This week in fake news... Daniel Day-Lewis preps for the role of a lifetime: himself.
March Arts Calendar The Daily Cardinal keeps you clued in to all things arts this month in Madison.
+PAGE TWO University of Wisconsin-Madison
+ARTS, pages 4 & 5 Complete campus coverage since 1892
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Weekend, March 1-3, 2013
Cuts, debt, deficit: the ins and outs of the sequester By Jack Casey The Daily Cardinal
wil gibb/the daily cardinal
The Madison Fire Department responded to a fire Tuesday at a lab in the Medical Sciences building on the UW-Madison campus. No one was injured.
Medical Sciences lab catches fire By Gloria Young The Daily Cardinal
University, state and federal officials are investigating the cause of a Thursday fire on the fourth floor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical Sciences building. The Madison Fire Department reported no injuries after responding to a three-alarm fire at 1300 University Ave. around 8 a.m. The fire began in one of the building’s labs, but no bio-hazardous or flammable material was in the area. Investigators sealed off the portion of the building where the fire started, said MFD spokesperson Lori Wirth. State and federal investigators are working with the UW Police Department and MFD to determine the cause of the fire.
Wirth said the university will have to calculate potential damages, including research and specialized equipment as well as infrastructural damages. According to a UWPD press release, water, smoke and soot damaged parts of the building outside of the small portion of the building’s fourth floor where the fire was. The number of other buildings surrounding the Medical Sciences building as well as its massive size made finding the source of the fire difficult for the firefighters, according to Wirth. “The fire alarm system is older and it doesn’t really function the way the newer ones would,” Wirth said. “We had to send multiple crews in and try to [find the fire]
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The country has been abuzz in recent weeks with talk of the impending sequester set to take effect Friday, but not everyone knows exactly what the sequester does or how it might affect them, or if it even will at all. This article describes the causes and potential effects of the sequester: In simple terms, the sequester is a plan that will spread approximately $85 billion in spending cuts over a wide array of federally funded programs and initiatives. The affected areas, which include defense, education and agricultural subsidies among others, are currently supported with federal discretionary spending, which
means spending is not guaranteed and generally changes with each new federal budget. Many people ask why the sequester is even necessary or why it exists. The answer, according to University of Wisconsin-Madison political science professor David Canon, is the sequester was created during debt-reduction talks in 2011, during which federal officials decided they had to implement a plan to control the rising federal debt. The sequester plan was intentionally designed to be such a bad policy that a federal committee tasked with creating debt-reduction initiatives would be forced to think of better ones. However,
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UW could see decline in research funds The National Science Foundation, an independent federal agency promoting scientific research at universities like the University of Wisconsin-Madison, could be forced to reduce the number of new research grants provided this year as a result of sequestration, according to a recent press release. According to the Feb. 27 release, the organization will undergo a 5 percent reduction in funding if the across-the-board government cuts known as the “sequester” set in Friday.
UW-Madison received more than $104 million in research funding from the agency in 2011-’12, according to the university’s data digest. NSF Director Subra Suresh said in the release the foundation plans to maintain current funding commitments. However, Suresh said the organization is predicting a decline in the number of new research grants this year by 1,000, should the sequester go into effect. CHeyenne langkamp
SSFC hears Wisconsin Union budget proposal By Megan Stoebig The Daily Cardinal
The Student Services Finance Committee heard the budget for the Wisconsin Union Thursday, which includes an increase in student segregated fee contribution for maintenance and building upkeep. The Union proposed a budget of $45,243,000 for the 2013-’14 fiscal year, requesting a 2.2 percent increase from last
year, in addition to a $5 fee per student, to address ongoing maintenance and repairs, according to SSFC Chair Ellie Bruecker. If approved, each student would contribute $7.80 to funding the organization through segregated fees. The Wisconsin Union budget is considered non-allocable funding that is part of non-academic university departments.
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Design committee begins planning for 2014 Library Mall renovations By Sarah Olson The Daily Cardinal
The State Street Design Project Committee will work with two Madison engineering firms as it moves forward with plans to revitalize the Library Mall area. The project is part of a larger plan to update State Street that has been underway since 2003, and the Library Mall area is one of the last segments to be renovated. City officials will work with Madison engineering firms MSA Professional Services, which has done other State Street Projects, and SmithGroupJJR, which worked with the University of
Wisconsin-Madison to design East Campus Mall. The committee opted to work with local firms with whom they have worked in the past due to time constraints. Chris Petykowski, a principal engineer for the city, said the city wants to sign a contract with MSA in the third week of March. He projected they will bid on a construction plan in January 2014 and construction will begin in middle to late March 2014. Although project planning is in its early stages, Petykowski said they plan to replace the storm and sanitary water sys-
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yihan Liao/the daily cardinal
Wisconsin Union Director Mark Guthier presents the 2013-’14 budget proposal, which calls for more money to come from student fees.
“…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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FridaY:
Saturday:
sunday:
hi 28º / lo 14º
hi 23º / lo 9º
hi 30º / lo 14º
partly sunny
partly punny
partly funny
Weekend, March 1-3, 2013
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An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 122, Issue 95
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News and Editorial
edit@dailycardinal.com Editor in Chief Scott Girard
Roommates look at each other for first time since last semester, sparks unwelcome small talk
Managing Editor Alex DiTullio
News Team News Manager Taylor Harvey Campus Editor Sam Cusick College Editor Cheyenne Langkamp City Editor Melissa Howison State Editor Jack Casey Enterprise Editor Samy Moskol Associate News Editor Meghan Chua Features Editor Ben Siegel Opinion Editors David Ruiz • Nikki Stout Editorial Board Chair Matt Beaty Arts Editors Cameron Graff • Andy Holsteen Sports Editors Vince Huth • Matt Masterson Page Two Editors Rachel Schulze • Alex Tucker Life & Style Editor Rebecca Alt Photo Editors Grey Satterfield • Abigail Waldo Graphics Editors Angel Lee • Dylan Moriarty Multimedia Editors Dani Golub Science Editor Matthew Kleist Diversity Editor Aarushi Agni Copy Chiefs Brett Bachman • Molly Hayman Matthew Kleist • Rachel Wanat Copy Editors Katy Hertel • Kayla Schmidt Jake Smasal • Lexi Stutzman
Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Jacob Sattler Office Manager Emily Rosenbaum Advertising Managers Erin Aubrey • Dan Shanahan Senior Account Executives Philip Aciman • Jade Likely Account Executives Jordan Laeyendecker Elissa Hersh • Madi Fair Tessa Coan • Lyndsay Bloomfield Zachary Hanlon • Paulina Kovalo Hannah Klein • Danny Mahlum Eric O’Neil • Will Huberty Ali Syverson • Catherine Rashid Alyssa Boczkicwicz Web Director Eric Harris Public Relations Manager Alexis Vargas Marketing Manager Caitlin Furin Events Manager Andrew Straus Creative Director Claire Silverstein Copywriters Dustin Bui • Bob Sixsmith 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.
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Matt Beaty • Alex DiTullio Anna Duffin • Nick Fritz • Scott Girard David Ruiz • Nikki Stout
Board of Directors Jenny Sereno, President Scott Girard • Alex DiTullio Emily Rosenbaum • John Surdyk Erin Aubrey • Dan Shanahan Jacob Sattler • Melissa Anderson Stephen DiTullio • Herman Baumann 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.
By I.P. Freely FAKE NEWS FRIDAY
graphic by dylan moriarty
Daniel Day-Lewis hugs his three Academy Awards for Actor in a Leading role to prepare for his next film, “Method Man,” in which Day-Lewis plays three-time Academy Award winner Daniel Day-Lewis.
Day-Lewis already prepares to play self By Kane Kaiman fake news friday
Critically acclaimed method-actor Daniel Day-Lewis is already preparing for his next role, himself, in the upcoming film “Method Man.” Day-Lewis, famous for delving into his roles by taking on the physical and mental characteristics of his subjects for months on end, began preparing for “Method Man” immediately after the Civil War era biopic “Lincoln” finished filming. “It’s like he was Abraham Lincoln one moment, and this Day-Lewis actor guy the next,” observed Steven Spielberg, director of Lincoln. “He kept telling me to call him Daniel now, instead of Abe. I thought to myself, does this guy ever stop working? Does he ever take a break?”
Since “Lincoln’s” completion, the actor has not broken character on a single occasion, not even during his Oscar acceptance speech. “That’s dedication. To go in front of 3,000 of your peers to accept your record-breaking third Academy Award and be so committed that you don’t even allow yourself to let go of your craft and enjoy the moment for even a second,” commented Ben Affleck. “The guy deserves a fourth Oscar for that.” The eccentric film star does not break character at home, either. Rebecca Miller, Day-Lewis’ spouse, said in an interview, “I’m used to having strangers walking around my house. I shared a bed with Abraham Lincoln for six months; I think I can handle another one of Daniel’s projects.”
According to Day-Lewis, this particular project could prove to be incredibly challenging. “Playing arguably the most talented actor of all time is a daunting task, even for a seasoned performer like myself. I’ve just got to get into this man’s head. ...I need to become Mr. Day-Lewis.” It may be a difficult role, but the talented thespian has never backed down before, and it appears he is fully committing yet again. Day-Lewis has been seen walking around Hollywood in classic Day-Lewis fashion, with hoop earrings and slicked back hair. He is even sporting an English accent. Day-Lewis is optimistic about his part in “Method Man.” He recently told reporters, “I feel like I’ve been preparing for this role my entire life.”
Harry Potter fans enter sixth year without a new book, cry By Daniel Harrigan FAKE NEWS FRIDAY
With the silence from renowned author J.K. Rowling in regard to writing an eighth installment in her hugely popular “Harry Potter” series now reaching a record 2,191 days, fans of the series (known affectionately as “Muggles”) are reportedly “reaching their breaking points,” according to book publisher Scholastic. “The movies and the ‘Deathly Hallows’ epilogue only satisfy you for so long,” said UW-Madison student Sarah “Luna” Lovegood. “I just want a solid ‘Harry
Potter’ book to read and enjoy. Is that too much to ask?” Reports later surfaced that Lovegood was seen on University Avenue brandishing a fallen tree branch while screeching “Accio Harry Potter 8! Accio Harry Potter 8!” at passing cars. “I don’t have an addiction to the actual books or anything,” defended fellow student Albus Jones, who legally changed his name when “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” hit store shelves five years ago. “It’s just that ‘Quidditch Through the Ages’ and ‘The Tales of Beetle the
Bard’ are nowhere near as good as the originals. I’ll bet you a Butterbeer that any true fan of the series would tell you the same thing.” Despite the launches of a “Harry Potter” theme park in Orlando and the web-based experience Pottermore, muggles are still yearning for another entry into Rowling’s legendary series. “I miss the books too,” admitted an anonymous UW-Madison professor who secretly calls himself “Snape, the Potions Master.” “At this point, I would be happy if book eight ended up being Ron Weasley’s diary.”
Having only previously exchanged words to establish a workable bathroom schedule, roommates Elise Riven and Diana Skarner were surprised and a little offended to find themselves talking in their room Thursday night—to each other. “She had just finished passive-aggressively Skyping her long-distance boyfriend like she does every Thursday night. When I happened to walk in. I knew I had made a mistake the second I saw the light on and didn’t hear disappointed scolding, but it was too late to stop. All of the sudden we were making eye contact. And I couldn’t just stand there. So I said ‘Hi,’” comments Riven. Before they knew it, Riven and Skarner had begrudgingly launched into an overlong, question-and-answer, back-and-forth, feelingsharing banter session—or as some people colloquially refer to it—a conversation. “How was your winter break?” inevitably led to remarks such as, “Thanks for taking out the trash the other day,” and, “Yeah, it was getting kind of smelly,” which gave rise to a slew of thoughtful questions. Highlights included, “Do you want to take out the trash today or should I?” and, “Would you like some of this leftover chili I made? It’s two days old but I think it’s still good.” The whole ordeal left both girls visibly shaken. “I don’t know what I could’ve done differently,” said an exasperated Skarner. “I haven’t struggled to sustain a conversation like that since I first learned how to form sentences at age three,” added Riven.
get dirty Send questions to the Cardinal’s sex columnist: sex@dailycardinal.com
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Weekend, March 1-3, 2013 3
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Assembly passes bills to increase state employment
jane thompson/the daily cardinal
City officials began planning further renovations to Library Mall, including updating storm and sanitary water pipes, which could bring more construction to the area in 2014.
construction from page tem under the mall, as some of the pipes have not been updated since 1882. Throughout the planning process, the committee wants to make flexibility a priority so that the Library Mall can be used for a wider variety of activities in the future, according to Bill Fruhling, Principal Planner for the city. “This is such an opportunity,” Fruhling said. “This needs to be a great space within the community.” Petykowski said the city
should consider the variety of stakeholders in the project including students, food-cart vendors, bicyclists, and people who live and worship in the area. The project may require the city to coordinate with a potential construction project at St. Paul’s University Catholic Center, Petykowski added. Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, said he has collected feedback from members of St. Paul’s Catholic Church and people who live in Pres House, and he hopes to hold meetings in both locations to further discuss the issue. Resnick said he is excited to
see what will come of an area so many students utilize.
“This is such an opportunity. This needs to be a great space within the community” Bill Fruhling Principal Planner
“We’re essentially working with a blank slate so we could see any vision come out here,” he said.
Drunk man crashes stolen car into Capitol Square statue A Madison resident faces a felony charge after he drunkenly stole and crashed a vehicle into a public art sculpture on the Capitol Square Thursday, according to a police statement. Michael Rivera, 20, was kicked off a Madison Metro bus around 12:15 a.m. after he
fell asleep intoxicated past the driver’s final route, according to the report. Rivera later entered an unattended Metro Pontiac Vibe and drove it around Capitol Square in the wrong direction, according to the statement. He lost control and crashed the vehicle into an
arch-shaped sculpture next to the Wisconsin Veterans Museum around 12:56 a.m. The report said the suspect had two cans of beer in his pockets, a blood alcohol level of .17 and no valid driver’s license. Although the car was heavily damaged, Rivera was uninjured, according to the report.
The Wisconsin state Assembly passed two bills with bipartisan support Thursday designed to increase employment in Wisconsin. The job bills, also known as the Marketing Manufacturing and Keeping Employees package, were authored by state Reps. Andy Jorgensen, D-Fort Atkinson, Jeff Stone, R-Greendale, and Scott Krug, R-Rome. One bill, AB37, would allocate funds to the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation to form a manufacturing trade show that aims to help businesses grow and develop. The second bill, AB38, would require the WEDC to work with small and midsize business manufacturers around the state to improve advertising plans. State Rep. Jim Steineke, R-Kaukauna, said in a statement Thursday the bills would create a partnership between state government and the private sector that could improve the economy by
closing the growing gap between available jobs and the state’s expanding untrained workforce. While the majority of Democrats and Republicans have supported the bill, others, such as state Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, have criticized it. Nass said in a statement the bill is more focused on creating the appearance of bipartisanship than actually increasing state employment. As an example, he said one program, which aims to provide services to manufacturers within the private and public sectors, already exists in the state as the Wisconsin Manufacturing Extension Partnership. Still, Jorgensen said the bill is important because it represents members of both parties, giving it the ability to put politics aside and focus on economic growth and job creation. The bills will now move to the state Senate for a vote. —Maya Miller
sequester from page 1
million more people unemployed nationwide, he said. The sequester will also hit closer to home by slashing between 5 and 8 percent of UW-Madison’s federal funding and leaving as many as 500,000 Wisconsinites out of work. But Canon said the sequester will likely be temporary. He said federal legislators will eventually be pressured into passing a better debt-reduction plan, despite their currently prohibitive political differences.
the committee, partly because of political disagreement, was unable to come up with a better plan. Thus, the country is faced with the sequester, which will take place today. As far as the sequester’s actual effect, it will not plunge the country into another recession like some people have worried, according Canon. It is, however, expected to slow the economy down and leave as many as 1.2
UW professor studies positive effects of video games University of WisconsinMadison professor Richard Davidson published an article Thursday aiming to persuade video game designers to team up with scientists to create video games that are beneficial to consumers, contrasting traditional views that video games do not stimulate your mind. Davidson primarily studies human well being and creating
strategies to improve overall happiness. He said he and University of Rochester professor Daphne Bavelier studied video games to discover ways video games can more positively effect people, by promoting mindfulness and prosocial behavior. “I think its important that [these games] be created because a lot of people are spending a lot
of time interacting with games,” Davidson said. Davidson is also currently working on a project with Games + Learning + Science, a UW-Madison group that researches video games, to develop and test video games targeted at middle-school children to improve mindfulness and cooperation.
ssfc from page 1
with an increase that wasn’t well explained,” Bruecker said. Much of the conversation at the meeting included the visible benefits that students would see from an increase in segregated fees.
“It seems like there’s a very big gap between the money students spend that’s going directly to students and to student activities and the amount that’s being levied against us,” Vines said. Bruecker said that while she understands the need for funding the upkeep of the unions, she is concerned students aren’t going to see any additional services. “I guess that’s what needs to be done but I just hope in the future we don’t see any more $7 per student increases,” Bruecker said. Union representatives responded by saying much of the budget goes toward maintenance and upkeep of their facilities that serve tens of thousands of students each day. SSFC will vote on the budget at its next meeting Thursday.
SSFC hears non-allocable budgets and recommends funding levels, but the budgets are ultimately under the discretion of the university chancellor. In its decision last year, SSFC voted to freeze the Union’s budget. However, University of Wisconsin-Madison Chancellor David Ward approved the Union’s budget. Associated Students of Madison leadership is currently in negotiations over the decision, which could lead to a lawsuit if a resolution is not reached. Bruecker said the Union failed to provide enough information to justify the requested increase in funding last year. “We weren’t comfortable
“We weren’t comfortable with an increase that wasn’t well explained.” Ellie Bruecker chair SSFC
SSFC Rep. David Vines voiced his concern that not enough of the funding through segregated fees directly served students.
aarushi agni/the daily cardinal
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Police Department and the Madison Fire Department are investigating the cause of the fire.
fire from page 1 by the process of elimination.” Additionally, Wirth said part of the building’s aged infrastructure failed. Rather than sprinklers helping the MFD to extinguish the fire, as the MFD originally thought, some of the building’s water lines broke and sprayed into the room where the fire was. “They just looked like sprinklers to the firefighters because there was water coming from the
ceiling,” Wirth said. One animal was evacuated from the building in a cage covered to protect it from the cold, according to Wirth. Only gross anatomy and undergraduate physiology class sections will be affected by building closures which resulted from the fire, according to University Communications spokesperson John Lucas. The remainder of the building is open for UW-Madison students.
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Weekend, March 1-3, 2013
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DJ Boyfrrriend @ The Dragonfly Lounge 10 p.m.
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Blessed Feathers @ The Frequency 9 p.m.
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The Bad Plus @ The Sett 8 p.m.
4 DJ Zukas @ Natt Spil 10 p.m.
Murs & Prof @ The Majestic 8:30 p.m.
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Amy Schumer @ The Barrymore 7 p.m.
Kellen & Me @ High Noon Saloon 8 p.m.
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Winter Festival of Poetry @ The Fountain 2 p.m.
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Animal Collective @ The Orpheum 7:30 p.m.
The View @ The Frequency 8:30 p.m. Poetic Essence @ Overture CenterCapitol Stage 7:30 p.m.
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The Majestic 8 p.m.
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Ghost of James @ The Frequency 9 p.m.
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Golden State, Gallo @ The Frequency 8:30 p.m. Louka Patenaude @ The Fountain 8 p.m.
Mary Poppins @ The Overture 7:30 p.m.
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Major Lazer @ The Majestic 9 p.m.
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Girls Rock Camp Fundraiser @ The Frequency 8:30 p.m. Are We Delicious? @ Ensemble Theatre 7:30 p.m.
7 Flosstradamus @
The Majestic 9 p.m.
Caspian w/ Native @ High Noon Saloon 8 p.m.
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Crowder @ The Majestic 7:30 p.m.
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DJ Tolerance @ Natt Spil 10 p.m. Madison Comedy Collective Open Mic @ Comedy Club on State 8:30 p.m.
Ducktails @ Der Rathskeller 9 p.m. Sky Ferreira & How to Dress Well @ The Frequency 8 p.m.
Graphic By Dylan Moriarty
MC Geologic w/ Bambu @ The Sett 9:30 p.m. Great Midwestern Bluegrass Bash, Night One @ The Majestic 8 p.m.
Space Voyage: The Musical Frontier @ The Bartell Theatre 7 p.m. (through Mar. 16)
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Starfucker @ The Majestic 9 p.m.
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Gerri DiMaggio Trio @ The Fountain 6:30 p.m. DJ Vinyl Richie @ Opus Lounge 9 p.m.
The Expendables @ The Majestic 9:30p.m. Composers’ Jazz Quartet @ Der Rathskeller 5 p.m.
Sparetime Bluegrass Band @ The Frequency 6 p.m.
Jumptown Swing Dance @ Brink Lounge 9 p.m.
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The Writers Cafe @ MATC Downtown 7 p.m.
Minnesota @ Majestic 9 p.m.
Electric Children @ The Frequency 8:30 p.m.
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Royal Thunder @ The Frequency 9 p.m. Lindsey Stirling @ The Barrymore Theatre 7:30 p.m.
Acoustic Alloy @ Brink Lounge 6 p.m.
Oak Street Ramblers @ Malt House 7:30 p.m.
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Academy Evenings @ Madison Museum of Contemporary Art 7 p.m.
Chris Williams & Planet Earth @ The Frequency 9 p.m.
Tracy Morgan @ The Barrymore 7 p.m.
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Madison Socrates Cafe @ Redamte Coffee House 7:30p.m.
5 Robert Earl Keen @
The English Beat @ The Majestic 9 p.m. Electric Six @ High Noon Saloon 9:30 p.m.
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Grupo Balanca @ The Cardinal Bar 5 p.m. Story Slam @ Johnson Public House 7 p.m.
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Ra Ra Riot @ Memorial Union 9 p.m. Anna Vogelzang @ The Dragonfly Lounge 9 p.m.
9 Great Midwestern
Bluegrass Bash Night 2 @ The Majestic 8 p.m. Dracula @ The Overture 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.
of the 16 Lords Trident @ Regent Street Retreat 9 p.m.
Urban Spoken Word @ Genna’s Lounge 7 p.m.
23 The Intergalactic
Nemesis @ Overture CenterCapitol Theatre 7:30 p.m.
30 Bobby Long @ The Frequency 8:30 p.m.
Nuggernaut @ The Alchemy Cafe 10 p.m.
opinion Constant campaigning crushes credibility 6
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Weekend, March 1-3, 2013
mitch taylor opinion columnist
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few weeks ago I wrote about the Wisconsin mining legislation currently making its way through our state legislature. In the article, I mentioned conflicting information regarding the mine’s environmental impact. Well, the confusion gods are at it again. In the past week, two contradicting polls were released, one showing that 62 percent of Wisconsinites support the mining bill and the other showing that 62 percent oppose it. This is something happening all the time in the world of politics, and
I mean all the time. As someone trying to stay informed on current issues, this is a bit disorienting. As someone trying to accurately and objectively report on these issues, it’s rather frustrating. As someone with a low tolerance for idiocy, it’s downright infuriating. Americans always talk about how tired we are with the dishonesty of those in politics, but we fail to realize the role we play in it. The truth is the people are just as responsible for the sea of nonsense standing between us and actually getting it together and moving forward as a country. Information and media are subject to the free market. The more attention people pay to it, the more money goes to the people producing it. If people are making money, they will keep doing what
they’re doing. That’s called operant conditioning. It’s how we teach dogs where and when to go to the bathroom and it pretty much explains how capitalism works. In the case of these polls, obviously at least one of them is inaccurate. My guess is they both are. People like to hear things that back up their views, so polls with higher disparities receive more attention. Basically, dishonesty sells. The same is true with politicians. Everyone knows you will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy than Washington D.C. A great deal of the people there, however, were either democratically elected or appointed by someone who was. Again, that’s on us, and it’s because dishonesty sells. Politicians don’t make concessions when they campaign. They tell us
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what they want us to think. With this precedent in place, a politician who presents their plans objectively and includes pros and cons would appear to have a weak position. We’re stuck in a system where we are left to either guess what lawmakers are hiding or hear it from their opponents. There is a very simple reason for this. Whether motivated by money, power, scoring chicks or actually bettering the country, politicians just want to be elected. And we elect them. Because of this, we have a political discourse filled with information we can’t trust. Even worse, all the untruth stacks on top of itself until we have to do a great deal of digging to find the truth. To reverse this, we need to demand honesty. It won’t be pretty, though. In an election, an honest campaigner
who genuinely presents the drawbacks to their plans would appear much less equipped for the office than one who only touts the virtues of their position. Being presented with accurate information, however, would allow voters to make informed decisions. There is a disconnect here between what is best for the country and what is best for politicians. Ideally, those whose job it is to serve the nation would put its interests above their own. Is this going to happen? No. As I said before, it’s the job of politicians to get elected and no one can expect politicians to care more about the country than themselves. It’s important though that we recognize the role we play in perpetuating the dishonesty in the political world. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
‘Argo’ inaccurately downplays American interventionism Jon Vruwink opinion columnist
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en Affleck’s “Argo” took home the prize for Best Picture at the Oscars on Sunday night. While I am pleased “Zero Dark Thirty,” Kathryn Bigelow’s film falsely portraying torture as central to uncovering Osama bin Laden’s hideout, went home virtually empty-handed, Affleck’s film likewise comes packed with ideological baggage. Namely, “Argo” peddles in the same old Orientalist tropes long prevalent in Hollywood: bearded, wild-eyed, raging Iranians incomprehensibly attempting to inflict harm on benevolent, good-hearted Americans. Such a Manichean portrayal does no service at a time when understanding, not demonization, is required to avoid future fiascoes in the Middle East. The movie opens with a token three-minute narration of the context of the hostage crisis, highlighting the 1953 CIA coup deposing the democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh in response to the nationalization
of the country’s oil reserves and the Shah’s subsequent oppressive rule. However, from this point onward, the movie presents solely the American point of view, making the Iranian protesters that overrun the American Embassy seem like maniacal mobs with no possible rationale for their actions. This failure to provide a two-sided perspective reflects Affleck’s narrow view of history, as he insisted in interviews that, “There was no rhyme or reason to this action,” and that the hostage situation “wasn’t about us.” To the contrary, the hostage crisis took place for two interconnected reasons. First of all, the U.S. gave asylum to the Shah after he fled Iran, rather than letting him face trial for the crimes committed under his despotic rule. A 1976 report from Amnesty International detailed how, under the Shah, Iran had the “highest rate of death penalties in the world, no valid system of civilian courts, and a history of torture which is beyond belief.” With anywhere between 25,000 and 100,000 political prisoners in custody at any time, the organization stated unequivocally that, “No country in the world has a worse
record on human rights than Iran.” All the while, the U.S. lavishly supplied the Shah with high-tech weaponry despite these blatant human rights violations, selling $20 billion worth from 1970 to 1978, making Iran the top developing world recipient of U.S. weapons. The CIA lent its own form of support, training the SAVAK, the Shah’s secret police, in Nazi torture techniques from World War II. Thus, any trial of the Shah would have also implicated the U.S. in the oppressive tactics undertaken during his reign. Naturally, they offered him asylum instead. The Shah’s arrival in North America also led to the second main reason for the onset of the hostage crisis: the fear that the U.S. would plot to reinstall the Shah as head of Iran. Since the United States overthrew the last democratically elected prime minister in Iran in 1953 and gave massive aid to the Shah during his rule, we can hardly call the Iranians of the time irrational for suspecting that covert U.S. machinations had begun. After decades of living in a nightmare, the people of Iran wanted desperately to prevent his
return, as would anyone under the same circumstances. Unfortunately, 52 hostages were taken at the American Embassy in response, holding them for 444 days. President Jimmy Carter forcefully denounced the move, calling it a violation of the “moral and legal standards of the civilized world.” Of course, the hostage seizure did violate international law, but such moral grandstanding on the part of the U.S. rings hollow when the government had for decades supported a dictator in Iran who brutalized, tortured and extrajudicially executed those who dared to oppose his rule. Affleck adopts President Carter’s viewpoint in failing to provide any of this context, instead relying on the woefully insufficient three-minute clip opening the movie. This lack of empathy for, or interest in, the Iranian perspective permeates many of his decisions in the film. In one harrowing scene, the undercover Americans get accosted by irate Iranian civilians in the Grand Bazaar while undertaking research for their fake movie, an incident that never actually happened. Additionally, Affleck does
not bother to provide subtitles for the Farsi spoken by any Iranians, with the exception of the maid serving at the home of the Canadian ambassador, the lone Iranian given a sympathetic portrayal. Before the undercover Americans can board their plane, they demonstrate their savvy in fooling Revolutionary Guard members regarding the existence of their fake movie. From these scenes, Affleck paints a deeply flawed portrait of Iranians: inscrutable, irrationally angry, easily duped and not worth listening to or understanding. I understand the need to make certain alterations for the sake of adding suspense to a movie, and I, like most others, found the movie highly entertaining. However, the trade-off comes when a movie perpetuates harmful stereotypes and context-free generalizations, especially at such a politically charged time between the U.S. and Iran. A movie dealing with such a momentous historical event has the responsibility not just to entertain, but to inform, empathize and humanize. “Argo” fails on all of these counts. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
Letter: Stalking’s presentation in the media glosses over its dangers Maggie DeGroot PAVE communications coordinator
In today’s world, stalking has become a subject that many joke about. This often happens when there is a problem that we as a society don’t really understand. Mix that in with the puzzling messages the media sends, and one can see how the crime of stalking is often misunderstood. Under Wisconsin state law, stalking is committed when one intentionally engages in a course of conduct directed at a specific person that causes emotional distress, fear of bodily injury or death. Examples of stalking behaviors include unwanted phone calls, text messages, threats, sending gifts and even physical abuse or murder. Unfortunately, stalking is still not widely recognized as a dangerous crime. Although there are many different factors, the media often contributes to this concern by trivializing stalking. The media tends to por-
tray stalking as romantic or comedic rather than traumatizing and potentially lethal. Advertisements, songs, movies and television shows teach that if you stalk someone long enough it proves your love, and eventually they will fall in love with you too. Additionally, the media send out so many messages that stalking is a way to express love, that we don’t often see the harmful behavior to begin with. Take for example the popular book series, soon to be turned into a movie franchise, “Fifty Shades of Grey.” “Fifty Shades of Grey” features the relationship between Christian Grey and Anastasia “Ana” Steele. Christian’s actions throughout the first book in the series exemplify intimate partner stalking. As previously stated, some examples of stalking are repeated and unwanted phone calls or text messages. In “Fifty Shades of Grey,” Christian tracks Ana down and gives her gifts such as a laptop and
cellphone. Throughout the novel, Ana struggles with her feelings and even though she ultimately accepts Christian’s behavior, this does not make his behavior acceptable. According to the Stalking Resource Center, 3.4 million people over the age of 18 are stalked in the United States each year, with people age 18-24 experiencing stalking at the highest rates. While there is little data specific to Madison, it can be inferred that not only is stalking happening on this campus, but that it is a big problem that demands our attention. Additionally, because of how stalking is portrayed in the media, people often write stalking off as a crime perpetrated by a creepy stranger, one that peers into women’s windows in the middle of the night. While this form of stalking does happen and should be addressed, it is by no means the norm, especially on a college campus. Perpetuation of this stereotype makes it difficult
for people to truly understand the issue and how to help a victim when one comes forth. The media’s lighthearted portrayal of stalking also implies that the crime is not as dangerous or prevalent as it is and thus stalking has become normalized and accepted behavior on college campuses. When the media creates images or situations that make light of stalking, we as a society become desensitized to the horror that stalking victims live with every day. There are ways pop culture can depict stalking so the message is not disrespectful and creates a conversation about the dangers of stalking. Stalking and other forms of violence can and should be discussed in pop culture, but it should be in a manner that is both
healthy and productive. Even though most of us aren’t executives in the entertainment industry, there are still ways to help. PAVE challenges you to counteract these negative messages and speak out on behalf of survivors in our communities, especially starting right here on campus. If you believe you are being stalked, you can contact the UW Police Department at 608-264COPS or the Domestic Abuse Intervention Service’s crisis line at 608-251-4445. PAVE is a student organization dedicated to preventing sexual assault, dating/domestic violence and stalking on the UW-Madison campus through education and activism. For more information or to find out how to get involved, email communications.pave@gmail.com.
Looking for more on race and white privilege? Check out www.dailycardinal.com, where we’ll be posting letters in response to this week’s columns.
comics dailycardinal.com
Today’s Sudoku
Magical... The Dracorex Hogwartsia, or “Dragon King of Hogwarts”, is a genus of dinosaur. Weekend, March 1-3, 2013 • 7
Not eating that last donut
Eatin’ Cake
By Dylan Moriarty www.EatinCake.com
© Puzzles by Pappocom
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.
First In Twenty By Angel Lee alee23@wisc.edu
Today’s Crossword Puzzle
Caved In
Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com
YOU WANT THE MOON, MARY? ACROSS 1 Food in a shell 4 Gathers in 9 Jumped a gap, say 14 “Conjunction Junction” conjunction 15 Large grouping 16 Small stringed instrument 17 Risk a ticket 20 Citrus fruit similar to a grapefruit 21 Social service 22 All in the family 26 “Make yourself comfortable” 27 Young newt 30 Palindromic “before” 31 Prolific Roman love poet 33 Wet behind the ears 35 Tarzan’s moniker 37 A little of this, a little of that 38 Common car feature 42 Subject for a bestseller 43 Hide 44 Slow-cooked French dish 47 Ed who played Mingo 48 School mtg. holder 51 Part of WYSIWYG 52 Frisbee catcher 54 High-pH substances
6 Stevedore’s job 5 59 Supplies with personnel 60 Certain business expense 65 Word with “limits” or 67-Across 66 Thin and nasal in tone 67 Place for a small hammer 68 Lords and ladies 69 A bank may have one 70 Wile E. Coyote purchase DOWN 1 Go on 2 Greedy eater 3 Bra’s location 4 With 36-Down, a Sally Field character 5 Stray from the straight and narrow 6 Art today? 7 International treaty 8 Comedian Wanda 9 Prayer book of Zoroastrianism 10 Go to one’s feet 11 “Who’s on first?” inquirer 12 Result when builders wing it 13 Word before and after “after” 18 By means of 19 Like a human flock
23 Certain African antelope 24 Nights spent in anticipation 25 Thin mint products 28 Fencing tool 29 Afternoon hour 32 Russian country house 34 British title 35 Workers in Detroit make a dash for it 36 See 4-Down 38 Italian signoff 39 Create and enforce rules 40 Present time? 41 Mammoth feature 42 Wipe the dishes 45 Cow features 46 Wearisome work 48 Mars or Saturn, e.g. 49 One end of a homemade walkietalkie 50 State firmly 53 Growl 55 “Helping doctors help patients” org. 57 State with authority 58 Shameless joy 60 CEO’s place 61 Regret 62 Bulgaria currency 63 Rhapsodic rhyme 64 Maryland oak
By Nick Kryshak nkryshak@wisc.edu
“Saint Bernard puppy!!! I just googled a picture, and there’s one of a puppy with leaves around its feet!!! I want one draw it! Or Bruno Mars! I’d bet you do a sick Bruno!!!” -Krispy G
Submit your own Draw Me Something requests to graphics@dailycardinal.com
Sports
weekend march 1-3, 2013 DailyCardinal.com
Women’s Hockey
Men’s Hockey
Wisconsin looks to rebound in Omaha By Brett Bachman the daily cardinal
shoaib altaf/cardinal file photo
Junior forward Madison Packer and the Wisconsin women’s hockey team begin their trek down the path to a WCHA title this weekend with a home series against St. Cloud State.
Badgers begin road to WCHA title vs. St. Cloud By Rex Sheild the daily cardinal
The race for the 2013 WCHA conference tournament crown is underway and second-seeded and No.6 ranked Wisconsin women’s hockey team (17-9-2 WCHA, 21-92 overall) will look to build upon their late-season momentum, as they host seventh-seeded St. Cloud State (5-21-2, 9-22-3) in the first round of the WCHA Playoff series—the first ever playoff series at the LaBahn Arena. Moreover, the players and coaches will have the luxury of not having to travel to the Eagle’s Nest in Verona like years past. “It’s kind of fun to kick it off [at LaBahn Arena]. I’ve never had a first time in a facility like this,” senior defenseman Saige Pacholok said. “Obviously, it’s going to be really exciting. I think the crowd will be good and being able to have a playoffs here rather than anywhere else in the Madison area I think is special... I think it will be a very special moment for our whole team, especially the seniors.” Wisconsin enter this weekend’s series as one of the hottest teams not only in the conference but in the country, as they concluded the
season with six-straight victories. During this stretch, the offense has averaged 35.7 shots on goal and 3.7 goals per game, led by senior forward Brianna Decker, as she registered a total of 12 points (eight goals, four assists). The defensive lines held their own as well, as junior goaltender Alex Rigsby registered a save percentage of .964. While those statistics are impressive in their own right, Wisconsin is putting their string of consecutive victories in the rearview mirror and treating this weekend’s series as the beginning of a second season—a win-or-go home scenario. “There are a lot of teams that we are going to face—St. Cloud State being one of them—[where] one of us loses and it’s the end of your season,” junior forward Madison Packer said. “It’s hard to end someone’s season. No one wants that— everyone wants to keep going so I think we have that in the back of our minds. It’s a different position we’ve been in the past but we know what it feels like.” In their four previous meetings, Wisconsin got the best of St. Cloud State, significantly outshooting them by a combined margin of 77 (170-to-93) and outscoring them by
a combined margin of 19 (23-tofour). However, with the Huskies playing the role of the underdog, head coach Mark Johnson pointed out it will be important for the Badgers to get off to a fast start. “The competition now goes up a notch and everyone wants to win hockey games,” Johnson said. “So the task at hand is challenging and difficult... I’m more concerned with us. If we play up to our capabilities and do the things we’re good at, that will give us a chance to create scoring opportunities. If you can do it early, that will be very helpful.” The Badgers currently sit tied for eight place with North Dakota (23-10-1) and Northeastern (2110-2) in the USCHO’s Pairwise Rankings, which attempts to mimic the method used by the NCAA Selection Committee to determine participants for the NCAA Tournament. Yet, Johnson stressed his team is focused on the task at hand this weekend. “I think everyone knows where we are and what we have to do,” Johnson said. “What’s most important is taking care of business this weekend because if you don’t, then [the NCAA Tournament] doesn’t matter.”
Following a tough 3-2 overtime loss Monday night, the Wisconsin men’s hockey team looks to regroup and make a run over its last two series of the season. The Badgers (10-7-7 WCHA, 14-11-7 overall) are essentially in a must-win situation, where four wins in its last four regular season games could possibly result in a playoff berth for the No. 16 ranked Badgers. “We have to win. We’ve got to get some W’s on the road,” head coach Mike Eaves said. “That’s our first task.” Up first is No. 13 NebraskaOmaha (14-8-2, 18-12-2) Friday, a team coming off a 3-2 loss, this one to the U.S. National Development Team. After allowing two thirdperiod goals and another in overtime against Penn State, the Badgers have their work cut out for them against the No. 2 offense in the country. Nebraska-Omaha’s offensive prowess this season is due in large part to junior forward Ryan Walters, the second ranked scorer in the nation. Junior forward Tyler Barnes, who had four points in last weekend’s series against Penn State, acknowledged the need to keep pace with the Mavericks high-caliber scoring threat. “[Offense] is something that our team’s been struggling with, but I think we match up good against offensive teams because we play so well together,”
Barnes said. Senior forward Derek Lee, one of Wisconsin’s primary producers and the team’s assists leader, is out for the weekend with a lowerbody injury. UW does see an advantage in heading to Omaha, where the rink at CenturyLink Center is smaller than that of the Kohl Center, and is closer to the size of the Badgers’ practice facility at the LaBahn Arena in Madison. This plays to Wisconsin’s strengths as a team, Eaves said. “I think on a smaller rink it kind of plays into our hands,” Eaves said. “We play a simpler game.” Following a turbulent couple of weeks, including an outdoor game in Chicago and a rare Sunday-Monday series, Barnes said it is tough to keep a level head, but the turnaround UW was able to complete after starting the season with a less than ideal record was good practice in holding an even keel. “You have to be able to forget the past, have a short memory,” Barnes said. “You could say that about our whole season, starting 1-7, going 13-3, now it’s just a shorter version of the same thing.” Although Monday’s loss certainly set the Badgers back in their postseason hunt, Barnes isn’t letting it get to him, nor is the team. “The only way to get to where we want to be is to continue winning, he said. “Even if we were in the No. 1 spot we would still be thinking about what we need to do to win every time.”
grey satterfield/cardinal file photo
Junior forward Tyler Barnes and the UW forwards will be key against Nebraska-Omaha, who has the nation’s No. 2 offense.
Men’s Basketball
Badgers hosting Purdue in final regular season game at Kohl Center By Vince Huth the daily cardinal
Five Badgers will suit up for their final game at the Kohl Center Sunday when Purdue (6-9 Big Ten, 13-15 overall) visits Wisconsin (11-4, 20-8) in the midst of UW’s push to capture a share of the regular season conference championship. Wisconsin’s five-man class— guards Dan Fahey and J.D. Wise and forwards Jared Berggren, Mike Bruesewitz and Ryan Evans—is the second largest in the Bo Ryan era, only smaller than the 2010-’11 UW team that fell to Butler in the Sweet 16. Going into Sunday’s matchup, Wisconsin’s 2013 seniors will have been a part of 49 Big
Ten wins and 95 overall (the Badgers also finished 10-8 in the conference and 20-13 overall during Berggren and Evans’ redshirt season). In contrast to the Badgers’ senior-laden squad, the Boilermakers have one of the more inexperienced teams in the conference. The Purdue roster boasts just five total upperclassmen, and six of its top eight minutes-earners are either freshmen or sophomores. The young Boilermakers have not found much success on the road this season. Its two Big Ten wins away from Mackey Arena came at Penn State and Nebraska, two of the conference’s bottom three teams.
Further, Purdue has yet to win a Big Ten game against an opponent with a better conference record than its own. It knocked off then-No. 11 Illinois in the teams’ league opener, and its win over Iowa came at a time when the Hawkeyes were a measly 2-5 in the Big Ten. With a crucial matchup looming against the Spartans in East Lansing, Mich., next week, Wisconsin’s matchup with the Boilermakers certainly has the makings of a trap game. Whether that’s the case, only the guys on the UW roster know, but it doesn’t appear they’re approaching it that way. “We’ve got Purdue next. They’re a young team, a team that
plays extremely hard,” Berggren said after the Badgers’ 77-46 win over Nebraska Tuesday. “They’re gonna give us a good challenge here. We just gotta take it one game at a time.” In addition to Purdue’s struggles against superior league competition and on the road, the unlikelihood of a trap game for Wisconsin is further manifested in UW’s dominance of late. The Badgers have won their last three games by an average of 27 points, with their smallest margin of victory coming in a 22-point drubbing over then-No. 13 Ohio State. They didn’t lead by fewer than 12 points in the second half in any of those games. Wisconsin will need a bit of
good fortune if it wants to finish atop the conference at season’s end. However, UW could certainly put itself in position to do so if it maintains its recent command. Berggren said in addition to the Badgers’ offensive firepower, they’re shoring things up on the defensive end, too. “We’re shooting better, which is a big part of why it looks so good—we’re just hitting shots right now,” Berggren said. “Defensively we’re getting things all on the same page here and we’re playing hard. “Hopefully we’ll close things out in the Big Ten and hope for the best as far as getting the help we need to be able to compete for a title.”