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Monday, September 18, 2017
Best places to sweat on campus
What we can learn from a lunatic +OPINION page 5
+LIFE &STYLE page 3
Go Big Read book ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ proves controversial +SPORTS, page 8
By Noah Habenstreit ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
For many people seeking answers, “Hillbilly Elegy” came along at just the right time. J.D. Vance’s epic memoir, chosen as UW-Madison’s Go Big Read for this year, details his struggles growing up in poverty in Appalachian Ohio. Although published before the election, the book seemed to answer the question that many city-dwellers asked after Donald Trump’s shocking rise to the presidency: “How did
Freshman class will be the last elected to serve as first-year ASM reps
this happen?” The book catapulted to the top of The New York Times Bestseller list, its popularity fed by reviews such as that in the Times, which called it “a compassionate, discerning sociological analysis of the white underclass that has helped drive the politics of rebellion.” But then came the backlash, both from left-leaning policy wonks and, perhaps more surprisingly, from folks whose stories, on the surface, sound a great deal like Vance’s. Op-eds
and articles, with headlines such as “J.D. Vance, the False Prophet of Blue America” and “I was born in poverty in Appalachia. ‘Hillbilly Elegy’ doesn’t speak for me,” began appearing in publications large and small. Reviewers praised Vance, a young, conservative Marine Corps veteran and venture capitalist, for telling a gripping tale of overcoming adversity. But the criticism stemmed from the conception that Vance writes exceedingly harshly
Trice and Ford: Bradenton Brothers
COLLEGE NEWS EDITOR
This year’s UW-Madison freshmen will be the last ones eligible to sit on the Associated Students of Madison as First Year representatives after a recent decision from Student Judiciary. Currently, students who are registered as freshmen on the University Registrar can run for the four open seats, but after Oct. 18, the annual fall elections will come to a permanent close. Every four years, Student Judiciary reapportions the Student Council seats based off of the number of students in each school or college. Chief Justice Will Olson cited the business school as an example; in the last four years the population has increased and therefore needs another seat to be properly represented, he said. Student Judiciary’s ruling reapportions the four First Year seats as Business, Special, Graduate and Engineering.
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J.D. Vance’s “Hillbilly Elegy” has earned praise from reviewers, but some are concerned it sends readers the wrong message.
Progressive Randy Bryce looks to ride viral ad to an upset win over Paul Ryan By Andy Goldstein SENIOR STAFF WRITER
BRANDON MOE/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Will Olsen, chief justice for the Associated Students of Madison Student Judiciary, finalized the reapportionment process recently.
Student Judiciary redistributed council seats for next election By Maggie Chandler
about poverty — the problem, detractors say, is that he routinely blames the people of Appalachia for their own misfortunes without recognizing structural barriers at play. And furthermore, many experts view Vance’s attempts to apply policy solutions to the dire situation as misguided or even dangerous. Back in May, UW-Madison selected “Hillbilly Elegy” as its Go Big Read book for the 2017-18 school year. Unlike some other
Shared Governance Chair Deena Whitwam, who won a First Year seat in fall 2015, said she thought it was a fair decision. “The freshman reps are usually Letters and Science students, which gives that academic college disproportional voting power,” Whitwam said. “Although freshmen interested in student government will not be able to get involved in this way right in the fall, they are still always encouraged to apply for the ASM internship.” The change will impact the spring elections when the four reapportioned seats go into effect. Because of the decision, the lowest vote-getters in Business, Special, Graduate and Engineering will have the start of their term delayed until Nov. 1, 2018 — six months — so the final group of First Year representatives can finish their terms. However, Student Council can instead cut short the terms of First Year representatives with a threefourths vote. Instead of holding
office for an academic year, First Year representatives would only be in office for half their usual terms. In this case, the four lowest-vote getters in each of the reapportioned seats would take office with the rest of the 2018 representatives elected in the spring. Although the decision shortens the term of some representatives, the freshman class had double representation — from both their college or school as well as the First Year seats, which did not offer the student body equal representation, Olson said. “[Freshmen representatives] were a special status not given to incoming graduate students, transfer students, or any other student population that was new to the university,” Olson said. “We reached the consensus that with reapportionment we should aim to provide equal voice to all students and not create special classes among the student body.”
In 2018 Democrats hope to win their biggest electoral achievement since former President Barack Obama’s reelection: a congressional majority. Randy Bryce hopes to lead that charge, launching a difficult and insurgent campaign against House Speaker Paul Ryan of Janesville. Bryce is pitching himself as the Wisconsin solution to the Washington problem: a progressive union worker, cancersurvivor, Army veteran, and labor organizer who wants to take on powerful special interests. In an age of widespread distrust in government, it’s his authenticity that he hopes to win on. “I’m not trying to be anything I’m not,” Bryce told The Daily Cardinal. “I think we need more people like us, that aren’t millionaires, that aren’t born with a silver spoon in their mouth, to make decisions for us.” Despite a clear and accessible message, few campaigns are as daunting as challenging Ryan. The Speaker has served Wisconsin’s First District in Congress for nearly two decades, and hasn’t faced a serious challenge since his election in 1999. He maintained his seat easily in 2016 with 65 percent of the vote, and boasts $11.1 million in cash on hand. To Bryce’s credit, however, no previous challenger of Ryan’s has gained as much early traction.
His campaign launch ad went viral almost immediately, and he was able to raise over $100,000 in the first 24 hours, quadruple the funds that Ryan’s 2016 opponent raised altogether. His viral ad and social mediadriven fundraising efforts have been the product of a sleeker, more professional campaign than Bryce’s previous unsuccessful runs for state Senate in 2014 and state Assembly in 2012. But Republicans have criticized Bryce for favoring social media popularity and expensive advertising over concrete policy solutions. “Apparently Bryce’s grueling campaign schedule has prevented him from learning about basic issues,” Chris Martin of the Republican National Congressional Committee said in a statement, “but not from tweeting more than 150 times in the last week alone.” Though an easy target for derision, Bryce’s heavy social media presence boasts 150,000 Twitter followers under the name @IronStache, and has been an essential platform in creating viral national fundraising efforts, giving him a war chest of nearly half a million according to the Federal Elections Commission. “Normally Paul Ryan just ignores anybody running against him,” Bryce said. “They attacked us in the first twelve days. He knows he’s in for a run for his life.” Ryan’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
“…the “…thegreat greatstate stateUniversity UniversityofofWisconsin Wisconsinshould shouldever everencourage encouragethat that continual continual and and fearfearless sifting and winnowing by which less sifting aloneand the truth winnowing can beby found.” which
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New student org advocates for women across the globe By Lawrence Andrea CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR
CAMERON LANE-FLEHINGER/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Vandals spray-painted “#Justice4AnthonySmith” on a law enforcement memorial near the state Capitol this weekend. Their message was still visible Sunday, and police are investigating.
Police memorial vandalized with reference to protests By Noah Habenstreit ASSOCIATED NEWS EDIOTR
A memorial outside the state Capitol honoring fallen law enforcement officers was vandalized Saturday with a reference to protests taking place in St. Louis.
“The current system has failed many communities of color, and it is not our role to police their responses to oppression.” Claudia Koechell press secretary College Democrats
The vandal or vandals used red spray-paint to write “#Justice4AnthonySmith” in large letters across the base of the memorial. Anthony Smith was shot by St. Louis police offi-
book from page 1 schools, the university does not provide students with a list of books to choose from — at UW-Madison, it’s one book per year, and it’s recommended that all students read it. The university even pays for the book to be provided to all incoming students. In order to choose the Go Big Read book each year, UW-Madison solicits suggestions from the community, which are then sent to a panel of faculty, staff and students who narrow the list down to a few finalists, according to Go Big Read Program Lead Sheila Stoeckel. The ultimate choice is made by Chancellor Rebecca Blank. In a statement announcing the choice, Blank praised “Hillbilly Elegy” but also seemingly recognized that the selection could be controversial; as she put it, “the point [of the Go Big Read initiative] is to generate a lively conversation about a set of important issues, about which people can agree or disagree.” But Amy Hanauer, who runs the organization Policy Matters Ohio in Vance’s home state,
cer Jason Stockley in 2011, and Stockley’s recent acquittal has sparked protests by racial justice advocates. The message was on prominent display to attendees of the Madison farmers’ market Saturday morning. Crews have worked to remove the spraypaint this weekend, but as of Sunday the vandals’ message was still visible. Capitol Police are investigating the incident. Many were quick to condemn the vandalism, citing that it was both unlawful and disrespectful to police officers who died in the line of duty. The Wisconsin Professional Police Association, the largest law enforcement union in the state, called it “a slap in the face to all those in law enforcement … [and] to the freedoms that their courage preserves.” “This a disgraceful and unconscionable desecration to the officers of every race, creed and color recognized on this
memorial for paying the ultimate sacrifice in service to their communities,” the WPPA said in a statement. UW-Madison’s College Republicans shared WPPA’s statement on Facebook with the caption: “[We] stand with law enforcement and condemn this vandalism on a monument dedicated to those who have given the ultimate sacrifice to their communities.” But Claudia Koechell, the press secretary for the university’s College Democrats, told The Daily Cardinal “the current system has failed many communities of color, and it is not our role to police their responses to oppression.” Protests in St. Louis have been ongoing since the verdict came down in Stockley’s case Friday. Although many attendees have been peaceful, at least 10 law enforcement officers were injured Friday night when some protesters became violent.
doesn’t see the book as a springboard for discussion — she says it’s a dangerous choice that will give students an inaccurate view of both Appalachian people themselves and of the reasons behind the problems they face.
Wisconsin … and having it be the only book that people read,” Hanauer said. “I think that people can emerge from this book with a very inaccurate portrayal of Appalachian families — that they all struggle with addiction, that the all struggle with commitment, that they all struggle with anger, that they are all inadequate parents.” Equally harmful, according to Hanauer, is the author’s assessment of reasons for Appalachian struggles. Vance criticizes people in his hometown for their “willingness to blame everyone but [themselves]” and their desire to game the system through welfare programs and means other than working. But that’s a vast misrepresentation, Hanauer says. “[The book] presents poor families as primarily living off of non-work income, but that’s just not even possible anymore in the United States,” Hanauer said. “Vance is basing a lot of what he puts forth on a myth — the myth of the non-working poor American. What I can tell you about Ohio is this: 11 of the 13 most common jobs in the state of Ohio pay less than
“If we picked a book that everyone agreed with every single topic, that wouldn’t foster a good discussion. We’re picking books that have hard questions.” Sheila Stoeckel program lead Go Big Read
Hanauer got her Master of Public Affairs at UW-Madison’s La Follette School and has worked in economic policy in Wisconsin and in the state’s Legislature. To her, the book plays into stereotypes people have of poor Appalachians, especially at a place like UW-Madison, where students are unlikely to ever come in contact with someone from that background. “There is a real danger to assigning a book in a state like
UW-Madison students now have the opportunity to join a student organization that aims to support and bring awareness to the education, health and safety of young women all over the world. Girl Up, UW-Madison — a new chapter of the United Nations Foundation-partnered Girl Up Club — plans to support adolescent girls in developing countries through fundraising and social events on campus. According to UW-Madison senior Jennifer Torner, the club’s president, the group hopes to create an inclusive community on campus where students can discuss “issues that affect girls globally.” “I have been interested in the organization for a while and was just sitting back and thinking, ‘Well, maybe someone else will start something like this that I can get involved in,’” Torner said. “[I started the club] because I think the whole premise is really interesting and I think it is a really important thing that people need to get involved with.” The organization’s first event — set for Oct. 11 — will deal with advocacy for women’s education. According to Torner, there are currently bills in the U.S. House and Senate focusing on women’s
education. The group will be writing letters and making phone calls to their representatives in an attempt to inform them about the importance of women’s education. Along with fundraising and advocating to help young women in developing countries, Torner said she has plans to eventually have an impact on girls in the Madison community. She said her long-term goal for the club is establish a volunteer group that will help tutor young girls in the community. Aili Tripp, UW-Madison’s Gender and Women’s Studies department chair, commended the new organization’s goal. She said it is important for young girls to think critically about the problems in the world and to develop a wide variety of leadership skills. “It is important to recognize that there are many efforts and struggles to improve the condition of women going on around the world and it is up to us to support them,” Tripp said. “It is encouraging to see women on campus joining organizations to try to make a difference in this world.” Girl Up, UW-Madison’s kickoff meeting will be held Sept. 26. A location for the meeting has not yet been determined.
MORGAN WINSTON/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO
Girl Up, UW-Madison plans to support adolescent girls in developing countries through fundraising and social events. $34,000 per year. That’s not an issue with the workers, that’s a structural issue.” Many popular op-eds that condemned “Hillbilly Elegy” echoed Hanauer’s sentiment — that it’s damaging to blame people for their own struggles when structural issues make it nearly impossible for them to escape poverty.
“The point [of the Go Big Read initiative] is to generate a lively conversation about a set of important issues, about which people can agree or disagree.” Rebecca Blank chancellor UW-Madison
However, Stoeckel, speaking on behalf of the Go Big Read initiative, pushes back on the idea that Vance’s book promotes stereotypes or has negative policy implications. She encourages students to read the book for what it is: Vance’s personal narrative. “Hillbilly Elegy is a memoir:
one person’s point of view, one person’s story, one person’s reflection,” Stoeckel said. “It’s completely valid for people to have reactions and different opinions … but a couple times throughout the book and in interviews [Vance] has said ‘I’m not making specific policy recommendations.’” UW-Madison will host a panel next month open to all students, featuring experts who will speak about the themes of the book. Discussions like these are why choosing a book like “Hillbilly Elegy” is a good thing, Stoeckel said. “If we picked a book that everyone agreed with every single topic, that wouldn’t foster a good discussion,” Stoeckel said. “We’re picking books that have hard questions.” The book may raise important questions, but to Hanauer, it provides the wrong answers. She said Vance “of course” has the right to tell his own story, but “he doesn’t have the right to tell the story for a region.” “The fact that UW-Madison would be suggesting this book to every incoming student is ... giving it a much bigger platform than it deserves.”
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Get your sweat on, sans SERF
Volume 127, Issue 6-
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News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com Editor-in-Chief Managing Editor Andrew Bahl Madeline Heim News Team News Manager Nina Bertelsen Campus Editor Lawrence Andrea College Editor Maggie Chandler City Editor Gina Heeb State Editor Lilly Price Associate News Editor Noah Habenstreit Features Editor Sammy Gibbons Opinion Editor Madison Schultz • Samantha Wilcox Editorial Board Chair Jack Kelly Arts Editors Ben Golden • Samantha Marz Sports Editors Ethan Levy • Ben Pickman Gameday Editors Ethan Levy • Ben Pickman Almanac Editors Ayomide Awosika • Patrick Hoeppner Photo Editors Cameron Lane-Flehinger Brandon Moe Graphics Editors Amira Barre • Laura Mahoney Multimedia Editor Jessica Rieselbach Science Editor Julie Spitzer Life & Style Editor Cassie Hurwitz Copy Chiefs Sam Nesovanovic • Haley Sirota Justine Spore • Sydney Widell Social Media Manager Jenna Mytton Special Pages Amileah Sutliff • Yi Wu
Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Matt Wranovsky Advertising Manager Mckenzie Halling • Caleb Bussler Marketing Director Ryan Jackson The Daily Cardinal is a nonprofit organization run by its staff members and elected editors. It receives no funds from the university. Operating revenue is generated from advertising and subscription sales. The Daily Cardinal is published weekdays and distributed at the University of WisconsinMadison and its surrounding community with a circulation of 10,000. Capital Newspapers, Inc. is the Cardinal’s printer. The Daily Cardinal is printed on recycled paper. The Cardinal is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The Daily Cardinal are the sole property of the Cardinal and may not be reproduced without written permission of the editor in chief. The Daily Cardinal accepts advertising representing a wide range of views. This acceptance does not imply agreement with the views expressed. The Cardinal reserves the right to reject advertisements judged offensive based on imagery, wording or both. Complaints: News and editorial complaints should be presented to the editor in chief. Business and advertising complaints should be presented to the business manager. Letters Policy: Letters must be word processed and must include contact information. No anonymous letters will be printed. All letters to the editor will be printed at the discretion of The Daily Cardinal. Letters may be sent to opinion@ dailycardinal.com.
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Ogg Hall Fitness Center is the temporary location for many of the SERF’s old machines. Head over to the building for an energizing workout. By Megan Otto the daily cardinal
Nearly a month has passed since the university’s beloved SERF closed its doors and said farewell until 2020. Gone are the popular basketball courts, cardio room and pool that served as the central workout facility for the Southeast community. Since the SERF officially closed on August 18, many students have been at a loss as to where to go to get their workouts in. Despite the closing of the SERF, there are plenty of other options both on and near campus to get your sweat on. Ogg Hall Fitness Center To help fill the gap that the SERF left in the Southeast community, Rec Sports transformed the main lounge of Ogg Hall into the Ogg Hall Fitness Center. Complete with a variety of cardio machines, free weights and weight machines, the newest fitness center accommodates a variety of workouts. Doors to Ogg Hall are open during the Fitness Center hours, but be aware that the Fitness Center closes on Badger Football home game days. The Natatorium The Nat is one of the busi-
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The Shell Officially known as the Camp Randall Sports Center, the Shell is a good option for those living in the Southeast neighborhood who are not looking to make the cross-campus trek to the Nat. The Shell offers various places to work out, including four basketball courts, an indoor track, weight lifting machines and a few cardio machines. If you’re looking for a “chiller” workout, look no further. The Shell also boasts an ice rink and skates are available to rent. Like the Ogg Hall Fitness Center, the Shell closes its doors on Badger Football home game days. The Nielsen Tennis Stadium A well-kept Rec Sports secret, the Nielsen Tennis Stadium is located just past the Nat and serves all your tennis and squash needs. The facility has both
indoor and outdoor tennis courts, making it easy to play year-round. The 80 bus stops a short walk away from the facility, so there really is no excuse not to venture out to play a match. The Near West Fields The opening of the Near West Fields marked the completion of the first project for the Rec Sports Master Plan—a plan for new recreational facilities on campus for the next 50 years. Synthetic turf covers nearly seven acres of land that is usable for flag football, soccer, lacrosse, rugby, baseball and softball games. Anytime Fitness Located above Walgreens on East Campus Mall, Anytime Fitness is a great option if you’re looking for a place to get in a cardio or lifting workout at any time of the day. The space has cardio machines, free weights and weight machines. To see if Anytime Fitness is the right fit for you, apply for a free, seven day pass online. Kamps Fitness Look no further for a HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workout that will kick you into
shape. Located below the Hub, Kamps Fitness offers a variety of group fitness classes ranging from upper and lower body to core and arms. And, if you need more incentive to get your sweat on, Bachelorette favorite Peter Kraus serves as one of the seven trainers at Kamps Fitness. Southwest Commuter and Lakeshore Paths Run, walk or bike on either of the two paths that wind their way through campus. The Lakeshore Path is a great option if you’re looking for a scenic jog along the lake. Meanwhile, the Southwest Commuter Path stretches well beyond the confines of campus. If you don’t own a bike, rent one from one of the Madison BCycle stations scattered throughout campus. Inner Fire Yoga Slow things down, while getting a great workout at Inner Fire Yoga. Whether you are a yoga novice or pro, Inner Fire Yoga offers a variety of classes — including hot yoga. Your first class is free, so if you’re not sure if yoga is for you, test out a class at Inner Fire.
Try ice for nice skin By Sierra Bychowski the daily cardinal
Editorial Board
est workout facilities on campus due to the closing of the SERF. Whether you’re looking to play basketball or badminton, hit the cardio or weight rooms, or go for a swim in the eight-lane pool, it is all possible at the Nat. The Nat also now serves as the primary facility for Group Fitness classes.
Skincare, for many, is a real chore and a struggle to keep up with every day. Well, what if I told you there is one more step you can add that will give you a refreshing end to your nightly routine? What is this step, you ask? Isn’t it obvious? Rub an ice cube on your face, of course! This may seem odd and sound more like a technique for torture than skincare, but it really works. After cleansing your skin, grab an ice cube fresh from the freezer. Use a towel or some type of barrier between the cube and your fingers so that the cold properties are focused on your face. Wait about a minute after taking the cube out of the freezer before putting it on your face—this way it’s not as icy cold. When you’re ready, put the ice cube to your skin and gently rub in circular motions. Focus mostly on the areas where you have the largest pores or areas of acne. If it ever feels too cold, you can put a barrier between the ice and your skin, like a washcloth or paper towel, and softly press
instead of rubbing. Your skin will still get a cooling effect, but the pressure will be less intense. If you ever feel pain from putting the ice on your skin, then be sure to stop putting ice on your skin immediately—it’s a weird thing to do anyway, so you won’t be missing out on much. You can rub the ice into your skin until the cube is completely gone or until you’re bored and you don’t feel like doing it anymore. Your skin will most likely be pretty red (like you’re embarrassed that your roommate has just seen you rubbing an ice cube on your face while staring at yourself in the mirror), so be aware and plan the timing accordingly. After wiping off the excess water from your face, continue your skincare routine as normal. Your skin will quickly go back to its regular color and you may even see results right away. The effect of this skincare technique is fresher and healthier looking skin. It shrinks your pores and helps fight off acne. If you decide to use this technique consis-
Photo courtesy of creative commons
Ice is a surprising tool to use for healthy, flawless and smooth skin. tently you will probably notice your skin texture improve and become a lot smoother. Rubbing ice into your skin is probably not for everyone. Personally, it feels refreshing
and doesn’t irritate my skin in any way, but for others it may be a painful or bothersome experience. Just listen to what your skin is telling you, and you may find wonderful results!
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Weekly Ink: art as therapy By Edgar Sanchez TATTOO COLUMNIST
PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS - VIMEO
The horror film kicked of the month of September on a high note, defying box office expectations.
Stephen King adaptation ‘It’ might be able to win over horror nay-sayers By Samantha Marz ARTS EDITOR
I am not a horror fan. The jump scares, paranormal events and downright creepy characters are all things I can live without in my life. So, when I found myself sitting in a Marcus Point Cinema theater about to watch “It,” I didn’t know what to expect from the two-plus hours to come. After the credits finally rolled, though, I can say that “It” might be the exception to my horror genre aversion. The film, directed by Andy Muschietti and based on Stephen King’s novel of the same name, follows Bill Denbrough (Jaeden Lieberher) and his group of misfit friends called “The Losers Club” as they face off against Pennywise the Dancing Clown/It (Bill Skarsgård), a demonic entity that emerges from the sewers every 27 years to terrorize their small town in Maine, forcing the kids to confront their greatest fears in the process. When Pennywise first appears on-screen, I didn’t immediately buy him as the frightening, evil force he’s being sold as; his voice is high-pitched and the clown makeup makes him seem almost silly as he talks to one of the characters in the opening sequence. However, as the story unfolds and Pennywise’s true terror begins to reign over the town, it becomes clear that this is not
the circus clown you want to mess with. In particular, the scene hinted at in the first trailer where the Losers use a projector is as unexpected as it is terrifying — making me literally jump out of my seat. What invested me in the film, however, was not the demonic clown, but the Losers who try to defeat It. “It” is just as much a coming-of-age story as it is a horror story — which, conversely, is one of my favorite genres. The film focuses almost exclusively on the Losers; Muschietti takes time to set up each kid’s personal struggles as well as their friendship dynamic, giving them real reasons to want to face It and protect one another. Their chemistry and dialogue feel natural and realistic, invoking nostalgia for what it was like to be a kid trying to find your place in the world. Finding competent, let alone talented, child actors is no simple feat, but somehow the film’s casting director assembled a group of kids who can both hold and command the screen. In particular, Jaeden Lieberher’s performance as Bill, the shy, stuttering leader of the group, stands out, as does Sophia Lillis’ portrayal of Beverly Marsh, the only girl in the Losers’ Club. Finn Wolfhard, of “Stranger Things” fame, provides comic relief as Richie Tozier, giving the film levity between fear-inducing scenes.
PHOTO COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS - VIMEO
Bill Skarsgård portrays Pennywise the Dancing Clown in the film.
The technical elements of “It” also add to the film’s appeal. The way Muschietti films this movie gives it a dream-like quality, visually blurring the lines between reality and nightmare — a key theme running throughout the film. He further emphasizes this feeling through use of a wide-angle camera lens, bending the corners of the frame and exaggerating the features of the characters. The CGI on Pennywise and his hellish abilities are wisely used sparingly, heightening the terror without lingering on the artificial nature of the special effects. There is much to admire about “It,” but I do have a few minor critiques, the biggest being that throughout the film, I found myself laughing at parts of it more so than being frightened by it because some of Pennywise’s actions were a bit ridiculous. For someone who doesn’t like horror movies, that’s not necessarily a bad thing because I was able to enjoy the viewing experience more — and it’s possible I may have been nervous laughing to keep from being scared — but the film does not maintain a constant thread of tension to heighten suspense and fear. While “It” does set up all of its characters, the sheer number of kids in the Losers’ Club makes it difficult to give them all adequate screen-time, so some of them feel underdeveloped by the end of it in favor of characters like Bill and Beverly. Muschietti also chooses to use canted angle shots — tilting the camera so everything in the frame looks slanted and ominous — which I found a little annoying and tropey for a horror flick. I went into the theater with a higher level of anxiety than I normally would have when seeing a movie, and unsure of how I would react to the film, but “It,” in spite of its premise, won me over. The story, as character-driven as it is creepy, continuously fascinated me, investing me in the Losers and rooting for them to make it out alive. I wasn’t expecting to like the film as much as I did, but this is one horror flick I’m glad I was “brave” enough to experience. In the words of the film, I think if you see it, “You’ll float too.”
Getting a tattoo is a painful process, but it has the silver lining of gaining a piece of art on your body. There are many reasons to get a tattoo — some of them being more common than others — such as honoring a loved one or commemorating an experience. The act of tattooing is not a one-sided experience; you have to consider the side of the artist. A tattoo artist is personally invested in the piece because it reflects their capability as an artist and represents the parlor where they are working. A person can get a tattoo to deal with personal adversity, but how does an artist working on a piece react when they receive news of tragedy? Around two months ago, I was in the second session of a 12-hour long piece. In between the buzzing of my artist’s hammer and the sweat and blood coming from my left shoulder, a new type of pain entered the room. A close friend of my artist had entered the parlor and delivered news of a friend’s passing the night before. It was evident that the artist was in pain and in shock after losing someone close to him so unexpectedly. After a few minutes of silence, I expressed my condolences and informed him it was completely understandable if he wanted to stop the session and complete it another time. Without hesitation, he said all he wanted was “a short cigarette break,” and then he would resume. When he returned from his break, the mood in the room was somber. The buzzing of the needle was the only sound for a few minutes. As the artist worked on shading my piece, I
watched as the expression on his face slowly changed from one of pain to tranquility. There was an odd duality between my piece and the artist’s situation. The inspiration for my raven was originally a tongue-in-cheek reference to Edgar Allan Poe and a fondness for his poem, “The Raven.” But after getting into a serious accident that placed me in the hospital for a week, I developed a much stronger connection to Poe’s writing and my interpretation of “The Raven.” My artist knew about this going into the piece, and it was evident he understood its importance to me. The significance of this piece grew as the passing of my artist’s friend had now became an unwelcomed but accepted factor in the creation of my tattoo. The act of tattooing had become like a mantra for my artist. Rather than escaping the mourning process, he utilized tattooing as a vehicle to accept the tragedy. The beauty of what I had witnessed was a rare expression of art as therapy — specifically how performing one’s craft can be used as a means to deal with the outside negativity impacting an artist’s psyche. Once the piece was completed, we discussed the tattoo and the events of the day over a brief lunch. He explained that he had a lot of fun working on my piece. I was not so much surprised as much as I was grateful to hear he found some positivity in completing my project. I walked away from our final session learning two things—I had found the artist I wanted to complete all my future projects, and the power of utilizing one’s art craft as an expression of healing is strong.
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Personal tragedy can fuel creative passions like tattooing.
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Language and attitude toward suicide causes stigma for treatment ALEXANDRA HADER guest columnist
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BRANDON MOE/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Students should learn from Emperor Norton, not letting their fears get in the way of their dreams.
Students should not let their fears hinder them BROOKLYN SMITH opinion columnist
H
appy Emperor Norton Day y’all. S e p t e mb e r 17 marks the day in 1859 that a San Franciscan named Joshua Norton declared himself emperor of the United States. The truly remarkable part of Norton’s story is not that he declared himself a sovereign entity, but that nearly the entirety of San Francisco went along with it. He was never allowed real political power, but he was respected to the point that he ate at fine dining establishments for free, always had a reserved place at plays and even got out of an arrest for insanity because the public outcry was so vociferous that the chief of police issued a formal apology; from then on, the police would apparently salute him on sight, likely relieved (I’m not joking) to have been granted an imperial pardon.
In this vein, the best thing you can do at this young and spry time of your life is try.
Because he was short on money after running afoul of the Peruvian rice market, he created his own tender which was useable in the city, briefly declared himself Protector of Mexico, and when a dog that was associated with him (one of two dogs who were local celebrities for reasons unrelated to Norton) died, the writer of its eulogy was none other than Mark Twain, who also based the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn character the King on Norton. Upon Emperor Norton’s death, the San Francisco Chronicle wrote, “Norton I, by the grace of God, Emperor of the United States and Protector of Mexico, departed this life,” and, depending on the source, his funeral had at least 10,000 mourners.
September 17 also marks the day before the second full week of class, when stress kicks into high gear. In order to make the best of this year, whether you’re nearly ready to graduate or are one of seemingly 15,000 freshmen, I recommend looking to Emperor Norton’s lessons on success.
Consider surrendering to your lunatic impulses.
The first tip you should take from Norton is to take control. Just from taking a quick look at Facebook, one of the biggest stressors right now is our political climate; many of us are on a pendulum, swinging from disgust toward the Trump administration to a deep sense of exhaustion that comes from being too immersed in the political world for too long. According to Psychology Today’s unintentionally scathing blog post “How to Cope With Trump Anxiety” written by Steven Stosny, Ph.D, “anxiety and nervousness arise when we feel powerless.” The article further stresses the importance of empowering ourselves and focusing on what we can control. Emperor Norton took a stand in the name of common sense, and was also sick of political sparring; one of his royal decrees thus abolished the Democratic and Republican parties. While Norton and Stosny applied this Nietzschean coping strategy to politics, it is entirely relevant to every aspect of life. There is no use stressing about your past performance; what you can control is how much you study today, whether or not you do your homework, or apply for a job, or ask out your crush. In this vein, the best thing you can do at this young and spry time of your life is try. Take risks: Before he was a
ruler, Norton lost his fortune on rice, but that’s not why he has a Wikipedia page. Even if you fear being unable to succeed, at least try. You may not accomplish everything you wish to do, but you’ll achieve lots more if you make an attempt than if you don’t. Our boy Norton dealt with his policies being ignored by pretty much everyone, but, 61 years after Norton demanded a suspension bridge be erected between San Francisco and Oakland, a bridge of these specifications began construction. While this was likely not the Emperor’s doing, it illustrates the value of both not giving a hoot about what others think of you and voicing your ideas about how to improve the world. Finally, and I think most importantly, consider surrendering to your lunatic impulses. To be clear, I am not suggesting that we all metabolize our deaths, but have as much fun as you can without fatally damaging your GPA.
There is no use stressing about your past performance.
After you graduate from college, you’ll have the rest of your life to work until you retire and die shortly thereafter. This happens to be comforting to me, because I’m a reclusive, taskoriented capitalist, but even I see the value of dropping your inhibitions like a hot potato. Even if you get nothing done, you’ll have a better chance of being loved by those close to you, and one could do much worse than that. Brooklyn is a junior majoring in English. What are your thoughts on Emperor Norton and some of the skills we could perhaps learn from him? Would you follow his lead during your college career? Please send questions, comments or concerns to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
uicide is a term riddled with a negative connotation, and yet it is commonplace in society today. The stigma of silence around suicide and the idea that it shouldn’t be talked about can be one of the biggest barriers in effectively preventing suicides and helping a struggling individual seek treatment. One way to combat this is to have less stigmatizing language when addressing suicide and is something that can be practiced in everyday life. Rather than saying someone “committed suicide,” implicating that they are criminal or committed a crime, it’s better to say outright that they “took their own life” or “died by suicide”. It’s also harmful to say things like “successful” or “unsuccessful” or “failed attempt” at suicide, or saying that somebody “finally succeeded in committing suicide.” You don’t want to assign blame or make it seem like suicide is a goal. Instead it is more accurate to say that somebody “tried to end their life,” or had a “non-fatal” attempt. Addressing the topic of suicide in this manner helps both survivors of suicide and those who have dealt with it individually feel less stigma. When discussing suicide prevention, it is important to recognize the signs presented. Contrary to popular misconception, there are almost always signs that a suicide is in consideration or is going to occur before the fact but only if you know what to look for. If you notice that the person you’re concerned about seems hopeless or depressed, reach out. If they make jokes about suicide, it might be to gauge your reaction to their discussion of it or the topic in general. If they say things like “none of this will matter soon anyway,” “I won’t be around long enough to…” or “It would be better for everyone if I was gone,” etc., these are often thinly veiled indications that they may be considering killing themselves. If someone has been depressed, saying the above things, etc. and then suddenly seems to be in markedly better
spirits, that’s a big red flag and can mean that they have decided to end their suffering through suicide. At this point or before, it is very important to respond. So what are the proper actions to take initially? In responding to somebody who may be suicidal, first, state what you have noticed and express your concerns. Then, in order to remove any stigma or societal shame they might be experiencing, remind them that suicide ideation is normal for people who are struggling. The ability to express empathy can extremely help remind these individuals that they are not alone in this fight. It’s important to do this so that the struggling person doesn’t feel isolated or alienated. After these two things, do not be afraid to ask the question “Are you considering suicide?” Sometimes, people can be afraid to ask this question for fear of putting the idea in someone’s head. But, this is another myth — that person has definitely heard of suicide before and you asking the question/bringing the situation into the light could make all the difference. After asking these questions, refer them to local professionals or places to get the personal help and care that they need. Advocacy, education and support are three pillars to live by with regards to suicide prevention and mental health awareness. Education on the steps to take and how to respond can help individuals and communities know how to properly care and support for those affected by suicidal ideations. Knowledge can be spread like wildfire and, from there, society as a whole will have the ability to advocate and help those in need. This is how we stop suicide and eliminate mental health stigma. This opinion was co-written by Alexandra Hader, the ASM Equity and Inclusion chair, and the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). If you or someone you know is considering suicide, you can contact the University Health Services hotline at (608) 265-5600, or the National Suicide Prevention hotline at 1-800-273-8255. Send any and all questions or comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
BETSY OSTERBERGER/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO
Suicide prevention starts with erasing the stigma surrounding it.
comics
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dailycardinal.com
Your heart beats more than 100,000 times per day. Today’s Sudoku
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By Rodney Lambright graphics@dailycardinal.com
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22 Tijuana timeout
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25 More hot-tempered
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57 Went kaput
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34 Sixty secs.
19 Wine glass part
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64 Caboose’s position
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65 Bad grades
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59 Palindromic relative
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dailycardinal.com Monday, September 18, 2017 7 l
Campus douche shocked to find that women no longer thrilled to hear his mediocre rendition of “Wonderwall” By Savannah McHugh THE DAILY CARDINAL
Following the Badgers’ sweeping victory last Saturday, most of the student population could most likely be found in celebration, including junior Econ major and aspiring hipster Hugh Jass. Hugh and his friends were enjoying a night of revelry in their communal Mifflin home when he noticed something unusual. “When we were all hanging out in the basement to watch the end of a beer pong tournament, I thought I’d whip out my guitar. You know, to set the mood and help everybody relax. It’s usually a big hit with the ladies, too,” Hugh told me,/≥ when I spoke with him about his experience earlier this week. He quickly found out that wasn’t the case.
“I had to play the opening progression three whole times before anyone even realized I was playing! Even after I said ‘Anyway, here’s Wonderwall,’ which is, like, my signature opening line, more people moved away from me than usual!” Hugh was both shocked and surprised at the reaction to his “classic” ice-breaker for many casual gatherings and social events of the past. When I proceeded to ask if he had considered mastering yet another overplayed campfire tune, he was adamant that it was his “signature song.” With the well-known progressive social environment of our fair city, change has become commonplace as it reflects the artistic diversity of our community. New bands and independent artists are steadily emerg-
ing onto the scene and show no signs of slowing down, continually setting the bar higher and higher for those wishing to make an impression. “I don’t know what’s going on with people these days,” Hugh remarked when I asked about the future of music. “All I know is that stupid Oasis song doesn’t get me nearly as much poon as it used to.” Those akin with Hugh who possess only a casual interest in music involving actual instruments instead of Macbooks and drum machines will too feel the effects of this evolution as it takes place right before our eyes. That being said, twenty-something desperados hoping to stay afloat in this turbulent musical era should look no further than the simple four-chord progres-
IMAGE COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS
Hugh Jass strums a forlorn chord from “Wonderwall” in a lonely field. sions behind 90s hits such as Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, Sublime’s “Santeria”, and Green Day’s “Wake Me Up (When September Ends)”. As for the future of these
campfire crooners, will they continue their reign of terror over casual friendly gatherings and bonfires? Or will the demand for real talent finally snuff them out?
Reform the Dictionary: mitigating disaster by language alteration By Michael Kowalski THE DAILY CARDINAL
Ideas are powerful. So powerful, in fact, that they have been the cause of countless ideological movements across the globe. From the rise of fascism in Germany and communism in Russia in the early 20th century, to rise of the alt-right led by figures like Breitbart’s Steve Bannon right here on Main Street in the United States. These movements, as evidenced by both the recent memories of the events in Charlottesville and the distant ones of what our forefathers invaded Europe to stop, can have life-altering consequences. Analyzing the effects that ideas — something that cannot even be seen nor physically touched — can have on society begs the question: where do ideas come from? The answer is simpler than one may think; ideas stem from thoughts, and thoughts from words. Words are just the invention of several cultures across the globe over time. Used in various combinations, they form hundreds of languages for humans to not only interact with one another, but with themselves. When people think, they are doing so with their native language. Those who are bilingual can think in two separate languages, or in a mixture of both. An example of this phenomenon is when someone who learning a second language has dreams in that new language. This event shows that one’s brain is further developing
its ability to think within the boundaries of the new “code” one is providing it. Without this code, or language, one’s ability to think is limited. So, through logical reasoning, it is reasonable to conclude that after all the atrocities the world has witnessed and continues to witness due to — at its roots — words, that something must be done. This something, is to eliminate any words from dictionaries of all languages that may distress
an individual — race, religion, war, fat, mean, short, poor. According to calculations from a think tank, Trust Us Because of Our Fancy Title, this could reduce dictionaries worldwide by nearly half! After an estimated twenty years of these words being eliminated, both their use and potential to harm others, will cease to exist. If you find yourself doubting the effectiveness or morality of this plan, just read George Orwell’s 1984 to discover its potential.
IMAGE COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS
Every unsavory character and his mother now have access to your credit info.
In response to Equifax hack, local man maxes out credit cards, claims identity theft By Ayomide Awosika THE DAILY CARDINAL
IMAGE COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS
A global academic community has reached a consensus for alterations.
Within the last week, news broke that Equifax, one of the three companies in the U.S. that holds the financial information for every person in the country with credit, had been hacked. This hack has resulted in the information of nearly 144 million Americans’ information being accessed by unknown individuals, who can now potentially ruin the financial stability of hardworking, law abiding citizens. For most people, this is a terrifying and potentially lifealtering event. However, when Cardinal staffers reached out to someone we thought had been affected by the hack we discovered that it may be a godsend for some. After we initially made contact with local Madison man Paye Ein Billes, his legal name, not a pseudonym, he told us that the hack has allowed him to “live [his] best life.” When pressed further he told us, “Once I found
out about the hack I had an ingenious idea. What if I make a bunch of credit cards and live my life to the fullest, you know? I’ve paid off my student loans, bought myself the most lavish meals in Madison, copped myself a bunch of clothes on State Street.” He continued, “I even bought that one blender and those socks from Walmart I’ve always wanted. You know, living live to the fullest! Then after I max them all out, I call my bank and say someone from the hack must have made these and I get off scot free!” When we pointed out that paying off his student loans and only buying things at stores he frequents in the city he was born and raised in would be very suspicious, he quickly responded, “Nah, man. Don’t worry about it, it’s foolproof. I bought the blender when I was at my bud’s place in Middleton last week. There’s no way they’ll know it was me.” The last email received from Billes detailed attempts to raise legal fees on Go-Fund-Me.
Have writing chops? Strong opinions? Mountain-sized chips on your shoulder? Ideas waiting to be unleashed? The Almanac desk is always looking for skilled writers to bolster our resumé (and our editors’ egos). Satirical and argumentative pieces averaging 350 words in length or creative pieces (fiction, poetry) can be sent to almanac@dailycardinal.com for consideration. While there is no limit to the length of creative pieces, we do ask you to keep in mind that they will be printed in this newpaper upon acceptance - so please plan accordingly.
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Column
It’s time to start asking ourselves if Alex Hornibrook is an elite quarterback Sebastian van bastelaer
Unopinionated I have a confession to make. Coming into Saturday’s tilt with BYU, I still wasn’t sold on Alex Hornibrook. I’ve been a consistent backer of other quarterbacks on the UW roster, as my avowed passion for Jack Coan will attest. My well-worn “Bart Heisman” shirt from last year’s campaign can also serve as proof of that. Well, it’s high time for me to eat my words. Hornibrook’s near-perfect day in Provo yesterday against a putatively strong BYU defense showed the world why Paul Chryst has maintained such steadfast loyalty towards his second-year quarterback. A drop by true freshman Danny Davis deprived the Pennsylvanian signal-caller of a perfect 19-for-19 day, but Hornibrook can hardly complain. He was firing on all cylinders, connecting with receiver after receiver. His decision-making was excellent, his accuracy and pocket-presence was lightyears ahead of where he was last year. So maybe it’s time to ask the ageold question: Is Alex Hornibrook an elite quarterback? Now, I don’t fail to see the irony of asking such a question as I proudly don my black Joe Flacco jersey. As a Marylander, the “Is Joe Flacco elite?” question has been asked of me, often sardonically, a myriad of
times in the past half-decade. So it’s only natural that I should be the first to get this debate started. Well, almost the first: A quick search on Twitter for “Alex Hornibrook elite” provides one result, a tweet that garnered a grand total of one like. I’m aware that I have a proclivity to prematurely overreact to sports events. After the Badgers basketball team upset Villanova in the NCAA Tournament, I began searching for plane tickets to Phoenix and considered reaching out to my aunt and uncle in the area to see about lodging. I’m also always convincing myself that every year is the Washington Capitals’ year to win the Stanley Cup. So I’m no stranger to self-delusion. In fact, Hornibrook’s impressive performance against MSU last year led me to set unnecessarily high expectations for the youngster — turned out the Spartans weren’t nearly as good as we thought they were. My sunny optimism when it comes to Hornibrook this year, however, is more grounded in reality, or so I think. Sure, it wasn’t a Big Ten game, but it was against a legitimate opponent in a difficult environment. His third-down efficiency, and particularly the use of the various weapons at his disposal, showed a maturity that he seemed to lack last year. Furthermore, the weapons at his disposal looked downright scary. The Cougars generally put the clamps on Troy Fumagalli, and Jazz
Peavy had another performance that fell short of the expectations many had set for him this season. Yet true sophomores A.J. Taylor and Quintez Cephus stepped up in their stead. The aforementioned Davis, despite his drop, has flashed big-play potential as well. The offensive line, injury to Jon Dietzen notwithstanding, looked downright dominant for much of the game, and having a bye week to convalesce will certainly help it improve. With the players around him continuing to show their talent, Hornibrook will have plenty of opportunities to continue to improve. A weak schedule will certainly help as well. While the season slate has never seemed overly daunting, the Badgers’ rivals’ ineptitude to this point has been even more encouraging. Northwestern absolutely imploded against Duke; Nebraska lost to MAC also-ran Northern Illinois at home; Iowa struggled to put away North Texas; Purdue and Maryland’s quick starts don’t seem sustainable; Michigan can’t seem to find their offense; and Minnesota seems to be the same old Minnesota. All in all, with each passing week, UW’s schedule looks increasingly manageable. Add in a formidable supporting cast and a head coach reputed for his ability to develop young quarterbacks, and the sky’s the limit for Alex Hornibrook. In fact, I expect him to finish second in the Heisman vote for the next three seasons (coming in just behind Jonathan Taylor, of course). That’s not an overreaction, right?
Cameron Lane-Flehinger/the daily cardinal
Alex Hornibrook completed 18 of his 19 pass attempts in Wisconsin’s win over BYU, setting a UW record for completeion percentage.
News
The decline in football participation by boys ages 6-12
By Ben Pickman The Daily Cardinal
On March 16, 2015, Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez received a phone call from an Ohio number that he didn’t recognize. He assumed it was from one of his former football players, but he wasn’t certain of it. The call, as it turned out, was from former Wisconsin linebacker Chris Borland. Borland was mere weeks away from completing his rookie season with the San Francisco 49ers and just over a year removed from winning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and being named a First-team All-American at Wisconsin. But despite his accolades, Borland was calling Alvarez to tell him he was retiring from football as a result of head-related medical concerns. “I was really worried Coach that you were going to be upset with me,” Alvarez recalls Borland saying. “Why would I be upset that you don’t want to play pro football,” Alvarez responded. “That’s your choice.” Speaking Sunday morning at
the inaugural Capital Times Idea Fest, Alvarez acknowledged just how important football has been to his life. But despite what it has brought him, he has hesitations about the sport’s future. “I love the game, and everything that I have been given in my life is because of football,” he said. “And I’m concerned and everybody in our business is concerned about football and the business of football.” Football, according to Alvarez, accounts for twothirds of UW-Madison’s athletic department income. It is the university’s most popular sport, and in many ways the culture that Alvarez created when he took over the football program in 1990 is now infused in UW’s other athletic programs. Alvarez is also aware of the effects that recent scientific research has had on the number of athletes playing the sport, as well as how coaching has changed as a result. “I think we are trying to address the concussion issue through the rules of the game. How you teach the game. How
you start teaching the game. How to tackle and eliminate the head contact,” Alvarez said. “I’m concerned that in some areas there’s not enough interest in junior high football.” In 2015, participation in tackle football by boys ages 6 to 12 had fallen by nearly 20 percent since 2009, according to the Sports and Fitness Industry Association. In January 2017, USA Football, the national governing body for amateur football, announced that it was intending to introduce a drastically altered youth football game that brings the game closer to flag football in an effort to avoid much of the violence of the current version. Rule changes and equipment adjustments have also been made at the college level. Despite this, though, Alvarez’s concerns seemingly won’t be going away anytime soon. “We don’t celebrate the physicality in the same way,” Alvarez said. “We’re trying to address the [safety concerns]. And I think we will continue to address that.”
Number of boys participating
Alvarez ‘concerned’ about future of football, discusses UW’s efforts to make sport safer
Years Data courtest of the Sports and fitness industry association
Youth football participation declined almonst 20 percent between 2009-2015.
Wisconsin’s Winning Weekend It will be next to impossible for the University of Wisconsin’s Athletic Department to have a more successful weekend going forward. While the headline of the weekend came from Wisconsin football’s blowout win over BYU, five other Badger athletic programs emerged victorious as well. Badger volleyball steamrolled over Southern Mississippi in convincing
fashion to finish non-conference play undefeated. In a home doubleheader, both the men’s and women’s soccer teams emerged victorious as well. Women’s hockey dominated South Korea in an exhibition as it prepares for the beginning of its regular season schedule. And even the Badger women’s rowing won the Milwaukee River Challenge. By Ben Pickman