Protesters gather at the Wisconsin State Capitol as part of nationwide demonstration against the Trump administration
Herald Public Relations
Herald Advertising
Board of Directors
Experts urge precautionary measures as PFAS contamination impacts vulnerable populations
ADMINISTRATIVE RESTRUCTURE COULD DISRUPT SYSTEM
UW moves forward with major overhaul despite rising satisfaction with administrative services, sparking pushback from labor groups
Publisher Emmett O’Connor
Wisconsin Guarantee: New admission system for in-state applicants
Wisconsin Guarantee ensures automatic admission for top high school performers
by Patricia Clark News Associate Editor
The class of 2025 will be the first high school graduating class that the “Wisconsin Guarantee” applies to. The policy gives guaranteed acceptance to Universities of Wisconsin schools depending on class rank, according to Wisconsin Legislature: 2023 Wisconsin Act 95.
The Wisconsin Guarantee automatically admits students at the top 10% of their class after junior year to every UW school outside of UW-Madison. Students at the top 5% of their class will receive automatic admission into UW-Madison, according to a Universities of Wisconsin press release.
Rep. Jerry L. O’Connor, R-Fond Du Lac, the co-sponsor of the bill that created the Wisconsin Guarantee, said the policy aims to focus the determination of acceptance into UW schools based on academics.
“It’s a simple bill that’s built upon scholastic
4 • badgerherald.com • April 8, 2025
performance,” O’Connor said.
O’Connor said many constituents contacted him and other legislators about their children having high GPAs but not getting accepted into some state schools and the flagship UW-Madison.
O’Connor, who sits on the Assembly Committee on Colleges and Universities, said he has been trying to obtain access to the “grid” UWMadison uses to determine who it admits.
“What we can conclude is that they’re not capturing the meritocracy or the scholastic performance of students as a primary determinate in who is granted admission into the school,” O’Connor said.
Wisconsin State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly has been criticized for lowering scholastic standards rather than maintaining them and challenging schools to meet a certain national standard, O’Connor said.
Recently, the Department of Public Instruction lowered testing standards and changed terminology used to describe academic success, according to WPR.
“People do want to see scholastic performance rewarded,” O’Connor said. “If you use other criteria — and that could be race, economic background or a variety of issues that could factor in — it is not wise to make that the basis for your criteria without considering scholastic performance, because the dropout rate is far higher.”
Freshman enrollment data for fall 2024 showed a 3.2% decrease in students of color, according to a UW-Madison press release.
O’Connor said understating scholastic performance in enrollment leads to higher dropout rates and negative experiences for students.
Questions surrounding how to measure
scholastic achievement could create issues for certain Wisconsin school districts, UW-Madison Department of Sociology Chair and Sociology and Educational Policies professor Eric Grodsky said.
“It’s going to be a challenge … not all school districts across Wisconsin have the same approach to class rank, and so this is really forcing their hand to make some choices,” Grodsky said.
School districts like Madison Metropolitan School District don’t have weighted GPAs for honors and AP classes, Grodsky said. Under the Wisconsin Guarantee, Madison constituents are eager for high schools to weigh GPA for honors and AP classes.
Legislators like O’Connor put a blanket requirement of schools using some proponent of a national testing standard, like the SAT or ACT, to measure scholastic performance, he said.
The legislation also requires school boards to establish criteria for scholastic performance using GPA, SAT, ACT or other standards, putting the onus back on local school systems, O’Connor said.
“You really want to challenge the local school boards,” O’Connor said. “You want to be thinking about how to get the highest level of performance of your education system and how do you recognize it.”
Certain high schools across the state offer different kinds of classes, which adds more complications, Grodsky said.
Grodsky said basing admissions on criteria like class ranking allows students from schools with fewer AP or honors classes to compete on equal footing with those from schools that offer more advanced courses.
Certain exceptions to the Wisconsin Guarantee allow homeschooled students or those enrolled in private virtual schools to gain direct admission to UW-Madison if they score in the 98th percentile or higher on the ACT, according to the UW-Madison Office of Admissions and Recruitment.
National Merit Scholarship finalists are also given direct admission into UW-Madison, regardless of their class rank, according to the Office of Admissions and Recruitment.
Admission results for UW-Madison’s regular decision applicants came out earlier this spring, but admission numbers for this upcoming fall semester will not be released until September, according to UW-Madison Director for Strategic Initiatives and Chief of Staff Cori Splain.
The Wisconsin Guarantee only applies to Wisconsin students. Out-of-state students and Minnesota students who have reciprocity for instate tuition will not be admitted based on the criteria in the Wisconsin Guarantee, O’Connor said.
“I’ve heard back from parents of students who had a great sense of relief, that they knew because their kid was a high performer, that they were going to get into one of our schools here in Wisconsin,” O’Connor said.
UW campus. September 26, 2024.
SOREN GOLDSMITH. THE BADGER HERALD.
UW senior leaders create lasting legacy with mental health initiatives
Class gift funds multi-year mental health programming for students nearing post-graduation transition
by Cat Carroll Senior Reporter
When Shelby Olson was elected 2024-25 senior class vice president, she knew she wanted to use her time in the position to bolster mental health support services for her University of Wisconsin peers.
Driven by her own experiences navigating mental health challenges, the biology and psychology double major recognized a gap in services for seniors nearing graduation. And her peers seemed to agree.
In a series of polls sent out to graduating seniors gauging interest for different areas of campus the Senior Class Office could focus on, Olson said her peers expressed overwhelming support for mental health and suicide prevention initiatives.
The Senior Class Office named University Health Services Mental Health Services the benefactor of the class gift and focused their efforts on organizing programming specifically targeted at supporting graduating seniors nearing a transition period in their lives.
It’s an approach that acknowledges
graduation not just as an academic milestone, but also as a life transition requiring proper support. As their term nears its end, Olson and her fellow senior class leaders have helped implement
practical mental health programming based on their initial goals.
But more than just developing programming for those graduating in May, the group has focused on a sustainable approach. Through strategic budgeting and targeted fundraising efforts, Olson said the Senior Class Office has designated funding to maintain these mental health programs for at least three additional years beyond their term.
Easing the transition
In conversations with her classmates, Olson said she’s noticed a common thread among seniors across campus — anxiety about what comes next.
“I hope people know that they’re not alone, and that it’s okay to talk about these things and the anxiety of not knowing,” Olson said. “There are so many things we’re all feeling inside that can be hard to talk about, but it’s completely normal to not have a plan.”
Transition periods can be stressful due to the uncertainty and disruption they cause.
UHS associate director of campus and community engagement Brittany Howell says the period following graduation can be both exciting and stressful, and that it is her goal to help students feel prepared to enter this transition period.
“We are hearing from students that they’re wanting to learn more about how to cope with transition, especially as they get closer to graduation,” Howell said.
BENNETT WAARA. THE BADGER HERALD.
University Health Services, located in 333 E. Campus Mall, offers free mental health treatment to students. April 11, 2024.
BENNETT WAARA. THE BADGER HERALD.
From left to right: Philanthropy director Veronica Goveas, communications director Logan Anderson, senior class president Sam Mahlum, vice president Shelby Olson, DEI director Dana Tabaza, events director Deanna Hebbring, engagement director Helen Simpson. March 14, 2025.
To support students approaching this transition, Howell has worked closely with members of the Senior Class Office to arrange programming that targets the unique stressors seniors face in their final year — from career planning and graduate school applications to the emotional weight of leaving familiar environments.
The programming has included additional Let’s Talk drop-in counseling sessions for seniors throughout the academic year. The sessions have been held at different points in various locations across campus, reducing barriers for seniors wishing to speak with a counselor.
An upcoming three-day event series during the final week of classes will conclude the programming, bringing seniors together days before graduation to continue these conversations.
The programming features three distinct events — “Real Talk: Navigating Life PostGraduation” on April 29, “Toast to the Tassels: Celebrating Current and Future Friendships” on April 30 and “Caps & Conversations with Wheelhouse Studios” on May 1.
The first event will feature a panel discussion with recent UW alumni about their transition to life after graduation. At the second event, attendees will make mocktails, “toasting” their current friendships, as well as friendships to come following graduation.
The final event will give seniors the opportunity to decorate their graduation caps while also engaging in a facilitated discussion about coping with transition and change.
While organizing the event series, a commitment to creating spaces where people feel comfortable speaking about these topics proved essential.
“I hope these kinds of spaces, these kinds of conversations and fun events help people feel more comfortable reaching out for help,” Olson said.
A legacy beyond graduation
Senior class president
Sam Mahlum says Olson has a “natural need to better society.” The pair became quick friends after they met on campus,
and when Mahlum decided to run for Senior Class Office, she immediately knew she wanted Olson to be her running mate.
“We both have a natural passion for wanting to see positive change on campus,” Mahlum said.
Now, as Mahlum and Olson prepare to graduate themselves, they leave behind not just a program but a new standard for how universities can support students through a critical transition that takes them beyond campus walls.
This year’s class gift embodies the Wisconsin Idea principle of paying it forward, supporting this programming for future groups of graduates. Beyond designating the funding, Mahlum and Olson have helped foster a crucial relationship between UHS and the Senior Class Office. They’re dedicated to seeing this continue.
“When we transition with the next Senior Class Office, we’re going to make it really clear that this programming is going to stay for the next three years — at least,” Mahlum said.
In addition to programming arranged in partnership with the Senior Class Office, graduating seniors who have received mental health care through UHS while on campus can receive support with the transition of providers.
In the six months following graduation, UHS care managers can connect graduates with community resources in their preferred location while they establish mental health care with a new provider. Both students and their care providers can initiate this process, easing the transition for mental health support, Howell said.
But the efforts of the Senior Class Office mark a slow shift in campus culture and how the post-graduation transition is discussed. Olson and Mahlum have identified a gap and worked toward a solution.
“In future years, I hope this kind of conversation becomes way more normalized,” Olson said. “And I hope that even after the funding runs out, this programming is so popular that the school wants to keep it and put funding toward it.”
Senior class president Sam Mahlum and vice president Shelby Olson. March 14, 2025. JACOB DURAN. THE BADGER HERALD.
Senior class president Sam Mahlum and vice president Shelby Olson. March 14, 2025.
JACOB DURAN. THE BADGER HERALD.
EPA energy regulation rollbacks threaten renewable energy, public health
by Anna Smith Science News Editor
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Administrator Lee Zeldin announced 31 environmental regulation rollbacks March 12. Zeldin said these rollbacks are aimed to lower the cost of living for American families by making it more affordable to purchase cars, heat one’s home and conduct businesses.
But Professors Gregory Nemet at the La Follette School of Public Affairs and Tracey Holloway in the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies feel these rollbacks will not have their intended effect regarding businesses and public health.
“I disagree that we’re actually going to save [people] money by helping them or making them burn fossil fuels,” Nemet said.
Regarding businesses, a major focus of these rollbacks relates to the U.S. energy sector. Notably, they call for the reevaluation of the Biden administration’s “Clean Power Plant Plan 2.0,” which sought to limit carbon pollution. This plan aimed to reduce 90% of coal-fired plants’ carbon emissions in the next decade.
Now, under the Trump administration, the EPA has raised concerns around these goals. The organization claims the Clean Power Plant Plan 2.0 would place an unreasonable burden on gas and coal power plants and would cost $15 billion over the next two decades. Ultimately, the deregulation of carbon emission standards may lessen expenses for businesses but will allow greater carbon pollution.
On a national level, Republican congress members applauded the announcement. They state American energy businesses will thrive as a result of these rollbacks, according the EPA. In past years, the National Association of Manufacturers estimated adherence to federal regulations cost manufacturers around $3 trillion. Furthermore, some industry professionals — such as those in the Fabricators and Manufacturers Association — praised the announcement, asserting the rollbacks will relieve the burdens of environmental regulations.
For Wisconsin, deregulation may allow energy companies to keep pace with the state’s increasing energy demands. This need is partly due to concerns surrounding the reliability of the regional grid and the strain AI centers pose, according to the Wisconsin Energy Institute. Currently, Wisconsin is being considered for the development of three AI data centers, emphasizing an expected increase in the state’s energy needs.
In response to this demand increase, some state energy companies have delayed shutting down their coal power plants. For example, Alliant Energy announced they would close down its 400-megawatt Edgewater coal plant in Sheboygan this year and its Columbia Energy Center near Portage in 2026, according to Wisconsin Public Radio.
Now, Edgewater will continue using coal until 2028 and the Columbia center will convert to natural gas and operate until 2029. Essentially, the EPA’s rollbacks have the potential to weaken incentives for energy companies to transition away from non-renewable energy sources, Nemet said.
“I think that [green energy sources are] where the opportunities are,” Nemet said. “Everyone around the world sees it and is chasing it, so to
fuels, such as wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and nuclear energy, Nemet said. These forms of energy are increasingly becoming more affordable. While green energy may require an upfront investment, in the long-term, it saves individual consumers more than the continued use of fossil fuels.
This is partly due to the lack of price volatility of renewable energy sources. Fossil fuels are inherently connected to the price of oil, which
consequences, which are threatened by the EPA’s rollbacks, Holloway said. Specifically, the EPA announced the reconsideration of the PM 2.5 National Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter, a part of the Clean Air Act.
“[PM 2.5] is really considered public enemy number one for human health,” Holloway said. “Almost anything bad with your health gets worse with PM 2.5.”
PM 2.5 refers to particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers and smaller, according to the EPA. It is a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets. They are created when power plants, industries and vehicles pollute the air with sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, which then undergo chemical reactions in the atmosphere. PM 2.5 is linked to decreased lung function, nonfatal heart attacks, premature death in certain groups and more.
Notably, Black and brown communities in Wisconsin face a disproportionate amount of these health consequences. In 2022, the state ranked third worst in the country for racial disparities in exposure to harmful air pollution, according to a report from Clean Wisconsin.
Holloway said as a result of the Clean Air Act standards, air quality standards have gotten tighter and tighter, ultimately creating a cycle of promoting clean air. For the state, PM levels have been declining and the air quality has seen significant improvement, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. The EPA’s reconsideration of PM 2.5 regulations weakens these standards, which may interfere with the progression of air quality.
Furthermore, this announcement marks another way Black and brown communities have been targeted, Holloway said. A month before the announcement, the EPA had removed an environmental justice mapping screening tool called EJScreen from their website, according to the Environmental Data and Governance Initiative.
Now, this deregulation action calls for the termination of the Environmental Justice and DEI arms of the EPA. Essentially, the current administration has made clear its denouncement of environmental justice efforts, Holloway said. This signifies a shift away from equity concerns to the prioritization of economic affairs.
Zeldin said the reconsideration of air quality standards allows the EPA to unleash an age of America’s economic prosperity. But, Holloway said that economic expansion and environmental regulations may build off each other.
say that we’re going to not compete just goes backwards into a time where it was all about fossil fuels. I don’t see how that supports jobs or supports people’s incomes or creates industries of the future.”
There are many alternatives to the use of fossil
is out of the country’s control and significantly dependent on the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
An investment in renewable energy may also protect Wisconsinites from dire health
“I get this idea that industry and jobs versus the environment is a false dichotomy, which is not to say that individual industries face daunting environmental challenges,” Holloway said. “But, I think if you’re looking at this from a broad brush, U.S. wide perspective, I think that it’s very important to note that many of these regulations are job creators.”
The Badger Herald archival photo of solar panels. April 21, 2016.
KATIE COONEY. THE BADGER HERALD.
Wisconsin confronts PFAS crisis amid legislative debates, public health concerns
Experts urge precautionary measures as PFAS contamination impacts vulnerable populations
by Zoe Klein Science News Editor
Wisconsin is still grappling with the pervasive issue of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, often referred to as “forever chemicals” due to their persistent nature in the environment and human body.
These synthetic chemicals are found in many products, including firefighting foams, nonstick cookware and water-repellent fabrics, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.
Exposure to PFAS has been linked to serious health issues such as cancer, thyroid disease, liver damage and developmental problems in children, according to Environmental Health News.
In response to the growing concern over PFAS contamination, Wisconsin lawmakers have introduced competing proposals aimed at addressing the issue.
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has put forward a plan that allocates $145 million for PFAS treatment, groundwater standards, provision of bottled water and the drilling of new wells, along with funding for Department of Natural Resources oversight.
On the other hand, Republican Sen. Eric Wimberger’s proposal seeks to utilize an existing $125 million PFAS trust fund for testing, treatment and landowner protections but does not include new funding for cleanup efforts, according to EHN.
regulation, legislation and litigation.
While Wisconsin’s regulatory efforts have been proactive, surpassing federal initiatives, the challenge lies in the vast number of PFAS chemicals, which are estimated to be in the tens of thousands, Tai said.
This complexity makes individual regulation difficult, leading to suggestions
December 2024, Attorneys General from 30 states and the District of Columbia have initiated litigation against PFAS manufacturers for contaminating water supplies and other natural resources.
According to Tai, Evers’ concern is that the definition in Wimberger’s proposal is too broad and could allow landowners to avoid liability simply by not looking for
and long-term implications remain unclear, particularly for vulnerable populations such as children. Atapattu highlighted reports of stunted growth and developmental issues in children from developing countries, where PFAS exposure is heightened due to contaminated water and its presence in breast milk.
for class-based regulatory approaches.
A significant point of contention between the two plans is the definition and protection of “innocent landowners,” with environmental advocates warning Wimberger’s approach could shift cleanup costs to the state, according to EHN.
Associate Dean for Education and Faculty Affairs at the University of Wisconsin Law School professor Steph Tai explained that addressing PFAS contamination involves a combination of
But such approaches face challenges due to the ease with which manufacturers can alter chemical structures to bypass regulations, Tai said.
Safer States, a national alliance focused on addressing toxic chemicals, 34 states have introduced 201 policies aimed at protecting people from PFAS exposure, with 154 policies adopted across 30 states.
Eleven states, including Wisconsin, have established standards such as Maximum Contaminant Levels for certain PFAS in drinking water. Additionally, as of
contamination, shifting cleanup costs on taxpayers.
Wisconsin has already spent over $253,133,300 combatting PFAS, with the majority of that cost being shouldered by taxpayers, according to Safer States and NightmareNonstick.
Professor and Director of the Global Legal Studies Center at UW Law School Sumudu Atapattu echoed Tai on the challenges and health implications of PFAS.
While indications suggest widespread and detrimental effects, the full extent
Drawing parallels to the global response to ozone-depleting substances, there are calls for an international treaty to manage PFAS production and use, she said.
This approach would allow individual states to tailor regulations to their national contexts while adhering to a global framework.
The lack of clear guidance and funding from the state government has left residents in limbo, highlighting the pressing need for decisive action. When it comes to studying the extent to which aspects of human health are affected by PFAS chemicals, a new set of issues arises.
“The problem is that health effects can take years to appear,” Tai said. “It’s not like you drink PFAS and immediately get sick — it could be a decade before endocrinedisrupting issues show up. It’s unethical to test harmful substances on people, so researchers rely on ‘natural experiments’ — studying populations already exposed to PFAS, like those near dump sites or military bases.”
Of course, this highlights that vulnerable and marginalized communities and racial minorities are being exposed to these chemicals more than others, Atapattu said. They live in areas that are more contaminated and closer to industrial zones because that’s what they can afford, she said. However, the information we have is sufficient to justify stricter regulations to the extent possible.
Empty bottles and cans sit among leaves. March 20, 2025.
MIA HOMAN. THE BADGER HERALD.
People of UW: Diverse Leaders of Tomorrow member seeks to provide career opportunities for underrepresented students
Stories of students: Read about students making a difference on campus
by Marielle Iannella Social Media & Public Relations Associate
Tell us about yourself.
Thank you so much for having me! My name is Ayo Kolawole, and I’m from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I’m a senior at the University of Wisconsin, double majoring in finance and real estate.
What is Diverse Leaders of Tomorrow?
Diverse Leaders of Tomorrow, or DLT, is an organization I joined during my first semester of freshman year. It’s been the longeststanding part of my collegiate career, and now, in my last semester as a senior, I’m still involved.
Our goal at DLT is to equip underrepresented students at UW with the skills, network and training necessary to secure top-tier internships and post-grad opportunities. We originally started as a Business School-focused organization, but we’ve grown to include students from a variety of majors, like journalism, biology and computer science.
When I joined as a freshman, we had around 20 members. Now, we’ve grown to over 80 members, gained corporate sponsors and expanded to high school outreach programs in the Madison area. The growth has been really cool to see.
What does your position as head of corporate development entail?
My roles in DLT have evolved. In my second semester of freshman year, I became the CFO, managing our budget as we started securing corporate sponsorships. DLT is unique in that we have partnerships with companies like Grainger, Baird, Baker Tilly, BP and Accenture. My job back then was handling the funding they provided so we could run career development programs, networking events, and corporate treks.
Sophomore year, I served as president, which was a big undertaking since we were still in the early stages of expanding. It was a lot to manage alongside being a full-time student, but it was an invaluable experience. Now, as head of corporate development, I focus on maintaining relationships with our corporate partners and overseeing our expansion to other campuses. DLT now has chapters at GW, Michigan, Cornell, Howard and Minnesota.
My role involves managing these chapters, providing outreach, and ensuring a smooth transition for future leadership here at UW, as many of us graduate this year.
What kind of professional development or leadership opportunities does DLT offer its members?
DLT is all about preparation. We help students develop their professional skills so
they’re ready for competitive internships and job opportunities. Unlike other business orgs like IBC or RePack, which are highly selective, DLT is open to all students, regardless of prior experience. A big part of what we do is offering resume workshops, networking
interviews, and networking events.
Overall, we aim to give students exposure early on so they feel confident and prepared.
How can students get involved in DLT?
We have two recruitment cycles — one in the fall and one in the spring. But even outside
guidance, cover letter help, and interview prep—especially for freshmen who may have never gone through those processes before. Beyond workshops, we offer networking events and corporate treks. We actually just got back from a two-day trip to Chicago, where we visited companies like Baird, Baker Tilly, and BP. These visits provide students with direct insight into what these firms look for in candidates, their internship timelines, and what day-to-day work is like.
We also collaborate with other business school organizations to host info sessions, mock
of recruitment, anyone in the org is happy to chat or help out. We accept students from all majors, GPAs, and backgrounds. It’s really not difficult to get involved—we want to be as accessible as possible.
How does Diverse Leaders of Tomorrow support underrepresented students in preparing for their careers?
This is the foundation of what DLT was built on. When you think of highly competitive fields like investment banking or private equity, the reality is a lot of people land these jobs because they have existing
connections. They might have family members or mentors in the industry who can refer them. But for first-gen college students or those from underrepresented backgrounds, those connections often don’t exist. Our goal isn’t just to “fill a quota” but to give these students the same opportunities to compete. It’s about getting them in the room, ensuring they have a shot at the interview, and then giving them the tools to succeed. Once they get that opportunity, it’s up to them to showcase their skills — but we make sure they’re as prepared as possible.
What has been your favorite part about being a part of DLT?
Right now, my favorite part is seeing the growth of everyone in the organization. It’s crazy to look at freshmen who joined a few years ago, see how they’ve developed, and now watch them land incredible opportunities. I see a bit of myself in them because I was in their position not too long ago — showing up to meetings, asking questions, putting in the work. Now, some of them have secured top internships and jobs, and it’s rewarding to know that DLT played a part in that.
What are your plans after graduation?
I will be moving to New York to join Morgan Stanley in their real estate investing branch. I interned there for the last two summers, and now I’m finalizing everything for my full-time role. My official start date is July 7th, so it’s coming up fast!
What’s the most valuable piece of advice you’d give to incoming students as they begin their college journey?
That’s a great question. One thing I wish I had known earlier is that college is a fresh start. You have the opportunity to reinvent yourself and take advantage of so many different opportunities. But with that, it can also feel overwhelming. A piece of advice I once got — and I stand by it — is that it’s better to be a mile deep and an inch wide than a mile wide and an inch deep. Meaning, instead of trying to be involved in everything, you should focus on a few key areas and go all in. When you first get to campus, it might feel like you have to join every club, attend every event, and be part of everything.
But spreading yourself too thin won’t serve you in the long run. Instead, pick a couple of organizations that truly align with your interests and commit to them fully. Consistency is key — whether it’s in your grades, extracurriculars, or networking. If you stick with something, put in the effort, and stay engaged, you’ll naturally find yourself in leadership positions and meaningful opportunities.
PHOTO COURTESTY OF AYO KOLAWOLE.
by Ava McNarney Managing Editor
CALL FOR CHANGE
UW students lead suicide prevention, awareness efforts on campus with Out of the Darkness Walk
Content Warning: Discussion of suicide and/ or self-harm. If you 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.
University of Wisconsin freshman Brooke Brennan has been a leader in suicide prevention awareness efforts throughout her communities since her high school days.
As a student and hockey player at Hayward High School, Brennan helped organize an event called “Paint the Rink Yellow,” a hockey tournament fundraiser for Sophie’s Squad, a nonprofit organization providing education and awareness to improve athlete mental health. Brennan said around 500 donated t-shirts were sold one year to raise money.
“It was so cool to see everybody in school and everybody in the ring, even the opposing teams, wearing our shirts and spreading the message,” Brennan said.
With an interest in remaining involved in prevention and awareness efforts during her first year on the UW campus, this semester, Brennan met Hailey Shevitz, who chairs Madison’s annual Out of the Darkness Walk with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
After the two spoke, Brennan, whose mother died by suicide when she was eight, decided she wanted to share her story in a speech at this year’s walk. This includes breaking a stigma surrounding those closest to her.
Growing up, she was told to say her mother passed away in a car accident because some people feel shame around losing a family member to suicide, which they shouldn’t, she said. She hopes that by sharing this story at the walk, she will both honor her mother’s legacy and continue to break the stigma.
Every year, hundreds of students and members of the Madison community come together in April for the walk. This year’s walk will be held April 12, beginning at 11 a.m. The two-mile route starts and ends at the Sellery Basketball Courts.
The Madison walk is one of the most popular across the country. Shevitz said it raised about $48,000 last year, the second largest amount of funds raised from any walk. Around 300 walkers participated.
Individuals are always welcome, but groups are encouraged to sign up for the walk in fundraising ‘teams.’ The biggest fundraisers
12
• badgerherald.com • April 8, 2025
are generally teams consisting of families who have lost a loved one to suicide.
The Sarah Shulze Foundation, an organization founded in honor of UW runner Sarah Shulze, who died by suicide in 2022, is the largest group regularly participating in the event. The Shulze family travels from California to attend, Shevitz said.
Shevitz’s cousin Matthew, who died by suicide when Shevitz was 16, has a team established in his memory as well.
Anyone is welcome to attend the walk, and registration is available online at no cost. Walkers are encouraged to donate to the event to help it reach its fundraising goal of $50,000. The money is used to support AFSP’s suicide prevention and awareness efforts, including advocacy and trainings help by the organization’s UW chapter.
It is Shevitz’s second year organizing the event, which will include performances from a cappella groups Redefined and Tangled Up in Blue in addition to Brennan’s speech.
Before arriving at UW, Shevitz had participated in the walk in her hometown of Pittsburgh — the Madison walk is one of over 400 every year across the country.
Volunteering at the Madison walk as a freshman in 2023, Shevitz was inspired by the walk’s tradition of using honor beads, or beaded necklaces participants wear to represent different levels of loss they have experienced using different colors — like losing a child, spouse, parent or friend — making it simpler to understand each other’s connection to the cause without having to say anything.
“It’s shouldering the loss as a group,” Shevitz said.]
The walk and the beads aim to both honor those lost and show those impacted by suicide that they are not alone, Shevitz added. Hence its name, the event brings together those affected by suicide — the darkness. Everybody walks out of it together.
Last year, Shevitz went into the walk expecting it to be somber. Instead, the day was filled with hope and joy, complete with a mood-boosting playlist, she said.
“It’s a fun event,” Shevitz said. “It’s not dark and scary.”
Brennan said those impacted by suicide often lack something to look forward to or a community to surround themselves with, both
of which the walk seeks to provide.
She added that she and other event organizers want to be a light in the world for those who feel shrouded in darkness. For those feeling alone, the walk is a physical representation of the community there to support them.
“When you’re at your lowest moment, it doesn’t seem like there is that light at the end of the tunnel,” Brennan said. “This may seem like the end of your story, but it’s not because there’s so much more that you have yet to experience.”
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/
Trevor Lifeline crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ+) young people: https://www.thetrevorproject.org/ get-help/
Crowds gather on the Sellery Basketball Courts at last year’s walk. April 21, 2024.
PHOTO
“When you’re at your lowest moment, it doesn’t seem like there is that light at the end of the tunnel. This may seem like the end of your story, but it’s not because there’s so much more that you have yet to experience.”
PHOTOS COURTESY OF HAILEY SHEVITZ.
Over 300 students and Madison community members particiapted in last year’s walk. April 21, 2024.
Men’s Basketball: How Greg Gard saved his job with change in playstyle
by Nolan Damuth Sports Reporter
In December of 2015, just 12 games into the 2015-2016 season, legendary UWMadison men’s basketball team coach Bo Ryan retired and handed the team over to his long-time assistant coach Greg Gard. This was Gard’s first head coaching job ever — he had spent the last 22 years as Ryan’s assistant coach at UW-Platteville, UWMilwaukee and UW-Madison.
Gard was taking over one of the most successful programs in the country. The Badgers had made the last 17 NCAA tournaments including Final Four appearances in 2000, 2014 and 2015 and even made the national championship in 2015, the season right before Gard took over.
Gard started his tenure well, making the tournament each of his first two years and leading the Badgers to two big upsets against No. 2 Xavier in 2016 and No. l seed Villanova in 2017.
After missing the NCAA tournament in 2018 for the first time since 1998, a theme hit the Badgers. Impressive regular season starts lead to a solid NCAA tournament seed and Big Ten titles coinciding with coach of the year awards for Gard in 2020 and 2022. Over the next four seasons, the Badgers lost to No. 12 Oregon in 2019, No. 1 Baylor in 2021 and No. 11 Iowa State in 2022, all within the first two rounds of the tournament, followed by missing the tournament again in 2023.
A common theme in these losses was the Badgers shooting poorly. The Badgers shot just 33% from the field against Oregon and under 30% against Iowa State. The Badgers shot a respectable 45% against Baylor but were outmatched by the eventual champion.
The Badgers, through Ryan’s and Gard’s tenure to this point, were known for playing a suffocating defense and a slow-developing, boring offense that was dependent on making timely shots and not turning the ball over.
The Badgers’ highest finish in points per game in the Gard era to this point was 199th out of 350+ teams. This became their downfall in a lot of their NCAA tournament exits. They could stop the other team’s offense but couldn’t score enough to win consistently in March.
This style of play also possibly drove away big-name prospects from Wisconsin. Tyrese Haliburton, Tyler Herro, Jalen Johnson and Jordan Poole are some names that grew up in Wisconsin but decided to play out of state at big schools and
ended up as successful NBA players. The biggest loss was Herro, who committed to Wisconsin only to change to Kentucky, saying he always wanted to play for “a blue
basketball looked like, dunking over other players and catching alley-oops that you would rarely see out of the usual Wisconsin basketball player. Storr, as well as a veteran
blood” program. The Badgers’ only draft pick in the Gard era was Johnny Davis in 2022.
Heading into the 2023 season, the Badgers picked up transfer student AJ Storr. Storr immediately changed what Wisconsin
Chucky Hepburn, got the Badgers off to a hot start. A win against a good Marquette team helped the Badgers reach as high as sixth on the AP Poll.
A similar story came after a 13-3 start. The Badgers finished the regular season
19-12, but an impressive run in the Big Ten tournament got them a five seed in the NCAA tournament. This wasn’t the Badgers’ year, however, as 12-seed James Madison University was too much and defeated the Badgers 72-61 in the first round of the tournament. The Badgers shot just 37%.
On a positive note, the Badgers finished 147th in points per game in the country, much higher than the previous high of 199th by a Gard team. This wasn’t enough for Badger fans — fans were sick of just making the tournament and not going far.
Previous reporting by The Badger Herald voiced frustration with the Badger’s decision to keep Gard for the previous season and the announcement he will be the coach for the next season. Storr, Hepburn and Connor Essegian all entered the transfer portal looking for a change of scenery.
Things were looking bleak for the Badgers in 2024. Media outlets voted them to finish 12th in the Big Ten, but a big matchup against No. 9 Arizona early in the season would set the tone for the rest of the season. Not only did the Badgers win, they were in control the entire game. Transfer student John Tonje scored 41 points, just two shy of the Wisconsin single-game record.
Tonje has continued the change in tone for Wisconsin basketball. The team played fast paced, they shot threes, they got to the free throw line. The team finished the season 36th in the nation in scoring, their highest ranking since the 1970-1971 season.
Despite these big changes, some old tendencies have poked their head this season in some of the Badgers’ losses. Gard tends to over-rely on his veterans in lategame situations, causing offense to take bad shots at the end of games, leading to losses against Michigan, Oregon and BYU in the second round of the NCAA tournament.
All of these games were in reach and in all of these games a veteran player took a poor shot at the end of the game while barely looking to move the ball. A small switch in the end-of-game philosophy could be the last step towards success for the Badgers.
Despite the fact that this season ended the same, Gard has bought himself a few more seasons as the Badgers head coach. Even with a few key players, including Tonje, leaving this offseason, success should be expected from the Badgers in the 2025-26 season with their new playstyle.
LIZZY LARSON. THE BADGER HERALD.
Greg Gard speaks at the press conference after a loss to Penn State. March 8, 2025.
UW’s administrative restructure could disrupt already successful system
UW moves forward with major overhaul despite rising satisfaction with administrative services, sparking pushback from labor groups
by Josh Standal Associate Opinion Editor
In March 2025, the University of Wisconsin announced that over the summer it would work to move individuals who work in human resources, finance and research administration out of their individual departments. These individuals will be moved into new administrative regional teams which will serve all units within the College of Letters & Science, according to The Cap Times. Dean of the College of Letters & Science Eric Wilcots laid out the plan in Fall 2024 and acknowledged that it would be a significant change for the university. He believes the plan will ensure departmental operations will not cease in the case of staff leave or vacancy, according to The Cap Times. There is also an expectation that this major shakeup will open the door for improved access to career advancements, training and professional development.
But there has been significant pushback from campus labor organizations. In January, a letter was sent from union leaders to Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin, encouraging the university to reevaluate the administrative changes that it was planning to make. According to The Cap Times, the letter called for the university to have a conversation about the plan with faculty and students so the community could have its voice heard.
According to administrators, no one will lose their job during this transition, but leaders at UW do not expect to save money in the foreseeable future from the restructure. The purpose of the restructure is to help increase satisfaction of administrative services on UW’s campus and to help reduce process times and errors, UW spokesperson John Lucas told The Cap Times.
The puzzling part of the restructure is that satisfaction with administrative quality increased from 2022 to 2024, according to a university survey. It used a 1 through 5 scale, with 5 being most satisfied and 1 being least satisfied. In 2022, the average satisfaction rating was a 3.81, and in 2024 it moved up to a 3.9.
The satisfaction for all administrative activities including finance, HR, IT, communications and general administration all increased from 2022 to 2024. The only administrative activities that did not have their satisfaction rating increase were research administration and facilities, which stayed the exact same at 3.87.
Severing employees from their
departments when they are doing great work and increasing satisfaction is pointless. Unless the university can demonstrate guaranteed positive changes that offset the negative effects of
during one of the most difficult moments in higher education in recent history. Higher education has gone through quite a shake-up since the Trump administration came back into office. According to NPR,
restructuring, there is no real reason to carry out this mass restructure operation. Not only is this plan questionable to begin with, but it is also being carried out
schools have lost hundreds of millions in funds. Additionally, prominent student activists have been detained, according to AP New. The New York Times reported
administrative officials such as Columbia University’s former president Katrina Armstrong resigning or stepping down.
Prominent universities such as the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia University lost $175 million and $400 million respectively for not initially adhering to the demands of the Trump administration. But after adhering to administration demands, Columbia has regained some of that money back, according to The New York Times.
UW also faces significant uncertainty in terms of federal funding cuts. On March 10, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights sent UW a warning letter. According to Fox 6, the Department of Education told UW that if it did not fulfill obligations under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act to protect Jewish students on campus, it would face potential consequences like losing out on federal grants and contracts.
Some prospective UW graduate students have already had their financial offers changed due to the uncertainty over federal funding for the university, according to Wisconsin Public Radio. Even students who were previously accepted to programs are losing their spots or losing funding opportunities due to this instability.
With UW on the brink of potentially losing hundreds of millions of dollars worth of federal funds, right now hardly seems like the time to undergo a major restructuring of the administration. The university should be focusing on ensuring its students are taken care of and should not rescind opportunities from students who have worked incredibly hard to get where they are.
If UW wants to restructure the administrative system they have every right to do so. But based on their survey, results suggest the current system is not only working well, but the satisfaction rate of the system is also increasing.
Right now, the university should focus on stabilizing its financial situation and graduate programs. Then, if they still deem it necessary to restructure the administration, they should take tips and advice directly from the employees as to how to properly restructure. This will ensure the restructuring is beneficial to the employees and the university, not just for the sake of increased efficiency.
LIZZY LARSON. THE BADGER HERALD.
by Alexia Becker Associate Opinion Editor
v. NCAA settlement: Game changer for college sports, but at what cost?
Through a 2021 policy change, college athletes are officially able to profit off of their name, image and likeness. NIL deals allow college athletes to be compensated for the revenue they bring to institutions. The NCAA refers to this policy as compensation for the revenue generated by athletes’ “personal brands” and can manifest as payments for autographs, personal appearances and more.
The proposed House vs. NCAA settlement has the potential to completely change the structure of collegiate sports. In particular, it offers 2.8 billion dollars in NIL backpay to athletes who competed in NCAA Division I sports from 2016 to 2024, according to NIL Daily. There is an additional aspect to the settlement that looks to the future, hoping to enact a revenue-sharing contract between institutions and athletes.
There are three notable components to NIL backpay — Broadcast NIL, the Video Game NIL Fund and Lost NIL Opportunities. Broadcast NIL Funds are reserved for athletes who received full athletic scholarships for playing football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball at the Power Five level between fall 2016 and spring 2023. This is the largest pool of money, with approximately $1,815,000,000 to be dispersed to players, according to NIL Daily.
The Video Game NIL fund has a recovery pool of 44,000 entitled to proportionately split $71,500,000 in compensation. The last category of the settlement fund is for what are considered “lost opportunities,” with settlements in this class ranging from $1 to $1,859,000, depending on the NIL value athletes can prove. The total settlement fund for lost opportunities is $89,500,000, according to NIL Daily. While on the surface this seems to be a mutually beneficial deal for both athletes and institutions, it puts nonrevenue collegiate sports in danger. The funding required to allocate NIL backpay has encouraged the NCAA to implement stricter roster limitations, specifically for swim and dive teams. At the most recent signing day for college swim, a large number of athletes were informed that the spots they were promised were no longer available, presumably due to changes in roster limitations, according to SwimSwam.
Before this year, swim coaches were slightly restricted by soft internal roster caps or flexible limits to roster numbers. But they are now being limited by proposed hard caps, which, for swimming in the major conferences, are likely to land at 30 women and 22-24 men per team,
the last weeks, with a total of 178 women from 72 different schools.
Students who once had a clear and promised path are now having to scramble to ensure they even have a seat on a roster — a completely unfair and unjust consequence of NIL deals. The mental
Committee hearing on Capitol Hill regarding the NCAA settlement. Albiero delved into the gravity of treating collegiate athletes as employees and the financial repercussions this can have.
“While the proposed House settlement will provide a measure of structure to the NIL landscape, it also has consequences for athletic departments that do not generate enough revenue to cover the expenses for all of its sports,” Albiero said.
according to SwimSwam. These House settlement-induced roster limitations have led to a huge number of swimmers entering the transfer portal — an online database that allows student athletes to be contacted by coaches and recruiters — in
and emotional distress this situation will undoubtedly cause is obvious and should not be ignored for the benefit of other, higher revenue-earning athletes.
Louisville head coach Arthur Albiero testified during a House Judiciary
Furthermore, the required financial administrative burden of treating students as employees of the institution could force said institutions into cutting back sports programs — specifically low or nonrevenue programs, Albiero said. The consequences of these administrative financial burdens caused irreparable damage for the Cal Poly Mustangs at California Polytechnic State University. Cal Poly Athletics has cut its men’s and women’s swimming and diving programs due to supposed financial realities and the program’s future calculated loss of at least $450,000 per year. School president Jeffrey D. Armstrong specifically pointed to the House v. NCAA settlement as a main cause of the program’s financial difficulties, according to SwimSwam.
I want to ensure that this article does not come off as anti-NIL. College athletes should undoubtedly be compensated for their hard work and the revenue they bring the institution. Financial empowerment for college athletes is an undeniable positive, but this benefit should not come at the detriment of other athletes.
The professionalization of all collegiate sports puts lower revenue sports in danger of being overlooked and underappreciated, made obvious through the treatment of swim and dive teams throughout the country. At a Big Ten school, where there are certainly sports that generate significant revenue for the university, such as football and basketball, it is important to not ignore the well-being of nonrevenue athletics.
Camp Randall Stadium. October 9, 2024.
LIZZY LARSON. THE BADGER HERALD.
UW Botany Greenhouse prepares for spring plant showcase
Behind-the-scenes look into UW Department of Botany’s preparation for spring with living collections manager
gardens, pruned and maintained as the department’s staff make plans for next spring.
Under a strictly controlled environment in the Botany Greenhouse grows a sweet fern — one among many of its like. Every now and then it feels a hand or a tweezer poking its stalk, its weeds cleared out and water sprayed. Through periods of the winter, it has shot up from the soil under florescent lights, it now grows, occasionally intruded by weeds, resting insects, dressed in yellow pollen sometimes and the seeping rain from the outside world.
The sweet fern will soon emerge as the centerpiece of the Botany Garden outside the greenhouse, to thrive in its spotlight along with marigolds, water lilies, aquatic sedges and several other plants, shrubs and trees. For now it continues to grow in the greenhouse at Birge Hall along with other several other plants — carnivores, deciduous, perennials, citrus and cacti.
Managed by the Department of Botany, the greenhouse plays a crucial role at the university, assisting with classes and research initiatives. It is now under the leadership of UW’s Living Collections Manager III, Cara Streekstra, who has been with the department for over 12 years.
“We help further botany, education and teaching,” Streekstra said. “That’s the main focus of what we do in the botany greenhouses, teaching support. We grow plants specifically for use in lab courses and for horticulture, agronomy and also art classes and English classes.”
One of Streekstra’s main roles is to maintain the botany garden present outside the greenhouse at 1090 University Ave., especially through Wisconsin’s harsh winters.
The garden was started in 1961 by a committee of botany professors along with the support of the then university President Conrad Elvehjem. It is home to a variety of local and foreign species with new additions made every year. It is also home to a thriving school of koi fish.
the garden to return to its summer vitality by the month of May.
“It’s spring in [the greenhouse],”
Every winter, the botany garden is cleared out of its plant and aquatic life. They are moved into the greenhouse — their winter home until the next spring — or used for other purposes. Here they are used to grow another generation of plants, distributed to other
The department, under the leadership of Streekstra, has already began its efforts to prepare for the coming spring and expect
Streekstra said. “All of our deciduous trees are starting to leaf out and perennials are starting to regrow.”
A visitor to the greenhouse can glimpse their preparations for May. As Streekstra explains, the process begins with cuttings from plants and seeds which are grown in groups under full spectrum fluorescent light for 18 hours a day throughout the germination process. Once sufficiently matured, they are placed in the greenhouse, their homes being temporary pots with heat expanded rocks.
Here, the plants are allowed to grow in a regulated environment with care provided against weeds, insects and other harmful forces.
Another fascinating aspect of the garden is the pond that the koi fish with golden scales call their home. During the winter, the pool is dried out and the fish are taken into the greenhouse where they continue to grew and multiply. Commenting on their vitality to the garden, Streekstra said they complete the ecosystem. Feeding off plant waste, the fish are a vital force for the growth of the garden’s aquatic plants, including water lilies and aquatic sedges. Streekstra shared her vision for the botany garden this spring. The department seeks to promote and focus on plant life Indigenous to Wisconsin with the most exciting plant — the sweet fern, which is going to be placed in the center of the garden along with plants from the similar family.
“[Sweet fern] is a plant that I have mostly seen in northern Wisconsin,” Streekstra said. “So I’m excited to see how it does down here, yeah. It’s in the moral family, the earliest diverging flowering plant lineages. So it’s going to be right at the center of the garden where that group is focused.”
The department’s focus on plants local to Wisconsin will lead to new additions to the garden resulting in previously unfound shrubs and perennials this year including the sweet fern.
As the department prepares for a busy and bustling summer garden, Streekstra and staff encourage Madison residents and students to visit their greenhouses and take a peek into their process. Attendees can see the variety of plant and aquatic life that they preserve, sustain and grow through the winter months to spread across their garden in the spring.
by Akhilesh Peddi ArtsEtc. Editor
Living Collections Manager III Cara Streekstra at the Botany Greenhouse. April 5, 2025.
AKHILESH PEDDI. THE BADGER HERALD.
Sweet Talk: Chef Ahmad AlZamel’s viral ‘Krunchoco’ chocolate cake
Crowd-pleasing layered chocolate cake of your dreams
by Jenna Innab ArtsEtc. Editor
After the whirlwind of a month that March was, Sweet Talk is officially back.
Between Middle Eastern North African Heritage Month at the University of Wisconsin to observing Ramadan during midterm season, I think I collectively slept for 10 hours each week.
Now that the festivities are over, it’s time to get back to my baking. My biggest downfall during Ramadan was my sweet tooth. Having a sweet treat post-dinner was not even a question — it was a given.
For me and my friends, we were drooling over the popular Dubai chocolate bars all month long. I hate to say it, but this was not my ideal chocolate sweet treat. Don’t get me wrong — it’s a fun and delicious treat, but depending on who makes it, I find the pistachio cream to be overpowering.
In walks the ‘Ahmad AlZamel
Krunchoco Chocolate Cake’ that gained major attention across Middle Eastern TikTok during Ramadan.
This cake is my ideal toned-down version of the infamous Matilda chocolate cake scene from my childhood — if you know, you know. With a few simple ingredients and using box cake mix as a shortcut, this might be my favorite Sweet Talk recipe to date.
So when you host a room full of MENA ethnicities and want to please everyone, this is the only right option for the job. If
there’s one commonality among us all, it is our stubbornness. But even the most stubborn couldn’t deny that this was the best dessert of the night. Here is the process:
The first step will be making the cake base. Add the necessary ingredients to a bowl to make and bake your store-bought chocolate cake mix — I swapped out the water and oil for milk and butter for a richer texture.
Bake according to the box instructions at 350℉ for about 24 minutes.
Once the cake is baked, allow it to cool fully before poking it with a fork for the milk soak.
While you are waiting for the cake to cool, it is a perfect time to make the cream topping.
For this layer, you will need:
One 8 oz package of cream cheese, softened at room temperature
One can of sweetened condensed milk
Vanilla extract
1 ½ cups of heavy cream
Now this is the fun part, a labor of love, if you will. If you also sadly do not have a hand electric mixer, you will need a medium-sized bowl, a whisk and an arm of iron.
Combine the softened cream cheese, about half of the can of sweetened condensed milk and a teaspoon of vanilla extract in a bowl. Whip these ingredients until combined and smooth. It should look like this:
Then, gradually add in the heavy cream to this mixture. You will want to reach stiff peaks — so you will be whipping the cream for a while.
For the next layer, we will be making a chocolate ganache. It sounds more complicated than it is. All you will need is:
One bar of milk chocolate
½ cup of heavy whipping cream
Combine the two in a bowl and microwave for 30 seconds, then mix them until smooth and silky.
Now, to assemble the cake. Begin with poking holes throughout the cake with a fork, similar to a tres leches cake.
Then soak the cake with about ¾ cup of white milk. The original recipe used chocolate milk, but the white milk helped balance out the chocolate richness a bit more.
Once the majority of the milk has been soaked up by the cake, evenly spread the cream cheese layer atop the cake’s surface. Finally, pour the chocolate ganache over the cream cheese layer and spread it out, careful not to disturb the cream cheese
layer underneath.
Since I made this cake a day before serving it, I stopped here and allowed the cake to set overnight. I would highly recommend doing this before adding the crunchy chocolate topping so that the chocolate ganache has time to set fully.
Before serving, combine about 2 cups of your favorite chocolate crispy cereal — I used cocoa pebbles (real ones know this is the elite cereal).
Melt another bar of chocolate with a ¼ cup of heavy whipping cream — this time, I used semi-sweet chocolate to balance out
the richness.
Toss the cereal in the chocolate until completely covered, then add a few tablespoons of cocoa powder to the cream mixture. I used about four tablespoons.
Finally, add the crunchy chocolate layer atop the chocolate ganache.
All that is left to do is observe your beautiful masterpiece and, of course, take pictures of it.
As humble as I would like to be, it’s safe to say this cake was the best dessert of the night, and here is photo evidence.
JENNA INNAB. THE BADGER HERALD.
@badgerherald
Krunchoco chocolate cake prepared by Jenna Innab. April 3, 2025.
Preparation for the cake. April 3, 2025.
JENNA INNAB. THE BADGER HERALD.
Will increasing egg prices affect your favorite farmers’ market vendors this year?
As Dane County Farmers’ Market prepares to open, vendors confront soaring egg, meat prices
by Addalie Viscarra ArtsEtc. Reporter
The Dane County Farmers’ Market is arriving April 12 and vendors eagerly await the Madison community to stop by. Many vendors attending the market, including Curiousfarmer, Rolling Pin Bakeshop and Macarons by Sim, aspire to build communal relationships this year.
Egg price increases haven’t discouraged these vendors from focusing on delivering quality products for the community. An egg market report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows wholesale egg prices have declined from $6.55 in January to $3 in March, but customers can’t find these more affordable eggs at the shopping markets just yet.
For people who consume eggs, the market can provide a great opportunity to purchase relatively affordable ones. Hannah Menzel, a market assistant for the Dane County Farmers’ Market, acknowledged how the cost of eggs has increased in grocery stores. Though she’s uncertain about specific product shortages in the market, the cost of eggs at the farmer’s market remains more stable compared to those in stores.
“You can still buy a dozen organic eggs for $6 or less at the market, which is really, really nice,” Menzel said.
Three vendors at this year’s farmers’ market noted the impact they anticipate egg prices to have on their businesses.
Curiousfarmer owner Matthew Walter has been a vendor at Dane County Farmers’ Market since 2008.
“We’ve kept our price the same, at $6 a dozen — we didn’t want to gouge our good customers through the wintertime,” Walter said. “We might raise it at the outdoor market but probably not.”
Walter prepares for the farmers’ market the night before by packaging eggs and arranging meat products so he can transport them early Saturday mornings.
“We’re excited for another great year and thank all of the customers in the Madison Area,” Walter said. “It’s a great community.”
A new vendor, Tanya Laiter, is one of the owners of Rolling Pin Bakeshop, a locally owned bakery and cafe.
“We are actually going to work with another company who is totally local and they raise chickens and eggs,” Laiter said. “Their price was not increased, surprisingly, and we are waiting for them to respond to us. But as of right now, yes, eggs are [at a] very high [price]. We increased some prices but not on
everything. We make it comfortable for the customer.”
While she anticipates collaborating with a local egg producer, Laiter also added
European pastries there, some delicious cookies, too, and our famous urban cheese biscuits,” Laiter said. “We are going to bring only popular items — they are all-
that she plans to continue her partnership with the egg producer she currently collaborates with.
“We are going to bring some Eastern-
natural from scratch and people will enjoy them, hopefully.”
Rolling Pin Bakeshop also plans on providing some gluten-free brownies
and vegan brownies to accommodate all customers, according to Laiter.
As the market approaches, Laiter is excited to be in the downtown Madison area.
“I think it’s the most incredible farmers’ market ever, ” Laiter said. “I always wanted to be on the square because it’s such [a] great feeling. You provide good stuff and people love it and it’s just good energy there.”
Another new vendor this year, Simona Fabian, the owner of Macarons by Sim, explained how her macarons have been impacted by many ingredient price increases, not only eggs.
“I am affected by the prices going up on every single ingredient that I need for my baking,” Fabian said. “The almond flour, the sugar, the confectioners sugar, the egg prices, of course, I use a lot of eggs for my baking — it’s my main ingredient. I might have to go up a little bit on my prices this year.”
Fabian said she will also offer small packages of macarons at the farmers’ market. Since this is her first time attending the market as a vendor, she is looking to experiment with flavors. She also notes that all her macarons are glutenfree, and there will be dairy-free options as well.
The market provides a great space for Fabian to gain more traction for her business.
“Well, from what I hear, it’s the best market in Madison,” Fabian said. “I’m going to get new customers from all around Wisconsin. I’m going to start this year, and I’m excited about it.”
Though these vendors have been affected by increasing egg prices, they’re determined to engage with the community and provide quality products.
Menzel shared how rewarding it is to see vendors and customers engage with each other.
“I would say the most rewarding part is getting to actively support local producers,” Menzel said. “Allowing them access and helping them gain access to 20,000 customers every single Saturday is a really unique thing about my job.”
For the future, Menzel aspires for the Dane County Farmers’ Market to be a space that encourages interaction among vendors and customers while also being a place where visitors can find nutritious food, and this year is no different.
Badger Herald archival photo of the Dane County Farmers’ Market. April 16, 2023. ALLIE SERTERIDES. THE BADGER HERALD.
Month-long
battle between studying, spiraling Spring break to finals: The marathon you never signed up for
by Jemma Nelson Banter Editor
The last month before finals — the longest sprint of your life. Spring break is over, and now it’s just one long, painful countdown to finals. The problem? That countdown feels like an eternity. It’s the academic version of running a marathon, except you spend the first half of the race relaxing on a beach or at home and now you have to sprint to the finish line.
Motivation is at an all time low, professors are cranking up the workload and the only thing sort of keeping you going is the distant promise of summer.
But don’t worry! There are some ways to survive. From delusional confidence to caffeine-fueled cramming, here’s a breakdown of how to make this last stretch slightly less miserable and a little more humorous.
The delusional confidence phase:
It’s amazing how a new month can somehow make you feel like you’re starting with a clean slate. Maybe you’ve convinced yourself that this is the semester where everything finally clicks. You’ve got a fresh new planner, a water bottle that’s still clean (for now) and an overwhelming belief that you can totally get your work done in 24 hours without sleep. It’s cute. Don’t worry, we’ve all been there. Embrace it while it lasts, because reality is about to hit harder than that caffeine kick you’ll be chasing in 3 … 2 … 1.
The caffeine cycle: Speaking of caffeine, let’s talk about it! You start out with a casual cup of coffee from Peet’s in the morning. Then, maybe an iced coffee from Starbucks in the afternoon. Before long, you’re downing Red Bulls like it’s a sport, wondering when you became a walking chemistry experiment. Sure, your heart’s racing and your hands are shaking, but at least you’re technically working, right? It’s okay, because it’s all part of the survival plan. Just remember, too much caffeine can lead to one of two things: either you’ll finish your
assignments at lightning speed or you’ll break down into a crying fit over a single typo. Pick your poison.
The procrastination olympics: You’re sitting at your desk, facing a
mountain of assignments, and you’re thinking: This is fine. I’ll get to it in 10 minutes. Next thing you know, you’ve reorganized your entire room, watched an entire season of New Girl and googled “how to not procrastinate for real” (spoiler — it did not help). The key here is to lean into it. Yes, you’re procrastinating, but it’s a form of productivity! Maybe not the most useful one, but it’s technically still doing something, right?
The sudden urge to change your entire life: Somewhere in the middle of this academic nightmare, you’ll get hit with an overwhelming urge to completely reinvent yourself. Maybe you decide this is the perfect time to start going to the gym, deep clean your apartment or learn a new language. Who cares about that essay due in six hours when you could be reorganizing your closet by color? It’s all part of the mental breakdown disguised as “self-improvement.” Just remember, finals first, new personality later.
The “I’m so ready for summer” mentality: At this point, you’re basically a mirage of a functioning student. Your brain has checked out, your Google searches are exclusively about cheap flights and summer concerts and the only math you’re doing is calculating how many assignments you can fail and still pass your class. Professors keep assigning work like it’s not already mentally June, and honestly, it’s rude. The trick? Keep pretending you care while aggressively online shopping for summer clothes you won’t even wear because you’ll be too exhausted to leave your bed.
