University of Wisconsin-Madison
Feast on this holiday’s media smorgasbord
Since 1892 dailycardinal.com
Weeklong Issue, November 23-29, 2015
l
+OPINION, page 5
+ARTS, page 4
view concealed carry: an unnecessary risk
Over 100 pack hearing on transgender bill By Andrew Bahl THE DAILY CARDINAL
Over 100 people crowded a Capitol hearing room Thursday to testify on a bill that would require transgender K-12 students to use the bathroom corresponding to their biological sex. Under the proposal, authored by state Sen. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, and state Rep. Jesse Kremer, R-Kewaskum, schools would designate each bathroom or locker room to be used exclusively by students of a single sex. Transgender students would be barred from using the facility correspond-
ing to the gender with which they identify. Kremer touted his bill as a way to ensure a safe space for all students. “The bill encourages a safe, private and dignified learning environment for all students, not just a few,” Kremer said in his testimony. Julaine Appling, the president of Wisconsin Family Action, criticized opponents of the bill and argued the measure ensures equality statewide. “A bathroom is not an appropriate place for someone to seek validation of gender identity as
a personal issue or as a cause,” Appling said in her testimony. “It is a social experiment that borders on child exploitation.” Students from across the state, including some in elementary school, testified at the hearing, with many voicing their opposition to the bill. A 15-year-old transgender student from Madison opposed the bill, saying his “mental health would be flushed down the toilet I’m not even allowed to use.” “I know this is supposed to protect trans kids but it would do
bill page 2 COURTESY OF BADGER NUNS
UW-Madison grad student wins Rhodes Scholarship
Sister Mary Touchdown, Sister Hail Mary and Sister Mary Bucky religiously attended Badger home games this season.
COMMUNITY PROFILE
In Chryst they trust: Badger Nuns grace Camp Randall
By Ellie Herman THE DAILY CARDINAL
UW-Madison graduate student Colin Higgins’ commute to class will be longer than most next fall when he travels nearly 4,000 miles to Oxford, England, after being awarded with a Rhodes Scholarship. The Rhodes Scholarship is recognized as the oldest international study program in the world and funds approximately $50,000 per year for two to three years of education at the University of Oxford. Higgins finished his undergraduate degree in May, triple majoring with honors in environmental studies, geography and history and is currently pursuing an accelerated Master of Public Affairs degree, which he will finish this spring, according to a UW-Madison release. Bill Mulligan, a UW-Madison senior studying biochemistry was a finalist for the scholarship. “As the state’s flagship university, nurturing homegrown talent is one of our greatest privileges,” said UW-Madison Provost Sarah Mangelsdorf. “Both Colin and Bill grew up here in Wisconsin. Because we were able to offer them compelling research opportunities
scholarship page 2
By Bri Maas THE DAILY CARDINAL
CAPITOL SQUARE
Ice, ice baby
Madison welcomed its first snowfall Friday night, resulting in about 4 inches of snow, slippery streets and bundled-up pedestrians. + Photo by Kaitlyn Veto
Dane County allocates funds for bike trail Dane County Executive Joe Parisi announced Thursday awards totaling over $764,000 for the expansion of bike trails in the Madison area. The grants, intended to fund new trails, will offset bike trail design, engineering and construction costs. The awards were allocated through the county’s Partners for Recreation and Conservation and the Ride Bike Trail grant program. The PARC program started in 2011 to provide matching grants to Dane County municipalities for
bike trail expansion. “The program offers an excellent opportunity for Dane County to partner with local governments on developing and enhancing bicycle trails and amenities in our communities,” Parisi said in the Thursday statement. “We are excited to be able to continue our work strategically growing Dane County bike trails.” Parisi said the grants will promote the expansion of trails in Madison, as well as suburbs including Shorewood Hills, McFarland and DeForest.
Although many Badgers’ prayers were not answered Saturday in a tough loss to Northwestern, three super fans clad in red and white habits blessed Camp Randall to lift fallen spirits. Sister Mary Touchdown, Sister Hail Mary and Sister Mary Bucky—also known as the Badger Nuns—religiously attended all but one home game this season, where their infectious team spirit helped rally fans. “We are just passionate about the Badgers,” Sister Mary Touchdown said. “We love going to the games, rallying the crowd and trying to get the Badgers to win.” Sister Mary Bucky would say the women were “called to” their positions as Badger Nuns, but the group costume was actually inspired by an Ice Bucket Challenge video in which a group of Irish nuns wore red and white habits. Sister Mary Touchdown recreated the look, adding a motion W to the front and “In Chryst We Trust” to the back. The three Catholic-raised friends may not be formally recognized as “real” nuns, but their
fan following has grown wildly throughout the semester. “It’s so fun because we really do get the nicest reactions from people,” Sister Mary Touchdown said. “Every time we say ‘go Bucky,’ they cheer right with us.” The nuns wrapped up their first football season this weekend by finally gaining access to the student section, a goal they always had but could never get in. “We just wanted to be with the students, because this is their team really,” Sister Mary Touchdown said. “The stadium is full of people who are there to support the Badgers and it’s really great to see all of them, but we really just wanted to experience the game with the students.” The Sisters plan to continue following the Badger football team through the end of this season and will post updates on their Facebook page. They hope to make return appearances at next year’s home games. “It has been a shockingly positive experience. We really didn’t expect anything like this. We were just kind of goofing around and it just took off,” Sister Mary Touchdown said. “We love it and we’re having so much fun with it.”
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”