Thursday, October 25, 2018 - The Daily Cardinal

University of Wisconsin-Madison

RE

V

Since 1892 dailycardinal.com

Thursday, October 25, 2018

l

: IEW

SIX CHARACTERS IN SEARCH OF AN AUTHOR

+ARTS page 4

Halloween costumes already in your closet

Advocates fear memo could erase trans civil protections

By Defang Zhang STAFF WRITER

dor, EContra EZ is sold for an upcharge so that the program can be self-sustaining.

“The revenue that we make from the slight upcharge will account for the initial purchase of the oral contraceptive and then be able to sustain future restocks,” Alzaidi said.

Despite the upcharge, EContra EZ is nearly three times cheaper than its drugstore alternatives. Alzaidi said she hopes the implementation

With the rising number of high school graduates decreasing over the past few years and college enrollment falling, race and income proved to be the two most significant factors.

What has the UW System done since then to alleviate the losses?

The number of graduates will continue to decline in the next 20 years; meanwhile the percentage of low-income students and students of color will increase.

Data shows there was a decrease in enrollment of white Americans from 138,299 in 2016 to 136,043 in 2017.

In contrast, from 2016-’17, Hispanic students experienced an increase in enrollment from 9,158 to 9,766.

African Americans in Dane County were 6.2 times as likely as non-Hispanic white Americans to live in poverty. The likelihood was 2.6 times nationwide.

“Every one in three white high school graduates attend colleges within the UW system; this number dwindles to one in 10 for African American high school graduate students,” said Nicholas Hillman, assistant professor in the School of Education in the UW-Madison.

These inequalities are further reflected in college graduation rates.

In 2011, the graduation rate for African-American students was 31.9 percent, under half the rate for white students at 64.5 percent, according to the UW System database.

“There is a strong correlation between income and non-equitable academic opportunities, not ability,” said Noel Tomas Radomski, the director of the Wisconsin Center for the Advancement of Postsecondary Education.

contraceptives page 3

enrollment page 3

STATE NEWS EDITOR

transgender page 3

+L&S page 2

Schools search for methods to tackle income, racial disparity

By Andy Goldstein State transgender rights advocates expressed alarm after a report Sunday revealed the Trump administration is considering narrowing the definition of gender as both exclusively biological and unchangeable.

Activists are concerned that the move comes as part of an effort to erase recognition and protection of transgender and non-binary individuals and roll back their existing protections under law.

“Two years ago on election night, I feared the change in our country’s administration would challenge the progress so many people fought for,” Milwaukee Pride President Wes Shaver said.

“After the latest memo from our president, we have no choice but to amplify the message that we will not accept anything less than equal treatment, respect and rights for all transgender, nonbinary and gender non-conforming human beings.”

The Obama administration set a relatively lenient precedent, leaving identification mostly open to individuals when interacting with federal agencies.

Concerns arose when the New York Times reported on a memo from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which requested a definition of

+L&S page 2

TÉALIN ROBINSON/THE DAILY CARDINAL

EContra EZ, an emergency contraceptive pill, are now sold for $13 at student unions on campus.

Contraceptives at low costs boost access to reproductive health ByJenna Walters CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR

An oral emergency contraceptive is now available for purchase in both student unions at UW-Madison, and at a lower cost than namebrand equivalents.

EContra EZ, an emergency contraceptive pill, can now be purchased at the Badger Markets in Memorial Union and Union South for $13. The pill is a generic version of Plan B and can be purchased without a prescription, preventing preg-

nancy after unprotected sex.

The implementation of the drug began when Sophia Alzaidi, president of Accessible Reproductive Healthcare Initiative, began brainstorming with University Health Services staff about ways to expand the accessibility to emergency contraceptives on campus.

Alzaidi said the team ultimately decided the fastest way to make emergency contraceptives available was to implement EContra EZ in the Unions.

Purchased from a ven-

City encourages homeowners with children to test for lead contamination in their water

By Sydney Widell ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

JAMES LANSER/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Lead may pose health risks in homes built before 1978 regulations, especially for young children. The city of Madison offers some families free lead testing.

Over the past year, more than 70 Dane County children were reported to have elevated lead concentrations in their blood in what officials are calling “a public health concern,” according to a statement released Tuesday by the Dane County Public Health.

As health departments across the country pause to recognize Lead Poisoning Awareness Week, Madison’s agency reflected on the risks lead exposure

poses to children, and encouraged community members to test their homes — and their bodies — for the toxin.

“Although anyone can get lead poisoning, young children are particularly vulnerable because their normal behavior of putting their hands, toys and other things in their mouth, increases their risk for exposure,” said John Hausbeck, environmental health supervisor for Public Health Madison & Dane County (PHMDC). “A blood test is the

only way to know if your child has lead poisoning.”

Areas with older housing in Madison, like the Isthmus and the near East and near West sides, are the most susceptible to lead poisoning. The homes built between 1950 and 1978 typically have less lead in them than homes built before 1950.

That said, 42 housing units and childcare sites were inspected and advised about lead risks

lead page 3

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

life & style

2

l

Thursday, October 25, 2018

An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 128, Issue 10

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

10 quick and simple Halloween costumes already in your closet

News and Editorial

By Holly Anderson

edit@dailycardinal.com

STAFF WRITER

Editor-in-Chief Sammy Gibbons

Managing Editor Sam Nesovanovic

News Team News Manager Andy Goldstein Campus Editor Jenna Walters College Editor Robyn Cawley City Editor Jon Brockman State Editor Andy Goldstein Associate News Editor Sydney Widell Features Editor Grace Wallner

Swamped by midterms and essays? Did the beginning of Halloweekend hit you out of nowhere only to realize you don’t have a single costume? Never fear! Here are some quick and fun ideas from things that are

likely already right in your closet.

Witch A black dress and tights is all it takes! Throw on a black fuzzy sweater if it’s cold, and a hat is super easy to find at a costume store or Ragstock pretty last minute.

Cat/Any Other Animal Really, all it takes is a black or

Opinion Editors Izzy Boudnik • Jake Price Editorial Board Chair Jake Price Arts Editors Allison Garfield • Brandon Arbuckle Sports Editors Cameron Lane-Flehinger • Bremen Keasey Almanac Editors Samantha Jones • Savannah McHugh Photo Editors Channing Smith • Tealin Robinson Graphics Editors Max Homstad • Laura Mahoney Multimedia Editors Asia Christoffel • Hannah Schwarz Science Editor Tyler Fox Life & Style Editor Ally Jansen Copy Chiefs Dana Brandt • Kayla Huynh • Erin Jordan Copy Editors Haley Mades • Dillon Erickson Aylin Merve Arikan Social Media Managers Ella Johnson • Abby Friday Special Pages Haley Sirota • Justine Spore

Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Mike Barth Advertising Managers Wesley Rock• Daniel Tryba Kia Pourmodheji • Karly Nelson 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 Sammy Gibbons • Sam Nesovanovic Izzy Boudnik • Samantha Jones Savannah McHugh • Justine Spore Haley Sirota • Jake Price

Board of Directors Herman Baumann, President Barry Adams • Sammy Gibbons Sam Nesovanovic • Mike Barth Phil Hands • Don Miner Nancy Sandy • Jennifer Sereno Scott Girard • Alex Kusters Kia Pourmodheji

© 2015, The Daily Cardinal Media Corporation ISSN 0011-5398

For the record Corrections or clarifications?

Call The Daily Cardinal office at 608-262-8000 or send an email to edit@dailycardinal.com.

dailycardinal.com

ASHLEY LUEHMANN/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Three students show off their homemade hippie costumes.

animal print top and some ears, and you’re set to go. Find a black skirt or jeans to top it off.

Waldo Could it be any simpler? The only things you’ll need are a red and white striped shirt, jeans, and a red hat. Something tells me that most of us own these things being the UW-Madison students that we are.

Three Hole Punch For all you fans of The Office out there — find your inner threehole-punch Jim within minutes by simply putting on a dress shirt and taping three black dots down it. As a bonus, black cat Pam is also very easy and requires nothing but a black shirt, cat ears and eyeliner for the whiskers.

M&M’s Even if you don’t have a real M&M suit, you can still make this one work; it’s one of the fastest group costumes you can do if you’re in need of one! Simply take any oversized (or normal-sized) solid colored shirt, cut out a white M from paper and tape it on. It may not be the classiest thing on Earth, but it’s perfect if you’re in a pinch!

Angel/Devil This is also no problem after a quick Ragstock run or closet raid.

Grab a white or red shirt, pick up

a halo or horns and you’re golden! Add a boa if you’re feeling especially festive.

Risky Business Possibly the easiest of them all —s lip on an oversized button up shirt and possibly some sunglasses, and you’re all set.

Hippie You can throw on a large patterned shirt, some round sunglasses, a headband and fringe boots if you have them. A vest doesn’t hurt either!

Referee Pretty much the only requirement is a black and white shirt, add a whistle and you’re set! It’s also easy to add leggings if the weather isn’t particularly warm (I’m looking at you, Wisconsin).

Playing Cards Another great option for a truly last-minute costume. Wear plain white on top, cut out numbers and faces, and tape it on—or you can just use Sharpie if it’s a shirt you don’t care too much about. Add black bottoms and/or fishnets on the bottom.

Whether the costume store just wasn’t cutting it this year or you let time get the best of you, hopefully these ideas straight from your closet will take some of the stress off and you can enjoy your Halloweekend!

Fun ways to get you and your friends into the spirit of fall festivities this October

By Colleen Muraca STAFF WRITER

Being a kid, the world is magical, everything around us is mesmerizing, our imagination transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary. The holidays especially brought this out.

Whether it was the joy of counting down from 10 at midnight for the New Year, exchanging Valentines with your entire class or watching the fireworks in awe on the Fourth of July, all were magical experiences.

However, a cardinal rule that almost everyone could agree on, was that nothing came close to this time of year; Halloween, Thanksgiving and the king of all-things magic, Christmas. Fifty-five days make up this magic time period.

These three holidays were the most anticipated events of the year growing up. Unfortunately, as we mature, the magic has started to fade, and now, it takes a little more than candy and Santa to get us in to the holiday spirit.

If you are having a hard time conjuring up that magical feeling again and getting excited for Halloween seems like too much effort, here are a few ways to make your home away from home feel more festive and to get

into the holiday spirit.

Fall-time Activities Take a 20-minute drive to Schuster’s farm in Deerfield, Wisconsin in order to get your fix for fall. With pumpkins ranging from many sizes, colors and types for very low prices, buying these fall gourds will make your home all the more festive.

Take it from me, I bought seven mini-white pumpkins and a spaghetti squash (that fed me for five meals), all for $6.

Pumpkins You might be wondering, what could you possibly need seven mini-white pumpkins for, and I will tell you, pumpkin crafting. If you are anything like my roommates, carving a pumpkin and scooping out its guts is the last thing you want to do. So, instead of making a mess, getting the seeds everywhere and feeling the goop in your hands, think outside the rind.

Try painting, drawing or gluing on buttons or ribbons your pumpkins with fun designs for the spook-tacular holiday. Not only will they look fantastic, but they will also last longer and smell better than the bigger carved pumpkins you carved growing up.

Decorate

ASHLEY LUEHMANN/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Pumpkins add a pop of color and festivity in any room.

It may seem simple, but there is a big difference between an undecorated and a decorated living space during any holiday season. Last year, my roommates and I decided to take a minimalistic approach, because we were cheap and broke, and put up two little wall decals.

In order to get into the mood this year we went all out, we got

pumpkin banners, orange fluorescent lights, decorative cloth pumpkins and some Halloween hanging banners. With a mix of those decorations and the constant smell of pumpkin spice and cinnamon candles burning, it made a world of difference; our house is incredibly festive and all of us are ready for holiday season to begin.

news dailycardinal.com

Thursday, October 25, 2018

l

3

Local artists shed light on early voting on campus

By Gianina Dinon SENIOR STAFF WRITER

THE DAILY CARDINAL STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

“Women Take the Polls” introduce local effort to encourage voting. lead from page 1 in 2017, according to the Public Health Agency. Some of those sites were daycare centers and public schools.

In order to address rampant lead problems, the city replaced public water infrastructure in 2011. It also offers free visits to pre-1978 homes for families with children under age 6.

“There is no safe level of lead exposure in children,” the statement said. “The good news is that

lead poisoning is preventable.”

While the risk of lead exposure historically falls along socio-economic lines, Amy Vieth, the Agency of Public Health’s health education coordinator, said in Madison this is not always the case.

“In Madison and Dane County, we have seen less lead poisoning among low income families because much of the low-income housing was built after 1978 and does not have lead coated surfaces,” Vieth said.

Trump campaigns for Walker, Vukmir while Obama arrives Friday for Baldwin

By Andy Goldstein STATE NEWS EDITOR

President Donald Trump stopped in Wisconsin Wednesday night to hold a rally for Gov. Scott Walker and Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Leah Vukmir, both of whom will face tough elections in November.

Trump landed in Mosinee and spoke to a large crowd at Central Wisconsin Airport in hopes of buoying the electoral chances of the state’s embattled Republicans.

“Scott Walker is a tireless warrior,” Trump said. “We are so happy to have you back here in the state of Wisconsin.”

The president spoke favorably of the unemployment rate in Wisconsin, as well as the controversial deal the state government forged with Taiwanese electronics giant Foxconn.

He reiterated Walker’s promise to continue to protect the coverage of pre-existing conditions, despite state efforts to challenge the Affordable Care Act, which enforces such protections, in federal court.

“Republicans will always protect Americans with pre-existing conditions, 100 percent,” Trump said.

contraceptives from page 1 can lessen the financial and emotional barrier that some students face when trying to acquire emergency contraceptives.

“This implementation is normalizing emergency contraceptive,” Alzaidi said.

“Contraceptives should be a right, not a privilege.”

Alzaidi hopes to expand this implementation into a vending machine system where university community members would

In a new ad released prior to the president’s arrival, Walker reiterated central campaign issues of Trump, notably immigration, accusing Democratic candidate Tony Evers of desiring “special treatment for illegal aliens.”

Progressive groups have largely advised voters to ignore the president’s rally, calling it a distraction from the issues.

“While [Walker] runs racist TV ads, he campaigns with a president who demonizes immigrants and is actively working to gut health care coverage for million of Americans,” NextGen Wisconsin State Youth Director George Olufosoye said.

“Young people see right through Walker’s dog-whistle politics, and we’re ready to elect Tony Evers because he will put the values of our generation ahead of appeasing Donald Trump and his hateful agenda.”

Former President Barack Obama is expected to visit Milwaukee next Friday to support Vukmir’s opponent, Democratic U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin. Former Vice President Joe Biden will support Democrats and rally for early voting Tuesday. be able to anonymously purchase emergency contraceptive.

She said this could help eliminate the stigma around emergency contraceptives and sexual assault on campus.

“Emergency contraceptives can be a sensitive topic for some people,” Alzaidi said. “If someone is a survivor of sexual violence or trauma, [a vending machine system] would allow that person to get what they need without having to interact or disclose their trauma with anyone.”

From light poles to the voting polls, local women are taking action to encourage voting in the Madison community.

As part of a project called “Women Take the Polls,” artists Kelly Parks Snider and Chele Isaac created “yarn bomb cozies” to deck the lamps on Bascom Hill.

The artists collaborated with the thrift store Dig & Save at St. Vincent de Paul, where they collected donated afghans. A group of women, ranging from age 9 to 86, gathered at the Arts + Literature Laboratory in Madison to repurpose them.

“It has been super collaborative,

which is the way grassroots things work best,” Isaac said.

“Art can create a surprise and open your eyes to thoughts and ideas you haven’t had before.”

Kelly Parks Snider artist Women Take the Polls

The project is sponsored by UW-Madison’s Department of Art, ALL, the League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, Arts in Action and BLINK! Madison Arts Commission.

Each afghan bears the phrase “I VOTE BECAUSE…” followed by a blank area where people passing by can write in their own motivations for voting. “I want the world to be a better place,” “Black Lives Matter” and “There is strength in numbers,” were some reasons that filled the space.

For Isaac and Snider, art is a meaningful way to communicate the need to take action.

“Art equals thinking,” Snider said. “Art can create a surprise and open your eyes to thoughts and ideas you haven’t had before.”

The duo plan to keep the yarn bomb cozies on Bascom Hill through Election Day on Nov. 6.

One-time congressional candidate arrested

by FBI after purchasing lethal radioactive material online, could face lifetime sentence

By Sydney Widell ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

The FBI arrested a former Wisconsin congressional candidate Wednesday night after he attempted to buy a lethal dose of a radioactive substance via the internet with the intention to kill an unnamed individual, according to the bureau.

Jeremy Ryan, who ran for Paul

transgender from page 1 gender “on a biological basis that is clear, grounded in science, objective and administrable.”

The agency sought a definition that declared gender as either male or female, based on

Ryan’s seat on the Republican ticket in 2018, was arrested in Black Earth, Wisconsin, while Milwaukee FBI agents searched his Madison home. If convicted, he could serve a lifetime sentence.

According to his campaign website, Ryan believes in cannabis, free markets and government accountability. Ryan gained notori-

ety during the 2011 Act 10 protests, where he rode a Segway around the Capitol. Since then, he has been active in several other political causes, including the Black Lives Matter movement.

This is not the first time Ryan has been arrested either. He’s faced several charges for disorderly conduct and drug possession.

the genitals an individual is born with and is legally unchangeable throughout a person’s life.

Civil rights watchdogs feared the move could erode protections of transgender rights under Title IX, the federal statute that bans gender discrimina-

tion in educational settings, by erasing their legal existence.

“This marginalization and bullying has to stop,” Shaver said. “Self-destructing our nation with hate and prejudice must come to an end. It’s uncivilized. It’s un-American.”

KATIE SCHEIDT/ THE DAILY CARDINAL

The HHS requested a definition of gender that is exclusively biological and would remain unchangeable. enrollment from page 1 In 2017, President Ray Cross created the UW System Diversity Council aiming to encourage national diversity within the communities the UW System serves.

Every UW campus developed a variety of leading pre-college and first-year programs to help students of color transition successfully to colleges.

Besides the programs that originated from UW campuses, Radomski noted many school districts have partnered with community-based organizations that aimed to decrease the achievement gap.

The UW System also grants finan-

cial aid to students, especially students of color.

“The UW System and all of its institutions are actively engaged in trying to expand the number of students of color and other underrepresented groups to enroll,” said Heather Laroi, the director of Strategic Communications for the UW System.

According to the 2016-’17 Financial Aid report of the UW System, 75 percent of all UW underrepresented minority students received some form of financial aid. In comparison, 55 percent of white students received financial aid.

In June, the UW System pro-

posed for an increase in state grants.

They are demanding $3.25 million more in 2018-’19 for the grant program, Wisconsin’s largest financial aid program for college students.

Though much effort was made to support students of color to overcome difficulties in receiving higher education, there is still a systemic oppression within education systems.

“Since race is a socially constructed phenomenon, we need to think about the social factors driving these inequalities: racism, wealth inequality, segregation, unequal K-12 school resources, unequal access to affordable public health,” said Hillman.

arts 4

l

Thursday, October 25, 2018

dailycardinal.com

‘Six Characters’ provides nuanced delight

By Emma Hellmer THEATER COLUMNIST

Performances of University Theatre’s personalized version of Luigi Pirandello’s haunting play “Six Characters in Search of an Author” will be held through Oct. 28, and the production has yet to disappoint. Cast members have delivered chilling performances supported by attention-capturing staging since its opening on Oct. 11.

Born in a time of governmentfabricated reality (the increasinglyfascist Italy of 1921), “Six Characters in Search of an Author” exposes the complexity of living in a setting where truth is often indiscernible from fiction. This theme remains relevant as over-consumption of media confounds our current society’s sense of what’s real.

The meta-theatrical play is set in its actual location: the Gilbert V. Hemsley Theatre, and actors Alexandria Chapes, Allison Garfield, Bri Hunter, Clare Loughran and Kyle Thompson play themselves: modern day UW-Madison students in a theater troupe. In the very beginning, the actors are intentionally so nonchalant that many audience members failed to notice that the play had started.

The play continues to be selfreferential for around the first quarter of its runtime, mentioning that audience members are most likely receiving class credit for attending and poking fun at UW groups and the student actors in the play themselves. While this take was fresh and unexpected at first, the bit grew

old quickly and left me wondering when the actual show would start.

Finally, freshman Philip Klinker appeared dressed in a dapper ‘20sera suit and made his University Theatre debut with the cryptic line, “We are seeking an author,” setting the play in motion.

Klinker personified the father in a historical family of characters who materialized soon after he did, looking altogether turbulent and somewhat sinister. Dressed in black, brown and white, the family was an eyecatching contrast to the theater troupe’s modern apparel.

Camden Ebert and Jack Gammie played the young brother and sister, who said almost nothing during the show and yet delivered some of the strongest performances of the night. Mallory Lewis and Klinker played the mother and father of Brandon Pena, the eldest son. Erin Wathen portrayed Klinker’s stepdaughter (Lewis’s daughter from new husband — and Klinker’s once-assistant).

The complexities of these relationships were revealed as the family convinced the UW theater troupe to take on the arduous task of writing and performing their story.

Klinker narrates the beginning of their twisted story, and soon the family members decide to act out some of the crucial moments of their melodrama. The tension builds to a passionate extreme when Klinker and Wathen act out their meeting in a brothel where Wathen was a prostitute and Klinker was the client.

IMAGE COURTESY OF UNIVERSITY THEATRE

“Six Characters in Search of an Author” runs through Oct. 28 at the Gilbert V. Hemsley Theatre.

The fictional family members delivered strong performances all around, but none more than Lewis, whose agonized shriek at the sight of Klinker and Wathen’s almostencounter brought tears to my eyes.

Being a constantly-tortured character, the mother could have come across as whiny and over-the-top obnoxious, but Lewis’s skillful delivery allowed me to empathize with her, even before I totally understood what she was upset about.

Other stand-out performers included Ebert and Gammie, neither of whom are in high school yet.

Their unbreakable focus during the most impassioned scenes allowed them to exceed expectations and become crowd-favorite characters

while remaining completely mute.

Throughout the entirety of the play, the staging was a standout feature and heightened every fervent moment. Director David Kersnar did a phenomenal job at times emphasizing and in other moments down-playing the juxtaposition between the “real” presentday characters and the “fictional” characters, allowing confusion to occur about what was real and what it meant to be real in the first place.

One of the most powerful images of the show was the family standing on a box upstage and center with “This is not a family” written along the side of their platform.

All of the actors artfully developed their characters even when they weren’t explicitly speaking or

the center focus for the scene. Only some audience members probably noticed Klinker quizzically examining a MacBook or Loughran interacting with audience members as her character — co-director of the developing show — but each of these moments made the play feel more intimate and brought the characters to life.

The show recovered from its slow start quickly and gracefully with the introduction of Klinker and the family of characters, and it progressed smoothly from then on. Nerves heightened until the captivating climactic and final moment, which was so heartbreakingly sudden that it sent audience members home still recovering from the shock.

Lil Yachty proves ‘nuthin’ on his new album Nuthin’ 2 Prove

By Molly Carmichael MUSIC COLUMNIST

Last Friday, Lil Yachty released his third album titled Nuthin’ 2 Prove. The young, Atlanta-born artist found mainstream popularity through social media in 2016 with his hit “Minnesota” and feature on D.R.A.M.’s hit party song “Broccoli.” Dubbing himself as a “bubblegum trap” artist, Yachty’s first mixtape Lil Boat was received well by the internet, who loved his high, auto-tuned voice and pop infused hip-hop style.

A member of Quality

Control Music record label, Yachty has various peers with more established fan bases, such as Migos and Cardi B, as well as upcoming rappers like Lil Baby. Commercial success came to Yachty relatively fast — signing deals with Sprite, Target and Chef Boyardee over the past several years. Even non-fans are going to find it difficult to avoid Lil Yachty’s cherry-hued hair among the televised commercials.

Despite Yachty’s growing fame and network, he has fallen deep into a hole of predict-

IMAGE COURTESY OF HOTNEWHIPHOP

Lil Yachty’s third album is lackluster, generic and has little creativity.

ability and monotony with his latest record — at 15 songs, this dreary album offers practically nothing in terms of creativity compared to his previous work or that of his contemporaries.

“Gimmie My Respect” starts the album off on a compelling note. Just under two minutes, it’s not necessarily a memorable opener, but it acknowledges that Yachty knows his reputation in the music game. The outro proclaims, “And I’m a 8-figure, muhfuckin’ 21year-old millionaire ... ” It would be foolish to attempt to deny his massive success, but this album won’t change the mind of his biggest music critics.

Certainly no one listens to Lil Yachty for his lyrical prowess, so the bar is already set low. Despite a lack of standards, throughout the album unimaginative repetition made some tracks practically unlistenable. “I’m The Mac” demonstrates that quality isn’t necessarily synonymous with popularity. Yachty croons, “Minor setbacks for major comebacks/ I’m the mack, I’m the mack” over and over again. The song should have been compressed into 20 seconds of material for everyone’s sake.

The production of the album was nothing memorable: no beat switch-ups or cool samples, just one trap beat after another, and few grabbed my attention.

Many tracks depended on gimmicky features and auto-tune rather than actual content. The song “Get Dripped” mindlessly follows the mainstream formula

that resembles over half of the songs on the Spotify RapCaviar playlist: a hot feature (Playboi Carti), an overly processed beat, ad-libs and cliché lyrics make for a song that is sure to do well with numbers but not for any special reason. This same structure can be found on “Yacht Club” and “Nolia” as well.

Yachty’s systematic organization allowed the album’s featured artists to overshadow him on nearly every track, displaying an unexpected low of the album itself. In the broody “Forever World,” Trippie Redd at least brings emotion to the love song, opposed to Yachty who comes in with the pitiful bars “Baby know I’m slime, real slime like a boa/ Baby, you a dime, I put diamonds from your neck to your toe-a.”

Whereas once his lack of substance was compensated with humor, lyrics like these have ruined the latter as well.

The track “Who Want the Smoke?” was a high point for the album —- just not for Lil Yachty. He was aggressively outrapped by Cardi B and Offset, both of whom provide assertive features which ultimately suffocated Yachty’s half-hearted verse. Additionally, Tay Keith’s eerie beats make the track into the abrasive, shot-firing banger it’s meant to be.

The theme throughout the album was incredibly stale. Most of the lyrics centered around superficialities: girls, money, clothes, guns and cars. This

motif is put on display prominently in “SaintLaurentYSL” which is fairly representative of the lyrical quality of the entire album. Overdone — and at this point corny — Yachty singing about all the money he has and the girls he gets does nothing but drag him deeper into the oblivion of SoundCloud and sub-par trap rappers.

The closing track, “Stoney,” a glimmer of hope for Yachty, touching on fame and drug use with a somber tone, is averse to his usual glamorous way. It is a shame the album ends just when Yachty begins to tap into these issues, but hopefully it is something he will continue to explore in the future.

Perhaps the most disappointing aspect of this album was what felt like the loss of 2016 Lil Yachty — the Lil Yachty that had a spark of potential to pave his own way and grow on his own terms. He was never strong with the technicalities, but there was something charming about Yachty’s high-pitched voice and quirky personality. However, this album lacks any notion of growth.

Rather than delving further into his own individualistic element and style, Nuthin’ 2 Prove feels like Yachty is morphing into the mainstream trap scene of Migos, Future and all the other “Lils.” At least Lil Yachty thought through the name of his album; indeed he proved “nuthin” on this one.

Final Grade: D+

opinion dailycardinal.com

Thursday, October 25, 2018 5 l

The real purpose of student government LAURA DOWNER opinion writer

I

n a recent Badger Herald opinion piece, a UW student criticized The Associated Students of Madison’s advisory role in the University, arguing that it does not have legitimate power because of a lack of direct enforcement capabilities. This argument promotes a fundamental misunderstanding of both the purpose and the structure of ASM. In Wisconsin, student power is uniquely protected by state law: “Students have the primary responsibility for advising the chancellor regarding the formulation and review of policies concerning student life, services, and interests” (Wisconsin State Statute 36.09(5)). Our purpose is not and should not be to make policy, but rather to advocate for student interests, advise the University on policies concerning students, and support student involvement across campus.

In the same way that no single organ of the US government has universal power, no single organ of ASM claims to control the actions of all students. ASM is a multifaceted organization whose power to credibly advise university policy is exerted through cooperation among committees and across colleges, coordination of student-run campaigns, and the facilitation of communication between students and administrators.

The Student Council provides a public, open forum for representatives from each college to make advisory statements and hear concerns, but nobody assumes that a piece of legislation will single-handedly convert to new University policy.

The Student Services Finance Committee (SSFC) directly allocates $2.1 million of student segregated fees to empower student organizations and create a marketplace of ideas on campus.

The SSFC’s advisory responsibility over the other $49 million has contributed to recent UHS mental health funding increases and initiated a campus-wide referendum to update the Southeast Recreational Facility.

Four open committees (Equity & Inclusion, Legislative Affairs, Sustainability, Campus Relations) encourage unrestricted student participation in the development and facilitation of grassroots campaigns.

The Shared Governance Committee appoints students to over 200 committees comprised of faculty, staff, and administrators. These groups are charged with formulating and reviewing institution, department, and issue-specific policies.

Within the last two weeks, the Student Council, open committees, and shared gov-

ernance committees successfully advocated for and achieved tangible victories on multiple student issues, demonstrating the effectiveness of ASM’s collaborative network.

The recent proposed ASM Student Council legislation regarding Babcock ice cream, as referenced by the opinion piece, is the most timely example of this network. The editorial completely ignores the actual effects of bringing legislation to the Student Council.

This action alone builds a credible foundation which supports and drives future campaign directives. In fact, less than three hours before the opinion piece was published, ASM tabled the Babcock legislation indefinitely because of the progress already being made: all Babcock flavors are now labelled as “containing beef gelatin,” and non-gelatin flavors will now be available at events in the unions, dining halls, and residence halls.

Part of the purpose of student government is to bring attention to areas of student concern which may otherwise be overlooked. By calling out the lack of knowledge on campus regarding the ingredients of a university-produced product, the legislation has been effective not only in educating students, alumni, and administrators, but also prompting real action from the University.

ASM also recently helped secure voter ID printers at all seven on-campus polling locations - an expansion from two locations, which ensures that all students have increased access to voting in this midterm election.

This victory can be partially attributed to ASM’s advisory role. Coordination between ASM and the Big 10 Voting Challenge advisory committee facilitated the direct connection of students with relevant administrators and, ultimately, Chancellor Blank, who made the final decision.

It is the combined work of these groups which allows ASM to build legitimacy within the university and city and state governments.

The assumption that ASM is equal only to the Student Council does a disservice to the functionality of the official student government of UW-Madison.

It promotes a lazy and misguided definition of government and power which fails to consider the real purpose of having student government: to amplify the student voice through direct, collaborative action.

Laura Downer (legislative@ asm.wisc.edu) is a junior and the Legislative Affairs Chair of ASM. What impact do you think ASM has on campus?

Please send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

DANA BRANDT/THE DAILY CARDINAL

A partnership between UW-Madison and Foxconn brings new facilities and controversy and to campus.

Will UW’s partnership with Foxconn succeed? view Cardinal View editorials represent The Daily Cardinal’s organizational opinion. Each editorial is crafted independent of news coverage.

A

s students prepared to return to school last August, UW-Madison announced it had formed a partnership with Foxconn Technology Group.

The partnership included variety of components, namely a $100 million investment from the company that will establish a new engineering facility, and plenty of internship opportunities for students. This substantial agreement came less than a year after the state agreed to a $3.2 billion incentive package to bring the Taiwanese company into Wisconsin.

While both the partnership with the school and the state’s subsidy come with the potential of economic benefits, they are not without controversy.

Last year’s agreement gave the company a considerable sum of money and enabled Foxconn to circumvent environmental regulations that could jeopardize air and water quality in southeastern Wisconsin.

Over the summer, Foxconn faced even more scrutiny regarding their labor conditions, which had generated coverage after nine Foxconn workers committed suicide in 2010.

Despite these concerns, Wisconsin passed legislation to bring Foxconn into the state on a partisan vote, with nearly every Republican endorsing it and nearly every Democrat opposing it.

The prospect of adding up to 13,000 jobs was enough to convince the majority of the state’s government to support the deal. Advocates of the original Foxconn plan will surely point to the deal it just reached

with the top university in the state as evidence of the dividends that are sure to come from Foxconn’s presence.

Chancellor Rebecca Blank expressed optimism for the deal. She explained the “majority of the gift is almost surely going to go into funding for [the] new building.”

The engineering school “has had [plans for the building] on their books … for a number of years, so this was the move that forwarded it.”

The chancellor also noted these types of partnerships with companies in the area are not unusual, pointing out GE Healthcare works closely with UW-Madison’s radiology department.

The difference from other university-company relationships, however, is that the Foxconn partnership “is at a scale that is bigger than what we’ve done in some other areas, but that’s actually an opportunity, not a problem,” she said.

It is easy to see why the university felt comfortable making this deal: further development of the campus, potential employment opportunities in the state of Wisconsin and a likely improvement to its already stellar reputation for its engineering department. And while partnering with a controversial company could raise some eyebrows, Blank believes being “in a world where everything you do seems to have political overtones … can’t stop you from acting.”

However, despite potential benefits, there are legitimate concerns with the partnership that cannot be understated.

While the university has collaborated with private companies before, a partnership anywhere close to this magnitude has not existed before, both with respect to the sum of the funds and the problematic reputation of the partner.

Compounding this uneasy combination, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported the relationship will be managed “largely behind closed doors.”

A corporation with a long

track-record of both environmental and human-rights abuses should not have the luxury of working with a public institution outside of the public eye.

It is certainly possible the partnership will be as innocent as advertised; however, UW-Madison students and Wisconsinites should have the opportunity to gauge this for themselves. And while it is clear the university is no stranger to private partnerships, $100 million dollars of funds is a substantial investment that is unfamiliar territory for the school.

Beyond the interdisciplinary engineering building, how else will Foxconn make its monetary presence felt?

The likely potential for a UW-Madison to Foxconn pipeline, as evident by the recent “Foxconn Days,” makes the university complicit in potential degradation of water and air quality in the state that could occur because of the original agreement.

As the UW-Madison’s Teaching Assistants’ Association explained, “The fruits of research at UW belong to the people of Wisconsin, not to a private corporation.”

As students of this university and residents of Wisconsin, we should all root for the success of Foxconn’s presence and its partnership with our soonto-be alma mater.

The editorial board is dubious about its chances for success given the significant negative externalities associated with the company.

Chancellor Blank said the announcement regarding the partnership between the company and the university was to be a “non-political event.”

However, given that the company’s very presence in the state is politically polarizing, Blank’s hope for the agreement to be evaluated through an apolitical lens is impossible.

What impact will a partnership with Foxconn have on the university? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

comics

6 • Thursday, October 25, 2018

dailycardinal.com

Today’s Crossword Puzzle

Fact of the Day Jack-o’-lanterns were once made out of turnips, beets, and potatoes- not pumpkins!

Subversion

You Look Tired Today

By Tom Taagen graphics@dailycardinal.com

By Haley Henschel graphics@dailycardinal.com

Across 1. Expressed joy, in a way 5. Vestments 10. Young oyster 14. ‘’Funny ___ or funny peculiar?’’

15. Solid ground 16. Wahine specialty 17. Like Old Nick 18. Gladiators’ milieu 19. Gossip column squib 20. Newcomer’s visitor 23. Mars hue 24. Action in bridge 28. Prattle 32. Some ship accommodations 35. Shrine to remember 36. Political coalition 37. Dear Abby’s twin 38. Emcee’s spiel 42. Common contraction 43. NASCAR word 44. M. Matisse 45. Metal craftsman 48. Destination of some pilgrims 49. Al Capp’s Hawkins 50. Disparage

Today’s Sudoku

Pad Dhai

51. Happy mail 59. Stylish elegance 62. Took a chance 63. Niagara noise 64. Black tie affair 65. Kind of period 66. Aware 67. Gem mined in Australia 68. Gantry or Fudd 69. Timorous sound Down 1. ‘’That was a close one!’’

2. Roof feature 3. TV Dr. 4. Sprinkler’s need?

5. Hole-maker 6. Propelled a wherry 7. Witch’s concoction 8. Sicilian spouter 9. Type of carpet 10. Black eye 11. Up or down antecedent 12. Tankard contents 13. Cap with a pompon 21. Celestial hunter 22. Smelter fodder 25. It might keep a shepherd awake 26. Discount 27. Funny Menace 28. Characteristic

actions 29. Ms. Newton-John 30. Random scrap 31. Start of Cain’s query 32. Slow-moving critter 33. Commotion requiring action?

34. Quito’s country, in brief 36. Champagne description 39. ___ chi (martial art) 40. Michael of tennis 41. Sawbuck 46. Indicate silently 47. French sea 48. Male goose 50. Musical composition 52. Whetter’s concern 53. Jimmy Carter’s middle name 54. Rail runner 55. Riding whip 56. Welk opening 57. Have status 58. Liquid unit 59. Psyche division 60. Two pool lengths 61. Menu words

© Puzzles.ca

By John Joutras graphics@dailycardinal.com

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

almanac dailycardinal.com

Thursday, October 25, 2018

l

7

Trump befriends ‘Beautiful Ted’ Cruz, bromance to ensure total gov. control

By Haley Bills STAFF WRITER

As Election Day approaches, President Donald Trump has been seen on the campaign trail, endorsing various likeminded right-wing candidates across the country. His goal?

To give more time to candidates than former President Barack Obama did in 2010. After all, his painstakingly competitive nature remains necessary in order to maintain a total disregard for any bipartisan roles he might be expected to fulfill as the representative of an entire country. It may be that the common conspiracy is true: The first of Trump’s “ten commandments” as president is to solidify a republican majority, or, in his own terms, to push out the “angry, ruthless, unhinged mob” that is the democratic party.

In the hopes of achieving this call of duty, Trump thought to describe his unconventional friendship with Texas senate nominee Ted Cruz as a way to sway voters: Despite their rivalry during the 2016 presidential election, Trump recently confirmed that they had buried the hatchet by ardently admitting: “I actually like him a lot.”

In order to further prove their friendship, Trump shared a short montage detailing the bonding experiences they have gained through disproportionately favoring the rich and making it systematically easier for corporations to exploit the deteriorating environment. “We have done great on tax cuts and regulation cuts … yeah, he’s been pretty terrific,” he said.

Just in case that wasn’t

enough to communicate the strength of their newfound fraternity, Trump made clear that he no longer reduced Cruz to the sorry name of “lyin’ Ted.” In fact, it seems that Cruz had been promoted to a new pet name: “Beautiful Ted.” Trump even flaunted a second new and improved nickname when he casually referred to Cruz as “Texas Ted.” This affection only further demonstrated a deep fondness for his new ally.

Never straying far from his tendency to discredit his opponents sans proof or reason, Trump didn’t neglect to express his disapproval of the opposing Texas senate nominee Beto O’Rourke by briefly addressing his existence as a “highly overrated guy.”

Perhaps the growing camaraderie between Trump

IMAGE COURTESY OF SAVANNAH MCHUGH

New bros embrace as a shocked onlooker realizes the country’s impending doom.

and “Beautiful Ted” will be functional in his agenda to gain majority control of the government. By showcasing their bromance as one every-

one should want to join, their plutocratic influence could soon take responsibility for all of the U.S. government if voters aren’t careful.

Insider Edition: An in-depth look into the arts on campus

IMAGE COURTESY OF MELANIN SPEAKING

Featured this week is a compelling and heartbreaking poem by Jessica Sullivan.

The Perks of Being a Mermaid IMAGE COURTESY OF SAM JONES

By Jessica Sullivan MELANIN SPEAKING - SMALL TALKS

I’ve always wanted to be a mermaid.

Not for the sexy, mystical persona, The slim figure sunbathing on a rock, nah, I want to be a mermaid for the tail.

I want to swim into the waters that swallowed My ancestors, feel my beautiful glistening tail Power through the waves, go back Through time, meet all of those who left too soon.

I imagine when we die the earth enveloped us back In its arms it made us mermaids, Ethereal and magical.

I want to delve deep into the waters That we call home, Swim up to Emmett Till as he was Before the lynching, a gorgeous black Boy with a tail that matched the color Of the autumn leaves.

He’d welcome me home with the sun in his smile, Ask if the world is better now.

How do I tell a boy who died in 1955 The trees still seep our blood, That we’re in a losing race with bullets?

We’d swim together, water particles Brushing our skin like we’re kindred spirits, He’d show me the family I’ve never known.

I’d play messenger for the unarmed black boys Who want to tell their families they’re okay, Now, there’s no to worry for our safety because Who would shoot a mermaid?

I can’t look at the water Without seeing the ships, they’re calling me home, waiting to welcome me with open arms.

What can I say, I’ve always wanted to be a mermaid.

An example of an inspirational work from popular contemporary artist, Preston “Pre” Tentious (2018).

Ryan Boukhankov STAFF WRITER

As the school home to famous creative thinkers such as Frank Lloyd Wright, Joyce Carol Oates, and Lorraine Hansberry, UW Madison stands as a strong supporter of the arts. The city of Madison in general is a cultural center of the Midwest. Local bands jam away in bars and restaurants on State Street. People are able to go to free art exhibits, which can contain anything from the counterculture pieces of the 1960s to ancient African sculptures.

It’s no wonder that this campus has inspired a certain few to express themselves so creatively.

One such example of Madison’s cultural influence is evident in a student by the name of Richard Johnson. A freshman living in shared housing, he

has begun to create pieces of art in his communal dormitory bathroom. He uses the foods of the average college student (instant ramen, oatmeal, etc.), dumps them into the bathroom sink, and sculpts them into masterpieces. “It’s really about using only the best ingredients,” Richard tells me in the middle of one of his latest works. “The more disgusting it looks, the better.”

Preston Tentious, better known by his nickname “Pre”, is a famous local art critic who has frequently praised the socalled Picasso of university housing. “It’s really beautiful, just the low amount of effort and the disregard for everyone else on Richard’s floor.

In my opinion, art is only truly meaningful when it inspires suffering, in this case, the suffering of any-

one who views it.”

Intensely creative, Richard has begun to display his pieces not only in the bathroom sinks, but also all over the goddamn floor.

Notable works include: “Maruchan Lisa” “(Literally) Campbell’s Soup Cans” “I Basically Just Dumped Ramen Soup Broth and Made the Entire Bathroom Smell Like Cheap Noodles and Sodium” “The Last Supper” Richard has truly sparked a renaissance in the shared housing communities. Many impersonators have cropped up, and some have even taken to musically enriching occupants during their showers, blasting music for everyone to enjoy. Thank you Richard, very cool!

We’re always looking for more funny and insightful writers with fresh takes on topics ranging from the UW campus to international news. We accept and encourage creative submissions as well! Any and all submissions are more than welcome. You can send your submissions and any comments or questions to almanac@dailycardinal.com. All articles featured in Almanac are creative, satirical, and/or entirely fictional pieces. They are fully intended as such and should not be taken seriously as news.

sports 8

•

Thursday, October 25, 2018

dailycardinal.com

Men’s Basketball

After missing NCAA Tournament, Badgers men’s basketball is ready to bounce back

By Sebastian Van Bastelaer MEN’S BASKETBALL BEAT WRITER

When the Wisconsin men’s basketball team took the floor for warm-ups before the “Red and White Scrimmage” Sunday, one of the first songs to play over the loudspeakers was Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.”

It was an apt choice for this year’s team, one that finds itself in uncharted territory.

After a 2017-2018 season full of injuries, heartbreaking losses and countless ups and downs, the 2018-2019 squad returns with a chip on their shoulder. After being the first Wisconsin basketball team to miss the NCAA tournament this century, this group has something to prove.

“We have a sour taste in our mouth that no other recent Wisconsin team has had,” sophomore guard Brad Davison said last month, per uwbadgers.com. “We look at that as an opportunity.”

“We have a sour taste in our mouth that no other recent Wisconsin team has had.”

Brad Davison sophomore guard Wisconsin Basketball

Fortunately, the Badgers feel ready to seize that opportunity.

Practically every contributor

returned from last year’s team.

Davison, who is the group’s emotional leader, can now enjoy the use of two functioning arms after playing much of last year with left shoulder issues. Guards Kobe King and D’Mitrik Trice, who both missed nearly the entire season last year with injuries, are now healthy and ready to add depth to the backcourt.

Sophomore guard Trevor Anderson, a transfer from UW-Green Bay forced to sit out last year, is now eligible and should provide a scoring threat for a team that shot less than 34 percent from three-point range in 2017-2018.

Key contributors like junior guard Brevin Pritzl, junior forward Aleem Ford and sophomore forward Nate Reuvers all worked to get in better shape this offseason.Reuvers put on weight which hopefully he will use to assert himself more physically in the low post.

Most notably, senior center Ethan Happ decided to forgo the NBA Draft and return for his senior year. Recently named an AP Preseason All-American, Happ will look to carry the team and prove to NBA scouts that he can play at the professional level.

As a result of the returning talent, the Badgers garnered 24 votes in the first AP poll of the year, a significant nod of respect

CAMERON LANE-FLEHINGER/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Sophomore guard Brad Davison is fully fit after undergoing successful surgery to repair his left shoulder in April. The guard will look to bring the Badgers back to the NCAA Tournament after missing out last year. to a team that finished with a losing record in the last season.

While last year’s matchups also provided a significant hurdle — after beating UW in December last year, Ohio State head coach Chris Holtmann called Wisconsin’s schedule “as hard a schedule as I’ve seen” — this year’s slate appears to be more forgiving. The non-conference schedule includes a road test against Xavier and some

potentially tough matchups in the Battle 4 Atlantis around Thanksgiving and the requisite rivalry game against Marquette in Milwaukee on Dec. 8.

The conference schedule will also likely be less challenging.

Wisconsin plays Michigan on the road in February, the only game against a team currently ranked in the AP Top 25. Also, the Badgers only play Michigan State and Purdue — the other two

ranked Big Ten teams — once and have the benefit of home court advantage for those games. They will play two games each against Maryland, Minnesota, Michigan, Penn State, Northwestern, Iowa and Illinois.

The Badgers tip off with an exhibition at home against the Titans of UW-Oshkosh on Nov. 2.

The official season opener comes four days later against Coppin State at the Kohl Center.

X’s and O’s

It’s not all Hornibrook’s fault: Conservative playcalling, predictable offense put UW’s QB in difficult situations

By Sam Shiffman STAFF WRITER

Alex Hornibrook is not the problem with Wisconsin’s offense.

And no, the current blue-chip commit Graham Mertz will not instantly transform the Badgers into Alabama.

For the past three years, fans have complained about Hornibrook any time the offense has struggled.

Despite his frustratingly inconsistent play, ultra-conservative playcalling and a coaching staff that puts him in nearly impossible situa-

tions is what has made the Badgers’ offense anemic.

Opponents know what Wisconsin will do on almost every play. First down is almost exclusively an inside run to sophomore running back Jonathan Taylor.

Second down will also likely be another run by Taylor. Then, on third and medium or long, Hornibrook is forced to drop back against a defense that knows the Badgers need a long completion.

Since good teams know this, any team that can stop Wisconsin’s run

game will stop Wisconsin’s offense.

It’s ridiculous to expect Hornibrook to have elite passing numbers when so many of his passing attempts are in obvious passing situations. If teams know the Badgers are going to pass, they’ll adjust their defensive play call accordingly. They can just sit back in cover three or bring complicated blitz packages that make a first down almost impossible.

UW does in fact have one of the best offensive lines in the nation blocking for one of the best running backs in the nation.

BRANDON MOE/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Junior quarterback Alex Hornibrook isn’t totally to blame for UW’s struggles in the passing game.

However, head coach Paul Chryst and the Wisconsin offense has become too reliant on the run, making it nearly impossible for the Badgers to have a consistently effective passing offense.

Chryst should try to spread out opposing defenses on early downs and stop putting his quarterback in unnecessarily difficult situations. If he takes more chances with bootlegs and five-step dropbacks out of under-center packages on first down — which would break a heavy tendency — opponents would have to respect Wisconsin’s passing game.

Chryst already made an effective adjustment to his play-calling this year by adding more jet sweeps to the running game. The jet motion broke a strong pattern of exclusively inside run schemes which allowed Wisconsin to score two touchdowns in the past two weeks off jet sweeps.

Wisconsin’s coaching staff has to do the same with the passing game.

If Chryst calls more quick passes that spread out the defense on early downs, Wisconsin’s run game will be more effective. Teams won’t be able to just stack the box with seven or eight players, opening up more running lanes for Jonathan Taylor.

Wisconsin has the secondworst passing offense of any top 25 team, only ahead of Kentucky. The difference is Kentucky, currently

the number 12 team in the nation, almost never goes under-center.

Their offense is a classic college spread offense: they use quick completions and a mix of inside and outside zone-run schemes to keep defenses guessing.

Kentucky’s offense isn’t so reliant on the run out of choice.

Quarterback Terry Wilson is not a good drop-back passer and starts for his speed more than his arm.

Still, Kentucky makes a concerted effort to spread opponents out with passes on early downs and different run schemes. This scheme, while not the best fit for the Badgers, still has elements Wisconsin needs to incorporate in order to have a more effective offense.

Alex Hornibrook is a significantly better passer, and Wisconsin has a significantly better offensive line, but still sits eight spots behind Kentucky in the AP poll. Despite what fans might want to believe, Wisconsin’s so-far disappointing season isn’t a result of just the quarterback.

Sure, against teams like Western Kentucky or New Mexico, constantly lining up in an I-formation and bullying opponents works. But if the Badgers want to consistently beat the elite teams of the Big 10 like Michigan, our offense simply can’t be so predictable.