Thursday, February 26, 2009 - The Daily Cardinal by The Daily Cardinal

HOLD OFF ON THE THIRSTY THURSDAY

Why it might not pay to study on the weekend at all if you’re hitting the bottle University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Thursday, February 26, 2009

Ofﬁcer dismissed Ald. Verveer incident By Rachel Holzman THE DAILY CARDINAL

The police officer that reportedly saw Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, in a room smelling of marijuana at a downtown sports bar acknowledged her mistake reporting the incident, according to documents released Wednesday. Officer Carrie Hemming of the Madison Police Department allegedly saw Verveer, District 4, in a dimly lit room of Zander’s restaurant and sports bar February 8 around 1 a.m. with five to seven other people. Hemming was conducting a routine tavern check when she smelled marijuana and went to the upper deck of the establishment to see where the smell was coming from. Central District Captain Mary Schauf said in a memo that after Hemming saw Verveer, “she was concerned about proceeding further and chose to disengage.” Schauf was contacted about the incident “as soon as possible during work hours the following week,” Schauf wrote in the memo. Schauf also wrote that she counseled Hemming and her partner “that if a situation such as this arose in the future that they should enter the space if it can be done legally.” According to Hemming’s police report of the incident, she said she was halfway up the stairs leading to the dark upper deck of the restaurant when owner Mohamed Barketallah got up quickly from a table, walked quickly over to the stairs, and said something along the lines of, “We’re just relaxing up here.” Hemming reported smelling the distinct smell of burnt marijuana, but did not see any smoke in the darkness. Hemming then reported seeing Verveer and wrote in the police report, “he said nothing, nor did I.” Hemming then turned around and left the area. According to her police report, Hemming told her partner of what she saw and smelled after they had left the sports bar. Schauf’s memo said the two discussed the incident “and the decision was made to not return to Zander’s.” Verveer and Barketallah have denied doing anything wrong or illegal, verveer page 3

TODAY ON THE WEB8 Choosing an international job Stephen Holloway of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization advised students on how to obtain an international job after graduation.

PHOTOS BY KYLE BURSAW/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Jin’s Chicken & Fish is located on North Frances Street, but the cart could move to Library Mall under proposed ordinance changes.

Combating the vending problem By Abby Sears THE DAILY CARDINAL

It’s bar time on Frances Street in downtown Madison. One more drink at last call and there’s only one thing on the minds of patrons at nearby watering holes—getting the food they crave. But when alcohol mixes with the competition for food, Frances Street can get chaotic, which is why the city is making strides to improve this end-of-the-night affair. Last month, Madison’s Vending Oversight Committee spent hours revising late-night vending ordinances to move large carts from Frances Street to assigned spots on Library Mall. Smaller carts, such as hot dog stands, will be allowed to stay and the price of vending licenses will go up, but ofﬁcials hope the proposed

changes will alleviate problems associated with rowdy customers and difﬁcult vendors. Jin’s Chicken & Fish is one of the most successful large vending carts on North Frances Street, boasting long lines of dedicated customers night after night. However, the cart is also a source of controversy among neighbors and police, and often the topic of discussion at VOC meetings. At Wednesday’s VOC meeting, Rebecca Anderson, owner of the Eleanor Apartments at 405 N. Frances St., said she had received numerous complaints from tenants ranging from the smell and noise level of the adjacent vending carts to safety concerns. One cart stood out in Anderson’s mind: Jin’s. A complaint ﬁled with the VOC

in July said Jin’s operator Jeff Okafo amassed 29 parking tickets and became confrontational with parking enforcement officers. As a result, the Common Council suspended Okafo’s vending license for six months in September. Despite Okafo’s suspension, other employees are still allowed to run the cart—and they continue to do so every weekend. Last week, Jin’s employee Tevis O’Hare was working at the cart when he took a few moments to exchange pleasantries with a particular customer. “He comes here almost every night, and every night he gets the same thing,” O’Hare said of the man. This kind of loyalty is common among Jin’s customers, according to O’Hare. UW-Madison junior Greg Bostrom can attest to late-night cravings for Jin’s cuisine. Bostrom said he and his friends once paid $50 for five sandwiches using Jin’s “VIP back door,” where customers can buy sandwiches on the other side of the cart for double the price and no line. “Jin’s is so damn delicious,” Bostrom said, adding he would definitely walk an extra block or two to get his favorite chicken sandwich. O’Hare said he isn’t worried about dedicated patrons finding the cart if it moves to a new location. “Moving to Library Mall just makes people walk a little farther,” he said. Although devoted customers are a

staple at Jin’s, there are also inevitable problems that come with catering to bar crowds. O’Hare said it can get “a little rough with people fighting in line,” and safety is his primary concern about moving to Library Mall. Street Vending Coordinator Warren Hansen said new light fixtures should be up in Library Mall this spring by the start of the new vending season, April 15. VOC member Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said there would be noticeable law enforcement presence in the area, with officers from the UW and Madison Police Departments patrolling the area. Currently, Insomnia Cookies is typically the lone cart stationed on Library Mall during the late-night hours. Employee Kevin Schiesser said the area is an ideal place for vending, ushering in everyone from families to crowds from nearby bars. When it comes to more businesses moving to Library Mall, competition isn’t a concern at Insomnia Cookies—for Schiesser, it’s the more, the merrier. “As far as business is concerned, we sell dessert … so you’re going to throw in some chicken, throw in some cookies, I think it could work out pretty well together,” he said. The proposed late-night vending ordinance changes will now go to the Board of Estimates for discussion and will likely be voted on at the March 17 Common Council meeting so the changes can be implemented in time for the new vending season.

ASM attempts to stay resilient in face of constitution failure While the proposed reform to the Associated Students of Madison constitution was not passed after the two-day election Monday and Tuesday, ofﬁcials said there is still a chance to change the student government. “I’m sure that ASM will try to reform in any way they can because it’s very well understood that reform needs to happen,” Election

Commission chair Katherine Tondrowski said. Constitutional Committee chair Jeff Wright said he was hopeful that because the majority wants to see reform happen, meaningful discussions would be possible in the future. “While students believe ASM needs reform, it’s clear that the majority wants to see reform happen within the current structure,”

he said in a statement. “I respect the election’s outcome.” Fifteen percent of students voted in the election, which is an unusually high turnout among student voters. “I was very, very excited to see that 15 percent of the student body voted,” Tondrowski said. “That is much bigger than I expected, or anyone expected.” Tondrowski also said the elec-

tion process as a whole ran relatively efﬁciently. “Everything went smoothly, so that was a success in my mind,” she said. ASM members remain hopeful despite the failure of the constitution. However, no leaders have publicized an alternative course of action for reform. —Caitlin Gath

“…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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Thursday, February 26, 2009

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

TODAY: freezing rain hi 35º / lo 15º

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Director Screwtape ﬁles a formal complaint

Volume 118, Issue 101

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

News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com Editor in Chief Alex Morrell Managing Editor Gabe Ubatuba Campus Editor Erin Banco Rachel Holzman City Editor State Editor Megan Orear Charles Brace Enterprise Editor Associate News Editor Caitlin Gath Opinion Editor Nick Dmytrenko Jon Spike Arts Editors Kevin Slane Justin Stephani Sports Editors Ben Breiner Crystal Crowns Features Editor Diana Savage Food Editor Sara Barreau Science Editor Bill Andrews Photo Editors Kyle Bursaw Lorenzo Zemella Graphics Editors Amy Gifﬁn Jenny Peek Copy Chiefs Kate Manegold Emma Roller Jake Victor Copy Editors Teresa Floberg Ryan Hebel, Matt Hunziker Megan Kozelek, Frances Provine Alicia Williams

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

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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.

New Beer Thursday Nut Cracker ale Nut Cracker • Ale $7.99 at Riley’s Wines of the World Drinking a dark seasonal beer is like wearing a down jacket: It’s great in the winter, but when it’s getting warm out you’d like nothing more than to never see it again. That’s the case on this episode of New Beer Thursday, as winter is 66 percent over and I’m 100 percent ready to see it go. So as a farewell to winter, Boulevard B r e w i n g Co.’s Nut Cracker Ale— Christmas was a long ass time ago—puts itself at the mercy of my impeccably discerning palette. Luckily for them, their

product is decent. As an “unfiltered winter warmer,” there’s a nice sweetness to match the rich texture and a high enough alcohol content to keep the averagesized human warm. It goes down nicely, but doesn’t leave me yearning for another. The bitter and spicy aftertaste doesn’t help promote a good lasting impression, so you’ll just have to keep drinking. Although there is still subconscious recoil to drinking a thick beer in the balminess of 40-degree weather, this one is worth a shot as far as winter seasonal beers go. Besides, it’ll be freezing in a few days anyway.

Todd Dr.

the questionable morals of many of the organizations that you regularly invite to participate in your events cause them to view your rejection of our application as an act of hypocrisy, a term which for us has special legal considerations of its own. To boil down the long history of legal-spiritual case law to the part concerning our present discussion, simply understand that such an act puts your department under our purview (an irony which my employer hopes is not lost on you). Sufﬁce it so say that it would be wise for your organization to think over this decision very carefully. I have attached to this letter the personal testimonies of several individuals interred in our Department of Hypocrisies. My employer trusts that you will not ﬁnd them lacking in descriptive detail or persuasiveness. We would just as soon rather it never came to this, however. And so, once again, the ball is in your court. Cordially, Matthew Hunziker Personal Assistant to Departmental Director Screwtape PS: Please post your response in the attached (and specially stamped) envelope. PPS: Or submit via e-mail to hunziker@wisc.edu.

Wi-Fi

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ear Career Services Liaison, I am writing on behalf of my employer to express our displeasure with your department’s decision to reject our application for a booth at your university’s upcoming career fair, and also to reiterate (by way of imploring you to reconsider your decision) that my employer, Hell, has a place for each and every one of your students. To restate the facts of our current dispute: 1) In early December (well in advance of your stated January deadline) my supervisor, Departmental Director Screwtape, submitted our completed application to your ofﬁce by express trans-abyssal post. This was done both to allow ample time to sort out any confusion that might occur and also because he was unclear as to whether your organization would also be taking extended holiday breaks for the Feast of King Herod and the Slaughter of the Innocents. 2) We received no response from your ofﬁce until the 16th of February.

of Our Family Below are admitted regardless of degree, career aspirations or specific denomination of mortal trespass. Once inside our organization, each new arrival will be sorted into the level most appropriate by our officer of admissions, an experienced demon who will direct them onward by curling his massive tail around his body an indicative number of times. For the career-oriented graduate, Hell offers many opportunities to make prestigious personal connections. Whether boiling in pitch, fleeing from serpents or just remaining perfectly still while their limbs are cleaved from their body, many world leaders in politics and business are gainfully employed through our organization and ready to share their experiences with new hires. With all this and more to offer, it should come as no surprise that Hell has enjoyed brisk growth throughout its history, and Mr. Screwtape feels our organization would be an ideal fit for your upcoming career services event. If, however, you continue to deny us access to your institution, we are prepared to take appropriate legal action. Our legal team (which possesses over 7 billion years of combined experience) believes that this is a clear case of ideological discrimination. Furthermore,

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Board of Directors Vince Filak Alex Kusters Mikhail Hanson Nik Hawkins Dave Heller Janet Larson Chris Long Alex Morrell Sheila Phillips Benjamin Sayre Jenny Sereno Terry Shelton Jeff Smoller Jason Stein

MATT HUNZIKER his dark matterials

The envelope (badly damaged by its lengthy trip through the Outer Darkness) was postmarked several weeks earlier and appeared to have been sent via USPS Business Class instead of the requested trans-abyssal service. As to the hapless carrier dispatched on this errand, there was no sign. (We speculate that his or her materials are now lost to the aforementioned void). 3) The substance of your rejection letter was unhelpfully vague on the subject of whatever requirements our organization fails to satisfy and seemed to be possessed of the misconception that we are some sort of “religious organization.” Because of this apparent confusion, we remain hopeful that our present conﬂict is a result of a simple misunderstanding, a common situation that this organization has gotten quite used to handling over the years. As there is still ample time for our Department of Infernal Resources to prepare an exhibition for the career fair in question, please allow me to once again impress upon you the many unique opportunities that our company can offer your graduates. Similar to many top-tier employers such as Google or Apple Incorporated, Hell strives to be not just a workplace, but also a way of living. New members

Fish Hatchery

Nick Dmytrenko Dave Heller Alex Morrell Frances Provine Jon Spike Gabe Ubatuba Hannah Young

FRIDAY: mostly cloudy hi 21º / lo 11º

Beltline

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Thursday, February 26, 2009

news

Football alum ready for trial By Charles Brace THE DAILY CARDINAL

Members of the Wisconsin Tibetan Association protested on State Street Wednesday against the Chinese government’s human rights violations.

Former UW-Madison football player Leonard Taylor Jr. was found competent to stand trial Wednesday after having made death threats against Athletic Director Barry Alvarez. Dr. Erik Knudson, staff psychiatrist at the Mendota Mental Health Institute, ﬁled a report in court stating Taylor, 32, was competent for trial, but Knudson said he was legally unable to comment on the report or details of the hearing. Taylor had been undergoing treatment and observation at the Mendota facility since December. Assistant District Attorney Robert Kaiser said the court similarly found Taylor competent for trial and Taylor then waived

Tibetans march in mourning

verveer from page 1

KYLE BURSAW/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Members of the Wisconsin Tibetan Association marched from Library Mall to the state Capitol Wednesday to mourn Tibetans who died last year while protesting Chinese control of the region. Although Wednesday marked the beginning of the Tibetan New Year festivities, Tibetans all over the world decided to make the day a solemn occasion instead of taking part in the usual celebrations. Mourners walked down State Street Wednesday, holding signs condemning the Chinese government and reciting a prayer in memory of the dead. “Instead of celebrating the Tibetan new year, we are actually trying to show the world that we remember our dead brothers and sisters and [those] who are still suffering in Tibet under Chinese occupation,” WTA President Thubden Sangha said. Shaoo Tahsi of Tibet said the march was meant to show “solidarity for those

who have suffered with the Chinese,” citing the government’s imprisonment of hundreds of peaceful protestors. The Chinese government, which has ordered additional troops to subdue protests in Tibet and has cut off foreign tourists to the area, is under ﬁre from not only Tibetans, but also Amnesty International and the U.S. State Department for its poor human rights conditions. Sangha said he thinks the United States can do a “tremendous” amount to assist the Tibetan people, but unfortunately economic conditions take precedence over human rights issues. He said Tibetans are not asking for independence from China, but want more autonomy while leaving foreign affairs up to the Chinese government. “Basic human rights, that’s all we’re asking, and that the Chinese are not willing to give us,” Sangha said. —Megan Orear

and there has been no evidence of marijuana usage. According to the Wisconsin State Journal, Verveer said he was surprised only that Hemming didn’t say hello and that he thought nothing of the incident until Mayor Dave Cieslewicz contacted him last week. Ald. Eli Judge, District 8, puts his full support behind

his right to a preliminary hearing. “He was agreeing that the state could probably show that he probably committed a felony,” Kaiser said in regard to the waiver. Kaiser said the case would move to trial court and an arraignment, where the formal charges will be ﬁled. The state is tentatively charging Taylor with stalking, a felony, and unlawful telephone use involving threats, a misdemeanor. Kaiser said he could not comment on whether Taylor’s actions Wednesday indicate he would plead guilty in the criminal trial. Leonard Taylor Sr. said his son has been found incompetent for trial in past cases, and the U.S. Navy found him unable to serve Verveer and said he looks to Verveer as a role model. “I have the utmost respect for [Alderman] Verveer and I have absolutely no reason to question what he said about the incident,” Judge said.

because of his condition when Taylor tried to join in 2000. “He is not competent to stand trial, I don’t know how they came to that ﬁnding,” Taylor Sr. said. He said Taylor was on and off medication for the past year and that he did not appear stable last month. He said Taylor’s mother was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Assistant State Public Defender Jon Helland, Taylor’s attorney, was unavailable for comment as of press time. Taylor played football from 1995-1996, during which time Alvarez was head coach. In 2005, Taylor’s then-girlfriend charged him with stalking and harassment. “He has really been a phenomenal alder and I’m sure people will look to his incredible, and practically legendary, record as a member of the ALRC and the city council when they come to judge his character.”

featuresstudent life 4 Thursday, February 26, 2009

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Drinking beyond the hangover Students who drink on more than just the usual Friday and Saturday may cause more harmful effects to their bodies than a hangover. Story by Julia Brenner

AMY GIFFIN/THE DAILY CARDINAL

W-Madison junior Caitlin Kammerait faces increased levels of stress during the week, constantly dreading the next paper or the next exam. However, she has found a stress remedy that seems to work: alcohol. “To be able to go out on Wednesday and Thursday is nice because you can forget about some of the pressures of the week,” Kammerait said. Kammerait is not alone in this solution to stress. The terms “Tipsy Tuesdays,” “Wasted Wednesdays” and “Thirsty Thursdays” have become common lingo on campus, as weekday partying appears to be the norm for many UW-Madison college students. Unless UW-Madison students are able to relieve stress in less harmful ways, these drinking habits will damage an undeveloped brain and increase stress levels even more, UW-Madison professor of physiology Dr. Kevin Strang said. According to Strang, drinking to relieve stress is not as simple and harmless as

it seems. Alcohol’s effects on students’ schoolwork can be more permanent than a hangover. There are about 100 billion nerve cells in the brain that are interconnected at synapses, Strang explained. The synapses, where the brain’s functions occur, are rapidly developing in young people. Synapses grow fastest in an embryo and slow down as a person gets older. Twenty-one years old is the average age for the brain to finish growing. Ethanol, the potentially harmful drug in a margarita or glass of beer, affects the proteins located at these synapses. According to Strang, when a person drinks alcoholic beverages while the synapses are still growing, he or she can actually damage the fundamental structure of the nervous system. Binge drinking does even more damage to this growth process. According to Strang, if students do not sleep between studying and drinking, they will likely not retain the information because that is when the

CHRISTOPHER GUESS/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

brain sorts information. Sleep is necessary to turn short-term memory into long-term memory, Strang said. Not only do many students turn to alcohol for stress relief, some also drink copious amounts of it when they go out drinking. Binge drinking, typically four or more drinks in a row, has been identified as a major public health problem among college students, according to the U.S. surgeon general and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “I have two to three shots before I go out on Wednesdays, and then since it is beer and shot night at the KK, I end up having about six drinks at the bar,” UW-Madison sophomore Carrie Robinson said, adding that going out helps break up her week. Robinson says that this is the typical amount of alcohol that her friends drink two to three nights a week. “Drinking during the week

absolutely puts me behind in schoolwork because my next day is ruined,” UW-Madison senior Danny Rivers said, adding that every time he goes out during the week he gets drunk. Kammerait agrees, admitting that although drinking helps her escape the stress of school, it loses its benefit if she wakes up with a hangover. In addition to affecting the nervous system, alcohol also exaggerates the present state of emotions and the focus of one’s thoughts, Strang said. “Drinking after a workout is the best feeling,” UW-Madison junior Richard Stalle said. “The endorphins from exercising plus the addition of alcohol give me the best buzz.” Although Strang pointed out that alcohol can be relaxing and stress-relieving, he emphasizes that this is true only under certain circumstances. “Alcohol is a focusing agent,” Strang said, adding that an intoxicated person’s mind will likely focus on only one emotion at a time, resulting in a stronger emotion than usual. Anxiety and stress will be heightened with the addition of alcohol, as will other emotions. Alcohol myopia, or the tendency of alcohol to reduce awareness of events which are distant and increase a person’s concentration upon immediate events, is the reason for this heightened emotion. The combination of the context of the situation and myopia block the parts of the brain that control memories, reassurances, strategizing capabilities and personality. Those windows are reduced to only one window, the one you are externally or internally thinking about, Strang said. As students continue to devote more days to drinking, expanding the Thirsty Thursday phenomenon, they continue to depress their motor skills, sensory skills, and memory formation, according to Strang. “There is a very good reason why the drinking age is 21,” he said.

arts In a world where Kevin writes a column dailycardinal.com/arts

KEVIN SLANE citizen slane

f you were one of the 36.3 million people nationwide who watched the Oscars last week, you probably enjoyed the pleasant (though predictable) ceremony. Hugh Jackman proved that you don’t have to be a comedian to get an audience laughing with his theatrical renditions. James Franco and Seth Rogen teamed with famed director of photography Janusz Kaminski to craft a bong out of Kaminski’s Oscars, while simultaneously crafting the funniest skit of the entire show. Watching the two doobie brothers crack up at “The Reader,” then hit uncomfortable silence as Franco watched himself make out with Sean Penn was good for some genuine giggles. But the highlights (and biggest oversight) of the show occurred in the serious portions. The former winners honoring each nominee was a nice thought, but took up too much time. Not only that, but it seemed some of the presenters gave varying effort in their presentations. Nicole Kidman’s compliments to Angelina Jolie felt about as honest as Barry Bonds telling the American public he has never done steroids. Sadly, the moment that should have drawn the most acclaim ultimately fell flat. 2008 is unique in the number of prominent celebrities who passed away, and as usual, the Oscars had a video tribute to their memory. Heath Ledger, Paul Newman, Isaac Hayes, Bernie Mac, Michael Crichton, Charlton Heston, and many more were honored. Yet despite having nearly every recently deceased personality in Hollywood on the list, the Academy left off two important icons: George Carlin and Don LaFontaine.

Although many of you may not know his name, you have heard LaFontaine’s work.

Leaving Carlin off the list can be excused, in a way. He is more famous for his stand-up act and only delved into movies after first establishing himself as a comedian. However, there is absolutely no excuse for not mentioning Don LaFontaine. Although many of you may not know his name, you have heard LaFontaine’s work. As the most distinctive voice in Hollywood, LaFontaine was known commonly as “The Voice of God.” He did voiceovers for over 5,000 movie trailers and hundreds of thousands of previews for television shows and video games. Still not sure if you’ve heard him? Try to imagine any movie trailer in recent memory, especially ones that begin with the phrase “In a world...” LaFontaine coined that introduction and used it so often that it has become a frequently parodied term, most notably by comedian Pablo Francisco. LaFontaine was happy to live a life of anonymity until 2006, when a series of Geico commercials featured him as “that announcer guy from the movies.” Even with

Thursday, February 26, 2009

that innocuous introduction, LaFontaine’s name still appeared at the bottom of the screen, and suddenly Mr. Movies himself had a name.

As the most distinctive voice in Hollywood, LaFontaine was known commonly as “The Voice of God.”

Ironically, LaFontaine’s voiceover work included promotions for previous editions of the Academy Awards. So, despite LaFontaine’s immeasurable influence on the industry, the Academy found that honoring 38 other Hollywood figures while omitting LaFontaine and Carlin seemed reasonable. Why not include the two of them

and make it an even 40? Did Carlin and LaFontaine have a “no being eulogized by a singing and dancing Queen Latifah” clause in their wills? Because that I would understand. Otherwise, there is no excuse. So, in a way of honoring LaFontaine, please take the time to read the last paragraph of this column in your head using the voice of ol’ Thunder Throat. In a world where the Academy forgets to honor one of the most influential men in their industry, I get mad. And when I get mad, I get even. This summer, Kevin Slane is “The Raging Reporter.” Coming soon to theaters everywhere. Want to come hang out at Kevin’s house, smoke a pack of cigarettes and watch Pablo Francisco’s bit on Don LaFontaine while trying to imitate his beautiful voice? Knock on his door, or E-mail him at kevslane@gmail.com.

PHOTO COURTESY COLUMBIA PICTURES

Seth Rogen and James Franco provided hilarious comic relief as stoned moviegoers during an otherwise disappointing Oscars telecast.

comics 6

They deserved it! 40% of women have hurled footwear at a man. dailycardinal.com/comics

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Choosing not to drink tonight

Today’s Sudoku

Anthro-apology

By Eric Wigdahl wigdahl@wisc.edu

Angel Hair Pasta

By Todd Stevens ststevens@wisc.edu

Sid and Phil

By Alex Lewein alex@sidandphil.com

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

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

Today’s Crossword Puzzle

The Graph Giraffe

Evil Bird Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com CAPITAL GAINS

ACROSS 1 Beginning to cry? 5 Small progression 9 Addis ___ (Ethiopia’s capital) 14 1920s style: art ___ 15 Popeye, after eating spinach 16 Docket ﬁll 17 “... ___, whatever will be, will be” 18 Complain, complain, complain 19 Pleasant surprise 20 It’s a capital place 23 Journalist Bradley and Trixie’s husband 24 Comstock load 25 Brings to the boiling point 29 Wet, spongy ground 31 Some are broken 35 Takes wing 36 Object in a quiver 38 Child seat? 39 It’s a capital place 42 Palindromic conjunction 43 “... ___ evil, speak ...” 44 Audio signal receiver 45 Put through the paces 47 Word with “takers” or “day now”

48 Takes the helm 49 They precede mis, on a music scale 51 Haggard work 52 It’s a capital place 60 Eighteen holes, for example 61 Honeybunch 62 They may be beaten 64 Compel through coercion 65 Initial stake 66 Retina cells 67 Trusty mount 68 Unpleasant situation 69 Otherwise DOWN 1 Classiﬁed items 2 Animal fare 3 A little of a large lot? 4 Adjective for some horses’ coats 5 Does an ofﬁce chore 6 They’re shed 7 Funny Idle 8 Game of chukkers 9 Action may make him laugh or cry? 10 Wine contain 11 On the Baltic 12 Form droplets 13 Regarding 21 Lawsuit preposition 22 Get ready to surf 25 Coveted quality

26 27 28 29 30 32 33 34 36 37 40 41 46 48 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 63

Dame’s introduction? Stares open-mouthed Historical period Like the ocean Yes ___ (one of two answers) Not with another Spring offering Practices for a boxing match Communicant’s word Damper The absolute minimum Cash’s boy, in song Hypnotic sleep Coasts Finished Part of a full house? Canine sounds Horn sound Work as a barker Father of Cain and Abel Tunney of the ring Horror ﬁlm fare Adored one Increases (with “to”) Amsterdam-to-Rome dir.

By Yosef Lerner ilerner@wisc.edu

By Caitlin Kirihara kirihara@wisc.edu

opinion dailycardinal.com/opinion

Thursday, February 26, 2009

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

asm must rebound

fter nearly a calendar year’s worth of work drafting a new constitution designed to improve ASM’s viability and effectiveness, 12 listening sessions designed to incorporate student concerns and numerous drafts, the constitution fell in the span of two election days. Perhaps the biggest slap in the face? More students came out en masse to shoot down the proposed constitution than have usually shown up to vote in ASM elections in the past. Students only seem to up their interest in ASM when it comes to crippling ASM’s attempts at acknowledging its shortcomings and trying to rectify them. The Vote No campaign created the tagline “Take ASM Back!” But to where? Back to what it was? If the Vote No campaign thinks keeping ASM the same was a more viable option than giving the student government a chance to try another system, they were horriﬁcally wrong. ASM will remain muddled in a vicious cycle of inactivity and failed grassroots initiatives, essentially conﬁned to its previous mediocrity. According to Jeff Wright, chair of the ASM Constitutional Committee, another undertaking like this is impossible. We hope and pray that Wright is, in fact, wrong, but it may take an inhuman effort to convince

the student groups receiving funding to ever support restructuring ASM. Such a hope also shrunk considerably with the death of ASM’s ill-fated new constitution. When we met with the incoming ASM members last April, they highlighted their plans for a press office meant to make ASM a viable campuswide entity once again. In addition, ASM could branch out to campus papers, further proliferating its attempts to right the proverbial sinking ship that has been the organization. However, the press office has been virtually nonexistent in establishing ASM in the minds of students. The ASM constitution vote reflected that sentiment in spades. If ASM hopes to ever succeed in its hopes to restructure, it must spend as much time improving the public relations department as it did tweaking and fine-tuning the proposed constitution. In addition, ASM must quell the fears of student groups, which were misinformed that their funding was in serious danger under a restructured government. Sadly enough, the power of absurd falsehoods, inaccurate misconceptions and fearmongering perpetuated by the Vote No campaign beat out the intensive efforts of an ASM coalition determined to right their wrongs.

Stimulus plan beneﬁts collegiate ambitions By Paul Axel COLLEGE DEMOCRATS

The recent passage and signature into law of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 signifies a movement in the right direction for our nation. Our country is taking the first step to rebuild our economy, revitalize our financial system and restore faith in the American promise. Although the ARRA’s passing took place with much struggle between Democrats and Republicans, with the law now in effect, it is our responsibility as American citizens, and as the next generation of political leaders, to make the most of the stimulus act. As students, we have a special place in ARRA. Although national politics does not always directly effect students on the UWMadison campus, the ARRA will have a direct and positive impact on UW students, especially those from lower-income families. ARRA will provide monetary resources for students pursuing any field of study by increasing the maximum Pell Grant by $500. Furthermore, it will provide an additional $100 million to higher education. Agriculture students will benefit from over $200 million for infrastructure, grants and programs. Ecology majors will be pleased to learn over $1.6 billion

will be spent on a range of ecological programs, including the Forest Service, the National Park System and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife program. The National Science Foundation will receive $2.5 billion for research and related activities, $200 million of which goes directly to modernize academic facilities and an additional $500 million for research equipment and educational resources. History majors like me should be giddy over the $15 million going toward the National Park Service historic preservation fund and $25 million toward Smithsonian facilities.

Despite the grave economic times, we students must adopt a proactive approach if we are to take full advantage of the stimulus package.

Perhaps the real winners are engineering students, who will see hundreds of billions of dollars going toward construction in all departments, including energy research, geological surveys, healthcare updates and research funding. Civil, electrical, biomedical, mechanical and other engineers will

find an almost inconceivable bevy of projects and opportunities in the coming years, as America works to revamp its infrastructure and revitalize the economy. Despite the grave situation and difficult economic times in which we find ourselves, we students must adopt a proactive approach if we are to take full advantage of the stimulus package. We need to talk to our professors, our employers and our state representatives and tell them our ideas. If the past presidential election has taught us anything, it is that young people and students must become involved on more than simply a cursory level and that real engagement begins—not ends—in the voting booth. The stimulus package is not so much a tool to stimulate the economy, but a catalyst, a means of inspiration, for propelling the American people into taking action and making our country better. The time for waiting for someone else to do it is over. We have to be the change we seek. Come check out the College Democrats’ Facebook group or attend a meeting and learn how to become more involved in your local community. Paul Axel is a deputy volunteer coordinator for the College Democrats of Madison. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

sports 8

Thursday, February 26, 2009

dailycardinal.com/sports

Women’s Basketball

The answer speaks truth

UW ready for Buckeyes By Jay Messar THE DAILY CARDINAL

The Wisconsin women’s basketball team has become used to playing the underdog role this season. But this week they will have to be giant killers twice. Wisconsin (6-11 Big Ten, 1612 overall) is looking to pick off its second conference front-runner Thursday as it travels to Columbus, Ohio, to take on No. 14 Ohio State (13-3, 22-5). Wisconsin, after eking out a 54-51 win over Michigan State Sunday at the Kohl Center, will use all the momentum it has to tackle the Buckeyes. “They’re very, very talented, but we’re coming off playing a team of Michigan State who is probably the biggest team in the league in terms of size,” head coach Lisa Stone said. “I thought we did a nice job on the glass [Sunday], and we’ll have to carry that over on Thursday.” “You knock off the front-runner in the conference, and now we’ve got the next front-runner on Thursday,” Stone said. “[Wins are so] signiﬁcant this time of year. You want to get hot at the right time and show you can play with the best in the league, and we did that [Sunday].” The Badgers are playing for a favorable seed in the Big Ten tournament and an outside chance of making the NCAA tournament. The team has secured at worst an eight seed for the Big Ten tournament, but can earn the seventh spot with a win at Value City Arena. And coach Stone’s kids have not stopped believing. “It’s been very, very rewarding in many ways, because this team has stuck together through a lot of stuff,” Stone said. “And we’re getting hot at the right time. And that belief, that’s what my band says too, everybody has it, and they really, truly believe that we can play with the best in the conference.” Wisconsin has been led by sophomore guard Alyssa Karel,

BEN BREINER boom goes the breinamite

ANDREW BERNHAGEN/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Sophomore guard Alyssa Karel has been a top scorer for Wisconsin all season, ranking seventh in the Big Ten with 13 points per game. who ranks seventh in the Big Ten with 13 points per game. Yet most recently sophomore forward Tara Steinbauer has been Wisconsin’s X-factor, averaging 14.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game in the last four contests. The Badgers will face the inside tandem of Star Allen and Jantel Lavender, an assignment falling mainly on the shoulders of Steinbauer and fellow sophomore post defender Lin Zastrow. “I like the urgency I see out of a Lin Zastrow,” Stone said. “I thought she had just a great game yesterday handling the basketball, scoring for us. I think she’s one of the best post defenders in the league, and she’s going to go against one of the best post players.” Lavender, the Big Ten Player of the Year frontrunner, leads the conference in scoring and rebounding with 20.6 points and 10.5 rebounds per game.

Allen leads the conference in ﬁeld-goal percentage (.539) and is fresh off a career-high-tying 22point performance against Indiana. “Star Allen certainly is going to be someone to make sure we keep her off the boards,” Stone said. “And if you’re guarding her, it’s not so much that you have to get the rebound, you have to make sure you keep her off the boards.” The last time the two teams met, Ohio State used its size advantage to out-rebound the Badgers by 16 in a 55-42 victory at the Kohl Center in early January. Lavender and Allen led the Buckeyes, each recording a double-double. Ohio State can clinch at least a share of the Big Ten title with a win over Wisconsin Thursday and outright title with wins over Wisconsin and Penn State. Thursday’s game in Columbus will be broadcast live via BigTenNetwork.com at 6 p.m.

e’ve seen Allen Iverson as many things: fearless ball player, controversial figure and, of course, a man who simply disputes the importance of practice. But before last week, deep thinker was not one of them. Iverson spoke out about the NBA’s push to brighten its image and the place of athletes as role models when he talked to a Washington Post blog during the All-Star break. Although Iverson has long been seen as the archetype of the NBA “thug,” his comments come across with a level-headedness to them and really have an important level of truth. First the man calls the NBA’s charity work (you’ve seen the ads where Dikembe Mutombo is reading books to little kids) “fake.” This is probably not an enormous surprise, but seeing that level of honesty and frankness in sports is not all that common. Then Iverson attached a religious element to the acts of charity. “I just look forward to doing it. I don’t need all the publicity that comes with it. I don’t need that,” Iverson said. “When it’s time for me to get toward that gate, either He [is] gonna say, ‘Come in,’ or He [is] gonna say, ‘Turn around.’ And a camera won’t decide whether I get in or not.” Um… wow. The sports world is overpopulated with athletes who confuse their God-given gifts with some sort of divine backing. Iverson is not only saying that he cedes any final judgments to a force he believes higher than himself, but he also disavows the notion that others need to know about his faith. This is the polar opposite of a player like Reggie White, who made sure everyone knew about his positive religious actions but still was unfaithful to his wife. But the final and possibly most important thing Iverson said related to the way athletes are treated as role models. “We have more impact on the

world than people may think, than even we might think, you know what I mean? When I was younger, when we talk about role-model-type situations, I never knew that we were important like we are,” Iverson said. “We are role models, regardless if we like it or not. It is something that we got to accept, but it is something that people should know that we’re human and we make mistakes and we are not going to be perfect. You can want to be like Allen Iverson, but I don’t think people should try to be like Allen Iverson. I think people should be better than Allen Iverson.” Take a couple of seconds to soak that in. It sounds almost like Charles Barkley’s famous statement, “I am not a role model,” which was a harsh criticism of parents who encourage their kids to idolize athletes. What Iverson is going for is a far more complex look at the place of athletes as role models. He accepts the responsibility, but questions it at the same time. Really, what makes athletes worth imitating? Hard work and perseverance are both good things, but there is some part of the mental make-up of a topcaliber athlete that seems undesirable. Whether it be the insatiable competitiveness of Michael Jordan, the aloof arrogance of Barry Bonds or the youthful stupidity of Alex Rodriguez, great athletes are often ﬂawed. Look at Iverson. He spent time in jail as a youth and threw his wife out of their house, but he is warning others to not just idolize athletes, but also to understand that they are never perfect. This is an introspective moment from one of the most stigmatized athletes in modern sports. And on all counts, he’s probably right. Of course, this does not earn much coverage, since it features a thoughtful commentary. Instead the national focus is Rodriguez’s inability to tell a coherent version of the truth. It’s just too bad that Iverson’s reﬂective words have been all but drowned out when he really does have something to say. Wish more athletes would come up with intelligent commentary? Talk about it with Ben at breiner@wisc.edu