Clarion issue 5-6-20 by The Clarion

MAY 6, 2020 • THEONLINECLARION.COM • VOLUME 50, ISSUE 16 • MADISON AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE NEWS

ARTS

SPORTS

Special sections looks at student housing » 4-6

Life without live music

WolfPack athletics recognizes its top student athletes »12

Musicians talk about how they are managing during this unique time, where they can’t share their performances with live audiences » 9

STEM Academy student to speak at graduation Mateo Vargas-Nunez will get his high school diploma and associate’s degree this year VERNON ZIGLER Staff Writer Graduation season is a special time in the lives of students and their families. This is especially true in the case of the student speaker for Madison College’s 2020 Commencement Ceremony, Mateo Vargas-Nunez. As he is 17 years old, Vargas-Nunez will also be graduating from Madison East High School this year. In past two years, in addition to his high school studies, he has earned a liberal arts asso-

ciate degree in science, with a 3.9 GPA, from Madison College. He is part of the Early College STEM Academy, which is a dual-enrollment partnership between Madison College and various school districts. Vargas-Nunez attributes his success to hard work and the support of his family – his mothers Heidi Vargas, who is a librarian at Hawthorne library, and Lucia Nuñez, who is the vice president of Equity and Inclusion at Madison College, and a sister. In addition, he had a strong team of support at Madison College, specifically STEM Student Support Advisor Lazaro Enriquez, whom he credits with doing an amazing job working with the STEM program students. Vargas-Nunez was approached by his

public speaking instructor and asked to submit a draft for consideration for the upcoming graduation ceremonies. After seeking advice from his family on the draft, and to his surprise and delight he was selected as student speaker. As this will be a virtual commencement celebration, he will record his speech, which will be played back at the appropriate time during the ceremony. Vargas-Nunez’s after-graduation plans include several options. He has been accepted to the University of Denver for this fall, where he is considering a double major. He would like to pursue a career in psychology, linguistics, or civil engineering. However, due » SEE GRADUATION PAGE 6

Grading option offered due to coronavirus challenges

TRUMAN SCHOLAR

CHRIS BIRD News Editor

CLARION FILE PHOTO

Former Madison College Student Senate President Tina Marshalek is pictured on the stairwell in the Truax Campus Gateway. Marshalek, now attending UW-Madison, was recently selected as a Harry Truman Scholar.

Former Senate president earns prestigious honor KALEIA LAWRENCE Staff Writer Former Madison College Student Senate President Tina Marshalek was recently named a Harry Truman Scholar. The prestigious academic title comes with a scholarship to support her studies in community and nonprofit leadership and political science at UW-Madison. She is one of the winners out of 190 national finalists. The process to become a Harry Truman Scholar started in

September of 2019. There were several different rounds of nomination. To be considered, Marshalek had to receive a nomination from UW, write seven essays, get six letters of recommendations, fill out an application, write a policy proposal, and be interviewed. As a double major at UW with a certificate in education policy studies, Marshalek is considering attending graduate school after taking a gap year to work in Washington D.C. with the support of the Truman Foundation. She sees herself working in different areas with a focus on

Mateo Vargas-Nunez

education issues. Whether legislative or for a non-profit, she hopes to be involved in homeschool advocacy in some way. One of her passions is finding equality for homeschooled students. Marshalek was homeschooled from kindergarten to 12th grade. She considers herself lucky for being able to receive her high school diploma, as many homeschoolers do not get that opportunity. Because there is no official form of assessment for homeschoolers, many students are » SEE SCHOLAR PAGE 6

Madison College is offering the option to convert the grades from eligible classes for the Spring 2020 semester to credit or no credit. Due to extenuating circumstances caused by COVID-19 and the transition for many students to online learning, the college is offering this option to help students preserve their GPA if they are concerned that it will be affected by the changes in learning and other factors. Credit or no credit grading allows a student to change their classic letter grades into a pass or fail type grade that will result in no change to their GPA. A grade of C or above will be converted into a CR grade. A grad of D and lower will be converted into a grade of NCR. A CR grade will still give credit for the course and fulfill program, certificate, or prerequisite requirements. A grade of NCR will not give any credit, but can help students preserve their GPA if they are concerned with their class grade. Not all courses are able to be changed to the credit or no credit grading system, and it is important for students to be aware of when it is beneficial to decide to take a CR or NCR grade. Some programs, employers, institutions that accept transfer credits, etc. will not accept CR or NCR grades. College officials say it is always a good idea to contact advisors or contact institutions directly to be sure that taking a CR grade will not prevent your course from being considered acceptable. » SEE GRADING PAGE 6

2 | NEWS | WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020

THE CLARION

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Student staff at library, SAC appreciated THE STUDENT VOICE OF MADISON AREA TECHNICAL COLLEGE

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Henrik Bakk Egon Bassler Mortensen Niamh Bisesel Hannah Dotzler Jeremy Gundlach Destiny Hines Adeline Holte Izwan Khirularziman Kaleia Lawrence Michelle Ledesma Ceron Krista Olson-Lehman Hailey Mangan Mackenzie Moore Grant Nelson Ezra Peters Alyssa Sorce Boh Suh Vernon Ziegler CONTRIBUTORS

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SUBMISSIONS To submit an item for publication, drop it off at The Clarion office, Room B1260G Truax and Room D237 Downtown, 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

As we wrap up the most bizarre of semesters to date and look forward to the warm days of summer and the hope of returning to campus again soon, the Madison College Libraries and Student Achievement Centers reflect on the past academic year. Our unit’s success is due, in part, to our marvelous student desk staff. Since we have not had our student workers staffing our desks since before Spring Break, it has been a long time since we have all seen each other’s smiling faces, asked each other about our weekends, or told the occasional joke. The lack of face-to-face interactions does not change the gratitude that we feel and have felt for all our student staff members at

our Libraries and Student Achievement Centers throughout the district. We’re talking about you, library front desk students, computer support students, peer tutors, supplemental instruction leaders, and welcome desk employees for the Libraries and Student Achievement Centers District wide. Every year, we take a moment to show our deep appreciation to these students for their diligent efforts this

past academic year. Your excellent customer service skills have helped us provide vital support to faculty, staff, and your fellow classmates. Your work throughout the district is invaluable and we could not have completed the academic year without each and every one of you. Thank-you for your adaptability and willingness to keep up with the fast pace of the front lines of Student Support. Thank-you for

your positive attitudes and incredible energy. Thanks for braving the bitter cold and heavy snow to come to work each day and evening, be it week day or week end, and for staying home after COVID-19 prevented us from coming back to campus. You are all incredible. To those of you who are graduating, transferring, or moving on to new pursuits, we wish you nothing but the best. Even when our campus is not, our chat and phone lines are open, so feel free to drop a line and say hello. Hopefully in the not too distant future, you could even drop in and see us once again. Thanks again, and best of luck from all of us in the Libraries and Student Achievement Centers!

Student Success award winners recognized CLARION STAFF REPORT Student leaders throughout Madison College were honored during three student success watch parties hosted by the Executive Leadership Team at the end of April. Each watch party had its own emphasis – excellence in education, club and student leader recognition, and excellence in leadership. More than 120 students were nominated for special recognition in a variety of categories. Sali Diallo and Chungyi Law led the Excellence in Leadership Watch Party. The Club and Organization watch party was led by Jophia Turner and Solomon Adedeji. The Academic Excellence watch party was officiated by Julie Gao and Fatima Hydara. Three students received the Karen Roberts Student Life Leadership Award, the highest recognition awarded to a Madison College student leader. The winners were Bo Suh, Brittany Campbell and Rocky Blanco. Suh has served as a tutor at the Student Achievement Center, a Supplemental Instruction leader and President of the Phi Theta Kapp Honor Society. Campbell has helped lead a college alternative break trip, served as President of the Wisconsin Region for Phi Theta Kappa and was a co-chair of the college’s Student Affairs Council of Shared Governance. Blanco, a nursing student, has served as a representative on the college’s Equity and Inclusion Committee. Three students were honored for completing the Student Life Leadership Certificate: Katrina Willis, Nancy Garduno and Jackson Thomsen. To achieve this award, students must complete 20 hours of civic engagement, hold a leadership position at the college, take part in leadership development activities and interview community leaders. Other honors presented at the watch party were: Outstanding Student Employee of the Year – Carolyn Kosabucki, Kerry Devlin and Dora Aranda. Devi Bhargava Award – Arik McGraw. Terry S. Webb Shared Governance Leadership Award – C.J. Chiefe, Sheila Runge and Brittany Campbell. Student Senate Merit Awards – Sheila Runge and Aleem Syed.

PHOTO PROVIDED TO THE CLARION

Members of the Programs and Activities Council pose for a photo with speaker Erika Gilchrist after an event on campus this year. PAC was selected as the college’s Outstanding Student Organization of the Year.

TESSA MORHARDT / CLARION

A member of Okami Taiko participates in a recruitment event. Okami Taiko was named the Outstanding Club of the Year. Student Excellence in Diversity Award – Jacob Vang and Keyiona Johnson. Student Ambassadors of Distinction – Nic Leighty, Carmen Meyers, Jasmine Her and Ashley Meeks. Club Advisor of the Year – Theresa Laws-Dahl Outstanding Student Group for Academic Achievement – International Interior Design Association Wisconsin Campus Center. Outstanding Student Club of the Year – Okami Taiko.

Outstanding Student Organization of the Year – Programs and Activities Council. Outstanding Club Advisor of the Year – Theresa Laws-Dahl, Business Professionals of America. Outstanding Student Group Award for Community Service – Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Outstanding Student Tutor of the Year – Ana Paula Rodovalho Fernandes Moreira and Nelson Dresser. Exemplary Learner of the Year, School of Academic Advancement – Megan Erickson, Blanca Cruz and Robert Finberg. Exemplary Learner of the Year, School of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology – Kenton Krueger, Jerad Lensmire and KD Denzel. Exemplary Learner of the Year, School of Health Education – Brooke Hackler and Kayla Adank. Exemplary Learner of the Year, School of Arts and Sciences – Andrea Long, Christine Hovey and Rose Whitehead. Exemplary Learner of the Year, School of Human and Protective Services – Sugar Thomas-Rodgers, Derek Heinzelman and Victoria Nunez. Exemplary Learner of the Year, School of Business and Applied Arts – Alex Bohlinger, Jodie Moss and Sara McDonald. Distinguished Teachers of the Year – Dr. Cherif Correa, Catherine Stover and Dr. Mary Vogel.

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020 | NEWS | 3

Green’s goal is to improve the student experience CHRIS BIRD News Editor Sean Green was recently chosen by the students of Madison College to be the next Student Senate President. Green has been involved with the Student Senate for a year now, and he serves on the Administration and Finance Committee, Rules Committee, Legislative Affairs Committee, team Development Committee, IT Council as a student body rep, and even works at the front desk for Student Development and Retention Services. “I took this role as president because I want to help contribute my efforts on improving the student experience at Madison College,” Green said. “So I’m personally Sean Green, Student Senate president invested in this.” His experience working in student development and retention services has made him more interested and aware of the problems surrounding keeping students in school and helping them succeed. Mental health and environmental factors hurt

student retention, even with help and support there are some students that fall through the cracks and end up leaving school or not performing at their potential ability levels. Speaking on what he is personally interested in working on this upcoming year, Green shared that “mental health has always been a focus,” of his. Green feels that working to support the students who are struggling with mental health and working to prevent some factors from contributing to mental health issues will help empower students to succeed at Madison College. The Student Senate three year plan outlines the group’s goals to help improve Advising, Retention and Counseling, as well as help with students facing Food Insecurity and housing issues. Each of these issues can hurt a student’s ability to succeed, and are sources of stress or instability even before considering their impact on learning. Green wants to help reduce these problems and distractions, and these are areas where he plans to start working to improve conditions for students. “My main goal is to help change something and impact it in a positive way,” Green said. Green feels that it is important to focus on issues that he and the student senate can make real progress on. It takes a great deal of coordination and effort to work on any one issue, and it is important to Green to put effort into realistic goals that can have a noticeable impact on the people of Madison College.

Continuing work on current initiatives, like fighting food insecurity and working on textbook affordability, as well as finding ways to reduce student worries about issues such as housing insecurity. Green expressed that he thinks it is great to have groups like those in shared governance at Madison College to provide opportunities to get together and talk about a plan to address student issues. Through the senate, “we have a voice.” He wants to continue to foster the relationship between student senate and the governance of Madison College. Encouraging student involvement and engagement is another personal interest for Green. He feels that the Student Senate could use more attention in terms of promoting elections and interacting with students. “Participation in voting is important, students voting for senators can really help them.” Student senate has real power to change things, and students are the ones who are most aware of what type of change they could use for the good of their community. Getting more students involved in elections and keeping the student senate aware of their struggles plays a large role in keeping the Student Senate effective. Johnathon Jones will be passing the torch down to Green as president of the Student Senate during a special assembly of the Student Senate on May 7. “The current senate is working hard at making sure that come next week, the new senate will be as united as ever to work on the issues we discussed,” said Green.

College plans a virtual ceremony for graduates TESSA MORHARDT Editor in Chief

MICHELLE LEDESMA CERON / CLARION

Protestors march outside the State Capitol at the end of April opposing the extension of the “safer-at-home” order.

Response to COVID-19 draws protest MICHELLE LEDESMA CERON Staff Writer Early in Wisconsin’s battle against the new coronavirus, Gov. Tony Evers advocated for people to social distance to try to slow the rate of infection, give hospitals time to prepare and protect vulnerable populations. On March 25, Evers directed the Department of Health Services institute a “safer-at-home order.” This commanded people to avoid leaving their homes as much as possible, unless necessary and forced many businesses to close. Grocery stores, pharmacies, and restaurants able to deliver or with curbside pick-up were some of the businesses allowed to remain open. Taking as many health precautions as possible, with many employees wearing masks and gloves. However, places with uninventable contact like hair salons, gyms, bowling alleys and other places that sold non-essential goods, were deemed non-essential businesses and therefore were forced to close. With so many places undergoing temporary closures or shortening their hours, it led to uncertainty and an increase of unemployment claims filed. In fact, as of May 4 more than 500,000 people have filed for unemployment in Wisconsin, according to The Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. While this first order was planned to come to a conclusion on April 24, the number of people infected with COVID-19 continued to increase. And

before things were able to open again, Evers decided to extend the order to May 26. As of May 4, there were more than 8,000 confirmed cases in the state. This urged people to continue practicing social distancing and those businesses to remain closed – meaning that a lot of people in Wisconsin will be unable to return to their jobs until the renewed order is lifted. Anxiety and frustration brewed. Desperate to return to their jobs, some people in Wisconsin organized a protest for April 24. It was referred to in social media as the “Open Wisconsin Now” protest, and an estimated 1,500 people attended. The state Capitol in downtown Madison was swarmed with people biking, children and adults that congregated around the entire block. People without masks and signs that read, “Faith over Fear,” “All your servants have become your masters” and “Say ‘no’ to medical tyranny.” While a lot of the signs were related to COVID-19, the protest looked like a political rally. Many protestors brought U.S. flags, Tea Party flags and Donald Trump campaign regalia, some even proudly displayed their assault rifles. A few stood at top of the capitol stairs on the corner of West Mifflin Street and State Street. They lead the protest through their speeches. Among the speakers was a member of the Wisconsin State Sen. Kathy Bernier from Chippewa Falls. Bernier gave a brief speech where

she introduced the Back to Business Plan, plan she said could help business re-open safely. “If the governor knows what’s good for him, he will back the Back to Business plan,” she said. Just two blocks away from the protest was, Marcel Bogucki Villavicencio, a student at the University of Wisconsin whose work has also closed. Bogucki Villavicencio was not in favor of the protests and said the march was an example of lack of understanding. Bogucki Villavicencio could hear the protest from his front porch. He said the protest seemed to be “more about American individualism and how Americans aren’t good at collective responsibility. So, that’s what this is about. Staying in a lockdown is a collective responsibility.” Wisconsin is not the only state to have an order that restricts business and encourages people to stay at home. According to the New York Times, 42 states are undergoing some sort of stay-at-home guideline. States like, New York, California, Texas and Michigan are some of the most affected. These states are experiencing the greatest number of people diagnosed with COVID-19 as well as some of the highest subsequent deaths. As of May 6, Wisconsin reported 8,901 confirmed cases of COVID19 resulting in at least 362 deaths. Nationally, there were 1,214,572 confirmed cases and 71,982 deaths. Research are predicting the national death toll will exceed 130,00 by Aug. 1.

As you all know, with emergence of COVID-19 has led classes to move online and several on-campus events to be cancelled. All graduating students have been wondering what is going to happen with the commencement ceremony. Despite not being able to gather in large groups at this time, Madison College President Dr. Jack Daniels and Student Affairs Vice President Dr. Howard Spearman wanted to plan something special for the graduating students. So plans are now in place for a virtual graduation ceremony. The ceremony will take place on May 21 starting at 4:30 p.m. It will be online, and links to the ceremony will be shared with graduating students and posted on the college’s website. In addition, Madison College staff are looking for other ways to end the year on a positive note for graduates. Student Life will plan a variety of activities in the days leading up to the ceremony that will help graduates celebrate their accomplishments. There will be Instagram opportunities as a way for the community to celebrate. Some ideas that may be included are “Decorate your cap” contest and a special photo of some type when students #moveyourtassell. In addition, a graduation website is being created where students can upload their photos and positive or inspirational messages they would like to share as part of the virtual ceremony. The site will be located at madisoncollege.edu/graduation and will go live on May 21. In the website, you can search graduates by name or on another tab by program. If you click on the program name, all students graduating in that program will run with names stated. Faculty want to be involved, too, so they are coming up with creative ways they can congratulate their students. The traditional $20 graduation processing fee is being waived this year. There is no charge for the processing and mailing of the diplomas There will be opportunites for others, faculty, family, friends, or whoever goes to the site are able to comment on the students’ page. You can find an example at https://virtualgrad/marchingorder.com.

4 | NEWS | WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020

THE CLARION

Know your tenant rights and how to get help DESTINY HINES, HENRIK BAKK AND ALYSSA SORCE Contributors The stock market has crashed, an outbreak of disease has spread like wildfire, and a Stay at Home order was passed. The impacts of the COVID-19 global pandemic are far-reaching. It has cost people across the world their jobs, their ability to feed and provide for their loved ones, and most sadly, it has cost some of them their lives. For those struggling to pay rent or facing the potential for eviction, it is important to know their rights as tenants. Wisconsinites, for example, are entitled to certain rights when renting an apartment, house, or other residential property. For specific concerns, and before enlisting a lawyer, there is a valuable resource in the Tenant Resource Center (https://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/). The center recommends trying to reach out to your landlord first. You should also know that on March 27, Gov. Tony Evers announced a temporary statewide ban on evictions and foreclosures effective for 60 days due to the pandemic. That means, landlords are prohibited from serving any notice terminating a tenancy unless it is for an imminent threat of serious physical harm to another person. Residents are still obligated to pay rent, make mortgage payments, or any other obli-

Student Housing Special Section

This special section examining the issue of student housing is a result of a collaboration between The Clairon and students in Natasha Kassulke’s Investigative Journalism Class.

gation an individual may have under a tenancy or mortgage. But it means, not paying rent in Wisconsin is a legitimate reason to file for eviction. Brianna Goebel is a single parent who is considered an “essential worker” and works at a glass manufacturing company in Spring Green, Wisconsin. When asked if her landlord was providing any assistance or offering the option for payment plans, she says, “I have not even heard from my landlord since the pandemic has occurred.”

Goebel is a mother to a 5-year-old boy and although she is thankful for the paycheck that she has coming in, she stresses, “It is harder to be working during the pandemic. Its financially and emotionally draining.” Some are forced to choose between paying rent and paying for medicine and food for their family. Others may make the tough decision to continue living in a dangerous situation because they cannot afford to leave it. The Tenant Resource Center stresses that renters are entitled to a safe living space under the Safe Housing Act and other laws. This includes the fact that dwellings must be habitable, have working smoke detectors and working locks. Victims of domestic abuse, stalking or sexual assault, may end their lease early if certain steps are taken. There are other cases where a lease can be ended early. If a mutual agreement is made to end a lease early, the landlord cannot ask for more money to end the lease than their actual reasonable costs. Constructive eviction happens when there are serious issues related to health and safety with the unit. If this happens, the renter may be able to end the lease early. If the renter is in the military, they also may be able to end their lease early if deployed or there is a change in where they are stationed for 90 days or more. This is important during the pan-

demic as National Guard members, for example, are being called up to assist in establishing field hospitals and more. While most people only consider the tenants when discussing COVID-19’s impact on the real estate and rental industry, there is another side to consider. How has COVID-19 impacted landlords? Jason Meyers, a local landlord who owns a small property management business, says that so far he has been unfazed by the economic situation. He says that while he is aware of the current suspension of evictions, he has not had to go as far as pursuing eviction. “Our goal is to provide quality housing to individuals that I personally would live in,” Meyers says. “We treat the property and the residences just as I would want to be treated. The more open line of communications we have with our residences, the easier it is to work through any maintenance requests, rent payments and lease renewals.”

How to find help If you have questions about your rental situation, first try talking to your landlord. For additional resources and questions, contact the Tenant Resource Center at (608) 257-0006 or toll-free if outside of Dane County at (877) 238RENT (7368).

Living at home has both benefits and challenges ADELINE HOLTE Contributor

CLARION STAFF PHOTO

There are many rental properties in downtown Madison advertising availability.

Renting 101: What you need to know CHLOE LEMMER AND GRANT NELSON Contributors First-time renters should navigate and know the basics about renting – all the money that needs to be put away, all the applications that need to be turned in, all the apartment showings that are needed to land just the right apartment. When starting to look for a place, you can save a lot of time and potentially money by starting with resources provided by the Tenant Resource Center. The website (https://www.tenantresourcecenter.org/) can help renters start a checklist and learn the basics about renting and signing a lease. First thing renters need to know is their budget. You need to think about how much the security deposit is, how much the utilities will add and what ones you will pay for. You need to keep in mind the additional costs around moving time, from moving truck rental to items you might need in your new apartment. When looking for a place you will have to also fill out an application and those come with an application fee. According to Tenant Resource Center, fees range from $30-$100. Landlords may check your credit score and do a background check. They will also ask for any rental history, and they will sometimes even call the other places you lived to make sure you paid your rent on time and were a good tenant. Sometimes they will make you get a co-signer if you don’t have a good enough credit score or any rental history. They may also ask for character references.

Once you are accepted you will have to provide a security deposit that is often equivalent to your first month rent. You need to make sure you have the money when looking for a place so you can put down the deposit right away. The Tenant Resource Center recommends having a credit score of 620 or more. Your yearly income also needs to be more than four times the monthly rent. While this isn’t a set rule, a lot of landlords will use this formula to make sure their tenants can pay their bills. If you don’t have an income, like most college students you will need a co-signer. Utilities are an added expense in most rental cases and range from water to sewer, gas, trash and electricity. If you get a parking spot you may have to pay for that too. Keep in mind that if you own a pet you might have to put a little extra down with the security deposit. Some pet breeds and species are also prohibited by some landlords or city ordinances. Lots of places are very lenient with cats, some places even allow you to have a cat with little to no fee. But with dogs, landlords are more strict, and many have breed restrictions or weight restrictions. A security deposit for a dog can range from $250 to $500. When it’s time to move, you need to know the exact date you have to move out. Lots of rental units in Madison make you move out on Aug. 14, but don’t allow you to move into a new place until Aug. 16 to allow the landlord time to clean and make repairs. Finding, securing and then moving into an apartment is a lot of work. But with some advance planning, finding your next home can be easier and less expensive.

For some, college is already a massive challenge – attending classes, commuting to and from class and work, studying, doing homework, striving for work-life balance. Then add the stress of being an adult and still living with your family. There are rules, distractions and expectations that come with living at home, that might not be as intense as when one lives on their own. But with the cost of rentals in Madison and the fact that Madison College does not provide on campus housing for students, many students do live at home. They’re not alone. According to Forbes, 54 percent of college students live at home. Some choose to live a home and like doing that. For others, it is a necessity. Paige Reardon, a student enrolled at Madison College for court reporting, sees both sides. “I save a ton by staying with my family. I don’t have to worry about roommates or landlords,” she said pointing out the benefits of living at home as a student. “And I like being close to my family.” Reardon’s mother enjoys having her stay at home as well. Reardon explains that spending time with family is important, and that cherishing that time is something not to take for granted, even though schoolwork often takes first priority. Trying to find a balance between family life and schoolwork can be hard, especially when students feel obligated to stay on their family’s routine. “Sometimes my family expects me to be out with them or be on their routine, when I

really need to be on my own at that point,” Reardon said. Living at home creates another challenge – commuting. Students are faced with the cost of having a car, finding someone to carpool with or riding the bus. The time spent commuting, is also time away from studying or working. Then when one does get to the campus, there is the added time commitment of finding parking. The biggest challenge of living at home, Reardon says, is that she has to commute and it takes her close to an hour to get to class. “I don’t like that I have a long commute,” Reardon said. “But it still eats up a lot of my day. I’m not a fan of having to leave an hour early for classes.” Some students living at home do not have access to public transportation, something that makes reliability on getting to school on time a challenge. If their car breaks down or they have no one to give them a ride, they are forced to miss class. Since some classes have an attendance grade, this poses a problem for students relying on their own transportation from home. College students already have a lot on their hands. Adding saving for gas and worrying about a reliable ride are difficult additions to the budget that most would rather not deal with. But with Madison College being a 100 percent commuter school, there are no other options than to commute. The only choice a student might have is whether that commute is from their own apartment, or from their family’s residence, “I can save money and spend time with my family,” Reardon said. “But I would prefer my own place.”

THE CLARION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020 | NEWS | 5

Could on-campus housing fit at Madison College? HANNAH DOTZLER Contributor Madison College leads the way for schools around the state in many aspects. For example, it has the largest rooftop solar installation in Wisconsin, a new textbook rental program which helps students save quite a bit of money, and a plethora of other advancements. But how does the school rate when it comes to providing affordable housing options to its students? The college does not offer any on-campus housing. Jonathan Jones, President of Madison College’s Student Senate, said “currently, the college does not have any programs that it hosts directly to assist students with housing insecurity.” But is there even a need for on-campus housing at Madison College? “It is hard at this time to quantify exactly how many students are currently experiencing housing insecurities or concerns,” Jones said. However, he mentioned that a survey taken last year by the Hope Center for College, Community, and Justice showed that about 70% of two-year college students experience food insecurities, housing insecurities or home-

lessness. That number was almost 10% more than students attending four-year colleges, which typically offer on-campus housing. Even though it’s difficult to know the exact number of students at Madison College experiencing housing insecurities, Jones says, “I believe that there is a significant enough of an issue regarding stable housing conditions that we would see a positive effect in student success with the creation of housing resources or student housing.” The University of Wisconsin– Madison has seen a variety of advantages because of its on-campus housing options. Brian Ward, director of residential operations at UW–Madison’s Division of Housing, says students who live on campus, not just at UW– Madison but all over the country, have better GPAs and are overall more successful in school. Ward speaks very highly of on-campus housing and the affect it has on students. “It certainly offers them a new opportunity to engage with people who are different from them, and share some of the challenges of community living, and learn from the variety of people who might be on their floor or their wing; who could be from different

parts of the country or from all over the world,” Ward says. “There’s a lot of benefits.” Although there are plenty of benefits to having on-campus housing, there are also some disadvantages. Ward says it is expensive to run, and that some students are more likely to use alcohol and drugs while living together. However, Ward believes that the benefits of on-campus housing far outweigh the negatives. “Overall, it’s been shown that, that step of a student living on campus can be a big step in their development outside of the classroom, as they’re also learning and growing inside the classroom,” he says. Ward shared that he knows of quite a few two-year colleges that offer on-campus housing options. He said he thinks for Madison College, “It’s possible, if the demand is there and it’s needed as a service to students.” However, Ward says that to know for certain whether or not Madison College should build on-campus housing, the school would need to figure out if there’s enough demand for it, and that they have the finances for it. Would the cost of adding on-campus housing be worth it?

Jones said, “Being a commuter school allows the cost of attendance to a school to remain lower than that of one with live-in amenities. With the addition of building maintenance, insurance costs, security considerations, and staffing, adding housing to a college increases the overall cost for the student to attend, taking away some of the affordability – a part of what makes attending a two-year college enticing.” Even though Madison College does not offer any on-campus housing options, other resources for students with housing insecurities are in the works. Jones says that this year, the college has created a Housing Resource Committee, which is “putting together the Student Housing Resource Guide, which will be the centralized location for local, state, and federal resources for students to take advantage of.” There will be an area on the Student Senate’s website for it in the near future. But for now, Jones says the best thing for students with housing insecurities or concerns to do is reach out to the Student Senate. After contacting them, Jones says “the Senate will still work with you to help you find resources you need to help alleviate your housing problems.”

Landlords offer advice to renters EGON BASSLER MORTENSEN AND HALEY MANGAN Contributors First-time renters may have many questions about the process. Should you sublease? Why do you need references? What’s a listing scam? The questions can be endless when renting for the first time – or when returning to the renter world after something like COVID-19. Once source for answers to these important questions are the people some renters may think of as a nemesis, but who can actually be very helpful – landlords. Madison College students are all commuters, so many are renters since there is no on-campus housing option for them. Mary Jo Mangan is a private landlord, meaning that she does her own rentals and does not work for a rental management company. Mangan rents properties near Madison College’s Traux campus and offers advice to students on what avoid when renting. “The most common issue is making sure everyone is getting their rent in on time,” Mangan says. “My biggest pet peeve is having to ask tenants if they have their rent when it was made clear rent is due on the first of the month. As a landlord, I’m responsible if the blinds get broken or an air conditioner breaks so I need to make sure I always have the extra money in case an unexpected expense arises.” Other tips Mangan has for students who are renting is to make sure they have a solid job and that they can balance work with school. In addition, they should have money saved for when they move so that they have a cushion for making rent on time every month. “Keep your place neat and don’t break anything to get a

good reference,” she stresses. Mangan also cautions about listing scams, such as a false listing of a house or apartment. “Scammers do this to swindle you out of a big buck, or even to steal your identity,” Mangan says. “It is important to pay attention and ask yourself if it is too good to be true.” To avoid listing scams, she recommends taking a careful look at the ad and listed amenities and price of the bedrooms. “I came across a three bedroom house for $500 a month,” Mangan recalls. “I knew it was too good to be true based on that, and based on the fact the real estate agent couldn’t meet with me. They wanted me to send them the money and they’d send me a key to the house. Huge red flags, and I simply reported them.” References are also important and can be a difficult requirement to meet for students who are renting for the first time. “References are a must for me to rent,” Mangan says. “I need to know if you can pay rent on time, make sure you didn’t trash your last place. Stuff like that helps me to pick someone with a reference versus taking a risk on someone who doesn’t have a reference.” A renter’s past history plays another important role in securing a new place. “Without a renter’s history, you will need to have a cosigner, almost always,” Mangan says. “Sometimes even if you do have renter’s history of landlords, I prefer a co-signer when renting to young adults.” So, what if you can’t find a cosigner? “Some subleases will be available to you, as well as you may be able to pay months of rent in advance to get someone to take a chance on you,” Mangan advises.

In Madison, resources like the NEW UW Madison Sublet and Roommate Board in Facebook can help first-time renters. Students can also call in the help of their friends and classmates.

Finding a roommate often a necessity EZRA PETERS AND NIAMH BIESEL Contributors Most college students who choose to live on their own need at least one roomate with whom to split the costs in order to make ends meet.. According to ABODO, a national apartment listing service started and headquartered in Madison, the average monthly rent in the city is more than $900 for a studio apartment, about $1,135 for a one-bedroom, more than $1,400 for a two-bedroom and almost $1,900 for three-bedroom rentals In Madison, there are different ways to find a roommate, or maybe even multiple roommates, such as social media groups or through word of mouth. Signing a lease is a commitment, so it’s important to choose a roommate wisely – someone you can share positive experiences with – otherwise, you might have some roommate horror stories. The first step is to actually find someone to live with. This is essentially the most important step, as most leases are for 12 months. For college students, the most popular way nowadays to find a roommate is to join a Facebook group that is specifically made for this purpose. Most of these sites are designed for students to find a sublease, roommate, or for posting a unit that is available. These groups have moderators to ensure the posts are appropriate and to approve requests to join the group. A popular local page on Facebook is NEW UW Madison Sublet and Roommate Board, and has over 39,000 members. You do not need to be a student at the University of WisconsinMadison to join, there are daily posts, and one can reply directly or private message a user. There are always risk factors for meeting

up with someone you contact online, so it is important to always keep that in mind when using an online platform. Another way to find a quality roommate is by talking with people that you trust to get you in contact with someone they know is also looking. This way, you can feel more comfortable knowing you have a connection with this person and can safely meet them. Sometimes when living with their roommate, it can take time before noticing incompatible behaviors. If conflicts were to arise with you and your roommate, it is good to learn ways in advance for how to resolve them. According to local apartment management company Steve Brown Apartments, there are nine common reasons that roommates have arguments: being loud (partying), not cleaning, different sleep schedules, stealing/borrowing, generally not getting along, issues with guests, disagreements over bills, lack of respect and privacy. Steve Brown management also cites a 2008 study conducted by Boise State University, which concluded that 25 percent of students reported issues with their roommates within their first month, with female students having more issues than males. Understanding your personal conflict resolution style will make it easier to express your feelings comfortably. For example, if you are the type to avoid conflict, you might feel more comfortable in a controlled environment with someone else present to keep things under control. If you are a more confrontational person, you will have no issue directly addressing the issues. Another way to resolve conflicts is to always make sure you are communicating with each other directly, and not taking the issues to social media platforms for everyone to see because it will just create more tension.

6 | NEWS | WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020

THE CLARION

COMMENTARY

Housing discrimination rooted in Madison’s history JEREMY GUNDLACH, IZWAN KHIRULARZIMAN AND MICHELLE LEDESMA CERON Contributors Throughout its history, the Wisconsin State Capitol and the rest of downtown Madison, has been home to many demonstrations of activism. Activism like the rallies against the Vietnam War in the 1960s and 1970s and, more recently, the protests against Act 10 that brought 100,000 protesters. Due in part to national media coverage of these demonstrations, Madison has earned a reputation as a hotbed of outspokenness. Just one mile from the Capitol is the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a major research university. Madison College and Edgewood College help round out the city’s advanced educational opportunities, helping to make Madison’s population one of the most educated per capita cities in the Midwest, and earning the city another title -- a bastion of progressive values and policies. In fact, one of the top seven reasons to live in Madison according to, Business Insider is, “It’s a college town where students actively support the community.” The image of Madison as a champion for liberal politics and progressive culture is in stark contrast with the realities of racial and class disparity that exist. These disparities become more evident when looking at the side effects of what it means to live facing different sides of the capitol. In 1862, the Federal Homestead Act distributed around 80 million acres of public land as incentive for people to move west. This primarily benefitted white people and especially those with money. This legislation enacted nearly 162 years ago, has lasting effects on housing in Madison to this day. Housing discrimination in the city is systemic and not anything new or even recent. About 70 years after the Homestead Act came, the Homeowners Loan Corporation, a federal agency, helped structure what can be traced on maps by separating cities into colored zones that described the status of the neighborhoods. Areas in green were considered the best and areas

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to the uncertainty of the coronavirus and its ramifications for the fall semester, he is considering a deferment for the upcoming year. If as he says, he takes a “gap year,” he would like to travel abroad, possibly to visit his family roots in Portugal. He is bilingual and enjoyed speaking Spanish during his 2018 summer in Costa Rica, but he is always searching for adventure and challenges in new places, amongst new people that he can help. Vargas-Nunez’s favorite part of the Madison College experience was getting to know and interact with the diverse and interesting student body, faculty, and staff. He feels that the

GRADING

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 There will be a window between May 9 and May 27 where students are able to request that their course grade be changed to credit or no credit grading. By May 8, students will be sent an email that will explain the process, and an electronic form will be made available on May 9 to submit a request. Students will be able to see their final grades before making these requests,

SCHOLAR

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 left scrambling to find ways to get their diploma. She believes that we can do better as a community and as a country in supporting homeschoolers. Madison College played a very important role in her success. It gave her the opportunity to be in many leadership roles. Student Senate President, Campaign Manager for the Vote Yes for Textbook Affordability are just a cou-

An old zoning map shows how areas of Madison were segmented by desireability of the location. in red were labelled as hazardous, thus began the practice of redlining. Banks and developments deliberately ignored those red areas. Many of these red territories included historically lower income families of color. The Fair Housing Act of 1968 was passed to end this type of practice, making it unlwaful to discriminate “in the terms, conditions, or privileges of sale of a dwelling because of race or national origin.” But Madison neighborhoods today continue to be nearly as segregated as they were then, matching those original maps almost exactly. Neighborhoods that are nearly all low-income neighborhoods, still fall largely along racial lines. A newer, more refined version of redlining is called gentrification -- the process of pricing residents out of areas to bring in new developments and wealthier residents. This process not only helps keep the division between neighborhoods, it amplifies it. An example of this is in the south side of Madison where in neighborhoods such as Bram’s, the median household income sits at $26,102, which is 49 percent lower than the national average. These areas are denied any opportunities of growth which drives down prices for property. The neighborhoods surrounding the Dane County Regional Airport are some of the historically redlined districts. Some of these districts outstretch to parts of Madison with some of the most valuable properties on the greenlined districts, where there are houses

opportunity to take college classes while in high school has expanded his capacity for learning, and his options for the future. In addition to his classes at Madison College, he participated through the Volunteer Center in the ServiceLearning Academy, helping with an afterschool program on the Northside of Madison. He also found time to work after school in the Madison School Community and Recreation program. His advice for underclassmen is to get involved in some of the great outside of class programs on campus, and to stay on top of your studies, because the curriculum at Madison College is not to be taken lightly. Wise words from a graduating student who will be 18 years old later this year. and if their final grades are delayed for any reason, they can request an extension for the request deadline. Madison College has put up a student resource page with more detailed information outlining credit or no credit grading that can be found at https://madioncollege.edu/coronavirus/student-resources/credit-no-credit. This page also includes a useful search tool that allows students to look up whether or not a class is able to be converted to CR/NCR grading that can help students plan any future requests they may make. ple of the roles she played. She was involved in many extracurriculars activities at Madison College, like Phi Theta Kappa, The Clarion, and TRiO, all while working full time. With all of this on her plate, she graduated from Madison College with a 4.0. Marshalek credits Madison College helped her figure out more about herself and what she was interested in. “Madison College was just awesome, it helped me put my toe into the water before jumping into UW,” Marshalek said.

with portions of the lake as backyards. While Madison continues to attract new residents, an already tight housing market is beginning to show the city’s struggles in addressing the housing crisis. The extremely tight market coupled with an influx of higher income renters causes two major problems: Availability and affordability. By having a shortage of available housing, landlords are able to leverage their position and impose higher prices on renters. This imbalance of power is especially degrading for low income residents were searching for stable housing could last up to a year. The Section 8 Voucher Program provides rental assistance for low-income families and is a realistic option for many. Even though there is a social stigma associated with it, Section 8 stands as one of the more reliable methods of securing rent – it ensures that at least part of the rent is paid every month. For families who don’t have citizenship many of these social programs are not an option. Under WI Stat 106.50(1) it is unlawful to discriminate renters based on sex, color, religion, marital status, gender, ancestry, mental or physical disability and family status. Many discriminatory housing practices are systemic, requiring more time and energy to create policy changes. However, finding local non-profits that support tenants, contacting local or state Housing Authority and continuing to inform ourselves on new housing development, can give communities opportunities to organize. Madison is viewed as one of the “Best cities to live in” according to Livability and “Best city to raise a family” according to NBC15. But it is also through studies published on USA Today and Wisconsin Public Radio that cities in Wisconsin like, Milwaukee and Racine, have been ranked some of the worst places to live if you are a person of color. Through a more dissected view, it quickly becomes evident these housing disparities extend beyond a tenant-renter issue. It is a systemic and racial issue that has been encrusted into the core structure of this country. Only by facing this issue head on and invoking change through civic engagement, can we make Madison a truly progressive city.

The Clarion staff wins multiple awards from WNAF college contest CLARION STAFF REPORT The Clarion staff won 15 awards from the 2019 Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation’s Collegiate Better Newspaper Contest. Results from the contest were announced in May. The awards were to be presented at the annual WNA convention, but the convention has been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Sports editor Christina Gordon and graphic designer Paulina Kababie both received first place awards in the contest. Gordon won first place in sports reporting for an article about Madison College baseball player Pierson Gibis and his battle with cancer. Kababie won first place in advertising for an advertisement promoting the Yahara Journal spring writing contest. Gordon also won third place in sports reporting for an article about Madison College golfer Joe Ignatius. Three other staff members won multiple awards. Reporter Amara Gobermann took second place in column writing with a column entitled “Black history should be taught.” She also took third place in the category with a piece about the educational impact of stereotype threat. Former editor Andrew Kicmol took third place in breaking news reporting for articles about the college’s solar rooftop array. He placed third in

arts and entertainment reporting for a story about Performing Arts’ presentation of “Puffs.” Kicmol also earned an honorable mention award for an article about the planned closing of the college’s swimming pool. Photo editor Britni Petitt won third place in feature photography for a package of photos from the fashion marketing “Century of Hats” show and an honorable mention in news photography for pictures of the biotechnology students testing bacteria samples. Managing editor Anica Graney earned a second-place award in page design for a page featuring the college’s new virtual reality headsets. Graphic designer Leah Heidemann earned a third-place award for a page design featuring the college’s chef series. Reporter Maia Lathrop took second place in breaking news reporting for her article about the new food pantry on campus. Krista Olson-Lehman took second in feature photography for an image of the sun setting behind the Health and Technology Education Building. Opinion editor Casey Anderson earned an honorable mention in arts and entertainment for a story about Mike Lecrone’s 50 years as director of the UW marching band. The WNA will formally announce all of the awards on June 1, but gave student newspapers the opportunity to announce their individual awards at an earlier time.

8 | OPINION | WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020

THE CLARION

Looking forward to a brighter tomorrow CASEY ANDERSON Opinion Editor

ANICA GRANEY / CLARION

A blooming plum tree is something to help cheer people up during this time.

CARING

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 one-on-one conversation with your loved ones. Exchange some memes with the homies. Online interaction isn’t, by any means, as comforting as faceto-face interaction. But it’s all we have right now. Now, I realize that spewing a bunch of suggestions at you doesn’t guarantee that things will get better. And it doesn’t necessarily mean that you will suddenly gain motivation if you take these suggestions. But hey, it’s worth a shot. It’s been difficult to adjust to all the changes that the COVID-19 pandemic has forced upon us. I can’t promise that this will be over any time soon, but I can promise that you’re not alone during this time.

ADVICE

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7 Read your emails! Stay positive. You will get through it. Get a job! The school has so many job opportunities. Do your homework and turn it in on time. It’s easier to get ahead with homework than be late and get points taken off. It’s okay if you fail. We all do! It’s part of life. Our school has free food at most events! Go to the events you will learn a lot! Plus FREE FOOD!!! Lastly don’t forget to have fun and enjoy yourself. I know you’re not going to follow everything on here. I didn’t but I thought someone should at least tell you about

hings may seem a little bleak right now. We are in unknown territory, and it is scary. Life feels routine while we are all stuck inside, trying to keep up with school and the news. But, fortunately, some things will go on despite this pandemic. Here are some things all of us can look forward to. Soon the weather will warm up! The trees have already begun budding, and if you step outside, I can guarantee you will hear plenty of birds singing. Dandelions are popping up, and soon your dad will probably ask you to go mow the lawn. Nature has not stopped amongst this pandemic – summer is closer than you think. With warming weather comes fresher fruits. This is a great time to sign up for a CSA or “Community Supported Agriculture.” Madison has tons of options for different CSAs where you can receive boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables of your choosing. Eating well can be difficult during this time, but the fruits will only be getting fresher and riper for us to enjoy! As we all stay inside, the hope is that things will become safer and safer to resume into normality. The upside is we are at the worst peak right now. Right now, the world is enduring the worst of it. Normality will slowly assimilate back into our lives with safer measures. New art is also a wonderful thing to be looking forward to right

ANICA GRANEY / CLARION

Tulips are a good sign of warmer weather and nicer days ahead. now. With the whole world pushed behind closed doors, a creativity spark is inevitable. People are creating crafts, paintings, videos, new songs, and new ideas. Innovation and creativity are instilled in all of us--what will you do with yours?

Growing a garden can help improve your health HAILEY GRIFFIN Arts Editor

t looks as though spring is finally here to stay. If you have a space in your backyard, now would be the perfect time to start your very own garden. There are a few steps that you must take to make your garden come to life. First, you’ve got to decide where you want to put your garden. Depending on what you want to grow, you must make sure that the garden plot is placed in an area with an optimal amount of sunlight and ample space. Second, you’ve got to decide what you want to put in your garden. You can plant an array of vegetables, flowers, or even some fruit depending on your region’s climate and

soil composition. A lot of times, people stick to planting either food or flowers in their gardens. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t plant both; my advice is that you separate the half of your garden composed of flowers from the half of your garden that’s composed of veggies or fruits, because each half may need to be tended to differently. Third, you’re going to want to invest in some gardening tools. Basic gardening tools include a tiller for churning soil; a paddle hoe to help you dislodge weeds and shape your soil; a larger shovel for transporting soil or digging larger holes; a trowel to dig smaller holes, plant seeds or bulbs, and dig up weeds; pruning shears to help you cut flowers and vegetables, and prune shrubs or brambles; a

ANICA GRANEY / CLARION

rake to loosen your soil and level your garden. Fourth, you’re going to want to till your garden plot to aerate your soil and expose fresh ground. You’ll probably want to add some extra soil or even fertilizer to promote plant growth. If you add more soil to your garden plot, make sure that it has the proper composition and pH to support whatever you’re growing. Compost is also great for plant growth. Fifth, you should organize your garden beds according to how big the plants that you’re growing will be. When you plant your seeds or transplant your plants, you’re going to want to make sure that you don’t plant them too close together to avoid overcrowding. Your plants will have a lot better chance to thrive if their roots have more room to spread out! Sixth, plant your seeds or transplant your plant. With seeds, you’ll want to dig a small hole and place your seed inside it. Cover the seed with soil. You may need to germinate it. On the other hand, with transplants, you’ll want to dig a hole deep enough for the roots to be able to spread. After you transplant your plant from its plastic container into the hole in the ground, cover the excess space in the hole with soil. Seventh, tend to your plants! Make sure to water them daily, pick weeds, and fertilize when needed. If you’re plant-

when they’re ripe. Owning and tending to a garden does not only help the environment through oxygen production, decreased produce transport, and decreased pesticide use during harvest, but it also has several health benefits, such as… Gardening improves your memory. Having to remember to water, trim, or feed your plants every day not only improves your memory, but it gives you a sense of stability through the daily routine that you perform to keep your plants alive. Gardening improves your mood. Tending to plants is a serene, meditative process. It is hard not to feel content when you’re surrounded by the scents and the colors that your plants and dirt provide. Gardening improves your physical health. All the hoeing, raking, and digging that coincides with gardening can be a labor-intensive process. With that said, gardening can be a good way to get some exercise while doing something that improves your mood and helps the environment. Gardening improves your mental health. Being outside in the sunlight promotes your Vitamin D intake; research shows that increased amounts of Vitamin D contribute to increased moods. Additionally, tending to and raising your plant, so to speak, gives you a sense of purpose. It gives you a way to pass the time and make that time

8 | OPINION | WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020

THE CLARION

Looking forward to a brighter tomorrow CASEY ANDERSON Opinion Editor

ANICA GRANEY / CLARION

A blooming plum tree is something to help cheer people up during this time.

CARING

ADVICE

ANICA GRANEY / CLARION

Growing a garden can help improve your health HAILEY GRIFFIN Arts Editor

ANICA GRANEY / CLARION

An example of a tilled garden.

THE CLARION

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020, 2019 | 9

Life without live music

arts EDITOR: HAILEY GRIFFIN CLARIONARTS@ MADISONCOLLEGE.EDU

Performers miss being on stage, just trying to wait out the pandemic MACKENZIE MOORE Staff Writer

PHOTO PROVIDED TO THE CLARION

Brian Koenig of Lords of the Trident.

Since Wisconsin’s bars and restaurants closed for in-house dining on March 17, it hasn’t only been bartenders, servers, and cooks who have had to come to terms with increased financial instability. In addition, freelance musicians within the state have lost all of their booked shows until further notice. This has led many to search for new ways to make up for lost income. In contrast, while musicians with day jobs do not see same financial struggle, they’re still using the unexpected time off to grow. Dana Perry is a longtime staple in Madison’s folk and rock music scenes. Like many others, she has been live streaming on her Facebook page every Saturday in exchange for tips through online transaction services. Facing the loss of a fully booked summer, she notes that streaming is no replacement for the energy of a live crowd. “It helps to visualize the faces of friends around me,” she says, “but the end of the song usually feels a little awkward.” The pandemic has led some musicians to reassess how (and where) they book shows. Cody James, an Oshkosh born rock, soul, and blues performer, can relate. “I had a pretty heavy schedule that consisted of driving all throughout the Midwest,

PHOTO PROVIDED TO THE CLARION

Dana Perry, a folk and rock performer.

and that isn’t going to be happening for the foreseeable future,” he says. While James is thankful to have a day job that allows him to receive his regular payments despite not working since late March, he has no plans to slow down on his music career anytime soon. Above all, he misses interacting with the crowd, meeting new people, and “those couple of free beers.” He will say, however, that he doesn’t miss the six to eight-hour drives and lugging his gear around. Thanks to video chat services, those who rely on teaching music lessons have been largely unaffected. Brian Koenig, who is best known as part of the internationally touring and Madisonbased metal band Lords of the Trident, is one such case. Still, with the loss of live shows, he has found himself shifting his short-term goals. Notably, he’s spending more time on developing technique and learning new styles of music. Despite his more comfortable circumstances, he says, “I feel for my other fellow performers and service industry types who have been struggling for going on two months now.” Still, he’s hopeful, as he believes that if establishments that host live music can recover, demand for live performances will be high. Through the uncertainty, many musicians are feeling more of a kinship with bar and restaurant staff than ever before. In this spirit, the consensus among performers appears to be that, in the words of Dana Perry, “venues are gonna be kickin’ when we are.”

PHOTO PROVIDED TO THE CLARION

Cody James, an Oshkosh born rock, soul, and blues performer.

‘The Bad Beginning’ an unfortunate start to a captivating series EMILY MERLIN Social Media Director This book series goes from bad, to worse, to ugly. This book is considered a children’s series, but it is such an unfortunate starting of a series. “A Series of Unfortunate Events; The Bad Beginning” by Lemony Snicket is the first book of 13 miserable ones. The book follows Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire, three intelligent siblings who receive misfortune wherever they turn. The first awful misfortune they received is news of their parent’s untimely deaths in a house fire. Luckily,

Count Olaf resembles his house in every sense of the word. Nasty, gross, and grimy. He was rude and distasteful to the children but only wanted to adopt them for one reason: their fortune. the children were away at a beach at the time and did not perish in the fire. Once the children received this shocking news, their family friend, Mr. Poe, helps them to be in the care of a distant relative. Count Olaf. Count Olaf is described as “very tall and very thin [...]. His face was unshaven, and rather

than two eyebrows, like most human beings have, he had just the one long one. His eyes were very, very shiny, which made him look both hungry and angry.” From the moment they met him, they knew there was something dreadful about him. His own house was a dilap-

idated building with soot and grime, and “sagged to the side, like a crooked tooth.” Count Olaf resembles his house in every sense of the word. Nasty, gross, and grimy. He was rude and distasteful to the children but only wanted to adopt them for one reason: their fortune. See, the Baudelaires were incredibly rich from all of their scientific research, but since they died, their eldest child, Violet, inherited all of their money. Count Olaf ’s first scheme to receive this fortune, and to receive it quickly, was to marry Violet. » SEE BAD PAGE 11

10 | ARTS | WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020

THE CLARION

Seriously addictive chicken, bacon, ranch recipe KRISTA OLSON-LEHMAN Staff Writer Sometimes our day is so busy with assignments, our jobs and our families, we don’t have a lot of time to cook anything elaborate for dinner. If you have a slow cooker, it can be a definite time saver when it comes to making something home-made and tasty without taking you away from homework, web conferencing for classes, or the demands of work and home. This simple and delicious recipe can be served on buns, on tortillas, or with chips or crackers. My personal preference is to make it into wraps, which you can garnish with pickles, cheese, lettuce and tomato, or any way you see fit. I eat the chicken straight on the tortillas for a tasty warm wrap. The leftovers are easy to pack away and reheat easily in the microwave, so if you’re making it for one person, you have plenty left over for a few days of lunch. There are a lot of variations on this recipe, most of them calling it “crack” chicken. This particular version of the recipe I have tweaked, and I just like to refer to it as CBR, chicken, bacon, ranch.

Chicken, Bacon, Ranch (CBR) Recipe

Ingredients: • 3-4 large boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 3 lbs) • 2 packages of cream cheese (8 oz bricks, not whipped) • 2 packets of ranch seasoning (1 oz) • One 6-8 oz bag of real bacon bits (or ½ cup of crisp cooked bacon, chopped into small pieces) • A dash of black pepper • A dash of red crushed peppers or habanero powder (optional) Directions: Soften cream cheese in microwave. Place chicken breasts, softened cream cheese and seasoning packets into slow cooker. Cook for 4 hours on medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the chicken is fully cooked and shreds easily. Shred chicken breasts with fork. Add in bacon bits and stir. Chicken can be served immediately and kept on low setting. Refrigerate leftovers immediately.

KRISTA OLSON-LEHMAN / CLARION

The ‘CBR’ wrapped up in a tortilla.

Animal Crossing: New Horizons a relaxing game EMILY MERLIN Social Media Director

A character in “Dragon Quest XI S.”

Check out the newest entry in Dragon Quest series CRAIG MCKINLEY Staff Writer “Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age – Definitive Edition” is a 2019 release from Square Enix for Nintendo Switch. Although “Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age” is a part of the “Dragon Quest” series, you do not need to play other games in the series to understand what is happening. “Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age” was previously released on PlayStation 4 and Windows, but the Nintendo Switch version has extra content and features that build upon an already intriguing game. “Dragon Quest XI S” presents itself in a very different manner than most role-playing games because it often aims to increase the player’s mood instead of decreasing the player’s mood. Even in tough times within the narrative, the characters rarely lose hope and remain optimistic that something can be done about whatever situation is presented. This can help give players strong feelings without bringing them down. In terms of graphics, “Dragon Quest XI S” has colors that are

usually light and styles that are often simple. The structure of the gameplay and graphics allows the player to play with the option of either a 3D perspective or a Super Nintendo-style 2D perspective. This perspective selection allows players of a wide age-range to enjoy the experience. While the music of “Dragon Quest XI S” defaults to a synthesized soundtrack, the player can switch to a symphonic soundtrack in the game’s settings. The soundtrack is more limited than most other games of similar scale, though the relatively few music selections in “Dragon Quest XI S” generally fit each situation. “Dragon Quest XI S” is certainly difficult at times. For those who want especially challenging experiences, Draconian Quest would be something to try. Draconian Quests are difficult; although they can feel a bit unfair sometimes, they may be removed at any time. However, these challenges can only be added when starting a game. The combat in “Dragon Quest XI S” is based on the player and enemy characters taking turns using various attacks, spells, and abilities. Combat may require some thinking or getting the right

setup for the player’s characters, but special reflexes aren’t required once the battle has begun. This aspect can allow players with slower reflexes to still enjoy the game. The story of “Dragon Quest XI S” continues through an epilogue after the main portion of the game is complete. Players can ease into continuing to play the game after it is finished. However, completing the story from the beginning to the end of the epilogue can take well over two to three days to accomplish. This span of time may be too much for some players. There is a feature called “The Story So Far” that assists players from one session to the next and reminds them of what was last accomplished. This feature helps players keep track of what is going on. “Dragon Quest XI S” adheres to a classic Japanese role-playing game formula. Many series of its styles have innovated, but not every change is received well by fans. Since the “Dragon Quest” series stays traditional, parts of “Dragon Quest XI S” may be recognized by players who are new to the genre and may also be enjoyed by those who have known the formula for a long time.

Video games are notorious for their violence and undignified mature content. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is the exact opposite. Released in March of 2020, this game is everything you could need to destress and relax in times of high anxiety. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a third-person game where you get to customize your character, your home, and your island all in one. The game starts where you (the player) and two other non-playable characters (NPC’s) get to go on an island getaway. Once you arrive on the island, you get to choose the location of your tent (don’t fret, you will get a stable house soon after you start the game). As the main player, you are chosen as the “Island Representative” to make decisions about the island, such as the location of buildings. A little twist about this game is that everyone is an animal, except you. You will meet Tom Nook and his little employees Timmy and Tommy, who are raccoons. Soon you meet Blathers, an owl who overlooks a museum you will get to create. Each character has their own personality, and you can’t help but feel enamored with them. This game is extremely pure and heartwarming. There is no blood, gore, or other mature content. Anyone can play this game, and it is super easy to control. The artwork and music are exemplary, and it makes me feel like I really am on a warm island. There is no single plot to the game, but in fact, there are many. You want to be able to expand your house, submit every fish, insect, and dinosaur fossil into the museum. The main “plot” per se, is to get a famous musician to play on your island. To get him on your island, you have to attempt the subplots as well. Overall, this game cures me of my anxiety and makes me feel relaxed. Animal Crossing: New Horizons is a superlative game that anyone of any age can play. This game is almost like a warm hug and homemade chocolate chip cookies fresh out of the oven. Although the game is a little pricey at $60, I think it is worth it. The ability to create whatever you want and customize it makes it worthwhile.

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A good read for ‘Star Wars’ fans GRANT NELSON Staff Writer For all you “Star Wars” fans who have gotten tired of the new canon, I would highly recommend the classics of a more civilized age. “The Darth Bain” trilogy, as a whole, is incredible. It is set in the Old Republic era and deals with the rise of Sith after a great war that lays the foundations for the events of the various films. In this book, we see not a bunch of social justice actors on a soapbox, but a story of a man who was left with nothing after a bloody war. The war and a series of events left him hungry for power to rise above the life of slavery in the armies of the Sith. The books deal with the core of the Sith teachings and what defines them in their endless struggles with themselves and others for power, which the main character harnesses to shape himself as he and his apprentice seek immortality and dominion over the Jedi. The books deal with a lot of harsh reality about the Sith and the Jedi that the films don’t really get into, such as how even the Jedi will turn children into soldiers to fight their wars. The story has many characters with different causes. I find the story to be a dark parody of Luke Skywalker that grabs the readers with imagination. “Star Wars,” at its core, is a monomyth that has always been relevant, no matter what era we live in. This trilogy of books, in my opinion, is just as timeless as Luke Skywalker’s first steps into a larger world ago all those years ago.

BAD

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 Violet was only 14 and in no way legal to marry unless her guardian gave her the okay to do so. Count Olaf is the guardian, yet he wants to marry her for her money. Are you starting to see the issues now? The reason the children were forced to live with this awful man was that he was their closest living relative. They had no say in the matter because they were only children. Although Violet was 14 and incredibly intelligent, the adults around her treated her as a child. When the Baudelaire children tried to contact Mr. Poe, he refused to believe that Count Olaf was doing anything untoward. If this book series sounds intriguing, but you are too lazy to read them, fear not! There is a series on Netflix by the same name. It is not identical to the book, but it does a good job of including the important details and information. Be warned; it will be unpleasant for yourself and the Baudelaire children. Although I cannot tell you the ending of the book in lieu of spoilers, I will tell you that this is simply the beginning of a series of unfortunate events.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020 | ARTS | 11

War never changes

‘Fallout 76’ takes you to what’s left of Appalachia KRISTA OLSON-LEHMAN Staff Writer “War never changes.” So goes the introduction to many of Bethesda Softworks “Fallout” titles. Like so many Fallout titles, your character begins life underground, in the safety of a numbered vault, a fallout shelter designed for the potential of nuclear annihilation in a world war. This game takes place earlier than the previous games. Your vault, Vault 76, is a collection of the brightest minds, prepping to walk out of the vault on “Reclamation Day” and rebuild the world with your combined skills. Taking place in the year 2102, 25 years after a world war has irradiated and marred the landscape, your character is not sure what to expect out there. Vault 76 is located in ‘Appalachia,’ formerly West Virginia. Upon leaving the vault, the landscape is yours to explore, with familiar real-world places and monuments. I have been a super fan of Fallout video games since a friend talked me into preordering the “Fallout 3” collector’s edition that came in a metal lunch box in 2008. I followed it up with Fallout New Vegas and Fallout 4, respectively. When Fallout 76 was released in 2018, I had also preordered the game. I was disappointed. With the release of the “Wastelanders” expansion, built right into the game, I gave it another try. Contrary to the first few titles single player format, Fallout 76 is an open world multiplayer online role-playing game.I will admit that these are not always my cup of tea, as I prefer to play my games without teenage boys yelling obscenities into their headsets, or high-level payers complaining about ‘newbies.’ These kinds of games tend to put large groups of people together who can all hear and speak to each other, and it doesn’t always work out too well for players. Fallout 76 was missing a really important component of the previous titles. There were no non-playable characters (NPC). Obviously, you would see other online players running about fighting

A screenshot of a map in ‘Fallout 76.’

creatures and scavenging for necessities like food, water, weapons, ammo and utility items. But quests were done by following a bread crumb of trail of tapes left over from people’s travels, helping you to move forward in the storyline. Stores were run by robots, who despite having good manners come off as flat. Nowhere on the map would you run into an actual person. You’re following the footsteps of one person who is alive, but not in Appalachia, and the recordings of good deeds of people who tried to help the populace but died in the process. No people living in Appalachia, no towns to explore with residents, off beat storefronts and wacky side quests. Don’t get me wrong the original Fallout 76 had plenty of quests, they were just stumbled upon by finding a note in a container or a tape laying on a desk somewhere. You can complete Fallout 76’s quests without help, if you are so inclined. Originally, you could join in on a quest with others who are on your server to tackle harder areas. If you have friends you play with, the game would allow you to team up with up to three other friends. Fallout 76 uses many servers, keeping the maximum number of people on each server low. It resembles the previous Fallout titles in the styles of questing, giving hints and clues where to go next and using a compass marker to get you to the next stop along the way. But instead of having NPC humans you could choose your dialogue with, you get another tape or another robot telling you precisely what to do. Half the fun of playing Fallout titles is using intimidation on people to get information or sweet talking someone into helping you. Fallout 76 also has events, timed quests where you could enter an area and play with anyone sharing the server with you, all towards a common goal and common rewards. One thing about Fallout 76 I found disappointing in comparison with previous titles is how hard it is to get better weapons and armor. The leveling system uses a card deck of perks that you pick along the way, and when you defeat an

enemy and loot the corpse, the items you get are not in good condition and likely need repair. In previous Fallout games you could sell the extra weapons and armor you collected and get enough in game currency to buy upgraded armor and weapons. In this multiplayer online environment, upgrades are hundreds of caps, and the items you sell are worth 2-4 caps. It takes much longer to build up your offensive and defensive power, which can keep you from moving forward in the game if you keep getting clobbered by higher level super mutants before you can reach the next point in your quest. Ammunition is too pricey for low level players to stock up on because of this and dealing with stronger enemies can get frustrating. Another thing about Fallout 76 that I find less than desirable is the amount of microtransactions you could end up making. Other online games such as “Star Trek Online” have this system of using real money to buy in-game items, but most of those games are free to download. Fallout 76 still has to be purchased, and the Wastelanders content is just newly stitched into the game mechanics. Those items aren’t necessary, but a lot of these multiplayer online games have social components and players enjoy customizing their characters looks and movements. You have to use real world money to purchase atoms, and the atom store is separate from the in-game currency of caps. Most of these items are purely cosmetic, to make your character look a certain way no matter what armor they are wearing. A previous addition to Fallout 76, “Nuclear winter” was released in mid 2019. As of this writing it is still in the beta stage. This is a large-scale battle, where up to 52 players choose teams of 4 and battle each other for victory. Many other online games have this style of player versus player combat. In Nuclear Winter, you start out in a different vault, Vault 51, as a circle of fire engulfs the areas surrounding you. This section of the game is separate from the main adventure server. The online format probably works well for some newer players to the franchise. Older fans like myself still prefer the ability to nuke an entire town for profit or act as the hero of the post-apocalyptic wasteland. Previously, Fallout had a message of morality. The well-developed NPCs had opinions on the way the world had turned out. Decisions you made to be inherently good or evil affected gameplay and the way other NPCs spoke to you or treated you. You could be the master of your destiny in the single player format. In Fallout 76, you’re just one of a few other vault dwellers running around accomplishing quests and potentially blowing things to smithereens. Without that personalized touch, it can feel tedious running around trying to accomplish tasks on quests.

12 | WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020

sports EDITOR: CHRISTINA GORDON CLARIONSPORTS@ MADISONCOLLEGE.EDU

THE CLARION

MEETTHEPACK

SOFTBALL PAIGE HINTZ

Profiles of WolfPack athletes

BASEBALL CAM CRATIC

A red-shirt sophomore on the Madison College baseball team, Cratic returned to the squad in 2020 after missing most of the 2019 season due to injury. In 2018, Cratic was named first-team All-Conference after playing in 49 games and hitting .361 with 61 hits, 26 runs batted in and scored a team-leading 47 runs. An outfielder, Cratic played at Madison East High School where he was a four sport

Cratic

Hintz

athlete. He was named first team all conference (Big 8) as a sophomore and second team all-conference as a junior and senior. A liberal arts transfer student, he is the son of Tyrone and Therese Cratic.

A sophomore on the Madison College softball team, Paige Hintz played in 44 games as a freshman and batted .387, posting 41 hits and 12 extra-base hits. She scored 22 runs on the season. Hintz was a two-sport athlete (softball and volleyball) at Pacelli High School. Her team won the Division 4 state softball championship her freshman year. She was a four-time all conference player, including conference player of the year as a senior. Hintz received WFSCA all-state honors twice. The daughter of Lynn and Scott Hinz, she is a liberal arts major.

WolfPack athletes honored Online celebrations recognize college’s top student athletes CHRISTINA GORDON Sports Editor The 55th annual Madison College athletic awards banquet was supposed to be on April 22, but due to the coronavirus pandemic this year’s awards banquet looked a little different than the past. This year’s banquet was done all online and went from May 4-8. The athletic department put out videos to celebrate the athletes’ accomplishments. It started off on May 4 with Steve Hauser, athletic director welcoming everyone to this year’s athletic banquet. “The reason for us getting together is to recognize our terrific athletes and teams, the same as it has in the last 54 years at Madison College.” athletic director Steve Hauser explained The first award of the night was the N4C Academic AllConference. Madison College had 66 N4C Academic All-Conference members with baseball having 20, men’s basketball having three, women’s basketball having five, golf had two, men’s soccer had eight, women’s soccer had seven, softball had 15 and volleyball had six. The 66 this year was up 12 from last year. Madison College had an

CLARION FILE PHOTOS

Kelly Kubicek, above, and Msughter Dzoho, right, were named Madison College WolfPack Sports Persons of the Year during the athletic department’s annual banquet held online during the first week of May. astounding 20 athletes named NJCAA All-Academic for 2018-19. Those recognized were: Olivia Bancroft-Hart, Jackson Brown, Msughter Dzoho, Pierson Gibis, Caitly Gilbertson, Lillian Glackin, Troy Hickey, Carson Holin, Jenna Kohrt, Kelly Kubicek, Derek Lee, Matt Miller, Fabian Perez, Meghan Petroski, Britt Schumann, Jake Smith, Patrick Sommers, Irene Tomasovic, Allison Tomlinson, and Carl

Valk. Finally, Pierson Gibis and Irene Tomasovic were named the top male and female athletes of 2018-19. Tomasovic, a softball player, had a perfect 4.0 GPA, while Gibis, a baseball player, had a 3.90 GPA. The celebration on May 5 opened with a message from Madison College President Dr. Jack E Daniels III. “We are here to honor our student athletes, they have

excelled on either the field or the court as well as the classroom. It also gives up time to recognize the outstanding work of all the coaches, they have worked with these young players, they have mentored these young players, and they have been able to mold them into excellent citizens,” Daniels said. The presentations opened by recognizing each team’s most valuable player as voted

on by their teammates. They were: Jason Williams, men’s basketball; Aniah Williams, women’s basketball; A.J. Gray, golf; Evan Bartz, men’s soccer; Jenna Kohrt, women’s soccer, and Calla Borchert, volleyball. Each team’s most improved players were also recognized. The were: Earl Lewis, men’s basketball; Kylie Esser, women’s basketball; Ethan » SEE ATHLETES PAGE 13

Passion for baseball began in T-ball, grew in adulthood CHRISTINA GORDON Sports Editor

CHRISTINA GORDON / CLARION

Clarion sports editor Christiana Gordon has enjoyed her past two years photographing Madison College and Eau Claire Express baseball.

When I was 6-years-old, my T-ball coach told me “as soon as I put the ball down you swing as hard as you can” so I listened to him. The next thing you heard was PING, you would have thought that I just hit a monster homerun. But nope, not a homerun. I just hit my coach Steve Coon straight in the knuckles. Everyone was laughing, well not Steve, he was jumping up and down trying to get his hand to stop hurting. Every time I came up to bat after that, he would put the ball down fast just to protect his hands. That is by far my favorite memory I have playing baseball. I was introduced to baseball back then, and since then there hasn’t been a year without baseball in it. This year might be a different story. With the cancelation of the spring season due to the Coronavirus pandemic, and possibly the summer season as well. I

might not have the chance to work in the sport that has changed my life and with the team that has meant the world to me. In 2006, I was introduced to the Northwoods League when my mom’s boss had extra tickets to the game, as her son was playing. She invited my family to the game to watch her son play for the Eau Claire Express. Since then there hasn’t been a year that I haven’t been a part of the Express. This past season, I had the honor of interning for them as a photographer. Since 2006 I have been to approximately 500 Express games. The one consistent in my life has been the Eau Claire Express. I have been there through the ups and downs. I was there for the 2010 NWL Championship, to the heartbreak of losing two championship games, from the crazy walk offs, to the hard-fought games that they came up just short, and everything in between. » SEE BASEBALL PAGE 13

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020 | SPORTS | 13

BASEBALL

ATHLETES

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 12

Churchill, golf; Andy Mendez-Maya, men’s soccer, Kaitlyn Clapper, women’s soccer; and Jaidyn Lange, volleyball. Madison College Vice President of Student Affairs Dr. Howard Spearman opened the event on May 6. “I simply want to give a shout out to the athletic department as a whole. Steve Hauser great job as an athletic director, Jason Verhelst thank you for what you do, the athletic department great job. I want to give a special thank you to all the coaches. Coaches work around the clock. Not just evaluating talent but mentoring athletes, holding them accountable to the plans they have created regarding academics, being a better athlete, being a better student, and being a better person,” Spearman said. The focus of the evening was to celebrate the 2019-20 All-Region Selections and special award winners. Madison College had 29 athletes named to all-region teams. Those athetes were: Nick Gile, Patrick Foldy, Matt Hamilton, Eliot Turnquist, Nathan Aide and Walker Jenkins from baseball; Jason Williams, Davion Washington and Shamar Newman from men’s basketball; Aniah Williams, Lilly Dorman and Olivia Marron from women’s basketball; A.J. Gray and Matt Hach from golf; Samuka Toure, Pablo Guzman, Muhammed Sallah and Evan Bartz from men’s soccer; Jenna Kohrt, Mackenzie Bielicki, Lydia Webster, Kaitlyn Clapper, and Kelly Kubicek from women’s soccer; Jordan Martin, Irene Tomasovic and Maddie Fink from softball; and Cathleen Flannery, Calla Borchert, and Sidni Walgurski from volleyball. The final award of the day was the 2020 Region IV Hall of Fame Inductees, Madison College had three HOF inductees. Terissa Bierd was the first, Bierd was on the 2013-2014 volleyball team. Melissa Ernst was the next, Ernst was on the 2009 volleyball team. The final

I have had the honors of watching Express Alumni play in the Major Leagues, like Jordan Zimmerman, pitcher for the Detroit Tigers, and Kole Calhoun, outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks. For the first time in a long time baseball is on hold for me and everyone else. I miss the fields, I miss the sounds, and I miss the people. There isn’t a day that goes by where I am not thinking of baseball. I think about how good the Madison College baseball team would be. I think about what the roster would look like for the Eau Claire Express. I think of the people that I would have met. I think about baseball all the time. Baseball is the one thing I look forward to every spring and summer. It is the most important sport in my life. It might sound crazy but it is true, I am a different person during baseball season. Baseball makes me so happy, it makes me think more, it helps me grow into a better person. I chose to work in baseball because it is a way for me to stay in the game that I love so much. Without baseball I would not be the person that I am today. I have learned during this coronavirus pandemic how much more important the game is to me, and I have learned that I have been taking the game for granted. Once baseball is back again, I am going to enjoy every moment even more – as you don’t know when it might all be over. So, thanks baseball for shaping me into the person I am today. And sorry, coach, for the sore knuckles.

Madison College Director of Athletics Steve Hauser welcomes viewers to the athletic departments online athlete recognition program. member inducted into the Hall of Fame was Daniel Krause, Krause was on the 2013-2014 baseball team. On May 7, the evening opened with a message from Madison College Dean of Arts & Sciences Dr. Todd Stebbins. “The reason the athletic banquet is one of the greatest events we have is because I get to witness our student athletes who are being celebrated for the great ways you have represented yourselves, your teammates, coaches and the college,” Stebbins said. “We are all disappointed with how the spring sports season ended but we will not lose sight of what you have accomplished this year on the fields and floors of athletic competition, and in the classrooms as students,” he added. The focus of the night was to honor the all-conference and All-American players. Madison College had 22 athletes named N4C All-Conference and six named All-American by the NJCAA. The WolfPack All-Americans were: Jenna Kohrt, Cathleen Flannery, Joe Cayer, Nick Gile, Matt Hamilton, and Nathan Aide. The final night of the banquet was on May 8, and Provost Dr. Turina Bakken provided the welcome and announced

the Male and Female Sports Persons of the Year. The male sports person of the year was Msughter Dzoho, who played goalie for the men’s soccer team. “His work over his two-year carrer at Madison College placed him ninth in career save percentage at .753% and 15th in career saves with 55. What sets him apart are the sacrifices to the rest of the talented goalkeepers, with his quick reflexes commanding calm and presence. His excellent focus helped the WolfPack stay competitive and win many games,” Bakken said. The female sports person of the year was awarded to Kelly Kubicek, the goalie for the women’s soccer team. “For two years she started every game her team played and was a crucial ingredient to claiming back-to-back N4C titles. As a sophomore she and the WolfPack claimed the programs second region IV crown before falling one win shy of the national tournament game. Game in and game out she did the best to keep the action in front her rather than behind, which led to nine shutouts her sophomore season, and 17 total shutouts over two years. Both are school records,” Bakken said.

14 | WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020

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THELIGHTERSIDE BREWSTER ROCKIT

Puzzles and Cartoons

TIM RICKARD / TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

BREWSTER ROCKIT

TIM RICKARD / TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICE

CROSSWORDPUZZLE Rich Norris and Joyce Lewis / MCT Campus

ACROSS

1 Pull a pre-exam all-nighter 5 High-five sound 9 Hamster homes 14 Word in a bailiff’s order 15 Comics possum 16 Seashore recess 17 Mail-routing abbr. 18 How some close NFL games are won 19 Black, in Bordeaux 20 Strategy with delaying tactics 23 There’s no winner in one 24 Defense org.? 25 Enticed 27 Rental industry with units for extra belongings 32 Grabbed a bite 33 Loafer or moc 34 Outlying communities 37 Brown shades 39 Push in some chips 41 Fab Four first name 42 “Jeepers!” 45 Agrees quietly 48 Capote nickname 49 Household gathering to discuss something 52 Pancake flipper 54 Not within walking distance 55 Ab neighbor 56 Hotel accommodations for couples 62 Dog collar dangler 64 When many start lunch 65 Slender wind 66 Eat away at 67 Lump of dirt 68 Bread with

hummus 69 Sensitive skin spots 70 Cooped cluckers 71 Place to hold a snifter

DOWN

1 Stick in one’s __ 2 “Lovely” musical meter maid 3 Piedmont wine center 4 __ telepathy 5 Veggie favored by Popeye 6 Like epic novels 7 Super-excited 8 Idaho product 9 HBO-owned broadcaster 10 “It’s __-brainer!” 11 Beautiful people, as a group 12 Like a fogenshrouded cemetery 13 Jouster’s mount 21 Sacred Nile bird 22 Nothing more than 26 Scrolling PC

key 27 Frisks, with “down” 28 Salt Lake City’s state 29 Philanthropist 30 Get all blubbery 31 So, so small 35 Severely overcook 36 Fake coin 38 Couch or bench 40 Quarterback Brady 43 Erasure marks 44 Big Island port 46 Comes to the aid of

47 Scorch 50 Cape Canaveral event 51 Bunches of Brownies 52 Seekers of intel 53 Martinez with three Cy Youngs 57 Tree trunk 58 Minnesota’s state bird 59 Last bio 60 Bit of dust in a sunbeam 61 Tailor’s line 63 Drink suffix

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020 | 15

SUDOKU Provided by 4Puz.com

Objective 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.

Difficulty

16 | WEDNESDAY, MAY 6, 2020

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