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Student Judiciary rules in favor of AFTER members By Scott Girard The Daily Cardinal
UW-Madison Student Judiciary ruled Tuesday night in favor of the Associated Free Thinkers Ensuring Responsibility (AFTER), whose members were charged with the misuse of student segregated fees. Chief Justice Kathryn Fifield said the judiciary unanimously decided there was not enough evidence to prove any wrongdoing by AFTER group members. “No segregated fees had been spent so no rules had been broken,” Fifield said. Kyle VandenLangenberg, shared governance chair of Associated Students of Madison and a petitioner in the case, had argued the AFTER group, made up of student government members, intended to use the segregated fees to pay for a political
advertisement in The Badger Herald. Matthew Beemsterboer, ASM finance committee chair and one of the AFTER members charged in the case, said the accusers made unsubstantiated claims with no proof. “I think the strongest evidence in our favor was really that there was very little if no evidence to show that we actually have used segregated fees in this case,” Beemsterboer said. In the decision, Fifield said if the court had found evidence of AFTER using fees to pay for the advertisement, the members would have faced punishment. Fifield pointed out that while this did not happen, the judiciary did make a clear ruling on the illegality of using segregated fees for political purposes. AFTER page 4
Kathryn Weenig/the daily cardinal
State Rep. Brett Hulsey, D-Madison, opposed the state Assembly’s overturning of Milwaukee Co.’s paid sick leave ordinance.
Republicans push override of Milwaukee paid sick leave ordinance through Assembly A law voiding a Milwaukee ordinance, which requires large businesses to provide paid sick days, passed the state Assembly Tuesday with Gov. Scott Walker’s support before the it was able to take effect. Republicans argued the ordinance would hurt economic growth because it would cost businesses more money and create inconsistencies across the state, making compliance more difficult for organizations. “It would be difficult for job creators in Milwaukee if they were an island on this issue,” Walker said. “I think there’s grave concern from the mayor, from other civic and business leaders in that city that they not be in a position where it’s difficult to both retain and attract employers there.” Democrats argued Republicans are hurting the ability of local communities to make their own decisions
and are overriding the will of the people, while simultaneously hurting health care for workers in Milwaukee. “You either believe in local control or you don’t. You either believe in democracy or you don’t,” state Rep. Chris Danou, D-Trempealeau, said. “The people of that particular municipality spoke. They spoke. They made their decision. We’re going to second guess them now?” The ordinance originally passed in November 2008 with 69 percent of the vote, but has been held up in legal challenges, ending in a split vote from the state Supreme Court, as Justice Annette Ziegler recused herself. The split vote resulted in a default to the appellate court’s decision upholding the bill. The state Senate unanimously passed the bill while the Democrats were in Illinois. —Patrick Tricker
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Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Struttin’ your stuff
Grace Liu/the daily cardinal
In celebration of the 5th Annual Line Breaks Festival, First Wave, a student dance group on campus, performed at the Overture Center Tuesday night.
MIU awards $4 million in final round of grants to 19 departments The Madison Initiative for Undergraduates granted $4 million to 19 projects Tuesday in its third and final round of funding. The funding includes grants for faculty, student service and academic support projects. Provost Paul DeLuca Jr. said the MIU has made many differences in the academic life of students at UW-Madison. “The positions and programs funded by MIU have loosened bottlenecks in high demand classes and majors, while also addressing important student service needs,” DeLuca said in a statement. Greg Downey, director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication which received MIU funding, sent an e-mail to undergraduates praising MIU and thanking the students for their great work in the school. “These are tough and uncertain budget times at Wisconsin, but this MIU award demonstrates the university’s unwavering commitment to its responsibility to train the next generation of mass communication professionals—and audiences—for the globalizing world of always-new media that we are building together,” Downey said in the e-mail. The following departments received grants: • School of Journalism and Mass Comm.; • Department of Political Science;
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
School of Nursing, The Future of Care Project; Department of Philosophy; Department of French and Italian; Department of English; Teaching Academy, Madison Program for Teaching and Learning Excellence; Department of Communication Arts; Department of Mathematics; Department of Sociology; School of Education, Undergraduate Certificate in Education & Educational Studies, and, College of Engineering, Campus-Wide Engagement of Undergrads in Society’s Engineering Grand Challenges. School of Education, Campus-wide Shared Advisor Notes System; Department of Chemistry; School of Education, Design Lab, a digital composition center; Division of Student Life, Building BRIDGES Across Campus; Division of Student Life, McBurney Disability Resource Center Transition Services Program, and, Division of Enrollment Management, Common Scholarship Application. —Scott Girard
Walker lobbies for GOP Senators in Florida Gov. Scott Walker spent this past weekend campaigning in Florida for FrontlineWisconsin.com, a national online fundraising effort to support the Republican state senators up for recall. During his tour on Friday, Walker made an appearance at Newsmax headquarters, a conservative news company in West Palm Beach, Fla. In an interview with Newsmax.TV, Walker announced FrontlineWisconsin.com’s creation, a site where citizens from across the country can contribute up to $1,000 to support the eight Republican senators eligible for recall. The donations will help the eight senators get the “resources they need
to get their message out that they’re the ones protecting the middle class,” Walker said. The senators are not going to do it if they are outspent by the “big government union bosses from Washington,” Walker said. When asked about state unions’ assertion of the right to collectively bargain, Walker said “this is not about a right. Rights are something we get from the Constitution, inherently from God, our creator.” Scot Ross, executive director of One Wisconsin Now, a progressive advocacy group, described Walker’s actions as “abominable.” “It’s one thing to sell out the middle class of Wisconsin in order
to reward his corporate donors, but it’s a whole other thing to travel the country to raise even more corporate money,” Ross said. Mike McCabe, executive director of Wisconsin Democracy Campaign, a non-partisan watchdog group, said even though this is not the first time a governor has gone outside the state to raise campaign money, it still is an offensive practice. “He’s supposed to be governor of Wisconsin and these out-of-state donors aren’t his constituents and shouldn’t have influence over what government does here,” McCabe said in an e-mail. —Samy Moskol
“…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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I hear what you’re saying, I just don’t agree
Volume 120, Issue 123
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Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Cole Wenzel Advertising Manager Nick Bruno Senior Account Executive Taylor Grubbs Account Executives Alyssa Flemmer • Mara Greenwald Matt Jablon • Anna Jeon Dan Kaplan • Mitchell Keuer Becca Krumholz • Emily Rosenbaum Daniel Rothberg • Lizzie Stevenson Shinong Wang • Sun Yoon Web Director Eric Harris Public Relations Manager Becky Tucci Events Manager Bill Clifford Art Director Jaime Flynn Copywriters Dustin Bui • Bob Sixsmith The Daily Cardinal is a nonprofit organization run by its staff members and elected editors. It receives no funds from the university. Operating revenue is generated from advertising and subscription sales. The Daily Cardinal is published weekdays and distributed at the University of WisconsinMadison and its surrounding community with a circulation of 10,000. Capital Newspapers, Inc. is the Cardinal’s printer. The Daily Cardinal is printed on recycled paper. The Cardinal is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The Daily Cardinal are the sole property of the Cardinal and may not be reproduced without written permission of the editor in chief. The Daily Cardinal accepts advertising representing a wide range of views. This acceptance does not imply agreement with the views expressed. The Cardinal reserves the right to reject advertisements judged offensive based on imagery, wording or both. Complaints: News and editorial complaints should be presented to the editor in chief. Business and advertising complaints should be presented to the business manager. Letters Policy: Letters must be word processed and must include contact information. No anonymous letters will be printed. All letters to the editor will be printed at the discretion of The Daily Cardinal. Letters may be sent to opinion@ dailycardinal.com.
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Wednesday, April 13, 2011
An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892
thursDAY: rain
Kathleen Brosnan ’leen back
E
ver hear someone say a cheesy colloquialism and want to punch that person in the face? Yeah, me too. In high school, I heard way too many stupid “inspiring” quotes from coaches that it made me want to throw in the towel. Literally. Being a benchwarmer came with a territory, i.e. towels and water. What it comes down to is that most sayings just sound stupid or don’t make much sense. I’ve compiled a list of phrases that need the boot. “You’ll miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” OK, I get it, but sometimes you also miss the shots you do take, and usually those ones are super embarrassing. Like that time I played in a varsity basketball playoff game for only 30 seconds and still managed to shoot an air ball. The look on my coach’s face read, “You idiot, why the hell did you take that three pointer?” As a substitute came in for me, my nervous expression said in reply, “But coach, you said that we miss 100% of…” And his furrowed brow said back, “That didn’t apply
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to you, benchwarmer.” Or that time I shot the ball and got stuffed by a girl five inches taller than me. Not only did I get stuffed, but the ball ricocheted off her fat palm and clobbered me in the face. After needing to have plastic surgery to fix my broken nose, you can bet your ass I wish I had just bounce passed the stupid ball to someone else. “As we grow older, it’s not the things we did that we often regret, but the things we didn’t do.” I guess the sentiment of this quote is nice, but overall, it’s just not true. Exhibit A Any person anywhere who has ever thrown up in a bar probably regrets taking that shot and/or drink that put them over the edge. Exhibit B In “Dumb and Dumber,” Lloyd sure did regret trusting a “sweet old lady on a motorized cart” to watch his “essentials.” Paddleballs and pinwheels are hard to come by. Exhibit C After downing two churros at Six Flags, I really regretted giving into the peer pressure of my fellow seventh graders to go on Shockwave because it would be,
“Sooo much fun. Come on, Katha-leen, everybody is going!” Being almost 200 feet up in the air and puking = not fun. “Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” Prove it. “Everybody is busy.” This is a phrase I’ve heard before usually in response to me saying something along the lines of, “Uggg I’m feeling really overwhelmed and busy.” If whomever I’m talking to condescendingly replies with, “Everybody is busy,” I want to shout in their face, “Thanks for discounting my stress, you jerk.” “I don’t have time for this.” In contrast to the last quote, when people say they don’t have time for something, they usually do. Ways to save time: A) Don’t bring a crossword puzzle into the bathroom with you. That 25-minute dump can easily be cut down to 10. B) Don’t go on YouTube. Trust me, I know from experience. You simply want to look up a 16-second video of a panda sneezing, but two hours later you find yourself watching Norm MacDonald interviews on David Letterman. “Be a good listener, your ears will never get you in trouble.”
Never get me in trouble? Really? What about when I overheard my older cousin say the Easter Bunny wasn’t real? Or the time Sally, the kindergarten bully, called me a “bitch” for not letting her eat my Dunkaroos? Both bad days for my ears. “A penny saved is a penny earned.” Pennies are, more or less, obsolete. This quote needs to be updated. “You can sleep when you die.” First of all, that’s morbid. Second of all, what an assumption, buddy! How in the world do you know I can sleep when I die? What if when I get to heaven (fingers crossed), God says, “Okay folks, break is over. Get to work,” and he sends me to shovel snow for three years straight without rest? I can guarantee you I’d wish I had gotten all the sleep possible rather than staying out with you so I could be your wingman and watch you flirt with some dude. “Don’t take offense, but…” Pretty sure there is zero chance this one isn’t going to sting. “I don’t mean to be a bitch, but…” Actually, no, you most certainly do intend to be a bitch. Are there any sayings that drive you nuts? Please share them with Kathleen at kqbrosnan@wisc.edu.
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Wednesday, April 13, 2011
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Oshkosh Dep. Mayor King to face Hopper in recall
kathryn weenig/the daily cardinal
Professor Adeed Dawisha spoke about recent uprisings in the Arab world to fight for democratic governments. He said the history of military rule in Arab countries explains the current situations.
Miami University professor speaks about Arab democracy By Jessica Phan The Daily Cardinal
Professor Adeed Dawisha of Miami University of Ohio gave a lecture in Ingraham Hall Tuesday covering the issues of the Arab world in regards to the uprising of democracy. Dawisha explained how leaders of Arab countries are able to remain in power for long periods of time through coercion. His presentation explained “the winter of Arab discontent which turned into the year of Arab revolution,” as they tried to achieve democratic development. What happened during the French Revolution of 1789 is similar to what is going on in the Arab world today, Dawisha said. He added liberation and freedom are harder to achieve under government control. Still struggling to achieve its liberation, the Arab world is in
what Dawisha deemed a second awakening. In Egypt, as well as other Arab countries, leaders dismiss freedom as irrelevant, he said. “This is the first tragedy of the Arab awakening,” Dawisha said.
“The military is essentially an authoritarian institution.”
Adeed Dawisha professor miami university of ohio
The Arab world has been under colonial subjection for many years, which Dawisha cited as an antagonistic force when trying to achieve liberation and freedom.
According to Dawisha, the military ultimately diminishes democracy, as it is not concerned with protecting the liberty of its people, but rather public order and the political system. “The military is essentially an authoritarian institution,” Dawisha said. In regards to elections, Dawisha said ballot boxes are stuffed in an effort to silence opposition and allow the government to pursue its own interests. The election process is so rapid that private interests are the only ones served, he said. Dawisha ended the lecture on an optimistic note, explaining the struggle for democracy is filled with more hope today than it has been in the past. “It is now the people who will become the architects of their future,” Dawisha said.
Plans approved for first pedicycle company in Madison By Maggie DeGroot The Daily Cardinal
A company wanting to provide pedicycles in Madison moved smoothly through the first step in the city process when the Transit and Parking Commission unanimously approved of the plans to issue the company an operating license Tuesday. Capitol Pedaler would provide pedicycles in the city of Madison if given an operating license. The pedicycle is five feet wide by 17 and a half feet long by nine and a half feet high. The pedicycle used is a bicycle powered by 16 people. Pedicycles will be used for reserved group outings where the users are traveling a designated route for a specific timeframe. Pedicycles can go five miles per hour, Linda Besser, owner of Capitol
Pedaler, said. According to her, the pedicyle would follow the rules of the road. The pedicycle can hold up to 15 passengers and the minimum number necessary to move the vehicle is six to eight people. Passengers would have the option to wear a helmet, Capitol Pedicycle’s Lourdes Fernandez said. City transportation operations analyst Keith Pollock said there was a thorough review of the application and it has been through the many city departments, including the mayor’s office. The pedicycle might cause a minor nuisance to buses, but nothing more than what Madison Metro has already encountered, Pollock said. Madison’s traffic engineering division recommends the operating licenses for Capitol Pedalers be
City committee continues to rework tentative drafts of aldermanic districts Madison’s Redistricting Ad Hoc Committee continued to work through various tentative aldermanic maps for the city Tuesday. City planner Brian Grady presented eight drafts of possible aldermanic maps to the committee. Members worked through advantages and disadvantages of the tentative plans. Committee members looked primarily at the amount of minority participation, neighborhood associations and, to an extent, the income of residents in the districts. One of the primary concerns involved District 8, which would
absorb a large chunk of what now lies in District 5 in each draft. District 8 would then absorb Eagle Heights area and the surrounding area near that portion of University Avenue. This would cause a drop from 38.8 percent to 12 percent in the amount of minority participation for District 5, Ald. Shiva Bidar-Sielaff, District 5, said. “By segregating all students into District 8, I think that is the wrong way to balance the district,” BidarSielaff said. Bidar-Sielaff said she would like redistricting page 4
issued and the resolution approved, Pollock said. Besser said the company wants to provide group-friendly entertainment in Madison. Passengers or drivers would not be allowed to consume alcohol while in the pedicycle. “We want to be fun and enjoyable without the boisterous drunken kind of behavior that tends to accompany people on State Street,” Besser said. Committee member Jay Ferm said he was worried about whether the vehicles would be difficult to maneuver with the sometimes dense Madison traffic. Besser said when the pedicycles have been taken out onto the streets of Madison, they would slow down, pull over and let traffic go around. “We’re looking forward to bringing it to Madison,” Fernandez said.
Oshkosh Deputy Mayor Jessica King will challenge state Sen. Randy Hopper, R-Fond du Lac, in his impending recall election this summer. According to Fond du Lac County Democratic Chair Rich Mantz, King will make her announcement Wednesday at noon. In 2008, King lost to Hopper by less than 200 votes, and the recall campaign against Hopper has already submitted the requisite KING signatures to the Government Accountability Board. “I think Jessica King would be a fantastic candidate,” state Senate Democratic Committee Executive Director Kory Kozloski said. “I think she’s done a lot for the community she has been serving up there for the last few years.” Kozloski said Hopper’s constituents are frustrated with his vote for the budget repair law and that he “forgot who he’s supposed to be fighting for.” In addition to his vote for the
controversial collective bargaining law, Hopper has also recently been accused of living outside the district with his 26-year-old mistress while he and his wife are separated. Hopper’s campaign was not available for comment. With petitions against Hopper and state Sen. Dan Kapanke, R-LaCrosse, already filed with the GAB, Kozloski said the campaign against Joint Finance Committee Co-Chair and state Senator Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, is gaining ground. “We have HOPPER every reason to believe that we will be able to get her on a ballot as well,” Kozloski said. On the Democratic side, organizers in Green Bay say they are making headway on the petition against state Sen. David Hansen, D-Green Bay, who fled the state along with the other 13 Democratic senators. —Ariel Shapiro
Waukesha County Clerk, Kathy Nickolaus, asked to step down, refuses to do so The Waukesha County Democratic Party asked for Waukesha County Clerk Kathy Nickolaus to resign Tuesday due to her handling of the Supreme Court election results last week, a request Nickolaus refused. “What has happened as a result of this debacle is that confidence in the outcome of the entire spring election has been severely diminished,” WCDP Chair Victor Weers said in a statement. “We have become the focal point of
all people’s fears about their votes being accurately counted.” However, Nickolaus, who has apologized for the “error” that caused the voting confusion, said despite people’s concerns, she will serve the rest of her term. “Again, I am sorry for my mistake,” Nickolaus said in a statement. “I have immediately begun the process of reviewing my procedures. I will use the remainder of my term to restore the voters’ confidence in me.”
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AFTER from page 1 “The court did want to emphasize that the use of segregated fees in campaigning or advertising in elections is not appropriate,” Fifield said. “It’s more important to be a protector of the appropriate use of segregated fees than it is to simply punish a bunch of people.” Kyle VandenLangenberg shared governance chair associated students of madison Kathryn Weenig/the daily cardinal
Committee members were presented eight variations of drafts for the new city districts. They will continue to narrow down the options.
redistricting from page 3 to see Eagle Heights and Regent Neighborhood Associations back in District 5. The Regent Neighborhood Association was moved to District 10 under the current version of the map. “Those two added would balance the number District 5 needs,” Bidar-Sielaff said. However, Bidar-Sielaff, added
that would create the need for more balance for District 8. Ald. Satya Rhodes-Conway, District 15, said instead of completely disregarding the maps, the committee members could take parts out that they like in order to help create a new map. The committee will meet again to narrow down the options and discuss issues April 27. —Maggie DeGroot
VandenLangenberg said even though the decision did not punish the defendants, his goal in filing the case was met because of that clarification by the judiciary. “It’s more important to be a protector of the appropriate use of segregated fees than it is to simply punish a bunch of people,” VandenLangenberg said. “What we really did here is we protected people from abusing segregated fees.”
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science & technology Nuclear power plants: The future of energy
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Wednesday, April 13, 2011
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Why the United States should seriously consider this alternative energy source, in spite of the Japanese crisis
Matthew Kleist science columnist
F
ossil fuels have been the lifeblood of the energy industry since its infancy. But in this day and age, fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas are simply not good enough to meet global energy demands while complying with the growing demand for a more environmentally safe means of production. The American political system, as a whole, has long advocated for alternative energy production. In response, the U.S. government has funded the development of wind, solar and hydro electric generators. While these seemingly new ventures into alternative energy sources have cut into the dependence on fossils fuels, they are not enough. The reason for this may be that these energy sources are not new at all. What the world needs is something truly new for our advanced global society. That new alternative power source is nuclear power.
The American political system as a whole has long advocaed for alternative energy production.
However, with the recent earthquakes and tsunami in Japan, and the so-called nuclear crisis unfolding at the Fukushima nuclear power plant, anti-nuclear sentiment is once again racing across America. The amount of radiation that leaked from the Fukushima nuclear power plant was not even enough to cause significant
short- or long-term health problems. The worst case of radiation reported from the leak was found in a worker from the plant. This worker received twice the limit allowed by law for an American nuclear plant worker in one year.
What the world needs is something truely new for our advanced global society.
Now, that may seem like a lot, but it really isn’t. At this level of radiation, the worst short term health effect is a decrease in white blood cells. This drop-off is no more than one sees when they fall ill with the common cold. The worst long-term effect is a 0.5 percent increase in the chance of cancer. Considering that today the average American has a 40 percent chance of being diagnosed with cancer, this amount is insignificant. The U.S. currently has 104 nuclear plants in operation, and two of them—the Kewaunee plant and the Point Beach plant—are in UW-Madison’s backyard. These two plants have three reactors between them and are separatd by only a few miles. So what should America do with regards to its energy demands? Repeal all legislation that limits nuclear research and development. Nuclear power is the answer to the energy crisis of today’s world, and all anti-nuclear power laws only hinder the U.S. and puts us farther behind the rest of the world. What really hurts America is not being able to build any new generation IV reactors. To put things into prospective, the Point
Photo courtsey sierra club
The nuclear power plant in Kewaunee. This reactor would recieve an upgrade with new nuclear policies. Beach and Kewaunee plants both use generation II reactors. If legislation barring any new reactors from being built was lifted, the U.S. would benefit greatly. We would gain even more if we were to build thorium high-temperature reactors and light water breeder reactors. The advantages of these reactors are that they utilize thorium. Thorium reactors have the unique benefit that they produced less radioactive waste compared to other nuclear reactors. Thorium itself is not fissile, meaning it cannot produce energy alone. What it is capable of doing is absorbing slow-moving neutrons to breed uranium-233, which is fissile and has a half life much longer than the more commonly used uranium-235. Once the uranium-233 is irradiated, or burnt up, the reactor can be
unloaded and any excess thorium can be fed back into the reactor and reused. Thorium-232 is also more abundant than uranium-235 in the Earth and nearly all of the mined thorium can be used in a reactor compared to uranium, which only 0.7 percent is usable.
If legislation barring any new reactors from being built was lifted, the United States would benefit greatly.
Another distinct advantage is a reactor that utilizes thorium can be set up in a way that would
make it more efficient than any current or near future reactor that uses uranium. Theoretically, a thorium reactor could produce 40 times the amount of energy per unit mass than uranium-235. The use of thorium-232 is the future of nuclear power and energy generation in general. It produces less waste, is more abundant, more efficient and can be reused multiple times. The answer is right in front of our eyes, but there is a wall between use and thorium’s potential, and that wall is the America’s current legislation regarding nuclear power. For more information about nuclear power in the Madison area visit the Enineering Physics Department’s website at: http://reactor.engr.wisc.edu.
Ask Mr. Scientist: The truth about o-chem and the mysteries of solar sails By Michael Leitch THE DAILY CARDINAL
Dear Mr. Scientist: In chemistry labs we’re never allowed to wear contacts. My TA says that chemical fumes could cause contact lenses to fuse to your eyes. Are there actually chemicals that can do this? –Carrie D.
Photo coursey nasa
A solar sail in orbit pushed by particles of light called photons.
Not really, but if your TA says no contacts allowed in lab, don’t wear contacts in lab. Back in the day contacts were made of a different material and it was thought that the lenses would absorb chemicals and hold them against the eye. Nowadays contacts are made of hydrophilic (water-loving) polymers with absorption characteristics similar to the cornea so anything a contact absorbs, the cornea will also absorb. Also, any chemical capable of fusing your contacts to your eyes would also severely damage a naked eye. That aside, always wear goggles in the lab!
Dear Mr. Scientist: If it’s true that hot air rises, how come mountain peaks are so cold but places like Death Valley so hot? –Sarah K. Places of low elevation have a lot of air above them which increases the air pressure, and as pressure increases, so does the temperature. On mountain tops there is less air overhead so the pressure is lower and, in turn, so is the temperature. Another explanation is that at higher elevation, the air is less dense. Since the air is less dense there are fewer air molecules to collide, which is how heat is transfered. Therefore, the temperature will be lower. With regards to the notion of hot air rising and colder air falling, this is only true when the air pressure is the same for both places of interest. This of course isn’t true when comparing the summit of a mountain like Everest with Death Valley.
Dear Mr. Scientist: How do photons push a solar sail forward if photons don’t any mass? –James F. For those unfamiliar with solar sails, they’re like a stellar sailboat using energy from the sun instead of rockets to move. While photons (particles of light) are massless, to move an object all you need is a little bit of momentum. Looking at the classical equation for momentum p=mv (momentum equals mass times volume) it seems like a particle without mass shouldn’t have any momentum, but these photons are traveling at the speed of light so that equation goes out the window. In the massless case of the photon, the momentum is defined as p=E/c where “c” is the speed of light and “E” is energy. This explains how a massless photon generates enough energy to move the solar sail. To send your questions to Mr. Scientist feel free to email Michael at mleitch@wisc.edu.
arts Krauss back with high-flying ‘Airplane’ 6
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dailycardinal.com/arts
By Abbie Kriebs
Awake,” this person is restless but without reason. She is in It’s a name that your parents heaven—shouldn’t life be perfect? are probably more familiar with, Yet the voice still has one foot in but one that our younger gen- the real world, looking at what eration shouldn’t just shove aside: feels like an eternity without the The commercially and artistically one she loves. Next is “My Love Follows You successful Alison Krauss. Whether recording solo or with her band, Where You Go,” and the title Union Station, Krauss is the god- really says it all. My second favordess of modern bluegrass music ite on the album next to “Paper (not an oxymoron, I promise). Airplane,” this one is about letShe has the distinction of being ting go while continuing to love the singer who has won the most someone who leaves. The lyrics Grammy awards of any artist, suggest this person is a child: and she owes three of those (and “Future like a promise / You’re a her subsequent hop over Aretha city of gold . . . Seeing you stand Franklin for the honor) to the there / Staring at the unknown / collaborative album with Robert I won’t pretend that it’s not killPlant, Raising Sand, which took ing me / Watching you walk away home Album of the Year among slow.” As sad as the lyrics sound, a more upbeat tempo and a heavier others in 2007. Her follow-up, Paper Airplane, drum balance the melancholy feel is no disappointment. Working with a celebratory one, making again with Union Station, Krauss it a gorgeous number that is sure to bring tears to delivers her sigCD REVIEW any mother’s eyes nature silky vocals if played at her accompanied by child’s graduation soulful strings. or wedding (hint). The tracks range In “Dimming in style from liltof the Day,” the ing and beautibackground music ful like her 2001 shifts to a solsingle “The Lucky Paper Airplane emn tone and One,” to haunting like her duet Alison Krauss and Union the beat becomes Station dimmer, givwith Brad Paisley on “Whiskey Lullaby” (the 2005 ing its title physical significance. CMA Song of the Year). Three It discusses long distances and tracks don’t feature Krauss’s vocals how lives become intertwined in at all, relying only on the tal- a relationship and then have to ents of Union Station. Highly tear apart once that relationship reminiscent of music found on crumbles. It’s sad, but Krauss pulls the “O Brother Where Art Thou?” it off without becoming too sappy. soundtrack, these tracks (“Dust “Sinking Stone” is yet another new Bowl Children,” “On the Outside voice and talks about breaking free Looking In” and “Bonita and Bill from a relationship that is going Butler”) are true to bluegrass, but nowhere, about getting out before are less likely to end up on my the drowning commences. “Miles to Go” is a commeniPod. Without Krauss’s recognizable notes, they fail to retain her tary about life and the distances it takes you, but says it in a cross-genre appeal. light, pleasant medium. Its lilting vocals give it a gypsy-like effect: “Another memory is another slamming door . . . petals start Working again with Union Station, Krauss delivers her sig- to fade / Near the picket fence nature silky vocals accompanied just another shade / Of miles to go.” Someday, it will make by soulful strings. great background music for a movie scene in which a girl drives down a highway in a car at dusk. Stereotypical? Yes. Still a great The tracks that do feature her song? Of course. The final track, “My Opening angelic voice make the album more than worth a listen. The title Farewell,” showcases how time track, “Paper Airplane,” opens passes while you aren’t looking and the album with uncharacteristic how it’s so hard to leave a relationsweeping gusto in Krauss’ voice, ship when you truly care about the showcasing her range and vocal other person: Krauss sings, “We’ll prowess right away. Topically, it’s soon be gone / ‘Tis just as well / odd to begin an album with, talk- This is my opening farewell.” The ing about a love that is ending: lyrics are poignant, the topic a “Almost over now / Our love is difficult one and Krauss’ vocals like a paper airplane / Flying in still shine, but is there a greater the folding wind / Riding high, significance to the words? Could dipping low.” Subject matter this album be the beginning of the end of Krauss’s collaboration with aside, it’s beautiful. Similarly, “Lie Awake” is a song Union Station? Or of her nearly with haunting opening chords 30-year music career? Is this Alison Krauss’ “opening more recognizable as Krauss’ signature. Never hesitating to sing farewell”? I hope not. I always look forabout real issues (like the gambling addiction in “The Lucky ward to seeing new music from One” and suicide in “Whiskey Krauss and Union Station, not Lullaby”), the lyrics reveal some- because I know it will be ground one on the verge of depression. breaking or innovative, but It’s a look at stagnation, someone because I know it will always be with no reason to go on, just the a wonderful showcase of all the best of the bluegrass world: Great knowledge that one should. “Lay My Burden Down” musicians, well-written lyrics and features a point of view that the signature heavenly vocals that seems to be from beyond the make Krauss the bluegrass godgrave. Echoing the voice in “Lie dess of the last three decades.
The daily cardinal
photo courtesy Rounder records
On her new album Paper Airplane, Allison Krauss creates vocal magic, staying truthful to her bluegrass roots. Her lyrical legacy lives on in the 12th album, but does it foreshadow musical changes in Krauss’ future?
Be sure to check in later this week for coverage of Record Store Day, coming up this Saturday. The Daily Cardinal staff will share the releases they are most excited about, as well as the ones they are dreading
Also look for a slew of interviews on the plate for the rest of this week and next week, including the Whiskey Farm, Ezra Furman and the Harpoons and Zion I. All of these performers will be rolling through Madison in the next two weeks.
arts
dailycardinal.com/arts
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
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Dim Light flickers on TV on the Radio’s latest album By Jeremy Gartzke
loud—the dynamics are very important and contribute to the overall emoTV on the Radio has evolved leaps tional feeling of the album. and bounds in the last 10 years, from a Dear Science may have had more duo self-releasing long, dirty-sounding get-up-and-go to it, but listening to jams to a conglomeration of artists “Killer Crane,” I can’t say I missed the releasing critically acclaimed albums. speed, even as this slow jam clocks in Following four albums—three studio at 6:16. Maybe I’m just growing up a and one self-released—Nine Types of little, and my attention span is finally Light is a record that draws on the longer than 30 seconds, but I think influences of jazz, hip-hop and rock, it has more to do with the fantastic among other things. layering on this track. The album opens with “Second “New Cannonball Run” kind of Song,” a cut that surprised me, with CD REVIEW starts with minimal a blues-esque vocal instrumentation and and great syncopavocals, new territory tion over an awesome for TV on the Radio. beat, this is probably When the drums and the most interesting guitar cut in after song on the album. three-quarters of that The vocals and beat critical first minute, are the focus of this Nine Types of Light the record’s already song, and rightly so, TV on the Radio got you hooked and as both are amazing. the chorus that starts at halfway through This album is a bit of a grab-bag the second minute is more than infec- and not quite as solid as I think tious enough to hold your attention. it should be by now. Luckily, the When the first song ends the band second half performs much better thrusts you “Keep Your Heart.” The than the first. The superb mixing drums at the start make this song feel makes it worth at least one spin, quick, and the guitar is interesting and there are some tracks that enough to get your attention, but until make it worth a second listen. The the chorus comes in at a minute and a things Nine Types of Light does well, half there’s nothing to really keep you it does really well—but there’s no listening. If you can make it through deal breaker on this record. that first chorus though, the song gets exponentially more interesting, with the addition of another keyboard line and a more present bass sound. This is a theme with TV on the Radio, even on some of their early releases. The songs might be intriguing and different, but sometimes they seem to drag on. When TV on the Radio picks up the tempo and features the guitar a little more, even their long songs end up catchier. The first song where they give us a taste of this in the new album is “No Future Shock,” which features a faster beat and a lot of keyboard, but the guitar is present on the right side of the mix. The lyrics aren’t especially complex, but the vocal line is interesting, especially the bridge, which also throws in a little dirty bass for good measure. The mixing on Nine Types of Light is superb, even with my headphones on, I still felt like I was in a concert hall watching these guys live. The directionality of the music is nearly perfect, highlighting and accenting the other parts much better than on most records I have heard recently. This is not a record that is mixed to sound
the daily cardinal
photo courtesy interscope records
TV on the Radio’s latest album, Nine Types of Light, brings together blues and jazz with classic hip-hop beats in an altogether hit-or-miss collection of tracks, disappointing after their last release, Dear Science.
opinion
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view Cardinal View editorials represent The Daily Cardinal’s organizational opinion. Each editorial is crafted independent of news coverage.
seg fee abuse is cause for resignation
I
n many cases, the Associated Students of Madison is the target of undue criticism, even from us. But there’s no doubt the recent actions of a few high-profile ASM members warrant a critical eye. Despite last night’s student judiciary ruling in favor of the Associated Free Thinkers Ensuring Responsibility, a registered student organization headed by prominent figures in the ASM community, the recent controversies surrounding the group give cause for concern. When AFTER ran ads in The Badger Herald urging the student body to vote against a spring election referendum, its leaders knew they couldn’t use student segregated fees to pay for the transaction— a move that undoubtably requires heavy restitution. AFTER’s primary contact person, Matt Beemsterboer, was repeatedly called to defend the group’s exploits during a student judiciary hearing Sunday. Aside from creating the ad and purchasing a spot in the Herald, Beemsterboer also chairs the Finance Committee that awards operations grant money to student organizations like AFTER. While Beemsterboer denied the group intended to pay for the ads with segregated fees, he never specified where the money would have come from otherwise. When asked why the ad included the ASM logo and disclaimer—which typically indicate it is being paid for through segregated fee funding—Beemsterboer said he wanted interested students to contact the group through ASM. To anyone who has attempted to navigate ASM’s dysfunctional website, his response hardly holds water. Just one day after a former ASM student council representative filed a complaint against the group, AFTER was scheduled to present its 2011-’12 operations grant request to the Finance Committee. Curiously, the group chose not to present the request, which indicated AFTER had spent all $4,056 of its current budget, including money
designated for advertising in the Herald. During the student judiciary hearing, however, Beemsterboer told the panel the group hadn’t spent any money at all. We know members of ASM hatch shady backroom plans all the time. The fact that former ASM chair Kurt Gosselin made the trip back to Madison to defend his AFTER friends is a statement in itself. And we also realize AFTER is not the first group of individuals who attempted to abuse segregated fees. Carl Fergus, a member of AFTER, accused last spring’s political slate Madison People Organizing for Wisconsin Education Rights of also abusing segregated fees for campaign purposes in a recent blog post. Unfortunately, identifying one group’s misconduct doesn’t excuse your own. But to say the very least, AFTER’s leaders know better. Its members are more familiar with ASM rules and regulations than anyone on campus, and it’s obvious to us they tried to beat a system they helped create. When it comes to segregated fees, ASM needs to hold groups like AFTER more accountable. As leaders in student government, AFTER’s members were supposed to protect our dollars, not take advantage of them for more power on the ballot. Regardless of the judiciary’s ruling, overwhelming evidence against AFTER calls for someone to take responsibility. Either Beemsterboer lied to the judiciary when he claimed AFTER hasn’t spent any of its funds, or he lied on AFTER’s operations grant application that his Finance Committee is responsible for managing. Before he graduates, Beemsterboer should step down from his role as Finance Committee chair. We can’t have leaders in student government who exploit student money for political power. It would be a symbolic step in the right direction, and hopefully it would deter individuals from devious plots in the future.
Editorial Cartoon
By Anurag Mandalika opinion@dailycardinal.com
opinion dailycardinal.com/opinion
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Two-party system silences third voice miles kellerman opinion columnist
A
s the clock ticked toward midnight and the federal government narrowly avoided a government shutdown Friday night, both Democrats and Republicans boasted their accomplishments and claimed legislative victory. In addition, political pundits and talking heads have attempted to analyze backroom deals and negotiations, trying to decipher the exact source of our two parties’ irreconcilable differences in regards to the federal budget. But in reality, there is no winner. When our paid representatives come within an hour of being unable to pay 800,000 workers or offer government services, everyone loses. And unfortunately this inability to cooperate has become all too common. As each party becomes more polarized, our federal government becomes more inefficient and increasingly counter-productive. It’s as if Major League Baseball was reduced to just the Red Sox and the Yankees: With every game the hatred grows deeper. But more importantly, the fans are sick of watching. A 2010 Gallup Poll revealed that 58 percent of Americans feel that a third major political party is needed, and when broken down by political ideology, the percentage varies only marginally. Yet the common misconception that the United States was designed to accommodate a two-party system continues to rear its head. We tend to forget that political parties didn’t exist in their modern form during the formation of the constitution, and that James Madison and George Washington argued vehemently against the formation of “factions” that might serve as a source of corruption and minority rule. We also tend to forget third parties played a significant role in previous elections—former Wisconsin Gov. Robert La Follette, for example, carried Wisconsin and 17 percent of the popular vote in 1924 as the Progressive Party candidate in the presidential race. So why do we only have two major political parties in the U.S. today? Many attribute it to our “winner-take-all” electoral system, in which the first candidate to get more than 50 percent of the vote wins the election. But in an article for the Washington Post, UC-Berkeley Professor Pradeep Chhibber and Michigan Professor Ken Kollman argue that instead of focusing on electoral rules of the constitution, the real culprit is the centralization of the federal government since the 1920s. Most specifically, according to the professors, the creation of a national income tax and Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal. The idea is actually pretty simple—political efforts and financial support naturally gravitate toward sources of power. When the government becomes more centralized, and federal power grows at the expense of states, the efforts and finances of major political parties are better spent at the national level. In the pre-New Deal era, when the government was far more decentral-
ized and states wielded significantly more political power, various parties had more of an incentive to focus on regional and state interests and voters were more motivated to care about who represented them at state and local levels. Upon further research I found countries that granted more power and independence to states, like Spain, Great Britain and Italy, have a greater number of active political parties. Additionally, according to political science professor Mark Franklin’s 2001 study on Controversies in Voting Behavior, voter turnout in parliamentary and legislative elections from 1960-1995 were 90 percent in Italy, 76 percent in the United Kingdom and 73 percent in Spain. The United States came in at a dismal 48 percent. Is it possible that the increasing centralization of power in the hands of the federal government is to blame for our lack of third parties, and perhaps even our declining voter turnout at state and local elections? Perhaps the best way to conceptualize the theory is to think of political parties not as ideological factions, but rather as competing businesses. This is actually a pretty realistic interpretation, as parties are in no way addressed in the constitution, but rather work as independent entities that operate within the law. In this sense, the Republicans and Democrats have a pseudo-monopoly on government, and any attempt to create a third party of any relevance is much like a local business competing against Walmart. The established dominance of the two major corporations feed off the continual flow of political power to the federal level, and unlike a normal business, the Republicans and Democrats have the power to pass legislation to increase that flow. Thus, the nature of American government, specifically the centralization of federal power, discourages the creation of third parties. However, this doesn’t necessarily suggest more power should be deregulated and granted to states. Rather, it’s simply recognizing a possible correlation between the distribution of government power and the creation of political parties. It also doesn’t imply that more political parties would make our government run more efficiently. In fact, it seems counter-intuitive to think that an American political system with five or six competing parties could agree upon a federal budget more quickly than two can. But what it does suggest, albeit very theoretically, is that if power was decentralized to the states the concentration of political effort and finance would decentralize accordingly. People react to incentives, and if the structure of our political system made the creation of third parties a realistic investment, then we would have more than just Democrats and Republicans. More parties would undoubtedly provide far more opportunity for localized representation and a wider range of legislative perspective. If decentralization can make that more possible, then perhaps it’s a theory worth considering. Miles Kellerman is a sophomore majoring in political science. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
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In my day we were fat, and we liked it: Diet Coke was only invented in 1982. dailycardinal.com/comics
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Today’s Sudoku
Getting all the reading done for discussion
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.
The Pipesmokers
By Joseph Diedrich jsdiedrich@wisc.edu
Today’s Crossword Puzzle
Wizard Buddies
By The Graphic Editors graphics@dailycardinal.com
First in Twenty Classic
By Angel Lee alee23@wisc.edu
Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com Contain yourself
ACROSS 1 Writer Joyce Carol ___ 6 Falling-out 10 Frenzied way to run? 14 Play the coquette 15 Length x width 16 Rogers once married to Tom Cruise 17 Fancy dinner dip? 19 Paradise of Genesis 20 ___ out a living 21 April forecast 22 Enticing 24 Cardinal, e.g. 26 When repeated, a vitamin B deficiency 27 Tavern serving 28 Ventilated storage structure for grain 32 Southern California baseballer 35 Letter-shaped cross 36 Steam bath 37 Apple orchard spray, once 38 Bucolic hotel 39 Untidy one 40 One getting one-onone instruction 42 Interject 43 Screenplay part 44 Youngsters 46 Word on an Uncle Sam poster
7 One of the continents 4 48 Offender 52 Reading material in hotel rooms 55 Wrap-around dress of India 56 California’s Santa ___ River 57 Spheroid coif 58 Causes of rough coughing 61 Strong ___ ox 62 Cousin’s mom 63 Feedback 64 Vocal piece 65 Permits 66 Giggling sound DOWN 1 Good news for a job applicant 2 Similar 3 With prongs 4 Joule fraction 5 Without germs 6 Zealous, as a supporter 7 Strike while the ___ is hot 8 Handful 9 More likely to stand in the back of photos 10 Yachtsman’s triumph 11 Calf-length skirt 12 Sign of things to come 13 “I Have a Dream”
speechmaker 8 Very uncommon 1 23 Decorative vases 25 Move rapidly 26 Progress by springs 28 Halloween haul 29 Take to the throne 30 Get ___ the ground floor 31 Yankee legend Ruth 32 ___ down (frisks) 33 ‘03 class member, now 34 Spreadsheet material 35 Sparkling headwear 41 “All ___ being equal ...” 43 Earnestly request 45 Financial 46 Mongols’ tent 48 Playbill listings 49 Richie and Potsie’s pal 50 ___ time (eventually) 51 One of the senses 52 Sheepish sounds 53 “Assuming that’s true ...” 54 Muffin type 55 ___ packing (dismissed) 59 Shade 60 ___ in a million
Washington and the Bear
By Derek Sandberg kalarooka@gmail.com
sports
dailycardinal.com/sports
softball from page 12 In addition to instilling an attitude of always playing hard, head coach Yvette Healy has emphasized the need for the players to quickly transition from the classroom mentality to the athletic mindset when playing mid-week home games. It is anyone’s guess as to which Wisconsin pitcher will step up Wednesday, as the team has had solid contributions from everyone on the staff all season. This past weekend, freshman pitcher Amanda Najdek starred, keeping the Badgers in their eventual comeback victory over Northwestern by only allowing two runs in five and two-thirds innings of relief. Sophomore pitcher Meghan McIntosh was also impressive in relief over the weekend, pitching four and one-third innings of shutout softball in relief of Najdek in the second game of the Northwestern twinbill. Unfortunately, McIntosh was not rewarded with a victory, as the Badgers’ offense was unable to provide her with any run support. South Dakota State is not an
opponent that strikes fear into the hearts of the Badger players, but the team knows it still has to play hard no matter who the opponent is. “We just want to come out and
play our best ball. Play well and improve every game,” Peace said. The first pitch of the doubleheader against the Jackrabbits is scheduled for 4 p.m. at Goodman Diamond.
Lorenzo Zemella/Cardinal file photo
Stephanie Peace, currently on a four game hitting streak, will look to stay hot at the plate against a sub-par Jackrabbits pitching staff.
Eleven former Badgers set to compete in NHL playoffs
PAVELSKI
The Wisconsin men’s hockey team will have 11 former players in the NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, which begin Wednesday night, the most among any NCAA men’s hockey program. The Badgers that will be skating for a chance to hoist Lord Stanley’s Cup are: Joe Pavelski and Dany Heatley (San Jose Sharks), 2010 Hobey Baker Award winner Blake Geoffrion and Ryan Suter (Nashville Predators), Derek Stepan and Ryan McDonagh (New York Rangers), Brian Rafalski (Detroit Red Wings), Kyle Turris (Phoenix Coyotes), Brad Winchester (Anaheim Ducks), Jake Dowell (Chicago Blackhawks) and Davis Drewiske (Los Angeles Kings).
GEOFFRION
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
manny from page 12 Not to beat a dead horse, but a few months after saying he was “up,” he used the erectile disfunction excuse to explain away a positive test. You can’t make this up. Anyway, the Dodgers signed him for two years and $45 million— enough to get anyone up—and that was the beginning of the end. If anybody since 1993 had the game to get away with being eccentric, sporadically engaged in the game and driven by money, though, it was ManRam. The dude went nine seasons between 1998 and 2006 where he never hit fewer than 32 home runs, or drove in fewer than 102 runs. That includes slash lines of .333/44 HRs/165 RBI in 1999, .351/38/122 in 2000 (despite missing 45 games) and .292/45/144 in 2005. Of course, the question is whether any of that matters now that he’s tested positive for PEDs three times and—most people will presume— he’s been juicing his whole career. Do his numbers count? Does he deserve to be in the Hall of Fame? My answer is as imperfect as any, but I don’t really see a problem with letting him in the Hall. Put an asterisk next to his numbers, add the number of positive tests to his plaque in Cooperstown, do whatever. But let him and the rest of the steroids-era players in if their numbers warrant it. The Hall of Fame is baseball’s historical database. I know about the disgusting numbers Babe Ruth put up, I know Reggie Jackson couldn’t be stopped in the clutch and I know about Nolan Ryan’s strikeout rates, but I don’t have a full appreciation for
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their achievements because I never saw any of them play. I’ve watched Manny play, and to call him a hitting machine is a compliment to machines. Same goes for Barry Bonds. Roger Clemons scared the shit out of hitters—even the ones who were also on steroids. The Hall preserves careers so future generations that never witnessed them in person can appreciate them for what they were. I don’t see how this will be any different.
Do whatever. But let [Manny] and the rest of the steroids era in if their numbers warrant it.
Manny is a career .312 hitter. He has 547 dingers to his name. By our standards, those are Hall of Fame numbers. We know the stories about Ruth being a bit of a booze hound and a womanizer just like future baseball fans will know Bonds is a pompous ass. The integrity of the game will survive if Major League Baseball lets them in. It may even give the league a chance to control the message. All of this is not to mention the fact that we live in the 21st century, where everything is archived on the Internet. Speaking of that, check out the “This is Sportscenter” commercial featuring Manny and Jay Harris. You’ll want him in Cooperstown, too. Do players from baseball’s steroid era like Manny Ramirez deserve a place in Cooperstown? E-mail Parker at pjgabriel@dailycardinal.com.
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12 Wednesday, April 13, 2011
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Despite his drug use, Manny deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame
Softball
Parker Gabriel
parks and rec
I Matt Marheine/Cardinal file photo
Lorenzo zemella/cardinal file photo
Amanda Najdek (left) and Whitney Massey (right) will try to help Wisconsin close out its homestand with two wins as they take on South Dakota State in a doubleheader Wednesday afternoon.
UW concludes homestand against South Dakota St. By Adam Tupitza The Daily Cardinal
The Wisconsin softball team will look to close a seven game homestand Wednesday on a positive note with an afternoon doubleheader against South Dakota State at Goodman Diamond. The Badgers have won three of five games in the homestand so far, including an impressive comeback victory over Northwestern last Saturday. Wisconsin faced a 6-0 deficit in the second inning of that game but rallied for a 9-8 victory. That win is tied for the largest comeback victory in Badger softball history. Wisconsin (2-4 Big Ten, 20-15
overall) has not been daunted by deficits this season. In fact, 11 of the Badgers’ 20 victories this season have been comeback wins, a statistic that freshman left fielder Stephanie Peace said reflects the team’s “never quit” mentality. “We have a lot of heart,” Peace said,” We believe in ourselves as a team and we have the potential to come back and play great ballgames.” Peace has been successful at the plate recently, and hit a 3-run homer last week against North Dakota. She is currently on a four-game hitting streak, and will look to keep that going against a Jackrabbit pitching staff that has struggled this season,
posting a 5.46 team ERA. South Dakota State has been the complete opposite of the Badgers when it comes to comebacks, sporting a dismal 1-17 record when trailing after two innings. Still, sophomore infielder Whitney Massey said Wisconsin is committed to playing its best softball no matter the caliber of opponent. “This team is always amped up to play any game,” Massey said. “We’re going to go after it and try to get as many runs in the first few innings as we can.” softball page 11
n a strange way, it makes sense that this is how the career of Manny Ramirez comes to an end. It’s safe to say we aren’t completely done dealing with the hyper-talented hitter from the Dominican Republic, but the final chapter of his big league career reads much like most of his career. It elicits a combination of head-shaking, wonderment and amusement that is so commonly summed up with the now-standard “Manny being Manny.” After earning a 50-game suspension in 2009 for a positive performance-enhancing drug test, Ramirez announced his retirement last week likely upon learning he was about to be suspended 100 games for another failed test. In 2009, Manny said his positive test came as an inadvertent side-effect of an erectile-dysfunction drug he was taking. He may have problems with the language barrier like many Spanishspeaking players, but I have to imagine even Ramirez knew he served up a hanging curveball with “performance-enhancing drug” scrawled across it. This time, he didn’t bother with an outlandish excuse or even wait for official word of the
suspension to come down. He just up and quit. It’s the perfect ending for Manny. Not because he’s a quitter, but because he’s always cared more about the length of his locks and the depth of his pockets than about what fans think of him or what will be written in baseball’s annals with regards to his reputation as a bad teammate. This is the guy, after all, who ran himself out of Boston by completely shutting down once he grew complacent with his contract in 2008. Yeah, that contract was eight years old, but it was also worth $200 million. Then, after getting traded to the Dodgers, he said he would become a free agent so he could see who would pay him the most. I’m all for players leveraging the system and finding maximum dollars—it’s within the rules and they’d be stupid not to. However, along with that decision came quotes like, “The price of gas is up, and so am I.” Not to beat a dead horse, but a few months after saying he was “up,” he explained away a positive test by saying it was an erectile dysfunction medicine. You can’t make this up. Anyways, the Dodgers signed him for two years and $45 million—enough to get anyone up—and that was the beginning of the end. manny page 11