Make-out parties, teenage marriage and other ’90s tween concerns +PAGE TWO
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Records on records on records Softball broke most consecutive wins, single-game team home runs and singlegame individual home runs records in this weekend’s games + SPORTS, page 8
Complete campus coverage since 1892
l
dailycardinal.com
Monday, April 16, 2012
Ward sends MCSC funding decision to student council By Anna Duffin The Daily Cardinal
wil gibb/the daily cardinal
Thousands gather at the Capitol Square Saturday to support embattled Gov. Scott Walker and other recall targets.
Tea Party supporters rally at Capitol By Mckenna Kohlenberg The Daily Cardinal
Around 6,300 Tea Party supporters marched to support the conservative cause and Republican recall targets at the Tax Day Rally at the Capitol Saturday. Speakers, including Lt. Gov. Rebecca Kleefisch, who faces a recall election June 5, addressed issues including the size of government, decreasing government spending, maintaining a low unemployment rate and lowering taxes. After the lyrics “They will not control us, we will be victorious” from the Muse song “Uprising” energized the crowd, conservative radio talk show host and master of ceremonies James T. Harris called the recall effort against Gov. Scott Walker, Kleefisch and four state Senators a “weapon of mass destruction.” Kleefisch said Wisconsin is ground zero for the national debate over the fight for the political and ideological future of the country. “America’s eyes are focused right here today,” Kleefisch said. “We have a choice right now of moving backward or forward.”
The role of women and women’s rights in the Tea Party movement was also a central theme. Kim Simac, founder of the conservative group Northwoods Patriots, encouraged the crowd to ignore Democratic claims that the GOP has waged a “war on women” this past legislative session. During the session, Republicans passed bills promoting abstinence-centered sex education in high schools and providing penalties to doctors who fail to ensure a woman’s abortion is consensual, among others. “I spent the best years of my life doing what I believe is the most admirable and significant job a woman can do,” said Simac. “I was a stay-at-home mom. That’s the job that I believe God created me to do… This is something that the media and all of our know-it-all feminists can’t take away from me.” A relatively small but vocal counter-protest of about 100 anti-Walker demonstrators circled Capitol Square, interrupting the rally with chants, boos and air horns.
Student council will now determine whether the Multicultural Student Coalition is eligible to receive funding for next year, UW-Madison Chancellor David Ward ruled Friday. The decision was met by criticism from student leaders, who said he “overstepped his bounds” with the ruling. The Student Services Finance Committee determined the group was ineligible for funding because committee members ruled it does not spend more than half of its time directly serving students. The Student Judiciary upheld the decision, which MCSC appealed to Ward in March. The SJ ruled in October that the waiver SSFC drafted for student groups to apply for
over $250,000 was drafted in violation of student government processes. Ward said the Associated Students of Madison constitution implies that all process violations take groups’ points of view into account, thus violating “viewpoint neutrality.” Since the ASM constitution says student council has the final say on decisions where a viewpoint neutrality violation has occurred, Ward ruled student council should determine whether MCSC, the only student group to attempt to use the waiver, is eligible for funding. But SSFC members said Ward’s interpretation of the ASM constitution is flawed. SSFC Chair Sarah Neibart said the SJ considered the waiver as a “special complaint” that did not violate viewpoint neutrality. She said the waiver was
drafted for all student groups, so SSFC could not have taken the groups’ beliefs into account when drafting it. In a letter to Ward, Neibart said he seemed more concerned with finding a way to fund MCSC than actually reviewing the procedure SSFC used to declare the group ineligible. “I am not aware of [Ward’s] intentions for coming to this conclusion, but it seems as though [Ward is] worried with the outcome rather than the process,” Neibart said. She added that the decision guarantees MCSC is treated differently than any other student group, and that the waiver did not come into play when determining whether groups were eligible for funding. Student council will have to rule on MCSC’s eligibility within five school days.
UW considers adding winter break classes UW-Madison students could have the opportunity to take inperson and online courses during winter break, according to an e-mail sent to the student body asking them for feedback on the idea. The one- to three-credit classes would take place during the three weeks before spring semester begins. UW-Madison senior Kate Tritschler said she liked the idea of winter classes, adding the only
reason she is able to graduate in four years is because she took three years of summer classes. “I think it would be just a nice way to get more credits in or to just relieve stress during the semester so you can take fewer classes in the spring or the fall,” Tritschler said. First year UW-Madison graduate student Mary Parsons agreed she would take winter classes given the option and said three weeks seems like the
appropriate amount of time for them to last. She said three weeks is enough time for classes to occur and it still allows students a week of break. The university’s e-mail sent by the Division of Continuing Studies included a survey asking students to share their opinions on the matter. According to the e-mail, students’ feedback can help UW meet the academic needs of the student body. —Alex DiTullio
student life
Jacket envy The MadHatters, a UW-Madison men’s a capella group, celebrated their 15th anniversary with a show at the Overture Center Saturday night. Luke Hrovat-Staedter was a featured singer at the beginning of the concert. + Photo by Mark Kauzlarich
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”
page two 2
l
tODAY: windy/cloudy hi 52º / lo 32º
hi 58º / lo 39º
Monday, April 16, 2012
An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 122, Issue 55
News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com Editor in Chief Kayla Johnson
Managing Editor Nico Savidge
News Team Campus Editor Alex DiTulli o College Editor Anna Duffin City Editor Abby Becker State Editor Tyler Nickerson Enterprise Editor Scott Girard Associate News Editor Ben Siegel News Manager Alison Bauter Opinion Editors Matt Beaty • Nick Fritz Editorial Board Chair Samantha Witthuhn Arts Editors Riley Beggin • Jaime Brackeen Sports Editors Ryan Evans • Matthew Kleist Page Two Editor Rebecca Alt • Jacqueline O’Reilly Life & Style Editor Maggie DeGroot Features Editor Samy Moskol Photo Editors Mark Kauzlarich • Stephanie Daher Graphics Editors Dylan Moriarty • Angel Lee Multimedia Editors Eddy Cevilla • Mark Troianovski Science Editor Lauren Michael Diversity Editor Aarushi Agni Copy Chiefs Jenna Bushnell • Mara Jezior Steven Rosenbaum • Dan Sparks Copy Editors Danny Marchewka
Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Parker Gabriel Advertising Manager Nick Bruno Account Executives Dennis Lee • Philip Aciman Emily Rosenbaum • Joy Shin Sherry Xu • Alexa Buckingham Tze Min Lim Web Director Eric Harris Public Relations Manager Becky Tucci Events Manager Bill Clifford Creative Director Claire Silverstein Office Managers Mike Jasinski • Dave Mendelsohn 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.
Editorial Board Matt Beaty • Nick Fritz Kayla Johnson • Jacqueline O’Reilly Steven Rosenbaum • Nico Savidge Ariel Shapiro • Samantha Witthuhn
Jacqueline O’Reilly o’really?!
O
ver the weekend, the editorial staff of this fine publication did something it is known to do: party. We Cardinalistas live by two codes. The first you will find printed at the bottom of each edition’s front page (I’ll wait while you flip the page over to read it). The second is one inscribed within our hearts, a mantra we were all born believing: Work hard, play hard. This weekend’s fiesta featured a ’90s theme. I was particularly drawn to it seeing as I am at an age where damn near every aspect of my life is in flux, so I feel safe clinging to images of a slime-covered Amanda Bynes or crime-fighting turtles. Still, while it is now easy to remember the ’90s as a carefree era of my life, I know the decade featured its own unique problems. Truth be told, I have always been a bit neurotic (My mother told my kid self that “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” should be my theme song), and my time spent in single digits was no exception. Sure, the concerns of my Limited Too-clad self were not quite as weighty as the obstacles of today—get a job, move to a city where I know no one, whatever—but they felt so at the time. So let’s put on our rose-tinted glasses and get nostalgic for the fears of yesteryear, shall we?
Make-out parties
Remember when TGIF and the like tried to convince us these were a thing? And by “tried to convince us” I mean they were profoundly successful in getting me to think middle-school par-
ties were comprised exclusively of dimmed lights and couples swapping spit within two feet of each other. I recall one episode of “Full House” in particular, delightfully titled “Making Out is Hard To Do.” Stephanie walks in the door of her no-good friend, Gia’s, party, is immediately put in the hands of some dude named Bobby and told to “have fun!” Gia then flips off the lights and, without pause, the tweens—with the exception of Stephanie, of course—start frenching like there’s no tomorrow.
Again, with age came understanding, and by understanding I mean not ridiculous teen narratives. I do not remember my exact reaction to what I assumed was a glimpse into my future, but I imagine it was an overwhelming mix of terror and shock. This is what junior high was going to be like? What if I was a bad kisser? I had gone to summer camp, but the place was saturated in Bible verses and chaperones, so it was not like us girls snuck out and practiced kissing on our forearms under the moonlight. That would have made Jesus cry. Eventually I would mature enough to recognize these gatherings, like most “Full House” anecdotes, were a load of bologna. Sure, the drunken parties we all attended our freshman years had a regrettable essence of this tomfoolery, but nothing quite as on-
the-nose as the shindig Stephanie found herself at. This is not to say, however, the episode didn’t move me to whip out the pillow and start practicing.
Getting married straight out of high school
Two things happened when I watched Topanga propose to Cory at their high school graduation: The seeds of feminism were planted in my nine-yearold soul, and the realization that my prom date had to be “the one” slapped me in the face. It was as if a clock had started to countdown: You have 10 years, Jacqueline, to find a husband as loving as Cory Matthews. Go. Well crap. Cory had been in love with Topanga since before they were officially teenagers, so I really only had four years to find him—at best. Did the world not know boys were gross? I wasn’t wearing my David and Goliath “Boys are stupid” T-shirt because I disagreed with its message. As if this was not perplexing enough, all of my favorite shows seemed to be in on this cause. Think about it: D.J. had Steve. Sabrina had Harvey. Pete had Pete. Cripes! Again, with age came understanding, and by understanding I mean not ridiculous teen narratives. Had I gotten married to my high school boyfriend… dear god, I won’t waste your time entertaining that nightmare, but let’s just say though the timeline has been altered, Cory Matthews has proven a good point of comparison.
Inherently known, overly choreographed prom dances
I have never been one to groove with the beat. While all of my girl friends were going to dance class, I was at Young Astronomers building rockets
Delving into
with my dad. I was OK with this. I never learned to dance because I never wanted to. That all changed upon viewing “She’s All That.” What a phenomenal flick. Freddie Prinze, Jr. is a hunk that still makes me go weak in the knees. No shame. Additionally, the nerdy girl got the guy, which was encouraging for the eightyear-old who, again, spent her Saturdays studying planets and longing for a telescope. Regardless, the film’s prom scene shook me to my core. As soon as handsome Freddie walked into the ballroom, “The Rockafella Skank” came on and everyone just knew the moves to this supremely intricate dance. I was baffled. How does that happen? Were they warned ahead of time in the school announcements or something? Would I be warned? During puberty, could I expect to develop dance skills in addition to boobs and leg hair? Needless to say, I was flipping out. Of course, I would learn that this was just one of the many lies movies were pushing about prom, the other two big ones being that everyone loses their virginity that night and that the event is actually fun. These were just three of the struggles I faced as a kid. Getting the latest Hip Clip, arguing with my mom about subscribing to the Mary-Kate and Ashley Fan Club, going to PG movies; all these and more kept me up in the ’90s. Still, I’d give back every Beanie Baby if it meant I could stop worrying about the future and instead focus on whether Nick or Justin is cuter. Were make-out parties totally a thing but Jacqueline wouldn’t know because she was never invited to one? Whomp. Tell her what a loser she is at jgoreilly@dailycardinal.com.
’s History
April 15, 1997
Rally demands more courses By Karen Kersting of the Cardinal staff
UW-Madison students protested Monday in front of Bascom Hall to persuade university administration to create
a Chicano Studies department, which would expand the existing Chicano studies program. The protest marked the 23rd anniversary of a similar picket line march which led to the
Board of Directors Melissa Anderson, President Kayla Johnson • Nico Savidge Parker Gabriel • John Surdyk Janet Larson • Nick Bruno Jenny Sereno • Chris Drosner Jason Stein • Nancy Sandy
© 2012, 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 e-mail to edit@dailycardinal.com.
dailycardinal.com
Longing for fears of the ’90s
2142 Vilas Communication Hall 821 University Avenue Madison, Wis., 53706-1497 (608) 262-8000 • fax (608) 262-8100
Tuesday: partly cloudy
AARON O’NEIL/the daily cardinal
Ofelia Delgado, left, and Janie Ocejo protest the university’s lack of a Chicano Studies department Monday afternoon.
establishment of the program’s creation. Currently, only AfroAmerican Studies maintains an entire department, while other ethnic studies only have program status, said Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan member Kristela Cervera. Approximately 100 students marched from Library Mall up Bascom Hill, chanting “Take back Chicano studies.” Civil Rights Defense Coalition member Greg Maney argued Chancellor David Ward should support the creation of the department if he is truly committed to diversity. Ward recently signed a CRDC proposal to increase minority representation on campus. “What we’re pushing for is a Chicano studies department,” Maney said. “It’s long overdue. How long do we have to wait for equal representation on campus?” The march was organized by several student groups including
the CRDC, the Asian American Student Union, the Black Student Union, Wunk Sheek, MEChA and La Collectiva. Many of these student groups have been fighting for more diversity on campus. Cervera argued not having a Chicano Studies department alienates some students and makes it difficult to recruit a diverse student population. “It’s hypocrisy that the administration prides itself on the diversity of this campus, but they don’t have a department of Chicano Studies nor do they seem to be moving in the direction of funding one,” said Afseneh Moradian of the International Socialist Organization. “If this university wants to be a leader in learning, they have to be ahead of the game,” said student Jan Saiz, who participated in the march held 23 years ago.
news
Monday, April 16, 2012 3
l
dailycardinal.com
Risser, 84, will seek 13th senate election
On campus
For a good cause St. Baldrick’s Foundation, a volunteer-driven charity, held a head-shaving fundraiser in the Red Gym Saturday. Proceeds went to fund research for curing childhood cancers. + Photo by Stephanie Daher
Mediation plans with adidas move forward UW-Madison Chancellor David Ward said the university is making progress toward beginning mediation with adidas, UW’s main licensing partner, to resolve the ongoing dispute over whether the company owes unemployed workers severance pay. Ward wrote in an update to the university’s primary licensing committee Thursday that the Department of Justice, which will represent UW in the mediation process, has been working with adidas to select a mediation service upon which both parties agree. While Ward admitted the
mediation process has moved “slower than most of us prefer,” he said he is pleased to report that both parties have agreed on a process for selecting a mediator from a panel of available retired judges. Ward decided to enter a period of mediation with adidas last month to resolve the dispute over whether the company owes employees severance pay after a factory contracted by adidas closed last January. Adidas has consistently said they are not responsible for paying the workers. However, the Labor Licensing Policy
Committee and Student Labor Action Coalition members have argued that by not paying the workers, adidas is in breach of the university’s code of conduct— which outlines a company’s responsibilities in dealing with workers, factories and suppliers. Once the mediator has been selected, Ward said the parties and the mediator will choose dates and a location for mediation. Ward also said he still believes mediation presents UW the best opportunity to ensure the workers are paid. —Alex DiTullio
State Sen. Fred Risser, D-Madison, has represented Madison, including the UW-Madison campus, since 1964. On Saturday, the 84 year old announced he will seek a thirteenth straight election. In a statement Saturday, Risser stressed the need for Wisconsin to “get back on track” as a progressive and innovative state and pledged to work to remove the “radical right wing agenda” being pursued by the current administration. Risser, an influential and outspoken anti-Gov. Scott Walker figure, was one of the 14 Democratic Senators who fled the state last spring in reaction to Act 10, which, among other things, eliminated collective bargaining rights for public employees.
stephanie daher/cardinal file photo
Sen. Risser, D-Madison, is the state’s longest serving legislator In an interview with The Daily Cardinal in February, Risser said Act 10 and the strong public reaction to it is “extremely unique.” “I’ve been in the Senate now for 50 years and nothing like this has happened before and nothing like this will ever happen again,” Risser said.
Students, Regents seek closer relations Student leaders asked members of the Board of Regents Friday to consider increasing avenues for communication with students system-wide. Associated Students of Madison Chair Allie Gardner and United Council Vice Chair Dylan Jambrek said students throughout the nation have recently voiced concerns about not being able to meet with their systems’ governing bodies, and the Board of Regents should be proactive in preventing similar situations in Wisconsin. At Santa Monica College in California, Gardner and Jambrek noted, chaos ensued at their Regents meeting after many students showed up requesting to speak. Ultimately, around 30 people were pepper-sprayed and the meeting was cancelled. “We’re particularly concerned because we see a lot of the same issues that are in those states here in Wisconsin,” Jambrek said. “We shouldn’t necessarily think that they’re
somehow special or that we necessarily will not see a boiling over of tensions.” Gardner and Jambrek suggested the board add an open forum section onto its meetings, attend United Council conventions and release meeting agendas earlier to make members more available for student input. Some regents said members of the board are always open to meeting with students, and students should make an effort to communicate with them on a regular basis. UW System President Kevin Reilly said it is important students reach out to system leaders not only to express concerns, but also in more positive circumstances. “There are big issues out there, and there will be tensions given the conditions in which we find ourselves,” Reilly said. “We need to know each other as people a little bit better, I think.” —Anna Duffin
UW gives first ‘Anthony Shadid’ award UW-Madison’s Center on Journalism Ethics concluded its fourth annual conference by awarding the first ever Anthony Shadid Award for Journalism Ethics Friday. This year’s ethics conference examined electoral reporting and the impact of election coverage on democracy in an increasingly partisan media world. Sessions throughout the day focused on political advertising, fact-checking and social media. The day culminated with a tribute to recently deceased journalist from The New York Times and UW alumnus Anthony
Shadid, and the presentation of the first ever Anthony Shadid Award for Journalism Ethics to Steve Lovejoy, editor of Racine’s Journal Times. The award, formerly called the Wisconsin Commitment to Journalism Ethics Award, recognizes journalists whose work demonstrates dedication to ethical reporting principles. Shadid, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, died while covering the conflict in Syria earlier this year. He was a member of the Center’s advisory board, as well as a 1990 UW-Madison graduate and former editor at The Daily Cardinal.
Man allegedly robs church employee An employee at Calvary Lutheran Chapel located at State and Lake streets called Madison police after she caught a man stealing from her purse on Wednesday evening. Officers were dispatched to the church at 701 State St. Wednesday around 5:00 p.m., according to Madison Police Department
spokesperson Joel DeSpain. The suspect ran away after the woman caught him stealing cash from her purse, which was in the church office, according to DeSpain. Police describe the suspect as a 20- to 30-year-old black man, about six feet tall, wearing a red letterman type jacket with a ‘V’ on the front.
arts 4
l
Monday, April 16, 2012
dailycardinal.com
Independent solid gold on Madison’s silver screen David Cottrell Co-ttrell it on the mountain
T
he 2012 Wisconsin Film Festival is finally here, and featuring more films than ever over five days, from Wednesday through Sunday. The festival is a remarkable opportunity for Madisonians to see a side of the indie film world that usually requires living in L.A. or New York, right here in our own backyard. To get your cinematic tastebuds salivating, I’ve selected the five films from this year’s lineup that have intrigued me the most: “Somebody Up There Likes Me” Have you been honing your woodworking skills in the hopes of impressing Nick Offerman— the man behind quite possibly the greatest sitcom character of all time, Ron Swanson, and one hell of a lustrous mustache— when he comes to the Union Theater to perform a standup set this Wednesday? You can look forward to yet another dose of Offerman this Friday, April 20 at 10 p.m. in the Orpheum Theater in his new indie flick “Somebody Up There Likes Me”. While I
screens Saturday at 8:30 p.m. at the Union South Marquee. “Without” Even if “Without” hadn’t won a special jury award at this year’s Slamdance Film Festival—a festival started, for small indie films that had been rejected from the Sundance Film festival—as well as numerous other festival awards, its premise alone would be enough to intrigue me. This psychological drama explores the millennial generation’s constant connection and communication through cellphones and the Internet, by examining what happens when one teenage girl is cut off from all digital connection, while serving as a caretaker for a vegetative man on a remote island. The unaccustomed silence and isolation quickly begins to wear on her mind with eerie results. “Without” screens Sunday at 11:15 a.m. in the Bartell Theater. “Raiders of the Lost Ark: The Adaptation” While many kids wanted to remake their favorite movies growing up, playing out the roles of their favorite characters, few, if any, had the ambition and commitment to follow through. But in 1982, three 12-year-olds set out to film their own shot-by-shot remake of their favorite film of all time, “Raiders of the Lost Arc.”
The [Wisconsin Film] festival is a remarkable opportunity for Madisonians to see a side of the indie film world that usually requires living in L.A. or New York, right here in our own backyard.
didn’t get a chance to catch the flick at South By Southwest this year, I’ve heard good things about this deadpan comedy following the life of archetypical everyman Max (Keith Poulson) and his wife as they confront the classical family issues—marriage, childhood, career success and failure—over the course of their life, providing snapshots of a long term relationship over time. And as expected, Offerman is said to be quite the scene-stealer. “Compliance” As another flick that’s been on the festival circuit this year with screenings at both Sundance and SXSW, “Compliance” currently holds a perfect score on Rottentomatoes.com, which is even more surprising given the film’s inherently unsettling nature. “Compliance” is based on a tragic true story that’s a real-life example of the connotations of the the infamous Stanford prison experiment—that otherwise empathetic human beings can do disgusting things when ordered by authority. The film follows what happens one afternoon in a fast food restaurant when someone claiming to be a police officer calls in to the manager, informing her that one of the teenage girls working has stolen from a customer. After detaining the girl at the request of the caller, the situation begins down a slippery slope, escalating to absurd and nightmarish heights, all in the name of submitting to authority. “Compliance”
It took seven years to finish, and many more to be discovered by the world at large. But in 2003 the boys finally got to meet their hero Steven Spielberg, after a VHS tape of their project found its way into Spielberg’s hands, and now their 100-minute fan film magnum opus is playing on the real silver screen, this Saturday in the Orpheum Theater at 1:30 p.m. “Kill List” Having premiered at last year’s South By Southwest Film Festival, this film has been in conversation constantly at the fest, as everyone seemed to be looking for the new“Kill List”. This movie premiered out of nowhere, with no hype or expectation, only to blow audiences away and demand attention. The film has been called one part “Wickerman” one part “The Blair Witch Project” and follows the story of two former soldiers-turned-hit-men who find themselves embroiled in a mystery after a series of odd assignments. Considering its name has essentially become a synonym for “weird and unexpectedly awesome,” I couldn’t be more pleased by the opportunity to see “Kill List” not just once, by twice at this year’s Wisconsin Film Festival, Friday at 10:30 p.m. in the Union South Marquee and Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at Sundance Cinemas. What films are you looking forward to the most at this year’s Wisconsin Film Festival? Let David know at dcottrell@wisc.edu .
ARTS
Yoni live once The Madison chapter of South Asian Sisters performed “Yoni Ki Baat” Friday evening. Translated as “Talk of the Vagina,” the play counters “The Vagina Monologues,” bringing the voices of thirdworld women and women of color to the stage. + Photo by Shoaib Altaf
Challenge, intrigue and pixels in new game ‘Fez’ By Adam Paris the daily cardinal
VIDEO GAME REVIEW
Fez AMore often than not, a game with a troubled development cycle is destined for mediocrity. Since its announcement nearly five years ago, “Fez” has gone through several iterations as its creator, Phil Fish, sought perfection from his deeply personal product. Despite its perpetually delayed release date, “Fez” has finally emerged as a beautifully crafted game that forces players to change their perspective uncovering the world’s many mysteries. The game opens in a 2D world whose inhabitants have no perception of alternate dimensions. You play as Gomez, a happy member of this primitive society who suddenly discovers that his 2D village is merely a snapshot of the 3D world he actually inhabits. Gaining the ability to shift dimensions due to his newly acquired fez, players must recover the hidden cubes necessary to restore the recently shattered universe. Gameplay revolves around this perspective-shifting ability. Every object has four sides that appear as 2D planes, but when you shift perspective,
they often work in tandem to help the player advance or solve various puzzles. Some areas may have a platform on an alternate side you can jump on, or you may have to rapidly shift perspective to latch onto some climbable ivy around the corner. Puzzles are challenging, but rewarding with a solution often revealing itself before frustration sets in. Many of the more cryptic puzzles will require mindnumbing amounts of concentration, but these are often relegated to additional collectibles that aren’t imperative to the main story. New gameplay elements are constantly introduced throughout each distinct environment as well. Whether it’s following an explosion around the various sides of a building, shifting directions of rising platforms or time-sensitive climbing puzzles, every new wrinkle diversifies the puzzle-solving while working within the confines of the game’s primary dimensionshifting element. The sheer number of collectibles is impressive, collecting the 32 cubes required to complete the primary path took around eight hours. However, that was only half of the 64 cubes in the game and while skipping most of the more esoteric puzzles. Polytron has smartly included a new gameplus option that allows players to continue their dimensionshifting quest with all their previous collectibles intact. The world itself can be overwhelming; new levels open up rapidly and players can easily get lost amid the many backdoors and secret passages.
Exploration and losing oneself in the gorgeous environments is entertaining, but it can make it difficult to return to areas once you’ve unlocked most of the map. Having to traverse many of the puzzles again to reach a specific point I wanted to return to was more tiresome than enjoyable, although they include various warp gates for speedier transport. There are five main gates to unlock, each one leading to a vastly different setting. The graphics appear primitive because of their pixelation, but the art and various environments are wonderfully animated. A pitch perfect musical score also underscores the tone of every new locale. On its surface, “Fez” is a fairly simplistic game, you work on a 2D plane traversing new areas hoping to find the most basic of 3D objects: a cube. Yet, when you take a closer look, you’re forced to shift your perspective and the brilliance of “Fez” becomes apparent. Almost every puzzle provides that wondrous “ah-ha” moment when you finally discover the solution. Each environment offers new gameplay to expand your shifting repertoire and gives the player another wondrous landscape to explore. Despite the sometimes tiring exploration and loading issues, “Fez” stands out as one of the best downloadable games this generation. With limited story, the amazing gameplay is the main attraction throughout the entire experience, an idea every gamer should relate to no matter what perspective they’re viewing it from.
opinion Profits, self-policing can save Mifflin dailycardinal.com
david ruiz opinion columnist
C
ompared to the 2009 and 2010 Mifflin Street block parties, which were hazily remembered but mostly calm affairs, last year’s celebration was out of control. Although there were fewer arrests last year than in 2010, there were more than 20 trips to detox, three injured officers, three sexual assaults and two stabbings. I love reveling alongside my fellow students but Mifflin needs to be a party where everyone can go have fun and not get stabbed, so some changes need to be made. Given the variety of interests involved in Mifflin, it is hard to separate the wheat from the chaff in terms of ideas to help the party. Since trying to quash the party would be nearly impossible, and moving the event also seems unlikely, Mifflin is even more complicated. Some people have suggested bringing in socially active speakers or non-profit
booths, but making Mifflin boring is the most limp-wristed approach possible and any type of pacifying effect will be temporary. This year, the Mifflin police force, with some more horseback units than years past, will be strictly enforcing the laws. But overenforcement will reap no long-term benefits either, and it will only anger the students who are still standing after they receive their tickets. Mayor Paul Soglin has said the city needs to “thread the needle” in terms of Mifflin. He is correct, but restraining the party hardly indicates the deftness of his metaphor. I have many fond memories of Mifflin, and I think that the party is important to a campus that is extremely proud of its work-hardplay-hard reputation. So what should be done to save the beloved party? Mifflin will only be saved by the love students have for it, and that love needs to be expressed through new ideas before Madison police and residents slowly kill it off. Here are a few ideas. Mifflin needs to be treated as more ordinary, and people will act more ordinary. To start, Madison should embrace the balmy anarchism of the party and let it get
Monday, April 16, 2012
really weird by removing the vast video surveillance supported by majority of the police presence. fewer officers on the ground? This Removing the vision of Mifflin cops will force is admittedly students to dystopian and keep their wits possibly more because there dangerous for will be no cops the first year, to whisk them but forcing stuaway if things dents to monitor get out of conthemselves will trol. That means stifle some of fewer inebrithe assaults and ated belligerence trips to detox and fewer stabthat Mifflin can bings. There is produce in the no certainty that long run. increasing police My second presence can idea is inspired stop freak occurby a trip to Oshrences like the kosh’s spring two stabbings bar crawl. last year. The Although the grace liu/cardinal file photo only answer is bar-crawl is having students Thousands of students hardly compapolice them- gather at the 2011 Mifflin rable to Mifflin selves, which is Street Block Party to drink in terms of scale what happens and enjoy the first Saturday or environment, the rest of the of May. Madison could time when it learn from is not the first Saturday in May. the bi-annual event. The entire Since there still needs to be a police bar-crawl is oriented towards presence, why not use a system of profit-maximization. The local either mounted or radio-controlled bars, police officers on duty and
l
5
police officers paid to do security worked in tandem to keep the event fun and fluid. The profit incentive has always been missing from Mifflin, so other than the occasional sponsor, organizations do not really have any interest in helping regulate the behavior of party-goers. This is why Halloween sees only a fraction of arrests compared to Mifflin. On Halloween, everyone is just trying to make a buck, and that means keeping underage-drinking, violence and over-drunkenness to a minimum. I don’t want to see Mifflin be turned into Halloween, but by bringing in beer-vendors, food-carts and other businesses, more people will have a vested interest in Mifflin as a whole, as opposed to just being interested in getting their drunk on. If these ideas don’t sound great to you, I urge you to think about how Mifflin can be changed for the better. And hopefully 20 years from now a bunch of Wiconsinites will still keep the first Saturday in May sacred by shotgunning nasty beer and swilling cheap vodka. David Ruiz is a senior majoring in English. Send feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
Letter: Buffett Rule hurts investment, U.S. competitiveness James Mashal UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
I am writing in response to the recent article “Buffet Rule makes the super rich pay their fair share.” The argument “everyone should pay their fair share” is one that can be very difficult to argue against. On its face, the Buffett Rule seems like a good idea with pure motives. However, when one looks at the issues more closely, it is a highly flawed argument. The most obvious reason for this is that the whole concept of “fair share” is completely subjective. One could easily argue that under the current system the rich already pay far more than their fair share. The wealthiest 20% of Americans by income have seen their share of federal taxes increase at a faster rate than their share of income,
according to the Congressional Budget Office. Moreover, the richest 10% of Americans share of taxes is 1.35 times as much as their share of income. That is one of the largest in the developed world. The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development average is 1.11, larger than Canada (1.22), the U.K. (1.20) and France (1.1). By comparison to most other developed countries, wealthy Americans already pay more than their “fair share” of taxes relative to their share of income. Additionally, the arguments relating to the accumulation of wealth were flawed. While Elizabeth Warren may claim that people can only start business because of things such as roads that “the rest of us paid for,” without people starting business and
producing goods there would be no money for “the rest of us” to build roads or have public education with. Everyone has the same opportunity to use the roads and protection by the police force, and just because some people are able to use them better it doesn’t provide justification for them having to pay higher taxes or for owing anything to the “rest of us.” As importantly, the federal government has a small role in funding our schools, roads and police force. Instead the government spends money subsidizing certain industries, such as green energy or corn, creating laws and taxes that make employing people more difficult and expensive and propping up financial institutions. These are all things that the government shouldn’t do, rather than something the wealthy should be
taxed at a higher rate so they can do it. In the US, the wealthiest 1%, the wealthiest 10% and the wealthiest 20% all pay a greater share of taxes than their share of income. Implicit in this fact is that for these groups as a whole, their overall income tax rate is already higher than that of everyone else. The article pays short shrift as to why some of them have a lower overall tax rate. A subset of them, Warren Buffeft as a prime example, make most of their money by investing. This investment is the very life blood of economic growth. The tax rate for this subset of millionaires is so low because they make most of their money through capital gains and dividends, an activity the government taxes at a lower rate because they believe it is good for society and exhibits a
positive externality. When taxes on investments are raised people are discouraged from investing in business. Essentially everyone would argue is not a good thing for the U.S. economy particularly at a time when investment is already depressed. It is also important to note that income people receive from dividends has already been taxed at the corporate level. We have one of the highest corporate income tax rates in the developed world, and they are at a level that even Bill Clinton has argued is making us un-competitive. In a world where investment capital travels freely across the globe, where our recovery from the recession has been anemic, and where job growth appears to be stalling once again, is it really a good idea to make the United States an even less attractive place to invest? The biggest problem with the Buffett Rule is the way that it is being advertised by the Obama campaign as an important method of cutting deficits. As the article correctly states “in the grand scheme of things, $50 billion [raised by the tax over the next decade] doesn’t sound like a lot,” and the reason is that when you’re talking about a 13 trillion dollar cumulative deficit, it isn’t. The Obama campaign can spend lots of time saying how we need a “fairer” tax system but the reality is that it will have an insignificant effect in solving the current budget deficit. The budget proposed by President Obama, which includes the Buffett Rule, fails to tackle the unsustainable growth of spending for Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Obama’s efforts to popularize the “Buffett Rule” distracts people from the real underlying issue; namely, that the current growth of spending on entitlements is not sustainable without significantly raising taxes on everyone, including Mr. Buffett’s secretary. James Mashal is sophomore majoring in economics. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
comics 6 • Monday, Aril 16, 2012
A good thing or a bad thing? A marine catfish can taste with any part of its body. dailycardinal.com
Bedtime stories
Today’s Sudoku
Evil Bird
By Caitlin Kirihara kirihara@wisc.edu
© Puzzles by Pappocom
Eatin’ Cake
By Dylan Moriarty EatinCake@gmail.com
Solution, tips and computer program available at www.sudoku.com.
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.
Crustaches Classic
By Patrick Remington remington@wisc.edu
Today’s Crossword Puzzle
Caved In
Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com
TENNIS LESSON ACROSS 1 Aim at the barcode 5 Graft recipient 9 Kindergarten adhesive 14 Diva’s solo 15 Teensy bit 16 Tin Pan ___ 17 Be utile 20 “The King’s ___” 21 Barrister’s headgear 22 Shell competitor 23 Unambiguous response 24 “___ So Fine” (Chiffons) 26 Big bird of the pampas 28 Cookie celebrating 100 years 30 Wooden footwear 34 Told too many times 37 Barber’s quick job 39 Native Indian in the British army 40 Where advancing is the only option 44 Cessation of breathing 45 Polar bird 46 Word on wine bottles 47 Pea or bean, e.g. 49 Belgrade citizen, perhaps 51 Academic period 53 Cross-reference word
4 “Caught in the act!” 5 57 “Miracle on Ice” opponent 60 “Promise to pay” letters 62 Voter’s sheet 64 What rules are, essentially 67 Dried plum 68 Piece together film 69 Be a farrier 70 Word with “common” or “horse” 71 Adams and Ameche 72 “Legal” opener DOWN 1 Flippant 2 ___ suzette 3 “Million” ending 4 Altar approach 5 Until now 6 “How impressive!” 7 All-in-one meal 8 Fleshy-snouted beast 9 72, at Augusta National 10 Kind of soup 11 Gin variety 12 “Dick Tracy” character Trueheart 13 “Keep your ___ peeled” 18 Yodeler’s reverberation 19 Expressions of disdain 25 Feudal laborers
7 Tranquil rest 2 29 Barnyard sounds 31 “Mr. Holland’s ___” (Richard Dreyfuss film) 32 Came apart at the seams, e.g. 33 Former boy band, ‘N___ 34 Aussie gemstone 35 Canterlike gait 36 “Correct answer” sound, sometimes 38 Pouty expressions 41 Atomic bits 42 Busted, like a bronco 43 Welsh rabbits 48 “Change the World” singer Clapton 50 A drummer keeps it 52 Bellowed like a bovine 54 “Hello” or “Goodbye” 55 “Employee of the Month,” e.g. 56 Amid the waves 57 Stamp-making org. 58 Dried and withered 59 Zap with a Taser 61 “Go back,” in word processing 63 “She sells seashells” problem 65 “___ fi fo fum” 66 Tumultuous noise
Scribbles n’ Bits
By Nick Kryshak nkryshak@wisc.edu
Washington and the Bear
By Melanie Shibley shibley@wisc.edu
By Derek Sandberg kalarooka@gmail.com
sports
dailycardinal.com
Monday, April 16, 2012
l
7
Women’s Tennis
softball from page 8 by the loss, and happened to be the seventh game within the last month for that was decided by just one run. A 10-7 victory in the nightcap was paced by sophomore right fielder Mary Massei, who hit three home runs to capture the individual single game home run record for the Badgers. Junior third baseman Shannel Blackshear, sophomore first baseman Michelle Mueller and sophomore shortstop Stephanie Peace also homered, helping Wisconsin to set the single game team home run record as well. Massei’s leadoff homer gave Wisconsin a short lived lead in the first, before the Illini countered in the bottom of the inning and took a 2-1 lead in the second. The Badgers’ sophomore right fielder added her second home run of the game in the third, tying the score up at two-all. Grey Satterfield/the daily cardinal Blackshear and Mueller both homered in the fourth, giving Wisconsin’s success this year can be attributed to many things Wisconsin a lead they would including the bat of sophomore right fielder Mary Massei. not relinquish. Another home run by Massei contributed to a five run sixth inning for the Badgers, which The Wisconsin softball team 2007 against East Tennessee State. was assisted by two Illini errors. Sophomore right fielder Mary continued to set records this Peace homered to score weekend, this time for home runs Massei hit three of the teams six Wisconsin’s last run in the sevhome runs which also set a new in a single game. enth, before Illinois’ four run single-game record. The Badgers collected six comeback fell short in the bottom Massei broke the old record home runs in game two of the of the inning. doubleheader against Illinois Sun- of two, which was set multiple The Badgers’ return home times, most recently on May 14, day, breaking the previous team to Goodman Diamond next 2010 by pitcher Letty Olivarez. single-game record of five. Saturday, April 21 to face Penn The previous record was set The home run records were State in a doubleheader at noon. twice, once May 3, 2005 against the second and third new records UWBadgers.com contributed to Valparasio and again March 3, set by the Badgers this series. this report.
Badgers set home run marks
Earn $$$ and stay in Madison this summer. Road maintenance contractor accepting applications for seasonal employment. For more information call 608-842-1676
The Daily Cardinal Sports
Wisconsin claims second Big Ten win By Ryan Hill the daily cardinal
For the first time since 2003, the Wisconsin women’s tennis team (2-7 Big Ten, 11-10 overall) outlasted No. 47 Indiana (4-5, 15-8) by a score of 5-2 Sunday at the Nielsen Tennis Stadium. The upset victory puts an end to the Badgers’ five-match losing streak and also pushed their record above the .500 mark in overall competition. “I think we outfought [Indiana] today,” head coach Brian Fleishman said. “I think we competed better than they did, and I think that was the difference in the match.” In No. 1 doubles action, senior Alaina Trgovich and sophomore Nicky Stracar defeated Indiana’s sophomore Sophie Garre and freshman Katie Klyczek 8-5. Wisconsin fell however in No. 2 doubles 8-6, as junior Hannah Berner and freshman Nova Patel were dropped by Indiana senior Evgeniya Vertesheva and sophomore Kayla Fujimoto. Freshman Sarah Loebel and senior Angela Chupa beat the Hoosiers’ junior Leslie Hureau and freshman Shannon Murdy 8-6 to finalize the doubles point for Wisconsin. However, Indiana responded by claiming the first two
singles matches to go up 2-1. Stracar fell 6-2, 6-1 to Vertesheva at No. 2 singles, while Patel was defeated by Murdy 6-2, 6-4 at No. 5. Despite the setback at the beginning of singles play, Wisconsin rattled off victories in the three remaining matches. Trgovich came out victorious over No. 65 Hureau 6-5, 1-6, 6-2 at court one and Berner sealed the Wisconsin victory by defeating Klyczek in backand-forth fashion, winning 6-0, 4-6, 6-3. “My teammates really cheered me on and believed in me,” Berner said. “I just stayed calm and worked point-bypoint and pulled it through.” Loebel closed things out for the day by winning her thirdstraight victory in the No. 4 slot, beating Alecia Kauss 3-6, 6-3, 6-4. Next weekend is the last weekend of play for the Badgers before traveling to Columbus, Ohio for the Big Ten Championships. Wisconsin is on the road at Iowa Friday with a schedule noon start time. The team returns to the Nielsen Tennis Stadium Sunday for their final home match of the season against Nebraska. UWBadgers.com contributed to this report.
Men’s Golf
Wisconsin shoots seasonbest in ninth place finish By Vince Huth the daily cardinal
In an event that featured half of the Big Ten Conference, the Wisconsin men’s golf team put together its best 54-hole score of the season to finish ninth at the Hawkeye Great-River Invitational this weekend. The Badgers’ 24-over par (302-288-298—888) was highlighted by a second-round, even-par 288 in which two Badgers shot an even-par 72, and junior Chris Meyer fired a four-under 68. The junior was the lone Badger to post a round in red numbers. The host-team won the event for the second consecutive tournament in which Wisconsin played. Missouri won the COG Mizzou Intercollegiate last week, while Iowa shot a 24-under (282-274-284—840) to nab the title this weekend. Meyer did not play in the COG Mizzou Intercollegiate. Whether it was the extra rest, an urge to get back on the course or some combination of the two, the junior had it going on this weekend. His two-over (75-68-75—218) led the Badgers and was good enough to tie for 18th individually. Meyer’s fourunder 68 put him in a tie for 11th after the second round. His 11 birdies in the tournament was tops for Wisconsin. Junior Anthony Aicher was, once again, one of Wisconsin’s better performers, putting together consistent rounds of two-over 74, even-par 72 and
two-over 74. Aicher’s 54-hole score of 220 was just two more than Meyer’s team-leading total. The junior finished tied for 26th individually. Freshman Thomas O’Bryan posted the best 54-hole score of his young college career with an eight-over (78-72-74— 224). The Aurora, Ill., native improved his 18-hole average to 76.2 on the season. Junior Brady Keegan played in his first tournament since the Big Ten Match Play event in midFebruary. The junior posted the second-best score for Wisconsin in the first round with a threeover 75, but couldn’t improve upon that number during either of the final two rounds. Keegan shot a four-over 76 in the second round and closed the tournament with a six-over 78. Sophomore Zach Balit shot consecutive rounds of sevenover 79 in the first two rounds before firing a three-over par 75 in the final round. Balit recorded more pars (35) than any other Badger in the tournament. In addition to Wisconsin and Iowa, fellow Big Ten teams Penn State, Minnesota, Michigan State and Nebraska participated in the event. The Badgers will play in the Boilermaker Invitational in West Lafayette, Ind., next weekend. It will be the team’s final tune-up before the Big Ten Championships at the end of the month. UWBadgers.com contributed to this report.
Sports
Monday april 16, 2012 DailyCardinal.com
Softball
Badgers take two of three from Illini Ninestraight sets new record
By Brett Bachman the daily cardinal
The Wisconsin softball team (8-4 Big Ten, 24-11 overall) took two of its three games against Illinois this weekend, winning in an 8-0 shutout Saturday and splitting a doubleheader Sunday at Eichelberger Field. A victory Saturday extended the Badgers’ winning streak to nine games. Their last loss came April 1 against the Northwestern Wildcats. Sophomore pitcher Cassandra Darrah earned her 15th win of the season and 17th complete game in Wisconsin’s record-setting win. The Fighting Illini were unable to capitalize on six hits, leaving seven runners stranded on base over the course of the game. Wisconsin scored first in the third inning with two runs and added to their lead with another two runs in the fifth inning and four in the seventh inning. The Badgers’ defense contributed to their seventh shutout of the season. The team committed no errors in seven innings of play. The first game of Sunday’s twinbill went to Illinois, whose six, eight and nine batters combined to go 6-for-9, getting half of the Illini’s 12 hits. Illinois took advantage of a walk by Darrah and error in the
The Badgers set a new school record for consecutive wins after shutting out Illinois 8-0 Saturday afternoon. Wisconsin picked up its ninthstraight win and 23rd victory of the season to set the new mark. The previous record of eightstraight wins was set four times in the schools history. The last time the Badgers won eight straight was from March 12, 2011 to March 18, 2011, where Wisconsin outscored their opponents 34-18 and recorded one shutout. In their record-setting streak, the Badgers have a plus34 run differential and have recorded three shutouts. mark kauzlarich/the daily cardinal
Wisconsin is off to one of its best starts in years under second-year head coach Yvette Healy. The Badgers are just six games shy of tying their total wins from last season with 17 games remaining. fourth to put together a four-run inning, going ahead 5-1. The Badgers countered in the fifth inning with two runs, taking advantage of three consecutive walks and a two-RBI single to
center field by freshman designated player Marissa Mersch. Three runs in the bottom of the fifth for the Illini turned out to be just enough to fend off a four run badger comeback attempt in
the seventh inning, which left the score standing at 8-7. Wisconsin’s record-breaking nine-game win streak was ended
softball page 7
Record setting streak at UIC, 5-0 at Loyola Chicago, 3-1 at Loyola Chicago, 8-4 vs. Minnesota, 3-0 vs. Minnesota, 5-1 vs. Minnesota, 11-10 vs. Western Illinois, 12-11 vs. Western Illinois, 7-1 at Illinois, 8-0