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Barry Alvarez recognized before retirement By Ellie Nowakowski STAFF WRITER
Athletic Director and former head football coach Barry Alvarez is expected to retire after 32 years at UW-Madison, sources told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Alvarez started as the UW-Madison athletic director in 2004 and served as head coach of the football team for 16 seasons. Alvarez left his coaching role after the 2005 season as the winningest coach in Wisconsin history. “They better get season tickets right now, because before long they probably won’t be able to,” said Alvarez when he first became the football head coach. Before Alvarez came to Wisconsin in 1990, the Badgers made three appearances in the Rose Bowl and had never won. In just his third season as head coach, Alvarez led the Badgers to their first Rose Bowl victory, defeating UCLA 21-16. The Badgers appeared twice more in the Rose Bowl during Alvarez’s tenure, defeating UCLA again in 1998 and Stanford in 1999. “I don’t know if I’d do anything over,” Alvarez said at the end of his
final season as UW-Madison football coach. “I’m sure I’ve made mistakes, but nothing that we haven’t been able to overcome.” Although having shifted to the athletic director position in 2004, Alvarez continued to value the role he served as football coach. “I will put my emphasis on football, I cannot let football slide,” Alvarez said in the spring before taking on the athletic director position. He held both the coaching and athletic director jobs for about a year and a half before leaving the football team after its 2005 season to focus on his role as athletic director. “I still am very at peace with my decision and feel good about it,” Alvarez said of leaving the football program to focus on his athletic director role. Alvarez did much more for the Badgers during his coaching tenure than lead them to three Rose Bowl Victories and three Big Ten titles. “No one believed that Wisconsin’s program could be restored to great prominence, Barry did it with class and energy and skill,” said former Chancellor of UW-Madison Donna Shalala.
With Alvarez heading the athletic department, Wisconsin has won 16 team national titles and 73 conference or tournament titles. In 2017-18, Alvarez was honored as the Under Armour Athletic Director of the year. Alvarez left a legacy in the Badgers’ football program that followed him into his career as athletic director, returning to the Rose Bowl three times. Alvarez and his wife, Cindy, gifted UW-Madison with a quarter-million football scholarship in 2000 to show appreciation for the university. “I thought it was a small way for me to say thanks to the UW-Madison,” Alvarez said. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel broke the news of Alvarez’s expected retirement Saturday, reporting that multiple sources confirmed that Alvarez will likely announce his retirement in the next few weeks. Alvarez was previously expected to stay with UW-Madison until Jan. 1 2022, when he would receive a lumpsum payment of $375,000. However, his plans have changed, and he will retire sooner than expected, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
“He was very comfortable with the decision,” a source told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Alvarez wants the UW’s deputy athletic director Chris McIntosh to replace him as athletic director, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.
he was one of ten first-round NFL draft picks that came out of Alvarez’s program, going on to play for the Seattle Seahawks. McIntosh has been the deputy athletic director since 2017 and worked for the athletic department since 2014.
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Athletic Director Barry Alvarez is retiring after 32 years at UW-Madison. McIntosh played football for Alvarez and was an All-American offensive tackle in 1999. McIntosh played in both Badgers Rose Bowl victories circa 1998 and 1999. And,
Chancellor Rebecca Blank will ultimately select the next athletic director, though Alvarez hopes to see McIntosh replace him, reported the Wisconsin State Journal.
As pandemic grinds on, students struggle with mental health By Sophia Vento STAFF WRITER
Mental health has been a topic of campus conversation for months, as the challenges of COVID-19 and remote learning affect UW-Madison students. During the 2018-19 fiscal year, before the pandemic, Mental Health Services at University Health Services saw 6,644 unique patients, marking a fourteen-percent increase in client visits over the previous year, according to a UHS report. Meanwhile, the pandemic continues to nationally exacerbate issues relating to mental health and the university has sought to support students through events and messaging but many are still grappling. First-year student Peyton Zibell — like many students as of late — is struggling with her mental health. “Learning how to transition to online school has been a huge challenge,” said Zibell. “I feel like because we’re all online it’s really hard for me to have the motivation to go and get the help I need.” Campbell Stowell, another firstyear student, reiterated these worries. “My depression and anxiety are at their peak,” said Stowell, describing how the simplest of tasks such as attending a virtual class or finding a Zoom link feel “overwhelming most days.”
“I am constantly stressed with the lack of breaks and navigating online school,” Stowell said. “I am more worried about my mental health than getting COVID-19.” An MHS counselor at UHS — who Stowell said is “very supportive” — has helped her find a therapist in the Madison area; yet, Stowellremains frustrated with UW’s decision to provide only a few wellness days, one of which was Saturday, March 27 while the others are Friday, April 2 and Saturday, April 3, in place of a Spring Break. The breaks all take place on Fridays or Saturdays, days that many students do not have class. “Quite frankly, I think that the one day is a joke and that [the university] is putting in the least amount of effort to pretend that they care about the student body,” said Stowell, referencing the UW Faculty Senate’s decision. UHS Mental Health Services director to students: “I care” Director of Mental Health Services at UHS Dr. Sarah Nolan maintains that the university and UHS are committed to ensuring that students have access to mental health care. Emphasizing that as students struggle with the circumstances of COVID-19, online schooling and cope with global events such as the Atlanta shooting targeting
Asian Americans earlier this month, Nolan stated that MHS’s ultimate goal is to support students and their mental health. “If [students] have experiences that prevent them from seeking our services, I want to know about it,” said Nolan. “I want students to feel like there is something at MHS and UHS that can help them through this time.” Last fall, according to Nolan, MHS experienced a drop in student usage but has since “bounced back” to pre-pandemic levels, said Nolan, also mentioning that there has not been an increase in demand for mental health services at UW-Madison when compared to pre-COVID times. “I don’t think that means that people aren’t having a harder time,” pointed out Nolan, noting that she is unsure why MHS is not seeing “a major jump” in students seeking services. “As we look forward, we are very mindful of the fact that, historically, mental health on college campuses has continued to need more and more support,” Nolan said, highlighting that more students may seek services in the coming months. “So, that’s definitely going to be the case moving forward.” Yet, students are only offered ten individual/couples counseling sessions in a twelve-month period.
Other MHS services do not have specific usage limits. Although MHS cannot see people face to face due to the pandemic, Nolan stresses the importance of access to mental health services — underscoring that there are always ways in which to rethink and increase accessibility. A second-year student, who asked to be left anonymous, has struggled with securing an appointment at MHS. They had a consultation call — for an appointment established to determine what type of services a patient needs — last week and heard back about setting up a counseling appointment but was unable to attend and has not heard from UHS since. According to this student, available appointments with an actual therapist are “very limited” and that the open appointments are not until the end of the semester which is not “helpful to students struggling now.” Nolan upholds that MHS is actively seeking to accommodate students seeking mental health services. Every morning, MHS staff members — including Nolan — look to see how many appointments are available over the next couple of weeks and assess whether or not they need to add more slots, said Nolan. “We are always shifting things and reallocating things to make sure
that we have appointments available,” asserted Nolan. “But I do think that students are busy — especially UW-Madison students — so sometimes I think it is hard for students’ schedules to align with the appointments that we have available.” “I do think students feel there is nothing available and that’s obviously a problem,” continued Nolan. “Even if we do have appointments available, I think we always need to be offering more appointments … that is certainly on my mind.” Virtual services at UHS range from individual, group and couples counseling to behavioral health appointments, Let’s Talk consultations and processing spaces, said Nolan. UHS also checks in with students that have tested positive for COVID-19 or that have been in contact with someone who has tested positive, offering them chances to call MHS for support while in quarantine or isolation. “People are very isolated and I think there is a lot of anxiety in the world about the unpredictability of what is happening with the pandemic,” Nolan said. “And for college students, there is a lot of fear around the implications for their futures.” According to Nolan, symptoms of anxiety, depression, stress, grief
mental health page 3
“…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, April 1, 2021
An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 130, Issue 22
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News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com Editors-in-Chief Kalli Anderson Will Cioci
Managing Editor Gaby Vinick
News Team Campus Editor Jessica Sonkin College Editor Gina Musso City Editor Jackson Mozena State Editor Hope Karnopp Associate News Editor Nathan Denzin Features Editor Addison Lathers
Opinion Editors Ian-Michael Griffin • Riley Sumner Arts Editors Emily Knepple Sports Editors Simon Farber • Joe Rickles Almanac Editors Gillian Rawling • Nick Rawling Photo Editors Clayton Jannusch • Taylor Wolfram Graphics Editors Lyra Evans • Zoe Bendoff Science Editor Gavin Schopf Life & Style Editor Allie Sprink Copy Chiefs Grace Hodgman • Kayla Bell Copy Editors Olivia Everett • Eliza Lindley • Emily Rohloff Social Media Manager Hunter Ellis • Muriel Goldfarb
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The Daily Cardinal is a nonprofit organization run by its staff members and elected editors. It receives no funds from the university. Operating revenue is generated from advertising and subscription sales. The Daily Cardinal is published weekdays and distributed at the University of WisconsinMadison and its surrounding community with a circulation of 10,000. Capital Newspapers, Inc. is the Cardinal’s printer. The Daily Cardinal is printed on recycled paper. The Cardinal is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The Daily Cardinal are the sole property of the Cardinal and may not be reproduced without written permission of the editor in chief. The Daily Cardinal accepts advertising representing a wide range of views. This acceptance does not imply agreement with the views expressed. The Cardinal reserves the right to reject advertisements judged offensive based on imagery, wording or both. Complaints: News and editorial complaints should be presented to the editor in chief. Business and advertising complaints should be presented to the business manager. Letters Policy: Letters must be word processed and must include contact information. No anonymous letters will be printed. All letters to the editor will be printed at the discretion of The Daily Cardinal. Letters may be sent to opinion@ dailycardinal.com.
Editorial Board Kavitha Babu, Chair • Kalli Anderson • Will Cioci • Ian-Michael Griffin • Anupras Mohapatra • Riley Sumner • Gaby Vinick
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© 2021, The Daily Cardinal Media Corporation ISSN 0011-5398
For the record Corrections or clarifications? Call The Daily Cardinal office at 608-262-8000 or send an email to edit@dailycardinal.com.
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Surge of sexual assault victims step forward By Morgan Lock SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Shorewood High School alumna Sophie Scherwenka posted a short video to her private Instagram account last week, but she didn’t do it to update her friends or show off an outfit or meal. Scherwenka’s goal was to expose the prevalence of sexual assault and intimate partner violence in Shorewood, Wis. Howell Raines of the New York Times said in 1979 that Shorewood was a “maple-studded town on Lake Michigan [that] dotes on its reputation as Milwaukee’s most liberal suburb.” Despite still being labeled a “liberal haven,” with its board of trustees investing millions in affordable housing, Shorewood has now seen dozens of women follow Scherwenka’s lead by sharing their own stories of abuse. Many of them have come out with stories involving former high school athletes and the children of influential families within the small community. Shorewood High School alumni point to fellow students, even friends, as the perpetrators. “I had been seeing posts going around on social media about how to prevent sexual assault and how men can make women feel safer, but it all seemed to apply to hookups and with strangers,” Scherwenka said about the video she posted, in which she referred to individuals that committed assaults by name. “We never discuss how to deal with sexual abuse from people we care about and are in some type of relationship with. We excuse behaviors done by loved ones that we would never excuse from a stranger.” The small Wisconsin village — with a population of 13,162 — has seen a serious pattern of abuse and sexual assault in recent years. In 2013, a maintenance technician at Shorewood High School was terminated after verbally assaulting a student. The official statement
“I felt like I had already said no to something that made me even more uncomfortable, so I just didn’t really know how to say no to that. I thought maybe this is something I should be flattered by.”
Sara Kostic Shorewood High School Alum
regarding Howard’s termination relied heavily on the student’s outfit. “She was wearing shorts and a sleeveless top, an outfit which was not particularly modest, but which would not have caused a ‘material interference’ with school activities,” the official report stated. The official statement places blame on the female student, stating that her outfit and demeanor encouraged the faculty member to make unwanted advances. Its official statement says that the student was
more concerned with who the remarks were coming from, rather than the remarks themselves. The report also neglected to take into account the student’s actual words, feelings and expressions, and instead paraphrased her remarks. Other alumni have shared similar experiences, citing aspects of the community that serve as a barrier to consent. Sara Kostic reflected on the lack of education she and her peers received regarding consent and advocacy, which led to her experiencing sexual assault at a party when she was just 15.
of intimate partner violence than women living in urban areas, with 22.5% for women in smaller communities compared to 15.5% for urban women. Like Kostic, Shorewood High School alumna Nora Klein recounted her experience with sexual assault and intimate partner violence in the community, citing the lack of education around consent and sexual education as a main factor. “So often we think of abuse as something that is really black and white,” Klein stated. “And that’s not true. It’s really hard as survivors to even admit to yourself that what
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“He tried to put both his hands down the front of my pants, and I said no. His response to that was to instead put one hand down the back of my pants and one hand up my shirt,” she said. “I felt like I had already said no to something that made me even more uncomfortable, so I just didn’t really know how to say no to that. I thought maybe this is something I should be flattered by.” The student and two of his friends coerced Kostic into drinking and then turned off the lights when she became too inebriated to stand up. He pulled her into a chair and began kissing her, and she passed out shortly after. Kostic didn’t realize till years later, after she had begun attending Oberlin College, going to consent training and seeing a therapist, that what had happened to her was wrong. “There is definitely an interesting dynamic in part because of the size of the school and everyone knows everyone and then there are these people and these families that have more social capital or there are these athletes or popular friend groups and I feel like Shorewood prioritizes the wrong things,” Kostic stated. “Shorewood needs to prioritize consent.” Women are statistically more likely to be sexually assaulted by someone they already know. However, in a study conducted by the Journal of Women’s Health, researchers found that women in small and rural areas reported the highest prevalence
happened [was] abuse … it’s a lot easier to deny it. Then when you have gaslighting on top of it, as well as manipulation by abusers, it makes it really hard to admit to yourself that that’s what happened.” Klein also cited Scherwenka’s video as a motivating factor for her to come forward about her experience with intimate partner violence. While Klein was inspired to share her story after so many women had come before her, she also touched on how painful it can be to see so many women go through similar experiences. “I have had some really debilitating side effects of what I experienced: nightmares, flashbacks, physical pain, sleep issues, emotional reactivity, dissociation, depersonalization, some very intense physical and mental health effects,” Klein said. “I know how hard that’s been for me and thinking about how many women experienced this and we have to just push through it is heartbreaking because it shows the pervasiveness of the problem.” The majority of interviewees for this piece recounted the lack of sexual education in the Shorewood School District as reasoning behind the miseducation of abusive patterns of many males within the community. A research paper published by WomenNC details that providing students with comprehensive sexual education including information about sexual consent leads to students being more informed about what constitutes sexual assault.
In addition, they become less tolerant of sexual violence. On the other hand, consequences of a lack os sex education have been shown to include an increase in sexual violence, as well as sexually transmitted infections and unintended pregnancies. Kostic echoed her own concerns about the lack of education at Shorewood High School. “I think that this school takes a very reductivist approach to consent and to sex in general,” Klein said. “I think sex education in general tries to simmer down what healthy relationships look like to something that is very simple. Relationships are formed by some of our earliest experiences and are formed by our relationships to our caregivers, to teachers, to our peers and our relationships to ourselves.” In accordance with the pattern of abuse at Shorewood High School, an additional faculty member was terminated in 2018 due to sexual assault accusations. Teacher Matt Jones was terminated for sexually assaulting students with both mental and physical disabilities along with three faculty members, one of whom has testified she was under the influence, according to an article by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The Shorewood School Board sent an email to parents regarding the recent accusations, however, they did not respond to a request for comment. “We have learned about some social media activity occurring this past weekend in which former SHS graduates have posted testimonials regarding sexual assault, in some cases involving fellow former SHS graduates, and naming the individuals involved,” the email stated. “We are working to connect with and support our former students; however, we wanted you to be aware that this has occurred in case you hear or see your current students discussing these posts or expressing any new distress.” Klein reflected on the notion that Shorewood as a community still sees itself as “liberal,” which they believe to be ‘good.’ Klein went on to suggest that Shorewood should take “a more holistic approach” when talking and teaching about consent, and could possibly create space for survivors “to tell their stories” of what interpersonal violence can look like and result in. “When we place value on things that are not to have value placed on them, we stop ourselves from seeing the reality. And I think that in order to work through oppression, and to work through harm and to work through trauma, we have to face the truth, no matter how uncomfortable it is,” she said. If you or someone you know is struggling with experiences with sexual assault or intimate partner violence, contact the national sexual assault hotline. 24/7 help is available here: 800-656-HOPE (4673) online.rainn.org
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New law lets restuarants serve mixed drinks to-go By Annabella Rosciglione STAFF WRITER
Last week, Gov. Tony Evers signed into law on Friday a measure allowing retailers to sell cocktails and wine to-go after the bill received broad bipartisan support in the state legislature. Under the new law, which took effect Sunday, restaurants and taverns with a Class B liquor license can sell liquor to go by the glass if the container has a tamper-evident seal. Before the act, restaurants were allowed to sell to-go alcohol if it was in its original packaging. Since the beginning of the pandemic, restaurants have said a measure like this would help their business during the pandemic. The bill was introduced by a bipartisan group of lawmakers in February, including Rep. Francesca
Hong, D-Madison, and Rep. Rob Swearingen, R-Rhinelander. “Whatever side of the aisle you’re on, [the] hospitality indus-
try is a bipartisan issue,” Tavern League President Chris Marsicano told Channel 3000. “With the lockdowns especially Madison, Dane and
CLAYTON JANUSCH/UW-MADISON
Restuarants and tavers with Class B liquor licenses can sell mixed drinks to-go.
Milwaukee, it’s been extremely hard on the hospitality industry. I think we’ve been hit harder than most, and I think our legislators realize that, and knew we needed this help.” Multiple organizations representing businesses and restaurants supported the bill, including the Wisconsin Restaurant Association and Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. Kristi Brown, senior director of State Government Relations for the trade association Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, also supported the new law which would “[provide] increased convenience to customers.” “Cocktails to-go provide a muchneeded lifeline for struggling onpremise locations and have prevented the permanent closure of many of these businesses,” Brown said.
Rep. David Steffen, R-Howard, who helped introduce the bill, said that Wisconsin is the thirty-fourth state to enact the policy in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Restaurants in Madison have seen decreased profits during the pandemic. “The restaurants and bars that I’m speaking with are really, really struggling,” Steffen said. “If we want to retain them as an important part of our economy, our community, our culture here in Wisconsin, we can’t let the speed of government be involved in this one. We need to move as quickly as possible.” The law is among a group of 14 bills Evers signed into law last Friday. Evers also vetoed two bills, including a measure that would require the governor to submit a plan to the legislature for state employees to return to work in-person.
A comprehensive student’s guide to the April 6 alder election By Jackson Mozena CITY NEWS EDITOR
Madisonians will decide which local candidates will serve on the common council for a two year term during the April 6 elections. Madison’s electoral process to decide the common council divides the city into twenty separate districts, with each district’s population voting on who they wish to represent their respective geographic area. All alder’s term limits begin and end at the same time, meaning that technically there will be 20 total races, although only 12 seats are contested. Two of these contested races will take place in districts 8 and 2, both of which are heavily populated by UW-Madison students. Read on to learn more about the individuals competing in these 2 districts and the platforms the candidates have chosen to run on. Find out the details of how to vote in the upcoming election on the city’s official website. District 8 The district 8 race is taking place between Ayomi Obuseh and Juliana Bennett, both of whom are UW Madison student activists who took on leadership roles in racial equality protests following the murder of George Floyd. District 8, which encompasses the UW Madison campus, is populated predominantly by university students, a fact that has historically led its alder being a student and often a more outspoken proponent of progressive values than other council members. The platforms of Obuseh and Bennett both are broadly reflective of the tradition of progressivism in district eight, with both advocating for issues such as police reform and racial equity. Obuseh, a Madison native, has been involved in local political organizing since attending Madison West highschool where she co-founded
the advocacy group impact demand, which took an active role in the George Floyd protests this past summer. Obuseh has stated that, if elected, she would primarily focus on issues related to racial equity by pursuing police reform and attempting to expand the amount/ quality of public services offered to communities of color. “One of the issues I have always felt the most passionate about is racial equality. That means I am dedicated to solutions such as police accountability, food sustainability, jobs and transportation that would help to create healthier and more equitable communities,” Obuseh told the Cardinal in an interview. Obuseh has been endorsed by organizations such as the local advocacy group Freedom, Inc., Blacks for Political and Social Action of Dane County and Our Wisconsin Revolution. Bennett similarly has experience as a community organizer, being a co-founder of the UW-Madison BIPOC coalition which took part in the George Floyd protests and also demonstrated against the university’s SMART restart program this past fall. Bennett has run on a platform of racial inclusivity and has also emphasized her hope that she can act to more effectively implement policies advocated for by UW Madison students. “I really want to build a unified voice and a strong coalition of civically engaged young people that will be able to build a Madison that is truly diverse, welcoming, inclusive and a place that people can call home,” said Bennett during a debate with Obuseh. “I plan to bridge the gap between city and campus and not just be an advocate but also an instrument of change.” Bennett has received endorsements from several local figures including ASM chair Mathew Mitnick, former District 8 Alder Max Prestigacomo and former Wisconsin state senate
candidate Nada Elmikashfi Obuseh was recently accused of indirectly claiming that Bennett had lied about claiming to be a survivor of sexual assault which has caused some Obuseh’s supporters, including The Daily Cardinal, to rescind their support for the candidate. District 2 The alder race in district two, which encompasses a large portion of Langdon St. and East Johnson, will be between one term-incumbent Patrick Heck and activist Benji Ramirez. Both candidates have campaigned on issues of police reform and public housing, however, the Ramirez campaign has placed a greater emphasis on pursuing more radical solutions to these problems. Ramirez, a 21-year-old Madison native, played a role as a community organizer during the George Floyd Protests this past fall, an experience they claim compelled them to run for public office. Ramirez has focused his campaign around pursuing racial equity and making local politics more accessible to Black and Brown residents. “I made the decision to run because I know the current elected officials are missing large swaths of the communities’ lived experiences,” Ramirez wrote in a Madison.com op-ed. “Only through the centering of the liberation of Black and Indigenous peoples will Madison be able to play our part in pivoting from global catastrophe.” Ramirez, who has received the endorsement of the Teacher’s Assistant Association (TAA), has stated that in office, they would pursue policies that would defund the Madison Police Department and reinvest in an assortment of community oriented programs, particularly public housing. “Addressing social problems at their root by providing housing, education, access to healthy food, will do more to reduce burden on our city and
Madisonians will decide who will be the new district 8 alder on April 6.
+MENTAL HEALTH
Ultimately, Nolan understands that seeking mental health care can be “challenging” and that it is “easy to get discouraged,” but hopes students know that both she and MHS are committed to ensuring they receive quality mental health care. “Our whole mission is to serve [students] and to make sure that they successfully get through their experience at UW,” emphasized Nolan.
“I want students to feel like there is something at MHS and UHS that can help them get through this time.” Students look forward but worries remain Increased vaccine accessibility as well as Chancellor Rebecca Blank’s decision to proceed with in-person classes next fall has sparked some relief among students like Zibell and Stowell, but concerns about mental
and loss are common among UW students right now. “There has been a lot of non-traditional grief over the last year,” said Nolan, highlighting that this has led to an unfamiliar struggle for many, including feelings of loss associated with the effects of the pandemic such as “losing out on your freshman year of college” and other experiences.
public safety than hiring more police officers,” Ramirez told TAA representatives. “By reinvesting those monies into the wellbeing of the community: through education, economic relief, universal day-care, etc. we can begin to give every Madisonian a floor to stand on.” Heck, who works as a researcher at UW-Madison, has similarly promised to reform the Madison Police Department and reinvest in community programs. In contrast, the incumbent alder has advocated for a comparatively more measured tone than his opponent. “I strongly support the efforts to create alternate capacities that will relieve law enforcement’s need to respond to many calls for service,” Heck wrote on his campaign website. “That said, I do believe that MPD is a necessary agency in our current world, but the community needs to examine its over reliance on law enforcement.” Heck has also campaigned on the issue of public housing, pointing to his record as an alder who advocated that the city allocate additional funding towards public housing in 2020 and 2021. “I continue to participate in efforts
to reduce homelessness, including keeping Housing First dollars in the city budget and supporting other affordable housing initiatives,” Heck stated. “I sponsored 2020 and 2021 budget amendments that added an additional $500,000 to the city’s Affordable Housing Fund each year.” Referendum question In addition to voting for city alders, Madison voters will also respond to four questions regarding the salary given to city alders, the size of the common council, the length of alder terms and term limits in the common council. These referendum questions come as part of a larger deliberation regarding whether the common council should be restructured so that there would be less alders, but representatives would work full time. Currently, the common council operates with twenty alders who earn a part time salary of roughly $13,700 per year. The referendum to make these changes to the common council is purely not binding, however, a significant show of support for the measure would likely cause the common council to more seriously consider restructuring.
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health are still on their minds. While Zibell highlighted her optimism about the future and hopes for a better routine, Stowell is still skeptical about the UW administration and what they will do. “My hopes for next semester are that UW takes its students seriously,” stressed Stowell. Students seeking university mental health resources can find them here.
science Ho-Chunk lessons on natural healing 4 . Thursday, April 1, 2021
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In the beginning, the Earthmaker descended from the North, creating Teejop. By Gavin Schopf SCIENCE EDITOR
For the Ho-Chunk people, or Winnebago, natural history in the Madison area is rooted in the tale of Teejop (day-JOPE). Teejop, a Hooc k name meaning Four Lakes, refers to Lakes Mendota, Monona, Waubesa and Kegonsa. The story begins with the descent of the Earthmaker, or Creator, from the North. Well into the Earthmaker’s journey south, dense forest opened into a clearing where four hollows depressed the earth. Famished from travel, Earthmaker stopped, built a fire and filled a clay pot with spring water. Earthmaker added venison and roots to the water and searched the thicket as the meal began to cook. While doing so, the Earthmaker heard a dull hissing coming from camp and upon returning, found the pot boiling over. Water cascaded down its LYRA EVANS / THE DAILY CARDINAL sides and filled the four hollows one by one, forming the four Time spent in nature can improve cognitive function and physical well-being. lakes. these activities can have a posiSince the Ho-Chunk put roots were used as cures. Today, Western science is tak- tive effect on your physical health down in the silty soils of Teejop, 12,000 years ago, they have lived ing a cue from these beliefs by and mental well-being,” Sapper in harmony with the land — confirming the role of nature in wrote. Just two hours a week spent accepting sustenance and spiri- sustaining human health and tual guidance from the natural spirit — knowledge passed down in natural environments bolsters world. for thousands of years in the oral health and psychological wellThe Ho-Chunk lived alongside traditions of Teejop. being, according to a study of marshes filled with beaver, mink, Nature has a profound abil- 20,000 people led by Matthew muskrat and waterfowl; hunt- ity to alter lives and communi- White of the European Centre for ed and gathered in woodlands; ties, according to the director of Environment & Human Health at fished in lakes and streams; the Wisconsin Master Naturalist the University of Exeter. For those camped in waterside wigwams; program Becky Sapper. Time who met the two hour threshold, and performed ceremonial buri- spent in nature can have positive effects were robust — regardless als using effigy mounds on the impacts on human health and of occupation, ethnic group, locaprairies. well-being by reducing stress and tion and underlying health conditions, wrote Jim Robbins in his The Ho-Chunk believe the fostering healing. Earthmaker took on human and “Consider a simple walk article on ecopsychology. In addition to cognitive funcanimal forms to assist humans through a prairie, a paddle down in times of need. When people the Wisconsin River, casting a tion, time spent in a safe natural became ill, herbal medicines, line off a dock or a hike to a favor- setting “can lower blood presplants and spiritual practices ite waterfall—even memories of sure and stress hormone levels,
reduce nervous system arousal, enhance immune system function, increase self-esteem, reduce anxiety, and improve mood. Attention Deficit Disorder and aggression lessen in natural environments, which also help speed the rate of healing,” Robbins wrote. Findings have motivated researchers and policymakers to “formalize the role of nature in public health policy.” This includes addressing “park deserts” in urban areas by creating new and improved opportunities for citizens to engage with the natural world, Robins wrote. As newfound awareness drives nature into the realm of public policy, Indigenous histories hang in the balance. Few Madisonians are aware of the history of the Ho-Chunk and the tribal members in their community, Ho-Chunk Nation member Robert Mann told Madison
time; it has always been orally told,” Mann said. Teejope has changed greatly since Earthmaker filled the four hollows. In 1832, the Ho-Chunk were forced to cede the territory and underwent forcible attempts at removal from Wisconsin. The land was deemed Madison, cut into concrete grids and a flagship land-grant university was built on Indigenous land. In 2019, the University of Wisconsin-Madison dedicated an “Our Shared Future” heritage marker on Bascom Hill. The marker began a “multi-year effort to educate the campus and the broader community on the Ho-Chunk Nation and the history it shares with the university,” UW-Madison News reported. “A plaque is a nice gesture, but it’s really just a support for the actions that need to happen,” president of the Ho-Chunk Nation Wilfred Cleveland told
BRYCE RICHTER / UW-MADISON
Ho-Chunk Nation president Wilfrid Cleveland addresses Ho-Chunk Nation and UW-Madison community members at "Our Shared Future" ceremony. Magazine. “Our culture, our language, is passed down, passed down since this tale, since the beginning of
UW-News. “The past cannot be changed, so the important part is how we continue our relationship in the future.”
STEM accessibility for Latinx youth a top priority of Discovery Outreach coordinator Ashley Cortes Hernandez By Morgan Lock STAFF WRITER
Ashley Cortes Hernandez is excited to bring Latinx representation to the team in hopes of making STEM more accessible to underrepresented communities, especially the Latinx youth. Cortes Hernandez recently finished her first month as the new assistant outreach coordinator for Discovery Outreach. “I wanted to pursue outreach after graduate school because I wanted to be part of a community that brought STEM to a broader audience and made it accessible to everyone,” Cortes Hernandez says. “I really just took the plunge and I am so lucky to be part of such an amazing team that gets to do just that every day.” Discovery Outreach is a partnership within the Discovery Building supported by the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation and the Morgridge MORGRIDGE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH Institute. The goal of Discovery Outreach is to share science with the public and to empower researchers to be able to Ashley Cortes Hernandes (left) seeks to bring Latinx representation to STEM as Discovery outreach assistant coordinator. share their work. They also partner with community centers Outreach. “It’s hard to believe that she’s joined us so to do events like after school programs and family science was young. “Latinx representation in STEM would be an amazing recently in our virtual environment; her enthusiasm and initiatives. In 2020-21, Discovery Outreach has continued to pro- way to encourage marginalized kids to pursue science,” dedication are very real, and we’ve been able to continue vide programming to the community virtually by having Cortes Hernandez says. our significant work in earnest.” field trips, the annual Wisconsin Science festival and Although Cortes Hernandez is most excited about her Cortes Hernandez played an active role in the developSaturday Science all online. involvement in youth programming, she also does a great ment of the recent Saturday Science event that featured Cortes Hernandez, a biochemist from Puerto Rico was amount of work on social media projects and behind-the- Black STEAM innovators during Black History month. She helped prepare the featured biographies and graphoriginally drawn to the youth aspect of the job, noting scenes efforts to ensure these events run smoothly. that her own career in STEM would have been a lot more “We are thrilled to have Ashley join our team,” says ics for social media, making the content more accessible accessible if she had had programming like this when she Dan Murphy, outreach and lab manager for Discovery to the public.
arts Five stars on the hand for ‘Moxie’ dailycardinal.com
Thursday, April 1, 2021
By Ashton Jenks
which perpetuates harmful rhetoric and behavior. Without spoiling anything, it also touches on rape culture, and how men are over-protected in this regard, even by female principals who simply wish to keep the “peace.” This is a delicate topic and this movie handles it well, choosing not to feature any actual scenes with an implied rape. The implication of rape comes out in the climax of the movie and is the tipping point in finally convincing the principal that there’s a problem. The girl is supported following her confession and is not slut-shamed at all or told it is her fault. Also, her fears of not knowing whether to say anything or not are thankfully invalidated in that no one tells her off for incriminating someone. The last thing that impressed me is that Vivian has a genuinely good male love interest. He supports the movement and treats Vivian well, giving the prototype for how men
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From “Parks and Rec” sensation to now director and critically acclaimed actress, Amy Poehler recently adapted the book “Moxie” into a Netflix original. Starring as the accomplished single mom to Vivian, a young junior in high school. The movie came out March 3, with a soundtrack of 90s alt rock feminist bangers. It also received a 68% on Rotten Tomatoes with reviews highlighting its “on the nose” message and how it was delivered right on time. The plot goes as follows, Vivian has to start writing college application essays and has a prompt that asks her “what she cares about.” After looking at it for a bit she moves on and later asks her mom what she cared about COLLEEN HAYES / NETFLIX as a teenager and she replies After discovering a mini magaizne about women's rights, Vivian inspires her own high-school's feminist movement. “SMASHING the patriarchy.” still get this basic concept, A bit perturbed, Vivian being threatened by him and being filled out, am I right? However, it is the target stick together and don’t change decides to look through her after reporting harassment moms stuff for any sort of to the principal and being demographic for social change their redomiciliation of the ignored, Lucy tells Vivian off to kickstart in our current school due to some cat fight of inspiration to help her. world. disagreement about how the She finds a suitcase full of for telling her to ignore him. That includes high-school After school that day, Vivian old pictures and writings from her mom and her friends and digs into the memento suitcase students and the movie influand decides to start reading ences most girls and assigned also feminist article clippings. Before watching her ask her Moxie, a handmade mini mag- females at birth , as they begin to experience these issues for mom, we got a scene of the azine about women’s rights. After distributing them the first time with a sense of new girl, Lucy, arguing that the “Great Gatsby” is just another in all the bathrooms, chaos consciousness so it fits. The strengths of this movie book by a white man about ensues. Whew. That plot summary in addressing the issues of white men being entitled. Upset by this, the antago- took a bit didn’t it? Stay with modern feminism include its nist of the movie, Mitchell, a me. subtle support of intersectionstar football player who is the Notably, this movie is about ality, which depending on who you talk to is good and bad. epitome of being anti-feminist, high school students. Overall, it supports the idea attacks her saying that there’s So as a college student I felt a reason we still read the book a small disconnect and defi- that women of all sexualities, and that she should get over it. nitely a small twinge of panic races, ethnicities, experiences Later, Vivian sees Lucy at seeing a college application and possible transition states deserve a voice in the feminist movement. The movie features a white lead but, has little other main character white casting. “Moxie” showcases girls from different backgrounds such as Vivian’s friend, whose mother is a first generation Asian immigrant who wants COLLEEN HAYES / NETFLIX her daughter to not get in trouble and go to college, this Amy Poehler stars as Lucy, Vivian's mom who helps inspire her passion. film tells a story that relates to should react to these issues movement should progress. every girl. The overall triumph is more and concerns that those that Other notable examples include Lucy, a person of color important than individual identify as female face. Feminism means equality who is the most outspoken of micro issues, and the patriarthe group, another girl and a chy is the enemy, not other for all, not men over women, and in giving more perspective, possibly Latina girl, as well as girls. Like in STEM where women he is the male lead that any Jose Totah, who is a trans girl are pitted against each other to man watching this can relate to in real life, as CJ. The movie even features a be the best instead of compet- and learn from as well. Also, he is not just doing the kiss between two of the girls at ing with the men around them. As far as the words said in bare minimum either, which so a party, further enveloping the the movie, pretty much every often gets propagated. full spectrum of women. Overall, although I’m sure The movie even shows how modern issue within the moveeasy it is for men to split up the ment is brought up, even sub- there are some nuances that I’ve missed, and bald spots in movement among women sub- tly. tly but also by dividing certain The main features include the representation, didn’t even groups that have similar goals. dress code requirements, think of as an AFAB of english The patriarchy likes that which prompts the protagonist descent, this movie did a great women don’t want to work to organize a tank top wearing job. together, and he’s been known protest. Although I initially found to support and propagate The idea that male athletes the acting cringe and in fact infighting within feminist com- are favored over females and almost set it down after 10 munities since its conception. also receive more academic minutes, I soon was hooked With a speech made from claim and protection from any and stayed up way later than I Mitchell about how he’s being real punishment. planned to finish it. “bullied by the girls’ and how It also combats the judging Amy Poehler did a fantastic “they’re being mean to him” of women’s bodies and slut- job with this movie and it sadNETFLIX and then the resilience of the shaming in its portrayal of dens me that movies like this 'Moxie' is a comedy-drama directed by Amy Poehler streaming on Netflix. girls, who are so young and the school’s “ranking” system, still need to be made.
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Five signs your father is having an affair with Lil Nas X By Nick Rawling ALMANAC EDITOR
The release of the music video for Lil Nas X’s new hit song “Montero” on Friday triggered by far the best internet discourse since Trump has left office — RIP bozo. The video, which depicts Lil Nas X riding a stripper pole to hell and giving Satan a lapdance, sparked outrage among America’s Christian right and others who have never had sex in any position other than missionary. In some cases their indignation manifested itself as personal attacks, but in other cases the pearlclutching took on a more scholarly form: “most all of our Founding Fathers are turning over in their graves about now,” one leading pas-
tor declared. To be fair, this is probably true. After all, Lil Nas X is not a slave as the Founding Fathers intended. But let yourself forget about the Founding Fathers for a moment and focus instead on your own father. Lil Nas X? Sucking and fucking with my dad? It’s more likely than you may think. He’s started dressing like Billy Ray Cyrus Cowboy hats and comically large belt buckles are the clearest indicators. He sings along to the “Old Town Road” Lyric, “cheated on my baby, you can go and ask her.” This is obviously a huge red flag. He has a new habit of using the phrase “horses in the back.”
Where did he pick this up? And what does that even mean? You’ve shit your pants at a frat party. If this doesn’t apply to you, you might be struggling to find the correlation here. But if you have passed out after three white claws and loaded your undergarments in a moldy fraternity house basement, your dad might be cheating on your mom with Lil Nas X. You are Kaitlin Bennett. You’re the only one that can’t see it, Kaitlin. I know he raised you with Conservative Christian values or whatever, but it is a mathematical certainty that your father is having regular sexual relations with Lil Nas X. I’m terribly sorry you had to find out this way.
GRAPHIC BY LYRA EVANS
Memorial Union to give student free MREs By Mackenzie Moore ALMANAC CONTRIBUTOR
The Memorial Union announced today that students with a green Badger Badge will now be able to receive a free Meal, Ready-to-Eat. While meals are factory made and are not being distributed until the week of April 25, orders must be placed within the next week so that the packages can be sorted into boxes “when the vibe feels right” for the Union employees. When questioned about why MRE were being allocated to college students in Wisconsin rather than soldiers currently stationed in Afghan combat zones, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin simply stated that “they just have it bad, man.” The belief amongst campus officials is that providing the free meals will improve student morale. According to Jonathan, a sophomore who currently sports a black garbage bag as a spring jacket, mission accomplished. “As someone who never left their apartment to begin with, I used to be bothered that I had to go out of my way to enter
a room with more human saliva than could be produced by a chewing tobaccoaddicted grandma plowing through a bag of Werther’s Originals,” Jonathan said. “But now that I have the chance to get food that is shelf stable and heats up on its own, I don’t feel as bad that I’ve been behind on my utility bill since I paid for my classes this semester.” However, not everyone will be so lucky, as the student-to-supply ratio is expected to be 5-to-1. Still, not all hope is lost. According to an anonymous source, once the inventory is low, students will no longer be able to reserve a meal. Instead, those interested will have to participate and win in multiple rounds of hand-tohand combat against their peers to obtain one of the pouch-packaged delicacies. Some may be concerned about how this campus-sanctioned violence will impact the safety of the community, but not to worry. Chancellor Rebecca Blank is the final boss and has been training Rocky style during off-hours at the Nick in preparation; there are unlikely to be survivors.
GRAPHIC BY ZOE BENDOFF
Double ‘The Bachelorette’ seasons, Double the Fun By Gillian Rawling ALMANAC EDITOR
Last week the winner of football player Matt James’ heart and season 25 of ‘The Bachelor’ was revealed to be contestant Rachael Kirkconnell. In addition to the shocking finale premier, it was announced that Twitter favorites Michelle Young and Katie Thurston would, together, be the next set of Bachelorettes to grace the beloved franchise. Less publicized but also excited sources share ideas that the producers had in rotation for the upcoming seasons. Here are a few of them: 1. Just as Rachel was given her
dream shopping day and a brand new pair of Louis Vuitton’s, one lucky contestant on Katie’s season will walk out with their ideal sex toy to reflect her memorable debut on Matt James’ series. 2. Due to the lack of matchmaking success in the past few seasons, the contestants will be able to choose between the two hunks they have spent knowing and a brainless, spineless douchebag with a sick flow. Either way, the result will probably be the same as it was in Clare Crawley and Tayshia Adams’ seasons. 3. Double the contestants, double the budget and double
the fun. Contestants will be made to compete in a wipeout style obstacle course. Except if you fall, it’s certain death or a paralyzing shock where you are made to watch the challenge winner make-out with the bachelorette. 4. Coming in last, which many are most excited for, is a collab with Mark Zuckerburg for contestant background checks to ensure that at least one of them will be problematic — although you will probably be able to tell after the first two episodes anyway, as that will be the man the bachelorette ends up liking the most.
GRAPHIC COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS
We’are 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.
opinion Khashoggi’s murder makes U.S. weak dailycardinal.com
By IAN-MICHAEL GRIFFIN OPINION DESK EDITOR
On Oct. 2, 2018, journalist Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Istanbul, Turkey. While his wifeto-be waited outside, Khashoggi ventured into the Embassy to
Thursday, April 1, 2021
removed pieces of his body from the premises. What was the crime this man committed that resulted in such a gory murder? He simply wrote about what he considered unjust in Saudi Arabia, perpetrated by King Salman and his son, Crown
COURTESY OF APRIL BRADY / POMED
Jamal Kashoggi, a reporter murdered by the Saudi Arabian government obtain certain documents he required to certify his upcoming marriage to her. When behind closed doors, goons set upon him. They drugged him, strangled him from behind and, when they were sure he was dead, dismembered him and then
Prince Mohammed bin Salman. His fiance stood out there for hours before the alert went out and the missing persons case began. The worldwide outcry was deafening, and it was not long before many set their sights on who they saw to be the most
likely culprit: Mohammed bin Salman and the Saudi government. Before long, those suspicions were confirmed, as the CIA concluded that MBS, as he is commonly referred to, was undoubtedly responsible for the ordering of the hit. Despite the intelligence community agreeing that MBS was responsible for the brutal murder, the United States took no action to repudiate the slaying of a Washington Post columnist. The U.S. was silent and no meaningful steps were taken to punish Saudi Arabia for believing they had a license to kill in whatever country they wished. Looking back on it now, however, it is astoundingly clear as to the reason for the silence from America. In the Fall of 2020, investigative journalist Bob Woodward released a new book titled, “Rage” which dove into the true beliefs of Donald Trump behind closed doors. In it, he claims that Donald Trump claimed that he “saved his [MBS] ass” and that he was “able to get Congress to leave him alone.” When former President of the United States Donald Trump and Congress willingly submit to tyrants who murder journalists for the crime of speaking the truth, how could anyone expect justice to be delivered onto Mohammed bin Salman and his hired thugs? Though, with the transition of Joe Biden into the presidency, many had hoped he would take a more strict approach when dealing with Saudi Arabia, especially
within the recent shadow of this grim murder. So, when multiple intelligence agencies of multiple countries agreed in late February that Mohammed bin Salman definitively ordered the murder, his critics came out in full force demanding the U.S. take action. In turn, President Biden did essentially nothing. In the face of a stunning human rights violation committed by an alleged ally, Biden mimicked the actions of his predecessor and gave MBS a slap on the wrist. Hoping not to cause further rifts in an already tenuous allyship, Biden decided not to proceed with legitimate punishments for the royal murderers, as he deemed the ensuing diplomatic relations debacle would be less than beneficial. In the end, this is a deplorable sign from two administrations who are willing to look the other way to human rights violations and brutal slayings. How can our government have any credibility going forward to accuse others of travesties? It was only last week that Chinese representatives, in response to the objection of the Uyghur genocide, responded to U.S. condemnation that “the U.S. government needs to pay attention to its own affairs that its people care about, and solve such issues well, instead of interfering in other people’s affairs.” It is a sad fact that China, as disgusting as it is to say, has a legitimate point in regard to how the U.S. deals with human rights. We have lost our moral high ground in the international arena. While China and their
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Uyghur camps are certainly as horrific as the Nazi concentration camps or the Soviet Guglag system, they were able to disarm American diplomats with one sentence. The United States and its government can no longer stand in front of the world and proclaim that we are consistent in the face of human rights violations. Apparently President Biden will respond to injustice when a partnership with the perpetrators is no longer beneficial, just as Trump had. There has to be consistency when dealing with such evident slaughter and humiliation. Jamal Khashoggi was just a writer who was pushing for democracy in the Arab world. He saw and reported on the criminal activities of the Crown Prince, and he was silenced for it. He was living in America for years, under U.S. protection, and the moment he stepped foot outside it, he was assassinated, with the utmost evil intended. If President Biden and the U.S. cannot respond to such crimes with the harshest of penalties, how can we, as a nation, continue to view ourselves as the moral superiors to such brutes and not simply accomplices?
Ian-Michael is an Opinion Editor for The Daily Cardinal and is a freshman studying psychology on a Pre-Med Track. Do you feel as though Biden’s actions are indicative of appeasement? Send all comments to opinion@ dailycardinal.com
The Minnesota Supreme Court didn’t fail; unjust laws succeeded to harm sexual assault survivors By RILEY SUMNER OPINION DESK EDITOR
Content Warning: R*pe, Sexual Assault The Minnesota Supreme Court, through a unanimous decision, ruled that a man cannot be found guilty of rape solely because the woman had voluntarily gotten drunk before the assault. This third-degree criminal sexual conduct indicates a fundamental misunderstanding of policy that allows rape culture to persist in America. The rape laws that currently exist too often allow predators to evade criminal conviction due to minute technicalities. The Minnesota law, as it’s written, states that the law only applies if the drugs or alcohol were administered against the victim’s will. This loophole — and many like it — continue to make it extremely challenging for sexual assault survivors to press charges against their rapists. The lack of accountability for rape cases is incredibly dangerous. Of the estimated rape incidents, just 31% of cases are reported to the authorities. It’s no wonder why this is the case, for only 5.7% of rapists are arrested and a gruesome 0.7% are convicted of felony rape. Rape cases go unreported, because the amount of trauma that a survivor is burdened with isn’t worth the extremely slim margins
of a rapist getting charged. Pulling more statistics, many studies find that between 33% and 45% of survivors experience PTSD, and, further, 82% experience fear and anxiety. States immediately need to start updating and refining laws to protect survivors — not trivialize their experiences. As it stands, public reaction to rape accusations reinforces rape culture — especially accusations made against powerful politicians and celebrities. When Dr. Ford accused current Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault, too many people painted her accusation as a smear campaign against an otherwise highly-regarded judge. Now, he’s proven himself as below average, ruling against women’s reproductive rights and rights for undocumented individuals. Regardless of his performance on the bench, Kavanaugh should not be in the position he holds. Kavanaugh sympathizers gaslighted Dr. Ford’s (under-oath) testimony, in which she shared her experience of being held down against her will at a high school party by Kavanaugh. Those sympathizers echoed excuses along the lines of, “it was so long ago, he’s learned since then,” or claims that she had a vendetta against him because it wasn’t until now that she made the accusation.
PHOTO COURTESY OF KEITHEING VIA CREATIVE COMMONS
The MN Supreme Court recently ruled against a rape survivor because she was "voluntary intoxicated." Perhaps the most recognized instance of gaslighting came from Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), when she — in a characteristic move of bipartisanship — believed that Dr. Ford was assaulted, however the assault was by someone other than Kavanaugh. When this is one of the most widely recognized instances of a rape trial in recent history, we present the message to survivors that
it doesn’t matter how credible you are or how hard you try — the legal system will not believe you and will not hold people accountable. It is fundamentally dangerous how little accountability rapists face in this country. Until we make laws that support survivors, rapists will continue to get away with their crimes and the institutions meant to preserve “justice” will stand on the wrong side of that scale.
Riley Sumner is an Editor of the Opinion Desk. He is a Junior studying Computer Science & Journalism with an emphasis in reporting. Do you think rape culture is a problem in America? Do you think our culture gaslights rape survivors? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com
sports Badger Football notes: coaching turnover, transfers mark 2021 start l
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By Dexter McCann FOOTBALL BEAT WRITER
With March Madness, Opening Day and the NBA season all vying for the attention of sports fans, it was easy to miss that the Badgers kicked off the road to the college football season on Tuesday, holding their first of fifteen spring practices. It’s been a busy offseason for Wisconsin, who have seen turnover among both the roster and the coaching staff. We’re catching you up with some of the biggest Badger related offseason storylines in this brief rundown. The Badger football program has long been a model of coaching stability, but this offseason was marked by unusually high staff turnover. Three assistant coaches left the program. Defensive line coach Inoke Breckterfield left to take the same position at Vanderbilt, running backs coach John Settle accepted the same role at Kentucky, and quarterbacks coach Jon Budmayr was named offensive coordinator at Colorado State. The Badgers promoted Ross Kolodziej from the strength & conditioning team to take over at defensive line, but looked elsewhere for their other two hires. Former Dallas Cowboys running backs coach Gary Brown will coach the
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tailbacks, and the Badgers pried Hank Poteat away from Toledo to coach cornerbacks. Head Coach Paul Chryst will take over the QB coaching duties, an important development for the careers of Graham Mertz and incoming freshman Deacon Hill. Coaching turnover may help to explain Wisconsin’s slow start on the recruiting trail: in-state QB Myles Burkett is the Badgers only commitment in the class of 2022 as of now. The Badgers lost a pair of defensive backs to the transfer portal over the offseason, including safety Reggie Pearson. Pearson started 13 games for Wisconsin in 2019, recording 60 tackles (3.5 for a loss) and 2 fumbles, but missed the 2020 season after an MRI revealed a rare undisclosed medical condition. Pearson got approval from an independent physician to play in 2021, but the Wisconsin medical staff refused to clear him, citing concerns about the condition and COVID-19. That decision forced Pearson’s hand, who entered the transfer portal soon after and has received interest from several FCS schools. Nickel cornerback/ safety Madison Cone also decided to transfer after appearing in just two games in 2020. Cone played 12 games for Wisconsin at slot corner
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Camp Randall is expected to have fans back in attendance in 2021, though exact numbers aren't available. in 2018, but was passed by Donte Burton in the two-deep and was never able to earn reliable snaps again. He signed with Buffalo, the MAC runner-ups in 2020. It wasn’t all bad news for Wisconsin in the transfer portal, as they were able to secure a commitment from former Oregon defensive lineman Issac Townsend. Towsend, a former high three-star
recruit from Colorado, redshirted in 2019 and did not play in 2020, leaving him four years of eligibility. With Garrett Rand and Isaiah Loudermilk graduating, defensive line is one of the thin spots in the two-deep for the Badgers, and Townsend will have a chance to compete for a meaningful role. Wide receiver Taj Mustapha, offensive lineman Aaron Vopal,
and defensive end Boyd Dietzen are not listed on Wisconsin’s updated roster. Mustapha, a former three star receiver in the class of 2017, had ample opportunity to prove his worth last season with Danny Davis and Kendric Pryor hurt, but caught just two passes and was passed in the depth chart by freshman Devin Chandler.
Volleyball tournament reduced to 48 teams; Badgers still No. 1 By Lara Klein STAFF WRITER
DIANE NORDSTROM/UW ATHLETICS
UW HC Kelly Sheffield (center) has managed COVID-19 issues all year.
Covid-19 has thrown a wrench into everyone’s plans this past year, and the Badger volleyball team is no exception. This season, the team has seen six matches canceled, and was forced to self-isolate for two weeks in mid-March due to the virus. Wisconsin was scheduled to play No. 4 Nebraska (7-1) last Friday and Saturday, and Iowa (2-8) in two matches the following weekend. As a result of the COVID19 cases in the Badgers program, these matches were postponed, said the Wisconsin Athletics department in a statement. Nebraska is the highest ranked team that Wisconsin had on their schedule so far, and the second highest ranked Big Ten Conference team behind Wisconsin. The schools announced in statements Thursday that the matches were postponed. “We are disappointed for our players and fans that we won’t be able to play this weekend but the health and safety of all of the players is what’s most important,” UW volleyball Head Coach Kelly Sheffield said of the matches being postponed. The Big Ten had hoped to reschedule the games that were canceled throughout the season, but with the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament approaching, this does not seem likely. Consequently, every team in the
Big Ten experienced a shortened season. Covid-related protocols have forced the team to switch up the starting line up and stay on top of their game even when they weren’t allowed practice time. Despite these hiccups, the team has maintained a perfect record of 13-0 as they approach the final weekend of regular season play. Sheffield and his players have consistently commented on how dedicated the team is to maintaining a high level of play, both during their practices and in their match-ups. Above all, the team is just grateful every time they get the chance to play. Back in February, Coach Sheffield tweeted, “Truly appreciate our great medical team & our awesome supportive fans. I’m proud of how our team has conducted themselves & we’ll continue to make decisions that give us the best chance moving forward. See you soon!” While Sheffield has been understanding of Covid protocols and appreciative of how his team and staff have responded to the bumps in the road, one change has been made this season that he is not a fan of. This year, for the first time since 1998, there will not be 64 teams competing in the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament. A bracket featuring only 48 teams has been created instead. Sheffield has noted that neither NCAA football or basketball
championship tournaments were cut down this season. “I think at the beginning when they told us, we were just all happy that we were gonna be playing,” Sheffield said at a media conference earlier this month. “But I think the right thing to do is to get it back to 64. We’ve got the same number of teams that both basketballs do around the country.” Sheffield is not the only one who’s frustrated by the reduction. Nebraska head volleyball coach John Cook has also publicly voiced his opinions on the matter. “I think it’s ridiculous we’re at 48,” Cook said during a press conference. “Basketball didn’t cut back, why are we cutting back? Football didn’t cut back, why are we cutting back? Especially the fact that it’s all in one place. You’re only looking at 16 more teams. It’s all going to be in one place anyway so they can make that adjustment.” This controversy is coming to light right after the NCAA has been exposed for their unequal treatment of male and female athletes. The organization faced a lot of heat after an Oregon women’s basketball player’s video portraying the difference in weight rooms at the men’s and women’s NCAA Basketball Tournament went viral. Now, another women’s sport seems to be getting the short end of the stick, and Coaches are calling for the NCAA to add sixteen more teams to the Tournament.
comics dailycardinal.com
POST-COVID
Thursday, April 1, 2021 • 9
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