Undun does it well
O Christmas Beers...
A preview of the season’s best brews +PAGE TWO University of Wisconsin-Madison
The Roots’ latest album inspires praise +ARTS, page 6 Complete campus coverage since 1892
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Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Walker implies recall workers are paid By Tyler Nickerson The Daily Cardinal
Groups central to the recall effort of Gov. Scott Walker are denying the governor’s claim that some petition circulators are being paid for their work. “I’ve assumed all along that between activists and paid circulators, if they paid enough people they’d ultimately be able to get that number,” Walker said in an interview with Channel 3000.
Shoaib atlaf/the daily cardinal
Memorial Union Reinvestment Project Manager Wendy von Below told the Union Council new plans for a proposed student and theater lounge would reduce the addition’s size by more than 35 percent.
Council passes plans for Memorial Union changes By Corinne Burgermeister The Daily Cardinal
Members of the Union Council approved renovation plans for the Memorial Union Tuesday, which include reducing the size of the new student and theater lounge, as well as modifications to the building’s basement and first floor. The group also approved controversial plans to remove a large oak tree next to the Union after an environmental impact assessment determined the tree to be unhealthy. In order to move forward with the construction process, the design will be presented to the UW Board of Regents Thursday. If the BOR approves the design, it will advance to a city committee for approval after which a state committee will make the final decision.
MUR Student Manager Colin Plunkett said if the board does not grant permission to begin construction, members would revisit renovation plans at a meeting in February, which would delay the project. However, he said he is confident the BOR will approve the design. Using student feedback from an October Associated Students of Madison referendum, the Memorial Union Reinvestment project agreed to adjust the proposed Union Theater lobby to better blend with the original building and to reduce its square footage by more than 35 percent. Plunkett said most of the changes, although minimal, were to the Hoofers area on the basement level.
The next steps for Union renovation: UW System Approval The Board of Regents will vote on the design Thursday. If the board does not grant permission to begin construction, members would revisit renovation plans at a meeting in February, which would delay the project.
City Approval The Joint Southeast Campus Committee already passed the updated design. The Madison Plan Commission will vote on the plan Dec. 19.
State Approval
“The kind of enthusiasm we’ve seen from people, I really don’t think you have to pay anybody.” Alex Hanna co-president Teachers Assistants Association
In response to Walker’s statements, United Wisconsin and the Democratic Party of Wisconsin, the two groups lead-
ing the recall effort, said they are not paying anyone except the groups’ supervisory staff. Teachers Assistants Association Co-President Alex Hanna also doubts Walker’s assertions. The TAA has been very active in the recall effort. “The kind of enthusiasm we’ve seen from people, I really don’t think you have to pay anybody,” Hanna said. “It sounds silly.” State Rep. Chris Taylor, D-Madison, is also unaware of people paying petition gatherers. “I can tell you from the party’s perspective we are focused on making sure our 24,000 volunteers are doing everything right and are abiding all the laws and collecting signatures properly,” Taylor told Channel 3000. During the summer Senate recall elections, the Republican Party of Wisconsin hired a Colorado company to bring in petition circulators.
A capella group ‘MadHatters’ receives invitation to White House By Sam Cusick The Daily Cardinal
The White House will welcome a group of UW-Madison’s own when the MadHatters, a men’s a capella group, performs at a holiday reception for guests of the president and first lady Wednesday, Dec. 7. The White House first made contact with the MadHatters to request sample music as representatives from Wisconsin. Later, the group was asked to fly to Washington D.C. and perform. “After we got the confirma-
tion on it, it was just thrilling.” MadHatters Music Director Miles Comiskey said. “I don’t know if there is some Badger in the White House that is looking out for us, that asked us to apply initially, but we are excited.” The group consists of 15 singers and a vocal percussionist, all male. Their performances contain everything from oldies to current Top 40 hits. A fixture on campus since their inception in 1997, the UW-Madison MadHatters
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The Building Commission will also vote on the design in December. This is the final approval needed for the project to move forward.
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UW student’s funeral held in La Crosse Friends and family attended funeral services for Zach Zenk in La Crosse Tuesday after the UW-Madison senior’s death early last week. A memorial service was held at La Crosse’s Schumacher-Kish Funeral Home late Tuesday morning, and friends and family were invited to call at the funeral home from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the ceremony. Zenk, 23, was found dead in
his home Tuesday, Nov. 29, after going out drinking with friends earlier in the week, sister Rebecca Zenk said Monday. The death is under investigations, the Madison Police Department ZENK said, and investigators are awaiting results from toxicology tests.
Meanwhile, the Dane County Medical Examiner’s office said investigations into the cause of death should be completed within the next three months. UW-Madison officials expressed their condolences for the death, and continue to encourage students to contact the Division of Student Life should they need counseling services.
danny marchewka/cardinal File photo
The White House invited the MadHatters, a 15-member a capella group, to perform Dec. 7 at a holiday reception.
“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”
page two Surviving the season of giving tODAY: snow!!!1!1!! hi 31º / lo 21º
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THURSDAY: sunny
hi 27º / lo 16º
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Ben StoffelRosales comin’ up rosales
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f you’re like me, you’ve recently seen your Internet use change from taking care of your Neopet and masturbating on Chatroulette to looking for Christmas gifts for your loved ones. I’ve got some useful insight on the season of giving that will make your holiday shopping easier than procrastinating for finals. Your parents are good to shop for first because they’ll appreciate anything you get them; that’s why your shitty third grade art project is still hanging on the wall. What does your mom like? Cooking? Being menopausal? Play off these ideas and go from there. For dad, maybe just ask his other family in Ohio what he likes to do. If worst comes to worst, make the man a CD. It allows you to share interests and rescue him from living his life in music from the ‘80s. December is easily the worst time of year to have a girlfriend. Trust me, there is no kosher way to ‘go on a break’ until after Christmas/Hannukah/
Kwanzaa, so you’re going to have to suck it up and shop. First of all, I will say that if you buy your girlfriend a gift card, it is pretty much the same thing as calling her a fat bitch and punching her in the uterus. You have a better chance of making it to New Year’s by giving her a dead puppy in a box.
Buying lingerie means you have to be that creepy-looking guy prowling around Victoria’s Secret petting the fabric. I’m also not a fan of giving a girl lingerie. It says: “I want you to be more sexually attractive.” It would be like your girlfriend buying you a penis pump. Not to mention buying lingerie means you have to be that creepy-looking guy prowling around Victoria’s Secret petting the fabric. Just get her something meaningful. Last year I got my girlfriend a coffee mug that you could put pictures inside and made
a little photo album for inside of it. Although I had to tuck my penis between my legs in order to scrapbook, she really liked it. My next advice on holiday giving is more serious, but it will save you money. As many know, the Salvation Army is known primarily for their charity work and annoying bell ringers. But what I did not know, until very recently, is that the Salvation Army openly discriminates against gay couples. In fact, homeless homosexuals (has a nice ring to it) will not be given shelter or clothing by the Salvation Army, and will not even allow gays to contribute to their charitable efforts. Why? Because Jesus was apparently a homophobic asshole. I give very few shits about most political issues, but I think discriminating against gays as stupid as discriminating against blacks. Since when was charity a way to implement your outrageous religious beliefs? Now every time I pass them I give them an obscene jerk-off gesture with both hands and put on my O-face for added affect. Then I make out with the closest man just to really piss them off. I have also stopped using ‘gay’ as an insult because that’s complete-
ly retarded. I’m not sure why the Salvation Army targets college students in the first place. College students could use funds too. That’s like asking President Barack Obama for intelligence. You’re not going to get very far.
Since when was charity a way to implement your outrageous religious beliefs? If you’re a rich asshole and do have money to be generous with, alternative charities I’ll offer are Make-A-Wish, Toys for Tots, Goodwill and My Two Front Teeth. May your holiday giving result in smiles from your family and super awesome fellatio/ cunnilingus from your significant others. Can’t decide what to get for your loved ones for the holidays? Tweet at Ben @stoffelrosales for, like, the most epic shopping trip ever.
What’s Brewing: it’s the most wonderful time for a beer By Dylan Katz guest BEER columnist
The time between Thanksgiving and winter break is always one of the gaps I look forward to the least. However, once the stress of finals has passed, my mind slowly turns to all things associated with the holidays—gifts, latkes, gelt and, for the goys (aka non-Jews)— ham, decorating the tree, and whatever else you people do on Christmas. Anyway, I digress. Every December, a massive influx of beers are introduced that are, not surprisingly, really supposed to capture the true spirit of the holiday season. For years, though, two beers have really cemented themselves as the flagship beers of the holidays—Anchor Steam Christmas (also known as “Our Special Ale”) and Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale. What’s fascinating about the beers is that they couldn’t be more opposite of each other. And now, time for a fun elaboration on both of them! Only a brewery like Sierra Nevada would have the balls to brew an IPA and call it a “Celebration Ale.” With regard to capturing the spirit of the holidays, maybe the Grossmans (the guys who founded the brewery) were bitter that they didn’t get as many gifts as their non-Jewish friends? Hell, I don’t know. What’s important, though, is that the beer is fantastic. Every year I feel the need to pick up a case of it (yes, a case), because I never have any idea how long it’ll be out. Celebration Ale pours a gorgeous golden brown with a solid amount of head, very typical of a great IPA. The beer gives off a dank, heavy aroma of fresh hops, with hints of pineapple, grapefruit and orange. Fresh, bitter hops are complemented by a wonderfully sweet citrus
flavor. The balance between the hops and malt balance is superb. Honestly, if this is what Sierra Nevada views as the best way to celebrate the holidays, count me in. I could drink this stuff all winter (oh wait, I do).
Anchor’s Christmas Ale is somewhat of a legend. The brewery is probably the first true “microbrewery” in the United States. They began brewing this beer back in 1975 and haven’t missed a year since. Every year, I make sure to pick up a bottle (or a six pack, you can get both) to see if they’ve outdone themselves over the previous years. As the liquid flows into my glass, it’s a beautiful deep—brown color with a slight hint of red. The color is oddly reminiscent of CocaCola, except for the creamy and dark tan head that fills the top of the glass. The aroma is absolutely intoxicating—hints of nutmeg, brown sugar, and an herbal spiciness that’s nearly indescribable. I would purchase this on the smell alone, and that’s without having given it a taste. The flavor, though? Wow. What a treat! All of the holiday spices are there—nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and orange, it’s incredible. A malty, caramel backbone combines with the spices and a strong hint of pine to round out the beer. Honestly, this tastes like Christmas in a glass. Now, you may be asking yourself how a Jew would know what Christmas tastes like, but the best answer I can give you is this: The beer does not taste like National Jews Go to the Movies Day (which conveniently falls on the same day as Christmas), because I don’t get the hint of Chinese food I would expect. So, I’m able to draw the obvious inference that I’m drinking liquid Christmas. And honestly, gentiles? Color me jealous. Wanna explain what gentiles do on Christmas to Dylan over tasty brews? Email him at dskatz2@ wisc.edu and show him the spirit of Christmas or kindness or whatever. graphic by dylan moriarty/the daily cardinal
news
Wednesday, December 7, 2011 3
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Eicher steps down from county board student Leland Pan is the only candidate to join the race for the Dane County Board member fifth district seat so far. Analiese Eicher is stepping down “I appreciate Analiese’s work, from her seat representing the coun- and I will continue reaching out to ty’s fifth district, saying she wants students,” Pan said. the position to be an outlet Pan hopes to be an for a student voice. “unabashed proactive and Eicher, who was progressive leader” what elected in April 2010, he believes the 5th district said she will not seek recounty board position has election, in hopes that a historically been. student may continue to “I view this county represent the district. board position as a facili“It is the students’ tator and communication seat and should continbetween active students and EICHER ue to be the students’ county politics,” Pan said. seat,” Eicher said. “I am no longer According to Eicher, the a student, and I think it’s a natu- position is “an incredible opporral position to move on.” tunity to represent your peers in Eicher said she accomplished the governmental bodies.” the goals she set out to achieve “I would hope that whoever is at the beginning of her term, next in the seat is someone who such as raising the position’s wants to be there and who is profile and supporting conser- going to show up to every meetvation efforts. ing and be prepared and stay Second-year UW-Madison engaged,” Eicher said.
By Abby Becker The Daily Cardinal
On campus
Research gets posterized
The UW Cardiovascular Research Center held its 17th annual Scientific Poster Fair Tuesday. People had the opportunity to meet cardiovascular researchers while viewing scientific posters displaying current research initiatives in cardiovascular science. + Photo by Stephanie Daher
Watchdog group says GAB disregarded disclosure law By Mckenna Kohlenberg The Daily Cardinal
A non-partisan watchdog group accused the Government Accountability Board Monday of not enforcing a law that requires candidates to disclose the occupation and employer of donors who give more than $100. The Wisconsin Democracy Campaign filed an open record request about seven weeks ago to investigate missing occupation and employer information for almost $3,800 in contributions made in 2009. However, the request was
denied because state law prohibits the board from releasing certain information, and the GAB “has no records responsive” to WDC’s open records request, Kevin Kennedy, the board’s director, said in a letter. WDC Executive Director Mike McCabe said in a statement that the law is vital to finance disclosure as “it allows citizens to see the financial interests of big campaign donors.” According to the WDC, the GAB did not fine any candidates for failing to disclose the required donor information
Kloppenburg begins campaign drive Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg launched a drive to gather the 1,000 nomination signatures needed in her bid for an open seat on the Wisconsin Court of Appeals District 4 Wednesday. The campaign needs to collect and submit 1,000 signatures to the Government Accountability Board by Jan. 3 if her name is to be on the bal-
lot for the April 3 election. According to a press release, Kloppenburg has a growing list of endorsers, including 340 judges, attorneys and community leaders. In April 2011, Kloppenburg ran for Wisconsin Supreme Court against incumbent Justice David Prosser. She eventually lost after an election that became highly publicized.
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have also been reallocated to different spaces within Hoofers’ area to increase efficiency, according to von Below. “It is still storage for Hoofers, but in better spots,” she said. According to Hoofers President Angela Limbach, the group is pleased with the plan’s updates. Plunkett said by minimizing how much of the building is shut down for construction at a time, construction would not disrupt the Union’s daily activities.
“The changes were really just moving around rooms here and there, kind of flip-flopping rooms and moving doors, to make things more functional,” he said. MUR Project Manager Wendy von Below said the Hoofers’ boathouse will be more linear to better accommodate the length of the boats. Storage areas for sails, alpine and mountaineer equipment
madhatters from page 1 perform anywhere from the Overture Center to international locations in their classic red jackets. The event will mark the first occasion the group has performed at the White House and members of the MadHatters are excited for the opportunity,
especially since the invitation came as a surprise. “We were really honored that they knew who we were and would want to invite us over there,” junior Alex Yant said. “We are so humbled and blessed that they would come to us and do all of the preparations for us to sing in the nation’s capital,” he added.
and did not require candidates to fill in incomplete reports or return funds from improperly recorded contributions. In the letter, Kennedy said state law only requires an election committee to “make a good faith effort to obtain all required information.” According to Kennedy, it is unrealistic that the board could successfully obtain a forfeiture for the missing information if the committee was making efforts to obtain the information. The GAB could not provide any further comments.
ON THE SQUARE
Law increases Regents’ spread in state
Representatives on the UW System Board of Regents will have to come from each of Wisconsin’s eight congressional districts under a law Gov. Scott Walker signed Tuesday. The bill is intended to guarantee the entire state is represented on the board and will take effect in 2013. Currently, half of the regents are from the Milwaukee or Madison area. The board, made up of 14 Wisconsin citizens, two students, the state superintendent of public instruction and the president of the technical college system board approved the bill at their April meeting in a 12-5 vote.
No charges for groups accused of recall violations By Tyler Nickerson The Daily Cardinal
Two groups accused of election violations during the August recall election of state Sen. Alberta Darling, R-River Hills, learned Wednesday that Milwaukee County will not file charges against them. Wisconsin Jobs Now and Wisconsin Right to Life, two groups on opposite sides of the election politically, were both under investigation for election violations. Mike Lauer, executive director for Wisconsin Jobs Now, said he was “pleased that the DA decided not to file charges, and we’re not surprised at this outcome in the least.” Lauer said that the conservative, nonprofit watchdog group Media Trackers accused his group of bribing people for votes. Prior to the recall, Wisconsin Jobs Now held block parties encouraging people in primarily black neighborhoods on the north side of Milwaukee to vote. Media Trackers wrote in an Aug. 1 blog posting titled “EXCLUSIVE: Source Reports Wisconsin Jobs Now! Engages in Illegal Election Behavior” that the Wisconsin Jobs Now events constituted illegal campaign activity. “Because there was food and games and prizes at the block parties, the Media Trackers group accused us of bribing people for
votes, which couldn’t be further from the truth,” Lauer said. Wisconsin Right to Life, the other group that was investigated, was accused of violating election laws because it offered to give a gift card to individuals that signed people up for absentee ballot applications. “We were never handling ballots, we never wanted to handle ballots, we were only working with applications that had been approved by the Government Accountability Board,” Barbara Lyons, executive director for WRL said. “We gave out not a single gift card.”
“We’re not surprised by this outcome in the least.” Mike Lauer executive director Wisconsin Jobs Now
Lyons is wary of the complaints groups are making toward citizens groups. She said that if they were charged, the distortion of the law would have infringed on speech and constitutional rights and “would have had a very serious impact on all citizens groups including ours going forward.”
NO TIME TO SHOP AROUND BETWEEN FINALS? CHECK OUT THE DAILY CARDINAL’S GUIDE TO
THE BEST TECH GIFTS IN TOMORROW’S PAPER.
opinion Letter from ASM Chair Allie Gardner dailycardinal.com
Allie Gardner Associated student of Madison Chair
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tudents are here primarily for an education, and to serve the public good. Their involvement is different than that of other governance groups because it’s not just about their personal experience while they’re here, but the generations of students that follow them.” This was the explanation I was given on the role students play in shared governance in the UW System by a former president of the Wisconsin Student Association (the student government predecessor of ASM), and one of the many academic staff that I have had the pleasure of discussing shared governance with. This concept has always been incredibly important. Right now, it is the most important. Budget cuts and lapses are now a component of our higher education experience. We might as well include them in our projected tuition bill. Because of the need to use tuition to fill the holes caused by cuts and lapses, we pay more, but we are not getting more. This needs to change. There is no better time, and no better group of people than students now to change this for the betterment of future generations of students at the University of Wisconsin—Madison.
Budget cuts and lapses are now a component of our higher education experience.
I am not calling for you to riot on Mifflin Street, though on some occasions I will, but am calling on you, as students, to involve yourselves in the dialogue and several initiatives surrounding innovation on our campus, in our System, and in our state. Tuesday morning, Regent President Michael Spector, Regent Michal Falbo and Regent Jeff Bartell met with members of the Executive Council (which
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
included the Vice President, Provost, and College Deans), the Academic Staff Executive Committee, the University Committee, the Council of Nonrepresented Classified Staff and the Associated Students of Madison to discuss the current political, economic and cultural climate we (the UW System and UW Madison) find ourselves in.
Shared governance is something we must protect and expand, but it is also something we must use — especially now.
First, Regent Falbo is the Chair of the Legislative Task Force on UW Restructuring and Operational Flexibilities. The charge of this task force includes “whether tuition flexibility can be extended to the UW System while ensuring access and affordability and what role the Legislature should have in establishing tuition rates; additional operational flexibilities that could be provided to UW System institutions; and how articulation and the transfer of credits between UW institutions could be improved.” To quote Regent Falbo’s advice to students: “If you have a proposal or input, now is the time to give it.” We are looking for students who would like to be involved in making recommendations and formulating student opinion on the agenda items being taken up by this special task force. Second, E ducational Innovation has been deemed a major component of absorbing the cuts and lapses we’re being dealt. It is imperative that students are involved in the strategy and creativity that goes into ensuring our educational quality is maintained and strengthened. This can take many forms; whether it means having a program utilize the offered courses in another department or additional institution-to-institution collaboration. Regardless, this is affect-
ing our academic experience as students and will continue to do so. Upset that the regularly scheduled 4th semester language course you need to take is only offered in the Fall (like I am)? Concerned that your Consumer Sciences program has altered its requirements, and you may have to stick around campus for an extra summer before graduating? Me too, which is why I am asking you to be actively engaged participants in determining your educational experience and the college experience that will likely include courses you took, professors you had, and Badger Rose Bowls you watched or attended. Ask your Dean, faculty, academic staff, advisor, classmates how to reach the decision-makers in your Department and College.
Third, UW System has consistently valued a holistic admissions process and has maintained a promise to protect and promote diversity on our campuses and in our educational experiences. Regardless, I believe it is clear to the average student on our campus that there are many improvements to be made in terms of privilege education and cultural awareness. Students historically have led the charge in campus climate, and must continue to do so. We have heard of Plan 2008, Inclusive Excellence and maybe Plan 2010. Unless we notice a difference between the time we arrive on campus and the time we leave campus, on an individual and collective level, we cannot be satisfied with what we have left for the incoming freshmen class.
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I am calling on you all to propose your ideas and your student organization’s ideas for protecting diversity in the recruitment and retention process and for creating a more inclusive and culturally aware campus. Shared governance is something we must protect and expand, but it is also something we must use — especially now. For the first time in a long time, Wisconsin may see tremendous change, innovation and experimentation in the functioning of higher education and the educational experience of our Badger successors. On Wisconsin. Allie Gardner is Chair of the Associated Students of Madison. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
Republican primaries
RIP: Herman Cain’s election campaign
Republican presidential candidate Herman Cain recently suspended his campaign in response to allegations of sexual abuse and an inability to formulate an informative opinion on foreign policy. His campaign, and references to Pokemon, will be sorely missed. +Graphic by Dylan Moriarty
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Madison Ballet brings the Christmas spirit with ‘The Nutcracker’ Jaime brackeen bracks on bracks
W photo courtesy def jam records
The Roots have had a 24 year career making music, and their 13th album shows that they are still on top of their game, featuring Redford Stephens as the main character of this concept record.
Undun undoes late night gig’s damage to the Roots’ image By Ben Siegel the daily cardinal
In the world of hip-hop, 1995 is ancient history. The late Tupac and Notorious B.I.G. were still alive and spitting, and a Philadelphia-based hip-hop band called the Roots broke into major label rap with Do You Want More?!!!??!, a jazzy, boom-bap inflected gem on par with the grittiest East Coast offerings of the Wu-Tang Clan. 16 years, nine albums, 11 Grammy nominations and four Grammy awards later, the Roots, now the house band on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” have released Undun. The concept album follows the life of the fictitious hustler Redford Stephens, a tragic composite of various associates of the band. Rapping on the futility of a black man’s existence in the inner city is by no means a novel concept, but Undun’s reverse trajectory (the album narrates Stephens’ story from his death) is a fresh take. A constantly dark but always moving marriage of the group’s instrumental depth and razorsharp lyricism, the album is the product of musicians that, amidst a rebranding, have taken a new look at an old (arguably one of the oldest) motifs of hip-hop culture. Undun succeeds in making a strong—if not assured—case for the group’s importance to hiphop, dispelling questions its late night gig may have raised about the legitimacy and authenticity of its music. The boom-bap sound may be gone, but Undun still hits jarring notes emotionally through both rich, vibrant crescendos and barren, vacant interludes—often within the same song. “Make My,” the album’s first single featuring frequent group collaborators Big K.R.I.T. and Dice Raw, has a dreamlike quality to it. Its meandering sound (the album was arranged impeccably by the band’s celebrated drummer ?uestlove) is a brilliant foil for the energy of the lyrics. “Addicted to green, if I don’t ball I get the shakes /
cause everything that wasn’t for me I had to chase,” K.R.I.T. confesses, a forceful commentary on the pain of living in a material world. In line with his moniker, the group’s emcee Black Thought (who raps from the perspective of Stephens throughout) darkly ruminates on the place Stephens’ choices have led him: “My splaying got me praying like a mantis / I begin to vanish / Feel the pull of the black canvas,” continuing later “The heat of the day, the long robe of muerte,” and ending “If there's a heaven I can't find a stairway.”
CD REVIEW
Undun The Roots “The OtherSide,” has Stephens (via Black Thought) justifying the impending decisions that lead to his death at the Undun’s start. Here his ambition hits home, made all the more convincing by the brilliance of the album’s reverse chronology. Stephens hustles hard, “spending time like it’s counterfeit,” Black Thought explains, managing to, without mincing words, cut to the core of Stephens’ rationale in a way that makes larceny sound rational. If you were Stephens, you’d be stupid not to. “Not enough paper to be paying folks compliments / But when that paper got low so did my tolerance / Listen, if it not for these hood inventions / I'd just be another kid from the block with no intentions / On the dock of that bay serving a life sentence / Even if I’m going to hell I’m gonna make an entrance.” Next to the intensity of Thought’s verse, his nimble Otis Redding reference (The Dock of the Bay) is an afterthought.
Redding’s influence can be heard on the song’s instrumental, but it is the verse’s character, rather than the twofold allusion to Otis Redding, that best represents the immense quality of the sound the Roots have developed over two decades of music making. The focus of this urgent and imperative tone, unobstructed across 39 minutes, illustrates its central importance to not only Stephens’ story, but also that of the Roots. By many measures, the album is excellent. Viewing the release within the context of the Roots’ career arc and their present position as a talk show house band, however, Undun’s hungry tone and urgent pace set troubling precedents. If the album is a statement that the Roots still have it—a successful one at that—does it mean that the doubts are justified? Beyond any understanding of the album as an answer, response or statement, Undun compels, sets the benchmark high for hip-hop and certainly manages to dispel all thoughts of an irrelevant Roots group— at least for the moment. Grade: A-
The Roots
First formed in 1987, the Roots are now the house band for “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.”
Things Fall Apart The group’s breakthrough album was released in 1999, and was named after Chinua Achebe’s novel.
Wake Up! The group’s 2010 collaboration with John Legend featured covers of songs from the ’60s and ’70s, with “Shine” being the only original track on the record.
hen it comes to the holiday season, prevalent visions of sugar plum fairies dance about in the peaceful slumbers of young, stressed college students, but now the UW-Madison community has a chance to see these legends of Christmas lore come to life in Madison Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” at the Overture Center for the Arts. Running from December 17-26, this two-hour performance promises to enchant attendees of all ages. As the Overture Center’s website states, “The crown jewel of Madison’s holiday season is also the world’s favorite ballet!” Set to Tchaikovsky’s well-known score, this performance serves as the perfect way to bring back that innocent holiday spirit some haven’t known since they were young and begging to wait up for Santa Claus. As the website describes it, “A combination of fabulous costumes, dynamic lighting and lavish set design are the perfect vehicle for the energetic choreography of Artistic Director W. Earle Smith.” Performances of “The Nutcracker” have taken place since 1892 and are based off of the story “The Nutcracker and the Mouse King” by E.T.A. Hoffmann. The plot is a perfect bedtime tale for
a child—or a child at heart— with a strong imagination. The godfather of young Clara and her brother Fritz gives them toys on Christmas Eve, one of them being a nutcracker to aid them in opening hazelnuts. Clara instantly falls in love with the beautiful object, only to have it broken by her brother. She tucks the injured nutcracker into her doll bed for safekeeping and ventures back to check on it late that night. However, when the clock strikes midnight, everything changes: the Christmas tree soars to a magnificent height, toys come to life, a battle between an army of gingerbread soldiers and the Mouse King and his minions ensues and the magic begins. Clara is then swept into a whirlwind adventure of sugar plum fairies and dancing candy canes, and the audience is invited to come along for the ride. Tickets range in price from $14-$59 and those planning to attend can purchase them on the Overture Center’s website or in person at the box office during regular hours. For students looking to take a break from the rigors of finals or even to merely spread more holiday cheer, Madison Ballet’s performance of “The Nutcracker” is a perfect opportunity to get in the giving spirit and rekindle a sense of childish glee, just in time for winter break.
December movie releases help cure holiday blues Looking to avoid the family this holiday? There’s plenty at the local multiplex to keep you entertained, whether you’re looking for Oscar contenders or family fun. “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” will be released on Dec. 16, and it promises to deliver more of the great action and wit of the first film. Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law reprise their roles as Holmes and Watson with Jared Harris stepping in as Professor Moriarty. In limited release on the same day is Roman Polanski’s latest, “Carnage.” An adaptation of Yasmina Reza’s “God of Carnage,” this small casted film promises laughs and social commentary. Dec. 21 sees the release of a slew of films, from the precocious “Adventures of Tintin” to the U.S. adaptation of “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.” “Tintin” is an adaptation of a Belgian comic by Georges Rémi under the pen name Hergé. Kids from the 1990s may remember the short-lived animated series which was syndicated on Nickelodeon, and the movie looks to be one of the best uses of motion capture in recent cinema. “The Girl With the Dragon
photo courtesy paramount pictures
“Tintin” should be nostalgiac for kids who watched Nickelodeon in the 90s. Tattoo” is based on Stieg Larsson’s crime trilogy and comes right on the heels of the Swedish adaptation. This has some fans up in arms over Hollywood’s decision to create a new adaptation so soon. Also out on Dec. 21 is a new “Mission: Impossible,” which does star Tom Cruise, reprising his role as Ethan Hunt. Coming five years after the third film, “Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol” is being produced by J.J. Abrams and looks quite promising. So if the family is driving you nuts, there’s always the movies. Settle in with a $20 popcorn and a 44 oz. soda and enjoy some togetherness, without actually having to talk to mom and dad. Jeremy Gartzke / The daily cardinal
comics dailycardinal.com
Today’s Sudoku
I suppose there’s plenty of jiggling in that holiday too... “Jingle Bells” was written about Thanksgiving, not Christmas.
Wednesday, December 7, 2011 • 7
Enjoying ice cream today
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.
Tanked Life
By Steven Wishau wishau@wisc.edu
Today’s Crossword Puzzle
Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com
WILMA, I’M HOME ACROSS 1 Word in some university names 6 31-Across, at a sushi restaurant 11 Physics unit 14 Ancient Greek poet associated with a dolphin 15 Addition conclusion 16 Abbreviation on a TV remote 17 The end-all neat freak portrayer of classic TV 19 Poetic homage 20 Teaches 21 Become conscious 23 Long ___ and far away ... 24 Bible distributor 25 The end-all “The Big Sleep” star 31 Elongated fish 32 ___- Croatian (Slavic language) 33 Lollipop portions 37 Fat measure 39 Artillery outburst 41 Lessen, to the Bard 42 Submarine sensing system 44 Zigs or zags 46 It’ll float your boat
47 The end-all “The Godfather” actor 50 Asserts authoritatively 53 When French fans circulate? 54 Hellos and good-byes on the Island 55 Dante’s love 60 Fifth month 61 The end-all redhead of classic TV 63 Lennon’s wife 64 Counting everything 65 Hindu music pieces 66 Long-eared equine 67 First name in skin care 68 Mountain feature DOWN 1 Appease fully 2 Tramped or trampled 3 Aboriginal Japanese 4 Matchbox racer 5 Angers 6 ___ Reader (alternative magazine) 7 Agrees nonverbally 8 “Now ___ theater near you!” 9 Classic arcade game with tractor beams 10 Animosity 11 Arouse, as feelings 12 Riding and roping event
13 Space traveler of 1962 and 1998 18 Does penance 22 Speak off-the-cuff 25 Trio for grand pianos 26 Word with “dynamic” or “space” 27 ___ Bator 28 Atlanta pro 29 Better equipped 30 Crave, biblically 34 Cuban’s house 35 “Hooked on Classics” co. 36 Animal that honks horns 38 Waterlogged ground 40 Severe test 43 Gershwin musical adapted by Cole Porter 45 Mill associated with gold discovery 48 Ship’s petty officers 49 Expressed out loud 50 Land of Pago Pago: American ____ 51 Shepard and King 52 Shows wild instability 55 Liver production 56 Fashion mag 57 Othello heavy 58 Thunder sound 59 Word after “who,” “what” or “where” 62 Natural bird-watcher
Caved In
By Nick Kryshak nkryshak@wisc.edu
First in Twenty
By Angel Lee alee23@wisc.edu
Washington and the Bear
By Derek Sandberg kalarooka@gmail.com
Sports
wednesday december 7, 2011 DailyCardinal.com
Men’s Basketball
Second straight in-state rival on tap By Max Sternberg the daily cardinal
After seeing its 23-game home winning streak brought to an end Saturday with a 61-54 defeat at the hands of No. 11 Marquette, No. 14 Wisconsin (6-2 overall) will quickly have the opportunity to begin a new streak when UW-Green Bay visits the Kohl Center Wednesday night. The Phoenix (2-0 Horizon League, 4-4 overall) have never won in the 14 games played against the Badgers in Madison and are 0-4 on the road thus far this season. However, head coach Brian Wardle’s team is riding high after winning back-to-back games this past weekend to start Horizon League play. With many of the Phoenix players having grown up in the shadow of Wisconsin basketball, the annual matchup with the Badgers is something that Green Bay has always circled on the calendar. “Having been on both ends
of it, it’s pretty exciting,” head coach Bo Ryan said of the intrastate rivalry. “Having coached at UW-Milwaukee, I knew what it was like getting ready for this. You know what the players are thinking. It’s just natural.” While this is certainly one of the bigger games of the year for UW-Green Bay, it remains an important test for Wisconsin as well. The Badgers head into Wednesday night having lost their past two games and clearly in need of a quick turnaround. With another ranked opponent in UNLV scheduled to come to Madison this weekend, Wisconsin must shake off the cobwebs and do more than just squeak away with a victory. “Obviously first of all, we want to get the win any way possible,” sophomore guard Josh Gasser said Monday. “But at the same time we just want to get into the flow of our offense together. I guess we need to get our mojo, our swagger back that
mark kauzlarich/cardinal file photo
Senior guard Jordan Taylor discussed the importance of getting a win to put the Badgers back on track prior to conference play.
we had at the beginning of the year when we were just so confident and in a flow.” At least on paper, it seems that goal number one for the Badgers has to be to shoot at a higher percentage. After shooting nearly 50 percent from the field in the first six games, Wisconsin has struggled greatly in two losses over the past week, shooting just 36 percent from the field against North Carolina and 32 percent in the loss to Marquette. But for Wisconsin to really turn the offense around, there is plenty it can do in order to get the shots falling once again. “We just need to do a better job of moving the ball as a team,” senior guard Jordan Taylor said. “We’ve gotten stagnant at times, a lot of the time. So its just a matter of getting back to our stuff and keeping the ball moving.” One thing that Wisconsin must improve upon is the spreading out the scoring. After having six different players post games with doubledigit point totals over the six-game winning streak at the start of the year, only three players have hit the mark since. Against Marquette, only Taylor managed to cross the 10-point threshold, finishing with 13 points on 4-of -10 shooting. But first and foremost, the Badgers have to take care of the ball. During its three-point loss in Chapel Hill, Wisconsin only turned the ball over four times, the lowest any team has been forced into against North Carolina since Duke only had three in a neutral site game back in 2002. But while that performance left many people impressed with the Badgers, even in defeat, a
mark kauzlarich/cardinal file photo
Sophomore guard Ben Brust was explosive behind the arc through the first six games, helping the team shoot 47 percent. 12-turnover game at home against the Golden Eagles gave plenty of cause for concern. “On Saturday we kind of laid an egg,” junior forward Jared Berggren said. “I felt like we didn’t put our best foot forward and for whatever reason Marquette just got the best of us.” Just five games remain before Wisconsin opens up Big Ten play
at Nebraska Dec. 27, and having suffered tough losses in their two biggest non-conference matchups, the Badgers know that they need to right the ship and head into conference play on a good note. “Anytime you lose, it’s critical to come back and win the next time,” Taylor said. “Its just a matter of getting back on track. Making shots, playing basketball.”
The Heisman field is set, but no clear stand-out favorite Parker Gabriel parks and rec Ask a hundred people what makes an athlete ‘most valuable’ and repeat answers will be few and far between. Merits can be weighed on the objective—dictionary definitions, sabermetrics and the like—or subjective catch-phrases like “defining moments” and “the ‘it’ factor.” There’s no right way to vote, only a few wrong ways, and generally very little guidance from governing bodies like the NFL or NCAA. On one hand, it’s great because it gives sports wonks (yeah, I’m guilty), unlimited latitude to argue over the ludicrous and, on occasion, the sane. On the other hand—particularly as it pertains to the Heisman— it’s too bad because it means the best guy doesn’t always win. Now, determining who is ‘best’ at anything is inherently subjective. In college football, it’s difficult because there are so many players on so many teams that we can’t have consistent information and exposure across the board. I’d like to think the Worldwide Leaders at ESPN give everyone a fair shake, but, put simply, they have to air stuff that a lot of peo-
ple want to watch. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t expect thoroughness from beat writers and the national football guys that end up voting on the Heisman. The system would be just as imperfect if we had a set list of criteria. In fact, it would completely negate the reason for voting. Just apply the resumes of the nation’s elite, plug it in a computer and see what happens. It won’t work. We’re looking for an MVP, not a national title game. What I’d like is consistency among voters. It’s possible we already have it, but it would help if everyone would reveal their ballots at the end. Many do, but I’d like to see them all. Using this year’s Heisman field, we’d see something like this. First, there’s probably a group that relies almost entirely on stats. This year, I’d have to argue those votes go to UW junior running back Montee Ball. The guy has 14 more touchdowns than any other player in college football, leads the nation in rushing yards and, assuming Oregon doesn’t figure out a way to bring back Haloti Ngata for the Rose Bowl, he will finish the season with more touchdowns than anybody’s ever finished a season with. Then, you’ll have a justified crew that bases its Heisman candidate on pro potential, or what I’ll
call a “most talented player” basis. This year, it’s hard to argue with Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. He could have been the No. 1 overall pick a year ago, should be exactly that in April and he has NFL scouts salivating like they haven’t since a lanky goof named Peyton Manning wrapped up his career at Tennessee in 1998. If a candidate needs to be more than just pro-ready, many voters naturally look to exposure. That’s where Alabama running back Trent Richardson fits into this picture. A friend of mine once argued that winning a national championship in college football is a fouryear process. It takes time to build
a brand, a national following and respect in the polls. In the same way, winning the Heisman can be a two-year process. Luck fits this category too, but Richardson is a finalist because of it. Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III fits the literal “MVP” vote. Without his presence, the Bears would not be going to a bowl. Worse, they may be playing in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against Utah State. This is a great category because there’s room for interpretation. For instance, it’s become abundantly clear in the NFL this year that the above-ridiculed Peyton Manning means more to his team than any other player in
lorenzo zemella/the daily cardinal
Junior running back Montee Ball surged into the Heisman race following his performance at Illinois, earning a ticket to NYC.
the league. He hasn’t played a snap. They haven’t won a game. Simple. It’s hard to penalize candidates based on the strength of their roster, but Griffin shouldered a heavier load than Richardson or Ball this year. Finally, there are guys like LSU’s Tyrann Mathieu. This is the flash vote. You can’t point to a single stat or quite put your finger on it, but you know the dude might score every time he touches the ball and thus, teams have to prepare for it. Even then, he manages to beat everyone. Mathieu also wins the votes of those who take record (12-0 for the Tigers so far) into account. Most of the time, I sympathize with guys like Mathieu because they have the toughest case to make. The guy has 71 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two interceptions. But he does so much more than that. My whole point here is this: Someone is going to win the Heisman trophy on Saturday night and it likely won’t be Ball. That doesn’t mean it’s right and it doesn’t mean it’s wrong. It’s hard to pick the right guy because there is rarely an obvious ‘right guy.’ I can’t figure it out this year. My gut says Griffin. My heart says Ball. My eyes say Mathieu. Guess we’ll find out Saturday. What is your take on the Heisman field? Let Parker know at pgabriel15@gmail.com.