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EATING BUGS AT UW DYLAN MULVANEY, BUD LIGHT

Why has a brand sponsorship stirred up so much controversy?

+ OPINION, PAGE 7

“A celebration of insects in food, art and human culture.”

+ SCIENCE, PAGE 5

Madison Common Council race determined by luck of the draw

By Sarah Eichstadt STAFF WRITER

In an unprecedented tie, the District 14 Madison Common Council race surrendered to a city-held game of chance to determine the winner on April 12.

A member of the Board of Canvassers drew Isadore Knox Jr.’s name out of a bag, resulting in his election to Madison’s District 14 alder seat. After initially falling just one vote short of his opponent Noah Lieberman, a recount resulted in a tie and left the election up to chance.

“It came up as a tie and, you know, that’s crazy, but that’s democracy,” Knox told The Daily Cardinal. “Literally every vote was important in this race. In the end, I guess I got the luck of the draw.”

While Lieberman said he is disappointed he ultimately lost, he agrees this election showed the importance of voting.

“I’m obviously pretty devastated, but it’s still affirming to know that we got the same number of votes and the message I was spreading for affordable housing resonated with so many people,” Lieberman said.

City of Madison Deputy Clerk Jim Verbick told NBC15 municipal-level election recounts are pretty rare.

“I’ve been in this job for almost seven

years, and it’s the first time that we’ve gotten close to a municipal recount,” Verbick said. “We’ve obviously had a presidential recount in my time here, but not in my time have we had a municipal recount. But yeah, two votes is pretty close.”

Both Knox and Lieberman commended the staff at the polls for ensuring the election proceeded fairly.

“They did a really diligent job of mak-

ing sure every vote was counted correctly and that did end in a tie,” Lieberman said. “So in the end, it kind of does have to go to chance.”

As alder, Knox said he plans to increase homeownership across the district while ensuring affordable rent is available as an option.

“People are paying $1,600 for a onebedroom apartment,” Knox said. “That is a mortgage. Why should they be pay-

ing somebody else what the price of a mortgage is?”

To make homeownership more accessible, Knox wants to expand homeownership education programs and increase employment opportunities for District 14 residents.

“Homeownership is the critical wealthbuilding tool for generational wealth,” he said. “It’s part of the American Dream and everybody wants to share in that.”

Knox also wants to expand youth services and provide safety nets for families in need.

“I’m certainly planning on being the alder for all of my constituents, those who voted for me, those who voted for Noah,” Knox said. “I want to earn new trust.”

Lieberman said he’s not sure what’s next for him, but he plans to continue with local advocacy work.

“I’m going to continue doing what I’m doing to help folks out and fight for what’s right here in Madison,” Lieberman said.

The Madison Clerk’s office said in a tweet the tie showed the difference a single vote can make.

“The recount showed how important every vote is,” the clerk’s office said. “Don’t let chance decide the outcome of our democracy — make your voice heard by showing up to vote in every single election.”

Badger Catholic faith, homosexuality talk met with campus community concerns

By Noe Goldhaber STAFF WRITER

Badger Catholic, a registered student organization (RSO) at the University of WisconsinMadison, hosted Catholic speaker and author Kim Zember for a talk about “her personal experience with homosexuality and life with Christ” followed by a Q&A session last Thursday. The event was promoted in an email to all students and met with concerns from some due to Zember’s rhetoric.

According to the Badger Catholic budget provided by Associated Students of Madison (ASM) Grant Allocation Committee Chair Andrew Pietroske, the ASM finances the Badger Catholic guest speakers program. Out of Badger Catholic’s almost $60,000 budget, $9,500 goes to this series.

Next year, Badger Catholic’s guest speaker program fund will have $14,400 in funding, an increase of almost $5,000. Last fall, Wisconsin Young Americans for Freedom (YAF) controversially hosted Matt

Walsh with funding in part from a similar ASM grant, according to the budget.

ASM distributes segregated fees — charges all UW-Madison students pay — to RSOs in a “viewpoint neutral” manner, meaning an organization’s viewpoints or history will not be considered when making financial decisions, according to an ASM bylaw and the United States Supreme Court decision UW System v. Southworth.

Due to the phrasing of the email and the invitation to students of all backgrounds, some students believed the event would be supportive toward LGBTQ+ identities. However, after further investigation into Zember’s background, some students expressed concerns about the talk.

“Upon receiving the email, we felt very strongly about coming just because of the way things were worded. A lot of words in the email were very inclusive of the LGBTQ+ community,” said Mia Warren, a UW-Madison student and member of Sex Out Loud. “A lot

of people, from the wording of the email, did not understand that the talk would be encouraging people not to act on the ‘gay lifestyle.’”

In a series of videos on her website, Zember describes herself as a “Once Married Lesbian,” detailing her transition toward her faith and away from the “gay lifestyle.”

During her talk on campus, Zember touched on these ideas, and compared homosexuality and pedophilia, while defending a “natural” family structure with one mother and one father. She then pulled on scripture, calling homosexuality “objectively disordered.”

While some of the audience included regular attendees of Badger Catholic events, many individuals who chose to ask questions during the Q&A challenged Zember’s ideas. Leaders of Sex Out Loud decided to attend the event to offer up an alternative perspective on Zember’s ideas. Jane Houseal, a UW-Madison student and representative from Sex Out Loud, spoke to attendees during the

Q&A session.

“We knew that there would be people in that audience who were questioning their faith and questioning their sexuality,” Houseal said. “As someone who is part of the LGBTQ community and likes to advocate for sexual health and equality all the time, I wanted to let everyone know, and everyone in the church know, that there are other options and that we are willing to help them find those

other options.”

Sex Out Loud posted a statement on social media critiquing the usage of “pro-LGBTQIA+ language to discuss potentially harmful topics on the basis of faith and religion.” Similar to Badger Catholic, Sex Out Loud hosts guest speakers on campus, one of which spoke on the “Feminist Sex Toy Revolution” Monday evening.

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By Francesca Pica CITY NEWS EDITOR

Workers at the State Street Starbucks location announced Tuesday they will file to unionize with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

In a letter to Starbucks CEO Laxman Narasimhan signed by 36 sta members and shared with The Daily Cardinal, workers at the Starbucks location in downtown Madison called for the formation of a union in response to “intimidation, labor cuts and unclear standards” from the company’s upper management.

“Recent events in our store and around the nation have shown us that we cannot depend on the kindness of corporate to consider what is best for us,” the letter read. “Crucial decisions are made about store operations by those who are so disconnected from our community and our day-to-day reality. We deserve a voice.”

The letter stated unionization was the best way to protect workers from retaliatory behavior and allow them representation in negotiations over working conditions.

“By forming a union, we are inspiring and nurturing the human spirit — one person, one cup, one neighborhood and one unionized store at a time,” the letter said.

Matt Cartwright, a shift supervisor at the State Street location, told The Daily Cardinal workers felt compelled to act because the company’s leadership has made decisions that deprioritize their wellbeing.

“Everyone has a general sense that they don’t feel respected, they don’t feel like they have a voice,” Cartwright said. “They feel like they’re expendable, that corporate views them as expendable.”

The State Street Starbucks location is one of the largest Starbucks stores to seek unionization, according to Cartwright. Located near the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, the store employs over 50 workers, and many of them are parttime student employees.

Evan McKenzie, a UW-Madison senior and organizer at the Capitol Square Starbucks location, is currently partnering with the workers on State Street to assist them through the unionization process. McKenzie said though the State Street location is very profitable, the company has not listened to requests for improvements in working conditions.

“They make the company lots of money, they’re extremely successful and they have not done any unionizing campaigns [previously],” he said. “State Street is asking for those promises to be kept. They waited, they did what Starbucks asked and where did that get them?”

Allie Kerr, a part-time Starbucks barista at the State Street location who also has a job as a full-time educator, believes the company’s policies regarding working hours have harmed part-time and student workers. Starbucks recently implemented a minimum hours requirement mandating employees work at least 12 hours per week.

“Some of our students who are also working other jobs are having to put more of their time into Starbucks than they really can, and people who really need those hours to pay their bills aren’t getting quite as many,” Kerr said. “As a result of that initiative, we lost between five and 10 really strong partners that worked one or two days a week.”

Labor advocates have long criticized Starbucks for allegedly employing widespread union-

busting tactics in locations across the country, including withholding benefits from unionized stores and retaliation against workers for union advocacy. A judge for the NLRB ruled in March that Starbucks violated federal labor law multiple times in its attempts to shut down union organizing in New York stores.

In his March 2023 testimony to the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz denied allegations that the company engaged in union-busting.

“We want to treat everyone with respect and dignity,” Schultz said. “However, I have the right, and the company has the right, to have a preference, and our preference is to maintain the direct relationship we’ve had with our employees.”

Kerr said the store has already seen increased scrutiny from upper management after rumors spread that the location was planning to unionize in early March.

“We, as a result of just those rumors, did see an increased corporate presence in our store,” she stated. “I expect that might continue, but I’m hopeful that we’ll be able to have a positive dialogue.”

Cartwright said he and other workers have drawn inspiration from other Starbucks union organizing across the country. He said organizers from the Starbucks located on Capitol Square, which became the first Madison location to unionize in June 2022, have provided valuable support to workers on State Street.

“We are one group, and we’re willing to stand hand-in-hand together,” he stated.

Kerr said she hopes State Street location’s significance in the down-

town Madison community will give other local union advocates a stronger position in negotiations.

“We’re super prominent and visible in the community, and we make a lot of money for Starbucks,” she said. “We are hopeful that by adding our voices to this already-loud chorus, we might be able to put some positive pressure to have everybody come to the table.”

After the workers file for unionization, Starbucks will then decide whether to voluntarily recognize the union. According to McKenzie, Starbucks has never voluntarily recognized a location looking to unionize, so he expects the NLRB to intervene.

If a company refuses to recognize a union, the NLRB will conduct an election in which the employees will vote on whether to unionize. If a majority of workers present votes in favor, the NLRB will certify the union.

McKenzie said much of the unionization push’s continued success will depend on support from the UW-Madison students who frequent the store. He encouraged students to send messages of support and tip workers more generously.

“That store is the student voice,” McKenzie said. “The support that they will receive from other students at UW-Madison is going to be essential in this fight because it’s scary to unionize, especially as a student.”

Cartwright said the push marks a positive shift for the labor movement in Madison and across the country.

“It’s a movement of hope,” Cartwright said. “It’s a movement of hope for our store. It’s a movement of hope for Madison. It’s a movement of hope for the nationwide labor movement. Democracy starts here in the workplace.”

By Jasper Bernstein STAFF WRITER Stacey

Lee, a University of Wisconsin-Madison Educational Policy Studies professor specializing in the education of immigrant communities, and Miron Livny, a professor of Computer Science with an emphasis in high-throughput computing, have been named Vilas Research Professors.

The Vilas Research Professorship (RSP), funded through the William F. Vilas Trust Estate, is an award granted to UW-Madison faculty members. The Vilas Research Professorships were established to promote academic progress and are awarded to those who have demonstrated exceptional research skills, exceptional qualifications and potential. The selected individual must have made significant contributions to the university’s research mission, and garnered widespread national and international recognition for their high-quality research.

Carryover of the award to the next fiscal year is not allowed, and funds must benefit the recipient’s research activities. Flexible funds go toward research expenses and a reduced

teaching load, and may not be used to provide additional salary support for the award winner or other faculty members, for scholarships or fellowships, to directly charge tuition or to purchase alcohol.

Lee, who also serves as the associ-

role of education in the assimilation of immigrants into the United States. Lee is also the author of Unraveling the Model Minority Stereotype: Listening to Asian American Youth and Up Against Whiteness: Race, school and immi-

Professor Livny, who also serves as the principal scientist at Core Computational Technology of the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery, is the founding director of the Center for High Throughput Computing.

Livny joined the UW-Madison faculty in 1983, formed shared research computing on the UW–Madison campus and contributed to Nobel Prize-winning endeavors such as the discovery of the Higgs boson in 2012.

ate dean in the School of Education, was recognized as the Frederick Erickson Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF) Professor of Educational Policy Studies and an a liate faculty member in Asian American Studies. Her research is focused on the

grant youth.

“I am honored and thrilled to be named a Vilas Research Professor,” Lee said. “[I] look forward to continuing research that examines the complex intersections of immigration, race and education, particularly for Asian American communities.”

“By freely providing the software that reliably implements the mechanisms required to build mutual trust, to facilitate sharing and to handle large ensembles of tasks, research computing communities were formed worldwide,” said Livny. “These include national providers of computing services, like the OSG consortium where [I am] the founding Technical Director, campus wide communities and some of the largest international science endeavors.”

The award provides a faculty salary of $10,000, a flexible research fund of $50,000 per fiscal year and a retirement supplement of $2,500 per year.

111-year-old Italian Workmen’s Club seeks national historical certification

By Liam Beran STAFF WRITER

Dotted on the walls of the Italian Workmen’s Club (IWC) on 914 Regent St. in Madison are photographs, memorabilia and artifacts — a group photo of club members estimated to be from the 1930s, letters from grateful scholarship recipients and a memorial to club members lost in World War II. Together, these photographs tell the story of a community hub with more than a century of history, stories and legacy on its walls.

That history is exactly what’s driving the club to seek registration with the National Register of Historic Places maintained by the United States National Park Service.

“It’s a pretty amazing story for a little clubhouse built by hand during nights and weekends by club members, that [over 100 years] later the clubhouse is still operating,” IWC Vice President Joe Tripalin said.

Italian immigrants, mostly from Sicily, formed the club in 1912 to “support and nurture the [Italian] immigrant population”

there are about 160 members in the club.

“We’re always working on maintaining our club with a su cient number of members that allow it to be an e ective organization,” Tripalin said.

Applying to the registry

The idea to apply for National Register placement started with a successful 1990s e ort to have the clubhouse designated as a Madison historical marker, Tripalin said.

“For the last 30 years, it’s had that designation, and recently, that brought forth an idea that maybe we should seek national recognition,” Tripalin explained.

In 2022, Tripalin and fellow members collected documents laying out reasons the clubhouse should be considered for national recognition and shared them with the State Historic Preservation O ce (SHPO) as part of seeking Register placement.

SHPO decided to continue working with the club to create a “more in-depth historical look at the clubhouse and

patterns of history” for Madison’s social history and ethnic heritage, Gort said.

“Being a workmen’s club and a social hall, it does have those key characteristics,” he added.

Gort also said the club still being recognizable for its original intent is another helpful factor in determining significance.

“For each building, it needs to have two things: it needs to have significance, and it needs to have integrity,” Gort said. “It can’t just be an old building, it needs to have enough of its key defining features and characteristics to represent the time in which it’s significant.”

Triplain said national register placement would provide a “sense of accomplishment” for a location tied to an immigrant community.

UW-Madison Italian Club, experienced the IWC firsthand during a visit.

“For me, it was an incredible visit because many of our Italian Club members have Italian ancestry,” Langefeld said. “So, this visit showed us not only the struggles that our family members had faced, but also the community that they were able to form together in places like the Italian Workmen’s Club.”

During the visit, she learned that many of the original Sicilian immigrants in Wisconsin were brought in to work on the masonry for the state capitol building.

today that it did when it started hundreds of years ago,” she said. “And that purpose is to form community.”

Interpreting that longstanding history is part of why the National Register exists, said Gort.

“The National Register is a really good way of making sense of some of our material culture and understanding what’s left,” Gort explained. “How do these buildings continue to represent the past?”

who comprised much of the Greenbush neighborhood at the time, Tripalin explained. When the club first began, its focus was on assimilation — providing resources for the often impoverished club members to learn English and support each other.

Since the 1960s, the club has been more focused on maintaining members’ heritage and “memories of the area.” “Urban renewal” demolished the area in the 1970s to make way for new real estate development the city of Madison wanted. The club existed throughout decades of development and building teardowns in the Greenbush neighborhood, said Tripalin, with many people “having to give up their homes and relocate.”

“But for the whole, now, 111 years, this has been a men’s club devoted to the Italian community,” he said.

There is a separate women’s club.

These days, the club o ers Italian language classes, assistance in applying for dual citizenship with Italy and community events. Currently,

the neighborhood around it” for an eventual presentation to the Wisconsin Historic Preservation Review Board. If approved, it would put the IWC on the Wisconsin State Register of Historic Places.

From there, SHPO would do more editing before sending the application to the National Park Service, which would issue a decision on National Register placement within 45 days, according to Ian Gort, a historic preservation specialist at SHPO.

“They reached out to us, and we got them in the process,” Gort said.

Gort said the National Register program looks at four criteria — architectural, archaeological, “broad patterns of history” and “significant person[s]” — for historic significance, although a building only needs to meet one. Architectural and broad patterns of history are the simpler criteria to demonstrate, Gort said — but altogether, the criteria “cover a lot of areas.”

SHPO found the IWC is potentially eligible for “broad

“[National recognition] would be a sense of pride and a sense of recognition that this humble building club, [which] members built by hand, was really an important part of the Italian community in Madison,” Tripalin said.

A modern university tie

Delia Langefeld, a University of Wisconsin-Madison student and president of the

“As the Capitol is such an iconic symbol of Madison, I think that’s such a special story to tell for Italian culture and history here,” Langefeld explained. “It makes me feel proud to be Italian and to see that story continue here.”

Langefeld saw the IWC’s longevity and important, continual role in Madison’s Italian community as a key factor for why it deserves National Register placement.

“The fact that it’s still standing is so important, and it serves the same purpose

Beyond the register placement, Tripalin said the IWC is currently working with developers on Regent St. to preserve the Greenbush neighborhood’s history with murals and information about the neighborhood that will “help people understand what was there in the past.”

“From a young person’s perspective, I’m not always sure that they realize some of the history behind how their grandparents or great grandparents got here to this country, what they had to do to make it work for themselves,” Tripalin said. “It was kinda tough going — they did the best that they could, and most of them ended up to be proud Americans. And that’s kind of the story of our country.”

COURTESY OF DELIA LANGEFELD

COURTESY OF DELIA LANGEFELD

Wisconsin invests $1.1 million into UW student internship training programs

By Gabriella Hartlaub STAFF WRITER

Gov. Tony Evers announced a $1.1 million investment in internship programs for University of Wisconsin System students last week to combat Wisconsin’s exodus of young workers.

A 2022 study expects Wisconsin’s workforce to shrink by 2030 as older workers retire and young workers leave the state. Evers hoped to counter this

trend by funding a Department of Workforce Development (DWD) program called Wisconsin Fast Forward (WFF), which provides grants to UW System schools to connect them with local businesses and fund internship programs for students.

WFF made its return in 2021 after being inactive due to COVID19 restrictions in 2020, according to a program report.

“Recruiting and retaining tal-

ented workers, maintaining our state’s economic momentum and preparing our workforce for highdemand fields of the 21st century are major priorities in my 2023-25 biennial budget,” Evers said in a statement last week.

WFF’s 2021 annual report notes the program shifted to “focus on policy issues related to ‘Returnships,’ an innovative programming opportunity at UW-Milwaukee in which disadvantaged students have access

UW-Madison Speech and Debate Team wins national championship

By Natasha Hicks STAFF WRITER

Earlier this month, the Wisconsin Speech and Debate Society competed at the Yaatly Online Debating League (YODL) National Debating Championship tournament in Denver, ultimately winning the entire championship tournament.

The winning team — made up of senior William Darbyshire and junior Zachary Heintz — is the first in decades to win the championship for the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

“Everyone went silent waiting for the final announcement, and then when hearing, ‘The winner is UW-Madison,’ everyone exploded,” Darbyshire said. “If the other teams hadn’t heard ‘Jump Around’ before then, they definitely did then because it was blasted on.”

Four years ago, Wisconsin Speech and Debate was not competing in any tournaments of this nature, team coach A.J. Carver said. But it has grown since then.

“It’s something we’ve been building over the last four years,” Carver said. “In the course of four years, we’ve gone from basically nothing to winning the national tournament.”

According to Darbyshire, in the debate league, there is a series of smaller online tournaments that lead up to the national championship tournament, where everyone comes together in person.

“It was great to connect with people from other schools — your opponents — to debate in a way that you wouldn’t if it was online,” Darbyshire said.

At the national championship, Darbyshire and Heintz competed against 64 teams representing 17 other universities across the country.

In the final round, they competed against teams from the United States Air Force Academy, Regis University and the University of Alaska-Anchorage. Even with ample competition, Darbyshire and Heintz managed to win the championship for UW-Madison.

“I think it showed how rigorous and valuable the culture of debate we built at Madison is,” Darbyshire said. “I’m really proud of what

we know.”

Carver emphasized that although Heintz and Darbyshire deserve individual credit, winning a national championship is a team e ort.

“It takes the whole team to win,” he said. “Each debate requires four teams to practice, so we need at least six other members. Fortunately, we have more than that — to practice — and it takes a lot of support from donors, so a team e ort.”

Two other teams from UW-Madison also competed in the national championship. Neither of the teams broke the top 16, but both were close. Each held eight points each, which Carver said is a good sign for the future.

Though Carver is not coaching next year, he believes he is leaving the team in good hands and on an upward trajectory.

“We got [a new coach] who I believe will be quite good and will be able to build on this tradition,” he said.

Carver encourages students to join the debate team — even if they do not have prior experience.

“We’re open,” he said. “I think some people have this misconception that you have to have done speech and debate in middle or high school. That’s not true, and [Darbyshire’s]’s case really demonstrates that. You can show up with almost no experience and go from zero to hero in the debate context.

to stipends that facilitate participation in internships.” State grants issued in 2022 and 2023 expanded this program.

Internships connect schools and students with local companies and award students opportunities to explore fast-growing fields of the future, according to the governor’s o ce.

Evers highlighted four main areas of investment: green energy and clean water, agriculture, cybersecurity, and humanities and social studies.

“Students who intern for a Wisconsin company are more likely to stay in the state after graduation, making internships a valuable workforce retention strategy,” DWD Secretary Amy Pechacek said last week.

UW-Milwaukee received $590,624 total for programs in green energy, clean water, humanities and social studies. For green energy, the university will partner with local businesses to award paid threemonth internships to 42 students.

For humanities, the aim of the program is to expand paid internship opportunities in areas where students are usually only o ered unpaid internships — a barrier for

+BADGER CATHOLIC

Planning Zember’s talk, the opportunity for new ‘perspectives’

At the beginning of the Q&A session, Badger Catholic President Max Sherwin shared that two years of planning led to Zember’s presence on campus. Approximately 175 students swiped their Wiscards to attend the event, according to Sherwin.

“We just wanted Kim to come here and share about how the church approaches the topic of sexuality and preach her lesson of love,” he said.

Alexis Bakken, vice president of Badger Catholic, reiterated this sentiment.

“We knew that Kim would come here and really talk about love and acceptance as opposed to someone who would come and stir,” Bakken said. “I think it is really hard these days when so many peo ple disagree [on these topics]. We have a lot of trust and faith in [Zember].”

ciated that many members of the audience who engaged with Zember do not regularly attend Badger Catholic’s events, and both enjoyed hearing from var ied “perspectives.”

I thought it was great. People who don’t typically come to our events were asking questions,” Sherwin said. “It’s a university, and it doesn’t do us any good if we sit in an echo chamber and just bounce the same ideas that we hold off of one another. It was super cool to get other people’s perspectives from the audience.”

Bakken also noted that she

many students.

UW-Stout also received $298,771 to build a cybersecurity internship program that would provide more than 40 students with internships in cybersecurity.

The tech sector is a growing industry for young employees entering the workforce, according to Pechacek. Student enrollment in data science and computer science programs have risen starkly at UW-Madison and other schools across the UW System.

Additionally, UW-River Falls received $244,426 to create programs for student agriculture internships. The funding gives 20 students an opportunity to be placed in 14-week summer or academic year internships in the agriculture industry.

UW System President Jay Rothman applauded the internship program funding in a statement last week.

“As Wisconsin’s talent generator, we educate students to think critically while they also learn valuable skills needed in the workforce,” Rothman said. “These internships will help students kick-start their careers while meeting employer demand for talent.”

was glad the event did not become violent and there were no protesters.

“We were just really blessed that there were no protesters or any violence because you never really know with events like this that get a bigger response,” Bakken added. “Most of the time, people do not even know our events are happening.”

The event lasted about two hours and can be viewed on Badger Catholic’s Facebook. For students interested in further discussing topics related to faith and sexuality, Sex Out Loud runs a peer mentor program, and the UW Gender and Sexuality Campus Center hosts a similar program specific to LGBTQ+ students.

Editor’s note: Sex Out Loud hosts a podcast under The Daily Cardinal Media Corporation. Mia Warren is a co-host of the show. Jane Houseal has also contributed to The Daily Cardinal Life & StyleandNewsdesks.

TAYLOR WOLFRAM/THE DAILY CARDINAL

‘Swarm to Table’ inspires insect acceptance

By Madelyn Anderson STAFF WRITER

Have you ever wondered what it’d be like to eat a bug? The notion may seem strange, but on Saturday, 300 people gathered at The Crossing to do just that.

Swarm to Table is an annual event hosted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Undergraduate Entomology Society (UES), Slow Food UW and Mission to Improve Global Health Through Insects (MIGHTi).

Organizers describe Swarm to Table as “a celebration of insects in food, art and human culture, with a gourmet tasting menu, presentations, activities, prizes and more.” This year’s events ranged from participating in insect trivia to sipping water bug cider. The celebration featured speakers including Dr. Valerie Stull, an entomophagy researcher at UW-Madison, and Dr. Barrett Klein, an artist and insect researcher at UW-La Crosse.

Members of the UES had been planning these activities since October, according to UES President Claire Lawler.

“We’ve been working on this event for months, and the last couple of days have been the most chaotic,” said Lawler. “But now that we’re here, everything is running smoothly and I’m not even nervous anymore.”

While seeing countless hours of hard work cumulate into a seamless afternoon might be the most fulfilling part of Swarm to Table for the organizers, the highlight for many participants is the insect tasting menu. Crafted by local chef Andrew Jack, it features five courses and one drink.

Guests started o their palate with a bamboo worm and cricket “Chex Mix” before moving on to mealworm sourdough bread with a selection of insect spreads. From there, they indulged in blackened cricket fritters topped with a fried scorpion and silkworm based aioli. Finally, the adventurous diners experienced mealworm tempeh with weaver ant egg lemon meringue pie for dessert.

Does this menu entice you, or do you need some water bug cider to wash these dishes down? If you do, you’re not alone. However, volunteer chef Toby Lunt believes in a couple of years, insect dining may not be so taboo.

“Cultural food traditions and expectations are arbitrary to where you were born and what you consider to be disgusting versus what you consider to be normal and beautiful,” Lunt said. “Thirty years ago sushi was seen as gross in America, but now it doesn’t carry that same connotation.”

For those interested in taking the leap and biting into bugs, Stull o ers some scientific encouragement. The environmental scientist and global health professional said “most insects provide all nine amino acids needed in the human diet.” They also contain dietary fiber and the possibility of being gluten, soy and dairy free depending on what they’re fed.

In addition to these positive impacts on human health, insect cuisine is good for the planet. Stull estimates 90% of edible insects are wild-foraged. This can carry risks like overharvesting, deforestation and pesticides, but is overall advantageous. For example, insect agri-

culture has planetary benefits like a smaller carbon footprint, less use of land and water and more biomass compared to traditional agriculture.

Swarm to Table attendee Sigra Deweese recognized these benefits and enjoyed this year’s mealworm bread despite identifying as vegetarian.

“I’m really interested in insects as a sustainable protein source, so I’m not opposed to eating them,” said Deweese. “I just wish I had more access to them outside of this event.”

Aside from ethical eating, Swarm to Table also draws a crowd by way of insect art. People of all skill levels can participate in maggot painting, a popular activity this year.

“You dip the maggot in the paint

and it squirms around on the paper, making little lines,” student Olivia Kroeplin said.

Kroeplin and many others created bug-related artwork for the Swarm to Table art gallery, a space for local artists to showcase and sell their work. This year’s display included prints, sculptures and even jewelry.

Artist Allyson Mills uses earrings to bring awareness to declining bumblebee populations.

“I learned about rusty patched bumblebees a few years ago, which are in Wisconsin but very endangered,” Mills said. “So instead of just making regular bee earrings, I added orange to bring awareness to the rusty patched ones.”

Even if you’re not skilled in jewelry making or blessed with bravery when it comes to trying new foods, Swarm to Table still has something for everyone. Bug costume contests, insect agriculture career panels and growing mealworm demos brought smiles to many faces this weekend.

Next time you find yourself wondering about the world of insects, consider attending the next Swarm to Table event. The atmosphere is charged with curiosity that is bound to inspire you in some way.

“When we host Swarm to Table next year, everyone should come,” Lawler said. “Insects are nothing to be scared of, and so many people surprise themselves at this event.”

MADELYN ANDERSON/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Slow Food volunteers preparing the mealworm tempeh. This years five course tasting menu featured insects in a variety of creative ways.

The Wisconsin Film Festival exhibits the unifying power of cinema

By Kennan Chojnacki STAFF WRITER

The 25th annual Wisconsin Film Festival kicked o on April 13 with an opening night reception featuring the announcement of this year’s Golden Badger Award winners followed by a screening of the Ukrainian film “Luxembourg, Luxembourg.” The ceremony took place in the Great Hall at Memorial Union with a collection of University of Wisconsin-Madison sta members, filmmakers, undergraduate students and community members celebrating the art of cinema and demonstrating continued support for Wisconsin filmmakers.

The Wisconsin Film Festival celebrates both local and international filmmakers. The festival screens a variety of films from April 14 to April 20. This year, the festival is presenting over 160 films, from animated features to documentary shorts; anyone would be guaranteed to find at least one film they enjoy at the festival.

The night began with Wisconsin Film Festival Director of Operations Ben Resier, who joined the film festival sta in 2012. After he joined, Resier began to expand the festival’s community outreach and set up programs encouraging elementary, middle and high school students to attend showings. He also aided in keeping the film festival alive during the COVID-19 pandemic by negotiating with di erent filmmakers to allow for 24 free online screenings of short films.

Resier began his speech by giv-

ing everyone a warm welcome to the event. He thanked many individuals, including District 11 Alder Bill Tishler, who helped reopen the recently closed Hilldale AMC movie theater to show films for the festival one last time.

Tishler explained why that theater is so important to him — it “was the first movie theater [he] went to as a child,” which led him to fall in love with cinema and pursue his passion in college, where he received a communication arts degree.

The opening ceremony concluded with the presentation of

the Golden Badger Awards — three awards recognizing the most accomplished professional Wisconsin filmmakers. To be eligible for this award, at least onethird of a given film must have been shot in Wisconsin, and at least one member of the film’s creative team either had to be a Wisconsin native, a former resident of Wisconsin for one or more years, an alum currently enrolled in a Wisconsin university or college or a current resident of Wisconsin.

This year’s winners were the short films “Carol & Janet,” directed by Andrea Rosen, “Friday Night

Blind,” directed by Scott Krahn and Robb Fischer and “Of Wood” directed by Owen Klatte. Unfortunately, all of these films have already screened at the festival, but a broader release should happen in the future.

“Carol & Janet” is about a relationship between two friends who work a warehouse job and goof around — until a few surprises test their friendship. “Friday Night Blind” features a group of three blind women who get together and bowl every week in the Milwaukee Beer Barrels Blind Bowling League.

“Of Wood ‘’ is told through the medium of animated wood carvings

that tell the story of mankind and its relationship to paper.

After the awards presentation, attendees were asked to move to Shannon Hall, where an extensive line of people had been eagerly waiting to see the first film of the festival, “Luxembourg, Luxembourg.” Before the film’s start, the film festival’s director Kelley Conway gave a short presentation thanking everyone for their attendance, and Resier presented short clips from this year’s Golden Badger Award winners.

At the beginning of “Luxembourg, Luxembourg,” I witnessed the true power of cinema among a crowd of over 600 individuals. Never before have I experienced a film in a theater with so many people, and hearing everyone laugh and sigh in unison at the events on screen was a truly magical and unifying experience. Just as Conway said in her opening statement, the film industry is not dead — contrary to what people may say. Both Resier and Conway pointed out that what makes the film festival so unique are the people attending and the wonderful spirit they bring with them that keeps the festival going.

I had a delightful time talking to Wisconsin filmmakers and film enthusiasts alike and highly recommend attending at least one film during the festival. It is an experience you do not want to miss. And as an added bonus, admission is free for university students with presentation of a student ID.

‘Hundreds of Beavers,’ thousands of laughs at the 25th Wisconsin Film Festival

By Paige Stevenson STAFF WRITER

When you hear a movie title like “Hundreds of Beavers,” do you envision a nature documentary? A children’s story? Or an action movie set to a dynamic score filled with squeamish moments, humor, love and beavers fast-forwarding the advancement of science and technology?

“Hundreds of Beavers,” directed by Mike Cheslik, was not what I expected it to be, even though it was named one of “Wisconsin’s Own” by the festival. But like many others in the crowded theater for the 25th Wisconsin Film Festival, I enjoyed many laughs and left the theater feeling cinematically satisfied.

The film features a mix of live-action and animation shot entirely in black and white. Although the movie is set in a snowy wilderness, there aren’t any animals — besides those in the form of mascot suits. What also surprised me was the lack of dialogue. Instead, the story was told through the action-packed visuals, the soundtrack and exaggerated mannerisms of the main character.

The film’s main character is an apple cider farmer who — after a tragic accident of his own accord — is forced to gain the skills necessary to overcome the beavers of the forest and ends up finding love. The storyline is quirky in the best way possible, and this is only heightened by the antics — such as figuring out the best way to trap beavers, maneuvering a beaver-

built empire and outsmarting the various woodland creatures — the main character finds himself in.

Given the film’s silliness and lack of dialogue, watching “Hundreds of Beavers” reminded me a lot of “Wallace and Gromit” or “Shaun the Sheep,” both of which feature similarly odd and whimsical storylines with comedic yet idiotic actions from lovable characters. Even though I wouldn’t categorize “Hundreds of Beavers” as a kids movie, the stop motion-esque cinematography and cartoonish graphics woven throughout the storyline evoked a sense of nostalgia. Not only did these details help move the film along, but they added charm to the sometimes crude jokes and subject matter.

Without giving too much away, most of the character’s actions revolve around killing beavers or other animals, which made for some pretty creative but gross scenes. They weren’t overly horrific or gruesome, but they did make you sit back and think, “Oh, ouch.” There were also some sexual undertones to the story, but nothing “R-rated.” Instead, these moments were comedic and lighthearted. Like the rest of the film, they weren’t meant to be taken too seriously and instead were there to make audiences laugh.

Although I enjoyed the film overall, my main critiques would pertain to pacing. It wasn’t a terribly long movie by any means, but sometimes action scenes felt drawn out or repetitive. While this was sometimes

done for comedic purposes, it made the story feel stagnant in other scenarios.

Aside from this one critique, I thoroughly enjoyed my viewing of “Hundreds of Beavers” and thought it was a perfect example of the value and draw of the Wisconsin Film Festival. It was also named a “Wisconsin’s Own” film, as its filming took place in Wisconsin and its subject matter loosely dealt with the fur trade, which was heavily important to Wisconsin history and culture. “Hundreds

of Beavers” di ered greatly from what is currently popular in the film industry but was still incredibly well-made and held the audience’s attention. This movie was charming, artsy and showcased local talent in a playful manner that could be enjoyed by many.

If the silly beaver suits didn’t draw you in for this screening of “Hundreds of Beavers,” I highly recommend enjoying it alongside some apple cider for a lighthearted, comedic evening.

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The wake up call transphobes needed

By Angela Olen STAFF WRITER

Pepsi, Nike and Kellog are three major companies that have used celebrity endorsements for marketing purposes. Nike has even used celebrities as the face of their advertisements supporting equality in sports — including famous athletes Colin Kaepernick and Serena Williams. While they received backlash for these ads released in 2020, the company still made roughly $37.4 billion that year.

More recently, brewing company Anheuser-Busch decided to take part in this style of marketing strategy, revealing a new Bud Light partner in April. As of April 12, Anheuser-Busch lost approximately $6 billion in revenue.

So why should AnheuserBusch’s celebrity endorsement be treated any differently than other brands utilizing influencer marketing? The reason: the celebrity Anheuser-Busch chose to promote their beer was Dylan Mulvaney — a transgender TikTok influencer.

On April 1, Mulvaney posted a TikTok to her roughly 10 million followers in which she drank a Bud Light and captioned the video “#budlightpartner.” Almost instantly, both Mulvaney and Bud Light received major backlash. Most notably, American musician Kid Rock posted a video of

himself sporting an assault rifle and MAGA hat before shooting cases of the beer. The video got over 50,000 retweets, sparking others to share their similar views on the transgender star’s endorsement and leading to a boycott of Anheuser-Busch products.

The issue boils down to exactly why this specific endorsement has received so much hate, enough hate to lead to a boycott of AnheuserBusch and Bud Light — and a $6 billion loss in stocks and profits. Simply put, transphobia is seen as socially acceptable in the United States.

People began boycotting one of the most popular beer brands because they partnered with a transgender woman. Would this have happened if a cisgender celebrity was in an advertisement for AnheuserBusch? Likely not, because both TV personality Guy Fieri and rapper Post Malone have starred in Bud Light seltzer commercials without any violent backlash resulting in billions of dollars in losses.

Living in the age of social media, it has become easier for people to spread dangerous messages or post vicious comments. Hate spreads like wildfire, as seen through Kid Rock’s video or even with broadcasts from Fox News about Bud Light’s advertisement. If someone disagrees

with something, or if they don’t support a person’s identity, they can make their opinions known by simply hitting a button and releasing it for the

Mulvaney’s partnership with Bud Light is just the beginning of transgender people gaining visibility.

A common misconception is

LGBTQ+ community, I remember seeing Mulvaney’s Bud Light sponsorship and feeling an overwhelming sense of pride (pun intended). Gay and transgender individuals are constantly fighting for representation. Nine years ago, Michael Sam was the first openly gay man drafted into the NFL. Kim Petras was the first transgender woman in 50 years to win a Grammy. While these examples come from a much larger scale — the category of famous transgender and gay individuals — it is evident LGBTQ+ people do not receive the recognition, representation and support that we deserve.

public to see.

It seems these individuals boycotting Bud Light aren’t aware of the countless other brands that support LGBTQ+ rights. The Walt Disney Company, Vans, Levi’s and Target are just some of the companies that have expressed support towards the LGBTQ+ community. Some companies have even used profits to donate to LGBTQ+ organizations and charities. While still receiving backlash, none of these companies seemed to suffer the massive boycott Anheuser-Busch did.

It is imperative for transphobes to understand this:

that the number of LGBTQ+ people in our population has grown exponentially in the last few decades. The number of individuals identifying as gay and trans is not the result of drag races or LGBTQ+ education in schools. Rather, people are becoming more comfortable with their identities. If there are millions of gay and transgender persons — as well as large numbers of allies supporting equality for transgender individuals — does this mean transphobes truly are blinded by their hate? Or, have they just been allowed to be hateful for too long? Maybe it’s both.

As a woman who is part of the

Mulvaney has opened doors for companies — and not just ones selling beer. While some companies may be fearful of experiencing a boycott of their products, this specific celebrity endorsement has paved the way for other brands to partner with more underrepresented groups. More importantly, her advertisement for Bud Light represents our evolving society, as more transgender individuals find their spotlight in ads, social media, television and the music industry.

Angela Olen is a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Madison studying Psychology and English. Do you agree that Dylan Mulvaney has opened doors for companies?

The problem with local political adveritising

By Sophia Piolanti STAFF WRITER

Almost everyone in Wisconsin was aware of the election on April 4. As a Madison resident, I was bombarded with calls, texts, YouTube advertisements and flyers on my door. All election media sent my way was either about the Supreme Court, or Madison mayoral and City Council candidates. I had not seen one piece of accessible, educational text referencing

the referendums on the ballot.

After doing extensive research, I was confident in how I would be voting. Unfortunately, many peers I spoke to after leaving the polls were not. They expressed confusion and frustration — even after spending considerable time and effort deciphering the language of the four referendums.

Democracy doesn’t work unless it is accessible to every citizen, including those who aren’t fluent in the letter of

the law. Even I, a political science student, had to conduct my own research and seek out a simpler formatting of the referendum questions to make an informed decision. So, why aren’t referendums included in popular political advertising?

I understand the public is more familiar with Supreme Court candidates, and it is easier to encourage people to vote when they feel something important is at stake. Nevertheless, referendums

are an important part of political decision-making. Even if they are solely advisory, how we vote on a referendum guides our elected leaders to make decisions based on what they think our interests are as their constituents.

However, referendums — if not properly understood by those voting — are pointless. Checking a random “Yes” or “No” on the ballot may mislead government officials into believing a voter wants them to take action, when in reality, the voter might have preferred that specific issue be left alone.

During referendum campaigns, “If you don’t know, vote no” is a popular slogan. However, this is a disastrous way to look at voting — especially if authors of referendums know people are most likely to vote “No” if the language is too confusing. This could result in the referendum being biased toward one answer.

Members of the government might see these “accidental votes” as the voter’s fault — that the voter should have done more research or been able to comprehend the language on the ballot. Those assumptions directly attack the premise of democracy. Some people may not have internet access or the legal education required to decipher such complicated language. People who fit into

these categories should never be excluded from the democratic process.

Whether they are private companies or officials paying to publicize their personal political agenda, it boils down to the fault of the advertisers. Those calls, texts, YouTube advertisements and flyers I received the weeks before the election should have included statements about other items on the ballot. Assumptions should never be made about the voter and their ability to make an informed decision.

Political advertising must change to reflect the needs and wants of every citizen.

The referendums Wisconsin, and specifically Madison, residents voted on directly affect members of our community. Those affected might not have even known the referendums applied to them. So, if you are already phone banking or approaching people on the street asking for their vote, take the time to make sure they know exactly what they are voting for. We are responsible for each other.

Sofia Piolanti is a freshman studying Political Science at the University of WisconsinMadison. Do you agree that referendums need reform? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com

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Badgers squander opportunities, come up short versus conference leaders

By Justin Alpert SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Northwestern (28-9, 13-1) swept the weekend series over Wisconsin (22-14, 7-5) at Goodman Diamond. That said, the Badgers kept each game close and proved they aren’t far behind elite conference opponents like the Wildcats.

Wisconsin had rolled through its first nine Big Ten matchups in dominant fashion, going 7-2 against Michigan State, Illinois and Purdue — three of the conference’s worst teams. The Big Ten-leading and 20th-ranked Northwestern Wildcats were sure to offer stiffer competition when they came to Madison for a three-game set this weekend, and that they did.

Consistent across the three games was Wisconsin falling behind early. The Badgers, who’ve made a habit of building early leads in 2023, couldn’t get their offense going until the later innings, if ever.

Friday | 1-0 L

Starter Maddie Schwartz lost the strike zone in the second inning. The trusty veteran hit a batter, walked three and gifted Northwestern what proved to be the game’s only run.

Schwartz (L, 8-8) then settled in and completed an impressive, seven-inning start with five strikeouts, four walks and four hits allowed.

Wisconsin matched Northwestern’s four-hit total and squandered a few opportunities with runners in scoring position. The most glaring was the sixth inning, when a Kayla Konwent walk and singles by Brooke Kuffel and Ellie Hubbard loaded the bases with nobody out.

Anything from a slow roller to a fly ball would’ve tied the game and a base hit likely would’ve given Wisconsin the lead, but Christaana Angelopulos struck out looking. Peyton Bannon then grounded into a double play to end the inning.

The Badgers went quietly in a 1-2-3 seventh inning and

lost the winnable series opener.

Northwestern’s Lauren Boyd and Danielle Williams (W, 10-1) combined to strike out nine Badgers while walking just two.

Saturday | 6-3 L

Paytn Monticelli, who allowed three runs in four innings of Wednesday’s doubleheader versus St. Thomas, started Saturday’s first game. Like Schwartz, the freshman’s control issues gave Northwestern an early lead — two walks and a hit-by-pitch put the Wildcats up 1-0 in the second inning.

Unlike Schwartz, however, Monticelli (L, 5-2) was unable to settle in and exited in the third inning after allowing a pair of two-out hits and a second run.

The Badgers finally scored in the bottom of the third as Katie Keller turned on an inside pitch and launched a no-doubter to

right field.

Tessa Magnanimo struggled in relief, allowing a solo home run in the fifth and three more runs in the sixth. Keller homered again in the seventh to cut Wisconsin’s deficit to 6-3. A Konwent walk and Kuffel single brought the tying run to the plate with nobody out, but the middle of the order couldn’t keep the rally going.

Three runs — all thanks to Keller — was an underwhelming total considering Wildcat starter Cami Henry’s lack of control. Henry (W, 10-1) walked five batters and hit one in sixplus innings.

Wisconsin made seven fly-ball outs versus Henry, though, consistently failing to advance runners and capitalize on the free passes.

Saturday | 4-3 L

Northwestern opened the

scoring once again with three unearned fourth-inning runs off Schwartz. Second baseman Rylie Crane’s error opened the door for Northwestern’s rally. The freshman Crane has impressed with a .274 average, but her defense has proven costly on various occasions.

The Badgers responded with one run on Ellie Hubbard’s RBI single in the bottom of the fourth. It likely would’ve scored two had pinch-runner Bree Mitchell held up at third on the previous play. Mitchell had been thrown out trying to score from first on a wall-ball double by Keller.

Wisconsin still trailed 3-1 with two outs in the seventh when pinch-hitter Emily Bojan floated a bloop single to right. Molly Schlosser followed with a game-tying blast to center field — excellent timing for the sophomore’s first career home run.

The series finale was Schwartz’s game to win or lose, and she finally faltered in the top of the ninth. Shortstop Maeve Nelson drew a leadoff walk and came around to score on a sacrifice fly, giving the Wildcats a 4-3 lead.

Down to their final out once again, the Badgers threatened again with an Ava Kuszak double. Northwestern intentionally walked Kownent, opting to instead face the red-hot Keller. Williams (W, 11-1) struck Keller out to secure the weekend sweep. Schwartz (L, 8-9) got unlucky in her nine-inning, 124pitch effort.

A step behind

To be considered among the Big Ten’s best, Wisconsin must find ways to advance runners and manufacture runs in close

games like these.

The Badgers’ unremarkable speed is one factor and isn’t an easy midseason fix. Wisconsin ranks 10th in the conference with 29 stolen bases. Their 65 percent success rate ranks last, though, so running more often may not be a solution.

Despite the three losses, there were a lot of positives about Wisconsin’s performance this weekend.

The Badgers actually outhit Northwestern 20-19 and drew 12 walks to the Wildcats’ nine — this suggests both Wisconsin’s pitchers and hitters can compete with the Big Ten leaders.

Keller clearly wasn’t fazed by Northwestern’s formidable pitching staff in her two-homer Saturday performance.

In fact, the first baseman has been a tough out for all opponents lately. Over her last 10 games Keller has hit .467 with three doubles, four home runs, five walks and nine RBI while striking out just four times. Keller now boasts a 1.054 OPS and will be an essential piece of Wisconsin’s postseason push.

Schlosser appears to be heating up as well, going 7-for-15 with four RBI over the last five games. Typically hitting ninth in the order, Schlosser is setting up Keller, Konwent and Kuffel for more RBI opportunities while putting up runs on her own, as seen with the game-tying home run Saturday.

Wisconsin, now fifth in the Big Ten standings, will look to get back in the win column with a Wednesday doubleheader versus ninth-place Minnesota (2516, 6-6) at Goodman Diamond.

The Badgers will then hit the road for consecutive weekend series at Nebraska (30-13, 10-4) and Maryland (29-13,

6-8).

After starting the season with a 7-2 conference record, Badger softball suffered three consecutive losses against the Northwestern Wildcats, who lead the Big Ten and rank within the top-20 teams in the country.

TAYLOR WOLFRAM/THE DAILY CARDINAL

TAYLOR WOLFRAM/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Wisconsin bats were not able to keep up with the Wildcats, only scoring six runs across three games compared to Northwestern's 11.