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Wednesday, November 12, 2014
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Panel of professors explains ISIS, tensions in Middle East to students By Negassi Tesfamichael THE DAILY CARDINAL
As tensions in the Middle East grow ever more complex, professors are putting in the effort to foster understanding among students. A panel of four professors, organized by The Alexander Hamilton Society and WUD Society & Politics, explained to students at Union South Tuesday the goals of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and the Levant, also known as ISIS and ISIL. UW-Madison professor Andrew Kydd described the
broad history of the war in Iraq, from the initial disbanding of Saddam Hussein’s Ba’ath party through al-Qaeda in Iraq’s proliferation of religious divisions. Kydd also presented possible courses of action, either fighting ISIL more actively or not intervening at all. “[ISIL is] much stronger than al-Qaeda ever was,” Kydd said. “They control territory where they get oil revenues, and they attract recruits worldwide.” Uli Schamiloglu, a professor of languages and cultures of Asia,
then explained the roots of fundamentalist thinking, emphasizing that they did not at all fall in line with Islamic belief and thought. “Though many people will say that it’s all about religion, ISIL’s motives may move beyond that ... [ISIL members] also want monetary gains and have criminal intent,” Schamiloglu said. Professor John Hall, a military historian, discussed the U.S.’s military option. Hall said he believes President Barack Obama’s
panel page 3
City Council deliberates over police body camera funding and alder salaries By Irene Burski THE DAILY CARDINAL
Madison residents may see police body cameras and possible structural changes to Common Council in the near future, with alders approving amendments to increase police body camera funding and aldermanic salaries during 2015 Capital and Operating Budget deliberations Tuesday. The approved amendments to the Operating Budget stipulate an additional $30,000 to the Madison Police Department budget and an additional $2,000 per year for Council member salaries. The proposed police body camera program, although considered almost universally necessary to alders, caused tensions to run high between members of the community giving testimony on opposing sides at the public hearing. “The police don’t need more money,” one speaker said. “There is strong police distrust,
but that will not be solved by adding more surveillance.” City officials tried to balance resident fears by articulating during Council debate the logistics and feasibility of the program, which will provide each officer with a pointof-view body camera and is expected to protect both police and residents alike. Ald. Scott Resnick, District 8, characterized the program as a “big win on transparency.” MPD Chief Mike Koval addressed privacy concerns and allegations of distrust in his report to the Council. “I’ve heard from constituents from underrepresented communities in our midst. There is sort of a manifest distrust based on what they have previously heard. And obviously there are privacy issues and I think yes, privacy is everybody’s concern,” Koval said. “[But] I really don’t think we have the same sort of mani-
fest distrust that a lot of other communities have.” During debate regarding whether or not alder salaries should be raised, some Council members expressed concerns about the “optics” of the situation to their constituents. “I look at our city staff and worry about what their raises are going to be. I do worry about what message it sends,” Ald. Lisa Subeck, District 1, said. “There are certainly times when optics matter, and this is one of those times [but] I think this [salary increase] is a much needed move in the right direction.” The idea behind increased salaries is to hopefully diversify the background of candidates able to run for Council, according to Ald. Steve King, District 7. But structural changes to the institution as a whole, in particular making the position of Council president a full-
council page 3
EMILY BUCK/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Ald. Shiva Bidar-Sielaff cautions against structural changes to Common Council’s set-up.
The critical voice of Brother Ali At High Noon Saloon Thursday, Nov. 13 +ARTS, page 7
EMILY BUCK/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Maj. Gen. Marcia Anderson says the military must strive to promote diversity during a speech on campus Tuesday.
UW campus convenes to talk diversity By Emily Gerber and Nicole Hurley THE DAILY CARDINAL
Pursuing a diverse, collaborative future was the focus of UW-Madison’s 16th annual campus Diversity Forum, held Nov. 10 and 11. “Diversity makes things stronger,” UW-Madison Police Department Chief Sue Riseling said in a conversation with The Daily Cardinal Tuesday. “I always think about it as thread: You could have a single thread that runs through, but you can snap that pretty easily. But, if you take different threads of different types of materials and you bind them together and interweave them, it makes [the string] stronger.” The forum focused on adapting to the changing interpretations of diversity, especially honing in on how diversity affects different areas of campus life. “We care about diversity, because it is an absolutely essential part of any education in the 21st century,” UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank said Tuesday. “We’ve made some real progress on diversity at the University of Wisconsin. But we’re not where we need to be and there is plenty of work to
be done.” Amid a variety of diversitycentric programs, the 2014 forum aimed to tackle contemporary issues, including the changing role of law enforcement and appreciating diversity’s place in one’s upbringing.
Law Enforcement
Riseling, who sat among city and campus community members like Madison Police Department Chief Mike Koval in a law enforcement town hall meeting Monday, said it is important to note the changing interpretations of diversity. “We need to move past the idea that we’re sensitive to race, sensitive to gender in it of itself,” Riseling said. “What that does is make it sound that everyone of that gender is going to feel the same way and everyone of that race is going to feel the same way.” Fifty years ago, Riseling said, assumptions and decisions were made solely by acting on isolated areas of antiquated ideas of diversity, most notably regarding race and gender. “There’s diversity within race, there’s diversity within religion,
diversity page 3
Bringing down the house An influx of fans brings new prospects for UW Field House +SPORTS, page 8
“…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: partly sunny
hi 30º / lo 21º
hi 30º / lo 19º
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 124, Issue 40
2142 Vilas Communication Hall 821 University Avenue Madison, Wis., 53706-1497 (608) 262-8000 • fax (608) 262-8100
News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com
tODAY: partly sunny
Editor-in-Chief Jack Casey
An homage to capes and their unique place in history’s closet
Managing Editor Jonah Beleckis
News Team News Manager Sam Cusick Campus Editor Adelina Yankova College Editor Emily Gerber City Editors Irene Burski, Patricia Johnson State Editor Eoin Cottrell Associate News Editor Dana Kampa Features Editor Melissa Howison Opinion Editors Ryan Bullen • Cullen Voss Editorial Board Chair Haley Henschel Arts Editors Cheyenne Langkamp • Sean Reichard Sports Editors Jack Baer • Jim Dayton Almanac Editors Andy Holsteen • Kane Kaiman Photo Editors Emily Buck • Thomas Yonash Associate Photo Editor Will Chizek Graphics Editor Cameron Graff Multimedia Editors Alana Katz • Ian Zangs Science Editor Danielle Smith Life & Style Editor Claire Satterfield Special Pages Editor Haley Henschel Copy Chiefs Kara Evenson • Justine Jones Jessie Rodgers • Paige Villiard Copy Editors Theda Berry • Megan Grove Social Media Manager Rachel Wanat
Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Brett Bachman Accounting Manager Tyler Reindl Advertising Manager Jordan Laeyendecker Assistant Advertising Manager Corissa Pennow Marketing Director Tim Smoot 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 Jack Casey • Jonah Beleckis Haley Henschel • Cullen Voss Ryan Bullen • Michael Penn Kayla Schmidt l
Board of Directors Herman Baumann, President Jack Casey • Jonah Beleckis Jennifer Sereno • Stephen DiTullio Brett Bachman • Janet Larson Don Miner • Phil Brinkman Jason Stein • Nancy Sandy Jordan Laeyendecker • Tim Smoot Tina Zavoral
© 2014, The Daily Cardinal Media Corporation ISSN 0011-5398
For the record Corrections or clarifications? Call The Daily Cardinal office at 608-262-8000 or send an email to edit@dailycardinal.com.
dailycardinal.com
Sean Reichard quip pro quo
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apes: Should they be worn? What the hell kind of introductory question is that, you might ask? Let me explain. This little rumination on fashion had its genesis in a (brief ) discussion of Samuel Beckett among friends. To wit: What would Lil’ Sammy B look like a cape? Terrifying to be sure, the man’s already an Irish bogeyman, hewn from some horrible marble culled from the hateful bowels of geology. But throw on a cape? Fuck me. This thought was abetted by a short discussion of Soused by Scott Walker (the good one) and Sun O)), wherein I followed the thread and pondered how Walker would look in a cape. Like a nightmarish impresario, I might add, cracking a whip through the murkily nacreous drone of Sun O))’s guitars. It’s best not to think too much about it. The image still keeps me up at night. These little oneiric horrors flashed brightly before my eyes, but were quickly adumbrated by more pressing matters. These visions, nonetheless, lingered incipiently until they came in contact with memories of a certain childhood video game, only recently rediscovered. I played a bit of “Spyro 2: Ripto’s Rage,” this weekend with a few friends, and seeing Ripto (that annoying little dinosaur) trotting around in his villainous cape and finery dredged up the fine filament of my fancy, keenly argent and unbreakable.
When I speak of cape, I don’t speak merely of capes as they’re used today. Indeed, foreign police and military forces still use capes in some of their uniforms. Scottish bagpipers will wear Inverness capes as they lovingly cajole the howl of untold centuries from their inflated instruments. Clergy look (frankly) badass when they trot out their ferraiolos, putting our secular, laymen sense of appearance to shame. In some quarters the cape has never gone out of style.
ons and fashion statements. But I’m not here to justify the use of capes. Hell no! Capes are, on the whole, superfluous and ostentatious. Remember Edna Mode’s admonition in “The Incredibles:” “No capes!” All it leads to is comically appropriate death. And that’s why we need capes. Not for the death bit, but the first part: ostentation, superfluity and all. More so than any other human accessory, capes are emblematic of
human limits. Because who in their right mind decided one day, “Yeah, I’ll look hella sweet if I tape this length of cloth to my shoulders?” Blissful, slouching humanity did, aspiring to reach outside itself. The cape is a fine start toward transcendence. It’s certainly a better accessory than scarf gloves or a chaperon with accompanying liripipe. Are you an advocate of capes? Or the humble liripipe? Send Sean your views on fashion at sreichard@wisc.edu.
And that’s why we need capes. Not for the death bit, but the first part: ostentation, superfluity and all.
But think of the past! In the past, capes were far more common. Kings wore capes. Women at the opera wore capes. Edwardian men dressed to the nines with stovepipe hats, cravats and monocles wore capes. And don’t forget James Brown. James Brown wore a cape and he rocked it better than all of us. And we mustn’t forget superheroes. And supervillains. Especially them. You want a vision of an archetypal villain? You could suffice with an alternate universe goatee, or a sinisterly twirled moustache. You could even get by with thunder and lightning cracking every time the villain laughs. But throw on a cape? Pure evil, right there. Now, I could go into the practical purposes of wearing a cape, bring up the aforementioned instances where they’ve found homes as utilitarian add-
On this day in history... 1439—Plymouth, England becomes the first place adopted by the English Parliament. They promptly decide to revolt. 1793—The first mayor of Paris is executed on the guillotine. Once people saw the bloodiness of a beheading, they realized how awesome it would be to do it all the time. 1918—Austria becomes the Banana Republic. 1927—Leon Trotsky is kicked out of the Soviet Communist Party. Stalin assumes full control of the party with the help of President Coolidge. 1968—Equatorial Guinea joins the United Nations. They are soon followed by Prime Meridian Guinea. 1980—Voyager I takes unprecedented photos of the royal wedding of Saturn and Neptune.
photos courtesy of creative commons, edited by andy holsteen
Doesn’t Gov. Scott Walker look cunning in this classic lacy cape?
Almanac Classifieds
For sale
Wanted
Disappointing son—Back when he was in high school it looked like he might actually make something of his life, but at this point I’m over him. He’s good at moving objects that weigh under 100 pounds and smoking weed in my basement. Basically the missus and I need him out of the house. I’m willing to take cash or make a trade.
A son who isn’t a worthless incubus (see “for sale” section)— Any little boys out there, preferably between the ages of 10 and 12, just before they start getting terrible and just after you have to do everything for them. My wife and I have suffered with our miserable son for 22 whole years, please, if you’re a little boy out there looking for a good home, come forward. We will love you like we tried to love our real child before we realized he’s a worthless recluse.
These bangin’ subs in the back of my Jeep—If you want some bass that will shake the whole neighborhood, I’m your man. Whenever I pull up to a stoplight, people from blocks around know I’ve arrived because this shit is just that loud. I had my cousin install them for me, so as part of the deal, he’ll move them into your car. $600 obo.
Some chiiiiiiill roommates—Rents are kicking me out again, need a place to crash as soon as possible. If you’ve got a spare room, couch or just some floor space, I can pay up to $300/month in cash my parents will hopefully give me.
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diversity from page 1 there’s diversity within gender; people don’t necessarily think the same way just because the big moniker is the same,” Riseling said. Riseling added that more efforts are being made in law enforcement, and the community overall, to account for these “nuanced” versions of diversity, rather than assume one’s actions based on outdated beliefs.
‘It Is Not Where You Start That Matters—It Is Where You Finish’
The forum concluded Tuesday with a Veterans Daythemed keynote address from Maj. Gen. Marcia Anderson, the first African-American woman to achieve the rank of major general in the U.S. Army Reserve. Despite facing numerous challenges, Anderson received a military education resulting in a Bachelor of Arts, master’s degree and Juris Doctor degree. Her military awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal and Parachutist Badge. She said she believes the military, like any other organization, must strive for and promote diversity to properly represent everyone it protects. “It is almost impossible to change an organization of this size from the outside. To create lasting change, you have to be on the inside to do that, and that includes women and minorities,” Anderson said. “[I have] a firm belief that this organization has to reflect what this room looks like, what this country looks like, for it to be successful.” Dana Kampa contributed to this report. An extended version is available at dailycardinal.com.
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UW System to grant in-state tuition for military veterans
Chancellor Blank provides greater transparency in ‘Budget in Brief’ In an effort to increase the transparency and accessibility of UW-Madison’s expenditures and revenues, Chancellor Rebecca Blank asked staff to design the Budget in Brief, a summary that breaks down the university’s $2.9 billion annual budget. “I felt that we needed a clear, easy-to-navigate document that tells the story of where our budget money comes from and how we spend it,” Blank said Tuesday in a university statement. The 20-page document includes graphics and charts to clarify the funding sources, expenditures, student financial aid and fund balances. This is the first publication of a Budget in Brief, but Blank said she plans to make it a yearly reporting. “We are keenly aware of our duty as a public institution to do a thorough job of ensuring that citizens clearly understand the sources of our funding and how we use that money,” Blank wrote in the brief. This brief can be accessed online or requested by emailing gbump@wisc.edu.
Wednesday, November 12, 2014 3
By Madeline Heim THE DAILY CARDINAL
BASCOM HILL
VETS for Vets
Veterans, Educators, and Traditional Students members and volunteers read names of U.S. service members killed in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. + Photo by Drew Gilmore
council from page 1 time salaried position, will require more debate and time. “I think there is certainly a larger and broader discussion that we need to have,” Ald. Shiva Bidar-Sielaff, District 5,
said. “I do think we need to be very very thoughtful about any larger structural changes.” Common Council voted to approve both the Capital and Operating Budgets, totaling $247.7 million and $282.9 million respectively.
The UW System announced Tuesday that beginning in Fall 2015, it will give in-state tuition to nonresidential military veterans who enroll in the System within three years of being discharged, a measure in line with recent changes to federal law. The Post-9/11 GI Bill covers approximately 40 to 100 percent of in-state tuition and fees, depending on the amount of active duty service time the veteran has. The UW System said in a statement it hopes to attract veterans to Wisconsin who previously had to pay higher outof-state rates not covered by the bill. Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary John A. Scocos recognized work at the federal level that will make it easier for American student veterans to access a “great” education using their GI bill benefits. “Wisconsin has a great university and technical college system and military veteran students bring unique perspectives that enhance those systems,”
Scocos said in the statement. “With this new rule, hopefully we will see more veterans come to make Wisconsin their home.” Ray Cross, president of the UW System, said in the statement that eliminating the residency requirements will make a Wisconsin college education more affordable for non-resident veterans and will maximize the utility of the federal benefits granted to them in the GI bill. Cross also recently announced the creation of a certification process that will recognize UW campuses demonstrating a strong commitment to helping student veterans succeed. Campuses will be eligible for the certification, entitled University of Wisconsin Veterans Education and Transition to Success, if they meet a series of criteria established by the U.S. Department of Education as well as meeting several of UW’s best practices regarding serving student veterans. The certification aims to be a helpful marker for student veterans as they choose a university to attend.
State’s legislative Democrats plan new session leadership State Assembly Democrats voted to keep their minority leader for the next legislative session Tuesday while Democrats in the state Senate will elect a new minority leader Wednesday. Rep. Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, will maintain control as minority leader in the Assembly but state Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, will lose his after he announced Tuesday he will not seek re-election as senate minority leader. Larson expressed his support
for state Sen. Jennifer Shilling, D-La Crosse, to fill the position. “[By stepping down, I am] allowing Jen Shilling to lead our caucus and take a shot at doing what I did and dedicating herself fully for the next two years to fight back against the divisive Republican agenda,” Larson said. He cited his desire to connect with his family and community as reasons for stepping down and expressed his dedication to his party’s values.
“We’ve put forward a lot of work making sure where we stand on our values and recruiting some high quality candidates and raising money to make sure we could get our message out about everyday Wisconsinites’ access to the American dream,” Larson said. Shilling thanked Larson for the nomination in a statement and outlined her goals for the Democratic Party, which include supporting small businesses and public schools as well as building
Madison women lose money in telephone scams
panel from page 1 approach, which includes a combination of diplomatic pressure on Iraq, an air strikes campaign and training of Iraqi ground forces, is “the only viable and feasible option given the situation in the region right now.” Finally, Ohio State professor Peter Mansoor, a former executive officer to Gen. David Petraeus, reflected on his career experiences since the invasion of Iraq in 2003. Mansoor described the differences between Obama and former President George W. Bush’s approaches to issues in the Middle East and highlighted factors inhibiting ISIL. Jennifer Wucinski, a student majoring in international studies, said she had very little knowledge of ISIL before attending the panel discussion. “So many students don’t know anything about the history of the Iraq war, and to have expert panelists explain the situation really is really helpful,” Wucinski said. “The fact that UW can host such great panelists is what really makes Wisconsin great.”
new infrastructure. Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate released a statement Tuesday on Barca’s re-election. “We look forward to Rep. Barca’s continued leadership in the Assembly and his efforts to grow the caucus in 2016,” Tate said in the statement. “Wisconsin families all across our state deserve leadership that will fight to put their needs ahead of politics and special interests.” —Annie Schoenfeldt
DANA KAMPA/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Professor Peter Mansoor described his experience as General David Petraeus’ former executive officer.
Madison police are currently investigating two telephone scams that caused two Madison women to lose more than $400 each Thursday, according to Madison Police Department reports. The 22-year-old woman received a phone call from a man claiming to be an IRS agent. The caller informed the woman she owed $35,000 to the government and threatened her with arrest unless she transfer money to a Green Dot prepaid credit card. The woman complied, and she only recognized the fraudulent nature of the call after losing $400. On the same day, a 66-year-old woman received a phone call from a supposed member of the Dane County Sheriff’s Office. The male caller said a warrant was out for the woman’s arrest upon failing to register for grand jury duty. The caller demanded the woman put money in a Green Dot credit card, and the woman lost $500 before realizing the call was a scam.
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Eldorado Grill spices up Sunday brunch By Kerry Huth THE DAILY CARDINAL
I’m a general food enthusiast, possibly to an obsessive degree. My rule of thumb is that I’ll try anything once. However, the genre of food that has never (ever ever ever ever) disappointed and consistently delights me is Southwestern. Eldorado Grill, on Williamson Street (better known as Willie Street), specializes in Southwestern cuisine that caters to both the adventurous foodie as well as the traditional diner. I had been there for dinner a while back and spotted a brunch menu on my way out, so a Sunday morning visit to Eldorado became an absolute necessity. First of all, every plate I passed on my way to sit down to brunch looked incredible. I wish I’d gone to brunch with 26 of my closest friends so that I could have tasted a bite of everything. After much deliberation, I ended up ordering a classic breakfast burrito alongside refried beans and the most killer breakfast potatoes I have
ever tasted. The refried beans were smooth, the breakfast potatoes crisped to perfection. My breakfast burrito was loaded with chorizo, scrambled eggs, picco de gallo, jack cheese and black beans. I also added a side of guacamole, because obviously I hadn’t ordered enough food already, and everything becomes better when you add guacamole. Another notable mention for those 21 and up: the Killer Bloody Mary. The classic Killer Bloody Mary is garnished with celery and olives, but Eldorado adds a twist by throwing a spicy pepper in the mix as well. Eldorado makes their own Bloody Mary mix consisting of over 20 ingredients. I get the idea they know what they’re doing. Also on the menu is the Killer Bloody Maria, which contains a chile-infused tequila that will wake up your taste buds. For those who aren’t feeling that adventurous at 10 a.m. on a Sunday morning, no worries: They
also have wonderful coffee and non-alcoholic beverages as well. Apart from the out-of-thisworld food, Eldorado provides a fun environment for a weekend brunch. The place is bustling like crazy, but the servers are super friendly and on the ball. I loved the Southwestern feel, and loved even more that it encompasses every part of the restaurant’s design. Don’t let Willie Street scare you, Badgers. It’s a manageable walk and an even easier bus ride. Just beyond the Capitol, Willie Street is full of gems, from restaurants, to cafes, to shops. It’s just far enough away that you feel offcampus, but close enough that it makes the leisurely walk on a Sunday morning ideal. When you’re looking for a satisfying brunch but are tired of the traditional, grab a friend (or 26) and give Eldorado a shot--it is more than worth the walk. This Southwestern spot just might become your new go-to weekend brunch stop.
KERRY HUTH/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Eldorado Grill on Williamson Street offers a multitude of classic Southwest favorites in addition to its unconventional dishes.
Design student gives insight into the SoHE community By Chace Goff THE DAILY CARDINAL
Is it just me, or is anyone else feeling the heat here at UW? And I don’t mean high temperatures, those of which left campus long ago. Let’s face it Badgers, snow has entered the state and it’s not leaving without a fight. Weather aside, school is definitely getting intense, and I sincerely hope you all are pushing through, having some success and figuring things out along the way. Personally, I’m pretty drained. Being a chronic procrastinator is definitely not helping my sleep schedule with all the late nights of completing art and design projects along with struggling through my general requirements. However, I’m ultimately enjoying the process and love the rewarding feeling of achieving
the final outcome and seeing all my hard work come together into a cohesive whole. Plus, learning about programs such as Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator is not only fun, but a super useful skill for me to have in my future design endeavors. Just last week in Design Studies 120, my fellow students and I were told to hand-render two designs (one black and white, one color) for a motif—or pattern, for you non design folks. I decided to use pineapples in my designs, to mourn the loss of summer, of course. We scanned our respective four-by-four squares and repeated the design in two different ways on Photoshop as well as edited the overall image to create the final repeating pattern. Although one of the more time-consuming assignments, it was by far my favorite project I have been given this semester.
It definitely made me even more excited to continue on with my education in design. As the semester progresses, I realize more and more how learning about elements such as line, shape, value, color, etc. will eventually help me succeed in an
Having a smaller community within a massive institution like UW-Madison is wonderful and creates a sense of security.
interior design career. Aside from the fact that I love everything Madison has to offer, I’ve noticed that design students are a bit of a minority. I began to notice this just days upon arriving to my new home back in early September--what is
now feeling like an eternity ago. Everywhere I went, everyone I met seemed astounded to meet a student who wasn’t going into engineering, business or medicine. However, they all were extremely interested in hearing about a program that isn’t the most traditional on campus. As for the design students I have met and gotten to know, they are all extremely creative and passionate people who couldn’t be happier to be learning about what they love, much like myself. Having a smaller community within a massive institution like UW-Madison is wonderful and creates a sense of security, which is nice in a mix of over 40,000 students. While many prospective students fear the large size of a university like UW-Madison, finding your niche in your chosen school
and program really does make campus feel a lot smaller and more comfortable. Even though there will always be an infinite number of people to meet and friends to be made, it’s reassuring to see a familiar face while walking the halls of your most frequented buildings and libraries. Basically, I could not be happier with my decision to learn and expand my creativity in UW’s School of Human Ecology. Besides gaining valuable insights into a career I’ve always dreamed about, but never truly known, I’ve also been able learn how to stretch my personal creativity and talents. I truly would recommend it to any student exploring the wide array of majors offered on campus, especially if they’re looking to have a little creative fun both inside and outside of the classroom.
Capitol Square’s Cento offers diners traditional Italian with a twist By Aleesha Halbach THE DAILY CARDINAL
Does Madison really need another Italian restaurant? Yes, and Cento, the sophist-
cated, ultrachic Italian restaurant with warm ambiance and eclectic vibes, will keep you coming again and again. Located at 122 W. Mifflin St.,
ALEESHA HALBACH/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Cento’s Capitiol Square location allows student diners to achieve an off-campus feel while remaining close to home.
Cento’s modern interior and upbeat menu are the perfect addition to Capitol Square’s collection of restaurants. Walking into Cento, you should expect to be greeted with genuine smiles and impressive service, ambiance and menu. The menu offers traditional Italian dishes, but you will also find many twists and unexpected delights. Whether you are under or over 21, there is an extensive drink list and with any good Italian restaurant, the wine menu is the longest. With choices of both red and white wines and different cocktails, this is a great place to bring your significant other, parents or grandparents. There really is something for everyone and more so, every kind of diner. For dining, the wide array of
dishes is sure to please everyone, from the most traditional Italian to a college student in desperate need of pasta. The gnocchi comes highly recommended and I can do nothing but add praise. This dish is unconventionally served with mushrooms and for texture, topped with crunchy bread crumbs. These little potato dumplings are full of flavor, and were a perfect pairing to the warm sourdough bread and the housemade olive oil-infused butter. As always, to finish the Cento dining experience, dessert was in order. This meant the flavors of tiramisu were brought to the table. As I had mentioned before, each of these traditional Italian dishes has an interesting twist. The tiramisu included the
traditional ladyfinger cake, however Cento’s take included a decadent side of mascarpone and gelato. The smooth texture of the mascarpone cheese paired with the candied nuts and cold gelato was the perfect end to a wonderful meal. Overall, this was a great dining experience. From the warm welcome received when walking in the front door, to the impeccable service of the waitstaff, you will most definitely be pleased with your experience. Cento should be on your list to try, and if you have already been, to try again and explore the rest of the menu’s offerings. A reservation is necessary, especially on a weekend night, otherwise be prepared to have a small wait that rest assured, is well worth it.
comics
dailycardinal.com Today’s Sudoku
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Hey, I can be the answer © Puzzles by Pappocom
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.
FACT OF THE DAY:
Shakespeare is quoted 33,150 times in the OXFORD ENGLisH DICTIONARY Today’s Crossword Puzzle
HEAVY METAL ACROSS 1 Short-winded 6 Prepare to swallow 10 “Elementary” network 13 Novelist Jong 14 Capital of Italy, to natives 15 Game you can’t play left-handed 16 Vacation, often 19 There’s no I in it 20 Uses an abacus 21 Get-up-and-go 22 Sarge’s pooch 24 Junk email 26 Cause of wrinkles 29 Move a muscle 31 Perfect serves 35 “It ain’t over ‘til it’s over” speaker 37 ___ polloi 38 “Joy of Cooking” author Rombauer 39 Take apart to understand 43 World atlas section 44 Connecticut collegian 45 John moving around a farm 46 Department store department 47 Oxygen-dependent
creature 0 Use Grecian Formula 5 51 Performed the national anthem 53 “Shake on it!” 55 Daisylike bloom 58 Amid deep water 60 ___-inflammatory 64 Alien abductions, e.g. 67 Butts 68 Search, as the horizon 69 Type of letter 70 Bighorn female 71 Dogs and parakeets, e.g. 72 Transplant a seedling DOWN 1 What a student studies for 2 New York canal 3 Baltic capital 4 Average Joe 5 Dig in 6 Beliefs 7 Busted clods 8 Carbon monoxide from an engine, e.g. 9 Ghastly pale 10 Bulblike plant stem 11 Radar screen image 12 Frosh, in a year 15 Food poisoning
cause Fill to capacity ___ few rounds Alpine transport Bluenose James ___ Garfield “Silly” birds Senator of Watergate fame 30 Churchill’s “___ Finest Hour” 32 Rocky’s foe 33 Board abrasive 34 One spelling for an Indian dress 36 Consider in a new light 40 Astin of the “Lord of the Rings” saga 41 Poshness 42 It comes to mind 48 Ancient Greek theaters 49 Gentleman caller 52 “Who ___ we kidding?” 54 Carpenter’s machine 55 Field measure 56 Deli side 57 Heavy reading 59 Comment to kitty 61 Certain tide 62 Group of three 63 “Odd, ___ it?” 65 Sixth sense, for short 66 ATM maker 1 7 18 23 25 26 27 28
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By Sam Marchewka marchewka@wisc.edu
opinion Low voter turnout destroys democracy 6
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Wednesday, November 12, 2014
HENRY SOLOTAROFF-WEBBER Opinion Columnist
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ome people may like to claim America is the pioneer of democracy or that our democracy is the greatest on Earth. While our democracy may be great, it is not without some serious flaws and one of these major flaws was recently highlighted in the midterm elections: low voter turnout. As outlined by centuries of theory and practice, civic participation, especially in terms of voting in the representative democracy of the United States, is pivotal to the long-term success of a democratic system. This is because in its nature, the power of democracy is derived from the people. Therefore if only a small chunk of people choose to participate in the political process by voting, as was the case in the latest midterm elections as well as other recent large-scale elections, our core democrat-
ic principles will falter because power is no longer being properly derived from the people. Due to this, as well as the possibility of voter turnout becoming progressively lower in future elections, I propose that the United States adopt a mandatory voting system. An example of such a system is Australia where everyone is required to vote by law and a moderate fine is in place for anyone who is eligible to vote but fails to do so. While this idea may seem anti-democratic on the surface, it is important to note that while everyone is required to cast a ballot, they are not required to choose a candidate. Submitting a blank ballot is a completely legal and commonly used voting method in Australia as well as other countries that have institutionalized compulsory voting. I propose compulsory voting for the United States because I believe it will address two key
problems that are currently plaguing our democracy.
While our democracy may be great, it is not without some serious flaws. One of these major flaws was recently highlighted in the midterm elections: low voter turnout.
The first is that if mandatory voting were to be implemented, it would mean that all of the controversial and mostly unconstitutional laws that can prohibit people from voting would have to be abolished, such as Texas’s voter identification requirements. In addition to this, voting processes would have to become more efficient and more accessible to account for the influx of new voters. Secondly, it would solve the afore-
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mentioned problem of a lack of civic participation by citizens of the United States. And while I do realize that it could cause more uninformed voters to cast ballots than in prior elections, I believe that this is mitigated by the simplicity of the two-party electoral system of the United States. In addition, I believe that most importantly, mandatory voting could become an important entryway to increased civic participation other than voting in years to follow. Do you agree with Henry about the need to implement mandatory voting in the United States? Is this approach of mandatory voting in elections too authoritarian for the United States or is it the only way that we as a nation can truly produce a mass turnout? Do you think there is a better approach in order to increase voter participation? Tell us how you feel and please send all of your feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
Militarism poses threats to true peace in the United States ARNOLD OLIVER Letter To The Editor
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ore than a few veterans, Veterans For Peace among them, are troubled by the way Americans observe Veterans Day on November 11th. It was originally called Armistice Day, and established by Congress in 1926 to “perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations, (and later) a day dedicated to the cause of world peace.” For years, many churches rang their bells on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month—the time that the guns fell silent on the Western Front by which time 16 million had died. To put it bluntly, in 1954 Armistice Day was hijacked by a militaristic congress, and today few Americans understand the original purpose of the occasion, or even remember it. The message of peace seeking has vanished. Now known as Veterans Day, it has devolved into a hyper-nationalistic worship ceremony for war and the putatively valiant warriors who wage it. Here is a news flash. Most of what goes on during wartime is decidedly unheroic, and heroes in war are few and far between. I have to tell you that when I was in
Vietnam, I was no hero, and I didn’t witness any heroism during the year I spent there, first as a U.S. Army private and then as a sergeant.
We understand that while militarism will not disappear overnight, disappear it must if we are to avoid economic as well as moral bankruptcy.
Yes, there was heroism in the Vietnam War. On both sides of the conflict there were notable acts of self-sacrifice and bravery. Troops in my unit wondered how the North Vietnamese troops could persevere for years in the face of daunting U.S. firepower. U.S. medical corpsmen performed incredible acts of valor rescuing the wounded under fire. But I also witnessed a considerable amount of bad behavior, some of it my own. There were widespread incidents of disrespect and abuse of Vietnamese civilians including many war crimes. Further, all units had, and still have, their share of criminals, con artists and thugs. Most unheroic of all were the U.S. military and civilian leaders who planned, orchestrated, and profited
greatly from that utterly avoidable war. The cold truth is that the U.S. invasion and occupation of Vietnam had nothing to do with protecting American peace and freedom. On the contrary, the Vietnam War bitterly divided the United States, and was fought to forestall Vietnamese independence, not defend it. Unfortunately, Vietnam wasn’t an isolated example. Many American wars—including the 1846 Mexican-American War, the Spanish-American War in 1898, and the Iraq War (this list is by no means exhaustive)— were waged under false pretexts against countries that didn’t threaten the United States. It’s hard to see how, if a war is unjust, it can be heroic to wage it. But if the vast majority of wars are not fought for noble reasons, and few soldiers are heroic, have there been any actual heroes out there defending peace and freedom? And if so, who are they? Well, there are many, from Jesus down to the present. I’d put Gandhi, Tolstoy, and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the list along with many Quakers and Mennonites. And don’t forget General Smedley Butler, who wrote that “War is a Racket”, and even, sort of, Robert McNamara, who came around in the very end. In Vietnam, Warrant Officer Hugh Thompson stopped the My Lai massacre from being even worse.
Another candidate is former U.S. Army specialist Josh Stieber who sent this message to the people of Iraq: “Our heavy hearts still hold hope that we can restore inside our country the acknowledgment of your humanity, that we were taught to deny.” Ponder a million Iraqi deaths. Chelsea Manning sits behind bars for exposing those and other truths. The real heroes are those who resist war and militarism, often at great personal cost. Because militarism has been around for such a long time, at least since Gilgamesh came up with his protection racket in Sumeria going on 5,000 years ago, people argue that it will always be with us. But many also thought that slavery and the subjugation of women would last forever, and they’re being proven wrong. We understand that while militarism will not disappear overnight, disappear it must if we are to avoid economic as well as moral bankruptcy. As Civil War General W.T. Sherman said at West Point, “I confess without shame that I am tired and sick of war.” We’re with you, bro. Arnold Oliver is a professor of political science at Heidelberg University. Do you agree with Arnold’s assesement of Veterans Day? Please tell us how you feel and send all feedback to opinion@ dailycardinal.com.
Crude oil export rates from the United States need to be accelerated DAVID WILLIAMS Letter To The Editor
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as prices are the lowest Americans have seen in quite some time. This is partly due to the basic principle that as supplies rise prices fall. And in the past few years we have seen supplies of both oil and gas increase substantially in this country, as we are using new technology to reach energy resources that were previously unavailable to us. Add in discoveries in shale formations across the country and we can see how truly blessed we are. What many may not know is that America recently became the world’s top producer of natural gas, and soon the U.S. may pass Saudi Arabia in oil production. This is a significant turn of events that very few people could have imagined over the past 40 years. During the oil crisis of the 1970s, we found out just how dependent we were on foreign oil. Americans lined up at gas stations, canceled vacations and watched gas prices rise, along with the cost of just about every product that required transportation or depended upon petroleum. Yet now with low prices and abundant resources, our policies should reflect this
changing landscape of energy development. A positive step is that just last week, Senate Finance Committee Chairman Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) wrote in a letter to Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz that “some policy provisions put in place as recently as 2007 are now at best irrelevant, or at worst detrimental, to national environmental and economic goals.” In that case, the ban on crude oil exports has certainly passed its expiration date. But there are glimmers of good news coming from Washington, D.C. Earlier this year, the Department of Commerce allowed two companies to export condensate oil (the result of gas from shale deposits that condensates into ultralight oil at the surface). And in another small step forward, it is also seeking input through questionnaires from other companies that are interested in exporting condensate oil. This should be a harbinger of things to come. The world is very different than it was in the 1970s. One sign that the time is right for crude oil exports is the number of emerging studies showing the benefits to the United States. In short, such a move would boost the economy, grow jobs, help keep gas prices
low and strengthen the energy security of America and our allies. For example, the Brookings Institution found that lifting the ban soon could benefit our gross domestic product by between $600 billion and $1.8 trillion over the next 25 years, depending on how quickly the ban is lifted. It could reduce unemployment by about 200,000 annually from 2015 to 2020. Just imagine what an impact that would have on the American economy and the daily lives of families. Taxpayers would also reap the benefits by people going back to work and not collecting unemployment benefits. One might think that exporting crude oil could negatively impact gas prices in America, but the opposite is true. According to Lawrence H. Summers, president emeritus of Harvard University and former secretary of the Treasury Department under President Bill Clinton, exporting oil will reduce the price because “all oil is not the same … if you want to help American consumers consume gasoline at lower costs, you want there to be more oil exports.” The Brookings study found similar results—and points out that the more abundant the exports, the greater the fall in the price at the pump.
Beyond pricing and economic benefit, the bottom line is that exporting crude oil is just the right thing to do. We are a country based on principles of free trade, and we lose credibility when we hold on to outdated rules that contradict these principles. All Americans and taxpayers benefit from a healthy and expanding economy In addition, by exporting crude oil, we would have the power to help our allies should their primary supplies face disruption. We can provide our allies with oil to meet their growing demand, while lessening their (and our) dependence on energy from countries that don’t always have our best interests at heart. There simply are no good reasons in this day and age to maintain the last century’s policy of banning crude oil exports. For reasons of economic development, job growth and energy security, the United States should move to lift the crude oil export ban as quickly as possible. David Williams is the president of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance. Do you agree that the U.S. should increase our crude oil exports? Tell us how you feel and please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
dailycardinal.com
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
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Brother Ali talks cultural power in today’s hip-hop By Robert Vanderwist The Daily Cardinal
To Brother Ali, hip-hop is about more than music. It’s a culture, a lifestyle, a community and an account of the social and cultural issues that the evening news can only speak of in the third person. This Thursday, Nov. 13, Brother Ali returns to his hometown for an eagerly anticipated show at the High Noon Saloon. I spoke with the artist about his upcoming show, what music means to him and the potential it has to change the world, one listener at a time. Originally from Madison, Brother Ali spent his childhood moving around the Midwest with his family. In the midst of a rapidly changing world, hip-hop was his constant. “[Hip-hop] was the community who raised me, and it was the language of that community,” Ali told me about his early years. “It was a very empowering thing … I was able to turn the fact that I was different into something to be celebrated, rather than something to be ridiculed.” Brother Ali’s career in music developed in tandem with his affiliation with Rhymesayers Entertainment—a Midwest-based hip-hop collective and record label founded by Minneapolis natives Atmosphere and Musab—before the label grew into what it is today. “It’s been amazing because I’m totally free to say what I feel I need to say, and that’s very rare,” Ali noted about his relationship with the Rhymesayers family. He then explained the impact of Rhymesayers Entertainment, and the Midwestern scene as a whole, on the hip-hop community: “Everybody starts their career independent now. I think the Midwest has had a lot to do with that. Atmosphere in particular had a lot to do with that. “Everybody comes along and they do what they can do, and once they do it, that’s now part of the framework, and then the next generation builds off of that. I’m able to do what I do because of Public Enemy and The Roots and other people who came before me,” Ali told me about the independent nature of Rhymesayers’ artists, drawing on influences from all corners of the music world. “Honestly,” he admitted, “there’s a lot of indie rock and punk rock lessons that Slug [of Atmosphere] learned from [the punk rock scene]. Even though I don’t know a lot of the bands that he learned these techniques from, I owe them gratitude. Their music might not be my favorite music, but when I meet the indie and punk rock bands that Slug learned a lot of his techniques from that ended up becoming my tools, I feel more empowered knowing where my tools came from.” Like many of the punk bands that came before him, the scope of Brother Ali’s music extends beyond the context of the music scene. Ali uses music to voice his concerns about troubling aspects of our society, most of which stem from the nature of our society itself.
“We live under a system of domination,” he said. “Male domination. White supremacy. Our economic system is based on people with money using and abusing people who don’t have money.” Brother Ali explains that music may be the perfect vessel to carry his message. Although this system of domination touches everything, including art, there is a silver lining in the nature of art itself. “Music and art are cultural acts,” he states. “They are ways that communities of people express their lives and communicate messages about who we are, how we live, what’s beautiful about us and the lessons that we’ve learned. Now we’re taking cultural acts and turning them into a buyable, sellable commodity.” The idea of art as a product seems troubling to its potential to carry a genuine cultural message, but Brother Ali elaborated to explain why it will never be stifled. “There are people who still approach music and art as a cultural act. It’s going to be difficult for a commodity to speak, but if somebody still treats it as a cultural act, then it’s impossible for it not to,” he insists. “Our lives, our messages, and what we’re going through … It all shows in the music.” Speaking further of the ubiquitous system of domination about which Brother Ali warns his audience, we discussed his views on racial tensions in our country that received mixed reactions several years ago in the wake of Trayvon Martin’s death. “We are socialized and taught and raised under these systems of domination,” he stated. “White supremacy as a doctrine is the thought that white ways of living are more valid, more valuable, and should be protected, while other ways are seen as a threat. That needs to be un-learned.” This may seem like a simple solution, but Ali clarifies that the doctrine of white supremacy extends far deeper than what most people see as “racist” behavior, and the journey to undo this system is complicated. “People who want to be good people, and who don’t want to be what they think to be racist, have been trained under the doctrine of white supremacy for their entire lives. It takes a lot to undo that learning.” Brother Ali argues that this doctrine existed long before our nation’s conception, and that the concept of “whiteness” as a cultural identity carries no meaning outside of the context of oppression. “Being a German person or being an Italian person or being an Irish person … is not the same as being white. Being German is real, being Irish is real—it’s the experience of people who have built a cultural identity. Whiteness only exists as an identity to dominate other people.” Again, Ali reminds us that notions of peace and equality can only be applied when this long-standing system has been erased. “It needs to be un-learned,” he insists, “and it’s not something that’s going to happen immediately.” Tickets are still available for $18 in advance or $20 day of show.
GRAPHIC BY CAMERON GRAFF
‘It’s Always Sunny’ finds lasting comic success where others fail jake smasal smasaltov!
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ustainability is one of the key elements of any television show. For comedies, it may be the most important element. Once a show stops being funny, it’s (normally) cancelled. Of course, the longer a show runs, the less likely it is to be cancelled regardless of quality (looking at you, “Family Guy”). And, obviously, the longer a comedy runs, the harder it is to come up with new, unique situations and the easier it is to fall back on what worked before. Rarely do you find a show that does not stagnate—even “Seinfeld” was not as good at the end. Yet, “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia”—which borrows a lot from “Seinfeld”—is atop the short list of shows you still have to watch. “It’s Always Sunny” is now 10 years old; the 10th season starts in January and the ninth just came out on Netflix. As I do every year, I voraciously watched the new(est) season. However, after one of the show’s weakest premieres, I asked myself the dreaded question: Is this show still good? Turns out, it
is. After said lackluster premiere, Season Nine turns itself around remarkably quick. It’s just as funny as previous seasons and I watched it all in two days. Watching the new season, I found myself struck by this phenomenon. Shows like “It’s Always Sunny” are never this good for this long. The only other example of this that I can think of is “South Park,” and when your show is favorably compared to “South Park,” you’re normally doing something right. The writing and settings are still fresh, and the tone is still just right. However, what really continues to set “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” apart is the characters. Dennis, Mac, Sweet Dee, Charlie and Frank continue to sink to new lows (new highs?). Every new escapade takes them to a place I never expected them to be. And, much like the characters of “Seinfeld,” they never really seem to learn everything. Actually, the best part is that they never learn anything. Most shows rely on character development to advance, and that’s not a bad trait. Character development is interesting; it’s nice to see characters grow and change before
our eyes. “It’s Always Sunny” subscribes to the opposite axiom. These characters never develop, and they never, ever will. If anything, they’ve anti-developed and become worse than we as viewers ever thought they were. Only Charlie has any redeeming qualities, but they surface so infrequently and are so overshadowed that they barely seem to exist at all. In fact, they seem to revel in their reptilian views and inadequacies—the happier they are, the worse their characters get. Yet, as despicable as they are, we love them all. Each one is an essential cog in the show’s machine, and it seems to run hotter every year. To compare with other FXX programs, “It’s Always Sunny” devolves in ridicule and idiosyncrasy to highlight the stupidity of sitcom culture and further the plot, where “The League” does the same thing as a crutch for inconsistent writing and a lack of ideas. Again, this is where sustainability comes in. Most shows couldn’t do this forever, and “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” may someday decline. But then again, maybe it won’t. Like “It’s Always Sunny” as much as Jake does? Let him know at smasal@wisc.edu.
RECORD ROUTINE After eight year hiatus, Damien Rice crafts gentle return ALBUM REVIEW
My Favourite Faded Fantasy Damien Rice By Rose Lundy The Daily Cardinal
After an eight-year break from recording, Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice is back and more cutting than ever. My Favourite Faded Fantasy, released Nov. 10, carefully shapes delicate melodies into sweeping anthems that mimic the expansive nature of his new home in Iceland.
The title track starts off in typical Rice fashion: slow and soothing. But it slowly ramps up with dramatic, frenetic flair to an intense finish complete with thundering drums and electric guitar. All the while Rice wails, “I’ve never loved like you.” The second track, “It Takes a Lot To Know a Man,” provides an immediate contrast. Broad violins and a clicking tom-tom drum almost overpower Rice as he urges, “It takes a lot to give / To ask for help / To be yourself.” The song is perhaps a reference to the singer’s eight years of soul searching and the complexities of human nature. The strings become more and more intricate, weaving a lilting waltz and maintaining momentum for nearly 10 minutes.
A highlight comes during the heart of the record on “Colour me In.” The sweet ballad swells as Rice, in a rare moment, lets loose and bellows. However, the final tracks, “Trusty and True” and “Long Long Way,” overwhelm their own beauty by running far too long. After establishing uplifting melodies and reaching a tidy ending, Rice extends each track with an additional, unnecessary minute. Tin whistles and Irish drums build into a crescendo on “Trusty and True,” but the decline repeats over and over. And yet, despite overstaying its welcome with later tracks, My Favourite Faded Fantasy still creates beautiful, heart-aching ballads.
Rating: A-
Sports
Wednesday, November 12, 2014 DailyCardinal.com
Volleyball
New success can bring new Field House By Sam Karp the Daily cardinal
Imagine yourself a year from now. You’re in the UW Field House, standing in the upper deck, watching a top-tier volleyball team take on the Michigan Wolverines. You and more than 9,000 volleyball fanatics are waiting to erupt while watching match point. Suddenly, junior setter Lauren Carlini sets the perfect ball to sophomore outside hitter Kelli Bates as she hammers home a kill to secure the Badger victory. You and the rest of crowd explode as Wisconsin continues a season of ascension. The best part of this future image is it’s in your control whether or not it happens. When the No. 4 Badgers (12-1 Big Ten, 22-2 overall) take on Michigan (6-8, 11-3) Wednesday at the Field House, there will be no upper deck, and there will not be 9,000 people. The Field House currently holds around 6,000 people, but 3,000 more seats would be added with the addition of the upper deck. As of now, the upper deck is not up to code and cannot be used. According to UW-Madison Associate Athletic Director for Capital Projects and Operations Jason King, there are a couple things that need to be fixed in the hypothetical project that could cost between $315,000 and $330,000. The two areas that are not up to code are the kick plates in the seats and the railings, according to King. The current kick plates are too far removed from the seat, which poses the threat of a small infant or child falling through the gap. The railings currently have similar problems, as they are not high enough and also have too large of a gap between them. As is the normal process
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with the athletic department’s financial discussions, nothing will be discussed until after the season, but King did suggest that certain trends could make him consider voting in favor of making the renovations. “Speaking for myself,” King said, “sustained attendance over a long period of time would definitely make me consider being in favor of making the renovations.” This is where the fans come in. Before this season, the Field House only reached 6,000 fans 12 times since 2000, according to King. This season, however, the Field House has reached 6,000 fans in four out of seven Big Ten home games. If this trend continues, the athletic department will have no choice but to make renovations. The athletic department is not the only one taking notice of the larger crowds this year as the team has felt an impact from them as well. “It changes the atmosphere especially for the players knowing
everybody is here to watch the five players on the court,” senior outside hitter Courtney Thomas said. Not only have players felt the energy during the game but they have also felt it around campus. “When I’m walking to or in class people are like ‘Whoa your volleyball game was awesome. We’re watching you on TV now,’” sophomore setter Lauren Carlini said. “There’s just so much more excitement towards the volleyball world and us, it’s exciting.” Players have loved the overall energy and have been noticing specific fans more and more. Redshirt senior middle blocker Dominique Thompson has one fan that she has deemed as her favorite fan. She knows where he normally sits, section T, and always gives him a fist bump before the games start. Even though he’s not a student or a teacher, he never misses their games. “I’ve seen him a couple times around campus and I always
run up to him and make sure he knows he’s my favorite fan,” Thompson said, smiling. This interaction is emblematic of a larger trend. The volleyball team has started to make an impactful connection with the greater Madison community. I remember talking to head coach Sheffield last spring when he said one of his goals for the program was to have little girls in the stands to look up at his players and think to themselves, “I want to be like her one day.” For Thomas, this has happened. When asked about her favorite fan, she immediately had an answer. “After every game there’s a little girl that runs up to me that’s four or five years old,” Thomas said. “She runs up to me in my arms and she wears a shirt with my number on it.” Head coach Kelly Sheffield has tried to put an emphasis on interactions with community in his time with the Badgers. “We’re all granted an awful lot …
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you know people [are] giving their time and money to watch us play,” Sheffield said. “There is a responsibility that you connect and you let them know that ‘Hey we appreciate all of this.’” Sheffield knows having a strong relationship with the community is extremely beneficial to his program. “A big goal of mine has been ownership of the program,” Sheffield said. “When you walk through town or across campus I want people to say, ‘Man we were great last night rather than you.” This expansion of fan ownership this season has not only been seen within the Madison community but also within the UW community as the student section continues to grow. Carlini specifically remembers the impact the student section had on the team during the Nebraska game a couple weeks ago. “I remember walking into timeouts the crowd going nuts and turning to my teammates and going, ‘This is awesome guys. This feels amazing.’” Carlini said. The players have also noticed the improvement of the student section’s cheers and organization. For Thomas, this is exactly what she wanted to accomplish in her college career. “This is exactly what I wanted to do at Wisconsin,” Thomas said. “Bring this crowd back and bring back the love that people used to have for the sport, because it’s here, it just went away for a little bit.” Fans have another opportunity Wednesday to show the athletic department the crowds aren’t going anywhere. If they can continue the trend for the rest of the Badger’s home games, the athletic department will not be able to say no.
?
READY TO COME UP WITH A
IDEA
Open to all UW students
WATCH IT COME TO LIFE DURING THE ERLC’S
100-Hour Challenge! Thursday, Nov. 13
Monday, Nov. 17
Pick up leftover SWAP “treasures” from Sellery Hall
Upload a video or photo gallery of your pitch and prototype by 1PM
Repurpose the items into a “creation” within the 100-hour time limit
$1,200 in cash prizes
Three categories of Winners: Most potential revenue value Most creative Most potential social value
More information: go.wisc.edu/100hour
wil gibb/cardinal file photo
Former top recruit and current Badger star Lauren Carlini represents a promising future for Wisconsin volleyball.
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