Weekend, December 3-6, 2015 - The Daily Cardinal by The Daily Cardinal

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Turner turns out large crowds

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Weekend, December 3-6, 2015

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Red Star rising star +SPORTS, page 8

AIDS Resource Center opens on Willy Street By Anna Kaldjian THE DAILY CARDINAL

COURTNEY KESSLER/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

Dane County typically approves about 100 refugees each year, though during the 2014-’15 fiscal year, the county had a sharp decline when it received only 47 refugees from around the world.

The AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin opened an HIV medical home in Madison Tuesday, coinciding with World AIDS Day. The facility offers integrated medical and mental health care to HIV patients without regard for ability to pay, ARCW Vice President of Government and Public Relations Bill Keeton said. The facility, located on Williamson Street, will rely heavily on a partnership with UW Health, which will provide physicians who will work with the home’s own staff nurses and nurse practitioners. Drs. Ryan Westergaard and

Robert Striker, both from UW Health, have been particularly crucial to the partnership and to the establishment of the home, Keeton said. In addition to treatments for HIV-positive patients, the home will offer pre-exposure prophylaxis to individuals at high risk of contracting HIV. Pre-exposure prophylaxis is a treatment that seeks to protect individuals, usually the partners of HIV-positive individuals, against the virus. While pre-exposure prophylaxis can be seen as controversial due to the imperfect efficacy of any medical treatment, Keeton

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Soglin, Common Council welcome Syrian refugees By Negassi Tesfamichael THE DAILY CARDINAL

On the heels of increased rhetoric on immigration issues nationwide, Madison officials have reaffirmed their support for Syrian refugees, many of whom will settle in Dane County. The Common Council approved a resolution, which

does not have any legal standing, in its Tuesday meeting. Early last week, Mayor Paul Soglin met with a group of former refugees and immigrants from around the world to discuss ways to improve the dialogue locally. “There is a great concern about the dialogue in the presidential

campaign, particularly the baiting and antagonism by many of the campaigns,” Soglin said after meeting with refugees Nov. 24. According to Public Health Supervisor Kate Louther, Dane County receives approximately 100 refugees each fiscal year,

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State Supreme Court ends Walker probe By Andrew Bahl THE DAILY CARDINAL

The state Supreme Court moved Wednesday to deny a request to restart an investigation of alleged violations committed by Gov. Scott Walker in the 2011 recall elections.

“What a mess this court has wrought!” Shirley Abrahamson justice Wisconsin Supreme Court

In a 4-1 ruling, the high court upheld a July decision ending the John Doe probe into whether Walker’s campaign violated campaign finance laws in working with conservative groups. The court also ruled special prosecutor Francis Schmitz, who filed the petition, was

improperly appointed, meaning he lacked legal basis to reopen the investigation. In the ruling, the justices said Schmitz could still handle certain duties in the case but that his appointment “has the potential to create problems with respect to who may act on behalf of the prosecution in this court or elsewhere going forward.” In a statement, Schmitz panned the decision and said that he would appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme Court. “I am disappointed with the decision issued today and, if I have the resources, intend to pursue an appeal before the U.S. Supreme Court,” Schmitz said in the statement, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. “I continue to believe that the investigation was justified. The voters of Wisconsin have a right to know the identity of large donors, corporate and individual, which coordinate with campaign committees.”

Justice Shirley Abrahamson was the lone jurist to oppose the ruling, with Justices Ann Walsh Bradley and Rebecca Bradley abstaining. In her dissent, Abrahamson said her colleagues neglected to address several key issues and that there is now no one to represent prosecutors on the investigation. “Although professing to be even-handed in its treatment of the Special Prosecutor ... the [ruling] is anything but even-handed,” Abrahamson wrote. “What a mess this court has wrought!” Milwaukee County District Attorney John Chisholm launched the John Doe probe in 2012 to determine whether Walker’s campaign had coordinated fundraising efforts with the Wisconsin Club for Growth, a practice the state election board had previously ruled illegal. In July, the state Supreme Court ruled 4-2 that most coordination between interest groups and campaigns was legal.

MEMORIAL UNION

Cap off the semester

Wheelhouse Studios hosted the first of two knitting workshops for making beanies Wednesday. Participants will have a finished hat after the second workshop. + Photo by Leah Voskuil

County plans to provide free tampons By Johanna Lepro-Green THE DAILY CARDINAL

A pilot program that would provide free feminine hygiene products in Dane County is set to be approved Thursday. When passed, the county program set to begin in 2016 will provide free tampons and pads in eight locations where low-income or homeless women would most benefit from access. The program, developed by Dane County Supervisor Heidi Wegleitner,

District 2, was first created after she read about a similar initiative taking place in New York City. “Last year we had an advance to put money in the budget to set up private lactation rooms in county buildings,” Wegleitner said. “And it made me realize that we can use these buildings in a multitude of ways to make women’s lives easier.” Because feminine hygiene

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

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Weekend, December 3-6, 2015

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Graduation rates of underrepresented students increase The national nonprofit advocacy organization The Education Trust released a report Wednesday naming UW-Madison as a national leader in improving graduation rates for underrepresented and overall students. In the report titled “Rising Tide: Do College Grad Rate Gains Benefit All Students?” the organization detailed the change in six-year graduation rates for first-time, full-time students at four-year public institutions across the past 10 years, according to a UW-Madison release. The graduation rates for underrepresented groups including black, Latino and Native American students

reached 68.3 percent from 2003 to 2013. UW-Madison’s overall fouryear graduation rate is currently 60.3 percent, an increase from last year’s 57.1 percent, according to the release. “UW-Madison’s long history of focused effort on student success has seen increased reliance by student affairs and student services personnel on data-driven decision-making,” said Ruby Paredes, the interim associate vice provost, division of diversity, equity & educational achievement. “The analysis of student data and success indicators has been particularly important in identifying areas of student need.”

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THOMAS YONASH/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

A national organization named UW-Madison as a leader in improving graduation rates for underrepresented students.

Cosmic radio bursts rendered for the first time in history By Laura Grulke THE DAILY CARDINAL

Researchers have produced the first detailed picture of a fast radio burst, aided by a UW-Madison physicist whose archived data helped inform where the energy blasts come from, according to a Wednesday university press release. Fast radio bursts are brief, highly energetic pulses of radio waves originating somewhere in deep space, according to the release.

Hundreds of hours of data from the National Science Foundation’s Green Bank Telescope helped piece together the researchers’ picture. The new rendering of the event indicates the most recent burst possibly originated as a supernova remnant or the energetic environment of a stellar nursery. It had traveled an estimated 6 billion light years to Earth. With only 15 fast radio bursts recorded within a decade of dis-

covering them, scientists have discovered they contain more energy than our galaxy’s sun emits over hundreds of thousands of years. Peter Timbie, a UW-Madison professor of physics who worked on the project with other researchers from around the world, said the data to determine these facts had been present for a while but was not noticed because the proper algorithms did not exist. He said the large volume of

Asssembly Democrats demand Legislature address recent job losses

tampons from page 1 products are not covered by FoodShare benefits, many lowincome or homeless women find it difficult to purchase feminine hygiene products. The resolution has the support of 24 board members, and only requires 19 votes to pass. Wegleitner said she introduced the proposal with several cosponsors, with only one representative disapproving of this addition to the budget. “When I brought up the idea to several female supervisors, they said ‘Heck yeah!’” Weigleitner said. “This is a no-brainer.” The plan follows an effort by state Rep. Melissa Sargent, D-Madison, to require all publicly funded school and state buildings to supply feminine hygiene products free of charge to students and visitors. The bill received no support from Republicans and will likely not pass for 2016. Wegleitner said she believes Sargent was unable to pass this bill because of the current political climate. “Unfortunately, there are a lot of legislators who haven’t learned how to empathize with others,” she said. Wegleitner noted the issue requires that male legislators under-

aids from page 1 said he believes it should not be a controversial treatment. “I think we have a moral imperative to make sure that anyone who wants this service and who is otherwise clinically eligible to receive it has access to it,” Keeton said. “[Pre-

data flashing so briefly and traveling for such a long distance causes the signals to be “smeared out.” Timbie said in the release the new data analysis software created by the researchers could make astronomical discoveries easier and more frequent. Timbie said in the release that the new data has already suggested fast radio bursts occur far more frequently than previously thought, possibly thousands of times a day.

who typically come from Iraq, Afghanistan and Bhutan. However, during the 2014-’15 fiscal year, the county had only 47 refugees. “We are expected to get approximately 100 refugees in 2015-2016 fiscal year and already have received 28 in October and November and anticipating 7-11 this month,” Louther wrote. Lutheran Social Services partners with other area organizations to provide housing and other relocation services. “LSS is finding fewer places that will rent to refugees who have no credit history,” Louther said in an email. Louther added that the service Public Health assures refugees link up with primary care providers and dental homes, and noted other organizations provide services like teaching English and helping with job hunting. In the days after the Paris terrorist attacks, Gov. Scott Walker signed a letter to President Barack Obama saying he did not want Syrian refugees coming to Wisconsin. “We must ensure we are doing all we can to safeguard the security of Americans,” Walker said in a statement after the letter’s release. Speaking with reporters Tuesday, Walker acknowledged he cannot legally prevent refugees arriving in Wisconsin. “Legally, I can’t put up a wall at the border,” he said, according to The Cap Times.

By Andrew Bahl THE DAILY CARDINAL

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The resolution to provide free feminine hygiene products has the support of 24 board members, but only needs 19 to pass. stand the experiences of women. “If you don’t trust that this is a challenge for women, you won’t be able to understand what an impact it can make in their lives,” Wegleitner said. If the resolution is suc-

cessful, Weigleitner and her co-sponsors said they plan to expand to other places in the future, including the public library and the homeless day center currently being renovated on East Washington Avenue.

exposure prophylaxis] is just one tool in the toolbox. We still encourage individuals to engage in safe sexual practices, safe injection practices.” Keeton said he believes that the greatest challenge to the fight against HIV/AIDS in the area is the stigma the virus carries. He spoke of the “feelings of isolation”

to which the virus’ stigma can lead to. “There are things that are difficult for communities to fully get their heads and their hands and their hearts around at some level,” Keeton said. “Stigma is still a huge barrier for people with HIV, and it’s a barrier for them accessing services.”

Assembly Democrats renewed calls Wednesday for an extraordinary session to address recent layoffs in the state, arguing the Legislature hasn’t done enough to create jobs. Assembly Minority Leader Peter Barca, D-Kenosha, and state Reps. JoCasta Zamarripa, D-Milwaukee, and Andy Jorgensen, D-Milton, accused the Republican majority at a press conference of not doing enough to combat companies leaving Wisconsin. Last month, Kraft Heinz announced it would close its Oscar Mayer plant in Madison. Days later, Johnson & Johnson and Tyson Foods said they would move jobs out of their facilities in Racine and Jefferson, respectively. “It is a shame we have to ask for jobs bills to be heard in the Legislature,” Zamarripa said at the press conference. “It is even worse

that the people of this state asking for action are not being heard … There is still time to hold an extraordinary session on jobs.” Barca said Republicans’ priorities were misplaced by reforming the Government Accountability Board and campaign finance laws in an extraordinary session last month. “What a horrendous agenda for Wisconsin,” Barca said. Oscar Mayer employee Mike Valentine joined the lawmakers at the press conference. He said the closing of the plant, which has operated in Madison for over 100 years, thrusts workers into a difficult position ahead of the holiday season. “With the holidays, it’s just a tough time for a lot of people,” Valentine said. “We had a very secure job with great benefits and great wages.” Republican leaders have said they will work on economic issues when the Legislature next has floor session in January.

Wisconsin offers webinars to prepare students for college admission process UW System and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction teamed up this fall to create a series of free “College Readiness Webinars” to better prepare students for postsecondary education. Over 90 high school teachers, counselors, principals and other people throughout Wisconsin registered for each webinar. These programs aim to prepare students for college math, English language skills and the college admission process, according to a UW System release. “For Wisconsin to reach its full

economic potential, it is widely recognized that we must increase the number of college graduates in the state,” said UW System President Ray Cross. “We also recognize that, for a variety of reasons, many students coming to college might benefit from additional pre-college preparation.” The next College Readiness Webinar is scheduled for a Dec. 8 release and will inform students on how high school faculty and staff can help with graduation and gain skills to succeed in college, according to the release.

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Weekend, December 3-6, 2015

arts

Madison’s weekend entertainment By Allison Garcia THE DAILY CARDINAL

We only have a few weekends left in the semester, so now is the time to take advantage of all the entertainment opportunities this campus has to offer.

COURTESY OF FRANK TURNER VIA FACEBOOK

Frank Turner performed at the Majestic Tuesday night with The Mascot Theory and Chef’Special.

Frank Turner made soldout show feel intimate By Abbie Ruckdashel THE DAILY CARDINAL

The Majestic was set for a night of folk music and copious amounts of dancing Tuesday night. The Mascot Theory, Chef’Special and Frank Turner put on an absolutely amazing performance. To be perfectly honest it was not what I expected, but was one hell of a good time. As a frequent concertgoer, I’ve never had so much fun at a show before. This show probably had the most age-diverse audience I’ve ever seen. There were kids as young as 12 or 13 there as well as some 20-somethings along with a good handful of people over the age of 40. I know for a fact every single person there had the best time imaginable. The Mascot Theory, a local Madison band, opened the show. You probably saw them at Freakfest on the Gilman Street stage. Their performance rocked then, but Tuesday night was even better—which I didn’t even think was possible. If you love cool tricks with a stand-up bass, then you would love The Mascot Theory. They have a folk sound with a contemporary twist, plus phenomenal energy and charisma on stage. You can tell they just love to put their music out there and have a good time which, as an audience member, makes for a wonderful connection and intimate performance, even in a sold-out Majestic. They played my favorite song of theirs titled “Monterey.” It depicts a soldier falling in love but going to war. It’s really beautiful. It’s amazing as it still embodies the folk style, yet also incorporates a slower tempo. I also found The Mascot Theory to be the perfect opening band for Frank Turner. The band’s front man, Erik Kjelland, has the same yelling-type singing that brings passion and emotion to the song while still retaining musical depth. You should totally check them out—their next album drops Dec. 18. The next act to hit the stage was a band out of the Netherlands called Chef’Special. If you saw the Dirty Heads at the Barrymore in early September, you got to see them on their first trip to Madison. Unfortunately it was my first time seeing them, and I was not disappointed, though I was shocked at what kind of music was coming out of the speakers. I was expecting another folk band to be up, but instead I was getting a kind of reggae/rap/ska type of vibe. Though it

was not expected, it was refreshing and definitely entertaining. Front man Joshua Nolet even jumped into the crowd and was standing in the middle of the tangled mess of people. After their set I tweeted to them and ended up getting a chance to spend a few minutes to pick their brains a little bit because, you know, I loved them, and they opened for my favorite band in September. They reminded me a lot of the Dirty Heads, and they took it as the biggest compliment ever when I told them so. Even though I’d never heard of them I was still fangirling super hard because their set was that good. Lead singer Nolet and I bonded over the fact that we both grew up choir nerds. He even revealed to me he wrote raps when he was younger. He wrote his first rap in Dutch at the age of 12 and has been following his musical dreams ever since. They’ve been in the States since the end of August writing and working on their first studio album to be released under Fueled By Ramen. I was kind of shocked they’ve been here living in hotels and on a tour bus for so long, so I had to find out if they sometimes hate each other, being so close all the time. I was informed jokingly that each person in the band hates someone different every day. I was wondering how they could get an album done while on tour. As it turns out they aren’t actually on tour with Frank Turner. They just happened to be in the area for a one-off kind of thing—luckily for those that attended the show, because they were awesome. My personal favorite moment of their set was when lead guitarist Guido Joseph crushed a guitar solo. I also enjoyed their opening song “Julie” a lot. I overheard a woman near me say, “I’ve never heard of them, but they kept me entertained the whole time. They’re really good.” As I left them, I pointed the band in the direction of State Street so they could get the real Wisconsin brews they were dying to try. Be sure to grab their EP, which is on Spotify as well as iTunes, to hold you over until their album comes out. Frank Turner & The Sleeping Souls closed out a night to remember. He’s on tour with his sixth solo studio album titled Positive Songs for Negative People. This album got back to his roots in punk for sure. There’s heavy guitar and his trademark screaming angry vocals to go

with some really deep lyrics. It’s really amazing and seems to fit the core of who Frank is. As a disclaimer you guys should know that I am kind of biased. I’m a super fan of Turner’s. I’ve been following him for a little over 10 years now, since right before the dissolution of his punk band Million Dead, and this was the first time I’ve actually gotten to see him live—and he did not disappoint. He’s a crazy man on stage, rarely stopping for a drink of water or even an extra breath. Somehow he even has the energy to keep the guitar going as well as jumping off the drum set and speakers. I don’t know where to start, other than he puts on the most lively, interactive, fun-filled and moving shows I’ve ever attended. It was everything I expected and so much more. Frank only has two rules at his show: “Don’t be a dickhead, and if you know the words fucking sing.” The audience took this to heart. Everyone became friends with each other, and sang the words to both his new and old songs as loud as physically possible. I felt like I had a huge sold-out family for a couple hours. That’s part of Frank’s mission to put on shows where everyone is included and feels important. Though Frank is on tour promoting his newest album, he played plenty of his older songs to make sure the crowd got to hear the songs that propelled him into stardom as a solo artist. He played my favorite song ever from his fifth album Tape Deck Heart entitled “Recovery.” It’s his most popular song to date. In the middle of his set, he played a short three-song solo set without his band, The Sleeping Souls. He dedicated the first song of that set to his friend Nick, who lost his life in the Paris terrorist attacks. Let me tell you, there wasn’t a dry eye in the room, including Frank’s. After the most emotional part of the night was over, Frank proceeded back to his usual self, being absolutely ridiculously silly and throwing the f-word around in his cute British accent. Frank even kissed his harmonica player on the cheek, and got personal with his guitarist, Ben Lloyd. Before the encore, Frank took a selfie with the audience to document and be able to prove to his future grandkids that he was “cool once upon a time.” Overall, it was a sold-out show made to feel intimate. Every single act was extremely talented and definitely left a mark on the audience.

A-ca-awesome It’s fall showcase season and two of Madison’s talented a cappella groups are ready to take the stage and show off their hard work for the semester. Tangled Up In Blue is an all-female group on campus and they will take the stage Friday in the Memorial Union Fredric March Play Circle. The theme for this year’s show is “Lost In Madison” and there is a student discount for tickets. Fundamentally Sound is an all-male group consisting of raw talent and tan suspenders. They will perform Saturday night in Shannon Hall. You’ll flip for this one Madison Swing is hosting a trick workshop Friday night in Union South. No

experience is required and it is a great opportunity to learn more about the art of swing dancing. Dog-gone good time Joe Pug is hitting the stage for a WUD Music performance Sunday at Memorial Union. Pug has performed at Lollapalooza, Bonnaroo and other notable music festivals around the country and is wellknown for his work. Also performing concerts this weekend are Homeless & Big Cats with Lucien Parker and Buck Russell Friday in Union South. Reel fun No mission is too impossible for Tom Cruise. The Marquee will be playing “Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation” this weekend as well as “Akira,” “Cobain: Montage of Heck,” “Warsaw 44” and “Gods.” Free Art Friday Wheelhouse Studios will host a free art project as part of its weekly Free Art Friday series.

COURTESY OF TANGLED UP IN BLUE VIA FACEBOOK

Tangled Up In Blue, a UW-Madison all-female a cappella group, will perform in Memorial Union Friday.

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Weekend, December 3-6, 2015

An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 125, Issue 51

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

News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com

Editor-in-Chief James Dayton

Managing Editor Emily Gerber

News Team News Manager Adelina Yankova Campus Editor Bri Maas College Editor Ellie Herman City Editor Negassi Tesfamichael State Editor Andrew Hahn Associate News Editor Laura Grulke Features Editor Gilly McBride Opinion Editors Sergey Fedossov • Cal Weber Editorial Board Chair Conor Murphy Arts Editors Allison Garcia • Conor Murphy Sports Editors Jake Powers • Zach Rastall Almanac Editors Dylan Anderson • Liam Hutchison Photo Editors Will Chizek • Kaitlyn Veto Graphics Editors Bethany Dahl • Yi Jiang Multimedia Editors Steven Rybeck • Jen Wagman Science Editor Sai-Suma Samudrala Life & Style Editor McKenna Gramoll Special Pages Editors Kerry Huth • Justine Jones Copy Chiefs Theda Berry • Ellie Borstad John Joutras • Sam Wagner Copy Editors Katarina Gvozdjak • Eva Jacobs Social Media Manager Madison Schiller

Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Andrew Hahm Advertising Manager Corissa Pennow Marketing Director Victoria Fok

The Daily Cardinal is a nonprofit organization run by its staff members and elected editors. It receives no funds from the university. Operating revenue is generated from advertising and subscription sales. The Daily Cardinal is published weekdays and distributed at the University of WisconsinMadison and its surrounding community with a circulation of 10,000. Capital Newspapers, Inc. is the Cardinal’s printer. The Daily Cardinal is printed on recycled paper. The Cardinal is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The Daily Cardinal are the sole property of the Cardinal and may not be reproduced without written permission of the editor in chief. The Daily Cardinal accepts advertising representing a wide range of views. This acceptance does not imply agreement with the views expressed. The Cardinal reserves the right to reject advertisements judged offensive based on imagery, wording or both. Complaints: News and editorial complaints should be presented to the editor in chief. Business and advertising complaints should be presented to the business manager. Letters Policy: Letters must be word processed and must include contact information. No anonymous letters will be printed. All letters to the editor will be printed at the discretion of The Daily Cardinal. Letters may be sent to opinion@ dailycardinal.com.

Editorial Board Dylan Anderson • Theda Berry James Dayton • Sergey Fedossov Emily Gerber • Max Lenz Conor Murphy • Cal Weber l

Board of Directors Herman Baumann, President Phil Brinkman • James Dayton Victoria Fok • Emily Gerber Andrew Hahm • Janet Larson Don Miner • Corissa Pennow Nancy Sandy • Jennifer Sereno Jason Stein • Jim Thackray Tina Zavoral

For the record A Dec. 2 story on the state’s minimum wage incorrecty stated Judge Rhonda Lanford dismissed the case without reason. The judge’s opinion has been updated in the onlnie edition.

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Bill Gates excitedly awaits death, biopics COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

National Lightsaber Association suggests lightsabers will prevent mass shootings By Dylan Anderson COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

By Liam Hutchison THE DAILY CARDINAL

After seeing the most recent film about the life and career of Steve Jobs, Bill Gates, software pioneer and co-founder of Microsoft, is absolutely ecstatic about the biographical films he expects to come out about him after he dies. “It’s just so exciting to think about all the great movies they might make about me,” said Gates while energetically bouncing around in his seat. “They already have two out about Steve and I’d expect at least that many, maybe even more? It’s tough to say now, but it’d be so cool if they did a couple different ones from all different times in my life and stuff.” Though Gates only turned 60 this October, the billionaire and influential philanthropist is certain that it isn’t too early to start thinking about the biographical legacy that he hopes to leave

behind when his life is over. “I’m still pretty busy right now but after the next few years or so I won’t be making much new material to cover and then we can really get this creative process going.” “If they got Ashton Kutcher to play Steve I’m sure they’d be able to get some other good-looker to do me,” mused Gates. “Maybe Matt Damon could do it? Or even Franco? Okay, probably not Franco. Damon would be great though! He’s got the whole smartguy role down pat, and he’s got my chin!” At press time, Bill Gates was busily clicking away at a keyboard, sketching out the rough draft and title of the screenplay that he is sure will become a reality not too long after his death. “Unlocking the Gates to the Future,” is expected to open in theaters sometime within the next 20 to 30 years.

THE DAILY CARDINAL

Following Wednesday’s mass shooting in San Bernadino, Calif., the National Lightsaber Association adamantly maintained its stance that arming more Americans with lightsabers would prevent these tragedies from occurring with such frequency. The NLA and its supporters firmly recommended that increasing ownership and rights for owners of the deadly beams of pure photons showcased in the “Star Wars” film series would discourage these types of massacres. “One common denominator of these mass shootings is that they all occur in ‘Lightsaber Free Zones,’” NLA spokesperson Lee Reynolds said. “In locations where lightsabers are permitted, these incidents simply never happen.” With its recommendation, the NLA upheld its reputation of lobbying for a rise in lightsaber usage

immediately following large-scale killings by American civilians. They, along with many prominent Republican officials, famously suggested that all U.S. schoolteachers should be trained in the ways of The Force by the Jedi council and keep lightsabers in classrooms following the infamous Sandy Hook Elementary School bloodbath in December 2012. Though the majority of the Jedi council has repeatedly urged that lightsabers are too dangerous to be owned and used by anyone other than well-trained authorities, the NLA and its supporters still recommend widespread “glow stick” possession. “Anyone who’s seen ‘Star Wars’ knows that lightsabers can be utilized in a variety of defensive purposes in addition to being lethal,” Reynolds said. “They can deflect all kinds of bullets and lasers. I own many blue and even red lightsabers and have never used them to kill anyone.”

Gov. Scott Walker to appear on cover of ‘ESPN The Magazine’ body issue By Jamie de Moya-Cotter THE DAILY CARDINAL

ESPN revealed the newest models for its highly popular body issue Monday night, raising many eyebrows when it announced Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker will be featured on the cover of “ESPN The Magazine’s” 2016 body issue. During a press conference the following morning, an elated Walker, sporting a sleeveless golf polo, told reporters, “It’s nice to finally be recognized for something besides my gubernatorial accolades.” When pressed by reporters as to what specific accolades Walker was referring to, the unperturbed governor let out a hearty laugh, and with a cheeky grin conceded, “You got me!” “There comes a time in every man’s life when his biological clock starts to kick in,” Walker continued in his media address. “One morning you wake up and

think, goddamn, I’m 48 years old and I’ve only been naked in front five, maybe six people. I just want to thank ESPN for helping me realize my dream.” An anonymous source from ESPN reported that Walker was “quite the handful” on set, citing the Wisconsin governor’s desire for a full-on nudity shot. It was reported that shouts of “just the tip” could be heard throughout ESPN’s entire Bristol, Conn., headquarters. It was also reported that Walker was not the most popular person on set, and was subjected to much abuse from his magazine costars. One ESPN intern told reporters that a disgruntled Rob Gronkowski found Walker on the phone behind the set doing 50 burpees and admiring his physique in the mirror. Other costars described Walker as “not chill” and “koala man,” and one even went as far as

COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

to suggest Walker skips leg day. While the photographing process was rough, the end product was not, as the 2016 edition has shattered the pre-order sales records set in 2015.

Even venerable show host Ellen DeGeneres entered the discussion. She called the photos “steamy,” publicly announcing that Walker “might be getting an early Christmas present in the mail.”

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Weekend, December 3-6, 2015 5

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Wisconsin needs a medical amnesty law with underage drinking Jason klein Letter to the Editor

he official motto of the State of Wisconsin is “Forward.” As a word, it suggests an entity with a positive vision for the future. However, it is impossible for Wisconsin to be “Forward” if it persists with excluding forward-looking policy.

photo courtesy of peter stevens via flickr

The popularity of Sen. Bernie Sanders’ policy goals are seen in the massive turnouts at his rallies.

Sanders will fall unless voters take a stand ELIJAH GRAY Opinion Columnist

common refrain I hear from Hillary Clinton supporters is that even if the country could somehow muster the will to put Bernie Sanders into the Oval Office, nothing would ever get done because Republicans would block Sanders’ ultra-liberal policy proposals at every turn. Admittedly, I understand where these people are coming from. For people who think the government can and should play a more active role in bettering people’s lives by ensuring health care as a right for all citizens, making college universally affordable and reigning in the power of the wealthiest Americans to control the political process, Sanders is exactly the person upon whom we should bestow the presidency. On the other hand, for those in Congress possessing wildly different notions of what government should do on behalf of the people, i.e., Republicans, a Sanders win on 2016’s election night would undoubtedly presage a precipitous drop in legislative productivity. Sanders has explicitly acknowledged this, however, arguing that unless there arises a grassroots movement of citizens working to

pressure their elected officials to help carry out his policy goals, it will be virtually impossible to surmount the power of politicians and their wealthy backers bent on staving off progressive reform and making sure that the country continues to operate on behalf of the moneyed elite. As to whether or not this political revolution of which Sanders speaks is possible, I really don’t know. Seeing that tens of thousands of people have routinely packed stadiums to hear the senator, initially dismissed as without a hope in hell of achieving the nomination, fills me with hope that another progressive era in America could actually await on the horizon and that it’s no longer political anathema to suggest that democratic socialism, as Seth MacFarlane remarked at a Sanders rally in Los Angeles, “can and should coexist” with capitalism. I certainly felt that a political revolution was possible the night this summer when I saw Sanders speak right here in Madison when, to a recordbreaking 10 thousand attendees, he delivered a message of social, economic and political justice so electrifying I, for once, found hope that control of

photo courtesy of lawrence jackson via wikimedia commons

It is unclear whether Sen. Sanders would fare better with a Republican-controlled Congress than President Barack Obama.

our incredible, imperfect country might yet be wrested from the hands of the wealthy few. In thinking about the likelihood of Sanders getting his policy objectives through the dilapidated sausage factory that is our country’s legislative process, I can’t help but wonder to what extent liberal partisanship even matters to Republicans.

Herein lies the necessity of citizens standing up and demanding of their politicians an effort to implement progressive reform.

Given that they’ve effectively taken on as their mission an unwillingness to work with President Barack Obama on principle, I can’t imagine how Hillary Clinton, perhaps alone among people more despised by Republicans than Obama, could retain any hope of getting things done if she were to win the presidency. If what it took to incite the ire of Republicans was to suggest universal health care and tuitionfree public universities, Obama wouldn’t need to worry. Seeing how Republicans have balked at even the most commonsense of reforms under Obama’s tenure, however, I’m led to believe that just because Clinton isn’t bandying about extolling the virtues of democratic socialism, Republicans wouldn’t be any less averse to her ideas. Herein lies the necessity of citizens standing up and demanding of their politicians an effort to implement progressive reform because, unless this were to happen, neither Clinton nor Sanders could realistically move towards meaningful change. Coming from someone who’s opted to defy Clinton supporters and hold fast to the idea that full-blooded progressive ideals could yet be attempted once more in this country, here’s hoping that it’s Sanders for whom we may eventually stand. Elijah is a junior majoring in communication arts. What challenges do you think Sen. Sanders faces in this election and beyond? Please send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

I urge you to contact your local representative or senator so that everyone in Wisconsin is able to make the call and possibly save a life.

Currently in Wisconsin, an underage drinker who is in need of medical assistance would be subject to an underage drinking ticket if a friend called 911 for help. If the friend was also intoxicated, they would be culpable as well. This is a potentially fatal problem. I’m originally from Indiana, which is one of 31 states that has a medical amnesty law in place that protects both the victim and caller from an underage drinking ticket in case of a medical emergency. But it wasn’t always this way. In 2012, Brett, a senior at my high school, had just graduated and was looking forward to heading off to university. Brett lived an active lifestyle: he was a member of the varsity soccer team, and according to his close friends, some of whom I know very well, he was the type of kid who always had your back. Everyone had something good to say about him. Soon after his graduation day, Brett was out at a party with some of his friends. He drank too much too fast, and eventually passed out. Now, this happened only a month after medical amnesty had passed in Indiana, and it hadn’t been around long enough for

Brett’s friends to know it existed. They were afraid to call for help immediately, and eventually, Brett died of alcohol poisoning. This story provides an example of just one of many situations that led to the wider promotion and subsequent expansion of medical amnesty law in Indiana. Currently, it’s being used to save lives. In Wisconsin, however, medical amnesty does not exist. According to a 2011 study from researchers at North Dakota State University, students who are aware that a medical amnesty policy is in effect are 2.5 times more likely than students who expect to face disciplinary action to call for help when witnessing the signs of alcohol poisoning. Unfortunately, that’s not an option for our peers, friends, and, potentially, loved ones who might need it. That can change.

Currently in Wisconsin, an underage drinker who is in need of medical assistance would be subject to an underage drinking ticket if a friend called 911 for help.

Right now, a medical amnesty bill is being circulated in the state legislature that, like the one from my home state, would protect both the caller and the victim in case of a medical emergency. It is of the utmost importance that legislators hear support from their constituents so that this bill, along with the State of Wisconsin can move “Forward.” I urge you to contact your local representative or senator so that everyone in Wisconsin is able to make the call and possibly save a life. Jason is a member of the Legislative Affairs Committee in the Associated Students of Madison. What do you think of this proposal? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

comics

6 • Weekend, December 3-6, 2015

dailycardinal.com

Male mice cry to prove their masculinity. Today’s Sudoku

6 9

8 1 7 6

4 7

5 3 3 4 1 8 7 2 1 6 9 3 5 4

6 8 5 9 5 8 EASY

6 2 3 7 4 5 1

3 6

1 9 6

9 8 7 3 8 2 9 4 7 8 1 5 3 1 8 2 3 7 3 1 6

6 4 8 4 6

EASY

# 78

6 2 1

1 9

7 2 1 5 8

EASY

8 3 3 7 4

6 1 4 3 2 9 2 8 8 7 9 8 9 6

3 7 9

# 77

2 9 8 1 5

By Alexandra Steffeck graphics@dailycardinal.com

A Tad Offbeat

# 79

EASY

Eatin’ Cake Classic

By Dylan Moriarty graphics@dailycardinal.com

# 80

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9. # 77

6 7 4 1 8 9 5 3 2

9 2 3 6 5 7 4 1 8

8 5 1 4 2 3 9 6 7

2 3 7 5 9 1 8 4 6

5 8 6 2 3 4 7 9 1

4 1 9 8 7 6 2 5 3

3 4 8 7 6 5 1 2 9

1 6 2 9 4 8 3 7 5

7 9 5 3 1 2 6 8 4

# 78

4 7 2 8 6 5 1 3 9

5 6 1 4 9 3 2 7 8

9 8 3 7 1 2 6 4 5

2 5 7 9 3 6 4 8 1

3 9 8 5 4 1 7 6 2

www.sudoku.com

6 1 4 2 7 8 9 5 3

1 4 6 3 5 9 8 2 7

8 3 9 6 2 7 5 1 4

7 2 5 1 8 4 3 9 6

# 79

5 9 7 4 2 8 6 3 1

2 8 6 9 3 1 4 7 5

4 1 3 5 6 7 8 2 9

9 5 4 3 7 6 2 1 8

7 6 2 1 8 4 9 5 3

8 3 1 2 5 9 7 6 4

6 7 9 8 1 3 5 4 2

3 4 5 7 9 2 1 8 6

# 80

1 2 8 6 4 5 3 9 7

Page 20 of 25

4 6 2 1 5 9 3 7 8

3 7 5 2 8 4 1 6 9

8 9 1 6 3 7 4 5 2

1 5 3 4 2 8 6 9 7

9 2 7 5 1 6 8 4 3

6 8 4 7 9 3 5 2 1

2 4 6 3 7 1 9 8 5

5 3 9 8 4 2 7 1 6

7 1 8 9 6 5 2 3 4

24 Jul 05

You Look Tired Today Classic

By Haley Henschel graphics@dailycardinal.com

Today’s Crossword Puzzle

Subversion

ACROSS 1 Little rascal 6 Goes back to sea? 10 Up to snuff 14 “Bellefleur” author Joyce Carol 15 Scoot 16 Equine gait 17 Display rabies 20 Choice for a convicted felon 21 Faithful recluse 22 Hardly macho types 25 Daisy relative 26 “Now hold on, there!” 30 Quaker products 32 Hearing-related 35 Chopped meat dishes 41 Thoroughly 43 Completely absorbed 4 4 Super-happy feeling 45 Totally dominates 47 Have a cry 48 Indian melodies 53 A wise beginning? 56 Say again and again 58 Knock down a peg 63 How many read 66 Beach sweeper

67 68 69 70 71

Subatomic particle Committee type Went lickety-split Parcel of land Opposite of “o’er” DOWN 1 Best seat in the house, often 2 Raise trivial objections 3 Straddling 4 Apportion (with “out”) 5 “Nonsense!” 6 Small newt 7 PB and J alternative 8 Urgent prompting 9 Crystal-ball consulter 10 Units in physics 11 Spread widely, as a rumor 12 Lenya of “Cabaret” 13 Obsolete anesthetic 18 Boxing legend Muhammad 19 “Give ___ break” 23 Anecdotal wisdom 24 Remittance 26 Ump’s call 27 Kind of signal 28 Wavy lines, in the comics

29 31 33 34 36 37 38 39 40 42 46 48 49 50 51 52 54 55 57 59 60 61 62 6 4 65

Fine cotton Search for good buys Cough syrup amt., often Director Preminger Volcanic fallout Keep, as cargo In this very place Huron neighbor Cold-weather period Keister or fanny Deplorable Schisms and chasms “Take ___ down memory lane” Rock containing crystal Ready for battle Mineo of “Exodus” Tokyo, once Showed again on TV Short-term worker, for short ___ one’s time Turkish title of honor (Var.) Took a photo of Use acid for creative purposes Homophone for “two” Nitro’s cousin

By Tom Taagen graphics@dailycardinal.com

dailycardinal.com

Men’s Basketball

Weekend, December 3-6, 2015

sports

Volleyball

UW set for NCAA Tournament play By Matt Davis The daily cardinal

morgan winston/cardinal file photo

Though he finished with five turnovers, including four traveling violations, Ethan Happ was a major factor in Wisconsin’s win over No. 14 Syracuse, recording 18 points and 15 rebounds.

Happ, Badgers upend No. 14 Syracuse in OT By Zach Rastall The daily cardinal

It was far from poetry in motion, but the Badgers went into the Carrier Dome Wednesday night and picked up their biggest win of the season thus far. Wisconsin (5-3) outlasted No. 14 Syracuse (6-1) 66-58 in overtime as part of the ACC/Big Ten Challenge, successfully bouncing back from an ugly loss to Oklahoma Sunday and handing the Orange their first loss of the year. Forward Ethan Happ finished with 18 points and 15 rebounds to record his third double-double of the year. But it was far from a perfect night for the redshirt freshman, who turned the ball over five times and missed a few bunnies underneath the basket. However, the same could be said for the entire Wisconsin team. The Badgers continued to be plagued by ball control issues, recording 20 turnovers (though Syracuse only scored 16 points off UW turnovers). On the other hand, Wisconsin dominated in the post, outrebounding Syracuse by a 51-25 margin and outscoring the Orange 30-14 in points in the paint. Despite their offensive struggles throughout the season, the Badgers had a fair amount of success against Syracuse’s vaunted 2-3 zone defense, especially during the first half. The Orange jumped out to a 10-5 lead to start, but UW answered with a 22-9 run of its own. Junior forward Vitto Brown, who finished the game with 14 points on 6-9 shooting, was instrumental to the team’s success on offense in the first half, scoring 11 points to lead all scorers at the half. However, Syracuse did finish the half on a 5-0 run to cut the deficit to just three points heading into

the locker room. The Orange offense would come alive early in the second half, including a three-possession stretch over 1:19 that saw them hit a trio of 3-pointers, giving Syracuse a 41-35 lead with 11:10 remaining. But Wisconsin refused to go away quietly, staying within striking distance down the stretch. With his team trailing by three, junior guard Bronson Koenig buried a triple with 1:22 left to tie the game. After a Syracuse turnover, the Badgers had a chance to win it in regulation, but Brown airballed on an open jumper to send the game to overtime. The Orange scored the first two points of the extra period, but UW responded with a 9-0 run to take firm control of the game. It was Wisconsin’s first win in a game where it turned the ball over at least 20 times since December 2007 and dropped Syracuse’s record to 20-4 in overtime games at the Carrier Dome. The Badgers also had the advantage at the charity stripe, where they went 11-12. Meanwhile, Syracuse went just 11-20. Thanks to major contributions from Happ and Brown in the frontcourt, Wisconsin was able to overcome its myriad of misakes and a couple of uncharacteristic performances from juniors Nigel Hayes and Bronson Koenig. Though Hayes and Koenig finished with 15 and 12 points, respectively, they combined to shoot just 8-24 from the field. Even though its star players weren’t at their best, Wisconsin still was able to weather the storm and down its ranked opponent. Moreover, the victory gives the Badgers a confidence boost and a solid résumé win as they pre-

pare to return home for their next seven games. Wisconsin returns to action at the Kohl Center against Temple (3-3) Saturday at 11:30 a.m.

Wisconsin (16-4 Big Ten, 24-6 overall) will make its third-straight NCAA tournament appearance as the No. 6 seeded Badgers take on Oregon (10-10 Pac-12, 16-13 overall) in first-round action Thursday night at the UW Field House. “We’re excited about playing, we’re excited about hosting,” head coach Kelly Sheffield said in a Monday press conference. “We’re hoping that we can pack the Field House this weekend, and should be some great volleyball.” Iowa State (11-5 Big 12, 18-10 overall) will face Miami (Fla.) (14-6 ACC, 21-9 overall) prior to UW’s match with Oregon. Thursday’s winners will advance to the second-round match Friday. UW’s tournament draw is very different than other brackets because usually higher seeded teams such as UW would not face Power-Five conference teams like Oregon in the first round. The Badgers are up to the challenge and are excited to face a competitive team at the start of the tournament. “It’s challenging,” Sheffield said. “There are a lot of people that go around and they whine about their situation. Usually, they are not very successful in what they’re doing. We talk about having a mindset of ‘bring it!’ That’s kind of where our kids are at right now. They recognize it’s a different type of first-round match-up than what you would probably anticipate, but I think right away it was, ‘all right, bring it!’”

Not only is Oregon a talented team, but the Ducks play with a different style than most other teams. Many of their coaches also have Final Four experience. “They overload half the court an awful lot, and they will do it with three hitters, and half of the court may be the half where the setter is,” Sheffield said. “You know they’re going to give you a lot of different looks, you know that they’re well-coached.” “The other three coaches that are coming here, head coaches, all three of them have experience in the regional final or the Final Four either as a head coach or assistant coach, so they’re experienced coaches.” UW comes into the tournament with a 12-game winning streak and is playing great volleyball, but Sheffield believes the Badgers can take their game to an even higher level in the tournament. “I hope we haven’t peaked, but I don’t think so,” Sheffield said. “Purdue might have been the strongest match that we played this year. We probably could have said that a week earlier, maybe a week before that. I think what we’re starting to get is more than just one or two people on their game. Where we’re starting to be — there is quite a few people that are playing well every night.” The tournament begins with Iowa State facing Miami (Fla.) at 5 p.m. followed by UW’s match against Oregon at 7:30 p.m. UWBadgers.com contributed to this report.

Sports Sports From a star in red to the Red Stars Weekend, december 3-6, 2015 Dailycardinal.com DailyCardinal.com

After a prolific career at UW, Cara Walls has waded into the turbulent waters of the NWSL Story by Jonah Beleckis

ara Walls had more than just lofty dreams of playing professional soccer in France—she signed up to study abroad there and was determined to play. Then after the Badgers’ 2014 season ended, Paula Wilkins, Cara’s coach of four years at Wisconsin, called her. Wilkins had been talking to representatives from the Chicago Red Stars of the National Women’s Soccer League. “Are you going to play?” Wilkins asked. That was not a simple question. One the one hand, this sport had been in Walls’ life since she was six years old. It was what she chose to pursue over basketball and tennis. On the other hand, the minimum salary in the NWSL—a league established in 2012 after its predecessor folded in the same year—is $6,842, roughly halfway to meeting the Federal poverty line at $11,770, as reported by Esquire. Nevertheless, Walls knew what her answer would be. “Oh yeah,” she responded. “This is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

The Wisconsin experience

From Wauwatosa, to FC Milwaukee, to the Badgers, Walls spent her entire pre-NWSL soccer career playing in Wisconsin. After winning the title for FC Milwaukee and finishing as top scorer at the U-18 national championships in Arizona, Walls moved on to meet her next soccer family in Madison. “Here at UW, it is very teamoriented. Your team is your family. You hang out with them. Even if you don’t play, the girls on the bench, are cheering the whole time,” Walls said when comparing college to professional soccer. “And that’s why you leave college with your sisters, some of your best friends.” Walls finished her time at UW with quite a distinguished career. She is tied for second in program history for career goals (42) and she is the record holder for multigoal games (10). She began her

time at UW on the 2011 All-Big Ten Freshman Team and finished on the 2014 First Team All-Big Ten. After her Badger career ended with a 3-2 NCAA tournament loss to UCF, Walls played professionally in the spring and summer. However, she returned to Madison this fall with 17 credits, set to graduate in December. This fall, Walls transitioned from leading-scorer to cheerleader and coach—a new perspective, but one that came with its own challenges and lessons. “It’s really hard. It’s eye-opening,” Walls said. “It’s going to make me cherish my time with the Red Stars. This time is over. As much as I want to go out there and play with Rose [Lavelle] and McKenna [Meuer], I just can’t.” Wilkins appreciated what Walls offered the team in a year where the Badgers finished as joint winners of the Big Ten in the regular season. “She loves the sport of soccer. She loves the program. She had a huge part in making it successful,” Wilkins said. “Just seeing that pride and that excitement, it just permeated to other players, especially the younger players.” Coinciding with Walls’ time in Madison, the NWSL was born and questions arose about the vitality of the league.

Building on the past

Caution and optimism are prevailing themes surrounding the NWSL—with players, coaches and administrators who believe that past failures of women’s professional leagues will not be repeated with added structural support. The NWSL formed in 2012, succeeding Women’s Professional Soccer, which folded for a multitude of reasons—a primary one being financial concerns. Some financial wariness remains. Owners still bear a burden to support the teams themselves. “Our team is funded, basically completely, by our owner. Our one owner pays for our trips, for our salaries,” Walls said. “There’s not enough of an outside contribution.” Wilkins said infrastructures of the NWSL will help keep it from falling into similar trouble.

photo courtesy of wikimedia

Following the conclusion of her collegiate career, Walls decided to try and continue her passion with the Chicago Red Stars of the NWSL.

“The first time they were all in this league they fell out the money fast and they didn’t really have a good structure,” Wilkins added. One element that relieves a significant financial burden from club owners is that the United States Soccer Federation, Canadian Soccer Association and Mexican Football Federation pay for all the national team players from those countries. Therefore, the NWSL is not financially responsible for a majority of the best players in the league and the negotiations involved with paying them. “In the past, [the USSF was] always supportive by word of the league but not really in action. This time around, they’re really supportive in action,” said Alyse LaHue, general manager of the Red Stars. “So they have a lot of skin in the game. It’s really important for them that we succeed because they’re backing it, they’re behind it.” The USSF also administers the league, with the NWSL office working out of USSF headquarters in Chicago. That infrastructure has contributed to steady growth for the NWSL, which is heading into its fourth year of existence. For the Red Stars, LaHue said ticket prices and sponsorships have been on steady rises, with slow growth every year a goal for the club. “We never had a year four in the Women’s Pro League, so that alone is a sign of great stability,” LaHue said. “But we’ve had no teams drop out. We’ve added a couple teams through the years and definitely have a lot more interest. So those things alone it’s dramatically different from our experience in the previous league.”

The star in red turned Red Star

Playing professionally yields much less of the “family” feel Walls saw at UW and in high school. “It’s people’s jobs. It’s not like we’re not friends and we’re not friendly, but people aren’t cheering on the bench and people go into practice to do their job,” Walls said. “It’s something I had to adjust to, but if you want to be professional at something you have to get used to it.” The setting may be different, but the results started to show similar patterns. After getting subbed on against the Boston Breakers in early May in her third career appearance, Walls found the back of the net at Toyota Park for her first professional goal. “OK I can play at this level,” Walls said she felt after scoring. “I can make things happen.” That one goal would remain her only in her rookie season, which consisted of 10 total appearances with one start. Walls made all of her appearances before the team’s final four games. The reason for that could be the talent playing in front of her in her rookie season. Walls played behind United States Women’s National Team forward Christen Press, who was one of five Red Stars to win the World Cup this past summer. “It’s focused. It’s really sharp and quick … You just have to play your best at every practice,” Walls

emily buck/cardinal file photo

Cara Walls had plenty of memorable moments at UW, but the Badgers’ snowy win over DePaul in 2014 is one of her favorite memories. said when asked about playing with USWNT players. “As a forward, just being able to play under Christen Press, you just watch what she does, watch how many balls she hits after practice, just her focus in front of goal and how she finds space for herself in front of goal, that was really awesome.” Playing with national team players did have its price, as the World Cup took place right in the middle of the NWSL season. Walls said nine starters left the team to play in Canada for the world tournament. When the stars came back, cohesion remained an issue. “We weren’t playing that well when they were back. We weren’t playing as a team, because we hadn’t adjusted to playing together,” Walls said. “We had so many good players, but toward the end we weren’t getting results like we were in the beginning.” Despite the disruptions to the team, Chicago still finished in second place and earned a playoff spot for the first time in its NWSL existence. The Red Stars lost to eventual-champion FC Kansas City, which also knocked off Seattle Reign FC—the regular season leaders by 10 points. With a Rookie of the Year winner and finalist also on the team, Walls and the Red Stars have a bright future to look forward to. But given the fate of professional organizations in the past, potential questions at the league level obfuscates that vision.

How to maintain momentum

The USWNT captivated the country in the Women’s World Cup Final with a flurry of first half goals in a way that soccer has been unable to do in years past. However, it remains that women’s sports receive far less national attention than male sports. That might be changing. LaHue saw trends in the media coverage and sees that as integral in keeping women’s soccer in the national eye. “If you look at the Women’s World Cup and you take the numbers, astronomical viewership numbers and the excitement around it and the number of people who were talking about it, it’s because it became a pop culture

event,” LaHue said. “The fans will follow once the media starts paying attention to it.” The Women’s World Cup Final drew more viewers than any soccer game in U.S. history, according to Nielsen ratings. To sustain that momentum, Wilkins said NWSL players should act more as ambassadors of the game, similar to what she has her players do at Wisconsin. In Madison, Wilkins said she is seeing more young fans at home games who idolize her players. “Especially in soccer-rich cultures, they’ve been able to foster that [fan] support and have that environment,” Wilkins said. “It’s been really cool to see and I think the biggest people who will make this league go are the actual players because if they spend time in the community and showing support it will grow and grow as the league grows.” To Walls, the community itself holds the power in creating and furthering support for the NWSL. With limited resources, spectators need to do more than just cheer from their couches if they want to see the sport continue to grow and prosper. “In the U.S. there is some of the best soccer being played in the whole world, and if people want that to continue … the next step is contributing to the market,” Walls said. “[The owner] literally pays for everything because there’s not enough of an outside contribution. So if people really want the sport and the league to grow here, they have to go to some games or buy some gear.” In the meantime, the financial hardships are still a reality for NWSL players. “I realize we’re not men’s basketball, but they don’t have to think about, ‘what else am I going to have to do?’ Like a lot of other girls have to get second jobs and that becomes so stressful as an athlete,” Walls said. “Which sucks, because I want to play soccer. I want to play abroad. But if you have to look at other stuff you can’t put your focus there.” The future of women’s professional soccer is still driving in unchartered waters. Perhaps, the way for fans to see what happens next involves a trip to Toyota Park in Chicago.