Wednesday, April 22, 2009 - The Daily Cardinal

MAKE A DIFFERENCE ON EARTH DAY ’09

Celebrate the 40th annual Earth Day by getting to know the latest eco trends EARTH DAY 2009 University of Wisconsin-Madison

Complete campus coverage since 1892

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DEVIL IN THE DETAILS: Art Brut shine in diabolically clever new album ARTS

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Wednesday, April 22, 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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An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892

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Becoming Miss New Booty at Miss Pole

Volume 118, Issue 135

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

News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com Editor in Chief Alex Morrell Managing Editor Gabe Ubatuba Campus Editor Erin Banco Rachel Holzman City Editor State Editor Megan Orear Charles Brace Enterprise Editor Associate News Editor Caitlin Gath Opinion 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 Daniel Lyman Shana Pradeep, Caitlin Sachs Ryan Seib

Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Alex Kusters Advertising Manager Sheila Phillips Mindy Cummings Billing Manager Accounts Receivable Manager Cole Wenzel Account Executives Katie Brown Ana Devcic, Natalie Kemp Tom Shield Eric Harris, Dan Hawk Web Directors Marketing Director Heath Bornheimer Archivist Erin Schmidtke

ASHLEY SPENCER back that ash up

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ould our teacher be a stripper with huge plastic boobs? What kind of shoes does one wear to this kind of thing?

Would there be mirrors and peeping toms, and would I get herpes?

These are the questions I asked myself before I headed to my first class at Miss Pole, where I am currently enrolled in Pole I: Strip This.

This is one of the hardest classes I have taken while at UW, as it forces me to do clenching butt circles and twist my legs into shapes I haven’t seen since that geometry class I dropped freshman year. I thought this class would make me more marketable for a future career in this economic shitshow, and so I decided to take a swing in a new direction and signed up.

I would find out that the answers to those questions were: No, my teacher is perfectly normal and cute.

You wear socks, no shoes. There are no mirrors (thank God), no creepy dudes, and to my knowledge, I am herpes-free.

Learning how to release my inner stripper diva was a challenge but something I took seriously. I wanted to graduate top of my class as Miss New Booty, but soon realized I had no coordination, so I was somewhat self-conscious trying to perform my strip show in a room full of girls, some whose comfort with the pole is astounding. It’s as if they were meant to be strippers, bestowed by God with this gift the moment they were born.

During our first class, we started with the most elementary pole move: The Virgin. We’ve since learned The Firefighter and The Cheerleader, and when we first started practicing our moves, I was positive that nothing about me looked remotely sexy. In fact, I’m pretty sure I have the sex appeal equivalent of an androgynous agoraphobic. Every so often I landed butt-first on the floor, afraid to jump high and reach for Pole-Star gold.

As the class progressed at Miss Pole, I not only learned how to jackrabbit hump the floor with a

newfound style and grace (my favorite move: The Desperation, recently renamed by my class as the Ashley Pump), but I learned how to trace the curves of my body with my fingertips in a room full of women also feeling themselves up.

I learned how to slap my own ass with pride and wiggle on the floor and even learned how to whip myself around a pole, something I never thought I’d accomplish after growing up and leaving the playground, let alone share with anyone. But these changes did not come easy (pun intended).

Even though my ass collided with the cold wood floor more often than I landed on my feet, I had fun, broke a sweat and had bruises to show as a badge of poledancing honor and bravery.

And now, as an almost-graduate of the hard-knock school of wouldbe strippers, I feel like I know more than the average girl about how to unhook my bra, slide down a wall and end with my leg in the air, and roll myself into a human taco.

But the best lesson I learned from pole is its ability to cement unexpect-

the daily cardinal makes fun of you Andrew Carpenter

The Daily Cardinal is published weekdays and distributed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and its surrounding community with a circulation of 10,000.

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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.

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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.

is going to get some “Look Strong” bracelets. Anybody interested?

Year: Wisconsin ’10 Relationship Status: Single Interested in: Women Looking for: Dating Birthday: October 1 Political Views: Libertarian

Editorial Board Nick Dmytrenko Dave Heller Alex Morrell Frances Provine Todd Stevens Jon Spike Gabe Ubatuba l

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

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

THURSDAY: partly cloudy hi 72º / lo 53º

Andrew will be holding auditions to become his cowgirl wife in the coming week. Proficient marksmanship a plus, steak-cooking skills a must.

Religious Views: Catholic

Most Embarrassing Item: Everyone has that one uncle or friend who simply loves telling long, extravagant stories. Andrew Carpenter longs to be that person in your life. Unfortunately, he read Maddox’s “The Greatest Page in the Universe” or Tucker Max’s dumbass lies too much when he was young.

His profile outlines an outlandish tale of his future, where he lives off the land in the West and exclusively eats beef jerky and drinks only whiskey. He follows in the footsteps of the many Davy Crocketts before him... studying to teach home economics (most likely), reading “Harry Potter” and cranking Stevie Nicks when alone in his room.

ed friendships. With my friends and me in the class, we quickly befriended two former UW party girls, not unlike us, who now had kids of their own. Before a pole class, we met for a cocktail and talked about everything from disliking children to the importance of matching underwear.

During one class, as we all laid on the floor “tracing” our thighs, one of the former Badgers said, “I just want everyone to know this is much easier two drinks in.”

After “pole,” as we now fondly call it, ended, we went to the Echo Tap for a burger and beer, still dressed in our workout clothes. Two guys eyed us from a nearby table and asked, “Hey, are you guys on a team or something? Softball?”

We laughed, because in a sense, even if he was slurring his words, he was right.

“Yeah,” we said. “I guess you could say that.”

If you’re interested in joining a pole class, e-mail aaspencer@wisc.edu for details, or look on Miss Pole’s website. If you’d pay big money for a three-person pole show by a group of girlfriends, make her an offer of Echo Tap pitchers.

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR PAGE 2 COLUMNIST POSITIONS Want to be like Ashley? You so do. Join the Page 2 team as a columnist for the 2009’10 academic school year!

All five positions for each day of the week are up for grabs. To apply, please send three (3) sample columns between 600-750 words to features@dailycardinal. com by Friday, May 1.

Stupid Fact About Your Hometown [Oconomowoc, Wis.]: Every other letter in Oconomowoc is an “O.” If that’s not a stupid fact, I don’t know what is.

Missed Opportunity: Andrew’s interests feature whiskey, guns, beef jerky and milk makers, which can only be interpreted as cows. But the life of a roughneck can get awfully lonely, and you’ll need to procreate in order to have your kids drink whiskey when they’re 14. Perhaps you should show some interest in an outdoorswoman. Every cowboy needs a cowgirl to make things more dramatic by discouraging you from facing certain death in a dual you simply can’t refuse. She’ll be crying her eyes out, and you’ll simply give her that look, the one that says, “Upholding my manhood is greater than you and me toots, so dry your tears and get started on some beef tenderloin in case I return soon.”

Saving Grace: It’s inconclusive whether Andrew seriously enjoys flying kites, but regardless, kites are awesome. But if you battle kites, you’re too into kites, and you need to settle down.

Want your Facebook profile to be made fun of? Join the group “The Daily Cardinal Makes Fun of You.”

For the record Corrections or clarifications?

Call The Daily Cardinal office at 608-262-8000 or send an e-mail to edit@dailycardinal.com.

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Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Future Kelly Clarkson

By Rebecca Holland THE DAILY CARDINAL

CHARLIE BAKER/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Cortney Brasser belts her best during All-Campus Idol at the Overture Center Tuesday evening. The competition was held as part of WASB’s All-Campus Party, which is ongoing through Friday, April 24.

Faculty push benefits for domestic partners Members of the UW faculty claim the university’s lack of domestic partner benefits reduces quality, competition THE DAILY CARDINAL

UW-Madison faculty members and students spoke in favor of domestic partner benefits at a town hall meeting Tuesday in the Red Gym. The event, which was hosted by the Office of the Provost for Faculty and Staff as well as several UW-Madison student organizations, consisted of speakers and a question answer session.

The meeting comes after Gov. Jim Doyle’s 2009-2011 biennial budget proposal in February and the inclusion of domestic partner benefits.

Steve Stern, UW-Madison vice provost for faculty and staff, said it is important for UW-Madison to provide domestic partner benefits for faculty and staff in order to remain competitive with other

Big Ten universities.

Leia Ferrari, founder of the Wisconsin Coalition for Domestic Partner Benefits, said many faculty members have left the university because UWMadison lacks domestic partner benefits. “[Domestic benefits are] a high-impact issue in terms of fairness, discrimination and competitiveness on campus.”

Steve Stern vice provost Office of the Provost for Faculty and Staff

“There are also a lot of [faculty members] who have never come,” she said. “So, sometimes you never really even know what

your losses are.”

She said the low retention rate of faculty members ultimately reduces the quality of education provided to students at UW-Madison.

According to Don Nelson, senior administrative program specialist from the Office of the Chancellor, the legislature is currently discussing providing mutual health insurance for domestic partners.

“There are a lot of benefits that apply only to spouses that are now going to be applied to domestic partners, and the biggest is health insurance,” he said.

Stern said if the legislature passes the budget by Aug. 1, 2009, the starting date for

offenders age 21 and younger. Lee Sensenbrenner, Doyle’s spokesperson, said increasing the age limit allows offenders more flexibility later in life.

By Jessica Feld THE DAILY CARDINAL

The Legislative Budget Committee passed a provision Tuesday expanding the eligibility for record expungement for criminal offenders age 25 and younger.

Passage of Gov. Jim Doyle’s proposal allows courts to clear the criminal records of those individuals charged with a misdemeanor at age 25 or younger and who have completed their sentencing, according to a Legislative Fiscal Bureau memorandum.

Previous law limited the clearing of criminal records to those

“The intent of this is for people to move on with their lives and be productive.”

Lee Sensenbrenner spokesperson Gov. Jim Doyle

“The intent of this is for people to move on with their lives and be productive,” Sensenbrenner said. “It helps if they get a chance to move forward with a clean slate.”

The director of the State Courts

The Street Use Staff Team granted a permit on Tuesday to DCNY PRO to organize the 41st annual Mifflin Street Block Party, but because of deadline and funding issues, it is unlikely the event will be sponsored this year.

Ny Bass, co-owner of DCNY PRO, said if the company cannot raise $4,000 by Friday, it will not be able to sponsor the block party. Bass said originally the Wisconsin Union Directorate was going to help sponsor the event, but they recently pulled out citing lack of time and money, and with Mifflin only two weeks away, timing is key.

“We will most likely not be sponsoring the Mifflin Street Block Party this year, mostly because of the deadline,” Bass said.

One of DCNY PRO’s main goals in sponsoring the event was to add organized music as a way to reduce police regulation. For the past several years, bands set up in backyards, but in the early 1990s there were stages set up on the street, and that is what Bass wants to go back to.

Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, supports organizing the Mifflin Street Block Party and adding live

music, and said he was surprised with the outcome of Tuesday’s meeting.

“As of tonight it looks as though there won’t be the main music stage in the middle of the street as I had hoped,” Verveer said.

Verveer said he spoke with other city officials since the meeting and is working toward improvements to this year’s block party.

“In the past, police have not been receptive to music on private property,” Verveer said. “I’m hoping we can work something out at the very least by having music allowed by the cops this year.”

“I’m hoping we can work something out at the very least by having music allowed by the cops this year.”

Mike Verveer alder District 4

Bass said even though DCNY PRO will probably not be sponsoring the block party, they will work with the city to organize the music scene. Currently, if music can be heard within three doors, police can issue a noise citation.

“We will work to have back stages so they don’t get shut down,” Bass said. “And we’re going to try and set up time slots so not everyone’s playmifflin page 4

benefits page 4

Criminal records for youth will be wiped clean Offenders age 25 and younger eligible for record cleaning under provision

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Mifflin sponsorship granted but unlikely Timing, funding issues create problems for potential sponsor

By Kelsey Gunderson

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Office is responsible for any administrative oversight of the state’s court system. In 2008 it was reported that 1,652 criminal cases were cleared under the former law.

According to Tom Sheehan, spokesperson for the State Courts Office, the courts did not influence Doyle’s proposal.

“It’s the governor’s proposal,” he said. “It’s a decision best left to the Legislature.”

The new provision also expands expungement for offenders age 25 or younger who have committed non-violent class H and I felonies.

Examples of non-violent offenses covered under the provision include missed court dates and unpaid fines, Sensenbrenner said. records page 4

CHRISTOPHER GUESS/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

DCNY PRO hopes to add organized music events to this year’s Mifflin Street Block Party in order to reduce police regulation.

Van Hollen advises district attorneys to allow open carry of firearms in Wis. An Advisory Memorandum was released by Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen Monday advising Wisconsin district attorneys not to prosecute based on disorderly conduct when people openly carry firearms in VAN HOLLEN Wisconsin.

Kevin St. John, appointed by Van Hollen as special assistant

attorney general for public affairs and policy, said Van Hollen released the memorandum after receiving inquiries from state prosecutors regarding the legality of open carry of firearms.

“One of the obligations that the attorney general’s office has in the state of Wisconsin is to advise district attorneys, and we take that really seriously,” St. John said.

The Wisconsin Constitution firearms page 4

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Wednesday, April 22, 2009

UHS names new clinical services director A new clinical services director has been named to UW-Madison’s University Health Services.

Gerald Ryan has been serving as associate director of UHS since 2007, but has been acting as clinical services director since August. Ryan’s position will go into effect May 1, and he will earn $158,000 for a salary. “[Ryan] is known for his high energy and exacting standards of quality. I am delighted that he has accepted this position and look forward to his valuable

contributions to our organization going forward,” Sarah Van Orman, executive director of UHS, said in a statement.

Ryan was a physician and clinical associate professor with the UW-Madison Department of Family Medicine for six years before working at UHS. At the department of family medicine, he was the medical director for the physician assistant program.

Ryan is professionally interested in evidence-based medicine, pointof-care use of electronic resources,

clinical productivity and quality assurance enhancement. He earned his medical degree at the University of Ohio-Toledo and his Bachelor of Arts in psychology at the University of Toledo.

The clinical services division includes primary care, dermatology, women’s health, sports medicine and sexual health clinics and ancillary radiology and laboratory services. According to university officials, UHS attends to nearly 50,000 patients in the division.

Mayor to deliver State of the City speech Mayor Dave Cieslewicz will deliver his annual State of the City speech at the Downtown Rotary of Madison meeting on Wednesday.

The Rotary meeting will begin at 12:25 p.m., but Mayor Cieslewicz is scheduled to give his speech around 12:45 p.m.

The meeting will take place at

firearms from page 3 enumerates the right to “bear arms for security, defense, hunting, recreation or any other lawful purpose” subject to reasonable regulation, according to the memorandum.

The memorandum emphasizes that law enforcement can

the Inn on the Park, located at 22 S. Carroll St. The mayor’s speech will outline his agenda for the City of Madison, explaining what he would like to see accomplished in the next upcoming year. His speech will mainly focus on the current economic climate and the role the city must play in

building a stronger economy.

On the mayor’s website, he cites Madison’s progressive and pro-business attitude as way to strengthen the state of the city in the future. Mayor Cieslewicz also cites green efficiency and Madison’s “excellent basic services” as ways to strengthen Madison’s economic state.

“briefly detain a person for investigative purposes” who is openly carrying a firearm if there is “reasonable suspicion” based on criminal activity.

Gov. Jim Doyle has vetoed legislation twice in the past that would have allowed for concealed carry of firearms. At an event at Edgewood College

Tuesday, Doyle said it is up to local communities to implement their own gun ordinances relating to open carry of weapons.

“What the attorney general expects when he writes a legal opinion is that it will be useful and hopefully helpful to those who requested it,” St. John said.

—Hannah Furfaro

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benefits from page 3 domestic partner health insurance coverage will be Jan. 1, 2010. If it is not passed by August, the benefits will not be provided until 2011.

“Its very important, whatever our views are, to not lose sight,” he said. “We do have a ticking time dimension here.”

Stern said providing domestic partner benefits would cost UWMadison less than $600,000 a year. “[Domestic benefits are] a high-impact issue in terms of fairness, discrimination and competitiveness on campus,” he said.

“It’s an incredibly low-cost item in terms of the [general purpose

mifflin from page 3 ing at the same time.”

“If not this year, then definitely next.”

Ny Bass co-owner DCNY PRO

There have been no major riots at the Mifflin Street Block Party

records from page 3 “[The provision] is not intended to protect anyone that has committed a violent offense,” Sensenbrenner explained.

The provision originally began as

revenue] contribution to UWMadison’s budget.”

“It is very important, whatever our views are, to not lose sight.”

Steve Stern vice provost UW-Madison Faculty and Staff

Nelson said it is important for students and faculty members who feel strongly about the issue to voice their concerns about domestic partner benefits to their local lawmakers. since 1996, but last year hit a record of over 400 arrests. Most arrests were alcohol related, either open container or underage drinking violations.

Although DCNY PRO probably will not be able to sponsor the block party this year, Bass looked at the positive side for his company.

“On the upside, it will give us ample time for next year’s set up.”

Bass said.

Bass said he is still focused on working on Mifflin as much as possible this year, and as far as sponsorship, “if not this year, then definitely next,” Bass said. part of an ongoing effort to use taxpayer dollars wisely and create a more efficient sentencing process.

As stated in his budget brief, Doyle said the provision would allow offenders to not only start with a clean slate, but also learn from their mistakes.

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Wednesday, April 22, 2009

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The e-waste land In a world dominated by ads and promotions for the newest technological tools and toys, where do all the outdated, has-been electronics go? The answer may be surprising— and possibly dangerous.

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y closet was never big enough when I was young. Not because I had too many clothes or boxes of memories stored away, but because my dad thought it was the ideal place for hiding away his many prehistoric computers that had long since reached the end of their lives.

Unknowing of how worthless the IT jungle in my closet really was, I believed him when he said how important it was to keep. That is until, after being tricked into keeping it there from junior high through now, I realized my dad never once had to extract that all-important file to solve a family crisis. My closet was an electronic junk pile.

Story by Gabe Ubatuba

It was time for it to go.

But getting rid of a heaping mound of computer equipment opens a nest of many potentially dangerous environmental problems.

According to Steve Brachman, solid and hazardous waste specialist at the Solid and Waste Education Center for UW Extension, my closet is full of “e-waste.” “‘E-waste’ is sort of a grab-all category of materials that have been developed over the last 30 years or so that contain electrical components, which are potentially hazardous when disposed of either in landfills or incinerated,” Brachman said.

Graphics by Matt Riley Computer equipment, such as CRT monitors, hard drives and processors, can contain a number of heavy metals, according to Brachman, including lead, mercury and cadmium, all of which are harmful to the environment and humans if disposed of improperly.

Brachman said that after a long period of time, heavy metals could leak into the water system that breaks down the trash inside a landfill, which can affect the environment if not treated properly.

“Incinerating those products can cause air emission releases of those metals as well, which is probably even worse,” Brachman added.

A n d , according to the Environmental Protection Agency, that is the fate for most electronics.

A 2008 EPA report estimated that only 18 percent of end-of-life electronic products in the United States were recycled in 2007; while the remainder were trashed.

CRT monitors are the worst case, as more and more are being replaced by LCD monitors. Of the total weight of computer-related equipment disposed of in 2007, 40 percent was made up of CRT monitors, all of which contain anywhere from two to seven pounds of lead.

But the e-waste problem can be avoided by increased recycling of electronic products, as they can be recycled very efficiently, according to Brachman. “[E-waste is] very thoroughly recycled,” Brachman said. “All the metals are recaptured, and in many situations, there are advanced plastic recycling programs in place to capture the plastic products, and that’s pretty much the bulk of [the ewaste], as well as glass products that are there that may contain lead.”

And that is exactly what UWMadison’s program Surplus with a Purpose does for all of the UWMadison and various state agencies, according to Matthew Thies, store manager of UW-SWAP. According to Thies, SWAP was founded to keep recyclables, including e-waste, out of landfills for UW-Madison and, eventually, the City of Madison.

“We’re all about trying to be good environmental stewards for not only the UW, but Verona and the city of Madison, really setting an example as an organization,” Thies said.

Seeing the SWAP warehouse gives a good picture of how daunting a task that is. Wandering the various aisles is like browsing a super-sized garage sale. In the front, computer equipment is readily available for discounted prices, but when I ventured to the back, images of my computer-filled closet began haunting me.

Massive pallets of CRT monitors and computers wrapped together landmine the floor, and to the side, open computers are operated on to save them from the recycler.

Repairing products is crucial to SWAP, as fixed computers can be used by a new business or person, which is one of SWAP’s main objectives.

“There’s absolutely nothing better than having something that’s going to get thrown away go from one department to another,” Thies said.

If products cannot be repaired, they are shipped to various recyclers that can properly dispose of them.

But SWAP only takes its items from UW-Madison and the state, so people or businesses looking to recycle their products cannot use their service.

That’s where Cascade Asset Management comes in, a corporation devoted to recycling e-waste that was started by the same founder as SWAP, Neil Peters-Michaud.

CAM processes products a step further than SWAP. According to Toral Jha, industrial relations representative of

CAM, they shred IT products down to 50 or 60 different commodity streams, which are sent to various recyclers that can transform them back into their fundamental state.

According to Jha, CAM goes through about 10 million pounds of IT equipment a year.

“We’re all about trying to be good environmental stewards.”

Matthew Thies store manager UW-SWAP

“Ninety-nine percent of what comes in here goes back out as a commodity, goes back out to be sold,” Jha said.

CAM typically offers its services to businesses only, but for students, they partner with the UW Bookstore to offer a dropoff program semi-annually, where students can make sure their equipment is disposed of safely, according to Jha. Both SWAP and CAM work to combat the growing e-waste problem, as the number of electronics being produced and disposed of increases each year, according to the EPA. They’re protecting the environment from the problem buried in my closet.

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earth day 2009

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High-speed passenger rail a potential boon for environment

By Cathy Martin THE DAILY CARDINAL

KYLE BURSAW/THE DAILY CARDINAL

It’s easy being green

Make your home more eco-friendly with a few small changes

By Charles Brace THE DAILY CARDINAL

Earth Day only occurs once a year, but here are some simple steps to make your house or apartment more environmentally friendly all year round.

A drip a day Leaky faucets can waste over 10 to 20 gallons of water a day, according to the state Department of Natural Resources.

They can be repaired with a kit or a simple metal ring sold at hardware stores for between $5 and $10. The water that is saved means a smaller utilities bill and less strain on the local water supply. A leaking toilet wastes even more water, potentially thousands of gallons each year.

A bright idea One of the easiest ways to save energy in your house and help the environment is to use energy efficient light bulbs. Data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency show that compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFL) use 75 percent less energy than normal bulbs and last over 10 times longer. Less energy used means less greenhouse gases produced. According to the League of Women Voters Climate

Change Task Force, CFL bulbs produce 1,000 pounds less carbon dioxide than incandescent bulbs over their lifetime.

Don’t let it fall through the cracks A common cause of heat loss in homes is old or broken windows. This means a tenant is paying for energy they do not use and creating more carbon dioxide emissions in the process. The solution is usually a thin sheet of weatherstripping that can be bought for under $20 at most stores, compared to the $500 to replace each window.

It’s not getting hot in here The U.S. Department of Energy estimated that a consumer could save over 15 percent on their heating bill each year by turning down the thermostat around 10 degrees for part of the day.

Put down the remote Appliances and electronics account for roughly 20 percent of the energy used in houses, according to EPA and Department of Energy statistics. The government recommends that items like personal computers be shut down and unplugged if they are not going to be used for more than two hours.

With the Go Green movement in full stride, the federally proposed high-speed passenger rail system is looking to reduce pollution and improve other environmental concerns.

The U.S. Department of Transportation is reviewing a proposal for a rail system that would connect major cities.

High-speed rail systems emit less harmful gases and have much better fuel efficiency than both airplanes and cars, according to the Midwest High Speed Rail Association. Rail systems reduce highway traffic, which in turn, reduces pollution and saves fuel.

Tony Uhl, chair of the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group, said building a rail system would increase energy independence and help the environment.

“It’s a huge step forward for our society that is completely dependent on the automobile, which is the second leading cause of global warming pollution in our state,” Uhl said.

Cady Gifford, coordinator of WISPIRG’s Public Transit campaign, said the rail system would also contribute to more efficient land use.

“There’s less land use and fewer habitat and water resource impacts compared to highways or airports,” Gifford said.

State Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, said a high-speed rail system in the Midwest could be just as efficient as the system that runs throughout Europe.

“I think a rail system, a good rail system, would be very popular and very well-used,” Black said.

The Public Transit campaign is advocating for the rail system through petitions, events and contact with lawmakers. It is

also working with the state government to encourage regional authorities to collaborate on this project.

Uhl said the issue is important to UWMadison students, many of whom are from the Chicago, Milwaukee and Twin Cities areas. “[We need to] show our elected leaders that this really needs to happen. We need to go forward with this kind of transportation system,” Uhl said.

About high-speed rail How fast are they going?

High-speed trains can travel up to 125 miles per hour and spend much of their time operating on mixed-use lines, often on lines shared with freight trains.

How do they work?

High-speed lines function like interstate highways. Conventional tracks are the local and arterial roads. High-speed trains use commuter and freight lines as feeders to reach city centers. They also travel far from high-speed lines to reach cities that aren’t yet on the high-speed network.

What are some benefits?

—Less impact on natural habitats and water sources —Reduced highway traffic —Better fuel efficiency than both airplanes and cars —More efficient land use

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Wednesday, April 22, 2009

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BUY lOCAL, EAT GLOBAL

By Marly Schuman THE DAILY CARDINAL

The produce in the average U.S. grocery store travels nearly 1,500 miles between the farm and your refrigerator.

But local farmers right here in Madison grow plenty of crops to provide a healthy diet throughout the colder months and help the environment at the same time, according to Kiera Mulvey, coordinator of the Madison Area Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Coalition.

CSA allows Madison residents and students to “buy into” a farm, meaning after the customer chooses a farm and pays for the year, he or she receives a box of in-season produce weekly in the summer and bi-monthly or

monthly in the winter.

“In general, the CSA share, if you’re choosing to make healthy, local choices with organic food, is going to save you money in the long run,” Mulvey said. “In terms of getting quality food that is working with your local community and supporting local agriculture

the way that a CSA share is, you’re not going to find any better food for any cheaper price for sure.”

There are many benefits to eating locally, says John Hendrickson, senior outreach specialist for the Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems. The center serves as a research facility for UWMadison, but Hendrickson considers local food more than a job.

It is something he believes in.

“What we eat probably has the biggest impact on our environment than anything else that we do,” Hendrickson said. “So I believe it’s a fundamental place to start if you want to make the world a better place.”

In terms of health benefits,

Hendrickson recommends that consumers buy fresh fruits, vegetables and meats. Mulvey notes that the farms offer such choices as coffee, preserves, winter squash, mushrooms and potatoes in the winter.

If you prefer to eat out but still want to enjoy local ingredients, Southern Wisconsin’s “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” program might pique your interest. The program aims to expand the market for local foods by incorporating local ingredients into restaurants, cafés and even retail stores. The program’s website lists 25 restaurant partners committed to local ingredients, including Ian’s

Pizza and The Old Fashioned.

“They’re pretty much all downtown, but that’s good for students because they’ll find plenty of solid options on that list that they can afford, for special occasions, for every day,” said Rachel Armstrong, “Buy Fresh, Buy Local” project coordinator.

Armstrong also suggested buying produce from the Willy Street Coop or inside at the farmer’s market in t h e

winter. She said people should not have difficulty locating a diverse range of local products.

“It’s also important to remem-

“What we eat probably has the biggest impact on our environment.”

John Hendrickson Senior UW-Madison

ber that meats, cheeses and eggs have no season,” Armstrong said.

“Those products are available year-round, and they make up the foundation of many of our diets as well.”

Whether students decide to purchase their local food from a co-op or directly from a farm through CSA, Hendrickson and Mulvey encourage students to get involved with the local food movement any time of year.

Mulvey believes that local food reaps many benefits beyond its health advantages.

“For me, what’s really nice is to be able, as a consumer, to know the person that’s responsible or growing your food, to be aware of the conditions it’s grown under, to really be connected to the food,” Mulvey said. “And that’s a sense of community in a larger way.”

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dailycardinal.com/arts

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Is TV banter just a battle of the sexes?

ALI ROTHSCHILD season fin-ali

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was talking on the phone with my friend about TV-quoting the other day when something she said rang true: There was nothing that brought out the feminist in her more than when a group of boys was rapidly quoting television shows and she could easily contribute.

I’m sure most of you ladies out there know what I’m talking about.

You’re with a group of guys when all of a sudden they fall into a pattern of speedy and arbitrary TV-quoting. You’ve seen the shows they’re quoting. You want to join in on the fun. Only there is some inherent programming in their system that makes TV-quoting an exclusively male bonding experience not easily infiltrated by females, unless they want to end the conversation feeling like they’re in pigtails wearing a “My Little Pony” shirt.

Personally, I think quoting TV displays a lack in the person’s original sense of humor anyway, so why do guys feel so good after a rousing round of quoting? We girls don’t go around quoting “Sex and the City” as a form of bonding. Instead we like to decide which character suits each other best, which I suppose is just as annoying in its own way.

But before I sound like an embittered and humorless woman, I will admit that gender-based TV interests swing both ways. As I may have notso-subtly hinted at in other columns, I find “Six Feet Under” to be the best show ever written, which is why I was deeply saddened to hear an intelligent, male classmate from high school say “Of course you like ‘Six Feet Under,’ you’re a girl.” I was shocked.

Does my girl brain make my television choices as warped as I think a boy’s taste is when he thinks “The Wire” is the end-all, be-all of television?

Quite possibly. I mean, I loved the WB’s “Everwood,” for crying out loud. An episode of that show featured a boy guiding a wild deer back to its habitat and breaking down because the deer reminded him of his mother.

And although I don’t go around quoting things like “The deer can’t make Mom come back,” the selfrealization made me understand that most TV shows simply are not able to appease both genders.

I feel this struggle when I watch “It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.”

It’s a hilarious show that I spend time and Netflix bills laughing at.

But then Charlie and Dennis will engage in that type of male banter that always makes the character of Dee feel a little left out, and my heart goes out to her, making me resent the guys just a touch.

Maybe some of you psych majors out there can do a study on male banter and let us girls know what we can do to infiltrate it. What is it about these TV quotes that reach the core of every man to draw them together like that monolith thing in “2001: A Space Odyssey?” Please let me know so I can be as cool as my male friends and never miss a beat when the next mass round of quoting comes along.

Are you a psych major interested in performing tests on Ali’s TV preferences?

E-mail her at rothschild@wisc.edu.

PHOTO COURTESY DOWNTOWN RECORDS

These intellectual rockers from England received critical acclaim for their first two albums, and with Art Brut vs. Satan, Art Brut maintain their unexpected ability to find authenticity in the form of apathy, as opposed to the activism seen from mainstream artists.

Art Brut fight mainstream urges Art Brut return from a two-year drought with another over achieving album

By Kyle Sparks THE DAILY CARDINAL

Art Brut seemed destined to be a one-album wonder. 2005’s Bang Bang Rock & Roll synthesized caffeinated guitar hooks with concise sentiments, but the delicate balance between their forceful sound and their comprehensive tongue-in-cheekness was surely too tenuous to hold.

Four years after their debut, though, Art Brut continue to defy the odds with their third LP. Art Brut vs. Satan picks up right where the others left off, adding yet another success to an already overachieving catalog.

On the album’s artwork, “Satan” is written upside-down, giving the impression of a split in the photo. The upper half, designated “Art Brut,” depicts a quaint cabin and a few trees. The lower half, deemed “Satan,” is an impressive skyline of towering commercial buildings. This subtle statement underlies one of the album’s key tracks, “Slap Dash for No Cash,” on which lead singer Eddie Argos asks, “Why would you want to sound like U2?” U2 is a prime example of the music mogul caught up in the architectural redundancy of the concrete jungle. Art Brut is like a lone cabin.

Four years after their debut, Art Brut continue to defy the odds with their third LP.

On “Demons Out!,” Argos continues his indictment of commercial rock, claiming, “It’s all smoke and mirrors, don’t go and see them / I wanted rock ’n’ roll, I got a science museum.”

Replacing quality with showmanship is a treacherous fence

to straddle—lined with barbed wire and remnants of ripped shorts from Van Halen, Guns N’ Roses and the like. Ironically, Art Brut are often caught strad-

CD REVIEW

Art Brut vs.

Satan Art Brut dling this same fence.

If Argos takes himself too seriously, he loses the giddiness that makes him so warm and accessible, but if he does not take himself seriously enough, he becomes merely a more hip Weird Al Yankovic. As it stands, Argos’ lyrics draw the line between Jason Mraz and his true peers in the Mountain Goats or the Modern Lovers, and he has yet to supply listeners with any reason to doubt which side he’s on.

Art Brut carry themselves with phenomenal swagger. Even while speaking of the epic showdown between Art Brut and Satan, Argos continually reassures us, “Don’t worry, we can take ’em.”

Satan clearly represents the overgrown and overblown side of mass media, making his persuasion in the form of giant record deals and seas of screaming teenage girls. But if we’re trying to look for any deeper meaning from Argos’ lyrics, it should be that Art Brut are immune to this type of coercion.

That’s what should ultimately define Art Brut vs. Satan in the context of Art Brut’s discography. Bang Bang Rock & Roll was their fiery introduction, It’s a Bit Complicated their polished presentation, and now Art Brut vs. Satan is their definitive self-

portrait. Producer Frank Black (Pixies) successfully captures the brashness of the guitars without sharpening their points.

And whether he’s singing about comic books (“DC Comics and Chocolate Milkshakes”) or public transportation (“The Passenger”), Argos fully embodies the lovable loser by becoming perpetually self-degrading while constantly teasing listeners with doses of hilarity.

Argos is what Craig Finn would have become if he had watched more “Seinfeld” and read less Jack Kerouac.

In an age where most musicians are taking it upon themselves to change the world, Art Brut are just a band having fun.

They don’t overachieve to garner record sales, but rather so they

don’t loathe themselves. After all, nobody has to listen to Art Brut more often than Art Brut themselves.

In an age where most musicians are taking it upon themselves to change the world, Art Brut are just having fun.

Art Brut vs. Satan stands as a breath of fresh air and a welcoming vacation from their many overproduced, excessively grandeur rock ’n’ roll brethren—just one more reason to fall in love with one of rock’s most refreshingly unique groups.

opinion dailycardinal.com/opinion

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

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

earth day: a time for reflection

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arth Day isn’t a holiday where most UW-Madison students come from, but it should serve as an annual reminder of the precious resources we consume each day. We think about how lucky we are to live with the luxuries we have, then we finish our beer, and, on this special day, we certainly remember to recycle the can.

Earth Day has become a yearly reminder of every individual’s duty to value and protect the world we live in.

The original Earth Day, which took place in 1970, marked the beginning of the modern environmental movement, eventually ushering in today’s green movement and becoming a day of global activism. The events spread across the world as organizations looked for a day to convey their message.

It is important to remember that we can conserve energy in ways the university and activist organizations cannot.

As a result, institutions like UWMadison are responsible for continuing efforts to avoid falling behind advancements in green technology.

Three years ago, We Conserve was established to fund the creation of a more energy-efficient campus. Since then, annual energy cost reductions of $5 million have paid for most of

the original bill, and other efforts continue around campus, including a recent proposal to purchase 15 more hybrid buses.

Institutions like UW-Madison are responsible for continuing efforts to avoid falling behind green advancements.

Thanks to consistent green efforts, Earth Day needs little publicity anymore but has become a yearly reminder of every individual’s duty to value and protect the world they live in. And as students, it is important to remember that we can conserve energy in ways the university and activist organizations cannot and that we can save money doing good.

For example, homes across campus become black holes for energy consumption, as landlords rarely give the time and money needed to maintain a house’s insulation. This causes heating and cooling costs to soar unnecessarily while wasting resources at the same time. Students can prevent this waste by demanding a wellinsulated house and undertaking other logical practices such as recycling, washing dishes instead of resorting to paper plates and turning off computers or other appliances while not in use.

By taking these proactive yet simple steps, students can save money while positively contributing to energy conservation on campus, something we are all responsible for. If we protect our environment now, we will continue to benefit from it in the future.

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Glimmer of hope doesn’t mean recession is over SEAN MCMASTER opinion columnist

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f you ask any economists to identify the barometer for the health of a given economy, they will say that it is the capacity to sustain growth.

If someone discovered the secret to unending sustainability, we would never experience another recession or economic decline.

We could redefine the business cycle. Instead of its cyclical rising and falling, it would always be looking up. However, when dealing with the human persona (particularly the emotional component used in decision-making), we will soon realize that such a utopia can never exist. Yet we can use this mode of examination to effectively analyze our current economic status and the recent news of first-quarter earnings.

The ultimate question is whether we can not only keep these gains but also continue to grow.

It does not appear that we have hit the end of our economic decline.

In general, these first-quarter earnings look encouraging, with many corporations exceeding the expectations of Wall Street. This and the relative upward movement of the market over the past two months seem to signify a partial recovery. However, there do not appear to be any catalysts or reasons for this increase. In fact, the Wall Street Journal said that many companies may be masking losses or buffering profits as a means to increase public investment and overall confidence in their company.

Such companies include those that maintain a financial or investment branch, such as General Electric, which recently lost its AAA rating because of losses in its financial branch. If such predictions hold true, even heavier losses may be yet to come. These will solely be determined by the actions of each individual company.

We need sustainability and efficency in both government and corporate business to help get us out of this recession.

There is another set of circumstances that focuses on the sustainability of competing companies that will determine the future of Ford. The company appears to be making progress on its restructuring and has posted fewer losses while declining any financial aid from the federal government.

However, such progress might be for naught if either General Motors or Chrysler seeks Chapter 11 bankruptcy in their restructuring process. GM or Chrysler may seek this within the next two months if they are unable to complete requirements set by the federal government to receive additional federal loans. In other words, if either GM or Chrysler files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, then Ford would have a very limited capacity to compete and reorganize while it continues to hemorrhage funds. In fact, its ability to sustain itself while trying to maintain any remaining investors could be quite dire.

The sustainability of financial institutions also remains at risk.

While requiring a test that ensures the viability of banks and other lending institutions, the federal government has created a situation that will introduce volatility into the market when it is ill-welcomed by both investors and the

economy. Ultimately, this testing increases the competition among banks. I am all for competition, but without a release of the full results, public unease will continue to fester as some financial institutions try to slip the good news to the public. For example, Goldman Sachs recently announced that it plans to repay half of its TARP funds. However, this leaves individuals wondering about the health of other banks. Such inaction may induce an investing exodus from any institution perceived as being in dire straits, regardless of its true status.

Before recovery can continue, the housing market must see an increase in property value as it returns to a seller’s market.

It does not appear that we have hit the end of our economic decline. Many if ’s remain that will determine the overall health of our nation’s economy, including the final deadline for GM and Chrysler as well as the reports for 2nd- and 3rd-quarter earnings.

Also, before recovery can continue, the housing market must see an increase in property value as it returns to a seller’s market.

Without this necessary condition, we will still see a depletion of resources from the financial sector. I predict further decline and greater market volatility, for we have yet to hit bottom, as it will probably be another six to twelve months before we see complete stabilization of our economy and any chance for growth. Above all else, we need sustainability and efficiency in both government and corporate business to help us get out of our economic trench.

Sean McMaster is a junior majoring in biochemistry and mathematics. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: WISPIRG members endorse high-speed rail In an era emphasizing the popularity of change, our transportation infrastructure is outdated, ineffective and damaging. With issues in the Middle East and the rising cost of oil, Americans must realize that we can’t rely on this inefficient and depleting resource, which we have grown completely dependent on. To be specific, Americans consumed almost 180 billion gallons of motor fuel in 2005. Gasoline has been misused time and time again.

WISPIRG’s Advance Public Transit campaign has come up with a solution for this in collaboration with a regional transportation authority. This would open up the possibility of a high-speed rail that would give many people the option to travel across the county in a clean, efficient way.

Regional transportation authorities would also work to improve

the county’s current bus system.

This would create more jobs, benefit the environment and economy and be available to everyone for use. As a safer mode of transportation, which has been becoming increasingly popular in the United States and Europe, trains would save taxpayers money in the future by decreasing spending on new roads and maintenance work.

High-speed rails are the way of the future, and as a continually progressive community, Madison is a great place to get involved in the newest and most efficient mode of transportation.

In Advance Public Transit, we believe Madison needs to “get on board” and create an RTA in Dane County, which would respond to the needs of citizens and put us all ahead of the curve.

-Caroline Calewarts

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The addition of a high-speed rail system in Wisconsin would create new jobs, connect more workers with their jobs, decrease global emissions, combat rising oil prices and move our transportation into the 21st century. Why not approve the formation of a regional transportation authority with all of these obvious benefits?

Residents who are opposed to the creation of an RTA and advancing public transit in Wisconsin use the arguments that it is too expensive or that if an individual wants to continue to drive, there is no reason they should pay for something that doesn’t benefit them.

The reason behind this opposition is the reason behind the negativity to many things, which is the idea that everybody should do what is best for themselves as individuals and seek a solution that gives them immediate

gratification. Although creating a high-speed rail and improving our bus systems will improve the lives of many people and decrease damage to our environment, people opposed to this idea fail to see these benefits because they will take time and an investment to come about. In this economy, jobs are one of the most important things we need to create, and investments in transit produce 19 percent more jobs than similar investments in roads. It is time we all come together to see the big picture and realize that improving public transportation now will be much cheaper and more effective than it will be 20 years down the road when the situation will undeniably be worse.

-Emily Wanezek Picture a world of concrete and blacktop, squealing tires and exhaust

fumes, oil laden run-off, middle fingers and horns in congestion. Sound like something familiar? Sadly, it’s the world we live in today. What can we do? Public transit is a proven solution to the addiction of automobiles and road construction. Transit lines carry more people, in less time, with less burning of fossil fuels. It also takes up far less space than our flawed and ever-expanding highway infrastructure. The current system continually needs upgrading and will never stop requiring our money or damaging our environment.

With the regional rransportation authority, we would be able to give people the option of public transportation instead of contributing to our environmental problems. How hard can it be to look to the future instead of continuing with the same old road systems? We need change and we need it now.

-Brad Bruun

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Recycle Me! If every newpaper were recycled it could save about 250 million trees each year; unfortunatly only 27% of all American newspapers are recycled. dailycardinal.com/comics

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Environmentalism

Today’s Sudoku

Classic 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

Wilderness

a b c d e f g h i

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p

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u

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

“Yheix pda ikqjpwejo wjz cap pdaen ckkz pezejco.

Jwpqna’o lawya sehh bhks ejpk ukq wo oqjodeja bhkso ejpk pnaao.”

John Muir Quote Yesterday’s Code:

“Don’t look at me, I’m fucked up on corn bread.”

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

SEA WHAT I MEAN ACROSS 1 Nest noises 6 Fall lead-in?

10 Thick block 14 “Anybody home?”

15 She played Glinda in “The Wiz” 16 Skeletal unit 17 Forest nymph 18 “Potpourri for 200, ___” 19 They may be on the back 20 Advice for fishermen 23 Cracker’s focus 26 Result of hocus-pocus 27 Wear through weathering 28 Went silent (with “up”) 30 Obsessive whaler of fiction 32 Not just feuding 33 Page with views, briefly 34 Thumbs down 37 Advice for rowing crews 41 Barbecue sound 42 Some retirement accts.

43 Crimea conference attended by Churchill 44 Bela’s “Son of Frankenstein” role

45 Tax loophole 47 Wife of Abraham 50 Consumed consomme 51 Study surface 52 Advice for deck hands 56 Hip to 57 Reverse, as a typo 58 Billionaire into books 62 Possessive declaration 63 Pirate’s potation 64 Blue-blooded 65 Defendant, to a juror 66 Bronte’s Jane 67 Support for a clown DOWN 1 A degree of success?

2 Air homonym 3 ‘60s Tarzan Ron 4 McDonald’s tray liner 5 Part of a float 6 Metal-coated 7 Put one’s feet up 8 With a clean slate 9 Vehicle with a checkered past?

10 Splendiferous 11 Argentine plain 12 Earned a hand?

13 Cookbook directive 21 Start of a daisyplucker’s phrase 22 Nickname for a sharpshooter 23 Hordes 24 Choral components

25 Deer offspring 29 Dream guy 30 Well-chosen 31 Cynical laugh sound 33 Stamps one’s approval 34 “Cape Fear” star 35 “The Tattooed Girl” novelist Joyce Carol 36 Kind of contrast 38 ___ y plata (Montana motto) 39 Word yelled to halt a stickball game 40 Unlocked area?

44 Tedious affair 45 Shemp, for one 46 Like cool cats 47 Pinch pennies 48 Broadway orphan 49 “Wide World of Sports” producer Arledge 50 Gusto 53 Unusually large 54 Professor ‘iggins, to Eliza Doolittle 55 Billion-year increments, in geology 59 Triple Crown stat 60 Alternative to nothing 61 Riled (up)

Charlie and Boomer

By Natasha Soglin soglin@wisc.edu

dailycardinal.com/news

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Wednesday, April 22, 2009

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dailycardinal.com/sports

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Softball

Badgers welcome Gophers to Goodman

By Nico Savidge THE DAILY CARDINAL

LORENZO ZEMELLA/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

Junior shortstop Katie Soderberg had four RBIs against Ohio State.

After nearly earning a win over Big Ten leaders Ohio State Sunday, the Wisconsin softball team will try to end its 10-game losing streak when it faces rival Minnesota Wednesday.

The Badgers fell to the No. 14 Buckeyes 6-5 in an extra inning after taking a 5-1 lead, thanks in part to four RBIs from junior shortstop Katie Soderberg.

Soderberg said although the team is frustrated with blowing the lead against Ohio State, they want to carry over that strong play into Wednesday’s series against the Gophers.

“It’s a little bit of a moral victory to know that we should have beat [Ohio State] and could have beat them and they’re a really good team,” she said. “It builds my confidence, and I’m sure it builds my team’s confidence going up against all these other pitchers from other teams knowing that we can beat them.”

Head coach Chandelle Schulte echoed Soderberg’s sentiment, saying the team’s improvement was evident against the Buckeyes and that its next mission is to convert that potential into wins.

“We have been playing a lot

better lately, but it’s hard to see that without the wins,” Schulte said.

“We have been hitting the ball well this past week, and hopefully the momentum from the weekend’s games against Ohio State can carry over to this week.”

The second game of their series against the Buckeyes was also important for the Badgers because it showed a reversal of a troubling offensive trend: Wisconsin managed just five runs combined in the nine contests before the April 18 game. Playing with a lead was a critical change to improve the team’s psyche.

“We have been playing a lot better lately, but it’s hard to see that without the wins.”

Chandelle Schulte head coach UW softball

“It was definitely important,” Soderberg said. “It’s a whole new attitude. We felt like we were in control of that game.”

Replicating Soderberg’s production against the Buckeyes will be important if the Badgers want to

continue their stronger offense and end the losing streak when they take on Minnesota. According to Soderberg, the secret to the offensive improvement was being a more aggressive hitter– something she will try to continue in the future.

“I need to approach every pitcher like I did that game,” she said. “I was going to be aggressive, I wasn’t going to wait until I was down in the count, I was going to jump on the pitcher early and I was going to swing the bat … and the outcome was nice.”

Soderberg said she and the rest of the team will need to continue that offensive execution against Minnesota on Wednesday, saying that being aggressive will be a key to beating the Gophers.

Aside from the desire to take their first win since April 1, the team will have extra motivation because it is taking part in the WisconsinMinnesota “Border Battle” rivalry.

According to Soderberg, the rivalry is just one more factor that makes the team hungry for a win against the Gophers.

“It’s always in the back of our heads. We know it’s that much more important to win tomorrow,” she said.

Wisconsin and Minnesota will face off Wednesday at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Goodman Diamond.

Covering nonrevenue sports at Wisconsin presents its perks CRYSTAL CROWNS the crystal ball

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ver the past three years, I have covered a wide variety of Wisconsin sports.

Although covering revenue sports has its perks, nonrevenue sports are just as exciting to report on.

For instance, interviewing the Wisconsin men’s basketball players and coaches is not very personal.

That’s not because of the program, but the way the media is forced to interact with them. After games and practices, the media gather around the players and coaches, all taking turns to fire questions. This limits the opportunities for one-on-one interviews, and reporters struggle to have real, personal conversations with the

subjects they are interviewing.

One of my favorite athletes to interview is former UW basketball star and current Phoenix Suns forward Alando Tucker. He has a great personality and was very easy to talk to; however, every interview I had with him included five other reporters from different publications, each with their own agenda and set of questions to ask. It was difficult to focus on one specific topic with Tucker because he had to juggle questions from each reporter.

Popular athletes of revenue sports are difficult to pull aside for interviews.

But let’s consider UW junior men’s tennis phenomenon Moritz Baumann.

I had the opportunity to speak with him after a match earlier this year when I was training a new sportswriter.

Baumann only has one loss this entire season as a No. 1 singles player and has a very bright future ahead of him.

Because he plays for a less popular UW

sport, it is easy to lead a one-on-one interview and narrow in on his personality to discover what makes him tick as a player. This is an athlete who is just as talented in his sport as someone who has gone professional in a sport like basketball, yet it is the players of the more popular sports who receive most of the media attention.

Players and coaches of revenue sports are very respectful, but they are also less candid.

When covering a sport like men’s tennis, women’s soccer or softball, reporters are allowed to engage in a more personal interaction with the

athletes and coaches. These programs show respect for reporters and often emphasize their appreciation for attending the event.

Players and coaches of revenue sports are very respectful, but they are also less candid. Sometimes when speaking with them I feel as though all their responses are thought out ahead of time. They usually sound intelligent–don’t get me wrong–but definitely much less realistic.

Women’s basketball offers a mix of both personal and impersonal interview setups. After games, head coach Lisa Stone and select players address the media. All reporters are allowed to ask questions, but the majority of the responses seem scripted. I’m sure Stone has sat through hundreds of press conferences by this point in her career, thus she knows how to answer each question without much thought.

The players also quickly adapt to

the press conference style of media availability. It is obvious that just after a few weeks the players become more comfortable sitting on the stage and taking questions. I still remember the press conference with junior guard Rae Lin D’Alie after her first game as a Badger. She was definitely nervous and tried to keep her answers short and sweet, but something about her candidness made her seem more personable. Sometimes as a reporter it’s nice to see that the subjects you are interviewing are real people like you and me.

Of course, as the season progressed D’Alie learned how to answer questions quickly and thoroughly at press conferences. Although the athletes become more comfortable, I feel they are telling us what the program wants us to hear and not what they actually think as individuals. It’s either that or the interview setup is just so impersonal that the reporters feel like they are being fed the same scripted lines of information in every press conference.

There is a reason why sports reporters who are just starting their careers usually are sent to cover the nonrevenue sports first. This way, they can personally interact with the athletes and coaches, allowing them to understand the true emotions behind college sports. The revenue sports are what many reporters dream of covering. But sports like UW men’s tennis, women’s soccer and softball are where real connections between the athletic programs and the media are built. It is at these sporting events where reporters can learn to be more comfortable and learn to dig for stories that are not on the surface. Nonrevenue sports don’t get the credit they deserve and should receive a lot more attention from the media and the student body they are representing.

Think nonrevenue sports at UW receive enough credit? Tell Crystal at crowns@wisc.edu.