Tuesday, September 24, 2013 - The Daily Cardinal by The Daily Cardinal

BADGERS LOOK TO BUCK UP OHIO STATE

LAZY WORKOUTS Excersice tips for the exceptionally unmotivated

Head Coach Gary Andersen dishes on ‘friend’ Urban Meyer

+PAGE TWO

University of Wisconsin-Madison

+SPORTS, page 8

Complete campus coverage since 1892

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Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Surveillance camera funding could triple By Sarah Olson the daily cardinal

graphic by haley henschel

SSFC denies funding to MultiCultural Coalition By Paige Villiard the daily cardinal

The Student Services Finance Committee did not approve 2015-’16 fiscal year funding for the MultiCultural Student Coalition Monday, amidst criticism from MCSC

representatives that SSFC members are unprepared to decide on eligibility. Many SSFC members felt MCSC had intentionally violated policy and therefore did not meet all of the eligibility criteria of the General Student

Services Fund. In the 2012 spring semester, SSFC ruled that MCSC failed to follow university and state purchasing policies when it submitted contracts to pay alum-

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The Board of Estimates unanimously approved an amendment to the 2014 Executive Capital Budget at a meeting Monday that would more than triple the amount of money allotted to downtown surveillance cameras. In the original $225.3 million budget, which includes funding for downtown infrastructure development and environmentally sustainable projects, Madison Mayor Paul Soglin designated $25,000 for surveillance cameras. The amendment would provide an additional $53,000 to add surveillance cameras to hightraffic downtown locations and replace outdated cameras in the system, according to Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, who sponsored the amendment. “I feel very strongly that our camera system has proven its worth over the years that we’ve had it, and I really think it’s an important tool in our public safety tool chest,” Verveer said at the meeting.

Walker begins new health care process, faces criticism By Eoin Cottrell the daily cardinal

Gov. Scott Walker’s office sent 92,000 letters to Wisconsinites this week and received one back from U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., regarding the eventual removal of Wisconsin citizens from the state Medicaid program after Walker decided not to implement the Affordable Care Act. Walker previously declined $489 million from the federal government that could have been used to expand BadgerCare, requiring 92,000 people to transition from BadgerCare to health care exchanges that begin operation Oct. 1. Walker’s health care plan would cover all individuals earning up to the poverty level and require anyone making above that level to seek health care through federally run exchanges. Conversely, the recommended federal health expansion would have expanded BadgerCare to all individuals earning up to 133 percent of the poverty level. Baldwin, a staunch ACA supporter, said in a letter to Walker Monday that the governor’s decision to decline federal money to expand the state’s Medicaid pro-

gram was “disappointing” and an example of the governor “playing political games.” Baldwin accused Walker of leaving Wisconsin businesses out of the solution, costing Wisconsin taxpayers $119 million over the next two years and covering 85,000 fewer people. Tom Evenson, Walker’s press secretary, said in an email the governor made his decision to provide relief to Wisconsin taxpayers. Walker has previously said his decision would also allow Wisconsinites to have their own choice in health care coverage. Evenson said the new plan will increase the number of insured individuals in Wisconsin by over 224,000 and cut the number of uninsured individuals in half. It will also build on the state’s strong history of expanding health care to taxpayers. “The governor’s plan preserves Medicaid as a vital safety net for [the] state’s neediest,” said Evenson in the email. Baldwin also said the letters Walker’s administration sent out are vague and confusing and do not properly inform those affected to the impeding

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Verveer said the amendment would allow for at least 14 new cameras downtown including the Library Mall, Carroll Street and Langdon Street areas. Ald. Lisa Subeck, District 1, asked Madison Police Department representatives to confirm footage captured on surveillance tapes would constitute public record and address concerns about privacy. Acting Assistant Chief of Police Sue Williams said surveillance camera footage is public record, but investigators carefully examine footage to determine whether granting a records request would violate an individual’s privacy rights or put a crime victim at risk. Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, said surveillance camera footage has helped catch the perpetrators of crimes, pointing specifically to the shooting incident outside Johnny O’s Sports Lounge in May 2012 as an example. “Crimes do happen,”

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Shell track remains closed after pipe burst

ON CAMPUS

It takes two to tango

A couple dances at Memorial Union during weekly ballroom dance sessions hosted by Dancesport of Madison. + Photo by Brianna Albee

Officials are still uncertain about the exact source of a pipe rupture that flooded the track and basketball courts at the Shell Sunday, Recreational Sports Director John Horn said. The Camp Randall Memorial Sports Center, more commonly referred to as the Shell, closed Sunday night when a pipe that is embedded in the concrete floor ruptured. Students were cleared from the building and the facility remains closed. There are two plumbing lines running underneath the Shell, and officials will try to determine Tuesday which one is the root cause of the leak, Horn said. Rec Sports is currently working to create a Master Plan that would renovate campus facilities that are all outdated by 30 or more years, Horn told The Daily Cardinal in September. Horn said there is a possibility renovations to the Shell may be controlled by the Athletic Department rather than Rec Sports.

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

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tODAY: sunny

hi 73º / lo 46º

hi 68º / lo 47º

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 123, Issue 14

In ur yo

News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com Editor-in-Chief Abigail Becker

Managing Editor Mara Jezior

News Team News Manager Sam Cusick Campus Editor Megan Stoebig College Editor Tamar Myers City Editor Melissa Howison State Editor Jack Casey Enterprise Editor Meghan Chua Associate News Editor Sarah Olson Features Editor Shannon Kelly Opinion Editors Haleigh Amant • Nikki Stout Editorial Board Chair Anna Duffin Arts Editors Cameron Graff • Andy Holsteen Sports Editors Brett Bachman • Jonah Beleckis Page Two Editors Rachel Schulze • Alex Tucker Photo Editors Courtney Kessler • Jane Thompson Graphics Editors Haley Henschel • Chrystel Paulson Multimedia Editor Grey Satterfield Science Editor Nia Sathiamoorthi Life & Style Editor Elana Charles Special Pages Editor Samy Moskol Copy Chiefs Vince Huth • Maya Miller Kayla Schmidt • Rachel Wanat Copy Editors Hamdi Hamzah • Kerry Huth • Yi Jiang Louisa Lincoln • Jake Smasal Social Media Manager Sam Garigliano

Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Jacob Sattler Office Manager Emily Rosenbaum Advertising Managers Erin Aubrey • Dan Shanahan Account Executives Karli Bieniek • Lyndsay Bloomfield Tessa Coan • Zachary Hanlon Elissa Hersh • Will Huberty Ally Justinak • Paulina Kovalo Jordan Laeyendecker • Danny Mahlum Eric O’Neil • Ali Syverson Marketing Director Cooper Boland Design Manager Lauren Mather

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 Haleigh Amant • Abigail Becker Riley Beggin • Anna Duffin Mara Jezior • Cheyenne Langkamp Tyler Nickerson • Michael Penn Nikki Stout

Board of Directors Herman Baumann, President Abigail Becker • Mara Jezior Jennifer Sereno • Stephen DiTullio Erin Aubrey • Dan Shanahan Jacob Sattler • Janet Larson Don Miner • Chris Drosner Jason Stein • Nancy Sandy Tina Zavoral

For the record Corrections or clarifications? Call The Daily Cardinal office at 608-262-8000 or send an email to edit@dailycardinal.com.

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DREAMS : Responding to a college crush

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

wednesDAY: sunny

Kane kaiman dream interpreter Kane Kaiman is a graduate of Cedarburg High School. There, he scored a 5 on his AP Psychology test, giving him the authority to interpret the dreams of all humans and some of the earth’s more intelligent mammals. He is a direct descendant of Joseph, the Hebrew Patriarch who famously interpreted Pharaoh’s dreams thousands of years ago. This week’s dream: “I was sitting in one of my actual discussion classes next to a girl I barely know. We were working on an assignment or something. Then she handed me an envelope and told me to open it. She said it had to do with the assignment. I opened the envelope, and inside was a hand-written letter. I started reading it and was instantly confused because the letter had nothing to do with class. As I read, I realized it was a love letter she was trying to surprise me with. She asked me what I thought, and I specifically said, “It’s good. This is good.” I was vague because I didn’t want anyone in class to know what happened. I remember feeling like I was in love. Then we looked at each other and started to make out. That’s all I remember.” —Matt Stabler, junior

I knew we’d get around to talking about ‘love’ one of these days. I thought I was in love once, that is, until I came home to find my ex-fiance in bed with my twin brother, Blane. Needless to say, he’s the evil twin. Before we go any further, we need to take a deep breath and discuss love from a scientific perspective. What society calls love is actually a very shallow instinct based on exposure, which can be broken down into two key factors: proximity and frequency. At this very moment, your true ‘one and only’ could be leading a yak up Mount Kabru in Nepal. Not only are you thousands of miles away from one another (proximity), but the chances of you seeing each other on a regular basis (frequency) are next to nothing.

This girl in your class, however, is there week in and week out. She may have been a 5-out-of-10 at the beginning of the year, but by now, after a good month of exposure, she’s probably risen anywhere from two to four points on your subconscious scale of overall attractiveness. This is what scientists call the “Desert Island Effect,” and it explains her presence in your dream. The more an animal is exposed to a potential mate, especially in an isolated environment like your classroom, the more its perception of that individual’s appearance becomes distorted. For human college students, this leads to inevitable in-class fantasizing, which can be socially dangerous for a young man, especially if that class meets early in the morning. God forbid you’re ever

One-hundred percent accurate interpretation:

I let out an audible sigh and shook my head while reading that. “I felt like I was in love.” How naive.

graphic by haley henschel

asked to do an impromptu presentation in front of everybody. Moving on. Even if one could prove love exists beyond the simple principles of exposure, it would be difficult to defend the claim it’s a special occurrence. Tina Turner once asked, “What’s love but a secondhand emotion?” She hit the nail on the head. The average human falls in love 17 times over the course of their life. That’s a lot. To say there’s something magical about this recurring phenomenon would be inaccurate. So don’t obsess over this girl; there will be others. Alright. It’s clear this dream is pure fantasy; it’s a too-good-tobe-true scenario you wish would play out in real life. My recommendation? Well, I’ll tell you what you don’t do. You don’t tell this girl that you had an erotic dream about her. You’ll freak her out, and then the jig is up. What we want is for her to make the first move. So, do not speak unless spoken to. You’re not funny or good-looking enough to initiate a conversation, let alone charming enough to keep it going. The most effective way to get her attention is to routinely make awkward eye contact and then quickly shift your gaze back to your papers, pretending like you’re hard at work. One more thing before we’re through: You need to keep in mind you’re a growing boy with a changing body. On the eve of manhood, dreams like this continue to get more and more sexual as time goes by. So enjoy!

Have a dream you want Kane to interpret for you or someone you know? Email him at kaiman@wisc.edu for his absolutely 100 percent factually accurate advice.

A lazy student’s guide to working out like a boss Tips for a trip to the SERF

DANIELLA EMANUEL guest columnist

K, I was lying. Unfortunately, two years of bench warming in high school field hockey doesn’t quite make me Jane Fonda. I think that becomes obvious whenever I faint and fall off of the treadmill. But you need to burn off that 2 a.m. Ian’s somehow, so if you hate sports like me, follow these simple steps to make that monthly trip to the SERF count! Step 1: Your get-up is probably the key to your success. Anything goes for the shirt and shorts (for real though, I’ve seen someone wear a silk blouse), but there is little leeway for shoes and socks. If you don’t have a pair of calf-high polka-dot socks from the Gap and the lucky Reeboks you wore during your personal best 11-minute mile in high school, I don’t really know what to say. Try going to CYC, I guess. Step 2: Bring your iPad. Don’t think about the fact the person behind you is going to

see your recent queue of TLC’s “Strange Sex Addictions,” it’s time to do you. But while you’re working out, you should probably be watching “Arrested Development,” just to play it cool. Step 3: Scenario: You get to the cardio room (Ha, as if I was going to tell you to go to the weight room), and every machine is taken. Most people may say, “screw it” and go run on the track, but I personally don’t like to feel like Simba in the midst of the wildebeest stampede. You should probably sit in the corner and do some casual stretches until an elliptical is free. If a machine does not open up after 10 minutes, it’s a sign your workout was not meant to be, and you should go home to finish watching that episode of “Orange is the New Black.” Step 4: If you do end up getting on the elliptical, you’re going to need to distract yourself from the fiery pain gradually making its way through your evolutionarily fucked body. Look to your left at the blonde toothpick in Spandex sprinting on the treadmill and have a moment of

self-hate. Allow yourself one wedgie-pick every 10 minutes… so that would be two wedgie-picks in all because if you’re on there for more than 20 minutes, someone’s gonna need to call UHS. Step 5: Ah, the floor-mat section. Proudly grab one of those sticky, perpetually half-clean mats (If you look close enough, it looks like a Mucinex commercial on there!). Set it down right next to the guy who looks like he knows what he’s doing. Try and make your copycatting discreet by doing his previous “crunch” technique while he does a new one. You’ll know if he’s on to you when he starts doing that crazy bouncy ball in between the legs thingy (caution: NEVER TRY THIS. The ball will go flying, and you will be to blame when the girl in downward dog position gets hit in the ass.) Step 6: You’ve officially burned 50 calories! Now get out there and eat a couple more slices of Ian’s, you champ. What’s your wedgie-pickper-minute rate? Share it with Daniella at emanuel2@wisc.edu.

Wear:

- Calf-high polka-dot socks - Expertly worn-out Reeboks

Watch:

- “Strange Sex Addictions” “Arrested Development”

Care:

- One wedgie-pick every 10 minutes - Treat yourself to some post-workout Ian’s

Avoid:

- Large bouncy ball

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Tuesday, September 24, 2013 3

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Design plans for new Alumni Park reach final stages

Bridget Driscoll/the daily cardinal

Madison City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl trains Legislative Affairs members in voter registration. Committee Chair Morgan Rae said it is practical for students to register their peers.

City clerk deputizes Legislative Affairs members Students in the Associated Students of Madison Legislative Affairs Committee now have the ability to register voters for upcoming elections, after a city clerk deputized members at a meeting Monday. Madison City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl, who trained the students, claimed there are many misconceptions about where college students can vote. University of Wisconsin-Madison students can either vote in their home-

town or in Madison. “It’s much easier for students to register other students than it is for the city clerk to come down here and register us here or for us to have to go down there,” Legislative Affairs Chair Morgan Rae said. As for the progress on Responsible Action legislation, Rae said she is working to get support from a health advocacy group and Madison police early next week. Responsible Action

is a bill proposed by Rae, which gives students full immunity in exchange of reporting detox situations. The bill is currently waiting to be voted on in both the senate and assembly. Also at the meeting, committee member Ryan Prestil said the Annual Housing Fair will be held at Union South on Nov. 12. ASM will be there to educate tenants about a proposed landlord-tenant bill and to offer tenant resources. —Zhaosong Zhou

Dane County District Attorney drops charges against singalong protester Dane County District Attorney Ismael Ozanne announced Monday he would not file charges against Damon Terrell for the alleged battery of a police officer during Terrell’s arrest last month at the Solidarity singalong protests in the Capitol. Terrell was in the rotunda area of the Capitol taking photographs of the protests when he was arrested, according to the affidavit the arresting officer filed against Terrell. Capitol police officer James Brooks’ statement to the court claimed Terrell injured the officer’s finger and caused multiple cuts and bruises. However, Ozanne determined the document did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt Terrell was guilty of felonious battery to Brooks. Ozanne also dropped the charges against Terrell for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. Capitol police arrested Terrell

ssfc from page 1 ni who had trained group members. This resulted in a 52-week funding freeze, but it was approved for minimal funding later in December. On Monday, several SSFC members said they felt MCSC had been fiscally responsible considering how late the group received its “minimal funding,” but they still did not believe the organization met the criteria because its violation was intentional. “I don’t see how this is not intentional if you sign a contract,” said SSFC representative Justin Bloesch regarding the contracts MCSC submit-

Aug. 26 on the grounds he was violating a Department of Administration rule that prohibits more than four people from gathering in an administrative building without a permit. Several protesters that day kept record of the event with video cameras, providing visual coverage of the arrest. Terrell was recorded backing away from police with his camera in hand, denying claims that he was participating in the protest, and saying he was only taking pictures. He was forced to the ground by multiple police officers. Ozanne originally planned to rule in the case Sept. 12 but postponed it until Monday to further examine the evidence against Terrell, according to The Isthmus. Terrell will still be held responsible for paying a $200.50 citation for participating in the protests without a permit, along with over 300 other protesters. —Patricia Johnson ted. “It’s a legal document.” During open forum, MCSC member Niko Magallon asked SSFC members to rate themselves on how they feel professional staff and student leadership have prepared them to make a decision on MCSC’s eligibility. “The latest two SSFC chairs, in my experience, have given folks on the committee minimal information,” Magallon said. Magallon added that the information is not always transparent and suggested that SSFC members seek out answers if they feel unprepared or have not been given comprehensive information.

Coordinators for the University of Wisconsin-Madison Alumni Association have started finalizing designs for the new Alumni Park, which could break ground summer 2014. Alumni Park will occupy the parking lot space that is currently between Memorial Union and the Red Gym, and will also extend into the blacktop area of the terrace. The renovation plans are part of a long-term master plan from 2005, designed to improve eight blocks of campus. The plan starts at the Kohl Center, moves through Gordon Commons and University Square and finishes at the lakefront. The first part of Alumni Park renovations, the construction of Goodspeed Family Pier, was completed this summer. Wisconsin Alumni Association president and CEO Paula Bonner said the decision to build Alumni Park purposely coincides with

cameras from page 1 Resnick said. “[Putting in additional cameras] is a strong measure to capture the criminals and have evidence to bring individuals to justice.” The city added approximately 30 cameras to the down-

the Memorial Union renovations as a way to create an “integrated lakefront.” The park would feature a main path lined with display boards that incorporate stories from alumni, a central green for gathering, an outdoor classroom and gardens to weave through the park. Bonner explained Alumni Park is meant to inspire students by actively presenting the accomplishments of UW alumni, and help students connect by means of tradition and legacy. “It’s going to help us celebrate every day … what it means to go here and kind of some of that unique sense of place and our commitment to making a change, being a catalyst for change in the world,” Bonner said. The plans will go to the state’s building commission for approval in January. With state approval, construction would begin in the summer. —Jackie Bannon

town area with funding from the 2013 budget, seven of which were installed in the last month, according to Verveer. Verveer said with the increase in surveillance cameras, more incidents like the recent thefts and muggings targeting University of Wisconsin-

Madison students are being captured on video, which is “invaluable” to police investigators. The Board of Estimates will recommend the budget to the Common Council, which will review and vote on it at a meeting in early November, Verveer said.

will chizek/the daily cardinal

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, sponsored the amendment to provide an additional $53,000 to add surveillance cameras to high-traffic downtown areas and update systems.

“This will be the third year in a row that we have seen SSFC chairs operate when SSFC members lack equal information,” Magallon said. MCSC member Libby Wick-Bander also spoke in open forum and said the MCSC has had “extenuating circumstances” for the past two years that have affected the organization’s ability to function as well as it would like. “I have no doubt in my mind that MCSC can function optimally as an organization and provide services on this campus if we’re not put in the circumstances that we have been for the last … three

years,” Wick-Bander said. Some SSFC members said they felt MCSC’s services did not fit the direct service requirement of the eligibility criteria. SSFC representative Callen Raveret said certain MCSC programs seemed to be tools for event planning and not specific services for students. MCSC is able to re-apply for GSSF funding eligibility next year. Following MCSC’s eligibility decision, SSFC held eligibility hearings for Supporting Peers Laidback Listening and Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, who will receive their eligibility decisions Thursday.

walker from page 1 changes in coverage. According to Evenson, the state Department of Health Services has set up 11 statewide networks to assist Wisconsin residents in purchasing health care that fits their needs. Evenson also said the administration has worked to reach out to citizens and answer questions the public might have by hosting 11 town meetings where information regarding the health care switch has been presented. The Walker administration has also scheduled five additional public hearings regarding the change, according to Evenson. The market for health care exchanges opens Oct. 1 and coverage is scheduled to begin Jan. 1.

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Tuesday, September 24, 2013

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A night to forget at the Emmy Awards By Adam Paris The Daily Cardinal

It was a night to remember... that award shows usually suck at giving out awards. With the 2013 Primetime Emmy Awards having vanished almost as quickly as they appeared last night, it’s time to analyze a few of the winners from a presentation that surprised early, blew chunks in the middle and salvaged a meth bump’s worth of respect at the end. Tony Hale’s well deserved Emmy for best supporting actor in a comedy kicked off a string of awards that teased us with the possibility of a respectable winners list. Despite the applause for his win, Hale stole the show as he hopped onstage to help treat fellow “Veep” star and lead comedy actress winner Julia Louis Dreyfus completely in character as he whispered advice to the faux Vice President. Then there’s lead actor in a comedy. “The Big Bang Theory”

is the bane of my existence. I want the show, its premise and every set ever involved in it to burn in a fiery pit. Besides everything Seth MacFarlane has ever done, it’s perhaps the most gratuitously stupid show on the air. So Jim Parsons winning best actor wasn’t good for my usually sunny disposition. Even the old standby Alec Baldwin would’ve been better.

It was a night to remember... that award shows usually suck at giving out awards.

To break up the displeasure fest I have going on here, let’s all raise our Colbert flags to the high heavens. The godlike host has finally unseated his one-

time boss, Jon Stewart, from a 10 year reign atop the best variety show throne. Congrats to a longoverdue award for the best late night show going on TV. Now back to the lowlights. David Fincher winning for “House of Cards” isn’t unexpected, Emmy voters love those Hollywood types, but hopefully “Breaking Bad’s” Michelle MacLaren gets her due next year. Directing the most visually arresting show on television all while making our stomachs descend into our legs isn’t an easy task. Anna Gunn finally won for best supporting actress as well, although I was secretly hoping she might give us a nice double bird onstage for all the Skyler haters out there. Claire Danes predictably won best lead actress for “Homeland.” It was disappointing to see Elisabeth Moss get shut out along with Jane Champion’s brilliant miniseries “Top of the Lake.” By all accounts

“Behind the Candelabra” is really well done though, so the sting hurts a little less.

May you always recall the year Jeff Daniels chewed Fruit Stripe gum on stage while Heisenberg planted ricin and remembered how bad “Fly Away Home” was.

Bobby Cannavale of “Boardwalk Empire” won best supporting actor over Aaron Paul and Jonathan “Mike Ehrmantraut” Banks of Breaking Bad. Jonathan casually floated balloons above the post ceremony before whipping out his pistol. Cannavale is still missing. Jeff Daniels won for best actor. Let that sink in a bit. Dumb or Dumber—I can’t remember which one he was—beat out

Jon Hamm and Bryan Cranston among others. Probably the worst award of the night, Hamm’s voluptuous beard later enveloped Daniels in a black hole of handsomeness. “Modern Family” won best comedy again for the fourth time. Luckily the award is made moot by the fact both “Parks and Recreation” and “Happy Endings” weren’t even nominated. With my faith in Emmy voters essentially gone, “Breaking Bad” won the award for best drama. Simultaneously, its penultimate episode started down a hole we can only hope to crawl out of next week. It restored a tiny modicum of respect. Then I remembered award shows are pointless. Till next year, Emmys. May you always recall the year Jeff Daniels chewed Fruit Stripe gum onstage while Heisenberg planted ricin and remembered how bad “Fly Away Home” was.

Music Columnist

Today, yesterday: After ten years, Outkast still hit heavy Sean Reichard “quip quo pro”

isclaimer: this article was written with Monday Sept. 23 in mind, but its content is universal and timeless, so read on fearless denizens of Tuesday, Sept. 24. Sept. 23, 63 B.C.: Augustus, first Emperor (and founder) of the Roman Empire, is born. Sept. 23, 1215: Kublai Khan, fifth Khagan of the Mongol Empire and founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China, is born. Sept. 23, 1909: “The Phantom of the Opera” (the novel) is first serialized in Le Gaulois. Sept. 23, 1926: Andre Cassagnes, inventor of the Etch-a-Sketch, and John Coltrane(!) are born. Sept. 23, 1930: Ray Charles is born. Sept. 23, 1939: Sigmund Freud, preeminent psychologist, dies. Sept. 23, 1949: Bruce Springsteen is born.

Sept. 23, 1959: Jason Alexander is born. Sept. 23, 1973: Pablo Neruda, Nobel laureate/poet, dies. Sept. 23, 2003: Outkast releases Speakerboxxx/The Love Below Damn. What a day. This is a veritable potpourri of interest here. You’ve got the heads of empires. Not state. Empires. You’ve got three of the most talented musicians to grace the earth—and one of them is still gracing it. You’ve got a phenomenally talented poet. You’ve got George Costanza. You’ve got the inventor of the frakking Etch-a-Sketch! What more could you want? Oh, you want an Outkast album? Well, strike me pink and stone the crows! You’re in luck. Outkast was pretty big before 2003—2000’s Stankonia is pretty much mandatory listening for anyone wanting to understand music around the 21st century—but Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below exploded them to titanic proportions. What’s interesting is that

SB/TLB is itself titanic: It’s really two separate albums from Outkast’s two great dynamos, Big Boi and Andre 3000. At first, you’d think this was an indication of some schism between Outkast, each other performer an outcast from the other’s aural landscape. But it’s not. SB and TLB are solo albums, sure, but even bifurcated, Outkast was still a group at this point. Most criticism of SB/TLB has focused on the separate modes each album works in, though there hasn’t been enough focus on how similar these albums sound. That’s not an insult. Even though people make a point of how “out there” The Love Below ’s sound is—a flux of genres including jazz, funk, rock, pop, hip hop, etc.— Speakerboxxx brings the weirdness home too. This isn’t an issue of left brain/right brain here. Sure, Speakerboxxx has more rapping and The Love Below has more singing, but I wouldn’t make the case (such as it has

been made) that these two albums are diametrically opposed to each other. I see no evidence of artistic acrimony. I see a group that has figured out how to go the same way on parallel tracks. Speakerboxxx/ The Love Below, really, is a stab at syncretistic art. Speaking of parallels, it’s interesting how many parallels to SB/TLB can be drawn from Sept. 23rd. Firstly, the album as a whole functions like some perpetual Etch-a-Sketch exercise. Out of the same tabula rasa rises the charged, jagged “Rooster” and ethereal Princerip “She Lives in My Lap.” Shapes spinning out from the twisting knobs, from song to song to song. There’s the salmagundi Big Boi and Andre 3000 dish up that recalls Ray Charles (the first part of “Roses,” “Church”) and John Coltrane (“My Favorite Things” is an amped up version of Coltrane’s 1960 recording, replete with some of his messianic sax wrangling) among other styles. There’s a conquering swagger that moves

through SB/TLB ’s 135 minutes a la Augustus and Kublai Khan—little wonder this album was certified Diamond for 11 million units moved. The frenetic funk of “Spread” recalls George Costanza in his worst rut and The Love Below as a whole would have been of engrossing interest to Freud, considering all the sex that runs through it. Just picture a modern day Freud, listening to TLB with his dog-eared edition of “The Brothers Karamazov” and a glass of coke. Give him gauges if you insist on some kind of verisimilitude. Finally, give “Hey Ya!” or “The Way You Move” to Pablo Neruda, the great love poet, and see whether they wouldn’t have struck a chord with him. Other albums released that day: Want One by Rufus Wainwright (2003), Screamadelica by Primal Scream (1991), No More Heroes by The Stranglers (1977) and My Father Will Guide Me up a Rope to the Sky by Swans (2011). Does this all make sense? Tell Sean at sreichard@wisc.edu.

Graphic by Haley Henschel

arts

Tuesday, September 24, 2013 5

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Video Game Columnist

A media culture of moral passivisity Adam Paris “SEGA WHAT?!?”

Adam discusses “Breaking Bad” and “GTAV”

t seems peculiarly coincidental. As Walter White’s story mercifully reaches its heart-palpation inducing finale, “Grand Theft Auto V” introduces a triumvirate of criminals ready to endear themselves to our sympathetic souls. Whether any of these characters are worthy of any misplaced adoration is another story. However, in the wake

THE PLAYLIST

Fall sports have begun! To get you in the “sporting” mood, here’s a playlist of nerdy music folks singing about sports.

Belle and Sebastian— “Stars of Track and Field”

A timeless tune written for the most oft forgotten branch of “professional” sports.

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The Decemberists— “The Sporting Life” It’s a tragically ubiquitous tale: you suck at sports, even when everyone’s counting on you.

The Mountain Goats— “Fall of the High School Running Back”

What’s an athletic display without a few tears?

4 5

Native— “Wrestling Moves”

Okay, so this song doesn’t actually have anything to do with wrestling, but it’s still a great jam.

The Hold Steady— “Stuck Between Stations” This is also a stretch, but Craig talks about the Golden Gophers... that counts, right?

of Walter White’s defenders, even in these past few brutal weeks, examining the concept of passivity versus active participation in a madman’s activities seems pertinent. “GTAV’s” three playable characters include Michael, a retired bank robber, Franklin, an underprivileged African-American with grand criminal ambitions, and Trevor, a psychopath who’s alarmingly charming despite his psychotic tendencies. Although the game has received universal praise, some commentators find the characters to be wholly unlikeable. I thought that may have been hyperbolic initially, but after my too brief stint with the game, Michael’s vitriolic nature really took me aback. Like Walter White, Michael couches his maniacal tendencies as helping family. His family is far more twisted than the White’s onetime stable household though. Presumably, that’s a reflection of Michael’s shattered psyche more than anything else. I thought I would be able to sympathize with him. He commits horrific acts just like Walter. Criminality can sometimes seem appealing when viewed from our mundane lives. “GTAV” harbors

We live vicariously through Walt’s decision to break bad when none of us have the courage to. We try to do the same as Michael.

no such sentiments. Michael is an unabashed dick. Franklin retains some semblance of sympathy because his impoverished position helps maintain some humility. Playing out these destructive sequences doesn’t numb oneself to their persona. It mostly just reinforces that character’s misplaced reasoning for their actions. I’m not one of the few who still side with Walter White. If given control over deciding whether Jane lived or died though, could you still spit torrents of hate at Skyler for holding Walt back? The issue of passivity versus activity in games is a tired discussion. Clearly, most of these character’s development takes place in cutscenes where the number of character actions isn’t limited to run, shoot, drive. When you have to leave a trail of bodies in your wake after the fact though, it tends to reflect the volatile trio of personalities you’ve assembled. Meanwhile, millions of people continue to watch Walter White spiral out of control. His final moment in

the limelight is looming. The end is nigh. Yet, we continue to wait for one final, messy conclusion from television’s favorite antihero. In a show so carefully mindful of its use of violence, this final season has ditched the acid-laden barrels in favor of leaving a bona fide vulture buffet. Walter’s persona started as a mild-mannered sympathetic teacher who became a monster. Michael began as a criminal whose family life has devolved into a web of detached connections he can barely hold together. His actions reflect a man unable to simply “retire.” He lives for the heat. It took Walter fifty years to discover how to feel alive. We live vicariously through Walt’s decision to break bad when none of us have the courage to. We try to do the same as Michael. Leaving polygons on the road and pretending some nonexistent cop may discover our carnage before starting an examination into the sudden uptick in Los Santos’ body count is our criminal reprieve from reality. It’s escapist fantasy at best, an approach that plays directly into Michael’s penchant for violence. It’s not Rockstar’s job to create likeable characters. No artist has to live by such rigid conventions. However, when you spend 40-plus hours with someone, a rotten personality can wear on you. Walter is introduced at his weakest: a pathetic corpse of potential suddenly reanimated by a death sentence. Michael is living a life of luxury, but his corpse is already decomposing. Walter always had family. So does Michael; the only difference is he’s perpetually stuck in a Hollywood lampoon of a White family sitcom. We never saw the days when Michael may have been a sympathetic figure. Even if you act selflessly in pursuit of saving your family at every opportunity in “GTA,” it won’t change the fact his dialogue will put an ungrateful, disappointed spin on the situation. We can feel safely detached from Walter in his darkest moments, justifying or lambasting his actions. However little time you may spend with Michael, your connection remains. Passivity fades into activity. Michael’s horrific personality will become yours to control. Inevitably your actions will mirror Michael’s outlook, it’s “GTA” after all. As draining as “Breaking Bad’s” final episodes have been, at least I can always remain on the periphery. At this point, that’s a blessing. Have video games led you to a moralistic quandry even Kant or Nietzsche couldn’t solve? Let Adam know at arparis@wisc.edu.

Graphic by Chrystel Paulson

The Record Routine

Drake’s latest lacks the drive of ‘Take Care’

Nothing Was The Same Drake By Cameron Graff The Daily Cardinal

Drake may claim everything’s changed, but I think it’s fair to call hyperbole. After all, nothing really has changed in the life of Aubrey Graham—he’s still exceptionally proud of his fancy watches, exceptionally sensitive about his past loves and he still knows how to put together a fun, if predicable, bit of veloursoft hip-hop. His latest album, Nothing Was The Same, follows in the footsteps of chart stomper and critical wunderkind Take Care—sometimes to the point of redundancy and exhaustion. That’s not to say there aren’t good songs on Nothing Was The Same. The record’s first half is full of excellent cuts, especially the opening virile/vulnerable dualism of “Tuscan Leather” and “Furthest Thing” and the run of “Worst Behavior,” “From Time” and “Hold On We’re Going Home.” “From Time,” featuring hook empress Jhene Aiko, particularly gets to the heart of Drake’s appeal; he’s a man who, when all the cards are down,

isn’t afraid to cry—but before he does he’ll drop enough bars to level a consumer grade radio. “Worst Behavior” is Drake at his most abrasive (which is as abrasive as Henry Rollins gently stroking your cheek), and propelled by DJ Dahi’s skeletal production it’s an immediate highlight of the record. The production in general is consistently great, and we’ve primarily got Noah “40” Shebib to thank for that. His production is frequently the most compelling part of the whole affair. So yes, it’s a functional album, full of bangers and heart breakers in equal supply. But does that make it a good listen? My immediate response is no, it doesn’t— over the course of 15 tracks, Drake manages to grind his “softest in the game” persona, worn like a fine cashmere, straight into the dirt. Maybe he started from the bottom, but by the end of Nothing Was The Same he’s still stuck there, middling in forced introspection and oddly juxtaposed “greatest of all time” mantras. Part of the issue is that Drake simply can’t justify a solid hour of attention (the fact that Take Care was a solid 20 minutes longer and still more captivating speaks measures); he’s a man with ambition and exceptional potential (and, of course, an incredibly gifted inhouse producer) but he just isn’t at the top yet.

Rating: B

comics

You’ve got to be kitten me. Five percent of cats are allergic to humans.

6 • Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Today’s Sudoku

dailycardinal.com

Artistically Impaired

By Melanie Shibley shibley@wisc.edu

Solution, tips and computer program available at www.sudoku.com.

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.

Caved In

By Nick Kryshak nkryshak@wisc.edu

Today’s Crossword Puzzle

Eatin’ Cake Classic

Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com

SERIOUSLY. I LOVE MY DISCO BALL. ACROSS 1 Baseball catchers 6 Reunion member 10 Discovery monitor 14 “___ From Hawaii,” 1973 Elvis album 15 Anger 16 “Bye” words? 17 Italian coins, formerly 18 TV dinner, e.g. 19 Change the style of 20 About to land 22 Washington, D.C. attraction 23 Audio part? 24 Bicuspid coating 26 Cattle classes 30 Building contractor’s job 32 Volcano’s discharge 33 It may be found near a drain 35 Buoy one’s spirits 39 Makes a declaration 41 Director Howard 42 Liz of “30 Rock” 43 Pullman sleeper 44 Aid illegalities 46 Tucked in for the night 47 Blue ___ Mountains 49 Over 51 Alternative to a

Mercedes or BMW 54 Hot Springs, for one 55 Jack-in-the-pulpit plant 56 Time not long past 63 Certain golf shot 64 A famous one is golden 65 Prosequi lead-in 66 Crinkly cabbage 67 Like an exam sans pencils 68 “If I Only Had a Brain” composer Harold 69 “Keep it” notation 70 Large carrying bag 71 “... to say the ___” DOWN 1 Able to go into men’s rooms 2 Russian skater Kulik 3 Unit of pressure 4 “How’s ___?” 5 Like windows and geishas 6 Combat covering 7 Instead of 8 Mongolia’s capital, ___ Bator 9 Performed a pinochle maneuver 10 “All in the Family” producer 11 Crosswise to a ship’s keel

12 Edge along 13 Circular coral reef island 21 Hide-and-seek spot 25 “Away in a Manger,” for one 26 Have a big mouth 27 All-night dance party 28 Continuously 29 Hearing aid 30 Sun-baked brick 31 .00001 newton 34 Bring unwillingly 36 Dais kin 37 Low digits 38 Pigskin receivers 40 Actor LaBeouf 45 Record, old-style 48 Timber problem 50 Nicholson film ___” Knowledge” 51 Kid’s ball game 52 Buddhist in Nirvana 53 Duplicity 54 Stone marker 57 Dollar overseas 58 Bed frame segment 59 Arthurian era, e.g. 60 She performed with Duke and Dizzy 61 Alternatives to lagers 62 Monthly bill, for many

Dookingham Palace Classic

By Dylan Moriarty www.EatinCake.com

By Natasha Soglin graphics@dailycardinal.com

opinion Global warming report exaggerates effects Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Steven Nemcek opinion columnist

Top climate scientists are struggling to explain why global warming has been slowing since 1998.

Chrystel paulson/the daily cardinal

Himalayan glaciers could disappear by 2035. In addition, the new report will list a variety of scenarios, including one in which the average temperature rise will only be 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit by 2100. The most damaging prediction is expected to envisage temperatures rising by 8.6 degrees Fahrenheit and sea levels rising by 3 feet by the end of the century. The report will correct the predicted rate of warming from

0.2 degrees Celsius per decade to 0.12 degrees Celsius per decade, and will note that scientists have now discovered that between 950 and 1250 AD, some areas of the world were as warm as they are now. In another article, Hayley Dixon, writing for The Telegraph, said, “The 2007 report included predictions of a decline in Antarctic sea ice, but the latest document does not explain why this year it is at a

record high.” Matt Ridley, writing for The Wall Street Journal, said, “Most experts believe that warming of less than 2 degrees Celsius from preindustrial levels will result in no net economic and ecological damage. Therefore, the new report is effectively saying (based on the middle of the range of the IPCC’s emissions scenarios) that there is a better than 50-50 chance that by 2083, the benefits of climate change will still

Science is not “consensus,” but rather it is the continual ebb and flow of ideas as human beings use their minds to learn about and describe the world around them. It has no political agenda, it has only a penchant for unearthing truth. Russianborn American novelist Ayn Rand said that government science is a contradiction in terms, and while I don’t feel like this is a maxim, the rule certainly holds true in this case. If political agendas come into play, masking scientific reality, trust cannot be built between layman and scientist, voter and government official. How do you feel about global warming? Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

Letter To The Editor

Genevieve Globus’ ‘Blurred Lines’ article aligns itself with PAVE’s strong message Kari Hajduk PAVE communications coordinator

y name is Kari and I am the Communications Coordinator for PAVE (Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment) here at UW-Madison. PAVE is a student-run organization dedicated to ending sexual assault, dating/ domestic violence and stalking through education and activism. In response to your article that was recently published in the Daily Cardinal about Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines,” I would just like to say thank you! The PAVE staff would like you to know that we really appreciate your article because you have created a space in which conversations about sexual violence can begin. We also believe that you did an amazing job linking “Blurred Lines” to victim blaming and to the objectifi-

outweigh the harm.” This article is in no way intended to deny the possibility of anthropogenic global warming. Given the current state of affairs, I think it is reasonable to believe human beings have been influencing the global climate to some significant extent. The problem with the kind of government influence that seems to be affecting the drafting of this new report, is that it’s inherently unscientific and utterly destroys the necessary objectivity that science demands.

his Friday the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) will be releasing a 2,000 page report on the current scientific opinion regarding climate change. Unfortunately, there has been a preponderance of evidence to suggest the report is being dishonestly composed. The Telegraph reported Saturday that while the IPCC report will suggest that the likelihood that man is the source of global warming has risen from 90 to 95 percent certainty, top climate scientists are struggling to explain why global warming has been slowing since 1998. Robert Mendick, Chief Reporter for The Telegraph writes, “Documents seen by the Associated Press (AP) show attempts at political interference in the final report,” and that “several governments that reviewed the draft objected to how the issue was tackled. The documents, according to AP, show Germany called for the reference to the slowdown to be deleted while the US urged scientists to include as its ‘leading hypothesis’ that the reduction in warming is linked to more heat being transferred to the deep ocean.” This new report offers corrections from the previous report published in 2007. The 2007 report, for which the IPCC was jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore, grossly overstated the effects of global warming, arguing the

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cation of women, both of which perpetuate rape culture. Overall, we are really excited that someone else on campus is just as passionate about this topic as we are! If you would like to explore these topics further, or have any questions, do not hesitate to contact PAVE. Also, if you would like to volunteer for PAVE, we have a plethora of opportunities, including writing for our blog or joining the PAVE Communications Team! Again, thank you for raising awareness about “Blurred Lines!” Kari is a junior majoring in psychology and gender and women’s studies with certificates in both global health and criminal justice. She is also the communications coordinator for PAVE. If you are interested in PAVE, they have daily office hours from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday-Wednesday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friday.

Interested in getting involved with The Daily Cardinal? Come get all of the info at our recruitment meeting! Friday, Sept. 27 2195 Vilas Hall 4 p.m.

Sports

Tuesday September 24, 2012 DailyCardinal.com

Press Conference

Tough Big Ten matches await Badgers By Jack Baer The Daily Cardinal

Football

Following a 41-10 drubbing of Purdue, the Wisconsin football team (1-0 Big Ten, 3-1 overall) will head to Columbus, Ohio to take on No. 3 Ohio State (4-0) Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ABC. Head coach Gary Andersen looked ahead to the matchup, assessing the Buckeyes’ strengths as the perceived top team in the Big Ten. “They use their individuals on the team, their play makers, in the right spots, which is always a sign of a quality coaching staff,” Andersen said. Andersen explained despite

Ohio State having two possible starting quarterbacks, the formerly injured junior starter Braxton Miller or the recent upstart Kenny Guiton, his defense is preparing to face only one flavor of offense. “You don’t look in there and say, okay, here comes this guy or that guy or let’s expect this offense or that offense,” Andersen said. “It’s still the same offense regardless.” Andersen later downplayed his professional ties to Buckeye head coach Urban Meyer, under whom he served as a defensive line coach at Utah in 2004. “I spent one whole year with him coaching‑wise, and I was on the defensive side and we never lost,” Andersen said. “So

Shoaib Altaf/the daily cardinal

Redshirt junior middle blocker Dominique Thompson is one of a slew of Badgers recovering from various injuries.

he probably came in the defensive room five times.” The relationship, however, is not going to be apparent this week, according to Andersen. While the two may be friends, it’s all business on game day. “I consider him a good friend,” Andersen said.” Who knows, maybe he doesn’t consider me a good friend. We’ll talk. We won’t talk this week, I can guarantee you that much.”

Volleyball

The volleyball team (11-1) wrapped up its nonconference schedule by winning the North Carolina State Invitational last weekend and will begin conference play against Purdue Friday and take on Indiana Saturday. Head coach Kelly Sheffield addressed the many challenges Big Ten play will bring. Eight of the top 25 teams in the country reside in the Big Ten, including No. 1 ranked Penn State. “You throw a wolf out the side of the window, and you’ve got two coming in the back door,” Sheffield said. “It’s constant and a really, really good club that’s always up next.” Sheffield, however, made it clear how much he values the quality of competition. “I’m stoked to go against it,” Sheffield said. “I think our players are. That’s why they come. That’s why you come to this conference to play against and with the best. I know our coaching staff is. We’re looking forward to this opportunity.” Making the Big Ten gauntlet harder is the rash of injuries that have hit the team. “I think right now our players are trying to figure out how to put on the boot or walk around on crutches or something like that, rather than who’s next on our opponents,” Sheffield said. He also added that players are finally beginning to return to practice and may be ready to play

Nithin Charlly/the daily cardinal

Senior nose guard Beau Allen and Wisconsin’s defensive front will have their work cut out for them Saturday against Ohio State. soon, including redshirt junior middle blocker Dominique Thompson, freshman setter Lauren Carlini and junior outside hitter Crystal Graff.

Men’s Golf

The men’s golf team will host the Badger Invitational from Sunday to Tuesday at University Ridge golf course, the first tournament Wisconsin has hosted since the Big Ten Championship in 2005. Head coach Michael Burcin was notably excited for the opportunity to finally host a tournament. “None of the guys that were here have ever played in a home event here,” Burcin said. “I think we’re all excited to see

how the golf course plays with the changes, new greens. It’s a lot longer than it was last time anything was hosted here.” Burcin called the decision to host a no-brainer and credited the athletic department operations and Barry Alvarez for their support. Overall, Burcin was not only excited about the prospect of hosting, but the environment it will create for the rest of the season. “Guys are having a lot of fun,” Burcin said. “I think there’s a motivation that we’ve been looking for that’s here now. The competitive level has been raised. It’s much higher than it was … I’m so fired up for this year.”

Melvin Gordon’s stats warrant Heisman conversation Jack Baer Baer necessities Here are some quick facts about redshirt sophomore running back Melvin Gordon. He leads the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision in rushing yards with 624. He has done this on 53 attempts, making him the only member of the top ten with less than 60. He leads the FBS in yards per rush attempt with 11.8 yards per carry. He is tied for third in rushing touchdowns with seven. He has more rushing yards than 58 FBS teams. Gordon has done this despite splitting carries fairly evenly with senior running back James White, who also happens to be tenth on the FBS rushing yards list, and freshman Corey Clement, who is thirty-sixth. Basically, Gordon has been

having one of the most statistically extraordinary seasons in college football. It may be wildly early, but the time has come for the Heisman conversation. Yes, this could be a little premature, and yes, Gordon hasn’t exactly played cream of the crop defenses this year, but Gordon had his best game against the best defense the Badgers have played, hanging 193 yards and two touchdowns on just 15 attempts against Arizona State. Looking down the Badgers’ schedule, which teams have better defenses than Arizona State? Ohio State, Northwestern and possibly BYU. Wisconsin has arguably the easiest conference schedule in the Big Ten when it comes to defense, most notably skipping both Michigan teams. Unfortunately, the Badgers also miss Nebraska, and we all remember what happened in the Big Ten Championship game against the Huskers (words like

trample, obliterate and pillage have been used), but that’s only one opponent lost in a Big Ten this year that continues to look underwhelming, especially looking past Ohio State. Is it hard to believe Gordon can put up 200+ yard games against the likes of Minnesota, Indiana and Iowa? It’s not like what Gordon has been doing is truly unsustainable. Last year, Gordon, had 621 yards on 62 carries. Numbers like that scream regression, but now, with an expanded role on offense, Gordon has produced virtually the same numbers (624 on 53). For the last several years, Wisconsin running backs had their campaigns hollowed by the fact they are playing behind an almost NFL-caliber offensive line, against a fairly soft Big Ten in a system that benefits running backs more than any program north of Alabama. How else can you explain Montee Ball’s 2011 season placing merely fourth in the Heisman voting,

despite tying what was thought to be a previously unbreakable touchdown record. While this extra benefit seems at least partially true this year, as evidenced by White and Clement’s places on the FBS rushing list, it’s worth wondering if the narrative has been overblown. Trent Richardson placed ahead of Ball in Heisman voting and won the Doak Walker award for best running back in 2011, despite playing behind an offensive line that featured an Outland trophy winner and two future first round picks. Richardson was supposedly an otherworldly talent, but considering his very unremarkable NFL career so far (3.5 yards per carry behind a good Cleveland O-line), it wouldn’t be too out there to say that Ball was robbed, especially of the Doak. In the end, Gordon will need to put up similarly remarkable numbers in the upcoming games

to overcome the anti-Wisconsin running back bias, but he’s already doing it, and his future opponents indicate that it’s possible to keep it going. Next on the to-do list is for Gordon to have a signature, high exposure game, like an upset against Ohio State. Just imagine what could happen if Gordon has a big game next weekend. It’s a primetime game on ABC, the biggest stage you can get during college football’s regular season. There will be national eyes, an opponent that hasn’t lost since 2011 and Kirk Herbstreit there to laud Gordon’s speed, change of direction and surprising power for the audience. If Gordon leads the Badgers to victory in Columbus and does it in a visible way that catches the Heisman voters’ eyes, watch out. Gordon stands to rocket up Heisman lists and place him squarely in line for a trip to New York.