VOLUME 45, ISSUE 49
Thursday, February 6, 2014
Street musicians spring onto State
Kirby Wright
Performers share their passions with community, creating ‘vibrant’ atmosphere Nyal Mueenuddin Print State Editor
Clutching antique violins, guitars and accordions, the musicians of State Street create a soundtrack for the downtown. As spring finally emerges, State once again draws Madison’s diverse street performing community together to share their music. Only hours before the Badger’s Final Four tipoff Saturday, performers hit the street armed with a variety of instruments and stories. Glen Kuenzi, a freshman at West High School and member of the Wisconsin Youth Symphony, was given his violin by his grandfather, who bought it years ago in an Irish music store. While he has been
playing it for seven years, Kuenzi only recently began performing on State Street. “I love to play the violin so I figure why not come out here and share that with other people while making a little money,” he said. Kuenzi wants to follow his musical passion in the future, planning to major in music in college followed by a career in performance or musical education. Street performance is only “a means to an end,” he said. David Sewell, a country guitarist who was playing just a couple blocks down from Kuenzi, remembered the 15-year-old, saying he was one of the only kids that has not gotten bored and given up street performance. He said dozens of kids come to perform on State Street, but the number that return after a couple days of performing are minimal. Sewell, who is originally from Kentucky, has been playing his guitar for 69 of his 75 years. Performing
on State Street since 1985, Sewell has managed to make a living solely through street performance. “All my life, that’s all I’ve ever done, played music,” Sewell said. “I’ve been doing this since ‘85 and it’s not too bad. Some days are good but other days its like ‘Wow, what am I doing here?’” The street performance community in Madison is “very vibrant” and over the years there have been several big collaborations done by the different musicians, Sewell said. As a lead guitarist for several bands in Nashville, Tenn., Sewell has played an instrumental role in putting these collaborations together in the past. Nicole Von Ludke, a 21 year-old traveling accordion player, agreed the sense of community in the city is “something special.” Having traveled to every state in the country, Ludke said she is now ready to leave the U.S.
and head to either South America or Europe, where she wants to continue playing the accordion while collaborating with other musicians. “I played the cello for most of my life but I never really considered street performing as a viable source of income or a viable way to make art,” she said. Before coming to Madison, Ludke was able to survive entirely on income from her performances. She said the key to making money is finding the perfect spot to set up. Ludke was set up under the awning of the Orpheum Theater on State Street Sunday. “A street performer never gives away a good watering hole,” she said. Ludke said the work can be exhausting, but ultimately, sharing her music with the public while having the freedom to travel and meet other musicians is rewarding enough for her to feel fulfilled.
Kirby Wright The Badger Herald Nicole Von Ludke said the key to making money is finding the “perfect spot.”
Trade provisions place Wis. beer, brats at risk Restrictions could impact state sales; legislators oppose naming constraints Dan Kinderman
Herald Contributor
Kirby Wright The Badger Herald Wis. legislators are speaking out against the European Union’s proposed restrictions on products with European names.
Would a bratwurst by any other name taste as sweet? Cheese, brat and beer manufacturers around the country could be forced to find out if a European trade deal is approved. A provision of the European Union trade deal calls for American companies producing foods with names originating from Europe such as Oktoberfest, bratwurst, provolone, feta and parmesan to be reserved solely for products
produced in Europe. but required new Mark Stephenson, manufacturers to follow University of Wisconsin EU restrictions. director of dairy policy Kyle Stiegert, UW analysis, said if such professor of agricultural restrictions were and applied economics, implemented on American said a one-sided agreement food manufacturers, in the EU’s favor was Wisconsin food unlikely. manufacturing sales would “The agreement would be seriously impacted, clearly go two ways. If especially Wisconsin’s there were regionally cheese makers. distinct products from “I think the biggest the U.S. that had labeling concern would be that in Europe that were consumers would have a capturing those brands, the difficult time finding the U.S. would not sign on to product that they like and that agreement,” he said. that they’re used to, so American reactions to you could potentially lose the European demand sales,” Stephenson said. have been almost entirely The EU made similar negative, with U.S. Sen. demands in trade Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., negotiations with Canada, sending letters to the U.S. but they ultimately Department of Agriculture reached an agreement and Office of the U.S. that grandfathered in Trade Representative that existing names used by manufacturers TRADING, page 4
Sexual assault victims could get right to appeal Morgan Krause
Herald Contributor
Rachael Lallensack
Print Campus Editor
Victims of sexual assault who file complaints with the university are currently not allowed to appeal the decision made in a misconduct hearing, while the accused retains the
ability to lodge an appeal. But as universities across the country are reviewing their policies to fall in line with new federal regulations, the University of Wisconsin is looking to give victims that right. As UW works to meet federal and state requirements, the Dean of Students Office has proposed nine new
procedures which would regulate investigations of sexual assault, sexual harassment, dating/ domestic violence and stalking to mandate an equitable process for victims, Carmen Hotvedt, violence prevention specialist and project director at University Health Services, said. These procedures would
be added to Chapter 17, which is the UW administrative code on managing non-academic misconduct, Hotvedt said. It outlines the process the campus would use to investigate any student misconduct and makes sure student rights are protected. Non-academic misconduct refers to a wide
© 2014 BADGER HERALD
range of behaviors. While current procedures may work well for scenarios dealing with arson or vandalism, Hotvedt said they fall short in the sector that deals with sexual assault where both a complainant and respondent are involved. Currently, Hotvedt said Chapter 17 outlines the rights of the accused in
a sexual assault case to appeal, but there is no process or set of rights outlined for the victim to appeal. “They have the rights to equitable process but our state code doesn’t allow for it,” Hotvedt said. “It is federally mandated but our outlining of how student conduct is investigated
POLICY, page 4