Thursday, February 16, 2023

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UW-Madison Turkish students organize fundraising, donation drive for those affected by earthquakes in Turkey

By Liam Beran STAFF WRITER

As news of the deadly 7.8 and 7.6 magnitude earthquakes that devastated parts of Turkey and Syria early in the morning on Feb. 6 broke, three undergraduate students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison took it upon themselves to assist in humanitarian e orts.

Idil Dokucu and Yoel Nasi Kazado first contacted International Student Services at the university to find out how they could help, and from there became connected with the Madison Association of Turkish Students (MATS) and fellow student Lara Nur Akdol.

MATS told the students they were accepting items and supplies to be sent to the Turkish Consulate General in Chicago, but the students shared they felt the need to do something di erent — raise money in addition to the donations.

Their e orts have been successful so far, with $11,266 raised as of Wednesday evening, according to the fundraising website.

“It just sucks, like overall, not being home right now because I think we feel like we could be doing a lot more if we were at home,” explained Dokucu.

Students shared how constant exposure to news and information about the earth-

“Turkish people are resilient people. We are holding our hopes and hanging in there.”

As of Wednesday evening, combined deaths from the earthquakes in Syria and Turkey exceeded 40,000, according to Al Jazeera. Expectations of finding survivors under rubble are growing slimmer with the passage of time, and road and infrastructure damage made rescue efforts more difficult, according to reporting from the Associated Press.

Dr. Deniz Balgamis, academic program manager for the Kemal H. Karpat Center for Turkish Studies at UW-Madison, acknowledged that “the quakes have affected all of us personally,” and many people have family and friends in affected areas.

Balgamis opened her own home to store donations prior to them being sent to the embassy — Fatih Kunkul, a MATS member and PhD candidate, delivered the first round of donations on Feb. 8 to the Chicago Turkish Consulate General. Total donations in-kind amounted to 4,000 items at this article’s writing, Balgamis said.

“My personal hope is to continue our solidarity in trying to get back, even if slowly, to our regular lives,” Balgamis said. “This is a tragedy that will never be forgotten by any of us. But we should keep hugging each other and keep working the best we can to help [reach] those in the area — now more with financial and medical outreach.”

“Turkish people are resilient people,” Balgamis added. “We are holding our hopes and hanging in there.”

Kazado said, acknowledging that most professors want to provide help.

Barry Gerhart, interim vice provost and dean of UW-Madison’s international division, later sent out a campuswide email encouraging instructors and supervisors to “exercise sensitivity, understanding and flexibility toward students, faculty and sta who are a ected by this crisis.”

Dokucu explained that most of MATS’ member base are doctoral students, often busy working as teaching assistants or doing research, and estimated there are only around 15 undergraduate students in the organization.

“But for [the doctoral students], once they’re done with their graduate research or TA-ing, they’re always at someone’s house, packing up clothes and donations down to Chicago to the consulate,” Akdol explained.

One positive thing that came out of the tragedy was the Turkish community becoming closer, Akdol said, noting her family and friends back home echoed the same sentiment.

“In the wake of tragedies, we have to come together and figure out any way that we can help,” Akdol said.

Kazado said those looking to help have a variety of options, including donating money or supplies, sharing MATS’ drives on their socials and packaging or delivering supplies.

quakes has taken a toll on them.

“It has taken a very big toll on my mental health, just because of the overwhelming amount of information, videos, photographs that I’ve seen on social media,” said Akdol. “You really can’t escape it — you try to distract yourself on your phone, you see it, when you’re sitting at the Union, you see it on the news … it’s kind of inescapable. Like Idil said, I feel like I could do more, but I can’t.”

Kazado said the larger Madison community is working together “tirelessly” to provide aid and support. “I feel like people are doing this as a sort of therapy as well, because it keeps their mind o it,” he said.

Juggling academic and organization work has been difficult, the students explained. Though most professors have been understanding, some maintain deadlines that must be met.

“Because there isn’t any campus-wide awareness and acknowledgement of this, they’re having some misunderstandings and conflict,”

Akdol highlighted the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team as an option for those with time or resource constraints. The tool uses map data which allows online volunteers to identify buildings, roads and other sites of interest that may be destroyed or intact in the aftermath. This will help with on-the-ground search-and-rescue efforts by providing information for humanitarian teams, Akdol explained.

The Madison Association of Turkish Students is currently collecting donations. Priority items change daily, with up-todate lists being found on MATS’ Instagram. A monetary donation page is available online.

Dr. Deniz Balgamis

Kemal H. Karpat Center for Turkish Studies

COURTESY OF THE MADISON ASSOCIATION OF TURKISH STUDENTS

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Bucky’s Pell Pathway seeks to increase opportunity for students in financial need

By Jasper Bernstein STAFF WRITER

In a Feb. 9 address to the Board of Regents, Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin laid out her plan for a new tuition-assistance program at the University of WisconsinMadison — Bucky’s Pell Pathway.

“We’re going a step further than Bucky’s Tuition Promise for Wisconsin families who are eligible for Federal Pell Grants. For these students, [the program] will cover all remaining financial need, after their Pell Grant and other scholarships,” Mnookin said. “That means not only tuition and fees, but housing, meals, books and additional funds that will allow these Wisconsin students to be involved and engaged in some of the many life-changing experiences this university offers.”

Funded through a “variety of institutional, private and external sources,” Mnookin said the program will remove barriers to education that plagued students on Pell Grants, a federal program providing up to $6,895 a year to support those with financial need.

“This program will ensure that our Pell-eligible Wisconsin resident students have a pathway to complete their four-year degree

without needing to take on debt to cover their educational expenses,” Mnookin explained.

The program includes aid covering four years of full financial need for incoming freshmen, along with two years of aid for transfer students. Chadbourne and Waters Residence Halls have been designated as optional “affinity community options” for Bucky’s Pell Pathway members to live together.

The program is expected to benefit students across the state, especially those in rural areas.

“Rural schools are doing a great job preparing students to be career and college ready or, moreover, future-ready,” said Jeff Eide, executive director of the Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance. “Bucky’s Pell Pathway is another step in supporting the financial barrier students and parents may see to higher

education opportunities.”

Included in the program are optional funding opportunities for involvement in the UW-Madison community. Along with available summer financial aid, students receiving Pell Pathway funding are provided scholarships for studying abroad. Students also have priority access to the Office of Student Financial Aid’s Success Services, along with monthly workshops through the program.

“High education in any chosen field is more of a necessity than ever before. It is critical that we continue to find avenues to support the financial needs of students,” Eide explained. “The Bucky’s Pell Pathway is one more great example of higher education creating a path to help students succeed.”

The aid will be awarded automatically to students based on information provided through the FAFSA. Students with questions can reach out to finaid@finaid. wisc.edu for more information.

“Students need to see the path to higher education, and Bucky’s Pell Pathway helps them see beyond the financial barrier, which in turn helps them focus on learning,” Eide said.

Wisconsin Supreme Court rejects UW Health’s petition to voluntarily recognize UW Nurses Union

By Ava Menkes STAFF WRITER

The Wisconsin Supreme Court issued an order on Feb. 2 to dismiss UW Health’s petition on whether they may voluntarily recognize the UW Nurses Union, a move that comes as a relief for nurses seeking collective bargaining rights.

In September 2022, UW Health nurses reached an agreement with Service Employees International Union Healthcare Wisconsin (SEIU) and Gov. Tony Evers to avert a three-day strike.

This agreement did not recognize the nurses union. The nurses and UW Health instead agreed to bring the issue before the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission, which ruled on Nov. 25 that UW Health does not have to acknowledge the nurses union or reach an arrangement with them.

The commission determined UW Health was not bound to the Wisconsin Peace Act, which prohibits employers from interfering with employees’ collective bargaining rights.

If UW Health was protected by the Peace Act, it would be required to bargain with the nurses union. But since the WERC ruled UW Health is not subject to the act, it is up to UW Health to determine whether

they will broker a contract with the nurses union.

The nurses union and UW Health still have a case pending in the Dane County Circuit Court. The issue of whether UW Health can voluntarily recognize the nurses union is connected to the Wisconsin Supreme Court filing, meaning the case will now follow a slower process through lower courts, according to the Cap Times.

UW Health registered nurse Colin Gillis saw the court’s refusal to accept UW Health’s petition as a move in the right direction.

“The fact that the court ruled that we have to follow the normal process rather than what UW Health wanted, which was to go directly to the Supreme Court — that I see is a relief,” Gillis told The Daily Cardinal. “It means that it removes a clear and present danger to our union campaign for full recognition with collective bargaining.”

The court currently maintains a 5-4 conservative majority, but with an election around the corner, it could flip in liberals’ favor. UW Health had asked the Supreme Court for the ability to skip the lower courts and have the conservative majority rule on this case.

“We’re acutely aware of the

fact that how the law is interpreted is a political question,” Gillis said.

Still, Gillis “absolutely” believes the process of recognition is moving forward. For the first time since 2014, he feels nurses have a voice at UW Health.

Gillis remarked that the nurses have “completely transformed” their relationship with the UW Health Administration since last summer. In August 2020, several nurses met with their CEO and Chief Nursing Executive and were told “that was the last time they would meet with us as union members,” he said.

The strike in September successfully accomplished what the nurses hoped for, which was to “bring [management] to the table,” Gillis said.

Nurses have been meeting as a union since then with top executives at UW Health to discuss staffing, wages and retention benefits, according to Gillis. They said nurses have had two of the largest raises since their last union contract ended in 2015.

“Now we regularly have interactions with the administration and have already made some, through our conversations, improvement to nurses’ lives and working conditions,

and made, I think, our hospital system stronger and more effective,” Gillis said.

Additionally, nurses have a procedure called peer support that enables nurses to have the backing of their coworkers at disciplinary proceedings to ensure they receive fair treatment, according to Dave Bates, a freelancer with SEIU Healthcare.

“Those reasons aren’t enough, but they are the biggest in almost a decade,” Bates said. “[It] goes a long way towards retaining experienced qualified [and] dedicated nurses.”

District 2 candidates debate at forum

By Marin Rosen STAFF WRITER

District 2 Common Council candidates Colin Barushok, Evan McSorley and Juliana Bennett participated in a debate forum at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Hillel on Monday.

The debate was organized by local Madison organizations including the Campus Area Neighborhood Association, the Associated Students of Madison and BadgersVote. Candidates answered questions about housing, transportation, community engagement and public safety crafted by responses from a community input survey.

The candidates highlighted their proposed measure to increase public safety, especially after the November 2022 shooting on State Street and the police killing of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee.

McSorley, an employee of Columbia Pipe & Supply, said he supports increasing police presence in the community to deter crime.

“As a community, we need to make sure that we’re holding one another accountable and treating one another with respect,” he said. “The more folks that you have on State Street naturally will help decrease crime.”

Bennett, the current District 8 alder, criticized McSorley’s plan, noting police presence in areas where Black and Brown people reside will be ine ective as it doesn’t address the underlying problems that lead to violence.

“When violence happens, it’s too late,” Bennett said. “We need to actively reach out and solve the problem.”

Bennett said the issue of vio-

lence prevention most greatly a ects the city’s BIPOC, LGBTQ and youth communities.

“I view this question through a public health violence prevention lens, especially given the fact that these issues a ect our BIPOC, LGBTQ and young people,” Bennett said. “This is coming from someone who is a survivor of sexual assault and someone that has witnessed the traumatizing e ects of strong violence.”

Barushok, a former healthcare worker and public servant, said the city should invest in training programs to prevent violence without adding additional police.

“I support programs like bystander intervention training and safety ambassadors,” Barushok said. “I don’t know if we need to add police, but we need to make sure our police department’s fully sta ed and try to pay them with competitive wages with other industries.”

Barushok focused his campaign on ensuring affordable housing downtown. In response to a community member’s concerns about the eastside of Madison becoming more expensive, he criticized Wisconsin’s state representatives on the lack of a ordable housing requirements.

“We cannot require a ordable housing because our friends in the State Capitol said no to that, but we can negotiate with developers and support creative ways to encourage a ordable housing,” Barushok said. “We also must preserve existing a ordable housing.”

McSorley proposed changing zoning regulations to make it easier for developers to build more housing units in downtown Madison.

“I think one of the opportunities

we have is that we need to make zoning permits, laws and regulations more available,” McSorley said.

McSorley’s goals for Madison include improving the quality of life for the district, helping businesses prosper and supporting community projects to encourage the construc tion of more housing. One of the ways he plans to do this is through improving State Street.

“If you walk down State Street today, you’ll see that there’s a lot of vacant o ce buildings, and I don’t think that the current council is tak ing this seriously enough,” McSorley said. “A lot of people have expressed interest in revitalizing State Street”

Candidates also addressed the accessibility of public transportation in Madison. Starting in June 2023, buses will no longer run on State Street in preparation for the implementation of a Bus Rapid Transit Lane by 2025.

In addition to the BRT, Bennett plans on increasing bus access to the outskirts of the city.

“When re-elected, I will be supportive of increasing our transit access, including another BRT line that runs west to east, increasing bus access to the outskirts of our city, increasing funding for free and reduced bus passes especially for our low-income and houseless population, and provide late night bus services throughout our city,” Bennett said.

In addition to increasing transportation access, all three candidates said they support increasing pedestrian safety and eliminating tra crelated deaths.

“We can install more protected bike lanes, more bicycle friendly infrastructure,” said Barushok.

Barushok and McSorley also expressed support for construction of the proposed Amtrak station in downtown Madison.

District 2 is located between the downtown area of Madison and the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. To include more voices in the community, McSorley said he plans to involve the university in city decisions.

“We are stronger together than we are alone,” McSorley said. “I don’t think all of the decision making belongs to downtown Madison. We need to engage in conversation with [the] University of Wisconsin, with other surrounding suburbs, neighborhoods and cities. I believe we can learn and work together.”

Similarly, Barushok said he wants to increase communication and engagement with all communities in Madison.

“Communicating with the resi-

dents themselves is a first priority,” he said. “I’ve learned that there’s an interest in getting the Capitol Neighborhoods Association back up to a level of activity that existed before the COVID-19 pandemic, and that is something I am committed to help doing.”

Bennett said she is focused on extending her networks and reviving city associations so more residents, including students, can have a voice and input in government.

“My job is to talk to residents,” Bennett said. “I don’t care if you’re a student, I don’t care if you’ve lived here 40 years — whatever. It’s my job to represent you and I will do that by actively seeking your voice.”

The Common Council primary election will be held alongside the mayoral election Feb. 21. The two candidates who receive the largest number of votes will face o in the general election on April 4.

Data Science, Comp Sci show biggest increase in enrollment

By Claire LaLiberte STAFF WRITER

The University of WisconsinMadison released a list of the majors that added the most students between the fall semesters of 2018 and 2022 last week. Topping the list was data science, which added 914 students since the major’s inception in 2018, followed by computer science with 642; both are contained within the School of Computer, Data & Information Sciences.

Rounding out the top five were consumer behavior and marketplace studies in the School of Human Ecology (SoHE), psychology and global health, which is housed in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences (CALS).

These majors correlate to professional fields experiencing high levels of growth. Forbes projects data scientists, computer programmers, cybersecurity analysts and health services managers to be among the fastest-growing fields of this decade.

In just four years, from 2018 to 2022, computer science went from a graduating class of 406 students to 739 — an increase of around 55%. It is currently UW-Madison’s largest degree program, with around 2,200 — more than one in every 20 — undergraduate students currently enrolled.

Computer Science department chair Professor Remzi ArpaciDusseau credits the increase in enrollment in part to the fact that

“tech is spreading beyond its normal confines, and helping to shape and define the future in almost every human endeavor.”

Arpaci-Dusseau cited Veronabased tech company Epic Systems, the nation’s leader and pioneer in the field of digital medical records, as a clear example of industry growth. Founded by Judith Faulkner, a UW-Madison computer science alumna, Epic Systems now holds the medical record of over 250 million patients.

“[Epic Systems] is just one example of how computing, data and software are transforming the world,”

Although the major grew, the proportion of female students has remained low. In 2018, 19.7% of computer science majors were female. In 2022, that number fell to 17%.

This is far from a problem exclusive to UW-Madison — in 2018, only 19.9% of computer science majors nationally were female. The university also supports numerous initiatives that exist to expand diversity and create space for female students.

“The number of women in our program currently is larger than our entire program was about 15 years ago,” said Arpaci-Dusseau. “So perhaps that is one form of progress.”

enrolled overall, the data science major also experienced enormous growth since it was founded. It has graduated over 900 students since its inception in 2019, and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) anticipates sustained growth over the coming decade.

Yazhen Wang, the chair of the Department of Statistics under which data science falls, attributed the major’s growth to the increased job opportunities it provides.

“Industries are recognizing the power in using data to understand trends, answer questions and drive business decisions,” Wang said.

In an increasingly data-driven,

digitized environment, the field of data science has expanded and become more lucrative, with a median income of around $100,000. BLS predicts the next decade will see the addition of more than 40,000 data science jobs in fields such as healthcare, IT and finance.

Consumer behavior and marketplace studies was the fastest-growing major outside of the School of Computer, Data, and Information Sciences. According to SoHE, students in the program learn to, “[leverage] technology and research to understand and improve the global customer experience.”

Cli Robb, the Consumer Science department chair, attributed much of the major’s growth to the unique niche it occupies.

“It is an attractive major for those who embrace both [analytics and creativity],” Robb said.

SoHE’s relationship with its students also plays a major role in its appeal. According to Robb, the department “highly value[s] the fact that our faculty know who the students are, and we try to design classes where meaningful connections can be made” — something he noted can be challenging to find at an institution of UW-Madison’s size.

“I think students see these trends and wish to participate, which is fantastic,” said ArpaciDusseau of computer science’s rapid growth. “We need them to help shape the future.”

JESSICA CHUDY/THE DAILY CARDINAL

WSUM 91.7 FM: The student radio station that could

By Caitlyn Halfon STAFF WRITER

Camila Trimberger-Ruiz woke up on Nov. 2, 2022 with a pit in her stomach. It was election day at WSUM, the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s community radio station.

As the WSUM News Director and member of the station’s executive staff, TrimbergerRuiz attended and spoke at almost every all-station meeting she has ever attended. But, this evening was different. Tonight, Trimberger-Ruiz’s name would appear on the ballot for 2023

the floor and the walls — brown 1970s carpet. It was just so gross,”

Cynthia “Grandma Cyd” Schuster, host of WSUM’s longest-running music radio show, said.

Dave Black continued to build up the station and keep operations professional, setting up procedures, governance boards and democratic decision making, said Kari Black, Dave Black’s wife.

“[Dave] just never wanted to infringe on the students’ freedom to do what they wanted,” Kari noted. “Dave was always adamant about it, that this is their station. He said, ‘I’m there as a mentor.’”

Black and his WSUM crew — even former Chancellor John Wiley — gathered in a classroom at Vilas Hall.

“Being there for that first transmission was really something,” Kari Black said. “My whole family was there. And of course, Dave was crying, so there’s that. It was such a huge relief, it’s like oh my God, finally.”

WSUM moved to the Student Activity Center in 2009 after the building finished a large remodel. An immaculate facility with topnotch equipment, the new studio space finally gave WSUM a permanent and professional home in the heart of campus.

Community ties

On Saturday nights, Cynthia “Grandma Cyd” Schuster arrives at the station and heads to the Main Studio. She sets down her coat, places her computer on the desk next to the soundboard and plugs it in. Her show “The Heavy Petting Zoo” begins at 7 p.m. Schuster knows the board like the back of her hand, starting o the top of the hour with her theme song before jumping into her world of “make-out” music for the next two hours.

station, but for many, he was foremost a mentor,” Schuster said.

Schuster made a home for herself at WSUM, both during her undergraduate career and beyond.

“It’s the feeling that I’m providing a service people care about,” Schuster said, describing the importance of WSUM to her. “Duncan in Verona, he’s been calling me since forever. Jerry in Belleville will always call me and tell me what he’s putting on his homemade pizza that night. And he always requests Dean Martin, but I haven’t heard from him since before the pandemic.”

Pandemic proves tough

When COVID-19 hit in 2020, WSUM was one of the many campus organizations put on pause. New trainees were taught the rules and regulations of radio over Zoom, and DJs had to create pre-recorded shows to air. Dave Black ensured students would be able to come into the station about once per week, despite strict masking requirements and studio sanitation procedures.

necessarily tell people where to get the music that they play which really helps foster creativity on the airwaves.”

With WSUM seeing its highest levels of interest among eager trainees this semester, according to new General Manager Kelsey Brannan, new members will be able to hang out at the station and rebuild the discernable sense of community that once existed before the pandemic.

New beginnings

Brannan was daunted to step in as WSUM’s second ever general manager. A WSUM and UW-Madison alum, Brannan went on to work at other public radio stations across the country. She kept in touch with Dave Black over the years, but when he contacted her about applying for general manager, she wasn’t sold on the idea. However, the opportunity to return to the place that fueled her love for radio was too good to pass up.

station manager.

It was a short but anxious election cycle, a combination of excitement and passion. Speech and debate were Trimberger-Ruiz’s forte in high school — having to speak in front of a crowd was no issue. But when she stepped up to the podium at the front of the room, she set down her computer with a shaky hand. It was the most nervous she felt in a long time.

“I stuttered a few times, which is something that I usually never do,” Trimberger-Ruiz said. “But I just care about this so much.”

Radio’s Roots WSUM 91.7 FM Madison

Student Radio is UW-Madison’s student-run community radio station, located on the fourth floor of the Student Activity Center on East Campus Mall. It’s not only open to students at the university, but community members in the Madison area. Five di erent stations attempted to achieve success on campus between 1952 and 1993, each station failing for various reasons — between money troubles or skirmishes with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) over “creative student wiring.”

WSUM was brought to life by Dave Black, the station’s first ever general manager. Dave Black was pursuing a doctorate at UW-Madison when he was approached by Dr. James Hoyt about starting a campus radio station in 1997. Early broadcasts were done by means of an internet stream from their first “studio,” a space on State St. above what is now Urban Outfitters.

“There [was] this old, dingy, gross elevator… the slowest elevator on the planet. It had carpet on

In the meantime, Dave Black worked to secure the station a radio tower to broadcast on the FM radio dial. They decided the WSUM tower would need to be in Montrose, WI, a small town about 20 miles outside of Dane County, in accordance with FCC frequency policy.

In 1998, the Dane County Board of Supervisors granted WSUM and the university permission to construct a radio tower. However, Dave Black was met with considerable resistance from Montrose residents. A 1998 Badger Herald article noted that with the continued appeals against the tower’s construction, the station would “not go on air until February 1999.”

A 2001 article from the Wisconsin State Journal even goes on to detail a a rocky public hearing where WSUM and UW-Madison were met with defiance from the Montrose community:

“It’s going to be an eyesore!”

“The tower light will be too bright!”

“Why do they need a tower? Can’t they just stay on the internet?”

“It’s going to kill the birds!”

The complaints continued. After years of debate and steady battling, WSUM was ultimately granted a permit by Dane County to build their radio transmission tower at a public hearing in 2001. Today, the 400-foot tower sits on a lush, fenced-o plot in the middle of a dairy farm in Montrose.

“It was such a long and really, really hard fight for him to get that tower,” Kari Black said. “I’m not sure that anyone with less patience or commitment would’ve gotten that done. He got put through the ringer.”

Feb. 22, 2002 was the magic day. At 2:22 p.m., WSUM 91.7 FM was live and on the air. Dave

Schuster, station manager at WSUM, has always felt old at heart, and “Grandma Cyd” was the fitting DJ name that stuck. Her undergraduate years were spent on the news team, with “The Heavy Petting Zoo” getting its start in the summer of 2005 when she graduated college.

Now, by day, Schuster works for the Madison Fire Department as a Public Information O cer. Come Saturday night, Schuster uses her two-hour slot on the air to introduce her listeners to jazz and swing music from the 1930s to the 1950s.

To date, “The Heavy Petting Zoo” is WSUM’s longest-running show.

“I think there’s something very romantic about it, ‘’ Schuster said. “Many people never get to hear this music anymore, and I think they’re missing out by not being introduced to it. ”

Having worked closely with Dave Black during her undergraduate career, Schuster considers him an important mentor in her life.

“Dave wore many hats at the

“It was tough to come back from COVID and have a bunch of brand new DJs who don’t necessarily have that experience or don’t necessarily even have those same role models of what is really good, interesting programming,” Will Mandel, a UW senior and the former station manager of WSUM, said.

Having been a member since 2019, his freshman year, Mandel saw the station endure its fair share of changes.

“So many people that were really integrated with the station when COVID hit were juniors and seniors at the time, and they’re long gone. That’s a ton of institutional knowledge that just disappeared,” Mandel said.

Nonetheless, the WSUM spirit never faded — even when Dave Black announced he would retire in December 2021. If anything, students at the station wanted to further what Dave Black so meticulously built: a safe space on campus for people to be themselves.

“We [at WSUM] really try not to place too many restrictions on what people can and cannot do here,” Mandel said. “We don’t tell people what to play, we don’t even

“I have never worked in a space where everybody is so passionate and enthusiastic about the work that they do,” Brannan said. “I’ve worked in public media before, and everybody is very missionoriented and mission-driven. And that’s always really exciting. But here, I mean, the excitement is just palpable when you’re working with students.”

Dave Black passed away unexpectedly in February 2022, leaving a hole in the heart of the WSUM community he loved — and that loved him — so dearly. This loss of mentorship was felt strongly by members of the executive board — especially by Brannan, who was due to fill his large shoes.

“There’s a delicate balance that I need to find as a leader — and that I hope I have found — of really instilling those best [media] practices and reinforcing them, while also creating a safe environment for people to experiment and make mistakes and learn from those mistakes before they go out into the ‘real’ world and start their careers,” Brannan said. “I think it was Dave’s vision, really, that established that first and foremost.”

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Wisconsin’s coaching crossroads: How many more will see the door?

By Matt Neschis STAFF WRITER

The 2022-23 sports season has not been kind to the Wisconsin Badgers men’s teams. Once kings atop the Big Ten and college sports landscape, the football, men’s hockey and basketball teams have devolved into bottomfeeders of their respective sports. And with the shocking firing of head football coach Paul Chryst now several months behind us, it seems other coaching changes loom on the horizon.

One would only have to wind the clock back several years to bask in the storied success that Wisconsin fans and students alike have grown to expect from the Badgers.

It was under Chryst in 2019 that the Badgers football team finished first in the Big Ten West division, earning themselves a ticket to the Big Ten title game and Rose Bowl. It was under Tony Granato that the men’s hockey team secured the 2021 Big Ten Conference regular-season title with a 17-6-1 record. And it was under Greg Gard that the men’s basketball team earned a share of the conference regular season title in both 2020 and 2022.

The three aforementioned coaches have received due praise for their work, with each twice being named the Big Ten Coach of the Year (Chryst in 2016 and 2019, Granato in 2017 and 2021, and Gard in 2020 and 2022). Despite past success and the hardware that fills their trophy cases, they actively sit on the hot seat — or are already burned, in the case of Chryst.

Coaches are measured by their ability to consistently develop winning teams, a feat that Chryst, Granato and Gard have struggled to maintain.

Following several early years of unprecedented success under Chryst, Wisconsin’s football team crashed back down to earth as his departure drew near. From 2006 to 2010, the Badgers were ranked within Associated Press Poll’s top 10 teams in the nation in 22 separate weeks, but from 2018 to 2022, that number dwindled down to 11.

Granato and the men’s hockey team haven’t fared much better in

recent years, either. Since earning the Big Ten conference regular season title in 2021 — later sustaining early exits from the conference and NCAA tournaments that year — the Badgers have gone 21-43-3 and 10-33-1 in the Big Ten. Over Granato’s seven years coaching, Wisconsin has made the NCAA Tournament just once.

Though Gard has found the most recent success of the three Wisconsin coaches — claiming a share of two of the past three Big Ten titles — the men’s basketball team is currently spiraling out of contention. Losers of eight of their last 11 games in the Big Ten, the Badgers suddenly sit on the outer bubble of the NCAA tournament in danger of missing out on March Madness. Wisconsin last missed the tournament in 2018, and haven’t advanced past the first weekend of play since 2017.

It began with Chryst

Chryst’s firing in October, albeit unexpected, happened for a reason. During his eight-year tenure, the Badgers ran an antiquated style of football featuring a conservative o ense and stout defense. For many years this kind of play produced solid results, but

in a new era where dual-threat quarterbacks and star transfer portal acquisitions reign supreme, Wisconsin floundered. Chryst was given a short leash, seeing the door just five games into the 2022 season after a 2-3 start.

Under new head coach Luke Fickell and o ensive coordinator Phil Longo, the Badgers have already expressed their desire to run an “Air Raid” o ense through a mobile pass-slinger.

The hiring of Fickell has already significantly improved the current state of the football team.

With a stronger focus on acquiring talent from the transfer portal, the revamped Badgers have added a plethora of heralded weapons, headlined by Southern Methodist University quarterback transfer Tanner Mordecai and University of Southern California wide receiver CJ Williams — the highest rated wideout recruit to play for Wisconsin in the recruiting ranking era.

Wisconsin Athletic Director Chris McIntosh may consider these proven benefits of new blood in the coaching room and implement leadership changes elsewhere.

Granato may be next

On the heels of the disappointing 2021-22 season in which the Badgers finished 10-24-3 — the second worst record in UW’s 59 years of modern-era play — the pressure was mounting for Granato to develop a winning hockey team in 2022-23. Unfortunately, Wisconsin currently sits in the basement of the Big Ten with an overall record of 11-19-0. Much of the blame for this ineptitude lies in the Badgers’ lack of discipline and preparedness — issues that stem directly from poor coaching.

Over the latter half of the Badgers’ active six-game losing streak, they’ve repeatedly committed costly penalties that have buried them into inescapable holes. In their recent three game stretch against Notre Dame and Michigan, the Badgers averaged 19.67 minutes — nearly 1/3 of the contest — in the penalty box. This in turn translated into power play goals for the opposition, with the Fighting Irish and Wolverines combining for 7 power-play goals over these games.

Wisconsin’s lack of preparedness, however, stretches far beyond their recent losses. The Badgers often appear flat-footed in the early portion of contests, only gaining their stride after the

other team has jumped out to a commanding lead and the game is out of reach. They’ve tied or been outscored at the end of the first period in 15 of the last 16 games, with their last lead at the conclusion of the opening frame coming on Nov. 19 against Lindenwood.

Due to a lack of improvement and poor results, Granato’s departure from Wisconsin seems imminent. The Badgers may have already found his replacement in Andy Brandt, a former Badger who joined their coaching ranks this past o season.

Will Gard succumb to a similar fate?

Much like Chryst, Gard actively runs an outdated style of basketball. Though the coach’s system has delivered success as recently as last year, it’s begun to show significant cracks.

The Badgers rely upon oldschool fundamentals that focus on utilizing most of the shot clock on o ense and rushing back to the basket on defense. But as college basketball transitions to an o ensive-oriented era more concerned with fastbreaks and star di erence-makers, Wisconsin is struggling to keep up. According to TeamRankings, UW ranks a meager 234th in the nation in o ensive e ciency.

The lack of o ensive production is in large part due to the Badgers’ lack of depth. Wisconsin actively sports the worst 2022 recruiting class in the Big Ten and 112th overall class in the nation, according to 247 Sports.

This shortage of incoming talent was displayed once Tyler Wahl and Max Klesmit went down with injuries for three and two games, respectively, leaving Wisconsin with few players who could step up and make shots. Firing Gard just one year removed from a regular season title feels premature, though McIntosh has already proven to act quickly when results are poor. And with Granato additionally in the midst of an underwhelming season, it seems nobody’s job is safe.

Wisconsin edges out Minnesota in overtime for season sweep

By Ellie Scheirey STAFF WRITER

Wisconsin (8-18, 3-11 Big Ten) traveled to Minneapolis to take on Minnesota (9-16, 2-12) for the second time this season. Earlier this season at the Kohl Center, Wisconsin won 81-77.

The Badgers played strong from start to finish and ended their four game losing streak.

The Gophers took an early 12-5 lead, but the Badgers fought back. Wisconsin’s Ronnie Porter made two key free throws that gave her team a one point advantage. Julie Pospisilova then shot a jumper in the remaining six minutes of the first quarter to give Wisconsin a two point lead.

Throughout the second quarter, there was a lot of back-and-forth with five ties and five lead changes.

The Badgers’ bench contributed

eight points in the second quarter, which was ultimately key to their success. Wisconsin coach Marisa Moseley was able to rely on her bench as each player recorded at least two points. Sania Copeland even came o the bench to play for 30 minutes, which was more than freshman-starter Sereh Williams (18).

By the end of the first half, Minnesota had a one point advantage – 35-34.

Wisconsin struggled a bit in the third quarter, putting up just 10 points as they shot 3-of-13 from the field. Minnesota had a four point lead by the end of the third quarter.

At the start of the fourth quarter, Gopher Mallory Heyer made a 3-pointer to put her team up by five. However, Wisconsin’s o ense came alive in the game’s closing minutes.

The Badgers’ shot above 50% from the field, which included 3-of-5 in the final period alone.

Avery LaBarbera nailed a 3-pointer to knot the game at 55 with just over four minutes left.

Minnesota then took another five point lead with under two minutes left.

Maty Wilke hit a 3-pointer that tied the game at 63 points with 44 seconds left. The Gophers drove right back down the court and drew two fouls. Heyer made both shots.

Pospisilova took the ball right to the net for a layup with 30 seconds remaining. At the end of the fourth quarter, the teams were tied at 65.

In overtime, the Badgers dominated — scoring 11 points compared to the Gophers’ five. Wisconsin also shot 6-of-8 from behind the line, while

Minnesota missed both of their free throw shots.

Halfway through the five-minute overtime, Wilke made her third 3-pointer of the afternoon. Then, Wisconsin continued to take a six point lead as Minnesota missed three consecutive shots.

With under 20 seconds left in overtime, the Gophers were forced to foul to stop the clock, but it was not enough.

Wisconsin claimed the overtime win 76-70 after a hard fought battle. The Badgers were led by Pospisilova’s 22 points, followed by Brooke Schramek’s 20 points and six boards.

Minnesota’s freshman forward Heyer scored a career-high 28 points and 15 rebounds.

Wisconsin will continue their away series, traveling to Iowa on

Wednesday. Minnesota will face Nebraska at home on Wednesday night at 6:30 p.m.

TAYLOR WOLFRAM/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Oscar nominee ‘The Banshees of Inisherin’ is a modern masterpiece

By Kennan Chojnacki STAFF WRITER

“The Banshees of Inisherin” is the fourth movie written and directed by the brilliant Martin McDonagh. The film has drawn recognition from some of the most prestigious awards in the industry, receiving nine Oscar nominations and three Golden Globe wins, including Best Picture Musical/Comedy. Given the film’s glowing critical reception, I had high expectations for it going in. And yet, “The Banshees of Inisherin” still managed to exceed those expectations in every way.

The film takes place on the remote island of Inisherin o the coast of Ireland during the 1923 Irish Civil War. The film centers around the deteriorating friendship between Padraic Suilleabhain (Colin Farrell), a lighthearted farmer on the island, and Colm Doherty (Brendon Gleeson), a lifelong musician. Colm abruptly ends their friendship to center his life on musical aspiration.

Padraic works with his sister Siobhan Suilleabhain (Kerry Codon) and a young townsman, Dominic Kearney (Barry Keoghan), to understand Colm’s sudden change of heart. After Colm proposes an ultimatum hoping to stop Padriac from ever talking to him again, Padraic takes drastic steps to mend their friendship as he continues to grow callous.

McDonagh is a newer director on the Hollywood stage. His first directorial debut was “In Bruges,” a crime-comedy with largely positive reviews for its acting and writing, and three golden globe nominations. His later movies include “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing,

Missouri,” which received six Oscar nominations and six Golden Globe nominations. McDonagh has a track record of making great movies that highlight actors’ and actresses’ talents through amazing editing and writing, and “The Banshees of Inisherin” is no exception.

“The Banshees of Inisherin” is a perfect example of how framing and composition can be employed to portray the tension between characters. McDonagh primarily captures Padraic and Colm in single shots when they are talking to each other. This means that only one of the characters is in the frame during a shot. If Padraic and Colm are in a two-shot, a structure like a wall is blocking them. This means that if both subjects are in the same frame, McDonagh places a barrier between them. This masterful camera-work develops the growing separation between the two characters. It’s a shame the movie was not nominated for the Oscar in best cinematography, as the movie is an exemplar of the role framing and composition can have in defining the literal and symbolic relationships between characters such as Colm and Padraic.

Farrell and Gleeson do a fantastic job bringing the characters to life. Farrell brings innocence and joy to Padraic’s personality while allowing for the character’s darker side to show as he falls prey to the increasing despair of loneliness as the film progresses. At first glance, Gleeson may seem largely unemotional. However, as the film continues, Gleeson gives subtle cues that hint at his character masking his genuine emotions in the movie, which makes the audience question his true motives and the sincerity of

his care for his old friend.

A standout character in the movie is Kerry Codon, who plays Padraic’s sister. Her role in the film is pivotal and adds drama and uncertainty to the plot. Her character highlights the purpose of family relationships in preserving the humanity of individuals.

Although the movie’s plot about the break-up of a friendship may sound boring, McDonagh layers complexities into the characters and seeds riveting turns throughout the film which keep the audience engaged. The movie clocks in at one hour and fifty-four minutes

but never feels too long. Some may find the ending to be a little too abrupt, but this leaves the conclusion up to interpretation, and this uncertainty is where the movie shines.

The movie, at its core, invites two interpretations. The most obvious interpretation is that the film is about a debate played out by the characters: should life be spent enjoying time with friends or spent pursuing some more profound reason to be remembered beyond death. The less-obvious interpretation is that the film is about how the original purpose of conflict is lost when the humanity of indi-

viduals is forgotten. These two interpretations pave the way for complex themes that audiences will reflect upon long after viewing. The more I think about this film, the more I am convinced of McDonagh’s utter mastery over ever-complex characters and themes.

Overall, “The Banshees of Inisherin” has remarkably little to complain about. From its beautiful shots of the Irish coast to the complex nature of characters brought to life by its fantastic acting and script, “The Banshees of Inisherin” is a movie you don’t want to miss this Oscar season.

Fitz and the Tantrums whip the Sylvee into a frenzy

By Julia Wiessing SCIENCE EDITOR

Crowds swarmed The Sylvee on Friday, Feb. 3, where indie-pop darlings Fitz and the Tantrums performed for a sold-out house.

The show opened at 8 p.m. with pop singer Sammy Rash prancing on stage to warm up the crowd. Rash had the charisma of a Disney Channel star, and performed a number of original songs and covers. While he had an on-again oagain relationship with the balcony, the pit was loving his energetic pop style and relatable repertoire of songs.

After a brief pause to reset the stage, lead singers Michael Fitzpatrick and Noelle Scaggs stomped onto stage accompanied by a hypnotic light show. Their bouncy pop sound had everyone from the pit to the nosebleeds on their feet, cheering.

The band kept the energy high throughout the concert, performing both old and new songs for the crowd. The audio engineers

worked pure magic balancing a saxophone, two singers, drums, electric guitar and an electronic beat, weaving a layered quilt of

sound while managing to let the whole band shine.

The highlight of the band’s first half was “I Just Wanna Shine” from

their 2019 album “All the Feels.”

The band killed the house lights and instructed everyone to turn on their phone flashlights, brighten-

ing up The Sylvee with hundreds of tiny stars. Some creative folks in the crowd substituted their phones for more eccentric electronics, like one young kid in the nosebleeds waving around a bright red Apple Watch.

After a brief intermission, Fitzpatrick recounted the story of his several failed attempts to start a music career before hitting gold and forming Fitz and The Tantrums at 38. Now 52, Fitzpatrick advised the crowd that “Not everyone’s dream comes true on TikTok at 18 years old … Sometimes in life, you just have to keep going and chase your dreams.”

The band continued their kinetic performance, keeping the crowd sky-high through to the show’s end. To finish o their performance, the band ended with a glamorous rendition of their 2016 hit “Handclap” which had the crowd clapping and singing along.

Fitz and the Tantrums is a high energy treat with infectious music even non-pop lovers can enjoy.

JULIA WIESSING/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Why I cancelled my Netflix subscription

By Jason Li STAFF WRITER

With a name that somehow also became an action, it’s hard to think of a company more deeply rooted in popular culture than Netflix.

Breaking into the movie rental scene in 1997, the company spent the next ten years scraping under companies like Blockbuster while also positioning itself to be the pioneer of the new frontier: digital media streaming. And as the new frontier eventually became the norm, Netflix went from a struggling enterprise to cultural icon to the undisputed market leader.

The numbers tell a similar story:

In 2006, nine years after Netflix was created, the company finally had a profitable year, generating over $80 million in revenue with a subscriber base of 6.3 million.

Contrast that with 2021, when Netflix generated over $30 billion in revenue with a subscriber base of 209 million.

So, with record-breaking profits and an unparalleled subscriber base, now the question is: where do they go from here?

The obvious answer would be that Netflix could continue sustaining momentum and perhaps expand to other dimensions of entertainment. It makes the most sense and it’s the easiest to imagine, so it’s hard to say otherwise.

But the truth of the matter is, “saying otherwise” is making more and more sense by the day.

Here’s why: Since it decided to shift from a movie-rental service to a digital media platform, Netflix has never come across a company, or companies, that seriously challenged its position as the top streaming service. This is crucial because when Netflix was in the rental industry, they posted negative earnings for nine straight years as they were competing against Blockbuster, Showtime, Hollywood Video and other established companies.

That’s why — after transitioning into a completely new frontier — Netflix was able to learn and grow in an ecosystem where there was no serious opposition. Combining this with the high-growth nature of digital media and the acceleration of technology in our lives, Netflix capitalized on this opportunity to grow into one of the most powerful companies in the world.

But over the past few years, Netflix has seen an increase in competition like never before.

Top companies like Amazon, Disney, Apple and more have seen the lucrative profits that were, and still are, generated within the digital media industry. So, they decided to introduce their own versions of Netflix: Prime Video, AppleTV and Disney+, among others.

And while Netflix is still the most popular streaming service, the once large margins have been getting much smaller.

According to eMarketer, Netflix had 44.4% of the United States’ over-the-top television

industry’s revenue in 2019. In 2020, that number went down to 36.2%. And by 2022, its share was down to 28.4% — almost even with Disney’s slice of the U.S. streaming market. This all accumulated into the shocking news that in 2022, Netflix actually lost subscrib-

going to respond with drastic changes to the platform.

With the horrible financial situation it finds itself in, Netflix is going to shift their focus from the customer to the investor. They are going to prioritize their bottom line at the expense of entertainment

to Netflix, therefore generating more revenue for the company. They planned on implementing this within the U.S. and other countries immediately but were met with consumer backlash.

According to CNET, subscribers were taken aback by these invasive terms: they had to set a designated location to watch Netflix, and the service would track you to ensure you were within said location. Sensing the discontent, Netflix delayed the U.S. roll out while still carrying forward in other places.

These recent actions are not seen as mistakes by Netflix, but instead the start of a strategic pattern. And this pattern would confirm that, to Netflix, cash is more important than the customer.

ers overall for the first time ever. According to Forbes, this led to a 68% drop in the share price of Netflix, making it the worst performing stock of the year. To put that in context, the company started 2022 valued at $267.46 billion and 12 months later was worth half of that, at $131.22 billion.

While many people may not care about concepts like market share or stock performance, they should definitely care about outcomes like increases in subscription price and invasion of privacy.

The worst part isn’t that Netflix lost over $100 billion in one year, it’s that they are

and the customer experience. Because, at the end of the day, the company is a business and it is going to be run like one. Considering Netflix’s recent actions, this is exactly the case.

Last year, Netflix raised its prices again in the U.S., with one to two dollar increases through all of its plans. Additionally, and more importantly, Netflix announced last week they were going to roll out a crack-down on “password-sharing,” which is when multiple people access and use the same Netflix account. This would force users to create new accounts and subscribe

So ask yourself, as the competition within the industry ramps up and Netflix continues down this path of financial frugality, do you really want to be a part of that?

I answer in the negative, as I value my privacy and know there are better options out there in terms of price, catalog, and more importantly, company values. I grew up watching Netflix, so it was hard for me to let go. But I also know that I deserve better, and so do you.

Jason Li is a sophomore studying Finance, Investment, and Banking at UW-Madison. Do you think Netflix will continuebeingthego-tostreaming service, or is it time to explore other options? Let us know at opinion@dailycardinal.com.

By LiLi Bicoy STAFF WRITER

You’ve probably heard numerous stories containing the infamous buzz phrase “cancel culture” over family dinners and gossip sessions. Repetitive jargon like this often undergoes what some scholars refer to as semantic bleaching, which means the original definition of the word is misconstrued and adopts several other meanings or connotations.

Semantic bleaching causes terms such as cancel culture to either lose momentum in debates or simply fill in empty spaces of conversation without consideration for the actual meaning behind the term.

Let’s put aside the loaded term and focus rather on what

it is the masses hope to benefit from cancel culture — holding people accountable.

Accountability is the foundation for any good democracy. Hence the clause on checks and balances in the constitution and the media releasing lucrative documents for public knowledge. But how do we hold people accountable?

The internet has taken charge in the last few years, attempting to discipline celebrities, figureheads, politicians and anyone else in the public’s eye. People are often perceived in two extremes: great or terrible.

Ellen DeGeneres, Will Smith, JoJo Siwa, Olivia Rodrigo and so many more have gone from an era of overwhelming public love to intense public hatred.

Shane Dawson’s time in the public eye best shows this.

The widely-known internet creator gained popularity over several decades, but his career came to a head in 2017. At the time, he was becoming known as a relatable comedian, revolutionizing the way YouTube videos were made. He’d go on to win Creator of the Year at the Streamy Awards, one of the biggest award ceremonies for internet creators. His downfall happened swiftly and was well deserved. But how the public handled the situation was another story.

Fans of the creator were enraged and disappointed by his behavior, as they previously idolized him. Dawson was someone everyone could relate to and empathize with. Losing a role model like that was devastating for many, and it showed when the creator was pushed off the internet. It set a dangerous precedent for others and instilled fear in those with public careers.

The problem with this blackand-white thinking is that people are really complicated. Negative actions don’t always correlate to bad character. If a

child cheats on a math test, or a mother shouts at her kids, does that mean they deserve to be condemned? What if they didn’t know any better?

To fight against cancel culture, maintain accountability and protect impressionable viewers, we must begin to look at well-known people as just that: people. Not as something to idolize.

Let’s start idolizing actions rather than people. We can appreciate Bob Ross’s gentle

aura, Kanye West’s music or Benjamin Franklin’s inventions without putting the people themselves on a pedestal. Otherwise, we are just setting ourselves up for disappointment.

LiLi Bicoy is a freshman staff writer majoring in Journalism and German. Do you think idolizing actions rather than people will protectthepublicfromcancelculture? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

Valentine’s Day the animal way

By Julia Wiessing SCIENCE EDITOR

The animal kingdom is full of sweet, thoughtful and just plain strange mating rituals. Whether it be the inept flirtation of frat boys or the sweet serenades of sharpshooter insects, Valentine’s Day is full of surprises.

Love Songs

One of the most common displays of attraction in the animal world is song and dance. The red-capped manakin is a small, stout bird that lives in tropical regions of Latin America. These birds have a distinct move they use to attract females: the moon walk. The better the dance, the more likely a male will attract a mate. Some species even form boy band-esque groups to sing and dance in coordination.

However, you don’t need feathers to be a proficient

dancer. Mudskippers, a species of amphibious fish, crawl onto muddy shores to perform for their potential partners. Male mudskippers will twirl, arch, spin and engage in impressive aerial leaps. If a female is interested, she’ll follow him back to his muddy burrow.

If aerial acrobatics aren’t your style, the calm courtship of the weedy seadragon may be more your speed. Male and female seadragon swim side by side in a calm, slow dance, generally in the spring.

Gifts

While chocolate, candy and jewelry are traditional Valentine’s gifts in the human world, the animal world has its own gift giving traditions. Many species of birds bring their partners gifts or build them a nest as a part of their courtship rituals, one of the

most captivating displays coming from bowerbirds. There are 27 species of bowerbird, and they are most commonly found in the tropics of Australia and New Guinea. Male bowerbirds are feathery architects, utilizing natural and manmade objects to attract females. Satin bowerbirds, for example, are particularly drawn to the color blue. Male satin bowerbirds will use shiny pieces of blue plastic, children’s toys, trash and even hair ties to construct their nests. These intricate nests are the result of seven years of practice, wherein young males show o to other males and gang up to steal trinkets from others nests.

Instead of diamonds, Gentoo penguins propose with smooth, flat pebbles. These medium-sized penguins live on rocky beaches and low cliffs in the Antarctic Peninsula, often congregat-

ing in large groups. When a male penguin wants to build a nest with a female penguin, he will search the rocky beaches for the smoothest, flattest pebble he can find. If his intended likes his offering, they will build a pebble nest together and eventually start a family of their own. Pebble envy, however, is a common problem, and members of both sexes will turn to pebble robbery if a stone catches their eye.

Candy

Most of us, however, would probably prefer chocolate over a marriage proposal for our first date. Many members of the insect world would agree with that sentiment. Nuptial gifts are common among insects, ranging from prey items and seeds to nest building materials and protective poison. Male scorpionflies

(which are neither scorpions nor flys) provide females with a dead insect prior to copulation. This insect is often stolen from the webs of spiders, and gives the female both an important source of nutrients and something to snack on during copulation.

For praying mantises, however, the males themselves serve as a nuptial gift. After a relaxing first date consisting of a violent wrestling match for dominance, females will engage in sexual cannibalism during copulation. The male is eaten – head first – as a tasty snack and nourishment for their future children. Praying mantis’ habits are among the many macabre mating traditions of the natural world.

Physical Affection

We’ve all experienced a friend or partner who’s a little too clingy, but angler fish take clinginess to the next level. While female anglerfish are known for their large teeth, huge mouth and characteristic lure, male anglerfish are much less intimidating. Males can be up to 60 times smaller than females and spend most of their time searching for a mate.

When they do find the lucky lady, male anglerfish bite the female. This may result in a one-night stand or the female anglerfish may find herself with the ultimate livein boyfriend. In this situation, the male anglerfish melts itself into the female, permanently attaching himself.

Eventually, he will lose his mouth, eyes and all his internal organs — except for the testes. But why go through such extremes to catch a mate? In the deep dark sea, it’s hard to find a mate. Some male angler fish will go their entire lives without seeing another female. So, when they find their gigantic, predaceous and terrifying true love, they know to hold on tight.

Forget rose petals - bowerbirds know that the true key to a woman’s heart is a trail of blue plastic bottlecaps.

COURTESY OF ANTONIE LAMIELLE VIA CREATIVE COMMONS