Spring Break 2009 - Thursday, March 12, 2009 - The Daily Cardinal

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Spring Break Issue 2009

JENNY PEEK/THE DAILY CARDINAL

“…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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Spring Break Issue 2009

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

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Hopefully they won’t like jam, folk or blues

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© 2009, The Daily Cardinal Media Corporation ISSN 0011-5398

MATT HUNZIKER his dark matterials

A

fter seven or eight years of taking guitar lessons, I took what might seem like a logical step and began to teach students of my own through the university.

I’d considered teaching lessons in the past but had always stopped short.

The prospect of seeing “Instructor” or even “Student Teacher” next to my name in a staff directory made me nervous, as if, decades in the future, one of my pupils would look back on a lifetime of drug addiction and trace the cause of their problems to the failure of a guitar instructor they’d had in college.

Still, I wanted another job, and teaching a musical instrument paid well and offered me the chance to dole out my years of acquired knowledge at one hour per week—a rate at which, I figured, I could last at least through fall semester. I was also attracted by what I saw as my chance

to learn their favorite Grateful Dead song, but I was hoping that before it got to that point, one of us might simply disappear.

Eager to get my lesson plan on track as soon as possible, I arrived at the first round of lessons with enough material to cover the first week and a notebook that I had purchased because, being the same age as my students, I needed something to attest to my professional credentials—something cheap.

I could’ve planned further ahead, but my hope was that, without too much prodding, the students would jump in and suggest what they’d like to work on for the rest of the semester. This would simultaneously make the lessons more entertaining for them and shift the potential blame from my shoulders if they became bored or impatient. “Oh, I could make a few suggestions,” I’d say, if pressed. “But what do you want out of this?”

Three weeks later, this question was still largely unanswered.

Although our early lessons had gone relatively well, few of the students had suggested any musical preferences whatsoever, and I had run out of ways to wheedle the information

Modelo Especial

out of them. Making matters more complicated was the fact that several of the ‘undecideds’ were international students, to whom Bob Dylan was no more or less familiar than Fire Engines or Beat Happening, and so, in the interest of saving time, I began to assign them personalities.

Picturing my Monday morning student’s slightly spiked hair and black jacket, I mentally propped him up on stage with a cigarette and a defiant sneer. In reality, he was a soft-spoken business student from Seoul, but for the next three months I would try to steer him toward a future in punk rock.

Likewise, I began to plot my Thursday afternoon student’s singer-songwriter career, while thinking of how best to get the woman I taught on Tuesdays into a hard-partying bar band. For the first time since beginning to work with these students I felt like I had a plan I could be confident in, and, imagining myself as the wizened instructor who knew how to make these dreams come true, I set about deciding how I would get my Monday student to start smoking.

Wanna step outside for a cigarette? Email Matt at hunziker@wisc.edu.

Pacifico Clara

The second someone told me spring break was this upcoming week, I immediately took my top off and got wasted.

Well, maybe not that extreme, but at least I was happy at the prospect of a weeklong respite from the enduring grind of the semester. Appropriately so, this week’s beers are three cervezas (beers) from México (Mexico).

The default choice would seemingly be Corona, but I say “F that,” because everyone and their grandma has had a Corona, and frankly, it tastes Modelo • Especiale like sour water until you drop a lime $7.99 at Riley’s Wines of the World in it. Instead, there’s not one, not two but three beers in a spring break-style competition to see what drink to drink under the shining rays of (fill in anywhere but Wisconsin).

First up is Pacifico Clara. Putting an emphasis on the “long” of long neck, this dark bottle and simple label really set the mood as if I were Pacifico • Clara sitting under a thatched roof looking $7.99 at Riley’s Wines of the World out over the Pacific Ocean, enjoying the simplicities of life. I came back to earth upon drinking the beer and realizing it was pretty bad. The most Bar & Grill predominant taste was nothing, followed by a little sweetness. OK, I Tecate • Cerveza thought, it’s probably good with a NFL Sunday Ticket $6.99 at Riley’s Wines of the World spicy enchilada, let’s see what the rest have to offer.

The Churchkey

OPEN SUNDAYS

M - F at 8am

1 $ 00 3 $

25

REG COFFEE

CAFE LATTES & CAPPUCCINO

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to carve out an identity among the more talented and better-trained members of the music program as the hip, ever-so-slightly rebellious instructor. This was a desire which—as long as I wasn’t forced to write anything down—I decided to let serve as my teaching philosophy. As far as lesson plans went, I hoped that my students would all arrive at their first meetings with a stack of songs I already knew and a complete lack of interest in jam, folk, heavy metal or blues.

Because I was just starting out as an instructor, most of the students assigned to me were beginning from scratch. This worked out well in one sense, because for the first few weeks I would be allowed to dictate the agenda without interruption.

There may be more styles of music for guitar than for any other instrument, but whether a person dreams of strumming along with Cat Stevens’ songs at religious retreats or spilling lamb’s blood onto an audience at a Norwegian black metal festival, the first month or so of instruction is mostly identical. I realized that one of my beginning students might eventually advance to the point of asking

New Beer Thursday

Open

For the record

FRIDAY: partly cloudy hi 40º / lo 22º

COFFEE &

ESPRESSO BAR

626 University Ave. 259-0444

Tecate

Next is Modelo Especiale. What a wonderful presentation! It’s a small, stubby bottle with an enticing golden product trapped inside, just waiting to get out. Furthermore, there’s a golden wrapper that impedes on the bottle opening process, but looks cool nonetheless. Upon opening, I take a whiff to get an idea of what I’m about to taste. Smells kind of like... Pepe Le Pew’s ass. Yikes. Upon first taste, the skunkiness was less apparent, although not totally gone. If fresh, I could imagine this beer to be good.

This one’s not fresh, though.

Alright, third time’s usually a charm. Tecate didn’t have a good start, as the bottle looked menacing, with a scary German-looking bird on the label with bold, italic Tecate labeling. Appearances can be deceiving, however. The first smell was inconclusive—this could be anything.

First sip confirmed that this was nothing short of sour tap water with bubbles. Without a lime, this beer is a disaster.

Although the competition was somewhat disappointing, there’s always the saving grace that if these are drunk ice cold with a lime, they’re probably palatable and maybe even good. Just not now.

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Spring Break Issue 2009

Dorm house fellows fired for drinking

By Sung Won Park THE DAILY CARDINAL

A group of environmental advocates exchanged ideas with students about global warming Wednesday at Ingraham Hall.

State Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, Bruce Speight of Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group and Dan Kohler from Wisconsin Environment gave a variety of ideas to fight against global warming.

Speight emphasized the importance of public transportation systems.

“We need to invest more in public transportation,” he said. “Nationally in 2006, our transit system saved 3.4 billion gallons of oil. That’s equivalent to $9 bil-

THE DAILY CARDINAL

JENNY PEEK/THE DAILY CARDINAL

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UW students to be deployed to Iraq ALEX MORRELL/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Ald. Eli Judge, Dist. 8, announced his endorsement for candidate Bryon Eagon at the Red Gym on Wednesday. Eagon will face off against Mark Woulf in the election April 7.

Ald. Judge endorses Eagon for District 8 Alder’s support adds to campaign’s momentum

By Caitlin Gath THE DAILY CARDINAL

Ald. Eli Judge, District 8, announced his endorsement for candidate Bryon Eagon Wednesday for the Madison City Council District 8 race.

Judge said he spent a lot of time over the past months trying to understand the various proposals of the different candidates.

“I think I’ve come to see what our students really want in an alder,” Judge said.

After the primary election, Judge was able to gather a clearer picture of what Eagon’s goals were for the district.

“I got to see how Eagon’s proposals grew from their already expansive scope and evolved into a progressive and pragmatic plan for students that I think people of the eighth district can really be proud of,” Judge said.

In response to the endorsement, Eagon said he was “absolutely proud” to have

earned Judge’s support and endorsement.

“I think this brings a lot of momentum to my campaign and is a great motivator to keep working hard,” Eagon said.

“I hope Eli’s support brings increased attention to this race and will help me gain some support as we approach the April election.”

According to Judge, Eagon is endorsement page 4

Over a dozen UW-Madison students in the Wisconsin National Guard will make their way to Iraq in the upcoming weeks.

The 14 students departing, who are a part of the 32 Infantry Brigade, will leave from Bliss, Texas. The brigade will enter to Kuwait in March or April.

Officials met with the students in December to discuss the deployment and its impact on their personal lives.

“The entire campus community wishes the Wisconsin National Guard 32nd Infantry Brigade a safe deployment in Iraq,” Chancellor Biddy Martin said in a statement.

Officials from UW-Madison recently altered services for student veterans with the intent of lessening the impact of deployment, re-entry and separation.

The university also appointed retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. John Bechtol to the new position of assistant dean for veterans and ombuds services. Bechtol directed UW-Madison’s Army ROTC program from 2004-’08.

According to university officials, UW-Madison currently has approximately 650 student veterans and 210 ROTC students.

Students’ spring break plans affected by economy, turmoil in Mexico Students warned about spring break travels to Mexico

By Lauren Piscione THE DAILY CARDINAL

The U.S. State Department and universities across the country are warning college students heading to Mexico for spring break of an extreme increase in drug-related murders and chaos south of the border.

According to the State Department, more than 100,000 American students travel to resorts throughout Mexico during spring break each year. Many of these people have decided to cancel their spring break trips because of the murders.

The State Department issued an alert on Feb. 20 urging U.S. citizens to be attentive to safety and security concerns when visiting the border region.

According to the alert, “the greatest increase in violence has occurred near the U.S. border. However, U.S.

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Panel advocates cleaner energy

By Alyssa Connolly Two UW-Madison students were fired from their positions as house fellows in Witte Hall Thursday due to a January drinking incident.

One of the house fellows, a 20-year-old junior from the Maclachlan House who wished not to be named, said she had half a drink while watching a basketball game with another house fellow. She said while no students had returned to school from Winter Break and she was not on duty, University Housing fired her for underage drinking in a university dorm. She said the other house fellow, who is 22, was fired for supplying the alcohol.

The Maclachlan house fellow said she was upset at the way University Housing handled the situation.

“I think it was such a small incident,” she said. “The things I’ve done on my floor should have spoken volumes over half a drink.”

University Housing staff did not return calls. However, a document on its website cited house fellow responsibilities such as establishing relationships with residents and abiding by University Housing rules, policies and state and federal laws.

Tyler Golembiewski, 21, said he was a house fellow in Ogg Hall. University Housing fired him in February for allegedly being intoxicated in front of residents.

He said he was 20 at the time of the incident, but denies being intoxicated.

“I’ve always handled myself in front of my residents in the best way possible, and I was always able to maintain my duties as a house fellow,” he said. “My residents knew that they could count on me at any given time.”

Golembiewski said he gave all of his residents his cell phone number so they could reach him anytime, and his residents had the fewest write-ups by

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citizens traveling throughout Mexico should exercise caution in unfamiliar areas and be aware of their surroundings at all times. Mexican civilians and foreign bystanders have been injured or killed in violent attacks in cities across the country, demonstrating the heightened risk of violence in public places.”

In response to the State Department’s warning, many universities are urging their students not to follow through with their spring break plans in Mexico.

UW-Madison student Paul Riemer is among the many people who have decided at the last minute to cancel their trip to Mexico because of all the warnings.

“It means a lot to my parents that I don’t go on this trip,” Riemer said.

“Although I still have permission from them to go, the fact that they are so concerned made me take it upon myself to make my own decision to cancel my trip.”

UW-Madison Health Services has even sent an e-mail to students encouraging a safe Spring Break and telling students to “do their homework before traveling to Mexico.”

Many students have taken it

upon themselves to stay informed about the dangers in Mexico.

“I have been checking the news, researching on the Internet and listening to all of my peers,” Chelsea Perzov, a UW-Madison sophomore who is traveling to Acapulco, Mexico Saturday said.

“I am trying my best to stay informed and remain aware of the dangers in Mexico.”

In one circulating e-mail that has been the center of much discussion on campus, the sender writes, “What the American public allegedly does not know at this point (according to my friend) is that the drug cartels have offered an ultimatum to Mexican intelligence.

Although I do not know the specific terms of this ultimatum, I have heard that if the terms are not met by the end of this week, the drug cartels have threatened to begin targeting young spring-breaking Americans next week with kidnappings and shootings in the three biggest hot-spots of Cancun, Cabo San Lucas, and Acapulco.”

Though many of the e-mails mexico page 4

Destinations close to home increase, travel prices on the rise

By Nico Savidge THE DAILY CARDINAL

With many students choosing to forego expensive international vacations for cheaper domestic destinations this spring break, the economic downturn is making its presence known in the student travel industry.

Lindsay Juley, a travel advisor from STA Travel, said the recession has changed where students go.

“There’s definitely not a drop in the amount of people taking trips, it’s more of a change in where they’re looking to go,” she said.

According to Juley, STA is selling many more trips to domestic destinations like Miami, while nations with less expensive flights and accommodations such as Jamaica and Costa Rica are becoming more popular.

Before the recession hit, resort towns like Cancun, Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta were extremely popular with students, but are now prov-

ing too expensive.

J. Michael Collins, a UWMadison professor in the School of Human Ecology, blames a lack of consumer confidence tied to the financial crisis for the drop in travel to costly destinations.

“Almost all forms of consumer spending is down, and pretty dramatically,” he said. “They’re not willing to spend the kind of money they were even a couple of years ago.”

Department Chair of the School of Human Ecology Cynthia Jasper said the travel and accommodations industry could suffer if fewer students decide to take trips.

“There seems to be kind of a spiral effect in terms of people spending less, and then there are fewer jobs and fewer people hired,” she said.

Jasper said that even for those who are still employed, hearing so many negative stories about the economy has made consumers wary of spending large amounts of money.

This trepidation on vacations will likely affect the summer travel market as well, depending on how long the recession lasts. spring break page 4

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Spring Break Issue 2009

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Metro lines to detour until September Some Metro bus routes on Gorham Street and University Avenue will change starting March 16 because of road construction.

These Metro lines will now be moved onto State Street to accommodate recent construction projects.

The streets affected are University Avenue from Bassett to Park Street, Gorham Street from State to Bassett Street and Broom Street from Johnson to State Street.

Westbound routes 2, 3, 7, 8,

11, 12, 14, 15, 37, 47, 56, 57, 58, 70, 71, 72 and 74 are the lines planning to be detoured.

The detours are expected to last through September.

The construction project is six blocks long and two blocks wide, creating a traffic reduction to one lane on Gorham Street and to two lanes of traffic in the areas of construction on University Avenue.

These traffic restrictions will be in effect at all times.

Grand marshal chosen for Crazylegs ’09 The Crazylegs Classic Executive Committee recently chose a new grand marshal to host the 2009 event.

Jeffrey Skiles, the co-pilot of the U.S. Airways plane that landed in the Hudson River Jan. 15, will be honored at the April 25 event.

Skiles, who graduated from UW-Madison in 1984, successfully landed Flight 1549 and saved all 155 passengers onboard.

This year’s event will feature the ChronoTrack Timing System, which requires runners to tie a chip to their shoelace. The chip will monitor and record partici-

house fellows from page 3 other house fellows than any other hall in Ogg. The former Maclachlan house fellow said she had a great relationship with her residents and that they were very upset when she told them of her termination.

Both former house fellows said they think University Housing is acting against the residents’ best interests by firing them for the

mexico from page 3 tend to be rumor, many students have taken the “hearsay” seriously and plan to take extra precautions this Spring Break.

“We’re going to travel in large groups at all times, never get in cabs alone and we will of course not be engaging in any types of business with the local Mexicans,” said Emily Bader, a UW sophomore traveling to Acapulco this break.

Bianchi-Rossi, an organization that runs spring break trips, has sent many e-mails reassuring students that

pants’ times throughout the race.

The run and walk will start at the Capitol at 10 a.m. and the wheelchair event will begin at 9:45 a.m.

Festivities will take place after the event at Camp Randall Stadium.

Attendees can enjoy a performance by the UW Marching Band and the Eddie Butts Band from Milwaukee.

All community members interested in registering for the event can do so now until April 6. The cost is $25 for the run and wheelchair event and $20 for the walk.

For more information about the event, visit crazylegsclassic.com. drinking incidents.

“I’ve actually had residents tell me it’s more detrimental to their college career to have somebody that they’re so close to get taken away from them with a month left in school,” the Maclachlan house fellow said.

Golembiewski suggested University Housing select house fellows in the future who refrain from drinking altogether, “otherwise they’re just going to get rid of them as soon as they can anyway,” he said. it is still safe to travel to Mexico and has encouraged their student representatives to do the same.

Even with all of the alerts and warnings, most of the students still plan go through with their Spring Break plans.

“I’m still going to Acapulco, and I plan to have an amazing trip despite all the recent chaos,” said UWMadison sophomore Kelly Klein.

For more detailed information on staying safe in Mexico, see the Mexico Country Specific Information at: travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/ cis_970.html.

LORENZO ZEMELLA/THE DAILY CARDINAL

State Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison called for cleaner energy sources at a panel Wednesday.

global warming from page 3 lion the consumers would have otherwise spent driving.”

Speight also mentioned several projects, such as the Midwest Regional Rail Initiative.

The rail initiative would attempt to connect major cities throughout nine Midwest states, including Wisconsin.

It would also provide an alternative to using cars for traveling between cities.

The panel also discussed new methods of generating electricity from

endorsement from page 3 completely prepared for a position on the Common Council.

“If you haven’t noticed already, Bryon really does do his homework,” Judge said. “If you go to his website there is a 19-page safety plan that details all of what he thinks we should do over the next two years.”

Part of Eagon’s proposal includes improving lighting in the downtown area and reaching out to all of the stakeholders that have an interest in the downtown, which according to Judge is the beating heart of the city.

Eagon was also adamant about

clean energy sources, such as wind.

When asked about the feasibility of wind energy, Black said discontinuing coal plants is a good first step.

“I think that wind turbines, if properly sited, are a good way of producing power,” he said. “They are clean and they are competitive with other energies.”

According to Speight, 13 percent of bridges and 10 percent of the roads in Wisconsin are structurally deficient. Repairing and maintaining these existing structures would addressing the root of crime issues in Madison, as well as dealing with tenant issues. He said he hoped to make improvements in areas such as tenant contracts.

“Many of us are first-time renters and we don’t always know our rights,” he said.

Eagon made claims to continue most of the work Judge has already implemented.

“Eli has really shown that it’s possible to represent student issues and achieve real results while advancing the causes of the city as a whole,” he said.

Eagon will square off against Mark Woulf for the District 8 seat April 7.

create 16 percent more jobs than building new roads and bridges.

“Put this in an analogy: you are not going to build a new house if your roof is leaking,” he said.

Scott Thompson, the coordinator of Big Red, Go Green, advocated lobbying for clean energy in the face of environmentally unfriendly corporations.

“Even though the Exxon Mobils of the world are standing against us, this is really a global issue that we need to deal with right now.”

spring break from page 3 As students begin to consider their plans for the summer months, Juley said they are considering going to South America instead of Europe because South America is cheaper.

One positive aspect to decreased student travel is the increased popularity of alternative breaks.

Collins and Jasper said service trips allow students to travel and have an impact on a country without paying nearly as much.

“It’s certainly a great idea because those are usually much more costeffective,” Collins said. “It’s a smart alternative to be thinking about.”

featuresscience

spring break Issue 2009 • 5

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Spring break Science Just because you’re on vacation doesn’t mean science is too

By Bill Andrews THE DAILY CARDINAL

I can hear the cries now. “Science?

That’s just the kind of thing I’m hoping to leave behind over spring break!” Relax, Stereotypical Reader, this is no last-minute lecture. I know vacations are all about having fun and living life to the fullest.

But remember life is about experiences, and some of them are just plain scientific in nature. After all, science isn’t simply a collection of facts about the world we live in.

It’s a way of looking at the world, just like music is more than simply memorizing lots of songs.

DANNY MARCHEWKA/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Eco-construction sites Sustainable architecture may begin turning UW-Madison’s skyline green

By Jessica Schaeffer THE DAILY CARDINAL

Rachel Gundacker never thought it would take 3.2 Earths to sustain her personal consumption patterns and waste.

“This is scary. I did not think my ecological footprint was so large,” said Gundacker, a UW-Madison senior. “I think we all forget that we have a finite amount of resources and space, and we don’t want to run out of them.”

Living a sustainable life—or living within the means of nature without compromising the ability of future generations to fulfill their needs—has been a growing topic of interest, especially in the consumption-based culture of the United States.

On the UW-Madison campus, scientists and architects apply this abstract concept to architecture and housing development, which many believe are now the biggest contributors of greenhouse gases.

“Seventy-six percent of greenhouse gases are emitted by the construction and operation of facilities,” said Angela Pakes-Ahlman, a project manager in the Capital Planning and Development department of UW Facilities Planning and Management. “The very places we go and live are producing the most. My job is to minimize this impact, not just in the bubble over Madison but, I hope, on the global level.”

Pakes-Ahlman currently manages multiple projects to be incorporated into Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards on the UW campus, including the $34 million renovation and addition of the School of Education, the $48 million renovation of the School of Human Ecology, the $87.1 million South Campus Union project and the $150,000 Wisconsin Bioenergy Institution project.

LEED certification is the recognized standard for measuring the sustainability of a building.

According to the National Resource Defense Council, these regulations look for design and construction practices that reduce the negative environmental impacts of buildings and improve the health and well-

being of its occupants.

Many people don’t realize the cost efficiency of these buildings,.

“There is a misperception that it will cost more to build these sustainable structures,” said John Nelson, a UW adjunct professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering department. “You need to think holistically from the beginning. Things that cost more will equal out the things that you now don’t need to do.”

Take energy, for example.

“UW-Madison will save $1.8 million of energy annually just by one adjustment made on a heating and cooling plant in Madison,” Pakes-Ahlman said. “And that is just one example.”

Although these cutting-edge developments are now sweeping the country, this green movement has had to overcome many challenges to reach its current popularity, including a completely different outlook on architecture.

“A lot of people support changes to save the environment, but not everyone wants to change themselves.”

Angela Pakes-Ahlman project manager UW Facilities Planning and Management

“Architecture is art. It is symbolic. It is focused a lot on physical appearance and this is very important to our culture. But it is actually visually obscuring what we need to do,” Nelson said. “We emphasize consumption in the United States.

Sustainable architecture is counterintuitive. It is a different balance, a different level of consumption.”

Sustainable development gained popularity in 1987 after the report “Our Common Future,” by the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development, brought attention to the Earth’s threatened future.

“We all depend on one biosphere for sustaining our lives,” the report said. “Yet each community, each country, strives for survival and prosperity with little regard for

its impacts on others.”

Although this new method of thinking has slowly been integrated in the United States, not all building types utilize sustainable techniques.

Even though single-family houses functioning entirely with renewable energy have been constructed, the U.S. lags behind in the building of sustainable high-rise residences, according to Nelson.

“We are headed to megametropolises demographically,” said Nelson. “There isn’t enough room for such a large footprint in that dense of a space, so we need to focus on big buildings like highrise residences.”

Successful multi-housing developments have been completed, however, in other parts of the world.

Beddington Zero Energy Development (BedZED) is an environmentally friendly urban housing development near Wallington, England. This award-winning community was designed by architect Bill Dunster to be water- and energy-efficient by using low-impact material, waste recycling and promoting eco-friendly transportation.

The design reduces carbon emissions 56 percent in each home through its energy efficient design and appliances, and solar panels that provide approximately 11 percent of the site’s energy, according to the Peabody BedZED Web site.

Pakes-Ahlman hopes when the UW building projects are done, they can become a teaching tool for people to learn about sustainable architecture and its importance in controlling global climate change.

“A lot of people support changes to save the environment, but not everyone wants to change themselves,” said Pakes-Ahlman. “We will have a teaching tool on our very own campus for people to come to learn. This will be a great learning environment for faculty, staff and students. I hope there are more concessions in the next 10 years.”

Nelson agreed.

“We need to strike a balance and live with nature,” he said. “Life depends on it.”

Getting high For instance, S.R., as you jet off to warmer climes, you may notice an odd sensation as the plane lifts off. That’s the changing air pressure affecting your ears.

Normally you have a bubble of air inside your ears, helping to keep air pressure balanced inside and outside. This bubble sometimes has trouble keeping up when the air pressure changes quickly around you, such as suddenly increasing altitude, where there’s less air and thus less air pressure. (The airplane’s cabin protects you from most of the air pressure changes, but some still gets through.)

Usually it just takes a few regular swallows or yawns to balance things back out and reform that air bubble. The effects are particularly strong when the plane lands, since you’re going from less air pressure to more, so remember to chew your gum then if you’re sensitive to such changes.

Getting baked

Relax, Stereotypical Reader, this is no last-minute lecture.

This means you’ve landed, S.R., and will be hitting the beach. But, as with bears and spouses, hit it too much and you’ll be sorry. Instead of sporting a sexy suntan, you’ll bring home a beastly burn. What’s the deal with that?

Well, to put it simply S.R., it’s because the sun is hot. Just like you cook bacon by exposing it to heat, so your skin (and its insides) will heat up slowly and fry if left out in the baking sun. The UV rays we hear so much about are the types of light-rays the sun produces with the most energy, so they’re technically what burn and tan us.

Staying out in the sun too long actually damages your skin cells, which causes the pain and redness we normally associate with a burn. So, when you’re hitting the waves, scoping the bathing suits and having all manners of fun in the sun, just make sure to wear that sunblock too.

Science isn’t simply a collection of facts about the world we live in.

Getting high and baked Finally, after a long day of travel and beaches, S.R., you might want to go out and party. And while I would never recommend the use of an illegal substance, it’s no big secret that many of you probably will do it anyway. So, how do alcohol and marijuana, to keep things mellow, work their magic?

Basically, they mess with the brain, the organ from which we interpret and understand the entire world. The alcohol and marijuana interfere with the brain’s regular processes, interrupting the connections normally made every moment by neurons.

Alcohol generally slows things down, eventually even the processes that control heart rate and breathing, so don’t overdo it. Marijuana blocks certain transmissions from happening, meaning the brain interprets things a little differently than normal, usually in a good way, or so I hear.

With all this going on, S.R., it’s understandable if science isn’t the first thing on your mind. The great thing, though, is science keeps on happening, whether you think about it or not.

AMY GIFFIN/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Feel free to forget all about your problems and assignments over spring break, but don’t forget that science really is all around us.

featuresspring break 6 Spring Break Issue 2009

dailycardinal.com/features

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SPRING BREAK 2009 What are you doing over break?

By Pati Mo

Spring (upon and) Break (the Irish’s back)

DAVID HOTTINGER it’s getting hottinger

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o the untrained eye, the annual calendaring of Spring break would seem as arbitrary a system as Scanner Dan has to his heckling targets, no doubt an illusion the powers that be would like to maintain. In truth, that bearded bum is far more impartial than the Board of Regents who set our schedule. Through a painstaking investigation, this journalist finds that in the eight spring breaks falling between the years of 2004 and 2011, no less that five coincide with St. Patrick’s Day, a “coincidence” which in effect outsources the celebration of this critical holiday to spring break locales across the continent instead of allowing them to take place anywhere near the “progressive” confines of our beloved campus. Although few students would consider this nearperennial placement of the holiday suspect, the nine days of nothingness surrounding this sacred celebration of Irish culture betrays a systematic effort on the part of this University to suppress and suffocate the cultural identity and general will to live among its Irish members.

From their puritanical pulpit atop Van Hise, the Regents may issue statements claiming that this calendarical contrivance in simply

an effort to avoid what they deem the “excessive” binge drinking often associated with St. Patty’s celebrations; that they are merely doing what has been done to formerly fun celebrations like Halloween and Mifflin: making them safer by making them suck. However, if the African American Studies department on this campus is allowed to rename the African slave trade the ‘Black Genocide,’ then we are fully within our bounds to call Spring break the no-less-true “Irish Cultural Suppression Week,” as the policy expounded by this university’s scheduling czars patently reveals its pro-Anglo proclivities.

This academic calendar essentially screams, “Leave this city for the 17th of March. Go anywhere in this hemisphere, just don’t sully our campus on the day known as St. Patrick’s Day with your beer-drinking and your bag-pipe playing.

Historical inquiries have revealed that St. Patrick never actually lived.

We hate the Irish.”

It goes without saying that many unfamiliar with the plight of the Irish people will scoff at these accusations as offensive and completely unfounded. They should be reminded, however, that that is what people said about proven things like evolution and Rudy’s football skills.

Aside from perpetual drunkenness, St. Patrick’s Day is quite possibly the only article of Irish cultural identity to survive the chocking cultural climate of this WASP-ass nation. Yet this university, one which makes

specious claims to its commitment to fostering diversity, actively engages in quashing this last bastion of Celtic pride under the guise of bequeathing its students and staff an innocuous-looking reprieve from school and study.

In the face of this heinous oppression the Irish community of this campus is urged to band together. In protest to this persecution, micks and mick-sympathizers should not acknowledge this “Spring (upon and) Break (the Irish’s back)” and instead hold a “school-in,” maintaining normal class schedules all next week.

Throughout the week, protesters are encouraged to don outlandish green clothing, play loud Irish music that no one could stand any other time of the year and remain piss-drunk from sun-up to passout time. The Irish are a resilient people, well-adapted to tolerating miserable conditions with the aid of drink and song. We may not be known for being all that bright, but we know when we smell a rat, and we will not be fooled into enjoying Irish Cultural Suppression Week at the expense of our cultural soul.

Spend spring break serving the community

By Emily Villwock

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ore than 100 to work on an organic farm UW-Madison stu- there. “The overall learning dents won’t have experience is the best part,” she to worry about missing the said. party bus this spring break.

“The most important thing These Badgers are choosing is the hands-on learning expeto devote their time off from rience students can get both school to volunteering. The from the program and from Wisconsin Union Directorate’s each other.”

Alternative Breaks Committee is sending 120 students to 12 “The most important thing is the different sites next week.

Students will be volun- hands-on learning experience teering through a variety of students can get both from the projects ranging from commu- program and from each other.” nity building to working on organic farms. They’ll travel Kaitlin Koehler Director in all directions and as little as WUD Alternative Breaks two hours south of Madison or as far as the Everglades in Florida.

WUD Alternative Breaks Committee member Matt Director Kaitlin Koehler went O’Rourke agrees. He’s been to on her first alternative break New Orleans previous years, trip last year after hearing about but this break he’s traveling them at the student organiza- to Jackson Hole with Hoofers. tion fair. She became “hooked” “I constantly regret not signafter her first trip and is travel- ing up for one this spring,” ing to West Virginia this year he said.

What are you doing for spring break?

I’m going up to the Kalahari with friends and staying there CHARLIE DEFOE for a couple of nights.

After that, I’m going to my aunt’s house for St. Patrick’s day over in Lopaca here in Wisconsin.

Why? My friends’ parents got us tickets for four people stay for three nights and go to the water park for the day.

What could someone staying in Madison do for spring break?

I heard there is a concert going on in Memorial Union that probably would be interesting.

Where is the best place to get ice cream in Madison?

Ben & Jerry’s What are you doing for spring break?

I’m going home in Crafton, WI. Why? I chose that because that’s MIKE BURCZYK where I spend my summer and I’m doing a few job interviews.

What could someone staying in Madison do for spring break?

I enjoy hitting up the serf for racket ball games. When it’s warm, I like to Frisbee – more athletic things I like to do Where is the best place to get ice cream in Madison?

Paciugo’s

What are you doing for spring break?

I’m actually going to stay here in my dorm room and chill for a while.

MOLLY PETRI Why? I have a lot of projects due the week I get back and all my supplies are here.

What could someone staying in Madison do for spring break?

I’m going to a play by Shakespeare in a Wisconsin Union Theater.

Where is the best place to get ice cream in Madison?

Rheta’s or Frank’s

What are you doing for spring break?

We’re going to Chicago to visit the museum and go to theatres with friends.

We are going CAROL JIANG to spend 3 or 4 days there.

Why? It’s close, so it’s convenient to go there. It is too expensive to fly to California or anywhere else.

What could someone staying in Madison do for spring break?

Maybe go with family to State Street, it is more convenient for people who are local.

Where is the best place to get ice cream in Madison?

C-store in Chadbourne or Memorial Union

Top activities to do over spring break

Alternative Breaks, which the WUD has run almost 20 years as part of WUD, has had time to develop good working relationships with the sites they serve. Koehler says that’s important, especially since the San Juan, Texas, site is close to the Mexico-United States border, currently a troubled area.

“We’ve had extra orientation meetings to discuss the circumstances in San Juan,” Koehler said, “but we’re still planning on sending the students.”

WUD Alternative Breaks can usually accommodate ten students per trip, so admission to the spring break programs can be competitive, but there are also opportunities for students in the winter and summer, as well as shorter weekend trips. Applications for the four summer trips are now available and can be found at www. union.wisc.edu/altbreaks.com.

By Grace Kim Indoor farmer’s Market: 330 W. Mifflin St., every Saturday 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

-Winter Market Breakfast: Provides a full meal made entirely with the farmer’s market products.

With just $7 you can enjoy a best quality breakfast meal, beverages and live music.

8:00 a.m. – 11 a.m. Come early, they only prepare 250 meals.

Wisconsin Dells -Noah’s Ark: The state’s largest indoor water park.

-Paint it! Pottery Shop: Create your own pottery from hundreds of pottery styles and a variety paint colors.

Henry Vilas Zoo: This free zoo recently opened a new animal exhibit featuring Asian porcupines and cockatoos.

Also check out Amur tiger that arrived at zoo this January. Open daily Contemporary Art Museum: The museum currently holds the exhibition “Something Wicked This Way Comes,” which presents modern art pieces representing evil and dark themes. From March 15, Young at Art shows art works by Madison

Metropolitan School District students.

University Theatre presents William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” incorporated with dance, music and poetry. The play is recommended to all the younger generations.

Saint Patrick’s Day -Budweiser’s 6th Annual St. Patty’s Pub Crawl�on March 14th� 1:00 to 5:00 p.m.

-5th Annual Shamrock Shuffle at Overture Center on March 15th 10 -Irish Flag ceremony at noon and Traditional Irish contests at 1 pm -St. Patrick’s Day Parade 1:30 pm Kennedy’s Irish Pub and Grill in Stoughton -Shamrock and the Blarney Stone -Claddagh Irish Pub (1611 Aspen Commons, in the Greenway Station shopping center in Middleton): the restaurant will be having the first annual music festival -Brocach Irish Pub -Erin’s Snug Irish Pub and Restaurant (4601 American Parkway in Madison).

featuresfood

Spring Break Issue 2009 7

dailycardinal.com/food

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Las Vegas is spring break King for foodies Five delicious morsals to tempt you and your friends to get your fill of ‘Sin City’ this spring break

By Sara Barreau THE DAILY CARDINAL

Many Spring-Breakers flock to the coasts each March in hopes of soaking up sun, consuming a large number of tropical beverages and hitting on scantily clad college students. But some people demand a more memorable spring break. Vagabond foodies seeking good food and drink with friends should look further inland—Las Vegas.

Shady things are happening in some spring break hot-spots, so do not discount Vegas for its lack of sandy beaches next to large bodies of water.

For nearly half the price of some destinations, enjoy a room for four, a pool surrounded by smoking-hot eye candy, guaranteed adventure and free drinks.

Aside from these attractive features, Vegas is brimming with world-class restaurants run by the best chefs. And if high-class cuisine is not your style, the buffets display an extraordinary array of mouth-watering concoctions.

Here are a few reasons Las Vegas is a foodie’s spring break paradise.

Gourmet Cuisine Madison has amazing fine-dining restaurants, but the number is miniscule compared to Vegas. Every resort on the Strip has at least one dining experience that is ultimately unforgettable, albeit expensive.

Take a high-life culinary tour of the world in a week: Shintaro at the Bellagio serves authentically prepared sushi and pan-Asian cuisine.

Next, visit Guy Savoy, a James Beard-winning restaurant, located in Caesar’s Palace. It features elegant French cuisine designed by the namesake owner, a recipient of three Michelin stars. The magnum opus of his restaurant is the 10-course Menu Prestige, featuring a few of Savoy’s signature dishes.

You will also find more fantastic restaurants opened by celebrity chefs such as Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse and “Top Chef” Judge Tom Colicchio.

All-You-Can-Eat Buffet These eating establishments were once considered cheap, low-brow joints, but in recent years Las Vegas resorts have amped up the quality and culinary assortment. Tour the world in a single meal at any of these upgraded and impressive buffets.

Planet Hollywood’s Spice Market Buffet often wins for “Best Buffet in Vegas” with its ample spread of world-class cuisine. The MGM Grand Buffet boasts all-you-can-eat prime rib, shrimp and Alaskan king crab legs.

Try Cravings at the Mirage or Bayside Buffet at Mandalay Bay for breakfast.

Looking for something off-Strip? The

Buffet at The Rio is enormous and one of the largest in Sin City.

Quick Bites Don’t suffer between the breakfast buffet and an elegant dinner. Las Vegas also has an outstanding list of places to grab a quick bite any time of day—even at 2 a.m.

The Village eateries in New York, New York Hotel and Casino are frequently open late at night and offer pizza, Philly cheesesteaks, ice cream, Nathan’s Famous hot dogs and a mean deli sandwich.

Café Gelato in the Bellagio has eye-opening espresso and creamy gelato in flavors to please every palate.

Dessert Delights Las Vegas does not offer just the best breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is also rated highly for the desserts.

The Chocolate Swan at Mandalay Place was created in Wisconsin and moved to Vegas in 2004. Some of the sweets in this shop include artisan

Claire suggests a dining opportunity for every spring break destination CLAIRE WIESE chocolate e’claire

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ith spring break season nipping at Winter’s toes, college students across the country are planning trips to warmer climates.

No matter where you’re going, the food will undoubtedly be different from mac & cheese pizza and Babcock ice cream (unless you’re staying in Madison—then it’s just a week without school). In lieu of this transition, I present a compilation of “typical” foods from the most common spring break destinations and my own personal recommendations—for your dining pleasure!

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico Since Cabo is in Mexico, it would only make sense that you sample Mexican cuisine, and I mean REAL Mexican cuisine. Why not try some spinach and artichoke dip alongside REAL beans and rice? I would guess that pretty much anything fresh from the region would be delicious: think avocados, beans and papayas. Fried food is also delicious, especially if you can find any kind of seafood.

Remember: think fresh.

Florida Although Florida is in the same general climate as Mexico, its food is vastly different. When I think of Florida, I think orange juice, and therefore, fruit! It may not make up a whole meal, but nothing is better than fresh fruit that hasn’t been trans-

ported hundreds of miles.

Florida is also famous for alligators, so if you’re a meat fan, why not take a walk on the wild side? It isn’t actually that wild; they sell it at the Minnesota State Fair on a stick.

Wisconsin Dells Yes, Wisconsin Dells is only about an hour out of Madison, but it’s still going somewhere, right? The fun part about going to the Dells and being from Wisconsin is that you can pretend you’re a real tourist. Go to the cliché themed restaurants and get over-priced snacks at the gift shops and water parks.

Indulge the kid in you. Your college self will thank you later.

Alternate spring breaks If you are the adventurous and/or volunteering type and are going on an “alternate” spring break, your food choices will depend on where you go. Like the other, more specific destinations, sample local cuisine that you would not be able to find here in Wisconsin. Or try their take on a favorite dish from back home.

Madison Oh, good ole Madison. If you are lucky enough (like me) to be staying in Madison this spring break, feel free to ingest all of the pizza, Chinese food and cheese you can stand.

No matter where you go next week, I hope you have a safe and food-filled spring break. Your taste buds are looking for a vacation too, so indulge them. And just remember—Ian’s will be here when you get back.

If your stomach yearns for authentic Mexican food, tell Claire. E-mail her at crwiese@wisc.edu.

chocolates, cake and tortes.

Wolfgang Puck’s Postrio at the Venetian is a romantic dining atmosphere—reason enough to visit it for a sweet bite for two.

Bottoms Up The cheapest way to develop a buzz in Vegas is to put $5 in a nineline penny slot machine and wait for the cocktail waitress to make her way around. Order a drink (the sky is the limit) and wait for your special delivery. Tip her a dollar or two and order another drink. They are usually small servings, but if you can play the game you’ll be feeling it in no time.

Don’t want to throw your money away in the casino or waste time waiting? Hit up one of the Fat Tuesday bars located in several hotels. For about $10, get a yard-long margarita and add an extra shot for a dollar. Bring the container back for the next drink and save more money.

The best part about drinking in Vegas is the absence of an open intoxi-

cants law. That’s right; just take that daquiri out on the street without risk of getting a ticket.

Another great way to save money drinking in Vegas is to pack a bottle in your carry-on for the hotel room. Have each of your friends bring something different, and before you know it, you have your own beverage buffet.

Las Vegas is the perfect location for anyone who loves food, even if your spring break plans include all of the normal activities: laying in the sun, flirting, collecting phone numbers, drinking—a lot. Plus, there are always celebrities strolling around or hanging out at the clubs. It’s true, I saw Neil Patrick Harris do a ballerina spin in the middle of the Mirage casino.

So if you’re still looking for lastminute plans that will tantalize your tastebuds but keep your checking account balance above the red, look up vacation packages to Sin City. As they say, “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” What other spring break hot spot can promise that?

opinion New generation worthy of U.S. challenges 8

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dailycardinal.com/opinion

Spring Break Issue 2009

JOSEPH KOSS opinion columnist

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great number of things have been going incredibly wrong lately. It seems as if you can pretty much take your pick of political, social and economic topics and find glaring faults within any one of them; problems numerous enough to give fits of consternation and depression to even the most optimistic among us. The Washington echo chamber is up to the same old game using the same old players. The entrenched Democratic old guard is trying to flex their collective muscles and strong-arm an unwilling president who would prefer to play

a different game. The decimated Republican old guard is hawking tired party lines and ideologies; looking left, right, north and south for fresh relief. Nothing is happening, nothing is changing. Meanwhile, the blue and red hamsters continue to run contently inside their wheels.

The X/Y generation we belong to has been the butt of countless jokes for our indifference to politics.

Congress has been embattled in Baby Boom generational warfare for such a long time that they find it impossible to acknowledge the very problems they are

elected to come together to fix.

All they can do is issue banal talking memos attacking each other.

Meanwhile, a growing impatience is building as the nation awaits the undefined change that those in control of Congress have not even begun to talk about.

Interestingly enough in spite of a job market that is shrinking and contracting at record rates, in spite of doom and gloom prognostications concerning our nations infrastructure, health-care structure, banking system, national security, education system, food and drug safety and judicial system, young adults of all backgrounds are bucking trends and putting their hearts and minds to real problems that demand great amounts of hard work and dedicated effort. If there is needed proof that this country is experiencing a divergence of ideals and a generational divide, look no

further than the large numbers of young adults looking for causes to tackle with the ambition and cando-it attitude that only youth can provide.

Meanwhile, the blue and red hamsters continue to run contently inside their wheels.

Programs such as Teach for America, AmeriCorps, Peace Corps and volunteer organizations of all stripes, from religious to non-religious, from hurricane clean-up to inner-city soup kitchens, are experiencing record numbers for involvement. Even those not strictly altruistically motivat-

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ed are looking for jobs or starting their own companies in fields that are trying to address some of our country’s most pressing problems with inventions including new and creative angles from new battery technologies to multimedia in our elementary schools.

The X/Y generation we belong to has been the butt of countless jokes for our indifference to politics, our fashion and music tastes, our obsession with pop culture and our habitual need to “be connected.” However, we are also the “let me try” generation.

Technological innovation and its imperfect infusion into our own and our society’s daily lives has instilled a key personality trait in a great many X/Yers: We are not afraid to try, fail and try again in order to make something work.

Many of us programmed our parents’ VCRs and TiVo boxes, we set-up the computer and wireless router, taught our parents and grandparents how to use their cell phone, how to text and what a social networking site is and helped a teacher operate the DVD player properly in class.

[Our generation] is not afraid to try, fail and try again in order to make something work.

We have experimented and tried to work through adult-created problems with adults and authority figures watching over our shoulders our whole lives. And now in the face of the great struggles our nation is witnessing, almost all of the power positions in our government and in our most important corporations are being held hostage by the very generation that spent in excess, bickered in abundance and myopically viewed their obligations to future generations, resulting in the current fiasco we call a democratic government.

Give another generation a chance. Let me try.

So I have one suggestion for the Baby Boom members of Congress and those CEOs, Wall Street executives and bank presidents who are still hanging on to the vain hope that they will become part of the solution: Please, go gently into that good night. Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and the rest, please go away. Rush Limbaugh, Newt Gingrich, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., please, please go gently into that good night. You have lost our ear and lost our confidence. Give another generation a chance. Let me try.

Joseph Koss is a junior majoring in secondary education in social studies. We welcome your feedback. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

arts Six songs to make your spring break rock dailycardinal.com/arts

For all of you who are going on a sick-nasty awesome killer cool spring break , here are the hottest jams to get your groove on while you’re shaking your thang and getting some sweet spring break action. Oh, you’re staying at home and getting your wisdom teeth out for break? Well here’s a mix to remind you of what you’re missing while you sit on your couch icing your swollen face and watching reruns of “Blind Date.” No matter what your spring break plans are, these tunes are great to throw on the stereo and jam out to for spring break.

Spring Break Issue 2009

“Summertime” - DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince This timeless jam is good for everyone, no matter where you’re going or what you’re doing over spring break . While it’s obviously “better” for those who are in warmer places (like in the song), it can temporarily send those of us stuck in Wisconsin (or anywhere up north) to a different world, one where you’re more worried about getting the best hairdo and impressing the hot girls than any homework or job. Even though we’ll all have to return to the cold and mundane campus after a week of fun, “Summertime” is also a

PHOTO COURTESY THREE CAR GARAGE

good song to turn on whenever you’re in a rut during these last eight weeks of school.

—Caissa Casarez “Theme from ‘Jaws’” - John Williams spring break is often dominated by a narrow strip of the music landscape that consists of party anthems, Latin dance rhythms and whatever that song is about having sex on the beach. After a week of this, it begins to grate on the ears of even the most agreeable vacationer. Fortunately, there’s an easy way to put a stop to this.

For those of you heading down to Daytona Beach or Acapulco, just hook up your most powerful set of speakers and start pumping out John Williams’ iconic theme from “Jaws.” Then point out that children’s floaty toy in the water that looks conspicuously like a shark fin. The annoying music will stop, and you’ll have the entire beach to yourself to enjoy those eerie french horn sounds.

—Todd Stevens MMMbop- Hanson No spring break mix would be complete without the blissful, harmonious voices of the three bros I would give my right foot to marry—Hanson. Their 1997 hit song, MMMBop screams fun and sun. The tune reminds me of

my childhood, which immediately brings warm, happy thoughts perfect for an enjoyable vacation.

Whether it’s the flashback of Taylor, Isaac and Zac performing wicked karate kicks on the beach in wetsuits or the awesomely cool green screen effects displaying an enormous yellow flower behind the boys, this jingle always makes me want to dust off my rollerblades and paint the town red.

—Kaitlyn Schnell “Margaritaville” - Jimmy Buffet For all of you party people out there who will be hitting the beaches during spring break , Jimmy Buffet’s seminal classic is sure to be blasting from someone’s beach boombox. Sitting on a beach all year long, celebrating a new tattoo, hanging with a “Mexican cutie” sound like pretty much the coolest things ever, especially if you’re as old as Jimmy Buffett. After all, who wouldn’t want to sit around with a bucket of margaritas on the beach? Now if only I could find that damn lost shaker of salt...

—Kevin Slane “Where I Find My Heaven” Gigolo Aunts Who can possibly forget this catchy ballad, an overnight sensation for its appearance in the film “Dumb and

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Dumber,” the ultimate buddy-buddy road trip movie. The song may not explicitly be about going on a wild spring break road trip, but the frequently repeated lines of “it’s where I find my heaven” perfectly capture the essence of spring break ’s purpose.

In addition, the band responsible for this road-trip gem is the aptly named Gigolo Aunts, a perfect analogy for that creepy relative you’re forced to call and stay the night with because your vehicle broke down halfway to Arizona.

—Jon Spike “Wouldn’t it be Nice” - The Beach Boys Is there any song that sounds more like the sun shining down on you while driving on a coastline with the top down on your convertible? Is there any other song that expresses the youthful desperation for the good times you’re currently seeking any better? The group that created surf rock provides the perfect song to lead to your far away destination that isn’t the sun-shining coast or a brightly lit strip, this song has the ability to transport you to the imaginary destination of your choice, killing time until you are once again too debauched to care what the hell is being played.

—Justin Stephani

Take your movies on the road: Eight classic road trip films KEVIN SLANE citizen slane

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e’re days away from spring break, and I could not be more excited. Breaking free from the oppressive chains of academia never felt so good. No, I’m not heading to Panama City for an MTV-fueled spring break extravaganza. Nope, I’m heading home to Lexington, MA, a town whose entire industry is based on people dressing up in authentic colonial garb and giving tours of really “important” historical landmarks.

So no, I’m not looking forward to settling in at the Hancock house with a Sam Adams and my pimpin’ tri-corn hat. But I am looking forward to the journey back home, because I’m taking a road trip with several of my Wisconsin friends. So, in anticipation of this epic 19-hour journey back to Boston, I have compiled a list of my eight favorite road trip films.

8. “Road Trip” “Road Trip” is by no means a good movie. In fact, some would say that this is a pretty bad film, and that I merely included it in my list because of its name. And they would be 95 percent right. Yet there is some small charm in reliving the nostalgic days of 7th grade, when seeing a film like “Road Trip” meant seeing hot girls naked, and seeing Tom Green be hilarious (or hilarious to my 7th grade mind, anyway).

The plot of the film is so asinine that it’s hardly worth mentioning.

A guy accidentally gets the film he was sending to his long-distance girlfriend (ever heard of Skype, people?) mixed up with a sex tape he makes with another girl from his

college, and then treks cross-country with his roommates to retrieve it. The film is most notable for holding the Guinness World Record for most comedic has-beens in one film, with seven (Green, Breckin Meyer, Andy Dick, Horatio Sanz, DJ Qualls, Ethan Suplee and Seann William Scott).

7. “Harold and Kumar go to White Castle” Besides having one of the most descriptive names ever, “Harold and Kumar” can also boast being the best attempt by filmmakers to return to the buddy-buddy stoner genre since the days of Cheech and Chong.

Harold is an uptight wimp, and Kumar is a lazy genius. Together, their quest for the delicious White Castle cuisine is an adventure for the whole family (given that your family is made up solely of teenage potheads).

No, I’m not heading to Panama City for an MTV-fueled spring break extravaganza.

6. “Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan” Sacha Baron Cohen’s hilarious yet culturally relevant comedy-documentary covers more ground than most of the films on this list. By criss-crossing the nation in their converted ice cream truck, Borat and his director Azamat examine the absurdities of American life in many areas, all while pursuing the goal of wedding Pamela Anderson through the traditional Kazakh method of marriage. Very nice!

5. “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” The biographical chronicle of gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson, “Fear and Loathing” puts the “trip” in “road trip.”

Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro spend their days driving around in a drug-addled haze in the only city where their actions are not only encouraged, but condoned. Depp’s paranoid portrayal of Thompson is spot on, and their strange adventures definitely top any weird occurrences of an average road trip. One caveat: Many films can be used as a drinking game where people drink whenever a certain character drinks.

Please, for the love of God, do not play that game with “Fear and Loathing” and the drugs they use.

4. “The Muppet Movie” “The Muppet Movie” marked the big-screen debut for Jim Henson’s furry friends, and they scored a hit with this familiar story of traveling to Hollywood to make it big in show business. Featuring cameos from the biggest stars of the time including Bob Hope, Steve Martin, Dom DeLuise, Mel Brooks, Madeline Kahn and Milton Berle, “The Muppet Movie” had plenty of talent. But it was those familiar furry faces that we loved to grow up with that stole the show.

So to Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie, Gonzo and the rest of the gang, I salute you.

3. “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” Although “Planes” does not feature college kids or copious use of illicit substances, the film still fills the traditional road trip movie standard by featuring two characters who need to do anything to reach their goal. Steve Martin and John Candy play off each other well as the bitter businessman and

the buoyant bumpkin, respectively.

Both of them struggle through snow, car crashes, and sheer ineptitude to make it home by Thanksgiving.

2. “The Straight Story” “The Straight Story” is a notable deviation from the typical road trip formula. It’s a serious film, a small indie project made by several Wisconsin residents. It’s based on the true story of Alvin Straight, a man living in Iowa who learns of his estranged brother’s illness. So, to set things right, he hops on his lawn tractor and rides from Iowa to Mount Zion, WI, all while meeting some interesting characters along the way. Besides the obvious awesomeness of taking a road trip on a tractor (why didn’t I think of that?), “The Straight Story” is also great because it tugs at your heartstrings, and makes you realize that sometimes road trips have a more worthy cause than booze, women or other general debauchery.

1. “National Lampoon’s Vacation” Perhaps the most classic road trip film of all, “Vacation” chronicles the Griswold family’s attempt to travel from their Chicago-area home to the fabled Walley World in California. Of course, traveling via station wagon with your family is a surefire way to encounter trouble, and “Vacation” dishes it out on the eternally peppy Griswold family with unrequited glee. From the boneheaded in-laws to the unintentional dragging of the family dog, Chevy Chase keeps on a manic grin until the very end, when his last vestiges of sanity are completely lost.

Think Kevin missed some obvious road trip classics? Then join Kevin on the greatest road trip ever, where all we do all day is eat ice cream and watch movies while our driver (Charles Barkley) sings gospel. Or just E-mail him at kevslane@gmail.com

PHOTO COURTESY TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX FILM CORP.

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No way! Every time you lick a stamp, you’re consuming 1/10 of a calorie. dailycardinal.com/comics

Spring Break Issue 2009

Making it to class tomorrow

Today’s Sudoku

Anthro-apology

By Eric Wigdahl wigdahl@wisc.edu

© Puzzles by Pappocom

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

By Yosef Lerner ilerner@wisc.edu

By Caitlin Kirihara kirihara@wisc.edu

Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com PLAYING GAMES

1 5 9 13 15 16 17 18 20 22 23 24 26 28 31 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 43 44 46 48

ACROSS

“Needs more ___” Banned submachine guns Arab cloaks Kind of waste Ship deck Upholstered piece Inner self, per Jung Greedy grab A motorist may drive in it Aviation hero This year’s grads Type of house or glasses Didn’t return Morning eye-opener Direct hit Back, at sea Sneaky guy?

Supplement ingredient Sleep stage abbr.

Airport components William McKinley’s wife World map dominator Tiresome routines Water lily painter Claude Like the heart in a Poe story Botch

49 50 52 54 56 60 63 64 65 66 67 68 69

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 14 19 21 25

Kitten’s plaything “Nothing ___!”

“Mangia!”

Calculate the total North Pole twosome Rugby term Without worldly sophistication Cake layer Vicinity Shakespearean forest Tree of Life locale “... ___ and not heard” Something hammered out DOWN

It can be silver or bronze Top-notch VIII squared Vacation Amphetamine Place of chaos Hawkeye state Trout features, often Venomous reptile Supporting To distant spots Emulates Simon Aladdin’s transportation Cannes can content “Is that clear?”

Helped in holding up

27 28 29 30 32 33 34 36 39 42 44 45 47 48 51 52 53 55 57 58 59 61 62

23rd Greek letter Diamond figure Having a lot to lose?

Genealogist’s map Salt Lake City students Sing Swiss-style Maternal Epistle apostle Their kids have kids King intro?

Procrastinator’s utterance Alert and suspicious Monorail unit Wire measure Great expanse Punta del ___, Uruguay Part of RNA Venture Ally (with) Neck and neck On its way Final resting place, for some Veer to the right

Frugal Gnome

By Lindsey Heinz and Emily Villwock lheinz@wisc.edu

sports

dailycardinal.com/sports

Spring Break Issue 2009

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Men’s Hockey

In WCHA playoffs, rematch with Mavericks looms large

By Nico Savidge THE DAILY CARDINAL

The Wisconsin men’s hockey team will look to defend home ice against Minnesota State in a bestof-three series to start the WCHA playoffs this weekend.

Coming off a strong win against North Dakota that ended

a five-game winless streak, the Badgers are focused on carrying the momentum from that win into the postseason.

“What we did out there [against North Dakota], and the intensity and how we competed, those are things that are going to help us play the way we need to

play this weekend,” head coach Mike Eaves said.

“They play all the time like the way you need to play a playoff game, which is hard [and] gritty,” junior forward Blake Geoffrion said of the Sioux. “If we just keep doing that and playing the way we are playing, we will be just fine.”

NICK KOGOS/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Senior forward Tom Gorowsky had two goals and two assists the last time Wisconsin faced off against Minnesota State. The Minnesota native has scored 11 goals of his 18 career goals this season.

Geoffrion could play a big role in determining whether or not Wisconsin has success this weekend. After missing the North Dakota series with a leg injury, Eaves said Geoffrian is probably going to play against Minnesota State.

Eaves and Geoffrion spent extra time on the ice after the Badgers’ Tuesday practice, conditioning the forward for a series in which he could play three games in three days. Eaves said his progress was “encouraging.”

The last time Wisconsin faced Minnesota State was just two weeks ago, and it showcased some of the Badgers’ biggest shortcomings in their February cold streak.

In both games against the Mavericks Feb. 27-28, Wisconsin coughed up a late lead by allowing a third period power-play goal, and ended up with just one point from the series after a 4-3 overtime loss and 3-3 tie.

“In our books, we played pretty well,” Eaves said about the Minnesota State series. “We take away from that series that we have got to find that little extra.”

Senior forward Tom Gorowsky said the Badgers learned as a team that they have to finish games just as strong as they start them.

“We can’t just get a lead and think the game is over,” he said.

“They came back both nights … we have got to make sure we are ready every time, every second of the game.”

One of the big reasons why Wisconsin was able to overcome those issues was the strong play from their special teams and freshman forward Derek Stepan.

The Badgers’ penalty kill successfully turned North Dakota away five times and will have another challenge against Minnesota State, which comes into the game boasting the No. 8 powerplay in the nation.

Stepan played a major part in killing off those North Dakota power plays by racking up a pair of shorthanded goals on the same Wisconsin penalty Saturday, giving the Badgers a lead they kept for the rest of the game.

Eaves praised Stepan for his ability to soak up hockey knowledge and understand the game, something Geoffrion attributed to Stepan’s dedication.

“He loves the game of hockey,” Geoffrion said. “He’s what we refer to in hockey as a rink rat.

He’s always around the rink, coming here early, staying late, he’s always up to come to the rink.”

Wisconsin will face off against Minnesota State Friday, Saturday and, if necessary, Sunday at 7 p.m.

Women’s Hockey

Icers open championship drive with Dartmouth

By Brandon Storlie THE DAILY CARDINAL

The Wisconsin women’s hockey team will skate into uncharted territory this weekend. That is, if any territory remains uncharted for a team that has been in this position in five consecutive seasons.

The top-ranked Badgers welcome an unfamiliar opponent into a scenario that has become almost routine, playing host to Dartmouth in an NCAA quarterfinal game at the Kohl Center Saturday afternoon.

Wisconsin has not seen the Big Green in nearly three and a half years. In fact, the Badgers have not even faced an Eastern College Athletic Conference opponent since their drubbing of Quinnipiac in the opening weekend of the season.

“It’s always fun to play against teams that you never play against,” junior forward Meghan Duggan said. “There’s that element of surprise. I’m actually really excited to play Dartmouth, a team from out east that we don’t really know much about. I think it will be fun.”

This weekend’s quarterfinal matchup might look like fun now, but if previous years are any indication, Duggan and the Badgers

madness from page 12 ing contests.

As the first set of games begins to wind down (four contests are run roughly at the same time), the coverage flexibility becomes even more important. Seriously, what is more exciting than hearing, “Well, it looks like this one is just about wrapped up. We’re going to send you over to Greensboro, where Virginia Commonwealth is holding on to a slim lead over the fifth-seeded Blue Devils”?

might want to reconsider. The last three NCAA quarterfinal contests WIsconsin has played have gone to a combined seven overtimes, including a seven-period thriller against Harvard in 2007.

“Obviously it’s a huge game for everyone and everyone’s going to bring their best game, so it drives a lot of games into overtime,” Duggan said. “Going into overtime games is obviously nerveracking, but it’s worked out in our favor the past three years.”

Bonus hockey puts even more pressure on the players between the pipes.

“I don’t mind the pressure,” senior goaltender Jessie Vetter said. “It’s just those type of games where you have to come to play and make the saves that need to be made.”

But to say DUGGAN Vetter looks forward to overtime might be a bit of a stretch.

“If we can do it in regulation, I would definitely take that,” she said.

As they have for most of the season, the Badgers will have the edge

this weekend, at least on paper.

Dartmouth will have plenty of momentum though, coming off a dominant 6-1 win over Renssalaer in the ECAC championship game last Sunday. The Big Green finished the year a respectable 20-9-4 which was good enough for fourth place in the final ECAC standings, four points out of first.

Though Saturday will mark the first meeting between the teams this season, one piece of irony has not escaped the Badgers.

In March of 2005, Wisconsin fell 4-3 to the Big Green in what was the Badgers’ first NCAA tournament appearance.

With head coach Mark Johnson about to take a year off to coach the U.S. Olympic team, this weekend’s game has taken on a bit of a “full circle” element. Still, it is not something the team has talked much about.

“I think I’m the only one on the team that was actually present at that game,” said Vetter, who was redshirting at the time.

“I know [Erika] Lawler and Meghan [Duggan] were there [in the stands].”

Vetter will undoubtedly be at her best against the Big Green. Besides having her final season in cardinal and white on the line, the Cottage

Grove, Wis., native was recently named one of three finalists for the Patty Kazmaier award.

“Normally people don’t pick goalies too much for that type of award,” she said. “Just being in the

Our attention is rapidly moved to the most important events at that moment, and no one is reduced to watching the highlights of an epic overtime upset.

And then, once the great finish is complete, four more games come on.

After that, four more. Then when the day is over and you realized that you forgot to shower and come to the realization that you are literally tired from sitting on your couch, you realize you get to do it again tomorrow.

Now some will take issue with

the CBS coverage, especially if their primary game is a 1 vs. 16 matchup or if they have a lecture that takes attendance (thankfully that’s not an issue this season). In that case, fans have a poorly planned contract to thank for that.

CBS lets fans watch any game except the one being televised online… for free. The games are slightly delayed, creating an issue when watching both on TV and online, but the ability to watch four games in lecture ultimately means the coverage caters even more

toward the viewers.

Although the later days of the tournament are nice distractions, nothing quite beats 32 games over two days.

So fans, get ready. Clear your schedules for next Thursday and Friday.

Stock up on food and prepare yourself for around 20 hours on the couch.

After all, these wonderful days only roll around once a year.

If you plan to do anything but watch boatloads of basketball next week, you need Ben’s help, fast. E-mail him at breiner@wisc.edu.

DANNY MARCHEWKA/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Senior goaltender Jessie Vetter was selected as a finalist for the Patty Kazmaier award after recording a 1.33 goals against average. top three is a great honor.”

Wisconsin and Dartmouth will face off at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Kohl Center. The winner will move on to the Frozen Four in Boston March 20 and 22.

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dailycardinal.com/sports

Spring Break Issue 2009

Men’s Basketball

Badgers ready for OSU... again

By Nick Schmitt THE DAILY CARDINAL

March Madness kicks off this weekend and, as a delicious appetizer, the Badgers begin their Big Ten tournament Friday against Ohio State.

Just two years ago, Wisconsin and Ohio State found themselves battling in the Big Ten title game.

Now the Badgers head into the tournament as the fourth seed and Ohio State follows as the fifth. The Big Ten enjoyed a significant increase in competitiveness from top to bottom over the last couple months, and every team, especially this year, has a shot at the championship.

The Badgers’ 85-61 victory over Indiana last Sunday showed a surprising outburst of offense, which could prove useful against the Buckeyes. In their only meeting this season, Wisconsin crawled to a 24-23 lead over Ohio State at half and managed to hold them off in the second half, winning 55-50. “[Turner] did a really good job against us ... I have to just try to take things away from him and force tougher shots” Joe Krabbenhoft senior forward Wisconsin men’s basketball

Although Wisconsin allowed Ohio State to shoot 55 percent from the field, they managed to keep the Buckeyes’ scoring down.

A key to the game for the Badgers was forcing 19 turnovers. Assistant coach Gary Close said they don’t focus on creating turnovers, but heads-up interior defense can put pressure on the other team.

“We just go in trying to play our game and hope that results in [turnovers], we’re not a team that tends to turn people over a lot, although we have at times,” Close said. “It’s not something you can plan on. You just hope it might happen by playing good,

solid defense.”

Wisconsin also dominated the Buckeyes on the offensive glass, outrebounding them 15 to 3. Senior forward Marcus Landry, who led the Badgers with 17 points, and Joe Krabbenhoft each pulled down four.

The Buckeyes are led by sophomore guard Evan Turner, who emerged as one of the best players in the conference this year.

He averaged 16.9 points and 6.9 rebounds and was a unanimous All-Big Ten team selection by both the coaches and media.

He dropped 23 points, almost half his team’s total, on the Badgers in mid-February and did it with one of Wisconsin’s best defenders, Joe Krabbenhoft, guarding him.

“He did a really good job against us,” Krabbenhoft said. “He killed me with his right hand. I have to just try to take things away from him and force tougher shots. Not many people have been able [to stop him] this year, so it’s going to take a collective effort.”

Additionally, the Badgers need to worry about freshman guard William Buford, who took home the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award, and freshman center B.J Mullens, who won the Big Ten Sixth Man of the Year award.

When the Badgers take the court against the Buckeyes tomorrow afternoon, focusing on Ohio State needs to be their only concern.

Experienced players like Landry and Krabbenhoft know it can be tough to play three games in three days, but looking too far ahead can send the team home after the first day. As a leader and the reigning MVP of the Big Ten tournament, Landry wants to go into the game showing his teammates the importance of confidence.

“You have to go in there with a mindset that I’m going to get the job done and I’m going to take it upon myself to make sure my team comes out with a victory,” he said.

The game will begin at 1:30 p.m. Friday on ESPN following Michigan State against Minnesota or Northwestern.

The most wonderful days of the year BEN BREINER boom goes the breinamite

S

PHOTOS BY ISABEL ALVAREZ/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Senior forward Marcus Landry (top) and sophomore forward Jon Leuer will face a stiff challenge controlling the paint against Ohio State.

ay it people: we are one week away from the two greatest days of the entire sports year.

The Super Bowl—overrated. The World Series—too spread out. The NBA playoffs—not good til the second month. But in seven days, fans will be treated to the first two magnificent days of the NCAA tournament.

And the factor that puts these days ahead of all the rest is a flexibility in coverage which almost always shifts attention to the best games.

Filling out brackets is the first step to properly enjoying the tournament’s first week. It imbues each and every game with more value and keeps viewers busy tracking the various brackets changes (and, on occasion, seeing half their Final Four picks knocked out).

Sure, an NFL Sunday has lots of games, but most of them don’t matter to all viewers. Next week that won’t be true.

Furthermore, those days are made for the grand American pastime of planting one’s self on the couch for hours on end, ignoring class, work and spouses. Just wake up, drag yourself to the couch and relinquish all thoughts of productivity.

But it’s the coverage that really sets the viewing of early March Madness apart from all other sports.

CBS seems to have no issue moving fans from their scheduled games during timeouts or breaks. Few phrases in the English language make the hearts of viewers sing more than a play-byplay announcer saying, “And we’ve got a timeout on the floor, we’ll send you over to Syracuse where Jim and Dan are watching a tight game unfold.”

It’s as simple as that. You get lookins at random games throughout whatever game you’re watching. Not random plays, not just a few score, but real, live moments of rapidly developmadness page 11