2012.10.02

THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1969 Volume XLIV, Issue 21

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

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Leaves begin to turn as autumn sets in at Madison. State Street will host Freakfest again this month, and students across campus likely are beginning to plan for the Oct. 27 event.

Andy Fate The Badger Herald

Committee denies group’s eligibility In 3-9 vote, SSFC votes down funds for Wisconsin Student Lobby Julia Skulstad Campus Life Editor In a student government meeting Monday night, a committee both denied a student organization’s eligibility and approved

another group’s eligibility.

After debate, Student Services Finance Committee denied funding to Wisconsin Student Lobby in a vote of 3-9 based on concerns raised by many committee members who did not believe the organization could prove they use funding in a fiscally responsible manner.

SSFC Chair Ellie Bruecker said at the end of the fiscal year 2010–2011, WSL returned 64 percent of its budget and they returned 54

percent of their budget at the end of fiscal year 2011–2012.

Bruecker said the organization made a reduction of close to 40 percent in the proposed budget this year but were still asking for $6,000 more than they spent last year.

“SSFC has to examine whether a group is fiscally responsible or not and the majority of the SSFC believed that because they had returned so much of their money and that they

requested more than they needed, that they were not fiscally responsible,” she said.

Money not used by organizations at the end of a given fiscal year is rolled over to the segregated fees reserves that Associated Students of Madison has little control over, Bruecker said.

Bruecker said this played into the decision regarding the eligibility of Wisconsin Student Lobby because if a group returns money and it goes into reserves, it does

not get returned to students who paid for the budget with segregated fees.

SSFC Secretary Jonathan Harris said when groups present their budgets, SSFC has to trust that the money they are asking for is what they really need.

“It does not matter that the money not used by the organization is going into the reserve but it does matter that it is not going back into students’ pockets,” Harris said.

SSFC Vice-Chair Joe

Vanden Avond said eligibility is a two-year process and though the group adjusted their budget, they still asked for double the amount that they needed.

“Doubling their budget is not fiscally responsible,” he said.

SSFC Rep. Sarah Neibart said the burden of funding rests on SSFC, and that she was in favor of the group’s eligibility.

She

COMMITTEE, page 2

Senate race focuses on healthcare issues Meghan Zernick State Politics Editor After Friday night’s election debate, healthcare has come into focus as a critical issue in the race for Wisconsin’s open Senate seat.

The debate between Republican and former Gov. Tommy Thompson and Democrat Tammy Baldwin Friday mainly focused on the two candidates’ views on healthcare.

John Kraus, spokesperson for Baldwin’s campaign, said the choice is clear between Baldwin and Thompson when it comes to healthcare.

Baldwin, Kraus said, is interested in moving the Affordable Care Act forward.

However, Thompson’s plan would be to get rid of the Affordable Care Act and start all over while putting insurance companies in charge, Kraus said.

Baldwin was behind the amendment to provide

healthcare to young adults on their parents’ healthcare plans up until they turn 26, Kraus said.

“Six million young people that would not normally have healthcare now have coverage due to the Affordable Care Act,” Kraus said.

Kraus said there is no truth in the Thompson campaign’s claim that Baldwin is too much of a “big spender” for Wisconsin.

He said Thompson worked for an administration that was $11 million in debt.

Kraus said the Bush administration was more careless in spending, naming two wars and two tax cuts for the wealthy as two causes of Bush’s deficit.

Kraus also referred to Thompson’s Medicare drug benefit as “a sweetheart deal with the drug companies” that cost taxpayers $156 billion.

“Tammy Baldwin was against all of these actions, as they only added to the deficit,” Kraus said.

“Thompson has spent the

last seven years cashing in with drug companies that break the rules.”

Jeff Snow, Chairman of the University of Wisconsin College Republicans, said he supports Thompson’s plan to repeal the Affordable Care Act because he feels it is a burden on small businesses and is bad for Medicare.

“Tommy Thompson is in favor of a marketbased health care solution, opening up the health care market to be a free enterprise without government control,” Snow said.

Jay Heck, executive director of Common Cause in Wisconsin, said Baldwin is strongly in favor of a single-payer program for healthcare. He said she supports Obama’s plan, although it is not as extensive.

Heck said Thompson spoke favorably of the Affordable Care Act just two years ago.

SENATE, page 2

Tania Soerianto The Badger Herald

Harvard professor and founding member of Partners in Health Paul Farmer addresses his crowd at Union South Monday. He spoke on health care accessibility.

Harvard professor speaks on public health problems Dana Bossen Reporter A Harvard professor and non-profit organization founder spoke at Union South Monday night as a part of the University of Wisconsin’s Distinguished Lecture Series to address the importance of public health.

Paul Farmer, the University Professor and Chair of the Department

of Global Health and Social Medicine at Harvard University, is also one of the founding directors of Partners in Health, a nonprofit organization that provides health care and advocates better care for those who are sick and living in poverty.

Throughout the lecture, Farmer stressed the importance of public health as well as the obstacles faced

Wisconsin Medicaid debt lower than expected Meghan Zernick State Politics Editor Medicaid’s debt has decreased by millions, according to officials at the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

A letter describing the shrink in the shortfall was sent from Dennis Smith, secretary of the Department of Health Services, to Representative Robin Vos, R-Burlington, and Senator Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, who are both members of the Legislative Joint Committee on Finance.

According to the letter, one year ago Medicaid was predicted to have a

$554.36 million deficit for 2011-2013. However, Medicaid is now predicted to have a $35.49 million deficit for this period.

Some causes for this significant reduction of the deficit include $27 million in federal aid given in response to claims the DHS resubmitted in order to match the dollar amount they needed.

According to the letter, the other causes are a decrease in the Family Care enrollment cap and various changes in the BadgerCare program for non-pregnant and nondisabled adults that have incomes 133 percent above the poverty level.

The changes to the

BadgerCare program raised the premiums, restricted re-enrollment if premiums were not paid and ended retroactive eligibility.

Retroactive eligibility allowed payment to individuals who did not request financial assistance until after they received care.

Claire Smith, spokesperson for the DHS, said all of these changes have created a surplus and they will continue to work toward their goal of eliminating the deficit entirely.

“We are all about having a healthy Medicaid program in order to help the residents of Wisconsin.

To do so, we must work

within our means and stay on budget,” Smith said.

John Peacock, research director of the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families, said the reduction of the deficit is a welcome development.

“It is really not all that surprising.” Peacock said.

Peacock added part of the savings came from disqualifying lower income families from BadgerCare. According to Peacock, 21,000 families have lost coverage from BadgerCare.

There has also been less participation in the Family Care program due to the enrollment cap, Peacock said. Peacock said they support some of

© 2012 BADGER HERALD

these cost savings, but are not in support of families losing out on BadgerCare.

“The Medicaid Budget will almost be in balance by the end of the year,” Peacock said.

“The Department [of Health Services] has done more than it needed to do.”

Peacock said proposals to further narrow the services that BadgerCare provides to Wisconsinites have been brought forward but have not been approved.

He said the council believes Medicaid has had enough savings and no further measures need to be taken.

MEDICAID, page 2

by those working in this field.

“Even though we’re coming from a nongovernmental organization, we (Partners in Health) are trying to make a choice to work with public authorities in public health and communication because if you believe that health should be a human right, you

PUBLIC HEALTH, page 2

INSIDE Youth no longer an excuse A year after finishing below .500 for the first time in years, Mike Eaves is embracing higher expectations.

SPORTS | 7

Young: Activist student org misses the point SLAC attacks UW Chancellor David Ward for “stalling” without reading the relevant legal documents.

OPINION | 4

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The Badger Herald | News | Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Events today 1:30-3 p.m.

Information session on HR Design Plan Union South

5-8 p.m.

Multicultural Career and Internship Fair Multicultural Student Center Red Gym

Events tomorrow 5 p.m.

Dean Spade Lecture The Pyle Center

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ASM committee addresses alcohol policy Legislative Affairs body focuses on responsible action policy, future bill Allison Johnson Reporter

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Responsible action policy was at the forefront of the agenda at the Associated Students of Madison Legislative Affairs Committee meeting Monday.

The committee discussed the “Responsible Action and Medical Amnesty” plan, which seeks to provide protection for students who seek assistance for themselves or their friends under the influence of alcohol, according to committee Member Morgan

Mae. The committee discussed a bill that will effect anyone under the legal drinking age, allowing it to be applied to high school students as well as University of Wisconsin students.

The Wisconsin state legislature is currently reviewing a bill that will enact statewide policy regarding this issue, Mae said.

She said the proposed bill includes protection for minors who call on behalf of an impaired friend, provided they cooperate with the emergency responders.

Mae said in this way, minors can get help for friends without penalty, even if they are also drinking.

Mae said a minor under the influence who seeks medical attention will not be subject to a citation provided

trying to do at the state level,” she said. “[We] need to start building a coalition of people who have pull at the state Capitol.”

Mae said nine other states have enacted laws similar in function to how this would work. She cited Michigan and Indiana as two recent examples. She said although Wisconsin has a different drinking culture than other states, if other states are concerned about it, then Wisconsin should be as well.

Mae also said there is a chance the bill could be amended to include restrictions on how many times it could be used.

The Legislative Affairs Committee plans to devote their efforts into turning this bill into law, she said.

Legislative Affairs Committee Chair Daniel

they meet several conditions.

She added that there is already a policy regarding

“We need to publicize this, not only the campus policy, but also what we’re trying to do at the state level.”

Morgan Mae

Legislative Affairs member responsible action that is incorporated into University of Wisconsin campus policy.

She said although this policy exists, few students are aware of it. “[We] need to publicize this, not only the campus policy, but also what we are

Group gives input on apartment proposal New development would be located at 309 W. Johnson, include fire building Molly McCall City Life Editor Members of the Mifflin Street neighborhood met Monday night to provide input on a mixed-use apartment building proposal, which will incorporate the fire administration building.

The proposed apartment building would be located at 309 West Johnson under development by Hovde Properties. The building would reach 14 stories with 30 different apartment types.

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, held the last neighborhood

meeting in April. He said the neighborhood had volunteers form a steering committee, which worked hand in hand with developers for many months.

Mike Slavish, president of Hovde Properties, said they have been working closely with city staff to incorporate the fire administration building.

For the construction process, he said the fire administration building and Fire Station 1 would be relocated.

Slavish said the new building would have 255 units and over 300 parking spaces underground.

Business space would be available for rent on street level. Above the businesses, on the third floor, would be the new fire administration building.

Slavish said the complex would include 160 bike

stalls with more room on wall racks and 45 moped/ motorcycle parking spaces.

The apartment building would also have an on-site pet walking and grooming

“Through risk analysis, we will look for what’s best for the community and the fire department.”

Mike Papovich

MFD Assistant Chief

area.

Madison Fire Department Assistant Chief Mike Papovich said he appreciated the community taking an active role in the process.

Papovich said the

relocation of the fire administration building and Fire Station 1 has yet to be determined.

“We are not 100 percent sure on the location,” he said. “But response times won’t change.”

MFD will continue to run operations just as they do now after relocation, he said. The fire administration has secured a spot on State Street for the administration building with a year and half lease. but nothing has been finalized, he added.

Papovich said it is possible that Fire Station 1’s relocation would involve a merge with another station, like Station 4 on Monroe Street.

“Through risk analysis, we (MFD) will look for what’s best for the community and the fire department,” he said.

If Hovde closes on the

COMMITTEE, from 1 said she believes it is the committee’s job to be stewards of student fees and added that the responsibility falls on SSFC, not the organizations applying for eligibility.

“I think it is kind of ridiculous to be putting

MEDICAID, from 1 But Peacock said despite their concern that BadgerCare has eliminated too many people, there is positive side to all of the changes

PUBLIC HEALTH, from 1 have to look to who confers those rights,” Farmer said.

Farmer said society should make sure people are allowed the chance to receive decent healthcare and education and that this is done in a way that can strengthen local capacities.

He said this is one of the most important things to ensure that aid is delivered and the projects of NGOs are pushed forward.

“You could argue that this should have been obvious in the 19th century,” Farmer said. “But we have to remember that it’s not that long ago that we didn’t have the tools or the knowledge to deliver any of these services and we have a lot of catching up to do.”

Farmer’s lecture also focused on the situation in Haiti. He spoke on about how Partners in Health

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Statter said he believes the committee should publicize the fact that other states have made this policy law as well.

Statter said the committee also opened up talks about its upcoming student regent campaign. The committee is seeking to create more student involvement in the selection of the student representative on the Board of Regents, he said.

Statter said this is important because the Board of Regents makes decisions about day-to-day life on campus.

ASM Vice-Chair Maria Giannopoulos said the committee also discussed upcoming plans to continue registering students to vote and as a pun on the election year, the committee is looking to register 2,012 voters by October 17.

“But now, Thompson, like other Republicans, is backing away from their previous support,” Heck said. They are screaming that it should be repealed without saying what would replace it.”

Professor David Canon, a political science

property, demolition will begin in December or January. Construction will then start in January 2013.

“All of the plans are subject to full council approval,” Slavish said.

Slavish estimated the price of rental between $1,000-2,000/month, depending on the different types of room setups.

Slavish said their goal is to create a desirable, longterm home for the working class community.

Slavish said if the proposal is passed, Hovde would start making units available July 1, 2014 and continue opening in September.

Verveer said the proposal will go in front of the Madison Plan Commission on Monday, Oct. 15 and if it is passed

by City Council, it will be included in the budget on Nov. 27.

this much weight on this specific criteria,” Neibart said regarding the criteria of fiscal responsibility for eligibility.

Ultimately the committee denied Wisconsin Student Lobby’s eligibility, but did move on to approve that of Atheists, Humanists and Agnostics.

Regarding the eligibility of AHA, though some concerns were raised regarding the question of support groups provided

by AHA are a direct service, SSFC approved the eligibility by a vote of 11 in favor of and 1 against the eligibility of the organization.

that have been made by the DHS. Peacock said from the perspective of a young adult, BadgerCare has improved in that they are now able to remove their waiting list for young

adults without kids.

“Now that the Medicaid budget is in better shape they can enroll more people,” Peacock said. “This is a good thing for kids and families.”

started in Haiti and has since spread to countries across the globe.

Farmer said the earthquake in January 2010 caused 220,000 to 316,000 fatalities, left 1.3 million Haitians homeless and claimed the lives of roughly 20 percent of public service workers in Haiti.

“We had people from all over the world coming to help,” Farmer said. “But there were still all kinds of trauma —visible and invisible — and this is not trauma that will go away.”

He also said in such a globalized world it is bizarre that he still sees epidemics of 18th century illnesses, such as the Cholera epidemics in Haiti after the earthquake.

These could be remedied through partnerships and institutions, he said.

“In this interconnected world, it is not first world, second world, third

world — it’s one world and building a modern infrastructure in Haiti and partnership with the Haitians is the way that this could have been prevented and is what still needs to be done,” he said.

Professor of environmental studies and population health studies and Director of Global Health Institute Jonathan Patz said Farmer’s “holistic approach to community health” is the core principle around which UW is building its global health institute.

professor at UW, said ultimately the U.S. Senate election will not determine much in terms of whether or not the Affordable Care Act gets repealed.

“In order for the act to be repealed, two things would need to happen: Romney would need to win the national election, and Republicans would

need to gain control of the Senate,” Canon said. “Even if one of those things happens, it would not be a sure thing. This depends on a lot more than what happens in Wisconsin.”

Thompson’s campaign did not return calls and the Republican Party of Wisconsin declined to comment for this story.

UW Sophomore Erin Breen, who attended the lecture, said she was impressed.

“Paul Farmer is such a big name in public health,” she said. “It was really cool to see him here at UW and to hear him speak on such important issues.”

The Badger Herald | News | Tuesday, October 2, 2012

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Opinion

Editorial Page Editor Reginald Young oped@badgerherald.com

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The Badger Herald | Opinion | Tuesday, October 2, 2012

SLAC skips fine print, reaches delusional conclusion Labor activist org misundertands UW, Adidas, Chancellor Ward’s involvement Reginald Young Editorial Page Editor Last Monday, Student Labor Action Coalition representatives criticized the University of Wisconsin and Chancellor David Ward for the ongoing law suit with Adidas. The prolabor student organization has found fault with the chancellor for not doing everything in his power, even if it’s foolish, to support workers’ rights. What a surprise.

The representatives made a point of exhibiting their ability to make rhetorical use of legal words, including terms like “toxic contract” and “illegal and morally abhorrent.” What they didn’t demonstrate, however, is that they actually took the time to learn about the situation.

A correspondence between UW’s legal counsel and the law firm representing Adidas lays out the crucial parts of the contract.

SLAC representatives said, “The chancellor disregarded [a recommendation from UW-Madison’s Labor Licensing Policy Committee to put Adidas on notice] and instead entered a mediation period.” They made it sound like Ward flouted the committee, but in reality, he was just trying to prevent the university from being sued. If SLAC had taken the time to read the fine print, they would understand

Ward’s intentions because the contract requires that if a dispute arises both parties must enter into mediation.

The rest of the legalese gets fairly complicated, which explains the fact that instead of understanding the problem, SLAC decided that the situation must have been just what they thought it was — because all corporations are evil and the chancellor is always wrong, right? It’s much easier to make a situation fit into your preconceived notions than to keep an open mind, understanding that the true answer might not be the one you want. But hey, at least the SLAC reps would make great objectivists.

Reading through the legalese, one finds that Adidas has no liability. Two key parts of the contract require that first, they don’t knowingly continue business with a subcontractor that violates the law and second, that Adidas must abide by Wisconsin contract law.

I won’t bore you with the details. But looking at the facts, Adidas did not knowingly continue business with PT Kizone.

Furthermore, the only way Adidas could possibly be responsible for providing severance pay would be because of a section of Wisconsin contract law that says they would be liable if they had control over the acts of PT Kizone, which they obviously didn’t.

So basically, if you actually took the time to read the relevant documents concerning the whole Adidas-UW situation, you’d realize that Ward is trying to prevent the university from getting sued for

Taylor Frechette The Badger Herald

Members of the Student Labor Action Coalition have been vocal critics of the University of Wisconsin for its refusal to terminate a contract with Adidas over alleged workers’ rights violations in Indonesia. wrongly terminating its contract with Adidas. He’s not “stalling” like SLAC accuses, and the lawsuit isn’t “jeopardizing UW’s reputation.” Instead, it is preventing the university from losing money that it certainly would if adidas were to sue over the termination of the contract.

Debates force candidates to clarify policy positions

Nathaniel Olson Columnist

I can’t seem to turn on my television or load a YouTube video these days without being saturated with attack advertising claiming that Barack Obama hates my future children or that Mitt Romney wants to give my money away to rich people. Considering that both campaigns still have at least $100 million each to spend, these certainly won’t be the last ads I see this year. But if you’re like me, you yearn for a better forum within which the two sides of the political spectrum can compare and contrast their views. A competitive kegball game perhaps? A survivor-style game show? What’s the third one there? Let’s see…

Anyways, Rick Perry digs aside, the presidential debates will return to television sets across the nation this month.

The first one will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 3 in Denver and two more will follow on the 16th and 22nd. The debate this week will address domestic policy, the second will cover both foreign and domestic topics and the last will focus exclusively on foreign policy.

I’m excited for these presidential debates, but not for the reasons you might think. For starters, I can watch them without worry.

Contrary to popular historical anecdotes about the Nixon vs.

Kennedy or Carter vs. Ford contests, most political science research tells us that debates have a very negligible effect on poll responses and election outcome. Seeing a candidate eloquently deliver a stump speech while their opponent is in the room just doesn’t sway minds like we seem to think it does.

However, debates do clarify our understanding of the candidates or their positions.

These two campaigns seem determined to run ads that are little more than carefully calibrated lies. In contrast, a debate forces candidates to be very clear on which policy paths they would pursue and why these policies are comparatively superior to their opponent’s.

I’m really hoping the transparency of debate shines through in the foreign policy discussion. The Republican Party, torn asunder between its two wings, has put Mitt Romney in an uncomfortable position. He’ll have to appease the hardliners who shriek of American exceptionalism and court the Ron Paul-ian isolationists who scream back at them. Somehow, he’ll need to formulate a manifesto that is both qualitatively different from and superior to Barack Obama’s and do it all without sounding like George Bush 2.0. That’s no small task. He also won’t have a line-up of clown candidates behind him to make him look brilliant by

suggesting moon colonies or mocking the idea that they might need to know the names of other foreign leaders.

If nothing else, debates are a source of often unintentional hilarity. Seriously, Herman Cain was my own personal Winnebago Man for a good two-month stretch. He was the gift that kept on giving. And while it’s no longer primary season, meaning we won’t see any more wretchedly partisan appeals, the potential for gaffes abounds. And hey, new material for SNL skits can hardly be a bad thing.

Even if their claims are vacuous and follow-through is difficult, these debates matter for us as students. A key part of a solid democratic society is an engaged citizenry that understands the importance of student loans and infrastructure development but can also see the value of a balanced budget and a strong military. The subject matter of the contest might matter much more than the debate itself, and it’s essential that we know the issues.

So, welcome the presidential debates with open arms ladies and gentleman, a no stress way to cast blame on whoever you don’t like.

They’re here all month and they can only amuse. Tune in.

Nathaniel Olson (naolson4@ wisc.edu) is a senior majoring in political science, history and psychology.

And then of course there’s the other reason UW shouldn’t just cut and run from Adidas: if we did, we wouldn’t have any leverage to get those factory workers their pay. Why the hell would Adidas want to pay them if the university wasn’t putting pressure on them anymore?

Yes, those workers most certainly deserve severance pay. But that doesn’t justify blaming the closest entity you can get your hands on.

PT Kizone is the one at fault, not Adidas and not Ward.

But hey, I guess it’s easier to whine than actually do your homework on an issue.

And some Madisonites still wonder why Madison is viewed as a place where liberal culture prevents issues from being fully hashed out...

Reginald Young (ryoung@ badgerherald.com) is a senior majoring in legal studies and Scandinavian studies.

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 Sarah Witman’s 9/15 column:

Transport sustainability needed Guest

The most “sustainable” people I knew were my entirely ordinary granparents, who lived in same house for 60 years without undertaking large remodeling projects, tended a garden where they grew much of their own food, sewed some of their own clothes, kept the thermostat high, drove only one car, and wasted nothing. Most of these thrifty habits were hangovers from growing up in the Depression, not attempts to embark on a crusade of self-righteous sustainability.

Thanks, Guest. This comment on the generation gap in perspectives on sustainability reads like a brief synopsis of a John Steinbeck novel.

In response to Angus McNair’s 9/24 column:

All animals deserve sympathy felt for UW cats Dario Ringach

. . . you should not confuse a recognition of our own obligations with their rights. Rights entail obligations, but the reverse is not always true.

As soon as I read this I lapsed into traumatic flashbacks of comments written on my philosophy papers in red pen about how I made a “category error,” whatever that is, and the group theory in this morning’s abstract algebra lecture. I’m glad you’ve reminded us of the one way street that is an if-then logical connective, Dario, but I’m not sure what this has to do with animal rights. You could always try to prove the contrapositive, sometimes that’s easier.

In response to John Waters’s 9/27 column:

Reaction to call shows hypocrisy llcthecableguy

The problem with public sector unions is simple: we’re setting employees to negotiate with other employees with other people’s money. In most cases, these employees have an almost symbiotic relationship with each other, which makes it even worse.

I have to say, Llc, while most of your comments remind me of your boundless cynicism and tendency towards conspiracy theory, here the comparison you draw between public employees and the communion algae and fungi share in lichen I find inventive, original and exceedingly excellent. However, I find the interaction between public employees more reminiscent of a diferent biological relationship, namely, commensalism.

QUOTE OF THE DAY “I built Wisconsin.”

-TOMMY THOMPSON, REPUBLICAN SENATE CANDIDATE

Yes, Tommy, you were on the state Assembly for quite some time and served as governor of Wisconsin for fourteen years, so if anyone is allowed to make such an outlandish statement, it is probably you. But to assert that you built this state is to downplay such historical forces and geological processes as glacial flow, the pioneer days of westward expansion and Manifest Destiny.

This state has benefited from the hard work of countless Wisconsinites — they would probably appreciate the gratitude of a future Senator. On the other hand, you could sweep them under the rug or ask them to bow down and praise you for breathing life into a once lifeless land of Wisconsin. Which, by the way, became a territorial possession in 1783 and a state in 1848.

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.

ArtsEtc. Editor Allegra Dimperio arts@badgerherald.com

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The Badger Herald | Arts | Tuesday, October 2, 2012

Greensky worth cost for bluegrass

At Majestic’s 5-year anniversary, hype not spared, nor are twang bluegrass jams Ian Neal ArtsEtc. Writer

Photo courtesy of Hannibal Buress

Hannibal Buress, who has written for such shows as ‘30 Rock’ and ‘SNL,’ showcased his hilarious stand-up act this weekend in Madison.

Buress brings laughs to Madison Kevin Cook ArtsEtc. Writer

The comedy scene has exploded in Madison in recent years, and this Saturday, Madison welcomed one of standup’s rising stars to the stage at Barrymore Theater. Hannibal Buress, named one of Variety’s “10 Comics to Watch in 2010,” has continued to rise in the comic ranks achieving success after writing for 30 Rock and Saturday Night Live.

Hannibal has a unique style that blends his methodical delivery seamlessly with offbeat observational comedy.

Hannibal kept the crowd laughing at almost every turn as his topics veered from life on the road, to daily encounters to his love of apple juice.

Hannibal utilized several unconventional techniques throughout the show to keep the audience engaged and gain some laughs, and

there were times when jokes didn’t play as well he cut the lights to signal as expected, Hannibal that his joke was done. fell back on tried jokes to Usually, these jokes were regain audience approval.

He also talked about terrible, so cutting the lights only added to the his life goals and dreams, which included eating a humor.

In the second half of his penguin sandwich and show, Hannibal spoke on how he would give $500 to wrangle his love of the penguin rap music and cook it and asked himself. for help Hannibal Hannibal from his Buress played Buress played DJ to break to the crowd down lines to the crowd with finesse, from rap with finesse, demonstrating songs. He demonstrating his veteran poked fun his veteran comic comic skills at Kanye despite West for skills despite being only using being only 29-years-old, made-up 29-years-old, contrasting words in the many his songs, teenage kids shouldered sitting in the T.I. for front row. The being part youngsters rapper, part criminal and chided 2 even provided their Chainz for being … well, own source of comedy: After one punchline that for being 2 Chainz.

During his hour-long involved some cursing, set, Buress used many new Buress turned to the kids jokes that weren’t in his and asked what the rest of recent “Animal Furnace” the crowd was thinking, DVD special. When newer “did your parents know

what they were getting you into?”

Once Hannibal finished his set, people began filing out. But he soon returned for an encore with another 10 minutes of material.

Here, Hannibal took requests from audience members, who shouted out their favorite jokes such as “Jesus and tacos” or “regretful pedophile.”

During the encore there was plenty of rehashed material, but the audience loved it. And even though most were familiar with the punchlines, the jokes were still hilarious, thanks in part to Hannibal’s unique style and contagious laugh.

Overall, Hannibal gave an excellent performance Saturday here in Madison.

For only $15, this was the best entertainment in town. With continued support from the community, comedy will continue to grow, and Madison will hopefully see more of Hannibal Buress and top-tier comedians.

The Majestic Theatre celebrated its 5th Grand Re-Opening anniversary this weekend with an exciting slate of music Friday and Saturday night.

On Saturday night, the theater welcomed the Dirty Projectors for their true anniversary, but Friday featured a trio of bluegrass bands with Kalamazoo’s Greensky Bluegrass as the headliner.

Concert-goers venturing into the Majestic were treated to a night of feverish banjo picking and guitar strumming. Setting the tone for the evening was Evergreen Grass Band from Eau Claire followed by The Deadly Gentlemen, who came all the way from Boston to play an impressive opening set. The musicians were welcomed with approving foot-stomps and areas of dancing as the crowd filed in. Once the floor was full and the balcony modestly occupied, Greensky Bluegrass took the stage and began their set to the cheers of a warmly receptive audience.

Early on in the set, the band’s cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark” pleased the crowd, who wholeheartedly sang along to the tune.

It was a common theme for the night, indicating a number of fans entirely familiar with the group’s catalog.

The set list was marked by a frenzied pace often associated with bluegrass, while also showing the capacity to perform a few numbers that were more intimate and melodic, and ran with a slower tempo.

Unfortunately, these slower-paced segments were at times lost on the crowd, whose boisterousness carried over from the high-energy songs. The excitement elicited during the faster numbers, however, stayed

consistent throughout the night, leaving the band and audience undaunted by brief technical disturbances.

By the end of the set, the audience was clearly enthused by the performance, calling for the encore by stomping their feet in unison, as they had done at many points already.

The aesthetics of the Majestic offered a fitting venue and provided great acoustics for the show, and Greensky fit the bill well.

Even though the band showed moderate energy at best during the show, their sheer talent wholly made up for any lackluster showmanship.

The group’s ability to improvise became evident throughout the set as band members swapped leads, each drawing applause from the audience.

Mandolinist Hoffman and guitarist Bruzza were particularly lauded by the crowd for their stringed virtuosity. But beyond the band members’ apparent individual musical capability, the group played as a unit with seamless transitions and tight vocal harmonies.

Greensky played a show to please the real bluegrass fans, who made up most of the audience. The show also offered a remarkable display of musicianship that could easily entertain more casual listeners or fans of musical talent in general.

There may not have been much to engage patrons who didn’t share those preferences, however. But for those whose tastes it suited, the performance left little to be desired — the crowd displayed satisfaction through enthusiastic cheers, stomping and vigorous dancing. For bluegrass fans and those who appreciate musical prowess alike, this show was certainly worth the price of admission.

THE BADGER HERALD PRESENTS ‘CHEW ON THIS’

Delicious date spots for demanding denizens in the city Ben Cox ArtsEtc. Writer I know that a date for many undergrads might be an after-bar followed by a hasty exit the next morning.

And even though a lot of you

might not exactly be in date mode yet, the time will come soon. So if you’re looking for a good place for the next date night in a serious relationship, or if you’re just starting to decide the person you’re waking up next to on Sunday is worth more than a

McDonald’s breakfast in the morning, you might want to keep reading.

What makes a great date restaurant? Good food’s a start, but there’s still so much more. It has to be not too crowded, but not too empty. Not too noisy, but not

too quiet. Not too upscale, but not too dingy. Good drinks are just as important as good food — let’s face it, the difference between talking about the weather and talking about hidden tattoos can take a couple rounds.

And food: it has to be good, but also has to be light (no one wants to fool around with that Thanksgiving dinner feeling).

Finally, it has to be unique, because unique dining experiences are the ones your date will

remember.

To all my readers who need things to be just right, here’s a rundown of a few of the best date restaurants in Madison. Sure, they all have great food, but they didn’t make this list on kitchen creativity alone.

Photo courtesy of Dotty Dumpling’s Dowry Photo courtesy of Greenbush Bar

DOTTY DUMPLING’S DOWRY Photo courtesy of Natt Spill

NATT SPIL Don’t look for a sign because there isn’t one. Natt Spil is one of the best-kept secrets in Madison. Located on King St. off the Capitol Square, Natt Spil offers an amazing atmosphere with seating near the bar and more intimate space towards the back. Sit at the bar and try one of their 17 specialty drinks including 6 martinis, or enjoy a tap beer from their rotating local selection.

Looking for a snack? Order a few different items from their dim sum menu to share. Feeling hungrier than appetizers? Try their Three Cup Chicken (or Tofu) or one of their homemade pizzas baked in a wood-burning oven. Natt Spil is off the beaten path and boasts an atmosphere that’s sure to win points with your date.

GREENBUSH BAR Greenbush bar is another of Madison’s hidden gems. Sitting in the basement of the building that houses the Italian Workman’s Club on Regent St., it’s easy to walk past unknowingly. Everything inside adds to the atmosphere, from the wide-and-far bar to the Christmas lights, which illuminate the spot on their own.

Greenbush houses just a handful of tables, but getting one is worth the wait. In addition to their selection of salad and pasta dishes, their pizza is touted as some of the best in Madison.

With a thin crust in various sizes, Greenbush offers more than the typical assortment of toppings, and includes artichoke hearts, feta cheese, kalamata olives, Italian sausage and more on their menu.

On any date, finger food is a plus. With pizza as the king of finger foods, not many places do it as well as Greenbush Bar.

Plenty of people fall into the trap of taking a first date to an upscale restaurant. Take that first date to Dotty’s instead for a restaurant that’s nice, but casual enough to alleviate the pressure.

Dotty’s isn’t your average burger joint. Sitting in the heart of campus on Frances St., burgers are certainly their main fare, but they also have a great atmosphere (sensing a theme?). Most of the seating is in the form of booths that have high backs for privacy with tables that are just the right size — close enough to use inside voices. Finally, wash it all down with one of their 25 beers on tap.

All of these venues have great food created in their own unique style. And while you certainly don’t have to be on a date to enjoy them, if you’re looking for a place to take that special someone, consider starting at one of these restaurants for your night on the town. If the food doesn’t get you, the atmosphere will.

Comics

Tuesdays Deemed “Worst Day Ever” by Ed. Board, Polls, God Noah J. Yuenkel comics@badgerherald.com

6

The Badger Herald | Comics | Tuesday, Rocktober 2, 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: “Worse than Mondays,” weeps rotund cat after decades of lies

HERALD COMICS

MADCAPS PRESENTS

K

A

K

U

R

O

baby@badgerherald.com

STEPHEN TYLER CONRAD

madcaps@badgerherald.com

MOLLY MALONEY

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.

C’EST LA MORT

paragon@badgerherald.com

PARAGON

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

DIFFICULTY: Lowest incidence of cheer, sex, or sex-related cheer

MOUSELY & FLOYD

NOAH J. YUENKEL

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 }

nyuenkel@badgerherald.com

BUNI

HERALD COMICS 1

pascle@badgerherald.com

RYAN PAGELOW

2

3

4

PRESENTS

5

6

14

7

17

18

20

21

25

ERICA LOPPNOW

random@badgerherald.com

26

28

29

33

34 37

40 43

44

31

54

55

38

45 47

50

51

56

skypirate@badgerherald.com

30

41

46 49

13

16

36

42

12

22

27

39

COLLIN LA FLEUR

11

24

35

THE SKY PIRATES

10

19

32

48

9

15

23

RANDOM DOODLES

8

57

52

53

58

59

60

61

62

63

64

Puzzle by Lou Borenstein

BEADY EYES

YOUR COMIC

BRONTË MANSFIELD

YOUR NAME

comics@badgerherald.com

comics@badgerherald.com

Across 1 Traditional location of one of this puzzle’s theme words 6 Musical copyright org.

11 Came down with 14 1998 BP acquisition 15 “Phooey!”

16 Can 17 Opposite of an AC/DC song?

20 Sellout signs 21 Outdated tape format 22 Light units 23 Prefix with classical 24 Mother of Helen, in myth 25 Opposite of a Led Zeppelin number?

32 Most confident 33 Virginia’s Washington

34

35 36 37 39 40 41 42

46 47 48

51

52 56

59 60 61

and ___ University Classic actor ___ G. Carroll Big arcade name Plea at sea Hit hard Path of a pop-up From ___ Z Lea Opposite of a Meat Loaf tune?

Movierating org.

Baseball’s Mel Many a young summer employee Crew member’s handful Church niche Opposite of a Bing Crosby hit?

Buckeyes, for short Golfer Sam ___

metabolism 62 Summer hrs.

63 Utopias 64 Traditional location of one of this puzzle’s theme words Down 1 Scrooge-like cries 2 V.I.P. in a robe 3 An apple for Apple Inc., e.g.

4 Newspaperman Adolph 5 “Unbelievable!”

6 “Be that as it may …”

7 Complete collections 8 ___-Magnon 9 Olympics competitor 10 False start?

11 Buckled 12 “Olly olly ___ free” 13 Hamiltons 18 Stave off 19 Asian nurse

Get today’s puzzle solutions at badgerherald.com

23 Not final, in law 24 Cleaning agents 25 Kama ___ 26 Chunk of land 27 ___ Lingus 28 Not personally engaged 29 Slur over 30 Give an indication (that) 31 MGM founder

CROSSWORD 32 Discontinued Swedish car 36 Old philosophers’ place 37 Pants part that gets a lot of wear 38 Dallas cager, for short 40 Finished 41 Subway system 43 Breaking of a mirror, some fear 44 Revolt 45 Doesn’t ever throw anything away 48 ___ Shuffle 49 Untouchable leader 50 Letter-shaped fastener 51 Blink ___ eye 52 Ishmael’s captain 53 Currency unit whose symbol is “$” 54 Pole, for one 55 Magazine whose name means “she” 57 “Understand?”

58 Corp. hiree

Rocky the Herald Comics Raccoon™

There is a chill in the air and the leaves are beginning to turn which can mean only one thing — I forgot to drop that stats class.

To place an ad in Classifieds: Elise Watson ewatson@badgerherald.com 257.4712 ext. 311

7

The Badger Herald | Classifieds | Monday October 1, 2012

Classifieds

FOR SALE

EMPLOYMENT

STUDENTPAYOUTS.COM. Paid Survey Takers Needed in Madi!Bartending! $300/day potential. son. 100% Free to Join. Click Dry sawdust available for dairy No experience necessary. Train- on Surveys. cattle. For more info please call ing available. 800-965-6520 Kurt at (507) 312-0549 ext. 120 JOB OPENING. Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest and most prestigious liberal arts society in the country. The UW Chapter is hiring a student assistant. The student must be self-directed, competent with Word Processing and Excel Programs. A background in administration is a plus. Student must have work study and be in their first or second year. To apply send resume and cover letter to E. Alison Rice at pbk@saa.ls.wisc.edu

Sports STAVE, from 8 injured, but could rejoin the team this week, Bielema said. But the void has allowed some juniors to step in. “(Abbrederis) is a tremendous leader … Chris Borland on the other side of the ball,” Bielema said. “But it’s just sheer numbers that can kind of be overwhelming to have those younger guys take effect.”

Wisconsin faces Illinois Saturday, the first game against an opponent in its division, and Bielema spoke of the budding rivalry with Illinois now that the two schools will play each other every year.

SEATTLE, from 8 says she can tell that her teammate’s time in Seattle was beneficial for her.

“I’m pretty close with LJ so I know that she has never really been outside her comfort zone before,”

“Playing with girls that have been in such a high [level] — it makes me look forward to what I can do in the future.”

Lindsey Johnson Midfielder

Lam-Feist said.

“She’s never really played outside of Wisconsin so going to Seattle for a summer was a good experience for her. I

DANIELS, from 8 the game when he tried to explain the kicking situation in his postgame press conference.

“Both of them at times show really good things,” Bielema said. “It’s made it difficult to go with one guy.”

With so little difference

The Fighting Illini have a new coach in Tim Beckman, and though the head coach pointed out they run a similar spread offense anchored by the same quarterback, junior Nathan Scheelhaase, he knows firsthand how coaching changes can shake up a team.

“Schemes are easy to identify. What happens in a coaching transition is all the little things that you don’t really know until critical moments,” he said.

“Obviously, we didn’t have a head coaching change, but we had a lot of coaching transition, and some of those things pop up when there’s critical moments in a game.”

definitely saw a side to her come out of her shell a bit. It was nice to see.”

This season, Johnson has started all 12 of UW’s games and is tied for the team lead in assists with four.

Wilkins says she can tell some good habits have rubbed off on Johnson after playing with such talented players over the summer.

“I think when you see how professional some people can be, I think that you can learn from that,” Wilkins said. “It’s pretty amazing to be in that culture. Obviously playing with the Alex Morgans and the Hope Solos of the world you see what they do day-in and day-out to become a better player, and I think that’s something that will be a great experience for her.”

between the two, the only remaining area for comparison is experience, a category with a clear favorite in Kyle French.

As long as the talent between two kickers is comparable like Bielema claims, it seems counterintuitive to throw a true freshman into the

Eaves expects more in 2012 Head coach sees marked development in last year’s 7 freshmen, 10 sophomores Brett Blaske Sports Writer The 2011-12 Wisconsin men’s hockey season saw the team compile its first sub .500 record since the 2007-08 campaign.

But a year later, the expectations surrounding Badgers hockey are much loftier.

The losing record came to the chagrin of Badger fans, but a rebuilding year was somewhat expected with a roster full of youngsters that included seven freshmen and 10 sophomores skating for the Badgers. At his weekly press conference Monday, head coach Mike Eaves said he believes it’s time to reap the benefits of another year of experience and development.

Gauging the level of maturation from last season will be evident immediately, as the first official day of practice coincides with the first game of the season when the team faces off with the U.S. Under-18 team at the Kohl Center Saturday.

Before Saturday, the team has only been allowed to practice and skate together for two hours a week.

pressure cooker that is the crowd of 85,962 at Memorial Stadium without any previous experience.

So why did Bielema and the coaching staff choose O’Brien over Stave in a critical last drive, but also chose to go with Russell over French?

Your guess is as good as

“These practices have highlighted this first game — they have a meaning and a purpose,” Eaves said.

“Our very first official day we play a game that night, so I’m interested to see how that pays off, if we have that character there.

We play our first day, we need to stay focused.”

The two-hour limit on the week for warming up, skating and drills has put a significant strain on the team, but what they lack in time, this season’s Badgers make up for in experience.

When asked if the coaching staff has evaluated the talent of his incoming class, Eaves pointed to the fact that this team has few freshmen on the roster — a major change from a season ago. The few they have get to show their skills after watching the more veteran players ahead of them set the standard of play.

“The thing about this year’s team as opposed to last year and the year before, they’re able to go to the back of the line and watch several times how things are being done and have a better idea when their time comes,” Eaves said. “They have good examples to look at before

mine.

Maybe he was hoping to find a quick fix in an attempt to save the sinking ship that is UW’s season this year, but I like to think he flipped a coin or played eenie-meenie-miney-moe or closed his eyes and pointed blindly at one of them on the sideline.

they have to jump in.”

The learn-by-example method is one the Badgers sorely missed last year.

Fielding a team loaded with freshmen and sophomores, there where times when Wisconsin lacked the necessary experience to ensure success. “[When] I look at anyone that was in our sophomore class last year, [they were] thrown into a significant situation right away and by the end of the year they had matured to where you could definitely see growth,” Eaves said.

With freshmen who get to sit back and watch how the college game gets played and upperclassmen who bear the brunt of the responsibility for steady play, Eaves has a proven system in place that has yielded successful hockey on a consistent basis.

The steep learning curve, but relatively little pressure placed upon the freshmen gives them a chance to improve their skillset to the point where they can challenge for time on the ice.

Not wanting to lose their spot on the ice, the extra push from those in the backup lines gives motivation for better play from those in the front.

Any other method would just seem far too logical for Bielema this season.

So even though the excitement of a potential national championship title run has worn off, at least Badger fans have Bielema’s decision-making to keep them interested in each game.

Eaves said he saw this last season with his two goaltenders.

“Part of the maturation was the fact that [Joel Rumpel] thought Mr. [Landon] Peterson was right off his shoulder in practice and in the games he got to play, he played very well,” Eaves said. “As a coach and coaching staff, we would like to have that situation in all positions.”

And UW’s men’s hockey team has the potential to make a deep playoff push this year.

In their 50th season of existence, the team enters the season ranked No. 15 in the nation. The 10-member junior class makes up the biggest portion of the squad, and they are flanked by seven additional sophomores.

The team returns 15 of its top 16 scorers from last season, and winning at home is something of a tradition at one of the toughest environments in college hockey — the Kohl Center. So where might this team end up when playoff time comes?

The head coach is optimistic.

“Based on history, these are two years we need to harvest our crops,” Eaves said. “And that’s what we’re looking to do.”

At this point, who knows what unexplained, misguided decision will come next week.

Nick is a junior majoring in journalism. Share your thoughts with him on UW’s kicking struggles via email at ndaniels@badgerherald.com or on Twitter @npdaniels31.

Sports Editor Ian McCue sports@badgerherald.com

8 | Sports | Tuesday, October 2, 2012

SPORTS

Stave impresses Bielema on road Freshman signalcaller, along with Abbrederis, shares MVP in 30-27 loss Nick Kucera Sports Writer Heading into Lincoln, most expected the Badgers to lose, but they didn’t go down without a fight as they built a 17-point lead before Nebraska scoring the game’s final 20 points to win 30-27 in front of its home crowd.

The fact that this was the team’s Big Ten opener made this loss particularly hard to stomach for the Badgers and drew comparisons to UW’s painful loss to Michigan State in 2011. “[Michigan State in 2011] wasn’t a Big Ten opener, but it was our first Big Ten road game,” head coach Brett Bielema said at his press conference Monday.

“I get those questions a lot not only obviously mediarelated, but sometimes my closest friends or my relatives … I would say that this team is its own set of characters.”

While many have noted Wisconsin — and the Big Ten as a whole — is experiencing a down year, only two teams remain unbeaten through five weeks as both Northwestern and Ohio State lead their respective divisions at 5-0 — Bielema said he expects the conference to make a recovery as the season moves forward.

“I’ve been in football long enough to know it’s not how you start the race, it’s how you end the race,” he said. “My guess is there will be quite a few teams up there knocking at the end of the year.”

One big question surrounding the team coming out of the 30-27 loss at Nebraska was the future role for redshirt freshman quarterback Joel Stave, the co-offensive MVP for the game along with wide receiver Jared Abbrederis.

Stave was hit hard after making a throw late in the fourth quarter, and former starting quarterback junior Danny O’Brien came back into the game to lead the potential game-winning drive, primarily because he looked better running

the two-minute drill in practice, according to Bielema. The drive ended with a fumble between O’Brien and running back Montee Ball that ended any chance of a Badgers’ victory, but Bielema refused to second guess his decision to keep Stave on the sideline.

“Joel really got rocked on that play, on the completion to Kenzel (Doe),” Bielema said. “I didn’t see that … someone said look at Joel. I looked out there, and he’s slow getting up, kind of just a little bit off.”

Bielema did say he saw important signs of development in the redshirt freshman quarterback, who made just his second career start in front of a rocking crowd at Memorial Stadium.

“I think he plays better in games than he does in practice,” he said. “To me, that’s just something you’ve got to learn about your quarterback.”

The Wisconsin head coach attributed Stave’s swift development to watching star quarterback Russell Wilson play last year, where he witnessed the type of competitiveness

Megan McCormick The Badger Herald

In his second career start, Joel Stave averted costly miscues and completed 52 percent of his passes for 214 yards and a touchdown. the UW head coach says the new man under center displays.

Despite dominant play from the Wisconsin offensive line early, Ball struggled to find space and averaged just 2.8 yards per carry, finishing the game with 90 rushing yards and three touchdowns. As the marquee returning starter on offense for the Badgers, Bielema said he and running backs coach

Thomas Hammock have talked to him about trying to single-handedly carry this offense.

“You could see early on where he was really trying to press and make some things happen, rather than just let them come to him.

That’s what he’s done that in the past.”

Bielema also said every NFL scout who he has talked to said Ball is a better player than last

year, even though his numbers are not nearly as impressive thus far.

With his team at 3-2 at the end of the September, Bielema said neither of the two offensive senior captains — Ricky Wagner and Ball — have been the vocal leaders for the team to rally around. Strong safety and senior captain Shelton Johnson has been

STAVE, page 7

Wrong time, place to try out Russell Nick Daniels Nick’s Picks

Megan McCormick The Badger Herald

After playing with several of the world’s best soccer players, Johnson (17), a senior midfielder, has collected four assists this year but is still without a score of her own.

Johnson’s summer in Seattle Senior captain played alongside gold medalists Solo, Morgan with W-League Sounders Spencer Smith Women’s Soccer Writer After living in Wisconsin for her whole life, senior midfielder and Wisconsin women’s soccer team captain Lindsey Johnson left her comfort zone and spent her summer in one of the most bustling cities in the United States: Seattle.

It’s one thing to go from Sussex, Wis., with a population just over 10,000 people to Seattle with a population 62 times larger than that in the city. But to play soccer on the same team as Hope Solo, Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan — some of the best soccer players in the world — is an experience most could only dream of.

Johnson lived that dream this summer.

She had just finished her third year at Wisconsin and was a defensive staple for the Badgers’ women’s soccer team, starting in all 20 matches and named to the second team all-Big Ten. Johnson then set her sights on the summer.

She was planning to play soccer, but not sure where, and thanks to Wisconsin head coach Paula Wilkins, who encouraged Johnson, she took a chance and played in Seattle.

“I was thinking of playing somewhere else in the summer,” Johnson said. “I didn’t really know where I was going to go, but then Paula kind of pushed me to [go to Seattle]. She put the idea in my head, and I thought about it, and then I just went for it.”

So Wilkins put in a good word with head coach Michelle French and with that Johnson was on her way to play for the Seattle Sounders of the USL W-League.

Johnson remembers what it was like when she first landed in Seattle.

“When I first arrived, I was probably the most nervous I have ever been in my entire life,” Johnson said. “A guy that worked for the team picked me up at the airport. I was pretty much on the verge of freaking out right after I got on the plane, but as soon as I met him and met my host family and my team, the nerves went away pretty quickly.”

Johnson noticed professionalism was the biggest difference between her W-League team and college team.

She said the practices weren’t too different from college, but noted the intensity of the games was above and beyond anything she had ever known.

She recalled an event in particular that set the tone for the rest of the summer.

“In my very first game, I remember there was a ball going out on the end-line for a corner for the other team, and there was no way I could have gotten to it to save the corner. So naturally I didn’t go for it. But I was screamed at because I didn’t attempt to save it — and that’s the moment I knew that this was going to be a completely different experience than I have ever before experienced.”

Johnson went on to play in eight of the team’s 15 games, tallying 378 minutes and a shot during the season. The Sounders ended the season with a record of 10-4-1.

The senior captain said playing in the W-League presented challenges she had never experienced before.

“It was definitely a different experience,” Johnson said. “First of all, in Seattle, the fans are outrageous. There were 4,500 people at every game... and that was ridiculous. I’ve never been in an environment like that.

“The pace and everything is higher.

It’s just a different experience and playing with girls that have been

in such a high [level of] environment — it makes me look forward to what I can do in the future.”

While in Seattle, Johnson had the opportunity to play with Solo, Morgan and Rapinoe because the U.S. professional women’s soccer league was suspended due to a financial dispute.

Johnson made relationships with some of the players there, hanging out with the team through various team-bonding exercises that included a team get together at Solo’s house for the Fourth of July.

Reflecting on the experience, she said just being able to be in a different city and playing alongside some of the best players in the world was an experience she will never forget.

“I’ve never been on my own like that in my entire life,” Johnson said. “It was really different living with a family that wasn’t my own, and then I had to play with players I wasn’t used to and be on a team that I wasn’t used to and coaches that I wasn’t used to. Then [to] play with players of that caliber was just outrageous.”

Senior midfielder Monica Lam-Feist, who is close with Johnson,

SEATTLE, page 7

Since Saturday’s second half implosion in Lincoln, Neb., the quarterback controversy has certainly gained the most publicity over the last several days as being one of head coach Bret Bielema’s biggest mistakes so far this season.

It was a fact that became glaringly obvious after a miscommunication between quarterback Danny O’Brien and Montee Ball led to a fumble to end the scoring hopes, and eventually the game, for the Badgers.

But what fans seem to brush aside is the fact that it should never have gotten to that desperate point to begin with.

In a less-publicized switch that was overshadowed by Joel “Sunshine” Stave’s first collegiate start, Bielema chose to also give freshman kicker Jack Russell the reigns on all kicking duties Saturday over redshirt sophomore Kyle French.

French has been far from perfect this season. After starting the first four games of the season, French made three field goals in four attempts. While certainly a respectable percentage at this point, the worrisome part was his only miss came on a 19-yard attempt against Utah State — a distance typically considered a gimme for most college kickers.

It seems Bielema made his decision Saturday night looking solely at this statistic.

In a very un-Bielemaesque decision, he decided to go with an inexperienced freshman from Waunakee, Wis., over a moreexperienced, although by no means veteran, French who already had part of a 2011 season under his belt.

If the choice at quarterback for the twominute offense at the end of the Nebraska game was any indication, Bielema seems to value experience (sometimes too much). In a decision without an obvious

explanation, he chose to give the freshman his first start in one of the most intimidating environments in all of college football.

As a result, when Russell lined up for a 41-yard field goal just before halftime to extend the Badgers’ lead to 13, the nerves got to him and he missed wide left. To make matters worse, it came in a half that had already seen Russell miss an extra point earlier in the second quarter.

Add up all the points UW missed out on due to unreliable kicking and the game could have had a very different result, perhaps even giving UW a “W” to match the one on the center of its throwback jerseys.

I’m not about to begin playing the “what-if” game.

Maybe French would have made the kick had he been in the game, maybe he wouldn’t have. His career long at UW is only 36 yards, and he has missed from 50 yards twice before in his career, so there is no obvious statistic to point to in defense of his abilities.

What I will suggest, though, is Russell’s statistics say even less to his ability to hit that field goal than French.

Just two weeks ago, Russell had never taken a collegiate field goal in a game for Wisconsin. After Nebraska, he now sits with a perfectly imperfect field goal percentage of zero percent, missing each of his two career attempts.

Even more, if there is one position on the field where Bielema’s belief in a veteran presence should be recognized over talent, it’s at kicker. Unlike most of the positions on the field that can have very different functions with jobs each game switching as they see opponents with different personnel, the kicker has one important job on offense when it comes to scoring points: Get the ball through the uprights.

As a result, the scenery and the environment are really the only things that change from game to game; the task is the same in every single game.

Bielema certainly didn’t help his own case after

DANIELS, page 7