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Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Danielle Allen brings new ideas of political equality to campus By Kelsey O’Hara THE DAILY CARDINAL

GAGE MEYER/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Monona Mayor Bob Miller joins Madison Mayor Paul Soglin in sharing experiences on how to effectively lead a city and give back as a public servant.

Local mayors advise on city leadership By Julie Spitzer THE DAILY CARDINAL

Madison Mayor Paul Soglin and Monona Mayor Bob Miller used their experiences as city officials to give leadership advice at the Young Professionals Talks on Leadership Tuesday. The YP Talks, framed like TED Talks, are meant to be “thought-provoking” for YP members and community attendees as well, according to event organizers. The Urban League of Greater Madison Young Professionals sponsored the Tuesday event at The Brink Lounge. Soglin highlighted certain factors that led to his success, including the support he received from his parents. “A great deal of my drive in terms of wanting to be involved, and realizing that we can all be involved, in making a better community [and] a better world, comes from my parents,” Soglin said.

He further addressed the importance of having hobbies, mentioning having his own in biking and fantasy baseball, to balance the stresses of life as a city leader. Having someone to confide in is also important, according to Soglin. “Trust is critical. [It is important] to have someone … where you’re able to share the weight of work, what’s going right and what’s going wrong,” Soglin said. “Otherwise, when you return to work the next day, its going to be explosive.” Soglin emphasized awareness of one’s own intelligence, and using brainpower to better the community ahead of personal interests. He referred to the community as “aligned,” meaning every member had the same goal of making Madison a better city. “Even though you’re [told that you’re] not the brightest bulb, never doubt that you aren’t the brightest bulb,” Soglin said.

Miller also shared his thoughts about how he got to his position, stressing networking and communication. “I’m not a big reader of selfhelp books. We are who we are,” Miller said in his speech. “But the one take away that I live and die by ... [is that] you will never see eye-to-eye if you never meet face-to-face.” Communication in leadership, however, has two parts, Miller said, citing the importance of hearing others’ responses. “We only have one mouth but we have two ears … communication is also listening,” Miller said. Referencing his childhood, the Monona mayor emphasized the value of giving back to the community, which he believes he accomplishes through his mayorship, a position of city leadership. “You can [make a change] as a mayor … in a way unlike a regular citizen can,” Miller said.

Political theorist Danielle Allen shed a modern light on the Declaration of Independance Tuesday by analyzing the U.S. colonists’ foundation for political equality, in a lecture given at Memorial Union’s Shannon Hall. Allen, who won $500,000 as part of the prestigious MacArthur fellowship award in 2001, centered her Distinguished Lecture Series talk on her latest book, “Our Declaration,” connecting the founding fathers’ original arguments for the declaration to her perspectives on equality. “I myself [was] on somewhat of a journey to revitalize our commitments in this country to civic agency on the one hand and equality on the other,” Allen said, referring to the ability for citizens to work collaboratively in the political sphere. Allen recounted her experience with the Odyssey Project

through the University of Chicago, which aims to offer adults at or below the poverty level access to education in humanities. Most of her students had never read the declaration or thought deeply about the text. When her students took on that task, Allen said they recognized how the ideals could apply to them today. “The story of the declaration is that basic, fundamental story of civic agency that [the students] could claim it as their own,” Allen said. The political equality of civic agency, as described by Allen, is represented through the collective nature of the declaration. She broke down four different examples of the founders’ arguments about equality to further emphasize how the idea became a foundation for liberty and freedom. One of Allen’s examples

allen page 3

CONG GAO/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Danielle Allen discusses political equality and how the Declaration of Independence laid the foundation for it.

Bill would allow law enforcement to carry concealed weapons at schools By Andrew Bahl THE DAILY CARDINAL

State senators heard public testimony Tuesday on a bill that would allow off-duty and retired law enforcement to carry concealed firearms on school grounds.

+SPORTS, page 8

The 2011 concealed carry law prevents citizens from bringing a firearm near elementary, middle and high schools. The proposed bill would exempt off-duty and retired law enforcement personnel from this ban.

Bill co-author and Judiciary and Public Safety Committee Chair state Sen. Van Wanggaard, R-Racine, said the proposal would increase school safety in the event of an active threat and noted that he himself was armed during the hearing.

The NBA Playoffs Crowning a better champion than March Madness

“When you have a firearm for your career, you learn that carrying it is a positive,” said Wanggaard, a former Racine police officer. “This is a common sense change to state law with bipartisan support … We want to multiply the good guys

Meet Murfie:

with guns.” David Graves, a retired Walworth County Sheriff, said even off-duty or retired police officers still must uphold a responsibility to protect the public.

concealed page 3

The business reactivating a love of music

+SCIENCE, page 4

“…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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almanac 2

tODAY: a cloud

hi 45º / lo 26º

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 124, Issue 82

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

News and Editorial

Managing Editor Jonah Beleckis

News Team News Manager Adelina Yankova Campus Editor Bri Maas College Editor Ellie Herman City Editors Irene Burski and Dana Kampa State Editor Andrew Hahn Associate News Editor Laura Grulke Features Editor Gilly McBride Opinion Editors Max Lenz • Cullen Voss Editorial Board Chair Haley Henschel Arts Editors Allison Garcia • Conor Murphy Sports Editors Jack Baer • Jim Dayton Almanac Editors Dylan Anderson • Andy Holsteen Photo Editors Emily Buck • Thomas Yonash Associate Photo Editor Will Chizek Graphics Editor Cameron Graff Multimedia Editor Ian Zangs Science Editor Danielle Smith Life & Style Editor Claire Satterfield Special Pages Editor Haley Henschel Copy Chiefs Theda Berry • Kara Evenson Jessie Rodgers • Paige Villiard Copy Editors John Jourtas • Ellie Borstad Megan Grove Social Media Manager Madison Schiller

Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Brett Bachman Advertising Manager Corissa Pennow Marketing Director Victoria Fok

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 MondayThursday and distributed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and its surrounding community with a circulation of 10,000. Capital Newspapers, Inc. is the Cardinal’s printer. The Daily Cardinal is printed on recycled paper. The Cardinal is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The Daily Cardinal are the sole property of the Cardinal and may not be reproduced without written permission of the editor-in-chief. The Daily Cardinal accepts advertising representing a wide range of views. This acceptance does not imply agreement with the views expressed. The Cardinal reserves the right to reject advertisements judged offensive based on imagery, wording or both. Complaints: News and editorial complaints should be presented to the editor in chief. Business and advertising complaints should be presented to the business manager. Letters Policy: Letters must be word processed and must include contact information. No anonymous letters will be printed. All letters to the editor will be printed at the discretion of The Daily Cardinal. Letters may be sent to opinion@ dailycardinal.com.

Editorial Board

Sean Reichard quip pro quo

ith the Bible in my coat pocket, I ambled up College Court, looking for the address McDaniels gave me. I always got thrown off by the rows of houses in how similar they looked. I still felt uneasy about meeting some former students along the way; I was ripe for skewering that night, between the professor’s death and the myriad of oddities pertaining to this case. The block was loud already, reverberating like big grand timpani. It took a few tries, but I was able to find the house with relative ease. When I saw what was at the door, my heart sank. He wasn’t so big a guy so as to make an effective bouncer, but all the plaid on him—plaid shirt, plaid pants, plaid bowtie—told me one thing: I was on the threshold of a theme party, and there would be no getting in unless I had some plaid. Just my luck, I thought. I had let Schlep have my backup plaid handkerchief as remuneration. Walking in without it would be like walking in without a Luger to a gunfight. In that moment, I had to think fast. Luckily, the world thought fast for me. Coming up the block was the most plaid-laden son of a gun I had

“Ab-so-lutely” (-2, 11)

(3, 12)

(4, 9)

Macro

Stems

(-6, 6)

(7, 5)

Micro (-2, 2)

White Matter (1, 1)

Board of Directors

Hawk’s

Pee Pee

(4, -2)

(-5, -4)

Busch (8, -5)

Legos

(-2, -8)

Doorknob (-1, -12)

A March 24 article on Patrick Modiano identified his last name as Modiana in the headline. The Daily Cardinal regrets this error.

Hippocampus Cellular

For the record

ever seen in my entire life. Plaid shirt, plaid button up, plaid pants, plaid shoes, plaid scarf, plaid shuttershades, plaid top hat. He had even made a plaid cane using different kinds of neon color tape. He was waddling toward me like the world’s most ostentatious peacock. In moments of desperation, I have been known to dole out a mean impersonation of a real time shamus, like the ones on real police forces. So I strode toward him, making a motion like I was about to pull out a badge. “Hey buddy, what’s happening?” He froze. I motioned for him to stand against a nearby wall. He complied. “Wh–what’s a happeenin? Oofficer?” “Son … do you have a license for all that plaid?” “License for …” he fumbled in his wallet and eventually pulled out “his” driver’s license. It didn’t take much deducing to determine it was fake. Firstly, it was from Maryland. Secondly, the address was for a street in De Pere, which doesn’t exist in Maryland. Thirdly, it gave his name as Derek Ulysses. “Look son,” I said. “It don’t take a shamus to know what a fake Maryland license looks like—and I am a shamus who knows what a fake Maryland license looks like.” His eyes, behind the shutters, said he was already very drunk and becoming scared.

The graph of your linear mind

Jack Casey • Jonah Beleckis Haley Henschel • Cullen Voss Max Lenz • Michael Penn Kayla Schmidt • Conor Murphy Andy Holsteen

Herman Baumann, President Jack Casey • Jonah Beleckis Jennifer Sereno • Stephen DiTullio Brett Bachman • Janet Larson Don Miner • Phil Brinkman Jason Stein • Nancy Sandy Corissa Pennow • Victoria Fok Tina Zavoral

hi 40º / lo 18º

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Terry ‘T.A.’ Olivier: Private Eye: No. 8: License to plaid

edit@dailycardinal.com Editor-in-Chief Jack Casey

Thursday: partly sunny

Godzilla! (-5, -16)

Clash of Clans (2, 8)

“Sounds Good Dude” (4, -13)

“Llloook, o—oooficer.” “Hey buddy, relax. I’m no bad guy here. Maybe we can work out a trade?” It took a bit of wrangling, but I managed to score the top hat and the scarf. It would’ve been awkward to see the kid hanging around my periphery, but he had taken to vomiting in a nearby bush, so I scurried away and got past the bouncer. He complimented me on the hat. Inside, the house was pretty hopping. They were playing some Arcade Fire; all the kids were dancing like they were in the Charlie Brown Christmas Special. “Alexander/ Our older brother/ Set out for/ a great adventure!” I waded through and found my way to the turntable where a girl was standing. Her red solo cup was empty. “Miss,” I said. “Look buddy, I’m not here for fun and games. I’m here to get something back. Now be a nice boy and—say, ain’t you a little old for this crowd?” “A bit.” “Well what’re you here for?” I pulled the bull crane out of my pocket. “I’m looking to find out what the hell this means.” That was the grogginess starting to speak. She looked it over and then stared at me intensely. She was about to speak when her eyes darted right. “You’ll want to go,” she said, and ran off. I was about to speak when some pipsqueak in a terrycloth plaid bathrobe pushed

me. Plaid goons flanked him. “Hey ‘shamus.’ My brother Derek was telling me some officer nicked his sweet hat and scarf outside.” “Really? His name is Derek?” “What?” “Heh. And I bet he’s also Ulysses. Well if he’s Ulysses then I’m Nobody.” The pipsqueak was about to clock me (or try) when another goon ran in on us. “Boss! Vanessa made off with the spread.” “Shit!” They ran for the sliding door. I ran with them and made for the street. Outis I, I thought. The girl by the record player caught my arm as I circled the corner. She was hampered down in a big, downy tartan comforter, which made her look like some kind of pilgrim. “What’s with the getup?” “Long story, involving an ex and some weird sisters. But listen! I know someone who can help you.” “Oh yeah?” I was getting real tired right about now. “Yeah. Look, go to the Regent Apartments. Ask for ‘Das Schloss,’ but when you meet her, call her Karenina Montgomery. And thanks for the distraction!” “That doesn’t help me at all,” I wanted to say, but she was already running past me, trailing the comforter while some plaid goons tumbled out the door. I made myself scarce. Check back for the next installment of Terry Olivier after break.

On this day in history... 421—The Italian city of Venice is founded at exactly noon. By midnight, the whole place is under water. 1811—Percy Bysshe Shelley is excommunicated from Oxford for publishing “The Necessity of Atheism.” 1957—Big Brother withholds copies of Allen Ginsberg’s magnum opus, “Howl,” because it lacked the sort of patriotic themes that make people feel good about their country. 1979—Colombia, the first-ever fully functional orbiting country, is delivered to Kennedy Space Station. It has significantly decayed since its launch, but is still visible in the night sky today. 1996—The European Union bans the export of British beef due to Mad Cow Disease until a satisfactory dose of antibiotics and sawdust is infused into the bovine population.

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Wednesday, March 25, 2015 3 l

Senators consider changing campaign finance legislation By Lukas Sczygelski THE DAILY CARDINAL

State senators invited experts to testify on campaign finance reform Tuesday in the hope of gauging public opinion before introducing a bill later this year. Some are calling for Wisconsin to follow the 13 other states who have recently raised limits on individual contributions to state political campaigns. Wisconsin’s limits were last raised 40 years ago. “The argument that we have too much money in politics is greatly overstated,” said Rick Esenberg, president of the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty. Likening money to speech, Esenberg went further, suggesting the right to donate in any capacity should be protected on constitutional grounds. “If you find yourself trying to restrict speech, you are entering a constitutional danger zone,” Esenberg said. James Bopp, a First Amendment attorney, argued limits on contributions also drain money from official campaigns and toward individually run political action committees that allow limitless contributions. “The money will flow back to the candidate who will have more control over their campaign,” Bopp said. Opponents of deregulating campaign finance said they

were worried that without limits, wealthy donors and large corporations will have a substantial and corrupting influence on Wisconsin politics. Matt Rothschild, executive director of the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, mentioned Gogebic Taconite’s substantial contribution to the right-leaning Wisconsin Club for Growth as a case of a possible “pay to play” scheme where a law beneficial to the mining giant was influenced by money. “They want to spend money because it supports their desired outcome,” Rothschild said. He called for no increase in contribution limits, suggesting instead to publicly fund campaigns. He said a matching donations up to $150 with money from the public treasury would amplify the voice of Wisconsin’s less powerful. “Increasingly the vast majority of citizens are being relegated to the sidelines of political discourse,” Rothschild said. Current law dictates that contributions of more than $100 require a disclosure of occupation and employer, which critics claim hampers free speech, misrepresents businesses and is not relevant. Kevin Kennedy, director of the Government Accountability Board, disagreed, contending that “overwhelming support from a particular occupation says something about that candidate’s regulatory stance.”

THOMAS YONASH/THE DAILY CARDINAL

After Gov. Scott Walker enacted Wisconsin’s concealed carry law in 2011, many businesses and universities chose to ask patrons and visitors to check their weapons at the door.

concealed from page 1 “I retired in January, and just because I left my post doesn’t mean I don’t still have a duty to serve my community,” Graves said, adding that retired police officers must undergo extensive training and yearly tests to carry concealed weapons. While the bill has garnered bipartisan support, the two Democrats on the committee said they were concerned by the potential risks the bill could pose. “I have a philosophy that the

fewer guns on school property the better and more guns could lead to more problems,” state Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, said. “I don’t think it makes schools safer.” State Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee, voiced opposition to the bill, referencing officer-involved shootings around the state, including the recent death of Tony Robinson in Madison. “Increasing guns without increasing training is challenging,” Taylor said. “This bill isn’t addressing issues across our

state right now. I don’t know when we’re going to get out of pigeonholed arguments to move towards more reasonable gun control.” Kiel Police Chief David Funkhouser responded by criticizing Taylor’s “rants.” “We’re not talking about training, we’re talking about giving law enforcement more tools to provide safety for students and staff,” Funkhouser said. The bill is expected to be approved by the committee and move to the state Senate for debate.

Former MLB Commissioner Selig talks Jackie Robinson, race in baseball A lecture full of students were treated to a surprise Tuesday when former Major League Baseball Commissioner SELIG Allan “Bud” Selig delivered a guest lecture, a preview of the seminar the 80-year-old will coteach in the fall semester. The commissioner, whose

2010 endowment funded professor Sean Dinces’ position to teach sport history, dedicated the majority of his lecture to the history of Jackie Robinson, enriching the presentation by bringing in personal anecdotes from his life in baseball. Selig recalled attending a game at Chicago’s Wrigley Field with his roommate, future U.S. Senator Herb Kohl, to see Robinson, the first black player in MLB history. “We were the only white guys

in the upper deck,” Selig said. Selig said he focused his talk on Robinson because he considers him “the most electrifying player in baseball history.” It was explained Robinson’s calm demeanor, the “guts to not fight back,” was the ultimate reason for his success in integrating the game. “I picked [Robinson as a subject] because [he shows] how important sports can be in a very, very productive way,” he said, alluding to

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Robinson’s signing. When asked about what Robinson would think of today’s racial landscape in baseball, Selig supposed the late player would say “you did all right, but you can do a lot better.” Selig will teach at UW-Madison next fall, leading a History 600 seminar co-taught with professor David McDonald entitled “Baseball and Society Since World War II.” —Jack Baer

UW-Madison to continue campus Diversity Framework discussions

allen from page 1 depicted the equality the United States wanted from fellow nations. As the founding fathers wanted to be recognized separately from Britain, they also wanted to be seen as an equally self-sufficient nation in the eyes of other countries. A second example connected the equal access the founding fathers thought people should have with the “tool” of government, which is the citizens’ right to participate in governmental affairs. She described this participation as a status of a person’s political being. “We are equal in sharing a status of rights-bearing creatures,” Allen said. “A status that requires a realization that we all have equal access to the tool of government.”

baseball’s impact in accelerating the racial integration movement. Selig also had effusive praise for Branch Rickey, the Brooklyn Dodgers general manager who signed Robinson despite the prevailing opinions of the league at the time. In 1943, 1944 and 1947, Rickey consistently cast the lone vote against 15 other clubs, supporting integration of the game. He only succeeded by directly convincing then-MLB commissioner Happy Chandler to allow

BETSY OSTERBERGER/THE DAILY CARDINAL

ASM Diversity Committee Chair Dolly Wang describes the upcoming Diversity Framework forums scheduled for April.

UW-Madison officials announced plans to hold forums throughout April to update students and community members on the Diversity Framework’s progress. The Framework, which shared governance bodies approved in May 2014, aims to promote campus-wide values of leadership, coordination and retention concerning diversity and inclusion. Presented by the Office of the Vice Provost and Chief Diversity Officer, four forums are scheduled on campus in the Gordon Dining and Event Center, while four others are scheduled in various venues throughout Madison.

Starting in November, six committees composed of faculty, staff and students began researching six areas of campus life to gain a comprehensive understanding of the significance of diversity in those categories, Interim Vice Provost for Diversity and Climate Patrick Sims wrote in a March 23 email. April’s sessions will include updated reports from the committees and a question and answer session for audience members. All forums will be translated into various languages including English, Hmong, Mandarin, Spanish, Tibetan and American Sign Language.

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science Early learning helps long-term retention 4

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

By Alex Moe The Daily Cardinal

For almost any conceivable skill or field of study, it’s generally accepted that the earlier one starts learning it, the better. Whether the skill be playing hockey, speaking French or composing symphonies, it always seems that the ones who have been doing it since childhood have a higher level of ability and a more natural way of doing whatever it may be. This trend is the result of higher brain plasticity in children, which allows for better assimilation of learning the earlier on it starts. For researchers at the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds at the UW-Madison Waisman Center, this early development made for the perfect opportunity to conduct research into the development of social emotional skills. The traits and actions associated with social interaction such as kindness, mindfulness of self and others and sharing are expected behavior for adults and even adolescents. But until now there has been very little done to foster these skills early on in a rigorous, scientific way. The study itself, conducted over a 12-week period in multiple preschools throughout the Madison area, involved the use of control groups as well as “intervention

groups” that were taught a specially prepared curriculum that emphasizes social and emotional development. The groups that received the specialized curriculum took part in activities that train children in abilities such as paying attention, sorting shapes and colors and understanding the feelings of themselves and others. These activities were designed to take advantage of the higher cognitive flexibility present in 4-and 5-year-

graphic by Cameron Grafff

old children, while incorporating elements of established mindfulness training activities for adults. The results of this study were conclusive in that academic scores, as well as mental flexibility and sharing, were all better in the “intervention group” than in the control group. The control group,

which did not initially receive the specialized training, demonstrated increased levels of selfish behavior after the 12-week period of normal schooling. The group that received the training, however, did not change their tendencies to share. This difference implies that the mindfulness training served as a sort of psychological inoculation against the development of selfish behavior. More than 20 undergraduate students were actively involved in the study, testing and working with the children. It is the continued effort on the part of involved students that allows for important research such as this to carry on. “It wouldn’t be possible without them,” said Simon Goldberg, a graduate student involved with the data analysis portion of the study. With further work involving more students over a wider area, more complete theories about the effectiveness of mindfulness training will be established. If results from studies like this are incorporated more fully into early education, the implications for our society might be staggering. Kindness and thoughtfulness could be demonstrated as the norm rather than something to be praised— this is the potential result of mindfulness curricula.

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Ask Ms. Scientist: Why that spring break dolphin tattoo isn’t going away in the near future Dear Ms. Scientist, I’m thinking about getting a tattoo next week as a memory of my spring break vacation, and I was wondering, what makes them permanent? —Kristin A. You may thank your immune cells for making tattoos last forever—or for making them fade over the years. The small inflammatory response caused by the needle and ink at the tattoo parlor releases signals, called histamine and cytokines, to recruit macrophages to the site of action. Macrophages are resident in your skin and consume foreign material. If your macrophages were to encounter something harmful, like a bacteria invading through a cut, they would become activated by your T-cells to digest and destroy the bacteria. Fortunately, ink is an innocuous substance as long as you’re not allergic. Therefore, it does not alert a T-cell response like bacteria would and instead the macrophages continue to sit in your skin’s dermal layer with the ink inside them. This is how your tattoo avoids getting flushed away from your skin with other bodily fluids. However, macrophages don’t live forever and will eventually die, releasing some of the ink along with cell debris. But don’t worry, because the new, young whipper-snapper macrophages are there to take up the ink that the old ones left behind, although some of it will be swept away. This process is responsible for how over decades the tattoo doesn’t look quite as sharp as it was when you first got it on the PCB boardwalk or the Las Vegas strip. Ask Ms. Scientist is written by Corinne Thornton. If you have a burning science question you want her to answer, email it to science@dailycardinal.com.

Murfie reactivates a love of music through flexible streaming ability By Lilly Hanson The Daily Cardinal

Meet Murfie—the business that stores your CDs and vinyl records in a warehouse and digitizes their content so that you can stream your music collection wherever you are. Founded in 2011 by Preston Austin and Matt Younkle, the company warehouse now holds more than 700,000 CDs. The name comes from “the intersection of ‘sounds like a good name for a dog’ and a play on words for materials recycling facility,” said Austin. The business wanted to showcase their approachability with a friendly name and being keen on recycling, playing off the existing acronym for materials recycling facility, MRF. When CDs are sent to Murfie, the jewel cases are automatically recycled and disks are stored in sleeves. Not only does this defray shipping costs and make storage easier in the warehouse, but the recycled cases provide valuable material streams for other uses. Surprisingly, while cofounders Austin and Younkle are both UW-Madison alums, the two didn’t know each other while attending the university. It wasn’t until Bryan Chan of SupraNet Communications introduced the pair that they began discussing current events and possible ventures as they “were both sort of like ‘what’s

our next thing?’” Austin said. The concept of Murfie was born between Austin’s past interest in creating a trading service for music through a venture he never launched and Younkle’s realization that despite no longer having a CD player, every time he moved he was still bringing his huge disk collection with him. The pair recognized not only the financial investment put into one’s music collection and the value of the physical property, but also the personal history and emotional connection people have to the artists and albums they’ve kept.

“Murfie helps reactivate people’s love of music”

Preston Austin founder Murfie

“People have this stuff, put a lot into it. It both represents a record of their tastes and what they like, it has utility, and it’s music that they really own as opposed to something like a premium streaming service where you pay every month

and when you stop paying you lose your access or you would get ads in it,” Austin said. This is where Murfie distinguishes itself from other streaming services; you own the physical copy of the music being streamed. Murfie’s unique model is all about preserving the emotional connection to your music collection and the artists you invest in, while allowing you to have all the modern conveniences of cloud access. While Murfie stores the disk or record, “Your music collection remains yours always,” Austin said. You can always get the physical albums shipped back to you. And because the content Murfie streams comes from a physical album you own, you’ve directly supported that artist by buying their album, which “is not the same as metered payment of royalties for streaming,” Austin said. Murfie does more than just store and digitize your music collection, the company also allows people to trade, buy and sell albums with other Murfie users, so long as they haven’t downloaded an audio file. “It’s like iTunes plus eBay,” Austin said. There’s even an autobuy feature which lets consumers set the price they’re willing to pay for an album, and if there’s ever a copy at that price, it will be automatically

purchased. No matter how many times an album changes hands, the key concept here is that “literally every single album that’s represented in a member’s collection is backed by a physical copy they own— they own the copy, we take custodial responsibility for it,” Austin said.

“People have this stuff, put a lot into it. It both represents a record of their tastes and what they like, it has utility, and it’s music that they really own ... ”

Preston Austin founder Murfie

Because the value of your actual property is taken so seriously, Murfie even provides an option to list an inheritor of your music collection. As for Murfie’s future, how artists sell their original content is going to be a real growing focus of the business in upcoming years, according to Austin. Artists can currently sell their content in the Murfie marketplace as long as there’s a CD or vinyl record being sold, but as Austin explains, “What

we’re looking at is potentially in the future, things where the artist is extending a license to the buyer that’s equivalent to the physical object.” This would be an “inclusive license” that would legally allow downloaded audio files to be sold to someone else, which you can’t currently do. All in all, “Murfie helps reactivate people’s love of music,” Austin said. Users can browse collections held by other Murfie members to find new music. If you’re searching the collection of someone who owns an album that you love, it’s likely that you’ll also enjoy the rest of the music in their collection. According to Austin, this is due to the personal history people have with their CDs. “My collection is something that I actually invested in, it’s not just what I happened to playlist or something like that, and it’s not just what I happen to be playing a lot of right now. It’s more of a historic description of what I’m interested in and what I chose to keep,” Austin said. Of Austin’s own musical taste, Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side of the Moon had the most impact on him, but he’s also very into Adele’s 21. Interested in learning more about Murfie? You can check out their services at Austin and Younkle’s website: www. murfie.com.

opinion dailycardinal.com

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Note-taking practices: To each their own Illiana rotker-lynn Letter to the Editor

aBreea Walsh’s March 10th article regarding note-taking seemed to suggest that taking notes by hand is always the best situation for every student. I’m skeptical by nature of any article that claims to know unilaterally what is best for every student on campus, and this issue in particular is one that is near and dear to me. While I respect the opinion stated in the article, Walsh seems to be writing the article primarily from a perspective of personal experience, and in doing so disregarding those of us who might have a vastly different set of circumstances. As many people who know me or have been in a class with me are aware, I am Autistic. What many people do not realize is that autism affects fine motor skills. For me, taking effective notes by hand is an impossibility. I can’t keep up with even a slow lecture, even if, as Walsh suggests, I only take down “the important topics and details” (and what does that even mean? It certainly doesn’t mean the same thing for everyone). This causes me to become frantic and leave out important words or topics as I rush through note-taking for

fear of being left even further behind. My hand cramps after about 10-15 minutes because of the way I have to hold a pen in order to have any hope of controlling it enough to form words. And having someone take notes for me, which is an option for some people, simply isn’t feasible in my particular case because I think and process differently than most other people, and if my notes are going to help me at all, they need to be written by someone who understands the way I think—in other words, me. Computer note-taking, in short, is pretty much the only thing that works for me.

For me, taking effective notes by hand is an impossibility.

The article also suggests that “In a world where everything is digital and everything is online, I think it is important for us to unplug for some time even if it means for a 50 or 75 minute lecture.” This is an opinion I hear often, the idea that we rely “too much” on technology, and again, this idea complete-

ly discounts me and the many other individuals I know for whom modern technology has opened countless doors. While I do agree that it is important for most people to unplug from technology once in a while (not counting those who rely on technology for communication or other basic functions of daily life), for people like me, that time is decidedly not a situation in which a course grade is dependent upon my ability to quickly record a large amount of information. Walsh also states that taking notes by hand is a better option because transferring handwritten notes into an electronic file offers “a great way to learn and review the material.” Not only does this sentence provide another example of an unqualified statement that erases the experience of students who have more challenges than most when it comes to writing notes by hand (handwriting is hardly “a better option” for everyone), it supposes a certain style of learning universal among students. For some, myself included, rewriting my notes quickly becomes an exercise in mindless, rote activity—exactly what Walsh claims computer-based note-taking commonly becomes—and after a few pages, I am not absorb-

ing any of the material. This also discounts the experience of students who must carefully budget their time because they may have families to care for and/or be working multiple jobs at the same time as they are attending school. For these students, unless rewriting notes is an extremely effective means of learning the material for that individual, this would cut into time they could spend studying in the way that works best for them, whatever that means to the individual.

I’m skeptical by nature of any article that claims to know unilaterally what is best for every student on campus, and this issue in particular is one that is near and dear to me. I understand fully that distraction in lectures is a problem in need of a solution, but Walsh’s suggestion that professors should enforce a no-screen rule would seem to be a cure worse than the proverbial disease. At best, students with disabilities requiring them to type their notes would be exempted from these rules, but they would (and are, in the cases of some individual professors

who ban laptops now) then be forced to be the only individuals in their classes with laptops, essentially announcing to the world that they have what might otherwise be an invisible disability—and there is no telling how many students might choose to take poor notes or no notes at all rather than “out” themselves in a culture that still stigmatizes disability. And students without a diagnosed disability who just find themselves able to take better notes typing than handwriting? They would be out of luck completely. If Walsh, or other individuals, find that they derive a substantial benefit from bucking technology and taking notes by hand, no one is stopping them. But it is unfair to say the least that a few individuals should use the lens of their personal experiences to view a complex situation and then suggest that what they have determined are the best practices for their individual situations should be instituted as policy for a campus of forty thousand. If there’s one lesson to learn from such a large student body, it’s that everyone learns differently, and what’s ideal for one person can be disastrous for another. Tell us what you think. Please send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

Public schools could solve homelessness Yukako Hirakwa Opinion Columnist

recently met a man who is passionate about ending homelessness in the United States. His name is John McLaughlin, and he works at the U.S. Department of Education. As an education program specialist, John deals with educational issues involving homeless students. I was very impressed with how he approached solving the problem of homelessness in an educational context. Some of his specific solutions really surprised me. “The administration has approved a Federal Strategic Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness by 2020,” McLaughlin said.

Of course it is great that the number has decreased, but that does not mean we can stop thinking about the issue of homelessness.

He continued to say, “Our agency’s main goal is that all students be college and career ready by 2020, which means on track to graduate from high school and enroll in at least one year of postsecondary education.” I was more impressed when I realized that specialists like McLaughlin make efforts to give an opportunity to homeless students to have further education. At the same time, though, I was curious if that really happens. I mean, can we really end homelessness and have

the relevant children college and career ready by 2020? There were 578,424 people experiencing homelessness in the United States in January 2014. All federal programs define homelessness as “lacking a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence.” In Wisconsin, the number of homeless people has actually decreased compared to last year. Of course it is great that the number is decreased, but that does not mean we can stop thinking about the issue of homelessness. I often struggle with trying to think of what I can do to help homeless people. Every time I am asked for money on the street, I almost feel like crying because I am merely an exchange student and cannot afford to give money every day to every single person. “I think the first step is just to know how many homeless individuals have been identified annually or recently in their communities, which organizations serve them and how services are coordinated in their communities,” McLaughlin said, and I agree with him. However small a step it may be, the program helps in ending homelessness. However irrelevant you may feel, each of you has to deal with the homelessness issue as a member of society. Yukako is a junior majoring in political science and journalism. Do you agree with her? Do we all play a role in the elimination of homelessness in our society? Are changes in public education a possible solution to the problem? Send comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

comics

6 • Wednesday, March 25, 2015

dailycardinal.com

Scandal Scandal Scandal

Today’s Sudoku

Future Freaks

By Joel Cryer jcryer@wisc.edu

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.

Fact of the Day Bats can fly at speeds reaching

Evil Bird Classic

By Caitlin Kirihara graphics@dailycardinal.com

Caved In Classic

By Nick Kryshak graphics@dailycardinal.com

Caved In Classic

By Nick Kryshak graphics@dailycardinal.com

60 mph Today’s Crossword Puzzle

huckleberry finn

ACROSS 1 Blows, as one’s lines 6 ___ apso (dog) 11 A low-down dirty dog? 14 Unit of weight for gems 15 Some foreign bonds, for short 16 Bill with a pyramid 17 Satisfaction 19 Seinfeld’s old network 20 Insect’s final stage of life 21 Air combat mission 23 Moisten a stamp, once 26 New Orleans or Baltimore, e.g. 28 Chestnut equines 29 Fuss 30 “... ___ I saw Elba” 32 Actions on the auction floor 33 Chess pieces, informally 34 Caveat 38 Gourmet rice 40 Supply mother’s milk 43 How dunce caps are shaped 45 Candy purchase 46 “Anybody need to make ___ stop?” (road trip query) 48 Tai ___ (exercise method) 49 Haul

50 52 55 56

Run off at the mouth? Historical chapters Tennis divisions ___ spades (card in a deck) 58 Troy, by another name 60 Fast-spinning meas. 61 Meltdowns 66 Slitherer in the water 67 L.A. icemen 68 “___ forgiven” 69 English city near Cambridge 70 Notices, Biblically 71 Alternative to flats DOWN 1 Broadcast regulatory agcy. 2 Doctor in a 1964 movie 3 Caterer’s coffeemaker 4 Hand-dyed fabric 5 Flower part 6 Set free 7 Satisfied another’s whim 8 “___ we having fun yet?” 9 Dad’s boys 10 Financier aboard the “Titanic” 11 Able to be constrained 12 Free, as from ropes 13 First-grade time out? 18 40 winks

2 2 23 24 25 27 31

Android, e.g. Ewe youth Brainchild With awareness Warbling sound And others, for short 34 Food or drink container 35 Suffix with “psych” 36 Alcove for a statue 37 Frozen and slippery 39 Kind of lodge 41 Tight, as a drum skin 42 Units of work or energy 44 TV showings 46 Like many websites 47 Push forward 51 Door securers 53 Choice invitees 54 Sample, as wine 55 Obey the photographer 57 Pate de ___ gras 59 Salt Lake City’s state 62 SSW opposite 63 “Bravo!” at a bullfight 64 It amounts to nothing 65 Air leak sound

dailycardinal.com

Wednesday, March 25, 2015

arts

‘Leviathan’ has reputation as novelistic movie Austin Wellens alls wellens well

t seems super easy to compare the latest Russian cinematic masterpiece, Andrey Zvyagintsev’s “Leviathan,” to the great literary works of Fyodor Dostoevsky or Leo Tolstoy; just look at the number of reviews that described the film as being “novelistic.” And to be fair, the comparison (especially to Dostoevsky) isn’t entirely ungrounded. The film shares its breathtaking scope (and runtime), band of fully realized and psychologically complex characters, questions of suicide/existence and overt, proud references to the Bible with the likes of “The Brothers Karamazov” and “The Idiot.” Plus the film’s wordless, eyeopening passages rank with the most awe-inspiring moments of prose in any language. All the same and regardless of whatever cultural parallels run through the works, these comparisons do raise the question: What does it mean for a movie to be like a book? Or to put it another way, what about one medium makes it similar or dissimilar to the other? And how can a work like “Leviathan” cross over in some/any way? The short answer is it can’t. Literature and cinema work in fundamentally different ways, intrinsic to their form, and offer their audiences different possibilities. Reading something like “Demons” or “Anna Karenina,” the power of realization is vested firmly with the audience; the image of this or that character and their every movement, tic, stumble, intonation or sigh is up to the reader. They’re placed somewhere closer to the author in terms of ability to shape their experience, allowing them to take ownership of the narrative, form their own version of the novel’s universe and invest themselves more heavily in that world. Hence the great Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky’s assertion that “a book read by a thousand different people is a thousand different books.” This is not the case with film. The camera solidifies the world, makes it concrete and definitive. Millions of people may feel differently about Humphrey Bogart’s character in “Casablanca,” but they all share a single image of him. In this loss of determination, film places the audience closer to the level of its characters; in the same way that they are subject to the whims of the film’s director/writer/

whoever, the viewer is placed in a position of experiencing without imagining. They can react however they like, but definitions ultimately rest within the movie itself. While this means that, unlike reading, watching a film offers far less room for creativity on the part of the audience, it does produce a direct line for the viewer to place themselves in the position of the characters, contemplate themselves in relation to what they’re seeing onscreen and to get outside of themselves for 90 to 160 minutes; this is what Roger Ebert referred to as the great “empathy machine” of cinema. In the case of a film like “Leviathan,” which is very much about the loss of control and individuality that occurs in the face of the systematic indifference and corruption that’s rife in Putin’s Russia, taking the power of realization from the audience is very well matched to its themes. No matter how much we may despise the despotic, self-serving mayor of this small town, we are given no power over how we see him. He’s exactly as sniveling and hateable as he is presented, but we’re denied any further opportunity to debase him. Compare this with something like Dostoevsky’s “Demons,” where we’re actively invited to interpret and engage with the abstractions of radicals and revolutionaries that the author presents; placing the reader in the place of a narrator or author allows the feverish nightmares to become real on an individual level while retaining control over how exactly the “great sinner” appears to each of us. The point of this is that “Leviathan” is not novelistic because it’s Russian, or because it’s existential, or complex or long or anything. It isn’t novelistic at all, and the comparison does a disservice to both film and literature. Both media have intrinsic qualities that lend themselves better to telling certain stories over others, and neither should aspire to be like the other because this denies the basic fact that, in the right hands, either is capable of producing works of absolute, life-changing and powerful experiences that are only possible within their given form. So do both. Read to be imaginative and understand the tremendous power of creativity, and watch movies to appreciate how difficult realizes these worlds are and be critical of the ways they are. And also see “Leviathan;” it’s fantastic. What are your thoughts on “Leviathan?” Let Austin know at wellens@wisc.edu.

Graphic by Cameron Graff

‘Community’ comes back with Yahoo but slightly underwhelms JAKE SMASAL smasaltov!

eemingly every year that it’s been on the air, “Community” has been moved, cancelled or resurrected. In fact, it’s happened so often that we “Community” fans have even created a hashtag (#sixseasonsandamoive) to express our exasperation with the show’s fluctuating status, the latest example its resurrection at the hands of Yahoo Screen, which prompted thousands to young Americans to ask whether or not Yahoo was still a thing. Yahoo promptly ordered a 13-episode season of the show, the first two of which were put online recently. This new online chapter of the show’s history almost perfectly functions for the show’s overall history, both in terms of its successes and failures. Much like previous seasons of the show, season six opens with a gimmick: in the past this has been a musical number, a montage or a fictionalized commercial; this year it’s a bunch of Frisbees collapsing a roof. Normally, this would be a hectic event executed

with gleeful precision; now, it just feels forced, almost as if Dan Harmon and the rest of the writers knew what was expected of them and simply wrote it. And that, in a nutshell, is the problem with the first two episodes of the sixth season of “Community”; they are simply written, not lovingly crafted like the “Community” of the past (except for season four—we don’t talk about season four). For the most part, both episodes are funny and enjoyable. Jim Rash and Ken Jeong are back, and do their very best as Dean Pelton and Chang, respectively, and the four remaining members of the study group do the same. Yet, it’s getting hard to look past the group’s subtractions. Donald Glover and Chevy Chase were already long gone as Troy and Pierce, and now Yvette Nicole Brown’s Shirley is added to the list of absentees (although she does appear at the end of episode one for a particularly memorable bit). With the advent of “Last Week Tonight,” John Oliver’s Professor Duncan is also gone, presumably for good this time, and good ol’ Professor Hickey left for the greener pastures of “Better Call Saul.” So “Community” is no strang-

er to a revolving cast, but it seems as though they’ve finally reached the breaking point. Two new characters, a new school administrator and an aging computer genius, have been thrown into the mix but each seems too familiar to make true impact on the show while disrupting the show’s chemistry enough that it’s actually noticeable. I’ve been pretty hard on the new season to this point, but it’s not all bad. Some of what made “Community” great is still present in season six. It’s in the little things, like a hologram that only Jeff can see or a movie trailer for the Portuguese gremlins. It’s Abed filming a movie with his French fries or the Dean trying to fake a phone call without a phone. It’s the speakeasy that the gang opens in the school cafeteria and Chang’s cat bite. This season changes the narrative, with Abed wanting to change and everybody else trying to stay the same. Maybe it’s time we embraced the change too…but I can’t help but hope for something more. What do you think of the brand new season of “Community?” Did you forget that Yahoo still exists? Let Jake know at smasal@wisc.edu.

RECORD ROUTINE

Death Grips come out with potential last album, but Jenny Death falls flat ALBUM REVIEW

Jenny Death Death Grips By Mitch Wrobel The daily cardinal

Death Grips, an experimental hip-hop group from Sacramento, Calif., has received critical acclaim from most sources with the release of their previous three studio albums. Though they have technically been disbanded since last July, that has not stopped them from making music. Jenny Death , the second part of a two-part album called The Powers That B, is now available online and is set for official release March 31.

Death Grips has never let anyone tell them what to do or how to do it, and that sure hasn’t changed in Jenny Death. Their genre, described as somewhere between industrial hip-hop and full-out punk rock, allows their brutality to divulge. You are slapped in the face right away with their first song, “Break Mirrors With My Face In The United States.” With the punching rhythms and chaotic melodies that persist throughout the album, the sting never goes away. While Jenny Death ’s goal is to be an unapologetic stand against society, not unlike Kendrick’s new To Pimp a Butterfly, the lyrics sometimes drift further from genuine nihilism and seem more like the rants of an angsty teenager. However, Jenny Death does have its gems. In “Inanimate Sensation,” the band uses sexual and drug references to take

a stand against mainstream music, taking a stab at Kanye West’s “Black Skinhead” when they chant “Brag you’re making music, naw, you’re makin bacon/ Skinhead, skinhead inna dublin.” The album reaches a high point in “On GP,” when rapper MC Ride invites overintrusive fans to take a look at his personal life as he describes his thoughts of suicide. Death Grips is a hard band to understand, and it’s even harder to anticipate what they’ll do next. Because the band is technically separated, this logically was their last album. However, you never know with Death Grips. Jenny Death concludes with an instrumental called “Death Grips 2.0,” which may be foreshadowing that the band is not done just yet.

Grade: C-

Sports

Wednesday, march 25, 2015 DailyCardinal.com

Football

New faces kick off the Paul Chryst Era By Jake Powers the Daily cardinal

After an offseason punctuated by coaching changes, a scramble to repair a recruiting class in peril and the departure of perhaps the best running back in program history, the Badgers can now focus on what’s important—hitting the field and playing football. The refreshing shift from staffing adjustments and verbal commitments to conditioning drills and jet sweeps kicked off last week as Wisconsin began its month of spring practices in advance of its inter-squad spring game April 25. Here’s a look at some of the key storylines to keep an eye on as the Paul Chryst era gets underway.

Corey’s calling

It’s Corey Clement’s show now. After biding his time behind current New England Patriot James White in 2013 and future NFL draft pick Melvin Gordon last season, the junior running back will now be the centerpiece of Wisconsin’s offense. Given Clement’s 6.46 yardsper-carry average and nine touchdowns last season, the 5-foot-11,

217-pound bruiser’s transition into the starting role is a comforting, albeit drastic, change. While Clement’s power and solid passcatching ability are irrefutable, his endurance will be a factor to monitor over the course of the spring and into the start of the season. If he’s used in a similar capacity as Gordon was last season, Clement will need to be ready to carry the ball nearly 200 more times than he did in 2014, a considerable workload increase to say the least.

A new front

Defensive coordinator Dave Aranda has the opportunity to show why he was the only member of Gary Andersen’s staff to stay on board with UW. After guiding the defense to the fourthbest yards-per-game average in the country, Aranda is charged with weathering the loss of five starters, four of whom anchored the interior of the defense. The graduation of defensive end/nose guard Warren Herring, nose guard Konrad Zagzebski and inside linebackers Derek Landisch and Marcus Trotter cripples a front

seven that was dominant in 2014. Aranda’s proven acumen will be tested by the challenge of finding the right mix of junior linebacker Leon Jacobs, senior linebacker Jesse Hayes and redshirt freshman nose guard Jeremy Patterson to fill in the vacancies. While this may seem daunting, Aranda replaced eight starters before last season including the entire front seven. The Badgers’ defensive dominance last year shows that Aranda has dealt with replacements before, and has the ability to do it again.

Quarterback question

Joel Stave has the third-best winning percentage, the fifth-most touchdowns and the fourth-best completion percentage and pass efficiency rating in Wisconsin history. On paper, it appears that the Badgers are set at quarterback. That could not be further from the case. Although Stave’s career statistical resume would point to the contrary, his inconsistency in hitting deep balls, taking advantage of play-action calls and converting on third down has marred his

Betsy osterberger/cardinal file photo

Leon Jacobs is one of many players who could take a starting position in the front seven after several graduations.

Nithin Charlly/cardinal File Photo

Bart Houston will once again compete for the QB job this spring. tenure at quarterback and limited Wisconsin’s vertical passing game. On third downs with at least four yards to go in 2014, Stave passed for 21 first downs on 64 attempts. He also completed just 11 passes for 25 yards or more, good for 13th in the Big Ten. The alternatives aren’t all that promising. Senior Tanner McEvoy, who

betsy osterberger/cardinal file photo

Corey Clement faces the tall task of replacing Melvin Gordon, as well as dealing with an increased workload.

is a talented athlete but lacks the arm strength and decision-making ability to play quarterback, is likely headed for a position change back to safety, where he started in 2013. After being replaced by Stave as the starting quarterback following last year’s Oct. 4 game at Northwestern, McEvoy was primarily used in running situations, allowing him to run the readoption with Gordon and Clement. He lined up at wide receiver sparingly as a decoy, but never touched the ball in those situations. Finally, McEvoy was moved to other side of the ball for the Outback Bowl against Auburn, where he returned to safety and registered five solo tackles against the Tigers. Although he’s currently listed as a quarterback on Wisconsin’s roster, McEvoy will likely have to earn playing time either at safety, or back at the wide receiver position where he opened the 2013 season before injuring his wrist and switching to defense. That leaves Chryst the task of testing the waters with junior Bart Houston, redshirt freshman D.J. Gillins and early enrollees Alex Hornibrook and Austin Kafentzis leading the offense throughout the spring.

NBA playoffs crown a better champ than March Madness Grey Satterfield 50 shades of grey

arch Madness is in full swing, but I’m not talking about the NCAA tournament, I’m talking about the race for the NBA playoffs. While I enjoy a game of basketball as much as the next person, I must say the quality of play in the NBA is so much better. In fact, one of my favorite parts about this past weekend is the Degree comercial which is really just a Steph Curry highlight reel. That’s how you play the game. The NCAA tournament is renowned for it’s unpredictability. Yes, this makes it very fun to

watch, and very easy for everyone to enjoy, but it is a terrible way to crown a champion. I love that a die-hard hoops X’s and O’s guy can sit across the couch from someone who filled out a bracket based off mascot cuteness and still enjoy the games, but a seven-game series is the only way to determine who the real champion is. Think back to last year, when Aaron Harrison nailed a 3-pointer at the gun to knock the Badgers out of the tournament. Now imagine who wins Game 2 a few nights later. Once you shake off the initial PTSD of last year’s Final Four, it’s a pretty intriguing what if. And hell, maybe Kentucky was better than Wisconsin last year, but it sure would’ve been nice to see them prove it a few more times before you were forced to sadly wallow around on State Street.

Next, the shot clock in college basketball is an infuriating 35 seconds long. The 24-second shot clock in the NBA leads to more points and more exciting games. I hate watching college teams endlessly stall while trying to milk clock. Because of this, NBA offenses are so much better at moving the ball to generate good looks. Watch last year’s NBA Finals where the San Antonio Spurs put on a free basketball skills clinic. Their passing was amazing, and they knocked down every open jump shot. It was amazing to watch. Anyone who considers themself a fan of basketball had to sit back and appreciate the amazing play of the Spurs. Contrast that with the cringeworthy isolation game in college. Here’s the scenario: VCU is tied

with Ohio State with 25 seconds left in the game. Treveon Graham secures a rebound and takes the ball up the floor. He waits at the top of the key to drain some clock to ensure his squad gets the last shot, then finally drives, one on five at the rim and misses a layup as time expired. I almost ripped my hair out. Finally, due to the amazing offensive precision the NBA offers, the defense has evolved to match. The NBA is almost exclusively man-to-man defense, which means the fans can watch incredible matchups between players. College teams too frequently rely on zone or trap defenses to hide the inadequacies of their rosters. NBA teams cannot do this because opposing teams’ jump shooters are too good. Watch Chris Paul of the Los Angeles Clippers stick to

opposing guards like glue. Then find me some tape of a college game where a point guard has a better chance of escaping his shadow then his defender. If you’ve been hooked on basketball for the first time this week, I urge you to check out the NBA. It’ll blow your mind. Watch a team like the Warriors or the Hawks and become amazed with their offensive efficiency, or watch a team like the Grizzlies and watch them stifle their opponents on defense. Enjoy the NCAA tournament for it’s unpredictability, but follow the NBA for good basketball. Think the NCAA Tournament is the undisputed best? Sick of college ball’s lack of talent uglying the game up? Let Grey know your thoughts by emailing him at gsatterfield@wisc.edu.