Cardinal Columns (April 2018)

CARDINAL COLUMNS

APRIL 2018

DAIR Y

LAND

POLI

TICS

SPECIAL REPORT: WISCONSIN POLITICIANS ON WHY THEY DESERVE TO REPRESENT US -PAGE 7

Conversion Therapy: What it is and Why it’s still around -Page 5

Plus

The politics of “Black Panther” -Page 31

Contact Us Cardinal Columns News Magazine Journalism Department - Room 2609/2610 Fond du Lac High School 801 Campus Drive Fond du Lac, WI 54935 cardinalcolumns@gmail.com adviser: smithm@fonddulac.k12.wi.us

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Staff Robert Brown, Editor-in-Chief Brianna Burgess, Managing Editor Vyla Shea, Copy Desk Chief Camryn Oestrich, Art Director Robert Brown, News Editor Sarah Moore, Sports Editor Robert Brown, Feature Editor Bailey Breister, Culture Editor Brianna Burgess, Opinion Editor Eliana Torres, Social Media Manager Jenna Ahlstrom, Reporter Chase Chadwell, Reporter Maisie Kumbier, Reporter

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Contents Mental Health Services 3 How the YScreen serves the FDLSD.

Conversion Therapy 5

It’s legal in 41 states. Conversion therapy hasn’t gone away.

Blood Drives 6

What to need to know if you’re non-heterosexual.

Special Report: Wisconsin Politics 7 Weeks of reporting, writing and designing to bring you the most comprehensive article on the candidates for U.S. Senate and Governor in Wisconsin.

Polling the Students 21

The political views of Fond du Lac High School Students shown in an infographic.

Register to Vote 25

The process is laid out for you. Take a look.

Running for Office 26

A look at how a Fondy science teacher campaigned his way to public office.

Sports and Politics 27 Since when did sports get political?

State of the Union 29

A recap of President Trump’s first State of the Union.

Conspiracy Theories 30

Satire: Grab your tinfoil hats because our Copy Desk Chief is diving into whether our President is affiliated with the Illuminati.

Black Panther 31

What does a change from white actors bring to the big screen?

Greatest Showman 32 What’s all the hype about here?

Freedom of Speech 33 How much free speech is too much?

The Judicial System 33 It’s broken. But what’s really wrong?

News

HELP IS HERE THE SCHOOL DOES ITS BEST TO IDENTIFY AND ASSIST STUDENTS

by JENNA AHLSTROM

F

OND DU LAC High School provides more help and assistance for students struggling with suicidal thoughts than most students realize.

With the YScreen, a Help Box in Student Services and protocols to help the students, the school has student welfare as a top priority. It’s important to have this available, so students know they can come in, Fondy school psychologist Monica Zindler said.

The school hopes the students will integrate the YScreen into something that is normal to do, as if the YScreen is a part of the culture rather than a test. They want mental illness to have more awareness as well, and for the students to be more educated on the subject.

“[The YScreen is] not a test, it’s a screening instrument. We don’t rely on a score to determine whether a student goes in or not,” Zindler said. “Suicidal threat is our top priority.”

The school’s social worker, Julie Rehfeldt, explained that upperclassmen can ask to take the YScreen. According to her, 27 percentage of the freshmen were identified by the YScreen test for support or further evaluation.

“We obviously don’t know the mental health issues of every student,” principal Matthew Steinbarth said. However, he does want to give the students with suicidal feelings more help, specifically by offering the YScreen test more readily to sophomores.

WARNING SIGNS:

• Changes in behavior • Increase in drug and alcohol abuse • Talking about death and suicide INFORMATION PROVIDED BY JULIE REHFELDT 3

APR. ‘18 CARDINAL COLUMNS

Steinbarth hopes that every student has an adult, whether they are a teacher, counselor or other staff member, that they feel comfortable going to and confiding in.

According to Zindler, the school pays attention to their student’s behavior and they look for strange changes in that behavior. Any sign or threat of suicide is taken seriously, even when it’s said jokingly or done for attention, just in case.

For students who are potentially suicidal, the school will contact the crisis center for further support, and if the student needs help, they’ll get it. According to Steinbarth, the school would rather stand on the “side of safety” than risk it, and they want to react as quickly and delicately as possible for the student’s well being.

“It’s always very delicate,” Zindler said. “We deal with it individually, one on one.” The school talks with the student who appears suicidal; they want to make sure the student is fine or if help is needed. Steinbarth states that they understand how hard it is, and that they want to be as helpful as possible.

“Usually one of [the counselors] in student services will sit down with that student,” Rehfeldt explained. According to her, the Help Box in this school is used about

WHERE TO GET HELP • Talk to a trusted staff member • Suicide box in Student Services • Speaking with a counselor STUDENT SERVICES OFFERS VARIOUS RESOURCE TO STUDENTS. (JENNA AHLSTROM/CARDINAL COLUMNS) once a month. She wants to encourage the students to continue to be open, to speak up and get the help they need.

The school will also contact the parent and if necessary the student can be transported to their counselor or the crisis center, and if the student’s parents cannot take them then the school will escort them.

“It’s not meant to be a scary thing,” Rehfeldt said.

“It’s to get the students to resources.”

The school wants to emphasize more on the Help Box, which is in the Student Services office. If a student is threatening suicide or appears suicidal, the school wants the student’s name to be put into the Help Box so that student can receive the help needed.

In the case of a student who is suicidal, a counselor may consult another staff member with the evidence, and the legal guardian will most likely be notified. When notified about a serious case, the legal guard-

ian may be given the decision on whether or not the student goes to the crisis center, because the legal guardian may decide that a counselor the student has already been seeing would be a better choice. The school follows up on this to make sure the student got the help needed, and if the guardian is unable to take the student, then the school would escort them to the crisis center for help, and will even pay for it if the guardian is unable.

Steinbarth also confirms not only that, but the school will also stay tight lipped on student confidentiality, because giving out any information would result in serious consequences, so they will always keep quiet.

“There are always a million pots spinning around all the time…” Steinbarth said. “You’d like to be doing a ton for every situation.” Steinbarth also stressed that the school is always looking for the signs to help their students.

“Suicidal threat is our top priority.”

-School Psychologist Monica Zindler

• Telling the truth • Text “Hopeline” 741741 • Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK • Lifeline website: www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org • Domestic Abuse Services: 920-923-1700 1-800-852-9571 https://www.solutionsfdl.com/ • Mental Health Services http://namifonddulac.org INFORMATION PROVIDED

BY JULIE REHFELDT

CARDINAL COLUMNS

APR. ‘18

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News

Gay Conversion Gay Conversion Therapy; a practice attempting to turn gay people straight

by Jenna Ahlstrom

S

till legal in 41 states, gay conversion therapy is still largely practiced in the U.S., according to a study done by the Williams Institute.

LGBTQ+ people have suffered gay conversion therapy for years, and it’s still ongoing today in the U.S. due to the belief by many religious groups of it being a mental illness or seemingly going against their religious code. However, there are multiple organizations rising up to stop it and make gay conversion therapy illegal due to its poor nature and bad effect it has on people.

The therapy’s intent is to convert someone who is homosexual into being heterosexual. According to the New York Times, there is already an estimated 20,000 teenagers that undergo these types of programs in attempt to change themselves due to discrimination. Another 700,000 LGBTQ+ adults have already undergone this practice and about half of them underwent it as adolescents.

Through organizations such as National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality, (NARTH) Exodus

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APR. ’18 CARDINAL COLUMNS

International, and Jews Offering New Alternatives for Healing/Homosexuality, (JONAH) programs are offered to convert people into being straight.

They claim that banning the practice would go against the First Amendment, which protects their freedom to practice religion. This is why the ban still hangs in

The therapy’s intent is to convert someone who is homosexual into being heterosexual. the air in court, because the government shouldn’t take away an Amendment from the people, so it has become controversial within the law.

Conversion therapy has been promoted as possible, but research shows that it’s efforts are inefficient and have been found to be harmful. Not only that, but according to the organization Human Rights Campaign,

studies have shown that conversion therapy can lead to depression, anxiety, drug use, homelessness and suicide.

Personal experiences of people who have undergone the therapy are all over the internet and are fairly easy to find.

Conversion therapy is highly contested by some organizations, with persuasions for a ban on the practice happening all over the country, with calls to institute a nationwide ban. According to the Human Rights Campaign, “...People Can Change advertisements and business practices which claim they can change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity constitute deceptive, false, and misleading practices and can cause serious harm to consumers.”

Used strongly in the past, and even still present today but without its previous popularity, practices of electroshock therapy and stimulating pain with images of two people of the same gender being together were used to turn the person straight. It was to make the person associate pain with homosexuality, which lead to many problems in the person’s future according to the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

( HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN )

BLUE REPRESENTS U.S. CITIES AND STATES WHERE THERE IS A BAN ON CONVERSI0N THERAPY. GREY REPRESENTS NO BAN ON CONVERSION THERAPY. ( SPQROBIN / WIKIMEDIA )

Some organizations claim that homosexuality is caused by sexual abuse and poor parenting and bad role models, and that due to that assumption it is a mental disorder, which it was listed as one for years until finally being taken out in 1987 according to Dr. Neal Burton, M.D. from Psychology Today. However, this has been long since been disproven. The Southern Poverty Law Center said there has been no scientific evidence that is completely sound on heterosexual children becoming gay due to abuse.

The connotation that heterosexual people become gay due to bad parenting and role modeling instills fear into many parents of a LGBTQ+ child that they had not been the best at caring for their child. The myth about sexual abuse causing people to alter their sexuality also makes them fear that they had failed to protect their child.

According to The Washington

Post, the therapy has been proven by dozens of mental health and medical groups to be harmful and misleading to patients.

Despite the claim, various religious groups fight against the ban.

Gay conversion therapy is often claimed to be a religious practice due to most religions believing romantic relationships should only be between a man and a woman. Often minors go through this treatment without will by their legal guardians and these minors are often at a high risk of harm according to the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

The practice, although controversial and a topic of heated discussion, has survived attempts to bring it down. As LGBTQ+ continue to work hard to push for protections under the law, it causes upset in various groups, and it will likely cause upset for years.

Gay conversion therapy is often claimed to be a religious practice due to most religions believing romantic relatiships should only be between a man and a woman.

CARDINAL COLUMNS

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d n a l y

r i a D

fierce since '48

Politi

Behind the Design

Behind the title is a rough recreation of the 2012 U.S. Senate race.

Data was based upon Wikimedia Commons graphic by user Magog the Ogre.

cs

a report by Robert Brown

S E

N A

The Candidates Tammy Baldwin Leah Vukmir Kevin Nicholson

incumbent, former u.s. rep., lawyer

state senator, former nurse

former marine

Did You Know?

Wisconsin is one of 12 states that have both a Democrat and a Republican serving in the U.S. Senate with each other.

T

E

$14,559,270 contributions to the baldwin campaign in 2011-2012 (federal election commission)

$9,457,035 contributions to the baldwin campaign in 2017 alone (federal election commission)

The Incumbent Tammy Baldwin Serving Since

more than 7 in 10 voting-eligible wisconsinites cast a ballot in the 2012 senate election (university of florida dept. of polsci)

D

former u.s. rep., lawyer

Jan. 3, 2013 (one term)

S

he’s a fighter.

It’s a trait she shares with her longtime political idol former Sen. and Gov. Robert M. “Fighting Bob” La Follette (R-Wis.). Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) is proud that she holds the position her icon held a more than 90 years ago and it’s shaped how she represents the State of Wisconsin and its people.

Born and raised in Madison with two talented grandparents, Baldwin has seen her fair share of public service in her lifetime.

“My grandfather was a scientist at the University [of Wisconsin,]” Baldwin said, “and my Grandmother was a costumer at the University Theatre Department.”

Their lines of work propelled her into public service as she saw the importance of the state’s education system.

She’s a fighter because of the health battles she faced and won.

Suffering from a life-threatening disease at a young age, she and her grandparents were in a tough spot when it came to medical insurance.

“My grandparents had fights between insurance companies . . . about my hospital bills,” she said. They ultimately paid a large part of her bill, but still couldn’t find her health insurance. “I was classified as a child with a pre-existing condition . . . I was deemed a high risk child.”

Sen. Baldwin is a fighter because she found this as fuel to better her state and serve it in the public sector.

She sees her fellow Wisconsinites as hard-workers; in whatever field they may serve.

“Work ethic is number one,” Baldwin said. “[Our] state is diverse and based on hard work. It’s not a trait every state has.” But, there’s one field she says needs to be propped up and represented more than it currently is: the manufacturing sector.

According to Baldwin’s campaign, she launched the Manufacturing Jobs in America (MJA) initiative in the U.S. Senate alongside Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) with a goal of “investing in America’s workforce, expanding access to capital, opening up markets abroad for American

goods, and crafting a national manufacturing strategy.” Baldwin is also interested in education initiatives for the manufacturing sector so American workers can be trained in high-tech skills needed by today’s companies.

She’s a fighter because she’s sought reform for the Veterans’ Administration system, most notably its Tomah hospital location, due to the lack of quality of care provided to veterans and over-prescription of opioid painkillers.

Baldwin sponsored or cosponsored numerous bills that address veterans’ issues with colleagues on both sides of the aisle and supporting veterans which, according to her campaign, is a priority.

“No veteran should return from fighting abroad and struggle to afford basic necessities like housing, groceries, child care, and health services. Unfortunately, this is a predicament many veterans find themselves in,” Baldwin’s campaign website said.

Recent attacks by ad campaigns suggest Baldwin and her office waited “months” to review and acknowledge findings of the Tomah VA Hospital. She admitted that her office “made mistakes” and remedied the issue. This attack, among others, is misleading for pinning the blame solely on Baldwin. Another notorious campaign accuses Baldwin of being

responsible the death of three veterans that sought treatment at the Tomah VA. These attacks are false -- according to PolitiFact Wisconsin -- because these deaths weren’t directly related to Baldwin. In fact, the report states that one death happened in the Milwaukee area due to an overdose multiple years after treatment at Tomah was terminated.

She’s a fighter because she’s made history.

As the first openly gay senator in U.S. history, she’s often said that she “didn’t run to make history.” But it’s apparent that she ran so history could be made not for herself, but for her constituents. With five years in the U.S. Senate under her belt, her campaign is outraising her opponents, according to the Center of Responsive Politics and the campaign.

Yeah, she’s a fighter.

Recent attacks byEad H campaigns Y T R suggest Baldwin and her ofO T fice waited “months” to reT O S N andLacknowledge view findL ings of the Tomah VA U Hospital.

F ily

tammy

e Claims Koch Brothers-funded groups have u invested at least $1.6 million r in attack ads on her.

T

(WisPolitics.com/Creative Commons)

The Nurse Leah Vukmir Serving Since

R

state senator, fmr. nurse

Jan. 3, 2011 (two terms)

A

nurse, a military mom and an elected official. Asst.

Sen. Majority Leader Leah Vukmir (R-Brookfield) got her start “asking questions” about her child’s reading program, which her campaign said quickly developed into a political career.

She’s been a proud supporter of Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wis.), including his controversial “Act 10” legislation, limiting collective bargaining for most public employees, including teachers.

“In the face of death threats, Leah refused to back down and continues to be one of the leading voices to keep pushing Wisconsin in a more conservative direction,” her campaign website said. Those death threats -- she said -- prepared her for representing Wisconsin, according to an interview with the Washington Examiner.

“I stood with [Gov. Walker] from the get-go,” she said.

There’s no doubt Vukmir is authentic in her Republicanism, compared to questions her challenger in the primary former Marine Kevin Nicholson faces due to his Democratic activism in his youth.

“Leah won’t leave until she accomplishes a goal,” the campaign said. “The U.S. Senate needs someone who speaks for

Vukmir said that Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) CE N E “claims to support D I V a 'Buy EAmerica' O but Nphilosophy, her actions speak louder than her empty words.”

us, someone who will bring the Wisconsin Way of working hard and never giving up to Washington.”

Although, Vukmir made a claim that caught the attention of PolitiFact Wisconsin. She said that Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) “claims to support a 'Buy America' philosophy, but her actions speak louder than her empty words.” Vukmir’s communications director cited general economic stances Baldwin took in the past, like opposition to Right-to-Work legislation, but never cites inaction on Baldwin’s part. Baldwin has actually taken a similar position on American steel and workers that of President Donald Trump’s. Trump even praised Baldwin’s legislation.

"I support the concept of everything from the U.S. I’m very much into that and I agree with her 100 percent," Trump said.

PolitiFact Wisconsin rated Vukmir’s comment as “false” due to the lack of evidence of inaction on Baldwin’s part to constitute the phrase “empty words” when referring to her “Buy America” plans, when in fact there’s evidence of the contrary.

She’s conservative, objectively tough and genuine. This is all in a woman that got into politics in the smallest way. Vukmir’s a serious candidate with serious motivations to represent the state.

(Kevin Nicholson via Candidate Handout)

The Marine Kevin Nicholson Served

R

consultant, fmr. marine

2004-2009

H

e wants to take back Washington.

You’ve heard Republicans say that before, but most Republicans (or Democrats) aren’t former Marine Corps counter-IED officers named one-ofthe-best in Afghanistan.

Kevin Nicholson is.

He led military personnel to IEDs to blow them up to clear a path for allied forces. It's dangerous and takes a special someone.

“Kevin’s adult life has been spent helping people and solving problems. His time in the Marine Corps instilled a deep appreciation for America’s freedoms,” his campaign website said.

But you’ve probably heard something about him by now if you’re familiar with Nicholson: he was a Democrat. And his parents are donating lots to Tammy Baldwin. They’ve since stopped talking due to their differing political opinions. It was a mutual agreement, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.

That hasn’t stopped him from being the favored Republican candidate in the two-person Republican primary, the other being State Sen. Leah Vukmir (R-Brookfield). He’s not really shy about it. His run for U.S. Senate is highlighted in a POLITICO

In 2016, Kevin Nicholson reported commissions earned of $808,180. article that describes a campaign event where he details his Democratic past.

“He’s seen the other side,” Jack Voigt, a former state treasurer, said in regard to his “potentially crippling liability” of a blue history.

As for his ideas, he laid out his priorities: reigning in “wasteful” government spending, waging a war against high taxes, a strengthened military, protection of the Second Amendment and vocalizing opposition to abortion. He claims that his position on abortion and the Second Amendment stemmed from seeing “innocent lives lost. Kevin values life because he knows firsthand how precious it is.”

Currently, Nicholson serves on the Board of Veterans Affairs, a post he holds for which he receives no compensation.

Whatever way you look at it, Nicholson is a respectable man. As a Marine deployed to the Middle East during the War on Terror, he saw a lot. And whatever he saw prepared him to run for public office. Even if Nicholson doesn’t win the Republican primary or the general election if he’s the Republican nominee, he’s a good voice for veterans that should continue to speak up.

GO V E R NOR Behind the Design Behind the title is a rough recreation of the 2014 gubernatorial race. Data was based upon Wikimedia Commons graphic by user Magog the Ogre.

The Democrats Matt Flynn Tony Evers Kathleen Vinehout Mahlon Mitchell Paul Soglin Mike McCabe Andy Gronik*

fmr. chair of dem party, fmr. navy

superintendent, fmr. teacher

state senator, farmer

firefighter, union leader

mayor, fmr. councilperson

political activist

businessperson

Dana Wachs* Kelda Roys* Michele Doolan* Bob Harlow* Dave Heaster* Jeff Rumbaugh*

state senator

real estate agent, fmr. legislator

business owner

2016 candidate for u.s. rep. in Calif.

retired, 2012 candidate for u.s. rep

disability worker in uw system

Did You Know?

Wisconsin Governor-elect Orland Loomis died before taking office, marking (technically) the shortest governorship in state history. The shortest actual governorship was five days. *These candidates are not included due to polling less than 4 percent in at least one Marquette University poll. Mahlon Mitchell is included because he polled at five percent in the first poll, but dropped to four percent in the most recent.

The Chairman Matt Flynn Served

lawyer, fmr. chair of dem party, ex-navy

1981-1985

F

rom first look, someone might mistake Democratic gubernatorial candidate Matt Flynn for someone in the establishment. Clean shaven and well-dressed.

Calm and composed. Experience working on John Kerry's 2004 Wisconsin primary campaign and Hillary Clinton's '08 campaign in the state. Twice elected chairman of the Wisconsin Democratic Party. Flynn knows how to talk the talk and walk the walk.

Take another look.

Contrary to his experience, he plays his cards like an outsider and his vision for Wisconsin sounds like it.

Flynn’s past was quite an interesting one. At an early age, he had a taste of postsecondary education. His father was a professor and chairman of the Spanish Department at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Moving throughout the state, he saw all of the wonders of the Badgerland including cows, cheese and who knows what else.

He chose to go to Yale University in New Haven, Conn., but enlisted in the Navy after graduation. He went back to school after retiring from the Navy to University of Wisconsin Law School to practice law and has for the past three decades. He had a good thing going. Why take the challenge?

“The straw that broke the camel’s back for me,” Flynn said, “is seeing [Gov.] Scott Walker (R-Wis.) causing destruction to my state.

“I became increasingly alarmed with the destruction that Scott Walker and the Republicans were inflicting upon the state,” he said. “I believe that he’s the most corrupt governor we’ve had in more than a century and has single-handedly undone all the progressive reforms that started with ‘Fighting Bob’ La Follette and continued for the next 100 years . . . Walker’s given us dirty water and dirty government.“ Flynn is critical of the vast majority of Gov. Walker’s decisions and policies, including his approval of the controversial “Foxconn deal” that allowed Foxconn Technology Group of the Republic of China (Taiwan) billions of dollars in incentives in exchange for expanding into Southeastern Wisconsin.

D

“They’re going to give $3 billion to a Chinese company with a slippery record . . . these people wanted to be exempt from these clean water laws and be exempt from the jurisdiction of our Court of Appeals and they wanted the power of imminent domain to throw people out of their houses and take their land. And I don’t want that . . .” he said. Foxconn said that they would bring as many as 13,000 jobs to Southeastern Wisconsin. But Wisconsinites are skeptical of the deal and say the state overpaid for the company to expand into the Badger State. According to a Marquette University Poll, forty-nine percent of respondents said that the state is paying more than what the plant is worth, versus 38 percent saying the state is paying the right amount. In addition, sixty-six percent of respondents said that businesses near them would not directly benefit from the Foxconn, versus 25 percent saying that businesses near them would.

The chairman went further in his grilling of Gov. Walker, calling him a “policy mule” for what he dubbed the “Republican donor cartel,” accusing Walker of being controlled by special interests.

Flynn didn’t struggle with answering what Walker’s done right in his mind.

“He did one thing right [during his tenure] and that is when he realized that he wasn’t competent to be President; when he dropped out of the race.” Walker dropped out of the 2016 presidential election after slipping poll numbers before any primaries.

Flynn also said that President Donald Trump has betrayed the country and that the Russians infiltrated the GOP. “[President Trump] was funded by the Russians,” Flynn said. “He’s simply let Vladimir Putin penetrate the White House, our government and the Republican Party.” At this time, there is no evidence of collusion or infiltration, nor is there evidence of Russian nationals funding any campaign associated with Trump, although the U.S. intelligence community has reached the unanimous verdict that the Russian government interfered in the 2016 election.

As a proponent of increasing the investment into state education systems and as a former student of the University of Wisconsin, Flynn attacked Walker on slashing funding for the UW

System.

to lower tuition “He’s and establish the vandalizing the “Wisconsin StuUniversity of dent Loan AuthorClaims the Russians funded the Trump ity” to regulate Wisconsin. Not just by cutting student loans and campaign. its funding, but refinancing debt. by eliminating He also wants to ‘statutory ten“ensure that up to ure,’ by attacktwo years at Wising its mission consin’s public Claims the Russians have "infiltrated statement and universities, colthe GOP." insulting the leges, or technical professors,” schools will be Flynn said. tuition free for inClaims Foxconn Technology Group has To be clear, state residents.” a "slippery record" in regard to enviWalker did not His ideas are a eliminate statubreath of fresh air ronmental regulations and workers' tory tenure, but to more liberal conditions. he encouraged Democrats, but the Univerappeal to all sity of Wisconsin Board of Regents to residents of the State of Wisconsin. He’s eliminate it. As for student debt within an outsider that punches hard and speaks the state, Flynn said the best way to tough, but wants Wisconsin to be a place tackle it is to increase the share of tuition of inclusivity. costs that the state provides for students

Fact Check

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ID ID

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e could teach Democrats a few things about their own trade.

Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction Superintendent Dr. Tony Evers seeks to unseat the Governor in November with the advantage of a “blue wave.” Democrats have run a mayor of a major city and businessperson against Scott Walker to no avail.

This time around, it looks like the party could counter Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wis.) with the group he alienated the most during his first term as Governor: teachers.

Evers, a Plymouth native, saw social justice at a young age, he said, because of his father and his establishment of a tuberculosis sanatorium, which was later converted to a geriatric facility after the disease had a downturn. ”That’s where my social justice connection began,” Evers said.”He spent a lot of time testifying for Kohler Co. workers who were seeking worker’s compensation for health issues related to their occupation . . . He made it clear in my mind through his actions that caring for people is really important.”

For Evers, he sees education as the key to Wisconsin’s success. As a teacher, an administrator and a department head, he’s seen it at all levels.

“I saw that the [position] had more of a direct impact on education [and it’s politics], so that’s why I ran [for Superinten-

The Educator Tony Evers Serving

superintendent of dpi, fmr. teacher

since July 6, 2009 (three terms)

dent,” he said.

Serving since 2009 in the highest education post, Evers has led the DPI through different phases, including the elimination of the Wisconsin Knowledge and Concepts Examination (WKCE) in favor of the Wisconsin Forward Exam.

“It made sense because the Forward Exam measures where our students are more accurately,” he said.

As for higher-level education, Evers sits on the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, a position he holds ex officio. He voiced opposition to a resolution punishing what he calls “freedom of speech” on UW campuses, dishing out punishment to students if they interfere with others’ right to freedom of speech. An example would be students blocking a far-right speaker from presenting on campus.

“It’s nonsense . . . we don’t need this,” Evers said simply.

He was the only one of the 17 regents to vote in opposition to the resolution. Others praised the policy, stating that it “preserves” expression, versus “chill” it.

Evers is a guy that understands Wisconsin through his roots and public service to the state. Democrats could learn a lot from him.

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founder of blue jean nation, fmr. farmer

H

e wears blue jeans and he’s proud of it. In almost every picture you can find of activist Mike McCabe, a.k.a. Governor Blue Jeans, he’s proudly wearing the workers’ wardrobe.

He feels strongly about his grassroots ideology. You can even draw a path from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) right to McCabe’s campaign. There’s even a petition for Sanders to endorse McCabe for the governorship. He has similar positions, as well.

“Wisconsin’s goal should be nothing less than an economy where if you work you won’t be poor,” McCabe said. His plan includes gradually increasing the minimum wage over five years to $15 per hour in some of the most costly places to live in the state. He sees the issue with a uniform increase because the cost of living across Wisconsin varies.

“A key feature of McCabe’s proposal is regional flexibility that recognizes the cost of living is higher in some parts of the state than in others, with the new minimum wage pegged to the average wage in each of Wisconsin’s 20 metropolitan and nonmetropolitan areas recognized by the U.S. Department of La-

bor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics,” the McCabe campaign said.

A bold position that McCabe takes is one similar to Pope Francis, declining to live in the primary residence of the leader.

“Governors should be servants, not masters. To me, that means a governor is under the people, not above them,” McCabe said. He said that if elected, he’ll live where he currently resides.

He also said that Wisconsinites can make the decision on what to do with the mansion because it “belongs to the people of Wisconsin.”

“Hell, if [the people of Wisconsin] want to make it into an Airbnb, it’s up to them.”

He even proposes BadgerCarefor-All, something not currently available to all Wisconsin residents.

However you look at it, McCabe is a simple guy that wants to return Wisconsin to simple politics. He’s an outsider, a common guy and someone who’s advocated for blue-collar workers. Although he’s an independent that’s appealing to everyone on the political spectrum, this is someone Democrats can get behind to drive home their message as the “party of the people.”

state senator, farmer

(Twitter/User VinehoutK via Fair Use)

(Twitter/Mike McCabe via Fair Use)

The Activist Mike McCabe

The Farmer Kathleen Vinehout Serving Since

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Jan. 3, 2007 (three terms)

S

tate. Sen. Kathleen Vinehout (D-Alma) leads a quiet life. She doesn’t mind getting her hands dirty on her farm that she still owns with her husband.

“I live in paradise!” Vinehout exclaimed. “It’s so beautiful out here . . . I miss it when I leave to go to Madison,” she said. She speaks of her constituency highly and wants Wisconsinites to know that District 31 is a place of progress.

“If you look at Eau Claire, the largest city in my District, over the past three-and-a-half years we have added 3,000 new jobs,” she said. “It took some investment . . . but nothing like Foxconn.” She encourages the rest of Wisconsin to look at the risks of the Foxconn expansion and see that there are alternative ways to create jobs without spending billions. “[Everyone] came together and said, ‘let’s make Eau Claire a great place to live: a great place for people to come together to play, a great place to have a family, a great place to start a business.’ So we invested in parks, we invested in our trails and we invested in infrastructure,” she said.

Vinehout said that a balance of education and skills training is the key to success in Wisconsin, supporting all walks of life and industries, including farmers, students and factory workers. She’s proud of the University of WisconsinEau Claire, a four-year university in her District.

She also doesn’t mind getting her hands dirty when representing her constituents in Madison. In 2011, she was among the group of state Democrats that walked out of session to delay the vote on the controversial Act 10 legislation.

The “Badger 14” fled to Illinois in protest and angered the Republicans so much that arrest warrants were threatened.

Vinehout has run for the highest position in Wisconsin before, but to no avail. Sen. Vinehout, with her experience in the legislature and in Alma, is a tough person with the right amount of experience to counter Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wis.) in the general election. Democrats shouldn’t write her off, nor should the undecided either.

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(Twitter/User MahlonMitchell via Fair Use)

The Firefighter Mahlon Mitchell

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firefighter, union leader

e’s a hero to Governor’s Mansion in eight years. It’s many. Firefighter enough for him to draw a conclusion.

Mahlon Mitchell “We need a different type of is in many lines of candidate to run against Gov. Walker. We work, representtried the elder statesman . . . Tom Baring a large variety rett, a mayor of a big city. We tried Mary of Wisconsinites.

Burke . . . who has the business acumen, He’s the President and that didn’t work out,” Mitchell said. of the Professional Fire Fighters of WisHe went further in describing Walker’s consin, an adwrongdoings. vocacy group “He’s had for more eight years in than 4,000 our state to bring r y t o firefightus together and s Claims he stood by thel lunions and ers across all he’s done is f u the state, divide us,” he said "hell no"h to e Gov. Walker's collect according to said. “It’s about tiven bargaining limitations on public ot the group. politics, not He people.” employees also heads the As for jobs group “Sable and the WisFlames,” a group representing black fire- consin economy, Mitchell criticizes the fighters within the Madison Fire DepartFoxconn deal. ment and the union Local 311. This is “It’s a bad deal . . . you or I not the first time Mitchell has expressed can ask for $4.4 billion loan from the real interest in elected office. bank and say, ‘We’ll pay you back in He ran for Lieutenant Governor 25 years.’” To be clear, the Foxconn of Wisconsin in 2012, independent of Technology Group incentives package Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wis.) due to the is not a loan, and it’s hard to pinpoint recall election. He garnered more than the actual reimbursement Foxconn will 1.1 million votes, but lost to incumbent receive from the state. Most headlines Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch (R-Wis.) in read $3 billion if Foxconn holds up its the general election. She, like Walker, end of the deal. These incentives are tax was the first person in U.S. history to credits, like the job creation tax credit survive a recall election in her position. which offers $1.5 billion in reimburseMitchell sees it like this: Democrats tried ment if Foxconn brings its promised a career politician twice and a business13,000 jobs to its facility in Southeastern person once and failed to reclaim the Wisconsin. Mitchell also said that there’s

Fact Check

more to the state’s economy than just the unemployment rate, which hovers around three percent.

He’s now a vocal opponent to Act 10, legislation that stripped public employees from their right to collectively bargain.

“We had to make a decision whether to accept that emergency workers were excluded, or we were going to stand by our brothers and sisters in the public sector,” he said.

Although he eventually did, according to PolitiFact Wisconsin, it took 11 days for him to join the other public employees in their protest against Act 10. He held a news conference approximately a week and a half later at the Capitol, saying that firefighters would accept the same pension and health care as other public employees, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, dated Feb. 22, 2011. PolitiFact rated his tweet that boasted his vocal opposition from the beginning “Mostly False.”

Politics aside, Mahlon Mitchell is by far one of the most respectful candidates and is full of compassion and humility. He’s represented his fellow firefighters for more than six years as the first black President of the group and, at the time of his appointment, the youngest according to the Madison Times. If Democrats are looking for a different type of candidate, Mahlon Mitchell would pass that test.

The Mayor Paul Soglin The Serving Since mayor, fmr. councilperson

Jan. 2011 (6 staggered terms)

W

ith nearly fifty years of political experience under his belt, Mayor Paul Soglin (D-Madison) has longed for the day to expand his progressive ideas out of Madison.

He grew up in Illinois and attended a raciallyintegrated high school, something that’s shaped his social views.

“We [the students] watched what was happening in the South very closely: the Freedom Riders and voting rights,” Soglin said.

He moved to South Central Wisconsin to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison during the rise of anti-war sentiment among young people in America. He involved himself in protests of American military advisers being deployed to South Vietnam and Dow Chemical Company’s manufacturing of “Agent Orange” or “Napalm B” for use in bombings.

Becoming increasingly interested in politics, he decided to run for Madison’s Common Council in 1968 while in graduate school. At the age of 23, he was elected to the position and twice re-elected until he ran a successful bid for mayor in ‘73. Since then, he’s served three tenures as mayor spanning almost 23 years.

Under his guidance, the City of Madison expanded equal opportunity initiatives, completed multiple public infrastructure projects and ranked high in the most livable cities by Money Magazine.

“No matter how it’s measured,” Soglin said, “we’re a very successful city . . . What we do and how we succeed is different [than other communities] . . . We’re improving standard of living, so why not do that everywhere?”

What’s rewarding for the career he’s in, Soglin said, is how amazing it is to see progress.

“What excites me is getting things done [that make an impact]. For example, building housing for low income families.

It’s rewarding . . . It may not seem exciting, but it is for me.”

Soglin, a lifetime Democrat, met Cuban President Fidel Castro during his first tenure in office. He was one of the few American politicians to meet Castro during his rule. Castro received the key to Madison in 1975 during Soglin’s trip to Cuba. While Republicans including Gov. Scott Walker (R-Wis.) criticize the

(User StretchyBill/Creative Commons)

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meeting that occured four decades ago in a series of tweets, Walker has seen his fair share of communists in his time in politics, most recently on a trade mission to China. Walker was caught wearing a lapel pin with the (Communist) Chinese flag and shaking hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping, notorious for allegations of human rights violations and oppression of political dissent during his governance.

As for policy and the politics, Soglin brings liberal ideas from old and new generations, arguably a strong mix.

“The two pillars that we need to focus on . . . is everyone has access to secure housing and [realize] the value of education and job training,” Soglin said. He said if the state were to focus on those two as priorities, many things would “fall in place.”

In addition, he criticized Walker’s lack of funding for education. “Right now we have flip-flopped the state budget when it comes to higher education and corrections. For the first time in our history, we’re spending more on our prison system than on the University of Wisconsin System,” he said. A bold claim that has been fact-checked in the past.

Mary Burke, businessperson and Democratic nominee for Governor in 2014, made a similar claim that PolitiFact Wisconsin analyzed. Real estate agent and attorney Kelda Roys, who is currently running for the Democratic nomination, made the claim that “in 2011 under Scott Walker, Wisconsin for the first time spent ‘more on our prison system than we did’ on the University of Wisconsin System.” Burke’s and Roys’ claims were rated half-true and mostly true, respectively. When it comes to Soglin’s claim, the term flip-flopped is misleading because it has the connotation that the two systems were drastically funded or defunded or that the same amount that was spent on education is now being spent on prisons and vice versa. It is correct to say that corrections has a larger budget in the state, but it has been a trend that began before Walker took office. This claim is half true.

What matters to Soglin is he’s delivering results to Madison residents and loves to improve lives through ways of policy. He’ll always be criticized for his liberal ideas, but 23 years in office proves that Soglin is electable and likable.

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SCIENCE AND POLITICS COLLIDE TAKING ACTION, GETTING RESULTS

by MAISIE KUMBIER

G

etting involved with politics brings its own set of challenges and requires a few unique sacrifices.

Science teacher Joe Fenrick was always fascinated in politics. Stocks, sports and weather also caught his eye.

When he was in high school, the top four TV channels he would watch to keep up with those things included CNBC, CSpan, The Weather Channel and ESPN. To stay current on local news and broaden his horizon on national news he read six newspapers a day which included the Oshkosh Northwestern, The Fond du Lac Reporter and The New York Times.

When his family moved to Fond du Lac, his political interest really took off. He started to attend city council meetings, county board meetings and school board meetings. His wife also encouraged him to partake in politics to ensure a better future for their children.

Fenrick attended a workshop on how to run a campaign and doing so is when he made his decision to run for Fond du Lac County Board Supervisor.

Fenrick began to help on nonpartisan campaigns like passing out literature, knocking on doors and helping place yard signs.

The first step in running for office is announcing one’s candidacy by filling out paperwork at the county building and obtaining more than 50 signatures to have one’s name placed on the ballot. Obtaining these signatures meant door-knocking and talking local politics with people in Fenrick’s neighborhood.

From Dec. 1 until Jan. 1, the Fondy sci- 500 doors. Fenrick also attended several ence teacher petitioned for his candida- meetings with local unions to gain their cy. support. In the days just before the elec The support of Fenrick’s family, tion fellow science teacher Jim Prosser particularly his daughter Abigail, made and his wife helped him hang 600 door his campaign possible. Every day they hangers. would go out and ask for people’s sup- “All the hard work paid off as I port for a total of around 50 hours. They won the election and received 78 percent obtained 72 signatures in that time. of the vote.”

When they turned the signatures in and the county clerk checked them over, his name was placed on the ballot for the April election. His opponent was a 20year incumbent and was one of the longest serving County Board members for Fond du Lac County.

A political consultant that he had talked to gave Fenrick about a one percent chance to win due to how well-known his opponent was. This meant that Fenrick had to run a very active campaign for people to get to know him.

Jan., Feb. and Mar. were by far the busiest months.

During this extremely busy time, Fenrick (and his family) had to design a pamphlet to be used for a mailer, a card to be used for a door hanger, and a postcard to remind people to vote in April. Fenrick and Abigail continued to knock on doors and talk to people that lived in the district. JOE FENRICK’S OFFICIAL PHOTO

Throughout the three FROM HIS CAMPAIGN. month time frame, Fenrick and Abigail knocked on more than (JOE FENRICK/FENRICK CAMPAIGN)

OUT WITH THE NEW, IN WITH THE OLD

DID WORLD POLITICS CAST A SHADOW OVER THE TRUE MEANING OF THE OLYMPIC GAMES?

by SARAH MOORE

N

ot many things have survived since 8th century B.C. The Olympics has been a respected and unifying event since before the modern world had been established. It has brought people together to compete for a common cause in peace. However, like many other traditions that are being soiled, the Olympics has lost its true meaning.

Five rings joined together, all different colors yet all joined together to make a statement. The Olympics for years brought countries together. Now it is used as a battlefield for countries to make fools of their enemies.

On Feb. 9, 2018, the 23rd annual Winter Olympic Games were held in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Fresh athletes have been training their whole lives to walk into an Olympic stadium wearing their country’s colors, but an impending shadow has been cast over the Games.

Cases of unsportsmanlike conduct have come forward to give the Olympic Games a new image. 90 teams participated, however only 89 countries will be represented. In 2017, many of the aspiring Russian Olympic athletes were caught using performance enhancing drugs.

As a result, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ruled a punishment.

The committee ruled that only athletes that had passed scheduled drug testing through27

APR. ‘18 CARDINAL COLUMNS

out the training season were going to be per- boundaries that were clearly laid out for the mitted to compete. However, these athletes athletes, a Russian curler, Aleksandr Krushwon’t be allowed to represent their coun- elnitckii, tested positive for performance try. The Russian athletes that were cleared enhancing drugs directly after his win in the competed under mixed doubles the International curling competiOlympic Comtion. mittee (IOC) Krushelnitckii flag. admitted to the Russia rule violation has been stripped and withdrew of 51 medals in his case from the response to their Court of Arbiuse of drugs durtration for Sport ing competition.

(CAS).

The punishment “ H a v i n g had to be strict weighed up the because this is pros and cons, I not the first time decided to withathletes on the draw my case Russian team from CAS,” have been found Krushelnitckii abusing perforsaid. “I believe -World Curling mance-enhancthat a hearing ing drugs. If any would be useless Federation Russian athlete under the current won during the rules. It would be 2018 Olympics, the Olympic flag was flown stupid to deny it after two tests proved posiand the Olympic theme song was played tive.” rather than the Russian national anthem.

He and his wife were granted a

Despite this punishment and the bronze medal, but the committee had to

“This incident has cast a shadow over our sport and the amazing mixed doubles curling competition that had its debut here at the Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang 2018.”

strip them of their win. The CAS also gave Krushelnitckii a provisional suspension after the Games, but this may be challenged if the case is declared “no fault or negligence.”

The only way he could be granted these rulings is if it is found how the drugs entered his body. Investigators are looking into the suspicion that another team may be sabotaging their team, but nothing has been proven.

“This incident has cast a shadow over our sport and the amazing mixed doubles curling competition that had its debut here at the Olympic Winter Games Pyeongchang 2018,” the World Curling Federation said.

Politics have always surrounded the Olympic Games; however, it also always brought the world together. Countries that have fought wars and given each other the cold shoulder came together.

Athletes compete for the pride of their country, but where is the pride in cheating? The Olympics isn’t a measuring stick, it is a celebration. Nobody wants to watch countries fight through their athletes.

Where will the cheating stop?

Rules were set and tests were taken, yet an athlete still had to be persecuted for doping during the Olympic Games. He took the medal away from himself, his partner, and his country.

VICTORIES ARE THROWN AWAY FOR POLITICAL GAIN RATHER THAN FOR THE PRIDE OF AN ATHELETE AND THEIR COUNTRY. (THE INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE*)

CARDINAL COLUMNS

APR. ‘18

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(SHELAHA CRAIHEAD/CREATIVE COMMONS)

STATE OF THE UNION RECAP

by BAILEY BREISTER

I

n January, Trump’s address served as a recap of recent major events that happened involving the United States. He talked about accomplishments and natural disasters, like the hurricanes. Some things he said proved to be true, and others were not.

Trump began by mentioning the 2.4 million jobs created during his term so far, especially the 200,000 in manufacturing. He also praised the rise in the stock market and the passage of the biggest tax cut in history. This may sound like a Trump exaggeration, but in fact, it’s true. Almost every president ever has lowered taxes in some way, one or another. But, Trump’s latest tax cut was the largest for both upper and middle class.

After the president highlighted his economic growth and tax reform, he praised a few heroic Americans. He first recognized Preston Sharp, a boy who put flags on the graves of veterans.

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APR . ‘18 CARDINAL COLUMNS

He also recognized two sets of parents who experienced the murders of their daughters. They were murdered by MS-13 gang members, who Trump said were from Mexico.

The president went into more detail about the gang, and even called out an ICE agent, known as CJ. CJ and his team caught and arrested more than 400 “Mexican” MS-13 gang members.

(He referred to MS-13 as a Mexican gang, even though it’s Columbian.)

While the president didn’t get this fact right, he did arespectful thing our country’s true heroes. The working class. Us. The average Americans.

He finished his speech with words positively describing his citizens: “The American people, a people whose heroes live not only in the past, but all around us, defending hope, pride and the American way.”

Getting past the accuracy of the MS-13 gang, he made sure to focus

on the fact that immigration is a problem, and he set up four pillars that will help solve the problems brought by the border to the south. The first pillar being, giving citizenship to 1.8 million illegal immigrants that pass education and work requirements. The second pillar, build a wall. A better wall, hire guards to man the wall, and close loopholes that exploited the old wall.

The third pillar in the president’s plan is to end the lottery system, and replace it with a system that gives greencards to people that want to work, and are good for society. And finally, the fourth pillar ends chain immigration. Which allowed one immigrant to not only bring their close family but their very extended family with them too.

Trump inspired the average American to be the best they can be -- that’s a good quality of a leader that serves a country of our scale and prow-

SATIRE: IS THE ILLUMINATI IN CHARGE OF OUR COUNTRY?

by VYLA SHEA

T

he Illuminati conspiracy theory claims that there is an elite group of people in a secret society that controls all global governments. The theory of what the illuminati’s goal is varies from wanting power to the intention of bringing the devil back to earth.

Donald Trump has somehow managed to confuse conspiracists as to whether he is a part of the illuminati or not and what role he would play if he was.

The website, The Conspiracy Zone, blamed Trump’s association with the Illuminati on the common hand symbols made by Trump within interviews and

speeches which it says are clear indicators of his involvement with the illuminati.

Some of the hand symbols that Trump frequently display supposedly show support for the devil and symbolize the number 666. He has also been pictured flashing a gesture representing devil horns.

David Vose, one of the men behind the conspiracy theory, said that Trump’s hands are an “open acknowledgment of his secret society affiliation with the Illuminati.” He also posted a video on his Youtube channel explaining the theory.

“If you care about our future, under the American constitution, our liberty

(QUIENTENDP099/CREATIVE COMMONS)

and our rights, as free citizens of the world then you must acknowledge the confession of Donald Trump by his hand signs and the blatant pride he shows in his open acknowledgement of his secret society affiliation with the Illuminati,” Vose said in his video.

In my opinion, Donald Trump is most likely not a part of the Illuminati.

People are looking for more reasons to be against him, and the theory that he is in the Illuminati satisfies that, no matter how outlandish.

The possibility that our country is actually being run by a member of the Illuminati is slight, but there is a chance.

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After the events of Captain America: Civil War, King T’Challa returns home to Wakanda where he teams up with members of the Dora Milaje to defeat two enemies attempting to bring down the country. Photo Cortesy: Marvel Studios; Walt disney studios motion pictures

REVOLUTIONIZING THE MOVIE INDUSTRY

“BLACK PANTHER” WAS NOT THE SUPERHERO MOVIE PEOPLE WERE EXPECTING

by CAMRYN OESTREICH

“B

LACK PANTHER” HAD many political themes you wouldn’t expect from a superhero movie. Featuring a racially inclusive cast as well as many strong, realistic female characters, it is an impactful movie that will change how movies are seen forever.

The movie starts out in Oakland, California in 1992 in a poorer neighborhood with some younger boys playing basketball with a milkcrate as the hoop. It then pans up towards an apartment building where two men are planning what appears to be a robbery.

There’s a knock at the door, and from there the story goes on to develop the lead characters-men and women of color.

With this many people representing a minority that rarely gets the screen time they deserve in movies like this, “Black Panther” was inspiring and influential.

“Black Panther” the comic originated in 1966 during the civil rights movement and shared the name of a radical racial group.

They pushed for equality through militaristic 31

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views and preached self-defense. These revolutionary ideals of the Black Panther Party play a major role in the plot of “Black Panther.”

Politically, there were three paths Wakanda faced for the future. Many traditional Wakandans, especially those who were tribal leaders, believed they should stay out of the world’s problems. They weren’t there to fix other countries’ issues and people would end up taking advantage of having vibranium weapons, as already seen through the organization SHIELD and criminals such as Ulysses Klaue (Andy Surkis).

Ramonda, T’Challa’s mother, and the other tribe leaders stated that “violence was not their way” and that they would not interfere in issues not directly related to them.

The second path they wished to follow was from Nakia, a strong warrior and spy for Wakanda.

She wishes to spread the wealth and knowledge Wakanda holds throughout the world to help, especially throughout Africa. She has seen the struggles others have faced, and wants to assist.

The first time we see Nakia, she is

working undercover to bust human traffickers in Nigeria. She even says to T’Challa, “You’ve ruined my mission!” She has seen the struggles people face first-hand, something most Wakandans never see, lending to her views of what Wakanda should do. Nakia wants Wakanda to offer foreign aid, help cure diseases and accept refugees worldwide,

Erik “Killmonger” Stevens (Michael B. Jordan) is an American black ops soldier trained in destabilizing regimes and assassinating political leaders. He wants Wakanda to act as a global revolutionary supporter; using technology and weapons to grant oppressed people of color the opportunity to invert the racial order. Ironically, Killmonger said, “The sun will never set on the Wakandan empire!” mirroring the colonizing Europeans of times past.

T’Challa (Chadwick Boseman), King of Wakanda, felt that change needed to occur but also recognized that as king, he could not make hasty decisions that might endanger Wakanda. He wanted to assist coun-

tries in need, provide them with information to help, but in a way that wouldn’t backfire. This led to quite the dilemma for him and is an internal conflict he faces throughout the film.

While the heavy political themes were surprising, it wasn’t the only thing that made “Black Panther” revolutionary. Rarely in movie history has there been such a racially inclusive cast in superhero films. In the past, the main characters were almost always white men, with few exceptions. In a movie where only two main characters were white, and a good amount of the characters were also women--and not only as a love interest, “Black Panther” was powerful and inspirational to watch.

What was especially impressive, and something many movies neglect to touch on, was that there was diversity even within the seperate groups. Not all people are the same, no matter what their skin tone is. Each person is part of a group with their own culture and beliefs and views and “Black Panther” made sure not to skim over this fact, when they easily could have.

During the beginning scene in Oakland, a bass-heavy song was playing, reflecting rap music. This represents the American culture, as people don’t typically listen to the traditional music of their roots.

Now, in Wakanda and around T’Challa, the African drums and traditional music would play, even in T’Challa’s younger sister Shuri’s lab, even if it was a bit more modern in rhythm. This is because that is their culture, they are two different groups of peo-

ple, with different views and different goals, even if they have the same skin color.

“Black Panther” used music to further the viewers understanding of the characters in the film instead of portraying it as if all people of color have the same background and culture.

In the film, T’Chaka (John Kani), T’Challa’s father, told T’Challa to surround himself with people he trusts. When doing so, T’Challa surrounded himself by almost exclusively women, including his mother Ramonda (Angela Bassett), his general Okoye (Danai Gurira), his sister Shuri (Letitia Wright), and his spy Nakia (Lupita Nyong’o).

On an excursion to Busan, South Korea to capture Ulysses Klaue; T’Challa brought Nakia and Okoye. When trouble arose, they fought their way out. In a scene shortly after, Shuri was driving during a car chase, making it so the majority of protagonists were women, 3-to-1.

What was impactful, however, was that there was diversity in the fighting. In the past, there have typically been only one of two types of female fighters. There is the agile spy who uses her feminine wiles to seduce a man and get the upper hand, such as Black Widow; or there is the brute fighter

who fights very straightforward, much like Wonder Woman.

In “Black Panther,” they are all a mixture of these two stereotypes. Okoye fights more straightforward, but remains agile and uses the enemy’s momentum against them, a good majority of her movements being spinning yet also pushing forward for the advantage. Nakia appears to be the agile spy, but towards the end she engages just as strongly as Okoye.

Shuri is young but no less fierce, using technology to make up for where she has yet to develop. This results in a great variety of fighting, something you see in male protagonists but almost never see in the other gender.

For black youth, this movie was meaningful and inspiring. They finally had people they could look up to, someone they could relate to. This is something wholly inspiring for them, and something these children have lacked for years. Rarely has there been a superhero movie with people of color of this degree. In fact, not a single one comes to mind.

Bringing representation for men and women of color through a diverse cast, “Black Panther” is certainly one of the greatest films of our time and could very well change the way movies are made in the film industry as a whole.

“RARELY HAS THERE BEEN A SUPERHERO MOVIE WITH PEOPLE OF COLOR OF THIS DEGREE.”

BARNUM TO JACKMAN

A ROLE WITH SPIRIT THAT FEW COULD HAVE PERFORMED

by ELIANA TORRES

“T

HE GREATEST SHOWMAN” is an original movie musical inspired by the life of P.T. Barnum. It honors the birth of show business and tells the story of a visionary man who became a worldwide sensation in the 19th century in New York City.

The Greatest Showman premiered in December of 2017, directed by Michael Gracey. Starring Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron and Zendaya Coleman, it was written

by Jenny Bicks and Bill Condon. “The Greatest Showman” was inspired by the creation of the first circus, and told P.T. Barnum’s story.

Hugh Jackman truly gave his all to

the role. It was hard to keep your eye off this incredible man when featured on the screen.

He displayed the kind of spirit that Barnum was known for. Barnum was a charismatic man and was able to convince someone of just about anything. Jackman played this role convincingly, especially this aspect of his character.

Barnum’s story started with humble beginnings as a tailor’s son. He later married his childhood love, Charity Hallett (Michelle Williams), and had two daughters together.

Barnum brought his imagination to life with the help of his girls. Barnum decided to bring in people from his village that were harassed and belittled and showcase

them in his show.

The song “This is Me,” was sang to honor the outcasts. It told of how you didn’t have to have excessive hair, or carry extra weight. You could know the feeling of being judged by others without having physical aspects for people to poke and prod at but you still carry as much value as anyone else.

Before watching “The Greatest Showman,” I was very skeptical to go see it. I wasn’t expecting the movie to be as good as it was. This movie had a great story line, it had a good moral to the story and it had an outstanding song track.

“The Greatest Showman” was well put together and it definitely made it in my top favorites.

CARDINAL COLUMNS

APR.‘18

32

Opinion

FREEDOM OF SPEECH HOW FAR IS TOO FAR?

by BAILEY BREISTER

(CHUCK KENNEDY/WHITE HOUSE)

F

reedom of speech is something that makes America what it is, no matter how hateful or dividing the words could be. The freedom of being able to say that is what sets us apart from our oppressive counterparts.

It brings people together. By being able to understand and hear all opinions, we can truly come to a consensus about the best plan of action to reach peace.

Our freedom of speech is one of the most important things that we have.

It allows us to be governed by the voices of the people and to please the majority. For example, The Southern Baptist Church can say how a Veteran died in combat was a good thing because that church believes the death of veterans is

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APR. ‘18 CARDINAL COLUMNS

proof of god’s wrath for LGBTQ equality. Although it wasn’t tasteful or inherently good, they still had the right to say that. They had their freedom to do that, and if we take that away, what will prevent the government from censoring anything else they could find offensive?

However, not all people can be happy about the choices made. This is where we run into trouble with each other. When people aren’t happy about decisions, they use their freedom of speech for hate. It pushes people to voice their unhappy opinions towards one another, like how you have the right to openly oppose and speak against the President of the United States. It gives people an opportunity to be heard and recognized. If

you tried speaking against the leaders of China or North Korea, you’d most definitely be killed.

While I can find both the good and the bad regarding freedom of speech, It is our responsibility to uphold. We use our freedoms to find the middle ground and come to conclusions. It helps us stay together as a country. Though people may not be happy with what certain people say, or what certain people recognize and represent. We have to accept that as a society. That’s the way things are. People have the freedom to express themselves in this country. And taking away someone’s freedom of speech, is taking away expression and freedom from everybody.

OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM IS BROKEN

by VYLA SHEA

I

n a courtroom, there is one person who decides whether a person will spend the rest of their life in prison. That one person, the judge, can hold a man’s entire future or lack thereof in his hands on any given day, but is that fair?

There are hundreds of judges across the country and they each have different beliefs within the criminal justice system. Multiple things can subconsciously affect how a judge sentences criminals, such as their political views, religious beliefs and their spiritual philosophy.

Since each judge is a different person with different ways of sentencing, people who are charged with similar crimes have drastically different sentences.

For example, three men were each charged with at least one count of sexual assault. One of them, Stanford University student Broke Hampton was sentenced to six months in jail, but was released after three. Vanderbilt University football player Cory Batey served fifteen years in prison. The final student, Brian Banks, was only in high school at the time of his trial and showed a promising future in the NFL spent five years in prison. His charges were dropped when the accuser admitted to lying on tape.

For just those three men, their sentences ranged from fifteen years in prison to six months in jail because of who

their judge was. Out of those three cases, the one with the most aggravating factors was the one with the shortest sentence.

There is a minimum amount of time the accused can be sentenced to and a maximum, but not every crime is the same, so there comes a point where discretion is needed in the courtroom.

How is that fair? The case with the most red flags or pointers towards a longer, harder sentence got six months compared to a case with significantly less aggravating factors ending with a fifteen year prison sentence. That is a huge difference in sentencing due to the discretion of the judges.

Every case that comes into a courtroom is different.

Crimes within the same category can be committed very differently. It seems obvious that people charged with similar crimes should be given similar sentences, but that cases with more severe factors would lead to more years and less severe factors mean less time, and that’s exactly how our system is supposed to work.

Our judicial system is supposed to stand for justice and equality, but right now it seems that those standards have become blurry. A judge’s ability to use their discretion with each case is what has led to those blurred edges.

Each judge holds different beliefs within the criminal justice system, but this shouldn’t mean that similar crimes deserve a wide range of imposed sentences. For some crimes, the window for the minimum and maximum amount of years a person can be sentenced to should be cut dramatically.

CARDINAL COLUMNS

APR. ‘18

34

ONE COMMUNITY UNITED AT ONE WORLD

by BRIANNA BURGESS

F

ood is a main pillar of culture according to sociology, so it would only make sense that the easiest way to learn about other cultures would be through food. Global Teens aims to show the diversity of Fond du Lac to the community through One World (formerly known as Global Teens for Global Unity), a cultural festival with food, performances and games in celebration of World Day for Cultural Diversity on Mar. 23 in the Commons at Fond du Lac High School from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

“It takes a couple months just to get everything ready, even with the food, and figuring out who’s doing what,” leader Jennifer Lopez ‘18 said. This includes fundraisers like selling egg rolls, Takis and Mexican sodas to lunch periods to earn money to host the event. The money then goes into buying the supplies to make foods, buying decorations and supplies, and providing an overall fun event for everyone who attends.

The food at One World is often made by the families of not only members of Global Teens, but also volunteer families who come together to hand-make the

cuisine. Each sample is 25 cents at the event.

One World has also played host to Latinos Unidos, Hmong dancers and a fashion show of quinceanera dresses.

“In Mexican culture, instead of a sweet 16, we have a sweet 15 to celebrate the transition into becoming a young woman,” Lopez said. “Usually the birthday girl wears a big, poofy dress and we had a fashion show of the colors and kinds. The little girls really liked it.”

Not only is the fashion show a fun activity for kids, but games such as capture the flag are there, where children match the country to the flag. Last year, there was even a pinata, which is commonly associated with Mexican culture.

“I’m trying to get different backgrounds involved,” Lopez said.

Despite this, One World aims to expose Fond du Lac to diverse traditions as well as highlight what brings us together.

“We are all human,” advisor Elaine Jorque-Augustine said, “that’s the bottom line.”

THE PERFORMERS OF LAST YEAR’S ONE WORLD, PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS GLOBAL TEENS FOR GLOBAL UNITY, SHOW OFF THEIR OUTFITS. THE OUTFITS INCLUDE TRADITIONAL MEXICAN DRESSES AND HMONG OUTFITS. (JENNIFER LOPEZ/ONE WORLD)