Can scientists cure your cheating heart? Not yet, but they have isolated a fidelity gene SCIENCE
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IN CASE YOU FORGOT: NEKO STILL HAS IT Neko Case’s ambitious Middle Cyclone is a sophisticated, indie-pop treat ARTS
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THE DAILY CARDINAL
The Crave Restaurant & Lounge in downtown Madison served its final round of martinis last weekend after poor sales and a dwindling economy forced the trendy establishment to close its doors after nearly six years of business. Owner Eric Fleming said the decision to close the restaurant and bar, at 201 W. Gorham St., came after a 50 percent decrease in sales over the last three months. Fleming, who owns the Orpheum and three other buildings on State Street, sold the building housing Crave in September 2008 and said he cannot afford to renew the lease with such sluggish profits. One factor Fleming attributes to the slump in sales is the economy. Although Crave’s menu includes many upscale items, he said customers have become increasingly stingy with the amount of money
they are willing to spend. “Instead of ordering the more expensive meals, people are coming in and getting burgers and fries,” Fleming said. Fleming said the closing is purely a result of business hardships and is not related to the current homicide investigation involving a Crave patron and employee. “It has absolutely nothing to do with that,” Fleming said of the Dec. 7, 2008 incident in which patron Eduardo Cademartori sustained a fatal blow to the head after leaving the bar. Crave employee Ross Spang, 22, and two other men are facing felony murder charges in the death. Following the incident, the city’s Alcohol License Review Committee did not revoke Crave’s liquor license, but opted to hold an ALERT—Alcohol License Emergency Response crave page 3
Ald. Judge’s website to rate landlords By Rebecca Holland THE DAILY CARDINAL
the basement of Sellery Hall for the first two days of the contest. Participants submitted their projects to the Office of Corporate Relations and posted them to websites like YouTube and Flickr. In the first 48 hours, contest judges awarded the “People’s Choice
Ald. Eli Judge, District 8, announced the creation of “Madison Property Ratings” Tuesday, a website that would allow students to evaluate their property owners. The website will asses the quality of campus area housing in Madison while giving students an opportunity to rate property owners, assess maintenance and staff and give feedback on their overall renting experience. Judge is working with UWMadison students and Hardin Design & Development to establish the website, which he believes will benefit both students and property owners. “Right now tenants, especially students, are unaware or simply lack adequate information when it comes to selecting a place to live,” Judge said in a statement. “I hope this website serves as a valuable tool, promoting good landlords in the campus area while also serving as a fair and open forum for poor property management to be documented.” Scott Resnick, vice president of Hardin Design & Development, serves on the Board of Directors for the Madison Property Ratings website and will head the technology aspect of the project. Hardin Design & Development is a technology firm run by UW-Madison students and alumni, and has worked with several Fortune 500 companies. The Madison Property Ratings website is a nonprofit enterprise for the company, and
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MATTHEW KUTZ/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO
Crave Restaurant and Lounge, located at 201 W. Gorham St., closes its doors after six years of business due to poor sales.
Four students receive cash prizes for inventions By Andrea Carlson THE DAILY CARDINAL
Directors of the third annual Wiscontrepreneur Challenge awarded cash prizes to four creative, unique student projects. “The students had 100 hours to create something they thought would be creative or something that would help society,” Douglas
Bradley, assistant director of Marketing and Communications for the Office of Corporate Relations, said. The UW-Madison Office of Corporate Relations sponsored the challenge with support from the Kauffman Foundation. Close to 200 students participated Feb. 18-22, turning in a total
of 63 project entries. Students in Jeanan Yasiri’s “Entrepreneurialism in Society” class submitted approximately half of the contest’s entries. Last year’s challenge received only 17 entries. Students had four days to create their projects from $15 of surplus material from the Surplus With a Purpose shop, which was open in
Council adopts Talen fire ordinance By Rachel Holzman THE DAILY CARDINAL
The Common Council voted unanimously to adopt the Peter Talen Smoke Alarm Ordinance at Tuesday night’s meeting, making it law that Madison landlords place tamper-resistant smoke detectors in every bedroom. The memorial ordinance was first proposed to Common Council Nov. 18, 2008, exactly a year after the 23-year-old Plymouth native and UW-La Crosse student lost
his life in a fire at 123 N. Bedford St. while visiting his brother in Madison. The ordinance, effective in August, demands the use of new tamper-resistant smoke detectors with lithium batteries that last 10 years, and will require that landlords place fire alarms in every bedroom. The alarms also feature a silence button, rather than removing the batteries. council page 3
TODAY ON THE WEB8 UW Band does charity Members of the UW Marching Band volunteered with the Independent Living Inc. Tuesday by delivering meals to senior citizens. Transportation programs to improve across the state Federal stimulus funds will provide jobs for thousands.
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Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Crave lounge closes due to poor economy By Abby Sears
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LORENZO ZEMELLA/THE DAILY CARDINAL
An employee of Memorial Union found a 41-year-old man dead in a guest room. Police said the man was not affiliated with UW-Madison.
Dead body found in Union guest bedroom A UW-Madison Union staff member found a 41-year-old man dead in a guest room on the fourth floor of Memorial Union Tuesday. According to UWPD Lt. Eric Holen, police were called shortly
before 12 p.m. Holen said he did not know who placed the call or if it was made to the Dane County 911 Dispatch Center. According to Holen, the body has been removed from the union. He
said the man had no affiliation with the university and was not a resident of Dane County. Holen confirmed the man was a guest staying in the room where he was found, but he did not know how long he had been staying there. There was no sign of forced entry, visible wounds or foul play, according to Holen. Holen said he did not believe there was any resuscitation attempt, and the body was “probably” removed by the coroner’s office. The coroner could not be reached for confirmation. According to an employee at the Memorial Union Essentials Desk, there are six guest rooms on the fourth floor of the Union that operate like hotel rooms. There are two single rooms, which can be rented for $72 a night, three double rooms for $92 and one suite for $102. Each room is $7 cheaper for students. Union employees could not comment on which room the man was found in. —Rory Linnane
“…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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Volume 118, Issue 105
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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 Editors 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 Kate Manegold Copy Chiefs Emma Roller Jake Victor Copy Editors Tanya Adams Jennifer Bobeck, Danny Marchewka Caitlin Sachs, Todd Stevens
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
ASHLEY SPENCER back that ash up
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here are few things that give me greater joy than the feeling of being recognized and admired. This explains my desire to be famous, to get interviewed on latenight TV while completely stoned off my ass, perhaps sticking my gum on the desk or dancing on top of it, and have to my every move photographed with my ever-present large caffeinated beverage. But since I am just a regular 22year-old girl who went to college instead of flashing photographers while stepping out of large SUVs, I have come to grips with the fact that I will not appear in tabloids, garner the attention to have a camera crew tape my life for a retarded reality show, or date a lesbian for additional fame. Although all of this is depressing to us common folk who just want our existence to be acknowledged, luckily we have Facebook to validate our exis-
tence and make us feel important. Limos sure would be nice, as well as an endless supply of drugs and diet advice from the Mary-Kate Olsen, but I’ll take what I can get—and what I can get is late-night Facebook chats from unexpected people I hardly knew existed. Now, I know what some of you are thinking: “Wait—I talk to this bitch on Facebook chat sometimes. I thought we had nice conversations. Did I creep her out? Does she have a restraining order out for me? I better check if she defriended me, or worse, I should scan down the rest of this page and see if she mentions me by name.” Don’t worry, I won’t. But what I can say is this column is partly inspired by several semi-random Facebook chats I received as a result of the following statuses: “Ashley Spencer needs column ideas,” and “Ashley is wondering where have all the cowboys gone?” Was I sketched out by those who suggested answers? No, quite the contrary, people. Anyone I have approved as my Facebook friend is encouraged to drunkenly, soberly or creepily FB chat me, as it sufficiently boosts my ego, and though you might feel like
Michelle Horn Genesis 6:17?
18 hours ago
Year: Wisconsin ’11 Field: : Sociology, Procrastination, Napping Friends: 543
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Words in Personal Information section: 1,117
Nick Dmytrenko Dave Heller Alex Morrell Frances Provine Jon Spike Gabe Ubatuba
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most, as they have never had the glory of having one of their random friends added as a whim their freshman year FB chat them, thereby acknowledging a somewhat special, or horny feeling they have for you in their heart. You can either take those feelings and reciprocate them, or take those feelings and laugh at them. Both feel equally good, I promise. All are encouraged to make me feel famous and stalk me via Facebook, like they obsessively check up on Rihanna’s safety, Amy Winehouse’s sobriety and Lady Gaga’s latest pantsless look on Perez. You’re welcome to befriend me on Facebook and see if you pass the rigorous test to warrant acceptance, thereby receiving notification when I change my status: Right now, “Ashley Spencer wants a Shamrock Shake, don’t you?” And that piece of information, my friends, should be top news on all the gossip blogs, following all entries ripping on the Bachelor for being America’s slimiest douchebag. If you’d like a Shamrock Shake, that’s great, but if you prefer to tell Ashley your useless information the more old fashioned way, e-mail aaspencer@wisc.edu.
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an asshole afterward, it makes me feel as close to being famous as only a normal, slightly socially awkward college student could. I generally accept the friendship of all UW-Madison students who aren’t completely disfigured or rapist-looking. I don’t accept people from other countries’ networks because I have contracted xenophobia, a life-threatening disease. I do accept people I have met before, would like to meet in a dark corner of a bar or party (or already have), as well as anyone who has good taste in TV and movies. Now, I know some say, “I hate FB chat. People who FB chat me are creepy and possibly schizoid.” But even these people are just as exhibitionist as the rest of us, having 2,000 pictures of themselves tagged in various drunken positions, writing obviously pre-conceived 25 fun facts about themselves and coming up with incisive and purposely mysterious ABOUT me’s. Yes, you do have to be careful to protect yourself from predators and the unnaturally hairy and ugly. But these snobs who say that are lying—in fact, they are the ones who seek this attention the
the daily cardinal makes fun of you
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.
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
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Even the strongest Jedi mind tricks can’t get anyone to read all the way through Michelle’s profile.
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© 2009, The Daily Cardinal Media Corporation ISSN 0011-5398
Most Embarrassing Item: Michelle apparently got Facebook confused with
eHarmony.com and decided to pour her heart out to any potential suitors through an overly sentimental and personal profile. She could probably make the list one item shorter by eliminating her first activity, “being awkwardly sentimental,” since the rest of the list makes this overtly clear. Laying in the park at night and watching the stars, playing with her piercings and being in awkward friendships with her ex-boyfriends are just a few of the intimate secrets she shares in her profile. Just remember, Michelle, your first three matches are free, and if you don’t find someone special within six months, you get a free rental of “Babylon 5” on DVD.
Stupid Fact About Your Hometown [Green Bay, Wis.]: Green Bay is the toilet paper capital of the world. It’s where Proctor & Gamble Co. make Charmin, the top-selling household bath tissue. Right next door, James Corp. produces Quilted Northern, the second-best seller. Green Bay is bout dat paper.
Missed Opportunity: Michelle is clearly a h4Rdc0R3 gamer, as evinced by her
interests, which list every video game console ever, not to mention Chuck Taylors. She innocently admits to liking “Star Wars Battlefront 2” (a game even nerds look down upon). However, she never goes as far as sharing with us her favorite memories from Comic-Con, or a recent Magic tournament where she busted out her mint firstedition Black Lotus just for show, even though it’s not even that great of a card.
Saving Grace: Even though most of the games Michelle plays probably involve 20-sided die, she gets credit for liking “Super Smash Bros. Brawl.” Although this game doesn’t touch the original, it is still a nonstop frenzy of action.
Want your Facebook profile to be made fun of? Join the group “The Daily Cardinal Makes Fun of You.”
For the record Corrections or clarifications? Call The Daily Cardinal office at 608-262-8000 or send an e-mail to edit@dailycardinal.com.
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Wednesday, March 4, 2009
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crave from page 1 Team—meeting in January to discuss business practices. According to Madison Alcohol Policy Coordinator Katherine Plominski, Crave management agreed to follow the ALRC’s recommendations, including tavern safety training for late-night staff, cooperation with police and promoting and maintaining their status as a restaurant. Fleming plans to do just that by keeping Crave’s liquor license and reopening at a more profitable location. At a site just off State Street, he said, it can be difficult to attract people beyond the popular neighboring stretch of restaurants, bars and shops. Fleming is looking to buy another building on State Street and reopen Crave by this fall. Until then, he will relocate Crave’s live music and DJ to play at the Orpheum, and some employees from the bar, wait and kitchen staff
council from page 1 Patricia Talen, mother of Peter Talen, showed her strong support in backing the ordinance at Tuesday night’s meeting. “I have learned in a very difficult way that life is precious,” Talen said, addressing the council. “You are all affirming life and its precious value by adopting this ordinance.” Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, introduced the ordinance to the council last fall and has worked closely with the Talen family, Madison Fire Department and others in drafting and carrying out the proposal. “I’ll never forget the day of November 18, 2007,” Verveer said. “I ended that day by saying to
will be able to hold onto heir jobs. “The majority of my employees are going to come with me to other establishments,” Fleming said. “Not all of them will get to move, but the full-time employees that I have will all have secure jobs.” Madison’s Central Business Improvement District Executive Director Mary Carbine said Crave is not the only downtown business feeling the effects of the economy. Several high-end restaurants are offering price-fixed menus to adapt to customers’ budgets, but Carbine said using such tactics doesn’t guarantee success. Despite the dismal economy and its impact on local establishments, Carbine remains confident in the ability of the city’s businesses to persevere through the tough times. “Overall I think we’re much more resilient than other parts of the country in terms of Madison’s economic situation and the viability of our downtown businesses,” she said. myself that there has got to be something to do to prevent a similar tragedy from occurring.” Verveer said he was being given a tour of the burned-down house by a Madison firefighter when he saw a smoke alarm sitting on top of a refrigerator. “The fact of the matter is that if this ordinance was in effect then, Peter Talen would still be alive today,” said Verveer. Verveer also said this fire alarm ordinance gives Madison the status of having the most progressive model in the entire state of Wisconsin for fire safety. The new 10-year lithium battery smoke detectors can be purchased for $17, or landlords can buy them in bulk for a reduced price.
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Interlock bill on docket for Wis. By Jessica Feld
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin celebrated the grand opening of its new headquarters, located at 110 King St., Tuesday.
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Repeat drunken drivers in Wisconsin could be required to install ignition interlock systems within the next year. In a Public Safety Committee hearing Tuesday, state assembly members discussed a bill mandating all two-time offenders, as well as first time violators registering a blood alcohol content of .15 or higher, to install an ignition interlock system in their cars for one year. An interlock device helps prevent drunken driving by measuring a driver’s BAC prior to starting the ignition. If the driver’s BAC is above the legal limit, the ignition will not start. The bill requires drivers to purchase the $100 interlock system, and drivers would also pay the Department of Transportation
$75 to $90 per month to cover monitoring fees. Developed in response to the state’s drunken driving problems, state Rep. Tony Staskunas, D-West Allis, and state Rep. Dean Kaufert, R-Neenah, the bill’s authors, believe the interlock system will change drunken behavior. “We need to change people’s behavior in regards to drinking and driving,” Kaufert said. “Wisconsin has a culture of drinking, and I have problems of drinking sociably and responsibly, but I think when you drink you shouldn’t get behind the wheel.” Not new to the state, interlock systems are used for some drunken driving violators. However, lack of oversight and enforcement make the current system ineffective, Kaufert said. The DOT would oversee the interlock systems, supervising installation of the device, monitoring
monthly reports and determining punishment for violations. Local law enforcement and special interest groups including Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the Tavern League have expressed support for the bill, with some calling for stricter policies. “We would like to see ignition interlocks ordered for any offender of drunk driving, including the first offense,” Lindsay Desormier, a MADD representative, said. According to Staskunas, mandating interlocks for all drunken drivers would overwhelm the system. Additionally, the bill would lose support if it were applied to all convicted drivers. Currently only four states, including New Mexico, Illinois, Louisiana and Arizona, enforce similar laws. Staskunas and Kaufert hope to see the bill go into effect by January 2010.
Doyle advocates for renewable energy programs By Cathy Martin THE DAILY CARDINAL
Gov. Jim Doyle advocated for renewable energy initiatives through Wisconsin’s portion of federal recovery and reinvestment funds Tuesday at the U.S. Department of Energy in Washington. Doyle met with government leaders in the clean energy field, including new U.S. Secretary of Energy Dr. Steven Chu, and attended a conference on how to build a low-carbon economy. Doyle suggested federal funds go largely toward major projects that will have long-term value to the state. He highlighted Wisconsin’s paper industry, advanced battery technologies manufacturers and the
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Award” for $100 to the post with the most views. Sophomore Alex Zielske and freshman Chris Wickler won the award with 654 views for their “drunk tank,” which can hold “annoying” college partiers. Judges awarded $300 to projects in three other categories. “Most Creative” went to Jessica Cabrera’s dress, made out of air
website from page 1 Resnick is excited about the possibilities. “Having current UW-Madison students work on this project is truly the Wisconsin Idea in action,” Resnick said. Resnick said the website is focused on UW students, but it could expand to the greater Madison area and eventually even farther. Currently, Judge and Resnick are working to guarantee that the
University of Wisconsin. Three UW-Madison programs—the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center, the UW Energy Institute and the Charter Street Biomass Project—are priorities to receive funding. “Wisconsin is in a prime position to take immediate advantage of grants from the recovery and reinvestment act that will create jobs for hardworking families, free us from our dependence on foreign oil and protect our environment for generations to come,” Doyle said in a statement. According to Doyle, the Midwest Governors’ Association is already in the process of developing a cap and trade system for the region, but a
system that imposes restrictions on carbon emissions is also high on Congress’ agenda. “[We need] to bring the Midwest perspective to the national debate in Congress about what a cap and trade system would look like,” he said. Doyle also said that since much of the funding from the DOE under the stimulus will come in the form of competitive grants, officials did not specify what programs would receive money. However, he said he expects his visit to impact how officials appropriate funds. “I [want] to make sure that at the highest levels of this administration, people are well aware of all of the initiatives that we have going on in Wisconsin,” Doyle said.
filters, yellow wire, vacuum filters and styrofoam peanuts. “I love retail and I love ‘Project Runway.’ I was inspired just by some air filters,” Cabrera said in a statement. Robert Chumanov and Peter Kuhn won “Most Social Value Generated” for their system for water purification and sewage treatment. Joe Powell and Taylor Braun won
“Most Value Generated” for creating a home for plants and fish out of test tubes. “There was great participation. It’s what you’d expect from our students. We’ve got very bright, creative and entrepreneurial students, and they come from all disciplines,” Bradley said. Students can view all entries at http://challenge.wiscontrepreneur.org/ project/peoples_choice.
website is within all legal boundaries and to determine what protections need to be put in place. “We set up a series of precautions,” Resnick said. “If there’s something suspicious, landlords can comment and have things removed from the site.” Nancy Jensen, executive director of the Apartment Association of South Central Wisconsin, said she thought the website would reward property owners who provide good service. “I look forward
to continuing my consultation with Alderman Judge to ensure this project is sustainable and has the proper oversight,” Jensen said. The Board of Directors will present the idea Wednesday, March 4 at the ASM Student Council meeting in order to get the website running as soon as possible. “It will be up before August, but the major push will be for move-in, move-out day August 15,” Resnick said.
featuresscience
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When it gets cold, the nose knows what to do By Kaylee DeGrace THE DAILY CARDINAL
AMY GIFFIN/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Monogamy in a bottle... at least for voles Scientists develop an injection that turns a lifelong bachelor vole into a dedicated lover and father vole By Jigyasa Jyotika THE DAILY CARDINAL
Introducing a love potion designed to instantly stop and even prevent your spouse from cheating on you! If changing a callous Casanova to a faithful lover sounds like something only Shakespeare’s Puck can do, it may be time to think again. Or maybe Shakespeare was just 400-odd years ahead of his time when he wrote “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The “Puck” is actually a pack of Pucks led by Larry Young, a neuroscientist at Emory University. The Casanova undergoing “quick fix moral upgradation” is a small and furry relative of the mouse—the vole. Or rather, the promiscuous variety of the vole. Voles belong to one of two closely related species: the promiscuous, philandering type or the monogamous, marrying type. The two species also differ in how social they are and how parental they become after having children.
The erstwhile promiscuous male voles underwent a radical transformation into males that exhibited nothing short of complete monogamy.
While members of the monogamous variety are highly social and huddle together, members of the promiscuous variety are isolated and aggressive to the point of earning themselves a reputation. Paternal care also seems to correspond with monogamy—male voles of the monogamous kind devote as much time to the babies as the female. Babies of promiscuous voles, however, are reared only by the female partner. Recently, the Puck pack at Emory reported they had brought the promiscuous variety around, making them monogamous by manipulating a single gene. Literature in the field of neuroendocrinology (the study of how hormones act on the brain to influence behaviors), indicated that sex hor-
mones influenced these behaviors. Specifically, two hormones— vasopressin (in males) and oxytocin (in females)—were known to be responsible for forming bonds and attachment within couples and between mothers and infants in some mammalian species. Research into the molecular basis of pair-bonding in voles started when the same hormones were tested for their involvement in pairbond formation in voles. When male voles were injected with the vasopressin hormone, they formed stable pair-bonds with females even without mating with them. Blocking the action of vasopressin in male voles that hadn’t mated, on the other hand, prevented them from forming a pair-bond after mating, confirming that vasopressin plays a key role in pair-bond formation. Regulating oxytocin in females that hadn’t yet mated produced the same results. Previous literature also indicated that vasopressin is responsible for social recognition of individuals in voles. All this is fine, except that promiscuous male voles also have vasopressin in their systems. Investigating this paradox led researchers to discover differences in brain regions and in vasopressin receptor levels between monogamous and promiscuous voles. Monogamous voles have their vasopressin receptors located in the “pleasure centers” of their brains— the same pleasure center the good feeling after eating chocolate or having sex comes from. So it was postulated, for this species, that mating with an individual recognized vole and feeling good about the sex happens in a coordinated fashion, forming an association between that particular partner and the matingrelated good feeling. In all subsequent matings, perhaps the social memory of the partner and the memory of the good feeling makes, the vole perceives the partner as the cause of the pleasure and this association is what makes these voles stick to the same partner. What the Emory Puck pack did in a recent study, published in Nature, was take the gene for the vasopressin receptor from the
monogamous vole and inject it into the brains of promiscuous voles, such that the gene now produces the same levels of the receptor as found in the monogamous vole.
Lessons learned from a small furry rodent indicate researchers may have found a single key gene responsible for fidelity and community.
The result? The erstwhile promiscuous male voles underwent a radical transformation into males that exhibited nothing short of complete monogamy. With this, the former philanderers suddenly started spending significantly higher amounts of time huddling with their partners. Furthermore, when the researchers inactivated the vasopressin receptor gene injected into the promiscuous species, the voles resorted to their old habits and all trace of faithfulness instantly vanished. But what does any of this have to do with humans? Studies in humans involving fMRI (fluorescent Magnetic Resonance Imaging) have shown that when people see pictures of their lovers, blood flow to the pleasure and addiction centers increase. Many of these regions have lots of vasopressin, oxytocin and their receptors. A similar fMRI pattern emerges when mothers are shown pictures of their own children. Neuroscientist Thomas Insel, also at Emory University, is investigating pair bonding in voles and the biochemistry behind their love in an effort to search for a link between studies on these behaviors in voles and social disorders in humans like autism and schizophrenia, both of which are characterized by isolation and lack of attachment. So, lessons learned from a small furry rodent indicate researchers may have found a single key gene responsible for fidelity and community, and in fact created evolution and history in the laboratory. If chemistry really is behind it all, the science of love may simply be the hottest chemical reaction around.
Sometimes I just want to cut my nose off. Or maybe just suck all the mucous out with a vacuum. My nose is either stuffy, runny or crusty. Sometimes I wish it didn’t produce a quart of mucous a day. But it does, and so does yours. As much as we all hate our boogers, we should stop taking our noses for granted. They do three wonderful things for us: warm, moisten and filter every breath we take. Imagine that. The negative five degree Wisconsin air ends up at body temperature by the time it reaches the lungs, which is barely any time at all. But it also has to moisten the air. For instance, when it’s cold outside and you’re embarrassed because your nose is running all over your face, take heart. That’s just your nose making sure the air you breathe is as close as possible to 100 percent humidity, according to Dr. Diane Heatley, a pediatric otolaryngologist for the University of Wisconsin Hospital. That’s why the cold causes runny noses. The cold air sends mucous production into overdrive, according to Dr. Jens Ponikau, mucous researcher and assistant professor of otolaryngology at the University of Buffalo. There is also an increase in blood flow and thus extra heat and fluid to the nose. Tears also drain into the nose, according to Heatley. Once all that extra fluid is there, it has nowhere else to go but out. Unless, of course, it just doesn’t. Cold viruses seem to run rampant in the winter months, initiating a pandemic of stuffy noses. According to Dr. Christopher Green, a pediatric pulmonologist for UW Hospital, viruses that cause colds don’t live on everyday things like countertops, doorknobs and newspapers. They are spread that way, but inside the respiratory tract is where those viruses thrive. Mucous in the nose is the body’s first defense against those viruses.
The nose and the immune system create more mucous in an attempt to flush them out. This brings up an important point. It’s not the virus that makes our noses stuffy or runny, it’s our own immune system, which doesn’t care about whether or not we can breathe. It only cares about winning the war against the invading germs.
The nose does so much for us, but what do we do for it?
But the nose and its mucous filter out more than just viruses. It is also a trap for fungal spores, pollen, dust and other nasty, microscopic particles. The nose does so much for us, but what do we do for it? Well, we can do our best to prevent colds by washing our hands and keeping them away from our face. And we can wash our nose. According to Heatley, most Americans don’t grow up washing their nose, but there are numerous saline rinse methods on the market. These include the Neti pot, squeeze bottles and mist bottles, among others. They range in cost and effectiveness, but Heatley suggests finding the method that you like the best. When mucous dries, it thickens, decreasing the efficiency of the system and increasing the risk for illness and discomfort. New research suggests that viruses prefer dry noses to moist noses, which may be why there are cold seasons all over the world, not just in cold places like Wisconsin. So when cold season annoys your life, whether it’s the air or the virus, moving to a warmer climate isn’t the answer. Learn to love your nose, even if it is a love-hate relationship, like mine.
LORENZO ZEMELLA/THE DAILY CARDINAL
The human nose works hard to keep us healthy and disease-free, even if that sometimes means a runny or stuffed-up nose.
arts
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Wednesday, March 4, 2009
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Late night makeover: finding hope in Fallon Rock,” “The Office” and most Judd Apatow-driven vehicles, get ALI their humor from the uncomROTHSCHILD fortable, humiliating and the season fin-ali relatable. It’s a far cry from the more professional, comfortable a t u rd a y Ni g h t L i v e humor of David Letterman and alum and star of movies Jay Leno. like “Fever Pitch” and Think of Letterman’s profes“Taxi,” Jimmy Fallon made sionalism when Joaquin Phoenix his debut as a late-night talk came on his show and acted like show host Monday on NBC. a brick wall. Had Fallon been in Although some mourned the Letterman’s position, he would loss of Conan O’Brien, previ- have wet himself and apologized ous king of late night, I wel- profusely for not being a better comed a new face to the talk host instead of putting Phoenix show scene. in his place like Letterman did. However, Fallon may never be that kind of comedian. Case in point: Fallon invited studio In today’s hard times when peo- audience members to come up ple turn to nighttime talk shows onstage and lick appliances for for safer, comfortable laughs, 10 dollars. The “humor,” I supwill Fallon’s comedy pass? pose, was in Fallon’s uncomfortable and bizarre breed, an alternative to Leno’s reliable news clippings or Letterman’s Top I’ll just come out and say Ten. The question is if it’s right I am not a fan of Conan. I for Late Night. know most people love him and Let’s look at the comedic I’m in the minority here, but equivalents during prime time. his whole shtick just makes me “30 Rock” may have garnered want to barf. He’ll say something enough Emmys and Golden funny and then completely ruin Globes for a lifetime, but CBS it by following said joke with a comedies like “How I Met stupidly exaggerated ninja pose Your Mother” and “Two and a or bowing repeatedly as if he Half Men” are currently earndeserves the wild applause being ing much higher ratings than prompted by cue cards. At any “30 Rock.” CBS sitcoms are rate, my opinion doesn’t matter more conventional, laugh-track because he’s being promoted to programs that suggest, in our regular “Tonight Show” status, current economy, America may which will probably be no dif- not be in the mood for satirical ferent from his old “Late Night” comedy when it comes time to show anyway. turn on the TV. Fallon did a passable job Whether he knows it, Fallon Monday night. He looked ner- has been given a tall order. He vous as hell, but his guest stars needs to incorporate the newer, helped him out. Impressions younger comedy for the audience are his biggest strength, which who loves watching “Superbad” is why it was uncomfortable and YouTube clips of children when he coerced guest star getting high on laughing gas Justin Timberlake to do a John into the world of professional Mayer impression when his comedy. In today’s hard times own is much better. But it’s when people turn to nighttime only his first week and, with talk shows for safer, comforttime, Fallon may settle into the able laughs, will Fallon’s comedy pass? Or will he need to mold his host chair comfortably. What will be most interesting humor to that of a Letterman, to see is how Fallon’s SNL-bred Leno or God forbid... a Conan? Wanna give Ali a piece of your humor fits into the old school world of talk shows. Recent SNL Conan-loving mind? E-mail her cast and alumni, as well as “30 at rothschild@wisc.edu.
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PHOTO COURTESY JASON CREPS
After more than a decade of releasing music, Neko Case has earned her reputation as an indie pop queen, contributing to side projects while creating occasional solo albums to repeated critical acclaim.
A strong ‘case’ for Neko Neko Case of the New Pornographers adds to solo success By Kyle Sparks THE DAILY CARDINAL
The album artwork for Neko Case’s latest release, Middle Cyclone, depicts her crouching on the hood of a car brandishing a spear, a clear indication she is ready to joust. Whereas her previous artwork echoed the music’s depiction of a melancholy (or barely conscious) songwriter, Middle Cyclone is Case’s most poppy, if not most commercially ambitious, album to date. But do not let that scare you off. The song most clearly spawned from the jousting Case is “People Got A Lotta Nerve,” essentially alt-country’s version of Destiny’s Child’s “Independent Women.” Case qualifies her self-interest in the chorus when she gleefully sings, “I’m a man-man-maneater.” The best word to describe her lyrics is sophisticated. She sings with raw emotion, but succeeds in sounding purely objective through each song. On the lead track “This Tornado Loves You,” she explains how she “waited with a glacier’s patience” before she embodied a tornado and “smashed every trans-
This Week’s Album Releases New releases this week:
former with every trailer / ‘til nothing was standing 65 miles wide.” But don’t misinterpret that for Case being a nut. The destruction was only internal—the transformer and trailers are her ransacked heart, the gaping terrain her empty soul and the tornado her futile attempts at reconciliation.
CD REVIEW
Middle Cyclone Neko Case Despite her attempts at energetic pop, she seems to wear out part of the way through. On the title track she sings, exasperated, that she “Can’t scrape together quite enough to ride the bus to the outskirts of the fact that I need love.” And as exciting as the empowered, giddy Case is on parts of the album, this morose, minimalist sound is the clear highlight. Likewise, “Magpie To The Morning” accentuates Case’s extraordinary talent. She uses aviary dialogue to detail an attempt to “outrun sorrow,” and a “Cousteau expedition to find a diamond at the
bottom of the drain.” But as impressive as the highs on Middle Cyclone are, they don’t last the full 15 tracks. “Don’t Forget Me” sounds like the Hallmark version of her earlier work, and songs like “Red Tide,” “Never Turn Your Back On Mother Earth” and the 31-minute loop of crickets on “Marais La Nuit” are no more than excess filler. Even “Polar Nettles” forced its way onto the track list. Still, she cloaks her shortcomings with songs like “I’m An Animal,” on which she proclaims that “Heaven will smell like the airport / but I may never get there to prove it.” By the end of the album, Neko Case’s new image takes on a different meaning. It evokes an image of neo-chariot warfare, appropriately placing her as the indie rock goddess. Commercially, she might still be crouched, ready to pounce, but her songs are as heartbreaking as ever. That’s not to say that Middle Cyclone isn’t a progression, but she’s not carving herself a new niche. Middle Cyclone is filled with the same devastating honesty that once saw album artwork of her lying on the floor, strung out on emotion. This time, Case, as is the case with Middle Cyclone and the rest of her discography, is able to stand on her own two feet.
Neko Case - Middle Cyclone Say Hi - Oohs & Aahs Jesse Harris - Watching The Sky Laura Gibson - Beasts of Seasons Grandmaster Flash - The Bridge: Concept of a Culture U2 - No Line on the Horizon
Editor’s Pick of the Week The Boy Least Likely To - Law of the Playground This week provides many safe choices from bigger names like U2 and Grandmaster Flash, but instead of going safe this week, it will be much more satisfying to check out the glockenspiels, güiros and the genuinely innocent sound of The Boy Least Likely To. They create a feeling of daydreaming with childlike allusions and rhythmically simple compositions that do not allow listeners to overthink their music. So if you’re looking for a creative piece of feel-good music that is sure to make you feel like a kid again, look to Law of the Playground. And if that doesn’t manage to satisfy your childish thirsts, then check out their first album, The Best Party Ever, and you’ll hear what all of this hype is about.
PHOTO COURTESY MATADOR RECRODS
The New Pornographers lifted Neko Case’s publicity to new heights, bringing her solo career to the center of the indie stage.
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Is there a doctor in the house? One in six doctors in America was trained in Philadelphia. dailycardinal.com/comics
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Calypso
Today’s Sudoku
Anthro-apology
By Eric Wigdahl wigdahl@wisc.edu
© Puzzles by Pappocom
“Slane-gel” 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
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Sid and Phil
By Alex Lewein alex@sidandphil.com
“Owwl mdmvqvo Aqz, ug vium qa Abmdm. Q kwum nzwu i zwcop izmi. Q caml bw jm illqkbml bw kziks jcb vwe Q iu wnn qb ivl bzgqvo bw abig ktmiv.” Office Space Quote Yesterday’s Code:
“They’re bustin’ caps like a muthafucka down there. This is F.U.B.A.R. I say we juice ‘em, what do you think?”
Today’s Crossword Puzzle
The Graph Giraffe
Evil Bird
By Yosef Lerner ilerner@wisc.edu
By Caitlin Kirihara kirihara@wisc.edu
Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com
TWO IN THE KITCHEN 1 5 9 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 23 24 25 28 30 32 33 35 37 40 41 42 43 44 48
ACROSS Beau Brummells “___ just kidding!” Tennessee footballer Russian city Cape Canaveral org. Sidestep 451, in old Rome ___ empty stomach Gloom’s opposite Table condiments Perjury offense “Once Upon a Mattress” legume Hoity-toity Meal highlight “The Bridge of San Luis ___” Like a fiddle In shock Book backbone Little girls’ ingredients? Chamber- maid’s supply Sri Lanka’s former name Onassis, familiarly I Like ___ (presidential slogan) “... nothing to fear but fear ___” Knocked to the canvas
51 Letters on letters to GIs 52 New prefix 53 Quick salad dressing 57 Waitress with Sam and Coach 59 Knock off 60 Weathercock 61 “Are too” response 62 “Amas” follower in a Latin line 63 They may be crushed or swollen 64 Old hat 65 Lotto’s cousin 66 Mortgage alternative 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 21 22
DOWN Bo’s’n’s quarters Make a father of Air rifle projectile Alluring dress feature Start for “and out the other” Jamie Lee Curtis’ 1988 fish Quickly, quickly All there, mentally Where Rays and rays play Like Harvard’s walls “Super!” Van Gogh’s forte Maximum degree Tarzan’s moniker Wood thickness
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Have lobster Had lobster In thing Actress Zellweger Whirling water Richard’s “An Officer and a Gentleman” role Exact, in British slang Safety and bobby Royal honorific Mythical horned beasts Put on, as pajamas Young boy Actress Lupino Mesh, as gears Use as a crutch Wooded area Dealers’ quantities, sometimes Thrill Birdlike Fargo location, briefly Rotunda feature At any time Upper limit Surgeons org.
Twenty Pound Baby
By Stephen Tyler Conrad stconrad@wisc.edu
opinion
Wednesday, March 4, 2009 7
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view Cardinal View editorials represent The Daily Cardinal’s organizational opinion. Each editorial is crafted independent of news coverage.
benefit increase isn’t beneficial
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ften in politics, elected officials choose to make the easier choice rather than the best choice for their constituents in the grand scheme of things. Gov. Jim Doyle may be stepping into such a situation if he chooses to expand unemployment eligibility in order to receive more money from the federal stimulus bill. If Doyle adopts two of the four recommended changes, Wisconsin would receive $89 million in funding from the bill. The expanded eligibility would allow an extra 14,000 residents to apply for unemployment benefits. Sounds like a pretty good deal, right? Wisconsin gets more stimulus money, the people get expanded unemployment eligibility and Doyle rides off into the sunset a hero. At least, that is, until the program’s skyrocketing cost catches up with itself in a few years when the allocated funds run dry.
It’s always difficult to pick fiscal responsibility over social struggle, but unemployment offices are bursting.
According to a Wisconsin State Journal article, 179,617 people in Wisconsin receive unemployment benefits, with 21,600 new unemployment claims filed the week of the report. During that same week, 105,521 people were receiving benefits, not including the 13,139 new claims. In addition, Wisconsin already took out a $400 million loan from the federal government to keep its unemployment fund afloat, further displaying how financially irresponsible
pumping more federal money into the program would be. It’s always difficult to pick fiscal responsibility over social struggle, but the floodgates are bursting at unemployment offices. If the number of people eligible for unemployment doesn’t level off in the next few years, Wisconsin will be forced to watch its federal debt continue to spin out of control.
Although we understand Doyle’s wish to provide immediate aid, his methodology seems short-sighted.
Doyle’s latest parlor trick to solve the state budget woes was an increased tax on businesses. If the proposed expanded unemployment eligibility program further drains the state economy, will he turn again to businesses to carry the burden? Doyle’s proposed heightened business taxes force employers to lay off workers. These workers are then forced to turn to unemployment in order to stay afloat, and the vicious cycle continues. Although we understand Doyle’s wish to provide immediate aid to those who are without jobs, his methodology seems painfully shortsighted and short-term. Will everyone still laud Doyle for his unemployment expansion if Wisconsin has an irreparable debt to the federal government in a few years? In trying economic times, it’s difficult to have to be the bad guy and ask citizens to simply persevere. If Doyle ever hopes to live down the near-irrevocable amount of financial debt Wisconsin has amassed, he’ll realize that soaking up government funds in expanded unemployment eligibility is only feeding a cycle capable of perpetuating the same problems of job loss and state debt.
ASM must take steps to rebuild constitution SEAN MCMASTER opinion columnist
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he proposed ASM constitution did not become one of ASM’s few victories last Tuesday. However, a mandate for reform was certainly conveyed by the 15 percent of the student populous who voted. So the question is where to go from here. From what I understand, there are three main areas of concern that spelled the demise of the proposed ASM structure: 1) Jeopardized funding to organizations. 2) Too much power centralized in the executive branch. 3) Decreased attention to grassroots organizing and student issues. Considering these concerns and the blatant realization that ASM’s role with the average student is tenuous at best, it would be unwise for the momentum of reform to halt with the defeat of ASM’s proposed restructuring. I foresee two routes that should be pursued simultaneously to ensure that effective changes can be made to increase ASM’s accountability and representative capacity, as well as address and assuage the concerns of Vote No.
I do hope that those in Vote No were actually hoping to change ASM and make it work for students.
First, I think it is important for members of Students for ASM Reform, most of whom were on the Constitution Committee, to sit with Vote No representatives and modify the proposed Constitution so that it reflects the concerns of Vote No. Do
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because legislation for such a solution is being presented today.
I believe restructuring ASM can still aide in prolonging its longevity and increasing student government efficiency.
The College Student Council Funding (CSCF) stream will be proposed at the ASM meeting Wednesday. The structure and relationship that this funding stream would establish strengthens the tie between ASM and the individual colleges. It allows students and RSO’s to communicate individual concerns and student issues within each college. These concerns and student issues will gain momentum and can then be addressed at the university level through ASM. Ultimately, the CSCF opens communication channels between ASM and the individual constituents in the colleges’ communication channels, which are either nonexistent or effective. Furthermore, in addition to the creation of such channels, the College Student Councils can focus on programming that specifically addresses the unique needs of students in each college, similar to what General Student Services Fund (GSSF) groups do to address the shared needs of students across the university. This is the type of grassroots organizing that will decrease the average student’s apathy toward ASM. I proposed one method of reform, but I do hope that those in Vote No were not just killing the proposed constitution for kicks but were actually hoping to change ASM and make it work for students. I believe that this series of legislation would be the first step in the right direction and would be very quick to effect. Sean McMaster is a junior majoring in biochemistry and mathematics. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
Pundits only making recession worse By Mike Sakowski
Are You A Political Junkie?
not let the work and effort that people invested in the proposed constitution construction go to waste. I believe restructuring ASM can still aide in prolonging the longevity of ASM and ultimately, increase the efficiency of our student government. This mode of reform would address the first two concerns: 1) To guarantee that segregated fee funding to student organizations is not endangered, I propose amending the current bylaws by adding the two timelines suggested in the bylaws that accompanied the proposed Constitution. This would ensure that any amendments to fund stream bylaws are “made public at least three months prior to the potential date of enactment,” and that any amendment resulting in the abolishment of a funding stream is “made public at least six months prior to the potential date of enactment.” These securities are not currently in the ASM bylaws, yet were of great contention in the debate over the proposed constitution. 2) Modify the proposed constitution to limit the executive branch’s power, but maintain the position of a popularly elected president. Such a figure would be the face of ASM, to which the student body can applaud or berate for the functionality of the student government. Also, have both the modified constitution and accompanying bylaws approved by ASM’s student council with an understanding that the tentative bylaws will be adopted upon student body approval of the constitution. This will alleviate the fear that bylaws will change after the modified constitution’s approval, another fear conveyed by Vote No. The second route of reform returns to, and enhances, the grassroots organizing that was feared to be lost if the proposed constitution passed. This is the most immediate form of reform that can currently be completed
I don’t invest. I don’t own any stocks, bonds, or mutual funds and I certainly wouldn’t be financially devastated if I unexpectedly lost my part-time job. Although I’m relatively disconnected from the harsh economic realities of the “real world,” I can’t help but feel annoyed that the news is inundated with an excessive number of reports about how the U.S. economy is undergoing crisis, disaster, volcanic eruption and certain demise. I understand the economy is in dire straits. I understand it’s important to be informed. I understand action has to be taken to prevent further hardship. But what I don’t understand is why cable news channels and their pundits feel compelled to constantly tell everyone what we already know about the struggling economy. Dropping the e-bomb has
become a program staple for the modern pundit, steadily renewing the public’s fears about the economy and keeping the viewer dependent on them for the latest doom update. I don’t get why pundits such as Wolf Blitzer, Bill O’Reilly or Chris Matthews feel authorized to “inform” us in such a repetitive and destructive way. By relentlessly hitting the economic panic button, pundits and the media companies they work for worsen the impact of the economic issues affecting us all. Let’s be honest: the news heavily influences the way people perceive the world around them. If that notion is true, then repeated news reports telling people that they might lose their savings and their jobs will lead some people who are relatively safe to believe that disaster is lurking around the corner when it isn’t. Just because financial markets are down doesn’t mean everyone is out of a job. When enough people become
too worried to continue their normal spending and saving habits, companies lose sales. When sales are down, companies get scared, and when companies get scared, they scale back production, or in other words, they order layoffs. It’s a vicious circle drawn by people who make a living by telling everyone else how messed up the world around them is, and no one seems to notice. Although the issues are extremely complicated by themselves, the additional influence of media reporting has a powerful and counterproductive effect on the emotional component of people’s spending choices. I’m not saying the economic emergency should be ignored, but a word to the talking heads out there, pumping panic into the public mindset only makes things worse. Mike Sakowski is a member of WUD Society and Politics Committee. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com
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Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Men’s Basketball
UW ready for Gophers
By Matt Fox
GABE UBATUBA throwing the gabe
THE DAILY CARDINAL
Wisconsin’s last matchup against Minnesota brings up painful memories for UW, an overtime loss in which the Badgers surrendered a sixpoint lead with under a minute left in regulation. On Wednesday night, the UW men’s basketball team (9-7 Big Ten, 18-10 overall) will have a chance for redemption when they travel to Minneapolis to take on the Golden Gophers (8-8, 20-8). Both teams have just two regular season games remaining. This matchup will be critical in determining the post-season positions of both the Badgers and Gophers. Wisconsin is coming off an important 60-55 win over the Michigan Wolverines last Sunday. After Michigan State snapped the Badgers’ five-game winning streak just a week earlier, Wisconsin was able to take down Michigan by getting back to its strong defense late in the second half. Wisconsin head coach Bo Ryan attributes part of this defensive success to his guards and their chasing ability in matchups against opposing teams. Ryan has seen defensive progression in several players over the course of the season. “First of all, you’ve got to be a worker and you’ve got to learn the technique, and the longer you’re doing it, you tend to get a little better at it,” Ryan said. “Jason [Bohannon] is a lot better this year than he’s ever been, and Jordan’s learning. Trévon Hughes’ better. But it’s not easy.” On the offensive end, junior guard Trévon Hughes has led Wisconsin in scoring in each of the last three games. During those contests, he averaged 17.3 points and 4.3 rebounds. But Hughes has also averaged three turnovers and just 2.3 assists. Ryan still expects plenty of improvement from his starting point guard as the Badgers gear up for post-season competition. “There are still some things that he could have done a lot better,” Ryan said. “I can’t say one way or
Schilling to the Northsiders ignites internal struggle
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ISABEL ALVAREZ/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Sophomore Trévon Hughes had six turnovers against the pressure defense Minnesota used when the teams met in late January. the other because it’s always the next 40 minutes. He did some good things, but there’s some other things he let get away from him, so we’ve just got to keep working at those things. It’s a constant.” After taking down the Badgers at the Kohl Center in mid-January, the Gophers have cooled off, winning just four of their last 11 games. More recently, the Gophers lost five of their last seven games, including a 52-41 loss at Illinois last Thursday. Minnesota junior guard Lawrence Westbrook lit up the Badgers for 29 points in their last matchup. Westbrook is the team’s leading scorer with 12.2 points per game, while sophomore guard Al Nolen is tied for fourth in the conference with 4.6
assists per game. The Gophers also rank second in the Big Ten with 35.3 rebounds per game and third in scoring with 67.5 points per game. The Badgers have had just two days of rest between their last game and Wednesday’s contest. Ryan says his players are used to the grind of a tight schedule. “You know, you just have to do it,” Ryan said. “It’s like anything else that we tell the players. Everything they’re doing now as a student athlete will prepare them for what’s coming later. This is just basketball.“ Tipoff for Wednesday’s matchup against the Gophers is set for 7:30 p.m. The game will be broadcast live from Williams Arena on the Big Ten Network.
urt Schilling, Mr. Bloody Sock himself, wants to come back to baseball. He claimed on his blog that he feels better than he did in 2007, and expressed an interest in two teams if he were to return: The Chicago Cubs and the Tampa Bay Rays. The Cubs have not ruled out potentially signing him, and manager Lou Pinella even said “it would be something to explore.” As a Cubs fan—no wait, don’t stop reading!—this has caused me much distress. A battle, if you will. A battle between who should be trusted when these comments came out: the heart or the brain. It’s a clash that all of us have to deal with for almost every situation in life, and it’s almost a little pathetic that it’s being caused by baseball this time, but it is. The reason is because although Schilling is old—42 years old to be exact—and hasn’t played in a year, there’s still something about him that the Cubs are in dire need of. He’s a winner. Not just that, a winner in the postseason. The heart says Schilling returning with the Cubs would be a good idea because of this. His playoff record is 11-2. Over their past three playoff appearances, the Cubs’ postseason record is 0-9. It just makes sense that a guy who has proven he can put a team on his back when the pressure is on should be on the team that crumbles whenever the pot starts to cook even the slightest bit. However, this is when the brain looks at the facts. Again, he’s old, and will be coming off of an injury that eventually required season-ending surgery. Can you really trust him to be that same post-season legend? Logically, you can’t. There
are so many potential problems that signing him would just be a waste of dollars, dollars that might be hard to come by in the future. Also, purely as a pitcher in rotation he would be a decent addition, but nothing that makes you say, “wow.” He won’t be the same guy anymore. True, he said that he feels better than he did in 2007, and he probably knows his body better than anyone else. But in almost every great athlete, there’s the thought that they can dust it off and get back to that top level again, even when physically they can’t. Schilling is not exempt from this, and he’s at the point in his career where that thought might begin to begin to take hold. And like almost every one of those great athletes, he probably can’t. But, what if… See, the heart’s argument is almost always based completely on what ifs and best-case scenarios. But what if Schilling could dust it off and return to form? He could be that one guy to end that whole 101-year Word Series drought, just as he ended it in Boston. He was the creator of that almost disgusting confidence the Red Sox nation has these days by having that bleeding sock on that faithful day. What if he could bring that to Cubs fans? What if he could fundamentally change the way Cubs fans think, just as he did in Beantown? It’s fun to think about. However, thinking about the best scenario is dangerous. Too much hope in anything can be dangerous. Sure, that situation might happen, but getting too confident in anything most always ends with something most Cubs fans know all too well: a broken heart. Then the brain chimes in with an “I told you so,” and we move on to the next year. But maybe, just maybe… What subject is your heart and brain fighting about? Probably something much more interesting than baseball, but send it to Gabe anyway at ubatuba@wisc.edu.
Women’s Basketball
Conference tournament offers final chance for Stone’s crew By Jay Messar THE DAILY CARDINAL
The culmination of what 11 Big Ten teams have been working for all season has arrived. The 2009 Women’s Big Ten Basketball Tournament will debut Thursday morning from Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Ind. Wisconsin’s post-season dreams depend greatly upon this weekend’s performance. The Badgers will likely need to win four games in four days—a feat never accomplished at the women’s tournament—to see themselves on TV on Selection Monday. “We know what we have to do to get to the NCAA tournament,” Wisconsin head coach Lisa Stone said at her press conference Monday. “We’re going to have to win that tournament. And the setting is right, the bracket is right for us, and we’re working hard, practicing hard, playing pretty good basketball.” The seventh-seeded Badgers (6-12 Big Ten, 16-13 overall) will kick off the tournament at 11 a.m. Thursday against No. 10
Northwestern (3-15, 7-22) who won the only matchup between the two teams this season. The Wildcats shut down Wisconsin’s offense in the second half and escaped with a 55-52 victory in Evanston, Ill., in early January. “We’re already knee-deep into Northwestern and getting ourselves prepared for a team that’s much improved.” Lisa Stone head coach Wisconsin women’s basketball
“I like our first round opponent,” Stone said. “I like the fact that we’re playing the first game on the first day … and I like the bracket. Our team’s got a lot of energy… We’re already knee-deep into Northwestern and getting ourselves prepared for a team that’s much improved and [has a] deceiving record.” Sophomore guard and honorable mention All-Big Ten honoree
Alyssa Karel leads the Badgers, averaging 13 points per game for the Badgers. The Wildcats are led by Third-Team All-Big Ten and 6'5" sophomore center Amy Jaeschke, who averages 14 points and 3.21 blocks per game. “You finish strong—that’s our focus,” Stone said. “Our theme certainly of this week is finishing strong. And we know what we’ve got ahead of us and you just take them one at a time.” No. 2 Michigan State (135, 20-9) awaits the winner of Thursday’s first round matchup— a team the Badgers most recently defeated at home 49-46. But Coach Stone isn’t worried about the Badgers’ potential quarterfinal opponent. “Our focus is on Northwestern and Northwestern only.” Stone has seen several tight games with her squad and is sure it can play with anyone in the conference. “We’ve had some nail-biters, certainly, some 3-point shots go in at the buzzer and force overtime,” Stone said. “We’ve played
with the best, even Ohio State here at home … We’ve competed with the best in the league.” While teams like the Spartans, No. 3 Purdue and No. 4 Iowa have favorable seeds, it is definitely the year of the Buckeyes in the Big Ten. Ohio State boasts four members selected to the coaches’ poll’s post-season honors, including Freshman of the Year Samantha Prahalis and overall Player of the Year Jantel Lavender. “Ohio State, since I’ve been here, has been the favorite,” Stone said. “They’ve been the power. They really have.” Yet Coach Stone also sees a great parity with this year’s tournament, as several teams are battling for limited spots in the NCAA bracket. “That Big Ten Tournament is wide open,” Stone said. “And I like our bracket, I like our pairings, and we’ll just take one at a time and hopefully can play four games down there.” Should the Badgers defeat Northwestern, Wisconsin will take on Michigan State Friday at 10:30 a.m. All nine first-round
through semifinal tournament games will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network, with the championship shown on ESPN2.
ANDREW BERNHAGEN/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Sophomore guard Alyssa Karel was named honorable-mention all-Big Ten after a breakout year.