Drugged water symptomatic of overmedicated nation OPINION
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dailycardinal.com
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Oxford biologist touts evidence behind beliefs By Jennifer Evans THE DAILY CARDINAL
CHRISTOPHER GUESS/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Richard Dawkins, an evolutionary biologist and author of “The God Delusion,” speaks to a sold-out crowd at Memorial Union Tuesday.
Federal patent office upholds WARF’s final two stem-cell patents By Diana Savage THE DAILY CARDINAL
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office decided Tuesday to uphold UW’s two remaining embryonic stem-cell patents, which are based on the work of UW-Madison researcher James Thomson but were challenged in April 2007. The patent office has now upheld three of the Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation’s stem-cell patents within the past two weeks. Patents 780 and 806 protect discoveries Thomson made in 1995 and 1998 involving primate and human embryonic stem cells. In 1998, Thomson was the first sci-
entist to isolate and culture human embryonic stem cells. Patent 913 was upheld Feb. 25, protecting Thomson’s research on replicating these stem cells. “It’s clear that he is a pioneer in stem-cell research, and we’re very proud to have been a part of protecting the intellectual property that he has developed with the University of Wisconsin,” said Janet Kelly, communications director for WARF. The Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights and the Public Patent Foundation challenged the patents in 2007. Kelly said the two patents page 3
Madison Metro Transit proposes route, schedule changes to city committee By Callie Rathburn THE DAILY CARDINAL
The Madison Metro Transit unveiled a proposal for citywide route and scheduling changes at the Transit and Parking Commission meeting Tuesday. Because of overcrowding on city buses, Metro Transit proposed several route changes to provide an extra 33 hours of service per day. The plan aims to improve service to the isthmus area and increase capacity to reach campus, according to Sharon Persich, planning manager for the Metro Transit, who presented the proposal. The Metro Transit system saw its second highest ridership in 35 years during 2007, according to Metro Transit spokesper-
son Mick Rusch. Rusch said UW-Madison students accounted for a large portion of those riders mainly because of unlimited ride programs, such as the Associated Students of Madison’s bus pass program. “We’re very glad UW students ride buses—it’s one of our biggest programs,” Rusch said, noting the overcrowding of buses shows students are utilizing public transportation options rather than driving cars. Rusch said the proposal aims to solve the problem of overcrowding by creating new routes to bring people to the campus area from different parts of transit page 3
In front of a sold-out crowd at the Wisconsin Union Theater Tuesday, Oxford University evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins attacked religion and encouraged the public to turn to science as an explanation to the complexities of the world. Dawkins urged the audience to raise their awareness of natural selection—the theory life evolved with increasing sophistication according to that most fit survival. Since the 1960s, Dawkins has
stood as a controversial figure, advancing scientists’ understanding of evolution, and more recently fueling the contentious debate between science and religion. Dawkins’ lecture was part of his Campus God Delusion Tour, named in honor of his most recent book “The God Delusion,” which posits science as an alternative to religion at campuses across the country. “I want [the campus tour] to convey the idea that religion is an illudawkins page 3
Fans flock to area stores for Favre memorabilia By Amanda Howser THE DAILY CARDINAL
Green Bay Packer fans lined up outside Madison area stores Tuesday to nab the coveted Sports Illustrated Brett Favre Tribute Edition, released to select newsstands this week. Mail subscribers can expect the issue to arrive sometime this week or early next week. The University Book Store endured its share of chaos as students hurried in to snatch up some of the final copies of the special edition. Erin LambertConohan, University Book Store marketing director, said students were distraught upon the store’s opening when they realized the store had not received its shipment of copies yet. “I would say 50 percent of people that came in were here to buy the magazine,” Lambert-Conohan said. “When they realized we didn’t have it, they eagerly purchased one or two of our other Favre-featured magazines just in case we sold out before they could get back to the store again.” For many fans, Favre memorabilia is more than an autograph, trading card or even a commemorative magazine—it is a piece of history. UW-Madison junior Nick Cleary said he is still mourning the loss of the veteran QB and that Favre had been his image of the Packers as long as he can remember. “You can relate to him because he’s not a superhuman celebrity,” Cleary said. “He’s not a superstar, he’s real.” Cleary’s girlfriend bought him a copy of the Sports Illustrated that he said he’ll cherish forever. Other stores like Walgreens and Open Pantry sold out their copies shortly after opening, leaving many people asking when more will hit the shelves. Representatives from both stores said there is no timeline on the replenishment, as the demand for the magazine is so high. Favre, who retired last week, spent 16 of his 17 years in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers. During his
AMANDA SALM/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Brett Favre commemorative magazines and souvenirs are selling out in campus area stores. time in the league, he became the only three-time MVP in NFL history and set records for the most consecutive starts, wins, touchdown passes and passing yards. Sports Illustrated, which named Favre the 2007 Sportsman of the Year, will also be publishing a tribute book to the legendary QB that is due out April 15.
Assembly honors Favre’s achievements with resolution The state Assembly passed a resolution Tuesday honoring retired Green Bay Packer quarterback Brett Favre. Every member of the Assembly and Senate co-sponsored the resolution, which honors the Mississippi native’s numerous ath-
letic accomplishments during his time in the NFL. A portion of the resolution reads: “…the members of the Wisconsin Legislature commend the many accomplishments of Brett Favre and his contributions to the Green Bay Packers and
the entire state of Wisconsin, and wish him well in all of his future endeavors.” The resolution also recognizes Favre’s support of local and national charities, including his wife’s breast cancer support organization, the Deanna Favre Hope Foundation.
“…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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News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com Editor in Chief Jill Klosterman Managing Editor Jamie McMahon News Editor Jillian Levy Campus Editor Amanda Hoffstrom Abby Sears City Editor State Editor Charles Brace Opinion Editors Rachel Sherman Mark Thompson Arts Editors Emma Condon Ryan Hebel Sports Editors Nate Carey Ryan Reszel Features Editor Sarah Nance Food Editor Marly Schuman Science Editor Jennifer Evans Photo Editors Jacob Ela Amanda Salm Graphics Editors Meg Anderson Matt Riley Copy Chiefs Andrew Dambeck Al Morrell Gabe Ubatuba Copy Editors Danny Marchewka Shana Pradeep, Mario Puig Kevin Slane, Jon Spike, Jake Victor
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O
ne of my friends, whose ego is almost as big as his head (which doesn’t fit in most standard hats) and who not-so-modestly claims to be a “top student,” is applying for one of the same internships as me. The only difference being he has a better shot at getting it. When I think about who else is applying for the same positions, I start to sweat profusely. Surely, there are people who are smarter, more cultured and more worldly than I—people who actually know what quantum physics means, who can casually discuss things like existentialism and kamasutra and who know what the E.U. actually does. Getting a job or an internship shouldn’t be all about your ability to successfully pass a few midterms or discuss elitist topics. It’s about the talents, the expertise and special gifts you can bring to the table. But my past experience as a “former Potbelly’s sandwich artist”
isn’t exactly boastworthy, so when I sat down to revise my résumé , I knew I had to do something different. Maybe I can’t tell you what the capital of Belarus is, but I have a laundry list of other marketable skills that make me a hot item on the prowl for a job. I decided it was time to showcase, in the form of a kickass cover letter, my real talents that a future boss could actually utilize: Hey Super Cool Future Big Man (or Woman!) Boss,
I take orders well. Just don’t ask me to make copies. Or phone calls. Or coffee. Or to get up from my desk.
I knew it—you’re bored. You’ve just read through 60 résumés and couldn’t tell any of the candidates apart from each other. Upstanding universities, respectable GPAs, glossy 8x10 headshots—it’s all snooze-worthy. Well, you’re in luck, because I have the real skillz that you need. My resume doesn’t just consist of “experience,” but actual appli-
cable talents that make me a proficient worker. 1. Last year, as a student newspaper editor, I balanced my work as a journalist, a world-renowned student and a bar-frequenter, all the while fostering unstable relationships with several dysfunctional men, even one with a limp. I was recognized for all of these achievements with awards, gold stars and a drinking ticket. 2. I’m a really good kisser. Several of my professors/bosses have told me so. 3. As a weekly columnist for the student paper, I have been bestowed with a platform to practice my writing, all the while embarrassing myself on a weekly basis. More importantly, it’s served as a useful way to acquire free lunches with impressionable young men to discuss the cultural significance of the “sext” message. 4. I can make my tongue into a seashell. This makes for a very interesting approach to licking envelopes. It’s faster, too. 5. I will gladly dress appropriately for a business environment. I’ve got a lot of outfits left over from several CEOs and their BIZNAZ HOES frat parties. 6. As a UW-Madison student, I am an accomplished bullshitter.
My ability to dump out semiintelligent work on deadline is proficient. Plus, I’m extremely adept at multi-tasking: Every morning I sit at my desk and blow-dry my hair, listen to “Soulja Boy,” chug a sugar-free Red Bull and peruse the style section of the ever-so-important New York Times online. I still order a paper copy to strategically carry around campus and make favorable impressions on my journalism professors. I pledge to look just as busy while sitting at one of the desks in your office, twiddling my thumbs and shopping for skinny jeans online. 7. I’m very good at doing extensive research. And by extensive research, I mean Wikipedia. 8. I take orders well. Just don’t ask me to make copies. Or phone calls. Or coffee. Or to get up from my desk. Thank you for reading my list of staggering achievements. I look forward to hearing you from you soon. But no pressure. Thank you, Ashley Spencer If you’d like to employ Ashley for large sums of cash, free food and housing, e-mail her at aaspencer@wisc.edu.
Why should U?
Seems like anyone with a navel is trying to do classifieds these days. Why should you use CollegeClassifieds.com? 0.25 second page response time 60,000 real page views in 30 days* Verified advertiser identity
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And when you need to post an ad, you’ll find your ad listed in Google® search results within just a few days of posting on our site. Which means, no other service can spread your message as fast as CollegeClassifieds.com.
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INTERNATIONAL EXPERIMENT 2008
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Saturday, April 5, 2008, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm TITU, Union South • FREE Who: Any UW-Madison student may register; 130 will be selected to participate on a first-come, firstserve basis. What: A fun, interactive event in which you represent a region, corporation or non-governmental organization that negotiates for resources and power, while trying to solve regional and global problems. How: For more information & to apply see: www.iss.wisc.edu/experiment Includes morning coffee and lunch. Cosponsored by Center for International Business Education and Research, Global Studies, International Learning Community, International Student Services, Model UN, School of Business International Programs, WUD-Global Connections
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Wednesday, March 12, 2008
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Campus, Madison hospitals support Doyle budget proposal By Hannah McClung THE DAILY CARDINAL
CHRISTOPHER GUESS/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office upheld two more patents for UW-Madison biologist James Thomson’s stem-cell work.
patents from page 1 foundations have “spent a lot of time on an issue that we don’t really believe is helping anybody in the end.” Carl Gulbrandsen, managing director of WARF, said in a statement the organization is relieved by Tuesday’s decision. “It affirms what WARF has believed all along, that Dr. Thomson’s breakthrough discoveries are patentable inventions,” Gulbrandsen said. According to Kelly, the patent office undertook a detailed and thorough examination in deciding whether to uphold the patents. “Based on the information available to them they determined that indeed the WARF patents were valid and are valid,” Kelly said. John Simpson, a spokesperson for the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights, said
transit from page 1 town. Although campus buses on the 80 routes are not currently in the proposal, Rusch said they could be added as plans develop further. The proposal’s aim to account for extra riders raises concerns, such as how to pay for the bus changes, according to Parking and Transit Commission chair Carl Durocher. Durocher said the ridership increase “adds a humongous burden” to maintaining budgets for the Metro Transit, but the commission does not want to raise fares to cover the cost. He also
Thomson’s ideas do not deserve patents, though he considers him a “great scientist.” “He’s one of the greatest stemcells scientists in the world, and he’s made tremendous contributions,” Simpson said. “However, what he did, while commendable, was in fact predictable.” Simpson disagreed with the way WARF asserted its patents. “The executives at WARF had dollar signs in their eyes, and they were acting in a way that was blocking stem-cell research, driving stem-cell funding overseas where the patents are not recognized,” Simpson said. According to Simpson, his organization plans to appeal Patent 913 to the patent office’s Board of Appeals. Although Patents 780 and 806 are not open to appeal, the Foundation for Taxpayer and Consumer Rights could challenge noted the stress Metro Transit drivers experience resulting from a high volume of riders. “In order to squeeze as much efficiency out of the bus system as we could, we may be pushing the envelope out of what we expect drivers to do,” Durocher said. Despite worries, officials remained enthusiastic about the potential benefits the proposal could bring to Metro Transit riders. “We’ve had a lot of interest ... this is the first step to change,” said Rusch. The commission scheduled a public hearing for April 15.
dawkins from page 1 sion,” Dawkins said. “I also care passionately about the truth and the existence or nonexistence of God or gods is a scientific matter.” Instead of belief in an intelligent being that has the ability to create complexity in “one swoop” Dawkins explained, “[Natural selection] starts from simple beginnings and works up by gradual degrees.” Dawkins said it is these small increments that continue to be scientifically proven. Though Dawkins said there is no proof religion itself is biologically advantageous, it is possible religion is a by-product of the evolutionary necessity for humans to obey authority as small children. “There’s a reason why they teach religion to children,” said audience member Matthew
Local health-care providers said Monday they support a key component of Gov. Jim Doyle’s budget repair bill that calls for an increased assessment of hospitals. Meriter Health Services in Madison along with University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics said in a statement they supported the proposal. Supporters of the provision previously stated the hospital assessment would allow the state to increase rates on hospital revenues to compensate for the state’s budget shortfalls. Hospitals would then apply for increased federal funding, according to the proposal, which would free state funds previously used for Medicaid costs. Doyle has previously stated this would let the state use up to $125 million to help repair the budget. Wisconsin ranks 49 out of 50
states in the amount of federal dollars given to treat patients who use Medicaid, according to the Meriter release. However, state Assembly Republicans oppose the assessment and view it as a tax on hospitals.
“Taxes on sick people are not the way to balance the state budget.” John Murray spokesperson State Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch
“Taxes on sick people are not the way to balance the state budget,” said John Murray, spokesperson for state Assembly Speaker Mike Huebsch, R-West Salem. Linda Reivitz, UW-Madison nursing faculty associate, said the
assessment is a tax at least 17 other states have established to accept federal dollars. According to Reivitz, the hospital assessment would be helpful to provide increased revenues for hospitals that have seen increased demand for health care. Not taking advantage of an opportunity to secure federal dollars, Reivitz said, would lead to cuts in other programs to compensate for the budget problems. She said hospitals that would benefit from the assessment are mainly those that provide care for low-income families. The Wisconsin Hospital Association supports the proposal. “The assessment will gain millions of dollars in federal funding that has been left on the table for far too long, making this a win-win proposition for lawmakers, service providers and patients,” WHA President Steve Brenton said in a statement.
UHS gives tips for a fun and safe Spring Break With Spring Break approaching, UW-Madison’s University Health Services offered students several tips Tuesday to make the week safe and fun. According to Dr. Sarah Van Orman, a clinical assistant professor in the School of Medicine and Public Health, students should enjoy their destinations but also be aware of their surroundings at all times. “I think it’s just being aware that
you’re not in your home environment and you can’t necessarily make assumptions about what’s safe and what’s not safe,” she said. Van Orman said one of the biggest problems students have is binge drinking in places where they can’t always trust the people around them. “If you are going to choose to go out and party or to drink alcohol, make sure that you’re traveling in groups and with friends,” she said.
UHS recommends students carry condoms at all times. To get in touch with a rape crisis center in any city in the United States, students can call (800) 656-HOPE. For students traveling abroad, Van Orman said it’s important to review food and water safety as well as ways to prevent foodborne illnesses. Sun protection is another essential element in warm destinations, she added. —Devin Rose
Milwaukee no longer bowling headquarters of United States The United States Bowling Congress announced Tuesday they will move their headquarters from Milwaukee to Texas, drawing criticism from state lawmakers and bowling enthusiasts. The decision by the USBC would mean the loss of 230 jobs in the Milwaukee area. State Rep. Jeff Stone, RGreendale, said he was disappoint-
ed by the decision. “It is sad to have to say goodbye to an organization that was such an important part of our neighborhood,” Stone said in a statement. Stone said Wisconsin is more associated with bowling than Texas in the public’s mind. Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker said any efforts to
persuade the USBC were likely futile. “Unfortunately, it seems clear that the United States Bowling Congress was set on partnering with the Bowling Proprietors’ Association of America in Texas long before this announcement,” Walker said in a statement, referring to USBC plans to coordinate with the BPAA in Arlington, Texas.
State smoking ban, Great Lakes bill unlikely to pass by deadline Although the state Senate and Assembly were both voting on bills Tuesday, numerous high-profile pieces of legislation remain stalled before the end of the session Thursday. A statewide smoking ban is unlikely to pass the state Senate, according to Carrie Lynch, spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, D-Weston.
Mitro of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. “Children listen to adults, and are more susceptible to the beliefs [at a young age].” Dawkins advised students to gauge the evidence behind their beliefs. “How do you know what you believe is true? Authority? Revelation?” Dawkins said. “If it’s any of those things, forget it. Always go for evidence.” Dawkins’ lecture was part of UW-Madison’s Distinguished Lecture Series, meant to bring prominent figures to speak on behalf of controversial subjects. “Richard Dawkins is really important in the discourse to campus,” said Aaron McKean, DLS director. “He’s not only huge in terms of the sciences and evolutionary biology but also big in terms of religion and philosophy so he appeals across disciplines.”
The Great Lakes Water Resources Compact also failed to clear the state Assembly Tuesday. Assembly Assistant Minority Leader Jon Richards, DMilwaukee, attempted to pull the GLC from committee and to the full Assembly for a vote, but the motion failed along party lines. Richards said the Assembly should not rely on the possibility
of a special session later in the year to pass the bill, which the chair of the Assembly Natural Resources Committee has said is an option. State Rep. Scott Gunderson, R-Waterford, the chair of the committee, said the bill needs more time to be reviewed or amended to make sure it best serves Wisconsin.
CHRISTOPHER GUESS/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Richard Dawkins speaks with the local media before his lecture at Memorial Union Theater.
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dailycardinal.com/comics
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Toddy Wingtips
Today’s Sudoku
Beeramid
By Ryan Matthes beeramid_comic@yahoo.com
© Puzzles by Pappocom
Mega Dude Squad
By Stephen Guzetta and Ryan Lynch rplynch@wisc.edu
Solution, tips and computer program available at www.sudoku.com.
Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.
Dwarfhead and Narwhal
By James Dietrich jbdietrich@wisc.edu
Not including your foreskin. Your skin weighs twice as much as your brain.
Today’s Crossword Puzzle
The Crackles
Hey, why the long face?
Anthro-apology
By Simon Dick srdick@wisc.edu
What?...
By Eric Wigdahl wigdahl@wisc.edu
Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com DAILY BREAD ACROSS
1 Alternate passage, in a score 6 Ante locale 9 Hindu sir 14 Acknowledge a stimulus 15 Chunk of the past 16 Ryan of “The Beverly Hillbillies’’ 17 Sticking point? 18 “Hotel du ___’’ (Anita Brookner) 19 Cooking host Paula and namesakes 20 Accurate representation of the real world 23 “Bamboozled’’ director 24 A little juice? 25 Server’s trolley 27 Drains on deck 32 Birdhouse resident 33 Luxury locale? 34 Three-note chord 36 “The Argonautica’’ character 39 Some African serpents 41 Bit of monkey business 43 Utilize a bayonet 44 Some are deciduous 46 Greek sandwiches 48 Assayer’s raw material
49 Iranian monetary unit 51 Not inclined to speak 53 Accumulation 56 Application form abbreviation 57 Fish with bill-like jaws 58 Is idle 64 Plant seed 66 Bakery order 67 100 paisas 68 Vertical tread connector 69 Utilized a tuffet 70 Regard with devotion 71 Chorus components 72 Airplane announcement, briefly 73 Bishops’ body DOWN
1 “Lord of the Rings” baddies 2 Make airtight 3 An Indian may be in it 4 Alp topper 5 Undertaking 6 Booty 7 Feared test, for some 8 Silently understood 9 Pistol or saber 10 “... how I wonder what you ___’’ 11 Automotive shifting technique 12 Exclusive kind of circle
13 Annoy continually 21 Comic work, perhaps 22 Precious amount? 26 Copyright symbols 27 Rib in a bed frame 28 Brewery unit 29 Elite apple pie feature? 30 Phone sound 31 Goat-footed gamboler of myth 35 Extremely worrisome 37 Acquire through merit 38 Be an accessory 40 Pokey 42 Baked, literally 45 18-wheelers, essentially 47 Craggy ranges 50 Tony Randall’s doctor 52 Overcast 53 Greek marketplace 54 Object trivially 55 Short period of forgetfulness 59 Volvo competitor 60 “La Scala di ___” (Rossini opera) 61 At the occasion of 62 The senate declared him a public enemy 63 “No good ___ goes unpunished’’ 65 A July baby, perhaps
Animal Pharm
By Starla Weatherby comics@dailycardinal.com
arts
dailycardinal.com/arts
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
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‘Conning’ attractions PHOTO COURTESY COLUMBIA PICTURES
Julie Taymor’s “Across the Universe” made a dazzling trailer, but don’t let it fool you; the full-length version of this Beatles-based musical was disappointing.
Brad falls vicitim to Hollywood’s most underhanded teaser
BRAD BORON the boron identity
A
story: One of the movies I couldn’t wait for last year was one that I now can’t stand the thought of seeing again. When you see as many movies as I do each year, and only turn off one mid-view, that’s something else. It was “Across the Universe,” Julie Taymor’s musical tribute to the Beatles. Like most people, I had heard very little advanced press about it and didn’t know what the film was about any more than what I wrote above. The only reason I was so excited about the film was a trailer I saw before last summer’s “Harry Potter” movie. The trailer was a scene from the film: the Beatles’ “I’ve Just Seen a Face”—their best song no
one remembers, by the way. The scene was colorful and the choreography was exciting. I was sold. I tried to get the assignment to review it for the Cardinal. I tried to convince friends and family to see it with me. I probably would’ve hitchhiked to the theater if I’d have been assured shotgun. Sadly, I never got there, and “Universe’s” run in Madison was shorter than it takes to drink the average cup of coffee.
When shown in 45-second snippets, I’m relatively sure anything can look entertaining.
Well, fast-forward to four months later. I finally was able to rent the film on DVD. The movie I dreamed of for months. I could barely contain myself to insert
the disc into my player. Needless to say, it blew. I’m not sure how a movie can be overstimulating and boring at once, but “Universe” did it. It also somehow managed to turn “With a Little Help from My Friends” into a drinking song, but that’s neither here nor there. Sadly, “Across the Universe” is not the first time I’ve been fooled by one of these conning attractions. I, and hundreds of thousands like me, was seduced by the trailer for “Pearl Harbor,” where I was led to believe it was a war movie, only to sit through three hours of love story with a 10-minute battle scene thrown in. I couldn’t imagine how amazing Godzilla would look running around New York City when the trailer failed to show the creature. When shown in 45-second snippets, I’m relatively sure anything can look entertaining. I can’t prove it, but I’m 99 percent certain that’s why even the worst Rob Schneider or Matthew McConaughey movies still find an audience (also, it’s the
PHOTO COURTESY COLUMBIA PICTURES
If everything is entertaining in 45-second snippets, “Across the Universe” was 130 minutes too long for Brad. reason the Geico cavemen made popular commercials but painful television.) If trailers were ice cream, they’d somehow be able to morph themselves from one flavor in your free sample into some other flavor when you bought the whole cone. Maybe you’ll like it and maybe you won’t, but the fact is, the ice cream parlor already has your money. Why the trailer makers haven’t
become filmmakers doesn’t make sense to me. The people who make trailers must be the best salesmen in the world. I’d almost consider taking one on your next big date. Hey, if they can make “Baby Geniuses” look like a good idea... To secure a major motion picture trailer editor to highlight your best for your next date, contact Brad at boron@wisc.edu.
‘10,000 B.C.’ is a mammoth failure of prehistoric proportions By Alex Vo THE DAILY CARDINAL
Finally, Warner Bros. has produced a movie far more atrocious than their pre-summer release of two years ago, Wolfgang Petersen’s “Poseidon.” Epic movies seem to be in vogue in Hollywood now, and a movie set in prehistory could have been the perfect venue for action, adventure and a whole lot of fun, but woolly mammoths and sabertooth tigers do not save “10,000 B.C.” from being a formulaic, insipid movie that fails even as a passably entertaining popcorn flick. Roland Emmerich is a competent filmmaker who is no stranger to big Hollywood disaster spectacles, having helmed trite-but-fun guilty pleasures such as “Independence Day,” “Godzilla” and “The Day After Tomorrow.” But in his latest effort, Emmerich takes on a wholly uninspired approach to directing the movie. The film is shot and edited without any distinctive form or flair, as if the production value put into art design and visual effects would make up for Emmerich’s lack of directorial ingenuity. The supposedly spectacular
PHOTO COURTESY WARNER BROS. PICTURES
No amount of woolly mammoths or special effects are enough to save “10,000 B.C.” from itself. escapist film’s shoddy script—with numerous plot holes, uninteresting characters and familiar plot beats—makes conventionally shot dialogue exchanges and action scenes worse.
The story follows mammoth hunter D’Leh (Steven Strait), a member of a hunter-gatherer tribe living in 10,000 B.C., who traverses with his mentor Tic’Tic (Cliff Curtis) through dangerous
territory on an expedition to rescue his people and kidnapped lover, Evolet, (Camilla Belle) from the annihilation of warlords. Newcomers Strait and Belle both fail to breathe life to their statically written characters. Evolet’s character is an average damsel in distress, and the film’s hero is equally boring. Neither the hero nor heroine in the film—nor anyone for that matter—has a character arc. Even the promising Curtis is lost in the film, no doubt from Emmerich’s shortcoming in guiding performances. The filmmakers seem to think that obnoxious dreadlocks, weird accents and ridiculously blue contacts (Belle) can bring authenticity and interest to the prehistoric characters. Moreover, there is an extreme corruption in Emmerich’s presentation of the film’s setting, the purported 10,000 B.C. There is nothing wrong with the decision to make a romanticized interpretation of history, and there are times when cinematic license should be taken for an idea to hold up on the big screen, but the film is rife with flat-out anachronisms and completely unauthentic
portrayals of mankind’s primitive ancestors. Why would huntergatherers be running around half naked in the winter?
No one over age 13 would enjoy this film, and it is rated PG-13, so this movie should not be seen by anyone.
No one over the age of 13 would enjoy this absurd film, and it is rated PG-13, so technically, this movie should not be seen by anyone. The visual effects are nothing ground-breaking, the music is forgettable and what should have been a visually beautiful movie with a large scope is nothing more than bad actors running around in barren, boring landscapes. With the best aspect of the film being its abundance of unintentional humor, “10,000 B.C.” is dull and will do a great disservice to any poor moviegoer who has the misfortune of mistaking it for a fun time.
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Wednesday, March 12, 2008
view Cardinal View editorials represent The Daily Cardinal’s organizational opinion. Each editorial is crafted independent of news coverage.
311 city helpline a waste of taxes
M
ayor Dave Cieslewicz has proposed a 311 phone service to give Madison residents an avenue to make inquiries or address concerns about various city issues. The line would handle anything from pothole complaints to snow-emergency-related questions. The proposal is a direct result of growing civil dissatisfaction with the snow-removal system during this winter’s record high snowfalls. The primary goal is to increase customer satisfaction with city policies by providing “one point of contact with accurate information.” A 311 line would be similar to the 411 information service. Unfortunately, 411 lines are not free and neither are 311 lines. Charges per call would be paid for by the city, as would the cost of training workers. At a time when the state is facing a $652 million budget deficit, more practical solutions must be explored.
City Hall should be looking for ways to improve existing services.
New York City recently implemented such a service at a reported start-up cost of $21 million and a $27 million annual cost. Estimates for Madison are lower because of population differences, but even Milwaukee has turned down such an idea because of the high cost at a time when money is short. Madison would be wise to follow Milwaukee’s example.
Although the current “report a problem” system on the city of Madison’s website receives a great deal of criticism, there’s no guarantee that an expensive phone service receiving thousands of calls per day will get these complaints out of a computerized database and into city hall any faster. This service would provide yet another medium for residents to complain in mass quantities while waiting for a solution.
More practical solutions must be explored.
Furthermore, a similar service exists at much a much lower cost. The United Way of Dane County currently has a 211 line that offers community resources at no cost to the caller. If Cieslewicz is serious about providing a service for Madison residents to voice complaints over the phone, Madison could easily offer a list of city departments to operators at the United Way to direct the caller. Such a strategy would surely cost less than $20 million per year. Cieslewicz is right to claim that he deals in customer service, but the customer is always right, and most Madison customers won’t like the idea of paying higher taxes for a service that already exists. With the current state of the budget, city hall should be looking for ways to improve existing services rather than coming up with new ones for citizens to complain about.
MATT RILEY/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Water contamination a sign of overmedication MATT JIVIDEN opinion columnist
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’m sure I don’t need to tell you that in the last few weeks the snow has begun to melt and the sun has been shining on the regular. As if that wasn’t good enough, Spring Break is next week, and I might even graduate in May. Indeed, I can’t remember the last time I felt this good—could it be that things are starting to look up, or is it just something in the water? During the last five months the Associated Press reviewed hundreds of scientific reports and interviewed dozens of officials before announcing this week 41 million Americans are drinking water that is contaminated by pharmaceutical drugs.
Few are woried about the possible repercussions of the contaminated water.
Officials found antibiotics, anxiety drugs, mood stabilizers, epilepsy drugs, sex hormones and anti-cholesterol drugs (just to name a few) in extremely low levels in much of the nation’s drinking water. At this point, 24 major metropolitan areas and more than half of the nation’s watersheds have been affected. It is obvious—and somewhat disgusting—how the drugs find their way into our drinking water. People take prescription and over the counter drugs, and most of the drugs are
absorbed into the bloodstream. But some amount is not absorbed and is passed into the sewage system. From the septic systems, the waste water is treated—a process which eliminates bacteria, but not traces of drugs—and eventually recirculated into the water supply. I saw this story make the rounds on all the network news channels—usually between a commercial for Cialis and another for Vytorin. During the 30-second blurb, most anchors said the levels were not thought to be problematic by the EPA or FDA. In fact, few are worried about the possible repercussions of the contaminated water. Most Americans have been drinking from this water supply and will most likely continue to do so. The water is, after all, germ and bacteria free. Perhaps it is true that at this point there is not cause to worry—it isn’t likely that at such low levels the drugs will be damaging. Still, others are quick to point out that there are almost no studies on low levels of pharmaceuticals over a long period of time. To say the least, however, while this recent revelation regarding our nations drinking water may not be problematic in and of itself, it is symptomatic of some much larger problems in American society. At the very least I hope this serves as a wake-up call as to how complacency and the sum of all of our actions can adversely impact our planet and our natural resources. This is just the latest in the litany of recent happenings that should teach us this fact. In addition, perhaps this should give cause for us to inspect the current state of prescription drugs in this country. Maybe we are finding unsettling numbers of prescription drugs in our water supply because Americans are taking an unsettling amount of prescription drugs.
In the last decade the number of Americans taking prescription drugs has increased by over two-thirds. This is partially because drug companies— who are, as a group, routinely posting billions of dollars of profit annually—have shifted their focus from treating those who are fatally ill to promoting long-term medications for healthy adults. Why? Because that’s where the money is. In 2006, 3.7 billion prescriptions were written in the United States, and, according to the Center for Disease Control, 130 million people in the United States were on some kind of prescription drug.
Americans are being vastly overmedicated for minor health concerns, often only exacerbating the problem.
If the fact that our water is now contaminated with these substances doesn’t scare you, maybe this will: Well over 125,000 Americans die from prescription drug reactions each year, according to the Associated Press. That makes pharmaceuticals the fourthleading national cause of death after heart disease, cancer and stroke. Sadly, Americans are being vastly over-medicated for minor health concerns, often only exacerbating the problem or creating an unwanted side effect (luckily, Pfizer makes pills for those too). The contaminated water is just an effect, albeit an alarming one. And, like my brothers in Funkadelic have been known to say, “If you don’t like the effect, don’t produce the cause.” Matt Jividen is a senior majoring in history. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
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Wednesday, March 12, 2008
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Wrestlers prepared for spotlight Several Badgers ready for return to NCAA Tournament By Tom Lea THE DAILY CARDINAL
Like most everyone else on campus, the UW wrestling team will enjoy a week of rest and relaxation during Spring Break. Unlike most students on campus, eight Badger grapplers will head to St. Louis, Mo., March 20 to 22, with hopes of bringing championship hardware back to Madison. Following a sixth-place finish at the Big Ten Championship meet, eight grapplers qualified for national competition and extended their season for one last competition. Two Badger seniors will finish their careers in the national spotlight, as both Jake Donar and Dan Clum qualified. Donar, who heads into next weekend’s competition with a 12-14 overall record, will make his second appearance. Meanwhile, Clum will enjoy his third NCAA Tournament on the heels of his seventh-place fin-
butch from page 8 he and all of UW’s success literally came crashing down at Ohio State Feb. 25, 2007, when he suffered a season-ending elbow injury. He finished the season averaging 8.8 points and 5.9 rebounds, and his team fell to UNLV in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. But Butch chugged along. He cried that day at Ohio State. He cried right there on national television, but his tears showed the disappointment and maybe even the fear of only having one year of basketball left. His hard work nearly got him back in time for the late rounds of the tournament, but his team never got there without him. Suddenly, his value was more apparent. Last Wednesday Butch was carried atop the shoulders of teammates and fans, above the crowd that had stormed the court to celebrate Wisconsin’s first Big Ten title since 2003—the season before the senior forward arrived at UW. His name was chanted over and over again and he spoke to the crowd, only congratulating and thanking the fans for their support, ignoring
ish in the 174-pound class. The highest-ranked Badger to qualify, junior Dallas Herbst, will participate in his third straight championship meet, where he hopes to improve upon his 28-4 overall record. Last season in the NCAA Tournament, Herbst tallied two falls but failed to place en route to finishing the year 31-8 overall. Sophomore Trevor Brandvold will participate in his secondstraight NCAA meet after finishing fourth at the conference championships last weekend. Brandvold will enter the competition with an 1812 overall mark. Badger junior Kyle Massey qualified for the national meet for the second time in the past three seasons. Boasting a 27-7 record in the heavyweight division, Massey will look to have another strong showing on the national stage. The 125-pound class has been solid for UW all season long, and much of that credit belongs to senior Collin Cudd. Every year he has wrestled as a Badger, Cudd has qualified for the NCAA Championships. This year is no different, as the 20-10 veteran will their past criticism like only the Polar Bear would. He’s the only McDonald’s AllAmerican to redshirt his freshman season for non-medical reasons. And, because of that, too many people have called him the most overrated of all-time. Those people forget that Kwame Brown and Shaun Livingston were also McDonald’s All-Americans. They were “so good” that they went straight to the NBA. But, while Butch was busy winning the Big Ten this season, those two are collectively averaging only 14.9 points per game in their professional careers. Butch’s past obstacles could easily be justified as excuses—none of them were his fault. A parent’s cancer. Mono. A devastating injury on a hustle play. Butch would never use them as excuses. He just fought through them. Now those names don’t mean anything. Only one matters: Champion. That’s what Butch is now. He’s a conference champion, and if you ask him, he’ll tell you he’s not done. If you have enjoyed watching the Polar Bear in his senior year, e-mail Adam at hoge@wisc.edu.
make his fourth and final appearance in the NCAA Tournament for the cardinal and white. Junior Zach Tanelli earned his second trip to the NCAA meet after finishing fifth in the 133-pound class in the Big Ten Championships. Tanelli has been no stranger to victory as he has finished 25-10 on the season, his second 20-win season in as many years. Sophomore Kyle Ruschell will appear in the NCAA finals for the second time in a row, following his sixth-place finish in the conference match. Ruschell’s injury forced him to forfeit his third and fifth-place matches, but he qualified nonetheless. He will head to St. Louis with a 25-8 overall record. Noticeably missing from the list of Badgers headed for the national meet is senior Craig Henning. The three-time national participant and last season’s thirdplace finisher at 157 pounds failed to win a match in the Big Ten Championships and did not qualify for the NCAA Championships. The two-time All-American finished his Badger career with a 225 season record.
Women’s golf finishes eighth at Rio Verde Invite By Adam Loferski THE DAILY CARDINAL
The ladies of Badger golf returned from Arizona Sunday with an eighth place finish under their belts. They competed in the Rio Verde Collegiate Invitational where they tied for sixth last year. W i s c o n s i n’s eighth-place finish put the team in the top half of the pack. The ladies shot a combined score of 917, 53 over par. Sophomore VERBETEN Kelsey Verbeten captured the top score for the Badgers with a 226, 10 over par. She tied for 14th. Junior Jeana Dahl ranked second among the Badgers with a score of 228, 12 over par. She tied for 21st. Dahl was followed by senior Katie Elliott, last week’s Big Ten Golfer of the Week, who tied for 33rd with a score of 232, 16 over par. Although finishing 33rd at
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State, No. 45 Fresno State and No. 64 Penn State are among the teams competing in the tournament. They will then look to remain unbeaten in the Big Ten with two consecutive road matches at No. 8 Michigan on March 21, and at Penn State (1-0, 4-5) on March 23. The Wolverines (1-0, 9-2) have won three straight matches, while their only losses have come at the hands of two top-five opponents, No. 1 Virginia and No. 4 Texas. Women The UW women’s tennis team split a pair of matches this past week-
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BRAD FEDIE/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Brian Butch and the Badgers are poised for a postseason run.
KYLE BURSAW/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO
Senior Dan Clum will compete in his third NCAA Tournament March 2022. He finished seventh in his weight class in the Big Ten Championship.
with a season best of 11:01, and Baylor is ranked second at 11:07, only two seconds ahead of UW. For Jorgensen, Slaby and Ducharme, this weekend will be their first ever national championship.
an invitational of 107 competitors is certainly impressive, it was a bit of a let down for Elliott, who tied for third last year. This year, though, Elliott got the better of Arkansas-Little Rock junior Anita Ojeda. Elliott and Ojeda tied for third at last year’s invitational. Ojeda scored 237, 21 over par, and tied for 58th. Unlike Ojeda, Arkansas-Little Rock junior Sara Wikstrom finished among the top golfers in Rio Verde for the second year in a row. She completed the course with a score of 219, three over par, earning her a third-place tie. It was the newcomers who replaced Elliot atop the leaderboard this time around. The University of Notre Dame’s young talent won the invitational with a score of 875, 11 over par. Such an impressive finish was easy behind the dominating performance of three top-10 finishers. The one-two finish of freshman SoHyun Park and sophomore Annie Brophy topped the leaderboard. Park scored a 212, four under
par. This was the second win of her already impressive freshman season, the first coming at the Napa River Grill Cardinal Classic in Kent back in September. Brophy finished second, matching par with a score of 216. Sophomore Kristen Wetzel completed the triumphant Irish trio, placing sixth with a score of 221, five over par. With invitational newcomers Notre Dame pushing the Badgers further back in the results, it might be easy to say that Wisconsin faltered in Arizona this past weekend. However, the consistent and strong performances of Elliott, Verbeten, Dahl and freshman Carly Werwie are proof that the Badgers continue to perform quite well. Unfortunately, the Irish performed just a little bit better. Wisconsin hits the green again with another three-day outing over Spring Break. This time the team will travel to Austin, Texas, for the Betsy Rawls Invitational from March 17 to 19.
end in Evanston, Ill. Friday, the Badgers were swept by conference foe Northwestern, the nation’s top-ranked team, 7-0. Junior Elizabeth Carpenter came the closest to registering a victory, nearly upsetting No. 4 Maria Mosolova of the Wildcats. After winning the first set 6-4, Carpenter was blown away 6-0 in the second set before falling in a third-set super tiebreak to determine the match winner. The Badgers dropped to 0-2 in the Big Ten. Saturday, UW improved its overall record to 5-7 with a narrow 4-3 defeat of Harvard. After capturing the doubles point by winning two of three doubles contests, the Badgers
won each match at singles spots four through six to secure the victory. Freshman Jessica Seyferth and seniors Morgan Tuttle and Chelsea Nusslock each picked up wins for the Badgers. Over the break, UW will aim to close out its non-conference play on a high note and earn its first conference victory of the spring season. The Badgers will play consecutive home matches this weekend, taking on No. 23 Michigan Friday night, followed by a match against Miami (Ohio) on Saturday afternoon. Wisconsin will also play at Florida Central on March 23. —uwbadgers.com contributed to this report
Detmer will be doubling distance medley relay-mile this weekend, as her 4:41.68 performance this season squeaked her through with the 16th seed in the 17-strong field. Michigan’s Nicole Edwards is favored to win the race. Detmer placed 18th in the
1,500 during the outdoor championships last spring. The team title is expected to be a battle between LSU and Arizona State. The Badgers were unable to place anyone in the top eight for a score at the NCAAs last year.
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Wednesday, March 12, 2008
By Scott Allen
ADAM HOGE a hoge in one
THE DAILY CARDINAL
Distance runners will represent the Wisconsin track team at the NCAA Championships in Fayetteville, Ark., this weekend, with sophomore Brandon Bethke competing individually for the men’s team, and seniors Katrina Rundhaug and Ann Detmer running individually for the women. Both the men’s and women’s distance medley relay teams will also compete. Although the men’s team picked greater depth with underclassmen this year to cruise to their eighth straight Big Ten title, they will be unable to repeat their team championship after the departure of three senior studs. After being named Big Ten Indoor Athlete of the Year, Bethke is going into the 3,000 meters seeded fourth, one and a half seconds behind the first seed, with his school-record 7 minutes 51.54 seconds. Bethke will have to stick on Villanova’s Robert Curtis and Liberty’s Josh McDougal for a shot at the title. Wisconsin’s distance medley relay is seeking to improve on last year’s third place showing, and sophomores Craig Miller and Jack Bolas along with junior James Groce are returning with an extra year of experience. Freshman Evan Jager will make his nationals debut running the 800 leg. Texas is the clear favorite after breaking the NCAA record by two seconds in February, going 9:25.97, and is seeded more than four seconds ahead of secondranked Arkansas. Wisconsin is seeded sixth at 9:33.29. Bolas and Bethke both declined to compete in the mile in order to focus on one event. Florida State, Tennessee and LSU are the top contenders for the team title. Last year, Wisconsin won the first-ever NCAA track championship for a Big Ten school after scoring 40 points, five ahead of second-place Florida.
Butch grows into star we knew he was
B
rian Butch has been called overrated, soft and weak. He’s been called flat footed, slow and the worst McDonald’s AllAmerican of all-time. But after averaging 12.7 points and seven rebounds in his senior year, you can add “First-Team AllBig Ten Player” to the list of names he’s been called. The only difference is that this one sticks—it goes down in the record books, and none of the Doug Gottliebs of the world can say otherwise. Still, the last person to say “I told you so” would be Brian himself. He’s too classy, he’s too smart and he’s too ... nice. Senior guard Michael Flowers has declined to talk to the media for most of the season, but if there is one guy who has a right to deny a conversation with his critics it would be Brian Butch.
If you think Butch has had it easy, then you haven’t been paying attention.
Badgers’ third consecutive win. In a clash of two of the nation’s top players at No. 1 singles, Badger sophomore Moritz Baumann, ranked 50th in the nation, was barely defeated in a thirdset super tiebreak by No. 21 Cosmin Cotet of TCU 6-1, 5-7, (10-5). Saturday, the Badgers swept the Wildcats (0-3, 6-9) to clinch their first victory over Northwestern in 19 tries, as well as their first conference win of the spring season. After a close doubles session in which UW took two of three matches to eke out the opening point, the Badgers cruised through singles play, winning all but one match in straight sets. Polley clinched the match, giving the Badgers the needed four points with a decisive 6-2, 6-2 victory over Northwestern’s Alex Sanborn at the No. 2 spot. Looking ahead, the Badgers will head to the Blue/Gray Team Invitational in Montgomery, Ala., this weekend from March 13-16. No. 15 Notre Dame, No. 23 Auburn, No. 30 Texas Tech, No. 42 North Carolina
Yet, through all the childish name-calling and criticism, the senior became the spokesperson for a team that has finally won the Big Ten again in a season where Butch finally became the player he knew he always was. If you think Butch has had it easy, then you haven’t been paying attention. Coming to Madison with all the hype that any rare Wisconsin-bound McDonald’s All-American would have, Butch redshirted his freshman season because of a crowded frontcourt and an obvious need to improve his footwork. When he was finally able to look forward to playing in front of a Kohl Center crowd, his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Then, during his redshirt freshman season, he came down with mononucleosis, forcing the second-year forward to miss six games and fight through fatigue the rest of the season. He averaged just 3.6 points and 2.5 rebounds. “The most overrated player in the Big Ten,” ESPN analyst Doug Gottlieb’s said in January 2005. But Butch chugged along. As a sophomore, he fought through more obstacles that were beyond his control. The team struggled after sophomore Greg Stiemsma and freshman Marcus Landry sat out the spring semester after failing to qualify academically. He averaged 9.9 points and 6.0 rebounds and the Badgers were crushed by Arizona 9475 in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. But Butch chugged along. As a junior, things were looking up. He scored a career-high 27 points against No. 2 Pittsburgh in December, and by late February the Badgers had earned the first No. 1 ranking in school history. And then
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BRAD FEDIE/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Sophomore Brandon Bethke already won the 3,000 and 5,000-meter races at the Big Ten Championships. He will be joined at nationals by individual UW competitors Katrina Rundhaug and Ann Detmer. Women’s preview With five competitors in three distance events, a record number for head coach Jim Stintzi, this weekend is likely to be the women’s track team’s best showing in years. Rundhaug is going into nationals with the third-fastest time in the 5,000-meter run this season at
15:56.33. Sally Kipyego of Texas Tech, who won the 5k by over 10 seconds last year, is ranked 20 seconds ahead of the second seed, Iowa State’s Lisa Koll, who went 15:58 this season. Rundhaug redshirted last year, and she took seventh in the 5k in 2006 with a 16:08. Wisconsin’s distance med-
ley relay team secured a spot at nationals by running 11:09.84 last weekend at the “Last Chance” meet at Notre Dame. Juniors Gwen Jorgensen, Nicole Slaby, Carly Ducharme and Detmer will make up the Badger squad. Big Ten rival Michigan is the favorite nationals page 7
Men’s tennis takes two versus ranked opponents By Chris Lindeke THE DAILY CARDINAL
PHOTO COURTESY UWBADGERS
Senior Jeremy Sonkin helped the Badgers beat TCU and Northwestern.
After losing five consecutive matches to ranked opponents earlier this season, the UW men’s tennis team defeated two ranked opponents in the past five days. Monday night, the No. 62 Badgers knocked off No. 29 Texas Christian 52 at Nielsen Tennis Stadium. They preceded that triumph with a 70 sweep of No. 71 Northwestern Saturday afternoon in Madison. The Badgers had the Horned Frogs (0-0 Mountain West, 10-3 overall) on the ropes after capturing the opening doubles point by winning two of three doubles matches. The UW duo of senior Jeremy Sonkin and sophomore Luke Rassow-Kantor, ranked No. 37 in the nation, took down TCU’s Emanu Brighiu and Adrian Simon 8-3 at the No. 2 doubles position. Sonkin and Rassow-Kantor remain unbeaten this season at that spot. Wisconsin (1-0 Big Ten, 7-5) took four of six singles matches for the final margin. At the No. 3 singles slot, senior Nolan Polley defeated Simon in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, to secure the