Thursday, April 8, 2021 - The Daily Cardinal

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Thursday, April 8, 2021

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Beauty and Brains

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Bennett among winners of Tuesday’s election

By Kate Van Dyke STAFF WRITER

Juliana Bennett was elected to represent the UW campus on the Madison Common Council in Tuesday’s city-wide election of local officials. Other victors include Patrick Heck, District 2, and Nikki Conklin, District 9.

Bennett, a UW-Madison student and a cofounder of the BIPOC

Coalition, became the first Black alder to represent District 8, which encompasses the UW campus and some surrounding neighborhoods. Bennett received 66.2% of the vote while challenger Ayomi Obuseh received 33.8%, according to Channel 3,000.

Fewer than 500 votes were cast in the District 8 election, compared to 4,600 votes from the same seven

COURTESY OF JULIANA BENNETT

Juliana Bennett, Patrick Heck, Nikki Conklin and more were elected on Tuesday.

wards in the 2020 general election, according to data from the Dane County Clerk’s office.

In a press release, Bennett expressed her gratitude for the votes and support from the UW-Madison community.

“I want to thank every single person who supported me over these past few months. Running a grassroots, virtual and student/ staff has not been easy,” Bennett said. “Despite many obstacles we still put forward a bold, unapologetically progressive platform and have worked to build a coalition of civically engaged young people.”

Bennett promised to use her position in local government to advocate for progressive policies that she feels will improve the lives of students as well as the broader Madison community.

“This is just the beginning of our movement. We have a long way to go before we win affordable housing, sustainability and other important goals that we’ve set during this campaign,” Bennett said.

“I know that with the support of the community, we will continue to make our voices heard.”

Obuseh released a statement

on Facebook Wednesday thanking her supporters and congratulating Bennett on her victory.

“The support we’ve seen for our vision for Madison shows that change has arrived,” Obuseh stated. “I’m confident that this new cohort will bring the legislation we deserve as a community and want to congratulate my opponent on her big win.”

Five days prior to the election, Obuseh denied claims made by an unnamed individual saying that they experienced sexual assault, which potentially placed her campaign in an unfavorable position.

Obuseh told The Daily Cardinal her response was “reactionary.”

“When I wrote those words, it was because I was deeply hurt by my own experiences,” Obuseh said.

“I [felt] as though someone was doing something that wasn’t ok.”

In District 2, which encompasses a large portion of Langdon St. and East Johnson, incumbent Patrick Heck received 61.8% of the vote, gaining his second term as alder and defeating local activist Benji Ramirez.

Heck stated that while in office, he will pursue progressive change

while also maintaining what he feels to be the positive qualities of the Madison community.

“I believe we can focus on racial inequities and social justice while maintaining the aspects of Madison that have made it a wonderful place to live for so many people,” Heck stated. “I will advocate for everyone in all District 2 neighborhoods while doing everything I can to make sure that as we emerge from the challenges of 2020 we don’t simply strive to go ‘back to normal.’”

In District 9, longtime incumbent Alder Paul Skidmore was defeated by Nikki Conklin. Conklin won the seat against Skidmore, with 55.9% of the vote.

Conklin released a statement on Facebook voicing her excitement for her upcoming term and thanking those who supported her campaign.

“As your new elected Alder I will fight for quality affordable housing, equity and justice and safety for all among other things” Conklin said.

“I want to thank everyone for all the support, love and encourage-

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Alliant Energy Center becomes FEMA vaccination site

By Elena Price STAFF WRITER

Gov. Tony Evers announced Tuesday that the vaccination clinic at the Alliant Energy Center will receive federal support from FEMA beginning Wednesday.

With guidance from state and local leadership, FEMA will provide 26 federal staff and support services to help administer more vaccinations, allowing the Alliant Energy Center to expand its vaccinations from 5,600 to 7,700 per week depending on vaccine supply.

“This site will expand access for residents of the state’s capital and second largest city, and for those living in south central Wisconsin,” Acting Regional Administrator for FEMA Region 5 Kevin M. Sligh said.

Dane County Executive Joe Parisi said that Dane County “aggressively pursued” the partnership with the state and FEMA to expand vaccinations. Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway also said she is thankful that the partnership will speed up the vaccination process.

In Dane County, 44 percent of residents have gotten at least one dose and 26.5 percent have completed the vaccine series, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS). Over 28 percent of the 18-24 age group in

Dane County have received at least one dose.

Statewide, 34.1 percent of residents have received at least one dose and 21.1 percent are fully vaccinated. Eligibility opened up to all Wisconsinites 16 and older on Monday.

Racial disparities are still apparent in who is getting vaccinated, with 41 percent of white Dane County residents and just 16.5 percent of Black residents receiving at least one dose.

Registration for the site is available at https://vaccinate.wi.gov/ en-US/, with the opportunity to schedule free transportation while scheduling appointments.

While the new assistance from FEMA should increase vaccine availability, finding and scheduling appointments has proven challenging for some residents.

Although hopeful for the rise in vaccinations, UW-Madison student Lauren Flaschenriem discussed her struggles with finding and keeping an appointment.

“For me, it was just like waking up super early because Walgreens drops appointments at like 6 in the morning,” Flaschenriem said. “I’d be waking up really early to try and get one because they would go so quick. It’s especially an issue in Dane County because there are so

many people living here.”

Flaschenriem became eligible on March 22, but was not able to schedule and receive her first dose until March 31.

Flaschenriem joined the Facebook group Wisconsin Vaccine Hunters and Angels to try to find an appointment quickly. She later posted in the Class of 2024 Facebook page sharing what she learned during the vaccine search, including transportation information and when appointments are added at different locations.

“I can’t imagine a working parent trying to do everything I did, to like refresh pages and get up early.

It takes a considerable amount of time out of your day. If you had to take care of other people, I feel like it would be really hard,” Flaschenriem explained.

Once people do make an appointment however, transportation to multiple vaccine providers in the area can become another issue.

Students who are far from home or residents without access to a car may find it difficult to get to their appointments.

While students can use WisCards to ride city buses, other residents must purchase bus passes that cost up to $65 for a 31-day pass or $2 dollars per trip for adults.

Along with finding transportation, some residents say they are being required to show their IDs to get a vaccine at Walgreens and HyVee. “Federal guidelines pre-empt

[this action]. People are being turned away and you’re actively dissuading vulnerable demographics from getting the vaccine,” Nada Elmikashfi wrote on Twitter.

GRAPHIC BY LYRA EVANS

“…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 8, 2021

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Asian students face increasingly overt racism

By Anna Feldman STAFF WRITER

It’s from China. #ChineseVirus.

F *ck the Chinese Government.

These sentiments appeared in chalk last March on the sidewalk in front of Walgreens on State Street and in front of Bascom Hill. In the wake of the incident, the University of Wisconsin-Madison hosted a virtual town hall to respond to the current campus climate, where students shared their concerns about the growing racism and xenophobia that targets Asian individuals. Now, one year later, AAPI students wonder what more could have been done to protect them.

Angela is an international student from Indonesia. In her third year in pharmaceutical school at UW, she has been living alone in an apartment on campus for the entirety of the pandemic, thousands of miles away from her family.

Angela, who asked that her full name not be used in this story, said that the pandemic has only increased the intensity of her feelings of isolation on campus.

“As a non-white student, every classroom I enter, I feel like an outsider,” Angela said. “People think I’m unapproachable because I don’t look like them.”

Angela told her father that she wanted to go home this summer, but then she found out that would have to quarantine in a hotel that the government chose and be forced to pay for it herself, something her family couldn’t afford.

“If you’re an American student,” Angela reflected, “you can just go home; you don’t have to face any particular restrictions.”

However, these feelings of isolation did not start for Angela during the pandemic.

At UW, less than seven percent of the students are Asian, according to UW’s Spring 2020 Enrollment. From 2017 to 2018, the UW’s Diversity Update said that eight percent of the student population were international students, more than half of whom come from China.

Angela recounted that, in her experience, Chinese or AsianAmerican students are willing to approach her when white students usually do not. While she has not heard much explicit racism from white peers, she has often observed microaggressions due to her race, specifically untrusting behavior.

“It’s very subtle,” Angela said, “but you feel it.”

And the March 2020 chalk incident was only the beginning. More explicit anti-Asian racism has increased since the beginning of the pandemic. Racist messages, such as when former President Donald Trump called COVID19 the “China virus,” have worsened the previously more subtle anti-Asian hate on UW-Madison’s campus.

Elena Haasl, an Asian undergraduate student at UW-Madison and Dane County District 5 County Board Supervisor, said that Trump’s anti-Asian terms “brought the ugly out into the open.”

This harmful rhetoric normalized anti-Asian sentiments. Haasl said since Trump blamed Asians for the entire pandemic, their mother has been scared to go on walks by herself. Many Asian people in the U.S. are fearful of going to public spaces due to the alarming increase in anti-Asian hate crimes.

According to a study conducted by the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State UniversitySan Bernardino, in 16 of the largest cities in the U.S., hate crimes decreased overall while those targeting Asian people rose nearly 150%.

“We weren’t blaming people in the UK for mad cow disease, we weren’t calling it the British virus,” Haasl said. “But [Trump’s rhetoric has] violent and deadly consequences to this day; even though Biden’s president, it doesn’t change what the Trump administration said.”

This past fall semester, Angela observed explicit racism towards her Chinese professor. Angela heard a student in her group say something along the lines of “you can expect Chinese people to not consider people’s input,” without any explanation.

Angela described this instance as “groundless, aggressive and irrational.”

Angela believes that many people choose to overlook racism against Asian people and act like it does not exist.

However, not only have hate crimes increased, according to Haasl, they are likely underreported. Haasl said that someone reached out to them who saw a car with neo-Nazi stickers and reported it to the police, but the police said they couldn’t do anything about it and labelled it a passing incident. Despite these barri-

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ers, the issue is gaining more press coverage.

Attacks on AAPI individuals, particularly the elderly, are now recognized as being hate crimes and reported on by large news outlets including the BBC and CNN. Angela is relieved that more people are growing aware, saying “this is how progress will be made — people have to fight it.”

After the recent murder of six Asian-American women in Atlanta, UW-Madison’s BIPOC Coalition organized the March for Asian American Lives on March 18th to to show solidarity with the AAPI community. The main points raised by speakers at the protest were that Asian-Americans are tired of being considered the “model minority” along with the anti-Black connotations that accompany the stereotype, and of being fetishized.

Haasl said that the model minority myth is “a way to sow division between people in a united struggle” and that “it’s unfair to put Asians in that box and unfair to BIPOC to say ‘you should be more like Asians.’”

Not only does the myth ignore the struggles of Asian Americans, particularly the many working service jobs, it also creates unrealistic expectations for Asian Americans— a “warped” perception of AsianAmericans, according to Haasl.

These expectations range from being successful in academics to getting high-paying jobs, and generally not being hindered in

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day-to-day life due to being a person of color.

In particular, the fetishization of Asian-American women is “so entrenched in our media, our movies, everything,” according to Haasl.

Asian women have a long history of being objectified and fetishized as “exotic” and submissive. In the recent Atlanta shootings where a white man killed 8 people, 6 of whom were Asian-American women, in spas, which he called “temptation places.”

The police initially said that this incident was not racially, but rather sexually motivated. However, misogyny and racism are both tied into the fetishization of Asian women, according to Haasl.

Haasl described the BIPOCled protest which addressed these stereotypes as a “healing moment.”

The same night as the protest, Haasl was at a Dane County Board meeting to pass their resolution to condemn the hate crimes against AAPI, which was passed unanimously. Haasl felt a responsibility to create the resolution both due to their identity and their work in local government, which they said was not bringing awareness to this issue. Despite the fact that Haasl is bi-racial and does not immediately appear Asian to people who don’t know them, the issue is personal. They are scared for their family members and close friends.

“My mom has been called slurs in the backyard from people driving [by] in cars,” Haasl shared. “It’s really ignorant and misguided hate.”

Haasl hopes the resolution will lead to action against antiAsian racism. Particularly, they wish that their white colleagues on the county board will address their own biases and educate themselves on the history of racism and violence against AAPI. Haasl says that in their work as a county supervisor, they want to “dismantle the systems of white supremacy

COURTESY OF MUYANG DENG

Hostility towards AAPI individuals, a pre-existing issue, has increased substantially with the rise of the pandemic.

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Homeless individuals get pet care through WisCARES

By Anthony Trombi STAFF WRITER

The Wisconsin Companion Animal Resource, Education and Social Services clinic recognized a recent surge in requests for veterinary services for owners experiencing financial hardship.

WisCARES is a specialized outreach program that supplies basic veterinary care, housing support and advocacy for members of the Dane County population. Support services are offered specifically to low-income Dane County pet owners experiencing — or nearing the risk of experiencing — homelessness.

Individuals who cannot pay for veterinary medical services necessary for access to housing are also supported through WisCARES, according to the program’s website.

Three UW schools — pharmacy, veterinary medicine and social work — collaborated to develop the WisCARES program.

WisCARES was founded at the university in 2014. In 2019, WisCARES helped aid 2,500 pets, and over 60 pets entered their boarding and foster program, where 90% of pets were reunified with families.

“We are finding that especially in the last six to nine months, we have

seen an increase in our number of clients, many of whom may not have needed a service like WisCARES prior to COVID,” Veterinarian and Curriculum Director Elizabeth Alvarez said in a press release.

Homelessness and financial hardship pose extreme difficulties for affected individuals, and WisCARES recognized this continued difficulty.

“What we have seen is people who are struggling financially and don’t have a lot, that pet means so much more to them,” Amanda Arrington — director of Pets for Life, a Humane Society of the United States program that provides veterinary care and resources to low-income communities and those with a lack of care providers — said to the Wisconsin State Journal. “That’s why there’s such an immense need for us to honor the love people have for their pets.”

Dr. William Gilles, a local veterinarian who earned his doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from UW–Madison, told InBusiness that studies have shown that the homeless and indigent population are less likely to engage in socially unacceptable behavior if they have a pet to care for. Homeless pet owners often will put their pet’s care above their own, Gilles said.

“We’re concerned with both

parties, but we try to treat the bond. We believe very strongly that these animals already have homes, but the whole family unit just isn’t housed,” Gilles said to InBusiness. “Animals tend to make their homes with the people they’re sharing their time with.”

That is why creating and fostering trusting relationships with their clients is a WisCARES mission priority, according to the program.

The WisCARES emphasis on building relationships became apparent when Ray Straub, a WisCARES client, sought after boarding two cats while getting back on her feet after years of medical problems.

“Roscoe was very, very sick,” Straub said to the Wisconsin State Journal. “I knew I couldn’t afford the lab work to even figure out what was wrong with him, let alone probably the care.”

The then-15-year-old cat Roscoe was able to go back to his old self after WisCARES diagnosed him with diabetes and gave proper care to stabilize him. This is just one example of how WisCARES fosters community and relationships with the surrounding community.

WisCARES relationships develop between the owners, as well as between the animals them-

Return of the ‘Pail and Shovel’ party

By Gina Musso COLLEGE NEWS EDITOR

The UW-Madison Senior Class Officers-elect look forward to fostering an environment where Rathskeller sauce is free flowing, the Humanities building is turned into a skatepark and an escalator is built on Bascom Hill.

Rising seniors Pranav Srivastava and Barnabas Shiferaw were elected as President and Vice President, respectively, for the class of 2021-22 Senior Class Office, receiving 782 votes of the 1,888 completed ballots.

The president and vice president of the Senior Class are traditionally responsible for representing the senior class by planning commencement ceremonies, working with administrators and strengthening ties within the senior class and to UW-Madison.

But, for the 2021-22 academic year, Srivastava and Shiferaw want to channel the lighthearted energy of the notorious Pail and Shovel party. The party, whose representatives were first elected to the Wisconsin Student Association in 1978, was responsible for the first flock of plastic flamingos that were placed on Bascom Hill and the first Statue of Liberty’s head and torch on Lake Mendota.

“They were basically known for taking the campus by storm,” Shiferaw said. “If that meant pranks, absolutely.

If that meant just flipping the campus upside down just by doing some crazy ideas, that was what they were about, and that’s kind of our idea with the senior class office is to run an unconventional but a very, very

COURTESY OF JUSTIN GELLER

The Pail and Shovel party hopes to create the world's largest toga party. exciting year.”

One campus activity that the Pail and Shovel party attempted that Srivastava and Shiferaw would like to emulate is the world’s largest toga party, once it is safe to do so.

“We are excited to continue their legacy by throwing Toga Three in accordance,” Shiferaw said.

“Obviously there’s a lot of things we have to check first.

The Pail and Shovel strongly believes in science and we are looking through the CDC guidelines before we throw Toga Three, but that is something we plan to do to honor them and to invigorate the campus community.”

Srivastava and Shiferaw also plan to take steps to minimize UW-Madison’s environmental impacts. More specifically, by changing the 80 bus system to a horse and buggy ride.

“Although the 80 is a very cherished tradition, we are strongly considering changing it into a horse and buggy

ride,” Shiferaw said. “I think it would be a very, very good step to reduce UW-Madison’s carbon footprint, and I think that we could take a strong lead in that movement, especially from the position of the Senior Class Office and leading the University in that way to kind of go green.”

Their other ideas to boost campus morale include placing an escalator on Bascom Hill, the addition of Rathskeller sauce dispensaries throughout campus, flooding Camp Randall to throw a boat party and turning the Humanities building into a skatepark.

“We plan to use the office to bring back the Pail and Shovel party and to really bring about some unconventional ideas to get the students excited again and bring back the fire that people have missed, especially during the time of COVID where it’s been harder to go out and have large campus activities that bring people together,” Shiferaw said.

COURTESY OF GOOGLE MAPS

WisCARES is supplying basic veterinary care for Dane County residents. selves. Veterinarians and employees who work with animals are able to see the impact of daily human-animal bonding.

Consistent exposure and care is a great way to provide therapeutic effects for humans and animals, from decreased stress for humans to increased healing and resiliency for animals, according to The Human-Animal Bond Research Institute.

Unfortunately, COVID-19 has affected many personal relationships and constant exposure has significantly decreased.

“Before COVID, we spent a lot of time with clients and their pets

all in the room together, discussing if they have any other social service needs that we can help provide for them,” Alvarez said in a press release.

With COVID-19 restrictions, clients cannot enter the WisCARES building, and the majority of the trust-building conversations take place through masked social distancing in the parking lot. Despite these setbacks, WisCARES is still dedicated to providing care for pets regardless of the financial situation the owner is facing.

More information can be found on their website at wiscares.wisc.edu.

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uate that the incoming council will be the most diverse and progressive council yet, according to the Cap Times.

Tuesday’s election also included a referendum 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. The questions came as a result of larger deliberations about if the common council should be structured with fewer representatives working full time to serve larger districts.

Voters largely opposed making the position of alder a full-time profession and extending term lengths and instead supported implementing term limits and maintaining the current size of the council.

ment they have shown me. Folks are ready for a change, and a vote for me, was a vote for change.

In recent years, the council has moved further left politically, which left Skidmore as an outlier. His outspoken defense of the Madison Police Department isolated him from local activists and their allies pushing for reform and budget cuts within the department since last summer.

Skidmore was also accused of calling a local activist a c*nt during a virtual council meeting last year. An investigation authorized by the city council into the incident was unable to definitively prove if Skidmore did say the slur.

The results of the election insin-

+RACISM and settler colonialism that, unfortunately, Dane County and Madison still perpetuate.”

Specifically, Haasl says that one of the best ways that the county can support the AsianAmerican community would be to fund a more diverse

“[I want to] show them that they’re not what we think we are. We have struggles too.”

Angela International UW-Madison Student

array of service providers.

The ones currently funded don’t always meet the needs of people in the community such as language gaps and cultural barriers. They hope that Dane County will work more with organizations including the nonprofit Freedom Inc. as well as the United Asian

Clubs in Consortium, where Asian-American high schoolers learn leadership skills and help others unlearn antiAsain sentiments and biases.

Additionally, Haasl believes that addressing root causes of poverty by funding affordable housing and preventing food apartheids are important antiracist actions to pursue.

“Words are important, but hollow without actions to back them up,” Haasl said.

Angela agreed that eliminating anti-Asian biases and racism will be a difficult, multifaceted process. For the university, Angela recommended that instead of hosting information sessions, it would be much more effective to create opportunities for American non-Asian students to interact with and understand more about Asian people and address their internal stereotypes. “[I want to] show them that they’re not what we think we are,” Angela said. “We have struggles too.

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Badger VB takes home second straight Big Ten title in 6-set Michigan sweep

By Ellie Nowakowski and Lara Klein STAFF WRITERS

Wisconsin (14-0) swept Michigan (4-8) 25-23, 25-12, 25-11 Thursday night to earn the title of Big Ten Conference champions for the second year in a row. This is the seventh time in program history that the Badgers have walked away with the trophy, and only the second time they’ve been back-to-back champions.

Coming out on top of the Big Ten also ensures the Badgers a spot in the NCAA Tournament, which starts Wednesday, April 14. Winning the title was a sweet ending to a chaotic season.

“It’s very satisfying to get that trophy in our hands,” said senior middle blocker Dana Rettke. “We have some of the most dedicated athletes on our team. All the pauses and inconsistencies this season really makes it worth it. I’m just really happy that we can bring this back to Wisconsin and have it with our team two years in a row.”

After last weekend’s matches being canceled due to COVID19, the Badgers came out a little rusty in the first set, with a hitting percentage of just .167 (15 kills - 7 errors – 48 attempts).

Despite an early seven point lead of 10-3, the Wolverines’ scrappiness on the court led them to a 12-12 tie score.

The remainder of that first set was a battle to the finish line, forcing both teams to use up all of their time outs. A ball handling error by Michigan

and a kill by senior outside hitter Molly Haggerty ultimately helped Wisconsin take the set.

In the two sets that followed, the Badgers reminded us why they’ve held onto their No. 1 ranking all season. In the second and third sets they hit .409 (12-2-22) and .577 (17-2-26) respectively.

Rettke was a standout player Thursday night, racking up seventeen kills, five blocks and zero hitting errors. Of course, senior setter Sidney Hilley deserves some of the credit for Rettke’s offensive success.

“Me and Dana have always had that connection and she was telling me to give her the ball,” Hilley commented after the game. “So every time I was pumping her the ball and she was putting it away. You could just see it in her eyes she wanted that Big Ten Championship and she wasn’t going to let that first set get away.”

Hilley notably earned her first double-double of the season, ending the night with 35 assists and 10 digs. The only Badger with more digs in the match was senior libero Lauren Barnes with 13.

Overall, head coach Kelly Sheffield was happy with the team’s defensive efforts. “I loved our fighting spirit to get off the floor,” Sheffield said. “We were scrambling back there, bodies all over the floor. The defensive efforts were fantastic.”

The Badger’s have one final match-up against the Wolverines Friday afternoon at 2 p.m. to round out the regular season.

DIANE NORDSTROM /UW ATHLETICS

The Badgers didn't lose a single set to the Wolverines in their last two games of the Big Ten regular season.

Securing a win in that last match would leave the Badgers undefeated headed into the NCAA tournament.

After winning their second straight Big Ten conference title, the Badgers swept the Wolverines to finish their season undefeated.

No. 1 Wisconsin (15-0) beat Michigan (3-11) Friday afternoon (25-20, 25-14, 25-18) in their last match of the regular season before heading into the NCAA tournament.

The Badgers dominated the Wolverines in the second and third sets. In the second set Wisconsin had a hitting percentage of .333 to Michigan State’s .108. The Badgers also put away

six service aces and four blocks in that set.

“I thought we were really balanced this afternoon and I love the effort,” head coach Kelly Sheffield said. “I just thought our effort was fantastic. I thought we defended well, we defended hard. I actually thought our defense got better as the sets went on.”

The third set saw another four blocks, and the Badgers had a hitting percentage of .327 to Michigan State’s .157.

Middle blocker Dana Rettke and outside hitter Grace Loberg both put away 11 kills for the Badgers, finishing the match with .455 and .423 hitting percentages respectively.

DIANE NORDSTROM/UW ATHLETICS

The Badgers took home their second straight Big Ten title in two years on Thursday evening, a testament to the team's immense talent and skill.

“All in all, I just feel like our team had good rhythm, which allowed for each of us individually to be able to play some of our best volleyball,” Loberg said.

Loberg contributed five service aces for the Badgers, a career high.

“For my serving, I was just going back there and just really focusing on getting good hand contact because when that happens, good things usually happen,” Loberg said.

The Badgers got off to a slower start, finishing the first set with a hitting percentage of .282 and putting away just one block.

“One of the goals this weekend, not only just trying to close out a Big Ten title and get some wins, but to get better as each match went on,” head coach Kelly Sheffield said. “That was an emphasis as the sets went on, as the match went on and I certainly thought we did that.”

The Badgers finished their pristine season with yet another sweep, proving that the only thing that stands in their way is COVID-19. With a modified schedule, the Badgers were set to play 22 matches against the 11 Big Ten teams. However, due to safety concerns surrounding COVID-19 both within and outside of the Badger program, 9 total games were cancelled this season.

Wisconsin was able to play both matches in their series for the first time in over a month this week against Michigan.

“We’re just hoping to play so the fact that we were able to play two matches feels like an accomplishment right there,” Sheffield said. “You want to try to get some rhythm going into the tournament. I’m really happy and proud of the way the team played this week.”

The final regular season match also marked Sheffield’s 200th win as the Wisconsin coach.

The Badgers will move on to the first round of the NCAA championships and play on April 15.

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Arts desk honors a Clear-ly amazing woman

By Ashton Jenks STAFF WRITER

As a child I spent more time reading and living through other characters than I did living through myself.

Books were so much safer and I got to read them at night when no one else was there to bother me, with my flashlight hidden under the covers, scheming on how to convince my mother that I had not stayed up till 4 a.m. finishing the last installment of the Princess Diaries.

One of those books was the highly notable ‘Beezus and Romana’ by Beverly Cleary.

This was one of those books that I read at the perfect age, right when I was between the

two sisters’ ages, and it was like reading a parallelly of my own life. Of course the adaptation , ‘Ramona and Beezus’, with Selena Gomez is very good, but that book was just so fresh, even though it was written in the 1950s.

Born in 1916, Beverly Cleary was born during a war, came of age during an economic crisis and graduated into another war.

With a degree in Library Science from the University of Washington, she worked as a children’s librarian for years before becoming an army hospital librarian.

Utilizing her skills from her first degree in English, her first book ‘Henry Huggins’ was pub-

ANTHONY MCCARTNEY

Some of Clearly's most notable works include 'Beezus and Ramona.'

lished in the 1950’s.

This book predicted the nostalgia of the era and the need for uplifting literature in the post war pre-Cold War world.

Growing up in Oregon, Cleary didn’t learn to read till the 2nd grade, and she claims that she didn’t really enjoy any of the books published.

In an interview before she turned 100, Cleary discussed how most of the books at the time had British influence and features nannies and other classical sort of things She remarked that characters `seemed to sissies’ and as her time as a school librarian, she found that most students, upon learning to read, also felt the same way.

Seeking to write a book that appealed to American children of the day, and from which excited her to read, the classics such as ‘Henry Huggins,’ ‘Beezus and Romana,’ ‘Leave it to Beaver,’ and the ‘Mouse and the Motorcycle.’

To this day, children still read her timeless classics, written during an era of history after the world nearly fell apart.

While much of her work CHRISTINA KOCI HERNANDEZ / SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE speaks of its timeliness, it stil Children's author Beverly Clearly passed away in late March at 104. holds so well all this time later. tion to all during this pandemic.

In the wave of recent impor- the ripe old age of 104. tant people who have passed as She survived so much, yet On March 25th, the beloved the world has seemingly slowly children’s author passed away, still wrote so purely, and didn’t begun to follow the beginning of just a few weeks before her even find this calling till she was the 20th century in its declining 105th birthday, on this upcom- in her 30’s. pattern, such as Carrie Fisher, ing Monday April 12th.

So remember you are note a Leaving a legacy of ground- pest, and let yourself be childlike Kobe Bryant, Alex Trebek and Toni Morrison, so too does breaking classics and a dedi- this Monday, in honor of all the Beverly Cleary follow, surviving cation to the upbringing of childhood memories she made yet another global catastrophe at Children, Cleary is an inspira- Clear-y to us.

Florain Zeller’s ‘The Father,’ starring Anthony Hopkins drops your heart and lets it shatter into pieces

By Ashutosh Bakre STAFF WRITER

“The Father” drops your heart and lets it shatter into a myriad of pieces.

As the credits begin to roll, each fragment begins to come to rest, far away from the others. The film ends with you in that state, heartbroken, reeling.

You are left to attempt to gather all the shards and put them back together, but it is not easy. Writer-director Florian Zeller has created an ineffably powerful experience for us to watch. Adapted from the critically acclaimed play of the same name in French, “Le Père,” written by Zeller himself, the film harnesses the power of cinema to redefine sympathy.

The film immerses the audience in Anthony Hopkins’ character’s mind, thoughts and confusion. It’s overwhelming and scary and exhausting, offering no respite.

Anthony Hopkins shows why he is one of the best in the world. He delivers a consummate tour de force that is utterly breathtaking; it is an exemplification of acting at its very finest.

His performance is what makes the film as wrenching as it is. Olivia Colman gives a

SEAN GLEASON / SONY PICTURES CLASSICS

Anthony Hopkin's performance in the Florian Zeller's Oscar-nominated movie "The Father" is unforgettable. heartfelt performance as well that is creditable in its own right, but Hopkins definitely steals the show.

Zeller has harmonized the different cinematic elements remarkably to effectively dictate the audience’s thoughts and emotions to

match Hopkins’ character’s, a man named Anthony also, in a manner that transcends the vicariousness that we are typically accustomed to with films.

The cinematography and production design are delicate, serving as the lens through which to view the happenings

from Anthony’s point of view.

It is not often that the production design holds its own in a film that is not a period piece.

But here, it plays a crucial part in shaping the murky perception of various places.

The score acts almost like a

round knob button that modulates the audience’s anxiety as its pace quickens and eases.

The editing carefully connects everything together finally to create a world that is trapped in the confines of a man’s mind.

What truly makes “The Father” extraordinary is the command that it has over the audience’s mind and its thoughts.

You feel Anthony’s bewilderment in a way that is so overpowering that it crushes you. And it is terrifying, so terrifying, to think that anybody’s own mind could inflict such pain on themselves and their loved ones.

Zeller has crafted an experience that comes as close as you could possibly get to going through such an ordeal without actually going through it.

It is this experience that simulates the gradual loss of your grasp on a reality that you have known and taken for granted all your life, the abscission of your memories as the strong wind of dementia gusts through your mind’s branches, that makes the film have a profound impact that lasts long after it ends.

It is unforgettable.

almanac

dailycardinal.com

6 Thursday, April 8, 2021 l

UW-Madison sees annual spike in “post weekend denial”

GRAPHIC BY ZOE BENDOFF

should serve as a lesson in moderation. However, there is little chance a patient of PWD will actually undertake any form of future self restraint. You should have taken the hint when your roommate New Amsterdam started tasting like water.

2: Understating previous actions

By Owen Shao ALMANAC CONTRIBUTOR

As the weather becomes more pleasant and COVID-19 vaccinations continue to rollout, a surge in weekend festivities can be seen throughout Madison, Wisconsin. Naturally, these festivities include heavy substance abuse in true Wisconsin-fashion.

This annual springtime trend can be seen in places such as the “Mifflin Slums,” where the melting snow is steadily replaced

with debris from white plastic tables and crushed Natty Ice cans.

Although there are many psychological complications directly resulting from our citywide degeneracy, perhaps the most common disorder is referred to as “post weekend denial.”

This disorder occurs when an individual is convinced that they will never party again; typically after a long weekend of binge drinking. This proclama-

tion slowly fades during the week — resulting in a relapse that completes the cycle.

Symptoms of this self imposed disease are as follows: 1: Throbbing headache Devastating migraines are a common symptom of this disease. A general misconception occurring prior to “post weekend denial” is that cheap liquor is a legitimate form of hydration.

The resulting headache

In a feeble attempt to reclaim their lost dignity, patients of PWD have been shown to drastically understate their actions from the night before. This can be detrimental to a patient’s health as they may not fully grasp the fact that they were acting like a total dick. Friends and family of individuals afflicted

by PWD are prompted to post embarrassing videos of the patient’s actions.

Historically, this has been a valid form of treatment that utilizes the power of social ridicule. However, social media accounts like Barstool just repost these videos; encouraging people with the same disease to celebrate their collective symptoms.

3: Newfound resolutions This late stage symptom of “post weekend denial” plays a dangerous role in the overall cycle of the disease. Fear and panic prompt a patient’s amygdala to produce a fight or flight response. The resulting actions of frantically cleaning one’s room and pouring over missed assignments are common occurrences. Propositions to a higher power that: “I will never drink again” have also been common in random case studies. Doctors prompt patients suffering from this particular symptom to: “Stop lying to themselves.”

This disease our community faces is as old as the university itself. We have all been there. Staring up at a stranger’s ceiling while marinating in bad decisions from the night prior. Thinking to ourselves: “Why, just why?” At least next weekend we can all relax and be productive… right?

Major Biden cracks under pressure

By Hannah Ritvo ALMANAC CONTRIBUTOR

President Biden’s German shepherd puppy, Major has been making national news headlines all around America for his involvement in two newsworthy biting incidents.

While Major has been put on blast for these aggressive acts, no one knows

or can possibly understand what the dog has been through.

In an exclusive Daily Cardinal interview with Major himself, the dog told us that what the public knows is next to nothing: The Secret Service official he bit was “looking at him weirdly,” and he’d do it again.

Delewareans have been

extremely upset with the way their very own public official has been acting in the White House.

He’s up in front of the world representing their state, and he’s making a scene.

The once forgotten state is now known for putting an aggressive dog in the White House.

His whole campaign was

so moderate, running as just another “simple guy from Delaware,” and now he’s attacking his own officers, the supposed good guys.

Americans everywhere had higher hopes for him, especially after the Indoguration.

Americans on the left and right are upset — but they don’t understand

one thing. They couldn’t possibly understand how hard it is to represent the public.

There are 88 million dogs living in the United States, and the pressure gets to you when you least expect it — when you’re eating kibble, drifting to sleep or even when you’re happily mid-walk.

College student relieved to not be receiving stimulus

By Mackenzie Moore ALMANAC CONTRIBUTOR

A new round of Covid-19 related stimulus checks are currently being distributed to millions of individuals throughout the United States.

While many people are anxiously awaiting the $1400, Rodney Leffler, who was claimed as a dependent on his parents’ taxes, is relieved to not be getting one.

“I’m eligible and filed my own taxes, but my stimulus money still goes to my parents,” the Wausau native said. “I know that I could try to explain it to my mom and dad, but they take me out to B-Dubs when they come visit every few months, so I might as well call it even.”

However, it’s not just a lack of willingness to explain the guidelines that’s stopping the 20 year-old

from cashing in.

“You know, I guess I just don’t feel like I have much of a use for it,” Leffler stated as he smiled into the distance at no object in particular.

“I’m paying for my own tuition, rent and living expenses in general, but I’m perfectly satisfied with using student loans. After all, it’s really important to support banks — especially the big ones. I think the federal government forgets

that they can struggle too just because they’ve been so reliable over the years.”

The part-time Taco Bell Cantina employee knows his priorities.

“The other thing I love about student loans is that working more than one shift per week just....doesn’t fit into my lifestyle,” he said. “I don’t have to give a second thought about spending $1800 a month on rent or going out most nights

— that’s for future me to worry about.”

One can’t help but wonder what the junior would do if he did receive a stimulus check.

Luckily, Leffler didn’t hesitate to give an answer.

“I’m not sure it would change too drastically, but I might not steal beer from parties and bring it back to my apartment as much.

That’s certainly something I’d consider.”

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 dailycardinal.com

Thursday, April 8, 2021

l

7

Misinformation outside of politics in America

By Ian-Michael Griffin and Riley Sumner OPINION DESK EDITORS

Discussions on “misinformation” or “disinformation” campaigns have ravaged American political life in recent years, and they have served as a one of the primary catalysts for the political divide which

in this country is not a difference of beliefs — but a difference of fundamental facts. Misinformation has infected science and medical fields, and it has allowed conspiracy theories to run rampant.

With right-wing media outlets such as QAnon becoming more and more popular among Americans,

COURTESY OF GAGE SKIDMORE / CREATIVE COMMONS

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) speaking at an event for Turning Point USA we are facing today. Aside from politics, misinformation has been allowed to seep into other areas of American life, so much so that one of the largest inhibitors to progress

it is becoming equally challenging in discerning what can be considered fact, and what is simply entertaining fiction used to convince the uninformed. The most prevalent

example of this is within the political arena, and the extremists of an ideology. Misinformation, however, extends into the nonpolitical world as well, with the most obvious example being science.

The rise of pseudoscience in America runs in tandem with the transition from news for information’s sake to entertainment reports.

As science advances and becomes less and less easily comprehendible, pseudoscience emerges and individuals confuse real science with phenomena like aliens and bigfoot.

These topics become sensationalized and grab the attention of the public, instead of admittedly less flashy scientific endeavors.

When the growing concern for American scientific literacy is coupled with vast misinformation campaigns, it leads to a vastly uneducated public. In 2019, Pew Research Center released a study in which they concluded that seven out of 10 Americans who have obtained a bachelor’s degree or higher have satisfactory scientific knowledge.

Meanwhile, only two out of 10 Americans with only a high school diploma are scientifically literate.

This is a startling statistic regarding the U.S. Education System and its ability to convey science to students who do not plan to go on to college. Now, perhaps those students

do not plan on managing banks or working in hospitals, but they are registered voters. What they believe matters as much as the next, but the educational system and a proclivity for pseudoscience is robbing individuals of truth and delivering what is bright and shiny instead.

For example, look at the existence of global warming. Almost unanimously throughout the scientific community, there has been a consensus that climate change is a reality and that necessary steps toward preventing human-caused climate disasters must be taken in order for us to make this planet hospitable. Despite this overwhelming consensus, people like Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) continue to amplify fringe scientists who deny this consensus.

In a hearing at the Subcommittee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, Sen. Cruz questioned Retired Navy Admiral David Titley over measurements of global temperature rise. In this hearing, Cruz presents a skewed graph — one that shows data over the span of 1997 to 2016 — with quite an arbitrary time selection. Sen. Cruz’s graph gives the impression that the mean temperature for the last “18 years and nine months” has been relatively unchanged. In contrast, Admiral Titley’s graph — given the

full context — presents the more accurate assessment that mean temperatures have been on the rise ever since the industrial revolution.

It’s fundamentally challenging to make progress in the political realm, when we can’t even agree on the basic facts that exist in the nonpolitical realm. How are we to make steps towards environmental policy progress when just the raw data is a source of contention?

Misinformation and disinformation campaigns have been core to the increasing political divide in this country. Much of the policy struggles we have aren’t just based on difference of opinion — but a difference in fundamental data that drives those decisions. Misinformation has infected the world outside of politics, and if we are to make progress on a number of issues it is imperative that we work to close the misinformation divide.

Riley is an Opinion Editor at The Daily Cardinal and a Junior studying Computer Science and Journalism with an emphasis in Reporting.

Ian-Michael is an Opinion Editor at The Daily Cardinal and a freshman studying Psychology on the pre-med track. Do you think another autocrat could pose a threat to American democracy? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

Baseball strikes out on decision to move All-Star Game

By Tripp Grebe STAFF WRITER

Baseball is a rare example of how the coexistence of dynamism and traditionalism can sustain an institution that appreciates its past as much as it yearns to shape its future. After over a century and a half of baseball, the rules remain as unchanged as the flow of the game itself and the reliable cadence of the long season that spans from the end of spring to the beginning of fall.

The beauty of baseball is that, despite holding onto its traditions, the game always intersects with broader American culture.

During World War 1, 227 major league baseball players served in the military — including several future Hall of Famers.

The enormous sacrifice of Major League Baseball and its players in World War I would be eclipsed during World War II when over 500 major league players left the game to serve in the military — including 37 future Hall of Famers.

Like many American institutions, Major League Baseball suffered its fair share of setbacks amidst the struggle for equality and civil rights. Still, one of the game’s trailblazers, Jackie Robinson, led the way on integration and will forever be celebrated as a civil rights icon.

In 2001, President George W. Bush showed America’s strength as he threw out the first pitch of the World Series in New York City just weeks after the Sept. 11 tragedies.

Baseball provided a similar showing of strength and resiliency in 2013 when the Boston Red Sox won the World Series just months after the Boston Marathon Bombing.

This year, Major League Baseball celebrated the hiring of its first female general manager, Kim Ng. Ng is the first woman, the first person of East Asian descent to lead a Major League Baseball front office and the first female general manager in the

history of North American professional men’s sports.

Baseball’s uncanny ability to regularly intersect with American culture and help create consequential change reminds us why the game is foundational to American society. Baseball reminds us that we can retain tradition while simultaneously enacting prudent change.

In baseball, when change occurs, it is thoughtful, not reactionary.

Whether it be introducing mandatory drug testing, negotiating collective bargaining agreements or deciding to expand the size of the league — every decision in baseball is made with prudence and foresight.

This approach to change is comparable to the cerebral decision-making players and managers engage in during a baseball game.

On Friday, Major League Baseball abandoned its tradition of prudence when the league announced that it would relocate the 2021 All-Star Game, which was scheduled to occur in Atlanta.

The league’s decision to relocate comes after the passage of S.B. 202, a divisive new Georgia law that updates the state’s election procedures.

President Biden has referred to the bill as “Jim Crow of the 21st century.” When asked if he would support Major League Baseball moving the All-Star game out of Georgia, President Biden said he “would strongly support them doing that.”

Considering Jim Crow was a systemic effort of oppression and violence that affected Black American’s daily lives, this is a serious charge. A charge that the MLB took seriously and acted on accordingly.

In a statement about the new Georgia Law, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said, “Major League Baseball fundamentally supports voting rights for all Americans and opposes restrictions

to the ballot box.”.

President Biden’s characterization of the bill and Major League Baseball’s subsequent reaction would be justified if the bill’s characterization were accurate. It’s not.

Georgia Law S.B. 202 does not offer the slightest resemblance to the Jim Crow Era. In fact, in many ways, the bill expands voting access beyond that of other states.

The new law mandates that precincts allow 17 days of early voting, including two Saturdays, in the leadup to the election. President Biden’s home state of Delaware currently doesn’t allow any early in-person voting. In New York, where Major League Baseball is headquartered, the state only mandates nine days of early voting.

The new Georgia law also allows for no-excuse absentee voting to remain in place. This means that any Georgia resident will be able to vote absentee. The law also requires that online registration for absentee ballots be made available.

The law also allows for drop boxes to permanently remain after their adoption on an emergency basis last year.

In the 2020 election, Georgia election officials were required to determine an absentee ballot’s validity by matching a voter’s signature on the ballot with the signature on record for that voter. Instead of maintaining this subjective and time-intensive practice, Georgia now mandates that voters verify their identity when applying for an absentee ballot by providing a photocopy or digital picture of their driver’s license or voter identification card.

All voters can obtain a voter identification card for free.

The new Georgia law also allows election workers to begin counting absentee ballots two weeks before election day to prevent significant delays in reporting results. Under

the new law, they are also mandated to announce the total amount of votes cast by 10:00 p.m. on election night. This way, confusion is mitigated and voters will know how many outstanding ballots remain.

President Biden and his allies continue to assert that the new Georgia law prohibits voters waiting in line from receiving food or water.

This is a lie and has been given four Pinocchio’s by the Washington Post Fact Checker. The new law prohibits campaign members from electioneering or giving out food and drink to voters while they wait in line. Polling places can still provide voters with

Now, Major League Baseball has decided to relocate the 2021 AllStar game to Denver, Colorado. The move will cost the Atlanta community, whose population is over 50% African American, $100 million in lost revenue. Instead, Major League Baseball has decided to move the AllStar Game to Denver — a city with a 9.2% African American population.

Like Georgia, Colorado prohibits members of campaigns from electioneering or giving out food and drink to voters while they wait in line, requires voter ID and has no-excuse absentee voting. Unlike Georgia, Colorado still requires sig-

PHOTO COURTESY OF FLICKR USER STEPHEN RAHN

Photo of the Atlanta Braves stadium, Truist Park from the stands water, and voters can order food and drink while they wait in line.

President Biden and his allies continue to lie and spread disinformation regarding the new Georgia Voting Law. It is not Jim Crow of the 21st Century.

Despite the spread of rampant disinformation regarding the new Georgia Law, a national Morning Consult Poll recently found that more respondents favored the bill than opposed it.

nature verification for absentee ballots and requires two days less of early voting.

Major League Baseball abandoned its tradition of prudence and caved to a campaign of disinformation. Now, Major League Baseball is taking their business out of one of the largest majority AfricanAmerican metro areas in the country and taking it to a state with relatively similar voting laws.

Baseball struck out on this one.

life & style l

8

Thursday, April 8 , 2021

dailycardinal.com

An English Cocker Spaniel to call your own

By Haley Harris STAFF WRITER

As students attending college during a global pandemic, I am sure we have all experienced our fair share of online examinations over this past year. Since no two professors are the same, the criteria for taking these tests always differs. Some professors require us to use a proctoring system like Honorlock, while others allow us to have our notes and books open for the duration of the test. Some teachers set a time-limit, expecting us to complete the exam once we start it, while others give us days to work on it and upload our final submissions. Some professors only allow students to take the exam in the evening, while others require it be done in the morning.

For me, this lack of consistency is very straining on my mental health.

I remember when COVID-19 first hit, and we all got sent home last March. In my opinion, most of the professors were a lot more understanding, and sympathetic to our needs as students, than they are now. They realized that online schooling was much more difficult than the typical in-person learning style we were used to, and the testing procedures were set up to accommodate us in our home settings. This meant that teachers required no proctoring systems, gave us longer time-limits and we could take the exam in the morning, or in the evening, allowing everyone to accommodate for their own schedules and testing preferences.

Personally, I hate taking exams at night. Having a test in the evening causes me to stress about it all day — granting the strain to my mental health. This is my preference and may sound nothing like yours, but if we could choose when we took our tests, again depending on our own preferences, everyone would benefit mentally.

Let me address the elephant in the room, however. The reason why professors are not allowing us to do this: Cheating.

Professors do not trust us, but can we blame them? During this pandemic, as mental health issues have increased, people’s trustworthiness has decreased. I will let you decide which is worse, but, maybe, the University could consider having a more consistent testing procedure for all courses and professors? I know this would help with lowering some of my mental health issues but, in case the inconsistency continues, I know of a Professor who can help us all destress!

Professor is a male English Cocker Spaniel. He is considered a senior which means he is above the age of eight, but his exact age is unknown. He currently resides at the Dane County Humane Society but is looking for a new home, and you might be the perfect fit! He weighs about 35 pounds and, as a reference for his size, is slightly larger than a full-grown cat. Professor has black fur covering most of his head and white on the rest of his body, with occasional splotches of black.

Professor loves to shout his love for you, sometimes loudly, so a house would be the best setting as to not upset any neighbors.

Also, he is quite greedy and would prefer to be the only dog you give your attention and affection to.

As stated above, Professor is a senior. So, he comes with more health problems. Once adopted, he may show signs of stress and anxiety but, do not fret, the Humane Society has medication for these symptoms and will send you home with it. He will need regular dental cleanings due to his periodontal disease that affects his gums. He is more prone to ear infections because of how his ears are shaped, so scheduling an appointment with a veterinarian to keep his ears clean as he ages would be a good idea. Ultimately, Professor does have quite a few health conditions — maybe more than you would want for a dog you would be willing to adopt. But let’s not forget, he has lived a long and hard life, and, in return for some love and medical attention from you, he will provide you with endless snuggles, kisses and joy.

Professor’s adoption fee is $250plus tax. This price may be slightly above your budget, but, honestly, we have all been saving our money from less trips to the bars this past year, meaning you could swing this one-time expense. If you would like to move forward with this process, please visit the following link: Dane County Humane Society – Professor.

Ultimately, this pandemic is taking a toll on all of us. Students, professors and animals alike are struggling. The inconsistency of the testing procedures, mental health issues and cheating may continue, but Professor the dog can help you through this hard time! All you must do is adopt!

Taylor Swift’s ‘new’ album

By Colby Bellman STAFF WRITER

LYRA EVANS/THE DAILY CARDINAL

It is very important to observe pop culture with a mind that is ready to critique.

The not so feminist ‘Legally Blonde’

By Danielle Farina STAFF WRITER

In celebration of “Legally Blonde’s” 20th anniversary, Netflix announced it would be adding the hit romantic comedy to its catalogue starting April 1. So, naturally, as the beginning of April rolled around the corner, my roommates and I excitedly flocked to our couch for a viewing party of the film that made pink everyone’s favorite color. Ready to dive head first into cinematic nostalgia, I prepared to marvel at the humor and glamor that is Elle Woods. Yet, as I continued to watch, my splendor was interrupted by the subtle cringe bubbling inside of me. The once championed “girl-power” icon suddenly became a manifestation of the flaws of modern feminism.

Now, I know it seems fruitless to scrutinize a classic that is beloved for its lighthearted plot and seemingly empowering message. It’s true that “Legally Blonde” does an excellent

job of displaying the multidimensionality of women.

Elle Woods raises her middle finger to the patriarchy, doing so with perfectly polished fingernails and a diamond ring. Effectively, her womanhood is what allows her to break the stereotypes she’s confined by. It’s these stereotypes, however, that hold the problem.

Inherently, “Legally Blonde” is a white feminist film. It traces the story of an already privileged white woman who is simplified and misunderstood because she embodies the beauty standard. And yes, bimbofication is a genuine struggle feminists are actively combating. However, there is nothing intersectional about this story. Feminism can only achieve women’s liberation when it employs an analytic framework that examines the crossroads of all social identities; gender, race, sexuality, etc. When “feminist” mediums fail to

address these intersections, they reduce feminist issues to the single story of the white woman, neglecting the more dangerous (and, sometimes, lethal) stereotypes applied to marginalized peoples.

I by no means am suggesting to “cancel” “Legally Blonde” because, frankly, it’s just not that deep. It should be viewed and enjoyed as the cherished romantic comedy that it is.

I do encourage readers of the Daily Cardinal, however, to approach and consume popular culture with an eye of criticism, always. Life imitates art, and when we are able to locate an artwork’s shortcomings we become more equipped to recognize them in the real world. For me, Elle Woods and her fabulous journey through Harvard revealed that there is more (and more urgent) work to be done in feminism than merely showing that beauty and brains are not mutually exclusive.

Taylor Swift has been an iconic artist for over a decade now, showing her skills by winning The Grammys Artist of the Year in three genres. This summer she released her album Folklore, which just made history when she became the first woman to win Album of the Year three times.

This album was very different from her usual music, as it was more of an indie folk album rather than a pop album. However, fans were still drawn to this album and it even seemed to be loved by listeners who would not consider themselves as “Swifties.”

In December of 2020 she released Evermore, the sister album to Folklore. This album also sounds more indie folk and was adored by many listeners.

Both of these albums tell stories through the lyrics

and feature some of Taylor’s best song writing to date.

Her singles, “Cardigan” and “Willow” have both been extremely successful as well.

Lately, Swift seems to be unstoppable and now, since she owns her first five albums, is venturing back into her 2008 country music days. Swift is rerecording her old albums with new “vault songs” that fans have never heard before.

She finally has ownership over her music and is able to do whatever she wants with it, which is super exciting for fans to see.

She has been planting easter eggs, or secret clues, about this rerecord on her instagram for a while but has finally announced that Fearless (Taylor’s Version) will be out April 9.

A few weeks ago she started this announcement with the release of “Love Story

(Taylor’s Version)”, which is very similar to the original.

However, you can hear how mature Swift’s voice has gotten over the years. Then she followed up with her first song from the vault, “You All Over Me (Taylor’s Version) (Featuring Maren Morris)”.

Both of these songs were hits and were high on the Spotify daily charts.

These songs bring her long time fans the nostalgia of when they were young and first fell in love with her music.

Taylor Swift is a leader of the music industry and has shown that she can dominate in many genres. She keeps fans interested and coming back for more through her genius lyrics and easter egg clues about her next album.

Taylor Swift is not going anywhere and will continue to be a household name in the music industry.

COURTESY OF METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER

Fearless will be released as Taylor's Version, assuring that Swift owns all the rights to her own music.

comics dailycardinal.com

Thursday, April 8, 2021 • 9

SUDOKU

DIRECTIONS: Fill in each row, column and square with the numbers 1-9

THE HIGHGROUND

BY LYRA EVANS

CROSSWORD

DIRECTIONS: Fill in words via the prompts across or down via their respective numbers.

19. Unlock again 1. Luau greeting 21. Gel 24. Sound sys2. Dressed to tems the ____ 25. Distress cry (2 3. Entire wds.)

4. Sleep noise 27. Sewing item 5. Fled 29. Track shape 6. Sailor’s call 7. Mover’s truck 30. Limping 8. Shoemaker’s 31. Thirst quenchers helper 32. Cincinnati 9. Winter toys team 10. Stew 33. Right away!

11. Rural road 34. Undiluted 12. Circle seg35. Malt drinks ments 36. Hue 13. Red veg40. Pale color etable

Down

22. Despise 23. In dreamland 1. Industrious 24. Mediocre insects (hyph.)

5. Roof edges 10. Extra weight 26. First extra inning 14. Big cat 28. ____ bear 15. Will 16. Not common 33. Petty quarrel 37. Land docu17. Upon ment 18. Meeting 38. Avoid 20. Rumor

Across

39. Dutch bloom 41. Keats’ “before” 42. Designated 43. Coliseum 44. Hand out cards 46. Smaller amount 47. Experiments 48. Sophia ____ 50. Makes a knot

52. Most pleasing 57. Gotten up 61. Cold Russian region 62. Slow down 65. Connect the ____ 66. Once more 67. Holy ____ Empire 68. Rewrite 69. Rock growth 70. Turn 71. Disclaim

45. Indulgent 49. Pen point 51. Lethargic 53. Surrendered 54. Wear away 55. Certain protest (hyph.)

56. Delicious 57. Eve’s partner 58. Casino city 59. Summer treats 60. Bastes 61. Amtrak terminals (abbr.)

63. Use oars 64. French pal