Thursday, November 5, 2009 - The Daily Cardinal by The Daily Cardinal

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Thursday, November 5, 2009

Journalist analyzes Obama’s first year By Lydia Statz The Daily Cardinal

Just 90 minutes after Air Force One left the Madison airport Wednesday, Mark Halperin, a senior political analyst for Time magazine, give his opinion on President Barack Obama’s performance so far to an audience of UW-Madison students, faculty and community members. According to Halperin, there have been many surprises during the first year of Obama’s leadership, the largest of which was the economic crisis. Halperin said the importance of the economy has halted Obama’s progress on many other important issues. “You’ve seen several other big agenda items pushed off, some implicitly, some quite explicitly,” Halperin said. “The hope of the White House is to get to those things in short order, but it’s clearly been a surprise to them how much of an issue this is.” However, Halperin said the economic crisis has also been an incredible opportunity for Obama. He said although he is cautious of the lingering high unemployment rates, he believes Obama’s greatest achievement so far has been ending the financial crisis. Halperin said a major disappointment for him has been the lack of bipartisanship in Washington. He said he blames Obama for the polarization, saying Obama should do more to remove political barriers. “It’s not about policy,” Halperin said. “It’s a culture and an attitude, and he has the capacity to change it, and for whatever reason, he did not.” Although many liberals have been disappointed that the president has not pushed a more liberal agenda during his first months in office, Halperin said he is hopeful about the administration’s push for universal health care. “I really respect what they’re doing on health care,” he said. “They’re asking members of Congress to risk losing their seats ... That kind of risk is rare in today’s political culture.” Halperin said despite some challenges the president has faced so far, he believes Obama’s real test has yet to come. He said he predicts more controversies and possible national security crises to be a challenge to Obama’s character and political longevity. Halperin’s lecture, titled “The Obama Report Card So Far: What’s Surprising and What’s Next,” was this year’s installment of the Nafziger Lecture Series, sponsored by the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

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President Barack Obama greets attendees after his speech on education at Wright Middle School in Madison Wednesday.

Obama calls for reforms in education By Hannah Furfaro The Daily Cardinal

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In his speech, Obama promoted the Race to the Top program, which provides grants to states that increase educational standards.

A year to the day after the historic 2008 presidential election, President Barack Obama spoke to teachers and students at a Madison middle school about the federal Race to the Top program and the importance of improving education standards. In front of a crowd of nearly 600 at Wright Middle School, Obama called education reform “America’s national mission” and said now is the time to improve education in concrete ways. Obama stressed the importance of creating internationally competitive standards and called knowledge the “currency of the economy.” He encouraged states to improve stan-

dards and accountability in their efforts to vie for over $4 billion in federal Race to the Top funds. “If you’re willing to hold yourselves more accountable, and if you develop a strong plan to improve the quality of education in your state, then we’ll offer you a big grant to help you make that plan a reality,” he said. The funds are awarded on a competitive basis. Before a state is eligible to receive funding, it must remove any “firewall laws” that prevent evaluating teachers based on student performance. In the past few weeks, Gov. Jim Doyle has made attempts to remove such a law in Wisconsin, obama page 3

A year later, Obama’s policies have shown effects in state By Steven Rosenbaum The Daily Cardinal

President Barack Obama’s appearance in Madison Wednesday also marked the one-year anniversary of his historic election victory. Since that night, Obama has dealt with many significant and complicated issues. The debates regarding health insurance reform and the economic stimulus have raged through the halls of Congress, and their effects have been felt in Wisconsin. The largest impact Obama has made in Wisconsin has been through the economic stimulus plan. Wisconsin has received billions in federal money

from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and the government says over 10,000 jobs have been created or saved in the state since the stimulus plan was passed. Some notable projects throughout the state include almost $4 million in funding for the Truax Field airport in Madison, $10.3 million to support the Milwaukee Police Department and $116.8 million to the UW System, much of it for research grants and financial assistance. According to UW-Madison political science professor Charles Franklin, Obama’s stimulus plan is having both isabel álvarez/the daily cardinal

wisconsin page 3

A student at Wright Middle School reacts to Obama’s introduction.

“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”

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Thursday, November 5, 2009

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

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A personal understatement, if you ask Jon

Volume 119, Issue 42

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News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com Editor in Chief Charles Brace Managing Editor Justin Stephani Campus Editor Kelsey Gunderson Caitlin Gath City Editor State Editor Hannah Furfaro Enterprise Editor Ryan Hebel Associate News Editor Grace Urban Opinion Editors Anthony Cefali Todd Stevens Editorial Board Editor Qi Gu Arts Editors Kevin Slane Kyle Sparks Sports Editors Scott Kellogg Nico Savidge Features Editor Diana Savage Food Editor Sara Barreau Science Editor Jigyasa Jyotika Photo Editors Isabel Alvarez Danny Marchewka Graphics Editors Amy Gifﬁn Jenny Peek Copy Chiefs Kate Manegold Emma Roller Jake Victor Copy Editors Jamie McMahon

Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Alex Kusters Advertising Manager Katie Brown Billing Manager Mindy Cummings Accounts Receivable Manager Cole Wenzel Senior Account Executive Ana Devcic Account Executives Mara Greenwald, Kristen Lindsay, D.J. Nogalski, Jordan Rossman, Sarah Schupanitz Online Account Executive Tom Shield Mara Greenwald Graphic Designer Web Directors Eric Harris, Dan Hawk Marketing Director Mia Beeson 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 editor@dailycardinal.com.

Editorial Board Charles Brace Anthony Cefali Qi Gu Jamie Stark Todd Stevens Justin Stephani l

Board of Directors Vince Filak Alex Kusters Joan Herzing Jason Stein Jeff Smoller Janet Larson Chris Long Charles Brace Katie Brown Benjamin Sayre Jenny Sereno Terry Shelton l

JON SPIKE academic misjonduct

h yes, it’s that time of the academic season. No, I’m not talking about midterm week or class-dropping deadlines. I’m talking about making yourself sound as sexy as possible to potential grad school/professional program/job suitors. Nothing is more enjoyable (re: annoying) than talking about your many endearing characteristics, including all of the many people you’ve tricked or pressured into giving you rave recommendations. I personally am aware that my personal statement is ﬂawless, but I’ve decided to let you—our honest readers—give me some much-needed feedback. My personal statement follows below in its entirety: Dear Sir (if this is a Madam, please tear this up... I don’t jive well with women), Ever since I ﬁrst realized I could never be a cowboy astronaut by trade, I have dreamed of becoming a part of (insert company/university/brothel name here). I would be

honored to become a loyal (insert school mascot here), proudly singing (insert school fight song here) from the balcony of my high-rise penthouse—which I’m hoping you’ll provide me with upon acceptance. First off, I’d like to clear up some misconceptions. I’m mainly in this gig for two reasons: money and vengeance upon those who doubted me. Have you ever seen the film “Die Hard”? It isn’t related to why I’m qualified to be accepted into your graduate program, but how sweet was that movie? But back to money. I’d love to say that I did that volunteer work (or should I say, forged a supervisor’s signature that says I did volunteer work) purely to advance myself as an individual, but that would be a two-faced lie. To show my dedication to varied organizations and leadership positions, I’ve applied for dozens of titles in extracurricular groups, gotten hired, and then darted off into the sunset before they ask me to do any actual work. I understand your university looks highly on a rigorous and involved resume, and I believe my half-hearted, one-week dedication to dozens of diverse organizations will make you foolishly believe that I am a well-rounded individual.

goals I want to achieve, mainly because such personal statements sound more convincing if you lie through your teeth. By the end of my tenure at your school, I’d like to have AT LEAST five academic buildings renamed after me in my honor. I’d also like the school mascot to be changed to the Thundering Spikes (this name will be perfect for the football and volleyball teams). I’d say one of my greatest assets is my people skills. Just the other day, I was getting mugged and I still managed to compliment the mugger on his nice wristwatch. He then informed me that it was, in fact, the wristwatch he had just stolen from me a moment earlier. Even in times of great stress, I still am able to work well with others, as this experience demonstrates. If you would let me inside of you (your school/program/job site), I’m confident I’ll turn around your previously inferior track record in your field (no offense). Also, I am a fervent proponent of deodorant use, so I have that going for me as well. Sincerely, Sir Jonathan Spike III, M.D. Make sure to send along those personal statement critiques to spike@wisc.edu.

Central Waters Brewing Company Shine On Central Waters Brewing Company prides itself on its organic elements. Its website claims the company to be the first “green” powered brewery, boasting approximately 1,000 square feet of solar collectors across 24 panels. W i t h that theme of a solarpowered brewery c o m e s “Shine

On,” a red ale. On the bottle the drinker should notice an image of the sun with a light switch on it, which pays homage to the company’s solar-themed corporation. In fact, a portion of the profits raised from Shine On are donated to the Midwest Renewable Energy Association. As for the beer itself, it is certainly drinkable, giving the drinker a clean, smooth and refreshing taste. The flavor is there, but it is certainly not overwhelming, and perhaps slightly too understated. This beer won’t satisfy a drinker seeking a heavy, rich tone with an obvious flavor. It also doesn’t offer any uniqueness to it, but it should suit any beer connoisseur seeking a decent taste and a clean finish from a microbrew. A clear goal of this brewing company is to appeal to those who seek an organic alcoholic beverage. In addition to its solarpowered origins, the beer is made from Wisconsin-grown organic barley. Shine On is one of seven year-round

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

Did I mention that I worked in the terminal wing of a children’s hospital? Yeah, that happened. I was like that crazy doctor guy who’s not actually a doctor and dressed up like a clown to make his patients happy. Also, did I mention my patients in the terminal wing were all orphans? And I served soup to them every Christmas? Oh, and once I gave one of the terminal orphans CPR when he choked on his chicken bone one fateful Christmas Eve, thus saving his life. It’s all in my resume, which, as I said before, is completely legitimate and not a series of hyperboles and forgery. Winston Churchill once famously said, “If I were Dean of Admissions at an American college, I’d definitely accept Jon Spike into my program. He is a beacon of knowledge and leadership. He’s also devilishly handsome and great in the sack.” Churchill’s words have been my personal mantra as I go forth in my search for purpose in life. If Mr. Churchill, world-renowned for his knowledge and leadership, deems me worthy in both the academic sphere and the bedroom sphere, I feel pretty confident I’d be a great fit (sexual pun intended!) at your school. I also maintain some pretty lofty

New Beer Thursday

For the record

FRIDAY: partly sunny hi 59º / lo 51º

TODAY: sunny hi 52º / lo 36º

With thousands of different wines in stock, selecting the right wine can be difficult. Let our in-house wine expert help you choose the right wine for any occasion!

beers manufactured by Central Waters, an 11-year-old brewing company based in Amherst, Wisconsin. Central Water’s website also says the fact that it uses a radiant floor heating system and a more energy-minded lighting system, hoping to establish itself as an environmentally sustainable brewing company. This beer won’t stand out in a crowd with originality in terms of taste, but for how easy it is to get the beer down without it tasting completely watery, and for the interesting organic angle it presents, it is definitely a beer worth checking out.

Central Waters Brewing Company Shine On $8.99 at Riley’s Wines of the World

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Thursday, November 5, 2009

news

Urban Design Commission delays vote on Edgewater plan By Caitlin Gath The Daily Cardinal

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ASM Student Judiciary Chief Justice Trenell Darby presides over Collegians for a Constructive Tomorrow’s appeal of the Student Services Finance Committee’s decision to deny funding to CFACT.

CFACT appeals to ASM Student Judiciary after funding denial By Brandice Altfillisch The Daily Cardinal

Collegians for a Constructive Tomorrow appealed the Associated Students of Madison’s Student Services Finance Committee’s decision to deny the organization funding before the Student Judiciary Wednesday. On Oct. 5, SSFC turned down CFACT’s request for eligibility to receive general student services funding. According to SSFC legal counsel Kurt Gosselin and SSFC Chair Brandon Williams, SSFC denied CFACT because they violated Student Activity Center Governing Board policies and ASM rules. Gosselin said those violations involved CFACT intentionally ignoring SACGB’s policy on removal of furniture two times and leaving a chair in a room after a meeting. He also said CFACT had

empty beer cans in their office in the Student Activity Center. CFACT was also denied funding because although the organization’s services did meet SSFC requirements, SSFC members believed the services did not constitute a majority of their time.

“I think [CFACT] will get a fair shake.”

Alex Hansen president Collegians for a Constructive Tomorrow

CFACT President Alex Hansen denied Gosselin’s statements that CFACT intentionally violated rules, saying CFACT had been unaware of the policies. In addition, Hansen said

The Urban Design Commission failed to grant an initial approval request for the Edgewater Hotel’s revised redevelopment plan late Wednesday night. Instead, the UDC overwhelmingly voted to refer the request to a future meeting, while also recommending a joint meeting with the Landmarks Commission. The majority of the commission felt the new designs for the hotel were moving in the right direction but that there were too many unanswered questions preventing them from moving ahead. “I applaud the applicant for moving in the right direction, but I’m not sold yet,” commission member Todd Barnett said. Barnett also said he thought it was troubling that the architect for the project had not yet visited. He said the new building was not “uniquely Madison” and he would like the chance to have an open dialogue with the architect about the designs. Commission member Mark

Smith said although he was encouraged by the redesigns, he would like to see a 3-D rendering of the proposed changes to better visualize the space. The majority of the community members present at the meeting said they felt this could be a good project, but they did not feel it met the requirements for residing in the center of the Mansion Hill Historic District. A resident of the 600 block of East Gorham Street who spoke in opposition to the redevelopment said the proposed eight-story tower was still too high and that it would violate the historic district ordinances. Still, several other residents showed support for the new designs. Susan Schmitz, president of Downtown Madison Inc., spoke in support of the development and said this was the city’s opportunity to “get it right.” Rosemary Lee, a long-time resident of the Capitol neighborhoods area, said she was enthusiastic about the opportunity and that Madison should be constantly allowed to evolve and grow.

Dave Eggers speaks

SSFC Representative Carl Fergus and SSFC as a whole showed “unbridled discretion” against his group through inconsistent votes on whether CFACT’s campaigns were a direct service as required for funding through SSFC. Following adjournment, Hansen said he was optimistic about the trial. “I think [CFACT] will get a fair shake,” Hansen said. “Both parties were questioned fairly.” Gosselin said he felt SSFC made an accurate decision originally. “I’m confident that [Williams and I] were able to demonstrate to the court that [SSFC] applied the criteria in the way they’re supposed to,” Gosselin said. “[SSFC] made the correct decision.” According to Student Judiciary Chief Justice Trenell Darby, the verdict on Wednesday’s trial will be released within the next two weeks.

Burglar takes laptops from home on North Mills Street A residential burglary occurred along the 40 block of North Mills Street Monday afternoon, according to a police report. Around 3:30 p.m., a resident of Mills Street came home to find a burglar inside his residence. As

soon as he came inside, the suspect fled on foot through a patio door, the report said. According to the victim, the thief stole several laptop computers and found a way inside by kicking in a door.

The suspect is described as a white male with shoulderlength brown hair. He is said to be wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt and carrying a black and red backpack, according to the report.

obama from page 1

she was impressed with the speech and said improving education is “absolutely vital.” “I think that what Gov. Doyle and the Legislature are trying to do now will position us well to meet the expectations that the president and [Education] Secretary [Arne] Duncan have set,” she said. Obama’s visit comes in the wake of Republican victories in gubernatorial elections held Tuesday in New Jersey and Virginia. In a statement last week from the Republican Party of

Wisconsin, Chair Reince Priebus said Obama’s visit likely had political motivations, and he hinted at Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett’s potential bid for the 2010 gubernatorial election. Although Barrett faces pressure to run because of Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton’s exit from the race, he denied that he had any conversation with Obama about the election. “He didn’t talk about that at all ... He is here about education,” Barrett said after Obama’s speech.

in addition to proposing other reforms, including a mayoral takeover of Milwaukee Public Schools. “We have to look at a governance change, in particular at MPS. We have the worst achievement gap in the nation. We can’t continue down that path. We’ve had that for the last 20 years, and something needs to be done,” state Rep. Jason Fields, D-Milwaukee, said after Obama’s speech. Chancellor Biddy Martin said

alison bauter/the daily cardinal

Writer, editor and publisher Dave Eggers speaks at the Chazen Museum of Art Wednesday evening. Eggers’ works include ‘A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius’ and the screenplay for ‘Where the Wild Things Are,’ and he also founded the McSweeney’s publishing house.

wisconsin from page 1 a short- and long-term effect on the state. “It’s clear that stimulus money has helped state government in particular avoid some of the cuts or layoffs it would have done otherwise,” Franklin said. He added, “I think the stimulus is having a long-term modest effect on the economy, one that may be

hard for individuals to see but is overall effective nonetheless.” Health insurance reform has been another major issue for the Obama presidency thus far, but progress has been slower. Bills to reform health insurance are still moving through both houses of Congress, and, according to Franklin, it is still hard to predict exactly how an eventual law might look.

featuresstudent life 4

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Thursday, November 5, 2009

Overcoming post-exercise cravings Some students struggle to control the food they eat after a workout. Story by Julia Brenner

n age-old proverb says good behavior deserves a reward. Moms want the chores done, teachers want completed homework and coaches want to win games. And whether it is a treat from the cookie jar, a gold star or a starting position, the human body is conditioned to exchange hard work for a savory delight. It is no wonder that after a tough hour at the gym, people feel entitled to devour a bowl of ice cream or shovel down a second dinner. According to Dale Schoeller, a professor of nutritional sciences at UW-Madison, the physiological and psychological needs associated with exercise affect people’s post-workout diet. Poor eating habits after exercise stems from an imbalance between what the body needs and what the mind wants. Emotional eating powered by a caloric deficit or behavioral conditioning can hinder a healthy diet. When students experience an imbalance of calories or emotional cravings after a workout, they head to the kitchen. UW-Madison junior Alex Martina said the meal after her workout is the largest one of the day. “I crave healthy foods after I run, but I do feel entitled to eat more,” Martina said. According to Schoeller, exercise can easily lead to a caloric deficit, when the body burns more calories than it consumes. The brain recognizes the caloric deficit when the insufficient calorie intake triggers its hunger and satiety hormones, ghrelin and leptin. Ghrelin levels typically increase before meals and decrease after meals; however, if the body’s calorie count is low at any given time, ghrelin levels will increase and produce hunger. Poor eating habits do not have to accompany a workout, according to Schoeller. “It’s OK to eat more after a workout, just be careful how much more,” Schoeller said. “Keep in mind, though, that if the goal of an exercise regime is weight loss, do not eat more.” According to Schoeller, if students expend calories doing day-today chores and also go to the gym, it is normal for them to feel hungry afterward. However, he said students do not actually realize the amount of calories they burn throughout the day. Routine activities such as cleaning the house or walking to class,

PHOTO ILLUSTRATION BY ISABEL ÁLVAREZ/THE DAILY CARDINAL

burn calories, and the body even burns calories when it is at rest. To maintain a healthy weight, the average student only needs about 30 to 40 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise every day combined with a nutritious diet, Schoeller said. This could be anything from a brisk walk to a fast jog. “It’s not about knowing what’s good for you and what’s bad for you. People know if you eat the mufﬁn instead of the apple, you’re going to gain weight.” Lori Devine ﬁtness director UW-Madison

The combination of daily activities and a workout creates physiological needs for food, especially if a student is not eating enough throughout the day. According to Schoeller, the way to accommodate those needs is to eat more based on those physiological needs, rather than psychological needs. In other words, eat more if the body needs it, but do not use the workout as an excuse to overeat. Whether students feel entitled to overeat or have a craving for unhealthy food, psychological factors

often inﬂuence poor eating habits after exercise. UW-Madison junior Kayleigh Marten said that she works out ﬁve days a week and tries to stick to fruit and water after her workouts. Still, she occasionally craves unhealthy snacks. “I get in the mindset where I think, ‘I just worked out for two hours; I can have a pizza,’” Marten said. Cravings can be physiologic or conditioned. A desire for unhealthy food may be the hunger and satiety hormones taking care of the body’s caloric needs, but more commonly, it is an emotional need for comfort foods that results from a conditioned behavior, Schoeller said. This kind of behavior is a conditioned response from childhood. If junk food accompanied exercise in childhood, then the body is conditioned to crave it for years after. For example, if a student ate Dairy Queen for a postgame treat in Little League, then their body still expects to have a similar indulgence after every workout. As one’s metabolism slows down with age, these post-work treats will not burn off as quickly as they used to. To undo this response to exercise, college students must re-condition their minds to expect something healthy after a workout. For some students, there is no

need to re-condition behavior. Casey Lynde, a UW-Madison senior, works out about three to four times a week, and eats out for almost every meal. Standing at six feet and 185 pounds, he still maintains a healthy weight for his frame. “I drink a lot of water after my workouts and stick to my usual unhealthy meals,” Lynde says. “And obviously I eat more because I just burned a lot off.”

“It’s OK to eat more after a workout. Just be careful how much more.” Dale Scholler professor UW-Madison

Unlike Martina and Marten, after a workout Lynde feels compelled to meet his physiological needs rather than his psychological ones. Although his post-workout meals are unhealthy, he eats them in response to his body’s need for food, not the fulﬁllment of a craving or an entitlement to overeat. His diet stays consistent before and after working out. It is obvious that nutritious foods, exercise and a good night’s rest all

contribute to maintaining a healthy lifestyle; it is just a matter of whether or not people actually do these things, Lori Devine, the fitness director for the Division of Recreational Sports, said. “It’s not about knowing what’s good for you and what’s bad for you. People know if you eat the muffin instead of the apple, you’re going to gain weight,” Devine said. “It’s common sense.” According to Devine, students must use their self-control to make healthy choices. It is okay to have junk food once in a while, but do not eat it every day. Although it may sound easy to make healthy choices, post-workout cravings and overeating continue to tempt some students; however, Schoeller mentioned ways to break free of this unhealthy cycle. “You need to get to know yourself in order to make behavior modifications,” Schoeller said. He recommended keeping a diary to see what triggers specific cravings. Then, find a substitute for that craving, such as taking a walk or chatting with a roommate instead. “Two things lead to weight gain, genetics and environment,” Schoeller said. “You cannot control your genes, but you can control your environment.”

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alumni

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Thursday, November 5, 2009

Wisconsin singers work with local choirs, campus for 42 years By Andrea Parins the daily cardinal

Steve Linsenmayer/cardinal File Photo

Mike Hokenson, a law student and member of the College Republicans, is videotaped talking with other students in the 1980s on campus. Campus activism continues to today.

Alumni urge students to learn skills outside class By Todd Stevens the daily cardinal

One of the privileges of alumni is the ability to look back on their collegiate careers, add in the experience they have gained in the real world and come to some real conclusions about what their university life meant. Particularly for community and political leaders, looking back and reflecting can be extremely helpful to others looking to replicate their success. Thankfully, some of the University of Wisconsin’s and The Daily Cardinal’s prominent alumni are more than willing to share some of their advice for students still living in the 78 square miles surrounded by reality known as Madison. Chief among the alumni words of wisdom were calls to simply so something, not just sit at home and ignore the world around you. “Half the battle is won by simply showing up,” said state Rep. Chris Danou, R-Trempealeau , a member of the UW-Madison undergraduate class of 1989. “I realized very quickly that if I simply attended class, paid attention, did the homework and studied for the exams, things were a lot easier than I expected. I actually managed to graduate with distinction.” Danou’s sentiments were echoed by state Sen. Alberta Darling, River Hills, of the class of 1966. “My advice to current students is to get involved on campus outside of the classroom, and embrace all that the university has to offer. The time you spend at the university is your time to learn, explore,

and experience new ideas.” It turns out merely showing up can lead to a fair amount of opportunities coming your way. Not only does it lead to new relationships and networking opportunities, but it is possible to end up gaining new skills without even intending to learn them. “The most important thing I learned from my time at UW was how to juggle multiple tasks at once, and it came because I got involved with so many campus activities,” says Erik Opsal, former Daily Cardinal opinion editor from fall 2006 to spring 2007 and current Congressional aide in the U.S. Senate. “Going from class to my job, to an organizational meeting, then spending the rest of the night in The Daily Cardinal office takes a lot of planning to make sure you don’t get in over your head.” Darling added to Opsal’s comments, mentioning that the experiences resulting from campus involvement usually lead to better opportunities down the road. “Not only will you set your professional goals in motion, but you will find that UW-Madison has enriched your life in areas that extend beyond your career.” But perhaps most importantly alumni emphasized the importance of using college as a way of finding out about one’s self. With all of the opportunities presented, college is an excellent time to try out almost anything and in the process find out what to dedicate your life to. State Rep. Spencer Black, D-Madison, who represents much of the city of Madison, found

his graduate school experiences at UW-Madison to be especially helpful. “I entered grad school hoping to work on environmental issues,” said Black. “Both in my classes and related experiences, I came to realize the importance that influencing public policy has on the quality of our environment. As a result, I went to work for environmental groups (Clean Wisconsin and the Sierra Club) instead of a more conventional path in a government agency.” Black also urged students to find a “career path that really motivates you and makes you want to get up in the morning.” This means of discovery could be the most beneficial part of a college education. Former Daily Cardinal editor-in-chief and 2008 graduate Jill Klosterman summed it up succinctly, explaining how her time in Madison prepared her for her current position with Teach for America. “My passion for journalism and the superior campus newspaper led me to believe that nothing could eclipse the importance of City Council—or Mike Verveer’s opinion,” said Klosterman. “Only in hindsight do I realize that UW-Madison prepared me for something else—something real and something big… There is life beyond the view from Bascom Hill. Term papers may keep you up at night, but they’re ultimately just a ticket to something bigger and better.”

Students, parents and alumni have eagerly anticipated the Wisconsin Singers hometown show each fall for the past 42 years. “This is our favorite place to perform,” Director Robin WhittyNovotny said. “For us it’s really a hometown show.” Whitty-Novotny, a Wisconsin Singers alumn, is married to a Wisconsin Singer and has been directing the musical group for the past 20 years. “It’s something I’ve always been passionate about because it was my best experience as an undergraduate here,” she said. “I wanted to come back and make it the same for as many other people as I could.” Whitty-Novotny said the most rewarding part of performing on campus is the audience. “When we look out during “Varsity” and see everybody in red and white waving their arms, it is just so much fun,” she said. “And we don’t get that everywhere we go.” This year, the Wisconsin Singers invited three area high school choirs to open before the show. Madison East, LaFollette and Marshall have been involved with Wisconsin Singers for many years. Whitty-Novotny said they are the ones cheering the hardest out in the audience. “They love performing on campus in the Union Theater,” she said.

“But I think the one-on-one work that we do in workshops is just as meaningful for them.” Wisconsin Singers work one-onone with more than 1,000 aspiring high school and junior high musicians each year. According to Whitty-Novotny, working with high school students serves several different purposes. “It gives high school students the opportunity to work with college students that are not much older than they are,” she said. “They get the perspective of college students and how to lift up the level of their own performance.” The UW-Madison performance is unique from all others around the state due to the addition of an all hip-hop music medley. “We always have a little bit [of hip-hop], but this year we have a whole medley,” Whitty-Novotny said. “At this campus this is something they really enjoy.” Another advantage of a hometown show is the ability to program lighting design and special effects. “From a visual standpoint, it’s one of the best shows all year,” Whitty-Novotny said. This year the show will be held Nov. 13 and 14 at 7:30 p.m. in the Wisconsin Union Theater. Student tickets are $10 and adult tickets cost $20.

jaCOB ela/cardinal file photo

The Wisconsin Singers perfrom here at the All Campus Party 2005.

Wisconsin Alumni Association looks to give support to students By Molly Forbes The Daily Cardinal

There are more than 380,000 living UW graduates, and the Wisconsin Alumni Association strives to link each one of these alumni back to the university. The WAA is a non-profit organization independently financed by duespaying members, and is comprised of over 100 chapters worldwide. According to WAA President and CEO Paula Bonner, the association’s main goal is to find ways to keep UW-Madison graduates connected with the university. Bonner said the association,

which consists of about 48 fulltime employees as well as a board of directors, seeks to provide services and programs for alumni in an effort to keep them connected with the university. “It’s an important professional and social network for when graduates are moving around and getting started in their lives,” Bonner said. Members of the WAA’s various chapters also raise money to provide local scholarships, volunteer and host events, such as the “Founders’ Day” celebrations, which commemorate UW-Madison’s first class, taught on February 5th, 1849.

Another important event is the Badger Career Network, which allows alumni mentors to pass on networking and career advice to recent graduates around the world. The WAA provides many services, programs and resources to current students as well. Bonner said she feels it is important for students to become involved with the association before they graduate. She said the WAA encourages this by providing many services, programs and resources to current UW-Madison students. “We’ve started getting very

serious about doing all we can to support current students, provide programming, help current students understand that they are actually one of these days going to be an alum of UW-Madison,” she said. One way for current students to get involved is to join the Wisconsin Alumni Student Board, which runs various outreach, development and alumni connection programs. According to Bonner, the WAA is also active on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter in hopes of attract-

ing and connecting more current students as well as alumni. Bonner said she encourages all UW-Madison students to stay connected with UW-Madison after graduation. “I think one of the things that has been satisfying … has been to hear back from alumni in terms of reflections on experiences they had here, the courses they took, and the faculty and staff and fellow students who made an impact on their lives,” she said.

alumni

Thursday, November 5, 2009

dailycardinal.com

A tradition of centuries past carries on By Ariel Shapiro THE DAILY CARDINAL

In 1892, William Wesley Young, a native of Monroe, Wis., had the radical idea to found an independent daily student paper. While dailies were not without precedent at other universities on the east coast, it was a first for a campus whose only experience with student journalism had been through weekly and monthly literary publications. On April 4, 1892, after scrounging up resources, collecting advertisers and assembling a co-educational staff, Young and his colleagues distributed the Cardinal’s first 400 copies. The front page proudly read that “this, the first number, is necessarily far from perfect, but we expect to make each succeeding number more valuable and useful.” The Cardinal exceeded its own founders’ expectations and continued to progress and expand with the university it aimed to serve. Only a few decades after its establishment, the Cardinal had become regionally and nationally recognized as the undisputed voice of the campus. By the interwar years, the Cardinal had already begun to acquire a liberal reputation. It’s antiprohibition and infamous “free love” editorials ignited a fury among local conservatives and sparked unsuccessful Republican U.S. Senate nominee John Chapple to refer to it as a “hotbed of radicalism, atheism, loose moral standards and communist doctrines.” While moral reprehensibility is by no means a defining trait of current and formal Cardinals, liberalism became a trademark of the paper as it entered the postwar era, especially in its opposition to the poster boy for postwar Soviet paranoia, Wisconsin native and U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy. Students at this time, as 1952 Campus Editor Jerrold Schecter recalled, were “part of a whole new generation who wanted to achieve what they had fought for in the war,” and there were a “lot of ... students who were politically conscious

and active.” “It was very exciting, but it was very challenging,” Schecter’s wife, Leona Protas Schecter, magazine section editor in 1951, said of the era. “It was a fight between people who believed in freedom of expression and those who were opposed.” This fight continued throughout the decade, but by the mid-’60s, it was joined by another struggle for liberty: the civil rights movement. Gail Bensinger, editor in chief in 1965, recalled going down to Mongomery, Ala. with fellow reporter Dave Wolf and witnessing people in nonviolent demonstrations being arrested en masse. “Seeing the police lined up, and the kids lined up, it was just so overwhelming,” she said. “A lot of people felt very strongly about this issue,” Bensinger said. “It was a time of amazing change, and it was really exciting for students who really wanted to be journalists.” While demonstrations for the civil rights movement were rampant across campus, anger over the war in Vietnam was building as well. The antiwar movement that would gripped the campus became a defining era in not only the Cardinal’s history, but that of the university as well. “The war was very much on our minds, those of our readers,” said Greg Graze, editor in chief ’68-’69. “Naturally we devoted a lot of coverage to campus activities related to the war and the draft.” “The feeling on the campus in general ... was that it was a moment of conscience,” Rena Steinzor, editor in chief ’70-’71, said. “There were many students disturbed by our campus’ connection to the militaryindustrial complex.” The Cardinal did speak up. It ran many antiwar editorials and a series of investigative articles regarding the research being conducted for the military’s efforts in Vietnam. “That was what the campus was at the time,” Walt Bogdanich, a Cardinal reporter from ’70-

’72 and a current investigative reporter at The New York Times, said. “It was a time when people would express their opinions and views openly. Sometimes foolishly, sometimes appropriately.” However, it was the combination of the opinions expressed and the investigations into the universities experiments that linked the paper to the bombing of the Army Math Research Center at Sterling Hall. That and the fact that two of the bombers, Leo Burt and David Fine, were Cardinal members. “Nobody wanted someone killed,” Steinzor said. “But on the other hand, these were our friends who had done these terrible things.” It was during this time, arguably the most radical in the Cardinal’s history, that The Badger Herald, the Cardinal’s then-conservative adversary, was established. However, as radicalism and its opposition faded with the end of the ’70s, both papers largely shed their polarized political views, and the two engaged in a competition that has come to establish UW as one of the most exciting campuses in the country for student journalism. By the late ’80s, the Cardinal found itself in ﬁnancial troubles, which persisted through the mid-’90s. The combination of the ﬁnancial situation with internal struggles going on in the Cardinal itself forced the paper to shut down for seven months in 1995 from February to September. “Everyone knew that the finances weren’t great, but nobody expected it,” Kristin Komisarek, the editor in chief at the time, said. “It was unreal.” Although this was without a doubt the lowest point for the Cardinal, staff members banded together and worked tirelessly to recover the paper that had become such a huge

part of their lives. “The whole staff was very talented, very dedicated,” Komisarek said. “Everybody knew that it would come back, it wasn’t a question.” In September of 1995, after seven months of turmoil, the Cardinal printed again, the front page depicting as a phoenix rising from the ashes. The Cardinal’s return has seen the continuation of the quality journalism that the paper had seen for well over a century. From the award-winning diversity piece by Anna Gould in 2001 to coverage of landmark events such as the 9/11 attacks and the election of the country’s ﬁrst black president, the Cardinal and its staff never cease to push the bound-

aries of the student newspaper. At 117 years old, The Daily Cardinal has experienced 22 presidents, two world wars and countless social and political upheavals, yet on its most basic level, the paper still operates much as it did over well over a century ago. The Cardinal is, as it has always been, a medium created for the students, by the students. Through all of the controversy, all of the trials and tribulations, the Cardinal has never ceased to serve its community to the best of its ability, nor has it ever submitted to the control of the university it has helped to deﬁne. It is this balance of responsibility and independence that has become The Daily Cardinal’s legacy.

alumni

dailycardinal.com

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Tucker takes UW experience to pros By Scott Kellogg The Daily Cardinal

When looking for great Wisconsin basketball teams, one doesn’t have to look far into the past to be satisfied. Of the Badgers’ 15 NCAA Tournament appearances, 13 have come within the last 16 years. As well as three Big Ten Championships since 2002 after not winning one for 55 years. When looking back on the players who shaped this era of success, one can’t help but think of Alando Tucker. Being a First Team All-American, runner-up to the AP National Player of the Year Award, an enormous factor in Wisconsin achieving its first ever No. 1 ranking and the Badgers’ all-time leader in points scored marks his monumental impact on UW basketball. After earning all-state honors at Lockport Township High School in Lockport, Ill., Tucker selected Wisconsin to continue his career, knowing he had a chance to do extraordinary for the program. The Badgers were clearly a program on the rise after their Final Four appearance in 2001, but the abrupt departure of head coach Dick Bennett meant Wisconsin was on the lookout for stability undernew head coach Bo Ryan. After Ryan won a four-way share of the Big Ten title in 2002, he was hoping to build on Bennett’s success, and one way he did that was by bringing in Tucker. “Being one of Bo Ryan’s first recruits, I figured that class was special,” Tucker said. “We could actually, under coach Ryan, turn this school around and make it a basketball school.” Tucker wasted no time establishing his presence for Wisconsin. As a freshman, he positioned himself in the starting lineup, scoring 12 points and grabbing 5.9 rebounds per game on a team that won the Big Ten crown and went deep into the postseason. Tucker was an integral piece his freshman year, but the standout for Wisconsin that season was Devin Harris, who would forego his remaining Wisconsin eligibility the year after next season for the NBA. But after taking a medical redshirt, then putting up consecutive seasons of double-digit points per game, the 2006’07 Wisconsin team was clearly Tucker’s. “My senior year, that stands out the most,” Tucker said. “Our senior year was so special.” Tucker and Wisconsin produced arguably the best regular season of any Wisconsin team since the 1940’s. The Badgers peppered their schedule with marquee victories, defeating in-state rival Marquette on the road, No. 2 Pittsburgh and No. 5 Ohio State, all of which helped the Badgers achieve their first No. 1 ranking in school history. Unfortunately, the postseason was not as memorable as their regular season. Wisconsin fell to Gred Oden and Ohio State in the Big Ten Tournament final, then bowed out of the NCAA Tournament early with an upset loss to UNLV. Individually, Tucker posted a season for the ages. Averaging 19.9 points per game on 47 percent shooting from the field, Tucker’s senior campaign earned him a spot as a First Team All-American, and the runner-up to

Texas forward Kevin Durant for player of the year. Tucker’s next stop was the NBA. Scouts saw Tucker as an unproven jump-shooter and undersized forward standing at 6’6”. Nonetheless, the unbelievable production Tucker generated at Wisconsin ensured a spot for him at the next level. Tucker began workouts, but suffered an injury that would bar him from future workouts, only adding to the enormous pressure of preparing for the NBA draft. “I was nervous because I didn’t really get a chance to display a lot of my talent,” Tucker said. But leading up to the draft, Tucker got a vote of confidence when the Phoenix Suns promised to select him with the 29th overall pick in the NBA draft if he was available, which they did not think would be the case. But the 29th pick of the draft rolled around and Tucker was still on the board, leading the Suns to call his name in New York. “When you hear that news, it’s unbelievable,” Tucker said. “It was truly a dream come true.” Tucker didn’t have much time to revel in celebration though, as he had now gone from one of college basketball’s premier players to an unproven rookie in the NBA. Tucker wanted to go out and prove he could play the guard position, but he also had to learn to deal with the off-court challenges of the NBA. “It’s such a demanding schedule, constantly being on the road, changing time zones,” Tucker said. “Balancing 30 games with school was tough, which it is, I take a lot away from that. But when you get to the NBA, it’s a total business … you have so many different meetings, so many different team meetings, individual meetings … the schedule is so demanding that it becomes rough at times.” In the early going, things were not easy for Tucker. After appearing in only two games, the Suns shipped Tucker down to the NBA Developmental League to play for the Albuquerque Thunderbirds. Tucker never sulked though, playing at a very high level in the D-League while turning in 25-, 32- and 40-point games in his 23-day stint. Tucker returned to the Suns briefly only to be sent down again, where he continued to excel for Albuquerque posting 39- and 33-point games. Tucker would serve one more spell with the Thunderbirds, and another with the Iowa Energy. It was a difficult stretch for Tucker, who had trouble getting on the court with teams that included Steve Nash, Amare Stoudemire, Shaquille O’Neal and Shawn Marion. While it was exciting for Tucker to be surrounded by that kind of star power, it was also frustrating to be stuck behind those players. “I came from a team that I considered was a gift and a curse,” Tucker said. Yet Tucker made the most of his stints in the D-League, despite having every reason to lose confidence. “[I wanted] to prove that I belong in this league,” Tucker said. “I went

Brad fedie/cardinal file photo

down there and actually did really good, shot the ball really well and opened a lot of eyes.” Tucker said he felt he mixed in well with his teammates, pointing to pulling pranks with former teammate Shaquille O’Neal and talking about the game with veteran Grant Hill as bonding experiences and ways to learn about life in the NBA. “I was never too timid to go and ask;

they know a guy like me wants to learn and wants to get better,” Tucker said. Beginning his third season as a player in the NBA, Tucker has not received all the opportunities he hoped for when entering the league, as he currently stands as an end-of-the-bench player. But this has not deterred what he hopes to accomplish in the NBA. “I definitely feel like I’m going to be a dominant player,” Tucker said.

“I’m on a team that’s stacked with a lot of different guys, but once I get my chance I will be able to do some of the things I did in college. I have to make my own name; nobody gave me my name.” Badger fans everywhere will always hope Tucker pulls through as an NBA superstar, but whether or not he achieves that, Wisconsin fans will always remember Tucker as a Badger legend.

alumni

Thursday, November 5, 2009

dailycardinal.com

Daily Cardinal alumni offer reﬂections Over the past 117 years, The Daily Cardinal chronicled campus events and survived multiple eras. Here are a few of our stories...

MICKEY PFLEGER/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

Revelers spray water at the first Mifflin Street Block Party in May 1969. Pfleger went on to work for Time, Sports Illustrated and National Geographic as a photographer.

I didn’t have the greatest run at The Daily Cardinal. Between 1990 and ‘92, I ran for an editorship three times and maintained a perfect record: three bruising defeats. Something about the paper’s staff made me feel like an acnescarred eighth-grader at senior prom, and after a final attempt to become a Cardinal arts editor, I gave up. Literally the day after I left the paper—right around Halloween, 1992—I ran into Dan Vebber, who’d been the Cardinal’s graphics editor and was now assistant editor at a four-yearold black-and-white campus weekly called The Onion. Dan, having heard I’d left the Cardinal, graciously invited me to come on over to the Onion

offices and submit some record reviews. Eight months later, I was the first editor of what would become The A.V. Club, and I got to spend the next 12 years marinating in the genius of The Onion’s lovable staff of brilliant oddballs. Today, I edit the NPR Music website in Washington, D.C., a job that periodically entails yakking on the radio to an audience of millions and booking my favorite bands to perform concerts a few feet from my desk. That mostly charmed career can be traced back, in utterly linear fashion, to those two crucial years at The Daily Cardinal. As frustrating as my time there could be, just sharing the oxygen with that much talent -- a future

I look back with awe at my own heady days as editor of the Cardinal in 1949-1950, my junior year, continuing as a columnist under my successor, Jack Zeldes. It bothered me not a bit to debate with a senior GOP regent in defending Harry Truman’s ﬁring of General MacArthur, or to mock Joe McCarthy, or to question whether a UW football coach should be paid more than Merle Curti, then our most eminent professor of history (the latter heresy caused the biggest rumpus). We tried to be useful disturbers of the peace, and I am hopeful that the tradition persists. -Karl Meyer Cardinal staff 1949-1950

Producing the Cardinal during World War II was a feat of determination against all odds, considering the lack of advertising and the departure of most of the men on staff. Logistically, putting out the paper was far different from the computerized copies appearing today. Our ofﬁce was in a store front on University Avenue, with the print shop in the back with linotype machines and handset metal for headlines. We wrote our stories on ofﬁce typewriters, and after they were edited by the copy desk they went in back to be set in type. I was editor from February 1944 to April 1945. Editorials were often on the Student Board meetings and other campus issues, but also we tried to provoke student interest in what the world of the future would be like. We complained about the lack of community interest among students, led campus opposition when the University Club ousted a black graduate student, initiated an effort to memorialize the war and students who lost their lives by a campaign saying “We Cannot Fail the Future,” showing photos of antiquated, obsolete and inadequate buildings on campus and

I came to college wide-eyed and naïve as to what I was getting myself into. Madison seemed like such a large place, and I wondered if I made the right decision. Two of the main reasons I chose to enroll were for the journalism program/student newspapers and the Badger athletic program. Things cleared up for me one morning, however. I was on my way from the Bradley dorm along the lakeshore to my Tuesday, 8:50 a.m. German 203 class in Van Hise when I stopped at Frank’s for a cup of coffee. I went to the register to pay when I looked over at the TV hanging in the dining room. There was a live shot of the World Trade Center with smoke rising from the upper portions of the tower.

Rolling Stone editor, a future Pulitzer Prize winner, a future “Daily Show” executive producer, a future NBA executive, and on and on—taught me more than every class combined, and then some. It’s fun to look back on those days and contemplate the idea that if I hadn’t flamed out so spectacularly as an aspiring editor, I wouldn’t have experienced the successes that followed. So long live the Cardinal! May it be as good to future generations as it’s been to me. -Stephen Thompson Editor, NPR Music Daily Cardinal 1990-1992

Ten years as an undergraduate, graduate and law student provide too many memories. As a high school student in 1962 I was looking for a university with an outstanding academic reputation, a challenging faculty and a student body with a tradition of involvement as the civil rights movement marched forward. A decent football program was a plus. My first choice was the right choice. The University of Wisconsin provided an outstanding education, particularly in my major, history, and related areas such as political science and sociology. My professors, a list too long, provided guidance throughout my academic and adult life including friendships that continue today. The political activism of the era with its root in the La Follette years continues today. Football was another matter. The first year, 1962-’63, a Rose Bowl year, was followed with a decade of frustration and embarrassment. A minor turnaround in the 1970’s introduced additional failures. Long after I graduated, the Badgers met with success on the field. -Paul Soglin Soglin Consulting LLC Mayor of Madison 1973-1979, 1989-1997

urging the state Legislature to allocate funds for new modern buildings. My colleagues on the Cardinal were a talented and ambitious group. My experience there helped develop self-conﬁdence as well as skills that carried me throughout my life. I became a reporter on the New Bedford, Mass., Standard-Times, was an assistant on the New York Times Youth Forums, lived in Paris for 15 months writing radio scripts for the Marshall Plan and freelance articles for UINESCO. Back in New York, I became editor of a weekly welfare and health newspaper, then a freelance writer. When my family moved to the Washington area, I joined a group of women who formed our own editorial business writing newsletters, brochures, research and conference reports. In my retirement, I am a senior editor of Moment Magazine and a researcher with the Steinway Diary Project of the National Museum of American History. I also serve as a member of the board of the Daily Cardinal Alumni Association. -Eileen Martinson Lavine, ‘45

MICKEY PFLEGER/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

A protestor showing the “peace” symbol during an antiwar march on State Street in 1969.

The TA explained to the best of her knowledge what happened as soon as class started. The rest of the time there and the subsequent walk home was a blur. I sat in my dorm room watching the events of September 11 unfold on the TV and called every friend and family member of mine to check if they were OK. People I barely knew in the building were checking in to make sure we were all holding up alright. It was on that day when I felt the campus came together and looked out for each other. We all know what has happened since September 11 on a national and global scale. But for me, as a still wet-behind-the-ears freshman, that day is when I realized Madison was the right place for me—and that I was going into sports instead of news. Badger athletics had to have been more fun to cover than local or state government events. -Josh Salm Daily Cardinal writer/sports editor 2002-04

Ten years ago was (as ever) a fascinating time to be at the Cardinal, reporting as the student body struggled (as ever) to deﬁne its relationship to the university. Student Scott Southworth had sued UW-Madison, saying that no part of students’ tuition should be used to fund speech with which they disagreed, and when the case went to the U.S. Supreme Court, so did the Cardinal. Students protested the university’s ties to sweatshops with a Bascom Hall sit-in, and when the police arrived after midnight on the fourth day to start making arrests, only the Cardinal was there to document it. These events attracted attention from prominent regional and national media outlets, which seemed to relish the opportunity to cover campus politics and show that activism was alive and well at UW-Madison. While we celebrated the Cardinal’s liberal legacy, we were more reverent of its precedent of tireless sifting and winnowing. Some readers were perplexed by this equanimity, particularly when we published an editorialboard opinion that criticized the sweatshop protesters for augmenting their demands and continuing the sit-in after the university agreed to their original conditions: “What began as an unquestionably idealistic sweatshop sit-in, devolved into an arguably hedonistic high-school lock-in,” we wrote. We heard from readers past and present that the Cardinal was, at best, out of touch with its history and, at worst, complicit in perpetuating institutional injustice. (If you still can’t get the Cardinal at the Rainbow Co-Op, that’s why.) When we remember the Cardinal as building our character, being challenged about these positions is among the most poignant episodes. We lost some potential recruits to our cross-campus rival that offered pennies per word, but the problem of that model is that operations of our scale can never afford to pay staffers what they’re worth—to pay them is to underpay them. Knowing that their only compensation was the satisfaction of a job well done, our volunteers made sure they were well-compensated. It was as fun as work could ever be (and this was before the Cardinal started doing beer reviews). -Colleen Jungbluth Ross (ME ‘99) & Sean Weitner (EIC ‘99-’00)

arts

dailycardinal.com/arts

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Mohammed depiction stirs controversy in new ﬁlm KEVIN SLANE dr. slanelove

ree speech in film has been an issue for a long time. Ever since the first major full-length film, D.W. Griffith’s racially-charged “Birth of a Nation,” films have been protested, boycotted and decried for their controversial content. Like any other medium used for expression, there will always be lines drawn and people willing to cross them.

This newly proposed ﬁlm should be allowed to be made as long as it is tastefully done.

This appears to be the case of a film company in Qatar, who is in the process of making an English-language film based on the Muslim prophet Mohammad. On the surface, this doesn’t seem that complicated. Numerous religions of the world have had films portraying their religious figures. Even comedies like “Bruce Almighty” have made light of the holy, giving the power of omnipotence to a guy like Jim Carrey (before eventually giving it back to America’s closest approximation to God, Morgan Freeman). However, the religion of Islam expressly forbids any portrayal of the image of Mohammad. And when someone attempts to portray it, the results have been tumultuous to say the least. Many of you may remember the controversy a few years back when a newspaper in Denmark ran a cartoon depicting Mohammad, and the worldwide protests that followed. There were calls to kill anyone responsible for the cartoon, and the hoopla lasted for well over a year, even being parodied in “South Park,” the benchmark for pop cultural relevance. Believe it or not, despite the fact that people like Salman Rushdie have been forced into exile in the past for writing negative things about Islam, people have already made films about Mohammad. Back in 1976, “The Message” tried to delicately deal with the story of the prophet. Starring Anthony Quinn (“Lawrence of Arabia”), the film presented Islam in a good

light and never explicitly showed Mohammad, either representing him with gentle organ music or point-of-view shots meant to be from his perspective. Critics praised the portrayal as a happy medium, but the film was violently protested anyway, resulting in the death of two people. Extremists threatened to bomb a Muslim religious center in Washington, D.C. if they did not get the American premiere of the film cancelled. Foolishly enough, most of the protests actually originated from the misconception that Quinn himself was playing Mohammad, showing how religious zeal and misinformation can be a deadly combo. The new film hopes to avoid all of the problems “The Message” faced. The company has signed cleric Sheikh Yousef al-Qaradawi as a consultant for the film, hoping his popularity with Islamic moderates and anti-Qaida groups alike will quell criticism. Al-Qaradawi has said his reasons for signing on include “the crusader-styled distortion of Islam [that] continues to influence [the] world population today,” which certainly rings true in a post-9/11 world. However, there could still easily be protests no matter what happens.

The new ﬁlm is hoping to avoid all of the problems “The Message” faced.

The point is, free speech faces assaults daily from myriad sources. This newly proposed film should be allowed to be made as long as it is tastefully done, and can accurately portray what can be a very beautiful religion. Islam has been defined by outdated stereotypes and gross characterizations for too long, and if a legitimate film project is attempting to dispel those notions, the last thing it needs is violent protests to perpetuate those stereotypes. Any religion or culture has its share of extreme members, people that embarrass and shock with their actions, in the name of whatever deity they may believe in. The best thing for Islam would be to allow this new film to be made and hope for the best. If they decide to cast Morgan Freeman though, all bets are off. Kevin had a really hard time deciding where he fell in this debate, and welcomes any criticism or suggestions on the issue at kevslane@gmail.com.

PHOTO COURTESY UNIVERSAL PICTURES

Even Morgan Freeman’s godliness in “Bruce Almighty” cannot predict how a new ﬁlm depicting Mohammed will be received.

ISABEL ÁLVAREZ/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Located on the Capitol Square, Genna’s Lounge is the place to be on Thursday nights. The club features live music, comedy acts and local authors, offering a nice backdrop to your gin and tonic.

Rocking out at Genna’s By Brett Wisniewski THE DAILY CARDINAL

“If it’s too loud, you’re too old.” Nonsense. Sometimes it is too damn loud. The classic rock ’n’ roll bumper sticker slogan has its place, but sometimes the tunes are better without the shattering snare hits to your eardrum. Every Thursday night, Genna’s Lounge, 105 W. Main St., hosts decibel-safe music and comedy from local artists. The upstairs room’s snuggly, retro-slack vibe is cradled in the arms of Jay Moran & Biff Blumfumgagne’s folk power duo, who pluck, strum and pop the strings of assorted instruments every other Thursday from 8-10 p.m. Genna’s second ﬂoor is a cozy gem on the Capitol Square, rigged with an ideal layout for small bands and comics. “Genna’s has a great stage for our duo,” singer/guitarist Jay Moran said. “Biff can play anything. He really gears our sound to the venue.” The Madison music veterans play feel-good folk music that cuddles in your ears and stays out of your face. No smoking hot guitars at Spinal Tap volumes in here. “No one likes to get blown out

the door,” Moran said. “I don’t want to be that way too loud person.” Laughter complements the melody every other Thursday, as comedy team Full Nelson Reilly ram-jams funny bones with their improv-sketch comedy, modeled after old-time radio. “It’s like the old Abbot and Costello shows,” FNR co-writer Sean McKenna said. “The three of us have all worked in radio and we love the format.” The comedy trio’s live variety show also features local musical guests, authors and comedians. McKenna praises Genna’s as an ideal venue for FNR’s biweekly show. “It’s an intimate setting. It’s not a dive bar and there’s no shit from the ceiling falling on us,” said McKenna, who has admittedly gigged in many hellhole venues throughout his career. Full Nelson Reilly keeps the audience in its comfort zone. Through a blend of improvisation, sketch comedy and musical guests, FNR avoids a pure standup comedy show, which requires mandatory attentiveness from the audience. “People appreciate live performances that aren’t forced upon them,” McKenna said. “We want a loose audience. They are having a beer, and

we happen to be putting on a show. We hope they pay attention for at least one or two sketches.”

Genna’s music and comedy Thursdays are picking up steam as Moran’s duo and Full NelsonReilly ease residents into the weekend.

The spot has also become a weekly hangout for staples in the Madison music scene, including members of the Gomers and tech-rock breakouts Garbage. The room is jam-packed with creativity and remains a hot-spot on Thursday nights. Genna’s music and comedy Thursdays are picking up steam as Moran’s duo and Full Nelson Reilly ease residents into the weekend. “There’s only, like, four things to do in Madison on a Thursday, so you might as well come to Genna’s,” McKenna said. For more information, visit www.gennaslounge.com.

comics 10

Bud-wash-er. For beer commercials, they add liquid detergent to the beer to make it foam more. dailycardinal.com/comics

Thursday, November 5, 2009

As Pie

Today’s Sudoku

Evil Bird

By Caitlin Kirihara kirihara@wisc.edu

Angel Hair Pasta

By Todd Stevens ststevens@wisc.edu

Sid and Phil

By Alex Lewein alex@sidandphil.com

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

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

Today’s Crossword Puzzle

The Graph Giraffe

By Yosef Lerner ilerner@wisc.edu

Charlie and Boomer Classic

By Natasha Soglin soglin@wisc.edu

Washington and the Bear

By Derek Sandberg kalarooka@gmail.com

Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com Bug Trailer ACROSS 1 “You don’t know the ___ of it!” 5 Tuscan city noted for its marble quarries 10 Australia’s gemstone 14 Sporting wings 15 Rinse, as with a solvent 16 Expressed, as a farewell 17 Board at the track 18 Picnic fruit 20 Reprimand mildly 22 Add more lubricant 23 Place to get a grip 26 “___ Marner” 30 Borderline 31 Distribute into categories 32 Cotton or hay quantity 35 To and ___ 37 Deception 38 “Turn to Stone” gp. 39 Tired camper’s convenience 41 Mule of song 42 “Cut that out!” 44 “2 Fast 2 Furious” actress Mendes 45 “___ quam videri” (N.C. motto) 46 This evening, on a marquee 47 Thompson of “Howards End”

49 Japanese immigrant to the U.S. 50 Pass into or through 55 “Abandon hope, all ye who ___ here” 57 Buenos ___ (Argentina) 58 Long-haired equestrian 63 “Good” or “great” ending 64 Adolescent’s outbreak 65 Harsh-voiced bird 66 Black tie affair 67 Beyond recharging 68 Send into ecstasy 69 Do in, as the Jabberwock 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 1 1 12 13 9 1 21 24

DOWN Contrive, as a scheme “Howdy,” in Maui Status quo language? Mercury in music Feline sound Pie-mode link “Kama ___” (Indian love manual) Cattle drive participant Dynamic lead-in? The Washington Monument, e.g. Bosom buddy “Without further ___ ...” Harry Palmer creator Deighton Altar stand book Santa’s helper Lacking in power

5 Polar explorer Richard 2 27 Loamy soil deposit 28 Elaborate hanging tapestry 29 Strunk and White subject 31 Engulfed in fire 32 “This food is the ___ have ever tasted!” 33 Chorus section members 34 Canada coin birds 36 A miner matter? 39 Sharply painful, as frigid weather 40 Cooking place 43 Blotto 45 Ropes used to fasten sails 48 NYC subway manager 50 “Put the ___ to the metal!” 51 “All My Children” vixen 52 “He’s ___ nowhere man ...” (Beatles lyric) 53 Electrical pioneer Nikola 54 English-class assignment 56 Large and scholarly book 58 Male youngster 59 Playing card 60 Hereditary letters 61 Large wine container 62 Render speechless

opinion dailycardinal.com/opinion

Thursday, November 5, 2009

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Rail Transit Authority a worthy endeavor for county It is often said that the world becomes smaller every day. Technology continues to connect us more intimately from vast distances in both a physical and figurative way. Information sharing has never been easier, with the internet constantly at our fingertips. Getting from place to place has never been so efficient, either. Asia has been the leader in innovation, with Japan and China pioneering highspeed rail systems that presently reach speeds of almost 200 miles per hour. Efficient transportation is becoming a major issue in the world. Places with efficient transit systems in place are more appealing for development, while those that are lacking become victims of their archaic systems. At a joint public hearing last Monday by the Dane County Public Works and Transportation Committee and the Personnel and Finance Committee, approximately 40 speakers turned out. Among them were local politicians, business owners and organization leaders. The grand majority were in support of the RTA, which was reflected when both groups voted to recommend the Dane County Board to create the RTA. This Thursday, the process

will continue. The Dane County Board of Supervisors takes on the Regional Transit Authority at a public hearing on November 5th. They are likely to decide the fate of a proposed RTA governing board, a group of elected officials with power to decide on matters related to the RTA funding. Establishing an RTA governing board is a crucial step to improving public transit in Dane County. The RTA board would be a powerful political force with the power to institute the proposed half-cent sales tax. The RTA board is necessary to hone and develop a more concrete plan for how Dane County intends to use RTA funds. The ambiguity of the intentions of the RTA have been a major source of the gripes anti-RTA citizens have voiced. Dane County is the fastest growing county in Wisconsin. As the county grows in population, the need for a better public transit system becomes more dire. Madison’s anticipated job growth is huge compared to other U.S. cities. It’s time to begin thinking toward the future of the county, and commuters as well as Madisonians can benefit from improved transit in Dane County. An urban population requires efficient and reliable transit options,

and the RTA is the first step toward meeting the demands of Dane County’s growing population. Other indirect benefits of the RTA include a reduction of fossil fuel use, lower emissions, and reduced road congestion. The significant environmental impact of individual automobiles should be enough for the Dane County Board to push through and vote in favor of the RTA, but it is also a wise choice in a community sense, as a better-linked public transit system will boost Madison’s economy and promote growth in the area. This is absolutely necessary in order for Madison to remain competitive as a place of urban development potential. The Dane County Board RTA hearing is this Thursday, November 5 at 7 p.m. A group of UW students are meeting by the elevators in the SAC at 6 p.m. in their Badger red to support the RTA and encourage the County Board to make the right choice in supporting the RTA. Students need to let their voices be heard and to let Dane County know that they care about the future of transportation. Melissa Balch, WISPIRG Public Transit Intern

Barrett needs to join race JAMIE STARK opinion columnist

t. Gov. Barbara Lawton’s sudden withdrawal from the 2010 governor’s race was shocking, but it may leave the Democrats better off than the wellorganized Republicans. It’s unfortunate Gov. Jim Doyle didn’t announce his intentions not to run in 2010 sooner, but the disadvantage of a later start for the Democrats may be offset by an easier primary if the Democrats’ best and last leading contender announces. Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett could handily win the gubernatorial election in 2010 if he takes that crucial campaign step of running. The Republicans have two major contenders, the likely victor being Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, but former Congressman Mark Neumann is running an efﬁcient campaign. Neumann is traveling extensively and raising money and support that could be adding to Walker’s campaign right now. If the Democrats have only one primary candidate, they will receive the support of nearly all Democratic volunteers and donors in the state, along with established party support, which translate to even more money, advertising and volunteers. Barrett has already taken too long to announce. It is easy to speculate that political pressure and backroom deals were involved for him to enter as Lawton dropped out, but assuming that’s not the case, it is completely unclear why Barrett is taking so long to formally decide. He is no longer at risk of offending friends, such as Rep. Ron Kind, who announced he would not run for governor weeks ago. Barrett is still known for his hero-

ic response after being attacked by a violent father at the Wisconsin State Fair. Perhaps it is more tasteful for Barrett to wait for the visible bruises and gashes to heal up before thrusting himself into the state limelight, but he wouldn’t be the first politician getting airtime off a heroic story. Besides, Wisconsin loves a badass. There’s reason to believe Tommy Thompson’s motorcycle riding helped his image as he pounded through four terms as a relatively popular governor. With an urban-centric president in office, it can’t hurt Wisconsin to have a likeminded governor from a city background. Just as beneficial, Obama and Barrett have a friendly relationship, forged with Barrett’s support during the early stages of Obama’s fledgling campaign. Barrett was even invited and acknowledged at President Obama’s Wednesday visit to Madison. Wisconsin is a relatively small state and such friendships are always a good thing to have. Allowing Wisconsin a louder voice nationwide can only help our state in the long run. Granted, Barrett’s statewide appeal could be damaged by his completely urban background. The nonMilwaukee majority of the state holds several grudges against Milwaukee, though not as much hatred as held against Madison, with its latte-sipping, scarf-wearing elitists. Milwaukee, for all its troubles, receives an enormous amount of state and federal funding and attention. Smaller towns can’t help but feel disadvantaged in the rat race for government money. Milwaukee’s negative, crime-ridden image could also hurt a Barrett campaign if he can’t convince the state of his accomplishments. Barrett is working tirelessly to help his city, but he has one of the toughest mayoral jobs in the country. Milwaukee’s murder and robbery rates are more than twice as high as the national average.

But Barrett has still been able to improve Milwaukee. The downtown area has seen significant development in recent years, though gentrification may have helped that as much as Mayor Barrett. Barrett is also poised to assume mayoral control of the ailing Milwaukee Public Schools, as New York and Chicago’s notoriously powerful mayors Bloomberg and Daley have done. The move, made possible by Doyle, would be of serious political significance for Barrett. His image would be heavily tied to MPS. To balance out his background and increase his statewide popularity, Barrett will have to run with a rural Lieutenant Governor candidate. State Sen. Jon Erpenbach may be a Madison liberal in his politics, but his persona could help balance out Barrett’s city background. State Assembly Speaker Mike Sheridan of Janesville has the perfect accent and Democratic popularity to help Barrett win the gubernatorial mansion. A lower profile but more rural candidate would be even more effective in the number two spot, convincing Wisconsin voters that a Barrett administration would work for all parts of the state. Even a Madisonian like Doyle can win statewide election after election, first as attorney general then as governor. A candidate like Barrett, who has more spark than Doyle, could certainly do the same. But first, if he finally decides to run, Barrett has to show his fire and enthusiasm. Barrett could bring a fresh face to state government and the practical realism he has earned since running Milwaukee. He just needs to grab the mantle and show people a Democrat really does want to be governor. Jamie Stark is a sophomore intending to major in journalism and political science. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

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

leave lawton alone

fter Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton’s surprise Oct. 26 announcement that she was withdrawing from the 2010 governor’s race, the obvious reaction was, “Why?” Lawton was the ﬁrst and only Democratic candidate announced against several Republican candidates. She has nearly eight years of experience as Wisconsin’s ﬁrst female lieutenant governor. It had seemed like Lawton had been gearing up for this moment for years now.

In this case, there is no reason to know more than the fact that Lawton is out.

Whereas it seems to be in vogue today to play the “will they or won’t they” game with voters as if they are in some flirtatious Dunder-Mifflin romance, the only question with Lawton seemed to be whether Gov. Jim Doyle would step aside and let her throw her hat into the ring. It thus came as no surprise when she announced she would be running for governor the day Doyle realized he was too unpopular to get another term––er, we mean decided that he would step aside and let in some new blood. So it understandably came as a shock when Lawton released an announcement, including the statement, “For very personal reasons, I will not pursue the Democratic nomination for governor in 2010.” When most politicians step down for “personal reasons” or to “spend more time with the family,” many take that to mean the person was fired or pressured to step down,

and many hold the theory that the Obama administration and Doyle did so with Lawton. However, it is completely unclear as to why Lawton decided to stop running. There can be considerable speculation as to why Lawton dropped out, but is there any value to such extrapolation? In this case, there is no reason to know more than the fact that Lawton is out. Supporters may be disappointed, but that does not require intensive probing of Lawton and her personal life. Although this decision affects the political world and the state of Wisconsin, we must give Lawton the benefit of the doubt and not probe into her personal reasons for dropping out. Particularly unnecessary are the abhorrent comments of Green Bay radio personality Jerry Bader, who made completely baseless claims that Lawton’s departure was due to marital issues. It is significant to the gubernatorial race that the Democrats do not have a single candidate for the primary, but Lawton’s announcement hardly affects the Democrats’ chances in 2010. The primary is not until Sept. 14, 2010, and there is still plenty of time for prospective candidates, most notably Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, to announce. It seems unlikely that Lawton will disappear from state politics completely. In her online statement, she said, “I look forward to providing active leadership to shape smart decisions for Wisconsin in the 14 months that remain in my term in office.” Lawton has been heavily involved in Democratic politics and women’s issues for years, and she is not likely to stop. But as of now, her personal motivations for her most recent decision are of little importance to anybody but her and her family. Let’s keep it that way.

sports 12

dailycardinal.com/sports

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Men’s Basketball

Wisconsin cruises to preseason victory By Nick Schmitt THE DAILY CARDINAL

The Wisconsin men’s basketball team tipped off its 2009-’10 campaign Wednesday night with a slam dunk, running over Bemidji State on its way to a 90-54 win. On the Badgers’ first possession, senior guard Jason Bohannon hit junior forward Jon Leuer with a pass to the post, and Leuer welcomed the Beavers to the Kohl Center with a slam. “We worked really hard throughout spring and in the summer playing our pickup games to get in the lane and finish strong towards the hoop,” Bohannon said. “I drove the lane line and kind of got stuck there. Jon [Leuer] made a good cut towards the basket and got open. And rather than just lay it in or try to draw the foul, he went up and dunked it strong. That’s a big play right there to show how much more physical he’s gotten.” The assist from Bohannon was the beginning to a quick start for him and the Badgers. On the next possession, he drained his first three of the season after hitting 64 last season. Bohannon played a team-high 25 minutes and finished the night with 14 points, six assists and four rebounds. Bemidji State, a Division II team

from the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference, hit a few shots early, but was overmatched by the size of Wisconsin. The Badgers scored 26 first-half points in the paint and held Bemidji State to only eight. At halftime. the game was already out of reach as Wisconsin built up a 46-22 lead. Head coach Bo Ryan had an opportunity to debut many of his young players thanks to the big lead. Redshirt freshman Ryan Evans was impressive in his first action as a Badger, and coach Ryan noticed. “It’s so nice to look at a guy like Ryan [Evans], who never asked how many minutes he’s going to get, never said ‘Are you going to start me,’” Ryan said. “All Ryan Evans ever said was, ‘Man, I’d love a chance to play at Wisconsin, I think I can do it.’ So he’s trying to prove that.” Evans, who calls himself a late bloomer, scored 12 points in 12 minutes of play, including two dunks that shot excitement into the crowd. He stood out on the defensive side of the ball as well, racking up five blocks. Badger fans also got their first look at redshirt freshman Jared Berggren and true freshman Mike Bruesewitz. Berggren let his presence be felt in the paint, scoring seven

points, most of them following his five offensive rebounds. Bruesewitz, who won Minnesota’s Gatorade and AP Player of the Year last year, plays with a similar style player as former Badger Joe Krabbenhoft. He finished with four points and two rebounds in limited action. Overall, Bo Ryan had the right to be pleased with the production of his young players. “They didn’t go out there and try to beat the world,” he said. “They went out there to try to be a good help defensive player, to play the ball hard, to offensively move the ball, make good hard cuts, and that’s all we’ve ever asked of our guys.” Wisconsin put its game on cruise control in the second half until the final buzzer sounded. All 15 of the Badgers got some game action, and the game proved to be a good first showing for this year’s team, but experienced players like Bohannon were aware of the mistakes. “We did some good things out there tonight, but there’s a lot of things we can improve on,” Bohannon said. “I think there were some instances where we went on a little turnover spree or something like that, and we can definitely fix that, especially going into Big Ten play.”

Unranked Wisconsin right where it belongs at beginning of the season BEN BREINER boom goes the breinamite

s it turns out, the fanfare of griping about polls is not limited to the world of college football, especially in Madison. When the AP basketball poll was released, Midwesterners took notice of the six Big Ten teams ranked, and many hailing from Wisconsin took offense at not seeing the Badgers even among the ranks of others receiving votes. They read this as a prediction that the Badgers would be the seventh best team in the conference, and scoffed at the idea that a Bo Ryan squad could finish that low.

This team was one of the last four in the tournament ﬁeld one year ago and lost two of its senior anchors.

But the poll does in some sense reflect reality, and Badger fans need to wake up to it. First off, preseason polls are not a road map for who is winning the title. Just because Texas, Kansas and Michigan State are the top three teams does not mean that they are being penciled in for spots in the Final Four. Instead, it is just a snapshot evaluation of where the teams are now and, in that sense, the Badgers don’t stack up. This team was one of the last

four in the tournament field one year ago and lost two of its senior anchors. Marcus Landry and Joe Krabbenhoft may have had some holes in their respective games, but they did bring a lot to the table in terms of defense and toughness. Maybe if the Badgers were bringing in a few well-known freshmen, the national media would rate them higher. The only new face to reinforce last year’s 13loss team is Mike Bruesewitz (not to take anything away from young Mr. Bruesewitz, but Greg Oden or Carmelo Anthony, he ain’t). But somehow a team that was far from the top-25 last season, which lost a three- and four-year starter and has no high profile additions, should be even near the top-25? “But it’s all about Bo,” the fans will say. “Look at his track record, his teams have never finished worse than fourth, it won’t happen now.” This is true, but there are many nevers in Ryan’s career were held in too high of esteem. A few years ago, a Bo Ryan team has never lost in the ﬁrst round of the tournament, then in 2006 it happened. Then it was, Bo’s Badgers have never lost to a lower seed during March Madness. In 2007, UNLV made sure that ended. Even entering last March, he was derided as having never beaten a higher seed in the tournament, and that never fell as well. The Badgers did finish last season tied for fourth, but a three-way tie really means they were somewhere between fourth and sixth (only one spot above that imagined projection of seventh place). Now don’t take this as an

argument that the Badgers will actually finish in seventh place. Ryan is a good coach, and Jon Leuer and Keaton Nankivil could develop into a very strong duo at the power forward and center spots. But many teams have those players that could make the jump from good rotation player to a primary pillar of the squad. Just having potential breakout does not merit a high level of preseason hype.

The Badgers did ﬁnish last season tied for fourth, but a three-way tie really means they were somewhere between fourth and sixth.

Maybe this season turns out like 2007-’08, where the Badgers got better after losing a strong senior class that included Alando Tucker and Kammron Taylor. But that season was unexpected and anther one like it would be the same way. So right now, the Badgers have no votes in the AP poll and it probably should be that way. Down the road maybe they’ll earn their way into the rankings. But at this point, less than a season after Wisconsin was very nearly out of the NCAA field, anyone griping about respect doesn’t have much of a leg to stand on. Think Bo if such a good coach that Wisconsin should be considered for the preseason top-25 no matter who is suiting up? Show Ben the error of his ways at breiner@wisc.edu.

LORENZO ZEMELLA/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Junior forward Jon Leuer scored 15 points on 7-8 shooting and grabbed ﬁve rebounds in 17 minutes against Bemidji State.

Around the Big Ten: Week 10 By Scott Kellogg THE DAILY CARDINAL

Wisconsin travels to Indiana to take on the Hoosiers, and Penn State and Ohio State match up for an important conference game this week in the Big Ten. Northwestern at No. 4 Iowa The Hawkeyes were given quite a scare last weekend at home to Indiana, and nearly had their national title hopes derailed before blowing by the Hoosiers in the fourth quarter. For Iowa, this is the game before its last mighty regular season challenge at Ohio State on Nov. 14, meaning there is the possibility of the Hawkeyes looking past Northwestern and making this contest much closer than it ought to be. The Wildcats hung tough with Penn State last weekend before the wheels came off in the fourth quarter during a 21-point loss. At this point in the season, with a 5-4 record, Northwestern is battling for bowl eligibility. No. 21 Wisconsin at Indiana The Badgers bounced back with a boom last weekend, trouncing Purdue 37-0. Now the Badgers have their eyes set on a January 1 bowl game. With their ﬁnal three games coming against teams at the bottom of the conference, anything worse than a 6-2 conference ﬁnish would be a major disappointment for the Badgers. Indiana narrowly missed its chance to put its stamp on the 2009 season when it blew a 14point lead last weekend in Iowa City. One has to give the Hoosiers credit for their effort early on against Iowa, but it will be tough for the players to rebound from that type of game. Western Michigan at MSU It has been nothing short of a rollercoaster season for the Spartans. They began their season dropping three of four games, including a brutal loss at home to Central Michigan. Michigan State won three in a row,

and had a lead on the undefeated Hawkeyes going into the ﬁnal play of the game. But Iowa pulled it out, and the Spartans lost to Minnesota. They are now back in the middle of the conference. Purdue at Michigan Both schools are coming off the heels of atrocious defeats; Purdue getting shut out by Wisconsin after downing Ohio State two weeks earlier, and Michigan getting blown out of the water by Illinois—the conference’s worst squad. A bowl appearance for Purdue is now a long shot, with a 3-6 record. Michigan may not make one either, as it plays two ranked teams after this contest. Illinois at Minnesota The Fighting Illini momentarily stopped the bleeding to their disastrous season beating Michigan last weekend for their ﬁrst conference victory. Minnesota is 3-3 after beating Michigan State last weekend. No. 16 OSU at No. 11 PSU This is easily the Big Ten’s best game, and the one with the greatest postseason ramifications. Both teams still have their eyes on the Big Ten crown. The Buckeyes have the better route to a Big Ten title; if they can defeat the Nittany Lions, then beat Iowa at home next weekend, a Rose Bowl berth may belong to them. If Penn State wins this game and Iowa falls to the Buckeyes next weekend, there will be a three-way deadlock for the title, including with Penn State. Additionally for Penn State, if it wins Saturday and Iowa ends up beating Ohio State, the Nittany Lions will hope the Hawkeyes are selected for the BCS National Championship Game, then Penn State will likely slide into the Rose Bowl. With the game at Beaver Stadium, the Nittany Lions are the slight favorite.