Tuesday, November 30, 2010 - The Daily Cardinal by The Daily Cardinal

THE BEDBUGS ARE BACK: Why one UW-Madison NEWS student had to sleep on her bathroom floor for three PAGE 4 days, and how you can avoid a similar fate University of Wisconsin-Madison

‘PINK FRIDAY’ DISAPPOINTS

Nicki Minaj’s debut album doesn’t meet high expectations ARTS

Complete campus coverage since 1892

situation. During the emergency, police did not have direct communication with the gunman. All communication was conducted through the teacher.

graphic by/natasha soglin

The Daily Cardinal

State Rep. Steve Nass, R-Whitewater, will reassume his position as Assembly Colleges and Universities Committee chair in the next session and is ready to show the UW System some tough love. In an interview with the Capital Times, Nass’ spokesNASS person Mike Mikalsen said Nass, who has long had a contentious history with the UW System, hopes to introduce legislation that would cap UW System tuition hikes at 4 percent, an idea he says would have bipartisan support. The tuition cap would be in addition to potential cuts in state funding, according to Mikalsen, and Nass is hoping for cooperation between the incoming legislature and the UW System. “If they come to the table saying, ‘We’re the economic engine

for the state and you need to give us more money,’ then it’s going to be a difficult time in the next two years,” Mikalsen told the Capital Times. UW System spokesman David Giroux said he would not speculate on the prospective proposal and would need to see more details before commenting. “Do I want a bureaucrat, a state bureaucrat looking over my shoulder in a classroom, to make sure that I’m neutral? No.” Donald Downs political science professor UW-Madison

However, UW-Madison economics professor Andrew Reschovsky said funding cuts will be inevitable with the magnitude of the state deficit, and a tuition cap on top of that would put the university in a serious financial bind. “If the state appropriations are reduced, and tuition can only

grow by 4 percent, that makes it increasingly more difficult for the university to continue providing the services that it provides the students, namely education,” Reschovsky said. Another issue Mikalsen told the Capital Times Nass would want to tackle is “viewpoint neutrality in the classroom,” noting that liberal opinions are overrepresented on campus. UW-Madison political science professor Donald Downs agreed that there is a need for more intellectual diversity on campus, but said laws regulating what instructors can and cannot say in the classroom is not the way to fix the problem. Downs said the way to address it is by having public debate on the issue, and that professors expressing their opinions in class is appropriate so long as it is in a “pedagogically responsible way.” “Do I want a bureaucrat, a state bureaucrat, looking over my shoulder in a classroom, to make sure that I am neutral?” Downs said. “No.”

Madison man exposes himself to two women near golf course A 38-year-old Madison man exposed himself to two women on the Southwest Commuter Path near Glenway Golf Course Saturday morning. The suspect, Loran Pate of Madison, was arrested for lewd and lascivious behavior, according to the police report. The two women were walking

on the path when they saw the man standing near a tree. The suspect’s pants were around his ankles and he was exposing himself, police said. As an officer drove onto the scene, the suspect allegedly began to flee into the woods. The victims and a passerby pointed the officer toward the suspect. The officer

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Red Monday

The gunman initially let five of the hostages free at 7:40 p.m, several hours after the hostage crisis began. About 20 minutes after the first five hostages were released, police prepared to confront the 15-year-old gunman when three shots were heard from the classroom. As of press time, the gunman is being treated at Bay Area Medical Center and his condition is unknown. The remaining hostages were evacuated and all of them emerged uninjured. Marinette High School will be closed Tuesday, and the school district is organizing counseling for students, faculty and families. —Ariel Shapiro

Rep. Steve Nass plans tuition cap, funding cuts for UW System By Ariel Shapiro

PAGE 7

dailycardinal.com

23 students, one teacher held captive at Marinette High by teenage gunman One teacher and 23 students were held hostage at Marinette High School Monday by a 15-year-old student wielding a handgun. After a standoff that spanned several hours, all 24 hostages were released unharmed and the gunman shot himself, according to police. According to Marinette Police Chief Jeffrey Skorik, the student held the victims hostage at gunpoint in a classroom. Police were notified of the crisis just before 4 p.m., although Marinette County Public Information Officer Kathy Frank said the hostages had already been in the classroom for some time before the principal became aware of the

chased the suspect on foot and headed toward his van parked in the Forest Hill Cemetery, police said. “He told the officer that he was out for a walk, collecting chunks of wood and discarded cemetery flowers in order to make some crafts,” Madison Police Department spokesperson Joel DeSpain said.

danny marchewka/the daily cardinal

Students shopped at the University Book Store’s 25 percent-off sale Monday.

Walker asks state lawmakers to halt work on labor deals By Ariel Shapiro The Daily Cardinal

Governor-elect Scott Walker wrote to state lawmakers Monday asking that they halt proceedings with labor contracts two weeks after his similar request to Gov. Jim Doyle was thwarted. “When you’re in a hole, like Wisconsin is right now, everyone knows you have to stop digging.” Scott Fitzgerald Incoming Senate Majority Leader Wisconsin

Legislators are scheduled to hold a special session to handle state union contracts before the end of the year. Walker said in his letter that because of the massive state deficit and budget shortfall, “returning and newly elected officials are going to need maximum flexibility to craft an work through our current and next state budget.” He also said any actions taken by the Legislature now will result in more spending cuts once he and the newly elected, Republicancontrolled legislature take office in January.

Incoming Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, called on Democrats in a statement to at least release the details of their plans for labor contracts. “When you’re in a hole, like Wisconsin is right now, everyone knows you have to stop digging. But right now we can’t even see how deep this hole is going to get,” Fitzgerald said. State Rep. Joe Parisi, D-Madison, said in a statement these labor contracts are long overdue. “Republicans are attempting to make something nefarious out of the workers’ contracts, but these workers have been dutifully performing their jobs every day for 18 months, without a contract, based on money that has already been budgeted,” Parisi said. Walker’s original request to Doyle two weeks ago drew ire from union leaders statewide. Executive Director of the Wisconsin State Employees Union Marty Beil said in a statement “If he wants to fight, we are not afraid to fight.” Walker also requested that Doyle halt construction on the new Charter Street Power Plant and refrain from making any new permanent hires or administration rules.

“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”

page two

tODAY: chance o’ snow hi 40º / lo 18º

2 • Tuesday, November 30, 2010

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

News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com Editor in Chief Emma Roller Managing Editor Todd Stevens Campus Editor Kayla Johnson City Editor Maggie DeGroot State Editor Ariel Shapiro Enterprise Editor Alison Dirr Associate News Editor Beth Pickhard Senior News Reporters Jamie Stark Ashley Davis Opinion Editors Dan Tollefson Samantha Witthuhn Editorial Board Chair Hannah Furfaro Arts Editors Jacqueline O’Reilly Jon Mitchell Sports Editors Mark Bennett Parker Gabriel Page Two Editor Victoria Statz Life & Style Editor Stephanie Rywak Features Editor Madeline Anderson Photo Editors Danny Marchewka Ben Pierson Graphics Editors Caitlin Kirihara Natasha Soglin Multimedia Editors Eddy Cevilla Briana Nava Page Designers Claire Silverstein Joy Shin Copy Chiefs Anna Jeon Margaret Raimann Nico Savidge Kyle Sparks Copy Editors Rachel Schulze, Rachel Sossaman, Duwayne Sparks, Julia Welytok

Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Cole Wenzel Advertising Manager Mara Greenwald Accounts Receivable Manager Michael Cronin Billing Manager Lizzie Breckenfelder Senior Account Executive Taylor Grubbs Account Executive Alyssa Flemmer Dan Kaplan Rick Maturo Nick Bruno Carly Ettinger Matt Jablon Graphic Designer Jaime Flynn Web Director Eric Harris Marketing Director Erica Rykal Public Relations Manager Becky Tucci Events Manager Bill Clifford Art Director Jaime Flynn Copywriters Dustin Bui Bob Sixsmith The Daily Cardinal is a nonprofit organization run by its staff members and elected editors. It receives no funds from the university. Operating revenue is generated from advertising and subscription sales. The Daily Cardinal is published weekdays and distributed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison 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 Hannah Furfaro • Miles Kellerman Emma Roller • Nico Savidge S. Todd Stevens • Dan Tollefson Samantha Witthuhn

Board of Directors Jason Stein, President Emma Roller • Cole Wenzel Samuel Todd Stevens • Mara Greenwald Vince Filak • Janet Larson Alex Kusters • Jenny Sereno Chris Drosner • Melissa Anderson Ron Luskin • Joan Herzing

dailycardinal.com/page-two

The greatest generation that ever lived

Volume 120, Issue 62

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

WedneSDAY: partly cloudy hi 27º / lo 14º

Andrew Lahr spare me the lahrcasm

’m a huge proponent of the History Channel. Sometimes there’s nothing better after a long day of toiling over mindnumbingly exhaustive classes than sitting down and letting the History Channel pander its infinite wisdom to me, without even asking me to read a few hundred pages after the show ends. Recently, a special came on regarding the “Greatest Generation” and the hardships they endured to ensure that you and I can shove double cheeseburgers down our throats while Facebooking until our eyeballs bleed. For those of you who aren’t too keen on your generational knowledge, let me fill you in: If you’re in college right now, your grandparents were most likely born into the Greatest Generation. Essentially, most members of this generation grew up on gruel and pissed in the woods during their childhood in the Great Depression, saved the world by slaying Nazis and the Japanese in WWII and in the years that followed set up the greatest economic infrastructure the world has ever seen. I’m pretty sure they also

invented the Missionary Position. Sure, it’s an impressive resumé, but what about other generations—including us? Why should a few small achievements achieved sixty years ago by a bunch of old farts merit the esteemed title of the “Greatest” generation? Well, our parents and their “Baby Boom” generation created and promoted some of the best music ever seen in the 1960s and ’70s, spearheaded sexual freedom and introduced massive amounts of marijuana to college campuses across the U.S. These are all luxuries enjoyed by future generations (including ourselves), but let’s be honest. None of these accomplishments merit granting them the title of the greatest generation. Naturally, then, the only other feasible candidate for the title of the greatest generation that ever lived is none other than our generation. In the following list I have compiled a number of reasons for the official change from our current title of the Millennial Generation to the highly envied title of the Greatest Generation. Instant Gratification: This is something I’m sure all generations desired, but only we in the Millennial Generation have achieved. My parents would tell me that getting what you want, when you want it, makes you a compulsive, impatient asshole. I disagree. Letter writing, telegraphs and catalog shopping were the sad

attempts of prior generations to do what we have done with the Internet, cell phones and cable TV. If I want a beer bong shaped like a pink flamingo, a five pound cheese wheel or a giant life-sized cutout of Jessica Alba, Ebay can assure it will be in my eager fingertips within days. Plus, who needs to finally get around to breaking up with their significant others through a tearstained letter when you can just text your heartbreaking words in half the time?

I can do everything that my grandpa did on the shores of Normandy from my couch, late at night, all while enjoying Taco Bell and a Coke.

Electronic Entertainment: The only thing more fun than liberating the world one Nazi dog tag at a time is doing so from home. I can do everything that my grandpa did on the shores of Normandy from my couch, late at night, all while enjoying Taco Bell and a Coke. Sure, our parents tickled their video game fancy with Pong, but we made the real stuff. Throw in an HDTV and some Surround Sound and you’ve got an entertainment experience fit for kings,

pioneered by none other than our thrill-seeking generation. Music: It’s easy to disregard our generation’s popular music as inferior to what our parents grew up with, but do not be deceived. The Millennial Generation has systematically streamlined music as we know it, incorporating our muchcoveted notion of instant gratification into our music-making process. Don’t have the time to learn how to sing or play an instrument? No problem. Auto-Tune and synthesized drums, strings and background vocals have sidestepped this issue. With the leaps and bounds made in songwriting recently, all you really need is a Macbook, an attractive face and a slim midsection—wrap your big lips around that, Mick Jagger. Plus, if you run out of ideas for a catchy melody, you can always go the way of Kid Rock and just throw a couple of classic tunes from dead ’70s singers together, sing a couple of lyrics about drunken summer nights and sell it as your own. We Elected the First AfricanAmerican President: I know my conservative, veteran grandpa and all of his poker buddies didn’t vote for Obama. Clearly this alone undisputedly deems us the most ethical generation. Disagree with Andrew’s flawless reasoning? E-mail your angry opposition to aplahr@wisc.edu.

Girl in the Tornado Room: I’m getting a headache. Guy: Too much cock to the dome. Guy in Fair Trade Coffeehouse: This condom ad says “visit our website for interactive STI games.” Girl: Wait. It does? Guy: I mean, no, but think about how many web hits they would get if it did! Professor in Helen C. White Hall: — On the movie “Dangerous Liaisons”: Since I can’t imagine

Girl in Vilas Hall:

I had a very Tina Fey prom. Girl: What does that even mean?

Girl in Memorial Union to her friend:

You sound like my grandma. IF my grandma sucked.

Girl in Rathskellar:

Life is like Samba Dog. Freakish and unnatural. Possibly involves bestiality.

Guy in the Old Fashioned:

I guess product loss isn’t too high in junkyards...

Guy in Woodman’s Liquor:

Pimpin ain’t easy but it pays the bills.

anyone being seduced by John Malkovich, the movie is just inconceivable. —I rarely sleep—I have dreams about Jonathan Swift. —When asked to give his opinion on a passage: Just off the top of my head? Well, my head doesn’t have anything on it.

Comm Arts TA in Vilas Hall: Opposites can’t live together, unlike Paula Abdul thinks. And in her case, by “opposite” I mean an animated cat ... You’ve seen the video, right? No? Must be before your time. Moving on!

Girl in Vilas Hall: I hate pop culture almost as much as I hate babies. People say the darndest shit, so submit your Overheards to vstatz@ dailycardinal.com or comment on this weeks’ submissions at dailycardinal.com/page-two.

Remember that show “Celebrity Deathmatch”? WELL, if you were a Page Two columnist you could write about how perversly amazing it was, how brilliantly the Claymation captured every gruesome act AND pitch your idea for the match they never held but should have because the verbal and physical carnage involved would surely cause even Robespierre

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

to roll in his grave. If this sounds like too much fun to pass up (and it is), then you should probably e-mail vstatz@wisc.edu with

three sample columns by Dec. 31, 2010! Questions are welcome too!

dailycardinal.com/news

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

news

UW-Madison study connects brain damage, insomnia With the help of 192 Vietnam War veterans, researchers at UW-Madison discovered a link between brain damage and insomnia which was published in a study in the Journal of Neuroscience. All the veterans have damage to one side of the brain, caused by penetrating head injuries during the war. Using CT scans of the veterans’ brains, the researchers determined an association between insomnia and individuals with damage to the left dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC). Because insomnia often occurs in people who also suffer from depression and anxiety, researchers realized the correlation between insomnia and the dmPFC could be because the dmPFC brain area regulates mood.

However, the researchers tested a subset of veterans who suffer from anxiety and depression, but not insomnia, and found no damage to the dmPFC. The study, the first to discover a link between the specific brain area and insomnia, provides “novel insight into the neurobiological mechanisms of sleep maintenance,” according to the study. Members of the research team include assistant professor of psychiatry Michael Koenigs and Jessica Holliday of University of Wisconsin of Medicine and Public Health, Jeffrey Solomon of Medical Numerics Inc. and Jordan Grafman of the Cognitive Neuroscience Section of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

SSFC holds town hall to hear student feedback on funding streams By Alison Bauter The Daily Cardinal

The Student Services Finance Committee held the first of two town hall meetings Monday to solicit student feedback on Associated Students of Madison funding streams. Approximately 15 students attended the meeting and broke into groups to discuss their questions and concerns with SSFC members oneon-one. One attendee, Sex Out Loud Project Coordinator Ashley Chase, said she wished more students attended. She added, however, that SSFC’s student outreach was more effective than past efforts. Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group member Ryan Crawford agreed. “I think it’s awesome that the SSFC is doing outreach, but I wish they had started this at the beginning of the year, before they tried to put [the Campus Services Fund] in place,” Crawford said.

SFFC Secretary Jason Smathers said although the controversial CSF did arise at the meeting, the main issues discussed by the groups were the General Student Services Fund and SSFC’s openness to the student body. Crawford came to the meeting to discuss his issues with GSSF eligibility criteria and the confusing eligibility process. Others said they liked the current system. “From a Sex Out Loud perspective, I wanted to make sure the GSSF stays the same,” Chase said, expressing appreciation for how current criteria kept student spending “under control.” SSFC Representative Rae Lymer said the committee plans to begin the next town hall by reviewing Monday’s feedback before presenting tangible ways to address the issues. Following the review and presentation, the SSFC’s town halls will conclude after further student discussion Thursday.

danny marchewka/the daily cardinal

Approximately 15 students attended SSFC’s town hall Monday to discuss SSFC funds and processes.

Teens attempt strong-armed robbery Madison police arrested four teenage boys for attempting strong-armed robbery near East Towne Mall Friday. The 33-year-old victim was walking to a bus stop after purchasing an electronic item at Best Buy, according to the police report. “He was near a strip mall when four teens, all of whom were wearing masks that covered noses and mouths, approached,” Madison Police Department spokesperson Joel DeSpain said in a statement. The four alleged Madison thieves included Kenny Furge,

17, a 14-year-old male, a 15-year-old male and a 16-yearold male. The victim told police one of the teens punched him in the head. The victim was able to escape the teens. A manager of a nearby store called 9-1-1 after the teens entered his business, police said. Officers arrived at the scene and arrested the teens. The teens were also in possession of items shoplifted from other stores in the area prior to the mugging, including the four winter masks, police said.

danny marchewka/the daily cardinal

Committee member Mark Woulf gives suggestions to the subcommittee of the Alcohol License Review Committee how the Alcohol License Density Ordinance could be altered.

Subcommittee discusses possible changes to ALDO By Maggie DeGroot The Daily Cardinal

A subcommittee of the Alcohol License Review Committee discussed possible alterations to Madison’s Alcohol License Density Ordinance Monday. ALDO limits the number of alcohol license granted to bars and restaurants around downtown Madison. Executive Director of Madison’s Central Business Improvement District Mary Carbine said BID hopes there will be more flexibility for more alcohol licenses under the exceptional circumstances section of ALDO. Dawn Crim Director of Community Relations for UW-Madison and committee member said each time the ALRC is presented with a new idea for a business, alcohol ends up being the main focus of the business instead of entertainment. Committee member Pamela Bean said if a business chooses to focus on entertainment, it should be the main

component, not alcohol sales. “If we allow more than 50 percent of alcohol then the entertainment component is not the main component,” Bean said. Crim also said she did not understand why these businesses with an emphasis on entertainment could not find a different location where it was possible to have the space necessary.

“We should hold license holders with more responsibility than they have now.” Carl Gloede police captain Madison

Committee member Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said there are not a lot of locations available in Madison that would have the space for a dance floor or for the addition

of entertainment elements. Crim said she didn’t understand why the committee is trying to make alterations to ALDO when the current ordinance is working. “If our overall goal is reduction, then we need to reduce,” Crim said. Committee member Mark Woulf said there should be the power to define what the committee deems as entertainment and at the same time power to take away license, if necessary. Madison Police Captain Carl Gloede said the committee should look into ways of taking the alcohol license away from businesses when they began to cause problems. “We should hold license holders with more responsibility than they have now,” Gloede said. One of the other possible changes committee members suggested included mandating businesses seeking an alcohol license to have a written business plan. The subcommittee will further discuss ALDO Dec. 9.

Wednesday marks the beginning of texting-while-driving ban Wisconsin’s ban on texting while driving will come into effect Wednesday. The law will penalize firsttime offenders with a fine between $20 and $400. Second time offenders could see fees as high as $800. When the law originally

passed at the end of the last legislative session in April, state Sen. Jon Erpenbach, D-Waunakee, said the legislation was directed towards young people. “This is aimed at kids. We all know what inattentive driving is, but this is a different generation,” Erpenbach said. “[This] really

The Daily Cardinal is looking for an archivist to organize bounds in book form and on microfilm. If you would like to be the lucky one to help keep Dr. Cardinal’s nest looking spiffy, get more information by contacting edit@dailycardinal.com.

needs to be hammered home, this particular message on texting and driving. It’s not safe.” According to the Governor’s Highway Administration, 30 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam have texting bans. Emergency vehicles are exempt from the new law.

news l

dailycardinal.com/news

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Graphic By Natasha Soglin/The Daily Cardinal

Bed bugs biting again in Wisconsin By Kyle Nachreiner The Daily Cardinal

Tara Kelley, a 2010 UW-Madison alumnus, concluded that sleeping on her bathroom floor for a few nights might deter whatever was causing the red, swollen, mosquito bite-like marks all over her body. The plan worked for a couple of days, but on the third morning she woke up covered in bites again. She said the bed bugs must have realized their meal had left the bed and tracked her down in the bathroom. Shortly after spending three nights on the bathroom floor, Kelley moved out of her apartment. She had to get rid of all of her belongings except for her clothes, which she salvaged by putting in the dryer. “I’ve been trying to warn everybody I know, because my landlord disposed of my couch, mattress and everything else,” Kelley said. “They put it out on the street with no warning or labels. Somebody took my mattress. Somebody else has them right now.” However, Professor Phil Pellitteri, an insect diagnostician and faculty associate in UW-Madison’s department of entomology, said not all of the blame rests with the landlords, however. “I know landlords that have invested thousands of dollars trying to solve the problem and they still haven’t got it under control,” he said. Bed bugs are a growing problem nationally, experts say, and the trend has spread to Wisconsin. “It just continues to ramp up and we anticipate that it is going to continue,” Pellitteri said. Bed bugs have been appearing more frequently in dorms and off-campus housing on UW campuses, according to Pellitteri. University officials said they had their first three cases of bed bugs in the last two years.

UW-Milwaukee had a case in September, and is the first school to use a bed bug-sniffing dog to seek out the pests in dorms. “It was a common fact of life until the 1940s, then it was a non-issue for 50 years, and now it’s a big issue again,” Pellitteri said. According to Pellitteri, one reason for the resurgence is that the pests have developed a resistance to insecticides and sprays, especially those sprays specifically designed for indoor use.

“It was common fact of life until the 1940s, then it was a non-issue for 50 years, and now it’s a big issue again.”

Phil Pellitteri professor department of entomology

“With these [insecticides] not working, we tend to find that the populations grow to very high levels, which make them that much more difficult to deal with,” he said. Pellitteri stressed that the problem is that bed bugs spread both quickly and easily once an infestation occurs in what he called a “multi-family living situation,” such as a dorm, apartment complex, motel or hotel. Pellitteri said there is a 30 percent chance of infestation if a neighbor is infested.

Check out dailycardinal.com/media to find out what cops look for in bar raids

“Once you get them in a dorm, surprisingly, they’re almost like cockroaches in the way they disperse,” he said. “There’s a high probability of them going up and down floors and spreading adjacently to other rooms.” Pellitteri explained that bed bugs initially infest an area close to the host, feeding on its blood while it sleeps, mostly at night. However, it is difficult to detect bed bugs, as even large infestations can go unnoticed. Pellitteri added that populations could reach upwards of 10,000 in severe cases, and they can survive for months without feeding. “It is surprising that sometimes in these heavy infestations people don’t have anemia and other ill effects because of the blood loss,” he said. “It’s possible to have up to 8,000 to 10,000 bites in a night. I’ve seen populations at that level.” Bed bugs are also becoming a major problem because of the cost of treating them, Pellitteri said. The most effective method for killing the pests is heat treatment, in which the infested building is heated to a temperature greater than 112 degrees, which the bugs cannot survive in for an extended period. “The expense of treating them is often a reason people don’t treat them and that makes it worse,” Pellitteri said. “It’s not unusual to have treatments costing $800 to $1,000. That is a major shock for anybody to have to deal with.” Kelley said the time it takes to deal with the bugs is the worst part about having them. “I’m really glad I’m not in school, because I don’t think I would have been able to handle it if I had school,” Kelley said. “It took up all of my time.”

opinion Charter schools benefit struggling students

dailycardinal.com/opinion Tuesday, November 30, 2010

matt beaty opinion columnist

y high school alma mater, Waubonsie Valley High School, was diverse in every sense of the term, but the most striking difference I noticed was the vast disparity in achievement that existed within each classroom.

A handful of students did not receive the learning experience they needed to prepare them for the future.

While some students graduated and went to top universities like MIT, Brown and UW-Madison, others continued to struggle with writing complete sentences or finishing an algebra test in their senior year. A handful of students did not receive the learning experience they needed to prepare them for the future. This glaring achievement gap is present in the city of Madison—

most notably in the AfricanAmerican population—where only 52 percent of students graduated from high school in 2009. Fortunately, Kaleem Caire of the Urban League is stepping up and proposing a way to increase graduation rates and overall academic achievement among Madison students. Caire plans to build an allmale, mostly African-American charter school called Madison Prep for sixth through 12th graders. Madison Prep will take several departures from the normal school model that many students find sufficient, but will focus additional attention on students who need extra help—a necessary resource that is often lacking in Madison schools. Madison Prep students will address this by incorporating “ability grouping,” which concentrates struggling students together and holding mandatory Saturday school for students who are falling behind in their studies. By grouping struggling students in the same classroom, teachers will be able to more efficiently and effectively teach students who require more attention. Because of this strategy, Madison Prep will give more students the individualized attention they need to succeed.

But to me, the most important aspect of this school is a “participation contract” that students’ parents or guardians will sign to show support for their student’s education.

This glaring achievement gap is present in Madison—most notably in the African-American population—where only 52 percent of students graduated from high school in 2009.

Madison Prep will put the necessary pressure on parents to be active participants in their students’ education. In a Cap Times interview, Caire explained how the school will set expectations for students and parents and go as far as to “set up tables outside [students’] houses” if parents fail to show up for a conference. From sitting their child down to study to helping with projects, parents are a vital piece of a child’s education. Many middle school and high school students, who have not reached educational maturity, lack the intrinsic motivation to study without being told what to do by an authority figure. Even college students need someone to

Assisted suicides should be legalized miles kellerman opinion columnist

hen he was three years old, Dan Crews of Antioch, Ill. suffered a serious car accident. Crews is paralyzed from the neck down, and although he can speak and eat, he requires constant medical aid in order to breathe. For 23 years he has lived in his bed with nothing to do but watch television and imagine what it might be like to participate in a world that he can only observe. According to an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Crews feels that he has “no friends.” “I have no education. No education prospects. No job prospects. I have no love prospects,” he said. “All I want is to no longer live like this.” Crews wants to die. But his wish faces opposition from his caregivers at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa, Wis. Froedtert has continually refused Crews’ request for assisted suicide on the basis that his depression must first be treated before taking such a drastic step. Treat his depression? Good luck. Put yourself in Dan’s shoes for a week and then imagine what that might be like for 23 years. His devastating accident has no doubt made his life insufferably difficult, and sadly little hope remains for his situation to change. Complicating the situation is a lack of funding for his 24-hour care. Crews was awarded $4 million in settlement money at the time of his accident, enough funding for only twenty years of care. His disability is a heavy financial

burden upon his family, and some worry that economic motivations might be pressuring his decision. The controversy surrounding Crews’ situation reflects a longstanding debate over the inalienable rights of American citizens, and whether assisted suicide and euthanasia should be legal. The debate has garnered more attention in recent years thanks in part to the Terri Schiavo case in 2005 and the 2010 HBO film “You Don’t Know Jack”—a film in which Al Pacino recreates the life of the infamous right-to-die activist Jack Kevorkian.

Americans should have the right to end their life in the pursuit of happiness, and should maintain the liberty to do so.

So does Dan Crews have the right to die? The answer has great significance not only to our individual rights as citizens, but also to the overbearing power of the government. If our independence was founded upon the universal rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, then the assisted suicide of any suffering individual can be considered an act of patriotism. Americans should have the right to end their life in the pursuit of happiness, and should maintain the liberty to do so. Assisted suicide is legal in Oregon, Washington and Montana, but progress in legislation on the matter is slow to develop across the United States. Euthanasia, or the direct killing of a patient by another individual, remains illegal in all 50 states, yet

the refusal of life-sustaining medical procedures remains legal across the country. Such slow development is a result of public fear, generally due to worries of abuse, the devaluation of human life and religious moral values. While such social barriers needlessly extend the suffering of competent, death-seeking individuals, slow progress is probably good. Heavy debate and careful progress will help lead to more responsible legislation that grants the inalienable right of life and death to the individual, while simultaneously addressing the possible complications and consequences of such change. But make no mistake: The right to end one’s life is our most basic human entitlement. We abide by the laws of our government in return for the protection of our life, liberty and property via a social contract. This protection, however, is from others, not from ourselves. As long as our actions do not impede upon the life, liberty and property of another, the government has no business interfering. Dan Crews has suffered an extremely difficult life, and I have no doubt that we would all wish for him to find happiness and meaning. But the quality of his life is not for us to decide. If Crews believes he can find happiness in death, then that is his choice. The development of legislation to guarantee such a basic right of human existence will prove to be one of our most difficult social battles, and also one of the most important. Miles Kellerman is a sophomore with an undecided major. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

tell them to get off of Facebook and open that dreadful organic chemistry textbook sometimes. As most people know, learning does not stop when the school day ends. In fact, for many students, the extra hours of studying and supplemental readings are what actually ingrain the lessons taught in the classroom. Without someone at home to tell a student to keep studying, it is likely he or she will fail to actually learn and could fall behind in school. It is this attention to students, both from parents and teachers that makes me believe Madison Prep will have a good chance at succeeding in the long run. But this school is not without some serious concerns. One main concern is that the school admittedly focuses on a narrow demographic, which some people see as segregation or discrimination and a reason to keep this idea on the shelf. However, based on the meager 52 percent graduation rate among African-American high school students in Madison, it can be argued the traditional public school system is not living up to its educational responsibilities. So if the school district is presented with an option like Madison Prep, it has the responsibility to give the school a chance to exist and a fair shot at funding.

Many schools in America fail to properly educate students for a variety of reasons, ranging from lack of funding to low-quality teachers to lack of parental involvement. To me, the last two are the biggest obstacles blocking student achievement.

Without someone at home to tell a student to keep studying, it is likely he or she will fail to actually learn and could fall behind in school.

Though many other reforms are needed in public schools, such as changes in the funding structure, Caire’s design for Madison Prep offers students something that all too many schools, even well-funded ones, are lacking: Highly motivated teachers and increased parental involvement. All students deserve a good education, and Madison Metropolitan School District should seriously consider taking Caire up on his offer. Matt Beaty is a sophomore majoring in math and computer science. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Turning toward green energy produces increased costs In a time ﬁlled with economic uncertainty, many of the green programs designed to reduce our environmental footprint have lost momentum as we try to revive our economy. However, one of these green programs—Cap and Trade policies—have not lost wind in nation-wide acceptance. Yet it is a policy that we should scrap for the sake of our economy and our environment.

Not only would it add cost to consumers but it would cost millions to implement.

Cap and Trade policies set a limit to which an organization can pollute, most notably with carbon-based pollutants like carbon dioxide. These limits take the form of carbon credits. Companies trade the credits when they produce less carbon dioxide emissions than credits allocated to them. They sell these surplus credits on exchanges across the country. In Wisconsin we produce much CO2, as most of our energy is produced in coal power plants. We import $16 billion worth of coal annually. A cap and trade policy

would directly add cost to the production of our electricity. Not only would it add cost to consumers but it would cost millions to implement. Switching to green energies still has its setbacks. Transmission of power from wind farms to consumers have large costs and require batteries with nasty acids in them. Hydropower disrupts ecological systems and solar power is inefficient. If we want to be practical about our pocketbooks and the environment, we would switch to nuclear power. Nuclear power has become considerably safer. For instance, in countries like France, which permit the building of new nuclear power plants, have ﬁgured out ways to recycle spent rods. The best part is that they produce about as much CO2 as many renewable sources. If we want to encourage a way to improve our economy and reduce CO2 we will pressure our elected officials to remove Cap and Trade polices and permit the construction of new nuclear power plants. —Sam Allen University of Wisconsin B.A. 2011

comics 6

Uh... Thanks... I think? The ‘First Thanksgiving’ was actually a complete

accident and a one-time occurrence for more than a hundred years.

dailycardinal.com/comics

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Relishing in a week’s worth of leftovers

Today’s Sudoku

Evil Bird

By Caitlin Kirihara kirihara@wisc.edu

Hot Sauce

By Oliver Buchino buchino@wisc.edu

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.

Eatin’ Cake

By Dylan Moriarty eatincake@gmail.com

Today’s Crossword Puzzle

Crustaches

By Patrick Remington premington@wisc.edu

By Dan Tollefson dtollefson@wisc.edu

A New Comic, Hoop Dreams Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com

A PuzzlE for Loseres ACROSS 1 Dads or pops 4 Nail alternative 9 Long-form writing assignment 14 Shade source 15 Forklift burden 16 Angle that’s smaller than 90 degrees 17 ___ few rounds (spar) 18 It’s to dye for 19 Bridge authority Charles 20 Lose it 23 Certain quick bread 24 Chivalrous ones 27 Hushed “Hey, you!” 28 Letter starter 31 “Why not?” 32 Sailor’s rear 35 Sheer delight 37 ___ “King” Cole 38 Lose it 41 Unusual sighting, for short 43 Little bit of Mexico? 44 Cast a spell upon 45 Shoots the breeze 47 “Don’t get ___ out of shape!” 49 Bold alternative? 53 “___ Five-O”

55 Common soap opera affliction 58 Lose it 61 French novelist Zola 63 Revere 64 ___ kwon do 65 Symbolic object 66 Do an impersonation of 67 Where-at link 68 Homecoming queen candidates 69 Texas or New York, e.g. 70 Got off one’s feet DOWN 1 Wooden spinning toy 2 53-Across greetings 3 Knowledge, colloquially 4 Dictionary’s upsidedown “e” 5 Sound like rusted hinges 6 Went on a tirade 7 Sicilian volcano 8 Cause to withdraw gradually 9 Tidal flood 10 Scrubs 11 Overcome, as an obstacle 12 Donned a feedbag

3 Intense desire 1 21 Based on eight 22 Beat the wheat 25 It may contain periods 26 Matched grouping 29 Incite 30 ___ mode 33 Dandy 34 Rinky-dink 36 ___ out a living 38 Certain quail 39 ___ Ventura (Jim Carrey role) 40 Do wonderfully 41 “This tastes awful!” 42 Sky safety org. 46 Skippered a scow 48 Seaport on Puget Sound 50 “The way things stand ...” 51 Blindfolded child’s target 52 Wiser than the rest 54 Shopping cart contents 56 Kind of raise 57 Family reunion attendee 59 Over-the-top performers 60 Shorten an article 61 List abbr. 62 Guernsey greeting?

Washington and the Bear

By Derek Sandberg kalarooka@gmail.com

arts Minaj’s creative potential sinks on ‘Pink’ dailycardinal.com/arts

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

By Emma Roller

Minaj pulls a hard 180 in “Roman’s Revenge” to furiously Pink Friday is a more seri- defend her reputation against hatous album than the hip-hop ers. She takes jabs at Lil’ Kim, firecracker many fans expected. calling her a has-been, and gives At times the album poignantly a shout out to Busta Rhymes with reveals Nicki Minaj as the inse- the line “Rah, rah, like a dungeon cure 25-year-old living under- dragon.” Eminem’s quick and vulneath spandex bodysuits and gar verses add even more emoneon wigs. Unfortunately, how- tion to the track because, well, ever, that poignancy turns to dull Eminem is almost always angry. repetition on many tracks. “Did It On ’Em” brings A major flaw of Pink Friday is Reggaeton airhorns into the mix not what is on it, but what is not. but not much else. And with lines The single “Massive like “If I had a Attack,” though it dick I would CD REVIEW came out in April, pull it out and is a glaring omission piss on ’em,” it’s from the album. the farthest from It is easily Minaj’s ladylike on the catchiest song as album. It gets a solo artist, yet it the point across, didn’t make the cut. but Minaj is at Lackluster tracks her most subverPink Friday like “Fly” (featursive when playNicki Minaj ing Rihanna) and ing the artificial “Blazin” (featuring Barbie she porKanye West) get more play, seem- trays on many of her guest verses, ingly just because they feature such as Kanye West’s “Monster” more popular artists. and Young Money’s “BedRock.” On the first track, “I’m the Best,” Minaj celebrates her relatively newfound fame through Lil No one regrets the loss of Wayne and Young Money. But her underground rapper Nicki boasts are grounded in her past, as evidence in lines like these: “I Minaj more than hip-hop icon Nicki Minaj remember when I couldn’t buy my mother a couch / Now I’m sitting at the closing, bought my mother a house.” From a jubilant boast track “Check It Out” is irritably The Daily Cardinal

Photo Courtesy Young Money

Nicki Minaj doesn’t quite live up to her Gaga-esque image and hype on her proper debut album. catchy, mostly thanks to a sam- the mainstream. She’s exchanged and while it is a run-of-the-mill ple of “Video Killed The Radio her natural hair and jeans for ode to forbidden love, the R&B Star” by The Buggles. Despite Popsicle-colored wigs and Gaga- sincerity is subtle, not schmaltzy. the cheesy backdrop, Minaj is esque getups. She’s exchanged Overall, Minaj’s best verses are sweetly spiteful as ever, especially brown eyes and low riders for blue on tracks featuring other rappers, with the line “Haters you can kill contacts and stretch Hummers. which may explain the conunyourselves.” Will.i.am comple- No one regrets the loss of under- drum. Maybe it’s easier to stick ments Minaj’s Trinidadian flow, ground rapper Nicki Minaj more your neck out for your friends sprinkling the track with his than hip-hop icon Nicki Minaj. than for yourself. Or maybe it’s trademark Autotoned monotone. “Your Love” infectiously sam- easier to come hard when the “Dear Old Nicki” is the real- ples “No More I Love You’s” by competition is next to you in the est track on the album, reflecting Annie Lennox and once again fea- booth. on her startling transition into tures Minaj’s lovely singing voice,

December to be chock-full of last-minute Oscar contenders David Cottrell cott-rell it on the mountain

he Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced yesterday that James Franco and Anne Hathaway would co-host the Oscars Feb. 27, continuing the co-hosting precedent set last year by the dynamic duo of Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin. The Academy certainly chose to go in a younger direction with these hosts, seeing as the combined ages of Hathaway and Franco are still less than Martin’s venerable 61 years, probably in an attempt to bring younger viewers to the notoriously long-winded ceremony. Neither Hathaway nor Franco is usually characterized as a particularly comedic actor, but even if this pair of blossoming Hollywood stars isn’t as entertaining as their predecessors,

Franco’s presence may make for an uncommonly tension-filled evening, as there is major Best Actor buzz surrounding his portrayal of survivor Aron Ralston in “127 Hours.” Now that the Oscars are on the horizon, films that have been biding their time and waiting for the opportune moment to hit theaters are finally opening or expanding release. December promises to be a month absolutely brimming with brilliant films. So whether you need something to look forward to over winter break or a respite from the stress of the stretch leading into finals, here are some of the most promising films this final month of the year has to offer. “127 Hours” Early screenings of this film may have been marked by instances of audience members passing out, vomiting or leaving the theater due to the particularly intense scenes of amputation, but “127 Hours” isn’t another torture-porn “Saw”-

Photo courtesy Paramount Pictures

Jeff Bridges and Mattie Ross in the Coen brothers’ thriller, “True Grit.”

knock off. It is the remarkable true story of Ralston, the hiker who was trapped for five days in an isolated Utah canyon after a boulder fell on his arm. Director Danny Boyle’s last film was “Slumdog Millionaire,” a Best Picture winner. Reviews have been overwhelmingly positive, calling the film inspirational and beautiful and Franco’s performance one of the best of the year. It will be interesting to see how the Academy handles the situation if Franco is a nominee as well as a host. If he loses, the rest of the show may be awkward. The audience will squirm a little and feel bad as they watch Franco pretend to be fine with it. “127 Hours” opened in select theaters in November but is still expanding throughout December. “The King’s Speech” The British historical drama staring Colin Firth as King George VI and Geoffrey Rush as an Austrian speech therapist who helps him overcome his speech impediment. The subject may seem dry but the film is really a vehicle for its performances, and early reviews have declared that Firth and Rush don’t disappoint. Firth, nominated last year for his role in “A Single Man,” will be a major contender for Best Actor this year. “The King’s Speech” had a limited U.S. release Nov. 26 and will also expand throughout December. “Black Swan” Online,“Black Swan” has generated buzz thanks to the lesbian sex scene between Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis hinted at in its trailer, but don’t mistake this flick for

trashy exploitation. Director Darren Aronofsky’s last film, “Wrestler,” had Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress Oscar nominations and likely would have garnered a Best Picture nomination if there had been 10 nominees then, as there are now. The film, billed as a psychological thriller, follows a ballet dancer (Portman) cast as the lead in a production of “Swan Lake,” as she finds herself in increasingly aggressive competition with her understudy (Kunis) and begins to unravel psychologically. Early reviews have been very positive and have singled out Portman’s performance as particularly praiseworthy. The film opens in select theaters Dec. 3. “The Fighter” “The Fighter” is widely considered a likely Best Picture nominee in the tradition of audiencefavorites like “The Blind Side” and “Rocky”—stories of athletic achievement paired with family drama. The movie stars Mark Wahlberg as real-life boxer “Irish” Micky Ward and Christian Bale as his crack-addict brother who helped train him before he went pro. Bale is likely to garner his first acting nomination and some predict Wahlberg to have a shot as well. “The Fighter” opens Dec. 10. “True Grit” If the trailer is any indication, “True Grit” looks like the Coen Brothers’ true follow-up to the epic Best Picture-winning “No Country for Old Men.” Jeff Bridges, who picked up a Best Actor Oscar last year for his portrayal of aging, alcoholic country musician “Bad” Blake in “Crazy Heart,” exudes bad-ass-

ness as Rooster Cogburn, a U.S. marshal hunting down a murderer on the run (Josh Brolin). Matt Damon rounds out the cast for extra Oscar potential. The film is a remake of a classic John Wayne Western and opens Dec. 22. “Blue Valentine” One of the films I most regret passing up while attending the Sundance Film Festival this past January was “Blue Valentine,” but luckily the Weinstein Company picked it up and is finally releasing it this month, just in time for Oscar consideration. The film follows a married couple, played by Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, and constructs a portrait of their marriage by shifting between different time periods with a series of vignettes. The premise may sound similar to last summer’s indie rom-com hit “(500) Days of Summer,” but light-hearted fare this is not. The film was at the center of controversy this fall when the MPAA awarded it a crippling NC-17 rating due to an emotionally intense sex scene. The producers are currently in the midst of appealing the rating but the outcome, especially if the Weinsteins are unwilling to make cuts, is far from certain. The film had great buzz coming out of Sundance and may nab Gosling his second Oscar nomination for Best Actor after 2006’s “Half Nelson.” Some even see “Blue Valentine” as an underdog Best Picture nominee, so make sure to seek it out when it gets released Dec. 31. Is Dave’s list incomplete? Drop him an e-mail at dcottrell@wisc. edu, to let him know your most anticipated December releases.

sports 8

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

dailycardinal.com/sports

Current BCS rules snub most deserving teams in favor of mediocrity

Football

RYAN evans compelling evandence

Danny marchewka/the daily cardinal

James White compiled an impressive season in 2010, including 1,029 yards on the ground, 14 rushing touchdowns, four Freshman of the Week awards and Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors.

White, Carimi lead Big Ten honors for Badgers By Parker Gabriel the daily cardinal

Five Badgers earned first team AllBig Ten honors, among 18 players honored by the conference Monday evening overall. Senior offensive linemen John Moffitt and Gabe Carimi, senior tight end Lance Kendricks and junior defensive end J.J. Watt earned consensus first team AllBig Ten honors while junior cornerback Antonio Fenelus was named to the first team by the media and was an honorable mention by the coaches. Carimi was named Big Ten Offensive Lineman of the Year in addition to his All-Conference honors. The Cottage Grove, Wis., native

is also one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy, given to the top offensive lineman in the country each year. Carimi and Kendricks also earned spots on the American Football Coaches Association AllAmerica team, becoming the first Badger teammates to make the team since 1999. In addition to the all-conference awards, UW freshman running back James White won consensus Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors. The Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., native led the Badgers with 1,029 yards and finished second on the team with 14 touchdowns. White is Wisconsin’s second consecutive Freshman of the Year, as linebacker Chris Borland took home

the award a year ago. Wisconsin is the first school in conference history to boast back-to-back consensus Freshman of the Year honorees. Junior running back John Clay (consensus), senior quarterback Scott Tolzien (coaches) and junior free safety Aaron Henry (coaches) earned second team honors. Honorable mention winners include sophomore running back Montee Ball, sophomore center Peter Konz, senior linebacker Blake Sorensen, sophomore linebacker Mike Taylor, sophomore right tackle Ricky Wagner, junior kicker Philip Welch, junior right guard Kevin Zeitler, senior cornerback Niles Brinkley and senior offensive lineman Bill Nagy.

Women’s Hockey

Badgers split weekend series with rival UMD By Nico Savidge the daily cardinal

In their series-opening win over No. 3 Minnesota-Duluth, it took 35 seconds for Wisconsin to erase a Bulldog lead and claim victory with a game-winning goal in overtime. When the teams met once again Sunday afternoon, however, Duluth flipped that script. The Bulldogs tied the game up and scored what proved to be the game winner within 47 seconds, handing the Badgers their second loss of the year and first defeat at home, 3-1. The split series added another chapter to the rivalry between two of college hockey’s best programs. After Friday’s 3-2 win, head coach Mark Johnson said the quality of play between the two rivals, who have combined to earn eight national titles in the past decade, is what makes their matchups so exciting. “Whether we’re [in Duluth] or down here, usually whatever team wins leaves the building with a smile on their face because they beat a good team,” he said. “It’s fun to coach in these games and certainly for the players it’s fun to play against this competition.” Wisconsin earned its Friday vic-

tory in dramatic fashion. With freshman goaltender Alex Rigsby pulled for an extra attacker late in the third period, senior forward Meghan Duggan tipped a shot from senior forward Geena Prough past Duluth goaltender Kim Martin with just 25 seconds left in regulation. “The puck popped out and I was just trying to get it to the net,” Prough said of her shot. “I knew someone would have put it away.” After pushing in the last minute and a half of the third period, the Badger bench seemed full of confidence after scoring the equalizer. Sure enough, just 10 seconds into the extra frame sophomore DUGGAN forward Brianna Decker scored her second goal of the game to seal the Wisconsin victory. Decker said Duggan’s late goal powered the team’s successful first shift in overtime. “We put them on their heels,” she said. “Once we had that goal that energy definitely carried over.” Early in Sunday’s contest it

appeared as if the Badgers’ confidence from Friday would pave the way for a dominant afternoon, as Duggan scored 39 seconds into the first period. But after playing well through most of the first period, the stingy Bulldog defense and a strong performance from Martin frustrated Wisconsin’s offensive attack. In the second period, Duluth’s Jamie Kenyon capitalized on a Badger turnover in the neutral zone and scored on the resulting breakaway to tie the game. Forty seven seconds later, a long shot from Jocelyne Larocque snuck past Rigsby and the Bulldogs took the lead for good. With the loss Wisconsin fell from its place atop the national rankings Monday, and now sits at No. 2 behind Cornell. Johnson said Sunday his team was simply outplayed after its initial spark. “Overall for the last 44 minutes they were better than we were,” he said. “In the first 16 minutes we were pretty good, but after that we didn’t have [many] answers today.” “They deserved to win,” Johnson added. “That’s why they’re No. 3, they’re defending national champions.”

his season, the Wisconsin football team has taken fans on a magical ride. The Badgers’ offense will go down as the most prolific in this school’s history. We’ve seen thrilling victories over Ohio State and Iowa and a stretch run that saw the Big Ten’s middle class get steamrolled by the Badgers running game. It seems Wisconsin will be heading to the Rose Bowl with a share of their first Big Ten title in over a decade. But that’s just the thing: The split the conference title with both Ohio State and Michigan State this year, and both of those team are deserving of BCS berths, but one of them will likely not get one. The Big Ten’s power trio has been a force in college football this season, with the Badgers ranked No. 5, the Buckeyes No. 6 and the Spartans No. 8 in the latest edition of the BCS standings. Wisconsin has all but secured its trip to Pasadena on New Year’s Day, and Ohio State looks primed for a berth in either the Sugar or Orange Bowl, which leaves Michigan State on the outside of the BCS picture looking in. And after what the Spartans have accomplished this season that’s not fair. Michigan State will still get a respectable bowl bid, most likely the Capital One Bowl, but they have proven they belong among the BCS elite. It is just a matter of the BCS not having enough spots for deserving teams. Every year there are teams that are deserving of BCS spots that don’t get in, but that’s generally because there is a wealth of deserving teams filling all the spots. Yet,this year there will be one team who gets a BCS bid taking the spot of much more deserving teams like Michigan State: The champion of the Big East. The Big East champion gets an automatic berth in a BCS bowl, and this year that champion is going to be nowhere near worthy. West Virginia debuted at No. 20 in the initial BCS standings, but after that the Big East didn’t have a team ranked in the top 25 until West Virginia reappeared this week at No. 23. As it stands right now, 7-4 Connecticut would gain the Big East’s automatic bid with a win

over South Florida next weekend, and the Huskies received exactly zero votes in the AP Top 25 this week. That four-loss team is going to play in one of college football’s premier bowls instead of a much more deserving team like one-loss Michigan State. The Big East hasn’t exactly been a powerhouse in football for a few years now, but at the very least they are usually able to muster a champion that is able to feast on the sub-par competition and warrant legitimate BCS consideration. Cincinnati did so last year, and teams like West Virginia and Pitt are generally respectable, but not this season. This season, the Big East has been extremely average, if not mediocre, and yet at the end of the day the team that emerges at the top of that conference will likely get a trip to the Orange Bowl. Here is a revolutionary thought: Rules in place that prevent unworthy teams from getting to a BCS game, even if they are from an automatic qualifying conference, and replaces them with a team that actually deserves to be considered among the nation’s elite? Here is how I would see that work: Let’s say an automatic qualifying conference doesn’t have a team ranked in the top 15 of the BCS standings. In my BCS, that conference then forfeits its automatic bid and its spot becomes another at-large bid for a more deserving team to fill. This year that rule would eliminate the Big East’s automatic bid and give it to a more deserving team like Michigan State, or to any of the two-loss teams that are in the top ten and are fighting for an at large bid. Even Boise State would warrant a BCS bid over the Big East champ in my opinion. Those teams would look a lot better in a BCS bowl than four-loss UConn or three-loss West Virginia would. I know that the BCS isn’t likely to change any time soon, but hey, I can dream, can’t I? The fact is that the Big Ten can claim three teams that deserve a spot in the BCS this season, but because of automatic qualifier rules, a mediocre squad from the Big East will be there instead, and to me that’s not right.Something should be done to ensure that it is the nation’s best teams playing on the game’s grandest stage each year. Does UConn deserve a BCS bowl bid? Have any better ideas to solve this particular BCS problem? Let Ryan know at rmevans2@wisc.edu.

Student bowl tickets sale date set for Dec. 5 The Badgers will learn their post-season fate Dec. 5 during ESPN’s Bowl Selection Show at 8p.m. Beginning at 9p.m., Wisconsin student season ticket holders will have the opportunity to purchase bowl tickets at UWBadgers. com. Each season ticket holder will have the opportunity to purchase up to two tickets. The sale will go through Dec. 6 at 4:30 p.m., or until all tickets have been claimed. Students interested in bowl

tickets who are not season ticket holders are encouraged to purchase them through the general public sale, which begins Dec. 6 at 4:30p.m., per availability. Current student season ticket holders will receive an e-mail with the full details in the coming days, and more information will be posted on UWBadgers.com as the Athletic Department works out more details. —UWBadgers.com contributed to this report.