Weekend, November 20-22, 2009 - The Daily Cardinal by The Daily Cardinal

Supergroup Them Crooked Vultures prove to be satisfying, but not super ARTS

University of Wisconsin-Madison

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PESKY CATS PROVIDE HURDLE IN BIG TEN FINALE UW visits Evanston for the first time since 2005, where they haven’t won since 1999 SPORTS

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Weekend, November 20-22, 2009

Fair Wisconsin students discuss LGBT rights

Ollie up!

By Kayla Torgerson The Daily Cardinal

lorenzo zemella/the daily cardinal

A student sets up for a rail grind during the Hoofer Ski and Snowboard Club’s first Rail Jam at Memorial Union Terrace on Thursday.

Students for a Fair Wisconsin hosted a meeting Thursday to discuss domestic partner benefits for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and increased legal protections. State Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, spoke at the meeting said supporters of LGBT rights had made several victories in the past year. “We really had a good year when it comes to equality in Wisconsin,” Pocan said. “We made huge, huge gains, despite the really ugly constitutional amendment [banning gay marriage].” Pocan said these gains are a

result of many organizations, including Democrats, religious groups and organized labor groups, forming a coalition of people deciding “to stand up for what is right in Wisconsin.” Katie Bellanger, executive director of Fair Wisconsin, said the LGBT community has made many gains in legislation, but they are not done working toward full legal protection. “This past year has been a really exciting time for people in Wisconsin, and we’ve made some really important steps forward, and we’re not quite there yet, but we have a lot of work to do,” lgbt page 3

UW System drops consultant in UW-Milwaukee research dispute By Ariel Shapiro The Daily Cardinal

Under pressure from Gov. Jim Doyle, the UW System withdrew Tuesday from a funding dispute between UW-Madison and UW-Milwaukee over research related to water technology. The conflict centered on funding for a Madison-based freshwater research consultant, Jeff Smoller, who is on leave from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Smoller serves on The Daily Cardinal Board of Directors. Located near one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, UW-Milwaukee is currently planning to build a school specifically for freshwater research. Although the hiring of this consultant did not directly affect

UW-Milwaukee’s funding, they saw it as the state spending money unnecessarily on UW-Madison, the system’s largest research institution. “Madison greatly, greatly outreceives Milwaukee,” said Eric Peterson, chief of staff for state Sen. Lena Taylor, D-Milwaukee. “This project is something that Milwaukee has been working on for a long time.” Taylor and other Milwaukee lawmakers urged the removal of funding for Smoller to keep the investment for the water research in Milwaukee. “We are happy to see that the funding has been removed from that position,” Peterson said. However, UW System spokesperson David Giroux said although he understands Milwaukee’s concerns, the con-

tract agreement would not have diminished Milwaukee’s role as Wisconsin’s center for freshwater research. “We’ve done a lot to prepare UW-Milwaukee to take a lead role for this very exciting idea in Milwaukee,” Giroux said, citing funding for the new freshwater research school. However, Giroux said some people in Milwaukee misunderstood the funding for the consultant as undermining research efforts the new freshwater school will provide. “I think if there’s a problem here it is that the UW System has not done a good enough job explaining all the things in support of Milwaukee and UW-Milwaukee specifically,” Giroux said We’ve got to do a better job at getting the word out.”

WISPIRG simulation places UW students in role of homeless By Ryan Hebel The Daily Cardinal

UW-Madison sophomore Alana Bandos had not seen the homeless connection to students until a recent lunch at Rheta’s cafeteria in Chabourne Hall. “It’s not so much a matter of survival of the fittest. We’re not doing more to help ourselves than they are.” Alana Bandos Sophomore UW-Madison

“I saw a student, backpack and

papers out, eating my half-eaten, disgusting cafeteria food,” she said. “This is someone who is trying to better himself, get an education at one of the best institutions in the country, and can’t make ends meet because tuition is so high.” The incident stuck with Bandos, who hosted the Wisconsin Students Public Interest Research Group’s “Poverty Parallel” event Thursday night at The Crossing, a campus Christian center. About 25 students attended the event, which included a poverty simulation where students were given characters with different social statuses, encountering obstacles like unemployment, foreclosures, illness and drug addiction.

Mariana Berbert, coordinator for WISPIRG’s Hunger and Homelessness campaign, said she thought the simulation had a greater affect on students than statistics. She said she hopes it will motivate students to get involved in Madison’s homeless issues, such as Assembly Bill 72. The goal of the bill is to fund grants to agencies and shelter facilities and provide temporary shelters for homeless individuals and families in the vicinity of the state Capitol. Bandos said the recession helped spawn about 800 foreclosures throughout Dane County last year, adding many impoverished residents wispirg page 3

isabel álvarez/the daily cardinal

State Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, discussed LGBT rights and the domestic partner registry with student members of Fair Wisconsin.

UW-Madison awarded $9.5 million for influenza research By Alison Dirr The Daily Cardinal

UW-Madison was awarded $9.5 million from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for influenza virus research, it was announced Thursday. Yoshihiro Kawaoka, UW-Madison professor of virology, is leading the team of international researchers charged with identifying viral mutations. The team hopes to prevent future pandemics by using the information to create an early notification system. “Early intervention is critical to the control of influenza virus outbreaks,” Kawaoka said in a statement. The study will focus mainly on avian influenza viruses. Although it is unlikely humans will be affected, one mutation may allow the virus to bond to receptors in human cells. This is when a pandemic usually occurs, the

statement said. “The improved ability to predict whether a virus has pandemic potential would be an invaluable asset to the global community,” Kawaoka said in the statement. “Millions of lives might be saved if intervention methods— such as social distancing … vaccine development and production—could be implemented early.” UW-Madison University Health Services is also taking the prevention path as they prepare for an uptick in H1N1 cases after Thanksgiving and winter breaks, UHS Executive Director Sarah Van Orman said. Van Orman said UHS will be ready for the next round of outbreaks. UHS plans to offer H1N1 vaccines on a large scale during the first two weeks of December. According to Van Orman, no flu cases reported have been seasonal flu.

“…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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TODAY: cloudy hi 50º / lo 37º

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Weekend, November 20-22, 2009

An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892

Need to get back home safely? Walk it out

Volume 119, Issue 53

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

News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com Editor in Chief Charles Brace Managing Editor Justin Stephani Campus Editor Kelsey Gunderson Caitlin Gath City Editor State Editor Hannah Furfaro Enterprise Editor Ryan Hebel Associate News Editor Grace Urban Senior News Reporters Ariel Shapiro Robert Taylor, Kayla Torgerson Anthony Cefali Opinion Editors Todd Stevens Editorial Board Editor Qi Gu Arts Editors Kevin Slane Kyle Sparks Sports Editors Scott Kellogg Nico Savidge Features Editor Diana Savage Food Editor Sara Barreau Science Editor Jigyasa Jyotika Photo Editors Isabel Alvarez Danny Marchewka Graphics Editors Amy Gifﬁn Jenny Peek Copy Chiefs Kate Manegold Emma Roller Jake Victor Copy Editors Sam Berg, Caitlin Furin, Marcus Hauzen, Alex Kuskowski, Kate Mioni

Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Alex Kusters Advertising Manager Katie Brown Billing Manager Mindy Cummings Accounts Receivable Manager Cole Wenzel Senior Account Executive Ana Devcic Account Executives Mara Greenwald, Kristen Lindsay, D.J. Nogalski, Jordan Rossman, Sarah Schupanitz Online Account Executive Tom Shield Mara Greenwald Graphic Designer Web Directors Eric Harris, Dan Hawk Marketing Director Mia Beeson Archivist Erin Schmidtke The Daily Cardinal is published weekdays and distributed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and its surrounding community with a circulation of 10,000. 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. 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 typewritten, double-spaced and no longer than 200 words, including contact information. Letters may be sent to editor@dailycardinal.com.

Editorial Board Charles Brace Anthony Cefali Qi Gu Jamie Stark Todd Stevens Justin Stephani l

ANDREW LAHR spare me the lahrcasm

he recent boom of streetwalking safety units is obviously a wonderful thing for the city of Madison. Nobody should have to walk home in fear. But as appreciated as these neighborhood watchers are, their increased presence raises some questions. For example, you might ask, just who exactly are these neon-emblazoned patrollers? Or maybe you’d like to know what sort of credentials they have? Perhaps you’d like them to explain what’s with the peculiar passion for walking? More importantly, though, you’re probably wondering which gang of nightwalkers deserves your loyalty. The answers to all these questions are forthcoming. Oh, here they are. In response to the ﬁrst query, I can tell you these cats are the real deal. Great Americans—each and every one of

them—who just love to walk. And they’re all worthy of your patronage, as well. As far as their qualifications, I’m fairly certain they’ve all got legs, which seems adequate. That leaves us with one final question: Which group do you entrust with your safety? It’s a complicated matter, because each group offers its own benefits and unique services. Consider the example of SAFEwalk, which definitely ranks as the best-dressed escort service in town. They’re the oldest show around, so it’s no surprise they’ve found a way to tame fluorescent orange and black—arguably the most offensive color combination known to man—into a neat-looking windbreaker. Thus, when you walk with SAFEwalk, you do so in style. Conversely, should you find yourself on the shoulder of a Guardian Angel, you might think about slowing down a bit. You know, to create some distance and give the illusion that you’re not together. Nobody wants to be spotted with a guy in urban camo cargo shorts, a tucked-in, long-sleeve Tshirt and a red beret.

The Dirty Bird

Board of Directors Vince Filak Alex Kusters Joan Herzing Jason Stein Jeff Smoller Janet Larson Chris Long Charles Brace Katie Brown Benjamin Sayre Jenny Sereno Terry Shelton l

For the record Corrections or clariﬁcations? Call The Daily Cardinal ofﬁce at 608-262-8000 or send an e-mail to edit@dailycardinal.com.

But it’s important to remember that while the Guardian Angels may hold the title of worst-dressed walkers-home, as Madison’s lone recognized arbiters of vigilante justice, they’re also the most likely to citizen arrest you. Just something to keep in mind. Of course, if neither of these options suits your safety tastes, let it be no bother. Or rather, let it be no bother if you live in the Langdon or Spring Street neighborhoods, because the Greek Council and the Associated Students of Madison have gone and done you a major solid. Now, if you’re walking home at night and you encounter a gang of frat boys with flashlights or aspiring student politicians in neon yellow, you no longer need to be afraid. Unlike the two previously mentioned services, which could conceivably cover any downtown neighborhood, the two newest players in the neighborhood patrolling game specialize in certain areas. Think of how much leg energy they must conserve. Should a kick fight break out on your walk home, you definitely

want the Greeks or ASM by your side. When faced with the prospect of a kick ﬁght, you really can’t put a price on leg energy. And while the ASM and Greek ventures are relatively new on the scene compared to SAFEwalk and may lack the martial arts background and small weapons training of the Guardian Angels, they still manage to get themselves in the newspapers an awful lot. The local news media seem to have a crush on these precocious upstarts. Channel 27 even came out to cover the inaugural march of the Spring Street patrol gang. You can’t beat free publicity. So the next time you’re far from home and all alone, please consider these things I’ve told you. We’re fortunate to have so many diverse safety options here in Madison. Now it’s just a matter of choosing the right one. Want to petition the Crips to come to Madison and institute a campuswide Crip Walk? Join the cause by e-mailing Andrew at aplahr@wisc.edu.

sex and the student body

a double dose of intercourse ERICA ANDRIST sex columnist Hello Erica, I have a question for your column...I want to have intercourse with my boyfriend, but his penis is really big. What’s a good position or any tips to eliminate as much discomfort as possible? — S.R.

WEEKEND: sunny hi 54º / lo 40º

owdy, S.R.! Thanks for your question. Many people assume a bigger penis equals bigger pleasure, but a) lots of other factors are far more important for pleasure, and b) a big dick can also present a few complications. First, a couple tips: warm-up and LUBE. By warm-up, I mean making sure you, presumably the receptive partner based on your concern for your partner’s penis size, are fully aroused and ready to receive penetration. You or your partner can try manual stimulation, toys, oral sex, erotica or dirty talk to help make sure both of you are fully in the mood before intercourse. When beginning penetration, you can also work your way up; start with a ﬁnger, then two ﬁngers, then perhaps a small dildo. This will keep you from experiencing cockshock when your boyfriend pulls out the, erm, big gun. Additionally, the warm-up doesn’t apply to one singular sex session; over time, both the vagina and the anus can become accustomed to handling a larger object, whether it is longer, thicker or both. LUBE is in caps for a reason. Use it, and use it copiously. Silicone lube tends to be a bit thicker and longer-lasting, but it cannot be used with silicone toys. Water-based lube will certainly work for these toys, but avoid oil-based lubes if you’re using latex barriers; oil breaks down latex. There are also plenty of positions that will allow for either vaginal or anal pen-

etration without allowing your boyfriend to insert the full length of his cock. One relatively familiar position is reverse cowgirl but with a slight modiﬁcation: Lean back and align yourself more with your partner’s belly button, rather than pelvis to pelvis, so his penis has to travel to reach you. This position allows you, as the receptive partner, to maintain control of the speed, depth and angle of penetration, while also holding your pelvis several inches above your partner’s, keeping him from entering you fully. This can also be accomplished by supporting yourself with your feet in a squatting position instead of sitting or kneeling directly on top of your partner. One other position is straightup missionary, but with your legs closed (seems counterintuitive, perhaps, but it works). Your thighs will cushion you from too much penetration, and they will also help your partner feel as though he’s all the way inside you (especially if you lube up your thighs). Spooning is another good one that will work well for vaginal penetration, but not as well for anal.

Many people assume a bigger penis equals bigger pleasure, but a) lots of other factors are far more important for pleasure and b) a big dick can also present a few complications.

Finally, one position which may not be as pleasurable is doggy style. Doggy style allows for deep penetration, which can be great for many couples but can also be complicated by a partner using a big insertive object. Rapid thrusting in this position can also push air into the anus or vagina, further increasing the sensation of uncomfortable fullness. While I certainly won’t advise you to avoid doggy-style at all costs, it may not be the best position to start with for the noted reasons. Best of luck as you try to work it out—and, as it were, work it in.

My girlfriend and I want to do more physical things, but neither of us thinks we’re ready for sex. Are there any other things we can do before we decide we want to have sex? We’ve already been making out and sometimes had oral sex. — N.C. While N.C. provides another excellent question, this one is a little tougher to answer. At a fundamental level, I cannot deﬁne “sex” for anybody else. What activities are considered sex for N.C. might be totally different from what I consider to be sex, which might be totally different from what my mom considers to be sex. So this will be one question we’ll ultimately have to answer for ourselves. The good news, however, is that the only limits we’ve got are the ones we and our partners set for ourselves. No one has any right to tell us what we’re doing does or does not “count” as sex. So my suggestion to you, N.C., is to sit down with your partner and make a list of all the activities you’re interested in and are comfortable trying. For inspiration, you can use the Internet, erotica or your favorite movie. You can incorporate toys, role-playing, erotic massage, dirty talk or bondage. When you’re done with your lists, you and your partner can compare to see what activities you had in common, and if one of you had fun ideas the other hadn’t considered. Finally, two key things you and your partner seem to have going for you are your respect for each others’ personal boundaries and a willingness to explore. No matter the sexual activities we are or are not engaging in, communicating with our partners about what does and does not turn us on is a huge part of the foundation of a healthy sexual relationship. So no matter what you decide to try, rest assured you’ve already got many of the necessary components of a healthy sex life. Have any questions about sex that you’re burning to ask? E-mail Erica at sex@dailycardinal.com.

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wispirg from page 1 who, like many UW-Madison students, had never considered the prospect of homelessness before. “We need to not only look out for ourselves and realize that this could happen to us through credit card debt and increased student tuition, but also help the people who are currently in this situation

and realize that they are in dire need of our help,” she said. “It’s not so much a matter of survival of the fittest. We’re not doing more to help ourselves than they are, we’re simply provided with better lives from the start,” Bandos added. WISPIRG will hold a “Poverty Summit” for students Friday at 2 p.m. in the Psychology building in room 107.

isabel álvarez/the daily cardinal

WISPIRG member Alana Bandos organized Thursday night’s ‘Poverty Parallel’ event to teach students about poverty’s unseen implications.

Survey: Wisconsin employers pay 22 percent more than nation for health insurance Wisconsin employers and workers pay on average 22 percent higher than the national average for health insurance, according to a new survey conducted by Mercer. The study showed the cost of health benefits for employees in Wisconsin rose by 6.8 percent in 2009 and employers paid an average of $10,888 per employee. The national average rose by 5.5 percent, with employers paying an average of $8,945 per employee. According to a statement from

Police say officer was assaulted by patient escaping medical facility A patient trying to escape a medical facility assaulted a Madison police officer on the 1200 block of Regent Street Tuesday morning, according to a police report. Security staff from an unknown medical facility called the Madison Police Department for backup around 9 a.m. after they were unable to capture run-away patient Charles Cleeland, 25, the report said. Once the officer was able to catch up to Cleeland on Regent Street he attempted to calm down Cleeland, but Cleeland instead threw several punches at the officer and assisting security staff, according to the report. According to the report, Cleeland pushed the officer so hard in the chest it caused the officer to fall backward and strike his head on the pavement. He suffered a head cut and a concussion. Cleeland was arrested for battery to a police officer and was taken to jail, the report said.

Citizen Action of Wisconsin, Wisconsin’s health insurance costs have been higher than the national average for seven years straight. Executive Director of CAW Robert Kraig said rising health-care costs in Wisconsin are more of a reason to push health-care reform legislation. “Skyrocketing health insurance costs are a crushing burden on working families and a drag on the Wisconsin economy’s capacity to add desperately needed new jobs,” he said.

Weekend, November 20-22, 2009

news

Unemployment rate decreases to 7.6 percent in October Wisconsin’s unemployment rate decreased from 7.7 percent to 7.6 percent this October, according to a report released by the Department of Workforce Development Thursday. In October 2008, Wisconsin’s unemployment rate was 4.4 percent. The national unemployment rate was 6.1 percent at that time. Wisconsin’s current unemployment rate was 1.9 percentage points lower than the national average, which was recorded at 9.5 percent in October. The national rate was unchanged from September. Nonfarm jobs increased by 7,200, and service producers added 9,400 jobs. The manufacturing sector lost 5,000 jobs, and employment related to leisure and hospitality decreased by 12,000. The civilian labor force lost nearly 18,000 jobs in October. According to the DWD, total nonfarm jobs decreased by 129,600 over the past year. Manufacturing decreased by 48,700 jobs, and the service sector lost 70,600 jobs.

By the numbers: Unemployment September to October: Unemployment decreased by 0.1 percentage points in October, dropping from 7.7 percent to 7.6 percent.

2008 to 2009: The unemployment rate increased from 4.4 percent in October 2008 to 7.6 percent in October 2009.

Wisconsin vs. The United States: In October, the nation faced an unemployment rate of 9.5 percent. In October 2008, the national unemployment rate was 6.1 percent.

In a statement, DWD Secretary Roberta Gassman said Wisconsin’s rate of unemployment has been on the decline since June. She said the most recent data on employment show Wisconsin is at the lowest unem-

ployment rate the state has seen this year. “While this is good news, we know many remain unemployed, and we are doing all that we can to put them back to work and move the economy forward,” she said.

Dispute, assault over panhandling hotspot leads to arrest A homeless man was arrested Tuesday afternoon for disorderly conduct and resisting arrest after he assaulted a man on the 500 block of State Street, according to a police report. Around 3:30 p.m. a Madison police officer arrived at the scene after the victim, a 55-year-old

lgbt from page 1 Bellanger said. Pocan agreed and said the future of the LGBT rights movement will rely heavily on student involvement. “The backbone of a lot of the efforts on behalf of equality came from people under 30 and came

male, had been “shoved down hard to the ground” by Earlie Wilson, 48, the report said. According to the report, the victim said he had control over a certain panhandling spot for another hour, but Wilson did not want to wait his turn to “shake the cup.” The officer was able to locate

the suspect, but Wilson resisted arrest and another officer was needed to complete the arrest, the report said. While being taken to jail, Wilson said he would be returning to Chicago. According to the victim, he is commonly known as “Tip Top.”

from students … but that doesn’t mean that just because all your friends support [equality] that you can be complacent,” Pocan said. “It’s important that people who believe strongly in something get active, because it’s the best way to make sure that what they believe in can actually take place.” The College Democrats are

planning a lobby day in the spring to show support for equality and to let politicians know students care about LGBT issues, according to chair Molly Rivera “Domestic partnerships is a really important first step,” Rivera said. “I think it is just going to take time for generations to change and transform.”

opinion 4

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Weekend, November 20-22, 2009

Editorial Cartoon

By John Liesveld opinion@dailycardinal.com

LETTER TO THE EDITOR:

Column does disservice to campus community As a teaching assistant on campus here who daily observes the way that racism functions within the UW academic community, I wanted to write to express my extraordinary dismay at your willingness to publish Andrew Carpenter’s opinion column. I am all for diversity of opinion and First Amendment rights, but one would presume that some editorial discretion would have been warranted in this particular case. To allow those opinions to be disseminated campuswide to an almost lily-white student body is, at best, counterproductive to the university’s project of minority recruitment and, at worst, completely alienates minority students and grants legitimacy to divisive racist sentiments to which Madison is certainly no stranger. And that’s really what’s at stake here, Mr. Brace. There are few ways you can construe sentiments such as this: “It makes sense to expect minority students to drop out at higher rates than white students now, since some minority students were not admitted solely on their ability to succeed at a Big Ten school,” without admitting that you are publishing racist material. This article typiﬁes historian Barbara Fields’ observation that “disguised as race, racism becomes something Afro-Americans [or other minorities] are, rather than something racists do.” You have, at base, offered a way for white students to justify their own racism, but simply recoded it to place the blame on the university for admitting minority students or, worse yet, on those minority students for being here at all. Rather than talking about “race” as the problem, a piece like this would be better directed as talking about the effects of “racism,” a problem on campus for many students, including Andrew Carpenter, apparently. The question has to be asked of what, precisely, the motive is for publishing things like this. Any guess on that eludes me, but

one suspects that, regardless of intent, the ﬁnal result is to make minority students feel even less welcome on campus than many of them already do. Andrew’s sweeping generalizations about the racially harmonious fantasy land that he sees evident on campus aside, UW has a serious problem in regard to racial diversity and tolerance, and this type of material isn’t helping. And all of that isn’t even getting into the legacies of the historical inequities that affirmative action and race-based admissions work to combat. It’s enormously problematic, and journalistically unsound, to not even offer a consideration of the reasons those systems exist in the first place. If Andrew is aware of them, he has to talk about them. If he’s not, he has no business writing this piece in the first place. It reflects poorly on the Cardinal, on UW, and on the Madison student community. It also reﬂects poorly on Andrew. While he does a disservice to himself by putting this into print, as his editor, you do the same by allowing it to go to press. Once you put such horrendously miscondsidered, misguided, and unjust material out, it stays there forever, particularly in today’s internet age. One suspects that if he is pursuing a career in journalism, this will haunt him in that endeavor. As a UW alum, current Ph.D. student and teaching assistant, I sincerely hope that you both address this matter in some way and make an effort toward doing better work in the future. We as a campus community deserve better. —Simon Balto

No room for slackers in UW science curriculum ANTHONY CEFALI opinion columnist

esterday I was embarrassingly duped, and it felt worse than getting Rickrolled. Outside of Walgreens on State Street someone handed me a copy of Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species.” The initial act took me completely by surprise, since normally people are pedaling miniature bibles rather than books on scientifically verifiable theories of how the world actually came to be. The catch was that the “Origin” being distributed had an introduction by notable creationist Ray Comfort (best known for his YouTube presence as that guy with that theory about bananas and monkeys). The introduction itself is laughable, as Comfort brings noted biologist and evolutionary theorist Stephen Jay Gould into the conversation—a conversation Gould would most likely have abstained from. Comfort’s erroneous use of Gould is highly unethical, and it also highlights a major issue that we have in the ways ideas surrounding science are communicated. Of course, scientists can be more clear and forward with their ideas, but we as the public must take some responsibility and become more aware of the basic scientific laws that govern life on this planet. A lot has to do with our education system in general, a system that is steeped heavily in rewarding correct answers rather than actual knowledge and learning.

Here at UW-Madison, we are known for our dedication to science and research. The campus seems to be growing at an exponential rate, adding new build-

ings for research and discovery. The university holds its science students to incredibly rigorous standards, which is beneficial to both the university and society as a whole. The problem is that the faculty in charge of curriculum seem to forget that a significant portion of the student population are not science majors, and the science requirements for nonscience majors definitely reflect this.

As students deemed smart enough to attend this university ... we are deﬁnitely up to the challenge.

There is this laundry list of science classes that people go to when they don’t want to learn any actual science. Geology 100, “Physics of the Arts,” “Age of the Dinosaurs”—these are classes meant to trick people into thinking about things in a scientific way by presenting them with an interesting twist. Unfortunately, they invariably end up becoming known as the go-to classes for students who want to satisfy requirements without actually learning anything. A lot has to do with our education system in general, a system that is steeped heavily in rewarding correct answers rather than actual knowledge and learning. We seldom take the time to build the learning communities that are integral to success, and it shows. It’s sad to think that we are still playing these games at this level, but we are limited by the amount of time we have to consume the information we are presented. This rapidﬁre philosophy of education is a big issue, but we cannot confront this attitude without ﬁrst setting adequate standards for our science curriculum on campus. If curriculum directors really care about the education students are receiving, they will either bring the science requirements up to speed with the

rest of the curriculum or get rid of the requirements altogether. As students deemed smart enough to attend this university, one that promotes endless “sifting and winnowing” for the sake of truth, we are deﬁnitely up to the challenge of a more comprehensive science education. It’s important for a well-rounded education, especially for those people who think they can’t do science, though they probably haven’t really tried. Good examples for what an intro-level science education should be are the Integrated Liberal Studies courses offered. The ILS courses present science in a way that all majors can learn from rather than teaching on an irrelevant level of scale. The emphasis is placed on how we understand our connection to science and the world rather than it being a list of facts in a vacuum. Professor Tim Allen’s class on the life sciences, “Plants and Man,” gives students a good idea of the problems science faces. It highlights science’s imperfections and that science, as we know it today, is more democratic than we see it. We all can contribute to science and benefit from it, as long as we bring our own perspectives and think about it in a constructively critical manner. The emphasis of this more rigorous science curriculum should be placed on the relationship between us and science. We need classes that generate genuine interest in science and explain how theories like evolution and relativity shape the world and in many ways society. When David Byrne was with the Talking Heads, he pointed out that life is always the “same as it ever was,” a cycle of growth and development and death, the evolution of the planet. For this reason, it is imperative that we try and meet the communicatively challenged scientists halfway so we can all help the planet. Anthony Cefali is a senior majoring in biology and English. We welcome all feedback. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

arts

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Weekend, November 20-22, 2009

Crooked motives of rock By Kyle Sparks THE DAILY CARDINAL

The last time Josh Homme and Dave Grohl teamed up, they recorded Songs for the Deaf, arguably the most liberated work in Queens of the Stone Age’s catalog. Homme, a present-day authority on desert rock, and Grohl, a founding father of grunge, complemented each other’s unbridled selfindulgences to create a masochistic bravado that was both captivating and smothering. Seven years removed from the landmark effort, the two reunited—with help from Led Zeppelin’s John Paul Jones on bass—to form Them Crooked Vultures, a group so insolently pompous they almost redeﬁne the term “cock rock.”

for years but never fully realized. Even the radio-ready songs are a heavy load. Vultures coat every element with distortion but somehow manage to keep the product smooth enough to achieve maximal velocity. It’s somewhat apparent that Vultures is a one-shot deal with the way each idea and each hook is presented with such immediacy. The group has so many ideas they’re afraid they won’t have enough time to get them all out, and when stretched over an entire full-length album, it becomes a bit overwhelming.

CD REVIEW

John Paul Jones exists in Vultures only to tie the loose ends in what is essentially a Homme-Grohl free-for-all. The two have enough natural chemistry to pack Vultures with a surplus of thundering riffs, but the bits and pieces of brilliance struggle to ﬁnd an organized presentation. Jones gives ample room for exploration and ﬁlls in the blanks amiably, but what makes a supergroup super is the impressive contributions of multiple songwriting forces. In this case, it sounds like Vultures is a two-man show, and they’re having too much fun to be able to remove themselves from the situation to examine it objectively.

PHOTO COURTESY AUBREY EDWARDS

Ola Podrida’s latest mixes nondescript elements of indie pop to create a sound as noteworthy as a day spent at the laundromat.

Ola Podrida depict dull life By Jacqueline O’Reilly

out distinctively from the others. With similar melodies and When looking for music that rhythms, the songs start to blur brings to mind images of plaid together, creating a muddled ﬂannel shirts, Samuel Beam- listening experience. style facial hair and worn-down Only when each song is corduroy pants, look no further listened to separately do the than Ola Podrida. With every record’s high points make solemn melody and subtle lyric, themselves known. There still the group evokes such images. aren’t a lot of them, but a It’s likely, however, that when couple pop up. visualized, these images don’t “Donkey” is a great track seem all that unique. That’s that possesses a very Sufjan because they’re not. Stevens-esque tone, folky with This fact says just about a twist. Its composition is minieverything one needs to know mal, containing little more than about Ola Podrida. Like the vocals and the strumming of a images, they’re banjo. Upbeat CD REVIEW not particuand hopelarly unique. ful, Wingo Chances are, sings, “We laid e v e r y o n e’s around / We already heard a waited for a similar soundsign / When the ing band. Yet evening light is this doesn’t fading / We’re Belly of the Lion mean Ola still waiting for Ola Podrida Podrida doesn’t you.” This is create decent one of the few music. Instead, it means the instances on Belly of the Lion indie beard you’ve managed to where Wingo isn’t crying over grow for “no-shave November” his wait, but anticipating its has a new group to add to end. This joyful outlook gives its soundtrack alongside Horse Ola Podrida more creativity to Feathers and Iron & Wine. experiment with, and the end result, like “Donkey,” is a far better song. “Your Father’s Basement” is another place where the album It’s likely, however, that when peaks. It’s very traditional in visualized, these images demeanor and content, but don’t seem all that unique. because it’s done exceedingly That’s because they’re not. well, the lack of originality comes off as classic instead of boring. The song reminisces about the old days, recalling instances Belly of the Lion is Ola of prank calls, spying on your Podrida’s latest release, a haunt- sister and her friends and sneakingly mellow collection of ing some of the booze Dad hid laments. In line with their lack behind the water heater. These of originality, these laments are seemingly pleasant memories are not particularly original, all paired with a mournful melody, drawn from lackluster relation- stirring up a sense of nostalgia ships and described in a way and longing simultaneously. that’s been heard before. Within To say Belly of the Lion is a the album, lead singer David bad album would be an overWingo explores these common statement. Instead, it should feelings, using sedated rhythms be described as a hit-or-miss and instrumentation to adorn collection of tracks that serves his emotion. the listener best when listened As it turns out, Ola Podrida to in fragments. Perhaps if lacks more than distinctiveness individual songs are added when compared to other groups. to an iTunes playlist entitled Within itself, Belly of the Lion “Music By Bearded Guys,” Ola also lacks variation. Not one of Podrida’s latest release can be the album’s nine tracks stands truly appreciated.

It’s somewhat apparent that Vultures is a one-shot deal with the way each idea and each hook is presented with such immediacy.

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Their eponymous debut exhibits an isolation so complete that it’s entirely open, breaking down numerous rock conventions in its expansive roam. They show utter disregard for time signatures and stray from the melody as far as they can before reconvening in outright contempt for their own instruments. Whereas Poison, Foreigner and other ’80s cock-rockers defined themselves by their sexual promiscuity, Homme and Grohl seem content to define themselves by their more purified audaciousness. And, all told, they have impressive testicular fortitude. Vultures has the kind of roomy density Homme’s been toying with

Them Crooked Vultures Them Crooked Vultures A main element of Homme and Grohl’s reunion equation that will get overlooked is the absence of Nick Oliveri. After sharing the stage with Homme through Songs for the Deaf, Oliveri’s less-than-amicable split showed through in QOTSA’s subsequent foray into more winding melodies and meandering chords. Oliveri provided both substance and location to Homme’s off-the-cuff songwriting. Songs for the Deaf ’s polarity was pinned to the wall by Oliveri’s deliberate bass riffs, and its dueling apha males were trained to cooperate by his productive contributions. Without his input, though, the two are like hungry dogs ravaging the studio for snacks, feasting on every note with voracious glee. Although one of the most legendary names in the history of music,

These guys write a handful of thunderous riffs before rolling out of bed in the morning.

They have thunderous riffs, sure, but you get the sense they’re sleepwalking through them. These guys write a handful of thunderous riffs before rolling out of bed in the morning. A supergroup like this one needs to be truly transformative to be a success, and Them Crooked Vultures only ever achieve that pinnacle in name. Their instrumental machismo will do a lot to counterbalance hair metal’s spin on phallic perversions, but their lack of a consistent structure suggests they’re just sort of playing around. Homme and Grohl will always produce something worth listening to, and Them Crooked Vultures is no different. At some point, though, they need to stop pushing the envelope and just start lighting it on ﬁre.

comics 6

No smelling! In Kentucky, it is required by law that every person takes at least one bath each year. dailycardinal.com/comics

Weekend, November 20-22, 2009

Urban Kayaking

Today’s Sudoku

Evil Bird

By Caitlin Kirihara kirihara@wisc.edu

Angel Hair Pasta

By Todd Stevens ststevens@wisc.edu

Sid and Phil

By Alex Lewein alex@sidandphil.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.

Today’s Crossword Puzzle

The Graph Giraffe Classic

Charlie and Boomer

By Yosef Lerner ilerner@wisc.edu

By Natasha Soglin soglin@wisc.edu

Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com

mating calls ACROSS 1 Easily carved gem 5 Harts and does 10 640 acres (Abbr.) 14 Body lotion ingredient 15 Available for occupation 16 “Clan of the Cave Bear” author 17 Hockshop proprietor 19 Dudley Do-Right’s girl 20 Pigged out 21 Go to the mat, hillbilly style 22 Tennis units 23 South Africa’s Mandela 25 Revenuers, for short 27 Astronomical phenomenon 33 Utter nonsense 36 Chinese fruit (Var.) 37 “... ___ the fields we go ...” 38 “How much am ___?” (auction query) 39 ___-mouthed (insincere) 40 “Terrible” title 41 “___ of Frankenstein” 42 “High Plains Drifter” actress Bloom 43 Ashtray fill

4 Division into parts 4 47 Helped with a line 48 Jazz players, e.g. 52 Bagpiper, often 54 Quick impression 58 Web address feature 59 Forbidden perfume? 60 South African Nobel Peace Prize winner 62 South side? 63 Wings hit “___ In” 64 Touch-screen image 65 Bell emanation 66 Eliminate 67 Corporate benefit DOWN 1 “The Mikado” locale 2 Get ___ start (run behind) 3 Carpenter’s pin 4 Evening, in an ode 5 2007-08 NBA Rookie of the Year 6 TV deputy from Hazzard 7 “Benevolent & Protective” group 8 Walk dizzily 9 Like elastic 10 American of Japanese ancestry 11 Vertical tie in a roof truss 12 Sandwich with cheese

13 Targets of social reform 18 “___ Hilda” 24 Variety of poker 26 1051, to Nero 28 Ready for anything 29 Tropical forest vine 30 Brilliant display 31 Stock-exchange membership 32 Commits a faux pas 33 “Boo” accompaniment 34 Wind in a pit 35 Large venomous snake 39 Like easily repaired things 40 Food fish 42 Letter made with two fingers 43 Bounce to the surface 45 Type of funds 46 Money earned 49 Draw out 50 Chopper spinner 51 Smelled to high heaven 52 “Go no further!” 53 Birthday party staple 55 Debarking point 56 Spanish 101 word 57 Letters on baseball scoreboards 61 Word of advice

Washington and the Bear

By Derek Sandberg kalarooka@gmail.com

sports

dailycardinal.com/sports

Weekend, November 20-22, 2009

Women’s Basketball

Wisconsin 2-0 after downing UW-Milwaukee, 64-55 By Mark Bennett THE DAILY CARDINAL

The Wisconsin women’s basketball team began its defense as the best team in the state with a 64-55 victory over the UW-Milwaukee Panthers at the Klotsche Center Thursday evening. Controlling both ends of the court for the majority of the game and at one point leading by 14, the

Upcoming Schedule 11/27 11/28 11/29 12/03 12/06 12/11 12/13 12/15 12/28 12/31 01/03

Portland State* Oregon CS-Fullerton* at N.C. State Ohio State at Marquette SIU-Edwardsville Robert Morris Michigan State at Iowa at Illinois

* denotes neutral site

northwestern from page 8 “We see this as an opportunity, just like every other week, where we can get in and get after the quarterback and hopefully pick up a couple of sacks,” Watt said. Offensively, Wisconsin quarterback and Rolling Meadows, Ill., native Scott Tolzien is essentially playing in his backyard, and Badger fans should hope he feels right at home. Tolzien’s home and away performances this season have been night and day: He has thrown for just two touchdowns and three interceptions in three games on the road while totaling 12 touchdowns and ﬁve interceptions in seven games at Camp Randall. Whether Tolzien is on or not, the Wildcat defense is sure to get a heavy dose of running backs John Clay and Montee Ball as the Badgers continue their mission of re-establishing Wisconsin football.

ncaa from page 8 game, we’re the underdogs,” Wilkins said. “So I think that puts a little more pressure on BC and allows us to be a little more free with what we want to do.” With the end of Wisconsin’s season on the line, Owusu said she and the three other seniors on the team have stepped up. “We definitely are [taking the leadership role],” Owusu said. “We know that the end of our careers are coming up, so we just kind of want to extend that. We try to keep the team together and focused as much as possible.” Wilkins agreed and said she believed the seniors played an integral part in developing the younger players and bringing the team together. “I think it’s always difficult when there’s a transition and a lot of the younger players have more responsibility,” Wilkins said. “But I think the older players have done a fantastic job of encouraging them and letting them reach their potential.” With Wisconsin’s drastic improvement from 10th place in the Big Ten to third place in just one season, the Badgers’ potential seems limitless. They are now only one game away from their first Elite Eight performance since 1991. Game time tonight is set for 7 p.m. in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Badgers cruised to their second win of the young season. The Badgers were led by several outstanding performances. Junior forward Tara Steinbauer led the team in scoring with 15 points. Her seven rebounds were eclipsed only by junior guard/forward Lin Zastrow, who ﬁnished with eight boards along with 10 points. Also leading Wisconsin in the stats column was senior guard Rae Lin D’Alie, who scored 14 points, and freshman guard Taylor Wurtz, who collected 11. Although UW-Milwaukee battled tough in the game, at one point taking the lead with just under nine minutes left in the second half, Wisconsin’s clutch shooting on the foul line (9-of-12) and nine 3-pointers were ultimately just too much for the Panthers. A late 8-0 rally by the Badgers in the second half, highlighted by two 3-pointers from D’Alie, put the Badgers ahead 57-49 with just under four minutes remaining. From there, the Badgers remained strong on offense and stayed tough

on defense, securing the win. Wisconsin came out strong in the opening minutes of the game, going on a 15-4 run to open the ﬁrst seven minutes. A last second layup by Wurtz put the Badgers up 35-29 at halftime. “This is a tough place to play, and we’ll take the win,” UW head coach Lisa Stone said. “When you’re on the road, you expect to have some adverse situations, but I’m proud of our kids for overcoming those situations.” Although UW-Milwaukee outrebounded the Badgers 42-31, the Panthers turned the ball over 20 times in the game, including 11 Wisconsin steals. Leading the Badgers in that category was D’Alie with four. UW-Milwaukee was led in scoring by junior forward Lindsay Laur with 19 points, and junior center Jenilee Klomstad recorded a double-double for the Panthers with 12 points and 10 rebounds. The Badgers return home this Sunday to the Kohl Center to take on Cleveland State at 1:30 p.m. —uwbadgers.com contributed to this report.

ISABEL ÁLVAREZ/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

Junior forward Tara Steinbauer scored 15 points, shooting 5-for-11 from the ﬁeld, and pulled down seven rebounds in the win.

sports 8

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Weekend, November 20-22, 2009

Football

UW hopes to avoid slip-up at Ryan Field By Justin Dean THE DAILY CARDINAL

The sense of urgency among Wisconsin football players heading into last week’s game against Michigan has not worn off quite yet, as the Badgers prepare to travel to Evanston, Ill., Saturday to take on Northwestern. The Wildcats (4-3 Big Ten, 7-4 overall) are hungry to improve their

bowl prospects coming off two straight wins, one of those being a 17-10 upset of then-undefeated Iowa two weeks ago in Iowa City. Add that to the fact that Wisconsin has not beaten Northwestern in Evanston since 1999 and it is safe to say players and coaches have been on full-blown upset alert this week. “It’s a difﬁcult environment,

Nico and Scott Sports Editors

Kevin and Kyle Arts Editors

Todd and Anthony Opinion Editors

Jake, Emma and Kate Copy Chiefs

Justin and Charley The Management

Nick and James Gameday Editors

OUT ON A LIMB

No. 16 Wisconsin at Northwestern

No. 25 California at No. 17 Stanford

Cal

No. 11 Oregon at Arizona

San Francisco at Green Bay

Atlanta at NY Giants

NYG

Indianapolis at Baltimore

Bal

Ind

Bal

Ind

San Diego at Denver

Den

5-2 46-23

4-3 43-26

5-2 45-24

5-2 41-28

4-3 39-30

3-4 40-29

Last Week Overall

but give credit where credit is due. Northwestern plays very well down there,” head coach Bret Bielema said. “And it’s sometimes a different environment for our guys to walk into, so it’s something we addressed on Sunday.” Shutting down quarterback Mike Kafka and the proﬁcient Northwestern pass offense is number one on the agenda for the Wisconsin defense. The Wildcats are currently ranked third in the conference in passing offense, passing for over 257 yards per game. Thus, it is fair to say Kafka and the Wildcats pose a tough matchup for a Badger secondary that has struggled this season stopping the pass against spread offenses. “The front seven is doing real well this year, and there’s a lot of talk that the secondary might not be up to par,” sophomore cornerback Devin Smith said. “So this is an opportunity to show that we’re a good defense as a whole and it’s not just seven guys, even though they’re playing well. We just need to hold our part in the deal.” The last time the two teams played at Northwestern, in 2005, the Wildcats posted a school-record 674 total yards, 253 of which came from running back Tyrell Sutton, on their way to a 51-48 victory over the Badgers. Wisconsin fans should not have

ISABEL ÁLVAREZ/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Sophomore defensive end J.J. Watt has 10.5 tackles for a loss this season, second on the team and 12th in the Big Ten. to worry about a similar outcome Saturday, as the Badger defense looks to push its streak of holding opponents under 100 rushing yards to eight games. The defensive line should beneﬁt from a porous Wildcat offensive line

ranked ninth in the conference in sacks allowed this year. Sophomore defensive end J.J. Watt said the linemen are “chomping at the bit” to get to Kafka on Saturday. northwestern page 7

Women’s Soccer

Men’s Hockey

High-octane Badger offense takes act to the road to face St. Cloud By Parker Gabriel THE DAILY CARDINAL

The Wisconsin men’s hockey team hits the road this weekend for a WCHA series against St. Cloud State. The Badgers are coming off a six-game home stand in which they won ﬁve of six games, sandwiching a series split with Minnesota between sweeps of New Hampshire and Alaska-Anchorage. Over that period, the Badgers received offensive production from different sources and showed the potential for big goal totals on just about any night. Over the last three weeks, the Badgers averaged 4.5 goals per game and outscored their opponents 27-10. Half of those 10 goals allowed came on one night against Minnesota in a 5-2 loss. No team can score goals without shooting the puck and, so far this season, nobody has done it more than the Badgers. Wisconsin leads the nation in shots on goal, racking up an average of 39.4 per game. On the other side, the Badgers rank second in the nation in fewest shots allowed, giving up only 21.8 per game. Part of the reason the Badgers ﬁnd themselves in the nation’s elite in many statistical categories is the depth of their roster. So far this season, 19 players have tallied goals, another stat that leads the country. Head coach Mike Eaves and his staff have been in the position to sit any player who is not producing, because they have so many capable options. Veterans such as senior forward John Mitchell and junior forwards Pat Johnson and Sean

Dolan have been healthy scratches for games this year, a testament to the quality players Wisconsin has from top to bottom. That depth is evident on the defensive side as well. Not only does Wisconsin’s group of defensemen rank third in the nation in scoring at 3.5 points per game, but the coaching staff continued to use two goalies last weekend against Alaska-Anchorage. After outscoring the Seawolves 11-2, the Badgers hit the road for only the second time this season. Their opponent, St. Cloud State, is 4-4-2 overall and 3-2-1 in WCHA play. The Huskies host Wisconsin after two weekends on the road.

They earned two splits, ﬁrst with Michigan Tech and then last weekend with North Dakota. Similar to the Seawolves last weekend, St. Cloud is not exactly a high-powered offensive team, ranking near the bottom of the WCHA in scoring. However, they are a physical, defensive team and will make the Badgers work for their scoring chances. The Badgers enter the weekend tied for third in the WCHA with Minnesota-Duluth and Denver at nine points. North Dakota currently leads the conference with 13 points, and Colorado College is second with 11.

DANNY MARCHEWKA/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Defender Whitney Owusu and her fellow seniors hope tonight is not the ﬁnal time they take the ﬁeld for Wisconsin.

NCAA run resumes with BC By Jack Doyle THE DAILY CARDINAL

JAY JUNG/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Freshman forward Craig Smith headlines a lethal Badger offense, tallying a team-high nine points thus far this season.

“Cool.” That was Wisconsin’s junior goalkeeper Michele Dalton’s response when told Boston College freshman phenom Victoria DiMartino has racked up 14 goals this season—tied for 15th in the nation. Dalton’s nonchalant attitude toward a No. 7 Boston College team may not be echoed by everyone else on the team, but her conﬁdence in the team is—something senior defender Whitney Owusu pointed out is different from last year. “The focus and competitiveness of the team has changed from last year to this year,” Owusu said. “We believe that we should win each game, and that’s deﬁnitely different from last year.” Dalton, Owusu and the rest of the team have every reason to be confident after knocking out Arizona State in penalty kicks, then Central Florida 1-0 en route

to Wisconsin’s first Sweet 16 appearance since 1993. “We’ve been playing the best ball we have all season, and we’re peaking at the right time,” Dalton said. Head coach Paula Wilkins knows the Badgers must continue their strong play if they are to get past BC and into the Elite Eight. “They’re a very great offensive attacking team,” Wilkins said. “They’re overall just a complete team, and in terms of each player on the team they’re all technically and tactically sound.” Not many can argue with Wilkins. Boston College started off its season with 10 straight victories and have an impressive 18-3-2 record, including wins over Harvard and Connecticut in the ﬁrst two rounds of the NCAA Tournament. Still, Wilkins believes the pressure is on the Eagles. “I think for us, walking into this ncaa page 7