Tuesday, October 14, 2014 - The Daily Cardinal by The Daily Cardinal

University of Wisconsin-Madison

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Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Orpheum receives grant for revisions By Patricia Johnson THE DAILY CARDINAL

The Orpheum Theater will undergo facade improvements to update the decades-old exterior while still maintaining its iconic old-fashioned style after Madison’s Board of Estimates approved a $20,000 grant to the owner Monday. Owners Gus and Mary Paras will be required to spend a minimum of $20,000 of their own money to match the city’s grant. The total project costs are estimated at just over $42,000. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, said last year that Paras plans to reestablish the Orpheum as an entertainment venue open to comedy shows and wedding receptions in addition to music. The improvements for the theater include replacing the beige 1960s era brick in the front with a type of granite that mim-

ics the appearance of marble. The owners also presented plans to replace six emergency exit doors and frames facing Johnson Street with steel insulated doors. Paras’s proposed changes to the exterior of the Orpheum will not modify the theater’s current plaque, a landmark that has remained a part of the city since its opening. Madison’s Board of Estimates members also listened to the Madison Police Department’s presentation on 2015 budget plans. The city’s executive budget allows the MPD to train two new officers as Neighborhood Resources Officers who are assigned to specific districts and provide more concentrated attention to areas with high crime. Police Chief Mike Koval is seeking funding to allow five NROs in Madison.

orpheum page 3

Chancellor says ‘tough’ budgetary times ahead

GREY SATTERFIELD/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

Orpheum Theater owners Gus and Mary Paras received a grant from the city to improve the building’s facade.

Chancellor Rebecca Blank told staff it is going to be a “tough year” when discussing finances at an Academic Staff meeting in Bascom Hall Monday. “With no additional funding from the state this year, we will have to implement the budget cuts that were handed down to us two years ago,” Blank said. Blank described the differences the university could experience when facing financial challenges. She said she plans to speak with the Board of Regents about raising tuition for both professional schools and out-of-state undergraduates this June in anticipation of the new fiscal year. All staff will receive a pay raise this year, but Blank said there is no room in the budget for targeted pay increases from the critical compensation fund. Some staff members expressed concern about past and future layoffs, which Blank said could be better communicated externally.

staff page 3

Rep. Pocan addresses student issues at Legislative Affairs By Scott Bembenek THE DAILY CARDINAL

DREW GILMORE/THE DAILY CARDINAL

U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., presented on student life and the importance of good dialogue with ASM Legislative Affairs.

U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan, D-Wis., visited the Associated Students of Madison Legislative Affairs Committee Monday to speak about his role in the federal government and answer questions involving student life. Pocan, who is a UW-Madison alumnus, is nearing the end of his first term as a member of the United States House of Representatives. He represents Wisconsin’s 2nd District, which includes the city of Madison. In the House of Representatives, Pocan serves on the Education & the Workforce Committee, which focuses on issues involving job training, various levels of education and the minimum wage. He also serves on the Committee on the Budget. In Congress, Pocan has worked with issues of student

affordability and state funding of public universities after cuts that took place during the recent economic crash. He brought up specifically the idea that states need

“My opinion is it’s more important the state lives up to their part of the obligation and puts their money back into the system. ”

Mark Pocan U.S. representative D-Wisconsin

to reinvest in public universities. “My opinion is it’s more important the state lives up to their part of the obligation and puts their money back into the system,” Pocan said. He also spoke to how students

can get involved in decision-making processes through campaign resolution, emphasizing the importance of students reaching out to officials about the issues they want to discuss. “We want to have a good dialogue going,” he said. “That dialogue is really important for us.” The representative also noted the importance of pursuing issues that are important to people, even if they aren’t specific to education, citing marriage equality and the minimum wage as examples. Pocan went on to praise ASM’s recent efforts to register voters for the upcoming elections. The committee also discussed possible campaigns to pursue on campus, such as student loan debt and more secure bike lanes on campus. Legislative Affairs will hold its next meeting Monday to further discuss campaign resolutions.

Gov. Walker announces Wisconsin will legally recognize all same-sex marriages from June All marriage licenses issued after U.S. District Court Judge Barbara Crabb struck down Wisconsin’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage in June, will be legally recognized, Gov. Scott Walker announced Monday.

J Mascis

Roughly 500 marriages were performed in the week following Crabb’s ruling, before she stayed her decision pending appeal. “Per the guidance from the Department of Justice … the state will be treating licenses issued in

June as valid marriage licenses,” Walker spokesperson Laurel Patrick said in an email. Walker’s order comes on the heels of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision last week to decline to hear the state’s appeal

+ ARTS, page 4

Quiet, melodic-souled guitarist rocks High Noon

to reinstate the ban, effectively making same-sex marriage legal in Wisconsin. “We are pleased that the State of Wisconsin is doing the right thing and recognizing these marriages,” Larry

Community leader: ‘Mama K’

Dupuis, legal director of the ACLU of Wisconsin said in a statement. “We expect the State to move quickly and assertively to make the promise of marriage equality a practical reality in Wisconsin.”

+ SPORTS, page 8

“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”

almanac 2

hi 57º / lo 46º

Wednesday: rainy hi 59º / lo 48º

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 124, Issue 23

2142 Vilas Communication Hall 821 University Avenue Madison, Wis., 53706-1497 (608) 262-8000 • fax (608) 262-8100

News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com

tODAY: rainy

Editor-in-Chief Jack Casey

Managing Editor Jonah Beleckis

News Team News Manager Sam Cusick Campus Editor Adelina Yankova College Editor Emily Gerber City Editors Irene Burski, Patricia Johnson State Editor Eoin Cottrell Associate News Editor Dana Kampa Features Editor Melissa Howison Opinion Editors Ryan Bullen • Cullen Voss Editorial Board Chair Haley Henschel Arts Editors Cheyenne Langkamp • Sean Reichard Sports Editors Jack Baer • Jim Dayton Almanac Editors Andy Holsteen • Kane Kaiman Photo Editors Emily Buck • Thomas Yonash Graphics Editor Cameron Graff Multimedia Editor Alana Katz Science Editor Danielle Smith Life & Style Editor Claire Satterfield Special Pages Editor Haley Henschel Copy Chiefs Kara Evenson • Justine Jones Jessie Rodgers • Paige Villiard Copy Editors Libby Gartland • Ellie Borstad Social Media Manager Rachel Wanat

Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Brett Bachman Accounting Manager Tyler Reindl Advertising Manager Jordan Laeyendecker Assistant Advertising Manager Corissa Pennow Marketing Director Tim Smoot 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 Jack Casey • Jonah Beleckis Haley Henschel • Cullen Voss Ryan Bullen • Michael Penn Kayla Schmidt l

Board of Directors Herman Baumann, President Jack Casey • Jonah Beleckis Jennifer Sereno • Stephen DiTullio Brett Bachman • Janet Larson Don Miner • Phil Brinkman Jason Stein • Nancy Sandy Jordan Laeyendecker • Tim Smoot Tina Zavoral

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The case against going home Eyy freshmen, you’re over a month into this whole college thing and if you’re reading this, chances are you haven’t dropped out yet—so congrats! There is however, another issue at hand: You’re quickly turning into a wittle homesick baby. It’s OK to be homesick. It’s just part of the whole gettingacclimated-to-life-without-mommy-doing-everything-for-you phase. WRONG. See, that was a trick so all you weaklings would let down your guard and admit to missing the ol’ homefront. Homesickness is a disease that will keep people in your dorm farther away from you than open cold sores. If you want to ride with the big dogs here at college, but there’s something—oh, I don’t know, say mommy’s chicken pot pie—that is making you miss those classic high school days, get this through your stupid thumbsucking skull: Only the loseriest of the losers feel homesick. Luckily for all you nimrods thinking about hopping on a Megabus this weekend, Almanac has compiled an exhaustive motivational pamphlet to keep your ass anchored in Witte until Thanksgiving.

Things people on your floor will say about you once they find out you went home for the weekend: “We’ll just have to find someone else to play on our intramural flag football team.”

“Wait, so they’re not gonna be at the pre-game?” “They seemed so cool at first.” “I’m not surprised. Did you know they call their parents every Wednesday after dinner? What the hell is that?”

“How can someone be so boring?” “I knew this would happen as soon as they put up all those lame photos of their family.”

“Won’t it be so much kinkier if we do it in their bed though?” “So wha—I mean, yeah, yeah, only losers get homesick. Everyone knows that.”

“I would be embarrassed if they were my child.” “It’s probably just so they can crawl back to their ex who’s still a senior.”

Excuses you can give if you’re just too weak to stick things out like every single one of your classmates: “There’s going to be free food.” “It’s not my fault! My parents just can’t function without their little ray of sunshine.”

“I can’t risk getting written up for the fifth week in a row.”

“I’ve got this thing.” “I’m actually staying with some friends in (insert city where Badgers are playing that Saturday).”

Alternative weekend activities for when you become alienated by everyone you’ve met so far: —Go to a concert at one of Madison’s various music venues, alone. —Head over to Willy Street and check out some of the tasty East-side restaurants, alone.

—Check out the fall colors at UW’s Botanical Gardens, alone. —Take a bike ride out into the rolling hills surrounding the Madison area, alone. —Create a student org for other losers who went home, alone.

For the record Corrections or clarifications? Call The Daily Cardinal office at 608-262-8000 or send an email to edit@dailycardinal.com.

—Just go home every weekend because no one here will want to see your face. —Any of the above activities can also be done with your parents, who will be your only friends until the day you inevitably die.

news dailycardinal.com

Tuesday, October 14, 2014 3 l

Grothman, Harris disagree on voter ID

BETSY OSTERBERGER/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Sex Out Loud project coordinator Nicholas Fetzner presented the group’s budget to Student Services Finance Committee.

SSFC reviews Sex Out Loud, approves final GUTS budget By Maija Inveiss THE DAILY CARDINAL

The Associated Students of Madison Student Services Finance Committee unanimously approved the Greater University Tutoring Service’s 2015-’16 budget at a meeting Monday. GUTS provides UW-Madison students with free tutoring services to aid in academic subjects, study skills and conversational language, according to its website. Students, peer tutors and staff work together to improve personal and academic growth. The $143,915.06 budget decreased from the current fiscal year budget of $148,762.06, but the SSFC members said they had almost no concerns with the proposed budget. GUTS proposed the smaller request because they returned approximately 17 percent of the previous budget. They also predicted future needs for the group based on planned expansions, according to previous reporting. SSFC Secretary Brett Ducharme said everything was justified. “After reading through the budget and analyzing it, this was a great application,” Ducharme said. “There was very clear emphasis on why there was differences in the budget between this year and last year. All was

accounted for.” SSFC also heard a budget presentation from Nicholas Fetzner, the project coordinator of Sex Out Loud. Sex Out Loud is UW-Madison’s peer-to-peer sexual health resource center, which provides sexual education workshops, safer sex supplies and sexual counseling. Fetzner said not all students feel comfortable visiting University Health Services to talk to health professionals, so they might prefer speaking to an educated peer. “I think [sexual education] is a very important thing for people to know as they go through life, and it also keeps people healthy,” Fetzner said. The sex ed workshops are very popular among students because they are tailorable and teach students about “third base or more” depending on the group. They also provide other programs such as Yoga for Better Sex and Condoms & Candy. Sex Out Loud proposed a $99,989 budget for 2015-’16 that is an increase from the current budget of $98,032. The organization increased the budget because of an additional staff member. SSFC will make a decision on Sex Out Loud’s budget this upcoming Thursday.

UW-Madison to participate in research advancing development of bioproducts UW-Madison will participate in a three-year research project involving the use of biomass instead of petroleum to produce plastic precursors and other chemicals, according to a university news release. Biomass is more economically viable and environmentally friendly than its petroleum counterpart. “People have been focusing on fuels, which are a pretty lowvalue product—$600 or $700 per ton—but we’re going to be making products that are worth more than $5,000 per ton,” George Huber, a professor of chemical and biological

engineering at UW-Madison who is participating in the research, said. The United States Department of Energy provided a $3.3 million grant as part of a $13.4 million national initiative to support the advancement of biofuels and bioproducts and to make them more competitive with petroleum. University of Minnesota and Argonne National Library will also participate in the research. Huber will be working with UW Professors James A. Dumesic, Christos Maravelias, Bill Banholzer and Associate Professor Ive Hermans.

While the Supreme Court halted Wisconsin’s voter ID law from taking effect for the November elections Thursday, both candidates vying to represent Wisconsin’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives continue to debate the court’s decision. The high court’s ruling comes after months of confusion regarding the law, which required voters to present valid photo identification at the polls. State Sen. Glenn Grothman, R-Campbellsport, an advocate of the law and the Republican candidate for the 6th District seat, has been critical of the court’s decision. “In an era of out-of-control decisions by our federal courts, Thursday’s Supreme Court order putting Wisconsin’s

Voter ID law on hold surprised even me,” Grothman said in a statement.”One would think that when in doubt, our Supreme Court would give deference to both the Wisconsin Legislature and the 7th Circuit

“I don’t know how you can discourage thousands of potential voters to deter the nonexistent scenario of voter fraud. ” Mark Harris county executive Winnebago

Court of Appeals.” Democratic candidate Mark Harris, the current Winnebago County Executive, views voter

ID as a “barrier that would prevent certain classes of people” from voting. “Far right candidates like Glenn Grothman think that what is good for them is good for society,” Harris said. “I don’t know how you can discourage thousands of potential voters to deter the nonexistent scenario of voter fraud.” Harris picked up a high profile endorsement Monday for his underdog campaign from the Wisconsin State Journal. The State Journal tabbed Harris as a “whiz on tax policy and budgeting” that “should help Congress find workable solutions” to problems while labeling Grothman as too “ideologically rigid” for the position. —Andrew Bahl

Battery on Bassett Street leaves one man unconscious A battery that occurred early Saturday morning left one man unconscious with head injuries on North Bassett Street, according to Madison Police Department spokesperson Joel DeSpain in a report. The 23-year-old Madison man was taken to a nearby hospital after two men approached the intoxicated victim at

approximately 3:44 a.m. on the 300 block of North Bassett Street and punched and kicked the man until he collapsed while two accomplices stood by and watched, according to the report. The victim told police he was familiar with the suspects but was not able to tell police any names of the suspects.

“He had been drinking and he had been beaten up at the time the officer was talking to him,” DeSpain said. “He was basically communicating with us through either affirmative head nods or the contrary.” DeSpain said he did not believe the victim was a University of WisconsinMadison student.

Party crashers steal belongings from hosts’ residence A party on West Gorham Street ended badly when a group of individuals showed up uninvited and stole approximately $3,500 worth of belongings from the hosts’ apartment Saturday, according to Madison Police Department spokesperson Joel DeSpain in an incident report. The four 19-year-old victims told police a group of men

and women stayed at the party for approximately 10 minutes before they were able to convince the suspects to leave the 400 block of West Gorham Street apartment, according to the report. The victims did not initially think the incident was malicious until they realized laptops, headphones and cash were missing. The hosts con-

tacted police at approximately 11:30 p.m. to report the theft, according to the report. The victims believe the women in the group distracted the hosts while the men proceeded to steal the items, according to DeSpain. “We’re hoping to secure some surveillance video if there is any that would [find] us a lead,” DeSpain said.

staff from page 1 Blank also proposed implementing a new campus budget model, recommended by the Budget Model Development Committee students and staff, to use existing revenues. The model would distribute funds to schools and colleges, leaving deans to make the decisions about where the money is allocated within the schools. “Even if we were rolling in money, with lots of good revenues coming in, we still should be discussing a new budget model to be a more nimble, flexible and effective university in the way we use dollars,” Blank said. Blank concluded by addressing the Ad Hoc Diversity Planning Committee’s 30 recommendations to promote diversity on campus and announcing the university’s commitment to improving campus safety by combating sexual assault. —Dana Kampa

orpheum from page 1 Ald. Joseph Clausius, District 17, asked about the difficulty of delegating two NROs to manage 20 districts when he knows of two “volatile” areas within his own district. “The beauty of an NRO is that they can be nimble but that’s the

KENT MOK/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Provost Sarah Mangelsdorf and Chancellor Rebecca Blank spoke about finances at an Academic Staff meeting Monday. adult version of whack-a-mole,” Koval said. “If you’re handling something here in one district and you’ve got some sort of sense of status quo, then you’re now looking for where the next hot spot will be.” The MPD is also looking to fill a new command level position with one of the depart-

ment’s current staff to address growing issues of mental health and other social needs. “I am tightening my belt and sacrificing what scarce resources I have because I can no longer stand idly by to see this mental health issue go on,” Koval said. “If nothing else, we’re treating people more humanely.”

arts J Mascis stuns the High Noon Saloon l

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

By Michael Frett The Daily Cardinal

J Mascis’s last record, Tied To A Star, was far more subtle than Dinosaur Jr.’s power-trio theatrics normally lend themselves to. Mascis, the lead guitar-player and vocalist for the Massachusetts alternative rock legends, turned in his thundering riffs and blazing solos for a gently picked acoustic guitar and meditative falsetto. While his fluid electric guitar stylings would occasionally make themselves known in Tied to a Star’s more dynamic moments, it was still largely another Mascis acoustic album.

Mascis’s songs never lost their common ground— that quiet, melodic soul sitting behind the guitar.

I had the privilege of a brief interview with Mascis to preview his High Noon Saloon concert. Mascis said he’d be tackling the stage solo, playing guitar to the crowd as he’d sing and croon through a career-spanning setlist. I didn’t expect him to expand from beyond the brooding psychedelic folk that made up the twenty songs between Tied to a Star and its predecessor Several Shades of Why; Mascis solo almost seemed too absorbed with his gloomy folk music to want to leave that behind when

PLAYLIST

he took to the stage. Before Mascis took the stage, Australian indie folk duo Luluc introduced the show with a patient-minded set of duets. Singer Zoë Randell operatically dominated the microphone, an acoustic guitar in hand. To her right, guitar player Steve Hassett added ambiance with restrained guitar leads and the occasional tepid bass line. They never let themselves get overtaken by the music, instead surrendering to their gentle rhythms in a way that never ignited an audiencewide fire but was still awash in their captivation. Mascis took the stage with few words and almost immediately began the set with an acoustic-themed “Stumble,” one of the many Tied to a Star cuts to be featured that night. The next song, “Me Again,” hinted at what was in store for the night; Mascis showed his hand and revealed that he’d be looping his songs, meaning he wouldn’t be limited in structure to simple folk songs. If that wasn’t convincing enough, his following rendition of a fuzzed-out “Little Fury Things” blew apart any expectations of Mascis playing the straight-faced troubadour that night. J Mascis, varying between tender folk songs and explosive punk guitar theatrics, spread out across the Mascis catalog; Tied to a Star was well represented, but its softer moments were often juxtaposed with Dinosaur Jr. songs that inspired guitar hero worship. Mascis’s

Maham Hasan Lit columnist

Funkadelic “One Nation Under A Groove”

Leonard Cohen “Take This Waltz” Seriously, take it, while the offer is still fresh!

Los Campesinos! “You! Me! Dancing!” It’s you! It’s me! And— well, you get the idea. The New Pornographers “Dancehall Domine” Groove along with everyone’s favorite Canadian supergroup.

graphic by cameron graff

acoustic guitars danced across Eastern rhythms like the instrumental “Drifter” that led into “Heal the Star,” and then cranked up the dirt for fuzzridden guitar solo after fuzzridden guitar solo. The concert also saw Mascis pulling up a cover from his days with the Fog (“Ammaring”) and Mazzy Star’s “Fade Into You.” The show came to a climax with Dinosaur Jr.’s 1990s opus “Alone,” which saw Mascis slowly build the song into a dramatic hurricane of wah-wah addicted theatrics and fretboard drama as the guitar player folded years of playing into a single moment of six-string volatility that echoed

off of the High Noon’s walls.

I had the privilege of a brief interviw with Mascis to preview his High Noon Saloon concert.

“Thanks!” was all Mascis said as he finished the song, feigning conclusion as he left the stage before returning for the obligatory encore. Shuffling between the crisp tone of a natural Martin and burning distortion, Mascis finished off the night with the Cure’s “Just Like

Heaven,” a song that the equally pop-minded Dinosaur Jr. notoriously covered back in the day. Marred by occasionally jarring transitions, like the cluttered “Quest” that saw everything from tender tunings to blazing fuzz to a guitar-slapping drum roll, Mascis both reaffirmed and blew apart his soft-voiced solo identity. Though he took it gently at times, adding a ghost-like cry to the likes of “Not the Same” and “Heal the Star,” Mascis was just as likely to tear into whirlpool guitar solos and distorted riffage. But as he rolled between the two, Mascis’s songs never lost their common ground—that quiet, melodic soul sitting behind the guitar.

All hail the regent of horror, Stephen King

The theme this week is dancing! The reason to dance is yours!

“Dance our way/ Out of our constructions.”

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nce, I read somewhere that all Stephen King wanted to be from a very young age was scared. His immeasurably active imagination did not disappoint, and he was able to find fear anywhere and scare himself quite easily. Whether that is the precise reason he has written—and continues to write—over 64 brilliantly chilling books, I do not know for sure. But I do know he is someone who unwaveringly thinks and ponders over what would scare him the most and then translates that horror into words on paper. He has one of the most unique and awe-inspiringly scary talents to ever grace the horror genre. When NPR asked King what his approach to writing is, he said it is confrontational. He did not, however, just leave it there but went on to describe precisely what reading his books does to me and so many countless others: “My idea is to come up to you, grab you by the lapels and say: I have this story. I want to tell it to you, and when you hear it, you’re not going to want to cook dinner, you’re not going to want to clean the house, you’re not going to want to go to your job. You’re just going to want to read this story and care about what

comes next.” Therefore, paying homage to the month of Halloween once again, I randomly selected four of my favorite books by King that although will still leave behind many of his greatest works—he has never written a bad book, in my opinion—nevertheless represents some of his most iconic work. “The Stand,” originally published in 1978 but republished in 1990 in a “complete and uncut” edition, is a gloriously terrifying journey that should be experienced in the book’s complete and uncut version, something that’s quite a feat. A post-apocalyptic novel for the ages, we see it begin with a deadly virus and end with an epic battle of good versus evil. The complete version may be an extremely long book at 1100 pages—think of it as your fall semester project—but the length of the story never causes it to drag or lets you experience even a moment of monotony. It has a wide array of story lines in it that need to be told that span the United States and give you people to root for. Littered with moral dilemmas, this story and everything in it seems eerily likely to happen as does its tackling of issues that could determine our own possible survival one day. Fame through writing is something many people strive for, and many do go on to accumulate a huge fan base of people absolutely in love with them. But have you ever wondered what happens if

your number one fan kidnaps you, keeps you locked and shackled in a room and keeps you at the mercy of her deranged whims until you rewrite your last book and give her the ending she really wanted? “Misery” is that nightmare—for many famous authors I presume— brought to life by King that lets you experience cringe worthy terror at the actions of the protagonist’s biggest fan. It is a gruesome tale of torture that transcends even what may be considered normal in the realms of torture. Perhaps one of his most famous and iconic works, “The Shining” more than earns every single praise sung to its horrific brilliance. It may have become a widely known pop cultural reference because of Jack Nicholson’s excellent acting as Jack Torrance, but the movie nevertheless still failed to encompass the heart the book still has. What King spins for us here is the exploration of one man slowly spiraling down into madness, entwined with the supernatural entities in the hotel where he recently became the caretaker. We witness every single step in the erosion of Torrance’s mind, while his family is reduced to crumbs watching the madness within the hotel unfold. One of King’s most amazing abilities as a writer is how easily he can deceive you. It a skill so masterfully crafted that even one who has read much of his work and is not a novice within horror cliches, is nevertheless still deceived by him. It’s a

deception that is chillingly titillating and one that fans of King don’t shy away from. “Pet Semetary” begins with another such deception, with the story of an sweet and innocent family moving to the countryside. The story builds on many different themes, which is another one of King’s favorite things to do. He poses the most unthinkable and often unbearable “what if” questions to you. Offsetting the darkness of this tale are questions like, “what lengths will you go to fix things, for your family?” and “do you have limits?” I bid you farewell with words from the ‘King’ himself about what terror really is. “The 3 types of terror: The Gross-out: the sight of a severed head tumbling down a flight of stairs, it’s when the lights go out and something green and slimy splatters against your arm. The Horror: the unnatural, spiders the size of bears, the dead waking up and walking around, it’s when the lights go out and something with claws grabs you by the arm. And the last and worse one: Terror, when you come home and notice everything you own had been taken away and replaced by an exact substitute. It’s when the lights go out and you feel something behind you, you hear it, you feel its breath against your ear, but when you turn around, there’s nothing there…” Believe Stephen is still King of Horror? Or is it time for a revolution? Email Maham your opinion at mhasan4@wisc.edu

dailycardinal.com

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

arts

Icelandic singer brings Nordic charm to Madison By Hallie Mellendorf and Sam Landes The Daily Cardinal

Ásgeir gave a captivating performance at the Fredric March Play Circle Theater Saturday night, blending deep, layered synth tracks with more conventional guitar and keyboard sounds to produce the fascinating semi-folk rock, semi-electronic feel that his native island of Iceland seems to champion.

In reponse to enthusiastic applause from the audience, Ásgeir returned to the stage to perform “On That Day.”

His album, In the Silence, is the highest selling debut album in Icelandic history, surpassing that of both Sigur Rós and Björk. Ásgeir’s clear, unsullied voice is his signature talent, which is essential to his distinctive sound and indisputably the cause for his fame. In The Silence, also known as Dýrð í dauðaþögn, was origi-

nally recorded in Icelandic. With the help of American songwriter John Grant, the album was translated into English to appeal to a more global audience. Throughout the show, Ásgeir seamlessly transitioned between English and Icelandic lyrics, giving the music an almost mystical quality. For their first Wisconsin show, Ásgeir and his heavily bearded four-man backing band opened with “Head In The Snow” and the title track. Both songs painted alluring vocal harmonies and guitar chords over a backdrop of syncopated drumbeats and soft synths. Audiences were also treated to Ásgeir’s cover of Nirvana’s “Heart-Shaped Box.” Originally voiced with all the grunge and grit one could expect from Nirvana, Ásgeir reimagined the song in a much more elegant way, showcasing his ability to convey a song’s intensity with mounting electronic tones, layered harmonies and conservative percussion. He ended his set with “King and Cross,” an obvious fan favorite, which brought out the strong folk-rock facet of his

music. The song retains Ásgeir’s typical electronic sound, but placed greater emphasis on acoustic guitar and carried a brighter tone than many of his previous tracks.

His album, In The Silence, is the highest selling debut album in Icelandic history.

In response to enthusiastic applause from the audience, Ásgeir returned to the stage to perform “On That Day.” His band then rejoined him on stage to end the night with a house-busting rendition of the crowd favorite, “Torrent,” with its driving beat, complex instrumentalism and simple yet innovative vocals. The concert displayed a variety of sounds and styles that have emerged from Ásgeir’s intriguing combination of the conventional and the unorthodox, the acoustic and the electric and the sounds of one generation with the sounds of another.

Hallie Mellendorf/the daily cardinal

Ásgeir, an Icelandic singer-songwriter who struck big in his native homeland, visited Wisconsin for the first time Oct. 11 to grace the Fredric March Play Circle Theater with his skill.

How to be solitary at concerts and love it

RECORD ROUTINE

mattered less whether someone was with me. But this is all a great big appetizer to the entrée that is this column (an extremely lengthy lead if you will): the hidden joy of attending a concert by yourself. For those of you who have never done this, it takes a tenacity of spirit that some don’t have. For some of you, a trip to your local theater or rock club will be a nightmare experience, but for others of you, it can be an incredibly rewarding experience. The first thing one needs to do is avoid the temptation to bury your head in your phone. Set breaks present themselves as a prime time to check Twitter or pretend to have friends and wait for non-existent iMessages to come rolling in, but if you can resist that urge, you could actually find yourself meeting some interesting people. Typically those who are seeing a band are a fan of the band and if you are going to a concert by yourself, you’re probably a fan of the band too. Is that common ground? Why, yes it is! If none of your friends are joining you at this band’s show, then they almost definitely aren’t going to be able to discuss the b-side off their 2007 record that only came out in Japan. The guy standing next to you wearing a 2007 tour shirt might be just the guy to talk about that with. Do you like standing in the front row? How about getting there as early as you would like and standing wherever you would like? If that’s something you might be interested in, maybe seeing a show by yourself is the way to go for you. Furthermore, let’s say that standing in the front row is your thing; you know who else likes standing in the front row: huge fans of the band that’d love noth-

Radiohead drummer unleashes the contemplative on second solo album

Brian WEidy Weidying out the noise

o say I’ve seen a lot of concerts in my relatively short span of time seeing concerts may almost be an understatement. From AC/DC to ZZ Top, it’s tougher for me to name a band or artist I haven’t seen than it is to name the one’s I have—or at least it feels that way sometimes.

Who knows, maybe you’ll meet your neighbor from freshman year there or just have a great, unadulterated experience.

But not everyone wants to go see Papadosio or Dragon Smoke as much as I do. And that’s OK. But when it comes to finding people to go see music with, particularly when it comes to lesser-known bands, it can be a real challenge. When I first started covering shows, the novelty of seeing a band for free, no matter who, was enough of a reason to go to a concert, plus-one or not. I was there ostensibly to be an objective reporter of the happenings on the stage and didn’t necessarily need a companion to write a review. Furthermore, as I began seeing more and more jazz shows (mostly due to a good connection to numerous clubs’ PR person), between the quiet policies that show up at numerous clubs and the need for me to pay attention to detail (as I typically knew a dearth of songs performed), it

ing more than to discuss the deep cut off the band’s 2004 record. Shifting gears a bit, when you go to a movie (often seen as an activity to be shared with friends) you’re not supposed to talk. When you go to a concert, also an activity shared with friends, you are allowed to talk, but depending on the genre, it’s often discouraged. If a concert is social hour for you and your friends, depending on the genre, that is totally acceptable and makes sense. But for some of us, we are there to appreciate the band on stage.

To say I’ve seen a lot of concerts in my relatively short span of time seeing concerts may almost be an understatement.

While some of your friends may be accepting of that, others may just be there to have a good time. If you are one that just wants to enjoy the music, going by yourself lets you do that, from wherever you want in the venue and at set break, you can make friends while letting the music speak for itself while a band is on stage. I’ve always contended the best way to appreciate a band is to see them live and if you can’t get a friend to see your favorite neo-punk Swedish folk band, then just go by yourself. Who knows, maybe you’ll meet your neighbor from freshman year there or just have a great, unadulterated experience. Have you ever gone to a concert alone and had a great time? Or was it completely horrible experience? Email Brian your story at weidy@wisc.edu

ALBUM REVIEW

Weatherhouse Philip Selway By Rose Lundy The Daily Cardinal

On his second solo album, Radiohead drummer Philip Selway explores many different sounds on just ten tracks. With a total runtime of 37 minutes, the follow-up to Selway’s 2010 debut album, Familial, doesn’t waste a moment with repetitive themes. As an acclaimed drummer in a world-famous experimental rock band, it is no surprise Selway places heavy emphasis on the rhythm section, using prominent beats to tie the album together like a heartbeat. The first track, “Coming Up For Air” immediately grabs the listener’s attention with its aggressive opening guitar line throbbing underneath Selway’s atmospheric, ethereal crooning.

“Don’t/ It will end in tears/ And I won’t be sorry now/ We just crossed a line” Philip Selway drummer Radiohead

“Miles Away,” on the other hand, is haunting in a different way; Selway whispers single

word harmonies accompanied by only guitar undertones, making the steady snare drum the center of the melody. While Selway sticks with the slow, hypnotic qualities that clearly influence his other music group, his voice is considerably lighter—almost sweeter—than Radiohead front man Thom Yorke’s acerbic drone. This serves him well on melodic tracks like “Drawn to the Light,” where he sings delicately over plunking chimes, even if it comes across a bit like sinister elevator music at times. The best track on the record, “It Will End in Tears,” is beautiful in its simplicity. No complex guitar riffs, no elaborate drum breaks, just heartbreaking lyrics. After begging someone to stay and “spend a lifetime in a weatherhouse,” the track builds to exasperation. Selway finally gives up, chanting, “Don’t/ It will end in tears/ And I won’t be sorry now/ We just crossed a line.” Weatherhouse is an intricate and unique record that takes many listens to fully appreciate. Melodies weave in and out of each other, creating a delicate balance that can be painfully slow and deliberate, but also haunting. Selway’s creation is definitely not a compilation of stadium rock songs to sing along to, but it is just interesting enough to warrant a second listen. Not afraid to experiment, Selway has at least created an album not easily compared to its peers, and that in itself is an accomplishment.

Rating: B

opinion 6

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

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Walker continues to alienate women voters HAYLEY YOUNG Letter to the editor

hile Scott Walker and the Wisconsin GOP say they stand with women, but the truth is that they stand in the way. Scott Walker’s policies have rolled back progress for women back decades, and have time and again shown that he does not believe in the equality of the sexes in the workplace, the doctor’s office or anywhere else. On Thursday, Courtney Mullen of the College Republicans said that she doesn’t want to be pandered to, and prefers to vote on the issues as they affect society as a whole. However, I am of the opinion that when women are negatively affected, the rest of society is, too. We cannot have a functioning economy and society when one gender finds itself consistently being the target of regressive and backwards policies.

Wisconsinites that support gender equality have a decision to make when it comes to women’s opportunity to work for equal compensation and access healthcare with dignity and autonomy. When it comes to equal pay, the mainstream media isn’t

Scott Walker’s problem, it’s his record. Early in his term, Walker repealed Wisconsin’s Pay Equity Enforcement Act. This legislation allowed women to sue their employers when wage discrimination occurred.

Scott Walker’s policies have rolled back progress for women back decades, and have time and again shown that he does not believe in the equality of the sexes in the workplace, the doctor’s office or anywhere else.

While gender discrimination remains illegal, without the backing of the Pay Equity Enforcement Act, a woman cannot take action against her employer. Walker’s decision equally harms men and women, as wage discrimination is a serious burden to many families. It is outrageous that a serious gubernatorial candidate does not support equal pay enforcement. Scott Walker’s version of ‘financial independence’ does not include even the most basic rights in the workplace. Another area where Scott Walker is diametrically opposed to women’s rights and freedoms is reproductive choice. To say that Scott Walker has not limited access to abortion is so incorrect that it borders on a blatant attempt

to spread misinformation. The legislation that forces doctors to have admitting privileges is unique to abortion care and therefore solely political. This legislation makes doctors choose between providing safe and medically appropriate care or breaking the law. Many hospitals in Wisconsin have religious affiliations, and, as such, do not offer admitting privileges to doctors who perform abortion care. This restriction combined with the 24-hour waiting period drastically reduces women’s access to abortion care. Under these laws, a woman who is from a more rural area of the state must now travel significantly farther, and wait a full day to access a procedure that should be guaranteed to her by law.

We cannot have a functioning economy and society when one gender finds itself consistently being the target of regressive and backwards policies.

Governor Walker also enacted mandatory pre-abortion counseling that treats women as if they are incapable of making their own healthcare decisions. Perhaps the most offensive act of them all, the forced ultrasound requires an unnecessary, physically invasive, and

traumatic medical procedure. These measures comprise a calculated attack on women’s access to abortion. However, this is not the only area where Scott Walker has attacked women’s health. Governor Walker cut funding for Planned Parenthood Clinics which provided basic healthcare to low income women, including cancer screenings and other important healthcare procedures. None of these clinics provided abortion services, yet Governor Walker’s budget cuts forced five health centers around the state to close. In addition to funding cuts to these clinics, Walker refused federal Medicare funding and removed thousands of families from Badger Care. Scott Walker’s legislative profile from Planned Parenthood Action Wisconsin shows thirteen pieces of legislation that target Women, children and other at risk populations. These policies are an overall attack on the healthcare provided for all low income Wisconsinites. These policies demonstrate Scott Walker’s disregard for the health and well-being of low income families in which women and children are disproportionately represented. Unfortunately, this only begins to scratch the surface of why Scott Walker does not stand with women. Wisconsinites that support gender equality have a deci-

sion to make when it comes to women’s opportunity to work for equal compensation and access healthcare with dignity and autonomy.

These policies demonstrate Scott Walker’s disregard for the health and well-being of low income families in which women and children are disproportionately represented. Men and women alike should not support policies that create institutional inequality. Suggesting that Democrat’s pander to women when addressing these issues suggests that Republicans don’t believe gender equality should be a priority. The choice between Mary Burke and Scott Walker could not be any clearer. Scott Walker never has, and never will stand with women so this November 4th, I will be standing with Mary Burke. Hayley is a member of the UW-Madison College Democrats. Are Scott Walker’s actions against women enough to lose votes this upcoming election? Are the College Democrats incorrect in their assesment of Govenor Walker’s actions? Let us know who you think will win November’s gubernatorial election and please send all of your feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

Social stereotypes need to be broken in order to progress LILLY HANSON Opinion Columnist

he use of stereotypes is a major way in which we simplify our social world because they reduce the amount of processing we have to do when we meet a new person. By stereotyping, we infer that a person has a whole range of characteristics and abilities that we assume all members of that group have. Stereotypes are advantageous in that they enable us to respond rapidly to situations because we may have had similar experiences before. Unfortunately, by stereotyping we ignore the differences between individuals. Why am I blabbing about stereotypes? College is a stereotype free place you think in your head. It is a place where you can forget about your fears of what others think and enter into a judgment free zone. We are all given the speech that we can “be who we want to be” and “define ourselves” in the four years we are in college. But do we really define ourselves? Or do others define us? Since being at the University of Wisconsin-Madison for a month now I have encountered all the “typical college stereotypes.” For example, I’ve sat in lectures with the silly sorority girls with their noses in their phones, I’ve glanced at the boys wearing Adidas clothes and immediately thought “athlete.”

I might be stereotyping right now, but we all do it. At a school of 40,000 plus you have to narrow people down into groups. But I am calling for an end to this practice immediately.

But do we really define ourselves? Or do others define us?

Recently my friends and I have been discussing the boxes, or stereotypes, that society places us within. In particular, sexual and gender stereotypes. Sexual stereotypes suggest that any feminine man is gay and any masculine woman is a lesbian. Gender stereotypes suggest that women can’t do as good as a job as men and men are messy and unclean. While these might be true for some, they are not true for all. This is how we are hurting others, even before saying anything out loud. We simply glance at someone, make a generalization in our head, and the damage is done. What my friends and I have come to realize is that it is difficult to become your own person due to society’s constant attempts to force you into a labeled box. And while we complain of being in a box, we like it because there are people there who share the same interests and likes. But nobody can share

the same things 100 percent, and that is why these boxes need to be destroyed. How can it be expected that an 18-year-old is able to chase their dreams within a box? How can a woman be expected to become successful when she is being stereotyped as bossy? How can a man be expected to become “the perfect boyfriend” when he is criticized for showing his sensitive side? To rid society of these harmful ideas and labels we must acknowledge that we are human and that we do harbor stereotypes. Next, we should work to become more aware of our inner thoughts and feelings and how they affect our beliefs and actions. When we have a stereotypical thought about someone, we should follow it up with an alternative thought based on factual information that discounts the stereotype. We can obtain this factual information by leaving our comfort zones and exposing ourselves to people of different races, cultures, genders and sexualities. In doing this, we work to create a better campus and society in which all people are valued, appreciated and embraced. Do you think that stereotypes negatively effect our student body and our society as a whole? Can stereotypes be positive and serve a purpose of finding individual identity? Let us know how you feel and please send all of your feedback to opinion@ dailycardinal.com.

GRAPHIC BY CAMERON GRAFF

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Today’s Sudoku

Treat yourself: Today is national dessert day so take a few extra servings and make your midterm week a little sweeter.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014 • 7

Distractions for the soul

Human Resources

By Emily Gerber and Maya Miller graphics@dailycardinal.com

Solution, tips and computer program available at www.sudoku.com.

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.

Today’s Crossword Puzzle

Fall

COURSES

MONO-CULTURE

ACROSS 1 Alternative to plastic 5 Experience REM 1 0 Barely touch, on a pool table 1 4 Two-color cookie 1 5 “Four” at the fore 1 6 Gung-ho about 1 7 Kind of bean 1 8 Boss, often 19 Bygone autocrat (Var.) 2 0 Certain seat 2 3 Word with “date” or “process” 24 “The ___ of Pooh” 2 5 Put to the test 2 6 Attachment to “corder” 2 9 “Jabberwocky” opener 3 2 Ring around the collar? 3 4 Lennon’s mate 3 5 Carroll O’Connor portrayed one 3 8 Farrier’s tool 4 1 Meeting setting 4 4 Poker pot starter 4 5 Break out of jail 4 6 John, to Ringo? 4 7 It rattles in a whistle 4 9 Niagara River source

5 0 Dusk, poetically 5 1 Any ship 5 3 ___ Altos, Calif. 5 6 Introduce to knight life 5 8 It’s passed on Sundays 6 5 Musical miscellany 6 6 Tight-knit unit 67 Charlotte Motor Speedway’s shape 6 8 Tidy the garden 69 Colorful parts of the eyes 7 0 Hair raiser, at times 7 1 Apollo played it 7 2 Old Spanish coins 7 3 Spoon-playing site DOWN 1 Certain pay raise, for short 2 Like the Kalahari 3 Teamster’s rig 4 Accumulate 5 Ceramic crockery 6 More than offcolor 7 Sicilian spouter 8 Like humans, in a way 9 Hooded coat 1 0 ___ and kin 1 1 Unquenchable 1 2 “Case” or “way” leader

1 3 It often follows “Oops” 2 1 Bizarre 2 2 Future gen., maybe 2 6 South American plant 2 7 Writer unknown 2 8 Green Mountain State capital 3 0 “Bullets,” to a poker player 3 1 From that time 3 3 Historical period 3 6 Lasting impression 3 7 Lukewarm quality 3 9 Blackthorn 4 0 Hacienda hand, perhaps 4 2 Cover charge, e.g. 43 Get ready to drive? 4 8 A pint, sometimes 5 1 Facial expression of dislike 5 2 Like Swiss cheese? 5 4 Come about 5 5 Barrel component 5 7 Protect the quarterback 59 Miner’s quest 6 0 Bright thought 6 1 Like some vaccines 6 2 Revlon rival 6 3 Gentle, as a horse 6 4 Hamburger’s river

create make .do

Mini Courses & the Craftshop are now Wheelhouse Studios A WISCONSIN UNION EXPERIENCE

Sports

tuesday, october 14, 2014 DailyCardinal.com

Feature

‘Mama Kayla’ leads outreach effort By Jonah Beleckis the daily cardinal

pon hearing the name Darien Moran, Kayla Gross smiles and says, “my kiddo.” Thanks to Badgers Give Back and Make-A-Wish Wisconsin, Moran, a cancer patient and high school sophomore, received a Badgerthemed room makeover about a year-and-a-half ago. He still receives homework help and communicates with Gross on a weekly basis. “[Moran] has become part of my family,” Gross said. “I can’t really put into words what the relationship that Darien and I have built really means to me.” Referred to by Moran, other community members and coworkers as “Mama Kayla” or “Mama K,” Gross plays a motherly role in leading the UW-Madison Athletic Department community outreach efforts.

“While they’ve been making little kids’ dreams come true all across the state, they’ve been helping me live mine.” Kayla Gross community relations coordinator Badgers Give Back

The nickname “Mama Kayla” came from Gross bringing in elementary school children to engage with their Badger heroes and from also being a support system for the student-athletes who may have never visited a hospital’s inten-

photo courtesy of UW athletics

Kayla Gross (right) poses with Lucy, a Wisconsin hockey fan with Down syndrome and leukemia, who Gross said calls the team her “boys” and has a shrine of gifts from them in her room. sive care unit or spoken in front of 400 kids. “They know I’m there to support them, and be there for them in those moments,” Gross said. “That means a lot to me.” While her official title is community relations coordinator, Kayla Gross is also known as the creator and caretaker of the Badgers Give Back program. “Kayla is Badgers Give Back,” said Community Relations Assistant Abigail Waldo. “When

you look at Kayla and realize how far Badgers Give Back has come, you just keep pushing. I guess that’s what Kayla might represent most: progress and the determination to keep pushing Badgers Give Back to be better, both for our student-athletes and the community.” No one would pretend that Gross does this job by herself, but she is the first one to shine the spotlight on the interns and staff who make Badgers Give

Back function. “I might be the face of Badgers Give Back, I might be quoted and whatnot, but they are really what makes this place run,” Gross said. “Every single one of them gives so much more in terms of heart and dedication to this program than I could really ask for.” It is that very dedication to the cause, humility for the credit and a continued determination to change more and

more lives that enabled Badgers Give Back to be what it is today. If you took a snapshot of where the program is today and showed it to the 2008 version of Gross, who was beginning to plan the program, she would have laughed at you in disbelief. The lion’s share of that sentiment comes from how impressed Gross has been by the commitment from the student-athletes, who already had plenty on their plates before volunteering hours and hours to community service. “[Badgers Give Back] has exceeded every expectation,” Gross said. “[The studentathletes] didn’t have to buy in. There’s no requirement for them to volunteer. So they could have easily listened and said ‘I’m too busy’ or ‘I have other things to do.’ But across the board, they have bought in.” Gross still does see this program progressing. She said she would like to build more partnerships within UW-Madison like she has with the School of Education, which helped improve the Bookin’ It With Bucky program. Gross said she wants to continue, “leveraging all the resources we have here as a university to really make an impact on our fans and state at large.” In true motherly fashion, Gross’s enjoyment and enrichment comes second to that of ensuring the same for the community members and studentathletes, but she wouldn’t have it any other way. “While they’ve been making little kids’ dreams come true all across the state, they’ve been helping me live mine,” Gross said. “And that’s... that’s profound.”

Westbrook finally gets chance to prove his worth without Durant rushad machhi breaking shad

hen Oklahoma City Thunder “point guard” Russell Westbrook woke up to the news that his superstar teammate and reigning MVP Kevin Durant had a Jones fracture in his foot that could sideline him for approximately two months, the tune of LMFAO’s “Shots!” rang through Westbrook’s head, except the shots he was dreaming of were a little different than what is being referenced in the song. For the first time in his career, Durant will miss an extended amount of time, propelling Westbrook into the alpha dog role for the Thunder. Westbrook has long been criticized for holding the Thunder back, with analysts complaining that he takes the ball out of Durant’s hands and hoists up too many inefficient shots. Well, it’s now Westbrook’s time to silence all the haters, and I am excited to see him lead a team and prove that he, too, is a

true franchise player. Quick disclaimer: when I say that I am excited to see Westbrook’s solo act for the next two months, it is strictly on the basis that this is a two-month test drive. Durant is one of the most exciting players in the league, and an NBA where he is not playing is a significantly worse NBA. I am merely just excited to see what Westbrook can do for two months, and then I pray that he and the “Slim Reaper” will be reunited, so go ahead and put down your pitchforks. Now back to the “Shots!” It is no secret that Westbrook loves shooting the ball. He has averaged over 17 shot attempts per game in each of the past four seasons, an absurd amount for a “point guard.” Two years ago, he even averaged more shot attempts than Durant (18.7 versus 17.7), while scoring nearly five fewer points per game. That is where Westbrook has encountered his toughest critics. Analysts always complain that he takes too many shots away from Durant and settles for less efficient pull-up jumpers. Given that Westbrook had a tough time sharing the ball even with Durant on the floor, the

green light in Westbrook’s head will be shining even brighter as the ball will be in his hands even more. That’s the part I am most excited about actually. Westbrook has one mode, and it’s “Go! Go! Go!” Chaos defines his game, and with the ball in his hands for larger portions each contest, disorder will reign over every Thunder matchup. Westbrook in transition might be the most electrifying play in the NBA today, as watching him barrel down the court through or over any defender in his way continues to terrify me. There is still no one who can keep him out of the paint in the half court on one of his ferocious drives.

Chaos defines his game, and with the ball in his hands for larger portions each contest, disorder will reign over every Thunder matchup. Westbrook makes at least one play per game that makes me jump out of my chair, and now with even more usage, that could jump to two or three jaw-

dropping plays per game. Even if the Thunder’s performance drops off, they will still be one of the most entertaining teams in the league, and Westbrook is the primary reason for that. Even with the MVP’s absence for the first few months, I expect the Thunder to remain in the playoff hunt in the wild, wild Western Conference because Westbrook is a legitimate top 10 NBA player. He has always had eye popping numbers, averaging 20 points, 7 assists and 5 rebounds for his career. However, in the 2013-’14 postseason, Westbrook seemed to elevate his game to new levels, posting a ridiculous 27/8/7 line while continuing to make breathtaking and game-changing plays on both ends. He had a PER of 24.9, second only to King James for players who participated in more than 10 playoff games, and believe it or not, he tallied the most assists throughout the entire playoffs. Westbrook is not a onedimensional ball hog who takes too many shots; he is a playmaker who wreaks havoc with his driving, passing, rebounding and defense. Of course, for Westbrook to

be able to silence the critics, he will need Thunder head coach Scott Brooks to adapt and place him in a lineup that can spread the floor and keep the lane clear for him to get into the teeth of the defense. While no one can stop him one-on-one or maybe even twoon-one, if the Thunder continue to roll out lineups that have two or three non-shooters on the floor, Westbrook will have a hard time maximizing his potential by getting into the paint. However, a lineup featuring Westbrook teamed with two shooters, stretch power forward Serge Ibaka and a center should be a pain to contain. Durant has long praised his teammate, reiterating that Westbrook is great, even mentioning that he has the talent and ability to one day become an MVP as well. Well Russell, your shot to finally prove that you have what it takes to be “the guy” has finally arrived, and I could not be more excited to watch you deliver. Is Westbrook a true superstar? Can he keep the Thunder afloat in Durant’s absence? Send Rushad an email at machhi@ wisc.edu to share your thoughts.