'Good to Grow' - Volume 54, Issue 8

Good to grow

Road to food sustainability from farmers to consumers introduces unique challenges, solutions

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UWPD SHOOTING PROTOCOLS 4 DUCKS RETURN TO MENDOTA 10

Campus leaders are considering implementing mandatory active shooting trainings for students and staff

As spring sets in, waterfowl of all kinds are passing through Madison — here’s how they help the ecosystem

Sydney Triplett

Janani Sundar

Audrey Thibert

Caroline Crowley

Logan Hash

Madison Hibner

Parker Johnson

Anne Isman

Erin Gretzinger

Elise Fjelstad

Maggie Degnan

Phoenix Pham

Sophia Scolman

Ben Cadigan

Celia Hiorns

Several controverial, hateful speakers have attended campus this year — how should the university balance the right to free speech and respect for impacted students?

Records reveal Charlie Fahey self-funded majority of campaign

by Ben Cadigan Digital News Editor

On April 4, the race for the District 8 Madison City Council seat was determined by just 104 votes. On April 11, University of Wisconsin student Charlie Fahey announced that he had almost won a seat on the Madison City Council as a conservative.

During his campaign, Fahey avoided debate, presented his opponent and others with vague defenses and hid information from voters about his finances and political stances.

Fahey has a history of conservatism and a mostly self-funded campaign — both of which were hidden from voters until after the election.

“There is nothing wrong about being a conservative,” District 8 Alder and Fahey’s opponent MGR Govindarajan said. “But when you are a candidate, you cannot lie about your policies and beliefs.”

While campaigning, Fahey had hidden the fact that he was a conservative from voters. Though alder elections are nonpartisan, and candidates in local alder elections are not marked on the ballot based on political party, District 2 Alder Juliana Bennett said it is the responsibility of candidates to be open about their beliefs while they are campaigning.

Bennett shares Govindarajan’s view that the problem is Fahey’s lack of transparency, not his political affiliation. Bennett said Fahey misled students and used the large proportion of the vote he received to make an argument toward students wanting a conservative leader.

“From starting out with not putting out their values or anything, that was misleading,” Bennett said. “To then insinuating that students wanted a conservative leader was also deliberately misleading and excluding the facts.”

Bennett’s primary concern is that students will feel lied to by the candidate they voted for and will not want to vote in the future as a result.

The impact of this could be large-scale, considering the voter turnout of the District 4 alder election this year was the biggest yet, Govindarajan said. He said the student vote in the district this year was double the previous record.

Will Bradley, like other students who voted for Fahey, feels conned. He was part of Fahey’s campaign team and did not know that Fahey held conservative views. He said he voted for Fahey because his views on housing issues — one of the focuses of the election — were based on building more housing and felt that Govindarajan’s views

were unclear.

Bradley said he still supports his decision to vote for Fahey but wishes he hadn’t been tricked.

“He absolutely lied to his supporters,” Bradley said to The Badger Herald via Twitter messaging. “That ward is 90% democrat, so if he got 48% of the vote, he lied to the vast majority of his supporters.” Overlooked Finances

All alders’ and other elected officials’ finances are available on the City Clerk website as public records, including those campaigning for office.

Fahey received $4,057.50 in individual donations to his campaign, along with $400

Before the Campaign

To some who knew Fahey before the election, like Govindarajan and Fahey’s high school peer Noelle Herrmann, it was not surprising to hear that he was conservative.

In high school, Fahey participated in two political activism organizations — the Junior State of America and Teenage Republicans Club, Herrmann said.

“He was one of the kids that always raised their hand in class,” Herrmann said. “He was very politically involved and involved with a lot in school, so he was very open to sharing his beliefs.”

JSA is a student-led national organization that encourages political engagement

[than the] majority of the class,” Herrmann said.

In addition to JSA, Fahey was the vice president of the Teenage Republicans Club, a club he co-founded with a friend, Herrmann said.

While at UW, Fahey has been an active member with the Associated Students of Madison, where he worked alongside Govindarajan. Govindarajan said Fahey’s activity for ASM aligned with more rightleaning views, though he clarified that that is not a bad thing in itself.

A Lesson to Learn From

Though Fahey was not elected to the District 8 alder seat, students still feel lied to.

“What’s frustrating to me is that he kind of got away with that,” Bennett said. “He openly lied to and misled students.”

Fahey used the results of the election to argue that students want a conservative leader in his press release, saying the “silent majority” is fed up with the current political standing in Madison. GOP Badgers, a student Republican organization at UW, supported Fahey in his claim on Twitter.

Govindarajan said he would argue the claim, as a conservative did not almost win the election because voters did not know Fahey was conservative. He also said the gap between liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court candidate Janet Protasiewicz and conservative candidate Dan Kelly in the election shows District 8 does not want conservative leaders. In the same district where Fahey earned 48.6% of the vote, Kelly only earned 11% of the vote.

“If somebody asked me, I would say, ‘Yes,’” Fahey said in an interview with the Isthmus, in regard to him being conservative but did not say if anyone ever asked if he was one.

Bennett said the best way to prevent something like this from happening again is to thoroughly research elections beforehand — even small-scale ones like alder elections.

in organization donations, according to his finance record. Of the individual donations, 83% were from Fahey himself.

“This is something I’ve been told by other people who run campaigns for a living … that the reason that Charlie was able to get a decent amount of the votes in the first place is because he had a lot of funds, like financing,” Govindarajan said. “And a lot of that was done by himself.”

Fahey’s total self financing adds up to $3,392.50. The other 17% is from 15 others, with none donating over $50, the finance report shows.

and activism in high school students. The organization has chapters in 300 high schools in 20 states, according to its website, and is student-run and nonpartisan.

At JSA meetings, students could discuss and debate their own views, or they could be assigned the view of a major political party and would debate for that view, Herrmann said. She said Fahey was on the cabinet for their chapter and said he would have been the Republican chair.

“I would say [his] was not a super farright opinion or like conspiracy theorist authoritarian ideals, but it was definitely Republican and much more right-leaning

“First of all, look at your ballot before you get to the polls,” Bennett said. “Secondly, it’s just as important to research these candidates and specifically look for who’s endorsed them. What money are they taking and from whom?”

Bennett also said voters should read between the lines of what candidates say and do and ask candidates if they identify with a political party if the candidate comes to their door.

Fahey did not respond to continued requests for further comment.

Read more about the finances behind the campaign online at badgerherald.com.

Fahey donated over $3000 himself, received donations from realtor organization

Charlie Fahey’s District 8 Alder campaign was primarily self-funded.

ALICE VAGUN. THE BADGER HERALD

UW, UWPD consider mandatory active shooter training

by Sophia Scolman Print News Editor

Between the first recorded mass shooting at a U.S. college campus in 1966 and Feb. 22, 2023, there have been 12 instances of a single gunman killing three or more people at a university, according to Best Colleges.

University of Wisconsin spokesperson Kelly Tyrrell said in an email statement to The Badger Herald that UW is compliant with the Wisconsin state statute protecting public sector employees’ occupational safety through building evacuation procedures and the training of designated persons who assist in carrying out these plans.

But the University of Wisconsin currently only requires students to complete online courses on relationship violence prevention, inclusion and alcohol safety prior to course enrollment— none on active threats.

911 Consulting CEO Bo Mitchell said many organizations fail to realize that emergency services like local police and fire departments

aren’t the first responders in an active threat situation — the people in the building are, he said. Public and private institutions don’t train students on emergency preparedness largely because it isn’t required by law, he said.

According to Mitchell, it typically takes around four minutes for emergency services to arrive at the scene of an active threat situation.

“So if [emergency services] can’t respond in four minutes, then they are not the first responders — they are the official responders,” Mitchell said. “And [students and staff] are the first responders.”

According to Tyrell, UW and the University of Wisconsin Police Department are looking into mandatory staff and student training following the tragedy at Michigan State University earlier this year, though there is no timeline for when this training might become required.

Since March 13, UWPD’s Threat

Intervention Team has successfully prevented two serious threats of violence on campus, according to a release from the office of Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin.

UW also utilizes its emergency notification system once per year to share campus evacuation procedures, emergency response plan and more, Tyrell said. This test was last conducted Aug. 3, 2022.

UWPD currently offers in-person and online active threat response training which educates participants on “Run, Hide, Fight,” which is a popular method for responding to active killer situations.

UWPD Campus Community Officer Barrett Erwin is one of the officers who conducts the in-person training for UW departments or groups that specifically request it. Erwin said in-person training is requested by thousands of campus community members annually, but online training participation or registration is

not tracked.

The training lasts around two hours and is led by a UWPD officer who discusses response plans for various kinds of emergencies based on the building or room the participants are in, Erwin said.

For example, in active shooter situations, Erwin said his training emphasizes barricading to keep a gunman out of the room more than it emphasizes hiding.

“There are no known incidents of an active killer overcoming a barricade and coming after people and the reason for that … is that they have a limited amount of time before officers and I are there to stop them,” Erwin said. “So we spend a lot of time having [participants] look at the various doors in the room [and] if we had enough time, how would we barricade them?”

UW associate professor of civil society and community studies Ben Fisher said the biggest commonality surrounding school shootings is the killer’s access to a gun. Fisher predicts that active shooter situations will continue to occur as long as guns are easily accessible.

But building strong, trusting relationships between all members of a campus community may be a viable preventative measure for avoiding active shooter situations, Fisher said.

“When folks feel connected and feel like they belong to a place, they may be less likely to act out in those violent ways,” Fisher said. “But also, if somebody does have a plan, almost always they leaked that information to somebody, whether in person or online… when they hear about those plans, they can report that to somebody who can do something about it.”

Mitchell said that around 90% of active shooters telegraph their intent to a friend or family member in person or online, but these warning signs often go unreported since community members are not trained on identifying this behavior.

Fisher said this kind of training may raise too many false positives since there are many people who fit typical active shooter stereotypes that would not actually plan to commit an act of violence.

Tyrell said UW is working to create a presentation for instructors to share with students on personal safety and prevention measures, as well as continuing to promote online and in-person UWPD active threat training.

“Active threat situations, while uncommon, are a serious concern for all of us,” Tyrell said. “There are dedicated people across multiple parts of UW–Madison putting their best efforts into prevention, training and response.”

UW compliant with evacuation, training protocol, but does not have mandatory staff, student training

UW students are not currently required to complete active threat training — but people in an active threat situation are the first responders, according to the CEO of 911 Consulting.

EDDIE KUSTNER. THE BADGER HERALD.

New grants to provide more paid internships for UW System students

by Allie Serterides City News Associate Editor

The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development awarded the University of Wisconsin System $1.1 million to provide more paid internships for students in Wisconsin’s higher education through a series of new grants.

The grants will create more opportunities for UW System students to join the Wisconsin workforce and will encourage state employers and businesses to produce more paid internship positions, according to NBC 15.

The UW System was awarded $1.1 million through the Wisconsin Fast Forward Program, an initiative that awards funds to all different types of businesses around Wisconsin to compensate for the cost of providing occupational training for unemployed, underemployed or incumbent workers.

This funding will increase paid internships around Wisconsin and allow students to begin gaining real-life experience that jump-starts their careers

before graduating college, UW–Madison Center for Research on College to Workforce Transitions project assistant Kyoungjin JangTucci said.

“There are many studies about how students, through internships, can get more concrete ideas about their own careers,” Jang-Tucci said. “All in all, it’s considered as a high-impact practice for college students because it is a good experiential learning for students to develop their career thoughts, plans and also skills that could be very beneficial for their employment after graduation.”

These grants will incentivize Wisconsin employers to increase their internship opportunities, specifically in high-demand fields like cybersecurity, agriculture and green energy and clean water. Three universities within the UW System will be directly implementing the new paid internship programs and will provide positions for 122 students in total. These universities include UW–Milwaukee, UW–River Falls and UW–Stout, according to NBC 15.

from Wisconsin Fast Forward Program

UW-River Falls received $244,426 to create unique and progressive experiences in agriculture for students. There will be 20 students placed in a 14-week summer internship or a 28-week academic year internship. They will be provided a professional seminar that focuses on career advancement, resume-building workshops and more, according to Fox6 Milwaukee.

UW–Stout received $298,771 to set up a complete cybersecurity internship program that will place 40 students in paid internships with cybersecurity industry partners, according to Fox6 Milwaukee. These student interns will work around 15 hours a week for a minimum of three months.

UW-Milwaukee received $208,624 to create paid internships for 20 students in majors where intern positions are typically unpaid. They will engage in a paid internship for up to nine months depending on the employer’s needs and the student’s schedule. Interns will also take a career course similar to that of UW–River Falls, where they will expand their knowledge in

resume-building, interviewing, professional writing and more, according to Fox6 Milwaukee.

UW–Milwaukee also received an additional $382,000 to promote paid internships in the Green Energy and Clean Water industries in Wisconsin. According to Fox6 Milwaukee, they will enroll 42 students in three-month paid internships.

A big benefit of these grants is that they will allow all students, including lowincome students, to have the opportunity to launch their career in a high-quality internship, executive director of the UWMilwaukee Center for Student Experience and Talent Laurie Marks said.

According to Jang-Tucci, studies have increasingly shown that unpaid internships block students from gaining these skills and learning experiences because many lowincome students don’t have the time to work part-time jobs while also participating in internships without compensation.

Because of this, the grants are supposed to elevate this issue and give students the chance to learn while also earning a small income, Jang-Tucci said.

“More and more students need highquality paid internships,” Marks said. “It really improves post-graduation earnings and employment, especially when students can secure a more coveted opportunity... There’s an investment from the internship site, not just financial, but in terms of human resources, where they’re really committed to nurturing a young person into a career with their company.”

Internships have become a new degree of learning for students, Marks said. It’s crucial that students are not only having meaningful experiences but also that they are learning to network, build their resumes, talk about their experiences in job interviews and more, Marks said. Thus, the inclusion of career development courses in internship programs at universities like UW–River Falls and UW–Milwaukee.

These grants will ultimately allow universities to further support their students, giving them the opportunity to launch their careers.

“We never want students to have to make the choice between taking a job that’s unrelated to their future career but that pays well or an unpaid internship that’s going to help them launch their career,” Marks said. “That’s not a good choice to put a lowincome student in the middle of. And as internships become so critical to launching one’s career, universities and funding sources need to work more and more closely to set up programs like this.”

State employers incentivized to provide more paid internships thanks to new grants

The grant money will be used to incentivize Wisconsin employers to increase internship opportunities.

MARY MAGNUSON. THE BADGER HERALD.

Open Seat Food Pantry demand reveals food insecurity on campus

by Cat Carroll Print News Editor

An increase in the number of people being served by the Open Seat Food Pantry is causing concerns about food insecurity on the University of Wisconsin campus.

The Open Seat Food Pantry operates under the Associated Students of Madison and aims to help alleviate food insecurity on the UW campus, according to the food pantry’s mission statement.

Run by students, for students, the food pantry distributes in two locations across campus — one on the third floor of the Student Activity Center and one at Eagle Heights Community Center, director of distribution Bonnie Jin said.

The primary location at the SAC is a large room where canned goods and dried foods are stored. Additionally, there is a space for hygiene products in the room, Jin said. This location is open at three alternating times throughout the week.

Distribution at the Eagle Heights Community Center began during the COVID-19 pandemic when the primary location of the food pantry was closed or inaccessible to individuals. The distribution at this center has continued and occurs once weekly, with Open Seat employees and volunteers organizing a small setup.

“A lot of people told us they weren’t able to come to the center of campus because they lived in Eagle Heights,” Jin said. “So we decided to just go to Eagle Heights and do a mini setup there every week.”

The food distributed by the Open Seat Food Pantry is purchased from the Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, including weekly shipments of produce and dairy.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Open Seat collected and distributed food from Second Harvest free of charge, which allowed the food pantry to accumulate money, according to Jin.

But with recent increases in the number of people being served by the Open Seat at both locations, the overall cost of operation has increased. The Open Seat went from ordering about half a ton of food weekly to now ordering about two tons of food weekly to keep the food pantry stocked, Jin said.

“Now that we have to buy loose produce again and the demand has increased so much, it’s making a dent in our budget,” Jin said. “We want to continue serving people the same way we are now. That’s just one of the many issues. Money is something we notice, but it’s not our primary focus.”

During the spring 2022 semester, the

Open Seat served 744 people. The following semester, during fall 2022, the Open Seat served 2,300 people, according to director of outreach Solomon Lubar.

using segregated fees. Monetary and food donations also help the food pantry operate, but as demand grows, the food pantry needs more support, according to

Navigating a tighter budget is only one challenge the Open Seat is facing amid increased demand.

The Open Seat’s overall capacity to operate and provide for the community as well as possible can also be impacted, according to Jin.

“It’s concerning to us because the Open Seat is a pretty small pantry and there will eventually come a time if this growth keeps continuing where our need can’t really keep up with the demand,” Jin said.

The number of people served by the Open Seat has increased overall — but especially among graduate and international students on the UW campus, Jin said.

And the increase in demand is not only reflected at the Open Seat, but at The Keep — another Madison-wide food pantry — and other Big Ten food pantries as well, Jin said.

“The main thing is just trying to investigate why this demand is increasing so much, especially from graduate students,” Jin said. “The cost of food and inflation, as well as restrictions on food stamps and other policies affect a lot of people.”

Moving forward, this increased demand needs to be analyzed from a systemic perspective, Jagodzinski said.

Open Seat staff worked with ASM to meet with UW Dean of Students Christina Olstad to discuss solutions for increased food insecurity on campus. The preliminary conversation included the proposal of hiring a full-time campus food security coordinator, according to Jagodzinski.

Jagodzinski pointed to other Big Ten schools — including the University of Minnesota and Penn State University — that have hired full-time staff to address food insecurity on campus. These professionals have backgrounds in social services and can help coordinate efforts to address basic needs across these campuses.

Open Seat staff also considered additional methods of distribution to help address this issue — including potentially installing a permanent community fridge in Eagle Heights and bolstering outreach efforts, Jagodzinski said.

The Open Seat has expanded to best serve those in need. Prior to a few years ago, the food pantry only had two employees, but recently hired a third, Lubar said.

But the Open Seat is currently funded by ASM, with employee wages paid

internal director May Jagodzinski.

“Budget-wise, we’re affected because we order food weekly,” Jagodzinski said. “The university doesn’t fund us at all — it’s entirely monetary or food donations, which is super problematic seeing that there’s growing demand.”

Working with ASM leadership will be critical for the Open Seat moving forward — leveraging connections to hopefully make policy changes at UW.

“It’s our hope that the student leaders after us will continue to advocate for this issue,” Jin said. “It’s really something I hope won’t just get swept up under everything else that’s going on.”

‘The main thing is just trying to investigate why this demand is increasing so much,’ Open Seat staff member says

The Open Seat Food Pantry has seen a recent increase in the number of people served.

CAT CARROLL. THE BADGER HERALD.

Boys and Girls Club of Wisconsin opens 200th location

by Ian Auger Campus News Associate Editor

The Boys and Girls Club of Wisconsin welcomed local students to its 200th location in Wisconsin May 1 in Portage, Wisconsin.

This milestone highlights the growing interest in the Club in Wisconsin, director of the Wisconsin Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs Andrew Gussert said. He expects there to be 215 to 220 total locations in Wisconsin within the next year.

According to the Boys and Girls Club, clubs in 75 Wisconsin cities serve more than 100,000 youth between the after-school hours of 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Wisconsin ranks the highest in the nation with youth served at Boys and Girls Clubs per capita, Gussert said. The club will act as a place

for students to go after school, allowing parents to work after formal public education ends for the day.

The Club aims to help students graduate from high school on time, develop good character and live a healthy lifestyle. The West Central Wisconsin Boys and Girls Clubs provide homework support and tutoring to local children, according to their website. They also provide recreational activities and instruction on good eating habits. The Portage location will be working with local libraries to provide free lunches throughout the entire summer as well, Mayor of Portage Mitchell Craig said.

According to the Boys and Girls Club, every

dollar put into a Club generates nearly 10 times its value for the community it serves.

The 200th location in Portage is located in the gymnasium of the now-closed Rusch Elementary School. The school’s closure, access to public transportation and play equipment made it the ideal location to open the Club, Craig said.

“Any kid at the school system, at the elementary school or at the kindergarten and the first and second-grade school, they’re allowed to get on this bus and ride it...to the Boys and Girls Club every single day after school,” Craig said.

The Club is currently comprised of 70 volunteers from the community, and will serve an estimated 800 local children, CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of West Central Wisconsin Karen DeSanto said. There are most likely going to be 75-80 kids attending on opening day.

Gussert said the Clubs plan to expand mental health care in the future by educating every Club staff member in Trauma Informed Care.

“Kids are really strong,” Gusset said. “They are really resilient. They bounce back, they become stronger after they’ve went through something and healed. And your strongest humans out there are the ones who have overcome challenges.”

Gussert also said Clubs will be dealing with learning loss from the pandemic all while equipping kids with abilities to enter the workforce. The Clubs want to help children develop social skills as well.

The Boys and Girls Club of Wisconsin expects to serve 144,000 youth by the end of 2024 as locations are chartered across the state at a rapid rate. A group of local leaders in Portage headed the initiative to create the Club over the course of two years, raising funds through public, private and philanthropic donations.

In Wisconsin, Boys and Girls Clubs boast thousands of staff and volunteers and $155 million in private infrastructure.

Boys and Girls Clubs of Dane County offer numerous volunteer opportunities for the University of Wisconsin students, including tutoring services, participating in running or organizing events and assisting with administrative duties. The Boys and Girls Clubs also offer part-time jobs, which are great for students going into psychology, childhood education, or social services, DeSanto said.

Students can sign up to volunteer for two events on July 15 — Move n’ Groove BCG, which has a fundraising goal of $700,000, and The White Party, celebrating the opening of the McKenzie Regional Workforce Center.

Wisconsin leads nation in children served at Boys and Girls Clubs per capita

Wisconsin Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs predicts up to 220 locations within the year.

THE BADGER HERALD ARCHIVES.

Made to Burn: How climate change impacts fire-adapted

by Lydia Larsen Science News Editor

April 12 to 14, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and National Weather Service issued a red flag warning, which indicates extreme risk for a wildfire due to different environmental conditions. April 14, the Arcadia Fire — a 2,900acre wildfire — started in Monroe County, according to the DNR. Officials contained the fire within a day.

DNR Forest Fire Protection Section Chief James Barnier said that due to climate change, the ideal conditions for wildfires are becoming more common in recent years. According to the 2021 Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts Report, precipitation during the summer months has decreased, making Wisconsin’s forests more vulnerable to wildfires.

In Wisconsin, most wildfire risk occurs in the early spring months, according to Barnier. About 800 to 1200 wildfires occur every year in Wisconsin — most of which start accidentally, Barnier said. Many of the most damaging fires occur in midApril to mid-May, when the snow has just melted and vegetation has dried out.

While climate change can cause an increase in wildfires through the state, prescribed fire can offer some solutions. A prescribed fire, also known as a controlled burn, is very different from a wildfire. Trained professionals set prescribed fires only under specific environmental conditions for the purpose of managing land or rehabilitating natural diversity, according to the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council.

But, with climate change altering the seasonal norms and causing more unpredictable weather, it’s becoming difficult for land managers to find a time to light prescribed fires. According to the 2021 Wisconsin Initiative on Climate Change Impacts Report, as Wisconsin continues to experience a warmer and wetter climate, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find a timeframe to safely

and effectively set prescribed fires.

Records from early European settlers indicate that originally Southern Wisconsin was largely oak savanna, a more open grassland environment with a partial tree canopy. Each spring, Lakeshore Nature Preserve staff set prescribed fires to help restore and maintain this native diversity that was lost over the years, Projects Coordinator Adam Gundlach said.

Today, the Lakeshore Nature Preserve works to restore this native habitat and manage areas that have become overgrown with trees and brush. Prescribed fire is an important tool for these projects, Gundlach said. Prior to European colonization, fire was so common that about

According to the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council, native plants are well adapted to fire. Wildflowers and grasses in fire adapted environments have long root systems that allow them to regrow post-fire and oak trees have bark capable of withstanding fire.

When these fire adapted environments are healthy, they’re better able to withstand the stresses caused by climate change. Fire adapted ecosystems also store large amounts of carbon in the soil. In fact, these ecosystems hold more carbon than they emit when burning, according to the Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council.

“The more diverse and resilient things are, the better off they will be trying to deal with all these

burned in that initial fire isn’t regenerating as expected, Kiel said. Where researchers expected to see forest in certain previously burned areas across Yellowstone, there isn’t any.

Kiel said many of these ecosystems hold a lot of carbon, and when they burn, that carbon is released into the atmosphere. But, as forests regenerate, they then incorporate that carbon back into the forest and store it. If the forests aren’t coming back, it’s likely there isn’t as much carbon stored in those areas.

Then, in 2016, another wildfire swept through Yellowstone and burned through forests that were still recovering after the 1988 fire.

“That sort of event, that really short occurrance of fire, hadn’t been observed at that scale before,” Kiel said.

half of what would become Wisconsin routinely burned due to lightning strikes or as prescribed fires set by Indigenous people to manage their environment.

When Europeans started colonizing the area, they stopped lighting prescribed fires, Gundlach said. In other areas of the country — namely the southeast — Europeans continued the Indigenous prescribed fire practices.

“It was that European mindset,” Gundlach said. “So fire wasn’t a European cultural practice and they definitely manage their forest differently.”

It wasn’t until the 1960s that people saw their native ecosystems suffering and became more interested in land management, Gundlach said.

ranging conditions out there,” Gundlach said.

In other cases, too much fire, especially when combined with a changing climate, can change ecosystems in unexpected ways. Like Wisconsin, the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem is also well adapted to fires, though it differs in severity and timing. Since the glaciers receded 10,000 years ago, larger, high-severity fires have burned in the greater Yellowstone region once every 100 to 300 years, according to Nathan Kiel, a UW Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Integrative Biology.

In 1988, one of these large fires burned through 36% of Yellowstone, according to the National Park Service. Now, 35 years later, 16% of the area

Because the forests in Yellowstone had evolved to fires occurring every 100 to 300 years, it’s difficult for them to reestablish post-fire, Kiel said. Certain tree species can regenerate quickly after fires because pine cones only open and disperse seed after they come into contact with fire. When another fire returns so quickly, there hasn’t been time to rebuild that seed source and the forests don’t regenerate as well.

In Yellowstone, the soil became hotter and dryer due to less shade cast by the burned trees after the wildfires. This change meant that for any plants to grow, they would need to adapt to grow in these higher temperature soils. While most of the biodiversity remained in the plants that grow under the tree canopy, there are more plants that tend to thrive in sunny conditions than previously, Kiel said.

“Historically, [forests] would have had a few hundred years to come back, but we’re interested in this because with fire frequency increasing, we expect to see more areas that look like that,” Kiel said.

Many forest, grassland ecosystems across US evolved to thrive after fires, but climate change alters delicate balance

environments

“The more diverse and resilient things are, the better off they will be trying to deal with all these ranging conditions out there.”

- Adam Gundlach

Wisconsin’s changing climate poses challenges for wildlife preservation.

LYDIA LARSEN. THE BADGER HERALD.

UW’s Animal Welfare Program: ‘Giving cows a voice through science’

by Chloe Hansen Science News Reporter

The Animal Welfare Program at the University of Wisconsin seeks to improve the lives of farm animals at low costs to farmers — their research ranges from alleviating pain during invasive procedures to calf suckling practices.

Animal welfare involves the holistic wellbeing of animals, including their physical and emotional states. Students in the Animal Welfare Program learn how to measure animal behavior under different environmental factors and use their assessments to create new procedures and technologies that improve the quality of life for the farm animals, according to the Department of Dairy Science website.

“Giving cows a voice through science” is the motto of Jennifer Van Os’ lab at the University of Wisconsin. Van Os belongs to the Animal Welfare Program, which is housed in the Department of Animal and Dairy Science. She studies ventilation in cow barns to understand how low-cost technologies can meet cows’ behavioral needs.

Kim Reuscher is a Ph.D. candidate in the Van Os Lab. Her research focuses on thermal stress in animals, which regularly depends on ventilation in barns. Ventilation may seem trivial, but it significantly impacts the wellbeing of cows. According to a Wisconsin Life article, cows are sensitive to temperature changes and require proper airflow to remain comfortable.

Providing cows with an option between

ventilated barns and open pastures is also key to animal welfare. Van Os said research shows that cows will choose both barns and pastures, so providing them with options is vital to animal welfare. This choice ensures they are comfortable in whichever space they prefer.

“Behavior of animals indicates their state of mind,” said Reuscher. “They’re the first things that change in an animal when they experience environmental stress.”

When a cow is stressed by heat, its respiration and body temperature increases, which decreases the cow’s milk production. The cow will also spend much of its time standing, which causes long-term ligament problems, Reuscher said.

Reuscher said she measures these physiological changes, like body temperature and standing behaviors, to determine cattle comfort and address the welfare concerns of poor ventilation.

Reuscher’s studies have taken place across 12 commercial dairy farms in the state and one of the university’s dairy facilities in Arlington, Wisconsin. Reuscher said some farms have taken her recommendations and made improvements in their barn ventilation systems.

But ventilation isn’t the only welfare concern that the university’s Animal Welfare Program is interested in. Assistant professor Sarah Adcock currently studies both cattle and sheep. Her

research aims to understand painful routine farming procedures and develop pain mitigating techniques for farmed animals.

For example, Adcock analyzes disbudding procedures, which painfully remove the growing horns of young calves. According to a Dairy Herd Management article, normal disbudding procedures involve either acidic dissolution or cutting horns, both of which involve pain regardless of when they are performed on young animals.

Adcock said she plans to develop an industry standard for pain mitigation after disbudding procedures through her research and has even created online videos to instruct farmers on her procedures.

Research for UW’s Animal Welfare Program is done in the field on Wisconsin farms. Ph.D. student in Adcock’s lab Jocelyn Woods said this aspect of the program is what drew her to pursue her degree two years ago.

Woods studies tail docking in sheep. She explains that tail docking is the common

husbandry practice of removing lamb’s tails after birth. The procedure is believed to mitigate pathogen and parasitic infections in sheep that could sicken the animal and ruin its wool. Woods said she wants to know if tail docking actually keeps sheep clean and safe, and if it is worth the painful procedure.

Woods conducts her research on one of the university’s research farms, where she studies a single herd of sheep over a period of two years. The controlled setting allows her to conduct research on the effect of tail docking on sheep social dynamics, disease risk, breeding behavior and chronic pain assessment.

Animal welfare is a growing academic field, and new welfare methods are already being implemented on farms across the state, Reuscher said. To communicate and engage the public in the rising field of animal welfare, Woods operates an account as the @AnimalWelfarist on Twitter.

“A happy cow produces more milk,” said Reuscher. “Implementing better welfare practices can increase this.”

Welfare practices will not always have an apparent economic benefit. Reuscher said this is where the ethical and moral component of welfare comes into play. Producers have a responsibility to manage their animals, and consumers have power over what products — and farms — they support.

To ease financial constraints on producers, the Animal Welfare Program is dedicated to designing low-cost welfare solutions. Woods said that these efficient, low-cost welfare practices will become more commonplace in the future to increase the comfort of animals and the productivity of farms.

“We owe it to the animals to treat them as well as we can. Most welfare changes can be small [financially] but make huge impacts on animals,” Woods said.

Researchers study holistic wellbeing of farm animals to better improve their mental, physical wellbeing

CAROLINE CROWLEY. THE BADGER HERALD.

The program advocates for improved animal treatment.

CAROLINE CROWLEY. THE BADGER HERALD.

The Animal Welfare Program studies cows and aims to improve industry standards.

Lake Mendota’s waterfowl return, improve local ecosystem

by Alena Hester Science News Reporter

Recently thawed Lake Mendota has become home to migrating swans, ducks and geese. Their yearly return marks the beginning of the nesting season and provides cultivation benefits to the lake ecosystem, University of Wisconsin forest wildlife ecology professor Anna Pidgeon said.

The urban environment of Madison impacts the ecosystem’s health but also contributes to the birds’ survival by providing food and nesting resources.

As May approaches, the wind direction and temperature rise bring along a flux of migrant species, Pidgeon said. The breeding ground around Mendota is a food resource hotspot for the bird species migrating north, including ducks, geese, sparrows, cranes and swans.

One of the most commonly seen species in Madison is the mallard duck, Pidgeon said. Mallards are one of the most friendly bird species to humans and have the highest population density of any waterfowl species around Lake Mendota.

Urban environments have developed into both geese and mallards’ habitats. Both of these species have adapted very well to the environment, wildlife ecology professor emeritus Stanley Temple said. Humans are providing habitat and food sources that they can use as resources.

While ideal nesting habitats should not be near cities, food resources attract the birds to the urban environment, Pidgeon said. Students may see the ducks hanging around the Terrace, where the ducks know they can get food. If they live long enough, the ducks return to the area.

“They will nest in urban areas again, and maybe even the same flower pot, if it’s possible,” Pidgeon said. “They have a very, very tight connection to places where they were successful.”

This causes the surrounding area around Lake Mendota to be a place of mallard congregation, Pidgeon said.

There are many places around Lake Mendota where students can observe how waterfowl have adapted to the urban lake environment and to

bird watch — the Lakeshore Path, Picnic Point and University Bay are all observation areas, Temple said.

Their success in nesting habits plays a big role in their abundance around the area. Females tend to be in the midst of a fertile period during the spring — making, laying and incubating their eggs. Males are focused on accompanying the females for reproduction, Pidgeon said.

Some of the most impressive birds at Lake Mendota are swans. The trumpeter swan population was wiped out in Wisconsin years ago. Recently, they have made a dramatic recovery due to a reintroduction program, Temple said.

According to Temple, tundra swans also stop at the lake while making their way to the Arctic.

Tundra swans play a unique role in the Lake Mendota ecosystem. When they are passing through, they dig up the bottom of the lake to look for tubers or underground plant stems, Pidgeon said.

“They are uprooting the plants and helping them to move and reproduce,” Pidgeon said.

This participation in the local ecosystem is a common trend for many of the migrant bird species visiting Lake Mendota. According to Temple, the waterfowl not only help spread food sources, but also transport nutrients around the lakeshore area.

Canada geese, for example, are often seen in upland areas grazing on fields, golf courses and parks. Their excretion transports nutrients back and forth between the lake and the land, Temple said.

The presence of geese does have its drawbacks, however. The land around Madison’s lakes is very

attractive to them, so they tend to populate in these areas and cause issues for planes, especially in areas around the Dane County Airport, Temple said.

“Canada geese are probably the waterfowl species that has become the public enemy number one,” Temple said.

Also associated with the congregation of migrating species is the risk of disease spreading. During the spring, there is a great deal of concern about the highly pathogenic avian influenza. As waterfowl migrate around, this virus can transfer to the landscape as well as to other species, Temple said.

Most human interaction with the migrating birds is not harmful, but the effects of pollution and runoff are considerable. Lake pollution, habitat loss and climate change are causing a decline in the local insect population. Waterfowl need the insects as a food source, Pidgeon said.

According to Temple, the ecology of Lake Mendota is also changing rapidly as a result of what is entering the lake from the surrounding landscape.

“Whether it’s the urban landscape in Madison or the agricultural landscape within the watershed, the pollution and nutrients that are coming into the lake are definite,” Temple said.

Humans have an impact on the environment, Temple said. A majority of climate change and biodiversity loss can be correlated to human activity, and it is hard to improve environments without being conscious about interacting with nature.

In order to change for the better, people have to care, Temple said.

Migrant bird species of Lake Mendota interact with human technology, face urban challenges

Waterfowl contribute to healthy ecosystems in and around Lake Mendota.

CAROLINE CROWLEY. THE BADGER HERALD.

How cryopreservation advances vaccine, disease research

by Sarah Matysiak Science News Editor

Cryopreservation has helped researchers develop vaccines and treatments during the COVID-19 pandemic and the ongoing monkeypox outbreak.

According to the National Library of Medicine, cryopreservation is a technique often used in labs to study anything from smaller samples like bacteria and viruses to larger samples such as tissues. The method involves carefully freezing and preserving samples for later experiments or observation.

The technique helped COVID-19 and monkeypox researchers learn how the viruses functioned on a molecular level.

According to University of Wisconsin Department of Bacteriology assistant professor Kerri Coon, early on in the pandemic scientists had to scramble to find ways to study COVID-19 in the lab. Partly because of cryopreservation, scientists were able to grow the volume of information they had on COVID-19 to where it’s at now.

Graduate student Kendra Gallo in Mostafa Zamanian’s lab said investigators of the ongoing monkeypox outbreak also conducted a lot of their research using cryopreserved samples of smallpox, a virus closely related to monkeypox.

The smallpox virus is preserved in biobanks, or collections of preserved or frozen biological specimens, according to the World Health Organization. Though it was eradicated over 40 years ago, keeping samples helps researchers develop better treatments and vaccines for smallpox or related diseases, Gallo said.

Outside of COVID-19 and monkeypox research applications, cryopreservation is a common technique among other areas of research, Coon said, whose lab also relies

heavily on cryopreservation.

For example, researchers who want to study a particular gene may conduct cloning experiments with nonpathogenic strains of E. coli, a standard laboratory model bacterium. In the UW Microbial Sciences Building alone, Coon said every

at its current level of rigor.

“It’s very hard to study things from a functional standpoint when you’re only working in the field … So in order to be able to study those field-derived microbial communities and genotypes, we have to cryopreserve them so that we can come back to the lab and study them in the lab under controlled conditions,” Coon said.

Similarly, Gallo said the Zamanian Lab studies nematodes, which are worm-like parasites, and cryopreserves them at different stages over time. Cryopreserving nematodes at different life stages doesn’t kill the parasite. In fact, after thawing the samples, a completely revitalized, healthy nematode remains, Gallo said. Through this process, the lab’s research

“For the Borgia parasites, we have animal models that we can get parasite tissue from, so we can get different stages of parasites in the lab to do research,” Gallo said. “But for Mansonella [parasites], we don’t have that established and so really the only way to study this is to cryopreserve those parasites.”

Cryopreservation also provides benefits for replicating experiments. Gallo said reproducible data in science is very important, which is something cryopreserved parasite stocks at different stages provide. This way, if a different lab wants to replicate an experiment, it has the nematodes it requires at a particular life stage.

The notion of having biobanks and stocks of harmful and parasitic microorganisms like smallpox and nematodes might be worrisome for others. But there are strict and extensive regulations in place everywhere harboring cryopreserved samples including annual biosafety checks, Coon said. This standardization of biosafety guidelines across labs in the U.S. ensures facilities are managing samples appropriately and responsibly.

preserved stocks of E. coli because of its importance to central molecular techniques.

Specifically, Coon’s lab focuses on understanding the diversity and function of gut bacteria in mosquitoes’ and other insects’ ability to spread disease. To do this, Coon said researchers must have large collections of bacteria and fungi from different places that can be easily grown in the lab.

Coon and the rest of the researchers in her lab use cryopreservation every day mostly to check the consistency in their experimental work, Coon said. Without it, Coon said she’s not sure it’s possible to continue her research

aims to maintain and preserve the RNA of the parasites to find new cures for the diseases they cause.

Both Coon and Gallo said they personally think the benefits of cryopreservation outweigh the possible risks. They also said while there are other ways to conduct parts of their work without cryopreservation, it would be difficult. It would also hinder the quality of the results through frequent sampling and resampling, Coon said. There is always the potential for someone to use science in harmful ways, Gallo said. When it comes down to it, it is about scientists individually finding ways to conduct their research ethically by assessing its potential.

“As scientists, it’s important that we think about what we’re doing and the potential harm that it could cause, even though that’s not our intention,” Gallo said.

Technique is ‘essential’ to research in lab, expert says

PHOTOS COURTESY KENDRA GALLO, ZAMARIAN LAB.

GOOD TO GROW

Road to food sustainability from farmers to consumers introduces unique challenges, solutions

by Fiona Hatch Opinion Editor

With a student population of over 49,000, the University of Wisconsin’s dining halls have a tall order to fill come meal time — and with an abundance of food comes an abundance of leftovers.

For the approximately 8,000 residents of UW’s student housing, the mandatory dining hall plan places a hefty amount of work onto the school’s Dining and Culinary team — which doesn’t even address the additional customers from off-campus students or Madison locals visiting one of the two student Unions.

University Housing’s increasing awareness of consumer allergies and special dietary restrictions leads to a large volume of food being produced on-site daily.

In producing a diverse range of food in such large quantities, however, the university has grappled with a troubling issue of overproduction, according to UW News.

This struggle to produce the proper quantities of food for UW’s student body does not stop there. The increased public awareness about the food industry that the National Library of Medicine reported during the pandemic and its role in climate change has inevitably sparked local conversations about food sustainability in Madison.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture places a high threshold in its definition of “food sustainability.” A sustainable food system must deliver “food security and nutrition for all in such a way that the economic, social and environmental bases to generate food security and nutrition for future generations are not compromised.”

According to Malorie Garbe, the sustainability coordinator for University Housing, conversations about food sustainability have become a top priority in the dining halls.

“We’re working toward our goal of zero food waste every single day,” Garbe said. “Our solutions are continuing to evolve.”

UW’s Office of Sustainability launched in March 2012, and after just over a decade of operations, the road to sustainability has grown exponentially. UW’s composting and food waste initiatives have already produced significant results in the last year alone, accord-

ing to Garbe.

But to truly understand these initiatives and their impacts on sustainability, it is crucial to go back to the fundamentals — namely, the food industry and the concept of food sustainability at large.

From farming, to delivery, to consumer preferences, structural flaws contribute to current unsustainable outcomes in the environmental, social and economic sectors.

On the farm

The food system starts on the farm. Farms are at the heart of the food industry, and Wisconsin is one of the nation’s biggest farming capitals.

According to the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, the state exported $4.22 billion dollars worth of agricultural products internationally in 2022, making it the 12th-largest producer in the nation.

The dairy sector of the agricultural industry alone contributes $45.6 billion to the Wisconsin economy annually, according to those same statistics. The state has over 6,000 dairy farms that house about 1.28 million cows — more than any other state. With Wisconsin’s booming success in agriculture production, however, comes a host of sustainability concerns.

Diane Mayerfeld is a sustainable agriculture coordinator working alongside the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems — a research center within UW that works to integrate sustainability into farming systems. She helps local educators and farmers learn about sustainable agriculture techniques and resources, including grants from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program through the USDA. Her biggest concern for Wisconsin’s agriculture regards farm soil quality. “As the climate changes… a healthy soil is really critical to helping farm resilience,”

Mayerfeld said. “It’s pretty good at absorbing rain during extreme rain events, and then it acts like a sponge and holds on to that water.”

As soil improves, crop productivity and farm resilience do, too, according to Mayerfeld. Mayerfeld is a big proponent of agroforestry, a type of agriculture that intentionally incorporates trees, shrubs and cover crops into crop and animal farming systems. Going beyond a net-neutral form of agriculture, agroforestry is a regenerative farming practice that actively restores soil quality and biodiversity, making it a preferred end goal for farming in the long term.

The issue with Wisconsin’s booming dairy business is that traditional dairy farms are notoriously bad for the environment, as Mayerfeld pointed out. Farms with a dense cow population contribute significant levels of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. While small amounts of cow manure can be repurposed as fertilizer for nearby crop fields, large-scale operations often produce too much to be dealt with properly. According to Sentient Media, this leads to the pollution of nearby bodies of surface water and groundwater more often than not. Mayerfeld also noted that continuous overgrazing can be disastrous for soil quality, as cows will deplete the land of the best and most nutritious grass on their pasture first — a concept known as spot grazing, according to Rangeland’s Gateway. This ultimately leads to compacted soil and the elimination of the pasture’s flora biodiversity.

But the battle for sustainability does not end once the food has left the farm.

The middle ground

It’s rare to find a farmer who is not interested in becoming more sustainable, according to Mayerfeld.

But it’s not so easy for farmers to simply take these environmental considerations into account when producing their products — at the end of the day, they have to be able to turn a profit.

Andrew Stevens, an expert on applied agricultural and food policy and an assistant professor at UW, explores sustainability from this perspective.

“Sustainability is technically viable but not economically viable,” Stevens said. “Farms are small businesses. They need to make enough money to support

their businesses and themselves.”

For the food industry to be economically sustainable, a farmer must be able to make environmentally responsible choices while continuing to turn a profit. On the consumer end, however, sustainably-sourced food has to be affordable.

Practices like agroforestry have real potential to increase biodiversity and heal arid soil, but even

Mayerfeld conceded that it is not the most profitable or efficient farming practice.

More eco-friendly practices like these have another cost — labor.

“Labor is the big issue,” Stevens said. “It requires a lot more human labor per acre to do organically… Under 1% of the current U.S. population goes into farming, and nobody is going to want to go into farming for lower wages.”

Because economics and politics are often intertwined, reforming commercial agriculture may involve encountering barriers at the government level as well.

While writing a check to farmers might be a more efficient solution to push Wisconsin’s agricultural sector toward sustainability, it would not be a politically popular option, according to Stevens.

The economics of the agriculture industry are influenced not just by the farmers on the field, but also another key factor — the consumers in the store.

Farm to table

Consumers are the final actors to consider within the food system, and for UW’s Dining and Culinary Services team, student consumers play a huge role in the outcome of sustainability efforts. The most obvious way this manifests is in food waste.

Garbe said food waste can be split into two categories — front-door and back-door waste.

Back-door waste refers to food that is discarded by kitchen staff during the preparation or cleanup processes, rather than being repurposed or donated elsewhere. Front-door waste is consumer-driven and occurs when individ-

uals throw away excess food or food products after purchasing them.

In university dining halls, this might look like a student taking excess food from the cafeteria and throwing it away when they get full, as opposed to packaging it for later or taking smaller portions to begin with.

UW’s Ticket to Take Out program is one way the school is trying to curb front-door waste, but ultimately, it comes down to the consumer.

The university has shifted its dining halls to operate on an all-you-can-eat system over the last two academic years, which initially increased front-door food waste, according to Garbe. But, she remains hopeful that there is potential for the system to promote sustainability if used correctly.

“I look at it as a really great sustainability opportunity,” Garbe said. “Students can experiment more with vegan or vegetarian options when they have the creative freedom to pick and choose from different stations to try different diets that they might not have tried beforehand.”

The all-you-can-eat system and its sustainability ultimately come down to how the students choose to use it. This is why consumers hold power when it comes to sustainability — they are the market. As Stevens said, the reason organic food is becoming increasingly available across grocery stores is that consumers are asking for those types of products.

The food industry has sustainability problems at every stage of the process. But where issues fester, potential persists.

Reduce, reuse, recycle

In August 2022, UW brought back its composting program in a limited, back-door capacity. The initiative takes excess food from UW kitchens that would otherwise go to the landfill and converts it into compost that can be utilized in other ways, such as crop fertilizer or mulch, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Gordon’s, Four Lakes, Memorial Union and Union South, which cumulatively produce over 50% of the school’s total food waste, are the first dining locations to get the go-ahead for this experiment, as Dining and Culinary Services work to prove UW’s capacity to collect compostables without contamination.

UW also has a Food Recovery Network in place for food that is still acceptable to eat but did not get sold on the sales floor. The FRN takes unpurchased meals from dining halls and offers them to the

Madison community twice a week for free in an attempt to both limit food waste and combat food insecurity.

These programs are important mechanisms to reuse or recycle excess food, but they are reactionary in nature. Half of the battle is reducing food waste.

“You know the common phrase, reduce, reuse and recycle — reducing food waste is the first step,” Garbe said.

UW’s recent partnership with LeanPath is part of this proactive approach to eliminating food waste from the source.

LeanPath uses scales and cameras to weigh and photograph prepared food before and after it is served in university dining halls.

LeanPath’s technology prevents food waste from happening to begin with — something that could benefit the environment while also reducing food purchasing costs for kitchens.

LeanPath reports generate an overview of how much money and environmental resources would be wasted if daily food waste levels were repeated for a year. The photographs of wasted food help kitchens see what exactly went to waste and why, so they can change menus accordingly.

“The fall 2022 semester was all about collecting data of [what] normal services looks like… in the spring 2023 semester, now that we have our baseline from an entire semester, we were able to pinpoint some specific interventions,” Garbe said.

As Garbe noted, by isolating specific ingredients that were being overproduced throughout the fall — in particular, pasta and vegetable dishes — this new data helps UW’s dining halls hone in their production habits and quantities.

Food sustainability efforts at UW go beyond the university. Student organizations like F.H. King are taking steps to bring free, healthy and sustainably-grown produce to Madison residents on and off campus.

“Our goal is to connect the community with food and

the land,” education director for F.H. King Rachel French said.

The organization combines sustainable gardening with education to teach community members how to engage in sustainability in their own homes. According to French, one of F.H. King’s current goals is to expand its outreach beyond environmental science majors and engage students from every field of study with food sustainability.

“Getting more involved in policy, government, advocacy, education… are all critical moving forward to expand that vision,” French said.

According to Garbe, students also played a big role in the creation of Electric Eats, the university’s first 100% electric food truck on campus. As one of the first of its kind across the country, Electric Eats is only a single example of the kind of innovative solutions consumers can help create to generate food sustainability.

As UW steps up to the challenge, local farmers have the chance to change as well. As Mayerfeld noted, it’s rare to find a Wisconsin farmer that is not open to the idea of sustainable agriculture.

“There’s a range of practices, and they’re not easy,” Mayerfeld said.

Practices like reducing tillage, planting cover crops and agroforestry work toward the same end goal — increasing soil quality and biodiversity. The way Mayerfeld sees it, the road to a 100% sustainable farm can be traversed in steps.

According to organizations like FarmProgress, the potential sustainable solutions are endless — and Wisconsin has the opportunity to take action toward sustainability across the production, supply chain and consumer levels. Mayerfeld believes that from farmers to food consumers, we all play a part in the fight for sustainability.

“Madison is a wonderful place to live if you’re looking for food sustainability,” she said. “There are opportunities everywhere for everyone to shop and live consciously.”

DESIGN BY CAITLIN THIES AND CAROLINE CROWLEY.

Ableism, inaccessibility prevail in field of journalism

Despite strides in other aspects of diversity, journalism perpetuates ableism, must make space for disabled reporters

by Elise Fjelstad Features Editor

Editor’s Note: This story uses person-first language (“people with disabilities”) and identity-first language (“disabled people”) interchangeably. Please note that people may prefer either term or different terms.

With newsrooms across the country improving their diversity efforts, an identity group being left behind in many journalistic inclusion initiatives is disabled people.

Ableism — discrimination toward people with disabilities and general preference toward abled minds and bodies — operates on the idea that there are certain spaces in which disability simply ought not to exist. Despite federal protections, people with disabilities continue to face de facto exclusion from activities and jobs due to physical and ideological barriers.

I have been a student journalist for five years now, starting as a staff writer at my high school paper and eventually working my way up to a section editor at one of the top independent collegiate newspapers in the country. Even my limited experience in a sheltered environment has me concerned for the ableism awaiting disabled journalists who enter the professional realm.

I love what I do, and my fellow staff have been the greatest people to work with, but the field needs a lot of improvement — not just in accessibility, but in overall attitudes and expectations toward both journalists and the disabled people they report on.

Journalism is naturally a fast-paced environment and inevitably needs sharp and inquisitive minds who can keep up with the 24hour news cycle. But this can unintentionally create an inaccessible and exclusionary work environment when it doesn’t necessarily need to be. It pushes out bodies and minds who can produce quality work but may take physically or mentally longer to do it.

Though we can’t escape the urgency of the news, effective and thorough coverage does take time. Due to my disability, it takes longer for me to type, so writing articles typically takes longer. Yet, as a reporter and associate editor, I still published articles that had a one-day turnaround and even put out breaking news with little edits from superiors.

As pursuers of truth, good journalists should question the world around them. Instead of accepting the inaccessibility of journalism, we should be closely examining the covertly ableist ideas about who is “cut out” for journalism.

Thus, in addition to the important task of addressing white supremacy and misogyny prevalent in journalism, higher-ups in the field have the responsibility to remedy the ableism and inaccessibility that also persist to make space for disabled journalists.

Having more disabled reporters and editors would reduce the ableist narratives that continue

to plague journalistic stories about disability. One example is the continual use of inspiration porn or showing ordinary things as extraordinary just because a disabled person is doing them. Even the basic language non-disabled journalists use to describe disabled people perpetuates negative stereotypes. Rather than stating a disability neutrally, it is often stated that a person “suffers from” a disability. The term “wheelchair-bound” is a commonly used but

I had the opportunity to write a feature article about disability at the University of Wisconsin. I purposely wrote the feature as a direct opposition to the dominant disability tropes, appearing in mainstream news media, discussing active resistance and organizing by people with disabilities instead of the usual tendency to only highlight passive struggles.

After being published, I received only positive feedback from members of the disability

is. I would answer hesitantly, stressing that my medical diagnosis isn’t what I strongly identify with when it comes to my own disabled experience, and it doesn’t provide specific information about my experience either.

Many in the community are trying to move away from medicalization and towards the social model of disability. In this spirit, I wrote a 2,500-word story about disability without asking any of my sources for their medical diagnosis. A few people stated it unprompted, but this way I avoided making anyone uncomfortable by medicalizing their experience if that wasn’t how they identified.

In another instance, my friend had a journalism student interview her and ask for photos where her disability was apparent despite my friend pointing out that her disability is constant, so she is disabled in any photo she is in.

Anti-ableist journalistic practices — such as demedicalization and recognizing that disability doesn’t have or need to look a certain way — can increase trust between disabled people and journalists, allowing for more authentic portrayals of experiences.

Journalistic practices must be informed by those most impacted. This means listening to people in the community being covered and making publications less hostile to reporters with disabilities, who have a unique situational vantage point.

This goal can be achieved by starting with everyday improvements. This includes basic physical access like adjustable desks and lighting and planning for future infrastructure that incorporates such features.

Our very own office at The Badger Herald is on the second floor and doesn’t have its own elevator. This indicates that our forefathers when picking a space did not anticipate anyone with a mobility disability being a part of the staff.

But access doesn’t start and end with basic physical wheelchair access. It also includes broadening our minds as to how we can shape journalistic practices that are structurally and attitudinally inclusive.

People need an environment where they don’t have to fight for basic access and feel comfortable sharing access needs. While there are disabled journalists already clearing a path, the burden shouldn’t lay only upon them.

loaded descriptor with connotations about what using a wheelchair means for someone’s life — namely, entrapment when mobility aids actually often mean freedom.

I witnessed firsthand how coming from the perspective of disabled people improved our paper’s coverage of the community. Last year,

community, who thanked me, and non-disabled people who said they learned a lot. It wasn’t only the angle, but also my practices while reporting that allowed this article to have the impact it did.

As someone who has been interviewed for stories about disability experiences, the first question I would be asked is what my diagnosis

Though all professional fields should be working toward accessibility and anti-ableism, journalism has a particular responsibility to do so. Since we often serve as the link between various communities and the larger general public, we should always be striving for better. I don’t have all the answers, but from my experience, I know that diversity is our strength — and diversity includes disability.

Elise Fjelstad (efjelstad@badgerherald.com) is

senior studying political science and sociology.

a

The environment surrounding journalism can be inaccessible and exclusionary.

CELIA HIORNS. THE BADGER HERALD.

ChatGPT’s role as therapy alternative

Since the technology’s launch in late 2022, ChatGPT is quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing apps of all time. The new technology has several uses though recently, some have been exploring it as a fast, accessible alternative to therapy. Could ChatGPT serve as a therapy alternative, or are there too many risks in addressing complexities of mental health?

CONTENT WARNING: Discussion of suicide and/or self harm. If you have are experiencing thoughts of suicide or self harm, dial 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. View options for mental health services on campus through University Health Services.

Point: AI can be an accessible solution to the therapist shortage

by Fiona Hatch Opinion Editor

In the first two months of its release, ChatGPT gained over 100 million users, compared to the nine months it took for TikTok to cross that same threshold. The app was developed by the company OpenAI as a chatbot that can process and respond to prompts given by users.

Most news surrounding ChatGPT has been with respect to how the technology has been used by students. Northern Illinois University’s research into the capabilities of ChatGPT shows the app can craft essays, write emails and solve relatively complex equations when prompted.

But, the app could have uses beyond the classroom. There are now conversations regarding AI’s future role in society, namely in the medical field and mental health. With technology adapting to provide quick and increasingly human-like responses to users’ prompts, many are now wondering if it could be the solution to the world’s mental health professional shortage.

There is a clear shortage of therapists in the U.S. and around the world. A map released by the Rural Health Information Hub shows that the majority of counties in the U.S. are facing a mental health professional shortage. Over 150 million Americans live in a federally designated mental health professional shortage area, leaving many without reliable access to help.

This is an even more prominent issue when expanded to the international level. According to the World Health Organization, there has been a 13% increase in mental health issues worldwide over the last decade, with 20% of the world’s child and adolescent population struggling with some form of mental health condition.

AI technology like ChatGPT presents

Counterpoint: The risks of using ChatGPT are too great

by Emily Otten Opinion Associate Editor

an opportunity to broaden access and definitions of mental health support in an increasingly necessary way.

This is not to say that apps like ChatGPT are prepared to handle every mental health condition or situation. Mental health is a broad and extensive issue that requires a nuanced system of resources for struggling individuals. For some, the ease of access and instantaneous responses that AI offers could be very beneficial if the software was programmed with adequate medical information.

But, AI inherently lacks certain things that only a face-to-face connection with a medical professional can provide — such as reading clients’ behavioral or social cues, gathering important life or medical contexts that might go unnoticed by a bot and displaying compassion or empathy in a way that no technological alternative could replicate.

Along these lines, there are some mental health crises that AI technology like ChatGPT should never be in charge of handling. Technological therapy is more often than not a lesser alternative for individuals struggling with mental health, but for those facing an immediate crisis, on-the-ground human judgment might be critical.

But, with mental health issues on the rise worldwide and a critical shortage of qualified professionals, the world needs new and innovative solutions to combat the current mental health crisis. AI could be the best way to ease the burden for medical workers by tending to those with concerns that can be addressed quickly and without person-to-person communication.

Fiona Hatch (fhatch@badgerherald.com) is a senior studying political science and international studies.

The utilization of ChatGPT as a source of therapy should be used very sparingly, if at all, because of the danger it presents to users. After texting with an AI chatbot for a few weeks, a Belgian man died by suicide. Though this is likely not a widespread experience with AI chatbots, it does show the potential dangers of turning to an unreliable AI bot for support.

ChatGPT is not a trained therapist and can give individuals inaccurate information, especially about emotional issues. ChatGPT creators specially designed policies to not diagnose people with health conditions or provide medical information.

Additionally, ChatGPT is not always accurate in its responses to objective questions. As AI, it cannot truly comprehend the questions people are asking. AI doesn’t always understand the meaning or intent behind a user’s words. So when it comes to complex issues of mental health and therapy, AI can’t be fully accurate or offer the best advice.

Getting therapy over the Internet became incredibly popular during the pandemic. Apps like BetterHelp aided individuals in getting mental health assistance for a fraction of the cost in the comfort of their own homes. But, even BetterHelp had its issues.

Users called “therapists” who operated on BetterHelp unprofessional, claiming they gave them bad advice that harmed their mental health instead of improving it. Additionally, the app came under fire for sharing customers’ personal data on social media apps, according to the Federal Trade Commission. These issues with BetterHelp, which uses real people to communicate with customers, could happen with AI chatbots used for therapy like ChatGPT.

There is no promise that ChatGPT can keep users’ information confidential, especially information that could be considered incredibly private. Also, AI chatbots can be less professional than BetterHelp therapists because they aren’t real

people. There is no promise that ChatGPT will give people good advice that will actually help them cope with trauma or other mental health issues.

There are certainly areas where ChatGPT could be used in a therapeutic-like setting. For example, a quick question about how to respond to a difficult text or asking for examples of coping mechanisms could be helpful. When a full therapy session is not needed, AI could be used for issues that a person could address later with more detail in a therapy session. Using ChatGPT for continual therapeutic advice, however, could be dangerous. Therapy is incredibly personal and needs to be well-tailored to an individual to be effective. Therapists and their clients form intense personal relationships, and that relationship simply cannot be mimicked with ChatGPT or even over text with a real human with BetterHelp. Mental health treatment can be incredibly expensive in America, but that treatment is effective.

ChatGPT could have its benefits in certain situations with a quick question, but for longterm, complex mental health support, ChatGPT should not be used. The AI chatbot is not designed to be used for mental health treatment, so individuals should stay clear of communicating with ChatGPT in that way.

Emily Otten (elotten@wisc.edu) is a junior majoring in journalism.

Resources regarding suicide prevention and mental health:

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: 988 https://988lifeline. org/help-yourself/loss-survivors/

Crisis Text line: Text HOME to 741741 https://www. crisistextline.org/

Survivors of Suicide (SOS) support group: https:// www.uhs.wisc.edu/prevention/suicide-prevention/ Trevor Lifeline: https://www.crisistextline.org/ crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25 24/7 crisis support 608-265-5600 (option 9)

Support for local journalism essential for strong democracy

by Celia Hiorns Opinion Editor

Recent reporting shows that as newspapers in Wisconsin begin to fade, some radio stations are beginning to take their place, according to Wisconsin Public Radio. In areas where local newspapers are bought out by large conglomerates, some believe radio stations can cover the local stories that national outlets don’t. But radio currently lacks the resources to fill this void.

Though radio may have the potential to address some of the issues of struggling newspaper industries, we need not assume that one medium must fill the role as the dominant source of information. In a dynamic media environment, we need different sources of information to serve different purposes. The competitive interplay between print and radio journalism, however, is nothing new.

The Press-Radio War emerged in the 1920s when the print journalism industry heavily opposed radio’s attempt to begin broadcasting news information. Print journalists worried society’s fascination with the new technology would reduce demand for traditional news gathering — an industry space they wanted to maintain for themselves.

When the conflict reached its climax, CBS President William S. Paley called publishers and network executives together to negotiate a resolution. What came out of the negotiations was the Biltmore Agreement, which said broadcasters would strictly reduce news broadcasting, and in return, newspapers would resume publishing radio listings. Quickly, this agreement broke down as rules were bent and newspapers realized how profitable radio stations could be.

Though some newspapers are struggling to maintain their presence in local media landscapes, their existence at all demonstrates they serve a unique purpose in the face of emerging technologies. Today, we’re seeing a renewed resurgence of radio broadcasting, impacting the broader flow of information with changing social contexts.

According to the United Nations, radio experienced a major revival during the COVID-19 pandemic, as it provided a sense of connectedness and humanity during a time of isolation. For this reason, some radio stations have survived challenging years filling the gap of local news reporting, according to research from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government.

Meanwhile, print newspapers are struggling to maintain their place in the media landscape. According to The Week, the shift to online readership has wreaked havoc on traditional newspapers’ advertising revenue. Online advertising is not as profitable as print advertising, since much of the profits go to sites like Facebook or Google. To maintain profitability, many newspapers are forced to put up a paywall many readers simply can’t justify.

Vulnerable newspapers are bought by hedge funds or equity firms at cheap prices to cut staff and sell assets — turning a short-term profit. But these hedge funds have little to no investment in the future of the newspapers or quality of reporting, so local and in-depth news coverage is reduced.

According to PBS, a growing pool of research indicates the loss of local newspapers impacts not only newspaper staff, but the communities they serve. In areas where local newspapers are lost to hedge funds, civic engagement and voter turnout decrease while misinformation spreads. Some evidence indicates city governments become more susceptible to corruption and dysfunction without local newsrooms to hold

them accountable.

Additionally, loss of local news coverage can increase political polarization, according to research from MIT, Sciences Po Paris and Yale University. Essentially, less local coverage means people’s perception of news information becomes more nationalized — less community-based and more divisive — leading to a decrease in splitticket voting.

Such severe impacts on civic and democratic life must be treated with concern. Though radio may be able to fill some of the gaps in local coverage, we can’t simply ignore the withering of the fourth estate, which has grown to be an essential part of American democracy.

Further, there are some issues that prevail in considering a major transition to radio. For one, funding is a major issue. According to Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, radio stations lack reporters, and quality journalism takes a lot of time and resources. Critically, the communities that need the most funding and the least likely to be able to produce it.

Also, because of limited airwaves and the pervasive nature of broadcast media, radio is subject to much more government regulation than print journalism. Though radio may still serve a vital role in news gathering, we may risk some aspects of a free press if we switch to wholesale reliance on radio.

All that being said, in a period of heavily decreasing local news coverage, radio is a good place to turn — for now. If radio stations are a viable method to connect communities to information they can’t receive from national newspapers, we should be directing funding toward them. The federal government, private companies and listeners who have the means to contribute have a responsibility to support quality local news coverage.

A free press in modern society needs both print and broadcast journalism to be successful. Print news has less government regulation and attracts a base of more dedicated consumers, while broadcast news may be more accessible and engaging for people in news deserts. As consumers of news media, the public has a responsibility to support their local newsrooms — if not by monetary contributions, by simply engaging with their content. We also must closely follow the reporting of organizations that advocate for local news, such as Knight Foundation.

Strong local journalism helps promote civic engagement and free information. Since diversity in type of coverage benefits our democracy, we must dedicate vigorous support toward all our quality, local news media.

Celia Hiorns (hiorns@wisc.edu) is a sophomore studying journalism and political science.

As local newspapers fade, we must support vitality of print journalism while radio fills coverage gaps

Radio stations are beginning to fill the spaces left behind as local newspapers are being bought up by larger companies.

CELIA HIORNS. THE BADGER HERALD.

Editorial Board: The bounds of free speech

Amid series of controversial speakers at UW, we must consider how to resist harmful speech without restricting constitutional liberties

by The Badger Herald Editorial Board

Since the Supreme Court incorporated the First Amendment to apply to the states in 1925, conversations about the balance between free speech and other social values have intensified. Arguably the most contentious conflict exists between freedom of speech and egalitarian social values, creating issues when free speech causes harm to marginalized communities.

The First Amendment allows for broad protections of speech. For example, contentbased restrictions on speech — those that limit speech based on its message — are subject to strict scrutiny, the highest level of judicial review. Any measure that restricts speech based on its content must serve a compelling governmental interest and be narrowly tailored to serve that purpose alone. When the government limits speech, it must do so in the least restrictive way possible.

There are only a few categorical exceptions to the content-based restrictions that are permitted under the First Amendment, such as true threats or criminal incitement. The Supreme Court has chosen to interpret these exceptions narrowly and has largely refused to expand the kind of speech that is not protected under First Amendment protections.

One court case that continues to trouble some Americans is Snyder v. Phelps, where the Supreme Court ruled in 2010 that the First Amendment shields speech that intentionally causes emotional distress. In Matal v. Tam, the Supreme Court reaffirmed the idea that hate speech does not count as a categorical exception to the First Amendment.

As a result, government entities have little power to regulate even harmful speech. This is exacerbated in the university context when student organizations invite controversial individuals to speak on campus. Recent visits from speakers like Ben Shapiro and Matt Walsh have been met with calls for the University of Wisconsin to have them removed. Unless their speech reaches one of the categorical exceptions to the First Amendment, however, UW has little power to unilaterally prevent hateful speech.

To fully comprehend the complexity of freedom of speech, we must acknowledge the weight words carry. Words aren’t simply syllables strung together — they have the power to mobilize ideologies and behaviors. As a result, freedom of speech can come into tension with social equality, as hateful speech perpetuates oppressive power structures.

Members of marginalized groups are often the recurring targets of hate speech. In fact, minority communities encompass more than 70% of the people targeted by hate crimes and hate speech on social media, according to the United Nations. This speech is exacerbated by unregulated speech on social media. After Elon Musk bought

Twitter, reducing the regulation of hate speech on the platform, the use of the n-word on the platform increased by almost 500% within 12 hours, according to the Brookings Institution. People who use their constitutional freedom to speak hatefully can impose tangible impacts on marginalized communities based on historical power imbalances that speech can perpetuate. When hateful expression is allowed in the name of free speech, it reinforces structures of oppression.

It is critical that UW responds to hateful speakers — not only to acknowledge the harm their speech inflicts, but also to support impacted communities. In the context of broad free speech protections, UW has the responsibility to

are civilian protests against other forms of free speech a legal right, they should be encouraged to facilitate a healthy democracy. Community members who organize in response to harmful rhetoric can help foster discussion around why such hate should not be tolerated.

April 4, many UW students received an email with the subject line “Homosexuality and Christ Talk this Thursday” from Badger Catholic through the RSO outreach via All Students email address. The email invited students to attend an event with guest speaker Kim Zember.

Students receive these emails because they are enrolled at UW and because the organization is a Registered Student Organization. RSOs can send one email per semester to all students at a

RSO.

UW failed to identify or condemn Zember as an anti-LGBTQIA+ speaker. Unless speech constitutes true threats, incitement of criminal activity or another categorical exception to the First Amendment, UW cannot censor speakers. It is a public university and that would be a constitutional violation of free speech. But doing nothing in the face of hateful speakers is unacceptable.

For one, when vetting the text of the RSO Outreach emails, UW should consider whether it is misleading. The Badger Catholic email was vague and did not make clear the hateful content of Zember’s message. When this is the case, UW should send out a supplemental email with more context about controversial speakers, including resources and community spaces to better prepare and support students in the face of hateful speech.

In the absence of UW’s open condemnation of harmful speech, students can and should do something. We live in a democracy where everyone has the right to free speech. The cost of having this right is the persistent need to fight the expressions of bigotry it permits. Hateful expressions are not a consequence of the First Amendment as a conduit for ideas but a broader American culture that perpetuates these ideas in the first place.

We live in a country where transgender people are victimized at staggering rates, a country founded on a distorted view of equality and a country built by enslaved people on stolen land. Our history has repeatedly empowered bigots to weaponize freedom of speech against vulnerable communities, and it is this — not free speech — that represents the root of hateful expression.

Fortunately, the same right that permits hateful rhetoric on campus also permits students to protest this rhetoric. Instead of calling on UW to censor hateful speakers, we must openly oppose harmful speech, share resources with one another, promote inclusive campus groups and build community around a shared goal of empowering marginalized groups.

support students harmed by free speech without resorting to censorship.

When a student group invites a speaker to campus who spreads harmful ideas, UW cannot prevent that. But, given that freedom of speech and freedom of protest are both protected by the First Amendment, UW also cannot prohibit counter-protests that may arise against speakers.

There is a fundamental difference between freedom of speech and freedom of consequence. When a community reacts to a harmful speaker, that is an example of a logical repercussion for spreading ideas that hurt people. Not only

reduced fee. Students who wish to be removed from these mass emails can choose to do so under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, FERPA.

Before sending out the mass emails, UW reviews the text of the email to ensure RSOs are adhering to UW’s policies. The Center for Leadership & Involvement has a responsibility to every campus organization to send these emails if they follow UW’s policies. But UW also has a responsibility to its students, particularly those who are often the target of harmful speech, to condemn harmful speech being promoted by any

Freedom of speech and social equality are not mutually exclusive. Instead of calling for censorship in the face of harmful speech, we must use the rights we have to engage in productive counterprotest. Within the framework of the First Amendment, members of a democracy have the ability and responsibility to respond when free speech is abused.

It is the wielding of free speech — not the constraining of it — that provides an avenue to push back against the hateful discourse the First Amendment allows.

The Badger Herald Editorial Board serves to represent the voice of the editorial department, distinct from the newsroom and does not necessarily reflect the views of each staff member.

UW legally must allow most controversial speakers on campus — but they could provide more resources for targeted students.

ABBY DOEDEN. THE BADGER HERALD.

Men’s Hockey: Hastings era moves forward with more new additions

Examining architecture behind latest edition of UW men’s hockey

by Anthony Winker Sports Reporter

The University of Wisconsin men’s hockey team’s Mike Hastings era has already brought about a lot of change.

On the surface, it seems as if many of the changes have been positive — there’s been a huge vibe shift within the program. But, on the other hand, some changes have been negative.

A lot has transpired since March. Let’s get caught up on all the changes with the roster and coaching staff.

Roster update

Between graduates, draft signing and transfers, Wisconsin has lost 12 players who were on the team last season. Graduate students Dominick Mersch, Brock Caufield and Jack Gorniak are all out of eligibility, and star defenseman Corson Ceulemans signed his ELC with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Additionally, since Hastings’ hiring, there has been plenty of movement on the transfer portal front for the Badgers. Eight players who spent time on UW’s roster last season put their names in the transfer portal during the season last year and this offseason.

Three of the eight have already committed to play elsewhere. Caden Brown and Brayden Morrison have found homes in the USHL with Waterloo and Dubuque, respectively, and defenseman Jake Martin has committed to defending national champion Quinnipiac.

Of the eight portal losses, Jared Moe, Wisconsin’s starting goaltender for the last two seasons, looms the largest. Barring anything else, the net should belong to Kyle McClellan, the Mercyhurst transfer who came over before last season.

But, Wisconsin has added three players from the portal to attempt to offset these losses. All three of them were former Minnesota State players who played under Hastings last season.

Forwards Christian Fitzgerald and Simon Tassy are both coming to UW with three seasons of eligibility remaining.

Fitzgerald put up 29 points in his rookie campaign, scoring 16 goals while adding 13 assists in 38 games played. Tassy played 15 games, scoring one goal and four assists.

By far the biggest addition of the portal season so far, though, has been David Silye. Silye, a first-team All-CCHA honoree, was the leading scorer for the Mavericks last season. His 23 goals and 16 assists will hopefully translate to a team in desperate need of some scoring punch.

As far as players go, these three additions and the nine-player recruiting class for next season will all contribute to immense roster turnover from last year.

Coaching staff

Mike Hastings has also been busy trying to lock in his coaching staff for next season. Andy Brandt is the only holdover from the Granato regime, with everyone else being a new addition.

The big one, of course, is Todd Knott. Knott, who was Hastings’ right-hand man in Mankato, turned down a chance to be the head coach for his old team to join his boss in Madison. Knott, last year’s winner of the Terry Flanagan Award recognizing his body of work as an assistant, is wellrenowned around NCAA circles for his recruiting and will hope to replicate his success and longevity with the Badgers.

Hastings is also bringing over Luke Regner to be director of hockey operations for the Badgers. Regner, a 2017 UW graduate, spent the past four seasons with the Mavericks in a similar role and will return to his alma mater after previously spending time with Robert Morris before taking the Minnesota State job.

Hastings could hire a third assistant, but that decision has not been made yet.

With all the new faces among players and coaches, it truly is a new era for Wisconsin hockey. Whatever your thoughts are on the future of the team, there will be many new players and coaching staff members to watch out for this upcoming season.

AHMAD HAMID. THE BADGER HERALD.

AHMAD HAMID. THE BADGER HERALD.

AHMAD HAMID. THE BADGER HERALD.

Football: Where Wisconsin stands ahead of fall season

Fickell’s newest weapons appear poised for offensive overhaul

by Mike Hall Sports Editor

Throughout the University of Wisconsin’s 127year history with a team on the gridiron, only 31 men can stake claim to head coaching duties. Former college athlete and head coach of the University of Cincinnati, Luke Fickell, inherits this title following the impromptu, in-season firing of Paul Chryst, who served as the team’s anchor for seven years.

Perhaps the most significant question looming around the team revolves around the relationship between two of the most coveted positions on the turf — quarterback and wide receiver.

With roughly four months remaining until Wisconsin’s first home contest under Fickell, the Badgers have yet to announce the starting quarterback for the 2023-2024 season. Given the historical significance surrounding the position and the departure of three-year starter Graham Mertz, the connection between the new anchor and his throwing weapons could bridge the gap between contention or misfortune.

As of April, seven new quarterbacks and wide receivers utilized the transfer portal to commit to the university for the fall campaign, according to UW Athletics. Pass catchers Quincy Burroughs and Will Pauling both arrived from the University of Cincinnati, Fickell’s former employer. C.J. Williams and Bryson Green suited up for the University of Southern California and Oklahoma State University, respectively, just a few months ago.

Notwithstanding the mix of these new faces, Fickell remains optimistic in the unit’s development alongside his quarterback room.

“It’s consistency, and that’s why I think we’ve grown at wide receiver more than any because, as you see, those are the guys that have played every practice,” Fickell said following a practice on April 13. “There may be a ding here and there, but for the most part, the core of that receiver room is out here every single day.”

In Fickell’s view, repetition and consistency on the gridiron certainly accelerate the development process in terms of pass-catching, skill development, strength and agility. Wide receivers, however, depend upon the individual who touches the pigskin on nearly every offensive possession.

Wide receiver and native of Mission Viejo, California, Williams stressed the impact of establishing a personal relationship with his quarterback room.

“All of them are great guys, and beyond just

football, I’ve been able to get to know them as people, and I think that’s the biggest thing in a quarterback-receiver relationship,” Williams said. “If you guys know each other as people, once you get that down, you’ll kind of be able to connect on the field even more.”

During his freshman season at the University of Southern California, Williams totaled just four catches for 34 yards, according to the UW Athletics. By transferring to UW, he elected to travel roughly 2,000 miles from his home state and the infamous Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to don the cardinal and white.

Williams noted how quarterbacks Tanner Mordecai, Braedyn Locke and Nick Evers transferred alongside him. To him, this connection only strengthens the bond.

“When you transfer in with guys, I feel like it’s extremely easy because you’re like, ‘okay, we don’t know anyone, so we’ll kinda stick together.’ So that was kind of what happened there,” Williams said. “And as time went on, the relationships were built. Now we got out here, we’re throwing and all those different things … So I feel like just getting to know them as people is the most important part, and the football will come after.”

To players like Williams, familiarity off the turf possesses as much of an impact as hurling the pigskin on the practice field. His running mate and fellow wide receiver, Will Pauling, echoed a similar sentiment.

Pauling, a transfer from Cincinnati, suited up under Fickell last season. Like Williams, the activities away from Camp Randall can bolster these connections.

“It’s been a lot of fun, honestly,” Pauling said. “It’s been really good working with everybody, getting to know everybody, not even just on the field but off the field as well. It’s been a good group to work with.”

To athletes like Mordecai, a transfer from Southern Methodist University, diligence throughout the offseason equally contributes to athletic maturation and camaraderie between the skill positions.

“It’s been fun. Like I was saying earlier, it takes reps, repetition. It doesn’t just come overnight,” Mordecai said. “Over the winter, the hours that we spent here, throwing, getting to know each other on the football level. And then through spring practice, through eight practices, kind of where we started day one and where we are now. As far as having continuity together, we’re definitely

growing in the right direction.”

Mordecai, one of three quarterbacks to commit to Wisconsin from the transfer portal, concluded his career at SMU as the program’s all-time leader in passing touchdowns and third in passing yards, according to the UW Athletics.

Despite being one of the most decorated members of Wisconsin’s crowded quarterback room, Mordecai will need to outwork his peers to capture the starting role. Regardless, each game manager, including Nick Evers, acknowledged the significance of those he targets during practice.

Evers, a former quarterback for the University of Oklahoma, also made the trek to Madison through the transfer portal. For him, the wide receiver room made his acclimation to the program nearly seamless.

“You know, the transition was actually pretty easy, and I say that just because these guys, we’ve got a really, really talented wide receiver core,”

Evers said. “You pretty much just throw the ball anywhere in their direction, and they’re gonna find a way to go get it. That side of chemistry has been pretty smooth.”

In one of the Badgers’ most highly anticipated seasons of recent memory, members of both the quarterback and wide receiver units feel confident in the development of these newly founded bonds. Like any relationship, both parties will encounter turbulence. With dedication and attentiveness, however, these athletes anticipate smooth sailing with the season looming on the horizon.

“Growth isn’t linear, obviously,” another quarterback on the roster, Marshall Howe, said. “We’re in a spot now, both the quarterbacks and receivers chemistry-wise, that we weren’t, not only at the start of spring practices but winter workouts. When you have a lot of guys that are committed to the same end-goal, it’s pretty easy to develop a chemistry.”

JUSTIN MIELKE. THE BADGER HERALD.

Fans are excited for a new season of Badger football.

ABBY CIMA. THE BADGER HERALD.

Fun, fresh and flirty date ideas to keep your summer hot

by Caroline Crowley Managing Editor

Original summer date ideas are hard to come by — every summer date seems to consist of sitting in a random parking lot, getting ice cream or going mini-golfing.

Don’t get me wrong, these kinds of dates aren’t always bad, but they do get boring after a while. Whether you’re setting up for a summer fling, in a long-term relationship or just want to go out with friends, these new summer date ideas are just for you.

Make sure to bring along a game or puzzle to play together before the night is over. If one noodle happens to end up in both of your mouths at the same time, it wouldn’t be the end of the world.

even throw on your favorite YouTuber in the background to fill any awkward silences.

After enjoying your pizza that you definitely didn’t burn, gather some canvases, paint and brushes to paint together. You can make a decoration for your apartment, paint the pizza you made or make a professional-level work of art.

However seriously you take it, this is such a cute, DIYesque date that would make anyone swoon — or cringe.

Grab a hammock — someone has to have one between the two of you and your friends — and head out for a walk with your love interest.

While I won’t share my secrets with you on the best places to hammock, I will generally recommend a spot on the Lakeshore Path. Hang your hammock up by the lake — bonus points if you both learn how together.

Hang out until you feel as if your bladder is going to burst and call it quits before heading to Memorial Union or the Babcock Dairy Store for a fresh scoop of ice cream and a bathroom break.

Dessert first is my motto, so the next step is dinner at State Street Brats. Sit out on the patio and enjoy people watching until the sun sets — or later.

If you’re on pretty much any side of TikTok, you’ve likely seen the notecard date trend. Make two notecards for each decision and have your partner pick one at random.

The first option should be an activity — I would suggest roller skating or bowling, but you can pick from mutual interests with your partner.

The second should be your dinner. If you’re in the mood for fast food, you could pick between Culver’s and Panera. Otherwise, pick two of your favorite restaurants so you can’t go wrong!

Decide where to eat with your third choice — at the restaurant or picnic at a park.

Last up is dessert, so choose between getting your favorite ice cream at the grocery store or a McFlurry from McDonald’s.

The best part about this date is its ability for customization with some room for a surprise.

If you’re in the mood for a fancy night out, get your most comfortable heels on and pick your favorite nice restaurant.

My favorites for date night are Sardine, Gates & Brovi, Cento and Tornado Room. Dress to the nines and head out to eat some of the best food of your life.

After stuffing yourself, you can go home and crash or change to go for a little walk at the Arboretum.

All of the dates on this list are fun, unique options to switch up your regular date nights — or to kick them back into gear. The best part of each of them is that they’re easily customizable to fit you and your date’s interests. Have fun out there this summer!

If privacy is more your thing, create your own take on the “Lady and the Tramp.” Make some shrimp and noodles (with at least half of a stick of butter) with your date.

Then, head off to a patio, roof or backyard for an intimate date. If your apartment doesn’t offer these amenities, find a quiet corner in the park nearest to you. Set up a picnic and enjoy your delicious meal.

If you’re a chef at heart, making your own pizza is a really cute date idea. A heart-shaped pizza made by hand — are you kidding me? So cute.

Add your favorite toppings and bake away! You can

If you’re sick of mini golfing, getting ice cream, try out these unique date ideas

Q&A: Founder of Badger Film Groups shares rewards of student film

by Rohan Pemmasani ArtsEtc. Reporter

The Badger Film Group is an independent film group founded by students from the University of Wisconsin. Jared Rosenthal, the original founder and current leader of BFG, highlighted the success of the group and cinema at Madison.

This interview was edited for length and clarity. What is Badger Film Group and what work do you do?

Badger Film Group started about a year and a half ago. It started after I took Communication Arts 355, and I worked with my last film group from the class and made a short film with them a few months later. We had premieres for movies, and then we would post on Instagram. And we

would promote, promote, promote. Over time, we just got more people interested in the films that we were making, and the group just expanded really quickly. And people were brought in and next thing we knew we were making feature films — “Watch Out,” that was huge. And so now making “Wasted,” the movie, it just keeps growing and we keep getting bigger and bigger. What interested you about making short films in the beginning?

I really like short films, just because they’re good practice because you can really focus on the smaller details. So it’s a great way to train for these bigger ones. But the feature film in itself is a

beast, and to do that you need to have experience with the short films. That’s how you get better, by pushing yourself to do things that aren’t typical. And because we’re constantly trying to push the boundaries and push the limits, we get better results each time. So the feature film just comes from us being super ambitious and trying to tell stories that have even more depth. What are some of the difficulties associated with student filmmaking?

Money, for sure. Budget. That’s the hardest thing, because it is not cheap to make a movie. But when you work as a team, and you do your best to fundraise, and you put your vision out

for everyone to see, and you explain yourself and why you want to do something like this, it all falls into place, because we do what we love. I’m a strong believer that if you put love into the world, the world’s gonna come back with a lot of reciprocation, at some point in time. And we felt that immediately.

How did you find people who were knowledgeable about each field associated with film?

I found these people because in my life I live for film, and I let it be known. I will die for my movies and my ideas because I love bringing people together and showing people that they can be bigger than themselves. So I find people through me constantly talking about film, and constantly thinking about what is needed.

For filmmaking, do you think passion is more important, or knowledge?

I think you need to start with passion, but you need knowledge. It comes down to that because that passion without knowledge, it can only get you so far. But if you are obsessed, then you start to get people who also care a lot and are very good.

What’s the future looking like for Badger Film Group?

Right now, “Wasted” is going to premiere in a few weeks. That’s been such an incredible ride, just this whole crew, the way we’ve all come together — we took it to the next level as far as bonding. It’s such a family mindset. And this was the original vision I always had for the group. Where we’re at now is exactly where I always wanted to be. And now it’s about leveling up and continuing on that path.

In terms of the future, there are a lot of seniors in the group. So over the course of this project, we’ve had a lot of the underclassmen shadowing those seniors to see how they do everything. So that way, next year, in the following years, they’ll be prepared.

We’re going to have new directors, new writers, new editors, and we’re going to start from the bottom again. And that comes with just being positive and having faith in the group and having faith in oneself. And it’s so unique to see a group of like-minded students work together for something that’s bigger than themselves. It’s impactful because, yes, we are still students, and there’s so much to learn. But we’re pioneers, we’re people who all we want to do is have fun, make movies with our friends and be ourselves and there’s no other place like this on campus. Did you have any final thoughts or closing thoughts?

What makes this group special is that everyone cares. Everyone truly wants to be there.

I love challenges. I think as a group, that’s, that’s how you get better. That’s how you grow.

‘What makes this group special is that everyone cares,’ BFG president says

Students at the Badger Film Group struggle with fundraising but learn invaluable lessons.

CAROLINE CROWLEY. THE BADGER HERALD.

Get the job: Our top tips for getting hired after graduation

From your resume, to your cover letter, to your interview, here’s how to get a job

by Sexperts, The Managing Editor

Graduation is looming, and so is the pressure to get a job. If you’re struggling to get a job ASAP as possible, here are some tips for your resumes, cover letters and interviews.

Resume Tips

Tip One

List your personal information at the top of your resume, including your social security number, credit card information (front and back) and a picture of your passport. This will expedite your hiring process and make you a very attractive candidate for any position.

With this information, your soon-to-be employer can place money into your bank account straight away. Sometimes they’ll accidentally remove money, but never fear — they will certainly pay you back.

In fact, with this tip, we would specifically encourage you to send application materials to sexperts@badgerherald.com for a top-secret, potentially high-paying position.

Tip Two

When it comes to discussing your accomplishments, you want hiring managers to know more about you personally than what you’ve done in the past.

When listing your skills, list personal skills such as “funny,” “hot” and “genius.” Under awards, feel free to make them up — not like your employer would check. “First Place Head Award at BJ World Cup” is a great one to add on at the end.

Cover Letter Tips

Tip One

This is where your personality can really shine through. You want to work for a modern, accepting workplace, right? Swearing in your cover letter will actually substantially improve your chances of getting hired.

People who swear are known to be funnier, and that is the number one quality employers are looking for. You can even tell them to fuck off if they don’t hire you — “I appreciate your time and consideration — if you decide against me, you can fuck off tho.”

Tip Two

When describing your previous experiences, make sure to drag all your past employers so your potential new employer will know how to improve their own workplace ahead of your arrival.

If your past boss was an absolute asshat, say so! This will encourage your new boss to be a non-asshat.

Tip Three

Write your cover letter drunk. Your true personality will shine through, misspellings and all. If you spell things wrong, it’s just relatable.

In fact, acknowledging that you’re drunk in your cover letter is potentially the best tip on this list — who doesn’t want a new coworker they know they can get down with?

Interview Tips

Tip One

This is the most important part of the hiring process. If you’re able to successfully follow all the other tips, you’re bound to make it to this step. Who wouldn’t want to meet you?

If you want to break the mold and stand out to your interviewer, bring yourself and them a shooter. Our recommendation is Fireball or Tito’s to show some class.

A shooter will get you both off on the right foot and will most certainly increase your odds of getting hired. Just be sure to emphasize that you will continue to drink on the job if you’re planning on it!

Tip Two

Every question you’re asked should take you at least 10 minutes to answer. If you have short answers, you’re most certainly doing it wrong. Find a way to ramble confidently, because confidence and long-winded answers are key. It exhibits your ability to make things up on the spot and to hold a good conversation at networking events.

Tip Three

If they ask you your biggest weakness, tell them it’s interviews. They’ll laugh, but they’ll also know that it’s true — you probably have no other weaknesses and you deserve the job.

Tip Four

Save all your best conversation for during the interview — if they attempt to make small talk ahead of time, try your best to not respond. You wouldn’t want to leak any information before everyone is present or before it could’ve been used to respond to a question.

Tip Five

The last tip is to be yourself. Say everything that comes to mind — whether you’re nervous, have no relevant experience or just crapped your pants, make sure your potential employer knows.

If you follow all these tips, you should have a job before graduation! If not, feel free to apply to your favorite fast food restaurant or grocery store — you can’t beat the discount, tbh. Good luck getting hired!!!

CAROLINE CROWLEY. THE BADGER HERALD.

Point-counterpoint: Crumple or fold

The great toilet paper debate

by Scott McInerney Banter Editor

Alright, let’s talk about toilet paper. Some of you may have a reflexive ick from even the thought of those supple soft sheets that do the dirty work. But we all have to use it, so let’s throw out our internal biases and just chat. No matter what, when you go drop the kids off at the pool, you’ve got to ask yourself one question: fold or scrunch? This debate has withstood the test of time. Ever since 1857, when toilet paper was invented, the disgusting barbarians who scrunch have quarreled with the unsullied snobs who fold.

We will dissect the strengths and weaknesses of both in this pointcounterpoint article.

Point : Folding is the only civilized way to go

Folding is the nice, neat way to go. When you’re done committing the act, you want to forget about it and move on. You don’t need any greater shame while you are perched on the porcelain throne. Folding reminds you that you are human. It reminds you that you have control over your toilet time and will go through a carefully planned process to ensure the

greatest cleanliness possible. We aren’t squatting in the woods and using a leaf. We are humans, not sasquatches.

Counterpoint : Scrunching is just more fun

When you drop it like it’s hot, it doesn’t have to be filled with shame and regret. Some, in fact many, actually enjoy their time on the john. If you’re lame, you’ll just grab a couple of squares and neatly fold it like the square you are. But that’s just the same boring fold every time, reminding you of the mundane task at hand. One way to make the whole ordeal more fun is to spice up your wiping time. Each scrunch represents a new opportunity for Downy origami. Each experience is unique, like a snowflake. The more creative you get, the more fun it is. Just think of the good ol’ days of making fortune tellers in elementary school.

Point : Scrunching saves time

Pooping is nobody’s favorite act, and some just want to get in, get it over with, and get out. The scrunch is the only toilet paper method to ensure the quickest bathroom time possible. Who has time to sit on the toilet longer than needed? Folding just simply wastes your time.

While the folders of the world are grabbing and carefully folding their paper, the scrunchers of the world get out of the bathroom, and probably save years of their lives.

All that time spent folding could be better spent trading dogecoin or creating some toilet paper-themed NFT and getting rich.

Counterpoint: Maximum cleanliness > time

Sure, the barbaric scrunchers of the world may save a second here and there, but in the end, folding is the best way to maximize surface area and ensure maximum cleanliness. That’s worth a couple of seconds. Besides, some of the most skilled folders establish a routine and can grab and fold with their eyes closed in a matter of milliseconds. Plus, the folders can gain those seconds back by simply not washing their hands.

Point: Folding conserves material

Buying toilet paper is something we all have to do. Think back to the great tp shortage of 2020. Everybody needs to use the stuff so you may as well make every square count. Folding is an efficient, conservative method of use, allowing for maximum wipe per square. The scrunchers

out there are wasting squares like the oxygen they breathe. Nobody should be using more than they need.

Counterpoint : Who cares?

Your time in the restroom is sacred. It belongs to you and no one else but you. So if you want to go around saving your squares, wasting your time with a neat little fold, fine by me. But don’t bark at me for trying to entertain myself with a couple of extra squares so I can shave seconds off my time. Don’t go around being a hater, let everybody wipe however they want to wipe. And scrunching just ain’t that barbaric, it’s literally just a chaotic fold.

Well, there you have it, folks. The strongest arguments from all sides of the debate as this reporter sees it. I hope this discussion taught you a thing or two about compassion and empathy. If you think scrunchers are savages and don’t deserve respect, try a scrunch here and there, walk a mile in their shoes and take a poop on their toilet. And same goes for the scrunchers that think folders are snooty time wasters, try a fold here and there. See how clean it makes you feel. I’m shocked if you made it this far, but the morale of the story: there is none. Just don’t be a hater about a bodily function we all go through.

OUR DOORS ARE OPEN.