'Overdue' - Volume 50, Issue 8

STUDENT MEDIA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2018 · VOL 50 Issue 8 · BADGERHERALD.COM

OVERDUE As homelessness increases in Madison, the impact of the city’s evolving housing market towers over the needs of low-income individuals.

pg. 12 Design by Sam Christensen

Find us online at

152 W. Johnson Suite 202 Madison WI, 53703 Telephone Fax

http://badgerherald.com

Follow us on Twitter

608.257.4712 608.257.6899

@badgerherald

Follow us on Instagram @badgerherald

8,500 copies Published since Sept. 10, 1969

Like us on Facebook

http://facebook.com/badgerherald

ICE ENFORCEMENT SURGE Herald Business

Herald Editorial Editor-in-Chief Managing Editors Print News Editors Digital News Editors Print Features Editors Digital Features Editors Campus Editors City Editors State Editors Opinion Editor Opinion Associate Sports Editors Sports Associate ArtsEtc. Editors ArtsEtc. Associates Copy Chief Copy Editors

Photo Editor Design Director Design Associates

Video Director Banter

3

7

Matt O’Connor Peyton David Lucas Johnson Molly Liebergall Abby Doeden Emilie Cochran Parker Schorr Haidee Chu Aly Niehans Nicole Ki Kristin Washagan James Strebe Mackenzie Christman Grady Gibson Gretchen Gerlach Hibah Ansari Mary Magnuson Abigail Steinberg Cait Gibbons Will Stern Danny Farber Matthew Ernst Tolu Igun Ben Sefarbi Melissa Simon Erica Uyenbat Maddy Phillips Brooke Hollingsworth Lena Stojiljkovic Reina Werth Andy Kraemer Yiting Duan Amaya Munoz Paula Caviedes Fiona Hou Sam Christensen Lily Oberstein Walter Egger Eleanor Bogart-Stuart Emma Grenzebach Ella Guo Angela Peterson

Publisher Business Managers

How efforts to eliminate DACA have raised concerns for Madison’s undocumented community

5

HUMP DAY: LESSONS LEARNED 10 What a personal account of sexual assault can teach us all about empowerment and reclamation.

Riley Liegel Austin Grandinetti Noah May

Herald Public Relations Public Relations Director Social Media Coordinators

Aidan McClain Jill Kazlow Izabela Zaluska

Herald Advertising Advertising Director Advertising Executive

Jacob Bawolek Patrick Williams

Board of Directors Chair Vice Chair Vice Chair Vice Chair Vice Chair Members

William Maloney Matt O’Connor Riley Liegel Jacob Bawolek Aidan McClain Peyton David Emilie Cochran Lucas Johnson Aly Niehans Izabela Zaluska Kristin Washagan Patrick WIlliams

NEWS

12 FEATURE

22

DIVERSIONS

PHOTO PAGE

14

23

BANTER

OPINION

POINT COUNTERPOINT: BALDWIN, VUKMIR ON STUDENT ISSUES

FOOTBALL: TAKEAWAYS FROM SATURDAY’S LOSS

9

ARTSETC

19

SPORTS

15

College Democrats and College Republicans present their takes on Wisconsin’s U.S. Senate candidates and their records on student issues.

The Badgers’ season takes serious setback with 38-13 loss against Michigan Wolverines.

20

B:9.89” T:9.89” S:9.89”

BACK THE RED. BANK WITH THE GREEN. SCORE UP TO

Score

175¹

300

Badgers™ Checking from Associated Bank

$

Show your Badgers pride every time you use your Badgers checks or “Let’s Go Red” card. You’ll score big by choosing a bank that delivers Wisconsin-based customized service, outstanding value and more!

$

With Badgers Checking, you’ll get:

when you open a Badgers™ Checking account

• 15% discount⁴ on Bucky’s Locker Room™ purchases when you show your checks or debit card

Score

Apply today! Visit AssociatedBank.com/Badgers or stop by your local branch.

25

$

³

cash back after your first purchase with your new Associated Bank Visa® Real Rewards Credit Card

1603 Monroe Madison, WI 608-259-2000

640 University Ave Madison, WI 608-258-7485

OR $300 FOR ALL THREE! 1. Offer limited to new Badgers Checking accounts opened July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019. Minimum deposit required to open is $100. Deposits from existing accounts do not qualify. Customer must complete a minimum of three payments using online bill pay OR have one direct deposit of $300 or more to their account within 45 days of account opening. Bonus will be deposited into their account within 75 days of account opening after meeting the qualifications. Account must be open at the time the bonus is paid and must remain open for a minimum of 12 months. If the account is closed within 12 months, Associated Bank reserves the right to deduct the monetary bonus from the account prior to closing. Customers with an Associated Bank checking account in the last six months, joint owners on an existing Associated Bank checking account and Associated Bank colleagues are not eligible. Popmoney® and transfers to external accounts do not qualify for the required transactions to receive the monetary bonus. Exclusions apply. Primary owner on the account must be 18 years or older to qualify. Offer limited to one per household, cannot be combined with other offers and is subject to change (at Associated Bank’s discretion) at any time without notice. For tax reporting purposes, a 1099 may be issued at year-end for the year in which the bonus is given.

2. Offer limited to new Money Market accounts opened July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019. A minimum opening deposit of $10,000 is required to receive the bonus and at least such amount must remain on deposit for 90 days to receive the bonus. Deposits from existing accounts do not qualify; funds must be from outside of Associated Bank. $100 bonus will be deposited into money market accounts within 120 days of account opening. Account must be open at the time the bonus is paid and must remain open for a minimum of 12 months. If the account is closed within 12 months, Associated Bank reserves the right to deduct the monetary bonus from the account prior to closing. Primary owner on the account must be 18 years or older to qualify. Offer not available to households who already have or have had a money market account at Associated Bank within the last six months. Associated Bank colleagues are not eligible. Offer limited to one per household, cannot be combined with other offers and is subject to change (at Associated Bank’s discretion) at any time without notice. For tax reporting purposes, a 1099 may be issued at year-end for the year in which the bonus is given.

3. Offer subject to credit approval and applies to the Visa Real Rewards Credit Card. Rewards are earned on eligible net purchases. Net purchases are purchases minus credits and returns. Not all transactions are eligible to earn rewards, such as Advances, Balance Transfers and Convenience Checks. Upon approval, see your Cardmember Agreement for details. You may not redeem Points, and you will immediately lose all of your Points, if your Account is closed to future transactions (including, but not limited to, due to Program misuse, failure to pay, bankruptcy, or death). $25 cash back will be awarded in the form of 2,500 bonus rewards points after first purchase. First purchase bonus points will be applied six to eight weeks after first purchase and are not awarded for balance transfers or cash advances. Reward points can be redeemed as a cash deposit to a checking or savings account with this Financial Institution only within seven business days or as a statement credit to your credit card account within one to two billing cycles. Monthly net purchases bonus points will be applied each billing cycle. The Elan Rewards Program is subject to change. Points expire five years from the end of the quarter in which they are earned. The creditor and issuer of the Visa Real Rewards Credit Card is Elan Financial Services, pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. 4. Show your Badgers checks or “Let’s Go Red” card when making a purchase. Exclusions may apply, please see a store associate for details. Valid for in store purchases only.

Visa and the Visa logo are registered trademarks of Visa International Service Association. Mastercard is a registered trademark, and the circles design is a trademark of Mastercard International Incorporated.

Proof #:

JOB #: 62369

Print Scale: None

Bleed: None

Cyan

Date: 7-19-2018 4:58 PM

E

All trademarks, service marks and trade names referenced in this material are official trademarks and the property of their respective owners. Associated Bank N.A. Member FDIC.

GCD: Danny

T:9.89”

when you open a money market account

B:9.89”

100²

$

S:9.89”

Score

• “Let’s Go Red” Debit Mastercard®

NEWS

@badgerherald

Candidates of color make history, face challenges in 2018 midterms In a state consistently ranked among the worst for racial equality, candidates of color feel repercussions during election season

by Hibah Ansari City Editor

Just a few weeks out from a crucial midterm election, Wisconsin’s candidates of color have struggled to navigate through the political landscape in a state ranked among the worst for racial equality.

In what could be a historic midterm election, Democratic candidate Mandela Barnes is running to be the first African-American lieutenant governor in Wisconsin. Barnes is running for lieutenant governor in a state that’s only elected one other black person to a statewide position.

“One of the reasons I originally ran for Lieutenant Governor was to make sure that our elected leaders reflected the diversity of our state,” Barnes said. “I am where I am today because of opportunities that I now see disappearing, especially as segregation, racial disparities and concentrated poverty continue to persist.”

The Center on Wisconsin Strategy reported Wisconsin to be among the worst states for racial equality, and that racial disparity in the state is extreme. The study researched disparity in poverty, unemployment and educational attainment.

Beyond societal indicators and governmental disparities, it is very difficult for candidates running for political office to win when they are a racial or ethnic minority, University of Wisconsin political science professor David Canon said.

“It is getting more common for candidates from diverse backgrounds to win in whitemajority districts but it is still not the norm,” Canon said.

A lack of representational diversity could be attributed to the fact that a vast majority of districts in which minority candidates have difficulty winning maintain a primarily white population, Canon added.

Shelia Stubbs, a candidate for the 77th state Assembly district — one of the more diverse districts in Madison — will most likely be the first African-American from Dane County to be elected to the state Legislature this November.

Despite winning an uncontested race, Stubbs’ said she became a victim of racial profiling when campaigning door-to-door in a majoritywhite neighborhood before the primaries. After just 20 minutes of campaigning, Madison police responded to a 911 call falsely accusing Stubbs of drug activity.

“My license plate that is on the police report is all over the world and that’s scary for me and my family. I received a piece of hate mail to my house,” Stubbs said. “I chose this life, to be in the public, but I didn’t choose to be harassed.”

Stubbs has been involved in several initiatives to combat racial disparity in Wisconsin. In 2006, 4 • badgerherald.com • October 16 , 2018

she ran for the Dane County Board to improve Kleefisch falsely accused Barnes of kneeling amount of scrutiny, aspects of her opponent representation for Madison’s south side. She at the Wisconsin State Fair opening ceremony. Kate Toews’s qualifications were left almost currently chairs the UW-Extension Racial Barnes’ opponent has since apologized. unexamined — like the fact Toews sent her kids Disparities Subcommittee, according to her WSJ also reported a Green Bay TV station to schools that are predominantly white. website. showed a picture of Rep. Dana Wachs instead “As a woman of color in a position of Stubbs said she would like to introduce policy of Barnes on election night in August. Wachs leadership, I deal with a lot of people thinking to eliminate racism and hate in her district, as was a white candidate who dropped out of the that I am in their way, that I am not supposed to well as throughout the state. governor’s race two months prior. have a say, that I’m not supposed to have a seat GSAFE co-director Ali Muldrow said she While Barnes mostly laughed it off, it’s at the table — and I feel deeply resented and I ran for Madison School Board in 2017 to not uncommon for candidates of color to think people do things that are really intense expand opportunities which students of color face a higher level of scrutiny, according to to undermine me or to erode my credibility,” had otherwise been shut out of, and to make UW journalism professor Hemant Shah, who Muldrow said. schools the equalizers of society by benefiting all specializes on race and ethnicity in the media.

Muldrow said three school board seats are students.

“Under close examination will be things currently available. If claimed by candidates of “[The school board] represents children and like how they speak, what words they use, to color, the school board would include a majority our school district is majority young people of what extent they portray themselves as ‘typical’ of people of color for the first time in its history. color,” Muldrow said. “To have the school board Americans, embracing mainstream values and so As for Barnes — he said Wisconsin is one — the people who have the most power in terms forth,” Shah said. of the worst places in the national raise a black of making decisions about local education — be Stubbs, for example, said she felt like she child. If elected, he said he’ll work to change that. a majority white body of governance throughout needed to validate who she was and what she “As Lieutenant Governor, I want to use the all of our history is a tragedy.” was doing to the police officer who approached office to advocate for policies to ensure that every According to Muldrow, it isn’t just that her while she was campaigning. kid, no matter their zip code, has everything they the majority of people in power are white — Muldrow said on top of facing an incredible need to achieve their dreams,” Barnes said. they’re also affluent and from privileged backgrounds. As a result, Muldrow said they cannot know the issues of an average person — particularly a person of color.

But as a black woman running for a school board seat at the start of President Donald Trump’s administration, Muldrow said she was subjected to talking about sensationalized topics instead of issues in education which mattered to her and the students of color she would represent.

“I feel like [race] was in every conversation while I was running,” Muldrow said.

“It made people feel entitled to [...] associate with me with sensationalized elements of what it means to be a black woman in America. I ran as a candidate for school board, but I was constantly turned into this black caricature.”

Barnes also told the Wisconsin State Journal Gov. Scott Walker attacked him on a “racially excitable” issue, rather than policy disagreements.

After his tweet about supporting people who kneel Photo · Mandela Barnes and Sheila Stubbs are just a few names on this year’s ballot attempting to bring greater racial diversity during the national anthem to the halls of Wisconsin’s government. But along the way, they’ve had to navigate a tough political climate. was retweeted in criticism

by Walker, Lt. Gov. Rebecca

Daniel Yun The Badger Herald

NEWS

facebook.com/badgerherald

ICE activity prompts concerns over undocumented student vulnerability

Current political climate, efforts to eliminate DACA program have raised concerns for Madison’s undocumented community

by Azul Kothari Reporter

Growing up, undocumented Edgewood College student Lupe Salmeron remembers how her family would cover up the living room window of their apartment with a blanket to stop deportation officers from Immigration and Customs Enforcement from looking inside their apartment during enforcement surges.

Their actions were based on a rumor that agents would go around looking into residences and arresting any undocumented individuals they could find.

“Now that I think about it, [the rumor] didn’t make any kind of sense,” Salmeron said. “But in the [undocumented] community, you just listen to everything you hear, because you don’t know what to believe.”

During the month of September, Wisconsin saw another enforcement surge.

From Sept. 22 through Sept. 24, deportation officers from ICE arrested 83 individuals in a four-day immigration enforcement surge across Wisconsin, including 20 individuals from Dane County, according to an ICE press release.

Over half of those arrested had criminal histories, which included convictions for sexual assault, child abuse, domestic violence, driving under the influence, larceny, receiving stolen property, identity theft, obstructing police and weapon offenses. However, 16 of those arrested had no criminal history and twenty-one of those arrested had illegally re-entered the U.S. following a prior deportation.

Ricardo Wong, Chicago field office director for ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations, defended the enforcement surge in the press release.

“This operation targeted criminal aliens, public safety threats and individuals who have violated our nation’s immigration laws,” Wong said. “Operations like this reflect the vital work our officers do every day to protect our communities, uphold public safety and protect the integrity of our immigration laws.”

Nicole Alberico, a public affairs officer for ICE’s Chicago field office, said ICE avoids conducting operations on college campuses because it considers them to be “sensitive locations.”Other sensitive locations include places of worship and hospitals.

In addition, UW policy directs against cooperating with ICE’s enforcement operations, unless required to so under law. The UW Police Department will not participate in immigration enforcement operations, and the university will not provide ICE with information on students,

faculty, or staff, according to Darcy Wittberger, director of communications at UW’s Division of Student Life.

Should ICE wish to contact individual students about immigration enforcement issues, they must use appropriate legal processes. In most cases, ICE must obtain a warrant before entering a private, on-campus residence.

Despite currently having protection from deportation under President Barack Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival program, Salmeron said that the raids made her feel worried for other people she knew. Almost two decades ago, her parents settled in Madison

a background check and have graduated high school or be enrolled an academic institution, among other requirements.

In January 2017, a California district court order stalled President Donald Trump’s attempts to scale back and terminate DACA. Until further notice, the program will continue accepting applications for renewals, although it is not currently accepting first-time applications, according to the National Immigration Law Center, an immigrant advocacy group Wittberger encourages DACA students seeking resources and support to reach out to the Office of the Dean of Students. Students may

Photo · Political rhetoric and decisions coming from Trump administration along with recent ICE enforcement surges in the Madison area have created a concerning environment for the local undocumented community.

Kai Brito The Badger Herald because it was seen as “a very safe city.”

“You think, ‘Oh, we’re not by the border, it’s not like Arizona,’” Salmeron said. “So, for immigration raids to happen literally overnight with no warning — it’s scary.”

Created in 2012 through an executive action by Obama, DACA allows certain undocumented individuals who arrived in the U.S. before the age of 16 to receive a work permit, social security number, drivers’ license and a renewable two-year protection against deportation. Program participants must pass

also find resources through the Multicultural Student Center.

“The Division of Student Life wants all DACA students to know they are not alone,” Wittberger said. “There are resources and support.”

Currently, it is unclear how many DACA students attend UW. According to Wittberger, the university does not track the number of DACA students as a way of protecting students’ identities and information in the event they are targeted by immigration officials.

It is also unclear how DACA students pay tuition at UW. DACA students do not qualify for in state tuition and are not eligible for federal financial aid or federal student loans. According to Wittberger, most DACA students pay for college using personal funds, scholarships, grants and private loans.

Salmeron said she wanted to attend UW, but found it to be prohibitively expensive.

“I was told to just keep my mind open,” Salmeron said. “I knew I wouldn’t be able to go to a lot of schools.”

Salmeron spent her early years in Mexico City. She was born there when her parents were 17 and 18 years old. Realizing it would be difficult to raise a child in Mexico, they made the decision to leave when Salmeron was two. Later, in the U.S., had another child, her brother.

When she was six years old, Salmeron joined her parents in Madison. Some of her earliest memories are of getting to know her family again. While she barely remembers Mexico City, she said she has strong memories of the culture shock of moving to the U.S. and learning to speak English.

For the most part, Salmeron said she grew up like any other American adolescent, doing the same things as her peers and sharing their worries about high school, test scores and friends. She applied for and received protection under DACA when she was 15 years old, which allowed her to get a drivers’ license, Social Security number, and work permit.

“I’m just like everyone else, but I always have my [undocumented status] in the back of my mind,” Salmeron said. “Especially when it came to applying to college and being able to afford college, that’s when that part of my identity took over.”

During Salmeron’s senior year of high school, teachers introduced her to undocumented college students who would give her advice on how to approach the college application process.

At the end of the application process, Salmeron chose to attend Edgewood College because they offered her the most aid.

Through various scholarships and her job, she has been able to pay for college without taking out private loans.

Salmeron said she feels that the current political climate and Trump’s efforts to eliminate DACA have fostered a lot of uncertainty for her and other DACA students.

“Before the election, people were coming out about being undocumented,” Salmeron said. “With Trump, we’ve stepped a little bit back, with people being more hesitant about sharing their stories.”

October 16, 2018 • badgerherald.com • 5

NEWS

@badgerherald

UW adopts new job and internship search platform for students 11,000 student accounts, 9,000 employer accounts have been activated on Handshake to provide better professional development services

by Nuha Dolby Reporter

Handshake, a professional development and career search platform, has been officially designated as the University of Wisconsin’s main system for job and internship search and recruitment services, replacing BuckyNet and myECS. According to the company’s website, Handshake, a tool launched in 2014, allows employers to post job and internship opportunities, and students to search and apply for them accordingly. UW joins over five hundred other schools in utilizing the platform.

It officially replaced BuckyNet and myECS on July 31, 2018.

Nathan Barker, director of marketing and communications at the UW College of Letters and Sciences professional development program SuccessWorks, said the service was first examined a couple of years ago.

“Back in 2016, all of the career services offices got together and started having a conversation about how to better serve our students with a job and internship service — we examined BuckyNet and my ECS and found limitations,” Barker said.

Renee Smith, student services coordinator & career advisor for the UW School of Human Ecology, said the switch should provide a better experience for both employees and students in light of problems with the old system.

Smith said that with the old system,

“Handshake really helps [L&S] students find and pursue jobs and internships across fields.”

Nathan Baker Director of Marketing and Communications UW College of Letters and Sciences

employees were often confused about how to create an account or connect with the appropriate school or college for recruiting purposes.

“Similarly, students’ accounts needed to be manually created, and the search functionality within the system often produced irrelevant search results for internships and jobs,” Smith said.

6 • badgerherald.com • October 16, 2018

Smith said students in the UW College of Engineering faced an additional barrier because myECS was a “homegrown campus system” which forced them to use a different platform than the rest of campus.

Barker said switching to Handshake was a campus-wide decision which required collaboration across all schools at the university.

Smith agreed and said moving to Handshake has allowed career services units to “work more closely together and to have a more integrated approach to how [they] serve students, alumni, and employers.”

Barker said Handshake is also beneficial to students in the College of Letters and Sciences, who take a wide and diverse breadth of classes.

Because of the way former systems set up, Barker said L&S students could view only a limited selection of the job and internship offerings, potentially cutting them off from opportunities they were qualified for.

“Handshake really helps [L&S] students find and pursue jobs and internships across fields — even if you can’t draw a straight line from their major to that job or internship directly,” Barker said.

Barker said another benefit of Handshake is its unique algorithm, which utilizes user information and activity to customize results.

The sheer number of opportunities available for students is now higher, Barker said. Students in any college can now see jobs and internships posted for colleges they are not enrolled in, giving them access to many more opportunities.

Jaime Kenowski, assistant director of communications at the UW Office of Undergraduate Advising, said over 11,000 student accounts have been activated on Handshake, along with almost 9,000 employers.

Additionally, over 6,000 job or internship listings and over 37,000 interview and job applications have been published, including overlap for students who applied to the same interview and job listing.

Currently, Kenowski said there is no way to compare data between Handshake, BuckyNet and my ECS because of system complications and the complexity of data storage for the later two systems.

“UW is looking into the best way to aggregate the data and provide a way to compare the platforms,” Kenowski said.

Amy Achter, managing director at the UW Office of Business Engagement, said Handshake is used at her office as well.

Achter said that she often gets questions about what UW’s involvement is with specific companies.

Photo · New job and internship search service hopes to improve on flaws of old system and provide better professional development services for UW students.

Andrew Salewski The Badger Herald “That’s a very difficult question to answer over engagement with student talent, and her across this very disparate campus. So, one of office can point them to Handshake as well. the places that we can see what a company Smith said any student interested in might be doing will be in Handshake,” Achter Handshake can set up an appointment with said. career services at UW to learn more about this Achter said Handshake data which is useful tool. to the Office of Business Engagement includes student engagement with Support for Women & Babies industries and industry involvement with students at career fairs or internship and job offerings.

Handshake also has the potential to serve additional functions, including search capabilities for certain skill sets, like a foreign language or a specific experience.

Achter said this allows UW to provide companies with specific students, or go to students themselves and inform them a company is interested in applicants with their particular skill set.

Achter ’s office has already been receiving calls

Support for Women & Babies

Helpline

Pregnancy

Se Habla Español.

608-222-0008 pregnancyhelpline.net

˜ Se Habla Espanol.

608-222-0008 pregnancyhelpline.net

facebook.com/badgerherald

PHOTO

Groovin’ with Greta Van Fleet

Photo · American rock band Greta Van Fleet was rockin’ at The Slyvee Thursday. The band consists of lead singer Josh Kiszka, guitarist Jake Kiszka, bassist Sam Kiszka and drummer Danny Wagner Quinn Beuapre The Badger Herald

October 16, 2018 • badgerherald.com • 7

NEWS

@badgerherald

How the FDA’s e-cigarette regulation could affect UW Juul users Regulations passed in September mandate plan from manufacturers to stop selling to minors, possibly impacting campus consumers

by Paula Caviedes Reporter

As the e-cigarette brand JUUL continues to rise in popularity among young people, the Food and Drug Administration has begun to pass regulations in an attempt to keep their products away from minors, with potential lingering impacts on college campuses.

The most recent of these regulations, passed Sept. 12, gives a 60-day warning to any vendors to enact a plan to restrict their product from minors.

This is the beginning to the FDA’s crack down on the e-cigarette industry, which has managed to make itself a staple of college campus culture.

While the FDA’s main concern is the usage of these products by those under 18, recent actions will affect the thousands of consumers on college campuses as they continue to regulate JUUL and its competitors.

Megan Piper, a researcher at the University of Wisconsin’s Center for Tobacco Research and Intervention, said JUUL and other e-cigarette brands have been very successful within the past 3 years at designing and marketing their products,

including efforts to distance themselves from the typical negative perception of nicotine.

“When [e-cigarettes] first came in the market in 2003, they were designed to look like cigarettes,” Piper said. “Over time, the companies moved to having their designs look like cigarettes and, in addition, were able to make them so that they deliver a better hit of nicotine.”

According to the CTRI website, these designs have been so successful that most e-cigarette users do not correlate these devices at all with traditional perceptions of cigarettes — ­­ 93 percent of consumers are not aware that these products even contain nicotine.

The most concerning consumers of these products are those under the age of 18. According to the CTRI, 5.5 percent of middle school students and 14.4 percent of high school students report vaping.

“This is concerning because of the chemical change in the brain that nicotine causes,” Piper said. “Constant consumption of nicotine increases dopamine receptors on the brain. When someone isn’t consuming nicotine, the body does not produce enough dopamine do fill these receptors,

which then causes withdrawal symptoms and ultimately addiction.”

Piper said these effects can be even more severe on children, since their brain is still developing, citing a 2012 study from Cold Spring Harbor Perspective in Medicine.

According to the study, nicotine severely affects the development of the frontal lobe of adolescents.

This can affect cognitive functions — the ability to recognize and react to the environment. It also affects attention, which gets gradually worse as the smoking continues.

The beginning stages of the FDA’s plan — to ask companies to prove they can keep the products away from minors — won’t affect those over 18. However, if retailers and manufacturers fail to provide proof, an FDA press release said it will begin to restrict flavor additives into the vaping products.

“It is hard to have people police themselves,” Piper said. “A more effective way to stop the youth from consuming this would be to take away the flavors from the pods, this would take away a huge part of the experience and would cut back the incentive.”

“This strategy was previously put in place with cigarettes. In 2009, the FDA banned all flavored cigarettes except for menthol in an effort to reduce the appeal to children. Piper said doing so with JUULs and other e-cigarettes would have the same effect.

The question for college students, then, is whether regulations like these will stop them from consuming the product.

UW junior Megan Roberts said while it might have some impact on how much casual party goers consume the product, e-cigarettes are so embedded in the culture and people are so “into it” that it may take more than that to reduce consumptions.

“There is more to JUULing than the flavors,” Roberts said. “People want it for the buzz of the nicotine and younger kids are constantly trying to copy college students now-a-days that I don’t think removing flavors will do what it’s trying to do.”

Unless there is a complete ban of the products, Roberts said another brand will simply rise in its place if JUUL’s popularity takes a hit.

National Parks experience faster rate of climate change, UW study finds Study co-authors outline actions general public can take to reduce carbon footprint, preserve future of enviornment

by Ellie Colbert Reporter

The U.S. National Park System experiences human-caused climate change at a higher rate than the nation as a whole, according to new study released by the UW Center for Climatic Research.

National parks protect some of the most irreplaceable ecosystems and cultural sites in the world, and they are being hit particularly hard by climate change, according UC Berkeley professor and lead author on the study Patrick Gonzalez.

“Human caused climate change has been altering ecosystems and human systems around the world, but up until our research, the severity of climate change across all the national parks was unknown,” said Gonzalez.

Gonzalez and his team measured historical temperatures and rainfall dating back to 1895 from all 417 parks, and created future predictions for climate change made under different emission rate scenarios.

The study found that between 1895 and 2010, the average temperature of national park area had increased at double the rate of the U.S. as a whole. At the same time, yearly 8 • badgerherald.com • October 16, 2018

rainfall had decreased more in national parks than any other region of the U.S. Physical and ecological changes because of hotter and drier climates are already seen across U.S. national parks, and the study predicts future vulnerabilities. Before 2100, Yellowstone National Park could see up to ten times more area get burned by wildfires, and trees in Joshua National Park could lose 90% of their suitable climate.

Here in Wisconsin, the Apostle Islands National Seashore will likely face reduced ice coverage in the winter, according to the study.

Jack Williams, UW geography professor and co-author of the study, said the National Park Service can use this study to preserve their parks.

“The National Park Service has a really important mission of preserving the unimpaired natural and cultural resources to inspire this generation and future generations, and they have to think about out how best to do that in an era of ongoing change in temperature,” Williams said.

Reducing greenhouse gasses emissions is one way to save national parks for future generations, and this method extends beyond the parks. Cutting carbon pollution gases from sources like cars, power plants,

and other human mechanisms are all steps individuals can take to reduce heating in the national park by up to two-thirds, according to the study.

Gonzalez said the implication of the study for the general public is to realize the damage inflicted to the earth, and to make eco-friendly decisions if they want National Parks to survive.

“Your decision to ride a bike rather than drive a car can help the Apostle Islands National Seashore,” Gonzalez said. “If you combine all of that — the actions of over 300 million Americans — that adds up.”

Actions to reduce emissions exist and have been successful, Gonzalez said. The Golden Gate National Recreation Area, a national park in San Francisco, has reduced emissions by 25 percent in the last 5 years.

Under the Obama administration, the U.S. reduced emissions by 8 percent. States in the U.S. Climate Alliance, which Wisconsin is not a member of, have reduced their emissions by 15 percent, on track to meet standards set forth in the Paris Agreement, which the U.S. withdrew from last year.

“So this shows what’s possible, and I am hopeful for the future,” Gonzalez said.

“It’s a science-based hope, and we have the evidence.”

Beyond this, parks will need to adapt too. The parks system will have to continue to make adjustments in how they conserve species, manage fire and control invasive species. Data from the survey provides targeted locations where this is needed, and Gonzalez works everyday with staff in parks to implement these adaptations.

Adaptation, in addition to cutting down on our own carbon pollution, is something we can all do, Williams said. In southwest Wisconsin, people are helping species by planting trees along river banks as temperatures rise, to create shading and keep the water temperature down for cool water trout populations.

Williams said he has hope for species and ecosystem adaptation, as he has studied the last ice age and how species were able to adapt then.

“There’s a lot of built in adaptive capacities that species have used to adapt to past climate change,” Williams said. “At the same time, we are pushing the system into a new state and I think its our plan to help species adapt, and to help preserve the important things around us as we’re in a rapidly changing world.”

ARTSETC.

facebook.com/badgerherald

The Plain White T’s create songs from the heart on ‘Parallel Universe’

Upcoming performance at High Noon Saloon is anticipated to provoke connections with lyrics, array of emotions among college-town vibes

by Melissa Simon ArtsEtc. Associate Editor

The Plain White T’s took their own advice and didn’t wait for an invitation to pursue their passion.

Beginning right out of high school, they played gigs in their basement, formed a band and performed every local Chicago show they possibly could before touring the country.

“You don’t wait for someone to give you permission, you just have to do it,” lead vocalist Tom Higgenson said.

The pop-alternative band strives to create unique music while maintaining that pop sensibility.

Higgenson believes the key to good music is having a catchy tune without being annoying and bothersome — it has to get stuck in people’s heads, but they have to want it to be there.

Well-known for their song Hey There Delilah, the Plain White T’s make their music based on what sounds cool to them, and “wherever it goes, it goes,” Higgenson said. It’s almost impossible to have control over who will listen to and like your music. The band would’ve never predicted how popular Hey There Delilah would become — to the point where it was playing on the radio almost daily.

“Hey There Delilah was the farthest thing

from being a huge smash on the radio. I knew it was good, but it was just a little acoustic song,” Higgenson said.

The band’s most recent album, Parallel Universe (released this past August), explores sounds and elements of music they’ve never experimented with before, according to Higgenson. They refused to follow a “rule book,” and endeavored beyond their comfort zone by finding their own nature of production and sound.

“I think the album title, Parallel Universe, kind of reflects that [experimentation] because it’s totally a Plain White T’s album, but it’s a little bit of a flip from how we would normally sound – I think it’s like the T’s in the parallel universe,” Higgenson said.

The band’s proudest asset is their songwriting because they feel as if they can tell relatable stories with which many people can connect. They take the “craft of songwriting” seriously because as music and genres fluctuate, a great song will never go out of style, according to Higgenson.

Most of their songwriting is influenced by what they hear on the radio, as well as life experiences, most commonly relationships, girls and falling in and out of love.

“I almost think that I put myself in bad situations with girls on purpose so that I have something to

write about, like subconsciously. I’ll go for like the total wrong girl, so I have some song material,” Higgenson joked.

Whether it’s a song that brings up feelings about a past relationship, or a song that makes you want to go crazy with friends, the Plain White T’s encourage any emotion an audience member wants to feel.

“If it comes from the heart, people will get it, people will react to it.”

Tom Higgenson

As much as they take music seriously as creators of it, they know people just want to have fun and listen to what will make them feel a certain type of vibe, according to Higgenson.

“As long as it connects and makes you feel cool or makes you feel something, that’s all that matters,” Higgenson said.

Just as the Plain White T’s did themselves in order to become the well-known and influential band that they are, you have to set your mind on your desires and confront the zeal within you.

There’s no one else who can accomplish your goals but you.

School grants you with the tools to learn more, but it’s up to you to commit and dedicate your life to what you want in order to succeed, Higgenson said.

“Find that lane that your heart takes you on, then people will connect. If it comes from the heart, people will get it, people will react to it,” Higgenson said.

The Plain White T’s have an upcoming performance in Madison. It’s been a while since they’ve performed here, but it’s certainly not their first. The band used to perform in Wisconsin frequently before they rose to fame because it was a close drive from their hometown, Chicago.

The band enjoys performing for a lively audience with college-town vibes.

“I love any town that feels like it’s run by a bunch of young people…that’s where I want to be…I always have a soft spot in my heart for Madison,” Higgenson said.

The Plain White T’s will be performing at High Noon Saloon on Oct. 18.

Agriculture club celebrates end of growing season with Harvest Fest Organization holds educational horticultural workshops across campus during off season, works to connect people’s lives with food, fun

by Eleanor Bogart-Stuart ArtsEtc. Staff Writer

October is a month mainly associated with witches, candy corn and the ascendance of the “holiday season.”

For members of the F.H. King Students for Sustainable Agriculture Club, October also marks the end of the growing season for the community garden they tend to almost year round. To celebrate the fruits of their labor, the club throws a Harvest Fest in which members and non-members alike are invited to come to the garden, according to co-garden director Erin Brenner.

“It’s really fun seeing people discover the space, seeing them enjoy it, and to watch them start to come here more,” Brenner said.

Harvest Fest itself looked like something you would see in a classic coming of age movie — stacks of hay set up as chairs, wooden crates filled with apples and fairy lights glowing above a makeshift stage setup where Wimbledon, a local band assembled of students, crooned upbeat indie rock.

Brenner said that for most, it’s their first time seeing the garden. Understandably so, it’s a little difficult because of the off-campus location.

“If there’s a big, fun party with good food

and music it’s a nice way to get people out here. We definitely view it as a launchpad to get people involved in other ways,” Brenner said.

Using the celebration as a launchpad to gain new members is a necessary tradition. The F.H. King club, the party and the entirety of the massive garden are completely student run.

Those students aren’t the only ones who get to enjoy its scenery and spoils, Rena Yehuda Newman, director of intern programs, said.

“Our role on campus is to connect people, land, and food,” Newman said.

Brenner refers to student volunteers as the “lifeblood” of the whole organization.

Unfortunately, the growing schedule of the plants in the garden don’t always mesh with the academic schedule of students.

She acknowledged the obvious — it’s a college campus. Plenty of people leave in the summer, making for a big project to get all the help Brenner can get.

“Spring and fall are really difficult as well because the growing season and the school season do not live super well together. The garden needs a lot of time and care — when it’s finals,” Brenner laughed.

The actual “growing season” lasts from April to November. The items planted are inspired directly by student opinion and needs.

Aside from trying to have fun and doing “exotic, weird things” people have never tried before, Brenner said she values newcomers’ input.

“We try to use student opinions to direct what we grow. We try to keep in mind what vegetables are kind of user-friendly and friendly to someone who might not always half kitchen access, which is true for someone living in the dorms,” Brenner said. “A really fun thing people tried this year was a really tiny cucumber variety called Mexican sour gherkins. They’re smaller than kumquats and you put them in your mouth all at once.”

The F.H. King board encourages students who leave for the summer to apply for the club’s summer internships. The internships offer the opportunity to learn about sustainability and have hands-on experience in the garden. These internships are viewed as the best way to get a foot in the door when it comes to joining the club.

In the winter — after the growing season has ended — the club holds educational horticultural workshops across campus.

The club and the garden are involved with the culture of both campus and the city of Madison.

During the growing season the club gives out food every Friday. They have a compost

pile from the garden that gets filled up by community food waste, like restaurants.

“Bicycle volunteers ride around the city, get

“Our role on campus is to connect people, land and food.”

Erin Brenner

food waste in the back of a trailer and bring it out here,” Brenner said. “We’re also right across from the university research plots, where they’re doing some breeding testing — so we definitely have a great resource of experts right across the way, which I don’t think is the case for any other student garden I can think of.”

F.H. King’s contributions to the school make it one of the most unique, dedicated and involved on campus. If you didn’t get the chance to make it to Harvest Fest, make sure you come to Spring Kickoff, the celebration of the beginning of the growing season.

October 16, 2018 • badgerherald.com • 9

ARTSETC.

facebook.com/badgerherald

Hump Day: Lessons we can learn from yet another sexual assault To change how sexual assault is viewed culturally, it’s up to everyone to share stories, use their knowledge to stand up for all 18,842 of us on this campus

Editor’s note: Trigger warning — this article contains detailed accounts of sexual assault.

John Doe was a virgin.

He did not understand what it meant to take advantage of a sexual situation, because he had never been in a true sexual situation. This does not excuse the fact that he raped me, it simply emphasizes that he formed his opinions about sex through misogynistic ideologies and a society which teaches its men that sexual pursuits are more important than the consequences they cause or people they hurt.

I remember going over to his dorm room on a Saturday night, maybe naively thinking that we would just be talking and hanging out.

I barely knew him, and was not interested in becoming intimate with a near stranger.

We had been talking all week, making jokes and keeping our interactions light and friendly over Snapchat. There was nothing that indicated I’d be subjected to his overpowering grip and assault. We met a week earlier through mutual friends who had all vouched for his character, encouraging me to talk to him.

Is it so wrong to think that there are still guys who are only looking for a first date?

Men who believe in getting to know a woman, possibly even loving a woman before turning to the pursuit of orgasm?

I believed in the morality of humans when I shouldn’t have, and thought I could be valued beyond my body, so I went to him.

The whole encounter took less than an hour, and I remember descending the stairs of Sellery with tears in my eyes and an emptiness in my heart.

We talked for maybe ten minutes before he turned off the lights and began kissing me. I reciprocated until I was uncomfortable, saying, “You can’t just do that.” I was referring to him subtly penetrating my body as if I may not notice.

His response was not, “Oh, sorry, do you want to continue?” He just said, “I know.”

Then he continued without hesitation.

I found myself in shock, not knowing how to take back my body or even communicate my discomfort with that level of intimacy. As I was about to stop him and speak out against such disgusting mistreatment, he finished and it was all over. I bawled through the short walk back to Witte and sat in the arms of my roommate as I explained how violated I had felt.

The girls who knew him were extremely surprised, saying they didn’t believe he could treat anyone so disrespectfully. Though they were trying to make the point that I couldn’t have seen the rape coming, it made my stomach drop wondering why I was the one he thought he could use that way.

If all of his friends saw him as an honorable

guy, what about me indicated I deserved less than respect? I still wonder this on an almost daily basis, and find it astonishing that our week of interactions has left such a lasting and profound impact on my life.

Three days after being raped, for what I thought was the first time, I went to the emergency room because I had lost the will to live and my depression, which had been manageable for the past five years, turned volatile.

I felt so alone, and started to believe that this guy could accurately determine my worth. I remember denying the connection to myself. This simple incident, which happens to so many women, couldn’t be the reason I was in the hospital. Admitting the depth at which it pained me was not something I was capable of dealing with in my mental state.

Though my encounter with him certainly didn’t help the throbbing sadness I began feeling at a near constant, it’s important to acknowledge he is just one of many factors contributing to my hospital visit — not in his defense, but in defense of the truth.

My stint in the psych ward was life changing, and I began to overcome the weight of my mental illness in tandem with the loss of my body. It wouldn’t be until this year that I finally began unpacking the treacherous feelings of the rape I was convinced would destroy me. It wasn’t until six months later when I got a message from him on Tinder, trying to hit on me.

He was asking about where I lived, pretending we had never met before. I called him out, saying he must remember me as the girl he lost his virginity to just six months earlier. He quickly turned his tone to a half-assed apology, and until rereading his words to write this article, I believed he was genuinely sorry.

Upon rereading the messages we exchanged, I finally understood that I had accepted this apology as a way to heal when in retrospect, it was just a bandage over a gaping hole in my reality.

This was not my first time being raped, and I often wonder if it will be my last. My fears and experiences are shared with one in four women on campus, as well as one in eighteen men. Take a second to understand that.

At a university of 43,820 students, approximately 18,842 of them will go through this degrading, terrifying assault at some point on this campus. That doesn’t even account for the people like me, who have multiple encounters with rape.

This brings me back to my first point — John Doe was a virgin. He was not the kind of guy anyone suspected, not even his closest friends.

If John Doe is a respectable citizen, where did he learn such disrespectful behavior as a cultural norm? These are questions I cannot answer.

ALUMNI PARK WISCONSIN ALUMNI ASSOCIATION

DESTINATION:

ALUMNI PARK Photo: Andy Manis

by Kate Geary ArtsEtc. Staff Writer

Experience artful exhibits, inspiring stories, and more.

Add the new landmark on the lake to your Madison itinerary.

ALUMNIPARK .COM

This list of unthinkable queries goes on as I wonder why men like Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas sit on our Supreme Court, making decisions that will change the course of history. These are the men that will be praised in our children’s textbooks, and these same children may even hope to emulate them someday.

When will our culture value human rights over individual success, and finally teach our people to do the same? Hopefully, it will start with the perpetrators who created these thousands of victims, but that’s no guarantee.

So, let it begin with survivors. A professor of mine was telling our class one day that by being educated at an American institution, we are among the top one percent of the world in terms of the power we hold. This is true for every one of the 18,842 victims which statistics suggest exist on this campus, so let’s take that power and speak out against these injustices.

We are capable of great change — every student at this university, and truly every human on this planet, so use your knowledge.

Not just the survivors, but all of us.

If you are someone who’s caused sexual assault, there is no reason you can’t apologize to the person, or people you’ve hurt. Even if you are removed from this debate on a personal level, you too can stand up and speak out against these terrible injustices.

Use the vast expanse of resources and privilege that you’ve been born into to fight back for those who can’t. It’s too often I hear people feel bad for all the blessings they’ve received, believing themselves to be undeserving of the potential they have. But this potential is a random roll of the dice that has nothing to do with who you are, but rather where you were born on this planet.

So instead of feeling bad for your stellar luck, capitalize on it. Change the world with it and start by sharing your story, and the stories of others.

All 18,842 of us understand what it’s like to have the power taken right out from under you, so go forth and take it back. Let’s stand up, not because we have to, not because it’s our fault for what happened, but simply because we can.

October 16, 2018 • badgerherald.com • 10

ARTSETC

@badgerherald

Enjoy a cheeseburger picnic with Trailer Park Boys’ Patrick Roach Trail Park Boys’ Randy, assistant supervisor of Sunnyvale, on remembering John Dunsworth, entertaining mildly rowdy Majestic Theater crowd

by Ben Sefarbi ArtsEtc. Editor

It’s been an absolute hoot for Patrick Roach to work for years with the same individuals who are embraced by fans of a crazy show known as The Trailer Park Boys.

The Canadian legend is known for playing Randy, the Nova Scotian gut exposed for being allergic to shirts in fictional Sunnyvale Trailer Park. The mockumentary television series has been an escape for those on both sides of the International Boundary since 2001.

Hold the pepperoni, it was still the 20th century when Roach first shared the screen with the boys. Rewind to 1999 — black and white — the original Trailer Park Boys film shown at the Atlantic Film Festival featured series staples Ricky (Robb Wells) and Julian (John Paul Tremblay) as young boys trying to kill their alcoholic neighbor ’s poodle, Caesar. It only got wilder when you found out the owner of the pup was Patrick, played

by Roach.

Tremblay and Wells were “pet assassins” who took issue with Patrick not cleaning up after Caesar. Roach now claims his character was justified in letting the pooch lend some organic fertilizer. Have no fear PETA stans, no animals were harmed.

“You had a real pain-in-the-ass poodle that was barking hard. Neighbors hated that poodle. They called up Ricky and Julian, phone ringing off the hook, and they would go take care of that poodle. Because they would kill that poodle for you,” Roach said.

Unfathomable as it may seem, there are those who have never heard of or seen TPB. Roach recalled his favorite episode, a season three classic, to show what you’ve been missing from Sunnyvale.

Roach’s favorite was when Ricky and Julian were in the midst of stealing barbecues, eventually nabbing Randy’s.

Meanwhile, Bubbles (Mike Smith), Ricky and Julian’s partner in crime at the trailer park, was throwing the stolen barbecues into the lake wearing water wings so they would sink but not float all the way to the bottom.

Makes sense.

After all the shenanigans taking place in the trailer park, the whole fictional community is a family.

“If Ricky was to have a heart attack, someone would try to give him CPR. Even if they really didn’t like the way he was. In the end it’s true, people love each other,” Roach said.

The show should be a break from the serious stresses of life, according to Roach.

Fans going through treatment for cancer tell Roach watching TPB brings a smile to their face.

11 • badgerherald.com • October 16, 2018

Members of the military, with jobs the actor can’t even imagine, approach Roach and detail their appreciation for his work on the show.

“They’re away from home, fighting for our countries, freedom, also I guess bad guys. They’re watching from their laptops, brings them back home,” Roach said.

Along with his friend Sheldon Valleau on the bass ukulele, Roach will be performing in Madison at the Majestic Theater for his nationwide tour, Randy’s Cheeseburger Picnic. You can expect the material Roach performs to be predominantly based off Randy’s character.

The audience will be encouraged to yell out some choice words, so long as they aren’t being as wild as Randy.

“I’ll tell them to frigg off,” Roach said.

People genuinely like Randy’s protruding belly, especially in person if you ask Roach.

“My belly is a nice belly. It’s round, it’s got hair, but what people like most is that Randy’s a sweet character and makes sure people get along,” Roach said.

He explained Randy’s character likes his nice white pants, a piece of clothing he can’t afford to mess up by fighting.

Complemented by his black shoes and belt, the fit without a shirt allows for more movement in a fight.

If needed, Randy removes his pants, moving a lot better in tighty-whities, according to Roach. It bodes well for wrestling moves.

“Monkeys, when they get in a fight will show their erection to intimidate one another. I mean if a monkey comes at you with an erection, I’d run the other way. If Randy comes at you with his tighty-whities — and maybe an erection — you might run, cause you don’t know what might happen,” Roach said.

The purpose Randy plays is to comically represent why everyone should be comfortable with how they look, whether they have a six-pack, or a keg like the assistant supervisor of a trailer park. Fans with kegs are ecstatic Randy can run around with no shirt on. Heed this as a warning — there’s always a few shirtless fans that come out to the shows.

It’s almost been a year to the day since TPB lost one of their own. Best known for playing the alcoholic trailer park supervisor of Sunnyvale Jim Lahey, John Dunsworth passed away at the age of 71 last October.

Lahey was the lovably deranged example of what too much liquor can do, especially when opposed to characters like Bubbles, Julian and Ricky throughout a dozen seasons of the show.

Roach said when he first found out, it was totally unexpected.

Photo · Roach may give away some prizes at his show, not neccessarily cheeseburgers.

Paquin Entertainment Group/Patrick Roach Before the Randy’s Cheeseburger Picnic Tour Roach, Dunsworth was right by his side, doing comedy in their TBP characters under the act Randy and Lahey. Roach never knew until they toured together how much of a seasoned actor Dunsworth was, whether it was on stage, screen or even Shakespearian work.

“He’s the type of guy who didn’t want people to be unhappy. He wanted people to move forward. He would be very pleased that Randy went back up and did Cheeseburger Picnic,” Roach said.

The two would always rehearse their lines together, Roach sometimes catching Dunsworth reading lines from other characters out of a binder whenever he had a free moment on set.

Dunsworth was so committed to his character, his daughter Sara got a call that her dad was drunk, again. Roach swears it’s a true story.

“She said, ‘My dad’s not drunk, he’s just acting like Lahey!’ He was always keen. His favorite episode was always the next one we were going to film,” Roach recalled.

Roach said Dunsworth could teach everything an actor needs to know. He was one of the few cast members who had acting experience prior to TPB. All of those on the show benefited from his tutoring, and Dunsworth excelled in the role.

“I’ve been learning from him for the last 12 years of my life. Now I’m not scared to be up in a crowd,” Roach said.

From filming episodes to the hundreds

of shows they performed together across the continent, Roach and Dunsworth spent more time with each other than their own respective families and friends.

Dunsworth always had Roach’s back, a personality trait he said you can’t get enough of from people in the world.

“We would go on boat rides and talk to each other every day. John was like a big brother to me. He was the coolest big brother. I don’t have any brothers or sisters, but it was him for me,” Roach said.

Dunsworth’s portrayal of Lahey isn’t only known for his addiction to alcohol, but his disturbing love for it. Fans know the famous line, “Randy, I am the liquor.” Roach now has his own quote to compliment the classic phrase. After going through a multitude of fast food options as comparisons, a decision was made.

“I’m more like the cheeseburger, or the pizza, or the onion rings. Let’s go with beer, not so much into hounding large quantities of hard liquor,” Roach chuckled.

Starting in late November, Roach will be going on a Christmas tour with Bubbles, Randy and Ricky. They’ll stop in Green Bay at the Weidner Center on Nov. 26. Roach is also involved with content being produced by the TPB crew for their own news network, SwearNet. You can imagine what new shows might be in the works for the platform.

Roach will stop by The Majestic Theater on Tuesday, October 16 at 8:00 p.m. After he finishes his current tour, Roach will be spending time with friends and family back home, just trying to keep it real.

FEATURES

@badgerherald

FEATURES

facebook.com/badgerherald

As the city expands affordable housing, barriers for those in need persist

While the federal government contemplates a comprehensive definition for homelessness, a low vacancy rate and towering rent keep low-income individuals on the street

by Peyton David Managing Editor

Shorty stands on the end of the 600 block of State Street handing out issues of Street Pulse, Madison’s homeless cooperative newspaper.

Before becoming a vendor for Street Pulse, Shorty, who asked to only be identified by his nickname, was homeless.

“About three years ago … I didn’t have a place,” Shorty said.

“All of sudden, I’m hearing all of these people … like me are getting places.”

He went to Bethel Lutheran Church, where he filled out an application for the federally-funded Housing Choice Voucher program for low-income housing.

About a year later, he was accepted.

The Housing Choice Voucher program, known as Section 8, pays a portion of low-income tenants’ rent. About 1,600 households in Madison are funded through this program.

Through Section 8 and other Madison initiatives, the city has seen an increase in efforts to house individuals experiencing homelessness that have previously been absent.

Despite Madison’s efforts, Jani Koester, Homeless Services Consortium of Dane County board president, said the city isn’t keeping up with the demand for housing for low-income tenants.

“There just isn’t enough housing,” Koester said. “We’re not keeping up with the demand … as soon as we build it and we have it, it’s full.”

When Madison/Dane County Continuum of Care surveyed the streets and homeless shelters in January, a process that yields a point-in-time count, they saw about 614 individuals experiencing homelessness, a 4.9 percent increase from the previous year’s count.

And while that number provides a snapshot of the homeless population on a given night, the number is “undoubtedly higher” than estimated.

Although the city has made strides in providing resources and moving Madison’s homeless population into housing, it is only starting to address the shortage of units and funds available.

A limiting definition Homelessness is a spectrum. When obtaining affordable housing, many individuals who are homeless for a short time never access the homeless resources system again after receiving the assistance.

Others may have larger challenges and need ongoing, one- to two-year financial and social assistance, like job training or child care services, Matt Wachter, the city’s real estate manager, said. Once they get themselves established in secure housing, they may still need ongoing assistance.

On the other hand, those who receive rent assistance while in rapid rehousing — which provides individuals short-term financial stability to obtain a low-rent apartment — they still need to secure a stable income stream to continue affording housing, Wisconsin Homeless Coalition executive director Joe Volk said.

Some need assistance for years or the rest of their life, Wachter said. To accommodate those needs, the city has partnered with developers to provide health, social and support services when individuals rent affordable housing units.

For different needs, there are different resources needed. But the reality is that there aren’t always enough funds to address the vast array of issues confronting the diverse homeless population.

Volk said this diverse population includes youth, individuals who are experiencing mental health issues, those facing economic crisis and more.

That said, addressing homelessness doesn’t lie in one single remedy. At the same time, the existence of numerous federal 12 • badgerherald.com • October 16, 2018

definitions makes it difficult to come up with any remedy at all.

“The federal government can’t decide on a single definition of homelessness and I think it’s really connected to resources,” Koester said. “If you don’t broaden the resources that come with it, you’re not going to be able to serve everyone who’s identified.”

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development tackles the issue with a “one approach for all” solution, Volk said.

HUD defines homelessness in four categories. The first being someone who is “literally homeless,” or an “individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.”

Individuals under categories two, three and four are at “imminent risk of homelessness,” “homeless under other federal statutes” and “fleeing/attempting to flee domestic violence,” respectively.

The narrow definition can have deafening results for individuals not only across Madison and Dane County, but the country at large.

For example, Volk said HUD won’t fund shelters or transitional housing.

Koester said. Every year, HSC looks at their priorities, which are based on data like the point-in-time count, and uses the funds accordingly. Last year, HSC prioritized housing families, which saw a 22.6 percent decrease in 2018’s point-in-time count from the prior year.

Right now, their priorities lie in housing singles, or individuals without children, Koester said. Madison/Dane County Continuum of Care saw a 27.4 percent increase of singles and a 42.5 percent increase of those who are chronically homeless.

“There’s not enough housing to even make a dent in the [priorities] list,” Koester said.

In Madison, there’s one men’s shelter service, provided through Porchlight; one youth shelter, provided through Briarpatch Youth Services; one women’s shelter and one family’s shelter service, both of which are provided through Salvation Army of Dane County, according to the HSC website.

Porchlight, which houses an overnight shelter through Grace

“The federal government can’t decide on a single definition of homelessness and I

think it’s really connected to resources. If you don’t broaden the resources that come with it, you’re not going to be able to serve everyone who’s identified.”

Jani Koester Homeless Services Consortium of Dane County board president

Rather, Volk said many of their funds are directed toward supportive housing, which is only one piece of the larger puzzle.

Other definitions, like that of the Department of Education, operate under a much wider lense of homelessness. This allows them to count more individuals experiencing homelessness on a given night, Linette Rhodes, the city’s interim community development grants supervisor, said.

Under that definition, school districts, for example, would count individuals who don’t have a stable home or are “couchsurfing” as homeless, while the Madison/Dane County Continuum of Care only looks at those who are in shelters, Rhodes said.

In other words, some families and youths who the Department of Education’s definition consider homeless cannot access resources under the HUD definition; more than 75 percent of families in Madison’s schools who identify as homeless don’t meet HUD’s definition, Koester said.

Michael Luckey, director of the Wisconsin Interagency Council on Homelessness, said the multitude of definitions then creates a gap in trying to determine who is homeless and allocating funds toward those individuals who don’t meet the definition.

“One of the areas where the state can fill the gap is by focusing on every type of homeless — whether that’s those who identify as homeless in our schools or identify as homeless under housing programs,” Luckey said.

‘You just gotta take it’ HUD funds local municipalities to help combat homelessness,

Presbyterian Church and has two overflow shelters, provides two meals, laundry services and other day-to-day needs for individuals experiencing homelessness, development director for Porchlight Jessica Mathis said. Additionally, they operate a mental health shelter for both men and women.

But Porchlight operates on a 90-day limit rule, where individuals can only use the overnight shelter 90 days out of the year, according to their website.

Part of that is because of space, but Madison also has a mission to use shelters as an emergent need and to make stays there as brief as possible, Rhodes said.

“One of our overarching goals in homelessness is to make … the experience of homelessness rare, brief and non-recurring,” Rhodes said. “One of the performance measures we put on the shelter is the length of stay overall that people have. And our goal is to shorten people’s stay they’ll have at the shelter.”

Shelters serve as “access points,” where individuals experiencing homelessness can get connected with case management services or with resources around the city, Rhodes said.

Through these access points, Mathis said the key for these services is to give homeless individuals long-term solutions, like teaching them how to budget.

For Shorty, he got connected to these resources through a friend that also worked at Street Pulse.

“Before I was doing Street Pulse, I was out here on the streets selling drugs and panhandling at bus stops until it just got to a point where I just got sick and tired of being sick and tired,” Shorty said.

“There are resources here. You just gotta take it.”

Rising costs Approximately $9.3 million in funds from both public and private sources went toward homelessness initiatives in the 2016-17 Community Development Division budget, $1.1 million of which comes from the city.

The largest portion of the $9.3 million was allocated toward permanent housing, which accounted for just under $2.2 million.

Still, there are not enough funds and there are not enough resources to connect everyone with housing, Koester said.

“If you don’t have access to those programs, then you’re out there on your own,” Koester said.

And when individuals eventually find housing, the rising rent can put them in circumstances where they may not be making a wage that can support themselves in that housing.

Madison has seen a dramatic growth in rental housing over the past ten years, Wachter said. Though the city has added 1,500 to 2,000 apartments per year, it isn’t enough to keep up with the growing population.

In recent years, Madison’s vacancy rate has been around 2 percent; in some areas of the city, it was 1 percent, Wachter said.

Right now, the city of Madison’s vacancy rate is at 3 to 4 percent, while the national average sees a 5 percent rate.

“When vacancy rates get that low, landlords should be a lot more picky about who they rent to because they have waiting lists of people oftentimes for these units,” Wachter said. “If you own an existing unit and you’ve got a lot people who are demanding it, you can charge more. So we’ve seen rents go up fairly dramatically in the city of Madison.”

Because of the increase in demand and in construction costs is driving up the prices of units in an already tight market, there were years where there was a shortage in housing, Wachter said. This, in turn, had a detrimental effect on the lower-income side of the renters pool. The number of affordable options is small in comparison to the rest of the market.

Luckey echoed Wachter’s sentiment. He said because of a fastgrowing population and development of unaffordable housing options in Madison, it has been difficult getting people into housing they can afford.

For an average one-bedroom apartment, a worker making minimum wage would have to work 90-hour weeks to afford rent for that unit, Mathis said. This doesn’t include other living expenses.

The isthmus is a hotspot not many people can attain, Rhodes said. Not only do low-rent apartments tend to be on the outskirts of the city, they are also occupied, presenting a new challenge of incentivizing people to stay in the city.

To combat those circumstances, the city does provide subsidized housing through Section 8, where they pay a portion of a person’s rent through a lottery system.

Those who obtain the housing voucher pay 30 percent of their annual income and the voucher pays the rest, Wachter said.

Otherwise, individuals would have to be making at least three times their monthly income to even consider the possibility of affording the apartment’s rent.

That way, people will also have flexibility in where they want to live and can move if they want or need to.

But that program hasn’t been growing and neither have others that provide low-income rent, Wachter said.

Instead, the city has “latched onto” the Section 42 tax credit program, a well-funded initiative that awards tax credits to states, which the state can use to hire private developers to build apartment buildings, Wachter said. The tax credits fund about 50 to 70 percent of construction costs on the condition that they reserve units for

individuals making a mix of income levels and charge them a rent they can afford.

Through this program, the city has created the Affordable Housing Fund, which developers use to apply for funds to create buildings in certain areas of the city for a mix of income levels. These areas usually are along bus routes, near grocery stores and generally where individuals have the best chance of succeeding, Wachter said.

The city had a goal to build 1,000 new units in five years with these funds and they’re on their way to succeeding, Wachter said.

funds and definitions, the onus of creating a better community as a whole falls onto its members.

There’s a common myth that homelessness is a choice, but homelessness isn’t something many choose, Mathis said. Rather, the majority of people experiencing homelessness are children, far from the common perception.

“There’s definitely a disconnect between what the general person who is experiencing homelessness is, and who is actually most affected by homelessness in the Madison community,” Mathis said.

More than 700 units have been built since 2014.

Nevertheless, there are still individuals who are limited in housing choices due to barriers like low credit or eviction records, Mathis said.

To counteract that practice, Rhodes said they have created “housing navigators,” which provide resources to help in filling out applications and determining where to apply for housing.

In the 2019 county budget, Rhodes said the county is allocating additional funds toward more housing navigators to place a larger emphasis on pairing youth with affordable housing options as a way of preventing homelessness before it happens.

Still, as the city works to provide options for housing, inevitable stereotypes and myths about individuals experiencing homelessness persist.

There are myths that individuals who have experienced homelessness are not good tenants and can’t budget, which simply isn’t true, Koester said.

“We have a lot of clients who are very good tenants,” Koester said.

“But if you don’t have a living wage to keep affording the living home that you have, then it’s hard to maintain a good relationship with your landlords if you’re always late with payments.”

Luckey said the simplest, yet often “most challenging” way to debunk these types of myths is by having conversations with individuals who have experienced or are currently experiencing homelessness about their path in life. Visiting and volunteering at shelters also provides that invaluable experience, he said.

For Shorty, when he’s handing out newspapers, he said he’s largely ignored by passersby.

“A lot of people don’t even acknowledge me, like I’m not even here,” Shorty said. “Especially when you greet everyone … the least you can do is say hi or something. You don’t have to buy my paper, I don’t care. Say something.”

Working toward a better community While the city progresses toward a more comprehensive understanding of how to combat homelessness despite limits in

October 16, 2018 • badgerherald.com • 13

OPINION

@badgerherald

Recent poverty report emblematic of Wisconsin’s racial disparities

High incarcertaion rates, wide achievement gap, wealth disparities define Milwaukee’s terrible record on racial equality

by Tatiana Davis Columnist

For decades, Milwaukee has topped the list as one of the worst places for African-Americans to live. Efforts to leave communities of color behind are evident in their implementation of harsh incarceration policies and education systems which directly target Milwaukee’s African-American population.

African-Americans had a delay in their migration to Milwaukee. After arrival, the county turned to segregation, delaying all efforts at integration. Milwaukee County’s Sixteenth Street Viaduct, also known as Milwaukee’s “Mason-Dixon Line,” separated the county’s African-American community from whites beginning in the 1960s. Although nationwide schools were desegregated in 1954, just six years before African-Americans started migrating to the county, Milwaukee ran on de facto segregation, leaving it up to the neighborhood boundaries to decide which race went to which school. When African-

Americans settled, they were assigned to housing in rapidly deteriorating ghettos where schools were less equipped than those in the neighboring white districts, widening the education gap.

The annual Wisconsin Poverty Report was recently released using a measurement designed by researchers at the University of Wisconsin. The report found Milwaukee to be one of the worst counties — economically, educationally and socially — for black children in this country. When the same study was conducted in 2016, it saw poverty jump from 16.3 percent to 17.5 percent, with the majority of those living in poverty identifying as AfricanAmerican. In the state of Wisconsin today, African-American poverty rates are three to four times higher than Wisconsin’s white residents.

With the highest African American population in the state and the worst place of living for African Americans in the country, Milwaukee’s policies are actively harmful to the African-American community with no end in sight.

The Milwaukee school system is still prized as home to one of the largest achievement gaps between black and white children in the nation. The county’s public school system is suffering from brutal funding cuts. Tax dollars are being diverted to private schools through vouchers. With lack of funding for basic needs in Milwaukee’s public schools, students of color are left with little to no chance of gaining the an education equivalent to that of their white counterparts, leaving them more vulnerable to fail and unlikely to seek higher education.

According to a study conducted in 2015 by the Civil Rights Project at the University of California-Los Angeles, Wisconsin public schools are suspending black K-12 youth at a higher rate than anywhere else in the nation.

As Milwaukee County works restlessly to keep these equal education opportunities out of reach, they use the same efforts to keep black Americans incarcerated.

It’s not shocking that black men being incarcerated at a higher rate than any other race. Unlike other states, which have recently leaned more towards rehabilitation and

relieving mandatory sentences for drug related offenses, Wisconsin is quietly looking in the other direction. With 70 percent of Wisconsin’s black residents living in Milwaukee County, more than half of African-American males in their 30s and 40s have served time. Upon released, there is little to no way back into the workforce. This affects the stability of black neighborhoods, creating a no-win situation for families and leaving them behind white neighborhoods.

Milwaukee County’s policies must be remedied and refocused on the acknowledgement of the trauma black children and families face. Many state and local county leaders, like Milwaukee Ald. Cavalier Johnson, District 2, have made efforts to tackle this extremely segregated county. But with low resources and a system of policies and regulations stacked high against them, it could be decades before Milwaukee County becomes a safe place for African-Americans.

Tatiana Davis (tldennis@wisc.edu) is a senior majoring in communications.

New trade deal lacks adequate aid for struggling dairy farmers United States-Mexico-Canada agreement does little for dairy farmers, despite widespread praise and promises from government

by Cait Gibbons Columnist

It’s no secret dairy farming is integral to Wisconsin’s economy and culture. Our state beverage is milk. Our state domesticated animal is the dairy cow. Cheese curds are a staple in most every restaurant, and our own campus is known for its unique and historic Babcock ice cream. But contrary to the pride and fanfare we may see, Wisconsin’s dairy industry is barely surviving an economic crisis which may lead to the greatest loss of dairy farms in nearly four years.

The anguish of the dairy industry can be explained by basic economics. The demand for fluid milk in the U.S. has been halved since 1970, and experts project it to fall further. Dairy cattle herds are shrinking rapidly, yet because of better genetics and improved feed, a large milk surplus still remains. As supply rises and demand falls, a devastating drop in milk prices results. Combined with a 1.39 billion pound cheese surplus, these conditions create a crisis so dire, dairy marketing cooperatives are offering suicide hotline information with its members’ milk checks.

The phrase “milk surplus” might sound irrelevant, or even a little silly, but its effects are destroying family farms across Wisconsin — farms that pride themselves on the quality of 14 • October 16, 2018 • badgerherald.com

their products, hard work and community value.

These farms represent the American Dream and the spirit of Wisconsin, yet they have been failed time and again.

A turn-around may be in the works, however.

The U.S. and Canada have recently agreed on a deal to overhaul the North American Free Trade Agreement. The 1994 accord will now be renamed the United States-Mexico-Canada

dairy products America is now allowed to export to Canada as a result of the USMCA, and this sounds like a bandaid for Wisconsin’s wounded dairy farms. Even Gov. Scott Walker has heralded the agreement as a success.

“This is a big win for Wisconsin’s dairy farmers. This new deal will open up Canadian markets for our dairy farmers, eliminate certain tariffs, and eliminate Canada’s protectionist trade

“ The

character of this state and a staple of this university depend on the success of the dairy industry. It’s time we start paying attention.

Agreement. As part of the deal, the United States gets greater access to Canada’s restrictive dairy market. Believe it or not, this was a contentious issue in negotiating the agreement, one that had the power to shut down Wisconsin farms.

At first glance, this seems like good news.

After all, the United States is Canada’s top foreign supplier of cheese, with 25 percent market share in 2017. Add the potential $560 million worth of

policies related to ultra-filtered milk that targeted Wisconsin dairy producers,” Walker said in a statement.

What’s troubling is that even though the USMCA seems positive and is being proclaimed as a victory by the president, Wisconsin’s governor and the media, a quick look at statistics show the USMCA is no quick fix for Wisconsin’s dairy farmers. Within the first six years of the

agreement, the volume of market access rapidly increases — but after that time period, the rate of increase drops to just 1 percent per year.

In the USMCA, Canada agrees to “eliminating” its Class 6 and Class 7 prices, which curtailed purchase of imported milk in Canada, after six months of the agreement entering into force. But Canada has the power to create new versions of Class 6 and Class 7 under different names, likely rendering this victory moot.

The fanfare surrounding the USMCA in regards to Wisconsin’s dairy industry is a tad misleading. Hopefully, the false excitement does not push the plight of Wisconsin dairy farmers under the rug. It makes sense that a singular trade agreement wouldn’t solve a years-long problem.

But, keep in mind — Wisconsin farmers deserve better. Eyes may be on Foxconn’s hiring campaigns or the midterm election, and that’s not to say they’re not important. But the silent struggle of Wisconsin farmers shouldn’t be ignored because of one slight improvement.

The character of this state and a staple of this university depend on the success of the dairy industry. It’s time we start paying attention.

Abigail Steinberg (asteinberg@badgerherald.com) is a sophomore majoring in political science and intending to major in journalism.

OPINION

facebook.com/badgerherald

Point Counterpoint: Baldwin vs. Vukmir on student issues College Democrats: Tammy Baldwin looks out for students

College Republicans: Students choose Vukmir for Senate

It is without question that the University of Wisconsin College Democrats are incredibly proud to support Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s, D-Wis., reelection to the U.S. Senate. We are confident Baldwin is the candidate most committed to college affordability and accessible healthcare.

Baldwin’s record on these important issues is markedly better than her opponent’s, for both students and hardworking Wisconsin families.

Republican candidate Leah Vukmir is in the pocket of corporate interests, as evidenced by her deep ties to the American Legislative Exchange Council, a Koch brothers organization that is nothing less than a pipeline for undisclosed corporate donations. Wisconsin cannot afford to elect another politician who consistently prioritizes special interests and personal political ambitions before Wisconsin families. We need a senator who fights for college students like us, and we know Baldwin will continue to do so.

Baldwin is a UW alumna herself, and she understands students are having trouble keeping up with their debt. She has taken on the big banks and Washington bureaucracy by introducing legislation which would allow struggling borrowers to refinance their student loans and take advantage of lower interest rates — the same way people refinance a mortgage, a car loan or credit card debt. With student loan debt surpassing credit card debt, there is no excuse to not act.

Baldwin is leading the way to make the system work for ambitious, hardworking Wisconsin students, rather than for the special interests trying to make a quick buck at their expense.

In contrast, according to the One Wisconsin Institute’s “Student Loan Voter Scorecard,” Vukmir has consistently voted against measures to lower high interest rates and large monthly payments for college students in Wisconsin. In general, the GOP has shown no leadership in addressing the student loan crisis we now face.

President Donald Trump’s budget has cut billions of dollars from student financial aid programs, such as Pell Grants. Pell Grants help millions of students, especially students of low income, stay in school each year. Baldwin has worked

The U.S. Senate has often been called the “world’s greatest deliberative body,” and its members are tasked with creating legislation and providing advice and consent on Presidential appointments. For far too long, Wisconsin has only had one U.S. Senator who answers the call of Wisconsinites and uses his position in Washington to fight for our values. It is time for Wisconsin to elect another U.S. Senator we can count on to fight for us in Washington.

Leah Vukmir is a military mom, nurse and daughter of immigrants who first got into politics not out of ambition, but rather as a concerned “mom-with-a-cause” who wanted to improve the reading program in her daughter’s kindergarten classroom. This involvement led her to run for the state Legislature to keep making positive changes for her family and community.

Vukmir has proven time and again she has what it takes to stand up for Wisconsinites and students alike in Washington. During her time in the state Legislature, she worked with Gov. Scott Walker and Lieutenant Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch to freeze tuition for UW students, stand with Israel, cut taxes by more than $8 billion and enact some of the most pro-worker and pro-job reforms that Wisconsin had seen in decades, even in the face of death threats. Vukmir hopes to continue her bold reforms in Washington and be a constant champion for Wisconsin values.

When Leah Vukmir goes to Washington, she will bring her experience in the medical field as a nurse to the table to fight for healthcare reform that works for Wisconsinites. Vukmir supports free market solutions to healthcare which put Americans back in charge of their own choices, after the Affordable Care Act’s promises of being able to keep your doctor and lower premiums failed. Vukmir has also said she would rather “fall in front of a truck” than allow people with pre-existing conditions to go without coverage.

Vukmir also has a proven record of fighting for healthcare reform in the state Legislature, including legislation with bipartisan support.

Vukmir championed legislation which allows pharmacists to substitute prescription drugs with their generic counterpart to save patients money on their prescriptions. Additionally, Vukmir worked with other lawmakers on a taskforce to help combat

to strengthen these grants, while also pushing to adjust them for inflation so they keep pace with rising costs. The Perkins Loans Program has helped thousands of Wisconsinites afford their tuition, and Baldwin is leading the charge to save this critical student loan program as well.

Her record makes it clear — a vote for Baldwin is a vote to help make college more affordable for Wisconsin students.

When it comes to healthcare, Baldwin’s work in the Senate has focused on providing Wisconsinites affordable, accessible and quality healthcare.

Baldwin championed important reforms in the Affordable Care Act to make healthcare more affordable for students. Her push to allow kids to stay on their parents’ insurance plans until they are 26 years old has helped cover millions of young Americans. Her efforts to protect people with illnesses have ensured no one is denied care because of a pre-existing condition.\ On the opposing side, Vukmir has supported measures that would allow insurance companies to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions. Vukmir is on the Board of Directors at ALEC, which has worked tirelessly to undermine the Affordable Care Act and restrict programs which provide healthcare to low income Americans. A vote for Vukmir is a vote for the greedy private health insurance industry and its lobbyists.

UW College Democrats stand strongly behind Baldwin and her reelection campaign. Her record speaks for itself on issues students care most about, like making college more affordable and bringing accessible healthcare to Wisconsinites.

We ask you to resist the negative and hateful attacks against our senator, and vote for Baldwin on Nov. 6. By doing so, together we can continue the fight to move Wisconsin forward for students and working families alike.

Sam Schwab (sschwab2@wisc.edu) is a junior majoring in political science and English. He is also the Press Secretary of the UW College Democrats.

the opioid crisis in the Wisconsin.

Vukmir’s long record of reform stands in stark contrast with her opponent. Simply put, incumbent U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., has continuously put Washington interests or brunching in the Hamptons over Wisconsinites time and again.

Instead of voting for historic tax reform that saves the average Wisconsin family of 4 more than $2,500 per year and cut taxes for an estimated 90 percent of Americans, she has chosen to vote to increase taxes and fees.

Additionally, Baldwin also continues to support the Affordable Care Act even after it caused premiums in Wisconsin to double and triple. Most recently, Senator Baldwin has also backed a plan for socialized medicine which would cost taxpayers $32.6 trillion in the first ten years alone. When looking at funding the plan, a study found that the cost of the plan could not be covered even if federal individual and corporate income tax collections doubled.

Most disturbingly, Baldwin failed the bravest among us when she sat on a report detailing the over-prescription of opiates at the Tomah VA for months. Her actions had severe consequences; a veteran died and other veterans became addicted.

Instead of taking action, she fired a member of her staff and offered them a severance package to keep quiet. The whistleblower who brought the issues at the Tomah VA to light has now said that it would be “immoral” to vote for Tammy Baldwin.

Vukmir has proven that she is more than ready for the U.S. Senate. As a legislator, she did not back down from her convictions even when it was unpopular to do so. She also worked across the aisle to enact legislation benefitting all Wisconsinites.

Instead of delivering more of the same from Washington, Vukmir will be a tireless advocate and will deliver real results for all Wisconsinites.

To find more information about Leah, visit her website. And to learn about early voting, absentee voting, voter registration, polling places or other items on the November ballot, visit myvote.wi.gov.

Alesha Guenther is a junior studying Journalism and Mass Communications. She is also the Communications Director of College Republicans and the Co-Chair of Students for Leah Vukmir.

badgerherald.com • October 16, 2018 • 15

OPINION

@badgerherald

Illegal immigration debate more nuanced than just economic impact

Discourse must include notion that economic growth always supports the immigration system, but says nothing about legal protection

by Lianna Schwalenberg Columnist

According to a report from New American Economy, immigrant residents contributed $3.4 billion to Dane County’s GDP in 2016. That is, 8.7 percent of Dane County residents are contributing their share, 8.7 percent, of the county’s total value of goods and services.

The report also found that immigrants contribute to the labor force, representing 10.7 percent of the county’s working-age population and 17.1 percent of the county’s STEM workers. Additionally, the research suggests that because of the population increase that immigrants contribute to and the entrepreneurship they pursue, immigrants have helped create or preserve over 2,000 local manufacturing jobs that would have otherwise vanished or moved elsewhere.

In light of these findings, two sets of questions come to mind: Are these measures of economic contribution — and in turn, economic growth — attributable to Madison’s commitment to welcoming and protecting immigrants, regardless of their documentation status, re-affirming Madison’s commitment to be a sanctuary city? If not, what are the dangers of assuming economic growth and immigration are related?

The second set of questions deals with the nature of Dane County’s immigrants. If economic growth is a result of immigration, are there still problems with classism in the immigration system itself? The study found the top occupation for immigrants in Dane County was postsecondary teachers.

Does the immigration system favor academics?

Let’s break down the arguments.

The first set of questions assumes two things. First, they assume that documented immigrants and undocumented immigrants are equally protectable and valuable to the economy. The NAE does have something to say about undocumented immigrants: they take jobs that few Americans are interested in pursuing, such as agricultural work, grounds maintenance and food prep/service work.

But that argument. along with the general statistics showing immigrants contribute to economic growth, does very little work to answer the question of whether immigrants, no matter how they got here, should be protected.

Both sides of the aisle would likely agree the country greatly benefits from the labor of its 8 million undocumented immigrant workforce. The Pew Research 16 • October 16, 2018 • badgerherald.com

Photo · The reasonings for more laxed immigration policies are easily supported by the economic growth argument, but the immigrants who followed the lawful procedure to enter the country need a system that sets them above their undocumented counterparts.

Kai Brito The Badger Herald Center estimates that the United States is home to about 11.1 million undocumented immigrants — certainly, all their spending and working help to fuel the economy. The problem is this: when it comes to questions about whether to protect those who followed the law as opposed to those who broke the law, it is always in the community’s best interest to favor those who follow the law.

By protecting both types of immigrants, a community dismisses its respect for the law and disincentivizes others to abide by it.

The second assumption made in the first set of questions is that the New American Economy’s primary motivation is to share information about immigration and its effects on the economy. The researchers are open from the very beginning that they want to reframe the immigration debate to focus on entrepreneurial immigrants and their role in stimulating the economy. Intermixed in the study are personal stories of real-life immigrants living and working in Madison.

One could easily frame the argument for the other side, as does a similar, but lengthier study published by the Federation for

American Immigration Reform in 2017. This study looked at the astronomical burdens placed on taxpayers to fund federal programs designed around immigrants, regardless of their documentation status.

A truly robust study does not have a narrative; it does not have a goal outside of presenting information.

The second set of questions assumes that classism is good when it is used to promote the intrinsic good of immigration, but bad when it favors a small portion of highly educated immigrants.

Interestingly, the NAE also published a report suggesting the government ought to favor highly-educated and STEM-related immigrants, but it is perfectly consistent with their original frame in that immigration is important for economic growth.

What follows is that a society, like Dane County, home of a world-renowned research institution, will tend to have immigrants who are mostly taking postsecondary teaching jobs. To measure economic growth, one must look at dollars and the professions that have the most of it, namely business-owners and

STEM researchers. To combat the classism within the immigration system, someone has to dis-incentivize STEM and research jobs and incentivize low-skilled labored jobs.

While this is a very plausible solution to this systemic problem, it merely fixes the distribution of who is in which class. The immigration system will always appear to be classist, and it is a bullet that groups like NAE have to bite if they want to promote the idea that immigrants contribute wealth to the economy.

The reasonings for more laxed immigration policies are easily supported by the economic growth argument, but the immigrants who followed the lawful procedure to enter the country need a system that sets them above their undocumented counterparts.

Additionally, by having the freedom to work jobs that allow for the accumulation and spending of wealth, immigration will always be a positive for Dane County’s economy.

Lianna Schwalenberg (lschwalenber@wisc.edu) is a fifth-year senior majoring in communication arts and philosophy.

OPINION

facebook.com/badgerherald

Discourse on Russian election collusion ignores blatant partisanship

Classic American ideal of justice is more nuanced than most realize, must be taken into account for effective discussion

by Sam Palmer Columnist

On Sept.

27, the House of Representatives voted against debating a bill that would have barred President Trump from dismissing, without cause, Robert Mueller from his position at the head of an investigation into possible illegal conduct, particularly collusion with Russia, by Trump and his associates during the 2016 election. Wisconsin representatives voted entirely on party lines — perhaps odd for what has been framed as a matter of objectivity and justice. But let’s try to unpack this a little.

In a political landscape that seems so agitated it can barely hold its attention on one topic for more than a day, the issue of Russian collusion and the subsequent investigation led by Robert Mueller is rare in that it won’t go away.

A big reason for that is the tangible desperation with which Democrats have pushed the story of Russian collusion.

Democratic messaging post-2016 has repeatedly emphasized Russia and

Vladimir Putin in an attempt to link them to Donald Trump and implicitly call into question the legitimacy of the 2016 election.

To Democratic politicians and operatives who would tend to identify with the Clinton-ite establishment, the Russian question is like a get-out-of-jail-free card. If Hillary Clinton really won in 2016 and was only foiled by a dastardly international plot between Trump and the Russians, then the Democrats don’t feel like they have to answer for anything. They can’t be taken to tawwwwwsk for allegedly undercutting a popular left-wing challenger in the primaries, for completely failing to campaign in key states like Wisconsin and ultimately for losing to one of the most unpopular presidential candidates in the history of the United States. Because hey, those damn Russians!

As galling as that is on its face, it is also deeply hypocritical. It is hypocritical because if there’s one thing that’s genuinely bipartisan in this country, it’s meddling in other countries’ elections.

From the imposition of the Shah in Iran, to

the U.S.-backed coup that ousted Salvador Allende in Chile and installed a right-wing dictatorship that slaughtered thousands, to U.S. intervention in Russian elections after the fall of the Soviet Union, no member of the American political ruling class has a single shred of credibility when it says it is opposed to interference in a sovereign countries elections.

All of this is to say that when we discuss how Wisconsin’s congressional representatives are voting on the Mueller protection bill, we cannot discuss it as if it were a matter of imposing some abstract “justice.” This is a political issue. To pretend otherwise would be so historically naive that it’s almost dissociated from reality. There may have been collusion between Trump or his associates and Russia.

In fact, there probably was. But anything that comes of it will be a matter of politics, not the blind application of “justice.”

That isn’t to say that “justice” itself is ludicrous — just that the idea of apolitical justice is. The Democrats are pushing the Russia case at least partially because it is in accordance with their political interests, just as the Republicans are stonewalling it because

it is in their interests to not delegitimize the Trump presidency. It would likely be in the political interest of the average person on the street to have every instance of corruption or intrigue investigated and stomped out, but they don’t have any political power, so that won’t happen.

The reality is, what gets to call itself “justice” in this country is dependent on the interests of whatever group is ascendant. Every politician is eager to imply that when they invoke “justice,” it is on behalf of a completely hegemonic national moral understanding, something that is woven into the fabric of this country. There are indeed people, such as Robert Mueller, who have dedicated their lives to the notion that they can simply call balls and strikes and act as apolitical arbiters. But this is not the case. There are no institutions that exist above the political fray and can guide us, like lighthouses of ethical clarity. There is no justice out there, waiting for us to find it. We must create our own.

Sam Palmer (spalmer4@wisc.edu) is a senior majoring in biology.

Vukmir’s dishonest, misleading rhetoric shows she can’t be trusted

With crucial midterm elections just weeks ago, voters, now more than ever, must work to keep leaders accountable

by Juliet Dupont Columnist

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Leah Vukmir has never received a “True” rating on PolitiFact, earning nine “Mostly False,” “False,” and “Pants on Fire” ratings and just three “Mostly True” or “Half True” ratings.

For example, in one of her “Pants on Fire” false statements, Vukmir said on July 26, 2018, “I have been through the gauntlet when we had riots in that Capitol.”

PolitiFact countered the claim there were riots in the first place. According to a public information officer for the Dane County Sheriff’s Department at the time of the 2011 protests over Act 10, people were “very respectful and very orderly” and the protests were described as “very peaceful.”

PolitiFact launched in Florida in 2007 as an election-year project of the Tampa Bay Times, rating statements made by politicians for their accuracy. PolitiFact is now owned by the Poynter Institute for Media Studies, giving them the freedom to function as a “not-for-profit,” nonpartisan national news organization.

PolitiFact “... seeks to present the true facts,

unaffected by agenda or biases.” To maintain its status as a nonpartisan organization, PolitiFact does not make political contributions, endorse political figures or positions, work on campaigns or express political views on social media.

By setting aside Vukmir ’s affiliation with conservatism and the Republican Party, PolitiFact is able to credibly poke holes in her campaign narrative, which centers on running for the people who “... fear that no one in Washington has their back.” How can Vukmir have the voters’ backs if she resorts to outright false or half-true statements to earn their support?

It’s worth acknowledging that getting to the “truth” and understanding how Americans feel about certain issues is challenging, especially given that not every American can plausibly be consulted and that the wording of survey questions can impact the results of a study.

For example, a 2003 Pew Research Center survey asked people whether they would “favor or oppose taking military action in Iraq to end Saddam Hussein’s rule.” Sixty-eight percent said they favored military action, and 25 percent said they opposed military action.

When Pew changed the wording of the question to whether they would “favor or oppose taking military action in Iraq to end Saddam Hussein’s rule even if it meant that U.S. forces might suffer thousands of casualties,” however, the results changed dramatically. Forty-three percent said they favored military action, and 48 percent said they opposed it.

Although this study in particular was not created by politicians, the idea of creating questions which bait a certain result gives politicians the ability to pick and choose facts to incorporate into their messaging to increase credibility. While they’re somewhat bending the truth, they’re not technically being dishonest.

There is a difference, however, between picking and choosing facts and assigning a word like “riot” to what the Dane County Sheriff’s Department called a “very peaceful protest.”

In a time when fake news articles get thousands of likes on Facebook and the president blatantly attacks the press for circulating “fake news,” holding politicians accountable for their words is vital to the integrity of election processes and the health

of democracy.

That isn’t to say that Republican voters should turn around and vote for incumbent U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., over Vukmir, even though Baldwin doesn’t have a single “Pants on Fire” rating on PolitiFact.

But voters do need to be conscious of selecting candidates with a greater degree of respect for the truth than Vukmir has shown so far.

Because of fact-checking websites such as PolitiFact, voters can see and understand the degrees of accuracy of politicians’ statements.

Having access to such a tool should prompt all voters, not just Republican voters, to hold their candidates and representatives to a higher standard.

It is the voters, not the politicians, who have the ability to decide whether honesty matters in elections. Politicians can twist words and exaggerate their victories all they want, but at the end of the day, those same politicians only have jobs if the voters decide they’re deserving of them.

Juliet Dupont (jdupont@wisc.edu) is a sophomore majoring in political science and journalism. badgerherald.com • October 16, 2018 • 17

Apply today at LiveTheJames.com See office for details.

SPORTS

facebook.com/badgerherald

In year of flux for Badger receiving corp, Ferguson becomes constant Redshirt freshman has been a favorite third down target of Hornibrook, is the most recent in long line of dominant Badger tight ends

by Danny Farber Sports Editor

Jake Ferguson has already been turning heads in just his first season as a redshirt freshman for the University of Wisconsin football team. The tight end is second on the Badgers in receiving yards and tied for first in touchdowns.

After losing their primary passing option, tight end Troy Fumagalli, to the NFL last year, the University of Wisconsin football team began the season unsure who their next receiving threat would be. With Quintez Cephus departing the program amid sexual assault allegations from July and Danny Davis being suspended two games for his involvement in the incident the team also lost two of their top three wide receivers in yards, receptions and touchdowns to start the year.

In total, this represented 1,466 yards and 55 percent total receiving yardage that the Badgers would need to replace. In terms of scoring Fumagalli, Cephus and Davis caught 15 of the Badgers 25 passing touchdowns. If you exclude Davis, who returned in week three, those numbers drop to 1,048 yards and 39 percent of the receiving game and 10 of Wisconsin’s 25 passing touchdowns.

[Hornibrook] is texting me all “throughout the night — actually

texted me last night at 12 and I’m usually in bed by 10. He texted me multiple times, ‘Jake, Jake wake up.

You’re gonna have a lot of these looks.

”

Jake Ferguson Badger tight end

With such a large portion of their offense missing Wisconsin would need to be creative in finding options for quarterback Alex Hornibrook to get the ball to. Though wide receiver A.J. Taylor has unsurprisingly led the team in receiving yards and touchdowns, Ferguson’s involvement in the offense has surprised Badger fans and outsiders alike.

The tight end currently has 259 receiving yards and two touchdowns, placing him second in both categories. His biggest game so far was in a tight contest at Iowa where Ferguson stepped up for 58 yards and a score in the tight 28–17 contest.

Much of this early success can be credited to the chemistry he and Hornibrook have developed both on and off the field with the two texting regularly.

“He’s texting me all throughout the night — actually texted me last night at 12 and I’m usually in bed by 10. He texted me multiple times ‘Jake, Jake wake up. You’re gonna have a lot of these looks.’ It’s kind of annoying at sometimes when I’m trying to sleep but at the same time it’s good to have that.”

Ferguson’s comments came after Hornibrook found the tight end in the end zone during the 41–24 rout of Nebraska.

After the game, Hornibrook responded to Ferguson’s comments about the developing relationship between the tight end and quarterback.

“He’s always talking about my texts,” said Hornibrook. “He did a great job winning in one on one situations. That’s something I can count on him to do and he did a great job today getting open.”

What is perhaps most shocking about Ferguson’s rise is how he stayed so under the radar despite his athleticism at the tight end position. Going into Wisconsin’s first game against Western Kentucky, Ferguson wasn’t even listed on the two-deep depth chart.

In a conversation I had with tight end coach Mickey Turner in February he mentioned only Zander Neuville and Kyle Penniston by name as the two players that would take over at tight end, though Turner did mention there were some freshmen he had high expectations for.

Despite exceeding early expectations, Ferguson still has areas of his game he needs to improve. Though he has been exceptional in his route running and reliability as a receiver Ferguson’s blocking can still keep him off the field at times. And with Neuville, the Badgers leading blocker at tight end, suffering a season-ending injury the pressure will only be greater for Ferguson to develop those skills.

Though Neuville didn’t often show up in the box score as a receiver, his blocking abilities were enough to put him on the John Mackey Award watch list this season. Both the Badger coaches and Ferguson realize these are large, but necessary shoes to fill if they want to maintain the same level of offensive production. “[Neuville] was a monster in the blocking game really could do everything,” said Ferguson. “So when he went down early last week it was Coach Turner’s message we really need to step up and take on those roles.”

While Ferguson still has a ways to go in becoming an every-down player, his performance so far puts him in an excellent position to become the next great Badger tight end.

Photo · The Badger redshirt freshman is the grandson of legendary Athletic Director Barry Alvarez Daniel Yun The Badger Herald

SPORTS

@badgerherald

Football: Takeaways from Saturday’s trouncing at hands of Wolverines

Michigan Wolverines continue to dominate all-time record between two Big Ten foes, extends lead to 51-15 margin

by Will Stern Sports Editor

A night game at the Big House against the No. 12 Michigan Wolverines is certainly not one you can count on the No. 15 Wisconsin Badgers to win.

But when you lose to an unranked Brigham Young University early in the season, games like Saturday’s become must-wins.

Thanks to a banged up secondary and a weak aerial attack in a showdown with the top-ranked defense in the nation, the Badgers lost a true do-or-die game in their quest to make the College Football Playoff.

On Second(ary) thought...

You’re going to run into issues when you only have one player in the defensive backfield with any meaningful playing time under their belt prior to this season.

And when that one player doesn’t suit up for the game, like senior safety D’Cota Dixon Saturday, you’re begging to be picked apart by an experienced quarterback.

Though, as easy as it would be to lay blame on safeties Eric Burrell and Reggie Pearson, who both made their first career start (it was Pearson’s first time in a game), Michigan didn’t exactly torch the Badger’s pass defense.

Wolverine quarterback Shea Patterson only threw for 124 yards, albeit on an efficient 14– 21, and Burrell led the team with 11 tackles in his best attempt at a Dixon impression.

Hornibrook’s kryptonite Quarterback Alex Hornibrook has now played the two worst games of his career in Ann Arbor.

In 2016, in only the fourth game of his career, Hornibrook was 9-25 for 88 yards and three interceptions in an ugly 14–7 loss.

Saturday was much of the same, 7-20 for 100 yards and two touchdowns. But here’s the catch — it was even worse than that.

The junior nabbed 75 of those yards on a garbage time drive which had exactly 0 people raising an eye for the fourth quarter touchdown pass to receiver A.J. Taylor that brought the score’s margin all the way down

to 38-13.

Hornibrook has, up until Saturday, been enjoying the best season of his career.

He’d sneakily been leading the Big Ten in a plethora of quarterback categories and hearing whispers about his development.

Can’t contain that quarterback scramble All season long the Badger defense has had issues containing scrambling quarterbacks.

To start the season, Western Kentucky University’s quarterback Drew Eckels fared well with 38 yards, and just last week Nebraska’s quarterback Adrian Martinez had 57 yards, both on the ground against the Badgers.

That vulnerability was exposed Saturday, as Patterson’s modest night throwing the ball was surpassed by his ability to grab serious yardage with his legs (including an 81-yard play that set an inauspicious tone early and led to the first Wolverine touchdown).

Linebackers lone bright spot Despite the shortcomings of seemingly every area of the Badger’s play Saturday, the

linebacker corp led by T.J. Edwards and Ryan Connelly was able to make their mark.

The two seniors had a combined 18 tackles, four for a loss of yards.

This is a strong showing from a group that was supposed to have a huge impact for a highly touted Badger offense but has largely failed to make a lasting impression this season.

Taylor stays Taylor-ing Running back Jonathan Taylor was faced with a tall task as he stared down at the best run-stopping defense in the nation.

His 101 yards on 17 attempts were hardfought and impressive gains against the tough Michigan front seven.

Especially in the first half, when Taylor had the bulk of his success, the Badger offensive line looked like they were holding their own in the trenches, and had no problem opening holes for Taylor to find daylight.

The Badgers will return to Madison to take on Illinois Saturday and will likely take out their frustrations on the unranked Illini team.

SPORTS

facebook.com/badgerherald

Around Big Ten: Despite loss, UW remains in Big Ten West driver’s seat The Badger’s chances are still high for yet another Big Ten West crown after winning in three of the last four years

by Matt Ernst Sports Writer

Though the Badgers had a rough outing versus Michigan Saturday, six other Big Ten games were riddled with implications affecting Wisconsin’s playoff and division title hopes. After week six, Wisconsin is still very much alive in contention for the Big Ten West title.

No. 3 Ohio State beats Minnesota 30–14 In a game that was much closer than expected based on the recent history between the two teams, the Ohio State Buckeyes survived an impressive rushing attack by Minnesota running back Mohamed Ibrahim. Ibrahim had himself a day, putting up 157 yards and both of Minnesota’s touchdowns. Ohio State quarterback Dwayne Haskins more than made up for Ibrahim’s showing, posting 412 yards and three touchdowns, two of which found wide receiver K.J. Hill.

Michigan State beats No. 8 Penn State 21-17 In what had been a thrilling back and forth battle, the Michigan State Spartans took a late lead after a clutch 25-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Brian Lewerke to wide receiver Felton Davis III with just 19 seconds left on the clock. Davis had eight catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns and was a major reason why Michigan State left victorious.

This was Penn State’s second frustratingly close home loss of the season and one that will make catching Ohio State for the Big Ten East title nearly impossible.

Unfortunately for the Badgers, the Penn State loss will make Wisconsin’s remaining opponents less impressive, making it even less likely the Playoff Committee rules in their favor.

Maryland beats Rutgers 34–7 Rutgers had one of the worst passing days in recent Big Ten history Saturday, completing only two out of 16 pass attempts for a grand total of eight yards and four interceptions. Rutgers actually completed twice as many passes to Maryland player than they did to their own teammates.

Maryland didn’t have the strongest passing game themselves as they only had 76 yards in the air, but running back Tyler Johnson did more than his fair share by contributing 132 yards and a touchdown on just nine carries.

Iowa beats Indiana 42–16 With a big win on the road against Indiana, Iowa impressed the country enough to move into the nation’s top 25 for the first time this season. They are now ranked at No. 19, which is four spots above Wisconsin at No. 23. They won via a dominant passing attack which included an impressive six touchdown passes from quarterback Nate Stanley, who heralds from Menomonie, WI. He spread the ball out well and threw touchdowns to five different receivers and Indiana did not have nearly enough offense to compete. Iowa is now tied with Wisconsin at 2-1 in the Big Ten West, although Wisconsin holds the head-to-head tiebreaker, which could prove to be crucial as the season progresses.

Northwestern beats Nebraska 34–31 in OT Nebraska was so close to getting its first win of the season at Northwestern, but threw a costly interception in overtime that killed their chance of leaving Evanston with a victory. They are now 0-6 for the first time in school history and will have to try for their first win again next week versus Minnesota. Northwestern, on the other hand, is now 3-1 in the Big Ten and is currently in 1st place in the Big Ten West Division. This is a team that Wisconsin is going to have to beat on Oct. 27 at Camp Randall if they want to represent the Big Ten West in the conference championship game. They will likely be the team most capable of challenging Wisconsin for that spot in the Big Ten Championship.

Photo · Since the inaugural Big Ten Championship game in 2011, the Badgers lead the conference with five championship game appearances, and are tied for the lead in wins, with two.

Daniel Yun The Badger Herald

Purdue beats Illinois 46–7 In what was the biggest blowout of the Big Ten weekend, Purdue dominated Illinois completely. Illinois had a successful opening touchdown drive, but Purdue got the ball back and never looked back, proceeding to run up the score for the rest of the afternoon behind stellar performances from quarterback David Blough (377 yards and three touchdowns) and running back D.J. Knox, who put up 150 yards on just 17 carries. Illinois could not get anything going offensively after their first drive. Their starting running back, AJ Bush, managed only 24 yards on 20 carries, which was not even close to enough to compete with Purdue. Purdue is now tied with Wisconsin at 2-1 in the Big Ten West and will have a chance to prove themselves at Camp Randall Nov. 17.

October 16, 2018 • badgerherald.com • 21

Diversions section sponsored by:

Like our Shoutout page? Tag your tweets and instagrams #bhso to see them printed in future issues.

badgerherald.com/shoutouts @bhshoutouts

Open Houses Have Begun!

Candy corn, when you’re out of all the other candy.

Spooky

@spencer_bierman

There really be people out here who don’t like the taste of water? Damn, that’s crazy. Alexa, read me “The Origin of Species” keyword: natural selection Jill

@stfuJill

I don’t just want to be hit by a car, I NEED TO

ryan

@ryangehler

i miss having free time

Kleah Danielle @claysterrrr

facebook.com/badgerherald

Bus routes to ride when feeling bored

Diversions section sponsored by

View centers of retail, frantic students to get money’s worth on bus pass

by Angela Peterson Banter Editor

One often overlooked benefit of the precious money that goes toward segregated fees is the free bus pass. While derided by some on national television, the bus pass provides amazing scenic routes for students to take when they just need to get their mind off of the latest paper they need to write. Here are some of my curated top picks for the best bus routes to take in the name of wasting time.

Route 6 This route holds a fond place in my heart, and it is also prime for scenic bus riding due to its straight path beyond Capitol Square. Since it goes down Washington Avenue for about five miles, this route maximizes exposure to landmarks while minimizing the amount of directional changes, leading to reduced chances of motion sickness. The 6 features magnificent views of a McDonald’s, Taco Bell, and Burger King, culminating in a close-up of Culver’s near the end of the route. Additional landmarks include the castle-esque East High School, a retro sign for Trixie’s Liquor, and a whole lot of big bus bois at the Metro Transit Center. Window seats can be hard to get on this one during rush hour, so try to arrive early for prime seating.

Route 72 For many out-of-state students, Middleton is but a foreign, mythical land. Sure, people talk about it, but some question whether it really exists. On the 72, riders get a glimpse into Central Wisconsin’s equivalent of Narnia and again get a chance to see a real-life Culver’s. This route also passes the rare Hurts Donut Company, the only one of these establishments on this side of the Mississippi. One might even catch a fleeting glimpse of a swath of trees on this route, signaling an abundance of suburban vibes.

Another benefit to this route is its sheer length, clocking in at an average of 48 minutes from start to finish.

Route 20 There is an airport on the east side of town.

I learned this when I took a scenic ride on route 20. Route 20 takes one right into the heart of the action at the Dane County Regional Airport, and one might even be able to observe frantic travelers with suitcases hauling the contents of their lives up and down the aisle of the metro bus. The 20 also allows for fleeting glances at Madison Area Technical College’s shiny windows. However, be prepared to be a little jealous when if one is typically stuck inside Humanities for all of their class, as these shiny signs and modern windows can make Humanities seem even more depressing.

Route 30 Sometimes, one really just needs to look at a Wal-Mart and be reminded that big box retailers really do still exist outside of the State Street bubble. Route 30 provides a prolonged view of this, even taking a stop specifically to marvel in awe of the WalMart. I guess people could get off the bus and shop there too, but most of the time just staring at the blue paint on the outside brings me enough joy. This route also throws in a good amount of residential stops, so riders get to look at some pretty neat houses along the way.

Open

Route 80 Ah, the classic bus route for wasting time.

However, due to its popularity, this route is best utilized for viewing scenery inside the bus instead of outside the bus. On one trip, riders can view students who actually have the motivation to go to the Natatorium from the Southeast campus zone. Another time, hordes of freshmen may try to squeeze together in the front half of the bus, ignoring pleas from the driver to, “move to the back.” Added drama and hijinks can ensue when one rides all the way to Eagle Heights and back, so this is always recommended for scenic bus trips.

Spooky Story Corner part two: An unexpected companion In Spooky Story Corner’s latest installment, Suzy finds an unexpected pal who plots with her to leave the lair

by Angela Peterson Banter Editor

When we last saw Suzy Snowden, she had been forced by her evil TA to begin crafting a complicated essay with a spooky pencil. The pencil began to speak, which startled young Suzy. We now seek to learn about this mysterious pencil and what it might mean for Suzy’s plight.

“Oh Suzy,” the pencil began, “many years ago I was prized and valued. I was what students took their notes with, an essential part of every lecture and discussion. I traveled with students wherever they went and never left their sides.

“Seasons changed and I changed too. Students started wanting mechanical pencils, but their everbreaking graphite heads made their competition futile. I believed I could be used forever. Oh how I was wrong.

“Laptops, everywhere, started infesting classrooms. I was surrounded by all these devices, flashing their bright lights at me. Professors looked

spooky story corner out for me, creating screen-free policies in their lectures. Foolishly, I believed I was in the clear.

Yet as I looked around, students still brought these devices to take notes with and watch March Madness on. This was when I knew my days were limited.

“I stopped being brought to classes last year, and when I was thrown away, I entered this spooky realm we are in. I’m rotting away Suzy.

Rotting! There’s no hope for me in this world.”

Wiping a tear from her eye, Suzy grappled with answering the pencil.

“What a tragic story. What must you do to get out of here? I know I have to write this essay, but I really don’t think that’s going to happen since I

don’t have any Netflix to watch intermittently while I write paragraphs,” Suzy said.

The pencil shed a single wood chip, and said, “I cannot leave alone. I need to find someone to be my companion, to promise to take me to a class and sit, undistracted, for a full power lecture.”

Suzy gasped at the thought. How could anyone do that? She saw a glint of hope in the pencil’s eye, which was located right in front of the eraser. This was the moment she recognized what she had to do.

“Well Mr. Pencil, I think I can help you out,” Suzy said.

“Tim. Call me Tim, please,” Tim the pencil corrected.

“Yes, uh Tim, maybe I could take you to class,” Suzy whispered, almost in shock of the words coming out of her mouth. A lecture typically consisted of her checking Twitter every 5 minutes on her MacBook Pro. This would certainly be a challenge for her.

“Oh, how frabjous!” Tim exclaimed, “Suzy, together we will find a way out of this dark nightmare and return to our former lives. I will forever be in your debt.”

The duo lunged for the door but was met with a sudden stop. They knew they had to get out of the portal together in order to return to their former lives, but the door out was locked.

The question loomed in the room: How do we leave?

Will Suzy and Tim escape out of this extreme nightmare? Will Jon catch them after his daily run to Dunkin? How many Twitter notifications did Suzy miss while in the deep dark portal? Return to the Spooky Story Corner next week for the penultimate installment.

October 16, 2018 • badgerherald.com • 23

FUELED BY

MTN DEW

THE MOUNTAIN DEW STAGE AT CAPITOL SQUARE

MISTERWIVES TANK bangas BIG FREEDIA and the

LEX ALLEN . GENDER CONFETTI . DJ BOYFRRRIEND

STEVE BROWN APARTMENTS STAGE AT GILMAN STREET

QUINN XCII YUNG GRAVY

DJAY MANDO . SON! . KENNY HOOPLA . NEU DAE

IAN’S PIZZA & WSUM STAGE AT FRANCES STREET DISTANT CUZINS . THE DIRTY NIL . SOLID FREEX PARSING . DEAD SOFT . THE MINOTAURS

SATU RDAY, OCTO BER 27 TICKET INFORMATION AND OUTLET LOCATIONS AT

MADFREAKFEST.COM

STATE STREET . MADISON WI