MIADbridge_CD4_17 by lulurader

MIAD BRIDGE

THE

ISSUE GET OUT AND VOTE pg. 5 MIAD VOICES pg. 15

RUTH BADER GINSBURGâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S ADVICE FOR LIVING pg. 11

MIAD BRIDGE

THE VOTER ISSUE

CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE Editors & Directors Editor in Chief: Lulu Rader Creative Director: Lulu Rader Art Director: Lulu Rader Managing Editor: Maggie Connors Style Director: Lulu Rader Features Director: Lulu Rader Digital Director: Lulu Rader Photography Director: Lulu Rader Writers Ben Thon Lulu Rader William Mueller Ruth Bader Ginsburg (re-published from The New York Times) LaNia Sproles Photographers Lulu Rader Cheri Donohue Todd Heisler (via The New York Times) Illustrators Amy Kleinhans Advertising Advertising Director: Lulu Rader For Advertising Inquiries lulurader@miadbridge.com

Like MIAD BRIDGE on Facebook

Follow MIAD BRIDGE on Twitter

MIAD BRIDGE

THE VOTER ISSUE

Ladies, MIAD students... The time is now. For far too long we’ve been sentenced to life in the background. We’ve been told not to care about politics, not to raise our voice, not to get too roudy. I’m here to tell you to stand up for yourself. We’re all waiting for change, but like how that old saying goes, we’re going to have to be the change we wish to see in the world. Afterall, if you want something done right, shouldn’t you do it yourself? Women aren’t voting, so women aren’t electing women. What’s up with that? Don’t you want to be represented fairly? Get out there! If you’re sitting around waiting for a sign, this is it. In this issue, you’ll find an article (ahem, lecture) on why you should vote, where to vote in Milwaukee’s upcoming eletions, how to look badass while doing it, and some words from women I’m inspired by and think you will be too. It’s time for us to kick, bite, and scream for what we want. Let’s set the world on fire.

Lulu Rader Editor in Chief MIAD Bridge Magazine

MIAD MUSIC GUIDE CURATED BY BEN THON

THE GUILLOTINE Pairing a funky synth bass line with a hook of “We got the guillotine, you better run”, The Coup creates an anthem of socialist egalitarian revolution. As socially aware as it is danceable.

SLOW DOWN GHANDI Another Us against Them power to the people jam, this time with the memory of 9/11 fresh on the consciousness. Francis delivers brilliant rage over powerful beats with the strength of a shotgun blast.

THE REVOLUTION WILL NOT BE TELEVISED The quintessential hard soul spoken word call to arms of civil rights in a newly post-MLK world. Singularly 70’s with a larger scope that also encompasses anti-corpratism that is as poignant and relevant now as 1971.

3,000 MILES AWAY Anarcho-Punk/Crust/Ska legend Stza Crack and Co. pen a raucous inditement of authoritarianism and war. The A. C. A. B. message hits hardest with chants of “L-I-V-E AGAINST BRUTALITY” which close track.

TERRORIST Before Sleater-Kinney, Corin Tucker created the most visceral destruction of misogyny and rape culture: Terrorist. The raw anger may not be pleasing to all ears but the message to the Patriarchy is clear; I Don’t Exist For You.

MY BUSH AIN’T UR BUSINESS

The opener off the Riotgrrl trio’s debut is a folk-punk tinged feminist jam that zeroes in on gender double standards and cultural expectations of women. The message culminates with the pairing of a lo-fi riff with shouts of “LET MY BUSH BE FREE, FUCK YOUR MISOGYNY” DEPARTMENTS

MIAD BRIDGE

THE VOTER ISSUE

A rticle by William Mueller and Lulu Rader When you struggle to get your voice heard, it’s easy to give up and assume your vote is just another among millions. However, once elections happen, statistics and trends start to show up; and people love to point fingers when they lose. It’s always better to have voted than not; but even if you voted a certain way, your choices may become the next ‘You’re the Reason Why Your Favorite Lost’ article you’ll scroll past on your Facebook feed. Sometimes your candidate wins the popular vote, while the electoral college pronounces a different winner. Sometimes you feel like your vote doesn’t matter, so you don’t vote at all. It’s a hard pill to swallow. It’s not easy to feel blamed for the loss of a major election, or when you did vote and your candidate almost won, but didn’t. It’s not easy

when you feel disenfranchised, and don’t think your opinion should be counted at all. However, voting remains the most important part of our democratic process, and to not vote is to give up your voice completely. Voting affects every aspect of our lives, from schools, to health care, to homeland security. I don’t know about you, but I’d rather lose an election than never to have voted at all. The context, value, & predicament of your vote go all the way to the top, even in some precarious voting situations. Say, you’re voting for a candidate you think faces impossible odds at winning like in the 2002 Oconomowoc, WI mayoral race, when Gary Kohlenberg upset former mayor J. Thomas Foti, a three-term incumbent. It was Kohlenberg’s first run public

Illustrations by MIAD Junior Amy Kleinhans

election race, and was a write-in candidate. Or, perhaps you think because your candidate is a fringe contender, they will only get less than a fraction of the total vote? Take the case of Gary Johnson, who in the 2016 presidential election garners a full 9.3% in his home state of New Mexico. Margins for some candidates can some times come down to a few thousands ballots. In the 2,000 presidential elections, George W. Bush landed 50,456,002 total votes, whereas Al Gore ended with 50,999,897. Gore won the popular vote, but all in all, the electoral votes decided, and those votes come from a college of electors, who, in turn, are selected to be representatives of more voters earlier on. This election process all boils down to individuals in voting booths before anything is decided. On primary voting days, during midterms, and in local elections, it is up to the voter to cast their support to officials they deem worthy of office, or representatives they with to express the will of their constituencies. Votes count. If some sections of a body of people don’t vote, their election results may change dramatically. Shortly before the 2016 presidential election, the law that requires that voters have an official I.D. was reinstated after being overturned by a judge in 2014 for violating the federal Voting Rights Act. This was because its effects hit Latinos and AfricanAmericans harder than whites. Recently in Wisconsin, the

MIAD BRIDGE

THE VOTER ISSUE

2016 presidential election results for the state were fairly close, with a marginal gap closing at about 22,000 votes. According to District Judge Lynn Adelman, nine percent of all registered voters could have been turned away from the polls for not having proper voter identification in WI. That’s 300,000 votes, or 11 times the amount of the vote margin for the presidential election. This shows again how important even singular votes can be, even in our home state. With even the margin of fifty percent of those improper registered voters being turned away or not showing up, that still leaves a possible 150,000 more chances to fill in the 22,000 swing vote slots, a number roughly the size of Green Bay. Had just a few more people been motivated enough to get out and vote, the results of our recent federal election might have been very different! Another responsibility voters have is to research the candidates who are being elected, so some say that they don’t know enough about the issues and think they shouldn’t vote. That information is usually just a few clicks away. Most candidates have websites that detail their ideas and goals for the office. If not, usually you can find out a person’s platform, even with a quick Google search of their name and the city or state they’re running for office in. To find out where to vote, you can contact your local board of elections and they will tell you where to go to vote, or you can

check out the especially handy MyVote Wisconsin website. Here you can not only find information about where to vote, but you can also find out election dates, find information about registering to vote, register to vote, find out what’s on the ballot, and add the dates to your calendar. If you’re in Milwaukee, the City of Milwaukee website has a section dedicated to Election Info, with sections on latest election results, upcoming elections, and quite a bit of other information about the voting process. A brief check of the Upcoming Elections section shows primaries coming up in February, and the general elections happening in April, so mark your calendars and watch out for information about what will be on the spring 2018 ballots in the coming months! Some don’t like either candidate and/or don’t trust government, no matter which party holds the reins, so they don’t think they should vote. The reality is, though, that you’re not going to love every candidate. Individuals are norminated by political parties that have money and influence, and it’s difficult to get by as a candidate without their help. They complicate things, but they’re also trying to make sure candidates always align with the views of their parties.

2018 Spring Primary

Tuesday, February 20th 2018 Spring Election

Tuesday, April 3rd

2018 Fall Primary

Tuesday, August 14th 2018 Fall Election

Tuesday, November 6th

All in all, voting is the most important part of being a U.S. citizen, and you will make the most change by starting with local elections and working from there up. I’m here to break it to you: your vote does matter!

Socks can be found at Modcloth.com or BlueQ.com

WTC? ?

Sharpies can be found at Walgreens, Target, Walmart, etc!

Here’s where you find the cutest accessories to use while exercising your rights to protest!

BIC Lighters can be found at any Walgreens! 9

MIAD BRIDGE

THE VOTER ISSUE

Empyre ‘All-Seeing Eye’ fanny pack found at Zumies.com!

Badass balaclava handmade by Strickolino on Etsy!

POLITOSCOPES

Icons designed by Ben Davis, RO, from Nounproject.com

BY LULU RADER

ARIES

TAURUS

GEMINI

CANCER

In 2018, you’ll know what you want, and you’ll take what you want. Voting will be straightforward, just make sure you check the website for the right information first.

Your predictable nature means that whatever your habits are now, they’ll be just about the same in the future. Make sure to get a second opinion before choosing your candidate.

Indecision is your middle name. No, not really, silly. Use your excellent communicative nature to gently remind your friends of the real goals of the day.

You’ll ride the waves of change, as you do best. Don’t be surprised when others, ahem, Taurus, come to you for advice.

LEO

VIRGO

LIBRA

SCORPIO

You’re a true humanitarian, and sometimes you know more about others than they know about themselves. Don’t be afraid to step in and give someone a ride to the voting booth.

Virgo, you’re strong as hell, and you don’t need me to tell you that. Don’t secondguess yourself: Your decisions in 2018 will be well-thought-out and you will vote with confidence.

Your fun nature makes you the perfect candidate for a campaign manager. You can always see both sides of a problem and won’t be afraid to speak your mind.

Beware of your favorite political candidate, they may have some shady business cards stuffed up their sleeves. That being said, sometimes choosing the lesser evil is necessary.

SAGITTARIUS Your enthusiasm for life means that you’ll probably be an early voter. But just in case you’re not, make sure your schedule is clear and you arrive with the right papers in hand.

CAPRICORN

AQUARIUS

PISCES

Your plan for the 2018 election will be well researched and executed. You’ll have to organize a rally or other event since you’ll have so much time on your hands.

As a dreamer, you’re envisioning a future of freedom for all, and you’re not afraid to do whatever you can to make it happen. Just remember to take a deep breath.

Altruistic to a fault, you need to make sure you break yourself away from your usual hard work to get out to the voting booth.

DEPARTMENTS

MIAD BRIDGE

THE VOTER ISSUE

“Did you always want to be a judge” or, more exorbitantly, “a Supreme Court justice?” Schoolchildren visiting me at the court, as they do at least weekly, ask that question more than any other. It is a sign of huge progress made. To today’s youth, judgeship as an aspiration for a girl is not at all outlandish. Contrast the ancient days, the fall of 1956, when I entered law school. Women accounted for less than 3 percent of the legal profession in the United States, and only one woman had ever served on a federal appellate court.

and courts, the equal-citizenship stature of women and men as a fundamental constitutional principle. Feminists, caring men among them, had sought just that for generations. Until the late 1960s, however, society was not prepared to heed their plea. What enabled me to take part in the effort to free our daughters and sons to achieve whatever their talents equipped them to accomplish, with no artificial barriers blocking their way? First, a mother who, by her example, made reading a delight and counseled me constantly to “be independent,” able to fend for myself, whatever fortune might have in store for me.

Today about half the nation’s law students and more than one-third of our federal judges are women, including three of the justices seated on the United States Supreme Court bench. Women hold more than 30 percent of law school deanships in the United States and serve as general counsel to 24 percent of Fortune 500 companies. In my long life, I have seen great changes.

Second, teachers who influenced or encouraged me in my growing-up years. At Cornell University, my professor of European literature, Vladimir Nabokov, changed the way I read and the way I write. Words could paint pictures, I learned from him. Choosing the right word, and the right word order, he illustrated, could make an enormous difference in conveying an image or an idea.

How fortunate I was to be alive and a lawyer when, for the first time in United States history, it became possible to urge, successfully, before legislatures

sburg n i G r e d a by Ruth B

At Columbia Law School, my professor of constitutional law and federal courts, Gerald Gunther, was determined to place me in a federal court clerkship, despite what was then viewed as a grave impediment: On graduation, I was the mother of a 4-year old child. After heroic efforts, Professor Gunther succeeded in that mission. Another often-asked question when I speak in public: “Do you have some good advice you might share with us?” Yes, I do. It comes from my savvy mother-in-law, advice she gave me on my wedding day. “In every good marriage,” she counseled, “it helps 12

sometimes to be a little deaf.” I have followed that advice assiduously, and not only at home through 56 years of a marital partnership nonpareil. I have employed it as well in every workplace, including the Supreme Court. When a thoughtless or unkind word is spoken, best tune out. Reacting in anger or annoyance will not advance one’s ability to persuade. Advice from my father-in-law has also served me well. He gave it during my gap years, 1954 to ‘56, when my husband, Marty, was fulfilling his obligation to the Army as an artillery officer at Fort Sill, Okla. By the end of 1954, my pregnancy was confirmed. We looked forward to becoming three in July 1955, but I worried about starting law school the next year with an infant to care for. Father’s advice: “Ruth, if you don’t want to start law school, you have a good reason to resist the undertaking. No one will think the less of you if you make that choice. But if you really want to study law, you will stop worrying and find a way to manage child and school.” And so Marty and I did, by engaging a nanny on school days from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Work-life balance was a term not yet coined in the years my children were young; it is aptly descriptive of the time distribution I experienced. My success in law school, I have no doubt, was in large measure because of baby Jane. I attended classes and studied diligently until 4 in the afternoon; the next hours were Jane’s time, spent at the park, playing silly games or singing funny songs,

MIAD BRIDGE

THE VOTER ISSUE

reading picture books and A. A. Milne poems, and bathing and feeding her. After Jane’s bedtime, I returned to the law books with renewed will. Each part of my life provided respite from the other and gave me a sense of proportion that classmates trained only on law studies lacked. I have had more than a little bit of luck in life, but nothing equals in magnitude my marriage to Martin D. Ginsburg. I do not have words adequate to describe my supersmart, exuberant, ever-loving spouse. Early on in our marriage, it became clear to him that cooking was not my strong suit. To the eternal appreciation of our food-loving children (we became four in 1965, when our son, James, was born), Marty made the kitchen his domain and became chef supreme in our home. Marty coached me through the birth of our son, he was the first reader and critic of articles, speeches and briefs I drafted, and he was at my side constantly, in and out of the hospital, during two long bouts with cancer. And I betray no secret in reporting that, without him, I would not have gained a seat on the Supreme Court. Ron Klain, then associate White House counsel, said of my 1993 nomination: “I would say definitely and for the record, though Ruth Bader Ginsburg should have been picked for the Supreme Court any way, she would not have been picked for the Supreme Court if her husband had not done everything he did to make it happen.” That “everything” included gaining the unqualified support of my home

state senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and enlisting the aid of many members of the legal academy and practicing bar familiar with work I had done. I have several times said that the office I hold, now for more than 23 years, is the best and most consuming job a lawyer anywhere could have. The court’s main trust is to repair fractures in federal law. Because the court grants review dominantly when other jurists have divided on the meaning of a statutory or constitutional prescription, the questions we take up are rarely easy; they seldom have indubitably right answers. Yet by reasoning together at our conferences and, with more depth and precision, through circulation of, and responses to, draft opinions, we ultimately agree far more often than we divide sharply.

“Work-life balance was a term not yet coined in the years my children were young”

Earlier, I spoke of great changes I have seen in women’s occupations. Yet one must acknowledge the still bleak part of the picture. Most people in poverty in the United States and the world over are women and children, women’s earnings here and abroad trail the earnings of men with comparable education and experience, our workplaces do not adequately accommodate the demands of childbearing and child rearing, and we have yet to devise effective ways to ward off sexual harassment at work and domestic violence in our homes. I am optimistic, however, that movement toward enlistment of the talent of all who compose “We, the people,” will continue.

When a justice is of the firm view that the majority got it wrong, she is free to say so in dissent. I take advantage of that prerogative, when I think it important, as do my colleagues. Despite our strong disagreements on cardinal issues — think, for example, of controls on political campaign spending, affirmative action, access to abortion — we genuinely respect one another, even enjoy one another’s company. Collegiality is crucial to the success of our mission. We could not do the job the Constitution assigns to us if we didn’t — to use one of Justice Antonin Scalia’s favorite expressions — “get over it!” 14

MIAD BRIDGE

THE VOTER ISSUE

Interview and introduction by Lulu Rader I sat down with two MIAD students, Rosie Brandenburg, NSP Senior, and Cera Propper, CD Sophomore, to talk about politics, voting, and activism. I asked the same questions, both had similar points of view, but varying degrees of engagement with the voting process. What I think is revealed is that getting involved with politics as a student is both

essential, and easy. MIAD has a great relationship with Milwaukeeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s voter registration office and system that makes it easy to register as a student in MIlwaukee, even if your local address is not your permanent address. For more on voter registration at MIAD, contact Marianne Honrath in R45, near the MIAD Cafe.

How involved do you typically get with politics? I’m not super involved, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve tried to pay more attention and stay informed. I could definitely be more involved, especially on a local level, but I try to vote in the bigger elections.

Did you vote in the 2016 Presidential election? Why or why not?

Do you plan to participate in Milwaukee’s upcoming 2018 spring elections?

Yes. I think that the presidential election especially is important, because around 50% of the population doesn’t. This person is representing our country. If you have a thr right to share your opinion, you should say it, you know?

I don’t even know who’s being elected. It’s not something that I feel is talked about a lot, because people tend to be lazy when it comes to voting, and have this power to vote, but don’t. And I’m including myself in that group.

Are you satisfied with the results from the 2016 Presidential election? Why or why not?

Uh. No. The person I voted for was not elected. The person who did win does not have the best interests for the country. He has time and time again been proven to just want attention, and be incredibly whiny. At least the other candidates had previous experience in politics, whereas he didn’t have any experience. All he did was have a TV show and run some other failed businesses, and now he’s running the country.

If you are a registered voter, how or where did you register? I am a registered voter. I tried to do it online, but I had to mail in my information, so I ended up just registering at my polling place at Riverside High School. I brought in my ID and proof of residence, and it was really easy and only took about 5 minutes.

Are you typically aware of and do you participate in local elections? If so, where do you go to findinformation about elections/candidates? I’m not as aware as I’d like to be. I’ve only been in Milwaukee for a year and a half, so I’m still trying to wrap my head around who

MIAD BRIDGE

THE VOTER ISSUE

the people currently representing me are. In terms of sources, I talk to my peers, but it’s kind of different depending on the election. Sometimes if I see things on Facebook, I’ll read articles to stay informed that way , but I’m not actively doing my research.

Yes, because that’s a very narrow group of people, and they are going to look out for their interests. If you do not have representation for women, people of color, and different backgrounds, these groups won’t have their voices heard. 80% is a huge percentage so that is very worrisome.

As children, we’re often told that anyone can be president. Have you ever considered what it would be like if you were president? What would that responsibility look like, for you? I think I thought about it a few times, but it was never something I’ve seriously considered. For starters, I would not want to talk in front of crowds, no thank you. But also, that’s a role that comes with a tremendous amount of stress. That was something that turned me off of it pretty quickly. I also think our government can be very corrupt, so I’ve never desired trying to work my way up the ladder to be able to get to the point where I could be elected.

MIAD BRIDGE

THE VOTER ISSUE

How involved do you typically get with politics?

If you are a registered voter, how or where did you register?

I’ve gotten a lot more involved in the recent year. I wanted to listen while in middle school, when Obama was getting elected for the first time. At the time, I was more ambitious, too, so I would be viewed more as an adult. They’ve always been a part of my life, but I’m more involved now than I ever have been. I could always be more involved, and like organize things, but I’m never afraid of talking about. It helps being art school.

I registered, since I’m a student, at the Ziegler building in the 3rd ward. It’s off of the 15 bus line, off of State St. That’s the place I went to for early voting, and for the national election. It’s much easier to register as a student than it is to register as a regular adult, because my home is so far away, and I was able to vote in a place that wasn’t my official district. Being a student is the perfect time to get more political.

Did you vote in the 2016 Presidential election? Why or why not? I fuckin’ hella voted. I was an early voter, actually. I was an early voter in the primaries, in Milwaukee, and in the official election. I was a part of the table that helped students register to vote at MAID, actually, and I helped students to understand that their vote matters. Election day was really important for me. So many things happened that day, and I got barely any sleep. I spent so much time working for the election and then the results changed so much about the world. I still ask myself how it happened. We let it happen. That was the first time I became so active in politics. People also started to identify me as a political person.

Are you satisfied with the results from the 2016 Presidential election? Why or why not? I am not, and that’s an understatement, and I just… It’s just so many bad things. It’s a constant; that’s what I really hate. It’s an alien thing that I have to get used to. I keep waking up everyday thinking it’s going to end. I think the comedians keep kind of counting down, waiting for something to happen. It wouldn’t even be a victory, if things were to change. If Hillary had won, I wouldn't necessarily have gotten what I wanted. Bad things still would have happened. But everyday I feel like I’m in more danger. Maybe not me specifically, but everything that I care about is in danger.

Are you typically aware of and do you participate in local elections? If so, where do you go to find information about elections/candidates? I could be doing better about this, but I am subscribed to a newsletter that is helping to keep me more up to date on Milwaukee local politics. I could go to more town-hall type meetings, but I don’t. Growing up in Madison helped, but I’ve realized that Milwaukee and Madison are really the only liberal parts of Wisconsin. It surprises me that Milwaukee has such strong dividing lines between neighborhoods depending on race, and if I did go to a town hall, that’s probably the question I’d focus on most. I don’t really address that in my work, but I think money needs to stop going towards tourism, and instead towards solving our racial barriers. Bus lines in Milwaukee run along segregation lines, and they cut resources off to people. If I were to address it in my art, that’s where I’d start.

Do you plan to participate in Milwaukee’s upcoming 2018 spring elections? Yeah. I don’t have a plan of action for things; I need to start doing more research. I do want to get involved, because I need to, and these local elections are obviously going to affect things later on.

Members of Congress are more than 80 percent male, about 80 percent white and about 60 years old, on average. Does the lack of equal representation for women and people of color in politics worry you? It worries me a lot. Actually, strangely, what worries me the most is how old those people are, because they are very far gone from the people they represent. That explains more about why things are the way they are. 20 year old men at least can listen to what people have to say, and represent them. If we could get a young guy in there, that would at least be something, and that’s even compromising a lot, for myself. I want to see their tax brackets too, and I want to see how narrow it is. If anything, we need to gradually seek better representation. The more people who win seats, the bigger voice we have. We can compromise, but we need to keep pushing for greater change, while being patient. The longer I have to be patient, I know I’ll just assert even harder, but it’s about being patient.

As children, we’re often told that anyone can be president. Have you ever considered what it would be like if you were president? What would that responsibility look like, for you? I remember that my dad would always joke, with me, and I always shot it down as like “I don’t want to be the fucking president.” Not as like, I knew I wouldn’t get there, I just know that you can’t ever get anything done. Knowing my disposition, as someone who is always an outsider on things, and taking a more observational point of view; being the president would not really be something that would suit me. I have been thinking more recently about what it would be like to run for politics, and I do wonder if that’s something I’d want to do. I wonder if I’d be so political if I weren’t in such a catastrophic time. But never president. Though I do think I’d like to be more involved in local politics.

WOMAN TO WATCH

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Jared and Iâ&#x20AC;?, collaged cut paper, screenprint ink, pencil, 2017

Through collage and assemblage I strive to conduct work that pays homage to imagery free from the barriers of social constructs and honest in the work's vulnerability. The reconfiguration and twistedness of bodily forms in the work embody racial, sexual and inner insecurities. The figures take pride in their dark presence and at times cannot be distinguished for their gender, sexuality, or virtue. They are alone and lust for a place to call home. A flaunting of relentless otherness, the figures represent my deeply rooted disconnectivity. They display a unique struggle of self understanding. Their identity is depends on what I am feeling or needing to expel emotionally. As a black queer woman I am insecure and overwhelmed with displacement. Displacement encourages relocation and relocation encourages isolation. 21

MIAD BRIDGE

THE VOTER ISSUE

YOUR STUDENT GUIDE to local politics, non-violent direct action, and owning your voice. MIADBRIDGE.COM

MIAD BRIDGE US$ 9.99 / CAN$ 12.99 / PRINTED IN WI, USA

MIAD BRIDGE

THE VOTER ISSUE