their [http://www.uwbadgers.com/ athletic events]. Men's basketball, football and ice-hockey receive the most attention and as a student, you can obtain season tickets for all of these events.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.mufa.org MUFA] is an ultimate frisbee league that has summer as well as spring and fall seasons. This is a really fun way to stay active and meet some new Madison friends! You don't need to form a team-- just see the link for info about how to join a team looking for more players. Note: the games are often played all over the city and burbs, and are not necessarily reachable by bus. You'll need a car, or a teammate with a car. Also see the link for info about local pick-up games.<br />
<br />
== Dancing ==<br />
<br />
*Ballroom: [http://www.uwmbda.org/ UWMBDA] is the big ballroom dance group here. They have dances with lessons every week on Friday or Saturday and a practice group every Thursday.<br />
<br />
*[http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/dances.htm Contra Dance]: Meetings every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
*International Folk club: meets biweekly Library Mall, Wed/Sun 7:30PM-late.<br />
<br />
*Swing: [http://www.uwswing.com/ Jumptown Swing] is UW's swing club. They host (mostly) weekly dances at Union South, and provide lessons for a nominal fee. See their site for scheduling and links to other swing orgonizations. Also, on Wednesdays, there's dancing at the [http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ Brink Lounge] from 8-11.<br />
<br />
*Salsa: Venues include [http://www.cardinalbar.com/ Cardinal Bar] on Thursdays, [http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/details.php?event=176610 Frida's] on Friday nights. Don't know how to Salsa? There are lessons before dances at Cardinal, and instruction is offered through the Union's minicourses.<br />
<br />
*Tango: the [http://www.madisontango.org/ Madison Tango Society] provides lessons and dances for Argentine Tango. Their site has a good list or other events in and around Madison.<br />
<br />
== Libraries ==<br />
In addition to the many [http://www.library.wisc.edu/ Libraries of UW], the [http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ Madison Public Library] is a great place for books, movies, and music.<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
The Daily Page has a [http://www.thedailypage.com/movies/listing.php listing] of movie times for most of the theaters around town (both big and small):<br />
<br />
*Eastgate, Point and AMC (Star) Cinema are the three larger movie theaters in town.<br />
<br />
*Market Square shows second runs at a good discount. <br />
<br />
*The [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/ Orpheum] is an old cinema within site of the capitol on State street. They tend to show less mainstream movies.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.sundancecinemas.com/madison.html Sundance 608] shows independent film as well as blockbuster movies. They have a rooftop cafe that's open during the summer months, 2 bars (you can take a drink into your movie), and a restaurant!<br />
<br />
For on-campus movies:<br />
*The Wisconsin Union Directorate runs on campus screening of films. Their film site can be found [http://www.union.wisc.edu/WUD/film.aspx here.]<br />
<br />
*The UW film department hosts free screenings of a wide array of films based on a given theme for that semester through their [http://cinema.wisc.edu/ cinematheque.] Their department has many contacts with other film institutes and are able show rare original 35mm films that you can't see anywhere else.<br />
<br />
*In late March/early April, go check out some of the many many films showing at the [http://www.wifilmfest.org/ Wisconsin Film Festival.] Sites all over town take part in hosting the showing of these films.<br />
<br />
Madison also has a number of independent video stores:<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ Four Star Video Heaven] has been voted as a Madison Favorite for a number of years. See their site to browse their collection online.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bongovideo.com/ Bongo Video] has a smaller, but quite tasty selection. Lots of personality, and good daily specials.<br />
<br />
== Music ==<br />
Whether you're looking to play music, or just go watch free or (in)expensive concerts, there are many options in Madison.<br />
<br />
*Our very own [http://music.wisc.edu/ Music Department] hosts many music events. Their website has a calendar listing current music events including faculty concerts and student recitals.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonsymphony.org/ The Madison Symphony Orchestra] (MSO) is the professional symphony based here in Madison. With your student ID, you can get student rush tickets for as little as $10 per person.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wcoconcerts.org/ The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra] is Madison's professional chamber orchestra. Each summer, their widely popular [http://www.wcoconcerts.org/new/cos/concertsonthesquare.php concerts on the square] draw many people from all over the place for a free outdoor concert.<br />
<br />
*[http://madisoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Madison Community Orchestra] (MCO) is an informal group run by Madison Area Technical College that meets once a week. There are four free concerts a year and no auditions to play with the group.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.middletoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Middleton Community Orchestra] is a second newly formed community orchestra run by community musicians. Their concerts are extremely affordable, and they may run auditions.<br />
<br />
== Outdoor Activites ==<br />
Madison is a very bicycle friendly town, and there are many parks either in town or within a short drive. Here are some suggestions about outdoor activities to engage in:<br />
<br />
*Take a nice long walk along one of the many paths around [http://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/imap/LakeshoreNaturePreserve.html Picnic Point]... bike the path from Memorial Union out to the tip, or bus/drive out to the base of picnic point and wander the foot trails in the area.<br />
<br />
*Head towards Monona Terrace on Lake Monona, and take one of the paths that wraps around the lake (great bike ride!).<br />
<br />
*You can also go walking and/or biking around the [http://uwarboretum.org/ Arboretum] south of campus and tour their gardens, or head to the free [http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Vilas Zoo]. Lake Wingra is essentially totally surrounded by wooded areas including Henry Vilas Park, the UW-arboretum and Edgewood college. You can rent canoes at Knickerbocker for fairly cheap and relax on Lake Wingra.<br />
<br />
*Community Gardens: There are a number of community gardens run by the [http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/ Community Action Coalition]. Nominally, you can sign up for a plot for a small fee, and learn how to garden if you don't already know, or go to town if you already do. The [http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/ Eagle Heights Community Garden] is open to both residents and non-residents alike. All of the gardens are fun to look at if you haven't ever seen one.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.olbrich.org/ The Olbrich Botanical Gardens] are located east of lake Monona. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including their award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden, or enjoy the year-round tropical Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds.. Outdoor gardens are open daily and free to the public, while entrance to the conservatory is $1 per person.<br />
<br />
*Catch a festival; Madison is home to a number of festivals -- big festivals, small festivals, arts festivals, music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals -- we've got all kinds.<br />
<br />
The Winter opens itself up to new activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing and other options. The hoofers club runs ice boats on the lake.<br />
<br />
*The city of Madison parks open up outdoor [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct2.html ice skating] at Tenney, Vilas, and Elver parks. No skates? No worries. They will rent skates to you there ($6.00 for the first hour, $2/hr after that).<br />
<br />
*There is also [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct4.html cross-country skiing] at a number of Dane county parks, with passes starting at $5/day. No skills? Check out lessons at the [http://www.madnorski.org/page/ Madison Nordic Ski Club] or, again, [http://sns.hoofers.org/ Hoofers] has lots to offer in that area.<br />
<br />
== Student Clubs ==<br />
The University of Wisconsin, being a rather large institution, has got so much stuff going on for all of us student-types. Here are some ways people around the department have been taking advantage:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop]: Located upstairs in the Memorial Union, they are "here to satisfy your creative urges in a variety of craft media." Their facilities include a darkroom, a woodshop, a ceramics studio, metal working tools, etc. Friday afternoons, they open their studios to all union members (that means you!) for free!<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hoofers.org/ Hoofers]: Student outdoor recreation club. The Outing and Sailing clubs in particular have lots of graduate students.<br />
<br />
* [http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]: Graduate Student Collaborative Organization<br />
<br />
* [http://cfli.wisc.edu/student_organizations.htm Student Organizations]: at UW Madison (this is a directory of all registered student organizations at the university; you can search by topic or name)<br />
<br />
== The Student Unions ==<br />
The Memorial Union is located on the lakefront, on Park and Langdon. Be sure to check out the Terrace while the weather is still good -- it's a great place to go to get out of the office, grab something to snack on, and study out in the sun. You'll find the Daily Scoop (yummy ice cream!) and Der Rathskeller (beer and deep-fried goodness). You'll also find all sorts of stuff to keep you busy, like the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop], the Union Theater, the Hoofers' headquarters, and a wide array of Mini Courses with which to expand your horizons.<br />
<br />
Also useful: the travel services center and STA Travel will get you good deals on trips (including bus tickets to O'Hare, Midway, and Milwaukee airports), and the theater's box office will get you good deals on shows (theater, music, etc) all around town. In addition, the Union has always got other special events going on to keep all of us entertained -- see their complete [http://www.union.wisc.edu/activities/ list of activities].<br />
<br />
The Union South was recently completely renovated and also has many activities available. They have a climbing wall, a bowling alley, pool tables, a beer garden, a wine tasting room, a ballroom, a movie theater and many other things.<br />
<br />
= Van Vleck Miscellany =<br />
Here's a bit more info about the happenings in and around the Math Dept.<br />
<br />
== Getting money ==<br />
*Paychecks: The first paycheck of the year arrives in October, though you may request an advance on about 30% of your first paycheck when you arrive. If you are not working over the summer, the last will come in June, so be sure to plan for the three month gap.<br />
<br />
*Fees: You will be charged for segregated fees in both semesters, and are not covered in your tuition. The amount depends on your credit load and status, but will be about $500 for most people and due about the time of your first paycheck. If you are on fellowship, this will be taken care of for you, and shouldn't appear on your bill.<br />
<br />
*TA union: The teaching assistants of Wisconsin are unionized. Even if you are not a TA, but are an employee of the department, you're still connected to them through advocacy and campus issues. For more information check out the [http://www.taa-madison.org/ TAA].<br />
<br />
== Getting stuff done ==<br />
See the Contacts section for a list of people who will help you get stuff done.<br />
<br />
If you want to reserve rooms in Van Vleck for review sessions or meetings you can fill out a green form with Sharon Paulson on the second floor. Sharon does the scheduling for about 4 or 5 rooms in the building, so you can also ask her about these rooms directly. If you need to reserve the 9th floor lounge, talk to Joan Wendt (also second floor).<br />
<br />
Each grad receives 200 photocopies and 250 black and white print outs a month for personal math use. If you are a TA, Sharon in the Copy Center on the second floor can photocopy materials for classes (which does not count toward your quota)– such as worksheets and quizzes. Just give her at least 24 hours notice. To check your printout quota, open a terminal logged into the math server, and type "pages". If you do go over your quota, you will simply get a (probably very small) bill at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
We get free office supplies on the 2nd floor – just ask the Receptionist for pens, folders, etc.<br />
<br />
You can pick up and send out your mail from the second floor. You might even want to have packages delivered to the department, to avoid missing them being delivered at home (UPS, for example, won't drop off to apartment complexes if you aren't there, so you'll have to drive out to Middleton to pick up your packages).<br />
<br />
It's never too early to start studying for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/graduate/quals.htm quals]... early and often, my friends. Early and Often.<br />
<br />
== Getting together ==<br />
Historically, some afternoons and Friday before colloquium, we have a cookie and coffee social hour on the 9th floor lounge. Keep your eyes open for announcements.<br />
<br />
Definitely check out some of the colloquia and seminars. The earlier you get involved the better. This is a great way to learn more about potential research areas, meet other people in the areas, and meet other mathematicians in other departments. There is a list posted on the 9th floor each week in addition to online.<br />
<br />
Once a semester, our group for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ women in mathematics] get together for an informal potluck. We also have been known to bring in women speakers funded by the [http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/ WiSELI] grant.<br />
<br />
= Miscellaneous Wisconsin Stuff =<br />
This section describes miscellaneous Wisconsin stuff that doesn't belong in any other section, such as, a [[Wisconsin Dictionary]] for those who aren't familiar with the Wisconsin vernacular.<br />
<br />
== Voting ==<br />
Frequently asked questions for Wisconsin voting can be found <br />
[http://wisconsin.gov/state/core/faq_wisconsin_voting_elections.html here]. <br />
As of the April election, Wisconsin has a law that allows for same day registration at the polls:<br />
<br />
''If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.''<br />
<br />
Out of state licenses work, and utility bills, bank statements, or pay checks with your name and address on them work for proof of residence.<br />
<br />
== Car Stuff ==<br />
Madison has a DMV out on the west side, just past Midvale, at 4802 Sheboygan Ave, and one on the east side out near the airport. <br />
<br />
*Licenses: As they say on their page for licensing new residents, if you're looking to put your permanent residence here and vote here and generally show up on the radar, you should apply for your [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/nonreside/index.htm WI license] within 60 days of establishing residency. Your first baseline license costs $28, and is valid for three years. Note: you will need to take with you, among other things, something like a rent agreement, or a utility bill, UW transcript, or bank statement actually mailed to your WI address (no e-bills). We'll note that math students have been known to wait longer than 60 days to officially apply for residency, but we recommend you don't wait until an out-of-state license expires to get a WI license.<br />
<br />
*Vehicle Registration: If you own a car and officially become a WI resident, you need to get WI plates. All the information you need is available [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/new/resident.htm here].<br />
<br />
*Parking: First, unless you have a motorcycle, '''don't''' plan to park on campus regularly. For parking near your residence, there are some options. Depending on the neighborhood, it's possible to rent a place that has parking included or available for an extra charge. Additionally, if you live in an area surrounded by 2-hr parking [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/documents/RP3allmap.pdf zones], you can usually buy a permit (for a little over $20 per year) allowing you to park on the street all day near your home. More information can be found on the City of Madison Parking Utility [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingUtility/index.cfm page]. Most importantly, "the vehicle for which you are requesting a permit must be owned by you, your child, your parents/step parents, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner, or be a leased or company vehicle which is assigned to you." <br />
<br />
BE AWARE! Winter parking gets all crazy in Madison (from November 15 - March 15). Most of town is on an alternate side parking schedule: cars should be parked on the even (resp. odd) house numbered side of the street from 1:00a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on even (resp. odd) numbered days. If you live on the isthmus in the Snow Emergency Zone, you will only need to do this when the weather gets really bad. You can sign up for alerts when this happens.<br />
<br />
If you leave your car in the wrong place -- with winter nonsense or for any other reason -- and it gets towed, you can call the Madison Police Department (266-4260) or Schmidt's Towing (257-0505) to find out what they've done with it.<br />
<br />
== Taxes ==<br />
Once you've lived here for an entire calendar year, be sure to look into the [http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/home.html Wisconsin Homestead Credit]... it's usually worth the time and effort for graduate students. Until then, you can look into [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html deducting moving costs] for relocating here on your federal taxes.<br />
<br />
A warning to students on fellowship: taxes will not be taken out of your paycheck, but you still have to pay them. You may want to consider filing [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199807,00.html quarterly].<br />
<br />
== Wisconsin benefit programs ==<br />
We don't exactly get piles of money for teaching. In fact, most people who are not on fellowship or receiving summer funding can qualify for some heating aid (up to $380/year), and electricity aid (up to $285/year). You can check your eligibility at [https://access.wisconsin.gov/ Access WI]. <br />
There may be some residency requirements, like the Homestead credit. You can find your annual salary in our [http://www.taa-madison.org/contract/index.html contract].<br />
<br />
== Residency ==<br />
While it's usually a good idea to become a WI resident, if, for some reason, you're looking to declare residency in WI for tuition purposes, the answer is usually "no." It seems that one has to be in Wisconsin for a full year before enrolling at the UW, and one has to prove that one did not move here primarily for educational purposes (according to the Wisconsin statutes, you have to provide "clear and convincing evidence"). More on that at the [http://www.registrar.wisc.edu/students/residence/index.php Office of the Registrar]'s site.<br />
<br />
= Contacts and Other Resources =<br />
*[http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/gradguide/index.html Guide to Graduate Student Life]: The Graduate Student Collaborative's ([http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]) guide to grad student life in Madison -- like this one, but different.<br />
<br />
* [[Teaching Assistant Guide]]: from real live Van Vleck TAs<br />
<br />
*[http://www.yelp.com/madison-wi Yelp.com]: Find reviews of local stuff- restaurants and things to do, but also dentists, auto shops, etc.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.vip.wisc.edu VIP], the Visitor & Information Programs office, located in the Red Gym, near [http://www.union.wisc.edu Memorial Union]. They are open M - F 8am - 5pm and Saturday 11am - 2pm. <br />
<br />
*[http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu Student Orientation Handbook] is a valuable resource for information including entertainment, recreational and varsity sports, student organizations (including those for cultural groups, international students, LGBT students, women, veterans, and people with disabilities), health services, jobs, transportation, safety, and housing. It’s also a great place for referrals to counseling services, including drug and alcohol and sexual assault issues. You can find all this information on the web, at http://www.wisc.edu/visitingCampus/ or call them at 263-2400. You can also email any questions you have to askbucky@uwmad.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lgbt.wisc.edu LGBT Campus Center]: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Center (265-3344; lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu) provides support, social, educational and research services to the campus community, and serves as UW-Madison's first stop for those looking for information about campus LGBT organizations. The Memorial Union office on the 2nd floor includes a library, a television and DVD player, plenty of comfortable seating, open computers, and has a staff of students and professionals that work to bring events, speakers, and programs to campus. The Center also publishes a weekly events e-letter and offers support and social groups.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ WIMAW] (Women in Math at Wisconsin.)<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Got Questions? Here are some folks who might just have the answers...<br />
<br />
== Counseling Services ==<br />
Counseling services are available through Counseling and [http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/ Consultation Services (C&CS)], located at 115 North Orchard Street, (265-5600, TTY number 265-3300). C&CS offers brief psychological treatment, personal counseling, and psychiatric services to UW-Madison students. Frequent services include help in overcoming depression, managing anxiety and other psychological issues, and in developing greater self-awareness, independence, and self-direction. They also provide personal problem counseling, couples relationship counseling, marriage and family counseling, cross-cultural counseling, and alcohol and drug assessment and referral. Specialized groups have included: graduate women support, women and self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, survivors of troubled families, rebuilding relationships. C&CS also provides crisis response at the above phone numbers. Services provided are covered by the student health fee (included in your student fees).<br />
<br />
== Administrative and Support Staff ==<br />
The administrative and support staff are the folk that keep our department functioning. Without them, we as mathematicians would be lost. :) Their pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/support_staff.html here] and their contact info can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/academic_staff.html here]. If one person doesn't know how to deal with a problem you might have, they certainly know who might be able to help you out.<br />
<br />
TBD<br />
Position: Timetable/Undergraduate<br />
Office: 207 VV<br />
Email: ????@math<br />
Ask them about: Registration (for you and your students), MyUW stuff, classroom assignments.<br />
<br />
David Camacho<br />
Position: Assoc Fac Assoc<br />
Office: 321 VV<br />
Email: camacho@math<br />
Ask David about: the Math Tutorial Program (if a student needs extra attention)<br />
<br />
Mark Castillo<br />
Position: Grants/Proposals<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: castillo @math<br />
Ask Mark about: grant money, coffee club<br />
<br />
Chris Uhlir<br />
Position: Payroll/Benefits<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: grenie@math<br />
Ask Mike about: Payroll, hourly positions, taxes, tuition, healthcare, and benefits. <br />
<br />
Sara Nagreen<br />
Position: Sr IPC<br />
Office: 515 VV<br />
Email: nagreen@math<br />
Ask Sara about: all things computing.<br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson<br />
Position: Copy Center Manager/ Room Reservations<br />
Office: 220 VV<br />
Email: paulson@math<br />
Ask Sharon about: Room reservations (review sessions/exams/other), Copy Center stuff, private tutoring list.<br />
<br />
Mary Rice<br />
Position: Grad Prog. Admin<br />
Office: 203 VV<br />
Email: mrice@math<br />
Ask Mary about: Math dept records (teaching letters, transcripts, etc), how you go about graduating.<br />
<br />
Diane Rivard<br />
Position: Placement Advisor<br />
Office: 720 VV<br />
Email: rivard@math<br />
Ask Diane about: Placement questions (what class your student should be in, placement exam issues)<br />
<br />
Joan Wendt<br />
Position: Chair Secretary<br />
Office: 223 VV<br />
Email: wendt@math<br />
Ask Joan about: office assignments and keys<br />
<br />
Barbara Erlenborn<br />
Position: Dept Administrator<br />
Office: 218 VV<br />
Email: erlenborn@math<br />
Ask Barb about: admin stuff<br />
<br />
== Current and Former Graduate Students Interested in Meeting YOU ==<br />
You can find a complete list of current graduate students [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/psdbgrad.html here], and pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/grad.html here]. Email addresses that end with @ are intended to finish with @math.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
Hans Chaumont<br />
Email: chaumont@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~chaumont Website:]<br />
Grad-Age: Started 2012<br />
Area of interest: Undecided<br />
Ask Hans about: Pretty much anything, but especially about tea or the math weightlifting team.<br />
<br />
Laura Cladek<br />
Email: cladek@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~cladek Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2011<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Laura about: Anything ... Especially analysis or on campus housing.<br />
<br />
Nathan Collins<br />
Email: nathan.collins@gmail.com<br />
[http://cs.pdx.edu/~ntc2 Website]<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2008<br />
Area of interest: Computer Science and Logic.<br />
Ask Nathan about: Pittsburgh, bicycles, and being inferior to Mason at TAing. He dislikes printers and bad margins.<br />
<br />
David Dynerman<br />
Email: dynerman@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~dynerman Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask David about: programming video games, trying to do Hartshorne problems, <br />
going to the gym, Mushfeq Khan, Andrew Bridy<br />
<br />
Thomas Hangelbroek<br />
Email: hangelbr@math.hawaii.edu<br />
[http://math.hawaii.edu/people/hangelbr/ Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2007<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Thomas about: Anything Madison. Thomas is an expert in all things Madison.<br />
<br />
Sara Jensen<br />
Email: jensen@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jensen Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask Sara about: Teaching, topology & algebra quals, knitting group, going to the gym <br />
<br />
(Evan) Alec Johnson<br />
Email: ejohnson@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson Website]<br />
Grad-age: Ph.D., 2012<br />
Area of interest: Applied Math and Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask Alec about: teaching, advanced calculus, gardening, and Geneva Campus Church.<br />
<br />
Christine Lien<br />
Email: lien@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lien Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2005<br />
Area of interest: Complex Geometry<br />
Ask Christine about: anything, including bridge/card games, organizing women's events, <br />
the Association of Asian American Graduate students, and the Graduate Student Topology Seminar.<br />
<br />
Hao Lin<br />
Email: lin@<br />
[http://genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=156703 Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Hao about: sports and anything about China.<br />
<br />
Jonathon Mason<br />
Email: jonathan.f.mason@gmail.com<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2010<br />
Ask Mason about: Wisconsin hiking, the local film scene and being "way better than Nathan Collins" at TAing.<br />
<br />
Jason Murcko<br />
Email: murcko@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~murcko Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2006<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Jason about: the TAA and the local film and music scenes.<br />
<br />
Mike Schroeder<br />
Email: schroede@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~schroede UW Website]. [http://science.marshall.edu/schroederm/ Marshall Website].<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Combinatorics<br />
Ask Mike about: softball, bowling, sailing, racquet ball, and the Florida Gators.<br />
<br />
David Seal<br />
Email: seal@math.msu.edu<br />
[http://www.math.msu.edu/~seal Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2012.<br />
Area of interest: Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask David about: movies, biking, hiking and board games.<br />
<br />
Beth Skubak<br />
Email: skubak@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~skubak Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2009<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Beth about: anything, including this wiki<br />
<br />
Mike Woodbury<br />
[http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woodbury/ Website]<br />
Email: woodbury@math.columbia.edu<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011.<br />
Area of interest: Number Theory<br />
Ask Mike about: anything, including number theory, road biking, UW basketball tix.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Guide&diff=5385Graduate Student Guide2013-06-10T15:50:40Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Generic Groceries */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Exams.png|400px|right | Grading Exams in the Lounge]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
= Food =<br />
<br />
There are many ethnic and interesting restaurants in Madison – Indonesian, African, Italian, Himalayan, Laotian, Peruvian, Mexican, Bakeries, Brew Pubs, Coffee Joints, you name it -- and everyone has their favorites.<br />
<br />
The biggest resource for finding food (and entertainment!) in Madison is probably the [http://www.thedailypage.com/eats/ Daily Page] (the online version of our local paper, the Isthmus), where you can search local restaurants by name, locality, and cuisine. There, they have reviews, hours, contact info, pricing, etc. Be sure to peruse their [http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Restaurants Madison's Favorites] section for some quick tips! Of course [http://www.yelp.com/ yelp] is always useful as well. At one point a couple spent a few years trying to sample every restaurant in Madison and blogged about their journey on the [http://www.madisonatoz.com/ Madison A to Z].<br />
<br />
Here are some general food facts:<br />
<br />
== Campus Food ==<br />
*Food Carts: Open for lunch in Library Mall at the foot of Bascom Hill near Lake & State Street. Very good and very cheap, and out as long as it's not too cold.<br />
<br />
*Badger Market at Ingraham Hall: Very close to Van Vleck, and has acceptable coffee (bring your own cup to save money!) and decent snacks. Try the Badger Bundle lunch special: sandwich, drink, and a side for $1 off your total. Halfway down the hill is the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/crossroadscafe.htm Crossroads Cafe] which has much better coffee and is open later.<br />
<br />
*Memorial Union: The Rathskeller has food and next door is Lakeside cafe with much better food. Summer afternoons on the terrace is an excellent place to hang out in the sunshine with a beer and brat.<br />
<br />
*Union South: Features a pizza place, a pan-Asian restaurant, a sandwich shop, a sports bar (burgers and sandwiches) and an ice cream stand. <br />
<br />
*State Street (past the food carts) is full of restaurants and Coffee shops – there are at least a half dozen coffee roasters in town, and each supplies a different set of shops. In particular for lunch, there are the popular chains, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Einstein Bros. Bagels, or Chipotle... or hit the more independent spots such as the Sunroom Cafe or Ian's Pizza.<br />
<br />
*Residence Hall Cafeterias are pretty decent here, but filled with undergraduates! Enter at your own risk!<br />
<br />
== MadTown food ==<br />
<br />
Traditional Madison foods are German varieties such as beer, cheese, and bratwurst. Twice a year Madison hosts [http://www.bratfest.com/ Bratfest], a record breaking event. <br />
UW has [http://babcockhalldairystore.wisc.edu/ Babcock Hall Ice Cream] on campus which creates delicious ice cream available in the Unions. The [http://www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com/ Chocolate Shoppe], [http://www.ilovemichaels.com/ Michael's Frozen Custard] and [http://www.culvers.com/ Culvers] have nice deserts.<br />
Micro breweries in town include the [http://www.greatdanepub.com/ Great Dane], [http://www.capital-brewery.com/ Captial Brewery] and [http://www.aleasylum.com/ Ale Asylum]. Nearby there is the famous [http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/ New Glarus Brewing Co] which only sells beer in Wisconsin. You can join a free beer tour or walk through the brewery on a self guided tourn.<br />
<br />
In early September (Labor Day weekend), check out [http://www.tasteofmadison.com/ Taste of Madison] to see many restaurants all in one place at one time.<br />
<br />
Try a good ol' midwestern Fish Fry on Friday night – All you can eat fried fish generally served with a bran muffin, clam chowder, or coleslaw. Most Brew Pubs and some churches have them, and the [http://www.avenuebarmadison.com/ Avenue Bar and Grill] runs a Friday night Fish Fry.<br />
<br />
== Farm fresh food ==<br />
<br />
The [http://madisonfarmersmarket.com/ Dane County Farmer's Market] is amazing and HUGE. The big one is open every Saturday morning, and is located on the capitol square for most of the year. In addition to the ludicrous amount of fresh produce, there are also bakery stands, coffee, and fresh juice carts for quick breakfasts.<br />
<br />
There are also a few smaller [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farmers_markets.htm#danecounty markets] scattered around town, almost every day of the week:<br />
<br />
*Sunday: 8:30am to 12:30pm in front of Pierce's Northside Market<br />
*Monday: (none)<br />
*Tuesday: 4pm to 7pm on Ingersol at Williamson, 2pm to 6pm at 1602 S. Park St,<br />
*Wednesday: 8am to 2pm on MLKJr Blvd, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center,<br />
*Thursday: Thursdays, 2pm to 6pm at the Villager Mall on Park St., 2pm to 6pm in the McFarland Centre, 7:30am to 1:30pm in the Greenway Station shopping center,<br />
*Friday: (none)<br />
*Saturday: 6am to 2pm on the Capitol square, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center, 9am to 2pm at 1602 S. Park St, 7am to 1pm at Sheboygan Ave. and Segoe Rd., and 8:30am to 11am in Watertower Park.<br />
<br />
During the summer and fall, there are many [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/index.htm local farms] where you can [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farms/u_pick.htm pick] your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, or pumpkins when they are in season.<br />
<br />
If you're in town for the summer, you might consider signing up for a [http://www.macsac.org/ Community Supported Agriculture] food box. CSA is a way to support a local farm by paying an annual fee in the winter or spring which buys you a share of the season's harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick-up a weekly box of fresh foods which may include produce, fruits, cheeses, eggs, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. The typical CSA season in Wisconsin runs from the end of May through mid-October. You do have to pay the lump sum up-front, and some weeks you'll find yourself with five pounds of chard... but for most of the summer you'll have your produce needs met, and you can feel good about supporting small local farms. Better yet, most of the university's insurance providers offer [http://www.macsac.org/rebates.html rebates] for signing up for a CSA -- somewhere between $50-$300, depending on the plan and how many people you're sharing with (for example, if two people on GHC share a box, they might pay $450 for the box for a box lasting 25 weeks, but they they could each get $100 back, making that $5/week per person). If you're interested, remember to sign up early -- most programs are full by May.<br />
<br />
= Grocery Stores =<br />
<br />
== Generic Groceries ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.capcentremarket.com/ Capitol Centre Market]: Given their small size, they have an excellent selection of groceries. They tend to be a bit pricey. In addition, they deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.freshmadisonmarket.com/ Fresh Madison Market]: A reasonably large general grocery store, not too expensive. Has a large selection of "typical college items" (lots of frozen foods). Located on University, not too far from Van Vleck. They also deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.copps.com/ Copps]: Your standard grocery store with multiple locations.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=1020&lang=en-US Costco]: Your friendly big-box bulk store. They treat their employees incredibly well. Good buys on computers, 2 lbs of sockeye salmon or button down oxford cloth long sleeved shirts. You'll need a membership or go there with someone who has a membership. You can also get a free trial membership if you simply ask.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.walgreens.com/ Walgreens]: Pharmacy/Grocery store. There is a Walgreens on the corner of Lake & State Street near Van Vleck, on the Capitol Square, at East Campus Mall, and in University square.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Whole Foods]: Kinda pricey, but good bread, specialty stuff, and produce through the winter.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.woodmans-food.com/ Woodman's]: two locations -- [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=725+S+Gammon+Rd+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=43.055217,-89.50304&spn=0.05381,0.171661 East] and [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3817+Milwaukee+St,+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.103615,-89.319363&spn=0.053768,0.171661&om=1 West]. If you have a car and the time, go here. Very large, very cheap, but time consuming. They don't take credit cards, so bring a debit card or check book. Check out the liquor store for a large selection (you can buy all types of alcohol in grocery stores in Wisconsin... but not after 9pm).<br />
<br />
*[http://www.traderjoes.com/ Trader Joe's]: Located at 1810 Monroe St. They have good prices for select specialty food items such as wine, cheese and fancy snacks. Their basic foodstuffs tend to be a bit pricey.<br />
<br />
*The Jenifer Street Market located on 2038 Jenifer Street is a nice little grocery store if you happen to live in the area.<br />
<br />
== Co-ops ==<br />
Co-ops are a good source of local organic food. If you are a member they provide discounts, but you can also shop there at your own will.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.regentmarketcoop.org/ Regent Market Cooperative], 2136 Regent St. 233-4329.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.willystreet.coop/ Willy Street Co-op] The largest and most active co-op in the Madison area. They have been able to survive the decline in co-ops over the years. They offer a large selection of bulk foods and spices at an excellent price. For a quick bite, they have an excellent deli, salad bar, and in-store coffee shop. 1221 Williamson St. 251-6776. They recently opened a second store in Middleton located at 6825 University Ave. Both locations deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
== Specialty Foods ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.aldifoods.com/ Aldi Foods]: Very cheap! Little selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=keJ&q=asian+midway+foods&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,304616636444102595&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Asian Midway Market]: The go-to market for anything Thai, Chinese or South-East Asian, this centrally-located store comes highly recommended. In particular, they offer a great selection of specialized produce. 301 South Park Street; 255-5864<br />
<br />
*[http://www.brennansmarket.com/ Brennan's Market]: Great for Produce, Meats, Cheese, Micro brews and Wines. You won't find things like Flour and Saran Wrap here, but definitely worth the trip.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/ Farm Fresh Atlas]: Not a grocery store, but a good resource for where you can buy local foods and a list of farms in the areas.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madseafood.com/ The Seafood Center]: The name says it all. Great fresh fish and live lobsters.<br />
<br />
*[http://frabonisdeli.com/ Fraboni's]: An awesome Italian grocery store and deli. They have very good [http://frabonisdeli.com/oils olive oils], [http://frabonisdeli.com/pastas pastas], and make-your-own pizza fixings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3723579948/garden-asian-market-middleton Garden Asian Market]: A full service Asian food market specializing in fresh meat, produce, and seafood. Mostly Chinese-leaning, they do a good job of providing a wide variety of items within their niche. It may be far out, but it's worth the trip in its pleasantness and selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=india+house+grocery+store,+madison,+wi&fb=1&gl=us&hq=india+house+grocery+store,&hnear=Madison,+WI&cid=0,0,8495347478199843118&ll=43.050466,-89.503019&spn=0.007871,0.019183&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A India House]: Really well done Indian grocery store. Good place to buy Kari leaves.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=TMe&q=lee%27s+oriental&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,92533124768468793&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Lee's Oriental]: Next to Penzey's spices. 3240 University Ave; 231-1593<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=2Me&q=oriental+shop&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,13628497956998458364&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Oriental Shop]: They carry mostly dry-goods, and tend to lean toward stocking more Korean items. 1206 South Park Street; 255-0326<br />
<br />
= Housing =<br />
<br />
Haven't found a place yet? Already hate your apartment?<br />
<br />
* [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/ UW Off-Campus Housing Search]: Probably the best search site for students.<br />
<br />
* Again, [http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List] is a good resourse. Also a good place to look for roommates outside of the department.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/ University Apartments]: On campus graduate housing, particularly popular with married couples (especially with children). Singles are also welcome. Many of them are on the bus route #80, a free route which runs from the apartments through campus every ten minutes throughout the day.<br />
<br />
== Location, Location, Location ==<br />
<br />
If you would like to keep your commute down, there are many places near campus. Many graduate students prefer to live close enough to Van Vleck to be within walking distance, yet far enough away to stay away from partying undergraduate students.<br />
<br />
Many graduate students live in the Vilas neighborhood, which is located South of Regent Street and between Park and Monroe. East of the Capitol building, we also have the Willy St. neighborhood (between Williamson and Rutledge streets, between Paterson and Thornton) and the other side of the Isthmus, between Mifflin and Lake Mendota. The university offers on campus housing at Eagle Heights with regular buses. Many students also live near Sheboygan and University Avenues (not on this map), and there are regular buses that run up University Avenue that will drop you off right in front of Van Vleck. The large apartment complexes in that area include the Normandy, Chapel Hill, Carolina, Monticello, Hilldale Towers, Park Towers, and Sovereign Apartments which are cheaper to live in than spots on the square.<br />
<br />
Because there is no parking on campus, you will need to plan on living within walking distance of a bus route or campus itself. You will receive a free bus pass for the [http://www.mymetrobus.com/ Madison Metro] system, which is very reliable. Check out the “plan your trip” link to find bus routes near you.<br />
<br />
Here is an approximate map of many areas where you will be likely to find housing: <br />
[[Image:gradhousingmap.jpg|400px| center | Housing Map]]<br />
<br />
Basically, shoot for zones 2-6, the North parts of zones 7 and 8, or the far East part of zone 10 on [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/map_all.asp this map] (the map from the UW Off-Campus Housing Search).<br />
<br />
== Stuff your landlord might not tell you ==<br />
<br />
*Utilities:<br />
Lots of apartments have water, sewage, heat, and and sometimes electricity included in rent. For those which don't, be sure to find out what to expect through the [http://mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/ Madison Gas and Electric] web page. Just tell them the address of the place you're looking at, and they'll tell you what the highs, lows, and averages have been over the last year.<br />
<br />
*Property information:<br />
The [http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/property.html City Assessor] has all of the basic information about Madison properties on file, including how many units are on the property, how much square footage there is, if there's AC in the building, what school district it's in, who your alderperson would be, and what else is on the property (e.g. garages). They'll even tell you how much the property is worth, and how much your landlord is paying in property taxes. Sometimes the square footage isn't broken up--for example, maybe there are two units on the first floor, but they'll only tell you that there are 1,700 sq ft on that floor, not how it's split up between the two units. It can be a useful site for rounding out your knowledge of places you're considering renting.<br />
<br />
*Tenants rights:<br />
The [http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/ Tenant resource center] is a small non-profit membership organization which provides housing counseling, mediation services and office assistance. Their website includes tips for new renters, generic rental forms, and advice for what to do if your landlord just won't get back to you about repairs, returning deposits, etc.<br />
There is also the [http://studenttenantunion.rso.wisc.edu/ Student tenant union], which is specifically targeted to UW students.<br />
<br />
== Rental Companies ==<br />
Many properties in Madison are run by rental companies -- some large, some small -- some good, some not-so-good. Larger companies tend to have lower prices, and more people working toward maintaining rentals. However, they may have less of an investment in taking care of each individual property or screening their tenants. Some people feel better renting from small companies, or landlords with only one or two houses. You may get more individual attention and care. Individuals have more investment in protecting each property, and renting to good tenants, so the properties tend to be in more reliable condition. However, with fewer properties comes fewer resources and higher prices.<br />
<br />
Whatever choice you make, be sure to have a conversation with your potential landlords about their polices, especially if you aren't going to be able to see things in person. It may also be good to Google the company or person to see if other people have had something good or bad to say about them or their properties. In particular, [http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Madison.html ApartmentRatings.com] has a few of the apartment complexes around town listed.<br />
<br />
Here are some general impressions/very subjective opinions that some of us have gotten from/about a few of the larger local companies:<br />
<br />
*AB Holdings: In particular, they have a couple small apartment buildings on Vilas that are particularly ideal for two people. Quite a few people from the department have rented these units and have been pretty happy.<br />
<br />
*[http://apexrents.com/ Apex Property Management]: Great company. Well-maintained properties, with many of the more recently remodeled rentals being very nice. Their representatives are helpful and responsible, and their tenants seem to be generally satisfied.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.centralmadison.com/ The Christensen Company]: Not terribly up-to-date apartments, but worth taking a look at.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonproperty.com/ Madison Property Management]: Lots of choices, but notoriously junky properties. They tend to cater mostly to undergraduates, and their rentals show it. We wouldn't recommend renting from this company unless you visit first.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.mcbridecompanies.com/ The McBride Companies]: Nice properties, good management. Really good website if you turn the sound off.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.tallardapartments.com/ Tallard Apartments]: Nice properties with very friendly and responsive staff. Their rentals tend to go early in the season.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wimci.com/ Wisconsin Management Company]: Nice enough properties, but kind of flakey representation. Make sure to ask lots of questions.<br />
<br />
*The Wright Company (or Norris Ct. Apartments): Very nice older buildings, but kind of sketchy management. Nothing is going to be in stellar shape, but they do tend to rent more to graduates and professionals, so they aren't beat up either. If you do rent from them, don't expect them to be very responsive, and be sure to be especially careful about protecting your security deposit by taking photos and keeping a record of your move-in report.<br />
<br />
= Furniture =<br />
<br />
*[http://www.svdpmadison.org/ St. Vincent DePaul's]: Like Goodwill. Has cheap dressers, desks, chairs, and general household stuff. Will deliver for a small charge. This is also a great place to donate any furniture or other items that you no longer want – they will pick up the items from your apartment. There is also a Goodwill in town, but they won't have nearly the same volume of furniture.<br />
<br />
*[http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List]: a free online classifieds site. Great not only for furniture, but also pet resources and last minute apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
*Eagle Heights Apartment Bulletin Boards: Lots of cheap stuff from people graduating, many of whom are moving overseas. You can even find cars. You can try posting your own wanted posters on the boards. You can find these boards at the bus stops for the (free) bus 80 route.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/madisonfreecycle/ Freecycle]: A community "give stuff away for free" website with a Madison branch.<br />
<br />
*Hippie Christmas ("Move-Out Day"): For some reason or another, the evening of August 14th is when the bulk of leases near campus turn over. This is a fantastic day to pick up free furniture from the street. If you already have a rental van, why not help municipal waste by pickup up a bookshelf for them?<br />
<br />
*The Todd Drive Area: Just west of park street on the beltline. American Furniture for furniture and electronics, Home Concepts for cheap but nice looking furniture, and Steinhafel's for furniture and mattresses.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html SWAP]. The UW's surplus supply store.<br />
<br />
= International Student Resources =<br />
Here are a few links specifically for international students. There are international grocery stores listed in the [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Graduate_Student_Guide#Specialty_Foods groceries] section.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcssa.net/ Chinese Student & Scholar Association]: A connection to the university's Chinese community for incoming students. They offer rides from the airport, list general information about madison, and organize get-tegethers/Chinese celebrations. International Conversation & Coffee Hour: meet other international students and americans interested in other cultures. Every Friday, 12-2pm, Cooper Hearth Room 160, Union South.<br />
<br />
*[http://iss.wisc.edu/ International Student Services]: the UW's International Student Services<br />
<br />
*[http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MADindians/ MadIndians]: a Yahoo online group for students from India in Madison. Good place to search for an Indian roommate.<br />
<br />
*[http://mtsa.rso.wisc.edu/ Madison Association of Turkish Students]: Very helpful for incoming Turkish students. It includes information about how best to get to Madison from Turkey, information about housing, and how to reach other Turkish students in Madison.<br />
<br />
= Newspapers =<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/captimes/ The Capitol Times]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the afternoon. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more liberal.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.thedailypage.com/ The Isthmus]: Free independent Madison newspaper. Has a liberal voice and is full of entertainment, including family fun, outdoor attractions, and fine arts. Also puts out the Annual Manual - the yearly guide to all things Madison.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.theonion.com/ The Onion]: While hilarious, this paper is only really good if you're already in on the joke. We get free paper copies in Madison. There is a stack near the elevators in VV. The local edition has local entertainment listings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Wisconsin State Journal]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the mornings. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more conservative.<br />
<br />
= Religious Groups =<br />
*[http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/ Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/ Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church]: Near Sheboygan Ave. at 110 N Whitney Way. A huge church, but with opportunities to get involved and meet people. It has services in the sanctuary, with a mixture of traditional and semi-modern worship, and also "video cafe" services with more lively, modern worship. Very good teaching.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cpcmadison.com/ Christ Presbyterian Church]. Just east of James Madison Park on Gorham. Has a great choir and organist!<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fusmadison.org/ The First Unitarian Society of Madison]. "A liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue." Looking for something new? They're open to all types. Also, they are housed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.folmadison.org/ Fountain of Life]: 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. A multi-ethnic church with a lot of eclectic music styles, including a lot of Gospel music<br />
<br />
*[http://genevacc.org/ The Geneva Campus Church]: On Campus Reformed church. They describe themselves as "a university church for the whole family"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwhillel.org/ Hillel]: UW-Madison's on-campus center for everything Jewish: religious, cultural, political, traditional, and alternative. Located on Langdon Street, it serves both the school population and, to a far lesser extent, the entire city.<br />
<br />
*[http://islamiccentermadison.org/ Islamic Center of Madison]: Has a masjid inside. 21 N Orchard St, (608)251-9851<br />
<br />
*[http://ivgcf.rso.wisc.edu/ InterVarsity Grad Christian Fellowship]: It's a welcoming place for Christians and non-Christians alike. (You might even find your future husband/wife there) They also have a website with info about local churches. There is a new student picnic at the beginning of the fall semester.<br />
<br />
*Latter Day Saints: There are a number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wards in the Madison area. The Madison First Ward covers areas closest to campus and meets at 4505 Regent Street, two blocks south of Hilldale Mall, at 9am. The University Ward serves single adults and meets at 1711 University Avenue at 10 am. The Madison Third Ward serves areas close to campus and meets at 701 Bear Claw Way on Madison's far west side at 11 am. Visitors and the curious are always welcome.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lccmadison.com/ Lutheran Campus Center]: A fairly young, enthusiastic, and liberal-minded congragation, found right on campus.<br />
<br />
*[http://madcitychurch.org/ Mad City Church]: A non-denominational, casual christian fellowship. Services are held in the LaFollette High School located on Madison's east side - very near the corner of Pflaum Rd. and Monona Dr. Office at 2713 E. Washington Ave.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.muuyacm.org/ Madison UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry (MUUYACM)]. One of the largest and most active Unitarian Universalist young adult groups in the U.S., they are open to young adults (ages 18-35) of all denominations. In addition to worships, they organize social-justice-oriented activities, and are an active member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcatholic.org/ St. Paul's University Catholic Center]: On campus in Library Mall near Lake & State. Has a lively Catholic grad student group called Mustard Seed with Bible studies, Thursday night speakers, retreats, service projects, and large quantities of food and euchre.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.unityofmadison.org/ Unity of Madison]: (from their site) "Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community focused on Truth Seeking and Spiritual Growth through the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire, nuture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live Jesus' message that 'the kingdom of God is within you.'"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.isthmuszencommunity.org/ Zen Buddhism]: A local zen buddhist center is located next to Willy st co-op. New comers are especially welcome.<br />
<br />
= Arts and Entertainment =<br />
<br />
Madison is a medium sized city with a not so medium sized arts and entertainment scene. There are cultural events on campus<br />
and at the [http://www.overturcenter.com Overture Center]; sporting events; art, science, natural history, and history museums; parks, the<br />
[http://www.uwarboretum.org arboretum], and [http://www.olbrich.org botanical gardens]; a free [http://www.vilaszoo.org zoo]; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; a [http://www.madfarmmkt.com Farmer’s Market] on the<br />
Capital Square every Saturday morning from April-October; and lots of other things. The [http://www.thedailypage.com Isthmus], is the local free newspaper which posts many current events.<br />
The Isthmus can be found in many stores, in campus buildings, and on street corners.<br />
<br />
== Athletic Activities ==<br />
* [http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/ Rec Sports] runs the gyms on campus. There are three such on-campus gyms -- The SERF, the Nat, and the Shell, which are free with student ID. For $10/semester, you can attend any of their Group Fitness classes, which cover everything from aerobics and weights to yoga and dance. Also, both the SERF and Nat have indoor pools.<br />
<br />
*The University of Wisconsin has a long standing heritage of being proud of their [http://www.uwbadgers.com/ athletic events]. Men's basketball, football and ice-hockey receive the most attention and as a student, you can obtain season tickets for all of these events.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.mufa.org MUFA] is an ultimate frisbee league that has summer as well as spring and fall seasons. This is a really fun way to stay active and meet some new Madison friends! You don't need to form a team-- just see the link for info about how to join a team looking for more players. Note: the games are often played all over the city and burbs, and are not necessarily reachable by bus. You'll need a car, or a teammate with a car. Also see the link for info about local pick-up games.<br />
<br />
== Dancing ==<br />
<br />
*Ballroom: [http://www.uwmbda.org/ UWMBDA] is the big ballroom dance group here. They have dances with lessons every week on Friday or Saturday and a practice group every Thursday.<br />
<br />
*[http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/dances.htm Contra Dance]: Meetings every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
*International Folk club: meets biweekly Library Mall, Wed/Sun 7:30PM-late.<br />
<br />
*Swing: [http://www.uwswing.com/ Jumptown Swing] is UW's swing club. They host (mostly) weekly dances at Union South, and provide lessons for a nominal fee. See their site for scheduling and links to other swing orgonizations. Also, on Wednesdays, there's dancing at the [http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ Brink Lounge] from 8-11.<br />
<br />
*Salsa: Venues include [http://www.cardinalbar.com/ Cardinal Bar] on Thursdays, [http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/details.php?event=176610 Frida's] on Friday nights. Don't know how to Salsa? There are lessons before dances at Cardinal, and instruction is offered through the Union's minicourses.<br />
<br />
*Tango: the [http://www.madisontango.org/ Madison Tango Society] provides lessons and dances for Argentine Tango. Their site has a good list or other events in and around Madison.<br />
<br />
== Libraries ==<br />
In addition to the many [http://www.library.wisc.edu/ Libraries of UW], the [http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ Madison Public Library] is a great place for books, movies, and music.<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
The Daily Page has a [http://www.thedailypage.com/movies/listing.php listing] of movie times for most of the theaters around town (both big and small):<br />
<br />
*Eastgate, Point and AMC (Star) Cinema are the three larger movie theaters in town.<br />
<br />
*Market Square shows second runs at a good discount. <br />
<br />
*The [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/ Orpheum] is an old cinema within site of the capitol on State street. They tend to show less mainstream movies.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.sundancecinemas.com/madison.html Sundance 608] shows independent film as well as blockbuster movies. They have a rooftop cafe that's open during the summer months, 2 bars (you can take a drink into your movie), and a restaurant!<br />
<br />
For on-campus movies:<br />
*The Wisconsin Union Directorate runs on campus screening of films. Their film site can be found [http://www.union.wisc.edu/WUD/film.aspx here.]<br />
<br />
*The UW film department hosts free screenings of a wide array of films based on a given theme for that semester through their [http://cinema.wisc.edu/ cinematheque.] Their department has many contacts with other film institutes and are able show rare original 35mm films that you can't see anywhere else.<br />
<br />
*In late March/early April, go check out some of the many many films showing at the [http://www.wifilmfest.org/ Wisconsin Film Festival.] Sites all over town take part in hosting the showing of these films.<br />
<br />
Madison also has a number of independent video stores:<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ Four Star Video Heaven] has been voted as a Madison Favorite for a number of years. See their site to browse their collection online.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bongovideo.com/ Bongo Video] has a smaller, but quite tasty selection. Lots of personality, and good daily specials.<br />
<br />
== Music ==<br />
Whether you're looking to play music, or just go watch free or (in)expensive concerts, there are many options in Madison.<br />
<br />
*Our very own [http://music.wisc.edu/ Music Department] hosts many music events. Their website has a calendar listing current music events including faculty concerts and student recitals.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonsymphony.org/ The Madison Symphony Orchestra] (MSO) is the professional symphony based here in Madison. With your student ID, you can get student rush tickets for as little as $10 per person.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wcoconcerts.org/ The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra] is Madison's professional chamber orchestra. Each summer, their widely popular [http://www.wcoconcerts.org/new/cos/concertsonthesquare.php concerts on the square] draw many people from all over the place for a free outdoor concert.<br />
<br />
*[http://madisoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Madison Community Orchestra] (MCO) is an informal group run by Madison Area Technical College that meets once a week. There are four free concerts a year and no auditions to play with the group.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.middletoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Middleton Community Orchestra] is a second newly formed community orchestra run by community musicians. Their concerts are extremely affordable, and they may run auditions.<br />
<br />
== Outdoor Activites ==<br />
Madison is a very bicycle friendly town, and there are many parks either in town or within a short drive. Here are some suggestions about outdoor activities to engage in:<br />
<br />
*Take a nice long walk along one of the many paths around [http://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/imap/LakeshoreNaturePreserve.html Picnic Point]... bike the path from Memorial Union out to the tip, or bus/drive out to the base of picnic point and wander the foot trails in the area.<br />
<br />
*Head towards Monona Terrace on Lake Monona, and take one of the paths that wraps around the lake (great bike ride!).<br />
<br />
*You can also go walking and/or biking around the [http://uwarboretum.org/ Arboretum] south of campus and tour their gardens, or head to the free [http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Vilas Zoo]. Lake Wingra is essentially totally surrounded by wooded areas including Henry Vilas Park, the UW-arboretum and Edgewood college. You can rent canoes at Knickerbocker for fairly cheap and relax on Lake Wingra.<br />
<br />
*Community Gardens: There are a number of community gardens run by the [http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/ Community Action Coalition]. Nominally, you can sign up for a plot for a small fee, and learn how to garden if you don't already know, or go to town if you already do. The [http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/ Eagle Heights Community Garden] is open to both residents and non-residents alike. All of the gardens are fun to look at if you haven't ever seen one.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.olbrich.org/ The Olbrich Botanical Gardens] are located east of lake Monona. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including their award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden, or enjoy the year-round tropical Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds.. Outdoor gardens are open daily and free to the public, while entrance to the conservatory is $1 per person.<br />
<br />
*Catch a festival; Madison is home to a number of festivals -- big festivals, small festivals, arts festivals, music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals -- we've got all kinds.<br />
<br />
The Winter opens itself up to new activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing and other options. The hoofers club runs ice boats on the lake.<br />
<br />
*The city of Madison parks open up outdoor [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct2.html ice skating] at Tenney, Vilas, and Elver parks. No skates? No worries. They will rent skates to you there ($6.00 for the first hour, $2/hr after that).<br />
<br />
*There is also [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct4.html cross-country skiing] at a number of Dane county parks, with passes starting at $5/day. No skills? Check out lessons at the [http://www.madnorski.org/page/ Madison Nordic Ski Club] or, again, [http://sns.hoofers.org/ Hoofers] has lots to offer in that area.<br />
<br />
== Student Clubs ==<br />
The University of Wisconsin, being a rather large institution, has got so much stuff going on for all of us student-types. Here are some ways people around the department have been taking advantage:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop]: Located upstairs in the Memorial Union, they are "here to satisfy your creative urges in a variety of craft media." Their facilities include a darkroom, a woodshop, a ceramics studio, metal working tools, etc. Friday afternoons, they open their studios to all union members (that means you!) for free!<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hoofers.org/ Hoofers]: Student outdoor recreation club. The Outing and Sailing clubs in particular have lots of graduate students.<br />
<br />
* [http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]: Graduate Student Collaborative Organization<br />
<br />
* [http://cfli.wisc.edu/student_organizations.htm Student Organizations]: at UW Madison (this is a directory of all registered student organizations at the university; you can search by topic or name)<br />
<br />
== The Student Unions ==<br />
The Memorial Union is located on the lakefront, on Park and Langdon. Be sure to check out the Terrace while the weather is still good -- it's a great place to go to get out of the office, grab something to snack on, and study out in the sun. You'll find the Daily Scoop (yummy ice cream!) and Der Rathskeller (beer and deep-fried goodness). You'll also find all sorts of stuff to keep you busy, like the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop], the Union Theater, the Hoofers' headquarters, and a wide array of Mini Courses with which to expand your horizons.<br />
<br />
Also useful: the travel services center and STA Travel will get you good deals on trips (including bus tickets to O'Hare, Midway, and Milwaukee airports), and the theater's box office will get you good deals on shows (theater, music, etc) all around town. In addition, the Union has always got other special events going on to keep all of us entertained -- see their complete [http://www.union.wisc.edu/activities/ list of activities].<br />
<br />
The Union South was recently completely renovated and also has many activities available. They have a climbing wall, a bowling alley, pool tables, a beer garden, a wine tasting room, a ballroom, a movie theater and many other things.<br />
<br />
= Van Vleck Miscellany =<br />
Here's a bit more info about the happenings in and around the Math Dept.<br />
<br />
== Getting money ==<br />
*Paychecks: The first paycheck of the year arrives in October, though you may request an advance on about 30% of your first paycheck when you arrive. If you are not working over the summer, the last will come in June, so be sure to plan for the three month gap.<br />
<br />
*Fees: You will be charged for segregated fees in both semesters, and are not covered in your tuition. The amount depends on your credit load and status, but will be about $500 for most people and due about the time of your first paycheck. If you are on fellowship, this will be taken care of for you, and shouldn't appear on your bill.<br />
<br />
*TA union: The teaching assistants of Wisconsin are unionized. Even if you are not a TA, but are an employee of the department, you're still connected to them through advocacy and campus issues. For more information check out the [http://www.taa-madison.org/ TAA].<br />
<br />
== Getting stuff done ==<br />
See the Contacts section for a list of people who will help you get stuff done.<br />
<br />
If you want to reserve rooms in Van Vleck for review sessions or meetings you can fill out a green form with Sharon Paulson on the second floor. Sharon does the scheduling for about 4 or 5 rooms in the building, so you can also ask her about these rooms directly. If you need to reserve the 9th floor lounge, talk to Joan Wendt (also second floor).<br />
<br />
Each grad receives 200 photocopies and 250 black and white print outs a month for personal math use. If you are a TA, Sharon in the Copy Center on the second floor can photocopy materials for classes (which does not count toward your quota)– such as worksheets and quizzes. Just give her at least 24 hours notice. To check your printout quota, open a terminal logged into the math server, and type "pages". If you do go over your quota, you will simply get a (probably very small) bill at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
We get free office supplies on the 2nd floor – just ask the Receptionist for pens, folders, etc.<br />
<br />
You can pick up and send out your mail from the second floor. You might even want to have packages delivered to the department, to avoid missing them being delivered at home (UPS, for example, won't drop off to apartment complexes if you aren't there, so you'll have to drive out to Middleton to pick up your packages).<br />
<br />
It's never too early to start studying for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/graduate/quals.htm quals]... early and often, my friends. Early and Often.<br />
<br />
== Getting together ==<br />
Historically, some afternoons and Friday before colloquium, we have a cookie and coffee social hour on the 9th floor lounge. Keep your eyes open for announcements.<br />
<br />
Definitely check out some of the colloquia and seminars. The earlier you get involved the better. This is a great way to learn more about potential research areas, meet other people in the areas, and meet other mathematicians in other departments. There is a list posted on the 9th floor each week in addition to online.<br />
<br />
Once a semester, our group for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ women in mathematics] get together for an informal potluck. We also have been known to bring in women speakers funded by the [http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/ WiSELI] grant.<br />
<br />
= Miscellaneous Wisconsin Stuff =<br />
This section describes miscellaneous Wisconsin stuff that doesn't belong in any other section, such as, a [[Wisconsin Dictionary]] for those who aren't familiar with the Wisconsin vernacular.<br />
<br />
== Voting ==<br />
Frequently asked questions for Wisconsin voting can be found <br />
[http://wisconsin.gov/state/core/faq_wisconsin_voting_elections.html here]. <br />
As of the April election, Wisconsin has a law that allows for same day registration at the polls:<br />
<br />
''If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.''<br />
<br />
Out of state licenses work, and utility bills, bank statements, or pay checks with your name and address on them work for proof of residence.<br />
<br />
== Car Stuff ==<br />
Madison has a DMV out on the west side, just past Midvale, at 4802 Sheboygan Ave, and one on the east side out near the airport. <br />
<br />
*Licenses: As they say on their page for licensing new residents, if you're looking to put your permanent residence here and vote here and generally show up on the radar, you should apply for your [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/nonreside/index.htm WI license] within 60 days of establishing residency. Your first baseline license costs $28, and is valid for three years. Note: you will need to take with you, among other things, something like a rent agreement, or a utility bill, UW transcript, or bank statement actually mailed to your WI address (no e-bills). We'll note that math students have been known to wait longer than 60 days to officially apply for residency, but we recommend you don't wait until an out-of-state license expires to get a WI license.<br />
<br />
*Vehicle Registration: If you own a car and officially become a WI resident, you need to get WI plates. All the information you need is available [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/new/resident.htm here].<br />
<br />
*Parking: First, unless you have a motorcycle, '''don't''' plan to park on campus regularly. For parking near your residence, there are some options. Depending on the neighborhood, it's possible to rent a place that has parking included or available for an extra charge. Additionally, if you live in an area surrounded by 2-hr parking [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/documents/RP3allmap.pdf zones], you can usually buy a permit (for a little over $20 per year) allowing you to park on the street all day near your home. More information can be found on the City of Madison Parking Utility [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingUtility/index.cfm page]. Most importantly, "the vehicle for which you are requesting a permit must be owned by you, your child, your parents/step parents, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner, or be a leased or company vehicle which is assigned to you." <br />
<br />
BE AWARE! Winter parking gets all crazy in Madison (from November 15 - March 15). Most of town is on an alternate side parking schedule: cars should be parked on the even (resp. odd) house numbered side of the street from 1:00a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on even (resp. odd) numbered days. If you live on the isthmus in the Snow Emergency Zone, you will only need to do this when the weather gets really bad. You can sign up for alerts when this happens.<br />
<br />
If you leave your car in the wrong place -- with winter nonsense or for any other reason -- and it gets towed, you can call the Madison Police Department (266-4260) or Schmidt's Towing (257-0505) to find out what they've done with it.<br />
<br />
== Taxes ==<br />
Once you've lived here for an entire calendar year, be sure to look into the [http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/home.html Wisconsin Homestead Credit]... it's usually worth the time and effort for graduate students. Until then, you can look into [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html deducting moving costs] for relocating here on your federal taxes.<br />
<br />
A warning to students on fellowship: taxes will not be taken out of your paycheck, but you still have to pay them. You may want to consider filing [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199807,00.html quarterly].<br />
<br />
== Wisconsin benefit programs ==<br />
We don't exactly get piles of money for teaching. In fact, most people who are not on fellowship or receiving summer funding can qualify for some heating aid (up to $380/year), and electricity aid (up to $285/year). You can check your eligibility at [https://access.wisconsin.gov/ Access WI]. <br />
There may be some residency requirements, like the Homestead credit. You can find your annual salary in our [http://www.taa-madison.org/contract/index.html contract].<br />
<br />
== Residency ==<br />
While it's usually a good idea to become a WI resident, if, for some reason, you're looking to declare residency in WI for tuition purposes, the answer is usually "no." It seems that one has to be in Wisconsin for a full year before enrolling at the UW, and one has to prove that one did not move here primarily for educational purposes (according to the Wisconsin statutes, you have to provide "clear and convincing evidence"). More on that at the [http://www.registrar.wisc.edu/students/residence/index.php Office of the Registrar]'s site.<br />
<br />
= Contacts and Other Resources =<br />
*[http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/gradguide/index.html Guide to Graduate Student Life]: The Graduate Student Collaborative's ([http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]) guide to grad student life in Madison -- like this one, but different.<br />
<br />
* [[Teaching Assistant Guide]]: from real live Van Vleck TAs<br />
<br />
*[http://www.yelp.com/madison-wi Yelp.com]: Find reviews of local stuff- restaurants and things to do, but also dentists, auto shops, etc.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.vip.wisc.edu VIP], the Visitor & Information Programs office, located in the Red Gym, near [http://www.union.wisc.edu Memorial Union]. They are open M - F 8am - 5pm and Saturday 11am - 2pm. <br />
<br />
*[http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu Student Orientation Handbook] is a valuable resource for information including entertainment, recreational and varsity sports, student organizations (including those for cultural groups, international students, LGBT students, women, veterans, and people with disabilities), health services, jobs, transportation, safety, and housing. It’s also a great place for referrals to counseling services, including drug and alcohol and sexual assault issues. You can find all this information on the web, at http://www.wisc.edu/visitingCampus/ or call them at 263-2400. You can also email any questions you have to askbucky@uwmad.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lgbt.wisc.edu LGBT Campus Center]: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Center (265-3344; lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu) provides support, social, educational and research services to the campus community, and serves as UW-Madison's first stop for those looking for information about campus LGBT organizations. The Memorial Union office on the 2nd floor includes a library, a television and DVD player, plenty of comfortable seating, open computers, and has a staff of students and professionals that work to bring events, speakers, and programs to campus. The Center also publishes a weekly events e-letter and offers support and social groups.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ WIMAW] (Women in Math at Wisconsin.)<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Got Questions? Here are some folks who might just have the answers...<br />
<br />
== Counseling Services ==<br />
Counseling services are available through Counseling and [http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/ Consultation Services (C&CS)], located at 115 North Orchard Street, (265-5600, TTY number 265-3300). C&CS offers brief psychological treatment, personal counseling, and psychiatric services to UW-Madison students. Frequent services include help in overcoming depression, managing anxiety and other psychological issues, and in developing greater self-awareness, independence, and self-direction. They also provide personal problem counseling, couples relationship counseling, marriage and family counseling, cross-cultural counseling, and alcohol and drug assessment and referral. Specialized groups have included: graduate women support, women and self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, survivors of troubled families, rebuilding relationships. C&CS also provides crisis response at the above phone numbers. Services provided are covered by the student health fee (included in your student fees).<br />
<br />
== Administrative and Support Staff ==<br />
The administrative and support staff are the folk that keep our department functioning. Without them, we as mathematicians would be lost. :) Their pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/support_staff.html here] and their contact info can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/academic_staff.html here]. If one person doesn't know how to deal with a problem you might have, they certainly know who might be able to help you out.<br />
<br />
TBD<br />
Position: Timetable/Undergraduate<br />
Office: 207 VV<br />
Email: ????@math<br />
Ask them about: Registration (for you and your students), MyUW stuff, classroom assignments.<br />
<br />
David Camacho<br />
Position: Assoc Fac Assoc<br />
Office: 321 VV<br />
Email: camacho@math<br />
Ask David about: the Math Tutorial Program (if a student needs extra attention)<br />
<br />
Mark Castillo<br />
Position: Grants/Proposals<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: castillo @math<br />
Ask Mark about: grant money, coffee club<br />
<br />
Chris Uhlir<br />
Position: Payroll/Benefits<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: grenie@math<br />
Ask Mike about: Payroll, hourly positions, taxes, tuition, healthcare, and benefits. <br />
<br />
Sara Nagreen<br />
Position: Sr IPC<br />
Office: 515 VV<br />
Email: nagreen@math<br />
Ask Sara about: all things computing.<br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson<br />
Position: Copy Center Manager/ Room Reservations<br />
Office: 220 VV<br />
Email: paulson@math<br />
Ask Sharon about: Room reservations (review sessions/exams/other), Copy Center stuff, private tutoring list.<br />
<br />
Mary Rice<br />
Position: Grad Prog. Admin<br />
Office: 203 VV<br />
Email: mrice@math<br />
Ask Mary about: Math dept records (teaching letters, transcripts, etc), how you go about graduating.<br />
<br />
Diane Rivard<br />
Position: Placement Advisor<br />
Office: 720 VV<br />
Email: rivard@math<br />
Ask Diane about: Placement questions (what class your student should be in, placement exam issues)<br />
<br />
Joan Wendt<br />
Position: Chair Secretary<br />
Office: 223 VV<br />
Email: wendt@math<br />
Ask Joan about: office assignments and keys<br />
<br />
Barbara Erlenborn<br />
Position: Dept Administrator<br />
Office: 218 VV<br />
Email: erlenborn@math<br />
Ask Barb about: admin stuff<br />
<br />
== Current and Former Graduate Students Interested in Meeting YOU ==<br />
You can find a complete list of current graduate students [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/psdbgrad.html here], and pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/grad.html here]. Email addresses that end with @ are intended to finish with @math.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
Hans Chaumont<br />
Email: chaumont@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~chaumont Website:]<br />
Grad-Age: Started 2012<br />
Area of interest: Undecided<br />
Ask Hans about: Pretty much anything, but especially about tea or the math weightlifting team.<br />
<br />
Laura Cladek<br />
Email: cladek@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~cladek Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2011<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Laura about: Anything ... Especially analysis or on campus housing.<br />
<br />
Nathan Collins<br />
Email: nathan.collins@gmail.com<br />
[http://cs.pdx.edu/~ntc2 Website]<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2008<br />
Area of interest: Computer Science and Logic.<br />
Ask Nathan about: Pittsburgh, bicycles, and being inferior to Mason at TAing. He dislikes printers and bad margins.<br />
<br />
David Dynerman<br />
Email: dynerman@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~dynerman Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask David about: programming video games, trying to do Hartshorne problems, <br />
going to the gym, Mushfeq Khan, Andrew Bridy<br />
<br />
Thomas Hangelbroek<br />
Email: hangelbr@math.hawaii.edu<br />
[http://math.hawaii.edu/people/hangelbr/ Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2007<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Thomas about: Anything Madison. Thomas is an expert in all things Madison.<br />
<br />
Sara Jensen<br />
Email: jensen@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jensen Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask Sara about: Teaching, topology & algebra quals, knitting group, going to the gym <br />
<br />
(Evan) Alec Johnson<br />
Email: ejohnson@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson Website]<br />
Grad-age: Ph.D., 2012<br />
Area of interest: Applied Math and Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask Alec about: teaching, advanced calculus, gardening, and Geneva Campus Church.<br />
<br />
Christine Lien<br />
Email: lien@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lien Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2005<br />
Area of interest: Complex Geometry<br />
Ask Christine about: anything, including bridge/card games, organizing women's events, <br />
the Association of Asian American Graduate students, and the Graduate Student Topology Seminar.<br />
<br />
Hao Lin<br />
Email: lin@<br />
[http://genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=156703 Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Hao about: sports and anything about China.<br />
<br />
Jonathon Mason<br />
Email: jonathan.f.mason@gmail.com<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2010<br />
Ask Mason about: Wisconsin hiking, the local film scene and being "way better than Nathan Collins" at TAing.<br />
<br />
Jason Murcko<br />
Email: murcko@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~murcko Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2006<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Jason about: the TAA and the local film and music scenes.<br />
<br />
Mike Schroeder<br />
Email: schroede@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~schroede UW Website]. [http://science.marshall.edu/schroederm/ Marshall Website].<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Combinatorics<br />
Ask Mike about: softball, bowling, sailing, racquet ball, and the Florida Gators.<br />
<br />
David Seal<br />
Email: seal@math.msu.edu<br />
[http://www.math.msu.edu/~seal Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2012.<br />
Area of interest: Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask David about: movies, biking, hiking and board games.<br />
<br />
Beth Skubak<br />
Email: skubak@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~skubak Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2009<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Beth about: anything, including this wiki<br />
<br />
Mike Woodbury<br />
[http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woodbury/ Website]<br />
Email: woodbury@math.columbia.edu<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011.<br />
Area of interest: Number Theory<br />
Ask Mike about: anything, including number theory, road biking, UW basketball tix.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Guide&diff=5384Graduate Student Guide2013-06-10T15:50:14Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Generic Groceries */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Exams.png|400px|right | Grading Exams in the Lounge]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
= Food =<br />
<br />
There are many ethnic and interesting restaurants in Madison – Indonesian, African, Italian, Himalayan, Laotian, Peruvian, Mexican, Bakeries, Brew Pubs, Coffee Joints, you name it -- and everyone has their favorites.<br />
<br />
The biggest resource for finding food (and entertainment!) in Madison is probably the [http://www.thedailypage.com/eats/ Daily Page] (the online version of our local paper, the Isthmus), where you can search local restaurants by name, locality, and cuisine. There, they have reviews, hours, contact info, pricing, etc. Be sure to peruse their [http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Restaurants Madison's Favorites] section for some quick tips! Of course [http://www.yelp.com/ yelp] is always useful as well. At one point a couple spent a few years trying to sample every restaurant in Madison and blogged about their journey on the [http://www.madisonatoz.com/ Madison A to Z].<br />
<br />
Here are some general food facts:<br />
<br />
== Campus Food ==<br />
*Food Carts: Open for lunch in Library Mall at the foot of Bascom Hill near Lake & State Street. Very good and very cheap, and out as long as it's not too cold.<br />
<br />
*Badger Market at Ingraham Hall: Very close to Van Vleck, and has acceptable coffee (bring your own cup to save money!) and decent snacks. Try the Badger Bundle lunch special: sandwich, drink, and a side for $1 off your total. Halfway down the hill is the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/crossroadscafe.htm Crossroads Cafe] which has much better coffee and is open later.<br />
<br />
*Memorial Union: The Rathskeller has food and next door is Lakeside cafe with much better food. Summer afternoons on the terrace is an excellent place to hang out in the sunshine with a beer and brat.<br />
<br />
*Union South: Features a pizza place, a pan-Asian restaurant, a sandwich shop, a sports bar (burgers and sandwiches) and an ice cream stand. <br />
<br />
*State Street (past the food carts) is full of restaurants and Coffee shops – there are at least a half dozen coffee roasters in town, and each supplies a different set of shops. In particular for lunch, there are the popular chains, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Einstein Bros. Bagels, or Chipotle... or hit the more independent spots such as the Sunroom Cafe or Ian's Pizza.<br />
<br />
*Residence Hall Cafeterias are pretty decent here, but filled with undergraduates! Enter at your own risk!<br />
<br />
== MadTown food ==<br />
<br />
Traditional Madison foods are German varieties such as beer, cheese, and bratwurst. Twice a year Madison hosts [http://www.bratfest.com/ Bratfest], a record breaking event. <br />
UW has [http://babcockhalldairystore.wisc.edu/ Babcock Hall Ice Cream] on campus which creates delicious ice cream available in the Unions. The [http://www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com/ Chocolate Shoppe], [http://www.ilovemichaels.com/ Michael's Frozen Custard] and [http://www.culvers.com/ Culvers] have nice deserts.<br />
Micro breweries in town include the [http://www.greatdanepub.com/ Great Dane], [http://www.capital-brewery.com/ Captial Brewery] and [http://www.aleasylum.com/ Ale Asylum]. Nearby there is the famous [http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/ New Glarus Brewing Co] which only sells beer in Wisconsin. You can join a free beer tour or walk through the brewery on a self guided tourn.<br />
<br />
In early September (Labor Day weekend), check out [http://www.tasteofmadison.com/ Taste of Madison] to see many restaurants all in one place at one time.<br />
<br />
Try a good ol' midwestern Fish Fry on Friday night – All you can eat fried fish generally served with a bran muffin, clam chowder, or coleslaw. Most Brew Pubs and some churches have them, and the [http://www.avenuebarmadison.com/ Avenue Bar and Grill] runs a Friday night Fish Fry.<br />
<br />
== Farm fresh food ==<br />
<br />
The [http://madisonfarmersmarket.com/ Dane County Farmer's Market] is amazing and HUGE. The big one is open every Saturday morning, and is located on the capitol square for most of the year. In addition to the ludicrous amount of fresh produce, there are also bakery stands, coffee, and fresh juice carts for quick breakfasts.<br />
<br />
There are also a few smaller [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farmers_markets.htm#danecounty markets] scattered around town, almost every day of the week:<br />
<br />
*Sunday: 8:30am to 12:30pm in front of Pierce's Northside Market<br />
*Monday: (none)<br />
*Tuesday: 4pm to 7pm on Ingersol at Williamson, 2pm to 6pm at 1602 S. Park St,<br />
*Wednesday: 8am to 2pm on MLKJr Blvd, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center,<br />
*Thursday: Thursdays, 2pm to 6pm at the Villager Mall on Park St., 2pm to 6pm in the McFarland Centre, 7:30am to 1:30pm in the Greenway Station shopping center,<br />
*Friday: (none)<br />
*Saturday: 6am to 2pm on the Capitol square, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center, 9am to 2pm at 1602 S. Park St, 7am to 1pm at Sheboygan Ave. and Segoe Rd., and 8:30am to 11am in Watertower Park.<br />
<br />
During the summer and fall, there are many [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/index.htm local farms] where you can [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farms/u_pick.htm pick] your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, or pumpkins when they are in season.<br />
<br />
If you're in town for the summer, you might consider signing up for a [http://www.macsac.org/ Community Supported Agriculture] food box. CSA is a way to support a local farm by paying an annual fee in the winter or spring which buys you a share of the season's harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick-up a weekly box of fresh foods which may include produce, fruits, cheeses, eggs, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. The typical CSA season in Wisconsin runs from the end of May through mid-October. You do have to pay the lump sum up-front, and some weeks you'll find yourself with five pounds of chard... but for most of the summer you'll have your produce needs met, and you can feel good about supporting small local farms. Better yet, most of the university's insurance providers offer [http://www.macsac.org/rebates.html rebates] for signing up for a CSA -- somewhere between $50-$300, depending on the plan and how many people you're sharing with (for example, if two people on GHC share a box, they might pay $450 for the box for a box lasting 25 weeks, but they they could each get $100 back, making that $5/week per person). If you're interested, remember to sign up early -- most programs are full by May.<br />
<br />
= Grocery Stores =<br />
<br />
== Generic Groceries ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.capcentremarket.com/ Capitol Centre Market]: Given their small size, they have an excellent selection of groceries. They tend to be a bit pricey. In addition, they deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.freshmadisonmarket.com/ Fresh Madison Market]: A reasonably large general grocery store, not too expensive. Has a large selection of "typical college items" (lots of frozen foods). Located on University, not too far from Van Vleck. They also deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.copps.com/ Copps]: Your standard grocery store with multiple locations.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=1020&lang=en-US Costco]: Your friendly big-box bulk store. They treat their employees incredibly well. Good buys on computers, 2 lbs of sockeye salmon or button down oxford cloth long sleeved shirts. You'll need a membership or go there with someone who has a membership. You can also get a free trial membership if you simply ask.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.walgreens.com/ Walgreens]: Pharmacy/Grocery store. There is a Walgreens on the corner of Lake & State Street near Van Vleck, on the Capitol Square, at East Campus Mall, and in University square.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Whole Foods]: Kinda pricey, but good bread, specialty stuff, and produce through the winter.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.woodmans-food.com/ Woodman's]: two locations -- [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=725+S+Gammon+Rd+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=43.055217,-89.50304&spn=0.05381,0.171661 East] and [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3817+Milwaukee+St,+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.103615,-89.319363&spn=0.053768,0.171661&om=1 West]. If you have a car and the time, go here. Very large, very cheap, but time consuming. They don't take credit cards, so bring a debit card or check book. The produce is pretty poor, but they're huge and, again, cheap. Check out the liquor store for a large selection (you can buy all types of alcohol in grocery stores in Wisconsin... but not after 9pm).<br />
<br />
*[http://www.traderjoes.com/ Trader Joe's]: Located at 1810 Monroe St. They have good prices for select specialty food items such as wine, cheese and fancy snacks. Their basic foodstuffs tend to be a bit pricey.<br />
<br />
*The Jenifer Street Market located on 2038 Jenifer Street is a nice little grocery store if you happen to live in the area.<br />
<br />
== Co-ops ==<br />
Co-ops are a good source of local organic food. If you are a member they provide discounts, but you can also shop there at your own will.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.regentmarketcoop.org/ Regent Market Cooperative], 2136 Regent St. 233-4329.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.willystreet.coop/ Willy Street Co-op] The largest and most active co-op in the Madison area. They have been able to survive the decline in co-ops over the years. They offer a large selection of bulk foods and spices at an excellent price. For a quick bite, they have an excellent deli, salad bar, and in-store coffee shop. 1221 Williamson St. 251-6776. They recently opened a second store in Middleton located at 6825 University Ave. Both locations deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
== Specialty Foods ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.aldifoods.com/ Aldi Foods]: Very cheap! Little selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=keJ&q=asian+midway+foods&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,304616636444102595&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Asian Midway Market]: The go-to market for anything Thai, Chinese or South-East Asian, this centrally-located store comes highly recommended. In particular, they offer a great selection of specialized produce. 301 South Park Street; 255-5864<br />
<br />
*[http://www.brennansmarket.com/ Brennan's Market]: Great for Produce, Meats, Cheese, Micro brews and Wines. You won't find things like Flour and Saran Wrap here, but definitely worth the trip.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/ Farm Fresh Atlas]: Not a grocery store, but a good resource for where you can buy local foods and a list of farms in the areas.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madseafood.com/ The Seafood Center]: The name says it all. Great fresh fish and live lobsters.<br />
<br />
*[http://frabonisdeli.com/ Fraboni's]: An awesome Italian grocery store and deli. They have very good [http://frabonisdeli.com/oils olive oils], [http://frabonisdeli.com/pastas pastas], and make-your-own pizza fixings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3723579948/garden-asian-market-middleton Garden Asian Market]: A full service Asian food market specializing in fresh meat, produce, and seafood. Mostly Chinese-leaning, they do a good job of providing a wide variety of items within their niche. It may be far out, but it's worth the trip in its pleasantness and selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=india+house+grocery+store,+madison,+wi&fb=1&gl=us&hq=india+house+grocery+store,&hnear=Madison,+WI&cid=0,0,8495347478199843118&ll=43.050466,-89.503019&spn=0.007871,0.019183&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A India House]: Really well done Indian grocery store. Good place to buy Kari leaves.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=TMe&q=lee%27s+oriental&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,92533124768468793&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Lee's Oriental]: Next to Penzey's spices. 3240 University Ave; 231-1593<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=2Me&q=oriental+shop&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,13628497956998458364&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Oriental Shop]: They carry mostly dry-goods, and tend to lean toward stocking more Korean items. 1206 South Park Street; 255-0326<br />
<br />
= Housing =<br />
<br />
Haven't found a place yet? Already hate your apartment?<br />
<br />
* [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/ UW Off-Campus Housing Search]: Probably the best search site for students.<br />
<br />
* Again, [http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List] is a good resourse. Also a good place to look for roommates outside of the department.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/ University Apartments]: On campus graduate housing, particularly popular with married couples (especially with children). Singles are also welcome. Many of them are on the bus route #80, a free route which runs from the apartments through campus every ten minutes throughout the day.<br />
<br />
== Location, Location, Location ==<br />
<br />
If you would like to keep your commute down, there are many places near campus. Many graduate students prefer to live close enough to Van Vleck to be within walking distance, yet far enough away to stay away from partying undergraduate students.<br />
<br />
Many graduate students live in the Vilas neighborhood, which is located South of Regent Street and between Park and Monroe. East of the Capitol building, we also have the Willy St. neighborhood (between Williamson and Rutledge streets, between Paterson and Thornton) and the other side of the Isthmus, between Mifflin and Lake Mendota. The university offers on campus housing at Eagle Heights with regular buses. Many students also live near Sheboygan and University Avenues (not on this map), and there are regular buses that run up University Avenue that will drop you off right in front of Van Vleck. The large apartment complexes in that area include the Normandy, Chapel Hill, Carolina, Monticello, Hilldale Towers, Park Towers, and Sovereign Apartments which are cheaper to live in than spots on the square.<br />
<br />
Because there is no parking on campus, you will need to plan on living within walking distance of a bus route or campus itself. You will receive a free bus pass for the [http://www.mymetrobus.com/ Madison Metro] system, which is very reliable. Check out the “plan your trip” link to find bus routes near you.<br />
<br />
Here is an approximate map of many areas where you will be likely to find housing: <br />
[[Image:gradhousingmap.jpg|400px| center | Housing Map]]<br />
<br />
Basically, shoot for zones 2-6, the North parts of zones 7 and 8, or the far East part of zone 10 on [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/map_all.asp this map] (the map from the UW Off-Campus Housing Search).<br />
<br />
== Stuff your landlord might not tell you ==<br />
<br />
*Utilities:<br />
Lots of apartments have water, sewage, heat, and and sometimes electricity included in rent. For those which don't, be sure to find out what to expect through the [http://mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/ Madison Gas and Electric] web page. Just tell them the address of the place you're looking at, and they'll tell you what the highs, lows, and averages have been over the last year.<br />
<br />
*Property information:<br />
The [http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/property.html City Assessor] has all of the basic information about Madison properties on file, including how many units are on the property, how much square footage there is, if there's AC in the building, what school district it's in, who your alderperson would be, and what else is on the property (e.g. garages). They'll even tell you how much the property is worth, and how much your landlord is paying in property taxes. Sometimes the square footage isn't broken up--for example, maybe there are two units on the first floor, but they'll only tell you that there are 1,700 sq ft on that floor, not how it's split up between the two units. It can be a useful site for rounding out your knowledge of places you're considering renting.<br />
<br />
*Tenants rights:<br />
The [http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/ Tenant resource center] is a small non-profit membership organization which provides housing counseling, mediation services and office assistance. Their website includes tips for new renters, generic rental forms, and advice for what to do if your landlord just won't get back to you about repairs, returning deposits, etc.<br />
There is also the [http://studenttenantunion.rso.wisc.edu/ Student tenant union], which is specifically targeted to UW students.<br />
<br />
== Rental Companies ==<br />
Many properties in Madison are run by rental companies -- some large, some small -- some good, some not-so-good. Larger companies tend to have lower prices, and more people working toward maintaining rentals. However, they may have less of an investment in taking care of each individual property or screening their tenants. Some people feel better renting from small companies, or landlords with only one or two houses. You may get more individual attention and care. Individuals have more investment in protecting each property, and renting to good tenants, so the properties tend to be in more reliable condition. However, with fewer properties comes fewer resources and higher prices.<br />
<br />
Whatever choice you make, be sure to have a conversation with your potential landlords about their polices, especially if you aren't going to be able to see things in person. It may also be good to Google the company or person to see if other people have had something good or bad to say about them or their properties. In particular, [http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Madison.html ApartmentRatings.com] has a few of the apartment complexes around town listed.<br />
<br />
Here are some general impressions/very subjective opinions that some of us have gotten from/about a few of the larger local companies:<br />
<br />
*AB Holdings: In particular, they have a couple small apartment buildings on Vilas that are particularly ideal for two people. Quite a few people from the department have rented these units and have been pretty happy.<br />
<br />
*[http://apexrents.com/ Apex Property Management]: Great company. Well-maintained properties, with many of the more recently remodeled rentals being very nice. Their representatives are helpful and responsible, and their tenants seem to be generally satisfied.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.centralmadison.com/ The Christensen Company]: Not terribly up-to-date apartments, but worth taking a look at.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonproperty.com/ Madison Property Management]: Lots of choices, but notoriously junky properties. They tend to cater mostly to undergraduates, and their rentals show it. We wouldn't recommend renting from this company unless you visit first.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.mcbridecompanies.com/ The McBride Companies]: Nice properties, good management. Really good website if you turn the sound off.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.tallardapartments.com/ Tallard Apartments]: Nice properties with very friendly and responsive staff. Their rentals tend to go early in the season.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wimci.com/ Wisconsin Management Company]: Nice enough properties, but kind of flakey representation. Make sure to ask lots of questions.<br />
<br />
*The Wright Company (or Norris Ct. Apartments): Very nice older buildings, but kind of sketchy management. Nothing is going to be in stellar shape, but they do tend to rent more to graduates and professionals, so they aren't beat up either. If you do rent from them, don't expect them to be very responsive, and be sure to be especially careful about protecting your security deposit by taking photos and keeping a record of your move-in report.<br />
<br />
= Furniture =<br />
<br />
*[http://www.svdpmadison.org/ St. Vincent DePaul's]: Like Goodwill. Has cheap dressers, desks, chairs, and general household stuff. Will deliver for a small charge. This is also a great place to donate any furniture or other items that you no longer want – they will pick up the items from your apartment. There is also a Goodwill in town, but they won't have nearly the same volume of furniture.<br />
<br />
*[http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List]: a free online classifieds site. Great not only for furniture, but also pet resources and last minute apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
*Eagle Heights Apartment Bulletin Boards: Lots of cheap stuff from people graduating, many of whom are moving overseas. You can even find cars. You can try posting your own wanted posters on the boards. You can find these boards at the bus stops for the (free) bus 80 route.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/madisonfreecycle/ Freecycle]: A community "give stuff away for free" website with a Madison branch.<br />
<br />
*Hippie Christmas ("Move-Out Day"): For some reason or another, the evening of August 14th is when the bulk of leases near campus turn over. This is a fantastic day to pick up free furniture from the street. If you already have a rental van, why not help municipal waste by pickup up a bookshelf for them?<br />
<br />
*The Todd Drive Area: Just west of park street on the beltline. American Furniture for furniture and electronics, Home Concepts for cheap but nice looking furniture, and Steinhafel's for furniture and mattresses.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html SWAP]. The UW's surplus supply store.<br />
<br />
= International Student Resources =<br />
Here are a few links specifically for international students. There are international grocery stores listed in the [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Graduate_Student_Guide#Specialty_Foods groceries] section.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcssa.net/ Chinese Student & Scholar Association]: A connection to the university's Chinese community for incoming students. They offer rides from the airport, list general information about madison, and organize get-tegethers/Chinese celebrations. International Conversation & Coffee Hour: meet other international students and americans interested in other cultures. Every Friday, 12-2pm, Cooper Hearth Room 160, Union South.<br />
<br />
*[http://iss.wisc.edu/ International Student Services]: the UW's International Student Services<br />
<br />
*[http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MADindians/ MadIndians]: a Yahoo online group for students from India in Madison. Good place to search for an Indian roommate.<br />
<br />
*[http://mtsa.rso.wisc.edu/ Madison Association of Turkish Students]: Very helpful for incoming Turkish students. It includes information about how best to get to Madison from Turkey, information about housing, and how to reach other Turkish students in Madison.<br />
<br />
= Newspapers =<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/captimes/ The Capitol Times]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the afternoon. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more liberal.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.thedailypage.com/ The Isthmus]: Free independent Madison newspaper. Has a liberal voice and is full of entertainment, including family fun, outdoor attractions, and fine arts. Also puts out the Annual Manual - the yearly guide to all things Madison.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.theonion.com/ The Onion]: While hilarious, this paper is only really good if you're already in on the joke. We get free paper copies in Madison. There is a stack near the elevators in VV. The local edition has local entertainment listings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Wisconsin State Journal]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the mornings. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more conservative.<br />
<br />
= Religious Groups =<br />
*[http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/ Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/ Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church]: Near Sheboygan Ave. at 110 N Whitney Way. A huge church, but with opportunities to get involved and meet people. It has services in the sanctuary, with a mixture of traditional and semi-modern worship, and also "video cafe" services with more lively, modern worship. Very good teaching.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cpcmadison.com/ Christ Presbyterian Church]. Just east of James Madison Park on Gorham. Has a great choir and organist!<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fusmadison.org/ The First Unitarian Society of Madison]. "A liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue." Looking for something new? They're open to all types. Also, they are housed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.folmadison.org/ Fountain of Life]: 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. A multi-ethnic church with a lot of eclectic music styles, including a lot of Gospel music<br />
<br />
*[http://genevacc.org/ The Geneva Campus Church]: On Campus Reformed church. They describe themselves as "a university church for the whole family"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwhillel.org/ Hillel]: UW-Madison's on-campus center for everything Jewish: religious, cultural, political, traditional, and alternative. Located on Langdon Street, it serves both the school population and, to a far lesser extent, the entire city.<br />
<br />
*[http://islamiccentermadison.org/ Islamic Center of Madison]: Has a masjid inside. 21 N Orchard St, (608)251-9851<br />
<br />
*[http://ivgcf.rso.wisc.edu/ InterVarsity Grad Christian Fellowship]: It's a welcoming place for Christians and non-Christians alike. (You might even find your future husband/wife there) They also have a website with info about local churches. There is a new student picnic at the beginning of the fall semester.<br />
<br />
*Latter Day Saints: There are a number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wards in the Madison area. The Madison First Ward covers areas closest to campus and meets at 4505 Regent Street, two blocks south of Hilldale Mall, at 9am. The University Ward serves single adults and meets at 1711 University Avenue at 10 am. The Madison Third Ward serves areas close to campus and meets at 701 Bear Claw Way on Madison's far west side at 11 am. Visitors and the curious are always welcome.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lccmadison.com/ Lutheran Campus Center]: A fairly young, enthusiastic, and liberal-minded congragation, found right on campus.<br />
<br />
*[http://madcitychurch.org/ Mad City Church]: A non-denominational, casual christian fellowship. Services are held in the LaFollette High School located on Madison's east side - very near the corner of Pflaum Rd. and Monona Dr. Office at 2713 E. Washington Ave.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.muuyacm.org/ Madison UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry (MUUYACM)]. One of the largest and most active Unitarian Universalist young adult groups in the U.S., they are open to young adults (ages 18-35) of all denominations. In addition to worships, they organize social-justice-oriented activities, and are an active member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcatholic.org/ St. Paul's University Catholic Center]: On campus in Library Mall near Lake & State. Has a lively Catholic grad student group called Mustard Seed with Bible studies, Thursday night speakers, retreats, service projects, and large quantities of food and euchre.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.unityofmadison.org/ Unity of Madison]: (from their site) "Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community focused on Truth Seeking and Spiritual Growth through the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire, nuture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live Jesus' message that 'the kingdom of God is within you.'"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.isthmuszencommunity.org/ Zen Buddhism]: A local zen buddhist center is located next to Willy st co-op. New comers are especially welcome.<br />
<br />
= Arts and Entertainment =<br />
<br />
Madison is a medium sized city with a not so medium sized arts and entertainment scene. There are cultural events on campus<br />
and at the [http://www.overturcenter.com Overture Center]; sporting events; art, science, natural history, and history museums; parks, the<br />
[http://www.uwarboretum.org arboretum], and [http://www.olbrich.org botanical gardens]; a free [http://www.vilaszoo.org zoo]; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; a [http://www.madfarmmkt.com Farmer’s Market] on the<br />
Capital Square every Saturday morning from April-October; and lots of other things. The [http://www.thedailypage.com Isthmus], is the local free newspaper which posts many current events.<br />
The Isthmus can be found in many stores, in campus buildings, and on street corners.<br />
<br />
== Athletic Activities ==<br />
* [http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/ Rec Sports] runs the gyms on campus. There are three such on-campus gyms -- The SERF, the Nat, and the Shell, which are free with student ID. For $10/semester, you can attend any of their Group Fitness classes, which cover everything from aerobics and weights to yoga and dance. Also, both the SERF and Nat have indoor pools.<br />
<br />
*The University of Wisconsin has a long standing heritage of being proud of their [http://www.uwbadgers.com/ athletic events]. Men's basketball, football and ice-hockey receive the most attention and as a student, you can obtain season tickets for all of these events.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.mufa.org MUFA] is an ultimate frisbee league that has summer as well as spring and fall seasons. This is a really fun way to stay active and meet some new Madison friends! You don't need to form a team-- just see the link for info about how to join a team looking for more players. Note: the games are often played all over the city and burbs, and are not necessarily reachable by bus. You'll need a car, or a teammate with a car. Also see the link for info about local pick-up games.<br />
<br />
== Dancing ==<br />
<br />
*Ballroom: [http://www.uwmbda.org/ UWMBDA] is the big ballroom dance group here. They have dances with lessons every week on Friday or Saturday and a practice group every Thursday.<br />
<br />
*[http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/dances.htm Contra Dance]: Meetings every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
*International Folk club: meets biweekly Library Mall, Wed/Sun 7:30PM-late.<br />
<br />
*Swing: [http://www.uwswing.com/ Jumptown Swing] is UW's swing club. They host (mostly) weekly dances at Union South, and provide lessons for a nominal fee. See their site for scheduling and links to other swing orgonizations. Also, on Wednesdays, there's dancing at the [http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ Brink Lounge] from 8-11.<br />
<br />
*Salsa: Venues include [http://www.cardinalbar.com/ Cardinal Bar] on Thursdays, [http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/details.php?event=176610 Frida's] on Friday nights. Don't know how to Salsa? There are lessons before dances at Cardinal, and instruction is offered through the Union's minicourses.<br />
<br />
*Tango: the [http://www.madisontango.org/ Madison Tango Society] provides lessons and dances for Argentine Tango. Their site has a good list or other events in and around Madison.<br />
<br />
== Libraries ==<br />
In addition to the many [http://www.library.wisc.edu/ Libraries of UW], the [http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ Madison Public Library] is a great place for books, movies, and music.<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
The Daily Page has a [http://www.thedailypage.com/movies/listing.php listing] of movie times for most of the theaters around town (both big and small):<br />
<br />
*Eastgate, Point and AMC (Star) Cinema are the three larger movie theaters in town.<br />
<br />
*Market Square shows second runs at a good discount. <br />
<br />
*The [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/ Orpheum] is an old cinema within site of the capitol on State street. They tend to show less mainstream movies.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.sundancecinemas.com/madison.html Sundance 608] shows independent film as well as blockbuster movies. They have a rooftop cafe that's open during the summer months, 2 bars (you can take a drink into your movie), and a restaurant!<br />
<br />
For on-campus movies:<br />
*The Wisconsin Union Directorate runs on campus screening of films. Their film site can be found [http://www.union.wisc.edu/WUD/film.aspx here.]<br />
<br />
*The UW film department hosts free screenings of a wide array of films based on a given theme for that semester through their [http://cinema.wisc.edu/ cinematheque.] Their department has many contacts with other film institutes and are able show rare original 35mm films that you can't see anywhere else.<br />
<br />
*In late March/early April, go check out some of the many many films showing at the [http://www.wifilmfest.org/ Wisconsin Film Festival.] Sites all over town take part in hosting the showing of these films.<br />
<br />
Madison also has a number of independent video stores:<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ Four Star Video Heaven] has been voted as a Madison Favorite for a number of years. See their site to browse their collection online.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bongovideo.com/ Bongo Video] has a smaller, but quite tasty selection. Lots of personality, and good daily specials.<br />
<br />
== Music ==<br />
Whether you're looking to play music, or just go watch free or (in)expensive concerts, there are many options in Madison.<br />
<br />
*Our very own [http://music.wisc.edu/ Music Department] hosts many music events. Their website has a calendar listing current music events including faculty concerts and student recitals.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonsymphony.org/ The Madison Symphony Orchestra] (MSO) is the professional symphony based here in Madison. With your student ID, you can get student rush tickets for as little as $10 per person.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wcoconcerts.org/ The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra] is Madison's professional chamber orchestra. Each summer, their widely popular [http://www.wcoconcerts.org/new/cos/concertsonthesquare.php concerts on the square] draw many people from all over the place for a free outdoor concert.<br />
<br />
*[http://madisoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Madison Community Orchestra] (MCO) is an informal group run by Madison Area Technical College that meets once a week. There are four free concerts a year and no auditions to play with the group.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.middletoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Middleton Community Orchestra] is a second newly formed community orchestra run by community musicians. Their concerts are extremely affordable, and they may run auditions.<br />
<br />
== Outdoor Activites ==<br />
Madison is a very bicycle friendly town, and there are many parks either in town or within a short drive. Here are some suggestions about outdoor activities to engage in:<br />
<br />
*Take a nice long walk along one of the many paths around [http://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/imap/LakeshoreNaturePreserve.html Picnic Point]... bike the path from Memorial Union out to the tip, or bus/drive out to the base of picnic point and wander the foot trails in the area.<br />
<br />
*Head towards Monona Terrace on Lake Monona, and take one of the paths that wraps around the lake (great bike ride!).<br />
<br />
*You can also go walking and/or biking around the [http://uwarboretum.org/ Arboretum] south of campus and tour their gardens, or head to the free [http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Vilas Zoo]. Lake Wingra is essentially totally surrounded by wooded areas including Henry Vilas Park, the UW-arboretum and Edgewood college. You can rent canoes at Knickerbocker for fairly cheap and relax on Lake Wingra.<br />
<br />
*Community Gardens: There are a number of community gardens run by the [http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/ Community Action Coalition]. Nominally, you can sign up for a plot for a small fee, and learn how to garden if you don't already know, or go to town if you already do. The [http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/ Eagle Heights Community Garden] is open to both residents and non-residents alike. All of the gardens are fun to look at if you haven't ever seen one.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.olbrich.org/ The Olbrich Botanical Gardens] are located east of lake Monona. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including their award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden, or enjoy the year-round tropical Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds.. Outdoor gardens are open daily and free to the public, while entrance to the conservatory is $1 per person.<br />
<br />
*Catch a festival; Madison is home to a number of festivals -- big festivals, small festivals, arts festivals, music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals -- we've got all kinds.<br />
<br />
The Winter opens itself up to new activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing and other options. The hoofers club runs ice boats on the lake.<br />
<br />
*The city of Madison parks open up outdoor [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct2.html ice skating] at Tenney, Vilas, and Elver parks. No skates? No worries. They will rent skates to you there ($6.00 for the first hour, $2/hr after that).<br />
<br />
*There is also [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct4.html cross-country skiing] at a number of Dane county parks, with passes starting at $5/day. No skills? Check out lessons at the [http://www.madnorski.org/page/ Madison Nordic Ski Club] or, again, [http://sns.hoofers.org/ Hoofers] has lots to offer in that area.<br />
<br />
== Student Clubs ==<br />
The University of Wisconsin, being a rather large institution, has got so much stuff going on for all of us student-types. Here are some ways people around the department have been taking advantage:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop]: Located upstairs in the Memorial Union, they are "here to satisfy your creative urges in a variety of craft media." Their facilities include a darkroom, a woodshop, a ceramics studio, metal working tools, etc. Friday afternoons, they open their studios to all union members (that means you!) for free!<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hoofers.org/ Hoofers]: Student outdoor recreation club. The Outing and Sailing clubs in particular have lots of graduate students.<br />
<br />
* [http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]: Graduate Student Collaborative Organization<br />
<br />
* [http://cfli.wisc.edu/student_organizations.htm Student Organizations]: at UW Madison (this is a directory of all registered student organizations at the university; you can search by topic or name)<br />
<br />
== The Student Unions ==<br />
The Memorial Union is located on the lakefront, on Park and Langdon. Be sure to check out the Terrace while the weather is still good -- it's a great place to go to get out of the office, grab something to snack on, and study out in the sun. You'll find the Daily Scoop (yummy ice cream!) and Der Rathskeller (beer and deep-fried goodness). You'll also find all sorts of stuff to keep you busy, like the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop], the Union Theater, the Hoofers' headquarters, and a wide array of Mini Courses with which to expand your horizons.<br />
<br />
Also useful: the travel services center and STA Travel will get you good deals on trips (including bus tickets to O'Hare, Midway, and Milwaukee airports), and the theater's box office will get you good deals on shows (theater, music, etc) all around town. In addition, the Union has always got other special events going on to keep all of us entertained -- see their complete [http://www.union.wisc.edu/activities/ list of activities].<br />
<br />
The Union South was recently completely renovated and also has many activities available. They have a climbing wall, a bowling alley, pool tables, a beer garden, a wine tasting room, a ballroom, a movie theater and many other things.<br />
<br />
= Van Vleck Miscellany =<br />
Here's a bit more info about the happenings in and around the Math Dept.<br />
<br />
== Getting money ==<br />
*Paychecks: The first paycheck of the year arrives in October, though you may request an advance on about 30% of your first paycheck when you arrive. If you are not working over the summer, the last will come in June, so be sure to plan for the three month gap.<br />
<br />
*Fees: You will be charged for segregated fees in both semesters, and are not covered in your tuition. The amount depends on your credit load and status, but will be about $500 for most people and due about the time of your first paycheck. If you are on fellowship, this will be taken care of for you, and shouldn't appear on your bill.<br />
<br />
*TA union: The teaching assistants of Wisconsin are unionized. Even if you are not a TA, but are an employee of the department, you're still connected to them through advocacy and campus issues. For more information check out the [http://www.taa-madison.org/ TAA].<br />
<br />
== Getting stuff done ==<br />
See the Contacts section for a list of people who will help you get stuff done.<br />
<br />
If you want to reserve rooms in Van Vleck for review sessions or meetings you can fill out a green form with Sharon Paulson on the second floor. Sharon does the scheduling for about 4 or 5 rooms in the building, so you can also ask her about these rooms directly. If you need to reserve the 9th floor lounge, talk to Joan Wendt (also second floor).<br />
<br />
Each grad receives 200 photocopies and 250 black and white print outs a month for personal math use. If you are a TA, Sharon in the Copy Center on the second floor can photocopy materials for classes (which does not count toward your quota)– such as worksheets and quizzes. Just give her at least 24 hours notice. To check your printout quota, open a terminal logged into the math server, and type "pages". If you do go over your quota, you will simply get a (probably very small) bill at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
We get free office supplies on the 2nd floor – just ask the Receptionist for pens, folders, etc.<br />
<br />
You can pick up and send out your mail from the second floor. You might even want to have packages delivered to the department, to avoid missing them being delivered at home (UPS, for example, won't drop off to apartment complexes if you aren't there, so you'll have to drive out to Middleton to pick up your packages).<br />
<br />
It's never too early to start studying for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/graduate/quals.htm quals]... early and often, my friends. Early and Often.<br />
<br />
== Getting together ==<br />
Historically, some afternoons and Friday before colloquium, we have a cookie and coffee social hour on the 9th floor lounge. Keep your eyes open for announcements.<br />
<br />
Definitely check out some of the colloquia and seminars. The earlier you get involved the better. This is a great way to learn more about potential research areas, meet other people in the areas, and meet other mathematicians in other departments. There is a list posted on the 9th floor each week in addition to online.<br />
<br />
Once a semester, our group for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ women in mathematics] get together for an informal potluck. We also have been known to bring in women speakers funded by the [http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/ WiSELI] grant.<br />
<br />
= Miscellaneous Wisconsin Stuff =<br />
This section describes miscellaneous Wisconsin stuff that doesn't belong in any other section, such as, a [[Wisconsin Dictionary]] for those who aren't familiar with the Wisconsin vernacular.<br />
<br />
== Voting ==<br />
Frequently asked questions for Wisconsin voting can be found <br />
[http://wisconsin.gov/state/core/faq_wisconsin_voting_elections.html here]. <br />
As of the April election, Wisconsin has a law that allows for same day registration at the polls:<br />
<br />
''If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.''<br />
<br />
Out of state licenses work, and utility bills, bank statements, or pay checks with your name and address on them work for proof of residence.<br />
<br />
== Car Stuff ==<br />
Madison has a DMV out on the west side, just past Midvale, at 4802 Sheboygan Ave, and one on the east side out near the airport. <br />
<br />
*Licenses: As they say on their page for licensing new residents, if you're looking to put your permanent residence here and vote here and generally show up on the radar, you should apply for your [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/nonreside/index.htm WI license] within 60 days of establishing residency. Your first baseline license costs $28, and is valid for three years. Note: you will need to take with you, among other things, something like a rent agreement, or a utility bill, UW transcript, or bank statement actually mailed to your WI address (no e-bills). We'll note that math students have been known to wait longer than 60 days to officially apply for residency, but we recommend you don't wait until an out-of-state license expires to get a WI license.<br />
<br />
*Vehicle Registration: If you own a car and officially become a WI resident, you need to get WI plates. All the information you need is available [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/new/resident.htm here].<br />
<br />
*Parking: First, unless you have a motorcycle, '''don't''' plan to park on campus regularly. For parking near your residence, there are some options. Depending on the neighborhood, it's possible to rent a place that has parking included or available for an extra charge. Additionally, if you live in an area surrounded by 2-hr parking [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/documents/RP3allmap.pdf zones], you can usually buy a permit (for a little over $20 per year) allowing you to park on the street all day near your home. More information can be found on the City of Madison Parking Utility [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingUtility/index.cfm page]. Most importantly, "the vehicle for which you are requesting a permit must be owned by you, your child, your parents/step parents, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner, or be a leased or company vehicle which is assigned to you." <br />
<br />
BE AWARE! Winter parking gets all crazy in Madison (from November 15 - March 15). Most of town is on an alternate side parking schedule: cars should be parked on the even (resp. odd) house numbered side of the street from 1:00a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on even (resp. odd) numbered days. If you live on the isthmus in the Snow Emergency Zone, you will only need to do this when the weather gets really bad. You can sign up for alerts when this happens.<br />
<br />
If you leave your car in the wrong place -- with winter nonsense or for any other reason -- and it gets towed, you can call the Madison Police Department (266-4260) or Schmidt's Towing (257-0505) to find out what they've done with it.<br />
<br />
== Taxes ==<br />
Once you've lived here for an entire calendar year, be sure to look into the [http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/home.html Wisconsin Homestead Credit]... it's usually worth the time and effort for graduate students. Until then, you can look into [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html deducting moving costs] for relocating here on your federal taxes.<br />
<br />
A warning to students on fellowship: taxes will not be taken out of your paycheck, but you still have to pay them. You may want to consider filing [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199807,00.html quarterly].<br />
<br />
== Wisconsin benefit programs ==<br />
We don't exactly get piles of money for teaching. In fact, most people who are not on fellowship or receiving summer funding can qualify for some heating aid (up to $380/year), and electricity aid (up to $285/year). You can check your eligibility at [https://access.wisconsin.gov/ Access WI]. <br />
There may be some residency requirements, like the Homestead credit. You can find your annual salary in our [http://www.taa-madison.org/contract/index.html contract].<br />
<br />
== Residency ==<br />
While it's usually a good idea to become a WI resident, if, for some reason, you're looking to declare residency in WI for tuition purposes, the answer is usually "no." It seems that one has to be in Wisconsin for a full year before enrolling at the UW, and one has to prove that one did not move here primarily for educational purposes (according to the Wisconsin statutes, you have to provide "clear and convincing evidence"). More on that at the [http://www.registrar.wisc.edu/students/residence/index.php Office of the Registrar]'s site.<br />
<br />
= Contacts and Other Resources =<br />
*[http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/gradguide/index.html Guide to Graduate Student Life]: The Graduate Student Collaborative's ([http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]) guide to grad student life in Madison -- like this one, but different.<br />
<br />
* [[Teaching Assistant Guide]]: from real live Van Vleck TAs<br />
<br />
*[http://www.yelp.com/madison-wi Yelp.com]: Find reviews of local stuff- restaurants and things to do, but also dentists, auto shops, etc.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.vip.wisc.edu VIP], the Visitor & Information Programs office, located in the Red Gym, near [http://www.union.wisc.edu Memorial Union]. They are open M - F 8am - 5pm and Saturday 11am - 2pm. <br />
<br />
*[http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu Student Orientation Handbook] is a valuable resource for information including entertainment, recreational and varsity sports, student organizations (including those for cultural groups, international students, LGBT students, women, veterans, and people with disabilities), health services, jobs, transportation, safety, and housing. It’s also a great place for referrals to counseling services, including drug and alcohol and sexual assault issues. You can find all this information on the web, at http://www.wisc.edu/visitingCampus/ or call them at 263-2400. You can also email any questions you have to askbucky@uwmad.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lgbt.wisc.edu LGBT Campus Center]: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Center (265-3344; lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu) provides support, social, educational and research services to the campus community, and serves as UW-Madison's first stop for those looking for information about campus LGBT organizations. The Memorial Union office on the 2nd floor includes a library, a television and DVD player, plenty of comfortable seating, open computers, and has a staff of students and professionals that work to bring events, speakers, and programs to campus. The Center also publishes a weekly events e-letter and offers support and social groups.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ WIMAW] (Women in Math at Wisconsin.)<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Got Questions? Here are some folks who might just have the answers...<br />
<br />
== Counseling Services ==<br />
Counseling services are available through Counseling and [http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/ Consultation Services (C&CS)], located at 115 North Orchard Street, (265-5600, TTY number 265-3300). C&CS offers brief psychological treatment, personal counseling, and psychiatric services to UW-Madison students. Frequent services include help in overcoming depression, managing anxiety and other psychological issues, and in developing greater self-awareness, independence, and self-direction. They also provide personal problem counseling, couples relationship counseling, marriage and family counseling, cross-cultural counseling, and alcohol and drug assessment and referral. Specialized groups have included: graduate women support, women and self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, survivors of troubled families, rebuilding relationships. C&CS also provides crisis response at the above phone numbers. Services provided are covered by the student health fee (included in your student fees).<br />
<br />
== Administrative and Support Staff ==<br />
The administrative and support staff are the folk that keep our department functioning. Without them, we as mathematicians would be lost. :) Their pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/support_staff.html here] and their contact info can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/academic_staff.html here]. If one person doesn't know how to deal with a problem you might have, they certainly know who might be able to help you out.<br />
<br />
TBD<br />
Position: Timetable/Undergraduate<br />
Office: 207 VV<br />
Email: ????@math<br />
Ask them about: Registration (for you and your students), MyUW stuff, classroom assignments.<br />
<br />
David Camacho<br />
Position: Assoc Fac Assoc<br />
Office: 321 VV<br />
Email: camacho@math<br />
Ask David about: the Math Tutorial Program (if a student needs extra attention)<br />
<br />
Mark Castillo<br />
Position: Grants/Proposals<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: castillo @math<br />
Ask Mark about: grant money, coffee club<br />
<br />
Chris Uhlir<br />
Position: Payroll/Benefits<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: grenie@math<br />
Ask Mike about: Payroll, hourly positions, taxes, tuition, healthcare, and benefits. <br />
<br />
Sara Nagreen<br />
Position: Sr IPC<br />
Office: 515 VV<br />
Email: nagreen@math<br />
Ask Sara about: all things computing.<br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson<br />
Position: Copy Center Manager/ Room Reservations<br />
Office: 220 VV<br />
Email: paulson@math<br />
Ask Sharon about: Room reservations (review sessions/exams/other), Copy Center stuff, private tutoring list.<br />
<br />
Mary Rice<br />
Position: Grad Prog. Admin<br />
Office: 203 VV<br />
Email: mrice@math<br />
Ask Mary about: Math dept records (teaching letters, transcripts, etc), how you go about graduating.<br />
<br />
Diane Rivard<br />
Position: Placement Advisor<br />
Office: 720 VV<br />
Email: rivard@math<br />
Ask Diane about: Placement questions (what class your student should be in, placement exam issues)<br />
<br />
Joan Wendt<br />
Position: Chair Secretary<br />
Office: 223 VV<br />
Email: wendt@math<br />
Ask Joan about: office assignments and keys<br />
<br />
Barbara Erlenborn<br />
Position: Dept Administrator<br />
Office: 218 VV<br />
Email: erlenborn@math<br />
Ask Barb about: admin stuff<br />
<br />
== Current and Former Graduate Students Interested in Meeting YOU ==<br />
You can find a complete list of current graduate students [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/psdbgrad.html here], and pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/grad.html here]. Email addresses that end with @ are intended to finish with @math.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
Hans Chaumont<br />
Email: chaumont@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~chaumont Website:]<br />
Grad-Age: Started 2012<br />
Area of interest: Undecided<br />
Ask Hans about: Pretty much anything, but especially about tea or the math weightlifting team.<br />
<br />
Laura Cladek<br />
Email: cladek@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~cladek Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2011<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Laura about: Anything ... Especially analysis or on campus housing.<br />
<br />
Nathan Collins<br />
Email: nathan.collins@gmail.com<br />
[http://cs.pdx.edu/~ntc2 Website]<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2008<br />
Area of interest: Computer Science and Logic.<br />
Ask Nathan about: Pittsburgh, bicycles, and being inferior to Mason at TAing. He dislikes printers and bad margins.<br />
<br />
David Dynerman<br />
Email: dynerman@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~dynerman Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask David about: programming video games, trying to do Hartshorne problems, <br />
going to the gym, Mushfeq Khan, Andrew Bridy<br />
<br />
Thomas Hangelbroek<br />
Email: hangelbr@math.hawaii.edu<br />
[http://math.hawaii.edu/people/hangelbr/ Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2007<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Thomas about: Anything Madison. Thomas is an expert in all things Madison.<br />
<br />
Sara Jensen<br />
Email: jensen@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jensen Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask Sara about: Teaching, topology & algebra quals, knitting group, going to the gym <br />
<br />
(Evan) Alec Johnson<br />
Email: ejohnson@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson Website]<br />
Grad-age: Ph.D., 2012<br />
Area of interest: Applied Math and Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask Alec about: teaching, advanced calculus, gardening, and Geneva Campus Church.<br />
<br />
Christine Lien<br />
Email: lien@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lien Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2005<br />
Area of interest: Complex Geometry<br />
Ask Christine about: anything, including bridge/card games, organizing women's events, <br />
the Association of Asian American Graduate students, and the Graduate Student Topology Seminar.<br />
<br />
Hao Lin<br />
Email: lin@<br />
[http://genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=156703 Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Hao about: sports and anything about China.<br />
<br />
Jonathon Mason<br />
Email: jonathan.f.mason@gmail.com<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2010<br />
Ask Mason about: Wisconsin hiking, the local film scene and being "way better than Nathan Collins" at TAing.<br />
<br />
Jason Murcko<br />
Email: murcko@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~murcko Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2006<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Jason about: the TAA and the local film and music scenes.<br />
<br />
Mike Schroeder<br />
Email: schroede@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~schroede UW Website]. [http://science.marshall.edu/schroederm/ Marshall Website].<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Combinatorics<br />
Ask Mike about: softball, bowling, sailing, racquet ball, and the Florida Gators.<br />
<br />
David Seal<br />
Email: seal@math.msu.edu<br />
[http://www.math.msu.edu/~seal Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2012.<br />
Area of interest: Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask David about: movies, biking, hiking and board games.<br />
<br />
Beth Skubak<br />
Email: skubak@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~skubak Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2009<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Beth about: anything, including this wiki<br />
<br />
Mike Woodbury<br />
[http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woodbury/ Website]<br />
Email: woodbury@math.columbia.edu<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011.<br />
Area of interest: Number Theory<br />
Ask Mike about: anything, including number theory, road biking, UW basketball tix.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Guide&diff=5383Graduate Student Guide2013-06-10T15:49:08Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Generic Groceries */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Exams.png|400px|right | Grading Exams in the Lounge]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
= Food =<br />
<br />
There are many ethnic and interesting restaurants in Madison – Indonesian, African, Italian, Himalayan, Laotian, Peruvian, Mexican, Bakeries, Brew Pubs, Coffee Joints, you name it -- and everyone has their favorites.<br />
<br />
The biggest resource for finding food (and entertainment!) in Madison is probably the [http://www.thedailypage.com/eats/ Daily Page] (the online version of our local paper, the Isthmus), where you can search local restaurants by name, locality, and cuisine. There, they have reviews, hours, contact info, pricing, etc. Be sure to peruse their [http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Restaurants Madison's Favorites] section for some quick tips! Of course [http://www.yelp.com/ yelp] is always useful as well. At one point a couple spent a few years trying to sample every restaurant in Madison and blogged about their journey on the [http://www.madisonatoz.com/ Madison A to Z].<br />
<br />
Here are some general food facts:<br />
<br />
== Campus Food ==<br />
*Food Carts: Open for lunch in Library Mall at the foot of Bascom Hill near Lake & State Street. Very good and very cheap, and out as long as it's not too cold.<br />
<br />
*Badger Market at Ingraham Hall: Very close to Van Vleck, and has acceptable coffee (bring your own cup to save money!) and decent snacks. Try the Badger Bundle lunch special: sandwich, drink, and a side for $1 off your total. Halfway down the hill is the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/crossroadscafe.htm Crossroads Cafe] which has much better coffee and is open later.<br />
<br />
*Memorial Union: The Rathskeller has food and next door is Lakeside cafe with much better food. Summer afternoons on the terrace is an excellent place to hang out in the sunshine with a beer and brat.<br />
<br />
*Union South: Features a pizza place, a pan-Asian restaurant, a sandwich shop, a sports bar (burgers and sandwiches) and an ice cream stand. <br />
<br />
*State Street (past the food carts) is full of restaurants and Coffee shops – there are at least a half dozen coffee roasters in town, and each supplies a different set of shops. In particular for lunch, there are the popular chains, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Einstein Bros. Bagels, or Chipotle... or hit the more independent spots such as the Sunroom Cafe or Ian's Pizza.<br />
<br />
*Residence Hall Cafeterias are pretty decent here, but filled with undergraduates! Enter at your own risk!<br />
<br />
== MadTown food ==<br />
<br />
Traditional Madison foods are German varieties such as beer, cheese, and bratwurst. Twice a year Madison hosts [http://www.bratfest.com/ Bratfest], a record breaking event. <br />
UW has [http://babcockhalldairystore.wisc.edu/ Babcock Hall Ice Cream] on campus which creates delicious ice cream available in the Unions. The [http://www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com/ Chocolate Shoppe], [http://www.ilovemichaels.com/ Michael's Frozen Custard] and [http://www.culvers.com/ Culvers] have nice deserts.<br />
Micro breweries in town include the [http://www.greatdanepub.com/ Great Dane], [http://www.capital-brewery.com/ Captial Brewery] and [http://www.aleasylum.com/ Ale Asylum]. Nearby there is the famous [http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/ New Glarus Brewing Co] which only sells beer in Wisconsin. You can join a free beer tour or walk through the brewery on a self guided tourn.<br />
<br />
In early September (Labor Day weekend), check out [http://www.tasteofmadison.com/ Taste of Madison] to see many restaurants all in one place at one time.<br />
<br />
Try a good ol' midwestern Fish Fry on Friday night – All you can eat fried fish generally served with a bran muffin, clam chowder, or coleslaw. Most Brew Pubs and some churches have them, and the [http://www.avenuebarmadison.com/ Avenue Bar and Grill] runs a Friday night Fish Fry.<br />
<br />
== Farm fresh food ==<br />
<br />
The [http://madisonfarmersmarket.com/ Dane County Farmer's Market] is amazing and HUGE. The big one is open every Saturday morning, and is located on the capitol square for most of the year. In addition to the ludicrous amount of fresh produce, there are also bakery stands, coffee, and fresh juice carts for quick breakfasts.<br />
<br />
There are also a few smaller [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farmers_markets.htm#danecounty markets] scattered around town, almost every day of the week:<br />
<br />
*Sunday: 8:30am to 12:30pm in front of Pierce's Northside Market<br />
*Monday: (none)<br />
*Tuesday: 4pm to 7pm on Ingersol at Williamson, 2pm to 6pm at 1602 S. Park St,<br />
*Wednesday: 8am to 2pm on MLKJr Blvd, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center,<br />
*Thursday: Thursdays, 2pm to 6pm at the Villager Mall on Park St., 2pm to 6pm in the McFarland Centre, 7:30am to 1:30pm in the Greenway Station shopping center,<br />
*Friday: (none)<br />
*Saturday: 6am to 2pm on the Capitol square, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center, 9am to 2pm at 1602 S. Park St, 7am to 1pm at Sheboygan Ave. and Segoe Rd., and 8:30am to 11am in Watertower Park.<br />
<br />
During the summer and fall, there are many [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/index.htm local farms] where you can [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farms/u_pick.htm pick] your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, or pumpkins when they are in season.<br />
<br />
If you're in town for the summer, you might consider signing up for a [http://www.macsac.org/ Community Supported Agriculture] food box. CSA is a way to support a local farm by paying an annual fee in the winter or spring which buys you a share of the season's harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick-up a weekly box of fresh foods which may include produce, fruits, cheeses, eggs, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. The typical CSA season in Wisconsin runs from the end of May through mid-October. You do have to pay the lump sum up-front, and some weeks you'll find yourself with five pounds of chard... but for most of the summer you'll have your produce needs met, and you can feel good about supporting small local farms. Better yet, most of the university's insurance providers offer [http://www.macsac.org/rebates.html rebates] for signing up for a CSA -- somewhere between $50-$300, depending on the plan and how many people you're sharing with (for example, if two people on GHC share a box, they might pay $450 for the box for a box lasting 25 weeks, but they they could each get $100 back, making that $5/week per person). If you're interested, remember to sign up early -- most programs are full by May.<br />
<br />
= Grocery Stores =<br />
<br />
== Generic Groceries ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.capcentremarket.com/ Capitol Centre Market]: Given their small size, they have an excellent selection of groceries. They tend to be a bit pricey. In addition, they deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.freshmadisonmarket.com/ Fresh Madison Market]: A reasonably large general grocery store, not too expensive. Has a large selection of "typical college items" (lots of frozen foods). Located on University, not too far from Van Vleck. They also deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.copps.com/ Copps]: Your standard grocery store with multiple locations.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=1020&lang=en-US Costco]: Your friendly big-box bulk store. They treat their employees incredibly well. Good buys on computers, 2 lbs of sockeye salmon or button down oxford cloth long sleeved shirts. You'll need a membership or go there with someone who has a membership. You can also get a free trial membership if you simply ask.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.walgreens.com/ Walgreens]: Pharmacy/Grocery store. There is a Walgreens on the corner of Lake & State Street near Van Vleck, on the Capitol Square, at East Campus Mall, and in University square.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Whole Foods]: Kinda pricey, but good bread, specialty stuff, and produce through the winter.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Woodman's]: two locations -- [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=725+S+Gammon+Rd+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=43.055217,-89.50304&spn=0.05381,0.171661 East] and [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3817+Milwaukee+St,+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.103615,-89.319363&spn=0.053768,0.171661&om=1 West]. If you have a car and the time, go here. Very large, very cheap, but time consuming. They don't take credit cards, so bring a debit card or check book. The produce is pretty poor, but they're huge and, again, cheap. Check out the liquor store for a large selection (you can buy all types of alcohol in grocery stores in Wisconsin... but not after 9pm).<br />
<br />
*[http://www.traderjoes.com/ Trader Joe's]: Located at 1810 Monroe St. They have good prices for select specialty food items such as wine, cheese and fancy snacks. Their basic foodstuffs tend to be a bit pricey.<br />
<br />
*The Jenifer Street Market located on 2038 Jenifer Street is a nice little grocery store if you happen to live in the area.<br />
<br />
== Co-ops ==<br />
Co-ops are a good source of local organic food. If you are a member they provide discounts, but you can also shop there at your own will.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.regentmarketcoop.org/ Regent Market Cooperative], 2136 Regent St. 233-4329.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.willystreet.coop/ Willy Street Co-op] The largest and most active co-op in the Madison area. They have been able to survive the decline in co-ops over the years. They offer a large selection of bulk foods and spices at an excellent price. For a quick bite, they have an excellent deli, salad bar, and in-store coffee shop. 1221 Williamson St. 251-6776. They recently opened a second store in Middleton located at 6825 University Ave. Both locations deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
== Specialty Foods ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.aldifoods.com/ Aldi Foods]: Very cheap! Little selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=keJ&q=asian+midway+foods&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,304616636444102595&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Asian Midway Market]: The go-to market for anything Thai, Chinese or South-East Asian, this centrally-located store comes highly recommended. In particular, they offer a great selection of specialized produce. 301 South Park Street; 255-5864<br />
<br />
*[http://www.brennansmarket.com/ Brennan's Market]: Great for Produce, Meats, Cheese, Micro brews and Wines. You won't find things like Flour and Saran Wrap here, but definitely worth the trip.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/ Farm Fresh Atlas]: Not a grocery store, but a good resource for where you can buy local foods and a list of farms in the areas.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madseafood.com/ The Seafood Center]: The name says it all. Great fresh fish and live lobsters.<br />
<br />
*[http://frabonisdeli.com/ Fraboni's]: An awesome Italian grocery store and deli. They have very good [http://frabonisdeli.com/oils olive oils], [http://frabonisdeli.com/pastas pastas], and make-your-own pizza fixings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3723579948/garden-asian-market-middleton Garden Asian Market]: A full service Asian food market specializing in fresh meat, produce, and seafood. Mostly Chinese-leaning, they do a good job of providing a wide variety of items within their niche. It may be far out, but it's worth the trip in its pleasantness and selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=india+house+grocery+store,+madison,+wi&fb=1&gl=us&hq=india+house+grocery+store,&hnear=Madison,+WI&cid=0,0,8495347478199843118&ll=43.050466,-89.503019&spn=0.007871,0.019183&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A India House]: Really well done Indian grocery store. Good place to buy Kari leaves.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=TMe&q=lee%27s+oriental&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,92533124768468793&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Lee's Oriental]: Next to Penzey's spices. 3240 University Ave; 231-1593<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=2Me&q=oriental+shop&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,13628497956998458364&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Oriental Shop]: They carry mostly dry-goods, and tend to lean toward stocking more Korean items. 1206 South Park Street; 255-0326<br />
<br />
= Housing =<br />
<br />
Haven't found a place yet? Already hate your apartment?<br />
<br />
* [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/ UW Off-Campus Housing Search]: Probably the best search site for students.<br />
<br />
* Again, [http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List] is a good resourse. Also a good place to look for roommates outside of the department.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/ University Apartments]: On campus graduate housing, particularly popular with married couples (especially with children). Singles are also welcome. Many of them are on the bus route #80, a free route which runs from the apartments through campus every ten minutes throughout the day.<br />
<br />
== Location, Location, Location ==<br />
<br />
If you would like to keep your commute down, there are many places near campus. Many graduate students prefer to live close enough to Van Vleck to be within walking distance, yet far enough away to stay away from partying undergraduate students.<br />
<br />
Many graduate students live in the Vilas neighborhood, which is located South of Regent Street and between Park and Monroe. East of the Capitol building, we also have the Willy St. neighborhood (between Williamson and Rutledge streets, between Paterson and Thornton) and the other side of the Isthmus, between Mifflin and Lake Mendota. The university offers on campus housing at Eagle Heights with regular buses. Many students also live near Sheboygan and University Avenues (not on this map), and there are regular buses that run up University Avenue that will drop you off right in front of Van Vleck. The large apartment complexes in that area include the Normandy, Chapel Hill, Carolina, Monticello, Hilldale Towers, Park Towers, and Sovereign Apartments which are cheaper to live in than spots on the square.<br />
<br />
Because there is no parking on campus, you will need to plan on living within walking distance of a bus route or campus itself. You will receive a free bus pass for the [http://www.mymetrobus.com/ Madison Metro] system, which is very reliable. Check out the “plan your trip” link to find bus routes near you.<br />
<br />
Here is an approximate map of many areas where you will be likely to find housing: <br />
[[Image:gradhousingmap.jpg|400px| center | Housing Map]]<br />
<br />
Basically, shoot for zones 2-6, the North parts of zones 7 and 8, or the far East part of zone 10 on [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/map_all.asp this map] (the map from the UW Off-Campus Housing Search).<br />
<br />
== Stuff your landlord might not tell you ==<br />
<br />
*Utilities:<br />
Lots of apartments have water, sewage, heat, and and sometimes electricity included in rent. For those which don't, be sure to find out what to expect through the [http://mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/ Madison Gas and Electric] web page. Just tell them the address of the place you're looking at, and they'll tell you what the highs, lows, and averages have been over the last year.<br />
<br />
*Property information:<br />
The [http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/property.html City Assessor] has all of the basic information about Madison properties on file, including how many units are on the property, how much square footage there is, if there's AC in the building, what school district it's in, who your alderperson would be, and what else is on the property (e.g. garages). They'll even tell you how much the property is worth, and how much your landlord is paying in property taxes. Sometimes the square footage isn't broken up--for example, maybe there are two units on the first floor, but they'll only tell you that there are 1,700 sq ft on that floor, not how it's split up between the two units. It can be a useful site for rounding out your knowledge of places you're considering renting.<br />
<br />
*Tenants rights:<br />
The [http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/ Tenant resource center] is a small non-profit membership organization which provides housing counseling, mediation services and office assistance. Their website includes tips for new renters, generic rental forms, and advice for what to do if your landlord just won't get back to you about repairs, returning deposits, etc.<br />
There is also the [http://studenttenantunion.rso.wisc.edu/ Student tenant union], which is specifically targeted to UW students.<br />
<br />
== Rental Companies ==<br />
Many properties in Madison are run by rental companies -- some large, some small -- some good, some not-so-good. Larger companies tend to have lower prices, and more people working toward maintaining rentals. However, they may have less of an investment in taking care of each individual property or screening their tenants. Some people feel better renting from small companies, or landlords with only one or two houses. You may get more individual attention and care. Individuals have more investment in protecting each property, and renting to good tenants, so the properties tend to be in more reliable condition. However, with fewer properties comes fewer resources and higher prices.<br />
<br />
Whatever choice you make, be sure to have a conversation with your potential landlords about their polices, especially if you aren't going to be able to see things in person. It may also be good to Google the company or person to see if other people have had something good or bad to say about them or their properties. In particular, [http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Madison.html ApartmentRatings.com] has a few of the apartment complexes around town listed.<br />
<br />
Here are some general impressions/very subjective opinions that some of us have gotten from/about a few of the larger local companies:<br />
<br />
*AB Holdings: In particular, they have a couple small apartment buildings on Vilas that are particularly ideal for two people. Quite a few people from the department have rented these units and have been pretty happy.<br />
<br />
*[http://apexrents.com/ Apex Property Management]: Great company. Well-maintained properties, with many of the more recently remodeled rentals being very nice. Their representatives are helpful and responsible, and their tenants seem to be generally satisfied.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.centralmadison.com/ The Christensen Company]: Not terribly up-to-date apartments, but worth taking a look at.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonproperty.com/ Madison Property Management]: Lots of choices, but notoriously junky properties. They tend to cater mostly to undergraduates, and their rentals show it. We wouldn't recommend renting from this company unless you visit first.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.mcbridecompanies.com/ The McBride Companies]: Nice properties, good management. Really good website if you turn the sound off.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.tallardapartments.com/ Tallard Apartments]: Nice properties with very friendly and responsive staff. Their rentals tend to go early in the season.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wimci.com/ Wisconsin Management Company]: Nice enough properties, but kind of flakey representation. Make sure to ask lots of questions.<br />
<br />
*The Wright Company (or Norris Ct. Apartments): Very nice older buildings, but kind of sketchy management. Nothing is going to be in stellar shape, but they do tend to rent more to graduates and professionals, so they aren't beat up either. If you do rent from them, don't expect them to be very responsive, and be sure to be especially careful about protecting your security deposit by taking photos and keeping a record of your move-in report.<br />
<br />
= Furniture =<br />
<br />
*[http://www.svdpmadison.org/ St. Vincent DePaul's]: Like Goodwill. Has cheap dressers, desks, chairs, and general household stuff. Will deliver for a small charge. This is also a great place to donate any furniture or other items that you no longer want – they will pick up the items from your apartment. There is also a Goodwill in town, but they won't have nearly the same volume of furniture.<br />
<br />
*[http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List]: a free online classifieds site. Great not only for furniture, but also pet resources and last minute apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
*Eagle Heights Apartment Bulletin Boards: Lots of cheap stuff from people graduating, many of whom are moving overseas. You can even find cars. You can try posting your own wanted posters on the boards. You can find these boards at the bus stops for the (free) bus 80 route.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/madisonfreecycle/ Freecycle]: A community "give stuff away for free" website with a Madison branch.<br />
<br />
*Hippie Christmas ("Move-Out Day"): For some reason or another, the evening of August 14th is when the bulk of leases near campus turn over. This is a fantastic day to pick up free furniture from the street. If you already have a rental van, why not help municipal waste by pickup up a bookshelf for them?<br />
<br />
*The Todd Drive Area: Just west of park street on the beltline. American Furniture for furniture and electronics, Home Concepts for cheap but nice looking furniture, and Steinhafel's for furniture and mattresses.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html SWAP]. The UW's surplus supply store.<br />
<br />
= International Student Resources =<br />
Here are a few links specifically for international students. There are international grocery stores listed in the [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Graduate_Student_Guide#Specialty_Foods groceries] section.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcssa.net/ Chinese Student & Scholar Association]: A connection to the university's Chinese community for incoming students. They offer rides from the airport, list general information about madison, and organize get-tegethers/Chinese celebrations. International Conversation & Coffee Hour: meet other international students and americans interested in other cultures. Every Friday, 12-2pm, Cooper Hearth Room 160, Union South.<br />
<br />
*[http://iss.wisc.edu/ International Student Services]: the UW's International Student Services<br />
<br />
*[http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MADindians/ MadIndians]: a Yahoo online group for students from India in Madison. Good place to search for an Indian roommate.<br />
<br />
*[http://mtsa.rso.wisc.edu/ Madison Association of Turkish Students]: Very helpful for incoming Turkish students. It includes information about how best to get to Madison from Turkey, information about housing, and how to reach other Turkish students in Madison.<br />
<br />
= Newspapers =<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/captimes/ The Capitol Times]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the afternoon. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more liberal.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.thedailypage.com/ The Isthmus]: Free independent Madison newspaper. Has a liberal voice and is full of entertainment, including family fun, outdoor attractions, and fine arts. Also puts out the Annual Manual - the yearly guide to all things Madison.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.theonion.com/ The Onion]: While hilarious, this paper is only really good if you're already in on the joke. We get free paper copies in Madison. There is a stack near the elevators in VV. The local edition has local entertainment listings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Wisconsin State Journal]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the mornings. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more conservative.<br />
<br />
= Religious Groups =<br />
*[http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/ Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/ Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church]: Near Sheboygan Ave. at 110 N Whitney Way. A huge church, but with opportunities to get involved and meet people. It has services in the sanctuary, with a mixture of traditional and semi-modern worship, and also "video cafe" services with more lively, modern worship. Very good teaching.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cpcmadison.com/ Christ Presbyterian Church]. Just east of James Madison Park on Gorham. Has a great choir and organist!<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fusmadison.org/ The First Unitarian Society of Madison]. "A liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue." Looking for something new? They're open to all types. Also, they are housed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.folmadison.org/ Fountain of Life]: 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. A multi-ethnic church with a lot of eclectic music styles, including a lot of Gospel music<br />
<br />
*[http://genevacc.org/ The Geneva Campus Church]: On Campus Reformed church. They describe themselves as "a university church for the whole family"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwhillel.org/ Hillel]: UW-Madison's on-campus center for everything Jewish: religious, cultural, political, traditional, and alternative. Located on Langdon Street, it serves both the school population and, to a far lesser extent, the entire city.<br />
<br />
*[http://islamiccentermadison.org/ Islamic Center of Madison]: Has a masjid inside. 21 N Orchard St, (608)251-9851<br />
<br />
*[http://ivgcf.rso.wisc.edu/ InterVarsity Grad Christian Fellowship]: It's a welcoming place for Christians and non-Christians alike. (You might even find your future husband/wife there) They also have a website with info about local churches. There is a new student picnic at the beginning of the fall semester.<br />
<br />
*Latter Day Saints: There are a number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wards in the Madison area. The Madison First Ward covers areas closest to campus and meets at 4505 Regent Street, two blocks south of Hilldale Mall, at 9am. The University Ward serves single adults and meets at 1711 University Avenue at 10 am. The Madison Third Ward serves areas close to campus and meets at 701 Bear Claw Way on Madison's far west side at 11 am. Visitors and the curious are always welcome.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lccmadison.com/ Lutheran Campus Center]: A fairly young, enthusiastic, and liberal-minded congragation, found right on campus.<br />
<br />
*[http://madcitychurch.org/ Mad City Church]: A non-denominational, casual christian fellowship. Services are held in the LaFollette High School located on Madison's east side - very near the corner of Pflaum Rd. and Monona Dr. Office at 2713 E. Washington Ave.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.muuyacm.org/ Madison UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry (MUUYACM)]. One of the largest and most active Unitarian Universalist young adult groups in the U.S., they are open to young adults (ages 18-35) of all denominations. In addition to worships, they organize social-justice-oriented activities, and are an active member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcatholic.org/ St. Paul's University Catholic Center]: On campus in Library Mall near Lake & State. Has a lively Catholic grad student group called Mustard Seed with Bible studies, Thursday night speakers, retreats, service projects, and large quantities of food and euchre.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.unityofmadison.org/ Unity of Madison]: (from their site) "Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community focused on Truth Seeking and Spiritual Growth through the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire, nuture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live Jesus' message that 'the kingdom of God is within you.'"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.isthmuszencommunity.org/ Zen Buddhism]: A local zen buddhist center is located next to Willy st co-op. New comers are especially welcome.<br />
<br />
= Arts and Entertainment =<br />
<br />
Madison is a medium sized city with a not so medium sized arts and entertainment scene. There are cultural events on campus<br />
and at the [http://www.overturcenter.com Overture Center]; sporting events; art, science, natural history, and history museums; parks, the<br />
[http://www.uwarboretum.org arboretum], and [http://www.olbrich.org botanical gardens]; a free [http://www.vilaszoo.org zoo]; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; a [http://www.madfarmmkt.com Farmer’s Market] on the<br />
Capital Square every Saturday morning from April-October; and lots of other things. The [http://www.thedailypage.com Isthmus], is the local free newspaper which posts many current events.<br />
The Isthmus can be found in many stores, in campus buildings, and on street corners.<br />
<br />
== Athletic Activities ==<br />
* [http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/ Rec Sports] runs the gyms on campus. There are three such on-campus gyms -- The SERF, the Nat, and the Shell, which are free with student ID. For $10/semester, you can attend any of their Group Fitness classes, which cover everything from aerobics and weights to yoga and dance. Also, both the SERF and Nat have indoor pools.<br />
<br />
*The University of Wisconsin has a long standing heritage of being proud of their [http://www.uwbadgers.com/ athletic events]. Men's basketball, football and ice-hockey receive the most attention and as a student, you can obtain season tickets for all of these events.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.mufa.org MUFA] is an ultimate frisbee league that has summer as well as spring and fall seasons. This is a really fun way to stay active and meet some new Madison friends! You don't need to form a team-- just see the link for info about how to join a team looking for more players. Note: the games are often played all over the city and burbs, and are not necessarily reachable by bus. You'll need a car, or a teammate with a car. Also see the link for info about local pick-up games.<br />
<br />
== Dancing ==<br />
<br />
*Ballroom: [http://www.uwmbda.org/ UWMBDA] is the big ballroom dance group here. They have dances with lessons every week on Friday or Saturday and a practice group every Thursday.<br />
<br />
*[http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/dances.htm Contra Dance]: Meetings every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
*International Folk club: meets biweekly Library Mall, Wed/Sun 7:30PM-late.<br />
<br />
*Swing: [http://www.uwswing.com/ Jumptown Swing] is UW's swing club. They host (mostly) weekly dances at Union South, and provide lessons for a nominal fee. See their site for scheduling and links to other swing orgonizations. Also, on Wednesdays, there's dancing at the [http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ Brink Lounge] from 8-11.<br />
<br />
*Salsa: Venues include [http://www.cardinalbar.com/ Cardinal Bar] on Thursdays, [http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/details.php?event=176610 Frida's] on Friday nights. Don't know how to Salsa? There are lessons before dances at Cardinal, and instruction is offered through the Union's minicourses.<br />
<br />
*Tango: the [http://www.madisontango.org/ Madison Tango Society] provides lessons and dances for Argentine Tango. Their site has a good list or other events in and around Madison.<br />
<br />
== Libraries ==<br />
In addition to the many [http://www.library.wisc.edu/ Libraries of UW], the [http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ Madison Public Library] is a great place for books, movies, and music.<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
The Daily Page has a [http://www.thedailypage.com/movies/listing.php listing] of movie times for most of the theaters around town (both big and small):<br />
<br />
*Eastgate, Point and AMC (Star) Cinema are the three larger movie theaters in town.<br />
<br />
*Market Square shows second runs at a good discount. <br />
<br />
*The [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/ Orpheum] is an old cinema within site of the capitol on State street. They tend to show less mainstream movies.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.sundancecinemas.com/madison.html Sundance 608] shows independent film as well as blockbuster movies. They have a rooftop cafe that's open during the summer months, 2 bars (you can take a drink into your movie), and a restaurant!<br />
<br />
For on-campus movies:<br />
*The Wisconsin Union Directorate runs on campus screening of films. Their film site can be found [http://www.union.wisc.edu/WUD/film.aspx here.]<br />
<br />
*The UW film department hosts free screenings of a wide array of films based on a given theme for that semester through their [http://cinema.wisc.edu/ cinematheque.] Their department has many contacts with other film institutes and are able show rare original 35mm films that you can't see anywhere else.<br />
<br />
*In late March/early April, go check out some of the many many films showing at the [http://www.wifilmfest.org/ Wisconsin Film Festival.] Sites all over town take part in hosting the showing of these films.<br />
<br />
Madison also has a number of independent video stores:<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ Four Star Video Heaven] has been voted as a Madison Favorite for a number of years. See their site to browse their collection online.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bongovideo.com/ Bongo Video] has a smaller, but quite tasty selection. Lots of personality, and good daily specials.<br />
<br />
== Music ==<br />
Whether you're looking to play music, or just go watch free or (in)expensive concerts, there are many options in Madison.<br />
<br />
*Our very own [http://music.wisc.edu/ Music Department] hosts many music events. Their website has a calendar listing current music events including faculty concerts and student recitals.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonsymphony.org/ The Madison Symphony Orchestra] (MSO) is the professional symphony based here in Madison. With your student ID, you can get student rush tickets for as little as $10 per person.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wcoconcerts.org/ The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra] is Madison's professional chamber orchestra. Each summer, their widely popular [http://www.wcoconcerts.org/new/cos/concertsonthesquare.php concerts on the square] draw many people from all over the place for a free outdoor concert.<br />
<br />
*[http://madisoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Madison Community Orchestra] (MCO) is an informal group run by Madison Area Technical College that meets once a week. There are four free concerts a year and no auditions to play with the group.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.middletoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Middleton Community Orchestra] is a second newly formed community orchestra run by community musicians. Their concerts are extremely affordable, and they may run auditions.<br />
<br />
== Outdoor Activites ==<br />
Madison is a very bicycle friendly town, and there are many parks either in town or within a short drive. Here are some suggestions about outdoor activities to engage in:<br />
<br />
*Take a nice long walk along one of the many paths around [http://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/imap/LakeshoreNaturePreserve.html Picnic Point]... bike the path from Memorial Union out to the tip, or bus/drive out to the base of picnic point and wander the foot trails in the area.<br />
<br />
*Head towards Monona Terrace on Lake Monona, and take one of the paths that wraps around the lake (great bike ride!).<br />
<br />
*You can also go walking and/or biking around the [http://uwarboretum.org/ Arboretum] south of campus and tour their gardens, or head to the free [http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Vilas Zoo]. Lake Wingra is essentially totally surrounded by wooded areas including Henry Vilas Park, the UW-arboretum and Edgewood college. You can rent canoes at Knickerbocker for fairly cheap and relax on Lake Wingra.<br />
<br />
*Community Gardens: There are a number of community gardens run by the [http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/ Community Action Coalition]. Nominally, you can sign up for a plot for a small fee, and learn how to garden if you don't already know, or go to town if you already do. The [http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/ Eagle Heights Community Garden] is open to both residents and non-residents alike. All of the gardens are fun to look at if you haven't ever seen one.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.olbrich.org/ The Olbrich Botanical Gardens] are located east of lake Monona. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including their award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden, or enjoy the year-round tropical Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds.. Outdoor gardens are open daily and free to the public, while entrance to the conservatory is $1 per person.<br />
<br />
*Catch a festival; Madison is home to a number of festivals -- big festivals, small festivals, arts festivals, music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals -- we've got all kinds.<br />
<br />
The Winter opens itself up to new activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing and other options. The hoofers club runs ice boats on the lake.<br />
<br />
*The city of Madison parks open up outdoor [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct2.html ice skating] at Tenney, Vilas, and Elver parks. No skates? No worries. They will rent skates to you there ($6.00 for the first hour, $2/hr after that).<br />
<br />
*There is also [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct4.html cross-country skiing] at a number of Dane county parks, with passes starting at $5/day. No skills? Check out lessons at the [http://www.madnorski.org/page/ Madison Nordic Ski Club] or, again, [http://sns.hoofers.org/ Hoofers] has lots to offer in that area.<br />
<br />
== Student Clubs ==<br />
The University of Wisconsin, being a rather large institution, has got so much stuff going on for all of us student-types. Here are some ways people around the department have been taking advantage:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop]: Located upstairs in the Memorial Union, they are "here to satisfy your creative urges in a variety of craft media." Their facilities include a darkroom, a woodshop, a ceramics studio, metal working tools, etc. Friday afternoons, they open their studios to all union members (that means you!) for free!<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hoofers.org/ Hoofers]: Student outdoor recreation club. The Outing and Sailing clubs in particular have lots of graduate students.<br />
<br />
* [http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]: Graduate Student Collaborative Organization<br />
<br />
* [http://cfli.wisc.edu/student_organizations.htm Student Organizations]: at UW Madison (this is a directory of all registered student organizations at the university; you can search by topic or name)<br />
<br />
== The Student Unions ==<br />
The Memorial Union is located on the lakefront, on Park and Langdon. Be sure to check out the Terrace while the weather is still good -- it's a great place to go to get out of the office, grab something to snack on, and study out in the sun. You'll find the Daily Scoop (yummy ice cream!) and Der Rathskeller (beer and deep-fried goodness). You'll also find all sorts of stuff to keep you busy, like the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop], the Union Theater, the Hoofers' headquarters, and a wide array of Mini Courses with which to expand your horizons.<br />
<br />
Also useful: the travel services center and STA Travel will get you good deals on trips (including bus tickets to O'Hare, Midway, and Milwaukee airports), and the theater's box office will get you good deals on shows (theater, music, etc) all around town. In addition, the Union has always got other special events going on to keep all of us entertained -- see their complete [http://www.union.wisc.edu/activities/ list of activities].<br />
<br />
The Union South was recently completely renovated and also has many activities available. They have a climbing wall, a bowling alley, pool tables, a beer garden, a wine tasting room, a ballroom, a movie theater and many other things.<br />
<br />
= Van Vleck Miscellany =<br />
Here's a bit more info about the happenings in and around the Math Dept.<br />
<br />
== Getting money ==<br />
*Paychecks: The first paycheck of the year arrives in October, though you may request an advance on about 30% of your first paycheck when you arrive. If you are not working over the summer, the last will come in June, so be sure to plan for the three month gap.<br />
<br />
*Fees: You will be charged for segregated fees in both semesters, and are not covered in your tuition. The amount depends on your credit load and status, but will be about $500 for most people and due about the time of your first paycheck. If you are on fellowship, this will be taken care of for you, and shouldn't appear on your bill.<br />
<br />
*TA union: The teaching assistants of Wisconsin are unionized. Even if you are not a TA, but are an employee of the department, you're still connected to them through advocacy and campus issues. For more information check out the [http://www.taa-madison.org/ TAA].<br />
<br />
== Getting stuff done ==<br />
See the Contacts section for a list of people who will help you get stuff done.<br />
<br />
If you want to reserve rooms in Van Vleck for review sessions or meetings you can fill out a green form with Sharon Paulson on the second floor. Sharon does the scheduling for about 4 or 5 rooms in the building, so you can also ask her about these rooms directly. If you need to reserve the 9th floor lounge, talk to Joan Wendt (also second floor).<br />
<br />
Each grad receives 200 photocopies and 250 black and white print outs a month for personal math use. If you are a TA, Sharon in the Copy Center on the second floor can photocopy materials for classes (which does not count toward your quota)– such as worksheets and quizzes. Just give her at least 24 hours notice. To check your printout quota, open a terminal logged into the math server, and type "pages". If you do go over your quota, you will simply get a (probably very small) bill at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
We get free office supplies on the 2nd floor – just ask the Receptionist for pens, folders, etc.<br />
<br />
You can pick up and send out your mail from the second floor. You might even want to have packages delivered to the department, to avoid missing them being delivered at home (UPS, for example, won't drop off to apartment complexes if you aren't there, so you'll have to drive out to Middleton to pick up your packages).<br />
<br />
It's never too early to start studying for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/graduate/quals.htm quals]... early and often, my friends. Early and Often.<br />
<br />
== Getting together ==<br />
Historically, some afternoons and Friday before colloquium, we have a cookie and coffee social hour on the 9th floor lounge. Keep your eyes open for announcements.<br />
<br />
Definitely check out some of the colloquia and seminars. The earlier you get involved the better. This is a great way to learn more about potential research areas, meet other people in the areas, and meet other mathematicians in other departments. There is a list posted on the 9th floor each week in addition to online.<br />
<br />
Once a semester, our group for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ women in mathematics] get together for an informal potluck. We also have been known to bring in women speakers funded by the [http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/ WiSELI] grant.<br />
<br />
= Miscellaneous Wisconsin Stuff =<br />
This section describes miscellaneous Wisconsin stuff that doesn't belong in any other section, such as, a [[Wisconsin Dictionary]] for those who aren't familiar with the Wisconsin vernacular.<br />
<br />
== Voting ==<br />
Frequently asked questions for Wisconsin voting can be found <br />
[http://wisconsin.gov/state/core/faq_wisconsin_voting_elections.html here]. <br />
As of the April election, Wisconsin has a law that allows for same day registration at the polls:<br />
<br />
''If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.''<br />
<br />
Out of state licenses work, and utility bills, bank statements, or pay checks with your name and address on them work for proof of residence.<br />
<br />
== Car Stuff ==<br />
Madison has a DMV out on the west side, just past Midvale, at 4802 Sheboygan Ave, and one on the east side out near the airport. <br />
<br />
*Licenses: As they say on their page for licensing new residents, if you're looking to put your permanent residence here and vote here and generally show up on the radar, you should apply for your [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/nonreside/index.htm WI license] within 60 days of establishing residency. Your first baseline license costs $28, and is valid for three years. Note: you will need to take with you, among other things, something like a rent agreement, or a utility bill, UW transcript, or bank statement actually mailed to your WI address (no e-bills). We'll note that math students have been known to wait longer than 60 days to officially apply for residency, but we recommend you don't wait until an out-of-state license expires to get a WI license.<br />
<br />
*Vehicle Registration: If you own a car and officially become a WI resident, you need to get WI plates. All the information you need is available [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/new/resident.htm here].<br />
<br />
*Parking: First, unless you have a motorcycle, '''don't''' plan to park on campus regularly. For parking near your residence, there are some options. Depending on the neighborhood, it's possible to rent a place that has parking included or available for an extra charge. Additionally, if you live in an area surrounded by 2-hr parking [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/documents/RP3allmap.pdf zones], you can usually buy a permit (for a little over $20 per year) allowing you to park on the street all day near your home. More information can be found on the City of Madison Parking Utility [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingUtility/index.cfm page]. Most importantly, "the vehicle for which you are requesting a permit must be owned by you, your child, your parents/step parents, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner, or be a leased or company vehicle which is assigned to you." <br />
<br />
BE AWARE! Winter parking gets all crazy in Madison (from November 15 - March 15). Most of town is on an alternate side parking schedule: cars should be parked on the even (resp. odd) house numbered side of the street from 1:00a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on even (resp. odd) numbered days. If you live on the isthmus in the Snow Emergency Zone, you will only need to do this when the weather gets really bad. You can sign up for alerts when this happens.<br />
<br />
If you leave your car in the wrong place -- with winter nonsense or for any other reason -- and it gets towed, you can call the Madison Police Department (266-4260) or Schmidt's Towing (257-0505) to find out what they've done with it.<br />
<br />
== Taxes ==<br />
Once you've lived here for an entire calendar year, be sure to look into the [http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/home.html Wisconsin Homestead Credit]... it's usually worth the time and effort for graduate students. Until then, you can look into [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html deducting moving costs] for relocating here on your federal taxes.<br />
<br />
A warning to students on fellowship: taxes will not be taken out of your paycheck, but you still have to pay them. You may want to consider filing [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199807,00.html quarterly].<br />
<br />
== Wisconsin benefit programs ==<br />
We don't exactly get piles of money for teaching. In fact, most people who are not on fellowship or receiving summer funding can qualify for some heating aid (up to $380/year), and electricity aid (up to $285/year). You can check your eligibility at [https://access.wisconsin.gov/ Access WI]. <br />
There may be some residency requirements, like the Homestead credit. You can find your annual salary in our [http://www.taa-madison.org/contract/index.html contract].<br />
<br />
== Residency ==<br />
While it's usually a good idea to become a WI resident, if, for some reason, you're looking to declare residency in WI for tuition purposes, the answer is usually "no." It seems that one has to be in Wisconsin for a full year before enrolling at the UW, and one has to prove that one did not move here primarily for educational purposes (according to the Wisconsin statutes, you have to provide "clear and convincing evidence"). More on that at the [http://www.registrar.wisc.edu/students/residence/index.php Office of the Registrar]'s site.<br />
<br />
= Contacts and Other Resources =<br />
*[http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/gradguide/index.html Guide to Graduate Student Life]: The Graduate Student Collaborative's ([http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]) guide to grad student life in Madison -- like this one, but different.<br />
<br />
* [[Teaching Assistant Guide]]: from real live Van Vleck TAs<br />
<br />
*[http://www.yelp.com/madison-wi Yelp.com]: Find reviews of local stuff- restaurants and things to do, but also dentists, auto shops, etc.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.vip.wisc.edu VIP], the Visitor & Information Programs office, located in the Red Gym, near [http://www.union.wisc.edu Memorial Union]. They are open M - F 8am - 5pm and Saturday 11am - 2pm. <br />
<br />
*[http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu Student Orientation Handbook] is a valuable resource for information including entertainment, recreational and varsity sports, student organizations (including those for cultural groups, international students, LGBT students, women, veterans, and people with disabilities), health services, jobs, transportation, safety, and housing. It’s also a great place for referrals to counseling services, including drug and alcohol and sexual assault issues. You can find all this information on the web, at http://www.wisc.edu/visitingCampus/ or call them at 263-2400. You can also email any questions you have to askbucky@uwmad.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lgbt.wisc.edu LGBT Campus Center]: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Center (265-3344; lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu) provides support, social, educational and research services to the campus community, and serves as UW-Madison's first stop for those looking for information about campus LGBT organizations. The Memorial Union office on the 2nd floor includes a library, a television and DVD player, plenty of comfortable seating, open computers, and has a staff of students and professionals that work to bring events, speakers, and programs to campus. The Center also publishes a weekly events e-letter and offers support and social groups.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ WIMAW] (Women in Math at Wisconsin.)<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Got Questions? Here are some folks who might just have the answers...<br />
<br />
== Counseling Services ==<br />
Counseling services are available through Counseling and [http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/ Consultation Services (C&CS)], located at 115 North Orchard Street, (265-5600, TTY number 265-3300). C&CS offers brief psychological treatment, personal counseling, and psychiatric services to UW-Madison students. Frequent services include help in overcoming depression, managing anxiety and other psychological issues, and in developing greater self-awareness, independence, and self-direction. They also provide personal problem counseling, couples relationship counseling, marriage and family counseling, cross-cultural counseling, and alcohol and drug assessment and referral. Specialized groups have included: graduate women support, women and self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, survivors of troubled families, rebuilding relationships. C&CS also provides crisis response at the above phone numbers. Services provided are covered by the student health fee (included in your student fees).<br />
<br />
== Administrative and Support Staff ==<br />
The administrative and support staff are the folk that keep our department functioning. Without them, we as mathematicians would be lost. :) Their pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/support_staff.html here] and their contact info can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/academic_staff.html here]. If one person doesn't know how to deal with a problem you might have, they certainly know who might be able to help you out.<br />
<br />
TBD<br />
Position: Timetable/Undergraduate<br />
Office: 207 VV<br />
Email: ????@math<br />
Ask them about: Registration (for you and your students), MyUW stuff, classroom assignments.<br />
<br />
David Camacho<br />
Position: Assoc Fac Assoc<br />
Office: 321 VV<br />
Email: camacho@math<br />
Ask David about: the Math Tutorial Program (if a student needs extra attention)<br />
<br />
Mark Castillo<br />
Position: Grants/Proposals<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: castillo @math<br />
Ask Mark about: grant money, coffee club<br />
<br />
Chris Uhlir<br />
Position: Payroll/Benefits<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: grenie@math<br />
Ask Mike about: Payroll, hourly positions, taxes, tuition, healthcare, and benefits. <br />
<br />
Sara Nagreen<br />
Position: Sr IPC<br />
Office: 515 VV<br />
Email: nagreen@math<br />
Ask Sara about: all things computing.<br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson<br />
Position: Copy Center Manager/ Room Reservations<br />
Office: 220 VV<br />
Email: paulson@math<br />
Ask Sharon about: Room reservations (review sessions/exams/other), Copy Center stuff, private tutoring list.<br />
<br />
Mary Rice<br />
Position: Grad Prog. Admin<br />
Office: 203 VV<br />
Email: mrice@math<br />
Ask Mary about: Math dept records (teaching letters, transcripts, etc), how you go about graduating.<br />
<br />
Diane Rivard<br />
Position: Placement Advisor<br />
Office: 720 VV<br />
Email: rivard@math<br />
Ask Diane about: Placement questions (what class your student should be in, placement exam issues)<br />
<br />
Joan Wendt<br />
Position: Chair Secretary<br />
Office: 223 VV<br />
Email: wendt@math<br />
Ask Joan about: office assignments and keys<br />
<br />
Barbara Erlenborn<br />
Position: Dept Administrator<br />
Office: 218 VV<br />
Email: erlenborn@math<br />
Ask Barb about: admin stuff<br />
<br />
== Current and Former Graduate Students Interested in Meeting YOU ==<br />
You can find a complete list of current graduate students [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/psdbgrad.html here], and pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/grad.html here]. Email addresses that end with @ are intended to finish with @math.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
Hans Chaumont<br />
Email: chaumont@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~chaumont Website:]<br />
Grad-Age: Started 2012<br />
Area of interest: Undecided<br />
Ask Hans about: Pretty much anything, but especially about tea or the math weightlifting team.<br />
<br />
Laura Cladek<br />
Email: cladek@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~cladek Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2011<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Laura about: Anything ... Especially analysis or on campus housing.<br />
<br />
Nathan Collins<br />
Email: nathan.collins@gmail.com<br />
[http://cs.pdx.edu/~ntc2 Website]<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2008<br />
Area of interest: Computer Science and Logic.<br />
Ask Nathan about: Pittsburgh, bicycles, and being inferior to Mason at TAing. He dislikes printers and bad margins.<br />
<br />
David Dynerman<br />
Email: dynerman@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~dynerman Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask David about: programming video games, trying to do Hartshorne problems, <br />
going to the gym, Mushfeq Khan, Andrew Bridy<br />
<br />
Thomas Hangelbroek<br />
Email: hangelbr@math.hawaii.edu<br />
[http://math.hawaii.edu/people/hangelbr/ Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2007<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Thomas about: Anything Madison. Thomas is an expert in all things Madison.<br />
<br />
Sara Jensen<br />
Email: jensen@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jensen Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask Sara about: Teaching, topology & algebra quals, knitting group, going to the gym <br />
<br />
(Evan) Alec Johnson<br />
Email: ejohnson@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson Website]<br />
Grad-age: Ph.D., 2012<br />
Area of interest: Applied Math and Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask Alec about: teaching, advanced calculus, gardening, and Geneva Campus Church.<br />
<br />
Christine Lien<br />
Email: lien@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lien Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2005<br />
Area of interest: Complex Geometry<br />
Ask Christine about: anything, including bridge/card games, organizing women's events, <br />
the Association of Asian American Graduate students, and the Graduate Student Topology Seminar.<br />
<br />
Hao Lin<br />
Email: lin@<br />
[http://genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=156703 Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Hao about: sports and anything about China.<br />
<br />
Jonathon Mason<br />
Email: jonathan.f.mason@gmail.com<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2010<br />
Ask Mason about: Wisconsin hiking, the local film scene and being "way better than Nathan Collins" at TAing.<br />
<br />
Jason Murcko<br />
Email: murcko@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~murcko Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2006<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Jason about: the TAA and the local film and music scenes.<br />
<br />
Mike Schroeder<br />
Email: schroede@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~schroede UW Website]. [http://science.marshall.edu/schroederm/ Marshall Website].<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Combinatorics<br />
Ask Mike about: softball, bowling, sailing, racquet ball, and the Florida Gators.<br />
<br />
David Seal<br />
Email: seal@math.msu.edu<br />
[http://www.math.msu.edu/~seal Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2012.<br />
Area of interest: Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask David about: movies, biking, hiking and board games.<br />
<br />
Beth Skubak<br />
Email: skubak@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~skubak Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2009<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Beth about: anything, including this wiki<br />
<br />
Mike Woodbury<br />
[http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woodbury/ Website]<br />
Email: woodbury@math.columbia.edu<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011.<br />
Area of interest: Number Theory<br />
Ask Mike about: anything, including number theory, road biking, UW basketball tix.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Guide&diff=5382Graduate Student Guide2013-06-10T15:47:57Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Generic Groceries */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Exams.png|400px|right | Grading Exams in the Lounge]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
= Food =<br />
<br />
There are many ethnic and interesting restaurants in Madison – Indonesian, African, Italian, Himalayan, Laotian, Peruvian, Mexican, Bakeries, Brew Pubs, Coffee Joints, you name it -- and everyone has their favorites.<br />
<br />
The biggest resource for finding food (and entertainment!) in Madison is probably the [http://www.thedailypage.com/eats/ Daily Page] (the online version of our local paper, the Isthmus), where you can search local restaurants by name, locality, and cuisine. There, they have reviews, hours, contact info, pricing, etc. Be sure to peruse their [http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Restaurants Madison's Favorites] section for some quick tips! Of course [http://www.yelp.com/ yelp] is always useful as well. At one point a couple spent a few years trying to sample every restaurant in Madison and blogged about their journey on the [http://www.madisonatoz.com/ Madison A to Z].<br />
<br />
Here are some general food facts:<br />
<br />
== Campus Food ==<br />
*Food Carts: Open for lunch in Library Mall at the foot of Bascom Hill near Lake & State Street. Very good and very cheap, and out as long as it's not too cold.<br />
<br />
*Badger Market at Ingraham Hall: Very close to Van Vleck, and has acceptable coffee (bring your own cup to save money!) and decent snacks. Try the Badger Bundle lunch special: sandwich, drink, and a side for $1 off your total. Halfway down the hill is the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/crossroadscafe.htm Crossroads Cafe] which has much better coffee and is open later.<br />
<br />
*Memorial Union: The Rathskeller has food and next door is Lakeside cafe with much better food. Summer afternoons on the terrace is an excellent place to hang out in the sunshine with a beer and brat.<br />
<br />
*Union South: Features a pizza place, a pan-Asian restaurant, a sandwich shop, a sports bar (burgers and sandwiches) and an ice cream stand. <br />
<br />
*State Street (past the food carts) is full of restaurants and Coffee shops – there are at least a half dozen coffee roasters in town, and each supplies a different set of shops. In particular for lunch, there are the popular chains, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Einstein Bros. Bagels, or Chipotle... or hit the more independent spots such as the Sunroom Cafe or Ian's Pizza.<br />
<br />
*Residence Hall Cafeterias are pretty decent here, but filled with undergraduates! Enter at your own risk!<br />
<br />
== MadTown food ==<br />
<br />
Traditional Madison foods are German varieties such as beer, cheese, and bratwurst. Twice a year Madison hosts [http://www.bratfest.com/ Bratfest], a record breaking event. <br />
UW has [http://babcockhalldairystore.wisc.edu/ Babcock Hall Ice Cream] on campus which creates delicious ice cream available in the Unions. The [http://www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com/ Chocolate Shoppe], [http://www.ilovemichaels.com/ Michael's Frozen Custard] and [http://www.culvers.com/ Culvers] have nice deserts.<br />
Micro breweries in town include the [http://www.greatdanepub.com/ Great Dane], [http://www.capital-brewery.com/ Captial Brewery] and [http://www.aleasylum.com/ Ale Asylum]. Nearby there is the famous [http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/ New Glarus Brewing Co] which only sells beer in Wisconsin. You can join a free beer tour or walk through the brewery on a self guided tourn.<br />
<br />
In early September (Labor Day weekend), check out [http://www.tasteofmadison.com/ Taste of Madison] to see many restaurants all in one place at one time.<br />
<br />
Try a good ol' midwestern Fish Fry on Friday night – All you can eat fried fish generally served with a bran muffin, clam chowder, or coleslaw. Most Brew Pubs and some churches have them, and the [http://www.avenuebarmadison.com/ Avenue Bar and Grill] runs a Friday night Fish Fry.<br />
<br />
== Farm fresh food ==<br />
<br />
The [http://madisonfarmersmarket.com/ Dane County Farmer's Market] is amazing and HUGE. The big one is open every Saturday morning, and is located on the capitol square for most of the year. In addition to the ludicrous amount of fresh produce, there are also bakery stands, coffee, and fresh juice carts for quick breakfasts.<br />
<br />
There are also a few smaller [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farmers_markets.htm#danecounty markets] scattered around town, almost every day of the week:<br />
<br />
*Sunday: 8:30am to 12:30pm in front of Pierce's Northside Market<br />
*Monday: (none)<br />
*Tuesday: 4pm to 7pm on Ingersol at Williamson, 2pm to 6pm at 1602 S. Park St,<br />
*Wednesday: 8am to 2pm on MLKJr Blvd, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center,<br />
*Thursday: Thursdays, 2pm to 6pm at the Villager Mall on Park St., 2pm to 6pm in the McFarland Centre, 7:30am to 1:30pm in the Greenway Station shopping center,<br />
*Friday: (none)<br />
*Saturday: 6am to 2pm on the Capitol square, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center, 9am to 2pm at 1602 S. Park St, 7am to 1pm at Sheboygan Ave. and Segoe Rd., and 8:30am to 11am in Watertower Park.<br />
<br />
During the summer and fall, there are many [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/index.htm local farms] where you can [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farms/u_pick.htm pick] your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, or pumpkins when they are in season.<br />
<br />
If you're in town for the summer, you might consider signing up for a [http://www.macsac.org/ Community Supported Agriculture] food box. CSA is a way to support a local farm by paying an annual fee in the winter or spring which buys you a share of the season's harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick-up a weekly box of fresh foods which may include produce, fruits, cheeses, eggs, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. The typical CSA season in Wisconsin runs from the end of May through mid-October. You do have to pay the lump sum up-front, and some weeks you'll find yourself with five pounds of chard... but for most of the summer you'll have your produce needs met, and you can feel good about supporting small local farms. Better yet, most of the university's insurance providers offer [http://www.macsac.org/rebates.html rebates] for signing up for a CSA -- somewhere between $50-$300, depending on the plan and how many people you're sharing with (for example, if two people on GHC share a box, they might pay $450 for the box for a box lasting 25 weeks, but they they could each get $100 back, making that $5/week per person). If you're interested, remember to sign up early -- most programs are full by May.<br />
<br />
= Grocery Stores =<br />
<br />
== Generic Groceries ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.capcentremarket.com/ Capitol Centre Market]: Given their small size, they have an excellent selection of groceries. They tend to be a bit pricey. In addition, they deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.freshmadisonmarket.com/ Fresh Madison Market]: A reasonably large general grocery store, not too expensive. Has a large selection of "typical college items" (lots of frozen foods). Located on University, not too far from Van Vleck. They also deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.copps.com/ Copps]: Your standard grocery store with multiple locations.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=1020&lang=en-US Costco]: Your friendly big-box bulk store. They treat their employees incredibly well. Good buys on computers, 2 lbs of sockeye salmon or button down oxford cloth long sleeved shirts. You'll need a membership or go there with someone who has a membership. You can also get a free trial membership if you simply ask.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.walgreens.com/ Walgreens]: Pharmacy/Grocery store. There is a Walgreens on the corner of Lake & State Street near Van Vleck, on the Capitol Square, at East Campus Mall, and in University square.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Whole Foods]: Kinda spendy, but good bread, specialty stuff, and produce through the winter.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Woodman's]: two locations -- [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=725+S+Gammon+Rd+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=43.055217,-89.50304&spn=0.05381,0.171661 East] and [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3817+Milwaukee+St,+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.103615,-89.319363&spn=0.053768,0.171661&om=1 West]. If you have a car and the time, go here. Very large, very cheap, but time consuming. They don't take credit cards, so bring a debit card or check book. The produce is pretty poor, but they're huge and, again, cheap. Check out the liquor store for a large selection (you can buy all types of alcohol in grocery stores in Wisconsin... but not after 9pm).<br />
<br />
*[http://www.traderjoes.com/ Trader Joe's]: Located at 1810 Monroe St. They have good prices for select specialty food items such as wine, cheese and fancy snacks. Their basic foodstuffs tend to be a bit pricey.<br />
<br />
*The Jenifer Street Market located on 2038 Jenifer Street is a nice little grocery store if you happen to live in the area.<br />
<br />
== Co-ops ==<br />
Co-ops are a good source of local organic food. If you are a member they provide discounts, but you can also shop there at your own will.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.regentmarketcoop.org/ Regent Market Cooperative], 2136 Regent St. 233-4329.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.willystreet.coop/ Willy Street Co-op] The largest and most active co-op in the Madison area. They have been able to survive the decline in co-ops over the years. They offer a large selection of bulk foods and spices at an excellent price. For a quick bite, they have an excellent deli, salad bar, and in-store coffee shop. 1221 Williamson St. 251-6776. They recently opened a second store in Middleton located at 6825 University Ave. Both locations deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
== Specialty Foods ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.aldifoods.com/ Aldi Foods]: Very cheap! Little selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=keJ&q=asian+midway+foods&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,304616636444102595&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Asian Midway Market]: The go-to market for anything Thai, Chinese or South-East Asian, this centrally-located store comes highly recommended. In particular, they offer a great selection of specialized produce. 301 South Park Street; 255-5864<br />
<br />
*[http://www.brennansmarket.com/ Brennan's Market]: Great for Produce, Meats, Cheese, Micro brews and Wines. You won't find things like Flour and Saran Wrap here, but definitely worth the trip.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/ Farm Fresh Atlas]: Not a grocery store, but a good resource for where you can buy local foods and a list of farms in the areas.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madseafood.com/ The Seafood Center]: The name says it all. Great fresh fish and live lobsters.<br />
<br />
*[http://frabonisdeli.com/ Fraboni's]: An awesome Italian grocery store and deli. They have very good [http://frabonisdeli.com/oils olive oils], [http://frabonisdeli.com/pastas pastas], and make-your-own pizza fixings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3723579948/garden-asian-market-middleton Garden Asian Market]: A full service Asian food market specializing in fresh meat, produce, and seafood. Mostly Chinese-leaning, they do a good job of providing a wide variety of items within their niche. It may be far out, but it's worth the trip in its pleasantness and selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=india+house+grocery+store,+madison,+wi&fb=1&gl=us&hq=india+house+grocery+store,&hnear=Madison,+WI&cid=0,0,8495347478199843118&ll=43.050466,-89.503019&spn=0.007871,0.019183&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A India House]: Really well done Indian grocery store. Good place to buy Kari leaves.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=TMe&q=lee%27s+oriental&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,92533124768468793&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Lee's Oriental]: Next to Penzey's spices. 3240 University Ave; 231-1593<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=2Me&q=oriental+shop&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,13628497956998458364&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Oriental Shop]: They carry mostly dry-goods, and tend to lean toward stocking more Korean items. 1206 South Park Street; 255-0326<br />
<br />
= Housing =<br />
<br />
Haven't found a place yet? Already hate your apartment?<br />
<br />
* [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/ UW Off-Campus Housing Search]: Probably the best search site for students.<br />
<br />
* Again, [http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List] is a good resourse. Also a good place to look for roommates outside of the department.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/ University Apartments]: On campus graduate housing, particularly popular with married couples (especially with children). Singles are also welcome. Many of them are on the bus route #80, a free route which runs from the apartments through campus every ten minutes throughout the day.<br />
<br />
== Location, Location, Location ==<br />
<br />
If you would like to keep your commute down, there are many places near campus. Many graduate students prefer to live close enough to Van Vleck to be within walking distance, yet far enough away to stay away from partying undergraduate students.<br />
<br />
Many graduate students live in the Vilas neighborhood, which is located South of Regent Street and between Park and Monroe. East of the Capitol building, we also have the Willy St. neighborhood (between Williamson and Rutledge streets, between Paterson and Thornton) and the other side of the Isthmus, between Mifflin and Lake Mendota. The university offers on campus housing at Eagle Heights with regular buses. Many students also live near Sheboygan and University Avenues (not on this map), and there are regular buses that run up University Avenue that will drop you off right in front of Van Vleck. The large apartment complexes in that area include the Normandy, Chapel Hill, Carolina, Monticello, Hilldale Towers, Park Towers, and Sovereign Apartments which are cheaper to live in than spots on the square.<br />
<br />
Because there is no parking on campus, you will need to plan on living within walking distance of a bus route or campus itself. You will receive a free bus pass for the [http://www.mymetrobus.com/ Madison Metro] system, which is very reliable. Check out the “plan your trip” link to find bus routes near you.<br />
<br />
Here is an approximate map of many areas where you will be likely to find housing: <br />
[[Image:gradhousingmap.jpg|400px| center | Housing Map]]<br />
<br />
Basically, shoot for zones 2-6, the North parts of zones 7 and 8, or the far East part of zone 10 on [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/map_all.asp this map] (the map from the UW Off-Campus Housing Search).<br />
<br />
== Stuff your landlord might not tell you ==<br />
<br />
*Utilities:<br />
Lots of apartments have water, sewage, heat, and and sometimes electricity included in rent. For those which don't, be sure to find out what to expect through the [http://mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/ Madison Gas and Electric] web page. Just tell them the address of the place you're looking at, and they'll tell you what the highs, lows, and averages have been over the last year.<br />
<br />
*Property information:<br />
The [http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/property.html City Assessor] has all of the basic information about Madison properties on file, including how many units are on the property, how much square footage there is, if there's AC in the building, what school district it's in, who your alderperson would be, and what else is on the property (e.g. garages). They'll even tell you how much the property is worth, and how much your landlord is paying in property taxes. Sometimes the square footage isn't broken up--for example, maybe there are two units on the first floor, but they'll only tell you that there are 1,700 sq ft on that floor, not how it's split up between the two units. It can be a useful site for rounding out your knowledge of places you're considering renting.<br />
<br />
*Tenants rights:<br />
The [http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/ Tenant resource center] is a small non-profit membership organization which provides housing counseling, mediation services and office assistance. Their website includes tips for new renters, generic rental forms, and advice for what to do if your landlord just won't get back to you about repairs, returning deposits, etc.<br />
There is also the [http://studenttenantunion.rso.wisc.edu/ Student tenant union], which is specifically targeted to UW students.<br />
<br />
== Rental Companies ==<br />
Many properties in Madison are run by rental companies -- some large, some small -- some good, some not-so-good. Larger companies tend to have lower prices, and more people working toward maintaining rentals. However, they may have less of an investment in taking care of each individual property or screening their tenants. Some people feel better renting from small companies, or landlords with only one or two houses. You may get more individual attention and care. Individuals have more investment in protecting each property, and renting to good tenants, so the properties tend to be in more reliable condition. However, with fewer properties comes fewer resources and higher prices.<br />
<br />
Whatever choice you make, be sure to have a conversation with your potential landlords about their polices, especially if you aren't going to be able to see things in person. It may also be good to Google the company or person to see if other people have had something good or bad to say about them or their properties. In particular, [http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Madison.html ApartmentRatings.com] has a few of the apartment complexes around town listed.<br />
<br />
Here are some general impressions/very subjective opinions that some of us have gotten from/about a few of the larger local companies:<br />
<br />
*AB Holdings: In particular, they have a couple small apartment buildings on Vilas that are particularly ideal for two people. Quite a few people from the department have rented these units and have been pretty happy.<br />
<br />
*[http://apexrents.com/ Apex Property Management]: Great company. Well-maintained properties, with many of the more recently remodeled rentals being very nice. Their representatives are helpful and responsible, and their tenants seem to be generally satisfied.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.centralmadison.com/ The Christensen Company]: Not terribly up-to-date apartments, but worth taking a look at.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonproperty.com/ Madison Property Management]: Lots of choices, but notoriously junky properties. They tend to cater mostly to undergraduates, and their rentals show it. We wouldn't recommend renting from this company unless you visit first.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.mcbridecompanies.com/ The McBride Companies]: Nice properties, good management. Really good website if you turn the sound off.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.tallardapartments.com/ Tallard Apartments]: Nice properties with very friendly and responsive staff. Their rentals tend to go early in the season.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wimci.com/ Wisconsin Management Company]: Nice enough properties, but kind of flakey representation. Make sure to ask lots of questions.<br />
<br />
*The Wright Company (or Norris Ct. Apartments): Very nice older buildings, but kind of sketchy management. Nothing is going to be in stellar shape, but they do tend to rent more to graduates and professionals, so they aren't beat up either. If you do rent from them, don't expect them to be very responsive, and be sure to be especially careful about protecting your security deposit by taking photos and keeping a record of your move-in report.<br />
<br />
= Furniture =<br />
<br />
*[http://www.svdpmadison.org/ St. Vincent DePaul's]: Like Goodwill. Has cheap dressers, desks, chairs, and general household stuff. Will deliver for a small charge. This is also a great place to donate any furniture or other items that you no longer want – they will pick up the items from your apartment. There is also a Goodwill in town, but they won't have nearly the same volume of furniture.<br />
<br />
*[http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List]: a free online classifieds site. Great not only for furniture, but also pet resources and last minute apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
*Eagle Heights Apartment Bulletin Boards: Lots of cheap stuff from people graduating, many of whom are moving overseas. You can even find cars. You can try posting your own wanted posters on the boards. You can find these boards at the bus stops for the (free) bus 80 route.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/madisonfreecycle/ Freecycle]: A community "give stuff away for free" website with a Madison branch.<br />
<br />
*Hippie Christmas ("Move-Out Day"): For some reason or another, the evening of August 14th is when the bulk of leases near campus turn over. This is a fantastic day to pick up free furniture from the street. If you already have a rental van, why not help municipal waste by pickup up a bookshelf for them?<br />
<br />
*The Todd Drive Area: Just west of park street on the beltline. American Furniture for furniture and electronics, Home Concepts for cheap but nice looking furniture, and Steinhafel's for furniture and mattresses.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html SWAP]. The UW's surplus supply store.<br />
<br />
= International Student Resources =<br />
Here are a few links specifically for international students. There are international grocery stores listed in the [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Graduate_Student_Guide#Specialty_Foods groceries] section.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcssa.net/ Chinese Student & Scholar Association]: A connection to the university's Chinese community for incoming students. They offer rides from the airport, list general information about madison, and organize get-tegethers/Chinese celebrations. International Conversation & Coffee Hour: meet other international students and americans interested in other cultures. Every Friday, 12-2pm, Cooper Hearth Room 160, Union South.<br />
<br />
*[http://iss.wisc.edu/ International Student Services]: the UW's International Student Services<br />
<br />
*[http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MADindians/ MadIndians]: a Yahoo online group for students from India in Madison. Good place to search for an Indian roommate.<br />
<br />
*[http://mtsa.rso.wisc.edu/ Madison Association of Turkish Students]: Very helpful for incoming Turkish students. It includes information about how best to get to Madison from Turkey, information about housing, and how to reach other Turkish students in Madison.<br />
<br />
= Newspapers =<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/captimes/ The Capitol Times]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the afternoon. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more liberal.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.thedailypage.com/ The Isthmus]: Free independent Madison newspaper. Has a liberal voice and is full of entertainment, including family fun, outdoor attractions, and fine arts. Also puts out the Annual Manual - the yearly guide to all things Madison.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.theonion.com/ The Onion]: While hilarious, this paper is only really good if you're already in on the joke. We get free paper copies in Madison. There is a stack near the elevators in VV. The local edition has local entertainment listings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Wisconsin State Journal]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the mornings. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more conservative.<br />
<br />
= Religious Groups =<br />
*[http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/ Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/ Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church]: Near Sheboygan Ave. at 110 N Whitney Way. A huge church, but with opportunities to get involved and meet people. It has services in the sanctuary, with a mixture of traditional and semi-modern worship, and also "video cafe" services with more lively, modern worship. Very good teaching.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cpcmadison.com/ Christ Presbyterian Church]. Just east of James Madison Park on Gorham. Has a great choir and organist!<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fusmadison.org/ The First Unitarian Society of Madison]. "A liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue." Looking for something new? They're open to all types. Also, they are housed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.folmadison.org/ Fountain of Life]: 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. A multi-ethnic church with a lot of eclectic music styles, including a lot of Gospel music<br />
<br />
*[http://genevacc.org/ The Geneva Campus Church]: On Campus Reformed church. They describe themselves as "a university church for the whole family"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwhillel.org/ Hillel]: UW-Madison's on-campus center for everything Jewish: religious, cultural, political, traditional, and alternative. Located on Langdon Street, it serves both the school population and, to a far lesser extent, the entire city.<br />
<br />
*[http://islamiccentermadison.org/ Islamic Center of Madison]: Has a masjid inside. 21 N Orchard St, (608)251-9851<br />
<br />
*[http://ivgcf.rso.wisc.edu/ InterVarsity Grad Christian Fellowship]: It's a welcoming place for Christians and non-Christians alike. (You might even find your future husband/wife there) They also have a website with info about local churches. There is a new student picnic at the beginning of the fall semester.<br />
<br />
*Latter Day Saints: There are a number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wards in the Madison area. The Madison First Ward covers areas closest to campus and meets at 4505 Regent Street, two blocks south of Hilldale Mall, at 9am. The University Ward serves single adults and meets at 1711 University Avenue at 10 am. The Madison Third Ward serves areas close to campus and meets at 701 Bear Claw Way on Madison's far west side at 11 am. Visitors and the curious are always welcome.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lccmadison.com/ Lutheran Campus Center]: A fairly young, enthusiastic, and liberal-minded congragation, found right on campus.<br />
<br />
*[http://madcitychurch.org/ Mad City Church]: A non-denominational, casual christian fellowship. Services are held in the LaFollette High School located on Madison's east side - very near the corner of Pflaum Rd. and Monona Dr. Office at 2713 E. Washington Ave.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.muuyacm.org/ Madison UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry (MUUYACM)]. One of the largest and most active Unitarian Universalist young adult groups in the U.S., they are open to young adults (ages 18-35) of all denominations. In addition to worships, they organize social-justice-oriented activities, and are an active member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcatholic.org/ St. Paul's University Catholic Center]: On campus in Library Mall near Lake & State. Has a lively Catholic grad student group called Mustard Seed with Bible studies, Thursday night speakers, retreats, service projects, and large quantities of food and euchre.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.unityofmadison.org/ Unity of Madison]: (from their site) "Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community focused on Truth Seeking and Spiritual Growth through the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire, nuture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live Jesus' message that 'the kingdom of God is within you.'"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.isthmuszencommunity.org/ Zen Buddhism]: A local zen buddhist center is located next to Willy st co-op. New comers are especially welcome.<br />
<br />
= Arts and Entertainment =<br />
<br />
Madison is a medium sized city with a not so medium sized arts and entertainment scene. There are cultural events on campus<br />
and at the [http://www.overturcenter.com Overture Center]; sporting events; art, science, natural history, and history museums; parks, the<br />
[http://www.uwarboretum.org arboretum], and [http://www.olbrich.org botanical gardens]; a free [http://www.vilaszoo.org zoo]; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; a [http://www.madfarmmkt.com Farmer’s Market] on the<br />
Capital Square every Saturday morning from April-October; and lots of other things. The [http://www.thedailypage.com Isthmus], is the local free newspaper which posts many current events.<br />
The Isthmus can be found in many stores, in campus buildings, and on street corners.<br />
<br />
== Athletic Activities ==<br />
* [http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/ Rec Sports] runs the gyms on campus. There are three such on-campus gyms -- The SERF, the Nat, and the Shell, which are free with student ID. For $10/semester, you can attend any of their Group Fitness classes, which cover everything from aerobics and weights to yoga and dance. Also, both the SERF and Nat have indoor pools.<br />
<br />
*The University of Wisconsin has a long standing heritage of being proud of their [http://www.uwbadgers.com/ athletic events]. Men's basketball, football and ice-hockey receive the most attention and as a student, you can obtain season tickets for all of these events.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.mufa.org MUFA] is an ultimate frisbee league that has summer as well as spring and fall seasons. This is a really fun way to stay active and meet some new Madison friends! You don't need to form a team-- just see the link for info about how to join a team looking for more players. Note: the games are often played all over the city and burbs, and are not necessarily reachable by bus. You'll need a car, or a teammate with a car. Also see the link for info about local pick-up games.<br />
<br />
== Dancing ==<br />
<br />
*Ballroom: [http://www.uwmbda.org/ UWMBDA] is the big ballroom dance group here. They have dances with lessons every week on Friday or Saturday and a practice group every Thursday.<br />
<br />
*[http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/dances.htm Contra Dance]: Meetings every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
*International Folk club: meets biweekly Library Mall, Wed/Sun 7:30PM-late.<br />
<br />
*Swing: [http://www.uwswing.com/ Jumptown Swing] is UW's swing club. They host (mostly) weekly dances at Union South, and provide lessons for a nominal fee. See their site for scheduling and links to other swing orgonizations. Also, on Wednesdays, there's dancing at the [http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ Brink Lounge] from 8-11.<br />
<br />
*Salsa: Venues include [http://www.cardinalbar.com/ Cardinal Bar] on Thursdays, [http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/details.php?event=176610 Frida's] on Friday nights. Don't know how to Salsa? There are lessons before dances at Cardinal, and instruction is offered through the Union's minicourses.<br />
<br />
*Tango: the [http://www.madisontango.org/ Madison Tango Society] provides lessons and dances for Argentine Tango. Their site has a good list or other events in and around Madison.<br />
<br />
== Libraries ==<br />
In addition to the many [http://www.library.wisc.edu/ Libraries of UW], the [http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ Madison Public Library] is a great place for books, movies, and music.<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
The Daily Page has a [http://www.thedailypage.com/movies/listing.php listing] of movie times for most of the theaters around town (both big and small):<br />
<br />
*Eastgate, Point and AMC (Star) Cinema are the three larger movie theaters in town.<br />
<br />
*Market Square shows second runs at a good discount. <br />
<br />
*The [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/ Orpheum] is an old cinema within site of the capitol on State street. They tend to show less mainstream movies.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.sundancecinemas.com/madison.html Sundance 608] shows independent film as well as blockbuster movies. They have a rooftop cafe that's open during the summer months, 2 bars (you can take a drink into your movie), and a restaurant!<br />
<br />
For on-campus movies:<br />
*The Wisconsin Union Directorate runs on campus screening of films. Their film site can be found [http://www.union.wisc.edu/WUD/film.aspx here.]<br />
<br />
*The UW film department hosts free screenings of a wide array of films based on a given theme for that semester through their [http://cinema.wisc.edu/ cinematheque.] Their department has many contacts with other film institutes and are able show rare original 35mm films that you can't see anywhere else.<br />
<br />
*In late March/early April, go check out some of the many many films showing at the [http://www.wifilmfest.org/ Wisconsin Film Festival.] Sites all over town take part in hosting the showing of these films.<br />
<br />
Madison also has a number of independent video stores:<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ Four Star Video Heaven] has been voted as a Madison Favorite for a number of years. See their site to browse their collection online.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bongovideo.com/ Bongo Video] has a smaller, but quite tasty selection. Lots of personality, and good daily specials.<br />
<br />
== Music ==<br />
Whether you're looking to play music, or just go watch free or (in)expensive concerts, there are many options in Madison.<br />
<br />
*Our very own [http://music.wisc.edu/ Music Department] hosts many music events. Their website has a calendar listing current music events including faculty concerts and student recitals.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonsymphony.org/ The Madison Symphony Orchestra] (MSO) is the professional symphony based here in Madison. With your student ID, you can get student rush tickets for as little as $10 per person.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wcoconcerts.org/ The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra] is Madison's professional chamber orchestra. Each summer, their widely popular [http://www.wcoconcerts.org/new/cos/concertsonthesquare.php concerts on the square] draw many people from all over the place for a free outdoor concert.<br />
<br />
*[http://madisoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Madison Community Orchestra] (MCO) is an informal group run by Madison Area Technical College that meets once a week. There are four free concerts a year and no auditions to play with the group.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.middletoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Middleton Community Orchestra] is a second newly formed community orchestra run by community musicians. Their concerts are extremely affordable, and they may run auditions.<br />
<br />
== Outdoor Activites ==<br />
Madison is a very bicycle friendly town, and there are many parks either in town or within a short drive. Here are some suggestions about outdoor activities to engage in:<br />
<br />
*Take a nice long walk along one of the many paths around [http://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/imap/LakeshoreNaturePreserve.html Picnic Point]... bike the path from Memorial Union out to the tip, or bus/drive out to the base of picnic point and wander the foot trails in the area.<br />
<br />
*Head towards Monona Terrace on Lake Monona, and take one of the paths that wraps around the lake (great bike ride!).<br />
<br />
*You can also go walking and/or biking around the [http://uwarboretum.org/ Arboretum] south of campus and tour their gardens, or head to the free [http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Vilas Zoo]. Lake Wingra is essentially totally surrounded by wooded areas including Henry Vilas Park, the UW-arboretum and Edgewood college. You can rent canoes at Knickerbocker for fairly cheap and relax on Lake Wingra.<br />
<br />
*Community Gardens: There are a number of community gardens run by the [http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/ Community Action Coalition]. Nominally, you can sign up for a plot for a small fee, and learn how to garden if you don't already know, or go to town if you already do. The [http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/ Eagle Heights Community Garden] is open to both residents and non-residents alike. All of the gardens are fun to look at if you haven't ever seen one.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.olbrich.org/ The Olbrich Botanical Gardens] are located east of lake Monona. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including their award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden, or enjoy the year-round tropical Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds.. Outdoor gardens are open daily and free to the public, while entrance to the conservatory is $1 per person.<br />
<br />
*Catch a festival; Madison is home to a number of festivals -- big festivals, small festivals, arts festivals, music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals -- we've got all kinds.<br />
<br />
The Winter opens itself up to new activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing and other options. The hoofers club runs ice boats on the lake.<br />
<br />
*The city of Madison parks open up outdoor [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct2.html ice skating] at Tenney, Vilas, and Elver parks. No skates? No worries. They will rent skates to you there ($6.00 for the first hour, $2/hr after that).<br />
<br />
*There is also [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct4.html cross-country skiing] at a number of Dane county parks, with passes starting at $5/day. No skills? Check out lessons at the [http://www.madnorski.org/page/ Madison Nordic Ski Club] or, again, [http://sns.hoofers.org/ Hoofers] has lots to offer in that area.<br />
<br />
== Student Clubs ==<br />
The University of Wisconsin, being a rather large institution, has got so much stuff going on for all of us student-types. Here are some ways people around the department have been taking advantage:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop]: Located upstairs in the Memorial Union, they are "here to satisfy your creative urges in a variety of craft media." Their facilities include a darkroom, a woodshop, a ceramics studio, metal working tools, etc. Friday afternoons, they open their studios to all union members (that means you!) for free!<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hoofers.org/ Hoofers]: Student outdoor recreation club. The Outing and Sailing clubs in particular have lots of graduate students.<br />
<br />
* [http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]: Graduate Student Collaborative Organization<br />
<br />
* [http://cfli.wisc.edu/student_organizations.htm Student Organizations]: at UW Madison (this is a directory of all registered student organizations at the university; you can search by topic or name)<br />
<br />
== The Student Unions ==<br />
The Memorial Union is located on the lakefront, on Park and Langdon. Be sure to check out the Terrace while the weather is still good -- it's a great place to go to get out of the office, grab something to snack on, and study out in the sun. You'll find the Daily Scoop (yummy ice cream!) and Der Rathskeller (beer and deep-fried goodness). You'll also find all sorts of stuff to keep you busy, like the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop], the Union Theater, the Hoofers' headquarters, and a wide array of Mini Courses with which to expand your horizons.<br />
<br />
Also useful: the travel services center and STA Travel will get you good deals on trips (including bus tickets to O'Hare, Midway, and Milwaukee airports), and the theater's box office will get you good deals on shows (theater, music, etc) all around town. In addition, the Union has always got other special events going on to keep all of us entertained -- see their complete [http://www.union.wisc.edu/activities/ list of activities].<br />
<br />
The Union South was recently completely renovated and also has many activities available. They have a climbing wall, a bowling alley, pool tables, a beer garden, a wine tasting room, a ballroom, a movie theater and many other things.<br />
<br />
= Van Vleck Miscellany =<br />
Here's a bit more info about the happenings in and around the Math Dept.<br />
<br />
== Getting money ==<br />
*Paychecks: The first paycheck of the year arrives in October, though you may request an advance on about 30% of your first paycheck when you arrive. If you are not working over the summer, the last will come in June, so be sure to plan for the three month gap.<br />
<br />
*Fees: You will be charged for segregated fees in both semesters, and are not covered in your tuition. The amount depends on your credit load and status, but will be about $500 for most people and due about the time of your first paycheck. If you are on fellowship, this will be taken care of for you, and shouldn't appear on your bill.<br />
<br />
*TA union: The teaching assistants of Wisconsin are unionized. Even if you are not a TA, but are an employee of the department, you're still connected to them through advocacy and campus issues. For more information check out the [http://www.taa-madison.org/ TAA].<br />
<br />
== Getting stuff done ==<br />
See the Contacts section for a list of people who will help you get stuff done.<br />
<br />
If you want to reserve rooms in Van Vleck for review sessions or meetings you can fill out a green form with Sharon Paulson on the second floor. Sharon does the scheduling for about 4 or 5 rooms in the building, so you can also ask her about these rooms directly. If you need to reserve the 9th floor lounge, talk to Joan Wendt (also second floor).<br />
<br />
Each grad receives 200 photocopies and 250 black and white print outs a month for personal math use. If you are a TA, Sharon in the Copy Center on the second floor can photocopy materials for classes (which does not count toward your quota)– such as worksheets and quizzes. Just give her at least 24 hours notice. To check your printout quota, open a terminal logged into the math server, and type "pages". If you do go over your quota, you will simply get a (probably very small) bill at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
We get free office supplies on the 2nd floor – just ask the Receptionist for pens, folders, etc.<br />
<br />
You can pick up and send out your mail from the second floor. You might even want to have packages delivered to the department, to avoid missing them being delivered at home (UPS, for example, won't drop off to apartment complexes if you aren't there, so you'll have to drive out to Middleton to pick up your packages).<br />
<br />
It's never too early to start studying for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/graduate/quals.htm quals]... early and often, my friends. Early and Often.<br />
<br />
== Getting together ==<br />
Historically, some afternoons and Friday before colloquium, we have a cookie and coffee social hour on the 9th floor lounge. Keep your eyes open for announcements.<br />
<br />
Definitely check out some of the colloquia and seminars. The earlier you get involved the better. This is a great way to learn more about potential research areas, meet other people in the areas, and meet other mathematicians in other departments. There is a list posted on the 9th floor each week in addition to online.<br />
<br />
Once a semester, our group for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ women in mathematics] get together for an informal potluck. We also have been known to bring in women speakers funded by the [http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/ WiSELI] grant.<br />
<br />
= Miscellaneous Wisconsin Stuff =<br />
This section describes miscellaneous Wisconsin stuff that doesn't belong in any other section, such as, a [[Wisconsin Dictionary]] for those who aren't familiar with the Wisconsin vernacular.<br />
<br />
== Voting ==<br />
Frequently asked questions for Wisconsin voting can be found <br />
[http://wisconsin.gov/state/core/faq_wisconsin_voting_elections.html here]. <br />
As of the April election, Wisconsin has a law that allows for same day registration at the polls:<br />
<br />
''If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.''<br />
<br />
Out of state licenses work, and utility bills, bank statements, or pay checks with your name and address on them work for proof of residence.<br />
<br />
== Car Stuff ==<br />
Madison has a DMV out on the west side, just past Midvale, at 4802 Sheboygan Ave, and one on the east side out near the airport. <br />
<br />
*Licenses: As they say on their page for licensing new residents, if you're looking to put your permanent residence here and vote here and generally show up on the radar, you should apply for your [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/nonreside/index.htm WI license] within 60 days of establishing residency. Your first baseline license costs $28, and is valid for three years. Note: you will need to take with you, among other things, something like a rent agreement, or a utility bill, UW transcript, or bank statement actually mailed to your WI address (no e-bills). We'll note that math students have been known to wait longer than 60 days to officially apply for residency, but we recommend you don't wait until an out-of-state license expires to get a WI license.<br />
<br />
*Vehicle Registration: If you own a car and officially become a WI resident, you need to get WI plates. All the information you need is available [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/new/resident.htm here].<br />
<br />
*Parking: First, unless you have a motorcycle, '''don't''' plan to park on campus regularly. For parking near your residence, there are some options. Depending on the neighborhood, it's possible to rent a place that has parking included or available for an extra charge. Additionally, if you live in an area surrounded by 2-hr parking [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/documents/RP3allmap.pdf zones], you can usually buy a permit (for a little over $20 per year) allowing you to park on the street all day near your home. More information can be found on the City of Madison Parking Utility [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingUtility/index.cfm page]. Most importantly, "the vehicle for which you are requesting a permit must be owned by you, your child, your parents/step parents, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner, or be a leased or company vehicle which is assigned to you." <br />
<br />
BE AWARE! Winter parking gets all crazy in Madison (from November 15 - March 15). Most of town is on an alternate side parking schedule: cars should be parked on the even (resp. odd) house numbered side of the street from 1:00a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on even (resp. odd) numbered days. If you live on the isthmus in the Snow Emergency Zone, you will only need to do this when the weather gets really bad. You can sign up for alerts when this happens.<br />
<br />
If you leave your car in the wrong place -- with winter nonsense or for any other reason -- and it gets towed, you can call the Madison Police Department (266-4260) or Schmidt's Towing (257-0505) to find out what they've done with it.<br />
<br />
== Taxes ==<br />
Once you've lived here for an entire calendar year, be sure to look into the [http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/home.html Wisconsin Homestead Credit]... it's usually worth the time and effort for graduate students. Until then, you can look into [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html deducting moving costs] for relocating here on your federal taxes.<br />
<br />
A warning to students on fellowship: taxes will not be taken out of your paycheck, but you still have to pay them. You may want to consider filing [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199807,00.html quarterly].<br />
<br />
== Wisconsin benefit programs ==<br />
We don't exactly get piles of money for teaching. In fact, most people who are not on fellowship or receiving summer funding can qualify for some heating aid (up to $380/year), and electricity aid (up to $285/year). You can check your eligibility at [https://access.wisconsin.gov/ Access WI]. <br />
There may be some residency requirements, like the Homestead credit. You can find your annual salary in our [http://www.taa-madison.org/contract/index.html contract].<br />
<br />
== Residency ==<br />
While it's usually a good idea to become a WI resident, if, for some reason, you're looking to declare residency in WI for tuition purposes, the answer is usually "no." It seems that one has to be in Wisconsin for a full year before enrolling at the UW, and one has to prove that one did not move here primarily for educational purposes (according to the Wisconsin statutes, you have to provide "clear and convincing evidence"). More on that at the [http://www.registrar.wisc.edu/students/residence/index.php Office of the Registrar]'s site.<br />
<br />
= Contacts and Other Resources =<br />
*[http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/gradguide/index.html Guide to Graduate Student Life]: The Graduate Student Collaborative's ([http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]) guide to grad student life in Madison -- like this one, but different.<br />
<br />
* [[Teaching Assistant Guide]]: from real live Van Vleck TAs<br />
<br />
*[http://www.yelp.com/madison-wi Yelp.com]: Find reviews of local stuff- restaurants and things to do, but also dentists, auto shops, etc.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.vip.wisc.edu VIP], the Visitor & Information Programs office, located in the Red Gym, near [http://www.union.wisc.edu Memorial Union]. They are open M - F 8am - 5pm and Saturday 11am - 2pm. <br />
<br />
*[http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu Student Orientation Handbook] is a valuable resource for information including entertainment, recreational and varsity sports, student organizations (including those for cultural groups, international students, LGBT students, women, veterans, and people with disabilities), health services, jobs, transportation, safety, and housing. It’s also a great place for referrals to counseling services, including drug and alcohol and sexual assault issues. You can find all this information on the web, at http://www.wisc.edu/visitingCampus/ or call them at 263-2400. You can also email any questions you have to askbucky@uwmad.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lgbt.wisc.edu LGBT Campus Center]: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Center (265-3344; lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu) provides support, social, educational and research services to the campus community, and serves as UW-Madison's first stop for those looking for information about campus LGBT organizations. The Memorial Union office on the 2nd floor includes a library, a television and DVD player, plenty of comfortable seating, open computers, and has a staff of students and professionals that work to bring events, speakers, and programs to campus. The Center also publishes a weekly events e-letter and offers support and social groups.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ WIMAW] (Women in Math at Wisconsin.)<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Got Questions? Here are some folks who might just have the answers...<br />
<br />
== Counseling Services ==<br />
Counseling services are available through Counseling and [http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/ Consultation Services (C&CS)], located at 115 North Orchard Street, (265-5600, TTY number 265-3300). C&CS offers brief psychological treatment, personal counseling, and psychiatric services to UW-Madison students. Frequent services include help in overcoming depression, managing anxiety and other psychological issues, and in developing greater self-awareness, independence, and self-direction. They also provide personal problem counseling, couples relationship counseling, marriage and family counseling, cross-cultural counseling, and alcohol and drug assessment and referral. Specialized groups have included: graduate women support, women and self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, survivors of troubled families, rebuilding relationships. C&CS also provides crisis response at the above phone numbers. Services provided are covered by the student health fee (included in your student fees).<br />
<br />
== Administrative and Support Staff ==<br />
The administrative and support staff are the folk that keep our department functioning. Without them, we as mathematicians would be lost. :) Their pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/support_staff.html here] and their contact info can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/academic_staff.html here]. If one person doesn't know how to deal with a problem you might have, they certainly know who might be able to help you out.<br />
<br />
TBD<br />
Position: Timetable/Undergraduate<br />
Office: 207 VV<br />
Email: ????@math<br />
Ask them about: Registration (for you and your students), MyUW stuff, classroom assignments.<br />
<br />
David Camacho<br />
Position: Assoc Fac Assoc<br />
Office: 321 VV<br />
Email: camacho@math<br />
Ask David about: the Math Tutorial Program (if a student needs extra attention)<br />
<br />
Mark Castillo<br />
Position: Grants/Proposals<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: castillo @math<br />
Ask Mark about: grant money, coffee club<br />
<br />
Chris Uhlir<br />
Position: Payroll/Benefits<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: grenie@math<br />
Ask Mike about: Payroll, hourly positions, taxes, tuition, healthcare, and benefits. <br />
<br />
Sara Nagreen<br />
Position: Sr IPC<br />
Office: 515 VV<br />
Email: nagreen@math<br />
Ask Sara about: all things computing.<br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson<br />
Position: Copy Center Manager/ Room Reservations<br />
Office: 220 VV<br />
Email: paulson@math<br />
Ask Sharon about: Room reservations (review sessions/exams/other), Copy Center stuff, private tutoring list.<br />
<br />
Mary Rice<br />
Position: Grad Prog. Admin<br />
Office: 203 VV<br />
Email: mrice@math<br />
Ask Mary about: Math dept records (teaching letters, transcripts, etc), how you go about graduating.<br />
<br />
Diane Rivard<br />
Position: Placement Advisor<br />
Office: 720 VV<br />
Email: rivard@math<br />
Ask Diane about: Placement questions (what class your student should be in, placement exam issues)<br />
<br />
Joan Wendt<br />
Position: Chair Secretary<br />
Office: 223 VV<br />
Email: wendt@math<br />
Ask Joan about: office assignments and keys<br />
<br />
Barbara Erlenborn<br />
Position: Dept Administrator<br />
Office: 218 VV<br />
Email: erlenborn@math<br />
Ask Barb about: admin stuff<br />
<br />
== Current and Former Graduate Students Interested in Meeting YOU ==<br />
You can find a complete list of current graduate students [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/psdbgrad.html here], and pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/grad.html here]. Email addresses that end with @ are intended to finish with @math.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
Hans Chaumont<br />
Email: chaumont@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~chaumont Website:]<br />
Grad-Age: Started 2012<br />
Area of interest: Undecided<br />
Ask Hans about: Pretty much anything, but especially about tea or the math weightlifting team.<br />
<br />
Laura Cladek<br />
Email: cladek@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~cladek Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2011<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Laura about: Anything ... Especially analysis or on campus housing.<br />
<br />
Nathan Collins<br />
Email: nathan.collins@gmail.com<br />
[http://cs.pdx.edu/~ntc2 Website]<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2008<br />
Area of interest: Computer Science and Logic.<br />
Ask Nathan about: Pittsburgh, bicycles, and being inferior to Mason at TAing. He dislikes printers and bad margins.<br />
<br />
David Dynerman<br />
Email: dynerman@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~dynerman Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask David about: programming video games, trying to do Hartshorne problems, <br />
going to the gym, Mushfeq Khan, Andrew Bridy<br />
<br />
Thomas Hangelbroek<br />
Email: hangelbr@math.hawaii.edu<br />
[http://math.hawaii.edu/people/hangelbr/ Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2007<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Thomas about: Anything Madison. Thomas is an expert in all things Madison.<br />
<br />
Sara Jensen<br />
Email: jensen@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jensen Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask Sara about: Teaching, topology & algebra quals, knitting group, going to the gym <br />
<br />
(Evan) Alec Johnson<br />
Email: ejohnson@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson Website]<br />
Grad-age: Ph.D., 2012<br />
Area of interest: Applied Math and Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask Alec about: teaching, advanced calculus, gardening, and Geneva Campus Church.<br />
<br />
Christine Lien<br />
Email: lien@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lien Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2005<br />
Area of interest: Complex Geometry<br />
Ask Christine about: anything, including bridge/card games, organizing women's events, <br />
the Association of Asian American Graduate students, and the Graduate Student Topology Seminar.<br />
<br />
Hao Lin<br />
Email: lin@<br />
[http://genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=156703 Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Hao about: sports and anything about China.<br />
<br />
Jonathon Mason<br />
Email: jonathan.f.mason@gmail.com<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2010<br />
Ask Mason about: Wisconsin hiking, the local film scene and being "way better than Nathan Collins" at TAing.<br />
<br />
Jason Murcko<br />
Email: murcko@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~murcko Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2006<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Jason about: the TAA and the local film and music scenes.<br />
<br />
Mike Schroeder<br />
Email: schroede@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~schroede UW Website]. [http://science.marshall.edu/schroederm/ Marshall Website].<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Combinatorics<br />
Ask Mike about: softball, bowling, sailing, racquet ball, and the Florida Gators.<br />
<br />
David Seal<br />
Email: seal@math.msu.edu<br />
[http://www.math.msu.edu/~seal Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2012.<br />
Area of interest: Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask David about: movies, biking, hiking and board games.<br />
<br />
Beth Skubak<br />
Email: skubak@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~skubak Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2009<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Beth about: anything, including this wiki<br />
<br />
Mike Woodbury<br />
[http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woodbury/ Website]<br />
Email: woodbury@math.columbia.edu<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011.<br />
Area of interest: Number Theory<br />
Ask Mike about: anything, including number theory, road biking, UW basketball tix.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Guide&diff=5381Graduate Student Guide2013-06-10T15:44:37Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Farm fresh food */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Exams.png|400px|right | Grading Exams in the Lounge]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
= Food =<br />
<br />
There are many ethnic and interesting restaurants in Madison – Indonesian, African, Italian, Himalayan, Laotian, Peruvian, Mexican, Bakeries, Brew Pubs, Coffee Joints, you name it -- and everyone has their favorites.<br />
<br />
The biggest resource for finding food (and entertainment!) in Madison is probably the [http://www.thedailypage.com/eats/ Daily Page] (the online version of our local paper, the Isthmus), where you can search local restaurants by name, locality, and cuisine. There, they have reviews, hours, contact info, pricing, etc. Be sure to peruse their [http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Restaurants Madison's Favorites] section for some quick tips! Of course [http://www.yelp.com/ yelp] is always useful as well. At one point a couple spent a few years trying to sample every restaurant in Madison and blogged about their journey on the [http://www.madisonatoz.com/ Madison A to Z].<br />
<br />
Here are some general food facts:<br />
<br />
== Campus Food ==<br />
*Food Carts: Open for lunch in Library Mall at the foot of Bascom Hill near Lake & State Street. Very good and very cheap, and out as long as it's not too cold.<br />
<br />
*Badger Market at Ingraham Hall: Very close to Van Vleck, and has acceptable coffee (bring your own cup to save money!) and decent snacks. Try the Badger Bundle lunch special: sandwich, drink, and a side for $1 off your total. Halfway down the hill is the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/crossroadscafe.htm Crossroads Cafe] which has much better coffee and is open later.<br />
<br />
*Memorial Union: The Rathskeller has food and next door is Lakeside cafe with much better food. Summer afternoons on the terrace is an excellent place to hang out in the sunshine with a beer and brat.<br />
<br />
*Union South: Features a pizza place, a pan-Asian restaurant, a sandwich shop, a sports bar (burgers and sandwiches) and an ice cream stand. <br />
<br />
*State Street (past the food carts) is full of restaurants and Coffee shops – there are at least a half dozen coffee roasters in town, and each supplies a different set of shops. In particular for lunch, there are the popular chains, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Einstein Bros. Bagels, or Chipotle... or hit the more independent spots such as the Sunroom Cafe or Ian's Pizza.<br />
<br />
*Residence Hall Cafeterias are pretty decent here, but filled with undergraduates! Enter at your own risk!<br />
<br />
== MadTown food ==<br />
<br />
Traditional Madison foods are German varieties such as beer, cheese, and bratwurst. Twice a year Madison hosts [http://www.bratfest.com/ Bratfest], a record breaking event. <br />
UW has [http://babcockhalldairystore.wisc.edu/ Babcock Hall Ice Cream] on campus which creates delicious ice cream available in the Unions. The [http://www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com/ Chocolate Shoppe], [http://www.ilovemichaels.com/ Michael's Frozen Custard] and [http://www.culvers.com/ Culvers] have nice deserts.<br />
Micro breweries in town include the [http://www.greatdanepub.com/ Great Dane], [http://www.capital-brewery.com/ Captial Brewery] and [http://www.aleasylum.com/ Ale Asylum]. Nearby there is the famous [http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/ New Glarus Brewing Co] which only sells beer in Wisconsin. You can join a free beer tour or walk through the brewery on a self guided tourn.<br />
<br />
In early September (Labor Day weekend), check out [http://www.tasteofmadison.com/ Taste of Madison] to see many restaurants all in one place at one time.<br />
<br />
Try a good ol' midwestern Fish Fry on Friday night – All you can eat fried fish generally served with a bran muffin, clam chowder, or coleslaw. Most Brew Pubs and some churches have them, and the [http://www.avenuebarmadison.com/ Avenue Bar and Grill] runs a Friday night Fish Fry.<br />
<br />
== Farm fresh food ==<br />
<br />
The [http://madisonfarmersmarket.com/ Dane County Farmer's Market] is amazing and HUGE. The big one is open every Saturday morning, and is located on the capitol square for most of the year. In addition to the ludicrous amount of fresh produce, there are also bakery stands, coffee, and fresh juice carts for quick breakfasts.<br />
<br />
There are also a few smaller [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farmers_markets.htm#danecounty markets] scattered around town, almost every day of the week:<br />
<br />
*Sunday: 8:30am to 12:30pm in front of Pierce's Northside Market<br />
*Monday: (none)<br />
*Tuesday: 4pm to 7pm on Ingersol at Williamson, 2pm to 6pm at 1602 S. Park St,<br />
*Wednesday: 8am to 2pm on MLKJr Blvd, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center,<br />
*Thursday: Thursdays, 2pm to 6pm at the Villager Mall on Park St., 2pm to 6pm in the McFarland Centre, 7:30am to 1:30pm in the Greenway Station shopping center,<br />
*Friday: (none)<br />
*Saturday: 6am to 2pm on the Capitol square, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center, 9am to 2pm at 1602 S. Park St, 7am to 1pm at Sheboygan Ave. and Segoe Rd., and 8:30am to 11am in Watertower Park.<br />
<br />
During the summer and fall, there are many [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/index.htm local farms] where you can [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farms/u_pick.htm pick] your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, or pumpkins when they are in season.<br />
<br />
If you're in town for the summer, you might consider signing up for a [http://www.macsac.org/ Community Supported Agriculture] food box. CSA is a way to support a local farm by paying an annual fee in the winter or spring which buys you a share of the season's harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick-up a weekly box of fresh foods which may include produce, fruits, cheeses, eggs, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. The typical CSA season in Wisconsin runs from the end of May through mid-October. You do have to pay the lump sum up-front, and some weeks you'll find yourself with five pounds of chard... but for most of the summer you'll have your produce needs met, and you can feel good about supporting small local farms. Better yet, most of the university's insurance providers offer [http://www.macsac.org/rebates.html rebates] for signing up for a CSA -- somewhere between $50-$300, depending on the plan and how many people you're sharing with (for example, if two people on GHC share a box, they might pay $450 for the box for a box lasting 25 weeks, but they they could each get $100 back, making that $5/week per person). If you're interested, remember to sign up early -- most programs are full by May.<br />
<br />
= Grocery Stores =<br />
<br />
== Generic Groceries ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.capcentrefoods.com/home.html Capitol Centre Foods]: Given their small size, they have an excellent selection of groceries. They tend to be a bit pricey. In addition, they deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.freshmadisonmarket.com/ Fresh Madison Market]: A reasonably large general grocery store, not too expensive. Has a large selection of "typical college items" (lots of frozen foods). Located on University, not too far from Van Vleck. They also deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.copps.com/ Copps]: Your standard grocery store with multiple locations.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=1020&lang=en-US Costco]: Your friendly big-box bulk store. They treat their employees incredibly well. Good buys on computers, 2 lbs of sockeye salmon or button down oxford cloth long sleeved shirts. You'll need a membership or go there with someone who has a membership. You can also get a free trial membership if you simply ask.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.walgreens.com/ Walgreens]: Pharmacy/Grocery store. There is a Walgreens on the corner of Lake & State Street near Van Vleck, on the Capitol Square, at East Campus Mall, and in University square.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Whole Foods]: Kinda spendy, but good bread, specialty stuff, and produce through the winter.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Woodman's]: two locations -- [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=725+S+Gammon+Rd+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=43.055217,-89.50304&spn=0.05381,0.171661 East] and [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3817+Milwaukee+St,+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.103615,-89.319363&spn=0.053768,0.171661&om=1 West]. If you have a car and the time, go here. Very large, very cheap, but time consuming. They don't take credit cards, so bring a debit card or check book. The produce is pretty poor, but they're huge and, again, cheap. Check out the liquor store for a large selection (you can buy all types of alcohol in grocery stores in Wisconsin... but not after 9pm).<br />
<br />
*[http://www.traderjoes.com/ Trader Joe's]: Located at 1810 Monroe St. They have good prices for select specialty food items such as wine, cheese and fancy snacks. Their basic foodstuffs tend to be a bit pricey.<br />
<br />
*The Jenifer Street Market located on 2038 Jenifer Street is a nice little grocery store if you happen to live in the area.<br />
<br />
== Co-ops ==<br />
Co-ops are a good source of local organic food. If you are a member they provide discounts, but you can also shop there at your own will.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.regentmarketcoop.org/ Regent Market Cooperative], 2136 Regent St. 233-4329.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.willystreet.coop/ Willy Street Co-op] The largest and most active co-op in the Madison area. They have been able to survive the decline in co-ops over the years. They offer a large selection of bulk foods and spices at an excellent price. For a quick bite, they have an excellent deli, salad bar, and in-store coffee shop. 1221 Williamson St. 251-6776. They recently opened a second store in Middleton located at 6825 University Ave. Both locations deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
== Specialty Foods ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.aldifoods.com/ Aldi Foods]: Very cheap! Little selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=keJ&q=asian+midway+foods&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,304616636444102595&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Asian Midway Market]: The go-to market for anything Thai, Chinese or South-East Asian, this centrally-located store comes highly recommended. In particular, they offer a great selection of specialized produce. 301 South Park Street; 255-5864<br />
<br />
*[http://www.brennansmarket.com/ Brennan's Market]: Great for Produce, Meats, Cheese, Micro brews and Wines. You won't find things like Flour and Saran Wrap here, but definitely worth the trip.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/ Farm Fresh Atlas]: Not a grocery store, but a good resource for where you can buy local foods and a list of farms in the areas.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madseafood.com/ The Seafood Center]: The name says it all. Great fresh fish and live lobsters.<br />
<br />
*[http://frabonisdeli.com/ Fraboni's]: An awesome Italian grocery store and deli. They have very good [http://frabonisdeli.com/oils olive oils], [http://frabonisdeli.com/pastas pastas], and make-your-own pizza fixings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3723579948/garden-asian-market-middleton Garden Asian Market]: A full service Asian food market specializing in fresh meat, produce, and seafood. Mostly Chinese-leaning, they do a good job of providing a wide variety of items within their niche. It may be far out, but it's worth the trip in its pleasantness and selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=india+house+grocery+store,+madison,+wi&fb=1&gl=us&hq=india+house+grocery+store,&hnear=Madison,+WI&cid=0,0,8495347478199843118&ll=43.050466,-89.503019&spn=0.007871,0.019183&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A India House]: Really well done Indian grocery store. Good place to buy Kari leaves.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=TMe&q=lee%27s+oriental&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,92533124768468793&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Lee's Oriental]: Next to Penzey's spices. 3240 University Ave; 231-1593<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=2Me&q=oriental+shop&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,13628497956998458364&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Oriental Shop]: They carry mostly dry-goods, and tend to lean toward stocking more Korean items. 1206 South Park Street; 255-0326<br />
<br />
= Housing =<br />
<br />
Haven't found a place yet? Already hate your apartment?<br />
<br />
* [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/ UW Off-Campus Housing Search]: Probably the best search site for students.<br />
<br />
* Again, [http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List] is a good resourse. Also a good place to look for roommates outside of the department.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/ University Apartments]: On campus graduate housing, particularly popular with married couples (especially with children). Singles are also welcome. Many of them are on the bus route #80, a free route which runs from the apartments through campus every ten minutes throughout the day.<br />
<br />
== Location, Location, Location ==<br />
<br />
If you would like to keep your commute down, there are many places near campus. Many graduate students prefer to live close enough to Van Vleck to be within walking distance, yet far enough away to stay away from partying undergraduate students.<br />
<br />
Many graduate students live in the Vilas neighborhood, which is located South of Regent Street and between Park and Monroe. East of the Capitol building, we also have the Willy St. neighborhood (between Williamson and Rutledge streets, between Paterson and Thornton) and the other side of the Isthmus, between Mifflin and Lake Mendota. The university offers on campus housing at Eagle Heights with regular buses. Many students also live near Sheboygan and University Avenues (not on this map), and there are regular buses that run up University Avenue that will drop you off right in front of Van Vleck. The large apartment complexes in that area include the Normandy, Chapel Hill, Carolina, Monticello, Hilldale Towers, Park Towers, and Sovereign Apartments which are cheaper to live in than spots on the square.<br />
<br />
Because there is no parking on campus, you will need to plan on living within walking distance of a bus route or campus itself. You will receive a free bus pass for the [http://www.mymetrobus.com/ Madison Metro] system, which is very reliable. Check out the “plan your trip” link to find bus routes near you.<br />
<br />
Here is an approximate map of many areas where you will be likely to find housing: <br />
[[Image:gradhousingmap.jpg|400px| center | Housing Map]]<br />
<br />
Basically, shoot for zones 2-6, the North parts of zones 7 and 8, or the far East part of zone 10 on [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/map_all.asp this map] (the map from the UW Off-Campus Housing Search).<br />
<br />
== Stuff your landlord might not tell you ==<br />
<br />
*Utilities:<br />
Lots of apartments have water, sewage, heat, and and sometimes electricity included in rent. For those which don't, be sure to find out what to expect through the [http://mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/ Madison Gas and Electric] web page. Just tell them the address of the place you're looking at, and they'll tell you what the highs, lows, and averages have been over the last year.<br />
<br />
*Property information:<br />
The [http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/property.html City Assessor] has all of the basic information about Madison properties on file, including how many units are on the property, how much square footage there is, if there's AC in the building, what school district it's in, who your alderperson would be, and what else is on the property (e.g. garages). They'll even tell you how much the property is worth, and how much your landlord is paying in property taxes. Sometimes the square footage isn't broken up--for example, maybe there are two units on the first floor, but they'll only tell you that there are 1,700 sq ft on that floor, not how it's split up between the two units. It can be a useful site for rounding out your knowledge of places you're considering renting.<br />
<br />
*Tenants rights:<br />
The [http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/ Tenant resource center] is a small non-profit membership organization which provides housing counseling, mediation services and office assistance. Their website includes tips for new renters, generic rental forms, and advice for what to do if your landlord just won't get back to you about repairs, returning deposits, etc.<br />
There is also the [http://studenttenantunion.rso.wisc.edu/ Student tenant union], which is specifically targeted to UW students.<br />
<br />
== Rental Companies ==<br />
Many properties in Madison are run by rental companies -- some large, some small -- some good, some not-so-good. Larger companies tend to have lower prices, and more people working toward maintaining rentals. However, they may have less of an investment in taking care of each individual property or screening their tenants. Some people feel better renting from small companies, or landlords with only one or two houses. You may get more individual attention and care. Individuals have more investment in protecting each property, and renting to good tenants, so the properties tend to be in more reliable condition. However, with fewer properties comes fewer resources and higher prices.<br />
<br />
Whatever choice you make, be sure to have a conversation with your potential landlords about their polices, especially if you aren't going to be able to see things in person. It may also be good to Google the company or person to see if other people have had something good or bad to say about them or their properties. In particular, [http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Madison.html ApartmentRatings.com] has a few of the apartment complexes around town listed.<br />
<br />
Here are some general impressions/very subjective opinions that some of us have gotten from/about a few of the larger local companies:<br />
<br />
*AB Holdings: In particular, they have a couple small apartment buildings on Vilas that are particularly ideal for two people. Quite a few people from the department have rented these units and have been pretty happy.<br />
<br />
*[http://apexrents.com/ Apex Property Management]: Great company. Well-maintained properties, with many of the more recently remodeled rentals being very nice. Their representatives are helpful and responsible, and their tenants seem to be generally satisfied.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.centralmadison.com/ The Christensen Company]: Not terribly up-to-date apartments, but worth taking a look at.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonproperty.com/ Madison Property Management]: Lots of choices, but notoriously junky properties. They tend to cater mostly to undergraduates, and their rentals show it. We wouldn't recommend renting from this company unless you visit first.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.mcbridecompanies.com/ The McBride Companies]: Nice properties, good management. Really good website if you turn the sound off.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.tallardapartments.com/ Tallard Apartments]: Nice properties with very friendly and responsive staff. Their rentals tend to go early in the season.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wimci.com/ Wisconsin Management Company]: Nice enough properties, but kind of flakey representation. Make sure to ask lots of questions.<br />
<br />
*The Wright Company (or Norris Ct. Apartments): Very nice older buildings, but kind of sketchy management. Nothing is going to be in stellar shape, but they do tend to rent more to graduates and professionals, so they aren't beat up either. If you do rent from them, don't expect them to be very responsive, and be sure to be especially careful about protecting your security deposit by taking photos and keeping a record of your move-in report.<br />
<br />
= Furniture =<br />
<br />
*[http://www.svdpmadison.org/ St. Vincent DePaul's]: Like Goodwill. Has cheap dressers, desks, chairs, and general household stuff. Will deliver for a small charge. This is also a great place to donate any furniture or other items that you no longer want – they will pick up the items from your apartment. There is also a Goodwill in town, but they won't have nearly the same volume of furniture.<br />
<br />
*[http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List]: a free online classifieds site. Great not only for furniture, but also pet resources and last minute apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
*Eagle Heights Apartment Bulletin Boards: Lots of cheap stuff from people graduating, many of whom are moving overseas. You can even find cars. You can try posting your own wanted posters on the boards. You can find these boards at the bus stops for the (free) bus 80 route.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/madisonfreecycle/ Freecycle]: A community "give stuff away for free" website with a Madison branch.<br />
<br />
*Hippie Christmas ("Move-Out Day"): For some reason or another, the evening of August 14th is when the bulk of leases near campus turn over. This is a fantastic day to pick up free furniture from the street. If you already have a rental van, why not help municipal waste by pickup up a bookshelf for them?<br />
<br />
*The Todd Drive Area: Just west of park street on the beltline. American Furniture for furniture and electronics, Home Concepts for cheap but nice looking furniture, and Steinhafel's for furniture and mattresses.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html SWAP]. The UW's surplus supply store.<br />
<br />
= International Student Resources =<br />
Here are a few links specifically for international students. There are international grocery stores listed in the [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Graduate_Student_Guide#Specialty_Foods groceries] section.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcssa.net/ Chinese Student & Scholar Association]: A connection to the university's Chinese community for incoming students. They offer rides from the airport, list general information about madison, and organize get-tegethers/Chinese celebrations. International Conversation & Coffee Hour: meet other international students and americans interested in other cultures. Every Friday, 12-2pm, Cooper Hearth Room 160, Union South.<br />
<br />
*[http://iss.wisc.edu/ International Student Services]: the UW's International Student Services<br />
<br />
*[http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MADindians/ MadIndians]: a Yahoo online group for students from India in Madison. Good place to search for an Indian roommate.<br />
<br />
*[http://mtsa.rso.wisc.edu/ Madison Association of Turkish Students]: Very helpful for incoming Turkish students. It includes information about how best to get to Madison from Turkey, information about housing, and how to reach other Turkish students in Madison.<br />
<br />
= Newspapers =<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/captimes/ The Capitol Times]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the afternoon. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more liberal.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.thedailypage.com/ The Isthmus]: Free independent Madison newspaper. Has a liberal voice and is full of entertainment, including family fun, outdoor attractions, and fine arts. Also puts out the Annual Manual - the yearly guide to all things Madison.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.theonion.com/ The Onion]: While hilarious, this paper is only really good if you're already in on the joke. We get free paper copies in Madison. There is a stack near the elevators in VV. The local edition has local entertainment listings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Wisconsin State Journal]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the mornings. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more conservative.<br />
<br />
= Religious Groups =<br />
*[http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/ Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/ Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church]: Near Sheboygan Ave. at 110 N Whitney Way. A huge church, but with opportunities to get involved and meet people. It has services in the sanctuary, with a mixture of traditional and semi-modern worship, and also "video cafe" services with more lively, modern worship. Very good teaching.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cpcmadison.com/ Christ Presbyterian Church]. Just east of James Madison Park on Gorham. Has a great choir and organist!<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fusmadison.org/ The First Unitarian Society of Madison]. "A liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue." Looking for something new? They're open to all types. Also, they are housed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.folmadison.org/ Fountain of Life]: 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. A multi-ethnic church with a lot of eclectic music styles, including a lot of Gospel music<br />
<br />
*[http://genevacc.org/ The Geneva Campus Church]: On Campus Reformed church. They describe themselves as "a university church for the whole family"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwhillel.org/ Hillel]: UW-Madison's on-campus center for everything Jewish: religious, cultural, political, traditional, and alternative. Located on Langdon Street, it serves both the school population and, to a far lesser extent, the entire city.<br />
<br />
*[http://islamiccentermadison.org/ Islamic Center of Madison]: Has a masjid inside. 21 N Orchard St, (608)251-9851<br />
<br />
*[http://ivgcf.rso.wisc.edu/ InterVarsity Grad Christian Fellowship]: It's a welcoming place for Christians and non-Christians alike. (You might even find your future husband/wife there) They also have a website with info about local churches. There is a new student picnic at the beginning of the fall semester.<br />
<br />
*Latter Day Saints: There are a number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wards in the Madison area. The Madison First Ward covers areas closest to campus and meets at 4505 Regent Street, two blocks south of Hilldale Mall, at 9am. The University Ward serves single adults and meets at 1711 University Avenue at 10 am. The Madison Third Ward serves areas close to campus and meets at 701 Bear Claw Way on Madison's far west side at 11 am. Visitors and the curious are always welcome.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lccmadison.com/ Lutheran Campus Center]: A fairly young, enthusiastic, and liberal-minded congragation, found right on campus.<br />
<br />
*[http://madcitychurch.org/ Mad City Church]: A non-denominational, casual christian fellowship. Services are held in the LaFollette High School located on Madison's east side - very near the corner of Pflaum Rd. and Monona Dr. Office at 2713 E. Washington Ave.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.muuyacm.org/ Madison UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry (MUUYACM)]. One of the largest and most active Unitarian Universalist young adult groups in the U.S., they are open to young adults (ages 18-35) of all denominations. In addition to worships, they organize social-justice-oriented activities, and are an active member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcatholic.org/ St. Paul's University Catholic Center]: On campus in Library Mall near Lake & State. Has a lively Catholic grad student group called Mustard Seed with Bible studies, Thursday night speakers, retreats, service projects, and large quantities of food and euchre.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.unityofmadison.org/ Unity of Madison]: (from their site) "Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community focused on Truth Seeking and Spiritual Growth through the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire, nuture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live Jesus' message that 'the kingdom of God is within you.'"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.isthmuszencommunity.org/ Zen Buddhism]: A local zen buddhist center is located next to Willy st co-op. New comers are especially welcome.<br />
<br />
= Arts and Entertainment =<br />
<br />
Madison is a medium sized city with a not so medium sized arts and entertainment scene. There are cultural events on campus<br />
and at the [http://www.overturcenter.com Overture Center]; sporting events; art, science, natural history, and history museums; parks, the<br />
[http://www.uwarboretum.org arboretum], and [http://www.olbrich.org botanical gardens]; a free [http://www.vilaszoo.org zoo]; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; a [http://www.madfarmmkt.com Farmer’s Market] on the<br />
Capital Square every Saturday morning from April-October; and lots of other things. The [http://www.thedailypage.com Isthmus], is the local free newspaper which posts many current events.<br />
The Isthmus can be found in many stores, in campus buildings, and on street corners.<br />
<br />
== Athletic Activities ==<br />
* [http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/ Rec Sports] runs the gyms on campus. There are three such on-campus gyms -- The SERF, the Nat, and the Shell, which are free with student ID. For $10/semester, you can attend any of their Group Fitness classes, which cover everything from aerobics and weights to yoga and dance. Also, both the SERF and Nat have indoor pools.<br />
<br />
*The University of Wisconsin has a long standing heritage of being proud of their [http://www.uwbadgers.com/ athletic events]. Men's basketball, football and ice-hockey receive the most attention and as a student, you can obtain season tickets for all of these events.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.mufa.org MUFA] is an ultimate frisbee league that has summer as well as spring and fall seasons. This is a really fun way to stay active and meet some new Madison friends! You don't need to form a team-- just see the link for info about how to join a team looking for more players. Note: the games are often played all over the city and burbs, and are not necessarily reachable by bus. You'll need a car, or a teammate with a car. Also see the link for info about local pick-up games.<br />
<br />
== Dancing ==<br />
<br />
*Ballroom: [http://www.uwmbda.org/ UWMBDA] is the big ballroom dance group here. They have dances with lessons every week on Friday or Saturday and a practice group every Thursday.<br />
<br />
*[http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/dances.htm Contra Dance]: Meetings every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
*International Folk club: meets biweekly Library Mall, Wed/Sun 7:30PM-late.<br />
<br />
*Swing: [http://www.uwswing.com/ Jumptown Swing] is UW's swing club. They host (mostly) weekly dances at Union South, and provide lessons for a nominal fee. See their site for scheduling and links to other swing orgonizations. Also, on Wednesdays, there's dancing at the [http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ Brink Lounge] from 8-11.<br />
<br />
*Salsa: Venues include [http://www.cardinalbar.com/ Cardinal Bar] on Thursdays, [http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/details.php?event=176610 Frida's] on Friday nights. Don't know how to Salsa? There are lessons before dances at Cardinal, and instruction is offered through the Union's minicourses.<br />
<br />
*Tango: the [http://www.madisontango.org/ Madison Tango Society] provides lessons and dances for Argentine Tango. Their site has a good list or other events in and around Madison.<br />
<br />
== Libraries ==<br />
In addition to the many [http://www.library.wisc.edu/ Libraries of UW], the [http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ Madison Public Library] is a great place for books, movies, and music.<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
The Daily Page has a [http://www.thedailypage.com/movies/listing.php listing] of movie times for most of the theaters around town (both big and small):<br />
<br />
*Eastgate, Point and AMC (Star) Cinema are the three larger movie theaters in town.<br />
<br />
*Market Square shows second runs at a good discount. <br />
<br />
*The [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/ Orpheum] is an old cinema within site of the capitol on State street. They tend to show less mainstream movies.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.sundancecinemas.com/madison.html Sundance 608] shows independent film as well as blockbuster movies. They have a rooftop cafe that's open during the summer months, 2 bars (you can take a drink into your movie), and a restaurant!<br />
<br />
For on-campus movies:<br />
*The Wisconsin Union Directorate runs on campus screening of films. Their film site can be found [http://www.union.wisc.edu/WUD/film.aspx here.]<br />
<br />
*The UW film department hosts free screenings of a wide array of films based on a given theme for that semester through their [http://cinema.wisc.edu/ cinematheque.] Their department has many contacts with other film institutes and are able show rare original 35mm films that you can't see anywhere else.<br />
<br />
*In late March/early April, go check out some of the many many films showing at the [http://www.wifilmfest.org/ Wisconsin Film Festival.] Sites all over town take part in hosting the showing of these films.<br />
<br />
Madison also has a number of independent video stores:<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ Four Star Video Heaven] has been voted as a Madison Favorite for a number of years. See their site to browse their collection online.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bongovideo.com/ Bongo Video] has a smaller, but quite tasty selection. Lots of personality, and good daily specials.<br />
<br />
== Music ==<br />
Whether you're looking to play music, or just go watch free or (in)expensive concerts, there are many options in Madison.<br />
<br />
*Our very own [http://music.wisc.edu/ Music Department] hosts many music events. Their website has a calendar listing current music events including faculty concerts and student recitals.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonsymphony.org/ The Madison Symphony Orchestra] (MSO) is the professional symphony based here in Madison. With your student ID, you can get student rush tickets for as little as $10 per person.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wcoconcerts.org/ The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra] is Madison's professional chamber orchestra. Each summer, their widely popular [http://www.wcoconcerts.org/new/cos/concertsonthesquare.php concerts on the square] draw many people from all over the place for a free outdoor concert.<br />
<br />
*[http://madisoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Madison Community Orchestra] (MCO) is an informal group run by Madison Area Technical College that meets once a week. There are four free concerts a year and no auditions to play with the group.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.middletoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Middleton Community Orchestra] is a second newly formed community orchestra run by community musicians. Their concerts are extremely affordable, and they may run auditions.<br />
<br />
== Outdoor Activites ==<br />
Madison is a very bicycle friendly town, and there are many parks either in town or within a short drive. Here are some suggestions about outdoor activities to engage in:<br />
<br />
*Take a nice long walk along one of the many paths around [http://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/imap/LakeshoreNaturePreserve.html Picnic Point]... bike the path from Memorial Union out to the tip, or bus/drive out to the base of picnic point and wander the foot trails in the area.<br />
<br />
*Head towards Monona Terrace on Lake Monona, and take one of the paths that wraps around the lake (great bike ride!).<br />
<br />
*You can also go walking and/or biking around the [http://uwarboretum.org/ Arboretum] south of campus and tour their gardens, or head to the free [http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Vilas Zoo]. Lake Wingra is essentially totally surrounded by wooded areas including Henry Vilas Park, the UW-arboretum and Edgewood college. You can rent canoes at Knickerbocker for fairly cheap and relax on Lake Wingra.<br />
<br />
*Community Gardens: There are a number of community gardens run by the [http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/ Community Action Coalition]. Nominally, you can sign up for a plot for a small fee, and learn how to garden if you don't already know, or go to town if you already do. The [http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/ Eagle Heights Community Garden] is open to both residents and non-residents alike. All of the gardens are fun to look at if you haven't ever seen one.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.olbrich.org/ The Olbrich Botanical Gardens] are located east of lake Monona. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including their award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden, or enjoy the year-round tropical Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds.. Outdoor gardens are open daily and free to the public, while entrance to the conservatory is $1 per person.<br />
<br />
*Catch a festival; Madison is home to a number of festivals -- big festivals, small festivals, arts festivals, music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals -- we've got all kinds.<br />
<br />
The Winter opens itself up to new activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing and other options. The hoofers club runs ice boats on the lake.<br />
<br />
*The city of Madison parks open up outdoor [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct2.html ice skating] at Tenney, Vilas, and Elver parks. No skates? No worries. They will rent skates to you there ($6.00 for the first hour, $2/hr after that).<br />
<br />
*There is also [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct4.html cross-country skiing] at a number of Dane county parks, with passes starting at $5/day. No skills? Check out lessons at the [http://www.madnorski.org/page/ Madison Nordic Ski Club] or, again, [http://sns.hoofers.org/ Hoofers] has lots to offer in that area.<br />
<br />
== Student Clubs ==<br />
The University of Wisconsin, being a rather large institution, has got so much stuff going on for all of us student-types. Here are some ways people around the department have been taking advantage:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop]: Located upstairs in the Memorial Union, they are "here to satisfy your creative urges in a variety of craft media." Their facilities include a darkroom, a woodshop, a ceramics studio, metal working tools, etc. Friday afternoons, they open their studios to all union members (that means you!) for free!<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hoofers.org/ Hoofers]: Student outdoor recreation club. The Outing and Sailing clubs in particular have lots of graduate students.<br />
<br />
* [http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]: Graduate Student Collaborative Organization<br />
<br />
* [http://cfli.wisc.edu/student_organizations.htm Student Organizations]: at UW Madison (this is a directory of all registered student organizations at the university; you can search by topic or name)<br />
<br />
== The Student Unions ==<br />
The Memorial Union is located on the lakefront, on Park and Langdon. Be sure to check out the Terrace while the weather is still good -- it's a great place to go to get out of the office, grab something to snack on, and study out in the sun. You'll find the Daily Scoop (yummy ice cream!) and Der Rathskeller (beer and deep-fried goodness). You'll also find all sorts of stuff to keep you busy, like the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop], the Union Theater, the Hoofers' headquarters, and a wide array of Mini Courses with which to expand your horizons.<br />
<br />
Also useful: the travel services center and STA Travel will get you good deals on trips (including bus tickets to O'Hare, Midway, and Milwaukee airports), and the theater's box office will get you good deals on shows (theater, music, etc) all around town. In addition, the Union has always got other special events going on to keep all of us entertained -- see their complete [http://www.union.wisc.edu/activities/ list of activities].<br />
<br />
The Union South was recently completely renovated and also has many activities available. They have a climbing wall, a bowling alley, pool tables, a beer garden, a wine tasting room, a ballroom, a movie theater and many other things.<br />
<br />
= Van Vleck Miscellany =<br />
Here's a bit more info about the happenings in and around the Math Dept.<br />
<br />
== Getting money ==<br />
*Paychecks: The first paycheck of the year arrives in October, though you may request an advance on about 30% of your first paycheck when you arrive. If you are not working over the summer, the last will come in June, so be sure to plan for the three month gap.<br />
<br />
*Fees: You will be charged for segregated fees in both semesters, and are not covered in your tuition. The amount depends on your credit load and status, but will be about $500 for most people and due about the time of your first paycheck. If you are on fellowship, this will be taken care of for you, and shouldn't appear on your bill.<br />
<br />
*TA union: The teaching assistants of Wisconsin are unionized. Even if you are not a TA, but are an employee of the department, you're still connected to them through advocacy and campus issues. For more information check out the [http://www.taa-madison.org/ TAA].<br />
<br />
== Getting stuff done ==<br />
See the Contacts section for a list of people who will help you get stuff done.<br />
<br />
If you want to reserve rooms in Van Vleck for review sessions or meetings you can fill out a green form with Sharon Paulson on the second floor. Sharon does the scheduling for about 4 or 5 rooms in the building, so you can also ask her about these rooms directly. If you need to reserve the 9th floor lounge, talk to Joan Wendt (also second floor).<br />
<br />
Each grad receives 200 photocopies and 250 black and white print outs a month for personal math use. If you are a TA, Sharon in the Copy Center on the second floor can photocopy materials for classes (which does not count toward your quota)– such as worksheets and quizzes. Just give her at least 24 hours notice. To check your printout quota, open a terminal logged into the math server, and type "pages". If you do go over your quota, you will simply get a (probably very small) bill at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
We get free office supplies on the 2nd floor – just ask the Receptionist for pens, folders, etc.<br />
<br />
You can pick up and send out your mail from the second floor. You might even want to have packages delivered to the department, to avoid missing them being delivered at home (UPS, for example, won't drop off to apartment complexes if you aren't there, so you'll have to drive out to Middleton to pick up your packages).<br />
<br />
It's never too early to start studying for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/graduate/quals.htm quals]... early and often, my friends. Early and Often.<br />
<br />
== Getting together ==<br />
Historically, some afternoons and Friday before colloquium, we have a cookie and coffee social hour on the 9th floor lounge. Keep your eyes open for announcements.<br />
<br />
Definitely check out some of the colloquia and seminars. The earlier you get involved the better. This is a great way to learn more about potential research areas, meet other people in the areas, and meet other mathematicians in other departments. There is a list posted on the 9th floor each week in addition to online.<br />
<br />
Once a semester, our group for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ women in mathematics] get together for an informal potluck. We also have been known to bring in women speakers funded by the [http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/ WiSELI] grant.<br />
<br />
= Miscellaneous Wisconsin Stuff =<br />
This section describes miscellaneous Wisconsin stuff that doesn't belong in any other section, such as, a [[Wisconsin Dictionary]] for those who aren't familiar with the Wisconsin vernacular.<br />
<br />
== Voting ==<br />
Frequently asked questions for Wisconsin voting can be found <br />
[http://wisconsin.gov/state/core/faq_wisconsin_voting_elections.html here]. <br />
As of the April election, Wisconsin has a law that allows for same day registration at the polls:<br />
<br />
''If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.''<br />
<br />
Out of state licenses work, and utility bills, bank statements, or pay checks with your name and address on them work for proof of residence.<br />
<br />
== Car Stuff ==<br />
Madison has a DMV out on the west side, just past Midvale, at 4802 Sheboygan Ave, and one on the east side out near the airport. <br />
<br />
*Licenses: As they say on their page for licensing new residents, if you're looking to put your permanent residence here and vote here and generally show up on the radar, you should apply for your [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/nonreside/index.htm WI license] within 60 days of establishing residency. Your first baseline license costs $28, and is valid for three years. Note: you will need to take with you, among other things, something like a rent agreement, or a utility bill, UW transcript, or bank statement actually mailed to your WI address (no e-bills). We'll note that math students have been known to wait longer than 60 days to officially apply for residency, but we recommend you don't wait until an out-of-state license expires to get a WI license.<br />
<br />
*Vehicle Registration: If you own a car and officially become a WI resident, you need to get WI plates. All the information you need is available [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/new/resident.htm here].<br />
<br />
*Parking: First, unless you have a motorcycle, '''don't''' plan to park on campus regularly. For parking near your residence, there are some options. Depending on the neighborhood, it's possible to rent a place that has parking included or available for an extra charge. Additionally, if you live in an area surrounded by 2-hr parking [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/documents/RP3allmap.pdf zones], you can usually buy a permit (for a little over $20 per year) allowing you to park on the street all day near your home. More information can be found on the City of Madison Parking Utility [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingUtility/index.cfm page]. Most importantly, "the vehicle for which you are requesting a permit must be owned by you, your child, your parents/step parents, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner, or be a leased or company vehicle which is assigned to you." <br />
<br />
BE AWARE! Winter parking gets all crazy in Madison (from November 15 - March 15). Most of town is on an alternate side parking schedule: cars should be parked on the even (resp. odd) house numbered side of the street from 1:00a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on even (resp. odd) numbered days. If you live on the isthmus in the Snow Emergency Zone, you will only need to do this when the weather gets really bad. You can sign up for alerts when this happens.<br />
<br />
If you leave your car in the wrong place -- with winter nonsense or for any other reason -- and it gets towed, you can call the Madison Police Department (266-4260) or Schmidt's Towing (257-0505) to find out what they've done with it.<br />
<br />
== Taxes ==<br />
Once you've lived here for an entire calendar year, be sure to look into the [http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/home.html Wisconsin Homestead Credit]... it's usually worth the time and effort for graduate students. Until then, you can look into [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html deducting moving costs] for relocating here on your federal taxes.<br />
<br />
A warning to students on fellowship: taxes will not be taken out of your paycheck, but you still have to pay them. You may want to consider filing [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199807,00.html quarterly].<br />
<br />
== Wisconsin benefit programs ==<br />
We don't exactly get piles of money for teaching. In fact, most people who are not on fellowship or receiving summer funding can qualify for some heating aid (up to $380/year), and electricity aid (up to $285/year). You can check your eligibility at [https://access.wisconsin.gov/ Access WI]. <br />
There may be some residency requirements, like the Homestead credit. You can find your annual salary in our [http://www.taa-madison.org/contract/index.html contract].<br />
<br />
== Residency ==<br />
While it's usually a good idea to become a WI resident, if, for some reason, you're looking to declare residency in WI for tuition purposes, the answer is usually "no." It seems that one has to be in Wisconsin for a full year before enrolling at the UW, and one has to prove that one did not move here primarily for educational purposes (according to the Wisconsin statutes, you have to provide "clear and convincing evidence"). More on that at the [http://www.registrar.wisc.edu/students/residence/index.php Office of the Registrar]'s site.<br />
<br />
= Contacts and Other Resources =<br />
*[http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/gradguide/index.html Guide to Graduate Student Life]: The Graduate Student Collaborative's ([http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]) guide to grad student life in Madison -- like this one, but different.<br />
<br />
* [[Teaching Assistant Guide]]: from real live Van Vleck TAs<br />
<br />
*[http://www.yelp.com/madison-wi Yelp.com]: Find reviews of local stuff- restaurants and things to do, but also dentists, auto shops, etc.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.vip.wisc.edu VIP], the Visitor & Information Programs office, located in the Red Gym, near [http://www.union.wisc.edu Memorial Union]. They are open M - F 8am - 5pm and Saturday 11am - 2pm. <br />
<br />
*[http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu Student Orientation Handbook] is a valuable resource for information including entertainment, recreational and varsity sports, student organizations (including those for cultural groups, international students, LGBT students, women, veterans, and people with disabilities), health services, jobs, transportation, safety, and housing. It’s also a great place for referrals to counseling services, including drug and alcohol and sexual assault issues. You can find all this information on the web, at http://www.wisc.edu/visitingCampus/ or call them at 263-2400. You can also email any questions you have to askbucky@uwmad.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lgbt.wisc.edu LGBT Campus Center]: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Center (265-3344; lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu) provides support, social, educational and research services to the campus community, and serves as UW-Madison's first stop for those looking for information about campus LGBT organizations. The Memorial Union office on the 2nd floor includes a library, a television and DVD player, plenty of comfortable seating, open computers, and has a staff of students and professionals that work to bring events, speakers, and programs to campus. The Center also publishes a weekly events e-letter and offers support and social groups.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ WIMAW] (Women in Math at Wisconsin.)<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Got Questions? Here are some folks who might just have the answers...<br />
<br />
== Counseling Services ==<br />
Counseling services are available through Counseling and [http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/ Consultation Services (C&CS)], located at 115 North Orchard Street, (265-5600, TTY number 265-3300). C&CS offers brief psychological treatment, personal counseling, and psychiatric services to UW-Madison students. Frequent services include help in overcoming depression, managing anxiety and other psychological issues, and in developing greater self-awareness, independence, and self-direction. They also provide personal problem counseling, couples relationship counseling, marriage and family counseling, cross-cultural counseling, and alcohol and drug assessment and referral. Specialized groups have included: graduate women support, women and self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, survivors of troubled families, rebuilding relationships. C&CS also provides crisis response at the above phone numbers. Services provided are covered by the student health fee (included in your student fees).<br />
<br />
== Administrative and Support Staff ==<br />
The administrative and support staff are the folk that keep our department functioning. Without them, we as mathematicians would be lost. :) Their pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/support_staff.html here] and their contact info can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/academic_staff.html here]. If one person doesn't know how to deal with a problem you might have, they certainly know who might be able to help you out.<br />
<br />
TBD<br />
Position: Timetable/Undergraduate<br />
Office: 207 VV<br />
Email: ????@math<br />
Ask them about: Registration (for you and your students), MyUW stuff, classroom assignments.<br />
<br />
David Camacho<br />
Position: Assoc Fac Assoc<br />
Office: 321 VV<br />
Email: camacho@math<br />
Ask David about: the Math Tutorial Program (if a student needs extra attention)<br />
<br />
Mark Castillo<br />
Position: Grants/Proposals<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: castillo @math<br />
Ask Mark about: grant money, coffee club<br />
<br />
Chris Uhlir<br />
Position: Payroll/Benefits<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: grenie@math<br />
Ask Mike about: Payroll, hourly positions, taxes, tuition, healthcare, and benefits. <br />
<br />
Sara Nagreen<br />
Position: Sr IPC<br />
Office: 515 VV<br />
Email: nagreen@math<br />
Ask Sara about: all things computing.<br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson<br />
Position: Copy Center Manager/ Room Reservations<br />
Office: 220 VV<br />
Email: paulson@math<br />
Ask Sharon about: Room reservations (review sessions/exams/other), Copy Center stuff, private tutoring list.<br />
<br />
Mary Rice<br />
Position: Grad Prog. Admin<br />
Office: 203 VV<br />
Email: mrice@math<br />
Ask Mary about: Math dept records (teaching letters, transcripts, etc), how you go about graduating.<br />
<br />
Diane Rivard<br />
Position: Placement Advisor<br />
Office: 720 VV<br />
Email: rivard@math<br />
Ask Diane about: Placement questions (what class your student should be in, placement exam issues)<br />
<br />
Joan Wendt<br />
Position: Chair Secretary<br />
Office: 223 VV<br />
Email: wendt@math<br />
Ask Joan about: office assignments and keys<br />
<br />
Barbara Erlenborn<br />
Position: Dept Administrator<br />
Office: 218 VV<br />
Email: erlenborn@math<br />
Ask Barb about: admin stuff<br />
<br />
== Current and Former Graduate Students Interested in Meeting YOU ==<br />
You can find a complete list of current graduate students [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/psdbgrad.html here], and pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/grad.html here]. Email addresses that end with @ are intended to finish with @math.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
Hans Chaumont<br />
Email: chaumont@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~chaumont Website:]<br />
Grad-Age: Started 2012<br />
Area of interest: Undecided<br />
Ask Hans about: Pretty much anything, but especially about tea or the math weightlifting team.<br />
<br />
Laura Cladek<br />
Email: cladek@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~cladek Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2011<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Laura about: Anything ... Especially analysis or on campus housing.<br />
<br />
Nathan Collins<br />
Email: nathan.collins@gmail.com<br />
[http://cs.pdx.edu/~ntc2 Website]<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2008<br />
Area of interest: Computer Science and Logic.<br />
Ask Nathan about: Pittsburgh, bicycles, and being inferior to Mason at TAing. He dislikes printers and bad margins.<br />
<br />
David Dynerman<br />
Email: dynerman@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~dynerman Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask David about: programming video games, trying to do Hartshorne problems, <br />
going to the gym, Mushfeq Khan, Andrew Bridy<br />
<br />
Thomas Hangelbroek<br />
Email: hangelbr@math.hawaii.edu<br />
[http://math.hawaii.edu/people/hangelbr/ Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2007<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Thomas about: Anything Madison. Thomas is an expert in all things Madison.<br />
<br />
Sara Jensen<br />
Email: jensen@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jensen Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask Sara about: Teaching, topology & algebra quals, knitting group, going to the gym <br />
<br />
(Evan) Alec Johnson<br />
Email: ejohnson@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson Website]<br />
Grad-age: Ph.D., 2012<br />
Area of interest: Applied Math and Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask Alec about: teaching, advanced calculus, gardening, and Geneva Campus Church.<br />
<br />
Christine Lien<br />
Email: lien@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lien Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2005<br />
Area of interest: Complex Geometry<br />
Ask Christine about: anything, including bridge/card games, organizing women's events, <br />
the Association of Asian American Graduate students, and the Graduate Student Topology Seminar.<br />
<br />
Hao Lin<br />
Email: lin@<br />
[http://genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=156703 Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Hao about: sports and anything about China.<br />
<br />
Jonathon Mason<br />
Email: jonathan.f.mason@gmail.com<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2010<br />
Ask Mason about: Wisconsin hiking, the local film scene and being "way better than Nathan Collins" at TAing.<br />
<br />
Jason Murcko<br />
Email: murcko@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~murcko Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2006<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Jason about: the TAA and the local film and music scenes.<br />
<br />
Mike Schroeder<br />
Email: schroede@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~schroede UW Website]. [http://science.marshall.edu/schroederm/ Marshall Website].<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Combinatorics<br />
Ask Mike about: softball, bowling, sailing, racquet ball, and the Florida Gators.<br />
<br />
David Seal<br />
Email: seal@math.msu.edu<br />
[http://www.math.msu.edu/~seal Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2012.<br />
Area of interest: Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask David about: movies, biking, hiking and board games.<br />
<br />
Beth Skubak<br />
Email: skubak@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~skubak Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2009<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Beth about: anything, including this wiki<br />
<br />
Mike Woodbury<br />
[http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woodbury/ Website]<br />
Email: woodbury@math.columbia.edu<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011.<br />
Area of interest: Number Theory<br />
Ask Mike about: anything, including number theory, road biking, UW basketball tix.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Guide&diff=5380Graduate Student Guide2013-06-10T15:43:32Z<p>Johnsonm: /* MadTown food */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Exams.png|400px|right | Grading Exams in the Lounge]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
= Food =<br />
<br />
There are many ethnic and interesting restaurants in Madison – Indonesian, African, Italian, Himalayan, Laotian, Peruvian, Mexican, Bakeries, Brew Pubs, Coffee Joints, you name it -- and everyone has their favorites.<br />
<br />
The biggest resource for finding food (and entertainment!) in Madison is probably the [http://www.thedailypage.com/eats/ Daily Page] (the online version of our local paper, the Isthmus), where you can search local restaurants by name, locality, and cuisine. There, they have reviews, hours, contact info, pricing, etc. Be sure to peruse their [http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Restaurants Madison's Favorites] section for some quick tips! Of course [http://www.yelp.com/ yelp] is always useful as well. At one point a couple spent a few years trying to sample every restaurant in Madison and blogged about their journey on the [http://www.madisonatoz.com/ Madison A to Z].<br />
<br />
Here are some general food facts:<br />
<br />
== Campus Food ==<br />
*Food Carts: Open for lunch in Library Mall at the foot of Bascom Hill near Lake & State Street. Very good and very cheap, and out as long as it's not too cold.<br />
<br />
*Badger Market at Ingraham Hall: Very close to Van Vleck, and has acceptable coffee (bring your own cup to save money!) and decent snacks. Try the Badger Bundle lunch special: sandwich, drink, and a side for $1 off your total. Halfway down the hill is the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/crossroadscafe.htm Crossroads Cafe] which has much better coffee and is open later.<br />
<br />
*Memorial Union: The Rathskeller has food and next door is Lakeside cafe with much better food. Summer afternoons on the terrace is an excellent place to hang out in the sunshine with a beer and brat.<br />
<br />
*Union South: Features a pizza place, a pan-Asian restaurant, a sandwich shop, a sports bar (burgers and sandwiches) and an ice cream stand. <br />
<br />
*State Street (past the food carts) is full of restaurants and Coffee shops – there are at least a half dozen coffee roasters in town, and each supplies a different set of shops. In particular for lunch, there are the popular chains, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Einstein Bros. Bagels, or Chipotle... or hit the more independent spots such as the Sunroom Cafe or Ian's Pizza.<br />
<br />
*Residence Hall Cafeterias are pretty decent here, but filled with undergraduates! Enter at your own risk!<br />
<br />
== MadTown food ==<br />
<br />
Traditional Madison foods are German varieties such as beer, cheese, and bratwurst. Twice a year Madison hosts [http://www.bratfest.com/ Bratfest], a record breaking event. <br />
UW has [http://babcockhalldairystore.wisc.edu/ Babcock Hall Ice Cream] on campus which creates delicious ice cream available in the Unions. The [http://www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com/ Chocolate Shoppe], [http://www.ilovemichaels.com/ Michael's Frozen Custard] and [http://www.culvers.com/ Culvers] have nice deserts.<br />
Micro breweries in town include the [http://www.greatdanepub.com/ Great Dane], [http://www.capital-brewery.com/ Captial Brewery] and [http://www.aleasylum.com/ Ale Asylum]. Nearby there is the famous [http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/ New Glarus Brewing Co] which only sells beer in Wisconsin. You can join a free beer tour or walk through the brewery on a self guided tourn.<br />
<br />
In early September (Labor Day weekend), check out [http://www.tasteofmadison.com/ Taste of Madison] to see many restaurants all in one place at one time.<br />
<br />
Try a good ol' midwestern Fish Fry on Friday night – All you can eat fried fish generally served with a bran muffin, clam chowder, or coleslaw. Most Brew Pubs and some churches have them, and the [http://www.avenuebarmadison.com/ Avenue Bar and Grill] runs a Friday night Fish Fry.<br />
<br />
== Farm fresh food ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.madfarmmkt.org/ Dane County Farmer's Market] is amazing and HUGE. The big one is open every Saturday morning, and is located on the capitol square for most of the year. In addition to the ludicrous amount of fresh produce, there are also bakery stands, coffee, and fresh juice carts for quick breakfasts.<br />
<br />
There are also a few smaller [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farmers_markets.htm#danecounty markets] scattered around town, almost every day of the week:<br />
<br />
*Sunday: 8:30am to 12:30pm in front of Pierce's Northside Market<br />
*Monday: (none)<br />
*Tuesday: 4pm to 7pm on Ingersol at Williamson, 2pm to 6pm at 1602 S. Park St,<br />
*Wednesday: 8am to 2pm on MLKJr Blvd, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center,<br />
*Thursday: Thursdays, 2pm to 6pm at the Villager Mall on Park St., 2pm to 6pm in the McFarland Centre, 7:30am to 1:30pm in the Greenway Station shopping center,<br />
*Friday: (none)<br />
*Saturday: 6am to 2pm on the Capitol square, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center, 9am to 2pm at 1602 S. Park St, 7am to 1pm at Sheboygan Ave. and Segoe Rd., and 8:30am to 11am in Watertower Park.<br />
<br />
During the summer and fall, there are many [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/index.htm local farms] where you can [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farms/u_pick.htm pick] your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, or pumpkins when they are in season.<br />
<br />
If you're in town for the summer, you might consider signing up for a [http://www.macsac.org/ Community Supported Agriculture] food box. CSA is a way to support a local farm by paying an annual fee in the winter or spring which buys you a share of the season's harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick-up a weekly box of fresh foods which may include produce, fruits, cheeses, eggs, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. The typical CSA season in Wisconsin runs from the end of May through mid-October. You do have to pay the lump sum up-front, and some weeks you'll find yourself with five pounds of chard... but for most of the summer you'll have your produce needs met, and you can feel good about supporting small local farms. Better yet, most of the university's insurance providers offer [http://www.macsac.org/rebates.html rebates] for signing up for a CSA -- somewhere between $50-$300, depending on the plan and how many people you're sharing with (for example, if two people on GHC share a box, they might pay $450 for the box for a box lasting 25 weeks, but they they could each get $100 back, making that $5/week per person). If you're interested, remember to sign up early -- most programs are full by May.<br />
<br />
= Grocery Stores =<br />
<br />
== Generic Groceries ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.capcentrefoods.com/home.html Capitol Centre Foods]: Given their small size, they have an excellent selection of groceries. They tend to be a bit pricey. In addition, they deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.freshmadisonmarket.com/ Fresh Madison Market]: A reasonably large general grocery store, not too expensive. Has a large selection of "typical college items" (lots of frozen foods). Located on University, not too far from Van Vleck. They also deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.copps.com/ Copps]: Your standard grocery store with multiple locations.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=1020&lang=en-US Costco]: Your friendly big-box bulk store. They treat their employees incredibly well. Good buys on computers, 2 lbs of sockeye salmon or button down oxford cloth long sleeved shirts. You'll need a membership or go there with someone who has a membership. You can also get a free trial membership if you simply ask.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.walgreens.com/ Walgreens]: Pharmacy/Grocery store. There is a Walgreens on the corner of Lake & State Street near Van Vleck, on the Capitol Square, at East Campus Mall, and in University square.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Whole Foods]: Kinda spendy, but good bread, specialty stuff, and produce through the winter.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Woodman's]: two locations -- [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=725+S+Gammon+Rd+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=43.055217,-89.50304&spn=0.05381,0.171661 East] and [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3817+Milwaukee+St,+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.103615,-89.319363&spn=0.053768,0.171661&om=1 West]. If you have a car and the time, go here. Very large, very cheap, but time consuming. They don't take credit cards, so bring a debit card or check book. The produce is pretty poor, but they're huge and, again, cheap. Check out the liquor store for a large selection (you can buy all types of alcohol in grocery stores in Wisconsin... but not after 9pm).<br />
<br />
*[http://www.traderjoes.com/ Trader Joe's]: Located at 1810 Monroe St. They have good prices for select specialty food items such as wine, cheese and fancy snacks. Their basic foodstuffs tend to be a bit pricey.<br />
<br />
*The Jenifer Street Market located on 2038 Jenifer Street is a nice little grocery store if you happen to live in the area.<br />
<br />
== Co-ops ==<br />
Co-ops are a good source of local organic food. If you are a member they provide discounts, but you can also shop there at your own will.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.regentmarketcoop.org/ Regent Market Cooperative], 2136 Regent St. 233-4329.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.willystreet.coop/ Willy Street Co-op] The largest and most active co-op in the Madison area. They have been able to survive the decline in co-ops over the years. They offer a large selection of bulk foods and spices at an excellent price. For a quick bite, they have an excellent deli, salad bar, and in-store coffee shop. 1221 Williamson St. 251-6776. They recently opened a second store in Middleton located at 6825 University Ave. Both locations deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
== Specialty Foods ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.aldifoods.com/ Aldi Foods]: Very cheap! Little selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=keJ&q=asian+midway+foods&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,304616636444102595&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Asian Midway Market]: The go-to market for anything Thai, Chinese or South-East Asian, this centrally-located store comes highly recommended. In particular, they offer a great selection of specialized produce. 301 South Park Street; 255-5864<br />
<br />
*[http://www.brennansmarket.com/ Brennan's Market]: Great for Produce, Meats, Cheese, Micro brews and Wines. You won't find things like Flour and Saran Wrap here, but definitely worth the trip.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/ Farm Fresh Atlas]: Not a grocery store, but a good resource for where you can buy local foods and a list of farms in the areas.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madseafood.com/ The Seafood Center]: The name says it all. Great fresh fish and live lobsters.<br />
<br />
*[http://frabonisdeli.com/ Fraboni's]: An awesome Italian grocery store and deli. They have very good [http://frabonisdeli.com/oils olive oils], [http://frabonisdeli.com/pastas pastas], and make-your-own pizza fixings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3723579948/garden-asian-market-middleton Garden Asian Market]: A full service Asian food market specializing in fresh meat, produce, and seafood. Mostly Chinese-leaning, they do a good job of providing a wide variety of items within their niche. It may be far out, but it's worth the trip in its pleasantness and selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=india+house+grocery+store,+madison,+wi&fb=1&gl=us&hq=india+house+grocery+store,&hnear=Madison,+WI&cid=0,0,8495347478199843118&ll=43.050466,-89.503019&spn=0.007871,0.019183&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A India House]: Really well done Indian grocery store. Good place to buy Kari leaves.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=TMe&q=lee%27s+oriental&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,92533124768468793&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Lee's Oriental]: Next to Penzey's spices. 3240 University Ave; 231-1593<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=2Me&q=oriental+shop&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,13628497956998458364&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Oriental Shop]: They carry mostly dry-goods, and tend to lean toward stocking more Korean items. 1206 South Park Street; 255-0326<br />
<br />
= Housing =<br />
<br />
Haven't found a place yet? Already hate your apartment?<br />
<br />
* [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/ UW Off-Campus Housing Search]: Probably the best search site for students.<br />
<br />
* Again, [http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List] is a good resourse. Also a good place to look for roommates outside of the department.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/ University Apartments]: On campus graduate housing, particularly popular with married couples (especially with children). Singles are also welcome. Many of them are on the bus route #80, a free route which runs from the apartments through campus every ten minutes throughout the day.<br />
<br />
== Location, Location, Location ==<br />
<br />
If you would like to keep your commute down, there are many places near campus. Many graduate students prefer to live close enough to Van Vleck to be within walking distance, yet far enough away to stay away from partying undergraduate students.<br />
<br />
Many graduate students live in the Vilas neighborhood, which is located South of Regent Street and between Park and Monroe. East of the Capitol building, we also have the Willy St. neighborhood (between Williamson and Rutledge streets, between Paterson and Thornton) and the other side of the Isthmus, between Mifflin and Lake Mendota. The university offers on campus housing at Eagle Heights with regular buses. Many students also live near Sheboygan and University Avenues (not on this map), and there are regular buses that run up University Avenue that will drop you off right in front of Van Vleck. The large apartment complexes in that area include the Normandy, Chapel Hill, Carolina, Monticello, Hilldale Towers, Park Towers, and Sovereign Apartments which are cheaper to live in than spots on the square.<br />
<br />
Because there is no parking on campus, you will need to plan on living within walking distance of a bus route or campus itself. You will receive a free bus pass for the [http://www.mymetrobus.com/ Madison Metro] system, which is very reliable. Check out the “plan your trip” link to find bus routes near you.<br />
<br />
Here is an approximate map of many areas where you will be likely to find housing: <br />
[[Image:gradhousingmap.jpg|400px| center | Housing Map]]<br />
<br />
Basically, shoot for zones 2-6, the North parts of zones 7 and 8, or the far East part of zone 10 on [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/map_all.asp this map] (the map from the UW Off-Campus Housing Search).<br />
<br />
== Stuff your landlord might not tell you ==<br />
<br />
*Utilities:<br />
Lots of apartments have water, sewage, heat, and and sometimes electricity included in rent. For those which don't, be sure to find out what to expect through the [http://mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/ Madison Gas and Electric] web page. Just tell them the address of the place you're looking at, and they'll tell you what the highs, lows, and averages have been over the last year.<br />
<br />
*Property information:<br />
The [http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/property.html City Assessor] has all of the basic information about Madison properties on file, including how many units are on the property, how much square footage there is, if there's AC in the building, what school district it's in, who your alderperson would be, and what else is on the property (e.g. garages). They'll even tell you how much the property is worth, and how much your landlord is paying in property taxes. Sometimes the square footage isn't broken up--for example, maybe there are two units on the first floor, but they'll only tell you that there are 1,700 sq ft on that floor, not how it's split up between the two units. It can be a useful site for rounding out your knowledge of places you're considering renting.<br />
<br />
*Tenants rights:<br />
The [http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/ Tenant resource center] is a small non-profit membership organization which provides housing counseling, mediation services and office assistance. Their website includes tips for new renters, generic rental forms, and advice for what to do if your landlord just won't get back to you about repairs, returning deposits, etc.<br />
There is also the [http://studenttenantunion.rso.wisc.edu/ Student tenant union], which is specifically targeted to UW students.<br />
<br />
== Rental Companies ==<br />
Many properties in Madison are run by rental companies -- some large, some small -- some good, some not-so-good. Larger companies tend to have lower prices, and more people working toward maintaining rentals. However, they may have less of an investment in taking care of each individual property or screening their tenants. Some people feel better renting from small companies, or landlords with only one or two houses. You may get more individual attention and care. Individuals have more investment in protecting each property, and renting to good tenants, so the properties tend to be in more reliable condition. However, with fewer properties comes fewer resources and higher prices.<br />
<br />
Whatever choice you make, be sure to have a conversation with your potential landlords about their polices, especially if you aren't going to be able to see things in person. It may also be good to Google the company or person to see if other people have had something good or bad to say about them or their properties. In particular, [http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Madison.html ApartmentRatings.com] has a few of the apartment complexes around town listed.<br />
<br />
Here are some general impressions/very subjective opinions that some of us have gotten from/about a few of the larger local companies:<br />
<br />
*AB Holdings: In particular, they have a couple small apartment buildings on Vilas that are particularly ideal for two people. Quite a few people from the department have rented these units and have been pretty happy.<br />
<br />
*[http://apexrents.com/ Apex Property Management]: Great company. Well-maintained properties, with many of the more recently remodeled rentals being very nice. Their representatives are helpful and responsible, and their tenants seem to be generally satisfied.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.centralmadison.com/ The Christensen Company]: Not terribly up-to-date apartments, but worth taking a look at.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonproperty.com/ Madison Property Management]: Lots of choices, but notoriously junky properties. They tend to cater mostly to undergraduates, and their rentals show it. We wouldn't recommend renting from this company unless you visit first.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.mcbridecompanies.com/ The McBride Companies]: Nice properties, good management. Really good website if you turn the sound off.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.tallardapartments.com/ Tallard Apartments]: Nice properties with very friendly and responsive staff. Their rentals tend to go early in the season.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wimci.com/ Wisconsin Management Company]: Nice enough properties, but kind of flakey representation. Make sure to ask lots of questions.<br />
<br />
*The Wright Company (or Norris Ct. Apartments): Very nice older buildings, but kind of sketchy management. Nothing is going to be in stellar shape, but they do tend to rent more to graduates and professionals, so they aren't beat up either. If you do rent from them, don't expect them to be very responsive, and be sure to be especially careful about protecting your security deposit by taking photos and keeping a record of your move-in report.<br />
<br />
= Furniture =<br />
<br />
*[http://www.svdpmadison.org/ St. Vincent DePaul's]: Like Goodwill. Has cheap dressers, desks, chairs, and general household stuff. Will deliver for a small charge. This is also a great place to donate any furniture or other items that you no longer want – they will pick up the items from your apartment. There is also a Goodwill in town, but they won't have nearly the same volume of furniture.<br />
<br />
*[http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List]: a free online classifieds site. Great not only for furniture, but also pet resources and last minute apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
*Eagle Heights Apartment Bulletin Boards: Lots of cheap stuff from people graduating, many of whom are moving overseas. You can even find cars. You can try posting your own wanted posters on the boards. You can find these boards at the bus stops for the (free) bus 80 route.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/madisonfreecycle/ Freecycle]: A community "give stuff away for free" website with a Madison branch.<br />
<br />
*Hippie Christmas ("Move-Out Day"): For some reason or another, the evening of August 14th is when the bulk of leases near campus turn over. This is a fantastic day to pick up free furniture from the street. If you already have a rental van, why not help municipal waste by pickup up a bookshelf for them?<br />
<br />
*The Todd Drive Area: Just west of park street on the beltline. American Furniture for furniture and electronics, Home Concepts for cheap but nice looking furniture, and Steinhafel's for furniture and mattresses.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html SWAP]. The UW's surplus supply store.<br />
<br />
= International Student Resources =<br />
Here are a few links specifically for international students. There are international grocery stores listed in the [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Graduate_Student_Guide#Specialty_Foods groceries] section.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcssa.net/ Chinese Student & Scholar Association]: A connection to the university's Chinese community for incoming students. They offer rides from the airport, list general information about madison, and organize get-tegethers/Chinese celebrations. International Conversation & Coffee Hour: meet other international students and americans interested in other cultures. Every Friday, 12-2pm, Cooper Hearth Room 160, Union South.<br />
<br />
*[http://iss.wisc.edu/ International Student Services]: the UW's International Student Services<br />
<br />
*[http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MADindians/ MadIndians]: a Yahoo online group for students from India in Madison. Good place to search for an Indian roommate.<br />
<br />
*[http://mtsa.rso.wisc.edu/ Madison Association of Turkish Students]: Very helpful for incoming Turkish students. It includes information about how best to get to Madison from Turkey, information about housing, and how to reach other Turkish students in Madison.<br />
<br />
= Newspapers =<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/captimes/ The Capitol Times]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the afternoon. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more liberal.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.thedailypage.com/ The Isthmus]: Free independent Madison newspaper. Has a liberal voice and is full of entertainment, including family fun, outdoor attractions, and fine arts. Also puts out the Annual Manual - the yearly guide to all things Madison.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.theonion.com/ The Onion]: While hilarious, this paper is only really good if you're already in on the joke. We get free paper copies in Madison. There is a stack near the elevators in VV. The local edition has local entertainment listings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Wisconsin State Journal]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the mornings. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more conservative.<br />
<br />
= Religious Groups =<br />
*[http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/ Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/ Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church]: Near Sheboygan Ave. at 110 N Whitney Way. A huge church, but with opportunities to get involved and meet people. It has services in the sanctuary, with a mixture of traditional and semi-modern worship, and also "video cafe" services with more lively, modern worship. Very good teaching.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cpcmadison.com/ Christ Presbyterian Church]. Just east of James Madison Park on Gorham. Has a great choir and organist!<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fusmadison.org/ The First Unitarian Society of Madison]. "A liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue." Looking for something new? They're open to all types. Also, they are housed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.folmadison.org/ Fountain of Life]: 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. A multi-ethnic church with a lot of eclectic music styles, including a lot of Gospel music<br />
<br />
*[http://genevacc.org/ The Geneva Campus Church]: On Campus Reformed church. They describe themselves as "a university church for the whole family"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwhillel.org/ Hillel]: UW-Madison's on-campus center for everything Jewish: religious, cultural, political, traditional, and alternative. Located on Langdon Street, it serves both the school population and, to a far lesser extent, the entire city.<br />
<br />
*[http://islamiccentermadison.org/ Islamic Center of Madison]: Has a masjid inside. 21 N Orchard St, (608)251-9851<br />
<br />
*[http://ivgcf.rso.wisc.edu/ InterVarsity Grad Christian Fellowship]: It's a welcoming place for Christians and non-Christians alike. (You might even find your future husband/wife there) They also have a website with info about local churches. There is a new student picnic at the beginning of the fall semester.<br />
<br />
*Latter Day Saints: There are a number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wards in the Madison area. The Madison First Ward covers areas closest to campus and meets at 4505 Regent Street, two blocks south of Hilldale Mall, at 9am. The University Ward serves single adults and meets at 1711 University Avenue at 10 am. The Madison Third Ward serves areas close to campus and meets at 701 Bear Claw Way on Madison's far west side at 11 am. Visitors and the curious are always welcome.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lccmadison.com/ Lutheran Campus Center]: A fairly young, enthusiastic, and liberal-minded congragation, found right on campus.<br />
<br />
*[http://madcitychurch.org/ Mad City Church]: A non-denominational, casual christian fellowship. Services are held in the LaFollette High School located on Madison's east side - very near the corner of Pflaum Rd. and Monona Dr. Office at 2713 E. Washington Ave.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.muuyacm.org/ Madison UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry (MUUYACM)]. One of the largest and most active Unitarian Universalist young adult groups in the U.S., they are open to young adults (ages 18-35) of all denominations. In addition to worships, they organize social-justice-oriented activities, and are an active member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcatholic.org/ St. Paul's University Catholic Center]: On campus in Library Mall near Lake & State. Has a lively Catholic grad student group called Mustard Seed with Bible studies, Thursday night speakers, retreats, service projects, and large quantities of food and euchre.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.unityofmadison.org/ Unity of Madison]: (from their site) "Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community focused on Truth Seeking and Spiritual Growth through the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire, nuture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live Jesus' message that 'the kingdom of God is within you.'"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.isthmuszencommunity.org/ Zen Buddhism]: A local zen buddhist center is located next to Willy st co-op. New comers are especially welcome.<br />
<br />
= Arts and Entertainment =<br />
<br />
Madison is a medium sized city with a not so medium sized arts and entertainment scene. There are cultural events on campus<br />
and at the [http://www.overturcenter.com Overture Center]; sporting events; art, science, natural history, and history museums; parks, the<br />
[http://www.uwarboretum.org arboretum], and [http://www.olbrich.org botanical gardens]; a free [http://www.vilaszoo.org zoo]; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; a [http://www.madfarmmkt.com Farmer’s Market] on the<br />
Capital Square every Saturday morning from April-October; and lots of other things. The [http://www.thedailypage.com Isthmus], is the local free newspaper which posts many current events.<br />
The Isthmus can be found in many stores, in campus buildings, and on street corners.<br />
<br />
== Athletic Activities ==<br />
* [http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/ Rec Sports] runs the gyms on campus. There are three such on-campus gyms -- The SERF, the Nat, and the Shell, which are free with student ID. For $10/semester, you can attend any of their Group Fitness classes, which cover everything from aerobics and weights to yoga and dance. Also, both the SERF and Nat have indoor pools.<br />
<br />
*The University of Wisconsin has a long standing heritage of being proud of their [http://www.uwbadgers.com/ athletic events]. Men's basketball, football and ice-hockey receive the most attention and as a student, you can obtain season tickets for all of these events.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.mufa.org MUFA] is an ultimate frisbee league that has summer as well as spring and fall seasons. This is a really fun way to stay active and meet some new Madison friends! You don't need to form a team-- just see the link for info about how to join a team looking for more players. Note: the games are often played all over the city and burbs, and are not necessarily reachable by bus. You'll need a car, or a teammate with a car. Also see the link for info about local pick-up games.<br />
<br />
== Dancing ==<br />
<br />
*Ballroom: [http://www.uwmbda.org/ UWMBDA] is the big ballroom dance group here. They have dances with lessons every week on Friday or Saturday and a practice group every Thursday.<br />
<br />
*[http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/dances.htm Contra Dance]: Meetings every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
*International Folk club: meets biweekly Library Mall, Wed/Sun 7:30PM-late.<br />
<br />
*Swing: [http://www.uwswing.com/ Jumptown Swing] is UW's swing club. They host (mostly) weekly dances at Union South, and provide lessons for a nominal fee. See their site for scheduling and links to other swing orgonizations. Also, on Wednesdays, there's dancing at the [http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ Brink Lounge] from 8-11.<br />
<br />
*Salsa: Venues include [http://www.cardinalbar.com/ Cardinal Bar] on Thursdays, [http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/details.php?event=176610 Frida's] on Friday nights. Don't know how to Salsa? There are lessons before dances at Cardinal, and instruction is offered through the Union's minicourses.<br />
<br />
*Tango: the [http://www.madisontango.org/ Madison Tango Society] provides lessons and dances for Argentine Tango. Their site has a good list or other events in and around Madison.<br />
<br />
== Libraries ==<br />
In addition to the many [http://www.library.wisc.edu/ Libraries of UW], the [http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ Madison Public Library] is a great place for books, movies, and music.<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
The Daily Page has a [http://www.thedailypage.com/movies/listing.php listing] of movie times for most of the theaters around town (both big and small):<br />
<br />
*Eastgate, Point and AMC (Star) Cinema are the three larger movie theaters in town.<br />
<br />
*Market Square shows second runs at a good discount. <br />
<br />
*The [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/ Orpheum] is an old cinema within site of the capitol on State street. They tend to show less mainstream movies.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.sundancecinemas.com/madison.html Sundance 608] shows independent film as well as blockbuster movies. They have a rooftop cafe that's open during the summer months, 2 bars (you can take a drink into your movie), and a restaurant!<br />
<br />
For on-campus movies:<br />
*The Wisconsin Union Directorate runs on campus screening of films. Their film site can be found [http://www.union.wisc.edu/WUD/film.aspx here.]<br />
<br />
*The UW film department hosts free screenings of a wide array of films based on a given theme for that semester through their [http://cinema.wisc.edu/ cinematheque.] Their department has many contacts with other film institutes and are able show rare original 35mm films that you can't see anywhere else.<br />
<br />
*In late March/early April, go check out some of the many many films showing at the [http://www.wifilmfest.org/ Wisconsin Film Festival.] Sites all over town take part in hosting the showing of these films.<br />
<br />
Madison also has a number of independent video stores:<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ Four Star Video Heaven] has been voted as a Madison Favorite for a number of years. See their site to browse their collection online.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bongovideo.com/ Bongo Video] has a smaller, but quite tasty selection. Lots of personality, and good daily specials.<br />
<br />
== Music ==<br />
Whether you're looking to play music, or just go watch free or (in)expensive concerts, there are many options in Madison.<br />
<br />
*Our very own [http://music.wisc.edu/ Music Department] hosts many music events. Their website has a calendar listing current music events including faculty concerts and student recitals.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonsymphony.org/ The Madison Symphony Orchestra] (MSO) is the professional symphony based here in Madison. With your student ID, you can get student rush tickets for as little as $10 per person.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wcoconcerts.org/ The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra] is Madison's professional chamber orchestra. Each summer, their widely popular [http://www.wcoconcerts.org/new/cos/concertsonthesquare.php concerts on the square] draw many people from all over the place for a free outdoor concert.<br />
<br />
*[http://madisoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Madison Community Orchestra] (MCO) is an informal group run by Madison Area Technical College that meets once a week. There are four free concerts a year and no auditions to play with the group.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.middletoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Middleton Community Orchestra] is a second newly formed community orchestra run by community musicians. Their concerts are extremely affordable, and they may run auditions.<br />
<br />
== Outdoor Activites ==<br />
Madison is a very bicycle friendly town, and there are many parks either in town or within a short drive. Here are some suggestions about outdoor activities to engage in:<br />
<br />
*Take a nice long walk along one of the many paths around [http://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/imap/LakeshoreNaturePreserve.html Picnic Point]... bike the path from Memorial Union out to the tip, or bus/drive out to the base of picnic point and wander the foot trails in the area.<br />
<br />
*Head towards Monona Terrace on Lake Monona, and take one of the paths that wraps around the lake (great bike ride!).<br />
<br />
*You can also go walking and/or biking around the [http://uwarboretum.org/ Arboretum] south of campus and tour their gardens, or head to the free [http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Vilas Zoo]. Lake Wingra is essentially totally surrounded by wooded areas including Henry Vilas Park, the UW-arboretum and Edgewood college. You can rent canoes at Knickerbocker for fairly cheap and relax on Lake Wingra.<br />
<br />
*Community Gardens: There are a number of community gardens run by the [http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/ Community Action Coalition]. Nominally, you can sign up for a plot for a small fee, and learn how to garden if you don't already know, or go to town if you already do. The [http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/ Eagle Heights Community Garden] is open to both residents and non-residents alike. All of the gardens are fun to look at if you haven't ever seen one.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.olbrich.org/ The Olbrich Botanical Gardens] are located east of lake Monona. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including their award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden, or enjoy the year-round tropical Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds.. Outdoor gardens are open daily and free to the public, while entrance to the conservatory is $1 per person.<br />
<br />
*Catch a festival; Madison is home to a number of festivals -- big festivals, small festivals, arts festivals, music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals -- we've got all kinds.<br />
<br />
The Winter opens itself up to new activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing and other options. The hoofers club runs ice boats on the lake.<br />
<br />
*The city of Madison parks open up outdoor [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct2.html ice skating] at Tenney, Vilas, and Elver parks. No skates? No worries. They will rent skates to you there ($6.00 for the first hour, $2/hr after that).<br />
<br />
*There is also [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct4.html cross-country skiing] at a number of Dane county parks, with passes starting at $5/day. No skills? Check out lessons at the [http://www.madnorski.org/page/ Madison Nordic Ski Club] or, again, [http://sns.hoofers.org/ Hoofers] has lots to offer in that area.<br />
<br />
== Student Clubs ==<br />
The University of Wisconsin, being a rather large institution, has got so much stuff going on for all of us student-types. Here are some ways people around the department have been taking advantage:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop]: Located upstairs in the Memorial Union, they are "here to satisfy your creative urges in a variety of craft media." Their facilities include a darkroom, a woodshop, a ceramics studio, metal working tools, etc. Friday afternoons, they open their studios to all union members (that means you!) for free!<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hoofers.org/ Hoofers]: Student outdoor recreation club. The Outing and Sailing clubs in particular have lots of graduate students.<br />
<br />
* [http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]: Graduate Student Collaborative Organization<br />
<br />
* [http://cfli.wisc.edu/student_organizations.htm Student Organizations]: at UW Madison (this is a directory of all registered student organizations at the university; you can search by topic or name)<br />
<br />
== The Student Unions ==<br />
The Memorial Union is located on the lakefront, on Park and Langdon. Be sure to check out the Terrace while the weather is still good -- it's a great place to go to get out of the office, grab something to snack on, and study out in the sun. You'll find the Daily Scoop (yummy ice cream!) and Der Rathskeller (beer and deep-fried goodness). You'll also find all sorts of stuff to keep you busy, like the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop], the Union Theater, the Hoofers' headquarters, and a wide array of Mini Courses with which to expand your horizons.<br />
<br />
Also useful: the travel services center and STA Travel will get you good deals on trips (including bus tickets to O'Hare, Midway, and Milwaukee airports), and the theater's box office will get you good deals on shows (theater, music, etc) all around town. In addition, the Union has always got other special events going on to keep all of us entertained -- see their complete [http://www.union.wisc.edu/activities/ list of activities].<br />
<br />
The Union South was recently completely renovated and also has many activities available. They have a climbing wall, a bowling alley, pool tables, a beer garden, a wine tasting room, a ballroom, a movie theater and many other things.<br />
<br />
= Van Vleck Miscellany =<br />
Here's a bit more info about the happenings in and around the Math Dept.<br />
<br />
== Getting money ==<br />
*Paychecks: The first paycheck of the year arrives in October, though you may request an advance on about 30% of your first paycheck when you arrive. If you are not working over the summer, the last will come in June, so be sure to plan for the three month gap.<br />
<br />
*Fees: You will be charged for segregated fees in both semesters, and are not covered in your tuition. The amount depends on your credit load and status, but will be about $500 for most people and due about the time of your first paycheck. If you are on fellowship, this will be taken care of for you, and shouldn't appear on your bill.<br />
<br />
*TA union: The teaching assistants of Wisconsin are unionized. Even if you are not a TA, but are an employee of the department, you're still connected to them through advocacy and campus issues. For more information check out the [http://www.taa-madison.org/ TAA].<br />
<br />
== Getting stuff done ==<br />
See the Contacts section for a list of people who will help you get stuff done.<br />
<br />
If you want to reserve rooms in Van Vleck for review sessions or meetings you can fill out a green form with Sharon Paulson on the second floor. Sharon does the scheduling for about 4 or 5 rooms in the building, so you can also ask her about these rooms directly. If you need to reserve the 9th floor lounge, talk to Joan Wendt (also second floor).<br />
<br />
Each grad receives 200 photocopies and 250 black and white print outs a month for personal math use. If you are a TA, Sharon in the Copy Center on the second floor can photocopy materials for classes (which does not count toward your quota)– such as worksheets and quizzes. Just give her at least 24 hours notice. To check your printout quota, open a terminal logged into the math server, and type "pages". If you do go over your quota, you will simply get a (probably very small) bill at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
We get free office supplies on the 2nd floor – just ask the Receptionist for pens, folders, etc.<br />
<br />
You can pick up and send out your mail from the second floor. You might even want to have packages delivered to the department, to avoid missing them being delivered at home (UPS, for example, won't drop off to apartment complexes if you aren't there, so you'll have to drive out to Middleton to pick up your packages).<br />
<br />
It's never too early to start studying for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/graduate/quals.htm quals]... early and often, my friends. Early and Often.<br />
<br />
== Getting together ==<br />
Historically, some afternoons and Friday before colloquium, we have a cookie and coffee social hour on the 9th floor lounge. Keep your eyes open for announcements.<br />
<br />
Definitely check out some of the colloquia and seminars. The earlier you get involved the better. This is a great way to learn more about potential research areas, meet other people in the areas, and meet other mathematicians in other departments. There is a list posted on the 9th floor each week in addition to online.<br />
<br />
Once a semester, our group for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ women in mathematics] get together for an informal potluck. We also have been known to bring in women speakers funded by the [http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/ WiSELI] grant.<br />
<br />
= Miscellaneous Wisconsin Stuff =<br />
This section describes miscellaneous Wisconsin stuff that doesn't belong in any other section, such as, a [[Wisconsin Dictionary]] for those who aren't familiar with the Wisconsin vernacular.<br />
<br />
== Voting ==<br />
Frequently asked questions for Wisconsin voting can be found <br />
[http://wisconsin.gov/state/core/faq_wisconsin_voting_elections.html here]. <br />
As of the April election, Wisconsin has a law that allows for same day registration at the polls:<br />
<br />
''If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.''<br />
<br />
Out of state licenses work, and utility bills, bank statements, or pay checks with your name and address on them work for proof of residence.<br />
<br />
== Car Stuff ==<br />
Madison has a DMV out on the west side, just past Midvale, at 4802 Sheboygan Ave, and one on the east side out near the airport. <br />
<br />
*Licenses: As they say on their page for licensing new residents, if you're looking to put your permanent residence here and vote here and generally show up on the radar, you should apply for your [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/nonreside/index.htm WI license] within 60 days of establishing residency. Your first baseline license costs $28, and is valid for three years. Note: you will need to take with you, among other things, something like a rent agreement, or a utility bill, UW transcript, or bank statement actually mailed to your WI address (no e-bills). We'll note that math students have been known to wait longer than 60 days to officially apply for residency, but we recommend you don't wait until an out-of-state license expires to get a WI license.<br />
<br />
*Vehicle Registration: If you own a car and officially become a WI resident, you need to get WI plates. All the information you need is available [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/new/resident.htm here].<br />
<br />
*Parking: First, unless you have a motorcycle, '''don't''' plan to park on campus regularly. For parking near your residence, there are some options. Depending on the neighborhood, it's possible to rent a place that has parking included or available for an extra charge. Additionally, if you live in an area surrounded by 2-hr parking [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/documents/RP3allmap.pdf zones], you can usually buy a permit (for a little over $20 per year) allowing you to park on the street all day near your home. More information can be found on the City of Madison Parking Utility [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingUtility/index.cfm page]. Most importantly, "the vehicle for which you are requesting a permit must be owned by you, your child, your parents/step parents, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner, or be a leased or company vehicle which is assigned to you." <br />
<br />
BE AWARE! Winter parking gets all crazy in Madison (from November 15 - March 15). Most of town is on an alternate side parking schedule: cars should be parked on the even (resp. odd) house numbered side of the street from 1:00a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on even (resp. odd) numbered days. If you live on the isthmus in the Snow Emergency Zone, you will only need to do this when the weather gets really bad. You can sign up for alerts when this happens.<br />
<br />
If you leave your car in the wrong place -- with winter nonsense or for any other reason -- and it gets towed, you can call the Madison Police Department (266-4260) or Schmidt's Towing (257-0505) to find out what they've done with it.<br />
<br />
== Taxes ==<br />
Once you've lived here for an entire calendar year, be sure to look into the [http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/home.html Wisconsin Homestead Credit]... it's usually worth the time and effort for graduate students. Until then, you can look into [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html deducting moving costs] for relocating here on your federal taxes.<br />
<br />
A warning to students on fellowship: taxes will not be taken out of your paycheck, but you still have to pay them. You may want to consider filing [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199807,00.html quarterly].<br />
<br />
== Wisconsin benefit programs ==<br />
We don't exactly get piles of money for teaching. In fact, most people who are not on fellowship or receiving summer funding can qualify for some heating aid (up to $380/year), and electricity aid (up to $285/year). You can check your eligibility at [https://access.wisconsin.gov/ Access WI]. <br />
There may be some residency requirements, like the Homestead credit. You can find your annual salary in our [http://www.taa-madison.org/contract/index.html contract].<br />
<br />
== Residency ==<br />
While it's usually a good idea to become a WI resident, if, for some reason, you're looking to declare residency in WI for tuition purposes, the answer is usually "no." It seems that one has to be in Wisconsin for a full year before enrolling at the UW, and one has to prove that one did not move here primarily for educational purposes (according to the Wisconsin statutes, you have to provide "clear and convincing evidence"). More on that at the [http://www.registrar.wisc.edu/students/residence/index.php Office of the Registrar]'s site.<br />
<br />
= Contacts and Other Resources =<br />
*[http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/gradguide/index.html Guide to Graduate Student Life]: The Graduate Student Collaborative's ([http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]) guide to grad student life in Madison -- like this one, but different.<br />
<br />
* [[Teaching Assistant Guide]]: from real live Van Vleck TAs<br />
<br />
*[http://www.yelp.com/madison-wi Yelp.com]: Find reviews of local stuff- restaurants and things to do, but also dentists, auto shops, etc.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.vip.wisc.edu VIP], the Visitor & Information Programs office, located in the Red Gym, near [http://www.union.wisc.edu Memorial Union]. They are open M - F 8am - 5pm and Saturday 11am - 2pm. <br />
<br />
*[http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu Student Orientation Handbook] is a valuable resource for information including entertainment, recreational and varsity sports, student organizations (including those for cultural groups, international students, LGBT students, women, veterans, and people with disabilities), health services, jobs, transportation, safety, and housing. It’s also a great place for referrals to counseling services, including drug and alcohol and sexual assault issues. You can find all this information on the web, at http://www.wisc.edu/visitingCampus/ or call them at 263-2400. You can also email any questions you have to askbucky@uwmad.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lgbt.wisc.edu LGBT Campus Center]: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Center (265-3344; lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu) provides support, social, educational and research services to the campus community, and serves as UW-Madison's first stop for those looking for information about campus LGBT organizations. The Memorial Union office on the 2nd floor includes a library, a television and DVD player, plenty of comfortable seating, open computers, and has a staff of students and professionals that work to bring events, speakers, and programs to campus. The Center also publishes a weekly events e-letter and offers support and social groups.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ WIMAW] (Women in Math at Wisconsin.)<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Got Questions? Here are some folks who might just have the answers...<br />
<br />
== Counseling Services ==<br />
Counseling services are available through Counseling and [http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/ Consultation Services (C&CS)], located at 115 North Orchard Street, (265-5600, TTY number 265-3300). C&CS offers brief psychological treatment, personal counseling, and psychiatric services to UW-Madison students. Frequent services include help in overcoming depression, managing anxiety and other psychological issues, and in developing greater self-awareness, independence, and self-direction. They also provide personal problem counseling, couples relationship counseling, marriage and family counseling, cross-cultural counseling, and alcohol and drug assessment and referral. Specialized groups have included: graduate women support, women and self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, survivors of troubled families, rebuilding relationships. C&CS also provides crisis response at the above phone numbers. Services provided are covered by the student health fee (included in your student fees).<br />
<br />
== Administrative and Support Staff ==<br />
The administrative and support staff are the folk that keep our department functioning. Without them, we as mathematicians would be lost. :) Their pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/support_staff.html here] and their contact info can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/academic_staff.html here]. If one person doesn't know how to deal with a problem you might have, they certainly know who might be able to help you out.<br />
<br />
TBD<br />
Position: Timetable/Undergraduate<br />
Office: 207 VV<br />
Email: ????@math<br />
Ask them about: Registration (for you and your students), MyUW stuff, classroom assignments.<br />
<br />
David Camacho<br />
Position: Assoc Fac Assoc<br />
Office: 321 VV<br />
Email: camacho@math<br />
Ask David about: the Math Tutorial Program (if a student needs extra attention)<br />
<br />
Mark Castillo<br />
Position: Grants/Proposals<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: castillo @math<br />
Ask Mark about: grant money, coffee club<br />
<br />
Chris Uhlir<br />
Position: Payroll/Benefits<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: grenie@math<br />
Ask Mike about: Payroll, hourly positions, taxes, tuition, healthcare, and benefits. <br />
<br />
Sara Nagreen<br />
Position: Sr IPC<br />
Office: 515 VV<br />
Email: nagreen@math<br />
Ask Sara about: all things computing.<br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson<br />
Position: Copy Center Manager/ Room Reservations<br />
Office: 220 VV<br />
Email: paulson@math<br />
Ask Sharon about: Room reservations (review sessions/exams/other), Copy Center stuff, private tutoring list.<br />
<br />
Mary Rice<br />
Position: Grad Prog. Admin<br />
Office: 203 VV<br />
Email: mrice@math<br />
Ask Mary about: Math dept records (teaching letters, transcripts, etc), how you go about graduating.<br />
<br />
Diane Rivard<br />
Position: Placement Advisor<br />
Office: 720 VV<br />
Email: rivard@math<br />
Ask Diane about: Placement questions (what class your student should be in, placement exam issues)<br />
<br />
Joan Wendt<br />
Position: Chair Secretary<br />
Office: 223 VV<br />
Email: wendt@math<br />
Ask Joan about: office assignments and keys<br />
<br />
Barbara Erlenborn<br />
Position: Dept Administrator<br />
Office: 218 VV<br />
Email: erlenborn@math<br />
Ask Barb about: admin stuff<br />
<br />
== Current and Former Graduate Students Interested in Meeting YOU ==<br />
You can find a complete list of current graduate students [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/psdbgrad.html here], and pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/grad.html here]. Email addresses that end with @ are intended to finish with @math.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
Hans Chaumont<br />
Email: chaumont@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~chaumont Website:]<br />
Grad-Age: Started 2012<br />
Area of interest: Undecided<br />
Ask Hans about: Pretty much anything, but especially about tea or the math weightlifting team.<br />
<br />
Laura Cladek<br />
Email: cladek@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~cladek Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2011<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Laura about: Anything ... Especially analysis or on campus housing.<br />
<br />
Nathan Collins<br />
Email: nathan.collins@gmail.com<br />
[http://cs.pdx.edu/~ntc2 Website]<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2008<br />
Area of interest: Computer Science and Logic.<br />
Ask Nathan about: Pittsburgh, bicycles, and being inferior to Mason at TAing. He dislikes printers and bad margins.<br />
<br />
David Dynerman<br />
Email: dynerman@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~dynerman Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask David about: programming video games, trying to do Hartshorne problems, <br />
going to the gym, Mushfeq Khan, Andrew Bridy<br />
<br />
Thomas Hangelbroek<br />
Email: hangelbr@math.hawaii.edu<br />
[http://math.hawaii.edu/people/hangelbr/ Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2007<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Thomas about: Anything Madison. Thomas is an expert in all things Madison.<br />
<br />
Sara Jensen<br />
Email: jensen@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jensen Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask Sara about: Teaching, topology & algebra quals, knitting group, going to the gym <br />
<br />
(Evan) Alec Johnson<br />
Email: ejohnson@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson Website]<br />
Grad-age: Ph.D., 2012<br />
Area of interest: Applied Math and Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask Alec about: teaching, advanced calculus, gardening, and Geneva Campus Church.<br />
<br />
Christine Lien<br />
Email: lien@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lien Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2005<br />
Area of interest: Complex Geometry<br />
Ask Christine about: anything, including bridge/card games, organizing women's events, <br />
the Association of Asian American Graduate students, and the Graduate Student Topology Seminar.<br />
<br />
Hao Lin<br />
Email: lin@<br />
[http://genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=156703 Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Hao about: sports and anything about China.<br />
<br />
Jonathon Mason<br />
Email: jonathan.f.mason@gmail.com<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2010<br />
Ask Mason about: Wisconsin hiking, the local film scene and being "way better than Nathan Collins" at TAing.<br />
<br />
Jason Murcko<br />
Email: murcko@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~murcko Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2006<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Jason about: the TAA and the local film and music scenes.<br />
<br />
Mike Schroeder<br />
Email: schroede@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~schroede UW Website]. [http://science.marshall.edu/schroederm/ Marshall Website].<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Combinatorics<br />
Ask Mike about: softball, bowling, sailing, racquet ball, and the Florida Gators.<br />
<br />
David Seal<br />
Email: seal@math.msu.edu<br />
[http://www.math.msu.edu/~seal Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2012.<br />
Area of interest: Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask David about: movies, biking, hiking and board games.<br />
<br />
Beth Skubak<br />
Email: skubak@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~skubak Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2009<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Beth about: anything, including this wiki<br />
<br />
Mike Woodbury<br />
[http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woodbury/ Website]<br />
Email: woodbury@math.columbia.edu<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011.<br />
Area of interest: Number Theory<br />
Ask Mike about: anything, including number theory, road biking, UW basketball tix.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Guide&diff=5379Graduate Student Guide2013-06-10T15:41:58Z<p>Johnsonm: /* MadTown food */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Exams.png|400px|right | Grading Exams in the Lounge]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
= Food =<br />
<br />
There are many ethnic and interesting restaurants in Madison – Indonesian, African, Italian, Himalayan, Laotian, Peruvian, Mexican, Bakeries, Brew Pubs, Coffee Joints, you name it -- and everyone has their favorites.<br />
<br />
The biggest resource for finding food (and entertainment!) in Madison is probably the [http://www.thedailypage.com/eats/ Daily Page] (the online version of our local paper, the Isthmus), where you can search local restaurants by name, locality, and cuisine. There, they have reviews, hours, contact info, pricing, etc. Be sure to peruse their [http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Restaurants Madison's Favorites] section for some quick tips! Of course [http://www.yelp.com/ yelp] is always useful as well. At one point a couple spent a few years trying to sample every restaurant in Madison and blogged about their journey on the [http://www.madisonatoz.com/ Madison A to Z].<br />
<br />
Here are some general food facts:<br />
<br />
== Campus Food ==<br />
*Food Carts: Open for lunch in Library Mall at the foot of Bascom Hill near Lake & State Street. Very good and very cheap, and out as long as it's not too cold.<br />
<br />
*Badger Market at Ingraham Hall: Very close to Van Vleck, and has acceptable coffee (bring your own cup to save money!) and decent snacks. Try the Badger Bundle lunch special: sandwich, drink, and a side for $1 off your total. Halfway down the hill is the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/crossroadscafe.htm Crossroads Cafe] which has much better coffee and is open later.<br />
<br />
*Memorial Union: The Rathskeller has food and next door is Lakeside cafe with much better food. Summer afternoons on the terrace is an excellent place to hang out in the sunshine with a beer and brat.<br />
<br />
*Union South: Features a pizza place, a pan-Asian restaurant, a sandwich shop, a sports bar (burgers and sandwiches) and an ice cream stand. <br />
<br />
*State Street (past the food carts) is full of restaurants and Coffee shops – there are at least a half dozen coffee roasters in town, and each supplies a different set of shops. In particular for lunch, there are the popular chains, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Einstein Bros. Bagels, or Chipotle... or hit the more independent spots such as the Sunroom Cafe or Ian's Pizza.<br />
<br />
*Residence Hall Cafeterias are pretty decent here, but filled with undergraduates! Enter at your own risk!<br />
<br />
== MadTown food ==<br />
<br />
Traditional Madison foods are German varieties such as beer, cheese, and bratwurst. Twice a year Madison hosts [http://www.bratfest.com/ Bratfest], a record breaking event. <br />
UW has [http://babcockhalldairystore.wisc.edu/ Babcock Hall Ice Cream] on campus which creates delicious ice cream available in the Unions. The [http://www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com/ Chocolate Shoppe], [http://www.ilovemichaels.com/ Michael's Frozen Custard] and [http://www.culvers.com/ Culvers] have nice deserts.<br />
Micro breweries in town include the [http://www.greatdanepub.com/ Great Dane], [http://www.capital-brewery.com/ Captial Brewery] and [http://www.aleasylum.com/ Ale Asylum]. Nearby there is the famous [http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/ New Glarus Brewing Co] which only sells beer in Wisconsin. You can join a free beer tour or walk through the brewery on a self guided tourn.<br />
<br />
In early September (Labor Day weekend), check out [http://www.tasteofmadison.com/ Taste of Madison] to see many restaurants all in one place at one time.<br />
<br />
Try a good ol' midwestern Fish Fry on Friday night – All you can eat fried fish generally served with a bran muffin, clam chowder, or coleslaw. Most Brew Pubs and some churches have them, and the [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/restaurant.php Orpheum] as well at the [http://www.avenuebarmadison.com/ Avenue Bar and Grill] both run Friday night Fish Fries.<br />
<br />
== Farm fresh food ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.madfarmmkt.org/ Dane County Farmer's Market] is amazing and HUGE. The big one is open every Saturday morning, and is located on the capitol square for most of the year. In addition to the ludicrous amount of fresh produce, there are also bakery stands, coffee, and fresh juice carts for quick breakfasts.<br />
<br />
There are also a few smaller [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farmers_markets.htm#danecounty markets] scattered around town, almost every day of the week:<br />
<br />
*Sunday: 8:30am to 12:30pm in front of Pierce's Northside Market<br />
*Monday: (none)<br />
*Tuesday: 4pm to 7pm on Ingersol at Williamson, 2pm to 6pm at 1602 S. Park St,<br />
*Wednesday: 8am to 2pm on MLKJr Blvd, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center,<br />
*Thursday: Thursdays, 2pm to 6pm at the Villager Mall on Park St., 2pm to 6pm in the McFarland Centre, 7:30am to 1:30pm in the Greenway Station shopping center,<br />
*Friday: (none)<br />
*Saturday: 6am to 2pm on the Capitol square, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center, 9am to 2pm at 1602 S. Park St, 7am to 1pm at Sheboygan Ave. and Segoe Rd., and 8:30am to 11am in Watertower Park.<br />
<br />
During the summer and fall, there are many [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/index.htm local farms] where you can [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farms/u_pick.htm pick] your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, or pumpkins when they are in season.<br />
<br />
If you're in town for the summer, you might consider signing up for a [http://www.macsac.org/ Community Supported Agriculture] food box. CSA is a way to support a local farm by paying an annual fee in the winter or spring which buys you a share of the season's harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick-up a weekly box of fresh foods which may include produce, fruits, cheeses, eggs, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. The typical CSA season in Wisconsin runs from the end of May through mid-October. You do have to pay the lump sum up-front, and some weeks you'll find yourself with five pounds of chard... but for most of the summer you'll have your produce needs met, and you can feel good about supporting small local farms. Better yet, most of the university's insurance providers offer [http://www.macsac.org/rebates.html rebates] for signing up for a CSA -- somewhere between $50-$300, depending on the plan and how many people you're sharing with (for example, if two people on GHC share a box, they might pay $450 for the box for a box lasting 25 weeks, but they they could each get $100 back, making that $5/week per person). If you're interested, remember to sign up early -- most programs are full by May.<br />
<br />
= Grocery Stores =<br />
<br />
== Generic Groceries ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.capcentrefoods.com/home.html Capitol Centre Foods]: Given their small size, they have an excellent selection of groceries. They tend to be a bit pricey. In addition, they deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.freshmadisonmarket.com/ Fresh Madison Market]: A reasonably large general grocery store, not too expensive. Has a large selection of "typical college items" (lots of frozen foods). Located on University, not too far from Van Vleck. They also deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.copps.com/ Copps]: Your standard grocery store with multiple locations.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=1020&lang=en-US Costco]: Your friendly big-box bulk store. They treat their employees incredibly well. Good buys on computers, 2 lbs of sockeye salmon or button down oxford cloth long sleeved shirts. You'll need a membership or go there with someone who has a membership. You can also get a free trial membership if you simply ask.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.walgreens.com/ Walgreens]: Pharmacy/Grocery store. There is a Walgreens on the corner of Lake & State Street near Van Vleck, on the Capitol Square, at East Campus Mall, and in University square.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Whole Foods]: Kinda spendy, but good bread, specialty stuff, and produce through the winter.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Woodman's]: two locations -- [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=725+S+Gammon+Rd+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=43.055217,-89.50304&spn=0.05381,0.171661 East] and [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3817+Milwaukee+St,+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.103615,-89.319363&spn=0.053768,0.171661&om=1 West]. If you have a car and the time, go here. Very large, very cheap, but time consuming. They don't take credit cards, so bring a debit card or check book. The produce is pretty poor, but they're huge and, again, cheap. Check out the liquor store for a large selection (you can buy all types of alcohol in grocery stores in Wisconsin... but not after 9pm).<br />
<br />
*[http://www.traderjoes.com/ Trader Joe's]: Located at 1810 Monroe St. They have good prices for select specialty food items such as wine, cheese and fancy snacks. Their basic foodstuffs tend to be a bit pricey.<br />
<br />
*The Jenifer Street Market located on 2038 Jenifer Street is a nice little grocery store if you happen to live in the area.<br />
<br />
== Co-ops ==<br />
Co-ops are a good source of local organic food. If you are a member they provide discounts, but you can also shop there at your own will.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.regentmarketcoop.org/ Regent Market Cooperative], 2136 Regent St. 233-4329.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.willystreet.coop/ Willy Street Co-op] The largest and most active co-op in the Madison area. They have been able to survive the decline in co-ops over the years. They offer a large selection of bulk foods and spices at an excellent price. For a quick bite, they have an excellent deli, salad bar, and in-store coffee shop. 1221 Williamson St. 251-6776. They recently opened a second store in Middleton located at 6825 University Ave. Both locations deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
== Specialty Foods ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.aldifoods.com/ Aldi Foods]: Very cheap! Little selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=keJ&q=asian+midway+foods&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,304616636444102595&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Asian Midway Market]: The go-to market for anything Thai, Chinese or South-East Asian, this centrally-located store comes highly recommended. In particular, they offer a great selection of specialized produce. 301 South Park Street; 255-5864<br />
<br />
*[http://www.brennansmarket.com/ Brennan's Market]: Great for Produce, Meats, Cheese, Micro brews and Wines. You won't find things like Flour and Saran Wrap here, but definitely worth the trip.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/ Farm Fresh Atlas]: Not a grocery store, but a good resource for where you can buy local foods and a list of farms in the areas.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madseafood.com/ The Seafood Center]: The name says it all. Great fresh fish and live lobsters.<br />
<br />
*[http://frabonisdeli.com/ Fraboni's]: An awesome Italian grocery store and deli. They have very good [http://frabonisdeli.com/oils olive oils], [http://frabonisdeli.com/pastas pastas], and make-your-own pizza fixings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3723579948/garden-asian-market-middleton Garden Asian Market]: A full service Asian food market specializing in fresh meat, produce, and seafood. Mostly Chinese-leaning, they do a good job of providing a wide variety of items within their niche. It may be far out, but it's worth the trip in its pleasantness and selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=india+house+grocery+store,+madison,+wi&fb=1&gl=us&hq=india+house+grocery+store,&hnear=Madison,+WI&cid=0,0,8495347478199843118&ll=43.050466,-89.503019&spn=0.007871,0.019183&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A India House]: Really well done Indian grocery store. Good place to buy Kari leaves.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=TMe&q=lee%27s+oriental&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,92533124768468793&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Lee's Oriental]: Next to Penzey's spices. 3240 University Ave; 231-1593<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=2Me&q=oriental+shop&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,13628497956998458364&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Oriental Shop]: They carry mostly dry-goods, and tend to lean toward stocking more Korean items. 1206 South Park Street; 255-0326<br />
<br />
= Housing =<br />
<br />
Haven't found a place yet? Already hate your apartment?<br />
<br />
* [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/ UW Off-Campus Housing Search]: Probably the best search site for students.<br />
<br />
* Again, [http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List] is a good resourse. Also a good place to look for roommates outside of the department.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/ University Apartments]: On campus graduate housing, particularly popular with married couples (especially with children). Singles are also welcome. Many of them are on the bus route #80, a free route which runs from the apartments through campus every ten minutes throughout the day.<br />
<br />
== Location, Location, Location ==<br />
<br />
If you would like to keep your commute down, there are many places near campus. Many graduate students prefer to live close enough to Van Vleck to be within walking distance, yet far enough away to stay away from partying undergraduate students.<br />
<br />
Many graduate students live in the Vilas neighborhood, which is located South of Regent Street and between Park and Monroe. East of the Capitol building, we also have the Willy St. neighborhood (between Williamson and Rutledge streets, between Paterson and Thornton) and the other side of the Isthmus, between Mifflin and Lake Mendota. The university offers on campus housing at Eagle Heights with regular buses. Many students also live near Sheboygan and University Avenues (not on this map), and there are regular buses that run up University Avenue that will drop you off right in front of Van Vleck. The large apartment complexes in that area include the Normandy, Chapel Hill, Carolina, Monticello, Hilldale Towers, Park Towers, and Sovereign Apartments which are cheaper to live in than spots on the square.<br />
<br />
Because there is no parking on campus, you will need to plan on living within walking distance of a bus route or campus itself. You will receive a free bus pass for the [http://www.mymetrobus.com/ Madison Metro] system, which is very reliable. Check out the “plan your trip” link to find bus routes near you.<br />
<br />
Here is an approximate map of many areas where you will be likely to find housing: <br />
[[Image:gradhousingmap.jpg|400px| center | Housing Map]]<br />
<br />
Basically, shoot for zones 2-6, the North parts of zones 7 and 8, or the far East part of zone 10 on [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/map_all.asp this map] (the map from the UW Off-Campus Housing Search).<br />
<br />
== Stuff your landlord might not tell you ==<br />
<br />
*Utilities:<br />
Lots of apartments have water, sewage, heat, and and sometimes electricity included in rent. For those which don't, be sure to find out what to expect through the [http://mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/ Madison Gas and Electric] web page. Just tell them the address of the place you're looking at, and they'll tell you what the highs, lows, and averages have been over the last year.<br />
<br />
*Property information:<br />
The [http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/property.html City Assessor] has all of the basic information about Madison properties on file, including how many units are on the property, how much square footage there is, if there's AC in the building, what school district it's in, who your alderperson would be, and what else is on the property (e.g. garages). They'll even tell you how much the property is worth, and how much your landlord is paying in property taxes. Sometimes the square footage isn't broken up--for example, maybe there are two units on the first floor, but they'll only tell you that there are 1,700 sq ft on that floor, not how it's split up between the two units. It can be a useful site for rounding out your knowledge of places you're considering renting.<br />
<br />
*Tenants rights:<br />
The [http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/ Tenant resource center] is a small non-profit membership organization which provides housing counseling, mediation services and office assistance. Their website includes tips for new renters, generic rental forms, and advice for what to do if your landlord just won't get back to you about repairs, returning deposits, etc.<br />
There is also the [http://studenttenantunion.rso.wisc.edu/ Student tenant union], which is specifically targeted to UW students.<br />
<br />
== Rental Companies ==<br />
Many properties in Madison are run by rental companies -- some large, some small -- some good, some not-so-good. Larger companies tend to have lower prices, and more people working toward maintaining rentals. However, they may have less of an investment in taking care of each individual property or screening their tenants. Some people feel better renting from small companies, or landlords with only one or two houses. You may get more individual attention and care. Individuals have more investment in protecting each property, and renting to good tenants, so the properties tend to be in more reliable condition. However, with fewer properties comes fewer resources and higher prices.<br />
<br />
Whatever choice you make, be sure to have a conversation with your potential landlords about their polices, especially if you aren't going to be able to see things in person. It may also be good to Google the company or person to see if other people have had something good or bad to say about them or their properties. In particular, [http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Madison.html ApartmentRatings.com] has a few of the apartment complexes around town listed.<br />
<br />
Here are some general impressions/very subjective opinions that some of us have gotten from/about a few of the larger local companies:<br />
<br />
*AB Holdings: In particular, they have a couple small apartment buildings on Vilas that are particularly ideal for two people. Quite a few people from the department have rented these units and have been pretty happy.<br />
<br />
*[http://apexrents.com/ Apex Property Management]: Great company. Well-maintained properties, with many of the more recently remodeled rentals being very nice. Their representatives are helpful and responsible, and their tenants seem to be generally satisfied.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.centralmadison.com/ The Christensen Company]: Not terribly up-to-date apartments, but worth taking a look at.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonproperty.com/ Madison Property Management]: Lots of choices, but notoriously junky properties. They tend to cater mostly to undergraduates, and their rentals show it. We wouldn't recommend renting from this company unless you visit first.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.mcbridecompanies.com/ The McBride Companies]: Nice properties, good management. Really good website if you turn the sound off.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.tallardapartments.com/ Tallard Apartments]: Nice properties with very friendly and responsive staff. Their rentals tend to go early in the season.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wimci.com/ Wisconsin Management Company]: Nice enough properties, but kind of flakey representation. Make sure to ask lots of questions.<br />
<br />
*The Wright Company (or Norris Ct. Apartments): Very nice older buildings, but kind of sketchy management. Nothing is going to be in stellar shape, but they do tend to rent more to graduates and professionals, so they aren't beat up either. If you do rent from them, don't expect them to be very responsive, and be sure to be especially careful about protecting your security deposit by taking photos and keeping a record of your move-in report.<br />
<br />
= Furniture =<br />
<br />
*[http://www.svdpmadison.org/ St. Vincent DePaul's]: Like Goodwill. Has cheap dressers, desks, chairs, and general household stuff. Will deliver for a small charge. This is also a great place to donate any furniture or other items that you no longer want – they will pick up the items from your apartment. There is also a Goodwill in town, but they won't have nearly the same volume of furniture.<br />
<br />
*[http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List]: a free online classifieds site. Great not only for furniture, but also pet resources and last minute apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
*Eagle Heights Apartment Bulletin Boards: Lots of cheap stuff from people graduating, many of whom are moving overseas. You can even find cars. You can try posting your own wanted posters on the boards. You can find these boards at the bus stops for the (free) bus 80 route.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/madisonfreecycle/ Freecycle]: A community "give stuff away for free" website with a Madison branch.<br />
<br />
*Hippie Christmas ("Move-Out Day"): For some reason or another, the evening of August 14th is when the bulk of leases near campus turn over. This is a fantastic day to pick up free furniture from the street. If you already have a rental van, why not help municipal waste by pickup up a bookshelf for them?<br />
<br />
*The Todd Drive Area: Just west of park street on the beltline. American Furniture for furniture and electronics, Home Concepts for cheap but nice looking furniture, and Steinhafel's for furniture and mattresses.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html SWAP]. The UW's surplus supply store.<br />
<br />
= International Student Resources =<br />
Here are a few links specifically for international students. There are international grocery stores listed in the [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Graduate_Student_Guide#Specialty_Foods groceries] section.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcssa.net/ Chinese Student & Scholar Association]: A connection to the university's Chinese community for incoming students. They offer rides from the airport, list general information about madison, and organize get-tegethers/Chinese celebrations. International Conversation & Coffee Hour: meet other international students and americans interested in other cultures. Every Friday, 12-2pm, Cooper Hearth Room 160, Union South.<br />
<br />
*[http://iss.wisc.edu/ International Student Services]: the UW's International Student Services<br />
<br />
*[http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MADindians/ MadIndians]: a Yahoo online group for students from India in Madison. Good place to search for an Indian roommate.<br />
<br />
*[http://mtsa.rso.wisc.edu/ Madison Association of Turkish Students]: Very helpful for incoming Turkish students. It includes information about how best to get to Madison from Turkey, information about housing, and how to reach other Turkish students in Madison.<br />
<br />
= Newspapers =<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/captimes/ The Capitol Times]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the afternoon. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more liberal.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.thedailypage.com/ The Isthmus]: Free independent Madison newspaper. Has a liberal voice and is full of entertainment, including family fun, outdoor attractions, and fine arts. Also puts out the Annual Manual - the yearly guide to all things Madison.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.theonion.com/ The Onion]: While hilarious, this paper is only really good if you're already in on the joke. We get free paper copies in Madison. There is a stack near the elevators in VV. The local edition has local entertainment listings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Wisconsin State Journal]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the mornings. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more conservative.<br />
<br />
= Religious Groups =<br />
*[http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/ Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/ Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church]: Near Sheboygan Ave. at 110 N Whitney Way. A huge church, but with opportunities to get involved and meet people. It has services in the sanctuary, with a mixture of traditional and semi-modern worship, and also "video cafe" services with more lively, modern worship. Very good teaching.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cpcmadison.com/ Christ Presbyterian Church]. Just east of James Madison Park on Gorham. Has a great choir and organist!<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fusmadison.org/ The First Unitarian Society of Madison]. "A liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue." Looking for something new? They're open to all types. Also, they are housed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.folmadison.org/ Fountain of Life]: 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. A multi-ethnic church with a lot of eclectic music styles, including a lot of Gospel music<br />
<br />
*[http://genevacc.org/ The Geneva Campus Church]: On Campus Reformed church. They describe themselves as "a university church for the whole family"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwhillel.org/ Hillel]: UW-Madison's on-campus center for everything Jewish: religious, cultural, political, traditional, and alternative. Located on Langdon Street, it serves both the school population and, to a far lesser extent, the entire city.<br />
<br />
*[http://islamiccentermadison.org/ Islamic Center of Madison]: Has a masjid inside. 21 N Orchard St, (608)251-9851<br />
<br />
*[http://ivgcf.rso.wisc.edu/ InterVarsity Grad Christian Fellowship]: It's a welcoming place for Christians and non-Christians alike. (You might even find your future husband/wife there) They also have a website with info about local churches. There is a new student picnic at the beginning of the fall semester.<br />
<br />
*Latter Day Saints: There are a number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wards in the Madison area. The Madison First Ward covers areas closest to campus and meets at 4505 Regent Street, two blocks south of Hilldale Mall, at 9am. The University Ward serves single adults and meets at 1711 University Avenue at 10 am. The Madison Third Ward serves areas close to campus and meets at 701 Bear Claw Way on Madison's far west side at 11 am. Visitors and the curious are always welcome.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lccmadison.com/ Lutheran Campus Center]: A fairly young, enthusiastic, and liberal-minded congragation, found right on campus.<br />
<br />
*[http://madcitychurch.org/ Mad City Church]: A non-denominational, casual christian fellowship. Services are held in the LaFollette High School located on Madison's east side - very near the corner of Pflaum Rd. and Monona Dr. Office at 2713 E. Washington Ave.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.muuyacm.org/ Madison UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry (MUUYACM)]. One of the largest and most active Unitarian Universalist young adult groups in the U.S., they are open to young adults (ages 18-35) of all denominations. In addition to worships, they organize social-justice-oriented activities, and are an active member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcatholic.org/ St. Paul's University Catholic Center]: On campus in Library Mall near Lake & State. Has a lively Catholic grad student group called Mustard Seed with Bible studies, Thursday night speakers, retreats, service projects, and large quantities of food and euchre.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.unityofmadison.org/ Unity of Madison]: (from their site) "Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community focused on Truth Seeking and Spiritual Growth through the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire, nuture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live Jesus' message that 'the kingdom of God is within you.'"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.isthmuszencommunity.org/ Zen Buddhism]: A local zen buddhist center is located next to Willy st co-op. New comers are especially welcome.<br />
<br />
= Arts and Entertainment =<br />
<br />
Madison is a medium sized city with a not so medium sized arts and entertainment scene. There are cultural events on campus<br />
and at the [http://www.overturcenter.com Overture Center]; sporting events; art, science, natural history, and history museums; parks, the<br />
[http://www.uwarboretum.org arboretum], and [http://www.olbrich.org botanical gardens]; a free [http://www.vilaszoo.org zoo]; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; a [http://www.madfarmmkt.com Farmer’s Market] on the<br />
Capital Square every Saturday morning from April-October; and lots of other things. The [http://www.thedailypage.com Isthmus], is the local free newspaper which posts many current events.<br />
The Isthmus can be found in many stores, in campus buildings, and on street corners.<br />
<br />
== Athletic Activities ==<br />
* [http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/ Rec Sports] runs the gyms on campus. There are three such on-campus gyms -- The SERF, the Nat, and the Shell, which are free with student ID. For $10/semester, you can attend any of their Group Fitness classes, which cover everything from aerobics and weights to yoga and dance. Also, both the SERF and Nat have indoor pools.<br />
<br />
*The University of Wisconsin has a long standing heritage of being proud of their [http://www.uwbadgers.com/ athletic events]. Men's basketball, football and ice-hockey receive the most attention and as a student, you can obtain season tickets for all of these events.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.mufa.org MUFA] is an ultimate frisbee league that has summer as well as spring and fall seasons. This is a really fun way to stay active and meet some new Madison friends! You don't need to form a team-- just see the link for info about how to join a team looking for more players. Note: the games are often played all over the city and burbs, and are not necessarily reachable by bus. You'll need a car, or a teammate with a car. Also see the link for info about local pick-up games.<br />
<br />
== Dancing ==<br />
<br />
*Ballroom: [http://www.uwmbda.org/ UWMBDA] is the big ballroom dance group here. They have dances with lessons every week on Friday or Saturday and a practice group every Thursday.<br />
<br />
*[http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/dances.htm Contra Dance]: Meetings every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
*International Folk club: meets biweekly Library Mall, Wed/Sun 7:30PM-late.<br />
<br />
*Swing: [http://www.uwswing.com/ Jumptown Swing] is UW's swing club. They host (mostly) weekly dances at Union South, and provide lessons for a nominal fee. See their site for scheduling and links to other swing orgonizations. Also, on Wednesdays, there's dancing at the [http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ Brink Lounge] from 8-11.<br />
<br />
*Salsa: Venues include [http://www.cardinalbar.com/ Cardinal Bar] on Thursdays, [http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/details.php?event=176610 Frida's] on Friday nights. Don't know how to Salsa? There are lessons before dances at Cardinal, and instruction is offered through the Union's minicourses.<br />
<br />
*Tango: the [http://www.madisontango.org/ Madison Tango Society] provides lessons and dances for Argentine Tango. Their site has a good list or other events in and around Madison.<br />
<br />
== Libraries ==<br />
In addition to the many [http://www.library.wisc.edu/ Libraries of UW], the [http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ Madison Public Library] is a great place for books, movies, and music.<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
The Daily Page has a [http://www.thedailypage.com/movies/listing.php listing] of movie times for most of the theaters around town (both big and small):<br />
<br />
*Eastgate, Point and AMC (Star) Cinema are the three larger movie theaters in town.<br />
<br />
*Market Square shows second runs at a good discount. <br />
<br />
*The [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/ Orpheum] is an old cinema within site of the capitol on State street. They tend to show less mainstream movies.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.sundancecinemas.com/madison.html Sundance 608] shows independent film as well as blockbuster movies. They have a rooftop cafe that's open during the summer months, 2 bars (you can take a drink into your movie), and a restaurant!<br />
<br />
For on-campus movies:<br />
*The Wisconsin Union Directorate runs on campus screening of films. Their film site can be found [http://www.union.wisc.edu/WUD/film.aspx here.]<br />
<br />
*The UW film department hosts free screenings of a wide array of films based on a given theme for that semester through their [http://cinema.wisc.edu/ cinematheque.] Their department has many contacts with other film institutes and are able show rare original 35mm films that you can't see anywhere else.<br />
<br />
*In late March/early April, go check out some of the many many films showing at the [http://www.wifilmfest.org/ Wisconsin Film Festival.] Sites all over town take part in hosting the showing of these films.<br />
<br />
Madison also has a number of independent video stores:<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ Four Star Video Heaven] has been voted as a Madison Favorite for a number of years. See their site to browse their collection online.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bongovideo.com/ Bongo Video] has a smaller, but quite tasty selection. Lots of personality, and good daily specials.<br />
<br />
== Music ==<br />
Whether you're looking to play music, or just go watch free or (in)expensive concerts, there are many options in Madison.<br />
<br />
*Our very own [http://music.wisc.edu/ Music Department] hosts many music events. Their website has a calendar listing current music events including faculty concerts and student recitals.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonsymphony.org/ The Madison Symphony Orchestra] (MSO) is the professional symphony based here in Madison. With your student ID, you can get student rush tickets for as little as $10 per person.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wcoconcerts.org/ The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra] is Madison's professional chamber orchestra. Each summer, their widely popular [http://www.wcoconcerts.org/new/cos/concertsonthesquare.php concerts on the square] draw many people from all over the place for a free outdoor concert.<br />
<br />
*[http://madisoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Madison Community Orchestra] (MCO) is an informal group run by Madison Area Technical College that meets once a week. There are four free concerts a year and no auditions to play with the group.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.middletoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Middleton Community Orchestra] is a second newly formed community orchestra run by community musicians. Their concerts are extremely affordable, and they may run auditions.<br />
<br />
== Outdoor Activites ==<br />
Madison is a very bicycle friendly town, and there are many parks either in town or within a short drive. Here are some suggestions about outdoor activities to engage in:<br />
<br />
*Take a nice long walk along one of the many paths around [http://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/imap/LakeshoreNaturePreserve.html Picnic Point]... bike the path from Memorial Union out to the tip, or bus/drive out to the base of picnic point and wander the foot trails in the area.<br />
<br />
*Head towards Monona Terrace on Lake Monona, and take one of the paths that wraps around the lake (great bike ride!).<br />
<br />
*You can also go walking and/or biking around the [http://uwarboretum.org/ Arboretum] south of campus and tour their gardens, or head to the free [http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Vilas Zoo]. Lake Wingra is essentially totally surrounded by wooded areas including Henry Vilas Park, the UW-arboretum and Edgewood college. You can rent canoes at Knickerbocker for fairly cheap and relax on Lake Wingra.<br />
<br />
*Community Gardens: There are a number of community gardens run by the [http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/ Community Action Coalition]. Nominally, you can sign up for a plot for a small fee, and learn how to garden if you don't already know, or go to town if you already do. The [http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/ Eagle Heights Community Garden] is open to both residents and non-residents alike. All of the gardens are fun to look at if you haven't ever seen one.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.olbrich.org/ The Olbrich Botanical Gardens] are located east of lake Monona. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including their award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden, or enjoy the year-round tropical Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds.. Outdoor gardens are open daily and free to the public, while entrance to the conservatory is $1 per person.<br />
<br />
*Catch a festival; Madison is home to a number of festivals -- big festivals, small festivals, arts festivals, music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals -- we've got all kinds.<br />
<br />
The Winter opens itself up to new activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing and other options. The hoofers club runs ice boats on the lake.<br />
<br />
*The city of Madison parks open up outdoor [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct2.html ice skating] at Tenney, Vilas, and Elver parks. No skates? No worries. They will rent skates to you there ($6.00 for the first hour, $2/hr after that).<br />
<br />
*There is also [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct4.html cross-country skiing] at a number of Dane county parks, with passes starting at $5/day. No skills? Check out lessons at the [http://www.madnorski.org/page/ Madison Nordic Ski Club] or, again, [http://sns.hoofers.org/ Hoofers] has lots to offer in that area.<br />
<br />
== Student Clubs ==<br />
The University of Wisconsin, being a rather large institution, has got so much stuff going on for all of us student-types. Here are some ways people around the department have been taking advantage:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop]: Located upstairs in the Memorial Union, they are "here to satisfy your creative urges in a variety of craft media." Their facilities include a darkroom, a woodshop, a ceramics studio, metal working tools, etc. Friday afternoons, they open their studios to all union members (that means you!) for free!<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hoofers.org/ Hoofers]: Student outdoor recreation club. The Outing and Sailing clubs in particular have lots of graduate students.<br />
<br />
* [http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]: Graduate Student Collaborative Organization<br />
<br />
* [http://cfli.wisc.edu/student_organizations.htm Student Organizations]: at UW Madison (this is a directory of all registered student organizations at the university; you can search by topic or name)<br />
<br />
== The Student Unions ==<br />
The Memorial Union is located on the lakefront, on Park and Langdon. Be sure to check out the Terrace while the weather is still good -- it's a great place to go to get out of the office, grab something to snack on, and study out in the sun. You'll find the Daily Scoop (yummy ice cream!) and Der Rathskeller (beer and deep-fried goodness). You'll also find all sorts of stuff to keep you busy, like the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop], the Union Theater, the Hoofers' headquarters, and a wide array of Mini Courses with which to expand your horizons.<br />
<br />
Also useful: the travel services center and STA Travel will get you good deals on trips (including bus tickets to O'Hare, Midway, and Milwaukee airports), and the theater's box office will get you good deals on shows (theater, music, etc) all around town. In addition, the Union has always got other special events going on to keep all of us entertained -- see their complete [http://www.union.wisc.edu/activities/ list of activities].<br />
<br />
The Union South was recently completely renovated and also has many activities available. They have a climbing wall, a bowling alley, pool tables, a beer garden, a wine tasting room, a ballroom, a movie theater and many other things.<br />
<br />
= Van Vleck Miscellany =<br />
Here's a bit more info about the happenings in and around the Math Dept.<br />
<br />
== Getting money ==<br />
*Paychecks: The first paycheck of the year arrives in October, though you may request an advance on about 30% of your first paycheck when you arrive. If you are not working over the summer, the last will come in June, so be sure to plan for the three month gap.<br />
<br />
*Fees: You will be charged for segregated fees in both semesters, and are not covered in your tuition. The amount depends on your credit load and status, but will be about $500 for most people and due about the time of your first paycheck. If you are on fellowship, this will be taken care of for you, and shouldn't appear on your bill.<br />
<br />
*TA union: The teaching assistants of Wisconsin are unionized. Even if you are not a TA, but are an employee of the department, you're still connected to them through advocacy and campus issues. For more information check out the [http://www.taa-madison.org/ TAA].<br />
<br />
== Getting stuff done ==<br />
See the Contacts section for a list of people who will help you get stuff done.<br />
<br />
If you want to reserve rooms in Van Vleck for review sessions or meetings you can fill out a green form with Sharon Paulson on the second floor. Sharon does the scheduling for about 4 or 5 rooms in the building, so you can also ask her about these rooms directly. If you need to reserve the 9th floor lounge, talk to Joan Wendt (also second floor).<br />
<br />
Each grad receives 200 photocopies and 250 black and white print outs a month for personal math use. If you are a TA, Sharon in the Copy Center on the second floor can photocopy materials for classes (which does not count toward your quota)– such as worksheets and quizzes. Just give her at least 24 hours notice. To check your printout quota, open a terminal logged into the math server, and type "pages". If you do go over your quota, you will simply get a (probably very small) bill at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
We get free office supplies on the 2nd floor – just ask the Receptionist for pens, folders, etc.<br />
<br />
You can pick up and send out your mail from the second floor. You might even want to have packages delivered to the department, to avoid missing them being delivered at home (UPS, for example, won't drop off to apartment complexes if you aren't there, so you'll have to drive out to Middleton to pick up your packages).<br />
<br />
It's never too early to start studying for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/graduate/quals.htm quals]... early and often, my friends. Early and Often.<br />
<br />
== Getting together ==<br />
Historically, some afternoons and Friday before colloquium, we have a cookie and coffee social hour on the 9th floor lounge. Keep your eyes open for announcements.<br />
<br />
Definitely check out some of the colloquia and seminars. The earlier you get involved the better. This is a great way to learn more about potential research areas, meet other people in the areas, and meet other mathematicians in other departments. There is a list posted on the 9th floor each week in addition to online.<br />
<br />
Once a semester, our group for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ women in mathematics] get together for an informal potluck. We also have been known to bring in women speakers funded by the [http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/ WiSELI] grant.<br />
<br />
= Miscellaneous Wisconsin Stuff =<br />
This section describes miscellaneous Wisconsin stuff that doesn't belong in any other section, such as, a [[Wisconsin Dictionary]] for those who aren't familiar with the Wisconsin vernacular.<br />
<br />
== Voting ==<br />
Frequently asked questions for Wisconsin voting can be found <br />
[http://wisconsin.gov/state/core/faq_wisconsin_voting_elections.html here]. <br />
As of the April election, Wisconsin has a law that allows for same day registration at the polls:<br />
<br />
''If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.''<br />
<br />
Out of state licenses work, and utility bills, bank statements, or pay checks with your name and address on them work for proof of residence.<br />
<br />
== Car Stuff ==<br />
Madison has a DMV out on the west side, just past Midvale, at 4802 Sheboygan Ave, and one on the east side out near the airport. <br />
<br />
*Licenses: As they say on their page for licensing new residents, if you're looking to put your permanent residence here and vote here and generally show up on the radar, you should apply for your [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/nonreside/index.htm WI license] within 60 days of establishing residency. Your first baseline license costs $28, and is valid for three years. Note: you will need to take with you, among other things, something like a rent agreement, or a utility bill, UW transcript, or bank statement actually mailed to your WI address (no e-bills). We'll note that math students have been known to wait longer than 60 days to officially apply for residency, but we recommend you don't wait until an out-of-state license expires to get a WI license.<br />
<br />
*Vehicle Registration: If you own a car and officially become a WI resident, you need to get WI plates. All the information you need is available [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/new/resident.htm here].<br />
<br />
*Parking: First, unless you have a motorcycle, '''don't''' plan to park on campus regularly. For parking near your residence, there are some options. Depending on the neighborhood, it's possible to rent a place that has parking included or available for an extra charge. Additionally, if you live in an area surrounded by 2-hr parking [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/documents/RP3allmap.pdf zones], you can usually buy a permit (for a little over $20 per year) allowing you to park on the street all day near your home. More information can be found on the City of Madison Parking Utility [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingUtility/index.cfm page]. Most importantly, "the vehicle for which you are requesting a permit must be owned by you, your child, your parents/step parents, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner, or be a leased or company vehicle which is assigned to you." <br />
<br />
BE AWARE! Winter parking gets all crazy in Madison (from November 15 - March 15). Most of town is on an alternate side parking schedule: cars should be parked on the even (resp. odd) house numbered side of the street from 1:00a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on even (resp. odd) numbered days. If you live on the isthmus in the Snow Emergency Zone, you will only need to do this when the weather gets really bad. You can sign up for alerts when this happens.<br />
<br />
If you leave your car in the wrong place -- with winter nonsense or for any other reason -- and it gets towed, you can call the Madison Police Department (266-4260) or Schmidt's Towing (257-0505) to find out what they've done with it.<br />
<br />
== Taxes ==<br />
Once you've lived here for an entire calendar year, be sure to look into the [http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/home.html Wisconsin Homestead Credit]... it's usually worth the time and effort for graduate students. Until then, you can look into [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html deducting moving costs] for relocating here on your federal taxes.<br />
<br />
A warning to students on fellowship: taxes will not be taken out of your paycheck, but you still have to pay them. You may want to consider filing [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199807,00.html quarterly].<br />
<br />
== Wisconsin benefit programs ==<br />
We don't exactly get piles of money for teaching. In fact, most people who are not on fellowship or receiving summer funding can qualify for some heating aid (up to $380/year), and electricity aid (up to $285/year). You can check your eligibility at [https://access.wisconsin.gov/ Access WI]. <br />
There may be some residency requirements, like the Homestead credit. You can find your annual salary in our [http://www.taa-madison.org/contract/index.html contract].<br />
<br />
== Residency ==<br />
While it's usually a good idea to become a WI resident, if, for some reason, you're looking to declare residency in WI for tuition purposes, the answer is usually "no." It seems that one has to be in Wisconsin for a full year before enrolling at the UW, and one has to prove that one did not move here primarily for educational purposes (according to the Wisconsin statutes, you have to provide "clear and convincing evidence"). More on that at the [http://www.registrar.wisc.edu/students/residence/index.php Office of the Registrar]'s site.<br />
<br />
= Contacts and Other Resources =<br />
*[http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/gradguide/index.html Guide to Graduate Student Life]: The Graduate Student Collaborative's ([http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]) guide to grad student life in Madison -- like this one, but different.<br />
<br />
* [[Teaching Assistant Guide]]: from real live Van Vleck TAs<br />
<br />
*[http://www.yelp.com/madison-wi Yelp.com]: Find reviews of local stuff- restaurants and things to do, but also dentists, auto shops, etc.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.vip.wisc.edu VIP], the Visitor & Information Programs office, located in the Red Gym, near [http://www.union.wisc.edu Memorial Union]. They are open M - F 8am - 5pm and Saturday 11am - 2pm. <br />
<br />
*[http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu Student Orientation Handbook] is a valuable resource for information including entertainment, recreational and varsity sports, student organizations (including those for cultural groups, international students, LGBT students, women, veterans, and people with disabilities), health services, jobs, transportation, safety, and housing. It’s also a great place for referrals to counseling services, including drug and alcohol and sexual assault issues. You can find all this information on the web, at http://www.wisc.edu/visitingCampus/ or call them at 263-2400. You can also email any questions you have to askbucky@uwmad.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lgbt.wisc.edu LGBT Campus Center]: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Center (265-3344; lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu) provides support, social, educational and research services to the campus community, and serves as UW-Madison's first stop for those looking for information about campus LGBT organizations. The Memorial Union office on the 2nd floor includes a library, a television and DVD player, plenty of comfortable seating, open computers, and has a staff of students and professionals that work to bring events, speakers, and programs to campus. The Center also publishes a weekly events e-letter and offers support and social groups.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ WIMAW] (Women in Math at Wisconsin.)<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Got Questions? Here are some folks who might just have the answers...<br />
<br />
== Counseling Services ==<br />
Counseling services are available through Counseling and [http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/ Consultation Services (C&CS)], located at 115 North Orchard Street, (265-5600, TTY number 265-3300). C&CS offers brief psychological treatment, personal counseling, and psychiatric services to UW-Madison students. Frequent services include help in overcoming depression, managing anxiety and other psychological issues, and in developing greater self-awareness, independence, and self-direction. They also provide personal problem counseling, couples relationship counseling, marriage and family counseling, cross-cultural counseling, and alcohol and drug assessment and referral. Specialized groups have included: graduate women support, women and self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, survivors of troubled families, rebuilding relationships. C&CS also provides crisis response at the above phone numbers. Services provided are covered by the student health fee (included in your student fees).<br />
<br />
== Administrative and Support Staff ==<br />
The administrative and support staff are the folk that keep our department functioning. Without them, we as mathematicians would be lost. :) Their pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/support_staff.html here] and their contact info can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/academic_staff.html here]. If one person doesn't know how to deal with a problem you might have, they certainly know who might be able to help you out.<br />
<br />
TBD<br />
Position: Timetable/Undergraduate<br />
Office: 207 VV<br />
Email: ????@math<br />
Ask them about: Registration (for you and your students), MyUW stuff, classroom assignments.<br />
<br />
David Camacho<br />
Position: Assoc Fac Assoc<br />
Office: 321 VV<br />
Email: camacho@math<br />
Ask David about: the Math Tutorial Program (if a student needs extra attention)<br />
<br />
Mark Castillo<br />
Position: Grants/Proposals<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: castillo @math<br />
Ask Mark about: grant money, coffee club<br />
<br />
Chris Uhlir<br />
Position: Payroll/Benefits<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: grenie@math<br />
Ask Mike about: Payroll, hourly positions, taxes, tuition, healthcare, and benefits. <br />
<br />
Sara Nagreen<br />
Position: Sr IPC<br />
Office: 515 VV<br />
Email: nagreen@math<br />
Ask Sara about: all things computing.<br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson<br />
Position: Copy Center Manager/ Room Reservations<br />
Office: 220 VV<br />
Email: paulson@math<br />
Ask Sharon about: Room reservations (review sessions/exams/other), Copy Center stuff, private tutoring list.<br />
<br />
Mary Rice<br />
Position: Grad Prog. Admin<br />
Office: 203 VV<br />
Email: mrice@math<br />
Ask Mary about: Math dept records (teaching letters, transcripts, etc), how you go about graduating.<br />
<br />
Diane Rivard<br />
Position: Placement Advisor<br />
Office: 720 VV<br />
Email: rivard@math<br />
Ask Diane about: Placement questions (what class your student should be in, placement exam issues)<br />
<br />
Joan Wendt<br />
Position: Chair Secretary<br />
Office: 223 VV<br />
Email: wendt@math<br />
Ask Joan about: office assignments and keys<br />
<br />
Barbara Erlenborn<br />
Position: Dept Administrator<br />
Office: 218 VV<br />
Email: erlenborn@math<br />
Ask Barb about: admin stuff<br />
<br />
== Current and Former Graduate Students Interested in Meeting YOU ==<br />
You can find a complete list of current graduate students [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/psdbgrad.html here], and pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/grad.html here]. Email addresses that end with @ are intended to finish with @math.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
Hans Chaumont<br />
Email: chaumont@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~chaumont Website:]<br />
Grad-Age: Started 2012<br />
Area of interest: Undecided<br />
Ask Hans about: Pretty much anything, but especially about tea or the math weightlifting team.<br />
<br />
Laura Cladek<br />
Email: cladek@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~cladek Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2011<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Laura about: Anything ... Especially analysis or on campus housing.<br />
<br />
Nathan Collins<br />
Email: nathan.collins@gmail.com<br />
[http://cs.pdx.edu/~ntc2 Website]<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2008<br />
Area of interest: Computer Science and Logic.<br />
Ask Nathan about: Pittsburgh, bicycles, and being inferior to Mason at TAing. He dislikes printers and bad margins.<br />
<br />
David Dynerman<br />
Email: dynerman@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~dynerman Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask David about: programming video games, trying to do Hartshorne problems, <br />
going to the gym, Mushfeq Khan, Andrew Bridy<br />
<br />
Thomas Hangelbroek<br />
Email: hangelbr@math.hawaii.edu<br />
[http://math.hawaii.edu/people/hangelbr/ Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2007<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Thomas about: Anything Madison. Thomas is an expert in all things Madison.<br />
<br />
Sara Jensen<br />
Email: jensen@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jensen Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask Sara about: Teaching, topology & algebra quals, knitting group, going to the gym <br />
<br />
(Evan) Alec Johnson<br />
Email: ejohnson@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson Website]<br />
Grad-age: Ph.D., 2012<br />
Area of interest: Applied Math and Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask Alec about: teaching, advanced calculus, gardening, and Geneva Campus Church.<br />
<br />
Christine Lien<br />
Email: lien@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lien Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2005<br />
Area of interest: Complex Geometry<br />
Ask Christine about: anything, including bridge/card games, organizing women's events, <br />
the Association of Asian American Graduate students, and the Graduate Student Topology Seminar.<br />
<br />
Hao Lin<br />
Email: lin@<br />
[http://genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=156703 Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Hao about: sports and anything about China.<br />
<br />
Jonathon Mason<br />
Email: jonathan.f.mason@gmail.com<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2010<br />
Ask Mason about: Wisconsin hiking, the local film scene and being "way better than Nathan Collins" at TAing.<br />
<br />
Jason Murcko<br />
Email: murcko@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~murcko Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2006<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Jason about: the TAA and the local film and music scenes.<br />
<br />
Mike Schroeder<br />
Email: schroede@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~schroede UW Website]. [http://science.marshall.edu/schroederm/ Marshall Website].<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Combinatorics<br />
Ask Mike about: softball, bowling, sailing, racquet ball, and the Florida Gators.<br />
<br />
David Seal<br />
Email: seal@math.msu.edu<br />
[http://www.math.msu.edu/~seal Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2012.<br />
Area of interest: Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask David about: movies, biking, hiking and board games.<br />
<br />
Beth Skubak<br />
Email: skubak@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~skubak Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2009<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Beth about: anything, including this wiki<br />
<br />
Mike Woodbury<br />
[http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woodbury/ Website]<br />
Email: woodbury@math.columbia.edu<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011.<br />
Area of interest: Number Theory<br />
Ask Mike about: anything, including number theory, road biking, UW basketball tix.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Guide&diff=5378Graduate Student Guide2013-06-10T15:40:13Z<p>Johnsonm: /* MadTown food */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Exams.png|400px|right | Grading Exams in the Lounge]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
= Food =<br />
<br />
There are many ethnic and interesting restaurants in Madison – Indonesian, African, Italian, Himalayan, Laotian, Peruvian, Mexican, Bakeries, Brew Pubs, Coffee Joints, you name it -- and everyone has their favorites.<br />
<br />
The biggest resource for finding food (and entertainment!) in Madison is probably the [http://www.thedailypage.com/eats/ Daily Page] (the online version of our local paper, the Isthmus), where you can search local restaurants by name, locality, and cuisine. There, they have reviews, hours, contact info, pricing, etc. Be sure to peruse their [http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Restaurants Madison's Favorites] section for some quick tips! Of course [http://www.yelp.com/ yelp] is always useful as well. At one point a couple spent a few years trying to sample every restaurant in Madison and blogged about their journey on the [http://www.madisonatoz.com/ Madison A to Z].<br />
<br />
Here are some general food facts:<br />
<br />
== Campus Food ==<br />
*Food Carts: Open for lunch in Library Mall at the foot of Bascom Hill near Lake & State Street. Very good and very cheap, and out as long as it's not too cold.<br />
<br />
*Badger Market at Ingraham Hall: Very close to Van Vleck, and has acceptable coffee (bring your own cup to save money!) and decent snacks. Try the Badger Bundle lunch special: sandwich, drink, and a side for $1 off your total. Halfway down the hill is the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/crossroadscafe.htm Crossroads Cafe] which has much better coffee and is open later.<br />
<br />
*Memorial Union: The Rathskeller has food and next door is Lakeside cafe with much better food. Summer afternoons on the terrace is an excellent place to hang out in the sunshine with a beer and brat.<br />
<br />
*Union South: Features a pizza place, a pan-Asian restaurant, a sandwich shop, a sports bar (burgers and sandwiches) and an ice cream stand. <br />
<br />
*State Street (past the food carts) is full of restaurants and Coffee shops – there are at least a half dozen coffee roasters in town, and each supplies a different set of shops. In particular for lunch, there are the popular chains, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Einstein Bros. Bagels, or Chipotle... or hit the more independent spots such as the Sunroom Cafe or Ian's Pizza.<br />
<br />
*Residence Hall Cafeterias are pretty decent here, but filled with undergraduates! Enter at your own risk!<br />
<br />
== MadTown food ==<br />
<br />
Traditional Madison foods are German varieties such as beer, cheese, and bratwurst. Twice a year Madison hosts [http://www.bratfest.com/ Bratfest], a record breaking event. <br />
UW has [http://babcockhalldairystore.wisc.edu/ Babcock Hall Ice Cream] on campus which creates delicious ice cream available in the Unions. The [http://www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com/ Chocolate Shoppe], [http://www.ilovemichaels.com/ Michael's Frozen Custard] and [http://www.culvers.com/ Culvers] have nice deserts.<br />
Micro breweries in town include the [http://www.greatdanepub.com/ Great Dane], [http://www.capital-brewery.com/ Captial Brewery] and [http://www.aleasylum.com/ Ale Asylum]. Nearby there is the famous [http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/ New Glarus Brewing Co] which only sells beer in Wisconsin. You can join a free beer tour or walk through the brewery on a self guided tourn.<br />
<br />
In early September (Labor Day weekend), check out [http://www.madisonfestivals.com/taste/ Taste of Madison] to see many restaurants all in one place at one time.<br />
<br />
Try a good ol' midwestern Fish Fry on Friday night – All you can eat fried fish generally served with a bran muffin, clam chowder, or coleslaw. Most Brew Pubs and some churches have them, and the [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/restaurant.php Orpheum] as well at the [http://www.avenuebarmadison.com/ Avenue Bar and Grill] both run Friday night Fish Fries.<br />
<br />
== Farm fresh food ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.madfarmmkt.org/ Dane County Farmer's Market] is amazing and HUGE. The big one is open every Saturday morning, and is located on the capitol square for most of the year. In addition to the ludicrous amount of fresh produce, there are also bakery stands, coffee, and fresh juice carts for quick breakfasts.<br />
<br />
There are also a few smaller [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farmers_markets.htm#danecounty markets] scattered around town, almost every day of the week:<br />
<br />
*Sunday: 8:30am to 12:30pm in front of Pierce's Northside Market<br />
*Monday: (none)<br />
*Tuesday: 4pm to 7pm on Ingersol at Williamson, 2pm to 6pm at 1602 S. Park St,<br />
*Wednesday: 8am to 2pm on MLKJr Blvd, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center,<br />
*Thursday: Thursdays, 2pm to 6pm at the Villager Mall on Park St., 2pm to 6pm in the McFarland Centre, 7:30am to 1:30pm in the Greenway Station shopping center,<br />
*Friday: (none)<br />
*Saturday: 6am to 2pm on the Capitol square, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center, 9am to 2pm at 1602 S. Park St, 7am to 1pm at Sheboygan Ave. and Segoe Rd., and 8:30am to 11am in Watertower Park.<br />
<br />
During the summer and fall, there are many [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/index.htm local farms] where you can [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farms/u_pick.htm pick] your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, or pumpkins when they are in season.<br />
<br />
If you're in town for the summer, you might consider signing up for a [http://www.macsac.org/ Community Supported Agriculture] food box. CSA is a way to support a local farm by paying an annual fee in the winter or spring which buys you a share of the season's harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick-up a weekly box of fresh foods which may include produce, fruits, cheeses, eggs, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. The typical CSA season in Wisconsin runs from the end of May through mid-October. You do have to pay the lump sum up-front, and some weeks you'll find yourself with five pounds of chard... but for most of the summer you'll have your produce needs met, and you can feel good about supporting small local farms. Better yet, most of the university's insurance providers offer [http://www.macsac.org/rebates.html rebates] for signing up for a CSA -- somewhere between $50-$300, depending on the plan and how many people you're sharing with (for example, if two people on GHC share a box, they might pay $450 for the box for a box lasting 25 weeks, but they they could each get $100 back, making that $5/week per person). If you're interested, remember to sign up early -- most programs are full by May.<br />
<br />
= Grocery Stores =<br />
<br />
== Generic Groceries ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.capcentrefoods.com/home.html Capitol Centre Foods]: Given their small size, they have an excellent selection of groceries. They tend to be a bit pricey. In addition, they deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.freshmadisonmarket.com/ Fresh Madison Market]: A reasonably large general grocery store, not too expensive. Has a large selection of "typical college items" (lots of frozen foods). Located on University, not too far from Van Vleck. They also deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.copps.com/ Copps]: Your standard grocery store with multiple locations.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=1020&lang=en-US Costco]: Your friendly big-box bulk store. They treat their employees incredibly well. Good buys on computers, 2 lbs of sockeye salmon or button down oxford cloth long sleeved shirts. You'll need a membership or go there with someone who has a membership. You can also get a free trial membership if you simply ask.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.walgreens.com/ Walgreens]: Pharmacy/Grocery store. There is a Walgreens on the corner of Lake & State Street near Van Vleck, on the Capitol Square, at East Campus Mall, and in University square.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Whole Foods]: Kinda spendy, but good bread, specialty stuff, and produce through the winter.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Woodman's]: two locations -- [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=725+S+Gammon+Rd+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=43.055217,-89.50304&spn=0.05381,0.171661 East] and [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3817+Milwaukee+St,+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.103615,-89.319363&spn=0.053768,0.171661&om=1 West]. If you have a car and the time, go here. Very large, very cheap, but time consuming. They don't take credit cards, so bring a debit card or check book. The produce is pretty poor, but they're huge and, again, cheap. Check out the liquor store for a large selection (you can buy all types of alcohol in grocery stores in Wisconsin... but not after 9pm).<br />
<br />
*[http://www.traderjoes.com/ Trader Joe's]: Located at 1810 Monroe St. They have good prices for select specialty food items such as wine, cheese and fancy snacks. Their basic foodstuffs tend to be a bit pricey.<br />
<br />
*The Jenifer Street Market located on 2038 Jenifer Street is a nice little grocery store if you happen to live in the area.<br />
<br />
== Co-ops ==<br />
Co-ops are a good source of local organic food. If you are a member they provide discounts, but you can also shop there at your own will.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.regentmarketcoop.org/ Regent Market Cooperative], 2136 Regent St. 233-4329.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.willystreet.coop/ Willy Street Co-op] The largest and most active co-op in the Madison area. They have been able to survive the decline in co-ops over the years. They offer a large selection of bulk foods and spices at an excellent price. For a quick bite, they have an excellent deli, salad bar, and in-store coffee shop. 1221 Williamson St. 251-6776. They recently opened a second store in Middleton located at 6825 University Ave. Both locations deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
== Specialty Foods ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.aldifoods.com/ Aldi Foods]: Very cheap! Little selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=keJ&q=asian+midway+foods&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,304616636444102595&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Asian Midway Market]: The go-to market for anything Thai, Chinese or South-East Asian, this centrally-located store comes highly recommended. In particular, they offer a great selection of specialized produce. 301 South Park Street; 255-5864<br />
<br />
*[http://www.brennansmarket.com/ Brennan's Market]: Great for Produce, Meats, Cheese, Micro brews and Wines. You won't find things like Flour and Saran Wrap here, but definitely worth the trip.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/ Farm Fresh Atlas]: Not a grocery store, but a good resource for where you can buy local foods and a list of farms in the areas.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madseafood.com/ The Seafood Center]: The name says it all. Great fresh fish and live lobsters.<br />
<br />
*[http://frabonisdeli.com/ Fraboni's]: An awesome Italian grocery store and deli. They have very good [http://frabonisdeli.com/oils olive oils], [http://frabonisdeli.com/pastas pastas], and make-your-own pizza fixings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3723579948/garden-asian-market-middleton Garden Asian Market]: A full service Asian food market specializing in fresh meat, produce, and seafood. Mostly Chinese-leaning, they do a good job of providing a wide variety of items within their niche. It may be far out, but it's worth the trip in its pleasantness and selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=india+house+grocery+store,+madison,+wi&fb=1&gl=us&hq=india+house+grocery+store,&hnear=Madison,+WI&cid=0,0,8495347478199843118&ll=43.050466,-89.503019&spn=0.007871,0.019183&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A India House]: Really well done Indian grocery store. Good place to buy Kari leaves.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=TMe&q=lee%27s+oriental&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,92533124768468793&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Lee's Oriental]: Next to Penzey's spices. 3240 University Ave; 231-1593<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=2Me&q=oriental+shop&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,13628497956998458364&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Oriental Shop]: They carry mostly dry-goods, and tend to lean toward stocking more Korean items. 1206 South Park Street; 255-0326<br />
<br />
= Housing =<br />
<br />
Haven't found a place yet? Already hate your apartment?<br />
<br />
* [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/ UW Off-Campus Housing Search]: Probably the best search site for students.<br />
<br />
* Again, [http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List] is a good resourse. Also a good place to look for roommates outside of the department.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/ University Apartments]: On campus graduate housing, particularly popular with married couples (especially with children). Singles are also welcome. Many of them are on the bus route #80, a free route which runs from the apartments through campus every ten minutes throughout the day.<br />
<br />
== Location, Location, Location ==<br />
<br />
If you would like to keep your commute down, there are many places near campus. Many graduate students prefer to live close enough to Van Vleck to be within walking distance, yet far enough away to stay away from partying undergraduate students.<br />
<br />
Many graduate students live in the Vilas neighborhood, which is located South of Regent Street and between Park and Monroe. East of the Capitol building, we also have the Willy St. neighborhood (between Williamson and Rutledge streets, between Paterson and Thornton) and the other side of the Isthmus, between Mifflin and Lake Mendota. The university offers on campus housing at Eagle Heights with regular buses. Many students also live near Sheboygan and University Avenues (not on this map), and there are regular buses that run up University Avenue that will drop you off right in front of Van Vleck. The large apartment complexes in that area include the Normandy, Chapel Hill, Carolina, Monticello, Hilldale Towers, Park Towers, and Sovereign Apartments which are cheaper to live in than spots on the square.<br />
<br />
Because there is no parking on campus, you will need to plan on living within walking distance of a bus route or campus itself. You will receive a free bus pass for the [http://www.mymetrobus.com/ Madison Metro] system, which is very reliable. Check out the “plan your trip” link to find bus routes near you.<br />
<br />
Here is an approximate map of many areas where you will be likely to find housing: <br />
[[Image:gradhousingmap.jpg|400px| center | Housing Map]]<br />
<br />
Basically, shoot for zones 2-6, the North parts of zones 7 and 8, or the far East part of zone 10 on [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/map_all.asp this map] (the map from the UW Off-Campus Housing Search).<br />
<br />
== Stuff your landlord might not tell you ==<br />
<br />
*Utilities:<br />
Lots of apartments have water, sewage, heat, and and sometimes electricity included in rent. For those which don't, be sure to find out what to expect through the [http://mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/ Madison Gas and Electric] web page. Just tell them the address of the place you're looking at, and they'll tell you what the highs, lows, and averages have been over the last year.<br />
<br />
*Property information:<br />
The [http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/property.html City Assessor] has all of the basic information about Madison properties on file, including how many units are on the property, how much square footage there is, if there's AC in the building, what school district it's in, who your alderperson would be, and what else is on the property (e.g. garages). They'll even tell you how much the property is worth, and how much your landlord is paying in property taxes. Sometimes the square footage isn't broken up--for example, maybe there are two units on the first floor, but they'll only tell you that there are 1,700 sq ft on that floor, not how it's split up between the two units. It can be a useful site for rounding out your knowledge of places you're considering renting.<br />
<br />
*Tenants rights:<br />
The [http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/ Tenant resource center] is a small non-profit membership organization which provides housing counseling, mediation services and office assistance. Their website includes tips for new renters, generic rental forms, and advice for what to do if your landlord just won't get back to you about repairs, returning deposits, etc.<br />
There is also the [http://studenttenantunion.rso.wisc.edu/ Student tenant union], which is specifically targeted to UW students.<br />
<br />
== Rental Companies ==<br />
Many properties in Madison are run by rental companies -- some large, some small -- some good, some not-so-good. Larger companies tend to have lower prices, and more people working toward maintaining rentals. However, they may have less of an investment in taking care of each individual property or screening their tenants. Some people feel better renting from small companies, or landlords with only one or two houses. You may get more individual attention and care. Individuals have more investment in protecting each property, and renting to good tenants, so the properties tend to be in more reliable condition. However, with fewer properties comes fewer resources and higher prices.<br />
<br />
Whatever choice you make, be sure to have a conversation with your potential landlords about their polices, especially if you aren't going to be able to see things in person. It may also be good to Google the company or person to see if other people have had something good or bad to say about them or their properties. In particular, [http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Madison.html ApartmentRatings.com] has a few of the apartment complexes around town listed.<br />
<br />
Here are some general impressions/very subjective opinions that some of us have gotten from/about a few of the larger local companies:<br />
<br />
*AB Holdings: In particular, they have a couple small apartment buildings on Vilas that are particularly ideal for two people. Quite a few people from the department have rented these units and have been pretty happy.<br />
<br />
*[http://apexrents.com/ Apex Property Management]: Great company. Well-maintained properties, with many of the more recently remodeled rentals being very nice. Their representatives are helpful and responsible, and their tenants seem to be generally satisfied.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.centralmadison.com/ The Christensen Company]: Not terribly up-to-date apartments, but worth taking a look at.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonproperty.com/ Madison Property Management]: Lots of choices, but notoriously junky properties. They tend to cater mostly to undergraduates, and their rentals show it. We wouldn't recommend renting from this company unless you visit first.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.mcbridecompanies.com/ The McBride Companies]: Nice properties, good management. Really good website if you turn the sound off.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.tallardapartments.com/ Tallard Apartments]: Nice properties with very friendly and responsive staff. Their rentals tend to go early in the season.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wimci.com/ Wisconsin Management Company]: Nice enough properties, but kind of flakey representation. Make sure to ask lots of questions.<br />
<br />
*The Wright Company (or Norris Ct. Apartments): Very nice older buildings, but kind of sketchy management. Nothing is going to be in stellar shape, but they do tend to rent more to graduates and professionals, so they aren't beat up either. If you do rent from them, don't expect them to be very responsive, and be sure to be especially careful about protecting your security deposit by taking photos and keeping a record of your move-in report.<br />
<br />
= Furniture =<br />
<br />
*[http://www.svdpmadison.org/ St. Vincent DePaul's]: Like Goodwill. Has cheap dressers, desks, chairs, and general household stuff. Will deliver for a small charge. This is also a great place to donate any furniture or other items that you no longer want – they will pick up the items from your apartment. There is also a Goodwill in town, but they won't have nearly the same volume of furniture.<br />
<br />
*[http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List]: a free online classifieds site. Great not only for furniture, but also pet resources and last minute apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
*Eagle Heights Apartment Bulletin Boards: Lots of cheap stuff from people graduating, many of whom are moving overseas. You can even find cars. You can try posting your own wanted posters on the boards. You can find these boards at the bus stops for the (free) bus 80 route.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/madisonfreecycle/ Freecycle]: A community "give stuff away for free" website with a Madison branch.<br />
<br />
*Hippie Christmas ("Move-Out Day"): For some reason or another, the evening of August 14th is when the bulk of leases near campus turn over. This is a fantastic day to pick up free furniture from the street. If you already have a rental van, why not help municipal waste by pickup up a bookshelf for them?<br />
<br />
*The Todd Drive Area: Just west of park street on the beltline. American Furniture for furniture and electronics, Home Concepts for cheap but nice looking furniture, and Steinhafel's for furniture and mattresses.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html SWAP]. The UW's surplus supply store.<br />
<br />
= International Student Resources =<br />
Here are a few links specifically for international students. There are international grocery stores listed in the [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Graduate_Student_Guide#Specialty_Foods groceries] section.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcssa.net/ Chinese Student & Scholar Association]: A connection to the university's Chinese community for incoming students. They offer rides from the airport, list general information about madison, and organize get-tegethers/Chinese celebrations. International Conversation & Coffee Hour: meet other international students and americans interested in other cultures. Every Friday, 12-2pm, Cooper Hearth Room 160, Union South.<br />
<br />
*[http://iss.wisc.edu/ International Student Services]: the UW's International Student Services<br />
<br />
*[http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MADindians/ MadIndians]: a Yahoo online group for students from India in Madison. Good place to search for an Indian roommate.<br />
<br />
*[http://mtsa.rso.wisc.edu/ Madison Association of Turkish Students]: Very helpful for incoming Turkish students. It includes information about how best to get to Madison from Turkey, information about housing, and how to reach other Turkish students in Madison.<br />
<br />
= Newspapers =<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/captimes/ The Capitol Times]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the afternoon. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more liberal.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.thedailypage.com/ The Isthmus]: Free independent Madison newspaper. Has a liberal voice and is full of entertainment, including family fun, outdoor attractions, and fine arts. Also puts out the Annual Manual - the yearly guide to all things Madison.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.theonion.com/ The Onion]: While hilarious, this paper is only really good if you're already in on the joke. We get free paper copies in Madison. There is a stack near the elevators in VV. The local edition has local entertainment listings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Wisconsin State Journal]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the mornings. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more conservative.<br />
<br />
= Religious Groups =<br />
*[http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/ Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/ Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church]: Near Sheboygan Ave. at 110 N Whitney Way. A huge church, but with opportunities to get involved and meet people. It has services in the sanctuary, with a mixture of traditional and semi-modern worship, and also "video cafe" services with more lively, modern worship. Very good teaching.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cpcmadison.com/ Christ Presbyterian Church]. Just east of James Madison Park on Gorham. Has a great choir and organist!<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fusmadison.org/ The First Unitarian Society of Madison]. "A liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue." Looking for something new? They're open to all types. Also, they are housed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.folmadison.org/ Fountain of Life]: 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. A multi-ethnic church with a lot of eclectic music styles, including a lot of Gospel music<br />
<br />
*[http://genevacc.org/ The Geneva Campus Church]: On Campus Reformed church. They describe themselves as "a university church for the whole family"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwhillel.org/ Hillel]: UW-Madison's on-campus center for everything Jewish: religious, cultural, political, traditional, and alternative. Located on Langdon Street, it serves both the school population and, to a far lesser extent, the entire city.<br />
<br />
*[http://islamiccentermadison.org/ Islamic Center of Madison]: Has a masjid inside. 21 N Orchard St, (608)251-9851<br />
<br />
*[http://ivgcf.rso.wisc.edu/ InterVarsity Grad Christian Fellowship]: It's a welcoming place for Christians and non-Christians alike. (You might even find your future husband/wife there) They also have a website with info about local churches. There is a new student picnic at the beginning of the fall semester.<br />
<br />
*Latter Day Saints: There are a number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wards in the Madison area. The Madison First Ward covers areas closest to campus and meets at 4505 Regent Street, two blocks south of Hilldale Mall, at 9am. The University Ward serves single adults and meets at 1711 University Avenue at 10 am. The Madison Third Ward serves areas close to campus and meets at 701 Bear Claw Way on Madison's far west side at 11 am. Visitors and the curious are always welcome.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lccmadison.com/ Lutheran Campus Center]: A fairly young, enthusiastic, and liberal-minded congragation, found right on campus.<br />
<br />
*[http://madcitychurch.org/ Mad City Church]: A non-denominational, casual christian fellowship. Services are held in the LaFollette High School located on Madison's east side - very near the corner of Pflaum Rd. and Monona Dr. Office at 2713 E. Washington Ave.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.muuyacm.org/ Madison UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry (MUUYACM)]. One of the largest and most active Unitarian Universalist young adult groups in the U.S., they are open to young adults (ages 18-35) of all denominations. In addition to worships, they organize social-justice-oriented activities, and are an active member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcatholic.org/ St. Paul's University Catholic Center]: On campus in Library Mall near Lake & State. Has a lively Catholic grad student group called Mustard Seed with Bible studies, Thursday night speakers, retreats, service projects, and large quantities of food and euchre.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.unityofmadison.org/ Unity of Madison]: (from their site) "Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community focused on Truth Seeking and Spiritual Growth through the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire, nuture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live Jesus' message that 'the kingdom of God is within you.'"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.isthmuszencommunity.org/ Zen Buddhism]: A local zen buddhist center is located next to Willy st co-op. New comers are especially welcome.<br />
<br />
= Arts and Entertainment =<br />
<br />
Madison is a medium sized city with a not so medium sized arts and entertainment scene. There are cultural events on campus<br />
and at the [http://www.overturcenter.com Overture Center]; sporting events; art, science, natural history, and history museums; parks, the<br />
[http://www.uwarboretum.org arboretum], and [http://www.olbrich.org botanical gardens]; a free [http://www.vilaszoo.org zoo]; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; a [http://www.madfarmmkt.com Farmer’s Market] on the<br />
Capital Square every Saturday morning from April-October; and lots of other things. The [http://www.thedailypage.com Isthmus], is the local free newspaper which posts many current events.<br />
The Isthmus can be found in many stores, in campus buildings, and on street corners.<br />
<br />
== Athletic Activities ==<br />
* [http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/ Rec Sports] runs the gyms on campus. There are three such on-campus gyms -- The SERF, the Nat, and the Shell, which are free with student ID. For $10/semester, you can attend any of their Group Fitness classes, which cover everything from aerobics and weights to yoga and dance. Also, both the SERF and Nat have indoor pools.<br />
<br />
*The University of Wisconsin has a long standing heritage of being proud of their [http://www.uwbadgers.com/ athletic events]. Men's basketball, football and ice-hockey receive the most attention and as a student, you can obtain season tickets for all of these events.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.mufa.org MUFA] is an ultimate frisbee league that has summer as well as spring and fall seasons. This is a really fun way to stay active and meet some new Madison friends! You don't need to form a team-- just see the link for info about how to join a team looking for more players. Note: the games are often played all over the city and burbs, and are not necessarily reachable by bus. You'll need a car, or a teammate with a car. Also see the link for info about local pick-up games.<br />
<br />
== Dancing ==<br />
<br />
*Ballroom: [http://www.uwmbda.org/ UWMBDA] is the big ballroom dance group here. They have dances with lessons every week on Friday or Saturday and a practice group every Thursday.<br />
<br />
*[http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/dances.htm Contra Dance]: Meetings every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
*International Folk club: meets biweekly Library Mall, Wed/Sun 7:30PM-late.<br />
<br />
*Swing: [http://www.uwswing.com/ Jumptown Swing] is UW's swing club. They host (mostly) weekly dances at Union South, and provide lessons for a nominal fee. See their site for scheduling and links to other swing orgonizations. Also, on Wednesdays, there's dancing at the [http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ Brink Lounge] from 8-11.<br />
<br />
*Salsa: Venues include [http://www.cardinalbar.com/ Cardinal Bar] on Thursdays, [http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/details.php?event=176610 Frida's] on Friday nights. Don't know how to Salsa? There are lessons before dances at Cardinal, and instruction is offered through the Union's minicourses.<br />
<br />
*Tango: the [http://www.madisontango.org/ Madison Tango Society] provides lessons and dances for Argentine Tango. Their site has a good list or other events in and around Madison.<br />
<br />
== Libraries ==<br />
In addition to the many [http://www.library.wisc.edu/ Libraries of UW], the [http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ Madison Public Library] is a great place for books, movies, and music.<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
The Daily Page has a [http://www.thedailypage.com/movies/listing.php listing] of movie times for most of the theaters around town (both big and small):<br />
<br />
*Eastgate, Point and AMC (Star) Cinema are the three larger movie theaters in town.<br />
<br />
*Market Square shows second runs at a good discount. <br />
<br />
*The [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/ Orpheum] is an old cinema within site of the capitol on State street. They tend to show less mainstream movies.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.sundancecinemas.com/madison.html Sundance 608] shows independent film as well as blockbuster movies. They have a rooftop cafe that's open during the summer months, 2 bars (you can take a drink into your movie), and a restaurant!<br />
<br />
For on-campus movies:<br />
*The Wisconsin Union Directorate runs on campus screening of films. Their film site can be found [http://www.union.wisc.edu/WUD/film.aspx here.]<br />
<br />
*The UW film department hosts free screenings of a wide array of films based on a given theme for that semester through their [http://cinema.wisc.edu/ cinematheque.] Their department has many contacts with other film institutes and are able show rare original 35mm films that you can't see anywhere else.<br />
<br />
*In late March/early April, go check out some of the many many films showing at the [http://www.wifilmfest.org/ Wisconsin Film Festival.] Sites all over town take part in hosting the showing of these films.<br />
<br />
Madison also has a number of independent video stores:<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ Four Star Video Heaven] has been voted as a Madison Favorite for a number of years. See their site to browse their collection online.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bongovideo.com/ Bongo Video] has a smaller, but quite tasty selection. Lots of personality, and good daily specials.<br />
<br />
== Music ==<br />
Whether you're looking to play music, or just go watch free or (in)expensive concerts, there are many options in Madison.<br />
<br />
*Our very own [http://music.wisc.edu/ Music Department] hosts many music events. Their website has a calendar listing current music events including faculty concerts and student recitals.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonsymphony.org/ The Madison Symphony Orchestra] (MSO) is the professional symphony based here in Madison. With your student ID, you can get student rush tickets for as little as $10 per person.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wcoconcerts.org/ The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra] is Madison's professional chamber orchestra. Each summer, their widely popular [http://www.wcoconcerts.org/new/cos/concertsonthesquare.php concerts on the square] draw many people from all over the place for a free outdoor concert.<br />
<br />
*[http://madisoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Madison Community Orchestra] (MCO) is an informal group run by Madison Area Technical College that meets once a week. There are four free concerts a year and no auditions to play with the group.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.middletoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Middleton Community Orchestra] is a second newly formed community orchestra run by community musicians. Their concerts are extremely affordable, and they may run auditions.<br />
<br />
== Outdoor Activites ==<br />
Madison is a very bicycle friendly town, and there are many parks either in town or within a short drive. Here are some suggestions about outdoor activities to engage in:<br />
<br />
*Take a nice long walk along one of the many paths around [http://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/imap/LakeshoreNaturePreserve.html Picnic Point]... bike the path from Memorial Union out to the tip, or bus/drive out to the base of picnic point and wander the foot trails in the area.<br />
<br />
*Head towards Monona Terrace on Lake Monona, and take one of the paths that wraps around the lake (great bike ride!).<br />
<br />
*You can also go walking and/or biking around the [http://uwarboretum.org/ Arboretum] south of campus and tour their gardens, or head to the free [http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Vilas Zoo]. Lake Wingra is essentially totally surrounded by wooded areas including Henry Vilas Park, the UW-arboretum and Edgewood college. You can rent canoes at Knickerbocker for fairly cheap and relax on Lake Wingra.<br />
<br />
*Community Gardens: There are a number of community gardens run by the [http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/ Community Action Coalition]. Nominally, you can sign up for a plot for a small fee, and learn how to garden if you don't already know, or go to town if you already do. The [http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/ Eagle Heights Community Garden] is open to both residents and non-residents alike. All of the gardens are fun to look at if you haven't ever seen one.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.olbrich.org/ The Olbrich Botanical Gardens] are located east of lake Monona. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including their award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden, or enjoy the year-round tropical Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds.. Outdoor gardens are open daily and free to the public, while entrance to the conservatory is $1 per person.<br />
<br />
*Catch a festival; Madison is home to a number of festivals -- big festivals, small festivals, arts festivals, music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals -- we've got all kinds.<br />
<br />
The Winter opens itself up to new activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing and other options. The hoofers club runs ice boats on the lake.<br />
<br />
*The city of Madison parks open up outdoor [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct2.html ice skating] at Tenney, Vilas, and Elver parks. No skates? No worries. They will rent skates to you there ($6.00 for the first hour, $2/hr after that).<br />
<br />
*There is also [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct4.html cross-country skiing] at a number of Dane county parks, with passes starting at $5/day. No skills? Check out lessons at the [http://www.madnorski.org/page/ Madison Nordic Ski Club] or, again, [http://sns.hoofers.org/ Hoofers] has lots to offer in that area.<br />
<br />
== Student Clubs ==<br />
The University of Wisconsin, being a rather large institution, has got so much stuff going on for all of us student-types. Here are some ways people around the department have been taking advantage:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop]: Located upstairs in the Memorial Union, they are "here to satisfy your creative urges in a variety of craft media." Their facilities include a darkroom, a woodshop, a ceramics studio, metal working tools, etc. Friday afternoons, they open their studios to all union members (that means you!) for free!<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hoofers.org/ Hoofers]: Student outdoor recreation club. The Outing and Sailing clubs in particular have lots of graduate students.<br />
<br />
* [http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]: Graduate Student Collaborative Organization<br />
<br />
* [http://cfli.wisc.edu/student_organizations.htm Student Organizations]: at UW Madison (this is a directory of all registered student organizations at the university; you can search by topic or name)<br />
<br />
== The Student Unions ==<br />
The Memorial Union is located on the lakefront, on Park and Langdon. Be sure to check out the Terrace while the weather is still good -- it's a great place to go to get out of the office, grab something to snack on, and study out in the sun. You'll find the Daily Scoop (yummy ice cream!) and Der Rathskeller (beer and deep-fried goodness). You'll also find all sorts of stuff to keep you busy, like the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop], the Union Theater, the Hoofers' headquarters, and a wide array of Mini Courses with which to expand your horizons.<br />
<br />
Also useful: the travel services center and STA Travel will get you good deals on trips (including bus tickets to O'Hare, Midway, and Milwaukee airports), and the theater's box office will get you good deals on shows (theater, music, etc) all around town. In addition, the Union has always got other special events going on to keep all of us entertained -- see their complete [http://www.union.wisc.edu/activities/ list of activities].<br />
<br />
The Union South was recently completely renovated and also has many activities available. They have a climbing wall, a bowling alley, pool tables, a beer garden, a wine tasting room, a ballroom, a movie theater and many other things.<br />
<br />
= Van Vleck Miscellany =<br />
Here's a bit more info about the happenings in and around the Math Dept.<br />
<br />
== Getting money ==<br />
*Paychecks: The first paycheck of the year arrives in October, though you may request an advance on about 30% of your first paycheck when you arrive. If you are not working over the summer, the last will come in June, so be sure to plan for the three month gap.<br />
<br />
*Fees: You will be charged for segregated fees in both semesters, and are not covered in your tuition. The amount depends on your credit load and status, but will be about $500 for most people and due about the time of your first paycheck. If you are on fellowship, this will be taken care of for you, and shouldn't appear on your bill.<br />
<br />
*TA union: The teaching assistants of Wisconsin are unionized. Even if you are not a TA, but are an employee of the department, you're still connected to them through advocacy and campus issues. For more information check out the [http://www.taa-madison.org/ TAA].<br />
<br />
== Getting stuff done ==<br />
See the Contacts section for a list of people who will help you get stuff done.<br />
<br />
If you want to reserve rooms in Van Vleck for review sessions or meetings you can fill out a green form with Sharon Paulson on the second floor. Sharon does the scheduling for about 4 or 5 rooms in the building, so you can also ask her about these rooms directly. If you need to reserve the 9th floor lounge, talk to Joan Wendt (also second floor).<br />
<br />
Each grad receives 200 photocopies and 250 black and white print outs a month for personal math use. If you are a TA, Sharon in the Copy Center on the second floor can photocopy materials for classes (which does not count toward your quota)– such as worksheets and quizzes. Just give her at least 24 hours notice. To check your printout quota, open a terminal logged into the math server, and type "pages". If you do go over your quota, you will simply get a (probably very small) bill at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
We get free office supplies on the 2nd floor – just ask the Receptionist for pens, folders, etc.<br />
<br />
You can pick up and send out your mail from the second floor. You might even want to have packages delivered to the department, to avoid missing them being delivered at home (UPS, for example, won't drop off to apartment complexes if you aren't there, so you'll have to drive out to Middleton to pick up your packages).<br />
<br />
It's never too early to start studying for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/graduate/quals.htm quals]... early and often, my friends. Early and Often.<br />
<br />
== Getting together ==<br />
Historically, some afternoons and Friday before colloquium, we have a cookie and coffee social hour on the 9th floor lounge. Keep your eyes open for announcements.<br />
<br />
Definitely check out some of the colloquia and seminars. The earlier you get involved the better. This is a great way to learn more about potential research areas, meet other people in the areas, and meet other mathematicians in other departments. There is a list posted on the 9th floor each week in addition to online.<br />
<br />
Once a semester, our group for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ women in mathematics] get together for an informal potluck. We also have been known to bring in women speakers funded by the [http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/ WiSELI] grant.<br />
<br />
= Miscellaneous Wisconsin Stuff =<br />
This section describes miscellaneous Wisconsin stuff that doesn't belong in any other section, such as, a [[Wisconsin Dictionary]] for those who aren't familiar with the Wisconsin vernacular.<br />
<br />
== Voting ==<br />
Frequently asked questions for Wisconsin voting can be found <br />
[http://wisconsin.gov/state/core/faq_wisconsin_voting_elections.html here]. <br />
As of the April election, Wisconsin has a law that allows for same day registration at the polls:<br />
<br />
''If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.''<br />
<br />
Out of state licenses work, and utility bills, bank statements, or pay checks with your name and address on them work for proof of residence.<br />
<br />
== Car Stuff ==<br />
Madison has a DMV out on the west side, just past Midvale, at 4802 Sheboygan Ave, and one on the east side out near the airport. <br />
<br />
*Licenses: As they say on their page for licensing new residents, if you're looking to put your permanent residence here and vote here and generally show up on the radar, you should apply for your [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/nonreside/index.htm WI license] within 60 days of establishing residency. Your first baseline license costs $28, and is valid for three years. Note: you will need to take with you, among other things, something like a rent agreement, or a utility bill, UW transcript, or bank statement actually mailed to your WI address (no e-bills). We'll note that math students have been known to wait longer than 60 days to officially apply for residency, but we recommend you don't wait until an out-of-state license expires to get a WI license.<br />
<br />
*Vehicle Registration: If you own a car and officially become a WI resident, you need to get WI plates. All the information you need is available [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/new/resident.htm here].<br />
<br />
*Parking: First, unless you have a motorcycle, '''don't''' plan to park on campus regularly. For parking near your residence, there are some options. Depending on the neighborhood, it's possible to rent a place that has parking included or available for an extra charge. Additionally, if you live in an area surrounded by 2-hr parking [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/documents/RP3allmap.pdf zones], you can usually buy a permit (for a little over $20 per year) allowing you to park on the street all day near your home. More information can be found on the City of Madison Parking Utility [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingUtility/index.cfm page]. Most importantly, "the vehicle for which you are requesting a permit must be owned by you, your child, your parents/step parents, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner, or be a leased or company vehicle which is assigned to you." <br />
<br />
BE AWARE! Winter parking gets all crazy in Madison (from November 15 - March 15). Most of town is on an alternate side parking schedule: cars should be parked on the even (resp. odd) house numbered side of the street from 1:00a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on even (resp. odd) numbered days. If you live on the isthmus in the Snow Emergency Zone, you will only need to do this when the weather gets really bad. You can sign up for alerts when this happens.<br />
<br />
If you leave your car in the wrong place -- with winter nonsense or for any other reason -- and it gets towed, you can call the Madison Police Department (266-4260) or Schmidt's Towing (257-0505) to find out what they've done with it.<br />
<br />
== Taxes ==<br />
Once you've lived here for an entire calendar year, be sure to look into the [http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/home.html Wisconsin Homestead Credit]... it's usually worth the time and effort for graduate students. Until then, you can look into [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html deducting moving costs] for relocating here on your federal taxes.<br />
<br />
A warning to students on fellowship: taxes will not be taken out of your paycheck, but you still have to pay them. You may want to consider filing [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199807,00.html quarterly].<br />
<br />
== Wisconsin benefit programs ==<br />
We don't exactly get piles of money for teaching. In fact, most people who are not on fellowship or receiving summer funding can qualify for some heating aid (up to $380/year), and electricity aid (up to $285/year). You can check your eligibility at [https://access.wisconsin.gov/ Access WI]. <br />
There may be some residency requirements, like the Homestead credit. You can find your annual salary in our [http://www.taa-madison.org/contract/index.html contract].<br />
<br />
== Residency ==<br />
While it's usually a good idea to become a WI resident, if, for some reason, you're looking to declare residency in WI for tuition purposes, the answer is usually "no." It seems that one has to be in Wisconsin for a full year before enrolling at the UW, and one has to prove that one did not move here primarily for educational purposes (according to the Wisconsin statutes, you have to provide "clear and convincing evidence"). More on that at the [http://www.registrar.wisc.edu/students/residence/index.php Office of the Registrar]'s site.<br />
<br />
= Contacts and Other Resources =<br />
*[http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/gradguide/index.html Guide to Graduate Student Life]: The Graduate Student Collaborative's ([http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]) guide to grad student life in Madison -- like this one, but different.<br />
<br />
* [[Teaching Assistant Guide]]: from real live Van Vleck TAs<br />
<br />
*[http://www.yelp.com/madison-wi Yelp.com]: Find reviews of local stuff- restaurants and things to do, but also dentists, auto shops, etc.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.vip.wisc.edu VIP], the Visitor & Information Programs office, located in the Red Gym, near [http://www.union.wisc.edu Memorial Union]. They are open M - F 8am - 5pm and Saturday 11am - 2pm. <br />
<br />
*[http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu Student Orientation Handbook] is a valuable resource for information including entertainment, recreational and varsity sports, student organizations (including those for cultural groups, international students, LGBT students, women, veterans, and people with disabilities), health services, jobs, transportation, safety, and housing. It’s also a great place for referrals to counseling services, including drug and alcohol and sexual assault issues. You can find all this information on the web, at http://www.wisc.edu/visitingCampus/ or call them at 263-2400. You can also email any questions you have to askbucky@uwmad.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lgbt.wisc.edu LGBT Campus Center]: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Center (265-3344; lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu) provides support, social, educational and research services to the campus community, and serves as UW-Madison's first stop for those looking for information about campus LGBT organizations. The Memorial Union office on the 2nd floor includes a library, a television and DVD player, plenty of comfortable seating, open computers, and has a staff of students and professionals that work to bring events, speakers, and programs to campus. The Center also publishes a weekly events e-letter and offers support and social groups.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ WIMAW] (Women in Math at Wisconsin.)<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Got Questions? Here are some folks who might just have the answers...<br />
<br />
== Counseling Services ==<br />
Counseling services are available through Counseling and [http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/ Consultation Services (C&CS)], located at 115 North Orchard Street, (265-5600, TTY number 265-3300). C&CS offers brief psychological treatment, personal counseling, and psychiatric services to UW-Madison students. Frequent services include help in overcoming depression, managing anxiety and other psychological issues, and in developing greater self-awareness, independence, and self-direction. They also provide personal problem counseling, couples relationship counseling, marriage and family counseling, cross-cultural counseling, and alcohol and drug assessment and referral. Specialized groups have included: graduate women support, women and self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, survivors of troubled families, rebuilding relationships. C&CS also provides crisis response at the above phone numbers. Services provided are covered by the student health fee (included in your student fees).<br />
<br />
== Administrative and Support Staff ==<br />
The administrative and support staff are the folk that keep our department functioning. Without them, we as mathematicians would be lost. :) Their pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/support_staff.html here] and their contact info can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/academic_staff.html here]. If one person doesn't know how to deal with a problem you might have, they certainly know who might be able to help you out.<br />
<br />
TBD<br />
Position: Timetable/Undergraduate<br />
Office: 207 VV<br />
Email: ????@math<br />
Ask them about: Registration (for you and your students), MyUW stuff, classroom assignments.<br />
<br />
David Camacho<br />
Position: Assoc Fac Assoc<br />
Office: 321 VV<br />
Email: camacho@math<br />
Ask David about: the Math Tutorial Program (if a student needs extra attention)<br />
<br />
Mark Castillo<br />
Position: Grants/Proposals<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: castillo @math<br />
Ask Mark about: grant money, coffee club<br />
<br />
Chris Uhlir<br />
Position: Payroll/Benefits<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: grenie@math<br />
Ask Mike about: Payroll, hourly positions, taxes, tuition, healthcare, and benefits. <br />
<br />
Sara Nagreen<br />
Position: Sr IPC<br />
Office: 515 VV<br />
Email: nagreen@math<br />
Ask Sara about: all things computing.<br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson<br />
Position: Copy Center Manager/ Room Reservations<br />
Office: 220 VV<br />
Email: paulson@math<br />
Ask Sharon about: Room reservations (review sessions/exams/other), Copy Center stuff, private tutoring list.<br />
<br />
Mary Rice<br />
Position: Grad Prog. Admin<br />
Office: 203 VV<br />
Email: mrice@math<br />
Ask Mary about: Math dept records (teaching letters, transcripts, etc), how you go about graduating.<br />
<br />
Diane Rivard<br />
Position: Placement Advisor<br />
Office: 720 VV<br />
Email: rivard@math<br />
Ask Diane about: Placement questions (what class your student should be in, placement exam issues)<br />
<br />
Joan Wendt<br />
Position: Chair Secretary<br />
Office: 223 VV<br />
Email: wendt@math<br />
Ask Joan about: office assignments and keys<br />
<br />
Barbara Erlenborn<br />
Position: Dept Administrator<br />
Office: 218 VV<br />
Email: erlenborn@math<br />
Ask Barb about: admin stuff<br />
<br />
== Current and Former Graduate Students Interested in Meeting YOU ==<br />
You can find a complete list of current graduate students [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/psdbgrad.html here], and pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/grad.html here]. Email addresses that end with @ are intended to finish with @math.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
Hans Chaumont<br />
Email: chaumont@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~chaumont Website:]<br />
Grad-Age: Started 2012<br />
Area of interest: Undecided<br />
Ask Hans about: Pretty much anything, but especially about tea or the math weightlifting team.<br />
<br />
Laura Cladek<br />
Email: cladek@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~cladek Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2011<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Laura about: Anything ... Especially analysis or on campus housing.<br />
<br />
Nathan Collins<br />
Email: nathan.collins@gmail.com<br />
[http://cs.pdx.edu/~ntc2 Website]<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2008<br />
Area of interest: Computer Science and Logic.<br />
Ask Nathan about: Pittsburgh, bicycles, and being inferior to Mason at TAing. He dislikes printers and bad margins.<br />
<br />
David Dynerman<br />
Email: dynerman@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~dynerman Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask David about: programming video games, trying to do Hartshorne problems, <br />
going to the gym, Mushfeq Khan, Andrew Bridy<br />
<br />
Thomas Hangelbroek<br />
Email: hangelbr@math.hawaii.edu<br />
[http://math.hawaii.edu/people/hangelbr/ Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2007<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Thomas about: Anything Madison. Thomas is an expert in all things Madison.<br />
<br />
Sara Jensen<br />
Email: jensen@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jensen Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask Sara about: Teaching, topology & algebra quals, knitting group, going to the gym <br />
<br />
(Evan) Alec Johnson<br />
Email: ejohnson@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson Website]<br />
Grad-age: Ph.D., 2012<br />
Area of interest: Applied Math and Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask Alec about: teaching, advanced calculus, gardening, and Geneva Campus Church.<br />
<br />
Christine Lien<br />
Email: lien@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lien Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2005<br />
Area of interest: Complex Geometry<br />
Ask Christine about: anything, including bridge/card games, organizing women's events, <br />
the Association of Asian American Graduate students, and the Graduate Student Topology Seminar.<br />
<br />
Hao Lin<br />
Email: lin@<br />
[http://genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=156703 Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Hao about: sports and anything about China.<br />
<br />
Jonathon Mason<br />
Email: jonathan.f.mason@gmail.com<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2010<br />
Ask Mason about: Wisconsin hiking, the local film scene and being "way better than Nathan Collins" at TAing.<br />
<br />
Jason Murcko<br />
Email: murcko@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~murcko Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2006<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Jason about: the TAA and the local film and music scenes.<br />
<br />
Mike Schroeder<br />
Email: schroede@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~schroede UW Website]. [http://science.marshall.edu/schroederm/ Marshall Website].<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Combinatorics<br />
Ask Mike about: softball, bowling, sailing, racquet ball, and the Florida Gators.<br />
<br />
David Seal<br />
Email: seal@math.msu.edu<br />
[http://www.math.msu.edu/~seal Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2012.<br />
Area of interest: Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask David about: movies, biking, hiking and board games.<br />
<br />
Beth Skubak<br />
Email: skubak@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~skubak Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2009<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Beth about: anything, including this wiki<br />
<br />
Mike Woodbury<br />
[http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woodbury/ Website]<br />
Email: woodbury@math.columbia.edu<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011.<br />
Area of interest: Number Theory<br />
Ask Mike about: anything, including number theory, road biking, UW basketball tix.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Guide&diff=5377Graduate Student Guide2013-06-10T15:38:55Z<p>Johnsonm: /* MadTown food */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Exams.png|400px|right | Grading Exams in the Lounge]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
= Food =<br />
<br />
There are many ethnic and interesting restaurants in Madison – Indonesian, African, Italian, Himalayan, Laotian, Peruvian, Mexican, Bakeries, Brew Pubs, Coffee Joints, you name it -- and everyone has their favorites.<br />
<br />
The biggest resource for finding food (and entertainment!) in Madison is probably the [http://www.thedailypage.com/eats/ Daily Page] (the online version of our local paper, the Isthmus), where you can search local restaurants by name, locality, and cuisine. There, they have reviews, hours, contact info, pricing, etc. Be sure to peruse their [http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Restaurants Madison's Favorites] section for some quick tips! Of course [http://www.yelp.com/ yelp] is always useful as well. At one point a couple spent a few years trying to sample every restaurant in Madison and blogged about their journey on the [http://www.madisonatoz.com/ Madison A to Z].<br />
<br />
Here are some general food facts:<br />
<br />
== Campus Food ==<br />
*Food Carts: Open for lunch in Library Mall at the foot of Bascom Hill near Lake & State Street. Very good and very cheap, and out as long as it's not too cold.<br />
<br />
*Badger Market at Ingraham Hall: Very close to Van Vleck, and has acceptable coffee (bring your own cup to save money!) and decent snacks. Try the Badger Bundle lunch special: sandwich, drink, and a side for $1 off your total. Halfway down the hill is the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/crossroadscafe.htm Crossroads Cafe] which has much better coffee and is open later.<br />
<br />
*Memorial Union: The Rathskeller has food and next door is Lakeside cafe with much better food. Summer afternoons on the terrace is an excellent place to hang out in the sunshine with a beer and brat.<br />
<br />
*Union South: Features a pizza place, a pan-Asian restaurant, a sandwich shop, a sports bar (burgers and sandwiches) and an ice cream stand. <br />
<br />
*State Street (past the food carts) is full of restaurants and Coffee shops – there are at least a half dozen coffee roasters in town, and each supplies a different set of shops. In particular for lunch, there are the popular chains, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Einstein Bros. Bagels, or Chipotle... or hit the more independent spots such as the Sunroom Cafe or Ian's Pizza.<br />
<br />
*Residence Hall Cafeterias are pretty decent here, but filled with undergraduates! Enter at your own risk!<br />
<br />
== MadTown food ==<br />
<br />
Traditional Madison foods are German varieties such as beer, cheese, and bratwurst. Twice a year Madison hosts [http://www.bratfest.com/ Bratfest], a record breaking event. <br />
UW has [http://babcockhalldairystore.wisc.edu/ Babcock Hall Ice Cream] on campus which creates delicious ice cream available in the Unions. The [http://www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com/ Chocolate Shoppe], [http://www.ilovemichaels.com/ Michael's Frozen Custard] and Culvers have nice deserts.<br />
Micro breweries in town include the [http://www.greatdanepub.com/ Great Dane], [http://www.capital-brewery.com/ Captial Brewery] and [http://www.aleasylum.com/ Ale Asylum]. Nearby there is the famous [http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/ New Glarus Brewing Co] which only sells beer in Wisconsin. You can join a free beer tour or walk through the brewery on a self guided tourn.<br />
<br />
In early September (Labor Day weekend), check out [http://www.madisonfestivals.com/taste/ Taste of Madison] to see many restaurants all in one place at one time.<br />
<br />
Try a good ol' midwestern Fish Fry on Friday night – All you can eat fried fish generally served with a bran muffin, clam chowder, or coleslaw. Most Brew Pubs and some churches have them, and the [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/restaurant.php Orpheum] as well at the [http://www.avenuebarmadison.com/ Avenue Bar and Grill] both run Friday night Fish Fries.<br />
<br />
== Farm fresh food ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.madfarmmkt.org/ Dane County Farmer's Market] is amazing and HUGE. The big one is open every Saturday morning, and is located on the capitol square for most of the year. In addition to the ludicrous amount of fresh produce, there are also bakery stands, coffee, and fresh juice carts for quick breakfasts.<br />
<br />
There are also a few smaller [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farmers_markets.htm#danecounty markets] scattered around town, almost every day of the week:<br />
<br />
*Sunday: 8:30am to 12:30pm in front of Pierce's Northside Market<br />
*Monday: (none)<br />
*Tuesday: 4pm to 7pm on Ingersol at Williamson, 2pm to 6pm at 1602 S. Park St,<br />
*Wednesday: 8am to 2pm on MLKJr Blvd, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center,<br />
*Thursday: Thursdays, 2pm to 6pm at the Villager Mall on Park St., 2pm to 6pm in the McFarland Centre, 7:30am to 1:30pm in the Greenway Station shopping center,<br />
*Friday: (none)<br />
*Saturday: 6am to 2pm on the Capitol square, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center, 9am to 2pm at 1602 S. Park St, 7am to 1pm at Sheboygan Ave. and Segoe Rd., and 8:30am to 11am in Watertower Park.<br />
<br />
During the summer and fall, there are many [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/index.htm local farms] where you can [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farms/u_pick.htm pick] your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, or pumpkins when they are in season.<br />
<br />
If you're in town for the summer, you might consider signing up for a [http://www.macsac.org/ Community Supported Agriculture] food box. CSA is a way to support a local farm by paying an annual fee in the winter or spring which buys you a share of the season's harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick-up a weekly box of fresh foods which may include produce, fruits, cheeses, eggs, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. The typical CSA season in Wisconsin runs from the end of May through mid-October. You do have to pay the lump sum up-front, and some weeks you'll find yourself with five pounds of chard... but for most of the summer you'll have your produce needs met, and you can feel good about supporting small local farms. Better yet, most of the university's insurance providers offer [http://www.macsac.org/rebates.html rebates] for signing up for a CSA -- somewhere between $50-$300, depending on the plan and how many people you're sharing with (for example, if two people on GHC share a box, they might pay $450 for the box for a box lasting 25 weeks, but they they could each get $100 back, making that $5/week per person). If you're interested, remember to sign up early -- most programs are full by May.<br />
<br />
= Grocery Stores =<br />
<br />
== Generic Groceries ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.capcentrefoods.com/home.html Capitol Centre Foods]: Given their small size, they have an excellent selection of groceries. They tend to be a bit pricey. In addition, they deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.freshmadisonmarket.com/ Fresh Madison Market]: A reasonably large general grocery store, not too expensive. Has a large selection of "typical college items" (lots of frozen foods). Located on University, not too far from Van Vleck. They also deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.copps.com/ Copps]: Your standard grocery store with multiple locations.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=1020&lang=en-US Costco]: Your friendly big-box bulk store. They treat their employees incredibly well. Good buys on computers, 2 lbs of sockeye salmon or button down oxford cloth long sleeved shirts. You'll need a membership or go there with someone who has a membership. You can also get a free trial membership if you simply ask.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.walgreens.com/ Walgreens]: Pharmacy/Grocery store. There is a Walgreens on the corner of Lake & State Street near Van Vleck, on the Capitol Square, at East Campus Mall, and in University square.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Whole Foods]: Kinda spendy, but good bread, specialty stuff, and produce through the winter.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Woodman's]: two locations -- [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=725+S+Gammon+Rd+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=43.055217,-89.50304&spn=0.05381,0.171661 East] and [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3817+Milwaukee+St,+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.103615,-89.319363&spn=0.053768,0.171661&om=1 West]. If you have a car and the time, go here. Very large, very cheap, but time consuming. They don't take credit cards, so bring a debit card or check book. The produce is pretty poor, but they're huge and, again, cheap. Check out the liquor store for a large selection (you can buy all types of alcohol in grocery stores in Wisconsin... but not after 9pm).<br />
<br />
*[http://www.traderjoes.com/ Trader Joe's]: Located at 1810 Monroe St. They have good prices for select specialty food items such as wine, cheese and fancy snacks. Their basic foodstuffs tend to be a bit pricey.<br />
<br />
*The Jenifer Street Market located on 2038 Jenifer Street is a nice little grocery store if you happen to live in the area.<br />
<br />
== Co-ops ==<br />
Co-ops are a good source of local organic food. If you are a member they provide discounts, but you can also shop there at your own will.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.regentmarketcoop.org/ Regent Market Cooperative], 2136 Regent St. 233-4329.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.willystreet.coop/ Willy Street Co-op] The largest and most active co-op in the Madison area. They have been able to survive the decline in co-ops over the years. They offer a large selection of bulk foods and spices at an excellent price. For a quick bite, they have an excellent deli, salad bar, and in-store coffee shop. 1221 Williamson St. 251-6776. They recently opened a second store in Middleton located at 6825 University Ave. Both locations deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
== Specialty Foods ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.aldifoods.com/ Aldi Foods]: Very cheap! Little selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=keJ&q=asian+midway+foods&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,304616636444102595&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Asian Midway Market]: The go-to market for anything Thai, Chinese or South-East Asian, this centrally-located store comes highly recommended. In particular, they offer a great selection of specialized produce. 301 South Park Street; 255-5864<br />
<br />
*[http://www.brennansmarket.com/ Brennan's Market]: Great for Produce, Meats, Cheese, Micro brews and Wines. You won't find things like Flour and Saran Wrap here, but definitely worth the trip.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/ Farm Fresh Atlas]: Not a grocery store, but a good resource for where you can buy local foods and a list of farms in the areas.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madseafood.com/ The Seafood Center]: The name says it all. Great fresh fish and live lobsters.<br />
<br />
*[http://frabonisdeli.com/ Fraboni's]: An awesome Italian grocery store and deli. They have very good [http://frabonisdeli.com/oils olive oils], [http://frabonisdeli.com/pastas pastas], and make-your-own pizza fixings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3723579948/garden-asian-market-middleton Garden Asian Market]: A full service Asian food market specializing in fresh meat, produce, and seafood. Mostly Chinese-leaning, they do a good job of providing a wide variety of items within their niche. It may be far out, but it's worth the trip in its pleasantness and selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=india+house+grocery+store,+madison,+wi&fb=1&gl=us&hq=india+house+grocery+store,&hnear=Madison,+WI&cid=0,0,8495347478199843118&ll=43.050466,-89.503019&spn=0.007871,0.019183&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A India House]: Really well done Indian grocery store. Good place to buy Kari leaves.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=TMe&q=lee%27s+oriental&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,92533124768468793&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Lee's Oriental]: Next to Penzey's spices. 3240 University Ave; 231-1593<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=2Me&q=oriental+shop&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,13628497956998458364&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Oriental Shop]: They carry mostly dry-goods, and tend to lean toward stocking more Korean items. 1206 South Park Street; 255-0326<br />
<br />
= Housing =<br />
<br />
Haven't found a place yet? Already hate your apartment?<br />
<br />
* [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/ UW Off-Campus Housing Search]: Probably the best search site for students.<br />
<br />
* Again, [http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List] is a good resourse. Also a good place to look for roommates outside of the department.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/ University Apartments]: On campus graduate housing, particularly popular with married couples (especially with children). Singles are also welcome. Many of them are on the bus route #80, a free route which runs from the apartments through campus every ten minutes throughout the day.<br />
<br />
== Location, Location, Location ==<br />
<br />
If you would like to keep your commute down, there are many places near campus. Many graduate students prefer to live close enough to Van Vleck to be within walking distance, yet far enough away to stay away from partying undergraduate students.<br />
<br />
Many graduate students live in the Vilas neighborhood, which is located South of Regent Street and between Park and Monroe. East of the Capitol building, we also have the Willy St. neighborhood (between Williamson and Rutledge streets, between Paterson and Thornton) and the other side of the Isthmus, between Mifflin and Lake Mendota. The university offers on campus housing at Eagle Heights with regular buses. Many students also live near Sheboygan and University Avenues (not on this map), and there are regular buses that run up University Avenue that will drop you off right in front of Van Vleck. The large apartment complexes in that area include the Normandy, Chapel Hill, Carolina, Monticello, Hilldale Towers, Park Towers, and Sovereign Apartments which are cheaper to live in than spots on the square.<br />
<br />
Because there is no parking on campus, you will need to plan on living within walking distance of a bus route or campus itself. You will receive a free bus pass for the [http://www.mymetrobus.com/ Madison Metro] system, which is very reliable. Check out the “plan your trip” link to find bus routes near you.<br />
<br />
Here is an approximate map of many areas where you will be likely to find housing: <br />
[[Image:gradhousingmap.jpg|400px| center | Housing Map]]<br />
<br />
Basically, shoot for zones 2-6, the North parts of zones 7 and 8, or the far East part of zone 10 on [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/map_all.asp this map] (the map from the UW Off-Campus Housing Search).<br />
<br />
== Stuff your landlord might not tell you ==<br />
<br />
*Utilities:<br />
Lots of apartments have water, sewage, heat, and and sometimes electricity included in rent. For those which don't, be sure to find out what to expect through the [http://mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/ Madison Gas and Electric] web page. Just tell them the address of the place you're looking at, and they'll tell you what the highs, lows, and averages have been over the last year.<br />
<br />
*Property information:<br />
The [http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/property.html City Assessor] has all of the basic information about Madison properties on file, including how many units are on the property, how much square footage there is, if there's AC in the building, what school district it's in, who your alderperson would be, and what else is on the property (e.g. garages). They'll even tell you how much the property is worth, and how much your landlord is paying in property taxes. Sometimes the square footage isn't broken up--for example, maybe there are two units on the first floor, but they'll only tell you that there are 1,700 sq ft on that floor, not how it's split up between the two units. It can be a useful site for rounding out your knowledge of places you're considering renting.<br />
<br />
*Tenants rights:<br />
The [http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/ Tenant resource center] is a small non-profit membership organization which provides housing counseling, mediation services and office assistance. Their website includes tips for new renters, generic rental forms, and advice for what to do if your landlord just won't get back to you about repairs, returning deposits, etc.<br />
There is also the [http://studenttenantunion.rso.wisc.edu/ Student tenant union], which is specifically targeted to UW students.<br />
<br />
== Rental Companies ==<br />
Many properties in Madison are run by rental companies -- some large, some small -- some good, some not-so-good. Larger companies tend to have lower prices, and more people working toward maintaining rentals. However, they may have less of an investment in taking care of each individual property or screening their tenants. Some people feel better renting from small companies, or landlords with only one or two houses. You may get more individual attention and care. Individuals have more investment in protecting each property, and renting to good tenants, so the properties tend to be in more reliable condition. However, with fewer properties comes fewer resources and higher prices.<br />
<br />
Whatever choice you make, be sure to have a conversation with your potential landlords about their polices, especially if you aren't going to be able to see things in person. It may also be good to Google the company or person to see if other people have had something good or bad to say about them or their properties. In particular, [http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Madison.html ApartmentRatings.com] has a few of the apartment complexes around town listed.<br />
<br />
Here are some general impressions/very subjective opinions that some of us have gotten from/about a few of the larger local companies:<br />
<br />
*AB Holdings: In particular, they have a couple small apartment buildings on Vilas that are particularly ideal for two people. Quite a few people from the department have rented these units and have been pretty happy.<br />
<br />
*[http://apexrents.com/ Apex Property Management]: Great company. Well-maintained properties, with many of the more recently remodeled rentals being very nice. Their representatives are helpful and responsible, and their tenants seem to be generally satisfied.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.centralmadison.com/ The Christensen Company]: Not terribly up-to-date apartments, but worth taking a look at.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonproperty.com/ Madison Property Management]: Lots of choices, but notoriously junky properties. They tend to cater mostly to undergraduates, and their rentals show it. We wouldn't recommend renting from this company unless you visit first.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.mcbridecompanies.com/ The McBride Companies]: Nice properties, good management. Really good website if you turn the sound off.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.tallardapartments.com/ Tallard Apartments]: Nice properties with very friendly and responsive staff. Their rentals tend to go early in the season.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wimci.com/ Wisconsin Management Company]: Nice enough properties, but kind of flakey representation. Make sure to ask lots of questions.<br />
<br />
*The Wright Company (or Norris Ct. Apartments): Very nice older buildings, but kind of sketchy management. Nothing is going to be in stellar shape, but they do tend to rent more to graduates and professionals, so they aren't beat up either. If you do rent from them, don't expect them to be very responsive, and be sure to be especially careful about protecting your security deposit by taking photos and keeping a record of your move-in report.<br />
<br />
= Furniture =<br />
<br />
*[http://www.svdpmadison.org/ St. Vincent DePaul's]: Like Goodwill. Has cheap dressers, desks, chairs, and general household stuff. Will deliver for a small charge. This is also a great place to donate any furniture or other items that you no longer want – they will pick up the items from your apartment. There is also a Goodwill in town, but they won't have nearly the same volume of furniture.<br />
<br />
*[http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List]: a free online classifieds site. Great not only for furniture, but also pet resources and last minute apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
*Eagle Heights Apartment Bulletin Boards: Lots of cheap stuff from people graduating, many of whom are moving overseas. You can even find cars. You can try posting your own wanted posters on the boards. You can find these boards at the bus stops for the (free) bus 80 route.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/madisonfreecycle/ Freecycle]: A community "give stuff away for free" website with a Madison branch.<br />
<br />
*Hippie Christmas ("Move-Out Day"): For some reason or another, the evening of August 14th is when the bulk of leases near campus turn over. This is a fantastic day to pick up free furniture from the street. If you already have a rental van, why not help municipal waste by pickup up a bookshelf for them?<br />
<br />
*The Todd Drive Area: Just west of park street on the beltline. American Furniture for furniture and electronics, Home Concepts for cheap but nice looking furniture, and Steinhafel's for furniture and mattresses.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html SWAP]. The UW's surplus supply store.<br />
<br />
= International Student Resources =<br />
Here are a few links specifically for international students. There are international grocery stores listed in the [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Graduate_Student_Guide#Specialty_Foods groceries] section.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcssa.net/ Chinese Student & Scholar Association]: A connection to the university's Chinese community for incoming students. They offer rides from the airport, list general information about madison, and organize get-tegethers/Chinese celebrations. International Conversation & Coffee Hour: meet other international students and americans interested in other cultures. Every Friday, 12-2pm, Cooper Hearth Room 160, Union South.<br />
<br />
*[http://iss.wisc.edu/ International Student Services]: the UW's International Student Services<br />
<br />
*[http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MADindians/ MadIndians]: a Yahoo online group for students from India in Madison. Good place to search for an Indian roommate.<br />
<br />
*[http://mtsa.rso.wisc.edu/ Madison Association of Turkish Students]: Very helpful for incoming Turkish students. It includes information about how best to get to Madison from Turkey, information about housing, and how to reach other Turkish students in Madison.<br />
<br />
= Newspapers =<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/captimes/ The Capitol Times]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the afternoon. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more liberal.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.thedailypage.com/ The Isthmus]: Free independent Madison newspaper. Has a liberal voice and is full of entertainment, including family fun, outdoor attractions, and fine arts. Also puts out the Annual Manual - the yearly guide to all things Madison.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.theonion.com/ The Onion]: While hilarious, this paper is only really good if you're already in on the joke. We get free paper copies in Madison. There is a stack near the elevators in VV. The local edition has local entertainment listings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Wisconsin State Journal]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the mornings. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more conservative.<br />
<br />
= Religious Groups =<br />
*[http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/ Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/ Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church]: Near Sheboygan Ave. at 110 N Whitney Way. A huge church, but with opportunities to get involved and meet people. It has services in the sanctuary, with a mixture of traditional and semi-modern worship, and also "video cafe" services with more lively, modern worship. Very good teaching.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cpcmadison.com/ Christ Presbyterian Church]. Just east of James Madison Park on Gorham. Has a great choir and organist!<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fusmadison.org/ The First Unitarian Society of Madison]. "A liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue." Looking for something new? They're open to all types. Also, they are housed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.folmadison.org/ Fountain of Life]: 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. A multi-ethnic church with a lot of eclectic music styles, including a lot of Gospel music<br />
<br />
*[http://genevacc.org/ The Geneva Campus Church]: On Campus Reformed church. They describe themselves as "a university church for the whole family"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwhillel.org/ Hillel]: UW-Madison's on-campus center for everything Jewish: religious, cultural, political, traditional, and alternative. Located on Langdon Street, it serves both the school population and, to a far lesser extent, the entire city.<br />
<br />
*[http://islamiccentermadison.org/ Islamic Center of Madison]: Has a masjid inside. 21 N Orchard St, (608)251-9851<br />
<br />
*[http://ivgcf.rso.wisc.edu/ InterVarsity Grad Christian Fellowship]: It's a welcoming place for Christians and non-Christians alike. (You might even find your future husband/wife there) They also have a website with info about local churches. There is a new student picnic at the beginning of the fall semester.<br />
<br />
*Latter Day Saints: There are a number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wards in the Madison area. The Madison First Ward covers areas closest to campus and meets at 4505 Regent Street, two blocks south of Hilldale Mall, at 9am. The University Ward serves single adults and meets at 1711 University Avenue at 10 am. The Madison Third Ward serves areas close to campus and meets at 701 Bear Claw Way on Madison's far west side at 11 am. Visitors and the curious are always welcome.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lccmadison.com/ Lutheran Campus Center]: A fairly young, enthusiastic, and liberal-minded congragation, found right on campus.<br />
<br />
*[http://madcitychurch.org/ Mad City Church]: A non-denominational, casual christian fellowship. Services are held in the LaFollette High School located on Madison's east side - very near the corner of Pflaum Rd. and Monona Dr. Office at 2713 E. Washington Ave.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.muuyacm.org/ Madison UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry (MUUYACM)]. One of the largest and most active Unitarian Universalist young adult groups in the U.S., they are open to young adults (ages 18-35) of all denominations. In addition to worships, they organize social-justice-oriented activities, and are an active member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcatholic.org/ St. Paul's University Catholic Center]: On campus in Library Mall near Lake & State. Has a lively Catholic grad student group called Mustard Seed with Bible studies, Thursday night speakers, retreats, service projects, and large quantities of food and euchre.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.unityofmadison.org/ Unity of Madison]: (from their site) "Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community focused on Truth Seeking and Spiritual Growth through the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire, nuture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live Jesus' message that 'the kingdom of God is within you.'"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.isthmuszencommunity.org/ Zen Buddhism]: A local zen buddhist center is located next to Willy st co-op. New comers are especially welcome.<br />
<br />
= Arts and Entertainment =<br />
<br />
Madison is a medium sized city with a not so medium sized arts and entertainment scene. There are cultural events on campus<br />
and at the [http://www.overturcenter.com Overture Center]; sporting events; art, science, natural history, and history museums; parks, the<br />
[http://www.uwarboretum.org arboretum], and [http://www.olbrich.org botanical gardens]; a free [http://www.vilaszoo.org zoo]; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; a [http://www.madfarmmkt.com Farmer’s Market] on the<br />
Capital Square every Saturday morning from April-October; and lots of other things. The [http://www.thedailypage.com Isthmus], is the local free newspaper which posts many current events.<br />
The Isthmus can be found in many stores, in campus buildings, and on street corners.<br />
<br />
== Athletic Activities ==<br />
* [http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/ Rec Sports] runs the gyms on campus. There are three such on-campus gyms -- The SERF, the Nat, and the Shell, which are free with student ID. For $10/semester, you can attend any of their Group Fitness classes, which cover everything from aerobics and weights to yoga and dance. Also, both the SERF and Nat have indoor pools.<br />
<br />
*The University of Wisconsin has a long standing heritage of being proud of their [http://www.uwbadgers.com/ athletic events]. Men's basketball, football and ice-hockey receive the most attention and as a student, you can obtain season tickets for all of these events.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.mufa.org MUFA] is an ultimate frisbee league that has summer as well as spring and fall seasons. This is a really fun way to stay active and meet some new Madison friends! You don't need to form a team-- just see the link for info about how to join a team looking for more players. Note: the games are often played all over the city and burbs, and are not necessarily reachable by bus. You'll need a car, or a teammate with a car. Also see the link for info about local pick-up games.<br />
<br />
== Dancing ==<br />
<br />
*Ballroom: [http://www.uwmbda.org/ UWMBDA] is the big ballroom dance group here. They have dances with lessons every week on Friday or Saturday and a practice group every Thursday.<br />
<br />
*[http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/dances.htm Contra Dance]: Meetings every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
*International Folk club: meets biweekly Library Mall, Wed/Sun 7:30PM-late.<br />
<br />
*Swing: [http://www.uwswing.com/ Jumptown Swing] is UW's swing club. They host (mostly) weekly dances at Union South, and provide lessons for a nominal fee. See their site for scheduling and links to other swing orgonizations. Also, on Wednesdays, there's dancing at the [http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ Brink Lounge] from 8-11.<br />
<br />
*Salsa: Venues include [http://www.cardinalbar.com/ Cardinal Bar] on Thursdays, [http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/details.php?event=176610 Frida's] on Friday nights. Don't know how to Salsa? There are lessons before dances at Cardinal, and instruction is offered through the Union's minicourses.<br />
<br />
*Tango: the [http://www.madisontango.org/ Madison Tango Society] provides lessons and dances for Argentine Tango. Their site has a good list or other events in and around Madison.<br />
<br />
== Libraries ==<br />
In addition to the many [http://www.library.wisc.edu/ Libraries of UW], the [http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ Madison Public Library] is a great place for books, movies, and music.<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
The Daily Page has a [http://www.thedailypage.com/movies/listing.php listing] of movie times for most of the theaters around town (both big and small):<br />
<br />
*Eastgate, Point and AMC (Star) Cinema are the three larger movie theaters in town.<br />
<br />
*Market Square shows second runs at a good discount. <br />
<br />
*The [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/ Orpheum] is an old cinema within site of the capitol on State street. They tend to show less mainstream movies.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.sundancecinemas.com/madison.html Sundance 608] shows independent film as well as blockbuster movies. They have a rooftop cafe that's open during the summer months, 2 bars (you can take a drink into your movie), and a restaurant!<br />
<br />
For on-campus movies:<br />
*The Wisconsin Union Directorate runs on campus screening of films. Their film site can be found [http://www.union.wisc.edu/WUD/film.aspx here.]<br />
<br />
*The UW film department hosts free screenings of a wide array of films based on a given theme for that semester through their [http://cinema.wisc.edu/ cinematheque.] Their department has many contacts with other film institutes and are able show rare original 35mm films that you can't see anywhere else.<br />
<br />
*In late March/early April, go check out some of the many many films showing at the [http://www.wifilmfest.org/ Wisconsin Film Festival.] Sites all over town take part in hosting the showing of these films.<br />
<br />
Madison also has a number of independent video stores:<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ Four Star Video Heaven] has been voted as a Madison Favorite for a number of years. See their site to browse their collection online.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bongovideo.com/ Bongo Video] has a smaller, but quite tasty selection. Lots of personality, and good daily specials.<br />
<br />
== Music ==<br />
Whether you're looking to play music, or just go watch free or (in)expensive concerts, there are many options in Madison.<br />
<br />
*Our very own [http://music.wisc.edu/ Music Department] hosts many music events. Their website has a calendar listing current music events including faculty concerts and student recitals.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonsymphony.org/ The Madison Symphony Orchestra] (MSO) is the professional symphony based here in Madison. With your student ID, you can get student rush tickets for as little as $10 per person.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wcoconcerts.org/ The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra] is Madison's professional chamber orchestra. Each summer, their widely popular [http://www.wcoconcerts.org/new/cos/concertsonthesquare.php concerts on the square] draw many people from all over the place for a free outdoor concert.<br />
<br />
*[http://madisoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Madison Community Orchestra] (MCO) is an informal group run by Madison Area Technical College that meets once a week. There are four free concerts a year and no auditions to play with the group.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.middletoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Middleton Community Orchestra] is a second newly formed community orchestra run by community musicians. Their concerts are extremely affordable, and they may run auditions.<br />
<br />
== Outdoor Activites ==<br />
Madison is a very bicycle friendly town, and there are many parks either in town or within a short drive. Here are some suggestions about outdoor activities to engage in:<br />
<br />
*Take a nice long walk along one of the many paths around [http://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/imap/LakeshoreNaturePreserve.html Picnic Point]... bike the path from Memorial Union out to the tip, or bus/drive out to the base of picnic point and wander the foot trails in the area.<br />
<br />
*Head towards Monona Terrace on Lake Monona, and take one of the paths that wraps around the lake (great bike ride!).<br />
<br />
*You can also go walking and/or biking around the [http://uwarboretum.org/ Arboretum] south of campus and tour their gardens, or head to the free [http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Vilas Zoo]. Lake Wingra is essentially totally surrounded by wooded areas including Henry Vilas Park, the UW-arboretum and Edgewood college. You can rent canoes at Knickerbocker for fairly cheap and relax on Lake Wingra.<br />
<br />
*Community Gardens: There are a number of community gardens run by the [http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/ Community Action Coalition]. Nominally, you can sign up for a plot for a small fee, and learn how to garden if you don't already know, or go to town if you already do. The [http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/ Eagle Heights Community Garden] is open to both residents and non-residents alike. All of the gardens are fun to look at if you haven't ever seen one.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.olbrich.org/ The Olbrich Botanical Gardens] are located east of lake Monona. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including their award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden, or enjoy the year-round tropical Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds.. Outdoor gardens are open daily and free to the public, while entrance to the conservatory is $1 per person.<br />
<br />
*Catch a festival; Madison is home to a number of festivals -- big festivals, small festivals, arts festivals, music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals -- we've got all kinds.<br />
<br />
The Winter opens itself up to new activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing and other options. The hoofers club runs ice boats on the lake.<br />
<br />
*The city of Madison parks open up outdoor [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct2.html ice skating] at Tenney, Vilas, and Elver parks. No skates? No worries. They will rent skates to you there ($6.00 for the first hour, $2/hr after that).<br />
<br />
*There is also [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct4.html cross-country skiing] at a number of Dane county parks, with passes starting at $5/day. No skills? Check out lessons at the [http://www.madnorski.org/page/ Madison Nordic Ski Club] or, again, [http://sns.hoofers.org/ Hoofers] has lots to offer in that area.<br />
<br />
== Student Clubs ==<br />
The University of Wisconsin, being a rather large institution, has got so much stuff going on for all of us student-types. Here are some ways people around the department have been taking advantage:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop]: Located upstairs in the Memorial Union, they are "here to satisfy your creative urges in a variety of craft media." Their facilities include a darkroom, a woodshop, a ceramics studio, metal working tools, etc. Friday afternoons, they open their studios to all union members (that means you!) for free!<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hoofers.org/ Hoofers]: Student outdoor recreation club. The Outing and Sailing clubs in particular have lots of graduate students.<br />
<br />
* [http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]: Graduate Student Collaborative Organization<br />
<br />
* [http://cfli.wisc.edu/student_organizations.htm Student Organizations]: at UW Madison (this is a directory of all registered student organizations at the university; you can search by topic or name)<br />
<br />
== The Student Unions ==<br />
The Memorial Union is located on the lakefront, on Park and Langdon. Be sure to check out the Terrace while the weather is still good -- it's a great place to go to get out of the office, grab something to snack on, and study out in the sun. You'll find the Daily Scoop (yummy ice cream!) and Der Rathskeller (beer and deep-fried goodness). You'll also find all sorts of stuff to keep you busy, like the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop], the Union Theater, the Hoofers' headquarters, and a wide array of Mini Courses with which to expand your horizons.<br />
<br />
Also useful: the travel services center and STA Travel will get you good deals on trips (including bus tickets to O'Hare, Midway, and Milwaukee airports), and the theater's box office will get you good deals on shows (theater, music, etc) all around town. In addition, the Union has always got other special events going on to keep all of us entertained -- see their complete [http://www.union.wisc.edu/activities/ list of activities].<br />
<br />
The Union South was recently completely renovated and also has many activities available. They have a climbing wall, a bowling alley, pool tables, a beer garden, a wine tasting room, a ballroom, a movie theater and many other things.<br />
<br />
= Van Vleck Miscellany =<br />
Here's a bit more info about the happenings in and around the Math Dept.<br />
<br />
== Getting money ==<br />
*Paychecks: The first paycheck of the year arrives in October, though you may request an advance on about 30% of your first paycheck when you arrive. If you are not working over the summer, the last will come in June, so be sure to plan for the three month gap.<br />
<br />
*Fees: You will be charged for segregated fees in both semesters, and are not covered in your tuition. The amount depends on your credit load and status, but will be about $500 for most people and due about the time of your first paycheck. If you are on fellowship, this will be taken care of for you, and shouldn't appear on your bill.<br />
<br />
*TA union: The teaching assistants of Wisconsin are unionized. Even if you are not a TA, but are an employee of the department, you're still connected to them through advocacy and campus issues. For more information check out the [http://www.taa-madison.org/ TAA].<br />
<br />
== Getting stuff done ==<br />
See the Contacts section for a list of people who will help you get stuff done.<br />
<br />
If you want to reserve rooms in Van Vleck for review sessions or meetings you can fill out a green form with Sharon Paulson on the second floor. Sharon does the scheduling for about 4 or 5 rooms in the building, so you can also ask her about these rooms directly. If you need to reserve the 9th floor lounge, talk to Joan Wendt (also second floor).<br />
<br />
Each grad receives 200 photocopies and 250 black and white print outs a month for personal math use. If you are a TA, Sharon in the Copy Center on the second floor can photocopy materials for classes (which does not count toward your quota)– such as worksheets and quizzes. Just give her at least 24 hours notice. To check your printout quota, open a terminal logged into the math server, and type "pages". If you do go over your quota, you will simply get a (probably very small) bill at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
We get free office supplies on the 2nd floor – just ask the Receptionist for pens, folders, etc.<br />
<br />
You can pick up and send out your mail from the second floor. You might even want to have packages delivered to the department, to avoid missing them being delivered at home (UPS, for example, won't drop off to apartment complexes if you aren't there, so you'll have to drive out to Middleton to pick up your packages).<br />
<br />
It's never too early to start studying for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/graduate/quals.htm quals]... early and often, my friends. Early and Often.<br />
<br />
== Getting together ==<br />
Historically, some afternoons and Friday before colloquium, we have a cookie and coffee social hour on the 9th floor lounge. Keep your eyes open for announcements.<br />
<br />
Definitely check out some of the colloquia and seminars. The earlier you get involved the better. This is a great way to learn more about potential research areas, meet other people in the areas, and meet other mathematicians in other departments. There is a list posted on the 9th floor each week in addition to online.<br />
<br />
Once a semester, our group for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ women in mathematics] get together for an informal potluck. We also have been known to bring in women speakers funded by the [http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/ WiSELI] grant.<br />
<br />
= Miscellaneous Wisconsin Stuff =<br />
This section describes miscellaneous Wisconsin stuff that doesn't belong in any other section, such as, a [[Wisconsin Dictionary]] for those who aren't familiar with the Wisconsin vernacular.<br />
<br />
== Voting ==<br />
Frequently asked questions for Wisconsin voting can be found <br />
[http://wisconsin.gov/state/core/faq_wisconsin_voting_elections.html here]. <br />
As of the April election, Wisconsin has a law that allows for same day registration at the polls:<br />
<br />
''If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.''<br />
<br />
Out of state licenses work, and utility bills, bank statements, or pay checks with your name and address on them work for proof of residence.<br />
<br />
== Car Stuff ==<br />
Madison has a DMV out on the west side, just past Midvale, at 4802 Sheboygan Ave, and one on the east side out near the airport. <br />
<br />
*Licenses: As they say on their page for licensing new residents, if you're looking to put your permanent residence here and vote here and generally show up on the radar, you should apply for your [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/nonreside/index.htm WI license] within 60 days of establishing residency. Your first baseline license costs $28, and is valid for three years. Note: you will need to take with you, among other things, something like a rent agreement, or a utility bill, UW transcript, or bank statement actually mailed to your WI address (no e-bills). We'll note that math students have been known to wait longer than 60 days to officially apply for residency, but we recommend you don't wait until an out-of-state license expires to get a WI license.<br />
<br />
*Vehicle Registration: If you own a car and officially become a WI resident, you need to get WI plates. All the information you need is available [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/new/resident.htm here].<br />
<br />
*Parking: First, unless you have a motorcycle, '''don't''' plan to park on campus regularly. For parking near your residence, there are some options. Depending on the neighborhood, it's possible to rent a place that has parking included or available for an extra charge. Additionally, if you live in an area surrounded by 2-hr parking [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/documents/RP3allmap.pdf zones], you can usually buy a permit (for a little over $20 per year) allowing you to park on the street all day near your home. More information can be found on the City of Madison Parking Utility [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingUtility/index.cfm page]. Most importantly, "the vehicle for which you are requesting a permit must be owned by you, your child, your parents/step parents, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner, or be a leased or company vehicle which is assigned to you." <br />
<br />
BE AWARE! Winter parking gets all crazy in Madison (from November 15 - March 15). Most of town is on an alternate side parking schedule: cars should be parked on the even (resp. odd) house numbered side of the street from 1:00a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on even (resp. odd) numbered days. If you live on the isthmus in the Snow Emergency Zone, you will only need to do this when the weather gets really bad. You can sign up for alerts when this happens.<br />
<br />
If you leave your car in the wrong place -- with winter nonsense or for any other reason -- and it gets towed, you can call the Madison Police Department (266-4260) or Schmidt's Towing (257-0505) to find out what they've done with it.<br />
<br />
== Taxes ==<br />
Once you've lived here for an entire calendar year, be sure to look into the [http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/home.html Wisconsin Homestead Credit]... it's usually worth the time and effort for graduate students. Until then, you can look into [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html deducting moving costs] for relocating here on your federal taxes.<br />
<br />
A warning to students on fellowship: taxes will not be taken out of your paycheck, but you still have to pay them. You may want to consider filing [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199807,00.html quarterly].<br />
<br />
== Wisconsin benefit programs ==<br />
We don't exactly get piles of money for teaching. In fact, most people who are not on fellowship or receiving summer funding can qualify for some heating aid (up to $380/year), and electricity aid (up to $285/year). You can check your eligibility at [https://access.wisconsin.gov/ Access WI]. <br />
There may be some residency requirements, like the Homestead credit. You can find your annual salary in our [http://www.taa-madison.org/contract/index.html contract].<br />
<br />
== Residency ==<br />
While it's usually a good idea to become a WI resident, if, for some reason, you're looking to declare residency in WI for tuition purposes, the answer is usually "no." It seems that one has to be in Wisconsin for a full year before enrolling at the UW, and one has to prove that one did not move here primarily for educational purposes (according to the Wisconsin statutes, you have to provide "clear and convincing evidence"). More on that at the [http://www.registrar.wisc.edu/students/residence/index.php Office of the Registrar]'s site.<br />
<br />
= Contacts and Other Resources =<br />
*[http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/gradguide/index.html Guide to Graduate Student Life]: The Graduate Student Collaborative's ([http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]) guide to grad student life in Madison -- like this one, but different.<br />
<br />
* [[Teaching Assistant Guide]]: from real live Van Vleck TAs<br />
<br />
*[http://www.yelp.com/madison-wi Yelp.com]: Find reviews of local stuff- restaurants and things to do, but also dentists, auto shops, etc.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.vip.wisc.edu VIP], the Visitor & Information Programs office, located in the Red Gym, near [http://www.union.wisc.edu Memorial Union]. They are open M - F 8am - 5pm and Saturday 11am - 2pm. <br />
<br />
*[http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu Student Orientation Handbook] is a valuable resource for information including entertainment, recreational and varsity sports, student organizations (including those for cultural groups, international students, LGBT students, women, veterans, and people with disabilities), health services, jobs, transportation, safety, and housing. It’s also a great place for referrals to counseling services, including drug and alcohol and sexual assault issues. You can find all this information on the web, at http://www.wisc.edu/visitingCampus/ or call them at 263-2400. You can also email any questions you have to askbucky@uwmad.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lgbt.wisc.edu LGBT Campus Center]: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Center (265-3344; lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu) provides support, social, educational and research services to the campus community, and serves as UW-Madison's first stop for those looking for information about campus LGBT organizations. The Memorial Union office on the 2nd floor includes a library, a television and DVD player, plenty of comfortable seating, open computers, and has a staff of students and professionals that work to bring events, speakers, and programs to campus. The Center also publishes a weekly events e-letter and offers support and social groups.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ WIMAW] (Women in Math at Wisconsin.)<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Got Questions? Here are some folks who might just have the answers...<br />
<br />
== Counseling Services ==<br />
Counseling services are available through Counseling and [http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/ Consultation Services (C&CS)], located at 115 North Orchard Street, (265-5600, TTY number 265-3300). C&CS offers brief psychological treatment, personal counseling, and psychiatric services to UW-Madison students. Frequent services include help in overcoming depression, managing anxiety and other psychological issues, and in developing greater self-awareness, independence, and self-direction. They also provide personal problem counseling, couples relationship counseling, marriage and family counseling, cross-cultural counseling, and alcohol and drug assessment and referral. Specialized groups have included: graduate women support, women and self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, survivors of troubled families, rebuilding relationships. C&CS also provides crisis response at the above phone numbers. Services provided are covered by the student health fee (included in your student fees).<br />
<br />
== Administrative and Support Staff ==<br />
The administrative and support staff are the folk that keep our department functioning. Without them, we as mathematicians would be lost. :) Their pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/support_staff.html here] and their contact info can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/academic_staff.html here]. If one person doesn't know how to deal with a problem you might have, they certainly know who might be able to help you out.<br />
<br />
TBD<br />
Position: Timetable/Undergraduate<br />
Office: 207 VV<br />
Email: ????@math<br />
Ask them about: Registration (for you and your students), MyUW stuff, classroom assignments.<br />
<br />
David Camacho<br />
Position: Assoc Fac Assoc<br />
Office: 321 VV<br />
Email: camacho@math<br />
Ask David about: the Math Tutorial Program (if a student needs extra attention)<br />
<br />
Mark Castillo<br />
Position: Grants/Proposals<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: castillo @math<br />
Ask Mark about: grant money, coffee club<br />
<br />
Chris Uhlir<br />
Position: Payroll/Benefits<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: grenie@math<br />
Ask Mike about: Payroll, hourly positions, taxes, tuition, healthcare, and benefits. <br />
<br />
Sara Nagreen<br />
Position: Sr IPC<br />
Office: 515 VV<br />
Email: nagreen@math<br />
Ask Sara about: all things computing.<br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson<br />
Position: Copy Center Manager/ Room Reservations<br />
Office: 220 VV<br />
Email: paulson@math<br />
Ask Sharon about: Room reservations (review sessions/exams/other), Copy Center stuff, private tutoring list.<br />
<br />
Mary Rice<br />
Position: Grad Prog. Admin<br />
Office: 203 VV<br />
Email: mrice@math<br />
Ask Mary about: Math dept records (teaching letters, transcripts, etc), how you go about graduating.<br />
<br />
Diane Rivard<br />
Position: Placement Advisor<br />
Office: 720 VV<br />
Email: rivard@math<br />
Ask Diane about: Placement questions (what class your student should be in, placement exam issues)<br />
<br />
Joan Wendt<br />
Position: Chair Secretary<br />
Office: 223 VV<br />
Email: wendt@math<br />
Ask Joan about: office assignments and keys<br />
<br />
Barbara Erlenborn<br />
Position: Dept Administrator<br />
Office: 218 VV<br />
Email: erlenborn@math<br />
Ask Barb about: admin stuff<br />
<br />
== Current and Former Graduate Students Interested in Meeting YOU ==<br />
You can find a complete list of current graduate students [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/psdbgrad.html here], and pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/grad.html here]. Email addresses that end with @ are intended to finish with @math.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
Hans Chaumont<br />
Email: chaumont@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~chaumont Website:]<br />
Grad-Age: Started 2012<br />
Area of interest: Undecided<br />
Ask Hans about: Pretty much anything, but especially about tea or the math weightlifting team.<br />
<br />
Laura Cladek<br />
Email: cladek@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~cladek Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2011<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Laura about: Anything ... Especially analysis or on campus housing.<br />
<br />
Nathan Collins<br />
Email: nathan.collins@gmail.com<br />
[http://cs.pdx.edu/~ntc2 Website]<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2008<br />
Area of interest: Computer Science and Logic.<br />
Ask Nathan about: Pittsburgh, bicycles, and being inferior to Mason at TAing. He dislikes printers and bad margins.<br />
<br />
David Dynerman<br />
Email: dynerman@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~dynerman Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask David about: programming video games, trying to do Hartshorne problems, <br />
going to the gym, Mushfeq Khan, Andrew Bridy<br />
<br />
Thomas Hangelbroek<br />
Email: hangelbr@math.hawaii.edu<br />
[http://math.hawaii.edu/people/hangelbr/ Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2007<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Thomas about: Anything Madison. Thomas is an expert in all things Madison.<br />
<br />
Sara Jensen<br />
Email: jensen@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jensen Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask Sara about: Teaching, topology & algebra quals, knitting group, going to the gym <br />
<br />
(Evan) Alec Johnson<br />
Email: ejohnson@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson Website]<br />
Grad-age: Ph.D., 2012<br />
Area of interest: Applied Math and Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask Alec about: teaching, advanced calculus, gardening, and Geneva Campus Church.<br />
<br />
Christine Lien<br />
Email: lien@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lien Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2005<br />
Area of interest: Complex Geometry<br />
Ask Christine about: anything, including bridge/card games, organizing women's events, <br />
the Association of Asian American Graduate students, and the Graduate Student Topology Seminar.<br />
<br />
Hao Lin<br />
Email: lin@<br />
[http://genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=156703 Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Hao about: sports and anything about China.<br />
<br />
Jonathon Mason<br />
Email: jonathan.f.mason@gmail.com<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2010<br />
Ask Mason about: Wisconsin hiking, the local film scene and being "way better than Nathan Collins" at TAing.<br />
<br />
Jason Murcko<br />
Email: murcko@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~murcko Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2006<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Jason about: the TAA and the local film and music scenes.<br />
<br />
Mike Schroeder<br />
Email: schroede@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~schroede UW Website]. [http://science.marshall.edu/schroederm/ Marshall Website].<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Combinatorics<br />
Ask Mike about: softball, bowling, sailing, racquet ball, and the Florida Gators.<br />
<br />
David Seal<br />
Email: seal@math.msu.edu<br />
[http://www.math.msu.edu/~seal Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2012.<br />
Area of interest: Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask David about: movies, biking, hiking and board games.<br />
<br />
Beth Skubak<br />
Email: skubak@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~skubak Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2009<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Beth about: anything, including this wiki<br />
<br />
Mike Woodbury<br />
[http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woodbury/ Website]<br />
Email: woodbury@math.columbia.edu<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011.<br />
Area of interest: Number Theory<br />
Ask Mike about: anything, including number theory, road biking, UW basketball tix.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Guide&diff=5374Graduate Student Guide2013-06-06T19:07:35Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Campus Food */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Exams.png|400px|right | Grading Exams in the Lounge]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
= Food =<br />
<br />
There are many ethnic and interesting restaurants in Madison – Indonesian, African, Italian, Himalayan, Laotian, Peruvian, Mexican, Bakeries, Brew Pubs, Coffee Joints, you name it -- and everyone has their favorites.<br />
<br />
The biggest resource for finding food (and entertainment!) in Madison is probably the [http://www.thedailypage.com/eats/ Daily Page] (the online version of our local paper, the Isthmus), where you can search local restaurants by name, locality, and cuisine. There, they have reviews, hours, contact info, pricing, etc. Be sure to peruse their [http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Restaurants Madison's Favorites] section for some quick tips! Of course [http://www.yelp.com/ yelp] is always useful as well. At one point a couple spent a few years trying to sample every restaurant in Madison and blogged about their journey on the [http://www.madisonatoz.com/ Madison A to Z].<br />
<br />
Here are some general food facts:<br />
<br />
== Campus Food ==<br />
*Food Carts: Open for lunch in Library Mall at the foot of Bascom Hill near Lake & State Street. Very good and very cheap, and out as long as it's not too cold.<br />
<br />
*Badger Market at Ingraham Hall: Very close to Van Vleck, and has acceptable coffee (bring your own cup to save money!) and decent snacks. Try the Badger Bundle lunch special: sandwich, drink, and a side for $1 off your total. Halfway down the hill is the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/crossroadscafe.htm Crossroads Cafe] which has much better coffee and is open later.<br />
<br />
*Memorial Union: The Rathskeller has food and next door is Lakeside cafe with much better food. Summer afternoons on the terrace is an excellent place to hang out in the sunshine with a beer and brat.<br />
<br />
*Union South: Features a pizza place, a pan-Asian restaurant, a sandwich shop, a sports bar (burgers and sandwiches) and an ice cream stand. <br />
<br />
*State Street (past the food carts) is full of restaurants and Coffee shops – there are at least a half dozen coffee roasters in town, and each supplies a different set of shops. In particular for lunch, there are the popular chains, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Einstein Bros. Bagels, or Chipotle... or hit the more independent spots such as the Sunroom Cafe or Ian's Pizza.<br />
<br />
*Residence Hall Cafeterias are pretty decent here, but filled with undergraduates! Enter at your own risk!<br />
<br />
== MadTown food ==<br />
<br />
Traditional Madison foods are German varieties such as beer, cheese, and bratwurst. Twice a year Madison hosts [http://www.bratfest.com/ Bratfest], a record breaking event. <br />
UW has [http://www.wisc.edu/foodsci/store/ Babcock Hall Ice Cream] on campus which creates delicious ice cream available in the Unions. The [http://www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com/ Chocolate Shoppe], [http://www.ilovemichaels.com/ Michael's Frozen Custard] and Culvers have nice deserts.<br />
Micro breweries in town include the [http://www.greatdanepub.com/ Great Dane], [http://www.capital-brewery.com/ Captial Brewery] and [http://www.aleasylum.com/ Ale Asylum]. Nearby there is the famous [http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/ New Glarus Brewing Co] which only sells beer in Wisconsin. You can join a free beer tour or walk through the brewery on a self guided tourn.<br />
<br />
In early September (Labor Day weekend), check out [http://www.madisonfestivals.com/taste/ Taste of Madison] to see many restaurants all in one place at one time.<br />
<br />
Try a good ol' midwestern Fish Fry on Friday night – All you can eat fried fish generally served with a bran muffin, clam chowder, or coleslaw. Most Brew Pubs and some churches have them, and the [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/restaurant.php Orpheum] as well at the [http://www.avenuebarmadison.com/ Avenue Bar and Grill] both run Friday night Fish Fries.<br />
<br />
== Farm fresh food ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.madfarmmkt.org/ Dane County Farmer's Market] is amazing and HUGE. The big one is open every Saturday morning, and is located on the capitol square for most of the year. In addition to the ludicrous amount of fresh produce, there are also bakery stands, coffee, and fresh juice carts for quick breakfasts.<br />
<br />
There are also a few smaller [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farmers_markets.htm#danecounty markets] scattered around town, almost every day of the week:<br />
<br />
*Sunday: 8:30am to 12:30pm in front of Pierce's Northside Market<br />
*Monday: (none)<br />
*Tuesday: 4pm to 7pm on Ingersol at Williamson, 2pm to 6pm at 1602 S. Park St,<br />
*Wednesday: 8am to 2pm on MLKJr Blvd, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center,<br />
*Thursday: Thursdays, 2pm to 6pm at the Villager Mall on Park St., 2pm to 6pm in the McFarland Centre, 7:30am to 1:30pm in the Greenway Station shopping center,<br />
*Friday: (none)<br />
*Saturday: 6am to 2pm on the Capitol square, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center, 9am to 2pm at 1602 S. Park St, 7am to 1pm at Sheboygan Ave. and Segoe Rd., and 8:30am to 11am in Watertower Park.<br />
<br />
During the summer and fall, there are many [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/index.htm local farms] where you can [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farms/u_pick.htm pick] your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, or pumpkins when they are in season.<br />
<br />
If you're in town for the summer, you might consider signing up for a [http://www.macsac.org/ Community Supported Agriculture] food box. CSA is a way to support a local farm by paying an annual fee in the winter or spring which buys you a share of the season's harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick-up a weekly box of fresh foods which may include produce, fruits, cheeses, eggs, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. The typical CSA season in Wisconsin runs from the end of May through mid-October. You do have to pay the lump sum up-front, and some weeks you'll find yourself with five pounds of chard... but for most of the summer you'll have your produce needs met, and you can feel good about supporting small local farms. Better yet, most of the university's insurance providers offer [http://www.macsac.org/rebates.html rebates] for signing up for a CSA -- somewhere between $50-$300, depending on the plan and how many people you're sharing with (for example, if two people on GHC share a box, they might pay $450 for the box for a box lasting 25 weeks, but they they could each get $100 back, making that $5/week per person). If you're interested, remember to sign up early -- most programs are full by May.<br />
<br />
= Grocery Stores =<br />
<br />
== Generic Groceries ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.capcentrefoods.com/home.html Capitol Centre Foods]: Given their small size, they have an excellent selection of groceries. They tend to be a bit pricey. In addition, they deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.freshmadisonmarket.com/ Fresh Madison Market]: A reasonably large general grocery store, not too expensive. Has a large selection of "typical college items" (lots of frozen foods). Located on University, not too far from Van Vleck. They also deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.copps.com/ Copps]: Your standard grocery store with multiple locations.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=1020&lang=en-US Costco]: Your friendly big-box bulk store. They treat their employees incredibly well. Good buys on computers, 2 lbs of sockeye salmon or button down oxford cloth long sleeved shirts. You'll need a membership or go there with someone who has a membership. You can also get a free trial membership if you simply ask.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.walgreens.com/ Walgreens]: Pharmacy/Grocery store. There is a Walgreens on the corner of Lake & State Street near Van Vleck, on the Capitol Square, at East Campus Mall, and in University square.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Whole Foods]: Kinda spendy, but good bread, specialty stuff, and produce through the winter.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Woodman's]: two locations -- [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=725+S+Gammon+Rd+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=43.055217,-89.50304&spn=0.05381,0.171661 East] and [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3817+Milwaukee+St,+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.103615,-89.319363&spn=0.053768,0.171661&om=1 West]. If you have a car and the time, go here. Very large, very cheap, but time consuming. They don't take credit cards, so bring a debit card or check book. The produce is pretty poor, but they're huge and, again, cheap. Check out the liquor store for a large selection (you can buy all types of alcohol in grocery stores in Wisconsin... but not after 9pm).<br />
<br />
*[http://www.traderjoes.com/ Trader Joe's]: Located at 1810 Monroe St. They have good prices for select specialty food items such as wine, cheese and fancy snacks. Their basic foodstuffs tend to be a bit pricey.<br />
<br />
*The Jenifer Street Market located on 2038 Jenifer Street is a nice little grocery store if you happen to live in the area.<br />
<br />
== Co-ops ==<br />
Co-ops are a good source of local organic food. If you are a member they provide discounts, but you can also shop there at your own will.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.regentmarketcoop.org/ Regent Market Cooperative], 2136 Regent St. 233-4329.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.willystreet.coop/ Willy Street Co-op] The largest and most active co-op in the Madison area. They have been able to survive the decline in co-ops over the years. They offer a large selection of bulk foods and spices at an excellent price. For a quick bite, they have an excellent deli, salad bar, and in-store coffee shop. 1221 Williamson St. 251-6776. They recently opened a second store in Middleton located at 6825 University Ave. Both locations deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
== Specialty Foods ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.aldifoods.com/ Aldi Foods]: Very cheap! Little selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=keJ&q=asian+midway+foods&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,304616636444102595&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Asian Midway Market]: The go-to market for anything Thai, Chinese or South-East Asian, this centrally-located store comes highly recommended. In particular, they offer a great selection of specialized produce. 301 South Park Street; 255-5864<br />
<br />
*[http://www.brennansmarket.com/ Brennan's Market]: Great for Produce, Meats, Cheese, Micro brews and Wines. You won't find things like Flour and Saran Wrap here, but definitely worth the trip.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/ Farm Fresh Atlas]: Not a grocery store, but a good resource for where you can buy local foods and a list of farms in the areas.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madseafood.com/ The Seafood Center]: The name says it all. Great fresh fish and live lobsters.<br />
<br />
*[http://frabonisdeli.com/ Fraboni's]: An awesome Italian grocery store and deli. They have very good [http://frabonisdeli.com/oils olive oils], [http://frabonisdeli.com/pastas pastas], and make-your-own pizza fixings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3723579948/garden-asian-market-middleton Garden Asian Market]: A full service Asian food market specializing in fresh meat, produce, and seafood. Mostly Chinese-leaning, they do a good job of providing a wide variety of items within their niche. It may be far out, but it's worth the trip in its pleasantness and selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=india+house+grocery+store,+madison,+wi&fb=1&gl=us&hq=india+house+grocery+store,&hnear=Madison,+WI&cid=0,0,8495347478199843118&ll=43.050466,-89.503019&spn=0.007871,0.019183&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A India House]: Really well done Indian grocery store. Good place to buy Kari leaves.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=TMe&q=lee%27s+oriental&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,92533124768468793&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Lee's Oriental]: Next to Penzey's spices. 3240 University Ave; 231-1593<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=2Me&q=oriental+shop&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,13628497956998458364&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Oriental Shop]: They carry mostly dry-goods, and tend to lean toward stocking more Korean items. 1206 South Park Street; 255-0326<br />
<br />
= Housing =<br />
<br />
Haven't found a place yet? Already hate your apartment?<br />
<br />
* [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/ UW Off-Campus Housing Search]: Probably the best search site for students.<br />
<br />
* Again, [http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List] is a good resourse. Also a good place to look for roommates outside of the department.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/ University Apartments]: On campus graduate housing, particularly popular with married couples (especially with children). Singles are also welcome. Many of them are on the bus route #80, a free route which runs from the apartments through campus every ten minutes throughout the day.<br />
<br />
== Location, Location, Location ==<br />
<br />
If you would like to keep your commute down, there are many places near campus. Many graduate students prefer to live close enough to Van Vleck to be within walking distance, yet far enough away to stay away from partying undergraduate students.<br />
<br />
Many graduate students live in the Vilas neighborhood, which is located South of Regent Street and between Park and Monroe. East of the Capitol building, we also have the Willy St. neighborhood (between Williamson and Rutledge streets, between Paterson and Thornton) and the other side of the Isthmus, between Mifflin and Lake Mendota. The university offers on campus housing at Eagle Heights with regular buses. Many students also live near Sheboygan and University Avenues (not on this map), and there are regular buses that run up University Avenue that will drop you off right in front of Van Vleck. The large apartment complexes in that area include the Normandy, Chapel Hill, Carolina, Monticello, Hilldale Towers, Park Towers, and Sovereign Apartments which are cheaper to live in than spots on the square.<br />
<br />
Because there is no parking on campus, you will need to plan on living within walking distance of a bus route or campus itself. You will receive a free bus pass for the [http://www.mymetrobus.com/ Madison Metro] system, which is very reliable. Check out the “plan your trip” link to find bus routes near you.<br />
<br />
Here is an approximate map of many areas where you will be likely to find housing: <br />
[[Image:gradhousingmap.jpg|400px| center | Housing Map]]<br />
<br />
Basically, shoot for zones 2-6, the North parts of zones 7 and 8, or the far East part of zone 10 on [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/map_all.asp this map] (the map from the UW Off-Campus Housing Search).<br />
<br />
== Stuff your landlord might not tell you ==<br />
<br />
*Utilities:<br />
Lots of apartments have water, sewage, heat, and and sometimes electricity included in rent. For those which don't, be sure to find out what to expect through the [http://mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/ Madison Gas and Electric] web page. Just tell them the address of the place you're looking at, and they'll tell you what the highs, lows, and averages have been over the last year.<br />
<br />
*Property information:<br />
The [http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/property.html City Assessor] has all of the basic information about Madison properties on file, including how many units are on the property, how much square footage there is, if there's AC in the building, what school district it's in, who your alderperson would be, and what else is on the property (e.g. garages). They'll even tell you how much the property is worth, and how much your landlord is paying in property taxes. Sometimes the square footage isn't broken up--for example, maybe there are two units on the first floor, but they'll only tell you that there are 1,700 sq ft on that floor, not how it's split up between the two units. It can be a useful site for rounding out your knowledge of places you're considering renting.<br />
<br />
*Tenants rights:<br />
The [http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/ Tenant resource center] is a small non-profit membership organization which provides housing counseling, mediation services and office assistance. Their website includes tips for new renters, generic rental forms, and advice for what to do if your landlord just won't get back to you about repairs, returning deposits, etc.<br />
There is also the [http://studenttenantunion.rso.wisc.edu/ Student tenant union], which is specifically targeted to UW students.<br />
<br />
== Rental Companies ==<br />
Many properties in Madison are run by rental companies -- some large, some small -- some good, some not-so-good. Larger companies tend to have lower prices, and more people working toward maintaining rentals. However, they may have less of an investment in taking care of each individual property or screening their tenants. Some people feel better renting from small companies, or landlords with only one or two houses. You may get more individual attention and care. Individuals have more investment in protecting each property, and renting to good tenants, so the properties tend to be in more reliable condition. However, with fewer properties comes fewer resources and higher prices.<br />
<br />
Whatever choice you make, be sure to have a conversation with your potential landlords about their polices, especially if you aren't going to be able to see things in person. It may also be good to Google the company or person to see if other people have had something good or bad to say about them or their properties. In particular, [http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Madison.html ApartmentRatings.com] has a few of the apartment complexes around town listed.<br />
<br />
Here are some general impressions/very subjective opinions that some of us have gotten from/about a few of the larger local companies:<br />
<br />
*AB Holdings: In particular, they have a couple small apartment buildings on Vilas that are particularly ideal for two people. Quite a few people from the department have rented these units and have been pretty happy.<br />
<br />
*[http://apexrents.com/ Apex Property Management]: Great company. Well-maintained properties, with many of the more recently remodeled rentals being very nice. Their representatives are helpful and responsible, and their tenants seem to be generally satisfied.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.centralmadison.com/ The Christensen Company]: Not terribly up-to-date apartments, but worth taking a look at.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonproperty.com/ Madison Property Management]: Lots of choices, but notoriously junky properties. They tend to cater mostly to undergraduates, and their rentals show it. We wouldn't recommend renting from this company unless you visit first.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.mcbridecompanies.com/ The McBride Companies]: Nice properties, good management. Really good website if you turn the sound off.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.tallardapartments.com/ Tallard Apartments]: Nice properties with very friendly and responsive staff. Their rentals tend to go early in the season.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wimci.com/ Wisconsin Management Company]: Nice enough properties, but kind of flakey representation. Make sure to ask lots of questions.<br />
<br />
*The Wright Company (or Norris Ct. Apartments): Very nice older buildings, but kind of sketchy management. Nothing is going to be in stellar shape, but they do tend to rent more to graduates and professionals, so they aren't beat up either. If you do rent from them, don't expect them to be very responsive, and be sure to be especially careful about protecting your security deposit by taking photos and keeping a record of your move-in report.<br />
<br />
= Furniture =<br />
<br />
*[http://www.svdpmadison.org/ St. Vincent DePaul's]: Like Goodwill. Has cheap dressers, desks, chairs, and general household stuff. Will deliver for a small charge. This is also a great place to donate any furniture or other items that you no longer want – they will pick up the items from your apartment. There is also a Goodwill in town, but they won't have nearly the same volume of furniture.<br />
<br />
*[http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List]: a free online classifieds site. Great not only for furniture, but also pet resources and last minute apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
*Eagle Heights Apartment Bulletin Boards: Lots of cheap stuff from people graduating, many of whom are moving overseas. You can even find cars. You can try posting your own wanted posters on the boards. You can find these boards at the bus stops for the (free) bus 80 route.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/madisonfreecycle/ Freecycle]: A community "give stuff away for free" website with a Madison branch.<br />
<br />
*Hippie Christmas ("Move-Out Day"): For some reason or another, the evening of August 14th is when the bulk of leases near campus turn over. This is a fantastic day to pick up free furniture from the street. If you already have a rental van, why not help municipal waste by pickup up a bookshelf for them?<br />
<br />
*The Todd Drive Area: Just west of park street on the beltline. American Furniture for furniture and electronics, Home Concepts for cheap but nice looking furniture, and Steinhafel's for furniture and mattresses.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html SWAP]. The UW's surplus supply store.<br />
<br />
= International Student Resources =<br />
Here are a few links specifically for international students. There are international grocery stores listed in the [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Graduate_Student_Guide#Specialty_Foods groceries] section.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcssa.net/ Chinese Student & Scholar Association]: A connection to the university's Chinese community for incoming students. They offer rides from the airport, list general information about madison, and organize get-tegethers/Chinese celebrations. International Conversation & Coffee Hour: meet other international students and americans interested in other cultures. Every Friday, 12-2pm, Cooper Hearth Room 160, Union South.<br />
<br />
*[http://iss.wisc.edu/ International Student Services]: the UW's International Student Services<br />
<br />
*[http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MADindians/ MadIndians]: a Yahoo online group for students from India in Madison. Good place to search for an Indian roommate.<br />
<br />
*[http://mtsa.rso.wisc.edu/ Madison Association of Turkish Students]: Very helpful for incoming Turkish students. It includes information about how best to get to Madison from Turkey, information about housing, and how to reach other Turkish students in Madison.<br />
<br />
= Newspapers =<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/captimes/ The Capitol Times]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the afternoon. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more liberal.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.thedailypage.com/ The Isthmus]: Free independent Madison newspaper. Has a liberal voice and is full of entertainment, including family fun, outdoor attractions, and fine arts. Also puts out the Annual Manual - the yearly guide to all things Madison.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.theonion.com/ The Onion]: While hilarious, this paper is only really good if you're already in on the joke. We get free paper copies in Madison. There is a stack near the elevators in VV. The local edition has local entertainment listings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Wisconsin State Journal]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the mornings. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more conservative.<br />
<br />
= Religious Groups =<br />
*[http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/ Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/ Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church]: Near Sheboygan Ave. at 110 N Whitney Way. A huge church, but with opportunities to get involved and meet people. It has services in the sanctuary, with a mixture of traditional and semi-modern worship, and also "video cafe" services with more lively, modern worship. Very good teaching.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cpcmadison.com/ Christ Presbyterian Church]. Just east of James Madison Park on Gorham. Has a great choir and organist!<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fusmadison.org/ The First Unitarian Society of Madison]. "A liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue." Looking for something new? They're open to all types. Also, they are housed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.folmadison.org/ Fountain of Life]: 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. A multi-ethnic church with a lot of eclectic music styles, including a lot of Gospel music<br />
<br />
*[http://genevacc.org/ The Geneva Campus Church]: On Campus Reformed church. They describe themselves as "a university church for the whole family"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwhillel.org/ Hillel]: UW-Madison's on-campus center for everything Jewish: religious, cultural, political, traditional, and alternative. Located on Langdon Street, it serves both the school population and, to a far lesser extent, the entire city.<br />
<br />
*[http://islamiccentermadison.org/ Islamic Center of Madison]: Has a masjid inside. 21 N Orchard St, (608)251-9851<br />
<br />
*[http://ivgcf.rso.wisc.edu/ InterVarsity Grad Christian Fellowship]: It's a welcoming place for Christians and non-Christians alike. (You might even find your future husband/wife there) They also have a website with info about local churches. There is a new student picnic at the beginning of the fall semester.<br />
<br />
*Latter Day Saints: There are a number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wards in the Madison area. The Madison First Ward covers areas closest to campus and meets at 4505 Regent Street, two blocks south of Hilldale Mall, at 9am. The University Ward serves single adults and meets at 1711 University Avenue at 10 am. The Madison Third Ward serves areas close to campus and meets at 701 Bear Claw Way on Madison's far west side at 11 am. Visitors and the curious are always welcome.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lccmadison.com/ Lutheran Campus Center]: A fairly young, enthusiastic, and liberal-minded congragation, found right on campus.<br />
<br />
*[http://madcitychurch.org/ Mad City Church]: A non-denominational, casual christian fellowship. Services are held in the LaFollette High School located on Madison's east side - very near the corner of Pflaum Rd. and Monona Dr. Office at 2713 E. Washington Ave.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.muuyacm.org/ Madison UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry (MUUYACM)]. One of the largest and most active Unitarian Universalist young adult groups in the U.S., they are open to young adults (ages 18-35) of all denominations. In addition to worships, they organize social-justice-oriented activities, and are an active member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcatholic.org/ St. Paul's University Catholic Center]: On campus in Library Mall near Lake & State. Has a lively Catholic grad student group called Mustard Seed with Bible studies, Thursday night speakers, retreats, service projects, and large quantities of food and euchre.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.unityofmadison.org/ Unity of Madison]: (from their site) "Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community focused on Truth Seeking and Spiritual Growth through the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire, nuture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live Jesus' message that 'the kingdom of God is within you.'"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.isthmuszencommunity.org/ Zen Buddhism]: A local zen buddhist center is located next to Willy st co-op. New comers are especially welcome.<br />
<br />
= Arts and Entertainment =<br />
<br />
Madison is a medium sized city with a not so medium sized arts and entertainment scene. There are cultural events on campus<br />
and at the [http://www.overturcenter.com Overture Center]; sporting events; art, science, natural history, and history museums; parks, the<br />
[http://www.uwarboretum.org arboretum], and [http://www.olbrich.org botanical gardens]; a free [http://www.vilaszoo.org zoo]; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; a [http://www.madfarmmkt.com Farmer’s Market] on the<br />
Capital Square every Saturday morning from April-October; and lots of other things. The [http://www.thedailypage.com Isthmus], is the local free newspaper which posts many current events.<br />
The Isthmus can be found in many stores, in campus buildings, and on street corners.<br />
<br />
== Athletic Activities ==<br />
* [http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/ Rec Sports] runs the gyms on campus. There are three such on-campus gyms -- The SERF, the Nat, and the Shell, which are free with student ID. For $10/semester, you can attend any of their Group Fitness classes, which cover everything from aerobics and weights to yoga and dance. Also, both the SERF and Nat have indoor pools.<br />
<br />
*The University of Wisconsin has a long standing heritage of being proud of their [http://www.uwbadgers.com/ athletic events]. Men's basketball, football and ice-hockey receive the most attention and as a student, you can obtain season tickets for all of these events.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.mufa.org MUFA] is an ultimate frisbee league that has summer as well as spring and fall seasons. This is a really fun way to stay active and meet some new Madison friends! You don't need to form a team-- just see the link for info about how to join a team looking for more players. Note: the games are often played all over the city and burbs, and are not necessarily reachable by bus. You'll need a car, or a teammate with a car. Also see the link for info about local pick-up games.<br />
<br />
== Dancing ==<br />
<br />
*Ballroom: [http://www.uwmbda.org/ UWMBDA] is the big ballroom dance group here. They have dances with lessons every week on Friday or Saturday and a practice group every Thursday.<br />
<br />
*[http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/dances.htm Contra Dance]: Meetings every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
*International Folk club: meets biweekly Library Mall, Wed/Sun 7:30PM-late.<br />
<br />
*Swing: [http://www.uwswing.com/ Jumptown Swing] is UW's swing club. They host (mostly) weekly dances at Union South, and provide lessons for a nominal fee. See their site for scheduling and links to other swing orgonizations. Also, on Wednesdays, there's dancing at the [http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ Brink Lounge] from 8-11.<br />
<br />
*Salsa: Venues include [http://www.cardinalbar.com/ Cardinal Bar] on Thursdays, [http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/details.php?event=176610 Frida's] on Friday nights. Don't know how to Salsa? There are lessons before dances at Cardinal, and instruction is offered through the Union's minicourses.<br />
<br />
*Tango: the [http://www.madisontango.org/ Madison Tango Society] provides lessons and dances for Argentine Tango. Their site has a good list or other events in and around Madison.<br />
<br />
== Libraries ==<br />
In addition to the many [http://www.library.wisc.edu/ Libraries of UW], the [http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ Madison Public Library] is a great place for books, movies, and music.<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
The Daily Page has a [http://www.thedailypage.com/movies/listing.php listing] of movie times for most of the theaters around town (both big and small):<br />
<br />
*Eastgate, Point and AMC (Star) Cinema are the three larger movie theaters in town.<br />
<br />
*Market Square shows second runs at a good discount. <br />
<br />
*The [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/ Orpheum] is an old cinema within site of the capitol on State street. They tend to show less mainstream movies.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.sundancecinemas.com/madison.html Sundance 608] shows independent film as well as blockbuster movies. They have a rooftop cafe that's open during the summer months, 2 bars (you can take a drink into your movie), and a restaurant!<br />
<br />
For on-campus movies:<br />
*The Wisconsin Union Directorate runs on campus screening of films. Their film site can be found [http://www.union.wisc.edu/WUD/film.aspx here.]<br />
<br />
*The UW film department hosts free screenings of a wide array of films based on a given theme for that semester through their [http://cinema.wisc.edu/ cinematheque.] Their department has many contacts with other film institutes and are able show rare original 35mm films that you can't see anywhere else.<br />
<br />
*In late March/early April, go check out some of the many many films showing at the [http://www.wifilmfest.org/ Wisconsin Film Festival.] Sites all over town take part in hosting the showing of these films.<br />
<br />
Madison also has a number of independent video stores:<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ Four Star Video Heaven] has been voted as a Madison Favorite for a number of years. See their site to browse their collection online.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bongovideo.com/ Bongo Video] has a smaller, but quite tasty selection. Lots of personality, and good daily specials.<br />
<br />
== Music ==<br />
Whether you're looking to play music, or just go watch free or (in)expensive concerts, there are many options in Madison.<br />
<br />
*Our very own [http://music.wisc.edu/ Music Department] hosts many music events. Their website has a calendar listing current music events including faculty concerts and student recitals.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonsymphony.org/ The Madison Symphony Orchestra] (MSO) is the professional symphony based here in Madison. With your student ID, you can get student rush tickets for as little as $10 per person.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wcoconcerts.org/ The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra] is Madison's professional chamber orchestra. Each summer, their widely popular [http://www.wcoconcerts.org/new/cos/concertsonthesquare.php concerts on the square] draw many people from all over the place for a free outdoor concert.<br />
<br />
*[http://madisoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Madison Community Orchestra] (MCO) is an informal group run by Madison Area Technical College that meets once a week. There are four free concerts a year and no auditions to play with the group.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.middletoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Middleton Community Orchestra] is a second newly formed community orchestra run by community musicians. Their concerts are extremely affordable, and they may run auditions.<br />
<br />
== Outdoor Activites ==<br />
Madison is a very bicycle friendly town, and there are many parks either in town or within a short drive. Here are some suggestions about outdoor activities to engage in:<br />
<br />
*Take a nice long walk along one of the many paths around [http://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/imap/LakeshoreNaturePreserve.html Picnic Point]... bike the path from Memorial Union out to the tip, or bus/drive out to the base of picnic point and wander the foot trails in the area.<br />
<br />
*Head towards Monona Terrace on Lake Monona, and take one of the paths that wraps around the lake (great bike ride!).<br />
<br />
*You can also go walking and/or biking around the [http://uwarboretum.org/ Arboretum] south of campus and tour their gardens, or head to the free [http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Vilas Zoo]. Lake Wingra is essentially totally surrounded by wooded areas including Henry Vilas Park, the UW-arboretum and Edgewood college. You can rent canoes at Knickerbocker for fairly cheap and relax on Lake Wingra.<br />
<br />
*Community Gardens: There are a number of community gardens run by the [http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/ Community Action Coalition]. Nominally, you can sign up for a plot for a small fee, and learn how to garden if you don't already know, or go to town if you already do. The [http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/ Eagle Heights Community Garden] is open to both residents and non-residents alike. All of the gardens are fun to look at if you haven't ever seen one.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.olbrich.org/ The Olbrich Botanical Gardens] are located east of lake Monona. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including their award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden, or enjoy the year-round tropical Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds.. Outdoor gardens are open daily and free to the public, while entrance to the conservatory is $1 per person.<br />
<br />
*Catch a festival; Madison is home to a number of festivals -- big festivals, small festivals, arts festivals, music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals -- we've got all kinds.<br />
<br />
The Winter opens itself up to new activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing and other options. The hoofers club runs ice boats on the lake.<br />
<br />
*The city of Madison parks open up outdoor [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct2.html ice skating] at Tenney, Vilas, and Elver parks. No skates? No worries. They will rent skates to you there ($6.00 for the first hour, $2/hr after that).<br />
<br />
*There is also [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct4.html cross-country skiing] at a number of Dane county parks, with passes starting at $5/day. No skills? Check out lessons at the [http://www.madnorski.org/page/ Madison Nordic Ski Club] or, again, [http://sns.hoofers.org/ Hoofers] has lots to offer in that area.<br />
<br />
== Student Clubs ==<br />
The University of Wisconsin, being a rather large institution, has got so much stuff going on for all of us student-types. Here are some ways people around the department have been taking advantage:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop]: Located upstairs in the Memorial Union, they are "here to satisfy your creative urges in a variety of craft media." Their facilities include a darkroom, a woodshop, a ceramics studio, metal working tools, etc. Friday afternoons, they open their studios to all union members (that means you!) for free!<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hoofers.org/ Hoofers]: Student outdoor recreation club. The Outing and Sailing clubs in particular have lots of graduate students.<br />
<br />
* [http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]: Graduate Student Collaborative Organization<br />
<br />
* [http://cfli.wisc.edu/student_organizations.htm Student Organizations]: at UW Madison (this is a directory of all registered student organizations at the university; you can search by topic or name)<br />
<br />
== The Student Unions ==<br />
The Memorial Union is located on the lakefront, on Park and Langdon. Be sure to check out the Terrace while the weather is still good -- it's a great place to go to get out of the office, grab something to snack on, and study out in the sun. You'll find the Daily Scoop (yummy ice cream!) and Der Rathskeller (beer and deep-fried goodness). You'll also find all sorts of stuff to keep you busy, like the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop], the Union Theater, the Hoofers' headquarters, and a wide array of Mini Courses with which to expand your horizons.<br />
<br />
Also useful: the travel services center and STA Travel will get you good deals on trips (including bus tickets to O'Hare, Midway, and Milwaukee airports), and the theater's box office will get you good deals on shows (theater, music, etc) all around town. In addition, the Union has always got other special events going on to keep all of us entertained -- see their complete [http://www.union.wisc.edu/activities/ list of activities].<br />
<br />
The Union South was recently completely renovated and also has many activities available. They have a climbing wall, a bowling alley, pool tables, a beer garden, a wine tasting room, a ballroom, a movie theater and many other things.<br />
<br />
= Van Vleck Miscellany =<br />
Here's a bit more info about the happenings in and around the Math Dept.<br />
<br />
== Getting money ==<br />
*Paychecks: The first paycheck of the year arrives in October, though you may request an advance on about 30% of your first paycheck when you arrive. If you are not working over the summer, the last will come in June, so be sure to plan for the three month gap.<br />
<br />
*Fees: You will be charged for segregated fees in both semesters, and are not covered in your tuition. The amount depends on your credit load and status, but will be about $500 for most people and due about the time of your first paycheck. If you are on fellowship, this will be taken care of for you, and shouldn't appear on your bill.<br />
<br />
*TA union: The teaching assistants of Wisconsin are unionized. Even if you are not a TA, but are an employee of the department, you're still connected to them through advocacy and campus issues. For more information check out the [http://www.taa-madison.org/ TAA].<br />
<br />
== Getting stuff done ==<br />
See the Contacts section for a list of people who will help you get stuff done.<br />
<br />
If you want to reserve rooms in Van Vleck for review sessions or meetings you can fill out a green form with Sharon Paulson on the second floor. Sharon does the scheduling for about 4 or 5 rooms in the building, so you can also ask her about these rooms directly. If you need to reserve the 9th floor lounge, talk to Joan Wendt (also second floor).<br />
<br />
Each grad receives 200 photocopies and 250 black and white print outs a month for personal math use. If you are a TA, Sharon in the Copy Center on the second floor can photocopy materials for classes (which does not count toward your quota)– such as worksheets and quizzes. Just give her at least 24 hours notice. To check your printout quota, open a terminal logged into the math server, and type "pages". If you do go over your quota, you will simply get a (probably very small) bill at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
We get free office supplies on the 2nd floor – just ask the Receptionist for pens, folders, etc.<br />
<br />
You can pick up and send out your mail from the second floor. You might even want to have packages delivered to the department, to avoid missing them being delivered at home (UPS, for example, won't drop off to apartment complexes if you aren't there, so you'll have to drive out to Middleton to pick up your packages).<br />
<br />
It's never too early to start studying for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/graduate/quals.htm quals]... early and often, my friends. Early and Often.<br />
<br />
== Getting together ==<br />
Historically, some afternoons and Friday before colloquium, we have a cookie and coffee social hour on the 9th floor lounge. Keep your eyes open for announcements.<br />
<br />
Definitely check out some of the colloquia and seminars. The earlier you get involved the better. This is a great way to learn more about potential research areas, meet other people in the areas, and meet other mathematicians in other departments. There is a list posted on the 9th floor each week in addition to online.<br />
<br />
Once a semester, our group for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ women in mathematics] get together for an informal potluck. We also have been known to bring in women speakers funded by the [http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/ WiSELI] grant.<br />
<br />
= Miscellaneous Wisconsin Stuff =<br />
This section describes miscellaneous Wisconsin stuff that doesn't belong in any other section, such as, a [[Wisconsin Dictionary]] for those who aren't familiar with the Wisconsin vernacular.<br />
<br />
== Voting ==<br />
Frequently asked questions for Wisconsin voting can be found <br />
[http://wisconsin.gov/state/core/faq_wisconsin_voting_elections.html here]. <br />
As of the April election, Wisconsin has a law that allows for same day registration at the polls:<br />
<br />
''If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.''<br />
<br />
Out of state licenses work, and utility bills, bank statements, or pay checks with your name and address on them work for proof of residence.<br />
<br />
== Car Stuff ==<br />
Madison has a DMV out on the west side, just past Midvale, at 4802 Sheboygan Ave, and one on the east side out near the airport. <br />
<br />
*Licenses: As they say on their page for licensing new residents, if you're looking to put your permanent residence here and vote here and generally show up on the radar, you should apply for your [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/nonreside/index.htm WI license] within 60 days of establishing residency. Your first baseline license costs $28, and is valid for three years. Note: you will need to take with you, among other things, something like a rent agreement, or a utility bill, UW transcript, or bank statement actually mailed to your WI address (no e-bills). We'll note that math students have been known to wait longer than 60 days to officially apply for residency, but we recommend you don't wait until an out-of-state license expires to get a WI license.<br />
<br />
*Vehicle Registration: If you own a car and officially become a WI resident, you need to get WI plates. All the information you need is available [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/new/resident.htm here].<br />
<br />
*Parking: First, unless you have a motorcycle, '''don't''' plan to park on campus regularly. For parking near your residence, there are some options. Depending on the neighborhood, it's possible to rent a place that has parking included or available for an extra charge. Additionally, if you live in an area surrounded by 2-hr parking [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/documents/RP3allmap.pdf zones], you can usually buy a permit (for a little over $20 per year) allowing you to park on the street all day near your home. More information can be found on the City of Madison Parking Utility [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingUtility/index.cfm page]. Most importantly, "the vehicle for which you are requesting a permit must be owned by you, your child, your parents/step parents, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner, or be a leased or company vehicle which is assigned to you." <br />
<br />
BE AWARE! Winter parking gets all crazy in Madison (from November 15 - March 15). Most of town is on an alternate side parking schedule: cars should be parked on the even (resp. odd) house numbered side of the street from 1:00a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on even (resp. odd) numbered days. If you live on the isthmus in the Snow Emergency Zone, you will only need to do this when the weather gets really bad. You can sign up for alerts when this happens.<br />
<br />
If you leave your car in the wrong place -- with winter nonsense or for any other reason -- and it gets towed, you can call the Madison Police Department (266-4260) or Schmidt's Towing (257-0505) to find out what they've done with it.<br />
<br />
== Taxes ==<br />
Once you've lived here for an entire calendar year, be sure to look into the [http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/home.html Wisconsin Homestead Credit]... it's usually worth the time and effort for graduate students. Until then, you can look into [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html deducting moving costs] for relocating here on your federal taxes.<br />
<br />
A warning to students on fellowship: taxes will not be taken out of your paycheck, but you still have to pay them. You may want to consider filing [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199807,00.html quarterly].<br />
<br />
== Wisconsin benefit programs ==<br />
We don't exactly get piles of money for teaching. In fact, most people who are not on fellowship or receiving summer funding can qualify for some heating aid (up to $380/year), and electricity aid (up to $285/year). You can check your eligibility at [https://access.wisconsin.gov/ Access WI]. <br />
There may be some residency requirements, like the Homestead credit. You can find your annual salary in our [http://www.taa-madison.org/contract/index.html contract].<br />
<br />
== Residency ==<br />
While it's usually a good idea to become a WI resident, if, for some reason, you're looking to declare residency in WI for tuition purposes, the answer is usually "no." It seems that one has to be in Wisconsin for a full year before enrolling at the UW, and one has to prove that one did not move here primarily for educational purposes (according to the Wisconsin statutes, you have to provide "clear and convincing evidence"). More on that at the [http://www.registrar.wisc.edu/students/residence/index.php Office of the Registrar]'s site.<br />
<br />
= Contacts and Other Resources =<br />
*[http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/gradguide/index.html Guide to Graduate Student Life]: The Graduate Student Collaborative's ([http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]) guide to grad student life in Madison -- like this one, but different.<br />
<br />
* [[Teaching Assistant Guide]]: from real live Van Vleck TAs<br />
<br />
*[http://www.yelp.com/madison-wi Yelp.com]: Find reviews of local stuff- restaurants and things to do, but also dentists, auto shops, etc.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.vip.wisc.edu VIP], the Visitor & Information Programs office, located in the Red Gym, near [http://www.union.wisc.edu Memorial Union]. They are open M - F 8am - 5pm and Saturday 11am - 2pm. <br />
<br />
*[http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu Student Orientation Handbook] is a valuable resource for information including entertainment, recreational and varsity sports, student organizations (including those for cultural groups, international students, LGBT students, women, veterans, and people with disabilities), health services, jobs, transportation, safety, and housing. It’s also a great place for referrals to counseling services, including drug and alcohol and sexual assault issues. You can find all this information on the web, at http://www.wisc.edu/visitingCampus/ or call them at 263-2400. You can also email any questions you have to askbucky@uwmad.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lgbt.wisc.edu LGBT Campus Center]: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Center (265-3344; lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu) provides support, social, educational and research services to the campus community, and serves as UW-Madison's first stop for those looking for information about campus LGBT organizations. The Memorial Union office on the 2nd floor includes a library, a television and DVD player, plenty of comfortable seating, open computers, and has a staff of students and professionals that work to bring events, speakers, and programs to campus. The Center also publishes a weekly events e-letter and offers support and social groups.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ WIMAW] (Women in Math at Wisconsin.)<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Got Questions? Here are some folks who might just have the answers...<br />
<br />
== Counseling Services ==<br />
Counseling services are available through Counseling and [http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/ Consultation Services (C&CS)], located at 115 North Orchard Street, (265-5600, TTY number 265-3300). C&CS offers brief psychological treatment, personal counseling, and psychiatric services to UW-Madison students. Frequent services include help in overcoming depression, managing anxiety and other psychological issues, and in developing greater self-awareness, independence, and self-direction. They also provide personal problem counseling, couples relationship counseling, marriage and family counseling, cross-cultural counseling, and alcohol and drug assessment and referral. Specialized groups have included: graduate women support, women and self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, survivors of troubled families, rebuilding relationships. C&CS also provides crisis response at the above phone numbers. Services provided are covered by the student health fee (included in your student fees).<br />
<br />
== Administrative and Support Staff ==<br />
The administrative and support staff are the folk that keep our department functioning. Without them, we as mathematicians would be lost. :) Their pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/support_staff.html here] and their contact info can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/academic_staff.html here]. If one person doesn't know how to deal with a problem you might have, they certainly know who might be able to help you out.<br />
<br />
TBD<br />
Position: Timetable/Undergraduate<br />
Office: 207 VV<br />
Email: ????@math<br />
Ask them about: Registration (for you and your students), MyUW stuff, classroom assignments.<br />
<br />
David Camacho<br />
Position: Assoc Fac Assoc<br />
Office: 321 VV<br />
Email: camacho@math<br />
Ask David about: the Math Tutorial Program (if a student needs extra attention)<br />
<br />
Mark Castillo<br />
Position: Grants/Proposals<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: castillo @math<br />
Ask Mark about: grant money, coffee club<br />
<br />
Chris Uhlir<br />
Position: Payroll/Benefits<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: grenie@math<br />
Ask Mike about: Payroll, hourly positions, taxes, tuition, healthcare, and benefits. <br />
<br />
Sara Nagreen<br />
Position: Sr IPC<br />
Office: 515 VV<br />
Email: nagreen@math<br />
Ask Sara about: all things computing.<br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson<br />
Position: Copy Center Manager/ Room Reservations<br />
Office: 220 VV<br />
Email: paulson@math<br />
Ask Sharon about: Room reservations (review sessions/exams/other), Copy Center stuff, private tutoring list.<br />
<br />
Mary Rice<br />
Position: Grad Prog. Admin<br />
Office: 203 VV<br />
Email: mrice@math<br />
Ask Mary about: Math dept records (teaching letters, transcripts, etc), how you go about graduating.<br />
<br />
Diane Rivard<br />
Position: Placement Advisor<br />
Office: 720 VV<br />
Email: rivard@math<br />
Ask Diane about: Placement questions (what class your student should be in, placement exam issues)<br />
<br />
Joan Wendt<br />
Position: Chair Secretary<br />
Office: 223 VV<br />
Email: wendt@math<br />
Ask Joan about: office assignments and keys<br />
<br />
Barbara Erlenborn<br />
Position: Dept Administrator<br />
Office: 218 VV<br />
Email: erlenborn@math<br />
Ask Barb about: admin stuff<br />
<br />
== Current and Former Graduate Students Interested in Meeting YOU ==<br />
You can find a complete list of current graduate students [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/psdbgrad.html here], and pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/grad.html here]. Email addresses that end with @ are intended to finish with @math.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
Hans Chaumont<br />
Email: chaumont@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~chaumont Website:]<br />
Grad-Age: Started 2012<br />
Area of interest: Undecided<br />
Ask Hans about: Pretty much anything, but especially about tea or the math weightlifting team.<br />
<br />
Laura Cladek<br />
Email: cladek@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~cladek Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2011<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Laura about: Anything ... Especially analysis or on campus housing.<br />
<br />
Nathan Collins<br />
Email: nathan.collins@gmail.com<br />
[http://cs.pdx.edu/~ntc2 Website]<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2008<br />
Area of interest: Computer Science and Logic.<br />
Ask Nathan about: Pittsburgh, bicycles, and being inferior to Mason at TAing. He dislikes printers and bad margins.<br />
<br />
David Dynerman<br />
Email: dynerman@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~dynerman Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask David about: programming video games, trying to do Hartshorne problems, <br />
going to the gym, Mushfeq Khan, Andrew Bridy<br />
<br />
Thomas Hangelbroek<br />
Email: hangelbr@math.hawaii.edu<br />
[http://math.hawaii.edu/people/hangelbr/ Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2007<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Thomas about: Anything Madison. Thomas is an expert in all things Madison.<br />
<br />
Sara Jensen<br />
Email: jensen@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jensen Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask Sara about: Teaching, topology & algebra quals, knitting group, going to the gym <br />
<br />
(Evan) Alec Johnson<br />
Email: ejohnson@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson Website]<br />
Grad-age: Ph.D., 2012<br />
Area of interest: Applied Math and Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask Alec about: teaching, advanced calculus, gardening, and Geneva Campus Church.<br />
<br />
Christine Lien<br />
Email: lien@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lien Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2005<br />
Area of interest: Complex Geometry<br />
Ask Christine about: anything, including bridge/card games, organizing women's events, <br />
the Association of Asian American Graduate students, and the Graduate Student Topology Seminar.<br />
<br />
Hao Lin<br />
Email: lin@<br />
[http://genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=156703 Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Hao about: sports and anything about China.<br />
<br />
Jonathon Mason<br />
Email: jonathan.f.mason@gmail.com<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2010<br />
Ask Mason about: Wisconsin hiking, the local film scene and being "way better than Nathan Collins" at TAing.<br />
<br />
Jason Murcko<br />
Email: murcko@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~murcko Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2006<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Jason about: the TAA and the local film and music scenes.<br />
<br />
Mike Schroeder<br />
Email: schroede@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~schroede UW Website]. [http://science.marshall.edu/schroederm/ Marshall Website].<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Combinatorics<br />
Ask Mike about: softball, bowling, sailing, racquet ball, and the Florida Gators.<br />
<br />
David Seal<br />
Email: seal@math.msu.edu<br />
[http://www.math.msu.edu/~seal Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2012.<br />
Area of interest: Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask David about: movies, biking, hiking and board games.<br />
<br />
Beth Skubak<br />
Email: skubak@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~skubak Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2009<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Beth about: anything, including this wiki<br />
<br />
Mike Woodbury<br />
[http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woodbury/ Website]<br />
Email: woodbury@math.columbia.edu<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011.<br />
Area of interest: Number Theory<br />
Ask Mike about: anything, including number theory, road biking, UW basketball tix.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Teaching_Resources&diff=5373Teaching Resources2013-06-06T19:01:29Z<p>Johnsonm: </p>
<hr />
<div>*[[The Math 221 text for 2012-2013]] '''Undergraduates are still required to purchase a copy of the text from the Math Department.<br />
'''<br />
<br />
*[http://ms.unimelb.edu.au/~ram/teaching.html Arun Ram's teaching site] (Arun Ram is a former UW Math Department Professor who now teaches at the University of Melbourne, Australia). His site contains much useful information, including courses he taught at UW.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=The_Math_221_text_for_2012-2013&diff=5372The Math 221 text for 2012-20132013-06-06T19:00:31Z<p>Johnsonm: </p>
<hr />
<div>*All sections of math 221 in Fall 2012 use the MIU-calculus text. The pdf file for the text can be downloaded [[Media:math221-2012.pdf|[from this link].]] '''Undergraduates are still required to purchase a copy from the Math Department.'''<br />
<br />
*The moodle pages associated with the course can be accessed by going to [[https://courses.moodle.wisc.edu/prod/my courses.moodle.wisc.edu/prod/my]]<br />
<br />
*The most recent versions of the text are to be found on the MIU-calculus page. [[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~angenent/MIU-calculus/index.html]]</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Travel_Expenses&diff=5371Travel Expenses2013-06-06T18:36:21Z<p>Johnsonm: /* TRAVEL EXPENSES */</p>
<hr />
<div>==TRAVEL EXPENSES== <br />
All travel expenses are now processed by the traveler using the E-reimbursement system found under the Services tab of your My UW (right hand side under the Financial Information Resources heading). There are training sessions offered or an on-line tutorial. Receipts and funding information for the actual payment of the travel must then be submitted to the Payroll Manager. Contact [mailto:richards@math.wisc.edu Vicki Richards] for further information.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Room_Reservations&diff=5370Room Reservations2013-06-06T18:33:25Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Room Reservations */</p>
<hr />
<div>==Room Reservations== <br />
*''The conference room'' (<u>'''307'''</u>) is available for Math Department purposes when it is free. Reservations should be made through Sharon Paulson in 220 Van Vleck. Please do NOT use this room without first checking for availability. <br />
<br />
*''Ninth floor Seminar Rooms'' (<u>'''901'''</u> and <u>'''903'''</u>) may also be reserved for Math Department business through Sharon Paulson on a first-come, first-served basis both for one-time and semester-long events. Reservations carry over to following semesters - for seminars only. 901 is locked at 4pm M - F and all day on weekends. For access, go the Math Library to check out a key.<br />
<br />
*''Ninth floor Conference Room'' (<u>'''911'''</u>) There is a research conference room (lounge) on the ninth floor (Room 911) intended for informal contact between Math Dept. faculty, staff and graduate students. It is not to be used as a study room by others nor is it to be used for undergraduate review sessions. The lounge should not be used as a nap or overnight sleeping area.<br />
<br />
The 9th floor conference room '''MUST''' be reserved for all Dept. events and ‘get togethers’. Reservations are made with the Chair’s Assistant. On occasion, it is used by outside groups and may be unavailable. Check the sign on the outside of the door before entering. This will help you avoid any embarrassment of walking in on an event.<br />
<br />
''Coffee and tea'' are available on a pay-as-you-go or a monthly fee basis. There is a small kitchen that contains a refrigerator and a microwave oven. The refrigerator should be used only for short-term storage; articles of advanced age or unpleasant aroma may be summarily removed. All users are requested to leave the lounge, and especially the kitchen, at least as clean as they found it and to follow the instructions for use of the facilities.<br />
<br />
<u>'''Classroom Reservations'''</u>: Fill out a Campus Classroom Request Form available on the Receptionist’s counter. Submit to Sharon Paulson in 220 Van Vleck at least '''48 hours''' before the room is needed. All campus building classrooms are scheduled through a university scheduling center, thus we have no control over the classrooms in our building.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Room_Reservations&diff=5369Room Reservations2013-06-06T18:32:22Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Room Reservations */</p>
<hr />
<div>==Room Reservations== <br />
*''The conference room'' (<u>'''307'''</u>) is available for Math Department purposes when it is free. Reservations should be made through Sharon Paulson in 220 Van Vleck. Please do NOT use this room without first checking for availability. <br />
<br />
*''Ninth floor Seminar Rooms'' (<u>'''901'''</u> and <u>'''903'''</u>) may also be reserved for Math Department business through Sharon Paulson on a first-come, first-served basis both for one-time and semester-long events. Reservations carry over to following semesters - for seminars only. 901 is locked at 4pm M - F and all day on weekends. For access, go the Math Library to check out a key.<br />
<br />
*''Ninth floor Conference Room'' (<u>'''911'''</u>) There is a research conference room (lounge) on the ninth floor (Room 911) intended for informal contact between Math Dept. faculty, staff and graduate students. It is not to be used as a study room by others nor is it to be used as a gathering place for a review session for undergraduates. The lounge should not be used as a nap or overnight sleeping area.<br />
<br />
The 9th floor conference room '''MUST''' be reserved for all Dept. events and ‘get togethers’. Reservations are made with the Chair’s Assistant. On occasion, it is used by outside groups and may be unavailable. Check the sign on the outside of the door before entering. This will help you avoid any embarrassment of walking in on an event.<br />
<br />
''Coffee and tea'' are available on a pay-as-you-go or a monthly fee basis. There is a small kitchen that contains a refrigerator and a microwave oven. The refrigerator should be used only for short-term storage; articles of advanced age or unpleasant aroma may be summarily removed. All users are requested to leave the lounge, and especially the kitchen, at least as clean as they found it and to follow the instructions for use of the facilities.<br />
<br />
<u>'''Classroom Reservations'''</u>: Fill out a Campus Classroom Request Form available on the Receptionist’s counter. Submit to Sharon Paulson in 220 Van Vleck at least '''48 hours''' before the room is needed. All campus building classrooms are scheduled through a university scheduling center, thus we have no control over the classrooms in our building.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Photocopy_Facilities&diff=5368Photocopy Facilities2013-06-06T18:28:29Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Photocopying */</p>
<hr />
<div>==Photocopying== <br />
There are new copy machines on each of the floors 3-8 of Van Vleck for the use of Math department personnel. Math Department people will be given access codes to use these copy machines. Please contact Sara Nagreen for help in operating any of these machines or to report any breakdown. The copiers have enlarging, scanning and PDF creation capabilities. Keep in mind the copyright laws when duplicating books, journals, etc. The copiers are intended for business copying only. TA's, LTE, and Grad students are allowed 250 printed pages from the machines on floors 3-9 of Van Vleck. In addition they are allowed 200 copies from the copy machines on floors 3-8. '''TAs, LTE and Grad Students will be charged for any copies over 200 and any printed pages over 250'''. See this [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Ricoh_Copier_FAQ link] for more information on using the Ricoh copiers. Personal copying can be done in the Math Library (B224).<br />
<br />
Larger numbers of copies to be charged to the department or to a grant should go through the Copy Center in Room 220. Larger numbers of personal copies should be made outside the department.<br />
<br />
==Copy Center==<br />
The ''Copy Center'' services are available for teaching and research related copying only. Syllabi, problem assignments / solutions, and small quantities of course-related materials may be duplicated by the Copy Center. For larger quantities of course-related materials, consult the course supervisor or the faculty committee about charges. '''Work-order forms are available in and directly outside the Copy Center. They must be filled out before work can be copied'''. Incomplete forms will be returned to your mailbox and copying will not be done. Research related copying should be charged to a grant. The Copy Center Manager will directly bill your grant each month. Copies can be picked up in the Copy Center or can be returned to your mailbox. <br />
<br />
Every effort will be made to minimize turn-around time, but to a large extent it will be under your collective control. Allow '''24 hours''' lead time for normal size jobs; no less than '''3 days''' for exams; and at '''least a week''' for copying large quantities. The workload will rise during six-week, twelve-week, and final exam periods. Work of equal priority and urgency will be done on a ''first-come, first-served basis''. Please try to avoid urgency by using foresight and do not overstate the urgency of work.<br />
<br />
There are two kinds of transparencies available. <br />
# the write-on kind in Room 220 and <br />
# the kind you run on the copy machine available in Room 205. <br />
<br />
'''They are not interchangeable'''. The write-on kind could melt in the copy machine and disable its use for several days.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Receptionist&diff=5367Receptionist2013-06-06T18:21:19Z<p>Johnsonm: </p>
<hr />
<div>The Receptionist is in charge of handing out office supplies and directing you to the person you are looking for. They are in 213 Van Vleck. <br />
<br />
'''Summer Hours''': 9:30am to 2:15pm MTWR.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Supplies ==<br />
<br />
The Receptionist has the regular office supplies that you might need, please see them to obtain such as pens, paper, paperclips etc...<br />
<br />
''If you would like special office supplies, you must arrange with Sharon Paulson how to order them and how to pay for them.''<br />
<br />
== Contact Information ==<br />
<br />
Please be sure that the Receptionist has your current address and home/cell phone number. At the beginning of each semester, fill out a schedule card including classes and office hours. Also, advise the Receptionist when you are going to be away from Madison for any length of time. <br />
<br />
== Department Telephone ==<br />
<br />
Please see that people who are likely to call you have your number, so that calls go directly to you and do not have to go through the Receptionist. The Receptionist should not be considered the department's telephone switchboard. If you expect a significant number of phone calls while you are not in your office, you may wish to consider purchasing an answering machine.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Receptionist&diff=5366Receptionist2013-06-06T18:18:50Z<p>Johnsonm: </p>
<hr />
<div>The Receptionist is in charge of handing out office supplies and directing you to the person you are looking for.<br />
<br />
'''Summer Hours''': 9:30am to 2:15pm MTWR.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Supplies ==<br />
<br />
The Receptionist has the regular office supplies that you might need, please see them to obtain such as pens, paper, paperclips etc...<br />
<br />
''If you would like special office supplies, you must arrange with Sharon Paulson how to order them and how to pay for them.''<br />
<br />
== Contact Information ==<br />
<br />
Please be sure that the Receptionist has your current address and home/cell phone number. At the beginning of each semester, fill out a schedule card including classes and office hours. Also, advise the Receptionist when you are going to be away from Madison for any length of time. <br />
<br />
== Department Telephone ==<br />
<br />
Please see that people who are likely to call you have your number, so that calls go directly to you and do not have to go through the Receptionist. The Receptionist should not be considered the department's telephone switchboard. If you expect a significant number of phone calls while you are not in your office, you may wish to consider purchasing an answering machine.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Receptionist&diff=5365Receptionist2013-06-06T18:18:09Z<p>Johnsonm: </p>
<hr />
<div>The Receptionist is in charge of handing out office supplies and directing you to the person you are looking for.<br />
<br />
'''Note:''' '''Summer Hours''': 9:30am to 2:15pm MTWR.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Supplies ==<br />
<br />
The Receptionist has the regular office supplies that you might need, please see them to obtain such as pens, paper, paperclips etc...<br />
<br />
''If you would like special office supplies, you must arrange with Sharon Paulson how to order them and how to pay for them.''<br />
<br />
== Contact Information ==<br />
<br />
Please be sure that the Receptionist has your current address and home/cell phone number. At the beginning of each semester, fill out a schedule card including classes and office hours. Also, advise the Receptionist when you are going to be away from Madison for any length of time. <br />
<br />
== Department Telephone ==<br />
<br />
Please see that people who are likely to call you have your number, so that calls go directly to you and do not have to go through the Receptionist. The Receptionist should not be considered the department's telephone switchboard. If you expect a significant number of phone calls while you are not in your office, you may wish to consider purchasing an answering machine.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Guide&diff=5363Graduate Student Guide2013-06-06T18:14:26Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Administrative and Support Staff */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Exams.png|400px|right | Grading Exams in the Lounge]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
= Food =<br />
<br />
There are many ethnic and interesting restaurants in Madison – Indonesian, African, Italian, Himalayan, Laotian, Peruvian, Mexican, Bakeries, Brew Pubs, Coffee Joints, you name it -- and everyone has their favorites.<br />
<br />
The biggest resource for finding food (and entertainment!) in Madison is probably the [http://www.thedailypage.com/eats/ Daily Page] (the online version of our local paper, the Isthmus), where you can search local restaurants by name, locality, and cuisine. There, they have reviews, hours, contact info, pricing, etc. Be sure to peruse their [http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Restaurants Madison's Favorites] section for some quick tips! Of course [http://www.yelp.com/ yelp] is always useful as well. At one point a couple spent a few years trying to sample every restaurant in Madison and blogged about their journey on the [http://www.madisonatoz.com/ Madison A to Z].<br />
<br />
Here are some general food facts:<br />
<br />
== Campus Food ==<br />
*Food Carts: Open for lunch in Library Mall at the foot of Bascom Hill near Lake & State Street. Very good and very cheap, and out as long as it's not too cold.<br />
<br />
*Badger Market at Ingraham Hall: Very close to Van Vleck, and has acceptable coffee (bring your own cup to save money!) and decent snacks. Try the Badger Bundle lunch special: sandwich, drink, and a side for $1 off your total. Halfway down the hill is the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/crossroadscafe.htm Crossroads Cafe] which has much better coffee and is open later.<br />
<br />
*Memorial Union: The Rathskeller has food and next door is Lakeside cafe with much better food. Summer afternoons on the terrace is an excellent place to hang out in the sunshine with a beer and brat.<br />
<br />
*Union South: Features a pizza place, a pan-Asian restaurant, a sandwich shop, a sports bar (burgers and sandwiches) and an ice cream stand. <br />
<br />
*State Street (past the food carts) is full of restaurants and Coffee shops – there are at least a half dozen coffee roasters in town, and each supplies a different set of shops. In particular for lunch, there are the popular chains, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Einstein Bros. Bagels, or Chipotle... or hit the more independent spots such as the Sunroom Cafe or Ian's Pizza.<br />
<br />
== MadTown food ==<br />
<br />
Traditional Madison foods are German varieties such as beer, cheese, and bratwurst. Twice a year Madison hosts [http://www.bratfest.com/ Bratfest], a record breaking event. <br />
UW has [http://www.wisc.edu/foodsci/store/ Babcock Hall Ice Cream] on campus which creates delicious ice cream available in the Unions. The [http://www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com/ Chocolate Shoppe], [http://www.ilovemichaels.com/ Michael's Frozen Custard] and Culvers have nice deserts.<br />
Micro breweries in town include the [http://www.greatdanepub.com/ Great Dane], [http://www.capital-brewery.com/ Captial Brewery] and [http://www.aleasylum.com/ Ale Asylum]. Nearby there is the famous [http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/ New Glarus Brewing Co] which only sells beer in Wisconsin. You can join a free beer tour or walk through the brewery on a self guided tourn.<br />
<br />
In early September (Labor Day weekend), check out [http://www.madisonfestivals.com/taste/ Taste of Madison] to see many restaurants all in one place at one time.<br />
<br />
Try a good ol' midwestern Fish Fry on Friday night – All you can eat fried fish generally served with a bran muffin, clam chowder, or coleslaw. Most Brew Pubs and some churches have them, and the [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/restaurant.php Orpheum] as well at the [http://www.avenuebarmadison.com/ Avenue Bar and Grill] both run Friday night Fish Fries.<br />
<br />
== Farm fresh food ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.madfarmmkt.org/ Dane County Farmer's Market] is amazing and HUGE. The big one is open every Saturday morning, and is located on the capitol square for most of the year. In addition to the ludicrous amount of fresh produce, there are also bakery stands, coffee, and fresh juice carts for quick breakfasts.<br />
<br />
There are also a few smaller [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farmers_markets.htm#danecounty markets] scattered around town, almost every day of the week:<br />
<br />
*Sunday: 8:30am to 12:30pm in front of Pierce's Northside Market<br />
*Monday: (none)<br />
*Tuesday: 4pm to 7pm on Ingersol at Williamson, 2pm to 6pm at 1602 S. Park St,<br />
*Wednesday: 8am to 2pm on MLKJr Blvd, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center,<br />
*Thursday: Thursdays, 2pm to 6pm at the Villager Mall on Park St., 2pm to 6pm in the McFarland Centre, 7:30am to 1:30pm in the Greenway Station shopping center,<br />
*Friday: (none)<br />
*Saturday: 6am to 2pm on the Capitol square, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center, 9am to 2pm at 1602 S. Park St, 7am to 1pm at Sheboygan Ave. and Segoe Rd., and 8:30am to 11am in Watertower Park.<br />
<br />
During the summer and fall, there are many [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/index.htm local farms] where you can [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farms/u_pick.htm pick] your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, or pumpkins when they are in season.<br />
<br />
If you're in town for the summer, you might consider signing up for a [http://www.macsac.org/ Community Supported Agriculture] food box. CSA is a way to support a local farm by paying an annual fee in the winter or spring which buys you a share of the season's harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick-up a weekly box of fresh foods which may include produce, fruits, cheeses, eggs, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. The typical CSA season in Wisconsin runs from the end of May through mid-October. You do have to pay the lump sum up-front, and some weeks you'll find yourself with five pounds of chard... but for most of the summer you'll have your produce needs met, and you can feel good about supporting small local farms. Better yet, most of the university's insurance providers offer [http://www.macsac.org/rebates.html rebates] for signing up for a CSA -- somewhere between $50-$300, depending on the plan and how many people you're sharing with (for example, if two people on GHC share a box, they might pay $450 for the box for a box lasting 25 weeks, but they they could each get $100 back, making that $5/week per person). If you're interested, remember to sign up early -- most programs are full by May.<br />
<br />
= Grocery Stores =<br />
<br />
== Generic Groceries ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.capcentrefoods.com/home.html Capitol Centre Foods]: Given their small size, they have an excellent selection of groceries. They tend to be a bit pricey. In addition, they deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.freshmadisonmarket.com/ Fresh Madison Market]: A reasonably large general grocery store, not too expensive. Has a large selection of "typical college items" (lots of frozen foods). Located on University, not too far from Van Vleck. They also deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.copps.com/ Copps]: Your standard grocery store with multiple locations.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=1020&lang=en-US Costco]: Your friendly big-box bulk store. They treat their employees incredibly well. Good buys on computers, 2 lbs of sockeye salmon or button down oxford cloth long sleeved shirts. You'll need a membership or go there with someone who has a membership. You can also get a free trial membership if you simply ask.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.walgreens.com/ Walgreens]: Pharmacy/Grocery store. There is a Walgreens on the corner of Lake & State Street near Van Vleck, on the Capitol Square, at East Campus Mall, and in University square.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Whole Foods]: Kinda spendy, but good bread, specialty stuff, and produce through the winter.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Woodman's]: two locations -- [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=725+S+Gammon+Rd+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=43.055217,-89.50304&spn=0.05381,0.171661 East] and [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3817+Milwaukee+St,+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.103615,-89.319363&spn=0.053768,0.171661&om=1 West]. If you have a car and the time, go here. Very large, very cheap, but time consuming. They don't take credit cards, so bring a debit card or check book. The produce is pretty poor, but they're huge and, again, cheap. Check out the liquor store for a large selection (you can buy all types of alcohol in grocery stores in Wisconsin... but not after 9pm).<br />
<br />
*[http://www.traderjoes.com/ Trader Joe's]: Located at 1810 Monroe St. They have good prices for select specialty food items such as wine, cheese and fancy snacks. Their basic foodstuffs tend to be a bit pricey.<br />
<br />
*The Jenifer Street Market located on 2038 Jenifer Street is a nice little grocery store if you happen to live in the area.<br />
<br />
== Co-ops ==<br />
Co-ops are a good source of local organic food. If you are a member they provide discounts, but you can also shop there at your own will.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.regentmarketcoop.org/ Regent Market Cooperative], 2136 Regent St. 233-4329.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.willystreet.coop/ Willy Street Co-op] The largest and most active co-op in the Madison area. They have been able to survive the decline in co-ops over the years. They offer a large selection of bulk foods and spices at an excellent price. For a quick bite, they have an excellent deli, salad bar, and in-store coffee shop. 1221 Williamson St. 251-6776. They recently opened a second store in Middleton located at 6825 University Ave. Both locations deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
== Specialty Foods ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.aldifoods.com/ Aldi Foods]: Very cheap! Little selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=keJ&q=asian+midway+foods&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,304616636444102595&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Asian Midway Market]: The go-to market for anything Thai, Chinese or South-East Asian, this centrally-located store comes highly recommended. In particular, they offer a great selection of specialized produce. 301 South Park Street; 255-5864<br />
<br />
*[http://www.brennansmarket.com/ Brennan's Market]: Great for Produce, Meats, Cheese, Micro brews and Wines. You won't find things like Flour and Saran Wrap here, but definitely worth the trip.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/ Farm Fresh Atlas]: Not a grocery store, but a good resource for where you can buy local foods and a list of farms in the areas.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madseafood.com/ The Seafood Center]: The name says it all. Great fresh fish and live lobsters.<br />
<br />
*[http://frabonisdeli.com/ Fraboni's]: An awesome Italian grocery store and deli. They have very good [http://frabonisdeli.com/oils olive oils], [http://frabonisdeli.com/pastas pastas], and make-your-own pizza fixings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3723579948/garden-asian-market-middleton Garden Asian Market]: A full service Asian food market specializing in fresh meat, produce, and seafood. Mostly Chinese-leaning, they do a good job of providing a wide variety of items within their niche. It may be far out, but it's worth the trip in its pleasantness and selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=india+house+grocery+store,+madison,+wi&fb=1&gl=us&hq=india+house+grocery+store,&hnear=Madison,+WI&cid=0,0,8495347478199843118&ll=43.050466,-89.503019&spn=0.007871,0.019183&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A India House]: Really well done Indian grocery store. Good place to buy Kari leaves.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=TMe&q=lee%27s+oriental&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,92533124768468793&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Lee's Oriental]: Next to Penzey's spices. 3240 University Ave; 231-1593<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=2Me&q=oriental+shop&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,13628497956998458364&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Oriental Shop]: They carry mostly dry-goods, and tend to lean toward stocking more Korean items. 1206 South Park Street; 255-0326<br />
<br />
= Housing =<br />
<br />
Haven't found a place yet? Already hate your apartment?<br />
<br />
* [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/ UW Off-Campus Housing Search]: Probably the best search site for students.<br />
<br />
* Again, [http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List] is a good resourse. Also a good place to look for roommates outside of the department.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/ University Apartments]: On campus graduate housing, particularly popular with married couples (especially with children). Singles are also welcome. Many of them are on the bus route #80, a free route which runs from the apartments through campus every ten minutes throughout the day.<br />
<br />
== Location, Location, Location ==<br />
<br />
If you would like to keep your commute down, there are many places near campus. Many graduate students prefer to live close enough to Van Vleck to be within walking distance, yet far enough away to stay away from partying undergraduate students.<br />
<br />
Many graduate students live in the Vilas neighborhood, which is located South of Regent Street and between Park and Monroe. East of the Capitol building, we also have the Willy St. neighborhood (between Williamson and Rutledge streets, between Paterson and Thornton) and the other side of the Isthmus, between Mifflin and Lake Mendota. The university offers on campus housing at Eagle Heights with regular buses. Many students also live near Sheboygan and University Avenues (not on this map), and there are regular buses that run up University Avenue that will drop you off right in front of Van Vleck. The large apartment complexes in that area include the Normandy, Chapel Hill, Carolina, Monticello, Hilldale Towers, Park Towers, and Sovereign Apartments which are cheaper to live in than spots on the square.<br />
<br />
Because there is no parking on campus, you will need to plan on living within walking distance of a bus route or campus itself. You will receive a free bus pass for the [http://www.mymetrobus.com/ Madison Metro] system, which is very reliable. Check out the “plan your trip” link to find bus routes near you.<br />
<br />
Here is an approximate map of many areas where you will be likely to find housing: <br />
[[Image:gradhousingmap.jpg|400px| center | Housing Map]]<br />
<br />
Basically, shoot for zones 2-6, the North parts of zones 7 and 8, or the far East part of zone 10 on [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/map_all.asp this map] (the map from the UW Off-Campus Housing Search).<br />
<br />
== Stuff your landlord might not tell you ==<br />
<br />
*Utilities:<br />
Lots of apartments have water, sewage, heat, and and sometimes electricity included in rent. For those which don't, be sure to find out what to expect through the [http://mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/ Madison Gas and Electric] web page. Just tell them the address of the place you're looking at, and they'll tell you what the highs, lows, and averages have been over the last year.<br />
<br />
*Property information:<br />
The [http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/property.html City Assessor] has all of the basic information about Madison properties on file, including how many units are on the property, how much square footage there is, if there's AC in the building, what school district it's in, who your alderperson would be, and what else is on the property (e.g. garages). They'll even tell you how much the property is worth, and how much your landlord is paying in property taxes. Sometimes the square footage isn't broken up--for example, maybe there are two units on the first floor, but they'll only tell you that there are 1,700 sq ft on that floor, not how it's split up between the two units. It can be a useful site for rounding out your knowledge of places you're considering renting.<br />
<br />
*Tenants rights:<br />
The [http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/ Tenant resource center] is a small non-profit membership organization which provides housing counseling, mediation services and office assistance. Their website includes tips for new renters, generic rental forms, and advice for what to do if your landlord just won't get back to you about repairs, returning deposits, etc.<br />
There is also the [http://studenttenantunion.rso.wisc.edu/ Student tenant union], which is specifically targeted to UW students.<br />
<br />
== Rental Companies ==<br />
Many properties in Madison are run by rental companies -- some large, some small -- some good, some not-so-good. Larger companies tend to have lower prices, and more people working toward maintaining rentals. However, they may have less of an investment in taking care of each individual property or screening their tenants. Some people feel better renting from small companies, or landlords with only one or two houses. You may get more individual attention and care. Individuals have more investment in protecting each property, and renting to good tenants, so the properties tend to be in more reliable condition. However, with fewer properties comes fewer resources and higher prices.<br />
<br />
Whatever choice you make, be sure to have a conversation with your potential landlords about their polices, especially if you aren't going to be able to see things in person. It may also be good to Google the company or person to see if other people have had something good or bad to say about them or their properties. In particular, [http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Madison.html ApartmentRatings.com] has a few of the apartment complexes around town listed.<br />
<br />
Here are some general impressions/very subjective opinions that some of us have gotten from/about a few of the larger local companies:<br />
<br />
*AB Holdings: In particular, they have a couple small apartment buildings on Vilas that are particularly ideal for two people. Quite a few people from the department have rented these units and have been pretty happy.<br />
<br />
*[http://apexrents.com/ Apex Property Management]: Great company. Well-maintained properties, with many of the more recently remodeled rentals being very nice. Their representatives are helpful and responsible, and their tenants seem to be generally satisfied.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.centralmadison.com/ The Christensen Company]: Not terribly up-to-date apartments, but worth taking a look at.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonproperty.com/ Madison Property Management]: Lots of choices, but notoriously junky properties. They tend to cater mostly to undergraduates, and their rentals show it. We wouldn't recommend renting from this company unless you visit first.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.mcbridecompanies.com/ The McBride Companies]: Nice properties, good management. Really good website if you turn the sound off.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.tallardapartments.com/ Tallard Apartments]: Nice properties with very friendly and responsive staff. Their rentals tend to go early in the season.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wimci.com/ Wisconsin Management Company]: Nice enough properties, but kind of flakey representation. Make sure to ask lots of questions.<br />
<br />
*The Wright Company (or Norris Ct. Apartments): Very nice older buildings, but kind of sketchy management. Nothing is going to be in stellar shape, but they do tend to rent more to graduates and professionals, so they aren't beat up either. If you do rent from them, don't expect them to be very responsive, and be sure to be especially careful about protecting your security deposit by taking photos and keeping a record of your move-in report.<br />
<br />
= Furniture =<br />
<br />
*[http://www.svdpmadison.org/ St. Vincent DePaul's]: Like Goodwill. Has cheap dressers, desks, chairs, and general household stuff. Will deliver for a small charge. This is also a great place to donate any furniture or other items that you no longer want – they will pick up the items from your apartment. There is also a Goodwill in town, but they won't have nearly the same volume of furniture.<br />
<br />
*[http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List]: a free online classifieds site. Great not only for furniture, but also pet resources and last minute apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
*Eagle Heights Apartment Bulletin Boards: Lots of cheap stuff from people graduating, many of whom are moving overseas. You can even find cars. You can try posting your own wanted posters on the boards. You can find these boards at the bus stops for the (free) bus 80 route.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/madisonfreecycle/ Freecycle]: A community "give stuff away for free" website with a Madison branch.<br />
<br />
*Hippie Christmas ("Move-Out Day"): For some reason or another, the evening of August 14th is when the bulk of leases near campus turn over. This is a fantastic day to pick up free furniture from the street. If you already have a rental van, why not help municipal waste by pickup up a bookshelf for them?<br />
<br />
*The Todd Drive Area: Just west of park street on the beltline. American Furniture for furniture and electronics, Home Concepts for cheap but nice looking furniture, and Steinhafel's for furniture and mattresses.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html SWAP]. The UW's surplus supply store.<br />
<br />
= International Student Resources =<br />
Here are a few links specifically for international students. There are international grocery stores listed in the [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Graduate_Student_Guide#Specialty_Foods groceries] section.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcssa.net/ Chinese Student & Scholar Association]: A connection to the university's Chinese community for incoming students. They offer rides from the airport, list general information about madison, and organize get-tegethers/Chinese celebrations. International Conversation & Coffee Hour: meet other international students and americans interested in other cultures. Every Friday, 12-2pm, Cooper Hearth Room 160, Union South.<br />
<br />
*[http://iss.wisc.edu/ International Student Services]: the UW's International Student Services<br />
<br />
*[http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MADindians/ MadIndians]: a Yahoo online group for students from India in Madison. Good place to search for an Indian roommate.<br />
<br />
*[http://mtsa.rso.wisc.edu/ Madison Association of Turkish Students]: Very helpful for incoming Turkish students. It includes information about how best to get to Madison from Turkey, information about housing, and how to reach other Turkish students in Madison.<br />
<br />
= Newspapers =<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/captimes/ The Capitol Times]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the afternoon. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more liberal.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.thedailypage.com/ The Isthmus]: Free independent Madison newspaper. Has a liberal voice and is full of entertainment, including family fun, outdoor attractions, and fine arts. Also puts out the Annual Manual - the yearly guide to all things Madison.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.theonion.com/ The Onion]: While hilarious, this paper is only really good if you're already in on the joke. We get free paper copies in Madison. There is a stack near the elevators in VV. The local edition has local entertainment listings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Wisconsin State Journal]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the mornings. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more conservative.<br />
<br />
= Religious Groups =<br />
*[http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/ Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/ Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church]: Near Sheboygan Ave. at 110 N Whitney Way. A huge church, but with opportunities to get involved and meet people. It has services in the sanctuary, with a mixture of traditional and semi-modern worship, and also "video cafe" services with more lively, modern worship. Very good teaching.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cpcmadison.com/ Christ Presbyterian Church]. Just east of James Madison Park on Gorham. Has a great choir and organist!<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fusmadison.org/ The First Unitarian Society of Madison]. "A liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue." Looking for something new? They're open to all types. Also, they are housed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.folmadison.org/ Fountain of Life]: 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. A multi-ethnic church with a lot of eclectic music styles, including a lot of Gospel music<br />
<br />
*[http://genevacc.org/ The Geneva Campus Church]: On Campus Reformed church. They describe themselves as "a university church for the whole family"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwhillel.org/ Hillel]: UW-Madison's on-campus center for everything Jewish: religious, cultural, political, traditional, and alternative. Located on Langdon Street, it serves both the school population and, to a far lesser extent, the entire city.<br />
<br />
*[http://islamiccentermadison.org/ Islamic Center of Madison]: Has a masjid inside. 21 N Orchard St, (608)251-9851<br />
<br />
*[http://ivgcf.rso.wisc.edu/ InterVarsity Grad Christian Fellowship]: It's a welcoming place for Christians and non-Christians alike. (You might even find your future husband/wife there) They also have a website with info about local churches. There is a new student picnic at the beginning of the fall semester.<br />
<br />
*Latter Day Saints: There are a number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wards in the Madison area. The Madison First Ward covers areas closest to campus and meets at 4505 Regent Street, two blocks south of Hilldale Mall, at 9am. The University Ward serves single adults and meets at 1711 University Avenue at 10 am. The Madison Third Ward serves areas close to campus and meets at 701 Bear Claw Way on Madison's far west side at 11 am. Visitors and the curious are always welcome.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lccmadison.com/ Lutheran Campus Center]: A fairly young, enthusiastic, and liberal-minded congragation, found right on campus.<br />
<br />
*[http://madcitychurch.org/ Mad City Church]: A non-denominational, casual christian fellowship. Services are held in the LaFollette High School located on Madison's east side - very near the corner of Pflaum Rd. and Monona Dr. Office at 2713 E. Washington Ave.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.muuyacm.org/ Madison UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry (MUUYACM)]. One of the largest and most active Unitarian Universalist young adult groups in the U.S., they are open to young adults (ages 18-35) of all denominations. In addition to worships, they organize social-justice-oriented activities, and are an active member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcatholic.org/ St. Paul's University Catholic Center]: On campus in Library Mall near Lake & State. Has a lively Catholic grad student group called Mustard Seed with Bible studies, Thursday night speakers, retreats, service projects, and large quantities of food and euchre.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.unityofmadison.org/ Unity of Madison]: (from their site) "Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community focused on Truth Seeking and Spiritual Growth through the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire, nuture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live Jesus' message that 'the kingdom of God is within you.'"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.isthmuszencommunity.org/ Zen Buddhism]: A local zen buddhist center is located next to Willy st co-op. New comers are especially welcome.<br />
<br />
= Arts and Entertainment =<br />
<br />
Madison is a medium sized city with a not so medium sized arts and entertainment scene. There are cultural events on campus<br />
and at the [http://www.overturcenter.com Overture Center]; sporting events; art, science, natural history, and history museums; parks, the<br />
[http://www.uwarboretum.org arboretum], and [http://www.olbrich.org botanical gardens]; a free [http://www.vilaszoo.org zoo]; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; a [http://www.madfarmmkt.com Farmer’s Market] on the<br />
Capital Square every Saturday morning from April-October; and lots of other things. The [http://www.thedailypage.com Isthmus], is the local free newspaper which posts many current events.<br />
The Isthmus can be found in many stores, in campus buildings, and on street corners.<br />
<br />
== Athletic Activities ==<br />
* [http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/ Rec Sports] runs the gyms on campus. There are three such on-campus gyms -- The SERF, the Nat, and the Shell, which are free with student ID. For $10/semester, you can attend any of their Group Fitness classes, which cover everything from aerobics and weights to yoga and dance. Also, both the SERF and Nat have indoor pools.<br />
<br />
*The University of Wisconsin has a long standing heritage of being proud of their [http://www.uwbadgers.com/ athletic events]. Men's basketball, football and ice-hockey receive the most attention and as a student, you can obtain season tickets for all of these events.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.mufa.org MUFA] is an ultimate frisbee league that has summer as well as spring and fall seasons. This is a really fun way to stay active and meet some new Madison friends! You don't need to form a team-- just see the link for info about how to join a team looking for more players. Note: the games are often played all over the city and burbs, and are not necessarily reachable by bus. You'll need a car, or a teammate with a car. Also see the link for info about local pick-up games.<br />
<br />
== Dancing ==<br />
<br />
*Ballroom: [http://www.uwmbda.org/ UWMBDA] is the big ballroom dance group here. They have dances with lessons every week on Friday or Saturday and a practice group every Thursday.<br />
<br />
*[http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/dances.htm Contra Dance]: Meetings every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
*International Folk club: meets biweekly Library Mall, Wed/Sun 7:30PM-late.<br />
<br />
*Swing: [http://www.uwswing.com/ Jumptown Swing] is UW's swing club. They host (mostly) weekly dances at Union South, and provide lessons for a nominal fee. See their site for scheduling and links to other swing orgonizations. Also, on Wednesdays, there's dancing at the [http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ Brink Lounge] from 8-11.<br />
<br />
*Salsa: Venues include [http://www.cardinalbar.com/ Cardinal Bar] on Thursdays, [http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/details.php?event=176610 Frida's] on Friday nights. Don't know how to Salsa? There are lessons before dances at Cardinal, and instruction is offered through the Union's minicourses.<br />
<br />
*Tango: the [http://www.madisontango.org/ Madison Tango Society] provides lessons and dances for Argentine Tango. Their site has a good list or other events in and around Madison.<br />
<br />
== Libraries ==<br />
In addition to the many [http://www.library.wisc.edu/ Libraries of UW], the [http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ Madison Public Library] is a great place for books, movies, and music.<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
The Daily Page has a [http://www.thedailypage.com/movies/listing.php listing] of movie times for most of the theaters around town (both big and small):<br />
<br />
*Eastgate, Point and AMC (Star) Cinema are the three larger movie theaters in town.<br />
<br />
*Market Square shows second runs at a good discount. <br />
<br />
*The [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/ Orpheum] is an old cinema within site of the capitol on State street. They tend to show less mainstream movies.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.sundancecinemas.com/madison.html Sundance 608] shows independent film as well as blockbuster movies. They have a rooftop cafe that's open during the summer months, 2 bars (you can take a drink into your movie), and a restaurant!<br />
<br />
For on-campus movies:<br />
*The Wisconsin Union Directorate runs on campus screening of films. Their film site can be found [http://www.union.wisc.edu/WUD/film.aspx here.]<br />
<br />
*The UW film department hosts free screenings of a wide array of films based on a given theme for that semester through their [http://cinema.wisc.edu/ cinematheque.] Their department has many contacts with other film institutes and are able show rare original 35mm films that you can't see anywhere else.<br />
<br />
*In late March/early April, go check out some of the many many films showing at the [http://www.wifilmfest.org/ Wisconsin Film Festival.] Sites all over town take part in hosting the showing of these films.<br />
<br />
Madison also has a number of independent video stores:<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ Four Star Video Heaven] has been voted as a Madison Favorite for a number of years. See their site to browse their collection online.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bongovideo.com/ Bongo Video] has a smaller, but quite tasty selection. Lots of personality, and good daily specials.<br />
<br />
== Music ==<br />
Whether you're looking to play music, or just go watch free or (in)expensive concerts, there are many options in Madison.<br />
<br />
*Our very own [http://music.wisc.edu/ Music Department] hosts many music events. Their website has a calendar listing current music events including faculty concerts and student recitals.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonsymphony.org/ The Madison Symphony Orchestra] (MSO) is the professional symphony based here in Madison. With your student ID, you can get student rush tickets for as little as $10 per person.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wcoconcerts.org/ The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra] is Madison's professional chamber orchestra. Each summer, their widely popular [http://www.wcoconcerts.org/new/cos/concertsonthesquare.php concerts on the square] draw many people from all over the place for a free outdoor concert.<br />
<br />
*[http://madisoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Madison Community Orchestra] (MCO) is an informal group run by Madison Area Technical College that meets once a week. There are four free concerts a year and no auditions to play with the group.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.middletoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Middleton Community Orchestra] is a second newly formed community orchestra run by community musicians. Their concerts are extremely affordable, and they may run auditions.<br />
<br />
== Outdoor Activites ==<br />
Madison is a very bicycle friendly town, and there are many parks either in town or within a short drive. Here are some suggestions about outdoor activities to engage in:<br />
<br />
*Take a nice long walk along one of the many paths around [http://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/imap/LakeshoreNaturePreserve.html Picnic Point]... bike the path from Memorial Union out to the tip, or bus/drive out to the base of picnic point and wander the foot trails in the area.<br />
<br />
*Head towards Monona Terrace on Lake Monona, and take one of the paths that wraps around the lake (great bike ride!).<br />
<br />
*You can also go walking and/or biking around the [http://uwarboretum.org/ Arboretum] south of campus and tour their gardens, or head to the free [http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Vilas Zoo]. Lake Wingra is essentially totally surrounded by wooded areas including Henry Vilas Park, the UW-arboretum and Edgewood college. You can rent canoes at Knickerbocker for fairly cheap and relax on Lake Wingra.<br />
<br />
*Community Gardens: There are a number of community gardens run by the [http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/ Community Action Coalition]. Nominally, you can sign up for a plot for a small fee, and learn how to garden if you don't already know, or go to town if you already do. The [http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/ Eagle Heights Community Garden] is open to both residents and non-residents alike. All of the gardens are fun to look at if you haven't ever seen one.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.olbrich.org/ The Olbrich Botanical Gardens] are located east of lake Monona. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including their award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden, or enjoy the year-round tropical Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds.. Outdoor gardens are open daily and free to the public, while entrance to the conservatory is $1 per person.<br />
<br />
*Catch a festival; Madison is home to a number of festivals -- big festivals, small festivals, arts festivals, music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals -- we've got all kinds.<br />
<br />
The Winter opens itself up to new activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing and other options. The hoofers club runs ice boats on the lake.<br />
<br />
*The city of Madison parks open up outdoor [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct2.html ice skating] at Tenney, Vilas, and Elver parks. No skates? No worries. They will rent skates to you there ($6.00 for the first hour, $2/hr after that).<br />
<br />
*There is also [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct4.html cross-country skiing] at a number of Dane county parks, with passes starting at $5/day. No skills? Check out lessons at the [http://www.madnorski.org/page/ Madison Nordic Ski Club] or, again, [http://sns.hoofers.org/ Hoofers] has lots to offer in that area.<br />
<br />
== Student Clubs ==<br />
The University of Wisconsin, being a rather large institution, has got so much stuff going on for all of us student-types. Here are some ways people around the department have been taking advantage:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop]: Located upstairs in the Memorial Union, they are "here to satisfy your creative urges in a variety of craft media." Their facilities include a darkroom, a woodshop, a ceramics studio, metal working tools, etc. Friday afternoons, they open their studios to all union members (that means you!) for free!<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hoofers.org/ Hoofers]: Student outdoor recreation club. The Outing and Sailing clubs in particular have lots of graduate students.<br />
<br />
* [http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]: Graduate Student Collaborative Organization<br />
<br />
* [http://cfli.wisc.edu/student_organizations.htm Student Organizations]: at UW Madison (this is a directory of all registered student organizations at the university; you can search by topic or name)<br />
<br />
== The Student Unions ==<br />
The Memorial Union is located on the lakefront, on Park and Langdon. Be sure to check out the Terrace while the weather is still good -- it's a great place to go to get out of the office, grab something to snack on, and study out in the sun. You'll find the Daily Scoop (yummy ice cream!) and Der Rathskeller (beer and deep-fried goodness). You'll also find all sorts of stuff to keep you busy, like the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop], the Union Theater, the Hoofers' headquarters, and a wide array of Mini Courses with which to expand your horizons.<br />
<br />
Also useful: the travel services center and STA Travel will get you good deals on trips (including bus tickets to O'Hare, Midway, and Milwaukee airports), and the theater's box office will get you good deals on shows (theater, music, etc) all around town. In addition, the Union has always got other special events going on to keep all of us entertained -- see their complete [http://www.union.wisc.edu/activities/ list of activities].<br />
<br />
The Union South was recently completely renovated and also has many activities available. They have a climbing wall, a bowling alley, pool tables, a beer garden, a wine tasting room, a ballroom, a movie theater and many other things.<br />
<br />
= Van Vleck Miscellany =<br />
Here's a bit more info about the happenings in and around the Math Dept.<br />
<br />
== Getting money ==<br />
*Paychecks: The first paycheck of the year arrives in October, though you may request an advance on about 30% of your first paycheck when you arrive. If you are not working over the summer, the last will come in June, so be sure to plan for the three month gap.<br />
<br />
*Fees: You will be charged for segregated fees in both semesters, and are not covered in your tuition. The amount depends on your credit load and status, but will be about $500 for most people and due about the time of your first paycheck. If you are on fellowship, this will be taken care of for you, and shouldn't appear on your bill.<br />
<br />
*TA union: The teaching assistants of Wisconsin are unionized. Even if you are not a TA, but are an employee of the department, you're still connected to them through advocacy and campus issues. For more information check out the [http://www.taa-madison.org/ TAA].<br />
<br />
== Getting stuff done ==<br />
See the Contacts section for a list of people who will help you get stuff done.<br />
<br />
If you want to reserve rooms in Van Vleck for review sessions or meetings you can fill out a green form with Sharon Paulson on the second floor. Sharon does the scheduling for about 4 or 5 rooms in the building, so you can also ask her about these rooms directly. If you need to reserve the 9th floor lounge, talk to Joan Wendt (also second floor).<br />
<br />
Each grad receives 200 photocopies and 250 black and white print outs a month for personal math use. If you are a TA, Sharon in the Copy Center on the second floor can photocopy materials for classes (which does not count toward your quota)– such as worksheets and quizzes. Just give her at least 24 hours notice. To check your printout quota, open a terminal logged into the math server, and type "pages". If you do go over your quota, you will simply get a (probably very small) bill at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
We get free office supplies on the 2nd floor – just ask the Receptionist for pens, folders, etc.<br />
<br />
You can pick up and send out your mail from the second floor. You might even want to have packages delivered to the department, to avoid missing them being delivered at home (UPS, for example, won't drop off to apartment complexes if you aren't there, so you'll have to drive out to Middleton to pick up your packages).<br />
<br />
It's never too early to start studying for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/graduate/quals.htm quals]... early and often, my friends. Early and Often.<br />
<br />
== Getting together ==<br />
Historically, some afternoons and Friday before colloquium, we have a cookie and coffee social hour on the 9th floor lounge. Keep your eyes open for announcements.<br />
<br />
Definitely check out some of the colloquia and seminars. The earlier you get involved the better. This is a great way to learn more about potential research areas, meet other people in the areas, and meet other mathematicians in other departments. There is a list posted on the 9th floor each week in addition to online.<br />
<br />
Once a semester, our group for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ women in mathematics] get together for an informal potluck. We also have been known to bring in women speakers funded by the [http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/ WiSELI] grant.<br />
<br />
= Miscellaneous Wisconsin Stuff =<br />
This section describes miscellaneous Wisconsin stuff that doesn't belong in any other section, such as, a [[Wisconsin Dictionary]] for those who aren't familiar with the Wisconsin vernacular.<br />
<br />
== Voting ==<br />
Frequently asked questions for Wisconsin voting can be found <br />
[http://wisconsin.gov/state/core/faq_wisconsin_voting_elections.html here]. <br />
As of the April election, Wisconsin has a law that allows for same day registration at the polls:<br />
<br />
''If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.''<br />
<br />
Out of state licenses work, and utility bills, bank statements, or pay checks with your name and address on them work for proof of residence.<br />
<br />
== Car Stuff ==<br />
Madison has a DMV out on the west side, just past Midvale, at 4802 Sheboygan Ave, and one on the east side out near the airport. <br />
<br />
*Licenses: As they say on their page for licensing new residents, if you're looking to put your permanent residence here and vote here and generally show up on the radar, you should apply for your [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/nonreside/index.htm WI license] within 60 days of establishing residency. Your first baseline license costs $28, and is valid for three years. Note: you will need to take with you, among other things, something like a rent agreement, or a utility bill, UW transcript, or bank statement actually mailed to your WI address (no e-bills). We'll note that math students have been known to wait longer than 60 days to officially apply for residency, but we recommend you don't wait until an out-of-state license expires to get a WI license.<br />
<br />
*Vehicle Registration: If you own a car and officially become a WI resident, you need to get WI plates. All the information you need is available [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/new/resident.htm here].<br />
<br />
*Parking: First, unless you have a motorcycle, '''don't''' plan to park on campus regularly. For parking near your residence, there are some options. Depending on the neighborhood, it's possible to rent a place that has parking included or available for an extra charge. Additionally, if you live in an area surrounded by 2-hr parking [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/documents/RP3allmap.pdf zones], you can usually buy a permit (for a little over $20 per year) allowing you to park on the street all day near your home. More information can be found on the City of Madison Parking Utility [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingUtility/index.cfm page]. Most importantly, "the vehicle for which you are requesting a permit must be owned by you, your child, your parents/step parents, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner, or be a leased or company vehicle which is assigned to you." <br />
<br />
BE AWARE! Winter parking gets all crazy in Madison (from November 15 - March 15). Most of town is on an alternate side parking schedule: cars should be parked on the even (resp. odd) house numbered side of the street from 1:00a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on even (resp. odd) numbered days. If you live on the isthmus in the Snow Emergency Zone, you will only need to do this when the weather gets really bad. You can sign up for alerts when this happens.<br />
<br />
If you leave your car in the wrong place -- with winter nonsense or for any other reason -- and it gets towed, you can call the Madison Police Department (266-4260) or Schmidt's Towing (257-0505) to find out what they've done with it.<br />
<br />
== Taxes ==<br />
Once you've lived here for an entire calendar year, be sure to look into the [http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/home.html Wisconsin Homestead Credit]... it's usually worth the time and effort for graduate students. Until then, you can look into [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html deducting moving costs] for relocating here on your federal taxes.<br />
<br />
A warning to students on fellowship: taxes will not be taken out of your paycheck, but you still have to pay them. You may want to consider filing [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199807,00.html quarterly].<br />
<br />
== Wisconsin benefit programs ==<br />
We don't exactly get piles of money for teaching. In fact, most people who are not on fellowship or receiving summer funding can qualify for some heating aid (up to $380/year), and electricity aid (up to $285/year). You can check your eligibility at [https://access.wisconsin.gov/ Access WI]. <br />
There may be some residency requirements, like the Homestead credit. You can find your annual salary in our [http://www.taa-madison.org/contract/index.html contract].<br />
<br />
== Residency ==<br />
While it's usually a good idea to become a WI resident, if, for some reason, you're looking to declare residency in WI for tuition purposes, the answer is usually "no." It seems that one has to be in Wisconsin for a full year before enrolling at the UW, and one has to prove that one did not move here primarily for educational purposes (according to the Wisconsin statutes, you have to provide "clear and convincing evidence"). More on that at the [http://www.registrar.wisc.edu/students/residence/index.php Office of the Registrar]'s site.<br />
<br />
= Contacts and Other Resources =<br />
*[http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/gradguide/index.html Guide to Graduate Student Life]: The Graduate Student Collaborative's ([http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]) guide to grad student life in Madison -- like this one, but different.<br />
<br />
* [[Teaching Assistant Guide]]: from real live Van Vleck TAs<br />
<br />
*[http://www.yelp.com/madison-wi Yelp.com]: Find reviews of local stuff- restaurants and things to do, but also dentists, auto shops, etc.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.vip.wisc.edu VIP], the Visitor & Information Programs office, located in the Red Gym, near [http://www.union.wisc.edu Memorial Union]. They are open M - F 8am - 5pm and Saturday 11am - 2pm. <br />
<br />
*[http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu Student Orientation Handbook] is a valuable resource for information including entertainment, recreational and varsity sports, student organizations (including those for cultural groups, international students, LGBT students, women, veterans, and people with disabilities), health services, jobs, transportation, safety, and housing. It’s also a great place for referrals to counseling services, including drug and alcohol and sexual assault issues. You can find all this information on the web, at http://www.wisc.edu/visitingCampus/ or call them at 263-2400. You can also email any questions you have to askbucky@uwmad.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lgbt.wisc.edu LGBT Campus Center]: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Center (265-3344; lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu) provides support, social, educational and research services to the campus community, and serves as UW-Madison's first stop for those looking for information about campus LGBT organizations. The Memorial Union office on the 2nd floor includes a library, a television and DVD player, plenty of comfortable seating, open computers, and has a staff of students and professionals that work to bring events, speakers, and programs to campus. The Center also publishes a weekly events e-letter and offers support and social groups.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ WIMAW] (Women in Math at Wisconsin.)<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Got Questions? Here are some folks who might just have the answers...<br />
<br />
== Counseling Services ==<br />
Counseling services are available through Counseling and [http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/ Consultation Services (C&CS)], located at 115 North Orchard Street, (265-5600, TTY number 265-3300). C&CS offers brief psychological treatment, personal counseling, and psychiatric services to UW-Madison students. Frequent services include help in overcoming depression, managing anxiety and other psychological issues, and in developing greater self-awareness, independence, and self-direction. They also provide personal problem counseling, couples relationship counseling, marriage and family counseling, cross-cultural counseling, and alcohol and drug assessment and referral. Specialized groups have included: graduate women support, women and self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, survivors of troubled families, rebuilding relationships. C&CS also provides crisis response at the above phone numbers. Services provided are covered by the student health fee (included in your student fees).<br />
<br />
== Administrative and Support Staff ==<br />
The administrative and support staff are the folk that keep our department functioning. Without them, we as mathematicians would be lost. :) Their pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/support_staff.html here] and their contact info can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/academic_staff.html here]. If one person doesn't know how to deal with a problem you might have, they certainly know who might be able to help you out.<br />
<br />
TBD<br />
Position: Timetable/Undergraduate<br />
Office: 207 VV<br />
Email: ????@math<br />
Ask them about: Registration (for you and your students), MyUW stuff, classroom assignments.<br />
<br />
David Camacho<br />
Position: Assoc Fac Assoc<br />
Office: 321 VV<br />
Email: camacho@math<br />
Ask David about: the Math Tutorial Program (if a student needs extra attention)<br />
<br />
Mark Castillo<br />
Position: Grants/Proposals<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: castillo @math<br />
Ask Mark about: grant money, coffee club<br />
<br />
Chris Uhlir<br />
Position: Payroll/Benefits<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: grenie@math<br />
Ask Mike about: Payroll, hourly positions, taxes, tuition, healthcare, and benefits. <br />
<br />
Sara Nagreen<br />
Position: Sr IPC<br />
Office: 515 VV<br />
Email: nagreen@math<br />
Ask Sara about: all things computing.<br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson<br />
Position: Copy Center Manager/ Room Reservations<br />
Office: 220 VV<br />
Email: paulson@math<br />
Ask Sharon about: Room reservations (review sessions/exams/other), Copy Center stuff, private tutoring list.<br />
<br />
Mary Rice<br />
Position: Grad Prog. Admin<br />
Office: 203 VV<br />
Email: mrice@math<br />
Ask Mary about: Math dept records (teaching letters, transcripts, etc), how you go about graduating.<br />
<br />
Diane Rivard<br />
Position: Placement Advisor<br />
Office: 720 VV<br />
Email: rivard@math<br />
Ask Diane about: Placement questions (what class your student should be in, placement exam issues)<br />
<br />
Joan Wendt<br />
Position: Chair Secretary<br />
Office: 223 VV<br />
Email: wendt@math<br />
Ask Joan about: office assignments and keys<br />
<br />
Barbara Erlenborn<br />
Position: Dept Administrator<br />
Office: 218 VV<br />
Email: erlenborn@math<br />
Ask Barb about: admin stuff<br />
<br />
== Current and Former Graduate Students Interested in Meeting YOU ==<br />
You can find a complete list of current graduate students [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/psdbgrad.html here], and pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/grad.html here]. Email addresses that end with @ are intended to finish with @math.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
Hans Chaumont<br />
Email: chaumont@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~chaumont Website:]<br />
Grad-Age: Started 2012<br />
Area of interest: Undecided<br />
Ask Hans about: Pretty much anything, but especially about tea or the math weightlifting team.<br />
<br />
Laura Cladek<br />
Email: cladek@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~cladek Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2011<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Laura about: Anything ... Especially analysis or on campus housing.<br />
<br />
Nathan Collins<br />
Email: nathan.collins@gmail.com<br />
[http://cs.pdx.edu/~ntc2 Website]<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2008<br />
Area of interest: Computer Science and Logic.<br />
Ask Nathan about: Pittsburgh, bicycles, and being inferior to Mason at TAing. He dislikes printers and bad margins.<br />
<br />
David Dynerman<br />
Email: dynerman@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~dynerman Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask David about: programming video games, trying to do Hartshorne problems, <br />
going to the gym, Mushfeq Khan, Andrew Bridy<br />
<br />
Thomas Hangelbroek<br />
Email: hangelbr@math.hawaii.edu<br />
[http://math.hawaii.edu/people/hangelbr/ Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2007<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Thomas about: Anything Madison. Thomas is an expert in all things Madison.<br />
<br />
Sara Jensen<br />
Email: jensen@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jensen Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask Sara about: Teaching, topology & algebra quals, knitting group, going to the gym <br />
<br />
(Evan) Alec Johnson<br />
Email: ejohnson@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson Website]<br />
Grad-age: Ph.D., 2012<br />
Area of interest: Applied Math and Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask Alec about: teaching, advanced calculus, gardening, and Geneva Campus Church.<br />
<br />
Christine Lien<br />
Email: lien@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lien Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2005<br />
Area of interest: Complex Geometry<br />
Ask Christine about: anything, including bridge/card games, organizing women's events, <br />
the Association of Asian American Graduate students, and the Graduate Student Topology Seminar.<br />
<br />
Hao Lin<br />
Email: lin@<br />
[http://genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=156703 Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Hao about: sports and anything about China.<br />
<br />
Jonathon Mason<br />
Email: jonathan.f.mason@gmail.com<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2010<br />
Ask Mason about: Wisconsin hiking, the local film scene and being "way better than Nathan Collins" at TAing.<br />
<br />
Jason Murcko<br />
Email: murcko@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~murcko Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2006<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Jason about: the TAA and the local film and music scenes.<br />
<br />
Mike Schroeder<br />
Email: schroede@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~schroede UW Website]. [http://science.marshall.edu/schroederm/ Marshall Website].<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Combinatorics<br />
Ask Mike about: softball, bowling, sailing, racquet ball, and the Florida Gators.<br />
<br />
David Seal<br />
Email: seal@math.msu.edu<br />
[http://www.math.msu.edu/~seal Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2012.<br />
Area of interest: Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask David about: movies, biking, hiking and board games.<br />
<br />
Beth Skubak<br />
Email: skubak@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~skubak Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2009<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Beth about: anything, including this wiki<br />
<br />
Mike Woodbury<br />
[http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woodbury/ Website]<br />
Email: woodbury@math.columbia.edu<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011.<br />
Area of interest: Number Theory<br />
Ask Mike about: anything, including number theory, road biking, UW basketball tix.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Guide&diff=5362Graduate Student Guide2013-06-06T17:49:18Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Movies */</p>
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<div>[[Image:Exams.png|400px|right | Grading Exams in the Lounge]]<br />
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= Food =<br />
<br />
There are many ethnic and interesting restaurants in Madison – Indonesian, African, Italian, Himalayan, Laotian, Peruvian, Mexican, Bakeries, Brew Pubs, Coffee Joints, you name it -- and everyone has their favorites.<br />
<br />
The biggest resource for finding food (and entertainment!) in Madison is probably the [http://www.thedailypage.com/eats/ Daily Page] (the online version of our local paper, the Isthmus), where you can search local restaurants by name, locality, and cuisine. There, they have reviews, hours, contact info, pricing, etc. Be sure to peruse their [http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Restaurants Madison's Favorites] section for some quick tips! Of course [http://www.yelp.com/ yelp] is always useful as well. At one point a couple spent a few years trying to sample every restaurant in Madison and blogged about their journey on the [http://www.madisonatoz.com/ Madison A to Z].<br />
<br />
Here are some general food facts:<br />
<br />
== Campus Food ==<br />
*Food Carts: Open for lunch in Library Mall at the foot of Bascom Hill near Lake & State Street. Very good and very cheap, and out as long as it's not too cold.<br />
<br />
*Badger Market at Ingraham Hall: Very close to Van Vleck, and has acceptable coffee (bring your own cup to save money!) and decent snacks. Try the Badger Bundle lunch special: sandwich, drink, and a side for $1 off your total. Halfway down the hill is the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/crossroadscafe.htm Crossroads Cafe] which has much better coffee and is open later.<br />
<br />
*Memorial Union: The Rathskeller has food and next door is Lakeside cafe with much better food. Summer afternoons on the terrace is an excellent place to hang out in the sunshine with a beer and brat.<br />
<br />
*Union South: Features a pizza place, a pan-Asian restaurant, a sandwich shop, a sports bar (burgers and sandwiches) and an ice cream stand. <br />
<br />
*State Street (past the food carts) is full of restaurants and Coffee shops – there are at least a half dozen coffee roasters in town, and each supplies a different set of shops. In particular for lunch, there are the popular chains, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Einstein Bros. Bagels, or Chipotle... or hit the more independent spots such as the Sunroom Cafe or Ian's Pizza.<br />
<br />
== MadTown food ==<br />
<br />
Traditional Madison foods are German varieties such as beer, cheese, and bratwurst. Twice a year Madison hosts [http://www.bratfest.com/ Bratfest], a record breaking event. <br />
UW has [http://www.wisc.edu/foodsci/store/ Babcock Hall Ice Cream] on campus which creates delicious ice cream available in the Unions. The [http://www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com/ Chocolate Shoppe], [http://www.ilovemichaels.com/ Michael's Frozen Custard] and Culvers have nice deserts.<br />
Micro breweries in town include the [http://www.greatdanepub.com/ Great Dane], [http://www.capital-brewery.com/ Captial Brewery] and [http://www.aleasylum.com/ Ale Asylum]. Nearby there is the famous [http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/ New Glarus Brewing Co] which only sells beer in Wisconsin. You can join a free beer tour or walk through the brewery on a self guided tourn.<br />
<br />
In early September (Labor Day weekend), check out [http://www.madisonfestivals.com/taste/ Taste of Madison] to see many restaurants all in one place at one time.<br />
<br />
Try a good ol' midwestern Fish Fry on Friday night – All you can eat fried fish generally served with a bran muffin, clam chowder, or coleslaw. Most Brew Pubs and some churches have them, and the [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/restaurant.php Orpheum] as well at the [http://www.avenuebarmadison.com/ Avenue Bar and Grill] both run Friday night Fish Fries.<br />
<br />
== Farm fresh food ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.madfarmmkt.org/ Dane County Farmer's Market] is amazing and HUGE. The big one is open every Saturday morning, and is located on the capitol square for most of the year. In addition to the ludicrous amount of fresh produce, there are also bakery stands, coffee, and fresh juice carts for quick breakfasts.<br />
<br />
There are also a few smaller [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farmers_markets.htm#danecounty markets] scattered around town, almost every day of the week:<br />
<br />
*Sunday: 8:30am to 12:30pm in front of Pierce's Northside Market<br />
*Monday: (none)<br />
*Tuesday: 4pm to 7pm on Ingersol at Williamson, 2pm to 6pm at 1602 S. Park St,<br />
*Wednesday: 8am to 2pm on MLKJr Blvd, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center,<br />
*Thursday: Thursdays, 2pm to 6pm at the Villager Mall on Park St., 2pm to 6pm in the McFarland Centre, 7:30am to 1:30pm in the Greenway Station shopping center,<br />
*Friday: (none)<br />
*Saturday: 6am to 2pm on the Capitol square, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center, 9am to 2pm at 1602 S. Park St, 7am to 1pm at Sheboygan Ave. and Segoe Rd., and 8:30am to 11am in Watertower Park.<br />
<br />
During the summer and fall, there are many [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/index.htm local farms] where you can [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farms/u_pick.htm pick] your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, or pumpkins when they are in season.<br />
<br />
If you're in town for the summer, you might consider signing up for a [http://www.macsac.org/ Community Supported Agriculture] food box. CSA is a way to support a local farm by paying an annual fee in the winter or spring which buys you a share of the season's harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick-up a weekly box of fresh foods which may include produce, fruits, cheeses, eggs, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. The typical CSA season in Wisconsin runs from the end of May through mid-October. You do have to pay the lump sum up-front, and some weeks you'll find yourself with five pounds of chard... but for most of the summer you'll have your produce needs met, and you can feel good about supporting small local farms. Better yet, most of the university's insurance providers offer [http://www.macsac.org/rebates.html rebates] for signing up for a CSA -- somewhere between $50-$300, depending on the plan and how many people you're sharing with (for example, if two people on GHC share a box, they might pay $450 for the box for a box lasting 25 weeks, but they they could each get $100 back, making that $5/week per person). If you're interested, remember to sign up early -- most programs are full by May.<br />
<br />
= Grocery Stores =<br />
<br />
== Generic Groceries ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.capcentrefoods.com/home.html Capitol Centre Foods]: Given their small size, they have an excellent selection of groceries. They tend to be a bit pricey. In addition, they deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.freshmadisonmarket.com/ Fresh Madison Market]: A reasonably large general grocery store, not too expensive. Has a large selection of "typical college items" (lots of frozen foods). Located on University, not too far from Van Vleck. They also deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.copps.com/ Copps]: Your standard grocery store with multiple locations.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=1020&lang=en-US Costco]: Your friendly big-box bulk store. They treat their employees incredibly well. Good buys on computers, 2 lbs of sockeye salmon or button down oxford cloth long sleeved shirts. You'll need a membership or go there with someone who has a membership. You can also get a free trial membership if you simply ask.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.walgreens.com/ Walgreens]: Pharmacy/Grocery store. There is a Walgreens on the corner of Lake & State Street near Van Vleck, on the Capitol Square, at East Campus Mall, and in University square.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Whole Foods]: Kinda spendy, but good bread, specialty stuff, and produce through the winter.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Woodman's]: two locations -- [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=725+S+Gammon+Rd+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=43.055217,-89.50304&spn=0.05381,0.171661 East] and [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3817+Milwaukee+St,+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.103615,-89.319363&spn=0.053768,0.171661&om=1 West]. If you have a car and the time, go here. Very large, very cheap, but time consuming. They don't take credit cards, so bring a debit card or check book. The produce is pretty poor, but they're huge and, again, cheap. Check out the liquor store for a large selection (you can buy all types of alcohol in grocery stores in Wisconsin... but not after 9pm).<br />
<br />
*[http://www.traderjoes.com/ Trader Joe's]: Located at 1810 Monroe St. They have good prices for select specialty food items such as wine, cheese and fancy snacks. Their basic foodstuffs tend to be a bit pricey.<br />
<br />
*The Jenifer Street Market located on 2038 Jenifer Street is a nice little grocery store if you happen to live in the area.<br />
<br />
== Co-ops ==<br />
Co-ops are a good source of local organic food. If you are a member they provide discounts, but you can also shop there at your own will.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.regentmarketcoop.org/ Regent Market Cooperative], 2136 Regent St. 233-4329.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.willystreet.coop/ Willy Street Co-op] The largest and most active co-op in the Madison area. They have been able to survive the decline in co-ops over the years. They offer a large selection of bulk foods and spices at an excellent price. For a quick bite, they have an excellent deli, salad bar, and in-store coffee shop. 1221 Williamson St. 251-6776. They recently opened a second store in Middleton located at 6825 University Ave. Both locations deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
== Specialty Foods ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.aldifoods.com/ Aldi Foods]: Very cheap! Little selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=keJ&q=asian+midway+foods&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,304616636444102595&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Asian Midway Market]: The go-to market for anything Thai, Chinese or South-East Asian, this centrally-located store comes highly recommended. In particular, they offer a great selection of specialized produce. 301 South Park Street; 255-5864<br />
<br />
*[http://www.brennansmarket.com/ Brennan's Market]: Great for Produce, Meats, Cheese, Micro brews and Wines. You won't find things like Flour and Saran Wrap here, but definitely worth the trip.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/ Farm Fresh Atlas]: Not a grocery store, but a good resource for where you can buy local foods and a list of farms in the areas.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madseafood.com/ The Seafood Center]: The name says it all. Great fresh fish and live lobsters.<br />
<br />
*[http://frabonisdeli.com/ Fraboni's]: An awesome Italian grocery store and deli. They have very good [http://frabonisdeli.com/oils olive oils], [http://frabonisdeli.com/pastas pastas], and make-your-own pizza fixings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3723579948/garden-asian-market-middleton Garden Asian Market]: A full service Asian food market specializing in fresh meat, produce, and seafood. Mostly Chinese-leaning, they do a good job of providing a wide variety of items within their niche. It may be far out, but it's worth the trip in its pleasantness and selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=india+house+grocery+store,+madison,+wi&fb=1&gl=us&hq=india+house+grocery+store,&hnear=Madison,+WI&cid=0,0,8495347478199843118&ll=43.050466,-89.503019&spn=0.007871,0.019183&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A India House]: Really well done Indian grocery store. Good place to buy Kari leaves.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=TMe&q=lee%27s+oriental&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,92533124768468793&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Lee's Oriental]: Next to Penzey's spices. 3240 University Ave; 231-1593<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=2Me&q=oriental+shop&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,13628497956998458364&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Oriental Shop]: They carry mostly dry-goods, and tend to lean toward stocking more Korean items. 1206 South Park Street; 255-0326<br />
<br />
= Housing =<br />
<br />
Haven't found a place yet? Already hate your apartment?<br />
<br />
* [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/ UW Off-Campus Housing Search]: Probably the best search site for students.<br />
<br />
* Again, [http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List] is a good resourse. Also a good place to look for roommates outside of the department.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/ University Apartments]: On campus graduate housing, particularly popular with married couples (especially with children). Singles are also welcome. Many of them are on the bus route #80, a free route which runs from the apartments through campus every ten minutes throughout the day.<br />
<br />
== Location, Location, Location ==<br />
<br />
If you would like to keep your commute down, there are many places near campus. Many graduate students prefer to live close enough to Van Vleck to be within walking distance, yet far enough away to stay away from partying undergraduate students.<br />
<br />
Many graduate students live in the Vilas neighborhood, which is located South of Regent Street and between Park and Monroe. East of the Capitol building, we also have the Willy St. neighborhood (between Williamson and Rutledge streets, between Paterson and Thornton) and the other side of the Isthmus, between Mifflin and Lake Mendota. The university offers on campus housing at Eagle Heights with regular buses. Many students also live near Sheboygan and University Avenues (not on this map), and there are regular buses that run up University Avenue that will drop you off right in front of Van Vleck. The large apartment complexes in that area include the Normandy, Chapel Hill, Carolina, Monticello, Hilldale Towers, Park Towers, and Sovereign Apartments which are cheaper to live in than spots on the square.<br />
<br />
Because there is no parking on campus, you will need to plan on living within walking distance of a bus route or campus itself. You will receive a free bus pass for the [http://www.mymetrobus.com/ Madison Metro] system, which is very reliable. Check out the “plan your trip” link to find bus routes near you.<br />
<br />
Here is an approximate map of many areas where you will be likely to find housing: <br />
[[Image:gradhousingmap.jpg|400px| center | Housing Map]]<br />
<br />
Basically, shoot for zones 2-6, the North parts of zones 7 and 8, or the far East part of zone 10 on [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/map_all.asp this map] (the map from the UW Off-Campus Housing Search).<br />
<br />
== Stuff your landlord might not tell you ==<br />
<br />
*Utilities:<br />
Lots of apartments have water, sewage, heat, and and sometimes electricity included in rent. For those which don't, be sure to find out what to expect through the [http://mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/ Madison Gas and Electric] web page. Just tell them the address of the place you're looking at, and they'll tell you what the highs, lows, and averages have been over the last year.<br />
<br />
*Property information:<br />
The [http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/property.html City Assessor] has all of the basic information about Madison properties on file, including how many units are on the property, how much square footage there is, if there's AC in the building, what school district it's in, who your alderperson would be, and what else is on the property (e.g. garages). They'll even tell you how much the property is worth, and how much your landlord is paying in property taxes. Sometimes the square footage isn't broken up--for example, maybe there are two units on the first floor, but they'll only tell you that there are 1,700 sq ft on that floor, not how it's split up between the two units. It can be a useful site for rounding out your knowledge of places you're considering renting.<br />
<br />
*Tenants rights:<br />
The [http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/ Tenant resource center] is a small non-profit membership organization which provides housing counseling, mediation services and office assistance. Their website includes tips for new renters, generic rental forms, and advice for what to do if your landlord just won't get back to you about repairs, returning deposits, etc.<br />
There is also the [http://studenttenantunion.rso.wisc.edu/ Student tenant union], which is specifically targeted to UW students.<br />
<br />
== Rental Companies ==<br />
Many properties in Madison are run by rental companies -- some large, some small -- some good, some not-so-good. Larger companies tend to have lower prices, and more people working toward maintaining rentals. However, they may have less of an investment in taking care of each individual property or screening their tenants. Some people feel better renting from small companies, or landlords with only one or two houses. You may get more individual attention and care. Individuals have more investment in protecting each property, and renting to good tenants, so the properties tend to be in more reliable condition. However, with fewer properties comes fewer resources and higher prices.<br />
<br />
Whatever choice you make, be sure to have a conversation with your potential landlords about their polices, especially if you aren't going to be able to see things in person. It may also be good to Google the company or person to see if other people have had something good or bad to say about them or their properties. In particular, [http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Madison.html ApartmentRatings.com] has a few of the apartment complexes around town listed.<br />
<br />
Here are some general impressions/very subjective opinions that some of us have gotten from/about a few of the larger local companies:<br />
<br />
*AB Holdings: In particular, they have a couple small apartment buildings on Vilas that are particularly ideal for two people. Quite a few people from the department have rented these units and have been pretty happy.<br />
<br />
*[http://apexrents.com/ Apex Property Management]: Great company. Well-maintained properties, with many of the more recently remodeled rentals being very nice. Their representatives are helpful and responsible, and their tenants seem to be generally satisfied.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.centralmadison.com/ The Christensen Company]: Not terribly up-to-date apartments, but worth taking a look at.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonproperty.com/ Madison Property Management]: Lots of choices, but notoriously junky properties. They tend to cater mostly to undergraduates, and their rentals show it. We wouldn't recommend renting from this company unless you visit first.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.mcbridecompanies.com/ The McBride Companies]: Nice properties, good management. Really good website if you turn the sound off.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.tallardapartments.com/ Tallard Apartments]: Nice properties with very friendly and responsive staff. Their rentals tend to go early in the season.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wimci.com/ Wisconsin Management Company]: Nice enough properties, but kind of flakey representation. Make sure to ask lots of questions.<br />
<br />
*The Wright Company (or Norris Ct. Apartments): Very nice older buildings, but kind of sketchy management. Nothing is going to be in stellar shape, but they do tend to rent more to graduates and professionals, so they aren't beat up either. If you do rent from them, don't expect them to be very responsive, and be sure to be especially careful about protecting your security deposit by taking photos and keeping a record of your move-in report.<br />
<br />
= Furniture =<br />
<br />
*[http://www.svdpmadison.org/ St. Vincent DePaul's]: Like Goodwill. Has cheap dressers, desks, chairs, and general household stuff. Will deliver for a small charge. This is also a great place to donate any furniture or other items that you no longer want – they will pick up the items from your apartment. There is also a Goodwill in town, but they won't have nearly the same volume of furniture.<br />
<br />
*[http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List]: a free online classifieds site. Great not only for furniture, but also pet resources and last minute apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
*Eagle Heights Apartment Bulletin Boards: Lots of cheap stuff from people graduating, many of whom are moving overseas. You can even find cars. You can try posting your own wanted posters on the boards. You can find these boards at the bus stops for the (free) bus 80 route.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/madisonfreecycle/ Freecycle]: A community "give stuff away for free" website with a Madison branch.<br />
<br />
*Hippie Christmas ("Move-Out Day"): For some reason or another, the evening of August 14th is when the bulk of leases near campus turn over. This is a fantastic day to pick up free furniture from the street. If you already have a rental van, why not help municipal waste by pickup up a bookshelf for them?<br />
<br />
*The Todd Drive Area: Just west of park street on the beltline. American Furniture for furniture and electronics, Home Concepts for cheap but nice looking furniture, and Steinhafel's for furniture and mattresses.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html SWAP]. The UW's surplus supply store.<br />
<br />
= International Student Resources =<br />
Here are a few links specifically for international students. There are international grocery stores listed in the [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Graduate_Student_Guide#Specialty_Foods groceries] section.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcssa.net/ Chinese Student & Scholar Association]: A connection to the university's Chinese community for incoming students. They offer rides from the airport, list general information about madison, and organize get-tegethers/Chinese celebrations. International Conversation & Coffee Hour: meet other international students and americans interested in other cultures. Every Friday, 12-2pm, Cooper Hearth Room 160, Union South.<br />
<br />
*[http://iss.wisc.edu/ International Student Services]: the UW's International Student Services<br />
<br />
*[http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MADindians/ MadIndians]: a Yahoo online group for students from India in Madison. Good place to search for an Indian roommate.<br />
<br />
*[http://mtsa.rso.wisc.edu/ Madison Association of Turkish Students]: Very helpful for incoming Turkish students. It includes information about how best to get to Madison from Turkey, information about housing, and how to reach other Turkish students in Madison.<br />
<br />
= Newspapers =<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/captimes/ The Capitol Times]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the afternoon. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more liberal.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.thedailypage.com/ The Isthmus]: Free independent Madison newspaper. Has a liberal voice and is full of entertainment, including family fun, outdoor attractions, and fine arts. Also puts out the Annual Manual - the yearly guide to all things Madison.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.theonion.com/ The Onion]: While hilarious, this paper is only really good if you're already in on the joke. We get free paper copies in Madison. There is a stack near the elevators in VV. The local edition has local entertainment listings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Wisconsin State Journal]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the mornings. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more conservative.<br />
<br />
= Religious Groups =<br />
*[http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/ Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/ Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church]: Near Sheboygan Ave. at 110 N Whitney Way. A huge church, but with opportunities to get involved and meet people. It has services in the sanctuary, with a mixture of traditional and semi-modern worship, and also "video cafe" services with more lively, modern worship. Very good teaching.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cpcmadison.com/ Christ Presbyterian Church]. Just east of James Madison Park on Gorham. Has a great choir and organist!<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fusmadison.org/ The First Unitarian Society of Madison]. "A liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue." Looking for something new? They're open to all types. Also, they are housed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.folmadison.org/ Fountain of Life]: 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. A multi-ethnic church with a lot of eclectic music styles, including a lot of Gospel music<br />
<br />
*[http://genevacc.org/ The Geneva Campus Church]: On Campus Reformed church. They describe themselves as "a university church for the whole family"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwhillel.org/ Hillel]: UW-Madison's on-campus center for everything Jewish: religious, cultural, political, traditional, and alternative. Located on Langdon Street, it serves both the school population and, to a far lesser extent, the entire city.<br />
<br />
*[http://islamiccentermadison.org/ Islamic Center of Madison]: Has a masjid inside. 21 N Orchard St, (608)251-9851<br />
<br />
*[http://ivgcf.rso.wisc.edu/ InterVarsity Grad Christian Fellowship]: It's a welcoming place for Christians and non-Christians alike. (You might even find your future husband/wife there) They also have a website with info about local churches. There is a new student picnic at the beginning of the fall semester.<br />
<br />
*Latter Day Saints: There are a number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wards in the Madison area. The Madison First Ward covers areas closest to campus and meets at 4505 Regent Street, two blocks south of Hilldale Mall, at 9am. The University Ward serves single adults and meets at 1711 University Avenue at 10 am. The Madison Third Ward serves areas close to campus and meets at 701 Bear Claw Way on Madison's far west side at 11 am. Visitors and the curious are always welcome.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lccmadison.com/ Lutheran Campus Center]: A fairly young, enthusiastic, and liberal-minded congragation, found right on campus.<br />
<br />
*[http://madcitychurch.org/ Mad City Church]: A non-denominational, casual christian fellowship. Services are held in the LaFollette High School located on Madison's east side - very near the corner of Pflaum Rd. and Monona Dr. Office at 2713 E. Washington Ave.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.muuyacm.org/ Madison UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry (MUUYACM)]. One of the largest and most active Unitarian Universalist young adult groups in the U.S., they are open to young adults (ages 18-35) of all denominations. In addition to worships, they organize social-justice-oriented activities, and are an active member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcatholic.org/ St. Paul's University Catholic Center]: On campus in Library Mall near Lake & State. Has a lively Catholic grad student group called Mustard Seed with Bible studies, Thursday night speakers, retreats, service projects, and large quantities of food and euchre.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.unityofmadison.org/ Unity of Madison]: (from their site) "Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community focused on Truth Seeking and Spiritual Growth through the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire, nuture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live Jesus' message that 'the kingdom of God is within you.'"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.isthmuszencommunity.org/ Zen Buddhism]: A local zen buddhist center is located next to Willy st co-op. New comers are especially welcome.<br />
<br />
= Arts and Entertainment =<br />
<br />
Madison is a medium sized city with a not so medium sized arts and entertainment scene. There are cultural events on campus<br />
and at the [http://www.overturcenter.com Overture Center]; sporting events; art, science, natural history, and history museums; parks, the<br />
[http://www.uwarboretum.org arboretum], and [http://www.olbrich.org botanical gardens]; a free [http://www.vilaszoo.org zoo]; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; a [http://www.madfarmmkt.com Farmer’s Market] on the<br />
Capital Square every Saturday morning from April-October; and lots of other things. The [http://www.thedailypage.com Isthmus], is the local free newspaper which posts many current events.<br />
The Isthmus can be found in many stores, in campus buildings, and on street corners.<br />
<br />
== Athletic Activities ==<br />
* [http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/ Rec Sports] runs the gyms on campus. There are three such on-campus gyms -- The SERF, the Nat, and the Shell, which are free with student ID. For $10/semester, you can attend any of their Group Fitness classes, which cover everything from aerobics and weights to yoga and dance. Also, both the SERF and Nat have indoor pools.<br />
<br />
*The University of Wisconsin has a long standing heritage of being proud of their [http://www.uwbadgers.com/ athletic events]. Men's basketball, football and ice-hockey receive the most attention and as a student, you can obtain season tickets for all of these events.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.mufa.org MUFA] is an ultimate frisbee league that has summer as well as spring and fall seasons. This is a really fun way to stay active and meet some new Madison friends! You don't need to form a team-- just see the link for info about how to join a team looking for more players. Note: the games are often played all over the city and burbs, and are not necessarily reachable by bus. You'll need a car, or a teammate with a car. Also see the link for info about local pick-up games.<br />
<br />
== Dancing ==<br />
<br />
*Ballroom: [http://www.uwmbda.org/ UWMBDA] is the big ballroom dance group here. They have dances with lessons every week on Friday or Saturday and a practice group every Thursday.<br />
<br />
*[http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/dances.htm Contra Dance]: Meetings every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
*International Folk club: meets biweekly Library Mall, Wed/Sun 7:30PM-late.<br />
<br />
*Swing: [http://www.uwswing.com/ Jumptown Swing] is UW's swing club. They host (mostly) weekly dances at Union South, and provide lessons for a nominal fee. See their site for scheduling and links to other swing orgonizations. Also, on Wednesdays, there's dancing at the [http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ Brink Lounge] from 8-11.<br />
<br />
*Salsa: Venues include [http://www.cardinalbar.com/ Cardinal Bar] on Thursdays, [http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/details.php?event=176610 Frida's] on Friday nights. Don't know how to Salsa? There are lessons before dances at Cardinal, and instruction is offered through the Union's minicourses.<br />
<br />
*Tango: the [http://www.madisontango.org/ Madison Tango Society] provides lessons and dances for Argentine Tango. Their site has a good list or other events in and around Madison.<br />
<br />
== Libraries ==<br />
In addition to the many [http://www.library.wisc.edu/ Libraries of UW], the [http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ Madison Public Library] is a great place for books, movies, and music.<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
The Daily Page has a [http://www.thedailypage.com/movies/listing.php listing] of movie times for most of the theaters around town (both big and small):<br />
<br />
*Eastgate, Point and AMC (Star) Cinema are the three larger movie theaters in town.<br />
<br />
*Market Square shows second runs at a good discount. <br />
<br />
*The [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/ Orpheum] is an old cinema within site of the capitol on State street. They tend to show less mainstream movies.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.sundancecinemas.com/madison.html Sundance 608] shows independent film as well as blockbuster movies. They have a rooftop cafe that's open during the summer months, 2 bars (you can take a drink into your movie), and a restaurant!<br />
<br />
For on-campus movies:<br />
*The Wisconsin Union Directorate runs on campus screening of films. Their film site can be found [http://www.union.wisc.edu/WUD/film.aspx here.]<br />
<br />
*The UW film department hosts free screenings of a wide array of films based on a given theme for that semester through their [http://cinema.wisc.edu/ cinematheque.] Their department has many contacts with other film institutes and are able show rare original 35mm films that you can't see anywhere else.<br />
<br />
*In late March/early April, go check out some of the many many films showing at the [http://www.wifilmfest.org/ Wisconsin Film Festival.] Sites all over town take part in hosting the showing of these films.<br />
<br />
Madison also has a number of independent video stores:<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ Four Star Video Heaven] has been voted as a Madison Favorite for a number of years. See their site to browse their collection online.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bongovideo.com/ Bongo Video] has a smaller, but quite tasty selection. Lots of personality, and good daily specials.<br />
<br />
== Music ==<br />
Whether you're looking to play music, or just go watch free or (in)expensive concerts, there are many options in Madison.<br />
<br />
*Our very own [http://music.wisc.edu/ Music Department] hosts many music events. Their website has a calendar listing current music events including faculty concerts and student recitals.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonsymphony.org/ The Madison Symphony Orchestra] (MSO) is the professional symphony based here in Madison. With your student ID, you can get student rush tickets for as little as $10 per person.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wcoconcerts.org/ The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra] is Madison's professional chamber orchestra. Each summer, their widely popular [http://www.wcoconcerts.org/new/cos/concertsonthesquare.php concerts on the square] draw many people from all over the place for a free outdoor concert.<br />
<br />
*[http://madisoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Madison Community Orchestra] (MCO) is an informal group run by Madison Area Technical College that meets once a week. There are four free concerts a year and no auditions to play with the group.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.middletoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Middleton Community Orchestra] is a second newly formed community orchestra run by community musicians. Their concerts are extremely affordable, and they may run auditions.<br />
<br />
== Outdoor Activites ==<br />
Madison is a very bicycle friendly town, and there are many parks either in town or within a short drive. Here are some suggestions about outdoor activities to engage in:<br />
<br />
*Take a nice long walk along one of the many paths around [http://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/imap/LakeshoreNaturePreserve.html Picnic Point]... bike the path from Memorial Union out to the tip, or bus/drive out to the base of picnic point and wander the foot trails in the area.<br />
<br />
*Head towards Monona Terrace on Lake Monona, and take one of the paths that wraps around the lake (great bike ride!).<br />
<br />
*You can also go walking and/or biking around the [http://uwarboretum.org/ Arboretum] south of campus and tour their gardens, or head to the free [http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Vilas Zoo]. Lake Wingra is essentially totally surrounded by wooded areas including Henry Vilas Park, the UW-arboretum and Edgewood college. You can rent canoes at Knickerbocker for fairly cheap and relax on Lake Wingra.<br />
<br />
*Community Gardens: There are a number of community gardens run by the [http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/ Community Action Coalition]. Nominally, you can sign up for a plot for a small fee, and learn how to garden if you don't already know, or go to town if you already do. The [http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/ Eagle Heights Community Garden] is open to both residents and non-residents alike. All of the gardens are fun to look at if you haven't ever seen one.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.olbrich.org/ The Olbrich Botanical Gardens] are located east of lake Monona. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including their award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden, or enjoy the year-round tropical Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds.. Outdoor gardens are open daily and free to the public, while entrance to the conservatory is $1 per person.<br />
<br />
*Catch a festival; Madison is home to a number of festivals -- big festivals, small festivals, arts festivals, music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals -- we've got all kinds.<br />
<br />
The Winter opens itself up to new activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing and other options. The hoofers club runs ice boats on the lake.<br />
<br />
*The city of Madison parks open up outdoor [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct2.html ice skating] at Tenney, Vilas, and Elver parks. No skates? No worries. They will rent skates to you there ($6.00 for the first hour, $2/hr after that).<br />
<br />
*There is also [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct4.html cross-country skiing] at a number of Dane county parks, with passes starting at $5/day. No skills? Check out lessons at the [http://www.madnorski.org/page/ Madison Nordic Ski Club] or, again, [http://sns.hoofers.org/ Hoofers] has lots to offer in that area.<br />
<br />
== Student Clubs ==<br />
The University of Wisconsin, being a rather large institution, has got so much stuff going on for all of us student-types. Here are some ways people around the department have been taking advantage:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop]: Located upstairs in the Memorial Union, they are "here to satisfy your creative urges in a variety of craft media." Their facilities include a darkroom, a woodshop, a ceramics studio, metal working tools, etc. Friday afternoons, they open their studios to all union members (that means you!) for free!<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hoofers.org/ Hoofers]: Student outdoor recreation club. The Outing and Sailing clubs in particular have lots of graduate students.<br />
<br />
* [http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]: Graduate Student Collaborative Organization<br />
<br />
* [http://cfli.wisc.edu/student_organizations.htm Student Organizations]: at UW Madison (this is a directory of all registered student organizations at the university; you can search by topic or name)<br />
<br />
== The Student Unions ==<br />
The Memorial Union is located on the lakefront, on Park and Langdon. Be sure to check out the Terrace while the weather is still good -- it's a great place to go to get out of the office, grab something to snack on, and study out in the sun. You'll find the Daily Scoop (yummy ice cream!) and Der Rathskeller (beer and deep-fried goodness). You'll also find all sorts of stuff to keep you busy, like the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop], the Union Theater, the Hoofers' headquarters, and a wide array of Mini Courses with which to expand your horizons.<br />
<br />
Also useful: the travel services center and STA Travel will get you good deals on trips (including bus tickets to O'Hare, Midway, and Milwaukee airports), and the theater's box office will get you good deals on shows (theater, music, etc) all around town. In addition, the Union has always got other special events going on to keep all of us entertained -- see their complete [http://www.union.wisc.edu/activities/ list of activities].<br />
<br />
The Union South was recently completely renovated and also has many activities available. They have a climbing wall, a bowling alley, pool tables, a beer garden, a wine tasting room, a ballroom, a movie theater and many other things.<br />
<br />
= Van Vleck Miscellany =<br />
Here's a bit more info about the happenings in and around the Math Dept.<br />
<br />
== Getting money ==<br />
*Paychecks: The first paycheck of the year arrives in October, though you may request an advance on about 30% of your first paycheck when you arrive. If you are not working over the summer, the last will come in June, so be sure to plan for the three month gap.<br />
<br />
*Fees: You will be charged for segregated fees in both semesters, and are not covered in your tuition. The amount depends on your credit load and status, but will be about $500 for most people and due about the time of your first paycheck. If you are on fellowship, this will be taken care of for you, and shouldn't appear on your bill.<br />
<br />
*TA union: The teaching assistants of Wisconsin are unionized. Even if you are not a TA, but are an employee of the department, you're still connected to them through advocacy and campus issues. For more information check out the [http://www.taa-madison.org/ TAA].<br />
<br />
== Getting stuff done ==<br />
See the Contacts section for a list of people who will help you get stuff done.<br />
<br />
If you want to reserve rooms in Van Vleck for review sessions or meetings you can fill out a green form with Sharon Paulson on the second floor. Sharon does the scheduling for about 4 or 5 rooms in the building, so you can also ask her about these rooms directly. If you need to reserve the 9th floor lounge, talk to Joan Wendt (also second floor).<br />
<br />
Each grad receives 200 photocopies and 250 black and white print outs a month for personal math use. If you are a TA, Sharon in the Copy Center on the second floor can photocopy materials for classes (which does not count toward your quota)– such as worksheets and quizzes. Just give her at least 24 hours notice. To check your printout quota, open a terminal logged into the math server, and type "pages". If you do go over your quota, you will simply get a (probably very small) bill at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
We get free office supplies on the 2nd floor – just ask the Receptionist for pens, folders, etc.<br />
<br />
You can pick up and send out your mail from the second floor. You might even want to have packages delivered to the department, to avoid missing them being delivered at home (UPS, for example, won't drop off to apartment complexes if you aren't there, so you'll have to drive out to Middleton to pick up your packages).<br />
<br />
It's never too early to start studying for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/graduate/quals.htm quals]... early and often, my friends. Early and Often.<br />
<br />
== Getting together ==<br />
Historically, some afternoons and Friday before colloquium, we have a cookie and coffee social hour on the 9th floor lounge. Keep your eyes open for announcements.<br />
<br />
Definitely check out some of the colloquia and seminars. The earlier you get involved the better. This is a great way to learn more about potential research areas, meet other people in the areas, and meet other mathematicians in other departments. There is a list posted on the 9th floor each week in addition to online.<br />
<br />
Once a semester, our group for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ women in mathematics] get together for an informal potluck. We also have been known to bring in women speakers funded by the [http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/ WiSELI] grant.<br />
<br />
= Miscellaneous Wisconsin Stuff =<br />
This section describes miscellaneous Wisconsin stuff that doesn't belong in any other section, such as, a [[Wisconsin Dictionary]] for those who aren't familiar with the Wisconsin vernacular.<br />
<br />
== Voting ==<br />
Frequently asked questions for Wisconsin voting can be found <br />
[http://wisconsin.gov/state/core/faq_wisconsin_voting_elections.html here]. <br />
As of the April election, Wisconsin has a law that allows for same day registration at the polls:<br />
<br />
''If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.''<br />
<br />
Out of state licenses work, and utility bills, bank statements, or pay checks with your name and address on them work for proof of residence.<br />
<br />
== Car Stuff ==<br />
Madison has a DMV out on the west side, just past Midvale, at 4802 Sheboygan Ave, and one on the east side out near the airport. <br />
<br />
*Licenses: As they say on their page for licensing new residents, if you're looking to put your permanent residence here and vote here and generally show up on the radar, you should apply for your [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/nonreside/index.htm WI license] within 60 days of establishing residency. Your first baseline license costs $28, and is valid for three years. Note: you will need to take with you, among other things, something like a rent agreement, or a utility bill, UW transcript, or bank statement actually mailed to your WI address (no e-bills). We'll note that math students have been known to wait longer than 60 days to officially apply for residency, but we recommend you don't wait until an out-of-state license expires to get a WI license.<br />
<br />
*Vehicle Registration: If you own a car and officially become a WI resident, you need to get WI plates. All the information you need is available [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/new/resident.htm here].<br />
<br />
*Parking: First, unless you have a motorcycle, '''don't''' plan to park on campus regularly. For parking near your residence, there are some options. Depending on the neighborhood, it's possible to rent a place that has parking included or available for an extra charge. Additionally, if you live in an area surrounded by 2-hr parking [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/documents/RP3allmap.pdf zones], you can usually buy a permit (for a little over $20 per year) allowing you to park on the street all day near your home. More information can be found on the City of Madison Parking Utility [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingUtility/index.cfm page]. Most importantly, "the vehicle for which you are requesting a permit must be owned by you, your child, your parents/step parents, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner, or be a leased or company vehicle which is assigned to you." <br />
<br />
BE AWARE! Winter parking gets all crazy in Madison (from November 15 - March 15). Most of town is on an alternate side parking schedule: cars should be parked on the even (resp. odd) house numbered side of the street from 1:00a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on even (resp. odd) numbered days. If you live on the isthmus in the Snow Emergency Zone, you will only need to do this when the weather gets really bad. You can sign up for alerts when this happens.<br />
<br />
If you leave your car in the wrong place -- with winter nonsense or for any other reason -- and it gets towed, you can call the Madison Police Department (266-4260) or Schmidt's Towing (257-0505) to find out what they've done with it.<br />
<br />
== Taxes ==<br />
Once you've lived here for an entire calendar year, be sure to look into the [http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/home.html Wisconsin Homestead Credit]... it's usually worth the time and effort for graduate students. Until then, you can look into [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html deducting moving costs] for relocating here on your federal taxes.<br />
<br />
A warning to students on fellowship: taxes will not be taken out of your paycheck, but you still have to pay them. You may want to consider filing [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199807,00.html quarterly].<br />
<br />
== Wisconsin benefit programs ==<br />
We don't exactly get piles of money for teaching. In fact, most people who are not on fellowship or receiving summer funding can qualify for some heating aid (up to $380/year), and electricity aid (up to $285/year). You can check your eligibility at [https://access.wisconsin.gov/ Access WI]. <br />
There may be some residency requirements, like the Homestead credit. You can find your annual salary in our [http://www.taa-madison.org/contract/index.html contract].<br />
<br />
== Residency ==<br />
While it's usually a good idea to become a WI resident, if, for some reason, you're looking to declare residency in WI for tuition purposes, the answer is usually "no." It seems that one has to be in Wisconsin for a full year before enrolling at the UW, and one has to prove that one did not move here primarily for educational purposes (according to the Wisconsin statutes, you have to provide "clear and convincing evidence"). More on that at the [http://www.registrar.wisc.edu/students/residence/index.php Office of the Registrar]'s site.<br />
<br />
= Contacts and Other Resources =<br />
*[http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/gradguide/index.html Guide to Graduate Student Life]: The Graduate Student Collaborative's ([http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]) guide to grad student life in Madison -- like this one, but different.<br />
<br />
* [[Teaching Assistant Guide]]: from real live Van Vleck TAs<br />
<br />
*[http://www.yelp.com/madison-wi Yelp.com]: Find reviews of local stuff- restaurants and things to do, but also dentists, auto shops, etc.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.vip.wisc.edu VIP], the Visitor & Information Programs office, located in the Red Gym, near [http://www.union.wisc.edu Memorial Union]. They are open M - F 8am - 5pm and Saturday 11am - 2pm. <br />
<br />
*[http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu Student Orientation Handbook] is a valuable resource for information including entertainment, recreational and varsity sports, student organizations (including those for cultural groups, international students, LGBT students, women, veterans, and people with disabilities), health services, jobs, transportation, safety, and housing. It’s also a great place for referrals to counseling services, including drug and alcohol and sexual assault issues. You can find all this information on the web, at http://www.wisc.edu/visitingCampus/ or call them at 263-2400. You can also email any questions you have to askbucky@uwmad.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lgbt.wisc.edu LGBT Campus Center]: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Center (265-3344; lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu) provides support, social, educational and research services to the campus community, and serves as UW-Madison's first stop for those looking for information about campus LGBT organizations. The Memorial Union office on the 2nd floor includes a library, a television and DVD player, plenty of comfortable seating, open computers, and has a staff of students and professionals that work to bring events, speakers, and programs to campus. The Center also publishes a weekly events e-letter and offers support and social groups.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ WIMAW] (Women in Math at Wisconsin.)<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Got Questions? Here are some folks who might just have the answers...<br />
<br />
== Counseling Services ==<br />
Counseling services are available through Counseling and [http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/ Consultation Services (C&CS)], located at 115 North Orchard Street, (265-5600, TTY number 265-3300). C&CS offers brief psychological treatment, personal counseling, and psychiatric services to UW-Madison students. Frequent services include help in overcoming depression, managing anxiety and other psychological issues, and in developing greater self-awareness, independence, and self-direction. They also provide personal problem counseling, couples relationship counseling, marriage and family counseling, cross-cultural counseling, and alcohol and drug assessment and referral. Specialized groups have included: graduate women support, women and self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, survivors of troubled families, rebuilding relationships. C&CS also provides crisis response at the above phone numbers. Services provided are covered by the student health fee (included in your student fees).<br />
<br />
== Administrative and Support Staff ==<br />
The administrative and support staff are the folk that keep our department functioning. Without them, we as mathematicians would be lost. :) Their pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/support_staff.html here] and their contact info can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/academic_staff.html here]. If one person doesn't know how to deal with a problem you might have, they certainly know who might be able to help you out.<br />
<br />
Kate Bartlett<br />
Position: Timetable/Undergraduate<br />
Office: 207 VV<br />
Email: bartlett@math<br />
Ask Kate about: Registration (for you and your students), MyUW stuff, classroom assignments.<br />
<br />
David Camacho<br />
Position: Assoc Fac Assoc<br />
Office: 321 VV<br />
Email: camacho@math<br />
Ask David about: the Math Tutorial Program (if a student needs extra attention)<br />
<br />
Mark Castillo<br />
Position: Grants/Proposals<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: castillo @math<br />
Ask Mark about: grant money<br />
<br />
Chris Uhlir<br />
Position: Payroll/Benefits<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: grenie@math<br />
Ask Mike about: Payroll, hourly positions, taxes, tuition, healthcare, and benefits. <br />
<br />
Sara Nagreen<br />
Position: Sr IPC<br />
Office: 515 VV<br />
Email: nagreen@math<br />
Ask Sara about: all things computing.<br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson<br />
Position: Copy Center Manager/ Room Reservations<br />
Office: 220 VV<br />
Email: paulson@math<br />
Ask Sharon about: Office supplies, room reservations (review sessions/exams/other), copying machine <br />
codes, private tutoring list.<br />
<br />
Mary Rice<br />
Position: Grad Prog. Admin<br />
Office: 203 VV<br />
Email: mrice@math<br />
Ask Mary about: Math dept records (teaching letters, transcripts, etc), how you go about graduating.<br />
<br />
Diane Rivard<br />
Position: Placement Advisor<br />
Office: 720 VV<br />
Email: rivard@math<br />
Ask Diane about: Placement questions (what class your student should be in, placement exam issues)<br />
<br />
Joan Wendt<br />
Position: Chair Secretary<br />
Office: 223 VV<br />
Email: wendt@math<br />
Ask Joan about: office assignments and keys<br />
<br />
Vicky Whelan<br />
Position: Dept Administrator<br />
Office: 218 VV<br />
Email: whelan@math<br />
Ask Vicky about: the dept credit card, espresso club, awesome concerts around town.<br />
<br />
== Current and Former Graduate Students Interested in Meeting YOU ==<br />
You can find a complete list of current graduate students [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/psdbgrad.html here], and pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/grad.html here]. Email addresses that end with @ are intended to finish with @math.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
Hans Chaumont<br />
Email: chaumont@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~chaumont Website:]<br />
Grad-Age: Started 2012<br />
Area of interest: Undecided<br />
Ask Hans about: Pretty much anything, but especially about tea or the math weightlifting team.<br />
<br />
Laura Cladek<br />
Email: cladek@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~cladek Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2011<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Laura about: Anything ... Especially analysis or on campus housing.<br />
<br />
Nathan Collins<br />
Email: nathan.collins@gmail.com<br />
[http://cs.pdx.edu/~ntc2 Website]<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2008<br />
Area of interest: Computer Science and Logic.<br />
Ask Nathan about: Pittsburgh, bicycles, and being inferior to Mason at TAing. He dislikes printers and bad margins.<br />
<br />
David Dynerman<br />
Email: dynerman@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~dynerman Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask David about: programming video games, trying to do Hartshorne problems, <br />
going to the gym, Mushfeq Khan, Andrew Bridy<br />
<br />
Thomas Hangelbroek<br />
Email: hangelbr@math.hawaii.edu<br />
[http://math.hawaii.edu/people/hangelbr/ Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2007<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Thomas about: Anything Madison. Thomas is an expert in all things Madison.<br />
<br />
Sara Jensen<br />
Email: jensen@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jensen Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask Sara about: Teaching, topology & algebra quals, knitting group, going to the gym <br />
<br />
(Evan) Alec Johnson<br />
Email: ejohnson@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson Website]<br />
Grad-age: Ph.D., 2012<br />
Area of interest: Applied Math and Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask Alec about: teaching, advanced calculus, gardening, and Geneva Campus Church.<br />
<br />
Christine Lien<br />
Email: lien@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lien Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2005<br />
Area of interest: Complex Geometry<br />
Ask Christine about: anything, including bridge/card games, organizing women's events, <br />
the Association of Asian American Graduate students, and the Graduate Student Topology Seminar.<br />
<br />
Hao Lin<br />
Email: lin@<br />
[http://genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=156703 Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Hao about: sports and anything about China.<br />
<br />
Jonathon Mason<br />
Email: jonathan.f.mason@gmail.com<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2010<br />
Ask Mason about: Wisconsin hiking, the local film scene and being "way better than Nathan Collins" at TAing.<br />
<br />
Jason Murcko<br />
Email: murcko@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~murcko Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2006<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Jason about: the TAA and the local film and music scenes.<br />
<br />
Mike Schroeder<br />
Email: schroede@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~schroede UW Website]. [http://science.marshall.edu/schroederm/ Marshall Website].<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Combinatorics<br />
Ask Mike about: softball, bowling, sailing, racquet ball, and the Florida Gators.<br />
<br />
David Seal<br />
Email: seal@math.msu.edu<br />
[http://www.math.msu.edu/~seal Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2012.<br />
Area of interest: Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask David about: movies, biking, hiking and board games.<br />
<br />
Beth Skubak<br />
Email: skubak@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~skubak Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2009<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Beth about: anything, including this wiki<br />
<br />
Mike Woodbury<br />
[http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woodbury/ Website]<br />
Email: woodbury@math.columbia.edu<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011.<br />
Area of interest: Number Theory<br />
Ask Mike about: anything, including number theory, road biking, UW basketball tix.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Guide&diff=5361Graduate Student Guide2013-06-06T17:39:40Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Housing */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Exams.png|400px|right | Grading Exams in the Lounge]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
= Food =<br />
<br />
There are many ethnic and interesting restaurants in Madison – Indonesian, African, Italian, Himalayan, Laotian, Peruvian, Mexican, Bakeries, Brew Pubs, Coffee Joints, you name it -- and everyone has their favorites.<br />
<br />
The biggest resource for finding food (and entertainment!) in Madison is probably the [http://www.thedailypage.com/eats/ Daily Page] (the online version of our local paper, the Isthmus), where you can search local restaurants by name, locality, and cuisine. There, they have reviews, hours, contact info, pricing, etc. Be sure to peruse their [http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Restaurants Madison's Favorites] section for some quick tips! Of course [http://www.yelp.com/ yelp] is always useful as well. At one point a couple spent a few years trying to sample every restaurant in Madison and blogged about their journey on the [http://www.madisonatoz.com/ Madison A to Z].<br />
<br />
Here are some general food facts:<br />
<br />
== Campus Food ==<br />
*Food Carts: Open for lunch in Library Mall at the foot of Bascom Hill near Lake & State Street. Very good and very cheap, and out as long as it's not too cold.<br />
<br />
*Badger Market at Ingraham Hall: Very close to Van Vleck, and has acceptable coffee (bring your own cup to save money!) and decent snacks. Try the Badger Bundle lunch special: sandwich, drink, and a side for $1 off your total. Halfway down the hill is the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/crossroadscafe.htm Crossroads Cafe] which has much better coffee and is open later.<br />
<br />
*Memorial Union: The Rathskeller has food and next door is Lakeside cafe with much better food. Summer afternoons on the terrace is an excellent place to hang out in the sunshine with a beer and brat.<br />
<br />
*Union South: Features a pizza place, a pan-Asian restaurant, a sandwich shop, a sports bar (burgers and sandwiches) and an ice cream stand. <br />
<br />
*State Street (past the food carts) is full of restaurants and Coffee shops – there are at least a half dozen coffee roasters in town, and each supplies a different set of shops. In particular for lunch, there are the popular chains, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Einstein Bros. Bagels, or Chipotle... or hit the more independent spots such as the Sunroom Cafe or Ian's Pizza.<br />
<br />
== MadTown food ==<br />
<br />
Traditional Madison foods are German varieties such as beer, cheese, and bratwurst. Twice a year Madison hosts [http://www.bratfest.com/ Bratfest], a record breaking event. <br />
UW has [http://www.wisc.edu/foodsci/store/ Babcock Hall Ice Cream] on campus which creates delicious ice cream available in the Unions. The [http://www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com/ Chocolate Shoppe], [http://www.ilovemichaels.com/ Michael's Frozen Custard] and Culvers have nice deserts.<br />
Micro breweries in town include the [http://www.greatdanepub.com/ Great Dane], [http://www.capital-brewery.com/ Captial Brewery] and [http://www.aleasylum.com/ Ale Asylum]. Nearby there is the famous [http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/ New Glarus Brewing Co] which only sells beer in Wisconsin. You can join a free beer tour or walk through the brewery on a self guided tourn.<br />
<br />
In early September (Labor Day weekend), check out [http://www.madisonfestivals.com/taste/ Taste of Madison] to see many restaurants all in one place at one time.<br />
<br />
Try a good ol' midwestern Fish Fry on Friday night – All you can eat fried fish generally served with a bran muffin, clam chowder, or coleslaw. Most Brew Pubs and some churches have them, and the [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/restaurant.php Orpheum] as well at the [http://www.avenuebarmadison.com/ Avenue Bar and Grill] both run Friday night Fish Fries.<br />
<br />
== Farm fresh food ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.madfarmmkt.org/ Dane County Farmer's Market] is amazing and HUGE. The big one is open every Saturday morning, and is located on the capitol square for most of the year. In addition to the ludicrous amount of fresh produce, there are also bakery stands, coffee, and fresh juice carts for quick breakfasts.<br />
<br />
There are also a few smaller [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farmers_markets.htm#danecounty markets] scattered around town, almost every day of the week:<br />
<br />
*Sunday: 8:30am to 12:30pm in front of Pierce's Northside Market<br />
*Monday: (none)<br />
*Tuesday: 4pm to 7pm on Ingersol at Williamson, 2pm to 6pm at 1602 S. Park St,<br />
*Wednesday: 8am to 2pm on MLKJr Blvd, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center,<br />
*Thursday: Thursdays, 2pm to 6pm at the Villager Mall on Park St., 2pm to 6pm in the McFarland Centre, 7:30am to 1:30pm in the Greenway Station shopping center,<br />
*Friday: (none)<br />
*Saturday: 6am to 2pm on the Capitol square, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center, 9am to 2pm at 1602 S. Park St, 7am to 1pm at Sheboygan Ave. and Segoe Rd., and 8:30am to 11am in Watertower Park.<br />
<br />
During the summer and fall, there are many [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/index.htm local farms] where you can [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farms/u_pick.htm pick] your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, or pumpkins when they are in season.<br />
<br />
If you're in town for the summer, you might consider signing up for a [http://www.macsac.org/ Community Supported Agriculture] food box. CSA is a way to support a local farm by paying an annual fee in the winter or spring which buys you a share of the season's harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick-up a weekly box of fresh foods which may include produce, fruits, cheeses, eggs, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. The typical CSA season in Wisconsin runs from the end of May through mid-October. You do have to pay the lump sum up-front, and some weeks you'll find yourself with five pounds of chard... but for most of the summer you'll have your produce needs met, and you can feel good about supporting small local farms. Better yet, most of the university's insurance providers offer [http://www.macsac.org/rebates.html rebates] for signing up for a CSA -- somewhere between $50-$300, depending on the plan and how many people you're sharing with (for example, if two people on GHC share a box, they might pay $450 for the box for a box lasting 25 weeks, but they they could each get $100 back, making that $5/week per person). If you're interested, remember to sign up early -- most programs are full by May.<br />
<br />
= Grocery Stores =<br />
<br />
== Generic Groceries ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.capcentrefoods.com/home.html Capitol Centre Foods]: Given their small size, they have an excellent selection of groceries. They tend to be a bit pricey. In addition, they deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.freshmadisonmarket.com/ Fresh Madison Market]: A reasonably large general grocery store, not too expensive. Has a large selection of "typical college items" (lots of frozen foods). Located on University, not too far from Van Vleck. They also deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.copps.com/ Copps]: Your standard grocery store with multiple locations.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=1020&lang=en-US Costco]: Your friendly big-box bulk store. They treat their employees incredibly well. Good buys on computers, 2 lbs of sockeye salmon or button down oxford cloth long sleeved shirts. You'll need a membership or go there with someone who has a membership. You can also get a free trial membership if you simply ask.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.walgreens.com/ Walgreens]: Pharmacy/Grocery store. There is a Walgreens on the corner of Lake & State Street near Van Vleck, on the Capitol Square, at East Campus Mall, and in University square.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Whole Foods]: Kinda spendy, but good bread, specialty stuff, and produce through the winter.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Woodman's]: two locations -- [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=725+S+Gammon+Rd+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=43.055217,-89.50304&spn=0.05381,0.171661 East] and [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3817+Milwaukee+St,+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.103615,-89.319363&spn=0.053768,0.171661&om=1 West]. If you have a car and the time, go here. Very large, very cheap, but time consuming. They don't take credit cards, so bring a debit card or check book. The produce is pretty poor, but they're huge and, again, cheap. Check out the liquor store for a large selection (you can buy all types of alcohol in grocery stores in Wisconsin... but not after 9pm).<br />
<br />
*[http://www.traderjoes.com/ Trader Joe's]: Located at 1810 Monroe St. They have good prices for select specialty food items such as wine, cheese and fancy snacks. Their basic foodstuffs tend to be a bit pricey.<br />
<br />
*The Jenifer Street Market located on 2038 Jenifer Street is a nice little grocery store if you happen to live in the area.<br />
<br />
== Co-ops ==<br />
Co-ops are a good source of local organic food. If you are a member they provide discounts, but you can also shop there at your own will.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.regentmarketcoop.org/ Regent Market Cooperative], 2136 Regent St. 233-4329.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.willystreet.coop/ Willy Street Co-op] The largest and most active co-op in the Madison area. They have been able to survive the decline in co-ops over the years. They offer a large selection of bulk foods and spices at an excellent price. For a quick bite, they have an excellent deli, salad bar, and in-store coffee shop. 1221 Williamson St. 251-6776. They recently opened a second store in Middleton located at 6825 University Ave. Both locations deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
== Specialty Foods ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.aldifoods.com/ Aldi Foods]: Very cheap! Little selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=keJ&q=asian+midway+foods&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,304616636444102595&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Asian Midway Market]: The go-to market for anything Thai, Chinese or South-East Asian, this centrally-located store comes highly recommended. In particular, they offer a great selection of specialized produce. 301 South Park Street; 255-5864<br />
<br />
*[http://www.brennansmarket.com/ Brennan's Market]: Great for Produce, Meats, Cheese, Micro brews and Wines. You won't find things like Flour and Saran Wrap here, but definitely worth the trip.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/ Farm Fresh Atlas]: Not a grocery store, but a good resource for where you can buy local foods and a list of farms in the areas.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madseafood.com/ The Seafood Center]: The name says it all. Great fresh fish and live lobsters.<br />
<br />
*[http://frabonisdeli.com/ Fraboni's]: An awesome Italian grocery store and deli. They have very good [http://frabonisdeli.com/oils olive oils], [http://frabonisdeli.com/pastas pastas], and make-your-own pizza fixings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3723579948/garden-asian-market-middleton Garden Asian Market]: A full service Asian food market specializing in fresh meat, produce, and seafood. Mostly Chinese-leaning, they do a good job of providing a wide variety of items within their niche. It may be far out, but it's worth the trip in its pleasantness and selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=india+house+grocery+store,+madison,+wi&fb=1&gl=us&hq=india+house+grocery+store,&hnear=Madison,+WI&cid=0,0,8495347478199843118&ll=43.050466,-89.503019&spn=0.007871,0.019183&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A India House]: Really well done Indian grocery store. Good place to buy Kari leaves.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=TMe&q=lee%27s+oriental&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,92533124768468793&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Lee's Oriental]: Next to Penzey's spices. 3240 University Ave; 231-1593<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=2Me&q=oriental+shop&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,13628497956998458364&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Oriental Shop]: They carry mostly dry-goods, and tend to lean toward stocking more Korean items. 1206 South Park Street; 255-0326<br />
<br />
= Housing =<br />
<br />
Haven't found a place yet? Already hate your apartment?<br />
<br />
* [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/ UW Off-Campus Housing Search]: Probably the best search site for students.<br />
<br />
* Again, [http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List] is a good resourse. Also a good place to look for roommates outside of the department.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/ University Apartments]: On campus graduate housing, particularly popular with married couples (especially with children). Singles are also welcome. Many of them are on the bus route #80, a free route which runs from the apartments through campus every ten minutes throughout the day.<br />
<br />
== Location, Location, Location ==<br />
<br />
If you would like to keep your commute down, there are many places near campus. Many graduate students prefer to live close enough to Van Vleck to be within walking distance, yet far enough away to stay away from partying undergraduate students.<br />
<br />
Many graduate students live in the Vilas neighborhood, which is located South of Regent Street and between Park and Monroe. East of the Capitol building, we also have the Willy St. neighborhood (between Williamson and Rutledge streets, between Paterson and Thornton) and the other side of the Isthmus, between Mifflin and Lake Mendota. The university offers on campus housing at Eagle Heights with regular buses. Many students also live near Sheboygan and University Avenues (not on this map), and there are regular buses that run up University Avenue that will drop you off right in front of Van Vleck. The large apartment complexes in that area include the Normandy, Chapel Hill, Carolina, Monticello, Hilldale Towers, Park Towers, and Sovereign Apartments which are cheaper to live in than spots on the square.<br />
<br />
Because there is no parking on campus, you will need to plan on living within walking distance of a bus route or campus itself. You will receive a free bus pass for the [http://www.mymetrobus.com/ Madison Metro] system, which is very reliable. Check out the “plan your trip” link to find bus routes near you.<br />
<br />
Here is an approximate map of many areas where you will be likely to find housing: <br />
[[Image:gradhousingmap.jpg|400px| center | Housing Map]]<br />
<br />
Basically, shoot for zones 2-6, the North parts of zones 7 and 8, or the far East part of zone 10 on [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/map_all.asp this map] (the map from the UW Off-Campus Housing Search).<br />
<br />
== Stuff your landlord might not tell you ==<br />
<br />
*Utilities:<br />
Lots of apartments have water, sewage, heat, and and sometimes electricity included in rent. For those which don't, be sure to find out what to expect through the [http://mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/ Madison Gas and Electric] web page. Just tell them the address of the place you're looking at, and they'll tell you what the highs, lows, and averages have been over the last year.<br />
<br />
*Property information:<br />
The [http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/property.html City Assessor] has all of the basic information about Madison properties on file, including how many units are on the property, how much square footage there is, if there's AC in the building, what school district it's in, who your alderperson would be, and what else is on the property (e.g. garages). They'll even tell you how much the property is worth, and how much your landlord is paying in property taxes. Sometimes the square footage isn't broken up--for example, maybe there are two units on the first floor, but they'll only tell you that there are 1,700 sq ft on that floor, not how it's split up between the two units. It can be a useful site for rounding out your knowledge of places you're considering renting.<br />
<br />
*Tenants rights:<br />
The [http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/ Tenant resource center] is a small non-profit membership organization which provides housing counseling, mediation services and office assistance. Their website includes tips for new renters, generic rental forms, and advice for what to do if your landlord just won't get back to you about repairs, returning deposits, etc.<br />
There is also the [http://studenttenantunion.rso.wisc.edu/ Student tenant union], which is specifically targeted to UW students.<br />
<br />
== Rental Companies ==<br />
Many properties in Madison are run by rental companies -- some large, some small -- some good, some not-so-good. Larger companies tend to have lower prices, and more people working toward maintaining rentals. However, they may have less of an investment in taking care of each individual property or screening their tenants. Some people feel better renting from small companies, or landlords with only one or two houses. You may get more individual attention and care. Individuals have more investment in protecting each property, and renting to good tenants, so the properties tend to be in more reliable condition. However, with fewer properties comes fewer resources and higher prices.<br />
<br />
Whatever choice you make, be sure to have a conversation with your potential landlords about their polices, especially if you aren't going to be able to see things in person. It may also be good to Google the company or person to see if other people have had something good or bad to say about them or their properties. In particular, [http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Madison.html ApartmentRatings.com] has a few of the apartment complexes around town listed.<br />
<br />
Here are some general impressions/very subjective opinions that some of us have gotten from/about a few of the larger local companies:<br />
<br />
*AB Holdings: In particular, they have a couple small apartment buildings on Vilas that are particularly ideal for two people. Quite a few people from the department have rented these units and have been pretty happy.<br />
<br />
*[http://apexrents.com/ Apex Property Management]: Great company. Well-maintained properties, with many of the more recently remodeled rentals being very nice. Their representatives are helpful and responsible, and their tenants seem to be generally satisfied.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.centralmadison.com/ The Christensen Company]: Not terribly up-to-date apartments, but worth taking a look at.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonproperty.com/ Madison Property Management]: Lots of choices, but notoriously junky properties. They tend to cater mostly to undergraduates, and their rentals show it. We wouldn't recommend renting from this company unless you visit first.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.mcbridecompanies.com/ The McBride Companies]: Nice properties, good management. Really good website if you turn the sound off.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.tallardapartments.com/ Tallard Apartments]: Nice properties with very friendly and responsive staff. Their rentals tend to go early in the season.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wimci.com/ Wisconsin Management Company]: Nice enough properties, but kind of flakey representation. Make sure to ask lots of questions.<br />
<br />
*The Wright Company (or Norris Ct. Apartments): Very nice older buildings, but kind of sketchy management. Nothing is going to be in stellar shape, but they do tend to rent more to graduates and professionals, so they aren't beat up either. If you do rent from them, don't expect them to be very responsive, and be sure to be especially careful about protecting your security deposit by taking photos and keeping a record of your move-in report.<br />
<br />
= Furniture =<br />
<br />
*[http://www.svdpmadison.org/ St. Vincent DePaul's]: Like Goodwill. Has cheap dressers, desks, chairs, and general household stuff. Will deliver for a small charge. This is also a great place to donate any furniture or other items that you no longer want – they will pick up the items from your apartment. There is also a Goodwill in town, but they won't have nearly the same volume of furniture.<br />
<br />
*[http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List]: a free online classifieds site. Great not only for furniture, but also pet resources and last minute apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
*Eagle Heights Apartment Bulletin Boards: Lots of cheap stuff from people graduating, many of whom are moving overseas. You can even find cars. You can try posting your own wanted posters on the boards. You can find these boards at the bus stops for the (free) bus 80 route.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/madisonfreecycle/ Freecycle]: A community "give stuff away for free" website with a Madison branch.<br />
<br />
*Hippie Christmas ("Move-Out Day"): For some reason or another, the evening of August 14th is when the bulk of leases near campus turn over. This is a fantastic day to pick up free furniture from the street. If you already have a rental van, why not help municipal waste by pickup up a bookshelf for them?<br />
<br />
*The Todd Drive Area: Just west of park street on the beltline. American Furniture for furniture and electronics, Home Concepts for cheap but nice looking furniture, and Steinhafel's for furniture and mattresses.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html SWAP]. The UW's surplus supply store.<br />
<br />
= International Student Resources =<br />
Here are a few links specifically for international students. There are international grocery stores listed in the [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Graduate_Student_Guide#Specialty_Foods groceries] section.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcssa.net/ Chinese Student & Scholar Association]: A connection to the university's Chinese community for incoming students. They offer rides from the airport, list general information about madison, and organize get-tegethers/Chinese celebrations. International Conversation & Coffee Hour: meet other international students and americans interested in other cultures. Every Friday, 12-2pm, Cooper Hearth Room 160, Union South.<br />
<br />
*[http://iss.wisc.edu/ International Student Services]: the UW's International Student Services<br />
<br />
*[http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MADindians/ MadIndians]: a Yahoo online group for students from India in Madison. Good place to search for an Indian roommate.<br />
<br />
*[http://mtsa.rso.wisc.edu/ Madison Association of Turkish Students]: Very helpful for incoming Turkish students. It includes information about how best to get to Madison from Turkey, information about housing, and how to reach other Turkish students in Madison.<br />
<br />
= Newspapers =<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/captimes/ The Capitol Times]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the afternoon. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more liberal.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.thedailypage.com/ The Isthmus]: Free independent Madison newspaper. Has a liberal voice and is full of entertainment, including family fun, outdoor attractions, and fine arts. Also puts out the Annual Manual - the yearly guide to all things Madison.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.theonion.com/ The Onion]: While hilarious, this paper is only really good if you're already in on the joke. We get free paper copies in Madison. There is a stack near the elevators in VV. The local edition has local entertainment listings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Wisconsin State Journal]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the mornings. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more conservative.<br />
<br />
= Religious Groups =<br />
*[http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/ Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/ Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church]: Near Sheboygan Ave. at 110 N Whitney Way. A huge church, but with opportunities to get involved and meet people. It has services in the sanctuary, with a mixture of traditional and semi-modern worship, and also "video cafe" services with more lively, modern worship. Very good teaching.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cpcmadison.com/ Christ Presbyterian Church]. Just east of James Madison Park on Gorham. Has a great choir and organist!<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fusmadison.org/ The First Unitarian Society of Madison]. "A liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue." Looking for something new? They're open to all types. Also, they are housed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.folmadison.org/ Fountain of Life]: 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. A multi-ethnic church with a lot of eclectic music styles, including a lot of Gospel music<br />
<br />
*[http://genevacc.org/ The Geneva Campus Church]: On Campus Reformed church. They describe themselves as "a university church for the whole family"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwhillel.org/ Hillel]: UW-Madison's on-campus center for everything Jewish: religious, cultural, political, traditional, and alternative. Located on Langdon Street, it serves both the school population and, to a far lesser extent, the entire city.<br />
<br />
*[http://islamiccentermadison.org/ Islamic Center of Madison]: Has a masjid inside. 21 N Orchard St, (608)251-9851<br />
<br />
*[http://ivgcf.rso.wisc.edu/ InterVarsity Grad Christian Fellowship]: It's a welcoming place for Christians and non-Christians alike. (You might even find your future husband/wife there) They also have a website with info about local churches. There is a new student picnic at the beginning of the fall semester.<br />
<br />
*Latter Day Saints: There are a number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wards in the Madison area. The Madison First Ward covers areas closest to campus and meets at 4505 Regent Street, two blocks south of Hilldale Mall, at 9am. The University Ward serves single adults and meets at 1711 University Avenue at 10 am. The Madison Third Ward serves areas close to campus and meets at 701 Bear Claw Way on Madison's far west side at 11 am. Visitors and the curious are always welcome.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lccmadison.com/ Lutheran Campus Center]: A fairly young, enthusiastic, and liberal-minded congragation, found right on campus.<br />
<br />
*[http://madcitychurch.org/ Mad City Church]: A non-denominational, casual christian fellowship. Services are held in the LaFollette High School located on Madison's east side - very near the corner of Pflaum Rd. and Monona Dr. Office at 2713 E. Washington Ave.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.muuyacm.org/ Madison UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry (MUUYACM)]. One of the largest and most active Unitarian Universalist young adult groups in the U.S., they are open to young adults (ages 18-35) of all denominations. In addition to worships, they organize social-justice-oriented activities, and are an active member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcatholic.org/ St. Paul's University Catholic Center]: On campus in Library Mall near Lake & State. Has a lively Catholic grad student group called Mustard Seed with Bible studies, Thursday night speakers, retreats, service projects, and large quantities of food and euchre.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.unityofmadison.org/ Unity of Madison]: (from their site) "Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community focused on Truth Seeking and Spiritual Growth through the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire, nuture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live Jesus' message that 'the kingdom of God is within you.'"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.isthmuszencommunity.org/ Zen Buddhism]: A local zen buddhist center is located next to Willy st co-op. New comers are especially welcome.<br />
<br />
= Arts and Entertainment =<br />
<br />
Madison is a medium sized city with a not so medium sized arts and entertainment scene. There are cultural events on campus<br />
and at the [http://www.overturcenter.com Overture Center]; sporting events; art, science, natural history, and history museums; parks, the<br />
[http://www.uwarboretum.org arboretum], and [http://www.olbrich.org botanical gardens]; a free [http://www.vilaszoo.org zoo]; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; a [http://www.madfarmmkt.com Farmer’s Market] on the<br />
Capital Square every Saturday morning from April-October; and lots of other things. The [http://www.thedailypage.com Isthmus], is the local free newspaper which posts many current events.<br />
The Isthmus can be found in many stores, in campus buildings, and on street corners.<br />
<br />
== Athletic Activities ==<br />
* [http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/ Rec Sports] runs the gyms on campus. There are three such on-campus gyms -- The SERF, the Nat, and the Shell, which are free with student ID. For $10/semester, you can attend any of their Group Fitness classes, which cover everything from aerobics and weights to yoga and dance. Also, both the SERF and Nat have indoor pools.<br />
<br />
*The University of Wisconsin has a long standing heritage of being proud of their [http://www.uwbadgers.com/ athletic events]. Men's basketball, football and ice-hockey receive the most attention and as a student, you can obtain season tickets for all of these events.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.mufa.org MUFA] is an ultimate frisbee league that has summer as well as spring and fall seasons. This is a really fun way to stay active and meet some new Madison friends! You don't need to form a team-- just see the link for info about how to join a team looking for more players. Note: the games are often played all over the city and burbs, and are not necessarily reachable by bus. You'll need a car, or a teammate with a car. Also see the link for info about local pick-up games.<br />
<br />
== Dancing ==<br />
<br />
*Ballroom: [http://www.uwmbda.org/ UWMBDA] is the big ballroom dance group here. They have dances with lessons every week on Friday or Saturday and a practice group every Thursday.<br />
<br />
*[http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/dances.htm Contra Dance]: Meetings every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
*International Folk club: meets biweekly Library Mall, Wed/Sun 7:30PM-late.<br />
<br />
*Swing: [http://www.uwswing.com/ Jumptown Swing] is UW's swing club. They host (mostly) weekly dances at Union South, and provide lessons for a nominal fee. See their site for scheduling and links to other swing orgonizations. Also, on Wednesdays, there's dancing at the [http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ Brink Lounge] from 8-11.<br />
<br />
*Salsa: Venues include [http://www.cardinalbar.com/ Cardinal Bar] on Thursdays, [http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/details.php?event=176610 Frida's] on Friday nights. Don't know how to Salsa? There are lessons before dances at Cardinal, and instruction is offered through the Union's minicourses.<br />
<br />
*Tango: the [http://www.madisontango.org/ Madison Tango Society] provides lessons and dances for Argentine Tango. Their site has a good list or other events in and around Madison.<br />
<br />
== Libraries ==<br />
In addition to the many [http://www.library.wisc.edu/ Libraries of UW], the [http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ Madison Public Library] is a great place for books, movies, and music.<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
The Daily Page has a [http://www.thedailypage.com/movies/listing.php listing] of movie times for most of the theaters around town (both big and small):<br />
<br />
*Eastgate, Point and Star Cinema are the three larger movie theaters in town.<br />
<br />
*Market Square shows second runs at a good discount. <br />
<br />
*The [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/ Orpheum] is an old cinema within site of the capitol on State street. They tend to show less mainstream movies.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.sundancecinemas.com/madison.html Sundance 608] shows independent film as well as blockbuster movies. They have a rooftop cafe that's open during the summer months, 2 bars (you can take a drink into your movie), and a restaurant!<br />
<br />
For on-campus movies:<br />
*The Wisconsin Union Directorate runs on campus screening of films. Their film site can be found [http://www.union.wisc.edu/WUD/film.aspx here.]<br />
<br />
*The UW film department hosts free screenings of a wide array of films based on a given theme for that semester through their [http://cinema.wisc.edu/ cinematheque.] Their department has many contacts with other film institutes and are able show rare original 35mm films that you can't see anywhere else.<br />
<br />
*In late March/early April, go check out some of the many many films showing at the [http://www.wifilmfest.org/ Wisconsin Film Festival.] Sites all over town take part in hosting the showing of these films.<br />
<br />
Madison also has a number of independent video stores:<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ Four Star Video Heaven] has been voted as a Madison Favorite for a number of years. See their site to browse their collection online.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bongovideo.com/ Bongo Video] has a smaller, but quite tasty selection. Lots of personality, and good daily specials.<br />
<br />
== Music ==<br />
Whether you're looking to play music, or just go watch free or (in)expensive concerts, there are many options in Madison.<br />
<br />
*Our very own [http://music.wisc.edu/ Music Department] hosts many music events. Their website has a calendar listing current music events including faculty concerts and student recitals.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonsymphony.org/ The Madison Symphony Orchestra] (MSO) is the professional symphony based here in Madison. With your student ID, you can get student rush tickets for as little as $10 per person.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wcoconcerts.org/ The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra] is Madison's professional chamber orchestra. Each summer, their widely popular [http://www.wcoconcerts.org/new/cos/concertsonthesquare.php concerts on the square] draw many people from all over the place for a free outdoor concert.<br />
<br />
*[http://madisoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Madison Community Orchestra] (MCO) is an informal group run by Madison Area Technical College that meets once a week. There are four free concerts a year and no auditions to play with the group.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.middletoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Middleton Community Orchestra] is a second newly formed community orchestra run by community musicians. Their concerts are extremely affordable, and they may run auditions.<br />
<br />
== Outdoor Activites ==<br />
Madison is a very bicycle friendly town, and there are many parks either in town or within a short drive. Here are some suggestions about outdoor activities to engage in:<br />
<br />
*Take a nice long walk along one of the many paths around [http://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/imap/LakeshoreNaturePreserve.html Picnic Point]... bike the path from Memorial Union out to the tip, or bus/drive out to the base of picnic point and wander the foot trails in the area.<br />
<br />
*Head towards Monona Terrace on Lake Monona, and take one of the paths that wraps around the lake (great bike ride!).<br />
<br />
*You can also go walking and/or biking around the [http://uwarboretum.org/ Arboretum] south of campus and tour their gardens, or head to the free [http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Vilas Zoo]. Lake Wingra is essentially totally surrounded by wooded areas including Henry Vilas Park, the UW-arboretum and Edgewood college. You can rent canoes at Knickerbocker for fairly cheap and relax on Lake Wingra.<br />
<br />
*Community Gardens: There are a number of community gardens run by the [http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/ Community Action Coalition]. Nominally, you can sign up for a plot for a small fee, and learn how to garden if you don't already know, or go to town if you already do. The [http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/ Eagle Heights Community Garden] is open to both residents and non-residents alike. All of the gardens are fun to look at if you haven't ever seen one.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.olbrich.org/ The Olbrich Botanical Gardens] are located east of lake Monona. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including their award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden, or enjoy the year-round tropical Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds.. Outdoor gardens are open daily and free to the public, while entrance to the conservatory is $1 per person.<br />
<br />
*Catch a festival; Madison is home to a number of festivals -- big festivals, small festivals, arts festivals, music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals -- we've got all kinds.<br />
<br />
The Winter opens itself up to new activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing and other options. The hoofers club runs ice boats on the lake.<br />
<br />
*The city of Madison parks open up outdoor [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct2.html ice skating] at Tenney, Vilas, and Elver parks. No skates? No worries. They will rent skates to you there ($6.00 for the first hour, $2/hr after that).<br />
<br />
*There is also [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct4.html cross-country skiing] at a number of Dane county parks, with passes starting at $5/day. No skills? Check out lessons at the [http://www.madnorski.org/page/ Madison Nordic Ski Club] or, again, [http://sns.hoofers.org/ Hoofers] has lots to offer in that area.<br />
<br />
== Student Clubs ==<br />
The University of Wisconsin, being a rather large institution, has got so much stuff going on for all of us student-types. Here are some ways people around the department have been taking advantage:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop]: Located upstairs in the Memorial Union, they are "here to satisfy your creative urges in a variety of craft media." Their facilities include a darkroom, a woodshop, a ceramics studio, metal working tools, etc. Friday afternoons, they open their studios to all union members (that means you!) for free!<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hoofers.org/ Hoofers]: Student outdoor recreation club. The Outing and Sailing clubs in particular have lots of graduate students.<br />
<br />
* [http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]: Graduate Student Collaborative Organization<br />
<br />
* [http://cfli.wisc.edu/student_organizations.htm Student Organizations]: at UW Madison (this is a directory of all registered student organizations at the university; you can search by topic or name)<br />
<br />
== The Student Unions ==<br />
The Memorial Union is located on the lakefront, on Park and Langdon. Be sure to check out the Terrace while the weather is still good -- it's a great place to go to get out of the office, grab something to snack on, and study out in the sun. You'll find the Daily Scoop (yummy ice cream!) and Der Rathskeller (beer and deep-fried goodness). You'll also find all sorts of stuff to keep you busy, like the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop], the Union Theater, the Hoofers' headquarters, and a wide array of Mini Courses with which to expand your horizons.<br />
<br />
Also useful: the travel services center and STA Travel will get you good deals on trips (including bus tickets to O'Hare, Midway, and Milwaukee airports), and the theater's box office will get you good deals on shows (theater, music, etc) all around town. In addition, the Union has always got other special events going on to keep all of us entertained -- see their complete [http://www.union.wisc.edu/activities/ list of activities].<br />
<br />
The Union South was recently completely renovated and also has many activities available. They have a climbing wall, a bowling alley, pool tables, a beer garden, a wine tasting room, a ballroom, a movie theater and many other things.<br />
<br />
= Van Vleck Miscellany =<br />
Here's a bit more info about the happenings in and around the Math Dept.<br />
<br />
== Getting money ==<br />
*Paychecks: The first paycheck of the year arrives in October, though you may request an advance on about 30% of your first paycheck when you arrive. If you are not working over the summer, the last will come in June, so be sure to plan for the three month gap.<br />
<br />
*Fees: You will be charged for segregated fees in both semesters, and are not covered in your tuition. The amount depends on your credit load and status, but will be about $500 for most people and due about the time of your first paycheck. If you are on fellowship, this will be taken care of for you, and shouldn't appear on your bill.<br />
<br />
*TA union: The teaching assistants of Wisconsin are unionized. Even if you are not a TA, but are an employee of the department, you're still connected to them through advocacy and campus issues. For more information check out the [http://www.taa-madison.org/ TAA].<br />
<br />
== Getting stuff done ==<br />
See the Contacts section for a list of people who will help you get stuff done.<br />
<br />
If you want to reserve rooms in Van Vleck for review sessions or meetings you can fill out a green form with Sharon Paulson on the second floor. Sharon does the scheduling for about 4 or 5 rooms in the building, so you can also ask her about these rooms directly. If you need to reserve the 9th floor lounge, talk to Joan Wendt (also second floor).<br />
<br />
Each grad receives 200 photocopies and 250 black and white print outs a month for personal math use. If you are a TA, Sharon in the Copy Center on the second floor can photocopy materials for classes (which does not count toward your quota)– such as worksheets and quizzes. Just give her at least 24 hours notice. To check your printout quota, open a terminal logged into the math server, and type "pages". If you do go over your quota, you will simply get a (probably very small) bill at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
We get free office supplies on the 2nd floor – just ask the Receptionist for pens, folders, etc.<br />
<br />
You can pick up and send out your mail from the second floor. You might even want to have packages delivered to the department, to avoid missing them being delivered at home (UPS, for example, won't drop off to apartment complexes if you aren't there, so you'll have to drive out to Middleton to pick up your packages).<br />
<br />
It's never too early to start studying for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/graduate/quals.htm quals]... early and often, my friends. Early and Often.<br />
<br />
== Getting together ==<br />
Historically, some afternoons and Friday before colloquium, we have a cookie and coffee social hour on the 9th floor lounge. Keep your eyes open for announcements.<br />
<br />
Definitely check out some of the colloquia and seminars. The earlier you get involved the better. This is a great way to learn more about potential research areas, meet other people in the areas, and meet other mathematicians in other departments. There is a list posted on the 9th floor each week in addition to online.<br />
<br />
Once a semester, our group for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ women in mathematics] get together for an informal potluck. We also have been known to bring in women speakers funded by the [http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/ WiSELI] grant.<br />
<br />
= Miscellaneous Wisconsin Stuff =<br />
This section describes miscellaneous Wisconsin stuff that doesn't belong in any other section, such as, a [[Wisconsin Dictionary]] for those who aren't familiar with the Wisconsin vernacular.<br />
<br />
== Voting ==<br />
Frequently asked questions for Wisconsin voting can be found <br />
[http://wisconsin.gov/state/core/faq_wisconsin_voting_elections.html here]. <br />
As of the April election, Wisconsin has a law that allows for same day registration at the polls:<br />
<br />
''If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.''<br />
<br />
Out of state licenses work, and utility bills, bank statements, or pay checks with your name and address on them work for proof of residence.<br />
<br />
== Car Stuff ==<br />
Madison has a DMV out on the west side, just past Midvale, at 4802 Sheboygan Ave, and one on the east side out near the airport. <br />
<br />
*Licenses: As they say on their page for licensing new residents, if you're looking to put your permanent residence here and vote here and generally show up on the radar, you should apply for your [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/nonreside/index.htm WI license] within 60 days of establishing residency. Your first baseline license costs $28, and is valid for three years. Note: you will need to take with you, among other things, something like a rent agreement, or a utility bill, UW transcript, or bank statement actually mailed to your WI address (no e-bills). We'll note that math students have been known to wait longer than 60 days to officially apply for residency, but we recommend you don't wait until an out-of-state license expires to get a WI license.<br />
<br />
*Vehicle Registration: If you own a car and officially become a WI resident, you need to get WI plates. All the information you need is available [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/new/resident.htm here].<br />
<br />
*Parking: First, unless you have a motorcycle, '''don't''' plan to park on campus regularly. For parking near your residence, there are some options. Depending on the neighborhood, it's possible to rent a place that has parking included or available for an extra charge. Additionally, if you live in an area surrounded by 2-hr parking [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/documents/RP3allmap.pdf zones], you can usually buy a permit (for a little over $20 per year) allowing you to park on the street all day near your home. More information can be found on the City of Madison Parking Utility [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingUtility/index.cfm page]. Most importantly, "the vehicle for which you are requesting a permit must be owned by you, your child, your parents/step parents, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner, or be a leased or company vehicle which is assigned to you." <br />
<br />
BE AWARE! Winter parking gets all crazy in Madison (from November 15 - March 15). Most of town is on an alternate side parking schedule: cars should be parked on the even (resp. odd) house numbered side of the street from 1:00a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on even (resp. odd) numbered days. If you live on the isthmus in the Snow Emergency Zone, you will only need to do this when the weather gets really bad. You can sign up for alerts when this happens.<br />
<br />
If you leave your car in the wrong place -- with winter nonsense or for any other reason -- and it gets towed, you can call the Madison Police Department (266-4260) or Schmidt's Towing (257-0505) to find out what they've done with it.<br />
<br />
== Taxes ==<br />
Once you've lived here for an entire calendar year, be sure to look into the [http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/home.html Wisconsin Homestead Credit]... it's usually worth the time and effort for graduate students. Until then, you can look into [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html deducting moving costs] for relocating here on your federal taxes.<br />
<br />
A warning to students on fellowship: taxes will not be taken out of your paycheck, but you still have to pay them. You may want to consider filing [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199807,00.html quarterly].<br />
<br />
== Wisconsin benefit programs ==<br />
We don't exactly get piles of money for teaching. In fact, most people who are not on fellowship or receiving summer funding can qualify for some heating aid (up to $380/year), and electricity aid (up to $285/year). You can check your eligibility at [https://access.wisconsin.gov/ Access WI]. <br />
There may be some residency requirements, like the Homestead credit. You can find your annual salary in our [http://www.taa-madison.org/contract/index.html contract].<br />
<br />
== Residency ==<br />
While it's usually a good idea to become a WI resident, if, for some reason, you're looking to declare residency in WI for tuition purposes, the answer is usually "no." It seems that one has to be in Wisconsin for a full year before enrolling at the UW, and one has to prove that one did not move here primarily for educational purposes (according to the Wisconsin statutes, you have to provide "clear and convincing evidence"). More on that at the [http://www.registrar.wisc.edu/students/residence/index.php Office of the Registrar]'s site.<br />
<br />
= Contacts and Other Resources =<br />
*[http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/gradguide/index.html Guide to Graduate Student Life]: The Graduate Student Collaborative's ([http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]) guide to grad student life in Madison -- like this one, but different.<br />
<br />
* [[Teaching Assistant Guide]]: from real live Van Vleck TAs<br />
<br />
*[http://www.yelp.com/madison-wi Yelp.com]: Find reviews of local stuff- restaurants and things to do, but also dentists, auto shops, etc.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.vip.wisc.edu VIP], the Visitor & Information Programs office, located in the Red Gym, near [http://www.union.wisc.edu Memorial Union]. They are open M - F 8am - 5pm and Saturday 11am - 2pm. <br />
<br />
*[http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu Student Orientation Handbook] is a valuable resource for information including entertainment, recreational and varsity sports, student organizations (including those for cultural groups, international students, LGBT students, women, veterans, and people with disabilities), health services, jobs, transportation, safety, and housing. It’s also a great place for referrals to counseling services, including drug and alcohol and sexual assault issues. You can find all this information on the web, at http://www.wisc.edu/visitingCampus/ or call them at 263-2400. You can also email any questions you have to askbucky@uwmad.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lgbt.wisc.edu LGBT Campus Center]: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Center (265-3344; lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu) provides support, social, educational and research services to the campus community, and serves as UW-Madison's first stop for those looking for information about campus LGBT organizations. The Memorial Union office on the 2nd floor includes a library, a television and DVD player, plenty of comfortable seating, open computers, and has a staff of students and professionals that work to bring events, speakers, and programs to campus. The Center also publishes a weekly events e-letter and offers support and social groups.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ WIMAW] (Women in Math at Wisconsin.)<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Got Questions? Here are some folks who might just have the answers...<br />
<br />
== Counseling Services ==<br />
Counseling services are available through Counseling and [http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/ Consultation Services (C&CS)], located at 115 North Orchard Street, (265-5600, TTY number 265-3300). C&CS offers brief psychological treatment, personal counseling, and psychiatric services to UW-Madison students. Frequent services include help in overcoming depression, managing anxiety and other psychological issues, and in developing greater self-awareness, independence, and self-direction. They also provide personal problem counseling, couples relationship counseling, marriage and family counseling, cross-cultural counseling, and alcohol and drug assessment and referral. Specialized groups have included: graduate women support, women and self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, survivors of troubled families, rebuilding relationships. C&CS also provides crisis response at the above phone numbers. Services provided are covered by the student health fee (included in your student fees).<br />
<br />
== Administrative and Support Staff ==<br />
The administrative and support staff are the folk that keep our department functioning. Without them, we as mathematicians would be lost. :) Their pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/support_staff.html here] and their contact info can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/academic_staff.html here]. If one person doesn't know how to deal with a problem you might have, they certainly know who might be able to help you out.<br />
<br />
Kate Bartlett<br />
Position: Timetable/Undergraduate<br />
Office: 207 VV<br />
Email: bartlett@math<br />
Ask Kate about: Registration (for you and your students), MyUW stuff, classroom assignments.<br />
<br />
David Camacho<br />
Position: Assoc Fac Assoc<br />
Office: 321 VV<br />
Email: camacho@math<br />
Ask David about: the Math Tutorial Program (if a student needs extra attention)<br />
<br />
Mark Castillo<br />
Position: Grants/Proposals<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: castillo @math<br />
Ask Mark about: grant money<br />
<br />
Chris Uhlir<br />
Position: Payroll/Benefits<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: grenie@math<br />
Ask Mike about: Payroll, hourly positions, taxes, tuition, healthcare, and benefits. <br />
<br />
Sara Nagreen<br />
Position: Sr IPC<br />
Office: 515 VV<br />
Email: nagreen@math<br />
Ask Sara about: all things computing.<br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson<br />
Position: Copy Center Manager/ Room Reservations<br />
Office: 220 VV<br />
Email: paulson@math<br />
Ask Sharon about: Office supplies, room reservations (review sessions/exams/other), copying machine <br />
codes, private tutoring list.<br />
<br />
Mary Rice<br />
Position: Grad Prog. Admin<br />
Office: 203 VV<br />
Email: mrice@math<br />
Ask Mary about: Math dept records (teaching letters, transcripts, etc), how you go about graduating.<br />
<br />
Diane Rivard<br />
Position: Placement Advisor<br />
Office: 720 VV<br />
Email: rivard@math<br />
Ask Diane about: Placement questions (what class your student should be in, placement exam issues)<br />
<br />
Joan Wendt<br />
Position: Chair Secretary<br />
Office: 223 VV<br />
Email: wendt@math<br />
Ask Joan about: office assignments and keys<br />
<br />
Vicky Whelan<br />
Position: Dept Administrator<br />
Office: 218 VV<br />
Email: whelan@math<br />
Ask Vicky about: the dept credit card, espresso club, awesome concerts around town.<br />
<br />
== Current and Former Graduate Students Interested in Meeting YOU ==<br />
You can find a complete list of current graduate students [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/psdbgrad.html here], and pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/grad.html here]. Email addresses that end with @ are intended to finish with @math.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
Hans Chaumont<br />
Email: chaumont@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~chaumont Website:]<br />
Grad-Age: Started 2012<br />
Area of interest: Undecided<br />
Ask Hans about: Pretty much anything, but especially about tea or the math weightlifting team.<br />
<br />
Laura Cladek<br />
Email: cladek@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~cladek Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2011<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Laura about: Anything ... Especially analysis or on campus housing.<br />
<br />
Nathan Collins<br />
Email: nathan.collins@gmail.com<br />
[http://cs.pdx.edu/~ntc2 Website]<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2008<br />
Area of interest: Computer Science and Logic.<br />
Ask Nathan about: Pittsburgh, bicycles, and being inferior to Mason at TAing. He dislikes printers and bad margins.<br />
<br />
David Dynerman<br />
Email: dynerman@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~dynerman Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask David about: programming video games, trying to do Hartshorne problems, <br />
going to the gym, Mushfeq Khan, Andrew Bridy<br />
<br />
Thomas Hangelbroek<br />
Email: hangelbr@math.hawaii.edu<br />
[http://math.hawaii.edu/people/hangelbr/ Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2007<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Thomas about: Anything Madison. Thomas is an expert in all things Madison.<br />
<br />
Sara Jensen<br />
Email: jensen@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jensen Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask Sara about: Teaching, topology & algebra quals, knitting group, going to the gym <br />
<br />
(Evan) Alec Johnson<br />
Email: ejohnson@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson Website]<br />
Grad-age: Ph.D., 2012<br />
Area of interest: Applied Math and Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask Alec about: teaching, advanced calculus, gardening, and Geneva Campus Church.<br />
<br />
Christine Lien<br />
Email: lien@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lien Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2005<br />
Area of interest: Complex Geometry<br />
Ask Christine about: anything, including bridge/card games, organizing women's events, <br />
the Association of Asian American Graduate students, and the Graduate Student Topology Seminar.<br />
<br />
Hao Lin<br />
Email: lin@<br />
[http://genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=156703 Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Hao about: sports and anything about China.<br />
<br />
Jonathon Mason<br />
Email: jonathan.f.mason@gmail.com<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2010<br />
Ask Mason about: Wisconsin hiking, the local film scene and being "way better than Nathan Collins" at TAing.<br />
<br />
Jason Murcko<br />
Email: murcko@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~murcko Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2006<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Jason about: the TAA and the local film and music scenes.<br />
<br />
Mike Schroeder<br />
Email: schroede@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~schroede UW Website]. [http://science.marshall.edu/schroederm/ Marshall Website].<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Combinatorics<br />
Ask Mike about: softball, bowling, sailing, racquet ball, and the Florida Gators.<br />
<br />
David Seal<br />
Email: seal@math.msu.edu<br />
[http://www.math.msu.edu/~seal Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2012.<br />
Area of interest: Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask David about: movies, biking, hiking and board games.<br />
<br />
Beth Skubak<br />
Email: skubak@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~skubak Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2009<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Beth about: anything, including this wiki<br />
<br />
Mike Woodbury<br />
[http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woodbury/ Website]<br />
Email: woodbury@math.columbia.edu<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011.<br />
Area of interest: Number Theory<br />
Ask Mike about: anything, including number theory, road biking, UW basketball tix.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Guide&diff=5360Graduate Student Guide2013-06-06T17:38:08Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Specialty Foods */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Exams.png|400px|right | Grading Exams in the Lounge]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
= Food =<br />
<br />
There are many ethnic and interesting restaurants in Madison – Indonesian, African, Italian, Himalayan, Laotian, Peruvian, Mexican, Bakeries, Brew Pubs, Coffee Joints, you name it -- and everyone has their favorites.<br />
<br />
The biggest resource for finding food (and entertainment!) in Madison is probably the [http://www.thedailypage.com/eats/ Daily Page] (the online version of our local paper, the Isthmus), where you can search local restaurants by name, locality, and cuisine. There, they have reviews, hours, contact info, pricing, etc. Be sure to peruse their [http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Restaurants Madison's Favorites] section for some quick tips! Of course [http://www.yelp.com/ yelp] is always useful as well. At one point a couple spent a few years trying to sample every restaurant in Madison and blogged about their journey on the [http://www.madisonatoz.com/ Madison A to Z].<br />
<br />
Here are some general food facts:<br />
<br />
== Campus Food ==<br />
*Food Carts: Open for lunch in Library Mall at the foot of Bascom Hill near Lake & State Street. Very good and very cheap, and out as long as it's not too cold.<br />
<br />
*Badger Market at Ingraham Hall: Very close to Van Vleck, and has acceptable coffee (bring your own cup to save money!) and decent snacks. Try the Badger Bundle lunch special: sandwich, drink, and a side for $1 off your total. Halfway down the hill is the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/crossroadscafe.htm Crossroads Cafe] which has much better coffee and is open later.<br />
<br />
*Memorial Union: The Rathskeller has food and next door is Lakeside cafe with much better food. Summer afternoons on the terrace is an excellent place to hang out in the sunshine with a beer and brat.<br />
<br />
*Union South: Features a pizza place, a pan-Asian restaurant, a sandwich shop, a sports bar (burgers and sandwiches) and an ice cream stand. <br />
<br />
*State Street (past the food carts) is full of restaurants and Coffee shops – there are at least a half dozen coffee roasters in town, and each supplies a different set of shops. In particular for lunch, there are the popular chains, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Einstein Bros. Bagels, or Chipotle... or hit the more independent spots such as the Sunroom Cafe or Ian's Pizza.<br />
<br />
== MadTown food ==<br />
<br />
Traditional Madison foods are German varieties such as beer, cheese, and bratwurst. Twice a year Madison hosts [http://www.bratfest.com/ Bratfest], a record breaking event. <br />
UW has [http://www.wisc.edu/foodsci/store/ Babcock Hall Ice Cream] on campus which creates delicious ice cream available in the Unions. The [http://www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com/ Chocolate Shoppe], [http://www.ilovemichaels.com/ Michael's Frozen Custard] and Culvers have nice deserts.<br />
Micro breweries in town include the [http://www.greatdanepub.com/ Great Dane], [http://www.capital-brewery.com/ Captial Brewery] and [http://www.aleasylum.com/ Ale Asylum]. Nearby there is the famous [http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/ New Glarus Brewing Co] which only sells beer in Wisconsin. You can join a free beer tour or walk through the brewery on a self guided tourn.<br />
<br />
In early September (Labor Day weekend), check out [http://www.madisonfestivals.com/taste/ Taste of Madison] to see many restaurants all in one place at one time.<br />
<br />
Try a good ol' midwestern Fish Fry on Friday night – All you can eat fried fish generally served with a bran muffin, clam chowder, or coleslaw. Most Brew Pubs and some churches have them, and the [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/restaurant.php Orpheum] as well at the [http://www.avenuebarmadison.com/ Avenue Bar and Grill] both run Friday night Fish Fries.<br />
<br />
== Farm fresh food ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.madfarmmkt.org/ Dane County Farmer's Market] is amazing and HUGE. The big one is open every Saturday morning, and is located on the capitol square for most of the year. In addition to the ludicrous amount of fresh produce, there are also bakery stands, coffee, and fresh juice carts for quick breakfasts.<br />
<br />
There are also a few smaller [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farmers_markets.htm#danecounty markets] scattered around town, almost every day of the week:<br />
<br />
*Sunday: 8:30am to 12:30pm in front of Pierce's Northside Market<br />
*Monday: (none)<br />
*Tuesday: 4pm to 7pm on Ingersol at Williamson, 2pm to 6pm at 1602 S. Park St,<br />
*Wednesday: 8am to 2pm on MLKJr Blvd, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center,<br />
*Thursday: Thursdays, 2pm to 6pm at the Villager Mall on Park St., 2pm to 6pm in the McFarland Centre, 7:30am to 1:30pm in the Greenway Station shopping center,<br />
*Friday: (none)<br />
*Saturday: 6am to 2pm on the Capitol square, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center, 9am to 2pm at 1602 S. Park St, 7am to 1pm at Sheboygan Ave. and Segoe Rd., and 8:30am to 11am in Watertower Park.<br />
<br />
During the summer and fall, there are many [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/index.htm local farms] where you can [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farms/u_pick.htm pick] your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, or pumpkins when they are in season.<br />
<br />
If you're in town for the summer, you might consider signing up for a [http://www.macsac.org/ Community Supported Agriculture] food box. CSA is a way to support a local farm by paying an annual fee in the winter or spring which buys you a share of the season's harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick-up a weekly box of fresh foods which may include produce, fruits, cheeses, eggs, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. The typical CSA season in Wisconsin runs from the end of May through mid-October. You do have to pay the lump sum up-front, and some weeks you'll find yourself with five pounds of chard... but for most of the summer you'll have your produce needs met, and you can feel good about supporting small local farms. Better yet, most of the university's insurance providers offer [http://www.macsac.org/rebates.html rebates] for signing up for a CSA -- somewhere between $50-$300, depending on the plan and how many people you're sharing with (for example, if two people on GHC share a box, they might pay $450 for the box for a box lasting 25 weeks, but they they could each get $100 back, making that $5/week per person). If you're interested, remember to sign up early -- most programs are full by May.<br />
<br />
= Grocery Stores =<br />
<br />
== Generic Groceries ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.capcentrefoods.com/home.html Capitol Centre Foods]: Given their small size, they have an excellent selection of groceries. They tend to be a bit pricey. In addition, they deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.freshmadisonmarket.com/ Fresh Madison Market]: A reasonably large general grocery store, not too expensive. Has a large selection of "typical college items" (lots of frozen foods). Located on University, not too far from Van Vleck. They also deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.copps.com/ Copps]: Your standard grocery store with multiple locations.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=1020&lang=en-US Costco]: Your friendly big-box bulk store. They treat their employees incredibly well. Good buys on computers, 2 lbs of sockeye salmon or button down oxford cloth long sleeved shirts. You'll need a membership or go there with someone who has a membership. You can also get a free trial membership if you simply ask.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.walgreens.com/ Walgreens]: Pharmacy/Grocery store. There is a Walgreens on the corner of Lake & State Street near Van Vleck, on the Capitol Square, at East Campus Mall, and in University square.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Whole Foods]: Kinda spendy, but good bread, specialty stuff, and produce through the winter.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Woodman's]: two locations -- [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=725+S+Gammon+Rd+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=43.055217,-89.50304&spn=0.05381,0.171661 East] and [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3817+Milwaukee+St,+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.103615,-89.319363&spn=0.053768,0.171661&om=1 West]. If you have a car and the time, go here. Very large, very cheap, but time consuming. They don't take credit cards, so bring a debit card or check book. The produce is pretty poor, but they're huge and, again, cheap. Check out the liquor store for a large selection (you can buy all types of alcohol in grocery stores in Wisconsin... but not after 9pm).<br />
<br />
*[http://www.traderjoes.com/ Trader Joe's]: Located at 1810 Monroe St. They have good prices for select specialty food items such as wine, cheese and fancy snacks. Their basic foodstuffs tend to be a bit pricey.<br />
<br />
*The Jenifer Street Market located on 2038 Jenifer Street is a nice little grocery store if you happen to live in the area.<br />
<br />
== Co-ops ==<br />
Co-ops are a good source of local organic food. If you are a member they provide discounts, but you can also shop there at your own will.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.regentmarketcoop.org/ Regent Market Cooperative], 2136 Regent St. 233-4329.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.willystreet.coop/ Willy Street Co-op] The largest and most active co-op in the Madison area. They have been able to survive the decline in co-ops over the years. They offer a large selection of bulk foods and spices at an excellent price. For a quick bite, they have an excellent deli, salad bar, and in-store coffee shop. 1221 Williamson St. 251-6776. They recently opened a second store in Middleton located at 6825 University Ave. Both locations deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
== Specialty Foods ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.aldifoods.com/ Aldi Foods]: Very cheap! Little selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=keJ&q=asian+midway+foods&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,304616636444102595&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Asian Midway Market]: The go-to market for anything Thai, Chinese or South-East Asian, this centrally-located store comes highly recommended. In particular, they offer a great selection of specialized produce. 301 South Park Street; 255-5864<br />
<br />
*[http://www.brennansmarket.com/ Brennan's Market]: Great for Produce, Meats, Cheese, Micro brews and Wines. You won't find things like Flour and Saran Wrap here, but definitely worth the trip.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/ Farm Fresh Atlas]: Not a grocery store, but a good resource for where you can buy local foods and a list of farms in the areas.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madseafood.com/ The Seafood Center]: The name says it all. Great fresh fish and live lobsters.<br />
<br />
*[http://frabonisdeli.com/ Fraboni's]: An awesome Italian grocery store and deli. They have very good [http://frabonisdeli.com/oils olive oils], [http://frabonisdeli.com/pastas pastas], and make-your-own pizza fixings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3723579948/garden-asian-market-middleton Garden Asian Market]: A full service Asian food market specializing in fresh meat, produce, and seafood. Mostly Chinese-leaning, they do a good job of providing a wide variety of items within their niche. It may be far out, but it's worth the trip in its pleasantness and selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=india+house+grocery+store,+madison,+wi&fb=1&gl=us&hq=india+house+grocery+store,&hnear=Madison,+WI&cid=0,0,8495347478199843118&ll=43.050466,-89.503019&spn=0.007871,0.019183&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A India House]: Really well done Indian grocery store. Good place to buy Kari leaves.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=TMe&q=lee%27s+oriental&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,92533124768468793&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Lee's Oriental]: Next to Penzey's spices. 3240 University Ave; 231-1593<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=2Me&q=oriental+shop&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,13628497956998458364&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Oriental Shop]: They carry mostly dry-goods, and tend to lean toward stocking more Korean items. 1206 South Park Street; 255-0326<br />
<br />
= Housing =<br />
<br />
Haven't found a place yet? Already hate your apartment?<br />
<br />
* [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/ UW Off-Campus Housing Search]: Probably the best search site for students.<br />
<br />
* Again, [http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List] is a good resourse. Also a good place to look for roommates outside of the department.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/ University Apartments]: On campus graduate housing, particularly popular with married couples (especially with children). Singles are also welcome. Many of them are on the bus route #80, a free route which runs from the apartments through campus every fifteen minutes throughout the day.<br />
<br />
== Location, Location, Location ==<br />
<br />
If you would like to keep your commute down, there are many places near campus. Many graduate students prefer to live close enough to Van Vleck to be within walking distance, yet far enough away to stay away from partying undergraduate students.<br />
<br />
Many graduate students live in the Vilas neighborhood, which is located South of Regent Street and between Park and Monroe. East of the Capitol building, we also have the Willy St. neighborhood (between Williamson and Rutledge streets, between Paterson and Thornton) and the other side of the Isthmus, between Mifflin and Lake Mendota. The university offers on campus housing at Eagle Heights with regular buses. Many students also live near Sheboygan and University Avenues (not on this map), and there are regular buses that run up University Avenue that will drop you off right in front of Van Vleck. The large apartment complexes in that area include the Normandy, Chapel Hill, Carolina, Monticello, Hilldale Towers, Park Towers, and Sovereign Apartments which are cheaper to live in than spots on the square.<br />
<br />
Because there is no parking on campus, you will need to plan on living within walking distance of a bus route or campus itself. You will receive a free bus pass for the [http://www.mymetrobus.com/ Madison Metro] system, which is very reliable. Check out the “plan your trip” link to find bus routes near you.<br />
<br />
Here is an approximate map of many areas where you will be likely to find housing: <br />
[[Image:gradhousingmap.jpg|400px| center | Housing Map]]<br />
<br />
Basically, shoot for zones 2-6, the North parts of zones 7 and 8, or the far East part of zone 10 on [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/map_all.asp this map] (the map from the UW Off-Campus Housing Search).<br />
<br />
== Stuff your landlord might not tell you ==<br />
<br />
*Utilities:<br />
Lots of apartments have water, sewage, heat, and and sometimes electricity included in rent. For those which don't, be sure to find out what to expect through the [http://mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/ Madison Gas and Electric] web page. Just tell them the address of the place you're looking at, and they'll tell you what the highs, lows, and averages have been over the last year.<br />
<br />
*Property information:<br />
The [http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/property.html City Assessor] has all of the basic information about Madison properties on file, including how many units are on the property, how much square footage there is, if there's AC in the building, what school district it's in, who your alderperson would be, and what else is on the property (e.g. garages). They'll even tell you how much the property is worth, and how much your landlord is paying in property taxes. Sometimes the square footage isn't broken up--for example, maybe there are two units on the first floor, but they'll only tell you that there are 1,700 sq ft on that floor, not how it's split up between the two units. It can be a useful site for rounding out your knowledge of places you're considering renting.<br />
<br />
*Tenants rights:<br />
The [http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/ Tenant resource center] is a small non-profit membership organization which provides housing counseling, mediation services and office assistance. Their website includes tips for new renters, generic rental forms, and advice for what to do if your landlord just won't get back to you about repairs, returning deposits, etc.<br />
There is also the [http://studenttenantunion.rso.wisc.edu/ Student tenant union], which is specifically targeted to UW students.<br />
<br />
== Rental Companies ==<br />
Many properties in Madison are run by rental companies -- some large, some small -- some good, some not-so-good. Larger companies tend to have lower prices, and more people working toward maintaining rentals. However, they may have less of an investment in taking care of each individual property or screening their tenants. Some people feel better renting from small companies, or landlords with only one or two houses. You may get more individual attention and care. Individuals have more investment in protecting each property, and renting to good tenants, so the properties tend to be in more reliable condition. However, with fewer properties comes fewer resources and higher prices.<br />
<br />
Whatever choice you make, be sure to have a conversation with your potential landlords about their polices, especially if you aren't going to be able to see things in person. It may also be good to Google the company or person to see if other people have had something good or bad to say about them or their properties. In particular, [http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Madison.html ApartmentRatings.com] has a few of the apartment complexes around town listed.<br />
<br />
Here are some general impressions/very subjective opinions that some of us have gotten from/about a few of the larger local companies:<br />
<br />
*AB Holdings: In particular, they have a couple small apartment buildings on Vilas that are particularly ideal for two people. Quite a few people from the department have rented these units and have been pretty happy.<br />
<br />
*[http://apexrents.com/ Apex Property Management]: Great company. Well-maintained properties, with many of the more recently remodeled rentals being very nice. Their representatives are helpful and responsible, and their tenants seem to be generally satisfied.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.centralmadison.com/ The Christensen Company]: Not terribly up-to-date apartments, but worth taking a look at.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonproperty.com/ Madison Property Management]: Lots of choices, but notoriously junky properties. They tend to cater mostly to undergraduates, and their rentals show it. We wouldn't recommend renting from this company unless you visit first.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.mcbridecompanies.com/ The McBride Companies]: Nice properties, good management. Really good website if you turn the sound off.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.tallardapartments.com/ Tallard Apartments]: Nice properties with very friendly and responsive staff. Their rentals tend to go early in the season.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wimci.com/ Wisconsin Management Company]: Nice enough properties, but kind of flakey representation. Make sure to ask lots of questions.<br />
<br />
*The Wright Company (or Norris Ct. Apartments): Very nice older buildings, but kind of sketchy management. Nothing is going to be in stellar shape, but they do tend to rent more to graduates and professionals, so they aren't beat up either. If you do rent from them, don't expect them to be very responsive, and be sure to be especially careful about protecting your security deposit by taking photos and keeping a record of your move-in report.<br />
<br />
= Furniture =<br />
<br />
*[http://www.svdpmadison.org/ St. Vincent DePaul's]: Like Goodwill. Has cheap dressers, desks, chairs, and general household stuff. Will deliver for a small charge. This is also a great place to donate any furniture or other items that you no longer want – they will pick up the items from your apartment. There is also a Goodwill in town, but they won't have nearly the same volume of furniture.<br />
<br />
*[http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List]: a free online classifieds site. Great not only for furniture, but also pet resources and last minute apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
*Eagle Heights Apartment Bulletin Boards: Lots of cheap stuff from people graduating, many of whom are moving overseas. You can even find cars. You can try posting your own wanted posters on the boards. You can find these boards at the bus stops for the (free) bus 80 route.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/madisonfreecycle/ Freecycle]: A community "give stuff away for free" website with a Madison branch.<br />
<br />
*Hippie Christmas ("Move-Out Day"): For some reason or another, the evening of August 14th is when the bulk of leases near campus turn over. This is a fantastic day to pick up free furniture from the street. If you already have a rental van, why not help municipal waste by pickup up a bookshelf for them?<br />
<br />
*The Todd Drive Area: Just west of park street on the beltline. American Furniture for furniture and electronics, Home Concepts for cheap but nice looking furniture, and Steinhafel's for furniture and mattresses.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html SWAP]. The UW's surplus supply store.<br />
<br />
= International Student Resources =<br />
Here are a few links specifically for international students. There are international grocery stores listed in the [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Graduate_Student_Guide#Specialty_Foods groceries] section.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcssa.net/ Chinese Student & Scholar Association]: A connection to the university's Chinese community for incoming students. They offer rides from the airport, list general information about madison, and organize get-tegethers/Chinese celebrations. International Conversation & Coffee Hour: meet other international students and americans interested in other cultures. Every Friday, 12-2pm, Cooper Hearth Room 160, Union South.<br />
<br />
*[http://iss.wisc.edu/ International Student Services]: the UW's International Student Services<br />
<br />
*[http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MADindians/ MadIndians]: a Yahoo online group for students from India in Madison. Good place to search for an Indian roommate.<br />
<br />
*[http://mtsa.rso.wisc.edu/ Madison Association of Turkish Students]: Very helpful for incoming Turkish students. It includes information about how best to get to Madison from Turkey, information about housing, and how to reach other Turkish students in Madison.<br />
<br />
= Newspapers =<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/captimes/ The Capitol Times]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the afternoon. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more liberal.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.thedailypage.com/ The Isthmus]: Free independent Madison newspaper. Has a liberal voice and is full of entertainment, including family fun, outdoor attractions, and fine arts. Also puts out the Annual Manual - the yearly guide to all things Madison.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.theonion.com/ The Onion]: While hilarious, this paper is only really good if you're already in on the joke. We get free paper copies in Madison. There is a stack near the elevators in VV. The local edition has local entertainment listings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Wisconsin State Journal]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the mornings. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more conservative.<br />
<br />
= Religious Groups =<br />
*[http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/ Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/ Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church]: Near Sheboygan Ave. at 110 N Whitney Way. A huge church, but with opportunities to get involved and meet people. It has services in the sanctuary, with a mixture of traditional and semi-modern worship, and also "video cafe" services with more lively, modern worship. Very good teaching.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cpcmadison.com/ Christ Presbyterian Church]. Just east of James Madison Park on Gorham. Has a great choir and organist!<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fusmadison.org/ The First Unitarian Society of Madison]. "A liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue." Looking for something new? They're open to all types. Also, they are housed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.folmadison.org/ Fountain of Life]: 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. A multi-ethnic church with a lot of eclectic music styles, including a lot of Gospel music<br />
<br />
*[http://genevacc.org/ The Geneva Campus Church]: On Campus Reformed church. They describe themselves as "a university church for the whole family"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwhillel.org/ Hillel]: UW-Madison's on-campus center for everything Jewish: religious, cultural, political, traditional, and alternative. Located on Langdon Street, it serves both the school population and, to a far lesser extent, the entire city.<br />
<br />
*[http://islamiccentermadison.org/ Islamic Center of Madison]: Has a masjid inside. 21 N Orchard St, (608)251-9851<br />
<br />
*[http://ivgcf.rso.wisc.edu/ InterVarsity Grad Christian Fellowship]: It's a welcoming place for Christians and non-Christians alike. (You might even find your future husband/wife there) They also have a website with info about local churches. There is a new student picnic at the beginning of the fall semester.<br />
<br />
*Latter Day Saints: There are a number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wards in the Madison area. The Madison First Ward covers areas closest to campus and meets at 4505 Regent Street, two blocks south of Hilldale Mall, at 9am. The University Ward serves single adults and meets at 1711 University Avenue at 10 am. The Madison Third Ward serves areas close to campus and meets at 701 Bear Claw Way on Madison's far west side at 11 am. Visitors and the curious are always welcome.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lccmadison.com/ Lutheran Campus Center]: A fairly young, enthusiastic, and liberal-minded congragation, found right on campus.<br />
<br />
*[http://madcitychurch.org/ Mad City Church]: A non-denominational, casual christian fellowship. Services are held in the LaFollette High School located on Madison's east side - very near the corner of Pflaum Rd. and Monona Dr. Office at 2713 E. Washington Ave.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.muuyacm.org/ Madison UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry (MUUYACM)]. One of the largest and most active Unitarian Universalist young adult groups in the U.S., they are open to young adults (ages 18-35) of all denominations. In addition to worships, they organize social-justice-oriented activities, and are an active member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcatholic.org/ St. Paul's University Catholic Center]: On campus in Library Mall near Lake & State. Has a lively Catholic grad student group called Mustard Seed with Bible studies, Thursday night speakers, retreats, service projects, and large quantities of food and euchre.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.unityofmadison.org/ Unity of Madison]: (from their site) "Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community focused on Truth Seeking and Spiritual Growth through the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire, nuture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live Jesus' message that 'the kingdom of God is within you.'"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.isthmuszencommunity.org/ Zen Buddhism]: A local zen buddhist center is located next to Willy st co-op. New comers are especially welcome.<br />
<br />
= Arts and Entertainment =<br />
<br />
Madison is a medium sized city with a not so medium sized arts and entertainment scene. There are cultural events on campus<br />
and at the [http://www.overturcenter.com Overture Center]; sporting events; art, science, natural history, and history museums; parks, the<br />
[http://www.uwarboretum.org arboretum], and [http://www.olbrich.org botanical gardens]; a free [http://www.vilaszoo.org zoo]; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; a [http://www.madfarmmkt.com Farmer’s Market] on the<br />
Capital Square every Saturday morning from April-October; and lots of other things. The [http://www.thedailypage.com Isthmus], is the local free newspaper which posts many current events.<br />
The Isthmus can be found in many stores, in campus buildings, and on street corners.<br />
<br />
== Athletic Activities ==<br />
* [http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/ Rec Sports] runs the gyms on campus. There are three such on-campus gyms -- The SERF, the Nat, and the Shell, which are free with student ID. For $10/semester, you can attend any of their Group Fitness classes, which cover everything from aerobics and weights to yoga and dance. Also, both the SERF and Nat have indoor pools.<br />
<br />
*The University of Wisconsin has a long standing heritage of being proud of their [http://www.uwbadgers.com/ athletic events]. Men's basketball, football and ice-hockey receive the most attention and as a student, you can obtain season tickets for all of these events.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.mufa.org MUFA] is an ultimate frisbee league that has summer as well as spring and fall seasons. This is a really fun way to stay active and meet some new Madison friends! You don't need to form a team-- just see the link for info about how to join a team looking for more players. Note: the games are often played all over the city and burbs, and are not necessarily reachable by bus. You'll need a car, or a teammate with a car. Also see the link for info about local pick-up games.<br />
<br />
== Dancing ==<br />
<br />
*Ballroom: [http://www.uwmbda.org/ UWMBDA] is the big ballroom dance group here. They have dances with lessons every week on Friday or Saturday and a practice group every Thursday.<br />
<br />
*[http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/dances.htm Contra Dance]: Meetings every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
*International Folk club: meets biweekly Library Mall, Wed/Sun 7:30PM-late.<br />
<br />
*Swing: [http://www.uwswing.com/ Jumptown Swing] is UW's swing club. They host (mostly) weekly dances at Union South, and provide lessons for a nominal fee. See their site for scheduling and links to other swing orgonizations. Also, on Wednesdays, there's dancing at the [http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ Brink Lounge] from 8-11.<br />
<br />
*Salsa: Venues include [http://www.cardinalbar.com/ Cardinal Bar] on Thursdays, [http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/details.php?event=176610 Frida's] on Friday nights. Don't know how to Salsa? There are lessons before dances at Cardinal, and instruction is offered through the Union's minicourses.<br />
<br />
*Tango: the [http://www.madisontango.org/ Madison Tango Society] provides lessons and dances for Argentine Tango. Their site has a good list or other events in and around Madison.<br />
<br />
== Libraries ==<br />
In addition to the many [http://www.library.wisc.edu/ Libraries of UW], the [http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ Madison Public Library] is a great place for books, movies, and music.<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
The Daily Page has a [http://www.thedailypage.com/movies/listing.php listing] of movie times for most of the theaters around town (both big and small):<br />
<br />
*Eastgate, Point and Star Cinema are the three larger movie theaters in town.<br />
<br />
*Market Square shows second runs at a good discount. <br />
<br />
*The [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/ Orpheum] is an old cinema within site of the capitol on State street. They tend to show less mainstream movies.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.sundancecinemas.com/madison.html Sundance 608] shows independent film as well as blockbuster movies. They have a rooftop cafe that's open during the summer months, 2 bars (you can take a drink into your movie), and a restaurant!<br />
<br />
For on-campus movies:<br />
*The Wisconsin Union Directorate runs on campus screening of films. Their film site can be found [http://www.union.wisc.edu/WUD/film.aspx here.]<br />
<br />
*The UW film department hosts free screenings of a wide array of films based on a given theme for that semester through their [http://cinema.wisc.edu/ cinematheque.] Their department has many contacts with other film institutes and are able show rare original 35mm films that you can't see anywhere else.<br />
<br />
*In late March/early April, go check out some of the many many films showing at the [http://www.wifilmfest.org/ Wisconsin Film Festival.] Sites all over town take part in hosting the showing of these films.<br />
<br />
Madison also has a number of independent video stores:<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ Four Star Video Heaven] has been voted as a Madison Favorite for a number of years. See their site to browse their collection online.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bongovideo.com/ Bongo Video] has a smaller, but quite tasty selection. Lots of personality, and good daily specials.<br />
<br />
== Music ==<br />
Whether you're looking to play music, or just go watch free or (in)expensive concerts, there are many options in Madison.<br />
<br />
*Our very own [http://music.wisc.edu/ Music Department] hosts many music events. Their website has a calendar listing current music events including faculty concerts and student recitals.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonsymphony.org/ The Madison Symphony Orchestra] (MSO) is the professional symphony based here in Madison. With your student ID, you can get student rush tickets for as little as $10 per person.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wcoconcerts.org/ The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra] is Madison's professional chamber orchestra. Each summer, their widely popular [http://www.wcoconcerts.org/new/cos/concertsonthesquare.php concerts on the square] draw many people from all over the place for a free outdoor concert.<br />
<br />
*[http://madisoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Madison Community Orchestra] (MCO) is an informal group run by Madison Area Technical College that meets once a week. There are four free concerts a year and no auditions to play with the group.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.middletoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Middleton Community Orchestra] is a second newly formed community orchestra run by community musicians. Their concerts are extremely affordable, and they may run auditions.<br />
<br />
== Outdoor Activites ==<br />
Madison is a very bicycle friendly town, and there are many parks either in town or within a short drive. Here are some suggestions about outdoor activities to engage in:<br />
<br />
*Take a nice long walk along one of the many paths around [http://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/imap/LakeshoreNaturePreserve.html Picnic Point]... bike the path from Memorial Union out to the tip, or bus/drive out to the base of picnic point and wander the foot trails in the area.<br />
<br />
*Head towards Monona Terrace on Lake Monona, and take one of the paths that wraps around the lake (great bike ride!).<br />
<br />
*You can also go walking and/or biking around the [http://uwarboretum.org/ Arboretum] south of campus and tour their gardens, or head to the free [http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Vilas Zoo]. Lake Wingra is essentially totally surrounded by wooded areas including Henry Vilas Park, the UW-arboretum and Edgewood college. You can rent canoes at Knickerbocker for fairly cheap and relax on Lake Wingra.<br />
<br />
*Community Gardens: There are a number of community gardens run by the [http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/ Community Action Coalition]. Nominally, you can sign up for a plot for a small fee, and learn how to garden if you don't already know, or go to town if you already do. The [http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/ Eagle Heights Community Garden] is open to both residents and non-residents alike. All of the gardens are fun to look at if you haven't ever seen one.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.olbrich.org/ The Olbrich Botanical Gardens] are located east of lake Monona. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including their award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden, or enjoy the year-round tropical Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds.. Outdoor gardens are open daily and free to the public, while entrance to the conservatory is $1 per person.<br />
<br />
*Catch a festival; Madison is home to a number of festivals -- big festivals, small festivals, arts festivals, music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals -- we've got all kinds.<br />
<br />
The Winter opens itself up to new activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing and other options. The hoofers club runs ice boats on the lake.<br />
<br />
*The city of Madison parks open up outdoor [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct2.html ice skating] at Tenney, Vilas, and Elver parks. No skates? No worries. They will rent skates to you there ($6.00 for the first hour, $2/hr after that).<br />
<br />
*There is also [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct4.html cross-country skiing] at a number of Dane county parks, with passes starting at $5/day. No skills? Check out lessons at the [http://www.madnorski.org/page/ Madison Nordic Ski Club] or, again, [http://sns.hoofers.org/ Hoofers] has lots to offer in that area.<br />
<br />
== Student Clubs ==<br />
The University of Wisconsin, being a rather large institution, has got so much stuff going on for all of us student-types. Here are some ways people around the department have been taking advantage:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop]: Located upstairs in the Memorial Union, they are "here to satisfy your creative urges in a variety of craft media." Their facilities include a darkroom, a woodshop, a ceramics studio, metal working tools, etc. Friday afternoons, they open their studios to all union members (that means you!) for free!<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hoofers.org/ Hoofers]: Student outdoor recreation club. The Outing and Sailing clubs in particular have lots of graduate students.<br />
<br />
* [http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]: Graduate Student Collaborative Organization<br />
<br />
* [http://cfli.wisc.edu/student_organizations.htm Student Organizations]: at UW Madison (this is a directory of all registered student organizations at the university; you can search by topic or name)<br />
<br />
== The Student Unions ==<br />
The Memorial Union is located on the lakefront, on Park and Langdon. Be sure to check out the Terrace while the weather is still good -- it's a great place to go to get out of the office, grab something to snack on, and study out in the sun. You'll find the Daily Scoop (yummy ice cream!) and Der Rathskeller (beer and deep-fried goodness). You'll also find all sorts of stuff to keep you busy, like the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop], the Union Theater, the Hoofers' headquarters, and a wide array of Mini Courses with which to expand your horizons.<br />
<br />
Also useful: the travel services center and STA Travel will get you good deals on trips (including bus tickets to O'Hare, Midway, and Milwaukee airports), and the theater's box office will get you good deals on shows (theater, music, etc) all around town. In addition, the Union has always got other special events going on to keep all of us entertained -- see their complete [http://www.union.wisc.edu/activities/ list of activities].<br />
<br />
The Union South was recently completely renovated and also has many activities available. They have a climbing wall, a bowling alley, pool tables, a beer garden, a wine tasting room, a ballroom, a movie theater and many other things.<br />
<br />
= Van Vleck Miscellany =<br />
Here's a bit more info about the happenings in and around the Math Dept.<br />
<br />
== Getting money ==<br />
*Paychecks: The first paycheck of the year arrives in October, though you may request an advance on about 30% of your first paycheck when you arrive. If you are not working over the summer, the last will come in June, so be sure to plan for the three month gap.<br />
<br />
*Fees: You will be charged for segregated fees in both semesters, and are not covered in your tuition. The amount depends on your credit load and status, but will be about $500 for most people and due about the time of your first paycheck. If you are on fellowship, this will be taken care of for you, and shouldn't appear on your bill.<br />
<br />
*TA union: The teaching assistants of Wisconsin are unionized. Even if you are not a TA, but are an employee of the department, you're still connected to them through advocacy and campus issues. For more information check out the [http://www.taa-madison.org/ TAA].<br />
<br />
== Getting stuff done ==<br />
See the Contacts section for a list of people who will help you get stuff done.<br />
<br />
If you want to reserve rooms in Van Vleck for review sessions or meetings you can fill out a green form with Sharon Paulson on the second floor. Sharon does the scheduling for about 4 or 5 rooms in the building, so you can also ask her about these rooms directly. If you need to reserve the 9th floor lounge, talk to Joan Wendt (also second floor).<br />
<br />
Each grad receives 200 photocopies and 250 black and white print outs a month for personal math use. If you are a TA, Sharon in the Copy Center on the second floor can photocopy materials for classes (which does not count toward your quota)– such as worksheets and quizzes. Just give her at least 24 hours notice. To check your printout quota, open a terminal logged into the math server, and type "pages". If you do go over your quota, you will simply get a (probably very small) bill at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
We get free office supplies on the 2nd floor – just ask the Receptionist for pens, folders, etc.<br />
<br />
You can pick up and send out your mail from the second floor. You might even want to have packages delivered to the department, to avoid missing them being delivered at home (UPS, for example, won't drop off to apartment complexes if you aren't there, so you'll have to drive out to Middleton to pick up your packages).<br />
<br />
It's never too early to start studying for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/graduate/quals.htm quals]... early and often, my friends. Early and Often.<br />
<br />
== Getting together ==<br />
Historically, some afternoons and Friday before colloquium, we have a cookie and coffee social hour on the 9th floor lounge. Keep your eyes open for announcements.<br />
<br />
Definitely check out some of the colloquia and seminars. The earlier you get involved the better. This is a great way to learn more about potential research areas, meet other people in the areas, and meet other mathematicians in other departments. There is a list posted on the 9th floor each week in addition to online.<br />
<br />
Once a semester, our group for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ women in mathematics] get together for an informal potluck. We also have been known to bring in women speakers funded by the [http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/ WiSELI] grant.<br />
<br />
= Miscellaneous Wisconsin Stuff =<br />
This section describes miscellaneous Wisconsin stuff that doesn't belong in any other section, such as, a [[Wisconsin Dictionary]] for those who aren't familiar with the Wisconsin vernacular.<br />
<br />
== Voting ==<br />
Frequently asked questions for Wisconsin voting can be found <br />
[http://wisconsin.gov/state/core/faq_wisconsin_voting_elections.html here]. <br />
As of the April election, Wisconsin has a law that allows for same day registration at the polls:<br />
<br />
''If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.''<br />
<br />
Out of state licenses work, and utility bills, bank statements, or pay checks with your name and address on them work for proof of residence.<br />
<br />
== Car Stuff ==<br />
Madison has a DMV out on the west side, just past Midvale, at 4802 Sheboygan Ave, and one on the east side out near the airport. <br />
<br />
*Licenses: As they say on their page for licensing new residents, if you're looking to put your permanent residence here and vote here and generally show up on the radar, you should apply for your [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/nonreside/index.htm WI license] within 60 days of establishing residency. Your first baseline license costs $28, and is valid for three years. Note: you will need to take with you, among other things, something like a rent agreement, or a utility bill, UW transcript, or bank statement actually mailed to your WI address (no e-bills). We'll note that math students have been known to wait longer than 60 days to officially apply for residency, but we recommend you don't wait until an out-of-state license expires to get a WI license.<br />
<br />
*Vehicle Registration: If you own a car and officially become a WI resident, you need to get WI plates. All the information you need is available [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/new/resident.htm here].<br />
<br />
*Parking: First, unless you have a motorcycle, '''don't''' plan to park on campus regularly. For parking near your residence, there are some options. Depending on the neighborhood, it's possible to rent a place that has parking included or available for an extra charge. Additionally, if you live in an area surrounded by 2-hr parking [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/documents/RP3allmap.pdf zones], you can usually buy a permit (for a little over $20 per year) allowing you to park on the street all day near your home. More information can be found on the City of Madison Parking Utility [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingUtility/index.cfm page]. Most importantly, "the vehicle for which you are requesting a permit must be owned by you, your child, your parents/step parents, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner, or be a leased or company vehicle which is assigned to you." <br />
<br />
BE AWARE! Winter parking gets all crazy in Madison (from November 15 - March 15). Most of town is on an alternate side parking schedule: cars should be parked on the even (resp. odd) house numbered side of the street from 1:00a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on even (resp. odd) numbered days. If you live on the isthmus in the Snow Emergency Zone, you will only need to do this when the weather gets really bad. You can sign up for alerts when this happens.<br />
<br />
If you leave your car in the wrong place -- with winter nonsense or for any other reason -- and it gets towed, you can call the Madison Police Department (266-4260) or Schmidt's Towing (257-0505) to find out what they've done with it.<br />
<br />
== Taxes ==<br />
Once you've lived here for an entire calendar year, be sure to look into the [http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/home.html Wisconsin Homestead Credit]... it's usually worth the time and effort for graduate students. Until then, you can look into [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html deducting moving costs] for relocating here on your federal taxes.<br />
<br />
A warning to students on fellowship: taxes will not be taken out of your paycheck, but you still have to pay them. You may want to consider filing [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199807,00.html quarterly].<br />
<br />
== Wisconsin benefit programs ==<br />
We don't exactly get piles of money for teaching. In fact, most people who are not on fellowship or receiving summer funding can qualify for some heating aid (up to $380/year), and electricity aid (up to $285/year). You can check your eligibility at [https://access.wisconsin.gov/ Access WI]. <br />
There may be some residency requirements, like the Homestead credit. You can find your annual salary in our [http://www.taa-madison.org/contract/index.html contract].<br />
<br />
== Residency ==<br />
While it's usually a good idea to become a WI resident, if, for some reason, you're looking to declare residency in WI for tuition purposes, the answer is usually "no." It seems that one has to be in Wisconsin for a full year before enrolling at the UW, and one has to prove that one did not move here primarily for educational purposes (according to the Wisconsin statutes, you have to provide "clear and convincing evidence"). More on that at the [http://www.registrar.wisc.edu/students/residence/index.php Office of the Registrar]'s site.<br />
<br />
= Contacts and Other Resources =<br />
*[http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/gradguide/index.html Guide to Graduate Student Life]: The Graduate Student Collaborative's ([http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]) guide to grad student life in Madison -- like this one, but different.<br />
<br />
* [[Teaching Assistant Guide]]: from real live Van Vleck TAs<br />
<br />
*[http://www.yelp.com/madison-wi Yelp.com]: Find reviews of local stuff- restaurants and things to do, but also dentists, auto shops, etc.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.vip.wisc.edu VIP], the Visitor & Information Programs office, located in the Red Gym, near [http://www.union.wisc.edu Memorial Union]. They are open M - F 8am - 5pm and Saturday 11am - 2pm. <br />
<br />
*[http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu Student Orientation Handbook] is a valuable resource for information including entertainment, recreational and varsity sports, student organizations (including those for cultural groups, international students, LGBT students, women, veterans, and people with disabilities), health services, jobs, transportation, safety, and housing. It’s also a great place for referrals to counseling services, including drug and alcohol and sexual assault issues. You can find all this information on the web, at http://www.wisc.edu/visitingCampus/ or call them at 263-2400. You can also email any questions you have to askbucky@uwmad.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lgbt.wisc.edu LGBT Campus Center]: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Center (265-3344; lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu) provides support, social, educational and research services to the campus community, and serves as UW-Madison's first stop for those looking for information about campus LGBT organizations. The Memorial Union office on the 2nd floor includes a library, a television and DVD player, plenty of comfortable seating, open computers, and has a staff of students and professionals that work to bring events, speakers, and programs to campus. The Center also publishes a weekly events e-letter and offers support and social groups.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ WIMAW] (Women in Math at Wisconsin.)<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Got Questions? Here are some folks who might just have the answers...<br />
<br />
== Counseling Services ==<br />
Counseling services are available through Counseling and [http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/ Consultation Services (C&CS)], located at 115 North Orchard Street, (265-5600, TTY number 265-3300). C&CS offers brief psychological treatment, personal counseling, and psychiatric services to UW-Madison students. Frequent services include help in overcoming depression, managing anxiety and other psychological issues, and in developing greater self-awareness, independence, and self-direction. They also provide personal problem counseling, couples relationship counseling, marriage and family counseling, cross-cultural counseling, and alcohol and drug assessment and referral. Specialized groups have included: graduate women support, women and self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, survivors of troubled families, rebuilding relationships. C&CS also provides crisis response at the above phone numbers. Services provided are covered by the student health fee (included in your student fees).<br />
<br />
== Administrative and Support Staff ==<br />
The administrative and support staff are the folk that keep our department functioning. Without them, we as mathematicians would be lost. :) Their pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/support_staff.html here] and their contact info can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/academic_staff.html here]. If one person doesn't know how to deal with a problem you might have, they certainly know who might be able to help you out.<br />
<br />
Kate Bartlett<br />
Position: Timetable/Undergraduate<br />
Office: 207 VV<br />
Email: bartlett@math<br />
Ask Kate about: Registration (for you and your students), MyUW stuff, classroom assignments.<br />
<br />
David Camacho<br />
Position: Assoc Fac Assoc<br />
Office: 321 VV<br />
Email: camacho@math<br />
Ask David about: the Math Tutorial Program (if a student needs extra attention)<br />
<br />
Mark Castillo<br />
Position: Grants/Proposals<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: castillo @math<br />
Ask Mark about: grant money<br />
<br />
Chris Uhlir<br />
Position: Payroll/Benefits<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: grenie@math<br />
Ask Mike about: Payroll, hourly positions, taxes, tuition, healthcare, and benefits. <br />
<br />
Sara Nagreen<br />
Position: Sr IPC<br />
Office: 515 VV<br />
Email: nagreen@math<br />
Ask Sara about: all things computing.<br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson<br />
Position: Copy Center Manager/ Room Reservations<br />
Office: 220 VV<br />
Email: paulson@math<br />
Ask Sharon about: Office supplies, room reservations (review sessions/exams/other), copying machine <br />
codes, private tutoring list.<br />
<br />
Mary Rice<br />
Position: Grad Prog. Admin<br />
Office: 203 VV<br />
Email: mrice@math<br />
Ask Mary about: Math dept records (teaching letters, transcripts, etc), how you go about graduating.<br />
<br />
Diane Rivard<br />
Position: Placement Advisor<br />
Office: 720 VV<br />
Email: rivard@math<br />
Ask Diane about: Placement questions (what class your student should be in, placement exam issues)<br />
<br />
Joan Wendt<br />
Position: Chair Secretary<br />
Office: 223 VV<br />
Email: wendt@math<br />
Ask Joan about: office assignments and keys<br />
<br />
Vicky Whelan<br />
Position: Dept Administrator<br />
Office: 218 VV<br />
Email: whelan@math<br />
Ask Vicky about: the dept credit card, espresso club, awesome concerts around town.<br />
<br />
== Current and Former Graduate Students Interested in Meeting YOU ==<br />
You can find a complete list of current graduate students [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/psdbgrad.html here], and pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/grad.html here]. Email addresses that end with @ are intended to finish with @math.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
Hans Chaumont<br />
Email: chaumont@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~chaumont Website:]<br />
Grad-Age: Started 2012<br />
Area of interest: Undecided<br />
Ask Hans about: Pretty much anything, but especially about tea or the math weightlifting team.<br />
<br />
Laura Cladek<br />
Email: cladek@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~cladek Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2011<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Laura about: Anything ... Especially analysis or on campus housing.<br />
<br />
Nathan Collins<br />
Email: nathan.collins@gmail.com<br />
[http://cs.pdx.edu/~ntc2 Website]<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2008<br />
Area of interest: Computer Science and Logic.<br />
Ask Nathan about: Pittsburgh, bicycles, and being inferior to Mason at TAing. He dislikes printers and bad margins.<br />
<br />
David Dynerman<br />
Email: dynerman@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~dynerman Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask David about: programming video games, trying to do Hartshorne problems, <br />
going to the gym, Mushfeq Khan, Andrew Bridy<br />
<br />
Thomas Hangelbroek<br />
Email: hangelbr@math.hawaii.edu<br />
[http://math.hawaii.edu/people/hangelbr/ Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2007<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Thomas about: Anything Madison. Thomas is an expert in all things Madison.<br />
<br />
Sara Jensen<br />
Email: jensen@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jensen Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask Sara about: Teaching, topology & algebra quals, knitting group, going to the gym <br />
<br />
(Evan) Alec Johnson<br />
Email: ejohnson@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson Website]<br />
Grad-age: Ph.D., 2012<br />
Area of interest: Applied Math and Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask Alec about: teaching, advanced calculus, gardening, and Geneva Campus Church.<br />
<br />
Christine Lien<br />
Email: lien@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lien Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2005<br />
Area of interest: Complex Geometry<br />
Ask Christine about: anything, including bridge/card games, organizing women's events, <br />
the Association of Asian American Graduate students, and the Graduate Student Topology Seminar.<br />
<br />
Hao Lin<br />
Email: lin@<br />
[http://genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=156703 Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Hao about: sports and anything about China.<br />
<br />
Jonathon Mason<br />
Email: jonathan.f.mason@gmail.com<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2010<br />
Ask Mason about: Wisconsin hiking, the local film scene and being "way better than Nathan Collins" at TAing.<br />
<br />
Jason Murcko<br />
Email: murcko@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~murcko Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2006<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Jason about: the TAA and the local film and music scenes.<br />
<br />
Mike Schroeder<br />
Email: schroede@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~schroede UW Website]. [http://science.marshall.edu/schroederm/ Marshall Website].<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Combinatorics<br />
Ask Mike about: softball, bowling, sailing, racquet ball, and the Florida Gators.<br />
<br />
David Seal<br />
Email: seal@math.msu.edu<br />
[http://www.math.msu.edu/~seal Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2012.<br />
Area of interest: Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask David about: movies, biking, hiking and board games.<br />
<br />
Beth Skubak<br />
Email: skubak@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~skubak Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2009<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Beth about: anything, including this wiki<br />
<br />
Mike Woodbury<br />
[http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woodbury/ Website]<br />
Email: woodbury@math.columbia.edu<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011.<br />
Area of interest: Number Theory<br />
Ask Mike about: anything, including number theory, road biking, UW basketball tix.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Guide&diff=5359Graduate Student Guide2013-06-06T17:30:28Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Generic Groceries */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Exams.png|400px|right | Grading Exams in the Lounge]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
= Food =<br />
<br />
There are many ethnic and interesting restaurants in Madison – Indonesian, African, Italian, Himalayan, Laotian, Peruvian, Mexican, Bakeries, Brew Pubs, Coffee Joints, you name it -- and everyone has their favorites.<br />
<br />
The biggest resource for finding food (and entertainment!) in Madison is probably the [http://www.thedailypage.com/eats/ Daily Page] (the online version of our local paper, the Isthmus), where you can search local restaurants by name, locality, and cuisine. There, they have reviews, hours, contact info, pricing, etc. Be sure to peruse their [http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Restaurants Madison's Favorites] section for some quick tips! Of course [http://www.yelp.com/ yelp] is always useful as well. At one point a couple spent a few years trying to sample every restaurant in Madison and blogged about their journey on the [http://www.madisonatoz.com/ Madison A to Z].<br />
<br />
Here are some general food facts:<br />
<br />
== Campus Food ==<br />
*Food Carts: Open for lunch in Library Mall at the foot of Bascom Hill near Lake & State Street. Very good and very cheap, and out as long as it's not too cold.<br />
<br />
*Badger Market at Ingraham Hall: Very close to Van Vleck, and has acceptable coffee (bring your own cup to save money!) and decent snacks. Try the Badger Bundle lunch special: sandwich, drink, and a side for $1 off your total. Halfway down the hill is the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/crossroadscafe.htm Crossroads Cafe] which has much better coffee and is open later.<br />
<br />
*Memorial Union: The Rathskeller has food and next door is Lakeside cafe with much better food. Summer afternoons on the terrace is an excellent place to hang out in the sunshine with a beer and brat.<br />
<br />
*Union South: Features a pizza place, a pan-Asian restaurant, a sandwich shop, a sports bar (burgers and sandwiches) and an ice cream stand. <br />
<br />
*State Street (past the food carts) is full of restaurants and Coffee shops – there are at least a half dozen coffee roasters in town, and each supplies a different set of shops. In particular for lunch, there are the popular chains, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Einstein Bros. Bagels, or Chipotle... or hit the more independent spots such as the Sunroom Cafe or Ian's Pizza.<br />
<br />
== MadTown food ==<br />
<br />
Traditional Madison foods are German varieties such as beer, cheese, and bratwurst. Twice a year Madison hosts [http://www.bratfest.com/ Bratfest], a record breaking event. <br />
UW has [http://www.wisc.edu/foodsci/store/ Babcock Hall Ice Cream] on campus which creates delicious ice cream available in the Unions. The [http://www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com/ Chocolate Shoppe], [http://www.ilovemichaels.com/ Michael's Frozen Custard] and Culvers have nice deserts.<br />
Micro breweries in town include the [http://www.greatdanepub.com/ Great Dane], [http://www.capital-brewery.com/ Captial Brewery] and [http://www.aleasylum.com/ Ale Asylum]. Nearby there is the famous [http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/ New Glarus Brewing Co] which only sells beer in Wisconsin. You can join a free beer tour or walk through the brewery on a self guided tourn.<br />
<br />
In early September (Labor Day weekend), check out [http://www.madisonfestivals.com/taste/ Taste of Madison] to see many restaurants all in one place at one time.<br />
<br />
Try a good ol' midwestern Fish Fry on Friday night – All you can eat fried fish generally served with a bran muffin, clam chowder, or coleslaw. Most Brew Pubs and some churches have them, and the [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/restaurant.php Orpheum] as well at the [http://www.avenuebarmadison.com/ Avenue Bar and Grill] both run Friday night Fish Fries.<br />
<br />
== Farm fresh food ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.madfarmmkt.org/ Dane County Farmer's Market] is amazing and HUGE. The big one is open every Saturday morning, and is located on the capitol square for most of the year. In addition to the ludicrous amount of fresh produce, there are also bakery stands, coffee, and fresh juice carts for quick breakfasts.<br />
<br />
There are also a few smaller [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farmers_markets.htm#danecounty markets] scattered around town, almost every day of the week:<br />
<br />
*Sunday: 8:30am to 12:30pm in front of Pierce's Northside Market<br />
*Monday: (none)<br />
*Tuesday: 4pm to 7pm on Ingersol at Williamson, 2pm to 6pm at 1602 S. Park St,<br />
*Wednesday: 8am to 2pm on MLKJr Blvd, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center,<br />
*Thursday: Thursdays, 2pm to 6pm at the Villager Mall on Park St., 2pm to 6pm in the McFarland Centre, 7:30am to 1:30pm in the Greenway Station shopping center,<br />
*Friday: (none)<br />
*Saturday: 6am to 2pm on the Capitol square, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center, 9am to 2pm at 1602 S. Park St, 7am to 1pm at Sheboygan Ave. and Segoe Rd., and 8:30am to 11am in Watertower Park.<br />
<br />
During the summer and fall, there are many [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/index.htm local farms] where you can [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farms/u_pick.htm pick] your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, or pumpkins when they are in season.<br />
<br />
If you're in town for the summer, you might consider signing up for a [http://www.macsac.org/ Community Supported Agriculture] food box. CSA is a way to support a local farm by paying an annual fee in the winter or spring which buys you a share of the season's harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick-up a weekly box of fresh foods which may include produce, fruits, cheeses, eggs, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. The typical CSA season in Wisconsin runs from the end of May through mid-October. You do have to pay the lump sum up-front, and some weeks you'll find yourself with five pounds of chard... but for most of the summer you'll have your produce needs met, and you can feel good about supporting small local farms. Better yet, most of the university's insurance providers offer [http://www.macsac.org/rebates.html rebates] for signing up for a CSA -- somewhere between $50-$300, depending on the plan and how many people you're sharing with (for example, if two people on GHC share a box, they might pay $450 for the box for a box lasting 25 weeks, but they they could each get $100 back, making that $5/week per person). If you're interested, remember to sign up early -- most programs are full by May.<br />
<br />
= Grocery Stores =<br />
<br />
== Generic Groceries ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.capcentrefoods.com/home.html Capitol Centre Foods]: Given their small size, they have an excellent selection of groceries. They tend to be a bit pricey. In addition, they deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.freshmadisonmarket.com/ Fresh Madison Market]: A reasonably large general grocery store, not too expensive. Has a large selection of "typical college items" (lots of frozen foods). Located on University, not too far from Van Vleck. They also deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.copps.com/ Copps]: Your standard grocery store with multiple locations.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=1020&lang=en-US Costco]: Your friendly big-box bulk store. They treat their employees incredibly well. Good buys on computers, 2 lbs of sockeye salmon or button down oxford cloth long sleeved shirts. You'll need a membership or go there with someone who has a membership. You can also get a free trial membership if you simply ask.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.walgreens.com/ Walgreens]: Pharmacy/Grocery store. There is a Walgreens on the corner of Lake & State Street near Van Vleck, on the Capitol Square, at East Campus Mall, and in University square.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Whole Foods]: Kinda spendy, but good bread, specialty stuff, and produce through the winter.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Woodman's]: two locations -- [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=725+S+Gammon+Rd+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=43.055217,-89.50304&spn=0.05381,0.171661 East] and [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3817+Milwaukee+St,+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.103615,-89.319363&spn=0.053768,0.171661&om=1 West]. If you have a car and the time, go here. Very large, very cheap, but time consuming. They don't take credit cards, so bring a debit card or check book. The produce is pretty poor, but they're huge and, again, cheap. Check out the liquor store for a large selection (you can buy all types of alcohol in grocery stores in Wisconsin... but not after 9pm).<br />
<br />
*[http://www.traderjoes.com/ Trader Joe's]: Located at 1810 Monroe St. They have good prices for select specialty food items such as wine, cheese and fancy snacks. Their basic foodstuffs tend to be a bit pricey.<br />
<br />
*The Jenifer Street Market located on 2038 Jenifer Street is a nice little grocery store if you happen to live in the area.<br />
<br />
== Co-ops ==<br />
Co-ops are a good source of local organic food. If you are a member they provide discounts, but you can also shop there at your own will.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.regentmarketcoop.org/ Regent Market Cooperative], 2136 Regent St. 233-4329.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.willystreet.coop/ Willy Street Co-op] The largest and most active co-op in the Madison area. They have been able to survive the decline in co-ops over the years. They offer a large selection of bulk foods and spices at an excellent price. For a quick bite, they have an excellent deli, salad bar, and in-store coffee shop. 1221 Williamson St. 251-6776. They recently opened a second store in Middleton located at 6825 University Ave. Both locations deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
== Specialty Foods ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.aldifoods.com/ Aldi Foods]: It's like grocery shopping at overstock.com.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=keJ&q=asian+midway+foods&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,304616636444102595&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Asian Midway Market]: The go-to market for anything Thai, Chinese or South-East Asian, this centrally-located store comes highly recommended. In particular, they offer a great selection of specialized produce. 301 South Park Street; 255-5864<br />
<br />
*[http://www.brennansmarket.com/ Brennan's Market]: Great for Produce, Meats, Cheese, Micro brews and Wines. You won't find things like Flour and Saran Wrap here, but definitely worth the trip.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/ Farm Fresh Atlas]: Not a grocery store, but a good resource for where you can buy local foods and a list of farms in the areas.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madseafood.com/ The Seafood Center]: The name says it all. Great fresh fish and live lobsters.<br />
<br />
*[http://frabonisdeli.com/ Fraboni's]: An awesome Italian grocery store and deli. They have very good [http://frabonisdeli.com/oils olive oils], [http://frabonisdeli.com/pastas pastas], and make-your-own pizza fixings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3723579948/garden-asian-market-middleton Garden Asian Market]: A full service Asian food market specializing in fresh meat, produce, and seafood. Mostly Chinese-leaning, they do a good job of providing a wide variety of items within their niche. It may be far out, but it's worth the trip in its pleasantness and selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=india+house+grocery+store,+madison,+wi&fb=1&gl=us&hq=india+house+grocery+store,&hnear=Madison,+WI&cid=0,0,8495347478199843118&ll=43.050466,-89.503019&spn=0.007871,0.019183&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A India House]: Really well done Indian grocery store. Good place to buy Kari leaves.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=TMe&q=lee%27s+oriental&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,92533124768468793&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Lee's Oriental]: Next to Penzey's spices. 3240 University Ave; 231-1593<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=2Me&q=oriental+shop&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,13628497956998458364&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Oriental Shop]: They carry mostly dry-goods, and tend to lean toward stocking more Korean items. 1206 South Park Street; 255-0326<br />
<br />
= Housing =<br />
<br />
Haven't found a place yet? Already hate your apartment?<br />
<br />
* [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/ UW Off-Campus Housing Search]: Probably the best search site for students.<br />
<br />
* Again, [http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List] is a good resourse. Also a good place to look for roommates outside of the department.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/ University Apartments]: On campus graduate housing, particularly popular with married couples (especially with children). Singles are also welcome. Many of them are on the bus route #80, a free route which runs from the apartments through campus every fifteen minutes throughout the day.<br />
<br />
== Location, Location, Location ==<br />
<br />
If you would like to keep your commute down, there are many places near campus. Many graduate students prefer to live close enough to Van Vleck to be within walking distance, yet far enough away to stay away from partying undergraduate students.<br />
<br />
Many graduate students live in the Vilas neighborhood, which is located South of Regent Street and between Park and Monroe. East of the Capitol building, we also have the Willy St. neighborhood (between Williamson and Rutledge streets, between Paterson and Thornton) and the other side of the Isthmus, between Mifflin and Lake Mendota. The university offers on campus housing at Eagle Heights with regular buses. Many students also live near Sheboygan and University Avenues (not on this map), and there are regular buses that run up University Avenue that will drop you off right in front of Van Vleck. The large apartment complexes in that area include the Normandy, Chapel Hill, Carolina, Monticello, Hilldale Towers, Park Towers, and Sovereign Apartments which are cheaper to live in than spots on the square.<br />
<br />
Because there is no parking on campus, you will need to plan on living within walking distance of a bus route or campus itself. You will receive a free bus pass for the [http://www.mymetrobus.com/ Madison Metro] system, which is very reliable. Check out the “plan your trip” link to find bus routes near you.<br />
<br />
Here is an approximate map of many areas where you will be likely to find housing: <br />
[[Image:gradhousingmap.jpg|400px| center | Housing Map]]<br />
<br />
Basically, shoot for zones 2-6, the North parts of zones 7 and 8, or the far East part of zone 10 on [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/map_all.asp this map] (the map from the UW Off-Campus Housing Search).<br />
<br />
== Stuff your landlord might not tell you ==<br />
<br />
*Utilities:<br />
Lots of apartments have water, sewage, heat, and and sometimes electricity included in rent. For those which don't, be sure to find out what to expect through the [http://mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/ Madison Gas and Electric] web page. Just tell them the address of the place you're looking at, and they'll tell you what the highs, lows, and averages have been over the last year.<br />
<br />
*Property information:<br />
The [http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/property.html City Assessor] has all of the basic information about Madison properties on file, including how many units are on the property, how much square footage there is, if there's AC in the building, what school district it's in, who your alderperson would be, and what else is on the property (e.g. garages). They'll even tell you how much the property is worth, and how much your landlord is paying in property taxes. Sometimes the square footage isn't broken up--for example, maybe there are two units on the first floor, but they'll only tell you that there are 1,700 sq ft on that floor, not how it's split up between the two units. It can be a useful site for rounding out your knowledge of places you're considering renting.<br />
<br />
*Tenants rights:<br />
The [http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/ Tenant resource center] is a small non-profit membership organization which provides housing counseling, mediation services and office assistance. Their website includes tips for new renters, generic rental forms, and advice for what to do if your landlord just won't get back to you about repairs, returning deposits, etc.<br />
There is also the [http://studenttenantunion.rso.wisc.edu/ Student tenant union], which is specifically targeted to UW students.<br />
<br />
== Rental Companies ==<br />
Many properties in Madison are run by rental companies -- some large, some small -- some good, some not-so-good. Larger companies tend to have lower prices, and more people working toward maintaining rentals. However, they may have less of an investment in taking care of each individual property or screening their tenants. Some people feel better renting from small companies, or landlords with only one or two houses. You may get more individual attention and care. Individuals have more investment in protecting each property, and renting to good tenants, so the properties tend to be in more reliable condition. However, with fewer properties comes fewer resources and higher prices.<br />
<br />
Whatever choice you make, be sure to have a conversation with your potential landlords about their polices, especially if you aren't going to be able to see things in person. It may also be good to Google the company or person to see if other people have had something good or bad to say about them or their properties. In particular, [http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Madison.html ApartmentRatings.com] has a few of the apartment complexes around town listed.<br />
<br />
Here are some general impressions/very subjective opinions that some of us have gotten from/about a few of the larger local companies:<br />
<br />
*AB Holdings: In particular, they have a couple small apartment buildings on Vilas that are particularly ideal for two people. Quite a few people from the department have rented these units and have been pretty happy.<br />
<br />
*[http://apexrents.com/ Apex Property Management]: Great company. Well-maintained properties, with many of the more recently remodeled rentals being very nice. Their representatives are helpful and responsible, and their tenants seem to be generally satisfied.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.centralmadison.com/ The Christensen Company]: Not terribly up-to-date apartments, but worth taking a look at.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonproperty.com/ Madison Property Management]: Lots of choices, but notoriously junky properties. They tend to cater mostly to undergraduates, and their rentals show it. We wouldn't recommend renting from this company unless you visit first.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.mcbridecompanies.com/ The McBride Companies]: Nice properties, good management. Really good website if you turn the sound off.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.tallardapartments.com/ Tallard Apartments]: Nice properties with very friendly and responsive staff. Their rentals tend to go early in the season.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wimci.com/ Wisconsin Management Company]: Nice enough properties, but kind of flakey representation. Make sure to ask lots of questions.<br />
<br />
*The Wright Company (or Norris Ct. Apartments): Very nice older buildings, but kind of sketchy management. Nothing is going to be in stellar shape, but they do tend to rent more to graduates and professionals, so they aren't beat up either. If you do rent from them, don't expect them to be very responsive, and be sure to be especially careful about protecting your security deposit by taking photos and keeping a record of your move-in report.<br />
<br />
= Furniture =<br />
<br />
*[http://www.svdpmadison.org/ St. Vincent DePaul's]: Like Goodwill. Has cheap dressers, desks, chairs, and general household stuff. Will deliver for a small charge. This is also a great place to donate any furniture or other items that you no longer want – they will pick up the items from your apartment. There is also a Goodwill in town, but they won't have nearly the same volume of furniture.<br />
<br />
*[http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List]: a free online classifieds site. Great not only for furniture, but also pet resources and last minute apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
*Eagle Heights Apartment Bulletin Boards: Lots of cheap stuff from people graduating, many of whom are moving overseas. You can even find cars. You can try posting your own wanted posters on the boards. You can find these boards at the bus stops for the (free) bus 80 route.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/madisonfreecycle/ Freecycle]: A community "give stuff away for free" website with a Madison branch.<br />
<br />
*Hippie Christmas ("Move-Out Day"): For some reason or another, the evening of August 14th is when the bulk of leases near campus turn over. This is a fantastic day to pick up free furniture from the street. If you already have a rental van, why not help municipal waste by pickup up a bookshelf for them?<br />
<br />
*The Todd Drive Area: Just west of park street on the beltline. American Furniture for furniture and electronics, Home Concepts for cheap but nice looking furniture, and Steinhafel's for furniture and mattresses.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html SWAP]. The UW's surplus supply store.<br />
<br />
= International Student Resources =<br />
Here are a few links specifically for international students. There are international grocery stores listed in the [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Graduate_Student_Guide#Specialty_Foods groceries] section.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcssa.net/ Chinese Student & Scholar Association]: A connection to the university's Chinese community for incoming students. They offer rides from the airport, list general information about madison, and organize get-tegethers/Chinese celebrations. International Conversation & Coffee Hour: meet other international students and americans interested in other cultures. Every Friday, 12-2pm, Cooper Hearth Room 160, Union South.<br />
<br />
*[http://iss.wisc.edu/ International Student Services]: the UW's International Student Services<br />
<br />
*[http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MADindians/ MadIndians]: a Yahoo online group for students from India in Madison. Good place to search for an Indian roommate.<br />
<br />
*[http://mtsa.rso.wisc.edu/ Madison Association of Turkish Students]: Very helpful for incoming Turkish students. It includes information about how best to get to Madison from Turkey, information about housing, and how to reach other Turkish students in Madison.<br />
<br />
= Newspapers =<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/captimes/ The Capitol Times]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the afternoon. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more liberal.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.thedailypage.com/ The Isthmus]: Free independent Madison newspaper. Has a liberal voice and is full of entertainment, including family fun, outdoor attractions, and fine arts. Also puts out the Annual Manual - the yearly guide to all things Madison.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.theonion.com/ The Onion]: While hilarious, this paper is only really good if you're already in on the joke. We get free paper copies in Madison. There is a stack near the elevators in VV. The local edition has local entertainment listings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Wisconsin State Journal]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the mornings. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more conservative.<br />
<br />
= Religious Groups =<br />
*[http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/ Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/ Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church]: Near Sheboygan Ave. at 110 N Whitney Way. A huge church, but with opportunities to get involved and meet people. It has services in the sanctuary, with a mixture of traditional and semi-modern worship, and also "video cafe" services with more lively, modern worship. Very good teaching.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cpcmadison.com/ Christ Presbyterian Church]. Just east of James Madison Park on Gorham. Has a great choir and organist!<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fusmadison.org/ The First Unitarian Society of Madison]. "A liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue." Looking for something new? They're open to all types. Also, they are housed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.folmadison.org/ Fountain of Life]: 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. A multi-ethnic church with a lot of eclectic music styles, including a lot of Gospel music<br />
<br />
*[http://genevacc.org/ The Geneva Campus Church]: On Campus Reformed church. They describe themselves as "a university church for the whole family"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwhillel.org/ Hillel]: UW-Madison's on-campus center for everything Jewish: religious, cultural, political, traditional, and alternative. Located on Langdon Street, it serves both the school population and, to a far lesser extent, the entire city.<br />
<br />
*[http://islamiccentermadison.org/ Islamic Center of Madison]: Has a masjid inside. 21 N Orchard St, (608)251-9851<br />
<br />
*[http://ivgcf.rso.wisc.edu/ InterVarsity Grad Christian Fellowship]: It's a welcoming place for Christians and non-Christians alike. (You might even find your future husband/wife there) They also have a website with info about local churches. There is a new student picnic at the beginning of the fall semester.<br />
<br />
*Latter Day Saints: There are a number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wards in the Madison area. The Madison First Ward covers areas closest to campus and meets at 4505 Regent Street, two blocks south of Hilldale Mall, at 9am. The University Ward serves single adults and meets at 1711 University Avenue at 10 am. The Madison Third Ward serves areas close to campus and meets at 701 Bear Claw Way on Madison's far west side at 11 am. Visitors and the curious are always welcome.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lccmadison.com/ Lutheran Campus Center]: A fairly young, enthusiastic, and liberal-minded congragation, found right on campus.<br />
<br />
*[http://madcitychurch.org/ Mad City Church]: A non-denominational, casual christian fellowship. Services are held in the LaFollette High School located on Madison's east side - very near the corner of Pflaum Rd. and Monona Dr. Office at 2713 E. Washington Ave.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.muuyacm.org/ Madison UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry (MUUYACM)]. One of the largest and most active Unitarian Universalist young adult groups in the U.S., they are open to young adults (ages 18-35) of all denominations. In addition to worships, they organize social-justice-oriented activities, and are an active member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcatholic.org/ St. Paul's University Catholic Center]: On campus in Library Mall near Lake & State. Has a lively Catholic grad student group called Mustard Seed with Bible studies, Thursday night speakers, retreats, service projects, and large quantities of food and euchre.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.unityofmadison.org/ Unity of Madison]: (from their site) "Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community focused on Truth Seeking and Spiritual Growth through the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire, nuture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live Jesus' message that 'the kingdom of God is within you.'"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.isthmuszencommunity.org/ Zen Buddhism]: A local zen buddhist center is located next to Willy st co-op. New comers are especially welcome.<br />
<br />
= Arts and Entertainment =<br />
<br />
Madison is a medium sized city with a not so medium sized arts and entertainment scene. There are cultural events on campus<br />
and at the [http://www.overturcenter.com Overture Center]; sporting events; art, science, natural history, and history museums; parks, the<br />
[http://www.uwarboretum.org arboretum], and [http://www.olbrich.org botanical gardens]; a free [http://www.vilaszoo.org zoo]; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; a [http://www.madfarmmkt.com Farmer’s Market] on the<br />
Capital Square every Saturday morning from April-October; and lots of other things. The [http://www.thedailypage.com Isthmus], is the local free newspaper which posts many current events.<br />
The Isthmus can be found in many stores, in campus buildings, and on street corners.<br />
<br />
== Athletic Activities ==<br />
* [http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/ Rec Sports] runs the gyms on campus. There are three such on-campus gyms -- The SERF, the Nat, and the Shell, which are free with student ID. For $10/semester, you can attend any of their Group Fitness classes, which cover everything from aerobics and weights to yoga and dance. Also, both the SERF and Nat have indoor pools.<br />
<br />
*The University of Wisconsin has a long standing heritage of being proud of their [http://www.uwbadgers.com/ athletic events]. Men's basketball, football and ice-hockey receive the most attention and as a student, you can obtain season tickets for all of these events.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.mufa.org MUFA] is an ultimate frisbee league that has summer as well as spring and fall seasons. This is a really fun way to stay active and meet some new Madison friends! You don't need to form a team-- just see the link for info about how to join a team looking for more players. Note: the games are often played all over the city and burbs, and are not necessarily reachable by bus. You'll need a car, or a teammate with a car. Also see the link for info about local pick-up games.<br />
<br />
== Dancing ==<br />
<br />
*Ballroom: [http://www.uwmbda.org/ UWMBDA] is the big ballroom dance group here. They have dances with lessons every week on Friday or Saturday and a practice group every Thursday.<br />
<br />
*[http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/dances.htm Contra Dance]: Meetings every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
*International Folk club: meets biweekly Library Mall, Wed/Sun 7:30PM-late.<br />
<br />
*Swing: [http://www.uwswing.com/ Jumptown Swing] is UW's swing club. They host (mostly) weekly dances at Union South, and provide lessons for a nominal fee. See their site for scheduling and links to other swing orgonizations. Also, on Wednesdays, there's dancing at the [http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ Brink Lounge] from 8-11.<br />
<br />
*Salsa: Venues include [http://www.cardinalbar.com/ Cardinal Bar] on Thursdays, [http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/details.php?event=176610 Frida's] on Friday nights. Don't know how to Salsa? There are lessons before dances at Cardinal, and instruction is offered through the Union's minicourses.<br />
<br />
*Tango: the [http://www.madisontango.org/ Madison Tango Society] provides lessons and dances for Argentine Tango. Their site has a good list or other events in and around Madison.<br />
<br />
== Libraries ==<br />
In addition to the many [http://www.library.wisc.edu/ Libraries of UW], the [http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ Madison Public Library] is a great place for books, movies, and music.<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
The Daily Page has a [http://www.thedailypage.com/movies/listing.php listing] of movie times for most of the theaters around town (both big and small):<br />
<br />
*Eastgate, Point and Star Cinema are the three larger movie theaters in town.<br />
<br />
*Market Square shows second runs at a good discount. <br />
<br />
*The [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/ Orpheum] is an old cinema within site of the capitol on State street. They tend to show less mainstream movies.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.sundancecinemas.com/madison.html Sundance 608] shows independent film as well as blockbuster movies. They have a rooftop cafe that's open during the summer months, 2 bars (you can take a drink into your movie), and a restaurant!<br />
<br />
For on-campus movies:<br />
*The Wisconsin Union Directorate runs on campus screening of films. Their film site can be found [http://www.union.wisc.edu/WUD/film.aspx here.]<br />
<br />
*The UW film department hosts free screenings of a wide array of films based on a given theme for that semester through their [http://cinema.wisc.edu/ cinematheque.] Their department has many contacts with other film institutes and are able show rare original 35mm films that you can't see anywhere else.<br />
<br />
*In late March/early April, go check out some of the many many films showing at the [http://www.wifilmfest.org/ Wisconsin Film Festival.] Sites all over town take part in hosting the showing of these films.<br />
<br />
Madison also has a number of independent video stores:<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ Four Star Video Heaven] has been voted as a Madison Favorite for a number of years. See their site to browse their collection online.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bongovideo.com/ Bongo Video] has a smaller, but quite tasty selection. Lots of personality, and good daily specials.<br />
<br />
== Music ==<br />
Whether you're looking to play music, or just go watch free or (in)expensive concerts, there are many options in Madison.<br />
<br />
*Our very own [http://music.wisc.edu/ Music Department] hosts many music events. Their website has a calendar listing current music events including faculty concerts and student recitals.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonsymphony.org/ The Madison Symphony Orchestra] (MSO) is the professional symphony based here in Madison. With your student ID, you can get student rush tickets for as little as $10 per person.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wcoconcerts.org/ The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra] is Madison's professional chamber orchestra. Each summer, their widely popular [http://www.wcoconcerts.org/new/cos/concertsonthesquare.php concerts on the square] draw many people from all over the place for a free outdoor concert.<br />
<br />
*[http://madisoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Madison Community Orchestra] (MCO) is an informal group run by Madison Area Technical College that meets once a week. There are four free concerts a year and no auditions to play with the group.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.middletoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Middleton Community Orchestra] is a second newly formed community orchestra run by community musicians. Their concerts are extremely affordable, and they may run auditions.<br />
<br />
== Outdoor Activites ==<br />
Madison is a very bicycle friendly town, and there are many parks either in town or within a short drive. Here are some suggestions about outdoor activities to engage in:<br />
<br />
*Take a nice long walk along one of the many paths around [http://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/imap/LakeshoreNaturePreserve.html Picnic Point]... bike the path from Memorial Union out to the tip, or bus/drive out to the base of picnic point and wander the foot trails in the area.<br />
<br />
*Head towards Monona Terrace on Lake Monona, and take one of the paths that wraps around the lake (great bike ride!).<br />
<br />
*You can also go walking and/or biking around the [http://uwarboretum.org/ Arboretum] south of campus and tour their gardens, or head to the free [http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Vilas Zoo]. Lake Wingra is essentially totally surrounded by wooded areas including Henry Vilas Park, the UW-arboretum and Edgewood college. You can rent canoes at Knickerbocker for fairly cheap and relax on Lake Wingra.<br />
<br />
*Community Gardens: There are a number of community gardens run by the [http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/ Community Action Coalition]. Nominally, you can sign up for a plot for a small fee, and learn how to garden if you don't already know, or go to town if you already do. The [http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/ Eagle Heights Community Garden] is open to both residents and non-residents alike. All of the gardens are fun to look at if you haven't ever seen one.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.olbrich.org/ The Olbrich Botanical Gardens] are located east of lake Monona. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including their award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden, or enjoy the year-round tropical Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds.. Outdoor gardens are open daily and free to the public, while entrance to the conservatory is $1 per person.<br />
<br />
*Catch a festival; Madison is home to a number of festivals -- big festivals, small festivals, arts festivals, music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals -- we've got all kinds.<br />
<br />
The Winter opens itself up to new activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing and other options. The hoofers club runs ice boats on the lake.<br />
<br />
*The city of Madison parks open up outdoor [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct2.html ice skating] at Tenney, Vilas, and Elver parks. No skates? No worries. They will rent skates to you there ($6.00 for the first hour, $2/hr after that).<br />
<br />
*There is also [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct4.html cross-country skiing] at a number of Dane county parks, with passes starting at $5/day. No skills? Check out lessons at the [http://www.madnorski.org/page/ Madison Nordic Ski Club] or, again, [http://sns.hoofers.org/ Hoofers] has lots to offer in that area.<br />
<br />
== Student Clubs ==<br />
The University of Wisconsin, being a rather large institution, has got so much stuff going on for all of us student-types. Here are some ways people around the department have been taking advantage:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop]: Located upstairs in the Memorial Union, they are "here to satisfy your creative urges in a variety of craft media." Their facilities include a darkroom, a woodshop, a ceramics studio, metal working tools, etc. Friday afternoons, they open their studios to all union members (that means you!) for free!<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hoofers.org/ Hoofers]: Student outdoor recreation club. The Outing and Sailing clubs in particular have lots of graduate students.<br />
<br />
* [http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]: Graduate Student Collaborative Organization<br />
<br />
* [http://cfli.wisc.edu/student_organizations.htm Student Organizations]: at UW Madison (this is a directory of all registered student organizations at the university; you can search by topic or name)<br />
<br />
== The Student Unions ==<br />
The Memorial Union is located on the lakefront, on Park and Langdon. Be sure to check out the Terrace while the weather is still good -- it's a great place to go to get out of the office, grab something to snack on, and study out in the sun. You'll find the Daily Scoop (yummy ice cream!) and Der Rathskeller (beer and deep-fried goodness). You'll also find all sorts of stuff to keep you busy, like the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop], the Union Theater, the Hoofers' headquarters, and a wide array of Mini Courses with which to expand your horizons.<br />
<br />
Also useful: the travel services center and STA Travel will get you good deals on trips (including bus tickets to O'Hare, Midway, and Milwaukee airports), and the theater's box office will get you good deals on shows (theater, music, etc) all around town. In addition, the Union has always got other special events going on to keep all of us entertained -- see their complete [http://www.union.wisc.edu/activities/ list of activities].<br />
<br />
The Union South was recently completely renovated and also has many activities available. They have a climbing wall, a bowling alley, pool tables, a beer garden, a wine tasting room, a ballroom, a movie theater and many other things.<br />
<br />
= Van Vleck Miscellany =<br />
Here's a bit more info about the happenings in and around the Math Dept.<br />
<br />
== Getting money ==<br />
*Paychecks: The first paycheck of the year arrives in October, though you may request an advance on about 30% of your first paycheck when you arrive. If you are not working over the summer, the last will come in June, so be sure to plan for the three month gap.<br />
<br />
*Fees: You will be charged for segregated fees in both semesters, and are not covered in your tuition. The amount depends on your credit load and status, but will be about $500 for most people and due about the time of your first paycheck. If you are on fellowship, this will be taken care of for you, and shouldn't appear on your bill.<br />
<br />
*TA union: The teaching assistants of Wisconsin are unionized. Even if you are not a TA, but are an employee of the department, you're still connected to them through advocacy and campus issues. For more information check out the [http://www.taa-madison.org/ TAA].<br />
<br />
== Getting stuff done ==<br />
See the Contacts section for a list of people who will help you get stuff done.<br />
<br />
If you want to reserve rooms in Van Vleck for review sessions or meetings you can fill out a green form with Sharon Paulson on the second floor. Sharon does the scheduling for about 4 or 5 rooms in the building, so you can also ask her about these rooms directly. If you need to reserve the 9th floor lounge, talk to Joan Wendt (also second floor).<br />
<br />
Each grad receives 200 photocopies and 250 black and white print outs a month for personal math use. If you are a TA, Sharon in the Copy Center on the second floor can photocopy materials for classes (which does not count toward your quota)– such as worksheets and quizzes. Just give her at least 24 hours notice. To check your printout quota, open a terminal logged into the math server, and type "pages". If you do go over your quota, you will simply get a (probably very small) bill at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
We get free office supplies on the 2nd floor – just ask the Receptionist for pens, folders, etc.<br />
<br />
You can pick up and send out your mail from the second floor. You might even want to have packages delivered to the department, to avoid missing them being delivered at home (UPS, for example, won't drop off to apartment complexes if you aren't there, so you'll have to drive out to Middleton to pick up your packages).<br />
<br />
It's never too early to start studying for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/graduate/quals.htm quals]... early and often, my friends. Early and Often.<br />
<br />
== Getting together ==<br />
Historically, some afternoons and Friday before colloquium, we have a cookie and coffee social hour on the 9th floor lounge. Keep your eyes open for announcements.<br />
<br />
Definitely check out some of the colloquia and seminars. The earlier you get involved the better. This is a great way to learn more about potential research areas, meet other people in the areas, and meet other mathematicians in other departments. There is a list posted on the 9th floor each week in addition to online.<br />
<br />
Once a semester, our group for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ women in mathematics] get together for an informal potluck. We also have been known to bring in women speakers funded by the [http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/ WiSELI] grant.<br />
<br />
= Miscellaneous Wisconsin Stuff =<br />
This section describes miscellaneous Wisconsin stuff that doesn't belong in any other section, such as, a [[Wisconsin Dictionary]] for those who aren't familiar with the Wisconsin vernacular.<br />
<br />
== Voting ==<br />
Frequently asked questions for Wisconsin voting can be found <br />
[http://wisconsin.gov/state/core/faq_wisconsin_voting_elections.html here]. <br />
As of the April election, Wisconsin has a law that allows for same day registration at the polls:<br />
<br />
''If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.''<br />
<br />
Out of state licenses work, and utility bills, bank statements, or pay checks with your name and address on them work for proof of residence.<br />
<br />
== Car Stuff ==<br />
Madison has a DMV out on the west side, just past Midvale, at 4802 Sheboygan Ave, and one on the east side out near the airport. <br />
<br />
*Licenses: As they say on their page for licensing new residents, if you're looking to put your permanent residence here and vote here and generally show up on the radar, you should apply for your [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/nonreside/index.htm WI license] within 60 days of establishing residency. Your first baseline license costs $28, and is valid for three years. Note: you will need to take with you, among other things, something like a rent agreement, or a utility bill, UW transcript, or bank statement actually mailed to your WI address (no e-bills). We'll note that math students have been known to wait longer than 60 days to officially apply for residency, but we recommend you don't wait until an out-of-state license expires to get a WI license.<br />
<br />
*Vehicle Registration: If you own a car and officially become a WI resident, you need to get WI plates. All the information you need is available [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/new/resident.htm here].<br />
<br />
*Parking: First, unless you have a motorcycle, '''don't''' plan to park on campus regularly. For parking near your residence, there are some options. Depending on the neighborhood, it's possible to rent a place that has parking included or available for an extra charge. Additionally, if you live in an area surrounded by 2-hr parking [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/documents/RP3allmap.pdf zones], you can usually buy a permit (for a little over $20 per year) allowing you to park on the street all day near your home. More information can be found on the City of Madison Parking Utility [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingUtility/index.cfm page]. Most importantly, "the vehicle for which you are requesting a permit must be owned by you, your child, your parents/step parents, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner, or be a leased or company vehicle which is assigned to you." <br />
<br />
BE AWARE! Winter parking gets all crazy in Madison (from November 15 - March 15). Most of town is on an alternate side parking schedule: cars should be parked on the even (resp. odd) house numbered side of the street from 1:00a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on even (resp. odd) numbered days. If you live on the isthmus in the Snow Emergency Zone, you will only need to do this when the weather gets really bad. You can sign up for alerts when this happens.<br />
<br />
If you leave your car in the wrong place -- with winter nonsense or for any other reason -- and it gets towed, you can call the Madison Police Department (266-4260) or Schmidt's Towing (257-0505) to find out what they've done with it.<br />
<br />
== Taxes ==<br />
Once you've lived here for an entire calendar year, be sure to look into the [http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/home.html Wisconsin Homestead Credit]... it's usually worth the time and effort for graduate students. Until then, you can look into [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html deducting moving costs] for relocating here on your federal taxes.<br />
<br />
A warning to students on fellowship: taxes will not be taken out of your paycheck, but you still have to pay them. You may want to consider filing [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199807,00.html quarterly].<br />
<br />
== Wisconsin benefit programs ==<br />
We don't exactly get piles of money for teaching. In fact, most people who are not on fellowship or receiving summer funding can qualify for some heating aid (up to $380/year), and electricity aid (up to $285/year). You can check your eligibility at [https://access.wisconsin.gov/ Access WI]. <br />
There may be some residency requirements, like the Homestead credit. You can find your annual salary in our [http://www.taa-madison.org/contract/index.html contract].<br />
<br />
== Residency ==<br />
While it's usually a good idea to become a WI resident, if, for some reason, you're looking to declare residency in WI for tuition purposes, the answer is usually "no." It seems that one has to be in Wisconsin for a full year before enrolling at the UW, and one has to prove that one did not move here primarily for educational purposes (according to the Wisconsin statutes, you have to provide "clear and convincing evidence"). More on that at the [http://www.registrar.wisc.edu/students/residence/index.php Office of the Registrar]'s site.<br />
<br />
= Contacts and Other Resources =<br />
*[http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/gradguide/index.html Guide to Graduate Student Life]: The Graduate Student Collaborative's ([http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]) guide to grad student life in Madison -- like this one, but different.<br />
<br />
* [[Teaching Assistant Guide]]: from real live Van Vleck TAs<br />
<br />
*[http://www.yelp.com/madison-wi Yelp.com]: Find reviews of local stuff- restaurants and things to do, but also dentists, auto shops, etc.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.vip.wisc.edu VIP], the Visitor & Information Programs office, located in the Red Gym, near [http://www.union.wisc.edu Memorial Union]. They are open M - F 8am - 5pm and Saturday 11am - 2pm. <br />
<br />
*[http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu Student Orientation Handbook] is a valuable resource for information including entertainment, recreational and varsity sports, student organizations (including those for cultural groups, international students, LGBT students, women, veterans, and people with disabilities), health services, jobs, transportation, safety, and housing. It’s also a great place for referrals to counseling services, including drug and alcohol and sexual assault issues. You can find all this information on the web, at http://www.wisc.edu/visitingCampus/ or call them at 263-2400. You can also email any questions you have to askbucky@uwmad.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lgbt.wisc.edu LGBT Campus Center]: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Center (265-3344; lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu) provides support, social, educational and research services to the campus community, and serves as UW-Madison's first stop for those looking for information about campus LGBT organizations. The Memorial Union office on the 2nd floor includes a library, a television and DVD player, plenty of comfortable seating, open computers, and has a staff of students and professionals that work to bring events, speakers, and programs to campus. The Center also publishes a weekly events e-letter and offers support and social groups.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ WIMAW] (Women in Math at Wisconsin.)<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Got Questions? Here are some folks who might just have the answers...<br />
<br />
== Counseling Services ==<br />
Counseling services are available through Counseling and [http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/ Consultation Services (C&CS)], located at 115 North Orchard Street, (265-5600, TTY number 265-3300). C&CS offers brief psychological treatment, personal counseling, and psychiatric services to UW-Madison students. Frequent services include help in overcoming depression, managing anxiety and other psychological issues, and in developing greater self-awareness, independence, and self-direction. They also provide personal problem counseling, couples relationship counseling, marriage and family counseling, cross-cultural counseling, and alcohol and drug assessment and referral. Specialized groups have included: graduate women support, women and self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, survivors of troubled families, rebuilding relationships. C&CS also provides crisis response at the above phone numbers. Services provided are covered by the student health fee (included in your student fees).<br />
<br />
== Administrative and Support Staff ==<br />
The administrative and support staff are the folk that keep our department functioning. Without them, we as mathematicians would be lost. :) Their pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/support_staff.html here] and their contact info can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/academic_staff.html here]. If one person doesn't know how to deal with a problem you might have, they certainly know who might be able to help you out.<br />
<br />
Kate Bartlett<br />
Position: Timetable/Undergraduate<br />
Office: 207 VV<br />
Email: bartlett@math<br />
Ask Kate about: Registration (for you and your students), MyUW stuff, classroom assignments.<br />
<br />
David Camacho<br />
Position: Assoc Fac Assoc<br />
Office: 321 VV<br />
Email: camacho@math<br />
Ask David about: the Math Tutorial Program (if a student needs extra attention)<br />
<br />
Mark Castillo<br />
Position: Grants/Proposals<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: castillo @math<br />
Ask Mark about: grant money<br />
<br />
Chris Uhlir<br />
Position: Payroll/Benefits<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: grenie@math<br />
Ask Mike about: Payroll, hourly positions, taxes, tuition, healthcare, and benefits. <br />
<br />
Sara Nagreen<br />
Position: Sr IPC<br />
Office: 515 VV<br />
Email: nagreen@math<br />
Ask Sara about: all things computing.<br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson<br />
Position: Copy Center Manager/ Room Reservations<br />
Office: 220 VV<br />
Email: paulson@math<br />
Ask Sharon about: Office supplies, room reservations (review sessions/exams/other), copying machine <br />
codes, private tutoring list.<br />
<br />
Mary Rice<br />
Position: Grad Prog. Admin<br />
Office: 203 VV<br />
Email: mrice@math<br />
Ask Mary about: Math dept records (teaching letters, transcripts, etc), how you go about graduating.<br />
<br />
Diane Rivard<br />
Position: Placement Advisor<br />
Office: 720 VV<br />
Email: rivard@math<br />
Ask Diane about: Placement questions (what class your student should be in, placement exam issues)<br />
<br />
Joan Wendt<br />
Position: Chair Secretary<br />
Office: 223 VV<br />
Email: wendt@math<br />
Ask Joan about: office assignments and keys<br />
<br />
Vicky Whelan<br />
Position: Dept Administrator<br />
Office: 218 VV<br />
Email: whelan@math<br />
Ask Vicky about: the dept credit card, espresso club, awesome concerts around town.<br />
<br />
== Current and Former Graduate Students Interested in Meeting YOU ==<br />
You can find a complete list of current graduate students [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/psdbgrad.html here], and pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/grad.html here]. Email addresses that end with @ are intended to finish with @math.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
Hans Chaumont<br />
Email: chaumont@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~chaumont Website:]<br />
Grad-Age: Started 2012<br />
Area of interest: Undecided<br />
Ask Hans about: Pretty much anything, but especially about tea or the math weightlifting team.<br />
<br />
Laura Cladek<br />
Email: cladek@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~cladek Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2011<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Laura about: Anything ... Especially analysis or on campus housing.<br />
<br />
Nathan Collins<br />
Email: nathan.collins@gmail.com<br />
[http://cs.pdx.edu/~ntc2 Website]<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2008<br />
Area of interest: Computer Science and Logic.<br />
Ask Nathan about: Pittsburgh, bicycles, and being inferior to Mason at TAing. He dislikes printers and bad margins.<br />
<br />
David Dynerman<br />
Email: dynerman@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~dynerman Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask David about: programming video games, trying to do Hartshorne problems, <br />
going to the gym, Mushfeq Khan, Andrew Bridy<br />
<br />
Thomas Hangelbroek<br />
Email: hangelbr@math.hawaii.edu<br />
[http://math.hawaii.edu/people/hangelbr/ Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2007<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Thomas about: Anything Madison. Thomas is an expert in all things Madison.<br />
<br />
Sara Jensen<br />
Email: jensen@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jensen Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask Sara about: Teaching, topology & algebra quals, knitting group, going to the gym <br />
<br />
(Evan) Alec Johnson<br />
Email: ejohnson@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson Website]<br />
Grad-age: Ph.D., 2012<br />
Area of interest: Applied Math and Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask Alec about: teaching, advanced calculus, gardening, and Geneva Campus Church.<br />
<br />
Christine Lien<br />
Email: lien@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lien Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2005<br />
Area of interest: Complex Geometry<br />
Ask Christine about: anything, including bridge/card games, organizing women's events, <br />
the Association of Asian American Graduate students, and the Graduate Student Topology Seminar.<br />
<br />
Hao Lin<br />
Email: lin@<br />
[http://genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=156703 Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Hao about: sports and anything about China.<br />
<br />
Jonathon Mason<br />
Email: jonathan.f.mason@gmail.com<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2010<br />
Ask Mason about: Wisconsin hiking, the local film scene and being "way better than Nathan Collins" at TAing.<br />
<br />
Jason Murcko<br />
Email: murcko@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~murcko Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2006<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Jason about: the TAA and the local film and music scenes.<br />
<br />
Mike Schroeder<br />
Email: schroede@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~schroede UW Website]. [http://science.marshall.edu/schroederm/ Marshall Website].<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Combinatorics<br />
Ask Mike about: softball, bowling, sailing, racquet ball, and the Florida Gators.<br />
<br />
David Seal<br />
Email: seal@math.msu.edu<br />
[http://www.math.msu.edu/~seal Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2012.<br />
Area of interest: Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask David about: movies, biking, hiking and board games.<br />
<br />
Beth Skubak<br />
Email: skubak@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~skubak Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2009<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Beth about: anything, including this wiki<br />
<br />
Mike Woodbury<br />
[http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woodbury/ Website]<br />
Email: woodbury@math.columbia.edu<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011.<br />
Area of interest: Number Theory<br />
Ask Mike about: anything, including number theory, road biking, UW basketball tix.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Administrative_Staff&diff=5358Administrative Staff2013-06-06T15:22:45Z<p>Johnsonm: </p>
<hr />
<div>{| border="0" cell padding="5" style="text-align:left"<br />
|+ <br />
== '''Administrative Staff''' ==<br />
|-<br />
!width="150pt"|Name <br />
!width="225pt" | Function <br />
!width="100pt" | Room No. <br />
!width="100pt" | Phone No. <br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:castillo@math.wisc.edu Castillo, Mark] || Grants & Extramural Support || 214 VV || 263-6953<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:erlenborn@math.wisc.edu Erlenborn, Barbara] || Department Administrator || 218 VV || 263-2023<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:paulson@math.wisc.edu Paulson, Sharon] || Copy Center/Seminar Room Reservations || 220 VV || 263-3059<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:mrice@math.wisc.edu Rice, Mary] || Graduate Program Admin || 203 VV || 263-8884<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:richards@math.wisc.edu Richards, Vicki] || Travel Reimbursements/Pro Card Orders || 214 VV || 263-3061<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:uhlir@math.wisc.edu Uhlir, Chris] || Payroll & Benefits || 214 VV || 263-3058<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:wendt@math.wisc.edu Wendt, Joan]|| Assistant to the Chair || 223 VV || 263-3051<br />
|-<br />
| TBA || IS Support || 215 VV || 263-6859<br />
|-<br />
| TBA || Timetable/Undergraduate Program || 207 VV || 263-6374<br />
|-</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Administrative_Staff&diff=5357Administrative Staff2013-06-06T15:22:22Z<p>Johnsonm: </p>
<hr />
<div>{| border="0" cell padding="5" style="text-align:left"<br />
|+ <br />
== '''Administrative Staff''' ==<br />
|-<br />
!width="150pt"|Name <br />
!width="225pt" | Function <br />
!width="100pt" | Room No. <br />
!width="100pt" | Phone No. <br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:castillo@math.wisc.edu Castillo, Mark] || Grants & Extramural Support || 214 VV || 263-6953<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:erlenborn@math.wisc.edu Erlenborn, Barbara] || Department Administrator || 218 VV || 263-2023<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:paulson@math.wisc.edu Paulson, Sharon] || Copy Center/Seminar Room Reservations || 220 VV || 263-3059<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:mrice@math.wisc.edu Rice, Mary] || Graduate Program Admin || 203 VV || 263-8884<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:richards@math.wisc.edu Richards, Vicki] || Travel Reimbursements/Pro Card Orders || 214 VV || 263-3061<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:uhlir@math.wisc.edu Uhlir, Chris] || Payroll & Benefits || 214 VV || 263-3058<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:wendt@math.wisc.edu Wendt, Joan]|| Assistant to the Chair || 223 VV || 263-3051<br />
|-<br />
| TBA || IS Support || 215 VV || 263-6859<br />
|-<br />
| TBA || Timetable/Undergraduate Program || 207 VV || 263-6374<br />
|-<br />
}</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Administrative_Staff&diff=5356Administrative Staff2013-06-06T15:22:11Z<p>Johnsonm: </p>
<hr />
<div>| border="0" cell padding="5" style="text-align:left"<br />
|+ <br />
== '''Administrative Staff''' ==<br />
|-<br />
!width="150pt"|Name <br />
!width="225pt" | Function <br />
!width="100pt" | Room No. <br />
!width="100pt" | Phone No. <br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:castillo@math.wisc.edu Castillo, Mark] || Grants & Extramural Support || 214 VV || 263-6953<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:erlenborn@math.wisc.edu Erlenborn, Barbara] || Department Administrator || 218 VV || 263-2023<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:paulson@math.wisc.edu Paulson, Sharon] || Copy Center/Seminar Room Reservations || 220 VV || 263-3059<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:mrice@math.wisc.edu Rice, Mary] || Graduate Program Admin || 203 VV || 263-8884<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:richards@math.wisc.edu Richards, Vicki] || Travel Reimbursements/Pro Card Orders || 214 VV || 263-3061<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:uhlir@math.wisc.edu Uhlir, Chris] || Payroll & Benefits || 214 VV || 263-3058<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:wendt@math.wisc.edu Wendt, Joan]|| Assistant to the Chair || 223 VV || 263-3051<br />
|-<br />
| TBA || IS Support || 215 VV || 263-6859<br />
|-<br />
| TBA || Timetable/Undergraduate Program || 207 VV || 263-6374<br />
|-<br />
}</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Administrative_Staff&diff=5355Administrative Staff2013-06-06T15:21:24Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Administrative Staff */</p>
<hr />
<div>{| border="0" cell padding="5" style="text-align:left"<br />
|+ <br />
== '''Administrative Staff''' ==<br />
|-<br />
!width="150pt"|Name <br />
!width="225pt" | Function <br />
!width="100pt" | Room No. <br />
!width="100pt" | Phone No. <br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:castillo@math.wisc.edu Castillo, Mark] || Grants & Extramural Support || 214 VV || 263-6953<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:erlenborn@math.wisc.edu Erlenborn, Barbara] || Department Administrator || 218 VV || 263-2023<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:paulson@math.wisc.edu Paulson, Sharon] || Copy Center/Seminar Room Reservations || 220 VV || 263-3059<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:mrice@math.wisc.edu Rice, Mary] || Graduate Program Admin || 203 VV || 263-8884<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:richards@math.wisc.edu Richards, Vicki] || Travel Reimbursements/Pro Card Orders || 214 VV || 263-3061<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:uhlir@math.wisc.edu Uhlir, Chris] || Payroll & Benefits || 214 VV || 263-3058<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:wendt@math.wisc.edu Wendt, Joan]|| Assistant to the Chair || 223 VV || 263-3051<br />
|-<br />
| TBA || IS Support || 215 VV || 263-6859<br />
|-<br />
| TBA || Timetable/Undergraduate Program || 207 VV || 263-6374<br />
|-<br />
}</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Administrative_Staff&diff=5354Administrative Staff2013-06-06T15:19:26Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Administrative Staff */</p>
<hr />
<div>{| border="0" cell padding="5" style="text-align:left"<br />
|+ <br />
== '''Administrative Staff''' ==<br />
|-<br />
!width="150pt"|Name <br />
!width="225pt" | Function <br />
!width="100pt" | Room No. <br />
!width="100pt" | Phone No. <br />
|-<br />
| TBA || Timetable/Undergraduate Program || 207 VV || 263-6374<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:castillo@math.wisc.edu Castillo, Mark] || Grants & Extramural Support || 214 VV || 263-6953<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:uhlir@math.wisc.edu Uhlir, Chris] || Payroll & Benefits || 214 VV || 263-3058<br />
|-<br />
|TBA || IS Support || 215 VV || 263-6859<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:paulson@math.wisc.edu Paulson, Sharon] || Copy Center/Seminar Room Reservations || 220 VV || 263-3059<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:mrice@math.wisc.edu Rice, Mary] || Graduate Program Admin || 203 VV || 263-8884<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:richards@math.wisc.edu Richards, Vicki] || Travel Reimbursements/Pro Card Orders || 214 VV || 263-3061<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:wendt@math.wisc.edu Wendt, Joan]|| Assistant to the Chair || 223 VV || 263-3051<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:erlenborn@math.wisc.edu Erlenborn, Barbara] || Department Administrator || 218 VV || 263-2023<br />
|-}</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Guide&diff=5353Graduate Student Guide2013-06-06T15:12:15Z<p>Johnsonm: /* MadTown food */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Exams.png|400px|right | Grading Exams in the Lounge]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
= Food =<br />
<br />
There are many ethnic and interesting restaurants in Madison – Indonesian, African, Italian, Himalayan, Laotian, Peruvian, Mexican, Bakeries, Brew Pubs, Coffee Joints, you name it -- and everyone has their favorites.<br />
<br />
The biggest resource for finding food (and entertainment!) in Madison is probably the [http://www.thedailypage.com/eats/ Daily Page] (the online version of our local paper, the Isthmus), where you can search local restaurants by name, locality, and cuisine. There, they have reviews, hours, contact info, pricing, etc. Be sure to peruse their [http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Restaurants Madison's Favorites] section for some quick tips! Of course [http://www.yelp.com/ yelp] is always useful as well. At one point a couple spent a few years trying to sample every restaurant in Madison and blogged about their journey on the [http://www.madisonatoz.com/ Madison A to Z].<br />
<br />
Here are some general food facts:<br />
<br />
== Campus Food ==<br />
*Food Carts: Open for lunch in Library Mall at the foot of Bascom Hill near Lake & State Street. Very good and very cheap, and out as long as it's not too cold.<br />
<br />
*Badger Market at Ingraham Hall: Very close to Van Vleck, and has acceptable coffee (bring your own cup to save money!) and decent snacks. Try the Badger Bundle lunch special: sandwich, drink, and a side for $1 off your total. Halfway down the hill is the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/crossroadscafe.htm Crossroads Cafe] which has much better coffee and is open later.<br />
<br />
*Memorial Union: The Rathskeller has food and next door is Lakeside cafe with much better food. Summer afternoons on the terrace is an excellent place to hang out in the sunshine with a beer and brat.<br />
<br />
*Union South: Features a pizza place, a pan-Asian restaurant, a sandwich shop, a sports bar (burgers and sandwiches) and an ice cream stand. <br />
<br />
*State Street (past the food carts) is full of restaurants and Coffee shops – there are at least a half dozen coffee roasters in town, and each supplies a different set of shops. In particular for lunch, there are the popular chains, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Einstein Bros. Bagels, or Chipotle... or hit the more independent spots such as the Sunroom Cafe or Ian's Pizza.<br />
<br />
== MadTown food ==<br />
<br />
Traditional Madison foods are German varieties such as beer, cheese, and bratwurst. Twice a year Madison hosts [http://www.bratfest.com/ Bratfest], a record breaking event. <br />
UW has [http://www.wisc.edu/foodsci/store/ Babcock Hall Ice Cream] on campus which creates delicious ice cream available in the Unions. The [http://www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com/ Chocolate Shoppe], [http://www.ilovemichaels.com/ Michael's Frozen Custard] and Culvers have nice deserts.<br />
Micro breweries in town include the [http://www.greatdanepub.com/ Great Dane], [http://www.capital-brewery.com/ Captial Brewery] and [http://www.aleasylum.com/ Ale Asylum]. Nearby there is the famous [http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/ New Glarus Brewing Co] which only sells beer in Wisconsin. You can join a free beer tour or walk through the brewery on a self guided tourn.<br />
<br />
In early September (Labor Day weekend), check out [http://www.madisonfestivals.com/taste/ Taste of Madison] to see many restaurants all in one place at one time.<br />
<br />
Try a good ol' midwestern Fish Fry on Friday night – All you can eat fried fish generally served with a bran muffin, clam chowder, or coleslaw. Most Brew Pubs and some churches have them, and the [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/restaurant.php Orpheum] as well at the [http://www.avenuebarmadison.com/ Avenue Bar and Grill] both run Friday night Fish Fries.<br />
<br />
== Farm fresh food ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.madfarmmkt.org/ Dane County Farmer's Market] is amazing and HUGE. The big one is open every Saturday morning, and is located on the capitol square for most of the year. In addition to the ludicrous amount of fresh produce, there are also bakery stands, coffee, and fresh juice carts for quick breakfasts.<br />
<br />
There are also a few smaller [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farmers_markets.htm#danecounty markets] scattered around town, almost every day of the week:<br />
<br />
*Sunday: 8:30am to 12:30pm in front of Pierce's Northside Market<br />
*Monday: (none)<br />
*Tuesday: 4pm to 7pm on Ingersol at Williamson, 2pm to 6pm at 1602 S. Park St,<br />
*Wednesday: 8am to 2pm on MLKJr Blvd, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center,<br />
*Thursday: Thursdays, 2pm to 6pm at the Villager Mall on Park St., 2pm to 6pm in the McFarland Centre, 7:30am to 1:30pm in the Greenway Station shopping center,<br />
*Friday: (none)<br />
*Saturday: 6am to 2pm on the Capitol square, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center, 9am to 2pm at 1602 S. Park St, 7am to 1pm at Sheboygan Ave. and Segoe Rd., and 8:30am to 11am in Watertower Park.<br />
<br />
During the summer and fall, there are many [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/index.htm local farms] where you can [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farms/u_pick.htm pick] your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, or pumpkins when they are in season.<br />
<br />
If you're in town for the summer, you might consider signing up for a [http://www.macsac.org/ Community Supported Agriculture] food box. CSA is a way to support a local farm by paying an annual fee in the winter or spring which buys you a share of the season's harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick-up a weekly box of fresh foods which may include produce, fruits, cheeses, eggs, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. The typical CSA season in Wisconsin runs from the end of May through mid-October. You do have to pay the lump sum up-front, and some weeks you'll find yourself with five pounds of chard... but for most of the summer you'll have your produce needs met, and you can feel good about supporting small local farms. Better yet, most of the university's insurance providers offer [http://www.macsac.org/rebates.html rebates] for signing up for a CSA -- somewhere between $50-$300, depending on the plan and how many people you're sharing with (for example, if two people on GHC share a box, they might pay $450 for the box for a box lasting 25 weeks, but they they could each get $100 back, making that $5/week per person). If you're interested, remember to sign up early -- most programs are full by May.<br />
<br />
= Grocery Stores =<br />
<br />
== Generic Groceries ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.capcentrefoods.com/home.html Capitol Centre Foods]: Given their small size, they have an excellent selection of groceries. They tend to be a bit pricey. In addition, they deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.freshmadisonmarket.com/ Fresh Madison Market]: A reasonably large general grocery store, not too expensive. Has a large selection of "typical college items" (lots of frozen foods). Located on University, not too far from Van Vleck. They also deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.copps.com/ Copps]: Your standard grocery store with multiple locations.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=1020&lang=en-US Costco]: Your friendly big-box bulk store. They treat their employees incredibly well. Good buys on computers, 2 lbs of sockeye salmon or button down oxford cloth long sleeved shirts. You'll need a membership or go there with someone who has a membership. You can also get a free trial membership if you simply ask.<br />
<br />
*Walgreens: Pharmacy/Grocery store. There is a Walgreens on the corner of Lake & State Street near Van Vleck, on the Capitol Square, and in University square.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Whole Foods]: Kinda spendy, but good bread, specialty stuff, and produce through the winter.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Woodman's]: two locations -- [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=725+S+Gammon+Rd+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=43.055217,-89.50304&spn=0.05381,0.171661 East] and [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3817+Milwaukee+St,+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.103615,-89.319363&spn=0.053768,0.171661&om=1 West]. If you have a car and the time, go here. Very large, very cheap, but time consuming. They don't take credit cards, so bring a debit card or check book. The produce is pretty poor, but they're huge and, again, cheap. Check out the liquor store for a large selection (you can buy all types of alcohol in grocery stores in Wisconsin... but not after 9pm).<br />
<br />
*[http://www.traderjoes.com/ Trader Joe's]: Located at 1810 Monroe St. They have good prices for select specialty food items such as wine, cheese and fancy snacks. Their basic foodstuffs tend to be a bit pricey.<br />
<br />
*The Jenifer Street Market located on 2038 Jenifer Street is a nice little grocery store if you happen to live in the area.<br />
<br />
== Co-ops ==<br />
Co-ops are a good source of local organic food. If you are a member they provide discounts, but you can also shop there at your own will.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.regentmarketcoop.org/ Regent Market Cooperative], 2136 Regent St. 233-4329.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.willystreet.coop/ Willy Street Co-op] The largest and most active co-op in the Madison area. They have been able to survive the decline in co-ops over the years. They offer a large selection of bulk foods and spices at an excellent price. For a quick bite, they have an excellent deli, salad bar, and in-store coffee shop. 1221 Williamson St. 251-6776. They recently opened a second store in Middleton located at 6825 University Ave. Both locations deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
== Specialty Foods ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.aldifoods.com/ Aldi Foods]: It's like grocery shopping at overstock.com.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=keJ&q=asian+midway+foods&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,304616636444102595&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Asian Midway Market]: The go-to market for anything Thai, Chinese or South-East Asian, this centrally-located store comes highly recommended. In particular, they offer a great selection of specialized produce. 301 South Park Street; 255-5864<br />
<br />
*[http://www.brennansmarket.com/ Brennan's Market]: Great for Produce, Meats, Cheese, Micro brews and Wines. You won't find things like Flour and Saran Wrap here, but definitely worth the trip.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/ Farm Fresh Atlas]: Not a grocery store, but a good resource for where you can buy local foods and a list of farms in the areas.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madseafood.com/ The Seafood Center]: The name says it all. Great fresh fish and live lobsters.<br />
<br />
*[http://frabonisdeli.com/ Fraboni's]: An awesome Italian grocery store and deli. They have very good [http://frabonisdeli.com/oils olive oils], [http://frabonisdeli.com/pastas pastas], and make-your-own pizza fixings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3723579948/garden-asian-market-middleton Garden Asian Market]: A full service Asian food market specializing in fresh meat, produce, and seafood. Mostly Chinese-leaning, they do a good job of providing a wide variety of items within their niche. It may be far out, but it's worth the trip in its pleasantness and selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=india+house+grocery+store,+madison,+wi&fb=1&gl=us&hq=india+house+grocery+store,&hnear=Madison,+WI&cid=0,0,8495347478199843118&ll=43.050466,-89.503019&spn=0.007871,0.019183&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A India House]: Really well done Indian grocery store. Good place to buy Kari leaves.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=TMe&q=lee%27s+oriental&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,92533124768468793&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Lee's Oriental]: Next to Penzey's spices. 3240 University Ave; 231-1593<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=2Me&q=oriental+shop&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,13628497956998458364&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Oriental Shop]: They carry mostly dry-goods, and tend to lean toward stocking more Korean items. 1206 South Park Street; 255-0326<br />
<br />
= Housing =<br />
<br />
Haven't found a place yet? Already hate your apartment?<br />
<br />
* [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/ UW Off-Campus Housing Search]: Probably the best search site for students.<br />
<br />
* Again, [http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List] is a good resourse. Also a good place to look for roommates outside of the department.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/ University Apartments]: On campus graduate housing, particularly popular with married couples (especially with children). Singles are also welcome. Many of them are on the bus route #80, a free route which runs from the apartments through campus every fifteen minutes throughout the day.<br />
<br />
== Location, Location, Location ==<br />
<br />
If you would like to keep your commute down, there are many places near campus. Many graduate students prefer to live close enough to Van Vleck to be within walking distance, yet far enough away to stay away from partying undergraduate students.<br />
<br />
Many graduate students live in the Vilas neighborhood, which is located South of Regent Street and between Park and Monroe. East of the Capitol building, we also have the Willy St. neighborhood (between Williamson and Rutledge streets, between Paterson and Thornton) and the other side of the Isthmus, between Mifflin and Lake Mendota. The university offers on campus housing at Eagle Heights with regular buses. Many students also live near Sheboygan and University Avenues (not on this map), and there are regular buses that run up University Avenue that will drop you off right in front of Van Vleck. The large apartment complexes in that area include the Normandy, Chapel Hill, Carolina, Monticello, Hilldale Towers, Park Towers, and Sovereign Apartments which are cheaper to live in than spots on the square.<br />
<br />
Because there is no parking on campus, you will need to plan on living within walking distance of a bus route or campus itself. You will receive a free bus pass for the [http://www.mymetrobus.com/ Madison Metro] system, which is very reliable. Check out the “plan your trip” link to find bus routes near you.<br />
<br />
Here is an approximate map of many areas where you will be likely to find housing: <br />
[[Image:gradhousingmap.jpg|400px| center | Housing Map]]<br />
<br />
Basically, shoot for zones 2-6, the North parts of zones 7 and 8, or the far East part of zone 10 on [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/map_all.asp this map] (the map from the UW Off-Campus Housing Search).<br />
<br />
== Stuff your landlord might not tell you ==<br />
<br />
*Utilities:<br />
Lots of apartments have water, sewage, heat, and and sometimes electricity included in rent. For those which don't, be sure to find out what to expect through the [http://mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/ Madison Gas and Electric] web page. Just tell them the address of the place you're looking at, and they'll tell you what the highs, lows, and averages have been over the last year.<br />
<br />
*Property information:<br />
The [http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/property.html City Assessor] has all of the basic information about Madison properties on file, including how many units are on the property, how much square footage there is, if there's AC in the building, what school district it's in, who your alderperson would be, and what else is on the property (e.g. garages). They'll even tell you how much the property is worth, and how much your landlord is paying in property taxes. Sometimes the square footage isn't broken up--for example, maybe there are two units on the first floor, but they'll only tell you that there are 1,700 sq ft on that floor, not how it's split up between the two units. It can be a useful site for rounding out your knowledge of places you're considering renting.<br />
<br />
*Tenants rights:<br />
The [http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/ Tenant resource center] is a small non-profit membership organization which provides housing counseling, mediation services and office assistance. Their website includes tips for new renters, generic rental forms, and advice for what to do if your landlord just won't get back to you about repairs, returning deposits, etc.<br />
There is also the [http://studenttenantunion.rso.wisc.edu/ Student tenant union], which is specifically targeted to UW students.<br />
<br />
== Rental Companies ==<br />
Many properties in Madison are run by rental companies -- some large, some small -- some good, some not-so-good. Larger companies tend to have lower prices, and more people working toward maintaining rentals. However, they may have less of an investment in taking care of each individual property or screening their tenants. Some people feel better renting from small companies, or landlords with only one or two houses. You may get more individual attention and care. Individuals have more investment in protecting each property, and renting to good tenants, so the properties tend to be in more reliable condition. However, with fewer properties comes fewer resources and higher prices.<br />
<br />
Whatever choice you make, be sure to have a conversation with your potential landlords about their polices, especially if you aren't going to be able to see things in person. It may also be good to Google the company or person to see if other people have had something good or bad to say about them or their properties. In particular, [http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Madison.html ApartmentRatings.com] has a few of the apartment complexes around town listed.<br />
<br />
Here are some general impressions/very subjective opinions that some of us have gotten from/about a few of the larger local companies:<br />
<br />
*AB Holdings: In particular, they have a couple small apartment buildings on Vilas that are particularly ideal for two people. Quite a few people from the department have rented these units and have been pretty happy.<br />
<br />
*[http://apexrents.com/ Apex Property Management]: Great company. Well-maintained properties, with many of the more recently remodeled rentals being very nice. Their representatives are helpful and responsible, and their tenants seem to be generally satisfied.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.centralmadison.com/ The Christensen Company]: Not terribly up-to-date apartments, but worth taking a look at.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonproperty.com/ Madison Property Management]: Lots of choices, but notoriously junky properties. They tend to cater mostly to undergraduates, and their rentals show it. We wouldn't recommend renting from this company unless you visit first.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.mcbridecompanies.com/ The McBride Companies]: Nice properties, good management. Really good website if you turn the sound off.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.tallardapartments.com/ Tallard Apartments]: Nice properties with very friendly and responsive staff. Their rentals tend to go early in the season.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wimci.com/ Wisconsin Management Company]: Nice enough properties, but kind of flakey representation. Make sure to ask lots of questions.<br />
<br />
*The Wright Company (or Norris Ct. Apartments): Very nice older buildings, but kind of sketchy management. Nothing is going to be in stellar shape, but they do tend to rent more to graduates and professionals, so they aren't beat up either. If you do rent from them, don't expect them to be very responsive, and be sure to be especially careful about protecting your security deposit by taking photos and keeping a record of your move-in report.<br />
<br />
= Furniture =<br />
<br />
*[http://www.svdpmadison.org/ St. Vincent DePaul's]: Like Goodwill. Has cheap dressers, desks, chairs, and general household stuff. Will deliver for a small charge. This is also a great place to donate any furniture or other items that you no longer want – they will pick up the items from your apartment. There is also a Goodwill in town, but they won't have nearly the same volume of furniture.<br />
<br />
*[http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List]: a free online classifieds site. Great not only for furniture, but also pet resources and last minute apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
*Eagle Heights Apartment Bulletin Boards: Lots of cheap stuff from people graduating, many of whom are moving overseas. You can even find cars. You can try posting your own wanted posters on the boards. You can find these boards at the bus stops for the (free) bus 80 route.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/madisonfreecycle/ Freecycle]: A community "give stuff away for free" website with a Madison branch.<br />
<br />
*Hippie Christmas ("Move-Out Day"): For some reason or another, the evening of August 14th is when the bulk of leases near campus turn over. This is a fantastic day to pick up free furniture from the street. If you already have a rental van, why not help municipal waste by pickup up a bookshelf for them?<br />
<br />
*The Todd Drive Area: Just west of park street on the beltline. American Furniture for furniture and electronics, Home Concepts for cheap but nice looking furniture, and Steinhafel's for furniture and mattresses.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html SWAP]. The UW's surplus supply store.<br />
<br />
= International Student Resources =<br />
Here are a few links specifically for international students. There are international grocery stores listed in the [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Graduate_Student_Guide#Specialty_Foods groceries] section.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcssa.net/ Chinese Student & Scholar Association]: A connection to the university's Chinese community for incoming students. They offer rides from the airport, list general information about madison, and organize get-tegethers/Chinese celebrations. International Conversation & Coffee Hour: meet other international students and americans interested in other cultures. Every Friday, 12-2pm, Cooper Hearth Room 160, Union South.<br />
<br />
*[http://iss.wisc.edu/ International Student Services]: the UW's International Student Services<br />
<br />
*[http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MADindians/ MadIndians]: a Yahoo online group for students from India in Madison. Good place to search for an Indian roommate.<br />
<br />
*[http://mtsa.rso.wisc.edu/ Madison Association of Turkish Students]: Very helpful for incoming Turkish students. It includes information about how best to get to Madison from Turkey, information about housing, and how to reach other Turkish students in Madison.<br />
<br />
= Newspapers =<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/captimes/ The Capitol Times]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the afternoon. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more liberal.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.thedailypage.com/ The Isthmus]: Free independent Madison newspaper. Has a liberal voice and is full of entertainment, including family fun, outdoor attractions, and fine arts. Also puts out the Annual Manual - the yearly guide to all things Madison.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.theonion.com/ The Onion]: While hilarious, this paper is only really good if you're already in on the joke. We get free paper copies in Madison. There is a stack near the elevators in VV. The local edition has local entertainment listings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Wisconsin State Journal]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the mornings. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more conservative.<br />
<br />
= Religious Groups =<br />
*[http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/ Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/ Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church]: Near Sheboygan Ave. at 110 N Whitney Way. A huge church, but with opportunities to get involved and meet people. It has services in the sanctuary, with a mixture of traditional and semi-modern worship, and also "video cafe" services with more lively, modern worship. Very good teaching.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cpcmadison.com/ Christ Presbyterian Church]. Just east of James Madison Park on Gorham. Has a great choir and organist!<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fusmadison.org/ The First Unitarian Society of Madison]. "A liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue." Looking for something new? They're open to all types. Also, they are housed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.folmadison.org/ Fountain of Life]: 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. A multi-ethnic church with a lot of eclectic music styles, including a lot of Gospel music<br />
<br />
*[http://genevacc.org/ The Geneva Campus Church]: On Campus Reformed church. They describe themselves as "a university church for the whole family"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwhillel.org/ Hillel]: UW-Madison's on-campus center for everything Jewish: religious, cultural, political, traditional, and alternative. Located on Langdon Street, it serves both the school population and, to a far lesser extent, the entire city.<br />
<br />
*[http://islamiccentermadison.org/ Islamic Center of Madison]: Has a masjid inside. 21 N Orchard St, (608)251-9851<br />
<br />
*[http://ivgcf.rso.wisc.edu/ InterVarsity Grad Christian Fellowship]: It's a welcoming place for Christians and non-Christians alike. (You might even find your future husband/wife there) They also have a website with info about local churches. There is a new student picnic at the beginning of the fall semester.<br />
<br />
*Latter Day Saints: There are a number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wards in the Madison area. The Madison First Ward covers areas closest to campus and meets at 4505 Regent Street, two blocks south of Hilldale Mall, at 9am. The University Ward serves single adults and meets at 1711 University Avenue at 10 am. The Madison Third Ward serves areas close to campus and meets at 701 Bear Claw Way on Madison's far west side at 11 am. Visitors and the curious are always welcome.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lccmadison.com/ Lutheran Campus Center]: A fairly young, enthusiastic, and liberal-minded congragation, found right on campus.<br />
<br />
*[http://madcitychurch.org/ Mad City Church]: A non-denominational, casual christian fellowship. Services are held in the LaFollette High School located on Madison's east side - very near the corner of Pflaum Rd. and Monona Dr. Office at 2713 E. Washington Ave.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.muuyacm.org/ Madison UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry (MUUYACM)]. One of the largest and most active Unitarian Universalist young adult groups in the U.S., they are open to young adults (ages 18-35) of all denominations. In addition to worships, they organize social-justice-oriented activities, and are an active member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcatholic.org/ St. Paul's University Catholic Center]: On campus in Library Mall near Lake & State. Has a lively Catholic grad student group called Mustard Seed with Bible studies, Thursday night speakers, retreats, service projects, and large quantities of food and euchre.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.unityofmadison.org/ Unity of Madison]: (from their site) "Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community focused on Truth Seeking and Spiritual Growth through the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire, nuture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live Jesus' message that 'the kingdom of God is within you.'"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.isthmuszencommunity.org/ Zen Buddhism]: A local zen buddhist center is located next to Willy st co-op. New comers are especially welcome.<br />
<br />
= Arts and Entertainment =<br />
<br />
Madison is a medium sized city with a not so medium sized arts and entertainment scene. There are cultural events on campus<br />
and at the [http://www.overturcenter.com Overture Center]; sporting events; art, science, natural history, and history museums; parks, the<br />
[http://www.uwarboretum.org arboretum], and [http://www.olbrich.org botanical gardens]; a free [http://www.vilaszoo.org zoo]; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; a [http://www.madfarmmkt.com Farmer’s Market] on the<br />
Capital Square every Saturday morning from April-October; and lots of other things. The [http://www.thedailypage.com Isthmus], is the local free newspaper which posts many current events.<br />
The Isthmus can be found in many stores, in campus buildings, and on street corners.<br />
<br />
== Athletic Activities ==<br />
* [http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/ Rec Sports] runs the gyms on campus. There are three such on-campus gyms -- The SERF, the Nat, and the Shell, which are free with student ID. For $10/semester, you can attend any of their Group Fitness classes, which cover everything from aerobics and weights to yoga and dance. Also, both the SERF and Nat have indoor pools.<br />
<br />
*The University of Wisconsin has a long standing heritage of being proud of their [http://www.uwbadgers.com/ athletic events]. Men's basketball, football and ice-hockey receive the most attention and as a student, you can obtain season tickets for all of these events.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.mufa.org MUFA] is an ultimate frisbee league that has summer as well as spring and fall seasons. This is a really fun way to stay active and meet some new Madison friends! You don't need to form a team-- just see the link for info about how to join a team looking for more players. Note: the games are often played all over the city and burbs, and are not necessarily reachable by bus. You'll need a car, or a teammate with a car. Also see the link for info about local pick-up games.<br />
<br />
== Dancing ==<br />
<br />
*Ballroom: [http://www.uwmbda.org/ UWMBDA] is the big ballroom dance group here. They have dances with lessons every week on Friday or Saturday and a practice group every Thursday.<br />
<br />
*[http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/dances.htm Contra Dance]: Meetings every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
*International Folk club: meets biweekly Library Mall, Wed/Sun 7:30PM-late.<br />
<br />
*Swing: [http://www.uwswing.com/ Jumptown Swing] is UW's swing club. They host (mostly) weekly dances at Union South, and provide lessons for a nominal fee. See their site for scheduling and links to other swing orgonizations. Also, on Wednesdays, there's dancing at the [http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ Brink Lounge] from 8-11.<br />
<br />
*Salsa: Venues include [http://www.cardinalbar.com/ Cardinal Bar] on Thursdays, [http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/details.php?event=176610 Frida's] on Friday nights. Don't know how to Salsa? There are lessons before dances at Cardinal, and instruction is offered through the Union's minicourses.<br />
<br />
*Tango: the [http://www.madisontango.org/ Madison Tango Society] provides lessons and dances for Argentine Tango. Their site has a good list or other events in and around Madison.<br />
<br />
== Libraries ==<br />
In addition to the many [http://www.library.wisc.edu/ Libraries of UW], the [http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ Madison Public Library] is a great place for books, movies, and music.<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
The Daily Page has a [http://www.thedailypage.com/movies/listing.php listing] of movie times for most of the theaters around town (both big and small):<br />
<br />
*Eastgate, Point and Star Cinema are the three larger movie theaters in town.<br />
<br />
*Market Square shows second runs at a good discount. <br />
<br />
*The [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/ Orpheum] is an old cinema within site of the capitol on State street. They tend to show less mainstream movies.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.sundancecinemas.com/madison.html Sundance 608] shows independent film as well as blockbuster movies. They have a rooftop cafe that's open during the summer months, 2 bars (you can take a drink into your movie), and a restaurant!<br />
<br />
For on-campus movies:<br />
*The Wisconsin Union Directorate runs on campus screening of films. Their film site can be found [http://www.union.wisc.edu/WUD/film.aspx here.]<br />
<br />
*The UW film department hosts free screenings of a wide array of films based on a given theme for that semester through their [http://cinema.wisc.edu/ cinematheque.] Their department has many contacts with other film institutes and are able show rare original 35mm films that you can't see anywhere else.<br />
<br />
*In late March/early April, go check out some of the many many films showing at the [http://www.wifilmfest.org/ Wisconsin Film Festival.] Sites all over town take part in hosting the showing of these films.<br />
<br />
Madison also has a number of independent video stores:<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ Four Star Video Heaven] has been voted as a Madison Favorite for a number of years. See their site to browse their collection online.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bongovideo.com/ Bongo Video] has a smaller, but quite tasty selection. Lots of personality, and good daily specials.<br />
<br />
== Music ==<br />
Whether you're looking to play music, or just go watch free or (in)expensive concerts, there are many options in Madison.<br />
<br />
*Our very own [http://music.wisc.edu/ Music Department] hosts many music events. Their website has a calendar listing current music events including faculty concerts and student recitals.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonsymphony.org/ The Madison Symphony Orchestra] (MSO) is the professional symphony based here in Madison. With your student ID, you can get student rush tickets for as little as $10 per person.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wcoconcerts.org/ The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra] is Madison's professional chamber orchestra. Each summer, their widely popular [http://www.wcoconcerts.org/new/cos/concertsonthesquare.php concerts on the square] draw many people from all over the place for a free outdoor concert.<br />
<br />
*[http://madisoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Madison Community Orchestra] (MCO) is an informal group run by Madison Area Technical College that meets once a week. There are four free concerts a year and no auditions to play with the group.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.middletoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Middleton Community Orchestra] is a second newly formed community orchestra run by community musicians. Their concerts are extremely affordable, and they may run auditions.<br />
<br />
== Outdoor Activites ==<br />
Madison is a very bicycle friendly town, and there are many parks either in town or within a short drive. Here are some suggestions about outdoor activities to engage in:<br />
<br />
*Take a nice long walk along one of the many paths around [http://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/imap/LakeshoreNaturePreserve.html Picnic Point]... bike the path from Memorial Union out to the tip, or bus/drive out to the base of picnic point and wander the foot trails in the area.<br />
<br />
*Head towards Monona Terrace on Lake Monona, and take one of the paths that wraps around the lake (great bike ride!).<br />
<br />
*You can also go walking and/or biking around the [http://uwarboretum.org/ Arboretum] south of campus and tour their gardens, or head to the free [http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Vilas Zoo]. Lake Wingra is essentially totally surrounded by wooded areas including Henry Vilas Park, the UW-arboretum and Edgewood college. You can rent canoes at Knickerbocker for fairly cheap and relax on Lake Wingra.<br />
<br />
*Community Gardens: There are a number of community gardens run by the [http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/ Community Action Coalition]. Nominally, you can sign up for a plot for a small fee, and learn how to garden if you don't already know, or go to town if you already do. The [http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/ Eagle Heights Community Garden] is open to both residents and non-residents alike. All of the gardens are fun to look at if you haven't ever seen one.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.olbrich.org/ The Olbrich Botanical Gardens] are located east of lake Monona. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including their award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden, or enjoy the year-round tropical Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds.. Outdoor gardens are open daily and free to the public, while entrance to the conservatory is $1 per person.<br />
<br />
*Catch a festival; Madison is home to a number of festivals -- big festivals, small festivals, arts festivals, music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals -- we've got all kinds.<br />
<br />
The Winter opens itself up to new activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing and other options. The hoofers club runs ice boats on the lake.<br />
<br />
*The city of Madison parks open up outdoor [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct2.html ice skating] at Tenney, Vilas, and Elver parks. No skates? No worries. They will rent skates to you there ($6.00 for the first hour, $2/hr after that).<br />
<br />
*There is also [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct4.html cross-country skiing] at a number of Dane county parks, with passes starting at $5/day. No skills? Check out lessons at the [http://www.madnorski.org/page/ Madison Nordic Ski Club] or, again, [http://sns.hoofers.org/ Hoofers] has lots to offer in that area.<br />
<br />
== Student Clubs ==<br />
The University of Wisconsin, being a rather large institution, has got so much stuff going on for all of us student-types. Here are some ways people around the department have been taking advantage:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop]: Located upstairs in the Memorial Union, they are "here to satisfy your creative urges in a variety of craft media." Their facilities include a darkroom, a woodshop, a ceramics studio, metal working tools, etc. Friday afternoons, they open their studios to all union members (that means you!) for free!<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hoofers.org/ Hoofers]: Student outdoor recreation club. The Outing and Sailing clubs in particular have lots of graduate students.<br />
<br />
* [http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]: Graduate Student Collaborative Organization<br />
<br />
* [http://cfli.wisc.edu/student_organizations.htm Student Organizations]: at UW Madison (this is a directory of all registered student organizations at the university; you can search by topic or name)<br />
<br />
== The Student Unions ==<br />
The Memorial Union is located on the lakefront, on Park and Langdon. Be sure to check out the Terrace while the weather is still good -- it's a great place to go to get out of the office, grab something to snack on, and study out in the sun. You'll find the Daily Scoop (yummy ice cream!) and Der Rathskeller (beer and deep-fried goodness). You'll also find all sorts of stuff to keep you busy, like the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop], the Union Theater, the Hoofers' headquarters, and a wide array of Mini Courses with which to expand your horizons.<br />
<br />
Also useful: the travel services center and STA Travel will get you good deals on trips (including bus tickets to O'Hare, Midway, and Milwaukee airports), and the theater's box office will get you good deals on shows (theater, music, etc) all around town. In addition, the Union has always got other special events going on to keep all of us entertained -- see their complete [http://www.union.wisc.edu/activities/ list of activities].<br />
<br />
The Union South was recently completely renovated and also has many activities available. They have a climbing wall, a bowling alley, pool tables, a beer garden, a wine tasting room, a ballroom, a movie theater and many other things.<br />
<br />
= Van Vleck Miscellany =<br />
Here's a bit more info about the happenings in and around the Math Dept.<br />
<br />
== Getting money ==<br />
*Paychecks: The first paycheck of the year arrives in October, though you may request an advance on about 30% of your first paycheck when you arrive. If you are not working over the summer, the last will come in June, so be sure to plan for the three month gap.<br />
<br />
*Fees: You will be charged for segregated fees in both semesters, and are not covered in your tuition. The amount depends on your credit load and status, but will be about $500 for most people and due about the time of your first paycheck. If you are on fellowship, this will be taken care of for you, and shouldn't appear on your bill.<br />
<br />
*TA union: The teaching assistants of Wisconsin are unionized. Even if you are not a TA, but are an employee of the department, you're still connected to them through advocacy and campus issues. For more information check out the [http://www.taa-madison.org/ TAA].<br />
<br />
== Getting stuff done ==<br />
See the Contacts section for a list of people who will help you get stuff done.<br />
<br />
If you want to reserve rooms in Van Vleck for review sessions or meetings you can fill out a green form with Sharon Paulson on the second floor. Sharon does the scheduling for about 4 or 5 rooms in the building, so you can also ask her about these rooms directly. If you need to reserve the 9th floor lounge, talk to Joan Wendt (also second floor).<br />
<br />
Each grad receives 200 photocopies and 250 black and white print outs a month for personal math use. If you are a TA, Sharon in the Copy Center on the second floor can photocopy materials for classes (which does not count toward your quota)– such as worksheets and quizzes. Just give her at least 24 hours notice. To check your printout quota, open a terminal logged into the math server, and type "pages". If you do go over your quota, you will simply get a (probably very small) bill at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
We get free office supplies on the 2nd floor – just ask the Receptionist for pens, folders, etc.<br />
<br />
You can pick up and send out your mail from the second floor. You might even want to have packages delivered to the department, to avoid missing them being delivered at home (UPS, for example, won't drop off to apartment complexes if you aren't there, so you'll have to drive out to Middleton to pick up your packages).<br />
<br />
It's never too early to start studying for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/graduate/quals.htm quals]... early and often, my friends. Early and Often.<br />
<br />
== Getting together ==<br />
Historically, some afternoons and Friday before colloquium, we have a cookie and coffee social hour on the 9th floor lounge. Keep your eyes open for announcements.<br />
<br />
Definitely check out some of the colloquia and seminars. The earlier you get involved the better. This is a great way to learn more about potential research areas, meet other people in the areas, and meet other mathematicians in other departments. There is a list posted on the 9th floor each week in addition to online.<br />
<br />
Once a semester, our group for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ women in mathematics] get together for an informal potluck. We also have been known to bring in women speakers funded by the [http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/ WiSELI] grant.<br />
<br />
= Miscellaneous Wisconsin Stuff =<br />
This section describes miscellaneous Wisconsin stuff that doesn't belong in any other section, such as, a [[Wisconsin Dictionary]] for those who aren't familiar with the Wisconsin vernacular.<br />
<br />
== Voting ==<br />
Frequently asked questions for Wisconsin voting can be found <br />
[http://wisconsin.gov/state/core/faq_wisconsin_voting_elections.html here]. <br />
As of the April election, Wisconsin has a law that allows for same day registration at the polls:<br />
<br />
''If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.''<br />
<br />
Out of state licenses work, and utility bills, bank statements, or pay checks with your name and address on them work for proof of residence.<br />
<br />
== Car Stuff ==<br />
Madison has a DMV out on the west side, just past Midvale, at 4802 Sheboygan Ave, and one on the east side out near the airport. <br />
<br />
*Licenses: As they say on their page for licensing new residents, if you're looking to put your permanent residence here and vote here and generally show up on the radar, you should apply for your [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/nonreside/index.htm WI license] within 60 days of establishing residency. Your first baseline license costs $28, and is valid for three years. Note: you will need to take with you, among other things, something like a rent agreement, or a utility bill, UW transcript, or bank statement actually mailed to your WI address (no e-bills). We'll note that math students have been known to wait longer than 60 days to officially apply for residency, but we recommend you don't wait until an out-of-state license expires to get a WI license.<br />
<br />
*Vehicle Registration: If you own a car and officially become a WI resident, you need to get WI plates. All the information you need is available [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/new/resident.htm here].<br />
<br />
*Parking: First, unless you have a motorcycle, '''don't''' plan to park on campus regularly. For parking near your residence, there are some options. Depending on the neighborhood, it's possible to rent a place that has parking included or available for an extra charge. Additionally, if you live in an area surrounded by 2-hr parking [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/documents/RP3allmap.pdf zones], you can usually buy a permit (for a little over $20 per year) allowing you to park on the street all day near your home. More information can be found on the City of Madison Parking Utility [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingUtility/index.cfm page]. Most importantly, "the vehicle for which you are requesting a permit must be owned by you, your child, your parents/step parents, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner, or be a leased or company vehicle which is assigned to you." <br />
<br />
BE AWARE! Winter parking gets all crazy in Madison (from November 15 - March 15). Most of town is on an alternate side parking schedule: cars should be parked on the even (resp. odd) house numbered side of the street from 1:00a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on even (resp. odd) numbered days. If you live on the isthmus in the Snow Emergency Zone, you will only need to do this when the weather gets really bad. You can sign up for alerts when this happens.<br />
<br />
If you leave your car in the wrong place -- with winter nonsense or for any other reason -- and it gets towed, you can call the Madison Police Department (266-4260) or Schmidt's Towing (257-0505) to find out what they've done with it.<br />
<br />
== Taxes ==<br />
Once you've lived here for an entire calendar year, be sure to look into the [http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/home.html Wisconsin Homestead Credit]... it's usually worth the time and effort for graduate students. Until then, you can look into [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html deducting moving costs] for relocating here on your federal taxes.<br />
<br />
A warning to students on fellowship: taxes will not be taken out of your paycheck, but you still have to pay them. You may want to consider filing [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199807,00.html quarterly].<br />
<br />
== Wisconsin benefit programs ==<br />
We don't exactly get piles of money for teaching. In fact, most people who are not on fellowship or receiving summer funding can qualify for some heating aid (up to $380/year), and electricity aid (up to $285/year). You can check your eligibility at [https://access.wisconsin.gov/ Access WI]. <br />
There may be some residency requirements, like the Homestead credit. You can find your annual salary in our [http://www.taa-madison.org/contract/index.html contract].<br />
<br />
== Residency ==<br />
While it's usually a good idea to become a WI resident, if, for some reason, you're looking to declare residency in WI for tuition purposes, the answer is usually "no." It seems that one has to be in Wisconsin for a full year before enrolling at the UW, and one has to prove that one did not move here primarily for educational purposes (according to the Wisconsin statutes, you have to provide "clear and convincing evidence"). More on that at the [http://www.registrar.wisc.edu/students/residence/index.php Office of the Registrar]'s site.<br />
<br />
= Contacts and Other Resources =<br />
*[http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/gradguide/index.html Guide to Graduate Student Life]: The Graduate Student Collaborative's ([http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]) guide to grad student life in Madison -- like this one, but different.<br />
<br />
* [[Teaching Assistant Guide]]: from real live Van Vleck TAs<br />
<br />
*[http://www.yelp.com/madison-wi Yelp.com]: Find reviews of local stuff- restaurants and things to do, but also dentists, auto shops, etc.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.vip.wisc.edu VIP], the Visitor & Information Programs office, located in the Red Gym, near [http://www.union.wisc.edu Memorial Union]. They are open M - F 8am - 5pm and Saturday 11am - 2pm. <br />
<br />
*[http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu Student Orientation Handbook] is a valuable resource for information including entertainment, recreational and varsity sports, student organizations (including those for cultural groups, international students, LGBT students, women, veterans, and people with disabilities), health services, jobs, transportation, safety, and housing. It’s also a great place for referrals to counseling services, including drug and alcohol and sexual assault issues. You can find all this information on the web, at http://www.wisc.edu/visitingCampus/ or call them at 263-2400. You can also email any questions you have to askbucky@uwmad.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lgbt.wisc.edu LGBT Campus Center]: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Center (265-3344; lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu) provides support, social, educational and research services to the campus community, and serves as UW-Madison's first stop for those looking for information about campus LGBT organizations. The Memorial Union office on the 2nd floor includes a library, a television and DVD player, plenty of comfortable seating, open computers, and has a staff of students and professionals that work to bring events, speakers, and programs to campus. The Center also publishes a weekly events e-letter and offers support and social groups.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ WIMAW] (Women in Math at Wisconsin.)<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Got Questions? Here are some folks who might just have the answers...<br />
<br />
== Counseling Services ==<br />
Counseling services are available through Counseling and [http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/ Consultation Services (C&CS)], located at 115 North Orchard Street, (265-5600, TTY number 265-3300). C&CS offers brief psychological treatment, personal counseling, and psychiatric services to UW-Madison students. Frequent services include help in overcoming depression, managing anxiety and other psychological issues, and in developing greater self-awareness, independence, and self-direction. They also provide personal problem counseling, couples relationship counseling, marriage and family counseling, cross-cultural counseling, and alcohol and drug assessment and referral. Specialized groups have included: graduate women support, women and self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, survivors of troubled families, rebuilding relationships. C&CS also provides crisis response at the above phone numbers. Services provided are covered by the student health fee (included in your student fees).<br />
<br />
== Administrative and Support Staff ==<br />
The administrative and support staff are the folk that keep our department functioning. Without them, we as mathematicians would be lost. :) Their pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/support_staff.html here] and their contact info can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/academic_staff.html here]. If one person doesn't know how to deal with a problem you might have, they certainly know who might be able to help you out.<br />
<br />
Kate Bartlett<br />
Position: Timetable/Undergraduate<br />
Office: 207 VV<br />
Email: bartlett@math<br />
Ask Kate about: Registration (for you and your students), MyUW stuff, classroom assignments.<br />
<br />
David Camacho<br />
Position: Assoc Fac Assoc<br />
Office: 321 VV<br />
Email: camacho@math<br />
Ask David about: the Math Tutorial Program (if a student needs extra attention)<br />
<br />
Mark Castillo<br />
Position: Grants/Proposals<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: castillo @math<br />
Ask Mark about: grant money<br />
<br />
Chris Uhlir<br />
Position: Payroll/Benefits<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: grenie@math<br />
Ask Mike about: Payroll, hourly positions, taxes, tuition, healthcare, and benefits. <br />
<br />
Sara Nagreen<br />
Position: Sr IPC<br />
Office: 515 VV<br />
Email: nagreen@math<br />
Ask Sara about: all things computing.<br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson<br />
Position: Copy Center Manager/ Room Reservations<br />
Office: 220 VV<br />
Email: paulson@math<br />
Ask Sharon about: Office supplies, room reservations (review sessions/exams/other), copying machine <br />
codes, private tutoring list.<br />
<br />
Mary Rice<br />
Position: Grad Prog. Admin<br />
Office: 203 VV<br />
Email: mrice@math<br />
Ask Mary about: Math dept records (teaching letters, transcripts, etc), how you go about graduating.<br />
<br />
Diane Rivard<br />
Position: Placement Advisor<br />
Office: 720 VV<br />
Email: rivard@math<br />
Ask Diane about: Placement questions (what class your student should be in, placement exam issues)<br />
<br />
Joan Wendt<br />
Position: Chair Secretary<br />
Office: 223 VV<br />
Email: wendt@math<br />
Ask Joan about: office assignments and keys<br />
<br />
Vicky Whelan<br />
Position: Dept Administrator<br />
Office: 218 VV<br />
Email: whelan@math<br />
Ask Vicky about: the dept credit card, espresso club, awesome concerts around town.<br />
<br />
== Current and Former Graduate Students Interested in Meeting YOU ==<br />
You can find a complete list of current graduate students [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/psdbgrad.html here], and pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/grad.html here]. Email addresses that end with @ are intended to finish with @math.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
Hans Chaumont<br />
Email: chaumont@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~chaumont Website:]<br />
Grad-Age: Started 2012<br />
Area of interest: Undecided<br />
Ask Hans about: Pretty much anything, but especially about tea or the math weightlifting team.<br />
<br />
Laura Cladek<br />
Email: cladek@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~cladek Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2011<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Laura about: Anything ... Especially analysis or on campus housing.<br />
<br />
Nathan Collins<br />
Email: nathan.collins@gmail.com<br />
[http://cs.pdx.edu/~ntc2 Website]<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2008<br />
Area of interest: Computer Science and Logic.<br />
Ask Nathan about: Pittsburgh, bicycles, and being inferior to Mason at TAing. He dislikes printers and bad margins.<br />
<br />
David Dynerman<br />
Email: dynerman@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~dynerman Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask David about: programming video games, trying to do Hartshorne problems, <br />
going to the gym, Mushfeq Khan, Andrew Bridy<br />
<br />
Thomas Hangelbroek<br />
Email: hangelbr@math.hawaii.edu<br />
[http://math.hawaii.edu/people/hangelbr/ Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2007<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Thomas about: Anything Madison. Thomas is an expert in all things Madison.<br />
<br />
Sara Jensen<br />
Email: jensen@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jensen Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask Sara about: Teaching, topology & algebra quals, knitting group, going to the gym <br />
<br />
(Evan) Alec Johnson<br />
Email: ejohnson@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson Website]<br />
Grad-age: Ph.D., 2012<br />
Area of interest: Applied Math and Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask Alec about: teaching, advanced calculus, gardening, and Geneva Campus Church.<br />
<br />
Christine Lien<br />
Email: lien@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lien Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2005<br />
Area of interest: Complex Geometry<br />
Ask Christine about: anything, including bridge/card games, organizing women's events, <br />
the Association of Asian American Graduate students, and the Graduate Student Topology Seminar.<br />
<br />
Hao Lin<br />
Email: lin@<br />
[http://genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=156703 Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Hao about: sports and anything about China.<br />
<br />
Jonathon Mason<br />
Email: jonathan.f.mason@gmail.com<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2010<br />
Ask Mason about: Wisconsin hiking, the local film scene and being "way better than Nathan Collins" at TAing.<br />
<br />
Jason Murcko<br />
Email: murcko@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~murcko Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2006<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Jason about: the TAA and the local film and music scenes.<br />
<br />
Mike Schroeder<br />
Email: schroede@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~schroede UW Website]. [http://science.marshall.edu/schroederm/ Marshall Website].<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Combinatorics<br />
Ask Mike about: softball, bowling, sailing, racquet ball, and the Florida Gators.<br />
<br />
David Seal<br />
Email: seal@math.msu.edu<br />
[http://www.math.msu.edu/~seal Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2012.<br />
Area of interest: Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask David about: movies, biking, hiking and board games.<br />
<br />
Beth Skubak<br />
Email: skubak@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~skubak Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2009<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Beth about: anything, including this wiki<br />
<br />
Mike Woodbury<br />
[http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woodbury/ Website]<br />
Email: woodbury@math.columbia.edu<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011.<br />
Area of interest: Number Theory<br />
Ask Mike about: anything, including number theory, road biking, UW basketball tix.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Guide&diff=5352Graduate Student Guide2013-06-06T15:11:38Z<p>Johnsonm: /* MadTown food */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Exams.png|400px|right | Grading Exams in the Lounge]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
= Food =<br />
<br />
There are many ethnic and interesting restaurants in Madison – Indonesian, African, Italian, Himalayan, Laotian, Peruvian, Mexican, Bakeries, Brew Pubs, Coffee Joints, you name it -- and everyone has their favorites.<br />
<br />
The biggest resource for finding food (and entertainment!) in Madison is probably the [http://www.thedailypage.com/eats/ Daily Page] (the online version of our local paper, the Isthmus), where you can search local restaurants by name, locality, and cuisine. There, they have reviews, hours, contact info, pricing, etc. Be sure to peruse their [http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Restaurants Madison's Favorites] section for some quick tips! Of course [http://www.yelp.com/ yelp] is always useful as well. At one point a couple spent a few years trying to sample every restaurant in Madison and blogged about their journey on the [http://www.madisonatoz.com/ Madison A to Z].<br />
<br />
Here are some general food facts:<br />
<br />
== Campus Food ==<br />
*Food Carts: Open for lunch in Library Mall at the foot of Bascom Hill near Lake & State Street. Very good and very cheap, and out as long as it's not too cold.<br />
<br />
*Badger Market at Ingraham Hall: Very close to Van Vleck, and has acceptable coffee (bring your own cup to save money!) and decent snacks. Try the Badger Bundle lunch special: sandwich, drink, and a side for $1 off your total. Halfway down the hill is the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/crossroadscafe.htm Crossroads Cafe] which has much better coffee and is open later.<br />
<br />
*Memorial Union: The Rathskeller has food and next door is Lakeside cafe with much better food. Summer afternoons on the terrace is an excellent place to hang out in the sunshine with a beer and brat.<br />
<br />
*Union South: Features a pizza place, a pan-Asian restaurant, a sandwich shop, a sports bar (burgers and sandwiches) and an ice cream stand. <br />
<br />
*State Street (past the food carts) is full of restaurants and Coffee shops – there are at least a half dozen coffee roasters in town, and each supplies a different set of shops. In particular for lunch, there are the popular chains, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Einstein Bros. Bagels, or Chipotle... or hit the more independent spots such as the Sunroom Cafe or Ian's Pizza.<br />
<br />
== MadTown food ==<br />
<br />
Traditional Madison foods are German varieties such as beer, cheese, and bratwurst. Twice a year Madison hosts [http://www.bratfest.com/ Bratfest], a record breaking event. <br />
UW has [http://www.wisc.edu/foodsci/store/ Babcock Hall Ice Cream] on campus which creates delicious ice cream available in the Unions. The [http://www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com/ Chocolate Shoppe], [http://www.ilovemichaels.com/ Michael's Frozen Custard] and Culvers have nice deserts.<br />
Micro breweries in town include the [http://www.greatdanepub.com/ Great Dane], [http://www.capital-brewery.com/ Captial Brewery] and [http://www.aleasylum.com/ Ale Asylum]. Nearby there is the famous [http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/ New Glarus Brewing Co] which only sells beer in Wisconsin. You can join a free beer tour or walk through the brewery on a self guided tourn.<br />
<br />
In early September (2nd-3rd), check out [http://www.madisonfestivals.com/taste/ Taste of Madison] to see many restaurants all in one place at one time.<br />
<br />
Try a good ol' midwestern Fish Fry on Friday night – All you can eat fried fish generally served with a bran muffin, clam chowder, or coleslaw. Most Brew Pubs and some churches have them, and the [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/restaurant.php Orpheum] as well at the [http://www.avenuebarmadison.com/ Avenue Bar and Grill] both run Friday night Fish Fries.<br />
<br />
== Farm fresh food ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.madfarmmkt.org/ Dane County Farmer's Market] is amazing and HUGE. The big one is open every Saturday morning, and is located on the capitol square for most of the year. In addition to the ludicrous amount of fresh produce, there are also bakery stands, coffee, and fresh juice carts for quick breakfasts.<br />
<br />
There are also a few smaller [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farmers_markets.htm#danecounty markets] scattered around town, almost every day of the week:<br />
<br />
*Sunday: 8:30am to 12:30pm in front of Pierce's Northside Market<br />
*Monday: (none)<br />
*Tuesday: 4pm to 7pm on Ingersol at Williamson, 2pm to 6pm at 1602 S. Park St,<br />
*Wednesday: 8am to 2pm on MLKJr Blvd, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center,<br />
*Thursday: Thursdays, 2pm to 6pm at the Villager Mall on Park St., 2pm to 6pm in the McFarland Centre, 7:30am to 1:30pm in the Greenway Station shopping center,<br />
*Friday: (none)<br />
*Saturday: 6am to 2pm on the Capitol square, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center, 9am to 2pm at 1602 S. Park St, 7am to 1pm at Sheboygan Ave. and Segoe Rd., and 8:30am to 11am in Watertower Park.<br />
<br />
During the summer and fall, there are many [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/index.htm local farms] where you can [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farms/u_pick.htm pick] your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, or pumpkins when they are in season.<br />
<br />
If you're in town for the summer, you might consider signing up for a [http://www.macsac.org/ Community Supported Agriculture] food box. CSA is a way to support a local farm by paying an annual fee in the winter or spring which buys you a share of the season's harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick-up a weekly box of fresh foods which may include produce, fruits, cheeses, eggs, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. The typical CSA season in Wisconsin runs from the end of May through mid-October. You do have to pay the lump sum up-front, and some weeks you'll find yourself with five pounds of chard... but for most of the summer you'll have your produce needs met, and you can feel good about supporting small local farms. Better yet, most of the university's insurance providers offer [http://www.macsac.org/rebates.html rebates] for signing up for a CSA -- somewhere between $50-$300, depending on the plan and how many people you're sharing with (for example, if two people on GHC share a box, they might pay $450 for the box for a box lasting 25 weeks, but they they could each get $100 back, making that $5/week per person). If you're interested, remember to sign up early -- most programs are full by May.<br />
<br />
= Grocery Stores =<br />
<br />
== Generic Groceries ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.capcentrefoods.com/home.html Capitol Centre Foods]: Given their small size, they have an excellent selection of groceries. They tend to be a bit pricey. In addition, they deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.freshmadisonmarket.com/ Fresh Madison Market]: A reasonably large general grocery store, not too expensive. Has a large selection of "typical college items" (lots of frozen foods). Located on University, not too far from Van Vleck. They also deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.copps.com/ Copps]: Your standard grocery store with multiple locations.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=1020&lang=en-US Costco]: Your friendly big-box bulk store. They treat their employees incredibly well. Good buys on computers, 2 lbs of sockeye salmon or button down oxford cloth long sleeved shirts. You'll need a membership or go there with someone who has a membership. You can also get a free trial membership if you simply ask.<br />
<br />
*Walgreens: Pharmacy/Grocery store. There is a Walgreens on the corner of Lake & State Street near Van Vleck, on the Capitol Square, and in University square.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Whole Foods]: Kinda spendy, but good bread, specialty stuff, and produce through the winter.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Woodman's]: two locations -- [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=725+S+Gammon+Rd+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=43.055217,-89.50304&spn=0.05381,0.171661 East] and [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3817+Milwaukee+St,+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.103615,-89.319363&spn=0.053768,0.171661&om=1 West]. If you have a car and the time, go here. Very large, very cheap, but time consuming. They don't take credit cards, so bring a debit card or check book. The produce is pretty poor, but they're huge and, again, cheap. Check out the liquor store for a large selection (you can buy all types of alcohol in grocery stores in Wisconsin... but not after 9pm).<br />
<br />
*[http://www.traderjoes.com/ Trader Joe's]: Located at 1810 Monroe St. They have good prices for select specialty food items such as wine, cheese and fancy snacks. Their basic foodstuffs tend to be a bit pricey.<br />
<br />
*The Jenifer Street Market located on 2038 Jenifer Street is a nice little grocery store if you happen to live in the area.<br />
<br />
== Co-ops ==<br />
Co-ops are a good source of local organic food. If you are a member they provide discounts, but you can also shop there at your own will.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.regentmarketcoop.org/ Regent Market Cooperative], 2136 Regent St. 233-4329.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.willystreet.coop/ Willy Street Co-op] The largest and most active co-op in the Madison area. They have been able to survive the decline in co-ops over the years. They offer a large selection of bulk foods and spices at an excellent price. For a quick bite, they have an excellent deli, salad bar, and in-store coffee shop. 1221 Williamson St. 251-6776. They recently opened a second store in Middleton located at 6825 University Ave. Both locations deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
== Specialty Foods ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.aldifoods.com/ Aldi Foods]: It's like grocery shopping at overstock.com.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=keJ&q=asian+midway+foods&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,304616636444102595&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Asian Midway Market]: The go-to market for anything Thai, Chinese or South-East Asian, this centrally-located store comes highly recommended. In particular, they offer a great selection of specialized produce. 301 South Park Street; 255-5864<br />
<br />
*[http://www.brennansmarket.com/ Brennan's Market]: Great for Produce, Meats, Cheese, Micro brews and Wines. You won't find things like Flour and Saran Wrap here, but definitely worth the trip.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/ Farm Fresh Atlas]: Not a grocery store, but a good resource for where you can buy local foods and a list of farms in the areas.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madseafood.com/ The Seafood Center]: The name says it all. Great fresh fish and live lobsters.<br />
<br />
*[http://frabonisdeli.com/ Fraboni's]: An awesome Italian grocery store and deli. They have very good [http://frabonisdeli.com/oils olive oils], [http://frabonisdeli.com/pastas pastas], and make-your-own pizza fixings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3723579948/garden-asian-market-middleton Garden Asian Market]: A full service Asian food market specializing in fresh meat, produce, and seafood. Mostly Chinese-leaning, they do a good job of providing a wide variety of items within their niche. It may be far out, but it's worth the trip in its pleasantness and selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=india+house+grocery+store,+madison,+wi&fb=1&gl=us&hq=india+house+grocery+store,&hnear=Madison,+WI&cid=0,0,8495347478199843118&ll=43.050466,-89.503019&spn=0.007871,0.019183&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A India House]: Really well done Indian grocery store. Good place to buy Kari leaves.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=TMe&q=lee%27s+oriental&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,92533124768468793&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Lee's Oriental]: Next to Penzey's spices. 3240 University Ave; 231-1593<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=2Me&q=oriental+shop&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,13628497956998458364&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Oriental Shop]: They carry mostly dry-goods, and tend to lean toward stocking more Korean items. 1206 South Park Street; 255-0326<br />
<br />
= Housing =<br />
<br />
Haven't found a place yet? Already hate your apartment?<br />
<br />
* [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/ UW Off-Campus Housing Search]: Probably the best search site for students.<br />
<br />
* Again, [http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List] is a good resourse. Also a good place to look for roommates outside of the department.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/ University Apartments]: On campus graduate housing, particularly popular with married couples (especially with children). Singles are also welcome. Many of them are on the bus route #80, a free route which runs from the apartments through campus every fifteen minutes throughout the day.<br />
<br />
== Location, Location, Location ==<br />
<br />
If you would like to keep your commute down, there are many places near campus. Many graduate students prefer to live close enough to Van Vleck to be within walking distance, yet far enough away to stay away from partying undergraduate students.<br />
<br />
Many graduate students live in the Vilas neighborhood, which is located South of Regent Street and between Park and Monroe. East of the Capitol building, we also have the Willy St. neighborhood (between Williamson and Rutledge streets, between Paterson and Thornton) and the other side of the Isthmus, between Mifflin and Lake Mendota. The university offers on campus housing at Eagle Heights with regular buses. Many students also live near Sheboygan and University Avenues (not on this map), and there are regular buses that run up University Avenue that will drop you off right in front of Van Vleck. The large apartment complexes in that area include the Normandy, Chapel Hill, Carolina, Monticello, Hilldale Towers, Park Towers, and Sovereign Apartments which are cheaper to live in than spots on the square.<br />
<br />
Because there is no parking on campus, you will need to plan on living within walking distance of a bus route or campus itself. You will receive a free bus pass for the [http://www.mymetrobus.com/ Madison Metro] system, which is very reliable. Check out the “plan your trip” link to find bus routes near you.<br />
<br />
Here is an approximate map of many areas where you will be likely to find housing: <br />
[[Image:gradhousingmap.jpg|400px| center | Housing Map]]<br />
<br />
Basically, shoot for zones 2-6, the North parts of zones 7 and 8, or the far East part of zone 10 on [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/map_all.asp this map] (the map from the UW Off-Campus Housing Search).<br />
<br />
== Stuff your landlord might not tell you ==<br />
<br />
*Utilities:<br />
Lots of apartments have water, sewage, heat, and and sometimes electricity included in rent. For those which don't, be sure to find out what to expect through the [http://mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/ Madison Gas and Electric] web page. Just tell them the address of the place you're looking at, and they'll tell you what the highs, lows, and averages have been over the last year.<br />
<br />
*Property information:<br />
The [http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/property.html City Assessor] has all of the basic information about Madison properties on file, including how many units are on the property, how much square footage there is, if there's AC in the building, what school district it's in, who your alderperson would be, and what else is on the property (e.g. garages). They'll even tell you how much the property is worth, and how much your landlord is paying in property taxes. Sometimes the square footage isn't broken up--for example, maybe there are two units on the first floor, but they'll only tell you that there are 1,700 sq ft on that floor, not how it's split up between the two units. It can be a useful site for rounding out your knowledge of places you're considering renting.<br />
<br />
*Tenants rights:<br />
The [http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/ Tenant resource center] is a small non-profit membership organization which provides housing counseling, mediation services and office assistance. Their website includes tips for new renters, generic rental forms, and advice for what to do if your landlord just won't get back to you about repairs, returning deposits, etc.<br />
There is also the [http://studenttenantunion.rso.wisc.edu/ Student tenant union], which is specifically targeted to UW students.<br />
<br />
== Rental Companies ==<br />
Many properties in Madison are run by rental companies -- some large, some small -- some good, some not-so-good. Larger companies tend to have lower prices, and more people working toward maintaining rentals. However, they may have less of an investment in taking care of each individual property or screening their tenants. Some people feel better renting from small companies, or landlords with only one or two houses. You may get more individual attention and care. Individuals have more investment in protecting each property, and renting to good tenants, so the properties tend to be in more reliable condition. However, with fewer properties comes fewer resources and higher prices.<br />
<br />
Whatever choice you make, be sure to have a conversation with your potential landlords about their polices, especially if you aren't going to be able to see things in person. It may also be good to Google the company or person to see if other people have had something good or bad to say about them or their properties. In particular, [http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Madison.html ApartmentRatings.com] has a few of the apartment complexes around town listed.<br />
<br />
Here are some general impressions/very subjective opinions that some of us have gotten from/about a few of the larger local companies:<br />
<br />
*AB Holdings: In particular, they have a couple small apartment buildings on Vilas that are particularly ideal for two people. Quite a few people from the department have rented these units and have been pretty happy.<br />
<br />
*[http://apexrents.com/ Apex Property Management]: Great company. Well-maintained properties, with many of the more recently remodeled rentals being very nice. Their representatives are helpful and responsible, and their tenants seem to be generally satisfied.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.centralmadison.com/ The Christensen Company]: Not terribly up-to-date apartments, but worth taking a look at.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonproperty.com/ Madison Property Management]: Lots of choices, but notoriously junky properties. They tend to cater mostly to undergraduates, and their rentals show it. We wouldn't recommend renting from this company unless you visit first.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.mcbridecompanies.com/ The McBride Companies]: Nice properties, good management. Really good website if you turn the sound off.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.tallardapartments.com/ Tallard Apartments]: Nice properties with very friendly and responsive staff. Their rentals tend to go early in the season.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wimci.com/ Wisconsin Management Company]: Nice enough properties, but kind of flakey representation. Make sure to ask lots of questions.<br />
<br />
*The Wright Company (or Norris Ct. Apartments): Very nice older buildings, but kind of sketchy management. Nothing is going to be in stellar shape, but they do tend to rent more to graduates and professionals, so they aren't beat up either. If you do rent from them, don't expect them to be very responsive, and be sure to be especially careful about protecting your security deposit by taking photos and keeping a record of your move-in report.<br />
<br />
= Furniture =<br />
<br />
*[http://www.svdpmadison.org/ St. Vincent DePaul's]: Like Goodwill. Has cheap dressers, desks, chairs, and general household stuff. Will deliver for a small charge. This is also a great place to donate any furniture or other items that you no longer want – they will pick up the items from your apartment. There is also a Goodwill in town, but they won't have nearly the same volume of furniture.<br />
<br />
*[http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List]: a free online classifieds site. Great not only for furniture, but also pet resources and last minute apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
*Eagle Heights Apartment Bulletin Boards: Lots of cheap stuff from people graduating, many of whom are moving overseas. You can even find cars. You can try posting your own wanted posters on the boards. You can find these boards at the bus stops for the (free) bus 80 route.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/madisonfreecycle/ Freecycle]: A community "give stuff away for free" website with a Madison branch.<br />
<br />
*Hippie Christmas ("Move-Out Day"): For some reason or another, the evening of August 14th is when the bulk of leases near campus turn over. This is a fantastic day to pick up free furniture from the street. If you already have a rental van, why not help municipal waste by pickup up a bookshelf for them?<br />
<br />
*The Todd Drive Area: Just west of park street on the beltline. American Furniture for furniture and electronics, Home Concepts for cheap but nice looking furniture, and Steinhafel's for furniture and mattresses.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html SWAP]. The UW's surplus supply store.<br />
<br />
= International Student Resources =<br />
Here are a few links specifically for international students. There are international grocery stores listed in the [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Graduate_Student_Guide#Specialty_Foods groceries] section.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcssa.net/ Chinese Student & Scholar Association]: A connection to the university's Chinese community for incoming students. They offer rides from the airport, list general information about madison, and organize get-tegethers/Chinese celebrations. International Conversation & Coffee Hour: meet other international students and americans interested in other cultures. Every Friday, 12-2pm, Cooper Hearth Room 160, Union South.<br />
<br />
*[http://iss.wisc.edu/ International Student Services]: the UW's International Student Services<br />
<br />
*[http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MADindians/ MadIndians]: a Yahoo online group for students from India in Madison. Good place to search for an Indian roommate.<br />
<br />
*[http://mtsa.rso.wisc.edu/ Madison Association of Turkish Students]: Very helpful for incoming Turkish students. It includes information about how best to get to Madison from Turkey, information about housing, and how to reach other Turkish students in Madison.<br />
<br />
= Newspapers =<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/captimes/ The Capitol Times]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the afternoon. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more liberal.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.thedailypage.com/ The Isthmus]: Free independent Madison newspaper. Has a liberal voice and is full of entertainment, including family fun, outdoor attractions, and fine arts. Also puts out the Annual Manual - the yearly guide to all things Madison.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.theonion.com/ The Onion]: While hilarious, this paper is only really good if you're already in on the joke. We get free paper copies in Madison. There is a stack near the elevators in VV. The local edition has local entertainment listings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Wisconsin State Journal]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the mornings. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more conservative.<br />
<br />
= Religious Groups =<br />
*[http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/ Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/ Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church]: Near Sheboygan Ave. at 110 N Whitney Way. A huge church, but with opportunities to get involved and meet people. It has services in the sanctuary, with a mixture of traditional and semi-modern worship, and also "video cafe" services with more lively, modern worship. Very good teaching.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cpcmadison.com/ Christ Presbyterian Church]. Just east of James Madison Park on Gorham. Has a great choir and organist!<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fusmadison.org/ The First Unitarian Society of Madison]. "A liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue." Looking for something new? They're open to all types. Also, they are housed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.folmadison.org/ Fountain of Life]: 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. A multi-ethnic church with a lot of eclectic music styles, including a lot of Gospel music<br />
<br />
*[http://genevacc.org/ The Geneva Campus Church]: On Campus Reformed church. They describe themselves as "a university church for the whole family"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwhillel.org/ Hillel]: UW-Madison's on-campus center for everything Jewish: religious, cultural, political, traditional, and alternative. Located on Langdon Street, it serves both the school population and, to a far lesser extent, the entire city.<br />
<br />
*[http://islamiccentermadison.org/ Islamic Center of Madison]: Has a masjid inside. 21 N Orchard St, (608)251-9851<br />
<br />
*[http://ivgcf.rso.wisc.edu/ InterVarsity Grad Christian Fellowship]: It's a welcoming place for Christians and non-Christians alike. (You might even find your future husband/wife there) They also have a website with info about local churches. There is a new student picnic at the beginning of the fall semester.<br />
<br />
*Latter Day Saints: There are a number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wards in the Madison area. The Madison First Ward covers areas closest to campus and meets at 4505 Regent Street, two blocks south of Hilldale Mall, at 9am. The University Ward serves single adults and meets at 1711 University Avenue at 10 am. The Madison Third Ward serves areas close to campus and meets at 701 Bear Claw Way on Madison's far west side at 11 am. Visitors and the curious are always welcome.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lccmadison.com/ Lutheran Campus Center]: A fairly young, enthusiastic, and liberal-minded congragation, found right on campus.<br />
<br />
*[http://madcitychurch.org/ Mad City Church]: A non-denominational, casual christian fellowship. Services are held in the LaFollette High School located on Madison's east side - very near the corner of Pflaum Rd. and Monona Dr. Office at 2713 E. Washington Ave.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.muuyacm.org/ Madison UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry (MUUYACM)]. One of the largest and most active Unitarian Universalist young adult groups in the U.S., they are open to young adults (ages 18-35) of all denominations. In addition to worships, they organize social-justice-oriented activities, and are an active member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcatholic.org/ St. Paul's University Catholic Center]: On campus in Library Mall near Lake & State. Has a lively Catholic grad student group called Mustard Seed with Bible studies, Thursday night speakers, retreats, service projects, and large quantities of food and euchre.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.unityofmadison.org/ Unity of Madison]: (from their site) "Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community focused on Truth Seeking and Spiritual Growth through the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire, nuture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live Jesus' message that 'the kingdom of God is within you.'"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.isthmuszencommunity.org/ Zen Buddhism]: A local zen buddhist center is located next to Willy st co-op. New comers are especially welcome.<br />
<br />
= Arts and Entertainment =<br />
<br />
Madison is a medium sized city with a not so medium sized arts and entertainment scene. There are cultural events on campus<br />
and at the [http://www.overturcenter.com Overture Center]; sporting events; art, science, natural history, and history museums; parks, the<br />
[http://www.uwarboretum.org arboretum], and [http://www.olbrich.org botanical gardens]; a free [http://www.vilaszoo.org zoo]; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; a [http://www.madfarmmkt.com Farmer’s Market] on the<br />
Capital Square every Saturday morning from April-October; and lots of other things. The [http://www.thedailypage.com Isthmus], is the local free newspaper which posts many current events.<br />
The Isthmus can be found in many stores, in campus buildings, and on street corners.<br />
<br />
== Athletic Activities ==<br />
* [http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/ Rec Sports] runs the gyms on campus. There are three such on-campus gyms -- The SERF, the Nat, and the Shell, which are free with student ID. For $10/semester, you can attend any of their Group Fitness classes, which cover everything from aerobics and weights to yoga and dance. Also, both the SERF and Nat have indoor pools.<br />
<br />
*The University of Wisconsin has a long standing heritage of being proud of their [http://www.uwbadgers.com/ athletic events]. Men's basketball, football and ice-hockey receive the most attention and as a student, you can obtain season tickets for all of these events.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.mufa.org MUFA] is an ultimate frisbee league that has summer as well as spring and fall seasons. This is a really fun way to stay active and meet some new Madison friends! You don't need to form a team-- just see the link for info about how to join a team looking for more players. Note: the games are often played all over the city and burbs, and are not necessarily reachable by bus. You'll need a car, or a teammate with a car. Also see the link for info about local pick-up games.<br />
<br />
== Dancing ==<br />
<br />
*Ballroom: [http://www.uwmbda.org/ UWMBDA] is the big ballroom dance group here. They have dances with lessons every week on Friday or Saturday and a practice group every Thursday.<br />
<br />
*[http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/dances.htm Contra Dance]: Meetings every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
*International Folk club: meets biweekly Library Mall, Wed/Sun 7:30PM-late.<br />
<br />
*Swing: [http://www.uwswing.com/ Jumptown Swing] is UW's swing club. They host (mostly) weekly dances at Union South, and provide lessons for a nominal fee. See their site for scheduling and links to other swing orgonizations. Also, on Wednesdays, there's dancing at the [http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ Brink Lounge] from 8-11.<br />
<br />
*Salsa: Venues include [http://www.cardinalbar.com/ Cardinal Bar] on Thursdays, [http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/details.php?event=176610 Frida's] on Friday nights. Don't know how to Salsa? There are lessons before dances at Cardinal, and instruction is offered through the Union's minicourses.<br />
<br />
*Tango: the [http://www.madisontango.org/ Madison Tango Society] provides lessons and dances for Argentine Tango. Their site has a good list or other events in and around Madison.<br />
<br />
== Libraries ==<br />
In addition to the many [http://www.library.wisc.edu/ Libraries of UW], the [http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ Madison Public Library] is a great place for books, movies, and music.<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
The Daily Page has a [http://www.thedailypage.com/movies/listing.php listing] of movie times for most of the theaters around town (both big and small):<br />
<br />
*Eastgate, Point and Star Cinema are the three larger movie theaters in town.<br />
<br />
*Market Square shows second runs at a good discount. <br />
<br />
*The [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/ Orpheum] is an old cinema within site of the capitol on State street. They tend to show less mainstream movies.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.sundancecinemas.com/madison.html Sundance 608] shows independent film as well as blockbuster movies. They have a rooftop cafe that's open during the summer months, 2 bars (you can take a drink into your movie), and a restaurant!<br />
<br />
For on-campus movies:<br />
*The Wisconsin Union Directorate runs on campus screening of films. Their film site can be found [http://www.union.wisc.edu/WUD/film.aspx here.]<br />
<br />
*The UW film department hosts free screenings of a wide array of films based on a given theme for that semester through their [http://cinema.wisc.edu/ cinematheque.] Their department has many contacts with other film institutes and are able show rare original 35mm films that you can't see anywhere else.<br />
<br />
*In late March/early April, go check out some of the many many films showing at the [http://www.wifilmfest.org/ Wisconsin Film Festival.] Sites all over town take part in hosting the showing of these films.<br />
<br />
Madison also has a number of independent video stores:<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ Four Star Video Heaven] has been voted as a Madison Favorite for a number of years. See their site to browse their collection online.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bongovideo.com/ Bongo Video] has a smaller, but quite tasty selection. Lots of personality, and good daily specials.<br />
<br />
== Music ==<br />
Whether you're looking to play music, or just go watch free or (in)expensive concerts, there are many options in Madison.<br />
<br />
*Our very own [http://music.wisc.edu/ Music Department] hosts many music events. Their website has a calendar listing current music events including faculty concerts and student recitals.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonsymphony.org/ The Madison Symphony Orchestra] (MSO) is the professional symphony based here in Madison. With your student ID, you can get student rush tickets for as little as $10 per person.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wcoconcerts.org/ The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra] is Madison's professional chamber orchestra. Each summer, their widely popular [http://www.wcoconcerts.org/new/cos/concertsonthesquare.php concerts on the square] draw many people from all over the place for a free outdoor concert.<br />
<br />
*[http://madisoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Madison Community Orchestra] (MCO) is an informal group run by Madison Area Technical College that meets once a week. There are four free concerts a year and no auditions to play with the group.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.middletoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Middleton Community Orchestra] is a second newly formed community orchestra run by community musicians. Their concerts are extremely affordable, and they may run auditions.<br />
<br />
== Outdoor Activites ==<br />
Madison is a very bicycle friendly town, and there are many parks either in town or within a short drive. Here are some suggestions about outdoor activities to engage in:<br />
<br />
*Take a nice long walk along one of the many paths around [http://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/imap/LakeshoreNaturePreserve.html Picnic Point]... bike the path from Memorial Union out to the tip, or bus/drive out to the base of picnic point and wander the foot trails in the area.<br />
<br />
*Head towards Monona Terrace on Lake Monona, and take one of the paths that wraps around the lake (great bike ride!).<br />
<br />
*You can also go walking and/or biking around the [http://uwarboretum.org/ Arboretum] south of campus and tour their gardens, or head to the free [http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Vilas Zoo]. Lake Wingra is essentially totally surrounded by wooded areas including Henry Vilas Park, the UW-arboretum and Edgewood college. You can rent canoes at Knickerbocker for fairly cheap and relax on Lake Wingra.<br />
<br />
*Community Gardens: There are a number of community gardens run by the [http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/ Community Action Coalition]. Nominally, you can sign up for a plot for a small fee, and learn how to garden if you don't already know, or go to town if you already do. The [http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/ Eagle Heights Community Garden] is open to both residents and non-residents alike. All of the gardens are fun to look at if you haven't ever seen one.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.olbrich.org/ The Olbrich Botanical Gardens] are located east of lake Monona. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including their award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden, or enjoy the year-round tropical Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds.. Outdoor gardens are open daily and free to the public, while entrance to the conservatory is $1 per person.<br />
<br />
*Catch a festival; Madison is home to a number of festivals -- big festivals, small festivals, arts festivals, music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals -- we've got all kinds.<br />
<br />
The Winter opens itself up to new activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing and other options. The hoofers club runs ice boats on the lake.<br />
<br />
*The city of Madison parks open up outdoor [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct2.html ice skating] at Tenney, Vilas, and Elver parks. No skates? No worries. They will rent skates to you there ($6.00 for the first hour, $2/hr after that).<br />
<br />
*There is also [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct4.html cross-country skiing] at a number of Dane county parks, with passes starting at $5/day. No skills? Check out lessons at the [http://www.madnorski.org/page/ Madison Nordic Ski Club] or, again, [http://sns.hoofers.org/ Hoofers] has lots to offer in that area.<br />
<br />
== Student Clubs ==<br />
The University of Wisconsin, being a rather large institution, has got so much stuff going on for all of us student-types. Here are some ways people around the department have been taking advantage:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop]: Located upstairs in the Memorial Union, they are "here to satisfy your creative urges in a variety of craft media." Their facilities include a darkroom, a woodshop, a ceramics studio, metal working tools, etc. Friday afternoons, they open their studios to all union members (that means you!) for free!<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hoofers.org/ Hoofers]: Student outdoor recreation club. The Outing and Sailing clubs in particular have lots of graduate students.<br />
<br />
* [http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]: Graduate Student Collaborative Organization<br />
<br />
* [http://cfli.wisc.edu/student_organizations.htm Student Organizations]: at UW Madison (this is a directory of all registered student organizations at the university; you can search by topic or name)<br />
<br />
== The Student Unions ==<br />
The Memorial Union is located on the lakefront, on Park and Langdon. Be sure to check out the Terrace while the weather is still good -- it's a great place to go to get out of the office, grab something to snack on, and study out in the sun. You'll find the Daily Scoop (yummy ice cream!) and Der Rathskeller (beer and deep-fried goodness). You'll also find all sorts of stuff to keep you busy, like the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop], the Union Theater, the Hoofers' headquarters, and a wide array of Mini Courses with which to expand your horizons.<br />
<br />
Also useful: the travel services center and STA Travel will get you good deals on trips (including bus tickets to O'Hare, Midway, and Milwaukee airports), and the theater's box office will get you good deals on shows (theater, music, etc) all around town. In addition, the Union has always got other special events going on to keep all of us entertained -- see their complete [http://www.union.wisc.edu/activities/ list of activities].<br />
<br />
The Union South was recently completely renovated and also has many activities available. They have a climbing wall, a bowling alley, pool tables, a beer garden, a wine tasting room, a ballroom, a movie theater and many other things.<br />
<br />
= Van Vleck Miscellany =<br />
Here's a bit more info about the happenings in and around the Math Dept.<br />
<br />
== Getting money ==<br />
*Paychecks: The first paycheck of the year arrives in October, though you may request an advance on about 30% of your first paycheck when you arrive. If you are not working over the summer, the last will come in June, so be sure to plan for the three month gap.<br />
<br />
*Fees: You will be charged for segregated fees in both semesters, and are not covered in your tuition. The amount depends on your credit load and status, but will be about $500 for most people and due about the time of your first paycheck. If you are on fellowship, this will be taken care of for you, and shouldn't appear on your bill.<br />
<br />
*TA union: The teaching assistants of Wisconsin are unionized. Even if you are not a TA, but are an employee of the department, you're still connected to them through advocacy and campus issues. For more information check out the [http://www.taa-madison.org/ TAA].<br />
<br />
== Getting stuff done ==<br />
See the Contacts section for a list of people who will help you get stuff done.<br />
<br />
If you want to reserve rooms in Van Vleck for review sessions or meetings you can fill out a green form with Sharon Paulson on the second floor. Sharon does the scheduling for about 4 or 5 rooms in the building, so you can also ask her about these rooms directly. If you need to reserve the 9th floor lounge, talk to Joan Wendt (also second floor).<br />
<br />
Each grad receives 200 photocopies and 250 black and white print outs a month for personal math use. If you are a TA, Sharon in the Copy Center on the second floor can photocopy materials for classes (which does not count toward your quota)– such as worksheets and quizzes. Just give her at least 24 hours notice. To check your printout quota, open a terminal logged into the math server, and type "pages". If you do go over your quota, you will simply get a (probably very small) bill at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
We get free office supplies on the 2nd floor – just ask the Receptionist for pens, folders, etc.<br />
<br />
You can pick up and send out your mail from the second floor. You might even want to have packages delivered to the department, to avoid missing them being delivered at home (UPS, for example, won't drop off to apartment complexes if you aren't there, so you'll have to drive out to Middleton to pick up your packages).<br />
<br />
It's never too early to start studying for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/graduate/quals.htm quals]... early and often, my friends. Early and Often.<br />
<br />
== Getting together ==<br />
Historically, some afternoons and Friday before colloquium, we have a cookie and coffee social hour on the 9th floor lounge. Keep your eyes open for announcements.<br />
<br />
Definitely check out some of the colloquia and seminars. The earlier you get involved the better. This is a great way to learn more about potential research areas, meet other people in the areas, and meet other mathematicians in other departments. There is a list posted on the 9th floor each week in addition to online.<br />
<br />
Once a semester, our group for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ women in mathematics] get together for an informal potluck. We also have been known to bring in women speakers funded by the [http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/ WiSELI] grant.<br />
<br />
= Miscellaneous Wisconsin Stuff =<br />
This section describes miscellaneous Wisconsin stuff that doesn't belong in any other section, such as, a [[Wisconsin Dictionary]] for those who aren't familiar with the Wisconsin vernacular.<br />
<br />
== Voting ==<br />
Frequently asked questions for Wisconsin voting can be found <br />
[http://wisconsin.gov/state/core/faq_wisconsin_voting_elections.html here]. <br />
As of the April election, Wisconsin has a law that allows for same day registration at the polls:<br />
<br />
''If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.''<br />
<br />
Out of state licenses work, and utility bills, bank statements, or pay checks with your name and address on them work for proof of residence.<br />
<br />
== Car Stuff ==<br />
Madison has a DMV out on the west side, just past Midvale, at 4802 Sheboygan Ave, and one on the east side out near the airport. <br />
<br />
*Licenses: As they say on their page for licensing new residents, if you're looking to put your permanent residence here and vote here and generally show up on the radar, you should apply for your [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/nonreside/index.htm WI license] within 60 days of establishing residency. Your first baseline license costs $28, and is valid for three years. Note: you will need to take with you, among other things, something like a rent agreement, or a utility bill, UW transcript, or bank statement actually mailed to your WI address (no e-bills). We'll note that math students have been known to wait longer than 60 days to officially apply for residency, but we recommend you don't wait until an out-of-state license expires to get a WI license.<br />
<br />
*Vehicle Registration: If you own a car and officially become a WI resident, you need to get WI plates. All the information you need is available [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/new/resident.htm here].<br />
<br />
*Parking: First, unless you have a motorcycle, '''don't''' plan to park on campus regularly. For parking near your residence, there are some options. Depending on the neighborhood, it's possible to rent a place that has parking included or available for an extra charge. Additionally, if you live in an area surrounded by 2-hr parking [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/documents/RP3allmap.pdf zones], you can usually buy a permit (for a little over $20 per year) allowing you to park on the street all day near your home. More information can be found on the City of Madison Parking Utility [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingUtility/index.cfm page]. Most importantly, "the vehicle for which you are requesting a permit must be owned by you, your child, your parents/step parents, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner, or be a leased or company vehicle which is assigned to you." <br />
<br />
BE AWARE! Winter parking gets all crazy in Madison (from November 15 - March 15). Most of town is on an alternate side parking schedule: cars should be parked on the even (resp. odd) house numbered side of the street from 1:00a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on even (resp. odd) numbered days. If you live on the isthmus in the Snow Emergency Zone, you will only need to do this when the weather gets really bad. You can sign up for alerts when this happens.<br />
<br />
If you leave your car in the wrong place -- with winter nonsense or for any other reason -- and it gets towed, you can call the Madison Police Department (266-4260) or Schmidt's Towing (257-0505) to find out what they've done with it.<br />
<br />
== Taxes ==<br />
Once you've lived here for an entire calendar year, be sure to look into the [http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/home.html Wisconsin Homestead Credit]... it's usually worth the time and effort for graduate students. Until then, you can look into [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html deducting moving costs] for relocating here on your federal taxes.<br />
<br />
A warning to students on fellowship: taxes will not be taken out of your paycheck, but you still have to pay them. You may want to consider filing [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199807,00.html quarterly].<br />
<br />
== Wisconsin benefit programs ==<br />
We don't exactly get piles of money for teaching. In fact, most people who are not on fellowship or receiving summer funding can qualify for some heating aid (up to $380/year), and electricity aid (up to $285/year). You can check your eligibility at [https://access.wisconsin.gov/ Access WI]. <br />
There may be some residency requirements, like the Homestead credit. You can find your annual salary in our [http://www.taa-madison.org/contract/index.html contract].<br />
<br />
== Residency ==<br />
While it's usually a good idea to become a WI resident, if, for some reason, you're looking to declare residency in WI for tuition purposes, the answer is usually "no." It seems that one has to be in Wisconsin for a full year before enrolling at the UW, and one has to prove that one did not move here primarily for educational purposes (according to the Wisconsin statutes, you have to provide "clear and convincing evidence"). More on that at the [http://www.registrar.wisc.edu/students/residence/index.php Office of the Registrar]'s site.<br />
<br />
= Contacts and Other Resources =<br />
*[http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/gradguide/index.html Guide to Graduate Student Life]: The Graduate Student Collaborative's ([http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]) guide to grad student life in Madison -- like this one, but different.<br />
<br />
* [[Teaching Assistant Guide]]: from real live Van Vleck TAs<br />
<br />
*[http://www.yelp.com/madison-wi Yelp.com]: Find reviews of local stuff- restaurants and things to do, but also dentists, auto shops, etc.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.vip.wisc.edu VIP], the Visitor & Information Programs office, located in the Red Gym, near [http://www.union.wisc.edu Memorial Union]. They are open M - F 8am - 5pm and Saturday 11am - 2pm. <br />
<br />
*[http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu Student Orientation Handbook] is a valuable resource for information including entertainment, recreational and varsity sports, student organizations (including those for cultural groups, international students, LGBT students, women, veterans, and people with disabilities), health services, jobs, transportation, safety, and housing. It’s also a great place for referrals to counseling services, including drug and alcohol and sexual assault issues. You can find all this information on the web, at http://www.wisc.edu/visitingCampus/ or call them at 263-2400. You can also email any questions you have to askbucky@uwmad.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lgbt.wisc.edu LGBT Campus Center]: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Center (265-3344; lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu) provides support, social, educational and research services to the campus community, and serves as UW-Madison's first stop for those looking for information about campus LGBT organizations. The Memorial Union office on the 2nd floor includes a library, a television and DVD player, plenty of comfortable seating, open computers, and has a staff of students and professionals that work to bring events, speakers, and programs to campus. The Center also publishes a weekly events e-letter and offers support and social groups.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ WIMAW] (Women in Math at Wisconsin.)<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Got Questions? Here are some folks who might just have the answers...<br />
<br />
== Counseling Services ==<br />
Counseling services are available through Counseling and [http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/ Consultation Services (C&CS)], located at 115 North Orchard Street, (265-5600, TTY number 265-3300). C&CS offers brief psychological treatment, personal counseling, and psychiatric services to UW-Madison students. Frequent services include help in overcoming depression, managing anxiety and other psychological issues, and in developing greater self-awareness, independence, and self-direction. They also provide personal problem counseling, couples relationship counseling, marriage and family counseling, cross-cultural counseling, and alcohol and drug assessment and referral. Specialized groups have included: graduate women support, women and self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, survivors of troubled families, rebuilding relationships. C&CS also provides crisis response at the above phone numbers. Services provided are covered by the student health fee (included in your student fees).<br />
<br />
== Administrative and Support Staff ==<br />
The administrative and support staff are the folk that keep our department functioning. Without them, we as mathematicians would be lost. :) Their pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/support_staff.html here] and their contact info can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/academic_staff.html here]. If one person doesn't know how to deal with a problem you might have, they certainly know who might be able to help you out.<br />
<br />
Kate Bartlett<br />
Position: Timetable/Undergraduate<br />
Office: 207 VV<br />
Email: bartlett@math<br />
Ask Kate about: Registration (for you and your students), MyUW stuff, classroom assignments.<br />
<br />
David Camacho<br />
Position: Assoc Fac Assoc<br />
Office: 321 VV<br />
Email: camacho@math<br />
Ask David about: the Math Tutorial Program (if a student needs extra attention)<br />
<br />
Mark Castillo<br />
Position: Grants/Proposals<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: castillo @math<br />
Ask Mark about: grant money<br />
<br />
Chris Uhlir<br />
Position: Payroll/Benefits<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: grenie@math<br />
Ask Mike about: Payroll, hourly positions, taxes, tuition, healthcare, and benefits. <br />
<br />
Sara Nagreen<br />
Position: Sr IPC<br />
Office: 515 VV<br />
Email: nagreen@math<br />
Ask Sara about: all things computing.<br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson<br />
Position: Copy Center Manager/ Room Reservations<br />
Office: 220 VV<br />
Email: paulson@math<br />
Ask Sharon about: Office supplies, room reservations (review sessions/exams/other), copying machine <br />
codes, private tutoring list.<br />
<br />
Mary Rice<br />
Position: Grad Prog. Admin<br />
Office: 203 VV<br />
Email: mrice@math<br />
Ask Mary about: Math dept records (teaching letters, transcripts, etc), how you go about graduating.<br />
<br />
Diane Rivard<br />
Position: Placement Advisor<br />
Office: 720 VV<br />
Email: rivard@math<br />
Ask Diane about: Placement questions (what class your student should be in, placement exam issues)<br />
<br />
Joan Wendt<br />
Position: Chair Secretary<br />
Office: 223 VV<br />
Email: wendt@math<br />
Ask Joan about: office assignments and keys<br />
<br />
Vicky Whelan<br />
Position: Dept Administrator<br />
Office: 218 VV<br />
Email: whelan@math<br />
Ask Vicky about: the dept credit card, espresso club, awesome concerts around town.<br />
<br />
== Current and Former Graduate Students Interested in Meeting YOU ==<br />
You can find a complete list of current graduate students [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/psdbgrad.html here], and pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/grad.html here]. Email addresses that end with @ are intended to finish with @math.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
Hans Chaumont<br />
Email: chaumont@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~chaumont Website:]<br />
Grad-Age: Started 2012<br />
Area of interest: Undecided<br />
Ask Hans about: Pretty much anything, but especially about tea or the math weightlifting team.<br />
<br />
Laura Cladek<br />
Email: cladek@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~cladek Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2011<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Laura about: Anything ... Especially analysis or on campus housing.<br />
<br />
Nathan Collins<br />
Email: nathan.collins@gmail.com<br />
[http://cs.pdx.edu/~ntc2 Website]<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2008<br />
Area of interest: Computer Science and Logic.<br />
Ask Nathan about: Pittsburgh, bicycles, and being inferior to Mason at TAing. He dislikes printers and bad margins.<br />
<br />
David Dynerman<br />
Email: dynerman@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~dynerman Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask David about: programming video games, trying to do Hartshorne problems, <br />
going to the gym, Mushfeq Khan, Andrew Bridy<br />
<br />
Thomas Hangelbroek<br />
Email: hangelbr@math.hawaii.edu<br />
[http://math.hawaii.edu/people/hangelbr/ Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2007<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Thomas about: Anything Madison. Thomas is an expert in all things Madison.<br />
<br />
Sara Jensen<br />
Email: jensen@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jensen Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask Sara about: Teaching, topology & algebra quals, knitting group, going to the gym <br />
<br />
(Evan) Alec Johnson<br />
Email: ejohnson@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson Website]<br />
Grad-age: Ph.D., 2012<br />
Area of interest: Applied Math and Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask Alec about: teaching, advanced calculus, gardening, and Geneva Campus Church.<br />
<br />
Christine Lien<br />
Email: lien@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lien Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2005<br />
Area of interest: Complex Geometry<br />
Ask Christine about: anything, including bridge/card games, organizing women's events, <br />
the Association of Asian American Graduate students, and the Graduate Student Topology Seminar.<br />
<br />
Hao Lin<br />
Email: lin@<br />
[http://genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=156703 Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Hao about: sports and anything about China.<br />
<br />
Jonathon Mason<br />
Email: jonathan.f.mason@gmail.com<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2010<br />
Ask Mason about: Wisconsin hiking, the local film scene and being "way better than Nathan Collins" at TAing.<br />
<br />
Jason Murcko<br />
Email: murcko@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~murcko Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2006<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Jason about: the TAA and the local film and music scenes.<br />
<br />
Mike Schroeder<br />
Email: schroede@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~schroede UW Website]. [http://science.marshall.edu/schroederm/ Marshall Website].<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Combinatorics<br />
Ask Mike about: softball, bowling, sailing, racquet ball, and the Florida Gators.<br />
<br />
David Seal<br />
Email: seal@math.msu.edu<br />
[http://www.math.msu.edu/~seal Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2012.<br />
Area of interest: Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask David about: movies, biking, hiking and board games.<br />
<br />
Beth Skubak<br />
Email: skubak@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~skubak Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2009<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Beth about: anything, including this wiki<br />
<br />
Mike Woodbury<br />
[http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woodbury/ Website]<br />
Email: woodbury@math.columbia.edu<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011.<br />
Area of interest: Number Theory<br />
Ask Mike about: anything, including number theory, road biking, UW basketball tix.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Guide&diff=5351Graduate Student Guide2013-06-06T15:10:54Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Campus Food */</p>
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<div>[[Image:Exams.png|400px|right | Grading Exams in the Lounge]]<br />
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<br />
= Food =<br />
<br />
There are many ethnic and interesting restaurants in Madison – Indonesian, African, Italian, Himalayan, Laotian, Peruvian, Mexican, Bakeries, Brew Pubs, Coffee Joints, you name it -- and everyone has their favorites.<br />
<br />
The biggest resource for finding food (and entertainment!) in Madison is probably the [http://www.thedailypage.com/eats/ Daily Page] (the online version of our local paper, the Isthmus), where you can search local restaurants by name, locality, and cuisine. There, they have reviews, hours, contact info, pricing, etc. Be sure to peruse their [http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Restaurants Madison's Favorites] section for some quick tips! Of course [http://www.yelp.com/ yelp] is always useful as well. At one point a couple spent a few years trying to sample every restaurant in Madison and blogged about their journey on the [http://www.madisonatoz.com/ Madison A to Z].<br />
<br />
Here are some general food facts:<br />
<br />
== Campus Food ==<br />
*Food Carts: Open for lunch in Library Mall at the foot of Bascom Hill near Lake & State Street. Very good and very cheap, and out as long as it's not too cold.<br />
<br />
*Badger Market at Ingraham Hall: Very close to Van Vleck, and has acceptable coffee (bring your own cup to save money!) and decent snacks. Try the Badger Bundle lunch special: sandwich, drink, and a side for $1 off your total. Halfway down the hill is the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/crossroadscafe.htm Crossroads Cafe] which has much better coffee and is open later.<br />
<br />
*Memorial Union: The Rathskeller has food and next door is Lakeside cafe with much better food. Summer afternoons on the terrace is an excellent place to hang out in the sunshine with a beer and brat.<br />
<br />
*Union South: Features a pizza place, a pan-Asian restaurant, a sandwich shop, a sports bar (burgers and sandwiches) and an ice cream stand. <br />
<br />
*State Street (past the food carts) is full of restaurants and Coffee shops – there are at least a half dozen coffee roasters in town, and each supplies a different set of shops. In particular for lunch, there are the popular chains, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Einstein Bros. Bagels, or Chipotle... or hit the more independent spots such as the Sunroom Cafe or Ian's Pizza.<br />
<br />
== MadTown food ==<br />
<br />
Traditional Madison foods are German varieties such as beer, cheese, and bratwurst. Each year Madison hosts [http://www.bratfest.com/ Bratfest], a record breaking event. <br />
UW has [http://www.wisc.edu/foodsci/store/ Babcock Hall Ice Cream] on campus which creates delicious ice cream available in the Unions. The [http://www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com/ Chocolate Shoppe], [http://www.ilovemichaels.com/ Michael's Frozen Custard] and Culvers have nice deserts.<br />
Micro breweries in town include the [http://www.greatdanepub.com/ Great Dane], [http://www.capital-brewery.com/ Captial Brewery] and [http://www.aleasylum.com/ Ale Asylum]. Nearby there is the famous [http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/ New Glarus Brewing Co] which only sells beer in Wisconsin. You can join a free beer tour or walk through the brewery on a self guided tourn.<br />
<br />
In early September (2nd-3rd), check out [http://www.madisonfestivals.com/taste/ Taste of Madison] to see many restaurants all in one place at one time.<br />
<br />
Try a good ol' midwestern Fish Fry on Friday night – All you can eat fried fish generally served with a bran muffin, clam chowder, or coleslaw. Most Brew Pubs and some churches have them, and the [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/restaurant.php Orpheum] as well at the [http://www.avenuebarmadison.com/ Avenue Bar and Grill] both run Friday night Fish Fries.<br />
<br />
== Farm fresh food ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.madfarmmkt.org/ Dane County Farmer's Market] is amazing and HUGE. The big one is open every Saturday morning, and is located on the capitol square for most of the year. In addition to the ludicrous amount of fresh produce, there are also bakery stands, coffee, and fresh juice carts for quick breakfasts.<br />
<br />
There are also a few smaller [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farmers_markets.htm#danecounty markets] scattered around town, almost every day of the week:<br />
<br />
*Sunday: 8:30am to 12:30pm in front of Pierce's Northside Market<br />
*Monday: (none)<br />
*Tuesday: 4pm to 7pm on Ingersol at Williamson, 2pm to 6pm at 1602 S. Park St,<br />
*Wednesday: 8am to 2pm on MLKJr Blvd, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center,<br />
*Thursday: Thursdays, 2pm to 6pm at the Villager Mall on Park St., 2pm to 6pm in the McFarland Centre, 7:30am to 1:30pm in the Greenway Station shopping center,<br />
*Friday: (none)<br />
*Saturday: 6am to 2pm on the Capitol square, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center, 9am to 2pm at 1602 S. Park St, 7am to 1pm at Sheboygan Ave. and Segoe Rd., and 8:30am to 11am in Watertower Park.<br />
<br />
During the summer and fall, there are many [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/index.htm local farms] where you can [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farms/u_pick.htm pick] your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, or pumpkins when they are in season.<br />
<br />
If you're in town for the summer, you might consider signing up for a [http://www.macsac.org/ Community Supported Agriculture] food box. CSA is a way to support a local farm by paying an annual fee in the winter or spring which buys you a share of the season's harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick-up a weekly box of fresh foods which may include produce, fruits, cheeses, eggs, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. The typical CSA season in Wisconsin runs from the end of May through mid-October. You do have to pay the lump sum up-front, and some weeks you'll find yourself with five pounds of chard... but for most of the summer you'll have your produce needs met, and you can feel good about supporting small local farms. Better yet, most of the university's insurance providers offer [http://www.macsac.org/rebates.html rebates] for signing up for a CSA -- somewhere between $50-$300, depending on the plan and how many people you're sharing with (for example, if two people on GHC share a box, they might pay $450 for the box for a box lasting 25 weeks, but they they could each get $100 back, making that $5/week per person). If you're interested, remember to sign up early -- most programs are full by May.<br />
<br />
= Grocery Stores =<br />
<br />
== Generic Groceries ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.capcentrefoods.com/home.html Capitol Centre Foods]: Given their small size, they have an excellent selection of groceries. They tend to be a bit pricey. In addition, they deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.freshmadisonmarket.com/ Fresh Madison Market]: A reasonably large general grocery store, not too expensive. Has a large selection of "typical college items" (lots of frozen foods). Located on University, not too far from Van Vleck. They also deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.copps.com/ Copps]: Your standard grocery store with multiple locations.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=1020&lang=en-US Costco]: Your friendly big-box bulk store. They treat their employees incredibly well. Good buys on computers, 2 lbs of sockeye salmon or button down oxford cloth long sleeved shirts. You'll need a membership or go there with someone who has a membership. You can also get a free trial membership if you simply ask.<br />
<br />
*Walgreens: Pharmacy/Grocery store. There is a Walgreens on the corner of Lake & State Street near Van Vleck, on the Capitol Square, and in University square.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Whole Foods]: Kinda spendy, but good bread, specialty stuff, and produce through the winter.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Woodman's]: two locations -- [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=725+S+Gammon+Rd+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=43.055217,-89.50304&spn=0.05381,0.171661 East] and [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3817+Milwaukee+St,+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.103615,-89.319363&spn=0.053768,0.171661&om=1 West]. If you have a car and the time, go here. Very large, very cheap, but time consuming. They don't take credit cards, so bring a debit card or check book. The produce is pretty poor, but they're huge and, again, cheap. Check out the liquor store for a large selection (you can buy all types of alcohol in grocery stores in Wisconsin... but not after 9pm).<br />
<br />
*[http://www.traderjoes.com/ Trader Joe's]: Located at 1810 Monroe St. They have good prices for select specialty food items such as wine, cheese and fancy snacks. Their basic foodstuffs tend to be a bit pricey.<br />
<br />
*The Jenifer Street Market located on 2038 Jenifer Street is a nice little grocery store if you happen to live in the area.<br />
<br />
== Co-ops ==<br />
Co-ops are a good source of local organic food. If you are a member they provide discounts, but you can also shop there at your own will.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.regentmarketcoop.org/ Regent Market Cooperative], 2136 Regent St. 233-4329.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.willystreet.coop/ Willy Street Co-op] The largest and most active co-op in the Madison area. They have been able to survive the decline in co-ops over the years. They offer a large selection of bulk foods and spices at an excellent price. For a quick bite, they have an excellent deli, salad bar, and in-store coffee shop. 1221 Williamson St. 251-6776. They recently opened a second store in Middleton located at 6825 University Ave. Both locations deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
== Specialty Foods ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.aldifoods.com/ Aldi Foods]: It's like grocery shopping at overstock.com.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=keJ&q=asian+midway+foods&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,304616636444102595&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Asian Midway Market]: The go-to market for anything Thai, Chinese or South-East Asian, this centrally-located store comes highly recommended. In particular, they offer a great selection of specialized produce. 301 South Park Street; 255-5864<br />
<br />
*[http://www.brennansmarket.com/ Brennan's Market]: Great for Produce, Meats, Cheese, Micro brews and Wines. You won't find things like Flour and Saran Wrap here, but definitely worth the trip.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/ Farm Fresh Atlas]: Not a grocery store, but a good resource for where you can buy local foods and a list of farms in the areas.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madseafood.com/ The Seafood Center]: The name says it all. Great fresh fish and live lobsters.<br />
<br />
*[http://frabonisdeli.com/ Fraboni's]: An awesome Italian grocery store and deli. They have very good [http://frabonisdeli.com/oils olive oils], [http://frabonisdeli.com/pastas pastas], and make-your-own pizza fixings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3723579948/garden-asian-market-middleton Garden Asian Market]: A full service Asian food market specializing in fresh meat, produce, and seafood. Mostly Chinese-leaning, they do a good job of providing a wide variety of items within their niche. It may be far out, but it's worth the trip in its pleasantness and selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=india+house+grocery+store,+madison,+wi&fb=1&gl=us&hq=india+house+grocery+store,&hnear=Madison,+WI&cid=0,0,8495347478199843118&ll=43.050466,-89.503019&spn=0.007871,0.019183&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A India House]: Really well done Indian grocery store. Good place to buy Kari leaves.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=TMe&q=lee%27s+oriental&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,92533124768468793&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Lee's Oriental]: Next to Penzey's spices. 3240 University Ave; 231-1593<br />
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*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=2Me&q=oriental+shop&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,13628497956998458364&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Oriental Shop]: They carry mostly dry-goods, and tend to lean toward stocking more Korean items. 1206 South Park Street; 255-0326<br />
<br />
= Housing =<br />
<br />
Haven't found a place yet? Already hate your apartment?<br />
<br />
* [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/ UW Off-Campus Housing Search]: Probably the best search site for students.<br />
<br />
* Again, [http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List] is a good resourse. Also a good place to look for roommates outside of the department.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/ University Apartments]: On campus graduate housing, particularly popular with married couples (especially with children). Singles are also welcome. Many of them are on the bus route #80, a free route which runs from the apartments through campus every fifteen minutes throughout the day.<br />
<br />
== Location, Location, Location ==<br />
<br />
If you would like to keep your commute down, there are many places near campus. Many graduate students prefer to live close enough to Van Vleck to be within walking distance, yet far enough away to stay away from partying undergraduate students.<br />
<br />
Many graduate students live in the Vilas neighborhood, which is located South of Regent Street and between Park and Monroe. East of the Capitol building, we also have the Willy St. neighborhood (between Williamson and Rutledge streets, between Paterson and Thornton) and the other side of the Isthmus, between Mifflin and Lake Mendota. The university offers on campus housing at Eagle Heights with regular buses. Many students also live near Sheboygan and University Avenues (not on this map), and there are regular buses that run up University Avenue that will drop you off right in front of Van Vleck. The large apartment complexes in that area include the Normandy, Chapel Hill, Carolina, Monticello, Hilldale Towers, Park Towers, and Sovereign Apartments which are cheaper to live in than spots on the square.<br />
<br />
Because there is no parking on campus, you will need to plan on living within walking distance of a bus route or campus itself. You will receive a free bus pass for the [http://www.mymetrobus.com/ Madison Metro] system, which is very reliable. Check out the “plan your trip” link to find bus routes near you.<br />
<br />
Here is an approximate map of many areas where you will be likely to find housing: <br />
[[Image:gradhousingmap.jpg|400px| center | Housing Map]]<br />
<br />
Basically, shoot for zones 2-6, the North parts of zones 7 and 8, or the far East part of zone 10 on [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/map_all.asp this map] (the map from the UW Off-Campus Housing Search).<br />
<br />
== Stuff your landlord might not tell you ==<br />
<br />
*Utilities:<br />
Lots of apartments have water, sewage, heat, and and sometimes electricity included in rent. For those which don't, be sure to find out what to expect through the [http://mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/ Madison Gas and Electric] web page. Just tell them the address of the place you're looking at, and they'll tell you what the highs, lows, and averages have been over the last year.<br />
<br />
*Property information:<br />
The [http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/property.html City Assessor] has all of the basic information about Madison properties on file, including how many units are on the property, how much square footage there is, if there's AC in the building, what school district it's in, who your alderperson would be, and what else is on the property (e.g. garages). They'll even tell you how much the property is worth, and how much your landlord is paying in property taxes. Sometimes the square footage isn't broken up--for example, maybe there are two units on the first floor, but they'll only tell you that there are 1,700 sq ft on that floor, not how it's split up between the two units. It can be a useful site for rounding out your knowledge of places you're considering renting.<br />
<br />
*Tenants rights:<br />
The [http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/ Tenant resource center] is a small non-profit membership organization which provides housing counseling, mediation services and office assistance. Their website includes tips for new renters, generic rental forms, and advice for what to do if your landlord just won't get back to you about repairs, returning deposits, etc.<br />
There is also the [http://studenttenantunion.rso.wisc.edu/ Student tenant union], which is specifically targeted to UW students.<br />
<br />
== Rental Companies ==<br />
Many properties in Madison are run by rental companies -- some large, some small -- some good, some not-so-good. Larger companies tend to have lower prices, and more people working toward maintaining rentals. However, they may have less of an investment in taking care of each individual property or screening their tenants. Some people feel better renting from small companies, or landlords with only one or two houses. You may get more individual attention and care. Individuals have more investment in protecting each property, and renting to good tenants, so the properties tend to be in more reliable condition. However, with fewer properties comes fewer resources and higher prices.<br />
<br />
Whatever choice you make, be sure to have a conversation with your potential landlords about their polices, especially if you aren't going to be able to see things in person. It may also be good to Google the company or person to see if other people have had something good or bad to say about them or their properties. In particular, [http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Madison.html ApartmentRatings.com] has a few of the apartment complexes around town listed.<br />
<br />
Here are some general impressions/very subjective opinions that some of us have gotten from/about a few of the larger local companies:<br />
<br />
*AB Holdings: In particular, they have a couple small apartment buildings on Vilas that are particularly ideal for two people. Quite a few people from the department have rented these units and have been pretty happy.<br />
<br />
*[http://apexrents.com/ Apex Property Management]: Great company. Well-maintained properties, with many of the more recently remodeled rentals being very nice. Their representatives are helpful and responsible, and their tenants seem to be generally satisfied.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.centralmadison.com/ The Christensen Company]: Not terribly up-to-date apartments, but worth taking a look at.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonproperty.com/ Madison Property Management]: Lots of choices, but notoriously junky properties. They tend to cater mostly to undergraduates, and their rentals show it. We wouldn't recommend renting from this company unless you visit first.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.mcbridecompanies.com/ The McBride Companies]: Nice properties, good management. Really good website if you turn the sound off.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.tallardapartments.com/ Tallard Apartments]: Nice properties with very friendly and responsive staff. Their rentals tend to go early in the season.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wimci.com/ Wisconsin Management Company]: Nice enough properties, but kind of flakey representation. Make sure to ask lots of questions.<br />
<br />
*The Wright Company (or Norris Ct. Apartments): Very nice older buildings, but kind of sketchy management. Nothing is going to be in stellar shape, but they do tend to rent more to graduates and professionals, so they aren't beat up either. If you do rent from them, don't expect them to be very responsive, and be sure to be especially careful about protecting your security deposit by taking photos and keeping a record of your move-in report.<br />
<br />
= Furniture =<br />
<br />
*[http://www.svdpmadison.org/ St. Vincent DePaul's]: Like Goodwill. Has cheap dressers, desks, chairs, and general household stuff. Will deliver for a small charge. This is also a great place to donate any furniture or other items that you no longer want – they will pick up the items from your apartment. There is also a Goodwill in town, but they won't have nearly the same volume of furniture.<br />
<br />
*[http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List]: a free online classifieds site. Great not only for furniture, but also pet resources and last minute apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
*Eagle Heights Apartment Bulletin Boards: Lots of cheap stuff from people graduating, many of whom are moving overseas. You can even find cars. You can try posting your own wanted posters on the boards. You can find these boards at the bus stops for the (free) bus 80 route.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/madisonfreecycle/ Freecycle]: A community "give stuff away for free" website with a Madison branch.<br />
<br />
*Hippie Christmas ("Move-Out Day"): For some reason or another, the evening of August 14th is when the bulk of leases near campus turn over. This is a fantastic day to pick up free furniture from the street. If you already have a rental van, why not help municipal waste by pickup up a bookshelf for them?<br />
<br />
*The Todd Drive Area: Just west of park street on the beltline. American Furniture for furniture and electronics, Home Concepts for cheap but nice looking furniture, and Steinhafel's for furniture and mattresses.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html SWAP]. The UW's surplus supply store.<br />
<br />
= International Student Resources =<br />
Here are a few links specifically for international students. There are international grocery stores listed in the [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Graduate_Student_Guide#Specialty_Foods groceries] section.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcssa.net/ Chinese Student & Scholar Association]: A connection to the university's Chinese community for incoming students. They offer rides from the airport, list general information about madison, and organize get-tegethers/Chinese celebrations. International Conversation & Coffee Hour: meet other international students and americans interested in other cultures. Every Friday, 12-2pm, Cooper Hearth Room 160, Union South.<br />
<br />
*[http://iss.wisc.edu/ International Student Services]: the UW's International Student Services<br />
<br />
*[http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MADindians/ MadIndians]: a Yahoo online group for students from India in Madison. Good place to search for an Indian roommate.<br />
<br />
*[http://mtsa.rso.wisc.edu/ Madison Association of Turkish Students]: Very helpful for incoming Turkish students. It includes information about how best to get to Madison from Turkey, information about housing, and how to reach other Turkish students in Madison.<br />
<br />
= Newspapers =<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/captimes/ The Capitol Times]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the afternoon. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more liberal.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.thedailypage.com/ The Isthmus]: Free independent Madison newspaper. Has a liberal voice and is full of entertainment, including family fun, outdoor attractions, and fine arts. Also puts out the Annual Manual - the yearly guide to all things Madison.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.theonion.com/ The Onion]: While hilarious, this paper is only really good if you're already in on the joke. We get free paper copies in Madison. There is a stack near the elevators in VV. The local edition has local entertainment listings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Wisconsin State Journal]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the mornings. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more conservative.<br />
<br />
= Religious Groups =<br />
*[http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/ Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/ Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church]: Near Sheboygan Ave. at 110 N Whitney Way. A huge church, but with opportunities to get involved and meet people. It has services in the sanctuary, with a mixture of traditional and semi-modern worship, and also "video cafe" services with more lively, modern worship. Very good teaching.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cpcmadison.com/ Christ Presbyterian Church]. Just east of James Madison Park on Gorham. Has a great choir and organist!<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fusmadison.org/ The First Unitarian Society of Madison]. "A liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue." Looking for something new? They're open to all types. Also, they are housed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.folmadison.org/ Fountain of Life]: 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. A multi-ethnic church with a lot of eclectic music styles, including a lot of Gospel music<br />
<br />
*[http://genevacc.org/ The Geneva Campus Church]: On Campus Reformed church. They describe themselves as "a university church for the whole family"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwhillel.org/ Hillel]: UW-Madison's on-campus center for everything Jewish: religious, cultural, political, traditional, and alternative. Located on Langdon Street, it serves both the school population and, to a far lesser extent, the entire city.<br />
<br />
*[http://islamiccentermadison.org/ Islamic Center of Madison]: Has a masjid inside. 21 N Orchard St, (608)251-9851<br />
<br />
*[http://ivgcf.rso.wisc.edu/ InterVarsity Grad Christian Fellowship]: It's a welcoming place for Christians and non-Christians alike. (You might even find your future husband/wife there) They also have a website with info about local churches. There is a new student picnic at the beginning of the fall semester.<br />
<br />
*Latter Day Saints: There are a number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wards in the Madison area. The Madison First Ward covers areas closest to campus and meets at 4505 Regent Street, two blocks south of Hilldale Mall, at 9am. The University Ward serves single adults and meets at 1711 University Avenue at 10 am. The Madison Third Ward serves areas close to campus and meets at 701 Bear Claw Way on Madison's far west side at 11 am. Visitors and the curious are always welcome.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lccmadison.com/ Lutheran Campus Center]: A fairly young, enthusiastic, and liberal-minded congragation, found right on campus.<br />
<br />
*[http://madcitychurch.org/ Mad City Church]: A non-denominational, casual christian fellowship. Services are held in the LaFollette High School located on Madison's east side - very near the corner of Pflaum Rd. and Monona Dr. Office at 2713 E. Washington Ave.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.muuyacm.org/ Madison UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry (MUUYACM)]. One of the largest and most active Unitarian Universalist young adult groups in the U.S., they are open to young adults (ages 18-35) of all denominations. In addition to worships, they organize social-justice-oriented activities, and are an active member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcatholic.org/ St. Paul's University Catholic Center]: On campus in Library Mall near Lake & State. Has a lively Catholic grad student group called Mustard Seed with Bible studies, Thursday night speakers, retreats, service projects, and large quantities of food and euchre.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.unityofmadison.org/ Unity of Madison]: (from their site) "Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community focused on Truth Seeking and Spiritual Growth through the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire, nuture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live Jesus' message that 'the kingdom of God is within you.'"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.isthmuszencommunity.org/ Zen Buddhism]: A local zen buddhist center is located next to Willy st co-op. New comers are especially welcome.<br />
<br />
= Arts and Entertainment =<br />
<br />
Madison is a medium sized city with a not so medium sized arts and entertainment scene. There are cultural events on campus<br />
and at the [http://www.overturcenter.com Overture Center]; sporting events; art, science, natural history, and history museums; parks, the<br />
[http://www.uwarboretum.org arboretum], and [http://www.olbrich.org botanical gardens]; a free [http://www.vilaszoo.org zoo]; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; a [http://www.madfarmmkt.com Farmer’s Market] on the<br />
Capital Square every Saturday morning from April-October; and lots of other things. The [http://www.thedailypage.com Isthmus], is the local free newspaper which posts many current events.<br />
The Isthmus can be found in many stores, in campus buildings, and on street corners.<br />
<br />
== Athletic Activities ==<br />
* [http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/ Rec Sports] runs the gyms on campus. There are three such on-campus gyms -- The SERF, the Nat, and the Shell, which are free with student ID. For $10/semester, you can attend any of their Group Fitness classes, which cover everything from aerobics and weights to yoga and dance. Also, both the SERF and Nat have indoor pools.<br />
<br />
*The University of Wisconsin has a long standing heritage of being proud of their [http://www.uwbadgers.com/ athletic events]. Men's basketball, football and ice-hockey receive the most attention and as a student, you can obtain season tickets for all of these events.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.mufa.org MUFA] is an ultimate frisbee league that has summer as well as spring and fall seasons. This is a really fun way to stay active and meet some new Madison friends! You don't need to form a team-- just see the link for info about how to join a team looking for more players. Note: the games are often played all over the city and burbs, and are not necessarily reachable by bus. You'll need a car, or a teammate with a car. Also see the link for info about local pick-up games.<br />
<br />
== Dancing ==<br />
<br />
*Ballroom: [http://www.uwmbda.org/ UWMBDA] is the big ballroom dance group here. They have dances with lessons every week on Friday or Saturday and a practice group every Thursday.<br />
<br />
*[http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/dances.htm Contra Dance]: Meetings every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
*International Folk club: meets biweekly Library Mall, Wed/Sun 7:30PM-late.<br />
<br />
*Swing: [http://www.uwswing.com/ Jumptown Swing] is UW's swing club. They host (mostly) weekly dances at Union South, and provide lessons for a nominal fee. See their site for scheduling and links to other swing orgonizations. Also, on Wednesdays, there's dancing at the [http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ Brink Lounge] from 8-11.<br />
<br />
*Salsa: Venues include [http://www.cardinalbar.com/ Cardinal Bar] on Thursdays, [http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/details.php?event=176610 Frida's] on Friday nights. Don't know how to Salsa? There are lessons before dances at Cardinal, and instruction is offered through the Union's minicourses.<br />
<br />
*Tango: the [http://www.madisontango.org/ Madison Tango Society] provides lessons and dances for Argentine Tango. Their site has a good list or other events in and around Madison.<br />
<br />
== Libraries ==<br />
In addition to the many [http://www.library.wisc.edu/ Libraries of UW], the [http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ Madison Public Library] is a great place for books, movies, and music.<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
The Daily Page has a [http://www.thedailypage.com/movies/listing.php listing] of movie times for most of the theaters around town (both big and small):<br />
<br />
*Eastgate, Point and Star Cinema are the three larger movie theaters in town.<br />
<br />
*Market Square shows second runs at a good discount. <br />
<br />
*The [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/ Orpheum] is an old cinema within site of the capitol on State street. They tend to show less mainstream movies.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.sundancecinemas.com/madison.html Sundance 608] shows independent film as well as blockbuster movies. They have a rooftop cafe that's open during the summer months, 2 bars (you can take a drink into your movie), and a restaurant!<br />
<br />
For on-campus movies:<br />
*The Wisconsin Union Directorate runs on campus screening of films. Their film site can be found [http://www.union.wisc.edu/WUD/film.aspx here.]<br />
<br />
*The UW film department hosts free screenings of a wide array of films based on a given theme for that semester through their [http://cinema.wisc.edu/ cinematheque.] Their department has many contacts with other film institutes and are able show rare original 35mm films that you can't see anywhere else.<br />
<br />
*In late March/early April, go check out some of the many many films showing at the [http://www.wifilmfest.org/ Wisconsin Film Festival.] Sites all over town take part in hosting the showing of these films.<br />
<br />
Madison also has a number of independent video stores:<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ Four Star Video Heaven] has been voted as a Madison Favorite for a number of years. See their site to browse their collection online.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bongovideo.com/ Bongo Video] has a smaller, but quite tasty selection. Lots of personality, and good daily specials.<br />
<br />
== Music ==<br />
Whether you're looking to play music, or just go watch free or (in)expensive concerts, there are many options in Madison.<br />
<br />
*Our very own [http://music.wisc.edu/ Music Department] hosts many music events. Their website has a calendar listing current music events including faculty concerts and student recitals.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonsymphony.org/ The Madison Symphony Orchestra] (MSO) is the professional symphony based here in Madison. With your student ID, you can get student rush tickets for as little as $10 per person.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wcoconcerts.org/ The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra] is Madison's professional chamber orchestra. Each summer, their widely popular [http://www.wcoconcerts.org/new/cos/concertsonthesquare.php concerts on the square] draw many people from all over the place for a free outdoor concert.<br />
<br />
*[http://madisoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Madison Community Orchestra] (MCO) is an informal group run by Madison Area Technical College that meets once a week. There are four free concerts a year and no auditions to play with the group.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.middletoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Middleton Community Orchestra] is a second newly formed community orchestra run by community musicians. Their concerts are extremely affordable, and they may run auditions.<br />
<br />
== Outdoor Activites ==<br />
Madison is a very bicycle friendly town, and there are many parks either in town or within a short drive. Here are some suggestions about outdoor activities to engage in:<br />
<br />
*Take a nice long walk along one of the many paths around [http://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/imap/LakeshoreNaturePreserve.html Picnic Point]... bike the path from Memorial Union out to the tip, or bus/drive out to the base of picnic point and wander the foot trails in the area.<br />
<br />
*Head towards Monona Terrace on Lake Monona, and take one of the paths that wraps around the lake (great bike ride!).<br />
<br />
*You can also go walking and/or biking around the [http://uwarboretum.org/ Arboretum] south of campus and tour their gardens, or head to the free [http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Vilas Zoo]. Lake Wingra is essentially totally surrounded by wooded areas including Henry Vilas Park, the UW-arboretum and Edgewood college. You can rent canoes at Knickerbocker for fairly cheap and relax on Lake Wingra.<br />
<br />
*Community Gardens: There are a number of community gardens run by the [http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/ Community Action Coalition]. Nominally, you can sign up for a plot for a small fee, and learn how to garden if you don't already know, or go to town if you already do. The [http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/ Eagle Heights Community Garden] is open to both residents and non-residents alike. All of the gardens are fun to look at if you haven't ever seen one.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.olbrich.org/ The Olbrich Botanical Gardens] are located east of lake Monona. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including their award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden, or enjoy the year-round tropical Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds.. Outdoor gardens are open daily and free to the public, while entrance to the conservatory is $1 per person.<br />
<br />
*Catch a festival; Madison is home to a number of festivals -- big festivals, small festivals, arts festivals, music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals -- we've got all kinds.<br />
<br />
The Winter opens itself up to new activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing and other options. The hoofers club runs ice boats on the lake.<br />
<br />
*The city of Madison parks open up outdoor [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct2.html ice skating] at Tenney, Vilas, and Elver parks. No skates? No worries. They will rent skates to you there ($6.00 for the first hour, $2/hr after that).<br />
<br />
*There is also [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct4.html cross-country skiing] at a number of Dane county parks, with passes starting at $5/day. No skills? Check out lessons at the [http://www.madnorski.org/page/ Madison Nordic Ski Club] or, again, [http://sns.hoofers.org/ Hoofers] has lots to offer in that area.<br />
<br />
== Student Clubs ==<br />
The University of Wisconsin, being a rather large institution, has got so much stuff going on for all of us student-types. Here are some ways people around the department have been taking advantage:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop]: Located upstairs in the Memorial Union, they are "here to satisfy your creative urges in a variety of craft media." Their facilities include a darkroom, a woodshop, a ceramics studio, metal working tools, etc. Friday afternoons, they open their studios to all union members (that means you!) for free!<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hoofers.org/ Hoofers]: Student outdoor recreation club. The Outing and Sailing clubs in particular have lots of graduate students.<br />
<br />
* [http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]: Graduate Student Collaborative Organization<br />
<br />
* [http://cfli.wisc.edu/student_organizations.htm Student Organizations]: at UW Madison (this is a directory of all registered student organizations at the university; you can search by topic or name)<br />
<br />
== The Student Unions ==<br />
The Memorial Union is located on the lakefront, on Park and Langdon. Be sure to check out the Terrace while the weather is still good -- it's a great place to go to get out of the office, grab something to snack on, and study out in the sun. You'll find the Daily Scoop (yummy ice cream!) and Der Rathskeller (beer and deep-fried goodness). You'll also find all sorts of stuff to keep you busy, like the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop], the Union Theater, the Hoofers' headquarters, and a wide array of Mini Courses with which to expand your horizons.<br />
<br />
Also useful: the travel services center and STA Travel will get you good deals on trips (including bus tickets to O'Hare, Midway, and Milwaukee airports), and the theater's box office will get you good deals on shows (theater, music, etc) all around town. In addition, the Union has always got other special events going on to keep all of us entertained -- see their complete [http://www.union.wisc.edu/activities/ list of activities].<br />
<br />
The Union South was recently completely renovated and also has many activities available. They have a climbing wall, a bowling alley, pool tables, a beer garden, a wine tasting room, a ballroom, a movie theater and many other things.<br />
<br />
= Van Vleck Miscellany =<br />
Here's a bit more info about the happenings in and around the Math Dept.<br />
<br />
== Getting money ==<br />
*Paychecks: The first paycheck of the year arrives in October, though you may request an advance on about 30% of your first paycheck when you arrive. If you are not working over the summer, the last will come in June, so be sure to plan for the three month gap.<br />
<br />
*Fees: You will be charged for segregated fees in both semesters, and are not covered in your tuition. The amount depends on your credit load and status, but will be about $500 for most people and due about the time of your first paycheck. If you are on fellowship, this will be taken care of for you, and shouldn't appear on your bill.<br />
<br />
*TA union: The teaching assistants of Wisconsin are unionized. Even if you are not a TA, but are an employee of the department, you're still connected to them through advocacy and campus issues. For more information check out the [http://www.taa-madison.org/ TAA].<br />
<br />
== Getting stuff done ==<br />
See the Contacts section for a list of people who will help you get stuff done.<br />
<br />
If you want to reserve rooms in Van Vleck for review sessions or meetings you can fill out a green form with Sharon Paulson on the second floor. Sharon does the scheduling for about 4 or 5 rooms in the building, so you can also ask her about these rooms directly. If you need to reserve the 9th floor lounge, talk to Joan Wendt (also second floor).<br />
<br />
Each grad receives 200 photocopies and 250 black and white print outs a month for personal math use. If you are a TA, Sharon in the Copy Center on the second floor can photocopy materials for classes (which does not count toward your quota)– such as worksheets and quizzes. Just give her at least 24 hours notice. To check your printout quota, open a terminal logged into the math server, and type "pages". If you do go over your quota, you will simply get a (probably very small) bill at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
We get free office supplies on the 2nd floor – just ask the Receptionist for pens, folders, etc.<br />
<br />
You can pick up and send out your mail from the second floor. You might even want to have packages delivered to the department, to avoid missing them being delivered at home (UPS, for example, won't drop off to apartment complexes if you aren't there, so you'll have to drive out to Middleton to pick up your packages).<br />
<br />
It's never too early to start studying for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/graduate/quals.htm quals]... early and often, my friends. Early and Often.<br />
<br />
== Getting together ==<br />
Historically, some afternoons and Friday before colloquium, we have a cookie and coffee social hour on the 9th floor lounge. Keep your eyes open for announcements.<br />
<br />
Definitely check out some of the colloquia and seminars. The earlier you get involved the better. This is a great way to learn more about potential research areas, meet other people in the areas, and meet other mathematicians in other departments. There is a list posted on the 9th floor each week in addition to online.<br />
<br />
Once a semester, our group for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ women in mathematics] get together for an informal potluck. We also have been known to bring in women speakers funded by the [http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/ WiSELI] grant.<br />
<br />
= Miscellaneous Wisconsin Stuff =<br />
This section describes miscellaneous Wisconsin stuff that doesn't belong in any other section, such as, a [[Wisconsin Dictionary]] for those who aren't familiar with the Wisconsin vernacular.<br />
<br />
== Voting ==<br />
Frequently asked questions for Wisconsin voting can be found <br />
[http://wisconsin.gov/state/core/faq_wisconsin_voting_elections.html here]. <br />
As of the April election, Wisconsin has a law that allows for same day registration at the polls:<br />
<br />
''If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.''<br />
<br />
Out of state licenses work, and utility bills, bank statements, or pay checks with your name and address on them work for proof of residence.<br />
<br />
== Car Stuff ==<br />
Madison has a DMV out on the west side, just past Midvale, at 4802 Sheboygan Ave, and one on the east side out near the airport. <br />
<br />
*Licenses: As they say on their page for licensing new residents, if you're looking to put your permanent residence here and vote here and generally show up on the radar, you should apply for your [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/nonreside/index.htm WI license] within 60 days of establishing residency. Your first baseline license costs $28, and is valid for three years. Note: you will need to take with you, among other things, something like a rent agreement, or a utility bill, UW transcript, or bank statement actually mailed to your WI address (no e-bills). We'll note that math students have been known to wait longer than 60 days to officially apply for residency, but we recommend you don't wait until an out-of-state license expires to get a WI license.<br />
<br />
*Vehicle Registration: If you own a car and officially become a WI resident, you need to get WI plates. All the information you need is available [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/new/resident.htm here].<br />
<br />
*Parking: First, unless you have a motorcycle, '''don't''' plan to park on campus regularly. For parking near your residence, there are some options. Depending on the neighborhood, it's possible to rent a place that has parking included or available for an extra charge. Additionally, if you live in an area surrounded by 2-hr parking [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/documents/RP3allmap.pdf zones], you can usually buy a permit (for a little over $20 per year) allowing you to park on the street all day near your home. More information can be found on the City of Madison Parking Utility [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingUtility/index.cfm page]. Most importantly, "the vehicle for which you are requesting a permit must be owned by you, your child, your parents/step parents, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner, or be a leased or company vehicle which is assigned to you." <br />
<br />
BE AWARE! Winter parking gets all crazy in Madison (from November 15 - March 15). Most of town is on an alternate side parking schedule: cars should be parked on the even (resp. odd) house numbered side of the street from 1:00a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on even (resp. odd) numbered days. If you live on the isthmus in the Snow Emergency Zone, you will only need to do this when the weather gets really bad. You can sign up for alerts when this happens.<br />
<br />
If you leave your car in the wrong place -- with winter nonsense or for any other reason -- and it gets towed, you can call the Madison Police Department (266-4260) or Schmidt's Towing (257-0505) to find out what they've done with it.<br />
<br />
== Taxes ==<br />
Once you've lived here for an entire calendar year, be sure to look into the [http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/home.html Wisconsin Homestead Credit]... it's usually worth the time and effort for graduate students. Until then, you can look into [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html deducting moving costs] for relocating here on your federal taxes.<br />
<br />
A warning to students on fellowship: taxes will not be taken out of your paycheck, but you still have to pay them. You may want to consider filing [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199807,00.html quarterly].<br />
<br />
== Wisconsin benefit programs ==<br />
We don't exactly get piles of money for teaching. In fact, most people who are not on fellowship or receiving summer funding can qualify for some heating aid (up to $380/year), and electricity aid (up to $285/year). You can check your eligibility at [https://access.wisconsin.gov/ Access WI]. <br />
There may be some residency requirements, like the Homestead credit. You can find your annual salary in our [http://www.taa-madison.org/contract/index.html contract].<br />
<br />
== Residency ==<br />
While it's usually a good idea to become a WI resident, if, for some reason, you're looking to declare residency in WI for tuition purposes, the answer is usually "no." It seems that one has to be in Wisconsin for a full year before enrolling at the UW, and one has to prove that one did not move here primarily for educational purposes (according to the Wisconsin statutes, you have to provide "clear and convincing evidence"). More on that at the [http://www.registrar.wisc.edu/students/residence/index.php Office of the Registrar]'s site.<br />
<br />
= Contacts and Other Resources =<br />
*[http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/gradguide/index.html Guide to Graduate Student Life]: The Graduate Student Collaborative's ([http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]) guide to grad student life in Madison -- like this one, but different.<br />
<br />
* [[Teaching Assistant Guide]]: from real live Van Vleck TAs<br />
<br />
*[http://www.yelp.com/madison-wi Yelp.com]: Find reviews of local stuff- restaurants and things to do, but also dentists, auto shops, etc.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.vip.wisc.edu VIP], the Visitor & Information Programs office, located in the Red Gym, near [http://www.union.wisc.edu Memorial Union]. They are open M - F 8am - 5pm and Saturday 11am - 2pm. <br />
<br />
*[http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu Student Orientation Handbook] is a valuable resource for information including entertainment, recreational and varsity sports, student organizations (including those for cultural groups, international students, LGBT students, women, veterans, and people with disabilities), health services, jobs, transportation, safety, and housing. It’s also a great place for referrals to counseling services, including drug and alcohol and sexual assault issues. You can find all this information on the web, at http://www.wisc.edu/visitingCampus/ or call them at 263-2400. You can also email any questions you have to askbucky@uwmad.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lgbt.wisc.edu LGBT Campus Center]: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Center (265-3344; lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu) provides support, social, educational and research services to the campus community, and serves as UW-Madison's first stop for those looking for information about campus LGBT organizations. The Memorial Union office on the 2nd floor includes a library, a television and DVD player, plenty of comfortable seating, open computers, and has a staff of students and professionals that work to bring events, speakers, and programs to campus. The Center also publishes a weekly events e-letter and offers support and social groups.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ WIMAW] (Women in Math at Wisconsin.)<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Got Questions? Here are some folks who might just have the answers...<br />
<br />
== Counseling Services ==<br />
Counseling services are available through Counseling and [http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/ Consultation Services (C&CS)], located at 115 North Orchard Street, (265-5600, TTY number 265-3300). C&CS offers brief psychological treatment, personal counseling, and psychiatric services to UW-Madison students. Frequent services include help in overcoming depression, managing anxiety and other psychological issues, and in developing greater self-awareness, independence, and self-direction. They also provide personal problem counseling, couples relationship counseling, marriage and family counseling, cross-cultural counseling, and alcohol and drug assessment and referral. Specialized groups have included: graduate women support, women and self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, survivors of troubled families, rebuilding relationships. C&CS also provides crisis response at the above phone numbers. Services provided are covered by the student health fee (included in your student fees).<br />
<br />
== Administrative and Support Staff ==<br />
The administrative and support staff are the folk that keep our department functioning. Without them, we as mathematicians would be lost. :) Their pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/support_staff.html here] and their contact info can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/academic_staff.html here]. If one person doesn't know how to deal with a problem you might have, they certainly know who might be able to help you out.<br />
<br />
Kate Bartlett<br />
Position: Timetable/Undergraduate<br />
Office: 207 VV<br />
Email: bartlett@math<br />
Ask Kate about: Registration (for you and your students), MyUW stuff, classroom assignments.<br />
<br />
David Camacho<br />
Position: Assoc Fac Assoc<br />
Office: 321 VV<br />
Email: camacho@math<br />
Ask David about: the Math Tutorial Program (if a student needs extra attention)<br />
<br />
Mark Castillo<br />
Position: Grants/Proposals<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: castillo @math<br />
Ask Mark about: grant money<br />
<br />
Chris Uhlir<br />
Position: Payroll/Benefits<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: grenie@math<br />
Ask Mike about: Payroll, hourly positions, taxes, tuition, healthcare, and benefits. <br />
<br />
Sara Nagreen<br />
Position: Sr IPC<br />
Office: 515 VV<br />
Email: nagreen@math<br />
Ask Sara about: all things computing.<br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson<br />
Position: Copy Center Manager/ Room Reservations<br />
Office: 220 VV<br />
Email: paulson@math<br />
Ask Sharon about: Office supplies, room reservations (review sessions/exams/other), copying machine <br />
codes, private tutoring list.<br />
<br />
Mary Rice<br />
Position: Grad Prog. Admin<br />
Office: 203 VV<br />
Email: mrice@math<br />
Ask Mary about: Math dept records (teaching letters, transcripts, etc), how you go about graduating.<br />
<br />
Diane Rivard<br />
Position: Placement Advisor<br />
Office: 720 VV<br />
Email: rivard@math<br />
Ask Diane about: Placement questions (what class your student should be in, placement exam issues)<br />
<br />
Joan Wendt<br />
Position: Chair Secretary<br />
Office: 223 VV<br />
Email: wendt@math<br />
Ask Joan about: office assignments and keys<br />
<br />
Vicky Whelan<br />
Position: Dept Administrator<br />
Office: 218 VV<br />
Email: whelan@math<br />
Ask Vicky about: the dept credit card, espresso club, awesome concerts around town.<br />
<br />
== Current and Former Graduate Students Interested in Meeting YOU ==<br />
You can find a complete list of current graduate students [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/psdbgrad.html here], and pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/grad.html here]. Email addresses that end with @ are intended to finish with @math.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
Hans Chaumont<br />
Email: chaumont@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~chaumont Website:]<br />
Grad-Age: Started 2012<br />
Area of interest: Undecided<br />
Ask Hans about: Pretty much anything, but especially about tea or the math weightlifting team.<br />
<br />
Laura Cladek<br />
Email: cladek@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~cladek Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2011<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Laura about: Anything ... Especially analysis or on campus housing.<br />
<br />
Nathan Collins<br />
Email: nathan.collins@gmail.com<br />
[http://cs.pdx.edu/~ntc2 Website]<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2008<br />
Area of interest: Computer Science and Logic.<br />
Ask Nathan about: Pittsburgh, bicycles, and being inferior to Mason at TAing. He dislikes printers and bad margins.<br />
<br />
David Dynerman<br />
Email: dynerman@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~dynerman Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask David about: programming video games, trying to do Hartshorne problems, <br />
going to the gym, Mushfeq Khan, Andrew Bridy<br />
<br />
Thomas Hangelbroek<br />
Email: hangelbr@math.hawaii.edu<br />
[http://math.hawaii.edu/people/hangelbr/ Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2007<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Thomas about: Anything Madison. Thomas is an expert in all things Madison.<br />
<br />
Sara Jensen<br />
Email: jensen@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jensen Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2008<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask Sara about: Teaching, topology & algebra quals, knitting group, going to the gym <br />
<br />
(Evan) Alec Johnson<br />
Email: ejohnson@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson Website]<br />
Grad-age: Ph.D., 2012<br />
Area of interest: Applied Math and Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask Alec about: teaching, advanced calculus, gardening, and Geneva Campus Church.<br />
<br />
Christine Lien<br />
Email: lien@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lien Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2005<br />
Area of interest: Complex Geometry<br />
Ask Christine about: anything, including bridge/card games, organizing women's events, <br />
the Association of Asian American Graduate students, and the Graduate Student Topology Seminar.<br />
<br />
Hao Lin<br />
Email: lin@<br />
[http://genealogy.math.ndsu.nodak.edu/id.php?id=156703 Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Hao about: sports and anything about China.<br />
<br />
Jonathon Mason<br />
Email: jonathan.f.mason@gmail.com<br />
Grad-age: M.S., 2010<br />
Ask Mason about: Wisconsin hiking, the local film scene and being "way better than Nathan Collins" at TAing.<br />
<br />
Jason Murcko<br />
Email: murcko@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~murcko Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2006<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Jason about: the TAA and the local film and music scenes.<br />
<br />
Mike Schroeder<br />
Email: schroede@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~schroede UW Website]. [http://science.marshall.edu/schroederm/ Marshall Website].<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011<br />
Area of interest: Combinatorics<br />
Ask Mike about: softball, bowling, sailing, racquet ball, and the Florida Gators.<br />
<br />
David Seal<br />
Email: seal@math.msu.edu<br />
[http://www.math.msu.edu/~seal Website]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2012.<br />
Area of interest: Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask David about: movies, biking, hiking and board games.<br />
<br />
Beth Skubak<br />
Email: skubak@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~skubak Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2009<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Beth about: anything, including this wiki<br />
<br />
Mike Woodbury<br />
[http://www.math.columbia.edu/~woodbury/ Website]<br />
Email: woodbury@math.columbia.edu<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2011.<br />
Area of interest: Number Theory<br />
Ask Mike about: anything, including number theory, road biking, UW basketball tix.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Library&diff=5193Library2013-03-22T14:53:26Z<p>Johnsonm: /* KLEENE MATHEMATICS LIBRARY */</p>
<hr />
<div>==KLEENE MATHEMATICS LIBRARY==<br />
<br />
During the academic year, the library (B224 Van Vleck) is open Monday - Thursday 8:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.; Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.; Sunday 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.; Closed Saturday. Intersession and summer hours are Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Faculty/ Staff/ Graduate students may borrow books for one semester and bound journals for two hours. Unbound journals do not leave the Library. The Library’s photocopier accepts debit cards, which may be purchased from the wall unit using $1, $5, $10, or $20 bills. Purchase requests, reference and service questions can be sent to the Librarian, [mailto:twarwick@library.wisc.edu Travis Warwick] (262-3596), or visit in person. Also, see the [http://www.library.wisc.edu/libraries/Math/ Library's website] for further information.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Administrative_Staff&diff=5192Administrative Staff2013-03-22T14:47:42Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Administrative Staff */</p>
<hr />
<div>{| border="0" cell padding="5" style="text-align:left"<br />
|+ <br />
== '''Administrative Staff''' ==<br />
|-<br />
!width="150pt"|Name <br />
!width="225pt" | Function <br />
!width="100pt" | Room No. <br />
!width="100pt" | Phone No. <br />
|-<br />
| TBA || Timetable/Undergraduate Program || 207 VV || 263-6374<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:castillo@math.wisc.edu Castillo, Mark] || Grants & Extramural Support || 214 VV || 263-6953<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:uhlir@math.wisc.edu Uhlir, Chris] || Payroll & Benefits || 214 VV || 263-3058<br />
|-<br />
|TBA || IS Support || 215 VV || 263-6859<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:paulson@math.wisc.edu Paulson, Sharon] || Copy Center/Seminar Room Reservations || 220 VV || 263-3059<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:mrice@math.wisc.edu Rice, Mary] || Graduate Program Admin || 203 VV || 263-8884<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:richards@math.wisc.edu Richards, Vicki] || Travel Reimbursements/Pro Card Orders || 214 VV || 263-3061<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:wendt@math.wisc.edu Wendt, Joan]|| Assistant to the Chair || 223 VV || 263-3051<br />
|-<br />
|[mailto:whelan@math.wisc.edu Whelan, Victoria] || Department Administrator || 218 VV || 263-2023<br />
|-}</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Receptionist&diff=5191Receptionist2013-03-22T14:46:35Z<p>Johnsonm: </p>
<hr />
<div>The Receptionist is in charge of handing out office supplies and directing you to the person you are looking for.<br />
<br />
'''Note:''' Beginning in '''Fall 2012''' the reception desk will be staffed by our student workers, hours are 9am to 4pm MTWF and until 2pm on Thursdays.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Supplies ==<br />
<br />
The Receptionist has the regular office supplies that you might need, please see them to obtain such as pens, paper, paperclips etc...<br />
<br />
''If you would like special office supplies, you must arrange with Sharon Paulson how to order them and how to pay for them.''<br />
<br />
== Contact Information ==<br />
<br />
Please be sure that the Receptionist has your current address and home/cell phone number. At the beginning of each semester, fill out a schedule card including classes and office hours. Also, advise the Receptionist when you are going to be away from Madison for any length of time. <br />
<br />
== Department Telephone ==<br />
<br />
Please see that people who are likely to call you have your number, so that calls go directly to you and do not have to go through the Receptionist. The Receptionist should not be considered the department's telephone switchboard. If you expect a significant number of phone calls while you are not in your office, you may wish to consider purchasing an answering machine.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Singularity_Theory&diff=4610Graduate Student Singularity Theory2012-10-26T19:31:59Z<p>Johnsonm: </p>
<hr />
<div>It is a weekly seminar by graduate students. Anyone is welcome.<br />
If you would like to present a topic, please contact Tommy Wong.<br />
All seminars are on eitehr Tuesdays or Thursdays at 3:55pm in room B203VV, which is reserved until 5:30pm for further discussions.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Fall 2012 ==<br />
<br />
{| cellpadding="5"<br />
!align="left" | date<br />
!align="left" | speaker<br />
!align="left" | title<br />
|-<br />
|Sept. 18 (Tue)<br />
|KaiHo Wong <br />
|Organization and ''Milnor fibration and Milnor Fiber''<br />
|-<br />
|Sept. 25 (Tue)<br />
|KaiHo Wong <br />
|''Algebraic links and exotic spheres''<br />
|-<br />
|Oct. 4 (Thu)<br />
|Yun Su (Suky)<br />
|''Alexander polynomial of complex algebraic curve'' (Note the different day but same time and location)<br />
|-<br />
|Oct. 11 (Thu)<br />
|Yongqiang Liu<br />
|''Sheaves and Hypercohomology''<br />
|-<br />
|Oct. 18 (Thu)<br />
|Jeff Poskin<br />
|''Toric Varieties II''<br />
|-<br />
|Nov. 1 (Thu)<br />
|Yongqiang Liu<br />
|''Mixed Hodge Structure''<br />
|-<br />
|Nov. 8 (Thu)<br />
|KaiHo Wong<br />
|''Euler characteristics and cohomology of hypersurfaces (complete intersection)''<br />
|-<br />
|Nov. 13<br />
|speaker<br />
|''title''<br />
|-<br />
|Nov. 27<br />
|speaker<br />
|''title''<br />
|-<br />
|Dec. 11<br />
|speaker<br />
|''title''<br />
|}<br />
<br />
== Abstracts ==<br />
<br />
<br />
===Thu, 10/4: Suky===<br />
''Alexander polynomial of complex algebraic curve''<br />
<br />
I will extend the definition of Alexander polynomial in knot theory to an complex algebraic curve. <br />
From the definition, it is clear that Alexander polynomial is an topological invariant for curves.<br />
I will explain how the topology of a curve control its Alexander polynomial, in terms of the factors. <br />
Calculations of some examples will be provided.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Mail&diff=4098Mail2012-08-20T19:07:07Z<p>Johnsonm: /* MAIL */</p>
<hr />
<div>==Mail & Packages== <br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson is in charge of mailbox assignments. Mailbox locations may change from year to year as they are placed in alphabetical order. Your Van Vleck mailbox is intended for '''work related mail'''. Please have personal packages and letters delivered to your home. Mail distribution will proceed most expeditiously if it is not interrupted by requests for supplies and if people do not congregate in the mailbox area while mail is being distributed. Please empty your mailbox sufficiently often so that it does not get too full as to impede delivery.<br />
<br />
Packages that are too large to be placed in mailboxes will be kept in 213 Van Vleck and a note will be placed in the corresponding mailbox.<br />
<br />
==Postage==<br />
<br />
The department provides postage '''only''' for official University business. Professional correspondence such as submission of manuscripts or referee reports is considered to be University business; personal correspondence and payment of household expenses are not. Department members are expected to use discretion in deciding what personal correspondence is. Electronic mail is a cheaper and faster alternative to overseas mail.<br />
<br />
It is expected that arrangements will be made for reimbursement of postage which can be charged to a research grant or to the editorial budget of a journal.<br />
<br />
==Envelopes==<br />
<br />
Envelopes are available from the Receptionist.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Scanners&diff=4097Scanners2012-08-20T19:03:04Z<p>Johnsonm: </p>
<hr />
<div>==Scanning==<br />
<br />
If you want to scan a document to create a digital file, there are several places where you can do this in Van Vleck. One of them, the copier/scanner in the Math Library can be used by anyone with a University connection. The other facilities are reserved for members of the Math Department. If you want to scan a document to a PDF file, use the copier/scanners located on floors 3-8 of Van Vleck. The document feeder makes it easy to scan a large multipage document to a PDF file which can then be e-mailed to someone. Math Department faculty, graduate,<br />
students and staff will be given access codes to use the copy feature of these machines.<br />
<br />
For small, individual scanning jobs, The Math Department also has two flatbed scanners in room 322. There is an HP5590 with a document feeder attached to the the PC near the door and an Epson V300 Photo scanner attached to the iMac next to the PC. In order to use these scanners you must have a Math Department account. You will use this account to log into the PC or Macintosh. (On the PC you must first must make sure that you have selected the UW-Math domain, before logging in). There is also an Epson flatbed scanner attached to the iMac in 101B Van Vleck.<br />
<br />
For more details about these scanners, select one of the following:<br />
<br />
* Scanning from [[http://www.math.wisc.edu/computing/other/PCScan.html Windows PC]] in 322<br />
* Scanning from the [[http://www.math.wisc.edu/computing/other/MacScan.html iMac]] in 322 or 101B<br />
* Scanning from [[http://www.math.wisc.edu/computing/other/Canon.html Canon Copier]] in 205</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Photocopy_Facilities&diff=4096Photocopy Facilities2012-08-20T19:01:26Z<p>Johnsonm: /* PHOTOCOPYING */</p>
<hr />
<div>==Photocopying== <br />
There are new copy machines on each of the floors 3-8 of Van Vleck for the use of Math department personnel. Math Department people will be given access codes to use these copy machines. Please contact Hieu Nguyen for help in operating any of these machines or to report any breakdown. The copiers have enlarging, scanning and PDF creation capabilities. Keep in mind the copyright laws when duplicating books, journals, etc. The copiers are intended for business copying only. TA's, LTE, and Grad students are allowed 250 printed pages from the machines on floors 3-9 of Van Vleck. In addition they are allowed 200 copies from the copy machines on floors 3-8. '''TAs, LTE and Grad Students will be charged for any copies over 200 and any printed pages over 250'''. See this [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Ricoh_Copier_FAQ link] for more information on using the Ricoh copiers. Personal copying can be done in the Math Library (B224).<br />
<br />
Larger numbers of copies to be charged to the department or to a grant should go through the Copy Center in Room 220. Larger numbers of personal copies should be made outside the department.<br />
<br />
==Copy Center==<br />
The ''Copy Center'' services are available for teaching and research related copying only. Syllabi, problem assignments / solutions, and small quantities of course-related materials may be duplicated by the Copy Center. For larger quantities of course-related materials, consult the course supervisor or the faculty committee about charges. '''Work-order forms are available in and directly outside the Copy Center. They must be filled out before work can be copied'''. Incomplete forms will be returned to your mailbox and copying will not be done. Research related copying should be charged to a grant. The Copy Center Manager will directly bill your grant each month. Copies can be picked up in the Copy Center or can be returned to your mailbox. <br />
<br />
Every effort will be made to minimize turn-around time, but to a large extent it will be under your collective control. Allow '''24 hours''' lead time for normal size jobs; no less than '''3 days''' for exams; and at '''least a week''' for copying large quantities. The workload will rise during six-week, twelve-week, and final exam periods. Work of equal priority and urgency will be done on a ''first-come, first-served basis''. Please try to avoid urgency by using foresight and do not overstate the urgency of work.<br />
<br />
There are two kinds of transparencies available. <br />
# the write-on kind in Room 220 and <br />
# the kind you run on the copy machine available in Room 205. <br />
<br />
'''They are not interchangeable'''. The write-on kind could melt in the copy machine and disable its use for several days.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Computers&diff=4095Computers2012-08-20T18:59:02Z<p>Johnsonm: /* COMPUTING FACILITIES */</p>
<hr />
<div>== COMPUTING FACILITIES ==<br />
For more detailed information on computing in the Math Department, see [http://www.math.wisc.edu/computing/ Math Computing]<br />
<br />
The following facilities are solely for the use of Math Department faculty and graduate students.<br />
<br />
*'''''Computers''''': The Math Department has many computers. Graduate students have a Linux machine in each of their offices. Each faculty member has his/her own computer.<br />
<br />
*'''''Public Computers''''': There are two public workstation rooms: 101B and 322. Most of the computers in these rooms use the linux operating system. In addition, there are Windows machines and scanners in rooms 205 and 322. Most of the computers have combo optical drives. This means that they can read and write to CDs and read from DVDs. Each of the workstation rooms also has a Macintosh running Mac OS X.<br />
<br />
For those instructors wishing to incorporate computers into their lesson plans, the e-classroom, (room B107, featuring 21 fast Windows machines), is open for reservations. Check with Sharon Paulson in 220 Van Vleck to reserve B107. You can check out the key for B107 from the Math Library.<br />
<br />
*'''''Printers''''': At the end of the halls on floors 3 through 8 and in rooms 101A and B127, there are HP LaserJet 4300 Postscript-capable Duplex (double-sided printing) grayscale printers for your use. You can print a total of 250 pages per month on these free of charge. After that, you will be charged 5¢ per page rounded down to the nearest whole dollar amount. Also, in room 213 there is an HP Color Postscript-only printer which produces high quality color images. Copies from this printer cost 20¢ each with no free copies. This printer is named *hpc *(for hp color). Use the command *lpr –P hpc filename* to print to it. For more information on printing see, [[Printing from your laptop]].<br />
<br />
*'''''Other Computer Equipment''''': The Math Department has some laptop computers, several portable computer projectors, and a mobile presentation cart which you can check out from the Math Library with your faculty/staff/student ID card.<br />
<br />
''Ceiling mounted projectors'' are available in rooms 901, B223, B231, B130, B107 and B102. Talk to the computer staff in 507 if you need help using the projectors in 901 and B107. Talk to [mailto:ddombrowski@fpm.wisc.edu Derek Dombrowski ](265-9697) if you need to use the electronic equipment in the other rooms.<br />
<br />
''Wireless'' computing service is available throughout Van Vleck. You will need to open a web browser and type in your NetID and password to use it.<br />
<br />
To find out more about anything listed above, see the website. Send the Computer Staff an email at staff@math.wisc.edu or stop by room 507 between 9:00am and 4:00pm weekdays if you have any questions.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Receptionist&diff=4094Receptionist2012-08-20T18:55:52Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Receptionist */</p>
<hr />
<div>The Receptionist is in charge of handing out office supplies and directing you to the person you are looking for.<br />
<br />
'''Note:''' Beginning in '''Fall 2012''' the reception desk will be staffed by our student workers, hours TBD.<br />
<br />
<br />
== Supplies ==<br />
<br />
The Receptionist has the regular office supplies that you might need, please see them to obtain such as pens, paper, paperclips etc...<br />
<br />
''If you would like special office supplies, you must arrange with Sharon Paulson how to order them and how to pay for them.''<br />
<br />
== Contact Information ==<br />
<br />
Please be sure that the Receptionist has your current address and home/cell phone number. At the beginning of each semester, fill out a schedule card including classes and office hours. Also, advise the Receptionist when you are going to be away from Madison for any length of time. <br />
<br />
== Department Telephone ==<br />
<br />
Please see that people who are likely to call you have your number, so that calls go directly to you and do not have to go through the Receptionist. The Receptionist should not be considered the department's telephone switchboard. If you expect a significant number of phone calls while you are not in your office, you may wish to consider purchasing an answering machine.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Guide&diff=4086Graduate Student Guide2012-08-16T17:51:23Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Administrative and Support Staff */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Exams.png|400px|right | Grading Exams in the Lounge]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
= Food =<br />
<br />
There are many ethnic and interesting restaurants in Madison – Indonesian, African, Italian, Himalayan, Laotian, Peruvian, Mexican, Bakeries, Brew Pubs, Coffee Joints, you name it -- and everyone has their favorites.<br />
<br />
The biggest resource for finding food (and entertainment!) in Madison is probably the [http://www.thedailypage.com/eats/ Daily Page] (the online version of our local paper, the Isthmus), where you can search local restaurants by name, locality, and cuisine. There, they have reviews, hours, contact info, pricing, etc. Be sure to peruse their [http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Restaurants Madison's Favorites] section for some quick tips! Of course [http://www.yelp.com/ yelp] is always useful as well. At one point a couple spent a few years trying to sample every restaurant in Madison and blogged about their journey on the [http://www.madisonatoz.com/ Madison A to Z].<br />
<br />
Here are some general food facts:<br />
<br />
== Campus Food ==<br />
*Food Carts: Open for lunch in Library Mall at the foot of Bascom Hill near Lake & State Street. Very good and very cheap, and out as long as it's not too cold.<br />
<br />
*Ingraham Hall: Very close to Van Vleck, and has acceptable coffee (bring your own cup to save money!) and decent snacks. Try the lunch special: sandwich and 4 sides (soda, fruit, cookies, etc.) for six bucks. Halfway down the hill is the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/crossroadscafe.htm Crossroads Cafe] which has much better coffee and is open later.<br />
<br />
*Memorial Union: The Rathskeller has food and next door is Lakeside cafe with much better food. Summer afternoons on the terrace is an excellent place to hang out in the sunshine with a beer and brat.<br />
<br />
*Union South: Recently opened. Probably has many places to get food. <br />
<br />
*State Street (past the food carts) is full of restaurants and Coffee shops – there are at least a half dozen coffee roasters in town, and each supplies a different set of shops. In particular for lunch, there are the popular chains, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Einstein Bros. Bagels, or Chipotle... or hit the more independent spots such as the Sunroom Cafe or Ian's Pizza.<br />
<br />
== MadTown food ==<br />
<br />
Traditional Madison foods are German varieties such as beer, cheese, and bratwurst. Each year Madison hosts [http://www.bratfest.com/ Bratfest], a record breaking event. <br />
UW has [http://www.wisc.edu/foodsci/store/ Babcock Hall Ice Cream] on campus which creates delicious ice cream available in the Unions. The [http://www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com/ Chocolate Shoppe], [http://www.ilovemichaels.com/ Michael's Frozen Custard] and Culvers have nice deserts.<br />
Micro breweries in town include the [http://www.greatdanepub.com/ Great Dane], [http://www.capital-brewery.com/ Captial Brewery] and [http://www.aleasylum.com/ Ale Asylum]. Nearby there is the famous [http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/ New Glarus Brewing Co] which only sells beer in Wisconsin. You can join a free beer tour or walk through the brewery on a self guided tourn.<br />
<br />
In early September (2nd-3rd), check out [http://www.madisonfestivals.com/taste/ Taste of Madison] to see many restaurants all in one place at one time.<br />
<br />
Try a good ol' midwestern Fish Fry on Friday night – All you can eat fried fish generally served with a bran muffin, clam chowder, or coleslaw. Most Brew Pubs and some churches have them, and the [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/restaurant.php Orpheum] as well at the [http://www.avenuebarmadison.com/ Avenue Bar and Grill] both run Friday night Fish Fries.<br />
<br />
== Farm fresh food ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.madfarmmkt.org/ Dane County Farmer's Market] is amazing and HUGE. The big one is open every Saturday morning, and is located on the capitol square for most of the year. In addition to the ludicrous amount of fresh produce, there are also bakery stands, coffee, and fresh juice carts for quick breakfasts.<br />
<br />
There are also a few smaller [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farmers_markets.htm#danecounty markets] scattered around town, almost every day of the week:<br />
<br />
*Sunday: 8:30am to 12:30pm in front of Pierce's Northside Market<br />
*Monday: (none)<br />
*Tuesday: 4pm to 7pm on Ingersol at Williamson, 2pm to 6pm at 1602 S. Park St,<br />
*Wednesday: 8am to 2pm on MLKJr Blvd, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center,<br />
*Thursday: Thursdays, 2pm to 6pm at the Villager Mall on Park St., 2pm to 6pm in the McFarland Centre, 7:30am to 1:30pm in the Greenway Station shopping center,<br />
*Friday: (none)<br />
*Saturday: 6am to 2pm on the Capitol square, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center, 9am to 2pm at 1602 S. Park St, 7am to 1pm at Sheboygan Ave. and Segoe Rd., and 8:30am to 11am in Watertower Park.<br />
<br />
During the summer and fall, there are many [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/index.htm local farms] where you can [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farms/u_pick.htm pick] your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, or pumpkins when they are in season.<br />
<br />
If you're in town for the summer, you might consider signing up for a [http://www.macsac.org/ Community Supported Agriculture] food box. CSA is a way to support a local farm by paying an annual fee in the winter or spring which buys you a share of the season's harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick-up a weekly box of fresh foods which may include produce, fruits, cheeses, eggs, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. The typical CSA season in Wisconsin runs from the end of May through mid-October. You do have to pay the lump sum up-front, and some weeks you'll find yourself with five pounds of chard... but for most of the summer you'll have your produce needs met, and you can feel good about supporting small local farms. Better yet, most of the university's insurance providers offer [http://www.macsac.org/rebates.html rebates] for signing up for a CSA -- somewhere between $50-$300, depending on the plan and how many people you're sharing with (for example, if two people on GHC share a box, they might pay $450 for the box for a box lasting 25 weeks, but they they could each get $100 back, making that $5/week per person). If you're interested, remember to sign up early -- most programs are full by May.<br />
<br />
= Grocery Stores =<br />
<br />
== Generic Groceries ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.capcentrefoods.com/home.html Capitol Centre Foods]: Given their small size, they have an excellent selection of groceries. They tend to be a bit pricey. In addition, they deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.freshmadisonmarket.com/ Fresh Madison Market]: A reasonably large general grocery store, not too expensive. Has a large selection of "typical college items" (lots of frozen foods). Located on University, not too far from Van Vleck. They also deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.copps.com/ Copps]: Your standard grocery store with multiple locations.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=1020&lang=en-US Costco]: Your friendly big-box bulk store. They treat their employees incredibly well. Good buys on computers, 2 lbs of sockeye salmon or button down oxford cloth long sleeved shirts. You'll need a membership or go there with someone who has a membership. You can also get a free trial membership if you simply ask.<br />
<br />
*Walgreens: Pharmacy/Grocery store. There is a Walgreens on the corner of Lake & State Street near Van Vleck, on the Capitol Square, and in University square.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Whole Foods]: Kinda spendy, but good bread, specialty stuff, and produce through the winter.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Woodman's]: two locations -- [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=725+S+Gammon+Rd+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=43.055217,-89.50304&spn=0.05381,0.171661 East] and [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3817+Milwaukee+St,+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.103615,-89.319363&spn=0.053768,0.171661&om=1 West]. If you have a car and the time, go here. Very large, very cheap, but time consuming. They don't take credit cards, so bring a debit card or check book. The produce is pretty poor, but they're huge and, again, cheap. Check out the liquor store for a large selection (you can buy all types of alcohol in grocery stores in Wisconsin... but not after 9pm).<br />
<br />
*[http://www.traderjoes.com/ Trader Joe's]: Located at 1810 Monroe St. They have good prices for select specialty food items such as wine, cheese and fancy snacks. Their basic foodstuffs tend to be a bit pricey.<br />
<br />
*The Jenifer Street Market located on 2038 Jenifer Street is a nice little grocery store if you happen to live in the area.<br />
<br />
== Co-ops ==<br />
Co-ops are a good source of local organic food. If you are a member they provide discounts, but you can also shop there at your own will.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.regentmarketcoop.org/ Regent Market Cooperative], 2136 Regent St. 233-4329.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.willystreet.coop/ Willy Street Co-op] The largest and most active co-op in the Madison area. They have been able to survive the decline in co-ops over the years. They offer a large selection of bulk foods and spices at an excellent price. For a quick bite, they have an excellent deli, salad bar, and in-store coffee shop. 1221 Williamson St. 251-6776. They recently opened a second store in Middleton located at 6825 University Ave. Both locations deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
== Specialty Foods ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.aldifoods.com/ Aldi Foods]: It's like grocery shopping at overstock.com.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=keJ&q=asian+midway+foods&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,304616636444102595&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Asian Midway Market]: The go-to market for anything Thai, Chinese or South-East Asian, this centrally-located store comes highly recommended. In particular, they offer a great selection of specialized produce. 301 South Park Street; 255-5864<br />
<br />
*[http://www.brennansmarket.com/ Brennan's Market]: Great for Produce, Meats, Cheese, Micro brews and Wines. You won't find things like Flour and Saran Wrap here, but definitely worth the trip.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/ Farm Fresh Atlas]: Not a grocery store, but a good resource for where you can buy local foods and a list of farms in the areas.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madseafood.com/ The Seafood Center]: The name says it all. Great fresh fish and live lobsters.<br />
<br />
*[http://frabonisdeli.com/ Fraboni's]: An awesome Italian grocery store and deli. They have very good [http://frabonisdeli.com/oils olive oils], [http://frabonisdeli.com/pastas pastas], and make-your-own pizza fixings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3723579948/garden-asian-market-middleton Garden Asian Market]: A full service Asian food market specializing in fresh meat, produce, and seafood. Mostly Chinese-leaning, they do a good job of providing a wide variety of items within their niche. It may be far out, but it's worth the trip in its pleasantness and selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=india+house+grocery+store,+madison,+wi&fb=1&gl=us&hq=india+house+grocery+store,&hnear=Madison,+WI&cid=0,0,8495347478199843118&ll=43.050466,-89.503019&spn=0.007871,0.019183&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A India House]: Really well done Indian grocery store. Good place to buy Kari leaves.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=TMe&q=lee%27s+oriental&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,92533124768468793&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Lee's Oriental]: Next to Penzey's spices. 3240 University Ave; 231-1593<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=2Me&q=oriental+shop&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,13628497956998458364&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Oriental Shop]: They carry mostly dry-goods, and tend to lean toward stocking more Korean items. 1206 South Park Street; 255-0326<br />
<br />
= Housing =<br />
<br />
Haven't found a place yet? Already hate your apartment?<br />
<br />
* [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/ UW Off-Campus Housing Search]: Probably the best search site for students.<br />
<br />
* Again, [http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List] is a good resourse. Also a good place to look for roommates outside of the department.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/ University Apartments]: On campus graduate housing, particularly popular with married couples (especially with children). Singles are also welcome. Many of them are on the bus route #80, a free route which runs from the apartments through campus every fifteen minutes throughout the day.<br />
<br />
== Location, Location, Location ==<br />
<br />
If you would like to keep your commute down, there are many places near campus. Many graduate students prefer to live close enough to Van Vleck to be within walking distance, yet far enough away to stay away from partying undergraduate students.<br />
<br />
Many graduate students live in the Vilas neighborhood, which is located South of Regent Street and between Park and Monroe. East of the Capitol building, we also have the Willy St. neighborhood (between Williamson and Rutledge streets, between Paterson and Thornton) and the other side of the Isthmus, between Mifflin and Lake Mendota. The university offers on campus housing at Eagle Heights with regular buses. Many students also live near Sheboygan and University Avenues (not on this map), and there are regular buses that run up University Avenue that will drop you off right in front of Van Vleck. The large apartment complexes in that area include the Normandy, Chapel Hill, Carolina, Monticello, Hilldale Towers, Park Towers, and Sovereign Apartments which are cheaper to live in than spots on the square.<br />
<br />
Because there is no parking on campus, you will need to plan on living within walking distance of a bus route or campus itself. You will receive a free bus pass for the [http://www.mymetrobus.com/ Madison Metro] system, which is very reliable. Check out the “plan your trip” link to find bus routes near you.<br />
<br />
Here is an approximate map of many areas where you will be likely to find housing: <br />
[[Image:gradhousingmap.jpg|400px| center | Housing Map]]<br />
<br />
Basically, shoot for zones 2-6, the North parts of zones 7 and 8, or the far East part of zone 10 on [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/map_all.asp this map] (the map from the UW Off-Campus Housing Search).<br />
<br />
== Stuff your landlord might not tell you ==<br />
<br />
*Utilities:<br />
Lots of apartments have water, sewage, heat, and and sometimes electricity included in rent. For those which don't, be sure to find out what to expect through the [http://mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/ Madison Gas and Electric] web page. Just tell them the address of the place you're looking at, and they'll tell you what the highs, lows, and averages have been over the last year.<br />
<br />
*Property information:<br />
The [http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/property.html City Assessor] has all of the basic information about Madison properties on file, including how many units are on the property, how much square footage there is, if there's AC in the building, what school district it's in, who your alderperson would be, and what else is on the property (e.g. garages). They'll even tell you how much the property is worth, and how much your landlord is paying in property taxes. Sometimes the square footage isn't broken up--for example, maybe there are two units on the first floor, but they'll only tell you that there are 1,700 sq ft on that floor, not how it's split up between the two units. It can be a useful site for rounding out your knowledge of places you're considering renting.<br />
<br />
*Tenants rights:<br />
The [http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/ Tenant resource center] is a small non-profit membership organization which provides housing counseling, mediation services and office assistance. Their website includes tips for new renters, generic rental forms, and advice for what to do if your landlord just won't get back to you about repairs, returning deposits, etc.<br />
There is also the [http://studenttenantunion.rso.wisc.edu/ Student tenant union], which is specifically targeted to UW students.<br />
<br />
== Rental Companies ==<br />
Many properties in Madison are run by rental companies -- some large, some small -- some good, some not-so-good. Larger companies tend to have lower prices, and more people working toward maintaining rentals. However, they may have less of an investment in taking care of each individual property or screening their tenants. Some people feel better renting from small companies, or landlords with only one or two houses. You may get more individual attention and care. Individuals have more investment in protecting each property, and renting to good tenants, so the properties tend to be in more reliable condition. However, with fewer properties comes fewer resources and higher prices.<br />
<br />
Whatever choice you make, be sure to have a conversation with your potential landlords about their polices, especially if you aren't going to be able to see things in person. It may also be good to Google the company or person to see if other people have had something good or bad to say about them or their properties. In particular, [http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Madison.html ApartmentRatings.com] has a few of the apartment complexes around town listed.<br />
<br />
Here are some general impressions/very subjective opinions that some of us have gotten from/about a few of the larger local companies:<br />
<br />
*AB Holdings: In particular, they have a couple small apartment buildings on Vilas that are particularly ideal for two people. Quite a few people from the department have rented these units and have been pretty happy.<br />
<br />
*[http://apexrents.com/ Apex Property Management]: Great company. Well-maintained properties, with many of the more recently remodeled rentals being very nice. Their representatives are helpful and responsible, and their tenants seem to be generally satisfied.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.centralmadison.com/ The Christensen Company]: Not terribly up-to-date apartments, but worth taking a look at.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonproperty.com/ Madison Property Management]: Lots of choices, but notoriously junky properties. They tend to cater mostly to undergraduates, and their rentals show it. We wouldn't recommend renting from this company unless you visit first.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.mcbridecompanies.com/ The McBride Companies]: Nice properties, good management. Really good website if you turn the sound off.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.tallardapartments.com/ Tallard Apartments]: Nice properties with very friendly and responsive staff. Their rentals tend to go early in the season.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wimci.com/ Wisconsin Management Company]: Nice enough properties, but kind of flakey representation. Make sure to ask lots of questions.<br />
<br />
*The Wright Company (or Norris Ct. Apartments): Very nice older buildings, but kind of sketchy management. Nothing is going to be in stellar shape, but they do tend to rent more to graduates and professionals, so they aren't beat up either. If you do rent from them, don't expect them to be very responsive, and be sure to be especially careful about protecting your security deposit by taking photos and keeping a record of your move-in report.<br />
<br />
= Furniture =<br />
<br />
*[http://www.svdpmadison.org/ St. Vincent DePaul's]: Like Goodwill. Has cheap dressers, desks, chairs, and general household stuff. Will deliver for a small charge. This is also a great place to donate any furniture or other items that you no longer want – they will pick up the items from your apartment. There is also a Goodwill in town, but they won't have nearly the same volume of furniture.<br />
<br />
*[http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List]: a free online classifieds site. Great not only for furniture, but also pet resources and last minute apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
*Eagle Heights Apartment Bulletin Boards: Lots of cheap stuff from people graduating, many of whom are moving overseas. You can even find cars. You can try posting your own wanted posters on the boards. You can find these boards at the bus stops for the (free) bus 80 route.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/madisonfreecycle/ Freecycle]: A community "give stuff away for free" website with a Madison branch.<br />
<br />
*Hippie Christmas ("Move-Out Day"): For some reason or another, the evening of August 14th is when the bulk of leases near campus turn over. This is a fantastic day to pick up free furniture from the street. If you already have a rental van, why not help municipal waste by pickup up a bookshelf for them?<br />
<br />
*The Todd Drive Area: Just west of park street on the beltline. American Furniture for furniture and electronics, Home Concepts for cheap but nice looking furniture, and Steinhafel's for furniture and mattresses.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html SWAP]. The UW's surplus supply store.<br />
<br />
= International Student Resources =<br />
Here are a few links specifically for international students. There are international grocery stores listed in the [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Graduate_Student_Guide#Specialty_Foods groceries] section.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcssa.net/ Chinese Student & Scholar Association]: A connection to the university's Chinese community for incoming students. They offer rides from the airport, list general information about madison, and organize get-tegethers/Chinese celebrations. International Conversation & Coffee Hour: meet other international students and americans interested in other cultures. Every Friday, 12-2pm, Cooper Hearth Room 160, Union South.<br />
<br />
*[http://iss.wisc.edu/ International Student Services]: the UW's International Student Services<br />
<br />
*[http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MADindians/ MadIndians]: a Yahoo online group for students from India in Madison. Good place to search for an Indian roommate.<br />
<br />
*[http://mtsa.rso.wisc.edu/ Madison Association of Turkish Students]: Very helpful for incoming Turkish students. It includes information about how best to get to Madison from Turkey, information about housing, and how to reach other Turkish students in Madison.<br />
<br />
= Newspapers =<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/captimes/ The Capitol Times]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the afternoon. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more liberal.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.thedailypage.com/ The Isthmus]: Free independent Madison newspaper. Has a liberal voice and is full of entertainment, including family fun, outdoor attractions, and fine arts. Also puts out the Annual Manual - the yearly guide to all things Madison.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.theonion.com/ The Onion]: While hilarious, this paper is only really good if you're already in on the joke. We get free paper copies in Madison. There is a stack near the elevators in VV. The local edition has local entertainment listings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Wisconsin State Journal]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the mornings. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more conservative.<br />
<br />
= Religious Groups =<br />
*[http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/ Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/ Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church]: Near Sheboygan Ave. at 110 N Whitney Way. A huge church, but with opportunities to get involved and meet people. It has services in the sanctuary, with a mixture of traditional and semi-modern worship, and also "video cafe" services with more lively, modern worship. Very good teaching.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cpcmadison.com/ Christ Presbyterian Church]. Just east of James Madison Park on Gorham. Has a great choir and organist!<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fusmadison.org/ The First Unitarian Society of Madison]. "A liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue." Looking for something new? They're open to all types. Also, they are housed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.folmadison.org/ Fountain of Life]: 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. A multi-ethnic church with a lot of eclectic music styles, including a lot of Gospel music<br />
<br />
*[http://genevacc.org/ The Geneva Campus Church]: On Campus Reformed church. They describe themselves as "a university church for the whole family"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwhillel.org/ Hillel]: UW-Madison's on-campus center for everything Jewish: religious, cultural, political, traditional, and alternative. Located on Langdon Street, it serves both the school population and, to a far lesser extent, the entire city.<br />
<br />
*[http://islamiccentermadison.org/ Islamic Center of Madison]: Has a masjid inside. 21 N Orchard St, (608)251-9851<br />
<br />
*[http://ivgcf.rso.wisc.edu/ InterVarsity Grad Christian Fellowship]: It's a welcoming place for Christians and non-Christians alike. (You might even find your future husband/wife there) They also have a website with info about local churches. There is a new student picnic at the beginning of the fall semester.<br />
<br />
*Latter Day Saints: There are a number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wards in the Madison area. The Madison First Ward covers areas closest to campus and meets at 4505 Regent Street, two blocks south of Hilldale Mall, at 9am. The University Ward serves single adults and meets at 1711 University Avenue at 10 am. The Madison Third Ward serves areas close to campus and meets at 701 Bear Claw Way on Madison's far west side at 11 am. Visitors and the curious are always welcome.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lccmadison.com/ Lutheran Campus Center]: A fairly young, enthusiastic, and liberal-minded congragation, found right on campus.<br />
<br />
*[http://madcitychurch.org/ Mad City Church]: A non-denominational, casual christian fellowship. Services are held in the LaFollette High School located on Madison's east side - very near the corner of Pflaum Rd. and Monona Dr. Office at 2713 E. Washington Ave.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.muuyacm.org/ Madison UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry (MUUYACM)]. One of the largest and most active Unitarian Universalist young adult groups in the U.S., they are open to young adults (ages 18-35) of all denominations. In addition to worships, they organize social-justice-oriented activities, and are an active member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcatholic.org/ St. Paul's University Catholic Center]: On campus in Library Mall near Lake & State. Has a lively Catholic grad student group called Mustard Seed with Bible studies, Thursday night speakers, retreats, service projects, and large quantities of food and euchre.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.unityofmadison.org/ Unity of Madison]: (from their site) "Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community focused on Truth Seeking and Spiritual Growth through the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire, nuture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live Jesus' message that 'the kingdom of God is within you.'"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.isthmuszencommunity.org/ Zen Buddhism]: A local zen buddhist center is located next to Willy st co-op. New comers are especially welcome.<br />
<br />
= Arts and Entertainment =<br />
<br />
Madison is a medium sized city with a not so medium sized arts and entertainment scene. There are cultural events on campus<br />
and at the [http://www.overturcenter.com Overture Center]; sporting events; art, science, natural history, and history museums; parks, the<br />
[http://www.uwarboretum.org arboretum], and [http://www.olbrich.org botanical gardens]; a free [http://www.vilaszoo.org zoo]; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; a [http://www.madfarmmkt.com Farmer’s Market] on the<br />
Capital Square every Saturday morning from April-October; and lots of other things. The [http://www.thedailypage.com Isthmus], is the local free newspaper which posts many current events.<br />
The Isthmus can be found in many stores, in campus buildings, and on street corners.<br />
<br />
== Athletic Activities ==<br />
* [http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/ Rec Sports] runs the gyms on campus. There are three such on-campus gyms -- The SERF, the Nat, and the Shell, which are free with student ID. For $10/semester, you can attend any of their Group Fitness classes, which cover everything from aerobics and weights to yoga and dance. Also, both the SERF and Nat have indoor pools.<br />
<br />
*The University of Wisconsin has a long standing heritage of being proud of their [http://www.uwbadgers.com/ athletic events]. Men's basketball, football and ice-hockey receive the most attention and as a student, you can obtain season tickets for all of these events.<br />
<br />
== Dancing ==<br />
<br />
*Ballroom: [http://www.uwmbda.org/ UWMBDA] is the big ballroom dance group here. They have dances with lessons every week on Friday or Saturday and a practice group every Thursday.<br />
<br />
*[http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/dances.htm Contra Dance]: Meetings every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
*International Folk club: meets biweekly Library Mall, Wed/Sun 7:30PM-late.<br />
<br />
*Swing: [http://www.uwswing.com/ Jumptown Swing] is UW's swing club. They host (mostly) weekly dances at Union South, and provide lessons for a nominal fee. See their site for scheduling and links to other swing orgonizations. Also, on Wednesdays, there's dancing at the [http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ Brink Lounge] from 8-11.<br />
<br />
*Salsa: Venues include [http://www.cardinalbar.com/ Cardinal Bar] on Thursdays, [http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/details.php?event=176610 Frida's] on Friday nights. Don't know how to Salsa? There are lessons before dances at Cardinal, and instruction is offered through the Union's minicourses.<br />
<br />
*Tango: the [http://www.madisontango.org/ Madison Tango Society] provides lessons and dances for Argentine Tango. Their site has a good list or other events in and around Madison.<br />
<br />
== Libraries ==<br />
In addition to the many [http://www.library.wisc.edu/ Libraries of UW], the [http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ Madison Public Library] is a great place for books, movies, and music.<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
The Daily Page has a [http://www.thedailypage.com/movies/listing.php listing] of movie times for most of the theaters around town (both big and small):<br />
<br />
*Eastgate, Point and Star Cinema are the three larger movie theaters in town.<br />
<br />
*Market Square shows second runs at a good discount. <br />
<br />
*The [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/ Orpheum] is an old cinema within site of the capitol on State street. They tend to show less mainstream movies.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.sundancecinemas.com/madison.html Sundance 608] shows independent film as well as blockbuster movies. They have a rooftop cafe that's open during the summer months, 2 bars (you can take a drink into your movie), and a restaurant!<br />
<br />
For on-campus movies:<br />
*The Wisconsin Union Directorate runs on campus screening of films. Their film site can be found [http://www.union.wisc.edu/WUD/film.aspx here.]<br />
<br />
*The UW film department hosts free screenings of a wide array of films based on a given theme for that semester through their [http://cinema.wisc.edu/ cinematheque.] Their department has many contacts with other film institutes and are able show rare original 35mm films that you can't see anywhere else.<br />
<br />
*In late March/early April, go check out some of the many many films showing at the [http://www.wifilmfest.org/ Wisconsin Film Festival.] Sites all over town take part in hosting the showing of these films.<br />
<br />
Madison also has a number of independent video stores:<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ Four Star Video Heaven] has been voted as a Madison Favorite for a number of years. See their site to browse their collection online.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bongovideo.com/ Bongo Video] has a smaller, but quite tasty selection. Lots of personality, and good daily specials.<br />
<br />
== Music ==<br />
Whether you're looking to play music, or just go watch free or (in)expensive concerts, there are many options in Madison.<br />
<br />
*Our very own [http://music.wisc.edu/ Music Department] hosts many music events. Their website has a calendar listing current music events including faculty concerts and student recitals.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonsymphony.org/ The Madison Symphony Orchestra] (MSO) is the professional symphony based here in Madison. With your student ID, you can get student rush tickets for as little as $10 per person.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wcoconcerts.org/ The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra] is Madison's professional chamber orchestra. Each summer, their widely popular [http://www.wcoconcerts.org/new/cos/concertsonthesquare.php concerts on the square] draw many people from all over the place for a free outdoor concert.<br />
<br />
*[http://madisoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Madison Community Orchestra] (MCO) is an informal group run by Madison Area Technical College that meets once a week. There are four free concerts a year and no auditions to play with the group.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.middletoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Middleton Community Orchestra] is a second newly formed community orchestra run by community musicians. Their concerts are extremely affordable, and they may run auditions.<br />
<br />
== Outdoor Activites ==<br />
Madison is a very bicycle friendly town, and there are many parks either in town or within a short drive. Here are some suggestions about outdoor activities to engage in:<br />
<br />
*Take a nice long walk along one of the many paths around [http://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/imap/LakeshoreNaturePreserve.html Picnic Point]... bike the path from Memorial Union out to the tip, or bus/drive out to the base of picnic point and wander the foot trails in the area.<br />
<br />
*Head towards Monona Terrace on Lake Monona, and take one of the paths that wraps around the lake (great bike ride!).<br />
<br />
*You can also go walking and/or biking around the [http://uwarboretum.org/ Arboretum] south of campus and tour their gardens, or head to the free [http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Vilas Zoo]. Lake Wingra is essentially totally surrounded by wooded areas including Henry Vilas Park, the UW-arboretum and Edgewood college. You can rent canoes at Knickerbocker for fairly cheap and relax on Lake Wingra.<br />
<br />
*Community Gardens: There are a number of community gardens run by the [http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/ Community Action Coalition]. Nominally, you can sign up for a plot for a small fee, and learn how to garden if you don't already know, or go to town if you already do. The [http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/ Eagle Heights Community Garden] is open to both residents and non-residents alike. All of the gardens are fun to look at if you haven't ever seen one.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.olbrich.org/ The Olbrich Botanical Gardens] are located east of lake Monona. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including their award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden, or enjoy the year-round tropical Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds.. Outdoor gardens are open daily and free to the public, while entrance to the conservatory is $1 per person.<br />
<br />
*Catch a festival; Madison is home to a number of festivals -- big festivals, small festivals, arts festivals, music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals -- we've got all kinds.<br />
<br />
The Winter opens itself up to new activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing and other options. The hoofers club runs ice boats on the lake.<br />
<br />
*The city of Madison parks open up outdoor [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct2.html ice skating] at Tenney, Vilas, and Elver parks. No skates? No worries. They will rent skates to you there ($6.00 for the first hour, $2/hr after that).<br />
<br />
*There is also [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct4.html cross-country skiing] at a number of Dane county parks, with passes starting at $5/day. No skills? Check out lessons at the [http://www.madnorski.org/page/ Madison Nordic Ski Club] or, again, [http://sns.hoofers.org/ Hoofers] has lots to offer in that area.<br />
<br />
== Student Clubs ==<br />
The University of Wisconsin, being a rather large institution, has got so much stuff going on for all of us student-types. Here are some ways people around the department have been taking advantage:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop]: Located upstairs in the Memorial Union, they are "here to satisfy your creative urges in a variety of craft media." Their facilities include a darkroom, a woodshop, a ceramics studio, metal working tools, etc. Friday afternoons, they open their studios to all union members (that means you!) for free!<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hoofers.org/ Hoofers]: Student outdoor recreation club. The Outing and Sailing clubs in particular have lots of graduate students.<br />
<br />
* [http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]: Graduate Student Collaborative Organization<br />
<br />
* [http://cfli.wisc.edu/student_organizations.htm Student Organizations]: at UW Madison (this is a directory of all registered student organizations at the university; you can search by topic or name)<br />
<br />
== The Student Unions ==<br />
The Memorial Union is located on the lakefront, on Park and Langdon. Be sure to check out the Terrace while the weather is still good -- it's a great place to go to get out of the office, grab something to snack on, and study out in the sun. You'll find the Daily Scoop (yummy ice cream!) and Der Rathskeller (beer and deep-fried goodness). You'll also find all sorts of stuff to keep you busy, like the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop], the Union Theater, the Hoofers' headquarters, and a wide array of Mini Courses with which to expand your horizons.<br />
<br />
Also useful: the travel services center and STA Travel will get you good deals on trips (including bus tickets to O'Hare, Midway, and Milwaukee airports), and the theater's box office will get you good deals on shows (theater, music, etc) all around town. In addition, the Union has always got other special events going on to keep all of us entertained -- see their complete [http://www.union.wisc.edu/activities/ list of activities].<br />
<br />
The Union South was recently completely renovated and also has many activities available. They have a climbing wall, a bowling alley, pool tables, a beer garden, a wine tasting room, a ballroom, a movie theater and many other things.<br />
<br />
= Van Vleck Miscellany =<br />
Here's a bit more info about the happenings in and around the Math Dept.<br />
<br />
== Getting money ==<br />
*Paychecks: The first paycheck of the year arrives in October, though you may request an advance on about 30% of your first paycheck when you arrive. If you are not working over the summer, the last will come in June, so be sure to plan for the three month gap.<br />
<br />
*Fees: You will be charged for segregated fees in both semesters, and are not covered in your tuition. The amount depends on your credit load and status, but will be about $500 for most people and due about the time of your first paycheck. If you are on fellowship, this will be taken care of for you, and shouldn't appear on your bill.<br />
<br />
*TA union: The teaching assistants of Wisconsin are unionized. Even if you are not a TA, but are an employee of the department, you're still connected to them through advocacy and campus issues. For more information check out the [http://www.taa-madison.org/ TAA].<br />
<br />
== Getting stuff done ==<br />
See the Contacts section for a list of people who will help you get stuff done.<br />
<br />
If you want to reserve rooms in Van Vleck for review sessions or meetings you can fill out a green form with Sharon Paulson on the second floor. Sharon does the scheduling for about 4 or 5 rooms in the building, so you can also ask her about these rooms directly. If you need to reserve the 9th floor lounge, talk to Joan Wendt (also second floor).<br />
<br />
Each grad receives 200 photocopies and 250 black and white print outs a month for personal math use. If you are a TA, Sharon in the Copy Center on the second floor can photocopy materials for classes (which does not count toward your quota)– such as worksheets and quizzes. Just give her at least 24 hours notice. To check your printout quota, open a terminal logged into the math server, and type "pages". If you do go over your quota, you will simply get a (probably very small) bill at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
We get free office supplies on the 2nd floor – just ask the Receptionist for pens, folders, etc.<br />
<br />
You can pick up and send out your mail from the second floor. You might even want to have packages delivered to the department, to avoid missing them being delivered at home (UPS, for example, won't drop off to apartment complexes if you aren't there, so you'll have to drive out to Middleton to pick up your packages).<br />
<br />
It's never too early to start studying for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/graduate/quals.htm quals]... early and often, my friends. Early and Often.<br />
<br />
== Getting together ==<br />
Historically, some afternoons and Friday before colloquium, we have a cookie and coffee social hour on the 9th floor lounge. Keep your eyes open for announcements.<br />
<br />
Definitely check out some of the colloquia and seminars. The earlier you get involved the better. This is a great way to learn more about potential research areas, meet other people in the areas, and meet other mathematicians in other departments. There is a list posted on the 9th floor each week in addition to online.<br />
<br />
Once a semester, our group for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ women in mathematics] get together for an informal potluck. We also have been known to bring in women speakers funded by the [http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/ WiSELI] grant.<br />
<br />
= Miscellaneous Wisconsin Stuff =<br />
This section describes miscellaneous Wisconsin stuff that doesn't belong in any other section, such as, a [[Wisconsin Dictionary]] for those who aren't familiar with the Wisconsin vernacular.<br />
<br />
== Voting ==<br />
Frequently asked questions for Wisconsin voting can be found <br />
[http://wisconsin.gov/state/core/faq_wisconsin_voting_elections.html here]. <br />
As of the April election, Wisconsin has a law that allows for same day registration at the polls:<br />
<br />
''If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.''<br />
<br />
Out of state licenses work, and utility bills, bank statements, or pay checks with your name and address on them work for proof of residence.<br />
<br />
== Car Stuff ==<br />
Madison has a DMV out on the west side, just past Midvale, at 4802 Sheboygan Ave, and one on the east side out near the airport. <br />
<br />
*Licenses: As they say on their page for licensing new residents, if you're looking to put your permanent residence here and vote here and generally show up on the radar, you should apply for your [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/nonreside/index.htm WI license] within 60 days of establishing residency. Your first baseline license costs $28, and is valid for three years. Note: you will need to take with you, among other things, something like a rent agreement, or a utility bill, UW transcript, or bank statement actually mailed to your WI address (no e-bills). We'll note that math students have been known to wait longer than 60 days to officially apply for residency, but we recommend you don't wait until an out-of-state license expires to get a WI license.<br />
<br />
*Vehicle Registration: If you own a car and officially become a WI resident, you need to get WI plates. All the information you need is available [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/new/resident.htm here].<br />
<br />
*Parking: First, unless you have a motorcycle, '''don't''' plan to park on campus regularly. For parking near your residence, there are some options. Depending on the neighborhood, it's possible to rent a place that has parking included or available for an extra charge. Additionally, if you live in an area surrounded by 2-hr parking [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/documents/RP3allmap.pdf zones], you can usually buy a permit (for a little over $20 per year) allowing you to park on the street all day near your home. More information can be found on the City of Madison Parking Utility [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingUtility/index.cfm page]. Most importantly, "the vehicle for which you are requesting a permit must be owned by you, your child, your parents/step parents, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner, or be a leased or company vehicle which is assigned to you." <br />
<br />
BE AWARE! Winter parking gets all crazy in Madison (from November 15 - March 15). Most of town is on an alternate side parking schedule: cars should be parked on the even (resp. odd) house numbered side of the street from 1:00a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on even (resp. odd) numbered days. If you live on the isthmus in the Snow Emergency Zone, you will only need to do this when the weather gets really bad. You can sign up for alerts when this happens.<br />
<br />
If you leave your car in the wrong place -- with winter nonsense or for any other reason -- and it gets towed, you can call the Madison Police Department (266-4260) or Schmidt's Towing (257-0505) to find out what they've done with it.<br />
<br />
== Taxes ==<br />
Once you've lived here for an entire calendar year, be sure to look into the [http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/home.html Wisconsin Homestead Credit]... it's usually worth the time and effort for graduate students. Until then, you can look into [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html deducting moving costs] for relocating here on your federal taxes.<br />
<br />
A warning to students on fellowship: taxes will not be taken out of your paycheck, but you still have to pay them. You may want to consider filing [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199807,00.html quarterly].<br />
<br />
== Wisconsin benefit programs ==<br />
We don't exactly get piles of money for teaching. In fact, most people who are not on fellowship or receiving summer funding can qualify for some heating aid (up to $380/year), and electricity aid (up to $285/year). You can check your eligibility at [https://access.wisconsin.gov/ Access WI]. <br />
There may be some residency requirements, like the Homestead credit. You can find your annual salary in our [http://www.taa-madison.org/contract/index.html contract].<br />
<br />
== Residency ==<br />
While it's usually a good idea to become a WI resident, if, for some reason, you're looking to declare residency in WI for tuition purposes, the answer is usually "no." It seems that one has to be in Wisconsin for a full year before enrolling at the UW, and one has to prove that one did not move here primarily for educational purposes (according to the Wisconsin statutes, you have to provide "clear and convincing evidence"). More on that at the [http://www.registrar.wisc.edu/students/residence/index.php Office of the Registrar]'s site.<br />
<br />
= Contacts and Other Resources =<br />
*[http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/gradguide/index.html Guide to Graduate Student Life]: The Graduate Student Collaborative's ([http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]) guide to grad student life in Madison -- like this one, but different.<br />
<br />
* [[Teaching Assistant Guide]]: from real live Van Vleck TAs<br />
<br />
*[http://www.yelp.com/madison-wi Yelp.com]: Find reviews of local stuff- restaurants and things to do, but also dentists, auto shops, etc.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.vip.wisc.edu VIP], the Visitor & Information Programs office, located in the Red Gym, near [http://www.union.wisc.edu Memorial Union]. They are open M - F 8am - 5pm and Saturday 11am - 2pm. <br />
<br />
*[http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu Student Orientation Handbook] is a valuable resource for information including entertainment, recreational and varsity sports, student organizations (including those for cultural groups, international students, LGBT students, women, veterans, and people with disabilities), health services, jobs, transportation, safety, and housing. It’s also a great place for referrals to counseling services, including drug and alcohol and sexual assault issues. You can find all this information on the web, at http://www.wisc.edu/visitingCampus/ or call them at 263-2400. You can also email any questions you have to askbucky@uwmad.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lgbt.wisc.edu LGBT Campus Center]: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Center (265-3344; lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu) provides support, social, educational and research services to the campus community, and serves as UW-Madison's first stop for those looking for information about campus LGBT organizations. The Memorial Union office on the 2nd floor includes a library, a television and DVD player, plenty of comfortable seating, open computers, and has a staff of students and professionals that work to bring events, speakers, and programs to campus. The Center also publishes a weekly events e-letter and offers support and social groups.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Got Questions? Here are some folks who might just have the answers...<br />
<br />
== Counseling Services ==<br />
Counseling services are available through Counseling and [http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/ Consultation Services (C&CS)], located at 115 North Orchard Street, (265-5600, TTY number 265-3300). C&CS offers brief psychological treatment, personal counseling, and psychiatric services to UW-Madison students. Frequent services include help in overcoming depression, managing anxiety and other psychological issues, and in developing greater self-awareness, independence, and self-direction. They also provide personal problem counseling, couples relationship counseling, marriage and family counseling, cross-cultural counseling, and alcohol and drug assessment and referral. Specialized groups have included: graduate women support, women and self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, survivors of troubled families, rebuilding relationships. C&CS also provides crisis response at the above phone numbers. Services provided are covered by the student health fee (included in your student fees).<br />
<br />
== Administrative and Support Staff ==<br />
The administrative and support staff are the folk that keep our department functioning. Without them, we as mathematicians would be lost. :) Their pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/support_staff.html here] and their contact info can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/academic_staff.html here]. If one person doesn't know how to deal with a problem you might have, they certainly know who might be able to help you out.<br />
<br />
Kate Bartlett<br />
Position: Timetable/Undergraduate<br />
Office: 207 VV<br />
Email: bartlett@math<br />
Ask Kate about: Registration (for you and your students), MyUW stuff, classroom assignments.<br />
<br />
David Camacho<br />
Position: Assoc Fac Assoc<br />
Office: 321 VV<br />
Email: camacho@math<br />
Ask David about: the Math Tutorial Program (if a student needs extra attention)<br />
<br />
Mark Castillo<br />
Position: Grants/Proposals<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: castillo @math<br />
Ask Mark about: grant money<br />
<br />
Chris Uhlir<br />
Position: Payroll/Benefits<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: grenie@math<br />
Ask Mike about: Payroll, hourly positions, taxes, tuition, healthcare, and benefits. <br />
<br />
Sara Nagreen<br />
Position: Sr IPC<br />
Office: 515 VV<br />
Email: nagreen@math<br />
Ask Sara about: all things computing.<br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson<br />
Position: Copy Center Manager/ Room Reservations<br />
Office: 220 VV<br />
Email: paulson@math<br />
Ask Sharon about: Office supplies, room reservations (review sessions/exams/other), copying machine <br />
codes, private tutoring list.<br />
<br />
Mary Rice<br />
Position: Grad Prog. Admin<br />
Office: 203 VV<br />
Email: mrice@math<br />
Ask Mary about: Math dept records (teaching letters, transcripts, etc), how you go about graduating.<br />
<br />
Diane Rivard<br />
Position: Placement Advisor<br />
Office: 720 VV<br />
Email: rivard@math<br />
Ask Diane about: Placement questions (what class your student should be in, placement exam issues)<br />
<br />
Joan Wendt<br />
Position: Chair Secretary<br />
Office: 223 VV<br />
Email: wendt@math<br />
Ask Joan about: office assignments and keys<br />
<br />
Vicky Whelan<br />
Position: Dept Administrator<br />
Office: 218 VV<br />
Email: whelan@math<br />
Ask Vicky about: the dept credit card, espresso club, awesome concerts around town.<br />
<br />
== Current and Former Graduate Students Interested in Meeting YOU ==<br />
You can find a complete list of current graduate students [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/psdbgrad.html here], and pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/grad.html here].<br />
<br />
Laura Cladek<br />
Email: cladek@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~cladek Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2011<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Laura about: Anything ... Especially analysis or on campus housing.<br />
<br />
David Dynerman<br />
Email: dynerman@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~dynerman Website:]<br />
Grad-age: 3rd year<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask David about: programming video games, trying to do Hartshorne problems, <br />
going to the gym, Mushfeq Khan, Andrew Bridy<br />
<br />
Thomas Hangelbroek<br />
Email: hangelbr@math.hawaii.edu<br />
[http://math.hawaii.edu/people/hangelbr/ Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2007<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Thomas about: Anything Madison. Thomas is an expert in all things Madison.<br />
<br />
Sara Jensen<br />
Email: jensen@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jensen Website:]<br />
Grad-age: 3rd year<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask Sara about: Teaching, topology & algebra quals, knitting group, going to the gym <br />
<br />
(Evan) Alec Johnson<br />
Email: ejohnson@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson Website]<br />
Grad-age: 7th year<br />
Area of interest: Applied Math<br />
Ask Alec about: teaching, advanced calculus, gardening, and Geneva Campus Church.<br />
<br />
Christine Lien<br />
Email: lien@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lien Website]<br />
Grad-age: 6th year<br />
Area of interest: Complex Geometry<br />
Ask Christine about: anything, including bridge/card games, organizing women's events, <br />
the Association of Asian American Graduate students, and the Graduate Student Topology Seminar.<br />
<br />
Hao Lin<br />
Email: lin@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lin Website]<br />
Grad-age: 5th year<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Hao about: sports and anything about China.<br />
<br />
Jonathon Mason<br />
Email: jonathan.f.mason@gmail.com<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2010<br />
Ask Mason about: Wisconsin hiking, the local film scene.<br />
<br />
Jason Murcko<br />
Email: murcko@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~murcko Website]<br />
Grad-age: 4th year<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Jason about: the TAA and the local film and music scenes.<br />
<br />
Mike Schroeder<br />
Email: schroede@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~schroede Website]<br />
Grad-age: 6th year<br />
Area of interest: Combinatorics<br />
Ask Mike about: softball, bowling, sailing, racquet ball, and the Florida Gators.<br />
<br />
David Seal<br />
Email: seal@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~seal Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started in 2006.<br />
Area of interest: Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask David about: movies, biking, hiking and board games<br />
<br />
Beth Skubak<br />
Email: skubak@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~skubak Website]<br />
Grad-age: 2nd year<br />
Area of interest: undecided<br />
Ask Beth about: anything, including this wiki<br />
<br />
Mike Woodbury<br />
Email: woodbury@math.columbia.edu<br />
Grad-age: Class of 2011<br />
Area of interest: Number Theory<br />
Ask Mike about: anything, including number theory, road biking, UW basketball tix.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Guide&diff=4085Graduate Student Guide2012-08-16T17:25:17Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Getting stuff done */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Exams.png|400px|right | Grading Exams in the Lounge]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
= Food =<br />
<br />
There are many ethnic and interesting restaurants in Madison – Indonesian, African, Italian, Himalayan, Laotian, Peruvian, Mexican, Bakeries, Brew Pubs, Coffee Joints, you name it -- and everyone has their favorites.<br />
<br />
The biggest resource for finding food (and entertainment!) in Madison is probably the [http://www.thedailypage.com/eats/ Daily Page] (the online version of our local paper, the Isthmus), where you can search local restaurants by name, locality, and cuisine. There, they have reviews, hours, contact info, pricing, etc. Be sure to peruse their [http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Restaurants Madison's Favorites] section for some quick tips! Of course [http://www.yelp.com/ yelp] is always useful as well. At one point a couple spent a few years trying to sample every restaurant in Madison and blogged about their journey on the [http://www.madisonatoz.com/ Madison A to Z].<br />
<br />
Here are some general food facts:<br />
<br />
== Campus Food ==<br />
*Food Carts: Open for lunch in Library Mall at the foot of Bascom Hill near Lake & State Street. Very good and very cheap, and out as long as it's not too cold.<br />
<br />
*Ingraham Hall: Very close to Van Vleck, and has acceptable coffee (bring your own cup to save money!) and decent snacks. Try the lunch special: sandwich and 4 sides (soda, fruit, cookies, etc.) for six bucks. Halfway down the hill is the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/crossroadscafe.htm Crossroads Cafe] which has much better coffee and is open later.<br />
<br />
*Memorial Union: The Rathskeller has food and next door is Lakeside cafe with much better food. Summer afternoons on the terrace is an excellent place to hang out in the sunshine with a beer and brat.<br />
<br />
*Union South: Recently opened. Probably has many places to get food. <br />
<br />
*State Street (past the food carts) is full of restaurants and Coffee shops – there are at least a half dozen coffee roasters in town, and each supplies a different set of shops. In particular for lunch, there are the popular chains, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Einstein Bros. Bagels, or Chipotle... or hit the more independent spots such as the Sunroom Cafe or Ian's Pizza.<br />
<br />
== MadTown food ==<br />
<br />
Traditional Madison foods are German varieties such as beer, cheese, and bratwurst. Each year Madison hosts [http://www.bratfest.com/ Bratfest], a record breaking event. <br />
UW has [http://www.wisc.edu/foodsci/store/ Babcock Hall Ice Cream] on campus which creates delicious ice cream available in the Unions. The [http://www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com/ Chocolate Shoppe], [http://www.ilovemichaels.com/ Michael's Frozen Custard] and Culvers have nice deserts.<br />
Micro breweries in town include the [http://www.greatdanepub.com/ Great Dane], [http://www.capital-brewery.com/ Captial Brewery] and [http://www.aleasylum.com/ Ale Asylum]. Nearby there is the famous [http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/ New Glarus Brewing Co] which only sells beer in Wisconsin. You can join a free beer tour or walk through the brewery on a self guided tourn.<br />
<br />
In early September (2nd-3rd), check out [http://www.madisonfestivals.com/taste/ Taste of Madison] to see many restaurants all in one place at one time.<br />
<br />
Try a good ol' midwestern Fish Fry on Friday night – All you can eat fried fish generally served with a bran muffin, clam chowder, or coleslaw. Most Brew Pubs and some churches have them, and the [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/restaurant.php Orpheum] as well at the [http://www.avenuebarmadison.com/ Avenue Bar and Grill] both run Friday night Fish Fries.<br />
<br />
== Farm fresh food ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.madfarmmkt.org/ Dane County Farmer's Market] is amazing and HUGE. The big one is open every Saturday morning, and is located on the capitol square for most of the year. In addition to the ludicrous amount of fresh produce, there are also bakery stands, coffee, and fresh juice carts for quick breakfasts.<br />
<br />
There are also a few smaller [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farmers_markets.htm#danecounty markets] scattered around town, almost every day of the week:<br />
<br />
*Sunday: 8:30am to 12:30pm in front of Pierce's Northside Market<br />
*Monday: (none)<br />
*Tuesday: 4pm to 7pm on Ingersol at Williamson, 2pm to 6pm at 1602 S. Park St,<br />
*Wednesday: 8am to 2pm on MLKJr Blvd, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center,<br />
*Thursday: Thursdays, 2pm to 6pm at the Villager Mall on Park St., 2pm to 6pm in the McFarland Centre, 7:30am to 1:30pm in the Greenway Station shopping center,<br />
*Friday: (none)<br />
*Saturday: 6am to 2pm on the Capitol square, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center, 9am to 2pm at 1602 S. Park St, 7am to 1pm at Sheboygan Ave. and Segoe Rd., and 8:30am to 11am in Watertower Park.<br />
<br />
During the summer and fall, there are many [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/index.htm local farms] where you can [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farms/u_pick.htm pick] your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, or pumpkins when they are in season.<br />
<br />
If you're in town for the summer, you might consider signing up for a [http://www.macsac.org/ Community Supported Agriculture] food box. CSA is a way to support a local farm by paying an annual fee in the winter or spring which buys you a share of the season's harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick-up a weekly box of fresh foods which may include produce, fruits, cheeses, eggs, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. The typical CSA season in Wisconsin runs from the end of May through mid-October. You do have to pay the lump sum up-front, and some weeks you'll find yourself with five pounds of chard... but for most of the summer you'll have your produce needs met, and you can feel good about supporting small local farms. Better yet, most of the university's insurance providers offer [http://www.macsac.org/rebates.html rebates] for signing up for a CSA -- somewhere between $50-$300, depending on the plan and how many people you're sharing with (for example, if two people on GHC share a box, they might pay $450 for the box for a box lasting 25 weeks, but they they could each get $100 back, making that $5/week per person). If you're interested, remember to sign up early -- most programs are full by May.<br />
<br />
= Grocery Stores =<br />
<br />
== Generic Groceries ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.capcentrefoods.com/home.html Capitol Centre Foods]: Given their small size, they have an excellent selection of groceries. They tend to be a bit pricey. In addition, they deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.freshmadisonmarket.com/ Fresh Madison Market]: A reasonably large general grocery store, not too expensive. Has a large selection of "typical college items" (lots of frozen foods). Located on University, not too far from Van Vleck. They also deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.copps.com/ Copps]: Your standard grocery store with multiple locations.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=1020&lang=en-US Costco]: Your friendly big-box bulk store. They treat their employees incredibly well. Good buys on computers, 2 lbs of sockeye salmon or button down oxford cloth long sleeved shirts. You'll need a membership or go there with someone who has a membership. You can also get a free trial membership if you simply ask.<br />
<br />
*Walgreens: Pharmacy/Grocery store. There is a Walgreens on the corner of Lake & State Street near Van Vleck, on the Capitol Square, and in University square.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Whole Foods]: Kinda spendy, but good bread, specialty stuff, and produce through the winter.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Woodman's]: two locations -- [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=725+S+Gammon+Rd+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=43.055217,-89.50304&spn=0.05381,0.171661 East] and [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3817+Milwaukee+St,+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.103615,-89.319363&spn=0.053768,0.171661&om=1 West]. If you have a car and the time, go here. Very large, very cheap, but time consuming. They don't take credit cards, so bring a debit card or check book. The produce is pretty poor, but they're huge and, again, cheap. Check out the liquor store for a large selection (you can buy all types of alcohol in grocery stores in Wisconsin... but not after 9pm).<br />
<br />
*[http://www.traderjoes.com/ Trader Joe's]: Located at 1810 Monroe St. They have good prices for select specialty food items such as wine, cheese and fancy snacks. Their basic foodstuffs tend to be a bit pricey.<br />
<br />
*The Jenifer Street Market located on 2038 Jenifer Street is a nice little grocery store if you happen to live in the area.<br />
<br />
== Co-ops ==<br />
Co-ops are a good source of local organic food. If you are a member they provide discounts, but you can also shop there at your own will.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.regentmarketcoop.org/ Regent Market Cooperative], 2136 Regent St. 233-4329.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.willystreet.coop/ Willy Street Co-op] The largest and most active co-op in the Madison area. They have been able to survive the decline in co-ops over the years. They offer a large selection of bulk foods and spices at an excellent price. For a quick bite, they have an excellent deli, salad bar, and in-store coffee shop. 1221 Williamson St. 251-6776. They recently opened a second store in Middleton located at 6825 University Ave. Both locations deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
== Specialty Foods ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.aldifoods.com/ Aldi Foods]: It's like grocery shopping at overstock.com.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=keJ&q=asian+midway+foods&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,304616636444102595&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Asian Midway Market]: The go-to market for anything Thai, Chinese or South-East Asian, this centrally-located store comes highly recommended. In particular, they offer a great selection of specialized produce. 301 South Park Street; 255-5864<br />
<br />
*[http://www.brennansmarket.com/ Brennan's Market]: Great for Produce, Meats, Cheese, Micro brews and Wines. You won't find things like Flour and Saran Wrap here, but definitely worth the trip.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/ Farm Fresh Atlas]: Not a grocery store, but a good resource for where you can buy local foods and a list of farms in the areas.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madseafood.com/ The Seafood Center]: The name says it all. Great fresh fish and live lobsters.<br />
<br />
*[http://frabonisdeli.com/ Fraboni's]: An awesome Italian grocery store and deli. They have very good [http://frabonisdeli.com/oils olive oils], [http://frabonisdeli.com/pastas pastas], and make-your-own pizza fixings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3723579948/garden-asian-market-middleton Garden Asian Market]: A full service Asian food market specializing in fresh meat, produce, and seafood. Mostly Chinese-leaning, they do a good job of providing a wide variety of items within their niche. It may be far out, but it's worth the trip in its pleasantness and selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=india+house+grocery+store,+madison,+wi&fb=1&gl=us&hq=india+house+grocery+store,&hnear=Madison,+WI&cid=0,0,8495347478199843118&ll=43.050466,-89.503019&spn=0.007871,0.019183&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A India House]: Really well done Indian grocery store. Good place to buy Kari leaves.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=TMe&q=lee%27s+oriental&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,92533124768468793&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Lee's Oriental]: Next to Penzey's spices. 3240 University Ave; 231-1593<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=2Me&q=oriental+shop&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,13628497956998458364&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Oriental Shop]: They carry mostly dry-goods, and tend to lean toward stocking more Korean items. 1206 South Park Street; 255-0326<br />
<br />
= Housing =<br />
<br />
Haven't found a place yet? Already hate your apartment?<br />
<br />
* [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/ UW Off-Campus Housing Search]: Probably the best search site for students.<br />
<br />
* Again, [http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List] is a good resourse. Also a good place to look for roommates outside of the department.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/ University Apartments]: On campus graduate housing, particularly popular with married couples (especially with children). Singles are also welcome. Many of them are on the bus route #80, a free route which runs from the apartments through campus every fifteen minutes throughout the day.<br />
<br />
== Location, Location, Location ==<br />
<br />
If you would like to keep your commute down, there are many places near campus. Many graduate students prefer to live close enough to Van Vleck to be within walking distance, yet far enough away to stay away from partying undergraduate students.<br />
<br />
Many graduate students live in the Vilas neighborhood, which is located South of Regent Street and between Park and Monroe. East of the Capitol building, we also have the Willy St. neighborhood (between Williamson and Rutledge streets, between Paterson and Thornton) and the other side of the Isthmus, between Mifflin and Lake Mendota. The university offers on campus housing at Eagle Heights with regular buses. Many students also live near Sheboygan and University Avenues (not on this map), and there are regular buses that run up University Avenue that will drop you off right in front of Van Vleck. The large apartment complexes in that area include the Normandy, Chapel Hill, Carolina, Monticello, Hilldale Towers, Park Towers, and Sovereign Apartments which are cheaper to live in than spots on the square.<br />
<br />
Because there is no parking on campus, you will need to plan on living within walking distance of a bus route or campus itself. You will receive a free bus pass for the [http://www.mymetrobus.com/ Madison Metro] system, which is very reliable. Check out the “plan your trip” link to find bus routes near you.<br />
<br />
Here is an approximate map of many areas where you will be likely to find housing: <br />
[[Image:gradhousingmap.jpg|400px| center | Housing Map]]<br />
<br />
Basically, shoot for zones 2-6, the North parts of zones 7 and 8, or the far East part of zone 10 on [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/map_all.asp this map] (the map from the UW Off-Campus Housing Search).<br />
<br />
== Stuff your landlord might not tell you ==<br />
<br />
*Utilities:<br />
Lots of apartments have water, sewage, heat, and and sometimes electricity included in rent. For those which don't, be sure to find out what to expect through the [http://mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/ Madison Gas and Electric] web page. Just tell them the address of the place you're looking at, and they'll tell you what the highs, lows, and averages have been over the last year.<br />
<br />
*Property information:<br />
The [http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/property.html City Assessor] has all of the basic information about Madison properties on file, including how many units are on the property, how much square footage there is, if there's AC in the building, what school district it's in, who your alderperson would be, and what else is on the property (e.g. garages). They'll even tell you how much the property is worth, and how much your landlord is paying in property taxes. Sometimes the square footage isn't broken up--for example, maybe there are two units on the first floor, but they'll only tell you that there are 1,700 sq ft on that floor, not how it's split up between the two units. It can be a useful site for rounding out your knowledge of places you're considering renting.<br />
<br />
*Tenants rights:<br />
The [http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/ Tenant resource center] is a small non-profit membership organization which provides housing counseling, mediation services and office assistance. Their website includes tips for new renters, generic rental forms, and advice for what to do if your landlord just won't get back to you about repairs, returning deposits, etc.<br />
There is also the [http://studenttenantunion.rso.wisc.edu/ Student tenant union], which is specifically targeted to UW students.<br />
<br />
== Rental Companies ==<br />
Many properties in Madison are run by rental companies -- some large, some small -- some good, some not-so-good. Larger companies tend to have lower prices, and more people working toward maintaining rentals. However, they may have less of an investment in taking care of each individual property or screening their tenants. Some people feel better renting from small companies, or landlords with only one or two houses. You may get more individual attention and care. Individuals have more investment in protecting each property, and renting to good tenants, so the properties tend to be in more reliable condition. However, with fewer properties comes fewer resources and higher prices.<br />
<br />
Whatever choice you make, be sure to have a conversation with your potential landlords about their polices, especially if you aren't going to be able to see things in person. It may also be good to Google the company or person to see if other people have had something good or bad to say about them or their properties. In particular, [http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Madison.html ApartmentRatings.com] has a few of the apartment complexes around town listed.<br />
<br />
Here are some general impressions/very subjective opinions that some of us have gotten from/about a few of the larger local companies:<br />
<br />
*AB Holdings: In particular, they have a couple small apartment buildings on Vilas that are particularly ideal for two people. Quite a few people from the department have rented these units and have been pretty happy.<br />
<br />
*[http://apexrents.com/ Apex Property Management]: Great company. Well-maintained properties, with many of the more recently remodeled rentals being very nice. Their representatives are helpful and responsible, and their tenants seem to be generally satisfied.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.centralmadison.com/ The Christensen Company]: Not terribly up-to-date apartments, but worth taking a look at.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonproperty.com/ Madison Property Management]: Lots of choices, but notoriously junky properties. They tend to cater mostly to undergraduates, and their rentals show it. We wouldn't recommend renting from this company unless you visit first.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.mcbridecompanies.com/ The McBride Companies]: Nice properties, good management. Really good website if you turn the sound off.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.tallardapartments.com/ Tallard Apartments]: Nice properties with very friendly and responsive staff. Their rentals tend to go early in the season.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wimci.com/ Wisconsin Management Company]: Nice enough properties, but kind of flakey representation. Make sure to ask lots of questions.<br />
<br />
*The Wright Company (or Norris Ct. Apartments): Very nice older buildings, but kind of sketchy management. Nothing is going to be in stellar shape, but they do tend to rent more to graduates and professionals, so they aren't beat up either. If you do rent from them, don't expect them to be very responsive, and be sure to be especially careful about protecting your security deposit by taking photos and keeping a record of your move-in report.<br />
<br />
= Furniture =<br />
<br />
*[http://www.svdpmadison.org/ St. Vincent DePaul's]: Like Goodwill. Has cheap dressers, desks, chairs, and general household stuff. Will deliver for a small charge. This is also a great place to donate any furniture or other items that you no longer want – they will pick up the items from your apartment. There is also a Goodwill in town, but they won't have nearly the same volume of furniture.<br />
<br />
*[http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List]: a free online classifieds site. Great not only for furniture, but also pet resources and last minute apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
*Eagle Heights Apartment Bulletin Boards: Lots of cheap stuff from people graduating, many of whom are moving overseas. You can even find cars. You can try posting your own wanted posters on the boards. You can find these boards at the bus stops for the (free) bus 80 route.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/madisonfreecycle/ Freecycle]: A community "give stuff away for free" website with a Madison branch.<br />
<br />
*Hippie Christmas ("Move-Out Day"): For some reason or another, the evening of August 14th is when the bulk of leases near campus turn over. This is a fantastic day to pick up free furniture from the street. If you already have a rental van, why not help municipal waste by pickup up a bookshelf for them?<br />
<br />
*The Todd Drive Area: Just west of park street on the beltline. American Furniture for furniture and electronics, Home Concepts for cheap but nice looking furniture, and Steinhafel's for furniture and mattresses.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html SWAP]. The UW's surplus supply store.<br />
<br />
= International Student Resources =<br />
Here are a few links specifically for international students. There are international grocery stores listed in the [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Graduate_Student_Guide#Specialty_Foods groceries] section.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcssa.net/ Chinese Student & Scholar Association]: A connection to the university's Chinese community for incoming students. They offer rides from the airport, list general information about madison, and organize get-tegethers/Chinese celebrations. International Conversation & Coffee Hour: meet other international students and americans interested in other cultures. Every Friday, 12-2pm, Cooper Hearth Room 160, Union South.<br />
<br />
*[http://iss.wisc.edu/ International Student Services]: the UW's International Student Services<br />
<br />
*[http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MADindians/ MadIndians]: a Yahoo online group for students from India in Madison. Good place to search for an Indian roommate.<br />
<br />
*[http://mtsa.rso.wisc.edu/ Madison Association of Turkish Students]: Very helpful for incoming Turkish students. It includes information about how best to get to Madison from Turkey, information about housing, and how to reach other Turkish students in Madison.<br />
<br />
= Newspapers =<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/captimes/ The Capitol Times]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the afternoon. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more liberal.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.thedailypage.com/ The Isthmus]: Free independent Madison newspaper. Has a liberal voice and is full of entertainment, including family fun, outdoor attractions, and fine arts. Also puts out the Annual Manual - the yearly guide to all things Madison.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.theonion.com/ The Onion]: While hilarious, this paper is only really good if you're already in on the joke. We get free paper copies in Madison. There is a stack near the elevators in VV. The local edition has local entertainment listings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Wisconsin State Journal]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the mornings. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more conservative.<br />
<br />
= Religious Groups =<br />
*[http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/ Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/ Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church]: Near Sheboygan Ave. at 110 N Whitney Way. A huge church, but with opportunities to get involved and meet people. It has services in the sanctuary, with a mixture of traditional and semi-modern worship, and also "video cafe" services with more lively, modern worship. Very good teaching.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cpcmadison.com/ Christ Presbyterian Church]. Just east of James Madison Park on Gorham. Has a great choir and organist!<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fusmadison.org/ The First Unitarian Society of Madison]. "A liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue." Looking for something new? They're open to all types. Also, they are housed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.folmadison.org/ Fountain of Life]: 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. A multi-ethnic church with a lot of eclectic music styles, including a lot of Gospel music<br />
<br />
*[http://genevacc.org/ The Geneva Campus Church]: On Campus Reformed church. They describe themselves as "a university church for the whole family"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwhillel.org/ Hillel]: UW-Madison's on-campus center for everything Jewish: religious, cultural, political, traditional, and alternative. Located on Langdon Street, it serves both the school population and, to a far lesser extent, the entire city.<br />
<br />
*[http://islamiccentermadison.org/ Islamic Center of Madison]: Has a masjid inside. 21 N Orchard St, (608)251-9851<br />
<br />
*[http://ivgcf.rso.wisc.edu/ InterVarsity Grad Christian Fellowship]: It's a welcoming place for Christians and non-Christians alike. (You might even find your future husband/wife there) They also have a website with info about local churches. There is a new student picnic at the beginning of the fall semester.<br />
<br />
*Latter Day Saints: There are a number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wards in the Madison area. The Madison First Ward covers areas closest to campus and meets at 4505 Regent Street, two blocks south of Hilldale Mall, at 9am. The University Ward serves single adults and meets at 1711 University Avenue at 10 am. The Madison Third Ward serves areas close to campus and meets at 701 Bear Claw Way on Madison's far west side at 11 am. Visitors and the curious are always welcome.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lccmadison.com/ Lutheran Campus Center]: A fairly young, enthusiastic, and liberal-minded congragation, found right on campus.<br />
<br />
*[http://madcitychurch.org/ Mad City Church]: A non-denominational, casual christian fellowship. Services are held in the LaFollette High School located on Madison's east side - very near the corner of Pflaum Rd. and Monona Dr. Office at 2713 E. Washington Ave.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.muuyacm.org/ Madison UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry (MUUYACM)]. One of the largest and most active Unitarian Universalist young adult groups in the U.S., they are open to young adults (ages 18-35) of all denominations. In addition to worships, they organize social-justice-oriented activities, and are an active member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcatholic.org/ St. Paul's University Catholic Center]: On campus in Library Mall near Lake & State. Has a lively Catholic grad student group called Mustard Seed with Bible studies, Thursday night speakers, retreats, service projects, and large quantities of food and euchre.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.unityofmadison.org/ Unity of Madison]: (from their site) "Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community focused on Truth Seeking and Spiritual Growth through the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire, nuture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live Jesus' message that 'the kingdom of God is within you.'"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.isthmuszencommunity.org/ Zen Buddhism]: A local zen buddhist center is located next to Willy st co-op. New comers are especially welcome.<br />
<br />
= Arts and Entertainment =<br />
<br />
Madison is a medium sized city with a not so medium sized arts and entertainment scene. There are cultural events on campus<br />
and at the [http://www.overturcenter.com Overture Center]; sporting events; art, science, natural history, and history museums; parks, the<br />
[http://www.uwarboretum.org arboretum], and [http://www.olbrich.org botanical gardens]; a free [http://www.vilaszoo.org zoo]; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; a [http://www.madfarmmkt.com Farmer’s Market] on the<br />
Capital Square every Saturday morning from April-October; and lots of other things. The [http://www.thedailypage.com Isthmus], is the local free newspaper which posts many current events.<br />
The Isthmus can be found in many stores, in campus buildings, and on street corners.<br />
<br />
== Athletic Activities ==<br />
* [http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/ Rec Sports] runs the gyms on campus. There are three such on-campus gyms -- The SERF, the Nat, and the Shell, which are free with student ID. For $10/semester, you can attend any of their Group Fitness classes, which cover everything from aerobics and weights to yoga and dance. Also, both the SERF and Nat have indoor pools.<br />
<br />
*The University of Wisconsin has a long standing heritage of being proud of their [http://www.uwbadgers.com/ athletic events]. Men's basketball, football and ice-hockey receive the most attention and as a student, you can obtain season tickets for all of these events.<br />
<br />
== Dancing ==<br />
<br />
*Ballroom: [http://www.uwmbda.org/ UWMBDA] is the big ballroom dance group here. They have dances with lessons every week on Friday or Saturday and a practice group every Thursday.<br />
<br />
*[http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/dances.htm Contra Dance]: Meetings every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
*International Folk club: meets biweekly Library Mall, Wed/Sun 7:30PM-late.<br />
<br />
*Swing: [http://www.uwswing.com/ Jumptown Swing] is UW's swing club. They host (mostly) weekly dances at Union South, and provide lessons for a nominal fee. See their site for scheduling and links to other swing orgonizations. Also, on Wednesdays, there's dancing at the [http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ Brink Lounge] from 8-11.<br />
<br />
*Salsa: Venues include [http://www.cardinalbar.com/ Cardinal Bar] on Thursdays, [http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/details.php?event=176610 Frida's] on Friday nights. Don't know how to Salsa? There are lessons before dances at Cardinal, and instruction is offered through the Union's minicourses.<br />
<br />
*Tango: the [http://www.madisontango.org/ Madison Tango Society] provides lessons and dances for Argentine Tango. Their site has a good list or other events in and around Madison.<br />
<br />
== Libraries ==<br />
In addition to the many [http://www.library.wisc.edu/ Libraries of UW], the [http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ Madison Public Library] is a great place for books, movies, and music.<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
The Daily Page has a [http://www.thedailypage.com/movies/listing.php listing] of movie times for most of the theaters around town (both big and small):<br />
<br />
*Eastgate, Point and Star Cinema are the three larger movie theaters in town.<br />
<br />
*Market Square shows second runs at a good discount. <br />
<br />
*The [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/ Orpheum] is an old cinema within site of the capitol on State street. They tend to show less mainstream movies.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.sundancecinemas.com/madison.html Sundance 608] shows independent film as well as blockbuster movies. They have a rooftop cafe that's open during the summer months, 2 bars (you can take a drink into your movie), and a restaurant!<br />
<br />
For on-campus movies:<br />
*The Wisconsin Union Directorate runs on campus screening of films. Their film site can be found [http://www.union.wisc.edu/WUD/film.aspx here.]<br />
<br />
*The UW film department hosts free screenings of a wide array of films based on a given theme for that semester through their [http://cinema.wisc.edu/ cinematheque.] Their department has many contacts with other film institutes and are able show rare original 35mm films that you can't see anywhere else.<br />
<br />
*In late March/early April, go check out some of the many many films showing at the [http://www.wifilmfest.org/ Wisconsin Film Festival.] Sites all over town take part in hosting the showing of these films.<br />
<br />
Madison also has a number of independent video stores:<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ Four Star Video Heaven] has been voted as a Madison Favorite for a number of years. See their site to browse their collection online.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bongovideo.com/ Bongo Video] has a smaller, but quite tasty selection. Lots of personality, and good daily specials.<br />
<br />
== Music ==<br />
Whether you're looking to play music, or just go watch free or (in)expensive concerts, there are many options in Madison.<br />
<br />
*Our very own [http://music.wisc.edu/ Music Department] hosts many music events. Their website has a calendar listing current music events including faculty concerts and student recitals.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonsymphony.org/ The Madison Symphony Orchestra] (MSO) is the professional symphony based here in Madison. With your student ID, you can get student rush tickets for as little as $10 per person.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wcoconcerts.org/ The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra] is Madison's professional chamber orchestra. Each summer, their widely popular [http://www.wcoconcerts.org/new/cos/concertsonthesquare.php concerts on the square] draw many people from all over the place for a free outdoor concert.<br />
<br />
*[http://madisoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Madison Community Orchestra] (MCO) is an informal group run by Madison Area Technical College that meets once a week. There are four free concerts a year and no auditions to play with the group.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.middletoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Middleton Community Orchestra] is a second newly formed community orchestra run by community musicians. Their concerts are extremely affordable, and they may run auditions.<br />
<br />
== Outdoor Activites ==<br />
Madison is a very bicycle friendly town, and there are many parks either in town or within a short drive. Here are some suggestions about outdoor activities to engage in:<br />
<br />
*Take a nice long walk along one of the many paths around [http://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/imap/LakeshoreNaturePreserve.html Picnic Point]... bike the path from Memorial Union out to the tip, or bus/drive out to the base of picnic point and wander the foot trails in the area.<br />
<br />
*Head towards Monona Terrace on Lake Monona, and take one of the paths that wraps around the lake (great bike ride!).<br />
<br />
*You can also go walking and/or biking around the [http://uwarboretum.org/ Arboretum] south of campus and tour their gardens, or head to the free [http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Vilas Zoo]. Lake Wingra is essentially totally surrounded by wooded areas including Henry Vilas Park, the UW-arboretum and Edgewood college. You can rent canoes at Knickerbocker for fairly cheap and relax on Lake Wingra.<br />
<br />
*Community Gardens: There are a number of community gardens run by the [http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/ Community Action Coalition]. Nominally, you can sign up for a plot for a small fee, and learn how to garden if you don't already know, or go to town if you already do. The [http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/ Eagle Heights Community Garden] is open to both residents and non-residents alike. All of the gardens are fun to look at if you haven't ever seen one.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.olbrich.org/ The Olbrich Botanical Gardens] are located east of lake Monona. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including their award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden, or enjoy the year-round tropical Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds.. Outdoor gardens are open daily and free to the public, while entrance to the conservatory is $1 per person.<br />
<br />
*Catch a festival; Madison is home to a number of festivals -- big festivals, small festivals, arts festivals, music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals -- we've got all kinds.<br />
<br />
The Winter opens itself up to new activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing and other options. The hoofers club runs ice boats on the lake.<br />
<br />
*The city of Madison parks open up outdoor [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct2.html ice skating] at Tenney, Vilas, and Elver parks. No skates? No worries. They will rent skates to you there ($6.00 for the first hour, $2/hr after that).<br />
<br />
*There is also [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct4.html cross-country skiing] at a number of Dane county parks, with passes starting at $5/day. No skills? Check out lessons at the [http://www.madnorski.org/page/ Madison Nordic Ski Club] or, again, [http://sns.hoofers.org/ Hoofers] has lots to offer in that area.<br />
<br />
== Student Clubs ==<br />
The University of Wisconsin, being a rather large institution, has got so much stuff going on for all of us student-types. Here are some ways people around the department have been taking advantage:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop]: Located upstairs in the Memorial Union, they are "here to satisfy your creative urges in a variety of craft media." Their facilities include a darkroom, a woodshop, a ceramics studio, metal working tools, etc. Friday afternoons, they open their studios to all union members (that means you!) for free!<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hoofers.org/ Hoofers]: Student outdoor recreation club. The Outing and Sailing clubs in particular have lots of graduate students.<br />
<br />
* [http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]: Graduate Student Collaborative Organization<br />
<br />
* [http://cfli.wisc.edu/student_organizations.htm Student Organizations]: at UW Madison (this is a directory of all registered student organizations at the university; you can search by topic or name)<br />
<br />
== The Student Unions ==<br />
The Memorial Union is located on the lakefront, on Park and Langdon. Be sure to check out the Terrace while the weather is still good -- it's a great place to go to get out of the office, grab something to snack on, and study out in the sun. You'll find the Daily Scoop (yummy ice cream!) and Der Rathskeller (beer and deep-fried goodness). You'll also find all sorts of stuff to keep you busy, like the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop], the Union Theater, the Hoofers' headquarters, and a wide array of Mini Courses with which to expand your horizons.<br />
<br />
Also useful: the travel services center and STA Travel will get you good deals on trips (including bus tickets to O'Hare, Midway, and Milwaukee airports), and the theater's box office will get you good deals on shows (theater, music, etc) all around town. In addition, the Union has always got other special events going on to keep all of us entertained -- see their complete [http://www.union.wisc.edu/activities/ list of activities].<br />
<br />
The Union South was recently completely renovated and also has many activities available. They have a climbing wall, a bowling alley, pool tables, a beer garden, a wine tasting room, a ballroom, a movie theater and many other things.<br />
<br />
= Van Vleck Miscellany =<br />
Here's a bit more info about the happenings in and around the Math Dept.<br />
<br />
== Getting money ==<br />
*Paychecks: The first paycheck of the year arrives in October, though you may request an advance on about 30% of your first paycheck when you arrive. If you are not working over the summer, the last will come in June, so be sure to plan for the three month gap.<br />
<br />
*Fees: You will be charged for segregated fees in both semesters, and are not covered in your tuition. The amount depends on your credit load and status, but will be about $500 for most people and due about the time of your first paycheck. If you are on fellowship, this will be taken care of for you, and shouldn't appear on your bill.<br />
<br />
*TA union: The teaching assistants of Wisconsin are unionized. Even if you are not a TA, but are an employee of the department, you're still connected to them through advocacy and campus issues. For more information check out the [http://www.taa-madison.org/ TAA].<br />
<br />
== Getting stuff done ==<br />
See the Contacts section for a list of people who will help you get stuff done.<br />
<br />
If you want to reserve rooms in Van Vleck for review sessions or meetings you can fill out a green form with Sharon Paulson on the second floor. Sharon does the scheduling for about 4 or 5 rooms in the building, so you can also ask her about these rooms directly. If you need to reserve the 9th floor lounge, talk to Joan Wendt (also second floor).<br />
<br />
Each grad receives 200 photocopies and 250 black and white print outs a month for personal math use. If you are a TA, Sharon in the Copy Center on the second floor can photocopy materials for classes (which does not count toward your quota)– such as worksheets and quizzes. Just give her at least 24 hours notice. To check your printout quota, open a terminal logged into the math server, and type "pages". If you do go over your quota, you will simply get a (probably very small) bill at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
We get free office supplies on the 2nd floor – just ask the Receptionist for pens, folders, etc.<br />
<br />
You can pick up and send out your mail from the second floor. You might even want to have packages delivered to the department, to avoid missing them being delivered at home (UPS, for example, won't drop off to apartment complexes if you aren't there, so you'll have to drive out to Middleton to pick up your packages).<br />
<br />
It's never too early to start studying for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/graduate/quals.htm quals]... early and often, my friends. Early and Often.<br />
<br />
== Getting together ==<br />
Historically, some afternoons and Friday before colloquium, we have a cookie and coffee social hour on the 9th floor lounge. Keep your eyes open for announcements.<br />
<br />
Definitely check out some of the colloquia and seminars. The earlier you get involved the better. This is a great way to learn more about potential research areas, meet other people in the areas, and meet other mathematicians in other departments. There is a list posted on the 9th floor each week in addition to online.<br />
<br />
Once a semester, our group for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ women in mathematics] get together for an informal potluck. We also have been known to bring in women speakers funded by the [http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/ WiSELI] grant.<br />
<br />
= Miscellaneous Wisconsin Stuff =<br />
This section describes miscellaneous Wisconsin stuff that doesn't belong in any other section, such as, a [[Wisconsin Dictionary]] for those who aren't familiar with the Wisconsin vernacular.<br />
<br />
== Voting ==<br />
Frequently asked questions for Wisconsin voting can be found <br />
[http://wisconsin.gov/state/core/faq_wisconsin_voting_elections.html here]. <br />
As of the April election, Wisconsin has a law that allows for same day registration at the polls:<br />
<br />
''If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.''<br />
<br />
Out of state licenses work, and utility bills, bank statements, or pay checks with your name and address on them work for proof of residence.<br />
<br />
== Car Stuff ==<br />
Madison has a DMV out on the west side, just past Midvale, at 4802 Sheboygan Ave, and one on the east side out near the airport. <br />
<br />
*Licenses: As they say on their page for licensing new residents, if you're looking to put your permanent residence here and vote here and generally show up on the radar, you should apply for your [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/nonreside/index.htm WI license] within 60 days of establishing residency. Your first baseline license costs $28, and is valid for three years. Note: you will need to take with you, among other things, something like a rent agreement, or a utility bill, UW transcript, or bank statement actually mailed to your WI address (no e-bills). We'll note that math students have been known to wait longer than 60 days to officially apply for residency, but we recommend you don't wait until an out-of-state license expires to get a WI license.<br />
<br />
*Vehicle Registration: If you own a car and officially become a WI resident, you need to get WI plates. All the information you need is available [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/new/resident.htm here].<br />
<br />
*Parking: First, unless you have a motorcycle, '''don't''' plan to park on campus regularly. For parking near your residence, there are some options. Depending on the neighborhood, it's possible to rent a place that has parking included or available for an extra charge. Additionally, if you live in an area surrounded by 2-hr parking [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/documents/RP3allmap.pdf zones], you can usually buy a permit (for a little over $20 per year) allowing you to park on the street all day near your home. More information can be found on the City of Madison Parking Utility [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingUtility/index.cfm page]. Most importantly, "the vehicle for which you are requesting a permit must be owned by you, your child, your parents/step parents, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner, or be a leased or company vehicle which is assigned to you." <br />
<br />
BE AWARE! Winter parking gets all crazy in Madison (from November 15 - March 15). Most of town is on an alternate side parking schedule: cars should be parked on the even (resp. odd) house numbered side of the street from 1:00a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on even (resp. odd) numbered days. If you live on the isthmus in the Snow Emergency Zone, you will only need to do this when the weather gets really bad. You can sign up for alerts when this happens.<br />
<br />
If you leave your car in the wrong place -- with winter nonsense or for any other reason -- and it gets towed, you can call the Madison Police Department (266-4260) or Schmidt's Towing (257-0505) to find out what they've done with it.<br />
<br />
== Taxes ==<br />
Once you've lived here for an entire calendar year, be sure to look into the [http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/home.html Wisconsin Homestead Credit]... it's usually worth the time and effort for graduate students. Until then, you can look into [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html deducting moving costs] for relocating here on your federal taxes.<br />
<br />
A warning to students on fellowship: taxes will not be taken out of your paycheck, but you still have to pay them. You may want to consider filing [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199807,00.html quarterly].<br />
<br />
== Wisconsin benefit programs ==<br />
We don't exactly get piles of money for teaching. In fact, most people who are not on fellowship or receiving summer funding can qualify for some heating aid (up to $380/year), and electricity aid (up to $285/year). You can check your eligibility at [https://access.wisconsin.gov/ Access WI]. <br />
There may be some residency requirements, like the Homestead credit. You can find your annual salary in our [http://www.taa-madison.org/contract/index.html contract].<br />
<br />
== Residency ==<br />
While it's usually a good idea to become a WI resident, if, for some reason, you're looking to declare residency in WI for tuition purposes, the answer is usually "no." It seems that one has to be in Wisconsin for a full year before enrolling at the UW, and one has to prove that one did not move here primarily for educational purposes (according to the Wisconsin statutes, you have to provide "clear and convincing evidence"). More on that at the [http://www.registrar.wisc.edu/students/residence/index.php Office of the Registrar]'s site.<br />
<br />
= Contacts and Other Resources =<br />
*[http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/gradguide/index.html Guide to Graduate Student Life]: The Graduate Student Collaborative's ([http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]) guide to grad student life in Madison -- like this one, but different.<br />
<br />
* [[Teaching Assistant Guide]]: from real live Van Vleck TAs<br />
<br />
*[http://www.yelp.com/madison-wi Yelp.com]: Find reviews of local stuff- restaurants and things to do, but also dentists, auto shops, etc.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.vip.wisc.edu VIP], the Visitor & Information Programs office, located in the Red Gym, near [http://www.union.wisc.edu Memorial Union]. They are open M - F 8am - 5pm and Saturday 11am - 2pm. <br />
<br />
*[http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu Student Orientation Handbook] is a valuable resource for information including entertainment, recreational and varsity sports, student organizations (including those for cultural groups, international students, LGBT students, women, veterans, and people with disabilities), health services, jobs, transportation, safety, and housing. It’s also a great place for referrals to counseling services, including drug and alcohol and sexual assault issues. You can find all this information on the web, at http://www.wisc.edu/visitingCampus/ or call them at 263-2400. You can also email any questions you have to askbucky@uwmad.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lgbt.wisc.edu LGBT Campus Center]: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Center (265-3344; lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu) provides support, social, educational and research services to the campus community, and serves as UW-Madison's first stop for those looking for information about campus LGBT organizations. The Memorial Union office on the 2nd floor includes a library, a television and DVD player, plenty of comfortable seating, open computers, and has a staff of students and professionals that work to bring events, speakers, and programs to campus. The Center also publishes a weekly events e-letter and offers support and social groups.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Got Questions? Here are some folks who might just have the answers...<br />
<br />
== Counseling Services ==<br />
Counseling services are available through Counseling and [http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/ Consultation Services (C&CS)], located at 115 North Orchard Street, (265-5600, TTY number 265-3300). C&CS offers brief psychological treatment, personal counseling, and psychiatric services to UW-Madison students. Frequent services include help in overcoming depression, managing anxiety and other psychological issues, and in developing greater self-awareness, independence, and self-direction. They also provide personal problem counseling, couples relationship counseling, marriage and family counseling, cross-cultural counseling, and alcohol and drug assessment and referral. Specialized groups have included: graduate women support, women and self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, survivors of troubled families, rebuilding relationships. C&CS also provides crisis response at the above phone numbers. Services provided are covered by the student health fee (included in your student fees).<br />
<br />
== Administrative and Support Staff ==<br />
The administrative and support staff are the folk that keep our department functioning. Without them, we as mathematicians would be lost. :) Their pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/support_staff.html here] and their contact info can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/academic_staff.html here]. If one person doesn't know how to deal with a problem you might have, they certainly know who might be able to help you out.<br />
<br />
Kate Bartlett<br />
Position: Timetable/Undergraduate<br />
Office: 203 VV<br />
Email: bartlett@math<br />
Ask Kate about: Registration (for you and your students), MyUW stuff, classroom assignments.<br />
<br />
David Camacho<br />
Position: Assoc Fac Assoc<br />
Office: 321 VV<br />
Email: camacho@math<br />
Ask David about: the Math Tutorial Program (if a student needs extra attention)<br />
<br />
Mark Castillo<br />
Position: Grants/Proposals<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: castillo @math<br />
Ask Mark about: grant money<br />
<br />
Chris Uhlir<br />
Position: Payroll/Benefits<br />
Office: 207 VV<br />
Email: grenie@math<br />
Ask Mike about: Payroll, hourly positions, taxes, tuition, healthcare, and benefits. <br />
<br />
Sara Nagreen<br />
Position: Sr IPC<br />
Office: 515 VV<br />
Email: nagreen@math<br />
Ask Sara about: all things computing.<br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson<br />
Position: Receptionist / Copy Center<br />
Office: 213 VV<br />
Email: paulson@math<br />
Ask Sharon about: Office supplies, room reservations (review sessions/exams/other), copying machine <br />
codes, private tutoring list.<br />
<br />
Mary Rice<br />
Position: Grad Prog. Admin<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: mrice@math<br />
Ask Mary about: Math dept records (teaching letters, transcripts, etc), how you go about graduating.<br />
<br />
Diane Rivard<br />
Position: Placement Advisor<br />
Office: 720 VV<br />
Email: rivard@math<br />
Ask Diane about: Placement questions (what class your student should be in, placement exam issues)<br />
<br />
Joan Wendt<br />
Position: Chair Secretary<br />
Office: 218 VV<br />
Email: wendt@math<br />
Ask Joan about: office assignments and keys<br />
<br />
Vicky Whelan<br />
Position: Dept Administrator<br />
Office: 223 VV<br />
Email: whelan@math<br />
Ask Vicky about: the dept credit card, espresso club, awesome concerts around town.<br />
<br />
== Current and Former Graduate Students Interested in Meeting YOU ==<br />
You can find a complete list of current graduate students [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/psdbgrad.html here], and pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/grad.html here].<br />
<br />
Laura Cladek<br />
Email: cladek@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~cladek Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2011<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Laura about: Anything ... Especially analysis or on campus housing.<br />
<br />
David Dynerman<br />
Email: dynerman@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~dynerman Website:]<br />
Grad-age: 3rd year<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask David about: programming video games, trying to do Hartshorne problems, <br />
going to the gym, Mushfeq Khan, Andrew Bridy<br />
<br />
Thomas Hangelbroek<br />
Email: hangelbr@math.hawaii.edu<br />
[http://math.hawaii.edu/people/hangelbr/ Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2007<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Thomas about: Anything Madison. Thomas is an expert in all things Madison.<br />
<br />
Sara Jensen<br />
Email: jensen@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jensen Website:]<br />
Grad-age: 3rd year<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask Sara about: Teaching, topology & algebra quals, knitting group, going to the gym <br />
<br />
(Evan) Alec Johnson<br />
Email: ejohnson@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson Website]<br />
Grad-age: 7th year<br />
Area of interest: Applied Math<br />
Ask Alec about: teaching, advanced calculus, gardening, and Geneva Campus Church.<br />
<br />
Christine Lien<br />
Email: lien@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lien Website]<br />
Grad-age: 6th year<br />
Area of interest: Complex Geometry<br />
Ask Christine about: anything, including bridge/card games, organizing women's events, <br />
the Association of Asian American Graduate students, and the Graduate Student Topology Seminar.<br />
<br />
Hao Lin<br />
Email: lin@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lin Website]<br />
Grad-age: 5th year<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Hao about: sports and anything about China.<br />
<br />
Jonathon Mason<br />
Email: jonathan.f.mason@gmail.com<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2010<br />
Ask Mason about: Wisconsin hiking, the local film scene.<br />
<br />
Jason Murcko<br />
Email: murcko@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~murcko Website]<br />
Grad-age: 4th year<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Jason about: the TAA and the local film and music scenes.<br />
<br />
Mike Schroeder<br />
Email: schroede@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~schroede Website]<br />
Grad-age: 6th year<br />
Area of interest: Combinatorics<br />
Ask Mike about: softball, bowling, sailing, racquet ball, and the Florida Gators.<br />
<br />
David Seal<br />
Email: seal@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~seal Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started in 2006.<br />
Area of interest: Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask David about: movies, biking, hiking and board games<br />
<br />
Beth Skubak<br />
Email: skubak@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~skubak Website]<br />
Grad-age: 2nd year<br />
Area of interest: undecided<br />
Ask Beth about: anything, including this wiki<br />
<br />
Mike Woodbury<br />
Email: woodbury@math.columbia.edu<br />
Grad-age: Class of 2011<br />
Area of interest: Number Theory<br />
Ask Mike about: anything, including number theory, road biking, UW basketball tix.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Guide&diff=4084Graduate Student Guide2012-08-16T17:20:06Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Furniture */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Exams.png|400px|right | Grading Exams in the Lounge]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
= Food =<br />
<br />
There are many ethnic and interesting restaurants in Madison – Indonesian, African, Italian, Himalayan, Laotian, Peruvian, Mexican, Bakeries, Brew Pubs, Coffee Joints, you name it -- and everyone has their favorites.<br />
<br />
The biggest resource for finding food (and entertainment!) in Madison is probably the [http://www.thedailypage.com/eats/ Daily Page] (the online version of our local paper, the Isthmus), where you can search local restaurants by name, locality, and cuisine. There, they have reviews, hours, contact info, pricing, etc. Be sure to peruse their [http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Restaurants Madison's Favorites] section for some quick tips! Of course [http://www.yelp.com/ yelp] is always useful as well. At one point a couple spent a few years trying to sample every restaurant in Madison and blogged about their journey on the [http://www.madisonatoz.com/ Madison A to Z].<br />
<br />
Here are some general food facts:<br />
<br />
== Campus Food ==<br />
*Food Carts: Open for lunch in Library Mall at the foot of Bascom Hill near Lake & State Street. Very good and very cheap, and out as long as it's not too cold.<br />
<br />
*Ingraham Hall: Very close to Van Vleck, and has acceptable coffee (bring your own cup to save money!) and decent snacks. Try the lunch special: sandwich and 4 sides (soda, fruit, cookies, etc.) for six bucks. Halfway down the hill is the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/crossroadscafe.htm Crossroads Cafe] which has much better coffee and is open later.<br />
<br />
*Memorial Union: The Rathskeller has food and next door is Lakeside cafe with much better food. Summer afternoons on the terrace is an excellent place to hang out in the sunshine with a beer and brat.<br />
<br />
*Union South: Recently opened. Probably has many places to get food. <br />
<br />
*State Street (past the food carts) is full of restaurants and Coffee shops – there are at least a half dozen coffee roasters in town, and each supplies a different set of shops. In particular for lunch, there are the popular chains, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Einstein Bros. Bagels, or Chipotle... or hit the more independent spots such as the Sunroom Cafe or Ian's Pizza.<br />
<br />
== MadTown food ==<br />
<br />
Traditional Madison foods are German varieties such as beer, cheese, and bratwurst. Each year Madison hosts [http://www.bratfest.com/ Bratfest], a record breaking event. <br />
UW has [http://www.wisc.edu/foodsci/store/ Babcock Hall Ice Cream] on campus which creates delicious ice cream available in the Unions. The [http://www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com/ Chocolate Shoppe], [http://www.ilovemichaels.com/ Michael's Frozen Custard] and Culvers have nice deserts.<br />
Micro breweries in town include the [http://www.greatdanepub.com/ Great Dane], [http://www.capital-brewery.com/ Captial Brewery] and [http://www.aleasylum.com/ Ale Asylum]. Nearby there is the famous [http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/ New Glarus Brewing Co] which only sells beer in Wisconsin. You can join a free beer tour or walk through the brewery on a self guided tourn.<br />
<br />
In early September (2nd-3rd), check out [http://www.madisonfestivals.com/taste/ Taste of Madison] to see many restaurants all in one place at one time.<br />
<br />
Try a good ol' midwestern Fish Fry on Friday night – All you can eat fried fish generally served with a bran muffin, clam chowder, or coleslaw. Most Brew Pubs and some churches have them, and the [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/restaurant.php Orpheum] as well at the [http://www.avenuebarmadison.com/ Avenue Bar and Grill] both run Friday night Fish Fries.<br />
<br />
== Farm fresh food ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.madfarmmkt.org/ Dane County Farmer's Market] is amazing and HUGE. The big one is open every Saturday morning, and is located on the capitol square for most of the year. In addition to the ludicrous amount of fresh produce, there are also bakery stands, coffee, and fresh juice carts for quick breakfasts.<br />
<br />
There are also a few smaller [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farmers_markets.htm#danecounty markets] scattered around town, almost every day of the week:<br />
<br />
*Sunday: 8:30am to 12:30pm in front of Pierce's Northside Market<br />
*Monday: (none)<br />
*Tuesday: 4pm to 7pm on Ingersol at Williamson, 2pm to 6pm at 1602 S. Park St,<br />
*Wednesday: 8am to 2pm on MLKJr Blvd, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center,<br />
*Thursday: Thursdays, 2pm to 6pm at the Villager Mall on Park St., 2pm to 6pm in the McFarland Centre, 7:30am to 1:30pm in the Greenway Station shopping center,<br />
*Friday: (none)<br />
*Saturday: 6am to 2pm on the Capitol square, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center, 9am to 2pm at 1602 S. Park St, 7am to 1pm at Sheboygan Ave. and Segoe Rd., and 8:30am to 11am in Watertower Park.<br />
<br />
During the summer and fall, there are many [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/index.htm local farms] where you can [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farms/u_pick.htm pick] your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, or pumpkins when they are in season.<br />
<br />
If you're in town for the summer, you might consider signing up for a [http://www.macsac.org/ Community Supported Agriculture] food box. CSA is a way to support a local farm by paying an annual fee in the winter or spring which buys you a share of the season's harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick-up a weekly box of fresh foods which may include produce, fruits, cheeses, eggs, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. The typical CSA season in Wisconsin runs from the end of May through mid-October. You do have to pay the lump sum up-front, and some weeks you'll find yourself with five pounds of chard... but for most of the summer you'll have your produce needs met, and you can feel good about supporting small local farms. Better yet, most of the university's insurance providers offer [http://www.macsac.org/rebates.html rebates] for signing up for a CSA -- somewhere between $50-$300, depending on the plan and how many people you're sharing with (for example, if two people on GHC share a box, they might pay $450 for the box for a box lasting 25 weeks, but they they could each get $100 back, making that $5/week per person). If you're interested, remember to sign up early -- most programs are full by May.<br />
<br />
= Grocery Stores =<br />
<br />
== Generic Groceries ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.capcentrefoods.com/home.html Capitol Centre Foods]: Given their small size, they have an excellent selection of groceries. They tend to be a bit pricey. In addition, they deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.freshmadisonmarket.com/ Fresh Madison Market]: A reasonably large general grocery store, not too expensive. Has a large selection of "typical college items" (lots of frozen foods). Located on University, not too far from Van Vleck. They also deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.copps.com/ Copps]: Your standard grocery store with multiple locations.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=1020&lang=en-US Costco]: Your friendly big-box bulk store. They treat their employees incredibly well. Good buys on computers, 2 lbs of sockeye salmon or button down oxford cloth long sleeved shirts. You'll need a membership or go there with someone who has a membership. You can also get a free trial membership if you simply ask.<br />
<br />
*Walgreens: Pharmacy/Grocery store. There is a Walgreens on the corner of Lake & State Street near Van Vleck, on the Capitol Square, and in University square.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Whole Foods]: Kinda spendy, but good bread, specialty stuff, and produce through the winter.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Woodman's]: two locations -- [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=725+S+Gammon+Rd+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=43.055217,-89.50304&spn=0.05381,0.171661 East] and [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3817+Milwaukee+St,+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.103615,-89.319363&spn=0.053768,0.171661&om=1 West]. If you have a car and the time, go here. Very large, very cheap, but time consuming. They don't take credit cards, so bring a debit card or check book. The produce is pretty poor, but they're huge and, again, cheap. Check out the liquor store for a large selection (you can buy all types of alcohol in grocery stores in Wisconsin... but not after 9pm).<br />
<br />
*[http://www.traderjoes.com/ Trader Joe's]: Located at 1810 Monroe St. They have good prices for select specialty food items such as wine, cheese and fancy snacks. Their basic foodstuffs tend to be a bit pricey.<br />
<br />
*The Jenifer Street Market located on 2038 Jenifer Street is a nice little grocery store if you happen to live in the area.<br />
<br />
== Co-ops ==<br />
Co-ops are a good source of local organic food. If you are a member they provide discounts, but you can also shop there at your own will.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.regentmarketcoop.org/ Regent Market Cooperative], 2136 Regent St. 233-4329.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.willystreet.coop/ Willy Street Co-op] The largest and most active co-op in the Madison area. They have been able to survive the decline in co-ops over the years. They offer a large selection of bulk foods and spices at an excellent price. For a quick bite, they have an excellent deli, salad bar, and in-store coffee shop. 1221 Williamson St. 251-6776. They recently opened a second store in Middleton located at 6825 University Ave. Both locations deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
== Specialty Foods ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.aldifoods.com/ Aldi Foods]: It's like grocery shopping at overstock.com.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=keJ&q=asian+midway+foods&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,304616636444102595&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Asian Midway Market]: The go-to market for anything Thai, Chinese or South-East Asian, this centrally-located store comes highly recommended. In particular, they offer a great selection of specialized produce. 301 South Park Street; 255-5864<br />
<br />
*[http://www.brennansmarket.com/ Brennan's Market]: Great for Produce, Meats, Cheese, Micro brews and Wines. You won't find things like Flour and Saran Wrap here, but definitely worth the trip.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/ Farm Fresh Atlas]: Not a grocery store, but a good resource for where you can buy local foods and a list of farms in the areas.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madseafood.com/ The Seafood Center]: The name says it all. Great fresh fish and live lobsters.<br />
<br />
*[http://frabonisdeli.com/ Fraboni's]: An awesome Italian grocery store and deli. They have very good [http://frabonisdeli.com/oils olive oils], [http://frabonisdeli.com/pastas pastas], and make-your-own pizza fixings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3723579948/garden-asian-market-middleton Garden Asian Market]: A full service Asian food market specializing in fresh meat, produce, and seafood. Mostly Chinese-leaning, they do a good job of providing a wide variety of items within their niche. It may be far out, but it's worth the trip in its pleasantness and selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=india+house+grocery+store,+madison,+wi&fb=1&gl=us&hq=india+house+grocery+store,&hnear=Madison,+WI&cid=0,0,8495347478199843118&ll=43.050466,-89.503019&spn=0.007871,0.019183&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A India House]: Really well done Indian grocery store. Good place to buy Kari leaves.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=TMe&q=lee%27s+oriental&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,92533124768468793&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Lee's Oriental]: Next to Penzey's spices. 3240 University Ave; 231-1593<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=2Me&q=oriental+shop&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,13628497956998458364&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Oriental Shop]: They carry mostly dry-goods, and tend to lean toward stocking more Korean items. 1206 South Park Street; 255-0326<br />
<br />
= Housing =<br />
<br />
Haven't found a place yet? Already hate your apartment?<br />
<br />
* [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/ UW Off-Campus Housing Search]: Probably the best search site for students.<br />
<br />
* Again, [http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List] is a good resourse. Also a good place to look for roommates outside of the department.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/ University Apartments]: On campus graduate housing, particularly popular with married couples (especially with children). Singles are also welcome. Many of them are on the bus route #80, a free route which runs from the apartments through campus every fifteen minutes throughout the day.<br />
<br />
== Location, Location, Location ==<br />
<br />
If you would like to keep your commute down, there are many places near campus. Many graduate students prefer to live close enough to Van Vleck to be within walking distance, yet far enough away to stay away from partying undergraduate students.<br />
<br />
Many graduate students live in the Vilas neighborhood, which is located South of Regent Street and between Park and Monroe. East of the Capitol building, we also have the Willy St. neighborhood (between Williamson and Rutledge streets, between Paterson and Thornton) and the other side of the Isthmus, between Mifflin and Lake Mendota. The university offers on campus housing at Eagle Heights with regular buses. Many students also live near Sheboygan and University Avenues (not on this map), and there are regular buses that run up University Avenue that will drop you off right in front of Van Vleck. The large apartment complexes in that area include the Normandy, Chapel Hill, Carolina, Monticello, Hilldale Towers, Park Towers, and Sovereign Apartments which are cheaper to live in than spots on the square.<br />
<br />
Because there is no parking on campus, you will need to plan on living within walking distance of a bus route or campus itself. You will receive a free bus pass for the [http://www.mymetrobus.com/ Madison Metro] system, which is very reliable. Check out the “plan your trip” link to find bus routes near you.<br />
<br />
Here is an approximate map of many areas where you will be likely to find housing: <br />
[[Image:gradhousingmap.jpg|400px| center | Housing Map]]<br />
<br />
Basically, shoot for zones 2-6, the North parts of zones 7 and 8, or the far East part of zone 10 on [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/map_all.asp this map] (the map from the UW Off-Campus Housing Search).<br />
<br />
== Stuff your landlord might not tell you ==<br />
<br />
*Utilities:<br />
Lots of apartments have water, sewage, heat, and and sometimes electricity included in rent. For those which don't, be sure to find out what to expect through the [http://mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/ Madison Gas and Electric] web page. Just tell them the address of the place you're looking at, and they'll tell you what the highs, lows, and averages have been over the last year.<br />
<br />
*Property information:<br />
The [http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/property.html City Assessor] has all of the basic information about Madison properties on file, including how many units are on the property, how much square footage there is, if there's AC in the building, what school district it's in, who your alderperson would be, and what else is on the property (e.g. garages). They'll even tell you how much the property is worth, and how much your landlord is paying in property taxes. Sometimes the square footage isn't broken up--for example, maybe there are two units on the first floor, but they'll only tell you that there are 1,700 sq ft on that floor, not how it's split up between the two units. It can be a useful site for rounding out your knowledge of places you're considering renting.<br />
<br />
*Tenants rights:<br />
The [http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/ Tenant resource center] is a small non-profit membership organization which provides housing counseling, mediation services and office assistance. Their website includes tips for new renters, generic rental forms, and advice for what to do if your landlord just won't get back to you about repairs, returning deposits, etc.<br />
There is also the [http://studenttenantunion.rso.wisc.edu/ Student tenant union], which is specifically targeted to UW students.<br />
<br />
== Rental Companies ==<br />
Many properties in Madison are run by rental companies -- some large, some small -- some good, some not-so-good. Larger companies tend to have lower prices, and more people working toward maintaining rentals. However, they may have less of an investment in taking care of each individual property or screening their tenants. Some people feel better renting from small companies, or landlords with only one or two houses. You may get more individual attention and care. Individuals have more investment in protecting each property, and renting to good tenants, so the properties tend to be in more reliable condition. However, with fewer properties comes fewer resources and higher prices.<br />
<br />
Whatever choice you make, be sure to have a conversation with your potential landlords about their polices, especially if you aren't going to be able to see things in person. It may also be good to Google the company or person to see if other people have had something good or bad to say about them or their properties. In particular, [http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Madison.html ApartmentRatings.com] has a few of the apartment complexes around town listed.<br />
<br />
Here are some general impressions/very subjective opinions that some of us have gotten from/about a few of the larger local companies:<br />
<br />
*AB Holdings: In particular, they have a couple small apartment buildings on Vilas that are particularly ideal for two people. Quite a few people from the department have rented these units and have been pretty happy.<br />
<br />
*[http://apexrents.com/ Apex Property Management]: Great company. Well-maintained properties, with many of the more recently remodeled rentals being very nice. Their representatives are helpful and responsible, and their tenants seem to be generally satisfied.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.centralmadison.com/ The Christensen Company]: Not terribly up-to-date apartments, but worth taking a look at.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonproperty.com/ Madison Property Management]: Lots of choices, but notoriously junky properties. They tend to cater mostly to undergraduates, and their rentals show it. We wouldn't recommend renting from this company unless you visit first.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.mcbridecompanies.com/ The McBride Companies]: Nice properties, good management. Really good website if you turn the sound off.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.tallardapartments.com/ Tallard Apartments]: Nice properties with very friendly and responsive staff. Their rentals tend to go early in the season.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wimci.com/ Wisconsin Management Company]: Nice enough properties, but kind of flakey representation. Make sure to ask lots of questions.<br />
<br />
*The Wright Company (or Norris Ct. Apartments): Very nice older buildings, but kind of sketchy management. Nothing is going to be in stellar shape, but they do tend to rent more to graduates and professionals, so they aren't beat up either. If you do rent from them, don't expect them to be very responsive, and be sure to be especially careful about protecting your security deposit by taking photos and keeping a record of your move-in report.<br />
<br />
= Furniture =<br />
<br />
*[http://www.svdpmadison.org/ St. Vincent DePaul's]: Like Goodwill. Has cheap dressers, desks, chairs, and general household stuff. Will deliver for a small charge. This is also a great place to donate any furniture or other items that you no longer want – they will pick up the items from your apartment. There is also a Goodwill in town, but they won't have nearly the same volume of furniture.<br />
<br />
*[http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List]: a free online classifieds site. Great not only for furniture, but also pet resources and last minute apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
*Eagle Heights Apartment Bulletin Boards: Lots of cheap stuff from people graduating, many of whom are moving overseas. You can even find cars. You can try posting your own wanted posters on the boards. You can find these boards at the bus stops for the (free) bus 80 route.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/madisonfreecycle/ Freecycle]: A community "give stuff away for free" website with a Madison branch.<br />
<br />
*Hippie Christmas ("Move-Out Day"): For some reason or another, the evening of August 14th is when the bulk of leases near campus turn over. This is a fantastic day to pick up free furniture from the street. If you already have a rental van, why not help municipal waste by pickup up a bookshelf for them?<br />
<br />
*The Todd Drive Area: Just west of park street on the beltline. American Furniture for furniture and electronics, Home Concepts for cheap but nice looking furniture, and Steinhafel's for furniture and mattresses.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html SWAP]. The UW's surplus supply store.<br />
<br />
= International Student Resources =<br />
Here are a few links specifically for international students. There are international grocery stores listed in the [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Graduate_Student_Guide#Specialty_Foods groceries] section.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcssa.net/ Chinese Student & Scholar Association]: A connection to the university's Chinese community for incoming students. They offer rides from the airport, list general information about madison, and organize get-tegethers/Chinese celebrations. International Conversation & Coffee Hour: meet other international students and americans interested in other cultures. Every Friday, 12-2pm, Cooper Hearth Room 160, Union South.<br />
<br />
*[http://iss.wisc.edu/ International Student Services]: the UW's International Student Services<br />
<br />
*[http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MADindians/ MadIndians]: a Yahoo online group for students from India in Madison. Good place to search for an Indian roommate.<br />
<br />
*[http://mtsa.rso.wisc.edu/ Madison Association of Turkish Students]: Very helpful for incoming Turkish students. It includes information about how best to get to Madison from Turkey, information about housing, and how to reach other Turkish students in Madison.<br />
<br />
= Newspapers =<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/captimes/ The Capitol Times]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the afternoon. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more liberal.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.thedailypage.com/ The Isthmus]: Free independent Madison newspaper. Has a liberal voice and is full of entertainment, including family fun, outdoor attractions, and fine arts. Also puts out the Annual Manual - the yearly guide to all things Madison.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.theonion.com/ The Onion]: While hilarious, this paper is only really good if you're already in on the joke. We get free paper copies in Madison. There is a stack near the elevators in VV. The local edition has local entertainment listings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Wisconsin State Journal]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the mornings. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more conservative.<br />
<br />
= Religious Groups =<br />
*[http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/ Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/ Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church]: Near Sheboygan Ave. at 110 N Whitney Way. A huge church, but with opportunities to get involved and meet people. It has services in the sanctuary, with a mixture of traditional and semi-modern worship, and also "video cafe" services with more lively, modern worship. Very good teaching.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cpcmadison.com/ Christ Presbyterian Church]. Just east of James Madison Park on Gorham. Has a great choir and organist!<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fusmadison.org/ The First Unitarian Society of Madison]. "A liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue." Looking for something new? They're open to all types. Also, they are housed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.folmadison.org/ Fountain of Life]: 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. A multi-ethnic church with a lot of eclectic music styles, including a lot of Gospel music<br />
<br />
*[http://genevacc.org/ The Geneva Campus Church]: On Campus Reformed church. They describe themselves as "a university church for the whole family"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwhillel.org/ Hillel]: UW-Madison's on-campus center for everything Jewish: religious, cultural, political, traditional, and alternative. Located on Langdon Street, it serves both the school population and, to a far lesser extent, the entire city.<br />
<br />
*[http://islamiccentermadison.org/ Islamic Center of Madison]: Has a masjid inside. 21 N Orchard St, (608)251-9851<br />
<br />
*[http://ivgcf.rso.wisc.edu/ InterVarsity Grad Christian Fellowship]: It's a welcoming place for Christians and non-Christians alike. (You might even find your future husband/wife there) They also have a website with info about local churches. There is a new student picnic at the beginning of the fall semester.<br />
<br />
*Latter Day Saints: There are a number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wards in the Madison area. The Madison First Ward covers areas closest to campus and meets at 4505 Regent Street, two blocks south of Hilldale Mall, at 9am. The University Ward serves single adults and meets at 1711 University Avenue at 10 am. The Madison Third Ward serves areas close to campus and meets at 701 Bear Claw Way on Madison's far west side at 11 am. Visitors and the curious are always welcome.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lccmadison.com/ Lutheran Campus Center]: A fairly young, enthusiastic, and liberal-minded congragation, found right on campus.<br />
<br />
*[http://madcitychurch.org/ Mad City Church]: A non-denominational, casual christian fellowship. Services are held in the LaFollette High School located on Madison's east side - very near the corner of Pflaum Rd. and Monona Dr. Office at 2713 E. Washington Ave.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.muuyacm.org/ Madison UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry (MUUYACM)]. One of the largest and most active Unitarian Universalist young adult groups in the U.S., they are open to young adults (ages 18-35) of all denominations. In addition to worships, they organize social-justice-oriented activities, and are an active member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcatholic.org/ St. Paul's University Catholic Center]: On campus in Library Mall near Lake & State. Has a lively Catholic grad student group called Mustard Seed with Bible studies, Thursday night speakers, retreats, service projects, and large quantities of food and euchre.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.unityofmadison.org/ Unity of Madison]: (from their site) "Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community focused on Truth Seeking and Spiritual Growth through the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire, nuture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live Jesus' message that 'the kingdom of God is within you.'"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.isthmuszencommunity.org/ Zen Buddhism]: A local zen buddhist center is located next to Willy st co-op. New comers are especially welcome.<br />
<br />
= Arts and Entertainment =<br />
<br />
Madison is a medium sized city with a not so medium sized arts and entertainment scene. There are cultural events on campus<br />
and at the [http://www.overturcenter.com Overture Center]; sporting events; art, science, natural history, and history museums; parks, the<br />
[http://www.uwarboretum.org arboretum], and [http://www.olbrich.org botanical gardens]; a free [http://www.vilaszoo.org zoo]; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; a [http://www.madfarmmkt.com Farmer’s Market] on the<br />
Capital Square every Saturday morning from April-October; and lots of other things. The [http://www.thedailypage.com Isthmus], is the local free newspaper which posts many current events.<br />
The Isthmus can be found in many stores, in campus buildings, and on street corners.<br />
<br />
== Athletic Activities ==<br />
* [http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/ Rec Sports] runs the gyms on campus. There are three such on-campus gyms -- The SERF, the Nat, and the Shell, which are free with student ID. For $10/semester, you can attend any of their Group Fitness classes, which cover everything from aerobics and weights to yoga and dance. Also, both the SERF and Nat have indoor pools.<br />
<br />
*The University of Wisconsin has a long standing heritage of being proud of their [http://www.uwbadgers.com/ athletic events]. Men's basketball, football and ice-hockey receive the most attention and as a student, you can obtain season tickets for all of these events.<br />
<br />
== Dancing ==<br />
<br />
*Ballroom: [http://www.uwmbda.org/ UWMBDA] is the big ballroom dance group here. They have dances with lessons every week on Friday or Saturday and a practice group every Thursday.<br />
<br />
*[http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/dances.htm Contra Dance]: Meetings every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
*International Folk club: meets biweekly Library Mall, Wed/Sun 7:30PM-late.<br />
<br />
*Swing: [http://www.uwswing.com/ Jumptown Swing] is UW's swing club. They host (mostly) weekly dances at Union South, and provide lessons for a nominal fee. See their site for scheduling and links to other swing orgonizations. Also, on Wednesdays, there's dancing at the [http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ Brink Lounge] from 8-11.<br />
<br />
*Salsa: Venues include [http://www.cardinalbar.com/ Cardinal Bar] on Thursdays, [http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/details.php?event=176610 Frida's] on Friday nights. Don't know how to Salsa? There are lessons before dances at Cardinal, and instruction is offered through the Union's minicourses.<br />
<br />
*Tango: the [http://www.madisontango.org/ Madison Tango Society] provides lessons and dances for Argentine Tango. Their site has a good list or other events in and around Madison.<br />
<br />
== Libraries ==<br />
In addition to the many [http://www.library.wisc.edu/ Libraries of UW], the [http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ Madison Public Library] is a great place for books, movies, and music.<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
The Daily Page has a [http://www.thedailypage.com/movies/listing.php listing] of movie times for most of the theaters around town (both big and small):<br />
<br />
*Eastgate, Point and Star Cinema are the three larger movie theaters in town.<br />
<br />
*Market Square shows second runs at a good discount. <br />
<br />
*The [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/ Orpheum] is an old cinema within site of the capitol on State street. They tend to show less mainstream movies.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.sundancecinemas.com/madison.html Sundance 608] shows independent film as well as blockbuster movies. They have a rooftop cafe that's open during the summer months, 2 bars (you can take a drink into your movie), and a restaurant!<br />
<br />
For on-campus movies:<br />
*The Wisconsin Union Directorate runs on campus screening of films. Their film site can be found [http://www.union.wisc.edu/WUD/film.aspx here.]<br />
<br />
*The UW film department hosts free screenings of a wide array of films based on a given theme for that semester through their [http://cinema.wisc.edu/ cinematheque.] Their department has many contacts with other film institutes and are able show rare original 35mm films that you can't see anywhere else.<br />
<br />
*In late March/early April, go check out some of the many many films showing at the [http://www.wifilmfest.org/ Wisconsin Film Festival.] Sites all over town take part in hosting the showing of these films.<br />
<br />
Madison also has a number of independent video stores:<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ Four Star Video Heaven] has been voted as a Madison Favorite for a number of years. See their site to browse their collection online.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bongovideo.com/ Bongo Video] has a smaller, but quite tasty selection. Lots of personality, and good daily specials.<br />
<br />
== Music ==<br />
Whether you're looking to play music, or just go watch free or (in)expensive concerts, there are many options in Madison.<br />
<br />
*Our very own [http://music.wisc.edu/ Music Department] hosts many music events. Their website has a calendar listing current music events including faculty concerts and student recitals.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonsymphony.org/ The Madison Symphony Orchestra] (MSO) is the professional symphony based here in Madison. With your student ID, you can get student rush tickets for as little as $10 per person.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wcoconcerts.org/ The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra] is Madison's professional chamber orchestra. Each summer, their widely popular [http://www.wcoconcerts.org/new/cos/concertsonthesquare.php concerts on the square] draw many people from all over the place for a free outdoor concert.<br />
<br />
*[http://madisoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Madison Community Orchestra] (MCO) is an informal group run by Madison Area Technical College that meets once a week. There are four free concerts a year and no auditions to play with the group.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.middletoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Middleton Community Orchestra] is a second newly formed community orchestra run by community musicians. Their concerts are extremely affordable, and they may run auditions.<br />
<br />
== Outdoor Activites ==<br />
Madison is a very bicycle friendly town, and there are many parks either in town or within a short drive. Here are some suggestions about outdoor activities to engage in:<br />
<br />
*Take a nice long walk along one of the many paths around [http://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/imap/LakeshoreNaturePreserve.html Picnic Point]... bike the path from Memorial Union out to the tip, or bus/drive out to the base of picnic point and wander the foot trails in the area.<br />
<br />
*Head towards Monona Terrace on Lake Monona, and take one of the paths that wraps around the lake (great bike ride!).<br />
<br />
*You can also go walking and/or biking around the [http://uwarboretum.org/ Arboretum] south of campus and tour their gardens, or head to the free [http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Vilas Zoo]. Lake Wingra is essentially totally surrounded by wooded areas including Henry Vilas Park, the UW-arboretum and Edgewood college. You can rent canoes at Knickerbocker for fairly cheap and relax on Lake Wingra.<br />
<br />
*Community Gardens: There are a number of community gardens run by the [http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/ Community Action Coalition]. Nominally, you can sign up for a plot for a small fee, and learn how to garden if you don't already know, or go to town if you already do. The [http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/ Eagle Heights Community Garden] is open to both residents and non-residents alike. All of the gardens are fun to look at if you haven't ever seen one.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.olbrich.org/ The Olbrich Botanical Gardens] are located east of lake Monona. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including their award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden, or enjoy the year-round tropical Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds.. Outdoor gardens are open daily and free to the public, while entrance to the conservatory is $1 per person.<br />
<br />
*Catch a festival; Madison is home to a number of festivals -- big festivals, small festivals, arts festivals, music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals -- we've got all kinds.<br />
<br />
The Winter opens itself up to new activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing and other options. The hoofers club runs ice boats on the lake.<br />
<br />
*The city of Madison parks open up outdoor [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct2.html ice skating] at Tenney, Vilas, and Elver parks. No skates? No worries. They will rent skates to you there ($6.00 for the first hour, $2/hr after that).<br />
<br />
*There is also [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct4.html cross-country skiing] at a number of Dane county parks, with passes starting at $5/day. No skills? Check out lessons at the [http://www.madnorski.org/page/ Madison Nordic Ski Club] or, again, [http://sns.hoofers.org/ Hoofers] has lots to offer in that area.<br />
<br />
== Student Clubs ==<br />
The University of Wisconsin, being a rather large institution, has got so much stuff going on for all of us student-types. Here are some ways people around the department have been taking advantage:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop]: Located upstairs in the Memorial Union, they are "here to satisfy your creative urges in a variety of craft media." Their facilities include a darkroom, a woodshop, a ceramics studio, metal working tools, etc. Friday afternoons, they open their studios to all union members (that means you!) for free!<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hoofers.org/ Hoofers]: Student outdoor recreation club. The Outing and Sailing clubs in particular have lots of graduate students.<br />
<br />
* [http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]: Graduate Student Collaborative Organization<br />
<br />
* [http://cfli.wisc.edu/student_organizations.htm Student Organizations]: at UW Madison (this is a directory of all registered student organizations at the university; you can search by topic or name)<br />
<br />
== The Student Unions ==<br />
The Memorial Union is located on the lakefront, on Park and Langdon. Be sure to check out the Terrace while the weather is still good -- it's a great place to go to get out of the office, grab something to snack on, and study out in the sun. You'll find the Daily Scoop (yummy ice cream!) and Der Rathskeller (beer and deep-fried goodness). You'll also find all sorts of stuff to keep you busy, like the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop], the Union Theater, the Hoofers' headquarters, and a wide array of Mini Courses with which to expand your horizons.<br />
<br />
Also useful: the travel services center and STA Travel will get you good deals on trips (including bus tickets to O'Hare, Midway, and Milwaukee airports), and the theater's box office will get you good deals on shows (theater, music, etc) all around town. In addition, the Union has always got other special events going on to keep all of us entertained -- see their complete [http://www.union.wisc.edu/activities/ list of activities].<br />
<br />
The Union South was recently completely renovated and also has many activities available. They have a climbing wall, a bowling alley, pool tables, a beer garden, a wine tasting room, a ballroom, a movie theater and many other things.<br />
<br />
= Van Vleck Miscellany =<br />
Here's a bit more info about the happenings in and around the Math Dept.<br />
<br />
== Getting money ==<br />
*Paychecks: The first paycheck of the year arrives in October, though you may request an advance on about 30% of your first paycheck when you arrive. If you are not working over the summer, the last will come in June, so be sure to plan for the three month gap.<br />
<br />
*Fees: You will be charged for segregated fees in both semesters, and are not covered in your tuition. The amount depends on your credit load and status, but will be about $500 for most people and due about the time of your first paycheck. If you are on fellowship, this will be taken care of for you, and shouldn't appear on your bill.<br />
<br />
*TA union: The teaching assistants of Wisconsin are unionized. Even if you are not a TA, but are an employee of the department, you're still connected to them through advocacy and campus issues. For more information check out the [http://www.taa-madison.org/ TAA].<br />
<br />
== Getting stuff done ==<br />
See the Contacts section for a list of people who will help you get stuff done.<br />
<br />
If you want to reserve rooms in Van Vleck for review sessions or meetings you can fill out a green form with Sharon Paulson on the second floor. Sharon does the scheduling for about 4 or 5 rooms in the building, so you can also ask her about these rooms directly. If you need to reserve the 9th floor lounge, talk to Joan Wendt (also second floor).<br />
<br />
Each grad receives 200 photocopies and 250 black and white print outs a month for personal math use. If you are a TA, Sharon in the Copy Center on the second floor can photocopy materials for classes (which does not count toward your quota)– such as worksheets and quizzes. Just give her at least 24 hours notice. To check your printout quota, open a terminal logged into the math server, and type "pages". If you do go over your quota, you will simply get a (probably very small) bill at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
We get free office supplies on the 2nd floor – just ask Sharon for pens, folders, etc.<br />
<br />
You can pick up and send out your mail from the second floor. You might even want to have packages delivered to the department, to avoid missing them being delivered at home (UPS, for example, won't drop off to apartment complexes if you aren't there, so you'll have to drive out to Middleton to pick up your packages).<br />
<br />
It's never too early to start studying for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/graduate/quals.htm quals]... early and often, my friends. Early and Often.<br />
<br />
== Getting together ==<br />
Historically, some afternoons and Friday before colloquium, we have a cookie and coffee social hour on the 9th floor lounge. Keep your eyes open for announcements.<br />
<br />
Definitely check out some of the colloquia and seminars. The earlier you get involved the better. This is a great way to learn more about potential research areas, meet other people in the areas, and meet other mathematicians in other departments. There is a list posted on the 9th floor each week in addition to online.<br />
<br />
Once a semester, our group for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ women in mathematics] get together for an informal potluck. We also have been known to bring in women speakers funded by the [http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/ WiSELI] grant.<br />
<br />
= Miscellaneous Wisconsin Stuff =<br />
This section describes miscellaneous Wisconsin stuff that doesn't belong in any other section, such as, a [[Wisconsin Dictionary]] for those who aren't familiar with the Wisconsin vernacular.<br />
<br />
== Voting ==<br />
Frequently asked questions for Wisconsin voting can be found <br />
[http://wisconsin.gov/state/core/faq_wisconsin_voting_elections.html here]. <br />
As of the April election, Wisconsin has a law that allows for same day registration at the polls:<br />
<br />
''If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.''<br />
<br />
Out of state licenses work, and utility bills, bank statements, or pay checks with your name and address on them work for proof of residence.<br />
<br />
== Car Stuff ==<br />
Madison has a DMV out on the west side, just past Midvale, at 4802 Sheboygan Ave, and one on the east side out near the airport. <br />
<br />
*Licenses: As they say on their page for licensing new residents, if you're looking to put your permanent residence here and vote here and generally show up on the radar, you should apply for your [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/nonreside/index.htm WI license] within 60 days of establishing residency. Your first baseline license costs $28, and is valid for three years. Note: you will need to take with you, among other things, something like a rent agreement, or a utility bill, UW transcript, or bank statement actually mailed to your WI address (no e-bills). We'll note that math students have been known to wait longer than 60 days to officially apply for residency, but we recommend you don't wait until an out-of-state license expires to get a WI license.<br />
<br />
*Vehicle Registration: If you own a car and officially become a WI resident, you need to get WI plates. All the information you need is available [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/new/resident.htm here].<br />
<br />
*Parking: First, unless you have a motorcycle, '''don't''' plan to park on campus regularly. For parking near your residence, there are some options. Depending on the neighborhood, it's possible to rent a place that has parking included or available for an extra charge. Additionally, if you live in an area surrounded by 2-hr parking [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/documents/RP3allmap.pdf zones], you can usually buy a permit (for a little over $20 per year) allowing you to park on the street all day near your home. More information can be found on the City of Madison Parking Utility [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingUtility/index.cfm page]. Most importantly, "the vehicle for which you are requesting a permit must be owned by you, your child, your parents/step parents, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner, or be a leased or company vehicle which is assigned to you." <br />
<br />
BE AWARE! Winter parking gets all crazy in Madison (from November 15 - March 15). Most of town is on an alternate side parking schedule: cars should be parked on the even (resp. odd) house numbered side of the street from 1:00a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on even (resp. odd) numbered days. If you live on the isthmus in the Snow Emergency Zone, you will only need to do this when the weather gets really bad. You can sign up for alerts when this happens.<br />
<br />
If you leave your car in the wrong place -- with winter nonsense or for any other reason -- and it gets towed, you can call the Madison Police Department (266-4260) or Schmidt's Towing (257-0505) to find out what they've done with it.<br />
<br />
== Taxes ==<br />
Once you've lived here for an entire calendar year, be sure to look into the [http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/home.html Wisconsin Homestead Credit]... it's usually worth the time and effort for graduate students. Until then, you can look into [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html deducting moving costs] for relocating here on your federal taxes.<br />
<br />
A warning to students on fellowship: taxes will not be taken out of your paycheck, but you still have to pay them. You may want to consider filing [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199807,00.html quarterly].<br />
<br />
== Wisconsin benefit programs ==<br />
We don't exactly get piles of money for teaching. In fact, most people who are not on fellowship or receiving summer funding can qualify for some heating aid (up to $380/year), and electricity aid (up to $285/year). You can check your eligibility at [https://access.wisconsin.gov/ Access WI]. <br />
There may be some residency requirements, like the Homestead credit. You can find your annual salary in our [http://www.taa-madison.org/contract/index.html contract].<br />
<br />
== Residency ==<br />
While it's usually a good idea to become a WI resident, if, for some reason, you're looking to declare residency in WI for tuition purposes, the answer is usually "no." It seems that one has to be in Wisconsin for a full year before enrolling at the UW, and one has to prove that one did not move here primarily for educational purposes (according to the Wisconsin statutes, you have to provide "clear and convincing evidence"). More on that at the [http://www.registrar.wisc.edu/students/residence/index.php Office of the Registrar]'s site.<br />
<br />
= Contacts and Other Resources =<br />
*[http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/gradguide/index.html Guide to Graduate Student Life]: The Graduate Student Collaborative's ([http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]) guide to grad student life in Madison -- like this one, but different.<br />
<br />
* [[Teaching Assistant Guide]]: from real live Van Vleck TAs<br />
<br />
*[http://www.yelp.com/madison-wi Yelp.com]: Find reviews of local stuff- restaurants and things to do, but also dentists, auto shops, etc.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.vip.wisc.edu VIP], the Visitor & Information Programs office, located in the Red Gym, near [http://www.union.wisc.edu Memorial Union]. They are open M - F 8am - 5pm and Saturday 11am - 2pm. <br />
<br />
*[http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu Student Orientation Handbook] is a valuable resource for information including entertainment, recreational and varsity sports, student organizations (including those for cultural groups, international students, LGBT students, women, veterans, and people with disabilities), health services, jobs, transportation, safety, and housing. It’s also a great place for referrals to counseling services, including drug and alcohol and sexual assault issues. You can find all this information on the web, at http://www.wisc.edu/visitingCampus/ or call them at 263-2400. You can also email any questions you have to askbucky@uwmad.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lgbt.wisc.edu LGBT Campus Center]: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Center (265-3344; lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu) provides support, social, educational and research services to the campus community, and serves as UW-Madison's first stop for those looking for information about campus LGBT organizations. The Memorial Union office on the 2nd floor includes a library, a television and DVD player, plenty of comfortable seating, open computers, and has a staff of students and professionals that work to bring events, speakers, and programs to campus. The Center also publishes a weekly events e-letter and offers support and social groups.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Got Questions? Here are some folks who might just have the answers...<br />
<br />
== Counseling Services ==<br />
Counseling services are available through Counseling and [http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/ Consultation Services (C&CS)], located at 115 North Orchard Street, (265-5600, TTY number 265-3300). C&CS offers brief psychological treatment, personal counseling, and psychiatric services to UW-Madison students. Frequent services include help in overcoming depression, managing anxiety and other psychological issues, and in developing greater self-awareness, independence, and self-direction. They also provide personal problem counseling, couples relationship counseling, marriage and family counseling, cross-cultural counseling, and alcohol and drug assessment and referral. Specialized groups have included: graduate women support, women and self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, survivors of troubled families, rebuilding relationships. C&CS also provides crisis response at the above phone numbers. Services provided are covered by the student health fee (included in your student fees).<br />
<br />
== Administrative and Support Staff ==<br />
The administrative and support staff are the folk that keep our department functioning. Without them, we as mathematicians would be lost. :) Their pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/support_staff.html here] and their contact info can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/academic_staff.html here]. If one person doesn't know how to deal with a problem you might have, they certainly know who might be able to help you out.<br />
<br />
Kate Bartlett<br />
Position: Timetable/Undergraduate<br />
Office: 203 VV<br />
Email: bartlett@math<br />
Ask Kate about: Registration (for you and your students), MyUW stuff, classroom assignments.<br />
<br />
David Camacho<br />
Position: Assoc Fac Assoc<br />
Office: 321 VV<br />
Email: camacho@math<br />
Ask David about: the Math Tutorial Program (if a student needs extra attention)<br />
<br />
Mark Castillo<br />
Position: Grants/Proposals<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: castillo @math<br />
Ask Mark about: grant money<br />
<br />
Chris Uhlir<br />
Position: Payroll/Benefits<br />
Office: 207 VV<br />
Email: grenie@math<br />
Ask Mike about: Payroll, hourly positions, taxes, tuition, healthcare, and benefits. <br />
<br />
Sara Nagreen<br />
Position: Sr IPC<br />
Office: 515 VV<br />
Email: nagreen@math<br />
Ask Sara about: all things computing.<br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson<br />
Position: Receptionist / Copy Center<br />
Office: 213 VV<br />
Email: paulson@math<br />
Ask Sharon about: Office supplies, room reservations (review sessions/exams/other), copying machine <br />
codes, private tutoring list.<br />
<br />
Mary Rice<br />
Position: Grad Prog. Admin<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: mrice@math<br />
Ask Mary about: Math dept records (teaching letters, transcripts, etc), how you go about graduating.<br />
<br />
Diane Rivard<br />
Position: Placement Advisor<br />
Office: 720 VV<br />
Email: rivard@math<br />
Ask Diane about: Placement questions (what class your student should be in, placement exam issues)<br />
<br />
Joan Wendt<br />
Position: Chair Secretary<br />
Office: 218 VV<br />
Email: wendt@math<br />
Ask Joan about: office assignments and keys<br />
<br />
Vicky Whelan<br />
Position: Dept Administrator<br />
Office: 223 VV<br />
Email: whelan@math<br />
Ask Vicky about: the dept credit card, espresso club, awesome concerts around town.<br />
<br />
== Current and Former Graduate Students Interested in Meeting YOU ==<br />
You can find a complete list of current graduate students [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/psdbgrad.html here], and pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/grad.html here].<br />
<br />
Laura Cladek<br />
Email: cladek@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~cladek Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2011<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Laura about: Anything ... Especially analysis or on campus housing.<br />
<br />
David Dynerman<br />
Email: dynerman@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~dynerman Website:]<br />
Grad-age: 3rd year<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask David about: programming video games, trying to do Hartshorne problems, <br />
going to the gym, Mushfeq Khan, Andrew Bridy<br />
<br />
Thomas Hangelbroek<br />
Email: hangelbr@math.hawaii.edu<br />
[http://math.hawaii.edu/people/hangelbr/ Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2007<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Thomas about: Anything Madison. Thomas is an expert in all things Madison.<br />
<br />
Sara Jensen<br />
Email: jensen@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jensen Website:]<br />
Grad-age: 3rd year<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask Sara about: Teaching, topology & algebra quals, knitting group, going to the gym <br />
<br />
(Evan) Alec Johnson<br />
Email: ejohnson@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson Website]<br />
Grad-age: 7th year<br />
Area of interest: Applied Math<br />
Ask Alec about: teaching, advanced calculus, gardening, and Geneva Campus Church.<br />
<br />
Christine Lien<br />
Email: lien@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lien Website]<br />
Grad-age: 6th year<br />
Area of interest: Complex Geometry<br />
Ask Christine about: anything, including bridge/card games, organizing women's events, <br />
the Association of Asian American Graduate students, and the Graduate Student Topology Seminar.<br />
<br />
Hao Lin<br />
Email: lin@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lin Website]<br />
Grad-age: 5th year<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Hao about: sports and anything about China.<br />
<br />
Jonathon Mason<br />
Email: jonathan.f.mason@gmail.com<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2010<br />
Ask Mason about: Wisconsin hiking, the local film scene.<br />
<br />
Jason Murcko<br />
Email: murcko@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~murcko Website]<br />
Grad-age: 4th year<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Jason about: the TAA and the local film and music scenes.<br />
<br />
Mike Schroeder<br />
Email: schroede@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~schroede Website]<br />
Grad-age: 6th year<br />
Area of interest: Combinatorics<br />
Ask Mike about: softball, bowling, sailing, racquet ball, and the Florida Gators.<br />
<br />
David Seal<br />
Email: seal@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~seal Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started in 2006.<br />
Area of interest: Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask David about: movies, biking, hiking and board games<br />
<br />
Beth Skubak<br />
Email: skubak@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~skubak Website]<br />
Grad-age: 2nd year<br />
Area of interest: undecided<br />
Ask Beth about: anything, including this wiki<br />
<br />
Mike Woodbury<br />
Email: woodbury@math.columbia.edu<br />
Grad-age: Class of 2011<br />
Area of interest: Number Theory<br />
Ask Mike about: anything, including number theory, road biking, UW basketball tix.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Graduate_Student_Guide&diff=4083Graduate Student Guide2012-08-16T15:54:21Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Campus Food */</p>
<hr />
<div>[[Image:Exams.png|400px|right | Grading Exams in the Lounge]]<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
= Food =<br />
<br />
There are many ethnic and interesting restaurants in Madison – Indonesian, African, Italian, Himalayan, Laotian, Peruvian, Mexican, Bakeries, Brew Pubs, Coffee Joints, you name it -- and everyone has their favorites.<br />
<br />
The biggest resource for finding food (and entertainment!) in Madison is probably the [http://www.thedailypage.com/eats/ Daily Page] (the online version of our local paper, the Isthmus), where you can search local restaurants by name, locality, and cuisine. There, they have reviews, hours, contact info, pricing, etc. Be sure to peruse their [http://www.thedailypage.com/mad-tools/madisons-favorites/favorites.php?category=Restaurants Madison's Favorites] section for some quick tips! Of course [http://www.yelp.com/ yelp] is always useful as well. At one point a couple spent a few years trying to sample every restaurant in Madison and blogged about their journey on the [http://www.madisonatoz.com/ Madison A to Z].<br />
<br />
Here are some general food facts:<br />
<br />
== Campus Food ==<br />
*Food Carts: Open for lunch in Library Mall at the foot of Bascom Hill near Lake & State Street. Very good and very cheap, and out as long as it's not too cold.<br />
<br />
*Ingraham Hall: Very close to Van Vleck, and has acceptable coffee (bring your own cup to save money!) and decent snacks. Try the lunch special: sandwich and 4 sides (soda, fruit, cookies, etc.) for six bucks. Halfway down the hill is the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/crossroadscafe.htm Crossroads Cafe] which has much better coffee and is open later.<br />
<br />
*Memorial Union: The Rathskeller has food and next door is Lakeside cafe with much better food. Summer afternoons on the terrace is an excellent place to hang out in the sunshine with a beer and brat.<br />
<br />
*Union South: Recently opened. Probably has many places to get food. <br />
<br />
*State Street (past the food carts) is full of restaurants and Coffee shops – there are at least a half dozen coffee roasters in town, and each supplies a different set of shops. In particular for lunch, there are the popular chains, such as Potbelly Sandwich Works, Einstein Bros. Bagels, or Chipotle... or hit the more independent spots such as the Sunroom Cafe or Ian's Pizza.<br />
<br />
== MadTown food ==<br />
<br />
Traditional Madison foods are German varieties such as beer, cheese, and bratwurst. Each year Madison hosts [http://www.bratfest.com/ Bratfest], a record breaking event. <br />
UW has [http://www.wisc.edu/foodsci/store/ Babcock Hall Ice Cream] on campus which creates delicious ice cream available in the Unions. The [http://www.chocolateshoppeicecream.com/ Chocolate Shoppe], [http://www.ilovemichaels.com/ Michael's Frozen Custard] and Culvers have nice deserts.<br />
Micro breweries in town include the [http://www.greatdanepub.com/ Great Dane], [http://www.capital-brewery.com/ Captial Brewery] and [http://www.aleasylum.com/ Ale Asylum]. Nearby there is the famous [http://www.newglarusbrewing.com/ New Glarus Brewing Co] which only sells beer in Wisconsin. You can join a free beer tour or walk through the brewery on a self guided tourn.<br />
<br />
In early September (2nd-3rd), check out [http://www.madisonfestivals.com/taste/ Taste of Madison] to see many restaurants all in one place at one time.<br />
<br />
Try a good ol' midwestern Fish Fry on Friday night – All you can eat fried fish generally served with a bran muffin, clam chowder, or coleslaw. Most Brew Pubs and some churches have them, and the [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/restaurant.php Orpheum] as well at the [http://www.avenuebarmadison.com/ Avenue Bar and Grill] both run Friday night Fish Fries.<br />
<br />
== Farm fresh food ==<br />
<br />
The [http://www.madfarmmkt.org/ Dane County Farmer's Market] is amazing and HUGE. The big one is open every Saturday morning, and is located on the capitol square for most of the year. In addition to the ludicrous amount of fresh produce, there are also bakery stands, coffee, and fresh juice carts for quick breakfasts.<br />
<br />
There are also a few smaller [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farmers_markets.htm#danecounty markets] scattered around town, almost every day of the week:<br />
<br />
*Sunday: 8:30am to 12:30pm in front of Pierce's Northside Market<br />
*Monday: (none)<br />
*Tuesday: 4pm to 7pm on Ingersol at Williamson, 2pm to 6pm at 1602 S. Park St,<br />
*Wednesday: 8am to 2pm on MLKJr Blvd, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center,<br />
*Thursday: Thursdays, 2pm to 6pm at the Villager Mall on Park St., 2pm to 6pm in the McFarland Centre, 7:30am to 1:30pm in the Greenway Station shopping center,<br />
*Friday: (none)<br />
*Saturday: 6am to 2pm on the Capitol square, 7am to 1pm at the Hilldale Shopping Center, 9am to 2pm at 1602 S. Park St, 7am to 1pm at Sheboygan Ave. and Segoe Rd., and 8:30am to 11am in Watertower Park.<br />
<br />
During the summer and fall, there are many [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/index.htm local farms] where you can [http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/farms/u_pick.htm pick] your own strawberries, raspberries, apples, or pumpkins when they are in season.<br />
<br />
If you're in town for the summer, you might consider signing up for a [http://www.macsac.org/ Community Supported Agriculture] food box. CSA is a way to support a local farm by paying an annual fee in the winter or spring which buys you a share of the season's harvest. Once harvesting begins, members pick-up a weekly box of fresh foods which may include produce, fruits, cheeses, eggs, meats, poultry, flowers, herbs or preserves. The typical CSA season in Wisconsin runs from the end of May through mid-October. You do have to pay the lump sum up-front, and some weeks you'll find yourself with five pounds of chard... but for most of the summer you'll have your produce needs met, and you can feel good about supporting small local farms. Better yet, most of the university's insurance providers offer [http://www.macsac.org/rebates.html rebates] for signing up for a CSA -- somewhere between $50-$300, depending on the plan and how many people you're sharing with (for example, if two people on GHC share a box, they might pay $450 for the box for a box lasting 25 weeks, but they they could each get $100 back, making that $5/week per person). If you're interested, remember to sign up early -- most programs are full by May.<br />
<br />
= Grocery Stores =<br />
<br />
== Generic Groceries ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.capcentrefoods.com/home.html Capitol Centre Foods]: Given their small size, they have an excellent selection of groceries. They tend to be a bit pricey. In addition, they deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.freshmadisonmarket.com/ Fresh Madison Market]: A reasonably large general grocery store, not too expensive. Has a large selection of "typical college items" (lots of frozen foods). Located on University, not too far from Van Vleck. They also deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.copps.com/ Copps]: Your standard grocery store with multiple locations.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.costco.com/Warehouse/LocationTemplate.aspx?Warehouse=1020&lang=en-US Costco]: Your friendly big-box bulk store. They treat their employees incredibly well. Good buys on computers, 2 lbs of sockeye salmon or button down oxford cloth long sleeved shirts. You'll need a membership or go there with someone who has a membership. You can also get a free trial membership if you simply ask.<br />
<br />
*Walgreens: Pharmacy/Grocery store. There is a Walgreens on the corner of Lake & State Street near Van Vleck, on the Capitol Square, and in University square.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Whole Foods]: Kinda spendy, but good bread, specialty stuff, and produce through the winter.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wholefoods.com/stores/madison/ Woodman's]: two locations -- [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=725+S+Gammon+Rd+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&om=1&ll=43.055217,-89.50304&spn=0.05381,0.171661 East] and [http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=3817+Milwaukee+St,+Madison,+WI&ie=UTF8&ll=43.103615,-89.319363&spn=0.053768,0.171661&om=1 West]. If you have a car and the time, go here. Very large, very cheap, but time consuming. They don't take credit cards, so bring a debit card or check book. The produce is pretty poor, but they're huge and, again, cheap. Check out the liquor store for a large selection (you can buy all types of alcohol in grocery stores in Wisconsin... but not after 9pm).<br />
<br />
*[http://www.traderjoes.com/ Trader Joe's]: Located at 1810 Monroe St. They have good prices for select specialty food items such as wine, cheese and fancy snacks. Their basic foodstuffs tend to be a bit pricey.<br />
<br />
*The Jenifer Street Market located on 2038 Jenifer Street is a nice little grocery store if you happen to live in the area.<br />
<br />
== Co-ops ==<br />
Co-ops are a good source of local organic food. If you are a member they provide discounts, but you can also shop there at your own will.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.regentmarketcoop.org/ Regent Market Cooperative], 2136 Regent St. 233-4329.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.willystreet.coop/ Willy Street Co-op] The largest and most active co-op in the Madison area. They have been able to survive the decline in co-ops over the years. They offer a large selection of bulk foods and spices at an excellent price. For a quick bite, they have an excellent deli, salad bar, and in-store coffee shop. 1221 Williamson St. 251-6776. They recently opened a second store in Middleton located at 6825 University Ave. Both locations deliver groceries.<br />
<br />
== Specialty Foods ==<br />
<br />
*[http://www.aldifoods.com/ Aldi Foods]: It's like grocery shopping at overstock.com.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=keJ&q=asian+midway+foods&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,304616636444102595&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Asian Midway Market]: The go-to market for anything Thai, Chinese or South-East Asian, this centrally-located store comes highly recommended. In particular, they offer a great selection of specialized produce. 301 South Park Street; 255-5864<br />
<br />
*[http://www.brennansmarket.com/ Brennan's Market]: Great for Produce, Meats, Cheese, Micro brews and Wines. You won't find things like Flour and Saran Wrap here, but definitely worth the trip.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.reapfoodgroup.org/atlas/ Farm Fresh Atlas]: Not a grocery store, but a good resource for where you can buy local foods and a list of farms in the areas.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madseafood.com/ The Seafood Center]: The name says it all. Great fresh fish and live lobsters.<br />
<br />
*[http://frabonisdeli.com/ Fraboni's]: An awesome Italian grocery store and deli. They have very good [http://frabonisdeli.com/oils olive oils], [http://frabonisdeli.com/pastas pastas], and make-your-own pizza fixings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3723579948/garden-asian-market-middleton Garden Asian Market]: A full service Asian food market specializing in fresh meat, produce, and seafood. Mostly Chinese-leaning, they do a good job of providing a wide variety of items within their niche. It may be far out, but it's worth the trip in its pleasantness and selection.<br />
<br />
*[http://maps.google.com/maps?client=safari&oe=UTF-8&ie=UTF8&q=india+house+grocery+store,+madison,+wi&fb=1&gl=us&hq=india+house+grocery+store,&hnear=Madison,+WI&cid=0,0,8495347478199843118&ll=43.050466,-89.503019&spn=0.007871,0.019183&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A India House]: Really well done Indian grocery store. Good place to buy Kari leaves.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=TMe&q=lee%27s+oriental&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,92533124768468793&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Lee's Oriental]: Next to Penzey's spices. 3240 University Ave; 231-1593<br />
<br />
*[http://www.google.com/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=2Me&q=oriental+shop&near=Madison,+WI&radius=0.0&latlng=43073056,-89401111,13628497956998458364&sa=X&oi=local&ct=authority Oriental Shop]: They carry mostly dry-goods, and tend to lean toward stocking more Korean items. 1206 South Park Street; 255-0326<br />
<br />
= Housing =<br />
<br />
Haven't found a place yet? Already hate your apartment?<br />
<br />
* [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/ UW Off-Campus Housing Search]: Probably the best search site for students.<br />
<br />
* Again, [http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List] is a good resourse. Also a good place to look for roommates outside of the department.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.housing.wisc.edu/universityapartments/ University Apartments]: On campus graduate housing, particularly popular with married couples (especially with children). Singles are also welcome. Many of them are on the bus route #80, a free route which runs from the apartments through campus every fifteen minutes throughout the day.<br />
<br />
== Location, Location, Location ==<br />
<br />
If you would like to keep your commute down, there are many places near campus. Many graduate students prefer to live close enough to Van Vleck to be within walking distance, yet far enough away to stay away from partying undergraduate students.<br />
<br />
Many graduate students live in the Vilas neighborhood, which is located South of Regent Street and between Park and Monroe. East of the Capitol building, we also have the Willy St. neighborhood (between Williamson and Rutledge streets, between Paterson and Thornton) and the other side of the Isthmus, between Mifflin and Lake Mendota. The university offers on campus housing at Eagle Heights with regular buses. Many students also live near Sheboygan and University Avenues (not on this map), and there are regular buses that run up University Avenue that will drop you off right in front of Van Vleck. The large apartment complexes in that area include the Normandy, Chapel Hill, Carolina, Monticello, Hilldale Towers, Park Towers, and Sovereign Apartments which are cheaper to live in than spots on the square.<br />
<br />
Because there is no parking on campus, you will need to plan on living within walking distance of a bus route or campus itself. You will receive a free bus pass for the [http://www.mymetrobus.com/ Madison Metro] system, which is very reliable. Check out the “plan your trip” link to find bus routes near you.<br />
<br />
Here is an approximate map of many areas where you will be likely to find housing: <br />
[[Image:gradhousingmap.jpg|400px| center | Housing Map]]<br />
<br />
Basically, shoot for zones 2-6, the North parts of zones 7 and 8, or the far East part of zone 10 on [http://housing.civc.wisc.edu/map_all.asp this map] (the map from the UW Off-Campus Housing Search).<br />
<br />
== Stuff your landlord might not tell you ==<br />
<br />
*Utilities:<br />
Lots of apartments have water, sewage, heat, and and sometimes electricity included in rent. For those which don't, be sure to find out what to expect through the [http://mge.com/myaccount/averagecost/ Madison Gas and Electric] web page. Just tell them the address of the place you're looking at, and they'll tell you what the highs, lows, and averages have been over the last year.<br />
<br />
*Property information:<br />
The [http://www.cityofmadison.com/assessor/property.html City Assessor] has all of the basic information about Madison properties on file, including how many units are on the property, how much square footage there is, if there's AC in the building, what school district it's in, who your alderperson would be, and what else is on the property (e.g. garages). They'll even tell you how much the property is worth, and how much your landlord is paying in property taxes. Sometimes the square footage isn't broken up--for example, maybe there are two units on the first floor, but they'll only tell you that there are 1,700 sq ft on that floor, not how it's split up between the two units. It can be a useful site for rounding out your knowledge of places you're considering renting.<br />
<br />
*Tenants rights:<br />
The [http://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/ Tenant resource center] is a small non-profit membership organization which provides housing counseling, mediation services and office assistance. Their website includes tips for new renters, generic rental forms, and advice for what to do if your landlord just won't get back to you about repairs, returning deposits, etc.<br />
There is also the [http://studenttenantunion.rso.wisc.edu/ Student tenant union], which is specifically targeted to UW students.<br />
<br />
== Rental Companies ==<br />
Many properties in Madison are run by rental companies -- some large, some small -- some good, some not-so-good. Larger companies tend to have lower prices, and more people working toward maintaining rentals. However, they may have less of an investment in taking care of each individual property or screening their tenants. Some people feel better renting from small companies, or landlords with only one or two houses. You may get more individual attention and care. Individuals have more investment in protecting each property, and renting to good tenants, so the properties tend to be in more reliable condition. However, with fewer properties comes fewer resources and higher prices.<br />
<br />
Whatever choice you make, be sure to have a conversation with your potential landlords about their polices, especially if you aren't going to be able to see things in person. It may also be good to Google the company or person to see if other people have had something good or bad to say about them or their properties. In particular, [http://www.apartmentratings.com/rate/WI-Madison.html ApartmentRatings.com] has a few of the apartment complexes around town listed.<br />
<br />
Here are some general impressions/very subjective opinions that some of us have gotten from/about a few of the larger local companies:<br />
<br />
*AB Holdings: In particular, they have a couple small apartment buildings on Vilas that are particularly ideal for two people. Quite a few people from the department have rented these units and have been pretty happy.<br />
<br />
*[http://apexrents.com/ Apex Property Management]: Great company. Well-maintained properties, with many of the more recently remodeled rentals being very nice. Their representatives are helpful and responsible, and their tenants seem to be generally satisfied.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.centralmadison.com/ The Christensen Company]: Not terribly up-to-date apartments, but worth taking a look at.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonproperty.com/ Madison Property Management]: Lots of choices, but notoriously junky properties. They tend to cater mostly to undergraduates, and their rentals show it. We wouldn't recommend renting from this company unless you visit first.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.mcbridecompanies.com/ The McBride Companies]: Nice properties, good management. Really good website if you turn the sound off.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.tallardapartments.com/ Tallard Apartments]: Nice properties with very friendly and responsive staff. Their rentals tend to go early in the season.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wimci.com/ Wisconsin Management Company]: Nice enough properties, but kind of flakey representation. Make sure to ask lots of questions.<br />
<br />
*The Wright Company (or Norris Ct. Apartments): Very nice older buildings, but kind of sketchy management. Nothing is going to be in stellar shape, but they do tend to rent more to graduates and professionals, so they aren't beat up either. If you do rent from them, don't expect them to be very responsive, and be sure to be especially careful about protecting your security deposit by taking photos and keeping a record of your move-in report.<br />
<br />
= Furniture =<br />
<br />
*[http://www.svdpmadison.org/ St. Vincent DePaul's]: Like Goodwill. Has cheap dressers, desks, chairs, and general household stuff. Will deliver for a small charge. This is also a great place to donate any furniture or other items that you no longer want – they will pick up the items from your apartment. There is also a Goodwill in town, but they won't have nearly the same volume of furniture.<br />
<br />
*[http://madison.craigslist.org/ Craig's List]: a free online classifieds site. Great not only for furniture, but also pet resources and last minute apartment hunting.<br />
<br />
*Eagle Heights Apartment Bulletin Boards: Lots of cheap stuff from people graduating, many of whom are moving overseas. You can even find cars. You can try posting your own wanted posters on the boards. You can find these boards at the bus stops for the (free) bus 80 route.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/madisonfreecycle/ Freecycle]: A community "give stuff away for free" website with a Madison branch.<br />
<br />
*Hippie Christmas: For some reason or another, the evening of August 14th is when the bulk of leases near campus turn over. This is a fantastic day to pick up free furniture from the street. If you already have a rental van, why not help municipal waste by pickup up a bookshelf for them?<br />
<br />
*The Todd Drive Area: Just west of park street on the beltline. American Furniture for furniture and electronics, Home Concepts for cheap but nice looking furniture, and Steinhafel's for furniture and mattresses.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bussvc.wisc.edu/swap/swap.html SWAP]. The UW's surplus supply store.<br />
<br />
= International Student Resources =<br />
Here are a few links specifically for international students. There are international grocery stores listed in the [http://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Graduate_Student_Guide#Specialty_Foods groceries] section.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcssa.net/ Chinese Student & Scholar Association]: A connection to the university's Chinese community for incoming students. They offer rides from the airport, list general information about madison, and organize get-tegethers/Chinese celebrations. International Conversation & Coffee Hour: meet other international students and americans interested in other cultures. Every Friday, 12-2pm, Cooper Hearth Room 160, Union South.<br />
<br />
*[http://iss.wisc.edu/ International Student Services]: the UW's International Student Services<br />
<br />
*[http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
*[http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MADindians/ MadIndians]: a Yahoo online group for students from India in Madison. Good place to search for an Indian roommate.<br />
<br />
*[http://mtsa.rso.wisc.edu/ Madison Association of Turkish Students]: Very helpful for incoming Turkish students. It includes information about how best to get to Madison from Turkey, information about housing, and how to reach other Turkish students in Madison.<br />
<br />
= Newspapers =<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/captimes/ The Capitol Times]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the afternoon. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more liberal.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.thedailypage.com/ The Isthmus]: Free independent Madison newspaper. Has a liberal voice and is full of entertainment, including family fun, outdoor attractions, and fine arts. Also puts out the Annual Manual - the yearly guide to all things Madison.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.theonion.com/ The Onion]: While hilarious, this paper is only really good if you're already in on the joke. We get free paper copies in Madison. There is a stack near the elevators in VV. The local edition has local entertainment listings.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madison.com/wsj/ Wisconsin State Journal]: Standard local newspaper, printed daily in the mornings. Of the two standards, this one tends to be the more conservative.<br />
<br />
= Religious Groups =<br />
*[http://www.atheistalliance.org/aaw/ Atheists and Agnostics of Wisconsin]<br />
<br />
*[http://www.blackhawkchurch.org/ Blackhawk Evangelical Free Church]: Near Sheboygan Ave. at 110 N Whitney Way. A huge church, but with opportunities to get involved and meet people. It has services in the sanctuary, with a mixture of traditional and semi-modern worship, and also "video cafe" services with more lively, modern worship. Very good teaching.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.cpcmadison.com/ Christ Presbyterian Church]. Just east of James Madison Park on Gorham. Has a great choir and organist!<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fusmadison.org/ The First Unitarian Society of Madison]. "A liberal religious community that encourages individual spiritual growth and community action in an atmosphere of warmth, freedom of belief, intellectual curiosity, and open dialogue." Looking for something new? They're open to all types. Also, they are housed in a historic Frank Lloyd Wright building.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.folmadison.org/ Fountain of Life]: 1717 Fish Hatchery Rd. A multi-ethnic church with a lot of eclectic music styles, including a lot of Gospel music<br />
<br />
*[http://genevacc.org/ The Geneva Campus Church]: On Campus Reformed church. They describe themselves as "a university church for the whole family"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwhillel.org/ Hillel]: UW-Madison's on-campus center for everything Jewish: religious, cultural, political, traditional, and alternative. Located on Langdon Street, it serves both the school population and, to a far lesser extent, the entire city.<br />
<br />
*[http://islamiccentermadison.org/ Islamic Center of Madison]: Has a masjid inside. 21 N Orchard St, (608)251-9851<br />
<br />
*[http://ivgcf.rso.wisc.edu/ InterVarsity Grad Christian Fellowship]: It's a welcoming place for Christians and non-Christians alike. (You might even find your future husband/wife there) They also have a website with info about local churches. There is a new student picnic at the beginning of the fall semester.<br />
<br />
*Latter Day Saints: There are a number of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints wards in the Madison area. The Madison First Ward covers areas closest to campus and meets at 4505 Regent Street, two blocks south of Hilldale Mall, at 9am. The University Ward serves single adults and meets at 1711 University Avenue at 10 am. The Madison Third Ward serves areas close to campus and meets at 701 Bear Claw Way on Madison's far west side at 11 am. Visitors and the curious are always welcome.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lccmadison.com/ Lutheran Campus Center]: A fairly young, enthusiastic, and liberal-minded congragation, found right on campus.<br />
<br />
*[http://madcitychurch.org/ Mad City Church]: A non-denominational, casual christian fellowship. Services are held in the LaFollette High School located on Madison's east side - very near the corner of Pflaum Rd. and Monona Dr. Office at 2713 E. Washington Ave.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.muuyacm.org/ Madison UU Young Adult and Campus Ministry (MUUYACM)]. One of the largest and most active Unitarian Universalist young adult groups in the U.S., they are open to young adults (ages 18-35) of all denominations. In addition to worships, they organize social-justice-oriented activities, and are an active member of the Wisconsin Network for Peace and Justice.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.uwcatholic.org/ St. Paul's University Catholic Center]: On campus in Library Mall near Lake & State. Has a lively Catholic grad student group called Mustard Seed with Bible studies, Thursday night speakers, retreats, service projects, and large quantities of food and euchre.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.unityofmadison.org/ Unity of Madison]: (from their site) "Unity of Madison is a heart-centered Spiritual Community focused on Truth Seeking and Spiritual Growth through the Christ Consciousness of Acceptance, Love, Peace and Joy. Our purpose is to inspire, nuture, and empower all people in their spiritual growth. We provide creative worship, joyful gathering and educational programs as we teach and live Jesus' message that 'the kingdom of God is within you.'"<br />
<br />
*[http://www.isthmuszencommunity.org/ Zen Buddhism]: A local zen buddhist center is located next to Willy st co-op. New comers are especially welcome.<br />
<br />
= Arts and Entertainment =<br />
<br />
Madison is a medium sized city with a not so medium sized arts and entertainment scene. There are cultural events on campus<br />
and at the [http://www.overturcenter.com Overture Center]; sporting events; art, science, natural history, and history museums; parks, the<br />
[http://www.uwarboretum.org arboretum], and [http://www.olbrich.org botanical gardens]; a free [http://www.vilaszoo.org zoo]; hiking, biking, and cross-country skiing; a [http://www.madfarmmkt.com Farmer’s Market] on the<br />
Capital Square every Saturday morning from April-October; and lots of other things. The [http://www.thedailypage.com Isthmus], is the local free newspaper which posts many current events.<br />
The Isthmus can be found in many stores, in campus buildings, and on street corners.<br />
<br />
== Athletic Activities ==<br />
* [http://www.recsports.wisc.edu/ Rec Sports] runs the gyms on campus. There are three such on-campus gyms -- The SERF, the Nat, and the Shell, which are free with student ID. For $10/semester, you can attend any of their Group Fitness classes, which cover everything from aerobics and weights to yoga and dance. Also, both the SERF and Nat have indoor pools.<br />
<br />
*The University of Wisconsin has a long standing heritage of being proud of their [http://www.uwbadgers.com/ athletic events]. Men's basketball, football and ice-hockey receive the most attention and as a student, you can obtain season tickets for all of these events.<br />
<br />
== Dancing ==<br />
<br />
*Ballroom: [http://www.uwmbda.org/ UWMBDA] is the big ballroom dance group here. They have dances with lessons every week on Friday or Saturday and a practice group every Thursday.<br />
<br />
*[http://sprott.physics.wisc.edu/dances.htm Contra Dance]: Meetings every Tuesday.<br />
<br />
*International Folk club: meets biweekly Library Mall, Wed/Sun 7:30PM-late.<br />
<br />
*Swing: [http://www.uwswing.com/ Jumptown Swing] is UW's swing club. They host (mostly) weekly dances at Union South, and provide lessons for a nominal fee. See their site for scheduling and links to other swing orgonizations. Also, on Wednesdays, there's dancing at the [http://www.thebrinklounge.com/ Brink Lounge] from 8-11.<br />
<br />
*Salsa: Venues include [http://www.cardinalbar.com/ Cardinal Bar] on Thursdays, [http://www.thedailypage.com/theguide/details.php?event=176610 Frida's] on Friday nights. Don't know how to Salsa? There are lessons before dances at Cardinal, and instruction is offered through the Union's minicourses.<br />
<br />
*Tango: the [http://www.madisontango.org/ Madison Tango Society] provides lessons and dances for Argentine Tango. Their site has a good list or other events in and around Madison.<br />
<br />
== Libraries ==<br />
In addition to the many [http://www.library.wisc.edu/ Libraries of UW], the [http://www.madisonpubliclibrary.org/ Madison Public Library] is a great place for books, movies, and music.<br />
<br />
== Movies ==<br />
The Daily Page has a [http://www.thedailypage.com/movies/listing.php listing] of movie times for most of the theaters around town (both big and small):<br />
<br />
*Eastgate, Point and Star Cinema are the three larger movie theaters in town.<br />
<br />
*Market Square shows second runs at a good discount. <br />
<br />
*The [http://www.orpheumtheatre.net/ Orpheum] is an old cinema within site of the capitol on State street. They tend to show less mainstream movies.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.sundancecinemas.com/madison.html Sundance 608] shows independent film as well as blockbuster movies. They have a rooftop cafe that's open during the summer months, 2 bars (you can take a drink into your movie), and a restaurant!<br />
<br />
For on-campus movies:<br />
*The Wisconsin Union Directorate runs on campus screening of films. Their film site can be found [http://www.union.wisc.edu/WUD/film.aspx here.]<br />
<br />
*The UW film department hosts free screenings of a wide array of films based on a given theme for that semester through their [http://cinema.wisc.edu/ cinematheque.] Their department has many contacts with other film institutes and are able show rare original 35mm films that you can't see anywhere else.<br />
<br />
*In late March/early April, go check out some of the many many films showing at the [http://www.wifilmfest.org/ Wisconsin Film Festival.] Sites all over town take part in hosting the showing of these films.<br />
<br />
Madison also has a number of independent video stores:<br />
<br />
*[http://www.fourstarvideoheaven.com/ Four Star Video Heaven] has been voted as a Madison Favorite for a number of years. See their site to browse their collection online.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.bongovideo.com/ Bongo Video] has a smaller, but quite tasty selection. Lots of personality, and good daily specials.<br />
<br />
== Music ==<br />
Whether you're looking to play music, or just go watch free or (in)expensive concerts, there are many options in Madison.<br />
<br />
*Our very own [http://music.wisc.edu/ Music Department] hosts many music events. Their website has a calendar listing current music events including faculty concerts and student recitals.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.madisonsymphony.org/ The Madison Symphony Orchestra] (MSO) is the professional symphony based here in Madison. With your student ID, you can get student rush tickets for as little as $10 per person.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.wcoconcerts.org/ The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra] is Madison's professional chamber orchestra. Each summer, their widely popular [http://www.wcoconcerts.org/new/cos/concertsonthesquare.php concerts on the square] draw many people from all over the place for a free outdoor concert.<br />
<br />
*[http://madisoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Madison Community Orchestra] (MCO) is an informal group run by Madison Area Technical College that meets once a week. There are four free concerts a year and no auditions to play with the group.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.middletoncommunityorchestra.org/ The Middleton Community Orchestra] is a second newly formed community orchestra run by community musicians. Their concerts are extremely affordable, and they may run auditions.<br />
<br />
== Outdoor Activites ==<br />
Madison is a very bicycle friendly town, and there are many parks either in town or within a short drive. Here are some suggestions about outdoor activities to engage in:<br />
<br />
*Take a nice long walk along one of the many paths around [http://lakeshorepreserve.wisc.edu/imap/LakeshoreNaturePreserve.html Picnic Point]... bike the path from Memorial Union out to the tip, or bus/drive out to the base of picnic point and wander the foot trails in the area.<br />
<br />
*Head towards Monona Terrace on Lake Monona, and take one of the paths that wraps around the lake (great bike ride!).<br />
<br />
*You can also go walking and/or biking around the [http://uwarboretum.org/ Arboretum] south of campus and tour their gardens, or head to the free [http://www.vilaszoo.org/ Vilas Zoo]. Lake Wingra is essentially totally surrounded by wooded areas including Henry Vilas Park, the UW-arboretum and Edgewood college. You can rent canoes at Knickerbocker for fairly cheap and relax on Lake Wingra.<br />
<br />
*Community Gardens: There are a number of community gardens run by the [http://www.cacscw.org/gardens/ Community Action Coalition]. Nominally, you can sign up for a plot for a small fee, and learn how to garden if you don't already know, or go to town if you already do. The [http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/ Eagle Heights Community Garden] is open to both residents and non-residents alike. All of the gardens are fun to look at if you haven't ever seen one.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.olbrich.org/ The Olbrich Botanical Gardens] are located east of lake Monona. Stroll through 16 acres of outdoor display gardens including their award-winning Rose Garden and Thai Pavilion and Garden, or enjoy the year-round tropical Conservatory, a glass pyramid filled with exotic plants, bright flowers, a rushing waterfall, fragrant orchids and free-flying birds.. Outdoor gardens are open daily and free to the public, while entrance to the conservatory is $1 per person.<br />
<br />
*Catch a festival; Madison is home to a number of festivals -- big festivals, small festivals, arts festivals, music festivals, film festivals, beer festivals -- we've got all kinds.<br />
<br />
The Winter opens itself up to new activities such as cross country skiing, ice fishing, snow shoeing and other options. The hoofers club runs ice boats on the lake.<br />
<br />
*The city of Madison parks open up outdoor [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct2.html ice skating] at Tenney, Vilas, and Elver parks. No skates? No worries. They will rent skates to you there ($6.00 for the first hour, $2/hr after that).<br />
<br />
*There is also [http://www.ci.madison.wi.us/parks/winterAct4.html cross-country skiing] at a number of Dane county parks, with passes starting at $5/day. No skills? Check out lessons at the [http://www.madnorski.org/page/ Madison Nordic Ski Club] or, again, [http://sns.hoofers.org/ Hoofers] has lots to offer in that area.<br />
<br />
== Student Clubs ==<br />
The University of Wisconsin, being a rather large institution, has got so much stuff going on for all of us student-types. Here are some ways people around the department have been taking advantage:<br />
<br />
* [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop]: Located upstairs in the Memorial Union, they are "here to satisfy your creative urges in a variety of craft media." Their facilities include a darkroom, a woodshop, a ceramics studio, metal working tools, etc. Friday afternoons, they open their studios to all union members (that means you!) for free!<br />
<br />
* [http://www.hoofers.org/ Hoofers]: Student outdoor recreation club. The Outing and Sailing clubs in particular have lots of graduate students.<br />
<br />
* [http://india.rso.wisc.edu/ IGSA]: Indian Graduate Student Association.<br />
<br />
* [http://www.grad.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]: Graduate Student Collaborative Organization<br />
<br />
* [http://cfli.wisc.edu/student_organizations.htm Student Organizations]: at UW Madison (this is a directory of all registered student organizations at the university; you can search by topic or name)<br />
<br />
== The Student Unions ==<br />
The Memorial Union is located on the lakefront, on Park and Langdon. Be sure to check out the Terrace while the weather is still good -- it's a great place to go to get out of the office, grab something to snack on, and study out in the sun. You'll find the Daily Scoop (yummy ice cream!) and Der Rathskeller (beer and deep-fried goodness). You'll also find all sorts of stuff to keep you busy, like the [http://www.union.wisc.edu/craftshop/ Craftshop], the Union Theater, the Hoofers' headquarters, and a wide array of Mini Courses with which to expand your horizons.<br />
<br />
Also useful: the travel services center and STA Travel will get you good deals on trips (including bus tickets to O'Hare, Midway, and Milwaukee airports), and the theater's box office will get you good deals on shows (theater, music, etc) all around town. In addition, the Union has always got other special events going on to keep all of us entertained -- see their complete [http://www.union.wisc.edu/activities/ list of activities].<br />
<br />
The Union South was recently completely renovated and also has many activities available. They have a climbing wall, a bowling alley, pool tables, a beer garden, a wine tasting room, a ballroom, a movie theater and many other things.<br />
<br />
= Van Vleck Miscellany =<br />
Here's a bit more info about the happenings in and around the Math Dept.<br />
<br />
== Getting money ==<br />
*Paychecks: The first paycheck of the year arrives in October, though you may request an advance on about 30% of your first paycheck when you arrive. If you are not working over the summer, the last will come in June, so be sure to plan for the three month gap.<br />
<br />
*Fees: You will be charged for segregated fees in both semesters, and are not covered in your tuition. The amount depends on your credit load and status, but will be about $500 for most people and due about the time of your first paycheck. If you are on fellowship, this will be taken care of for you, and shouldn't appear on your bill.<br />
<br />
*TA union: The teaching assistants of Wisconsin are unionized. Even if you are not a TA, but are an employee of the department, you're still connected to them through advocacy and campus issues. For more information check out the [http://www.taa-madison.org/ TAA].<br />
<br />
== Getting stuff done ==<br />
See the Contacts section for a list of people who will help you get stuff done.<br />
<br />
If you want to reserve rooms in Van Vleck for review sessions or meetings you can fill out a green form with Sharon Paulson on the second floor. Sharon does the scheduling for about 4 or 5 rooms in the building, so you can also ask her about these rooms directly. If you need to reserve the 9th floor lounge, talk to Joan Wendt (also second floor).<br />
<br />
Each grad receives 200 photocopies and 250 black and white print outs a month for personal math use. If you are a TA, Sharon in the Copy Center on the second floor can photocopy materials for classes (which does not count toward your quota)– such as worksheets and quizzes. Just give her at least 24 hours notice. To check your printout quota, open a terminal logged into the math server, and type "pages". If you do go over your quota, you will simply get a (probably very small) bill at the end of the month.<br />
<br />
We get free office supplies on the 2nd floor – just ask Sharon for pens, folders, etc.<br />
<br />
You can pick up and send out your mail from the second floor. You might even want to have packages delivered to the department, to avoid missing them being delivered at home (UPS, for example, won't drop off to apartment complexes if you aren't there, so you'll have to drive out to Middleton to pick up your packages).<br />
<br />
It's never too early to start studying for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/graduate/quals.htm quals]... early and often, my friends. Early and Often.<br />
<br />
== Getting together ==<br />
Historically, some afternoons and Friday before colloquium, we have a cookie and coffee social hour on the 9th floor lounge. Keep your eyes open for announcements.<br />
<br />
Definitely check out some of the colloquia and seminars. The earlier you get involved the better. This is a great way to learn more about potential research areas, meet other people in the areas, and meet other mathematicians in other departments. There is a list posted on the 9th floor each week in addition to online.<br />
<br />
Once a semester, our group for [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~wimaw/ women in mathematics] get together for an informal potluck. We also have been known to bring in women speakers funded by the [http://wiseli.engr.wisc.edu/ WiSELI] grant.<br />
<br />
= Miscellaneous Wisconsin Stuff =<br />
This section describes miscellaneous Wisconsin stuff that doesn't belong in any other section, such as, a [[Wisconsin Dictionary]] for those who aren't familiar with the Wisconsin vernacular.<br />
<br />
== Voting ==<br />
Frequently asked questions for Wisconsin voting can be found <br />
[http://wisconsin.gov/state/core/faq_wisconsin_voting_elections.html here]. <br />
As of the April election, Wisconsin has a law that allows for same day registration at the polls:<br />
<br />
''If you wish to register to vote at your polling place, you must complete a voter registration application (EB-131), provide your driver's license number (or if you have not been issued a driver's license, provide a state-issued identification card number or provide the last four (4) digits of your social security number), AND have proof of residence indicating that you have lived at your current address for 10 days preceding the election.''<br />
<br />
Out of state licenses work, and utility bills, bank statements, or pay checks with your name and address on them work for proof of residence.<br />
<br />
== Car Stuff ==<br />
Madison has a DMV out on the west side, just past Midvale, at 4802 Sheboygan Ave, and one on the east side out near the airport. <br />
<br />
*Licenses: As they say on their page for licensing new residents, if you're looking to put your permanent residence here and vote here and generally show up on the radar, you should apply for your [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/drivers/apply/nonreside/index.htm WI license] within 60 days of establishing residency. Your first baseline license costs $28, and is valid for three years. Note: you will need to take with you, among other things, something like a rent agreement, or a utility bill, UW transcript, or bank statement actually mailed to your WI address (no e-bills). We'll note that math students have been known to wait longer than 60 days to officially apply for residency, but we recommend you don't wait until an out-of-state license expires to get a WI license.<br />
<br />
*Vehicle Registration: If you own a car and officially become a WI resident, you need to get WI plates. All the information you need is available [http://www.dot.state.wi.us/drivers/vehicles/new/resident.htm here].<br />
<br />
*Parking: First, unless you have a motorcycle, '''don't''' plan to park on campus regularly. For parking near your residence, there are some options. Depending on the neighborhood, it's possible to rent a place that has parking included or available for an extra charge. Additionally, if you live in an area surrounded by 2-hr parking [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingutility/documents/RP3allmap.pdf zones], you can usually buy a permit (for a little over $20 per year) allowing you to park on the street all day near your home. More information can be found on the City of Madison Parking Utility [http://www.cityofmadison.com/parkingUtility/index.cfm page]. Most importantly, "the vehicle for which you are requesting a permit must be owned by you, your child, your parents/step parents, legal guardian, spouse or registered domestic partner, or be a leased or company vehicle which is assigned to you." <br />
<br />
BE AWARE! Winter parking gets all crazy in Madison (from November 15 - March 15). Most of town is on an alternate side parking schedule: cars should be parked on the even (resp. odd) house numbered side of the street from 1:00a.m. until 7:00 a.m. on even (resp. odd) numbered days. If you live on the isthmus in the Snow Emergency Zone, you will only need to do this when the weather gets really bad. You can sign up for alerts when this happens.<br />
<br />
If you leave your car in the wrong place -- with winter nonsense or for any other reason -- and it gets towed, you can call the Madison Police Department (266-4260) or Schmidt's Towing (257-0505) to find out what they've done with it.<br />
<br />
== Taxes ==<br />
Once you've lived here for an entire calendar year, be sure to look into the [http://www.dor.state.wi.us/faqs/ise/home.html Wisconsin Homestead Credit]... it's usually worth the time and effort for graduate students. Until then, you can look into [http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html deducting moving costs] for relocating here on your federal taxes.<br />
<br />
A warning to students on fellowship: taxes will not be taken out of your paycheck, but you still have to pay them. You may want to consider filing [http://www.irs.gov/faqs/faq/0,,id=199807,00.html quarterly].<br />
<br />
== Wisconsin benefit programs ==<br />
We don't exactly get piles of money for teaching. In fact, most people who are not on fellowship or receiving summer funding can qualify for some heating aid (up to $380/year), and electricity aid (up to $285/year). You can check your eligibility at [https://access.wisconsin.gov/ Access WI]. <br />
There may be some residency requirements, like the Homestead credit. You can find your annual salary in our [http://www.taa-madison.org/contract/index.html contract].<br />
<br />
== Residency ==<br />
While it's usually a good idea to become a WI resident, if, for some reason, you're looking to declare residency in WI for tuition purposes, the answer is usually "no." It seems that one has to be in Wisconsin for a full year before enrolling at the UW, and one has to prove that one did not move here primarily for educational purposes (according to the Wisconsin statutes, you have to provide "clear and convincing evidence"). More on that at the [http://www.registrar.wisc.edu/students/residence/index.php Office of the Registrar]'s site.<br />
<br />
= Contacts and Other Resources =<br />
*[http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/gradguide/index.html Guide to Graduate Student Life]: The Graduate Student Collaborative's ([http://info.gradsch.wisc.edu/education/gsc/index.html GSC]) guide to grad student life in Madison -- like this one, but different.<br />
<br />
* [[Teaching Assistant Guide]]: from real live Van Vleck TAs<br />
<br />
*[http://www.yelp.com/madison-wi Yelp.com]: Find reviews of local stuff- restaurants and things to do, but also dentists, auto shops, etc.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.vip.wisc.edu VIP], the Visitor & Information Programs office, located in the Red Gym, near [http://www.union.wisc.edu Memorial Union]. They are open M - F 8am - 5pm and Saturday 11am - 2pm. <br />
<br />
*[http://www.newstudent.wisc.edu Student Orientation Handbook] is a valuable resource for information including entertainment, recreational and varsity sports, student organizations (including those for cultural groups, international students, LGBT students, women, veterans, and people with disabilities), health services, jobs, transportation, safety, and housing. It’s also a great place for referrals to counseling services, including drug and alcohol and sexual assault issues. You can find all this information on the web, at http://www.wisc.edu/visitingCampus/ or call them at 263-2400. You can also email any questions you have to askbucky@uwmad.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
*[http://www.lgbt.wisc.edu LGBT Campus Center]: The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Campus Center (265-3344; lgbtcc@rso.wisc.edu) provides support, social, educational and research services to the campus community, and serves as UW-Madison's first stop for those looking for information about campus LGBT organizations. The Memorial Union office on the 2nd floor includes a library, a television and DVD player, plenty of comfortable seating, open computers, and has a staff of students and professionals that work to bring events, speakers, and programs to campus. The Center also publishes a weekly events e-letter and offers support and social groups.<br />
<br />
<br />
----<br />
<br />
Got Questions? Here are some folks who might just have the answers...<br />
<br />
== Counseling Services ==<br />
Counseling services are available through Counseling and [http://www.uhs.wisc.edu/services/counseling/ Consultation Services (C&CS)], located at 115 North Orchard Street, (265-5600, TTY number 265-3300). C&CS offers brief psychological treatment, personal counseling, and psychiatric services to UW-Madison students. Frequent services include help in overcoming depression, managing anxiety and other psychological issues, and in developing greater self-awareness, independence, and self-direction. They also provide personal problem counseling, couples relationship counseling, marriage and family counseling, cross-cultural counseling, and alcohol and drug assessment and referral. Specialized groups have included: graduate women support, women and self-esteem, interpersonal relationships, stress management, survivors of troubled families, rebuilding relationships. C&CS also provides crisis response at the above phone numbers. Services provided are covered by the student health fee (included in your student fees).<br />
<br />
== Administrative and Support Staff ==<br />
The administrative and support staff are the folk that keep our department functioning. Without them, we as mathematicians would be lost. :) Their pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/support_staff.html here] and their contact info can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/academic_staff.html here]. If one person doesn't know how to deal with a problem you might have, they certainly know who might be able to help you out.<br />
<br />
Kate Bartlett<br />
Position: Timetable/Undergraduate<br />
Office: 203 VV<br />
Email: bartlett@math<br />
Ask Kate about: Registration (for you and your students), MyUW stuff, classroom assignments.<br />
<br />
David Camacho<br />
Position: Assoc Fac Assoc<br />
Office: 321 VV<br />
Email: camacho@math<br />
Ask David about: the Math Tutorial Program (if a student needs extra attention)<br />
<br />
Mark Castillo<br />
Position: Grants/Proposals<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: castillo @math<br />
Ask Mark about: grant money<br />
<br />
Chris Uhlir<br />
Position: Payroll/Benefits<br />
Office: 207 VV<br />
Email: grenie@math<br />
Ask Mike about: Payroll, hourly positions, taxes, tuition, healthcare, and benefits. <br />
<br />
Sara Nagreen<br />
Position: Sr IPC<br />
Office: 515 VV<br />
Email: nagreen@math<br />
Ask Sara about: all things computing.<br />
<br />
Sharon Paulson<br />
Position: Receptionist / Copy Center<br />
Office: 213 VV<br />
Email: paulson@math<br />
Ask Sharon about: Office supplies, room reservations (review sessions/exams/other), copying machine <br />
codes, private tutoring list.<br />
<br />
Mary Rice<br />
Position: Grad Prog. Admin<br />
Office: 214 VV<br />
Email: mrice@math<br />
Ask Mary about: Math dept records (teaching letters, transcripts, etc), how you go about graduating.<br />
<br />
Diane Rivard<br />
Position: Placement Advisor<br />
Office: 720 VV<br />
Email: rivard@math<br />
Ask Diane about: Placement questions (what class your student should be in, placement exam issues)<br />
<br />
Joan Wendt<br />
Position: Chair Secretary<br />
Office: 218 VV<br />
Email: wendt@math<br />
Ask Joan about: office assignments and keys<br />
<br />
Vicky Whelan<br />
Position: Dept Administrator<br />
Office: 223 VV<br />
Email: whelan@math<br />
Ask Vicky about: the dept credit card, espresso club, awesome concerts around town.<br />
<br />
== Current and Former Graduate Students Interested in Meeting YOU ==<br />
You can find a complete list of current graduate students [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/psdbgrad.html here], and pictures can be found [http://www.math.wisc.edu/~apache/gallery/grad.html here].<br />
<br />
Laura Cladek<br />
Email: cladek@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~cladek Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Started 2011<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Laura about: Anything ... Especially analysis or on campus housing.<br />
<br />
David Dynerman<br />
Email: dynerman@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~dynerman Website:]<br />
Grad-age: 3rd year<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask David about: programming video games, trying to do Hartshorne problems, <br />
going to the gym, Mushfeq Khan, Andrew Bridy<br />
<br />
Thomas Hangelbroek<br />
Email: hangelbr@math.hawaii.edu<br />
[http://math.hawaii.edu/people/hangelbr/ Website:]<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2007<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Thomas about: Anything Madison. Thomas is an expert in all things Madison.<br />
<br />
Sara Jensen<br />
Email: jensen@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~jensen Website:]<br />
Grad-age: 3rd year<br />
Area of interest: Algebra<br />
Ask Sara about: Teaching, topology & algebra quals, knitting group, going to the gym <br />
<br />
(Evan) Alec Johnson<br />
Email: ejohnson@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~ejohnson Website]<br />
Grad-age: 7th year<br />
Area of interest: Applied Math<br />
Ask Alec about: teaching, advanced calculus, gardening, and Geneva Campus Church.<br />
<br />
Christine Lien<br />
Email: lien@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lien Website]<br />
Grad-age: 6th year<br />
Area of interest: Complex Geometry<br />
Ask Christine about: anything, including bridge/card games, organizing women's events, <br />
the Association of Asian American Graduate students, and the Graduate Student Topology Seminar.<br />
<br />
Hao Lin<br />
Email: lin@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~lin Website]<br />
Grad-age: 5th year<br />
Area of interest: Probability<br />
Ask Hao about: sports and anything about China.<br />
<br />
Jonathon Mason<br />
Email: jonathan.f.mason@gmail.com<br />
Grad-age: Graduated 2010<br />
Ask Mason about: Wisconsin hiking, the local film scene.<br />
<br />
Jason Murcko<br />
Email: murcko@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~murcko Website]<br />
Grad-age: 4th year<br />
Area of interest: Analysis<br />
Ask Jason about: the TAA and the local film and music scenes.<br />
<br />
Mike Schroeder<br />
Email: schroede@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~schroede Website]<br />
Grad-age: 6th year<br />
Area of interest: Combinatorics<br />
Ask Mike about: softball, bowling, sailing, racquet ball, and the Florida Gators.<br />
<br />
David Seal<br />
Email: seal@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~seal Website]<br />
Grad-age: Started in 2006.<br />
Area of interest: Numerical Analysis<br />
Ask David about: movies, biking, hiking and board games<br />
<br />
Beth Skubak<br />
Email: skubak@<br />
[http://www.math.wisc.edu/~skubak Website]<br />
Grad-age: 2nd year<br />
Area of interest: undecided<br />
Ask Beth about: anything, including this wiki<br />
<br />
Mike Woodbury<br />
Email: woodbury@math.columbia.edu<br />
Grad-age: Class of 2011<br />
Area of interest: Number Theory<br />
Ask Mike about: anything, including number theory, road biking, UW basketball tix.</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Computer_Help&diff=4082Computer Help2012-08-16T15:52:42Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Supplies */</p>
<hr />
<div>'''Computer Help'''<br />
This is a guide to the computer facilities, services and software available at the Math department of the University of Wisconsin. Most of the facilities are for department's the faculty, graduate students and staff. Those who do not have Math department accounts may use the two kiosk PCs located at the north B1 entrance (facing Ingraham hall) or the PCs located in the Kleene Math Library on the B2 level of Van Vleck hall. Our older guide is [http://www.math.wisc.edu/computing here].<br />
== Accounts and Policies ==<br />
* [[Math Accounts]]<br />
* [[Math Computer Policies]]<br />
* [[Quotas]]<br />
* [[University Computer Policies]]<br />
<br />
== E-Mail ==<br />
<br />
=== Account Set Up ===<br />
Set up your e-mail client with the following parameters:<br />
<br />
* Account Type: IMAP<br />
* Incoming and Outgoing Mail Server: mailhost.math.wisc.edu<br />
* IMAP Prefix: (leave blank)<br />
* Incoming Server Port: 993<br />
* Outgoing Server Port: 465<br />
* Check Use SSL<br />
=== Dealing With Spam ===<br />
All Math Department mail accounts are configured with spam filtering. Messages that are clearly spam are automatically placed into a folder named 'spam' within your account. Messages placed in this folder are automatically deleted after 15 days. Users are encouraged to check their spam folder periodically to ensure that valid messages (known as ham) are not being sent to this folder.<br />
<br />
You can teach the spam filter to be more efficient by following the directions on the page titled, [[Teaching the spam filter to be more efficient]].<br />
<br />
=== Vacation Mail ===<br />
I. VACATION MAIL<br />
<br />
Here is how to set up vacation notification for your math e-mail account<br />
First, login to login.math.wisc.edu, then type<br />
cd /auto/mail/YOURNAME<br />
where YOURNAME is your username. Then add<br />
the following line to the end of your .procmailrc file:<br />
<br />
:0 c<br />
| /usr/bin/vacation YOURNAME<br />
<br />
where YOURNAME is your username. Edit/create the file<br />
<br />
/auto/mail/YOURNAME/.vacation.msg<br />
<br />
and put in there the message you want sent out while you are on vacation.<br />
<br />
When you return from your vacation, just delete or comment out these lines<br />
in your .procmailrc file by placing a # at the beginning of each line.<br />
<br />
:0 c<br />
| /usr/bin/vacation YOURNAME<br />
<br />
This will allow our spam filters to process your incoming mail before<br />
it gets to your mailbox and send your vacation message to only legitimate<br />
addresses.<br />
<br />
=== Forwarding your e-mail ===<br />
# We do not recommend forwarding all your math e-mail to a non-UW account<br />
because of the following issues:<br />
<br />
1. possible violation of HIPAA rules on confidentiality of student records<br />
For example, if you forward your e-mail to your yahoo or gmail account,<br />
what guarantees do you have that this mail will not be indexed or otherwise<br />
disseminated to third parties?<br />
2. record retention issues related to student grades, etc.<br />
<br />
However, if you are leaving the department, you may want this information.<br />
To forward filtered mail to a new address, you must first ssh to ''login.math.wisc.edu'' and<br />
put lines like this in your /auto/mail/yourusername/.procmailrc file<br />
<br />
:0:<br />
!myaddress@somewhere.com<br />
<br />
(of course you should replace the last line with your forwarding address).<br />
<br />
to forward mail to another account while keeping a copy on our server,<br />
put a line like this in your /auto/mail/yourusername/.forward file<br />
<br />
\myusername, myaddress@somewhere.com<br />
<br />
=== Leaving the Department ===<br />
If you leave the Math Department, your account will be deleted on September 1<br />
after your departure. You will be notified about this on August 1. Here are<br />
some things you may want to do to prepare for this<br />
<br />
* Make a backup of your mail. This can be done by simply using the export feature of many mail programs. You can also [[use md2mb]].<br />
* Start forwarding your e-mail to another account. To avoid getting spam, login to ''login.math.wisc.edu'' then follow these steps<br />
cd /auto/mail/YOURUSERNAME<br />
edit .procmailrc with your favorite text editor (e.g. vim, emacs or pico). Insert these lines at the end of .procmailrc:<br />
:0:<br />
!myaddress@somewhere.com (your forwarding address)<br />
* Notify the computer staff if you would like forwarding to continue (up to a year after your departure) after your account is deleted. Give them your forwarding address.<br />
<br />
=== E-mail Web Forms ===<br />
You can create a web page on your web site to allow visitors to send you e-mail messages. With an e-mail form, you can allow users to register for conferences, send feedback, or answer an on-line poll. With additional tools supplied by the Math Department, you can import these messages into a spreadsheet or database.<br />
<br />
*[[Creating an E-mail Form]]<br />
*[[Configuring procmail]]<br />
*[[Manipulating the messages]]<br />
<br />
= <br />
== '''Facilities''' ==<br />
<br />
The facilities and equipment described below are for use by UW Math department faculty and graduate students on the UW Madison Campus and, preferably, in Van Vleck hall.<br />
<br />
* '''Mobile Computers and Projectors''' <br><br />
Instructors may borrow laptop computers and projectors for demonstrations in any Van Vleck classroom. This equipment is kept in the Math Library on the B2 classroom level. You may check them out for up to 4 hours using your UW ID card. The math library also has an assortment of VGA video cables which can be used to connect a PC, Macintosh computer or iPad to a projector. One of the projectors has built in speakers and a DVD player. It also has two microphones which can be connected to it. WARNING: the laptops available for check out are very old and have only basic software (MS Office, TeX) on them. It is far better to use your own computer with the Department's projectors.<br />
<br />
* '''Ceiling Mounted Projectors''' <br><br />
<br />
Classrooms B102, B107, B231 and B223 and the 901 seminar room each have a ceiling mounted projector. These projectors provide better displays than the mobile units. They can be used with a laptop computer. If you want to reserve one of these rooms, contact Sharon Paulson at paulson@math.wisc.edu. Keep in mind, though, that they're heavily booked and usually only available at the beginning or end of the day.<br />
The Math Department's computer staff maintain the projectors in 901 and B107. All the others are maintained by the UW Physical Plant. Please contact Derek Dombrowski about them. You will need an access code to use them and a key if you want to use the document camera or microphone with them.<br />
Here is Derek's contact information:<br />
Derek Dombrowski<br />
373A BASCOM HALL<br />
ddombrowski@fpm.wisc.edu<br />
(608) 265-9697<br />
(608) 516-5993<br />
* '''Computer Classroom''' <br><br />
<br />
B107 is an instructional computer lab featuring 21 speedy (2.8 GHz, 2 gb RAM) Windows PCs --each PC has network access and Maple, Matlab, and MSOffice programs-- a ceiling-mounted projector connected to the instructor's computer, and an HP B&W Laserjet printer with duplexer. To reserve this room, please contact Joan Wendt at paulson@math.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
You can check out the key for the room from the Math Library.<br />
* '''Digital Camcorder''' <br><br />
<br />
There is a Canon Vixia HG20 Cam Corder in the Math Library which Math faculty and Graduate students can check out to film Math Events such as conferences, PhD defenses, etc. Use your faculty/staff ID card to check it out.<br />
* [[Scanners]]<br />
<br />
= Printing =<br />
<br />
Math Dept Printers<br />
{|<br />
! Location<br />
! PrinterName<br />
! Printer Type<br />
|-<br />
|3rd hall<br />
|3<br />
|Ricoh MPC 4501<br />
|-<br />
|4th hall<br />
|4<br />
|Ricoh MPC 4501<br />
|-<br />
|5th hall<br />
|5<br />
|Ricoh MPC 4501<br />
|-<br />
|6th hall<br />
|6<br />
|Ricoh MPC 4501<br />
|-<br />
|7th hall<br />
|7<br />
|Ricoh MPC 4501<br />
|-<br />
|8th hall<br />
|8<br />
|Ricoh MPC 4501<br />
|-<br />
|101B VV<br />
|a<br />
|HPLJ 4300<br />
|-<br />
|B127 VV<br />
|b<br />
|HPLJ 4300<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
During the summer of 2011, the department placed new Ricoh MPC 4501 printer/copier/scanners on floors 3-8. We will also switched from LPRNG to CUPS (the Common Unix Printing System) on our unix print servers. What this means in practical terms is that users should become familiar with the System V lp commands. Previously, we used the Berkeley lpr command and some of these commands will still work. <br />
<br />
Here are the '''page charges''' for printing and copying:<br />
<br />
Printing: 250 free B&W pages per month, 4 cents per B&W page beyond the free allowance<br />
color pages will cost 20 cents per page with no free allowance.<br />
Copying: 200 free B&W pages per month, 4 cents per B&W page beyond the free allowance and 20 cents per color page with no free allowance.<br />
Scanning: There is no charge for scanning a document and e-mailing it to yourself. However,<br />
users should not scan copyrighted material.<br />
<br />
== Supplies ==<br />
If the printers run out of paper, please get more paper from the Copy Center on the second floor<br />
and place it in the printers. If you are unsure how to do this, ask the computer staff for assistance. For assistance with other problems (no toner, paper jams, etc. ) see Hieu Nguyen<br />
in 215 (for issues with the Ricoh copiers) and Sharon Paulson in 220 (for<br />
help with the printers in B127 and 101b). <br />
<br />
See the [http://www.cups.org/ cups guide] for more detailed information on printing with cups.<br />
Click on the links below to learn how to use each function with the Ricoh copiers.<br />
<br />
== [[Ricoh Copier FAQ]] ==<br />
<br />
Only people with computer accounts in the UW Math Department will be allowed to use the Van Vleck Ricoh copiers. If you have a math account, you will receive a code to use for copying. These <br />
codes will be mailed out once a year in September after old accounts are deleted and new ones added. '''NOTE''': if you forget your copier code, login to one of<br />
the math department linux PCs and type '''whatsmypin'''.<br />
<br />
1. You copier code is only required for copying. Although the<br />
default display shows the copier login, you do not have to login<br />
in order to print or scan. Just push the buttons at the left<br />
to select the scanner or printer function.<br />
<br />
2. Your code can be used on any of the copiers on floors 3-8.<br />
Do not use the copiers on the second floor. They are reserved<br />
for the administrative staff.<br />
<br />
3. After you have finished copying, do not touch the display.<br />
Your login will time out after 60 seconds.<br />
<br />
4. Everyone with a math dept account is allowed 250 free copies<br />
and 250 free printed pages per month (on the union of all the <br />
copiers on floors 3-8). At the end of the month,<br />
these are zeroed out. You can not carry over unused pages to the<br />
next month. Printing and Copying charges are described at the URL<br />
above. Note that you will be charged for each side of a duplex<br />
printed page. You may also be charged more for larger pages.<br />
<br />
5. How to create a multi-page PDF document: Most people will want<br />
to create a multipage PDF scan of their document (instead of the <br />
default which is a single page TIFF document). To do this press the<br />
SCANNER button to the left of the display. Select SEND FILE TYPE/NAME<br />
in the left hand column of the display, then select MULTI-PAGE -> PDF<br />
<br />
== [[Ricoh Printing FAQ]] ==<br />
<br />
* [[Using the Ricoh with Linux]] (command line printing)<br />
* [[Using a Ricoh Printer on a Macintosh]]<br />
* [[Using a Ricoh Printer on a PC]]<br />
* [[Troubleshooting]]<br />
<br />
== [[Ricoh Scanner FAQ]] ==<br />
<br />
= Remote Access =<br />
<br />
https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Accessing_your_Math_department_network_space<br />
<br />
= TeX/LaTeX =<br />
TeX and LaTeX are supported on the Math Department computers. To learn more about<br />
Typesetting with LaTeX we recommend the following [http://www.latex-project.org/guides/books.html site]. Mediawiki has some support for LaTeX<br />
as the following example shows:<br />
<br />
<math><br />
\int_{[0, 1]^n} <br />
\left| \sum_{k = 1}^n \mathrm{e}^{2 \pi \mathrm{i} \, x_k} \right|^s \mathrm{d}\boldsymbol{x}<br />
</math><br />
<br />
= Unix =<br />
<br />
==Manipulating PDF files ==<br />
<br />
The ''pdftk'' toolkit provides several useful tools for manipulating PDF files without using<br />
Adobe Acrobat Pro. Here are some examples:<br />
<br />
1. This command will split off the first 15 pages of the file NSFProposal.pdf and save it to 'front.pdf'. Substituting 'cat 16-end' for 'cat 1-15' will save the second half of the file.<br />
<br />
pdftk NSFProposal.pdf cat 1-15 output front.pdf<br />
<br />
2. This command will merge two (or more) pdf files:<br />
<br />
pdftk 1.pdf 2.pdf 3.pdf cat output 123.pdf<br />
<br />
You can find more examples at [http://www.pdflabs.com/docs/pdftk-cli-examples/ pdftk-examples]<br />
= Troubleshooting =<br />
Answers to some common computer problems<br />
<br />
1. If you forgot the code you need to use the copiers, login to one of the department's linux PCs, open a terminal window and type 'whatsmypin'.<br />
<br />
2. 'Macintosh users'. Sometimes the internet connection on a Mac will <br />
freeze. If this happens, click on the following"<br />
System Preferences -> Network -> DCHP -> Advanced -> renew DHCP lease</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Computer_Help&diff=4081Computer Help2012-08-16T15:48:51Z<p>Johnsonm: /* Dealing With Spam */</p>
<hr />
<div>'''Computer Help'''<br />
This is a guide to the computer facilities, services and software available at the Math department of the University of Wisconsin. Most of the facilities are for department's the faculty, graduate students and staff. Those who do not have Math department accounts may use the two kiosk PCs located at the north B1 entrance (facing Ingraham hall) or the PCs located in the Kleene Math Library on the B2 level of Van Vleck hall. Our older guide is [http://www.math.wisc.edu/computing here].<br />
== Accounts and Policies ==<br />
* [[Math Accounts]]<br />
* [[Math Computer Policies]]<br />
* [[Quotas]]<br />
* [[University Computer Policies]]<br />
<br />
== E-Mail ==<br />
<br />
=== Account Set Up ===<br />
Set up your e-mail client with the following parameters:<br />
<br />
* Account Type: IMAP<br />
* Incoming and Outgoing Mail Server: mailhost.math.wisc.edu<br />
* IMAP Prefix: (leave blank)<br />
* Incoming Server Port: 993<br />
* Outgoing Server Port: 465<br />
* Check Use SSL<br />
=== Dealing With Spam ===<br />
All Math Department mail accounts are configured with spam filtering. Messages that are clearly spam are automatically placed into a folder named 'spam' within your account. Messages placed in this folder are automatically deleted after 15 days. Users are encouraged to check their spam folder periodically to ensure that valid messages (known as ham) are not being sent to this folder.<br />
<br />
You can teach the spam filter to be more efficient by following the directions on the page titled, [[Teaching the spam filter to be more efficient]].<br />
<br />
=== Vacation Mail ===<br />
I. VACATION MAIL<br />
<br />
Here is how to set up vacation notification for your math e-mail account<br />
First, login to login.math.wisc.edu, then type<br />
cd /auto/mail/YOURNAME<br />
where YOURNAME is your username. Then add<br />
the following line to the end of your .procmailrc file:<br />
<br />
:0 c<br />
| /usr/bin/vacation YOURNAME<br />
<br />
where YOURNAME is your username. Edit/create the file<br />
<br />
/auto/mail/YOURNAME/.vacation.msg<br />
<br />
and put in there the message you want sent out while you are on vacation.<br />
<br />
When you return from your vacation, just delete or comment out these lines<br />
in your .procmailrc file by placing a # at the beginning of each line.<br />
<br />
:0 c<br />
| /usr/bin/vacation YOURNAME<br />
<br />
This will allow our spam filters to process your incoming mail before<br />
it gets to your mailbox and send your vacation message to only legitimate<br />
addresses.<br />
<br />
=== Forwarding your e-mail ===<br />
# We do not recommend forwarding all your math e-mail to a non-UW account<br />
because of the following issues:<br />
<br />
1. possible violation of HIPAA rules on confidentiality of student records<br />
For example, if you forward your e-mail to your yahoo or gmail account,<br />
what guarantees do you have that this mail will not be indexed or otherwise<br />
disseminated to third parties?<br />
2. record retention issues related to student grades, etc.<br />
<br />
However, if you are leaving the department, you may want this information.<br />
To forward filtered mail to a new address, you must first ssh to ''login.math.wisc.edu'' and<br />
put lines like this in your /auto/mail/yourusername/.procmailrc file<br />
<br />
:0:<br />
!myaddress@somewhere.com<br />
<br />
(of course you should replace the last line with your forwarding address).<br />
<br />
to forward mail to another account while keeping a copy on our server,<br />
put a line like this in your /auto/mail/yourusername/.forward file<br />
<br />
\myusername, myaddress@somewhere.com<br />
<br />
=== Leaving the Department ===<br />
If you leave the Math Department, your account will be deleted on September 1<br />
after your departure. You will be notified about this on August 1. Here are<br />
some things you may want to do to prepare for this<br />
<br />
* Make a backup of your mail. This can be done by simply using the export feature of many mail programs. You can also [[use md2mb]].<br />
* Start forwarding your e-mail to another account. To avoid getting spam, login to ''login.math.wisc.edu'' then follow these steps<br />
cd /auto/mail/YOURUSERNAME<br />
edit .procmailrc with your favorite text editor (e.g. vim, emacs or pico). Insert these lines at the end of .procmailrc:<br />
:0:<br />
!myaddress@somewhere.com (your forwarding address)<br />
* Notify the computer staff if you would like forwarding to continue (up to a year after your departure) after your account is deleted. Give them your forwarding address.<br />
<br />
=== E-mail Web Forms ===<br />
You can create a web page on your web site to allow visitors to send you e-mail messages. With an e-mail form, you can allow users to register for conferences, send feedback, or answer an on-line poll. With additional tools supplied by the Math Department, you can import these messages into a spreadsheet or database.<br />
<br />
*[[Creating an E-mail Form]]<br />
*[[Configuring procmail]]<br />
*[[Manipulating the messages]]<br />
<br />
= <br />
== '''Facilities''' ==<br />
<br />
The facilities and equipment described below are for use by UW Math department faculty and graduate students on the UW Madison Campus and, preferably, in Van Vleck hall.<br />
<br />
* '''Mobile Computers and Projectors''' <br><br />
Instructors may borrow laptop computers and projectors for demonstrations in any Van Vleck classroom. This equipment is kept in the Math Library on the B2 classroom level. You may check them out for up to 4 hours using your UW ID card. The math library also has an assortment of VGA video cables which can be used to connect a PC, Macintosh computer or iPad to a projector. One of the projectors has built in speakers and a DVD player. It also has two microphones which can be connected to it. WARNING: the laptops available for check out are very old and have only basic software (MS Office, TeX) on them. It is far better to use your own computer with the Department's projectors.<br />
<br />
* '''Ceiling Mounted Projectors''' <br><br />
<br />
Classrooms B102, B107, B231 and B223 and the 901 seminar room each have a ceiling mounted projector. These projectors provide better displays than the mobile units. They can be used with a laptop computer. If you want to reserve one of these rooms, contact Sharon Paulson at paulson@math.wisc.edu. Keep in mind, though, that they're heavily booked and usually only available at the beginning or end of the day.<br />
The Math Department's computer staff maintain the projectors in 901 and B107. All the others are maintained by the UW Physical Plant. Please contact Derek Dombrowski about them. You will need an access code to use them and a key if you want to use the document camera or microphone with them.<br />
Here is Derek's contact information:<br />
Derek Dombrowski<br />
373A BASCOM HALL<br />
ddombrowski@fpm.wisc.edu<br />
(608) 265-9697<br />
(608) 516-5993<br />
* '''Computer Classroom''' <br><br />
<br />
B107 is an instructional computer lab featuring 21 speedy (2.8 GHz, 2 gb RAM) Windows PCs --each PC has network access and Maple, Matlab, and MSOffice programs-- a ceiling-mounted projector connected to the instructor's computer, and an HP B&W Laserjet printer with duplexer. To reserve this room, please contact Joan Wendt at paulson@math.wisc.edu.<br />
<br />
You can check out the key for the room from the Math Library.<br />
* '''Digital Camcorder''' <br><br />
<br />
There is a Canon Vixia HG20 Cam Corder in the Math Library which Math faculty and Graduate students can check out to film Math Events such as conferences, PhD defenses, etc. Use your faculty/staff ID card to check it out.<br />
* [[Scanners]]<br />
<br />
= Printing =<br />
<br />
Math Dept Printers<br />
{|<br />
! Location<br />
! PrinterName<br />
! Printer Type<br />
|-<br />
|3rd hall<br />
|3<br />
|Ricoh MPC 4501<br />
|-<br />
|4th hall<br />
|4<br />
|Ricoh MPC 4501<br />
|-<br />
|5th hall<br />
|5<br />
|Ricoh MPC 4501<br />
|-<br />
|6th hall<br />
|6<br />
|Ricoh MPC 4501<br />
|-<br />
|7th hall<br />
|7<br />
|Ricoh MPC 4501<br />
|-<br />
|8th hall<br />
|8<br />
|Ricoh MPC 4501<br />
|-<br />
|101B VV<br />
|a<br />
|HPLJ 4300<br />
|-<br />
|B127 VV<br />
|b<br />
|HPLJ 4300<br />
|-<br />
|}<br />
<br />
During the summer of 2011, the department placed new Ricoh MPC 4501 printer/copier/scanners on floors 3-8. We will also switched from LPRNG to CUPS (the Common Unix Printing System) on our unix print servers. What this means in practical terms is that users should become familiar with the System V lp commands. Previously, we used the Berkeley lpr command and some of these commands will still work. <br />
<br />
Here are the '''page charges''' for printing and copying:<br />
<br />
Printing: 250 free B&W pages per month, 4 cents per B&W page beyond the free allowance<br />
color pages will cost 20 cents per page with no free allowance.<br />
Copying: 200 free B&W pages per month, 4 cents per B&W page beyond the free allowance and 20 cents per color page with no free allowance.<br />
Scanning: There is no charge for scanning a document and e-mailing it to yourself. However,<br />
users should not scan copyrighted material.<br />
<br />
== Supplies ==<br />
If the printers run out of paper, please get more paper from the Copy Center on the second floor<br />
and place it in the printers. If you are unsure how to do this, ask the computer staff for assistance. For assistance with other problems (no toner, paper jams, etc. ) see Hieu Nguyen<br />
in 507 (for issues with the Ricoh copiers) and Sharon Paulson in the receptionists' office (for<br />
help with the printers in B127 and 101b). <br />
<br />
See the [http://www.cups.org/ cups guide] for more detailed information on printing with cups.<br />
Click on the links below to learn how to use each function with the Ricoh copiers.<br />
<br />
== [[Ricoh Copier FAQ]] ==<br />
<br />
Only people with computer accounts in the UW Math Department will be allowed to use the Van Vleck Ricoh copiers. If you have a math account, you will receive a code to use for copying. These <br />
codes will be mailed out once a year in September after old accounts are deleted and new ones added. '''NOTE''': if you forget your copier code, login to one of<br />
the math department linux PCs and type '''whatsmypin'''.<br />
<br />
1. You copier code is only required for copying. Although the<br />
default display shows the copier login, you do not have to login<br />
in order to print or scan. Just push the buttons at the left<br />
to select the scanner or printer function.<br />
<br />
2. Your code can be used on any of the copiers on floors 3-8.<br />
Do not use the copiers on the second floor. They are reserved<br />
for the administrative staff.<br />
<br />
3. After you have finished copying, do not touch the display.<br />
Your login will time out after 60 seconds.<br />
<br />
4. Everyone with a math dept account is allowed 250 free copies<br />
and 250 free printed pages per month (on the union of all the <br />
copiers on floors 3-8). At the end of the month,<br />
these are zeroed out. You can not carry over unused pages to the<br />
next month. Printing and Copying charges are described at the URL<br />
above. Note that you will be charged for each side of a duplex<br />
printed page. You may also be charged more for larger pages.<br />
<br />
5. How to create a multi-page PDF document: Most people will want<br />
to create a multipage PDF scan of their document (instead of the <br />
default which is a single page TIFF document). To do this press the<br />
SCANNER button to the left of the display. Select SEND FILE TYPE/NAME<br />
in the left hand column of the display, then select MULTI-PAGE -> PDF<br />
<br />
== [[Ricoh Printing FAQ]] ==<br />
<br />
* [[Using the Ricoh with Linux]] (command line printing)<br />
* [[Using a Ricoh Printer on a Macintosh]]<br />
* [[Using a Ricoh Printer on a PC]]<br />
* [[Troubleshooting]]<br />
<br />
== [[Ricoh Scanner FAQ]] ==<br />
<br />
= Remote Access =<br />
<br />
https://www.math.wisc.edu/wiki/index.php/Accessing_your_Math_department_network_space<br />
<br />
= TeX/LaTeX =<br />
TeX and LaTeX are supported on the Math Department computers. To learn more about<br />
Typesetting with LaTeX we recommend the following [http://www.latex-project.org/guides/books.html site]. Mediawiki has some support for LaTeX<br />
as the following example shows:<br />
<br />
<math><br />
\int_{[0, 1]^n} <br />
\left| \sum_{k = 1}^n \mathrm{e}^{2 \pi \mathrm{i} \, x_k} \right|^s \mathrm{d}\boldsymbol{x}<br />
</math><br />
<br />
= Unix =<br />
<br />
==Manipulating PDF files ==<br />
<br />
The ''pdftk'' toolkit provides several useful tools for manipulating PDF files without using<br />
Adobe Acrobat Pro. Here are some examples:<br />
<br />
1. This command will split off the first 15 pages of the file NSFProposal.pdf and save it to 'front.pdf'. Substituting 'cat 16-end' for 'cat 1-15' will save the second half of the file.<br />
<br />
pdftk NSFProposal.pdf cat 1-15 output front.pdf<br />
<br />
2. This command will merge two (or more) pdf files:<br />
<br />
pdftk 1.pdf 2.pdf 3.pdf cat output 123.pdf<br />
<br />
You can find more examples at [http://www.pdflabs.com/docs/pdftk-cli-examples/ pdftk-examples]<br />
= Troubleshooting =<br />
Answers to some common computer problems<br />
<br />
1. If you forgot the code you need to use the copiers, login to one of the department's linux PCs, open a terminal window and type 'whatsmypin'.<br />
<br />
2. 'Macintosh users'. Sometimes the internet connection on a Mac will <br />
freeze. If this happens, click on the following"<br />
System Preferences -> Network -> DCHP -> Advanced -> renew DHCP lease</div>Johnsonmhttps://wiki.math.wisc.edu/index.php?title=Getting_Around_Van_Vleck&diff=4080Getting Around Van Vleck2012-08-16T15:47:51Z<p>Johnsonm: </p>
<hr />
<div>'''Getting around Van Vleck''' is a brief description of a few of the functions of the administrative staff and the facilities/services available in the Mathematics Department. Everything is described as of August 2012 and is subject to change. More detailed information about each topic can be obtained from the person mentioned in the description.<br />
<br />
* [[Absence Forms]]<br />
* [[Administrative Staff]]<br />
* [[After-Hours Permits]]<br />
* [[Audio-Visual Equipment]]<br />
* [[Computers]]<br />
* [[Email]]<br />
* [[Espresso Machine]]<br />
* [[Extramural Support Funding]]<br />
* [[FAX Machine]]<br />
* [[Graduate School Support]]<br />
* [[Honorary Fellows]]<br />
* [[Letters of Recommendation]]<br />
* [[Library]]<br />
* [[Mail]]<br />
* [[Office Assignments]]<br />
* [[Payroll]]<br />
* [[Photocopy Facilities]]<br />
* [[Scanners]]<br />
* [[Receptionist]]<br />
* [[Research Assistants]]<br />
* [[Room Reservations]]<br />
* [[Supplies]]<br />
* [[Teaching Assistants]]<br />
* [[Telephones]]<br />
* [[Travel Expenses]]<br />
* [[Typing]]<br />
* [[Who to Contact]]</div>Johnsonm