The Clarion issue 1-18-23

KELLY FENG Managing Editor

In November, Dr. Geoffrey Bradshaw traveled to Africa to sign a partnership agreement with the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology (MoHERST) for the national government of The Gambia in West Africa.

The partnership between Madison College and The Gambia allows opportunities with all higher education institutions in the country, including the University of The Gambia, the University of Science, Engineering and Technology and the Gambian Technical and Vocational Education and Training system.

The agreement includes partnering areas, including online learning, course articulation, faculty and student exchange, grants development and capacity-building training and con-

sulting. Bradshaw arrived at The Gambia as part of a formal Madison-Kanifing Gambia Sister City delegation that included Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes Conway and Wisconsin State Assembly Representative Samba Baldeh.

The representatives met with a wide range of national, regional and local leaders including the President of The Gambia, Adama Barrow.

On Nov. 29, Bradshaw participated in a formal signing ceremony, creating an alliance for the agreement at the MoHERST offices.

The associate vice president of International Education at Madison College sees the signing as more than the final seal on an agreement. He considers the partnership enriching and providing opportunities to people who may otherwise not get the chance.

An inclusive signage change

As students make their way onto campus for the spring semester, they might notice some changes by the bathrooms. All single person restrooms’ signage will be changed, now reading “Gender Neutral Restroom.”

This decision was made by a committee that included the HR office and the Disability Resource Center. After some conversations, it was decided that the new bathroom signs would be better than the traditional ones, according to Fred Brechlin, director of planning and construction management. The changes will be made at 30 different bathrooms, including campuses outside of Truax.

CLARION STAFF PHOTO

Bowie tells tales from his rock-and-roll history as part of writer’s series

Editor

Last month Madison College held a special presentation of the Writer's Life Lecture Series at the Truax Campus. The guest

lecturer was Madison College video and audio instructor Bowie. He discussed his former career as a sound engineer and backline technician for the Eagles and his musical collaboration with rock groups such as Fleetwood Mac.

Journalism program director Larry Hansen organized the event for his Introduction to Mass Communications class.

"I wanted my students to have some experience with someone who's been in music, for them to understand the underworkings of the music industry," said Hansen, who also served as the presentation's host. "We study not only journalism, but we study

entertainment media as well. The entertainment media section is a big part of the class."

Growing up in his native New Hampshire, the unassuming Bowie lived in a rural area near the woods, greatly influencing his musical training. Bowie, classically trained in baritone and piano, said the isolation was lonely. Music filled a void in him and kept him company. Eventually, his music passion turned to guitar, bringing him to Los Angeles, where he met Eagles’

founder Glenn Frey.

audience followed Bowie

Brechlin says that while this will be an easy project, it’s a good thing for Madison College. So far, there have not been any positive or negative reactions to the change from staff or students.

CLARION STAFF PHOTO

Brechlin also says that the school is always looking to make things more inclusive. One way is already found in the recent student study spaces in open corridors. There are also student nooks on the third floor of Truax, where students can study by themselves or with their peers. In the Architecture and Design area of the campus located on the far east end of the third floor, there is a student kitchen that is available for use by all students.

Another feature that will be changed is the floor plans. There will be updated floor plans around campus to show students what has changed over the break. Additionally, online versions of the floor plans will be uploaded and accessible for technology with screen readers. Brechlin expects this update to come in the next several months.

‘The Fabelmans’ a nostalgic drama Steven Spielberg’s movie a semi-autobiographical tale about a young boy who discovers the power of cinema when he seeks the truth about his family » 8

Basketball teams both lose to open conference play

»11

TALEISE LAWRENCE Assistant Editor

KELLY FENG Managing

Many people can relate to the security and stability of working a 9-to-5 job, but few can say their career involved traveling the world with a rock-and-roll band. Todd Bowie has done both.

The

PHOTO PROVIDED TO THE CLARION Dr. Geoffrey Bradshaw, the associate vice president of international education at Madison College, joins Acting Minister Madi Jacca at a signing ceremony marking the college’s partnership agreement with the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology in The Gambia in West Africa.

» SEE INITIATIVE PAGE 4

Madison College instructors Todd Bowie, left, and Larry Hansen visit during a special Writer’s Life Lecture Series presentation held at the Truax Campus in December.

» SEE NOTES PAGE 4

Inclusive bathroom signage has been installed on campus.

OFFTHESHELF

By Mark Luetkehoelter, Librarian

Cybersecurity New Year’s resolutions

2022-2023

Lillian Coppelman

EDITOR IN CHIEF

clarioned@madisoncollege.edu

Kelly Feng

MANAGING EDITOR clarion@madisoncollege.edu

Taleise Lawrence ASSISTANT EDITOR

Vacant NEWS EDITOR clarionnews@madisoncollege.edu

Mary SeGall OPINION EDITOR clarionopinion@madisoncollege.edu

JD Smith-Nelson ARTS EDITOR clarionarts@madisoncollege.edu

Ross Litscher Chase DeMasi SPORTS EDITORS clarionsports@madisoncollege.edu

Andres Sanchez Chirinos PHOTO EDITOR

Kylie Phillips WEB EDITOR

Krista Olson-Lehman social media EDITOR

Iman Alrashid COPY EDITOR

Vacant BUSINESS DIRECTOR clarionads@madisoncollege.edu

Valenzia Cina Corey Nelson GRAPHIC DESIGNERS

Megan Anderson T Clearwater

Bryce Dailey Emily Faust Ebenezer Idowu, Jr. Craig McKinley Grant Nelson CONTRIBUTORS

Doug Kirchberg ADVISOR dkirchberg@madisoncollege.edu

Almost half of American adults have had the experience of their personal information being exposed in some way by cyber criminals. An equal number of millennials have experienced being a victim of some type of cybercrime. Well over half of Americans have experienced receiving an online scam offer. One in three homes with computers experience being infected with malicious software. Over a half million social media accounts are hacked every day.

Those sobering statistics come courtesy of the United States government’s Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), available at https://cisa.gov. Thinking about cyber security issues, passwords, multi-factor authentication, browser clearing and the like might not be much fun, but even less fun is having your personal information or the information of your school or workplace compromised to detrimental or catastrophic effects.

Data Privacy Week https:// staysafeonline.org/programs/ data-privacy-week/about/ takes place every January to try and get people to resolve to be better protected in the new year. This year’s week runs Jan. 24-28. Organized by the National Cybersecurity Alliance, they provide a lot of short, easy-to-understand tutorials and videos to get you more cybersecure confident at https://staysafeonline.org/ resources/.

The Madison College Libraries also has a great guide about online security and privacy at https://libguides.madisoncollege.edu/ onlinesecurity. The guide provides practical links to and information about ways to protect your privacy a bit

more online, both at school and in your personal life. Get help dealing with issues like viruses, passwords, phishing, file sharing, cloud computing, wireless networks and privacy.

The library’s subscription database Learning Express offers a short useful course entitled “Protecting yourself from malware and other online threats” and the subscription database Films on Demand also has many videos dealing with cyber security.

There are a couple of books you might want to check out from the Madison College Libraries that take the complexity of cybersecurity issues and explain them in a very accessible way. Sam Grubb’s “How cybersecurity

really works: a hands-on guide for total beginners” provides readers with practical advice on how to keep their computers safe from phishing, malware, network attacks and other hacks (beware the Black Hats!). April Falcon Doss’s “Cyber privacy: who has your data and why you should care” shares the most common types of data collected about individuals and how it can sometimes be used against us by the private sector, governments and even an individual’s own school or workplace. Both books offer proactive suggestions to better arm yourself against cyber threats.

In addition to the materials the library offers, consider just stopping in and talking to a librarian about any cybersecurity questions you might have. You can also call the Student Computer Help Desk to ask those questions at 608243-4444.

Whatever way you go about it, make better online privacy and security a New Year’s resolution!

SUBMISSIONS

To submit an item for publication, drop it off at The Clarion office, Room B1260G Truax and Room 109 Goodman South or email it to clarioned@madisoncollege.edu. The Clarion reserves the right to refuse to publish any editorial submission or advertisement, which may be edited for length, taste and grammar. All opinions expressed in editorials and advertisements do not necessarily represent those of the Madison College administration, faculty, the student body or the Clarion staff.

CORRECTIONS

The Clarion strives for accuracy in all of its articles. If you have questions or concerns, please call us at (608) 246-6809 or e-mail: clarioned@madisoncollege.edu.

REMEMBERING

Adam Lee Suby, 1987-2009 Philip Ejercito, 1981-2013

Dogs on Call

The Dogs on Call visited the Madison College Truax Campus on Dec. 5 to give students a chance for some stress relief at the end of the fall semester.

PUBLICSAFETY

By Sgt. Lucas Adler

Reminder about the services Public Safety offers

Welcome back to Madison College! Hopefully, you had a great holiday break, and you are coming back refreshed and ready to take on the Spring semester. During the school year, Public Safety will publish articles in The Clarion informing the college community of recent events and notable calls that Public Safety has responded to.

We welcome everyone to stop by the office and introduce themselves and we hope you all have a successful semester! Here are some quick reminders about some services Public Safety offers.

• Public Safety has Patrol Officers available 24 hours a day, 365 days per

year. The Public Safety Office, Room B1240, is staffed Monday through Friday, 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. You can reach us by stopping by the window or dialing (608) 246-6932 (non-emergency) or (608) 2452222 (emergency/after hours). If you are trying to reach an officer after normal business hours or on the weekend, please dial (608) 245-2222. Be aware that during this time Wisconsin State Capitol Police dispatches for Public Safety.

• Students are no longer required to display a physical parking permit. Students are required to register their vehicles on the Madison College website. Simply type “Parking” in the search tab of the Madison College website and click “Student Vehicle Registration.”

• Public Safety has Jump Packs available to jump start your car in the event your battery dies at no charge. We only require a photo ID, and you must be the

registered owner of the vehicle, or the vehicle must be registered to your parent.

• Public Safety can unlock your vehicle if you lock your keys in your car. We again require a photo ID and you must be the registered owner of the vehicle, or the vehicle must be registered to a parent.

• Public Safety offers escorts to your vehicle if you do not feel comfortable walking to your car. Just stop by the office or give us a call!

Public Safety Tip of the Week

Know your way around campus. Take time the first few days of school to familiarize yourself with the layout of campus. Take note of where Public Safety is located (B1240), exits, AED’s and hallway phones. As always, Public Safety is available 24/7 by dialing (608) 245-2222.

EMILY FAUST / CLARION

After

2022 MADISON COLLEGE YEAR IN REVIEW

The

Madison

At

ter,

the start of the spring 2022 semes-

all Madison College students received grants of $500 to $750 thanks to COVID-19 relief funds made available by the federal government.

WolfPack Athletics announces that it will move all athletic teams to Division II starting with the 2023-24 sports season. Baseball and softball already compete in Division II.

College is awarded a $2.9 million grant to help early childhood education programs and to expand other in-demand job training opportunities.

All in Campus Democracy Challenge recognizes Madison College as having a “Highly Established Action Plan” for civic engagement and voter education.

Dane County Sheriff Kalvin Barrett was the keynote speaker at the Day of Service and Remembrance ceremony held to honor first responders in memory of 9/11.

Changes in the WolfPack athletic department included the retirement of long-time athletic director Steve Hauser and the hiring of new basketball and volleyball coaches.

Madison College Performing Arts returned to Mitby Theater with its fall play, “She Kills Monsters,” during the final weekend of October and first weekend of November.

more than a year of construction, the college opened a new fitness center at the Truax Campus. The center expanded to two levels, replacing what was previously a pool.

The Madison College nursing program provided training to more than 80 members of the National Guard who were asked to help hospitals with the spring 2022 COVID-19 surge.

Former Madison College student Sarah Blaskey was part of a Pulitzer Prize winning team from the Miami Herald that was recognized for its coverage of the condominium collapse.

faces

Mitby Theater hosts ‘She Kills Monsters’

Honors Program: Create a class designed just for you

IMAN ALRASHID Copy Editor

Challenges and obstacles are part of everyone's life, and the safe waves that push them forward to a successful future allow them to become the best versions of themselves. Challenges are the fuel that makes us achieve our goals and takes us places where we can find someone or something that might help us reach our dreams.

Professor Julia Haseleu, the creator and director of the Madison College Honors Program, invites all students on campus or online to challenge themselves and take their education and ideas to the next level by enrolling in the honors program.

"For many students, it builds their confidence and shows them what they are capable of, all the while making them more competitive for scholarships, jobs, internships and transfers," Haseleu said.

The honors program will help you build confidence in yourself, which is important to find the path to success, challenge yourself and prove that you can achieve anything.

INITIATIVE

Sister Cities

Sister cities since 2016, Kanifing, Gambia, and Madison recognized a significant need for educational possibilities that Madison College could support.

Because 70% of sub-Saharan Africa's population is under 30 years old, they saw a need for higher education for the people to grow and develop their careers. However, they were acutely aware that more African colleges and universities needed to meet this need.

"We are interested in both having students from The Gambia come to Wisconsin as international students and for us to deliver online learning and training in The Gambia," said Bradshaw. "If we can help Gambian students earn a certificate or degree from Madison College, hopefully, that U.S. degree will help them stand out in the job market."

While this need for educational pathways is present in most African countries, The Gambia presents unique opportunities for collaboration with academic institutions because of the close ties between the college and city to that region.

Bradshaw believes sister cities are essential to how Madison connects to the world.

"Because of that special connection of friendship, you have an opportunity to meet and connect with leaders in the partner community, and you have the support of local people in Madison who are part of the sister city committee," Bradshaw said.

Bradshaw quickly noted that Madison College has another link to the origin of the sister cities — alum Samba Baldeh. Baldeh is one of the MadisonKanifing sister city founders who came to Wisconsin as an immigrant from The Gambia. Baldeh enrolled and eventually graduated from Madison College. Today, Baldeh is a Wisconsin State Assembly Representative.

This agreement is the first stage in growing a long-term relationship between Madison College and schools in The Gambia. "By documenting our interests in collaboration, a Memorandum of Understanding makes it easier for us to apply for grants and meet with partners," Bradshaw said.

Bradshaw said systems are in place to welcome international students from The Gambia to apply to Madison College. The college has already received international student applications thanks to the raised awareness about Madison College from this trip.

While the college is building opportunities for study abroad in Africa, Bradshaw noted it takes time and plan-

"The Madison College Honors Program provides eligible students with the opportunity to work with a faculty member on a project that challenges them at a more rigorous level while they learn," says Haseleu.

All great inventions start with a simple idea, the aha moment. What makes this idea a reality is finding an opportunity to develop it through a series of challenges until it becomes a tool to improve the quality of our life.

"Creating the Madison College Honors Program is my way of honoring my mentors and paying it forward, especially to those students struggling with barriers preventing them from pursuing higher education and a better future," Haseleu said.

Some people think only certain people can create or invent; they believe discovery is reserved for scientists and engineers. But we all have those moments, the eureka moment, and most of us just let it go because we think it would not be good enough to share.

"Research shows that geniuses in the U.S. are more likely to work average jobs for average pay. I think this is a terrible waste of one of our country's

ning to ensure safe and responsible student travel. Madison College's first Africa study abroad will take place in May 2024 in Kenya.

Although taking part in the formal signing ceremony was the pinnacle of Bradshaw's visit, other cultural aspects of The Gambia struck the educator.

Despite traveling the world working in international education, Bradshaw said he's never experienced such warm and welcoming people as he did in The Gambia. He said that everyone he met was kind and hospitable, whether he was walking down the street or attending formal meetings.

Culture, Music and Religion

Although the official language of The Gambia is English (it was once a British colony), people speak local languages, including Mandinka, Fulani, Jola and Wolof. Most people also speak some French, Senegal's official language.

Music is a fundamental part of the culture and daily life in The Gambia.

The delegation enjoyed people singing or playing drums whenever they traveled as part of their welcome and celebration. The region is most known for the kora, a harp-like, stringed instrument that has been played in the area for centuries.

Bradshaw noted that The Gambia is primarily Muslim, and most people do not drink alcohol or eat pork. Unlike many Islamic cultures where loudspeakers announce the call to prayer five times a day, religion is much more an individual matter of faith in The Gambia. People pray alone or in small groups, but there is no pressure to join.

The Gambia is also known for peaceful relations between its Muslim and Christian populations, and he learned that religious leaders are not very active in politics.

Going Forward

This alliance in The Gambia is part of a larger African Initiative at Madison College. Over the next four years, the school plans to create new courses, an African Studies Certificate and a new study abroad. The goal is to expand partnerships not only in West Africa but also in other parts of the continent.

"We want to create opportunities for all students at Madison College to understand the world, and Africa is a big part of that. Almost 20% of the world's population lives in Africa in more than 50 separate countries, but few of our students can learn from and interact with people from the continent," said Bradshaw. "Hopefully, through these partnerships, we can help create opportunities for cross-cultural learning, dialogue and exchange that makes our whole campus and community richer."

greatest resources," Haseleu said.

It is important to recognize the value of discovering a new way of thinking or doing things. Madison College offers a fantastic opportunity for all students through the honors program.

"I have found that Madison College students are capable of reaching great heights," Haseleu said.

By enrolling in the honors program, you will create a class you designed for yourself.

"The honor program students work one-on-one with facility members over the semester," Haseleu said.

It is a learning journey to practice exploring the subject of the class and discovering your strengths and talents. And this journey will be full of immersive experiences for both the student and the faculty member; it is a journey about finding the future in the present.

"When paired with an Honors Faculty Member in their area of interest, it is like lighting a match to a fireworks display. Something amazing happens in that partnership—sometimes something that can be life changing for the student, faculty or both," Haseleu

NOTES

through his musical career with a slide show, bringing them through an ‘80s and ‘90s time machine, with stops in California, Europe and Asia. In the 20 years he's toured, he has worked with a broad spectrum of artists, collaborating with the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac and joining forces with Ringo Starr, Beck, Ozzy Osbourne, CSNY, the Flaming Lips and others.

His assignments ran the gamut from pre-production audio engineering with Fleetwood Mac to live show production, where he functioned a backline technician. Eventually, the collaboration also brought Bowie on stage, where he performed as a keyboard player and guitarist with Joe Walsh, one of the lead guitarists for the Eagles.

While his career has taken a considerable flight path, with little time in a holding pattern, it has taught him several life lessons.

From the moment he started with the Eagles, Bowie soon realized the band was not the often stereotypical "go with the flow" type of rock band. The musical group was extremely self-disciplined and ready for every contingency.

"Collectively as a band, they made that kind of magic sound everyone liked in the early ‘70s. I learned from them that they didn't just show up and sound like that. Those five guys had to work at it, and they worked. I saw it firsthand for years and years," Bowie said.

The band was insistent on having vocal rehearsals backstage before a concert started. Bowie would be on hand with instruments so one musician could play and another could harmonize.

Bowie said that type of attention to detail inspired him. He said he learned patience from the Eagles and the ability to see a project through from start to finish, whether in his teaching or doing things around his house.

"With me, if I start something, I want to finish it — right down to sweeping, cleaning everything out until it's absolutely done. I learned that work ethic from the Eagles. They were like that. It was the way they operated. I like that; it appealed to me," Bowie said.

One thing his experience has taught Bowie is that friends and family outweigh global glamour. While he traveled in style and was well-compensated, he said there was a trade-off. Travel privileges meant visiting landmarks without his wife at the time. He

said.

Enrolling in the honors program requires being a Madison College student with 12 completed credits and a 3.5 or higher cumulative GPA (grade point average). If you are new student just out of high school, you need to have a 3.5 or higher cumulative GPA and a recommendation letter.

To receive the honors program medallion, you need to complete two honor projects with an AB average.

This program will make you more competitive for jobs, scholarships and transfers. You could even win a trophy, cash prizes and your name on the honors recognition wall.

You still have time to enroll for this semester. The last day to enroll in the Madison College honors program is Jan. 25. You can learn more about the honors program at madisoncollege.edu/ Honors or by contacting the director of the honors program, Julia Haseleu, at jhaseleu@madisoncollege.edu.

"I was an Honors Program student for many years, and my life has been enriched in countless ways as a result of my experiences in Honors Programs," Haseleu said.

misses the lost opportunities.

"No matter how nice your hotel room or how new your tour bus or how good your catering is — it's still not your own house. It's not your own kitchen, your own bed, your own living room. It's not your family," he said.

After touring with American musician Beck during the Sea Change tour, Bowie retired from the road in 2003, when he formed his own group. For the next 14 years, Bowie spent his weekends with Doug Corella, playing regionally in a band called the Karlz.

A few months before quarantine, he realized the grind and time away from family was taking a toll, prompting him to pack away his instruments and leave his weekends free.

Bowie is now part of the full-time faculty in the Video Audio Design program, staying in one place with the security of regular hours. But he still remembers his former life, showcased in the slide show.

When he reflects on the slides, he's buoyed by special moments.

Milestones include when Walsh surprised Bowie with an introduction to Ringo Starr and the chance to team up with the former Beatles drummer. He treasures the picture of him, Walsh and Starr.

The shiniest moments came when he played guitar with Walsh. Jamming with 20,000 people was a dream for Bowie, who was given a chance when Walsh needed another musician.

Bowie said his career has been a considerable path, "from playing in a band with my friends to now here teaching people."

Hansen sees the importance of having a speaker like Bowie, where students can come away from a presentation knowing that while it may be challenging, they can fulfill their dreams.

Towards the end of the presentation, Hansen asked him if he were to rewrite his life, would he do it all over again?

Bowie said he loved all the skills he learned, all the legends he met and the countries he could visit, but he didn't like how it all affected his personal life.

"I thought I could do everything I wanted to do. When you're a kid, you're told, 'follow your dreams — you can do anything you want.' That's what I did. I followed my dreams."

Bowie then paused and reflected, thoughts swirling in his head.

"Sometimes you follow your dream, and you got to hold on fast. That's what my experience was. I held on for so long that I couldn't wait to slow down. I eventually wanted to be in a place like Madison College and go to a job every day. It said a lot — for me to want that."

How do you survive the winter months?

"Stay busy with work, school and the gym."

"Just bundle up."

- Hans Lundt

"Stay home all day."

- Yana Samanta

Paying to play political games

they use their political connections to advance their special interests at the expense of others, distorting American democracy.

EBENEZER IDOWU, JR. Staff Writer

Did you know there are four branches of government in the U.S.? You may think, “No, there aren’t!” or “Last time I checked, it is legislative, executive and judicial. This imaginary ‘fourth branch’ does not exist.”

Hang on, let me explain.

Theoretically, there are only three branches of government: the legislative branch formulates laws, the executive branch enacts laws and the judicial branch interprets laws to determine if they are in line with the Constitution. That is how the framers of the Constitution originally intended it to be.

But over the last several decades, a fourth figurative “branch” has emerged. What is it? Lobbying.

What is lobbying?

Lobbying, as defined by the Encyclopedia Britannica, refers to “any attempt by individuals or private interest groups to influence the decisions of government [especially legislators].” In layman’s terms, it is when businesses or wealthy individuals buy the favor of a politician so he or she can pass laws that will benefit their company at the expense of others. Here is how it works: a millionaire, corporate CEO or activist group will donate hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars to a politician’s election campaign. This effectively puts that politician under the control of that institution should he get elected. Then once the time for passing legislation comes, the magnate dictates the bills that the politician passes. Get enough politicians funded by the same establishment and that institution controls the party. You can see why this could lead to grave problems. It is a shady, dishonest practice, one that accomplishes different objectives, depending on who is funding the politician. If it is a business, they get to skip the difficult, continuous process of competing for customers and use the government to pass laws that benefit them. Think of it as cheating the system. If it is an activist group,

Which politicians and companies engage in lobbying?

While some have tried to link lobbying to a single political party, the truth is that both parties engage in this system. Senate Republicans provide the most blatant example. In his Newsweek article “Full List of Republican Senators Who Receive Funding from the NRA,” published Sept. 26, 2022, Ewan Palmer reports that roughly 24 GOP senators have received funding from the NRA at some point, and “[Sixteen] have received more than $1 million.” It should come as no surprise, then, that Republican legislators blocked virtually every one of former President Barack Obama’s gun control bills, effectively tying Obama’s hands when it came to gun control, following John Haltiwanger’s piece “Obama faced relentless opposition to gun reform, even after a shooting that left 20 children dead,” published on Aug. 6, 2019, in The Business Insider. They did this, mind you, even after several school shootings, without considering the families of children who had suffered such a terrible demise or the millions of other school children now at risk. And they failed to propose any gun control legislation of their own. Some conservatives might applaud their actions, praising them for defending our constitutional rights. I would like to propose a question to such people: given what I just told you, do you believe Senate Republicans blocked every gun control law from 2012 to 2016 in a fight for our Second Amendment rights or as part of an effort to secure their funding for the next election cycle?

But Democrats do not have clean hands either. Many Democratic candidates received thousands of dollars from teachers unions. Among the recipients of this money, as Kelsey Koberg points out in her Fox News article, “Teachers unions spend big on Democrats ahead of midterm elections,” published Oct. 26, 2022, are recently elected Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman, current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck

Winter is the worst season

TALEISE LAWRENCE Assistant Editor

We’ve already passed the winter solstice, and I could not be happier. Why is that? Because I can’t stand winter. You might be thinking, “how could you hate such a beautiful time of the year?” And I agree! When the snow is falling prettily and I’m in a warm house, winter isn’t all that bad. There are a lot of fun holidays to celebrate. You can go outside and do things like ice skating, snowball fights or making a snowman.

But I hate the cold.

In Madison summertime, the temperature is usually around 79 Fahrenheit, according to Weather Spark. It drops down to about 15 Fahrenheit in the winter. The worst part is when there isn’t even any snow! You’re telling me I have to shiver all day long and bun dle up each day of the week, only for there to be no pretty scenery to look at? That’s absurd. If it’s going to be cold, give me snow.

While the snow can be pret ty, it’s annoying to deal with.

Scraping off my car every morning gets old really fast. Shoveling and salting side walks is exhausting. Slipping and sliding when I walk out side is no fun. And driving when the roads haven’t been completely cleared yet is treacherous.

Another thing I hate about winter is how dry the air gets.

- Christian Moreno LETTERS POLICY Letters to the editor should be typed or written legibly, be 250 words or less, and include the writer’s name, phone number and email address. The Clarion reserves the right to refuse to publish any editorial submission or advertisement, which may be edited for length, taste and grammar. All submissions become the property of The Clarion and may be used for publication. Bring letters to The Clarion office, Room B1260G Truax, or email clarioned@madisoncollege.edu.

My hands crack and bleed every single year, no matter how much lotion I put on them. My friends get bloody noses daily. My humidifier is working overtime for all of the dastardly winter months.

Not only is winter cold, exhausting and dry, it’s also just too gray.

I miss seeing green plants and vibrant flowers. Sure, we have evergreens to keep us sane, but it’s just not the same. I miss the natural variety that the other seasons have to offer.

Despite all of this, I can still see the beauty in winter. There’s nothing that feels quite the same as seeing the first snowfall. Walking outside after a big storm and hearing how quiet everything is can be a grounding experience.

But for now, I’ll be counting down the days until spring has sprung.

Lobbying: What it is, who engages in it and what to do about it

People leaving Twitter are swarming to Hive

T CLEARWATER Staff Writer

With the purchase of Twitter by the world’s leading jackass in transportation manufacturing, we have seen not only the stocks crash but the quality.

Bans have been lifted, promotion of hate speech is at a new high and half of the staff got canned on one eventful day. Many of the most noteworthy people at the company have left and seem to criticize Elon Musk at every turn.

In short, Twitter has virally been dubbed as a dumpster fire. And many Twitter users want out.

The question is where can they go? What platform could give them what Twitter, with all its own quality issues, could offer them? Most people have had no answer.

But a budding social media platform that has been in development for at least a year is one possibility. That platform is called Hive, and it recently went live.

Hive sadly has had a few issues. So many people were ready for the app that the first few hitches, such as slow feeds, were due to the THOUSANDS of

LOBBYING

Schumer. If you see no problem with a teachers union funding political campaigns, keep in mind that these institutions are supposed to advocate for the rights of their members, not fund politics one-sidedly. Should they not use the money they are spending on politics to better the livelihoods of teachers? And how much do the teachers who pay the unions big money to where the money goes? Not much, as it turns out. (An Ed week article by Alyson Klein titled “Do Teachers’ Political Views Align with Their Unions?” published on Dec. 12, 2017, noted that almost a third of teachers registered with unions say the union does not represent their political views.)

How can we put an end to lobbying?

When legislators are first elected to Congress, they have strong connections to the constituents that put them there. How unfortunate that those same connections become weaker as time goes on, especially if the politician does not make a point to regularly receive feedback from their state or district’s voters.

people signing up daily since its debut.

We were swarming all over the new app, adding each other left and right, and realized that we were all likely bogging it down. That’s fine and to be expected.

However, some larger issues came up such as gray screens, not being able to log in after logging out or re-downloading it and not being able to block, DM or reject a follower.

We have seen issues with not being able to upload content of all types, and

Lobbyists, on the other hand, are right there in Washington D.C. (or the state legislature), easy to contact and be influenced by. They represent a strong temptation for American politicians, one that overcomes most senators and representatives.

That is where everyday citizens come in. We live in a system of government predicated on holding leaders accountable. That means sending petitions to our senators and representatives and voting corrupt politicians out of office.

Do some personal research to find out which legislators cater to lobbyists. Start an awareness campaign (it can simply be talking to friends and family) to alert others of these corrupt politicians. The more people are aware of the issue, the more people will speak their minds at the ballot, holding these leaders accountable.

And the more the leaders are held accountable, the less prevalent lobbying will become. It is that simple. If a politician knows lobbying could cost him reelection, he will drop it like a hot potato. This “fourth branch of government” was never meant to exist. It is a shame it does, but we can change that. Let us work to cut it out of our government structure, and we will reap the benefits.

some stressed that their security hasn’t been great.

But there have been many benefits to the app and many people like myself are staying loyal to an early stages platform. I personally enjoy the feature of letting yourself opt in or out of seeing NSFW content on your feed, which many people have enjoyed.

A large reason people wanted to be part of the platform was its sex positive nature; and by a lot, I mean a lot. It filled every platform for a week

straight. That’s because people wanted to be able to have conversations filled with art and other images about sex and the human body without being found in violation of terms of service leading to blocks and bans. The users aren’t asking for pornography, but want more freedom for general NSFW content.

However, not everyone wants that! So, you can choose to have it or not have it! That’s such a big win for the platform.

That and I hear it’s slated to be one of the most protective social medias for artists. I’d say another big win would be to greatly monitor AI art personally, but who knows what their next win will be.

Ultimately, the app is just budding. It’s less than four months old and was well received internationally. It’s bound to have some bugs. But as the world’s mass joins the platform, the users will help them flesh out these problems sooner.

My biggest gripe with Hive is cross-platform sharing and music sharing. Outside of that, it’s enough like the good old blue bird that many are ready to say goodbye to.

Naming the king of my my fast food face-off

TALEISE LAWRENCE Assistant Editor

McDonald’s versus Burger King: which is better?

According to a comparison done by Business Insider in March, 2022, Burger King is at an equal or better value as McDonald's. Most items end up being very similar in price, though. If you are getting a lot of food then both places would be a fine choice. However, McDonald’s has a dollar menu, which puts it higher than Burger King for me. If you just want something small for yourself, Ronald McDonald is the man to visit.

But what about the flavor? McDonald’s wins in savory food items. The Quarter Pounder beats the Whopper every time. They have five chicken sandwich options opposed to Burger King’s measly two choices.

BK’s sides dominate McDonald’s, however. They have fries, onion rings, chicken fries and mozzarella sticks. So many choices! Ronald is only offering fries. They’re good, but where’s the variety?

If you’ve got a sweet tooth, I’d pick McDonald’s for sure. They’ve got ice cream, hot pastries and bakery items available to eat. Burger King has three different types of dessert, but they’re all ice cream based. Not a whole lot of options, even if the vanilla shake is to die for.

I’m sure everyone has their personal favorite, regardless of price or flavor. Burger King holds a special place in my heart because of how often I used to go there. My brother and I worked the night shift together and would go get fast food every morning; Burger King was the only place open that early.

Every day for a month straight we would pull up and order the same exact thing. Eventually we would get to the ordering box and they would just tell us our total before we had even said anything. I have fond memories of this time in my life, so Burger King wins the nostalgia battle for me.

While writing this article, I discovered that Burger King has what they call Kids Meal. Sometimes there are toys that come with it. I was surprised to find that they’ve been doing this since the early ‘90s; I’ve never heard of it before! Of course, I knew

about the iconic crown that kids get at Burger King, but never a toy.

But who could forget getting a Happy Meal as a kid? Or begging your parents to stop in the drive-thru when there was a toy from your favorite movie? McDonald’s will have to win this round too.

If you’re looking for a vegetarian option at McDonald’s, you’ll be looking for a while.

For a short amount of time they were serving the McPlant, which was made with a plant-based patty. This burger was discontinued, though, after lackluster sales. Even their fries are fried with a natural beef flavor.

Not only does Burger King have French fries that are safe for vegetarians, they have a whole burger dedicated to them. The Impossible Whopper features the same toppings as a regular burger, but with a plantbased patty instead. Burger King wins the vegetarian face-off.

Here’s where it gets interesting. The Burger King, who was once the mascot of its namesake, retired in 2011.

Frankly, I’m very glad. The character is terrifying. A person dressed as a king wearing a huge plastic mask would represent the chain. The reason he retired? He was too scary. Josh Koza, who was once the chief financial officer of Burger King, stated that, “We got rid of the creepy king character that tended to scare away women and children.”

McDonald’s has all sorts of fun characters in their lineup. Some of those include the popular Ronald McDonald, Grimace and the Hamburglar. While many of them faded out due to legal reasons, Ronald McDonald is still popular to this day. In 2016, the mascot went on hiatus due to the clown violence that was happening at the time.

Honestly, I think both places lose on this one. The fact that both companies had to retire their mascots because they were too creepy is pretty funny. We’ll call it even here.

According to my very intensive scrutinizing of these two large chains, McDonald’s is the better fast food restaurant. If you love Burger King, don’t worry, it only lost by one point. A burger is a burger at the end of the day.

‘The Fabelmans’ a very long close encounter

KELLY FENG Managing Editor

“The Fabelmans” is a semi-autobiographical film about director Steven Spielberg’s childhood. It is a nostalgic drama about a young boy named Sammy Fabelman, an aspiring filmmaker who discovers the power of cinema when he seeks the truth about his unstable family.

Set in the post-war ‘50s, the film follows Sammy developing his movie passion as his family follows his father’s corporate path, stopping in New Jersey, Arizona and finally,

California.

The opening scene explains how young Sammy Fabelman, played by Mateo Zoryon Francis-DeFord, becomes captivated by movies after his parents take him to see “The Greatest Show on Earth.” After using his camera to film and edit, Sammy makes his own films at home, delighting his mother and confusing his father.

While it claims to be a coming-ofage story about Sammy, the movie never zooms in on the teenager, played by Canadian-American actor Gabriel LaBelle. Instead, the film

focuses on his parents’ lives, his mother Mitzi, played by Michelle Williams, and his father Burt, played by Paul Dano.

Mitzi is a full-time homemaker who was once a concert pianist. Burt is a brilliant engineer, more often interested in mechanics than interacting with his wife. Despite this, Burt really adores Mitzi, but he can’t find a way to show it.

As the teenage Sammy becomes more sophisticated with editing and cinematography, he stumbles upon a family secret. His discovery initially puts a wedge between Sammy and his

mother but eventually brings them closer. The movie ends with Sammy forgiving his mother, understanding his father and arriving in Hollywood, ready to conquer the studios.

In many ways “The Fabelmans” is more like a Lifetime movie — nothing major occurs except the usual dysfunctional family features: bullying, parenting, infidelity and garden-variety mood swings. In other words, nothing new.

The more appropriate audience

GRANT NELSON Staff Writer

Over break, I watched the movie “Avatar: The Way of Water” and was blown away. The long-awaited sequel improved upon the original 2009 movie by expanding its characters, world building and story.

The film is a cinematic masterpiece. It immerses the audience in the beautiful alien world of Pandora and its raw and natural environment, where everything is alive and part of this amazing untouched ecosystem.

This feeling is countered by the militarized force from Earth, dubbed the “sky people,” that are destroying this planet for its resources and trying to colonize it.

“Avatar: The Way of Water” feels so alive, with its grand vista showing the abundance of exotic wildlife on Pandora and the spirituality of the Na’vi people, who share a connection to nature and its cosmic balance.

Like the first film, conflict between the Na’vi tribes and the sky people from Earth shows a contrast of goals and world views through the characters on screen.

The film adds depth by spending more time with Scully’s Na’vi family, showing the bonds they have with each other. It makes the characters more lovable and enables the audience to feel what they are going through.

It’s strange how the aliens are the more humanized characters in this film.

“Avatar: The Way of the Water” truly brings to life the alien world of Pandora, expanding beyond its great forest. It features great action-packed battles and focuses on the love and loss of war. Return to Pandora and learn the ways of water.

MERIE WEISMILLER WALLACE / UNIVERSAL PICTURES AND AMBLIN ENTERTAINMENT / TNS

Chloe East, left, and Gabriel LaBelle in “The Fabelmans,” co-written, produced and directed by Steven Spielberg.

‘The Way of Water’ is a stunning sequel

A whole new perspective on ‘The Little Mermaid’

LILLIAN COPPELMAN Editor In Chief

Some Disney fans say that older Disney Princes can be bland and lack personality. Princes such as the prince from “Snow White” or Prince Phillip from “Sleeping Beauty” are examples of this writing flaw.

However, Disney has produced a way to combat this issue. In a similar style to their “Twisted Tale” series, “Prince of Song and Sea” is the first book in a series of tales told from the perspective of the princes.

“Prince of Song and Sea,” written by Linsey Miller, is a fantastical retelling of “The Little Mermaid” with so much more depth and adventure than the original movie had. With more characters, conflicts and an entire world to

explore, Miller does a fantastic job setting up all the pieces for this story.

The beginning of the story sets the stage for the beginning of the movie. It is nearing Prince Eric’s 18th birthday and he does not have a maiden in line to marry.

The twist, however, is that Eric is cursed. He will immediately die if he kisses anyone that is not his true love. He has two choices to make, find his true love with a pure heart and a voice to match or kill the witch that cursed him in the first place. However, he has made no progress in the search for either and he is running out of time, as conflict with a neighboring kingdom threatens his land and people.

“Prince of Song and Sea” gives more adventure to the tale of “The Little Mermaid” through the world building

Miller created. Pirates, ghost ships and political affairs are all conflicts that Eric must face in between finding his true love, the witch that cursed him and figuring out the mystery behind the girl with no voice that washed up on shore.

With new adventures mixed in with old, this book mixes childhood nostalgia and unique storytelling that allows the reader to solve the mystery along with Eric. Each conflict is connected in some way and each obstacle relates to the last. It is like a puzzle to the reader, as the story goes on each piece gets put into place to create a beautiful picture. It is rewarding and exciting for the reader to watch the pieces fall into place as the story goes on.

Not only does the added world building create a more immersive read, but

it adds more character to Eric. Now the prince is more than a handsome face for Ariel to fall in love with; he has his own personal journey to follow.

Eric’s curse recontextualizes beloved scenes from the original movie, having Eric believe that the “mystery girl” that saved him from the shipwreck is his true love that will break his curse while still falling for Ariel along the way. This creates an internal conflict throughout the book and leaves the reader to wonder how or when Eric lets go of “true love” and follow his heart.

“Prince of Song and Sea” is a phenomenal read, with great characters and a breathtaking story. It is easy to fall into the world in the words. This is a remarkable read for any Disney fan looking for a new perspective on a beloved film.

Michelangelo’s offers a cozy place to relax

IMAN ALRASHID Copy Editor

If you are in downtown Madison by the Capitol building and looking for a quiet place to read a book, do schoolwork, spend time with friends, drink a cup of coffee or be an art lover, Michelangelo Coffee House is the place to go.

The coffee house has two entrances: the main entrance on 114 State St. and the back entrance on North Carroll Street. The place’s antique furniture perfectly matches the art on the walls.

You feel you are entering an art exhibit. Besides the free Wi-Fi, the coffee’s smell and antique feel make this place cozy.

With a welcoming smile from the barista behind the counter inviting me to place my order, I ordered an oat milk hot latte and cheese pesto sandwich. The coffee house

was busy; still, my coffee was ready while I was ordering my sandwich and the latte was good.

After I paid for my order, which cost me around $12, I walked to the room in the back and sat down, waiting for my sandwich.

The artwork hanging on the walls kept me busy. Two or three other people were holding their books and reading. It took about 10 minutes for my sandwich to get ready.

The sandwich was delicious. It was buttery and creamy on the inside and crunchy on the outside, perfect amount of cheese, fresh tomato and not too much pesto; exactly right.

I enjoyed the sandwich a lot. I thoroughly enjoyed that morning and am planning to go back soon. It was a very satisfying meal in a unique and cozy place. Michelangel’s is open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day of the week.

Run a restaurant with friends in ‘PlateUp!’

LILLIAN COPPELMAN Editor in Chief

There are many different types of games that people can play with friends. There are survival games, shooter games and casual sandbox games. But out of all those games, one stands out among the rest for multiplayer fun. “PlateUp!,” developed by “It’s Happening,” is a casual roguelike game where players must keep a restaurant afloat.

Roguelike is a genre of video game where each playthrough is different than the last. There are no save files and there are no do-overs; losing is permanent. One mistake can ruin a whole run. It is up to the players’ skills and luck to continue forward. Failure means having to start over from the beginning.

Many popular indie games follow the rogue-like format: “The Binding of Isaac,” “Inscryption” and “Hades” all follow the format in diverse ways. “PlateUp!” is different, however. Instead of being a dungeon crawler or an RPG, “PlateUp!” is a restaurant simulator. Instead of traversing the lands and facing difficult enemies, players are challenged to serve customers and manage running a restaurant in a chaotic environment.

“PlateUp!” can be played with up to four players and each added player takes up space needed to be made for movement. The physics of the characters, the size of the building and the objects needed to keep customers happy creates a challenge for players.

Time is the most important asset, and if players spend too much time bumping into friends or tables or garbage left on the floor, then customers get upset. And once that timer runs out, it is game over.

Customers eat slowly and leave garbage and dirty plates when done eating. If left ignored food cannot be platted and served to other customers and the garbage creates an obstacle for players. Garbage on the floor slows the movement speed of the players but is also a huge time waster to clean up alone. Doing the dishes also takes up time but with limited plates, it is a necessity. Dirty plates can clog up precious counter space that players need to chop or serve food on. Players are tasked to split up tasks and perform them without collision lest they waste any time.

The end of each game day allows a rest period for the players, allowing them to get their bearings and customize the restaurant’s layout. Players can spend the money earned each day to buy items that can help run the restaurant better. More counters, tables, stoves and plates can be bought for easier cooking and serving, while decorations can increase customers’ patience to increase wait times.

“PlateUp!” is a fun and unique experience that is better with friends. The challenges presented and the gameplay mechanics make for a fantastic game filled with lots of laughter and casual frustration. This game is recommended to anyone who is looking for a more “casual” rogue-like simulation.

‘Midnight Gospel’ Netflix series an amazing mess of weirdness

GRANT NELSON Staff Writer

A show worth binge watching is the Netflix animated podcast “Midnight Gospel.” This cartoon is the adult spiritual successor to “Adventure Time” in its animation and just weirdness, which makes sense since both are from Pendleton Ward. The show follows a universe traveling stone/Buddhist mystic YouTuber as he travels the multiverse inviting strangers onto his podcast channel. They talk about topics like cannabis laws, magic, enlighten-

ment and even God and the afterlife.

“Midnight Gospel” and its interviews are based on a real YouTuber and his guests as they talk about these subjects, but stories and weird trippy animations are built around it to give it more visual impact.

The show is very funny with adult humor, but also cuts deep and makes viewers think. I love this show and have even taken up the meditations the creator often talks about.

If you have nothing going on some random weekend, give it a shot and get lost in this amazing mess of weirdness.

Swagat features Indian cuisine

IMAN ALRASHID Copy Editor

Do you like Indian food or a quite classy restaurant? Swagat is the right place for you.

Inside, you will be greeted with one of the most serene ambiances. The dining room is big, comfortable and classy. The menu is long and contains a lot of great choices. All diverse kinds of meals: chicken, beef, seafood and vegetarian, besides appetizers and desserts. Also, the stylish atmosphere speaks of elegance and class.

There are two locations in Madison, one in the far west of Madison and a new one that opened in Sun Prairie a couple of months ago at 298 South Grand Ave. Parking in the area is something you do not need to worry about.

I went with my family to the Sun Prairie Swagat for a nice dinner, which turned into a fabulous one. It was not just the tasty food; the staff was super friendly, and the service was quick.

We ordered garlic naan bread; it

FABELMANS

for Spielberg’s flick would be film students or film buffs who go to arthouses. Most of this demographic has already watched Spielberg documentaries, so they would better understand the movie’s story arc and subtleties.

It doesn’t help that the movie runs two hours and 31 minutes, often feeling slow-moving and sluggish. Because much of the film shows Sammy learning the mechanics of editing, one would think Spielberg would have taken his own advice and streamlined some scenes.

There are some bright spots. It is a visually textured movie often seen

tasted fresh and amazing. You taste the butter, the cheese and the fresh garlic with a touch of fresh herbs.

My family ordered the chicken tikka masala, grilled chicken cooked in a buttery, creamy sauce with curry. It was spicy with an earthy flavor, served with white steamed rice.

If you cannot handle spicy food, make sure to order your meal medium or mild.

I am a vegetarian, and Swagat was a good place for me because it has many vegetarian choices. I ordered malai kofta and it was yummy! Creamy curry sauce and crispy dumplings stuffed with vegetables tasted delicious alongside steamed rice.

In Swagat bite into some of the most delectable Indian meals. Each meal costs around $20. I found it at a fair price.

It is a nice restaurant with tasty food. So, if you want to go with family and friends to have a portion of delicious food and an enjoyable time, Swagat is the right place.

through the set design. It captures the essence of growing up in the ‘50s by showing post-war optimism and prosperity.

While the storyline is superficial, much of the acting is deep. Although LaBelle is the lead, Williams is the star. Her marquee performance will undoubtedly have her nominated for an Academy Award, if not outright winning it.

Although many viewers might not see its significance, the final scene delightfully unfolds when Sammy meets his idol, director John Ford.

Played by David Lynch and best understood by Spielberg fans, it shows Sammy’s singular focus and determination, ultimately paying off for the young director.

IMAN ALRASHID / CLARION

Michelangelo’s Coffe House is located on 114 State St. in Madison.

IMAN ALRASHID / CLARION

Swagat has locations in Madison and Sun Prairie.

EDITORS: ROSS LITSCHER & CHASE DEMASI CLARIONSPORTS@ MADISONCOLLEGE.EDU

MEETTHEPACK

MEN’S BASKETBALL

TELIN PORTER

A sophomore guard/forward on the Madison College men’s basketball team, Telin Porter averages 8.3 points a game this season for the WolfPack. He has started five games and played in 16 this season.

Porter has had 62 rebounds, 24 assists and 21 steals. Last season, he averaged 9.3 points a game and 4.2 rebounds while starting 13 of the 26 games he appeared in for the WolfPack.

Originally from Houston, Texas, Porter was named most valuable player as a senior at The Provision Academy in Houston. The son of Amanda Gibson, he is a sports medicine major.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

REYNA KNOX

A sophomore guard on the Madison College women’s basketball team, Reyna Knox is currently fourth on the team in scoring average with 8.5 points a game. She has started six games this season and played in 14 for the 6-12 WolfPack. In addition, she has 31 rebounds, 37 assists and 24 steals.

Knox is a graduate of Milwaukee Ronald Reagan High School, where she was a fourtime letter winner in basketball and named team captain as a junior. The daughter of Kristina and Marcus Knox, she is a health science major at Madison College.

Rollercoaster Packers season was still a fun ride

ROSS LITSCHER Sports Editor

When Aaron Rodgers, Randall Cobb and the rest of the Green Bay Packers walked off Lambeau Field for a final time this season, and possibly ever for those two players, many thoughts ran through the minds of the fans, coaches and players.

Start with where it all began back in the offseason, where expectations for 2022 were still sky high, despite Davante Adams leaving in free agency and an inexperienced team around future Hall of Famer Aaron Rodgers. The team’s 3-1 start was a bit underwhelming, as they clearly weren’t playing up to their potential and had a long way to go. These growing pains caught up to the team as

they lost five games in a row, their longest losing streak since 2008.

Sitting at 3-6 and well out of the playoff picture, Aaron

Rodgers never lost confidence. After all, he’s been here before. In 2010 they won their last two regular season games to snag the last wildcard spot at

10-6, then went on to win three straight playoff games on the road en route to a Super Bowl title. In 2013 Rodgers came back from a collarbone injury to win three of their last four, including a winner take all game in the regular season finale against Chicago to win the division at 8-7-1. The 2016 Packers started 4-6 before winning six in a row to finish the season 10-6 and make it all the way to the conference title game.

Late-season surges were no stranger to Aaron Rodgers, but despite an upset win over the Dallas Cowboys and the emergence of rookie receiver Christian Watson, the Packers would lose their next two games and the playoffs looked like a mountain too tall to climb at 4-8. Fans and the

media were all over the place at this point, from calling for Jordan Love to start to wanting coach Lafleur fired. But through all of this, Rodgers kept that same confidence. Then came a win over the Bears (nothing new there), and then a win over a decimated Rams team.

On Christmas Day, Packer fans were given the present of an upset win in Miami over the playoff ready Dolphins. That result combined with a number of results going the Packers’ way in Week 16 gave fans a sense of hope they hadn’t had in a long time. Week 17 gave of the combo of a dominating home win over the division leading Vikings (also avenging our Week 1 loss) and

Overtime loss extends streak to 6 games

CLARION STAFF REPORT

An overtime loss to the College of DuPage on Jan. 12 in the conference opener has extended the Madison College women’s basketball team’s current losing streak to six games.

DuPage outscored Madison College, 7-2, in the overtime period to claim an 83-78 victory and thwart the WolfPack’s hopes of earning their first win since Dec. 3.

The game against DuPage was close throughout, with Madison College holding a 37-34 advantage at halftime.

Jordanna Davis led Madison College with 24 points and nine rebounds. Taylor Ripp added 16 points and 16 rebounds.

Madison College now stands at 6-12 overall. The team next plays at Joliet Junior College on Jan. 17 and at Harper College on Jan. 19.

Bryant and Stratton College 87, Madison College 56

Loss opens conference play

Madison College falls to College of DuPage after high-scoring second half

CLARION STAFF REPORT

After holding College of DuPage to 26 points in the first half, the Madison College men’s basketball team surrendered 50 points in the second half of their game on Jan. 12.

The result? A 76-70 loss at home in the WolfPack’s conference opener.

Madison College held a 29-26 lead at halftime, but fell back in the second half when the game took on a faster pace. DuPage outscored Madison

College, 50-41, in the half.

Keith Hoffman led Madison College with 31 points and eight rebounds.

Telin Porter added 13 points, while Nik Feller scored 11.

Madison College fell to 8-9 overall. Next up are road games at Joliet Junior College on Jan. 17 and at Harper College on Jan. 19.

Bryant and Stratton College 74, Madison College 53

A 15-2 run to close out the first half put Bryant and Stratton in control of the game as it posted a 74-53 victory over host Madison College on Jan. 10.

Hoffman and Porter both scored 10 points to lead the WolfPack.

Madison College 75, Elgin Community College 70

A big second half led Madison College to a 75-70 victory over Elgin Community College on Dec. 29. The WolfPack outscored its opponent, 42-28, in the half to claim the victory. Hoffman led Madison College with 26 points and 13 rebounds.

Madison College 75, Kishwaukee College 62

Freshman Deante Luster scored a career-high 31 points to lead Madison College to a 75-62 victory over Kishwaukee College at home on Dec.

Taylor Ripp tied her career-high scoring mark with 23 points, but it wasn’t enough as Madison College lost to 15th-ranked Bryant and Stratton, 87-56, at home on Jan. 10. Knox was the only other player to score in double figures for the WolfPack, netting 10 points.

Oakton Community College 92, Madison College 73

Madison College was able to keep within striking distance of undefeated Oakton Community College until the fourth quarter, when Oakton netted 31 points to post a 92-73 victory on Jan. 3. Madison College’s Jordanna Davis scored a career-high 23 points, hitting 8 of 11 shots in the game.

Elgin Community College 86, Madison College 63

A 29-point second quarter gave Elgin Community College all the momentum

Profiles of WolfPack athletes

PORTER

KNOX

STACY REVERE / GETTY IMAGES / TNS

Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers looks to pass during a game against Minnesota at Lambeau Field on Jan. 1. Fans are now wondering if Rodgers will return next season or retire.

CLARION STAFF PHOTO

Madison College’s Deante Luster fends off a defender during the Jan. 10 game against Bryant and Stratton College.

Georgia’s offense shines in national title game

ANTHONY MCCULLEY Staff Writer

The Georgia Bulldogs won the national championship game in a blowout against the Texax Christian University.

On Jan. 9. the TCU Horned Frogs (13-1) faced the Georgia Bulldogs (14-0) in the national championship game at SoFi Stadium. The Bulldogs and Horned Frogs faced each other with top quarterbacks Max Duggan of TCU and Stetson Bennett of Georgia.

This was the final time both Duggan and Bennett would play a college game as they both have declared for the NFL

PACKERS

a Washington Commanders’ loss, which was the last roadblock in the way to the Packers controlling their own playoff destiny.

The script was perfect, win an in at Lambeau Field against a division rival on Sunday Night Football, while also entering the playoffs on a five-game winning streak with a chance to get revenge on the 49ers for last year's playoff exit.

But as we all witnessed on Sunday Night Football, some scripts are too perfect. The Packers were outplayed by a Dan Campbell-led Detroit Lions team who, because of a Seattle Seahawks win just minutes before kickoff, had no playoff hopes to compete for. Green Bay led for most of the game but could never quite put them away.

Red zone issues were once again a problem just like in the first matchup in Detroit, and as the game went on the Lions took advantage of Packers’ miscues and prevailed with great defense and an offense that took risks like they were trying to take the game from the Packers. A Kirby Joseph pick of Rodgers with 3:37 left led to the Lions bleeding the remainder of the game clock, sealing the game with a fourth and one yard to go pass completion to D.J. Chark. The Lions 20-16 win did nothing for them but sent Geno Smith and the Seattle Seahawks to the postseason.

All of a sudden, the Packers’ playoff dream was over. An 8-9 finish to a roller coaster season that ends with no green and gold in the playoffs for the first time since 2018. The scene at Lambeau after the game was bittersweet; the end of the road always is. And at the end of this road, the same questions from the middle of the season have returned to the surface.

It’ll be a big offseason for the Packers as they are either going to deal with trading Jordan Love or a retiring Aaron Rodgers, plus many roster and coaching decisions to get this team back to a playoff team as soon as possible.

But for now, with the image of Aaron Rodgers and Randall Cobb walking off Lambeau Field together for possibly the final time as the last image in our minds from this 2022 season, I’m just grateful for the journey.

It’s seasons like this where sports fans find out the most about themselves and their teams. These last 15 or so years with Rodgers have been incredible to watch every fall Sunday afternoon. Don’t be sad it’s over, be happy it happened.

draft, where they hope to be drafted this April.

Bennett and Duggan started their opening drives with a rushing touchdown each, but TCU couldn’t keep up. The Bulldogs ran away with it, winning the game 65-7. The Horned Frogs couldn’t find a way to stop the high-powered Bulldogs offense from scoring. TCU also had a hard time finding ways to move the ball.

Duggan had a rough night against Georgia as he was under pressure all night and completed 14 of 23 passes for 152 yards and two interceptions. He was also sacked five times.

Georgia was a powerhouse all

season, posting a perfect 15-0 record. Bennett passed for a total of 4,127 yards and 27 touchdowns. Running back Kenny McIntosh ran for 829 yards on the season. Receiver Brock Bowers had 942 receiving yards on the year.

For TCU, Duggan ended the year with 3,698 passings yards with 32 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Kendre Miller ran for a total of 1,399 yards and Emari Demercado ran for 681 yards. Quentin Johnston had 1,069 receiving yards and Taye Barber had 613 receiving yards.

Come April, we will see where these two quarterbacks end up in the NFL but for now, we will have to wait it out.

Madison College schedules and results.

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Schedule

NOV. 1 at home vs. McHenry County College, 83-78 LOSS

NOV. 4 at home vs. Mesabi Range CTC, 60-53 WIN

NOV. 5 at Waubonsee Community College, 97-74 LOSS

NOV. 9 at University of Dubuque JV, 80-71 WIN (2OT)

NOV. 11 vs. North Central Michigan College, 82-80 WIN (OT)

NOV. 12 vs. Bay College, 73-69 LOSS

NOV. 15 at home vs. College of Lake County, 77-58 WIN

NOV. 17 at home vs. Rockford University JV, 95-76 WIN

NOV. 19 at Carl Sandburg College, 87-81 LOSS

NOV. 22 at Rochester Community and Technical College, 73-67 LOSS

NOV. 30 at Western Technical College, 80-54 WIN

DEC. 3 at home vs. Prairie State College, 69-66 LOSS

DEC. 8 at Loras College JV, 78-77 LOSS

DEC. 10 at home vs. Kishwaukee College, 75-62 WIN

DEC. 29 at Elgin Community College, 75-70 WIN

JAN. 10 at home vs. Bryant & Stratton College, 74-53 LOSS

JAN. 12 at home vs. College of DuPage, 76-70 LOSS

JAN. 17 at Joliet Junior College, 5 p.m.

JAN. 19 at Harper College, 5 p.m.

JAN. 24 at home vs. Milwaukee Area Technical College, 5:30 p.m.

JAN. 26 at home vs. Gogebic Community College, 7:30 p.m.

JAN. 28 at home vs. UW-Baraboo, 3 p.m.

JAN. 31 at College of DuPage, 7 p.m.

OVERTIME

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 11

it needed in an 86-63 victory over Madison College on Dec. 29. Ripp led Madison College with 18 points and had 10 rebounds. Davis scored 15 points, while Mikala Williams had 12. Kishwaukee College 68, Madison College 65

After leading by nine points at halftime, Madison College lost to Kishwaukee College, 68-65, on Dec. 10. Madison College allowed Kishwaukee

to outscore them 25-16 in the final period. Five players scored in double figures for the WolfPack, led by freshman Emma Paulson’s 15-point effort.

Loras College JV 65, Madison College 51

Loras College scored the first seven points of the first quarter to take a double-digit lead on its way to a 65-51 victory over Madison College on Dec. 8. Cora Hansen led the WolfPack with 16 points, matching her career high. Ripp had a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds.

Prediction: Bills will win Super Bowl

ROSS LITSCHER Sports Editor

On Sept. 8, the Buffalo Bills opened the NFL season by throttling the defending champion Los Angeles Rams, 31-10. Just over 270 games later and we have our 14-team playoff field, all leading up to the 2023 Super Bowl on Feb. 12 in Glendale, Arizona.

This year’s playoffs come with many intriguing storylines.

While last year's defending champs missed the playoffs, the defending runners-up Cincinnati Bengals are the third seed in the AFC and join the Chiefs, Bills, Eagles, 49ers, Buccaneers and Cowboys as teams returning to the playoffs for a second year in a row. The Giants, Chargers, Dolphins, Jaguars and Vikings are back after a multiple-year absence. Quarterbacks Justin Herbert, Tua Tagovailoa, Trevor Lawrence and Daniel Jones make their first appearance in the postseason. Tagovailoa and Ravens’ quarterback Lamar Jackson are questionable to play in the wild card round due to injuries.

because of the scary cardiac arrest of Bills’ safety Damar Hamlin on the field during the Week 16 Monday Night Football game against the Bengals. The game was canceled completely because of this. Thankfully, Hamlin is recovering and has been released from the Cincinnati hospital as of Jan. 9. The cancellation put the NFL in a very tough position as far as playoff seeding goes.

The Bills and Bengals were both vying for a first-round bye, plus the Bengals were trying to hold off the Ravens for the AFC North title. Thankfully, the Bengals beat the Ravens in Week 17 to clinch the AFC North, which avoided a messy situation of the host stadium of the Bengals-Ravens first round playoff game being decided by a coin toss.

The last implication of all of this is that the Bills finished a half game back of the Chiefs even though they beat the Chiefs in Kansas City earlier this year. The NFL decided that if the Bills and Chiefs were to meet in the AFC title game, a likely scenario, then the game would be at a neutral site.

FEB. 2 at home vs. Joliet Junior College, 7:30 p.m.

FEB. 7 at home vs. Harper College, 7:30 p.m.

FEB. 9 at Milwaukee Area Technical College, 8 p.m.

FEB. 11 at home vs. South Suburban College, 3 p.m.

FEB. 21 at Rock Valley College, 7:30 p.m.

FEB. 24FEB. 26 NJCAA Region 4 Tournament, at Joliet Junior College, TBA.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Schedule

NOV. 1 at home vs. McHenry County College, 79-60 LOSS

NOV. 4 at home vs. Iowa Central Community College, 82-65 LOSS

NOV. 5 at Waubonsee Community College, 90-60 LOSS

NOV. 9 at University of Dubuque JV, 74-57 LOSS

NOV. 11 vs. North Central Michigan College, 57-36 WIN

NOV. 12 vs. Bay College, 44-40 WIN

NOV. 15 at home vs. College of Lake County, 67-56 WIN

NOV. 17 at home vs. Rockford University JV, 74-41 WIN

NOV. 19 at Carl Sandburg College, 80-76 WIN

NOV. 22 at Rochester Community and Technical College, 96-70 LOSS

NOV. 30 at Western Technical College, 94-60 LOSS

DEC. 3 at home vs. Prairie State College, 63-47 WIN

DEC. 8 at Loras College JV, 65-51 LOSS

DEC. 10 at home vs. Kishwaukee College, 68-64 LOSS

DEC. 29 at Elgin CC, 86-63 LOSS

JAN. 3 at home vs. Oakton Community College, 92-73 LOSS

JAN. 10 at home vs. Bryant & Stratton College, 87-56 LOSS

JAN. 12 at home vs. College of DuPage, 83-78 OT LOSS

JAN. 17 at Joliet Junior College, 7 p.m.

JAN. 19 at Harper College, 7 p.m.

JAN. 24 at home vs. Milwaukee Area Technical College, 7:30 p.m.

10. Luster hit 12 of 16 shots from the field, including three of five 3-pointers.

Loras College JV 78, Madison College 77

A game that saw Madison College rally by scoring 54 points in the second half was decided by a free throw that gave Loras College a 78-77 victory on Dec. 8. Cortez Telfered hit a 3-pointer in the final minute to tie the game and give his team a chance. Hoffman had 18 points to lead the WolfPack, while Luster and Feller both scored 16.

Geno Smith and the Seahawks are one of the league’s best stories this year. Everyone counted them out after star quarterback Russell Wilson was traded to Denver. But the combo of Geno redeeming himself as a starter and Pete Carroll’s outstanding coaching got them the last spot in the NFC.

The league MVP will likely go to Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes or Eagles’ quarterback Jalen Hurts, who are the quarterbacks of the two teams that have first-round byes. One difference this postseason happened

My prediction for the Super Bowl is the Bills over the Eagles. I’ve felt for a while that these are the two most complete teams in football and if they remain healthy, I don’t see anyone stopping them, especially since neither have to play a true road game to get to the big game. The Bills are clearly playing the rest of this season for Hamlin. And as they proved in Week 18’s beatdown of the Patriots, they’re a team playing full of heart and are beginning to play their best football of the year at the right time.

JAN. 26 at home vs. Gogebic Community College, 5:30 p.m.

JAN. 31 at College of DuPage, 5 p.m.

FEB. 2 at home vs. Joliet Junior College, 5:30 p.m.

FEB. 7 at home vs. Harper College, 5:30 p.m.

FEB. 9 at Milwaukee Area Technical College, 6 p.m.

FEB. 11 at home vs. South Suburban College, 1 p.m.

FEB. 21 at Rock Valley College, 5:30 p.m.

FEB. 26 NJCAA Region 4 Tournament, Joliet Junior College, TBA.

FEB. 24-

CLARION STAFF PHOTO

Madison College’s Mikala Williams puts up a shot in her team’s loss against Bryant and Stratton on Jan. 10.

BREWSTER ROCKIT

TIM RICKARD / TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

Keepin’ it Classy

The Clarion offers free classified advertising to students. Send your ads of 70 words or less to clarionads@madisoncollege.edu. Space is limited. Submission does not guarantee publication. Must submit 7 days prior to publication.

Help Finding Housing

Madison College is partnering with Rent College Pads to provide a curated list of houses and apartments available near all campuses in the district. The site is exclusive to the Madison College community. Visit madisoncollege.edu/housing to learn more.

Personal Research Help

Madison College libraries are now offering a Personal Academic LIbrarian program to help support students with research help. For more information about the new program, visit the https://libguides.madisoncollege.edu/pal.

Pick Up a Bus Pass

Madison College offers Madison Metro bus passes for its students to help them commute to campus. New bus passes are availabe in Student Life. Bus passes can be mailed to your home. Visit madisoncollege.edu/buspass for more information.

Lockers Available

Students can reserve lockers at the Truax Campus by visiting the Student Life Office, Truax Room B1260 or register them using the form at madisoncollege.edu/locker. Students must provide their own lock. There is no charge for locker use.

50 Clubs to Choose From

There are more than 60 clubs available at Madison College. Participating in a student-led club is a great way to meet new friends or develop a new skill. Visit madisoncollege.edu/ clubs-organizations to learn more about how you can join.

Join the Clarion

Writers, photographers and graphic artists are invited to join The Clarion staff at any time during the school year. If interested in helping out, email clarioned@madisoncollege.edu to connect with our editor and learn more about the newspaper.

WolfPack Alerts

Remember to sign up for the college’s WolfPack Alert emergency messaging system. You will get need-to-know info about school closings and urgent updates. Go to madisoncollege.edu and search “WolfPack Alert” to find instructions.

Listen to Clarion Radio

Madison College has it’s own online student radio station. Listen in at ClarionRadio.com. The station is always looking for students who are interested in producing their own show. Email clarionmedia@madisoncollege.edu for more information.

The object is to place the numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so that each row, each column and each 3x3 box contains the same number only once.

Objective Difficulty