Wednesday, January 29, 2014
University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Ray Cross to focus on student outreach By Emily Gerber THE DAILY CARDINAL
Don’t let his age fool you: University of Wisconsin System President-Delegate Raymond Cross is still willing and able to challenge college students to a pick-up game of basketball. Though, you may need to take it a little easy on him.
“The strength of this System is in its diversity and in its inherent differences; let’s magnify that.” Raymond Cross president-delegate University of Wisconsin System
“I used to play basketball with students all the time and develop relationships,” Cross said in a one-on-one interview with The Daily Cardinal Tuesday. “I hope I am able to do more of that.” Student outreach is a key area of focus for Cross once he takes office Feb. 15. Identifying the individual needs of students at each of the UW System’s 26 universities, as well as at the 13 UW Colleges,
is a task Cross said he plans on tackling through what he considers the most achievable way possible: listening. “Understanding those needs comes through listening and spending time with [the different campuses] and trying to understand how to help them address those needs in a collaborative way, in a partnership, whether it be the needs of a community or a campus, or in general, the people of the state,” Cross said. Understanding the public includes the continuing concern, most notably from students, regarding the increasing cost of higher education. Cross said he wants to hold listening sessions across the state in order to grasp the unique, individual concerns of the different factions of the universities. “Sometimes we work at creating policies that homogenize us and make us look too much alike,” Cross said. “The strength of this System is in its diversity and in its inherent differences; let’s magnify that.” When originally asked about the opportunity of
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GREY SATTERFIELD/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO
President Barack Obama delivered his 2014 State of the Union address Tuesday and discussed multiple ways to increase jobs, improve education and expand health care.
Obama outlines plans for ‘year of action’ By Eoin Cottrell THE DAILY CARDINAL
President Barack Obama opened his 2014 State of the Union address Tuesday with examples of Americans who “make the state of our union strong” and ended it with the face of an American veteran who embodies the determination the president believes the country needs to move forward in his “year of action.” Obama touched on more than a dozen issues and outlined his plan for the new year. Notably, the president addressed college affordability, raising the minimum wage and the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
University of WisconsinMadison professor David Canon said the president’s address was typical of most states of the union, in that it laid out a laundry list of political issues. Canon also said Obama called attention to future executive orders as a result of “political gridlock seen in Washington.” However, UW-Madison College Republicans Chair Charlie Hoffmann, called the address the “same empty rhetoric we have seen over the past six years” and said governing through executive orders was a “fine line to tow.” Obama began by discussing the “College Opportunity
Summit,” which has over 150 universities setting their sights on reducing inequality in higher education. The goal is to “help every hardworking kid go to college and succeed when they get to campus,” Obama said. Additionally, Obama cited commitments from big technology firms such as Apple, Microsoft and Verizon as substantial groundwork that will lead to the spread of high-speed broadband Internet to schools across the country. The president also expressed his readiness to work with Congress on new initiatives to help men of
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Recent heroin arrests signify local abuse
EMILY GERBER/THE DAILY CARDINAL
UW System President-Delegate Raymond Cross plans on beginning his tenure listening to the people of Wisconsin.
Madison police arrested a 25-year-old man for impaired driving and possession of drug paraphernalia on the 500 block of University Avenue Wednesday, according to a Madison Police Department incident report. The suspect, James Land, admitted to using heroin in a parking garage just before pulling out on the street and falling unconscious while resting his foot on the brake pedal. Land was found slumped over the steering wheel in the running car by a student, according to MPD Spokesperson Joel DeSpain.
‘Opportunity is who we are’
The Cardinal reacts to the State of the Union OPINION +page 4
Later the same afternoon, just two blocks from the Capitol, a second driver was charged with driving under the influence of what is presumed to also be heroin, according to DeSpain. These events underscore the rising heroin epidemic, both in Wisconsin and across the nation, DeSpain said. “We’ve seen an increasing number of individuals driving into Madison from smaller communities looking to purchase heroin, and many of them shoot up before they drive back,” DeSpain said. “In an area with lots of pedestrian traffic, that
kind of DUI is troubling.” In Wisconsin alone, heroinrelated deaths have risen by 50 percent in the last year. While the use among high school students is low compared to other drugs such as marijuana, it is steadily rising, according to a survey of county coroners. As for the public response to this growing problem, DeSpain said, “It is as much a publichealth issue as it is a police one. We are not going to be able to arrest our way out of it. There are a lot of addicted people who desperately need help.” —Will Doss
Let’s get surreal ARTS +page 5
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”
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tODAY: sunny
hi 22º / lo 14º
hi 28º / lo 0º
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
By Sina Siahpoosh
Volume 123, Issue 66
2142 Vilas Communication Hall 821 University Avenue Madison, Wis., 53706-1497 (608) 262-8000 • fax (608) 262-8100
The Canada geese have all flown. The V-flyers overhead, Long since headed South To temperate climes. Now resting, feeding, not forgetting The turns they took, And the heights they climbed. In Winter’s firm grip, The lake, a vast empty field, Is paved smooth with ice. In dark waters beneath, the fish slumber And dream of last year’s jumps To swallow the Sun! The cardinal stays in the frozen realm. Painting dazzling streaks, Rapid strokes of scarlet, Across the canvas of White. Tiny sparrows also remain Though shiver at dusk in thick bushes. Bracing for the cold, they huddle and chirp. Must be odes to Helios, they sing; Warm thoughts to power their hearts, And their wings, that beat as fast. The squirrels feel at home. Unintimidated by the freeze, Frenetic, relentless, they seek. Forgetful of the ‘where,’ Mindful of the Dream. They all know Spring will come. The V up high will head north, The fish will jump, The sparrow will be gay, The squirrel full, And the cardinal unchanged.
News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com Editor-in-Chief Abigail Becker
Managing Editor Mara Jezior
News Team News Manager Sam Cusick Campus Editor Adelina Yankova College Editor Emily Gerber City Editor Patricia Johnson State Editor Eoin Cottrell Associate News Editor Dana Kampa Features Editor Melissa Howison Opinion Editors Haleigh Amant • Ryan Bullen Editorial Board Chair Anna Duffin Arts Editors Cheyenne Langkamp • Sean Reichard Sports Editors Brett Bachman • Jonah Beleckis Almanac Editors Andy Holsteen • Kane Kaiman Photo Editors Courtney Kessler • Jane Thompson Graphics Editors Mikaela Albright • Haley Henschel Multimedia Editors Amy Gruntner • Grey Satterfield Science Editor Nia Sathiamoorthi Life & Style Editors Elana Charles • Katy Hertel Special Pages Editor Samy Moskol Social Media Manager Rachel Wanat Copy Chiefs Vince Huth • Maya Miller Kayla Schmidt
Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Tyler Reindl Advertising Manager Jordan Laeyendecker Assistant Advertising Manager Corissa Pennow Account Executives Brianna Albee • Erin Aubrey Michael Metzler • Dan Shanahan Elisa Wiseman Marketing Director Cooper Boland Design Manager Lauren Mather The Daily Cardinal is a nonprofit organization run by its staff members and elected editors. It receives no funds from the university. Operating revenue is generated from advertising and subscription sales. The Daily Cardinal is published weekdays and distributed at the University of WisconsinMadison and its surrounding community with a circulation of 10,000. Capital Newspapers, Inc. is the Cardinal’s printer. The Daily Cardinal is printed on recycled paper. The Cardinal is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The Daily Cardinal are the sole property of the Cardinal and may not be reproduced without written permission of the editor in chief. The Daily Cardinal accepts advertising representing a wide range of views. This acceptance does not imply agreement with the views expressed. The Cardinal reserves the right to reject advertisements judged offensive based on imagery, wording or both. Complaints: News and editorial complaints should be presented to the editor in chief. Business and advertising complaints should be presented to the business manager. Letters Policy: Letters must be word processed and must include contact information. No anonymous letters will be printed. All letters to the editor will be printed at the discretion of The Daily Cardinal Letters may be sent to opinion@ dailycardinal.com.
Editorial Board Haleigh Amant • Abigail Becker Ryan Bullen •Anna Duffin Mara Jezior • Cheyenne Langkamp Tyler Nickerson • Michael Penn Nikki Stout l
Board of Directors Herman Baumann, President Abigail Becker • Mara Jezior Jennifer Sereno • Stephen DiTullio Erin Aubrey • Dan Shanahan Jacob Sattler • Janet Larson Don Miner • Chris Drosner Jason Stein • Nancy Sandy Tina Zavoral
© 2013, The Daily Cardinal Media Corporation ISSN 0011-5398
For the record Corrections or clarifications? Call The Daily Cardinal office at 608-262-8000 or send an email to edit@dailycardinal.com.
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An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892
Thursday: snowy
Campus Wordsmiths is a bi-weekly feature. It’s a space for writers from around campus to publish their poems, stories and other creative pieces.
Serial: “Awake, arise, or be forever fallen” By Sean Reichard the daily cardinal
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alph “Foster” Homily had listened to Yes’s Fragile back-to-back three times now, always savoring the tuneful dial-up guitar on “Long Distance Runaround.” It lent a certain order to the squalor of his room. Rather, the space eked out by him in the basement, between his mother’s dress boxes and backlog of his stepfather’s anti-bestseller, which the semi-pater proudly claimed to have neither sold nor read. Such was Foster’s life, and through progressive rock, he tried to settle some calm over the dreary disorder. Foster’s calm went up in flames as Klasper St. Pettigrew scrambled down the basement ladder—the Homily family did not believe in stairs. “Foster, pack your things!” Klasper had been Foster’s most faithful tumor ever since the latter had allowed a friendship to metastasize between them in the third grade. In appearance and characteristics they were just about identical—right on down to their pitchy turtleneck voices, their square glasses, their hair the color of streaming piss and their frightening, occult back freckles. The real difference was Klasper wore his hair long. “What d’you mean?” Foster asked. “Did you get that apartment with Skinner?” “Screw the apartment. We’ve got bigger worries.” These sort of antics were de rigueur with Klasper, with whom Foster had tried no less than 17 times to move out with, only to find that the former had either horrible real estate instincts that day or just wanted to hang out and couldn’t work up the gumption to call ahead and ask. Not that Foster knew where his phone was in the basement. So he played along, getting out of bed and clicking his stereocube off. From his vantage point, between his clothes rack and cardboard box dresser, he saw Klasper rooting furiously through some of his mother’s dresses, murmuring about Foster’s odd sense of fashion. “So where did you want to go today? Madison Park? Perhaps a fizzelixir at the Junction?” “Normally I admire your preemptive snark, Foster—uuh— but this is honest, plaintive dis-
tress on my part here. We, we are in trouble.” “What do you mean we, Kemosabe?” Foster mimed without inflection. “This is serious, damn it! Look!” Prior, Klasper had drifted through the dark and the dust, a snatching shamble, but under the refulgence of Foster’s lamp the truth was revealed. Foster cringed. Klasper’s face had been marred. There was blood. Worse, there was more than blood. Along Klasper’s left cheek, at random, dappled brilliant sequins ranging from specks to dime sized. They coruscated in a parade of vermillion, cobalt and malachite, even rose pink and silver. “Oh god.” “Yes. You see what the stakes are now, Foster. You see—” “What happened to your face?” “It’s pretty self-evident, Jefferson.” “I see ‘what’ happened, Klasp, but I don’t understand ‘why’—” “I can’t explain it now. I just need you to—” “—Did one of your employers do this to you?” “No, the laundromat didn’t do this to my face. Listen—” “Oh god, were you doing more gangster work?” “Foster, this is a very sensitive issue, and not just in the sense that my face still hurts like all fu—” “Did gangsters bedazzle your face. Klasp?” Foster asked with a tremor. “No! No, no, no! You, are, not listening! We have to go.” Foster was not cognizant of it at the time—he later reflected on the road—but, despite the self-evident danger that lay behind Klasper’s escapist mania, Foster still believed this was another one of Klasp’s patented adventures. So he packed quickly. All he really needed was his stereocube, music tablet and a few days worth of clothes, which fit easily in a duffel bag. He pocketed his wallet and corkscrew with the lightning bolt etched onto it. He even outdid himself and packed a few books and a few childhood artifacts. Foster was practicing a prescient pantomime. “Come quickly,” Klasper said. “We have to raid the rest of the house.” Find out what happens to Foster next by reading Campus Wordsmiths Feb. 12.
Poetic Remix: Lorde “Royals” By Nakila Robinson
My skin has become a set of gold teeth. Blood drink like Cristal. Flesh drive like a Cadillac fueled by grey goose. Birthed from a love affair in a buzzed hotel room. Nothing about me has been diamond. Or Royal. I’ll never be the kind of luxe, You call a Queen. Torn up. A different kind of fantasy. Baby, Let me be island. Proud enough to envy Dream like a song. Rule like money Let me crave bigger.
On this day in history... 1737—Thomas Paine is born. A staunch British loyalist, his satirical pamphlet “Common Sense” will be completely misinterpreted by American Revolutionaries. 1850—Henry Clay introduces the Compromise of 1850 to the U.S. Congress. Clay says he will watch Congress’ movie, “Diehard,” first, if they agree to watch his movie, “Predator,” afterward. 1886—Karl Benz patents the first successful gasoline-driven automobile. The foot-driven Flintstone automobile becomes obsolete. 1954—Oprah Winfrey is born. She will one day invent the book club.
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University Affairs plans spring 2014 campaigns
ASM committee aims eligibility criteria toward learning outcomes By Paige Villiard THE DAILY CARDINAL
University Affairs Committee met Tuesday to review this semester’s campaigns including sexual assault awareness, campus safety, textbook affordability and mental health. Associated Students of Madison University Affairs Chair Hannah Kinsella said the committee will continue work with Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment and the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program in 2014. SAPR is sending a sexualassault survey to students this week to assess student knowledge and raise awareness of campus services. University Affairs will then use the results as part of a corresponding media campaign, according to PAVE representatives. Additionally, Student Council member John Paetsch said he is working with an unofficial safety council and hopes to focus on student safety. Paetsch proposed a late-night student bus service to get students home safely as an alternative to SAFEwalk, a student escort service. Paetsch also said while Madison has very low crime rates, the committee can still make improvements and is dedicated to making those changes. “We’re just looking to get people home safely,” Paetsch said. University Affairs member Calla Born also proposed working with faculty about making textbook listings available earlier, so students can search for cheaper online alternatives. The committee also considered discouraging faculty from assigning textbooks when they plan on using less than 50 percent of the material. University Affairs Vice Chair Padydeh Doroodchi also discussed a mental health campaign to show students on-campus service locations and said she is working with University Health Services on a video concerning school stress to be presented at SOAR. —Dana Kampa
cross from page 1 becoming a candidate for the UW System President position, Cross said he thought it was a joke. Even when approached by the Board of Regents Search and Screen Committee, who notified him on his nomination and the committee’s interest in his candidacy, Cross still was not sold on the prospect. It was not until he realized he had the experience and know-
obama from page 1 color complete their highereducation goals. Women were not to be forgotten as Obama made a youthful reference to the popular 1950s-based television drama, “Mad Men.” Obama said it was an embarrassment that women still make 77 cents for every dollar a man earns, and he promised to work with Congress to give women equality in the workplace. “A mother deserves a day off to care for a sick child or
JANE THOMPSON/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Dobrá Tea, located at 449 State St., will end operations after over five years of service on Feb. 9.
Dobrá Tea to close in early February Dobrá Tea owners announced Jan. 15 the official last day of service at the vibrant tea shop on the 400 block of State Street will take place Sunday, Feb. 9. Dobrá Tea has been open at 449 State St. for over five years, serving a wide array of tea flavors with leaves from places as far as Sri Lanka and Darjeeling, India. The shop served as a quiet space for students to study as well as a place for tea drinkers to purchase a cup of high-quality tea. Sophia Savin, a full-time employee at Dobrá Tea, remains hopeful for the fate of the tea culture in Madison. “We have lots of opportunities to grow and keep the tea spirit alive in Madison without being connected to the crazy amount of rent on how to do the job well that Cross reconsidered. Cross served as chancellor of UW Colleges and UW-Extension since 2011 and was a major player in the establishment of the UW Flexible Option program, which gives higher education opportunities to non-traditional students. Cross emphasized his goal of straying away from the UW System focusing solely on its educational needs, but rather encompassing the state of
sick parent without running hardship and you know what, a father does too,” Obama said. The president told the nation he will issue an Executive Order to raise the minimum wage of federally funded employees to $10.10 per hour while encouraging companies to follow successful corporations such as Costco in setting higher wages. UW-Madison College Democrats Chair Austin Helmke said he was pleased with the president’s plan to raise the federal min-
State Street,” Savin said. “We will no longer be affiliated with Dobrá Tea, but the same owner of this shop is planning on doing what he can to continue serving tea in Madison.” Savin said the demand for bulk tea remains high in the city area, and the owner plans to continue selling the tea to wholesale restaurants and businesses beyond the last day of operations. There are also individuals who schedule tea classes that the owner intends to continue without the shop. “We’re going to do what we can to keep educating people on the tea plant and keeping it strong,” Savin said. On the last day of operations, Dobrá Tea will be open between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. —Patricia Johnson Wisconsin as a whole. “We are the University of Wisconsin, which that phrase speaks about more than location,” Cross said. “We are the university working with Wisconsin. We’re the University for Wisconsin.” Cross will look to embark on his new journey with the UW System in a few weeks. In the meantime, maybe you can catch him at the SERF, looking to shoot the ball around.
imum wage, saying it would help a lot of people, including college students. However, Hoffmann said Obama’s plan to encourage private companies to raise the minimum wage would actually hurt job creation. Additionally, Canon said Obama laid out an effective case for raising the minimum wage when the president cited the depreciation of the minimum wage of roughly 20 percent since President Ronald Reagan. While the initial rollout of
The Associated Students of Madison Eligibility Criteria Review Committee met Tuesday to revise a draft of the eligibility criteria for General Student Services Fund. The committee composed the criteria to move eligibility focus away from the current directservice component and align more with learning outcomes of The Wisconsin Experience. The Wisconsin Experience describes what is unique about receiving a degree from the University of WisconsinMadison, according to the university’s website. The current eligibility criteria requires GSSF groups, namely Registered Student Organizations, to provide direct services, which are services that can be tailored to individual or group needs, available upon request and accessible to anyone. To be eligible, groups must demonstrate that their organizations provide direct benefits to students. Student Services Finance Committee Chair David Vines said many people have complained about the direct service requirements and are confused over whether services qualify as direct services or not. The draft contains “Programming Requirements,” eliminating the direct-service language. Vines said he hopes
the criteria will give groups more flexibility in terms of the programs they provide. Atheists, Humanists, & Agnostics President Sam Erickson said he is in favor of the programming language the draft contains. “My idea was to have groups themselves define what their core programs are,” Erickson said. Libby Wick-Bander, a representative from the MultiCultural Student Coalition, said having groups establish their own core programs makes “complete sense.” She added it would decrease pressure on SSFC to completely understand all GSSF groups. The programming requirements of the draft would also evaluate how groups’ core programming aligns with The Wisconsin Experience. Vines also said The Wisconsin Experience has not formally been part of the eligibility criteria before, but he said the learning outcomes of The Wisconsin Experience align with what organizations already do and provide benefits such as civic engagement and exposure to diverse culture. The committee will continue to work on drafts for the eligibility criteria, and Vines said he would like to have a finalized draft by the end of February the committee can send to SSFC and Student Council.
JANE THOMPSON/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Student Services Finance Committee Chair David Vines discusses revising student organization funding guidelines.
the Affordable Care Act and federal exchanges have been a contentious point among politicians, Obama highlighted the positive progress made since the launch. According to the president, 3 million Americans under the age of 26 have gained coverage through their parents’ plans. Obama added “zero” Americans would be dropped or denied coverage to pre-existing conditions. Both Helmke and Canon agreed the story of Sgt. First
Class Cory Remsburg, a veteran who served in Afghanistan before being wounded in combat, was the emotional high point of the night and an effective strategy for uniting Americans. “To draw the broader implication of [Remsburg’s story] and say, this is an example of what America is… was extremely effective,” Canon said. “Two minutes standing ovation is one of the longest standing ovations I remember in a State of the Union address.”
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view Cardinal View editorials represent The Daily Cardinal’s organizational opinion. Each editorial is crafted independent of news coverage.
obama’s 2014 plan needs congressional support
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resident Barack Obama must feel like an unfortunate casualty of history. A president who came into office with big plans and a Congress who would facilitate the sort of change he campaigned on and surely believes in, but who has been met by unforeseen challenges and as of late, marred by seemingly insurmountable congressional bickering. Yet he knows he can’t make excuses. With only two years left to put the finishing touches on his legacy until history (the ruthless, unforgiving critic that it is) passes its own judgement, there is nothing left to do but be bold. And that is just what he seems to be doing. As a man known for calculated maneuvers better suited for a college professor than a politician pursuing an agenda of “change,” Obama has come out swinging in 2014. During Tuesday’s State of the Union address, he announced to the country he plans to use his presidential power to raise the minimum wage for federal workers to $10.10, bypassing Congress to do so. If any
other president were to use such power, it would perhaps be seen as an abuse of power. Now, given the inadequacies of Congress, it seems to make sense, and no one is raising a fit. Efforts to raise the minimum wage across the country for all workers face a tough battle, but this bold stroke of the president’s pen is surely a good start. But bold talk can only go so far, and the real question is what capacity he has to accomplish some of the initiatives he laid out Tuesday. Congress has had Obama’s number lately, and how much he can actually accomplish in only two more years remains to be seen. But if the Republican response Tuesday can tell us anything, Washington, D.C., remains as divided as ever. The speech was refreshingly progressive, but without the right support, Obama’s initiatives will fall flat, not unlike before. A consistent trope found within speeches like this one is an underlying optimism found when Obama brings progressive means to the pulpit, only to be met by a disap-
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pointed public when many of these ideas stall or never come to fruition. Guantanamo remains open, despite how long its closure has been on the table. Working women still make less on the dollar than men. Millions have lost their benefits at the helm of Congressional inaction. These are not issues to place full blame upon Obama. With that said, a more thorough exercise in bipartisanship will prove to be helpful for a nation with a plate of unresolved issues to address in the coming future that cannot wait for a re-vote or a rewrite. Still, we appreciate the specifics Obama outlined with regards to connecting more students to technical colleges and higher education programs. He also mentioned building more relationships between businesses and students through apprenticeships, which we recognize as a key way to build stronger workers as well as to connect more individuals to jobs. As a student newspaper, we are acutely aware of the benefits that American citizens can reap when they are fortunate enough to access higher education. This being said, higher education institutions need to do their part too in supporting students from all backgrounds to successfully complete degrees or certifications once students enter the doors. Further, we thank Obama for recognizing something needs to be done to soften the blows student loan debt can often have on recent graduates. The next two years will determine the legacy President Obama leaves for the rest of his life and beyond, and Tuesday’s speech set the stage for what is sure to be a fiery fight for a favorable legacy. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com
GRAPHIC BY MIKAELA ALBRIGHT
Obama Administration shows numeric improvement in United States’ economy SPENCER LINDSAY opinion columnist
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resident Barack Obama has now been in office for five years, and his approval rating is in the relatively low mid-40s range. Only about 40 percent of Americans approve of the way he has handled the economy. Despite these low numbers, almost every economic indicator has greatly improved over his presidency, and he has objectively done a great job of managing the economy. There seems to be a disconnect between public perception and the cold hard facts. Perhaps he is being blamed for long-term problems that admittedly require a longterm fix, such as the evaporation of America’s manufacturing base and the decline of wages as a percent of gross domestic product. These problems, however, are not new, and while he should attempt to remedy them, he should not be blamed for something that has been happening for 30 years. The truth is he has improved the economy and I for one, am glad that Obama’s economic policies have been guiding this nation for the
past five years. This economy is still not where it needs to be, but it is getting there. We must remember that in the immediate run up to Obama’s presidency we suffered the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. The stock market lost over half of its value, unemployment doubled and GDP shrunk by about 9 percent in three months. We cannot expect to come out of such a crisis quickly. The world economy took a hard hit, and Obama’s policies have gone a long way toward digging ourselves out of this deep hole.
Despite these low numbers, almost every economic indicator has greatly improved over his presidency, and he has objectively done a great job of managing the economy.
The stock market hit its low point in March 2009, before Obama’s policies had taken effect. Since that
point, the stock market has more than doubled in value and soared to record highs. In March of 2009, the Dow was trading at about 6,500. Today it is closer to 16,500. Similarly, unemployment did not peak until Obama had been in office for about a year. This is natural as unemployment is a trailing indicator. It peaked at 10.8 percent in early 2010. Today it is down to 6.7 percent, the first time it has been below 7 percent since the start of the crisis. The Obama administration’s economy has created about seven million jobs since the 2010 peak, and six million since the start of his presidency. GDP has also grown to almost $17 trillion, up from its recession low of about $14.25 trillion. This economy still needs work, but Obama is doing the best he can and it is working. His policies have made our economy stronger. I don’t understand why the general public doesn’t get that. Basic facts must be looked at. Do you agree with Spencer? Has Obama done a good job with the economy? Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
Influence people. !
Meet with the opinion editors at The Daily Cardinal Opinion Writers’ Meeting today at 5:30 P.M. in 2142 Vilas to discuss writing for us!
!"#$%&'()! !"#$%&$'()! !"##$%!
! "It's Not a Joke: The Cultural Implications of STALKING."!
Please join PAVE as we welcome Jeff Bucholtz from We End Violence to campus in recognition of Stalking Awareness Month. Check Today in the Union for location.
!
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Wednesday, January 29, 2014
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Exhibit celebrates American realities By Cameron Graff THE DAILY CARDINAL
What’s immediately striking about the Real/Surreal exhibit is how effectively it sucks you into its domain. The gallery itself, located on the second floor of the Madison Museum of Contemporary Art (MMoCA), is as much an unnerving display of surrealistic tendencies as the art it showcases. When you first walk in, the room opens up into slanted walls displaying the pieces of the exhibit, all slightly ajar from the implied centers of the walls, and the viewer instantly feels slightly off balance.
“What we’re so pleased about is that this exhibition features major American masters of the period, with major important pieces.” Richard Axsom Curator Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
“The installation takes its cue from the Whitney Museum of American Art’s in terms of its color,” said MMoCA curator Richard Axsom. “The angled walls are a nod to earlier exhibits of surrealist art in the 1930s and ‘40s, where you have kind of an eccentric space. A stage set, or a city street. Everything is sort of off center.” And the effort was effective; the venue, still under construction when I saw it, nevertheless had a strange and disruptive feel to it—and yet, there was a clear purpose to the entirety of the space. The exhibit itself was mostly pieced together using works from the Whitney museum’s permanent collection in light of the museum’s ongoing renovations. As such, the singularity of the exhibit was deliberately stressed. Or, as Axsom put it: “It’s one of the most important shows in the region of the year.” Axsom led me through the gallery to advertise and expound upon its fulcrum pieces, works which fully elaborated the installation’s vocation—to explore the malleable divide between the competing styles of 20th century American surrealism and realism. “[Surrealism is] an art movement from Europe that deals with Freud, the unconscious, sexuality, complexity of personality, the irrational and the illogical,” explained Axsom. “If you think of that and then think of [realist painter] Thomas Hart Benton and company—there was certainly a conflict… in a sense it was, ‘which is the appropriate style for modern American art?’ And there are those who said, no
way it can be surrealism.” “There was not a realist art movement, there was a style,” Axsom said. “And what makes [Real/Surreal] provocative is that [realism and surrealism] would seem to be antithetical. Here’s the real world, and here’s this world gone crazy. It’s not real at all, it’s hyper or surrealality—that is, the reality of dreams. [Whitney Museum curator] Carter Foster sees that slash as being somewhat porous, and I want to show you how he sees that way.” The first pieces I saw were a triptych of intention. Axsom directed me towards legendary founding surrealist Man Ray’s “La Fortune” as a sort of primer to the more bizarre side of the exhibit. “This is of course nothing you’re going to see in everyday reality,” Axsom said of the painting. “The perspective is off, the clouds are not natural at all, this billiard table is at an angle that makes no sense, and the billiard balls are not falling; they’re sort of frozen. It’s the stuff of dreams.” “La Fortune” looked like something from the Salvador Dalí vein of experimental art, with specific details culled from the natural world, only to be arrayed in a confusing and disorienting juxtaposition. Axsom then directed me towards George Tooker’s “The Subway,” a perfect marriage between realist and surrealist sensibilities. The piece’s realist shades were the most immediate on display, with a woman walking through what looks like a New York subway, surrounded by throngs of individuals. “You could conceivably be walking through and see this woman walking through and the people walking through, back and forth, but there are certainly some alterations he’s made which give it a disturbing quality,” said Axsom. And sure enough, look close enough and the work’s more unsettling qualities begin to ooze through—all the men have the same indistinct face and none of the corridor’s perspectives align properly. “He’s taken everyday reality ad made it magical without upsetting the predictability of the real world like Man Ray does … Tooker’s considered a magical realist.” At the final corner of the entryway’s triangle was one of Marsden’s Heartly’s paintings. With hints of impressionism, the work was a loose and flexible interpretation of an ancient stone structure, toppled in the middle of an ominous clearing. It was puzzling in idiosyncratic depiction of reality, but lacked the
courtesy of Erika Monroe-Kane, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
Edward Hopper, “Cape Cod Sunset,” (1934). Oil on canvas, 29 1/8 x 36 1/4 inches. Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; Josephine N. Hopper Bequest 70.1166 © Heirs of Josephine N. Hopper, licensed by the Whtiney Museum of American Art, N.Y. Digital Image © Whitney Museum of American Art. unnerving quirks of “The Subway” or “La Fortune.”
“It’s one of the most important shows in the region of the year.” Richard Axsom Curator Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
“There’s nothing here that approaches the weird, slight alterations of Tooker … there’s a mundane, everyday quality to it, that doesn’t seem to be disrupted by what Man Ray does, or Tooker,” said Axsom. From there we moved onto Edward Hopper’s “Cape Cod Sunset,” my personal favorite of the collection. In the work, Hopper, known primarily for his iconic “Nighthawks” painting, flirted with surrealism much in the same way as Tooker, splicing the uncanny into an otherwise transparent depiction of the real. At first glance the painting’s a straightforward portrait of a quiet
Cape Cod house. it’s only when you notice the lack of detail and human presence, and the unnaturally straight and even forest in the background that gives way to blackness that the piece begins to frighten. The piece’s quiet unraveling of expectations and assumptions was astonishing—even as an early work of Hopper’s, it still held its own as a powerful work by one of the great artists of the 20th century. Next we went to one of John Wilde’s works, an alumni of Madison and an art teacher until his death. Wilde’s work blended together with Man Ray’s, birthing a scene which at every level defied literal interpretation. “Wilde was very much a surrealist—not the magic realism of Tooker or this sort of enigmatic realism of [Andrew] Wyeth or Hopper, but giving you a scene that’s just so mysterious, giving you things that just have no explanation for being.” Wilde’s work was certainly the most confounding piece of the tour, featuring a carefully detailed portrait of a woman in a barren landscape, eating an apple, adorned with bugs and surrounded by prostrate scraps of minutia and trash.
“There are insects all over her, which implies, disarmingly, that her pallor is as deathlike as it is lifelike. A mix of beetles and butterflies, beautiful and ugly … these incongruities are part of the surrealist vision… it’s almost like Freudian free association. It’s disruptive, irrational, and what you’re left with is a sense of surrealist mystery.” Axsom’s tour was certainly a helpful cypher for the encrypted world of the ever-alienating surrealist movement, but even without him the gallery proved to be a powerful showcase of thought provoking artistry. “What we’re so pleased about is that this exhibition features major American masters of the period, with major important pieces… If I were to give a talking point as to why people should come to the show, well, yeah, it would be that,” Axson said—but even without his benediction, the gallery still works on its own as a fantastic showcase of the esoteric and the avant-garde as it fits into America’s storied art history. Appreciate Cameron’s art criticism? Be sure and tell him at cgraff2@wisc.edu
courtesy of erika monroe-kane, Madison Museum of Contemporary Art
George Tooker, “The Subway,” 1950. Egg tempera on composition board, 18 1/8 x 36 1/8 inches. Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; purchase, with funds from the Juliana Force Purchase Award 50.23. Courtesy of the Estate of George Tooker and D.C. Moore Gallery, N.Y. Photography by Sheldan C. Collins.
comics
You’re gonna hear me ROAR... Lions can roar, but they can’t purr.
6 • Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Lioness Love
Today’s Sudoku
© Puzzles by Pappocom
dailycardinal.com
You Look Tired Today
Caved In Classic
By Haley Henschel henschel2@wisc.edu
By Nick Kryshak graphics@dailycardinal.com
Solution, tips and computer program available at www.sudoku.com.
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.
Eatin’ Cake
By Dylan Moriarty www.EatinCake.com
Today’s Crossword Puzzle
Tanked Life Classic
Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com
THE LION KING ACROSS 1 There for all to see 6 It may be found in a stew 1 1 Dip, as bread in gravy 14 April form submitter 1 5 Nautical direction 1 6 Dos Passos trilogy 1 7 Fit well 19 Start for “day” or “wife” 2 0 Maligned 2 1 Covered with hoarfrost 2 3 Say the same thing again 26 Diluted 2 7 Boots from school 2 8 Room for receiving 3 0 Round Table sitters 3 1 Played in Vegas 3 2 Hammett’s Spade 3 5 Winner of “The Thrilla in Manila” 3 6 Annual quartet that’s this puzzle’s theme 3 8 Slam dunk point count 3 9 Hankering 4 0 They might be checkered 41 Vegan’s staple 42 Professional obi
wearer Beaded device Without risk One way to stare Warbler’s sound Not straight Tree-ring indication Olympics segment TV control (Abbr.) Fields of study A Muse Bring to a conclusion 62 Demonstrates disinterest 6 3 Israeli hero Moshe 4 4 46 4 8 49 5 0 5 2 5 3 5 8 59 6 0 6 1
DOWN 1 Not working 2 Routing term 3 Hockey stick shape 4 Connects emotionally 5 Like the council on “Survivor” 6 Time-___ photography 7 Competent 8 Lifeless 9 Fond du ___, Wis. 1 0 Birthstones for Mother’s Day babies 1 1 Certain theater productions 1 2 Wickerwork willow 1 3 Rice field 1 8 Banana split tidbits
22 “Who am ___ judge?” 2 3 Express anew 24 Deposed leader’s fate 2 5 Homer’s city 26 Insect-eating songbird 2 8 It’s sometimes served primavera 2 9 One with a cookie fortune 3 1 Nasty cut 3 3 Bad and then some 3 4 Terribly timid 3 6 Surplus-water passage 3 7 Like a Monday crossword 41 Brassy blast 4 3 Electrified swimmer? 4 4 Old apple application 45 Damaged, as a car (with “up”) 46 ___ off (forestall) 47 Most common inert gas in the atmosphere 4 8 Bestow goodwill 5 0 From scratch 5 1 ___ “the Man” Musial 5 4 William Roth’s legacy 5 5 Spring month 5 6 Letter from Greece? 5 7 Wright’s “Native ___”
Evil Bird Classic
First in Twenty Classic
By Steven Wishau
By Caitlin Kirihara
By Angel Lee
life&style dailycardinal.com
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
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7
Cook, bake and eat healthy this semester idea that making and eating food should always be a delicious adventure.
By Federica Ranelli THE DAILY CARDINAL
With the first full week of spring semester coming to a close, nostalgia for break may be starting to set in for some of us. A warm and comfy bed, no classes to stress out about and homecooked meals are starting to seem like nothing but dreams as classes start to ramp up once more. I eat some of my favorite food during the holidays. Being part of an Italian family, we always go all out with delicious traditional foods like pane Italiano, meatballs, panettone, tiramisu and of course all the chirstmas cookies. It is so good, but as January rolls around, the time comes to get back into a pattern of healthy eating. When most people think about healthy eating they think salad, salad and more salad. The prospect of eating the same thing day in and day out makes me just as reluctant to eat healthy as the next person. Over winter break I challenged myself to find healthy alternatives and ingredient substitutions that still promote the
Chunky Cinnamon Apple Muffins
These muffins should really hit the spot, and made with two whole apples, no sugar and whole wheat flour, they are a guilt free morning pick me up! Makes about 13 regular sized muffins.
Ingredients:
2 cups whole wheat flour 2 teaspoons baking soda 2 egg whites 1/2 cup honey 1/4 cup safflower oil 3/4 cup milk of choice 1/2 cup unsweetened apple sauce 2 medium apple, peeled and well chopped 2 teaspoons cinnamon
Directions:
In a medium mixing bowl, blend together the flour, cinnamon, chopped apples and baking soda. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the egg whites, honey, oil, milk and apple
sauce. Pour the flour into the liquid and blend well. Spoon into lined muffin tins and place in the oven. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes or until you do the toothpick test and it comes out clean.
Flourless Pizza
A flourless pizza crust with cauliflower may sound strange, but give it a try and play around with it… I think you might be surprised how delicious it is. Makes one medium pizza.
Crust Ingredients:
1 cup of shredded cauliflower or 1/3 of a head of cauliflower 3/4 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese 1 egg 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon crushed garlic
Topping Ingredients: 1/2 cup pizza sauce 1/2 cup mushrooms 1/2 green bell pepper 1/2 red onion
Directions:
Shred cauliflower in a food processor and microwave it in a bowl for eight minutes. Mix in about one-half cup of cheese, and save rest for the toppings. Crack the egg and mix all the crust ingredients together. Spray the pan with cooking spray and make a nice base of cauliflower-and-cheese crust. Bake in the oven for 20 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Bake as long as you want to get desired crust consistency; it tends to be soft if not baked long enough. Then take out the crust, top with the sauce and the toppings. Place it back in the oven for another 10 to 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly. Cooking and baking is a great way to fight stress throughout the semester, and if you try these recipes out you’ll be sure to have a good time and end up with some tasty treats. As always, these recipes are guidelines; change them up and have fun! Enjoy, and good luck. Liked the recipe ideas, and want a few more to try out at home? Email Federica and let her know at franelli@wisc.edu.
Accepting your newly single status: A Single Girl Column LEXI a single girl
Breakups and music seem to go hand-in-hand. Maybe it’s because our emotions are so damn confusing that we can’t figure them out without the help of some of our favorite musical geniuses. Or maybe there are just so many songs written about break-ups it’s almost impossible not to find one you can relate to. Personally, I have been lucky that every breakup in my life has perfectly coincided with the release of a Taylor Swift album. Now you can’t tell me this is just coincidence; it is the universe looking out for me and my mental health. You may want to be forewarned that the following playlists will include a lot of Taylor Swift songs for this reason and because A) I love her and B) say what you want about the
girl, but if there’s one thing she does well it’s writing relatable breakup music. So, without further adieu, I give you, the five stages of breakup songs.
STAGE 1: DENIAL
This is the stage that immediately follows the breakup. At this point, you are going to want to stay up until two in the morning crying and playing “your songs” on repeat but I would highly discourage this behavior. By listening to songs that used to define your relationship, you are denying the fact that this relationship no longer exists. Try to avoid the whirlwind of good memories that you have come to associate with these songs. Just don’t go there and you can move on a lot faster. (Note: Pandora may make these songs difficult to avoid, so I would suggest not using this website while you are in the midst of the denial stage.) Playlist: I can’t tell you what “your songs” are, but I’m sure you will have a few that instantly come
to mind… Those are the ones to be avoided.
STAGE 2: ANGER
At this stage of the breakup, you are just flat out mad that you have to go through this hell. Once the initial denial subsides, you become angry over every wrong that was ever committed throughout your relationship. If there were major wrongs committed, you have even more fuel to add to the fire. And naturally, your music will reflect this. Playlist: 1. “You Should’ve Said No” by Taylor Swift 2. “Hate (I Really Don’t Like You)” by Plain White T’s 3. “Irreplaceable” by Beyoncé 4. “Misery” by Maroon 5 5. “Kerosene” by Miranda Lambert
STAGE 3: BARGAINING
When you get over your anger you start to think that hey, maybe things weren’t that bad. You think that maybe if you would just do this or that, things would be different. Well guess what, you broke up for a reason and bargaining
is probably not going to do you any good. So sit back and listen to some of these songs. Playlist: 1. “Fix You” by Coldplay 2. “Back to December” by Taylor Swift 3. “The Harold Song” by Ke$ha 4. “Friends, Lovers or Nothing” by John Mayer 5. “Skinny Love” by Bon Iver
STAGE 4: DEPRESSION
Once you realize that no amount of bargaining will bring you and your significant other back together, the depressing music starts. These songs are here to echo the pain you are going through and help you to realize, you aren’t the only one who has ever felt this way (and these people went on to be extremely successful and profit off their pain). There are so many of these songs out there, but I’ve narrowed it down to some of my favorites. Playlist: 1. “With or Without You” by U2 2. “Dreaming With a Broken Heart” by John Mayer 3. “Stay” by Rihanna featuring
Mikky Ekko 4. “Breathe” by Taylor Swift 5. “Dark Paradise” by Lana Del Ray
STAGE 5: ACCEPTANCE
Once you realize that sitting around wallowing in self-pity isn’t going to do anything, congratulations, because you have now reached the acceptance stage. This is where you realize that you will survive this breakup and that there is someone better out there for you. You are ready to listen to these songs when you have realized that you are never, EVER, getting back together. Playlist: 1. “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” by Taylor Swift 2. “I’m Gonna Find Another You” by John Mayer 3. “Someone Like You” by Adele 4. “In Repair” by John Mayer 5. “Begin Again” by Taylor Swift Need more music suggestions for your own breakup playlist? Share your single life struggles at life&style@dailycardinal.com. Graphic by Chrystel Paulson.
Make the most of classes without falling into a second semester slump By Sammy Silverman THE DAILY CARDINAL
Despite the frigid weather, many of us are thrilled to be back from break. While we enjoyed being home, it was certainly time to come back with friends. Then, the weekend ends and classes begin once again. The evening before, make sure to set multiple alarms for a bright and early in the morning. I’m sure many of you, like myself, have to set at least three alarms, including one that rings more than 30 minutes before you actually need to get out of bed. When that third alarm goes off, everyone rubs their eyes as they look at the clock. Slowly, sliding out of bed, we know that if we don’t get up now, it’ll be embarrassing to be the student who walks
into lecture late. Nothing is worse than the entire room, including the professor, staring, as you stroll in slowly, in the sweats that you pulled off of your floor. Welcome to the second semester slump. It’s no longer a gorgeous day in Madison, with the sun shining high above Lake Mendota. It’s late January and all you can think of is how numb your face is and how warm you would be if you were still in bed. But remember, this is still the same school you chose. The sun may not be shining and your phone may tell you that it’s 15 degrees below freezing, but don’t let that stop you. The first step is actually making it to class. For those of you who had enough trou-
ble with this during the fall semester: I know this seems like I’m telling you to climb Mount Everest. (And yes, it will feel as cold as climbing Mount Everest.) Get dressed for class. By wearing pajamas to class every single day, you’re only encouraging your eyes to shut in every lecture hall. Put on clothes that you wouldn’t sleep in. If you can, try not to order in every meal. Grab a group of friends and go out for dinner. Chances are whether you made it to class or not that day, you’re going to go out that night, especially if it is a Thursday or Friday. So why not get up now? Not only will you end up having fun, but there are more options that can help you maintain a healthy diet when eating
at a restaurant. It will also help you get out of your building. Try meeting a friend after class for a meal. That way, you are encouraged to both go to class and go out for a meal. Most importantly, make sure the classes you are enrolled in this semester are classes you are interested in taking. Even if you have to fill a general education requirement that you have no interest in–trust me, I did not want to take a science class this semester. There are hundreds of classes in each department for you to choose from. I enrolled in a science class that I think I will still care about and pay attention in. Personally, had I taken chemistry, I would be sleeping, failing and procrastinating at all costs. Fortunately, I had other
options and can take a science class that doesn’t involve as much “stereotypical science”. By slumping around for an entire semester, you’re more likely to get sick. If you spend the majority of your day in the same building without stimulating your brain, it is proven that you will get even more tired. With this gloomy weather every day, you certainly don’t need anything to increase how tired you are and I know you don’t want bags under your eyes. Get up, get involved and embrace the cold. By doing so, you will be able to stay healthy in a time when most people are getting sick and tired. Interested in more tips to make the most of your semester? Email Sammy at srsilverman@wisc.edu.
Sports
WEDNESDAY JANUARY 29, 2014 DAILYCARDINAL.COM
Men’s Basketball
Wisconsin welcomes revamped Wildcats By Jack Baer THE DAILY CARDINAL
There’s really no way to cut it, the Wisconsin men’s basketball team’s (4-3 Big Ten, 17-3 overall) last meeting with Northwestern (3-5, 10-11) was a total beatdown. The Badgers walked into the Wildcats’ Welsh-Ryan Arena and simply imposed their will, coming away with a 76-49 victory that was competitive for about 10 minutes. Since then, the Badgers have gotten a little more humble. Three losses due to a porous, lackluster defense will do that. Thankfully, the bleeding has recently stopped, thanks to an impressive win at Purdue where the Boilermakers were held to 35.4 percent field-goal shooting. The Badgers have been fairly mum on what adjustments they have made to improve, instead crediting an increased intensity. “We followed our scouting report, we did exactly what the coaches told us to do,” redshirt junior guard Josh Gasser said. “Our focus and energy is there, and it makes us that much better.” However, the recent defensive lapses are still a fear for Wisconsin going forward. “On [the offensive] end we’re better, but on the other end, you know, you can’t talk about the three front line guys that play defense so well for us anymore,” head coach Bo Ryan said. “It’s almost February. So these guys have to have
WIL GIBB/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO
In Wisconsin’s first game against Northwestern, UW secured an easy 76-49 win as four Badgers scored in double figures including 15 points from sophomore forward Sam Dekker. improved to this point.” The Badgers hope that the defensive redemption will continue at the Kohl Center Wednesday night against a revitalized Northwestern team
that has pulled out surprise wins over Illinois, Indiana and Purdue since their fiasco against Wisconsin. “Coach was saying, we gave them a wake up call in that first
game,” Gasser said. “Ever since then, they’ve been on a tear. They’ve been winning games and almost winning games, so they’re not going to beat themselves.” Now that Northwestern has
improved in all dimensions, Wisconsin is making sure to play their game. “They’re really good on defense, they share the ball well, they’re extremely well coached and they’re going to play hard,” Gasser said. “If we don’t bring it, we could see a different result than what we’re looking for.” A factor for the Wildcats will be the play of junior point guard Dave Sobolewski. Previously a key cog for Northwestern, Sobolewski had a terrible game in his matchup against Wisconsin and has since missed four games due to a concussion. He returned in the Wildcats’ previous game against Iowa and played terribly, finishing with no points and more assists than turnovers. If Sobolewski is given more minutes than he can handle, Gasser and senior guard Ben Brust will feast. This matchup could also hold roster intrigue for the Badgers, who have gone through some flux in minutes for their frontcourt bench. Redshirt junior forward Duje Dukan has seen a drastic decrease in minutes following rough performances against Indiana and Michigan. This playing time has gone to freshman forward Nigel Hayes and, surprisingly, junior center Evan Anderson. Given the lack of size in the Badgers’ current rotation, an effective Anderson could be a welcome back-up to junior center Frank Kaminsky.
The giants of men’s tennis will soon regain the throne GREY SATTERFIELD 50 shades of Grey
S
tanislas Wawrinka’s run through this year’s Australian Open was impressive and included a dramatic, five-set win over defending champion Novak Djokovic. Wawrinka fought through heat, and a stacked slate of opponents in order to win the tournament. His final win even came against world No. 1, Rafael Nadal. But rest assured, the big three of Nadal, Djokovic and Roger Federer are not going anywhere.
From 2005 to 2012, the big three won all but four of the major tournaments (Wimbledon, The U.S. Open, Roland Garros and the Australian Open). Marat Safin, Juan Martín del Potro and Andy Murray were the only people to hoist a trophy until Wawrinka broke through last week.
The top ranking in men’s tennis has stayed with Nadal, Federer or Djokovic since Feb. 2, 2004.
Del Potro’s 2009 U.S. Open win appears to be the most similar to Wawrinka’s recent success. Del Potro made the semifinals at the French Open in 2009 before winning the U.S. Open two slams later. Similarly, Wawrinka made the semifinals of the U.S. Open last year before going on to win this year’s Australian Open. Another striking similarity is that Wawrinka defeated both Djokovic and Nadal, No. 1 and No. 2 in the world respectively, on his way to the crown down under. In 2009, del Potro defeated Nadal and Federer on his way to the title. Unfortunately for del Potro, he has yet to return to a Grand Slam final, let alone win, since his victory in 2009. A lingering
wrist injury as well as bad luck has prevented him from breaking into tennis’s big three. Time will tell if Wawrinka can build off his newfound success but if the past is any indicator, it will certainly be an uphill battle against some of the most dominating players the game has ever seen. Even in this year’s Australian Open, Federer and Nadal made the semifinals. And remember, the French Open is next, which Nadal has casually won eight of the last nine. Who won the one Nadal didn’t? That’s right. Federer. Wawrinka’s success seems to come on hard courts. He has only made one quarterfinal on the clay in France, and has never seen the quarterfinals on the lawns of Wimbledon. Del Potro and Safin got their Grand Slam wins on hard courts too. Clay courts and grass courts are too nuanced for inexperienced players. Watch Nadal move at the French Open or Federer play at Wimbledon and then watch anyone else. The difference is clear. Success on hard courts is probably because they are the most common on the professional circuit. Of the top-14 tennis tournaments in the world, four Grand Slams and ten Masters tournaments, nine of them are played on hard courts. Because of this, it is easy to see why players typically get their first Grand Slam win in Melbourne or New
York. They have more experience playing high pressure matches on hard courts. Also, this year’s Australian Open was nonconventional due to the fact that it saw four sustained days of temperatures over 105 degrees. The heat was prob-
From 2005 to 2012, the big three won all but four of the major tournaments.
ably why the first day, nine players couldn’t finish their matches and withdrew from the tournament, including the top-ranked American, John Isner. Despite the turbulence in the first few days, the big three still managed to beat the heat and last until the quarterfinals. The top ranking in men’s tennis has stayed with Nadal, Federer or Djokovic since Feb. 2, 2004. It’s safe to say it isn’t going anywhere anytime soon either. Wawrinka’s win is refreshing and honestly, I’m happy for the guy. That being said, it is a bit premature to claim tennis’s greatest dynasty anything but over. Will another player not named Nadal, Federer or Djokovic win a Grand Slam event this year? Email sports@ dailycardinal.com and let Grey know what you think.
GRAPHICS BY MIKAELA ALBRIGHT