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Badger women dominate
Leaves of the season
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+Science, page 6
Wisconsin Women in Government fight for a ‘seat at the table’ in statewide politics By Clare McManamon SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
This year has been recordbreaking for the Wisconsin state government, with 31% of legislators identifying as women, according to the Labor Reference Bureau. Yet nationally, Wisconsin lags behind other states, ranking 22nd in its proportion of female state legislators. The members of Wisconsin Women in Government are working to fix this by encouraging young women to follow their political aspirations and career goals. Crystal Potts and Kathy Blumenfeld — two women working in Wisconsin government — are on opposite ends of the political spectrum and come from very different backgrounds. Potts is the director of state relations for the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She previously worked for the Republican Party of Wisconsin and as chief of staff for state Sen. Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green). Blumenfeld spent the majority of her career in the private sector but now serves in Gov. Tony Evers’ cabinet as the Secretary of the Department of Financial Institutions. “Other than being a wife, mother, family member and friend, [being a woman in government] is everything to me because it is where things happen,” Potts said. Despite their differing political ideologies, Potts and Blumenfeld agree that politics needs more racial and gender diversity. They both said that the Democratic and Republican parties are not doing enough to recruit underrepresented groups to government. As an Asian American woman who works in government, Potts said that race is a “deeply personal” subject to her. “I think that there are assumptions made about people of color
and where they land on the political spectrum. I don’t see a real authentic effort made by either political party to reach out to women of color and communities of color,” Potts said. “Like why are you reaching out? It’s because you want my vote, right? You want my support, but what is it exactly that you care about that you know is related to that part of me?” Blumenfeld said the lack of
advises state government officials on ways to “improve equity and inclusion for Wisconsinites across the state and in all sectors.” The order also requires state agencies to develop equity and inclusion action plans. According to Blumenfeld, the Department of Financial Institutions has its own equity and inclusion team that trains and educates its employees. Women’s self-perceptions may
seeing women in politics. I think that there’s a perception issue that it is a man’s world, and that it is a man’s place to make those types of decisions,” Potts said. The Division of Extension’s study concludes that women are more likely to advocate for family issues while in office than men, stating that it is “critical” that women’s voices are heard in the political process. As a young mother raising
COURTESY OF UW ARCHIVES
Crystal Potts (left) and Kathy Blumenfeld (right) are working to destroy stereotypes of US male dominated legislature, in WI. diversity in politics is “fixable.” She credited Evers for his “real tangible efforts” to improve inclusion in government, using his cabinet as an example of gender diversity. “Nearly half of our cabinet is women. We all meet regularly every month, and we call ourselves the cabinet sisters,” Blumenfeld said. In 2019, Gov. Evers signed Executive Order #59 which created the Governor’s Advisory Council on Equity and Inclusion. The council
prevent them from entering politics. The UW-Madison Division of Extension found that women ran for political office less often than men because of a combination of perceived and systemic barriers. Perceived barriers, such as a lack of self-confidence or worries about time away from family, play a larger role than systemic barriers in keeping women out of political office. “I think that whether it’s Democrat or Republican, I just like
two sons, Potts said she is “very privileged” because of her job’s flexibility and her husband’s commitment to equal co-parenting. She recognizes that other mothers may not have the same level of support and may be forced to stay home and not pursue their careers. According to Potts, until the gender composition of government changes, politics will continue to be dominated by policies that “do not include women at the table.”
Potts and Blumenfeld are both involved with Wisconsin Women in Government (WWIG), a bi-partisan volunteer organization that provides scholarships and mentorship services to young women interested in careers in public service. According to WWIG board member and communications director for the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services Jennifer Garrett, the non-profit issues scholarships for young women to attend Badger Girls State, a leadership and government conference for high school girls, as well as scholarships for undergraduates studying government-related fields. Garrett’s favorite part of WWIG is that it provides a space for women across the political spectrum to come together and work collaboratively on projects. Blumenfeld, who also serves on WWIG’s board, joined the non-profit as a way to pass on her expertise to young women in the early stages of their political careers. “I feel like I have a heavy weight on my shoulder to help make it easier for those behind me,” Blumenfeld said. “I am involved with Wisconsin Women in Government because I know that it is a place where I can influence and help.” Looking to the future of women in politics, Potts, Blumenfeld and Garrett said that more progress needs to be made in order to reach gender parity in government. Potts encourages young women to go forth with confidence in their political careers. “Jump in. You are well equipped,” Potts said. “Your voice is so valuable and it is valued in this process. Don’t ever let anyone make you think or make you feel otherwise because we are the future.”
Madison man convicted of crimes related to insurrection By Jackson Mozena CITY EDITOR
A Madison resident, 29-yearold Brandon Nelson, pled guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor charge committed in relation to the Jan. 6 insurrection in Washington, D.C. Nelson was charged by a U.S. District Court on the charge of “protesting, picketing or demonstrating” inside a capitol building, for which he faces a maximum of six month sentence in federal prison and a fine up to $5,000. According to prosecutors, Nelson and a national guardsman
from Lacrosse, 24-year-old Abram Markofski, traveled from Wisconsin to Washington D.C. to attend the rally where Donald Trump contested the results of the 2020 presidential election which later devolved into an attempted act of insurrection. While at the insurrection, Nelson and Markofski were identified using GPS and surveillance technology in addition to an acquaintance of Nelson providing an anonymous tip to authorities regarding the actions of the two men. During Nelson’s trial, prosecutors additionally presented communica-
tions between Nelson and Markofski indicating their active participation in the insurrection on January 6. According to prosecutors, Nelson texted Markofski on Jan. 7, “We held the line … No backing down,” to which Markofski replied, “F**k. Yeah, brother is Patriots won’t go down without a fight.” Markofski was similarly convicted of protesting, picketing or demonstrating inside a capitol building with Markofski additionally agreeing to be interviewed by law enforcement in order to help identify additional rioters.
The conviction of Markofski and Nelson marks seven Wisconsinites to be convicted on charges related to the
Jan. 6 insurrection out of more than 590 total convictions made in relation to the incident.
COURTESY OF IRENA CLARKOWSKI
Two men were charged with crimes related to the storming of the capitol in January.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”
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Thursday, September 16, 2021
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Ironman triathlon visits Madison on Sunday An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 131, Issue 4
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By Ellie Nowakowski CAMPUS EDITOR
The Ironman — a triathlon consisting of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile run — came to Madison Sunday. Of the nearly 2,000 competitors, junior Harry Panagakis was among less than 50 men between ages 18-24 racing. Panagakis raised more than $11,000 for the Lymphoma Research Foundation, starting his fundraising just a week before his race. “I was very grateful for all of the support I had along the way,” Panagakis said. Panagakis was awarded the Mike Lanphere spirit award, a scholarship in honor of his lacrosse coach’s best friend who passed away from Lymphoma during his senior year of high school. With the help of Lanphere’s mom, Panagakis set up a page for people to donate. “Anytime that I have the opportunity to help them in any way, I try and do whatever I can,” Panagakis said. “I figured that this was a decently large platform and it would probably be a pretty good opportunity to raise some money and have it go to a good cause.” Lanphere’s lacrosse jersey number was 11, and Panagakis raised $11,000. “It kind of just fit,” he said. “I thought that was kind of cool because I got smoked by a whole bunch of older people so props to them,” Panagakis reflected.
A combination of COVID19 boredom, and a solidified 9-to-5 schedule while working at a co-op program through the engineering major, made it possible for Panagakis to train for the race. “I wanted something that kind of scared me a little bit,” Panagakis said. “It was something that I didn’t know if I was going to be able to do as I was training for it. As I continued to progress, I had no idea, and even an hour before the race it was like, ‘I think I can do it, but I guess we’ll find out.’” The race was out of Panagakis’s comfort zone, who played a lot of sports growing up, but never anything that involved endurance. A year COURTESY OF IRONMAN WISCONSIN and a half ago, Panagakis suffered from a back injury and Athletes gathered to participate in a grueling ironman triatholon in Wisconsin capital. began swimming during his recovery as a way of staying active. permitted to wear earbuds, but first portion of the race, the swim. “I thought I was a pretty fit the atmosphere of the Wisconsin Panagakis was confident with his person at that time, I had always competition pushed Panagakis biking after training, but found lifted weights and played sports through the race. that the final leg, the run, was the and all that stuff,” Panagakis said. “Ironman Wisconsin is pretty most challenging to prepare for. “But just swimming 25 meters famous for how many people show “You don’t know how your across the pool, I was winded out up and support,” Panagakis said. body’s going to react running of my mind.” “In the environment it was like after you’ve swam and biked When his back began to feel it was very exciting. You almost those distances, so having that better, Panagakis set small goals, didn’t even need the music.” extra support of locals and friends seeing how far he could go startPanagakis had family drive and family definitely helped,” ing from one length to pushing in from the Chicago suburbs and Panagkis said. himself to swim a mile. At the friends from school show up to Panagakis finished 27th in his time thought he could progress watch him race, especially dur- category and 712th overall, taking up to the 2.4 miles needed for the ing the long run when he needed 13 hours, 19 minutes and 19 secIronman race. it most. Adrenaline or fear made onds to complete the race. Ironman competitors aren’t it easiest to be motivated for the
With Greek life recruitment underway, rushing students discuss new COVID-19 protocols By Abby Bradbury STAFF WRITER
The beginning of the fall semester signals the return of clubs and campus organizations — one of the largest being Greek life. With hundreds of students rushing for fraternities and sororities each fall, many adjustments have been made to the routine rush process to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks within the campus community. In accordance with UW-Madison and Dane County policies, in-person rush events are permitted for the first time in over a year and a half. Both sororities and fraternities have implemented a vaccine/testing requirement for those hoping to rush: to go through recruitment, one must submit their vaccine record in UHS or have a negative
COVID-19 test three days prior to rush. Students rushing are also required to wear masks at any indoor event, uniform with the school’s mask policy. However, sororities are taking additional steps to avoid COVID-19 exposure and keep students safe. “Although PHA is delighted to finally host primary recruitment partially in-person this year, we are definitely still taking COVID-19 into account to continue to protect students, faculty and the Madison community,” UW-Madison Panhellenic Association President Chirawan Murphy said. The Panhellenic Association opted for a virtual introduction to the rush process by having the first round of rush carried out through a video format.
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COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
Students contemplate how COVID-19 will impact Greek rushing, trying their best.
“During first rounds we usually see larger potential new member party sizes, so we are instead giving women going through recruitment a chance to record a video of themselves and the Chapters will in turn submit videos showing what they are all about,” said Murphy. Recruitment chairs for each sorority chapter have also created “video teams” for those rushing to still participate and meet members via Zoom if they are concerned about going to in-person events or are actively quarantining. Though first meeting sorority chapters virtually isn’t ideal, it is a way to address the COVID-19 related concerns of prospective members, sorority members and the larger campus community. “I think they’re taking as much of a precaution as they can, considering the first round was online, as controversial and kind of weird as it was,” said Kara, a freshman at UW currently going through the sorority rush process. “I think it was probably the best way to avoid exposures.” Conversely, most fraternities are hosting all in-person rush events at their chapter houses and other locations. Many fraternities are choosing to host rush events outside when possible to reduce the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks, and to allow conversations without masks. The Interfraternity Council of UW-Madison recently shared their
updated COVID-19 protocol and policies. Chapters are expected to check all potential new member’s UHS accounts to ensure they have met the vaccination and/or testing requirement before recruitment. Additionally, fraternity members are to meet these same prerequisites before rush begins. These expected policies are on par with the school’s mandates. “The IFC is taking COVID as seriously as the University and Dane County,” said Interfraternal Council President Liam McClean. “Additionally, the council is providing masks and hand sanitizer to support our chapters to meet these standards.” McClean notes the importance of continuing to mask up at all indoor events and taking precautions seriously, despite the fatigue many students are facing when it comes to COVID-19 prevention measures. “The ability to gather in person is now a precious privilege and to take it for granted is to be apathetic to our Badger community,” said McClean. “We have all the tools to host responsible and safe recruitment events and I believe we can fully achieve that.” Fall 2021 recruitment for the Panhellenic Association began last week while official chapter recruitment events for the IFC begin on Friday, Sept. 17. Bid Days for both organizations will occur the week of Sept. 26.
Thursday, September 16, 2021
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Games to play in your dorm when Cards Against Humanity gets old than Cards Against Humanity. But with rules this simple, there’s no easier way to learn your neighbors’ poker faces.
By Jeffery Brown STAFF WRITER
Cards Against Humanity has become a mainstay of dorm life. It’s a great way to get to know your neighbors and be a little raunchy while you’re at it, but it’s not for everyone and it can certainly get old. Whatever the reason you have for putting this classic card game back on the shelf, here are some games, in no particular order, to play instead of Cards Against Humanity. These games have been chosen for their player count and ease of teaching to others, as well as the ways they do what good games do: encourage players to be creative and have fun.
Wavelength
Monikers
This game may remind you of charades because of the need to act things out, but that’s where the similarities end. Each player is dealt 10 cards from which they pick their favorite five. All the chosen cards get compiled into the play deck and the rest are returned to the box. Each player gets one minute to get their team to guess as many cards as they can, and they can use as many words, sounds and gestures as they want — for the first round. After all cards have been guessed, the next round begins with the same cards but this time, only one word can be used. That word can be repeated as many times as desired, but no sounds or gestures are permitted. Then in the third round, no words can be used but gestures are highly encouraged. And extra rounds can be added on top of that including: only sounds, only facial expressions or whatever else you can think of. Beyond being open to interpretation, the game is college budget friendly. While it can be purchased, the cards are publicly available to be printed and cut out if you’re feeling thrifty. Or, you could even copy down the list of cards and cut them out
COURTESY OF PENTY PHOTOGRAPHY/SHUTTERSTOCK
Classic black and white Cards Against Humanity cards are sprawled acros a wooden table waiting for the game to begin to create your own deck/hat of subjects. Monikers asks everyone to get creative, get silly and think outside the box, and is overall a wonderful alternative to Cards Against Humanity.
A Fake Artist Goes to New York
Just like Monikers, this can be purchased as an official set or played with nearby resources. This is a hidden-role game, meaning one person will be the fake artist trying to fit in and everyone else will be trying to figure out who it is. This is a drawing game that may work great on your run-ofthe-mill dorm whiteboard, but would also be great on paper. Each player gets a marker with a unique color and then a card that they keep secret. One player’s card will say that they are the fake artist and everyone else’s will have the same thing written on it. That “thing” is what the artists will be working to draw together. The players will take turns drawing one line — a line meaning
that they do not lift their marker — until everyone has added two lines. The fake artist will also go but they will not know what is being drawn. After everyone has drawn two lines, a vote is conducted and if the fake artist receives the most votes, the real artists win. However, the fake artist then gets one guess at what the drawing is, and if they guess correctly, they win instead. So a dilemma is formed in trying to keep the image abstract while also trying to demonstrate that you know what the drawing is. A Fake Artist Goes to New York demands creativity and originality, making it worth a try over Cards Against Humanity.
Skull
Once again, this game can be played with an official set or can be made with things you have around. Each player will have four cards: three with flowers and one with a skull. A round starts with all players putting one card of their choice face down in front of them. Then, you go around
the table with each player either placing another card or saying a number representing how many cards from around the table they think they can reveal without hitting a skull. Doing this starts the bidding ad anyone at the table can raise them by saying a higher number. Once the highest bidder is determined, that player must first reveal all of their cards; if any is a skull they lose. If not, they reveal anyone else’s card from around the table, one at a time, counting as they go. If they can reach the number they bet they could, they get 1 point. But if they reveal a skull at any point, they immediately stop and have one of their cards discarded at random. If they lose all four of their cards, they are out of the game. Additionally, each time they lose a card — the chance to lose their skull — their only way to get others out gets greater. The first player to 2 points wins. Skull is bluffing in its purest form and may be more of an alternative to poker
This is the only game of the four on this list that requires purchasing the game (unless you are quite crafty). In Wavelength, one player sees a card with opposites on it such as wet and dry or clean and dirty. They spin a needle to a random point between these and secretly reveal it to themselves. They then provide one word to their team to use to guess where the needle is on the spectrum between the opposites. This is the beauty of the game. With the needle usually finding itself in the gray area, a surprisingly intimate understanding of each others’ thought processes is needed to deduce what the person means. Where does “socks” go on a scale of wet to dry? How dirty is spaghetti? Wavelength is another social game that will make you forget that you were supposed to be keeping score because of how interesting and entertaining it is. More importantly, what other game will make you concerned about how wet your roommate thinks socks are supposed to be? I hope this helps you find something to play with those around you: dorm neighbors, new club members, a study group or whomever you want to play a game with. Lastly, something to keep in mind if you are so inclined to purchase any of these is that game stores exist in Madison and the surrounding area (such as Netherworld Games on West Mifflin St.) that may be worth looking into rather than ordering from large companies!
Honorable Mentions:
Cockroach Poker Medium Dixit Codenames Coyote One Night Ultimate Werewolf
Bartees Strange tears it up By Amelia Zollner STAFF WRITER
As the son of an opera singer, and a self-proclaimed fan of artists ranging from MF DOOM to The National, rising artist Bartees Strange is no stranger to various genres. It makes sense, then, that his set at the Memorial Union Terrace on Sept. 12 was somewhat of a melting pot of different musical elements from rock to folk to rap, which was perfect — there was something in store for everybody. Strange’s set followed Ganser, a Chicago band that commandeered the stage with powerful bass lines and confident lyrics. As Ganser’s set culminated in a performance of “Lucky,” the sun began to set over Lake Mendota, setting the perfect backdrop for Strange to take the stage. After taking the stage with one of his mellower songs, Strange turned things up a notch
with “Mustang,” a high-energy track and one of his strongest assets. Drummer Jordyn Blakely carried the band through Strange’s heavier tracks, like this one, serving as the backbone of the band’s incredible coordination. Although the mostly-sitting crowd — that would have better suited a coffee shop — didn’t quite match the energy of Strange’s punk-infused tunes, the band nonetheless had everybody captivated, especially thanks to Strange’s incredible vocals. He didn’t miss a single note. Throughout the set, Strange bounced between genres, switching from indie rock to R&B. “Kelly Rowland” stuck out in particular, fusing a creative rap beat with a complex guitar line and lyrics sung and rapped with mesmerizing cadence — “You don’t leave the crib you’ll miss the Strange wave.” While his heavier songs
were arguably the most memorable, hearing these slower tracks felt like Strange was finally meeting the audience at its own energy level, which was perfect for such a brisk night on the Terrace. After Strange closed out his set with “Boomer,” a celebration of individuality yet an anthem of angst, he then wrapped everything up with a quick encore at the audience’s request. It had begun to rain, though people showed no signs of caring and finally stood up to enjoy the band’s music. While Strange left with a broken guitar string and many of us with mildly soggy clothes, in the end, we also departed with a new favorite live artist as well. It’s rare that musicians actually sound better live than on the recordings, but that was exactly what happened during Strange’s set at the Terrace.
COURTESY OF JULIA LEIB/BARTEES STRANGE’S PERSONAL INSTAGRAM
Bartees Strange poses behind luscious leaves for a tropical-themed photoshoot
sports Bye week Badger football check-in 4 Thursday, September 16, 2021
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By Christian Voskuil SPORTS EDITOR
An early bye week this season means we don’t have too much to go off of, but with the Badgers not playing football this upcoming Saturday, let’s revisit those first two games and evaluate the team thus far. It was a shaky start to the season for the team ranked No. 12 in the AP’s preseason poll, to say the least. Wisconsin opened up this year’s campaign with a home game against Penn State, welcoming fans back to Camp Randall Stadium. The team came out to a loud roar, and the future looked bright for the Badgers. After an up-and-down season during 2020’s COVIDfilled season, the expectations for Wisconsin were high coming into 2021, with some predicting the Badgers could finish the regular season an undefeated 12-0. With Graham Mertz, Jalen Berger, Danny Davis III and co. a year older — and theoretically a year better — the thought was that this team would finally start producing on the offensive end in a way we haven’t seen since the Russell Wilson-led 2011 team which averaged just over 44 points per game. Those predictions came to a screeching halt during Wisconsin’s 16-10 loss to the hands of the Nittany Lions. Mertz turned the ball over three times — twice in the red zone — Berger was held off the field for an undisclosed coaching decision and no wide receiver totaled 100 yards or found the endzone. Whether it be the interception that Mertz threw from Penn State’s 8-yard line or his overthrow of a wide-open Chimere Dike in the endzone with 26 seconds left, Mertz was given opportunity after opportunity
to play hero for Wisconsin and came up short each time. With that, the Badgers started 0-1 for the first time since 2015, when Wisconsin started the sea-
averaged over seven yards per carry. Isaac Guerendo ran 92 yards, Berger 62 and freshman running back Braelon Allen added 30, as all four running
sive holding penalty. So, the Badgers are 1-1, and the hype going into the season has subsided a little. The preseason predictions of a Big Ten
TAYLOR WOLFRAM/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Defensive end Matt Henningsen celebrates after a play against Eastern Michigan last Saturday. son with a 35-17 loss to Alabama in Arlington. Wisconsin then welcomed Eastern Michigan with a great chance to bounce back from the Penn State loss and get a number in the win column, and the Badgers looked much more in tune this time around, cruising to a 34-7 win over the Eagles. Chez Mellusi once again started over Jalen Berger and looked more like a traditional Wisconsin running back this time. The junior transfer rushed for over 100 yards in the first quarter alone — finishing with 144 yards on the ground — and
backs found the endzone once. Mertz looked much better, too, completing 14 of his 17 passes without turning the ball over once, and looked way more comfortable standing in the pocket. The defense looked phenomenal — admittedly as they should against a team like Eastern Michigan. Wisconsin held the Eagles to just three first downs all game, allowed just 92 total yards of offense and only conceded one play over 10 yards. You know you’ve done a great job defensively when the second-biggest play the offense had all game was off of a defen-
Championship appearance and a Rose Bowl invite have turned into *maybe* getting into the Big Ten Championship and an Outback Bowl invite, swapping places with Penn State. The good news is that Wisconsin still has probably the easiest remaining schedule in the Big Ten. The Badgers will still get some of their most formidable Big Ten West rivals — Iowa and Northwestern — at home and Minnesota without star running back Mohammad Ibrahim. The path for Wisconsin is still plenty open, and the West Division is still within reach.
Wisconsin’s next test, an outof-conference matchup against Notre Dame at Soldier Field in Chicago on Sept. 25, will likely be the most telling. No. 12 Notre Dame is 2-0 this season but hasn’t looked like a top 15 team this season at all. With three-point wins over Florida State and Toledo — two unranked teams — the Irish at times looked more like a team whose goal is to just get into a bowl game rather than one with their sights on the College Football Playoff. Of course, the obvious storyline for the ND-UW game is former Badger turned Fighting Irish, Jack Coan. Coan joined Notre Dame this offseason as a graduate transfer leading Wisconsin to a 10-4 record in 2019, starting all 14 games before sitting out the 2020 season. If the Badgers can come out of Chicago with a win over Notre Dame, they’ll gain a lot of momentum going into the final nine regular-season games and (hopefully) the Big Ten Championship and further. My prediction for the Badgers is still mostly unchanged. I do think Wisconsin comes out of Soldier Field with a win over Notre Dame and honestly runs the rest of the table. Unfortunately, due to Ohio State’s loss to Oregon this past week, I don’t think Wisconsin can end up at the Rose Bowl, with the Rose Bowl Committee extending the invite to the Buckeyes. Even if the Badgers win the rest of their games up until the Big Ten Championship, the best bowl I could see is the Citrus Bowl, with the Outback Bowl being the more realistic option. Either way, the win over Eastern Michigan was a refreshing reminder that this team has talent, and they just need to find it at a more consistent rate.
Undefeated Badgers seek another successful weekend on the court By Taylor Smith STAFF WRITER
After a successful weekend at the Field House, the undefeated Badgers (6-0) will travel to DeKalb this weekend to face the Green Bay Phoenix (4-6) and the Northern Illinois Huskies (6-2). The Badgers have been ranked No. 2 once again, after defeating both the reigning National Champions, the Kentucky Wildcats and the Marquette Golden Eagles. The Badgers took down the No.8 Wildcats in a competitive four sets on Friday. The first two sets went well for the Badgers as they smoothly defeated the Wildcats; however, the third and fourth sets went to extra points. In the end, the Badgers were victorious, beating Kentucky 26-24 in the fourth set. The team hit a combined 61 kills on 141 attempts, 16 of those kills being from graduate student Dana Rettke. Sophomore Devyn Robinson followed closely behind Rettke with 14 kills. The win against the Wildcats was the Badgers 25th straight home game win, which dates all
the way back to Sept. 27, 2019. This winning streak ties a school record previously placed 20 years ago from Oct. 29, 1999, through Sept. 8, 2001. The Badgers will not play at home again until Oct. 1. On Sunday, the Badgers traveled in-state to Milwaukee, where they swept the Marquette Golden Eagles. Although the Badgers recorded their lowest combined hitting percentage of the season thus far (.297), they held the Golden Eagles to only .079%. Sophomore Jade Demps proved herself to be a dominant hitter, recording a season-high 14 kills during the match. Once again, the Badgers prevailed behind the service line, with a total of nine aces. Junior Izzy Ashburn led the team with four aces, followed by graduate student Lauren Barnes with three. The Badgers will start off their weekend on Friday by playing against upstate rivals, the Green Bay Phoenix. The last matchup between the Badgers and the Phoenix was back in 2018, when Wisconsin swept Green Bay at the UW Field House (25-9, 27-25, 25-15). In all three meet-
ings between the Badgers and the Phoenix, Wisconsin has won. This will be the Badgers’ first time playing the Phoenix at a neutral site. Outside hitter Alexandra Zakutney leads Green Bay in kills, averaging 3.16 kills per set, as well as leading the team in service aces, with 18 aces so far this season. Freshman libero Abby Gardner has played in all 40 sets so far this season and is averaging 4.30 digs per set. On Saturday, the Badgers will move on to face the Northern Illinois Huskies on their home court. Their last matchup was back in 2010, when the Badgers swept the Huskies in three sets. The Huskies are on a fourgame winning streak and are 3-1 at home. Junior Katie Jablonski is one to look out for, leading the team in kills and averaging 3.32 kills per set, as well as recording 2.75 digs per set. Wisconsin’s four-game road trip this weekend will begin on Friday at 6 p.m. and will continue on Saturday, also at 6 p.m. Both games will be played at Victor E. Court in DeKalb, Illinois.
TOM LYNN/WISCONSIN ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
Team during an NCAA Volleyball match against Baylor on Saturday August 28, 2021 in Madison, Wisconsin.
science STEM Major Spotlight: Health Promotion and Health Equity at UW dailycardinal.com
By JOYCE RIPHAGEN SCIENCE EDITOR
Interested in the medical field but not sure about med school, or not enthusiastic about taking lots of physics and math? You should consider majoring in Health Promotion and Health Equity. Third-year HPHE student Jordan Gao gave us the details of this fascinating field of study. To an outsider, HPHE may seem no different from the vast span of other medically-minded majors, but Gao explained what sets them apart. “I feel like a lot of medical majors are a lot more focused on research...HPHE covers that, but it’s set apart because it focuses on outreach, on day-to-day ways people can improve their wellbeing. It’s very hands-on,” she said. Students who graduate with a degree in HPHE can go into the field right away, with no need for a lengthy study at med school followed by a residency. This major is within
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the Kinesiology department in the School of Education, a placement that correlates directly with its goals. Kinesiology, as a department, focuses on health education. “We’re not so much focused on science and research as we are on education — teaching the general public about available resources,” Gao said. “Academia and research can be hard to break into, it’s inaccessible.” HPHE majors can choose a variety of elective specialties. Gao chose “Social Determinants of Health,” which explores how identity can affect wellbeing. “As a queer POC living in suburban Wisconsin, I grew up very cognizant of how socioeconomic disparities that come with being a minority are super evident in the system and directly impact access to healthcare, mental health resources or even community resources like a gym,” she explained. HPHE majors have a variety of career options in hos-
Micropipette Magic By JULIA GOZDZIEWSKI STAFF WRITER
Do you need to measure a small amount of water, blood or other mysterious liquid? Micropipettes, used to transfer amounts of liquid under 1 mL, are one of the most common tools used in laboratories to do so. For the purpose of obtaining accurate and precise data, knowing how to properly use a micropipette is essential. The adjustable micropipette is actually a Wisconsin invention! While it was developed by several people, one of its primary inventors was the late Henry Lardy, a professor of biochemistry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Be sure to thank Lardy the next time you take advantage of his handy gadget. Common micropipette sizes are 20, 100, and 1,000 microliters (commonly notated as µl), each size able to hold a mini-
mum of 1/10 of their respective marked volume. After selecting the appropriate size, turn the knob of the micropipette to adjust the volume to the specific amount needed. Firmly press and insert the end of the micropipette into a tip. Then, press down on the plunger until you feel resistance, referred to as the “first stop” of the micropipette. With your pipette now ready for use, insert the tip just below the surface of the liquid. As you slowly release pressure on the plunger, liquid will fill the micropipette up to your designated volume. To dispense of the liquid, press down until the “first stop” of resistance is felt. Pause for several seconds before continuing to press and release the liquid until empty. Having now completed the transfer, press the button next to the plunger to discard the tip. Happy pipetting!
JEFF MILLER / UW MADISON
The micropipette is an invaluable lab tool when researching.
pitals, clinics and nonprofits. There are also federal positions available working in community outreach and public health. In the short term, Gao is interested in working as an EMT. In the long-term, she’d like to get involved in outreach programs and create better infrastructure for marginalized communities to get access to healthcare. Gao emphasized that she personally wants to work in a lower-income community rather than an affluent area. “I feel like the general idea is that low-income areas are high crime, poverty ridden places and that the healthcare workers there receive low pay for a very demanding job, and that’s just not true.” Gao said. “These places need healthcare workers.” Those interested in HPHE can consult the undergraduate guide for an overview of the requirements: https:// guide.wisc.edu/undergraduate/education/kinesiology/ health-promo-health-equitybs/#text.
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BRYCE RICHTER / UW MADISON
Major in HPHE, you could have classes in the gorgeous Education building!
How do the leaves know when to change?
By JOYCE RIPHAGEN SCIENCE EDITOR
If you’ve been looking at the trees on your way to class this past week, you’ll have noticed a change in the trees around campus. The various greens are starting to fade, replaced by an array of reds, oranges and yellow. How do the leaves know when to begin changing? The leaves changing color and eventually falling is a process called “senescence.” Senescence is the last stage of the plant’s development for the season, during which cells cease operations such as photosynthesis and begin to degrade, eventually dying off. Many plants senesce in the fall, likely to increase odds of survival over the winter. This doesn’t answer our question, however: How do the leaves know when to begin senescing? Senescence is the result of
JEFF MILLER / UW MADISON
Maple leaves will begin changing color soon as they senesce. a signal cascade, or a series of chemical reactions that occur within an organism as a result of a stimulus or received signal. Other examples would include your body responding to a cut or scrape by initiating the blood clotting process. In this case, the signal for the leaves to cease carbon assimilation (photosynthesis) is the decrease in the length of the days leading up to winter. As the day length decreases, so does the availability of sunlight for use in photosynthesis. As a result, the trees signal for chlorophyll, the photosynthetic pigment in leaves that makes them green, to begin to degrade. This is why leaves change color from the base to the tip; the part of the leaf closest to the tree receives the message first. It is the degradation of chlorophyll
that allows yellow leaf pigments to shine through. But what about the reds and oranges? Instead of producing sugars, the leaves are now focused on shuttling nutrients to the stem of the tree for storage to facilitate survival over the winter and the growth of new leaves in the spring. As this occurs, macromolecules in the leaves themselves are hydrolyzed (broken down by water). This process creates new pigments that lead to a wide range of fall colours.
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opinion Eilish’s queerbating exploits minorities dailycardinal.com
By Abdullah Marei STAFF WRITER
For some of us in the world, the fight to belong somewhere in this vastly large, yet woefully vacant place has been relentless. Hurled into an endlessly turbulent expedition, some of us have been fervently yearning for the sweet comfort of an accepting community. On the other hand, some of us have been privileged enough to be planted from birth into automatic social acceptance, power and prestige. Today, communities serve as security havens, framed as hundreds of outlets aiding people in making sense of their collective experiences. Community is culture, community is civilization, community is family — or rather, community is our identity. Moreover, the tangency of such a concept is seen to materialize itself in film, books and art that reflect back as well as represent these appropriate identities. But what begins to unfold once these communities and social institutions begin to collapse, or worse, become infiltrated? Without realizing it, perhaps, Billie Eilish has not only infiltrated but exploited the LGBTQIA+ community for her personal gain and fame. After releasing an intimate music video for her new release “Lost Cause” this past pride month, the 20-year-old pop singer turned cultural icon has received very minimal backlash
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over “queerbaiting”: a marketing ploy in which heterosexual celebrities falsely orchestrate fabricated same-sexual activity on mass-media platforms to instigate controversy. The music video depicts Eilish with a group of 6 other girls engaging in several intimate interactions such as kissing and reciprocating physical affection. However, although the video has garnered some criticism, it has yet to ascend to the magnitude of needed reprimand for devaluing and fetishizing queerness. Eilish’s video perpetuates a series of damaging stereotypes: degrading behavior that previous heterosexual artists have taken advantage of for years on end. Eilish has abused her commercial presence, not for the greater good of spreading awareness, education or supporting LGBTQIA+ initiatives and campaigns, but to catapult her into a wider realm of publicity through a measure of controversy off the backs of an already prejudiced community. Despite “Lost Cause” being released during pride month, the lyrics are completely void of any mentioning of queer love, self-acceptance or the LGBTQIA+ community as a whole. Instead of bringing awareness to the queer community to normalize marginalized sexualities, Eilish selfishly exploited the community by displaying sexual ambigu-
ity to appeal to her LGBTQIA+ fans and bring in a larger audience. Not only this, but she has generated lots of press through confusing the general public on her sexuality. Her actions are only made worse after realizing that Billie is involved in a relationship with Mathew Tyler Vorcec — a man who has faced ridicule for his openly homophobic comments. It seems as though the youthful artist does not seem to value the emotions of her queer fans nor the ethical offense that she has committed towards the community as a whole. Eilish has infiltrated the community, exploited it for personal gain and misguided marginalized people that covet nothing more than authentic representation. Unfortunately, yet not surprising, the American singer has yet to receive any major criticism for her blatant exploitation of queer culture. But how can someone evade public retribution after exhibiting such derogatory actions? Simply, it is due to her place of privilege and power. When a group holds dominance, social superiority and systematic power over others, they can willingly control the narrative with which they can avoid criticism and paint other social groups as inferior or faulty. It seems as though Eilish’s whiteness and heterosexuality — two socially dominant characteristics — act as
barriers that withstand negative social affiliation and condemnation. There stands a glaring flaw when Eilish’s privilege and power allows the singer to misleadingly emulate and give an illusory perception of gay culture to a young, impressionable audience when certain artists of color still struggle with coming out. Moreover, Eilish’s actions are a direct reflection of the current exploitation of discriminated minorities by groups of higher power. In proving such, the young artist and rapper Lil Nas X was under immense heat for his recent single “Montero: Call Me by Your Name” where he had clips of explicit queer, sexual expressions. While certain critics claim that the song was banned because of religious innuendos, several other music videos and songs could be deemed blasphemous such as “God is a Woman” by Ariana Grande and “Judas” by Lady Gaga, both of which did not receive as bad of a reception as Lil Nas X’s video. It seems as though for the white artists, their privilege sheltered them from mass criticism. Accordingly, this delves into the greater generational dilemma of how bodies of power can take advantage of discriminated groups without facing consequences; this is a parasitic relationship where they feed off their backs and exploit them for further personal gain. In this
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situation, the white heterosexual woman stands towering over queer folk who are struggling to live an authentic life, living with often unaccepting parents and a system that has deemed their lives abdnormal. In spite of these existing conditions, Eilish is here — reaping the benefits from embodying a minority group while escaping all the disgrace and complexities that accompany it. It is so easy for Eilish to get away with queerbaiting while those who are not fortunate to be guarded by privilege must face the harsh reality of hate speech or possible death over their actual identities. What Eilish can choose to live out in one day is someone’s eternal struggle until they die. Billie Eilish’s whiteness and heterosexuality function as an overarching armor that resists life-altering criticism. Ultimately, bodies of power cannot simply continue to use, subjugate and ignore marginalized and underrepresented groups for fame and power. We must refuse to let this go on — enough is enough.
Abdullah Marei is a junior studying psychology. Do you agree that Billie Eilish’s new release “Lost Cause” represents attempts to queerbate a larger audience? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
Evaluation of Nasdaq’s far from progressive diversity rule By SARAH ECKHARDT STAFF WRITER
As of Aug. 6, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved Nasdaq’s diversity proposal which intends to increase the number of women and minorities serving on corporate boards. Improving diversity on corporate boards is a laudable goal. But Nasdaq’s proposal will merely create a veneer of diversity without reducing discriminatory hiring practices. The new mandate requires public companies listed on Nasdaq to have at least one woman, as well as either a racial minority or someone who identifies as LGBTQ+ on their board of directors. Nasdaq companies are mandated to report and release updated board-level diversity demographics each year and provide an explanation if they fail to meet the requirements. While noncompliant companies will not be delisted, the rules increase the pressure to improve board diversity. Because gender-diverse boards are more profitable, supporters argue that the rules will benefit shareholders. Companies with diverse boards are reportedly 43% times more likely to have above-average profits. By requiring companies to change the demographics of their board appointees, it’s possible that Nasdaq may improve the performance of companies listed on their exchange. Supporters also argue that the disproportionately male and white boards are the outcome of discrimination. At the present, 81% of Fortune 500 directors are white, and 73.5% are male. In contrast, in America as a whole, four in ten citizens identify
with a race or ethnicity other than white. It is deeply troubling that corporate leadership does not reflect the United States’ diversity. But Nasdaq’s policy is an inadequate fix to a complex issue. Instead of removing the discriminatory barriers keeping people from being successful, it forces an inefficient, top-down approach. As the majority of Americans agree, gender, race, sexual orientation and religion should not dictate what a person can and cannot do. When evaluating job candidates, we should reward merit above any external characteristics. If this was done properly, corporate leadership would be naturally diverse. The point is that hiring processes need to be reformed, instead of mandating outcomes that are themselves discriminatory. The new board diversity rule does not bring us closer to this goal. It is well documented that the board seat selection process is heavily reliant on personal connections. According to a 2017 study “Director Appointments — Is It ‘Who You Know’?” over 75% of new director appointments had personal relationships with members sitting on the board. Sustained progress on board diversity necessitates the dismantling of this system. And as it stands right now, Nasdaq’s policy does nothing to change it. The rule also does not fix any underlying issues potentially contributing to inequality seen at the top levels of American leadership. It does not fix the underinvestment in minority schools, mitigate redlining, reduce the gap in higher education between the rich and poor or curtail workplace sexual harassment. Instead, it shifts the focus away
from people’s intellectual might and professional contributions. It forces companies to evaluate a candidate by the color of their skin, by the gender they identify with and by who they are attracted to, over personal merits and capabilities. Further, corporate diversity mandates adopted in other countries have proved ineffective. In 2018, the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) required all listed companies to have at least one woman on their board of directors. Rather than awarding qualified candidates, the majority of newly hired women were reported to be either family members of board directors or were unqualified for the job. It appears that the companies did not search for genuine female talent, and the policy decreased the effectiveness of their boards. The effects of a similar policy in the context of the United States’s culture will undoubtedly be different, but negative unintended consequences are a common result of mandates. If Nasdaq wants to increase corporate diversity, it should continue working to remove barriers to success. New businesses can be built from the ground up with diversity enhancing processes and practices. It could expand the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center, an initiative that provides training and support for people starting new businesses. It could use its GoodWorks volunteering program to focus on tutoring students whose parents can’t afford private options. It could also mirror programs like YearUp and Grads of Life, objectives that provide resources to low-income individuals to help them
climb the corporate ladder. These solutions are commendable because they are focused on helping individuals, not changing demographic statistics. In changing corporate leadership directly, Nasdaq should follow a voluntary approach. Rather than pushing companies that do not meet diversity standards to restructure, Nasdaq could celebrate the accomplishments
ulus. To be consistent with our values, Americans must work together towards reducing prejudice and discrimination. Nasdaq’s diversity proposal is not a solution. It does not move us away from a society focused on race and gender when it comes to hiring practices, it does not eliminate barriers to success and it carries poten-
BRYCE RICHTER/UW MADISON ARCHIVES
of minority professionals and recognize companies who do hold diverse boards, like Milwaukee Women Inc in Wisconsin. Or it could find highly qualified board candidates and connect them with businesses looking for corporate boards, through initiatives such as TEMPO Madison’s Project REACH. These solutions draw attention to company policies it supports instead of naming and shaming those that fail to meet the determined diversity requirements. In a nation proud of its principles of individual rights, human equality and freedom of opportunity, corporate boards should not be so much less diverse than the American pop-
tial unintended consequences. While Nasdaq’s efforts are commendable, if they want to improve diversity thresholds within their businesses’ leadership boards, Nasdaq should address the underlying problems keeping people, and great companies, from reaching their potential.
Sarah Eckhardt is a junior studying economics and data science. Do you agree that Nasdaq’s policy does not address inequality in America? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com
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Nicholas Recreation Center to be turned into campus nightclub By Owen Shao ALMANAC CONTRIBUTOR
The familiar sight of bodies cascading down Bascom Hill has finally made its return to the Madison campus. In-person instruction, a highly anticipated quality for any Big Ten institution, has drastically improved the University of WisconsinMadison’s academic, communal, and visual appeal. Students find themselves relieved and more motivated than ever to tackle the fall semester. However, this recent surge in ambition has coincidently resulted in shoulder to shoulder madness at the Nicholas Recreation Center. Wet surgical masks, broad shoulders and ass puddles are all that comprise the once strictly regulated facility. The student lineup is so deep in fact that the entirety of the five-level compound is often completely in use. Threeperson lines for some obscure
muscle group machine are a common occurrence. Administrative figures within “the Nick” have proposed a solution that would not only reduce the dense population, but contribute to the University’s bottom line. This proposal aims to turn the rec center into a campus nightclub. By following the business model of Whiskeys on a Saturday, the unregulated flow of sugary alcohol is expected to make standing in a pool of sweaty strangers somewhat bearable. Students will no longer have to endure the sounds of inhaling fabric as the speakers will be blaring music on an oddly stagnated time schedule. However, due to cultural concerns, the only two songs approved by UW were “Jump Around” and “Sweet Caroline”. The financial considerations seem to check out as well. Charging a $10 Wiscard
cover for entry, the janitorial staff-turned-bouncers can easily regulate and profit from the influx of underage freshmen. Dividends from the cover charge will be compounded with basketball court rentals, floor access passes and cash from the Power House Bar. There are even rumors that a group of engineering graduate students are designing a pay-topump dumbbell rack for their thesis project. As the proposal remains in deliberation, the potential for a campus-backed nightclub seems possible. It presents an innovative revenue stream for the university that fosters a sense of exclusivity and fun — not a far cry from the brazen robbery that occurs on State Street. In the meantime, students will continue to enjoy the Nick for what it is: a place to collectively stare in the mirror with a large group of people.
GRPAHIC COURTESY OF ZOE BENDOFF
UW-Madison experiences sharp decrease in friendship as students forget that people can hear them talk shit during in-person classes By Mackenzie Moore ALMANAC CONTRIBUTOR
There were very few benefits to online classes for students over the last year and a half. However, one such benefit was priceless — the ability to mute one’s self on Zoom in order to talk shit about classmates. Since in-person classes began at UW-Madison last Wednesday, the absence of this luxury has proved harmful for the friendships of students, as people forgot that those around them can now hear everything they say. “I was sitting in my 1 p.m. class and it just happened,” said Matt Dunbar, a junior majoring in history. “Someone in my class made a joke about Napoleon being really short, and I found myself saying ‘he was average height for the time, dumb fuck.’ I don’t know why I said that — I didn’t even really care that he was wrong. I think that seeing real people on my laptop screen for so long has made me think
that in-person classes are some kind of VR experience where everyone around me is a character in a TV show.” Another student, Veronica Enson, has experienced the other side of this phenomenon. “During a lecture last Thursday, I was minding my own business when I heard a voice a couple rows back mutter that the top I was wearing was not ‘age appropriate,’” said Enson. “I continue to wear my Dora the Explorer tank top, but I refuse to work with the person who said that.” The effects of not having a real-life mute button have rippled throughout campus. For example, it is rumored that pledges for some frats and sororities are now tasked with following their upperclassmen to their classes equipped with a dish towel to stuff in their superior’s mouth if they appear as though they are about to say something particularly brutal. Professors and TAs are also
feeling the impact of the switch. “I used to be able to put my students in breakout rooms and just vent about them until it was time to come back to the main room,” said Tim Rosenthall, a professor in the biology department. “But during the discussion section the other day, I realized that people could hear me as I pondered out loud about which students looked like they were too stupid to not drop the class. That being said, eight students in that section dropped the class by Monday, so I must’ve been right.” However, as with Emily Brenner, some good has come out of this. “I was scrolling through my phone before class when somebody noticed that I was reading the Badger Herald,” said Brenner. “I overheard them say ‘Oh man, she would be get-
ting much higher quality journalism if she would just read the Daily Cardinal instead.’” “I decided to give it a try, and now I feel like I’m way more informed and am no longer dealing with the boredom that I now really recognize is inherent to the Badger Herald’s content. It’s
like the Daily Cardinal is giving me water from a brand new Yeti just out of the dishwasher, whereas the Badger Herald is trying to force feed me bacteria riddled swamp water — I just know better now,” Brenner said, with a tear of relief running down her cheek.
PHOTO COURTESY OF TAYLOR WOLFRAM
Student wearing mask incorrectly in class somehow figures out how to use campus elevator afterwards By Mackenzie Moore ALMANAC CONTRIBUTOR
College may feel more normal than usual, but not everything is quite the way it used to be, as students are still required to wear a mask while inside of campus buildings. This task has proved difficult for some students, including one Ryder Geotte. According to witnesses in Geotte’s Intro to Sports Media course, he was correctly wearing his mask all the way up until he
got to class. After sitting down and removing his mask to drink from a water bottle, the student put his mask back on, but failed to cover his nose. “At first, I thought it was just a mistake — like when one side of your mask slips off and you fix it right away,” said classmate Caitlyn Schultz. “But when I looked back over a few minutes later, nothing had changed. At that point, I knew that Ryder was doing it intentionally.” Schultz went on to say that this decision “set the
bar underground” when it came to her expectations for Geotte’s intelligence. Chris Till, another student in the class, corroborated Schultz’s statement, adding, “I couldn’t help but glance at him during class. He didn’t participate during the discussion at all. Instead, he just kinda sat there with his arms crossed because he knew that the professor wouldn’t say anything despite the fact that he was sitting in the front row — he couldn’t have been more than four feet away.”
While not confirmed, there is strong evidence to suggest that Ryder did not speak because it is difficult to do so when one is a mouth breather. It seems as though the real surprise happened once the class was over. Upon getting up and exiting the classroom, Ryder walked to the elevator, pressed the button to enter rather than accidentally pulling the fire alarm, and was even able to recognize enough numbers to get himself to the first floor. “It was truly stunning,”
Schultz said. “I absolutely thought that he would have to take the stairs; that way, he would’ve at least had the help of the railings in case he forgot how walking works and needed to catch himself before falling.” Campus scientists are intrigued by Geotte’s inspiring story to the point where they are interested in studying him. However, Geotte declined the offer after being told that it would entail going to a lab, stating that he “prefers poodles.”
We’re always looking for more funny and insightful writers with fresh takes on topics ranging from the UW campus to international news. We accept and encourage creative submissions as well! Any and all submissions are more than welcome. You can send your submissions and any comments or questions to almanac@dailycardinal.com. All articles featured in Almanac are creative, satirical and/or entirely fictional pieces. They are fully intended as such and should not be taken seriously as news.