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Weekend, April 17-19, 2009
Voter turnout increases in ASM spring elections By Erin Banco THE DAILY CARDINAL
The Associated Students of Madison Student Elections Committee and Student Judiciary met quorum Thursday and reviewed the results of the 2009 spring elections. The elections produced an 8.3 percent voter turnout, a 3 percentage point increase from last year. Fifteen percent of the student body voted against the proposed ASM constitution in February. “I think we were hoping for something closer to the constitution election, just because we got our hopes up that people were really invested because this was advertised better than our previous years like last year, but it is a 3 percent increase from last year and the year before,” Claire Lempke, member of the ASM Press Office, said. For Accessibility, Community and Empowerment of Students was a new slate running for ASM this year. The slate’s main goal is
to strengthen grassroots involvement in ASM by being more transparent and reaching out to other student groups. Eight candidates from the slate won seats in ASM. One of the winners was Kyle Szarzynski, who won a seat on the Student Services Finance Committee. Other winners of SSFC seats were Tim Fung and Michael Romanesko. Eight percent of the freshman class voted, compared to approximately 26 percent of the senior class. The sophomore and junior classes were close in voter turnout, with 23 percent of sophomores and 24 percent of juniors voting. Hannah Karns, current vice chair of ASM, will serve as senior class president for the 2009-’10 school year. Kurt Gosselin, former chair of SSFC and member of competing slate Students for Responsible Leadership in ASM, will serve as both secretary and treasurer of the senior class and asm page 3
UW admission not affected by incomes By Melanie Teachout THE DAILY CARDINAL
A recent study by the La Follette School of Public Affairs says family income of potential students will not affect their chances of acceptance into UW-Madison. “Nationally, the percentage of college students from families in the top income bracket has been increasing faster than students from the bottom bracket,” political scientist and public affairs scholar John Witte said in a statement. “The good news is that the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s admissions process is not becoming more elite in terms of income, even as it has become more selective.”
Witte and Barbara Wolfe, both members of the school, released the research this spring in the La Follette Policy Report. Former Chancellor John Wiley’s concern of higher education becoming less accessible to those unable to afford it inspired the analysis. “Wiley thought we were becoming more elite in terms of who we are serving and applications and who is accepted, but there is no indication that is the case,” Witte said. Witte and Wolfe are currently conducting research to determine whether family income influences enrollment and admission page 3
KYLE BURSAW/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO
UW Police Department officers arrest a female partygoer at the 2008 Mifflin Street Block Party. This year, police will attempt to increase signage as a way of enforcing safety guidelines for students.
As Mifflin nears, safety agenda still uncertain By Anna Bukowski THE DAILY CARDINAL
As the Mifflin Street Block Party draws closer and student excitement increases, city officials are seeking ways to enforce safety guidelines at the annual event. The Madison Police Department plans to boost the number of informational signs displayed in the Mifflin area. According to MPD Cpt. Mary Schauf, the increased signage is part of an effort to help people understand the rules are not gone. She said street parking is prohibited and meters will be covered with signs detailing proper conduct. Many city officials attributed criminal incidents at the block
party to general ignorance, and MPD urges attendees to follow lawful procedure.
“If you are going to leave, leave the beverage.” Mary Schauf captain Madison Police Department
Schauf said one of the most notable rules to follow is that students must obtain a permit if they plan to host a party. She stressed students should use caution with open containers
because they are forbidden in the street. Glass bottles are outlawed completely. “If you are going to leave, leave the beverage,” she said. The MPD is also working toward bringing a sponsor to the event. According to Schauf, sponsorship would contribute significantly to Mifflin’s success. A sponsor’s support would be seen in various aspects of the event, including a potential increase in the number of public facilities. This increase would decrease public urination arrests, she said. MPD said they want to “keep mifflin page 3
STATE BUDGET UPDATES: JOINT FINANCE COMMITTEE DELIBERATES The Joint Committee on Finance held its first executive session at the state Capitol Thursday to begin deliberations on Gov. Jim Doyle’s proposed budget. Before delving into items in the 2009-’11 budget bill, the committee unanimously MILLER passed Doyle’s request to allocate $38 million in federal stimulus funds to the Department of Workforce Development for job training for dislocated workers, young people and people with disabilities. “I think this may be the most significant thing we do today, is invest millions of dollars from the federal stimulus package to help people who are out of work get back to work in Wisconsin,” JFC co-chair Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Madison, said. In their opening statements, Pocan and JFC
co-chair Sen. Mark Miller, DMonona, acknowledged that passing the budget will involve making tough decisions. “[The budget] won’t be as good as perhaps we would have liked it to have been, but that is facing reality, and we on this POCAN committee are also going to have to face the reality of the economic situation,” Miller said. Rep. Robin Vos, R-Racine, urged the Democratic leaders to work with the Republican committee members to make sure the budget does not hurt citizens and businesses with increased taxes. The committee then voted on several budget items, many along party lines. —Megan Orear
Primary enforcement passed 14-1 This item will allow police officers to pull over motorists if they suspect they are not wearing a seat belt. By adopting this provision, the state will receive $15 million in federal funds. The committee unanimously passed the motion to keep the fine at $10 instead of Doyle’s proposed $25. Removal of policy items defeated 12-3 Republican committee members motioned to remove several items from the budget, such as the statewide smoking ban and domestic-partner benefits, for being policy items. Increased financial fee passed 12-3 This item, passed along party lines, will increase the fee to license a financial agent from $30 to $70, estimated to bring in an additional $2,800,000 annually. Budget repair threshold defeated 15-0 The JFC shot down Doyle’s request to increase the threshold for the introduction of a budget repair bill from a 0.5 percent shortfall to a 2 percent shortfall.
“…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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Weekend, April 17-19, 2009
An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892
All Davis hears is ‘terroris[t], terroris[t], terroris[t]’
Volume 118, Issue 132
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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 Copy Chiefs Kate Manegold Emma Roller Jake Victor Copy Editors Alex Kuskowski Sarah Mittermaier
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 Web Directors Eric Harris, Dan Hawk Marketing Director Heath Bornheimer Archivist Erin Schmidtke The Daily Cardinal is published weekdays and distributed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and its surrounding community with a circulation of 10,000. The Daily Cardinal is a nonprofit organization run by its staff members and elected editors. It receives no funds from the university. Operating revenue is generated from advertising and subscription sales. Capital Newspapers, Inc. is the Cardinal’s printer. The Daily Cardinal is printed on recycled paper. The Cardinal is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The Daily Cardinal are the sole property of the Cardinal and may not be reproduced without written permission of the editor in chief. The Daily Cardinal accepts advertising representing a wide range of views. This acceptance does not imply agreement with the views expressed. The Cardinal reserves the right to reject advertisements judged offensive based on imagery, wording or both. Complaints: News and editorial complaints should be presented to the editor in chief. Business and advertising complaints should be presented to the business manager. Letters Policy: Letters must be typewritten, double-spaced and no longer than 200 words, including contact information. Letters may be sent to letters@dailycardinal.com.
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DAVID HOTTINGER college cuestions Ed. note: David was struck by the roller street hockey dude and is in a coma. Davis Scrottinger has kindly agreed to fill in.
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ear Davis, I just transferred here this semester. Last week on the 80, I thought I overheard two people talking about going to see “the terrorist” when the weather warms. Are my ears deceiving me? Does this campus really harbor a terrorist? —Martha B. Martha, when I first came to UW, it was about a week before I thought my ears were deceiving me. Granted, I lost all hearing in my left ear at a hella ragin’ DMX concert four summers ago, but I’ve become one heck of a lip-reader, so that shouldn’t matter. I remember it like the last time I pooped my pants: the day my house fellow convinced our floor the terrorist was
“totally rad” and people started visiting it every day. I realized then what my mom meant when she said college was for learning, not making friends. There are many “open” secrets on this campus, so open that no one seems to remember they’re supposed to be secrets. Some, like the toxicwaste dump that Lucky was built over or the 2002 Halo-inspired massacre at the Lakeshore dorms, are essentially harmless—really just a garden for witty jokes and nice conversation starters to use at Johnny O’s. Others are so putridly sinister you wonder what spell of the devil keeps good men from speaking out about them. The “secret” terrorist here is of the latter type. Coming here, I knew this school had a reputation for leaning to the left; I knew its commie boosters didn’t say “Go Big Red” for nothing. But I never expected it to be liberal enough to like terrorists. Yet if you ask any senior what his favorite part of UW-Madison’s campus is, after four years of brainwashing by the godless extremists who fill our faculty he will no doubt tell you it’s “the terrorist,” who evidently lives by Memorial Union. Also, you will discover that in addition to trans-
The Dirty Bird ERICA ANDRIST sex columnist
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can’t believe I’m even asking this, but a few nights ago, my boyfriend wanted to have sex and he started going down on me to try to get me in the mood. The reason I didn’t want to was because I was really gassy and I tried really hard to hold it in, but I accidentally farted. Now I’m afraid to let him go down on me again. How do I get over this? —Sincerely, Whoops Dear Whoops, Yeah, it is generally considered poor form to fart in your partner’s face while receiving oral. However, you bring up a great point; no matter how hard we try, sometimes we screw up in bed. Whether it’s something we’ve fantasized about for years or it’s a spur-of-the-moment thing, our sexcapades don’t always go the way we’d like, and keeping our cool in the heat of an embarrassing moment can be tough.
Go ahead and say it: “Whoops!” Apologize if you feel it is necessary: “Sorry about that.” Then move on.
For the record Corrections or clarifications? Call The Daily Cardinal office at 608-262-8000 or send an e-mail to edit@dailycardinal.com.
forming its students into freedomhating terrorist sympathizers, this university has also utterly neglected to teach proper diction, as the senior you question will invariably fail to pronounce the final “t” in the word “terrorist.” The bastardization of the English language may be a battle we have already lost with this generation, Marth, but I hope you will join me in taking a stand against any Osama bin lauding it might engage in. I’ll never forget the day sophomore year my own brother asked me if I wanted to go hang out at the terrorist’s. I told him I wasn’t too keen on hanging out in caves or constructing shoe bombs. He acted like he didn’t know what I was talking about, as if all anyone ever did at the terrorist’s was “read a book” or “watch the sunset.” He had actually convinced himself that the terrorist was harmless. “Oh, come on, Davis,” he said. “You’ll love the terroris[t]. It’s the only one in the country that sells beer!” I looked at him with my icy glare and told him that I didn’t care if he sold Dippin’ Dots—a food item for which I have a known weakness—for $2, I still wasn’t going to finance domestic terrorism, with bills displaying George
Washington’s face, no less! Yusuf Islam is the only terrorist in the world that used to sing “Peace Train,” but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t still read books about building shoe bombs and pray to The Lah for the sun to set on western civilization, I said. My brother just gave me a naïve and bewildered look and left. It was then I knew the Scrottingers had lost another to those “Progressive Danes.” My dad said he’ll come around, though. Family issues aside, Mar-Mar, it’s important you know how to handle this. I’m not your stepdad, so I’m in no position to lecture you, but I have some advice. Apparently, our campus has harbored this terrorist for a while, so whatever terrorist attack he’s been planning, we have to believe it’s going to be soon. I haven’t been able to pin down exactly where his base cave is, so we can’t call in the preemptive strike just yet, but my sources say it’s somewhere near the lake on the northeast side of campus. So if you value your life, you should steer clear of that stretch of space behind Memorial Union, which is too bad because there’s such a nice big patio back there. Do you know where the terrorist is? Tell Davis at dhottinger@wisc.edu.
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However, “whoops” moments happen to everyone. Maybe the headboard crashes to the floor after an exceptionally powerful thrust. At the moment of climax, you shout the wrong person’s name. Your dog starts howling in response to your partner’s squeals of
ecstasy. Whoops. The first and most important thing to remember is that sex is funny. We’re naked and sweaty and our bodies are making all sorts of weird sounds and smells and facial expressions that we can’t always control. And that’s totally hot and totally OK. So be upfront about it. If you can muster it, laugh. Go ahead and say it: “Whoops!” Apologize if you feel it is necessary: “Sorry about that.” Then move on. Chances are, we feel a thousand times more mortified about whatever it is that happened than our partner does, and making a big deal about it will likely make things worse. Picture yourself as the fartee for a second rather than the farter—would you rather your partner giggle a bit, apologize, and then make it up to you with great sex (maybe the next night)? Or burst into tears, run out of the room, and refuse to return your calls for a week? But what if my total embarrassment prevented me from reacting as coolly as I might have liked, and now it is a week later and I haven’t returned my partner’s phone calls? How do I get back on the horse? In pretty much the same way— except this time, focus on your reaction, not the original embarrassing moment. “Hey, sorry I haven’t been around much this past week. I’d love to hang out tonight; what are you up to?” If you want, you can briefly mention that you felt humiliated because you accidentally kicked the wall and broke your toe (yeah...), but like I said, odds are good you’ve been thinking about it a lot more than your partner has. It’s in the past; make direct reference to what happened if you have to (like, if you broke your toe accidentally kicking your partner in the face), but don’t force your partner to relive it several times because it makes you feel better to apologize profusely. Once is enough. It shows our partners we’re
chill and relaxed, not uptight and melodramatic. Sometimes, though, we start worrying about things going “wrong” well before we knock the candle over and set the bedspread on fire, or we just can’t seem to get it out of our minds even several weeks later. It’s hard to enjoy sex if we’re busy obsessing about small details. Our most powerful sexual organ is the brain. We can get deliriously aroused from entirely non-physical stimulation, e.g., the way things look or sound. Even if we’re totally turned on, anxiety over tomorrow’s monster biology exam can keep good sex from being great sex.
It’s hard to enjoy sex if we’re busy obsessing about small details.
One way we can be good receivers of pleasure—and being able to receive pleasure well is just as important for great sex as being able to give pleasure well—is to be in the moment. Stop thinking about all the homework you have to do, stop thinking about getting a sandwich, stop thinking about how last time you squashed your partner’s balls because you leaped up screaming at the spider on the wall—phenomenal sex requires us to savor. Sex is fun. For it to be the most fun, we need to be good at both giving and receiving. No matter how good we are at it, sometimes things don’t go quite like we’d planned, and that’s OK. The unpredictability of sex is part of what makes it fun. No need to make a stink about it. —Got questions? Comments? An extremely embarrassing escapade to share? E-mail Erica at sex@dailycardinal.com.
news
Sexual Assault Awareness Month Fact of the Day: A quarter of all college-aged rape victims blame themselves entirely for the attack. Weekend, April 17-19, 2009
Madison, Midwest cities included in Obama’s high-speed rail plan By Justin Eells THE DAILY CARDINAL
President Obama announced Thursday his plan for a highspeed intercity rail system, which includes a line connecting Madison to other metropolitan areas in the Midwest. The rail system is a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which set aside $8 billion for national railroad development. The statement from the U.S. Department of Transportation lists 10 sites for possible rail projects, including the Chicago Hub Network, which would link Chicago, Milwaukee, Madison and the Twin Cities. “We must start developing clean, energy-efficient transportation that will define our regions for centuries to come,” Obama said in a statement.
According to the White House statement, the plan would reduce dependence on foreign oil, lower emissions and promote economic growth. “Anyplace you look where rail stops are established, economic development occurs in that radius,” said state Sen. Jeffrey Plale, DMilwaukee, who sits on the state Senate transportation committee. The DOT compared the proposed project to President Eisenhower’s Interstate Highway System created in the 1950s, which “revolutionized the way we travel in America.” The proposal calls for three funding tracks, including projects to build the necessary infrastructure and create jobs quickly, regional programs to develop entire regional sections of rail corridors, and planning for logistics and funding. Plale said he was happy to see
the initiative, which started under former Gov. Tommy Thompson, finally advancing. “It started with a Republican, but it looks like a Democrat is going to bring it to fruition,” he said. Although the project has bipartisan support, there is some opposition in the Republican Party. “Because it is being built with debt, it is further evidence that Barack Obama is the most divisive president of my lifetime,” said Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-West Bend, who is also on the transportation committee. “Because it will be operating at a loss, it will forever burden the state of Wisconsin.” According to the DOT statement, the Obama administration is committed to the project and is ahead of schedule in implementing it, issuing a strategic plan “just 58 days after passage of the ARRA.”
State unemployment surpasses national average By Steven Rosenbaum THE DAILY CARDINAL
The Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development announced Thursday the state’s unemployment rate continued to climb in March, rising 0.6 percentage points and surpassing the national average. Wisconsin’s rate of unemployment rose to 9.4 percent, up from 8.8 percent in February, according to a DWD statement. The rate is nearly double that of March 2008, when it stood at 5 percent. The national unemployment rate for March was 9 percent, up from February’s 8.9 percent. Until recently, Wisconsin has had a lower rate of unemployment than the nation’s overall rate.
Wisconsin has been hit especially hard because the recession is strongly affecting the manufacturing industry, according to Laura Dresser, research director of the Center on Wisconsin Strategy. “Wisconsin has the secondhighest share of its workers in manufacturing [of any state],” Dresser said. “We’re moving into a second stage of this recession, which is general labor market weakness and manufacturing decline, and that hits us uniquely, and that’s why I think Wisconsin is above the national rate now.” According to the statement, Wisconsin has lost 112,400 nonfarm jobs since a year ago. The state Legislature’s Joint Committee on Finance voted
unanimously Thursday to OK the DWD’s request for $38 million in stimulus funds to help dislocated workers, youth and people with disabilities find jobs and join in revitalizing the economy. Dennis Winters, chief of the DWD’s Office of Economic Advisors, said Wisconsin is trying to get as many “shovel-ready” construction projects off the ground as possible within the next one to two years. “There’s also money for things like unemployment compensation and job training so that we can get a lot of the people that are out of work trained up for new jobs or enhance their skills for the industries that they’re in,” Winters said.
UW-Madison student returns missing purse, declines reward A 54-year-old Madison woman who lost her purse with $100 inside had it returned by a 22year-old UW-Madison student who found the purse lying in a driveway near her home. The female student left a note on the door of the woman’s residence giving her e-mail address, but the older woman called the police and explained to an officer that she did not know how to use e-mail. The purse’s loss and subsequent return happened the night of April 9 and morning of April 10 on the 600 block of North Carroll Street.
mifflin from page 1 a lid on” more violent crimes during the event. Due to the older housing on Mifflin, other concerns include structural building failure and house fires. Although planning for the event is still underway, Schauf stressed the need for safety. She said the MPD is “still kind of on the fly” to find better ways of maintaining a safe atmosphere at the block party. “I’d prefer it was a block party, with [only] Mifflin [residents] and their guests,” Schauf said. The safety and success of the event depends on a community effort, but Schauf reiterated to partygoers to have fun, but follow the rules.
The note also indicated the student would return the purse to the rightful owner if the owner could describe it. The woman described the zippered, lime-green, fuzzy purse to the officer, who then contacted
the student using the computer in his squad car. The officer was able to connect the woman and the student, who returned the purse and the $100 but politely declined the reward money offered to her.
admission from page 1 graduation at UW-Madison. Although she anticipates this research will reveal compelling statistics about the influence of family income, Wolfe said there is no way to do a long, historical study because financial aid is only offered to those already enrolled at UW-Madison. According to Wolfe, they will be looking specifically at income and the role of financial aid. Chancellor Biddy Martin’s recently announced tuition initiative also addresses the role of financial aid. Martin is planning
asm from page 1 will serve a second term as a representative from the College of Letters and Sciences. “This really marks the day for victory for moderate and reasonable students on campus,” Gosselin said. The polls for the elections closed Monday at 5 p.m., but results were
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to match an increase in tuition with private funds raised through the UW Foundation, which would allow more students coming from low-income families to earn a degree from UW-Madison. Tuition is proposed to increase by $250 for in-state residents and $750 for out-of-state students each year. “We all try to make sure there are opportunities for students from all types of background to be able to attend the university. The program [Martin] has developed also looks at the quality and access to courses,” Wolfe said. not released Monday because the SEC and SJ did not meet quorum. According to ASM bylaws, five SJ justices must be present for the results to be released. “Eight percent of campus is a really low number, so as always we are going to try to increase our presence on campus and get people more interested in things like elections,” Lempke said.
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College of Agriculture and Life Sciences/School of Veterinary Medicine: Raechel Bartz2, Matt Manes School of Business: Matthew Beemsterboer2 School of Education: Joe Koss, Hilary Minor College of Engineering: T.J. Madsen2, Grant Smith2 Schools of Human Ecology, Nursing and Pharmacy: Sheala Mullaney College of Letters and Science: Theotis Sharpe1, Kurt Gosselin2, Tyler Junger2, Alexandria Harris1, Katy Ziebell2, Eric Hoyt1, Tom Templeton2, Adam Johnson, Brian Benford1, Jonah Zinn1, Martenzie Johnson, Melissa Roitstein School of Medicine and Public Health: Annie Stitgen School of Law: Eric Heywood Graduate School: Elizabeth Wrigley-Field1, Matthew Tobelmann, Erik Paulson, Colin Ingram, Katrina Flores1 Special Students: Four-way tie for one seat (Andrew Bohn, Linda Rolnick, Marc Bourgeois, Ray Garcelon) Student Services Finance Committee: Michael Romanesko, Kyle Szarzynski1, Tim Fung Senior Class President: Hannah Karns Senior Class Vice President: Chloe Briel Senior Class Secretary: Kurt Gosselin2 Senior Class Treasurer: Kurt Gosselin2 United Council Referendum: Yes (51.8 percent)
Member of For Accessibility, Community and Empowerment of Students slate 2 Member of Students for Responsible Leadership in ASM slate
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I prefer to get donkey punched in my bed anyway. In Georgia, it is against the law to keep donkeys in bathtubs. dailycardinal.com/comics
Weekend, April 17-19, 2009
Your boyfriend’s...
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. The Daily Code
screaming banshee
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“Ngf me rad yq, U iuet ftmf U ime mzkitqdq iuft mzkazq, ymwuzs agf.” Dashboard Confessional Lyrics Yesterday’s Code:
“Whatever! I don’t even know who you are, you just showed up out of nowhere, Latino Man.”
Today’s Crossword Puzzle
The Graph Giraffe
Evil Bird Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com
A CLEAN MIND 1 6 10 14 15 16 17 20 21 22 23 26 27 32 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 42 44 47
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Butterflies’ cousins 29th state Con game Community character Emulate a mouse or beaver Tag along Cry uncle Width of Tripoli? Likewise Ambulance attachments Canal maker Folk knowledge “Desperate Housewives” is one Most people, statistically Dandelion or goldenrod, e.g. Country group Diamond ___ “Up Where We Belong,” e.g. Gave dinner to Gold-covered America’s first regulatory agcy. Irish Rose’s lover Accent Major depression out West? “It ___ over ‘til it’s
over” 48 Assisted in a bad way 51 Hair care concoction 54 Troop troupe, briefly 55 Prefix for the birds 56 Top-notch 60 Captain Hook’s right-hand man 61 Run without moving 62 Bring to the attention of 63 Trueheart of the comics 64 “1-2-3, 1-2-3,” e.g. 65 Full of attitude 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 18 19 24
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Allocated (with “out”) Not this or that Suit type “Yoo-___!” Colorado Springs-toSanta Fe direction Pay no attention to In the know about Baby’s cry Impressive, to teens Passes the plate? “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” writer Last word spoken at night, for many Diner where Alice works Newsy nuggets Hackneyed, as a joke Quaint oath
25 “Of all the ___ joints ...” 26 Violated a commandment 28 Word from a bird 29 Gives freshmen introduction, say 30 Afflicts 31 Ante holders 32 Access for a collier 33 “Parting is ___ sweet sorrow ...” 37 Official proclamation 38 Abrasive particles 40 Respond to the rooster 41 Nonpaying gig 42 Dutch footwear 43 “Ash-Wednesday” monogram 45 They may be in stitches 46 Short-legged hound 49 Civil rights activist Medgar 50 Unsportsmanlike 51 More than half 52 “You want a piece ___?” 53 Salt Lake City hoopsters 54 Modern bookmarks 57 “Cyan” finish 58 “That ___ then ...” 59 ___ rigueur (to the fullest extent)
By Yosef Lerner ilerner@wisc.edu
By Caitlin Kirihara kirihara@wisc.edu
arts Record Store Day hits State Street dailycardinal.com/arts
By Justin Stephani THE DAILY CARDINAL
This Saturday, music stores everywhere will be participating in Record Store Day, a celebration of independent music stores and music lovers. Two years ago, the idea of a Record Store Day came to fruition as a band of merry music store owners stood up for the poor in opposition to the rich by successfully organizing the celebration of locally owned music stores across
Weekend, April 17-19, 2009
the country, as well as stores participating internationally. The founders of this occassion wanted to make it an event for the little guys who keep the purchasing of music a personal, interactive experience. Therefore, in order for a store to participate in the festivities, at least half of its products need to be music, its company must not be publicly traded, and at least 70 percent of ownership for the company must be located in the
PHOTOS COURTESY JUSTIN STEPHANI
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state of operation, according to recordstoreday.com. These guidelines effectively keep impersonal corporations from benefitting from this celebration of music fans and storeowners who are still passionate about meeting people interested in music and nostalgic about owning physical copies of their favorite records. With performances and sales kicking off Saturday morning all across the country, two participating stores on State Street—The Exclusive Company and B-Side Records—will be offering music fans an enhanced atmosphere and special sales. Local festivities The Exclusive Company, located at 508 State St., plans for a long day of live music and sales. Downstairs—usually overlooked by casual music fans as it contains the jazz section—will house live bands, while the upstairs will feature DJs throughout the day. Naturally, they will be hosting sales on select DVDs and CDs, as well as exclusive merchandise featured for the special occassion. However, B-Side Records, The Exclusive Company’s closest competitor at 436 State St., takes the sale up a notch by offering 10 percent off everything in the store. Unfortunately, they do not have the space for any live music or DJs, but they will also be featuring free promotional gifts and Record Store Day merchandise.
Despite the fact that it only consists of one room, B-Side Records holds their clientele by providing unique selections and trusty advice.
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Promoting indepedent music stores The main concept of this occasion is to support independent music stores suffering from more convenient mainstream monsters such as iTunes, Best Buy and Wal-Mart. Although the obvious
PHOTOS COURTESY JUSTIN STEPHANI
As a statewide chain, The Exclusive Company on State Street features DVDs alongside their wider selection of albums from all genres. decreases in CD sales have hurt local stores, there are reasons to be optimistic. Both stores praise the celebration heavily, crediting it for bringing people back to smaller music stores along with providing at least one day of big exposure and sales. Another recent surprise for music stores is vinyl. This oldschool medium is inexplicably on the rise, including both contemporary and classic albums, which helps balance out the decrease in CD sales. The Exclusive Company even maintains a Vinyl Club, offering discounts after a certain number of purchases have been made. Why save local music stores? For music unappreciators, this day may simply be a tolerable but unnecessary occassion. Yet for music lovers who love to discuss
music interests, an interactive experience in a small music store is what’s needed to spur your interests or share experiences. For B-Side Records owner Steve Manley, this interaction may be what has kept his tiny store in business for nearly 30 years. “The web can offer an array of random faceless opinions, but at an indie record store you can interact with people who are passionate about music,” Manley said, going on to say the real benefit smaller stores like his offer is a “real human connection.” Along with effectively spreading local music—B-Side features local bands and sells tickets to local venues—and satisfying audiophiles with immediately gratifying physical artifacts of music, local stores are making their case to stick around. Saturday presents an occasion for music fans of all ages and genres to experience this firsthand.
Some advice for any celebrations commencing on April 20th KEVIN SLANE citizen slane
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arack Obama has barely been in office for three months now, and already he has faced some tough decisions concerning the economy. Legislators have scrambled for
ways to come up with money, leaving no stone unturned. One enterprising California legislator has proposed the legalization and control of state-grown marijuana, an industry that could potentially be worth billions. News like this, along with decriminalization efforts in Massachusetts among a number of other states, have made herb enthusiasts hopeful.
This can only mean that this year’s 4/20 will be the most exciting in recent memory, and to celebrate, I thought I would engage in a quest to find the perfect stoner movie. Many people already have certain movies high (get it?) on their lists, but movies like “Half Baked” or “How High” are too generic to be warranted for consideration. The perfect stoner movie contains elements of weed usage, but doesn’t
bash you over the head with the leaf. Stoners are already aware they’re smoking and don’t need a movie to remind them of that fact every 15 seconds. Furthermore, movies that are too stupid should be disqualified. I’ve witnessed friends laugh at a blank wall for 45 minutes, so stupid movies can keep most entertained, but even all the weed in the Madison area can’t mask the banal acting of “Grandma’s Boy” or the stilted dialogue of “Bio-Dome.”
Stoners are already aware they’re smoking and don’t need a movie to remind them of it every 15 seconds.
PHOTO COURTESY 20TH CENTURY FOX HOME ENTERTAINMENT
“Grandma’s Boy,” the ultimate weed infested flick, lacks the acting to make it seem like the cast actually cared about the final product. Or were they too high to realize their roles required acting? (see above)
Trippy movies like “Yellow Submarine” or “Fantasia” are also eliminated. Sure, they provide an all-encompassing experience and make you “feel the music in your body, man,” but psychedelic films like this can easily lull the viewer into a stupor, hypnotized by the Green Apple Bonkers of Pepperland or the army of walking brooms summoned by the Sorcerer’s Apprentice. The ideal movie for 4/20 needs to have a little bit of all the afore-
mentioned elements, but most importantly, it needs to stand by itself as a great film. There are seemingly limitless movies that fit the description, but one stands highest in my mind: “The Big Lebowski.” Directed by the esteemed Coen brothers, “The Big Lebowski” is the story of The Dude and his quest to retrieve his rug. The film certainly features marijuana usage, but cannabis is not The Dude’s vice of choice, as he prefers a White Russian. The film may have its idiotic moments, but overall the dialogue is smart and endlessly quotable. And there are enough scenes of psychotropic madness to keep the day tripper satisfied, but not so many that the average viewer is overwhelmed by the spectacle. Although no movie is guaranteed to satisfy everyone’s taste, dollars to munchie-fueled donuts says that most will embrace “The Big Lebowski.” So on Monday, don’t spend hours arguing about whether to watch “The Brady Bunch Movie” or “Dazed and Confused.” If you’re going to have an argument on 4/20, let it be about which flavor of Doritos you should buy at the Open Pantry and not about what film to watch. Think “Grandma’s Boy” is a groundbreaking film worthy of any critic’s approval? E-mail Kevin at kevslane@gmail.com.
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Weekend, April 17-19, 2009
Geithner wrong man for treasury secretary By Cole Wenzel THE DAILY CARDINAL
In a “60 Minutes” interview with Steve Kroft, President Barack Obama defended his treasury secretary appointee by rejecting the possibility of Timothy Geithner stepping down: “No. And—and he shouldn’t. And if he were to come to me, I’d say, ‘Sorry, Buddy. You—you’ve still got the job.’” Is anyone pleased with the stagnant economy? I am sorely disappointed in the inability of our leaders to grow a pair and implement policies that will actually ensure our economic solvency—our short-term fixes haven’t spoken too loudly. It is my intent to acknowledge Geithner’s vast intelligence on an array of economic matters. I’d also like to note his swift rise to power in the government finance sector. Since joining the division of International Affairs of the U.S. Treasury, he has risen to the very top of the department before hitting 50. It is evident that, from an intellectual standpoint, Geithner seems like a proper candidate for the difficult position he must fill. But observing his record over the course of his term, I’ve noticed a pattern of questionable judgment and, at times, a seeming lack of basic business ethics. A brief introduction to Geithner’s career will firstly point to our treasury secretary’s tax problems—yes, tax problems—and this, from arguably the most powerful man in government finance. At his Senate confirmation, it became known that he had failed to pay self-employment taxes for several years, a sum totaling an alleged $35,000, as well as additional assessment of taxes to his name in 2003 and 2004, totaling over $14,000. What’s more, to fund his children’s camp, he deducted the cost as a dependent care expense. Eventually, his appointment to the position was confirmed by the Senate with a vote of 6034. If this all happened prior to Geithner’s work on this grand, national scale at the Treasury, what suspicions should arise of his moral trust worthiness now, and in the future? Clearly, United States politics have an unfortunate lack of ethical credibility. Above all, it is worth mentioning
that Geithner recently requested a more unconditional level of power as Secretary, an opinion shared by none other than his predecessor, Hank Paulson. Is this the epitome of democratic leadership? Recently, a PBS interview featured William K. Black, professor of economics and law at the University of Missouri. In the interview, he lambasted the banking system as crooked. To paraphrase, Black believes a conspiracy of the banks and other financial institutions have formed a system of “liar loans.” He accused these toxic assets which we’ve heard so much about of receiving triple A ratings, along with complete lack of oversight. The conspiring was labeled by the professor as a “Ponzi-like scheme” like Bernie Madoff ’s, saying it told the classic tale of overexpansion—great riches and rewarding financial figures in early years, leaving little room for future success. Geithner’s faith in the financial system will fail him. The wonder days of investment banking and debt-security assets are descending more and more quickly toward their demise, and Geithner is there for bedside solace. Behind the scenes, Black accused Geithner and Paulson of covering up the fraud in fear of collapse. The fear of such a simple moral task as telling the truth is harnessed deeply within our political engine. Politicians wait with butterflies in their stomachs for the day they will have to reveal that several of our economy’s powerhouse companies are full of shit. They fear the day they’ll have to concede that America’s economic dominance in modern times, has evolved into something new with the possibility of a level international economic playing field. Such an awful event would, at the worst, lead toward international cooperation and world peace, or, bless Adam Smith, mobilization once again to the very essence of freemarket capitalism—competition. So, President Obama, I hope you reconsider your determined refusal of a potential resignation from the secretary. Cole Wenzel is a sophomore intending to major in business. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
Editorial Cartoon
By Levi Prombaum opinion@dailycardinal.com
Textbook system waste of knowledge, material By Qi Gu THE DAILY CARDINAL
Before my roommate got pissed off at the two editions of her Prego Italian textbook, I had known this moment would come. The seventh edition she is currently using cost $96.85. Meanwhile, the sixth edition was sitting innocently on a clearance shelf with a $2 price tag. So what’s the fundamental difference between two editions of the same book? First of all, illustrations. The author, Mr. Rossi, aged from an oily-haired dude into a wobbling grandpa within three years. From a geeky perspective, ways of saying days, months and years were introduced on a full page in the sixth edition, whereas the same information was separated into two half pages in the seventh. Under Stress and Intonation, the sequence of Examples Two and Three was alternated. And that’s it! One of my friends ventured out to ask her professor why she should buy the seventh edition when she already had the sixth. Here was his answer: “They have different page numbers!” Daunted by the sheer waste, she could not part with the perfectly acceptable, only slightly outdated sixth edition. Among the clearance piles, I spotted the 11th edition of Organic Chemistry: A Short Course.
Still immaculate in its shrink wrap, the 2003 book had its promising life nipped in the bud. If its $3 price tag fails to attract any keen eyes, such a reputable textbook will be pressed into a lump of nonsense again in some suffocating printing plant. Hundreds of people have worked on this single educational project, and now they have to see their efforts end up restarting from scratch. Walking down the clearance aisle, I couldn’t help wondering about the value of knowledge: Is a $100 textbook much better than its $2 predecessor? Some people might bring up the “more updated” argument as their defense for new books. Granted, quite a few academic branches often do advance. A large number of courses, however, do not require such a frequent update, especially at the entry level. For Math 221, you are not expected to learn about the latest award-winning breakthroughs. What you actually spend time on are the theorems of calculus established at least 100 years ago. In the case of language courses, it’s safe to say Spanish remains pretty much the same over a decade aside from some vocabulary changes. A publishing cycle of six or seven years is already sufficiently updated for most students. The current practice of three to four years per
edition does not add much marginal value to a textbook. Remember how you waded through all of those courses? You cram all the notes into your little brain, pass the exams, shove your textbooks back to a bookstore clerk and wave goodbye to the class forever. Rapid changing of editions makes your immediate sale of course materials a wise fiscal choice. Unfortunately, coupled with that pitiful stack of cash is the loss of a lifelong learning habit. Your own bookshelf is yawning endlessly for more nutrients but hardly gets fed. Only when you’re turned down by “sorry, we no longer use this edition,” will you curse on your way home, grudgingly holding a book you can’t get rid of, and occasionally flipping through a few pages until your “aha” moment comes: Damn, I should never sell such an awesome book! Even this occurrence becomes increasingly rare. I bought the sixth edition of Prego Italian along with an “outdated” German textbook as a minimal tribute to knowledge. For these fruits of human intelligence and labor, staying in my hand is better than aging into dust. Qi Gu is a freshman intending to major in journalism. We welcome your feedback. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
A LETTER TO THE STUDENT BODY: Everything is broken, and I can fix it if you make me your leader Dear Madison Students, The time has come. I am here to solve all your problems. The Associated Students of Madison had its chance, I am here to tell you why ASM failed and what we are going to do about it. Contrary to popular belief, ASM did not fail because of a lack of student support, poor planning and an inability to address student concerns. They failed because they are the wrong form of government. ASM and democracy had their chance, now it’s my turn. You have two choices, Madison students. 1) Allow ASM to slowly fade into obscurity while an oppressive administration becomes your king. 2) Appoint me to act as tem-
porary dictator. If appointed dictator, I will quickly take care of all the issues you care about, set up a properly working student senate, and then quietly hand the government over to the senate to return to a quiet life of farming, much like Cincinnatus of Rome. Here is what I will do as your dictator. I will first establish a way for students to get medical attention when they are on drugs or have been drinking without fear of police and tickets. This may not be as big a deal for older students, but younger students often fear detox and the police. This fear often prevents them from getting
help for drunk people. I will not wait for a tragedy like the death of a young student in Milwaukee to make a change in Madison. My second task will be to fix Mifflin. I will find local sponsors for the event so it will remain free. These sponsors will pay for porta-potties, garbage services and the construction of two stages. In return, these sponsors will be allowed to set up beer gardens where they could also serve food. I will apply for a street use permit that will allow open intoxicants on Mifflin during the party and check points at the entrances to the street. Without more ridiculous tickets, a return to the party’s roots could all be accomplished by May.
My third task will be to create a ticket policy that works for Badger athletics. I’m not above asking for help on this one, but I’m not going to ask the athletic department—they had their chance. I’ll create a committee of sports editors, coaches and students to give some recommendations. Enough is enough. My next move will be to bring back Madison baseball. If I have to repeal Title IX I will, but I don’t think it will come to that. Instead, I think I’ll just add a women’s sport to cancel it out. Perhaps women’s baseball? Or maybe women’s chess? We are stupid for not having a baseball team and I’m going to do something about it.
Finally, I will get everyone off our backs. They are attacking one of the alders who has done the most for the students of Madison. Who cares if he smokes pot or helps his constituents outside of the court? We want weed, help with our tickets and an open Madison. We want to drink and go to baseball games. We want Mifflin to rule and to be able to take our friends to the ER without worrying about tickets. Democracy won’t work fast enough. Let me handle this. Sincerely, Dictator Andrew Carpenter Andrew Carpenter is a junior majoring in psychology and communication arts. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
sports
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Weekend, April 17-19, 2009
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Men’s Tennis
Badgers gear up for national powerhouse Ohio State By Emma Condon THE DAILY CARDINAL
This weekend, the Wisconsin men’s tennis team will wrap up its regular season on the road, facing its last two Big Ten foes Penn State and Ohio State on Friday and Sunday afternoon. The No. 30 Badgers (4-4 Big Ten, 15-7 overall) found mixed results, earning a clean 5-2 victory over No. 63 Iowa (3-5, 11-7) before suffering a gut-wrenching 4-3 loss to border rivals No. 33 Minnesota (53, 16-6) in the final minutes of the match. The decision left the squad once again even in the Big Ten, and caught in a three-way tie for fifth place with Indiana and Michigan.
“For me it doesn’t matter if the team is ranked No. 50 or if it’s ranked No. 1..” Patrick Pohlman freshman UW men’s tennis
The Badgers face the Nittany Lions (3-5, 12-11) on Friday, and assistant coach Evan Austin emphasizes that like No. 53 Indiana (4-4, 12-12), who upset Wisconsin for its first conference loss of the season, Penn State is not to be underestimated. “They’re going to need a few more good wins to have a shot at making the NCAA’s, so they’re going to look at it as an opportunity,” Austin said. “They’re going to come out and play
loose and aggressive, so we’re going to have to kind of match that and be ready for their best effort.” Looming on Sunday morning are the No. 2 Buckeyes, who sit at the top of the Big Ten heap with a perfect 8-0 in the conference and 25-1 overall. Ohio State has won its last 48 conference matchups, and has not lost a home meet in five years and 84 competitions. Under the direction of head coach Ty Tucker, the Buckeyes have won their last 15 matches against the Badgers, but only lead Wisconsin 35-32 all-time. Rankings can mean little in tennis, and the Badgers are not to be easily discounted with a dangerous line-up topped by No. 28 junior Moritz Baumann, No. 50 sophomore Marek Michalicka and newcomer freshman Patrick Pohlmann. “Our guys at No. 1, 2 and 3 are even or better with Ohio State, so I think if you look at it that way you’ve got a pretty good chance,” head coach Greg Van Emburgh said. “Like I tell the guys, the magic number is four. And that’s where you need to get to.” Pohlmann views Ohio State similarly, as he faces the powerhouse for the first time as a Badger. “I don’t think about rankings, so for me it doesn’t matter if the team is ranked No. 50 or if it’s ranked No. 1. I just want to play my game,” Polhman said. Beating Penn State and dethroning Ohio State would allow the Badgers to end their season with a winning Big Ten record. But a deep Ohio State squad boasts six nation-
LORENZO ZEMELLA/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO
Junior Moritz Baumann has attained a team-high No. 28 rankings this season for the Badgers. ally ranked players and the potential to stop the Badgers. “Ohio State is really different because they have good players at every spot and we have to be really lucky,” Michalicka said. “You have to be perfect to beat them but we can do it.” Playing for the first time in weeks
against a team ranked higher than Wisconsin, the Badgers are eager to seize the opportunity to play with nothing to lose and end their season strongly before advancing to the Big Ten Tournament next weekend. “Obviously the guys are going to be jacked up and should be able to go out and play really loose with
nothing to loose,” Van Emburgh said. “You’ve got to let the match take its course and play real strong minded and see what happens.” The Badgers will take the court in State College at 2 p.m on Friday. and then move on to Columbus, Ohio, where the first serve falls at 11 a.m. on Sunday.
Men’s and Women’s Track
Wisconsin succeeds in Iowa, prepares for weekend in California
Athletics Beach Invitational, all taking place in southern California. The Badgers began their road trip April 11 with the Jim Duncan Invitational at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa.
Wisconsin did not send its complete squad to Des Moines, but that did not stop the Badger men’s and women’s teams from winning a combined three events. Sophomore Chas DeMers took
the 400-meter dash with a time of 48.75 seconds, beating out junior Troy Kimberlin of Drake, who ran a time of 49.27 seconds. Freshman Grant Bughman won the 400-meter hurdles, clocking in at 54.11 seconds, nearly a full second ahead of runner-up junior Shawn Olorundami of Buena Vista, who ran a time of 54.86 seconds. On the women’s team, it was freshman Megan Rennhack who took home a first-place title. Rennhack won the javelin by throwing it a personalbest 142 feet and seven inches. The Badgers failed to claim victory in any other events at the Jim Duncan Invitational, but they did put up some other successful results, including several second-place finishes. Badger freshman Adam Hexum placed second in the 110-meter hurdles, just .32 seconds off the pace set by Olorundami. Wisconsin junior Pat Nichols finished in second place in the high jump behind South Dakota State junior Ben Jasinski, and junior Rory Linder took second in the discus throw. In the 1500-meter run, sophomore Luke Rucks ran a time of three minutes and 55.74 seconds, good for third place in the event.
Previous to the Celtics’ title, Garnett was generally viewed as a well-respected, consistent and classy player who worked hard but was simply not surrounded by the right pieces to make a championship run. That’s why many fans, including me, were pleased to see him finally earn a championship ring. With his recent attitude,
Garnett has instead caused me to root against him; something that I fear is approaching with James if his arrogant actions continue. To be clear, I’m by no means telling James what he can or cannot do. He’s a grown man who’s enjoying his immense celebrity, and for the most part has earned a great deal of respect for his on- and off-
court demeanor. If he really does care about his legacy not just as a basketball player but a human being as well, he may want to cut down on the celebrations. I’m confident that James has the skills to become a basketball legend. I said in a column two weeks ago that James could be the savior the NBA is looking for to
NICK KOGOS/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO
After finishing second in the high jump last weekend, junior Pat Nichols will head to California. By Scott Kellogg THE DAILY CARDINAL
Wisconsin will continue its busy spring season this weekend by participating in the Bryan Clay Invitational, the Mt. SAC Relays and the VS
lebron from page 8 attain their second consecutive 60win season. They could still make a strong run into this year’s playoffs, but the greater difficulties that the Celtics have faced since the beginning of the season, particularly Garnett, have made me wonder: Has bad karma played a role?
On the Wisconsin women’s side, freshman Jenna Severson finished third in the 100-meter dash with a time of 15.69 seconds, behind senior Natalie Olorundami of Buena Vista and senior Kelsey Steffens of Wartburg. Severson finished third in the 400meter hurdles as well, with a time of one minute and 2.04 seconds. Wisconsin junior Samantha Dehn took top-five finishes in the shot put and the discus throw, finishing fourth and fifth in each event, respectively. Wisconsin’s busy weekend began Thursday with the start of the Mt. SAC Relays in the Hilmer Lodge Stadium in Walnut, Calif. Wisconsin sent 28 athletes to the competition, with most Badgers beginning their respective events on Friday. The Bryan Clay Invitational will get going on Friday at the Cougar Athletic Stadium in Azusa, Calif. Only six Badgers will participate in this event, including DeMers, who took home a first place finish at the Jim Duncan Invitational earlier this week. The Badgers’ final scheduled event this weekend, the VS Athletics Beach Invitational, will begin on Saturday. Wisconsin plans to send 18 athletes to the event, including several participants who competed in the Mt. SAC Relays. boost its low popularity. As a basketball fanatic, I fully plan to tell the story of James’ career to younger generations. When I do, I’d strongly prefer to cast him in the role of a hero, not a villain. Think Lebron and the Cavs’ fun and games are harmless? E-mail Matt at mfox2@wisc.edu.
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Weekend, April 17-19, 2009
Football
Wisconsin returns to the gridiron for annual spring game Saturday By Nick Schmitt THE DAILY CARDINAL
Badger fans’ long wait to see their 2009 Wisconsin football team is just about over. Head coach Bret Bielema and the Badgers will hold the annual spring game tomorrow at 2 p.m. at Camp Randall Stadium. Admission is free and the players are excited to wrap up the spring by showcasing the team to the fans. It will be the first time the public will get a chance to see the team since the forgettable 42-13 loss to Florida State in the Champs Sports Bowl. And, after a disappointed 2008 season a good first impression is important. Senior linebacker Jaevery McFadden sees it as an opportunity to entertain the fans, and also a final chance to improve and impress the coaches before the summer break. “[The fans] are definitely going to see something exciting to watch,” McFadden said. “You don’t want to have just a dull spring game. But at the same time we try to get something out of it, you know, this is going to be the last time we play some football until August.” Fans should expect a normal game-like situation, the only difference being that punts will replace kick-offs. Sophomore kicker Philip Welch has a sore back and knee, so he will be limited to only field goals and PATs. The game will feature the first team against the second team with some modified scoring rules. All points for the second team will be worth double, so a touchdown is
12, a field goal is six and so on. Coach Bielema said earlier this week everyone that suits up will have an opportunity to play. This gives him the chance to see how many of the young players handle their first glimpse of a game-like environment. “What you want to do is see guys who haven’t been in this situation before,” Bielema said. “I’m very excited to watch [Scott Tolzien], [Curt Phillips], and [Jon Budmayr], see how they handle and react to being in Camp Randall for the first time with a little bit of crowd. Now it’s not going to be the same as next year, but you want to see how they handle the crowd and how that affects them.” The spring game also allows Badger fans to get familiar with some of the new, up-and-coming talent. Bielema said so far he is impressed with the play of freshman running back Erik Smith and sophomore wide receiver Nick Toon. Fans should remember Toon, who came on strong to finish the season last year. Expect him to be the Badgers’ top threat through the air. It will also be the first chance to see sophomore running back John Clay take the reigns as the starter, as P.J. Hill opted to leave Wisconsin for the NFL draft. And although it is easy to get excited with the first game-like atmosphere of the year, Bielema will look to see how the team manages the pressure, especially the offense. “From an offensive point of view,
LORENZO ZEMELLA/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO
Saturday’s spring game will be sophomore running back John Clay’s first chance to play as the featured back at Camp Randall. [the Spring Game is] a good indication of how they handle pressure,” Bielema said. “Because the spotlight is on them, they got to make the catch, they got to take the hand off, they got to deliver the correct blocking assignment. Defensively, you can kind of rely on instincts. I always saw and have felt ever since
I have been in coaching, defensive players don’t feel that pressure that an offensive guy does the first time they’re doing it.” Game time weather is supposed to be sunny and in the 70s, perfect for an opportunity to catch a preview of this year’s Wisconsin football team.
Badgers hope to halt losing streak against Buckeyes THE DAILY CARDINAL
The Wisconsin softball team’s meeting this weekend with Ohio State tells a tale of two teams whose seasons have gone in opposite directions. For the Buckeyes, a Big Ten conference title is not far from sight, and a postseason run is palpable. For the Badgers, the search for consistency, and victory, continues. Wisconsin (1-7 Big Ten, 1230 overall) will host No. 15 Ohio State (9-1, 33-6) this Saturday and Sunday at the Goodman Softball Complex. Wisconsin enters the weekend on an eight-
LORENZO ZEMELLA/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO
Junior pitcher Letty Olivarez must be in top form this weekend to upset Ohio State.
game losing streak, including two losses on Wednesday at the hands of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Badger junior hurler Letty Olivarez said that the team has struggled with getting out of the current losing streak. “We talk about it all the time and how we really just want to do well,” Olivarez said. “We want to just come out there and play and show people what we have,” Olivarez said. Wisconsin head coach Chandelle Schulte said in order for the Badgers to beat a caliber team like Ohio State, they must not dwell on their recent misfortune and remain positive. “We just say that eventually you’ve got to win because the odds are against you,” she said. Schulte put a positive spin on this weekend’s meeting with Ohio State. “We talked about Ohio State and how well they’re playing, and the odds [are] eventually they’re going to have to lose, so why not make it this opportunity,” Schulte said. The Buckeyes come into Madison on a nine-game winning streak, including two recent victories over Big Ten rival Illinois, a team that swept the Badgers earlier this month. Ohio
MATT FOX the fox hole
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Softball
BY Joe Skurzewski
Lebron’s antics could hurt legacy
State currently sits atop the Big Ten with Northwestern, who will come to Madison in early May for the Badgers’ season finale. The junior trio of Sam Marder, Tony Haddad and Whitney Cooper, as well as freshman Alicia Herron, have greatly attributed to Ohio State’s potent offense. All four play-
“[Ohio State is] no better or worse than anybody we’ve played.” Chandelle Schulte head coach UW softball
ers have batting averages above .300. Cooper hit a clutch tworun home run in one of Ohio State’s victories against Illinois. Marder hit a grand slam in the very same game. “We know that they’re going to attack early,” Olivarez said. “They’re really aggressive hitters, so we’re just going to try to stay on the corners.” In addition to the Buckeye offense, Wisconsin will face a solid Ohio State pitching staff. Juniors Megan Miller, Lindsay Bodeker and senior Kim Reeder
have thrown every pitch for the Buckeyes this season. All three pitchers have ERAs below 2.50, and the trio has nearly doubled the number of complete games that their opponents have thrown this season. Ohio State’s pitchers have a mere four saves this season, all by Bodeker. But because the Buckeye offense builds such insurmountable leads so often, save chances for Buckeye pitchers have become rare. “They have the best pitching combination in the league,” Schulte said. “They’ve always held their own, but with this pitching now it’s kind of put them over the [edge] and they have a tremendous amount of confidence in themselves and they hit the crud out of the ball.” However, Schulte said that her team should be well prepared for Ohio State, as other teams on the Badgers’ schedule such as Michigan and Northwestern are comparable to the Buckeyes in talent. “They’re no better or worse than anybody we’ve played,” Schulte said. The Badgers and Buckeyes will face off Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at the Goodman Softball Complex, with game two slated for Sunday at 2 p.m.
hen the NBA Playoffs begin tomorrow, LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers will enter with the league’s best record, clinching home-court advantage for the entire postseason. The Cavs went 39-2 at home this season, making them a strong choice to represent the Eastern Conference in the NBA Finals. But while the Cavs have every right to celebrate their extraordinary year thus far, James and company may want to rethink their excessive oncourt antics. This year, the Cavs started off hot and have rarely faltered. In my mind, James is the best choice for MVP. What’s more impressive is that the Cavs have enjoyed their success despite James’ lowest average in minutes per game this season. Fellow all-star guard Mo Williams was a huge off-season acquisition, and others such as center Zydrunas Ilgauskas have been very consistent, elevating Cleveland’s play to a higher level. The Cavs began the season a focused, humble group, but somewhere along the way they left this attitude behind. Sometime after midseason, the Cavs began a pregame ritual of James pretending to take photos as his teammates assembled in different thematic poses. Surely James and the Cavs would argue that the game is supposed to be fun and this is a way of expressing themselves while providing entertainment for fans. Maybe some agree, but the immediate reaction of most is one of disgust, seeing the act as selfish and disrespectful.
The Cavs began the season as a focused, humble group, but somewhere along the way they left this attitue behind.
This pregame ritual was not a one-time event; the Cavs have made it their signature introduction. James hasn’t been shy during games either, flexing his muscles and dancing on the sideline during last weekend’s blowout victory over the Boston Celtics. While I’m not one to believe in superstitions, I’ve also seen this arrogant attitude come back to bite people later on. Take Kevin Garnett and the Celtics for example. Last year, the Celtics won their first NBA title in 22 years, and the first of Garnett’s career. The Celtics rode this success into the beginning of this season, jumping out to a 27-2 record. But with the start also came a newfound arrogance centered on Garnett, demonstrated by an abundance of fist pumps and celebratory gestures during games. In February, Garnett sustained a knee injury, which limited him to just 57 games this season and dipped his averages in practically every statistical category down to their lowest levels since his rookie year. The Celtics still managed to lebron page 7