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Wednesday, November 7, 2012
‘The best is yet to come’ T Story by Tyler Nickerson
he optimism and star-power that propelled Barack Obama into office four years ago was immediately met by challenging realities of the time: an economy struggling to regain its footing after the worst recession since the Great Depression and two wars in a volatile Middle East, among other issues. While the economy under the president has grown steadily over the past four years, even he admits progress has been disappointingly slow. But despite continuing adversity and an America that some say has not been so divided since the Civil War, the American people chose once again to believe in Obama’s vision for the country, electing him to serve four more years as president of the United States Tuesday. In his rhetorically soaring acceptance speech, Obama sought to paint his re-election as the beginning of a new chapter of his presidency and the country. “Our economy is recovering, a decade of war is ending, and a long campaign is over,” Obama told thousands of supporters gathered to see him speak in his hometown of Chicago. “For the United States of America, the best is yet to come.” But Obama’s road to re-election was far from easy. Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and the Republican Party ran an impassioned campaign that blamed Obama for the stagnant economy and incremental job growth, offering instead a blueprint for the country designed to spur growth by lowering taxes and regulations on businesses. For 49 percent of the nation, Romney’s message worked. As of 2 a.m. Wednesday, Obama had received 303 electoral votes compared to Romney’s 206, but the popular vote was within only two million votes nationally. In Wisconsin, Obama won 52 percent of the votes and Romney received 46.8 percent. This division is reflective of an electorate that has proved to be seemingly split down the middle between two different visions for the county. This division is apparent in Washington, D.C., where the current federal government has been locked in contentious political gridlock since 2010, when Republicans gained majority control of the U.S. House of Representatives, while Democrats continued to maintain majority in the Senate. Obama sought to move beyond the highly partisan
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Shoaib Altaf/Cardinal file photo (From the 2012 democratic National Convention)
“…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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Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Volume 122, Issue 49
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News Team News Manager Taylor Harvey Campus Editor Sam Cusick College Editor Cheyenne Langkamp City Editor Abby Becker State Editor Tyler Nickerson Enterprise Editor Samy Moskol Associate News Editor Meghan Chua Features Editor Ben Siegel Opinion Editors Nick Fritz • David Ruiz Editorial Board Chair Matt Beaty Arts Editors Jaime Brackeen • Marina Oliver Sports Editors Vince Huth • Matt Masterson Page Two Editors Riley Beggin • Jenna Bushnell Life & Style Editor Maggie DeGroot Photo Editors Shoaib Altaf • Grey Satterfield Abigail Waldo Graphics Editors Angel Lee • Dylan Moriarty Multimedia Editors Eddy Cevilla • Dani Golub Science Editor Matthew Kleist Diversity Editor Aarushi Agni Copy Chiefs Molly Hayman • Haley Henschel Mara Jezior • Dan Sparks Copy Editors Brett Bachman • Mariah Brown Dani Keller • Danielle Smith Mary Sullivan • Rachel Wanat
Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Emily Rosenbaum Advertising Manager Nick Bruno Senior Account Executives Philip Aciman • Jade Likely Account Executives Erin Aubrey • Jordan Laeyendecker Dennis Lee • Hannah Klein Daniel Shanahan • Joy Shin Web Director Eric Harris Public Relations Manager Alexis Vargas Marketing Manager Caitlin Furin Events Manager Andrew Straus Creative Director Claire Silverstein Copywriters Dustin Bui • Bob Sixsmith The Daily Cardinal is a nonprofit organization run by its staff members and elected editors. It receives no funds from the university. Operating revenue is generated from advertising and subscription sales. The Daily Cardinal is published weekdays and distributed at the University of WisconsinMadison and its surrounding community with a circulation of 10,000. Capital Newspapers, Inc. is the Cardinal’s printer. The Daily Cardinal is printed on recycled paper. The Cardinal is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The Daily Cardinal are the sole property of the Cardinal and may not be reproduced without written permission of the editor in chief. The Daily Cardinal accepts advertising representing a wide range of views. This acceptance does not imply agreement with the views expressed. The Cardinal reserves the right to reject advertisements judged offensive based on imagery, wording or both. Complaints: News and editorial complaints should be presented to the editor in chief. Business and advertising complaints should be presented to the business manager. Letters Policy: Letters must be word processed and must include contact information. No anonymous letters will be printed. All letters to the editor will be printed at the discretion of The Daily Cardinal. Letters may be sent to opinion@ dailycardinal.com.
Editorial Board Matt Beaty • Riley Beggin • Alex DiTullio Anna Duffin • Nick Fritz • Scott Girard David Ruiz
Board of Directors Jenny Sereno, President Scott Girard • Alex DiTullio Emily Rosenbaum • John Surdyk Melissa Anderson • Nick Bruno Don Miner • Chris Drosner Jason Stein • Nancy Sandy Tina Zavoral
Abigail waldo/the daily cardinal
Rep. Tammy Baldwin, D-Wis., defeated former Gov. Tommy Thompson Tuesday to become the first openly gay U.S. senator.
Baldwin wins race for U.S. Senate seat barriers she was breaking, but insisted she had other goals in The Daily Cardinal mind when she first announced U.S. Rep. Tammy her candidacy. Baldwin, D-Wis., will become “I didn’t run to make hisWisconsin’s first female senator tory,” Baldwin said. “I ran to and the first openly gay senator make a difference.” in the country’s history after Although the campaign was defeating former Gov. Tommy one of the most negative in hisThompson for the state’s open tory, Baldwin extended an olive U.S. Senate seat Tuesday. branch to Thompson and his Baldwin won 51 percent of the supporters, pledging to work vote compared to Thompson’s 47 with them and serve the interpercent in the U.S. Senate elec- ests of all Wisconsin citizens in tion, setting her to up make the the Senate. jump to the upper chamber fol“Here’s the promise I want to lowing 14 years of representing make to you: I will be a senator Wisconsin’s 2nd Congressional for all of Wisconsin,” Baldwin District. The Associated Press said. “We can only move forward called the race for Baldwin short- if we move forward together.” ly after 11:30 p.m. with 73 percent In his concession speech in of the vote counted. Milwaukee, Thompson Baldwin will replace congratulated Baldwin outgoing U.S. Sen. Herb and President Barack Kohl, D-Wis., who is retirObama on their victories ing at the end of his term and urged his backers to in January after 24 years in get behind their newly the Senate. elected leaders, but to At her election night push them in the right party at Madison’s direction. Mo n o n a Te r r ac e, THOMPSON “We fought the good Baldwin took the stage fight and came up short,” shortly before the official call Thompson said. “That doesn’t was made to claim victory. She mean we should stop fighting the recounted her 14-month jour- good fight. We have to continue ney on the campaign trail and that fight because this country how people all over the state has been so good to all of us.” told her they wanted a candiThe Democrats will retain date who would stand up for control of the U.S. Senate after the middle class. emerging victorious in sev“The people’s voice was eral other key races around heard tonight, Wisconsin,” the country, including those Baldwin said. “Come January, in Virginia, Connecticut, your voice will be heard in the Indiana and Missouri, while United States Senate.” the Republicans will remain the With her election, Baldwin majority party in the U.S. House said she was well aware of the of Representatives.
By Adam Wollner and David Jones
For the record Corrections or clarifications? Call The Daily Cardinal office at 608-262-8000 or send an email to edit@dailycardinal.com.
Compared to the 2008 presidential race, support for President Barack Obama decreased in Tuesday’s election and fewer students in the campus area showed up at the polls to vote Nov. 6. Approximately 70 percent of people voting at campus area polls such as the Memorial Union, Memorial Library and Porchlight, voted in favor of Obama, which is a 9 percent decrease from 2008, when approximately 79 percent of campus-area voters supported Obama. Nineteen percent of campus-area voters supported John McCain in 2008, and 27 percent of student voters supported Republican challenger Mitt Romney this year. Although thousands of students turned out to vote Tuesday, fewer students living in the campus area voted this year than during the 2008 election, according to Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8. Campus turnout for 2012 was approximately 69 percent with 14,816 voters showing up to campus-area polls, while in 2008, campus turnout was approximately 80 percent, according to Resnick. Resnick said calculating how many students voted is not a “perfect science” due to
the number of international students and students voting absentee. But Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, who served as Chief Voting Inspector at Gordon Dining and Event Center, said he thought the voter turnout Tuesday was “strong and robust.” “I thought that there would be an enthusiasm gap from 2008, but again, anecdotally, I was very impressed with the student voter turnout today,” Verveer said. Courtney McDonald, who worked closely with the Madison Student Vote Coalition, said students were not as enthusiastic about voting for a 2012 candidate compared to the 2008 election. “Personally, I thought the campus wasn’t super excited about the election,” McDonald said. The Madison Student Vote Coalition registered over 6,000 people and made over 20,000 voting reminders to students, according to McDonald. “I thought those efforts were successful considering the climate on the campus … and how excited students get,” McDonald said. “There’s only so much you can do.” Capitol Lakes Retirement Center, Ward 53, was unable to provide final voter turnout information as of 2 a.m.
Graphic by dylan moriarty
Republicans take over majority in state Senate; one race too close to call By Jack Casey
© 2012, The Daily Cardinal Media Corporation ISSN 0011-5398
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By Abby Becker
News and Editorial Managing Editor Alex DiTullio
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Campus-area support for Obama lower than in 2008
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On a night the world saw Wisconsin and the rest of the country elect President Barack Obama to a second term, Wisconsin citizens also voted to turn the Wisconsin state Senate over to Republicans, giving the GOP complete control of the Wisconsin state government. The contrast between vot-
ers’ support of Republican state legislators and Democratic national figures stems from Wisconsin’s recent history of political polarization, according to University of WisconsinMadison Political Science Professor David Canon. “The state is not predictable in terms of its politics and is truly a purple state,” Canon said. Democrats had a slim 17-16
lead in the state Senate before the Tuesday elections, but lost one of the 11 seats up for re-election Tuesday night. A second election had not been called by press time. The state Senate race ultimately came down to three contested seats, all of which were previously held by Democrats. State Sen. Dave Hanson, the Democratic incumbent from
the 30th state Senate District representing a portion of the Green Bay area, was the only Democrat from the contested districts to win a seat in the Senate. Republican Tom Tiffany defeated Democrat Susan Sommer in District 12, which covers the Fond du Lac-
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dailycardinal.com
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Political climate engages UW international students By Cheyenne Langkamp The Daily Cardinal
With an increased emphasis on the student vote in recent American political campaigns, international exchange students at the University of WisconsinMadison are becoming increasingly interested in being a part of the American election process. International Student Services, a program which aims to help incoming international students adjust to life in the United States, has hosted multiple events this fall urging international students to become connoisseurs of the American political system while in the country, including a mock election and results viewing party Tuesday night. Approximately 4,000 international students attend UW-Madison each year, according to the Office of the Registrar, and although they are unable to officially vote, many of these students have found themselves swept up in campus’ political climate. Despite being unable to vote, international students become immersed in the American culture of elections while in Madison, according to ISS Program Coordinator Marilee Sushoreba. “They’re [in the United States] but they’re a little bit removed, and [our events] enable them to connect with this dynamic and be a part of an
historic occasion while they’re here,” Sushoreba said. This year’s mock election results showed participating international students overwhelmingly backed the president, with 87 voting for President Barack Obama and 7 for former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Radhika Das, a third-year law student from England, said she voted in the mock election because she became immersed in the election process while living in Madison. “It’s been very active here,” Das said. “I’ve run into people every day telling me to vote, but I always say I wish I could but I can’t.” Das said the mock election was her chance to become involved with American politics and she voted to re-elect President Obama, following the excitement of seeing him on campus earlier this month. “I never thought I’d actually get the chance to see him,” Das said. “In England, he’s such a big figure.” Sushoreba said mock elections and viewing parties are “joyful experiences” for international students and an opportunity for them to participate in American life. “I would imagine that they return to their countries and remember this day for the rest of their lives,” Sushoreba said.
aevyrie roessler/the daily cardinal
UW international exchange students gather in the Red Gym Tuesday to await the results of the 2012 presidential election.
president from page 1 atmosphere in Chicago Tuesday, calling for more bipartisanship so government can get to work
addressing problems the country faces. He did, however, call the “noisy and complicated” political climate a natural product of democracy and a “mark of
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Voters across U.S. cast ballots on referendums Voters across the country arrived at the polls Tuesday to cast their ballot for the next president of the United States, as well as various state offices. But some states also voted on referendums, including the legalization of marijuana and same-sex marriage. Here’s how it breaks down:
Legalization of marijuana
Abigail Waldo/the daily cardinal
State Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, defeated Republican Chad Lee in the 2nd Congressional District election Tuesday.
Pocan beats Lee in Congressional race State Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, will take Democratic U.S. Rep. and newly elected Senator Tammy Baldwin’s seat in Congress after handedly defeating his Republican opponent Chad Lee in the 2nd Congressional District election Tuesday. Pocan will become the district’s second consecutive openly gay representative, earning 67 percent of the vote while Lee secured 33 percent. The Associated Press called the race for Pocan shortly after 9 p.m. Addressing a crowd of Democratic supporters at Baldwin’s election night party at the Monona Terrace, Pocan pledged to uphold the “rich character” of the district, which has been represented by progressive heroes such as Bob La Follette, Robert Kastenmeir and Baldwin. “I know this is a seat where we expect our representatives to work hard for the progresour liberty.” “We may have battled fiercely, but it’s only because we love this country deeply,” he said. But University of Wisconsin-
Graphic by dylan moriarty
sive values and the middle class and lower-income families in Wisconsin and I will do that,” Pocan said. Pocan lamented the partisan gridlock that has plagued Washington in recent years, but said he would work across the aisle without sacrificing his core beliefs. “At the end of the day we have one job—that’s to actually get something done,” Pocan told the audience. “It doesn’t mean you have to compromise your values, but you do have to find compromise.” Pocan said he will make rebuilding the economy his top priority and advocate for tax breaks for the middle class rather than the wealthy. He also said he would fight for a single-payer, Medicarefor-all health-care system and equality for all, regardless of sexual orientation. “We have much to do, and I am up for the fight,” Pocan said. —Adam Wollner Madison Political Science Professor David Canon said breaking the gridlock is still an uphill battle. “I think the Tea Party still has a lot of influence in the House, they’re not going to be in any mood to compromise right now,” Canon said, adding that given Tuesday’s big win for Democrats, who now control the presidency and Senate, Republicans may have to move further left to avoid driving the country off a looming fiscal cliff. As for Obama, a victory means he no longer faces re-election, which Canon said could mean he will try and push for more politically sensitive issues on his agenda, like immigration reform. What four more years under Obama will mean for the country is impossible to predict, but he assured the nation Tuesday he will return to the White House “more determined and inspired than ever.”
Citizens of Colorado and Washington states voted “yes” on referenda to legalize and standardize the distribution, possession and cultivation of marijuana for people over the age of 21. The state of Oregon voted “no” on a referendum to allow commercial distribution and production of marijuana to adult citizens in stores with state permits, ban restrictions on hemp, and allow unlicensed use of marijuana.
Legalization of medical marijuana
The state of Massachusetts voted “yes” to legalize marijuana use for medicinal purposes. Citizens of Montana voted to continue a restrictive medical marijuana law enacted in 2011. Arkansas citizens voted “against” the use of marijuana for medicinal purposes.
Same-sex marriage
Maine citizens voted “yes” on a referendum to repeal a previously instituted law prohibiting same-sex marriage. The state now recognizes same-sex marriage as legal, and can distribute marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Maryland citizens voted “for” approval of a new law allowing same-sex couples to marry. The state of Washington approved a referendum to support and uphold a new state law legalizing same-sex marriage. At press time, a majority of Minnesota citizens voted “no” on a constitutional ban on homosexual marriage, with 89.7 percent of precincts reporting.
senate from page 2 Oshkosh area. The race between Republican Rick Gudex and Democratic incumbent Jessica King for the openseat in the 18th District had not been called by press time. At the time of printing, Tiffany held a 590-vote lead. Republican control of the state Senate will give Gov. Scott Walker the chance to pass legislation to pursue a Republicancentered agenda according to Canon. However, Canon said Walker and the legislature would not introduce any large-scale or controversial legislation. “I don’t expect any huge changes in policy, more just tweaking things [the Republicans] have already done,” Canon said. “They might have to come back to [Act 10] again to have some tweaks to the collective bargaining bill.” The largest move the Republicans might make, according to Canon, would be to reintroduce legislation that would allow mining in northern Wisconsin, which failed to pass the state Senate last year.
arts Don’t turn your back on ambient music 4
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Wednesday, November 7, 2012
By Andy Holsteen The Daily cardinal
In the 1970s, a man named Brian Eno surfaced on the music scene with radical new ideas on how to write and listen to music. Over a long and illustrious career, Eno has produced and inspired some of the world’s top musical talent— David Bowie, Coldplay, The Talking Heads—and the list is undeniably impressive. Eno was one of the founders of ambient music. Instead of adhering to the conventional rules of songwriting, ambient music is best known for its ethereal sound samples, incorporation of synthesizers and other technology, and compositions that try to create an environment, not just a song. While Eno himself is a titan in the music industry, largely because of his production skills, ambience still struggles to find a steady audience. Ambient music has gone through some major changes since the ‘70s, and some artists have gained a substantial following. However, the genre is still misunderstood (for lack of a better term) by most people. The word ambient itself means to be of the environment or surrounding area, which some might take as a bad thing when thinking of music—it isn’t direct. It’s rare to find a lyrical melody backed by consonant harmoniza-
tion and common rhythm (the triumvirate of most modern music) in an ambient tune, which is unfortunately an automatic turnoff for a lot of people. For whatever reason, many only listen to music with singing. This throws a good portion of the ambient catalogue out the window. Not only does a lot of ambient music lack lyrics, it is sometimes void of a melody altogether. Counterpoint theory explains the importance of building melodies into music. Ambient artists often ignore this.
Ambient music can take your emotions for an incredible ride if you allow.
A common way of creating ambience is by gradually layering tones and incorporating volume swells. This forces listeners to feel the life of a composition. One doesn’t just listen to ambience like any other type of music; you become a part of the song, which will often begin and end completely differently. Ambience is a voyage—even allegorically, in a way. Another thing that might turn people away from ambi-
ent music is the fact it’s hard to identify. In 2010, I saw the Chicago Symphony Orchestra perform John Luther Adams’ composition “Dark Waves.” Adams was actually at the concert, so I decided to go talk to him during intermission. The piece, “Dark Waves,” was very ambient, in my eyes. The orchestra fluidly transitioned between barely-changing chords in a constantly evolving time signature. However, when I asked Adams about when he became inspired to start writing ambient music, he sort of gave me a funny look. Adams said that he didn’t feel “Dark Waves” was ambient (a statement I still consider a defense against being labeled as someone who writes “background music”). Maybe Adams got a bit defensive with me, or maybe he really didn’t see himself as an ambient composer. With so many sub-genres that play off ambience somehow, we could both technically be right. Even groups that rely heavily on melody, such as current post-rockers Explosions in the Sky and This Will Destroy You…, incorporate ambience into their music. In fact, ambience is one of the best ways to draw added attention to melodies later on. A lot of people are bored by
ambient music. I have to argue that this is because they aren’t listening to it with the right mindset. So how does one listen to ambience? It’s actually quite simple. Listening to ambience is almost meditative. I would describe ambient music as trying to create an experience more than tell a story—it’s living a moment, not jarring someone’s memory. The music comes in through the ears and makes you feel heavy and lost. Then it wanders up your spine. You get goosebumps, but still somehow feel warm inside. Ambient music can take your emotions for an incredible ride if you allow. Don’t be afraid to dip your feet into ambient music for the first time. There are plenty of artists that intersperse ambience within their music without going overboard. Some of my personal favorites are Philip Glass, Radiohead’s “Kid A,” Boards of Canada and Robert Fripp. A lot of their most emotionally moving music incorporates ambience. If you want to jump into something a bit more intense, Godspeed You! Black Emperor and Autechre both deliver. While ambient music is a 20th century innovation, its implications are timeless. Ambient artists capture life in ways nobody else does by ema-
nating feelings, emotions, and a sense of experience through their music.
Andy’s Ambient Artists 1. Brian Eno 2. Aphex Twin 3. Sigur Rós 4. Boards of Canada 5. Autechre 6. This Will Destroy You… 7. Philip Glass 8. Robert Fripp 9. Stars of the Lid 10. Explosions in the Sky
Making a first impression through a carefully crafted title Sean Reichard your raison d’être
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rose by any other name would smell as sweet, but would a book by any other name read as well? Could you imagine “The Great Gatsby” retaining its charms if it were named “Trimalchio” or “Under the Red, White and Blue?” Fitzgerald could’ve. He wanted to call it one of those two, or maybe even “GoldHatted Gatsby” or “The HighBouncing Lover.” I don’t think there’s anything else “The Great Gatsby” could’ve been called. This isn’t even a question of being accustomed to the title as it is; “The Great Gatsby” just works for the book. It works before, during and after you read it. And even if you never read “The Great Gatsby” the title is appealing. It’s certainly easier to bandy around than “The HighBouncing Lover.” The title of a book, ideally, contributes to your impression of it. A title should also tell you something of the book in question, or the story, or the poem and so on and so forth. But here we’ll stick to books. There are an infinite number of ways to title a book, but there are a few recurrent, potent ways that you find spread out over the continuity of world literature. One is the Character Title. Examples of this abound—it
Imagine this iconic cover emblazoned with alternate title “The High-Bounding Lover.” Would its impact or reputation change? may well be the most popular titling scheme, as found in “David Copperfield,” “Emma,” “Frankenstein,” “Moby-Dick,” “Roderick Hudson,” “Silas Marner,” “Robinson Crusoe.” Bland though the titling may seem, it more often than not fits since the characters therein are meant to occupy center stage in the reader’s mind. Even Moby-Dick, who just floats around for most of the book until (literally) upstaging everyone
at the very end. Another strain building on this is the Character + Objective Title. Something along the lines of “The Rise of Silas Lapham,” “Portnoy’s Complaint,” “The Life and Opinions of Tristram Shandy, Gentleman” and more recently, “The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.” These titles take a character and place him/ her on some arc or give him/her an objective. This gives you (the
reader) an idea of what the book is about, however vague. Moving away from Character titles, you start moving closer toward abstract titles—names that don’t correspond with individual characters or plot but harkens towards ideas or concepts explored between the pages. The most popular manifestation of this, I think, is the Allusion Title. Books like “The Sound and the Fury,” “Absalom! Absalom!” “All The King’s Men,” “Things Fall Apart,” “The Sun Also Rises,” “For Whom The Bell Tolls,” “No Country for Old Men,” “Tender is The Night” and the like have their titles taken from other works. In part, the allusion is meant both to link a work into the body of literature as a whole, but it’s also meant to add significance to the contents of the book. A good writerly joke: There was a writer who had just finished his first novel, but couldn’t think of a good title so he reached for his copy of The Bible and turned to a page at random for inspiration. The listings go on, the categories increasingly turn to subsets, and as we proceed it all starts fracturing into increasingly smaller divisions. And lord knows it’s all for naught if I start boring you with minutiae. The core of this argument is the interplay between titles and all the words and thoughts that dwell behind that front. The importance of a good title—or at least a memorable one—for a book is perhaps the chief concern of the author besides actually writing the book.
For one thing, the title is an approximation, to an extent, of its contents. But more importantly, it’s the first and most direct connection to the writer’s audience. The title is the introduction, the first impression. Even if you have no idea what a book is going to be about, you have the title bouncing around your mind, spindles materializing into a web of thoughts. The title is the binding thread. Think of this as analogous to naming your children. You’re in the hospital, and all of a sudden you’ve got this baby plopped in your lap. This baby’s got to have a name. There’s no getting around that. But how do you begin? You have to be very careful with this. You can’t just name your baby “Maximillian” or “Leicester” or “Persephone;” monocles aren’t projected to come back into season for, well, ever. And don’t be the guy/girl to name your baby “Moonwhistle” or “Alfalfa Curls.” The only caveat to this is a child can change his/her name to reflect the contents of their personality. Little Moonwhistle Smith can run away from home and rename herself Martha or Alexis or something. A book doesn’t have that luxury. So to any authors out there struggling for a title: good luck. Choose carefully. That book’s going to go on without you. Did your parents consider Moonwhistle before deciding on your actual name? How important are names in defining literary works? Talk to Sean at sreichard@wisc.edu.
science
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Wednesday, November 7, 2012
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Collaborative study aims to decode high STEM dropout rate By Kristen Andersen the daily cardinal
photo courtesy CIMSS
A satellite image from Oct. 27 showing the low pressure system (circled in red) as it moves down from Alaska. The disturbance would eventually pull Sandy (labeled) back towards the east coast.
Satellite imagery helps forecast path of Sandy By Matthew Kleist the daily cardinal
Thanks to satellite imagery done in part by researchers at the University of WisconsinMadison through the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies, people along the mid-Atlantic coast were prepared for the worst when Superstorm Sandy made landfall Oct. 29. “I think this storm was very much a success story,” CIMSS research specialist Derrick Herndon said. “If this storm had hit 30 [to] 40 years ago or longer, that 13-foot storm surge that came into Long Island … wouldn’t have been prepared for. They wouldn’t have known it was coming.” Herndon is right at the center of UW-Madison’s effort to provide satellite imagery to agencies such as the National Hurricane Center so they can properly forecast both the path and intensity of storms. Herndon and other researchers at CIMSS look at the satellite imagery of storms in the tropics and attempt to use that data to analyze the features of the storm and predict its wind speeds, structure and size along with other systems that may affect it. “From the satellite data, we can extract all this information … and that was so key for Sandy,” Herndon added. The first indication Sandy was developing into a hurricane came on Oct. 19, according to Herndon. Prior to this point, Sandy was being tracked, but the then-tropical wave had not shown much life as it sat in the Caribbean. However, the storm became more organized, developing areas of severe thunderstorms. Herndon explains this organization was just the thing that researchers look for. “When we start to see this kind of organization in the satellite imagery, that’s an indication the storm is becoming better organized,” Herndon said. “That’s when we started really taking notice of Sandy.” However, there was still a lot of uncertainty at this point as to where the storm was headed and if
it would make landfall in the United States. That is where the computer models, which relied on the data Herndon and others analyzed, came in. The data collected from the satellite imagery are fed into numerous models used to forecast storms, and each of these models use different physics and have their own way of using the data from the satellites. In the early stages of hurricane forecasting, these models often do not agree completely so forecasters generally take a consensus of the various models, according to Herndon. “The tighter the consensus is, the more confidence we have,” Herndon said. Sandy posed a sort of dilemma for the analysts and forecasters. As the hurricane moved over Jamaica and Cuba out into the Atlantic Ocean, some models were saying the storm would continue into the ocean towards Spain while others were saying it would curve back towards the East Coast. Ultimately, Sandy did turn back towards the United States, and Herndon was able to point to the exact cause of the storm’s path. “The system that caused Sandy to turn back towards the Northeast United States was a disturbance in the upper atmosphere off the coast of Alaska,” Herndon said.
About five days prior to Sandy making landfall, a low pressure system in the Gulf of Alaska began to make its way down into the continental United States, where it intensified in the upper atmosphere and pulled Sandy back towards the coast. If it was not for satellite imagery, the existence of this disturbance would not have been taken into account or even known. However, the low pressure system was discovered and the models were able to predict its effect on Sandy. “You’ve heard of the chaos theory … that’s not far from the truth,” Herndon said. “These very smallscale features in the atmosphere can … have a tremendous impact on the … outcome of the models.” “The models nailed it about five days out,” he added. Because of the work Herndon and others did in analyzing satellite imagery and data to accurately predict the path and intensity of Superstorm Sandy, warnings were properly issued and people were able to prepare for the worst case scenario and evacuate. Herndon added, “I personally take some solace in knowing that if we could help to improve the forecast, then what we can do is get as many people away from harm’s way as possible.”
A recent report from the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology projects a shortfall of one million college graduates in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) over the next decade. Approximately five to six of every 10 students that begin in a STEM major will switch majors to a non-STEM field before graduation. A team of researchers from the Wisconsin Center for Education Research (WCER) and University of ColoradoBoulder are undertaking a study to examine the reasons why students are switching out of STEM majors at such a high rate. This new study, “Talking About Leaving Revisited,” will re-examine the findings of a previous study performed 15 years ago. The original study, “Talking About Leaving: Why Undergraduates Leave the Sciences,” was led by Elaine Seymour at UC-Boulder. Seymour looked at why so many undergraduate students, even those talented in math and science, began in the STEM majors, only to later leave those majors. The original study interviewed over 400 undergraduate students broken into two groups: the “switchers” who were juniors who had switched majors, and the seniors who were the “non-switchers” and stayed in their STEM major. It was a common assumption that these students dropped out the STEM majors because they could not handle the material. However, the study found that the primary reason was related to poor teaching. The findings had a major impact in science education, and brought about many changes to the methodology of teaching undergraduate level science courses. Despite the revelations of the original study and 15 years of advancements in undergraduate STEM education, the
rate of students leaving STEM majors remains high. In the new study, Mark Connolly, Chris Pfund and Joe Ferrare at WCER will join researchers at UC-Boulder, including Seymour, to examine why this dropout rate persists. “The study isn’t about the number of STEM majors, it’s really about the people who start and are discouraged and decide to leave,” Connolly, a principle investigator of the study, said. “Why do we still have five to six out of every 10 students starting there and then leaving?” In contrast to the original study, this study will focus primarily on freshmen and sophomores in the foundational courses for the STEM majors, like calculus and organic chemistry. The study will combine information from faculty interviews, course observation and student interviews to determine what students are really getting out of this fundamental coursework. The study will also take into account factors outside the classroom, such as involvement in science-related extracurricular activities and research experiences. Involvement in science outside of the classroom can provide a more meaningful experience that helps students connect beyond lectures and may be influential in the decision to stay in a major. “We are hoping to extend the study such that we see what those freshmen and sophomores actually do,” Connolly said. “Then we can make the connection between what their experiences were like and maybe use a predictive model to guess which ones will or wouldn’t switch and then compare with actual results.” Once complete, the results of this study will be published in a book that will include recommendations for improving STEM education and help more students graduate with the STEM degrees needed for in-demand jobs.
Ask Mr. Scientist: feeling colder after chewing gum Dear Mr. Scientist, How come it feels so much colder when I drink water after chewing mint gum? —Kyle B. There is an ion channel (a protein that regulates the movements of ions across a cell membrane) called TRPM8 that helps you feel cold. When the temperature drops, TRPM8 opens up and allows sodium and calcium ions to enter the cell. As these ions enter, the voltage changes within the cell, which triggers a signal to your brain. Your brain interprets this signal as a cold
photo courtesy National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
This image shows the forecasted paths of Sandy on Oct. 25 by the U.S. model run by NOAA four days prior to making landfall.
sensation. The menthol that is found in mint gum will also cause TRPM8 to open up as if the temperature has lowered, even though there is no change in temperature. Drinking cold water will cause TRPM8 to open because the water is cold, but the menthol will also cause TRPM8 to open so you get a double douse of the cold signal being sent to your brain.
Ask Mr. Scientist is written by Michael Leitch. If you have a burning science question you want him to answer, tweet @DC_Science or email it to science@dailycardinal.com.
opinion Natural-Born Citizen Clause outdated 6
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Wednesday, November 7, 2012
mitch taylor opinion columnist
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onald Trump’s hair and the big orange person it sits on top of were on television again. As many of us know, Trump’s hair has been conducting investigations on President Barack Obama’s past in an effort to prove he was not born in America. The wispy blond strands made news two weeks ago when the person underneath them announced he would write a check for $5 million to a charity of Obama’s choice if the president released his college records and passport paperwork. I imagine the president will choose not to dignify this message with a response. Sometimes the best way to get a child to stop crying is to ignore him. The “birther” conspiracy theory has been good for a lot of chuckles and, other than distracting us from real issues, has been pretty harm-
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less. Those that choose to can waste their time and money hunting snipes while the rest of us focus on things that are real. However, I think this is an issue that shouldn’t even exist. The birther movement is based on the Natural-Born Citizen Clause of Article Two of the U.S. Constitution which states that no person who is not a natural-born citizen of the United States can be president. I believe this clause should be removed from the Constitution. By the time my writing is printed, it has been read and quite often censored by about four other people. This is because outside influence can be very beneficial. Without my editors, my work would not be the wonderful and inspiring perfection that it is, and it would certainly be much more offensive. The Natural-Born Citizen Clause of the Constitution is meant to avoid such input on American politics. The founding fathers wanted to avoid foreign influence. This is
The worst part of the NaturalBorn Citizen Clause is that it limits the pool of eligible presidents, and it’s not like we have a surplus of excellent candidates. We can’t afford to be picky. For example, the runner-up for the Republican nomination this election was Rick Santorum. Rick. Santorum. The guy that thinks condoms increase the rates of unwanted pregnancy. The guy that thinks gay couples shouldn’t be allowed to even have sex. The guy that doesn’t want us all to go to college. Rick underSantorum, with his big standable, as we dumb sweater vests had just fought a and his big dumb war against it. face and his big Today, dumb politics. graphic by Dylan Moriarty howThat guy got the ever, America is strong enough to silver medal in the sport of being a handle some and would probably good Republican candidate. Ugh. be better off for it. I apologize. I have nothing
against sweater vests. My point is, as I said, we’re not exactly eyeballdeep in really good candidates. If the best person for the job happens to have been born in another country, he or she should be able to be president, especially considering how hard it would be for a nonnative to be elected. As untrusting and ethnocentric as Americans can be, any foreign-born candidate that could win the presidency would have to be a very good one. This isn’t really an issue that’s being talked about, so we can definitely expect to see more Rick Santorums in the future and there’s no doubt we haven’t seen the last of Donald Trump’s hair. I also don’t believe this issue is entirely urgent, as it will most likely be a long time before any non-native candidate comes close to the presidency. However, I do think this is an issue that should be addressed in the future as it limits the potential of the presidency and goes against the American values of equality and inclusivity. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
Gossip, expectations can limit our interactions and growth noah phillips opinion columnist
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his morning, as I was making my usual breakfast fare of bean-mush and egg, one of my housemates came in to make her usual eggs and oatmeal. We talked, as housemates will, about our other housemates. Onions frying, she told me that the night before she had heard the names of her and her boyfriend float into her room from the common-space. She was being gossiped about! It had taken her by surprise, and made her wonder: Did our housemates often talk about her behind her back? I said I supposed our housemates
talked about everybody. The problem with gossip isn’t that it causes furtive whispers and sneaky glances, per se. It wouldn’t cause any harm to be talked about, if talking was all it was. If spreading a rumor was nothing but sharing information, gossip would be totally innocuous. The danger of gossip comes from our human tendency to build stories, to create fictions which envelop the person we’re gossiping about. Our brains are really good at constructing wholes out of parts. When talking about how Ananda is a slob, we’re expert at recalling every interaction and impression we’ve had of Ananda, picking out the moments that reinforce our notion of her as a slob and discarding everything else. Gossip, like an enzyme, breaks down the shards of the Ananda we know and re-synthesizes her
into the shape of our notions. In so doing we obscure other legitimate pieces of evidence, rewriting those experiences with new subtexts. We distort the actual person and flatten them into a pancake. We mentally redraw them, as devoid of nuance as a caricature is of dignity. This still doesn’t harm them. What harms them is that when you interact with that person afterward, you’ll treat them as your internal narrative instructs you to. You have blinded yourself to their true identity. You have robbed them of their ability to surprise you; whatever they do only reinforces your notions, your caricature. That is the harm of gossip. These distortions may be inevitable, they certainly are a natural part of the way humans process information and of course it is not possible to really know a person.
Our human tendency to narrativize can also affect us internally. I have decisions to make. I have to decide whether or not to renew my lease; I have to decide if I’m studying abroad or dropping out, or transferring to MATC, or sticking through another few years at UW. But all I’m really choosing between are internally fabricated outcomes. Noah’s dropping-out experience and studying-abroad experience are both products of my brain’s capacity to build fictional narratives, this time not about my housemates but about myself and my future. The problem is, having never lived these possibilities, the illusions are all I have to choose from. Understanding that every road before you is nothing but your own mind is paralyzing. In a column a few weeks ago about economic democracy, I mentioned a man named Bill
Ayers. This man, labeled a “murdering terrorist” in a comment on the online posting of the column, was and is much more than that. When we simplify people and their actions to such binary polemics we can never learn from them and often they are worth learning from. Bill Ayers, when discussing ethics and social justice, once said “we need to figure out how to become the people we have been waiting for.” In other words, our fabricated ideals—the imaginary containers of values and complexes we internally create and maintain—can serve us. Instead of flattening our friends with our unreasonable expectations, instead of projecting our idealized imaginings onto others, we should sift through these constructed identities for what we want to see in ourselves. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
The election is finally fading away, and with it goes challenging our beliefs evan favill pep talk
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hether my guy won or lost will be decided by the time anyone but the editors read this. But as I am writing this, the decision of who will become president is still very much in limbo. It’s exciting, invigorating and just a tad bit terrifying to contemplate that this year’s election is a bit more up-in-the-air than any in my recent memory. Everywhere I look, one person says that Obama’s got the election in the bag, while another is saying that Romney’s presidency is inevitable. By now, most people are bemoaning the length of election season, saying they are tired of the talk of politics and are glad the election’s going to be over in less than 24 hours. To this, I say that I’m a bit disappointed that it’s finally over. Granted, I generally avoid TV that doesn’t come from a com-
puter screen, sparing myself from the relentless onslaught of political attack ads that wear most people down. Mostly, my exposure to this election has been through the internet, news publications and my own eyes. I’ve seen or heard nearly every issue related to the presidency discussed in agonizing detail several dozen times over. Gaffes, goofs and political pandering have been plastered in large lettering across social media and news sites everywhere, and I must say that, frankly, it’s intoxicating. Maybe I should feel guilty for this, but I enjoy seeing people argue over things like politics and religion. It can destroy friendships, sure, but it lets me see how they think
and why they believe what they do. More importantly, it makes me think, too. I like periodically challenging my beliefs and while this happens gradually over time, election season takes this, condenses it into a few short months, and sticks an intravenous drip into your brain. There are countless opportunities to consider and reconsider your views on taxes, healthcare, abortion, marriage equality (I apologize to those of you who have developed nervous twitches in response to hearing these topics mentioned), et cetera. Facebook has been a proverbial gold mine for this. I find myself straying into the comments section of news websites for a fix on the
off chance my friends aren’t being especially productive with their vitriol and rhetoric. Often, I am astounded by how closed-minded people can be (admittedly on both sides of the spectrum), but these people are the ones who will benefit most from arguing. Ordinarily, they keep to their respective spheres of ignorance, whether that is Fox News or MSNBC or whatever other ridiculously biased sources they care to frequent. However, once election season comes, they are forced into confrontation with other people who don’t share their points of view. However small the steps taken in their minds, they are forced to at least
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think about what they believe and why. No matter how obstinate they may seem, somewhere deep down there are wheels turning and forcing them to ask themselves “why?” It’s happened to me more than once, even causing some major shifts in my own worldview, and I owe quite a bit of it to arguments I’ve had or seen play out. This contest between Obama and Romney is no exception. So please, next time you see an argument on the internet or in real life, see where it goes. Maybe put your own opinion out there. Ultimately, it can change people’s lives, not least of all your own. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com. 4 Bedroom House for Rent – August 1117 Mound Street Off Street Parking Call 606-219-5893
comics
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Today’s Sudoku
Not watching the election last night
Evil Bird
Somewhat lopsided... In the 1984 election, Ronald Reagan won with 525 electoral votes. Wednesday, November 7, 2012 • 7
By Caitlin Kirihara kirihara@wisc.edu
© Puzzles by Pappocom
Eatin’ Cake
By Dylan Moriarty www.EatinCake.com
Solution, tips and computer program available at www.sudoku.com.
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.
Caved In
By Nick Kryshak nkryshak@wisc.edu
Today’s Crossword Puzzle
Turtles Classic
Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com
FOUR MORE CROSSWORDS ACROSS 1 Facial outbreak 5 They have parental instincts 9 Balsa vessels, e.g. 14 Arabian craft 15 Leave unsaid 16 Poet T.S. 17 Tiny insect 18 Popular PBS series 19 Miraculous fare 20 Pal, to Pierre 21 Busybody 23 Drink of the gods 25 Edge 26 Organ with a drum inside 27 Wedding gown part 30 Man the oars 33 Old French money 35 Bigger than big 36 Reader’s Digest co-founder Wallace 37 What a sore winner will do 40 Noted first name in jazz 41 In short order 42 In-group lingo 43 Player’s peg 44 Lilliputian 45 Large tub
6 Track record? 4 47 Seed on hamburger buns 50 Reporter’s asset 56 Charged atom 57 Prove beneficial 58 Top quality 59 Chunk or clunk 60 Ballroom dance 61 Walked over 62 Item for a Mexican pot? 63 From days of yore 64 Part of a military command 65 Yemeni seaport DOWN 1 Madison Avenue male, say 2 Doorbell sound, perhaps 3 Conspicuous 4 Member of the flock 5 Fund contributor 6 John of “Roots” 7 Low-class joint 8 Collar insert 9 Stay put 10 Bank vault installation 11 Stool pigeon 12 Voice-mail cue 13 Night light 21 Dealer’s foe, for
short 2 Butts in 2 24 Country crooner Tucker 27 Pang 28 Long, winding sentence 29 Severe suffering 30 Raccoon type 31 Mixed bag 32 Electricity measurement 33 Ridge on a guitar’s fingerboard 34 “Golden” or “ground” follower 36 Turkish money 38 Be of ___ (aid) 39 A-frame overhangs 44 Fabric protection brand 46 Light brown 47 Ingrid Bergman, e.g. 48 Bullwinkle J. ___ 49 Not sideways 50 Grp. headquartered in Brussels 51 Like a human face 52 Take the edge off? 53 Parking lot posting 54 Writer / director Ephron 55 “... lender be” 59 IRS go-between
First in Twenty
graphics@dailycardinal.com
By Angel Lee alee23@wisc.edu
Classic
By Melanie Shibley shibley@wisc.edu
Sports
wednesday november 7, 2012 DailyCardinal.com
Men’s Soccer
Football
Wisconsin draws No. 3 Michigan in opener Badgers aim for NCAA tournament berth with late-season hot streak By Jonah Beleckis the daily cardinal
The Wisconsin men’s soccer team (1-3-2 Big Ten, 6-7-5 overall) will play its first postseason game as the No. 6 seed against No. 3 Michigan (3-2-1, 8-8-1) in the opening round of the Big Ten tournament Wednesday. The Badgers already bested the Wolverines 2-1 at home earlier this season. “I’m sure Michigan is looking for a little revenge factor after we beat them a few weeks ago,” head coach John Trask said. “Every team in the tournament is a very good team. I don’t think Michigan will underestimate us as a six seed. They have some very talented individuals; we will have to play great tomorrow in order to give ourselves a chance.” Michigan has won three straight games and four out of its last five. “They are a hot team at the moment,” senior captain and defender Kyle McCrudden said. “But at this point in the season all Big Ten teams are playing well. Everyone has the same drive to get into the NCAA tournament. The intensity is retched up 10 times, so we really have to bring our game.” While Wisconsin will rely on the strength of its veteran players, some freshman at key positions could have an impact. “Some young guys have gotten some really good playing time,” Trask said. “However, we will rely on a lot of juniors and seniors. They will be the ones that lead us, the ones that have been through this before.” Freshman goalkeeper Chase Rau won his second consecutive and third overall Big Ten defensive player of the week Monday. He became the first Badger to win the award three times in one season, and he is
coming off a six-save shutout against Ohio State. Rau has not given up a goal in his last 261 minutes played. “I feel confident that whatever Michigan throws at us, the defense and I will be able to handle it,” Rau said. “We will play like we have been playing;—with a lot of composure. Not giving up goals doesn’t come from just me, it comes from the entire defensive unit, the midfield and the offense. “Our team matches up really well against a lot of teams in the Big Ten,” Rau said. “It’s up for grabs. It came down to the last game to determine who took positions one through seven in the bracket.” The top five teams in the Big Ten finished within two points of each other. Freshman midfielder Drew Conner has two goals and one assist in the 17 games he has started this year. “This first year was about adjusting to the college style of play for me,” Conner said. “Things are a lot faster, players are a lot stronger. Sometimes in club or academy when you score an early goal, the other team shuts down. In college, teams just never stop fighting. Every game is a battle.” Wisconsin will need to win the Big Ten tournament in order to advance into the NCAA tournament. “The young players we have this season are doing well for us and are maturing,” said McCrudden. “I think they will do great. That’s the thing with the Big Ten tournament, once you get in for a few minutes, you are ready to go. As my last year I’m proud of what we have done, but hopefully we can keep playing.” The game will start at 3:30 p.m. in Evanston, Ill.
grey satterfield/the daily cardinal
Senior running back Montee Ball has elevated his game during the November of each of the past two seasons. This November, Wisconsin will chase a berth in the conference championship game.
Ball set for big month By Ryan Hill the daily cardinal
If senior running back Montee Ball gets even remotely close to replicating the numbers this month he put up the past two Novembers, the Badgers’ remaining opponents better brace themselves. Ball has averaged 176.8 yards per game (7.1 yards per carry) and scored 25 touchdowns (3.1 per game) in eight November games over the last two seasons. If there was anybody that doesn’t find those statistics overwhelming, it would have to be Badgers’ running backs coach Thomas Hammock. Hammock ran for over 1,000 yards for Northern Illinois in the 2000 and 2001 seasons and ranks ninth on the Huskies’ all-time rushing list, so he clearly knows a little bit about the demanding schedule running backs adhere to. However, the late surge that Ball has become accustomed to is expected by Hammock. “Normally the good backs get stronger as the year goes along,” he said. Hammock said Ball’s effort outside of games is what allows him to stay strong at a point in the season where the wear-and-tear may start
to come into play for most backs, making Ball’s November stats less breathtaking to Hammock. “I just think his X-factor is the way he practices and the way he prepares allows him to be ready to the highest level,” Hammock said. But apparently it took a while for Ball to recognize this distinctive trait of gaining momentum as the season progresses. “I think since I know that now, I’m capable of just enduring it,” Ball said. The Badgers’ upcoming opponents might want to steady themselves even more, considering the NCAA touchdown record that Ball is closing in on. He needs just five more to break Miami Ohio running back Travis Prentice’s 78 career touchdowns, and admits that it’s on his mind day-in and day-out, but he never talks about it with Hammock. “I think about [the record] maybe twice a day,” Ball joked. “It’s in my head, let me say that. I’m really looking forward to breaking it and hopefully I do.” Ball’s numbers in November might be slightly skewed considering the front-heavy schedules of the last two Big Ten seasons for the Badgers. They played Purdue, Minnesota, Illinois and
Penn State to close out the Big Ten schedule last year while playing Purdue, Indiana, Michigan and Northwestern to finish the season in 2010. The Badgers close out the season this year with Indiana on Saturday, followed by a home game against Ohio State and a trip to Penn State. Ball has a golden opportunity to start the strong November trend early again this year. The Hoosiers rank No. 107 in the nation against the run, allowing over 208 yards per game on the ground while surrendering 17 rushing touchdowns this season. Ball also said Tuesday that the team got a clue of who would start at quarterback Saturday. “We have an idea,” he said, “but as of right now we’re not going to tell anybody because they’re both really competing.” But with a Leaders Division title still up for grabs (yet attainable after a win Saturday), Ball and the rest of the Badgers appear to be in the right mindset despite the uncertainty at quarterback. “As players and competitors, we know that to make it to the championship games you have to win out in November,” Ball said. “So we make sure we preach that.”
College hoops regular season underrated vince huth huth the truth
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shoaib altaf/the daily cardinal
Senior defender Kyle McCrudden will lead Wisconsin in the Big Ten tournament, an event crucial to the Badgers’ postseason hopes.
etween Midnight Madness, the preseason poll and the first official practice, one could argue a few different dates signify the start of the college hoops season. However, this Friday the actual games begin. One hundred and twenty-five games are scheduled, including a Michigan State-Connecticut showdown in Germany and a Kentucky-Maryland clash at JayZ’s new Brooklyn Barclay’s Center. Those headliners will tip off sometime Friday evening. However, the season will officially start at 12 a.m. when Maryland-Eastern Shore and
Hawaii face off in the always-riveting Outrigger Hotels Rainbow Classic. I definitely don’t have plans to take a two-hour catnap Thursday night around 9 p.m., wake up at 11:30 p.m., buy Chipotle and watch that midnight tip. Excited as I am that college basketball is here, even I can’t pretend Friday’s games will have much of an impact on the season (if any at all). Nonetheless, please allow me to try to convince you why you should tune in tomorrow and stay engaged until March Madness. We’re just a couple weeks away from the early-season tournaments. These bracket-style events have proved in recent years to do more than tease us with the March Madness feel. Each of the last four national champions has won some kind of early-season tournament or invitational. Yeah, I know Kentucky’s
Hall of Fame Tip-Off tournament championship last season comprised victories over lowly Penn State and Old Dominion. But it strengthens my point, so we’re just going to roll with it. As much as I look forward to the early-season tournaments, however, I don’t think there’s a more intriguing storyline this season than what’s going on at Kentucky, where head coach John Calipari will once again roll out a slew of freshmen, this time in an effort to repeat as national champions. The rotation composed mostly of one-and-done players may become a trend in college hoops if Calipari is successful. I know you love college basketball’s postseason, but trust me: The regular season is worth your time. This is a cut-down version of Vince’s column. Visit dailycardinal. com to read it in its entirety.