Wednesday, November 11, 2009 - The Daily Cardinal by The Daily Cardinal

Ewan McGregor, George Clooney ‘Stare’ into satire in new film ARTS

PAGE 5

University of Wisconsin-Madison

BADGERS LOOK TO SWAT YELLOWJACKETS Coaches stress defense against UW-Superior’s outside shooting

Complete campus coverage since 1892

SPORTS

PAGE 8

dailycardinal.com

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Inclusive Excellence to focus on integrating entire campus Part 2 of 2 in a series examining the university’s diversity programs By Anna Discher The Daily Cardinal

After evaluating the effectiveness of Plan 2008, UW-Madison’s 10-year plan to increase diversity on campus, officials are focusing on the creation of a more comprehensive plan to improve campus diversity. The main goal of Plan 2008 was to increase the numbers of several target minority groups on campus. Although the plan generated greater numbers of these targeted minorities on campus, many felt the plan could have done more to include the campus community as a whole in diversity discussions. Using the results of Plan 2008 as a stepping stone, UW-Madison officials announced the university’s new “Inclusive Excellence for Diversity” plan this fall. Vicki Washington, associate vice president for equity, diversity and inclusion for the UW System, said under Inclusive Excellence, UW-Madison institutions are looking at all dimensions of diversity and developing strategies in each department on campus where needed. According to Damon Williams, UW-Madison vice provost for diversity and climate, the program’s concept, which was approved by the UW System Board of Regents in March 2009, does not stand alone as a static plan. Williams said it is infused directly into UW-Madison’s strategic goals as a university. “The chancellor is very committed to infusing this conversation throughout the university and not having it be a standalone enterprise, but being an enterprise that’s actively incorporated into all that we do,” Williams said. “But at the end of the day, it is not about increasing numbers, but it’s fundamentally about how we’re going to prepare all of our students for the world that we live in today.” Steven Olikara, Associated Students of Madison’s Diversity

Committee chair, said he is excited about the concept of Inclusive Excellence because, unlike Plan 2008, it does not simply focus on just numbers. “It’s talking about connecting diversity to the institution’s core missions, making sure it’s reflected in student life and how campus units operate,” he said. “I think that’s exactly the direction we need to go in.” According to Washington, for Inclusive Excellence to succeed, it must build on the aspects of Plan 2008 that were successful. “They really need to have a clear sense of what is working well for all of the student populations and where they need to focus their time and energy, and then integrate the strategies into their existing academic planning so that they work to really utilize diversity to the benefit of learning,” she said. “As opposed to having a separate standalone plan that doesn’t work very well.” Olikara said because Plan 2008 successfully increased the numbers of certain minorities on campus, UW-Madison officials must take their efforts to the next level to include the entire campus community. “They talk a lot about recruitment and retention of these specific minorities, but now we need to focus on improving the climate on campus,” he said. Olikara said UW-Madison’s campus has come a long way in reaching greater diversity from 11 years ago when Plan 2008 started, citing that “we now live in a postBarack Obama world.” An example of the sort of actions Inclusive Excellence should include, according to Olikara, is the way the campus has focused attention on hip-hop as a way to foster greater understanding of diversity. He added that UW-Madison needs a diversity program that is up to date with the current diversity climate on campus. “Clearly our generation is more connected and more diverse, and therefore our diversity programs need to reflect that,” he said.

Danny Marchewka/the daily cardinal

Mayor Dave Cieslewicz spoke in support of renovating the Madison Central Library. The Common Council approved two budget amendments Tuesday night to move the project closer to construction.

Common Council moves library project forward By Caitlin Gath The Daily Cardinal

In its first day of deliberations on the 2010 executive capital budget, the city’s Common Council approved two amendments pushing the new Central Library closer to completion. The first amendment guaranteed that the city would not begin any significant portion of the construction of the library until it has received complete assurance that certain federal tax credits have been made available to them. Ald. Michael Schumacher,

District 18, said the fundraising aspects of the project are extremely important. “[The current building is] embarrassing and overdue for a replacement.” Mike Verveer alder District 4

Schumacher removed the original requirement of raising $4 million in private fundrais-

ing for the project, but said he would still like to provide comfort to taxpayers. “This is good comfort language for those worried about the price tag and for it continuing as planned,” he said. These New Market Tax Credits would potentially provide a “real opportunity” that might not exist a year from now, according to Tom Landgraf, a resident and member of the city’s Alcohol License Review Committee. council page 3

Mayor backs Central Library renovations By Beth Pickhard The Daily Cardinal

Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and Public Library Board members called for renovations to the Madison Central Library Tuesday night. The proposition is included in Madison’s capital budget, which is awaiting approval by the Common Council. According to Madison Public Library Board President Tripp Widder, building a new Central

Library would cost $37 million, with $17 million coming from taxpayer-supported borrowing. “This is an expensive undertaking, and through the hard work and advocacy of the mayor, the costs have been narrowed substantially,” he said. Cieslewicz said now is the time to act to “reinvent” the city because the library serves an important community base. “It’s about making meeting

spaces where people will come together to share ideas,” he said. Cieslewicz said Madison is filled with intellectuals who wish to reinvent their public resources. “The Central Library makes a statement about the value of education and learning in our community,” he said. According to Cieslewicz, renovations would benefit library page 3

Veterans recognized by Cell Phones for Soldiers By Maggie DeGroot The Daily Cardinal

AT&T showed support for soldiers across the nation Tuesday at the Wisconsin Veterans Museum along the Capitol Square. AT&T is helping out the Cell Phones for Soldiers charity, an organization that uses its proceeds from recycled cell phones and accessories to buy calling cards for soldiers serving in the military overseas. Jeff Bentoff, a spokesperson from AT&T Wisconsin, said peo-

ple would be able to drop off their cell phones and accessories to be recycled and donated at all 21 AT&T-owned stores in Wisconsin. State Sen. Mark Miller, D-Wis., who served in the Air National Guard for 30 years, was also in attendance. Miller is also the author of a new law regarding the recycling of consumer electronic goods. He said this program would help the soldiers, as well as the environment. Bill Kloster, deputy secretary

of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, said once a pay phone is installed at bases overseas, soldiers fill the machines with coins to call home. Cindy Berge, whose son Andrew is now serving in Afghanistan, noted how much a phone call home means to both the people at home and the soldier. Berge said that while her son is able to communicate through the computer, it is not always as readily available as a cell phone.

Isabel Álvarez/the daily cardinal

Bill Kloster reinforced the importance of the soldiers’ ability to communicate with loved ones back home.

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

page two 2

TODAY: partly sunny hi 57º / lo 35º

dailycardinal.com/page-two

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

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

Jillian takes a big step into the Real World

Volume 119, Issue 46

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

JILLIAN LEVY one in a jillian

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 Ryan Hebel Enterprise Editor Associate News Editor Grace Urban Ariel Shapiro Senior News Reporters Robert Taylor, Kayla Torgerson Anthony Cefali Opinion Editors 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 Kathy Dittrich

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

THURSDAY: partly sunny hi 56º / lo 40º

uesday afternoon marked a momentous occasion in my life: my first encounter with reality television. It was like one of those moments in movies where the clouds part and the sun shines down like a spotlight and the birds sing and beer replaces all the water on earth. Fate. Auditions for MTV’s “The Real World” at Brothers. I’m pretty sure I was born to be on TV. Unfortunately, I have no acting skills and most people don’t like me based on first impressions, so being a celebrity, like a bona fide one, has never been an option for me. It seemed that years before I ever had my chance, my dreams had been dashed. But nothing makes dreams come true like being on reality TV. For myself and millions of—OK, probably more like a few other— desperate souls, the idea of having our 15 minutes of fame is almost too much to handle.

So it’s almost too much for me to imagine what being on “The Real World” would be like. Forget 15 minutes... give me ﬁve months. Who cares if the entire world would see me at my worst? My self-respect and sense of decency were lost years ago. Walking into Brothers felt like walking into a Western shoot-out. I felt on-edge as I grabbed an application and settled into a booth, surveying my competition. The application was exactly what I expected, and still I had trouble answering some of the questions. My most embarrassing moment? Probably something that I haven’t done yet today. Or that time when I got stuck in the Tube doors in London and freaked out while my ﬂatmates looked on in horror. What do I look for in a romantic partner? Money. Tattoos or piercings? Yes and yes. Put me on your show and I’ll let you see. After completing the application, which took me a lot longer than it should have, I had to sit and wait to be

asked to interview. Eight of us were then led up to our face-to-face interviews with the casting director. The questions she asked were similar to the ones on the application forms. What is something you’re passionate about? Finding the best-tasting, leastﬁlling light beer. The girl sitting next to me, in my opinion, gave an answer that made her a shoo-in. “I’m passionate about my faith in our lord Jesus Christ.” She caught me so off guard I proceeded to fall off my stool. The interviewer looked down and asked me, “Have you been drinking?” I had to think for a moment and hesitantly said, “Well, not yet.” I ﬁgured since I was as sober as is possible for me, I would have to get her to understand that this was just the tip of my crazy iceberg. Describe yourself in three words. The other interviewees took turns going around the table. “Smart. Funny. Sexy.” “Strong. Independent. Faithful.” “Blonde. Pretty... that’s all.”

My turn: “Lover. Of. Birds,” as I lifted up my shirt to reveal my newly acquired swan tattoo on my rib cage. The rest of the interview is kind of a blur given the euphoric high I was experiencing from the thought of actually joining the “Real World” cast and then getting invited to do challenges. And then meeting Wes, the sexiest ginger walking the planet. Apparently, though, the casting director did not realize that in order to fulﬁll my life-long dream, she would have to offer me a spot on her show. So she didn’t. As devastated as I was about not being offered a spot right then and there, I was offered some consolation when we were informed that some applicants would receive callbacks in the coming days. But I didn’t. I feel disappointed. I’m trying to come to grips with not being accepted, but it’s just so hard. So instead, I’ve convinced myself that some kind of clerical error has been made. I’ll be getting a call any day now. I have to. It’s my destiny. Do you work for MTV and want to clear up the confusion? Or give Jillian her own show? E-mail her at jlevy2@wisc.edu.

the daily cardinal makes fun of you Kelly Pertzborn

drinking wine and frosting cookies with Leeeena.

Year: 2013 Hometown: Lodi, WI Activities: dancing wherever and whenever possible, tennis, SOCCER, juggling scarves, stopping to smell the roses, reading cosmo, hablaring en espanol, cartwheels, winking, roasting marshmallows, ultimate, SERF-ing, pretending to do homework, recycling, being a life coach Interests: candy corn. roundabouts. psychology. photography. side ponytails. ﬁzz. leg-warmers. gingers. polka-dots. brinner. shoes. pumpkin patches. shoulder dancing. silent velcro, Barack Obama, Shaun White and in general, pretending i can snowboard

Most Embarrassing Item: The wannabe Pocahontas costume is just too easy of a target for puns. You might say we had no “reservations” Giving the peace sign, huh? Hippie sentiments may be allowable in some places, but Madison is not... nevermind. about picking your proﬁle picture to make fun of. We were truly a-“maize”-d that you had any friends with that kind of outﬁt. We’re guessing you’re from the Nava-“ho” people. It doesn’t look like you “tribe” very hard to disguise how embarrassing this picture is. Stupid Fact About Your Hometown: Lodi is famous for being home of Susie the Duck, a famous regular duck inhabitant in the downtown creek. One of Lodi’s biggest yearly events is “Susie the Duck Day,” and thousands of ducks are thrown into the creek and raced downstream. You know this is too ridiculous to make up. Missed Opportunities: With all of our attention focused toward making puns about your Native American costume, we forgot all about how embarrassing it is that you like gingers and, by extension, Shaun White. It’s OK, we’re sure every girl has a crush on a guy who looks like Carrot Top on a snowboard.

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

Saving Grace: In all seriousness, that is a pretty solid Pocahontas costume. We’re sure you can sing with all the voices of the mountain and paint with all the colors of the wind, or whatever Disney would have you believe Pocahontas did with her time.

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

dailycardinal.com/news

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

news

Ariely explains behavioral patterns of humanity, highlights irrationality By Ian Byrne The Daily Cardinal

rebecca li/the daily cardinal

Behavorial economist Dan Ariely said some students balance the moral problems of cheating with a desire to win in his lecture Tuesday night.

In front of a large audience in the Wisconsin Union Theater Tuesday, behavioral economist Dan Ariely gave insight into his new book, “Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions,” and behavioral experiments he performed on people ranging from irrationality to illusions and cheating. Ariely’s first example involved executive compensation. He found bigger bonuses did not entail better work and potential. He said Wall Street executives with the opportunity for bonuses often faltered under the stress and the potential for conflicts of interests. Ariely went on to address the idea of decision illusions. He

Barrett will announce decision on governor’s race by week’s end Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett announced Tuesday he will decide by the end of the week whether he will run in the 2010 gubernatorial race. Barrett’s announcement came during a news conference when he answered a reporter’s question, according to Steve Chernof, chair of Barrett’s finance committee. An exact date or venue for Barrett’s decision has not been determined, Chernof said. Chernof confirmed the announcement will

occur at the end of this week. According to Chernof, Barrett is not taking the decision to run for governor lightly. “It’s a serious decision, it’s a serious undertaking, it’s a serious job and there are all sorts of issues and one not ought to make the decision lightly,” Chernof said. “He’s going through a deliberation process, and he’s about ready to reach a conclusion.” UW-Madison political science professor Charles Franklin said

Barrett’s decision is critical for the state Democratic Party. “I think he was clearly under a lot of pressure to decide both because he needs to get off the fence and start running if he’s going to, but also other Democrats really need to get going with their races if he’s not going to run,” Franklin said. The Wisconsin Democratic Party declined to comment on Barrett’s announcement. —Jessica Feld

Ben Collins to run for lieutenant governor as a Republican Ben Collins, a Green Beret combat officer and businessman, announced his candidacy Tuesday as a Republican lieutenant governor candidate for the 2010 election. Collins launched a campaign website and filed his candidacy with the Wisconsin Government Accountability Board.

In a statement, Collins said he would focus on “creating a better business climate” if elected. “The lieutenant governor should be working hand-in-hand with the governor’s office and the Department of Commerce to develop a blueprint for rebuilding our economy to not only be competitive in the Midwest

but throughout the world,” he said. State Sen. Spencer Coggs, D-Milwaukee, confirmed in September he will run on the Democratic side. Last month, Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton announced her exit from the 2010 governor’s race and said she will not run for reelection as lieutenant governor.

council from page 1

said he did not have any problems with the amendment and that it would not affect the board’s ability to accomplish its goals. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said the project has been many years in the making. “The fact that we have kept [the old building] together with duct tape and string is a testament to the staff. It’s embarrassing and overdue for a replacement,” he said. One of the only alders to

oppose the amendment was Ald. Judy Compton, District 16, who said she felt the council was not fully supporting the other library branches on the east side and felt the cost involved was too large. The council also voted to look into the feasibility of putting a community garden on the roof of the new Central Library. Many members of the Downtown Community Gardens group were present to support their hopes for a green roof.

community, and more after the facility opens,” he said. According to Widder, even as the project gains popularity there is still significant work to be done because over 25 percent of the

cost comes from community and private fundraising. “We will be counting on the community to come through and help us to complete this wonderful facility,” he said.

“To make a New Market Tax Credit allocation work, any sponsor of the project is going to need debt financing,” Landgraf said. “Typically that comes from banks, and as you know, banks are under tighter scrutiny to approve loans. The fact that you can avoid going to the bank for that moves you ahead.” Tripp Widder, president of the Madison Public Library Board,

library from page 1 Madison’s economy. “This project and [the Edgewater Hotel project] will help create over 1,000 jobs in our

demonstrated how some countries in Europe have high rates of organ donation, while others have comparatively low rates. He said the difference was not because of the amount of money or marketing. Rather, Ariely found the difference resulted from some countries asking people to opt out of donating and some asking people to affirmatively opt into donating. He concluded that most people are passive and tend to accept the default choice. Not to be confused with the idea of a decision illusion, Ariely said people maintain complete discretion over cheating, which “is a social virus.” While studying students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Princeton using tests involving participant com-

pensation based upon performance, Ariely discovered people only cheat a little bit, no matter the compensation. Ariely attributed this to the human desire to balance the morality of cheating with the desire to win. However, when it is comfortable to cheat and “you know you’re a cheater,” people enter the “what the hell effect.” Ariely said the participants’ level of cheating surprisingly went down again when reminded of their own morality through going to confession. This “reset the what the hell effect,” he said. Ariely’s lecture was part of the Wisconsin Union Directorate’s Distinguished Lecture Series, which continues Nov. 30 with futurist author Jeremy Rifkin.

featuresfood

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

dailycardinal.com/food

Sweet and savory, just the way you like it Enjoy the best meal of the day at Madison’s best brunch hot spots on campus and beyond The Daily Cardinal

adison offers a bevy of prime brunch locales, from greasy-spoon diners to trendy creperies. Some of us have trouble getting out of bed early in the morning, so brunch can be the perfect mid-day meal to get us through our day. Put down your bowl of Cheerios and take advantage of trying the best omelets or waffles in town. Warning: Your bowl of oatmeal might start to look a little sad after venturing out to one of these tasty spots.

Monty’s Blue Plate Diner If you’re in the mood to travel a little far away from campus, you won’t be disappointed when you enter Monty’s Blue Plate Diner. A retro interior and friendly staff make this the perfect place for brunch. And the food isn’t too bad either. Some favorites were the mushroom and pesto omelet with asiago cheese and the smoked salmon hash, which sounds a little different but was very delicious. There’s burgers, salads and sandwiches for those not in the

breakfast mood, too. Monty’s offers amazing vegetarian options that feature tempeh and tofu, so there’s something for everyone. The amazing display case full of freshly baked pastries is so enticing you may want to take something for the road. Try the apple turnover or pecan roll.   Sunroom Café Sunroom Café on State Street is no secret around campus, and that’s no surprise. Its reliably good food makes brunch easy. The pancakes, available with blueberries, bananas, apple or chocolate chips, are the best cure for even the worst hangover. The homemade soups offer a hearty addition to whatever brunch item you choose. Some other highlights are the spicy tofu scrambler with Sunroom’s perfect peanut sauce, the huge breakfast burrito and the tuna avocado plate. While waiting in the perpetually long line, try one of Sunroom’s muffins or scones, which come in a variety of flavors that change every day. Instead of the sometimes watery smoothies, opt for the tea or Alterra coffee.

Don’t forget your punch card— 10 meals and you get one free.    Marigold Kitchen For brunch in the Capitol area, try Marigold Kitchen, located on South Pinckney Street, whose brunch menu is now offered on Sundays in addition to Saturdays. Marigold takes the standard brunch dishes and adds some major flair, featuring duck confit hash, chile poached eggs with prosciutto and manchego cheese and a variety of vegetable filled omelets. One frustrating thing is that you can’t create your own omelet, so if you’re picky, you may want to order something else. All egg dishes come with perfectly seasoned breakfast potatoes and your choice of toast. Try the crimini mushroom and brie omelet or the french toast brioche with berry puree. Pricewise, Marigold’s is on the slightly more expensive side, so maybe save this one for a special occassion. Bluephies Bluephies’ brunch mirrors its dinner menu in its unconventional and eclectic options. If you’re in the mood for dessert for breakfast, the bananas foster french toast is a must-try. It’s no

wonder a place famous for its cookie dough egg rolls could produce such a decadent and satisfying dish. If you’re in the mood for something on the lighter side, you have to try one of the scramblers. Some favorites are the Popeye and the Veggie Deluxe, which has portobello mushrooms, green onions and tomatoes. Don’t forget to order one of the four variations of Bluephies’ Bloody Mary, their signature brunch beverage. Mickies Dairy Bar Mickies looks like a tiny holein-the-wall off Regent Street, but once you see the pancakes, you’ll realize nothing about this place is small. Well, almost nothing. The prices are incredibly low for the amount of food you get. An order of two pancakes comes to about $5, depending on the variety, and you’ll probably want to order just one, because these things are gigantic. Mickies also offers great shakes, fries and a number of standard diner lunch items, from burgers to tuna melts. The food is good, the atmosphere is casual and everything is so cheap there’s no way you can leave hungry.

By Ariel Kraut and Marly Schuman

Cheddar, Vegetable and Sausage Strata Recipe courtesy of Bon Appétit | December 2000

Most of the assembly for this layered bread-and-egg dish can be done one day ahead. Serve it hot or warm. Yield: Makes 6 generous servings

Ingredients 9 1-inch-thick slices French bread (each about 3x5 inches) 5 large eggs 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1 teaspoon dried basil 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/2 cups half and half

Preparation Butter 13 x 9 x 2-inch glass baking dish. Fit 8 bread slices in prepared dish. Cut remaining bread slice into 1-inch cubes; fit cubes into any empty spaces. Whisk eggs, mustard, basil and salt in medium bowl to blend; whisk in half and half. Ladle custard over bread. Cover; chill at least 2 hours or overnight.

2 cups (packed) grated sharp cheddar cheese (about 8 ounces) 1/2 green bell pepper, cut into 2 x 1/4-inch strips 15 cherry tomatoes, halved 6 ounces smoked sausage (such as kielbasa), cut into 1/2-inch cubes 2 tablespoons minced onion Chopped fresh parsley

Preheat oven to 350°F. Sprinkle mixture in dish with black pepper. Top with half of cheese, then bell pepper, tomatoes, sausage, onion and remaining cheese. Cover loosely with foil. Bake 20 minutes. Remove foil. Bake until strata is set and springy to touch, about 20 minutes longer. Cool 5 minutes. Sprinkle with parsley.

Orpheum The Orpheum Theatre offers an upscale option for brunchgoers who want to dine in style. The entranceway to the theater is a beautiful place to eat and a convenient stop on State Street. The brunch buffet costs $16 and is only offered on Sundays. If you have parents paying or are starving, this would be a great deal. Warning: your bowl of oatmeal might start to look a little sad after venturing out to one of these tasty spots.

However, there aren’t many choices, and it definitely isn’t worth the price for a poor college student. Try the larger breakfast menu on Saturday instead, which is much more reasonably priced. While the food isn’t as outstanding as the place it’s served in, the ingredients are fresh, and the menu items are innovative. Bradbury’s There is a definite difference between brunch and breakfast, and Bradbury’s falls on the breakfast side of the spectrum. Its menu consists of every variety of crepes, from the sweet variety like simple cinnamon and sugar to savory crepes like herb-roasted chicken, apples and brie. This small, niche restaurant also produces drinks with huge flavors. Many of its espresso drinks are beautifully marked with milk from Blue Marble Dairy, a local dairy farm. Enjoy a brew or pour over organic and fair-trade coffee. Or indulge in their warm, tangy apple cider. The menu changes constantly, so you can’t always get your favorite, but all ingredients are organic and local. For the quality of ingredients, the price is very reasonable. The portions aren’t quite big enough, so they’re really only filling enough for breakfast. You might have to scramble for seating, but if you’re in need of a light bite, Bradbury’s could be just what you’re looking for.

Leftover Halloween candy leads Claire to break dessert monotony Claire Wiese chocolate e’claire

eftovers are fantastic. I’m pretty sure they’re the only way I can convince myself that eating out is a good idea. One meal for eight dollars? No way. Two or more meals for eight dollars? I can’t order fast enough. And I never have a problem figuring out what to do about leftovers from dinners. It’s pretty much a microwave thing. But do you ever have problems coming up with clever ideas to transform holiday leftovers? My family has a tradition of pulled turkey sandwiches for the few weeks after Thanksgiving. However, there usually isn’t enough

left over at Christmas for any semblance of another meal. If Grandma sends you back to campus with an extra pound of mystery meat, some mashed potatoes and some vegetables, just throw together a quick and simple shepard’s pie. Mix the meat and vegetables together in a casserole dish with leftover gravy, spread the mashed potatoes on top and bake in a 350-degree oven for about 30 minutes. What about those lost holidays that inevitably leave you with extras? Days after Easter are always filled with extra fluorescent green grass and chocolate bunny chunks. Halloween leaves a trail of cheap candy at every store and half-empty bags around apartments. Fear not, sugared-up Badgers! I have come across one of the best opportunities to recy-

cle your old candy and sweets. So, you’re sitting in your dorm, and all you have is some leftover fun-sized Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, Rolos, brownie mix and a cupcake pan. Is all hope lost? Not in the slightest! You have the exact ingredients needed to make what seem like the greatest brownies in the world. I haven’t actually tried them, but my TA says they are delicious. First, combine the brownie mix according to the box instructions. Then, fill each cupcake cup about halfway full. Stick in either a Rolo or Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup, and fill the rest of the way. Bake according to the box instructions. When these sweet treats are done, the chocolate candy will have become part of the brownie, and you’ll have an extra special surprise waiting for you in the

middle. Doesn’t that sound so much more interesting than just sitting on your couch eating chocolate only to realize that almost full bag is now empty 20 minutes later? I think so, too. If more chocolate is not what you’re looking for right now— though I don’t know a single girl who would truthfully admit to that—perhaps you could still make this dessert and give it to a friend. Even if you don’t want to consume all of that chocolatey goodness, your roommates will thank you for the sweet aroma. Now that it’s officially fall— though the current weather may not tell you so—we have to start looking to Christmas and Hanukkah. My family gets right on that train when we make Christmas cookies a few hours after the turkey has left the table.

The biggest and most annoying leftover we have from that is extra icing. And what turns this gooey mess into a wonderful and delicious leftover trick? Icing and crackers! No icing on hand? You can do this with frosting from a can. Take a couple of saltine crackers, animal crackers or grahams and spread a little frosting between two. Do this until you run out of frosting. Put them in the fridge, and in a few hours, you’ll have the easiest dessert/ snack/way to turn leftovers into something else. The next time you find yourself with leftover candy or dessert, turn it into something even better with some pantry standards and imagination. So you discovered a way to reinvent a Halloween staple like candy corn? Share your idea with Claire at crwiese@wisc.edu.

arts

dailycardinal.com/arts

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Buy books without breaking your back or the bank ALEX KUSKOWSKI the big bookowski

PHOTO COURTESY OVERTURE FILMS

George Clooney and Ewan McGregor star in Grant Heslov’s directorial debut, the smart but often scattered ‘The Men Who Stare at Goats,’ which is decidedly more enjoyable than getting sand in your eyes.

OK to ‘Stare’ at ‘Men’ ‘Goats’ provide loose yet satisfying political narrative By Ariel Shapiro THE DAILY CARDINAL

Political satires have a tendency to be misleading. Often they lure unsuspecting audiences in with the promise of a few good yuks and then beat them repeatedly over the head with an agenda-laden mallet, ultimately weighing them down with a humor too dark to be truly enjoyed. “The Men Who Stare at Goats,” the directorial debut of Grant Heslov, co-writer of “Good Night and Good Luck,” is not that kind of satire. Although it is a bit messy at times, “The Men Who Stare at Goats” presents, but does not force, its antiwar stance, all the while never sacrificing the levity and humor that make it so enjoyable to watch.

However, every “Star Wars” fan knows the Force works both ways, and some are inevitably swayed to the Dark Side.

While “Goats” has a couple of plotlines going on, the film mainly follows reporter Bob Wilson (Ewan McGregor) and former psychic soldier Lyn Cassidy (George Clooney) on their trek into the heart of the Iraq war. Bob, as most plucky film journalists tend to be, is in hot pursuit of a story, any story, that will put him on the map, while Lyn, prompted by a cosmic calling, is in search of the reason why he is in Iraq in the first place. This all must sound very vague, and it is that very vagueness of motive and situation that is the film’s greatest detractor. However, as underwhelming as the main plotline is, it is used merely as a vehicle to move the film forward. The real story lies in Lyn’s memories and the eventual resurgence of his psychic military unit, the New

Earth Army —the brainchild of Vietnam platoon leader turned new-age hippie Bill Django (an excellent Jeff Bridges).

The absurd and sometimes scattered farce of “Goats” is brought together by a slew of great performances.

Bill’s army is a ragtag band of eccentrics in search of purpose. These psychic warriors who “fight” in the name of peace appropriately call themselves the Jedi, and surprisingly, “Star Wars” proves to be a key player in this film. Although the New Earth Army starts out as the U.S. government’s attempt to be “the first superpower with superpowers,” they vow to use their powers exclusively for good. However, every “Star Wars” fan knows the Force works both ways, and some are inevitably swayed to the Dark Side. This movie’s token Sith is Larry Hooper (Kevin Spacey), an ambitious but overshadowed New Earth soldier who, after dismantling the unit he failed to dominate, channels the powers of Lyn (who is for all intents and purposes our Obi-Wan) into a weapon of murder tested on goats. The absurd and sometimes scattered farce of “Goats” is brought together by a slew of great performances. Clooney sheds his usual mantle of slick sophistication for a red, foam clown nose with moderate success, and neither Bridges nor Spacey fails to deliver. There are standouts, both good and bad. Stephen Lang shines as the unfailingly sincere General Hopgood, while McGregor the Scot is entirely unconvincing as an American reporter named Bob. Surprisingly, the other unifying force of this film lies in the presence of the goats. These

animals, in their mistreatment and eventual liberation, represent everything Heslov is trying to say about war. They are unwilling participants in a conflict fought by the few in charge, so as corny as it may be, the real joy in this film comes when Lyn, Bob, Bill and the gang set these POWs free to roam. Free the goats, free the world. It is a nice thought, and one not overly exploited in this satisfyingly silly film. Grade: AB

he search for interesting reads can be tough. Lately, I’ve found myself in a bit of a reading funk, as the only amiably priced literature I’ve seen recently includes a 900-page Charles Dickens novel and a book picturing a windblown Fabio alongside a swooning woman by the grocery store checkout counter. Basically, books that no one with half a functioning brain cell would want to read. Because I still get serious enjoyment from reading the backs of cereal boxes and could probably find something good to say about every book I have ever read, I tend not to have as many problems spending money on books as your average novel shopper. Despite this (and my propensity to buy more books than food on a weekly basis), like every college student, I have trouble parting with my money. I worry about the difficulties of finding a book that doesn’t end up in an unread pile at the back of my closet. When I started asking around for reading suggestions, I found I received one of two answers. Answer number one: “Well, I’ve been reading this really interesting journal of neuropsychoanalytic theory about the application of quasars on the ...” at which point I generally zone out because of my sheer inability to understand the words coming out of the person’s mouth. Or answer number two: “Books? I haven’t read one of those since the third grade,”

which was no help either. So what’s a girl to do? Well, to help the reading populace, who obviously share my purchasing woes, I’ve used some of my amazing undercover detective skills to come up with three foolproof ways to get good books for cheap or for free. First, I know this will be a shocker, but visit a public library. They are full of these people called “librarians” who are there to help you. I have found from my industrious research that librarians basically stand around waiting for people to ask them where to find good books. Then they “give” you the books for no money at all! It’s an amazing place. Second, look around some used bookstores. This is for the more adventurous types, as the bookshelves and lighting create a maze that you can get lost in for days. If you think I’m kidding, try visiting Paul’s Books or Avol’s on State Street and you’ll see what I mean. Finally, for those who think it’s too much of a hassle to leave the house, buy books online. This was my most exciting discovery, as it involved no human interaction whatsoever. The books just appear at your door a few days after giving them the number on that plastic card in your wallet. Now that I’ve solved all possible money and book woes, I’ll return to living in a world that’s populated only by books and emerging only to eat. Now if only I could find a way to have food delivered the same way as my books... Do you fancy that fabulous Fabio book façades are the only fantastic fictions of our generation? Send a feisty email to Alex at kuskowski@wisc.edu.

comics 6

Nose way! Amazon dolphins have been found to have homosexual nasal sex. dailycardinal.com/comics

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Picante

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

By Natasha Soglin soglin@wisc.edu

Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com creature features ACROSS 1 Proto finish? 6 Biddy 9 Long-time rival of Sparta 14 Capital of Vietnam 15 “Thanks, I already ___” 16 African heavyweight 17 Anatomical canals 18 ___ generis (of its own kind) 19 Kitchen game? 20 It “went to market” 23 F.D.R.’s shelter org. 24 “In one ___ and out the other” 25 Word attached to “cold” or “lion” 27 Secretary of state before Powell 32 Nephew of Cain 33 Floral greeting in one U.S. state 34 “That thou ___, do quickly” (John 13:27) 36 Brimless woman’s hat 39 Casey Jones’ occupation, briefly 41 Chisholm or Santa Fe 43 Complain about trifles 44 Group of plotters 46 “Sesame Street” Muppet 48 “... ___ and buts were

9 4 51 53 56 57 8 5 64 6 6 67 68 69 70 71 2 7 73 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

candy and nuts ...” “That was ___ of fun!” Sit astride of Spanish grocery stores Expert pilot “Swing ___, sweet chariot ...” Oxymoronic shellfish Alley Oop’s main squeeze “Well, ___ be!” More like Solomon Jewish folklore figure Grant’s adversary “It’s ___!” (“See you then!”) Davenports and love seats Former name for Tokyo What nods often mean

DOWN Doctor of afternoon TV Sol-do link Work without ___ (be daring) Classifier Put in the wrong spot A padlock secures it Small needle case “No” vote from a horse? Insect in a marching column Baseball scoreboard initials Largest mollusk known

2 1 13 21 22 6 2 27 28 9 2 30 31 35 37 38 40 42 45 7 4 50 52 53 54 55 9 5 60 61 2 6 63 65

Johnny-___-spot Truly tragic Rye grass malady Word preceding “I never thought of that” House topper Sir Guinness Hideous “Li’l Abner” character Storied home wrecker “Present!” Winter Palace dwellers Add a little color to Defunct gridiron org. Being, in Caesar’s Rome Rough breathing sound Former capital of Italy (Var.) Stoppages at the lumber mill? Both coming and going Nineteenth Greek letter Subject to ridicule Online diaries New car’s odometer reading “Candid Camera” request Suffered from a cut Spread from a tub “Stupid ___ stupid does” (Forrest Gump) Apportion (with “out”) White House VIP Pasture

Washington and the Bear

By Derek Sandberg kalarooka@gmail.com

opinion Veterans’ woes extend beyond the battlefield dailycardinal.com/opinion

By Kathy Dittrich the daily cardinal

1st Lt. Dan Choi was notified in April of this year that the Army would begin discharge proceedings against him. Choi, an Arabic-speaking linguist, Iraq war veteran, West Point graduate and infantry officer, served in the nation’s armed forces for 10 years. Now he faces an other than honorable discharge from the military because he is gay and doesn’t want to lie about it. The Cadet Honor Code at West Point states “A cadet will not lie, cheat, or steal, or tolerate those who do.” Choi, in upholding this code, has refused to lie about his sexual orientation, and now he risks being kicked out of the military.

Dedicated service for one’s country should not be marred by the revelation of one’s sexuality, politial, or religious beliefs.

An OTH discharge could make Choi ineligible for VA benefits if the Department of Veterans Affairs determines that his “offense,” namely being gay, constitutes willful or persistent misconduct, offense involving moral turpitude or homosexual acts involving aggravating circumstances. Today, as we honor, celebrate and show appreciation for our veterans, Choi serves as an example of the enormous sacrifice and risk military personnel make every day as they serve in our armed forces. As if leaving

their family behind and putting their life on the line were not enough, military men and women are also expected to lie about and conceal who they are under the military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. Choi’s bravery in the face of bigotry and oppression serves as a reminder that doing what is right isn’t always easy. Choi’s decision to speak out against “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is reminiscent of all those who have made difficult decisions to do what is right while serving their country. Dedicated service for one’s country should not be marred by the revelation of one’s sexuality or political or religious beliefs. All those who serve in our armed forces should be afforded the same respect, opportunities and gratitude. It takes more courage to resist convention than to go along with it. This is a quality that both the military and civilians should esteem and honor. It takes guts to stand in the line of fire, to defy conventions and to speak out against war and discrimination. A soldier should not be considered less of a warrior for having the fortitude of mind and spirit to stand up for what he or she believes in. Choi, in promoting honesty and fairness for all who serve in the military, is refusing to tolerate the proliferation of lies regarding one’s sexuality, the denial of VA benefits for one’s honesty regarding their sexuality and the theft of one’s freedom to be truthful regarding their sexuality. In the midst of a war in

Afghanistan and a continued occupation of Iraq, we celebrate Veterans Day today. We honor the commitment and sacrifice of all American military personnel, regardless of race, religion, gender or sexuality. Today I think it is especially appropriate to honor those who, in defense and support of their country, have chosen to speak out against the military.

It takes guts to stand in the line of fire, to defy conventions and to speak out against war and discrimination.

From where I stand, it is more than honorable to stand up for what you believe in. Voices of dissent powerfully influence change by challenging us to reevaluate convention. Progress demands a dialogue in which we all have the opportunity to discuss and explore our identity as a nation. Choi, in speaking out against “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” is fueling progress in the United States’ military. He, and all military voices of dissent, must be heard if the United States is to continue to grow in the 21st century. It is counterproductive to minimize the contribution of, or label as unpatriotic, those who dissent in an effort to better our military, our country and the world. Kathy Dittrich is a senior majoring in English and French. We welcome all feedback. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Remembering our nation’s heroes In 1919, President Woodrow Wilson observed the first Armistice Day, which would later become Veterans Day, by reflecting “with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory.” Ninety years later, Americans everywhere continue to honor the service and sacrifice of our nation’s veterans on Nov. 11, the anniversary of the end of World War I. One tradition I have been proud to participate in is the Honor Flight program. Honor Flight brings World War II veterans to Washington free of charge to visit their war memorial for the first time. Last year, this program helped over 11,000 veterans visit the memorial that was constructed in their honor. I have been proud to personally support this effort, and honored to meet Wisconsin veterans during their visit to the World War II memorial. To learn more about Honor Flight, please visit their website at honorflight.org.

While meeting Wisconsin veterans on an Honor Flight, I was deeply troubled to meet a man who had not received the awards he deserved because his service records were destroyed in a fire. He was wounded at the battle of Zigzag Pass in the Philippines, but the Army rejected his two previous Purple Heart applications because of the missing records. After working with the Army, enough information was found in reconstructed records to allow me to present the veteran with his long overdue medals, including the Purple Heart and Bronze Star, on Sept. 11, 2009. Preserving the memories of the men and women who defended our country is more important than ever. In 2000, Congress created the Veterans History Project to collect interviews with veterans, as well as wartime letters and photographs. The Library of Congress saves these valuable memories for future generations, and Americans everywhere can submit material to the collection and join this

effort. To participate in the Veterans History Project, I encourage you to visit their website at loc.gov/vets. Visitors can search the project’s collection and read about the experiences of our country in wartime. You can also download a field kit to submit your own interviews or materials to the collection. Veterans Day gives us an opportunity to honor those who defended our freedom —but we must also remember the tragedy of war. Armistice Day became Veterans Day in 1954, after World War II and the Korean War ended the hope that World War I would be the “war to end all wars.” President Eisenhower’s proclamation called on Americans to “solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly ... and let us reconsecrate ourselves to the task of promoting an enduring peace so that their efforts shall not have been in vain.” —Herb Kohl United States Senator

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

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

drunken driving legislation too soft

n 1999, Wisconsin finally made the fifth offense for driving while intoxicated a felony. Even with this stipulation, our state still had some of the most lax drinking laws in the country at the time. Even though the state Legislature recently tightened drunken driving laws, the latest legislation passed will do little to reduce Wisconsin’s reputation as an overly alcohol-friendly state.

Statistics like these are issues that the state should not tolerate, nor legislate insufficiently.

Last week, the state Senate passed a reform of the current drunken driving laws. This came after the Assembly’s unanimous vote on a similar bill in September. The legislation would make the fourth drunken driving offense a felony if it occurs within five years of the previous conviction. Also, ignition interlocks would be mandatory for repeat offenders, as well as first-time offenders with bloodalcohol levels of 0.15 percent or higher. First-time offenders with a child passenger in the vehicle could also face tougher punishment: criminal misdemeanor charges and higher fines. All of these new restrictions are part of the long-overdue remedy for Wisconsin’s notorious drunken driving problem, but they still do not reach far enough to ensure driver safety or to strongly discourage drinking and driving. The last change is entirely insufficient if safety is a legitimate concern. No one who chooses to recklessly endanger a minor should be given a pass with just a misdemeanor. In 2006, Wisconsin led all states with the highest percentage of alcohol-related fatalities among all driving casualties. According to state records in 2007, one out of three people with a drunken driving conviction was a repeat offender. This number indicates a failure of previous legislative efforts on the issue. Statistics like these are issues that the state should not tolerate, nor legislate insufficiently. With the new four-offense limit, Wisconsin is finally making strides to bring its drunken driving legislation up to par with the rest of the nation. Over 26 states, including neighboring Minnesota, impose even stricter limitations. The new legislation also shows more concern for individuals. The interlock system would put a regular check on problematic drivers without adding more traffic stops. People who complete alcohol treatment could face less time in jail with judges’ consent. These propositions need to be stronger, however, if the state Legislature is seriously concerned with the safety

of Wisconsin’s roads. The beer tax increase proposed this past summer, for example, does not tackle the alcohol consumption problem directly. In a state famous for its progressive, grassroots democracy and heavy drinking culture, a 2.4-cent tax hike per bottle has a minimal chance of making an impact. But still, drunken driving is a more serious issue than drinking itself. Critics worry the bills would put a greater burden on Wisconsin’s crowded correctional system. Once the legislation takes effect, the state could see a substantial increase in inmates. This is a legitimate concern, but there are solutions to such a problem. An electronic monitoring program has proven successful in Dane County, especially for nonviolent offenders. It could readily address the problem of additional inmates if expanded to the entire state. Although the legislation is a step in the right direction, the bill is not comprehensive enough to put a significant damper on the number of drunken driving incidents in the sate. We sincerely hope that the state Legislature will take a stronger stance against drunken driving and that reform will not take as long as it has in the past.

sports 8

dailycardinal.com/sports

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Rodgers not worthy of praise from Packers fans

Men’s Basketball

SCOTT KELLOGG the cereal box

LORENZO ZEMELLA/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Keaton Nankivil and the Badgers will have to shut down UW-Superior’s good outside shooting.

UW-Superior next rival as preseason continues By Scott Kellogg THE DAILY CARDINAL

Wisconsin wraps up its exhibition schedule tonight against an in-state rival. Not Marquette, not UW-Milwaukee, not even UW-Green Bay. Instead, UWSuperior will travel from the northern tip of Wisconsin to Madison to face the Badgers. It is the second and final preseason contest for Wisconsin, with the season opener right around the corner Sunday against Indiana UniversityPurdue University Fort Wayne. The Badgers won their other exhibition contest comfortably last Wednesday against Division II opponent Bemidji State. This time it will be a Division III opponent for Wisconsin. UW-Superior, a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team, went 11-14 last season and 4-12 within its conference, ﬁnishing in a seventh-place tie. This season, the Yellowjackets were selected to ﬁnish in seventh place again by the WIAC Sports Information Directors. Being a major Division I program, the Badgers enter this game with noticeable advantages across the board, particularly in size, but one strength of the Yellowjackets

that Wisconsin must be aware of is their outside shooting. “We know they can shoot,” junior forward Keaton Nankivil said. Associate head coach Greg Gard is also keeping an eye out for the outside shooting threat UWSuperior may pose. “Most guys on their team are going to be very good shooters,” Gard said. “We’re going to have to guard the three exceptionally well.” Leading the 3-point attack for the Yellowjackets is junior guard Dan Culy, who connected on a team-high 51 3-pointers last season and shot the long-distance shot at 38 percent. Culy’s 135 3-point attempts last season were 83 more than UWSuperior’s next most frequent 3-point launcher. One UW-Superior player specifically noted by Gard was junior forward Jake Smith, who led the Yellowjackets with 17.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game last season. Smith also put up a 49 percent field-goal percentage. Wisconsin was pleased with multiple facets of its performance last week against Bemidji State. “We did a good job taking care of the ball, getting good shots,” senior guard Jason Bohannon

TODAY ON THE WEB8 dailycardinal.com/sports

UW volleyball takes on Hawkeyes in road matchup The Wisconsin volleyball team will try to rebound from a number of sweeps when it faces struggling Iowa on the road. For the full preview, visit dailycardinal.com/sports.

said. “I thought we did a good job of moving the ball around the perimeter and finding open shots on the floor.” Gard was happy with the way Wisconsin translated its solid play in practice to a gametype situation. “We played how we’ve been practicing,” Gard said. “And that’s one thing you’re always concerned about when you play the first exhibition game.” “We did a good job of moving the ball around the perimeter and finding open shots on the floor.” Jason Bohannon senior guard UW basketball

Not everything went smoothly for Wisconsin, however. The Badgers had 13 turnovers, with many of them coming during a short span in the second half. “There was a little turnover spree we had in the second half that we can’t really have when we actually get into game-type situations,” Bohannon said. The Badgers also put up lackluster production in both 3-point and free-throw shooting. As a team, Wisconsin shot 25 percent (5 for 20) behind the arc, including an 0-for-4 effort from junior forward Tim Jarmusz. At the stripe, Wisconsin converted only 19 of 32 free-throw attempts, good for 59 percent. In particular, freshman Ryan Evans struggled with his foul shots, going 4-for-8. “We’ve got to shoot the [freethrow] line better than we did,” Gard said. The game tips off at 7 p.m. and is webcasted on BigTenNetwork.com.

eing a displaced sports fan creates many annoying situations. You hear a lot more about the hometown teams than you want to, you get a lot of biases about how good the local teams are and you’re stuck watching PackersLions on Sunday afternoons instead of a good game. All this and the other nuances that come with living in a foreign sports city are irritating, but understandable. If it were an outof-towner back in New York, where I’m from, it would be the same deal for him. But for about the last year or so, there’s been one bias of sports fans in Wisconsin I simply cannot take. I try to identify with it and make an effort to see the other side of the argument. But it’s a bias I ﬁnd completely absurd: the notion that Aaron Rodgers is a top-5 NFL quarterback. The argument was brought to my attention last summer when the Bears traded for Denver Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler, creating a natural quarterback rivalry between Green Bay and Chicago. First I started hearing how Rodgers was better than Cutler, which seemed fair to me. At the time I always thought both were decent quarterbacks at best, middleof-the-road at worst. They were two quarterbacks in the early stages of their careers who had progressed well thus far and had shown the potential to develop into elite quarterbacks, giving both teams’ fans reasons to be excited about their signal-callers. But eventually discussions with my friends turned into arguments for Rodgers being a top-5 NFL quarterback; worse than the likes of Tom Brady, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees, but better than very good quarterbacks such as Eli Manning, Ben Roethlisberger, Carson Palmer and Donovan McNabb. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I’ve argued this with my roommate, my friends and enough people at bars to realize Green Bay Packer fans actually believe Rodgers is an elite NFL quarterback. I know I haven’t watched every minute of Rodgers the last two seasons, but as long as Green Bay isn’t playing at the same time as the Jets, I’m watching the Packers games, and I know I’ve seen more than enough of Rodgers to assess him as a middleof-the-road NFL quarterback. When I hear arguments for Rodgers, I always hear the same things: how he passed for over 4,000 yards and 28 touchdowns with only 13 interceptions his first season as a full starter. This season he’s already eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark and could be well on his way to another 4,000yard season. The statistics are very impressive, I’ll be the first to admit it. But I always point to the same statistic when arguing against Rodgers: his record. After last weekend’s loss to Tampa Bay, Rodgers is now 10-14 as a starter. It’s not a huge sample size, but it’s enough to show me Rodgers

isn’t a superstar in the NFL. Of the seven quarterbacks I listed before whom I deemed ranged from elite to very good, they all have a glaring similarity: winning. Brady, the two Mannings and Roethlisberger all wear Super Bowl rings. McNabb’s never won a Super Bowl, but has played in one, along with five NFC Championship games. Brees hasn’t always played for great teams, but he has usually won, averaging nine wins per season, including the 8-0 start he’s led the Saints to this season. And Carson Palmer’s been a winner, too, averaging over eight wins per year with an 11-win season in 2005 and, now that he’s healthy again, a 6-2 start in 2009. Watching Rodgers in games, he can look good at times, but also struggles in other moments. I watched Rodgers play at Lambeau against Minnesota and thought he played a pretty poor first half and improved a little in the second half, but didn’t turn in a great performance. When you look at his stats it will show 287 yards, 3 touchdowns and a 100-plus quarterback rating. I’m sorry, but that just doesn’t reflect how he played in that game at all. If any Packers fan was satisfied with Rodgers’ performance in that game, you just don’t know football. Rodgers’ contest against the Vikes in the Metrodome follows the same story: a 384-yard game with another 100-plus quarterback rating. But don’t lie to yourselves, Packers fans—he didn’t put in a great performance. One thing the quarterback ratings don’t show is how many sacks Rodgers allowed (8), many of which just killed Packer drives. While the offensive line wasn’t good, neither was Rodgers, as he held the ball way too many times, killing his team in field position. Of course Rodgers has had his good games this year as well against the Lions and the Browns, but his inability to consistently win pulls his status down. Football is like no other sport out there because one player, the quarterback, can dictate the game and impact it like no other player of any position can in other team sports. Look at the NFL standings and you’ll find some bad quarterbacks on teams with good records, and some good ones on losing teams. But teams with mediocre records, like one that’s 10-14 the last year and a half, are likely to have mediocre quarterbacks. Packers fans like Rodgers, and they should. They have a young quarterback who’s progressed very well after only one and a half years as a starter. In the future he could very well do great things as a quarterback. More than half the teams in the NFL would be more than happy to take a player like him and get solid production while seeing him mold into a better quarterback as he gains experience. But don’t fool yourselves anymore. Rodgers is not an elite quarterback, because elite quarterbacks don’t produce wins as inconsistently as Rodgers does. How do you think Aaron Rodgers has done? E-mail Scott at kellogg2@wisc.edu.