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Badgers CHAPTER V - “spiritual wellspring” TIME: WINTER 2008 SETTING: MANDY, AN ATTRACTIVE ATHLETIC HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL RECRUIT FROM JANESVILLE CRAIG HIGH SCHOOL IN WISCONSIN BEGINS HER SECOND YEAR AT THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN. SHE IS COMPETING FOR A STARTING STRIKER POSITION AGAINST A SENIOR. HER MAJOR IS ELEMENTARY EDUCATION AND SHE HAS MOVED INTO THE DG ( DELTA GAMMA ) HOUSE ON CAMPUS. MANDY HAS A HIGH SCHOOL SWEETHEART, MAX, WHO ATTENDS RIPON COLLEGE - AN HOUR AWAY. MANDY IS CATHOLIC, THOUGH SHE HAS STOPPED ATTENDING MASS, HAS CLOSE FRIENDS - ALEX - WHO IS A BACKUP QUARTERBACK ON THE UNIVERSITY TEAM AND JAN - HER TALKATIVE AND ATTRACTIVE SORORITY SISTER. FOLLOW ALONG AS THE TURBULENT YEAR OF A SORORITY GAL AND ATHLETE AT THE UW IS EXPOSED. THERE IS RARELY A DULL MOMENT AS ACADEMIC, ATHLETIC, AND GREEK COLLEGE LIFE IN MADISON, WISCONSIN IS OPENLY EXPOSED. MANDY I DROVE SAFELY MOM - I MADE IT BACK TO THE DG HOUSE. EVERYONE IS AT FALL BALL. MOM WELL I’M STILL HERE WITH MAX’S FAMILY AND FATHER HALLORAN. THEY ARE GIVING MAX THE FINAL SACRAMENTS. IT IS SOLEMN HERE. MANDY WELL I WANTED TO REMEMBER MAX AS I KNEW HIM GROWING UP. I CANNOT HANDLE THIS MOM. I ACTUALLY CRIED SO MUCH I HAD TO PULL OVER NEAR JOHNSON CREEK OFF I 94. IN FACT A LADY STOPPED AND ASKED ME WHAT IS WRONG ?

MOM THIS IS VERY DIFFICULT FOR EVERYONE - AND WITH GOD’S HELP WE WILL ALL DEAL WITH THIS THE VERY BEST WAY WE CAN - AND WITH TIME MAX’S MEMORY WILL BE EVER SO CLEAN AND GOOD. MANDY I FEEL HOPELESS, WORTHLESS, DEPRESSED, AND WITHOUT ANY EMOTION. I’M SADDENED AND STUNNED AT THE SAME TIME - MAX WAS SUCH A GOOD ATHLETE THAT I FELT HE WOULD PULL THROUGH.

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MOM WELL THE INTENSIVIST SAID HE WAS IN SUCH GOOD SHAPE THAT HIS BRAIN OVER REACTED WITH EXTREME INFLAMMATION - EDEMA - AND NEVER RECOVERED FROM HIS HEAD INJURY INSULT. MANDY THAT DOCTOR WAS SUCH A JERK - A TOUCH CUTE BUT IMPOSSIBLE TO DEAL WITH. HE HAD ZERO BEDSIDE MANNER. MOM WELL HE WAS RECENTLY DIVORCED WITH THREE LITTLE KIDS I PICKED UP ON - GIVE HIM SOME SLACK. HE WAS A GOOD PHYSICIAN FOR MAX SINCE HE WAS AT THE BEDSIDE CONSIDERABLY. MANDY WELL I EMAILED THE ALVERNO COACH AND SAID THANKS FOR HAVING ME A FEW DAYS. AND NOW I’LL GO BACK TO MY SECOND STRING POSITION BEHIND CAROLYN - WHO ALSO STOLE MY BOYFRIEND HERE WHILE I WAS AWAY. MOM WELL SUCH IS LIFE - THERE ARE 50,000 STUDENTS AT THE UW - I’M CERTAIN THERE ARE SOME OTHER GUYS WHO WOULD BE WILLING TO GIVE YOU A LOOK. MANDY RIGHT NOW MOM I FEEL THAT I CAN NEVER DATE AGAIN. MAYBE I’LL TALK TO FATHER HALLORAN A BIT ABOUT BEING A NUN. MOM HAVE YOU BEEN ATTENDING MASS ON CAMPUS ?

MANDY HONESTLY NOT MUCH. I’M TYPICAL OF COLLEGE KIDS WHO LOSE THEIR CATHOLIC RELIGION WHILE AT SCHOOL. I DON’T KNOW WHY. I COME HOME AND FAKE IT. MOM IT IS A PERIOD YOU GO THROUGH. YOU WILL REDEVELOP YOUR FAITH AROUND MAX. WE ALL LEARN AS WE GROW OUR ENTIRE LIVES. MANDY WELL I’LL GIVE IT A SHOT - JAN STILL GOES AND PEOPLE AT THE DG HOUSE ARE STUNNED - BUT SHE HAS REAL FAITH.

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MOM IT WILL COME BACK - I WILL SEE YOU AT THE FUNERAL IN JANESVILLE NEXT WEEKEND. IT WILL BE BIG. MANDY GOOD BYE AND LOVE. MOM LOVE AND SEE YOU SOON.

MANDY HEY JAN - WHAT ARE YOU DOING BACK HERE SO EARLY ? DO YOU WANT THE ROOM - I KNOW OUR HOUSE MOM LEFT FOR THE WEEKEND. JAN WELL I WENT SOLO FOR A BIT - ALEX DIDN’T COME - I WAS SUPPOSED TO MEET HIM AT THE KK AND I SAW ONE OF THE KAPPAS THERE WAITING FOR A LINEMAN TO GET OFF THE BUS. MANDY SO WHAT DOES THAT HAVE TO DO WITH YOU ?

JAN WELL THE BIG NEWS IS THAT ALEX SCORED THE WINNING TOUCHDOWN BUT WAS KNOCKED UNCONSCIOUS AND IS IN A CHICAGO HOSPITAL OVERNIGHT UNDER OBSERVATION. MANDY WELL I’LL CALL HIM. JAN NO ABSOLUTELY NOT. HE IS UNDER SEDATION - THE WHOLE THING. MANDY WOW - HERE BOTH OF US NOW HAVE TO DEAL WITH HEAD INJURED GUYS - EXCEPT MINE IS DEAD .

JAN WHAT - MAX DIED ?

MANDY YES - HE JUST FINISHED DONATING ALL HIS ORGANS TO RESEARCH AND ABOUT 15 PEOPLE - THEY EVEN TOOK HIS STEM CELLS. JAN OH MY GOD - I’M SO SORRY - I FIGURED HE WOULD JUST RECOVER - BIG ATHLETE AND ALL. 4

MANDY WELL WHEN IT IS YOUR TIME, IT IS YOUR TIME. I’M BEYOND CRYING - I’M JUST NUMB. I DON’T KNOW IF I’LL EVER RECOVER - IN FACT I’M GLAD CAROLYN IS STARTING AND HAS RICH WELLER FOR A DATE - HECK I WON’T DATE FOR MONTHS - MAYBE NEVER. JAN ALL OF US DG SORORITY SISTERS WILL HELP YOU GET THROUGH THIS. REMEMBER WE HAVE THE WINTER WEEKEND AT DEVIL’S HEAD - I GUESS WE ARE ALL STAYING ON THE SLOPES AT A NEW RESORT. MANDY I’M NOT GOING. JAN YOU ARE GOING - I WON’T LET YOU SIT IN THE DOLDRUMS FOR MONTHS. I’M ALSO GRIEVING FOR MAX NOW - EVERYONE IN THIS HOUSE WILL. BUT WE ALL MUST DEAL AND GET THROUGH THIS. THAT IS LIFE - IT IS VERY PRECIOUS - YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW IF YOU’LL GET YOUR NEXT BREATH. THAT IS GOD’S WAY WHICH WE DON’T UNDERSTAND. MANDY DID I HEAR YOU MENTION GOD ?

JAN YES AND I KNOW YOU ARE CATHOLIC AND DON’T REGULARLY ATTEND MASS. I JUST DECIDED I WAS DIFFERENT - THAT IS SOMETHING OUR PARENTS GAVE US THAT I CANNOT JUST TOSS LIKE MOST. THERE IS STRONG TRADITION IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH. MANDY WELL I AM GOING TO MASS WITH YOU TOMORROW THEN. JAN LOOK ALL OF US WILL BE CRYING FOR WEEKS ABOUT MAX - I WON’T SLEEP TONIGHT ON TOP OF ALEX - AND HE JUST HAS A CONCUSSION - AND WILL BE HOME PROBABLY TOMORROW. MANDY MY GOD - WHAT IS GOING ON ?

JAN WELL STUFF JUST HAPPENS. WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS WITH PRAYER, ATTITUDE, GIVING RESPECT TO MAX AND HIS FAMILY ALL THE WAY. GOD REWARDS PEOPLE WHO DO GOOD DEEDS.

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MANDY I HOPE SO. JAN SO YOU WILL BE GOING TO DEVILS HEAD NEXT MONTH - I ALREADY SIGNED YOU UP AND PAID. REMEMBER LAST YEAR YOU AND WHAT’S HIS NAME WENT TO THAT PARFREY’S GLEN - THAT GLACIER WALK AND HE SMOOCHED YOU. YOU DIDN’T KNOW WHAT HIT YOU. MANDY OH MY GOD - HOW CAN YOU ALL REMEMBER THAT - IT WAS NOTHING - HE SEEMED LIKE A NICE GUY BUT ALL HE WANTED WAS ROMANCE ROMANCE ROMANCE. JAN WELL RIGHT NOW I’D TAKE SOME OF THAT. OH MY TEXT IS GOING OFF - ALEX SAID HE IS ON THE WAY BACK TO THE UW. HE IS OK AND SORRY ABOUT THE MISSED DATE - HE’LL MAKE IT UP AT DEVILS HEAD. MANDY I’M GOING DOWN THE HALL AND SNEAK INTO THAT HIDDEN KEG OF POINT. I’M NOT MUCH OF A DRINKER BUT.......

JAN I’LL JOIN YOU ALSO - WE CAN TALK ABOUT MAX’S GREAT LIFE HERE AND WHEN WE WILL SEE HIM IN ANOTHER WORLD. MANDY OH MY GOSH - THE ENTIRE FALL BALL GUYS AND GALS ARE HEADING INTO OUR DG HOUSE. THERE ARE FANCY DRESSES AND SPORT COATS AND EVERYONE IS CRYING. JAN THEY ALL MUST HAVE HEARD. I TOLD YOU THIS WOULD AFFECT EVERYONE. PEOPLE HERE ARE MUCH MORE SENSITIVE THAN ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD. MANDY THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE - THEY ARE ALL SITTING AND KNEELING IN THE LIVING AND BALL ROOMS OF THE HOUSE AND SAYING A PRAYER FOR MAX AND ME. JAN LET THEM FINISH - THEY THINK WE ARE GONE - IT’S OK TO SIP SOME OF THE POINT DRAFT. MANDY I FEEL LIKE JOINING THEM.

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JAN WE WILL IN A MINUTE. LET THEM HAVE THEIR PEACE WITH GOD AND YOUR LOSS. MANDY BUT HERE I AM DRINKING POINT BEER WHILE THIS IS GOING ON. JAN IT’S OK - TRUST ME - THERE IS NO RIGHT OR WRONG WAY TO DEAL WITH THIS - IT ONLY MATTERS WITH GOD. MANDY MY GOSH JAN - YOU ARE SO SPIRITUAL ON THE INSIDE AND NOW THAT IS COMING OUT. JAN WE ALL FACE LIFE DILEMMAS. MANDY I’M GOING TO GO TALK WITH THEM. JAN SOUNDS GOOD. MANDY HEY GREEK SOCIETY OF THE UW. I WITNESSED YOUR SERVICE, AND NONE OF THIS WILL EVER BE FORGOTTEN AS LONG AS I LIVE. AS YOU KNOW THERE ARE NO GUARANTEES IN LIFE. MY LOSS IS TREMENDOUS. I HAVE LITTLE WORDS TO SAY OTHER THAN TO SAY MAX IS AT PEACE WITH HIMSELF, HE HAS HELPED MANY THROUGH HIS ORGAN DONATION, AND I CANNOT SAY ENOUGH THE SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE THAT YOU HAVE ALL PROVIDED MYSELF. AGAIN MY LOSS OF SOMEONE I KNEW SINCE I WAS IN PRESCHOOL IS THE BIGGEST BLOW I’LL PROBABLY EVER FACE - BUT IT IS OVERWHELMING TO SEE ALL OF THE FALL BALL HERE - INCREDIBLE BECAUSE MANY OF YOU I DON’T KNOW WELL. JAN AND AS MANDY’S ROOMMATE I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH EITHER - WHAT YOU HAVE DONE IS WHAT MONEY CANNOT BUY - SUPPORT, UNDERSTANDING, FRIENDSHIP, AND LOVE OF AN ETERNAL NATURE. I WON’T FORGET EITHER HOW YOU HAVE TREATED MY ROOMMATE MANDY IN A TIME OF SEVERE SORROW. CAROLYN HEY MANDY - WHEN I HEARD WHAT HAD HAPPENED I SAID A ROSARY FOR YOU. I PROMISED THAT I WOULD BE THE BEST KAPPA POSSIBLE EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE A DG.

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MANDY THANKS CAROLYN - THAT IS VERY NICE. CAROLYN ON TOP OF THAT - I KNOW YOU WERE THE STARTER ON THE UW VOLLEYBALL TEAM AHEAD OF ME BEFORE MAX’S INJURY. I’VE ALREADY TALKED TO COACH - AND BOTH OF US AGREE WHEN YOU RETURN AND FEEL UP TO IT, THAT STARTING JOB IS BACK TO YOU. NO QUESTIONS. MANDY BUT CAROLYN, YOU’VE EARNED IT. YOU’VE PLAYED WELL. CAROLYN THIS IS A RALLYING POINT FOR OUR TEAM AS WE COMPETE FOR THE BIG 10 TITLE AND MAYBE SOMETHING NATIONALLY. MANDY BUT CAROLYN....

CAROLYN REMEMBER NO QUESTIONS......I’LL GET PLENTY OF PLAYING TIME TRUST ME - WE ALL WILL. COACH IS ON HER WAY ALSO. JAN I DON’T KNOW IF YOU WANT TO LOOK OUTSIDE - BUT THE STREET IS BLOCKED OFF AND THERE ARE HUNDREDS MAYBE THOUSANDS OF FOLKS COMING UP LANGDON STREET. THEY HAVE HUNDREDS OF CANDLES AND ARE ALL PRAYING. BANNERS - EVERYTHING. THIS WHOLE PLACE HAS STOPPED. MANDY OH MY GOD - I DIDN’T THINK ANYONE EVEN KNEW ME - I CANNOT DEAL WITH THIS. JAN HANG IN THERE MANDY - BE STRONG - FOLKS ARE JUST SHOWING THEIR SUPPORT. THIS IS THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN AT ITS BEST. MANDY BUT MAX WENT TO RIPON. THEY DON’T EVEN KNOW HIM. JAN SPIRITUALLY THEY DO - THOUGH THIS IS A BIG 10 MONSTER UNIVERSITY, WE ARE A TIGHT KNIT GROUP. THIS HAS AFFECTED MANY PEOPLE. LET THEM AIR IT OUT SO TO SPEAK - REMEMBER PEOPLE KNOW YOU THROUGH VOLLEYBALL AND SELL OUT CROWDS AT THE FIELD HOUSE.

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MANDY BUT I WON’T SLEEP FOR A YEAR. THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE. THEY ARE ALL COMING UP TO THE HOUSE. THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS PRAYING, SINGING, AND ALL A TRIBUTE TO MAX. CAROLYN THERE ARE EVEN MORE COMING FROM THE NORTH LAKE STREET AND STATE STREET. THIS IS A REAL VIGIL. MANDY CAROLYN - DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING OR KNOW OF ANYONE THAT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS ?

CAROLYN WELL NO - I HEARD ABOUT IT JUST WALKING THROUGH THE DORMS. I DID HEAR THAT ONE OF THE FRESHMEN KNEW BOTH YOUR PARENTS FROM JANESVILLE AND THAT WORD SPREAD LIKE WILDFIRE THAT MAX WAS AN ORGAN DONOR AND WAS YOUR BOYFRIEND SINCE PRESCHOOL. SO IT IS JUST A MATTER OF SUPPORT. JAN I REALLY THINK THAT FOLKS HERE FOLLOW WOMEN’S VOLLEYBALL SO MUCH THAT THEY CANNOT FATHOM A BETTER WAY TO SAY THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES AND ARE FEELING YOUR PAIN ALONG WITH YOU MANDY. IT IS NOTHING MORE THAN THAT. CAROLYN IT IS CLEARLY THE BIGGEST THING EVER AT THIS UNIVERSITY - BIGGER THAN ANY SPORTING EVENT, NOBEL PRIZE, WASHINGTON APPOINTMENT - THIS IS HUGE. MANDY WELL I’M VERY HUMBLED - AND NOW WE HAVE TELEVISION AND CABLE OUTSIDE. JAN SHOULD WE MAKE A STATEMENT - SHOULD YOU GO OUTSIDE ? OH MY GOSH NOW THERE IS THE CHANCELLOR. I THOUGHT HE JUST LIVED IN THAT LITTLE CASTLE OFF OBSERVATORY DRIVE - YOU KNOW THAT HOUSE NEAR THE ELIZABETH WATERS HOUSE. I THOUGHT HE NEVER CAME OUT - LIKE THE DISNEY CASTLE - ALWAYS INSIDE BECAUSE IT IS SO NICE WITH THE LAKE MENDOTA VIEW AND NICE GREEN YARD. MANDY OK - I’LL GO OUT - THIS IS THE MOST UNBELIEVABLE THING EVER. I JUST FEEL THAT I’M DOING THIS FOR MAX.

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CAROLYN THAT IS THE RIGHT THING TO DO - THANK ALL THE UNIVERSITY FOR THEIR SUPPORT. JAN YES - WE’LL GO WITH YOU. AND THERE IS COACH - SHE CAN COME ALSO. AND ALEX IS COMING UP THE STREET WITH HIS FOOTBALL BUDDIES. MANDY HELLO EVERYONE - I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR SENSING MY LOSS - WHAT YOU HAVE DONE HERE TONIGHT WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. MAX WAS A GREAT PERSON WHO MET AN UNTIMELY DEATH - ALL OF HIS ORGANS AND CELLS ARE HELPING OTHER FAMILIES IN DIRE NEED - IN FACT HIS HEART IS GOING TO AN ADOLESCENT BOY IN CALIFORNIA WHO HAS AN INCURABLE CARDIOMYOPATHY. MAX AND THIS SICK BOY HAVE MATCHING CELL TISSUE TYPES. AND THERE ARE MANY MORE PEOPLE WHO WILL BENEFIT FROM MAX. THOUGH THIS IS A MAJOR LOSS, MAX WILL BE AT PEACE WITH HIMSELF WITH GOD. CHANCELLOR WE MUST CLEAR THE GREEK RHO FOR TRAFFIC AND SAFETY MANDY. SOON - VERY SOON. JAN MR. CHANCELLOR, HI I’M JAN - A SOPHOMORE DG. PLEASE JUST THIS ONCE - GIVE US A BREAK - YOU WILL NEVER HAVE ANYTHING LIKE THIS EVER AGAIN. CHANCELLOR I HOPE NOT. OK POLICE - WATCH THE CROWDS AND WE WILL GIVE THE STUDENTS ONE HOUR SINCE WE ARE ON UNIVERSITY AND NOT THE CITY OF MADISON STREETS. OUR UNIVERSITY POLICE WILL TAKE CARE OF THE CROWD LIKE A FOOTBALL GAME. I’LL TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY. MANDY STUDENTS - I KNOW MANY OF YOU ARE NOT CATHOLIC, BUT I HAVE MAX’S ACTUAL ROSARY WHEN HE WAS AN ALTER BOY IN JANESVILLE. WE WILL SAY THE ROSARY AND IF YOU DON’T KNOW IT YOU CAN PRAY YOUR FAITH RIGHT ALONG. I WON’T SAY ANYTHING TO THE CABLE MEDIA BECAUSE THE EVENT AND MAX SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. WE WILL START WITH THE SIGN OF THE CROSS: IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT:

END OF BADGER v

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