University of Wisconsin-Madison
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Thursday, October 31, 2019
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Ways to beat your midsemester blues +L&S page 8
Snapper’s Row +page 4
Students shape Chican@, Latin@ Studies By Alejandra Canales STAFF WRITER
At noon on a Thursday, a line of students and faculty forms outside the conference room on the third floor of Ingraham Hall. They chat about their days and classes while they fill plates with food and sit down for a meal. The weekly Chican@ and Latin@ Studies community gatherings offer a chance for those in attendance to spend time together, but also a time to discuss. A recent workshop featured doctoral students who shared their journeys through higher education — a path filled with systemic barriers and limited institutional support for the Latino community. While many UW-Madison students are familiar with ethnic studies through their three-credit general education requirement, these units mean much more to those actively involved. Yet, maintaining and growing ethnic studies programs has been anything but a given on this campus. One such unit — Chican@ and Latin@ Studies — is the largest it’s been in its more than 40-year history largely because of the continuous dedication of students and faculty pushing for its existence and expansion. “Anything that was given to [CLS] was given because of a demand,” said Benjamin Márquez, a CLS faculty affiliate. Initial demands The CLS program was born from the struggles of the 1960s and ‘70s national Chicano Movement — an era of widespread activism around issues of racial and social justice. “Wisconsin was a center of social movements, not just [for] labor organizing but also multiracial and multiethnic civil rights movements,” CLS program director Armando Ibarra said. At the time, activists from the Chicano student organization, El Movimiento Estudiantil de Chicanos
de Atlzan (MEChA) — formerly known as La Raza Unida — claimed that UW-Madison administrators were not addressing issues of underrepresentation within the student body or lack of institutional support for the few underrepresented students that did attend the university. After two years of trying to convince university officials about the need for a Chicano studies department that would provide academic programming specific to the experience, culture and history of Chicanos, Chicano students began picketing. These demonstrations in spring 1975 lasted four months and led to heightened tensions between the university and activists, even resulting in the arrest of student leaders for spray painting an Aztec calendar on the sidewalk. In the end, it was the state — not the university — that provided the means for the initial program. “The [state] legislature went over the heads of university officials and created [the funding for the program] despite them,” Márquez explained. Even after this special allocation to UW-Madison’s budget, it still took months for the university to designate a search committee to start hiring faculty. The first Chicano studies course on campus, “Literary Group Experiences: The Chicano,” was finally listed in the fall of 1981. “The strength of any program is its students, faculty, and their willingness to come together and build something,” Ibarra said. “This program came from students, faculty and community really making a demand as to a space to have this type of curriculum.” Still working towards original goals, 40 years later The protests of the 1970s would not be the last time that students took action surrounding Chicano and Latino studies in higher education. MEChistas and students from other
BETSY OSTERBERGER/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Through the efforts of dedicated students and faculty, programs like Chican@ and Latin@ Studies have built a strong community following an academic push for ethnic studies programs. Chicano and Latino student organizations maintained an active role on campus, engaging in talks with administrators and faculty. “A lot of the history of our folx who identify as Latinx/Latino is just rooted in social activism,” CLS certificate alum Arturo “Tito” Diaz said. “In the [Latino] community, it is just a part of who we are to advocate and hope for a better world — not only for us but for our future as well.” Throughout the 1980s the program focused on recruiting more Latino students and faculty to UW-Madison, and in 1992 the CLS undergraduate certificate was created, with its first recipient graduating May 1994.
Despite struggling to maintain their space on campus over the years, the CLS program united around a shared vision of the importance of Chicano and Latino scholarship and department. Focusing on scholarship and curriculum development within the department would help with research output and program building, Ibarra said. “What we’re building has to have tenured faculty to be able to really set deep roots in this institution and in this state,” he added. Departments — which CLS proponents originally demanded in 1975 — are the most important affiliation for a faculty member since
faculty are granted tenure by their departments, Márquez explained. Similarly, salary increases, promotions and assignments to various committees all happen within a faculty’s tenure department. “That’s where your primary professional attachment is, and for many people still, that’s where your professional identity lies,” he said. “If we had a department, then all these major decisions about a person’s professional life would be here.” Faculty are not the only ones who recognize the value in a CLS
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DOC seeks media coverage to sex offenders’ homes on Halloween By Jessica Lipaz STATE NEWS EDITOR
“Would you normally let your sixyear old walk outside by themselves in the dark?” Wisconsin Department of Corrections Sex Offender Registration Program Director Grace Knutson asked. “No, so let’s use this as an opportunity. When we can all as adults keep kids safe, that lessens the opportunity of a sex offender having an opportunity to reoffend.” Knutson acknowledged there is no other time of year children are out in the streets at night, often alone, going to strangers’ houses asking for candy. To mitigate potential threats, the DOC increases their street presence on Halloween, and ensures the lack
of presence of formerly incarcerated sexual offenders. However, there is not an increase in sexual crimes on Halloween. In fact, Knutson said they decrease, while crimes like pedestrian-involved car accidents are more prevalent. “A majority of the time there are very few sex offenses that happen as a result of trick-or-treating or as a result of Halloween,” Knutson said. Despite this, registered offenders on community supervision across the state must abide by a set of rules inhibiting them from participating in trick-or-treating activities. They are mandated to turn their porch lights off, have no decorations or candy both inside or outside the house, as well as
not wear costumes. In addition to the restrictions, the DOC conducts home visits along with local law enforcement and parole agents to ensure the parolees’ are following protocol. Last Halloween, more than 2,200 visits occurred with 43 sex offenders taken into custody for violating supervision requirements. “There are 31 offenses that require registration, we do not differentiate between somebody who has a hands-on offense versus a hands-off offense,” Knutson said. “If the statute says they are required to register, they are required and that is what we are driven by.” Despite the wide-range of offenses one can be added to the registry for,
the DOC determines which offenders to visit based on their proximity to other offenders and high density trick-or-treating zones — not their original crime. Halloween is the only time the state agency administers this concentrated level of home visits, which have been mandated for the last 10 years. This year, the DOC invited media outlets to participate on the trick-ortreat walk-alongs with agents. Deputy Communications Director for the DOC Clare Hendricks believes this is an opportunity for members of the media to see law enforcement operations firsthand and subsequently generate awareness about safety precautions to the public.
“There can be a lot of anxiety around Halloween because you do not know who is out there and sometimes people might be so-to-speak afraid or worried, but reminding folks that our probation and parole agents are out there and what we do on a regular basis — let alone on Halloween — can be reassuring,” Hendricks said. However, City News Editor at The Cap Times Jason Joyce said the newspaper will not be sending any reporters to the walk-along with parole agents because these experiences are often skewed to show a specific part of an operation.
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“…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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Thursday, October 31, 2019
An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 129, Issue 11
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News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com Editor-in-Chief Robyn Cawley
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News Team Campus Editor Morgan Lock College Editor Dana Brandt City Editor Allison Garfield State Editor Jessica Lipaz Associate News Editor Will Husted Features Editor Sonya Chechik
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Editorial Board Robyn Cawley • Erin Jordan Kavitha Babu • Sam Jones • Izzy Boudnik • Max Homstad • Lauren Souza • Ethan Levy • Sam Nesovanovic
Board of Directors Herman Baumann, President Jennifer Sereno • Don Miner • Scott Girard • Josh Klemons • Barbara Arnold • Robyn Cawley • Erin Jordan • Ignatius D. Devkalis • Nick Dotson
Chican@ from page 1 department. Diaz described how in 2014 when he was still an undergrad, budget cuts to all ethnic studies programs led to university talks about consolidating them all into one broader ethnic studies department. “I really fought hard with a coalition of other students to make sure that that didn’t happen,” Diaz said. “Our counter-narrative was that all [the ethic studies programs] need to be their own departments. What if there was a School of Ethnic Studies? California has some of those — what would that look like for us in Wisconsin?” Merging budgets and resources would not directly address the problem of historically under-funding ethnic studies, Diaz added. “The budget reflects priorities, and it reflects political decisions,” Marquez, who was director of the CLS program at the time, said Diaz was involved in the discussions between students, faculty and the other ethnic studies programs
DOC from page 1 “While we certainly cover these topics — corrections, sexual harassment and assault, how formerly incarcerated individuals adapt to lives after prison — this pitch qualifies as being a little too packaged for our style of enterprise reporting,” Joyce explained. The backlash the DOC receives from communities containing formerly incarcerated individuals on the sexual offender registry — especially communities with children — may be another reason for their increased publicity efforts this year. “My first thought is: this is the Department of Corrections concerned about its image and concerned about controversy that comes up with placing sex offenders back into communities,” UW-Madison Journalism and Mass Communication Professor Robert Dreschel said. “They are using this as a strategy. They hope to make people more comfortable and give people more confidence that they really are keeping an eye out.” However, it is unclear whether this additional protection is necessary beyond ensuring the public and creating awareness. Data from the DOC shows low rates of recidivism — the rate at which those formerly incarcerated commit crimes again — for sexual offenders in comparison
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to other offenders. In 2010, sexual offenders acquired a recidivism rate of 16.8 percent compared to 31.6 percent of general offenders three years after release from prison. At this time, 46.7 percent of recidivism crimes for sexual offenders were violations of public orders — like failure to provide registry information or obstructing a parole agent — which includes disobeying Halloween restrictions. This number highlights sexual offenders low risk to engage in the same criminal behavior for which they were originally incarcerated –– only 4.9 percent of sexual offenders released from prison between 1992 and 2010 were convicted for a sexual offense again. For some, this creates disputes about how the DOC treats sexual offenders after being released from custody. “It is a very controversial issue this issue of registration,” Dreschel said. “Whether somebody who serves their specified sentence for committing their crime, nevertheless, continues to be under supervision even beyond that date.” However, Knutson called Wisconsin’s protocols balanced in comparison to other states with more radical Halloween requirements. A federal judge in Georgia ruled
The space is welcome to students who self-identify as Chicano, Latino, Chicana, Latina, Chicanx or Latinx, he added, referencing the current debate over identity. “Being able to be in a room of folks to learn about CLS and some of the contributions that folks like me [made] was really informative,” Diaz said. “The CLS program meant so much to me because it was also my place to be at home and at peace.” CLS students are not afraid to speak up about campus issues they believe in, like the university’s controversial homecoming video, Eilers said. Ibarra added that as members of the UW community, CLS faculty find it necessary to weigh in on these issues as well through statements signed by all affiliate faculty. “The program is as relevant today as it was before it started and as when it came to be,” Ibarra said. “It offers so much to this institution and to the community outside of UW.” While the program offers classes for students on timely subjects in the national political and cultural debate, it also serves as a bridge
to the broader community outside the university. Many CLS students and faculty work with community organizations like the Latino Academy for Workforce Development and Centro Hispano, or engage in conversations about community building, civic building or the current political and anti-immigrant climate. “People look to [the CLS program], and they look to faculty and students as not just conduits to [the] university, but as, as folks [who] can continue to have these hard conversations and continue to educate on these subjects,” Ibarra said. Connecting the struggles of the last 40 years, Ibarra happily shared that this year three new affiliate faculty have started, and this spring the CLS program will offer its largest selection of courses. The increased enrollment even has faculty working on proposing a CLS major. “The struggle to address inequality is generational, and as a program we’re looking to build on those struggles as best as we can in this institution with everything that we have here,” Ibarra said.
GRAPHIC BY JULIA MENDELSOHN
Wisconsin law mandates registered sexual offenders are not allowed to decorate their homes or light their porches on Halloween despite a decrease in sexual crimes during the popular children’s holiday. a local sheriff violated the constitutional rights of registered sexual offenders by placing a sign reading: “WARNING! NO TRICK-ORTREAT AT THIS ADDRESS!!” in front of their homes Tuesday. “Whether the media does stories on this or not — whether people are
paying attention or not — we are always going to do our jobs, and that is making sure the registrants are telling us where they live, work and go to school, making sure they are abiding by their rules of supervision and getting the treatment they need,” Knutson said.
MPD to remove Langdon police officer By Abby Schinderle
© 2015, The Daily Cardinal Media Corporation ISSN 0011-5398
about what consolidation would mean and, ultimately, the negative feedback regarding those plans prevented the potential change. A community on and off campus Students are still involved in shaping the CLS program through the Chican@ & Latin@ Certificate Students Association. ChiLaCSA plans events like the March on Bascom, an annual celebration of Latinx heritage with a march up Bascom Hill carrying flags from Latin American countries. The association also represents student concerns in faculty meetings. “Our faculty really listen to them,” CLS program coordinator Rachelle Eilers said. “Right now they’re working on changing our name from Chican@ and Latin@ Studies to Chicanx and Latinx Studies.” Community building is also an integral part of the CLS program. The program’s weekly community gathering provides a space for undergraduates to come together, form connections, and ultimately build a community of students who are interested in the field of Chicano and Latino studies, Ibarra said.
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The position of Langdon Street Resource Officer will be removed from the Madison Police Department as a result of ongoing understaffing and underfunding, according to current Langdon Street Officer Damion Figueroa. Instead, there will be one officer responsible for patrolling popular campus blocks — Langdon, Gilman, State, University, Basset, Mifflin, Frances and other streets. Consequently, there will be a significant decrease in the amount of police oversight on Langdon Street. Figueroa held the position for the past two years, serving as a liaison between UW-Madison’s Greek office and various parties like MPD, private security firms, property management
companies, as well as students living Langdon Street. The Madison Police and Fire Commission, who supervises hiring processes within the police department, refused to comment on the change. MPD was unavailable to comment. Officer Figueroa will also work with the new UW-Madison Downtown Liaison Officer to provide information on the neighborhood and what current safety concerns look like — residential burglary, battery and sexual assault, according to MPD. Langdon Street houses the majority of UW-Madison’s fraternities and sororities and is a wellknown hub for parties and drinking culture on campus. Officer Figueroa has worked closely with greek life — they even inform him
of all registered parties and tailgates. “Police [presence] is very important because when we know where people are going, we can provide safety for that area,” Figueroa said. “It provides us the information of where things are happening so we can provide maybe an extra eye or some resources within that area.” Many sororities and fraternities fear potential consequences of the change, mainly regarding students’ safety, Gamma Phi Beta President Lily Warner said. “Everyone’s concerned given that there has been serious incidents that have resulted in truly near-death experiences,” Warner said. “The only reason that people in those situations were able to receive help so quickly is because there was an officer who was stationed on Langdon.”
Fraternities and sororities on campus said they felt “blindsided” by the news, according to Warner. “The school didn’t take the time to reach out to let us know the areas we are operating in were going to [have] less police presence,” Warner said. “I can’t communicate to chapter members to be more aware on Langdon if I don’t know that there’s something wrong.” Officer Figueroa’s last day as regional officer will be Jan. 26. He advised those concerned to contact to Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and UW-Madison. “We knew that Officer Figueroa was always dedicated to the issues pertaining to our neighborhood, which always was a comfort,” Warner said. “Without that, it feels like we’re being left behind in the safety narrative.”
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‘Smallville’ cast graces Wizard World Comic Con By John Everman ARTS EDITOR
For millions of Americans, comic books have been an escape from our regular reality for nearly a century. Characters like Batman or Spider-Man inspire us to be the best versions of ourselves, while also showing us that it’s okay to be “super” and still have faults. Fans have been able to connect in the modern age like never before, thanks to social media. But long before the age of Facebook and Twitter, comic book conventions brought together fans from all walks of life in celebration of the characters they hold most dear. Madison’s own comic book convention — Wizard World Comic Con — returned to the Alliant Energy Center this past weekend. Thousands from all over flocked to the three-day celebration of all things comic book, fantasy, anime and pop culture. Located primarily in Exhibition Hall, the entire floor space was filled with booths and set ups for artists and vendors to show off their beautiful work. Towards the center of the room were the tables for fans to take photos and obtain autographs from the selection of celebrities assembled for the convention. For those looking for a special experience, fans were also able to take professional photos with the celebrity guests in a curtained photo op area near the back of the hall. A large gaming station, face painting and a large Nerf gun play area also were made available to convention goers with kids. The dining options featured a nice variety. Food ranged from pizza and paninis to ice cream and sweets while soda, coffee including lattes and alcohol were all available to drink. The celebrity guest list for this year’s Con heavily featured actors from The CW’s “Smallville” – which originally ran from 2001 to 2011. The show was a retelling of Superman’s origin story, starting
as a teen and still only known as the mild mannered Clark Kent. Tom Welling (Clark Kent), Michael Rosenbaum (Lex Luthor), Erica Durance (Lois Lane) and Laura Vandervoort (Kara/Supergirl) were all in attendance. Recently, it was announced that both Tom Welling and Erica Durance would be returning to The CW as part of a crossover event involving their current slate DC Comics-inspired shows like “The Flash” and “Arrow”. The potential return of their particular portrayals of Clark and Lois, respectively, had fans visibly invigorated. Actors Dichen Lachman (“Altered Carbon”), Teddy Sears (“The Flash”) and Kelly Hu – who has seemingly been a part of nearly every hit show from the last twenty-plus years – also made the trip to Madison and offered fans a rare chance to talk with artists that they have watched on the big and small screens. Legendary actor/bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno — the Hulk from “The Incredible Hulk” which aired on CBS from 1977 to 1982 — and WWE Hall of Fame wrestler Kevin Nash, who recently spoke with The Daily Cardinal, were larger than life on screen and certainly off of it as well. “Gremlins” Zach Galligan and Samm Levine of “Freaks and Geeks” fame were also in attendance, with Levine involved in a wide variety of events during the weekend including hosting panels. Other celebrity guests ranged from voice actors like Chris Sarandon and Ken Page of “The Nightmare Before Christmas” — the 1993 Tim Burton classic — to Jewel Staite and Sean Maher of the cult-favorite “Firefly” and its feature length spin-off “Serenity”. Dozens of comic book and independent artists made their work available for purchase at their stations. But many of them also took part in demonstrations, showing the audience certain
drawing techniques. The pricing for the event varied depending on which day or how many days one wished to attend. Certain VIP packages allowed Con goers the chance to receive exclusive gifts from Wizard World, as well as the opportunity to spend time one-on-one with certain celebrity guests. Michael Rosenbaum and Tom Welling of “Smallville” also hosted two special events for those that wished to be able to talk with them in an even more intimate environment. A cocktail party on Friday night and an acting workshop of sorts called Smallville Nights on Saturday offered fans the once in a lifetime chance to discuss one of their favorite shows with two of its stars. Two panels — one for “Smallville” and the other for “Firefly” — highlighted the discussions offered at Wizard World. For me, seeing the cast of “Smallville” together again was surreal. Smallville was a consistent watch in my household when it originally aired, and I still re-watch some episodes on occasion. Wizard World is a unique experience. Walking through the hordes of cosplayers and costumed characters while wearing a simple Batman logo shirt, it became clear just how much these actors and the characters they play mean to fans – even many years after their work has been done. Attendance was down from last year, which may have had to do with it sharing a weekend with Freakfest as opposed to 2018’s Wizard World that was held at the beginning of December. But for the thousands which made their way to Madison, Wizard World was truly a great experience. I strongly look forward to next year and hope for the chance to meet even more incredible artists.
COURTESY OF LIAM JOY/WIZARD WORLD COMIC CON
Two convention goers dressed as Marvel’s Spider-Man and Venom battle at Wizard World Comic Con.
THOMAS YONASH/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Madison’s biggest Halloween celebration was a rain soaked success.
Lil Yachty, Freakfest performers stay afloat amidst rain storms By Anna Patterson STAFF WRITER
Music fans from near and far learned to dance in the rain at this year’s Freakfest. The annual Halloweenthemed music festival in downtown Madison — this year, held on Saturday Oct. 26th — saw constant showers throughout the duration of the event. Despite the subpar weather conditions, event goers still showed great enthusiasm for the performers at each of the three stages in the State Street area. A Madison Police Department Incident Report stated that about 20,000 people bought tickets to the event, which is in line with sales for the past couple years. The Frances Street Stage featured Wisconsin natives Rob Hicks, BrightViolet, Yung Sum, Landon Devon, TeawhYB and Jayne Joyce. The local artists each put on a great performance, proving that Wisconsin’s talented music scene is here to stay. The Ian’s Pizza Stage at Gilman Street drew a sizable crowd for headliner Gin Blossoms. The singers of “Hey Jealousy” and “Found Out About You” faced the challenge of performing for an audience younger than many of their songs. Even so, the American rock group was greeted with cheers from both young and old concertgoers. Other notable performers on the Gilman Street Stage included the Madison locals No Love Dog, Heavy Looks and German Art Students, as well as Milwaukee-based Buffalo Gospel. The largest and most wellattended stage of the evening was the Mountain Dew Stage at Capitol Square. Hip-hop artists Alexander Kain, Djay Mando and Mic Kellogg set
the tone for the evening. Next, the highly anticipated upand-coming hip-hop/rap artist WebsterX took the stage. The Milwaukee-based rapper wowed the drenched, costumed audience with his charisma and stage presence. As the performance went on, college students, visitors and locals alike packed together tightly to get the best view. WebsterX mixed in some playful banter with the audience in between songs to elevate the energy. The crowd would need this momentum to last through the cold, rainy break that lasted nearly an hour in between WebsterX and headliner Lil Yachty. As soon as Lil Yachty finally walked on stage after midnight, the crowd erupted in cheers. Shouts of “Lil’ Boat!” and “Yachty Yachty Yachty!” filled the air. The 22-year-old rapper knew how to hype the saturated crowd, performing fan-favorites “Broccoli,” “Minnesota” and “iSpy,” along with his lesser-known songs. The singer’s voice was a bit different from the one he presents on the radio, but the audience did not seem to mind. Yachty’s strategic use of props, lights and even loud horns helped mask the times when the singer was slightly off key. His relentless commitment to giving the crowd a good time made the event worth every drop of rain. Lil Yachty blared one final horn after performing for over an hour, indicating that Freakfest must draw to a close. Everyone made their way home, ears ringing, to trade their wet masks and costumes for dry pajamas. Once again, the legendary Halloween celebration provided Madisonians with an unforgettable way to celebrate the spookiest holiday of the year.
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Snapper’s Row: A week in photos
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAILY CARDINAL ARCHIVES
A group of police officers pepper spray a single noble knight during Freakfest in Oct., 2004.
WILL FELLMAN/THE DAILY CARDINAL
The leaves change color at Picnic Point on a crisp fall day in Madison.
WILL CIOCI/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Kattia Himnenz checks on her drying hemp crop harvested from her farm in Mount Horeb.
TAYLOR WOLFRAM/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Actors dress up with Halloween spirit at Science Hall’s Fright Night on Oct. 30.
JUNAID KHALID/THE DAILY CARDINAL
The women’s soccer team ties Iowa on Oct. 17. They are now ranked No. 7 in the nation.
CLAYTON JANNUSCH/THE DAILY CARDINAL
COIN, an indie pop band from Tennessee, electrifies the audience at The Majestic on Oct. 20.
CAMERON LANE-FLEHINGER/THE DAILY CARDINAL
UW Student Inclusion Committee protests the Homecoming video on Oct. 25.
opinion Vape ban extends beyond public health By Anthony Trombi
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STAFF WRITER
aping has become a quintessential part of high school and college culture. From school bathrooms to dorm rooms, students vape. With the new demand, the global market estimates that the vaping industry is worth approximately 19 billion dollars, and the number of vapers has been increasing rapidly — from about seven million in 2011 to 41 million in 2018, according to the BBC. There are two types of e-cigarettes on the market, which can be classified as closed and open systems. Closed system e-cigarettes use readymade refills, which screw directly onto the e-cigarette’s battery, such as a Juul. Open systems include a removable mouthpiece, and the liquid that is vapourised can be refilled manually by the user. Both devices contain a battery that is rechargeable, and some devices have a coil with a refillable pod, while others use pods that snap directly to battery. One of the biggest controversies around vaping is its safety. As of now, there are no long-term studies to show exactly what the effects on users — many of them young — will be. Many studies have shown that vaping is safer than smoking due to the lack of tar and other chemicals, but there are also studies that state that vaping is just as harmful due to toxic chemicals. Currently, nobody really knows if vaping is truly is safer than cigarettes. Nevertheless, it is still bad for your lungs to ingest smoke. States such as Michigan have banned the sale of all flavored e-cigarettes due to their determination that these flavored juices are not only bad for one’s health but are specifically targeted towards children. They are not the only state, however. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration intends to finalize a compliance policy in the coming weeks that would prioritize the agency’s enforcement of the requirements for the production of non-tobacco-flavored e-ciga-
rettes, including mint and menthol, attempting to clear the market of unauthorized, non-tobacco-flavored e-cigarette products. The Trump Administration also wants to ensure that vaping is not being marketed towards kids. According to NPR, the proportion of high school seniors who reported vaping nicotine in the last month rose to 20.9 percent in 2018, a nearly 10-percentage-point increase from 11 percent in 2017. So, the use of these flavored vapes are going to be progressively harder to get approved by the FDA due to increased underage use. It is apparent that the FDA discourages underage use of these products, and vape advertisements targeting adolescents, needs to end. Essentially, the FDA is making the process to manufacture and sell flavored nicotine juice more rigorous and will require certain checks before the product is eligible for sale. This is good since now some regulation and consistency can be placed upon these e-cigarette companies, but unfortunately, this could mean the downfall of an entire industry. It is estimated that under this new process, to have a new flavor fully approved by the FDA will cost approximately $460,000. This is fine for companies like Juul, which is worth 13 billion dollars, and thus can afford to spend large sums of money to sell their flavored pods. Yet, the smaller companies will most likely not be able to afford to comply with FDA standards, eventually going out of business. This will also encourage the use of bootleg and non-FDA approved nicotine products. There is no way to determine what is being put in these products and they can be potentially more harmful than the current products on the market. Yes, products will become more consistent, but it will turn the big e-cigarette businesses in control of the whole market. Currently, Juul controls most of the marketplace of e-cigarette products. Once smaller
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GRAPHIC BY MAX HOMSTAD
While greater restrictions on vaping products may seem benevolent, it could endanger smaller firms in the industry. companies have to comply with the FDA standards and go out of business, Juul will be the primary source of most e-cigarette products. This allows Juul to increase prices and have full control of the industry with no competition. What is even more suspicions is that vape giant Juul has left the Vapor Technology Association, citing major differences in policy as their reason for departure. Juul left this association after the VTA filed a lawsuit against the FDA to extend its new policy on flavored products. The FDA’s threat to ban all flavored e-liquids was the perfect time for the industry leader to make a stand on behalf of not only vape companies, but the millions of American vapers. In other words, Juul could have used its vast resources to fight the proposed ban, but instead, they rolled over, removing all fruit flavored pods from convenience stores (tobacco-flavored products are still for sale) and removed itself from all social media. Yet, Juul focused on advertising their products towards kids. Now that they are no longer advertising on social media, hopefully underage use will decrease, but the damage has already been done to portray Juul as a
cool and fun product to use. Juul is a business and does have to protect its interests, but business is not everything. Juul has the potential right now to completely influence how the vaping industry will look like in the next few years. The FDA is subsequently helping Juul take out the competition which will decrease jobs and product variation. It is ironic how Juul is benefiting the most out of the new FDA policies when they are the ones who have been scrutinized the most for underage use. The FDA is primarily implementing these policies to create a safer, better-regulated product to protect the health of its users. Health and safety is an important factor for all companies and users of vaping devices, especially with the recent deaths from vaping. State and federal health officials have found that the deaths that have occurred are not nicotine related, but rather tied to THC, the psychoactive chemical component in marijuana vape products, that are causing serious harm. Investigators at the FDA found vitamin E acetate mixed with the oil of THC. While vitamin E is found naturally in certain foods — such as canola oil, olive oil, and almonds
— it is extremely dangerous when inhaled through the lungs Vitamin E acetate dilutes the solution, allowing for the cheaper sale of THC devices. The FDA also told state officials that its lab tests found nothing unusual in nicotine products that had been collected from sick patients. Ultimately, it appears that nicotine vapes are not currently causing any significant short-term damage. The THC vapes, on the other hand, can be quite dangerous as there is no good way to determine if the product has been mixed with Vitamin E acetate or not. Unfortunately, it seems that the FDA is prioritizing economic growth rather than the safety of their products. While in theory their new vaping product requirements will benefit the consistency and health of vaping products, the whole industry will soon be diminished. Hopefully, the FDA’s active involvement in vaping related substances will create safer products than we have today without the cost of eradicating an entire industry. Anthony is a freshman studying journalism. Do you think companies like Juul benefit from tighter regulations? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
Trump’s America enables racism, extreme scrutiny of minorities By Dana Munro
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SENIOR STAFF WRITER
racism scandal in Madison struck a national chord this week — the New York Times reported on it, CNN reported on it, Cher even offered to help. When Marlon Anderson, a black security guard, politely asked a student to stop calling him the n-word he was fired for inappropriate language. I’ll give you a minute to let that sink in. The incident spread rapidly. Yes, social media expedites the spread of stories but I couldn’t help but think this story must have been bigger than just one isolated event. There had to be some universal component. So what was it about this story? What made our hearts drop when we read it? Well, for starters, every national story seems to somehow tie back to Donald Trump. Like it or not, this is Trump’s America. He governs it. His supporters are the political majority, or were very recently. And his presidency seems to have opened a pandora’s box of racist and prejudiced rhetoric rendering people in marginalized communities especially vulnerable.
The Trump presidency has also helped strength another binary in America — that between the rich and the poor. And wealth today isn’t simply monetary. It comes with a wealth of respect, a wealth of trust, a wealth of support, whether earned or not. Here, in the middle of two strengthening binaries stands Marlon Anderson: a black man and a security guard. Without the protection of whiteness or the protection of wealth, Anderson was vulnerable. And the school administration preyed upon it, though the have since given him his job back. Rather than administering a punishment that offered a path of recourse, he was given the harshest punishment an employer can give. I thought about Anderson’s social status and wondered how this situation might have been different if Anderson had a different position at the school. What if he was Principal or Superintendent? Would the punishment have been so harsh? Absolutely not. But, Anderson was a school security guard. And in our capitalistic society, a low wage suggests that the job takes little specialized skill. So the person in the uniform doesn’t matter, right? Anyone could do his job, right?
An attitude exists in America that people with low-paying jobs are interchangeable. People believe they have less characteristic value than a CEO or company manager. This attitude isn’t just offensive, it is illogical. When I was in high school I saw my principal once in my four years. Once. And I couldn’t even tell you the name of my high school superintendent. But I saw my security guard every day. His name was Don. I haven’t seen him in four years and I still remember his name. Don didn’t just know all our names, and mind you, my school had over 4,000 students, he gave us all nicknames too. He called me Dana Day. One of my best friends from high school still refers to me as that to this day. I dreaded going to high school every day, but Don made it better. I knew I would smile at least once each day because of him. Now tell me that is a person who is interchangeable, disposable. From the testimonies of the students it seems that Anderson made a similar impact on the school. Not only did Anderson know the kids’ names, teach them lessons and keep them safe, he also provided a kind face at a time when many people are at their most vulnerable — a
time when mental illness is high and self-esteem is low. Anderson wasn’t just valuable, he was necessary. The kids needed him like they needed a math teacher or science teacher. The amount of money capitalism has deemed appropriate for a person’s “skill level” should not be the way we define them. The fact that Anderson was fired over one word, despite his clearly beneficial impact on the school shows that we need to re-evaluate the way we assign value. And what makes this situation even worse is what he was being punished for. The school developed a “zerotolerance policy” for offensive language to protect people of color and other marginalized students and faculty from being harmed. West High School used its own rule, put in place to protect people of color, to hurt a person of color. The irony is baffling. It is disheartening how often we manage to give people of color the short end of the stick, even when under the guise of trying to help them. The timing of this incident seems uncanny as it was within the same few weeks as a young Black man being put in jail for oversleeping and missing jury duty in Florida. Though, avid news-followers can
probably find similar stories of Black people being harshly punished for small infractions on a regular basis. I can’t help but place this in a larger context. Our president has made racist remarks on television and in the White House numerous times and, without fail, we always excuse him. He is never so much as criticized, let alone punished. We place harsher penalties on a security guard than we do the president of the United States. When did our system of accountability become so backward? A white president should receive much harsher treatment for his racial attitudes than a Black security guard. Perhaps the most ridiculous component of this whole incident was that Anderson, accused of using a racial slur, was Black. Can’t Black people have ownership over their own culture, their own history, their own future? America has taken so much from the black community and I think we owe them every benefit of the doubt we can offer. Dana is a senior studying journalism and theatre. What are your thoughts on how black individuals are treated in this political era? Send your comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
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dailycardinal.com
Thursday, October 31, 2019
Spooky Time? By Jordan Simon ALMANAC EDITOR
As we embark on this spooky spooky time, You better prepare yourselves for some spooky rhyme.
Despite tireless production, candy corn sits untouched on shelves for yet another year
But you see … Everywhere I turn my eyes All the people are in disguise! They are in costumes. Frightful Fears. Fears so big so outlandish, There doth be tears. A Haunted House. A haunted house is spooky. BOO! Did I spook you? I think I did. I sometimes eat too much candy and get a belly ache. … just so you know. There is a Halloween party and it is so cool, Over there on the street! Someone is dressed as a ghoul! That’s cool. Super cool. Halloween is a holiday. Sexy nurse. Twix. Twix, Twix. Snickers; Whoppers is not a good candy. Ahhwooooooo! Hear my werewolf howl! Ahwoooooooooooooooo! So frightening. I am outside and it is dark and It is Very spooky. Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, More like Reese’s Peanut Butter … Um. I couldn’t think of a thing. I like the Easter Reese’s better anyway. Because they are shaped like eggs. It makes it better, wouldn’t you say? David S. Pumpkins Why can’t we trick and treat. This is what is wrong with society. I once knew a guy who stabbed a pumpkin a lot and then said it was a Jack-O-Lantern. And I was like, “Woah. That’s crazy man.” In spooky conclusion, We all must revel in this spooky delusion. Also ghosts
GRAPHIC BY HALEY BILLS
Devilish candy corn staring you down intensely, daring you to have a taste while it collects dust in your mother’s decorative Halloween dish By Haley Bills ALMANAC EDITOR
After thorough investigation this spooky season, it is with deep regret that the Almanac reports that candy corn is still indeed a thing. Every grocery and convenience store surveyed in Madison carried the vile candy even though most of the store shelves that they occupied were gathering copious amounts of dust. A few were even covered in cobwebs. There has only been two candy corn sales this month in the state of Wisconsin, and the issue has become the center of
debate. Facing pressure from environmentalists and traditionalists, politicians have been attempting to respond to their blaring outcry. “It’s just a waste of resources at this point,” a self-proclaimed environment-lover said. “You know, some people in the world are starving.” Halloween-traditionalists look down upon the critics, claiming that candy corn is an integral symbol of Halloween. Further, eradication of the candy would go against the “spirit of All Hallows’ Day.” That is, however, only because
“its existence in itself is foul and wicked.” Though both sides have reached the consensus that candy corn is abominable, one of the most controversial topics of discussion at the Oct. 15 democratic debate was whether or not it should be banned in the U.S.. The politicians were generally split on the issue, many were surprised by the response of Democratic candidate Joe Biden. “Candy corn?” Biden said. “Isn’t that the stuff that sits in my mom’s decorative Halloween bowls?”
Reducing it to a mere Halloween frill, Biden singlehandedly questioned the cultural impact of the supposed treat, and candy corn officials were left aghast. “Oh for heaven’s sake!” an official stated in a press release. “Business has gotten so bad that we had to resort to paying stores to carry our product. And for what?! For you to all complain about it?!? Remove any and every reference to candy corn from your Halloween decor until you are ready to be grateful … Don’t bite the hand that feeds you.”
Stubborn, obsessive child insists on being the goddamn blue Power Ranger for third consecutive Halloween By Jordan Simon ALMANAC EDITOR
Last Halloween, as well as the Halloween prior, 7-year-old Gordan Simpson dressed up as the blue Power Ranger for Halloween. This is no surprise given that Simpson is a big Power Rangers fan, obsessive some might say. Simpson owns 19 different Power Rangers action figures, has power ranger posters in his room and even has a power rangers school backpack. In fact, Simpson can even be found from time to time to be fake fighting with his friends as he pretends to be a Power Ranger. It has been reported that Simpson was first introduced to Power Rangers a couple years ago after he saw an episode of
the TV series. He then started binging the Power Rangers TV shows and began to dedicate his life to becoming a Power Rangers superfan. The blue Power Ranger is his favorite. All this being the case, it was a natural decision for Simpson, then age five, to dress up as a Power Ranger for Halloween – not last year but the year before. That said, his decision to repeat the blue Power Ranger costume the following year was more questionable, however still acceptable given the magnitude of Simpson’s affinity for the Power Rangers. Now that we have word of Simpson’s decision to repeat his Power Ranger costume for a third year, however, it is starting to seem as if his costume
choice is less out of dedication to his Power Ranger fandom, but rather out of laziness and/ or a lack of creativity. “Look, I think he’s really cute in his costume, and I don’t see anything wrong with letting a 7-year-old dress up as whatever he wants for Halloween,” said Simpson’s mother. Unfortunately, it is clear that Mrs. Simpson misses the point and is blinded by her own bias toward loving her son. When asked if she considered taking her son to the doctor to be tested for a number of PowerRanger-related medical conditions, Mrs. Simpson declined to comment. In an interview withthe child himself, Simpson merely replied, “go go Power Rangers!”
He then proceeded to do what he called his “Power Ranger” stance. There is clearly little reason to believe Simpson’s Power Ranger obsession will subside any time soon.
PHOTO COURTESY OF STATE FARM / FLICKR
Simpsons’ Power Ranger stance.
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 dailycardinal.com
Thursday, October 31, 2019
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Women’s Soccer
Badgers lock up best record in Big Ten By Rory Lawson STAFF WRITER
After guaranteeing at least a share of the Big Ten regular season title with a 1-0 win over Illinois in their last match, the No. 10 Wisconsin Badgers (9-0-1 Big Ten, 13-2-2 overall) had a chance to clinch outright on Sunday with a draw or win against the Northwestern Wildcats (3-6-2 Big Ten, 5-10-3 overall) in Evanston. Not only did they grab regular season silverware, winning 3-1, but they did so with style. The Badgers were positive from the start as they controlled the match’s tempo early on. Senior forward Dani Rhodes looked to be in on goal in the 11th minute, but Northwestern goalkeeper Mackenzie Wood was quick off her line, making a perfectly timed slide tackle to deny Rhodes an opening goal. Six minutes later, Rhodes fought past a Northwestern defender giving herself another opportunity to beat Macenzie Wood 1-on-1. This time, Rhodes took a clever touch around the goalkeeper and slotted home her 10th goal of the season, making it two years in a row with double-digit goals for Rhodes.
A well-timed header from Reilly Riggs at the back post brought the Wildcats back to level terms with 22 minutes played. With it now 1-1, the Wildcats came to life, inspired by the equalizing goal. In the 39th minute, Northwestern midfielder Lily Gilbertson had a golden chance to take the lead as she found herself alone in the box, but her rushed shot flew out for a goal kick. As time was running out in the first half, it looked as if each side would have to settle for a level scoreline. But then came a moment of pure quality. Badgers junior defender Claire Shea won the ball in the midfield, picked her head up and launched a 40-yard rocket goal-wards. The Northwestern goalkeeper managed to get her fingertips to the ball, but was unable to deny Shea her first career goal for the Badgers as the ball bounced off the crossbar and in, putting the Badgers up 2-0. In the second half, Dani Rhodes was inches away from matching her goal scoring tally from last season (11 goals) with two separate shots, but both hit the left goalpost. The second shot was espe-
cially beautiful, a left-footed curler, seemingly destined for the upper-90, but in the end deflected off the left goalpost. Although the Badgers had a one-goal cushion, they pressed on in attempt to put the game to rest. They found that killer goal in the 75th minute, when a free kick from junior midfielder Lauren Rice deflected off a Wildcat defender. Goalkeeper Mackenzie Wood did well to make a save initially, but the best she could do was parry the ball up into the crossbar. When it came back down, freshman forward Jenna Kiraly was there to push the ball over the line with her stomach. It put the Badgers up 3-1. With the 3 points all but secured and the regular season championship a lock, the Badgers kept their composure until the final buzzer sounded, and then celebrations ensued. The Badgers will finish out the regular season at McClimon Soccer Complex as they host the Ohio State Buckeyes on Wednesday in a rescheduled match, the results of which will determine who the Badgers play in the first round of the Big Ten tournament.
WILL CIOCI/THE DAILY CARDINAL
The Badgers women’s soccer team has been on a tear in 2019, winning the Big Ten regular season title outright this weekend.
Women’s Hockey
Badger women’s hockey carries championship momentum into new season, continue undefeated season in Minnesota By Joe Rickles STAFF WRITER
The Wisconsin Badgers women’s hockey team (3-0-0 WCHA, 10-0-0 overall) took down the Bemidji State Beavers (2-2-0 WCHA, 3-4-1 overall) by a score of 4-1 on Sunday afternoon, completing a weekend sweep. Unlike Saturday’s slow start, the Badgers came out of the gates playing aggressive. Less than five minutes into the game, senior forward Abby Roque swatted a rebound of junior forward Daryl Watts’ shot into the back of the net to give Wisconsin a 1-0 lead. But, Bemidji State did not go away quietly. Their scrappy play challenged the Badgers offense, and the Beavers managed five
shots on goal in the first frame. It was Watts, however, that netted the next goal on a wrister 17 minutes into the period, her second of the game. By the end of the first period, Wisconsin had 14 shots on goal compared to only eight last night. Bemidji State had five. Wisconsin was dominant in posession throughout the period. “We took care of the puck better than we did most of the game yesterday,” said head coach Mark Johnson. “We were able to establish some things, a couple goals in the first period, and at the start of the second, we were really good.” Wisconsin kept the same intensity going during the second period, coming out the the
gates hot with a redirected goal by sophomore forward Sophie Shirley off of a slapshot by sophomore defender Nicole Lamantia to put the Badgers up 3-0. Wisconsin was assessed three minor penalties in the second period but managed to kill all of Bemidji State’s power plays. “We got ourselves in some penalty trouble, so we have to be disciplined and stay off the penalty sheet,” said Johnson. “Your lines and your rhythm and your flow gets taken away from you, and that’s what I don’t like about it, when you’re relying on probably five, six, seven kids to kill penalties.” The ferocity out of breaks continued in the third period with a no-angle goal by junior forward
Caitlin Schneider three and a half minutes into the frame, putting the Badgers up 4-0. As the period continued, the Beavers defense became scrappier and checks were thrown harder, much to the chagrin of the LaBahn arena crowd. The referees, however, let each team play with a type of physicality typical to the WCHA, with both teams racking up fouls in the period. But, later in the third period, the officials had to call more penalties against both teams in an effort to regain control of the contest. This led to a 5-on-3 chance for Wisconsin with about five minutes left; however, they failed to convert on that or any other power play this series.
That may not be a bad thing though, as the Badgers next opponent will prove to be much more of a test. “It’s nice to get a little bit of a push from Bemidji to be able to go into the Gophers’ weekend at full speed,” said Shirley. Paige Beebe eventually scored an unassisted goal for Bemidji State late in the third period, but it was too little too late, and the Badgers won by a final of 4-1. The Badgers look to stay undefeated next week in Minneapolis in a series against the secondranked Minnesota Golden Gophers, in a rivalry game agaist our cousins to the north. They will take on the Gophers Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. and Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
WILL CIOCI/THE DAILY CARDINAL
As the reigning national champions, Wisconsin has faced each teams best effort; however Bucky looks smooth so far, cruising through their early-season opponents.
life & style Spooky landmarks: Haunted ‘houses’ of Madison, Wisconsin 8
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Thursday, October 31, 2019
By Lailee Connell STAFF WRITER
As the leaves start to change and the crisp fall air begins to blow, you might be trying to think of something to fill the urge for a little spookiness during this Halloween season. Well you’re in luck, because there is no better place to get your scream on than Madison, Wisconsin. Madison is a culturally-rich city with a lot of history, no doubt a cause for a few rumors of ghosts and hauntings. There is no better way to truly get in the Halloween spirit than making a visit to some of Madison’s most haunted locations. Welcome to the show The first spooky destination is just right off of Capitol Square on King Street — the Majestic Theatre. This iconic venue, known for its glimmering marquee and numerous performers first opened in 1906. Over the years there have been multiple reports of a ghostly figure of a man roaming the theatre. Many performers claim to hear voices crying out of nowhere wishing them luck and the sensation of their hair being pulled while on stage. Stay for a bite, and a fright Another place to go ghost hunting is the famous Madison restaurant The Great Dane. The current building it now lives in is 140 years
old and was once known as the Fess Hotel. Employees at The Great Dane constantly report phantom phone calls, ghostly figures in the basement and cellars and even have experienced pool balls being moved across the table out of nowhere while closing for the night. Bascom Hill lies here Lastly, take a look at an iconic campus location that we all know and love: Bascom Hill. The landmark of Bascom Hill is known for its iconic steep space of green grass where students often relax. However, few actually know that before it was a part of the UW campus, it actually served as the location of Madison’s first cemetery. In 1922, when building the President Lincoln statue, construction workers dug up the graves of Samuel Warren and William Nelson. To this day it is reported that these two roam around near the statue and Bascom Hill in the early evening. Too scared for the real thing? Of course, there are seasonal haunted houses that pop up every Halloween and give those who prefer make-believe scary stories. For that, try Wisconsin Scaryland, Screamin Acres Haunted Houses or even Science Hall... if you dare. Whether you are a thrill seeker or not, Madison is a perfect place to excite all who dare to explore the hidden secrets and ghostly past of this old city.
dailycardinal.com
GRAPHIC BY ZOE BENDOFF
Want a spooky haunted house experience? Look around Madison, if you dare...
Winter is coming: How to find autumnal bliss during your mid-semester blues By Allie Sprink STAFF WRITER
KALLI ANDERSON/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Whether it’s a national scandal, online fad or a classic movie, popular culture costumes are it!
Be an Eboy for Halloween this year By Elena Cata STAFF WRITER
We have all been there — staring at our closets in hopes that a Halloween costume will magically piece itself together overnight.Sadly, being in college means your mom isn’t going to buy you that $50 Princess Leia costume that comes fully equipped with a lightsaber. Instead, we are forced to innovate and there are plenty of costumes that can be executed on a student budget. Here are three of my favorites and hopefully they inspire your Halloween costume this Oct. 31. Best moms of 2019: Lori Loughlin or Felicity Huffman The college admissions scandal was clearly a hot topic this year so this costume could be a fun conversation starter with anyone. All you need is some USC or Ivy League
apparel, maybe a rowing or athletic jersey of some sort, and a piece of duct tape across your back that reads “Not Guilty.” Eboys, Eboys, Eboys Now, if you aren’t familiar with what an Eboy is, I would suggest downloading Tik Tok immediately. Eboys have emerged on social media as a new type of skater boy but instead of going to skate parks, they make 10-second videos to get the attention of teenage girls. To dress as an Eboy this Halloween all you need is baggy dark clothing, grab a beanie, paint your nails black and wear a single dangle-earring. If you need some inspiration, I highly recommend YouTuber Cody Ko’s “COUPLES CRINGE: eboys” video. Risky Business Alright, it may be incredibly basic, overdone and predictable, but I
strongly believe that this costume will never be too played out. The simplicity of this costume is ideal for a last-minute party (or if you want that $4 burrito at Chipotle) and couldn’t be easier to create. All you need is an oversized white button down, some high socks, boxers or spandex shorts and black sunglasses to top it all off. Cheap, efficient and a classic. These three costumes are sure to be a hit without putting a dent in your bank account. Dressing up this Halloween season doesn’t have to be stressful or expensive if you have a DIY spirit and the ability to think outside of the box. Although I long for the days of elementary school when costumes were store-bought and planned weeks in advance, dressing up as an Eboy is definitely the next best thing.
As fall finally gets into full swing and the Memorial Union chairs have been removed from the Terrace, students have to figure out how to relieve stress and have fun with friends before the mounds of snow start building up on the sidewalks. With that being said, here is a list of things to do this fall season to get you out of your mid-semester funk. First, I would recommend seeing a horror movie. Drive to the nearest movie theater with a group of friends and get in the Halloween spirit by watching a spooky movie that makes you want to crawl out of your skin. It is a great way to spend time with your friends, while also finding a way to distract yourself from the even scarier stress of school. Take a break and go off campus. Check out half-priced Tuesdays or student Thursdays where movies cost $5.00-$6.00 at most. Decorate your apartment, house or room! If you want to get into the fall spirit, carve some pumpkins and find fun fall decorations to spice up the look of your room. Looking at the same, plain walls can be boring, so add a touch of your own design. If
you are more in the Halloween spirit, find some spooky things to hang from the ceiling or even from your bed posts! Your living space will for sure become the new fall hangout spot. Lastly, and this might be crazy, but get outdoors. If you are absolutely against these spooky fall activities, then just go outdoors while you still can and before the weather gets too scary. This is one of the most beautiful times of the year on campus and the weather is still enjoyable. It only stays this temperature for a very short time until it starts to snow, so go on a picnic with your friends, carve pumpkins outside, go to a pumpkin patch or go pick apples at an apple orchard. Just find a way to enjoy the weather while it is still going on. By doing some or all of these things throughout the fall, you should secure yourself a relaxed and enjoyable season. It’s hard to get into the spirit when the semester gets into full swing, but doing these small things for yourself will surely help. Winter is right around the corner, so take advantage of the falling leaves and not wearing a parka outside while it’s still possible. With the Wisconsin weather starting to show its true colors, enjoy the fall colors before the snow!