Thursday, April 17, 2008 - The Daily Cardinal

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Thursday, April 17, 2008

Majestic fights restrictions on liquor license

By Lexie Clinton THE DAILY CARDINAL

CHRISTOPHER GUESS/THE DAILY CARDINAL

U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said state governments must work harder to encourage economic growth Wednesday in Milwaukee. He said taxes on corporations and gasoline must be reduced.

Conditions requiring the Majestic Theatre, 115 King St., to close early and restrict seating will stay until its liquor license is reviewed in May, the Alcohol License Review Committee decided Wednesday.

The theater’s owners, Scott Leslie and Matthew Gerding, said because they have met safety expectations set when the license was granted last year, they deserve more freedom now.

“We’ve been open almost seven months and we’ve had zero problems,” Leslie said after Wednesday’s ALRC meeting.

Currently, the Majestic must close at 1:30 a.m. on weeknights and 2 a.m. on weekends—a half hour earlier than bars statewide. During non-ticketed events, like salsa nights, occupancy is

McCain pushes tax cuts for economy

By Megan Orear THE DAILY CARDINAL

MILWAUKEE—Presidential candidate U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., visited Milwaukee Wednesday and said drastic cuts in corporate taxes are needed to revive the national economy.

Bucyrus International, Inc., a mining equipment manufacturer, hosted the event. McCain participated in a panel with business leaders to discuss the economic plan he released Tuesday.

Panel topics included lowering taxes and promoting free trade to

compete in a global market.

According to McCain’s website, he would cut corporate taxes 25 to 35 percent if elected president.

During the discussion, McCain talked about the need for state governments to create “business friendly climates.”

He said different states support businesses at different levels but there should be a more level playing field for companies. “[It] leads to an unevenness in the economic challenges that we face, which frankly should never be there if governments are more

capped at 350 and restricted to the main level.

The owners said these restrictions have hampered non-ticketed events because patrons must stop drinking early and have less room because they cannot utilize the balcony.

Some ALRC members, however, said the restrictions are necessary. Capitol Neighborhoods Inc. representative Richard Brown said granting the Majestic a regular bar time would conflict with the Alcohol Density Plan, passed in September 2007 to limit drinking establishments downtown.

“Agreeing to have several hundred additional patrons spill out on King Street at bar time along with patrons alcohol page 3 Members of the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort participate in a “lie-in” in memory of the Virginia Tech shooting victims at the Capitol rotunda.

responsive to the free enterprise system,” McCain said.

McCain’s plan also includes a “summer gas tax holiday,” which would entail suspending the federal gas and diesel taxes from Memorial Day to Labor Day. He also said he wishes to secure the U.S. borders, but added there is a need for comprehensive immigration reform since the United States still wants to attract highly skilled foreign workers.

McCain said he would supmccain page 3

Student activists hold ‘freeze-in’ protest for labor rights

By Jillian Levy THE DAILY CARDINAL

Nearly 40 student activists and members of the Student Labor Action Coalition staged a flash mob “freezein” on Library Mall Wednesday to protest UW-Madison’s contract with Adidas for athletic apparel.

SLAC members said the “freezein” represented the lack of action taken by Chancellor John Wiley to aid the Hermosa Manufacturing workers in El Salvador.

In 2005, the Hermosa factory in El Salvador, which manufactured athletic wear for Adidas and UWMadison, shut down and left 260 workers without severance pay upon their dismissal. Sixty-three of the former workers attempted to unionize and were allegedly blacklisted for their efforts.

“The freeze-in signifies the past three years of being frozen in labor negotiations with Adidas and the university, and it’s a good way to

draw attention,” SLAC member John Bruning said.

At exactly 12:15 p.m., protest participants on Library Mall froze in place for five minutes, drawing strange looks from people walking through the area.

During the protest, SLAC member Ryan Garza distributed flyers to on-lookers explaining the purpose of the “freeze-in.”

“A lot of people were obviously very curious and were asking a lot of questions,” he said.

“We didn’t want to do anything too drastic because we didn’t want to take away our credibility or do anything violent, so we decided to try something new.”

Protest organizer and SLAC member Jan Van Tol said the protest was a success and that he was very happy with the number of flash mob participants.

“I think it was a clear demonstration that UW students do care about

this issue and it’s not just a handful of radicals,” Van Tol said. “There is wide support for the idea that UW apparel should be produced in just, fair conditions.”

The UW-Madison Labor Licensing Policy Committee will meet April 18 to develop recommendations for Wiley as to what actions should be taken to resolve the ongoing conflict with Adidas and the Hermosa workers.

Special Assistant to the Chancellor Dawn Crim said LLPC and SLAC will continue working to improve apparel industry for all workers.

“We know our students are very passionate about this issue and our students come up with very creative ways to show their support for their cause,” she said, adding no decision regarding the university’s contract with Adidas will be made until after the chancellor reviews all recommendations.

KRIS UGARRIZA THE DAILY CARDINAL

Officials, activists remember Va. Tech victims at Capitol

By Abby Sears THE DAILY CARDINAL

City and UW-Madison officials joined members of the Wisconsin Anti-Violence Effort at a “lie-in” tribute at the Capitol Rotunda Wednesday to commemorate the one-year anniversary of the Virginia Tech massacre.

Wearing ribbons made by the victims’ families and survivors of the shooting, over 20 WAVE members silently lay side by side on the Rotunda floor for several minutes. Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and University of Wisconsin Police Department Chief Sue Riseling also attended the tribute to remember the tragedy and call for

more stringent gun control policies.

“Our country has seen two more of these shootings on universities since last April, but we’ve seen countless shootings like this now at malls, churches, post offices, restaurants, schools, universities and even city halls,” Riseling said.

According to Riseling, easy access to guns and ammunition in many parts of the country give violent people such as Virginia Tech shooter SeungHui Cho the ability to obtain and use firearms.

UW-Madison freshman and tribute page 3

“…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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Matt leaves meat, journals about breakup

Volume 117, Issue 127

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MATT HUNZIKER his dark matterials

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’m thinking of starting a journal.

Nothing especially deep. I don’t plan on sequestering myself in the corner of a coffee shop with a fountain pen and a profound facial expression.

But it’s recommended that one keep a log when beginning a new project and, if nothing else, it should at least help to keep my mind off meat.

It’s been about 12 days since I swore a few brief oaths between mouthfuls of a final lamb kebab and began the chaste life of a vegetarian. Despite a brief phase-in period (a few cans of tuna and a sausage-flavored marinara sauce were grandfathered into the new arrangement), I haven’t stopped feeling hungry since.

I don’t think it’s a case of malnutrition. I’ve done my homework and should have all my nutritional bases covered, but a hamburger seems to provide a sense of satisfaction that

May 1: Finished reading “Alive” today. Didn’t see what the big deal was.

Make note to return “Sweeney Todd” on way home.

In a way, I’ve eased into this change by eating less and less meat over the past few years, but even in the midst of scores of vegetarianfriendly restaurants, meat has served as a familiar landmark, a friendly face among a crowd of soy- and gluten-based strangers.

When ordering food, over 20 years of experience eating chicken allows me to make a fairly good prediction of what I’m going to get, no matter how imaginatively it’s described on a menu.

Only the most experienced vegetarians would be able to say the same for tofu, which, like the Second Coming, is liable to arrive in any form and strike fear into the hearts of the unconverted. Sometimes it’s served raw, cubed and wading in a thin, green sauce. Other times it is carved into flat, triangular chips and fried in nutritional yeast powder, a food additive with all the culinary appeal of dust. Why a product intended to

replace meat would be so unlike it in its texture and so rectilinear in its geometry is one of the unanswerable questions of vegetarianism.

Just as perplexing are trips through the health food section of the grocery store. Shelves are stocked with such fringe foods as seaweed and bee pollen, and Paul Newman’s grinning visage stares back from every direction. Fortunately, a little exploration turns up some attractive alternatives.

Seitan (say’-tahn) is a surprisingly delicious and meat-like substitute, though the name does nothing to curry favor with conservative relatives who already equate the vegetarian diet with occultism.

Explaining this lifestyle change to these people is a prospect I’ll have to face eventually, but in the meantime I suppose it won’t hurt all that much if I eat a bratwurst here and there to keep up appearances. On that note, I suppose it’s probably also fine for me to eat anything that would just go to waste, so if you’re not going to finish that veal chop...

Selling carnivore offset credits? E-mail Matt at hunziker@wisc.edu.

Bitter Woman an india pale ale The word “bitter” has gained some political currency in the past week, but for India Pale Ales, it’s always been a fact of life.

Take Tyranena Brewery’s Bitter Woman IPA. You can assume from the get-go to that the glowering crone on the label will take no prisoners.

If you reach that assumption and are still okay with drinking a sharp, massively flavorful beverage that might knock your tongue around a little bit, then congratulations. You’re an IPA drinker.

A true Wisconsin beverage, Bitter Woman pours gold and tastes green. If you drink a bottle right away, the aftertaste might wear off before the year is over.

Through that long flavor, keep your tastebuds perked up for the real show.

Wet hops abound, as does a big citrus flavor. There’s some pine and grapefruit

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Board of Directors Marissa Gallus Babu Gounder Nik Hawkins Tim Kelley Jill Klosterman Janet Larson Chris Long Benjamin Sayre Adam Schmidt Terry Shelton Jeff Smoller Jason Stein l

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For the record Corrections or clarifications?

Call The Daily Cardinal office at 608-262-8000 or send an e-mail to edit@dailycardinal.com.

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a meatless pasta just doesn’t, even after eating a portion intended for a family of six.

My girlfriend has almost a decade of vegetarianism to her credit and recalls having “meat dreams” in the early years. I don’t think I could handle that. If meat tempts me during the day, I can clutch a rosary to my chest or chain smoke. If it assaults my impressionable subconscious while I’m asleep, the police will find me 15 minutes later, standing in my underwear outside of the Burger King drive-through window.

Keeping a daily log could help me focus on positive trends and allow me to spot worrying trends before they become utterly macabre: April 21: Was standing in line at the co-op with a bag of kale and artichoke hearts. Blacked out. Woke up laying on the floor of an Arby’s bathroom. Again.

April 26: Became inexplicably hungry today after hearing a guy on State Street playing “Blackbird” on acoustic guitar. Spent afternoon gazing longingly at Crock-Pot. Then at cat. Then Crock-Pot. Then cat.

New Beer Thursday

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in there as well.

Most notably, the hops, tasked with being the main staple of the beer’s flavor, remain compelling throughout, largely because of the supporting flavors, but primarily because of their overall quality.

They’re full. They’re meaty. They’re bitter without being metallic.

This is another impressive show from the folks at Tyranena, who have a formidable beer arsenal even without Bitter Woman.

As a chance to showcase balance, ingredient selection and intensity of flavor, an IPA is a pretty accurate barometer for the overall quality of a brewery.

The quality of this one is high enough to signal blue skies for Tyranena indefinitely.

Tyranena Brewing Co. • Lake Mills, Del. $7.99 at Riley’s Wines of the World

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Thursday, April 17, 2008

Spring brings back Farmers’ Market

By Rachel Racoosin THE DAILY CARDINAL

Madison’s Outdoor Farmers’ Market, an important part of the city’s history and a sure sign of spring, will open for business Saturday on the Capitol Square.

Since opening in 1972, the Farmers’ Market has grown to include about 300 vendors selling a wide variety of products, according to manager Larry Johnson.

“Typically, about 160 vendors come out on any given weekend,” Johnson said. “You can find fruit, plants, flowers, cheese, anything you can imagine.”

Johnson said only 100 vendors are expected to attend opening weekend due to the effects of the harsh winter and unusually cold spring on locally grown produce.

He said this year’s Farmers’ Market aims to be as eco-friendly as possible by recycling bottles and cans and encouraging shoppers to bring cloth bags to carry their purchases.

Johnson said UW-Madison students should use the Farmers’ Market as a new way to purchase nutritious groceries in an exciting environment.

“It’s fun, it’s great food and a good way to impress your parents by eating wholesome foods,” Johnson said.

Jeff Rolling, chair of UWMadison’s Wisconsin Student Public Interest Research Group, said the Farmers’ Market also gives students the opportunity to support the local economy.

“The Farmers’ Market gives so much to the Madison area. It’s something iconic, sustainable, and is able to give you the assurance that your money is going to the right place, the right person,” Rolling said.

Craft vendors are also located along Capitol Square to further enhance the market experience. Carol Hambrecht is owner of one of the longest standing craft stands. She has sold canvas bags and T-shirts at the market since 1977. Hambrecht said the market gives vendors the chance to showcase their creative work.

“I have about 20 designs or more, and they are all my original artwork, and I print them myself,” Hambrecht said.

She said the experience of being a vendor at the Farmers’ Market is especially rewarding because it is a great way to bring the country community into the city and is a wonderfully collaborative event.

The Farmers’ Market will be open from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., rain or shine.

Report finds public transit key to curb global warming in state

By Charles Brace THE DAILY CARDINAL

More public transportation would save the state millions of dollars and significantly reduce global warming gases, according to a Wednesday report.

The report, sponsored by the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group, said more investment is needed in public transportation to decrease dependency on oil.

More than 1.2 million gallons of oil and $3 million were saved each year in Madison and Milwaukee from the use of public transportation, according to the report. Pollution related to global warming was reduced by 26 million tons in the United States because of similar transit systems, the report said.

Bruce Speight, WISPIRG spokesperson, said there has been an increasing number of residents using public transportation in recent years. He said the rising cost of gas makes it more economical to not drive a car.

Despite recent state financial troubles like the budget shortfall, according to Speight, more funding for public transportation is needed.

“For every dollar invested in [public] transit, consumers save two dol-

lars,” Speight said. “There is a huge economic bang for your buck.”

Galen McKinley, UW-Madison assistant professor of atmospheric and oceanic sciences, said increased public transportation would significantly decrease global warming.

She said states generate the most global warming gases from producing electricity and energy but the second largest source of emissions is transportation.

“If you have a light rail system that can transport 100 people at much greater efficiency than each of those hundred people driving a car and sitting it traffic, there are definitely [environmental] gains,” McKinley said.

Large-scale public transportation plans were largely stalled in recent years, including a proposal to create a commuter rail line in southeast Wisconsin. The rail line would connect Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee.

Assembly Assistant Minority Leader Jon Richards, DMilwaukee, said in a statement the report shows the KRM rail line is needed.

“Wisconsinites need better transportation choices and need to get KRM commuter rail off the drawing board and into action,” Richards said.

TODAY ON THE WEB www.dailycardinal.com8 UW students host jump-rope-a-thon “Pump Your Heart to Save a Child’s Heart” event will raise money for children with heart problems and is sponsored by the UW-Madison chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

High school students to participate in Student Shadow Day UW-Madison students will show nearly 75 Madison-area high schoolers college life on Thursday.

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Cal-cutta rug

CHRISTOPHER GUESS/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Members of the UW-Madison India Student Association perform traditional dances on Library Mall Wednesday to advertise their upcoming event, India Night, at the Orpheum Theatre Friday.

RIAA sends pre-litigation letters to six UW-Madison students

By Amanda Hoffstrom THE DAILY CARDINAL

A warning from the Recording Industry Association of America for illegal file sharing might not be sent to students before a notice of pending legal action, an organization spokesperson said Wednesday.

According to Brian Rust, a UWMadison Division of Information Technology spokesperson, the university received six “pre-settlement” letters late last week identifying copyright infringers.

Cara Duckworth, an RIAA spokesperson, said pre-settlement letters are notices before a formal lawsuit is filed against an individual that offer lesser fines as an alternative to trial.

alcohol from page 1 at other bars is asking for trouble,” Brown said.

ALRC member Ald. Michael Schumacher, District 18, said he would not revise the conditions because they went hand-in-hand with granting a license in 2007.

The restrictions were in the name of safety after the former Club Majestic, under different ownership, brought in raucous hip-hop crowds that caused violence on King Street between 2004 and 2006.

mccain from page 1 port federal funding for research, but said it should be done responsibly. He said a panel of qualified scientists should have the task of determining how research money is distributed to different projects.

He did not specifically mention what types of controversial research

tribute from page 1 WAVE member Jenna Bonavia said she admired the vibrant student community but noted that things like stress and alcohol use could foster dangerous situations, making strict gun control vital for campus safety.

“Students are an imperfect breed,

Rust said UW-Madison has sent “cease and desist” letters for years under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, which require individuals to remove peer-to-peer services and all copyrighted material from their network. He said the university gets about 35 of these types of letters per week.

“Within the last year and a half, we’ve been getting pre-settlement notices, which kind of ratchets it up a step,” he said, adding targeted individuals typically receive a cease and desist warning before a pending lawsuit letter.

However, Duckworth said this is not always the case because the copyright act notices and pre-settlement letters are

two different RIAA copyright “enforcement tracks.”

“A lot of the times individuals who receive pre-litigation letters may not have received a DMCA letter in the past,” she said.

Duckworth also said sometimes students may comply with a cease and desist letter, but it does not guarantee they will not receive a pre-settlement letter.

“Unfortunately, that does happen,” she said. “That would indicate that we had captured evidence during the time the individual was illegally distributing copyrighted files.”

Duckworth said RIAA sends presettlement letters on a monthly basis and that most incidents of music theft occur on university networks.

Leslie and Gerding renovated the venue and in September 2007 opened the new Majestic Theatre, a home to indie rock that has hosted 60 national headliners.

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, an ALRC committee member, praised the theater for “exceeding everyone’s expectations.”

The ALRC suggested Leslie and Gerding continue discussions with Madison police and CNI from now until May, when the committee will review licenses and may reconsider the conditions.

The committee also announced Wednesday a hearing date of May 7 for Quinton’s Bar & Deli, 319 W. Gorham St., which has faced scrutiny for an audit showing 50.82 percent of its revenue as alcohol. Under its license as a restaurant the establishment cannot exceed 50 percent in alcohol sales.

Verveer said at the hearing the ALRC will act as a jury and decide penalties for Quinton’s, which could range from no action to revocation of its liquor license.

would be off limits for funding.

The panel also discussed the need to reform health care and create more jobs.

UW-Madison professor of law and political science Joel Rogers said the weakness in McCain’s plan is his unwillingness to repeal current tax cuts.

However, the panel members and moderator Carly Fiorina,

former CEO of HewlettPackard, showed support for the proposals.

“He’s … someone who understands that in the 21st century we have to compete as a 21stcentury nation,” Fiorina said.

The event was not open to the public but was attended by an audience of businesspeople and industrial workers.

we are constantly learning and adjusting and to do this we need to live in a community where we all feel safe,” Bonavia said.

More than 80 other cities, including Milwaukee, participated in similar “lie-in” ceremonies remembering the Virginia Tech tragedy.

Lori Haas, mother of shooting

victim and survivor Emily Haas, sent a letter to organizers thanking them for the tribute.

“It has been a painful journey this past year, but we are uplifted to know so many people care and are giving of their time and energy in the fight to protect our children and the public safety,” Haas said.

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Thursday, April 17, 2008

Jägerbombs stir explosive consequences

Food secrets finally revealed EMILY BISEK ‘em,‘em good

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Professors drop the bomb on this popular drink CHRISTOPHER GUESS/THE DAILY CARDINAL

By Kami York-Feirn THE DAILY CARDINAL

Imagine that it is New Year’s Eve and that guy who you have been crushing on takes you aside for the infamous midnight kiss. All of a sudden, the events of the evening seem to blur away, including the 10th Jägerbomb you downed right before the clock struck 12. It immediately becomes apparent that midnight kiss may not have been the only thing that took your breath away that night.

The trend of mixing energy drinks and alcohol has become increasingly popular among today’s youth, yet most of them don’t understand the risks.

“Alcohol is a drug,” UW-Madison nutritional science professor Susan Smith said.

“It reduces activity in the brain, it impairs cardiac function, it impairs the ability of the heart to get energy from burning fat the way it should and it can lead to a heart attack.”

According to ABC, some major concerns when mixing Red Bull and Jägermeister include, but are not limited to, cardiovascular risks, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, impaired judgment and dizziness. Energy drinks also dehydrate the body, so the more one drinks, the more it weakens the body’s defenses.

Negative side-effects of Jägerbombs It also has been proven that the combination worsens hangovers. Alcohol and caffeine are both diuretics and the combination results in a “wide-awake drunk.” Various studies have found that people who mix energy drinks and vodka are more likely to get into an auto accident because they believe themselves to be unimpaired.

“A stimulant causes a person to falsely report their driving ability, so they think they are a better driver than they really are,” Smith said. “Caffeine itself in high concentrations kills your reaction time. It makes you more distractible and jittery and impairs your ability to understand risks.”

When compared to consuming alcohol by itself, the combination of alcohol and energy drinks such as Red Bull considerably reduces a person’s perception of headache, weakness, dry mouth and impairment of motor coordination. This is because caffeine acts as a stimulant, numbing the perception of pain.

Many people mix these two dangerous drinks because they think the high amount of caffeine counteracts the affects of alcohol, but they may be very wrong.

“Your blood alcohol level stays exactly the same, so it’s a false sense [of alertness],” Smith said. “It’s a cheat, it’s a fake.”

Those seeking an energy boost can achieve this caffeine high from drinking a can of Coke, a cup of coffee or tea. This natural high can also be attained from exercising, and the effect lasts significantly longer, sometimes for days without damaging your body. Yet, advertisers often do not stress the healthy alternatives to their products.

“I [have] yet to see anything regarding the

health issues in newspapers or magazines,” said Eric Suemnicht, assistant general manager of the Nitty Gritty. “It’s hard to believe it’s true, and you’d think there would be a pending lawsuit. It’s hard to see it without factual proof.”

How much caffeine is too much?

According to the American Dietetic Association, a moderate amount of caffeine for the average adult is 200-300 milligrams per day.

An 8-ounce can of Red Bull contains 80 mg of caffeine. Comparatively, a 12-ounce can of Coke has 34 mg, a cup of coffee has about 80 mg and a cup of tea has only 35 mg.

By these numbers, drinking a 32-ounce can of Monster will easily lead to a caffeine intake of over 300 mg. The problem is that people don’t stop at one drink; they keep going and going until they eventually develop a tolerance for caffeine.

“Your body can become immune to or dependent on the caffeine,” UW-Madison nutritional science professor Susan Nitzke said.

“To get the stimulant effect, which you might call the caffeine buzz, you might need more and more coffee or energy drinks.”

Even with so many negative effects, some still find an appeal in mixing. In fact, according to Suemnicht, about 25 percent of the shots sold at the Nitty are energy related. Some say it is the taste, while for others it is the resultant hyper feeling. Still others say it keeps you drunk longer.

“Separate, both of the parts taste crappy, but together, they somehow taste good,” UW-Madison sophomore Ben Siebers said.

“You don’t notice the effects nearly as much because the effects of the alcohol are negated by the boost of the energy drink.”

The dangers of false advertising In addition to the flavor appeal of mixing

energy drinks with alcohol and other drugs, advertising companies are trying to market a product that is trendy and fun. But many are not aware of false advertising.

“You can’t believe everything that the ads tell you,” Nitzke said. “People have to try harder not to be gullible to promotions that make a product seem like its fun or trendy or what the cool people are doing.”

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not categorized energy drinks and thus do not strictly regulate them. This poses a problem for the consumer because companies can create and market their product without FDA approval, even if there are risks involved. Companies can do this because energy drinks are considered dietary supplements, even though they contain very few beneficial nutrients. In fact, each Jägerbomb contains about 200 calories, according to Suemnicht.

“They are not here to keep you healthy; they are here to make money,” Smith said.

“They are trying to market it as a healthy thing and are aiming for the person who isn’t eating well. They think an energy drink compensates for the fries they ate earlier that day. It causes a person to deplete their energy faster and [it] is a false sense of effort.”

With mixed drinks such as Jägerbombs in such high demand, businesses have to cater more to customer interest. But customer interest also means looking out for customers’ safety.

“Our policy is to not over-serve people,” Suemnicht said. “We have to protect the best interest of the business. Being a birthday place, we hammer it home with our bartenders that they have to ask ‘where is this drink going?’ You’re trained to just watch people.”

CHRISTOPHER GUESS/THE DAILY CARDINAL

ow that Easter and Lent are over, I feel the need to get a few confessions off my chest. First of all, I forgot to give something up for Lent.

Oops. Well, that’s minor. I can be forgiven for that.

I also must confess that I borrow a handful of trail mix from those classy, plastic bins every time I go grocery shopping.

I say borrow because it’s definitely not stealing. They just leave boxes of chocolate open all day long. They’re just asking for some to disappear.

I also must confess a secret hobby of mine.

Now, don’t judge me once I admit this.

It’s really not that weird, but I can see how some might find it odd. So, here it goes: I love watching people eat. There, I said it.

Are you happy now? Before you label me as a freak, let me explain myself.

First, there are many people in this world whom I thoroughly do not enjoy watching eat. For example, I have watched far too many people shove deep-fried, fatty goodness into their pie-holes while working at a family amusement park for five summers.

If you never want to enjoy mini-doughnuts again, find a summer job at a state fair or amusement park. It will scare you straight. This actually gave me a novel idea for helping meth addicts, but the details are still in the works.

Also, let me state that I don’t enjoy watching messy eaters eat. I swear some mothers missed the passage in the book “What to Tell Your Kids So They Don’t Turn Out to be Losers” about teaching your kids table manners. As long as you keep your face clean, elbows in and mouth closed while you chew, I can watch you eat all day.

This infatuation probably began in high school. Since then, I have seen some phenomenal eaters. I once watched a 16-yearold boy eat an apple with more vigor and dedication than it takes to win an Olympic Gold medal. He’s the gold medalist of apple eating. He tore into the red skin like a Tyrannosaurus Rex chasing down lunch and then proceeded to speak as apple chunks spewed from his mouth, landing on my cheek and sophisticated peanut butter sandwich. It didn’t even faze him. He just kept on going, opening his mouth as wide as possible and munching down with all his might.

I loved watching that kid eat. It showed all the intensity of his personality.

Now imagine this kid in a talent show.

He jumped on stage and shook his booty to “Footloose” in a fashion that put Kevin Bacon to shame. Just imagine his apple eating energy transferred to the stage, shaking his bum to trashy ’80s music.

To be fair, the dancing styles of Kevin Bacon are more like distraught tantrums of white-boy rage and confusion than anything resembling skill or practice. It can’t be that hard to do, but it does take a lot of guts and determination. Zac Efron tried, which I found when researching this topic on YouTube. He failed miserably. I guess Efron doesn’t have the intense white-boy dancing skills that made Bacon and my acquaintance so successful.

Also, while researching this column, I noticed my acquaintance is engaged. I will die a happy woman if I can attend that wedding, watch him eat an apple and perform an encore dance recital.

If you are also secretly obsessed with Zac Efron, give Emily some suggestions of where she can find him by e-mailing her at bisek@wisc.edu.

featuresscience Wisconsin takes a step back in time

dailycardinal.com/science

Thursday, April 17, 2008

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As old diseases resurface in Wisconsin, health officials fear public may no longer trust vaccines MMR vaccine: dependence to distrust 1982 Wisconsin state law requires children to receive one dose of the MMR vaccine.

1990 Outbreaks of mumps in late1980s lead Wis. to require children to receive a two-dose regimen of MMR vaccine.

1998 A controversial study suggests link between MMR vaccine and autism; all efforts to replicate study fail.

2004 Study finds increase in Wis. parents waiving vaccine based upon personal convictions.

Before the introduction of MMR in 1960s, infectious diseases were considered a “right of passage” in childhood.

By Jennifer Evans THE DAILY CARDINAL

Last week was bad for infectious diseases in Wisconsin. Measles and mumps, diseases seemingly reduced to only a memory in the United States by the introduction of vaccines, suddenly began making headlines once again.

By Thursday, the state health department confirmed four cases of measles in the Milwaukee area, leading hundreds to seek the measles vaccine at free clinics throughout the city over the weekend.

Scientists also published a study in the New England Journal of Medicine Thursday, showing the resurgence in the number of mumps cases reported in the United States in recent years, particularly among 18- to 24-year-old college students living in the Midwest.

Although the measles outbreak in Milwaukee and the resurgence of mumps across the country are separate issues, James Conway, a UW-Madison associate professor of pediatrics, said both cases highlight a growing concern in the medical community that a rising number of children in the United States are not receiving their recommended vaccines.

An unhealthy movement “It’s a growing trend for parents not to immunize [their children] because they haven’t seen the devastating effects of these diseases the way [older generations] did,” said Craig Roberts, a University Health Services epidemiologist.

According to Conway, measles are a much more dangerous and contagious disease than mumps. Measles, commonly characterized by a body rash, can cause brain damage and death in severe cases, while mumps often cause swelling of the glands running along the jawline, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mumps are rarely deadly, but complications can include sterility and deafness.

Stephanie Marquis, spokesperson for the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services, said the state and local health departments are doing all they can to contain the

measles outbreak in Milwaukee, but expects the number of measles cases in the state to grow.

“Measles can transfer easily and rapidly through the air,” Marquis said.

“People don’t know they have [measles] until the rash appears eight to 10 days after [infection].”

Vaccine laws and waivers In 1982, Wisconsin began requiring children to receive one dose of the MMR vaccine, an immunization cocktail offering protection against measles, mumps and rubella. Several mumps outbreaks in the late-1980s led the state to begin requiring that children receive a two-dose MMR regimen, starting in 1990.

Today, doctors recommend children to receive the MMR vaccine between the ages of 12 and 15 months, and four and six years. According to Conway, the two-shot regimen is 99 percent effective against measles and 95 percent effective against mumps.

In Wisconsin, parents can refuse to have children immunized by filing a medical, religious or personal conviction waiver. A 2004 study in the Wisconsin Medical Journal showed that while the filing of medical and religious waivers in the state remained

constant between 1990 through 2003, the number of parents filing personal conviction waivers steadily increased.

Conway said he suspects the growing number of parents choosing not to vaccinate is a combination of people “losing sight of the disease” and the vocal anti-vaccine movement, which argues vaccines are to blame for the rise in the numbers of autism cases in the United States.

“It’s a growing trend for parents not to immunize because they haven’t seen the devastating effects of these diseases.”

Craig Roberts epidemiologist University Health Services

More harm than good?

A 1998 Lancet paper by U.K. scientists fueled the anti-vaccine movement after it suggested the existence of a connection between MMR and autism. However, efforts to repeat the U.K. study and numerous studies since have led the CDC and the majority of the scientific community to acknowledge that there is no scientific link

RIGHT PHOTO BY LUCAS & WALKER/COURTESY OF CDC

between MMR and autism.

“The connection between autism and vaccines has been studied to death and there is no cause-andeffect relationship between [them],” Roberts said.

Yet, the announcement by the CDC last Friday that it would work with vaccine critics to explore vaccine safety issues shows the government is open to additional studies to examine whether or not the relationship between autism and vaccines exists.

Conway said the dip in the percentage of the population receiving vaccines in the United Kingdom has had no effect on the rates of autism in the country. Instead, the country’s low vaccine rate of only 70 percent of the population has led to numerous outbreaks of measles and mumps.

“People forget about diseases and begin paying attention to rumors about vaccines,” Conway said. “It is a disservice to the community for a person to say ‘I’m not going to vaccinate my kids. As long as everyone else vaccinates their kids, my kid will be fine.’

If 10 to 20 percent of parents think the same way, then boom—outbreak.”

According to Conway, when vaccination rates fall below 80 percent of the population, “an outbreak is wait-

PHOTO COURTESY CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION

Combined vaccines, like MMR, reduce the number of shots given to children.

2005-2006 Resurgence of mumps in United States, with highest proportion of new cases in Midwest.

2008 State health department confirms four cases of measles, one case of rubella in Wis. Three new cases of measles awaiting confimation. Three cases of measles are pending confirmation.

Sources: CDC, Wis. Medical Journal, NEJM, Wis. Department of Public Health and Family Services, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

ing to happen,” and the decrease in population vaccine rates appears to be rippling across the Atlantic Ocean.

Closer to home While the recent measles outbreak in the Milwaukee area occurred in people who did not receive the MMR vaccine, the resurgence of mumps occurred in those who had previously received the required two-dose regimen.

The NEJM authors speculate that those who received the twodose regimen of the MMR vaccine are losing immunity to mumps over time.

Marquis said the loss of immunity to mumps in combination with people living in close proximity on college campuses may be to blame for the higher mumps resurgence rates among college students compared to rest of the public.

“We always suspected the need for a better mumps vaccine,” Conway said, pointing to the mumps outbreaks of the late-1980s that led to the country to shift to a two-dose MMR regimen. The NEJM report may now force doctors to re-evaluate the ability of the two-dose regimen to protect against mumps throughout one’s lifetime.

“So many people protect kids by buckling their seatbelts in a car and giving them helmets when they bike. You don’t know what day they’ll be in an accident, but you do it anyway,” Conway said.

“A vaccine is the same. You can’t choose the day a disease is going to be introduced into the community. You can’t just only vaccinate if there’s an outbreak.”

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dailycardinal.com/features

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Saving for the future, spending in the present U

W-Madison junior Andrew King understands the economic plight of the modern student.

“As students with no full-time source of income, many of us are living paycheck to paycheck,” King said.

King, who is also the president of UW’s chapter of AIESEC—the world’s largest student-based organization, which focuses on building a global network—faces similar problems as his peers when it comes to saving money for retirement.

“I probably work about 20 to 25 hours per week, and that’s just enough to cover rent, food, bills and the occasional night out,” King said. “[And] as an out-of-state student, I’m racking up a mountain of debt just to get my education.”

Tuition is on the rise. Social security is in danger. Students are leaving college with more debt than ever and on top of all that, are being told to save for a retirement that’s 50 years away when they’ve got bills due tomorrow.

With a little fiscal planning, however, saving for someday might be easier— and cheaper—than it seems.

Take what you can get “You should always be saving or trying to save,” said Karen Holden, professor of consumer science and public affairs at UW-Madison. “[It doesn’t matter] whether [savings are] for retirement or some unexpected event in your life.”

“As an out-of-state student, I’m racking up a mountain of debt just to get my education.”

Andrew King junior UW-Madison

Saving is especially important for young people facing a potential crisis in the economy, according to Moses Altsech, professor of marketing at the Edgewood College MBA program.

“The guaranteed retirement funds of yesteryear no longer exist,” Altsech said. “The good news is there is more than one way to save.”

One such way is by taking advantage of 401K plans offered by many companies. For employees with a 401K plan, employers will match funds with a set percentage taken from each paycheck, according to Altsech.

“It’s always a smart idea to take advantage of the 401K,” he said. “[Then] you don’t need the self-discipline of getting a check ... and putting [a percentage] away.”

The key is to start saving as soon as possible, according to Holden, even if it’s just a little each month.

“A lot of people think they can wait until they have more money,” Holden said. “People should put aside [money] out of every paycheck, even if it’s just a modest amount, like 10 or 20 dollars.”

Additionally, the sooner students start investing and saving, the more time the money has to grow, according to Jim Hodder, professor of finance at the Wisconsin School of Business.

“The sooner you start, the better off you are because of the power of compounding,” Hodder said, referring to how the money multiplies annually.

“The key underlying idea is that even a relatively modest amount starting early on, if it’s compounded for 45 years, that’s a big deal.”

However, students should make their money work for them, Hodder said, by investing in a fund with a good interest rate and without a heavy tax burden.

“You want to do something that’s tax efficient,” Hodder said, recommending an IRA fund. “[With an IRA], you can put money in without first paying taxes on it. Then it can compound tax-free until you take the money out.”

Before investing, though, students should leave a little money in the bank to fall back on if needed, according to Hodder.

“You don’t want to tie everything up in long-term investments,” he said.

“Have some cash in the bank for some cushion.”

Hodder also recommends index funds, an account that invests in a broad portfolio.

“Some people think they can oneup the market,” Hodder said. “You’re probably better off just buying an index fund.”

DAILY CARDINAL PHOTO STAFF

With housing costs, car payments and other expenses closing in on all sides, will students be able to keep retirement saving in focus?

Drowning in debt Debt, however, is nothing to be taken lightly. Many students graduate with thousands of dollars in student loans, as well as the constant struggle to meet living costs and other expenses.

“There’s this problem of how you get from [being] a relatively broke, possibly in-debt college student, to being able to save some money,” Hodder said.

For a recent graduate with a new— and perhaps low-paying—career, saving in the face of debt can be a struggle, according to Altsech.

“Because of the nature of debt, it’s not something you can get out of easily,” he said.

He stressed the importance of understanding the types of items worth getting in debt over.

“There is something very different about the debt you get into for buying Gucci shoes and the debt you get into for college,” Altsech said. “An education pays itself off.”

Even though education is an investment, there are still ways to reduce the amount of debt after graduation, according to Holden.

“The best way to save is to quit spending on your credit cards,” she said.

Paying off just the minimum each month is not a fiscally responsible idea, Altsech said.

“It’s going to send you to the poorhouse and nothing short of that,” he said, stressing that students should only spend money they have.

The cultural comfort with rising debt is making students think it’s acceptable to charge up large bills they can’t pay on credit, Holden said.

“It’s a culture where it’s hard to say, ‘I just can’t afford it,’” she said. “It’s not easy having less money than other people but the reality is you can’t continue to live beyond your income.”

Altsech agreed with the changing societal dynamics regarding debt.

“We live in a culture that’s very debt-friendly,” Altsech said. “We just have to become less comfortable with the idea of debt.”

The early bird...

The bottom line, according to Altsech: “The sooner you start to save, the better off you are.”

Story by Sarah Nance However, Altsech sees debt and the pressures of school as preventing current students from investing—yet.

“I’m not sure it’s feasible to start saving when you’re still in school,” he said.

“It’s a culture where it’s hard to say, ‘I just can’t afford it.’”

Karen Holden professor UW-Madison

Holden, however, disagrees.

“I’m surprised at how many students I teach have started saving,” she said.

Even if students don’t start saving until after graduation, they can still manage, Hodder said.

“I probably didn’t save anything really significant until two or three

years after school,” he said.

According to Hodder, part of the trick of saving after college is to live a low-budget, college-type life.

“Just because you start making more money doesn’t mean you have to spend it,” Hodder said.

If students do decide to take advantage of offers from employers, they shouldn’t put all of their assets in one place, cautioned Hodder.

“If you have some of your own resources, you’ve got more protection,” he said, adding that diversity is crucial.

“Losing 90 percent of your retirement is not fun, so one of the things you don’t want to do is tie up all your money in company stock.”

Additionally, students should try not to view debt and other expenses as preventing them from saving, Altsech said.

“There’s always an excuse, a present excuse, of what you could use the money for,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any excuse for taking away from your retirement fund.”

Students do their homework in Savings 101 Impossible to save?

“Due to the ever-rising cost of tuition and housing, it is very difficult for students to actively take action on this while still in school,” said Paul Theine, UW-Madison student and president of Phi Beta Lambda. “Many students are worried about the cost of living today, and not about their retirement.”

Education worth the cost “I’m ... confident that my education will pay big financial returns once I’ve graduated,” Andrew King, president of AIESEC-Madison, said. “From my point of view, it’s better to live life to the fullest now while I can, rather than sacrificing in order to save for the future, even if that means borrowing against my future financial earnings.”

Look at the big picture “Do not give into the temptation that just because you now have the extra money [with a first job], you can go out and buy all those things you have really wanted the past four to five years,” Theine said. “Use the extra money to plan financially for your future.”

Remember to relax “Chances are that if you enjoy your life as a student, you’ll do better in school, which means you’ll be in a better situation to pay off all that debt after you graduate,” King said. “After all, it’s only money.”

arts

dailycardinal.com/arts

Thursday, April 17, 2008

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Sound the Trumpets Prepare yourself Madison.

Starting tomorrow night, the UW band—led by legendary director Michael Leckrone— will fill the Kohl Center with a spectacular display of pyrotechnics, celebrity performers and, oh yeah, an incredible display of music.

According to UW trombone player Leslie Backes, the spring concert has quietly become a staple on campus.

“It’s a piece of UW tradition that a lot of people don’t realize PHOTO COURTESY XL RECORDINGS

Despite adding The Flaming Lips producer David Fridmann, Tapes ’n Tapes sinks into the typical sophomore slump on Walk It Off.

Tapes ’n Tapes don’t stick to sound on latest

By Gabriel Ubatuba

Hanson and some catchy melodies.

On the edges, Fridmann can subtly be Tapes ’n Tapes’ new album, Walk heard but does not add much to the It Off, uses the textbook formula for songs themselves. What makes these a sub-par follow up from an indie tracks weak is the lack of quality lyrics, which, according darling. After their CD REVIEW to an interview with debut album, The Pitchfork Media, is Loon, received rave because the band reviews from both was aiming for more bloggers and mainstream media, they ambiguity. decided to change Overall, Walk It the formula a bit Off is not a great in their sophoalbum, nor is it a Walk It Off more album while truly bad album.

Tapes ’n Tapes attempting to keep Sure, it follows the their original sound, indie it’s-ok-but-notcreating a CD that just seems like a great sophomore album formula, but typical indie album. it is not something absolutely horrible Following in the footsteps of Clap to listen to. It is one of those CDs Your Hands Say Yeah, another victim you could put on that no one would of the formula, the Minneapolis-based really object to, but no one would get band brought in The Flaming Lips incredibly excited for it either. It just producer David Fridmann for Walk It plays into the background without Off to add an experimental flare. truly making an impression, just as it Although Fridmann is a valuable will sink into the background of the asset to any band attempting a more indie music scene. psychedelic sound, his work can only be heard on the fringes. This, combined with Tapes’ own style, creates an album that shows a band afraid to stick with their own sound and to try something completely new—an album that sounds bland and has no stand-out tracks, such as The Loon’s “Insistor.”

The opening track, “Le Ruse,” throws listeners right into the CD, with Josh Grier’s slow-paced, monotone vocals entering almost immediately. Like most of the songs on the album, there are faint glimmers of a really good track, but not enough for it to stand out. In this particular case, the built-up wall of sound in the middle created by Grier’s shouting, fast guitars, drums and cymbals all blaring at full volume is incredible, but the rest is indistinctive from every other indie track, even with its summery styling.

Fridmann’s distinct influence can best be heard on “Conquest” and “Anvil,” which play midway through the CD. The high-pitched electronic bullets and crashing waves of sound are reminiscent of songs on The Soft Bulletin by The Flaming Lips, but that’s the problem: It sounds like another great indie band’s work and is not distinctively unique to Tapes ’n Tapes.

Other songs, like “Hang Them All,” “The Dirty Dirty” and “Headshock,” are notable tracks with a little spark, impressive drum work by Jeremy

THE DAILY CARDINAL

is around ... It’s always different and it’s always exciting.”

According to UW trumpet player Jess Flanagan, this year’s concert features a one-hit wonder medley, musical numbers from “West Side Story” and “Hairspray,” and a special performance with Mark Pender from “Late Night With Conan O’Brien.”

The concert, which runs from Thursday through Saturday, is $15 for students.

All shows begin at 7:30 p.m.

PHOTO COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN BAND

Since 1975, the UW Band’s spring concert performances have become a tradition for its members and students alike.

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dailycardinal.com/arts

New art gallery a mixed bag of ‘Fresh,’ stale prints

By Alison Eiler THE DAILY CARDINAL

PHOTO COURTESY LIONSGATE

A match made in kung-fu heaven, “Forbidden Kingdom” features both Jet Li and Jackie Chan. Unfortunately, while Li is still kicking, Chan has lost a couple of steps, coming off as old and awkward in his dreadlocks.

Chan and Li together at last, don’t rule kung-fu ‘Kingdom’

By Todd Stevens THE DAILY CARDINAL

For years, Jackie Chan and Jet Li have been the titans of Chinese martial arts films, consistently wowing audiences with stunning action scenes and impeccable stunt work. However, even with their worldwide success and fame, they have never been face-toface on screen—until now. These two living legends of Chinese cinema are paired together for the first time in “The Forbidden Kingdom,” creating a movie match-up that has martial arts fans drooling with anticipation.

However, although the hype for “Forbidden Kingdom” reaches great heights, the same can’t be said for the film’s quality.

The story centers on Jason (Michael Angarano, “Sky High”), a kung-fu obsessed American teenager who finds himself transported back in time to ancient China. There, he discovers he is destined to return a magical staff to the immortal Monkey King (Li), who has been imprisoned by an evil warlord. He is assisted in his quest by the drunken kung-fu master Lu Yan (Chan) as well as a mysterious unnamed monk (also played by Li).

Easily the biggest problem with “Forbidden Kingdom” is its focus on Jason as the hero, as opposed to Chan and Li’s more interesting characters, who the audience came to see in the first place. The less-than-stellar Angarano fails to turn his character into anything other than a shallow high school geek, and the fact that the movie puts the fate of China in the hands of a white American kid feels disingenuous.

Ultimately, “Forbidden Kingdom” is an entirely forgettable experience.

However, even the action scenes where Chan and Li should have the opportunity to shine seem to fall flat. Chan in particular fails to impress and seems to have lost a step or two since his heyday in films such as the “Drunken Master” series or even some of his more recent efforts like the “Rush Hour” series. Li seems more than capable, but unfortunately in a number of fight scenes Director Rob

Minkoff, whose previous experience lies mostly in animated fare such as “The Lion King” and “Stuart Little,” relies too much on special effects, which detract from the natural physical gifts Li possesses.

It is hard to fault “Forbidden Kingdom” for holding back on the fight scenes since it is intended to be a family film, but even as kid-friendly entertainment it never feels like anything more than a wannabe fantasy epic striving, in vain, to capture the majesty of “Lord of the Rings.” Many scenes just go straight for cheap laughs, and even then the result is usually mediocre.

Ultimately, “Forbidden Kingdom” is an entirely forgettable experience. The numerous plot and acting shortcomings would be forgivable if the movie provided the mind-blowing stunts and visual flare of the martial arts classics that came before it. Unfortunately, everything the “Forbidden Kingdom” tries has been done before and done much better. One can only hope that any future pairings of Hong Kong’s biggest stars will deliver the flare fans have come to expect.

“Fresh Hot Press” is not only the name of a new exhibit at the Overture Center but also the publishing component of Madison’s print organization. Although the print club’s ideals, goals and activities are excellent, the exhibit falls a bit short of expectations with its slightly lackluster and “already seen that” display.

Fresh Hot Press is an organization on campus that helps publish small editions of unique prints done by students, faculty and visiting artists, as well as promote interaction between these three groups.

Most of the prints from the “Fresh Hot Press” exhibit—which are displayed in two, fairly small galleries—elicit a feeling of being mish-mashed together, as if they were just hung next to each other without any real planning.

“Distribution” by Matthew J. Bindert, is a very tall and large canvas that has black square patterns printed on it. Although simple in its color choice, this piece stands out for its uniqueness and size, two elements missing from many of the pieces.

Another striking print is “Will Hoge and Jason Ishell Gig Poster,”

by Erion O’Connor. Although it is merely an advertisement for a band, the piece is reminiscent of the pop -art advertising movement because the only object in the print, other then the concert information, is an overly large matchbook.

All the pieces in “Fresh Hot Press” are unique or gain a sense of uniqueness when viewed in relation to other pieces by the same artist or similar works. Still, the show has a feeling as if it is one the viewer has seen before—something that resembles every other student print show you’ve been to. So here’s to hoping that it’s the assemblage of different artists and styles and not the decline of true originality in today’s up-and-coming print artists that creates this uninspiring feeling.

‘Fresh Hot Press’ where: Overture Center when: Until June 11 cost: Free!

PHOTO COURTESY THE OVERTURE CENTER

Some prints in the Overture’s “Fresh Hot Press” exhibit may be unoriginal, but Michael P. Williams’ ‘Consequence’ certainly is not.

Anna offers do and don’t checklist for summer reading ANNA WILLIAMS williams shakespeare

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he sky is starting to clear, temperatures are rising, the snow has melted and UW students are getting restless, anticipating the warm weather and summer vacation. I am definitely one of these students. Some days, I feel like I’m going to crawl out of my skin if summer doesn’t get here soon. One thing I always do this time of year to alleviate some of my impatience is compose my summer reading list. That’s right, a summer reading list. And yes, I view it as a composition. For me,

a reading list is a kind of art, like a gourmet meal—all the elements of the meal must complement and contrast each other, making for the perfect dining experience.

When composing my reading list, I first include all the books I want to read most—books I was unable to get to during the school year, have heard good things about or have caught my eye in the bookstore.

Other times I’ll go with a theme. For instance, I like to read books that take place in the season I’m reading them in to fully absorb the feeling of the season and avoid discord, so perhaps, this year, I’ll read some books that take place in the summer, like Kate Chopin’s “The Awakening.”

Once I pick the books that will

form the core of my summer reading, I take a step back—are they all by male authors? All modern? The answers to these important questions determine how I will fill out the rest of my list. For instance, if I only have modern works, I’ll throw in a big, fatty classic or two. I also enjoy adding a work of non-fiction—perhaps a biography about one of the authors on my list for complementary effect.

Now that I’ve decided which books to include on my list, the real art comes: assembling the list in a pleasing manner. This is the part when I decide the best order to read the books in so the “taste” of one offsets and compliments the others. I always like to start out my list with something on the lighter side, to rest my brain after

finals and ease into the summer.

Then, I split up the male and female authors, modern books and classics, fiction and non-fiction, arranging them so that one will help illuminate the ones before and after it.

For me, a reading list is a kind of art, like a gourmet meal.

For example, last read a lot of historical placed “The Amazing of Kavalier and Clay”

summer I novels, so I Adventures in between

“The French Lieutenant’s Woman” and “Tipping the Velvet” to separate the Victorian-age novels and to compare the author’s technique in approaching history. Also, I always leave a slot or two on the list open for a book I might feel a spur of the moment inclination to read.

Perhaps describing how I compile my summer reading list not only got you into the summer mood but also inspired you to create a list of your own. If not, you could just do what normal people do and read whatever you feel like.

Looking for some creative way to splice Harry Potter into a Kafka/Tolstoy sandwich this summer? Ask Anna for some tips at akwilliams1@wisc.edu.

opinion dailycardinal.com/opinion

Thursday, April 17, 2008

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view Cardinal View editorials represent The Daily Cardinal’s organizational opinion. Each editorial is crafted independent of news coverage.

reconsider smoking tax revenue

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n January, a tax increase was passed in Wisconsin to add an additional dollar to every pack of cigarettes. The legislation, supported by Gov. Jim Doyle, was part of a larger movement to prevent people from smoking, and it has shown preliminary success.

Evidence of this can be seen in a significantly higher volume of calls to the state hotline to help people stop smoking, and a significantly lower number of packs—six million—bought in March 2008 than in March 2007.

This is all great, but the tax has had an unintended consequence.

Doyle planned to use the tax revenue to account for $449 million of the state budget. However, the tax only picked up $40 million last month. To meet the projected total, revenue would have to increase about 11 percent each subsequent month in the fiscal year.

Additionally, this tax disproportionately affects poor residents, and the tax does not apply to online purchases or on tribal

lands. To avoid the tax, many are turning to these options.

Doyle had the right idea to increase the tax on cigarettes.

However, the money gained was improperly projected in its contribution to the budget.

Although this probably was some form of political bargaining, a tax that closes the budget deficit but primarily affects poverty-stricken residents sends a mixed message. It is reckless to rely on a “sin tax” to take on such a large portion of the budgetary issues.

The cigarette tax has made gains in reducing the number of Wisconsin residents who smoke, but the state needs to better allocate tax dollars toward programs that help people quit smoking.

Doyle must also push through a state-wide smoking ban. A statewide ban would smooth out the legal differences across municipalities with smoking bans, while ensuring uniform health standards in Wisconsin businesses.

NUMBERS DON’T LIE: CIGARETTE TAX

20,000 Record number of calls the Wisconsin Tobacco Quit Line received in January and February 2008.

$22 million

Increase in cigarette tax collections from March 2007 to March 2008.

$1.77

Tax on a pack of cigarettes, a $1 increase effective January 2008.

Source: Wisconsin Radio Network

MEG ANDERSON/THE DAILY CARDINAL

‘Bitter’ comments don’t affect Obama in polls ERIK OPSAL opinion columnist

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s an ardent Barack Obama supporter, last Friday caused me some serious distress. While reading his reported remarks from a San Francisco fundraiser, I cringed, realizing two things: He was absolutely correct, and this was going to be a story for days to come.

Here we are, almost a week later, and the story just won’t die, even though what Obama said is arguably true. While talking about small-town Pennsylvania voters who have lost jobs and keep getting ignored by our government, he said, “It’s not surprising that they get bitter.” The second part, where he said “they cling to guns or religion or antipathy to people who aren’t like them ... as a way to explain their frustrations”—now that’s just poor wording on his part.

It’s interesting to see how Obama’s two opponents have jumped on him.

Obama has since explained that he meant this in a Thomas Frank, “What’s the Matter with Kansas?” sort of way. Essentially, he meant that economically, these people should vote Democrat because the Republican party has turned into the party of the rich, but instead they vote based on guns or religion because they feel that’s the only way politicians will actually listen to them.

His explanation was good, but it’s interesting to see how his two opponents have jumped on him, calling

him an elitist for two seemingly different reasons. Personally, I’d say it’s hard to argue that Americans aren’t bitter. Only 28 percent of the country approves of President Bush and 65 percent disapprove of the way he’s handling the War in Iraq.

Throw in how the war, combined with ill-advised tax cuts for the rich, has severely hurt our economy, and that’s a recipe for bitterness.

Apparently John McCain doesn’t believe this.

“These hard working men and women aren’t ‘bitter,’” he said in a fund raising e-mail Monday.

“They love their country, their faith, their family and their traditions. They are the heart and soul of this country, the foundation of our strength and the primary authors of its essential goodness—Barack Obama should get to know them.”

Although people may love their country, their faith and their family, that doesn’t mean they’re still not bitter. All this really shows is McCain defending the status quo.

When the status quo includes the aforementioned polls, that’s probably not such a good idea.

As for Hillary Clinton, she at least latched onto the truly controversial remark—the “cling” part—when commenting on the issue. Since then, we’ve seen her throw back a shot of Crown Royal and wash it down with an Old Style, all while staunchly defending the Second Amendment. Oh, and talking about church, too.

Hillary’s tactic is political opportunism at its finest, and it’s a good strategy to try to widen her lead in Pennsylvania—to make herself, the one who’s made more than $100 million since leaving the White House in 2000, the “everyman” candidate, and make Obama, who only paid off his student loans less than a decade ago, the “elitist.”

Unfortunately for Clinton, it doesn’t seem to be working.

The first round of polls since his remarks shows very little change.

A Quinnipiac poll conducted April 9-13 (he made the comments April 11) still shows a six point lead for Clinton, the same as the previous poll. According to the pollsters, “There was no noticeable change in the matchup in polling April 12-13, following widespread media reports on Sen. Obama’s ‘bitter’ comments.”

An LA Times/Bloomberg poll now shows Obama down by just five points. SurveyUSA, which had been a major outlier—reporting an 18-point lead last week for Clinton in Pennsylvania—reduced Clinton’s lead to 14 points on Tuesday.

The story just won’t die, even though what Obama said is arguably true.

Is this a sign of how Obama would be as a general election candidate, able to deflect criticism with ease? “For a candidate sometimes mocked for being too soft to win a political fist fight, he has shown an uncanny ability to take a punch and then rear back and deliver one in return,” wrote Ben Smith of Politico.com.

Judging by Obama’s ability to shake off other controversies, like the Rev. Wright story or his wife’s “proud” comments, this could be true, and the polls back it up. Or perhaps it’s how Philadelphia Daily News columnist John Baer put it.

“What’s offensive to me is suggesting that small-town, workingclass, gun-toting and/or religious Pennsylvanians are somehow injured by a politician’s words,” he wrote. I guess we’ll have to wait until next Tuesday to find out.

Erik Opsal is a senior majoring in journalism and political science. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

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dailycardinal.com/comics

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Being Green

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.

Orcas: Officially the most badass animal on earth.

Dwarfhead and Narwhal

By James Dietrich jbdietrich@wisc.edu

Orcas kill sharks by torpedoing up into the shark’s stomach from underneath, causing the shark to explode.

Today’s Crossword Puzzle

The Crackles

Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com ENOUGH’S ENOUGH ACROSS

1 Enthusiastic and then some 6 Yearly doz.

9 Inform against 14 Advice to a sinner 15 67.5 degrees 16 “What’s in ___?’’

(Shakespeare) 17 Feature of a certain album 18 Cleaned a plate 19 Charlatan 20 “Enough already!’’

23 Final section 24 “Dora the Explorer’’ viewer 25 LSU rival 27 A different you 32 It was in old Rome?

33 1972 host to Nixon 34 Change one’s story?

36 Walk off with 39 Brainstorm generator 41 Barber belt 43 Casa component 44 After-lunch sandwiches 46 Turkey is on top of it 48 You might give him the business 49 Parts of pelvises 51 One on the payroll 53 Like some gazes

56 One, abroad 57 Wordless agreement 58 “Enough already!’’

64 Stopped lying?

66 “How cute!’’ exclamations 67 Better balanced 68 “This ___!’’ (fightin’ words) 69 “Cujo’’ actress Wallace 70 “And now ...’’ sayer 71 Occupants’ expenditures 72 Middle of a famous palindrome 73 Drained of energy DOWN

1 A file that can’t be opened 2 A Near Island 3 Bad thing to rock 4 “The Shawshank Redemption’’ extra 5 Really regret 6 Spiked honey beverage 7 Not ignorant of 8 Words with “evil’’ 9 Some river travelers 10 Collection of anecdotes 11 “Enough already!’’

12 Signs to beware of 13 Outcasts 21 Things in a shopping basket

22 Suffix with “infant’’ 26 People walk all over them 27 Survivalist’s stockpile 28 Lion’s haunt 29 “Enough already!’’

30 Laughs at 31 Ham’s place?

35 School quarters 37 Useful African lily 38 It’s between gutters 40 Major fruit canner 42 Lab measuring tube 45 Experts with numbers?

47 Monikers 50 “... far ___ can see’’ 52 Merging locale 53 Where bombs burst, in song 54 Certain Icelandic settlers 55 Escape, as detection 59 Washed-up pitcher?

60 Words indicating comprehension 61 Ending with “insist’’ or “persist’’ 62 Patient status 63 Shipping allowance 65 Emulated Humpty Dumpty

By Simon Dick srdick@wisc.edu

Anthro-apology

By Eric Wigdahl wigdahl@wisc.edu

...OR HERE W: 35 p 2 H: 14 p 7

sports

dailycardinal.com/sports

Thursday, April 17, 2008

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Cardinal Q&A: Freshman golfer driving team to success After posting the lowest score on the team at the Susie Maxwell Berning Classic earlier this month, freshman golfer Carly Werwie sat down to talk about golf, school and her life as a freshman at Wisconsin.

Daily Cardinal: What did it feel like to get your career low score in Oklahoma?

Carly Werwie: It was nice to get a good score.

You know, Big Tens are next weekend, and hopefully we can make it to regionals.

It really helps with confidence too, WERWIE knowing I can put those numbers up. I like to practice and work, and it’s good to see that all that practice and work is starting to pay off. I’m starting to come around.

DC: As a freshman, have you been nervous at all going into tournaments?

CW: Not really. In the beginning of the year, it’s just kind of tough adjusting to school and the practice schedule and everything.

I wouldn’t say I really get nervous out there. I don’t know. I always think it’s exciting to play, and I just have a lot of fun out there, so I don’t really get nervous anymore.

DC: You had the best score

tweety from page 12 Badgers upset the then-No. 16 Fighting Illini 5-2 in Madison.

Michalicka played a vital role in a win that snapped a 14-match losing streak against Illinois.

“To take Illinois out, that was a memory that will last for a long time just for all of us,” senior Jeremy Sonkin said.

UW coaches and players are confident in the level-headed Michalicka every time he steps on the court.

“Marek’s been sort of our guy

brewers from page 12 front of Fielder in ‘07, it is hard to blame Hardy for expecting meatballs like last season.

For things to change, Hardy has to be moved. The best spot for him would probably be back toward the top of the order, in the No. 2 spot. Yost seems to love outfielders Gabe Gross and Gabe Kapler in that spot, but the spot was really destined for Tony Gwynn Jr. and Mike Cameron.

However, with Cameron suspended and Gwynn out with an injury, there is no reason to keep Gross—who still has more of a pinch-hitter mentality, where every pitch has to be knocked out of the park—and Kapler in that spot.

on the team two weeks ago. As a freshman, did you expect to do that well when you came in here?

CW: I expected my scores to be a little bit more than what they are. I kind of struggled in the fall.

My scores in the spring—they’re OK, they’re not too good either.

But I played really well in the summer, and I can put up some good numbers here too, and it was kind of disappointing in the beginning, but it’s finally coming around. I think it was adjusting to everything.

DC: If you’re not going to be a professional golfer, what do see yourself doing after college?

CW: I think I’m going to head toward Elementary Ed. So probably be an Elementary Ed. teacher.

I really like little kids, and working with them is a lot of fun, and I think I would really enjoy it.

DC: What’s your favorite place to be on campus besides the golf course?

CW: Ooo... umm...

DC: College Library?

CW: I’ve actually only been there once [laughs]. I’d probably say just hanging out with my teammates at the Fetzer Center.

Everyone’s over there. I know you’re supposed to study there. [laughs] Studying and hanging out.

DC: If you could meet one professional golfer today, male or female, who would it be?

CW: Tiger Woods.

DC: Tiger Woods, why?

CW: He’s done so much for the game, and all the records that he’s breaking and everything he’s doing is going down in history. It would just be great to meet him for everything he’s done. And he’s so good, too.

DC: The Masters was last weekend. Do you have any opinion on women not being allowed on the grounds other than last weekend?

CW: I don’t think that’s right.

I mean, it’s 2008 and now I know that’s how it was there a long time ago, but I think they slowly should change it. I don’t think it’s right not to let women play there just because they’re women.

I think everyone should be able to play there.

DC: Is there any particular club that you feel comfortable with?

CW: Probably my seven iron.

DC: This is a dumb question, but when I golf, I’ve got a horrible slice. What can I do to correct that?

CW: Oh my, you can probably stay down more on the ball.

Normally you probably look up before you hit it. You probably want to keep your head down.

DC: Thanks for the tip.

CW: No problem.

—Interview conducted by Ryan Reszel.

where he kind of goes out there and you just feel like he’s going to win every time,” Austin said.

“So it’s been unbelievable to have him.”

Sonkin stressed the importance of having young players to fill in the spots vacated by seniors, especially with the graduation of Lachezar Kasarov, a regular in the lineup, following the 2007 spring season.

“It’s really important that we have those spots at the top and bottom to fill in and have these guys that can play these big match-

es and get the points when we need them,” Sonkin said. “They’ve contributed to it, without them we wouldn’t be getting the wins that we’ve been getting.”

Michalicka plans to study economics and eventually get into the UW Business School. The first-year player admitted he is still adjusting to life on campus and is still learning the language but said he enjoys the Madison area.

“It’s pretty nice,” he said. “I love State Street and everything on it, even though the construction

Switching Hardy and whichever backup outfielder is batting in the two-spot would benefit all of the Brewers’ hitters.

More can be done and should at least be considered. Hart deserves to be batting higher in the lineup, and unless Weeks can prove he truly deserves the No. 1 spot in the batting order, the idea should be presented of moving Hart into the one-spot and moving Weeks further down.

But none of these changes will do anything unless the Brewers become more patient and selective at the plate.

In Tuesday’s 6-1 loss, Fielder was walked all four times he was at the plate. Following him was Hall, who struck out twice and grounded into a double-play

the other two times he was at bat. Hall’s inability to produce turned out to be crucial, as the Brewers were still within reach through the first seven innings of play.

With all of this said, the season is still young. The Brewers will persevere through their early season batting troubles.

If last season has taught Brewer fans anything, it’s that the MLB season is a long one.

But unless key hits start coming in key situations, Milwaukee may need to rearrange the batting order.

If you have any alternative suggestions for how the Brewers can improve their batting order or defensive lineup, e-mail Nate at ncarey@dailycardinal.com.

ISABEL ALVAREZ/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Wisconsin’s junior first baseman Alexis Garcia led the Badgers offensively, going 2-for-4, and defensively with eight put outs Wednesday.

softball from page 12 third baseman Theresa Brouta and Raphael kept Wisconsin from crossing home plate.

Up 6-5 after four innings, Notre Dame added two more runs in the bottom of the fifth and a three-run homer by Kohan in the sixth to secure the non-conference victory.

With the loss, Wisconsin (2-10 Big Ten, 12-33) has now dropped 12 of their last 14 games.

Wisconsin will look to get back on track against two conference opponents this weekend, as they travel to Iowa Friday and Saturday and then to Illinois for a double header on Sunday.

No. 25 Iowa (7-3 Big Ten, 28-13) currently sits at third place in the Big Ten, already with wins over No. 13 Northwestern and No. 6 Michigan this season.

Hawkeye junior pitcher Brittany Weil was named last week’s co-Big Ten Pitcher of the Week after compiling a 3-1 record, a 0.72 earned run average and 36 strikeouts in contests against Michigan State and No. 13 Northwestern.

Illinois (3-7 Big Ten, 24-23) sits in ninth place in the conference after splitting a double header with Michigan State last Sunday.

The explosive Illini offense leads the Big Ten in hits, runs scored, RBIs, doubles, home runs and slugging percentage. Illinois has hit a home run in each of its last seven contests.

The Badgers have not fared particularly well against either opponent, garnering records of 7-21 against Iowa and 4-11 record against the Illini.

—uwbadgers.com contributed to this report.

sometimes doesn’t make it look so nice.”

When asked about what he can improve on in his tennis game, the freshman responded, “everything.” However, he expressed his goals for the rest of the season

with reference to the team rather than his own individual game.

“We need to beat Michigan State this weekend first,” Michalicka said.

“Then we need to succeed in the Big Ten Tournament, and we’ll try our luck in the NCAA [Tournament].”

Sharp College Grads Needed

sports Wisconsin falls at Notre Dame

BADGER MEN’S BASKETBALL UPDATE: Ryan Evans signed a National Letter of Intent Wednesday to play basketball for the Badgers next year.

Evans is a 6'6" forward from Hamilton High School in Chandler, Ariz., who averaged 19 points and 7.7 rebounds per game his senior year.

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Thursday, April 17, 2008

By Jay Messar

NATE CAREY sports magnate

THE DAILY CARDINAL

The Wisconsin softball team gave up a Notre Dame school record three home runs in the fourth inning as the Irish sailed to an 11-5 victory Wednesday at Melissa Cook Stadium in Notre Dame, Ind. Wisconsin junior pitcher Leah Vanevenhoven picked up the loss in 2.2 innings pitched, dropping her record to 4-19 on the season. The pitching tandem of Vanevenhoven and sophomore Letty Olivarez combined for 12 hits, 10 earned runs and three walks with just one strikeout.

Backed by strong defense, Olivarez had a powerful early performance, giving up only one hit and holding the Irish scoreless in the first three innings.

The Badger offense shook Notre Dame’s junior pitcher Brittney Bargar in the top of the wild fourth inning. Left fielder Valyncia Raphael began with a leadoff walk.

First baseman Alexis Garcia moved Raphael to second with a single up the middle.

The next two batters, Olivarez and shortstop Lynn Anderson both walked, scoring Raphael from third. Right fielder Ashley Hanewich grounded out to second base, scoring Raphael. Second baseman Livi Abney reached first on a throwing error by the Notre Dame third baseman, scoring Olivarez from third. Center fielder Katie Soderberg grounded out to second base, scoring Anderson. Finally, a wild pitch scored Abney from third, making five runs on just two Wisconsin hits.

Wisconsin’s outburst seemed to wake up the Notre Dame bats, as the Irish answered with six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. Irish third baseman Linda Kohan led off with a deep homer to center field, followed three batters later by Christine Lux, who put a two-run shot over the fence in left-center.

Midway through the fourth

Brewers struggle with cold bats

S

Van Emburgh’s in Europe.

Michalicka and the UW coaches exchanged e-mails, and after a “three or four month process,” Michalicka signed with the Badgers, transferring from the University of Prague. He still has four years of eligibility remaining at Wisconsin, according to Austin.

“First impression was let’s see how he adjusts to playing indoors a little more, he played a lot on clay courts over in Europe,” Austin said. “He’s just a guy that no matter who he’s playing, he knows how to figure out a way to win. He’s a real experienced guy, and he’s just kind of been around the block as far as tournaments go.”

Michalicka boasts seven singles victories over teams that have been ranked in the top 30 by the Intercollegiate Tennis Association. Perhaps his best win came on March 30 against Illinois. Michalicka’s 6-4, 6-2 trouncing of No. 76 Billy Heiser at No. 3 singles helped the

ports fans that pick up a weekly newspaper and examine the National League Central standings may be somewhat surprised at what they see.

Neither the Milwaukee Brewers nor the Chicago Cubs occupy the top spot—that belongs to the St. Louis Cardinals—and both squads are 8-6/9-5, respectively.

It is unknown why the Cubs have struggled to start off this season, other than the fact that they just aren’t that good, but the Brewers’ struggles are apparent: The big bats aren’t hitting.

Although most will solely place the blame on first baseman, Prince Fielder, and some are even going as far as naming his decision to become a vegetarian as the culprit, the true reason goes much deeper—into the lineup, that is.

Left fielder Ryan Braun, second basemen Rickie Weeks and shortstop J.J. Hardy are all batting under .229, which doesn’t bode well for Fielder in the No. 3 spot in the lineup. Weeks’ on base percentage is currently .317, which is little consolation, while Hardy has had trouble getting good pitches in the No. 7-spot, batting in front of the pitcher.

Braun just hasn’t been able to get into a rhythm and manager Ned Yost’s lineup change that switched Braun to three and Fielder to four hasn’t changed much.

And then there is third basemen Bill Hall. Hall currently leads the team with five home runs, but his batting percentage (.207) leaves much to be desired. Hall also has a team-high 18 strikeouts in 58 atbats, giving the opposing pitcher a K on the score sheet a whopping 31 percent of the time.

The one bright spot in the lineup—besides the ridiculous start for catcher Jason Kendall— seems to be right fielder Corey Hart. Hart proved himself last season, taking over the starting job a month into the ’07 season, finishing with 24 home runs and 23 stolen bases. He may wear sunglasses at night, but as long as he continues to hit over .300, no one will care what he wears.

But all of these problems can be easily fixed. The main trouble the Brewers are having right now stems from their batting order.

Yost received much criticism and praise for adopting the philosophy made famous by Tony LaRussa of batting the pitcher eighth instead of ninth, as most NL teams do. And, while the move has worked to the Brewers’ advantage at times, the rippling effect throughout the lineup has been devastating.

Whoever is batting in front of the pitcher needs to be the most selective hitter in the lineup, who is either Kendall or Hart for the Brewers. Although Hardy is a great player, he hasn’t grown the patience to wait back and see what is coming. After batting in

tweety page 11

brewers page 11

GABRIEL SEHR/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Junior pitcher Leah Vanevenhoven struggled against Notre Dame Wednesday, giving up six hits and six runs. Vanevenhoven registered the Badger loss after only pitching 2.2 innings. inning, Wisconsin brought on Vanevenhoven in relief, but the Badger ace couldn’t silence the Irish bats, as shortstop Katie Fleury sent a deep blast to left field, picking up two RBI’s in the process. A fly out to

Raphael in left ended the inning.

Hanewich led off the Badger half of the sixth with a lead off triple down the right field line.

After Abney grounded out to second base, Soderberg reached on an

error. Senior catcher Joey Daniels walked for the third time, loading the bases with just one out, but consecutive strikeouts of junior softball page 11

‘Tweety’ makes a lot of noise for men’s tennis

By Chris Lindeke THE DAILY CARDINAL

LORENZO ZEMELLA/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Wisconsin freshman Marek Michalicka has an impressive 19-2 record this season, leading his team, with a 7-2 record in Big Ten play.

Marek Michalicka’s game should be taken more seriously than his nickname.

The standout freshman from Ricany, Czech Republic, who is respectfully referred to as “Tweety” by coaches and teammates, leads the No. 34 UW men’s tennis team with a 19-2 overall record in dual matches, including a 7-2 mark in Big Ten play, playing primarily at the No. 2 and No. 3 singles slots.

“I love Looney Tunes, and I love the character Tweety,” Michalicka said.

Standing at 6'0" and a generously-listed 160 pounds, Michalicka has been ranked as high as No. 113 in the country after joining the Badgers this spring. He is no stranger to being ranked, as he appeared in the top-40 among all players in the Czech Republic while attending Statni Gymnazium Ricany prior to joining UW. According to assistant coach Evan Austin, Michalicka’s name was mentioned by a couple of contacts of head coach Greg