2012.02.10

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Mark your calendar for ‘Important Things’ Demetri Martin, whose claim to fame centers around quirky observations and musical jokes, makes Madison stop ARTS | 6

THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1969 Volume XLIII, Issue 83

Friday, February 10, 2012

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Third Chadima allegation reported Jackie Allen Campus Life Editor The University of Wisconsin Police Department is investigating a third allegation of misconduct against former Associate Athletic Director John Chadima involving an adult male, officials

announced Thursday. “As previously stated, university police continue to investigate all allegations of sexual impropriety or abuse of power brought to their attention,” Interim Chancellor David Ward said in a statement released on Thursday. Developments leading

up to this latest allegation began with Chadima’s resignation Jan. 6 after he was placed on administrative leave. UW officials released a 30 page report detailing the first alleged sexual assault Jan. 24, and the second and third allegations have come to the forefront over the past week.

Vice Chancellor for University Relations Vince Sweeney said this third allegation will be included in the review by an independent panel to investigate a second adult male individual’s claim of misconduct against Chadima, which Ward made public on Monday.

against Chadima. “It is inappropriate for the UW Chancellor to solicit complaints against John Chadima and engage in a reckless campaign of character assassination,” Giesen said in an email to The Badger Herald. “It is

Sweeney said he did not believe the second allegation and the newest allegation announced also took place during the football team’s trip to the Rose Bowl. Chadima’s attorney, Charles Giesen, said Ward’s actions throughout these investigations amount to “character assassination”

CHADIMA, page 3

Wis. faces greater budget shortfall Officials announce state must address $143M lapses during biennium, despite projected surplus

October vs Current Budget Projections $73 million surplus

Current

Sean Kirkby State Politics Editor Wisconsin is facing a larger biennial budget shortfall than originally projected according to new estimates, and it is one that could require emergency action by legislators and the governor’s office. In a memo sent Thursday to Joint Finance Committee chairs Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, and Robin Vos, R-Burlington, Legislative Fiscal Bureau Director Robert Lang said new estimates show the state could face a $143 million budget shortfall by June 30, 2013. The estimate differs by $216 million from the bureau’s previous prediction of the state having an approximately $73 million surplus. Lang said in the memo this is due in part to an approximate $273 million decrease in estimated tax collections. “The [Walker administration] is currently discussing steps it might take to address the budget shortfall, including debt refinancing and restructuring,” Lang said in the memo. Dave Loppnow, a spokesperson for the bureau, said the administration could also pass an emergency budget bill. He said either approach could be feasible, but if the governor addressed the issues through refinancing and restructuring he has the authority to do it without involving the Legislature. Loppnow said the state constitution contains a provision which says when a state finishes a year with a budget shortfall, it has to address it in the next year. He said the administration could choose to

October

Andy Fate The Badger Herald

Gov. Scott Walker announced Thursday that Wis. will receive funding from the federal government following a $25 billion agreement with the nation’s five largest mortgage services.

SOURCE: LEGISLATIVE FISCAL BUREAU $143 million shortfall

address the issue during the period from 2013 to 2014. “However, as a practical matter they would probably address it within the next year,” Loppnow said. Andrew Welhouse, spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said the budget lapse is about $71 million below the threshold that would require it to be fixed. He said the Walker administration said it plans to deal with the shortfall through other measures. Gov. Scott Walker said in a statement the new estimates show that they will finish the fiscal year in a surplus, and he plans to manage Wisconsin taxpayer’s money well to keep the state budget balanced. He said the actions he took to balance the budget stand in contrast to what other states have had to do to deal with the current economic state. He said Illinois Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn is proposing higher taxes and cuts to Medicaid, and Maryland Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley is proposing tax increases to combat shortfalls.

BUDGET, page 2

Walker, Van Hollen announce $140 million in federal grants State to receive funds for families affected by housing foreclosures, borrowers in high debt Mike Kujak State Legislative Editor Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen and Gov. Scott Walker revealed in a conference Thursday a national settlement which will bring $140 million to Wisconsin to go toward damages for families affected by the foreclosure crisis. Van Hollen and Walker said Wisconsin joined a landmark $25 billion joint federal-state agreement with the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers over foreclosure abuses and unacceptable nationwide mortgage servicing practices. “For those who have

suffered damage to unfair practices related to foreclosure,” Walker said, “not only will they be getting compensation, but compensation will also be given to make sure these types of practices don’t continue again in the future.” During the conference, Van Hollen said almost half of the funds, more than $60 million, would go to direct relief for loan holders. He also said $17.2 million would go toward payments of up to $2,000 for eligible Wisconsin borrowers who lost their homes to foreclosures during the crisis, and $31.3 million in refinancing benefits for eligible borrowers who are currently making payments but owe more than their home is worth. “It is these types of success that we bring about through bipartisan efforts time and time again [that] we operate

Benefits to Wisconsin

$17.2 million

in payments to borrowers who lost homes to foreclosure

$31.3 million in refinancing benefits for eligible borrowers

$31.6 million in payments to the state

together in the best interest of consumer protection,” Van Hollen said. A statement released by Van Hollen before the conference also specified $31.6 million of the funding will be used as a payment to the state, which may be used for compensation

GRANTS, page 3

Regents weigh coping with cuts to System INSIDE Officials from UW schools highlight need to reallocate financial resources leading to higher faculty-to-student rates, cutbacks to other services Kylie Peterson Herald contributor The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents weighed ways the UW System could combat state budget cuts while maintaining quality of instruction on all campuses on Thursday. Mark Nook, UW System interim senior vice president for academic affairs, said for the past two decades, the price of tuition has been higher than the money appropriated by the state. UW campuses around the state are now also being forced to implement new strategies in an attempt to control operating costs and students’ tuition costs. Nook said the cost of tuition per student is also greater than what the state grants the UW System in funding per student. He added despite the lack of funding, the UW Systems Jill Peters The Badger Herald reported a 45 percent Mark Nook, a University of Wisconsin System official for academic affairs, said the price of tuition has remained higher growth in the number of than funding levels from the state for almost two decades while enrollment and the number of degrees awarded has grown. degrees awarded since © 2012 BADGER HERALD

1980 as well as a 12 percent growth in enrollment. Officials said the pressure to control tuition costs is hurting some UW System institutions. UWMilwaukee, for example, has a student to faculty ratio of 3.5-to-100, UWMilwaukee Chancellor Michael Lovell said. The national average for student to faculty ratio is 7-to-100. According to a study by the Goldwater Institute, Lovell said UW-Milwaukee was ranked the 12th-lowest in annual spending per student out of 198 research universities surveyed. He said UW-Milwaukee spends $13,007 annually on each student, while the national average is $41,337. “The ratios in some other parts of our campus are the ones that are being impacted. For example, in the College of Letters and Science, we currently have an 800-to-1 student to adviser ratio,” Lovell said.

REGENTS, page 3

They grow up so fast Joseph LaBate skipped junior league play, coming right to Wisconsin after high school and found himself on UW’s top line quickly

SPORTS | 8

Tenants’ rights under fire Proposed legislation that would allow landlords to sell property left behind and hold security deposits indefinitely is headed to committee.

NEWS | 2


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The Badger Herald | News | Friday, February 10, 2012

Events today 4:30 p.m.-7 p.m. Ice Skating Party

Meet at Union South, then walk to The Shell

9 p.m. Free Salsa Dance

Tripp Commons, Memorial Union

TODAY

TOMORROW

SUNDAY

MONDAY

TUESDAY

25 7

24 12

31 23

32 27

36 28

flurries

mostly sunny

sunny

cloudy

cloudy

Tenant legislation sparks avid criticisms Leah Linschied City Life Editor

Events tomorrow 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Cycle for Sight indoor team relay ride Natatorium

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A bill currently circulating at the Capitol would change tenant law to standardize some of the processes associated with movein, but some critics are characterizing the plan as an effort to encroach on decades of work for tenants’ rights. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Duey Stroebel, R-Saukville, and Sen. Frank Lasee, R-De Pere, proposes several measures of concerning tenants, including a clause that would extend the time landlords can return security deposits and would give them the ability to sell abandoned belongings. Rob Kovach, Lasee’s chief of staff, said the bill aims to standardize rules that apply between tenants and landlords across the state, which would avoid potential litigation and conflict in the future. Tenant Resource Center Executive Director Brenda

Konkel said the legislation, which is currently being circulated within the Legislature on its way to committees, would remove several rights that serve to protect tenants. University of Wisconsin law professor Mitch said the bill, despite being labeled as a modernization tool for current legislation, would effectively roll back tenant laws that have been in place for more than 30 years. “It’s advertised as revising the landlord-tenant laws because they’re in need of updating, and they say the bill will modernize the language,” Mitch, who only goes by his first name, said. “I found that particularly ironic because it actually takes away tenant rights to the point of going back in time at least 30 years.” Mitch said under a current Wisconsin administrative code, landlords are required to return security deposits to tenants within 21 days after the tenants have moved out. He said Stroebel’s bill does

not mandate a time frame to return security deposits, and it also does not require landlords to provide an itemized list explaining any deductions from a tenant’s deposit. Mitch said while the bill does not directly remove the time frame and checklist requirements, it would trump the administrative code and render the requirements null. The bill also addresses property left behind by tenants and would allow landlords to either sell or dispose of the property without providing notice. The landlords could then pocket the profit. According to Mitch, current laws require that landlords place left-behind property in storage for a specified time frame and provide notice to the owner. Once the allotted time has passed, landlords may sell the property and spend the profit on storage costs, but any leftover money must be donated to a state program that funds

Proposed Changes Current law

Proposed law

Landlord must return security deposit within 21 days of move out

No mandated timeframe for returning security deposit

Landlord must provide itemized list of deductions from security deposit

No list required for deductions

Property left after move-out can be stored and returned, or disposed of by landlord after letting the tenant know.

Landlord may presume left property is abandoned, and dispose of it without tenant’s permission

affordable housing, Mitch said. Konkel cited several other areas of concern with the bill, including removal of court fee compensations, discrimination against tenants based on criminal records and income, and reducing the period of time a landlord must give tenants notice before showing their unit. Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, said while most of the bill’s content is a cause for

concern, there could be some positive aspects. “They would ask for standardized check-in forms, and would have property owners notified of any violations to their building,” Resnick said. Standardized check-in forms would be used to allow tenants to take note of the condition of the premises at the time of the tenants’ check-in and avoid charges at the end of their lease for prior damage to the unit, he said.

Four senators file recall challenges Tara Golshan Herald Contributor All four Republican senators who face recall elections filed challenges against the legitimacy of petition signatures with state election officials Thursday. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, Sen. Terry Moulton, R-Chippewa Falls, Sen. Pam Galloway, R-Wausau, and Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, filed their challenges by the 5 p.m. deadline, according to a Government Accountability Board statement. In the challenges they filed, the Republican senators highlighted the signatures that they found to be illegitimate, GAB spokesperson Reid Magney said. Fitzgerald said in a statement he has challenged 4,300 signatures, which, if successful, would prevent a recall election against him. “The organizer of this recall promised us that she would be reviewing each and every signature,” Fitzgerald said in a statement. “However, a real review of what she turned in found missing information, hundreds of signers outside of the district, felons involved in process and at least one completely madeup name — and that’s just in the last 20 days.” Fitzgerald said in a statement about 1,500 signatures were “manipulated” by circulators and more than 750 signatures were found to be outside his Senate district. The Galloway campaign echoed Fitzgerald’s remarks. In a statement, they said they have heard from several individuals who were misled into signing the petition throughout the review process. The campaign also said the amount of money the

Democratic Party and other labor groups raised is equal to the amount spent by the same groups in the three other separate recall efforts combined. “The Democrat Party and their Big Labor allies spent close to $50,000 to manufacture a ‘grassroots’ effort and to distort Senator Galloway’s record to gather the necessary signatures,” the statement said. “It is estimated that a Senate recall election will cost local units of government around $500,000 in Senator Galloway’s District so the Democrat Party can have a do-over of the 2010 elections.” According to Magney, the Republican challenges will be presented to the board for review. He also said the GAB is not in the business of verifying petition signatures, but rather reviewing them. According to GAB statement, the person who faces recall is in charge of verifying the signatures. In past, office holders who were subject to recalls also made extensive use of telephone banks in order to reach the petition signers, according to the statement. “While individuals with an interest in vetting these petitions have every right to do so, we expect that they will continue to do so in a respectful, lawful manner,” GAB Director Kevin Kennedy said in a statement. Magney said the next step in the recall efforts is in the hands of the petitioners, who have five days to produce a rebuttal to the challenges. The senators have two additional days to challenge after that, and the board has a court-mandated deadline of March 19 to finish the signature review process, he said. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin did not return calls for comment.

Kelsey Fenton The Badger Herald

Students and Mifflin neighborhood members said their voice in the plan for the 2012 block party would prove critical for a safe event.

Mifflin neighbors consider plan for famed block party Groups call for work with campus, police, mayor to ensure safe event Adrianna Viswanatha City Hall Editor After a policy change brought about violence and an increase in arrests made last year, the Mifflin Neighborhood Association aims to assert a stronger voice in the organization of this year’s Mifflin Street Block Party. A meeting of the association Monday incorporated member feedback as well as information from a meeting between Mayor Paul Soglin and University of Wisconsin students earlier this week. Among the primary concerns from members were event safety in light of the two stabbings that took place at the 2011 block party and potential new ways for funding the event. Associated Students of Madison member Rachel Lepak said the current plans are still in their preliminary stages and no dates for a future meeting have been set since the meeting with Soglin Monday. She said student involvement in planning the Block Party was a significant issue at Monday’s meeting. Mifflin Neighborhood Association Chair Larry Warman said he is hopeful

BUDGET, from 1 “When compared to the past and to other states, Wisconsin is heading in the right direction,” Walker said. Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, said in a statement the current estimates reflect Walker’s irresponsible budgeting, and these decisions have caused Wisconsin to

a group involving students, the mayor, police and alders can be consolidated to meet and discuss the party plans further. “It’s encouraging that students are taking the lead, but they need to know the mayor and the community are on their side, and that’s why we’re here today,” Warman said. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said under previous University of Wisconsin administrations, there have been concerns over the involvement of student organizations in the block party. However, Verveer said he hopes the administration in Bascom Hall will change their feelings on this issue. “The mayor says when he is able, he will have conversations with Chancellor Ward and others about [student organization involvement],” Verveer said. Student organization involvement would likely include elements like fees, permits and other responsibilities, Verveer said. Funding Mifflin raised several concerns during the meeting. Andrew Mackens, a UW student and member of ASM, said many different safety measures would be enforced during this year’s block party, including a no open-container policy. However, he said students do not want to see Mifflin become commercialized or

ticketed like Freakfest, which draws on students to pay entry fees to help cover sponsorship costs. Mackens said the mayor had offered the idea of groups such as Greenpeace having booths at the Block Party, as well as having food vendors pay a fee to sell on Mifflin Street the day of the event. Verveer said policing costs and portable toilets, proposed after an overwhelming consensus from student surveys, would require a source of funding. He said Soglin and the city may chip in some funding for the block party if adequate funding cannot be found through money to food vendors or other organizations. “We want students, the police and the city to collaborate and propose [a plan] to the outside community to see if they want to make changes,” Lepak said. Warman said the next association meeting will take place Feb. 23, and after that will meet as often as needed to prepare for Mifflin, which is tentatively scheduled to take place May 5. Victor Villacrez of Hovde Properties, a downtown real estate company, said he hopes students can try to smooth out the nature of the block party in order to save the event. “I challenge the student group to make something that will work in the longer term,” Villacrez said.

fall farther behind on the road to economic recovery. “The evidence is clear — Walker’s economic plan is not working,” Barca said. “Massive giveaways to large corporations and wealthy special interests, extreme policies that have harmed Wisconsin working families and six straight months of job losses have all added

up to the poor budget projections we see today.” In response to allegations by Democrats that this budget shortfall reflects the failed policies of the Walker administration and Republican-controlled Legislature, Welhouse said Democrats raised taxes on small businesses during a recession to settle a budget shortfall in 2009.


The Badger Herald | News | Friday, February 10, 2012

CHADIMA, from 1 unfortunately ‘Kafkaesque;’ and without knowing who the accuser is or what the accusation is, John Chadima has no meaningful opportunity to respond.” Ward is urging anyone who may have been a victim or anyone with additional information about inappropriate conduct to come forward, regardless of when or where the alleged misconduct took place. Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, released a statement Monday calling for UW to launch a thorough administrative review of the Athletic Department. Mike Mikalsen, Nass’ spokesperson, said the third allegation emphasizes the need for such a review. “I think what you’re seeing now is a situation where some of these folks are coming forward because there’s a growing concern that the university wants to wash its hand of this situation,” Mikalsen said. In addition to contacting UWPD, former Dane County Circuit Court Judge Patrick Fiedler is accepting reports and information at (608) 262-3017. To contact the university police, phone (608) 262-2957 or email report@general.wisc.edu.

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Academic initiative seeks UW innovation Chancellor solicits students’ ideas for improving, strengthening educational experience on Madison campus Katie Caron Higher Education Editor In light of state cuts to higher education, members of student government and members of the campus community gathered Thursday night to address the future course of the University of Wisconsin. At Thursday night’s Associated Students of Madison Shared Governance committee meeting, engineering professor Jeffrey Russell presented Interim Chancellor David Ward’s Educational Innovation initiative to attendees at the town hall. Educational Innovation has been billed as a coordinated effort create a campus environment that supports students’ learning while simultaneously generating new resources. “We need to think

REGENTS, from 1

GRANTS, from 1

Lovell said while most UW System campuses have tried to use their monetary resources on improving curriculum, other aspects of the universities such as mental health services are lacking. He also said at UWMilwaukee, there are 35 students to every one mental health adviser on his campus because of this resource reallocation. “We all need to recognize there’s a price to pay. As we move our resources towards instruction, other parts of supports for our campus are dwindling,” Lovell said. According to a UW System statement, Regent David Walsh questioned if funding shortages would ever require System schools to cut back on student enrollment. UW System President Kevin Reilly said others have frequently raised similar concerns and that “it may be sooner than any of us would like.” Additionally, the Business, Finance and Audit Committee for the Board of Regents voted unanimously in favor of revisions to a Board of Regents policy which governs interinstitutional student governance support organizations. United Council is the only organization that qualifies under the policy, Dylan Jambrek, United Council of UW students vice president, said. He said the major change is that campuses are no longer required to have a referendum every two years on continuing campus membership in the organization. Another revision the regents approved is one which requires 10 percent of the student body to sign petitions to trigger a referendum on membership, Jambrek said.

to the state and additional relief to foreclosure victims. The funds are part of a larger settlement announced by U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder early Thursday morning. Holder said the federal government and 49 state attorneys general reached a $25 billion agreement with the nation’s five largest mortgage servicers to address mortgage loan servicing and foreclosure abuses. President Barack Obama said in a statement Thursday he is glad the funds will be going to the 4 million families who had to foreclose homes

about a sustained approach in this changing world and changing economy we’re in where we can really focus on how to maintain student learning while at the same time better utilizing our capacities and in some cases generating new revenue,” Russell said. He said Educational Innovation is one of four initiatives proposed by Ward to tackle a gap in the University of Wisconsin base budget, which is emerging because of cuts to higher education in the state budget. Russell said the Educational Initiative does not mean that UW has not been innovative in the past, but rather the university wants to look at long-term solutions in a new way. Along with Russell’s introduction of the initiative on innovation, the town hall event

during the crisis. “We have reached a landmark settlement with the nation’s largest banks that will speed relief to the hardest-hit homeowners, end some of the most abusive practices of the mortgage industry and begin to turn the page on an era of recklessness that has left so much damage in its wake,” Obama said in the statement. The five mortgage services included in the federal settlement were Bank of America, J.P. Morgan Chase & Co., Citigroup, Residential Capital and Wells Fargo, the statement said. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said in a statement funds should

organized attendees into small groups to brainstorm ways the university can increase its capacities. UW sophomore Sam Seering, who sits on ASM’s Legislative Affairs committee, said in terms of improvements, the university should foster more crossdepartmental connections to create learning opportunities for students. He said his favorite part of his UW experience has been the ability to customize his education and find opportunities outside of the classroom. “There are support structures established for you if you want to use them,” Seering said. “You can go the full scale; you just have to have the feeling of wanting to broaden your greater academic experience.” Other ideas brought up by attendees in small

be directed to the communities hit the hardest in the foreclosure practices in response to the allocated funds. “All of the settlement funds, including the $31.6 discretionary payment, should be used to help mitigate local concerns,” Barrett said. “Not one dime should be used to fund the unbalanced state budget. Families and local communities did not cause the foreclosure crisis, nor did they have a hand in the mismanaged state budget.” When Van Hollen said the vast majority of the funds would be going to Milwaukee, where a majority of foreclosures in the state occurred during the crisis.

group included improving the UW experience included expanding First-Year Interest Groups to other years, having more programs similar to Biocore in other departments and making the Wisconsin Idea Seminar mandatory for students. Topics addressed in the small group discussions also included what students value about their UW experience, what they think gets in the way of their achieving their goals and how they think these stand to be improved. Russell said overall, the goal of Educational Innovation is not to have prescribed ideas, but to find new ways to address issues in education. He said by May,

he and the others working on the Educational Initiative with Ward hope to have a list of compiled initiatives to work on. He said the initiative looks to tackle new ways of efficient teaching and learning and could mean increasing capacity by identifying currently unreached sub-sections of students to include in alternate education models. “We want to listen. We recognize that it’s not easy to do everything but we know collectively; this is Wisconsin and we can shape our own future, and we can think about things in a meaningful and different way moving forward,” Russell said.


Opinion

Editorial Page Editor Taylor Nye oped@badgerherald.com

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The Badger Herald | Opinion | Friday, February 10, 2012

Citizens United reveals current law’s shortcomings Reginald Young Opinion Content Editor On Wednesday night, a debate was held in the Law School about the 2010 Supreme Court case Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission. The ruling held that the First Amendment “prohibits the government from limiting expenditures for political purposes by corporations and unions.” Allison Hayward, the vice president of policy at the Center for Competitive Politics, made the proCitizens United argument. She claimed the case “brought corporate political expression into the same family of protected speech that everything else was in.” And I have to say, it is a pretty flawless argument. If corporations are allowed to use general

treasury funds for other forms of free speech, like art or dance, why should they not be able to donate for political forms as well? In this regard, it seems like the court made a constitutional decision. On the anti-Citizens United side, Executive Director for Common Cause Wisconsin Jay Heck used an activist court argument, meaning he claimed it was a ruling not based on the constitution, but politics. He argued that a change in the Supreme Court’s composition finally allowed for enough votes. Honestly, this is a pretty weak argument. There are activist judges on both sides of the political divide. The idea that Citizens United redefined corporations as people came up several times. I side with Hayward, who argued that the notion of corporations as people is a misrepresentation of the case. The Supreme Court didn’t decide businesses are living entities; it decided the government can’t limit corporate free speech.

The First Amendment isn’t restricted to people; it simply limits the government’s power. Another issue raised at the debate was the decision can easily be taken ad absurdum: If corporations can have free speech rights like citizens do, what stops them from voting or running for office? Hayward dismissed the notion, saying the ruling didn’t give corporations the equivalent rights that people have. But the case did rule that corporations do have rights; whether or not they’re “people” is irrelevant. If they’re considered people, then they have the same rights people do. But if they’re not considered people, then they have had a constitutional right applied to them, so what’s to stop having other rights applied to them, like voting or running for office? Why shouldn’t The Badger Herald run for president? Being 43-years-old, the Herald meets the age requirement for candidacy. Whether corporations are legally “people” is just

another moot point. I can see both sides being justified. Corporations can seem way too indeterminate to have a free speech right. But I can also see some justification in having constitutional rights applied to them. However, the modern state of law in this country overlooks an important consequence of an application of rights to corporations: responsibility. With rights come responsibilities. Yes, every voting-age citizen in this country has a right to vote, but many see it also as a responsibility. Every citizen has a right to speak freely, but that speech can be limited if they yell fire in a crowded theater. Rights come with responsibilities and limits. In that vein, if corporations want to have the rights associated with free speech, they must be willing to bear the responsibilities of being considered an entity with constitutional rights. When in trial, corporations hire lawyers that argue that they have the same due process

in court that citizens do. Again, if you want rights, then expect responsibilities. Yet, the current climate doesn’t really hold corporations responsible. Sure, they may get a fine for breaking the law, but the reality is, those fines are seen as infrequent, random and are usually just a drop in the fiscal bucket. If corporations are to be given rights, then they should face the associated responsibilities. But many argue it’s impossible to punish a corporation the same as an individual. We can’t physically imprison them. But we can do things like freeze assets or ban them from doing business for set periods of time. “But that would surely put them out of business!” you say. Isn’t that what we do to criminals, though? We inhibit their ability to live for a set amount of time; they can’t earn much money, they can’t support their families and their social ties are severed. Why not do the same to corporations? It may sound like a radical

approach, but Citizens United was a decision that radically changed the political landscape. With radical rights come radical responsibilities. Hold CEOs responsible to some extent, for example. Yes, it may not be fair, but it sure would give them an economic incentive to make sure no wrong doing occurs. Fine corporations ridiculous amounts. Yes, it might be paralyzing, but it would make corporations a lot more vigilant about their own behavior. Some may argue Citizens United should be shot down, and corporations should lose their free speech rights. Others say it should be upheld, and corporations and those making them up should start bearing a seriously heavier burden of responsibility. Either way, the current state of the law related to corporations’ rights is detrimental to society. Reginald Young (ryoung@ badgerherald.com) is a junior majorig in legal studies and Scandinavian studies.

Teach for America overlooks UW System lacks venue underlying causes of poverty for dialogues on diversity Jeff Schultz Staff Writer Teach for America is a nonprofit organization that gives recent college graduates, chosen through a highly selective process, the opportunity to teach underprivileged schoolchildren. The idea is a simple one: Young, inspiring and accomplished participants can give their students the education necessary to enrich their community, with an additional effect being overcoming poverty. The idea, however, ignores the reality that students need more than effective teachers to overcome poverty; students need opportunities that will allow them to thrive in today’s economy. While TFA does not explicitly say that its program, or education, in general is the key that will bring an end to poverty, the implication is there. TFA’s website states “We can provide an excellent education for kids in low-income communities.” But what will this education do for those kids? Many would say that an excellent education “levels the playing the field” for people from low-income backgrounds, but our blind faith in education obscures the need for a democratic economy. Still, the American psyche

buys into TFA’s specious premise. Americans believe that with intelligence, a good attitude and shrewdness, a young person can succeed. TFA likes to think that it can instill these qualities into all students. To sell this point to potential applicants, TFA has covered our campus with neon posters proclaiming that every child deserve a good education. I agree. It’s just that I don’t believe you can lift children out of poverty by simply giving them a good education. The problem is that our economy is so fractured that a good education, once used to achieve social mobility, is no longer enough to undo socioeconomic inequalities. Furthermore, incompetent teachers, out-of-date textbooks and packed classrooms do not cause poverty; they are the symptoms of it. Joblessness and the lack of a living wage are the real causes of poverty. However, to inspire students to overcome poverty, TFA wants its teachers to serve as role models to disadvantaged students, which is fine. But what about the parents, the people who should serve as role models to these students? Who are better role models than parents who work hard and are able to provide for their children? In an economic system that rewards outsourcing jobs and cutting wages, that kind of role model is becoming harder to find. It still stands to reason that workers need an education to obtain a job. This is both true and untrue. Americans need to learn necessary skills to find gainful

employment, but I’m not sure that TFA provides students with these necessary skills. TFA participants are college graduates who work in these schools expecting that they are helping to create more college graduates. However, many students are better suited to go onto technical or vocational schools than four-year universities. Schools need teachers that can provide both a classical education and a practical education. Perhaps TFA teachers aren’t up to that task because their background tends to be in the liberal arts or advanced sciences. Also, while most employers desire well-educated employees, a good education does not guarantee a job. Look at all of the unemployed college graduates. That’s why the government needs to invest in creating quality jobs in addition to creating quality educational opportunities. Otherwise, we’ll just have a country full of very well-read poor people. Granted, I wouldn’t be writing for a college newspaper or even be in college if it wasn’t for some committed, inspiring teachers, and many TFA participants probably have the makings of excellent teachers. I just want TFA to acknowledge that teachers alone can’t address inequality because ending poverty does not begin and end in the classroom. Otherwise, TFA will serve as a smoke screen to the need for real economic reform. Jeff Schultz (jdschultz@wisc. edu) is a senior majoring in history.

There is a lack of adequate help from the University of Wisconsin System in restoring justice and integrity for underrepresented students when hateful acts of discrimination occur. A system of larger problems was exposed during last week’s events at UW-Parkside when two nooses appeared on campus. The mock lynching that occurred this past summer on Langdon Street at the UW-Madison campus additionally indicates that these occurrences will continue to remain a pervasive norm on UW campuses. The permissive attitudes toward these acts of oppression continue to undermine Inclusive Excellence and underrepresented students’ access to education and personal well-being on campuses across the UW System. In response to these incidents, the Associated Students of Madison recognizes its duty as a body advocating for all students’ rights. It is our goal to seek equal representation and make our campus one in which students of all backgrounds and communities can thrive and succeed academically. The continuity of these events are indicators that this is not being accomplished on campus. It is not only our duty, but also our promise to the greater community to take action. Incidents like this need to stop, and they need to stop now. As a proactive step, ASM will be releasing an aggressive plan in the coming weeks that outlines what actions we can take to better our community now and for future Badgers. Knowledge is one of the

most powerful tools we have in fighting injustice, and our plan will use education as a means to achieve these goals. ASM will outline specific measures that it will take, and encourage others to take steps toward ending injustice in our community. In formulating this plan, we recognize that ensuring a welcoming community is not the responsibility of an individual or group, but a shared responsibility of all members of this campus. We write this letter and formulate our plan with a shared vision, inviting the UW administration as well as student groups on campus to seek ways to enhance the diversity, the welcoming climate and the quality of our education at this institution. A unified campus is a powerful campus. As a community, we will foster change and ensure that these issues never arise in the future. We, the leadership of the ASM, stand behind this cause, and dedicate ourselves to the betterment of our campus today and tomorrow. A true Badger is proud to be a part of a diverse, culturally competent and welcoming community, and we will work tirelessly until we see results. ASM Coordinating Council Allie Gardner (alliengard@gmail. com), Chair, Associated Students of Madison. Andrew Bulovsky (bulovsky@wisc. edu), Vice Chair, Associated Students of Madison. David Gardner (dgardner2@ wisc.edu), Chief of Staff, Associated Students of Madison

Adelaide Blanchard The Badger Herald

Your Opinion · Send your letters to the editor and guest columns to oped@badgerherald.com. Publication is based on space and takes into account relevance and quality. Letters should be sent exclusively to the Herald. Unsigned letters will not be published. All submissions may be edited by the Herald for length and style. Reader feedback on all articles and columns can be posted at badgerherald.com, where all print content is archived.


Comics

Run Out of Lecture Screaming Or Face the Consequences Noah J. Yuenkel comics@badgerherald.com

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The Badger Herald | Comics | Friday, February 10, 2012

WHAT IS THIS

SUDOKU

HERALD COMICS

PRESENTS

S

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K

U WHITE BREAD & TOAST

toast@badgerherald.com

MIKE BERG

NONSENSE? Complete the grid so that every row, column and 3x3 box contains 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9. What? You still don’t get it? Come, on, really? It’s not calculus or anything. Honestly, if you don’t know how to do a sudoku by now, you’ve probably got more issues than this newspaper.

TWENTY POUND BABY

DIFFICULTY RATING: No one is going to say “come back” to the screaming guy

HERALD COMICS

PRESENTS

K

A

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baby@badgerherald.com

STEPHEN TYLER CONRAD

YOURMOMETER

LAURA “HOBBES” LEGAULT

C’EST LA MORT

PARAGON

yourmom@badgerherald.com

HOW DO I

KAKURO?

I know, I know. Kakuro. Looks crazy, right? This ain’t no time to panic, friend, so keep it cool and I’ll walk you through. Here’s the low down: each clue tells you what the sum of the numbers to the right or down must add up to. Repeating numbers? Not in this part of town. And that’s that, slick.

paragon@badgerherald.com

The Kakuro Unique Sum Chart Cells Clue 2 3 2 4 2 16 2 17

DIFFICULTY RATING: The consequences are learning

MOUSELY & FLOYD

Possibilities { 1, 2 } { 1, 3 } { 7, 9 } { 8, 9 }

3 3 3 3

6 7 23 24

{ 1, 2, 3 } { 1, 2, 4 } { 6, 8, 9 } { 7, 8, 9 }

4 4 4 4

10 11 29 30

{ 1, 2, 3, 4 } { 1, 2, 3, 5 } { 5, 7, 8, 9 } { 6, 7, 8, 9 }

5 5 5 5

15 16 34 35

{ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 } { 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 } { 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 } { 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 }

6 6 6 6

21 22 38 39

{ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 } { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 } { 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 } { 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 }

7 7 7 7

28 29 41 42

{ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 } { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 } { 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 } { 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 }

8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8

36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44

{ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 } { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 } { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9 } { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9 } { 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9 } { 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 } { 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 } { 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 } { 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 }

ehmandeff.tumblr.com

MADCAPS

HERALD COMICS 1

pascle@badgerherald.com

RYAN PAGELOW

RANDOM DOODLES

PRIMAL URGES

random@badgerherald.com

ERICA LOPPNOW

primal@badgerherald.com

ANDREW MEGOW

MODERN CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT

THE SKY PIRATES

COLLIN LA FLEUR

DENIS HART

mcm@badgerherald.com

skypirate@badgerherald.com

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PRESENTS 6

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CROSSWORD

Helios 27 Sibling, at times? 17 18 28 Sound really 19 20 21 good 32 007 player 22 23 24 25 34 Put to sleep 26 27 28 29 30 35 Auto racer Luyendyk 31 32 33 34 35 36 “Refudiate,” 36 37 38 39 e.g. 40 41 42 37 Mythical runner 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 38 1990s series 50 51 52 53 initially set in the year 2193 54 55 56 57 58 41 Place for a 59 60 61 plug 42 Mild Irish 62 63 oath 64 65 45 Nike competitor 47 Move to and Puzzle by David Steinberg fro the woods 60 2010 Ke$ha brandy Across 48 Belong chart-topper 11 Do a driver’s 30 Grant1 Company 49 Women’s no-no with a cregiving org. whose jobs wear atively spelled 12 Axis, e.g. 31 Musical with are often 51 Women five-word title 13 Condition the song changing? 52 2005 horror known 62 Clichéd “Written in 10 Working sequel medically as 63 Series of the Stars” group pes planus 55 Prefix with Nintendo 33 Said “There, 15 Got to the 14 1967 hit with games there” to, say port bottom of the lyric “You 57 Fund-raising 64 Certain 16 It takes a bow 36 It makes the know you’re 49-Down Statue of at a musical suffix a cute little Liberty green 65 Watersheds performance 60 Iraq war heartbreaker” 17 1958 Buddy 39 Guarantee subject, 21 Wife, in Down 40 Very excited Holly hit briefly Juárez 1 18-footer, 18 “Guaranteed 42 The so-called 61 Volga 24 Sister of maybe Island of the relief tributary 2 Measured twoGods every time” dimensionally 43 Head for sloganeer 3 Chickens for the hills 19 Historic dinner 44 One can leader? 4 “Marvy!” be tall 20 “Dove ___” 5 Surrealist (Mozart aria) 46 Jerry or Jerry Tanguy Lee 21 Thing 6 Simon of 50 Seine sight 22 Poetic Duran Duran 51 Rappers’ contraction 7 Russian covers 23 Kind of strip ballerina 53 Sign 25 Workers’ Galina org. founded 54 Lane on 8 Gets into Broadway by Samuel Monk music 56 Attack Gompers 9 Eponym of a 26 Farriers’ tools 58 Telephone frozen food trio 29 Letters 10 It may be 59 Against a signifying picked up in thing, at law quality 15

BUNI

2

madcaps@badgerherald.com

MOLLY MALONEY

16

Get today’s puzzle solutions at badgerherald.com


ArtsEtc. Editor Lin Weeks arts@badgerherald.com

6

The Badger Herald | Arts | Friday, February 10, 2012

THE BADGER HERALD PRESENTS HERALD ARCADE

ArtsEtc.

RPG features refreshing style Andrew Lahr Herald Arcade Columnist Recently, I was able to get my hands on the newest entry into the Role Playing Game market, titled “Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning.” The game seemed to hit the shelves in a fairly shy and timid manner, without the usual marketing mayhem preceding its arrival. In fact, the only reason I stumbled upon this little gem was during a regular Reddit session, where a personal appeal from the game’s lead designer to try his game out was “upvoting” at the time. This wasn’t just any lead designer begging people to try out his game; it was Ken Rolston, the lead designer of both prior “Elder Scrolls” games, “Oblivion” and “Morrowind.” He has now teamed up with lesserknown company Big Huge Games for its newest title. As if this wasn’t enough incentive for me to give the game a try, I soon realized its entire storyline was written by none other than R.A. Salvatore, a successful fantasy writer who has sold more than 15 million books in the U.S. alone. So, does such a potent combination of talent yield any extraordinary results? Well, yes and no … but mostly yes. The first thing I noticed is this game looks unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. The world is huge and impressive in a “fantasy dream-sequence” kind of way. In fact, it’s hard to

classify the style of this game at all: You won’t find any of that gritty realism seen in games such as “Skyrim” here, and Big Huge Games clearly wasn’t struggling to render the most near-real-life visuals as possible. That being said, it’s not as if this game looks cartoonish either. In fact, I’d say the graphics occupy a comfy middle ground between these two extremes. Whether or not they intended it, the developers succeeded at creating an atmosphere that does justice to the imaginative world without attempting over-the-top realism. However, I definitely would have liked to see more visual variety throughout the game, particularly in respect to enemies and the players’ surroundings. Sometimes while playing, I felt like I was stuck in an endless limbo of claustrophobic giant forestry, craving more wide open surroundings, or any change in scenery for that matter. The combat system in “Reckoning” is where the game really shines. All too often we see RPGs create incredible surroundings and immersive plots, but stumble when it comes to creating clever and non-repetitive gameplay, forcing players to grind out the same old spells and moves for hours on end. In “Reckoning,” this is anything but the case. The

game puts many recent and more popular RPGs to shame when it comes to creative and varied ways to take down your enemies: There always seems to be a new and refreshing way to make chaos just around the corner. The customization options for your character are unprecedented, and only add to the constantlychanging nature of the game. The only true letdown when it comes to gameplay is the complete lack of online play. I was expecting, at the least, the ability to do some twoplayer co-op online. No dice. “Reckoning” is a singleplayer RPG in its purest form, and insists that you alone are the only hero to grace the people of Amalur. It’s a lonely existence, to be sure. Be prepared to do a lot of reading if you’re hoping to stay up to date with the storyline. Considering that the bulk of the content was written by a well-established novelist, this should come as no surprise. To be frank, the plot can become confusing and convoluted at times, though there are NPCs — non-playing characters — all over the place more than willing to fill you in. Complexity doesn’t necessarily imply any carelessness though, and quite the opposite is true in “Reckoning”: overall the plot keeps you engaged and informed as to what’s going on at any given moment. “Reckoning” contains

superb voice acting. You won’t find any cheesy, cringe-worthy dialogue, which is more than most games can say these days. That being said, the game’s soundtrack certainly won’t knock your socks off. After listening to the “Skyrim” lineup of tear-jerkingly epic selections, this game will seem anything but impressive. Although, in defense of “Reckoning,” the developers were probably going for more “unobtrusive” background music that anything — tunes that slowly and softly guide you through glade and forest without making you feel constantly in the middle of a life or death situation. Overall this game is a huge success. I know there is a certain breed of gamer out there who would rip this game to shreds in a second, simply because of how “different” everything about it is. I say it’s about time that we saw something a little different in the gaming world. Quite frankly, I was impressed with the way this game hit the shelves. Sometimes you don’t want game releases being crammed down your throat for months on end. While the game may struggle from certain visual pitfalls, and may not boast the online content that other RPGs are known for, there’s something refreshing and sophisticated about “Reckoning,” and for that I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Band ‘Heartless,’ but full of energy The Heartless Bastards will bring not-quite-Cupid’s ‘Arrow’ to the High Noon Saloon Kevin Kousha ArtsEtc. Staff Writer The Heartless Bastards have a considerable amount of soul. Their music has an infectious, warm, bluesy sound they’ll be bringing to the High Noon Saloon this Saturday night, along with Hacienda and Little Legend. While they’ve gone under the radar of some music lovers, the Heartless Bastards have stayed together for nearly

10 years despite a number of lineup changes. A constant throughout these changes, and key element of the band, is Erika Wennerstrom, lead singer and guitarist. Wennerstrom’s distinctive voice and powerful lyrics, coupled with the band’s bluesy garage rock, gives the band a sound of its own. Wennerstrom never tones or dumbs herself down, maintaining not only her voice and lyrics but her guitar work as well, which is impressive

and also prominent in the band’s sound. While many liken the Heartless Bastards to a mellower version of the Black Keys, a number of things give the band its own appeal. “I don’t think anyone would ever mix us up on the radio,” Wennerstrom asserted. The entire band plays with an energy and emotion that has served it well in past shows. In addition to rocking a variety of concert venues, they have also been featured on the Late Show with David Letterman, where they promoted their album The Mountain. Even on late night television, their energy was still palpable. Their stop in Madison is part of an extensive tour of more than 50 shows. While it may seem like a daunting tour, the band seems pretty enthused. Instead of taking a page from Kings of Leon’s Followill brothers, Wennerstrom is so far still energized about the tour and shows no sign of stopping. “We had quite a bit of time off and I like to keep busy,” she put simply. The show in Madison will be one of the last before the band releases its latest album. On Valentine’s Day, Heartless Bastards will be releasing its fourth album, Arrow. Tour dates both precede and follow the release, a decision made to help hype the album. The band released the single “Parted Ways” on its website and to Rolling Stone Magazine, enticing people to join the band’s email list to receive a free download of the song. Arrow will be the first album on Heartless Bastards’ new record label, Partisan Records, and was produced in the home recording studio of Spoon’s Jim Eno. The album’s “Parted Ways” suggests the band is continuing to strengthen and grow from its

typical, distinctive sounds. The last album, The Mountain, had hints of country coming through most tracks; Arrow will likely be another expansion into less familiar territory. So far, Arrow has been generating buzz. Wennerstrom thinks “it’s the strongest record by the band yet,” a statement she’s been making since November. Beyond that, however, Wennerstrom remains tight-lipped, mentioning little of what’s in store on the rest of the album. Regardless, the band has grown stronger with every release, and fans have so far been enthusiastic with the prospect of the new release. Despite their growing success, Wennerstrom remains humble. When asked what venues on the tour she was most excited to play, she said 1st Avenue in Minneapolis, Minn., saying “with all the history of the venue, it would be an honor to play there,” and the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco, Calif., for similar reasons. Not forgetting her roots, she also added “the home town gig is always pretty special also.” While the tour still hits common cities and venues around the country, many of the locations are smaller, often overlooked towns as well. The stop at the High Noon Saloon is a great example of playing a more personal venue. Beyond the tour and the album, the next step for Heartless Bastards is still up in the air. Wennerstrom put it simply, “We’re just going to keep playing in support of the album, and hope people respond to it.” The Heartless Bastards will play The High Noon Saloon Saturday at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $13 in advance or $15 at the door. For more information, go to www.high-noon. com.

Photo courtesy of ComedyCentral

Yale-educated comedian Demetri Martin brings his dry wit to chilly climates in his “Telling Jokes in Cold Places” tour, stopping in Madison this evening.

Laugh a little with Demetri Martin Barrymore next stop for quirky comedian, known for hybrid of sketches, musical jokes Holly Hartung ArtsEtc. Reporter Like many celebrities, comedian Demetri Martin has never been to Madison. Although he is excited to perform his comedy routine in front of a packed house tonight, it’s unlikely he’ll get to experience much of the city. Martin’s pit stop in Madison marks the 17th stop on his whirlwind “Telling Jokes in Cold Places” tour. Adding to the frenzy of a jam-packed tour, the Barrymore Theatre recently announced Martin will perform not once but twice, taking the stage again at 11 p.m. because the 8 p.m. show sold out so quickly. “I like doing the shows, but I’ve been to so many cities now and I haven’t seen hardly any of them,” Martin said in a brief phone interview with The Badger Herald. The shaggy-haired funny man has a track record of comedic success as a writer for “Late Night with Conan O’Brien,” a contributor on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” and as a stand-up comedian. He also had his own television show, which launched in 2009 and ran on Comedy Central for two seasons called “Important Things with Demetri Martin.” Now after a two-year break from television, Martin said he has plenty of new material for his fans. “I’m a little bit older now and the material is going to reflect two more years of age and wisdom,” Martin said. Although his upcoming show will feature new material, you can expect the same dry sense of humor and understated delivery style. Martin’s jokes reflect the sharp intellect of a Yale-educated man, incorporating puns, palindromes and unparalleled literalism. For example, when Martin gets animated, he does so by busting out a large drawing pad. In other words, you won’t see him traipsing across the stage to tell a story, nor will he contort his face or make silly voices to tell a joke. Martin’s jokes speak for themselves. His humor is not the kind that will produce an all-out belly laugh, but it will make you smirk and appreciate his wit. In addition to having time to craft a whole new set of jokes, Martin used the last two years to do some introspection and expand his comedic repertoire. “I’ve learned that I like writing a book more than I thought I was going to,” the comedian said, referencing his recent book, titled “This is a Book.” He says it’s the first of three books he’ll write. “I got a deal years ago to do it and I was too busy. I procrastinated. I put it off. Finally I had to write it and hand it in. Once I finally sat down to write it, I enjoyed it. That was a nice thing to learn,” Martin said.

However, it seems like the tour is wearing on Martin. He somehow managed to squeeze in an interview right after a long conference call and just before the sound check for another show. It could have just been a busy day, but there is more than a hint of tiredness in his voice, suggesting that every day of the last month has been like this. Despite his apparent fatigue from weeks of unrelenting touring, Martin answers questions candidly and honestly, giving serious thought to each response. He was very laid back and does not use the interview as one last attempt to sell tickets or crack a joke. Rather, he gives an earnest glimpse into the life of a comedian whose fans have demanded a lot from him. Unlike his audience, which will likely be composed of University of Wisconsin students who spend exorbitant amounts of time creating memes online and finding other ways to avoid studying, Martin quite literally does not have time to waste on the Internet. “It’s funny. With travel I get to use the Internet less because I wake up early, go to the airport — you have to turn off electronic devices — and land. Then I go to my hotel. I try to get some food or something. Usually I don’t have much time before I have to go the sound check and do the show. Then I go to sleep because I’m tired,” Martin said. Even if Martin did have more free time, it is clear he would not spend it online. Spare time is mostly for penning jokes, sometimes in a notebook or on a computer and sometimes on a typewriter when he wants to get serious. Martin admits this without an aura of pretention. For him, the choice to use a typewriter is not a matter of hipness or love for vintage technology, but out of utility. He can type jokes faster than writing them by hand, uninterrupted from the constant e-mails that pop up on his desktop. When Martin is not writing jokes, he passes the time by reading non-fiction and listening to music. Lately, he has been on a jazz kick, thanks to the Ken Burns documentary of the same title. He is particularly fond of bebop. While it may not be shocking that a man with an Ivy League education enjoys jazz and reading, he expects his show will have an element of unpredictability. When asked if anything will surprise the audience, he says, “Yeah, I think everything, cuz they’re jokes. Every punch line will be a surprise,” without a trace of sarcasm. Demetri Martin will perform stand-up at the Barrymore Theatre Friday at both 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Tickets for the 11 p.m. performance are $35 and available at www. majesticmadison.com


To place an ad in Classifieds: Roshni Nedungadi rnedungadi@badgerherald.com 257.4712 ext. 311

7

The Badger Herald | Classifieds | Friday, February 10, 2012

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Sports AMBITIONS, from 8 of decathletes, and he’s the one that asked me, ‘Do you want to be on the Wheaties box?’” The influence of all these people together has helped make Cato a successful heptathlete, so it comes as little surprise that he flourished this past weekend at the Frank Sevigne Invitational in Lincoln, Neb. Competing in the heptathlon, Cato had a day to remember. The sophomore placed first in the pole vault, long jump, high jump and 60 meter hurdles, compiling an overall score of 5,939 and surpassing the nearest competitor by more than 200 points. Better yet, Cato broke the Big Ten heptathlon record, outdoing former Minnesota athlete Ben Jensen’s tally by 170 points. If that weren’t enough, the mark left Cato in great heptathlon standing, as the performance was the ninth best performance in NCAA history. “I keep telling people that I feel kind of historic now, that I’m an historical figure.” Cato said jokingly. “It just feels good.” Regardless of his record-bashing laurels, much of Cato’s career still remains ahead of him. Last spring he was chosen to compete in the NCAA Indoor Championships, but came up short and recorded a score much lower than what he was hoping for. With that in the back of his mind, Cato enters the 2012 season with resentment for his weak finish a season ago etched

FIAMMETTA, from 8 to move the tournament. But does the event lose its allure if it’s not held in the Kohl Center? “I wouldn’t even say that, just because the state tournament, it is what it is,” Anderson said. “You’re trying to get to the top and competing with the best teams in the state.” The strongest opposition to moving the state tourney centered on the “specialness,” as the Wisconsin State Journal termed it, of being so close to the Capitol. Well, the Kohl Center isn’t exactly next door to the square. If we can keep the event in Madison but UW’s arena is no longer a viable option, why not consider other in-town options? Adjacent to the city’s most historical athletic venue, Camp Randall Stadium, the Wisconsin Field House once housed UW’s men’s basketball team, as well as the university’s renowned boxing program. Currently, it houses Wisconsin volleyball and wrestling, both of which enjoy legitimate

in his mind, determined to impress a national audience at the 2012 NCAA Championships. “I’m not that person; I’m way better than that,” Cato said. “I want to show the world, the country and everybody who knows me, how good I can actually be.” Given his dominating performance this past weekend, Cato will get his chance. His heptathlon score currently ranks second nationwide and automatically qualified him for the NCAA Indoor Championships later this month. His coach sees that opportunity as a moment for Cato to shine. “It’s about doing it at important events,” Nuttycombe said. “Although [this weekend] was a great step forward, the two biggest events are yet to come. You would hope that if you are doing the right things and if he is in the right frame of mind, there are two more opportunities to improve.” Being selected to compete at such a prestigious event ranks particularly highly among Cato’s goals, as he likens it to an important childhood memory. Yet, this goal does not seem out of reach for Cato. His determination and abundance of supporters make that dream a realistic one for the everambitious track star. “If you could think of your first roller coaster ride, how your stomach drops, sinks and it’s like a euphoric feeling, that would definitely be the feeling,” he said. “I’m definitely looking towards trials, if I can make it. The sky is the limit for me.”

home-court advantages. For the past 20 years, the volleyball team has ranked among the top 10 in national attendance, as well as the top four over the last 10 years. The Field House isn’t a new recommendation for a fallback option for the WIAA, though it has had its critics. Opponents to the idea cite the need for renovations to the building, which opened in 1930. However, those attendance numbers should trump questions regarding the building’s practicality. Furthermore, the Field House has not gone untouched in recent years. When Camp Randall was renovated in 2005, the Field House improved its locker rooms and media room. Four years later, the floor was resurfaced and new bleachers were constructed on the building’s west side. In recent years, UW’s men’s basketball team has also hosted pre-season scrimmages in the Field House. Two years ago, 2,650 fans attended Field House Madness Saturday even though later that

PUP, from 8 the season, something his linemates can’t deny. “It’s been tremendous growth he’s had over the year, just with his strength, his speed, his awareness out there — it’s a lot faster game; it’s a big jump,” Barnes said. “It’s a lot of little things that you can see him picking up on and seeing the ice a lot better and making plays.” Standing tall at 6-foot-4, 195 pounds, LaBate gave UW its most recent victory by knocking in the gamewinning goal with just over four minutes to go in the third period in a 3-2 victory over AlaskaAnchorage Jan. 21. The goal certainly made LaBate stand out and served as a sort of benchmark from his progress, but when he first stepped onto the first line, it was admittedly intimidating. “Oh yeah,” LaBate said. “I remember when I came into practice, … and I looked up and I saw I was with Zengs and Barnes on the first line, and I was like ‘holy smokes, this is a big step,’ and I just tried to focus on playing my game. I’ve just done that ever since. They’re such good linemates to have, so supportive and stuff, and we gel pretty well together.” When deciding where to commit, LaBate was specifically looking for a school where he’d have the chance to play immediately and get as much experience as possible.

night, Wisconsin’s football team was slated to take on No. 1 Ohio State. The Field House is obviously treasured enough to still be consistently in use, and its track record of hosting some of UW’s top athletic programs should alleviate concerns regarding hosting the WIAA tourney. Although the Kohl Center’s basketball attendance is measured at 17,230 — nearly 6,000 more than the Field House’s 11,500 — the former isn’t exactly packed when the high school boys roll into town. Imagine the intimate atmosphere the Field House would foster for families and fans coming from all areas of the state. Sure, it’s probably still a secondary option to the tried and true Kohl Center. But the WIAA already has been forced to think outside the box, so why not go a little further? Mike is a senior majoring in journalism. What are your thoughts on the men’s state basketball tournament? Let him know on Twitter @ mikefiammetta.

For him, Wisconsin was that team — more than he even knew, at the time. “I wasn’t expecting this big of a role right away,” LaBate said. “I’ve been really enjoying it. I’m pretty lucky to be on a team where I can play this much and have this much responsibility, so I think it’s just good for me. It’s going to benefit me in the future.” But, he definitely had a lot to learn, specifically some little details that high school hockey just can’t provide. “You learn a lot of little stuff,” Zengerle said. “Obviously, he’s a skilled player, and he skates well and handles the puck well and shoots well, but

you learn a lot of things away from the puck and things like that, and things in the d-zone — just so many details that Coach Eaves teaches you that you wouldn’t think of before you get here.” But with such a youthful team trying its hardest to make something out of its up-and-down season, a lot of pressure falls on LaBate and the first line as a whole. Barnes acknowledged that they are completely aware of this pressure off the ice, but on the ice, it disappears. “There’s definitely a lot of pressure, but we don’t really let it bother us too much,” Barnes said. “We’re used to it; we just go out there and play. Once you go out on the

ice you notice it. … On the ice, everything’s carefree. You’re out there just playing. He’s done a really good job this year just filling the role and he’s grown a lot over the year, and it’s been fun playing with him.” Eaves is well aware of the amount of pressure he’s put on LaBate, but he still has some higher expectations that the freshman has yet to meet. “We put a lot on his shoulders, but we think eventually, by sticking with him, it’ll pay off for us, Eaves said. “I wish there was fruit on the vine right now, we’re just getting little buds on it, but the fruit’s coming. He’ll be damned good one day.”


Sports Editor Elliot Hughes sports@badgerherald.com

8 | Sports | Friday, February 10, 2012

SPORTS

WISCONSIN

68

MINNESOTA

61

Noah Willman The Badger Herald

Joseph LaBate skipped the traditional rout to college hockey through junior league play, but has already found his way to Wisconsin’s top line alongside Mark Zengerle and Tyler Barnes. LaBate has five goals and 14 assists on the season for 19 points — fifth best on the team.

Badger pup no more Fresh from high school, Wisconsin’s LaBate finds spot, future on top line Kelly Erickson Sports Content Editor Straight out of high school, Joseph LaBate embodies the youthful state of the Wisconsin men’s hockey team. Hockey is a rare beast in

college athletics. Players can leave early for their shot at a professional career, but more often than not, they don’t even start their collegiate campaigns until they spend a few years playing in juniors after they graduate from high school. But Wisconsin’s youngest skater — still only 18 years old — decided to skip those habitual years with a junior team where players generally get stronger and faster and

have an opportunity to adjust for the pace of the college game. “Everyone talks about how big of a switch it is both mentally and physically, with bigger guys and just the demand of what coaches expect from you,” LaBate said. “It’s a very big leap, and I think I’ve handled it pretty well. My family is pretty supportive of me, and obviously my teammates are too. I think I’ve handled it pretty well and

keep trying to do it day by day.” While knowing the jump would be more difficult, the Eagan, Minn., native didn’t expect to find himself consistently skating on the top line. Skating alongside sophomore forwards Mark Zengerle and Tyler Barnes, LaBate has notched five goals this season and 14 assists. His 19 points are fifth most on the team — but the most of any freshman.

While his stats could certainly be better — sitting 20 points behind team leader Zengerle, who has 39 on the season — head coach Mike Eaves has some pretty high — and tough — expectations for his youngest player. “We’ve got a true freshman, an 18-year-old man who’s coming out of high school, and we’ve got him on our top unit, so he’s expected to some degree to be able to put numbers on the board,” Eaves said.

Versatile sophomore spearheads UW’s track and field success, breaks records Sports writer In the realm of track and field, multi-event athletes are often labeled by the number of events they compete in. Pentathletes compete in five events, heptathletes in seven, decathletes in ten and so on. In the case of Wisconsin sophomore track and field star Japheth Cato, numbers barely mean a thing. Cato — recruited as a decathlete — recently dominated the pentathlon circuit and conversely labels himself as a heptathlete. Owning plenty of prefixes to the tag “athlete,” it’s safe to say Cato can be found at any track meet, and when he shows up, he’s usually succeeding. In order to excel, multievent athletes such as Cato must to be able to cross different track and field barriers depending on the event. From running to throwing, with a taste of jumping intertwined, these athletes need to be the best all-around competitors at any meet, which is exactly what Cato has tried to be since arriving in Madison. “I just came in with the mentality of let’s blow the

roof off the Big Ten and do the best I can do,” Cato said. “Wherever I end up is where I ended up.” Cato soon found himself on top of his competition early in his career, placing first in the heptathlon at the 2011 Big Ten Indoor Championship. The thenfreshman fell just short of the Wisconsin school record for points in his first time taking part in the seven-event competition. A fantastic supporting cast has helped polish Cato for the heptathlon, allowing the sophomore to master the intricacies of completely different events. UW Track and Field head coach Ed Nuttycombe has played an essential role in Cato’s impressive performances, helping him become a stronger competitor every day in practice. “[First] you simulate it in practice; you talk, you teach, and they learn, sometimes by doing things incorrectly,” Nuttycombe said. Cato’s closest teammates are another reason for his success. Fellow heptathlete David Grzesiak described how the core of multi-event athletes relies on the group for individual success.

PUP, page 7

Field House best for WIAA

Ambitions soar for Cato Sean Zak

“We’re expecting him to be good down in his own zone. It’s like he goes from being an undergraduate to getting graduate course work in terms of where he comes from and the responsibilities that we’re giving him. It’s a lot to handle, … (but) he’s a battler.” This “battler” attitude that Eaves describes is a quality that has led to his progression throughout

Mike Fiammetta Mike’d Up

UW Athletics

Cato has set program records this season and plans to try out for the Olympic trials. “The whole group really pushes each other, and certain people have certain strengths,” Grzesiak said. “He is obviously really fast and really good in the jumps area, and that pushes us to match what he does. At the same time we try to teach him stuff about the throws that he doesn’t

know so well.” Above all, Cato cites a family member as vital to his success and inspiration. “I think the person who has helped motivate me the most is my father,” he said. “He’s definitely the one who looked up stats

AMBITIONS, page 7

A large part of the issue appears to have been resolved, so why not think outside the box a little? The WIAA state high school boy’s basketball tournament, held annually in Madison for more than 90 years, had been jeopardized by the newly sanctioned Big Ten men’s hockey playoffs coming in 2013-14. Scheduling conflicts threatened to force the popular high school tourney elsewhere, possibly to Ashwaubenon’s Resch Center, before the Big Ten elected to choose neutral site hosts for its new hockey league. Instead of the feared logjam of athletic events at the Kohl Center, the conference will reportedly look at sites in Detroit, Mich. and St. Paul, Minn. for its hockey tournament and consequently eliminate some of the complications impeding the WIAA’s normal course of events. Some scheduling issues

— the first round of the league hockey playoffs will overlap with the boy’s basketball tournament — and concerns over parking, concession prices and hotel accommodations persist. But given the major roadblock to keeping the WIAA tourney in Madison has been abated, there’s cause for celebration. At the same time, why not continue the re-evaluation of the high school basketball tournament? History and tradition are invariably difficult to part with, but with all the consideration set forth toward determining alternatives for the WIAA, why not keep those thoughts churning? One person who can speak to the tournament’s history and future is Evan Anderson, a redshirt freshman center on Wisconsin’s men’s basketball team. Anderson grew up in Stanley, Wis., and attended Eau Claire North High School. There, he helped lead the school to backto-back state tournament appearances in 2008 and 2009. Having experienced the tournament firsthand, Anderson said it “would be a little disappointing” to have

FIAMMETTA, page 7


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