Thursday, February 9, 2012 - The Daily Cardinal by The Daily Cardinal

FLOATIN’ A CONCRETE BOAT

Move Over WoW

The UW-Madison Concrete Canoe Team takes on the challenge of designing a buoyant canoe made of concrete.

There’s a new open-world role playing game in town. Review of “Reckoning,” +ARTS, page 4

+SCIENCE, page 7

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Thursday, February 9, 2012

UW students arrested for sexual assault By Abby Becker

CONNECTION

THE CHINA

University of Wisconsin-Madison

The Daily Cardinal

Story By Alex DiTullio

Photo Courtesy of Uw communications

The UW delegation to China visited the country in November, where they met with educational leaders, business and government officials.

While the UW aims to strengthen ties with China, the communist nation has been criticized for its treatment of Tibet. A small, but vocal Tibetan population in Madison questions the partnership. This three-part series explores the issue.

As UW-Madison students mobilize to protest the Chinese government’s alleged human right’s violations in Tibet, university officials plan to open an office in the communist nation that is widely considered one of the world’s most emerging countries. Kerry Hill, the Communications Coordinator for the Division of International Studies, said the office set to open in Shanghai this June will provide the university with a way to facilitate American business, enhance faculty collaboration and create new opportunities for students to

study abroad in China. But while administrators are optimistic about the benefits of an increased UW presence in China, some members of Students for a Free Tibet, an organization dedicated to promoting Tibetan independence, have serious reservations. Some members said the university is on the road to compromising its ethical mission for the sake of preserving a free and democratic academic environment. In the past year, 19 Tibetans have lit themselves on fire and widespread protests have engulfed the small mountainous region to oppose alleged human rights violations from the Chinese government. “Coming from a Tibetan’s perspective … and any person who would believe in human rights, I would strongly urge [the UW] to reconsider why they would want relations with a country that is known for atrocities,” said a Tibetan UW-Madison student who wished to remain anonymous. However, not all members of Students for a Free Tibet share

this student’s opinion. UW-Madison student Tenzin Dechen said he approves of the office as long as its purpose is purely academic and eases the process for students to study abroad in China. While the program may foster study abroad opportunities in China for most students, UW-Madison student Tenzin Kesang said she is skeptical if UW’s foot in China would benefit Tibetans who wish to study there. Since she has Tibetan friends who allege the Chinese government followed them while they were studying in China,

china page 3

Vinehout to run in potential Walker recall By Tyler Nickerson The Daily Cardinal

After weeks of speculation, Sen. Kathleen Vinehout, D-Alma, officially announced Wednesday she will run against Gov. Scott Walker in the potential recall election expected to take place in late spring or summer. The two-term state Senator joins former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, who announced shortly following the filing of petition signatures on Jan. 17, as the only two to officially declare entry into the already widely publicized race. “We need a governor who will lead with self restraint; who will be clear and open about her intentions; who will respect Wisconsin’s traditions of good government;

who supports and takes pride in our schools; who values the skills workers bring to their jobs,” said Vinehout in her announcement. Chair of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin Mike Tate said

Vinehout’s experience in health care, education and as a dairy farmer helps her understand challenges facing Wisconsin.

UW-Madison Police Department arrested three UW-Madison male students Wednesday for an alleged second-degree sexual assault occurring in September. Two of the suspects were reportedly receiving full tuition from a prestigious university scholarship. The UWPD arrested students Brian K. Allen, 18 of Menomonee Falls; Prentice A. Williams, 18 of Milwaukee; and Bruce H. Beckley, 18 of Milwaukee for alleged seconddegree sexual assault for an incident in Witte Hall, 615 W. Johnson St., last September, according to Sgt. Aaron Chapin. Wisconsin State law defines second degree sexual assault as sexual contact or intercourse with threat of force or without consent. Penalties for the crime include fines, prison time or both.

Allen, Williams and Beckley are UW-Madison freshmen living in Witte Hall, according to a friend of all three suspects. Chapin said the suspects knew the female victim, who does not attend UW-Madison. According to Chapin, the suspects are in Dane County Jail and follow-up continues in an open investigation. Allen and Williams, as part of the Pre-College Enrichment Opportunity Program for Learning Excellence, were receiving a fulltuition scholarship. PEOPLE is a pre-college program designed for students of color and low-income students who are typically the first in their family to attend college. Once admitted to UW-Madison, students receive a full academic scholarship as long as

assault page 3

Task force talks tuition, UW structure By Anna Duffin The Daily Cardinal

Amid discussions of who should set tuition in Wisconsin and how the UW System should be structured, UW-Madison Chancellor David Ward told members of a state task force Wednesday there is no ‘one size fits all’ model for flexibilities needed across campuses system-wide. Ward said individual institutions would benefit from having “university councils” to facilitate communication between the campus community, the Board of Regents and the state. The councils, which Ward suggested include members of the Board of Regents and campus alumni, would be able to understand and communicate the needs of the insti-

tutions. The councils would not have the authority to set tuition. “The key to change in higher education is that we have mutual respect in every facet of the system,” Ward said. “We’re all in this together.” While members of the council had different opinions as to who should set tuition at institutions, Ward said raising tuition is a “zero sum game,” because as tuition increases, state support typically decreases. Ward said to increase accountability between the system and the state, the institutions need to determine how they impact communities in the state and what the state gives

councils page 3

vinehout page 3

Teacher’s union endorses Falk The state’s largest teacher’s union, representing 98,000 Wisconsin teachers and Education Support Professionals, endorsed former Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk for governor Wednesday. “Despite being a challenging year for Wisconsin educators, we have remained focused on what is most important – our students,” said 2010 Wisconsin Teacher of

the Year Leah Luke. “However, we are ready for a change. Kathleen Falk shares our values and vision for a better tomorrow for all Wisconsin students.” The endorsement comes after the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Falk, if elected governor, agreed to veto the next state budget if it does not restore public workers’ collective bargaining rights.

bEN KOEPPEN/CaRDINAL fiLE photo

UW-Madison Chancellor David Ward said UW campuses would benefit from having their own advisory boards.

“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”

page two Random realizations on books tODAY: sunny

Friday: chance o’ snow

hi 38º / lo 25º

hi 25º / lo 12º

Thursday, February 9, 2012

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An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 122, Issue 14

2142 Vilas Communication Hall 821 University Avenue Madison, Wis., 53706-1497 (608) 262-8000 • fax (608) 262-8100

News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com

Editor in Chief Kayla Johnson

Managing Editor Nico Savidge

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Editorial Board Matt Beaty • Nick Fritz Kayla Johnson • Jacqueline O’Reilly Steven Rosenbaum • Nico Savidge Ariel Shapiro • Samantha Witthuhn

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Elliot Ignasiak ignastrodamous

once started reading a book on time management and quickly found myself yelling at the author, “Do you know how long it’s going to take to read this 232 page book? How exactly do I save time?” I was already confused and had yet to get past page iv. I don’t understand why books on time management don’t have CliffNotes versions. This is the 21st century. Is a book really the best medium for something on time management? I think that a movie would be a much more time-efficient way to disperse that information. Because really, nothing is a bigger time waster than reading books—especially if they’ve been made into movies already. Especially if they’re picture books, because those are just like really low budget cartoons. I don’t want to have to turn the pages really fast myself… and for that, I thank Pixar. Actually, the only bigger time waster than reading is getting in

conversations with pretentious pricks who read too much. They will usually say something like, “Oh, the movie… It just didn’t do the book justice. If you liked the movie, you have no imagination. I’ve read all the American classics like “Twilight” and Harry Potter…three times.”

Because really, nothing is a bigger time waster than reading books— especially if they’ve been made into movies already. I want to punch these people in their nose-brim reading glasses, then throw them into a fire with a bunch of burning books and mock, “Don’t tell me I don’t understand drama or irony. You’re going to burn with those copies of ‘Fahrenheit 451.’” Allow me to be pretentious for a moment: You can always tell what people don’t actually read by the favorite books they list on

The Dirty Bird

Facebook. After listing about 50 of their favorite bands and television shows, their reading list will look something like: “The Great Gatsby,” “Death of a Salesman,” “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” “Catcher in the Rye.” Coincidence that this book list is suspiciously similar to the list of required reading books in high school that no one actually reads in its entirety? I think not. As I read John Steinbeck’s “Grapes of Wrath,” I can’t help but get all nostalgic when I hear the characters say phrases like “smartalecking around” and “full of piss and vinegar.” However, sometimes I wonder if this was just unintelligible speech used by lower-class citizens. It scares me that this could be the case, and fifty or so years from now someone could be reading a book on guidos and feel that same sentimental warmth upon hearing phrases like “beating back the beats” or “let’s creep on guidettes all night.” I would like to know what credentials it takes to become a New York Times bestseller. I don’t see how it is a prestigious title considering that every freaking book in Barnes and Noble seems to be a New York Times bestseller. If David Sedaris and Malcolm Gladwell can share a list with

Snooki and Paris Hilton, then the New York Times is about as qualified to have book lists as Newt Gingrich is to write a self-help book on the secrets to a happy, healthy marriage. The self-help section of the bookstore has the most empowering book titles—”The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level”—yet, it’s the most shameful place to be. I wish the self-help section could be like a weird porn shop: have its own store, somewhere off the highway with a secluded parking lot in the back. That way one wouldn’t be seen in public buying such silly books. Instead, they often put it right next to the checkout line, which is like putting up a big neon sign advertising: Adults books for pathetic people who can’t get past their childhood. Thank you for taking time away from reading Twilight to read my column. I’m honored you’ve allowed me to indulge my random thoughts and waste some of your time. Feel like getting into a heated discussion with Elliot about the magical world of Harry Potter or how New York Times bestseller’s “Eat, Pray, Love” changed your outlook on life? State your case by e-mailing him at eignasiak@wisc.edu.

sex and the student body

Make the “O” face come a little faster Erica andrist sex columnist Erica, My question is about orgasms. I orgasm regularly when I masturbate or when my boyfriend fingers me or gives me oral, and sometimes I orgasm during sex. The thing is that it usually takes me a lot longer than my boyfriend. What I would like to know is if there is any way that I could cum faster so that we could cum together during intercourse. He is great about making sure that I have an orgasm if he cums before I do, but it would be great if we could finish together. (I am a girl, just fyi.) —Slowpoke Yes, yes, YES! Slowpoke, I have so many tips for you that I’m going to spend two columns on your email. Not only do I have a ton of ideas, but also, I think you’re asking two questions: how to orgasm more quickly, and how to orgasm at

the same time as your partner. In your case, they’re related, but really they’re distinct questions. Today, I’ll focus on the first one: how to have an orgasm more quickly and reliably during penetration. Next week, we’ll talk about syncing your orgasm clock with your partner’s. First, if you want to get off more quickly during intercourse, try having an orgasm prior to penetration. Male-bodied people usually have what’s called a refractory period after orgasm. The penis goes soft and is physically incapable of getting hard again for a few minutes to a few hours. Most female-bodied people have no such refractory period, or it is very short—on the order of seconds to minutes. Ergo, it’s generally easier for women to have multiple orgasms, and the second generally comes more quickly than the first. Prime yourself by having a first orgasm via manual or self-stimulation (I know, awesome, right?). If one trip over the edge leaves you without motivation to climb to the top again, then get good and worked up before any penetration starts. Sure, your partner is faster, but if you get a

good head start, then maybe you can cross the finish line together. You can also incorporate things that more reliably give you orgasms into the act of penetration, i.e. use fingers or toys while your boyfriend is inside you. Try a cock ring with an appendage. Garden-variety cock rings can be spruced up with bullet vibrators or textured nubbins to give extra stimulation to the receptive partner during penetration. If you’re looking for a more direct approach, position yourself for easy access. Reverse cowgirl gives you two free hands, and your boyfriend can also get in on the action if his arms are long enough. Or try doggy style, and have your partner reach around your hips; you can also support yourself with one arm and reach back to touch yourself. Another option, though one that’s limited by height, is to lie on your back with your butt at the edge of the bed, and have your partner stand while penetrating you. Let your legs drape over the edge of the bed, or rest them on your partner’s shoulders. Both your hands and your partner’s hands are free to do whatever

This April, The Daily Cardinal will celebrate its 120th birthday.

they may. Spooning is also good. In the spooning position with your boyfriend as big spoon, he enters you from behind. Your ladybits will be even more accessible if you throw your top leg back over your partner’s hips (bend your knee and rest the sole of your foot on the bed). You can also scooch your butt over a little bit to lie on your back. Bring both of your legs over his hips while he continues to lie on his side. Don’t forget, all of these positions can be used for anal penetration just as easily as vaginal penetration. Also, while I’ve been saying “boyfriend” throughout due to this letterwriter’s particular situation, two partners of any gender can utilize these positions for penetration with penises, dildos, or double dildos. There you have it, Slowpoke—a few tips to get you where you want to go just a little bit faster. Stay tuned next week for more ideas on having orgasms together with your partner. Ready, set, go! Can’t wait for more orgasmically awesome tips? E-mail Erica at sex@ dailycardinal.com.

Come join the party. We’ll find the perfect fit for you in our cardinal family at our recruitment meeting. Friday, Feb. 10 at 5 p.m. in Vilas 2142

news

Thursday, February 9, 2012 3

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Latino group says Republicans left public out of redistricting Voces de la Frontera, a Latino advocacy organization, held a press conference Wednesday to discuss documents uncovered by a court order that showed Republican lawmakers met secretly to modify redistricting maps. Earlier this week a panel of three federal judges made Republican lawmakers release a slew of documents revealing almost all Republican legislators signed legal agreements forbidding them from disclosing any details during the process of developing electoral maps. Peter Earle, Attorney for Voces de La Frontera, said the Republican conduct in developing this bill is a “violation of the opening meetings

statute…[and] the state constitutional prohibition on secret legislating.” Every 10 years, states are required to draw new legislative and congressional maps to reflect changes in population. In the past, courts have primarily drawn the maps because of partisan disagreements, but last summer Republicans were able to pass maps favoring their party. “They willfully and intentionally shut out any public opinion in the legislative process…these covert actions were paid for at tax payer expense and did not represent the full state legislature in the process,” Christine NeumannOrtiz, founder and executive director of Voces de la Frontera, said at

Wednesday’s press conference. Neumann-Ortiz was referring to the $400,000 in taxpayer money paid to the law firm Michael Best Friedrich, which helped create the bill. A list of talking points was also released which advised the Legislators to ignore public comments about the maps. However, Rep. Robin Vos, R-Rochester, told the Wisconsin State Journal Voces de la Frontera is misinterpreting the documents, and the talking points were created only for him. “This is another example of the loony left trying to present misinformation through innuendo,” Vos said. —Jacob Riederer

china from page 1

One of these faculty members who specializes in Chinese foreign policy, Political Science Professor Ed Friedman, said a distinction must be made between the unethical policies of the communist country and the efforts of a university to promote the best interest of students, faculty and researchers. “You don’t want to confuse the University of Wisconsin with the United States of America,” Friedman said. “The university is committed to reaching out to the emerging and major new parts of the world.” Additionally, Friedman said Chinese activists who want to end human rights violations in China and even the Tibetan leader, the

Dalai Lama, would like to see an increased foreign presence in the country. “You don’t easily go against the opinions of the brave and courageous people who are actually struggling for a better situation … in China,” he added. While Friedman said these people hope the collective foreign presence of various foreign countries could eventually lead to societal reforms in China, he noted that ultimately a Chinese reform must come from within its own government. “China is a big independent sovereign state and I don’t think it is going to be changed very much by what foreigners do,” he said.

the 14 Democrat state Senators who fled the state last year,” and has shown she would avoid tough decisions as governor. “Governor Walker is ready to contrast his positive record with the Democrats’ failed policies of the past and looks forward to hearing from Democrats like Kathleen Vinehout on how they would have balanced a $3.6 billion budget deficit,” Evenson said.

Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Middleton, and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, who lost to Walker in the 2010 gubernatorial election, have hinted they may also enter the race. Vinehout’s announcement comes as state election officials work to confirm enough valid signatures were turned in to trigger the election. Walker’s campaign is also working to challenge any invalid signatures.

all this,” Gardner said. “There’s no 5-to-ten year projection on what the relationship between the state and university is, and without being able to predict that, how can the university plan?” Gardner said members of the task force talked about access and quality as if increasing one would decrease the other, which she said

might not necessarily be the case. “It was proclaimed that we were one of the top five best values for universities in the country. I’d like to know what we’re doing that got us that rank and dig deeper in those things, and I’d like to know why we’re not number one, and why that’s not the conversation,” Gardner said.

Kesang said she is concerned Tibetan studentscouldhavea tarnished experience in the country. “I think that it should be equal both ways,” she said. “If our students are going to go study there, the students should include Tibetan students as well.” According to Hill, the concerns of opening an office in a country with alleged human rights violations have not been ignored. He said UW officials have consulted faculty who focus in relations with the country to discuss the ethical implications of increasing ties with China.

vinehout from page 1 “Unlike Scott Walker and his GOP legislature, she is committed to growing our Wisconsin economy and making sure there are plenty of good, family-sustaining jobs available,” Tate said. But Tom Evenson, Press Secretary of Friends of Scott Walker pointed out Vinehout was “one of

councils from page 1 them back in return. Associated Students of Madison Chair Allie Gardner said if the state and system communicated better, the system could plan for situations such as the current budget cuts from the state the system is facing. “That’s really what’s at the root of

Kyle Bursaw/cardinal File photo

Martin to speak in Madison Former UW-Madison Chancellor Biddy Martin will be returning to Madison in March to discuss the impact of new technologies on university education and instruction. Martin, who resigned from her position at UW-Madison last July, has since become the first female president of Amherst College, a liberal arts school, in Massachusetts. The event will be held at the Monona Terrace Convention Center

assault from page 1 recipients maintain a 2.0 GPA and take at least 12.0 credit hours. A UW-Madison Sellery Hall resident and PEOPLE program recipient who met Allen and William during the summer at a PEOPLE program said he was speechless at the news. “Me and Prentice have been friends for a long time...he’s a good kid,” he said. “I honestly did not expect this, and I kind of have a hard time believing this.” UW-Madison freshman and Witte resident Joe Illg said his dorm floor had a meeting around the time of the incident where his house fellow

at 11 a.m. Tickets will cost $20 for students and $30 for members of the public. The Madison Civics Club will host the event on March 3rd. Founded in 1912 to promote woman’s suffrage, the club has brought in other prominent female professionals to speak, most recently Washington Week managing editor Gwen fill and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, to celebrate their centennial. stressed taking safety precautions such as not letting people into Witte without an ID card and locking doors. Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment media advocate and Daily Cardinal staff member Jacqueline O’Reilly expressed her condolences for the victim and said assault happens frequently on college campuses. “It’s important to remember when something like this happens...that this isn’t a crime that happens every time you see a headline,” O’Reilly said. “It’s a crime that’s constantly happening, and it’s constantly happening to UW students.”

arts Pretty good game, I reckon

dailycardinal.com

Thursday, February 9, 2012

By Adam Paris the daily cardinal

As much as I love the exploration and discovery in massive open-world role-playing games (RPGs), their unintuitive combat systems have always tempered my enthusiasm. Intense, fluid combat and large scale RPGs always seemed mutually exclusive, but “Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning” successfully bridges this gap. While sticking closely to typical RPG conventions, the dynamic action of “Reckoning” sets it apart from other role-playing games. The journey begins as you emerge from the Well of Souls, a machine created to restore life to the fallen citizens of Amalur. As the first being to survive the experience, your fate is completely unwritten. Fate is yours to control, meaning you can alter the destiny of the world and every inhabitant living there. Although the main story comes to a satisfying conclusion and offers some impressive boss battles, the overall narrative wasn’t overly compelling and results in a fairly standard fantasy tale. While the main campaign only clocks in at about 30-35 hours, the sheer amount of extra content will keep gamers satiated for countless more. It was nearly impossible to enter a shop or unexplored area without seeing new quests pop up on the mini-map creating a continual logjam of side quests in my menu. Even though I still had 30 built up by the end of the main story, there are still a wealth of areas I want to explore much more thoroughly. The side quests themselves aren’t

very inspired as most involve rescuing someone from a cave or collecting various items so a villager won’t complain anymore. However, the several factions throughout the game offer engrossing missions that range from acting out the ballads of elves to taking down a local deity. Combat takes center stage in “Reckoning” and is easily the most rewarding aspect of the entire game. The action is more akin to “Fable” than “God of War”, but it makes combat something I continually look forward to instead of dreading as I have in other RPGs. Complete with combos for different weapon classes, stealth mechanics and brutal finishing moves, this is the most satisfying combat system I’ve played in an RPG. A massive skill tree accompanies the player and allows them to divide their points into might, finesse or sorcery with each category offering unique abilities or better proficiency with the myriad of weapons. Each player also has the ability to choose a destiny that unlocks based on the amount of points you’ve dumped into the specific branches of the skill tree. Each destiny boosts stats and can easily be swapped for a different one if the player wishes to alter the effects. Amalur itself is massive: Filled with several varied zones that utilize a vibrant color palette, the world has a very distinct look. The cartoonish graphics, while somewhat primitive, blend in naturally with the colorful terrain. Amalur looks magnificent, but ultimately the world isn’t as awe-inspir-

ing as a title like “The Elder Scrolls”. Many of the paths you can explore are fairly linear; the game doesn’t create the sense of wonder and freedom “Elder Scrolls” games provide where a boundless world sprawls before you ready for endless exploration. For players interested in the lore and back story of the world around them, the amount they’ve included is staggering. Seemingly every dialogue box had plentiful options that expand on nearly every part of the story, characters and environment around you. Despite my minor gripes with the title, “Reckoning” is an impressive take on the open-world RPGs that make going back to previous combat systems seem bland and mediocre by comparison. With a strong framework already in place, future titles in the series with more polish and a better variety of missions could easily place this among the elite RPGs in gaming. For now though, “Reckoning” is a superb title that successfully fuses stylized action with an open world setting and demonstrates the next step in the evolution of action RPGs.

opinion Gray wolf hunting returns

The Daily Cardinal: your campus news source since 1892.

Come to our recruitment meeting Friday, Feb. 10 at 5 p.m. 2195 Vilas Hall

Write for the Daily Cardinal! Send all feedback to opinion@ dailycardinal.com

Ethan safran opinion columnist

uring the last days of 2011, specifically on Dec. 28, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services officially removed the gray wolf from the endangered species list in the Western Great Lakes region, a region that includes the state of Wisconsin. For the past 40 years, the gray wolf has been protected under the federal Endangered Species Act. Thus, following this news, the state’s legislatures drafted a bill that will allow the Department of Natural Resources to issue “wolf harvesting licenses.” The licenses, costing as little as $10 to as much as $100 or $500 depending on demand and a person’s residency status, authorize both “the hunting and trapping of wolves” from “October 15 through the end of February.” While the bill is in itself mostly a good idea, legislatures should be cautious when considering some of the contents of the “Wisconsin Wolf Management Act.”

VIDEO GAME REVIEW

“Kingdom of Amalur: Reckoning” 38 Studios B+

Some of the measures within the bill are a bit over the top and some may deem them to be bordering upon cruel.

Thursday

2/9

• Get your dance on with the Chicago Afrobeat Project at the High Noon Saloon. Tickets are $8 and the show starts at 9 p.m. • For an intriguing look into the UW-Madison Art Department, check out the Compendium 2012 at The Chazen Museum of Arts. This rare event will display the works of 34 current faculty members, and will run daily until April 1. • Instead of getting blackout, check out a play about life during a blackout! “Black Comedy” will be playing at the Bartell Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15.

Saturday

2/11

• Immerse yourself in the local music scene and check out the performance of F. Stokes, a local hip-hop and soul guru, at The Sett in Union South. Admittance is free, and the show begins at 9 p.m. •The heart-felt and comedic film,“50/50”, with heartthrob Joseph Gordon-Levitt, is screening for free at the Marquee in Union South at 7 and 9:30 p.m. • Catch some throwback tunes with a night of Steely Dan covers at the Barrymore. Steely Dane, a pair of Madison-based keyboarders gathered local rock-and-roll enthusiasts to put on this performance. The show starts at 8 p.m., tickets are $15.

Friday

2/10

• If you have seen his performances on Comedy Central or when they went viral online, you’ll want to check out Demetri Martin’s performance at the Barrymore Theatre. The 8 p.m. show is sold out, but you can attend the 11 p.m. performance for $35. • Grab a beer at the timeless Memorial Union and catch the performance of up-and-coming artists Lost Lander and Paper Thick Walls. The show is free and will begin at 9 p.m. • Support the campus arts scene by catching the UW Symphony Orchestra in the Humanities building (Mills Hall) at 8 p.m. Tickets are free.

Next Week

Next week

2/12-2/15

• The performance of The Peking Acrobats will undoubtedly be unlike anything you have ever seen, and tickets are as low as $15.50. Performing at the Overture Center on Sunday, Feb. 12 at 3 p.m., are worth looking into. • Taking a break from studying needn’t be shallow—attend the second installment of the lecture series “Hip-Hop and Pedagogy, Performance and Culture in the Classroom and Beyond” at Grainger Hall Monday, Feb. 13 at 7 p.m. in Room 1101. • If you’re feeling up to it, attend the Polar Plunge at Olin Park, Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 10 a.m.

Voice your opinions: write for The Daily Cardinal Come to our recruitment meeting! Friday, Feb. 10 at 5 p.m. 2195 Vilas Hall

Why the legislatures are moving at such a quick pace to introduce and pass a piece of legislation is understandable. Farm animals, household pets, and other small animals are easy prey for wolves. It does not take a biologist to figure that much out. Controlling a species that likes to prey upon your small Yorkshire Terrier is understandable. However, scientists, as well as Democrats, have expressed concern about proposing such a bill so soon after the species was taken off the federal endangered species list. Hypothetically, if wolf hunting were to get out of hand and the population dropped significantly, the

federal government would have to put the species on the endangered species list once again, causing a headache for wildlife experts. State Rep. Scott Suder, R-Abbotsford, coauthored the bill with a handful of other lawmakers and cited that he would be “open to make changes” regarding some of the contents within the bill. He acknowledged that the intent of the bill is to give the DNR the authority to oversee the wolf population as a whole rather than to reduce the population to a specific amount. Fifteen groups or individuals, including the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation, Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association, National Rifle Association, United Sportsmen of Wisconsin and Wisconsin Bear Hunters Association testified or registered to throw their support behind the bill, while the Humane Society of the United States and two other individuals opposed the legislation. Yet admittedly, some of the measures within the bill are a bit over the top and some may deem them to be bordering upon cruel. Consider the provisions that allow for certified persons who have obtained a wolf harvesting license to “hunt wolves during nighttime,” to use dogs to “track or trail wolves,” to make use of “electronic calls” to locate wolves, and to utilize “cable restraints” for trapping purposes. Full disclosure: I am not a hunter. Regardless, PETA would not be very happy about some of these provisions. It is understandable that the state wants to control the gray wolf population given

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the fact that they had to pay over $300,000 to farmers and livestock handlers last year because of gray wolf attacks.

Gray wolves are a species, a species that was only until recently an endangered one too.

Nonetheless, I don’t know, maybe it is just me, but there still seems to be something that is somewhat unsettling about having someone prowling around near my property in the dead of night with a crossbow, a pack of dogs, and trapping devices. That right there is a problem that many Wisconsin residents

might have with this bill and it needs to be addressed. I would support this bill so long as persons with a hunting or trapping license fully disclose all harvested wolves and bring them to registered stations so that scientists can adequately document the hunted wolves as a means to keep a tap on the population. While gray wolves may harm other living animals and cost the state of Wisconsin thousands of dollars a year in payouts to destroyed livestock populations, gray wolves are a species, a species that was only until recently an endangered one. Ethan Safran is a freshman with an undeclared major. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

comics

6 • Thursday, February 9, 2012

Refusing free food

Today’s Sudoku

Now that’s a workout! The human eye blinks an average of 4,200,000 times a year. dailycardinal.com

Evil Bird

By Caitlin Kirihara kirihara@wisc.edu

Eatin’ Cake Classic

By Dylan Moriarty EatinCake@gmail.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.

Tanked Life

By Steven Wishau wishau@wisc.edu

Today’s Crossword Puzzle

Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com

ADDRESS BOOK ACROSS 1 Company with a spokesduck 6 Pillow coverings 11 Light toss 14 2005 Oscar winner for Best Picture 15 Citrus fruit 16 “Ear” anagram 17 A pageant winner’s title 19 “Gidget” actress Sandra 20 “Put some meat on those bones!” 21 “Norma ___” (Sally Field film) 22 Wax drawing stick 24 Ceylon, today 27 ___ mater 28 Asner and Harris 29 Members of rhythm sections 33 Disorderly struggle 36 Small South American monkey 37 “Go no further!” 38 Words that will definitely get you a kiss 39 Ancient Athenian statesman 40 Dinghy tool 41 Taped-eyeglasses wearer 43 ___ and proper

4 Long-winded 4 46 Vulgarly dressed 48 Pompom waver’s cry 49 Alliance of countries 50 Suitable person? 55 Most happy-go-lucky 57 Ticket- window transaction 58 Legendary actress West 59 “___ the fields we go ...” 60 Address for Obama 64 Sibling of sis 65 Caravan’s stopover 66 “Don’t ___ words!” 67 Charged-up particle 68 Snail’s trail 69 Concluded DOWN 1 High points 2 Cloister denizen 3 “That’s the ___ heard” 4 One at a brayer meeting? 5 Blatant deception 6 Built for speed 7 That girl yonder 8 Little Jack Horner’s last words 9 Casual shoe 10 Entangles 11 First woman to sit as a member of Parliament 12 Classic Nabisco snack 13 Has-___ (former star)

18 “... on a dead ___ chest” 23 “Lucky Jim” author Kingsley 25 Peggy or Pinky 26 Skill or know-how 30 Electron’s home 31 Pond critter 32 Nimble 33 Type of bus 34 “East of ___” 35 “She Walks in Beauty” poet 36 Divided 39 Ghostly 42 Editorial strike-out 44 1941-45, for the United States 45 Fun-house cries 47 Interest of astronomers 48 Has second thoughts about 51 Like a competitor on “The Biggest Loser” 52 Make scholarly corrections to 53 Jousting weapon 54 Wined and dined 55 Mongolian desert 56 Prefix with “dynamic” 61 Trident-shaped Greek letter 62 Slam-dunk circle 63 Tumultuous noise

Caved In

By Nick Kryshak nkryshak@wisc.edu

First in Twenty

By Angel Lee alee23@wisc.edu

Washington and the Bear

By Derek Sandberg kalarooka@gmail.com

featuresscience

dailycardinal.com

Thursday, February 9, 2011

Engineering a floating concrete canoe By Matthew Kleist daily cardinal

Just off the coast of Sunset Beach in Cape May, N.J. lies an empty concrete shell. These are not the remains of a pier or other building lost to the seas, but of a ship that once traversed the Atlantic Ocean in a time of war. The final resting place of the S.S. Atlantis is both a curiosity and important part of U.S. history. In her life, she was a transport ship in the World War I Emergency Fleet. Now she intrigues tourists, often raising the question “how did a concrete ship manage to float?” Students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison spend their nights shut in at the Engineering Centers Building answering this question year after year. These students are members of the UW-Madison Concrete Canoe Team (UW-CCT) and are tasked each year with designing and building a canoe out of concrete. It is not enough that the students must create something convention tells us will not float; they also compete with other schools across the country in the American Society of Civil Engineers National Concrete

Canoe Competition, where teams are judged on an oral report, technical report, the race and the overall product. Starting at the beginning of the academic year, around 40 engineering students gathered to begin work on creating a canoe for this year’s competition. But how does the UW-CCT go about making concrete that floats? In the minds of these engineers, making concrete float is no more difficult than getting the most common boat material, steel, to float. “How do you get steel to not sink?” co-chair Reid Carlson asked. For steel or concrete, the overall concept is the same: it’s all about buoyancy. In order for the concrete to float, the weight of the concrete must be displaced by a force, buoyancy, created by the water. The concrete mixture, along with the design of the canoe, is the key to achieving this displacement. Building a canoe out of concrete is not as simple as pouring store-bought cement into a mold and letting it set though. The UW-CCT uses a mixture of cement, water, aggregate and an add-mixture that they develop

matthew kleist/the daily cardinal

to create the concrete. The aggregate is made of glass microfibers and the add-mixture can change the concrete depending on the focus of the mix. The mix the team developed this year is about two-thirds the density of water. To ensure that the concrete binds, it is placed by hand onto a fiberglass mesh reinforcement. Individual fibers are also mixed into the concrete, adding extra strength as the concrete hardens. This year’s UW-CCT team placed their concrete two weeks before fall finals started, allowing the concrete to set over winter break. Upon returning for the spring semester, work began on sanding and finishing the canoe in time for the regional competition. While the canoe is constructed, members are also preparing the oral and technical reports to be presented at the competition. In addition to the presentation, the team will participate in races at two different levels, regional and national. Each school that enters the competition fields a team of 10 paddlers, five male and five female. Not every paddler will compete, but these are the only members allowed to participate in the races. The UW-CCT competes in the Great Lakes Region with 17 other schools, many of which are located in Wisconsin, including UW-Milwaukee, Marquette and the Milwaukee School of Engineering. The team that takes first place at this regional competition advances to the national competition where they compete with the winner of the other 20 regions. The UW-CCT has enjoyed a lot of success in recent years at the regional and national level. At the 2011 regional competition, the team placed first in all four categories and finished in second

matthew kleist/the daily cardinal

Members of the UW-CCT apply the concrete mixture to the canoe by hand at their lab in the Engineering Centers Building. overall at the national level. Carlson compared the success of the UW-CCT to that of the Wisconsin men’s and women’s hockey teams. He notes that the UW-CCT has claimed five national titles, winning in consecutive years from 2002 to 2007. The hockey teams have six and four national titles, respectively. Aside from the success the UW-CCT has had at the competitions, co-chair Nicole Johnson emphasized the importance of participating in the event for the learning experience. “The whole point of this competition is for engineers to learn about new techniques and then build off of those,” Johnson said. Many engineers cite the competition as a major factor in

future opportunities. “I have my co-op lined up this summer because of [UW-CCT],” co-chair Robert Arts said. “I didn’t even talk to the people in the interview about anything they wanted to talk about. They got me started on canoe, and I just talked for a half an hour.” “It’s a good talking point,” Johnson added. The UW-CCT will compete at the regional competition April 19-21 at Bradley University in Peoria, Ill. If the team takes first place overall at the regional competition, they will advance to the national competition June 14-16 in Reno, Nev. For more information on the UW-CCT, visit http://canoe.slc. engr.wisc.edu/.

Sports

thursday February 9, 2012 DailyCardinal.com

Men’s Basketball

Badgers, Gophers set to renew rivalry Wisconsin will try to find a way to continue it’s success on the road this season against arch-rival Minnesota By Ted Porath The Daily Cardinal

The No. 21/22 Wisconsin men’s basketball team (7-4 Big Ten, 18-6 overall) looks to rebound off its streak-snapping loss to first place Ohio State Thursday night when it travels to The Barn in Minneapolis to play the border rival Golden Gophers (5-6, 17-7). Saturday’s loss to Ohio State snapped the Badgers’ six-game winning streak and took away Wisconsin’s chance at standing alone in first place in the Big Ten standings. Wisconsin missed a big opportunity, but it cannot afford to stew on the loss because this next stretch of games will likely be its toughest of the year. Four out the Badgers’ next five games will be on the road, including matchups with three teams

Road record put to the test

The Badgers will have to find a way to continue their success on the road in a hostile environment. Finding success at The Barn Minneapolis has not been a friendly place to Wisconsin recently, as the Badgers have not won at Williams Arena since 2008. In his career, UW head coach Bo Ryan owns a 5-3 record against the Gophers on the road.

that have already beaten the shooting numbers. Wisconsin Badgers this year. is shooting an impressive 40 “Everyone definitely counts percent from beyond the arc on now. We’ve got to go out and the road, but are shooting just play hard and leave everything 23 percent from 3-point range out there,” senior guard Jordan in Madison. Taylor said. “We definitely The Badgers will need to don’t want to squander any continue their good efforts opportunities like we on the road if they did on Saturday. It’s a hope to defeat a tough seven game playoff and Minnesota squad that we’ve got to get every is very much alive to one of them.” get a bid for the NCAA Meetings Might this stretch of tournament. between the Badgers and road games actually be The Gophers have Gophers, a blessing in disguise? been a competitive making it Despite the energy the team this year despite the most Wisconsin players get losing their leading played from the Grateful Red scorer, senior forward rivalry in UW history. at the Kohl Center, Trevor Mbakwe. While the Badgers have not this says a lot about the performed as well this depth of Minnesota’s Wisconsin’s year at home as they roster, it also says a lot record in the have in the past. about the character of all-time Wisconsin has their team. series. already lost four games “[Losing Mbakwe] at the Kohl Center this was a big loss for them year and have just a and they’ve responded 3-3 record there in Big Ten play. really well,” Taylor said. “That’s Contrast that with the Badgers’ what basketball is about, that’s Big Ten road record, which is an what athletics is about, that’s impressive 4-1. what life is all about, replacing “On the road, so far, we have people, opportunity.” had a good mentality and been While there is no axe at stake really focused,” sophomore in this game, it will be a very guard Josh Gasser said. “It’s important matchup for both tough to go on the road and win teams’ momentum and possigames, but we have been play- ble NCAA tournament seeding ing hard and aggressive. We just going forward. need to find a way to win.” This trip to Minnesota will This home-away disparity be especially significant for a can also be seen in the Badgers’ few Badgers that call the North

190

89-100

Mark Kauzlarich/cardinal file photo

Jordan Taylor and the Badgers hope to continue their winning ways on the road against Minnesota. Star state home. Four of the Badgers’ players, including three starters—Taylor, as well as junior forwards Jared Berggren and Mike Bruesewitz—are from Minnesota and have been friends with players on the Minnesota roster since middle school. This brotherly love does not mean they will take it easy on each other though.

“I know those guys, I’ve got great respect for them,” the St. Paul, Minn. native Bruesewitz said. “But when Thursday night comes, you know, they’re not my friends anymore. We’ve got to take care of business.” Tip-off for the Border Battle from The Barn in Minnesapolis is scheduled for Thursday at 6 p.m.

Women’s Basketball

Hoping to snap losing streak, Wisconsin faces Penn State By Ryan Hill The Daily Cardinal

The Wisconsin women’s basketball team (4-7 Big Ten, 8-15 overall) hopes to end its two-game losing streak against No. 18/21 Penn State (8-3,18-5), which stands in fourth place in the Big Ten standings. Things did not go so well for the Badgers the last time these two teams squared off Jan. 2 in Madison. The Badgers shot quite poorly, making only 19-of58 (32.8 percent) of their field goals. On the other hand, the Lady Lions shot 52.3 percent (34-of-65). The Badgers shot an equally worse 11.1 percent (2-of18) from beyond the arc. This disparity in shooting percentage between the two teams resulted in an overwhelming 82-49 victory in Penn State’s favor. “We had a strategy and just didn’t execute it,” Wisconsin head coach Bobbie Kelsey said of the teams’ previous meeting. “We’ve looked at the tape and we’re going to put in another one [for Thursday] and see what we can do.” As teh Badgers head into Thursday’s game, another area of concern is the team’s rebounding effort that was on display in the last meeting against Penn State. The Badgers were outrebounded 45-28 and even

allowed Penn State’s junior forward Mia Nickson to haul down eight offensive boards. This potential problem is magnified even more since the Badgers’ senior forward Anya Covington is still uncertain about whether or not she can play Thursday, according to Kelsey. Covington’s absence appears to have hurt the Badgers in the last two games, which both resulted in losses. They were outrebounded in both games despite outrebounding their opponents in seven of the eight previous games. However, the absence of Covington’s 6-foot-2 inch post presence is also felt elsewhere.

“Everybody has to step up and contribute differently.”

Morgan Paige sophomore guard Wisconsin women’s basketball

The Badgers had only one free throw attempt Monday against Ohio State, which has seemed to make the Badgers rely on the 3-point shot even more. In its last two games, Wisconsin has

attempted 55 3-pointers. “Obviously on the block she gives us a lot,” sophomore guard Morgan Paige said of Covington. “It’ll be great to get her back but just everybody has to step up and contribute differently.” The Badgers will have to play stellar defensive on the perimeter, as the top three scorers on the Penn State roster are all guards. Sophomore Maggie Lucas (19.6 points per game), junior Alex Bentley (14.5) and senior Zhaque Gray (9.9) lead the team, although, of the three, only Lucas was in double digits, with 18 points, in the last meeting. Kelsey acknowledged the team’s defensive play would make adjustments for Thursday’s matchup. “The ball screens on the defensive end might be tweaked a little bit but probably going into today we’ll get a better feel for it and the intensity on defense,” Kelsey said. “In the [previous matchup] we were kind of all over the place.” After showing some signs of inconsistency over the last couple of games, Kelsey says the team simply has to get back to its competitive ways and stay consistent on both ends of the floor.

Mark Kauzlarich/cardinal file photo

Sophomore guard Morgan Paige and the rest of the Badgers will have to step up to offset the absence of Anya Covington. “We [do well] in one area and then have 22 turnovers, so you know we just have to be more consistent and put it all together,” she said. “We just have to keep drilling

it and working on it, but a lot of it is commitment and competitiveness.” Tip off for Thursday’s game at the Bryce Jordan Center in State College, Pa. is scheduled for 6 p.m.