Weekend, December 11-13, 2009 - The Daily Cardinal by The Daily Cardinal

THE ARTIST OF THE DECADE REVEALED

The Green Room questions Mother Nature’s willingness to nurture the American lifestyle in the future OPINION

University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Alders hope to boost tenant aid By Ryan Hebel The Daily Cardinal

Some city officials have a message for students as final exam week approaches: Procrastinate. At least when it comes to signing new leases. Ald. Bridget Maniaci, District 2, said students are too eager to hit the housing market before winter break, despite a recent surge in supply fueled by high-rise apartments. Student demand may be driven up, she said, by student tenants having just three months to decide whether to renew their lease before landlords may legally put a property on the market. “It’s sort of an arms race,” said Maniaci, who proposed a city ordinance that would push the renewal date for most leases back to Feb. 15. Maniaci said she hopes the ordinance will help first-time renters, especially freshmen, avoid committing to a roommate they hardly know, and others from renewing before seeing a winter heating bill. According to Nancy Jensen, executive director of the Apartment Association of South Central Wisconsin, landlords are just reacting to the demand. “The majority of students like to sign their leases before they go home for second semester, so our practices are driven by what our consumer wants.” It wasn’t always that way, according to Apex Property owner Bruce Bosben. “I started doing this in 1986, and at that time nobody was interested in renting any place until after spring break.” He said students have been asking to rent sooner and sooner ever since. “To me, it’s a nuisance. It’d be nice to have the rental season concentrated in a briefer period rather than having it effectively run all year. If Bridget wants to make this

proposal, it would be fine with me.” Brenda Konkel, director of Madison’s Tenant Resource Center, said students who wait out the rush can reap huge rewards, provided they are not dead set on the newest apartments. “We’ve seen apartments that could be 30 or 40 percent cheaper, and they may be right next to each other,” Konkel said, adding that spring offers more than just leftovers. “Some of the nicer apartments downtown try to rent to the young professionals … so they’ll hold them back until the student rush is over,” she said. Konkel said students are increasingly breaking their leases before they even move in, which can result in otherwise avoidable fees for advertising costs. Maniaci said the early renewal dates put intense pressure on recent and soon-to-be grads, like UW-Madison senior Luke Danzinger, who said he likes his apartment but did not renew his lease because he is not sure where he will be in nine months. New maintenance and mediation proposals Maniaci said she would also like to require rental properties to be unoccupied for two weeks once in every fiveyear period to address major repairs. “If you have a neighborhood of houses with quite a bit of deferred maintenance … needing upgrades and projects from bathrooms and kitchens to electrical systems and plumbing, that absolutely cannot be done in a 24-hour turnaround,” she said. Bosben said the new rule would be counterproductive and punish responsible landlords along with the bad. “I think that is a real deep reach into the rights of private property,” he renting page 3

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ARTS

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Weekend, December 11-13, 2009

Human rights awareness

danny marchewka/the daily cardinal

Hannah Cutts (left) and Perla Bernstein offer students a way to express their feelings about human rights through art in honor of International Human Rights Day at Memorial Union Thursday.

Martin says tuition hike was needed Chancellor says campus required higher rates to remain competitive By Kelsey Gunderson The Daily Cardinal

Chancellor Biddy Martin outlined how she thinks UW-Madison can remain a top public research university in her speech at the UW System Board of Regents meeting Thursday. According to Martin, UW-Madison currently ranks among the top research universities in the world. She cited the number of awards and amount of research dollars UW-Madison has received, as well as the num-

ber of start-up companies that stemmed from UW-Madison. Martin said for UW-Madison to retain this high ranking, it must focus on retaining and attracting excellent faculty and students. She said to do this UW-Madison needs to pay its faculty competitively and provide financial aid to more students, something she believes can be achieved. According to Martin, the tuition hikes instigated by the Madison Initiative for Undergraduates are necessary to achieve that goal. “We cannot afford to compete by keeping tuition low,” she said. Martin said UW-Madison not only has one of the lowest

tuition rates in the Big Ten, but also among all of the top public research universities in the world. “If you compare us to other global research universities, we’re so far at the bottom it’s almost amazing that we are what we are,” she said. Martin also said UW-Madison’s increasing reliance on private funding, as well as its reduced state funding, are also challenges deterring UW-Madison from continuing its top-notch public research status. “Some people worry that our public purposes will be threatened by this revenue mix, but this university has a long commitment to martin page 3

Tenants still have rights during cold weather TRC, Dane County give precautions during snow emergency By Caitlin Gath The Daily Cardinal

Danny marchewka and Isabel Álvarez/the daily cardinal

With temperatures rapidly dropping into the single digits Thursday and Friday, renters across the city should remember they still have tenant rights when it comes to making sure their house or apartment stays warm. Within Madison, the heating equipment of a residential building must be “capable of maintaining a minimum temperature of 67 degrees Fahrenheit at all times,” according to the Tenant

Resource Center. There is no specific date or month for the heat to be turned on, and if the temperature decreases to below 67 degrees inside, it is the landlord’s responsibility to do whatever is necessary to ensure the temperature returns to 67 degrees. Renters are also advised to check for damaged heating units, which can have the potential to release carbon monoxide gas. Ongoing problems with heat could qualify for a 10 to 95 percent reduction in rent until the issue is resolved. The TRC stated it has more information available for students who feel this applies to them. According to a statement released by the Dane County

Emergency Management Team, pavement and sidewalks are “dangerously slick.” If it is necessary to use a car, the Highway Division and sheriff ’s office encourage drivers to slow down and carry an emergency kit. Because the city also declared a snow emergency Thursday, residents have been advised to keep their cars off the streets for another day. Residents who experience issues with heat or snow removal should call City of Madison Building Inspection at (608) 266-4551. Storm-related problems can also be dealt with through United Way. They can be reached at (608) 246-HELP. They also offer food resources.

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

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TODAY: partly sunny hi 19º / lo 5º

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Weekend, December 11-13, 2009

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

The ugly effects of Facebook withdrawal

Volume 119, Issue 65

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

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

Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Alex Kusters Advertising Manager Katie Brown Billing Manager Mindy Cummings Accounts Receivable Manager Cole Wenzel Senior Account Executive Ana Devcic Account Executives Mara Greenwald Kristen Lindsay, D.J. Nogalski, Jordan Rossman Sarah Schupanitz Online Account Executive Tom Shield Mara Greenwald Graphic Designer Web Directors Eric Harris, Dan Hawk Marketing Director Mia Beeson Archivist Erin Schmidtke The Daily Cardinal is published weekdays and distributed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and its surrounding community with a circulation of 10,000. The Daily Cardinal is a nonproﬁt organization run by its staff members and elected editors. It receives no funds from the university. Operating revenue is generated from advertising and subscription sales. Capital Newspapers, Inc. is the Cardinal’s printer. The Daily Cardinal is printed on recycled paper. The Cardinal is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The Daily Cardinal are the sole property of the Cardinal and may not be reproduced without written permission of the editor in chief. The Daily Cardinal accepts advertising representing a wide range of views. This acceptance does not imply agreement with the views expressed. The Cardinal reserves the right to reject advertisements judged offensive based on imagery, wording or both. Complaints: News and editorial complaints should be presented to the editor in chief. Business and advertising complaints should be presented to the business manager. Letters Policy: Letters must be typewritten, double-spaced and no longer than 200 words, including contact information. Letters may be sent to editor@dailycardinal.com.

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

ANDREW LAHR spare me the lahrcasm

bout a week ago today, I made one of the hardest decisions a stereotypical 20-year-old can make. After a few long hours of introspection and soul-searching, I decided to delete my Facebook page, to stare society in the face and tell it to suck one. I’m not even kidding, this is not a joke by any means, and I knew it was something that needed to be done if I was ever going to do anything with my life. Now, a week in, I can say that I’ve been through the worst of it. The first few days were a very dark time for me, but I would like to believe I have emerged a better man. All I can do now is hope I don’t succumb to relapse and the shame associated with it. To make things interesting, I decided I’d catalog the day-by-day mental struggle I went through immediately following the loss of my favorite social networking site. The following is

a journal comprised of my inner struggle against the bittersweet menace that is Facebook. (Day 1) Mood: Courageous— Well, I finally did it today. I knew this day would have to come at some point or another. The hours upon hours of mindless profile viewing, “Farmville” playing and News Feed scanning are behind me. At 9 a.m. this morning, I deactivated my Facebook account. I feel exhilarated; there’s a certain swagger to my step today. I feel like I can do anything, but I can’t help but feel this newfound sense of glory will be short-lived. More to follow... (Day 3) Mood: F*** This— Son of a bitch! I was running a cold sweat all night, and today I woke up with a splitting headache. Is it possible that a website is actually causing physical withdrawal? Every time I open up my web browser I instinctively begin to type in the letters FACEBO, then catch myself somewhere around the O’s, realizing the calming glow of my profile page no longer awaits me. I wonder what Steve’s up to over at Stout? Or what about Tina at the U of M? I’m

The Dirty Bird

ERICA ANDRIST sex columnist Lately, I haven’t been as interested in sex as I used to be, and it’s becoming kind of a problem... How do I get back in the groove? —Wish I Was Horny

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

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

sure by now they’ve both uploaded pictures of drunken shenanigans from last weekend, and here I am completely cut off from them. I don’t know how much longer I can go on. (Day 4) Mood: Thoroughly depressed—I feel like I’m slowly spiraling into madness. Last night I had a dream that my buddy John sent me an event invitation for a local frat party, and because I don’t have a Facebook, I wasn’t able to click the “ignore” button. I asked my roommate to hide my laptop from me because the cravings were getting too severe to handle. I’m going to a party tonight. Just the thought of the inevitable smattering of photos of me making an ass of myself and not being tagged online the next day gives me the chills. If things don’t get better soon I might have to sign up for a Twitter account or something to cool my nerves. (Day 6) Mood: Optimistic—I think I’m finally coming to terms with living a life without Facebook. I hit rock bottom two nights ago at that party. I guess once the girls took out their cameras and started shooting aimless pictures I lost

it and made good friends with a bottle of Jack Daniels for a large portion of the night. I woke up under a coffee table with a cashed box of Triscuits on my chest and a crumb-covered laptop at my side. When I saw the Facebook login page in front of me thought I had caved, but it turns out I was too hammered to log in. Under the account e-mail address box I had written PatMcgroin@cheesewhiz. org, and I had nine new e-mails from Facebook for resetting my password. The first password was “Facqbeook,” the second was “password” and the last one was “FUKUFACEBOOKzbsh9.” I guess it took hitting rock bottom to realize just how dependant I was on a website. This was a website that was created with the intention of keeping in touch with my friends abroad, but ultimately hooked me into a downward spiral of spending hours upon hours trying to keep many half-assed online friendships kindled. Now I can focus on wasting hours of my life in other, more creative ways. Addicted to Facebook and don’t know where to turn? Email aplahr@wisc.edu for help.

sex and the student body

Revive your sex drive

SATURDAY: partly sunny hi 31º / lo 28º

hanks for the question, WIWH—most if not all of us have likely experienced a lust letdown at some point. Sometimes, we would really like to get it on, but our bodies just don’t cooperate. Other times, our bodies (or our partners) are ready to go, but our minds say, “Not tonight.” Whatever the miscue, there are definitely ways to root out the causes of it. First, WIWH’s letter implies his/her current sex drive isn’t as high as it used to be, i.e. it has changed. There’s no amount of sex that’s too little or too much; some people like having sex zero times per year, and others love to get down three or four or more times a day. However, if your sex drive has changed and that concerns you, take a moment to reflect on any other possible changes you’re experiencing lately. More stressed than usual with finals coming up? Starting a new medication? Dealing with family drama? Not eating/sleeping enough? Mental, physical and emotional changes can all impact our sex drive. If we do recognize other changes that have been occurring, examine what might be done about them. Even if we cannot totally remove or fix a problem, there are often ways to indirectly mitigate it. Take an exercise class to help blow off steam at the gym; in addition to being a healthy form of stress relief, the benefits of exercise on our sex lives are well-documented. Check with your doctor about possible

sexual side effects of a medication (some kinds of combination birth-control pills are notorious for dampening the libido). Low general energy can often translate into little energy for sex drive—yet another reason to make sure we’re getting enough sleep and eating well. If we’re doing these things and still feel blah, an appointment with UHS or our regular health-care provider may be in order—common underlying conditions like depression can interfere with sex drive, as well as less common hormonal imbalances or nutritional/metabolic concerns (e.g. anemia). The next step is to check out the sex itself. When we do have sex, do we find it pleasurable? Do we feel safe? Are our wants and needs being satisfied? If the sex doesn’t feel the way we want it to feel, it’ll be harder to cultivate a deep desire for it. Talk with your partner. At a basic level, the frequency of sex can be important in a relationship, so it’s a good idea to touch base on how many times per day/ week/year you need/want to get physical; at a deeper level, talking about kinds of stimulation we like, new positions to try or how to incorporate our favorite toys can make sex better and more desirable no matter how often we have it. Finally, sometimes it takes a little while for our brains and our bodies to sync up. If we’re willing to fool around, even if we’re not burning with desire, we might find that a little warmup gets us wonderfully hot wonderfully fast. This is certainly not to say we should just have sex even if we don’t want to—saying no is always OK—but sometimes we find that while we’re not exactly eager to have sex, we’re also not opposed to the idea. If we masturbate for a little while, make out, talk dirty to our partners or watch or read some erotica together, we might just jump-start our engines. As an avid supporter of anal play, I can say your advice [in last week’s column about

anal sex] was spot on! However, I feel you should have encouraged ASS to request that her [male] partner try anal on the receiving end... Anal can actually be very pleasurable for men too, as I’m sure you are aware. Also, [some] women really enjoy the opportunity to engage in this sort of play via toys or whatever suits them. Finally, the experience of being a “catcher” during anal play allows men to be better “pitchers.” Ultimately, it gives them a better sense of how much lube is needed in addition to how, where, when and how fast they should move themselves in order to make the experience most pleasurable for both parties. I really feel reciprocity is the key to respectful, responsible and pleasurable anal sex! I hope you take this into consideration for the future. —S.R. Right you are, S.R., and thanks for taking the time to add to our list of anal pointers. Regardless of my training (or any sex columnist’s training), I’m just one perspective. There are lots of other angles from which to view a question, other benefits I neglected to mention or other safety tips I didn’t emphasize enough. So S.R.’s e-mail not only helps us flesh out last week’s column, it also demonstrates the importance of integrating lots of information into our own sexual paradigms; each of us has our own experiences, values and priorities, and by piecing together a variety of perspectives and information, we can build and shape our own unique sexualities. Thanks to both WIWH and S.R. for helping us with our final column of 2009. It’s been great to hear questions and feedback from Daily Cardinal readers, and I look forward to starting another sexy semester in January. Best of luck to everyone with finals, etc.—here’s hoping all of you end the semester with a bang. Keep sending Erica all your sex-related questions at sex@dailycardinal.com.

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Regents concerned over substance abuse By Alison Dirr The Daily Cardinal

The UW System Board of Regents met Thursday in Memorial Union to discuss a recent UW System study revealing the rate of binge drinking among UW students decreased from 2007 to 2009. The regents and speakers at the event focused on substance abuse on Wisconsin campuses. Mark Mailloux, UW-Platteville institutional research manager, said not only are the physical effects of alcohol detrimental to drinkers, but nondrinkers’ academic activities can also be interrupted. Deborah Ford, UW-Parkside chancellor, said there was a need for more initiatives to curtail substance abuse on UW campuses. “We must continue to address the issues related to alcohol and drugs on our campuses and how use, misuse and abuse derail students from achieving their personal, academic and career goals,” Ford said. Matt Vogel, UW-La Crosse community health education specialist, said

education and a change in society’s mentality about mind-altering substances could help prevent abuse. “We’re very scared to talk about drugs,” Vogel said. “We still frame it as very dirty.” Vogel said one important issue to consider when studying student drinking is that many students significantly overestimate the amount their peers drink. In addition, he said college students are constantly exposed to an image of heavy alcohol consumption through media like MTV. This influences how administrators should go about addressing the issue, he said. “There is a spectrum of how we view substances, and that’s an important aspect of how we talk to students about it,” Vogel said. “If you’re boldly moralistic [or] overly prohibitionist, that’s when students don’t hear it at all.” The three speakers agreed that increased efforts to educate students about the physical and academic consequences of substance abuse are necessary.

$14.5 million awarded for energy projects Gov. Jim Doyle said Thursday Wisconsin will receive more than $14.5 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds that will go toward maintaining 400 jobs and producing energy efficient projects in Wisconsin. The governor said the awards will help Wisconsin reach the goal of generating 25 percent of the state’s electricity from renewable resources by 2025. According to a statement, the new energy projects will save enough energy to power 15,000 homes for a year.

Doyle said the awards will help move Wisconsin forward as “one of the greenest manufacturing states.” “With this funding, we will be able to help these companies become more energy efficient so they can retain their competitive edge, reduce energy costs and carbon emissions and create goodpaying jobs to support Wisconsin families,” he said in a statement. According to the statement, nine Wisconsin companies, including Didion Milling and Kohler, will receive part of the $14.5 million.

isabel Álvarez/the daily cardinal

Chancellor Biddy Martin highlighted the importance of UW-Madison remaining one of the world’s top research universities.

martin from page 1 public purpose, and that will never change,” she said. According to Martin, it is important that UW-Madison works to achieve these goals because of the necessity of a college education in today’s job market. “A great sense of urgency has been created by virtue of the fact

that nearly two-thirds of all highgrowth and high-rate jobs will require a college degree,” she said. Martin said she believes the well-being of Madison and Wisconsin rely on UW-Madison’s success as well. “I can’t imagine the state of Wisconsin without UW-Madison operating at the level at which it operates now,” she said.

renting from page 1 said. “If [landlords] don’t want to do any work or they don’t have any money, it’s just going to sit vacant for two weeks for no purpose and effectively ... give us two weeks less rent to spend on property upkeep.” Maniaci said she would still rather see landlords take more preventative measures to avoid having to work around and irritate tenants. “I think there’s a good opportunity here for the industry to be a partner in this and work productively,” she said. Ald. Bryon Eagon, District 8, agreed that landlord-tenant relations could use some maintenance. Instead of using new ordinances, though, Eagon said he hopes to work cooperatively with tenants and landlords within the university structure to resolve some issues through campus education and mediation. He said he hopes the Associated Students of Madison, which has budgeted $50,000 for student tenant resources next year, will help educate students about common renting caveats. Additionally, he suggested creating an outside mediator, possibly contracted by ASM, to offer an accessible forum to settle simple disputes that might otherwise require courtroom hassles. “There’s just a few bad apples in the pool of downtown

Weekend, December 11-13, 2009 landlords, and trying to find ways to really target them instead of just a blanket approach is a lot more difficult, but I think that’s the right approach,” Eagon said.

news

Eagon said he hopes to implement his proposal sometime this spring, while Maniaci will discuss her proposals at the Landlord and Tenant Issues Subcommittee meeting next Thursday.

comics 4

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Weekend, December 11-13, 2009

Driving in this weather

Today’s Sudoku

QUIT YER JAWIN’. The first product to have a bar code was Wrigley’s gum.

Evil Bird

By Caitlin Kirihara kirihara@wisc.edu

Angel Hair Pasta

By Todd Stevens ststevens@wisc.edu

Sid and Phil

By Alex Lewein alex@sidandphil.com

Solution, tips and computer program available at www.sudoku.com.

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

by Derek Sandberg

Today’s Crossword Puzzle

Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com Casual Furnishings 1 5 10 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 3 2 24 25 27 31 34 37 40 42 43 44 7 4 48 49

ACROSS Apprehends Bridal path bit Thing worse than knavery That certain something Lack of muscle tone Vatican City monetary unit, once Texas city where Dr Pepper was created Important organs for a singer Horned Egyptian goddess Talker looking for a deal, often Wear and tear Meddlesome gossip Andean pack animal Exasperated sounds Clutch performer? High-fiber fruit Ten-toed sloth? Archer who aims for the heart “Captain Blood” star Flynn Guy who stood behind Michael Jackson High-roller’s limit, perhaps Adams or Johnson Keep ___ to the ground Hits a high point

51 Citrus peel in a mixed drink 54 “What’s mine is ___” 58 “A leopard can’t change its spots,” e.g. 60 Meeting moderator 64 Addressed the court 66 Poem’s final stanza (Var.) 67 Oom-pah-pah instrument 68 To the sheltered side, at sea 69 A day’s march 70 “CHiPS” star Estrada 71 Lip-___ (pretend to sing) 72 Improved muscle definition 73 .00001 newton 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

DOWN Full of topical info Get ___ start (be tardy) Breakfast rasher Uppity ones Crab’s sensor It has notions Certain Chinese mafia association California ballplayer Spray under the sink “Y” sporter Certain teaching material Spring flower

3 1 21 22 26 8 2 29 30 32 33 4 3 35 36 38 9 3 41 45 46 0 5 52 53 55 56 57 58 59 61 62 63 65

Beam intensely Nonclerical Post-WWII alliance “Futurama” creator Groening “Anything ___” Offended Put into a Dumpster, e.g. Sgt. Snorkel’s fourlegged friend Twelve o’clock, half the time Big cheese in Athens Persia, now Middleman “Driving Miss Daisy” driver Not guilty, e.g. Uncooked side Rock star Clapton Terrier named for a Scottish isle Alphabetized, e.g. Linen sale purchase “So much,” musically Illegal lending practice Dick Grayson’s alter ego Viper for one Steam bath sites Wartime friend Terrible ruler? Tug-of-war need “The ___ Piper of Hamelin” Yr.’s end

The Graph Giraffe

By Yosef Lerner ilerner@wisc.edu

Charlie and Boomer

By Natasha Soglin soglin@wisc.edu

featuresstudent life

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Weekend, December 11-13, 2009

Who’s ready for college? Adjusting to college is a difficult process for most students. But some find the transition harder than others based on their high school experience. Story by Kao Yong Thao

arents often say the high school diploma is no longer as valued as it was in the past, and insist that college is the best route to success. However, according to an August 2009 U.S. News and World Report article, 30 percent of university students drop out after their first year, and this alarming percentage could be linked to the lack of academic preparation given to high school students, which is essential to college graduation. Some students experience difficulty adjusting from the structure of secondary schooling to the drastically different environment of UW-Madison, according to Aaron Brower, vice provost of teaching and learning. “The biggest difference I see is how [important] high school training is to college education,” Brower said. “The big difference is going from ... a ‘how to maximize the bang for the buck’ high school mentality or a ‘what’s the least I can do to get the grades I want’ to [a college mentality], where we’re asking students to read in order to learn rather than read in order to memorize.” Not only are some high school educational standards failing to coincide with college expectations, a lack of variety in the high school curriculum could be detrimental to student performance, according to Wren Singer, director of

Graphics by Jenny Peek

the Center for the first-year Experience. Singer said high school curriculums should emphasize an open-minded and multidimensional perspective about a variety of subjects, rather than just stressing facts. Furthermore, students encounter a multitude of struggles because of the diversity in students’ personal interests and academic backgrounds. Benji Sudolcan, a junior at UW-Madison, has a different academic background from the traditional K-12 public or private institution. Sudolcan was home-schooled for five years prior to college, which initially hindered his college performance. “I didn’t do so well when I first came, because I was really sheltered [before college],” Sudolcan said. “So I wasn’t used to making my own decisions.” Sudolcan said the structure of college was his biggest obstacle. “Now that I was in a structured environment, I had to get things done at a certain time and go to class at a certain time,” Sudolcan said. “I was just used to having free reign.” Sudolcan said he regretted that home schooling could not provide the college preparatory courses that the public and private institutions could. Many education experts endorse these programs—intended to expose high

school students to the academic rigor of college—because they have demonstrated their effectiveness in preparing students for college. According to Robert Seltzer, special assistant for enrollment management at UW-Madison and former director of admissions at the university, collegebound students benefit significantly from college preparatory courses. “When you’re at the top and all of the sudden you get dumped into this big mixing pot, you’re not going to be on the top anymore.” Rebecca Ryan associate director Cross College Advising Service

“Sometimes academic success [of UW-Madison students] or their ease of adjusting is based on how rigorous their high school coursework was,” Seltzer said. “So if they have a lot of honors, a lot of Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate courses, then they generally find it much easier here.” UW-Madison junior Minhtuyen Mai realized from her high school experience that not all high schools prepare students well for college.

“There’s politics involved,” Mai said. “At my school, in order to increase Wisconsin Knowledge Concepts Examination, they take teachers from advanced level courses and put them [with] the lower classes with less academic challenges so that their WKCE scores would go up ... yes, it’s benefiting the school in general, but for students who are college-bound, we lost all the good teachers who have the skills and experience to prepare us for college.” However, some schools are taking greater initiative in providing assistance for students to be more academically prepared for college. Coua Moua, a UW-Madison sophomore, had an academic background that was primarily focused on college preparation. “Classes were in lecture form— reading, and taking notes,” Moua said. “During my junior year, the counselors and teachers made us fill out college surveys so that we could get more information about colleges ... they really prepared us. They would cut class by 30 minutes or so to inform us about colleges.” However, Rebecca Ryan, the associate director of Cross College Advising Service, said that it is not simply academic backgrounds that affect college performance, but also an individual’s attitude. “When you’re at the top

and all of the sudden you get dumped into this big mixing pot, you’re not going to be on the top anymore,” Ryan said. “So a whole new sorting process starts out ... The students who really think ‘Well, I hardly had to try during high school ... I’m just naturally smart,’ tend to have rougher first semesters than the students who come in with a little bit more of reality on their side—those who weren’t necessarily the top dog.” Parents that support and encourage their children to attain higher education also enable students to perform well in college. “If your parents care about your education, then I say you have a pretty high chance of doing well,” Mai said. “I would definitely say that without my parents I would probably be very influenced by my peers and not be as influenced to do well.” According to Ryan, parents and other figures should be more cooperative in the education of their child. Ryan also said to ensure that students are prepared academically for college, schools must do their part and take a more proactive stance on improving education. As finals approach, students may find themselves wishing that high school had done a better job preparing them.

opinion You can’t beat the (environmental) system 6

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Weekend, December 11-13, 2009

By Anthony Cefali THE DAILY CARDINAL

Climate change discussion began this week in Copenhagen, and as most expected, our global climate outlook is becoming exponentially worse. Environmental statistics get tossed around regularly when a dialogue begins on climate change, and they have a tendency to approach hyperbolic proportions. I have this sense of foreboding because of the things I’m hearing about cycles of droughts due to substantially less rainfall, which will lead to irreparable agrarian damage, cause untold extinctions and hinder our global food supply in the near future. The unfortunate truth about climate change is that we don’t know exactly how bad it could be for us, but we are starting to see exactly how interconnected our society is with our environment. We’ve come to the point where it is impossible to deny that climate change is occurring and the damages done are irreversible. It is great that there is a dialogue occurring right now in Copenhagen about the environment, but unfortunately it will be a lot of talk about adaptations we should have made years ago. We need to shift the paradigm of environmentalism in order to deal with the new problems that climate change presents to us.

We’ve come to the point where it is impossible to deny that climate change is occurring and the damages done are irreversible.

The new focus of environmentalism should emphasize that we are an intricate part of this giant earth system—an impossibly complex system that we cannot possibly hope to tame, but one that we can nonetheless assimilate too, entering into a state of harmony. Earth’s current climate issues come from the fact that we forget that we are part of the planet’s cycles. We––its inhabitants––forget that our actions and decisions exert dominance over the planet that is causing a lot of these pessimistic statistics. In 1991, systems ecologist and adventurer John P. Allen locked eight researchers into a closed natural system meant to be a scaled down simulation of the earth. It was known as Biosphere 2, an experiment designed to help us begin to understand how humans fit within earth’s cycles. While any small-scale replication of a system as big as the Earth will face its own unique constraints, there are still lessons that we can learn from the exercise. Essentially, Biosphere 2 served to simulate an increased human impact on the environment. Because it was such a small closed system, nutrient and atmospheric cycles occurred on radically shorter time steps. So, for

instance, when someone physically exerted themselves, they could note the increased levels of carbon dioxide in the air within hours. The water they drank from streams had only two days prior been vapor in the atmosphere. This high-frequency environment magnified any change the ‘biospherians’ made in their environment. This situation is analogous to our global situation in that we as humans are increasingly forced to consider our actions on the planet as a result of our growing impact. The atmosphere is no longer an infinite sink for our pollution, as it once seemed. Instead the atmosphere—and of high importance today, the carbon dioxide it contains—have become dynamic system variables that respond to our actions. The reality of our impact upon the planet requires a high level of self-reflection and a realization that there is no action of ours that does not affect the planet. This really isn’t possible in a consumer culture like ours in which the individual is meant to feel that they have no place in these bigger issues. In this new environmentalism, there is no room for this forced ambivalence. We all need to know that our actions matter, and that we are responsible for them. Replacing our ego with awareness will not immediately put an end to the entropy of climate change and extinction, but the knowledge we gain will help us to structure our society in a way that will be conducive to drastic changes in the environment.

Right now, we are complicating our role on the planet rather than complexifying. Complexification requires an entire restructuring of social hierarchy and human selfimage, something that is becoming increasingly more difficult to accomplish with our current lifestyle. The United States is far and away the largest importer of goods in the world. This behavior is totally unsustainable for both the environment and society, as it diverts the focus of our lives away from actually living them. This sterilization of individuality allows policy decisions to be made by people who do not act in the best interest of the planet. In a society that emphasizes profit margins and bulk spending, this also detracts from the importance of the individual. This is why grass roots organizations and other communities that stress individual thought and behavior have shown a high level of effectiveness as of

late. These groups allocate the authority where it belongs: with the individual.

The earth is going to start pushing back on us, changing constraints in an abused system.

With all of these distractions then, how do we get people to realize that they are part of the system and that their individual actions have an impact on that system? Although the human population is growing, much of society is still living as if land were a variable to be trashed and left behind for greener pastures. The earth is going to start pushing back on us, changing constraints in an abused system. This is what makes climate change so

unpredictable—we don’t know what these new constraints will be. The old constraints have allowed for us to make the current climate change predictions, but the earth system is reconﬁguring itself in response to our growing impact thus rendering the future of the planet highly unpredictable. However, as the statistics display, the future is not looking good. At the end of Shawn Rosenheim’s ﬁlm about Biosphere 2, biologist Tony Burgess spoke about our role as humans in the natural system of earth. He emphasized that the natural cycles of the planet are a “dance,” and that we have to learn to “dance the dance,” or suffer the consequences. It is time to start realizing that our environment and our society are intricately linked, and that in this current situation, the actions of the individual can make all the difference. Anthony Cefali is a senior majoring in biology. Please send feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

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arts

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Top 10 Bands of the 2000s The White Stripes by Heather Mendygral, Arts Editor 2001

by Justin Stephani, Arts Editor 2009

In 2000, I had an assignment to write a review of the Sleater-Kinney show for The Daily Cardinal Arts page. I showed up at the Annex on Regent Street early to see the opening bands, both two-piece acts and both unknown artists. As I watched the openers assemble their red and white equipment on stage in their coordinating red and white clothing, I was skeptical yet intrigued. They seemed to have a certain dynamic, which was further solidified by the rumor at the time that they were siblings. The band introduced themselves as the White Stripes from Detroit and broke into the first gritty song of their set. The guitar and drums were raw, unpolished and at times out of tune and out of synch. This was garage rock at its best. Driving, simple beats layered with distortion, feedback and blues guitar. The White Stripes definitely made an impression on me, and I went to see them for a second time in 2001 at Party in the Park. The outdoor show had even more energy and volume, and Jack and Meg White had noticeably honed their sound. Muddy guitar and echoing beats mixed with Jack’s vocal range proved to be a recipe for success. The twosome also performed a brilliant cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” which showcased the band’s blues-rock style. The White Stripes have stayed true to their beginnings, never relenting the gritty sound that saturates their first album. They brought music back to a lo-fi purity that stood out amongst the over-produced music of the time. The White Stripes brought something new to the table as they combined rock, blues, country and punk genres as a two-piece band. It also helped that the duo had a somewhat mysterious relationship in the beginning with conflicting reports of siblings or spouses. This intrigue along with the creative music videos they produced (yes, this was back when bands still made music videos) helped catapult the White Stripes into the mainstream. The White Stripes’ discography in the 2000s is a steady stream of catchy rhythms, heartbreaking blues and quick and dirty rock ’n’ roll. The core of these sounds can be found in “Fell in Love With a Girl,” “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground,” “Seven Nation Army” and “Hotel Yorba.” Over the years, the White Stripes have added some more complexity to their songs with slide guitar and guest musicians, but they never lose the driving force of Jack and Meg White. The White Stripes have offered a catalog of great songs over the past 10 years, but what makes them worthy of the title Number One Band of the Decade is the influence they have had on the rest of the music scene. The White Stripes have proven that two people, one guitar and one drum set can create a wall of sound more dynamic than five-piece bands can establish. The twosome also opened the door for more lo-fi gritty bands to break out and start a new garage-rock trend. If it weren’t for the popularity of the White Stripes, bands like the Kings of Leon would have never seen the light of day.

Jack White almost, almost, moved to Wisconsin as a teenager to attend a seminary and become a priest. Father Jack would have been one weird minister of the Word, but he opted out when he was told he couldn’t bring his new guitar amp with him. Thank you, God. Without the guidance of Jack White, subtle aesthetic and lyrical revitalizations would be without their righteous leader. His roots, however, can be just as mysterious as their influence on others. As far as the garage-rock revival carrying over into the 2000s, the Strokes, the Hives, the Vines and the White Stripes paved a path for rock, and as the most inimitable of the bunch, the Stripes’ influences and sounds are classically untraditional and nonparallel with the industry. From Pixies to Nirvana to Pavement, where exactly do the White Stripes fit as a next step in this progression? They don’t. And they don’t want to. Instead, they were at home listening to Blind Willie McTell and Son House, too busy being awkward yet intimate spouses (now-ex’s) rocking out with just a guitar and snare and bass drums. Because of this two-piece organic minimalism, they often don’t focus on creating traditional images or sweeping emotions. Their songwriting is more comfortable re-enacting conversations and trains of thought fleshed out with instrumental endearments or aggressiveness as needed, while Meg provides the rhythm and haze of the conversation with dull but assertive thuds and cymbal flourishes. As the decade progressed, this contrasted with not only their predecessors and peers, but also the countless pop-punk and punk-rock groups throwing formulaic, busy rhythms at every angsty song they made. And while Meg made simplistic drumming as appropriate and acceptable as Ringo, Jack satirized teenage angst both lyrically and musically, with the simplicity, directness and extroverted nature of his one-sided conversations running counter to the emotive nature of most rock. In “Apple Blossom,” White speaks directly to his very own “apple blossom,” asking her what her problem is. “Ball and Biscuit” portrays a seemingly drunk White telling his “sugar” to settle down and have a ball and a biscuit. And “Effect & Cause” explains causal relationships while casually ending a relationship. And all of them carry a poetic ingenuousness that has come to define White’s lyrics. Rockers were previously confined to their garages, stuck listening to the radio and condemning the commercial gloss, trying to play it out of their memory. But when “Seven Nation Army” comes on, amps turn to 11 and a Pandora’s box of creativity opens. Yet now that their sound and concepts are becoming more superficially expansive, including bagpipes and horn sections on 2007’s Icky Thump, it is easy for fans to forget what made them unique in the first place: the blues. As they burst onto the scene, they were a couple of young, brash Yardbirds who didn’t hide anything behind their brand of blues and would come to inspire the Black Keys of today’s indie scene, splitting their sound and influence into yet another realm. Over time, they have proven not only their influence, but also their worthiness of this influence. Even though they don’t evoke scenes of anxieties or depression, the mysterious influences and indirect extroversions create an artistic vision for musicians to aim for. For those sitting around trying to figure out how they can be better than rock’s contemporary radio imposters, the White Stripes provide guidance. And with each quirky “Hotel Yorba” and awkward “You’ve Got Her In Your Pocket,” the music industry can consider itself nudged in the right direction. I guess Jack White became a preacher of sorts after all, only rock ’n’ roll is way fucking cooler than church.

10 — Animal Collective 9 — Outkast 8 — Neko Case 7 — The Strokes 6 — Arcade Fire 5 — Kanye West 4 — Wilco 3 — Spoon 2 — Radiohead 1 — White Stripes

This list was compiled by tallying the votes from each of the decade’s Daily Cardinal Arts editors

Honorable Mention - Jay-Z Given Kanye West’s inclusion in this prestigious list, it seems ludicrous that Jay-Z could not find a spot. Two of Jay’s albums from the 2000s—The Blueprint and The Black Album—are both part of that elusive hip-hop classics category. Perhaps Hova suffered from a “what have you done for me lately” vibe from voters, choosing to remember the tepid Kingdom Come or the solid but overproduced Blueprint 3. Still, The Blueprint is the stuff of hip-hop legend. Recorded in only two days, the album introduced us to producers Kanye West and Just Blaze and featured only one guest, the incomparable Eminem. In a time when hip-hop’s mainstream success was determined more by teenyboppers than drug lords, Jay-Z still typified the anger and oppression of street warfare. Jay-Z wasn’t doing 55 in a 54, he was flying at 90, and no one—coppers or otherwise—was going to slow him down. —Kevin Slane, Arts Editor 2009

Weekend, December 11-13, 2009

Honorable Mention - TV on the Radio Of course, a lot of bands released great albums in the 2000s, and TV on the Radio certainly is one of them. They released 3.5 albums during the decade to increasing popular and critical success, and the content of those 3.5 albums is almost ceaselessly creative, sometimes seeming as if they’ve assimilated the entirety of music to formulate their own pot-clanging, jury-rigged harmonies. From rock ’n’ roll to doo wop, electronic and post-punk, they produce a synthesis that feels often gauzy but precise, electronic but warm and ambitious but still natural. They are one of the most unique, interesting and potent bands currently making music, and have been since their debut 2003 EP (Young Liars). But there’s more to it than that. Some of the bands on this Best of the 2000s list would have felt right at home in the 60s (the Strokes), the 70s (Spoon, Arcade Fire) or some undefined bygone era (the White Stripes), but TV on the Radio is of our specific time and our specific place, to an extent that maybe only Radiohead can match. They are truly a band of the 2000s. What does that mean, exactly? Well, they were virulently, actively antiGeorge W. Bush and that helps, but there’s more to it than that. The music of TV On the Radio accurately reflects an entire era, the era where irony was declared dead, war was all around, and hope was still far off in the distance. TV On the Radio is a serious, earnest band that makes serious, earnest music, and the disillusionment and weariness of being a young person living in America post-9/11 and pre-Obama bleeds through all over their aforementioned 3.5 albums in an authentic, visceral way. So yeah, a lot of bands released great albums in the 2000s. TV On the Radio is one of the few that weren’t content with writing songs about falling in love with girls or about personal loss and grief—they were writing about the world, and in a way that will always act as a time capsule for the era. And also their albums are awesome to listen to, which should qualify them for this list anyway. —Gregg Sparks, Arts Editor 2002 Honorable Mention - The Hold Steady In “Hornets! Hornets!,” Craig Finn claims, “I guess the heavy stuff ain’t quite the heaviest by the time it gets out to suburban Minneapolis.” Finn spent his formative years in Edina, Minn., witnessing first-hand how a bottleneck effect dilutes all mediums of entertainment to relative monotony. Thousands of lakes and hundreds of highways removed from the American bright lights and big cities where kids get their kicks and boys and girls have such sad times together, Finn posed the Replacements’ and Hüsker Dü’s pent-up disenchantment as hyper-literate narratives to document a wider scope of angst than their own inner rage. Finn wears his guitar strap especially low for an old guy, but he speaks with impressive experience for a young guy. He’s seen a lot, but he hasn’t lost his perspective. And if there’s one thing we can count on from the Hold Steady, it’s that, six years later, they still won’t lose that perspective. Finn still makes sure to “concentrate when we kiss,” so as to avoid sappy romanticism and prevent his narratives from becoming over-sensationalized. However diluted and mundane music becomes, Finn is there to make sure we don’t settle for the heavy stuff unless it’s at its heaviest. —Kyle Sparks, Arts Editor 2009 Honorable Mention - LCD Soundsystem The past decade saw an overflow of tightly wound dance music and hilariously sharp lyricists, but no one in the past ten years was tighter or more incisive than James Murphy, aka LCD Soundsystem. Murphy got started in 2002 with “Losing My Edge,” an 8-minute send-up of music nerd nut-flexing that might hold the record for most artists name-checked on a single track (around 60). Simultaneously hip, dorky and improbably fun, “Daft Punk is Playing At My House” not only became one of the most popular party songs of the past several years, it actually helped rekindle late-decade enthusiasm for the French duo it references. “Someone Great” tacks in the opposite direction, a beautiful, melancholy track about a personal loss that is never specified. Ironically, one of LCD Soundsystem’s least danceable moments might be its crowning achievement for the decade — “All My Friends,” a sad, funny and brilliant take on getting older. One of the most common fears among fans is that their favorite band won’t age well. Already 39 years old, Murphy has proven that his music actually gets better as he gets older. At this rate, he’ll one day be the most relevant 60-year-old man in music. —Matt Hunziker, Columnist 2008 Honorable Mention - Justin Timberlake Someone had to make pop music suck less. That someone was Justin Timberlake. Though he first emerged with ’N Sync in the middle of American music’s darkest hour, the kid grew up, and so did his music. Debuting his first single, “Like I Love You,” at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards, a grimmer future seemed to be on the horizon. Donning a hat and gloves, delivering a deathly serious performance full of dance breaks and falsettos, his solo career seemed doomed to be more of the same old crap—a dime-store Michael Jackson for teeny boppers. But Timberlake hit his stride quickly. He honed his vocal skills. He forged relationships with strong producers. While the Neptunes produced that disappointing first single, they also produced “Rock Your Body,” one of the best pure pop songs of the decade. Working with Timbaland led to two of the best scorned lover songs of recent years in “Cry Me a River” and “What Goes Around ... / ... Comes Around.” He also developed a great public sense of humor about himself. In an era of humorless A-Listers like Kanye and Bono, Timberlake instead became the only must-see “Saturday Night Live” host of his generation. It’s easier to get away with saying you’re bringing sexy back if you’re willing to follow it up with “Dick in a Box.” It has allowed him to become his own persona and make a cultural imprint beyond his music (well, that and showing us half of Janet Jackson’s rack). —Amos Posner, Arts Editor 2003

sports 8

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Weekend, December 11-13, 2009

Men’s Basketball

Badgers welcome rival Marquette after upset By Nick Schmitt THE DAILY CARDINAL

The Wisconsin men’s basketball team ﬁnds itself in the exact opposite position it was a week ago today. After shocking Duke and the nation, they were forced to come down to earth and prepare for a game against a lower-tier Grambling State team.

ISABEL ÁLVAREZ/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

Wisconsin will look for Keaton Nankivil to step up against Marquette as the Badgers try to rebound from their loss to UWGB.

Now, following the team’s stumble against UW-Green Bay Wednesday, the Badgers need to pick themselves up and get ready for their in-state rivals to the southeast, 7-2 Marquette. When Wisconsin (6-2 overall) was busy with the Phoenix up in Green Bay, the Golden Eagles were taking care of business against UW-Milwaukee. They defeated the Panthers 71-51 behind 19 points on 6-of-6 shooting from junior forward Jimmy Butler and 15 points on 3-of-4 shooting from behind the arc by sophomore guard Darius Johnson-Odom. The Golden Eagles forced the Panthers to turn the ball over 20 times, 13 of those coming from steals. Marquette suits up three players averaging more than 10 points per game. Senior forward Lazar Hayward could be the most dangerous post player the Badgers have faced this season. Hayward is averaging 18.6 points and 6.4 rebounds through nine games. Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan is quite familiar with Hayward. This past summer Ryan had the opportunity to coach him as a member of Team USA in the World University Games. Hayward averaged 9.3 points and 5.6 rebounds for Team USA on its way to a third place ﬁnish. In Butler the Golden Eagles found

a player to replace some of the scoring they lost with the departure of Wes Matthews, Jerel McNeal and Dominic James. His 16.4 points per game ranks second on the team. Butler’s accuracy is what makes him a pain for opposing teams. He is shooting 62 percent from the ﬁeld and, though it’s a small sample, 70 percent from behind the arc. The Badgers have the ability to neutralize Hayward and Butler with their size. Junior forwards Jon Leuer and Keaton Nankivil have performed well against athletic post players ever since the game against Arizona when they let freshman forward Derrick Williams put up 25 points. Marquette’s trip up to Madison is also a homecoming for Wisconsin’s reigning high school player of the year, Jeronne Maymon. The freshman forward played for Madison Memorial and scored eight points in the Golden Eagles win over Wisconsin-Milwaukee on 4-of-4 shooting. The Badgers own a 62-53 edge in the series that reaches all the way back to 1917, but over the last two years the Golden Eagles hold the bragging rights, defeating Wisconsin 81-76 in 2007 at the Kohl Center and 61-58 in 2008 at the Bradley Center. The game tips off at 4 p.m. and will be broadcast on ESPN2.

UW provides no shortage of great memories MATT FOX the fox hole

rowing up as a sports fan in New York, I pretty much had it all—historic franchises, arenas, rivalries and most importantly, fans sincerely obsessed with every part of it. Really the only thing the area lacked was a classic college sports experience. And now, after three and a half years in Madison, I feel fortunate to have been a part of this unique environment. Making the transition from small high school to giant public university wasn’t easy; it can be an overwhelming time with so many new responsibilities. But regardless, I felt a sense of ease walking into the Cardinal office my freshman year in Madison. It was because I felt confident the work could provide me with special opportunities I would have never been granted otherwise. Some of my fondest memories working for the Cardinal will be with all the athletes I had the pleasure of meeting during my time here. People often underestimate the demands on student athletes and their ability to balance athletic, academic and social lives while showing patience with the media. I hope UW is extremely proud of its athletes not only for their obvious on-field accomplishments but for their upstanding behavior as well. Former Badger forward Marcus Landry of the New York Knicks and offensive lineman Joe Thomas of the Cleveland Browns are true professionals in every sense

of the word. They’re competing at the professional level and when you speak with them you can tell that they’re both respectful guys with genuine personalities. Another special time was my trip to East Lansing, Mich., last year to cover the men’s basketball team in their matchup against the Michigan State Spartans. We did the trip in 24 hours—I spent nearly 13 of those in a moving vehicle—but I also saw the Badgers play their tails off against an eventual runner-up national champion, witness a sweet basketball environment and saw Magic Johnson and his legendary 1979 squad honored at halftime, making it well worth the travel. The memories go way beyond my work at the Cardinal. Just watching the Badgers compete with friends and family was great. There was the basketball team’s ﬁrst No. 1 ranking in school history and Kammron Taylor’s last-second shot to beat the Spartans. The football team’s 10-1 season with an impressive bowl win over Arkansas. Brian Butch’s bank three-pointer against Indiana during Wisconsin’s run to win the Big Ten Conference and Tournament championships. And even my most painful memory, a loss to Michigan: I watched from several rows behind the end zone at the Big House—an amazing experience and something I will never forget. Then of course there’s this column that I started almost a year ago. The freedom to write about any topic related to sports has been a real pleasure. There are many issues I didn’t have time to address, but hopefully readers have enjoyed the material and getting real feedback from them was a huge thrill for me.

I’d like to thank everyone I’ve worked with at the Cardinal, it’s been a pleasure working with you and I wish only the best for the future of the paper. Also, all of my friends who have been great supporters and valuable critics of my writing—you guys have always pushed me to give UW students a voice in the campus community. And lastly, my family, who are the biggest supporters of all. Especially my dad, who wholeheartedly passed on his love of sports to me—catching up with you on our favorite teams is always one of the best parts of my day. In a couple of months from now it will be time for me to move on, graduating in an uncertain time for our country. But part of what keeps me going is excitement about the Badgers’ future, particularly the UW football team, who started the season with low expectations and now has a potentially bright future. I envy all of you who get to watch them the next few years and hope to see many of you in Las Vegas and Madison in 2011. As usual, this week went by alarmingly fast and sports were a big part of the mix—I rushed the court after a win over Duke and made my ﬁrst trip to Lambeau Field. This quick passage of time is the reason why I’ve decided to give up my column, granting myself more time to cherish every moment I have left in my college career. So that’s my ﬁnal word of advice—take advantage of every opportunity you possibly can here, because we are all truly fortunate to live in one of the best college towns in America. What memories will you take with you when you leave UW-Madison? Email Matt at mfox2@wisc.edu.

Men’s Hockey

LORENZO ZEMELLA/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

Scott Gudmandson will start both games against North Dakota while co-starter Brett Bennett recovers from an injured shoulder.

Road series with Sioux poses unique challenge By Parker Gabriel THE DAILY CARDINAL

In a league as talented as the WCHA, seemingly every weekend produces compelling matchups. For the Wisconsin men’s hockey team, this weekend’s trip to Grand Forks, N.D., is one that has been circled on the calendar for a long time. The No. 11 Badgers (7-4-1 WCHA, 105-1 overall) close out the 2009 portion of their schedule with a two game showdown at Ralph Engelstad Arena against rival North Dakota (9-5-2, 6-5-1). Wisconsin leads the all-time series between the two schools 83-60-10, and has won six of the last 10 contests. The Badgers actually hold a winning record in the state of North Dakota, posting a 36-30-7 mark.

“[Gudmandson] is tested and he’s got conﬁdence working for him right now.” Mike Eaves head coach UW Men’s Hockey

Among the challenges of playing on the road in Grand Forks is the size of their sheet of ice. The No. 3 Fighting Sioux play on an Olympic-sized sheet, which is considerably narrower than the sheet at the Kohl Center. In preparation for the series, head coach Mike Eaves had the team practice on a smaller sheet at the Shell. “You’re only a stick length away from everybody,” junior defenseman Brendan Smith said. “It makes things a little easier defensively but a little tougher offensively. It has its ups and downs.” The Badgers enter the series riding a wave of momentum. Winners in four of their last ﬁve contests,

the Badgers thoroughly dominated a hapless Michigan Tech team last weekend in Madison, outscoring the Huskies 14-2 for the weekend while also finding their stride on the power play. In 13 power play chances against Tech, the Badgers converted seven times, a 53.8 percent clip. Special teams will be pivotal in this series, as North Dakota has a net gain of 11 goals on special teams this year, four better than Wisconsin. “It’s good for confidence. For goal-scorers, to have that feeling that they can score is really important,” Eaves said. One Badger who should be feeling confident at this point is Smith. During his current and career-best seven-game scoring streak, he has scored five goals and registered 10 assists. He is scoring at a clip of 1.60 points per game, second best in the country and top among defenders. The Badgers are not without some adversity, however. Junior goaltender Brett Bennett sustained a shoulder injury on Tuesday at practice and will miss, at the minimum, this weekend’s series. That means fellow junior Scott Gudmandson will start on back-to-back nights for the first time this season. “One of the things about having the depth that we have is that we have a young man that is there,” Eaves said. “[Gudmandson] is tested and he’s got confidence working for him right now.” Despite the Fighting Sioux being ranked third in the country, the Badgers actually sit two points ahead in the WCHA standings. The top six teams in the league are separated by just five points. The significance of this head-to-head matchup is not lost on Smith. “We’re all building up to the end of the year, and to get in the tournament,” he said. “It’s going to be a battle and we want to come out with three or four points.”