Tuesday, October 25, 2011 - The Daily Cardinal

MISERY ‘LIKES’ COMPANY: ‘Like’ inappropriate things on Facebook?

You are not alone. +PAGE TWO

GROWING UP ON THE ICE How his father’s triumphs and tragedies taught John Ramage the world of hockey

Part two of three

+SPORTS, page 8

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Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Mayor’s vote denies Overture funding

By Ben Siegel THE DAILY CARDINAL

VICTOR BITTORF/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Frank Production’s Charlie Goldstone addressed city officials at a Freakfest press conference Monday. Additional private security will help offset this year’s reduction in police presence.

City leaders say fewer officers for Freakfest

By David Jones THE DAILY CARDINAL

At a press conference Monday, city leaders outlined final details regarding Freakfest, including plans to reduce police presence compared to previous years.

Police Lieutenant Dave McCaw was unable to specify how many fewer officers there will be but said private security firm RTM will supplement regular police presence by providing crowd control.

“For the last four years, calls for service and problems in the State Street and university area have declined,” McCaw said. “There will also be less people involved with rush processing because our current history has been a reduction of arrests for the event.”

Police presence was also reduced for the 2010 Freakfest.

McCaw said one reason for police force reductions is that Freakfest is no longer just a citysponsored event.

“In the police department, we

view this as a reduction because it’s no longer a police program,” McCaw said. “This is a Frank Productions [event] now.”

Charlie Goldstone of Frank Productions said there will be “upwards of 100 or more” private security guards helping to monitor and control the crowds.

Security personnel will be stationed at the entrances and exits, ticket stands and around the stages, with some also patrol-

freakfest page 3

An even split at the Board of Estimates meeting Monday required the help of Mayor Paul Soglin’s tiebreaking vote to deny the Overture Center $500,000 in funding for its 2012 operating budget.

The 29 proposed amendments that were brought before the BOE Monday sought a combined total of $1 million addition to the mayor’s $250 million 2012 city operating budget.

The rejected $500,000 in Overture funding would go toward filling the gap between the $1.35 million allotted

by Soglin’s budget and the annual $2 million promised by the Common Council last December, according to Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4.

“A half a million dollars is a lot of money for anybody’s budget,” Verveer said. “It could make the difference between an individual having a job or not … between shows taking place or not.”

The funds would be raised through property taxes, which would tack an additional $5.65 annually on the average Madison home.

A large part of the Overture Center’s budget goes toward subsidizing performances for the community; a lack of funds prevents the center from doing so, Verveer indicated.

“I know there’s a perception that everything at the Overture Center is pricey to attend, and that’s just not accurate whatsoever,” Verveer said.

According to Overture

Center Foundation Board of Directors Vice President Tom Basting, keeping the Overture Center on “sound financial footing” goes beyond sustaining program availability.

Overture audiences annually spend $9.8 million downtown beyond their ticket purchases, Basting said. Since the Overture Center’s opening, property values in the immediate downtown area have risen at four times the Madison average, which factors into property tax rates.

The amendment will be voted on again at the City Council operating budget meeting Nov. 16. Verveer pointed out that the amendment’s 13 sponsors is greater than the 11 required for a measure to pass.

“It’s only a matter of time [before funding is approved] … the mayor may make a decision whether or not he wants to veto the entire budget over this money,” Verveer said.

Filling the gap Amount of city funds: Promised to Overture Center in December 2010

$2 million — Proposed by $1.35 Mayor Paul Soglin in 2012 million city budget Difference:

$650,000

Occupy UW protesters few but passionate

By Alex DiTullio THE DAILY CARDINAL

SHOAIB ALTAF/THE DAILY CARDINAL

While the Occupy UW did not receive the turnout it expected, protesters hope for increased participation in coming weeks.

While the approximately 20 protesters who participated in the Occupy UW march Monday were far less than the 100 expected, those in attendance spoke against the country’s alleged “unequal distribution of wealth.”

Beginning at Union South, demonstrators chanted, “Eat debt, screw you, Occupy UW” as they marched toward Memorial Union.

UW freshman Noah Phillips, who led the march, said it is difficult for most to attain a college degree without enormous debt in the current economic climate.

“It’s disheartening to live in a society where people have unequal access to education and you feel like you’re taking place

in this reinforcing of two-class society,” he said.

Associated Students of Madison member Justin Bloesch said the traditional American Dream has deteriorated given the difficulty of finding a job after graduation.

“What we were told … is that if we work hard, if we stay honest, if we shine by our merit then this society will take care of us; that’s the American Dream,” Bloesch said.

“But if that’s ever how the game worked, that’s not how it works now.”

Phillips said the movement, which recruited demonstrators via Facebook, hopes to build student participation in upcoming weeks by passing out flyers and speaking in lectures.

Phillips said busy schedules

should not deter students from protesting issues that directly affect them, such as student debt and job security.

“Students generally don’t realize that they can divert some of their energy from their classes and exams and drama and they can put it into something really exciting and really important,” he said.

After the march, protesters discussed ways to increase participation.

Once participation is higher, Phillips said the movement can take larger actions such as “occupying a building” or forming a teach in.

Weekly Occupy UW marches will continue every Monday beginning at Union South at 12:30 p.m.

“…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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An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 121, Issue 37

2142 Vilas Communication Hall 821 University Avenue Madison, Wis., 53706-1497

ELLIOT IGNASIAK ignastrodamous

News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com Editor in Chief

Managing Editor

I

’m recently single. By single I mean my girlfriend recently broke up with me. By recently I mean three to seven months ago… which means I haven’t been handling it very well.

Thankfully there has been one shining beacon of hope at the end of my post-breakup tunnel of metaphorical depression—Facebook.

Facebook lets me know that while I may have some problems, so does everyone else.

I’m just not delusional enough to post them for semi-acquaintances all over the Internet— although I find no reason not to bitch about them in a newspaper column. There is a difference; writing a column takes intelligence and creativity.

Posting statuses on Facebook only takes free Wifi.

For those who aren’t gifted with words, wake up and smell the pumpkin spice latte—no one cares to receive minute-byminute updates on how hard and stressful your life is. Not me, not your “friends” (there’s a word for someone who claims to have over 1,000 friends— schizophrenic) and not the

News Team Campus Editor Alex DiTullio College Editor City Editor Taylor Harvey State Editor Samy Moskol Enterprise Editor Scott Girard Associate News Editor Ben Siegel News Editor Alison Bauter Opinion Editors Editorial Board Chair Samantha Witthuhn Arts Editors Sports Editors Page Two Editor Life & Style Editor Maggie DeGroot Features Editor Photo Editors Graphics Editors Multimedia Editors Science Editor Diversity Editor Aarushi Agni Copy Chiefs

Copy Editors Meghan Chua

Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Parker Gabriel Advertising Manager Account Executives

Sun Yoon Web Director Eric Harris Public Relations Manager Becky Tucci Events Manager Bill Clifford Creative Director Claire Silverstein G^Ú[] EYfY_]jk

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Copywriters

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© 2011, The Daily Cardinal

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608-262-8000 or send an e-mail to edit@dailycardinal.com.

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guy you constantly text even though he broke up with you over a year ago. Go back to posting extremely vague statuses that make it seem like you live a life full of constant excitement: “Tequila + Ke$ha = EPIC!”

Facebook lets me know that while I may have some problems, so does everyone else.

Yet, I’m thankful that people inappropriately post their hardships on Facebook. What really gets me through hard times is not just knowing that my generation is a bunch of miserable, pathetic creatures— it’s “LIKING” it.

Unlike Marie, who’s liking it because she’s going through the same thing, or Matt, who’s liking it because he wants to provide support (and by “wants to provide support” I mean he secretly wants to stick his penis inside her, a sort of emotional tampon), I like it because, as Aristotle once said, the misery of others is funny!

I may be paraphrasing a bit, but if he were around to see the drama and tragedy people create out of their mundane, comfortable lives, I

think he’d say the misery of others is wicked hilarious.

Some people have called me an asshole for my Facebook likes—I don’t think that is fair.

While it does seem a little callous to like others’ suffering, I believe there is a fine line between dark, edgy humor and deeply offensive gestures. Although I don’t always know where that line is, I believe anything posted on Facebook is fair game.

If you’re ready to experience the exhilaration of unapologetically mocking others’ misfortunes, here is how it works: Liking other’s misfortune: That high school jock who thought that being a division three all-star made him the shit just tore his ACL revoking his college scholarship? LIKE.

Some people have called me an asshole for my Facebook likes—I don’t think that is fair.

Your annoying roommate from freshmen year who thought having his annoying girlfriend sleep over five nights a week in your dorm room wouldn’t inconvenience you just got cheated out of a

bunch of money by his landlord? LIKE. That girl who always comes to class early but sits on an end seat just got her triple venti latte with soy spilled all over her because someone actually requested a seat? LIKE. There are not even like enough like buttons to like even show how much I like that.

Life not fair? LIKE. Failed exam? LIKE. Pen exploded?

LIKE. Herpes? LI… Ugh, I’m not touching that one.

Pants don’t fit? LIKE. Computer crashed? LIKE. Lying all alone, wishing you would call?

LIKE. Flu? LIKE. Bloated? LIKE. Headache? LIKE. Like, like, like, like, like!

Grandma died? Li… wait.

This can’t be true. She has to be lying to get attention. Who would post that on Facebook?

It’s a place to make fun of douche bags, not to ask for their condolences. Do you really need solace from the guy you made out with at Wando’s last Halloween? Can’t you turn to your family for support (well, minus grandma of course)? Oh well, LIKE! Turns out grandma did die; guess I am an asshole.

Like reveling in other people’s misfortune? Think the misery of others is hilarious? Send Elliot an e-mail at ignasiak@wisc.edu and join him in “liking” the plight of others.

Like Elliot’s article? Show him by going to GDLO\FDUGLQDO FRP SDJHĦWZR and “liking” it!

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Tuesday, October 25, 2011

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Student leaders: housing bill violates students’ rights

By Anna Duffin THE DAILY CARDINAL

Student government leaders throughout the UW System told state Assembly leaders Monday they oppose a bill that would remove restrictions currently in place on landlords.

Associated Students of Madison Legislative Affairs Chair Hannah Somers said SB107, which is being brought to the Assembly floor Tuesday, would take away rights students have as renters.

“This is really going to affect us in a horrible, horrible way,” Somers said. “Landlords are going to be able to do so many things that they really shouldn’t be able to do.”

Somers said under the law, landlords would no longer have to notify renters 24 hours before entering their apartment and could require renters to disclose their social security numbers to landlords.

ASM passed legislation over the summer officially opposing the bill.

Students from UW campuses throughout the state signed a letter sent to assembly representatives Monday saying UW system schools oppose the bill.

“The passage of SB107 threatens the ability to provide a secure, fair housing environment for student renters,” the letter said. “Thus, we urge you to please vote no on SB107.”

Somers said while she expects the bill to pass, she hopes the letter influences legislators.

“I’m hoping that the unified power behind all of those voices will impact their decision,” Somers said.

Somers said if the bill passes, ASM’s next steps would be to educate students about what has changed with the passage of the bill, inform them what their rights are and ensure they are not exploited by their landlords.

DAVEN HINES/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Former SSFC member Michael Jackson said SSFC does not have a standardized procedure for deciding if groups are eligible for funding.

MCSC criticizes SSFC process

By Jessica Yao THE DAILY CARDINAL

The Multicultural Student Coalition said UW-Madison’s student government finance committee lacks a standardized process to determine if student groups are eligible for funding Monday.

The Student Services Finance Committee denied MCSC eligibility last week because committee members said the group did not spend more than 50 percent of its time directly serving students, making it ineligible to receive funding.

MCSC members spoke against the decision, saying everything the group does directly serves students.

Former SSFC member Michael Jackson spoke on behalf of MCSC, saying some of SSFC’s decisions were not being made objectively. Jackson said

SSFC has no consistent formula for calculating the eligibility of an organization.

“You take into account your own individual calculations and you do not have a consistent formula [or a] standardized formula,” Jackson said. “You put yourself and the university in a significant jeopardy of further legal action because your policies are in violation of UW system statutes, state statutes, as well as federal statutes.”

But SSFC Chair Sarah Neibart said SSFC’s process for determining eligibility is respected. She said other schools have based their eligibility criteria on SSFC’s.

Neibart said while members of the committee might have different opinions as to what constitutes a direct service, the differences in opinions facilitate

discussion within SSFC. “I think that allows for critical thinking of the members and that’s been since the beginning of time of SSFC, and that’s what we’ve been abiding by,” Neibart said.

Also at the meeting, SSFC discussed improvements it could make from next year in response to a proposal that would put additional checks on the committee.

The proposal would create a committee to approve forms, documents and legislation SSFC creates before the committee uses them.

SSFC Rep. Cale Plamann said the Associated Students of Madison Rules Committee should have more authority in determining whether SSFC is functioning objectively and approving forms SSFC creates.

Go Big Read author to speak on campus Thursday Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Sonia Nazario will add to the ongoing conversations surrounding her book chosen for this year’s Go Big Read program, when she speaks on campus Thursday.

Nazario’s presentation, which is free and open to the

public, will begin at 7 p.m. in the Union South’s Varsity Hall.

Her book, “Enrique’s Journey,” describes the plight of Enrique, a Honduran boy who, at age 16, repeatedly attempts to reach the United States in hopes of finding his mother in the United States.

Since the program began in 2009, the university has chosen a book each year to give out to the academic community to initiate discussion among students, faculty and staff.

As part of the program, the university invites the book’s author to speak on campus.

New website will track tax-dollar savings under Walker Gov. Scott Walker’s office announced a new website Monday that will present information on how many Wisconsin tax dollars have been saved by the administration’s policies.

“Since our reforms passed, a lot of people have wondered what kind of results we’re getting and why the reforms were necessary,” Walker said in a statement. “Reforms.wi.gov shows the results from our reforms and how they’re working.”

The website features a video message from Walker, a map that includes reported tax-dollar sav-

ings in local areas and an account of his reforms’ effect on local school districts.

According to a press release from Walker’s office, the Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimated Walker’s budget reforms have saved local governments more than $450 million because of Walker’s budget reforms.

The website includes savings from pension and healthcare contributions in addition to information about how Walker’s reforms have improved the government.

But the Democratic Party of

Wisconsin finds fault with the use of taxpayer funds for the creation of the website.

“If Wisconsin is so broke, it stands to reason that there is no money to pay for a website that papers over a terrible record of fewer jobs, more unemployment and fewer services for the people affected by his terrible budget,” Democratic Party of Wisconsin Chair Mike Tate said in a statement.

The website will be updated as additional data is released to the public.

—Mckenna Kohlenberg

freakfest from page 1 ling State Street.

Businesses in downtown Madison and on State Street have not expressed any major concerns regarding changes in the police presence.

“Given the recent history of the event, it seems reasonable to continue these gradual reductions of the police pres-

ence,” Mary Carbine, executive director of Madison’s Central Business Improvement District said. “We think the police well understand this event and are doing a good job gauging the amount of staff that they need.”

Neither McCaw nor Carbine expressed concerns regarding the predicted influx of visitors from outside Madison.

CRIME IN BRIEF Man breaks into tattoo parlor Over the weekend, police arrested an intoxicated man for breaking into a North Frances Street apartment and a tattoo parlor allegedly to “get a tattoo on his buttocks” at 1:24 a.m. Sunday morning.

When officers arrived, they found the suspect inside Big Guns Tattoo acting “agitated and confused,” according to the report from Madison Police spokesperson Joel DeSpain.

The report said the man “reeked of alcohol,” slurred his speech and claimed he was at the parlor “getting a tattoo.”

A concerned citizen alerted police early Sunday morning

after witnessing the suspect “smash through two glass doors” in the 400 block of North Frances Street, according to a police report.

The citizen who reported the incident said the suspect was outside the tattoo parlor earlier in the evening “yelling something about needing to get a tattoo on his buttocks.”

Police arrested the suspect, 22-year-old Ryan Brennan, on two counts of criminal damage to property, two counts of entry into a locked building, and underage possession and consumption alcohol off licensed premises.

‘Armed robber’ arrested on State Police arrested and ultimately asked to ban a 19-yearold man from State Street Saturday after the suspect attempted to rob several people, many of them collegeaged women.

In the report, Madison Police spokesperson Joel DeSpain said an estimated 15 victims “encountered a ‘very loud, boisterous and belligerent’ armed robbery suspect,” who was later arrested for “yelling at passerby, claiming to have a gun, and demanding money.”

According to the report, the suspect, identified as

Brandon P. Stull, told police he “had gotten drunk and was acting stupid.”

The police report quotes a 24-year-old woman saying she “felt terrified,” and another 22-year-old woman who said the incident “was scary.”

The suspect said he was trying to get money for food.

DeSpain also noted Stull was previously cited for heroin possession after he was found shooting heroin in a South Hamilton Street Porta Potty Oct. 10.

As a condition of his bail, police requested Stull be banned from State Street.

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Tuesday, October 25, 2011

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This musical thought criminal comes clean ALEX SERAPHIN song of the seraph

M

y natural inclination is to believe that I am in charge of my own listening habits and that I listen to those artists that I am strongly attracted to for whatever reason.

In the ninth grade, the Clash filled a particular role in my life, being the strongly masculine but sensitive role models I needed after realizing that my three-foot tall superhero comic book collection wasn’t about to get me laid.

Before I knew it, I was following the Clash’s paths of influence up and down rock history, checking all the appropriate boxes along the way. Mick Jones was a roadie for Mott the Hoople, so it followed that I had better play “All the Young Dudes” 27 times daily and internalize the kid’s drugged out view from the crowd just before he gets kicked in the head by that talker up on stage.

And Fugazi, well they were really nothing more or less to me than the Clash’s moral program reborn. More serious and with a greater contextual appreciation of the evil compromises too often conflated with success and survival in the post-industrial West.

The list goes on and on.

I could write columns tracing the paths I took, free falling down endless rabbit holes through Wikipedia and AllMusic internal text page links for years before I discovered the modern, streamlined conveniences of Pitchfork and the A.V. Club.

I remain mystified by the adoration directed at the numb faced, detached musings of Pavement and Radiohead.

Ruined as I was by my Neil Young and Elvis Costello blasting parents, I retained strong rockist sensibilities throughout my digital journeys, all while many of my friends were getting their kicks off of ambient-electrodub this or house-trance that.

However, I admire Justice’s nose thumbing appropriation of the Christian cross as mascot for their aggressive, poppy anti-pop or the Field’s minimalistic humanism. These “unrock” exceptions characteristically contained an unusually large dose of emotional content, even warmth.

Today, I attribute my indifference to the great indie godheads to my lack of warmth. I remain mystified by the adoration directed at the numb-faced, detached musing of Pavement and Radiohead. Their apoca-

lyptic, not quite post-rock seems to best be for robots.

Now, I know I’m talking heresy and that my column could be yanked, my skinnyjean credentials revoked for life, but my bemusement has been begging to break out for some time. Better here, I think, than in some drunken rant on a Thursday night at the Plaza, where and when my life would be at the mercy of the raving, lunatic masses.

It’s the rabble and the crowds from whom I fear reprisals.

The civilized class, I suspect, reads the papers.

Therefore, allow me to make an appeal to your wellrefined empathetic capacity.

Imagine for a moment being a hipster through and through.

You are dutifully loyal to the laconic ‘90s era slacker attitude and have collected an impressively diversified collection of plaid-patterned button-downs. You love the indie nation and would even die to defend its honor.

Somehow, though, you find yourself feeling alienated and cold when faced with Radiohead’s relentless searching or Pavement’s too cool, absurd drawl. You struggle and you struggle, but as much you try, you can at most admire but never really love.

If you’ve ever read George Orwell’s “1984” and lived through Winston Smith’s clandestine, impotent struggle against the ubiquitously cherished Big Brother, you can probably imagine the hell I live each and every day. (A metaphor I hope Thom Yorke would relish).

Worse, I can’t even claim my rejection of these two bands as absolute or unequivocal. Even I have to admit “Cut Your Hair” is a jam among jams and that large isolated passages in Radiohead’s back catalog actually contain telltale signs of human life.

The trouble here is one of thought control, the same problem (experienced in less intensity) faced by Winston Smith. Early in Orwell’s novel, Smith seems internally cautious and neurotic in his attempts to buy into the love of the Party, despite the slowly creeping realization that he yearns for freedom. By the end of the novel, Smith is brutalized by the pressures placed on him by the state and has changed his mind, really convincing himself that he loves Big Brother after all.

“1984,” of course, was a parable and thus an exaggeration of human truths followed to their logical conclusion. Hipsters like myself cultivate their individual tastes in relation with that of the larger community.

At what point, and to what degree, will we be willing to compromise those tastes?

How did you cultivate your musical tastes? Give Alex your questions and comments at seraphin@wisc.edu.

PHOTO COURTESY ROCKSTEADY STUDIOS

Rocksteady Studio’s latest Batman game, “Batman Arkham City,” is a triumph in gaming. Its detailed storyline, graphics and combat gameplay are acclaimed as a crowning achievement.

The bat is back in town

By Adam Paris THE DAILY CARDINAL

When Rocksteady released “Batman Arkham Asylum” in 2009, they did what was seemingly impossible: they created a respectable Batman game. The franchise’s dismal history was well documented, but “Arkham Asylum” was a resounding success that finally translated Batman’s destructive skills into gameplay. Two years later, the scope of “Arkham City” blows “Asylum” out of the water as Rocksteady has crafted an open-world game that trumps even its lauded predecessor.

The game opens with Bruce Wayne captured by Hugo Strange and thrust into the hostile world of Arkham City.

Wasting no time in introducing the player to the visceral combat system, Wayne fights off several inmates before escaping to don the familiar Batsuit.

Later the player meets the disease riddled Joker who happily gives Batman a dose of his affliction providing the main crux of the game’s story.

As you travel through Arkham City looking for a cure while battling the ensuing threat of Hugo Strange, you’re introduced to a lengthy list of classic Batman villains.

Although this massive roster could have damaged the overall experience á la “Spider-Man 3,” Rocksteady successfully delivers and implements each character seamlessly into the various story and side missions.

The core gameplay mechanic is once again the brutal combat system, which provides the player with a real sense of Batman’s abilities. Various new gadgets are integrated smartly into battle through easy but-

ton inputs that help vary the combat system even further.

A new skill tree allows the player to unlock new moves, suit upgrades and gadgets is also introduced, expanding well beyond what was offered in “Arkham Asylum.”

GAME REVIEW

Batman Arkham City Rocksteady A Another nice twist is the inclusion of Catwoman, who offers an entirely different experience from Batman.

While her specific missions comprise a minimal part of the overall game, she provides a refreshing change of pace from the ruthless style of Batman.

In terms of presentation, this game ranks among the best of them. Powered by the Unreal Engine, movements are fluid and lifelike, facial animations are impressive and Arkham City is incredibly detailed, down to the garbage strewn about or the oppressive billboards scattered throughout the city.

The voice acting is some of the best in gaming, as each character is personified exemplarily by stars such as Kevin Conroy (Batman) or Nolan North (Penguin). Kudos must be given to Mark Hamill, specifically as he brilliantly delivers the manic dialogue of the Joker, in what may have sadly

been his final performance.

As stated already, the scope of “Arkham City” is massive, with hours of side missions and collectibles worth discovering once the main story arc is done. There are easily 25 hours worth of content.

Akin to the Assassin’s tombs in “Assassin’s Creed,” each new location is a series of puzzles that require an arsenal of gadgets to be used in myriad ways so as to save the hostage. Although short, these gameplay segments are some of the highlights of the whole game. Hopefully they will make their return in future installments.

For those wishing to extend their gameplay experience, challenge and predator maps make their return, with gamers able to maneuver them as either Batman or Catwoman.

Along with these challenge maps is a “New Game Plus” option where the gamer starts anew but with all of his Riddler trophies and gadgets in tow.

Put bluntly, “Arkham City” is a crowning achievement in game design. While the prequel was considered perhaps the greatest comic book game ever, this title stands among the very best of this entire generation. Rocksteady succeeded in translating the “Arkham Asylum” formula to an immense open world and included more than enough content to occupy gamers for a long time. Batman fan or not, this is an absolute must buy.

While Rocksteady slips into the shadows to begin work on the next title in this franchise, we all have plenty of reason to continue hunting our prey amidst the darkened streets of Arkham City.

Are these artsy fartsy opinions not your style? Do you want to join the ranks of these talented individuals?

See your own work represented in these pages:

Write for the Daily Cardinal!

Send a sample of your writing to arts@dailycardinal.com.

opinion ASM needs to refocus efforts on outreach dailycardinal.com/opinion

MATT BEATY opinion columnist

L

ast week, ASM held elections to fill seats on council and the Student Services Finance Committee. With a small amount of open seats and a three day election period, the 11 percent turnout was no worse than I expected. Here’s to hoping that the 4,803 voters picked leaders that can help turn ASM’s year around.

Most of issues ASM focused on this year affect small numbers of students on campus and are mostly internal struggles with rules too difficult for student leaders and organizations to comprehend needing to address.

ASM has not had the most productive year so far, and it isn’t showing signs of improvement. The year started fine enough, then Vice Chair Beth Huang and Nominations Board Chair Niko Magallon failed to turn in their community service hours on time which were required to complete after both broke campaign rules by going to residence halls.

More drama ensued following controversial SSFC decisions: WISPIRG regained

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

Editorial Cartoon

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By Anurag Mandalika opinion@dailycardinal.com

funding eligibility. SSFC ruled last fall that the group did not meet the qualifications to receive segregated feeds. How did the group change their direct services? As far as anyone can tell, they didn’t.

Oddly enough, the Multicultural Student Coalition (MCSC) was denied funding.

According to SSFC, the organization doesn’t substantially serve the student body through direct services. This once largely funded group now hangs in the balance because of a potentially faulty interpretation of SSFC rules.

ASM has not had the most productive year so far, and it isn’t showing signs of improvement.

Even other student governments are growing upset with ASM. CALS Student Council introduced a resolution calling out ASM for failing to “endorse or share any measure of power or [to] offer permanent financial support to student governments.”

It is understandable that most people reading this would still wonder why it is

important to vote in student government elections. It’s just ASM, right? Who cares? It is confusing, and what is a “direct service” anyway?

The fact is, ASM is important and everyone should have voted because the group controls $40 million worth of students’ money. SSFC makes decisions that affect student groups, making a direct impact on our university experience. Why then, did only 4,803 people vote?

There is more than one answer, of course. People may be apathetic; people don’t vote for the president of the United States. Who can expect them to vote for student government spots? Another possibility

is that people may not know about the election. In fact, the only reason I knew the days of the election was a friend’s Facebook post telling everyone to vote before time ran out.

ASM is at a great point in the year though. Gaining new members presents it with the opportunity to start over.

Whatever the reason for the low turnout, it reflects as poorly on ASM as it does on the apathetic student body. ASM leaders often tout around Wisconsin State Statute 36.09[5] which gives students the right to shared governance. But they rarely ever quote the ASM constitution. If they did, they would see that its first “Object” is “to ensure the greatest participation by students in the immediate governance of and policy development for the University at all levels.” Eleven percent is hardly a great amount of participation.

There are other “objects,” though this one is the first one listed. ASM is supposed to engage the students, but its actions rarely do anything of the sort.

ASM’s focus is on the politics of their positions more than the substance of its effects.

The council is more worried about giving itself the ability to supervise SSFC than making sure students know what SSFC is or, more importantly, how to engage with it. Now they have to spend time filling the vice chair and nominations

board chair positions, which the Nominations Board will do without a vote from students. It is no wonder that few students care about ASM; it doesn’t affect them most of the time.

ASM is at a great point in the year, though. Gaining new members presents it with the opportunity to start over. It cannot squander this chance to make this year mean something.

ASM needs to find energy from new members to make itself relevant to the student body.

There are plenty of opportunities to do this: It can help students get the identification necessary to vote in the next state and national elections. With new tenant laws on the books, it can help students navigate the renting waters. Whatever happens, they need to prove to more than 11 percent of our student body that their voice matters and is needed.

ASM should focus more on engaging other student councils to make real grassroots efforts to help and engage the student body and student organizations.

Whatever it does, ASM needs to focus on outreach and make sure their decisions and programs are known by the student body.

ASM is an important force on our campus, even if it hasn’t proved to be one this year. With another sad showing at the polls, students have voiced their opinions—they don’t think voting in ASM elections is worth five minutes of their time. But the semester is young, and there is plenty of time and opportunity to turn that opinion around.

Matt Beaty is a junior majoring in mathematics and computer science. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

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Lightning bug trivia. Only male fireflies can fly.

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Today’s Sudoku

Getting distracted by kittens

Evil Bird

By Caitlin Kirihara kirihara@wisc.edu

© Puzzles by Pappocom

Eatin’ Cake

By Dylan Moriarty EatinCake@gmail.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.

Charlie and Boomer Classic

By Natasha Soglin graphics@dailycardinal.com

Today’s Crossword Puzzle

Caved In

Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com

GAME TIME ACROSS 1 Cheddar type 6 Autumn bloomers 10 Billower on a pole 14 Bellhop, often 15 Polo’s destination 16 Brook 17 On the up-and-up 19 “Nay!” sayer 20 CD-___ (computer insert) 21 Word said with a salute 22 Made a small dent in 24 Part of epic films 27 Bundle of energy 30 1936 Olympian Jesse 31 Beefeaters 32 Time out of mind 33 Always, in a poem 36 It blew its top in 1992 37 Acquire intelligence 38 “Major” animal 39 Casting item 40 Malarial fever 42 Damascus denizen 44 Personnel director, at times 45 Car wheel securer 46 Basis of democracy 50 Track and Field Hall of Fame inductee Ashford 51 Charlemagne was its first ruler (Abbr.)

52 “Be on the lookout” letters 55 Unload 56 Golfer who won nine majors in his career 60 Woody’s singing son 61 Egg, to a biologist 62 Word with “glasses” or “buff” 63 Put away for the future 64 In the ___ breath (almost simultaneously) 65 “Beau ___” DOWN 1 A feature of Old Glory 2 Boxcar Willie dressed as one 3 Basic building block 4 Gun, as an engine 5 Take for granted 6 Native New Zealander 7 “Miracle on Ice” chant 8 One-time shuttle destination 9 Tack components 10 100-centime units 11 Jargon of a particular field 12 Change, as a hemline 13 Travel like a flying squirrel

18 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 33 34 35 37 38 40 41 42 43 44 46 47 48 49 52 53 54 57 58 59

Plains bovine Common contraction Baby carrier?

With a reddishbrown tinge Vacationing Like Easter eggs Abominable snowman What the “poor dog’’ had “___ go bragh!”

Twin in Genesis Unleash a diatribe Bird-feeder treat Basic desire Having no perceptible weight Yanks, in Mexico Display bad etiquette at the dinner table Christmas warmer Ichabod’s was Sleepy Badlands formations Ward off Bill Cosby pitched it What cats and rats do “For” votes Sassy-mouthed Hillside, in Aberdeen Actress Gardner Cuban alcoholic export “Congo” villain

First in Twenty Classic

Washington and the Bear

By Nick Kryshak nkryshak@wisc.edu

By Angel Lee alee@wisc.edu

By Derek Sandberg kalarooka@gmail.com

sports

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Tuesday, October 25, 2011

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7

Football

Badgers still have plenty to play for against OSU

By Michael Tews THE DAILY CARDINAL

In the wake of one of the most agonizing defeats in school history, the dreadful memories of Saturday’s loss to Michigan State still linger for the Badgers. Yet, as difficult as it is to continue moving forward, it is imperative that Wisconsin maintains its focus as they invade Columbus to take on Ohio State this Saturday.

UW head coach Bret Bielema addressed the team’s disappointment and urged the players to continue fighting.

“I told [the players] you should never get used to this feeling,” Bielema said. “This feeling should hurt. It’s something we need to get rid of and shake out tonight. If you ever accept it, then it’s going to happen more than you ever want it to.”

Even after a shaky performance and an unsuccessful comeback, senior quarterback Russell Wilson remains optimistic about his team’s ability to overcome this adversity.

“The main thing is staying positive, keep working hard like we do everyday and keep leading,” Wilson said. “There’s a lot of great opportunities for us and we have a great opportunity to play Ohio State.”

Last season, the Badgers upset

the then-No.1 Buckeyes 31-18 before a raucous Camp Randall Stadium, a pivotal victory en route to a share of the Big Ten title and a trip to the Rose Bowl.

On Saturday, the Badgers won’t have the comforts of home.

While the Badgers have won three of their last five meetings in Columbus, the most recent trip resulted in a 31-13 loss. The Badgers dominated in first downs 22-8 and total offense 368-184, but Scott Tolzein threw three interceptions, two of which were returned for touchdowns.

The Badgers are all too familiar with the consequences of missed opportunities, so it is essential they convert when they have their chances, especially against a tough defense, ranked 16th in the nation.

“Ohio State has got a lot of athletic ability up front all the way to the back end of the defense,” Wilson said. “The main thing is capitalizing on opportunities just like any other game.”

The controversy encompassing Ohio State this summer has been well publicized, as it was revealed several former Buckeyes received improper benefits while former head coach Jim Tressel lied to the NCAA about having any knowl-

edge of the transactions. Tressel has resigned, but the image of the program has been besmirched.

But even with all the negativity, Ohio State has remained competitive, coming off its biggest victory against upstart Illinois, 17-7, last weekend.

“They look more and more like the traditional Ohio State as they get further in the season,” Bielema said.

“Their defense is playing extremely well with that swagger.”

While a shot at the BCS title is gone, the Badgers still dictate their own destiny in the quest for the Big Ten title. Bielema has witnessed teams stuck in a hole claw their way back to become conference champions. In 2003 as Kansas State’s co-defensive coordinator, Bielema’s team lost three straight games against Marshall and conference rivals Texas and Oklahoma State, leaving them 4-3 overall but 0-2 in the division.

“One of things I really benefitted from my experience at Kansas State was I had a great two years of learning divisional play within a conference,” Bielema said. “[Kansas State head coach] Bill Snyder said if we take care of our business, we can get in the confer-

Men’s Basketball

Bagders must replace departed Leuer and Nankivil THE DAILY CARDINAL

Wisconsin men’s basketball: same team, different year.

This statement seems to ring true nearly every year under head coach Bo Ryan. But this season the Badgers must replace two AllBig Ten performers in Jon Leuer and Keaton Nankivil, who together were responsible for over 41 percent of last year’s scoring.

Although Wisconsin returns only two starters from last year’s Sweet 16 team, the Badgers are not as young as many have made them out to be.

“We’re pretty experienced,” senior guard Rob Wilson said. “A lot of guys played in the games somewhere down in their careers.

Besides the freshmen being the youngsters, we have a lot of guys who’ve gotten playing time.”

UW returns both starters in the backcourt, with Wilson and sophomore guard Ben Brust

ence championship game and get to a BCS bowl. Everyone was looking at him like he had three heads.”

The team rallied together and not only won the rest of their games, but shocked No. 1 Oklahoma in the Big 12 championship, desecrating the Sooners 35-7

for the conference title and earning a trip to the Fiesta Bowl.

“I think the biggest thing is what kind of kids you have in your program,” Bielema said. “I expect this group to bounce back as they did late in the fourth quarter and put everything into this preparation.”

ramage from page 8

UW has roster holes to fill this season

By Max Sternberg

DANNY MARCHEWKA/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

Wisconsin’s win over then-No. 1 Ohio State a year ago at Camp Randall Stadium helped the Badgers earn a Rose Bowl berth.

coming into the year with game experience at the guard positions.

Senior guard Jordan Taylor will enter the season as a candidate for national player of the year, while sophomore Josh Gasser comes off of a freshman season that saw him average nearly six points and four rebounds per game over the course of 34 games, tying the UW record for games played by a freshman. “[We have] really high expectations this year,” Taylor said.

“We have a lot of experience in the backcourt and everybody’s been working hard.”

With the backcourt dealt with, the focus turns toward a frontcourt that will feature three new starters. Despite the turnover, the Badgers have a trio of juniors with plenty of big-time game experience in Mike Bruesewitz, Jared Berggren and Ryan Evans. The three started 14 games last season and combined for nearly 10 points and 6.5 rebounds per game,

MATT MARHEINE/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

Mike Bruesewitz is one of the frontcourt players the Badgers will rely on to fill the voids left by Jon Leuer and Keaton Nankivil.

numbers they believe will trend upward as this season rolls on.

“I guess it’s the Wisconsin way, upperclassmen lead the way,” Bruesewitz said. “When it’s your turn to step up, you’ve got to embrace that role.”

This season UW adds redshirt freshman Evan Anderson. The 6 foot 10 inch Stanley native has already impressed his teammates in early practices and will bring a new dimension of strength to the Badger front line.

“That’s what I hope to do this year, just to be a strong guy in the middle,” Anderson said. “And not let guys like [Ohio State sophomore forward] Jared Sullinger and some of those other guys get so many easy baskets.”

Anderson and the rest of the big men are hoping to improve on an interior defense that was a glaring weakness last season.

Although Wisconsin was fourth in the nation in scoring defense, giving up just 58.6 points per game, they struggled to contain big men, specfically Butler senior Matt Howard, whose 20 point effort in the NCAA Sweet 16 doused the Badgers’ hopes of a run at the Final Four.

In addition, this new frontcourt brings a far greater interior presence on the offensive end than the Nankivil-Leuer tandem did last season.

“Jon and Keaton are such good shooters from the perimeter that we needed to get the ball on the outside. It’s a tough matchup for a lot of bigs to cover them on the perimeter,” Gasser said. “This year, with Jared Berggren, he’s a good post scorer. And then Evan Anderson, he’s such a brute down low. Its pretty hard to stop him one-on-one.”

incredible as a parent to watch that transformation and, so “We’re a close-knit group that’s, yeah, I guess that’s all I there in St. Louis, so there have on that.” were always former playThere is an awkwardness to ers around. We celebrated that answer you will not find a lot of the holidays togeth- when he talks about St. Louis or er, the Thanksgivings and John’s tournament in Slovakia.

Christmases as a group, and he It is to be expected, in a way. got to be around and hear the For the past eight years the hockey stories, and hear how story about Rob Ramage has we talked about the game—the been that of a legacy tarnished respect for the game that we all by a horrible decision. have,” Rob Ramage said. “And “Ramage will forever be he certainly has that.” branded by the accident that took his friend,” a columnist zzz wrote in the Globe and Mail Talking to Rob Ramage soon after Ramage was conabout his son is easy. Ask him victed. “The other stuff, about about the players John grew how he won a pair of Stanley up learning from or how he Cups, how he was captain of coached him through the the Leafs and became ranks of youth hockey, an investment broand you’ll get lengthy ker and even a minor answers in response. hockey coach in St. But when you ask him Louis, none of that about the more recent will matter as much.” history of his life—the When he got behind one that changed on a the wheel back in road north of Toronto— 2003, pointed his car his speech becomes much R. RAMAGE east down Rutherford less natural.

Road and slammed When he answers a into Michelle Pacheco, question about how his son Ramage irreparably flipped has matured in the past year, his story and his son’s. Today, much of which Rob Ramage neither of them want to talk spent behind bars, he picks his about the accident and they words with a great deal of cau- are hesitant to speak on what tion, stumbling through what has happened since, but for the he wants to say and how he will past eight years that is what the phrase it. world has wanted to hear.

“He is a very committed and The final installment of this threefocused young man,” Ramage part feature will run in Thursday’s said, “and, yeah, it’s been just edition of The Daily Cardinal.

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Tuesday, October 25, 2011

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Men’s Hockey

Today, Wisconsin boasts a hard-nosed defenseman named Ramage who can score from the blue line. In the 1980s, the St. Louis Blues could say the same.

Story by Nico Savidge

I

Part two of three

n so much of John Ramage’s story, he is a passive character.

His father is the NHL star who coached him, the hockey community in St. Louis is the atmosphere he was raised in and, since he plays defenseman like his dad, it seems like his style was determined for him. He admits the defenseman role is “just something I fell into,” and that he “never really thought otherwise.”

Even his father’s biggest mistake is something that happened to John Ramage, a force acting upon him.

But watch him on the ice, and “passive” is not a word that comes to mind.

Mike Eaves played in the pros at the same time John’s father did, and as the head coach of the Wisconsin men’s hockey team, he has watched Ramage grow from a promising freshman to a strong-willed leader. Like anyone else who has watched Ramage – nicknamed “Rammer” by his teammates— ves sees a tough edge that makes

him one of the more talented players in NCAA hockey.

That physicality doesn’t manifest itself in fights, like it did for Ramage’s father and might in the NHL, but instead in the kind of hard work that requires a drive and dedication to match strength and skill.

“If you just watch him in front of the net and in the corner, his determination and drive to win battles, that’s how we express it in college hockey,” Eaves said. “Not so much with the fighting, but with his ability to compete in the corners and the hard areas of the rink. He’s very good at it.”

When he talks about Rob Ramage as a player in the 1980s, Eaves uses a lot of the same words he might employ to describe the junior defenseman currently on his roster— the one who wears number 55, the same number his dad was wearing when he lifted the Stanley Cup in ‘89.

Another member of the Wisconsin program, wom-

The captain

and his father MARK KAUZLARICH/THE DAILY CARDINAL

en’s hockey head coach Mark Johnson, played alongside Rob Ramage for part of the 1985 season in St. Louis.

Back then, teammates called the forward Johnson “Magic” for what he could do with a puck. Like his son would hear a couple of decades later, they called the hard-nosed defenseman with a wicked shot and a tough demeanor “Rammer.”

“If somebody wanted to take liberties with certain players

on your team, you had other players within your group that made sure that wasn’t going to happen, and if it did, it wasn’t going to happen very often,” Johnson said.

That was Ramage, who amassed 2,226 career penalty minutes.

“Rob had the ability to play different ways. If he wanted to play a finesse game, he could play that way,” Johnson said.

“If he wanted to get physical and drop the mitts, he wasn’t

shy in that category either.”

His father’s experience certainly impacted the way John Ramage learned hockey, but shaping the young player as well were those old players he learned from growing up. The ones who, like his father, knew the game in its tougher days and gave him the kind of work ethic that comes from the 1980s style of hockey.

ramage page 7