2012.04.13

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THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1969 Volume XLIII, Issue 122

Friday, April 13, 2012

www.badgerherald.com

MPD mulls Mifflin plans Officials look to future of block party, hope for relocation; 2012 event brings high price Tara Golshan Reporter The Madison Police Department and Mifflin neighborhood residents again pushed for what they said were much needed changes to the annual Mifflin Street Block Party at a city meeting Thursday night. The Public Safety Review Committee convened Thursday for city reports from MPD and the Madison Fire Department, which presented new developments for the block party, as well as city planning and budgeting. Capt. Carl Gloede presented the MPD perspective on the Mifflin Street Block Party, emphasizing the event’s history and consequent inevitability. According to Gloede, MPD’s biggest struggle in preparing for Mifflin is fighting the history. “There are ways to have a safe event,” Gloede said. “But it’s just getting past the legend and mystique of Mifflin Street.” Other than “hopes for rain” on May 5 and an altogether end to Mifflin, MPD holds more realistic hopes to eventually have a relocation of the Mifflin Street Block Party, Gloede said.

According to Gloede, the location of the party cannot adequately support the number of attendees. As the Mifflin Block Party takes place in a neighborhood setting, it is constitutionally not an event zone, Gloede said, because people cannot be prevented from getting to their home dwellings. Students have expressed interest in limiting the Mifflin Street Block Party to only University of Wisconsin students, but Gloede said doing so would be nearly impossible given the nature of the event’s environment. Gloede also debriefed a program in which Mifflin residents will be able to contact MPD captains in case a house party has gotten out of hand. “They can call to say we tried, we failed, help us,” Gloede said. “They don’t have total amnesty in terms of criminal acts, and the expectation is that they will not have another party in that house.” According to Gloede, efforts in the past three years to steer the block party into something other than a drinking event have failed, forcing the city to

MIFFLIN, page 4

Jen Small The Badger Herald

WISPIRG Chair Matt Kozlowski and incoming chair Tess Keegan ask SSFC to consider new funding, arguing WISPIRG is unique because it is the only organization at UW to provide students with its services.

SAFEcab funding reinstated SSFC will allow free service to continue after vast complaints from student body Tahleel Mohieldin Herald Contributor After originally deciding to eliminate a program that funds limited free cab rides to students late at night, a branch of University of Wisconsin’s student government voted to refund SAFECab in a meeting Thursday night. The Student Services Finance Committee’s reversal comes after a surge of UW students emailed SSFC representatives expressing their disapproval of the board’s original decision. SSFC Vice Chair

Chase Wilson said the committee has received more feedback from students on the issue than they have for anything else this year. The committee’s decision, however, will not impact UW Transportation Service’s decision to no longer administer the service. In a letter to Student Transportation Board, Director Patrick Kass said that even if SAFECab is restored, Trasnportation Services will no longer manage the program after June 30. According to a statement

All-night strut Members of the University of Wisconsin community dance the night away at the 2012 Latino Ball, a free all-night dance marathon hosted at the Memorial Union Thursday evening. The event showcased live music and tracks by DJ Illy Holiday and Nabori. Megan McCormick The Badger Herald

released by Rep. Laura Checovich, SSFC originally cut the program over serious concerns about administrative problems such as students being denied rides and operators with inefficient knowledge about SAFE policy. Checovich said Transportation Services has made it very clear that they do not care whether or not the program exists. SSFC members said they recognize the need for the program and will be discussing several options to provide the service, which could mean contracting with

an outside administrator for the service. “If Transportation won’t do it we have to be prepared to take over,” SSFC Rep. Cale Plammann said. “I don’t want to be in a position where we are dealing with emotions instead of logic.” Checovich said she still encourages students to voice their concerns and send in their letters to SSFC, which the committee will then forward to Transportation Services and Vice Chancellor Darrell Bazzell. Also addressed Thursday

SAFECAB, page 4

Redistricting maps gain court approval Sean Kirkby State Politics Editor A panel of federal judges sided with an immigrants’ rights group and a group of Democratic voters in revising two Milwaukee Assembly districts, rejecting a plan proposed by Republicans. Immigrants’ rights group Voces de la Frontera and a group of Democratic voters brought the case against the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board, which was represented by the Department of Justice, alleging the maps drawn by the Republican-controlled Legislature violated the Voting Rights Act. “We’re disappointed one of our maps wasn’t chosen but not surprised,” Dana Brueck, DOJ spokesperson, said in an email to The Badger Herald. “We expect to reach a final decision on whether to appeal by the end of this week or early next week, but we’re leaning toward an appeal.” Doug Poland, an attorney

who represented the Democratic voters in the case, said an appeal would go straight to the U.S. Supreme Court, which would have to agree to take it up. He said the success of an appeal would be a long shot based on the evidence and the soundness of the ruling. Both Democrats and Republicans claimed the case favored them. Senate Republican Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, said in a statement that the court upheld the constitutionality of nearly all the Assembly districts in Wisconsin. “Once again, the court has reaffirmed that the Legislature correctly apportioned 130 out of 132 Legislative districts as well as all 8 Congressional districts… All districts in Wisconsin are constitutional,” Fitzgerald said in a statement. Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, said he was pleased with the ruling. He said he did not see much

REDISTRICTING, page 4

Regents: In-state students are priority INSIDE Governing body considers future budget provisions with emphasis on Wis. residents Kylie Peterson Herald Contributor The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents deliberated on the challenges of balancing the quality of education and ensuring affordability and broad access to institutions for Wisconsin residents in a meeting Thursday night. The board discussed its budget priorities for the UW System in the 2013-15 Biennium Thursday at its first day of a two-part April meeting. In his presentation to the board, Michael

Morgan, senior vice president for administration and fiscal affairs, emphasized the Growth Agenda for Wisconsin. The initiative focuses on increasing the number of wellpaying jobs, the need for more college graduates and strengthening communities throughout the state. “Over the last 30 years, we have not seen the kind of investment that we would have liked from the State of Wisconsin and the UW System, and yet we’ve achieved quite a bit despite that,” Morgan said.

According to data Morgan presented, the number of adults with four-year degrees in Wisconsin ranks around 26 percent, while the national average is at 28 percent. Wisconsin falls even further behind Minnesota, which has 32 percent of adults with four-year degrees, Morgan said. Along with graduation rates, the board also discussed the percentage of resident versus nonresident students in the System. The increased tuition paid by nonresident students allows

for more acceptances of in-state students, but Regent Judith Crain said focusing on increasing graduation rates for resident students is key. “I value the nonresident students who are a part of our educational institutions, … but the priority for us has to [be] in educating Wisconsin students,” Crain said. UW institutions are now more than 14 percent behind peer institutions in faculty and staff pay, Morgan said. He expressed fear that the lack of pay

REGENTS, page 2 © 2012 BADGER HERALD

A contentious talk spurs campus reactions Not all who turned out to hear a talk on Gaza were there in support.

NEWS | 2

Social media’s future requires awareness

Bye, bye, old ‘American Pie’

The benefits of social media technology outweigh the disadvantages

As the final chapter of the beloved series, ‘American Reunion’ tries to make ‘adult’ content ‘grown up.’

OPINION | 5

ARTS | 6


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The Badger Herald | News | Friday, April 13, 2012

Events today 7 p.m. WUD Film Presents: The Descendents (2011) The Marquee Union South

7:30 p.m. Tangled Up in Blue CD Release Show Madison Museum of Contemporary Art

Events tomorrow 8 p.m. UW Madhatters’ 15th Anniversary Show

TODAY

TOMORROW

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MONDAY

TUESDAY

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pm showers

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partly cloudy

Union project in provided budget Redesign has room to fund unforeseen costs, Phase I at 65 percent completion

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In its final meeting of the year, a subcommittee of Union Council addressed its progress thus far regarding the Memorial Union Reinvestment project as well as its future prospects. The Design Committee, which advises Union Council with design recommendations, heard presentations on the budget and the progress of Phase I of the MUR project which will renovate the West Wing of the Union as well as the fifth floor. The project has a total budget of $52 million. As of now, the design has reached 65 percent completion and will reach 100 percent completion in May, Union President Katie Fischer said. During the meeting, representatives from The Boldt Company, which is in charge of the construction for Memorial Union’s overhaul, addressed the current cost model of the project. Senior Project Manager for Boldt Jeff Niessen said he is confident that within the next couple of weeks the company will be on target for pulling together the project details. “It is a very dynamic process keeping up with what all the designers are doing right now. There’s a lot of people working on pulling the details for this project together,” he said. “It is a moving target. We are continuing to work on it and continually update it on a daily basis.” Niessen said right now, the total cost for construction will amount to $40,348,197. He also addressed the risks of the project, which include the fact that subcontractors have not yet been hired and it is impossible to totally foresee the market in the future. He added that other unforeseen conditions when walls and ceilings are torn down present risk, but that the company is doing a lot of exploratory work to remove any surprises. Despite this, he said the company does have

to allow for some contingency dollars in the budget for unpredicted conditions. Ex-officio member of the Design Committee Wendy von Below said the current value of the project changes hourly and should not be confused with the concrete budget. She reminded the body that it started at 15 percent design with preconstruction services in March of last year and that it has now reached 65 percent completion. “The project has a budget of $52 million, and that $52 million is a number that was enumerated by the state of Wisconsin and cannot change,” she said. “So our budget is fixed … What is in flux — and it varies depending on the level of design and what we discover during the construction period — is the actual value of the project.” Von Below also presented on some of the design changes that have been made to the project, including elimination of some roof decks, the sail tower, changes to the concept of the building’s Park Street side and an outdoor brat stand. Boldt Project Manager Mel Taylor said the construction is scheduled to begin July 2, with trailers going up in the middle of June. She said the Terrace will remain as is until after Labor Day, with construction planned through the June 2014 date of scheduled completion. Fischer said in an interview with The Badger Herald that Union Council will decide if it wants the Design Committee to continue but that she thinks as the project progresses that Union Council will become the main overseer since a design committee is not really necessary when the design is at 100 percent completion. “It’s been an amazing year, and seeing how this project has come into being has been just an amazing thing. Seeing all the different input from students, from community members, from faculty from staff, it’s been great,” she said.

Kelsey Fenton The Badger Herald

Mads Gilbert, co-author of “Eyes in Gaza,” encouarges students to welcome both sides of the story behind the Israeli occupation in Palestine.

Academic brings heated debate on Gaza to campus Speaker provides firsthand insight on Israel-Palestine, met with resistance Allison Johnson Herald Contributor As part of a 10-day speaking tour throughout the country, a Norwegian academic shared his experiences working in the Gaza Strip and his views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during a talk on campus Thursday night. Mads Gilbert is a professor and head of the Clinic of Emergency Medicine at the University Hospital of North Norway and the co-author of the memoir “Eyes in Gaza.” He was sent to Gaza by the Norwegian Aid Committee in 2009 as part of an emergency surgical team to aid Palestinians during Operation Cast Lead, an operation carried out by Israel against the nation of Palestine. The UW chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine sponsored the event that welcomed audience members from both viewpoints on the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Gilbert said the intent of his talk was to help the audience better understand the events that have

occurred in the Gaza Strip in recent years. “I am giving this speech today because I know something I need to share with you in order to shed light on Gaza,” he said. Gilbert explained his time in the Gaza Strip during the bombings of Gaza City in 2009, and his presentation was comprised of photographs he had taken of Palestinian victims he had encountered while working at the hospital. Many of the photos he showed were of children with severe injuries, with the intent of evoking an emotional response from the audience on what he described as Israeli crimes. “[Gilbert’s] presentation was a very effective use of images to touch a part of people that they do not necessarily feel when viewing statistics,” University of Wisconsin senior Heather Brinkley said. In addition to describing his own personal experiences, Gilbert also detailed the experiences of specific Palestinians he had treated during his time in Gaza. He said he wanted to show the audience “the simple realities on the ground.” As a doctor, Gilbert also spoke on the health implications of the Israeli occupation. He said deep poverty in Gaza is increasing and living conditions have been suffering. With this, he

Officials clash on East Wash. proposal Mayor, alder envision different plans for redevelopment near downtown Josh Brandau Herald Contributor A city committee recently endorsed a plan to renovate the 800 block of East Washington Avenue despite disagreements within the city’s governing officials over the most costeffective use of the area. Aaron Olver, Madison’s director of economic development, said the proposed plan by developer Urban Land Interests calls for extensive commercial development in the area. The ULI development proposal has four components that include two office buildings of approximately 140,000 square feet, an apartment building that includes 76 units and a parking structure that would be surrounded by townhouses, according to Olver. “What [the administration] is trying to do is work to bring the employers of the future back to the Capitol East

District and recreate it as an employment center for tomorrow,” Olver said. The two office buildings will be diverse in their use, according to Tom Neujahr, one of the principals of ULI. The first floor will primarily be used for retail, while the second through fourth floors will be employed for office space. The ULI development, Olver said, would provide a positive effect on the Capitol East District, which historically played a large role in Madison’s employment center. In the last four or five decades, there has been a lack of reinvestment in the area, which has resulted in factories moving elsewhere, according to Olver. Olver said in general the community has responded positively to the ULI proposal and others that call for reconstructing the Capitol East District.The proposal has also gained approval from Madison

Mayor Paul Soglin. Still, Ald. Bridget Maniaci, District 2, repeatedly has spoken out against the proposal, which is slated for construction in her district. She said the proposal is mainly concerned with office development, which the neighborhood plan and the city planning process for the corridor deemed was to be located elsewhere. She also said the plan has not received universal support from the neighborhood. Maniaci’s alternative proposal calls for the city to engage in another round of processes to find a new developer. RifkinIrgens, two companies who are working together in hopes of developing land on the south side of the block, have told the city it would be no longer interested in doing so if ULI’s proposal is accepted for the north block because of a direct competition in the area, Maniaci said. “Even if the City

Council were to accept the mayor’s recommendation to go with Urban Land Interests, there’s implications for what we would then do with the south block,” she said. Maniaci also said the timeline of construction is a major concern. Although the high volume of construction has been cited as a concern, Neujahr said it is consistent with any other developmental project. “There is not going to be any development, no matter who does it, that is going to be accomplished in a single lightning bolt,” Neujahr said. The north side of the 800 block of East Washington Avenue is just one of three parcels of land that the city holds and is looking to develop, Olver said. Other development ambitions include a residential project that may start as soon as this summer, he said.

said he feels that “all medical problems are caused by foreign policy decisions.” During the talk, several audience members expressed their disagreements with Gilbert’s information presented regarding the controversial topic. The Dane Country Republican Party released a statement Thursday expressing its frustration at Gilbert’s being accepted as a speaker on campus and accused him of being a terrorist advocate in addition to being “caught participating in a staged medical procedure for a Hamas propaganda video.” In an interview with The Badger Herald, Dane County GOP member Jeff Waksman said he found allowing Gilbert to speak on campus to be “shameful.” The statement alleges Gilbert has gone on the record saying the 9/11 attacks were morally justified in a context in which the U.S. bombs and kills citizens in Iraq. “It’s shameful that the university shouts down mainstream Republicans that come to speak while actually supporting terrorism advocates as long as those terrorism advocates are leftists,” he said. After accusations of being a political doctor, Gilbert said he does not support the terrorist organization Hamas, but that “we could not stay silent.”

REGENTS, from 1 incentives will hurt the state’s ability to attract and retain new educators and graduates. Morgan also noted the positive correlation between high numbers of research faculty and an increased number of jobs in Wisconsin but questioned whether this link was being communicated effectively to outside audiences. “Are we doing a good job of explaining the connection between research and jobs in a compelling and clear manner, particularly to our policy makers?” Morgan asked. Despite Wisconsin’s decrease in faculty and staff pay and below average four-year graduate percentages, the Madison campus flagship was placed at number 10 in the nation in a ranking of top universities by U.S. News and World Report, to Morgan. UW also ranked fourth in the number of graduates who are now CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. Additionally, more than one-third of the top 20 public institutions in the Midwest are in the UW System, Morgan said. He pointed out that none of these achievements would be possible without adequate resources and funding. Morgan said he feels confident the UW System can meet the performance measures put forth by the state of Wisconsin as long as the state gives the necessary investments to ensure quality, access and affordability. Although the biennial budget does not have to be submitted until August, System President Kevin Reilly said he believes it is important the Board of Regents have time to formulate questions and brainstorm constructive plans for the future budget. “Before the budget is fully formed, we want to be sure that it is fully informed by your discussions,” Reilly said.


The Badger Herald | News | Friday, April 13, 2012

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The Badger Herald | News | Friday, April 13, 2012

City overhauls majority of fire station proposal Adrianna Viswanatha City Hall Editor A proposal for a mixeduse residential and retail site in downtown Madison will likely not include extensive facilities for the Madison Fire Department, as had been considered in the past. In original discussions for the project, there had been hopes for MFD to fit office, residential and station space into the proposal. After a Thursday meeting, Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said it appears less definite. City officials along with development company Hovde

Properties held a meeting Thursday evening to gain community feedback on their proposal for a development at 309 W. Johnson St., still in its very early stages. Mike Slavish of Hovde Properties said Mayor Paul Soglin had expressed previously to Hovde his desire to have at the very least MFD’s administration offices in the developments for the proposed space. “I believe we’ve come full circle now,” Slavish said. “We’re leaving Station No. 1 right where it’s at but looking at whether we can incorporate the administration building into

that site.” Previously, the mayor had discussed with Hovde and MFD potentially moving not only administrative offices into the Hovde development, but also fire station space and residential units for firefighters and their families. Funding had been considered an issue before in discussions with Hovde, MFD and the mayor. Slavish said at the meeting including MFD in the proposal would cost about $35-40 million, which the city would have to fund part of. Hovde’s proposal currently includes between 175 and 225 workforce apartments,

10,000 to 15,000 square feet of retail space, 200 to 250 parking spaces and MFD administrative offices in 22,000 to 25,000 square feet of the building. Slavish said Hovde would like to see the plan approved by the Madison City Council by the end of 2012 for construction to start in early 2013 and be ready for occupancy in summer of 2014. Capitol Neighborhoods, Inc. member Scott Kolar expressed his concern over MFD’s lessened involvement in the development. “In talking with the city, [the proposal] did not include

Fire Station No. 1,” Kolar said. “What happened to replacing Fire Station No. 1 within the next decade?” Davis had previously brought up concerns over Station No. 1’s current state and the fact that it would need to be renovated within the next 10 years. Among things to be fixed are the roof, heating and air conditioning and changing the setup of women firefighters’ dormitories to provide more privacy. Kolar also mentioned vehicle and pedestrian traffic as issues that would arise at the parking and service entrance. Slavish said Dayton

Street would not be closed off during construction. Davis said this would not pose a problem for MFD trying to drive through the area, as contractors constantly update them about closed roads during development near stations. Verveer said in an interview with The Badger Herald he did not anticipate the proposal without the fire station going forward. “All of this is subject to change, but this is certainly breaking news that Hovde Properties and the city look like as of tonight, Fire Station No. 1 will not be included,” Verveer said.

Expert: Ryan’s budget worsens poverty Mike Kujak State Legislative Editor The president of a national policy research center criticized a Wisconsin congressman’s federal budget proposal because of the cuts it will make to social welfare programs, despite the plan’s support from many Republicans. Bob Greenstein, founder and president of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, delivered the lecture in Madison Thursday as part of the the Institute for Research on Poverty Director’s Choice Seminar Series and said the 10-year budget proposal by U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Janesville, fails to address poverty because of a lack of options from congressional Republican pressure. “Ryan doesn’t have a bee in his bonnet ‘cause he doesn’t like poor people,” Greenstein said. “His cuts leave him in a situation, where if he is

leaving Social Security and Medicare alone, that leaves very few things left on the table to cut from that are acceptable to his party.” Greenstein said $1 trillion of the $5.3 trillion in budget cuts in Ryan’s plan come from low-income citizens. Examples of these cuts, according to Greenstein, can be found in Ryan’s suggestion to repeal Medicaid expansions in the Affordable Care Act and cut $100 billion in Pell Grants to help low income students go to college. “To his credit, Ryan did not repeal the entire Affordable Care Act,” Greenstein said. “He repealed the coverage expansion, but he didn’t repeal the Medicare savings measures under the act. He leaves them on the books.” Greenstein added Romney’s budget plan goes even further in tax cuts than Ryan’s and promises to balance the budget by 2021, as opposed to Ryan’s, which promises a balanced budget by 2030.

Despite facing criticism from President Barack Obama and many Democrats nationwide, Ryan’s plan has garnered recent support from major Republican leaders, including U.S. Senate candidates such as former Gov. Tommy Thompson and former Rep. Mark Neumann. Thompson endorsed Ryan’s budget plan in a statement released Monday. Thompson promised to fight for the provision in the Ryan budget that simplifies and reduces corporate income taxes to two brackets: 25 percent and 10 percent. Thompson’s plan would also build on Ryan’s plan to move to an across-the-board flat tax after two years. Chip Englander, a spokesperson for Neumann, said Ryan deserves a lot of credit for being a leader on the front stage. “Look at the people criticizing Paul Ryan’s plan,” Englander said. “Where’s Tammy Baldwin’s plan? It’s

raising taxes even more than Obama. She doesn’t have a plan to balance the budget because it’s not a priority to her. “ Although Neumann’s campaign has not endorsed Ryan’s plan like Thompson has, Englander said both Neumann and Ryan’s plans are trying to address the fiscal crisis. Greenstein said alternatives to Ryan’s plan, including one from Sen. Kent Conrad, D-North Dakota, would be released within the next week or so. Greenstein ended by explaining the importance of these policy decisions and how this is “not just your average budget debate.” “We’ve moving into a debate we only see once every quarter or half a century,” Greenstein said “I feel like when I’m looking at all of these decisions on poverty and the economy, it’s a contest for the soul of the nation and what kind of country we ultimately want to be.”

Walker ads take shot at recall opponents Sean Kirkby State Politics Editor With a gubernatorial recall election still two months away, the campaign for Gov. Scott Walker released two attack advertisements Thursday focusing on the job records of Democratic gubernatorial candidates Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk. The ad against Barrett alleges Milwaukee has not only had one of the worst job creation records of any large city, but also one of the worst graduation rates of any

city in the country. The ad also said Barrett has raised taxes on working families for seven of the last 12 years. “We can’t afford to have Tom Barrett take us back,” the television ad said. The ad focusing on Falk said she raised property taxes every single year during her tenure, with an overall increase of 80 percent. The ad said the spending rate for Dane County increased by 70 percent and the unemployment rate tripled. The ad also criticized Falk for wanting to repeal the “reforms” that the ad said helped balance the budget.

“Going back to Kathleen Falk’s way of doing things? That’s no way to move Wisconsin forward,” the ad said. However, Falk spokesperson Scot Ross said under Walker, Wisconsin lost more jobs than any other state, and Falk balanced 14 county budgets under her tenure as Dane County executive with self-imposed spending caps. He added that when Falk served as Dane County executive, the county gained nearly 30,000 jobs, the most job growth out of any county in the state. “Kathleen’s unmatched record of bringing people together, finding solutions and getting the job done are why Scott Walker has resorted to attacking and distorting her record, Ross said. “The fact is Gov. Walker failed Wisconsin.” He added Falk is the candidate with the proven experience to restore transparency, accountability and honesty to the governor’s office. Barrett spokesperson Phil Walzak said in a statement Walker’s ad was hypocritical. “For Scott Walker to attack anyone on job loss is not just shamelessly hypocritical; it’s comically absurd,” Walzak said in the statement. “Under Walker’s failed leadership, Wisconsin lost more jobs last year than any other state in the nation.” He said in the statement

Walker helped “kill” jobs at a manufacturing plant in Milwaukee last March. He added that instead of focusing on creating jobs, Walker has decided to wage an “ideological civil war” on Wisconsin. Donald Downs, a University of Wisconsin political science professor and adviser to The Badger Herald, said research suggests negative ads work better than running more positive ads focused on a campaign’s platform. He said when former Massachusetts governor and current contender for the Republican presidential nomination Mitt Romney began running attack ads, his opponent’s standing fell in the polls. “If it didn’t work, campaigns wouldn’t spend good money on it,” Downs said. “Some research shows it does, for better or for worse.” Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, Secretary of State Doug La Follette and Mequon citizen Gladys Huber are also running in the Democratic gubernatorial primary. Madison citizen Arthur Kohl-Riggs is running against Walker in a Republican recall primary. Brookfield physician and kidney specialist Hariprasad Trivedi is running as an independent. The primary will be May 8 with the election June 5.

Zhao Lim The Badger Herald file photo

Students who live on Mifflin Street can call MPD during this year’s annual block party if an event at their residence is getting out of their control. Students will not be given full amnesty.

MIFFLIN, from 1 have this year’s event proceed with no organized entertainment and no preemptive street closures. Still, the event is bringing in an increased number of law enforcement officers and consequential overtime, making the Mifflin Street Block Party more expensive this year from the city’s perspective, Gloede said. UW Police will also not be assisting MPD, citing campus responsibilities, but officers from the Dane County Sheriff’s Office will be present. Committee member Merrilee Pickett expressed frustration with the party as whole because of the amount of energy and work necessary for the preparation.

SAFECAB, from 1 night was a discussion of the Wisconsin Student Public Interest Research Group contract eligibility. Incoming Chair Tess Keegan, who has worked as a reporter for The Badger Herald, represented the group. “WISPIRG is a means for students to fulfill the Wisconsin experience,” Keegan said. “It aims to solve social problems by educating, empowering and mobilizing students.” WISPIRG chair Matt Kozlowski, spoke to committee members on the importance of maintaining the exclusive services that the organization provides. “The service is not currently being provided by the university or some other department,” Kozolowski said. While some other outlets may provide some of the services that WISPIRG administers, they do not amount to the

“As a taxpayer, as a member of the Public Safety Review Committee, the amount of law enforcement and energy going into this event seems a little out of balance to me,” Pickett said. “I am amazed.” Gloede agreed with Pickett, noting that the time, energy and money spent on this “drinking event” could be spent in other areas of need. However, the student input and effort has been helpful and will hopefully turn the event in a new direction, Gloede said. MPD Capt. Vic Wahl also reported on new plans to increase overtime budgeting for Madison. According to Wahl, the goal is to decrease crime, decrease perceptions of crime and address quality of life issues.

total number of services supplied by WISPIRG nor are they executed with as much focus and expertise, he added. Kozolowski also said that not only does WISPIRG provide incomparable student services they also are fiscally responsible, referring to the organizations cost sharing model. By pooling resources he said they get “100 percent of the benefits for a fraction of the price.” SSFC Rep. Dan Posca made a motion to table a decision on WISPIRG’s contract eligibility to allot committee members more time to become more informed and familiar with the issue. Kozolowski said without the contract the group would not be able to provide the services it currently does now. SSFC will make a decision on WISPIRG’s contract eligibility on Monday night during its next meeting.

REDISTRICTING, from 1 chance of an appeal since candidates who want to run in the districts can begin circulating nomination petitions on Saturday and want to get started. He added there is no real basis for appeals. Rep. JoCasta Zamarripa, D-Milwaukee, who represents one of the districts, said she applauded the decision. She said her district has the largest Latino population in the state and that the decision is a victory for her community. “I would hope the issue is resolved now so we can move on to clear and transparent elections and clear and transparent government in Wisconsin,” Zamarripa said.


Editorial Page Editor Taylor Nye oped@badgerherald.com

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The Badger Herald | Opinion | Friday, April 13, 2012

Opinion

Development of social media requires caution Hannah Sleznikow Columnist We live in an era of new technology, an era defined by social media and a previously unprecedented volume of information sharing and exposure. With such changing tides of technology comes great possibility. However, equally vast are the dangers that are inextricably tied to the inherent vulnerability that characterizes this new digital territory. Regardless of how one perceives the rise of social media, reality dictates that technology is an ever-evolving, fluid entity that is not easily hindered. By its very nature, it will not become static, nor can tangible limits be placed upon its increasing potential. With this in mind, we as consumers are left only to educate ourselves on how to navigate the convoluted labyrinth of these new technologies as they emerge. Armed with a comprehensive awareness of how to yield the benefits of social media via active participation while also avoiding its inherent risks, we can collectively learn to embrace the direction in which social media moves us. Among the many potential issues with social media, perhaps the most glaring is privacy. In the face of the social media takeover, the desire to portray or create an identity via online information sharing has become more the norm than the exception, particularly among young people. However, the universal accessibility of the Internet and social media also applies to information posted by consumers, thus leading to a free flow of information at the expense of privacy and anonymity. Indeed, the web is essentially an open book at the disposal of anyone with access to it. Bearing this in mind, social media consumers

are solely responsible for what they contribute to online discourse, whether in the form of pictures, comments or other personal information posted via social networking websites. Although it is easy to overlook the potential consequences of social media use for future endeavors, young people will likely encounter the greatest issues due to their disproportionately high consumption and creation of new media. In light of this reality, it is critical to acknowledge that the days in which resumes and cover letters were the sole sources of information for employers are over. According to a 2009 CareerBuilder survey, 45 percent of employers reported that they utilize social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter to screen potential employees. Three years later, this percentage is potentially higher due to the escalating use of social media with no foreseeable decline.a Since its emergence, social media has raised privacy concerns. Indeed, such concerns are certainly not new. What is new, however, is the direction in which social networking sites are headed. Facebook, arguably the inaugural powerhouse in the age of social networking, is in the process of becoming a publicly traded company according to Mashable. For one that may not understand the gravity of this transition, privacy issues and whether or not a company is publicly-traded or not are seemingly unrelated concerns. However, according to Schaefer Marketing Solutions, a marketing and social media consulting firm, this transition will likely lead to a total transformation in the overall tone of the company due to an inevitable shift in focus from developing longterm vision to meeting short-term profit goals for stockholders. This certainly raises the question: How will this affect us as consumers? The answer is quite simple: The collection of personal information

from consumers makes it possible to sell advertisements, which is the single greatest source of profit for social networking websites, according to Businessesgrow.com. In other words, the invasion of consumer privacy is the single most effective approach to increasing company revenue. Now, before we as consumers consider opting out of social networking sites altogether, it is critical that we weigh the counterargument: The benefits of consuming and participating in social media outweigh the risks. In fact, this argument is both strong and well founded. Never before have individuals possessed such limitless power to have an impact on others. Whether in regard to cause advocacy, political campaigns or interpersonal communication, one’s ability to reach out to others via social media has become a revolutionary new category of protected free speech in the broad context of public discourse. This is a previously inconceivable consequence of prospering new technology. Indeed, social media, apart from its inherent risks, is in itself truly visionary. So how can we as consumers protect ourselves while also gaining from the potential of social media? It begins with achieving understanding, as well as perspective. As consumers, we must educate ourselves about the features and settings each social media platform offers. We must also learn about available privacy controls and how to use them effectively. Through this, we can learn to be active participants in social media while armed with a comprehensive awareness of how our participation can be both helpful and hurtful to others and ourselves. By doing this, we can embrace the benefits, minimize the costs and ultimately thrive as social media consumers and creators. Hannah Sleznikow (hsleznikow@wisc.edu) is a senior majoring in political science.

Megan McCormick The Badger Herald

Mitt Romney’s chances at winning Wisconsin’s electoral votes would be hurt if he chooses Walker or Ryan as vice presidential candidate.

Ryan, Walker would harm Romney’s presidential bid Ryan Plesh Columnist Wisconsin is an essential swing state. Likely to go blue, it could still swing the other way. With how things are going for the Republicans, they need their best effort in every swing state. Pres. Barack Obama could likely do without Wisconsin’s 10 electoral votes, but Mitt Romney may not be able to. Romney has been cozying up with Wisconsin’s two most recognizable Republicans — Gov. Scott Walker and Rep. Paul Ryan. This may have seemed like a wise move to Romney at first, given these two men are bona fide, red-blooded conservatives and Romney is the former governor of one of the bluest states there is — Massachusetts. However, by aligning himself with Walker and Ryan, Romney may be bolstering his conservative credentials at the expense of alienating large groups of voters. It is undeniable that supporting Walker will gain Romney some conservative support in Wisconsin, but Walker is by no means an uncontroversial figure. Even if he does survive the recall effort and remain governor, he has done some very unpopular things. Most recently, Walker repealed the Equal Pay Enforcement Act of 2009, a law which had made it easier for women to press charges of employment discrimination against their employers. Nationally, on average, women still only earn about three quarters of what men earn, as reported by The San Francisco Chronicle. Repealing the Equal Pay Enforcement Act will undoubtedly hurt Walker’s chances with women and

as a result of supporting him, it will hurt Romney’s too. It seems like the Republican Party has done everything it could think of to alienate women voters in this election cycle. The Republicans are clearly on the wrong side when it comes to abortion, contraception and equal pay. What will be next? Maybe their strategy will be to tell women not to worry their pretty little heads over whom to vote for. Perhaps even more surprising than his support for Walker is how much he seems to want to align himself with Paul Ryan. NPR reports that Romney has publicly supported the Ryan Plan, which is an austerity measure disguised as a budget proposal with cuts to government programs like we have never seen before. Furthermore, many are speculating that Ryan may even be on Romney’s shortlist for vice president. Conventional wisdom says that Romney will need to choose someone who can bring some diversity and excitement to his ticket. He is a rich, white man from the Northeast, so the right woman could be a good choice. After Nikki Haley took herself off Romney’s shortlist, however, there do not appear to be many women lining up for the job, according to The Huffington Post. Paul Ryan may be near the top of the list, and he would be an awful choice for Romney for several reasons. Ryan is from a swing state, but politically there is no other good reason to choose him as vice presidential nominee. He and Romney are too similar. They are both rich, white men who seem exceedingly boring and disconnected to the average American. Even though Ryan did not grow up extremely wealthy or graduate from Harvard, he lost a lot of credibility with middle class voters with his budget proposal that slashes social programs.

If the Republicans cannot find one single woman willing and able to be their vice presidential nominee, they would probably do well to choose Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) for the position. He has legitimate conservative credentials but has not proposed anything as controversial as the Ryan Plan, and he could help the Republicans significantly with the Hispanic vote. Other names that have been floated for the job include New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell. Neither man would bring any real diversity to the Republican ticket. Christie, ultimately, is another rich, white man from the Northeast. McDonnell may not be a terrible choice politically, but he is quite different from Romney. He is a hardcore social conservative, where Romney, socially, has more flip-flops than an Old Navy sale. Politicians are inevitably many different things to many different people. It comes with the job description, especially in a country as diverse as this. Romney especially is an exceptionally gifted chameleon. He has a way of changing whichever way the wind wants him to go and he will certainly choose his vice presidential nominee based on what is most politically expedient for him. Paul Ryan would not be a wise choice, but there do not seem to be many great options left for Romney. If Romney wants to have any chance of winning Wisconsin, a swing state that went blue in 2008, he will have to come back to his more centrist roots. Aligning himself with uncompromising conservatives like Walker and Ryan will hurt him at the polls, especially with women and middle class voters. Ryan Plesh (rplesh@wisc. edu) is a senior majoring in philosophy and physics.

THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE BITCHY A roundup of some of the more thought-provoking (or thoughtless) comments left on badgerherald.com In response to the 3/28 editorial:

Disappointing move by MCSC by The Badger Herald Editorial Board

Lessons from the MCSC: When writing a letter to the chancellor, whatever you do, don’t proofread it. In response to the 4/11 editorial:

The gloves are off

by The Badger Herald Editorial Board

One of the many reasons that time and money are better spent on Beer than Student Government is tragically demonstrated in this incident.

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.


ArtsEtc. Editor Lin Weeks arts@badgerherald.com

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The Badger Herald | Arts | Friday, April 13, 2012

Bassnectar Friday 7 p.m.

$ $30 advance, $35 at door Alliant Energy A Center

Frankenstein Brothers

Romero

Friday 7:30 p.m. $ $22 advance, $25 at door Majestic Theatre

Saturday 7 p.m. $ $5 pl The Project Lodge

ArtsEtc. WEEKEND CONCERT PREVIEW

The Naked & Famous

Bombino

Cults

Saturday 8 p.m. $ $16 advance, $18 at door Majestic Theatre

$ $12 advance, $15

Tuesday 7:30 p.m.

Sunday 8 p.m.

$ $14 advance, $16

at door

at door

High Noon Saloon H

Majestic Theatre

Less filling in last slice of ‘Pie’ All-grown-up finale of ‘American Pie’ series rests largely on adolescent laurels and laughs Jessica Korneff ArtsEtc. Writer

Photo courtesy of Amorphous Music

Bassnectar peers into the crowd at the Alliant Energy Center on his stop in Madison last year. He’ll return to the stage tonight on his new tour.

Bassnectar ready to ‘Cozza Frenzy’ Allegra Dimperio ArtsEtc. Content Editor Bassnectar (a.k.a. Lorin Ashton) has been called the King of Bass, the Lazer Bass God and the Lord of Dubstep. While he is undeniably worthy of these titles for his music, Lorin as a human being may be more worthy of the title of Benevolent Shaman of Bassheads. “My ideal experience for a show attendee is that they feel at home and are interacting with the people around them and meeting new friends and just letting the room become one kind of organism of metahuman,” Lorin said from an airport terminal when he caught up with The Badger Herald on Thursday. If the vocal Basshead community is any indication, Lorin’s ideal is frequently met. The meta-human community has been a staple of Bassnectar’s performances and career, one in which the fans have come first. “The intention that I personally set is not to be a rock star and have this wild, fantastic ego career, but more to bring people together and supercharge them with an emotionally stimulating experience,” Lorin said. In the last year, he has attempted to give more than 250,000 fans that experience. In the year since Bassnectar last played in Madison, he has released two albums, played roughly

60 shows and rocked nearly 20 festivals. “It’s basically just been nonstop,” Lorin said, laughing. “It’s looking like this year is going to be the same, so I’m just clinging on for dear life.” Although the last year has been “bonkers” according to Lorin, it doesn’t appear that the bass musician is anywhere near stopping. When asked what would be different about this tour, he replied, “Hopefully nothing, because I loved the last tour, and I just want to do it again and again and again.” Lorin explained that his tours are not about topping the last ones, but more about keeping a good thing going. “My goal isn’t to find something that’s excellent and then change it,” he said. “My goal if I find something that’s excellent is to fucking do it again and again.” “I don’t top myself, I don’t change, I don’t outdo myself,” he explained. “I’m just really naturally me, and it just flows. I think it’s a backwards way of looking at life to find something that you love and then hope it’s going to be different next time.” Though the energy and passion are sure to be the same as his last Madison show, the set will be different, featuring tracks from the brand new album Vava Voom, along with much-loved fan favorites. “Figuring out set lists is really difficult for me because it’s kind of like a

parent having to choose between children,” Lorin said. “It’s really difficult because people think, ‘Oh, you shouldn’t do the same thing every night,’ but if I don’t do the same thing every night and I play ‘Lights’ or ‘Basshead’ in Indianapolis and not Kansas City, the 3,000 people in Kansas City are all going to be bummed,” he said with a laugh. That doesn’t mean that Indianapolis will hear the same set as Kansas City, however. “On this new set, I’m arranging it in acts like a play, and it goes in sections of 10-15 minute routines that are interchangeable,” he said. “Each routine I’ll mix on the fly, so it’s going to be improvisational. I can piece them together in a unique way, so each night could be a different set up.” While Madison showgoers will hear tracks that are familiar, some surprises are in store as well. “I basically just let myself free flow and play what I feel and play what I love. I also have just an inhumanely dense record collection from 15 years of collecting all genres, every fucking style, so I could play a 380-hour set easily. Well, if I didn’t pass out first,” Lorin said with a chuckle. “It’s hard to fit it all into 2 hours.” Although the midnight curfew at the Alliant Energy Center may turn some attendees off, Lorin himself is not worried

about the early night. “Last time in Madison was off the chain, and I’m pretty sure it was over by midnight as well,” he said. Curfew or no curfew, “It’s going to go off hard, and I think that college towns have really enthusiastic audiences.” “I’m really excited because when we played last year in Madison it was sold out and it was bonkers, and we sold out again this year and then they opened up another 500 tickets,” Lorin said. “Last year already felt insane, and I feel like this show has the potential to be 500 people crazier.” Those who attend tonight’s show will not only get the bass experience, but contribute to the bass king’s charitable donations as well: $1 from each ticket goes to charities voted on by Bassheads, a donation Lorin pledges he will continue for as long as he tours. “My New Year’s resolution this year, and for the past several years, has been to constantly focus on the little things in my life that I’m grateful for,” Lorin explained. “I’m just in awe of how lucky I feel and just really supercharged to give back.” For Lorin, giving back to the world “is the least I can do.” Bassnectar will perform at the Alliant Energy Center tonight. Doors open at 7 p.m. and tickets are $35 from ticketmaster.

The opening scene of “American Reunion” is a typical one for the “American Pie” series. It’s a bedroom setting, clothes scattered on the floor and suggestive music rolling in the background. But once the camera stops panning around the room, it settles on a quite different scene: Main character Jim (Jason Biggs, “American Wedding”) is typing away on a laptop, seated next to his wife Michelle (Alyson Hannigan, “American Wedding”), who is busy rocking their baby son to sleep. Of course, with the “American Pie” series, an outrageous sex scene is always around the corner. However, this opener marks a new phase for “American Pie,” where the characters are older, not-somuch wiser, and longing to relive their high school days. The premise of “American Reunion” is that a close-knit group of friends from high school reconnects after years apart; unfortunately, none of them are living out the lives they once envisioned for themselves. Some characters find themselves unhappily successful, while others are just trying to keep a job. Jim, for his part, comes to the disheartening realization that even as a married adult, his sex life is once again at a standstill. Once reunited, the group vows to make its high school reunion live up to adolescent glory days. Right away, Kevin (Thomas Ian Nicholas, “American Wedding”) and Oz (Chris Klein, “American Pie 2”) find themselves tempted by girls from their past while Jim is hounded by his attractive and barely legal neighbor, a girl whom he used to babysit. As the weekend progresses, the boys find themselves increasingly entangled in complications involving former girlfriends and identity crises as Jim struggles to cheer up his grieving father and to appease the lonely Michelle. For the most part, it seems as though the crew has replaced the shot glasses on kitchen counters with baby bottles and briefcases. Unlike the carefree dilemmas they faced as teens, the problems that arise in “American Reunion” are actual issues with which adults in their 30s grapple. Most college

students can’t relate to this life phase just yet, but that doesn’t mean they can’t share in Stifler’s (Seann William Scott, “American Wedding”) anguish when the “rager” at his house becomes a sophisticated soiree, complete with married couples and appetizers. However, “American Reunion” does not disappoint audiences when it comes to outrageous parties, even if the cast is heading toward middle-age; Stifler’s event ends in a brawl between a group of pretentious high school kids and an alarmed Jim, who happens to be clad in a black leather dominatrix outfit provided by his wife. With the exception of a few jaw-dropping scenes, the movie is largely predictable. There are some questions as to who will get back together with their exes, but nobody actually believes that Jim’s sweet father will end up unhappily alone or that Jim will cheat on his beloved Michelle. Although “American Reunion” has a few of its own funny moments, the greatest appeal is laughing back on the jokes that first made “American Pie” legendary. The characters in “American Reunion” have been wellpreserved — acting realistically older, yet still as much of a good time as when they were all eager-eyed high school virgins, allowing audiences to feel both the group’s pains and triumphs on almost a personal level. Seeing old characters reappear (the Shermanator!) a little older but still lovably the same is a large part of the comedy in “American Reunion.” Overall, the movie itself is not too innovative. It’s a fair conclusion to a beloved series, but only truly enjoyable for loyal fans of the other “American Pie” movies who essentially grew up with the cast and can relate to the problems the workingage characters are facing. Sentimentality is what makes “American Reunion” special, and most viewers will find that there are a fair number of moments that leave the audience laughing, if not simply for old times’ sake.

American Reunion JON HURWITZ, HAYDEN SCHLOSSBERG

ARTSETC. PRESENTS HERALD ARCADE

Forget the best: A look at more obscure video games Andrew Lahr Herald Arcade Columnist Sometimes it seems that the video game community is obsessed only with the “best” of things. Browse any popular gaming website or magazine and you’ll find countless lists full of what people call the best games, best consoles, best characters, etc. But what about all of the games that don’t generate the excitement of many of their more popular counterparts? Do they not deserve at least some media attention as well? Thankfully, I, a kindhearted soul, am willing to give a few of the lesserappreciated games a second shot at popularity, and have compiled a list of some of the most undervalued videogames of all time.

Keep in mind these titles are obscure, but all 100 percent real. “Endangered Species Hunter” Ever wanted to snipe a black rhino or Siberian tiger without the jail time? Then this game’s for you! Not only can you hunt endangered animals in this wild and exciting game, you are expected to exterminate them! Players hop from continent to continent, enforcing Darwin’s famed law of “survival of the fittest.” Shoot enough elephants in the Serengeti and you can unlock the “Panda Exterminator” mode. In this mode you are given a 50-caliber machine gun mounted on a low-flying helicopter in order to do to pandas what natural selection will inevitably achieve in the

coming years. This game was top notch, and I’ve never fully understood why this addicting title never achieved mainstream popularity. “Mall Cop: The Segway Chronicles” Inspired by Paul Blart’s smash-hit movie “Mall Cop,” players are thrown into the chaos that is a busy day at the mall with nothing but a can of mace, a flashlight and a two-way radio. Whether you’re patrolling the food court for troublesome hooligans, checking for perverts in the girls’ bathroom or idling by the Victoria’s Secret store, this game is full of nonstop action. Catch enough shoplifters and mall rats and you’ll unlock the famed mall cop Segway, allowing you to enforce the law across long stretches of mall property

with ease. “Tax Evader 4” The sequel to the famed “Tax Evader 3,” this installment of “Tax Evader” never got the credit it deserved. This game is all about fudging the numbers. Players take the place of a rich company owner and do their best to stay one step ahead of the government in order to avoid paying egregious taxes. On stack after stack of paperwork, you will undervalue your company and misreport your income. But be careful — one slip-up and the IRS will come knocking, putting an end to your noncompliance and ending the game. “Zoobreak” This undervalued gem was quite literally one of the greatest and most

challenging games I’ve ever played. The game has several levels in which you become various mistreated zoo animals who are plotting desperate escape attempts. The first few levels are easy enough, since you start off as several smarter primates, all of which have the luxury of opposable thumbs. The difficulty quickly increases, however: By the end of the game you’ll be screaming with frustration as you attempt to scale a giant, electrified fence as an aging ostrich with nothing more than a small strip of rope and some bobby pins to aid in your escape. “Herpes II: The Outbreak” This game, marked mature for obvious reasons, lost a lot of money for its developers. Players are tasked with discovering the source of

a vicious herpes outbreak that is taking a small and poorly educated town by storm. By following redness, inflammation and itchiness from one sexual partner to another, you must bring the repeat offender to justice in order to stop the viral madness that has gripped the small community with fear. Be careful to practice safe investigating, or you’ll end up as one of the victims! Although the game has its moments of fun, it gets preachy, and after every successful case of herpes is tracked down, a message promoting the “Joys of Abstinence” flashes on your screen. So if you’re looking for a break from those “bests,” give these more obscure games a Google. And then remind yourself you can never tire of the best.


Comics

Destroy Everything Inessential Noah J. Yuenkel comics@badgerherald.com

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The Badger Herald | Comics | Friday, April 13, 2012

WHAT IS THIS

SUDOKU

HERALD COMICS

PRESENTS

S

U

D

O

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’s using the couch anyhow!”

HERALD COMICS

PRESENTS

K

A

K

U

R

O

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: “What have you done to my cat?!”

MOUSELY & FLOYD

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

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MADCAPS

HERALD COMICS 1

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madcaps@badgerherald.com

MOLLY MALONEY

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pascle@badgerherald.com

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random@badgerherald.com

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primal@badgerherald.com

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MODERN CONSERVATIVE MOVEMENT

mcm@badgerherald.com

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Rocky the Herald Comics Raccoon™

I gotta get in shape. It’s almost daisy dukes season.


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

8

The Badger Herald | Classifieds | Friday, April 13, 2012

ATTENTION

FOR RENT

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EMPLOYMENT

Classifieds

FOR RENT

FOR RENT

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Sports MCCUE, from 10 storyline, but one that came to a premature close. That season, too, ended in disappointment with an 81-81 record and a last-place spot in the division. But with a combination of productive hitting and one of the division’s top pitching rotations, the stars finally appear to be aligning for Washington. So just how does everything shape up for Davey Johnson, now in his first full season as the Nationals’ manager? In what has increasingly become a pitcher-friendly league over the past few seasons, it all starts with pitching. The heart and soul of the starting rotation is Strasburg, the man who took the league by storm as a rookie in 2010 with fastballs in the triple digits and a curveball that leaves MLB’s most feared sluggers baffled. In his 13 innings of work in 2012, the top overall pick of the 2009 MLB Draft appears to be back in top form. Strasburg has garnered 14 strikeouts through his first two starts and, assuming the arm can hold up, looks to be the Nationals’ long-time ace. He is the rare star who actually lives up to the hype, who can singlehandedly change the fate of his squad whenever he takes the mound. But he’s not the only young, talented hurler whose career has been slowed by arm injuries.

Jordan Zimmermann, a former standout for the University of WisconsinStevens Point baseball team, is another Tommy John surgery vet who saw the closest thing to a full season of his career in 2011. He had a 3.18 ERA last season in 26 appearances and gave up just one earned run in seven innings of work in his only start of the new season. Rounding out the pitching staff are off-season additions Gio Gonzalez (formerly of the Oakland A’s) and Edwin Jackson (St. Louis Cardinal) and Ross Detwiler. But the most pressing questions, and reasonably so, rest on Washington’s game with the bat in its hands. LaRoche has been the early offensive leader for the Nationals with two home runs and an impressive eight runs batted in through the year’s first seven games. Aiding LaRoche in the batter’s box is the always reliable and undercredited third baseman in Zimmerman, a career .288 hitter who puts up at least 20 home runs. If Werth can manage a second-year performance where he shows hints at why the Nationals handed him a 7-year, $126 million contract, Johnson may have just the firepower he needs to sustain a playoff run. And then there’s Bryce Harper. As one of the most highly-touted hitting prospects in years, the

19-year-old phenom has put up stellar numbers in the minor leagues. With almost unlimited upside and a swing that Ken Griffey Jr. would admire, Harper should be gracing the outfield at Nationals Park before the All-Star Break. Though he certainly has plenty to learn in the big leagues and may not be the instant star fans are looking for, Harper still has a strong enough game to help the Nationals’ case for a playoff spot. So maybe, just maybe, this is the year the Nationals finally rid themselves of that tarnished, hopeless image that bespeaks their name. Good times are ahead in the not-too-distant future, and it’s worth noting that eight of the squad’s first 10 games were played away from the nation’s capital. After suffering through three managers and a list of stars whose careers never reached their anticipated peaks, the 2012 edition of the Washington Nationals appears to have the talent and experience to contend for a division title. For the first time in its short history, there is hope for one of the most underachieving teams in professional baseball. Ian is a junior majoring in journalism. Do you agree that the Nationals have a realistic shot at making the playoffs? Wondering why I care about the Nationals when the Brewers are facing their own struggles? Send

UW Athletics

Senior Angela Chupa has held strong at the No. 6 singles spot for the Badgers this season with a 4-4 record. Chupa has a 4-5 overall record but is still searching for a conference win with an 0-3 record so far this season.

Women’s tennis hopes to break losing streak Wisconsin hosts Purdue, Indiana this weekend in Madison amid 4-game winless run Spencer Smith Women’s Tennis Writer It is said that something good can always come out of the bad. The Wisconsin women’s tennis team hopes that holds true for its recent woes on the tennis court. The Badgers (10-9, 1-6 Big Ten) are currently weathering the storm of a four-match losing streak over the past two weekends, all against Big Ten opponents. Wisconsin lost both of its matches last weekend, at Ohio State and Penn State, by one point. Head coach Brian Fleishman thinks that his team will be able to learn from its recent losses in close matches. “I really truly think now that these losses happen for a reason,” Fleishman said. “The 4-3 matches that we’ve lost, it’s really come down to the last couple of balls hit. I think we have gotten tougher from that now. So moving forward in the season, if we have another 3-3 match, I think everyone’s willing to step up and I think people are actually wanting that pressure now.” On Friday the Badgers look to win their first match in the month of April when Purdue comes to Madison. Purdue (12-4, 4-3 Big

Ten) is ranked No. 34 in the ITA national rankings. While the high-ranking Boilermakers do have a season to hang their hat on so far, they are losers of three out of their last five matches. Wisconsin lost to Purdue last year 4-3 and has yet to beat them during Fleishman’s fouryear tenure. A bright spot during the Badgers’ recent slump is the play of freshman Nova Patel, who has won her last three matches in singles play. Patel knows she is playing well right now and is hoping to continue that against Purdue Friday. “I like the way I’m playing right now,” Patel said. “We lost two really tough matches last weekend but I think we have a really good chance of winning this match and hopefully I can help us do that.” On Sunday, Wisconsin is slated for battle against No. 47 Indiana. The Hoosiers (15-6, 4-3 Big Ten) are coming off of a loss at the hands of Nebraska last weekend. Leading the Indiana attack is junior Leslie Hureau who is No. 67 in the ITA rankings for singles play. Hoosiers head coach Lin Loring has been in charge of the program at Indiana for 34 years and has the most wins in D-1 women’s tennis history. “They call Lin Loring the godfather; he’s a great coach,” Fleishman said. “We have to expect a battle with Indiana. The girls realize now that we have to put a lot more

balls in play than we have in the past. I think against these two teams (Purdue and Indiana) that’s going to be the case too. Whoever puts more balls in play is probably going to win these two matches.” Senior Angela Chupa has some extra motivation going into the match Sunday against Indiana with her sister, freshman Carolyn Chupa, who suits up for the Hoosiers. “I’m excited for that match,” Chupa said. “My sister plays for them so it is going to be a lot of fun.” Wisconsin is going to have a special guest coming to the match on Sunday to cheer them on. A young girl from the Wish Upon A Badger program is coming to have her dream fulfilled by hanging out with the team and watch them in action on Sunday. Fleishman is excited for the opportunity and knows his team will get as much out of the experience as the girl herself. “We have a 12-yearold girl that has B-cell leukemia who’s going to participate in practice on Saturday and will be honorary captain on Sunday for the team,” Fleishman said. “It’s something for us to do to give back; I think it’s important to do that. “Me as a coach, I think it is so important for these girls to realize that when they have a bad day, it’s really not a bad day as opposed to cancer. It’s good for these girls to be around somebody like that and be inspired by that.”


The Badger Herald | Sports | Friday, April 13, 2012

CHASING, from 10 As the Badgers fight to climb out of the dungeon of the Big Ten standings, head coach Greg Van Emburgh is relieved to have notched the first win of the conference season. “It was just huge, as far being able to turn the season around, that was a huge win for us,” Van Emburgh said. “It was a great confidence booster for the guys, the morale after the match was so much better.” The confidence of the team will prove to be an important factor this Saturday against the Boilermakers, as they lead the Badgers by just a single game in the Big Ten standings. Wisconsin has owned Purdue as of late, winning the last eight matches. The Boilermakers are in a comparable spot to the Badgers at this point in the season — Purdue was similarly stunted by a Big Ten losing streak before defeating a weaker conference opponent. Sophomore Rod Carey understands that attacking two conference opponents this weekend is crucial to salvaging the regular season. “They’re really important to the team because it’s a way for us to get some momentum,” Carey said. “If we could get two wins there that would be good for the team.” Carey was able to individually bounce back from a five-match losing streak with a three-set victory against Penn State’s Russell Bader in the No. 2 position, a spot he has played in the past five matches. The Bahamas native was originally starting at the No. 5 slot, but his consistent effort has improved his rank in the lineup. An additional alteration to Wisconsin’s lineup has been an involuntary one due to the injury suffered by junior Billy Bertha. The captain hasn’t seen action since April 1 in a

loss at Northwestern, in which he partnered up with sophomore Alex Robles in their second consecutive match as a pair. Van Emburgh is looking forward to seeing his captain back on the court. “We’re hopefully going to get Billy back in there … at least in the doubles, if not the singles as well,” Van Emburgh said. As the Badgers hit the road this weekend, they will be mindful that they have only earned one victory away from the Nielsen Tennis Center. That win came against an Idaho squad that held an 8-6 record at the time of the match. Solving the equation for road success will be pivotal for the Badgers, as three of their last four opponents will be played on the road before they participate in the Big Ten tournament. The team is confident about its opportunity to win away matches down the final stretch of the regular season. “They should take a lot of confidence into the remainder of the season,” Van Emburgh said. “I think from here on out, the matches that we’re playing are really going to be winnable matches and tennis is really a mental sport.” After its contest with Purdue, Wisconsin matches up with a more dangerous Indiana club that defeated Notre Dame, a top-40 team that Wisconsin fell to early in the nonconference season. Despite a steep hill to hike, the Badgers know they have much room for improvement. A slate of underclassmen has yet to hit its full potential and none of the Badgers are scheduled to graduate before the 2012-2013 campaign. “We shouldn’t give up; we should work hard, keep doing the right things on and off the court,” junior Alexander Kostanov said. “Even if we wouldn’t succeed in this season, it is going to pay off during next season.”

9

No sweep for Brewers, lose 8-0 Chicago fights back in series finale, avoiding 4-game sweep; Greinke struggles at Wrigley CHICAGO (AP) — Milwaukee sent Zack Greinke to the mound Thursday for what looked like a nice pitching matchup against Matt Garza and the Chicago Cubs. Garza did his part, but Greinke failed to make it out of the fourth inning. The Brewers managed just three hits against Garza and Shawn Camp in an 8-0 loss at Wrigley Field, wasting a chance for a four-game series sweep. Garza (1-0) struck out nine and walked two in 8 2-3 innings as the Cubs improved to 2-5. He induced Cesar Izturis to hit into an inningending double play in the second, starting a stretch in which he retired 16 of 17 batters. “I’ve seen him throw a lot of good games and that’s as good as I’ve seen him,” Brewers manager

Ron Roenicke said. “Great command on the fastball, life, velocity the whole game. “When you let him get through the first couple innings, he really finds his groove and it’s tough to get to him.” Greinke (1-1) allowed eight earned runs for the first time since July 26, 2010, against Minnesota. He gave up nine hits and needed 84 pitches to get through 3 2-3 innings, a sharp contrast to his seven shutout innings against St. Louis last weekend in his season debut. He retired his first six batters, then allowed seven of the first eight batters to reach in a six-run third. Steve Clevenger led off the third with a flare double down the left-field line that Ryan Braun charged only to have the ball bounce past him. “If he catches that ball, maybe it’s a different inning,”

Roenicke said. After a Garza strikeout, Reed Johnson, Darwin Barney and Starlin Castro had consecutive RBI singles. Alfonso Soriano then drove in two runs with a brokenbat hit to right field and Ian Stewart beat the infield shift with an opposite-field RBI single to left-center. “I got two strikes in counts and made some bad pitches,” Greinke said. “I felt like I made some decent pitches — maybe not perfect — but I’ve never made perfect pitches all game.” It was Greinke’s second career start at Wrigley, neither of which has gone well. He was charged with eight runs, six earned, and eight hits in 5 1-3 innings of a 12-7 loss on June 16. “Last time the wind was blowing straight out like 25 plus miles per hour and I kind of felt like that had a lot to do

with it the time before,” the 28-year-old right-hander said. “This time I know some of the balls were up. But besides that there’s not much I thought I could have done different.” The lone bright spot for the Brewers was the bullpen. Manny Parra pitched 2 1-3 innings and Tim Dillard finished after Greinke’s early exit. Nori Aoki reached with two outs in the ninth when Garza threw his comebacker over first baseman Bryan LaHair and into the stands for a two-base error. Garza was removed after 119 pitches and Camp needed just four pitches to end it, retiring pinch hitter George Kottaras on a groundout. “When you’ve got a fiverun lead, you have to just go after them. You can’t nitpick or nibble, because they have some guys who can really hurt you,” Garza said.

Megan McCormick The Badger Herald

Wisconsin is in the midst of one of its strongest runs in recent years with an eight-game winning streak. Only Nebraska and Purdue boast longer winning streaks at the moment. But if the Badgers can continue their winning ways this weekend against the Fighting Illini, a series sweep would give UW the longest winning streak in the Big Ten.

HOT, from 10 been beating teams, but they have also been beating the odds. Consecutively winning games is one thing, but repeatedly coming from behind to triumph is an entirely different issue. The Badgers have trailed in each of their last three games, but their resiliency and fight has kept them afloat just enough to squeak away with victories. This pattern, while paying off, is not the desired route for head coach Yvette Healy. “We don’t tell them to give up runs and come out slow,”

Healy said. “As a coaching staff the big focus for this weekend is to come out sharp, right from the start.” They may need a quick start for most of the weekend, as Illinois (16-18, 2-7) lays claim to one of the best pitchers in the conference, Pepper Gay. Gay leads the Fighting Illini in innings pitched (132), complete games (12), and strikeouts (128), all the while owning a 1.75 ERA, good for third in the Big Ten. The Illinois pitching staff quickly drops off after Gay, however, so hitting her early will be the offensive focus. “The big thing with any

pitcher is to just go after them,” Blackshear said. “When she’s on the zone we have to hit the ball and not give them anything extra.” Gay’s 11 wins on the season are good for seventh-best in the Big Ten, but that number could easily be near the 15-win mark if the Illinois bats begin to heat up. Over the last seven games, the Fighting Illini have tallied only four runs. A recent stretch of three games without scoring a single run makes for a very vulnerable opponent. Regardless of their recent struggles, Healy expects an aggressive offensive showing from Illinois. “Illinois has traditionally had a prolific offense, so they have the ability to hit,” Healy affirmed. “Even if they haven’t shown it as much in conference yet, they’re known as an offensive team.” Wisconsin will look to attack offensively as well, as their team hitting has been remarkable over the last few weeks. Since the beginning of its series with Northwestern, the team average has slowly risen 22 points, from .276 to .298.

What is likely even more impressive is that these numbers are coming without the production of the injured Molly Spence. Spence leads the team in home runs (7) and slugging percentage (.605), while ranking second on the team with 23 RBIs. Out with an ankle injury for another weekend, the Badger lineup will have to band together again in her absence — a trademark over the last few weeks. “It’s always hard to replace a kid like Molly. She is probably the best hitter on our team,” sophomore Michelle Mueller said. “[Since her injury] we have all taken it on ourselves. We know that when one kid goes down, all nine of us have to pick it up.” And that is exactly what they have done. With amplified performances from each piece of the lineup, the Wisconsin softball team is right where they want to be, heading into another Big Ten weekend. “We’re in a good place right now,” Healy said. “This team is real streaky and when one person hits, a lot of them do, and they feed off each other.”


SPORTS

Sports Editor Elliot Hughes sports@badgerherald.com

10 | Sports | Friday, April 13, 2012

The race for Lord Stanley’s Cup Ten former Wisconsin men’s hockey players are playing in the NHL playoffs.

Wisconsin looks to stay hot at Illinois Badgers hope to extend 8-game winning streak in 3-game matchup Sean Zak Softball Writer The good times keep rolling for the Wisconsin softball team. Adding two more victories to their school record winning streak on Tuesday, the Badgers will look to maintain the pace against Illinois this coming weekend. The friendly confines of Goodman Diamond have treated the Badgers well, but if they are going to continue their winning ways, they will have to do so from Eichelberger Field in Urbana, Ill. Sitting at 6-3 in the Big Ten and 22-16 overall, Wisconsin has used its recent stretch of wins to stay in conference contention. The Badgers currently hold sole possession of fourth place, but will need another good weekend to hang around with the Big Ten’s elite. Wisconsin trails Purdue and Nebraska by a game

each, with conference leader Michigan owning a twogame lead over the Badgers. With wins piling up, this team is confident facing any opponent. “Honestly, I think we have every chance to win every single game,” junior infielder Shannel Blackshear said. “This year, the biggest thing is we have been staying in games, and I think we are a force to be reckoned with.” As the wins keep coming, the pressure to keep it up increases. Only two Big Ten teams — Nebraska and Purdue — have had longer winning streaks this season and if Wisconsin were to sweep Illinois this weekend it would lay claim to the longest streak held in the conference. Although they were already a tight-knit group, winning has brought the Badgers even closer together in their efforts. “[Winning] adds a little bit of pressure, in a good way. It makes everybody understand that we are a better team,” Blackshear said. “It gives everyone an extra boost to want to work harder so we can keep winning.” Wisconsin not only has Megan McCormick The Badger Herald

HOT, page 9

Shannel Blackshear has been solid for the Badgers this season with 18 RBIs off 28 hits in a total of 92 at bats. The junior third baseman said she believes the Badgers have a good chance to win every game.

For Nationals, finally hope Ian McCue Right On Cue

UW Athletics

Splitting his time all over the middle of singles play, Rod Carey has a team-respectable 8-10 record. Carey is only 1-6 in conference play, emulating the Badgers 1-6 Big Ten record.

Men’s tennis chasing Big Ten run Badgers only boast 1 conference win this year, hope Indiana tour brings positive results Lee Gordon Men’s Tennis Writer After snapping a fivematch losing skid, the Wisconsin men’s tennis

team (9-10, 1-6 Big Ten) will look to put a conference winning streak together as it travels to the state of Indiana this weekend to face the

Purdue Boilermakers and the Indiana Hoosiers. The Badgers were finally able to break through with their first Big Ten victory April 8 against a struggling

Penn State team, which possesses an identical conference record to Wisconsin’s.

CHASING, page 9

It may finally be the year for one of the most futile franchises in baseball. And I’m not talking about the Cubs (that one’s hopeless). Although I may be the only fan in the Midwest who cares, the Washington Nationals are off to a surprisingly strong start in their first year as legitimate playoff contenders. Ace Stephen Strasburg’s arm, along with a surprising pop off the bat of first baseman Adam LaRoche, may be precisely the recipe for the Nationals’ first playoff appearance since arriving in the nation’s capital. While most Wisconsinites are still recovering from that 8-0 beat down by the Cubs yesterday, the Nats are that team you can’t help but root for.

Seven fruitless, often disheartening seasons in Washington have left the Nationals with a reputation as the National League East’s bottomfeeder. They’re one of the league’s perennial losers, a la the Pittsburgh Pirates, Oakland Raiders or New York Islanders. Despite headlinegrabbing signees (Jayson Werth) and promising young stars (Ryan Zimmerman), even at their best moments the Nationals have never reached fruition. Certain players haven’t developed as expected, never transforming into the powerful hitters scouts envisioned. Others have been plagued by injuries. But they have both produced the same result — disappointment. Though most are afraid to select Strasburg and co. as anything more than an outside playoff contender, Washington has a realistic chance at winning one of the league’s most competitive divisions. It’s a rather bold prediction for a franchise that’s finished dead last in its division five of the last eight seasons. The Curly ‘W’ has never won more than 81 games since arriving at RFK Stadium in 2005 and has yet to eclipse the .500 mark. The Nationals also managed to lead the MLB in losses for back-to-back seasons in 2008 and 2009 and slipping over the century mark for two straight seasons. It was a rather unremarkable run for a team that left its Montreal roots in hopes of a bigger fan base and an attractive market with one major void: a professional baseball team. But as it turns out, MLB’s return to the District of Columbia never turned into the dream that left Washington baseball fans drooling. The closest the rechristened Washington Senators came to success was in 2005, when the Nationals hit the All-Star Break leading the NL East. With the legendary Frank Robinson heading the dugout, it was a great

MCCUE, page 8


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