Tuesday, September 28, 2010 - The Daily Cardinal

Wait, who’s going to be here today? Dan and Matt duke it out over the value of Obama’s visit OPINION

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Tuesday, September 28, 2010

OBAMA ON CAMPUS TODAY

Photos from left to right: Danny Marchewka, Isabel Álvarez, jacob ela/Cardinal file photos

Obama visit indicative of Democrats’ concerns over midterm elections

By Ariel Shapiro the daily cardinal

Graphic by natasha soglin

SSFC denies WISPIRG funds, debates liaison

By Anna Duffin the daily cardinal

The Student Services Finance Committee voted to deny the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group funding for next fiscal year at its meeting Monday night.

The SSFC bylaws state that in order for an organization to obtain eligibility at least 75 percent of its beneficiaries must be UW-Madison students. Many SSFC members argued that since WISPIRG is such a large organization, they benefit many people from outside of the UW-Madison student population and do not meet the 75 percent quota.

Representative Aliyya Terry, who supported WISPIRG receiving funds, said the organization’s main function is to provide students with the opportunity to become involved with issues they care about, making students the primary direct beneficiaries.

The majority of SSFC representatives, however, argued the many other people who benefit from WISPIRG cannot be ignored.

WISPIRG Chair Rashi Mangalick said she does not understand SSFC’s reasoning.

“It’s like we’re being punished for being really successful, which is really bizarre,” Mangalick said.

“Because we benefit more than just campus shouldn’t be a deterrence from what we’re doing.”

Mangalick said WISPIRG plans to appeal the decision in an effort to obtain funding.

WISPIRG’s eligibility from last year is still valid, so they will continue to receive funds until next fiscal year and will be able to function normally until then.

Also at the meeting, the SSFC discussed the purpose of its Accountability Liaison position. ssfc page 3

President Barack Obama will focus on the Democratic midterm election campaign at his Tuesday rally in Library Mall, and both his opponents and supporters agree his visit, the fourth to Wisconsin in three months, is evidence the state he won by 14 percentage points in 2008 could slip back into the red this election season.

“The reason we’re going to Madison is that I want to send a message to young people across the country about how important this election is,” Obama said, adding that he hoped to recapture the energy and support he received from young voters in the last election for the upcoming midterms.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine said the president is intent on showing UW-Madison students Tuesday he has kept the promises he made to them in

2008, and candidates like Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett and U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold, D-Wis., are part of making those promises happen.

“The lead message we have for young voters, which I think is a powerful one, is that you turned out to support this president in record numbers, and guess what, he didn’t forget about you,” Kaine said.

Obama said his administration has made strides by pushing legislation to increase the amount of loans and grants, allow people to stay on their parents’ insurance until they are 26 years old and provide citizenship to young people brought over illegally as children through military service or the pursuit of higher education.

Republican Party of Wisconsin spokesperson Andrew Welhouse said Obama has failed to keep his promises, to students or otherwise, obama page 3

Jumped up, jumped up, got down

matt marheine/the daily cardinal

One of Camp Randall Stadium’s most popular traditions moved to Library Mall Monday afternoon as students helped kick off Homecoming with “Jump Around in Library Mall.”

“…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: partly sunny hi 63º / lo 45º

WednesDAY: sunshine hi 68º / lo 52º dailycardinal.com/page-two

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892

Andrew waxes hypothetical over construction

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andrew Lahr spare me the lahrcasm

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fter three years of constant, sporadically located construction being done on UW campus buildings, streets, sidewalks and courtyards, the UW Chancellor’s Office has declared that in an effort to speed up the process the entirety of the UW campus will soon be under construction.

“Fuck it. We’re just gonna tear the whole place down eventually— what’s the point of spacing construction out over 10 years simply for the overrated ability to be able to walk around campus when we could just do it all now?” said Sharon Dillinger, head of the UW Council for Renovations. “I’m sick of students calling me every minute of the day for the past few years whining about not hearing their professors and not being able to study at College Library anymore with all of the jack hammering and buzz sawing going on in the middle of the day,

so we figured we’d just get it all over with in one fell swoop.”

Students across campus who are sick of waking up to the sound of construction and hearing it while walking to class, (even with iPods set to Metallica at full volume), are advised to buy either a pair of noise cancelling headphones or a few large bottles of aspirin. Possibly both. Those who have been frustrated with months of seeing orange cones, Bobcats, cranes and haggard-looking construction workers shamelessly hit on timid freshmen girls can look forward to seeing even more of it in the coming months.

“This place is getting a facelift that would make Cher seethe with jealousy. It’s all fucking coming down. The libraries, the Memorial Union ... honestly, the Red Gym is looking really old and tacky these days so we’re gonna rip that pile of shit down too. Screw history. Hell, even old Abe Lincoln up on Bascom Hill is getting the boot. We’re gonna put in a new 40-footer complete with all the bells and whistles, like 14-karat gold leaf and a top-hat made of solid bronze,” said Dillinger.

Students will be expected to

attend class as usual during the ongoing construction and will be given detour maps to aid in navigating the construction zones and scaffolding on the way to their lectures and discussions. Stylish “Bucky” hard hats and dust masks will be handed out free of charge for the slightly dangerous trek to and from classes. The university will not be held liable for any accidents occurring as a result of a failure to use provided safety equipment.

Even old Abe Lincoln ... is getting the boot. We’re gonna put in a new 40-footer complete with ...

14-karat gold leaf and a top-hat made of solid bronze.

Funded by students’ tuition payments, improvements made on UW facilities will be well worth the inconveniences endured for a mere couple years. Six extra floors will be added to College Library, one of which will hold the “Quieter Study” study room for those students not

satisfied with the volume level of the current quiet study room. Even the SERF will be upgraded. It will finally have air conditioning for sweat-weary joggers and basketball players as well as new facilities for the growing number of students competing in sports such as curling, cricket and polo.

“We’re really excited about the improvements that are going to be done, especially if we’re gonna keep up with those damned goody two-shoes over in Minnesota and Michigan. The campus is really going to be something to see in around three or four years,” said Dillinger.

Roads, sidewalks and buildings will start going down at the beginning of October. Students can look forward to increasingly large delays, ear-piercing diesel engines and a higher risk of being run over by a backhoe. Luckily for current freshmen, there’s a slim chance they may be around long enough to see the finished product come into focus through the choking clouds of dust.

Want to learn more about the totally worth it construction being done on campus? E-mail Andrew at aplahr@wisc.edu for more info.

Tonight, look for video coverage of Collected snippets from professor Guy exiting football game: in Birge Hall: I think I creeped her out cuz I was —Roaches taste pretty good—if staring at her titties. you’re into eating beetles.

—On a picture of his home town: Girl in Vilas: Look. One of God’s own people playing God’s own game. Cricket.

Did you know soup tastes better —On sexual selection: The critical when you slurp it? It just makes thing is—are you attractive? nastier sounds.

—Imagine, if you will, that I am a Guy: fetal gorilla.

That applies to a lot of things...

—God intended London buses to be red, damnit!

Guy in Memorial Union: Girl in Library Mall:

I can think of maybe two things that are better than NBA Jam and Oh my God you look so slick. I have three of those are dinosaurs. to take a photo of you to put on my blog.

Two people biking toward Langdon Guy: Street from Henry Street: I know, right?

Girl in front: Ahh! It smells like Girl in Vilas Hall: fish sticks from the fraternities!

That Barefoot was horrible. Like drinking the sweat of giants.

Some people in the Chazen:

Guy 1: Dude, let’s pre-game for In a J662 lecture, talking about Obama! ethnicity: Guy 2: For sure man, maybe toke some too, since there’ll be music —Professor: What is your ethnicity? and shit.

—Girl: I identify myself as a coastie. I get really excited when I find Guy in the Old Fashioned: out other people are from a coast.

I finally realize why Wisconsinites Bunch of AXO girls on the street: are drunk all the time—so many kinds of beer.

—Girl 1: Where’s Iowa?

—Girl 2: I don’t know—what is Submit your Overheards to vstatz@ Iowa? dailycardinal.com or at dailycardinal.

—Girl 3: It’s a state. com/page-two by commenting on —Girl 1: Oh, well what’s in it? this weeks’ submissions.

President Obama’s speech online at dailycardinal. com!

If you can’t make it to the rally, see and listen to what the President had to say to Madison. If you were able to go, you can use the video to double-check facts so your arguments/opinions are even more well-informed.

Proudly brought to you by :

Cardinal Productions

dailycardinal.com/news

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Vice provost talks diversity

By Alison Bauter the daily cardinal

Vice Provost for Diversity and Climate Damon Williams held a press conference Monday to discuss the recent reorganization of campus diversity programs at Thursday’s Campus Diversity Forum.

Williams initiated a major reorganization effort within the university’s Diversity and Climate division, bringing five campus diversity programs—First Wave, PEOPLE, CeO, POSSE and the Office of Equity and Diversity—under his jurisdiction as vice provost.

“I felt like we would benefit from a greater level connectivity and cohesiveness,” Williams said about the reorganization.

According to Williams, restructuring was just a first step.

“We’ve made shifts in these programs, but that’s just one move in a

broader journey,” he said.

Steps in Williams’ plan include faculty diversification efforts and an expansion of PEOPLE, a program that seeks to address statewide disparities in math competency and ACT scores by encouraging college matriculation among underrepresented groups.

“A part of our special responsibility ... [Is creating] an experience both within and outside the classroom that is going to prepare all of our students for a world that’s diverse and global and interconnected,” he said.

According to Williams, one of these experiences is this week’s Campus Diversity Forum.

He said the title of this year’s forum, “Cultivating Excellence: Nurturing the Seeds of Success,” refers to the many positive results of Plan 2008, a 1998 initiative to enhance campus diversity.

“The point that we’re trying to make is that there are very positive things that are happening that we need to be building on,” he said.

Program highlights include a discussion of UW-Madison’s Go Big Read selection, “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks,” which features a black woman whose cancer cells contributed to cancer research, and a panel discussion on women of color.

Williams says his biggest regret is that the event will be taking place during the day when many students will be too busy to fully participate.

However, Williams is also planning a “Student Town Hall on Diversity” as a parallel event to the diversity forum.

The Campus Diversity Forum will take place Thursday at Memorial Union from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Williams said the student town hall will be in October or November.

‘Sexting’ DA Kratz planing to step down

By Ariel Shapiro the daily cardinal

Calumet County District Attorney Ken Kratz will resign from his position in the wake of an investigation by the state government prompted by several women claiming he sexually harassed them.

Kratz’s attorney Robert Craanen made the announcement Monday at the Chilton courthouse, according to TMJ4 in Milwaukee.

The now infamous “sexting” DA made headlines two weeks ago when

ssfc from page 1 The liaison visits student organizations to ensure they are spend-

Stephanie Van Groll, an domestic abuse victim and Kratz’s former client, filed a complaint claiming he sent her sexually suggestive text messages.

The Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault and American Indians Against Abuse released a joint statement praising Kratz’s decision to step down but saying the investigation should not be over.

“Kratz’s resignation will not automatically repair the damage he

has caused to victims’ trust and confidence in the legal system,” the statement said.

Scott Hassett, the Democratic nominee for Wisconsin Attorney General, took Kratz’s nomination as an opportunity to criticize Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen’s handling of the situation.

“Had the Attorney General done his job and referred this case to Governor Doyle last October, Kratz would have been removed from office long ago,” Hassett said in a statement.

ing their money as pitched at their SSFC eligibility hearing.

The position is currently controversial because Liaison

Brenden Leib requested services from the Campus Women’s Center to audit the organization without revealing he was associated with SSFC. Many SSFC members were also not informed of the secret audit.

“I think that the groups should know if it’s a possibility that they will be audited,” Terry said.

Others, including SSFC chair Matthew Manes, clarified that the purpose of the liaison is not to catch organizations for wrongdoing, but to ensure that they are doing what they said they would.

The SSFC also decided to grant funds to FH King, a student organization dedicated to environmental studies.

The SSFC denied the Badger Aviators funding because no members were present for their hearing.

danny marchewka/the daily cardinal

SSFC Secretary Jason Smathers voted to deny WISPIRG funding at the SSFC meeting Monday night.

Freakfest allotted $35,690 in funds from city of Madison

By Taylor Curley the daily cardinal

The Madison Board of Estimates approved a resolution to amend the 2010 operating budgets of several city divisions to accommodate funding for Freakfest Monday.

The approval authorizes the city to appropriate $35,690 from the Contingent Reserve Fund for costs associated with Freakfest.

The Madison Police Department, Engineering Division, Streets Division and Parks Division will receive these funds to help run the Halloween celebration.

The funds will allow the city to spend money on several necessary features associated with the event such as security services, equipment rental and portable toilets.

According to the resolution, in 2009 the budget of approximate-

ly $48,000 was recovered through a revenue sharing agreement with Freakfest entertainment coordinator Frank Productions, Inc., via ticket sales and sponsorship funds. The city plans to once again collect these funds to cover the costs of Freakfest.

“I don’t think it’s out of the question that we could break even on this budget,” Mayor Dave Cieslewicz said.

The city’s costs associated with Freakfest have reduced significantly since 2007. Madison budgeted about $82,000 for Freakfest in 2007, almost $47,000 more than the funds allotted for 2010.

“The event is almost on autopilot and it has become extremely routine,” Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said. “The price tag that the city is spending on it is being reduced every year.”

Nonetheless, this also makes it difficult to accurately budget for these costs, according to the resolution. This also has to do with the fluctuation of attendance, which alters the amount of police needed at the event. For this year’s Freakfest there is a total of $23,000 budgeted for security services.

“Over the years we have had fewer problems involving riots, vandalism and fires,” Verveer said.

“With fewer problems, we ultimately need fewer police.”

Verveer said stadium lighting trucks and the cost of renting out the University Inn for out-of-town police and state troopers will not be included in this year’s Freakfest budget.

“Eliminating both the stadium lighting and the renting of University Inn are examples of how safe this event has become,” Verveer said.

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ben pierson/the daily cardinal

Vice Provost for Diversity and Climate Damon Williams discussed the recent reorganization of UW-Madison diversity programs Monday.

obama from page 1 and Wisconsin’s emergence as a battleground state over a critical governorship and U.S. Senate seat reflects that.

Kaine said the DNC are aware of the risks the current political situation poses, but by being vigilant they can avoid the fate of Democrats in 1994, when Republicans won both houses of Congress two years into the Clinton administration.

“Democrats have been aware of the challenging climate and have been working really hard,” Kaine said. “I don’t have a single candidate that I’ve met across this country who is going to lose because they’ve been taking it for granted. They’re all working very, very hard.”

Motivating young voters who supported Obama in 2008 is key to the Democrats’ campaign, according to Kaine, but UW-Madison political science professor Charles Franklin said the results could be disappointing for Democrats.

“In doing that, [Obama is] fighting long odds, because young people generally turn out less than old people, but they also drop out more in the midterm compared to the presidential

year,” Franklin said.

However, Associated Students of Madison diversity chair and emcee for Tuesday’s rally Steven Olikara said young voters will not sit on the sidelines for the midterm elections, and that “as a campus, we’re going to prove them wrong.”

“Democrats have been aware of the challenging climate and have been working really hard.”

Tim Kaine chairman Democratic National Committee

Although student involvement could prove critical for the Democrats in these midterm elections, Welhouse said people of all ages statewide are concerned about the current administration, and the results in Wisconsin will be indicative of a national political trend.

“This is really one of the places where the action is,” Welhouse said. “[Wisconsin] is going to be one of those states that’s really going to serve as a bellwether this time around.”

19 students receive Fulbright awards Fourteen UW-Madison students received Fulbright fellowship awards to study, teach English and conduct research abroad from the Fulbright U.S. Student program.

Five other students were awarded funding from the Fulbright-Hays Doctoral Dissertation Research Abroad program, which funds research overseas with a focus on nonwestern foreign languages.

UW-Madison is currently

ranked in the top 10 of American Research institutions to produce Fulbright fellows.

The Fulbright program will fund more than 1,500 U.S. students to study abroad during the 2010-’11 school year.

The program operates in more than 155 countries. Of the 300,000 Fulbright alumni, 11 have gone on to win Pulitzer Prizes and 40 have won the Nobel Prize in Literature.

Woman allegedly sexually assaulted A young Madison woman was sexually assaulted early Saturday morning, police said.

The woman told police she was walking home alone around 2:30 a.m. after going to bars in the downtown area. Authorities said the woman had been drinking.

The 20-year-old victim thought she was on Randall Avenue, near Vilas Avenue, when a man approached her from behind, police said.

“She remembers him say-

ing something and then grabbing at her,” Madison Police Public Information Officer Joel DeSpain said.

The victim began to scream and the suspect ran away. After the suspect took off, the victim hurried home, falling and scraping her knees while she ran.

Police said when the woman arrived home she found her underwear had been ripped.

The suspect is allegedly a white man, police said.

opinion Obama brings the buzz back to Madison 4

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Tuesday, September 28, 2010

dan tollefson opinion columnist

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hen I think back two years ago, I remember a UW-Madison campus completely transformed.

Fall semester 2008 was election time, and even at a school known historically for its noisy political culture, those were loud days.

It wasn’t just the College Democrats and College Republicans on Library Mall who were heavily invested in the campaign season, it was each and every student on campus. I couldn’t go a whole day without talking about the presidency to friends or slapping a new campaign sticker on my laptop.

Politics were popular, knowledge was power and it was expected that voters were active and informed, no matter their age.

When the Democratic presidential frontrunner, Barack Obama, came to the Kohl Center in 2008 there was a buzz in the air.

Students were excited to see the tangible representation of change for their government and for their futures. We lined up to hear more than a speech; we lined up to hear why—as students—we were valuable. Regardless of party affiliation, we were lost in the moment.

Obama was everything past presidents weren’t: Young, black and understanding. Unlike leaders before him, he didn’t discount the under-25 demographic—he banked on it. With one simple visit, President Obama inspired the youth of Wisconsin, nor-

dailycardinal.com/opinion

mally regarded as inaccessible and undependable, to fulfill their civic duty and hit the polls on election day.

And 2008 was a historic year for the young voters of America.

Almost three-fourths of 18 to 29year-olds voted, simultaneously showing their new zeal for civic duty and their clout.

The buzz is gone—not because nothing is happening, but because we’re sick of paying attention.

But in the years since, the shift from engagement to apathy has been more than noticeable, if not sad. It seems like young people, especially students, are either unaware or just don’t care about changes they feel don’t affect them on a daily basis. The buzz is gone—not because nothing is happening, but because we’re sick of paying attention.

We’re happy occasionally talking about oil spills and wars while letting the rest of policy and process fall on deaf ears. But I like to think it’s not our fault, at least not entirely. The partisan divide in Congress is at an all-time high.

And like many of the officials that represent us, it’s getting old.

Lately, elected officials vote the party line regardless of personal beliefs or responsibility to constituents. Ancient policies like “Don’t ask, Don’t tell” that appear to college kids as slam-dunks for repeal fall short because of grid-

lock, because it’s too close to election time and because politicians are more afraid of stepping on the toes of party big shots than the people they represent.

I understand why students are frustrated. A sense of helplessness reminiscent of the years before 2008 is slowly taking over again. But the fact of the matter is this: We are not powerless, we are not incapable of enacting change, we do not need to stand by idly as powers now shape the rest of our lives.

With that said, you don’t have to be a political science professor to see why President Obama is coming to Library Mall today.

The latest polls aren’t favorable for many Democratic candidates across the nation, including states like Wisconsin where President Obama performed so well in 2008. In the Senate race, incumbent Russ Feingold is trailing political newcomer Ron Johnson by double-digits, and Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett has his hands full with Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker in the fight for the governor’s office.

Faced with nationwide antiincumbent sentiment and growing Republican enthusiasm, President Obama is hoping to activate the same demographic he did back in 2008: The youth.

He’s here to flip the “on” switch for students, young people and the otherwise uninterested.

The President thinks he can just show up and we’ll vote like we did in 2008, that he can bring the buzz back to Madison, and we’ll disregard our frustrations with partisan gridlock and be inspired to once again engage full force in our civic duties. I think

Isabella Alverez/cardinal file photo

he’s exactly right.

There’s too much at stake not to vote. Expiring Bush-era tax cuts are once again on the agenda. “Don’t ask, Don’t tell” is still a reality. Republicans are threatening to pull back on health-care reform, along with federal investments in infrastructure.

We all know why President

Obama is in Madison today. His motives are obvious. But that shouldn’t detract from the message, from the inspiration, from the buzz. Take his speech for what it’s worth, but don’t be afraid to get swept up in the moment.

Dan Tollefson is a senior majoring in English. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

President Obama has failed to deliver real change to America matt payne opinion columnist

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e arly two years ago, Senator Barack Obama captured the hearts and minds of young people everywhere when he promised he would bring unity to a divided nation, change to a broken Washington D.C. and hope to many who saw our nation sliding in the wrong direction. Yet today, as the President speaks at Library Mall, our nation remains deeply divided: Washington continues with business as usual, a 9.5 percent unemployment rate and an economy which is sluggish at best. Many who once had so much hope are now questioning whether or not the policies of this administration have helped or hurt them.

As the President speaks at Library Mall, our nation remains deeply divided while Washington continues with business as usual.

In fact, according to a recent POLITICO/George Washington

University Battleground Poll, only 38 percent of Americans say that the President deserves to be re-elected.

Americans, including many college students, are unhappy with a slow economy, unheard of deficit spending, and a health-care law that was passed using the very backroom politics Democrats promised to erase. Now, a refreshed Republican party with new ideas and solutions is expected to win the House of Representatives and possibly the Senate come November.

While many students may still support President Obama on some issues, many also feel he has failed to deliver the real change he promised. On the night of his election, he spoke eloquently about unity in uncertain times.

His words articulated that together we could solve the financial crises, promised that together we could find solutions for an out-of-control federal deficit and assured us that together we could restore our government to what the founders intended.

His words are no longer enough. For two years the Obama administration, along with Nancy Pelosi and the Democraticcontrolled Congress, have pushed legislation after legislation through without, in many cases, even reading the bill, much less discussing it with the American people. Nancy Pelosi even famously declared,“We have to

pass the [health-care] bill so you can find out what’s in it.” The health-care law which, according to an average of polls from pollster.com, a majority of Americans disapproved of, was passed in the face of bipartisan opposition using a procedural method known as reconciliation. While the Senate has yet to take up the measure, Cap-and-Trade legislation will cost families, seniors, and those who already are suffering financially thousands of dollars more per year, all to satisfy the increasingly powerful environmental lobby that exists in Washington D.C. today.

While President Obama’s campaign rally today will excite many, millions of American’s without jobs will wonder when their rally is coming.

President Obama and Democrats in Congress promised to give top priority towards fixing the economy. Instead, President Obama chose to tackle issues such as health care despite the fact that our economy is still hurting. Today, the economy which President Obama promised would never see eight percent unemployment has now been lingering at 9.5 percent for months. Many leading econ-

omists such as Vanguard’s Chief Economist, Joe Davis, now fear a double dip-recession. Yet the only the solution the President has come up with is to spend even more money on top of the billions of dollars that have already been spent through the economic stimulus.

Many on the left argued that President Obama had to spend those billions of dollars to “fix the mess” left by President Bush and save the economy. With this justification, according to a recent report from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, in one stroke of his pen President Obama spent more money than George W. Bush spent on the entire Iraq war by signing the $862 billion stimulus package.

Now many economists say the so-called stimulus package did next to nothing to stimulate the economy. Even if, as many on the left contend, the stimulus saved jobs, it did so at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars per job and added to an already unsustainable deficit.

The deficit, which President Obama promised to cut in half, has now more than doubled. To address this issue of an unsustainable deficit, President Obama wants to allow parts of the Bush tax cuts to expire; something that both the Congressional Budget Office and leading economists have said will severely hamper any economic recovery. President

Obama has claimed he wants to extend the Bush tax cuts only for the middle class, but history will show that a tax increase on anyone, especially small business owners who make up a large portion of the so called “rich”, would be extremely damaging to an already fragile economy. Now members of both parties are petitioning the President to extend all of the Bush tax cuts.

While many students may still support President Obama on some issues, many more feel he has failed to deliver real change.

While President Obama’s campaign rally today will excite many, the millions of Americans without jobs will continue to wonder when their rally is coming. The hundreds of thousands of graduating seniors who so fervently supported Obama in 2008 are now staring at an economy that offers little opportunity for them.

It’s time the President does more than address college students, but also address the issues and problems that face this country today.

Matt Payne is a junior majoring in Chinese and economics. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

arts Folds gets Lonely, so Hornby lends a hand dailycardinal.com/arts

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

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With some lyrical help from Mr. “High Fidelity,” Ben Folds provides fans with a solid, if not amazing, album

By Nick Cusatis THE DAILY CARDINAL

Lonely Avenue may seem like the unlikeliest of collaborations, but it undoubtedly makes sense.

On his seventh full-length album, Ben Folds teams up with critically acclaimed author Nick Hornby to create an album for which Hornby wrote the lyrics in their entirety and Folds composed all of the music. While this collaboration may have some listeners scratching their heads, it makes complete sense to have a scholar in the art of writing and a well established popular musician come together to create a masterpiece.

The lyrics written by Hornby are very similar in topic to subjects Folds has written about in the past. Themes such as love, heartbreak and discouragement, which have long been a staple of Folds’ songwriting, are just as present in Hornby’s lyrical contributions. Another similarity that these two collaborators share is that they like to curse–and curse a lot–as evidenced by the opening track “A Working Day” in which Folds sings, “Everything I write is shit.”

While fans of Folds’ classic piano sound might be turned off by the synthesizer-based rock of the open-

ing track, they can take comfort in menting with different styles— the second track, “Picture Window.” unfortunately, it just doesn’t work.

On this song, Folds is clearly in his With synthesizers and abstract lyrielement with his piano and a few cal delivery, these songs just sound forced and contrary to Folds’ style. stringed instruments.

On “Saskia Hamilton,” howFolds and Hornby first worked together to write a song for ever, Folds’ experimentation with William Shatner’s 2004 album, synthetic instrumentation works to Has Been. Though Has Been was his advantage. This well-written rock song combines far from stellar, it Hornby’s literary can at least take CD REVIEW skills with Folds’ credit for connecting these two soothing voice as artists whose relaFolds sings, “Her tionship stemmed passport alone is from there and great poetry.” ultimately led to Lonely Avenue concludes with Lonely Avenue. something Folds With Folds living has perfected: in the States and Lonely Avenue the love song.

Hornby living in Ben Folds & On “Belinda,” the U.K., most Nick Hornby Hornby’s storyof their communication and collaboration was teller-like lyrics really flourish as through e-mail. Hornby sent all he depicts a man who lets the girl his lyrics through the Internet, of his dreams escape. Listeners will leaving Folds with the reins to be hard pressed not to feel a little write adequate musical accompa- emotional as Folds sings, “Belinda niment to his works. / I love you / Don’t leave me / I For the most part, this uncon- need you.” ventional form of songwriting is With Lonely Avenue, Folds has extremely successful, but there are yet again produced an album that some definite exceptions. While will please his loyal fan base. And “Claire’s Ninth” is a forgettable yet, it’s not quite an instant claslove song, “Levi Johnston’s Blues” sic. Folds and Hornby have fused and “Password” find Folds experi- two methods of expression that go

hand in hand and the end result is a handful of great songs—and a few that need to be tweaked. If these two masterminds could come

together on another album and really fine tune it, one can only imagine the kind of astounding music that could be made.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NONESUCH RECORDS

17 years since forming Ben Folds Five, this suave fellow has become a model of consistency in a constantly changing musical landscape.

When the reel may not actually be so real: introducing the “fauxumentary” DAVID COTTRELL cott-rell it on the mountain

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ocumentaries have been playing hopscotch with the line between fact and fiction for a while now, even spawning a new genre—the mockumentary. The term ‘mockumentary’ is derived from director Rob Reiner’s description of his 1984 film, “This Is Spinal Tap,” which he called a mock-documentary. But the first popular example of the genre dates all the way back to 1964, when “A Hard Days Night” depicted a few days in the lives of the Beatles.

More recently, Christopher Guest utilized this comedic form with great success in his movies “Best in Show” and “A Mighty Wind.” And let’s not forget its presence on the modern TV airwaves either, with shows like “The Office,” “Parks and Recreation,” and “Modern Family” using a mockumentary narrative form. A key component of this breed of mockumentary has always been

its comedy—comedy that winks at the audience. These movies and TV shows aren’t trying to be anything other than fiction, and it works. Recently, though a new breed of film has emerged: the fake documentary, or as I like to call it, the fauxumentary.

In 1999, Artisan Entertainment used a pioneering marketing strategy for “The Blair Witch Project.”

Artisan marketed the film primarily on the Internet and presented the film as a real event. The strategy paid off, and “The Blair Witch Project” is currently the third most successful independent film of all time. Subsequently, it seems that filmmakers and studios are increasingly at peace with playing fast and lose with the truth.

Phrases such as “inspired by real events” or “based on a true story” may simply mean that something once happened to someone somewhere. But recent fauxumentaries have foregone admissions that any of what they depict is at all fake and falsely present themselves as pure, unadulterated truth. That stance is then held not just within the film itself but also in market-

PHOTO COURTESY OF MAGNOLIA PICTURES

While Joaquin Phoenix should be remembered for his riveting role in “I’m Still Here,” people are more likely to remember this movie as a prank.

ing and public discussion of the film. There is no wink, no nudge, no inside joke.

“I’m Still Here” is a recent and prominent example of this trend. The documentary, filmed

by Casey Affleck, purports to follow a “missing” year in the life of Joaquin Phoenix as he retires from acting to pursue a career in hip-hop. Phoenix is riveting in the film as he sees his dreams and his prospects slipping away from him, he begins to break down. It’s a portrait of a man caught up in his own mythos who discovers he isn’t so invincible after all.

Ironically, that’s the real-life fault of the film and its creators as well. Affleck and Phoenix spent two years convincing everyone that the film was completely real.

And while there were cries of skepticism from the onset, after the premiere at the Venice film festival this September, there were still plenty of critics—Roger Ebert included—who whole-heartedly believed all the events in the film were real. The truth is that the film is so convincing it feels real in the moment, even if you know it’s not—and that is a trait all great films possess.

Only after the theatrical release did Affleck finally admit the entire film was pre-scripted fiction. While Phoenix and Affleck had sought a public discourse (and publicity) from their ruse, it really just cheapened the experience. Many critics who had already reviewed the film felt manipulated and were outraged—and with due cause. The film should have stood on its own without attempts to control the atmosphere in which it was seen.

Viewers could have focused on the content of the film itself rather than the debate over its authenticity.

Ultimately, “I’m Still Here” should be remembered for its inspired per-

PHOTO COURTESY OF RELATIVITY MEDIA

“Catfish” would like to have you believe their story of internetinfatuation is real, but it appears to be just another “fauxumentary.” formance by Phoenix, but instead It has been suggested that the it will probably go down in history filmmakers actively sought out as an irritating prank. someone mentally ill with an obvi“Catfish” is another recent doc- ously fake profile on Facebook umentary that has been viewed and baited her for months before skeptically and still may end with finally arriving to exploit her in an admission of fallacy from its cre- person. Others believe that that ators. Directed by Ariel Schulman the entire documentary was scriptand Henry Joost, the film follows ed and acted like an ordinary feaAriel’s brother Nev, a handsome ture film. After all, why would the twenty-something photographer woman have agreed to appear in in New York, as he begins to such a damning and exploitative have an online relationship with portrait of herself? While it is posMegan, an aspiring young musi- sible that the film is completely cian from Michigan. Nev and real, that would make these filmMegan send each other pictures, makers the luckiest guys on the talk on the phone and awkwardly planet. It is far more likely that sext. But when Nev realizes that some, or all, of it is faked and Megan’s songs were stolen from that we may be getting another various artists on YouTube, the announcement from the creators crew decides to investigate the once the film leaves theaters.

These fauxumentaries seem family in person.

What they find is an older determined to fool audiences into woman of questionable mental thinking they are watching reality health that constructed an entire rather than allowing the audiences network of Facebook profiles, to be pulled into the fictional using hundreds of stolen photos of beauty of the film. But audiencpeople she didn’t know, to create a es want to be in on the joke. completely fake extended family They aren’t out to be bamboozled. in her small town to lure Nev into Fiction can have as much of an a relationship with her. The story effect on an audience as reality if is an intriguing mystery—one that it is crafted with talent. So don’t lie to your audience. seems far too perfect to be true.

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What were all of those Big Foots and Long Necks doing up there? The site where the Parthenon was built had to be cleared of hundreds of dinosaur bones (then called giants’ bones) before construction could begin. dailycardinal.com/comics

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Easy as pissing off Secret Service today

Today’s Sudoku

Evil Bird

By Caitlin Kirihara kirihara@wisc.edu

© Puzzles by Pappocom

Branching Out

By Brendan Sullivan bsullivan3@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.

Beeramid Classic

By Ryan Matthes graphics@dailycardinal.com

Today’s Crossword Puzzle

Crustaches

Dookingham Palace

By Patrick Remington premington@wisc.edu

By Natasha Soglin soglin@wisc.edu

Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com

CHOP CHOP

ACROSS 1 Perspiration unit 5 Tibetan monk 9 Part-woman, partbird creature 14 Hindu musical form 15 Tropical wader 16 Severe, as pain 17 Touchdown data, briefly 18 ___ Orange, N.J. 19 Plant on the back of old pennies 20 Immediately 23 Contemptuous contortion 24 Trunks 25 Slightly askew 28 It’s groovy to a carpenter 30 Hardly encouraging 32 Au ___ (roast beef order) 35 Quarter back?

38 “Legal” or “medic” lead-in 39 On very short notice 43 “... for a ___ pittance” 44 Unbelievable bargain 45 They may include jingles or slogans 46 Type of gown or registry 49 Rider’s whip

51 52 55 59 61 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Drink delicately Ply with liquor Boxers’ attire Instantaneously Future husbands, perhaps Pro ___ (in proportion) Completely cooked Sign of an untreated pool Second word of many fairy tales Case for toiletries Groups of two Goose or loon It falls somewhere every day DOWN Makes coffee or beer Cook at home Striped semiprecious stone Busted up “In ___ of flowers ...”

Slaughterhouses Perform incorrectly Autumn bloomer Fiftieth American state “___ Breaky Heart” Wish things otherwise Sch. group Nevertheless

21 22 25 26 27 29 31 32 33 34 36 37 40 41 42 47 48 50 53 54 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63

Get on a soapbox Acid WWII beach Basic unit of capacitance AAA changes them Pop Resort feature Door frame part Wombs Type of mall or mine Universal workplace Eventgoer “___ give you the shirt off his back” Ben-Hur was chained to one ___ and fauna Maltreats 9-Down gift Shade of blue Cancel, as a rocket launch Giraffe relative with striped legs Regional plant and animal life Cause of yawning Amount of yarn Area by a dorm Beach material Certainly not good Isle of ___ (England) Turkish title of honor

Washington and the Bear

By Derek Sandberg kalarooka@gmail.com

Volleyball

Pete Waite looks for positives after tough weekend sweep

By Max Sternberg THE DAILY CARDINAL

After getting off to a perfect 11-0 start through the conclusion of non-conference play, the Badger volleyball squad knew that the start of Big Ten play would bring a whole new challenge. Although the young team continued to play on a high level, the barrage brought to Madison by Big Ten stalwart Ohio State and the three-time defending national champion Nittany Lions of Penn State was simply too much to handle.

While starting the Big Ten schedule with a winless weekend was no doubt disappointing, UW head volleyball coach Pete Waite remained positive at his Monday press conference.

“Our players left those matches still positive with the things they did well,” Waite said. “That’s what we’re working on, just improving our game all the time and getting stronger.”

Although the weak non-conference schedule made the transition to conference play a more challenging task, Coach Waite knows his young team benefited from the early success and that the transition into conference play is just another step in the maturation process.

“We had, overall, a very young squad, and they needed some confidence just to get up to speed to the college level,” Waite said. “That’s one thing going from high school and club to college, [and another step] now pre-conference play to Big Ten is much different.”

Despite not having a win to show for this weekend, Waite felt that his young team adjusted well to the challenge of conference play and has the tools to compete as the season wears on.

“Friday they responded well, and [if we get] a couple points here and there and we win that match [against Ohio State] and we’re feeling pretty darn good about the split on the weekend,” Waite said.

On the court, the Badgers continued to show signs of improvement, especially from their senior leadership.

Friday, the seniors were front and center as outside hitter Allison Wack notched a career-high 20 kills to go along with seven kills while libero Kim Kuzma tallied a match-high 20 digs. In addition to their on-the-court performance, the off-court presence of these senior leaders has been a tremendous asset to the ongoing growth process of the young squad.

After what was undoubtedly their toughest weekend of the season as of yet, the Badgers don’t get to take a breath anytime soon as this week brings a Wednesday match-up against No. 7 Illinois and a Friday dual

with No. 25 Northwestern.

“Illinois just beat Penn State in five, 17-15 in the fifth down at their place last Friday and Northwestern has probably the best team they’ve had in 20 years,” Waite said. “So the challenges keep coming, but again, I like what some of our players are doing and the progress we’re making.”

While the rough start to Big Ten play has brought the Badgers down to earth, Coach Waite remains confident that the improvement process will continue.

“These are things that really, as a squad, even the last two seasons, we weren’t doing. Overall, I think this is a positive group,” coach Waite said.

KYLE BURSAW/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

Despite an average hitting percentage of .947 this past weekend, Allison Wack could not help the Badgers overcome two losses.

Men’s Soccer

Badgers to take on in-state rival Marquette in Milwaukee

By Matthew Kleist THE DAILY CARDINAL

Looking to notch its second win of the season, the Wisconsin men’s soccer team travels to Milwaukee to take on in-state rival Marquette (2-3-2). Playing on their odds going into Tuesday’s matchup, the Badgers have a great opportunity to take down Marquette.

Dominating the Golden Eagles in recent years, the Wisconsin men claim a 6-1-2 record since 2001.

The Golden Eagles are returning home after a big win in their conference opener against Rutgers; their first win in a Big East opener since joining the conference.

Wisconsin will have to be prepared to deal with the confidence that Marquette has coming off their win to avoid another loss. The only loss that the Badgers have suffered against Marquette since 2001 has come on the road.

After suffering a loss to 16th ranked Creighton University this past weekend, the Badgers record fell to 1-5-1, marking their worst start since the 2005 season. Even

following a tough overtime loss, head coach John Trask likes the improvement that he is seeing in his team, claiming that results will come if they continue to perform.

Despite a losing record, one area of the Badgers’ play has remained solid. Boasting a low goals-againstaverage of 1.07, red shirt senior goalkeeper Ryan Vint has played very consistently this season. In Friday’s loss to Creighton, he recorded a season-high eight saves, bringing his season total to 27.

Holding a save percentage of .771, he has one shutout this season.

However, soccer is a game of both defense and offense, and without both, one cannot expect to get results. Hoping to back up the solid play of their keeper, the Badgers will continue to work towards creating quality shots and putting up some goals. Once the Wisconsin offense comes alive, there is no doubt they will start winning games.

One aspect of their play, however, is quite surprising. The Badgers have seen three out of seven games

go to overtime already this season.

In the three games that have reached overtime, the Badgers are 0-2-1.

This statistic is one that Wisconsin hopes to improve on throughout the remainder of the season.

On paper, these two teams seem to be similarly matched. Marquette holds a slightly better record. Each team has let in eight goals and Marquette has scored five goals while Wisconsin has scored four goals.

Each team’s goals-against-average are nearly the same, along with save percentages. Every way you look at this matchup, neither team seems to hold an advantage.

The path to gaining an advantage in this game just may lead to an unlikely spot. That spot is senior defender Aaron Nichols. After being named one of three captains for the 2010 season, Nichols scored his first career goal against Santa Clara. He currently leads the team in goals with two, points with four, and shots on goal with four. Being able to achieve this as a defender may give the Badgers an edge in this game.

Tuesday, September 28, 2010

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sports

dailycardinal.com/sports

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Brewers must make choice on future of Fielder this off-season PARKER GABRIEL parks and rec

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s a general rule, I will try to avoid rambling on, column after column, talking about the Brewers and the Packers.

However, something happened at Miller Park on Sunday afternoon (yes, they’re still playing baseball in Milwaukee) that—though it was not necessarily surprising— caught my attention.

In the eighth inning, with Milwaukee up 7-1 and cruising to victory in the home finale of its wholly underwhelming season, Prince Fielder drew his 106th walk of the season. It was not too noteworthy in itself, as the slugging first baseman is tied for the Major League lead in that category.

However, once he got to first—and yes, it took him a little while—manager Ken Macha inserted shortstop Alcides Escobar to pinch run.

With a six-run lead and Macha’s well-documented aversion to making outs on the bases, the motivation clearly did not have to do with increasing speed on the basepaths.

Instead, Fielder got a chance to tip his cap and wave goodbye to the fans that, in all likelihood, he will never play in front of again in a Brewers uniform.

He hugged first base coach Ed Sedar before heading to the dugout for more hugs from teammates and coaches and eventually a curtain call. If I had a shade of doubt about whether or not he would be traded this winter, it went right out the window at that moment.

On a side note, I should point out that I experienced the same feeling when Brett Favre walked off the frozen tundra in 2007 after the Packers NFC Championship Game loss to the New York Giants. So I don’t have an impeccable record here.

The big man has one year left under team control, but all signs point to the organization attempting to trade him this offseason in order to obtain young pitching and salary relief. Ever since the July trade deadline, talk about Fielder’s future has been foreboding. Sunday, it took a step toward downright obvious.

Talking to MLB.com’s Adam McCalvy, superstar leftfielder Ryan Braun—who, coincidentaly, signed a team-friendly contract that keeps him in Milwaukee until at least 2015—said, “The ovation they gave to Prince was special, because we all understand the ramifications [of his contract and]

the possibilities there.”

Not quite a ringing endorsement.

Fielder keeps playing the “it’s not personal, it’s business” card. While that probably won’t completely alleviate the pain among Brewer faithfuls when the inevitable happens, at least he hasn’t given Milwaukee the Gary Sheffield treatment.

It’s an age-old dilemma for the small market baseball team.

Developing young players into superstars often means losing them when (or before) they become free agents. Failing to cultivate prospects means you’re the Pittsburgh Pirates.

I’ve seen how contracts a fraction of Fielder’s asking price can tie the hands of a small market team. Jeff Suppan can attest to that. I know it can’t be healthy to allow one player to eat up a third of your payroll—no pun intended, Prince. Still, it’s hard to imagine how the Brew Crew will be better off without the city’s portliest vegetarian.

Now, there is hope because, while the Brewers offense would obviously take a hit without Fielder’s perennial .400 on-base percentage and intimidation factor in the lineup, the pitching staff is so depleted that a couple of young pitchers could do the team wonders.

The problems will begin when those two young pitchers aren’t Matt Cain and Tim Lincecum or Jon Lester and Clay Buchholz.

Fans will clamor because the return wasn’t good enough and speculate about all the ways it could have been better.

They shouldn’t.

If Milwaukee can glean one young Major League-ready starter and one or two decent prospects, it will be just fine. Although I have my doubts as to whether or not it will actually happen, the offseason will certainly be interesting if it does.

On top of an immediately improved rotation, GM Doug Melvin and company would have $30 million or so to play around with. As a baseball fan trained by years of mediocrity to always be looking forward to the next season, that kind of promise would be quite the intrigue.

In the age of free agency, stuff like this happens. Players rarely spend their entire careers in one place. It won’t be fun to watch Prince hit the prime of his career and continue mashing taters at a prodigious rate in another city, but at least I’m not a Cubs fan.

Should the Brewers break the bank for Prince? Are you Barack Obama? E-mail Parker at pjgabriel@dailycardinal.com.

Men’s Hockey opens season at No. 13 The defending 2010 NCAA runner-up Wisconsin men’s hockey team will open the 2010-2011 season ranked No. 13 by USA Today/ USA Hockey Magazine men’s hockey preseason poll.The Badgers, who finished last season as the No. 2 team in the country, lost 11 players during the offseason.

Last year’s national champions, Boston College, open up the season ranked No. 1. Meanwhile, six other WCHA teams will also begin the season ranked including North Dakota at No. 2. Other ranked WCHA teams include No. 6 St. Cloud State, No. 9 Minnesota Duluth, No. 11 Denver, and No. 15 Minnesota.

The Badgers’ season officially opens Friday, Oct. 8 in St. Louis against Boston University.

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Tuesday, September 28, 2010

Football

No time for Badgers to dwell on Austin Peay win

By Ted Porath THE DAILY CARDINAL

Head coach Bret Bielema discussed some of the key players in Saturday’s win over Austin Peay, as well as the Badgers’ upcoming game and Big Ten opener at Michigan State.

Bielema began the press conference by stating his excitement for getting into Big Ten play. He then went on to focus on some of the key players in Saturday’s record 703 victory over Austin Peay, as well as the team’s preparation for rival Michigan State.

Freshman running back James White was the offensive MVP in the team’s victory this week, carrying the ball 11 times for 145 yards and scoring a remarkable four touchdowns. White joins Ron Dayne as just the second freshman in Badger history to score four rushing touchdowns in one game. White was also named Big Ten Freshman of the Week for his performance. “[It was] fun to see him grow and get those touchdowns. That was really neat for his confidence,” Bielema said.

On defense, Bielema named junior defensive back Aaron Henry team MVP. Henry racked up four tackles and a career-high three pass breakups in the win on Saturday. “[Henry has] played his most two complete games back to back,” Bielema said.

Bielema is also very excited about where his team is from a health standpoint.

“Since fall camp started, this is the healthiest we have been ...We were able to rest a few guys in the second half Saturday, which was critical because there were a number of guys that we didn’t know if they were going to be able to actually play in the game,” Bielema said. “For us to be able to get those things done on Saturday without them being out there was very, very big in our preparation for this week.”

The Badgers must have a strong focus this week in preparation for Michigan State.

“We know that going up there is a tremendous challenge. I think they are rolling pretty good as a 4-0 football team,” Bielema said.

This year, the Spartans have

shown a very strong running game, racking up over 900 yards already.

They also have a very efficient quarterback, Kirk Cousins, who has completed 67 percent of his passes thus far.

It is not just Michigan State’s offense that worries Bielema though, it is their defense as well.

“To me, they might feature the best defensive player from last year’s film, and he is playing at high level this year, Greg Jones. He is a guy that is just really, really special to watch,” Bielema said.

The Senior All-American linebacker was named the Big Ten Defensive Co-Player of the Week after recording the first two interceptions of his career, along with four tackles and a forced fumble, in the Spartans’ 45-7 win over Northern Colorado on Saturday.

The Badgers will have their work cut out for them going to Michigan State on Saturday, with the Spartans holding a 14-7 advantage in games played in East Lansing, and hope to improve upon the 2-2 record they have under Bret Bielema in conference openers.

DANNY MARCHEWKA/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

Aaron Henry racked up four tackles and three pass break-ups this Saturday in Wisconsin’s dominating win over Austin Peay.