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Showtime:
Zak Showalter’s relentless effort
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Professor’s plan aims to streamline aid for prospective students lege to help pay for certain necessities that I also need. It’s been hard For first-year student Melissa because all the money I saved up Strupp, the struggle to start her from high school is gone in the first college career began long before year,” she said. she ever scaled Bascom Hill. +ALMANAC, Despite scholarships and out“I had to apply for a lot of side help, Strupp still has to work to page scholarships, as well as financial cover7the cost of college. aid to help cover some of the “Over winter break I worked costs, but I also have been work- every single day to help save up ing since my sophomore year of money and it’s definitely really high school to start saving for stressful,” said Strupp. “Money college,” said Strupp. seems to disappear really fast It’s no surprise that students when you have to pay for tuition scramble to pay tuition; the and costs of housing and all of that. national cost of attending college I have to find a balance between is on the rise. Tuition at four- working and my studies.” year public universities rose by 9 According to the U.S. Census percent from the 2011-’12 school Bureau, in the 2015-’16 school year to this year, according to the year 72 percent of college students College Board Trends in College worked while in school to offset Pricing 2016 report. the cost and save for the future. Though Gov. Scott Walker’s On the UW-Madison campus, recently announced tuition cuts a professor’s plan hopes to ease will lower tuition by $360 per year the burden of rising college costs. on average for in-state students Partnering with other researchthroughout the UW-System, out-of- ers, UW-Madison’s La Follette state and professional students will School of Public Affairs professor pay the price, with upcoming tuition Timothy Smeeding created a nationincreases for both groups. al plan to reconfigure the aid given Despite the announced savings, to children in poverty, expanding in-state students like Strupp still opportunities for low-income chilstruggle for daily funds. dren to attend college and pursue “I’ve been working while in col- advanced degrees.
By Linnea Emerson THE DAILY CARDINAL
NINA BERTELSEN/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Students from universities around Wisconsin and Minnesota came together in River Falls to hear talks that discussed methods of addressing high levels of sexual assault on their campuses.
UW System students convene in River Falls to fight sexual assault By Nina Bertelsen THE DAILY CARDINAL
RIVER FALLS, Wis.—Lynn Rosenthal used to leave the White House gates every day thinking it was her last and that she would be fired.Little did she know that her work would spur the national campaign “It’s on Us.” The student government at UW-River Falls held a conference last weekend that hosted Rosenthal, the first national advisor on Violence Against Women, as the keynote speaker. She spoke to Wisconsin and Minnesota students interested in learning how they can do more to prevent sexual assault and dating
violence on their campuses. “Those other leaders have diverse roles and expertise. Going to the summit is the only way to tap into their efforts and share ours,” Colin Barushok, chair of the Student Service Finance Committee, said. Barushok was one of nearly 20 UW-Madison students who made the treck to River Falls, some affiliated with the Associated Students of Madison and some who decided to join after an email sparked their attention. “I met Ellie Shelp, a UW-Madison freshman,” Matt Wulf, ASM
Smeeding’s plan, based on similar proposals in Canada and Europe, would increase legislative representation for children under the poverty line Entitled “Universal Monthly Child Allowance,” the proposal distributes money directly to families in poverty, giving them $175-$300 per child each month until the child reaches 18. Children would be able to use some of the money each month to start saving for college earlier. Utilizing funds from current child poverty legislation, Smeeding’s proposal aims to streamline aid allocation. “We’re making it explicit; we’re making it monthly,” he said. First-year UW-Madison student Caitlin Attaway sees potential in the plan. The daughter of a Madison East High School economics teacher, she has witnessed the challenges children in Madison face at school and at home. “In general, I feel as though the tax reduction that children get doesn’t really give a tangible source of money for them, because they
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Family of Tony Robinson to receive large settlement By Megan Provost THE DAILY CARDINAL
Early Thursday morning—nearly two years after Tony Robinson, an unarmed 19-year-old, was shot and killed by Madison police officer Matt Kenny—a lawsuit filed against the city of Madison by the Robinson family concluded in a $3.35 million settlement. The lawsuit is the largest settlement in the case of an officer-related shooting in Madison’s history, according to the family’s attorneys. The historic settlement was announced and discussed by the Robinson family and their attorneys at a press conference held Thursday on the east steps of the
Capitol building. “That settlement figure does nothing for the Robinson family to fill the void of losing Tony. What that figure does do is it gives them vindication,” Robinson family attorney Anand Swaminathan said. Swaminathan, fellow prosecuting attorney David D. Owens and the Robinson family consider the large settlement an attempt by the city at avoiding a trial in which a jury may be presented with incriminating evidence that could have potentially proven Kenny, who was not charged with unlawful behavior and remains on the
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MORGAN WINSTON/THE DAILY CARDINAL
For many UW-Madison students, financial aid is not enough to subsidize a college career. Professor Timothy Smeeding looks to curtail financial burdens early on with a new proposal.
Sexual assault reported in ‘southern area of campus’ A sexual assault reportedly occurred in the southern area of campus, according to a UW-Madison Crime Warning. The report said the assault
occurred within 48 hours prior to Thursday. The victim and suspect knew each other before the assault occurred. U W-Mad i s o n Po l i c e
Department could not immediately be reached for comment.
—Sammy Gibbons
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.” “…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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An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 126, Issue 41
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Dispelling major concerns, misconceptions about GMOs
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Dear Ms. Scientist, What causes dizziness? John F. Brandon moe/Cardinal File Photo
Even though GMOs are not harmful, the Dane County Farmer’s Market provides a wide selection of fresh fruits and vegetables which claim to be GMO-free. By Abby Rogerson the daily cardinal
Although genetically engineered foods made their first appearance on grocery store shelves back in 1994, they still remain a topic of contention in today’s society. While some believe GE foods are the key to feeding Earth’s growing population, others see them as a threat to human and environmental health. These attitudes are shaped by a myriad of different stakeholders. The consensus of a National Academy of Sciences committee, as noted in their recent report on GE crops, is that no GE food created to date poses a threat to environmental or human health. “I was on a committee that looked at all the literature on this topic, and there’s no credible study that shows any effect on human health,” Richard Amasino, a UW-Madison biochemistry professor and co-author the NAS report, confirmed. He further explained that there is no evidence showing that GE crops damage the environment more than conventional crops. Despite such findings, a widespread mistrust of genetically modified organisms, or GMOs, permeates public opinion. Given that most people don’t have the time or interest to do thorough research on the topic, their attitudes are heavily influenced by media coverage. Media outlets are incentivized to capture the attention of an audience and tend to focus on alarming incidents in which GMOs produce unfavorable results. Technical details of research are often left out of popular press in favor of exaggerated results, and inflammatory language is used to spark an emotional response from the audience. In doing so, media outlets have a lot of control over how the public perceives scientific findings. This leads to a polarization between sides instead of an analysis of the complexities of the issue. In their 2004 study, science communicators Claire McInerney, Nora Bird and Mary Nucci delve into how media coverage of GMOs spiked after one such incident. In 1999, the international science journal Nature published a piece on the harmful
effects of GE corn pollen on Monarch butterflies. Suddenly, the media was abuzz with controversy. News stories portrayed GE corn as a strange and hazardous technology, and the Monarch became a symbol of the anti-GMO movement. Media coverage neglected to report that the Nature article was based on a study in its preliminary stages, and there were significant limitations to its conclusions. The Monarch case also gave environmental organizations an opportunity to declare their side in the GMO debate.
Fast Facts GMOs are a manipulation of an organism’s DNA.
30,000
The number of GMOs in existence on grocery store shelves. The United States is the largest producer of GMO crops but does not mandate GMO food labels.
According to a CBS news poll, 87 percent of people want GMO labelling and 53 percent of people would not buy GMO food. Info sourced from peeltheorange.com
Greenpeace is a particularly effective influencer of public opinion, with its famous reputation for saving whales and halting nuclear tests. Greenpeace’s statement on GE foods reads, “GMOs should not be released into the environment since there is not adequate scientific understanding of their impact on the environment or human health.” Greenpeace’s motivation for promoting a platform inconsistent with the scientific consensus is known only to them, but Amasino explained a spectrum of possible motivations. On one hand, they could truly believe GE foods are harmful. Contrarily, they could be using
the campaign as a fundraising opportunity. Regardless, people that subscribe to Greenpeace’s broader mission of environmental stewardship are likely to align themselves with their anti-GMO sentiment as well. Factors beyond outright campaigns against GMOs influence public opinion, too. The way in which GE products were introduced to consumers, for example, is a major source of public opposition, as Claire Marris reports in her 2007 study. Marris reported that people perceived the introduction of GE foods into the market as sneaky, and would have liked the scientific and regulatory institutions involved to be more transparent during the process. Feelings of frustration are amplified when these institutions state GMOs don’t carry a risk. People are aware that every technology has inherent risk, so the claim that GE foods are 100% safe deepens feelings of mistrust. Suspicion towards GMOs also arises from the labeling debate. A majority of consumers wish producers were required to label GE food, while the main opponents to labeling are agricultural biotechnology corporations. People feel as though they have a right to know what they are consuming, and a lack of access to such information is a source of resentment towards the GMO industry. To meet the demand for labeling, the Non-GMO Project created a verification seal for foods not produced via genetic engineering. Now, the NonGMO seal is common in grocery stores and often seen on products also marketed as “natural” or “healthy.” This leads people to believe that non-GE foods are healthier than their GE counterparts. Although there is no scientific evidence showing non-GE foods are more nutritious than GE foods, this marketing technique is effective in swaying public opinion. The GMO controversy shows no signs of fizzling anytime soon. According to a Pew Research Center report conducted in 2016, 71 percent of Americans know little or nothing at all about GE foods. As information on GMOs is disseminated and public discourse evolves, public opinion will undoubtedly change.
Spinning round and round in a desk chair or a carnival ride almost always makes your head spin, your eyes flutter and your stomach churn in the most uncomfortable of ways. Try walking after riding the Tilt-aWhirl and you’ll find yourself traveling in a strange, serpentine path, because you’re just so dizzy! But, it’s all in your head —literally. The body has a complex system that alerts the brain of motion and perception. The vestibular system is responsible for sensing motion. In the inner ear, there are three semicircular canals that sense motion. They contain a fluid called endolymph and hair-like sensory nerve cells. When the head moves in a direction, the fluid moves within the canals. Depending on which direction the fluid moves, it stimulates the hair-like nerves and signals the brain telling it which way the head is moving. When you spin, the liquid moves in a circular direction matching your spin. When you stop, the fluid continues to spin and your brain interprets this as continued spinning or dizziness.
Dear Ms. Scientist, How do allergies work? Megan P. Allergies are probably one of my least favorite things about spring. All I want to do is go outside and enjoy the weather after the long Wisconsin winters, but my allergies always give me a stuffy nose, sneezes and itchy eyes. No one is exactly certain why allergies start in the first place, though environmental and genetic factors are thought to play a role in it. However, we do know how they happen. An allergy is basically your immune system reacting sensitively to something that isn’t actually harmful to your body. Normally, in response to actual bacteria or viruses, your immune system releases something called antibodies that activate the inflammatory response to fight off infection. This is why when you get sick or infected, you might develop an itchy nose or a rash. However, sometimes your immune system identifies harmless allergens, such as pollen or peanut butter, as threats, causing it to activate your inflammatory response even though you don’t need it, resulting in those classic allergy symptoms.
Ask Ms. Scientist is written by Maggie Liu and Jordan Gaal. Burning science question? science@dailycardinal.com
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State Rep. may reintroduce transgender bathroom bill By Lilly Price THE DAILY CARDINAL
On the same day President Donald Trump rescinded rules passed under the Obama Administration that allowed transgender students to use bathrooms based on their gender identity, a Wisconsin Republican lawmaker said he will probably introduce a similar bill. Rep. Jesse Kremer, R-Kewaskum, originally introduced a bill that would require public school students to use the bathroom that corresponds with their sex assigned at birth in 2015. The bill did not survive last congressional session. On Wednesday, Kremer said he is thinking of reintroducing
settlement from page 1 police force, of wrongdoing. According to a statement by the Madison Police Department, Kenny was “cleared of any criminal culpability” after an independent investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Justice and was found “to have acted within MPD’s Code of Conduct and Standard Operating Procedures” after MPD’s internal review investigation. Over the coming weeks, the Robinson family and their representatives plan to publicize evidence that would have been presented had the case gone to trial so that the Madison community can “weigh in on whether they want to see something done.” The evidence includes an image that captures part of Kenny’s pursuit of Robinson, and
the state bill that would prohibit transgender students from using a bathroom of their identified gender. The federal ruling that allowed transgender students to use the bathroom of their choice was rescinded by the Justice Department and the Education Department, on the grounds of the order being instated without regard for the role of the states and local school districts in establishing education policy. U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Wis., said Thursday that he applauds President Trump’s decision to reverse the federal policy that forced all schools to allow transgender students to use the bathrooms and locker rooms of their choosing.
“This action by President Trump will put the decisionmaking process back where it belongs--in the hands of our states and schools,” Glenn said. “Most importantly, we’re keeping our students safe and ensuring their privacy.” Despite the federal reversal, Kremer wants to reintroduce a bill requiring students to use bathrooms of their birth gender at the state level because presidential administrations change and he wants to ensure the state provides greater protection for Wisconsin school districts. Wisconsin’s Republican Attorney General Brad Schimel has also voiced support for Trump’s reversal of the bathroom directive.
details from Robinson’s autopsy regarding the nature of his fatal injuries, both of which were presented at the press conference. “We’re going to tell this story and we’re going to tell the truth until everybody has had a chance to judge it because, unfortunately, folks have been told—and sometimes believed—a lie,” Owens said. According to Swaminathan, Kenny’s story was “demonstrably false” in accordance with the documentation of the incident, and he was asked “zero questions” by MPD’s internal investigators. Two separate investigations were conducted regarding the Robinson case, one by the Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation and one by the MPD. The DOJ investigation is a process in which a district attorney determines whether or not a crime
was committed and can be proved beyond a reasonable doubt. MPD’s investigation, according to Swaminathan, involves assessing an officer’s conduct and determining its accordance with training, policy and standards. The settlement received criticism from both city and state police associations. Madison Police Chief Mike Koval and other police officials had hoped the civil case would proceed to trial, according to a MPD statement. Wisconsin Professional Police Association Executive Director Jim Palmer released a statement Thursday on behalf of Kenny. “We are extraordinarily disappointed that the city’s insurance company chose to make a business decision that was more concerned with the costs of litigation than the facts of the case,” Palmer said.
THOMAS YONASH/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO
Attorney General Brad Schimel appealed a court ruling Friday that said state Assembly districts were unconstitutional.
Wisconsin Attorney General appeals gerrymandering case to U.S. Supreme Court By Andy Goldstein THE DAILY CARDINAL
Following a court order to redraw the state’s election maps, Wisconsin Attorney General Brad Schimel has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday for permission to reinstate the previously existing electoral boundaries. A panel of three federal judges ruled last year that state Assembly districts were unfairly drawn and “intended to burden the representational rights of Democratic voters … by impeding their ability to translate their votes into legislative seats.” The panel of judges ordered lawmakers to put in place more fairly drawn maps by November, so that they could be utilized in the 2018 midterm elections. The original ruling was made two weeks after the Democrats’ decisive defeat in November’s state Assembly races, giving Republicans their largest majority in decades. In redistricting cases, appeals are sent directly to the Supreme
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MORGAN WINSTON/THE DAILY CARDINAL
A $3.35 million settlement was reached between the family of Tony Robinson, an unarmed teenager who was shot and killed in 2015 by an MPD officer, and a city of Madison insurer.
violence from page 1 Outreach Director, said. “She is not directly involved with any orgs on campus addressing the issue, but she felt compelled to attend the summit because of how passionate she is about the issue. I am excited to see how she, and all of us, make an effort to address sexual violence on campus.” Two other UW-Madison students—Walker Fanning and Hadi Hashemi Nejad of the Sigma Pi
fraternity—said they came because they want their fraternity to be a leader in the fight against sexual assault on campus. w Besides making connections with other student and national leaders, participants engaged in workshops of their choosing ranging from learning about legal recourses for survivors to how to connect with local nonprofits. “Sexual assault and dating violence constitute one of the most important issues we face on cam-
pus,” said Jason Klein, ASM Press Office Director. He plans to dive into research on UW-Madison’s campus. One suggestion he said he took to heart was to look into what recommendations have already been made and what progress has been made. The presenters noted the importance of daily acts, and re-teaching everyone different social cues in order to progress as a society. Rosenthal said, “It’s about the daily acts, not the heroic acts.”
don’t really see the money coming through physically,” Attaway said. Schools such as Madison East High School and La Follette High School lack aid for disadvantaged students, especially those hoping to attend college. “La Follette is a failing school right now,” said Attaway. “They have a lot of lower income kids that could definitely benefit from the proposal.” A majority of city high school students battle to get by: in 2013, the Capital Times found 56.7 percent of Madison East students and 53.8 percent of La Folette students are economically disadvantaged. Smeeding’s proposal poses to remedy potential graduation setbacks. “Right now [family] subsidies for kids are invisible and hidden in the tax code,” said Smeeding. According to Strupp, the the financial maze and limited financial aid has kept many of her friends away from UW-Madison. “I know a lot of people opted out of going to a four-year university and
Court, and the court’s decision on Schimel’s appeal could have national implications. If the panel’s ruling is upheld, gerrymandered maps by both Democrats and Republicans across the country could come under a wave of judicial challenges. If the court decides to strike down the panel’s ruling, however, plaintiffs of redistricting cases may no longer be able to argue that maps drawn with partisanship in mind are unconstitutional. The panel ruled that since Democratic voters had been heavily concentrated into very few districts under the existing electoral maps, many other potentially competitive districts were left instead as safe GOP seats. Schimel, however, argued that this method of judgment is ineffective and that Democratic voters tend to live in urban centers, leading to a naturally occurring concentration of votes. Arguments before the high court are likely to take place later this year or early in 2018. went to a tech school instead because of the price,” said Strupp. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 7.2 million students in the United States attend a two-year college, while 13.3 million go to a fouryear college. Although associate degree holders reap the short term benefits of paying less for college, they still make, on average, $500,000 less than bachelor degree holders over the course of their career, according to the Georgetown University Center on Education and the Workforce. Still in its proposal stages, the “Universal Child Monthly Allowance” poses to subsidize adolescent education nationwide if passed, piggy-backing off the format of plans such as Social Security. Smeeding sees his plan aiding students not only for the shortterm, but also with future college savings and investment. Its implementation, however, can not begin unless the proposal becomes tangible legislation, a decision yet to be determined by Congress.
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RECORD ROUTINE
Future’s ‘HNDRXX’ is an emotional, introspective album By Francisco Velazquez THE DAILY CARDINAL
ALBUM REVIEW
PHOTO COURTESY OF HBO
“VICE” season five premiered last Friday at 11 p.m. on HBO.
HBO’s ‘VICE’ season five premiere tackles climate change and Syria with engaging objectivity By Edgar Sanchez THE DAILY CARDINAL
The first episode of the fifth season of “VICE” on HBO kicks off with an hour-long in-depth analysis of regime-ruled Syria and the economic impacts at stake from decades of climate denial. The opening is well produced, and it’s evident “VICE” has made good use of HBO’s budget. “VICE’s” correspondent Isobel Yeung provides a full spectrum of Syria’s social and political characteristics within her 30-minute segment. Beginning with the rebelling portion of Syria’s population alongside horrifying snippets from social media posts of citizens pleading for help, the episode works its way from both sides of the conflict. In one bizarre segment, viewers are introduced to the regimefactioned youth fighters in a supposed war zone; this unit is comprised solely of women, only to see them hauled off in a premiere coach bus. Throughout the shift into the bourgeoisie-like middle and high class demographics, viewers will be dumbfounded at the tyrannical control of the media, freedom of speech and daily lives of Syrians. Similar to an Orwellian Big Brother, Yeung is constantly being watched and forced to receive approval before entering specific areas and receiving interviews. At no point does the episode lessen its pace; viewers are constantly being offered a new side of the social dynamic and, all the while, Yueng is subtly sharing her opinion on the experience. Most appealing is that, although viewers will likely agree with Yeung’s claims on the absurdity of the ruling characteristics of Syria’s government, at no point will they be forced into her mindset. “VICE” does its best to give equal coverage of both sides of the conflict without influencing the information. The segment is thought-provoking and definitely worth the
watch. In a brief transition to its second half, “VICE” upholds its immersive documentary storytelling while swapping from a journalist to CEO and cofounder of VICE Media, Shane Smith. The second half explores what the scientific, political and big oil communities have to say on climate change. Similar to its earlier half, the segment gives viewers all the angles on major players in the topic. Smith’s first interview is with the Chief Property Underwriter of Swiss Re, a global insurance company that predicted the damages of the Sandy superstorm on the east coast back in 2006. Viewers learn of the trillions of dollars at risk in Miami’s coastline as water levels have already risen three feet within the past few years. The documentary segways into both the political and scientific sides of the climate change debate, all within a historical frame. It caveats the analysis with a reminder of the current demographic of the White House and its ties to the oil industry. From this point, the documentary begins to feel like an investigation into a turmoil of corruption and negligence best compared to big tobacco in the 1970s. The segment concludes with a look at the ways companies like Statoil are working to mitigate the threat of climate change. The Statoil rig contains one of the only devices in existence that actually strips the carbon dioxide from gasoline. Interestingly, company representatives discuss why they are pushing for a CO2 tax. The premiere was captivating and at no point failed to grab my attention. Regardless of your stance on the above topics, if you have been a longtime consumer of “VICE” or are just hearing about it for the first time, I suggest you tune in.
“VICE” season five airs Fridays at 7:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. on HBO.
HNDRXX Future Within two weeks of his self-titled fifth studio album, FUTURE, the Atlanta rapper returns with HNDRXX, his sixth studio album with a lot of emotions to spill. To release two full-length albums merely weeks apart gives us a spilt metaphor of trap and R&B and the separation between the mind and body. Future becomes brutally honest throughout the codeine and confessions of the women, drugs, money and success. FUTURE gives us some highlight hits like “Rent Money,” “Draco,” “Mask Off,” “High Demand” and “Feds Did a Sweep,” but fails to live up to the hype. A 17-track flow with expertly produced beats, HNDRXX features melodic and lyrically impressive Future with standout features from The Weeknd and Rihanna. It’s safe to say that the radio hits will be prevalent as Future gives the astronomical trapper room for truth. HNDRXX was first announced on Future’s Instagram as “The album I always wanted to make.” Perhaps Future wanted to complete his contractual commitment to A-1 but, either way, HNDRXX is arguably some of his best work. HNDRXX is the control of the body; the loss of knowing where love has gone and what it has left you with or without. The album cover illustrates the soul of emotions without ego. This is demonstrated in FUTURE, as the album cover only features Future’s face while, here, Future leaves the trapstar for an artist with everything to give, including his humility. Counting money in a studio like it hasn’t gone out of style, “My Collection” opens the album on a sincere note that parallels a petty love story. With a Metro-Boominproduced beat, a drum-filled, old-school collection of selling dope at his grandmother’s house, trust in God and the need to have a women by his side, Future sets the mood of a summer night drive when all you need is that one person. Smoother than Heelys in middle school, The Weeknd returns with a killer hook–
“They take my kindness for weakness, still comin’ out strong.” A successful duo, Future takes on his own singing role and works around the false stories, the lawsuits and the haters. Easily a radio hit, “Comin Out Strong” combines a cocky mood and a sample loop with broken vocals–a perfect way to remind the haters, “Do you know who I am?” The exotic wave is overrated. “Lookin Exotic” takes us back to the Future we’ve consistently heard. An obvious reminder of what he can provide, Future wants to spend his money on a girl and make her look “exotic.” His ego may be a problem but, with a heavy bass drop every verse, Future remains an extravagant trap rapper by adding another hit with no edge. The song doesn’t say anything that he hasn’t told us before. Being there for someone means more than the physical. “Damage” is an infectious hit. Sampled by “Piece of My Love” by Guy, Young Thug provides background vocals and the underlined collaboration is one for the books. Future trades vocals and rapping while aggressively contrasting love, women and money. The emotional production and honest lyricism is what we’ve all experienced when we unknowingly give someone our entire self— “Getting money and I count it all, Stop trying to fuck my life up.” Future resonates with disappointment as he mistakenly sets trust above his own sanity—“My role model fucked my life up.” “Use Me” is the body of the album. A headspace of different relationships and seemingly the jump before the bridge, Future is giving himself away and seemingly losing himself at the same time. The song loses structure but is that really a bad thing? Future encompasses the moment a relationship shifts; the moment you feel it’ll end if you don’t do everything in your power to save it. There is something empty and full about an emotional high that alters the heart and mind. “When you get high enough you can dodge raindrops,”–the kind of high that gives you butterflies or the kind of high that doesn’t seem real enough to feel. Future switches a doubtful realm of emotions into a successful ballad. As a battle of the used, Future accepts the reality that women have used him for his wealth and fame. A mindful mirror, Future also realizes that “she,” whoever “she” may be, has also been used by men like him. It’s tax refund emotional. “Incredible” is a floating mix of harmonies and a gripping
chorus. Almost good enough to remind us that global warming is actually very real, Future impresses with a warm and tropical dance hit. Sonically stellar and reassuring, Future finds trust in an honest woman as he states, “I know it’s true love with you / Told myself I don’t wanna fall in love with you.” A new “Bad and Boujee”? “Keep Quiet” is Future’s secret lifestyle with a taken girl. Future suggests she keeps it quiet before things turn chaotic for her—“Keep quiet, keep quiet, keep quiet / ‘Cause you gon’ start a riot.” Part two and it’s just as good. It’s the moments we look at what love can do and the power it can hold years later. Whether it’s good or bad, the experience dramatically alters the way we give and take parts of another soul. “Broken lies / Driving backwards / Making all the wrong turns / Saying all the wrong words / Dodging angels”–—Here, “Selfish” is an attempt at bringing it all back together. A song that gives us room to forget the world and run back to the one person that meant everything at one point and, perhaps, still does today. Rihanna and Future find a bottle of emotions, illustrating what can happen when effort is merely the only thing you both want in return. Karma comes full circle. “Sorry” is a deep piano key apology. As an emotional open letter, Future details the frightening parts of the music industry— “It can get scary when you’re legendary.” It’s oddly interesting when someone famous is openingly honest about their failed relationships. If you’re a familiar fan, you’ll have some assumptions on who he’s apologizing to–—“I breathe the air she breathes / It’s hard to breathe on my own.” In an expressive release, Future also addresses his loved ones and why he did some of the things he did. HNDRXX is an all-summer album. Future succeeds in blending trap and R&B in a musically shifting industry focused on artistic development. Vocally changing, pushing a new line of production and singing, HNDRXX is easily a play through, no skips album. A refreshing twist to trap, Future and his team of producers craft an album that balances the future of rap and R&B. Future undoubtedly gives fans both Future, the Atlanta trapstar, and Future Hendrix, the astronomical rapper from Pluto. With no intent on slowing down, Future gives us some much-needed therapy on both ends of the mind and body.
Grade: B+
opinion
Monday, February 27, 2017 5
dailycardinal.com
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Letter to the editor: Choices about Alcohol program is effective TONYA SCHMIDT AND WILL CHAPMAN guest columnists
S PHOTO COURTESY OF SHOAIB ALTAF
The Dalai Lama has been criticized by the Chinese government and Chinese students in the United States.
Outcry over Dalai Lama threatens free speech RUNKUN FAN opinion columnist
U
niversity of California-San Diego’s decision to invite Dalai Lama for commencement is troubling, while the Chinese protesters opposed Free Speech and branded their blind patriotism On Feb. 2, UC-San Diego made the official announcement that “His Holiness” the 14th Dalai Lama, a well-known advocate of Tibetan independence from the People’s Republic of China, will be speaking at the commencement ceremony. Waves of shock and anger swept through the Chinese international student communities in UCSD, and soon, Chinese international student communities across the US. A fierce debate ensued between the supporters and critics of the Dalai Lama, with much vitriol. As a Chinese international student myself, I feel obliged to share some of my thoughts on the controversy. But before that, I want to clarify that this article does not concern itself with the historical aspects of the legitimacy of People’s Republic of China’s territorial claim in Tibet, the complexity of which is only to be resolved through collective efforts. The Dalai Lama has been a well-respected person across the political spectrum in the west, though he is not without critics. Christopher Hichens, in his 1998 article on the Dalai Lama “His Material Holiness”, wrote “China’s foul conduct in an occupied land, combined with a Hollywood cult that almost exceeds the power of Scientology, has fused with weightless Maharishi and Bhagwan-type babble to create an image of an idealized Tibet and of a saintly godking.” Indeed, the Dalai Lama, and the people who met with him and praise him, have been in a decadeslong, cynical and opportunistic symbiosis of realpolitik, with a distinctive flavor of orientalism. The Dalai Lama has been supportive of the assembling of thermonuclear arsenal by India in the 1990s, he has made the remark that any women successor to him has to be attractive, and he has not only stayed silent on former President Bush’s illegitimate invasions of
Afghanistan and Iraq, but said that he loved Bush. Countless incidents have lead people who had faith in liberal principles to doubt the Dalai Lama’s commitment to his ideals, let alone his recent statement that he “had no worries” about thenpPresident-elect Donald Trump.
What is at stake is the core of liberal democracy: free speech.
Maybe it’s my poor grasp of the Buddhist doctrine of inner peace, but I am very worried, as a foreigner in the US, about Trump (though that is another story). That is why the decision of UCSD to invite the Dalai Lama for a commencement speech is troubling. As a renowned institution in public education, UCSD should cherish genuine secular and liberal values, inviting people who are sincerely devoted to making the world a better place rather than shrewd political opportunists. Even though UCSD’s decision raised questions, the reaction by Chinese international student communities is a shameful one. One day after the announcement by UCSD, the Chinese Students and Scholars Association at UCSD published a statement on WeChat denouncing the decision, and on its thumbnail it reads “Whoever tries to sever my motherland must be destroyed regardless of propinquity” (the original is in Chinese, and the translation is literal). The article tells the Chinese international students at UCSD to remain calm, and wait for and listen to “the unified directives issued by the Chinese Embassy”. The article also described the Dalai Lama as “devoted to sabotaging the territorial integrity and ethnic solidarity of our mother country”. In the end, the article expresses the determination of CSSA to take “strong measures” to protest the speech by the Dalai Lama. This incident is just an add-on to a series of anti-free speech outbursts on UC campuses. Two years ago,
students at Berkeley tried to remove the political polemicist Bill Maher from the commencement speech, and in early February prevented right-wing political commentator Milo Yiannopoulos from giving a speech. However, this time the protesters are motivated by a far more invidious sentiment than political correctness—blind patriotism. The claim of the Dalai Lama’s intention to “sabotage racial harmony” is highly dubious. It makes the strong assumption that there is an already established racial harmony, which requires strong evidence. But this is irrelevant here, as what is at stake is the core of liberal democracy: free speech. Free speech, in its broad sense, consists of both the tolerance for the right of others to speak, and the independence with which we think and speak. The whims of the Chinese Embassy and government should not dictate what Chinese international students think, and what Chinese international students think should not interfere with whether or not the Dalai Lama speaks at commencement. Philosopher Karl Popper wrote in his famous The Open Society and its Enemies “… the conflict between rationalism and irrationalism has become the most important intellectual, and perhaps even moral, issue of our time.” Unfortunately, what Popper has said during the carnage of the Second World War is still true, if not truer, today. The most efficient way to promote rational thinking is by exchanging ideas, and the best way to expose lies is by having people utter them. To my fellow Chinese students: think independently whether you agree with the Dalai Lama or not, and most importantly, let him talk! Fact is that to which there is no alternative. And facts can only be respected if we continue to champion secular and liberal values in university campuses, be open to new ideas, and dare to be challenged. Runkun is a junior majoring in philosophy. Please send all comments, questions and concerns to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
ome important information was missing from a recent article on the Choices about Alcohol program. Choices is one facet of the university’s strategy for supporting a campus environment where students can live and learn free of the negative effects of alcohol misuse, consistent with our research, teaching and service mission. Because the actions of intoxicated students are disruptive to others in the community—e.g. noise after quiet hours in the halls, emergency personnel transporting an individual from the halls, vomit in a hallway or restroom, physical assaults— we aim to discourage all alcohol misuse that normalizes high risk drinking behaviors. Just like in the “real world,” individuals are accountable for their actions. Choices has a broad range of content and participatory activities, allowing students to benefit from peer and facilitator interaction, increase motivation for behavior change, and develop knowledge and skills for risk reduction. And the evidence shows that it is effective. The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards is committed to evidence-based programs to foster student learning. We evaluate our alcohol education programs to ensure they are serving their stated aim of fostering risk reduction behaviors and attitudes among participants and the campus overall. Each participant completes a pre-assessment and postassessment about their habits, knowledge, and attitudes related to alcohol consumption. The changes from preassessment to post-assessment are analyzed for statistical significance. The assessments also collect student feedback about the program itself.
Just like in the “real world,” individuals are accountable for their actions.
More than 600 students completed the assessments in the 2015-’16 school year. Contrary to the article’s assertion that students are scared by Choices, the program evaluations show: 91 percent of participants describe the program as good or excellent 94 percent of participants agree that applying the information from Choices will help them reduce risk 74 percent agree they will change some aspects of their alcohol-related behaviors
Additionally, 80 percent of participants described the program as educational, informative and interesting. Of course students also identified facets that they dislike about the program, which we use to improve our practices and share with the providers to improve program delivery. The data also show that after completing Choices, participants expressed more contemplation about their drinking habits (a necessary step for later behavior change) and learned about and supported safer drinking decisions. The evidence is clear: if students choose to approach Choices with an open mind and engage thoughtfully to evaluate their own alcohol use, they will benefit from the program. If they choose not to learn from the program, then it is not a productive use of their time or money, and carries the continued risk of negative consequences from unchanged drinking habits. Increased use of alcohol education (Choices and BASICS) coincides with a trend in decreases in alcohol misuse in the residence halls since 20132014. Most recently, we saw the following in changes in fall 2016, as compared to fall 2013: 39 percent reduction in students reporting drinking primarily in a residence hall according to AlcoholEdu 40 percent reduction in alcohol-related incidents involving residence hall students 47 percent reduction in alcohol-related incidents in and around residence halls 20 percent reduction in residence hall students being transported to detox or the hospital for alcohol incapacitation Choices about Alcohol is not a panacea for UW-Madison’s high risk drinking culture that negatively impacts our students, activities, and image. However, it is an effective tool in our multifaceted and evidence-based approach to prevent alcohol misuse, to assist student learning, and to hold students accountable for violations of community standards. Additional questions about the program can be directed to OSCCS, as we support transparency about the work that we do and the impact we have on campus through the misconduct process. Tonya Schmidt is the assistant dean and director of the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards in the Division of Student Life, and Will Chapman is the assistant director of this office, which can be contacted at www.students. wisc.edu/student-conduct Do you have personal experience with the Choices program? Does this letter change your opinion on the effectiveness of the program? Send comments and concerns to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
almanac The Almanac Poetry Corner l
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Monday, February 27, 2017
Every Friday @ 9 by Mariam Coker
The cleaning lady works like clockwork, fume mask, no gloves. She cleans the silent, already spotless, dentist office without music, Islam ti duro, Islam has come to stay , she would sing to herself. She does not look like her boss. Her boss does not look at her, just leaves her a check next to family photos and tells her not to turn on all of the lights. Look at her hands. See how the Pinesol, the Windex, the Clorox, the cleaning of white people’s shit has aged them. The cleaning lady’s hands are sandpaper, steel wool, diamonds; can remove paint from wall, air from sky, blood from anything. Her husband does not hold her hand. I used to go with the cleaning lady to diffuse the silence; my naive, wide eyes squinted with cleaning fumes, small hands cleaned corners thoroughly. Mommy’s helper, they called me, and watched me grow from cleaning mirrors to vacuuming the hallway. I once asked her why we don’t go to this dentist office, she said we couldn’t afford it. The cleaning lady has been cleaning the same dentist office for over 20 years, waxed belly and waxed floors, it is already in me: back problems and no eye contact. I am half rag and half obedience. I would make a good wife. Hands rough and calloused from the right way of scrubbing a bathtub, or scrubbing grout from tile, or hand washing blood from anything, no one wants to hold my hand.
Blue
by Dan Winogradoff This grass I walk on used to be green. It was a carousel, singular and safe. Catching balls and blind, It’s middle-ground: This grass is a highway billboard, prying its corporate teeth into the branded of maggots. It’s a gross pasture of slabs and breast-fed bed bugs milking from the craven nipples of those who sleep with metal eyes and slaved toes. I’d rather reign inside, under mahogany crowns, and crying fires, like a half-formed memory, because only I understand I. This grass can’t understand the known. This grass I trudge on is blue, Lightnin’ and Waters.
Silk House (Do Ho Suh) by Caroline Stevens
you tore through me, silk house with meticulously sewed outlets in my walls promptly ripped out, delivering no electric shock. /i was a glitchy home, you seemed to think, yet you made the effort to stitch your name into hard-to-reach spaces until the translucent baseboards were cluttered with it, over and over.
dailycardinal.com
Ways of Survival by Bet-Zua Jimenez
A White woman I’d never seen accused me Of stealing her son’s wallet While it was in his hand. I laughed it off with the simple confidence Of having habitually survived trauma. But that night I had a dream That my lightest-skinned cousin, the one who used to deny he is Mexican, Was stabbing me in my gut with a knife. I bled white blood like guilt. My body was a colorless flag Too thin to do anything but surrender. The man I am in love with is White. He once asked me if I was “into” White men. I told him that Since coming to Middle America, I don’t consider desire when I look at White people. Instead, I worry in which ways I won’t be treated as human. He was surprised I should worry about such a thing. We share dreams - not anxieties Laughed and moved on. When I met my boyfriend’s family, I was the only non-White person at the table. That night I dreamt of tattooing my father’s face onto my own. I wanted to wear his dark skin, his bad teeth, his lack of education, his tiny paychecks, his bravery Like rosary beads made of black opal around my neck. I laughed with the women at the table as they talked About ski trips while I pictured my father trekking across A desert into America. He had been my age. Yesterday, I told an advisor that I want to teach. She told me to consider that women of color At primarily white institutions either drop out Or develop PTSD. She is afraid that my education will kill me. I told her that every diploma is a bouquet Of flowers I can finally afford for my mother. I hand them to her through a memory, On that day we hid and cried inside our car Because a White woman had accused her of theft Before we had learned how laughter is crucial for survival.
Broken Villanelle by Eliza Weisberg
There’s no place like home And I can’t click my heels together anymore so I’ll lock the door on my way out Watching the sky turn color still makes me melt The smell of your hair reminds me of coffee in the morning Theres no place like home The windows of your mind have bars now And you don’t let the wind blow through the house I’ll lock the door on my way out I remember when your eyes still reflected in mine But you le(f)t the sun set too early Theres no place like home “Leaving your light on is like throwing money down the drain.” - I watched you tear the spark from the wall I’ll lock the door on my way out The house is cold now And the lightbulbs are shattered There’s no place like home I promise I’ll lock the door on my way out
the fireplace doesn’t work, it only suggests a space that should be for fire. you’ll live in better places (i was transitional), but still, there was the time you sat in wonder on the stained living room couch, my gauzy windows letting through a handful of rainbow, and watched its ghost pass over the walls.
Did you like these poems? Did they make you feel? Want to be featured in the next Almanac Poetry Corner? Send us submissions and pictures of cats at: almanac@dailycardinal.com
comics dailycardinal.com
Monday, February 27, 2017 • 7
A small child could swim through the veins of a blue whale.
Today’s Sudoku
© Puzzles by Pappowcom
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.
The Lizard Seat
By: Sophia Silva graphics@dailycardinal.com
Today’s Crossword Puzzle
Caffeine
ACROSS 57 Unreliable witness 1 Chopped-cabbage dish 58 Muse of poets 5 Newcomer to West Point 59 Firstborn, typically 10 Continuity problems 60 Unflattering marks of 14 Vacuum cleaner part adolescence 15 Like a beaver, proverbially 61 “American Idol” singer 16 Freeway off-ramp Clay 17 Brother of Cain 62 “___ Christie” 18 “___ Management” 63 Prepared to golf (with (Sandler film) “up”) 19 Pinta companion 64 Is introduced to 20 Working out and watching 65 Brenda, Tommy and what one eats Bruce 23 Pre-adolescent DOWN 24 Grunt of skepticism 25 Strand on an island 1 Onetime ruler of Iran 28 Name that’s uplifting to 2 Ear part many? 3 Not even close to the 30 Sulfuric, for one pier 31 Certain citrus 4 Wealthy 33 Opposite of to 5 Female pheasant 36 Removal of harmful 6 Weapon to tilt with substances 7 Prod or urge 40 Poet’s “before” 8 Unflattering word with 41 In its entirety, as a film “has” 42 Prefix of negativity 9 Does something incor 43 Like stereotypical Chelsea rectly galleries 10 Brainiac 44 Thing 11 If X=Y and Y=Z, then 46 Lesser of two ___ X=Z, e.g. 49 City of abomination 12 Barracks picture of old 51 Where you may find an old 13 Hidden stockpile board?
21 “A Tale of ___ Cities” 22 Much of Asia 25 Like a neat bed 26 Tablet and PC company 27 Paddy product 28 Purposely skip over 29 Heavy weight 31 Frilly and delicately patterned 32 Six-toed bird 33 Common answer to “How are you?” 34 Campus mil. training 35 Busy at a task 37 Certain caregiver 38 Nitro’s relative 39 Much-visited mausoleum 43 Filmmaker Hitchcock 44 Classical concert halls 45 Droid kin 46 Showy, flashy success 47 Singer’s asset 48 Beyond silly 49 Drain-clearing reptile? 50 Eight things, collectively 52 About 500 sheets of paper 53 Great Lake name 54 Prefix with “diction” 55 Ruler’s product 56 Historic time periods
By: Alexandra Steffeck graphics@dailycardinal.com
Sports
Monday, february 27, 2017 Dailycardinal.com
Badgers must right ship before March
Read of the Week
Zach Rastall
make it rasty
Thomas Yonash/the daily cardinal
Leah Voskuil/the daily cardinal
As a sophomore (left), Showalter helped UW to a national title game. As a senior (right), he hopes to do so one more time.
Showtime: Showalter’s tireless motor takes center stage for UW In five years at Madison, the relentless guard has established a timeless legacy work ethic. “It’s a trait that not every kid has in 2017,” Paris said. “The ability to compete. That’s where he’s shined over other guys.” or years, in the driveNothing was guaranteed to way outside of Zak Showalter when he arrived in Showalter ’s Madison in the fall of 2012. house in Germantown, He was a freshman walkWis., the Badger guard on playing on an experiplayed basketball with enced UW team. a clear disadvantage. Still, though, he Showalter’s When the family game appeared in 22 games as team-leading of pickup broke out, it a true freshman, impresstrue shooting was always 2-on-1. Zak ing his teammates with percentage played alone while his his tenacious defense and younger brother, Jake, non-stop motor. played alongside their “When Showy came dad, Steve. in, he made an impact Showalter’s Zak never complained. and competed,” Ben box “You just gotta find difBrust, Showalter’s forplus-minus, second on ferent ways to get around mer teammate said. “He the team two guys,” he said. played as a freshman Nearly a decade later, walk-on, so guys like that the redshirt senior has are always hungry.” continued to find success Showalter redshirted on the basketball court. Showalter the 2013-’14 season, yet came back is by no means the biggest the next year as a key reserve on a Badger—he is generously listed at 36-win team. His 2.1 points per game 6-foot-2—nor is he the best shoot- and 53 field goal attempts were seler or best playmaker. Showalter, dom the reasons why former head one of the team’s two captains, coach Bo Ryan inserted him into has never been the loudest talker games. Instead, he emerged as one either, but he’s never let any of of UW’s top defenders. that stop him from contributing. “At the end of the day, I couldn’t Once known to just be a defensive give a shit about my stats,” Showalter stopper, Showalter’s improved said. “Fans are offensive game has made him one happy if your of Wisconsin’s core pieces. After team’s winning, five years at UW, Showalter’s and that’s all relentless motor and non-stop I’m trying to effort speak for themselves. do, just keep getting this team wins.” Showalter’s attitude has started “Either you have it or to rub off on many of UW’s young you don’t, and Showy guards. Both freshman guard definitely has it.” D’Mitrik Trice and redshirt freshman guard Brevin Pritzl hope to one day rival Showalter’s toughness. D’Mitrik Trice Pritzl said that, over the freshman guard course of his first two years in UW men’s basketball Madison, he’s formed a newfound appreciation for just how important hustle plays are in the Associate head coach Lamont grand scheme of a game. Once Paris has recruited hundreds of known as just a 3-point specialplayers throughout his time at UW. ist, Pritzl has seen more minutes He’s seen plenty of phenomenal as of late because of plays that shooters and superstar athletes. don’t show up on the stat sheet. But as a prospective recruit, someYet Trice admits that it’s thing else about Showalter stuck difficult to fully mirror out to Paris; his strength was his Showalter’s game, as his
Story by Ben Pickman
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toughness and work ethic is innate. “Either you have it or you don’t,” Trice said. “And Showy definitely has it.” Showalter has always had that non-stop motor. It started in elementary school, when he would take jump shots after his dad finished coaching their local high school team’s practice. In high school, his brother Jake remembers Zak outworking some of the highest-rated recruits in the state. “We would always play J.P. Tokoto,” Jake said. “And I just think every time we played him, Zak would just out work him, even though J.P. was more of the star.” Showalter has never been afraid to guard the opposing team’s star. For five years at
Wisconsin, he’s matched up against some of the best players in the country. No matter whom he’s guarding though, Showalter’s approach has remained the same. “Just play hard and do things that are gonna win games,” he said.
“Fans are happy if your team’s winning, and that’s all I’m trying to do, just keep getting this team wins.” Zak Showalter redshirt senior guard UW men’s basketball
Some nights that means being a pest in the passing lanes. Other nights it means taking charges or crashing the glass to try and snag contested rebounds. Paris has never questioned Showalter’s effort, but instead become used to his style of play. “He’s not a real big vocal guy,” Paris said. “But more than anything, when you watch him, you have to say, ‘How can I not go out there and try to do that?’” Just like when he was playing in the driveway against his dad and brother, he’s never complained. Showalter’s motor just speaks for itself. “He’s that one guy you look to when you need that hustle play, that blue-collar, tough moment,” Brust said. “Showy’s your guy for that.”
Read more at dailycardinal.com Kaitlyn Veto/cardinal file photo
Postseason play is only two games away, and the Wisconsin Badgers look like a team with an identity crisis. A loss to Michigan State—the Badgers’ fourth in their last five games—denied them a tie with Purdue atop the Big Ten standings. But at this point, the race for the Big Ten title should be a secondary concern for Wisconsin and its fans. If the Badgers capture a share of the regular season conference title, it will say a lot more about the state of the Big Ten this year than it will about UW. This is a Badgers team that entered the season with lofty expectations and gave fans hope of a third Final Four run in the last four years. But for many, those dreams of an NCAA Tournament run have been replaced by the fear that they won’t even make it out of the first weekend. The four losses in the last five games are just the culmination of the issues that have plagued the Badgers for well over a month now. On offense, Wisconsin often looks erratic and out of sorts. When Ethan Happ was playing god-tier basketball, the Badgers were able to overcome these potentially fatal flaws. Thanks to Happ and the team’s stellar defense, they were able to win ugly games despite consistently shooting at or below 40 percent from the field. But once teams started to double Happ and Nigel Hayes more in the post, no one has been able to consistently pick up the slack on the offensive end. These problems were on full display Sunday in East Lansing. While they showed glimpses of the team we saw early in the season, those deficiencies eventually sealed their fate. For example, there was a point in the second half where Wisconsin had whittled the Michigan State lead down to two thanks in large part to its dominant post play. At the time, both Miles Bridges and Nick Ward were on the bench with three fouls, presenting the Badgers with a golden opportunity to take over and build a lead. Instead, they inexplicably abandoned their post game and settled for jumpers, helping MSU turn a two-point advantage into a 10-point lead by the time Bridges and Ward came back in. Wisconsin was just 1-of-9 on 3-pointers in the second half. Hayes went an atrocious 4-of-12 from the free-throw line. Whenever they got within striking distance, it felt like they came up with an empty possession. These are the kind of things that have become all too common as of late with the Badgers, and the time to iron them out is running thin. There is a really solid team in there somewhere that could still show up, but it’s rather worrisome to still be waiting for that to happen when the calendar is about to turn to March.