Badgers CHAPTER XIII - “GRADUATION MEMORIES” GRADUATION CAME AND WENT FOR THE BADGERS. IT WAS INSPIRING AND ALSO A BUMMER HAVING TO “MOVE ON” FOR DG SORORITY SISTERS, MANDY AND JAN. MANDY IS HEADED OFF TO NORTHWESTERN AS A VOLLEYBALL GRADUATE ASSISTANT; AND JAN IS HEADING TO PARKLAND HOSPITAL IN DALLAS FOR ICU NURSING. ALEX IN FACT DID JOIN THE AIR FORCE. DEWEY, A JUNIOR ON THE UW HOCKEY TEAM, PROPOSED TO JAN. JAN FELT IT WAS TOO MUCH OF A RUSH AND DEWEY WAS OFF TO PLAY FOR A TEAM IN RUSSIA NEXT YEAR - FOREGOING HIS SENIOR YEAR. IT WAS TOO MUCH FOR JAN TO HANDLE THAT QUICK AND HER PARENTS VOTED NO. EMMA WAS VOTED THE NEW DG PRESIDENT AND AUTOMATIC MEMBER OF THE UW PANHELLENIC COUNCIL. EMMA CONTINUES TO BE SUPER FRANTIC ABOUT THE NEW CALCULUS REQUIREMENTS FOR ACCOUNTING MAJORS. SHE IS CONSIDERING SWITCHING MAJORS TO DRAMA. BUCKY, A JUNIOR, AND MANDY ARE STILL DATING. BUCKY WANTS TO GO TO AN IVY LEAGUE LAW SCHOOL NEXT YEAR BUT THE UW ISN’T OUT OF THE QUESTION. BUCKY CERTAINLY WANTS TO GET SERIOUS, BUT MANDY JUST DOESN’T KNOW YET IF SHE’S READY TO BE A WIFE OF A PROFESSIONAL STUDENT. SUMMER IS UPON EVERYONE, YET THE WEATHER IN WISCONSIN CONTINUES TO BE COLD, INTERMITTENTLY SNOWY, AND TO THE FRUSTRATION OF MANY, NOT GOOD SUNBATHING WEATHER FOR AN EARLY REAL SUMMER TAN. EMMA HEY GRADUATION WAS GREAT. I WAS SO INSPIRED BY THE SPEAKER. MATCH THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE MILLIONAIRE CONTRIBUTORS. KEEP THE UW STRONG FINANCIALLY.
MANDY HE ALSO INSTRUCTED US TO KEEP YOUR HEADS HIGH AND “MOVE ON.”
JAN AFTER THE THOUSANDS WE’VE PROVIDED IN TUITION, BOOKS, PARKING FEES . . . EMMA WELL ANYWAY I THOUGHT IT WAS PRETTY COOL. MATCH THE MORGRIDGES $175 MILLION DOLLARS. THE REALITY IS THAT WE AS A COUNTRY AND NATION ARE RAPIDLY CHANGING. WE WILL BE FIGHTING FOR OUR SHARE OF THE TURF WITH ALL NATIONS AND MANY DIFFERENT PEOPLE. THIS IS A BIG DEAL AND A FAR CRY FROM THE CONFINES OF REDWING, MINNESOTA. 2
MY PARENTS SEE THIS GLOBALIZATION AS THE UNITED STATES SURRENDERING. KEEPING PACE WITH GLOBALIZATION WILL REQUIRE MONEY FOR UNIVERSITIES. I SUPPORT OUR COMMENCEMENT SPEAKERS.
JAN IT’S FUNNY; MY PARENTS ALSO SAID WE ARE SURRENDERING TO CHINA ECONOMICALLY, BUT IN MUCH MORE TERSE TERMS.
MANDY HECK MY PARENTS GAVE UP ON THIS COUNTRY YEARS AGO AFTER THEY CLOSED THE GM PLANT IN JANESVILLE AND TOLD EVERYONE THEY HAD TO MOVE TO SOUTHERN INDIANA. EMMA I JUST SEE A TON OF RESISTANCE OUT THERE WHEN CHANGES ARE INEVITABLE. INSTEAD OF US FIGHTING NAZIS, COMMUNISTS, AND FASCISTS, WE ARE NOW FIGHTING EXTREME ISLAMIC FACTIONS, LEFT OVER RACISM, AND IMMIGRATION. THERE ARE ALWAYS WAR; JUST DIFFERENT FOES AND CAUSES.
MANDY OK I’LL GIVE YOU THAT. BUT LOOK AT MY PROFESSION - ELEMENTARY EDUCATION. WE WON’T BE ABLE TO SUSTAIN TEACHING TO A HIGH LEVEL WITHOUT QUALITY PEOPLE. QUALITY GRADS ARE ATTRACTED TO TEACHING BECAUSE OF THE BENEFITS AFFORDED SUCH AS HEALTH CARE, HIGH TEACHING PAY IN WISCONSIN, AND THE PENSIONS TEACHERS FOR YEARS HAVE RECEIVED. NOW ALL THESE THINGS ARE GONE WITH THE NEW STATE LAWS DISALLOWING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING.
JAN I FACE THE SAME ISSUES IN HEALTH CARE. MY JOB, BENEFITS, PAY, AND ACTUAL IDENTITY IS WITH A CORPORATION. I’M NOT HIRED BY THE HOSPITAL. SO WHAT IF I MOVE THERE AND THE HEALTHCARE CORPORATION COLLAPSES? I’M TOTALLY SCREWED - ESPECIALLY IF I’VE PURCHASED A NICE FLAT IN DOWNTOWN DALLAS. EMMA MAYBE THE WEDDING WITH DEWEY SHOULD HAVE GONE OFF AFTER ALL?
JAN NO - DEWEY IS OFF TO ST. PETERSBURG IN RUSSIA TO PLAY PRO HOCKEY. HE’S LEAVING EARLY FOR MONEY.
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EMMA SO YOU ARE TOTALLY BUMMED WITHOUT A BOYFRIEND INTENDING ON BEING A FUTURE BRIDE WHEN I LINED YOU UP WITH THE BIGGEST CATCH IN REDWING, MINNESOTA?
JAN MY PARENTS VOTED NO. THEY WANTED ME TO NURSE A YEAR AND NOT FOLLOW A HOCKEY PLAYER AROUND SUPPORTING A LESS THAN 10% CHANCE OF MAKING IT TO THE NHL.
MANDY I DON’T GET THAT JAN. YOUR PARENTS DON’T LIVE YOUR LIFE.
JAN SO YOU WOULD MARRY SOMEONE YOUR MOM DISAPPROVED OF?
MANDY I DIDN’T SAY THAT!
JAN YES YOU DID. DON’T DENY IT.
MANDY DON’T START TO CRY. ALL I’M SAYING IS THAT IF YOU FLAT OUT LOVE SOMEONE, THEN MARRY HIM. YOUR PARENTS SHOULDN’T STOP THIS AND THEY KNOW IT. DEWEY IS A GOOD GUY. HOW CAN ANYONE FROM REDWING, MINNESOTA BE A BAD GUY? EMMA I CONCUR, BUT THEN AGAIN, I’M FROM REDWING TOO.
JAN LET’S SEE WHO ALSO IS IN A DILEMMA? OH YES IT’S MANDY. DIDN’T BUCKY BADGER WANT TO GET SERIOUS? BUT OH NO, I’VE GOT TO DO MY VOLLEYBALL GRADUATE ASSISTANT STUFF AT NORTHWESTERN. WEREN’T WE MOVING AND TEACHING IN THE UPPER PENINSULA? WHAT HAPPENED WITH THAT?
MANDY OK, I GET IT. WE’RE BOTH STUPID. WE WANT IT PERFECT AND IT WILL NEVER BE. GLOBALIZATION, MOVEMENT, ECONOMICS, AND RESTRUCTURING AFFECT EVERYONE. YES I COULD HAVE WAITED A YEAR AND THEN GONE TO NEW HAVEN OR CAMBRIDGE WITH A CUTE GUY WHO IS A SUCCESS BECAUSE HE IS BOLD ENOUGH TO BE A MASCOT.
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EMMA BUCKY HAS MORE JUICE THAN ALEX EVER THOUGHT ABOUT. IN FACT ALEX WAS STILL HANGING OUT AT THE KK A COUPLE OF DAYS BEFORE HE WAS INDUCTED INTO THE AIR FORCE. EVERYONE SAID HE HAD THE PHYSICAL ABILITY TO BE AN NFL QUARTERBACK.
JAN TRUST ME - ALEX WAS A WIMP AT HEART. HE DIDN’T LIKE CONTACT EXCEPT WITH GIRLS. HE TALKED A LOT OF BIG STUFF, BUT THERE WAS LITTLE ACTION. HE WANTED TO BE A DENTIST, BUT UNFORTUNATELY HE COULDN’T GET IN. I KEPT TELLING HIM THAT IF HE CAMPED OUT IN FRONT OF THE DEAN’S HOUSE, THAT WOULD HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE. EMMA NOT EVERYONE GETS INTO DENTAL SCHOOL. IN FACT IT’S HARDER NOW TO GET INTO DENTAL SCHOOL THAN MEDICAL SCHOOL.
JAN HOW DO YOU KNOW THIS STUFF EMMA? EMMA I’VE BEEN DATING A GUY THAT WORKS AT THE CRITICAL BADGER. THEY TALK ABOUT THE DIFFICULTY OF GETTING INTO GRAD SCHOOLS. HE’S JUST A FROSH, CUTE, AND ON THE ROWING TEAM. HE MADE THE HOOPS TEAM AS A WALKON. DOESN’T PLAY MUCH, BUT BO SAYS HE WILL GET MORE TIME THIS COMING YEAR. HE WAS ALL EVERYTHING IN HIGH SCHOOL.
MANDY WHERE IS THIS MR. EVERYTHING FROM? EMMA BROOKFIELD. HE’S A SUBURBANITE.
JAN SO HE IS NEAR PEEWAUKEE WHICH IS NEAR MILWAUKEE.
MANDY WHICH IS NEAR LAKE OKACHI. I’VE WATER SKIED THERE. IT’S A GREAT PLACE.
JAN WHERE IS THIS GUY GOING? EMMA WHO KNOWS? HE WANTS TO BE IN POLITICS. HE ACTUALLY READ THIS LITTLE BOOK ON SPORTADEMICS.COM ABOUT 5
WHEN I GROW UP I WANT TO BE A POLITICIAN. AND YES AFTER HE READ THAT, HE SAID THAT WAS FOR HIM.
MANDY LET ME GET THIS STRAIGHT EMMA. YOUR NEW GUY, MR. EVERYTHING WORKS FOR CRITICAL BADGER, ROWS, AND WILL PLAY A TON OF HOOPS NEXT YEAR FOR THE BADGERS WITH BO? NO WAY! ONE CANNOT DO ALL THAT. EMMA HE’S ALREADY DOING IT. HE JUST DOES RESEARCH FOR CRITICAL BADGER, BUT THEY ARE A FORCE - OVER 500,000 ENTRIES ON THEIR SITE.
JAN AND WHO IS THIS GUY WAVING AT US AT THE BOTTOM OF BASCOM HILL? EMMA OH IT’S RILEY, HE’S OUR NEW BADGER. AND HE’S ALSO A SIGMA ALPHA EPSILON GUY. HE IS THE GUY!
JAN OH NO, THOSE GUYS ARE ABSOLUTE PIGS. EMMA HOW COULD YOU STOOP SO LOW? I ALMOST HAD TO RELEASE THEM FROM THE PANEHELLENIC COUNCIL A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.
MANDY WAIT A SECOND JAN. HE’S COMING TOWARDS US. AT LEAST HE’S NOT LAZY. HE’S WALKING UP BASCOM.
JAN YOU’RE SAYING HE’LL FIT RIGHT IN? HE’LL BE A GOOD BADGER. EMMA YES! ABSOLUTELY! HE’S THE GREATEST. I BET HE GETS TO BE GOVERNOR.
JAN HE WON’T BE YOUR GOVERNOR IF YOU MOVE BACK TO REDWING. EMMA NO, I’M A BADGER NOW GALS.
MANDY HE’S ALREADY HERE. YES THIS GUY IS AMAZINGLY CUTE. HE’S IN.
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EMMA AND I THINK HE CAN ACTUALLY BE A FORCE ON CAMPUS.
MANDY NO EMMA, HE’S A PICNIC POINT GUY. THE HECK WITH ALL THESE FLUFFY ACCOLADES AND PRIZES. EMMA RILEY, I WANT YOU TO MEET OUTGOING BADGERS, JAN AND MANDY. THEY BOTH HAVE LOOKED MARRIAGE IN THE EYE AND WALKED AWAY. RILEY I THOUGHT YOU TOLD ME THAT MOST OF THE DG HOUSE WAS WALKING DOWN THE AISLE THIS JUNE? EMMA THEY ARE. IT’S JUST THAT OUR TWO MOST AMAZING BEAUTY QUEENS HAVE DECIDED ON CAREERS INSTEAD OF GUYS. RILEY YOU CAN DO BOTH ACCORDING TO SOCIOLOGY 101. THAT CLASS REALLY OPENED ME UP COMING FROM A VERY CONVENTIONAL FAMILY IN BROOKFIELD.
JAN SO HOW DO YOU LIKE WORKING WITH CRITICAL BADGER? RILEY I LOVE IT. I’M NOT YET ALLOWED TO WRITE ARTICLES OR RESPOND TO EMAILS, BUT MANY POLITICAL SUBJECTS AND VIEWS ARE FIELDED BY THE MORE EXPERIENCED STAFF WITH A TOUCH OF ASSISTANCE FROM US ROOKIES. THEY REALLY DO A GREAT JOB AND OPEN UP AREAS FOR DISCUSSION.
MANDY ARE YOU OUR NEXT GOVERNOR? EMMA OH THAT’S JUST THE START. THEN IT’S ONTO US SENATOR, AND THEN THE EXECUTIVE ARENAS LIKE THE CABINET OR..........
JAN PRESIDENCY? EMMA YOU NEVER KNOW. ANYONE WHO TAKES ON ROWING AND IS A WALKON HOOPS GUY IS AMAZING - ESPECIALLY AT THE UW.
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RILEY I HAVEN’T PLAYED MUCH. I ONLY AVERAGED 1.5 POINTS PER GAME THIS PAST YEAR, HAVE ZERO SCHOLARSHIP MONEY, AND HOPEFULLY WILL GET MORE PLAYING TIME NEXT YEAR.
JAN BO DOESN’T TALK TRASH. HE MEANS WHAT HE SAYS. SO ROWING AND HOOPS. HOW DO YOU HAVE TIME FOR EMMA?
MANDY JAN, I CAN’T BELIEVE YOU SAID THAT! LEAVE HIM ALONE. WE’RE ON THE WAY OUT OF MADISON. LET EMMA AND RILEY FIND THEIR OWN PATHS.
JAN YOU’RE RIGHT. SORRY RILEY. RILEY OH IT’S OK. I GET GRIEF FROM ALL OVER. THEY CALL ME GOV AT THE FRAT HOUSE, AND WALK ON AT THE DORMS. I’M VERY ACCUSTOMED TO BEING THE SUBJECT OF JOKES AND NAME CALLING. IT’S ALL IN FUN.
MANDY WHAT HAPPENS TO A GUY WHO HAS IT ALL AND THEN HAS TO DEAL WITH THE REAL WORLD AFTER THE FOUR YEARS ARE FINISHED? RILEY I REALLY DON’T KNOW. I’LL WORRY ABOUT THAT WHEN I GRADUATE. I KNOW WE’RE ALL SUPPOSED TO PLAN OUR CAREER AND GET ON A PATH, BUT I’LL PROBABLY BE IN THE HECTIC POLITICAL WORLD.
JAN THE BIG THING IS THAT EVERYTHING KEEPS CHANGING. AT LEAST WE HAVE OUR BADGER GROUP. THAT WON’T EVER CHANGE. EVEN ALEX IS WELCOME BACK IN WHEN HE BEGINS TO BEHAVE. EMMA THE AIR FORCE WILL REALLY HELP ALEX. MAYBE HE’LL COME BACK AND GET INTO DENTAL SCHOOL. ADMISSIONS JUST FELT ALEX WASN’T QUITE READY FOR GRADUATE SCHOOL IN DENTISTRY AT THIS TIME.
JAN I GUESS SO. BUT LIKE ME, THE DENTISTRY PEOPLE COULD SEE ALEX’S IMMATURITY.
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MANDY IT’S OVER, WE’RE ALL HEADING HOME AND THEN OFF TO OUR JOBS IN LIFE. WE MAY NEVER SEE ANYONE FOR A WHILE OTHER THAN THROUGH EMAIL OR SKYPE. THAT IS SCARY. EMMA IT REALLY SEEMS LIKE YOU TALK AS IF YOU JUST ARRIVED, AND NOW IT’S OVER. COLLEGE GOES BY LIKE A FLASH. RILEY I’M WELL AWARE OF THAT. THE GUYS AT THE SIG EP HOUSE SAY COLLEGE IS LIKE A FLOOD THAT COMES ON AND WHEN IT RECEDES, IT’S OVER.
JAN I JUST VIVIDLY REMEMBER ALL THE GREAT TIMES WE HAD AT THE DG HOUSE - FROM PANTY RAIDS TO THE GREAT KEGGERS AT PICNIC POINT - SO FAR AWAY FROM THE CAMPUS POLICE.
MANDY I WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER MAX’S DEATH AND ITS AFTERMATH. WHO WOULD HAVE DREAMED HE HAD A SECRET GIRLFRIEND THAT BECAME PREGNANT RIGHT BEFORE HIS DEATH? I’M FINALLY JUST GETTING OVER HIS DEATH! RILEY BUT YOU STILL HAD A GREAT TIME IN COLLEGE?
MANDY OH YES. THE FALL BALL, THE WINTER BASHES AT GRAND GENEVA, AND THE SPRING FLINGS - ESPECIALLY THE LAST ONE IN GALENA. WHAT A GREAT PLACE TO HAVE A UW GREEK PARTY AND CELEBRATION OF JUST BEING GREEK ALL FOUR YEARS. EMMA WE WERE THERE RILEY. IT WAS THE GREATEST OF TIMES. WE SURE ARE GOING TO MISS YOU NEXT YEAR. THERE WILL BE NO MANDY AND JAN AT THE DG HOUSE. THE BIGGEST PARTY PEOPLE AND SOCIALITES OF ALL TIME IN OUR SORORITY WILL BE GONE. RILEY I’LL MISS YOU ALL A TON ALSO. MANY OF THE GUYS IN MY FRAT SAY THE DG GALS WERE THE BEST.
JAN TOO BAD WE DIDN’T THINK THAT ABOUT YOUR FRAT RILEY. THE SAES WERE JUST HUMAN PIGS. RILEY 9
OH I KNOW THEY HAVE THAT REPUTATION. BUT THEY ALSO HAD THE HIGHEST GPA OF ANY UW FRATERNITY.
MANDY WELL THERE WERE A COUPLE CUTE GUYS IN THAT FRAT BUT MANY OF THEM SEEMED TO BE SO SELF CENTERED. RILEY I JOINED BECAUSE OF THE HIGH ACADEMICS. MANY OF THEY GUYS GOT INTO PROFESSIONAL AND GRADUATE SCHOOL AFTER GRADUATION. EMMA THAT IS COOL. MAYBE I’LL TELL MORE OF OUR YOUNGER DG GALS TO LOOK AT YOUR FRATERNITY RILEY.
JAN I’LL REALLY MISS JUST SITTING OUT HERE ON BASCOM HILL IN THE FALL LIKE WE ARE NOW ENJOYING THE WISCONSIN SPRING.
MANDY AND THE TIMES BACK IN ELIZABETH WATERS DORM. IT WAS THE VERY BEST. ALL THE GUYS CHASING AROUND LATE AT NIGHT TRYING TO GET IN THROUGH THE BACK DOORS AND PICKING THE FRONT DOOR LOCK WHILE OTHERS DISTRACTED THE SECURITY GUARDS. RILEY OH WE ALL DID THAT. I THINK THE SECURITY GUYS KNEW AND JUST LET IT HAPPEN. THEY SEEMED TO THINK IN A WORLD FULL OF RULES, A FEW COLLEGE KIDS JUST WANT TO HAVE A BIT OF FUN. EMMA AND THE ENDLESS TIMES AT THE KK. ONCE IN A WHILE WE’D HIT STATE STREET BRATS, BUT THE KK WAS WHERE ALL THE ACTION HAPPENED. IT SEEMED YOU HAD TO BE GREEK TO GET IN THERE.
JAN AND THE ALL NIGHTERS TRYING TO CATCH UP SO YOU COULD PASS THE TEST THE NEXT DAY. WHAT A PAIN! CHEMISTRY IS SO BAD!
MANDY BUT IT GOT YOU INTO UW NURSING SCHOOL AND NOW THE GREAT JOB AT PARKLAND HOSPITAL IN DALLAS. RILEY 10
YOU ALL HAVE DONE WELL. IN FACT YOU’VE DONE GREAT. I HOPE I SIT HERE ON BASCOM HILL 3 YEARS FROM NOW AND HAVE HAD AS MUCH FUN AS YOU ALL. I GET IT. COLLEGE ISN’T ALL ABOUT GRADES. IT’S ALSO ABOUT ACADEMICS, SOCIAL LIFE, FRIENDS, ACTIVITIES, FINDING YOURSELF, AND LIVING YOUR LIFE. EMMA RILEY AND I PROBABLY WON’T TAKE COLLEGE AS SERIOUSLY AFTER LISTENING TO ALL YOUR STORIES. YOU’VE DONE IT ALL AND NOW HAVE THE MOST AMAZING MEMORIES OF ANYONE EVER TO GRADUATE FROM THE UW.
JAN THAT’S WHY THEY CALL OUR GROUP THE BADGERS. IT’S ALL ABOUT FUN AMIDST THE CHAOS CALLED SCHOOL.
MANDY NO KIDDING! WE GRADUATED IN FOUR YEARS WHEN IT SEEMS HALF THE FROSH WE STARTED WITH WILL HAVE TO DO A SUMMER OR FALL SESSION. BUT WE DID IT AND HAD THE MOST FUN AS ANYONE COULD. EMMA JAN, IS THAT YOUR IPHONE RINGING?
MANDY WHAT DOES IT SAY? YOU HAVE A WORRIED LOOK!
JAN ALEX HAS BEEN CRITICALLY INJURED IN BOOT CAMP. HIS PARENTS WANT VISITORS.
MANDY HE’S A BADGER, WE’RE ON OUR WAY!
END - BADGERS XIII
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