'Answering the Call' - Volume 50 Issue 24

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STUDENT MEDIA AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN

TUESDAY, MARCH 26, 2019 · VOL 50 Issue 24 · BADGERHERALD.COM

Answering the Call Though a veteran in local politics, Satya Rhodes-Conway navigates the looming April mayoral race as a newcomer against Madison’s ‘mayor for life.’

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Insect consumption could prove to be a sustainable alternative to the meat industry.

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THE BADGER HERALD’S EDITORIAL BOARD’S ENDORSEMENTS

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Three Wisconsin offensive lineman are all projected to be drafted.

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The Badger Herald proudly endorses Satya Rhodes-Conway for mayor, Judge Lisa Neubauer for Wisconsin state Supreme Court and Avra Reddy for District 8 alder.

FOOTBALL: BADGERS HOST NFL PRO DAY BEFORE APRIL’S DRAFT

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A Championship Shutout

Dane Sheehan The Badger Herald Photo · The women’s hockey team secured their fifth national championship in program history Sunday led by goalie Kristen Campbell, who surrendered zero goals throughout the entire NCAA tournament. March 26, 2019 • badgerherald.com • 3


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UW System announces advising effort for underrepresented students

While UW-Madison is opting out of UW System’s new initiative, students of color struggle to build advisor relationships this software, UW-Madison will not be participating in this initiative, UW-Madison spokesperson Meredith McGlone said. McGlone added that existing initiatives The University of Wisconsin System at UW-Madison better match the needs of announced an expansion in student underrepresented students on this campus advising services to ensure student success and that, as a result, they are already for underrepresented students of color, performing at a high level. first-generation students and low-income “It wouldn’t be using the strategies to students. move the needle how we want to,” McGlone As part of a five-year contract, the UW said. System will use the Education Advisory Though students of color at UWBoard’s Navigate Student Success software Madison still experience less than favorable to improve undergraduate retention experiences with their advisors. and graduation rates at eight more UW Some of the most common complaints campuses. amongst the general student body is the lack UW System President Ray Cross said of personalization in advising meetings, UWthe student-centered software will enable Madison student Diana Benitez said. advisers, faculty and staff to help students at As a transfer student, Benitez came to UWrisk of dropping out — a key goal of his 360 Madison as a neurobiology major with the Advising initiative, according to a statement hopes of pursuing a career in medicine. But from the UW System. after a problematic meeting with an advisor “The University of Wisconsin System is who pushed her to consider different options, Benitez felt cornered. Benitez said she was devastated by such doubt from her advisor and that it reflected the same doubt she already carried with her. “I already carried this doubt with me because I don’t see myself represented as much in that type of field, and for a white man to kind of confirm that doubt was pretty devastating,” Benitez said. “It’s tough to say that he got to me because I like to describe myself as this resilient person that chases after what she wants but ... he definitely did get to me.” In combination with other factors, Benitez eventually switched her major to public health. And while she’s happy with this change, she felt she could have still pursued a neurobiology degree with the proper support, Benitez said. UW-Madison sophomore Shehrose Charania also experienced a similar disconnect with her advisors. While the POSSE scholar Photo · The UW System will use the Education Activity Board’s Navigate Student Success software to improve undergraduate has a good relationship with retention and graduation rates among eight campuses. her scholarship advisor, as a nursing student, Charania’s Marissa Haegele options for advisors are The Badger Herald predominantly white women.

by Hibah Ansari State Editor

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committed to student success and we’ve seen a record number of graduates — including students of color,” Cross said. “But like our K-12 partners, we know higher ed has yet to close race- and income-based achievement gaps.” According to the UW System statement, the software will allow advisors to provide more targeted, personalized and timely support to students. Using a system of predictive analytics based on attendance and performance, major status and financial factors, advisors can build personalized guidance. Students will also be able to access mobile planning and career guidance tools to help them connect with campus resources, meetings with advisors and key decisions about college goals, according to the statement. But while an additional eight campuses will join four existing campuses in utilizing

Charania said while there is some point of relation between having female nursing advisors, the lack of representation doesn’t address the intersectionality of her own experiences as a nursing major — something she finds more prevalent within the POSSE office. “Every time I go to an advising session it just feels like I’m just there, like a checklist, to just get things out of the way,” Charania said. “I remember really trying to connect with my advisor and try to talk about my experiences but I felt like I wasn’t being listened to.” Unlike her POSSE advisors who keep up with her day-to-day activities beyond academics, Charania feels like her general advisors don’t even bother remembering her name. On top of that, she feels like there is always something wrong with her class schedule after a meeting. But at the POSSE office, Charania has a more personable relationship with her advisors who make the effort to keep up with her. Charania said she generally feels more comfortable with people of color since they all have similar struggles that her nursing advisors can’t understand. Luckily, Benitez was also able to find the same sort of comfort with a fellow Latina advisor who reached out to her even though the advisor wasn’t from Benitez’s field of study. Despite having a rough time, Benitez said this particular advisor is one of the reasons she’s actually graduating. “Her advising was amazing,” Benitez said. “It really showed that we need more people that represent us and our race and our color to be advisors for us, because when I went into Rachelle’s office — it was home.” Benitez said that while initiatives to advise underrepresented students are underway, the university should pay particular attention to hiring advisors of color — especially in STEM majors. While Charania agreed that representation is crucial, she added that current advisors should make more of an effort to create personable relationships with students where questions are encouraged and concerns are addressed. Strictly listing options for students is not helpful, Charania said. “There’s no gray area,” Charania said. “No reciprocation has been done especially for my advising through nursing and L&S. So definitely, I feel like it’s about a conversation more than just someone just telling you what to do — what they think you can’t do.”


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Eating insects could prove a sustainable alternative to consuming meat UW postdoctorate, Global Health Institute investigate social, environmental implications of insect consumption, entomophagy by Mary Magnuson Campus Editor

To the average American, insects are, at their most harmless, an annoyance — like mosquitoes. And at their worst, dangerous — like Lyme disease-carrying deer ticks. But one project through the Global Health Institute demonstrates that insects can be so much more — like a sustainable protein alternative. Entomophagy, the scientific term for eating insects, is becoming a growing trend — one inclining significant research at UW. Postdoctoral environmental health scientist Valerie Stull directs the Mission to Improve Global Health Through Insects, an initiative which examines the myriad of implications that might come with eating and farming insects — either for human or livestock consumption. Stull said MIGHTi uses an interdisciplinary lens to analyze the social, environmental and public health-related effects these practices could have. “We are assessing the impacts of insect farming on people’s livelihoods, health and agroecosystems,” Stull said. Stull’s research happens both here and abroad

— Stull said her team works with communities where entomophagy is already commonplace to study its impacts on public health and environment. They try to determine if these communities that eat insects may also be interested in farming them, and what effects that could have. The locations of these communities range from Zambia, South Africa, Uganda and Guatemala. But why eat insects? To Americans who have never heard of entomophagy, the practice could seem unappealing. Stull, however, disagrees. “Edible insects are fascinating because while humans have consumed insects throughout history, and about two billion people around the globe regularly consume them now, research on the subject is relatively new,” Stull said. “They are underexplored and underutilized on a global scale.” Director of the Global Health Institute Jonathan Patz works through the institute to support Stull’s project, along with UW entomology and the Nelson Institute for Environmental Sciences. Patz described some of the environmental benefits entomophagy could have on communities. Because insects are rich in high-quality protein and demand only modest resources like food,

water, land and energy to rear, they may prove a sustainable alternative to other meat industries. Patz, however, described certain challenges to implementing insect consumption in areas where entomophagy isn’t a cultural commonplace. “The biggest hurdles that still remain are cultural norms in places unaccustomed to eating insects — like in the U.S.,” Patz said. “More research is still needed in address food safety issues, and our feeding studies are aimed to provide an answer in this area.” Stull also cited cultural barriers as potential hindrances to spreading entomophagy. Stull described overcoming these as a process toward cultural competency and communication — one that while difficult, also proves rewarding. It’s important to modify the narrative that insects are not food and share knowledge with groups both locally and globally, she said. Moving forward, Stull plans to continue coordinating the logistics of efficient insect farming. One of her goals is to potentially rear insects to feed livestock in Wisconsin. Her team is currently researching the “bioavailability of micronutrients found in insects” — essentially the potential nutritional value of

insects — in hopes of moving this and other endeavors forwards. “We plan to continue to investigate the social, environmental and health implications of insect agriculture broadly,” Stull said. Patz said MIGHTi aims to have an effect on lower-income countries first to more efficiently enhance nutrition, and Stull outlined some of their goals in these countries and regions. Stull said MIGHTi hopes to provide user-friendly insect farming kits and training materials to farmers to test the impacts insect farming could have on health and nutrition at the household scale. Stull’s team published several studies on the holistic effects of entomophagy in communities. One study focused on the effect cooperation between industry, government and academia can have when attempting to implement edible insects. Another focused specifically on a case study in Zambia, and the most recent study took a microscopic approach by examining the effects of cricket consumption on the human gut. “I hope my research will have a global impact,” Stull said. “Simply changing the narrative about insects as food is an important piece of the puzzle.”

UW professor researches how to cut child poverty rate in half

Approximately 13 percent of children in US live in poverty while Wisconsin organizations work to address issue locally by Lauren Henning Reporter

A committee mandated by the U.S. Congress created a report on child poverty to inform policy that would cut the poverty rate in half. University of Wisconsin public affairs and economics professor Timothy Smeeding served on the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine to create the report, A Roadmap to Reducing Child Poverty. In December 2015, Congress enacted an appropriations bill charging the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine with researching links between poverty and well-being, analyzing current poverty-reducing program effectiveness, and recommending policies and programs to cut the current childhood poverty rate in half in just 10 years. Smeeding said other nations around the world have prioritized their children’s future more so than the U.S., including the U.K. which cut its childhood poverty rates in half in just seven years from 2001-08. Meanwhile, the U.S. cut childhood poverty rates in half in 49 years from 1967-2016. “Other nations have made it a priority,” Smeeding said. “We judge nations by the way they treat their children, and if so, we’re not doing very well.” According to the report, 13 percent, or 9.6 million, U.S. children are living below the poverty line. Beyond that are another 3 percent who are

experiencing deep poverty. All of these children are at risk of falling victim to the many adverse effects of poverty. According to the report, there are many connections between poverty and well-being. Children living in poverty are less likely to succeed in the classroom or to stay healthy, Smeeding said. “When we see children grow up in poverty, their brains are not as well developed, they have less capacity to learn and they’re more likely to be sick,” Smeeding said. The state of Wisconsin is no stranger to child poverty. According to the Wisconsin Poverty Report by UW’s Instiute for Research on Poverty, the Wisconsin Poverty Measure put child poverty at 12 percent in 2016 — a 2 percent uptick from the previous year. Smeeding suggested that there were many ways to ease the effects of poverty in Wisconsin, such as offering affordable childcare and transportation systems that would allow parents to work and support their families. Smeeding stressed the importance of closing education disparities and not taking away programs that help children. While he believes the Evers administration hopes to accomplish many things that would ease poverty, he worried Republican legislators will not support it. Smeeding said Republicans voted for former Gov. Scott Walker to be able to veto the evaluation of a program which forces single parents to go to

work if their youngest child is of school age and would go into effect in October.Smeeding added that as a result, a lot of people will lose access to the food stamp program and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, causing children to be hungrier and less healthy. Local non-profit organizations, like the Community Action Coalition, which serves Dane, Jefferson and Waukesha counties, are also working to reduce poverty. CAC’s mission is “to develop economic and social capacities of individuals, families and communities,” according to their website. To strive toward their mission, CAC has many programs that assist in food security, housing support and clothing for those in need. While they currently do not have any programs specifically tailored to children, they use existing programs to assist many families. CAC Executive Director Jim Schroeder said their housing program focuses on keeping children in the same area in order to provide them with stability in their personal lives as well as stability in their educational career. Schroeder is looking forward to adding new programs in the next round of strategic planning. The goal of this is to keep stable housing for children in the same elementary school district. Schroeder said studies show children do better in school when there are no unplanned moves from one school to the next. “That stability is important for a child,”

Schroeder said. “So we’re already doing something in that regard. But in the next round of strategic planning, we’ll be looking at other ways to positively impact specifically children.” Schroeder said unlike our neighboring states, Wisconsin has not done much at the state level to combat homelessness and that a majority of CAC’s funding is federal. But Schroeder remains hopeful that with Gov. Tony Evers intention to chair a homelessness task force and new bills currently working their way through Wisconsin legislature, there will be more of a focus and devotion of resources to addressing homelessness. While the programs CAC provides are vital in helping families and there are many negative effects of poverty, Schroeder said the most important thing the CAC provides for struggling families is hope. Smeeding hopes people will be able to look beyond the cost of programs and packages that will aid in cutting poverty rates, as the benefits far outweigh the costs. Lifting children and families out of poverty now creates the possibility of success in the future, he said. Children will grow up, get an education, work and support their families on their own, Smeeding said. They will pay taxes — including social security taxes to support the rest of us. Ending poverty is truly an investment, he said. ”It’s an investment in the future,” Smeeding said.

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As human trafficking increases, MPD devotes resources to prevention Local organizations, MPD shift focus from victims to ‘demand side’ of trafficking, promote awareness within community

by Molly DeVore City Editor

When he asks high schoolers why human trafficking exists, secretary of Slave Free Madison Ron Heinrich said their response is often “because the traffickers make a lot of money.” But the high schoolers don’t ask why traffickers are making so much money, Heinrich said. As human trafficking numbers rise in Wisconsin, Heinrich and SFM, along with local law enforcement are working to address the demand side of trafficking in Madison. Alex Hader, spokesperson for Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment, said promoting awareness to human trafficking is essential because it’s the first step to getting people to realize that there is an issue. Many students do not think of trafficking as a problem in Madison, and many think it mostly occurs abroad, Hader said. Madison Police Department Detective Roger Baker said that the Madison community is unaware of how close to home human trafficking is. Because Madison is surrounded by other major cities it has become a “hub” for human trafficking in the Midwest, Baker said. In Wisconsin, 91 cases of human trafficking were reported in 2017, up from 27 in 2012, according to the National Human Trafficking Hotline. Baker said many people are unaware of the scope of the issue because it is so difficult to measure. “It’s really tough for a victim to make a disclosure because it’s really hard to talk about something so personal with law enforcement,” Baker said. “There is so much fear and violence involved in that offender-victim relationship.” Tracking these crimes is made even more difficult by the fact that most human trafficking is done online, Baker said. For example, last April, after many warrants for websites, MPD was able to seize the site Backpage.com, which was essentially a Craigslist for escort services, Baker said. But new sites will only pop up in its place. In an effort to address trafficking in Madison, MPD has received funding to create a full-time position for human trafficking that will begin once staffing needs are determined. Baker said law enforcement cannot address this issue on its own, adding that nonprofit organizations and social service agencies provide much-needed treatment for survivors and help promote awareness. SFM is an organization that promotes awareness among both children and adults. Heinrich said SFM focuses on preventing human trafficking when speaking to children and encourages empathy for survivors when 6 • badgerherald.com • March 26, 2019

speaking to adults. said. “I like to talk to groups of men … trying serve those who really need it.” Heinrich said it is important to see those who to change the perceptions of what masculinity While the staffing for MPD’s human have been trafficked as victims not prostitutes means.” trafficking division has yet to be decided, both and to understand that these victims are being Providing rehabilitation resources for Alonso and Heinrich agreed that the best thing exploited and that do not have a choice. survivors is important because without proper University of Wisconsin students can do is get “If we call it prostitution, there’s this idea of a resources and safe shelter many will return to educated on the issue. victimless crime,” Heinrich said. “But the simple being trafficked, Heinrich said. Organizations on campus like PAVE are truth of the matter is that the vast majority of Araceli Alonso, co-director of Social working to increase discussions about human the people out there who are prostitutes — if we Transformations to End Exploitation and trafficking. Hader said PAVE wants to hear want to use that word — are being trafficked by Trafficking for Sex, said STREETS often uses art from students who are interested in human somebody else and they’re not seeing any of the to assist with survivor rehabilitation. Alonso trafficking, adding that they may devote one of advantages, what they’re seeing is the violence.” said because talking about their experience their bi-weekly discussions, called Change is Baker also said it is important to recognize can be dangerous for survivors, art offers an Brewing, to human trafficking. that survivors have been exploited because to alternative way to express their emotions. Heinrich said students can help by getting charge someone who has been exploited with While sharing their experience is not always involved with one of the many organizations prostitution just “revictimizes” them. safe for survivors, Alonso said their voice is one in Madison that are working to end human While Wisconsin has partial safe harbor that needs to be prioritized when researching trafficking, or even by simply looking out for protection in place, allowing minors to gain and discussing human trafficking. warning signs of trafficking and contacting the victim status, they can still be criminalized, “We forget that there are people behind all of police. according to the Human Trafficking Search these articles and all of these books … sometimes “Once you are aware that human trafficking website. we hear that the system has damaged the is occurring then it’s a matter of standing up and The Safe Harbor Bill could prevent child survivor more than the trafficking,” Alonso said. being courageous enough … to say this doesn’t trafficking victims from being charged as “We have to make this system better prepared to seem right,” Heinrich said. prostitutes, Heinrich said. The bill, that has already been passed in Minnesota, ensures that victims under 18 cannot be charged with prostitution. Heinrich said these kinds of bills are important because they shift focus from the victim to the demand. In the past, victims were always the ones charged but in recent years the MPD has begun to look into the demand side. SFM is addressing demand by speaking to young men to promote empathy and encourage engagement with the issue. Heinrich said that usually about 90 percent of the attendees at Slave Free’s events are women because human trafficking is often seen as a women’s issue. “This whole thing Photo · Experts say the Madison community is unaware of the proximity of human trafficking, efforts need to raise awareness. is being driven by demand and that Jason Chan is an entirely male The Badger Herald construct,” Heinrich


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Current political climate factors into spike in law school applicants Experts caution students to entertain more than just political interest when considering applying to law school

politics should continue to be an inspiration for students, they should keep in mind that a political issue they have interest in may change in five to ten years, but they will probably have a Law schools have seen significant increases career in law for forty or more years. in LSAT takers and law school applications over “Politics change all the time,” Coloca said. the past admissions cycle, which has prompted “When we are advising students, there are lots many to question the impact — if any — the of reasons to go to law school but the primary 2016 presidential election has had on the law reason should be because you want to practice education and professional landscape, and if this law. Caring about politics alone is generally blossoming job market for law school grads will not strong enough reason to attend law school last. because politics change quickly.” From 2010 to 2017, law schools saw a Juris Downs, who has taught several law-related Doctor student enrollment decrease of 25.3 classes including courses on criminal justice and percent with only 110,183 students enrolled in the First Amendment said many students took 2017 — the lowest it’s been in over 40 years. his classes and got excited about the law and law Data from the American Bar Association school. showed that as of 2018, enrollment is up 1.2 But when they go to law school and study percent since 2017 at 111,561 students. the nuts and bolts of it, many students end up The Law School Admission Council reported disappointed or unfulfilled with law school, that the number of law school applications Downs said. He used to tell his students that even submitted in the 2018-19 admissions cycle was though they might find topics such as nearly 11 percent higher than it was free speech or social issues interesting, around the same time in the 2017-18 they need to be prepared that it is not cycle. necessarily going to be the same in the Since 2016, the number of University real world of practicing law. of Wisconsin Law School applicants The UW Law School and others have has increased by 306 students, while student organizations where students enrollment went up by 126 students. have the opportunity to get involved With law school numbers on the rise, in areas of law that they are most people are wondering if the “Trump interested in, such as the Innocence bump” is real. Kaplan Test Prep Project, which Downs said can make released data in February that may help law school more exciting and fulfilling substantiate that claim. for students. Kaplan’s 2018 law school admissions Downs is not surprised about this officers survey of 121 law schools influx of law school applications. revealed 87 percent report that the He said he saw the same current political climate in the U.S. phenomenon occur in the late 1960s and was a significant factor in this past early 1970s when he attended college cycle’s application increase. Of that — one of the most tumultuous and percentage, 30 percent described it as a polarized decades for American politics, “very significant” factor. marked by the civil rights movement, A separate Kaplan survey of pre-law the Vietnam War and antiwar protests. students revealed that 45 percent said From 1965-75, total JD enrollment the current political climate impacted jumped from 55,510 to 105,708, their decision to apply to law school, according to the American Bar which is a marked increase from the Association. 32 percent who answered this way in a “Many people were attending grad Kaplan survey released last year. school to study politics as well as law Hundreds of law schools were school then too in hopes to make a on the brink of closing after financial change to the laws,” Downs said. problems that began in 2008, and many Downs believes that after three or were admitting students that were not four years of this upward trend, things qualified to keep numbers up and stay will start to change. in business. Several law schools were With at least two more years of even sued over false post-graduation the Trump presidency to go, we may employment statistics during this time Photo · The number of law school applications are on the rise, including at UW where the number of applicants has increased see more enrollment and application in order to bump enrollment. by 306 students since 2016. fluctuations, Downs said. Donald Downs, emeritus professor of political science at UW and former Riley Steinbrenner director of UW’s legal studies program by Anna Walters Campus Editor

and its Center for the Study of Law, Society, and Justice, said this increase in applicants will bring in more qualified law school students because of increased admissions competition. “[Law schools] were dipping down really deep into the pool [of applicants], and that was a disservice to the students they admitted because those students didn’t do well and couldn’t get good jobs,” Downs said. “Then these students come out and they have huge debts and no job to pay for it.” At UW, the median LSAT score went up by one point in the past year — meaning more qualified students are being enrolled, according to statistics from the Law School Admission Council. But some worry that an enrollment jump could have negative impacts if three years from now the job market doesn’t rise with the graduation rates, which could end with more law school grads looking for a limited number of jobs. The most recent data from the National

Association for Law Placement showed that the overall employment rate for the class of 2017 was 88.6 percent, which was a slight increase from 87.5 percent the previous year. Downs said in today’s society, with the rise of the internet, TV and the general influx of information and news, students’ access to politics has increased. He said the current political tensions tend to draw students toward going into careers that address social, political and economic issues. “There are also a lot of groups now influencing campus politics on both the left and the right,” Downs said. “So students are being incentivized to get involved in politics in new ways.” Overall, 57 percent of those surveyed in Kaplan’s pre-law student survey said they plan to use their law degree to advocate for political or public policy issues they care about. Kaplan Test Prep’s director of pre-law programs Anthony Coloca cautioned that while

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March 26, 2019 • badgerherald.com • 7


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Kick off warm weather with healthy, homemade spring salads

Add variety of ingredients from different food groups, like healthy fats, healthy proteins, for well-rounded meal to stay full by Emma Grenzebach ArtsEtc. Staff Writer

Spring has finally sprung and with the changing weather, tastes are also changing. The days of comfort foods are gone and it is finally salad season. It is very easy to get caught up in the wide variety of salad options around Madison. While restaurants like Forage Kitchen on State Street and Salads UP on N. Frances St. offer many delicious salads, they can also be very expensive, which is not very friendly to a college student’s budget. There are less expensive ways to find a satisfying and refreshing salad though. With these convenient and delicious recipes, it is easy to take part in the salad season. Modified Caesar Salad This recipe is easy to make with limited space and a limited kitchen. All you need is a bowl to mix the ingredients. Ingredients: Lemon juice (lime juice also works) Vinegar Olive oil Kale Parmesan Slivered almonds With this recipe, you start by mixing one part each of lemon juice, vinegar and olive oil to create the dressing. You add this mixture to the kale and must massage the dressing into the kale for two to three minutes in order to get the kale to partially absorb the dressing. Then, add the parmesan and the slivered almonds to the base. You can also include whatever toppings you want, such as cooked chicken, tofu or sun-dried tomatoes. This salad is very easy to make and does not require many ingredients, so it is convenient for a dorm room or for someone who does not have a lot of time. When you use ingredients that are in season, it makes your trip to the grocery store much less expensive. If you are looking for a salad using in-season produce, try out this next option. Great Greens Salad Ingredients: Balsamic vinaigrette Spinach Snap peas Arugula Asparagus Olive oil Carrots 8 • badgerherald.com • March 26, 2019

With this recipe, you must start by cooking the asparagus in the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, then add enough olive oil to lightly coat the asparagus. Cook for 25 minutes, flipping the asparagus halfway through. Let the asparagus cool, and then cut it into one to two-inch pieces. Mix one part of both the arugula and the spinach, then add peas and asparagus. Use either pre-shaved carrots or grate whole carrots before adding them to the mixture. Add the balsamic vinaigrette — make your own using an online recipe or use store-bought — and toss before eating. You can prepare this salad as is or include additional sources of protein, such as chicken or tofu. The best part about this delicious salad is that all of the ingredients are in-season. By eating seasonal produce, you ensure that your food is cheaper, tastes better and is more environmentallyfriendly because it can be locally sourced. Rainbow Salad

Photo · Ingredients for the modified caesar salad include lemon juice, vinegar, olive oil, kale, parmesan and slivered almonds. Emma Grenzebach The Badger Herald

Ingredients: Lemon vinaigrette Yellow bell pepper Sliced cherry tomatoes Shredded carrots Avocado, cut into chunks Shredded cabbage Arugula Spring salad mix With this recipe, all you need to do is mix the prepared ingredients together in a bowl and add a storebought vinaigrette. This salad is very easy to make because it requires no additional work beyond the chopping of vegetables. Since it uses so many different fresh vegetables, it has a very refreshing flavor and can be very filling because of the added avocado. Having a balance is important in making new salads. Adding healthy fats, like avocado, and filling proteins keep you full and adds necessary nutrients. You can also use this salad to impress any guests that you may have, as the variety of colors make it beautiful.

Photo · Completed version of modified caesar salad. Emma Grenzebach The Badger Herald


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GameStop Prestige offers customers access to new gaming products

GameStop employees make customer service top priority, among buying used games, gaming products at reasonable, competitive price by Emilie Burditt ArtsEtc. Editor

Though Madison offers great activities for the outdoors, people still find it fun to spend time indoors with a variety of activities, such as playing video games. Madison offers a few gaming stores throughout its city center, namely GameStop Prestige. This gaming store is located on State Street, offering University of Wisconsin students local gaming options near campus. UW student Dalton Tuskowski is an avid gamer and has been working at GameStop for more than four years, where he is now a senior guest advisor. At his work at GameStop, Tuskowski is interested in the “business perspective.” He said the gaming industry is changing, and he’s interested to watch the pattern of change in both digital games and free-toplay games. Free-to-play games, or free-to-

start games, are ones that offer content that is primarily free to the video game players. “I enjoy my job for a few reasons,” Tuskowski said. “The first is that it’s laid back and I get to talk to many different people about video games, whether it’s a regular or someone who is just getting started. Secondly, I get a peek into the gaming industry from a business perspective that I never had before. Third, they provide great resources to their employees like scholarships.” GameStop currently has special offers such as “Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice,” “Division 2,” “Dead or Alive 6,” “Anthem,” “Jump Force” and “Super Smash Bros Ultimate.” Tuskowski said GameStop offers more than just games though. Customers can sort through an array of apparel and as well as collectibles — like cards and board games. GameStop will also buy games, accessories and gaming systems off of people at the store.

Tuskowski said contrary to popular belief, GameStop does pay well for people’s items, and they might actually pay more than other companies. New games are being released all the time at GameStop, Tuskowski said. Nearly every Tuesday and Friday new games are released, so customers should never feel as though they have a lack of gaming options. Most of the popular games are released in fall, Tuskowski said. But for those in antsy for a spring release, Tuskowski said “Mortal Kombat” will be offered to customers this April at GameStop. ”Mortal Kombat” is a horror-fantasy game that includes fighting in live-action animation. The game includes characters like humans, cyborgs, deities and more. If GameStop doesn’t offer the options you’re looking for, employees are happy to point you to another store that does offer what you want, even if that means sending you to competitor

stores, like Target and Best Buy, Tuskowski said. Big box stores like these might carry many different options than GameStop, so employees are happy to suggest other store options, just as Target and Best Buy might recommend customers to GameStop. “At GameStop, I like to think we have some of the best service when it comes to video games,” Tuskowski said. “Compared to other stores, we are one of the last stores where that is our sole specialty.” With their location on State Street, it’s easy for students to have quick and easy access to new, available games. Interested people can stop in for gaming advice, to sell their games and gaming products or to simply browse the store. “Based on my staff, I know we all play games and always give honest opinions on games,” Tuskowski said. “We are typically laid back and love talking to people.”

Spring break concerts featuring Big Wild, Punch Brothers wow crowd In Punch Brothers’ show, performers asked the audience to put their phones away to create an environment focused solely on the music by Quinn Beaupre ArtsEtc. Staff Writer

With students returning home for spring break, concerts throughout Wisconsin added energy to an otherwise relaxing period. Big Wild brought a dynamic and lively show to a buzzing Turner Hall in Milwaukee Thursday night. Jackson Stell, better known as Big Wild, is currently on a U.S. tour supporting his debut full-length album, “Superdream,” which has garnered considerable attention in the electronic music community. While Big Wild has been known in the past as a EDM DJ/producer, “Superdream” explores an entirely new range of sounds as Stell seeks to distinguish himself a multifaceted artist. After a solid opening set from Robotaki, the backdrop opened up as a guitarist wearing a dazzling sequin jumpsuit took stage before Big Wild himself entered to show off his vocals in “City of Sound,” the lead-off track from “Superdream.” Unlike his previous work, Stell’s vocals played a primary role in many of the tracks on “Superdream.” With that said, Stell’s confident and lively stage presence made it seem he has been doing this his entire career. Perhaps the most entertaining element of Big Wild’s show was the sheer amount of

instruments Stell performs with. Within the first couple songs, Stell had shuffled from singing, to trashing an electronic drum set, to playing a keyboard, to strumming his guitar. This diversity is reflected throughout “Superdream,” as Stell proves to listeners that he is more than simply an EDM DJ, he’s a performer. Throughout the night, Big Wild was aided on stage by three women: a guitarist, a bassist, as well as iDA Hawk, who twirled around stage as she performed several tracks she is featured in, such as “Alley-Oop” and “Invincible.” When the trio of women took the stage, Stell made no effort to take the spotlight, rather he allowed the others to showcase their abilities. Big Wild kept the crowd involved as he had the audience illuminate the stage with phone flashlights as he played his popular “Show Me” remix. Just over halfway through the show, Stell performed his own rendition of Steppenwolf’s “Born To Be Wild.” This included a solo on a cajón, a wooden box drum, to which the crowd erupted. After a highly energetic set, Bild Wild slowed things down for the encore as he sat in front of the crowd with a guitar and performed “Heaven” and “Awaken,” which are also the final two songs from his album. Big Wild set out to, and was successful in, differentiating himself as more than just a DJ in

Thursday night’s performance, making him a must-see. In addition to Big Wild’s show, the Punch Brothers rolled into a packed Pabst Theater in Milwaukee Friday for a stop on their spring tour, just one day after Big Wild. Last year, the band released their fifth studio album, “All Aboard,” which was awarded a Grammy for the Best Folk Album at the 61st Grammy Awards last month. The progressive bluegrass band with traces of classical structure is composed of a mandolin, banjo, guitar, upright bass and fiddle. The entire band was dressed to the nines, cocktails in hands, surrounded by a simple set design. In addition, no phones were allowed during the performance, as the quintet wanted to create an environment fixated on their music, without distraction. The frontman of this quintet Chris Thile, a virtuoso mandolin player and lead singer, is often regarded as one of the greatest mandolinists of all time. Thile has been playing the mandolin since he was five, and broke out in the early 90s with the Nickle Creek, who were also awarded a Grammy in 2003. It was clear Thile was the star of the show, as he strut and jerked his way around stage, while the rest of his bandmates remained primarily still. Thile provided the lead vocals, while the rest harmonized, all of which was executed in a

masterful way. Built in 1895, the Pabst Theater is the fourth oldest operating theater in the U.S.. The acoustics in this historical venue complimented the Punch Brothers’ performance beautifully. The overall sound of the quintet was incredibly polished and cohesive, which was exemplified in some of their more dynamic tracks such as “My Oh My.” Although Thile often garners most of the attention, the fellow band members were all given opportunities to shine with their own solo’s throughout the show. There were also a several short breaks in which banjo player, Noam Pikelny, contributed his wry sense of humor in a couple short skits between him and Thile, which the crowd found to be quite funny. After nearly two hours of performing, the Punch Brothers returned for an encore where they played their traditional bluegrass hit, “Rye Whiskey.” For the first time in the show, the remarkably well behaved audience was brought to their feet, dancing and shouting the refrain “Oh boy!” each time it appeared in the song. Fresh off a Grammy, the bar was set high for the Punch Brothers’ performance at the Pabst Theater, but the quintet delivered with a brilliant performance. March 26, 2019 • badgerherald.com • 9


OPINION

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The Badger Herald Editorial Board’s 2019 election endorsements

For the mayoral, Supreme Court and aldermanic elections, the Editorial Board is proud to endorse the following panel of esteemed candidates

Mayor: Satya Rhodes-Conway

Satya Rhodes-Conway

Avra Reddy

Lisa Neubauer

Madison is often thought to be the progressive epicenter of a state which was once heralded for its forward-thinking spirit. Home to both the state’s largest university and its central government, the advancements in academia and policy that happen here have the power to drive statewide progress. And essential to that ripe opportunity for progress are the voices who go against the grain — those who reject the status quo and pridefully condemn the adequate to pursue what others won’t. Paul Soglin has been Madison’s mayor for a combined 22 years, and while in that time he has surely gained mayoral experience, two decades have stagnated his vision of what Madison can be. His campaign centers primarily around his record, he’s said himself why voters should choose him. “The answer is leadership — experience and leadership — and demonstrating the ability to solve problems.” That sounds nice, but experience in office alone should not be what gives Soglin a decided edge. Especially not when his opponent, Satya RhodesConway, has spent six years on City Council, where she represented the city’s 12th district and served on subcommittees committed to improving Madison’s food security, budget and public transportation. When she’s not working on the Council to submit recommendations for the city’s improvement, she’s absorbing recommendations of a different kind, this time from mayors nationwide. As managing director of the Mayors Innovation Project, Rhodes-Conway traveled from state to state, meeting with mayors in cities similar to Madison to learn the kinds of initiatives the city could be pursuing that they currently aren’t. Her vantage point affords her the ultimate qualification — she knows how to move the city forward within the governing bodies that hold such power, but she’s curious enough to understand that the work done there only lays the groundwork for the next round of improvements. Rhodes-Conway traveled to Madison from Los Angeles for a summer internship and fell in love with the community and its people, so she stayed. She has a deep appreciation for our city, and as such she wants to see it fulfill its potential — and to her that means embracing policies that haven’t had their fair share of time in the limelight.

Rhodes-Conway is an enormous proponent of implementing Bus Rapid Transit in the region to make citywide resources accessible to all. She’ll advocate for environmental improvements predicated on citywide climate change research. She’s preached for creating a more diverse array of affordable housing options before pursuing broader economic development programs. Each of these policy positions are aggressive, and that’s precisely the kind of leadership style Madison deserves. And perhaps most importantly, she understands she can’t attain these goals from the comfort of her office, which is why she supports collaborative initiatives connecting her office to the city council and Madison school board. She knows she can’t fall prey to an assumption of omniscience — she recognizes the value of discourse and embraces the opportunity to learn from others. Rhodes-Conway also understands issues of identity politics in a way Soglin doesn’t. “This is not a racist city,” Soglin said in response to Rhodes-Conway highlighting structural racism’s presence in Madison. “You are not racists. The people of this city are not racists. This is a caring compassionate city. There must be accountability in assertions politicians make.” Rhodes-Conway, meanwhile, gets it. She emphasized that institutions can still be racist without the city’s people being labeled the same, and that “trying to deny the problem makes it harder for us to address the problem.” This intersectional perspective shouldn’t be a debatable platform perspective, as Soglin makes it out to be, it should be accounted for in each policy decision that crosses the desk of the mayor.“ Folks should not be asking two white people whether or not Madison is a racist city,” Rhodes-Conway said. “You should be asking people of color who live here and engage people every day.”There are Madison’s wants, and there are Madison’s needs. Madison should want a leader who looks around and is simultaneously dissatisfied and optimistic. Madison needs a leader equipped to tackle the issues Soglin won’t, and who will do so through a collaborative effort that takes into account the voices of those immediately impacted by policy.

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


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District 8 City Council: Avra Reddy “A student representing students.” “There can be no decisions about students, without students.” The candidates for Madison City Council District 8, Matthew Mitnick and Avra Reddy, agree on many things, chief among them their commitment to representing students. They also agree on the importance of seeking affordable housing in Madison, increasing public safety on campus, funding developments in public transportation and many other public service issues. Both candidates have advocated for the expansion of late night bus services, supported the Bus Rapid Transit initiative, promoted medical amnesty laws and championed diversity in Madison and its government. Mitnick comes to the race with experience in legislative affairs, Associated Students of Madison, local government and advocacy work, while Reddy brings a history of elected office, as she has previously served as a student representative for her district’s school board. With two similarly oriented and equally experienced and dedicated candidates, this board did not come to an endorsement decision easily or without extensive deliberation. This is a good problem to have — both candidates have progressive goals which would steer Madison and the University of Wisconsin in the right direction, and this board is excited to have students seeking to represent their peers. But with aggressive goals must come creative, innovative plans to achieve them, and that is why this board is proud to endorse Avra Reddy for Madison City Council’s District 8 seat. Plaguing the minds of UW students and a frequent topic of discussion in this race has been the need for more student affordable housing. Reddy and Mitnick have each proposed plans

for expanding access to affordable housing, but Reddy’s plan stands out as more pragmatic and realistic. Mitnick has leaned heavily into his plans to leverage tax incremental financing to subsidize student housing. On paper, TIF is pretty simple. Over time, through infrastructure projects and private development, the value of a property appreciates. The gap between the base value and the appreciated value is called the increment, and that money can be reinvested into infrastructure development and public projects. Mitnick’s intention is to explore how he can use that money to create more affordable housing options for students. But as it stands, TIF won’t work the way Mitnick hopes it will, for two reasons. First, for TIF to work, the district needs to have a tax increment district from which to pull the funds. Madison has a number of TIDs around the city, but District 8 does not currently have one. According to current District 8 City Council member Zach Wood, “without a TID to collect that increment, there is no money to spend.” Second, Section 2.2 of the City of Madison TIF Goals, Objectives, and Process states that “student housing ... shall not be funded with TIF, except if it has a significant affordable component.” In other words, currently, TIF funds are expressly unavailable to subsidize student housing. Mitnick has recognized these issues, and he has expressed an intent to work with the council to create a TID and change the student housing restrictions. But this board believes such plans

State Supreme Court: Judge Lisa Neubauer A well-known but rarely respected clause of the First Amendment is the “separation of church and state.” It requires that there be no official U.S. religion, and that the government refrain from prohibiting “the free exercise thereof.” Through interpretation and application, the clause has since been extended to our country’s statutes and governing bodies — insisting that the laws our institutions pass and enforce, and the lawmakers and administrators who carry out such functions, operate without any undue fealty to their religion over that of their secular duties. The Wisconsin Supreme Court election has become a test of where our state’s voters stand on this cornerstone issue. One candidate, Judge Lisa Neubauer, has shown herself to be dedicated to upholding this time-honored American judicial tradition. Her opponent Brian Hagedorn, however, has shown himself to be actively hostile to it. That’s why this board is proud to endorse Neubauer in the upcoming Supreme Court election. In an explicitly non-partisan race host to the partisan spending typical to most

political campaigns, it is understandable and expected that candidates will emerge from both the right and the left. Both sides entertain legitimate views on a host of issues when it comes to jurisprudence, but Wisconsin voters haven’t seen much of that from Hagedorn, the conservative candidate, this cycle. His views fall dangerously to the right, and he has cited his Christian faith as a major influencer underlying his views. There’s nothing inherently wrong with one’s religious beliefs influencing their actions — indeed, it’s to be expected. But when it comes to our nation’s government, especially in an election that will seat the next justice of our state’s highest court, we should expect more. And as our state becomes increasingly diverse — home to a wide range of religious beliefs, sexual and gender identities, and racial and ethnic backgrounds — we should approach a candidate like Hagedorn with a greater degree of scrutiny.

are not sufficiently innovative to ultimately yield the desired result. Wood said he has spent much of his time in office working toward similar goals as Mitnick, and the plan Mitnick has outlined is “more or less copy and pasted from the city and state government website on how legally to create TID, so it’s not really strategy.” Furthermore, for the creation of a TID to be possible, Mitnick would have to be more supportive of high-density housing development. Mitnick has said he is in support of this type of development under certain conditions, but to create the necessary appreciation in property value, the district would need to see more high-density housing development than Mitnick’s desired regulations would allow. Reddy, however, is committed to a more diverse set of goals for increasing student housing affordability. She has proposed plans to incentivize housing cooperatives, protect tenant rights, support investment in Housing First policies and support high-density housing development — the combination of which will create ample opportunity for improvement of the affordable housing situation in Madison. While Mitnick has voiced some support for a few of these initiatives as well, Reddy’s intensive commitment to a wide range of feasible solutions gives this board confidence she will find more success in seeking affordable housing. Aside from housing, both candidates have voiced their commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within the district. This board holds the opinion that the best way to champion

diversity is to ensure that the council itself is as diverse as its many constituents. Frustratingly, District 8 has not been represented by a woman since 1992, and it has never before been represented by a woman of color. We have immense faith in Reddy’s ability to magnify the voices of historically marginalized and underrepresented groups in Madison, and we are excited that Reddy has made a concerted effort to do so. “My campaign isn’t just about me,” Reddy said. “It’s about every resident of the 8th district that wants their voice to be heard at City Hall, especially those who have traditionally had their voice underrepresented … I’m reaching out to communities of color, women’s groups, advocacy groups, and anyone who wants to make Madison work for everyone.” This board is proud to place its trust in Avra Reddy for Madison City Council because we have confidence in her ability to achieve the goals she has laid out. Mitnick’s extensive list of initiatives leaves us concerned he may be unable to follow through on his promises — an outcome which Wood said would “only result in disappoints and breakdown of trust.” Breakdown of trust in government is certainly not what any city in this country needs right now — rather, we need representatives who are bold yet pragmatic, forward-thinking yet realistic and representative of the diversity in our districts. Reddy’s lofty, yet highly achievable goals give this board confidence that she will have a positive impact on Madison’s policy, as well as the district’s perception of local government as a whole.

Hagedorn’s dangerous record goes back a long way, all the way to his days as a law student at Northwestern University. There, he wrote a series of blog posts, some of which received intense scrutiny during this election cycle. In one post, Hagedorn appears to suggest that the legalization of sodomy establishes a basis for the legalization of bestiality — an argument whose legal truth is admittedly technical, but which is also a too-close-forcomfort parallel to the political arguments which have long been employed by conservative pundits opposed to the idea of gay marriage and expanded LGBTQ+ rights. Later, as a judge, Hagedorn received thousands of dollars for delivering speeches to the Alliance Defending Freedom, a group which the Southern Poverty Law Center has labeled a hate group and which has openly called for the criminalization of sodomy and the sterilization of transgender people. Finally, Hagedorn founded Augustine Academy in 2016 — a school that has been found to ban gay teachers, students and

parents. Hagedorn has defended all of these incidents — his questionable blog posts, his paid speeches to a veritable hate group, his connections to a school that bans gay relationships — by citing his identity as a Christian. Such a defense is fine if Hagedorn were a private citizen, asking to maintain his own beliefs in the privacy of his own life. But that’s not the case. Hagedorn is asking us to give him a seat on the highest court in this state. In doing that, he’s asking us to either overlook his questionable record of being inappropriately swayed by his private religious beliefs, or to declare that such a record doesn’t matter — that Christian values and traditions matter more than non-Christian ones. In this country, the latter is unacceptable as long as our constitution and its long-standing interpretations still carry weight. This board believes Neubauer has shown a commitment to upholding such values, while Hagedorn has done anything but. March 26, 2019 • badgerherald.com • 11


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Campaigning for change: Rhodes-Conway reiterates importance of community, political collaboration by Peyton David Managing Editor

As the April 2 mayoral election approaches, Rhodes-Conway cites affordable housing, public transportation as two key platforms

Madison mayoral candidate Satya Rhodes-Conway arrived at Colectivo on Capitol Square by bus. She trekked up a small hill glazed with ice, blue snow spikes in hand. Our 8 a.m. meeting was her first of many meetings that February day. Her calendar was filled from our morning meeting to the end of the day with appointments for her campaign and her job as the managing director of the Mayor ’s Innovation Project. Such a tight schedule has left her in a self-described “email hole.” Her current position at MIP — one she’s held for 13 years — has allowed her to work with cities across the country and observe trends in key issues she’s campaigning on, like affordable housing, equitable transportation, climate change and racial equity. She has seen the pain other cities have gone through, like an increasingly competitive housing market that leaves people displaced. Watching and learning from the challenges other cities have gone through has fueled her ambition to create a city where everyone would have the opportunity to thrive. “The issues I’m running on are not about me, they’re about the city,” Rhodes-Conway said, between bites of her croissant. “I’m starting to see [displacement due to a competitive housing market] here and that really bothered me because you can look around the country and see that happening and you can see … the cities that waited too long and the pickle that they’re in. I didn’t want that to be us.” While the incumbent Mayor Paul Soglin has experience on his side — a combination of 22 years at the helm of the city — he took home only 28.6 percent of the vote, just a few hundred more than Rhodes-Conway, in the Feb. 19 primary election. On the other hand, Rhodes-Conway not only has six years as an alderperson and her experience working for MIP under her belt, but can also cite her collaborative leadership style and the political will to make necessary changes. “I’ve always been the type of person to say, ‘There’s a problem — how do we work on it, how do we fix it, what do we do?’” Rhodes-Conway said, as she prepares for the April 2 election. “If I think I have the capacity, the experience, the skills, the vision, the political courage necessary to help this city face those challenges, then I have to do it.” In the realm of possibility Rhodes-Conway studied biology as an undergraduate at Smith College and earned her master ’s degree in ecology from the University of California-Irvine. She initially set her sights on continuing her studies through a PhD program there, but abandoned the idea when she considered that her graduate studies were “not an unequivocal success.” “I didn’t pick well,” Rhodes-Conway said. “Honestly I didn’t think I knew going in that I really wanted to do applied science and the department I picked was very theoretical … The department was great and everybody there was wonderful to me, but it was not a great fit.” While Rhodes-Conway didn’t get her PhD, she did discover a love for teaching. Living in Long Beach, California, after graduating, she was offered a position as a 12 • March 26, 2019 • badgerherald.com

lecturer for the university. “I knew that wasn’t long-term and I had to figure out what to do next,” Rhodes-Conway said. She started applying for jobs from there. When her search turned out unsuccessful, she looked to internship opportunities. When she applied for an internship at the State Environmental Resource Center in Madison — an agency that no longer exists — she wrote her cover letter in the form of a multiple choice question. “I was writing a lot of multiple choice exams and I thought, ‘What the heck?’” she laughed. She got the internship, where she worked on state-level environmental policies. At the time, she thought she’d only be in Madison for a few months. That changed toward the end of her internship. In September, she was walking around the Square visiting the booths of a crowded Dane County Farmers’ Market, her friend called and asked her about her adjustment to Madison. In return, Rhodes-Conway raved about the city’s beauty and the work she was doing. “She said, ‘You’re never coming back [to California] are you?’ And I [was] like, ‘No, I don’t think I am,’” RhodesConway said. Soon after, she went into her boss’ office and told him how much she liked the work she was doing. She said she should be hired full-time. He agreed. She worked for the State Environmental Resource Center for three years, until it was shut down. Her boss at the time pointed her to her current position at MIP, which required an extensive knowledge of policy.

“I don’t think I knew what I was getting myself into when I offered to help, but I ended up managing her campaign,” Rhodes-Conway said. “She did not win, but in the process I learned a ton about running for office and campaigns and met a bunch of people who are active locally in campaigns and electoral politics.” Rhodes-Conway became involved with issue activism when she connected with community members. She became invested in their work on affordable housing and ended up testifying in front of a city council meeting about the issue. “I had butterflies and I was shaky,” she said. “And I got up … and I was talking and I was looking at them and it occurred to me that, not in a bad way, but these are just folks. There’s nothing special about these people except that they got their name on the ballot … They’re just people.” That realization put running for the city council in the “realm of possibility” for her. She first started thinking about running for alderperson when she found out the well that served her house was contaminated. “The neighborhood was really worried and felt like it wasn’t getting good answers from the water utility, didn’t know what was being done. So we started organizing,” she said. “I was not at all at the lead of this, there were some amazing women doing the organizing, but I was watching and following because I cared about my water, obviously, and I got involved to help.” She eventually became interested in running for her district because of a “convergence of events” — around the same time she became more active within the community, her alderperson announced he wasn’t running for re-election.

“Every city is facing climate change, every city has concerns about safety. How they manifest might be specific to place, but the themes are very common. In some ways that’s reassuring because it means other cities have dealt with things and learned one way or another about what works and what doesn’t and we can learn from that.”­ — Satya Rhodes-Conway, Madison mayoral candidate

“I’ve always been interested in actually making a difference in the world and initially I thought I could do that through science,” Rhodes-Conway said. “What I discovered was that the way you do that is through policy.” Rhodes-Conway had no formal training in policy at the time. Whatever policy work she was involved in dealt with matters of the state and national level. She knew nothing about electoral politics or campaigns until she got involved locally while helping her oldest friend campaign for Madison’s city council.

“That all combined to make me think that this was important, this was possible, and that I could actually help make a difference [in city council],” Rhodes-Conway said. “So I threw my hat in the ring.” From 2007-13, she represented District 12 and served on numerous committees, including the Food Policy Council, the Sustainable Madison Committee, Long Range Transportation Planning Committee and more. She said a number of people asked her to run for mayor on multiple occasions throughout that time.

They kept asking even after she was no longer serving as alder. In the spring of 2017, she had a series of conversations with local community leaders about unresolved issues in Madison. “They kept saying to me, ‘Somebody’s got to be leading on these issues.’ None of us saw the leadership that we needed coming out of city hall,” she said. “Having identified the problem, I felt like it was up to me to step forward to work on it.”

A city ready for change Nine candidates originally declared their intention to run for mayor, but in what Rhodes-Conway called a relief, only six made it on the ballot. “From a campaign perspective, it’s certainly challenging to have that many opponents and to get your message out,” Rhodes-Conway said. “But I think it was good for the city to have a crowded primary and have options. I firmly believe in democracy and that only works if people have choices in elections.” Soglin took away much of the victory in Madison’s peripheries, whereas Rhodes-Conway garnered much of her support on the Isthmus. The battle was an historic one, between Madison’s “mayor for life” and a plethora of potential firsts — the first African American mayor, the first Indian-American mayor and for Rhodes-Conway, the first openly gay and second female mayor. Soglin captured 52.8 percent of primary votes when he ran for re-election in 2015 — an increase from the 49.5 percent he garnered when he went up against incumbent Dave Cieslewicz in the 2011 primaries. This time around, he won just 28.6 percent of the city’s vote, a narrow victory over Rhodes-Conway, who earned 27.7 percent. The rest of the vote was split between Ald. Mo Cheeks, District 9, and Raj Shukla, chair of the Sustainable Madison Committee. Comedian Nick Hart and racial equity coordinator and write-in candidate Toriana Pettaway took away less than 2 percent. Rhodes-Conway has consistently cited four issues as central to her campaign — affordable housing, Bus Rapid Transit, racial disparities and preparing for climate change — platforms many of the candidates, including Soglin, ran on as well. “Broadly, not just the candidates, but many people agree what the top issues are,” she said. “What’s important is, ‘What are we doing [about] them? How are we approaching them? What are the solutions you can bring forward?’ Mayor Soglin has had a long time to work on these things, and there are still issues. There are still challenges.” Because the issues Rhodes-Conway is running on are “regional in nature,” she said there has to be cooperation between local municipalities, the school district, the county and the state. In a city that has prided itself on being a progressive bastion, Rhodes-Conway was surprised to find that same energy does not trickle over into city government. RhodesConway wants to see inroads in Bus Rapid Transit, relaxation in some of the “crunch” in the housing market, continued success with the economy, a high quality of life, and —

though she doesn’t quite know what this would look like yet — an office of community engagement that would improve constituents’ access to the government. Within five years, she said she can “absolutely” see a complete review of operations and infrastructure at the city level. She said these efforts will help the city prepare for the effects of climate change. To do so, she said she wants to build a positive, collaborative and inclusive relationship between city council and the mayor ’s office — something she believes has been lacking. “We have to be working together,” she said. “We’re not doing that now.” Michael Basford, chair of the Democratic Party of Dane County and Rhodes-Conway’s former opponent for her alder seat, said her leadership style is unique — one that allows her to connect with people and understand the needs of her community. The Democratic Party of Dane County has had members that have supported candidates across the democratic political spectrum, but Basford said Rhodes-Conway has the ability to work effectively across that spectrum. “She doesn’t occupy one space totally,” Basford said. “She’s really good at working with people on all sides within the party.” To Basford, her campaign represents the interests of a new generation of voters. Soglin has held the office on and off for nearly half a decade. His impressive 22 years in office is formidable, but also personifies a generational disconnect. The potential election of Rhodes-Conway could symbolize a “passing of a torch” from one era to the next, Basford said. “It’s time that we have somebody who represents a younger generation,” Basford said. Rhodes-Conway said her campaign has never been about her opponent, nor about criticizing the current administration. Rhodes-Conway’s drive to become mayor, rather, is fueled by the city itself — to make it a place equally accessible for everyone. “I think I have something to offer. I think this community needs someone who has political courage to tackle these challenges,” she said. “I think that’s me.” Special city, universal problems Having working with local governments across the country, Rhodes-Conway has found that every city thinks it’s special — but their problems are anything but. She said Madison is special for many reasons — its environment and geography, its kind and politically-aware people, and its potential, to name a few. “I went to a neighborhood association meeting … in the Indian Springs neighborhood and they had prepared a series of incredibly thoughtful questions, both about the city and about their neighborhood,” she said. “I love that, it means they’re paying attention and they care … I think that’s something really special about Madison.” Madison is currently confronted with some “growing pains” as it welcomes a sizable increase to its population, but Rhodes-Conway said this is a problem for which cities have found solutions in the past. She added that Madison faces

some of the worst racial disparities in the country but said those problems aren’t unique to the city. “Every city is facing climate change, every city has concerns about safety,” Rhodes-Conway said. “How they manifest might be specific to place, but the themes are very common. In some ways that’s reassuring because it means other cities have dealt with things and learned one way or another about what works and what doesn’t and we can learn from that … Which isn’t to say we don’t need Madisonspecific solutions, because of course we do, but there’s so much we can learn from the experience from other cities.” As the campaign draws to a close, and the end of the sprint is now just a short distance away, Rhodes-Conway has continuously made a point of identifying these issues as pertinent for the whole city — not just with her candidacy or her campaign. The city, she said, must be available to everyone — from teachers and firefighters to baristas and students. These people must be able to live in a city they can afford to call home. “We’ve got a long way to go before that’s really true for everyone,” Rhodes-Conway said. “But it’s not about what we build … it’s about people. It’s about people being able to live their lives and be happy and healthy.”

Photo by Peyton David badgerherald.com • March 26, 2019 • 13


OPINION

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Through campaign website, Soglin proves diversity is only a checklist Mayor Paul Soglin’s reelection website prompts much-need conversation on diversity, inclusion in city government by Abigail Steinberg Opinion Editor

After a failed gubernatorial bid, a change of heart and a crowded primary, Mayor Paul Soglin is only one election away from serving a ninth term as Madison’s highest ranking city official. Soglin’s legacy casts a shadow over Madison’s city government that is nearly impossible to ignore. After serving three terms on Madison’s City Council and 22 years as its mayor, Soglin has made himself a fixture in the city’s progressive politics for nearly half a century. Many describe Madison as a blue bastion in an otherwise red-leaning state, and Soglin’s career as a politician and activist is clearly emblematic of that sentiment. Soglin acted as treasurer of the University of Wisconsin’s chapter of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, one of the major American Civil Rights Movement organizations of the 1960s. He played a major role in protests and activism against the Vietnam War, even getting arrested at the first Mifflin Street Block Party, then a rallying point for Madison’s anti-war movement. Historically, Soglin comes off as progressive — as a man who recognizes his privilege and uses it to advocate for the oppressed. Stark racial disparities and lackluster activism make questioning the legitimacy of Madison’s liberal identity quite easy. Similarly, one only needs to look at Soglin’s reelection campaign website to realize his commitment to equality and diversity seems to be more about appearances than valuable representation. Like other candidates, Soglin’s website hosts a list of his accomplishments during his time as mayor. The list is broken up by headings such as “Protecting Our Environment” and “Food Policy.” The accomplishments are sorted under the appropriate heading. But the heading “Diversity in City Government” simply features a list of hires in Soglin’s administration that are not heterosexual white men. Rather than focusing on valuable representation and inclusion, Soglin uses his privilege to emphasize an unfortunate reality in all systems of power — tokenism. By definition, tokenism results in misguided attempts at diversity — attempts that give the appearance of equality whether or not true equality is ever achieved. By boasting the demographics of the deputy mayors — “three women (one is a 14 • March 26, 2019 • badgerherald.com

Photo · The language on Soglin’s campaign website tokenizes minority political apointees in Madison, which limits productive efforts toward increasing valuable representation. Alice Vagun The Badger Herald Latina) and an African American male” — and other hires, including “... a lesbian, an Asian male, African American male and two white males,” the Soglin campaign treats diversity as an amplifier for positive public image rather than an ongoing effort toward inclusion. The language suggests Soglin should be rewarded and celebrated for hiring people of different demographics when that is simply the correct, normal thing to do. Symbolically checking diversity off of a list is not enough when it comes to inclusion in government. It is the institutional equivalent of the excuse “I’m not racist, I have a Black friend!” or believing to be an ally of the LGBTQ+ community because one associates with a gay person. They mean well, but the sentiment is hollow

and does nothing to challenge oppressive systems. Rather, they give a false sense of accomplishment and limit productive efforts to improve inclusion and celebrate valuable representation. It is objectifying, uncomfortable and highly problematic. The climate of the mayor ’s office is hard to pinpoint from an outsider ’s perspective. Hopefully, the members of Soglin’s staff feel truly included and valued for the skills they offer — and they very well might. But just as diversity and inclusion are delicate topics, so is the language used to describe them. In this cultural and political moment, it is imperative politicians recognize the power they have to shift the conversation surrounding inclusion. When one is not careful, as in Soglin’s case, they can shift the conversation towards tokenism, rather than

valuable representation. In essence, they shift the conversation backward rather than forward. Despite its longstanding activist mayor, Madison has a long ways to go when it comes to tokenism versus valuable representation, as do many political institutions within federal, state and municipal governments. Regardless of who wins the election April 2, it is crucial Madison’s mayor focuses on valuable representation rather than fulfilling a diversity quota and uses their language to accurately reflect those efforts. Abigail Steinberg (asteinberg@badgerherald. com) is a sophomore majoring in political science and journalism.


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Give youth tickets to the political carnival — lower minimum voting age

Rep. Mark Pocan was the only member of Wisconsin’s congressional delegation to vote in favor of decreasing the minimum age to vote by Sam Ropa Columnist

When Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR 1, Wisconsin Democrats and Republicans voted along party lines for a number of amendments to the bill. Only one legislator, Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, voted on an amendment that would lower the federal voting age from 18 to 16. While the amendment failed, Pocan’s vote is part of this society’s unceasing struggle to give more Americans access to its most crucial political institution — the vote. Pocan’s vote on the amendment was his answer to what is, intrinsically, a question of justice — and a question about how power should be distributed in a democratic society. Young people are a political coalition based on a shared identity — age — whose demands can only be expressed outside the voting booth. Giving 16 and 17 year-olds the ability to vote would give young people a formal — that is electoral — outlet for their political demands, which, judging by contemporary movements, are numerous and far-ranging. Obviously having political demands can’t be the only prerequisite for electoral inclusion, but there is something unique about the political engagement of young Americans now. Young people are exposed to much more information about their political system than they were in the past, so they become politically conscious and politically active much earlier in their lives than young people in previous generations. With this consciousness comes the recognition that their interests aren’t being formally represented. March 24, 2018, young survivors of gun violence, most prominently students from Parkland, Florida, led the March for Our Lives. The nationwide demonstration, which called for stronger gun violence prevention measures — universal background checks on gun sales, closing gun shows, restoring the ban on assault weapons — drew at least 1.2 million protesters, many of them young people. It was one of the largest protests in American history. Consistently, the organizers of the movement, almost all of whom were under 18 and unable vote, described their political demands in terms of their age and their identity as students. They called on Americans, young and old, to mobilize for the lives of young people who live under the constant threat of gun violence they had no role in creating. Emma Gonzalez, a student and survivor of the Parkland massacre, described the organizers as “speaking in the most influential way they know how: Civil disobedience, marching in the streets with signs and chanting truth to power.”

Young Americans aren’t just mad that they’re the victims of horrid public policy choices — they’re mad they have not formal place to speak their truth. To many disgruntled young people, that formal place is the ballot box. Increasingly, young Americans are mobilizing against climate change, knowing they will bear the future consequences of environmental decisions. March 15, tens of thousands of young people from 112 countries, most of whom were under 20, walked out of school in a global climate strike. Recognize, too, that U.S. citizens or “resident aliens” at least 17-years-old may enlist in the military with parental approval. In most states, citizens or residents can obtain their driver’s license at age 16. If young people are given these other social privileges, they should have a voice in deciding who set military, infrastructural and highway policy. The colloquial objection to lowering the voting age is that young people, who are traditionally dependent on their parents or

guardians, will be entirely influenced by the politics of the adults in their life. They’ll just “vote the way their parents do.” If young people can’t make political decisions of their own, why give them electoral power? The assumptions embedded in this objection — that people who cannot make their own political decisions should be excluded from the democratic process — has a long and pernicious history. The specter of the “misinformed voter” has been raised every time the U.S. resolves in give more people the ballot. These assumptions have also been thoroughly debunked by psychologists, who say that teenage brains are developed enough to make informed political judgments. Psychologists often distinguish between “hot” and “cold” cognition. Hot cognitive abilities are the ones people rely on when they are emotionally aroused, in groups or in a hurry, and cold cognitive abilities are the ones people use when they are calm and have time to deliberate and use logical reasoning. Because making political

judgments and voting are considered forms of cold cognition and research suggests that cold cognitive skills are firmly in place by age 16, young people shouldn’t be denied the vote. And increasingly, the political and cultural information young people are basing their opinions on isn’t vetted to them by the adults in their lives. Young people have more agency than ever to form political opinions without the help of adults or older people. More often than not, their politics reflect the realities of their circumstances — when confronted with climate catastrophe and the horror of gun violence. The purpose of a democratic society must be to involve the most people in the process of governing, of which elections is a crucial part. This means including everyone with relevant political demands in electoral politics. Even the youngest among us. Sam Ropa (ropa@wisc.edu) is a senior majoring in geography and anthropology.

Photo · Young people in America have the psychological capability of making their own political decisions based on research and circumstance. These skills should grant them the right to vote. Riley Steinbrenner The Badger Herald

badgerherald.com • March 26, 2019 • 15


OPINION

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Point Counterpoint: Wisconsin state Supreme Court election

College Republicans: Hagedorn is best suited for Supreme Court In Wisconsin, Supreme Court justices are elected in non-partisan elections for 10-year terms. The decisions these justices make are extremely important to students, families, businesses and all Wisconsinites. Wisconsin has two distinct choices April 2, a judge who will uphold the rule of law on the Supreme Court or a judge who has deep partisan ties that do not belong anywhere near Wisconsin’s highest court. Judge Brian Hagedorn’s impressive experience in the judicial system makes him exceptionally qualified to serve on the Wisconsin Supreme Court. He has a long history of protecting justice and ethics in the state of Wisconsin. Hagedorn is a graduate of Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law and serves as a judge on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. Judges at the Court of Appeals evaluate whether the law has been properly applied in trial courts. Hagedorn was also appointed by the Wisconsin State Supreme court to serve on the Wisconsin Judicial Commission where he oversees enforcement of judicial ethics. Hagedorn understands that personal and political beliefs, whatever they may be, have absolutely no place in the courtroom. He believes that judges should apply the law equally to everyone and ensure that they rule on cases the way the law is written, instead of what they would like the law to be. Hagedorn understands that the Supreme Court is not a political entity, and never should be. He is also committed to protecting the rights enshrined in the U.S. Constitution to ensure they aren’t slowly chipped away by our judicial system. He has a deep personal connection to a problem plaguing the state of Wisconsin — the opioid crisis. In 2013, Hagedorn and his wife adopted a daughter of two parents who struggled with addiction to cocaine and opioids. Hagedorn believes the judicial system should have a hand in the process as our state continues to battle the severe opioid crisis. Hagedorn is endorsed by several justices who are currently serving or have served on the Wisconsin State Supreme Court. He also has significant support from law enforcement with an endorsement from the Milwaukee Police Association and 44 current and former county 16 • March 26, 2019 • badgerherald.com

sheriffs. In contrast, Wisconsinites should question if Hagedorn’s opponent, Lisa Neubauer, has the ability to uphold the law as it was written, instead of advocating for policy positions from the bench. Neubauer has a long history of work in Democratic politics, even working on a Democratic presidential campaign. Neubauer and her husband have donated $105,000 to liberal and Democratic candidates and causes. Neubauer herself even donated $8,800 to Gov. Jim Doyle. Conveniently, those donations occurred before Doyle appointed her to the Wisconsin Court of Appeals. Neubauer has also appeared at deeply partisan events, including a protest against President Donald Trump. Neubauer started out her race for the Supreme Court by calling on special interest groups to stay out of the race. She also said special interest money is “toxic” and it “undermines the public’s confidence in our judicial system.” More recently, she has willingly accepted hundreds of thousands of dollars of the same special interest money she condemned, clearly changing her position when it benefits her politically. One of the groups donating to her is a group connected to Eric Holder. Holder recently floated the extreme idea of court packing if a Democrat would get elected to the presidency to ensure a liberal majority on the Supreme Court. He is also the first and only Attorney General to have been held in contempt of Congress. For Wisconsin, the choice is quite clear. We can elect a justice who will uphold the rule of law or a judge that will legislate from the bench and cater to special interests. Those serving in our judicial system should be held to the highest standard to ensure that the rulings they hand down are grounded in the law instead of their policy positions. Hagedorn’s experience and commitment to the rule of law make him a perfect candidate to serve on Wisconsin’s highest court. Alesha Guenther is a junior studying journalism and mass communications. She is also the Communications Director for College Republicans.

College Democrats: Neubauer brings impartiality to Supreme Court There are several opportunities to impact state and local government in next week’s election. One of the most important races on the ballot is for the Wisconsin Supreme Court. Before voting in this race, it’s crucial to examine the values each candidate represents and the ways in which their experience and support has impacted their candidacy. Though the race for Supreme Court is nonpartisan, it’s clear Judge Lisa Neubauer is the liberal-backed candidate and Judge Brian Hagedorn is the conservative-backed candidate. According to Hagedorn’s website, his legal philosophy centers around the notion “we need a justice committed to protecting the public.” He pledges to “apply the law fairly to everyone.” Unfortunately, his previous practices in the judicial system suggest otherwise. One of the most powerful illustrations of this derives from his views on the LGBTQ+ community. In college, Hagedorn wrote several homophobic blog posts, one of which compares homosexuality to bestiality. Furthermore, he helped establish a school that disregards and disrespects LGBTQ+ people for “engaging in homosexual activity, among other things.” He has also accepted donations from Alliance Defending Freedom, a legal organization that advocates for sterilizing transgender people and criminalizing sodomy. As a result of his homophobic history, the Wisconsin Realtors Association pulled their endorsement of Hagedorn and rescinded their donation of $18,000. If Hagedorn truly believed in fighting for laws that apply fairly to everyone, he wouldn’t dedicate his time and resources to pursuing an anti-LGBTQ+ agenda. Hagedorn has previously worked as a chief legal counsel for former Gov. Scott Walker. He defends this period as solely for legal purposes instead of political ones. Politics and law are difficult to control in respect to their ability to remain exclusive from one another, so it’s difficult to say what exactly reflects the

political or legal natures of his work. As Democrats, we are uncomfortable seeing another person who demonstrates hateful rhetoric get elected into a position of power. Calling groups like the NAACP a “disgrace to America” is disrespectful and clearly counters Hagedorn’s so-called campaign philosophies of fairness and protecting justice. How can Hagedorn be fair and impartial when he has published such hateful thoughts about Wisconsin’s most marginalized communities? Neubauer is advocating for a different approach to Wisconsin judicial proceedings. Neubauer ’s primary goals are to ensure our state’s Supreme Court is “fair, impartial, independent and upholds the rule of law.” Moreover, she has clearly demonstrated her ability to perform through her 30 years of experience as a leader in the legal field. While Neubauer has supported some Democratic candidates, she has not made any direct donations which would violate the Wisconsin Code of Judicial Conduct. With strong values of fairness and justice, it is obvious why Neubauer gained more than 345 endorsements from Wisconsin judges. Moreover, groups like Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin and individuals like former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder are supporting Neubauer in this upcoming election because Neubauer positively reflects the progress we’ve made. Wisconsin deserves a judge who is experienced, impartial and respectful toward all communities in the state. It is abundantly clear Neubauer is the candidate who will bring these qualities to the Wisconsin Supreme Court. The College Democrats of UW-Madison are proud to support such an outstanding candidate. Cecelia McDermott (camcdermott@wisc. edu) is a freshman majoring in political science and geography. She is also the press secretary of the College Democrats of UWMadison.


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Track and Field: Focus shifts to outdoors after strong indoor meet

Morgan McDonald, Oliver Hoare, Alicia Monson each padded their resumes during indoor season with national titles setting both a school and Big Ten record in the event at the Millrose Games Feb. 9 with a time of 8:45.97. Monson was also named Big Ten Track Athlete Sports Editor of the Year and USTFCCCA Regional Athlete of the Track and field doesn’t typically come to mind Year for the Great Lakes Region. when one thinks of Wisconsin winter sports. These tremendous individual performances Most students would associate the winter months during the indoor season have put both Badger with University of Wisconsin’s more noteworthy teams in contention for the USTFCCCA Program of programs like football or men’s and women’s the Year Award, which is determined based on team basketball and ice hockey. finishes at the NCAA cross country, indoor track and But with the exception outdoor track championships. of UW’s women’s hockey Each finishing position is worth team, which captured its fifth one point, with a first-place NCAA Division I Women’s finish valued at one point, a Ice Hockey Championship runner-up finish two points this past weekend, students and so on. may feel it’s been a season The Wisconsin men’s track devoid of athletic success from and field team is currently the UW’s marquee programs. No. 2 team in the in-progress A disappointing end to the rankings to win the John football team’s season was McDonnell Program of the recently followed up by a Year Award among NCAA lackluster performance and men’s teams. The Wisconsin early exit from the men’s men finished eighth overall basketball team in the NCAA in the team standings at Tournament. the NCAA Cross Country Take a glance at UW’s Championships back in men’s and women’s track and November and took fourth at field teams, however, and the the NCAA Indoor Track and outlook improves. Field Championships. Both of Wisconsin’s The Wisconsin women also track and field teams enter appear on the Terry Crawford the spring outdoor season Program of the Year Award, filled with momentum which recognizes the topafter remarkable individual performing women’s team performances during the based on the same criteria. The winter indoor season — Wisconsin women are currently particularly from the team’s at No. 8 in the in-progress long distance runners. standings after placing 10th On the men’s side, UW’s overall in the team standings Australian imports Morgan at the NCAA Cross Country McDonald and Oliver Hoare Championships and 21st at the both enjoyed sensational NCAA Indoor Championships indoor campaigns this winter, in Birmingham. leading the Badgers to a fourth Wisconsin is the only Big place finish at the NCAA Ten school that features both Indoor Championships. their men’s and women’s Photo · Three-time NCAA Champion and Big Ten record holder in the indoor 3000 meters, Morgan McDonald enters the outdoor season poised to Just three months after teams currently sitting in the cement a standout legacy rivaling that of any Wisconsin runner in recent memory. clinching the NCAA Cross top-eight of the USTFCCCA Country title in Madison, Program of the Year Award Daniel Yun McDonald — a six-time rankings. The Badger Herald All-American who was also As both teams competed named Big Ten Men’s Track at the Aztec Individual in Athlete of the Year — won and will look to add to his impressive resume this She became the first UW female athlete to win San Diego over the weekend to begin the outdoor both the 3000 and 5000 meters at the 2019 NCAA spring. a national track title since Kathy Butler won the season, prospects are looking strong for Wisconsin’s Indoor Championships in Birmingham, Alabama, A five-time All-American and 2018 NCAA 3000 meters at the 1997 Outdoor Championships. track and field teams. A fresh start, coupled with a to become the first Badger to win both events at the Outdoor 1500 meter champion, Hoare took the Her time of 15:31.26 is the second fastest in school bloc of confident, experienced distance runners indoor championships. McDonald also holds the bronze medal in the mile race from Birmingham history and the ninth fastest in NCAA Indoor presents a promising transition for Badger fans school and Big Ten record in the indoor 3000 meter after setting both the Big Ten and Wisconsin Championship meet history. She placed tenth in the hoping to escape the cold winters produced by our with a time of 7 minutes, 42.76 seconds. school record in the event earlier this season with indoor 3000 meters at the NCAAs after winning the men’s basketball and football teams. Track and field “This opportunity has been given to me, a sensational time of 3:54.83. The junior’s stellar event at the Big Ten Championships in February and may just be a winner. by Nour Hatoum

and to be able to add to Wisconsin’s legacy for myself, for the team, the alumni and especially the future Badgers, it makes me so happy and I just want to keep adding to it,” McDonald said of his tremendous achievement earlier in March. With two national titles already in 2018-19, it’s safe to say the Sydney native looks poised to follow up his incredible indoor season with a successful outdoor campaign. Hoare has also enjoyed a successful career at UW

performances this season earned him a U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches’ Association Regional Athletes of the Year award for the Great Lakes Region. The two Aussie distance runners don’t stand alone atop the Wisconsin track and field pedestal. Alicia Monson, a Wisconsin native and newly crowned NCAA Indoor 5000 meter champion, has enjoyed a breakout season and has already cemented her name in the Wisconsin record books.

badgerherald.com • March 26, 2019 • 17


SPORTS

FALLING SHORT OF EXPECTATIONS

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Photo · Ethan Happ played his last game in a Badger uniform as Wisconsin dropped a dissapointing first round game to Oregon in thier return to the NCAA tournament

18 • March 26, 2019 • badgerherald.com

Daniel Yun The Badger Herald


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Football: 15 Badgers partake in NFL Pro Day before April’s draft Ingold was only fullback invited to NFL Combine, predictions show three Wisconsin offensive linemen being drafted in same draft class by Ben Kenney Staff Writer

The University of Wisconsin held their NFL Pro Day March 13, as scouts from around the league came to watch Badger prospects showcase themselves for April’s draft. A total of 15 recently-graduated Wisconsin players participated in the festivities after eight were invited to last month’s Combine. Those players were David Edwards, Beau Benzschawel, Michael Dieter, D’Cota Dixon, T.J. Edwards, Ryan Connelly, Andrew Van Ginkel, Alec Ingold, Zander Neuville, Taiwan Deal, Olive Sagapolu, Rachid Ibrahim, Serge Trezy, Micah Kapoi and Chris James. For some, the pro day was an opportunity to receive NFL exposure after not attending the Combine. For others, the pro day was an opportunity to improve on the numbers posted at the Combine, or withhold from drills in order to show confidence in their combine performance. Let’s look at how some players performed at the two showcases, and how their draft stock might be affected as a result.

“Although

its all a little bit new, its still football and you’re doing it with your friends.” Michael Dieter OL David Edwards Edwards’ Combine numbers did not line up with his current second-round draft prediction. The 6-foot-6, 308-pound lineman ranked 24th or lower out of all offensive lineman in every drill but one, the 3-cone drill where he placed 11th. Edwards only participated in the bench press during Wednesday’s pro day where he recorded 16 reps, a low number for an offensive lineman. While the combine and pro day do not shape players’ draft stock alone, but there’s a chance his performance could hurt his stock come draft time. OL Beau Benzschawel Benzschawel, like Edwards, is highly rated going into draft season.

He is the highest rated guard in the draft class and is projected to be drafted as high as the late second round or early third round. Also like Edwards, Benzschawel didn’t impress at the Combine. Out of all the offensive lineman present, he placed 40th on the bench press with 20 reps and 28th in the 40-yard dash at 5.24 seconds. At the pro day, Benzschawel filled the holes he left open at the combine by doing the vertical and broad jumps. His numbers of 26.5 inches and 98.25 inches respectively did not crack the top20 of numbers produced by his position at the combine. But, again, established lineman like Edwards and Benzschawel do most of their talking through their production on the field and in the film room. OL Michael Dieter Dieter sits directly behind his teammate Benzschawel as the 2nd ranked offensive guard entering the draft. Like Benzschawel, Dieter’s Combine didn’t exactly help his current 5th round draft stock. He placed lower than 20th out of all offensive linemen in the bench press, 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, 3-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle. “I think it’s comforting and it makes it that much more fun,” Deiter said about the possibility of three Wisconsin offensive linemen being drafted. “Although its all a little bit new, its still football and you’re doing it with your friends.” FB Alec Ingold Going into the NFL Combine and looking at the NFL gameplay — one that has seen the fullback position die out — Ingold was the only fullback to be invited to the Combine. In being tested and compared against true running backs, Ingold saw his invitation as an opening he needed to take advantage of. “I want to be a good enough football player where teams will think ‘maybe we need [a fullback]’ so I can be that guy for those teams,” Ingold said. Ingold technically ranked last in his 4.89 40-yard dash time among running backs, he recorded 16 reps on bench press, good for 21st out of 26 who participated and had a vertical of 34 inches, landing the 14th spot. While these numbers are hard to compare to other running backs in the draft, Ingold’s main attraction will come from his film and team workouts. Ingold did not participate in any testing during pro day.

S D’Cota Dixon Dixon has bounced around mock draft boards all year, being shown on some boards as high as a sixth-round pick. At this moment, he is projected to sign as an undrafted free agent and mainly make his impact on special teams.

“I want

to be a good enough football player where teams will think ‘maybe we need [a fullback]’” Alec Ingold

Measuring at 5-foot-9 and 204 pounds at the Combine, Dixon recorded an impressive 20 reps on the bench press, good for 3rd amongst safeties. He also ran a 4.81 40-yard dash, ranking 21st among the 22 at his position. His 40-yard dash time at the combine certainly did not help his draft stock, but he came to Wednesday’s pro day with a different burst, clocking in at 4.62 in his 40-yard re-run. ILB T.J. Edwards Edwards, like many of his defensive teammates, is projected to be a late-round draft pick in April. His only recorded drill at the combine was the bench press where he recorded 16 reps, good for 23rd among linebackers. At the pro day, however, Edwards put more numbers on the board for scouts to evaluate. He recorded a 4.77-second 40-yard dash, a 112inch broad jump and a 32.5-inch vertical jump. His 40-yard dash time would have been good for 19th among linebackers, his broad jump 24th and vertical jump 18th. Like some of his defensive teammates, Edwards is not overly athletic and does most of his proving through instincts, positioning and tackling. ILB Ryan Connelly Despite receiving an invite to the NFL Combine Connelly currently projects to sign as an undrafted free agent. His numbers stack up well compared to Edwards, a late round draft prospect and partner in the middle of the Badger defense.

Connelly ran a 4.66 40-yard dash compared to Edwards’ 4.77 40-yard dash at pro day. He also bench pressed 17 reps at pro day, tying teammate Van Ginkel’s number at the Combine and beating Edwards by one rep, and ranked higher in the broad jump and vertical jump compared to Edwards. Still, Connelly’s numbers rank in the middle to end range of all participants at the Combine. OLB Andrew Van Ginkel Van Ginkel is one of the most interesting Badgers entering this year’s draft. Though he is not projected to be drafted high, his Combine numbers impressed teams and stacked up favorably against top linebacker prospects including LSU LB Devin White and Michigan LB Devin Bush. Specifically, Van Ginkel put up 17 reps on the bench press, good for 17th among linebackers, a 38-inch vertical jump, good for 4th, a 123-inch broad jump, good for 5th, a 6.89-second cone drill, good for 3rd and a 4.14 20-yard shuttle, good for 5th. At the pro day, Van Ginkel ran a 4.56-second 40-yard dash which would have been good for 7th at the Combine. While his size and game tape do not jump out compared to other linebacker prospects in the nation, Van Ginkel turned eyes with his combine performances and could rise to be selected in the draft when it’s all said and done. DT Olive Sagapolu Defensive tackle Sagapolu currently projects to be a late-round pick or an undrafted free agent. Standing at 6-foot-2 and 342 pounds, Sagapolu has nothing to prove on how his size can be used at the next level. He participated in both the broad jump recording 102 inches and the vertical jump recording 30.5 inches. TE Zander Neuville Tight end Neuville only participated in the bench press at the pro day racking up 27 reps, a number that would have ranked first of all tight end prospects at the Combine. RB Taiwan Deal Running back Deal also only participated in the bench press at the pro day, putting up 24 reps which would have been tied for 5th out of all running backs at the combine. The remaining Badgers who participated in pro day in hopes of attracting NFL interest were Rachid Ibrahim, Serge Trezy, Micah Kapoi and Chris James. The NFL Draft will take place April 25 through 27 starting at 7 p.m. on ABC and ESPN. March 26, 2019 • badgerherald.com • 19



SPORTS

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Softball: Badgers look to continue stellar record into Big Ten play After a 1-2 outing in first Big Ten series versus Illinois, Wisconsin seeks to compete for a top ranking in conference come May by Vicki Dombeck Sports Editor

The No. 23 University of Wisconsin Softball team is off to one of their best starts in program history after going 17-3 in their first five non-conference tournaments. After losing star player Kelsey Jenkins to graduation last season, the Badgers were in need of another offensive spark plug as they set their sights on making the NCAA for the third consecutive time — something never done in the program’s history. Not only did the Badgers find the one spark plug player they needed, but the Badger ’s depth has also shown that it wasn’t limited to one player.

“Wisconsin sits at the top of the current team pitching statistics with a team ERA at 1.42.” From senior Melanie Cross to incoming transfer Caroline Hedgcock, the Badgers have found plenty of firepower. But it has been junior Kayla Konwent leading Wisconsin in power hitting as of late. Konwent — hitting a team-high .485 batting average — already has eight home runs on the year. She is batting a .970 slugging percentage and took the honor of Big Ten Player of the Week two weeks ago. While the offense has been a key part of Wisconsin’s early season success — nine of their 24 games have been run-rule wins — a huge part that has developed in Wisconsin’s favor has been their pitching staff. Not only do the Badgers have a larger and more reliable pitching staff compared to last year — Kaitlyn Menz and Haley Hestekin pitched 92 percent of innings last season. But Head Coach Yvette Healy has found success in using a combination of Badgers to get the job done and prevail as victors. In both of their ranked upsets versus then No. 15 Arizona State and No. 9 Texas,

Healy used a combination of pitchers to keep opposing batters guessing and unable to adjust or feel comfortable at the plate. While winning games outside of the Big Ten has given the Badgers some experience versus ranked opponents, most of their remaining games will be conference matchups as they started Big Ten play last weekend against Illinois. Though the Big Ten can sometimes be overshadowed by the undeniable power of the South East Conference and the Pac-12, it is not a conference that should be overlooked. The Big Ten contains four ranked teams including the Badgers. Other teams include No. 19 Indiana, No. 21 Minnesota and No. 25 Michigan. So how does Wisconsin’s early overpowering season match up with their fellow Big Ten opponents this season? The next opponent after Illinois for the Badgers is their one of two remaining non-conference matchups with Northern Iowa. Wisconsin will play their doubleheader home opener Tuesday against the Panthers at Goodman Diamond at 3 and 5 p.m. The Panthers — a part of the Missouri Valley Conference — are 11-10 overall this season with a common game against Illinois. UNI lost to the Illini 9–10 whereas the Badgers went 1-2 in their recent series with Illinois with scores of 15–6, 0-2 and 5-6. As for the numerous Big Ten series left for the Badger ’s spring season, Wisconsin will play in seven remaining three-game Big Ten matchups. Their next Big Ten opponent comes against Penn State. Penn State (14-14) played Pittsburgh — a common opponent — back in February and lost 0–2. The Badgers beat Pittsburgh twice with a score of 8–0 both times. But Penn State also sits fifth in the Big Ten for team batting average behind Wisconsin’s second-place standing. The Nittany Lions bring power and consistency at the plate and will look to carry it over into the Big Ten season. Wisconsin will play Iowa at home in April for their third Big Ten series. Iowa sits last in the Big Ten for team batting average and has a common game against University of Massachusetts in

Photo ·The No. 23 ranked Badger softball team has their highest national ranking in school history. Marissa Haegele The Badger Herald which both the Badgers and the Hawkeyes prevailed. The Badgers will next travel to Evanston this season to take on the Northwestern Wildcats in mid-April. While Wisconsin sits at the top of the current team pitching team ERA at 1.42, the Wildcats are a close second with 1.71. The Badgers and Northwestern don’t have any common opponents so far this season, but the Wildcats were able to upset No. 19 and Big Ten rival Indiana last week 5-0 proving their skill and ability to win games against tough opponents. Minnesota will travel to Madison in a doubleheader planned for only three short days after Wisconsin’s series with Northwestern. The Gophers (20-8) have been among the top teams in the Big Ten in recent years and beating them could be pivotal to the Badgers’ standing of the Big Ten and in their rankings of the Big Ten Tournament

come postseason. With Wisconsin’s amazing upset win over No. 9 Texas, Minnesota was also able to go 2-1 against the Longhorns in three matchups this season. This will be one of the tougher Big Ten opponents the Badgers will have to face this season and with only two games to prove their superiority instead of a normal three-game series, Wisconsin will need to use both games in search of being atop the Big Ten come postseason and add to their resume in hopes to make it to the NCAA tournament. The last remaining three Big Ten series for the Badgers are No. 22 Indiana, Purdue and Nebraska. With all these games being three-game series, Wisconsin will need to win at least two games in hopes of sitting as one of the top ranking going into the Big Ten Tournament in May.

March 26, 2019 • badgerherald.com • 21


BANTER

A diary of a student on break I’m still behind on all the work I promised myself to get done by Angela Peterson ArtsEtc. Editor

Saturday, March 16 Well, it really is the first day of break. I have a feeling this is going to be a very productive time for me, while also providing the rest and relaxation I’ve yearned for during these harsh winter months. As I sit here, pen in hand and journal open wide, I dream of what life will be like these coming days. For now, I shall wait until my Badger Bus arrives to take me to my life’s next destination. Until then, “ta, ta” journal. Sunday, March 17 Welp, they oversold the bus seats and my dreams of a stress-free break were ruined for good. As I cried along my delayed journey to the airport, I thought of the warm embrace waiting for me in the form of my mom’s monkey bread. I then contemplated why it’s called monkey bread when in fact no monkeys are used in its making. I also think I should keep journaling after break is done too, seems like a healthy decision and I’m all about health. Tootaloo, journal! Tuesday, March 19 Tears billow in my eyes as I reflect upon bidding my mama and papa adieu this early morning. You see diary, I left quite early to get to the airport in time for my flight, yet my anticipated two-hour wait in the Transportation Security Administration line only took 10 minutes. Mama’s monkey bread was indeed delicious and I found it so filling that I took a nap as soon as I ate it. Sure, I didn’t get any work done yet this break, but I am certain I will eventually get to everything I need to get done, especially as I lay on my exotic sandy beach. Buh-Bye!

“OH MY BUCKY! I forgot to do

literally all of my assignments.”

Wednesday, March 20 Not enough attention is given to the complex mechanics of opening up a tray in a modern airplane seat. First off, approximately eight buttons have to be pressed in order to launch a tray out of its cocoon. Then, you have 22 • March 26, 2019 • badgerherald.com

to find the darn cocoon, which could be on any side of the seat. Yesterday, I tugged and tugged for ten minutes just trying to get my tray out. Sure, I could have asked a flight attendant, but I didn’t want to intrude on their jobs. Despite this problem, I am now safe on the sandy shores of a warm place. By that, I mean I am sitting in an indoor swimming pool at my friend’s dad’s friend’s summer home with one grain of sand left over in my swimsuit from last year — that pesky grain! I’m sure I will encounter more exotic adventures along my trip, which surely will give me motivation to do my work. Friday, March 22 Last night, I sampled some of the most authentic cuisine available to man at a local spot called “P. F. Chang’s.” What the P and F stand for I know not, but I can only assume it means “pretty feisty” since my kung pao chicken was a little spicy. Our waiter, Dominic, also let us in on the inside scoop at the restaurant as he showered us with fortune cookies. He furiously skirted our way to avoid the table where a couple was clearly ending their relationship and put three desserts on the house because we mentioned it was my friend’s birthday like a month ago. Long live Dominic. Still no work done but I still have a couple of days! Saturday, March 23 I heard a song on the radio once where I swear the lyrics were, “ice cream and breaky break.” Naturally, this meant I needed to have ice cream before my break was over. Of course, the airport only carried frozen yogurt. This is most definitely not the same thing, but I had to make do. The creamy texture left something to be desired, but the chocolate chips were a nice touch. Sunday, March 24 Back on campus and feeling refreshed, recharged and — OH MY BUCKY! I forgot to do literally all of my assignments. I’m screwed for the rest of the semester and my reputation lies in jeopardy. Oh well, time to stop journaling and start working on the thesis for my term paper.


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my florida man may have been on to something.... Kleah Danielle @claysterrrr

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being thick is all fun and games until you almost knock a TV off of an entertainment center chloe

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i would literally die for the spring roll ladies mercy

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I would like to boycott men at the gym thank you

imagine EDM being your favorite music genre.... headphones in listening to beep beep bloop beep... embarrassing E$AP

Hannah Miller

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if I cry on a scantron, will the answers be marked right? gaby

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was just reminded of the time i got off my apartment elevator on the wrong floor bc i was on my phone and walked unknowingly into a stranger’s living room agm

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March 26, 2019 • badgerherald.com • 23


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