Tuesday, October 21, 2008 - The Daily Cardinal by The Daily Cardinal

Students lucky to attend school down the street from beautiful state Capitol OPINION PAGE 4 l

University of Wisconsin-Madison

BADGERS AT THE HEAD OF WIS. SOCCER Men’s team ﬁnishes undefeated vs. in-state rivals after defeating UW-Green Bay SPORTS Complete campus coverage since 1892

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Tuesday, October 21, 2008

County boasts record number of ’08 ballots By Rebecca Holland THE DAILY CARDINAL

With the presidential election only a couple weeks away, local ofﬁcials are preparing for record voter turnout by delivering the highest number of ballots ever ordered in Dane County to polling stations. Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk said at a news conference Monday they are ready for the Nov. 4 election. “The city of Madison is carry-

ing out unprecedented preparations for this year’s election,” Cieslewicz said. “City ofﬁcials are working hard to ensure that Election Day is as smooth and convenient as possible for Madison voters.” The number of ballots ordered is determined by looking at the estimated number of all eligible voters in Dane County. Voter turnout in the county for the 2008 presidential election is estimated by County Clerk Bob Olsen to be around 80 to 85 percent, and 390,000 ballots

have been ordered to guarantee that every eligible voter will be able to do so. Those ballots have been delivered across Dane County to towns, villages and cities to help local ofﬁcials prepare for the election. “Whether it’s their ﬁrst time or 50th time taking part in this great democratic tradition, we want to make sure people’s voting experiences are as easy as they can be,” Falk said. “Given the huge interest ballots page 3

LORENZO ZEMELLA/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

Every Badger home game, students in Camp Randall jump to House of Payne’s “Jump Around” between the third and fourth quarters.

CHARLIE BAKER/THE DAILY CARDINAL

County ofﬁcials, including Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk, announced Monday they have prepared for the upcoming election by printing enough ballots for all eligible voters.

Football ‘jump’ tradition turns 10 at Homecoming By Kelsey Gunderson THE DAILY CARDINAL

Elections Assistance Commission clariﬁes polling procedures for ﬁrst-time voters By Justin Eells THE DAILY CARDINAL

With record numbers of ﬁrsttime voters expected to turn out for the Nov. 4 election, the United States Election Assistance Commission held a conference call Monday to clarify election procedures for students. The EAC was established by the Help America Vote Act and serves as a national resource for election information. “We thought that a conversation ... will help ensure that student voters know how to prepare for a successful voting experience and help encourage college students to volunteer as poll workers,”

Rosemary Rodriguez, chair of the EAC, said. Rodriguez said it is important for voters to know the options and voting procedures in their state. She said some states, including Wisconsin, allow early voting, which may be useful for students who do not have time to wait in line at crowded polling places. According to Rodriguez, the busiest times at the polls are when people are going to and from work and the hour before the polls close. To ensure a smooth voting experience, students should verify they are registered and ﬁnd out where their polling place is and what the

hours are, according to Rodriguez. She also encouraged students to volunteer as poll workers. “We have a need in this country for 2 million poll workers,” she said. Donna Davidson, EAC commissioner and vice chair, said many new volunteer positions will be open as election procedures are changing with new technologies. Anyone registered to vote somewhere other than his or her current residence must request an absentee ballot, which can be done at www. eac.gov, according to Rodriguez. The deadline for applying for an absentee ballot is noon on the day before the election.

Obama cancels Madison rally on account of ill grandmother Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will not rally in Madison Thursday as previously planned and will instead travel to Hawaii to visit his sick grandmother, campaign ofﬁcials conﬁrmed Monday. Obama was scheduled to rally near the state Capitol Thursday, but a city employee disclosed Monday

afternoon the campaign had canceled Thursday’s event. Robert Gibbs, a spokesperson for Obama, said in a statement Obama’s grandmother, Madelyn Dunham, has become ill in recent weeks and the illness has grown very serious. He said Obama changed his Thursday and Friday schedules in order to spend time with her.

According to Gibbs, Dunham has helped raise Obama and is “one of the most important people in his life.” “Along with his mother and his grandfather, she raised him in Hawaii from the time he was born until the moment he left for college. As he said at the Democratic Convention, she poured everything she had into him,” Gibbs said.

The UW-Madison gameday tradition of “Jump Around” will celebrate its 10-year anniversary at the homecoming football game Saturday against Illinois. The tradition began at the lowscoring 1998 homecoming game against Purdue when athletic officials played the House of Pain song “Jump Around” between the third and fourth quarters in an effort to pump up the fans. “The students have a tremendous amount of fun, and even those who aren’t jumping enjoy watching it,” former chancellor John Wiley said. “I can tell you from experience that standing up

in the UW Foundation’s box, it really shakes. It feels like an earthquake up there, and people who experience that for the first time get really scared because you can feel it go back and forth.” When “Jump Around” was banned briefly in 2003 for safety reasons, Wiley prevented the tradition from disappearing. With the help of the civil and environmental engineering program, he ensured the tradition’s safety and reinstated “Jump Around” in September of the same year. “[Camp Randall] is now the best studied stadium in the world probably,” he said, “It’s very safe jump around page 3

UW interactive panel discusses 2008 election system and modern media By Cassie Holman THE DAILY CARDINAL

A panel expressed both concern and optimism for social media’s inﬂuence on the face of modern politics, in an interactive discussion at the Pyle Center Monday. “Elections & Social Media: Entrepreneurial Paths to Participation,” hosted by Wiscontrepreneur and Project Youthanize, answered questions concerning the collision of the election process and social media. The panel answered questions ﬁelded by journalism school professor Katy Culver and the students in

attendance. Doug Bradley, assistant director of marketing and communications for the Ofﬁce of Corporate Relations, introduced the evening’s event. “We’ve got an 18th century electoral model here and we’ve got 21st century media … what’s happening when these worlds collide?” Bradley said. The consensus from the panel was the younger generation is politically involved, but in a much different way than previous generations through social networking sites like Twitter, panel 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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Tuesday, October 21, 2008

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First date, fake relationship hit the dust

Volume 118, Issue 36

2142 Vilas Communication Hall 821 University Avenue Madison, Wis., 53706-1497

TODAY: sunny

KIERA WIATRAK taking kiera business

hen you’ve been in a relationship for over a year, it’s difficult to remember that you were once that awkward lump of nerves trying to figure out if that guy like, liked you liked you. Did he mean to graze my arm, or was it unintentional? Or was it intentional but for some other reason than my unyielding attractiveness? Maybe there was toilet paper stuck to my elbow from my trip to the bathroom earlier and he was just brushing it off. Or maybe he wanted to touch me to gauge our chemistry, but then I gave him a bad vibe because I was thinking about toilet paper. But I would argue it’s even weirder when you realize that if this guy is The One, you may never go through that stress and humiliation again. Not too long ago, however, I found myself stranded in the clumsiness of a first date, regardless of my

current 18- month relationship. I had gone to see Gavin Degraw in Milwaukee with my very platonic friend Chris. We spent the first half of the night talking about our respective love lives. While Chris told me how lucky I was to be in a trusting and committed relationship, I advised him to sleep with as many girls as possible and to tell me about it as soon as it was over. With my wilder friends having fled the state for job opportunities, and my remaining friends plagued with self-esteem and dignity, I was seriously lacking on my gossip influx. But soon after the music started, Chris’ brother, who had driven up from Chicago with his live-in girlfriend for the concert, called him to meet up. As soon as he saw his brother and his girlfriend approaching, Chris leapt from the bleachers to give him a hug. If we were dating, I probably would’ve joined their conversation on the floor, but decided on a friendly wave. A couple minutes later, Chris hopped back onto the bleachers next to me.

“You wanna hear something funny?” he asked. “My brother thought we were here together. Like together, together.” “That’s hysterical! What did you tell him?” “I told him we weren’t together. But that I wanted to be.” “What? Why?” I asked. Chris gave me a look to imply that he was seriously questioning my intelligence. “I thought about telling him the truth,” he said. “But it just makes things so much more entertaining this way.” Was I so boring to be around that my concert companion had to resort to faux romance just to get through one outing with me? But I never got a chance to clarify my fun factor because I saw his brother walking back to us, followed by his girlfriend who was carrying two beers. “Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you they bought you a beer,” Chris told me. “Thought it would help me get laid.” Before I had a chance to respond, his brother’s girlfriend threw her arm around my shoulders and pulled me

away from the boys. “Enjoy!” she said, handing me a beer. “Isn’t Chris great? I mean he is sooo smart and sooo cute!” She stared at me, waiting for my response. I looked back at Chris, who raised an eyebrow at me, warning me not to screw this up. Then I took a sip of my free beer. “Yeah, he’s, like, so awesome,” I giggled. The funny thing about the whole situation is how unattractive Chris lets me know he thinks I am. “My brother and his girlfriend said you were really pretty,” he told me on the bus ride back to Madison. “Aww, thanks!” “I didn’t say it,” he said, rolling his eyes. A few weeks later, Chris told me he ﬁnally set his brother straight. “Does that mean no more free drinks?” I whined. “Duh,” he said. “That pretty much ended when you didn’t put out. By the way, you have toilet paper stuck to your arm.” If you need a pretend girlfriend, e-mail Kiera at wiatrak@wisc.edu, or just call an escort service.

Custodians receive earlier third-shift time slot after university negotiations

Women’s soccer player begins ‘Red and White Hunger Fight’ with food drive

UW-Madison custodians received notice Monday that they can revert back to an old third shift starting time of 5 p.m., effective Nov. 23. In early October, custodians picketed in protest against a 6 p.m. starting time implemented in August—a change they said would cause driving hazards and sleep deprivation because it pushed the end of their shift back an hour. Alan Fish, associate vice chancellor, said university officials met with members of the third shift staff to listen to their concerns. “Their feedback led us to believe that the disruption to their personal lives outweighed any benefits we were receiving with a later starting time,” Fish said in a statement. In its original decision to push back the shift’s start time,

The goaltender of the UWMadison women’s soccer team organized an all-campus food drive as a part of the Red and White Hunger Fight initiative, which kicked off Monday and will run through Nov. 10. Goaltender Michele Dalton said she participated in a similar event in high school and wanted to share the idea with the UW-Madison community. The food drive is run in partnership with the Community Action Coalition and aims to collect food

the university claimed most students and faculty are not cleared out of classrooms and buildings by 5 p.m. and are an obstacle for janitors to clean around. Although the university and custodians have struggled in the past, Fish said he is looking forward to creating more efficient relationships to improve facility management around campus. “We’d like this to be the beginning of a productive dialogue with our staff on how we can all be more efficient in caring for all of our facilities,” Fish said. “We value their experience and opinions and will create avenues for them to share their ideas.”� As a result of past budgetary restrictions that reduced the number of campus custodians, the university aims to be more productive in all three shifts. —Erin Banco

donations before Thanksgiving. Dalton is pushing to get campus groups, including athletic teams, involved in the initiative through donating food and participating in fundraisers. Upcoming Red and White Hunger Fight events include Taggers and Baggers, a community food drive, scheduled for Nov. 2 through Nov. 9, BIG Event Day Volunteers, a day of sorting and packing food Nov. 12, and Food Baskets, a day for assembling baskets with CAC Nov. 26.

Law enforcement ofﬁcials track down over 2,500 Wisconsin sex offenders More than 2,500 sex offenders in Wisconsin that evaded registry requirements are now under the observation of law enforcement members, Gov. Jim Doyle announced Monday. Authorities located 2,523 uncooperative sex offenders, 1,542 of which committed crimes against minors, according to a statement. The offenders were tracked down as part of Doyle’s Sex Offender Apprehension and Felony Enforcement initiative, which utilized teams of retired law enforcement members and

sex offender registry specialists. “Our efforts in Wisconsin make us a national leader in strategies to hold sex offenders accountable, but we must continue to do everything we can to keep our communities safe and secure from dangerous offenders,” Doyle said in a statement. Of the offenders tracked down, 61 are on “Wisconsin’s Most Wanted List,” a compilation of the most dangerous sex offenders in Wisconsin based on seriousness of offense and criminal history, according to the statement.

Pulling for school spirit

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

KYLE BURSAW/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Students gathered in the McClain Athletic Complex Monday night to participate in relay races, tug-of-war battles and spirit competitions at the UW-Homecoming Badger Games.

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Tuesday, October 21, 2008

news

‘West Wing’ actor campaigns for Obama during campus visit

SSFC decreases funding for Roman Catholic Foundation

By Charles Brace

The Roman Catholic FoundationUW-Madison received signiﬁcant budget cuts for the 2009-’10 academic year from the Student Services Financial Committee Monday. Many of the cuts came out of funding for service trips. RCF-UW planned at least seven, but according to some members of SSFC, they did not seem to match up with the eligibility of the foundation’s mission. Although RCF-UW originally received the money for the trips because there was a demand from students, SSFC Chair Kurt Gosselin said simple demand is not justiﬁcation enough. SSFC was not opposed to making compromises. While a motion to cut $3,780 from the winter break service trip was put into effect, $450 was restored for registration fees. “I have concerns that these programs themselves are not cost effective, but having the registration fees serves as a compromise,” Gosselin said. Service trips to Philadelphia, St. Louis, Birmingham, New Orleans and Kansas City will all receive funding for registration costs, but zero aid

THE DAILY CARDINAL

Actor Bradley Whitford campaigned for Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama Monday at Memorial Union and strongly encouraged students to volunteer for the upcoming election. Whitford, who played the character Josh Lyman in the television show “The West Wing” and appeared in the movie “Billy

Madison,” said the election’s outcome will affect the country’s future generations. “You and your children are going to deal with the consequences of this [election] for the rest of your lives,” he said. Whitford cautioned audience members to not become complacent. He said Republicans are adept at using allegations of voter fraud and a “cynical” political machine

NICK KOGOS/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Bradley Whitford, an actor who appeared on ‘The West Wing,’ shares his support for Obama and signs autographs at Memorial Union Monday.

to win elections. “I think it’s been hard to run against Republicans for a long time because they ridiculously have owned God and the ﬂag, and it is really hard to run against that,” Whitford said. He said Obama is a candidate who is able to deal with complex issues and has the ability to stop the political polarization of the country. Obama, according to Whitford, would hopefully be able to encourage more thoughtful discussions of the issues facing the country. Similarly, a way to appeal to current undecided or conservative voters, according to Whitford, is to offer a different definition of conservatism. Whitford described himself as conservative but said a true conservative would not “rush” to war or encourage financial recklessness. “There’s nothing conservative about being in a position of this economic vulnerability,” he said. Whitford and UW-Madison Students for Obama, who sponsored the event, said it was important for students to vote early so they could volunteer on Election Day. Hannah Bailey, a UW-Madison sophomore, said she was a fan of “The West Wing” and that the event was motivating. “I thought he was really eloquent, that he explained the issues very well,” Baily said.

Nobel Peace Prize winner argues against intervention in Iran By Stephanie Dar THE DAILY CARDINAL

A Nobel Peace Prize winner spoke about democracy, human rights in Iran, and Iran’s relationship with the United States during a campus visit Monday. Visiting speaker Shiri Ebadi served as a judge in Iran before the revolution in 1979, when she was demoted from her position due to new laws established immediately following the revolution. She went to law school after leaving the court and has since won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2003 for her work on human rights in Iran. Ebadi is the first Muslim and Iranian woman to receive this honor. According to Ebadi, in Iran, the life of a woman is valued half as much as the life of a man. Men are allowed to have up to

jump around from page 1 and a great tradition.” As the Badger football team struggles to end its current losing streak, the UW Homecoming Committee hopes to improve the students’ spirits Saturday and at other university-related events throughout the week. “Obviously homecoming is based on the football game, but we try to focus our attention more on being proud to be Badgers rather than winning or losing,” Megan Halverson, cochair of the UW Homecoming

four wives while a woman may not leave the country without her husband’s permission. “These laws are not compatible with Iranian culture,” she said. “These laws allow for discrimination based off of religious belief.” Ebadi said it is possible to be a Muslim and respect human rights values. In Iran and most of the Middle East, democracy is limited because the people do not elect their leaders and freedom of speech is curtailed. Ebadi said despite this the Iranian government blames the people of the country. “Governments do not get legitimacy clearly through the votes of the people but through human rights,” she said. “We need to understand the relationship between democracy and Iran.”

Ebadi emphasized democracy can only come to the Iranian people through their own efforts and not through the efforts of foreign troops. She said in September of 1980 Saddam Hussein invaded Iran and destroyed 50 Iranian cities, some with chemical weapons. During this time the United States and Hussein were on “good terms.” “Democracy is not a gift that can be given to a nation,” she said. “People in the Middle East are dying and losing their lives because of these wars … we love Iran and simply will not allow it to turn into another Iraq.” Ebadi’s speech was part of the Distinguished Lecture Series, which will next host Washington Post reporter Robin Wright Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the Wisconsin Union Theater.

Committee, said. According to Halverson, the “Jump Around” tradition is a great way to show school spirit at the game. “It’s fun because it’s something so simple but everyone loves it,” she said. “It brings people together because we all know what’s going on.” Regardless of the football team’s record, UW-Madison students are looking forward to the homecoming game Saturday. “Every game is huge here, so I’m looking forward to see how big homecoming will be,”

UW-Madison freshman Maarja Anderson said. “I love ‘Jump Around.’ It always gets everyone pumped up even if we are losing.” According to Vince Sweeney, senior associate athletic director for external relations, the football team is looking forward to playing at Camp Randall again this weekend. “We are gearing up for homecoming as normal with all the festivities surrounding the week,” Sweeney said. “We are just excited to be back at home.”

By Caitlin Gath THE DAILY CARDINAL

panel from page 1 MySpace and Facebook. UW-Madison senior Corey Senderhauf said she was concerned about the slew of information in the websites because it is often difﬁcult to break through the clutter. In response, panelist Charlie Berens, a UW-Madison senior who represents the state as a citizen journalist on MTV’s Street Team ’08, said social networking sites such as Facebook can foster political action. “You present yourself in a way on Facebook and other social networking sites,” Berens said. “And if you’re going to put something on your site, you know other people are going to see

on all other fronts. SSFC representative Darren Knox felt it was a matter of cost versus benefit. He said it was not fair to use the segregated fees just to benefit a few students. According to RCF-UW pastoral intern Andrea Eddy, service trips and retreats are essential to the proper functioning of the group, especially those designed specifically for leaders. “I think there’s a real danger when you cut the opportunities for the leadership because many of our leaders are already stretched incredibly thin,” Eddy said. “I think there’s an opportunity on these retreats that goes far more than other retreats in a deeper sense.” Mini courses about family planning and social teachings of the church also received cuts because the demand for them wasn’t as high as RCF-UW previously anticipated. The theater-arts program, which aims to produce shows like Godspell, received a motion to decrease funds as well, citing that it seemed more entertainment-based than educational. Other student organizations at the meeting, like Sex Out Loud, took part in eligibility budget hearings, which will be voted on Thursday. it, and it’s going to make you think at least one more time.” Panelist Angelo Carusone, a blogger on 2008central.net, raised concerns about the hardening of political lines. He said participants can more actively filter the information they seek through the social media. While lingering after the event, students and faculty members said they learned from comparing the social media to the 2008 election process. “What we wanted to happen tonight did happen,” Bradley said. “The conversation here was about social media, new media and doing things that are different, exciting and cutting edge … that’s where entrepreneurship is going to take root.”

LORENZO ZEMELLA/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Charlie Berens, UW-Madison senior and panel member, ﬁelded questions regarding the impact of social networks on the 2008 election.

ballots from page 1 we see in the presidential election, we are expecting the busiest polling places ever on Nov. 4th.” Olsen and Madison City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl said turnout is expected to be higher in certain wards. The UW-Madison campus is expected to draw a large number of voters, and ofﬁcials will be able

to transport ballots from lesser-used polling sites to those busier locations. It is still possible to vote early and beat the crowds on Election Day. Through Nov. 3, early and absentee voting hours will be held at the City Clerk’s ofﬁce Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Fridays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

opinion 4

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Tuesday, October 21, 2008

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

obama’s interests lie in other states

esterday, Madison parks community relations coordinator Laura Whitmore announced that the Obama campaign will not be visiting Madison Thursday. The cancellation is due to the deteriorating health of Obama’s grandmother, according to his campaign. The noon rally was approved to be held around noon at the Capitol Square. This is the same location at which John Kerry— accompanied by the Foo Fighters and Bruce Springsteen—held a similar rally before the 2004 presidential election. Obama supporters will no doubt support his decision to cancel for personal circumstances. Also important to note, though, is that when Obama returns to the campaign trail Saturday, Wisconsin will rightfully receive less attention than other states from the campaign as a whole. None of his supporters should feel slighted if denied a rally or other forms of significant attention. As evidenced by the estimated 80,000 people in attendance at Kerry’s 2004 rally, or the 17,000 at Obama’s Feb. 12 rally at the Kohl Center, these events prove to be quite the spectacle. However, in a state favoring Obama and in a city clearly conscious about “getting out the vote,” a rally would do little more than preach

to the choir. Recent CNN polls show that Obama has a 17-point lead over McCain. Two weeks represents a long time in presidential campaigns, but the consensus is that McCain is on the defensive, trying to protect traditionally Republican states, while Obama is on the offensive, attempting win over as many undecided states as possible. Obama’s best interests lie in doing everything to support his potential election, and campaigning in other states less decided than Wisconsin will only bolster this potential. Wisconsin, once believed to be a swing state, shows 54 percent favoring Obama to McCain’s 38 percent, according to recent CNN polls. Tossup states such as Ohio, Florida and Missouri—each split by less than 5 percent—require more attention from both campaigns as the election nears. While the sentiments of every Obama supporter in Madison go to his grandmother at the current time, when business as usual resumes, don’t doubt the campaign will be focused elsewhere. With the election two weeks away, this clearly Obama-friendly campus should recognize that, barring a second push in Wisconsin by John McCain, Obama’s best interests lie elsewhere.

Capitol symbolizes more than many of us realize By Tom Hart THE DAILY CARDINAL

Colorful lighting at the Capitol building has added to the beauty of a downtown landscape that can be enjoyed by Madisonians on a nightly basis. These alternative lighting schemes add to the rich legacy of a building that represents progressive reform and stands as a stunning architectural gem. The Capitol has served as a helpful reminder to Madison residents for the past two weeks about two issues that are highly deserving of the free advertisement. Contrary to popular belief, the pink lighting of two weeks ago was actually for breast cancer awareness (and not Mariah Carey’s birthday). The motivations behind the use of the green hue that took over the Capitol dome last week were slightly more difficult to decipher. I continually asked various friends and classmates throughout the week but could not find the answer. It was after a breathtaking trip down Bascom Hill several nights ago that I finally decided to Google the answer. Money Smart Week turned out to be the reason. What is Money Smart Week you ask? Let me inform you. The Chicago Federal Reserve enacted the program in 2002 amid concerns that the region’s citizens were becoming more and more financially illiterate. Several Midwestern cities adopted the program to increase financial awareness, and Wisconsin joined the movement in 2006 as the first statewide campaign in the country.

The Governor’s Council on Financial Literacy lit the Capitol green in an effort to advertise the over 600 programs and events that are being offered free of charge to Wisconsin residents (see moneysmartwi.org for events calendar). With the current status of the United States economy, the green illumination could not come at a more poignant time. Raising awareness regarding education on matters such as credit management, stock market success and financing college education costs show that the state government is committed to improving the struggling situation that many Wisconsin residents now find themselves in. Such awareness should be promoted and well-known by the public. But how many residents were aware of this? Furthermore, the glow of the Capitol across Lake Monona evokes a sense of Madison pride every time I come down John Nolen Drive on my way into town, but like many others, my reasoning for having this pride was relatively unbased until recently. The Capitol has a rich history and cultural significance beyond the lights that brighten the night sky. Architect George B. Post presided over the construction that was completed in 1917 and is one of the nation’s most celebrated architects. He is also responsible for the design of the New York Stock Exchange building. The largest granite dome in the world stands atop four wings adorned with sculptures that promote the ideals of liberty, wisdom

and the continuous progression of human society. Daniel Chester French sculpted the “Wisconsin” (also known as the “Golden Lady”) statue that stands above the dome as well as the seated Abraham Lincoln sculpture that sits at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Over 500,000 visitors from across the nation come to Madison to see a Capitol building that has been the focus of attention ever since a team of eight mules lifted the “Golden Lady” to her current resting place in 1917. Some of the first legislation regarding financial regulation and unemployment compensation were passed within its halls during the LaFollette family’s reign. In exceedingly harsh times, The Wisconsin Capitol serves as a beacon of pride and inspiration, and should not be taken for granted. UW-Madison students should take the time to stop and appreciate the beauty of the Capitol whenever they get the chance, because most of us will miss it as we move on to other cities after graduation. Additionally, if my attempts to discover the basis for the various colors featured on the dome taught me anything, it’s that the city doesn’t do enough to inform the public of the Capitol’s symbol on campus. Raising awareness should not be shrouded in speculation—especially regarding issues as important and prevalent as those on display in the past two weeks. Tom Hart is a senior majoring in political science and history. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

Middle of ﬁrst semester a bad time for students to house hunt By Roz Koff THE DAILY CARDINAL

As the school year winds on, the warm, back-to-school feeling has quickly come to an end. Midterm exams, papers and extracurricular obligations are upon us. Students’ minds are filled not only with equations, lists of facts or intricate concepts, but also the daunting responsibility of finding somewhere to live next year. Last week, several major property management companies, such as JSM, Steve Brown and Madison Property Management, released leases for the next school year. Year after year, the rush to claim a property close to campus reveals the horrendousness of the housing market. One of the major obstacles presented by this time crunch is deciding who to live with. This is a particularly difficult task for freshmen, as they are just getting to know each other and still have not met nearly enough people to decide who they would and would not want to live with. Freshmen are also increasing their involvement in various student activities, such as Greek life or student orgs. Specifically considering students involved in the Greek system, these students do not have adequate time to decide on a group, and furthermore if they want to live in a specific chapter’s house. Generally, students with a year

on campus have less trouble finding roommates they truly want to live with, but they’ve only lived together for approximately six weeks. That’s nowhere near enough time to truly determine if your current group is feasible for another year together. After finding roommates, students must decide what building in which they want to live. Most students moved in while the weather was still warm and—especially having not experienced the winter in their building—are not sure whether they want to stay or leave. Steve Brown, in particular, informs residents mid-September that they have until Sept. 27 to resign their leases. Then they have another week to establish move-in priority for their building. On Oct. 15, the buildings are opened up for anyone to claim. Students hoping to claim these vacancies camp out—the most dedicated for three days and nights—outside of the Steve Brown leasing headquarters, waiting for their turn to find a potential home for fall 2009. Aside from choosing a roommate and a place to live, many other variables create conflicts when attempting to make these decisions. Many students choose to study abroad—forcing them to search for sublets. Students going abroad battle through the downtown area searching for apartments willing to do a one-semester lease to avoid sublet-

ting. Such leases disappear quickly, and students have to swarm others trying to secure a sublet situation so they are not stuck paying thousands of dollars for an uninhabited apartment for an entire semester. Students who stick around often have to fill vacancies left by roommates abroad to avoid living in a four-bedroom apartment with three sub-letters once their roommates leave. Leasing issues aside, how can sophomores in their sixth week of school decide what they are going to do three semesters from now? Things happen, life changes and plans alter. Getting stuck in a living situation that no longer fits the student is a messy process to attempt to change. Timing also comes into play for students involved in Greek life, who have the opportunity to run for the “executive board” of their Greek chapters. These elections typically do not occur until November—far after the leasing rush begins. Older students are also put in a strange place with leasing. Those applying to graduate school after college don’t hear admissions decisions until March, leaving seniors very little time to scramble for apartments afterward. If a student hoping to remain in Madison signs a lease right now but does not get accepted into the graduate school, they are left with a lease that is extremely difﬁcult to get out of or transfer. If a student does not sign

a lease but then is later accepted, housing proximate to campus is extremely difﬁcult to ﬁnd. Obviously management companies have to deal with hundreds of students attempting to secure a place to live, but asking them to wait until younger students have better acclimated themselves to

the university is not unreasonable. Pushing this process back until at least the beginning of the spring semester would be extremely beneﬁcial for all students. Roz Koff is a sophomore majoring in journalism and women’s studies. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

LORENZO ZEMELLA/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Residents of Lucky, a popular Steve Brown property, were urged to sign Fall 2009 leases before they were released on Oct. 15.

arts Pop culture swaps God for Bono, Morissette DALE MUNDT croco-dale rock

hile attending a wedding this past weekend, I started ﬂipping through the hymnal in front of me. I have always been fascinated by the way churches use music to represent their views of God and how much of the greatest classical music was written speciﬁcally for church services. That got me to thinking about our culture. How is God characterized in our music today? What would it be like if future historians look back on our society and try to characterize our religious ideas based only on our pop culture? I can just see some future college professor lecturing on our belief that God was actually Alanis Morissette, as evidenced by the wildly popular “documentary,” “Dogma.” Then, in my mid-wedding daydream, I started making a list of songs I would preserve for the future professor.

At least one U2 song is required in any playlist about God. Or AIDS. Or pretentious singers with god complexes.

“I Will Follow You Into the Dark,” Death Cab for Cutie Basically, this song says, “Damn every known system of theology, let’s commit suicide together and skip off into the void.” I’m a sucker for songs about communal suicide.

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

“God Only Knows,” the Beach Boys At one point, this song questions, “What good would living do me?” More suicide. But really, the only thing this song brings to my mind is the opening credits to “Big Love.” “Bukowski,” Modest Mouse OK, so Alanis is getting some rough breaks so far. Two songs about suicide and now a song that calls God a “control freak,” an “Indian giver” and an “asshole.” “God Part II,” U2 At least one U2 song is required in any playlist about God. Or AIDS. Or pretentious lead singers with god complexes. This song’s positive message—“I believe in love”—though, is somewhat offset by another—“I don’t believe in cocaine / But a speedball is in my hand.” “I Think God Can Explain,” Splender Splender is putting a lot of pressure on the omnipotent Alanis to answer some tough questions in this song. Questions like “Is this actually a song about a breakup,” and “Isn’t the word spelled “‘Splendor?’” “Jah Didn’t Kill Johnny,” Sage Francis “God would never kill Johnny Cash.” Well, maybe after some of his masturbatory greatest hits albums, but not after he started working with Rick Rubin. “Counting Blue Cars,” Dishwalla “Tell me all your thoughts on God / ‘cause I’d really like to meet her. / And ask her why we’re who we are.” Finally, some validation for Alanis and her genitalia. “What God Wants (Part 1),” Roger Waters This is actually a three-part song from his album, Amused to Death. His lyrics claim that God must want “fam-

PHOTO COURTESY WARNER BROS. RECRODS

What if God really was one of us... or Canadian? To historians, Alanis may have one hand in her pocket, but the other will be holding an olive branch.

ine, war and chain stores.” Sounds more like, “What Sam Walton wants.” “God Must Hate Me,” Simple Plan I actually strongly believe this song. If we live in a world where bubble gum-punk crap could be as popular as Simple Plan, some omniscient being must really, real-

ly hate us. “One of Us,” Joan Osborne If Alanis Morissette was God, then what would Joan Osborne be? I mean, if one mid-90s vagina rocker is a deity, why can’t they all be? Could Sarah McLaughlin be Vishnu? Is Tori Amos really

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Zarathustra? Who is Ani DiFranco? I’m pretty sure these songs do not reﬂect the current theology of our nation. Actually, I dare you to come up with a worse list. Wondering how Dale forgot Neil Diamond’s “Thank the Lord for the Nighttime?” E-mail the songs he missed to dpmundt@wisc.edu.

comics 6

Why walk when you can hover? Hummingbirds can’t walk. dailycardinal.com/comics

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

The Electric Slide in Reverse

Today’s Sudoku

Anthro-Apology

By Eric Wigdahl wigdahl@wisc.edu

Angel Hair Pasta

By Todd Stevens ststevens@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. The Daily Code 1

Snap Crackle Pop

a b

5 6

g h i 7

m n

q r

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

“Vlr alk’q exsb ql yb qxii ql pbb qeb jllk.”

Sid and Phil

By Alex Lewein lewein@wisc.edu

The Graph Giraffe

By Yosef Lerner ilerner@wisc.edu

African Proverb

Yesterday’s Code:

“You’d think that radio was around long enough that someone would have come up with a word for staring into space.”

Today’s Crossword Puzzle

Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com

FRUIT COCKTAIL ACROSS 1 Spread outward, as black-eyed Susans 6 Track-and-ﬁeld activity 10 Egg holders (Abbr.) 14 Resin used to make varnish 15 “Look here, old chap!” 16 One and only 17 Lump in one’s throat 19 Pinnacle 20 Prepare for a play 21 Nursery furnishing 23 Sophs., two years later 24 One of a storied threesome 25 Badger 28 Cabbage side 29 All gone, as food 30 Arouse, as interest 33 Galway’s land 34 Sun Devils of the Pac10 35 Jack-in-the-pulpit, e.g. 36 Earth’s crust bound by faults 38 Tree trunk protuberance 39 Noted architect I.M. 40 Cartoon skunk Le Pew 41 Riveted seat covers? 42 Captivate 44 Unspeciﬁed culprits 46 Gather in, as leaves

47 Schwarzenegger’s birthplace, Thal bei ____ 48 A-E connection 51 Singer Lovett 52 So long, in Paris 54 Footnote abbr. 56 “Maybellene” singer 58 Baby’s word 59 Pain in the neck 60 Susan’s longtime role 61 Hunted animals 62 Arranges, as the dinner table 63 They fill holes DOWN 1 Brings up, as young 2 “Red” tree 3 Informal affirmatives 4 Plus-size model and TV host 5 Knock out of commission 6 Lumberyard fixture 7 According to 8 Baseball great Ripken Jr. 9 Where “E” is a line 10 Actress Bloom 11 Head honcho 12 Mobile-to-Cleveland dir. 13 Item on a driver’s license 18 Kind of rug or code 22 RPM, for one

26 Sarandon of Hollywood 27 San Antonio hoopsters 28 Bottom-line ﬁgure 29 Sue Grafton’s “___ for Evidence” 30 Word with “doll” or “bag” 31 “The Faerie Queene” character 32 Plaster ingredient 33 Prior to, in poetry 36 Browbeats 37 Choose 38 F major or E minor 40 Beatle name 41 Shameless hussy 43 Period of greatest success 44 Weigh station visitors 45 “___! The Herald Angels Sing” 47 Obese’s opposite 48 Kind of acid 49 Greek temptress 50 Words with “a bone” or “dust” 53 “Alice” waitress 54 Young troublemaker 55 Chocolate unit 57 Depart in haste

Awkward Turtle

By Meg Anderson anderson4@wisc.edu

sports

dailycardinal.com/sports

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Wisconsin blankets UWGB to earn sweep of in-state rivals Waspi, Diaz contribute goals in 2-0 home win By Mariah Asher THE DAILY CARDINAL

The University of Wisconsin men’s soccer team got off to a quick start Monday night as junior forward Brandon Miller assisted senior forward Victor Diaz to put the Badgers up 1-0 against UW-Green Bay in the ﬁrst minute of the game. Wisconsin continued to keep up the intensity throughout the rest of the game, defeating the Phoenix 2-0 at the McClimon Soccer Complex. With their win the Badgers completed a season sweep of their in-state rivalries, having already defeated UW-Milwaukee (4-0, Oct. 8) and Marquette (1-0, Oct. 15). The Badgers controlled the ﬁrst half of the game, continuously hassling UW-Green Bay’s defense. Numerous shots on goal were attempted within the 18-yard box, but were stopped by UW-Green Bay

freshman goalie Travis Meikle. The Wisconsin pressure started to pick up at the 22nd minute when junior defender Scott Lorenz attempted a shot from a cross made by Miller, followed by another close shot that flew over the top of the goal. From the 26th to the 37th minute steady attempts were made by senor midfielder Kenny Dix, Miller, and Diaz, all of which were unsuccessful. “It was rough on both sides... players were taking out their frustrations by pushing and knocking other players around.” Victor Diaz senior froward UW men’s soccer

With two minutes left in the first half, Diaz crossed from outside the 18-yard box to junior midfielder Taylor Waspi, who finished on goal to increase the Badgers’ lead to 2-0. That goal was the last for Wisconsin, which had many attempts on goal but

went scoreless in the second half. The match was by no means clean. Both teams combined for 33 fouls; 17 by the Badgers and 16 by the Phoenix, along with two yellow cards a piece. “It was rough on both sides,” Miller said. “Players were taking out their frustration by pushing and knocking other players around, but you just have to keep your head in the game.” The Badgers will look to snap a 12-game winless streak in conference play against Penn State Saturday at the McClimon Complex. Their last win against a Big Ten opponent came in a 2-0 victory over the Nittany Lions on Oct. 15, 2006. “We had a quick start, lots of energy, enthusiasm, and passion,” head coach Jeff Rohrman said. “We will be lucky to get as many shots off against Penn State as we did tonight so we need to be much more precise in the box.” “If we play like we played tonight against Penn State, there’s no doubt in my mind that we will come out on top,” Diaz said. “We have the ingredients, we just need to use them.”

DANNY MARCHEWKA/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

Senior forward Victor Diaz registered a goal and an assist in the Badgers’ win over UW-Green Bay. It was his second goal of the year.

A very long weekend: Volleyball falls to both Purdue and Illinois on the road By Andy Van Sistine THE DAILY CARDINAL

KYLE BURSAW/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

Sophomore libero Kim Kuzma collected 40 digs in two weekend matches. Her defensive efforts were for naught, as UW went 0-2.

bielema from page 8 Illinois Saturday. Bielema said he does not “know where he’ll be at by gameday,” after Hill re-aggravated an injury to his lower leg that kept him out for part of the 2007 season. Freshman John Clay and sophomore Zach Brown would play in place of Hill if he cannot start Saturday. Bielema said that if Hill was unable to play he would “be very excited to see what those two [Clay and Brown] can do.” The Badger offense will need to produce more than it has recently—in its past ﬁve games, Wisconsin has scored more than 17 points just once: in a 25-27 loss to Michigan. The Badgers will try to end their four-game losing streak Saturday against Illinois, but the defense will not have an easy road to victory against junior quarterback Isaiah “Juice” Williams and the Illini offense. Williams has thrown for 1,948

With two statement matches against ranked conference opponents on the line, the No. 19 Wisconsin volleyball team (4-4 Big Ten, 14-6 overall) fell further behind in the Big Ten standings with losses against No. 21 Purdue (5-3, 16-4) in a five-set shootout and a sweep at the hands of No. 17 Illinois (5-3, 14-5). The two dropped matches leave the Badgers in a four-way tie for fourth place and a distant four games behind conference leader, No. 1 Penn State. In the first set, with the Badgers up 22-19, Purdue took advantage of Wisconsin errors to tie the score up at 22 before Badger junior outside hitter Brittney Dolgner tacked on a couple of kills to end the set. Dolgner tallied seven of her game-high 22 kills during the first set. But the Boilermakers battled back, breaking an 8-8 tie in the second set and maintaining a solid lead thanks in large to a .350 team hitting effort. yards and rushed for 475 more this season. Bielema was quick to complement the Illinois quarterback, saying he “creates plays with his legs.” “We need to be focused ... and understand that Illinois brings in one of the most productive offenses in the Big Ten.” Bret Bielema head coach UW Football

“He always has the ability to make something out of nothing,” Bielema said. Bielema also praised the Illini’s ability to make quick scoring plays, and said that when an opposing defense must overcompensate to contain Williams, they leave options open for the offense. “We need to be focused ... and understand that Illinois brings in one of the most productive offenses in the Big Ten,” Bielema said.

Wisconsin turned the momentum in its direction once again with a drawnout set in the third, serving for set point three times before Dolgner eventually served up an ace to earn another win for the Badgers. Again, a tremendous hitting effort on the part of Purdue, led by a 1.000 performance from sophomore middle hitter Kristen Arthurs, put the Boilermakers back on track and kept them in the lead all the way to victory in the fourth set. The offensive drive seemed to stay with Purdue into the fifth, breaking an 8-8 tie with a 7-1 run to finish the match. Although Dolgner led all players in kills, it was Arthurs and Purdue senior middle hitter Stephanie Lynch who stole the show with .609 and .459 hitting percentages respectively to end the evening. The Boilermakers also bested the Badgers in blocks 13-9.5 and service aces 8-3. Senior defensive specialist Kelli Miller had the most success behind the service line for Purdue, finishing

pinky from page 8 what is likely his last year in organized football. They interviewed his mother, who professed how proud she was of her son. They interviewed his teammates, who expressed how much they were in awe of his dedication. They interviewed the man himself, Trevor Wikre, who… said he liked to dangle the amputated stub in front of his fiancée? Is this guy a hardcore dedicated football player, or is he just a guy who made a brash decision while caught up in the moment of the sport? I’ve heard all week from pundits and alike that this kid is the epitome of commitment. But when he was interviewed by ESPN last week and asked whether or not he would do the same thing—that is, chop off his little finger to keep playing—if he were a sophomore or a junior, he said, “Uh, probably not, no.” So clearly this being his last year of playing football had nothing to do with it. From a practical point of view, having a finger amputated

the night with five aces and no errors. Sophomore libero Kim Kuzma was Wisconsin’s top performer on defense, digging up 25 hits on the night—five more than any other player. Things got no easier for Wisconsin when it stepped on the court in Champaign, Ill., to do battle with the Illini. Despite starting out strong with a couple of DOLGNER three-point leads early on in the first set, UW allowed Illinois to come back and tie it at 18. Wisconsin stood tough and pulled ahead to serve set points at 24-23 and 25-24, but failed to convert, leaving the door open for Illini sophomore outside hitter Laura DeBruler to score on two kills, setting up a 27-25 win. Again in the second, Wisconsin started off with an early advantage, up 13-11, but allowed Illinois to

score five straight points to take a 16-13 lead that they would never reclaim. Wisconsin’s last opportunity to take a set came late in the third, where the Badgers found themselves up 20-18 sparked in part from a rare kill by Kuzma. But the Illini rattled off a 7-2 rally and finished the Badgers in a sweep. Illinois put up better numbers than Wisconsin in nearly every statistical category, including 11 blocks to the Badgers’ four. Dolgner led the Badgers in kills with 10, but it was DeBruler who had the best offensive effort on the court with 14 kills on 38 attempts. Illinois sophomore middle blocker showed why she is currently the best blocker in the Big Ten, stuffing six hits with one solo block in the three sets. The Badgers will return to the UW Field House this weekend for the first time in three weeks, but the competition only gets tougher from here, as they play host to No. 1 Penn State Friday.

did not help his chances of continuing his football career beyond this year, either. Playing for a Division II school makes you a long shot for the NFL to begin with, and volunteering to lop off a digit is not going to help your chances. I’m guessing it will probably hinder his chances of playing professionally at any level, for that matter. And when you tell everyone that you wave the amputated stump in front of your bride-to-be to gross her out, I really wonder whether this guy is more appreciative of the fact that he gets to keep playing, or that everyone is making a big deal out of this whole situation. Wikre is majoring in K-12 physical education, which is good, because he will obviously need to fall back on that for a career. I wonder if he ever thought long and hard about whether living the rest of his life with one less ﬁnger will be worth it. Whether or not life with that bride-to-be and their children might be hindered by dad’s handicap. Big deal, you might say, what good is a pinky anyway? You’d be

surprised. I’ve heard from mill and factory workers who have lost fingers and have struggled with so many motor operations throughout their lives. Trust me, working in a paper mill each of the last three years, it’s not something I wish upon anyone. Now, is there any question whether the guy is committed to football? No, this guy is definitely committed. But can’t you be committed without being irrational? For sure. Seems to me that Wikre could have thought this one through a little better. Chopping off his pinky finger did nothing for his future, nothing for his family and nothing for his football career beyond a couple more weeks of his last season at Mesa State. Just taking a guess here, choosing to lose your little finger does not make you any more of a man than your teammates, either. It just makes you one finger short of a full hand. Way to go, Wikre. High four. Think you would cut off your finger for things far less important than a few months of football? Tell Andy about it at avansistine@wisc.edu

sports Bielema upset with team’s play 8

dailycardinal.com/sports

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Sherer will start next weekend despite performance

ANDREW VAN SISTINE sistine’s chapel

By Nico Savidge THE DAILY CARDINAL

Head coach Bret Bielema emphasized a back-to-basics approach for Wisconsin football at his Monday press conference, as the team looks to move on from its fourth straight loss. “Everybody is disappointed in the results of the last four weeks, that hasn’t changed,” Bielema said, echoing some of the frustration of Badger fans. “For me to be in the situation I’m at now, a losing record, 3-4, it doesn’t sit well,” he said. If Wisconsin wants to come away from Saturday’s Homecoming game against Illinois with a win, Bielema said “all phases of the game need to be better.” For the defense, that means lining up correctly for every play and making good tackles downfield. On offense, Bielema wants more discipline and better execution. And on special teams he wants to get better protection on both sides of the ball, protecting freshman punter Brad Nortman and blocking for sophomore returner David Gilreath. Part of Bielema’s approach

Lineman’s digit decision shortsighted

LORENZO ZEMELLA/THE DAILY CARDINAL

terback for the rest of the season, saying Tolzien, not Evridge, would get more time at practice behind Sherer. Adding to the instability at quarterback, junior running back P.J. Hill’s injury during the Iowa game makes him questionable for

ast week, Trevor Wikre found himself faced with an unusual, important and somewhat gruesome situation. During football practice at Mesa State College in Grand Junction, Co., the senior offensive lineman got his pinky caught up in the jersey of a teammate during a sweep play and screwed it up pretty bad—to the point where the bone was sticking out of the skin. He brought it to the trainer and asked for it to be taped up so he could finish practice. Instead, he got rushed to the hospital, where it was recommended that he get pins inserted to reconstruct the ligaments in his finger. He was told it would take four months for it to heal. He would have to sit the rest of his senior season. So what did he do? He had the thing amputated so he could keep playing. His story caught national attention. Writers across the nation were hailing Wikre as a committed man, so in love with the sport of football that he was willing to sacrifice an appendage just to continue playing in

bielema page 7

pinky page 7

KYLE BURSAW/THE DAILY CARDINAL

With the re-aggravation of starting running back P.J. Hill’s lower leg injury, freshman John Clay (left) and sophomore Zach Brown (right) may see the bulk of the carries for Wisconsin in coming games. included starting junior quarterback Dustin Sherer over senior Allan Evridge at Iowa Saturday. Sherer completed 17-of-34 pass attempts for 161 yards against the Hawkeyes but also threw two interceptions. Despite those difﬁculties, Sherer will start Saturday, while Evridge dropped into a tie for second on the Badgers’ quarterback depth chart

with sophomore Scott Tolzien. “Dustin didn’t play a clean game, didn’t by any means set the world on ﬁre,” Bielema said of Sherer’s performance Saturday, but added, “we would like to see how much growth he can have [in] another week being the starter.” Bielema did not commit to making Sherer the starting quar-