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Thursday, October 8, 2020

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A look inside Residence Halls quarantine

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UW-Madison Sellery and Witte residents and housing staff review the best and worst of quarantine and what they learned from the experience during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. By Sammie Johnson STAFF WRITER

When rumors of the lockdown began circulating the night of Sept. 9th, students began to panic. “I opened my door to people running around in the hallways so I asked my neighbor what was going on and he told me that we were going on lockdown and that everyone was going to the store,” said Ella Murphy, Sellery resident. The University of WisconsinMadison put their two largest freshmean dorms on lockdown due to an increasing number of COVID-19 cases amongst Sellery and Witte residents from Sept. 9 to Sept. 23. Freshmen and Residence Hall staff spoke about what led to the quarantine, how things were handled during the two-week period and how staff and students learned from the experience. The Initial Decision The quarantine began at 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, and ended two weeks later on Sept. 23. According to Residence Life, Sellery and Witte saw a 20 percent spike in the number of positive COVID-19 cases prior to quarantine. “There was a lot of consulting with campus partners and obviously UHS,” said Courtney Lowman, one of two Residence Life coordinators for Witte Hall. “There seemed to be kind of an urgent need to quarantine those buildings.” According to Lowman and Brendon Dybdah, Director of Marketing and Communications for University Housing, the housing staff had prepared for a quarantine situation prior to the fall semester — but did not expect anything of this caliber. “We had two buildings, our two largest buildings, both spike so quickly,” Dybdahl said. “We really had to scale up those plans quickly to a larger scale than we predicted.”

“There was a lot of consulting with campus partners and obviously UHS ... There seemed to be kind of an urgent need to quarantine those buildings.”

Courtney Lowman Residence Life coordinator Witte Hall

Of Sellery and Witte some-oddWitte’s some-odd 2,100 residents, approximately 800 students went home during the two-week period, according to Lowman. Residents were allowed to go home at any time during the lockdown — all they were required to do was turn in their key and submit a negative test result to UHS to be let back in after quarantine, according to Lowman. Despite the chaos, Lowman recognized an awareness amongst students and staff that the lockdown was necessary. “I think there was also a measure of understanding that this was for the purpose of their own health and safety,” Lowman said. Quarantine Procedues Thursday the 10th, the first full day of quarantine, Residence Life provided food for the freshmean outside each dorm. Due to the inefficiency of the system, the housing staff changed their protocol to allow students to go to Gordon Dining Center three times a day for 30 minutes, said Witte resident Emily Barnhill. Residence Life used various tactics to ensure students were not going elsewhere when they said they were going

to Gordon’s to get their meals. “They had people who would walk around in the Gordon area wearing plain clothes, they were undercover residence staff,” said ex-Witte resident, Kiran Jacob. “The undercover staff would ensure students would get their food and head straight back to their respective dorm.” Residence Life also implemented identification checks at the doors of each dorm to ensure residents and staff were the only individuals in the building at any given time, according to Lowman. ID checks were also used to keep track of how long students were gone when they left for food. However, students knew leaving the Sellery/Witte premises wasn’t too difficult. “There were definitely kids who were out at stores or going into different halls because I don’t think they could track you once you leave,” said ex-Sellery resident Ellie Asher. According to many freshmen, going somewhere else entirely after leaving to go to Gordon was relatively common. Students just had to be back before the end of the allotted meal time. Many freshmen, though, didn’t want to risk the consequences of breaking the rules. “They threatened us with suspension and revoking your housing contract, but I don’t know of anyone that got in trouble,” Murphy said. According to Residence Life, students were allowed in their floor common-areas during quarantine if standard social distancing and mask guidelines were followed. However, residents were not allowed to go into each other’s rooms during the twoweek period. “That was more of a collective decision, I would say, from most of the policy makers in housing because we agreed that during the quarantine

period it was best to mitigate as much in-person interaction as possible,” said Lowman concerning the decision to restrict guests in residents’ rooms. According to students, though, the differences amongst how each floor, each House Fellow and each dorm in general were all handling the situation created some confusion. However, the residence staff and students alike felt everyone did their best given this unfavorable situation, according to Lowman. During this unprecedented and often lonely situation, Residence Life tried to help students in any way they could — which often involved increased communication and information-sharing between the residents and staff, according to Lowman.

“That was more of a collective decision, I would say, from most of the policy makers in housing because we agreed that during the quarantine period it was best to mitigate as much in-person interaction as possible.”

Courtney Lowman Residence Life coordinator Witte Hall

Student Experience The housing staff made efforts to support students and maintain the feeling of community that often comes with living in freshman dorms. “The [House Fellows] did a spirit, dress-up week. So they had a Hawaiian theme one day and people would dress up,” said Barnhill. According to residents, House Fellows were right there with them

throughout quarantine. According to Jacob, the House Fellows did their best given they were going through the same quarantine trials and tribulations as the freshmen. Despite Residence Life efforts to boost morale, living in quarantine — especially in the dorms — was somewhat of a depressing experience for freshmen. “I would wake up around 11 or noon because you didn’t really have to wake up for anything unless you had class,” Asher said. “I would never really change into anything other than sweats because we would literally just be in our room all day.” With so many of the freshmen in Sellery and Witte having gone home for the two-week period and with rules against going into each other’s rooms, the freshman that stayed in quarantine endured a rather lonely experience. “A lot of people on my floor had roommates that left so I feel like that would’ve been so unhealthy if [they] were alone that entire time,” said Murphy. According to Murphy and other freshmen, House Fellows were not always strict when it came to rules about going into each other’s rooms. A Communal Effort In the end, locking down Sellery and Witte for two weeks was a success. “The positivity rate is really low right now so I think the efforts made a difference,” Dybdahl said. Both Lowman and Dybdahl ensured the two-week period was not perfect but that residents and staff learned a lot. As a whole, they agreed the housing department is now better prepared if another outbreak were to happen again. “I think that, all-in-all, there was a lot of resiliency and hard work between staff and students.”

“…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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An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 130, Issue 7

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To thwart the continued transmission of COVID-19, the Madison Police Department began instituting measures to limit social gatherings in the downtown area.

MPD to crack down on off-campus social gatherings, fall festivities in “final warning” By Addison Lathers CITY NEWS EDITOR

To thwart the continued transmission of COVID-19, the Madison Police Department began instituting measures to limit social gatherings in the downtown area with the support of UW-Madison leadership. In a letter sent to downtown apartment buildings, Madison Police Department Acting Chief Victor Wahl said students attending gatherings may be fined a minimum of $376 for “permit[ting] a health nuisance.” To avoid a fine, indoor gatherings must be limited to 10 people or less and outdoor gatherings to 25 people or less. The “final warning” sent to residents specifically referenced any gatherings related to the start of UW-Madison’s football season and the annual Freakfest Halloween celebration, which was recently-cancelled. Deputy Mayor Katie Crawley confirmed Tuesday night there would be no festival due to public health guidelines. “There will not be any festivities or any other City-permitted event the

weekend of Oct. 31, 2020,” the MPD stated in a letter to area residents. “Additionally, traditional autumn football gatherings, like tailgating and beer gardens, must be substantially curtailed.”

“There will not be any festivities or any other Citypermitted event the weekend of Oct. 31, 2020.”

Madison Police Department

In addition to citing violations of the health department’s Emergency Order #9, the police will pay close attention to underage drinkers, individuals providing alcohol to underaged drinkers and individuals found

to be openly intoxicated. “House parties and other gatherings contrary to this order will not be tolerated,” the letter read. The letter also referenced support from the UW-Madison Dean of Students office in taking action against house parties and fall festivities. The statement comes weeks after the university urged law enforcement to take action in limiting off-campus gatherings. “Until those agencies with enforcement authority take additional action, we shouldn’t expect to see a rapid decline in cases in Dane County,” UW Chancellor Rebecca Blank said in a press release. Blank spoke with representatives of the school’s two student newspapers in late September and said it would be up to local authorities to intervene in off-campus social gatherings. “I don’t control what happens offcampus. I have no authority at the bars, I have no authority on State Street,” Blank said. “That has to be a partnership with [Public Health Madison & Dane County] in them enforcing their health

regulations in those sorts of facilities and settings.”

“Until those agencies with enforcement authority take additional action, we shouldn’t expect to see a rapid decline in cases in Dane County.”

UW Chancellor Rebecca Blank

Blank also noted the university can issue warnings to students and pursue disciplinary action, but it only pertains to on-campus gatherings or with the aid of law enforcement off-campus. “If you choose to have an illegal house party or gathering and you are identified by the Madison Police Department, your information will be sent to the UW-Madison Dean of Students Office,” the MPD’s warning concluded.

ASM, UWPD leaders reflect on No Confidence vote By Gina Musso and Jessica Sonkin COLLEGE AND CAMPUS EDITORS

Some members of the Associated Students of Madison are expressing disappointment in the UW-Madison Police Department’s limited contact and outreach with the student government following the UWPD response to a Sept. 29 vote of no confidence in the UWPD by the ASM. The 9-5 vote stemmed from prior UWPD reactions to BIPOC activism efforts, which were discussed in a Sept. 24 meeting between ASM and UWPD leaders. ASM members censured the UWPD’s presence at protests located off campus. Students also expressed disapproval toward the UWPD’s refusal to accommodate multiple reforms requested by ASM representatives. These include, but are

not limited to, a lack of compliance with Campaign Zero’s #8cantwait standards that advocate for change among police departments. ASM Chair Matthew Mitnick reflects on contact with the UWPD following last week’s vote of no confidence. “UWPD has been in contact with some members of ASM,” Mitnick said. “However, there has been limited contact or outreach from UWPD between those that initiated and ultimately voted in support of the Vote of No Confidence. I brought up concerns with UWPD to the Chancellor and other administrators, but have not had those validated or affirmed in any way.” UWPD Director of Communications Marc Lovicott also discussed the conversation between ASM and UWPD following the vote of No Confidence.

“After the vote, ASM leaders requested to put the meetings on hold until they had a chance to connect with fellow ASM members to discuss next steps and a better structure for our meetings moving forward,” said Lovicott. “We remain open to the process and look forward to restarting our meetings with ASM soon.” “In recent weeks, we’ve received many questions about UWPD’s practices, policies and procedures,” a UWPD webpage reads. “We’ve worked to compile information that addresses the most common themes we’ve heard from you, our community, as well as those we identified as relevant to the national conversation regarding policing.” The page contains an explanation of current UWPD activities, a commitment to further action and a message of acknowledgement from

the police department. #8cantwait “project benchmarks” are also stated in alignment with UWPD “practices and policies.” At the next ASM meeting, student council members will vote on the creation of a new shared governance committee, the Student Safety Council. In this Council, a group of students — independent from UWPD and administration oversight — will research the UWPD budget and Standard Operating Procedures in order to compile a report of current UWPD operations and create recommendations. “The fact that there are supply purchase orders that contain thousands of dollars worth of redacted information is quite concerning,” Mitnick said. “If UWPD was committed to transpar-

ASM Vote page 3

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Thursday, October 8, 2020

from ASM Vote page 2 ency and providing safety to its students, then why can’t they release what they are using our tuition dollars to purchase?” Last week, in a Tuesday, Sept. 29 discussion with members of the student press on campus, Chancellor Rebecca Blank reiterated her support for the UWPD. “I have not heard from any students who had an individual story to tell about a negative interaction with a specific police officer on campus,” said Blank. “I have heard students tell me they don’t trust the police, that I should defund them, that they don’t want the police anywhere near them. I understand the reasons why someone may feel that way. That doesn’t mean we don’t need a police force on this campus.” In Blank’s discussion of UWPD, she also mentioned that UWPD Chief Kristen Roman may be gathering a

student advisory group to work with UWPD, but the Student Safety Council Mitnick advocates for student representation “that does not involve admin hand-picking who they want to sit on [the Council].” “No longer will ASM be a mouthpiece for the administration. Rather, we are here to represent the needs and concerns of students,” said Mitnick. “With this vote in particular, we hope that this can lead to tangible recommendations, established meetings, potential public hearings and maybe even a student oversight board similar to that of the Civilian Oversight Board at the City level.” The next ASM student council meeting will be held on Tuesday Oct. 13 at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. Mitnick has notioned toward the importance of this issue and plans to prioritize pressures surrounding the vote. A review of the Student Safety Council will occur at this meeting as well.

CAMERON LANE-FLEHINGER/THE DAILY CARDINAL

ASM leaders are weary of the response to last week’s vote of No Confidence from the UWPD.

UW Population Health Institute addresses COVID-19 disparities By Alexa Heller STAFF WRITER

Gov. Tony Evers, Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Population Health Institute (PHI) at UW-Madison announced the Just Recovery for Racial Equity Initiative on Sept. 30, which hopes to respond to disparities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Just Recovery will work to identify and support strategies for responding to COVID-19, recovery efforts and building resilience in communities of color by partnering with community-based organizations and local groups, including other government and social service agencies.

agement of contracts and allocation of resources to local communities,” said Inzeo in an email. Additionally, PHI will work to develop and distribute resources to communities affected by the pandemic. “The initiative aims to allocate resources to support community solutions to address inequities experienced by BIPOC due to COVID-19. Additionally,

“The Population Health Institute will administer the program. This includes staffing, engagement of key partners, management of contracts and allocation of Paula Trans Inzeo Mobilizing Action Towards Community Health (MATCH) Director Population Health Institute

Hispanic/Latinx Wisconsinites are about eight times as likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19 as compared to non-Hispanic or Latinx residents. According to DHS data, 1,654 cases have been reported among American Indians in Wisconsin as of Oct. 7. “We have been grappling with significant health and economic inequities in our state for years,

“We must take urgent and meaningful action to change that, and the Just Recovery initiative gives us the opportunity to mobilize community-based organizations to partner in this important work.””

“IBIPOC have long experienced inequities in where they live, learn, work, worship and access resources. These inequities are systemic and include structural racism and have been exacerbated by COVID-19 ... Inequities show up in increased risk of exposure, delays and/or lack of access to testing, structural barriers in being able to stay safely at home as well as stay safely home from work when sick and or exposed”

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers

The initiative will receive $2.6 million in funding to provide grants to community-based organizations as well as staffing, translation services and program evaluation administered by the Population Health Institute. “COVID-19 has had a devastating and disproportionate impact on communities of color across the state of Wisconsin,” said Gov. Evers. “We must take urgent and meaningful action to change that, and the Just Recovery initiative gives us the opportunity to mobilize community-based organizations to partner in this important work.” Paula Tran Inzeo, the Mobilizing Action Towards Community Health (MATCH) Director at the Population Health Institute, described the role that the institute will play in the initiative. “ The Population Health Institute will administer the program. This includes staffing, engagement of key partners, man-

Black Americans and other communities of color, increasing the risk of complications from COVID-19. People of color are prevalent in many frontline occupations that are more likely to experience exposure to COVID-19, such as home health aides, store clerks, day care providers, public transit workers, warehouse workers and delivery drivers. “BIPOC have long experienced inequities in where they live, learn, work, worship and access resources. These inequities are systemic and include structural racism and have been exacerbated by COVID-19,” Inzeo said. “Inequities show up in increased risk of exposure, delays and/or lack of access to testing, structural barriers in being able to stay safely at home as well as stay safely home from work when sick and or exposed.”

BRYCE RICHTER/UW MADISON

Paula Trans Inzeo Mobilizing Action Towards Community Health (MATCH) Director Population Health Institute

The Just Recovery for Racial Equity Initiative hopes to respond to disparities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. the initiative will develop and disseminate resources, including public health education that is developed with input by BIPOC as well as information on local innovations communities can implement,” explained Inzeo. People of color in Wisconsin have been disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Black Wisconsinites are about five times more likely to be diagnosed with COVID-19 and about five times more likely to die from it as compared to white Wisconsinites.

“The initiative aims to allocate resources to support community solutions to address inequities experienced by BIPOC due to COVID-19”

Paula Trans Inzeo Mobilizing Action Towards Community Health (MATCH) Director Population Health Institute

and COVID-19’s disproportionate impact on Black, Latinx and Indigenous communities have only made the situation more dire,” said Lt. Gov. Barnes. These disparities can be attributed to structural inequities such as a lack of access to health care, income inequality and residential segregation driven by structural racism, according to the Population Health Institute. These factors contribute to worsened underlying health issues and lower life expectancy among

Inzeo emphasized that communities need to work together to implement solutions to the disparate impacts of the pandemic. “As communities we know of ways to implement programs, organizational changes and policies to reduce risk, mitigate harm and prevent all of the ways BIPOC are differentially impacted by COVID-19. We need to work together as community members and leaders to implement these solutions,” Inzeo said.

sports Badgers RBs moving on from Taylor l

Thursday, October 8, 2020

By Dexter McCann STAFF WRITER

How do you replace one of the best running backs of all time? That’s the unenviable question head coach Paul Chryst and the rest of the Wisconsin staff will be forced to answer this season, as a stable of relatively unproven backs attempt to fill the impossibly large shoes left by two-time Doak Walker Award winner Jonathan Taylor. Rather than designate a feature back, it appears Chryst plans on implementing a running-backby-committee system to begin the 2020 season, relying on a rotation of Nakia Watson, Garrett Groshek, and Issac Guerendo. While no depth chart has been officially released, Chryst made it clear in speaking with the media last week that the onus would be on those three to carry the load. “Between [Watson, Groshek, and Guerendo] you hope to be productive,” Chryst said. “Certainly not trying to match what [Taylor] did, but we do have to get really good, consistent, production from that group.” The lion’s share of the touches will likely go to Watson, a redshirt sophomore with 74 career carries to his name. In backup duty to Taylor in 2019, Watson rushed for 331 yards (4.5 yards per carry) and found the endzone twice, generating plenty of hype for his 2020 campaign in the process.

Standing at five-foot-eleven, 229 pounds, Watson certainly looks the part of the quintessential power back. His tantalizing potential was put on display in week one of the 2019 season, where he rushed 14 times for 80 yards and a touchdown against South Florida. Detractors, however, cite Watson’s lack of breakaway speed as cause for concern. After a 27-yard carry in the season opener, Watson had just one carry of longer than 20 yards over the rest of the season, and he himself admitted he needed to be more consistent in 2020. “From watching myself last season and going into this season, I’ve noticed that I need to be more consistent with my runs,” Watson told the media after practice last week. “Just knowing where the lineman are supposed to be at and getting fundamentally sound with the lineman. Just knowing what everyone is doing, knowing what the quarterback is doing.” While Watson will get plenty of work on first and second down, his lack of experience as a receiver and blocker will mean Garrett Groshek will likely open as the third-down back. Groshek, a redshirt senior, had more yards receiving (289) than rushing (194) last season, and offers tantalizing agility and elusiveness in space, as evidenced by his impressive 10.0 yards per reception in 2019.

Like Watson, Groshek stressed consistency as the key to a successful rushing attack this season. “First and foremost, taking care of the ball and being consis-

dash in high school. Much like Aron Cruickshank, who transferred to Rutgers this offseason, Guerendo is comfortable lining up at both receiver and tailback.

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cog in the rotation going forward. “Obviously the first thing you see is his speed,” Groshek said of Guerendo. “He’s been one of the fastest guys on the team since he’s

TAYLOR WOLFRAM /THE DAILY CARDINAL

Garrett Groshek looks to bring pass-catching and veteran leadership to Wisconsin's revamped run game. tent,” Groshek said regarding his approach. “Whether it’s practice or in the game, just being the same player on every rep. Just feeding off of each other.” The final piece in the Badger rushing attack is exciting weapon Issac Guerendo, an electrifying running back/receiver hybrid who turned heads with a 4.38 40-yard

Guerendo didn’t see much action last season, carrying the ball just once and recording just one catch. He flashed his athletic ability, however, as a kickoff returner, blazing past defenders for a 56 yard return against Minnesota. Groshek was effusive in his praise for Guerendo during media availability and sees him as a key

walked in the building. He’s come a long way as far as learning how to play running back since coming in as a wide receiver.” None of these three will be the “next Jonathan Taylor,” but the Badgers are counting on this three-pronged rushing attack to be successful in both rushing and passing situations.

Redshirt freshman QB Graham Mertz taking reps with first team in wake of injury to starter Jack Coan By Simon Farber SPORTS EDITOR

SIMON FARBER/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Wisconsin's Quarterback room. Left to right: Jack Coan, Chase Wolf, Graham Mertz.

This wasn’t how the Wisconsin football coaching staff expected the Graham Mertz era to begin, but it’s the one they’re going to have to work with. Mertz has taken over the first-team offensive reps at quarterback following Jack Coan’s non-contact foot injury, head coach Paul Chryst told reporters Monday. Wisconsin later released a statement saying that Coan had undergone successful surgery; there is no timetable on his return. Mertz, Wisconsin’s highest-rated quarterback recruit in school history, spent most of his true-freshman season on the sidelines last year. He did see game reps against non-conference opponents Kent State and Central Michigan, completing nine of 10 passes for 73 yards across the two games. While he never saw the field after Oct. 5, offensive coordinator Joe Rudolph said this past winter that Mertz prepared to start multiple times while Coan was dealing with undisclosed injuries. Coan ultimately stiffened up each time, starting all 14 UW games en route to a 10-4 season and Wisconsin’s

first Rose Bowl appearance since 2013. Now, with Coan out for the foreseeable future, Mertz’s first-team reps are no longer a cautionary move, but a necessity. Chryst, however, isn’t worried about the youngster taking over the offense. “Graham’s good. He works at what he does,” Chryst said Monday. “You put the time in and you’re going to make progress. I appreciate that [Mertz] has done that.” So what changes for a Wisconsin offense — known for embracing a slower, more methodical offensive scheme — without their veteran quarterback? Well...not much, according to Chryst. “Not necessarily schematically,” Chryst said when asked how he would tweak the playbook to fit Mertz. “It was going to be different anyway without [Colts running back Jonathan Taylor] and [Lions wide receiver Quintez Cephus]. We have to make sure we put together a group that fit this year’s offense.” While Coan’s high-floor, intermediate-ceiling profile was a good fit for the Badgers, Mertz certainly brings a much higher

potential to the field. A consensus high-four star out of Overland Park, Kansas, Mertz took home the MVP award at the 2019 All-American Bowl, throwing a record-breaking five touchdowns on 7/14 passing for 188 yards. The hype train surrounding Mertz spiraled thereafter, but Chryst doesn’t believe the spotlight on the quarterback will be a distraction for the Badgers going forward. “Everyone understands the quarterback is going to get a lot of attention. That comes with playing that position,” Chryst said in response to how the team handled the injury news. “They’ve been around a lot of this. I haven’t necessarily taken a different attack to ‘boy I’ve got to send a new message or a different message.’” As for Coan, he’s still one of Wisconsin’s leaders even without wearing the pads on Saturdays. “It’s not about him and feeling sorry for himself,” Chryst said of Coan’s attitude since the freak injury. “His focus is on the guys and this team, which is what I loved about him when I was talking about him last week, and what I love about him now.”

arts Fear not, Baby Yoda has returned dailycardinal.com

Thursday, October 8, 2020

By Sam Canney STAFF WRITER

Ever since season one of “The Mandalorian” wrapped up last December, “Star Wars” fans have eagerly awaited the next chapter of the Mandalorians adventures with the adorable pop-culture sensation that is the Child (more commonly known as Baby Yoda). Now, with a little over a month until the season two premiere, Disney has finally dropped the highly-anticipated trailer for season two. The trailer has only stoked speculation about what audiences will see in season two of “The Mandalorian.” What We See The trailer opens with a view of some unknown planets from space. After a moment, the Mandalorian’s ship, the Razor Crest, makes its way on screen, albeit in much worse condition than we last saw it. The engines are sputtering, and the back of the ship is almost wide open. We don’t get any explanation for the sorry state of the Razor Crest before the trailer moves on, showing shots of the Mandalorian (Pedro Pascal) and the Child walking together through a city. We hear dialogue from the end of season one, when the Armorer (Emily Swallow) instructs the Mandalorian to finally reunite the Child with his own kind. The exchange from last season continues as we see clips of the

COURTESY OF WALT DISNEY STUDIOS

Pedro Pascal returns as the Mandalorian in the second season of Disney's "Star Wars" spinoff, "The Mandalorian." Razor Crest flying past a Tusken Raider with a bantha (apparently we’ll be returning to Tatooine this season) and the Child and Mando on a snowy planet far away. As the Armorer talks about stories of “Mandalore the Great” battling “an order of sorcerers called Jedi,” we see an unknown character played by newcomer Sasha Banks disappear in the middle of a busy alien seaport. The narration seems to suggest that Banks’ character may be a Jedi. There is intense fan speculation about this character being “Star Wars Rebels’” Sabine Wren,

COURTESY OF LUCAS FILMS

The season two trailer of "The Mandalorian" leaves fans curious.

another Mandalorian who was involved with the early Rebel Alliance. The suspense has left fans eager for the entire season to drop later this month. We then get a variety of interesting clips; the Mandalorian flying beside (and then being pursued by) X-wings presumably affiliated with the New Republic. Mando on a speeder bike on a desert planet that looks like Tatooine, and familiar faces Cara Dune (Gina Carano) and Greef Karga (Carl Weathers). There are shots that seemingly take place on the lava flats of Navarro, one of the major planets from season one. There’s shots of TIE fighters, stormtroopers, and Mando flying with his jetpack, newly acquired at the end of season one. The trailer wraps up with one of its funniest moments. The Mandalorian enters what seems to be some kind of alien fight club and fans are excited to see this play out. While there, he meets with a cyclops-esque alien, and as the two talk, the Mandalorian is surrounded by alien mercenaries, who seem to be after the Child. We see the Mandalorian prepare his whistling birds (a weapon of his familiar to watchers of season one). In a highly meme-able moment, the Child hurriedly closes the top of his pram, clearly aware of what’s to come. The screen cuts to black and we hear the sounds of the Mandalorian defeating the mercenaries, before we cut back to see the carnage he leaves behind in his wake. The trailer ends with the Mandalorian reciting one of the most famous quotes from season one: “This is the way.” What We Don’t See While this trailer shows lots of exciting new footage, it’s fairly lacking in terms of actual information on and details of the plot of season two. This isn’t surprising, given the fact that “The Mandalorian” is already notorious for closely guarding secrets about the show until its release. However, the only fact that remains is that the only concrete detail about the plot of season two that this trailer reveals is something fans were already able to

deduce from the ending of season one. That detail is: it will feature the Mandalorian looking to reunite the Child with “his own kind,” whether that be the Jedi or more of his own species. The trailer notably doesn’t show Giancarlo Esposito’s Moff Gideon, last seen at the end of season one emerging from the wreckage of a TIE fighter with the Darksaber. A darksaber is a lightsaber used as a symbol of Mandalorian leadership that has been shown in several animated “Star Wars” TV shows, but never in live action before now. We get shots of TIE fighters with folding wings like the one Gideon flew in season one and

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The Child, Baby Yoda, is back. stormtroopers that may be a part of his Imperial remnant. Gideon himself doesn’t appear in the trailer, despite confirmation that he will appear in this season. The trailer also doesn’t confirm any of the major casting rumors swirling around the show as fans continue to try and piece things together.

Rosario Dawson is rumored to have been cast as Ahsoka Tano, the former Jedi apprentice of Anakin Skywalker who left the Jedi Order and became a significant player in the formation of the Rebel Alliance. In terms of the “Star Wars” canon timeline, Ahsoka was last seen in “Star Wars Rebels” venturing out with Sabine Wren to search for the vanished Jedi and rebel Ezra Bridger. Despite Rosario Dawson’s absence from this trailer, the appearance of Sasha Banks and rumors that she has been cast as Sabine Wren have only fueled the speculation that we’ll finally see Ahsoka in live action during season two. Other casting rumors not confirmed by the trailer include Temuera Morrison, the actor who played the clones in the prequel trilogy. It’s rumoured Morrison will play either Captain Rex (a popular character from “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” and “Star Wars Rebels”) or bounty hunter Boba Fett, and Katee Sackhoff as the live action counterpart of the animated character she voiced, Bo-Katan Kryze. The trailer has fed speculation of Boba Fett’s appearance in the show based on some equipment shown on the back of the Mandalorian’s speeder bike in one shot. While Katee Sackhoff doesn’t appear in the trailer, fans still wonder if her character will appear in an explanation of how Moff Gideon has acquired the sacred Darksaber. Bo-Katan Kryze is another significant Mandalorian and the last character to be in possession of the saber before Gideon. Final Thoughts This trailer might not confirm the plot of season two or address any of the major casting rumors regarding the show. However, it still features a lot of exciting new footage that’ll have fans excited to watch the next season of “The Mandalorian. As for finding out what actually happens in season two? Well, it’s looking like we’ll have to wait until the season premiere on Oct. 30. Nobody ever said waiting is easy, but hey – this is the way. You can find the first season of “The Mandalorian” on DIsney+ right now.

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Carl Weathers stars as Greef Karga in season two of "The Mandalorian."

almanac Coasties against climate change l

Thursday, October 8, 2020

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ASM to hold next ‘no confidence’ vote in Ian’s Mac & Cheese Pizza By Jordan Simon JR. SQUIRREL HUNTING CORRESPONDENT

One week after their bold decision to vote “no confidence” in the UW-Madison Police Department, Associated Students of Madison have moved to voice their disapproval for another problematic institution at the university. “As much as it pains me to say it, I must speak the truth. Ian’s Mac & Cheese Pizza is just fucking noodles on bread,” ASM Chair Matthew Mitnick said in a statement on Thursday. “For too long, students have experienced injustice as they pay for a gooey and satisfying pizza slice, only to receive a thing which, frankly, is cheeseless, barren and devoid

of all soul. Where’s the flavor? The craftsmanship? ASM cannot stand by and accept this any longer.” Chancellor Becky Blank expressed her disappointment in ASM’s decision to hold the vote. “A vote like this should only be held after a series of conversations,” the chancellor said. “I’m disappointed because I don’t feel the appropriate steps were taken before the vote. You have to give institutions time to respond to reforms, and Ian’s has only been open since 2001.” Ian’s has yet to comment on the scheduled vote, but sources say the feeling around the store has been tense because they damn-well know they undercheese.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

By Gillian Rawling ALMANAC EDITOR

A wave of support for climate change legislation erupted from the streets of Madison last week in response to the string of wildfires on the West Coast. The supporters, however, are not the usual suspects for unrest. Satya Rhodes-Conway commented, “a new breed of climate change reform is coming- not thanks to the socialjustice warriors- but because

of east and west coasties.” The unseasonably warm fall weather made State Street the perfect place for students to march. Luke, a sophomore from Boston described his anxieties with the recent string of forest fires, saying that “I won’t be able to wear my sick ass new champion hoodie with my Celtics jersey over it if the weather stays like this for much longer.” He added that he wasn’t sure “how else [he] could flex on all of the

in-state students.” Abigail, a freshman from California also lamented on the struggles she would face this winter due to the rising climate. “My dad just sent me this amazing Canada Goose parka with fur around the hood,” she said, and complained that she was “seriously pissed [she] won’t get to take cute pictures at Lily’s Classic this February with my besties” if the weather stays warm.

PHOTO BY KRIS UGARRIZA

Johnson aides unsure how to tell ‘anti-mask’ boss that a moon suit is just a stupid mask By Jordan Simon SENIOR HABIT ENABLER

Aides of Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., are unsure how to approach their boss, who has vehemently opposed mask mandates with the information that a moon suit would do the same thing as a mask but be so much stupider. This crisis among the staff members comes after Sen. Johnson said he would vote to appoint Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court in person despite testing positive for COVID-19, saying “I’ll wear a moon suit if I have to.” “I’m certainly not going to be the one to tell him,” said a top Johnson aide who wishes to remain anonymous, and shall simply be referred to as a woman from Eau Claire who lives at 87 Foxwood Dr. “He gets incredibly angry and frightening at the mere mention of a facemask. It’s the same reaction he had when he was watching ‘Schitt’s Creek’

and saw those two Canadian men kiss. It’s not a good one.” While there is no set process among Sen. Johnson’s aides to decide who delivers the information, the staff have already played fourteen rounds of “nose goes” and have currently extended their rock-paper-scissors tournament to “best of 57.” “I’m just not sure there’s any way out of this,” continued a woman from Eau Claire who resides at 87 Foxwood Dr. and whose mother’s name is Peggy Gibbs and has been diagnosed with a pulmonary heart condition since November of 2017. “I think we’re just going to have to buy a fucking moon suit. The good news is that, as an aide to the senator, I’ve already gotten so many ads for moon suits. It’s a great thing that Sen. Johnson has worked tirelessly while in office to make sure people’s information can be sold — probably.”

GRAPHIC BY JORDAN SIMON

One small step for Ron Johnson, one giant leap backwards for mankind.

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

opinion Protect freedom: responsible action dailycardinal.com

Thursday, October 8, 2020

By ANUPRAS MOHAPATRA OPINION EDITOR

As I looked forward to starting my undergraduate studies in America — coming from the UAE — I was excited for a multitude of reasons, none more so than experiencing what America stood for. A few identities stood out to me most prominently — namely America being a “melting pot” and the “land of the free.” The “melting pot” identity was one that I was quite familiar with, mainly through media exposure and seeing people with a similar cultural background as me maintain a strong and respected presence in the United States. However, viewing America as the “land of the free” was new to me, and the prospect of experiencing that seemed thrilling. As I spent time in America, I began to learn about the freedoms afforded to all persons on American soil. Honestly, I was in awe when I realized my right to freedom of speech and expression, for instance, was protected equally under law. I ended up learning a great deal about the other rights — ranging from freedom of religion to the right to due process — and most of these extended to non-citizens as well. The Tenth Amendment seems to assign a lot of power to individual states and the people. Such an extension of rights is pretty much unmatched globally — I can certainly attest to that — making America a worthy bearer of the moniker “land of the free”. However, amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, I have found myself thinking deeply about such freedoms and how they tie in with morality. How such freedoms are not universal, thus making them a prized possession worth pride; yet when they are misused, they become subjects of great ignominy and even put such an identity — that of being the land of

the free — in jeopardy. I personally believe that the freedom and civil liberties available to civilians should be used in tandem with what is morally right. This, in my opinion, holds true even during the best of times. But as with everything else, COVID-19 has exposed this weakness and made it all the more apparent. Simply put, freedom and individualism should not equate to selfishness and irresponsibility. There have been over 200,000 COVID-19 related deaths in the U.S. with about 1,200 such deaths from Wisconsin. One may argue that mathematically, such numbers are not a massive proportion of the population and that death is inevitable. Often such an argument would be used by some to question the gravity of the situation and make a case for using civil liberty to act solely in one’s best interest. But that would be a flawed argument. It is important to recognize that we are not talking about mere numbers here. These are human lives. Human lives attached to families and friends and communities. Even a single, preventable death is one too many. One can stand for individual freedoms and still show empathy, as such deaths are preventable by community action. The number of lives lost and the suffering caused as a result of COVID19 could certainly be pinned down to the government response. After all, the leading crew of the ship would always be held responsible for how the ship holds up at sea. But I do not want to focus on that. A lot of work has been done to speak truth to power, which I applaud. In a country known to be averse to government overreach, the blame cannot be placed on the government alone. In a country where everyone on American soil is afforded such civil liberty and power, a lot of

responsibility falls on the civilian populace to do the right thing and that is what I find important to discuss, because the freedoms afforded to the people make it possible to do the right thing without the need for much government direction. An important facet of freedom and civil liberty is being able to choose exactly the kind of media and information one wants to consume. Such freedom is invaluable when compared to countries that feed only blatant propaganda to their residents, like North Korea. But with such freedom of choice comes great responsibility and some people make deadly choices by consuming media that decries the death of hundreds of thousands of people to a potent disease as a hoax and listening only to what they want to believe. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, believes that an “anti-science bias” in the country is problematic when fighting the pandemic. Science is ever-changing, and not every scientific announcement can be treated as gospel, which perhaps explains hesitancy to believe in science. But nothing comes closer to the truth than science does because of how rigorous the processes involved in arriving at scientific conclusions are. Libertarian ideology is often at odds with science, but during a pandemic when there is a visible threat, listening to experts might be the most responsible thing to do. The spreading mechanism of COVID-19 illustrates that everyone is interconnected and there are no truly self-containing actions. Wearing masks, therefore, becomes a simple, yet fairly effective means of protection. Wearing a mask protects those around us. It is a very simple exer-

cise of one’s freedoms, akin to wearing a seatbelt in a car because it protects both yourself and others in the car in case of an accident. Doing the morally right thing ends up working better to protect one’s best interests than selfish actions that endanger everybody. After all, what

the free.” For instance, I know I cannot return to campus even if I want to, due to other’s actions, as the ‘Smart Restart’ seemingly grinds to a floundering halt. Until the “land of the free” wins the fight against immorality and ignorance, there will only

LYRA EVANS /THE DAILY CARDINAL

After all, what use is freedom and civil liberty when one is dead? use is freedom and civil liberty when one is dead? Rights and freedoms are some of the most invaluable weapons one could possess, but like any weapon, they can easily backfire. Using civil liberties to hold those in power accountable, consuming reliable information, paying attention to verified experts and acting responsibly is a great use of such power. Anything else serves as a waste of such power, potentially even a surrender of power if one no longer lives to exercise it. It also infringes on others’ freedoms, by subjecting them to consequences of someone else’s irresponsible actions. That is not very “land of

exist an illusion of freedom, as immorality and ignorance will control the populace and render “free will” pointless. This piece may not change any of the minds that actually need changing, but I am rooting for freedom — and indeed, America — to win this fight with the help of morality. With the efforts of everyone privileged enough to possess freedom, I hope this conquest ends in victory.

Anupras is a sophomore studying Computer Science. Do you think civil liberties and freedoms are powerful? Should they be used responsibly? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

Evil constructing evil: Trump’s exploitation of partisanship By HALEY BILLS SENIOR STAFF WRITER

President Donald Trump has an extensive track record of namecalling and othering, and the 2020 presidential election season has provided no exception. His portrayal of Democractic candidate Joe Biden as a “radical leftist,” among other things, has made this more and more clear as election day draws nearer. Not only is this classification of his opponent utterly untrue, but a reliance on this sort of rhetoric should be considered a major weakness in Trump’s campaign; its use to further divide Americans ultimately demonstrates his incompetence as president and as a candidate for reelection. While it is stated on Biden’s campaign website that he supports the expansion of new clean-energy technologies, recommitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change and conserving 30% of America’s lands and waters by 2030, he said during the 2020 presidential debate that he does not support the more liberal Green New Deal. While he supports the ban of assault and high-capacity magazines, regulation of existing assault weapons and the reduction of

stockpiled weapons, he does not go as far as saying that the Second Amendment should be repealed, the most extreme form of gun control. While he supports a free two years of community college, tuition-free four-year public colleges and universities for all students with household incomes less than $125,000 and student debt relief, he does not believe that public colleges and universities should be completely tuition free and that all student debt should be cancelled like democratic-socalist Bernie Sanders. These are only a few issues that illustrate Biden’s overall moderate democratic stance, but they aid in showing that Trump’s claims about his opponent being a radical leftist are simply untrue – they might as well be added to his long-running list of false or misleading claims. In addition to being dishonest, the sheer amount of time Trump has committed to making these sorts of claims is a glaring weakness in his campaign, given that they take away from talk of actual policy. Dedicating so much breath on scorning — and obfuscating— his opponent instead of highlighting his own beliefs and politics should be a very concerning

point for voters. For instance, in his GOP acceptance speech on Aug. 27, Trump mentioned Biden’s name 44 times. Biden did not once reference Trump by name in his speech at the Democratic convention a week earlier. How can voters really know who they are voting for when a candidate is running a campaign that is so reliant on diverting the focus onto someone else? A large portion of that speech was devoted to all the ways in which Biden would be, in the words of Trump, “the destroyer of American greatness” if elected. This was a cultivation of negative partisanship, or “voters who are motivated to vote by their fears of the bad things the opposition party will do then they are the good things they hope their party will do” as defined by Eric Black of MinnPost. Trump used this same strategy in 2016 when running against Hillary Clinton. He portrayed her “as an ethically compromised, outof-touch establishment figure,” according to Holly Otterbein and Alex Isenstadt of Politico. And it obviously worked. Alan Abramowitz and Steven Webster cited a rise in nega-

tive partisanship and its prevalence as a driving force behind votes in their study “Negative Partisanship: Why Americans Dislike Parties But Behave Like Rabid Partisans.” They wrote that “it is likely that this new style of partisan behavior has led to a series of deleterious consequences for governance and representation,” including citizens’ loss of trust in their governing institutions. Further, Jennifer McCoy, Tahmina Rahman and Murat Somer found that people are more likely to accept illiberal measures like restricting freedom of expression or using force against political opponents when they see leaders and supporters of the other party as villains who are out to cause harm to their nation. Trump’s rhetoric of Biden, and many others for that matter, has done just that: “He is the destroyer of America’s jobs” and, “we have spent the last four years reversing the damage Joe Biden inflicted over the last 47 years” are just two ways in his 2020 GOP acceptance speech that Trump attempted to illustrate Biden as a sort of evildoer to his listeners. There’s certain irony in por-

traying one’s opposing candidate as “evil” when that portrayal has been found to cause rifts in democracy. Especially when misinformation is an added component. Presidential candidates should be strategic, but opting for a strategy that causes “deleterious consequences” and encourages people to tolerate illiberal measures is unacceptable. Casting an opponent in an untrue light while compromising the opportunity to express one’s own beliefs should not be the norm of American politics. A presidential candidate should make clear what they plan to do if elected to the office, not hide behind a shield they created out of another candidate. They should aim at unifying a nation, not at actively creating mistrust and polarizing two sides for their benefit. Call me an idealist, but I believe America can do better than a leader chosen out of fear for the other.

Haley is a senior studying Journalism, with a certificate in French. What are your thoughts on Trump’s strategy? Do you think negative partisanship is harmful? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

Life & Style How you can be eco-friendly in college l

Thursday, October 8, 2020

By Lailee Connell STAFF WRITER

Over the past few years, as temperatures rise, landfills overflow and greenhouse gas emissions sky rocket to an all time high, it has become apparent that human activity is driving climate change, and our planet needs us. It often seems that the issue of climate change is a problem much larger than ourselves, and though there needs to be serious nationwide efforts and structures put in place to save our planet, we as individuals must take action in our own lives and do our part. As college students, it can often seem daunting to make a drastic change in our already busy lives, but there are many easy steps that can be taken to make a huge impact on the environment. About 60 percent of plastic ends up in a landfill or in the natural environment. A great way to cut down on single use plastics is to always

make sure to have reusable shopping bags with you when going to the store, carry around a reusable water bottle and coffee mug for refills, and carry around a set of cutlery to limit single use plastic forks and knives. Plastic straws are another detrimental factor in why our planet is being polluted, and end up in our oceans, ultimately killing marine wildlife. Invest in reusable glass or metal straws and make sure to put one in your bag or backpack! Reusable food storage bags such as “Stashers” are an incredible alternative to plastic ziplock bags for storing food and leftovers, and “Bee’s Wrap” is an amazing replacement for wasteful plastic wrap. Other simple yet effective steps are making sure to turn off all lights when not being used and to always purchase energy efficient light bulbs such as LED lights, which can outlast regular fluorescent bulbs and

use less energy. An obvious, yet often overlooked way to reduce carbon footprint is to walk, bike or use public transportation rather than driving. Next time you’re too cold to walk across campus or to the grocery store look at the bus schedule and help cut back on your carbon footprint! Watching the amount that you buy, whether it be clothes, school supplies or even food, using your purchasing power towards eco friendly products can go a long way. Try your best to only buy what you need rather than buying excess items of what you may already have, and implement living a less consumerist lifestyle in order to drastically reduce your environmental footprint. Though it seems like we are a long way from a clean environment, it starts with you to create a change in your own life and impact on our planet’s future.

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ANN SELIGER /THE DAILY CARDINAL

There are simple thinkgs you can do to save the planet in college!

A business in quarantine By Alexa Rose STAFF WRITER

JEFF MILLER/THE DAILY CARDINAL

The pandemic can make you feel alone, but there are plenty of ways to lift your spirits!

Fixing the feeling of lonliness By Casey Anderson STAFF WRITER

Long walks to class, early morning bus rides and dreaded alarm clocks have now all been traded in for rolling out of bed last minute, clicking a link, muting the microphones and desperately hoping the professor does not ask us to turn on the camera. This is not the sort of fall frenzy and new class excitement — or dread — we have all been accustomed to for years, but a new kind of transition into a distanced, lonelier, cyber education. I would not be first to admit I am not a big fan of it all, although I understand it is necessary for the safety of all. It takes very little energy to look at the downsides of the world we are living in now, but it is important to remind ourselves that this could be the opportunity we have been waiting for. Distance is lonely. My gosh, what I would do for

an in-person lecture right now! But with distance, comes along some spare time that can be used to foster self growth and opportunities to better ourselves as individuals. This time is truly essential as to what we do with it — it will become entirely what we make of it. The world is slowed down right now, allotting us time to catch up with our hobbies, passions and ourselves for just a minute. And although I wish I could visit my friends and join clubs on campus, I am sitting alone on my bed, writing to you. Life is not normal right now, so we can do the things we would not normally do. Take time to finally start that journal you have been telling yourself you would start writing in for years, take time to pick sketching or painting back up, take time to write the song you have been setting aside because you stopped at the chorus.

This period of social distance can also be used to reconnect with old friends and catch up with people through text, calls or Facetime. Scroll through that phone and answer those unanswered texts, I know there are plenty! Even though we are limited in contact, that does not mean we have to lose connection with those we care for. There is still room to create stronger connections, even if they are not in the ideal face to face format! Nothing about our current world is not ideal for our social lives, mental health or safety, but it has potential to be ideal for finding out who you are when it is just you and yourself, alone in a room. Our physical presences are not being demanded anywhere. So we are left with ourselves. For the first time, we are allowed and encouraged to keep to ourselves and spend time on ourselves. What will you do with it?

I was a freshman living in the dorms, loving school and having the best time of my life. Then the pandemic hit and I was sent home for the remainder of the year. I had already secured my summer job working the front desk at my favorite gym, but as time went on I realized, my job and the gym were most likely not going to happen. It had been three months since the quarantine had started, and to say I was losing my mind was an understatement. There are only so many puzzles you can finish before you come to realize that it’s time to make a change. As a student at the University of WisconsinMadison, whenever the opportunity arises, I wear my school colors, but I always found that there

weren’t enough trendy or affordable options. Suddenly the idea hit me, I could make my own custom clothes. I began to do some research and with days of trial and error, I eventually was able to create a custom Wisconsin t-shirt that was one of a kind. Proud of what I had done, I posted it to my social media. The next morning I woke to my phone blowing up. I got an overwhelming response from my friends, all loving the T-shirts I had made. I had dozens of requests, and I had the time, so I figured I could make some more. Little did I know this would be the beginning of a business I would soon call “aroseandclothes.” The orders were coming in faster then I could make them and with the use of social media, I was reaching an audience

that expanded across the country. I was working day and night and even began to receive orders from real businesses that were interested in having shirts made. It’s safe to say, I will never forget the moment my friend called me and said, “hey, someone just came up to me on the street and asked if I was wearing aroseandclothes.” The summer was coming to an end and it was time to head back to Wisconsin. I posted that I would only be accepting orders 10 days prior to leaving, but I ended up using every spare second I had, even if that meant being a few minutes late to the airport. It was hard to say “good-bye” to the business I had created, but I not only made some really cool shirts, I also gained valuable experience that I will never forget.

JENNIFER SCHALLER/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Fall is beautiful in Madison, so get out an explore everything that the city has to offer!