Wednesday, January 27, 2010 - The Daily Cardinal by The Daily Cardinal

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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Black students still face issues under Obama By Robert Taylor and Daniel Tollefson The Daily Cardinal

Lorenzo Zemella/the daily cardinal

Gov. Jim Doyle delivered his final State of the State Address Tuesday at the state Capitol. Doyle focused on Wisconsin’s economy, job growth through green energy legislation and health care.

Doyle focuses on economy, legacy in final State of the State Address By Steven Rosenbaum The Daily Cardinal

Gov. Jim Doyle spoke to state lawmakers and Wisconsin citizens Tuesday night in his annual State of the State Address. He focused on job growth, improving education, new health-care programs and his legacy. Doyle pointed to manufacturing tax credits as well as research and development incentives that he said make Wisconsin a desirable place for companies. “As a result of our work, Wisconsin now ranks 30th in business taxes— well below the national average,” he said. “With the help of these incentives, over the last year, many other companies have moved their operations from other states to Wisconsin,” Doyle also promoted green energy development and technology. He urged lawmakers to pass the

Clean Energy Jobs Act, a new bill mandating renewable energy usage standards for Wisconsin businesses. State Rep. Phil Montgomery, R-Green Bay, said he is worried about the impact the new legislation may have on jobs. “My biggest issue right now is the [energy] bill that’s he is working on. My estimates are that we will lose 43,000 manufacturing jobs and have an estimated cost of over $18 billion,” he said. Doyle also focused on education policy. He said Wisconsin has made great progress helping students pay for higher education, and pointed to the Wisconsin Covenant program as a successful example. “We now have $25 million a year to help Covenant Scholars pay for college. I’m proud to say that even in these tough times, we are educating more students in our university system

today than at any time in our history.” Doyle also addressed health care and said 98 percent of Wisconsin residents are covered, currently ranking the state first in the nation in healthcare quality. According to Doyle, much of that success can be attributed to BadgerCare Plus and it’s subset programs, including BadgerCare Plus Core. In his speech, Doyle outlined the BadgerCare Plus Basic plan, a recently announced self-funded plan for individuals waiting to get into the Core program. Montgomery said the new plan will likely cost taxpayers. “When you create these new programs you have to pay for them, and unfortunately, we are facing a multibillion dollar deficit going into the next budget and so that’s part of the legacy as well,” he said.

Walker outlines platform on job growth, taxes By Beth Pickhard The Daily Cardinal

Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker spoke at the Capitol about economic issues just hours before Gov. Jim Doyle’s State of the State address Tuesday. Walker, considered a Republican frontrunner in the 2010 gubernatorial election, emphasized the importance of lowering taxes and bringing jobs back to Wisconsin. According to Walker, the state lost 163,000 jobs last year and thousands more remained unemployed. Walker said he believes citizens are burdened by taxes and families are struggling. “The people of Wisconsin have the privilege to live, work and raise families … In recent years, the state government has grown beyond the ability of the taxpayer to pay,” he said.

Walker said he thinks Wisconsin has failed to attract businesses and previously stable businesses are facing losses. He said corporate hubs,

including Harley Davidson and Kimberly-Clark, continue to struggle. walker page 3

Isabel álvarez/the daily cardinal

On January 20, 2009, Barack Obama became the first AfricanAmerican president of the United States. His election was an historic first, and to many observers, marked a significant moment in American politics and society in regards to race. A year later and on the cusp of Black History Month, however, some minority students on campus feel that race remains a potent challenge in everyday student life. African Americans account for only 2.9 percent of the enrolled student body at UW-Madison, according to the University’s web site. “It can be overwhelming when I walk into a major lecture with over 400 students,” Keith Jackson, an African-American senior majoring in engineering, said. “No one else looks like me.” According to Kendra Allen, president of the National Society of Black Engineers at UW-Madison, the College of Engineering struggles to retain the few African-American students it attracts, with attrition

rates hovering around 50 percent. “That is why the NSBE is such an important entity for this university,” Allen said. “It is our job, the administration’s job and the students’ job to work together on retention and make sure that we fill the demand we hear every day from the community for skilled engineers from under-represented backgrounds.” In the effort to promote a cross-cultural awareness among its student body, UW-Madison requires that all students complete an ethnic studies course. According to the University web site, ethnic studies course material must “illuminate the circumstances, conditions and experiences of racial and ethnic minorities.” Some students feel the ethnic studies courses are not enough. Ashley Johnson, an AfricanAmerican junior majoring in women’s studies and Spanish, said that many students in her African American studies classes were there simply because they had to be. “While it is usually a diverse group and I have had positive experace page 3

Campus officials express concern for student safety following recent robbery By Grace Urban The Daily Cardinal

In light of a recent armed robbery of a UW-Madison student on North Mills Street, UW-Madison spokesperson John Lucas released a statement Monday urging students to focus on personal safety. “It’s impossible to ensure everyone’s complete safety and people need to take the best precautions they can moving around not just on campus but anywhere in the city,” Madison Police Department spokesperson Joel DeSpain said. According to the incident report, the 20-year-old female was robbed at gunpoint Saturday evening while walking along a bike path around 7:40 p.m. The suspect is described as a 20to 25-year-old male, possibly Asian, 5 feet 6 inches tall and 150 pounds with a medium build. An additional incident occurred near Edgewood College, on the 400 block of Allen Street, Sunday morning when a 21-year-old Madison woman was tackled by a stranger as she stretched before her run. The attacker is described as a white male age 20 to 29, 5 feet 9 inches tall with a slender build

and spiky brown hair. DeSpain said he does not believe the two crimes are connected. Nevertheless, he said students should do their best to protect themselves by walking in well-lit areas and making sure they’re not walking alone. “The things that your parents told you when you were young about having a buddy system and having a plan about where you are going, how you’re going to get there, how you’re going to get home; all those things still hold up as you go to college,” DeSpain said. Lucas echoed this sentiment, reminding students to make use of SAFE Nighttime Services and carry a cell phone. “If you intend to drink, do so in moderation so as not to put yourself in a position of increased risk,” Lucas said in a statement. DeSpain said MPD works closely with the UW Madison Police Department and “the people on Bascom Hill” to promote safety on campus. Students are still encouraged to call police if they see suspicious activity.

“…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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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892

TODAY: snowy hi 20º / lo 5º

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Students live the suite life on Lucky Island

Volume 119, Issue 74

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

JILLIAN LEVY one in a jillian

News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com Editor in Chief Charles Brace Managing Editor Ryan Hebel Campus Editor Kelsey Gunderson Grace Urban City Editor State Editor Hannah Furfaro Enterprise Editor Hannah McClung Associate News Editor Ashley Davis Senior News Reporters Ariel Shapiro Robert Taylor Anthony Cefali Opinion Editor Todd Stevens Arts Editors Katie Foran-McHale Jacqueline O’Reilly Sports Editors Scott Kellogg Nico Savidge Kevin Slane Page Two Editor Features Editor Madeline Anderson Ben Pierson Life and Style Editor Photo Editors Isabel Álvarez Danny Marchewka Graphics Editors Caitlin Kirihara Natasha Soglin Multimedia Editor Jenny Peek Copy Chiefs Anna Jeon Kyle Sparks Justin Stephani Jake Victor Copy Editors Haneui Kim

Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Cole Wenzel Advertising Manager Katie Brown Billing Manager Mindy Cummings Senior Account Executive Ana Devcic Account Executives Mara Greenwald Kristen Lindsay, D.J. Nogalski, Sarah Schupanitz Graphic Designer Mara Greenwald Web Director Eric Harris Marketing Director Mia Beeson Archivist Erin Schmidtke The Daily Cardinal is published weekdays and distributed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and its surrounding community with a circulation of 10,000. 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. 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 typewritten, double-spaced and no longer than 200 words, including contact information. Letters may be sent to letters@dailycardinal.com.

Editorial Board Charles Brace Anthony Cefali Kathy Dittrich Ryan Hebel Nico Savidge Jamie Stark Todd Stevens Justin Stephani l

THURSDAY: partly cloudy hi 16º / lo 0º

t the beginning of last semester I learned that one of my friends, we’ll call her “Sally” to avoid revealing her true identity and causing her utter humiliation, was moving into the Lucky Apartments. Half-jealous and half-shocked, I jokingly said, “Well, I’ll probably see you at graduation then,” confident she would disappear into the abyss that is that monstrous, block-consuming building. When Sally insisted that she would remain her normal, middleclass, Midwestern self I had my doubts, but I decided to give her the benefit of the doubt. And at first I did still see her out at the bars, and occasionally we both showed up to class on the same day. But by mid-October, it was impossible to ignore the changes that were slowly taking over my friend. At first they were small changes: an unwillingness to walk to Subway when there was a Quiznos right in

the building and a switch from a Starbucks addiction to a CoffeeBytes preference. With the addition of tanworld and Anytime Fitness, I knew I had lost my fake-n-bake buddy and even though I never go to the gym, asking Sally to think about going to the SERF with me was clearly no longer going to be an option. Still, I would occasionally see Sally at Sentry or Inner Fire (an off-campus yoga studio) and our friendship remained damaged, but intact. That was until Sally returned to Madison last week and learned that in her absence, not only a grocery store but also a yoga studio had been added to the Lucky complex. She didn’t even try to mask her glee. “Jillian! Did you see?! There’s a grocery store downstairs... Wait, no. An organic fresh food market, which is, like, so much better.” “Of course I saw it. How stupid are you? Or do you think I’m blind?” “And they built a yoga place! It has a funny name so it must be really nice.” “Mmmm...” “Now all we need is a doctor’s ofﬁce; wait, there’s UHS! And we need a laundry service... But I guess

Lazybones picks up and delivers so we don’t really need that either. I mean, really, I think everything I need to function and, you know, not die is already right here.” As hard as I was trying to block Sally out, it hit me that she was absolutely right. Of course there were reasons to leave the building (schoolrelated functions, visiting friends in the Aberdeen and buying new Uggs), but if a hurricane suddenly hit Madison, there’s a good chance that the sole survivors would be those dwelling in Lucky—which is one of the single most terrifying realizations I’ve ever come to. The scariest thing about Lucky Island is that three entire ﬂoors are dedicated to Lucky 101 residents, a program geared toward ﬁrst-year students. This means hundreds of freshmen are being primed for life in a building where everything is provided for them. Most juniors and seniors (hopefully) recognize that life in Lucky is based on fantasy and not reality. But young, impressionable freshmen have nothing to compare Lucky life to other than living at home with their parents, which for most is probably as nice, if

not better. Just imagine, if you will, what kinds of adults this complex will breed. People who have legs made of jelly from lack of use, incapable of reading a map because they’ve never been faced with the threat of getting lost, unable to live life without a Preferred Resident Card... a total tragedy. I write this entirely out of concern and care for my fellow students and all of mankind. I swear it has nothing to do with the fact that I spent a year living in Saxony (which I maintain is one of the most under-appreciated apartment complexes and an example of architecture at its ﬁnest) and can only dream about what life in Lucky could be like. Additionally, I promise that Sally is a real person and not one that I made up entirely for the beneﬁt of this column that I wrote in a jealous rage after leaving the Fresh Madison Market with bags full of delicious produce and pre-packaged sandwiches. Really, for the good of all mankind, boycott Lucky!... Or let me come live with you. If you think life on Lucky Island is the greatest thing since sliced bread, well Jillian just doesn’t care so don’t bother telling her at jlevy2@wisc.edu.

the daily cardinal makes fun of you

Kyle Volp

Hey all you converted Vikings fans aka Favre fans... can’t be too surprised with that happening can you?

Year: 2011 Hometown: Omro, WI Activities: Playing Baseball (fastest pitcher in the midwest, also the least accurate after 20 pitches), Watching Football and baseball, cooking, grilling, writing, and anything else the average college student would enjoy aside from studying. I also consider myself a professional laugher. Interests: Movies and Baseball and Food

Board of Directors Vince Filak Cole Wenzel Joan Herzing Jason Stein Jeff Smoller Janet Larson Chris Long Charles Brace Katie Brown Benjamin Sayre Jenny Sereno Terry Shelton Melissa Anderson l

Favorite Movies: 98% of Everything

Favorite Music: Limp Bizkit, Kid Rock, Led Zeppelin, Beck, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Nirvana, Bush, Rage Against the Machine, The So, your Halloween costume was a well-endowed Michael Strokes, Jet, Red Hot Chili Peppers Phelps, eh? Where’s your Subway sandwich and bong? Most Embarrassing Item: Congratulations, Kyle. You officially have the 17,000th Facebook status update about Brett Favre failing in the playoffs. Boy, you really stuck it to those Favre fans, eh? It’s kind of hard to take insults seriously from a man who mentions Limp Bizkit and Kid Rock in his list of favorite music and needed what looks like five gym socks to complete your Michael Phelps Halloween costume. Your status makes me want to renounce the Packers immediately and burn my Aaron Rodgers jersey in effigy. Thanks. Stupid Fact About Your Hometown: Omro’s town motto is “Omro... Your bridge to the future!” Unfortunately, it appears that the bridge is under construction until 2016. Oh well. Missed Opportunities: Really? You like 98 percent of all movies ever made? Although we may never know by simply reading your profile information, I genuinely fear this list could include “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel” or even “Old Dogs.” Please let me be wrong, Mr. professional laugher.

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

Saving Grace: Who can stay mad at a self-proclaimed bean-ball pitcher? Or a professional laugher? I guess reading this will be the ultimate test of your true potential in the professional laughing industry.

Want your Facebook proﬁle to be made fun of? Join the group “The Daily Cardinal Makes Fun of You.”

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ASM calls for Haiti relief effort By Ashley Davis The Daily Cardinal

The Associated Students of Madison have initiated a large-scale relief effort taking place Thursday, January 28 on behalf of Haiti. ASM, local businesses, student groups and volunteers are all participating in the community-wide fundraiser, providing students with various ways to contribute. All over campus, designated drop-off tables will be collecting spare change, cash or checks to the American Red Cross. The Memorial Union, Holt Commons, Gordon Commons and the ASM office are

among the drop-off locations students can visit to show their support. Other table sites throughout the city are being discussed and updates will be posted on ASM’s blog and Facebook page. “We are asking and hoping that each student gives whatever they can… If all students donate one dollar, that’s $42,000 roughly,” Tom Templeton, ASM vice chair, said. Local State Street businesses are also participating in the relief effort by donating a portion of their proceeds. Zander’s Capitol Grill is matching all donations received at their location now through Thursday.

WSUM is hosting a Dance Party For Haiti Relief Thursday night at the Majestic Theatre. Their $5 suggested donation will directly benefit Doctors Without Borders Emergency Relief Fund. “It’s really important that in times of crisis, the whole world shows they can provide help for those in need. And especially at UW-Madison, where we really strive to uphold the Wisconsin Idea and sense of service,” said ASM Academic Affairs Chair Jonah Zinn. “We stand a good chance to make a lot of money on this day, and I’m really excited for that,” Templeton said.

Waisman center receives stem-cell research grant By Ashley Davis The Daily Cardinal

The Waisman Clinical Biomanufacturing Facility at UW-Madison received an $8.8 million contract award from the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. The grant will help fund innovative stemcell production technology in laboratories and clinical trials. Derek Hei, biochemical engineer and technical director of the Waisman facility on campus, anticipates a greater understanding of the technical issues inherent in moving stem cells into the clinic. An advantage, Hei said, in success-

race from page 1 riences, many students there were seniors just fulfilling the ‘e’ requirement,” she said. Johnson’s classroom life outside of ethnic studies courses has been challenging at times. “As an African-American student on campus, more often than not, you are the only person of color in a class or discussion,” she said. “When an issue like affirmative action or race comes up, it can be very uncomfortable.” Many African-American students at UW-Madison must look beyond the classroom to find comfort and foster community. Often, these bonds between students develop through common interests and activities. Jackson said he finds a sense of

walker from page 1 “It is time to change the way Madison thinks and the way government does business,” he said. “I will do everything in my power to change Wisconsin’s business plan and to bring jobs back into Wisconsin.” According to state Rep. Jon Richards, D-Milwaukee, Walker recently decided not to approve financial aid programs in Milwaukee with potential to stimulate job growth in small businesses. “We need to give small businesses and [larger] businesses real and direct help to make that happen, and [Walker is] turning his back on that,” Richards said. State Rep. Tom Nelson, D-Kaukauna, said he disagreed with Walker’s plans to give tax breaks to businesses. He said regulation on corporations should be strengthened and taxation on working families should be reduced. “I think what County Executive Walker has proposed … is three steps backward on some important progressive changes that the Legislature has made this year,” Nelson said.

fully manufacturing cells is the creation of matched research banks that allow researchers to work more efficiently and effectively without having to shift from one cell line to another. The differences between cell lines are seen at the genetic level, making it extremely important for investigators to work with the same cell line when taking research to clinical trials. Such biological therapies require strict procedures. The facility is highly pressurized and equipped with air filters and working personnel must be completely covered in specialized clothing. These precautions must be taken because, if contaminated, there is

no way to sterilize the cells at the end. Timothy Kamp, director of UW-Madison’s Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center, said,“This highly competitive award recognizes the outstanding expertise in cell therapy of Derek Hei and his team… This grant reflects UW’s continued commitment to bring the power of stem cell biology to exciting new therapies.” In discussing the challenges ahead, Dei stressed the need for patience. “It’s going to be 10-15 years-plus before we have all the details worked out and stem cells are really going to reach their full potential.”

community in pick-up basketball games, which he regularly plays at the Southeast Recreational Facility. “It is easier for me to interact with my peers at the SERF than in the classroom,” he said.

to minority students and promote a welcoming environment on UW-Madison’s campus for students that might share Jackson’s sentiments. According to Lena Marx of the MultiCultural Student Coalition, the MCSC is hosting a play called “King’s Dream,” to honor the late Martin Luther King Jr. on February 9. The MCSC is also presenting a series of dialogues on February 23 called OneLove. As Black History Month approaches and Obama’s term enters its second year, some students of color say certain struggles remain. “Not enough has changed. There still remain hidden prejudices. The discussions are not authentic,” said Jackson.

“Not enough has changed. There still remain hidden prejudices.” Keith Jackson UW student

Student groups like the MultiCultural Student Coalition work actively to provide resources

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

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featuresstudent life 4

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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Addicted to Energy Caffeinated beverages can help improve students’ and athletes’ performance. But could these energy enhancers be doing more harm than good? Story by Diana Savage CAITLIN KIRIHARA/THE DAILY CARDINAL

ales of energy drinks are expected to grow at an annual rate of 12 percent and exceed $9 billion by 2011, according to a recent study by the research publisher Packaged Facts. These figures are up from $1.2 billion in 2002, according to a recent article in the Progressive Grocer. The growth in popularity of energy drinks, which are mainly marketed to athletes and adolescents, has several implications for consumers. Caffeine is the most popular stimulant used in energy drinks. Andrew Lokuta, a UW-Madison professor in the department of physiology, is not as worried about students consuming caffeine, as he is about their consuming too much of it. “Caffeine increases arousal, energy, alertness and concentration—that, of course, is the reason we use this drug to jump start our days” Jeffrey Henriques professor of psychology UW-Madison

“It’s too easy to abuse. You can develop a dependence, suffer withdrawal symptoms, develop a tolerance,” Lokuta said, adding that the diagnostic manual for doctors includes caffeine intoxication. According to Lokuta, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate caffeine content in food because the agency considers it a ﬂavor enhancer, and thus classiﬁes it as a dietary supplement, not a drug.

Moreover, energy drink companies are targeting their products at adolescents, according to Lokuta. “If caffeine is in fact a drug ... what is the population that is the most susceptible to the drug? That is the adolescents,” Lokuta said. “Anywhere from 16 up to 20 years old, you are the most susceptible to addictive drugs.” UW-Madison psychology professor Jeffrey Henrigques explains how this addiction works. “Energy drinks are drug delivery systems. Use leads to dependence and withdrawal, especially in users who are consuming large quantities of the substance, and energy drinks are providing a large dose in each can.” The FDA does regulate caffeine in soft drinks, Dr. Steven Chang of RightHealth said in an Aug. 2009 RightHealth article. But because the FDA does not regulate the amount of caffeine in energy drinks, these beverages can contain much more than the 68 milligrams per 12 ounces allowed in soft drinks. An 8 ounces can of Red Bull has 76 milligrams of caffeine, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, one of the strongest energy drinks marketed in America, No Name, is almost four times as potent as Red Bull, with 280 milligrams of caffeine in an 8.3 ounces can. UW-Madison junior Danielle Walter says she notices this difference in the amount of caffeine. “The caffeine [in energy drinks] hits me quicker than pop will,” Walter said. “If I drink too quickly, I feel jittery, but otherwise just the caffeine will make me feel

more energy than I would from any other drink.” As a result, Walter says she consumes energy drinks like Rockstar or Amp to help her study, especially during ﬁnals week. “If I drink too quickly, I feel jittery, but otherwise just the caffeine will make me feel more energy than I would from any other drink.” Danielle Walter student UW-Madison

“Caffeine increases arousal, energy, alertness and concentration—that, of course, is the reason we use this drug to jump start our days and keep us awake at night,” Henriques said. Because it is a stimulant, caffeine also improves performance in endurance sports, according to Andrew Peterson, a sports medicine physician at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. “Stimulants help you preferentially shunt energy systems away from using glycogen towards using fatty acids,” Peterson said. This helps in endurance sports because caffeine increases the availability of fatty acids that can be used for oxidation, according to a 2000 study conducted by Marleen Baak and Wim Saris published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise. “There’s some evidence that some stimulants might improve mental acuity and reaction time,” Peterson said. “So they [also] help in sports that are more skilled.” According to Lokuta, caffeine also improves endurance by increasing the effectiveness of second messengers, chemicals in your body that spur reactions like glycolysis, which creates energy. With names like Full Throttle and slogans like “Red Bull gives you wings,” the marketing for energy drinks links these products to extreme sports. What is not NATASHA SOGLIN/THE DAILY CARDINAL

mentioned in the advertising is that the caffeine in energy drinks can have adverse physical effects on athletes if consumed in excess. “You go from being able to be in an athletic event with more endurance as opposed to sitting there in your chair, and now you drank too much ... and your legs are shaking and your hands are trembling. All of [the] skeletal muscles [movements] are tremors,” Lokuta said, adding that large amounts of caffeine put people at risk for seizures. Energy drinks can also be dangerous for athletes because the caffeine in them can lead to dehydration. UW-Madison student and long-distance track runner Hanna Grinacker has never consumed an energy drink for this reason. “We all met with nutritionists and we were told to abstain from [energy drinks],” Grinacker said. But Grinacker said she does sometimes consume caffeine before a workout because it enhances her exercise. “I feel like I have more energy, which is always a positive when you’re running more miles,” Grinacker said. “It makes overall workouts seem more manageable and less taxing.” Yet some athletes still consume energy drinks before games and simply ﬁnd ways to counter the dehydrating effects. “Endurance athletes, like cyclists, are going to have some caffeine before they compete,” Peterson said. “The most common [source] obviously is coffee. Most will have a cup of coffee with a fair amount of caffeine before a competition.” In order to rehydrate after consuming caffeine, athletes often drink “other substances that mitigate the dehydrating effect of the drug,” Peterson explained. For example, Gatorade and Powerade have a special blend of sugar and salt that enhances hydration. Peterson said energy drinks are perceived as being more dangerous than they really are. “In terms of performance enhancing substances, there are more dangerous things that are being taken fairly widely,” Peterson said, “and our [efforts] should be trying to control things that are more dangerous or dangerous things practiced with sports.” Red Bull’s marketing slogan, “Red Bull Gives You Wings,” encourages consumers to drink it for a jolt of energy. “Does it talk about what happens when your wings fall off and now you’re addicted and you’re crashing back to Earth? Do they ever bring that up? How about if

you drink too many of the Red Bulls?” Lokuta asks. He says people may get caffeine intoxication., which results in symptoms of restlessness, gastrointestinal disturbance and an incoherent flow of thought and speech. Yet despite these effects, people still drink caffeine because “it’s too easy to abuse,” Lokuta said. Walter, who says she consumes about 24 ounces of soda a day, and larger cans of energy drinks while preparing for midterms or finals isn’t too worried about the potential harm of caffeine. “If you have [an energy drink] every day or have that be the main source of your drinks, it may be unhealthy; but sporadically they’re not horrible for you.” But when caffeine is taken in excess, students put their bodies at risk for neurological, muscular and cardiovascular problems. “This increase in arousal [from caffeine] can have negative effects, including anxiety, insomnia, and tachycardia (rapid heartbeat),” Henriques said. He also adds that it can cause negative psychological effects. “There is some evidence to suggest that caffeine use can result in increased symptoms of depression,” Henriques said. “Though it may be that the depression is a consequence of withdrawal symptoms experienced after the individual finishes their caffeinated beverage.” According to Lokuta, overconsumption of energy drinks causes too much neuronal activity. “The fact that [if] you drink that one Red Bull, it allows you to work for four hours—that doesn’t mean you should drink three.” Andrew Lokuta professor of physiology UW-Madison

“Instead of having a focused attention, you become very unfocused,” Lokuta said. “It’s almost like an attention deﬁcit disorder. Rather than being able to sit and concentrate, you can’t concentrate. Your mind is scattered.” Lokuta, who strives to make students informed consumers when it comes to drinking alcohol, wishes he could give similar advice about energy drinks. “The fact that [if ] you drink that one Red Bull, it allows you to work for four hours— that doesn’t mean you should drink three. That doesn’t mean you should alter your lifestyle and rely on that Red Bull to get through your academics.”

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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Reduce risk of stalking through awareness By Sapir Sasson PROMOTING AWARENESS, VICTIM EMPOWERMENT

Does this sound familiar? For a while now, someone you know has been calling you repeatedly and inquiring about your whereabouts. Sometimes, the caller hangs up immediately after you answer the phone. You are receiving unwanted e-mails, letters and gifts. You even suspect that your e-mail and Facebook accounts are being monitored. In other words, you are being stalked. Each year, 3.4 million people are stalked in the United States. While stalking definitions vary by state, Wisconsin defines stalking as a course of conduct directed at a specific person that would cause a reasonable individual to feel fear, oftentimes including many of the behaviors indicated above. The stalker may be a stranger, but three in four stalking victims know their offender. Unfortunately, most victims do not report the stalking to law enforcement, and the statistics are even more discouraging on college campuses. In a year-long study of 223 colleges done in 2000, over 83 percent of stalking incidents were not reported to police or campus law enforcement.

There is a point at which the so-called “Facebook stalking” crosses the line of acceptable behavior.

Why would stalking victims choose not to report their stalker? There are several barriers that would prevent victims from reporting the perpetrator to law enforcement. Victims may feel as though stalking is not a serious crime, or fear that law enforcement would not take them seriously. They may think they lack sufficient evidence, fear retaliation from the stalker or even feel remorse for the stalker if it is an acquaintance, former intimate partner or someone with whom they are currently involved. Let me repeat myself: even a current boyfriend or girlfriend could stalk you! If your partner is monitoring where you are and who you are with, checking your text messages, dropping by to check if you are really where you say you are, then he or she may be stalking you. While students often joke about “Facebook stalking” as something we all do, there is a point at which the so-called “Facebook stalking” crosses the line of acceptable behavior and must be addressed as a serious issue. In fact, one in four stalking victims report being stalked through the use of some technology. If someone is using Facebook to monitor your every move and this causes you to

feel fear, it is considered stalking. This may be fear of not knowing what will happen next, of bodily harm to you or others, of death, of the behavior never stopping—whatever you are feeling, you have the right to live your life without fearing the stalker’s next move. There are several things you can do if you are a victim of stalking. You may choose to call a friend or family member for support. You can confront the stalker yourself, if you feel comfortable doing so. You may also contact the local police department and talk about your options with them. Whether you decide to take no action or go ahead with a restraining order, the decision is completely yours to make. It may also be helpful to keep a journal and log all stalking behaviors, including their date, time, and a short description of the incident. In addition, it is important to save all text messages or online messages from the stalker. While it may be inconvenient, changing your phone number and passwords for your accounts may be helpful in protecting your privacy. In addition, the Offices of the Dean of Students (ODOS) are an excellent resource for students on campus. They can assist you with safety planning and can even contact the stalker on your behalf and issue a no-contact order. If you are a victim of stalking, you are not alone, and there are many resources on campus that can help you get your life back in order. Stalking is a serious crime. Please join us in the fight to address it! Sapir Sasson is the media advocate for PAVE. This article was written as a collaboration of PAVE staff. If you have any questions, please contact uwpavechair@gmail.com or stop by the PAVE office at the Student Activity Center, office #3147.

Uniﬁed vision needed to affect climate change ANTHONY CEFALI opinion columnist

he past year has not been easy on President Obama. I’ve often wondered why he wanted the job in the first place, and how he can carry himself with such poise despite being mired in so many promises that he cannot hope to fulfill during his presidency. During the Copenhagen climate talks, President Obama made another lofty promise, one meant to inspire other countries to rise up to the challenge of our changing global environment. With or without the approval of the Senate, Obama made a verbal agreement that the U.S. would drop carbon emissions 17 percent below what they were in 2005 by the end of this decade, something that will be difficult to do without imposing a radical gradient that is steep enough to change the American lifestyle. The climate talks came and went, and Obama was essentially left with the burden of leading us into a more environmentally friendly decade. But instead, this only brought pessimism, leaving most environmentalists to ask a rather straightforward question: Is climate change a priority for world leaders? The simple answer is no, definitely not. The reason is that world leaders are not unified on what needs to be done to combat global climate change, as evidenced in Copenhagen. Sure, we can blame this on respective rates of development and positioning of resources, but the situation demands actions, not excuses. All of our answers to climate change are instantly gratifying compromises that will leave us more problems in the future, the policy equivalent of sweeping a mess under the rug. Someone else will come and clean it up, someone

always does, or at least that’s the assumption. When discussing Obama’s commitment to emission reductions, United Nations climate chief Yvo de Boer made it very clear that it doesn’t matter how the U.S. curtails emissions, as long as changes are made. If the environment were truly a priority in this situation, there would be no compromise. De Boer’s attitude leaves policy up for individual interpretation, a ﬂexibility that will certainly end up bankrupting whatever hope environmentalists have that advocacy and protesting can save the planet. This laissez-faire attitude on the part of the U.N. leads to cap and trade policies, which give the guise of effectiveness, but in reality only serve to create ambiguity as to what our motivation is for curtailing climate change. Is it just a show to appease a disconcerted public, or are we serious?

Is climate change a priority for world leaders? The simple answer is no, deﬁnitely not.

Cap and trade is an environmental hoodwink because it assumes rigid, unrealistic constraints on a complex system. It assumes that carbon emissions behave with simple elegance, like algebra, not taking into account that we are part of an open system in which geographic location matters. Our biosphere has never been that simple, or linear, and we know better. If certain areas of the globe pollute more, they will still throw off the balance of the global environment, no matter how clean things are in another part of the world. Cap and trade promotes the compounding of pollution, ignorance of the Earth’s inherent interconnectedness and, most

importantly, provides answers that do not give us the results necessary to fix the problem. A recent study conducted at UWMadison made an interesting distinction that isn’t often brought up when discussing climate change. Researchers found that the benefits of clean air, mostly dealing with health, are worth more than the cost of implementing new policies. Intangible benefits are often not factored into climate policy decisions, probably because quantifying such effects is such an abstract endeavor. Although the study is largely optimistic and offers valuable insight, it still has problems. The study probably does not account for the full benefit of clean air, erring towards underestimation in hopes of more accurately reflecting the situation. We won’t know how important clean air is until it’s too late, just like we won’t know how important it is to halt climate change until Manhattan is underwater. In reality, a carbon tax is the only answer. It sets up a steep gradient that forces people to consider all of their actions and impact on the planet, regardless of their environmental stance. But the modern political climate is not conducive to such decisive action, action that we can no longer wait for. This is why we need to be unified to fight climate change, with everyone in agreement on what is the best action that will benefit the planet. Though society is continually resisting it, a dramatic paradigm shift is going to be necessary to account for all of our new knowledge and desires. In an audio pastiche by the Books, they sample a scientist uttering the words, “Something unknown is doing we don’t know what. This is what our knowledge amounts to.” There is so much that we don’t know, but this isn’t the problem. The problem is we are not all facing the unknown together. Anthony Cefali is a senior majoring in biology and English. We welcome all feedback. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

comics 6

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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Reading Virgil

Today’s Sudoku

Evil Bird

U-Rah-Rah: Cheerleading was initially an all-male sport.

By Caitlin Kirihara kirihara@wisc.edu

Ludicrous Linguistics

By Celia Donnelly donnelly.celia@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.

Sid and Phil Classic

By Alex Lewein alex@sidandphil.com

Today’s Crossword Puzzle

Ambulance Moonpants

Charlie and Boomer

By Taylor Nye taylor_e_a@yahoo.co.uk

By Natasha Soglin soglin@wisc.edu

Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com

SETTING THE BAR HIGH ACROSS 1 VIP of Arabia 5 They may be calculated 10 Poorly lit 14 Chip’s chum, in cartoons 15 BlackBerry messages 16 Where to put one’s dough 17 A month of Sundays 18 ___ Gras 19 Hearts and minds can do it 20 Bar 23 Reduced-calorie beers 24 Saints’ radiant circles 25 Better half 28 “Away in a Manger,” for one 30 Came to rest on a wire, e.g. 31 Instruction book 33 Abbr. on Topps cards 36 Bar 40 Where boars board 41 Some reunion attendees 42 Stage accessory 43 Breeds, so to speak 44 They’re not on the

level 46 ___ profundo (very low voice) 49 Windshield cleaner 51 Bar 57 Bullet accompanier 58 Clean, as a flash drive 59 Dental school exam? 60 Four-point H, e.g. 61 Provider of some fall color 62 Rolls of bills 63 C-section “souvenir” 64 Get back to even 65 Eye-closing problem DOWN Certain cheese O. Henry’s gift givers Holly plant Determined Universal device? Corporate concern Garments worn by the Ganges 8 Goats’ progeny 9 Small opening 10 Like a fish’s main fin 11 “... but to no ___” 12 Folio page 13 Croucher’s sore spots 21 Fleur-de-___ (Quebec symbol) 22 Like organza or 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

chiffon 5 Drains of energy 2 26 It may thicken 27 Like potato chips 28 Lousy eggs? 29 Commendatory composition 31 Big biceps, familiarly 32 Absolute (Abbr.) 33 Come by honestly 34 Comic who kills 35 Audio plug-ins 37 Reason for some medals 38 Web-footed northern diver 39 Common songbirds 43 Chemically related compound 44 Globe or ball 45 Moldovan money 46 Prepares a fishing line 47 It has storage floorage? 48 Burial stone 49 Marshal Earp 50 Japanese immigrant 52 Almost upon us 53 Irish language 54 “Doggone it!” 55 Connie Chatterley’s title 56 “Do it, or ___!”

Washington and the Bear

By Derek Sandberg kalarooka@gmail.com

arts

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Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Local readings are worth the expedition ALEX KUSKOWSKI the big bookowski

Avoiding ‘Boredom’ with Los Campesinos! By Kyle Sparks

We Are Doomed. It seems the semiannual cycle didn’t provide enough In the frantic waning moments time for a full gestation, though, as of “You! Me! Dancing!,” Los WAB, WAD was only a preview to Campesinos! frontman Gareth the kinds of heart-wrenching transiCampesinos! hastily shouts, “And tions the Welsh septet had in them. we’re just like how Rousseau depicts At its heart, Romance is Boring is man in the state of nature: We’re an album about the disingenuity of underdeveloped, we’re ignorant, romanticized culture. On “This Is we’re stupid but we’re happy.” And A Flag. There Is No Wind,” Gareth that, in a nutshell, is an appropriate cries, “They dragged me to the thesis for LC! at their onset. They hospital sayin’ I had gone deaf, but re-invented twee I heard everything CD REVIEW pop, sprinkling they said / It’s just I teen angst on top had no interest.” of their signature More than any brand of ebulof their albums, lient sonic candy. Romance is Boring But what also is a one-man show. reinforces the lyrAnd although ic’s weight is that Gareth continuRomance is Boring it foreshadowed ally explores sevLos Campesinos! the overt misery, eral external topics, melodramatic he always does so grandeur and tinted worldview on introspectively. It’s no degradation of their latest, Romance is Boring. his lyrical acumen, but it is indicaDespite their claims to the con- tive of a shift to larger, more comtrary, LC! were never actually all that pelling ideas. Gareth’s keen eye for ignorant. In fact, their hyper-literacy detail is less focused, speaking in was one of their most endearing sweeping metaphors and life lessons qualities when they were still butting instead of his trademarked attention elbows with the rest of the MySpace to speciﬁcs. universe. While their peers barked But as he said on Hold On’s about the best party ever or meet- “Sweet Dreams, Sweet Cheeks,” ings in treehouses, LC! warned us “When the smaller picture is the not to read Jane Eyre and whether same as the bigger picture, you or not a band’s synthesizer was any- know that you’re fucked;” and on thing more than a crutch. Romance is Boring, he’s no longer as But six months after their debut, concerned with the smaller picture. the post-twee manifesto Hold On And that’s what makes Romance Now, Youngster..., LC! took a step such a napalm-ﬁlled carboy of an toward the more tragic thematic album: It’s what no fans would elements found on We Are Beautiful, allow themselves to expect. LC! has

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taken the fateful leap off the ledge of quirky xylophone-led pop that force-feeds enthusiasm through speakers and plunged themselves deep into the fateful pool of honest, sincere and—most of all—vulnerable pop music. But the heavier subject matter creates a new set of obstacles that LC! sometimes have a hard time tackling. Inside the album’s infrequent valleys, Gareth wields his lyrical sword with reckless abandon at a crowd of delicate themes. The majority of the album eludes this cumbersome nature, though, when Gareth abandons his phallic preoccupation and lets his sexual frustration boil down to civilized discontent. But while Gareth takes center stage, the success of his rants is dictated by the band’s bubbly backbone. The individual elements are more jagged this time around, mirroring the more disenfranchised lyrics. But repeated exposure smooths the sandpaper distortion, exposing the band’s powerful comaraderie. When done right, the septet alternate riffs within the same melody, occupying the same space like a Whac-A-Mole, shifting from guitar to glockenspiel to background vocals in a frenetic, euphoric seizure. They synthesize a symbiotic relationship, each instrument striking abundant glee when confronted with the prospect of sharing the limelight with its best friends. But on songs like “Romance is Boring,” in which one element—in this case the guitar—dominates much of the action, they have a

PHOTO COURTESY ARTS & CRAFTS

While the latest LC! album, Romance is Boring, may not shift any musical paradigms, it proves its worth in instrumental complexity, lyrical insightfulness and ideological depth.

hard time taking off. But that’s nitpicking on an album that makes a habit of knocking you on your ass. Always selfaware, Gareth rues modernity on “A Heat Rash in the Shape of the Show Me State; Or, Letters From Me to Charlotte,” practically whining when he proclaims, “They appropriated everything we ever loved, and dressed it up in quotations and fluff,” and LC! seem intent on reversing this trend of gentrification and irony. They’re holding post-modern society accountable for divorcing actions and aesthetic. As they suggest on “This Is A Flag. There Is No Wind,” it is a common occurrence in media that “they said it smelled delicious but it smelled of burning flesh.” The over-friendly marketization of angst has eliminated its purpose, and, as they continue, that’s “not meant to be malicious, but this is the cross we bear.” And that full-bodied perspective is what sets LC! apart from their contemporaries. Because, as Gareth’s offhanded reference on their debut alluded to, the band’s ultimate strength is that they do know exactly what’s happening to them. In the aforementioned JeanJacques Rousseau dialogues, the French thinker expands on the creation of civilization as a recognition of networks. Once man identifies these relationships he is finally cognizant of value. And once man establishes time, he acknowledges that these values are fleeting, which originates inadequacy. Always a jaded group, Los Campesinos! have crossed this line of human development and are now past preoccupying themselves with the rehearsed drama of post-modern society that divorces intention from action. In the end, Romance is Boring likely isn’t the definitive period piece for our generation’s detachment, or even the likely favorite for album of the year. But its template for sonic experimentation, lyrical profundity and evocation of meaty issues through colloquial mannerisms and pedestrian humor raises the bar for literate pop. But most of all, their insistence on holding aesthetics accountable to actions propels a genre increasingly plagued with saturation by MTV offshoots programmed to market stud belts, guy-liner and overpriced hoodies back to its intended place as a haven for self-affirming truths and selfrighteous enthusiasm.

nother new semester has begun my friends, and even though you thought you may have left me and my worldwide literacy ambitions behind, I’m back again to needle you into reading just one more sentence, and possibly the sentence after that. I assume that after last semester most people want to shut the book on reading, never to open it again, and yes that pun was intended. Over the long break I’ve had time to think about how to make everyone change their minds about that and become more like me–reading-wise at least–and I felt I’d come up with a few great reasons. My list obviously began with the total smugness of knowing you are smarter and more caring than every other person in any given room who hasn’t read “Anna Karenina.” Unfortunately that rationale didn’t go over so well when I tried it out with people who weren’t deeply interested in Russian literature, and soon I found myself back at square one. What could bring a book alive for those who persist in thinking reading is an ineffably dull pastime? Well, other than knocking people over the head once or twice, I was finally stumped. That was until I had one of my many grand epiphanies: What would bring the liveliness back to a dead pastime? Live people themselves, of course. The cure may be going to see an author in person. Although I am not suggesting you track down J.D. Salinger and ask him for an interview on “Catcher in the Rye”—if you did I wouldn’t be the only one who would pay copious amounts to see it due to his secluded nature—I am asking you to judge a novel by its author. And who doesn’t love to judge people? This means I’ll be advocating something I’m sure only about three people will actually do, which is to first read a book–though I hope that’s been done before–and then go see the author talk about it. This isn’t as boring as it sounds because, really, who wouldn’t like to know exactly what’s going on in Nicholas Sparks’ head, knowing that his most recent bestselling novel is based on a screenplay written for Miley Cyrus? Now that I think of it, it might also make a good people-watching activity as well. Who exactly are the ones who put “The Last Song” at number five on the New York Times Best Seller list? Even if you have no interest in seeing who attends Nicholas Sparks’ readings, trust me, you can drag yourself away from the first half of that epic game of beer pong to check out a local reading. I know for a fact that Avol’s Bookstore has them a few times a month, and if you find a dynamic author–which many of them are–it might just change your entire understanding of a book. At the very least, it might make you more interested in reading their other novels, and more like me. Which is, of course, my ultimate goal. If you know who put Nicholas Sparks on the Best Seller list, enlighten Alex at kuskowski@wisc.edu.

sports 8

dailycardinal.com/sports

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

Men’s Hockey

Defensemen drive UW’s success By Ben Breiner THE DAILY CARDINAL

When it comes to defenseman, Wisconsin has a history. Names like Suter, Driver, Hill, Chelios and Rafalski highlight the record book for Badger defensemen, each having spent more than a decade in the NHL, and this year’s team certainly keeps up the tradition. The No. 2 Badgers boast easily one of the best crews of blueliners in the country and are making a case as the top group in college hockey. That unit is scoring a national-best 3.17 points per game combined, one year after finishing second in the category and seeing

DANNY MARCHEWKA THE DAILY CARDINAL

second-round pick and top point scorer Jamie McBain make his expected departure to the professional leagues. “It’s pretty crazy when you look at it on paper,” senior defenseman Ryan McDonagh said. “We’ve got a lot of draft picks and [freshman John] Ramage winning a world junior gold medal, our regular six have got a lot of accolades.” That would be ﬁve of six UW defenders already drafted by NHL squads. The unit is headlined by the contrasting styles of junior Brendan Smith and McDonagh, one of the team’s tri-captains. McDonagh plays the game with a defensive edge, using his ample strength to deliver some of the most forceful hits any Badger can deliver. Early in the season he delivered such an impact that the

victim’s feet ﬂew high in the air, his skate cutting McDonagh’s face. Smith will never be described as forceful, but is exceptionally talented in the offensive zone, playing well with the puck and possessing a slap shot that has been described as “thunder from the point.” He has the most points of any college defenseman and is fourth on the team in goals. But with the great talent level came one issue: defensive play. In hockey the most talented defensemen usually shine on the attack and must learn the ﬁner points of playing in their own zone. The Badgers had a tough time with that last season, but this year the four returners (Smith, McDonagh, junior Cody Goloubef and sophomore Jake Gardiner) have all made strides, and it shows in the statistics. Wisconsin is allowing three fewer shots per game this season and has jumped from 22nd to ninth in scoring defense. “It starts with the practice. We emphasize it so much,” McDonagh said. “Good sticks, good positioning, a lot of communication. We don’t want to give up any goals in any games, and I think we know at this point in the year we can all play offense.” This has been a bit of a shift for Smith, who explained, “I came in just all about the puck and I [was] an offensive defenseman.”

He, along with several other players, credited assistant coach Mark Osiecki for his work in developing their skills and understanding of how to defend at a high level. Ramage, a true freshman, has had less trouble with that, coming in and excelling defensively. But his classmate Justin Schultz

has taken on perhaps a larger role. The 19-yearold has earned the responsibility of quarterbacking Wisconsin’s powerplay unit, a role McBain held last year. “Justin Schultz has come in and he may not have the numbers that Jamie [had], but he’s got that coolness in his blood,” Wisconsin head coach Mike Eaves said. “When you’re on the blueline and you’re the last guy with the puck, that doesn’t faze him. He has confidence, he has poise with the puck and that’s where he’s done a really fine job for us.” Schultz gave special credit to Smith for helping him fit into that spot. “Coming into a level where guys are a lot stronger, a lot faster, getting little tips form [older team-

DANNY MARCHEWKA THE DAILY CARDINAL

mates] here and there, it helps a lot,” Schultz said. “Especially on the power play.” But how does a school continue the tradition of bringing in defensive talent? The answer according to Eaves is a combination of the team’s proven track record and Osiecki’s ability to fashion talented young players into NHL defensemen. “It helps throwing out those names and it helps having the reputation of coach Osiecki because he’s as good as anyone I’ve ever met in terms of working with young defensemen, breaking down their position and getting them the fundamentals that they can add to their repertoire,” Eaves said. “They already have natural ability, but it adds to their repertoire so they can get to where they want to get to and stay there.”

As league gets more physical, ‘workhorse’ backs may disappear SCOTT KELLOGG the cereal box

ith the Minnesota Vikings’ heartbreaking overtime loss to New Orleans last Sunday came the end of the season for running back Adrian Peterson. And it was a strange year for Peterson. In 2008, he turned in a phenomenal campaign, rushing for a league-best 1,760 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry and running for at least 100 yards 10 times. But 2009 was a different story. Peterson compiled 1,383 yards on the ground, still an impressive ﬁgure. But shockingly, “All Day” only eclipsed the 100-yard mark twice

in the regular season. Four times Peterson was held under 60 rushing yards in a game, and twice he was held under 40. Anyone who followed the Vikings saw a completely different back in 2009. Instead of being counted on to do the heavy lifting each and every game of the season, Peterson often had trouble establishing himself as a weapon on the ground. As the season continued, Minnesota began to depend on quarterback Brett Favre and its passing game to move the football. The highlights of Peterson roaring through the line, breaking tackles and exploding for huge chunks of yards soon seemed like a thing of the past. This sudden, steep decline of Peterson is the latest sign of a developing trend in the NFL: the fading use of the workhorse running back.

In the late ’90s and the early part of the 2000s, the league witnessed marquee running backs like Barry Sanders and Robert Smith begin to retire much earlier than other positions because of how many hits they took each and every game. With the athletes on defense only becoming faster and stronger, the workhorse running back who carries the ball 25 times a game will soon be a thing of the past, and there is overwhelming statistical evidence to back this up. Looking at the very near past, let’s inspect the top three rushing attempt leaders in 2008: Michael Turner, Peterson and Clinton Portis. Peterson’s sharp regression has already been discussed, but what about Turner? Becoming a full-time back for the ﬁrst time in his career, Turner carried the ball a league-high

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Come to the Daily Cardinal kickoff meeting at 4 p.m. this Friday, January 19 at 2195 Vilas

376 times in 2008. Flash forward to 2009 and Turner suffers an ankle injury, and despite attempting to return to the lineup multiple times, remains ineffective. Portis carried the ball 342 times in 2008, third most in the league. This season Portis suffered a concussion during the middle of the season, would never return to the lineup, and is now likely finished in Washington. Even the next player on the carries list in 2008 suffered a setback in 2009. Matt Forte finished only his second season in the NFL with the fourth most rushing attempts in 2008. After finishing the season 11th-best in rushing yards in 2008, Forte dropped all the way to 22nd in 2009. In the cases of Sanders and Smith, the two backs were still effective up until retirement. Now all it takes is one year of a heavy workload for a running back to deteriorate his production. The most startling facet of this is that it’s happening to young and inexperienced players. Peterson just wrapped up his third season, Forte his second. Turner is a little older than the two, but did not become a feature back until the 2008 season. As a Jets fan, I closely watched Thomas Jones and Shonn Greene split carries through the postseason. Jones, despite being a much more accomplished back than Greene, a rookie third-round draft pick, simply could not match the explosiveness shown by Greene, who entered the playoffs with only 108 NFL rushing attempts under his belt. The difference between Greene and Jones in the playoffs was night and day. So what does this mean for the NFL? It signifies the beginning of a real two-back system, where only

teams with two effective backs who can split carries basically right down the middle will be able to sustain rushing attacks with the same personnel for a number of years. We are already seeing some teams using this strategy, with no one better adept than the Dallas Cowboys. Dallas has one of the hardest running ball-carriers in the league in Marion Barber. But the Cowboys limited the back to 214 carries, allowing youngster Felix Jones to shoulder a hunk of the load. And when Dallas needed Barber during crunch time to help run out the clock and ice the game, how many times have we seen Barber come through? Even premier backs like Barber must be kept fresh to stay effective for years to come. Along with the Cowboys, New Orleans used backs such as Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush, Baltimore used Willis McGahee with Ray Rice, Miami supplemented Ronnie Brown with Ricky Williams before Brown was injured, and Carolina used the two-headed monster of DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart. What do all these teams have in common? They ﬁnished in the top seven in rushing in 2009. No human is meant to take hits as hard as running backs do, and when running backs are getting hit 25-30 times a game, with the type of athletes defenses throw out there today, they’re going to wear down rapidly. No matter how good a back is, he must be preserved throughout each game and each season to remain successful. It will soon only be two- and three-headed rushing attacks to ﬂourish in the NFL, not the workhorse. Can players like Adrian Peterson survive in the modern NFL? Tell Scott at kellogg2@wisc.edu.