Thursday, November 11, 2021 by The Daily Cardinal

University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Thursday, November 11, 2021

Women’s Basketball update +Sports, page 4

Protect your brain +L&S, page 6

Al ‘The Badger’ Purves is still learning By Sophia Vento COLLEGE NEW EDITOR

Al Purves’ first viral post on TikTok marked the beginning of his freshman year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2019. This TikTok, unbeknownst to Purves at the time, would spearhead the popularity of his personal account as well as his eventual involvement with @badgerbarstool, Barstool Sports’ UW-Madison unaffiliated comedy account. “When [the TikTok] grew that first time, from zero likes to 10,000 likes, you’re just like, ‘Oh my gosh. This is crazy,’” said Purves. “‘Is this like a big break?’” The TikTok, a clip of a friend of Purves’ reenacting their viral Vine from several years before, now has over a million views. Today, Purves’ TikTok account — @althebadger — has nearly 50,000 followers and 3.5

million likes. “There is nothing like getting a viral video,” said Purves. “Knowing that you were able to make people laugh or cringe — get a reaction out of them, I appreciate that.” Purves’ created his personal TikTok while still in high school, but once he arrived at UW-Madison, he began to post college-related content, quickly rebranding as @althebadger to better appeal to his newfound audience. Later during his freshman year, Purves was approached by the administrator of the @badgerbarstool Instagram account about revitalizing the @badgerbarstool TikTok. He accepted the offer. “Associating myself with an organization that already had a presence within the college community [was in] my wheelhouse,” he said. The Barstool Sports’ College Viceroy Program that houses

accounts like @badgerbarstool gives account owners autonomy over the content they post. Although specific guidelines — such as avoiding political content — are encouraged, Purves has “free rein” over his posts. In Purves’ view, @badgerbarstool demonstrates the “authentic” side of many UW-Madison students. He monitors trends, attempting to capture “the pulse of campus,” for the 35,500 followers of the affiliate account. “It’s raw,” Purves said. “It’s real life.” As someone in the public eye, Purves has been met with personal criticism. On the anonymous social media platform Yik Yak, for example, digs and jokes about Purves are common. “People can say really mean things and get away with it,” said Purves. “I have learned to not let

it affect me and just kind of laugh with it instead of letting it hold me up.” Ultimately, Purves treats his experiences with @althebadger and @badgerbarstool as a schooling of sorts. The accounts teach him professional and social media skills, while also teaching him lessons on how to stay true to himself as branding and advertising opportunities come his way. Although Purves hopes to still post on @althebadger following graduation, the account’s future is unclear. He is already beginning to develop content that attracts different audiences, hoping to establish a more “sustainable” account focus, separate from college content. “I kind of think of it as a college thing, a learning experience thing,” said Purves. “We’ll see what @althebadger morphs into.”

As for @badgerbarstool, Purves is committed to setting up a framework for future UW-Madison creators, facilitating a “fun culture rather than a divisive one.”

COURTESY OF IRENA CLARKOWSKI

@Althebadger in the flesh, Al Purves. “Barstool will live on past me,” he said.

City council consider blocking funding for the BRT system By Francesca Pica STAFF WRITER

The Madison City Council is scheduled to vote to temporarily halt funding for the Bus Rapid Transit project (BRT) until it approves plans for alternate routes that avoid the State Street and Capitol Square areas. BRT, which has been championed by Mayor Satya RhodesConway, aims to add additional bus stops, reduce transit times for riders and add new amenities to city buses. The project includes plans to build larger buses to accommodate more passengers, provide bicycle storage, new stations with real-time information and bus-only lanes to reduce traffic-induced delays. City Council President Syed

Abbas proposed blocking the city from spending money on BRT, in response to concerns raised by several alders and community proponents advocating for alternative routes. Abbas has stated his support for the overall objective of BRT but objects to routes currently planned. “I’m a big supporter of BRT,” Abbas said. “I want to get it right.” Jason Ilstrup, president of Downtown Madison Inc., shared similar statements regarding his disapproval of the current planned routes. “We wholeheartedly agree with the mayor on the importance of BRT,” said Ilstrup. “What we disagree with is a couple blocks

of the routing of State Street, and that’s it.” Rhodes-Conway, an initial proponent of BRT, stated her support for the current proposed routes and offered criticism of Abbas and his colleagues. She raised concerns that the delay could jeopardize the project and impede marginalized communities’ access to public transportation in a press release. “At best, this amendment creates significant confusion and uncertainty about how to move forward,” said Rhodes-Conway. “At worst, it could delay the project indefinitely and potentially risk it all together. Everyone on the Common Council says they support BRT, but this looks like a clumsy attempt to halt the proj-

ect, negatively impacting not only the most marginalized in our community who rely on bus service but also the many visitors, shoppers and commuters who want to access the city.” Alder Charles Myadze, District 18, said that he was unconvinced that the changes to current BRT plans as proposed by Abbas and his colleagues are necessary. “What I hear from my constituents is that they are not sold on BRT and have concerns about the system redesign,” Myadze said. “Cutting current routes and creating limited routes for BRT will decrease public access to transportation and make it less usable for many people who actually depend on it.” BRT is projected to cost

approximately $166 million, with $117 million of funding coming from the Federal Transit Administration and $48 million from the city’s budget. The city is still awaiting final approval for federal funding. According to City Transportation Director Tom Lynch, BRT is expected to modernize Madison’s public transportation and meet the needs of the city’s growing population. “We really can’t keep the status quo,” said Lynch. “Our street network is not able to meet our growth and transportation needs. We need a modern transit system that fosters economic growth, provides better access to all of our residents and keeps pace with peer cities.”

Health Now!: A new student org advocates for healthcare By Francesca Pica STAFF WRITER

Health Now!, a completely student-run and constructed public health campaign, will soon be the newest student organization at the University of WisconsinMadison. The organization’s founder, junior Kylie Ruprecht, wanted a way to highlight healthcare resources available to students and increase public health outreach on campus. “We want to facilitate discussion and thoughtful thinking in students about their health so that when they leave school and

are primarily in charge of their own health, they can be informed consumers and advocate for themselves,” Ruprecht said. Health Now! is created by students for students, and aims to help students become informed and empowered to advocate for their own healthcare needs. Students passionate about serving the community and health, like Ruprecht and the Health Now! team, are bringing that goal to the UW campus. As a member of the Unexplored Medical Professions Society, Ruprecht gathered stu-

dents who are interested in careers related to health and are passionate about improving health in the community. They brainstormed and settled on a goal to advocate for better access to healthcare resources through education of services available and facilitating discussion surrounding healthcare. “I have had trouble obtaining quality healthcare, especially growing up,” Ruprecht said. “I think that a lot of young people don’t know of all the options available to them and feel overwhelmed by the thought.”

Programming is set to include signs covering Bascom Hill, social media and posters in campus buildings highlighting health resources like takehome STD tests and information on free clinics. In early December, the group hopes to get local high schools involved and lobby University Health Services for new measures and ideas that could increase healthcare access. Health Now! is already in contact with University Health Services, but in order to reach as many people as pos-

sible, the group is hoping to get Dane County and Wisconsin Departments of Health involved. Giving suggestions on how to improve quality healthcare, and having programming featured on their websites and other forms of promotion would increase exposure and inform students living not just in the campus area. “My biggest hope for Health Now! is that the message and at least one component of our programming will reach every student on campus, and members of the larger community as well,” Ruprecht said.

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

news l

Thursday, November 11, 2021

An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 131, Issue 12

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Editorial Board Ian-Michael Griffin • Grace Hodgman • Em-J Krigsman • Addison Lathers • Anupras Mohapatra • Riley Sumner

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A slice of the pie: Pizza-makers protest By Molly Schiff STAFF WRITER

A nationwide activist group visited the Wisconsin State Capitol on Monday to advocate for nonpartisan redistricting as Senate lawmakers approved Republican-drawn map proposals on a party-line vote. But instead of protest signs, these organizers wielded pizza. Gerry’s Partisan Pizza, an initiative created by democracy advocacy group RepresentUs, made a stop in Madison on Monday as part of their nationwide campaign against gerrymandering. Members of the group gave speeches outside the Capitol and shared free pizza with anyone who wanted it — as long as they lived in Wisconsin’s Second Congressional District. “Pizza places shouldn’t handpick their customers, just like politicians shouldn’t hand-pick their voters,” reads Gerry’s website. “We unfairly draw the line wherever the politicians unfairly drew the line.” COURTESY OF TYLER KATZENBERGER

Gerry's Partisan Pizzas parodied the current district borders that are drawn, showing the over-politicized nature of this issue. “Pizza places shouldn’t hand-pick the customer, just like politicians shouldn’t hand-pick their voters. ”

Gerry's Partisan Pizza's Website

Organizers only violated this rule to deliver pizzas to key legislators involved in the Legislature’s redistricting proposal process. Their pizzas, though, were cardboard cutouts of maps topped with garbage, designed to send a strong message to legislators who supported the Republican redistricting proposal. “Don’t deliver garbage maps to the people of Wisconsin,” said Amanda Pustz, the lead organizer for Gerry’s Partisan Pizza in Madison. “Stop worrying about your own self and your own job security.” Democratic legislators joined Pustz and other organizers in criticism of the Republican maps, claiming they fortified Republican dominance in a state that voted Democratic in the past two national elections. “In [the Republican] maps, there’s no such thing as fair representation,” said Senator Jeff Smith (D-Brunswick). “It actually increases Republican power so that they would have a veto-proof majority. I don’t care what party anybody supports — no one should want one party to hold unfettered power.” Wisconsinites have strongly opposed gerrymandering in the polls and at the ballot box. As of Nov. 10, 56 counties representing over 80% of Wisconsin’s population have voted to support fair voting maps, and in a Nov. 3 Marquette Law School poll, 63% of voters supported redistricting via nonpartisan commission. “We had a hearing last week where there was eight and a half hours of testimony,” said Representative Deb Andraca (D-Whitefish Bay). “Not a single person except for the Republican leadership, testified in favor of [the Republican proposal].” All three maps — Assembly, Senate and U.S. Congress — in the Republican proposal were given

an “F” grade from the Princeton Gerrymandering Project for “significant Republican bias” and lack of competitiveness. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) and Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R-Oostburg) have continually claimed the Republican maps are fair. Vos says the legislature considered public input as part of their map-making process. “We [had] a public-facing website,” said Vos in an interview with InFocus. “People [could] go right there, draw a map and submit it to us.” Critics, however, claim the Republican map proposal was released too soon after the website submissions closed for public input to be considered. “After the submissions closed, it was only 48 hours later that [Republicans] submitted their maps,” said Andraca. “If you look at what the People’s Maps Commission did, it took them a pretty long time to come up with their maps.” The Daily Cardinal contacted both Vos and LeMahieu on multiple occasions for further comment on the Republican redistricting proposal. Neither office responded. Gov. Tony Evers has vowed to veto the Republican proposal, which he says failed to properly incorporate citizen feedback. In a statement on the Republican proposal, Evers told Republicans to “go back to the drawing board” and draw better maps. “It’s unconscionable and insulting to the people of this state, frankly, that Republicans think they can pass another set of gerrymandered maps modeled after the same gerrymandered ones we’ve had for a decade,” said Evers. “Wisconsinites won’t stand for it, and I won’t either — it’s just as simple as that.” Despite Evers’ complaints, Vos is highly unlikely to draft a new proposal. “Candidates determine who is successful in our election, not simply the partisan makeup of the district,” said Vos in defense of the Republican proposal. “What I hear in your frustration is the inability of Democrats and their candidates to connect with voters in every part of the state.” Democratic legislators also

assert they won’t back down in what they see as a crucial opportunity for change, setting up a long political battle over redistricting in Wisconsin. “I call this the Super Bowl of maps,” said Andraca. “We’ve been talking about it forever, but what happens over the next four months will shape what happens over the next decade.” Finding a middle ground in the redistricting fight With the legislature and Evers at odds over redistricting, the maps will almost certainly be drawn in federal court as they were in 1991 and 2001. Republicans had previously considered passing a joint resolution to implement new maps without Evers’ approval, but this option was practically banned in a 1964 State Supreme Court ruling. During the 2011 redistricting process, Republicans collaborated with a Madison law firm to draw maps in a private “map room” which lawmakers had to sign non-disclosure agreements to enter. The maps were released, passed by the legislature and signed into law by then-Gov. Scott Walker in just two months. Only one public hearing was held. “The [Republican] maps done in 2011 were one of the worst gerrymanders done in the country,” said Andraca. “Now, they’re trying to make them our new maps with as little change as possible for the next decade. It’s unacceptable for us to have gerrymandering 2.0”

“For years, the people of this state have demanded better and fairer maps. And for years, the people of this state have gone ignored. ”

Tony Evers Governor of Wisconsin

A possible compromise solution for federal courts to consider is a redistricting proposal drafted by the nonpartisan Wisconsin People’s Maps Commission last month. The People’s Maps Commission was created by an Evers executive order in Jan. 2020 and consists of nine members appointed by retired

judges. Their maps were drawn based on public input from virtual hearings conducted in each congressional district earlier this year. “For years, the people of this state have demanded better and fairer maps. And for years, the people of this state have gone ignored,” said Evers when the commission maps were introduced. “Preparing these maps was no walk in the park, and they did exceptional work on an extraordinarily challenging task.” Speaker Vos has previously missed the commission as a “fake, phony, partisan process” which circumvents the state constitution. All three of the commission maps were given an “A” or “B” grade from the Princeton Gerrymandering Project. The maps still favor Republicans because of Wisconsin’s political geography, but to a much smaller degree than the legislature’s proposal. Though Democrats have reservations about the commission’s proposal, they recognize the challenges it faced. “I think it was a fair alternative done with the best of intentions,” said Rep. Andraca. “Mapmaking is really complicated, and Wisconsin has some pretty challenging geography.” Senator Duey Stroebel (R-Saukville) doubts Democrats’ commitment to the commission plan. In a statement on Monday, Stroebel pointed out that Democrats proposed their own maps despite criticising Republicans’ involvement in redistricting. “I have heard countless cries from Democrats and their supporters that, notwithstanding the Wisconsin Constitution’s contrary language, legislators should not be drawing maps,” said Stroebel. “The fact that Senate Democrats didn’t propose the PMC maps and proposed their own, legislator-drawn maps should speak volumes.” Still, Democrats claim they remain committed to fair maps, even if it hurts their party. “I’m 66 years old. This isn’t about me,” said Sen. Smith. “This is about my children, their children, and the future for anyone else who wants to step into politics. If we lose their voice, we are not the same country that our forefathers envisioned.”

arts

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Thursday, November 11, 2021

Concert Review

In front of a breathtaking light show, Sylvan Esso & Lido Pimienta shock fans By Hannah Ritvo STAFF WRITER

Lido Pimienta was an ethereal opener for an ethereal night. The ColombianCanadian singer shocked the crowd when she entered the stage in an immaculate rainbow and metallic flowy dress that glowed against the stage lights. She further shocked the crowd when she opened her mouth and out tumbled her beautiful, almost angelic voice. Pimienta’s music is influenced by indigenous and AfroColombian styles, and she combines these influences with electronic beats to create music like nothing I have ever heard before. Her synthpop songs not only sound surreal, but many of them also address the flaws of our failing society. As a queer woman of color, many of Lido Pimienta’s songs reminisce upon her experiences in a misogynistic and racist world. Depending on the song she was singing, Lido Pimienta’s angelic voice rang forth with notes of self-assurance, anger, love or whatever other emotion the singer was feeling. It was extremely easy to decipher her emotions because of how expressive she was. For the audience members that did not speak Spanish, Pimienta punctuated

CHRIS LOTTEN PHOTOGRAPHY/THE SYLVEE

Sylvan Esso kicked off their two night concert series run at The Sylvee with glam, style and power. her songs with some translations, and also offered hilarious explanations of some of her songs before beginning them. Pimienta was one of the most talented live singers I have seen, and I highly recommend listening to her music. It is an insane experience, and your ears will thank you. Following Lido Pimienta’s otherworldly performance, Sylvan Esso took the stage. The

electronic indie-pop duo includes Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn, who are both from Durham, North Carolina. Amelia’s outfit, like every other part of the night, was perfect. She looked like a complete badass. She donned a bright yellow bra top and bottoms, with an intricate black netted shirt and pants over them. This outfit choice gave her an almost futuristic, surreal look, which complemented the band’s

electropop songs perfectly. Behind Meath, stage lights oscillated to the beat of the songs and changed color throughout the night, creating a breathtaking backdrop that complimented Sylvan Esso’s songs perfectly. The light show elevated an already perfect night, probing the audience to dance and move along with Meath. Everyone felt connected. While Amelia sang and danced around, Nick

manned the keyboard, providing the beats for the night. He also had fantastic energy, bopping along with Amelia to every song. Their energy was irresistible. Amelia Meath danced her heart out all night long, and the crowd danced right along with her. Her upbeat songs like “Radio” and “PARAD(w/m)E” had the audience dancing along and pumping their fists to the beats Sanborn was producing. Her slower songs like “What If” and “Die Young” had the audience swaying, singing softly and absorbing the beautiful lyrics Sylvan Esso offered up. I would not have spent my Friday night anywhere else. Amelia Meath and Nick Sanborn’s band name, “Sylvan Esso,” was inspired by a character from a game they both love called Sword and Sorcery. The duo not only creates stellar music together, they also happen to be married! This is something I did not know before the night, and it only made the love songs Meath was singing even more lovely. The two met in 2013, and the rest is history. They’ve released three albums and a variety of singles together, all incomparably amazing. If you have not listened to Sylvan Esso, I’d highly recommend you check them out.

Concert Review

A small, low-energy bar was no match for Silk Stranger By Jordan Hart STAFF WRITER

James the Magician gazed out into the sluggish crowd for approval in his bright green hat with a red feather, gray vest meant for a high school dance, polka dot button up and cargo shorts with too many pockets. I was immersed in his dramatic — and sensual — ring-tossing trick choreographed to “Run me like a river” by Bishop Briggs, which seemed out of place for the half empty Bur Oak bar. As I took glances around the room, noting the primarily young crowd populating the tables closer to the stage, I was suddenly called out by the magician to participate in a magic trick. However, this was not the performance I was here to see. “The magician? It’s a tough act to follow,” the Silk Stranger band members said in almost complete unison as they glanced at each other with smiles dancing on their faces. “He made kids laugh and smile … we can’t do that!” chuckled Noah Vanevenhoven, the tall, lanky guitarist and occasional bassist for the band. The “new and improved” Silk Stranger, as they call themselves, are a local Madison indie rock-revival band. The original band had a falling out, but after

a short hiatus, they are back and better than ever. There is Jake Vanevenhoven, a blacksmith, Noah Vanevenhoven, a Buffalo Wild Wings line cook, Hannah Dorshorst, a school psychologist, Joshua Marineau, a civil engineer, and Elliot Jewell, a self-proclaimed artist of all sorts, who have come together to produce an entrancing sound. The band is a potluck, with each member having a distinct style that separates one from the other. In regards to their sound and what they played, Noah practically shouted with excitement, “Does it sound cool? Alright, we’ll do it!” The lead singer, Dorshorst, who just so happened to be the only female in the group, stood strong in all black, head-to-toe. Her hands thoughtfully gripped the mic to announce the start of their show — the lights changed to hues of pink, yellow and blue and the chatter of the bar silenced for a moment. “BUM BUM BUM” The drum player hit the ground running, his beats signaling all the other members to begin their first song. The energy was electric, with every member on stage dancing around, swaying back and forth, nodding their heads. My eyes attempted to focus on the talented guitarist

HAYLEY SNELL PHOTOGRAPHY/SILK STRANGER BAND PHOTOSHOOT

Silk Stranger pose for an outdoor, nature photoshoot. All five members remain seated with their heads slightly turned toward the left while wearing mix-and-match, multi-patterned and multi-colored outfits. wearing a bright red Hawaiian shirt, but my attention was stolen by the bassist dressed in flowy, floral attire with rings that glistened like the reflection of the sun on a pond. The stage was their pond, and they were taking laps in it. “We had the most energy we have ever had on stage tonight, and I think that’s because we acted so goofy yesterday at prac-

tice,” Dorshorst said, waving her hands in front of her in fluid motions, symbolizing the connectedness of the band. There was no denying how well the artists worked together on stage. Each member snuck glances and smiles at one another with the shift of a beat or a strum of the electric guitar. The bartender shaking cocktails even functioned as a secondary

percussionist, filling all gaps of silence in the music as though it were planned all along. As the set came to a close, the crowd booed, hoping for one more song that, unfortunately, the band didn’t have the authority to give. This didn’t matter. The cheers of the crowd echoed through the bar and brought it to life for the first time that evening.

sports Wisconsin dominates in home opener Tuesday night behind Hepburn, Davis l

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Thursday, November 11, 2021

By Simon Farber SENIOR SPORTS WRITER

Wisconsin men’s basketball headed into the 2020 season carrying lofty expectations thanks to a preseason No. 7 national rank, a strong finish to 2019-20, and a veteran group of seniors that had the team in Big Ten Title discussions. It certainly didn’t go as planned. The team struggled in Big Ten play (10-10), and were ultimately bounced in the second round to eventualchampion No. 1 Baylor. Twelve months and five player departures later, and the vibe around the program has completely changed. Now a younger and more inexperienced group, the Badgers (1-0) had their first chance to shake the rust off in a 81-58 win over St. Francis Brooklyn (0-1) at the Kohl Center Tuesday night. The Wisconsin defense was the story of the first half, holding St. Francis to just 9-31 (29.0%) from the field. The Terriers didn’t get to the free throw line a single time in the opening frame, and never got the deficit back within 15 points of the Badgers during the second half. “I thought specifically in the first half, defensively we were very good and connected,” UW head coach Greg Gard said postgame. “Everyone talks about the synergy and cohesion that has to happen offensively, it obviously has to happen defensively, too.” That synergy might take a little longer to build this season thanks to the massive roster turnover. Four new faces hit the court as starters for UW

Tuesday night: junior Tyler Wahl, sophomores Johnny Davis and Steven Crowl, and freshman Chucky Hepburn. Gard emphasized that the best way for the team to mesh together is to get them into game action. “We’ll just continue to put different combinations out there at the same time,” Gard said. “I need to get a lot of guys’ experience. Other than Brad [Davison] and maybe [Wahl] … there’s a lot of guys we have to help grow, and that’s the best way to develop depth. Guys have to play.” Lowest on the experience totem pole is Hepburn, who became the first true freshman to start in a UW season opener since Devin Harris did it back in 2001. Gard said he knew early in summer camp that Hepburn was good enough to contribute immediately, and made sure he was ready for the challenge. He was impressed with the youngster’s poise from the jump, and touted Hepburn’s lengthy basketball resume. “He didn’t seem that nervous in the starting lineup,” Gard said of Hepburn. “It’s so different from 20 years ago — this guy has been in so many different games. He’s been in two state championship games, he’s played in AAU tournaments around the country. The experiences that these guys have at a much younger age … is totally different. In a good way.” Hepburn finished with 13 points on 4-7 shooting (2-3 from three-point range), to go along with one rebound and an assist. While it wasn’t a stat-

stuffing performance, Hepburn seemed to keep St. Francis on its toes with good ball movement and positioning. “[Hepburn] got a little tired at the end,” Gard said. “He plays hard, so he should get tired with the effort he puts in.” While Hepburn might be the budding star, the program is hoping Johnny Davis takes a bigger step into a leadership role with the team this fall. Fresh off an invite to play for Team USA at the U19 World Cup this summer, Davis is now arguably the go-to scorer for this Badgers team. He got off to a good start in the opener Tuesday, knocking down six shots to go with three rebounds and five assists. “I thought [Davis] did a good job, specifically when they were very extended, that he was able to get in the paint and make some plays,” Gard said of Davis’ opening night. “For him, that’s something we’ve tried to continue to develop: to make those plays and make them under control. Maximizing your dribble. I thought he did some really good things tonight in that sense.” Overall, nine different Badgers logged more than 15 minutes on the floor, including 17 for grad transfer Chris Vogt. The seven-footer from the University of Cincinnati grabbed nine rebounds in the game, an area of weakness for UW a year ago. “He gave us a good boost defensively and on the glass,” Gard said of Vogt. “I’ve said from the beginning, [Vogt] understands what he’s good at, and what he’s not good at

TAYLOR WOLFRAM/WISCONSIN ATHLETICS

On Tuesday night, guard Chucky Hepburn became the first truefreshman to start in a UW season opener since Devin Harris in 2001. … the experience factor comes into play too as he’s had four years of college basketball under his belt.” St. Francis Brooklyn certainly wasn’t expected to be a tough task for the Badgers, and early-december matchups against Marquette, Indiana and No. 17

Ohio State might dampen the outlook significantly. For now, though, Gard emphasized in his postgame press conference to not worry about what’s down the road. “We’ll take it one game at a time, and try to get better each day,” Gard said.

Wisconsin falls to Rutgers in Big Ten Tournament By Donnie Slusher SPORTS WRITER

Last Sunday, the Wisconsin women’s soccer team fell to #6 Rutgers, 1-0, in the quarterfinal round of

the Big Ten tournament. The Scarlet Knights entered the match at #6 in the nation and #1 in the Big Ten, having gone undefeated in conference play (15-2 overall, 10-0

Big Ten). The Badgers entered at the bottom of the Big Ten tournament as the #8 seed (8-5, 3-4-4 Big Ten), and were the unfortunate team forced to play Rutgers.

TOM LYNN/UWATHLETICS

The Badgers were able to qualify to move on in the NCAA tournament despite their loss last Sunday night.

Rutgers began the game with palpable intensity, generating two shots on goal in the first eight minutes. The aggression continued. In the 32nd minute, Rutgers’ Sara Brocious received a pass inside the goalie box and quickly fired the ball at senior goalie Jordyn Bloomer. After rebounding her own miss, Brocious tapped it in the center of the goal, 1-0 Rutgers. The Badgers increased their intensity in the second half, totaling seven shots, but the Scarlet Knights outplayed them with 12 second half shots, maintaining their grasp on the game. Wisconsin’s second half aggression came at a risk, leading the team to commit 10 fouls, which contributed to their 16 total fouls by the end of the game. By comparison, Rutgers only earned themselves three fouls in each half. Overall, Wisconsin’s aggression resulted in too many costly mistakes. Conversely, Rutgers was able to maintain their intensity while minimizing error. Despite the disappoint-

ing loss, the efforts of Jordyn Bloomer should not go unnoticed. The previous AllAmerican and two-time Big Ten Goalie of the Year only allowed one of Rutgers 21 shot attempts to enter the net. Bloomer totalled 11 saves throughout the game, a career high. Facing one of the best teams in the country, in one of the final games of her storied career, Wisconsin’s best player did not disappoint. Bloomer wasn’t the only Badger to make meaningful contributions to the game. Senior midfielder Natalie Viggiano led the team in shots with five and two shots on goal. Gabby Green and Joyelle Washington each had two shots on goal as well, with Green playing for the entire 90 minutes. Ultimately, Rutgers proved why they entered the Big Ten tournament as the first-seed. They remained consistent when it came to maintaining control, generating pressure, and avoiding mistakes, leading to their victory over the Badgers. The Badgers will continue their tournament play against Butler this Friday, Nov. 12.

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Thursday, November 11, 2021

almanac

President Biden heads to Camp David to attempt peace talks with coronavirus Jeffrey Brown ALMANAC CONTRIBUTOR

This weekend marks over a year and a half of conflict between the United States and SARSCOV-2. After much deliberation, terms have been set and the two parties will head to the infamous Camp David to negotiate and hopefully arrive at a peace deal to end the pandemic. A representative from the CDC’s negotiation division stated, “It has been tricky, to say the least, to establish a common sense of humanity between a nation and a non-sentient submicroscopic infectious agent. But thankfully, COVID-19 is finally willing to send representatives to the table and we look forward to finding a middle ground suitable for both of us.”

Some key goals going into negotiations are to get SARSCOV-2 to comply with the standard guidelines for microbes and sub-microbes which includes the infamous Five Second Policy. “While we understand the needs of SARS-COV-2, five seconds has historically been a comfortable middle ground for diseases to comply with.” The CDC noted, however, the specifics of such a deal would require fine-tuning with regard to the unique situation. Namely, much of the precedent in Five Second Policy treaties involve objects of human interest, such as food, coming into contact with unclean surfaces. Being a disease that spreads largely through the air, these precedents can’t be directly transferred. Some impor-

tant points of distinction include if lowering one’s mask to chew

actions if the mask is re-raised in 5 seconds or less.

GRAPHIC COURTESY OF THE CDC

a hangnail or scratch their nose would be considered protected

But the CDC is quick to state that these, at the moment, are

more likely to be luxuries of productive discussion, adding that their current priority is ensuring fair play regarding the changing out of masks. Because switching out masks every couple hours is a good and safety-minded practice, the CDC argues individuals should not be punished during the brief moment of vulnerability. An additional point likely to be discussed is if viable substitutes for a properly worn mask include holding your breath or pulling your collar up over your nose. As of now, the CDC declines to comment on what they have to offer to the coronavirus in exchange. They also refused to discuss their research partnership with the CIA, which is allegedly working to determine what drugs the coronavirus finds addictive.

Senator Ron Johnson’s approval rating drops after rescuing dog By Mackenzie Moore ALMANAC CONTRIBUTOR

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Since his election in 2010, Senator Ron Johnson has enjoyed his cushy career of being the lava-hot pizza cheese stuck to the roof of Wisconsin’s mouth. So much so, in fact, that when he successfully ran for re-election in 2016, he received

a majority of votes by a whopping .2%, a true marker for the amount of pride his state has in him. Johnson has not yet announced whether or not he will try to retain his seat in 2022. If Johnson does decide to run, he will face a climb, as his approval rating dropped from the previously reported 36% down to an even more concerning 23% after a video surfaced of him rescuing a sickly dog off of the street. The incident in question occurred in Oshkosh. As shown by the leaked street cam footage, a mangy beagle was eating out of a hole torn into a garbage bag. Then, just as the starving animal began to sniff some used needles to potentially consume, Johnson enters the frame. At this point, he crouches down with hastily ripped up pieces of summer sausage in hand, indicating that the senator dropped everything once he noticed the struggling animal. He then ap-

pears to speak softly to the dog in order to let it know that he’s not a threat. Once he gained the trust of the beagle, Johnson undid his tie to fashion a makeshift leash for the dog and led it to his vehicle. However, it appears that Sen. Johnson did not simply drop the dog off at a kill shelter or, as some of his voters have called for, take the dog out back and handle the situation “Old Yeller” style. Instead, obtained records show that the dog was brought straight to the veterinarian, where it was officially named Daisy. At the vet, Daisy received her vaccinations, was spayed and chipped, and received treatment for mange and fleas. A witness in the waiting room stated that upon leaving the appointment, Johnson noticed a young child and their parents crying with a collar and well-used dog toy in hand. After taking one look at the family, Johnson gathered that

they had just put their dog down. Despite an evident desire to keep Daisy, Johnson instead transferred ownership to the very grateful strangers, asking only that they send him pictures from time to time. While the grieving family may have an immense amount of gratitude for Sen. Johnson, all appreciation appears to have stopped there, as his approval rating took a nosedive after the information reached Johnson’s 2016 voters. “We don’t know where that dog came from,” said longtime Republican voter Jerry Ringer. “Frankly, I think it’s inappropriate for some animal that wasn’t born in one of the local puppy mills to live a life of luxury in which they’re given love, food, shelter and water on a consistent basis. If a dog is born by an alleyway dumpster in Ohio, then it should just figure out how to make that alleyway more pleasant instead of just waltzing up here for free

Milk-Bones.” Even voters who have interacted with the dog are unhappy with the lax treatment given to the stray. “For a few weeks, that dog would lay by a tree across the street from my house and stay until they knew that my grandkids were safely home from school,” began Oshkosh native Mary Teller. “But over time, I noticed that one of the robins that liked to eat out of my bird feeder just stopped showing up. I never found the body, but I just know that the damn dog had something to do with it. I called the police and asked them to order the dog to be euthanized, but they refused.” The slip-up may cause Sen. Johnson some stress should he choose to run again, but rest assured that he can get those numbers back up quickly by claiming that the Pfizer vaccines are actually just bleach slightly diluted with heavily chlorinated public pool water.

UW-Madison has its own toilet paper ambassador By Anupras Mohapatra ALMANAC CONTRIBUTOR

With a rise in student ambassaWith a rise in student ambassadors repping various companies that cater to college aged students, I was curious about what kind of variety these companies would offer. Sure, clothing’s great, but who else wants to dine at the studentmarketing table? Meet Iris Batty-Shtick, who goes by IBS. She is the first toilet paper brand ambassador to represent UW-Madison. The undisclosed toilet paper company made sure to overtly emphasize her racial, sexual and gender identities. It served as great news for their underpaid and overworked workers. When asked about the oppor-

PHOTO BY CAMERON LANE-FLEHINGER

tunity, IBS said it was an offer that was hard to refuse. “They told me my name was of particular inter-

est and that I would get all the toilet paper I could ever need, for free! It was an offer I simply could

not refuse.” When asked about people that were skeptical because of her brand being associated with toilet paper, IBS, a business major, called it a “savvy move that normies wouldn’t understand” and that “her PowerPoint skills and 10 credit course load set her up for success.” IBS presents toilet paper in many different ways on her socials and in-person. Every Sunday, IBS posts a giveaway on her Instagram. She also presents different kinds of toilet paper for different moods. There’s the use-when-youjerk-off variety, the cry-your-eyesout variety and the walk-of-shame variety. There’s also the replicateuw-toilets-after-graduating variety, which is just sandpaper for folks graduating soon.

Of course, IBS hasn’t neglected the main target demographic for the toilet paper: a student body that’s overly reliant on coffee and alcohol to function. There exist special collections tailor-made for coffee lovers and alcohol lovers. The TPresso, as it is known for coffee enthusiasts, provides encouragement to the buyer to keep consuming coffee. That way, they can keep using the best toilet paper in business. While alcohol lovers are provided a pamphlet with instructions on how to make toilet paper moonshine. Putting politics aside, I can only predict more diverse brands interested in tapping into our student body’s potential. After all, everyone wants what IBS and the toilet paper industry have.

We’re always looking for more funny and insightful writers with fresh takes on topics ranging from the UW campus to international news. We accept and encourage creative submissions as well! Any and all submissions are more than welcome. You can send your submissions and any comments or questions to almanac@dailycardinal.com. All articles featured in Almanac are creative, satirical and/or entirely fictional pieces. They are fully intended as such and should not be taken seriously as news.

Life & Style How to cope with mid-semester anxiety l

Thursday, November 11, 2021

By Sophie Walk STAFF WRITER

As the second wave of midterms comes crashing upon us, the feelings of anxiety and stress that come with seem to push you under. Classes are now very much in full swing, and homework is piling up. I was sitting in a friend’s room one night as she awaited the results of her midterm exam. We began talking about how we had been dealing with a lot of anxiety since arriving at college and how the combination of classes, homework, social events, work and all the other things that come along with being a college student was getting to be too much.

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It made me think about how we must not be the only people dealing with these feelings, and that my fellow peers could also be struggling with anxiety. It took me a while to find ways to relieve stress or calm myself down when I start to feel anxious. However, finding a few practices that help when you are feeling stressed out can be very beneficial for your mental health, and it can allow you to focus on more important aspects of your life. I am by no means a professional, but through my own personal struggles, I was able to come up with three ways you can reduce stress and anxiety in your own life.

Getting enough sleep Your sleeping patterns can actually be more detrimental than most people think. Getting enough sleep can help you not only be able to focus better, but it also can be beneficial to your mental health. Anxiety is frequently connected to sleeping problems, and excess worry makes it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night. Sleep deprivation can worsen anxiety, spurring a negative cycle involving insomnia and anxiety disorders. Meditation/Yoga Meditation and yoga are both great ways to handle anxiety and stress. They involve different types of

breathwork that can help slow the heart rate and calm you down. There are a lot of apps (eg. Calm app) that have different sessions to handle different types of feelings and situations. Doing a quick 10-20 minute session doesn’t take up much of your day but it can alleviate anxious feelings. Meditating every day can also boost your motivation and productivity. There are even yoga classes offered through RecWell, the Memorial Union and a class you can take for credit. Mindless Activities/ Hobbies I know this might seem odd to say because it seems like adding a hobby is just

adding one more thing to your already very full plate, but having something that you enjoy doing won’t feel like a chore. Mindless activities (eg. coloring, painting, knitting) can help you give your brain a break and relax you when you are stressed. Sometimes the best way to alleviate anxiety is to just stop thinking. Taking care of your mental health is one of the most important things you can do, especially during exam season. It can be difficult to make it priority, but it is for sure worth it. Be sure to take the extra steps to give your mind a break this semester. You’ll thank yourself for it. Good luck, Badgers!

An honest review of Madison’s newest Target By Colby Bellman STAFF WRITER

ANN SELIGER/DAILY CARDINAL

The changing seasons affect our mental health, which can feel like an impending cloud.

Seasons change, so does our mental health By Hannah Rifkin STAFF WRITER

Walking out of an afternoon class, you may have been starting to notice a warm hue in the sky: the sun setting. As beautiful as it is, you might pause and question why the sun is starting to go down on your walk home from a 3:30 p.m. discussion section. The seasons are changing, and as we approach mid-November and the colder months, the sun is beginning to rise later, set earlier and the temperatures will drop to dreadful lows. The arrival of winter is routine, however, each year we are struck by its effects in different ways. Our mental health is noticeably affected by the seasons changing. Our bodies need light, fresh air and time outside. The inability to nurture ourselves during the colder and darker months can take a toll on our minds. Some might say they get the “Winter Blues,” or, in more serious cases, they may even develop

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). People might sense a change in their mood during these months, including feeling slowed down when days get shorter and darker. One might lose the motivation to wake up, focus on schoolwork or put effort into relationships. You can also just feel plain down in the dumps during this time. Your mood is related to the seasonal variation in light that your body receives. So, as the seasons change, your internal clock responds to the changing patterns of sunlight. This change can disrupt your internal clock and how it has synced to your regular schedule. Some can have a difficult time adjusting to the decrease in sunlight, and this can affect their mood. Along with a change in schedule, a lack of light also disrupts your body’s serotonin levels. Serotonin is the key hormone that provides our feelings of happiness and well-being, which is

important for your mood. Another key hormone is melatonin, a sleep-related hormone. Darkness increases the production of melatonin, so when the days are shorter with less light, it can cause a feeling of tiredness and fatigue that affects your mood and behavior. Younger people are more prone to mood and behavioral changes during the season, so it is important that we take care of ourselves and others around us as we get further into winter. We have to listen to our mood and our energy levels and take steps to stay on schedule and increase serotonin levels in other ways. Make sure to check in with friends and family or try and stay active. The impending short and cold days are daunting, but we are all in it together.

Remember to always seek help if you are struggling. Visit https://www. u h s .w i s c . e d u / m e n t a l health/ for more resources.

On Oct. 26, 2021, a new Target opened on State Street, which many students believed was a needed addition. The nearest Target is a bus or car ride away, leaving students with limited options to get necessities. But, is this Target all it’s hyped up to be? There is constantly a line to get in outside, so it may be easier just to go to Walgreens. It is also much smaller than most Targets, making the stock more limited. I interviewed students to get their honest review of the new Target and figure out if it is truly worth the wait. After checking out the new Target for myself, I asked sophomores Adrienne

Rassmussen and Emily Barnhill about their Target experiences. Adrienne said she likes to go at “off times” to avoid the line and has always had a positive experience. She is able to find everything she needs efficiently and raves about the new store. However, Emily struggled more than Adrienne with finding some of her necessities. She did mention that they had plenty of fresh produce which she really appreciated. Emily did have to wait in line, but she said never for longer than five minutes. However, the line does not bother her or make her less inclined to go in. But as it gets colder in Madison, waiting outside in a line could be

a major inconvenience for students. Overall, the Target seems to be a good addition to State Street. While it is not perfect, it is much more convenient than going to Hilldale or hoping Walgreens has what you are looking for. I would recommend going earlier in the morning and avoiding the after class rush if you do not want to wait in line. It’s organized, easy to navigate and has most of the necessary items a college student would need. The convenience of being on State Street just can not be beat for most students, so even if there is a line or limited items, I think this Target is still going to be a huge hit.

IRENA CLARKOWSKI/DAILY CARDINAL

New Target opened on State Street on October 26, 2021, a welcomed sight for many students.

science dailycardinal.com

Thursday, November 11, 2021

Who are the Three Sisters? By Joyce Riphagen SCIENCE EDITOR

“The way of the Three Sisters reminds me of one of the basic teachings of our people. The most important thing each of us can know is our unique gift and how to use it in the world. Individuality is cherished and nurtured, because, in order for the whole to flourish, each of us has to be strong in who we are and carry our gifts with conviction, so they can be shared with others.” — Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants This summer, Ho-Chunk farmer Rita Peters inspired the planting of an Indigenous Garden at the Olbrich Botanical Garden. The garden featured the Three Sisters, as well as other Native staples such as tobacco and milkweed. By August, the garden stood well over eight feet tall, and visitors could walk under a canopy of corn with beans dangling between like fairy lights. Pumpkins and other squashes peeked out from the corn, almost playfully. If you’re not Native, like most Madisonians or UW Students, there’s a good chance you’ve never heard of the Three Sisters: corn, beans and squash. These three plants, which provide key sources of nutrition for Indigenous people, can be sown together

in the spring and will grow in unison, depending on each other for mutual benefits. The corn and beans are planted on mounds of soil, with squash sown in between. This Indigenous agricultural technique improves the soil’s drainage and temperature, which allows the corn to begin growth early in the spring. The corn shoots up first, climbing tall as beans send roots into the ground. When the beans are ready, once the corn is about knee-high, they begin to twine around the cornstalks, which provide a stable trellis for the legumes to grow upon. In return, the bean’s twining tendrils provide the corn extra support in high winds. Beans are a nitrogen fixer. Through a partnership with microbes, they take the biologically inaccessible nitrogen from the atmosphere and transform it into usable ammonia. The bean’s presence, which is possible only through the corn’s support, enriches the soil for future crops. The squash lags behind a bit. It sprouts last, sending broad, hairy leaves tumbling between and over the mounds. The squash, though slow, provides an important service; it’s umbrella-like canopy of leaves shades the ground on which the Three Sisters grow, preserving moisture and preventing weeds from taking hold. The squash’s prickly leaves also deter some wouldbe herbivores like caterpillars or raccoons.

BRENNA RAE/ STAFF ARTIST

The three sisters are each great on their own, but the best together. This style of agriculture is old; Native peoples developed this knowledge approximately 5,000 years ago. It’s also incredibly productive — growing the Three Sisters together allows each plant to produce higher yields than if it was grown by itself. Records from European

colonizers describe the shockingly productive agriculture of America’s Natives, which provides all nine essential amino acids as well as complex carbohydrates and fatty acids. The Three Sisters are a stark comparison to today’s massive corn fields. Modern organic

agriculturalists are beginning to return to older ways, planting crops together in a medley of deliciousness. If you’ve got the time or space, try it in your own garden — you’ll see the Three Sisters in action, and your soil — and stomach — will be better off for it.

I just think they’re neat: Capybaras By Aunpras Mohapatra STAFF WRITER

Unless you’ve been living under a rock (in which case, welcome) you’ve probably seen some supremely chill animals that look like coconut dogs come along your feed. This nonchalant lil’ dude is a capybara, Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris. Neat! Capybaras are the largest extant rodents, with a lifespan of 8 to 10 years. They are a part of the cavy family, which also includes guinea pigs. Their binomial taxonomy comes from the Greek words hydro (water) and choiros (hog). As this name suggests, Capybaras enjoy the water, with webbed skin between their lil’ toes to aid swimming. They are adept on land as well. The name capybara is derived from the Tupi language — an indigenous language spoken in Brazil — and is said to mean “master of the grasses.” Capybaras are herbivores, but are also known to eat their own feces as a digestive aid. Gross! These wet hogs are largely found in South America, typically near bodies of freshwater. Capybaras have their eyes, ears and nostrils all on top of their head, which

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Capybaras tend to be very friendly, and have no problem wearing birds as hats. contributes to their distinctly adorable appearance and also aids them underwater, ensuring that their senses are unimpaired. It’s like a builtin snorkel. Just like many of us, capybaras are total party animals.

These extroverted rodents are typically seen in groups of 10 to 20, trotting around in herds. Groups consist of two to four males and four to seven females, with any offspring forming the rest of the herd. There is a dominance

hierarchy seen in the males, with more dominant males attempting to mate with more of the females, albeit with variable success. The group structure is key for capybaras -- groups typically don’t accept strangers, and individ-

uals outside a herd have a much harder go of it. Thanks to some divine benevolence, capybaras are almost always very gentle around humans — The Daily Cardinal does not advise that you personally test this trait. Capybaras do not sleep all that much, instead preferring to just doze when wallowing in mud or resting by water bodies. Interestingly, there is a small population of capybaras in Florida, despite the animals being endemic to South America. Experts theorize that this offshoot population is the result of capybaras escaping from a conservancy in NorthCentral Florida and breeding quickly. Those sly (coconut) dogs! Fortunately for all us Wisconsinites, you don’t need to go to Florida to get a glimpse of these creatures, nor do you have to worry about affording a trip to the wonderful continent of South America. Vilas Zoo in Madison houses Capybaras that you can see for free! Check them out in the flesh whenever you are able to. Until then, scrolling Twitter should suffice!

opinion Adderall: the epidemic no one is talking about 8

Thursday, Novemeber 11, 2021

By Sivan Ginor STAFF WRITER

Imagine this scenario: you’re a college student with two exams this week, an essay to write, a part-time job and a pile of laundry that’s been staring at you from across the room, begging to be cleaned. Your advisor keeps pressuring you to apply for a summer internship, you haven’t been to the gym in a while and your significant other has been nagging you to find enough time to take them on a date. Now imagine if someone offered you a pill, and told you that all you have to do is swallow it, and your schedule would clear up. You could write that paper in just a few hours, hit the gym, go to work, apply for an internship, have dinner with your girlfriend and come home with enough energy to finally run that load of laundry. Would you take it? It seems too good to be true. You think to yourself, “could this really work?” You ask your friends if they have heard of this mysterious miracle pill. To your surprise, they admit they have. They tell you everyone takes them, your classmates, coworkers and peers. Now would you take it? If everyone else is taking them, it sure feels like you’d be at a disadvantage in an environment where hyper-competitiveness and overachieving are ingrained in your minds.

You decide to take it. It makes you feel weird. You don’t seem like yourself. You’re quieter, more aggressive and jittery. Nevertheless, you take another the next day. And the next day. And the next day. Soon enough, you can’t remember a life before the pill. You feel like you have superpowers. Adderall is a drug used to treat attention deficit disorder, a chronic condition that causes hyperactivity, inducing impulsiveness and the inability to focus. For people who struggle with attention deficit disorder, an Adderall prescription is a total game-changer, allowing them to function at the same level as neurotypical individuals. The problem is, chronic condition or not, Adderall functions as a performance-enhancing drug, enabling students to operate and perform at a superhuman level. In a hypercompetitive environment in which students are constantly compared to each other, Adderall abuse has become an epidemic in the United States. And why wouldn’t it be? Adderall is everywhere — it’s easy to find, it’s cheap and it allows students to tackle the myriad of responsibilities that young adults are expected to complete. All by just taking one tiny pill. It’s no wonder that the American Addiction Center reports that the largest age

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range of people who are abusing the drug without a prescription or medical need are 18-to25-year-olds, many of whom are in college. Unfortunately, Adderall

all-nighter at the library, have the energy to hit the gym or stay awake and party. It was created to treat a chronic condition. Any other form of Adderall usage is mistreatment of the drug and is

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abuse can have serious consequences ranging from extreme sleep deprivation to seizures to death. The dangerous effects can be heightened when mixed with alcohol, which raises concerns amongst students who use the drug not only academically but in a party setting. Adderall is not chemically designed for brains without attention deficit disorder. It was not created for students to pull

not only damaging to health and safety — but is also illegal. So, what can be done to address the Adderall abuse epidemic? It is already a schedule two controlled drug, meaning there is little to be done from a regulatory standpoint. The best way to solve this problem is to dive into the root of the epidemic — the pressure on students. Adderall abuse on college campuses around the country

is attributed to a culture that is prominent, normalized and detrimental. Students are often immediately rejected when they seek extensions on assignments due to mental health reasons or illness. They are taught that without an internship every summer, you won’t succeed in life. And let’s not forget, you must apply to those internships a year in advance. College is expensive, so many students must work to pay their rent and tuition. They are also told college is a time for fun, experimenting and finding yourself. Institutions must realize that this is a tall request. A tall request that students have no choice but to accept. The unfortunate truth is that the culture of Adderall abuse will remain strong unless there is a systematic change. Systematic changes take time, so in the meantime, I encourage students and universities to disseminate information about Adderall abuse, keep an eye on one another, stay safe and believe in their capabilities. We are not superhumans, and that’s okay.

Sivan Ginor is a junior at UW-Madison majoring in Journalism. Do you agree that Adderall use has become normalized on college campuses? Send all comments to Opinion@ dailycardinal.com.

An evaluation of the death penalty: why not end it now? By Sarah Eckhardt STAFF WRITER

Americans have slowly been coming to terms with the abuses of the criminal justice system. The horrific circumstances of George Floyd’s death last May sparked national protest, shifting the push to end qualified immunity — a rule that protects police officers from civil suits — from libertarian circles into the popular press and the halls of congress. The abuses of power documented in the Making of a Murder Netflix series shocked millions, and the work of the Innocence Project is widely known. The Overton Window is shifting. Fewer Americans support the war on drugs, harsh criminal sentencing and focus on criminal punishment instead of rehabilitation. The effects of our changing morals can already be seen through the massive wave in drug legalization and the declining federal prison population. If the country’s recent liberalizing trend doesn’t abate, popular opinion will continue to affect legislative action. Successes in collective moral thinking are worth celebrating. Public intellectuals like Steven Pinker continue to remind us of the incredible progress humanity has made and how far we still have to go. So, before we lose momentum, collective youth action must target another goal: the death penalty. Giving the government the power to kill its citizens is barbaric. Though Americans venomously disagree about the purposes of government, the idea that it should

serve its people is not controversial. True, while we have few reasons to believe that it actually does, progress is possible. A government that can kill even the worst of us stands on shaky moral ground. This is something we can change. In 2019, two people were executed by hanging, three by a firing squad, and nine by electrocution. While states that authorize multiple forms of execution often allow the prisoner to select the method, this information should give us pause. Hanging is still legal in these United States. Regardless of claims to morality, pragmatic arguments are easily made against the death penalty. I don’t have enough faith in our criminal justice system to not occasionally kill an innocent person. Do you? Since 1992, more than twenty death row inmates have been exonerated. For context, the government has averaged about twenty annual executions in recent years. In the words of William Blackstone, “It is better that ten guilty escape than one innocent suffer.” Deterring future murders is one of the most common justifications for the death penalty, yet is unsupported in the literature. Studies find no link between the death penalty and murder rates. On the contrary, as the use of the death penalty falls globally, murder rates continue to decline. For the budget-conscious, the death penalty is expensive. In 2008 the Urban Institute estimated that Maryland would pay $37 million

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for each execution. This is not unusual — millions of taxpayer dollars are spent prosecuting and carrying out death penalties. In Texas, the state with the highest number of executions, death penalty cases cost the government almost three times as much as 40-year imprisonment. And Federal litigation costs of death penalty cases are approximately eight times as high as murder cases where the death penalty is not requested. This is a generation of justiceminded youth. Where is our national youth movement to end the death penalty? There is no reason to delay founding one. We are already off to an excellent start. Annual executions continue to fall from a peak of 98 executions in 1999, and new death penalty sentences are falling in lock-step. Although federal use of the death penalty rose under Trump, Attorney General

Merrick Garland ordered a temporary halt in executions while the Justice Department’s policies are under review. Though most Americans support the death penalty for people convicted of murder, they are generally skeptical about its effectiveness. Many believe the penalty is not applied in a racially neutral manner, fails to deter people from committing serious crimes and lacks the necessary safeguards to prevent innocent persons from being killed. Compared to the complexity of ending qualified immunity, which is partially a story of concentrated benefits and diffused costs, the path to ending the death penalty is very different and much simpler. The action here is to do less: spend less and kill less. This is what we are up against: 27 states, the U.S. Government, and the U.S. Military have a death penalty. Three states — California,

Oregon and Pennsylvania — and the U.S. government temporarily, have a moratorium on executions. California has the largest number of current prisoners sentenced to death (724), followed by Florida (340) and Texas (216). Texas accounts for the highest number of executions per year. Youth action holds considerable power. In recent decades, youth movements spurred the end of the Vietnam war, helped halt national conscription, reformed policing, legalized marijuana and expanded LGBTQ+ rights. It’s time to direct our efforts towards yet another fight: abolishing the death penalty nationwide.

Sarah Eckhardt is a junior studying economics and data science. Do you agree that it is time to abolish the death penalty? Send all comments to Opinion@dailycardinal.com.