haVing ‘rooMMate’ ProBLeMS? Meester takes creepy roommate nightmare to a whole new level University University of of Wisconsin-Madison Wisconsin-Madison
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The Student Services Finance Committee approved the Student Activity Center Governing Board (SACGB) budget, and heard the Wisconsin Student Public Interest Research Group’s case for eligibility Monday. The SSFC denied WISPIRG eligibility for student segregated fees last September, rejecting the group’s case on the grounds that their services did not meet the 75 percent quota of student beneficiaries. In November, WISPIRG appealed the ruling to the Student Judiciary, claiming the SSFC’s definition of “beneficiaries” was inconsistent. The SJ ruled in favor of WISPIRG, and did so again when the SSFC appealed the decision. Since then, the SSFC has officially changed the definition of “beneficiary” in their bylaws from “any individual or group that receives ‘services’” to “any individual or group who receives ‘programming’ from the group.” At their second eligibility hearing, WISPIRG characterized their direct service as the “experiential learning” students receive when WISPIRG trains them to campaign and lobby. WISPIRG Secretary Allie Gardner illustrated the point using the example of the group’s high-
speed rail campaign. Gardner said the train itself was not the service; the service was the experience students gained during lobbying and campaign training. “The people who actually benefit from our services are the students,” WISPIRG President Rashi Mangalick said. Cale Plamann, like many SSFC members, was concerned by the perceived change in definition. “There are definitely people who are expressing concern over the fact that [WISBIRG’s] direct service has changed in a very dramatic way from their application to what they presented here,” said Plamann. According to SSFC Chair Matt Manes, committee members may choose whether to take changes at face value, or to rely on the definitions in WISPIRG’s September presentation. Due to time constraints, the SSFC both heard and approved the SACGB’s 2011-’12 budget Monday. The final budget was approved at $410,752, up from $359,325 the year before, due to higher maintenance costs. “I know it’s painful, but that’s what we have to do to keep this building up to standards,” SACGB Chair Katy Ziebell said of the increase. The committee will determine WISPIRG’s eligibility at their meeting Thursday.
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SSFC rehears WISPIRG case By Alison Bauter
column: Political Science professor Jon Pevehouse weighs in on the situation in egypt
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Tuesday, January February21, 8, 2011 Wednesday, 2010
Head cheese
Kathryn Weenig/the daily cardinal
Students were clad in green and gold Monday in celebration of the Green Bay Packers’ Super Bowl win on Sunday night. Even atop a snowy Bascom Hill, Abe Lincoln got into the cheesehead spirit.
Faculty senate adopts principles of proposed New Badger Partnership By Molly Reppen The Daily Cardinal
The UW-Madison Faculty Senate adopted the principles of the New Badger Partnership and discussed various university committee proposals Monday. Chancellor Biddy Martin and members of the proposed partnership’s committee are working on and off campus to build support for increased flexibility for UW-Madison from the state and have engaged with various groups to work on more specific principles for the New Badger Partnership. “When it comes to flexibility and the New Badger Partnership
for the university, new tools can help us deal with the [budget] cuts that we anticipate,” Martin said. “I can tell you from the beginning, the governor was open and seemed sympathetic to the need the university has for greater flexibility.” The New Badger Partnership would allow UW-Madison independence from state restraints when making financial decisions, which would allow UW-Madison to manage decreased funding from the state more effectively, according to the proposal. The core principle of financial flexibility for the proposed partnership is that higher education must be affordable and acces-
sible to all families in the state of Wisconsin. The partnership also maintains that continued state funding is essential in order for UW-Madison to exist and prosper, Martin said. Martin said it is important to compare UW-Madison’s budget and funding to other Big Ten schools and across the country in order to determine where the university stands in comparison to other public institutions. Also at the meeting, various campus committees submitted their annual reports for the 2009-2010 academic year. faculty page 3
Cross takes over UW Extension and Colleges After being approved by the Wisconsin Board of Regents in December, Raymond Cross took over as Chancellor of UW-Extension and UW Colleges Monday. “I am very excited to be the chancellor of both these institutions,” Cross said in a joint statement by UW Colleges and UW-Extension. “They truly embody the Wisconsin
Idea—extending the research and resources of the university throughout the state.” Cross, who is originally from Michigan, previously served as presi-
CROSS
dent of State University of New York-Morrisville and Northwest Technical College in Minnesota. He was also a department head at Ferris State University, where he received his undergraduate degree. He will take over for David Wilson, who was chancellor of both institutions from 2006-’10 before moving on to become president of Morgan State University.
Walker and 20 other govs. mad about health care, write to D.C.
BEn Pierson/the daily cardinal
After being denied funding eligibility in September, WISPIRG argued their case to SSFC Monday night.
Gov. Scott Walker and 20 other governors across the country sent a letter to U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, airing their grievances with Obama’s health-care reform. “We wish states had been given more opportunity to provide input when the PPACA was
being drafted,” the letter said. “We believe in its current form the law will force our healthcare system down a path sure to lead to higher costs and the disruption or discontinuation of millions of Americans’ insurance plans.” The governors suggested changes to the current bill that
would allow states more flexibility. Among the governors’ requests were giving states more freedom with the healthcare exchanges, allowing them greater choice over which insurers can participate and the elimination of certain manhealthcare page 3
“…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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tODAY: sunny hi 7º / lo -8º
wedneSDAY: partly cloudy hi 9º / lo -12º
2 • Tuesday, February 8, 2011 An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892
College kids, finding ourselves... what’s a self?
Volume 120, Issue 84
2142 Vilas Communication Hall 821 University Avenue Madison, Wis., 53706-1497 (608) 262-8000 • fax (608) 262-8100
News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com
Editor in Chief Emma Roller
Managing Editor Parker Gabriel
News Team Campus Editor Kayla Johnson City Editor Maggie DeGroot State Editor Ariel Shapiro Enterprise Editor Alison Dirr Associate News Editor Scott Girard Opinion Editors Dan Tollefson • Samantha Witthuhn Editorial Board Chair Hannah Furfaro Arts Editors Jeremy Gartzke • Todd Stevens Sports Editors Mark Bennett • Ryan Evans Page Two Editor Victoria Statz Life & Style Editor Stephanie Rywak Features Editor Stephanie Lindholm Photo Editors Ben Pierson • Kathryn Weenig Graphics Editors Dylan Moriarty • Natasha Soglin Multimedia Editors Erin Banco • Eddy Cevilla • Briana Nava Page Designers Claire Silverstein • Joy Shin Copy Chiefs Margaret Raimann • Rachel Schulze Jacqueline O’Reilly • Nico Savidge Copy Editors John Hannasch, Martha Kelash, Andy Kerber, Andy Lindgren, Danny Marchewka, Samy Moskol, Sara Schumacher, Melissa Sharafinski
Angelica engel actute engel
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he Self is fluid. Throughout the day, we put on mask after mask. Some masks resemble others, but no two are quite the same. The other day, I yelled something along the lines of “Fuck this wind!” My friend Kate laughed and said, “I like it when you yell, because you don’t do it very much.” She added, “And your yelling voice is different than your talking voice.” How strange that Kate hasn’t heard my yelling voice. I, of course, having been present for most of my life, am very familiar with my yelling voice. This relates to the fluidity of Self, because there are so many Angelicas I have been that Kate has not seen. Surely there are also many Kates that I have not seen. We wear so many different masks throughout a day. As I composed the first part of this column, the song “Break Your Heart” by Taio Cruz played on my
M.I.A. Pandora station. This is ironic because “heartbreaker” is a mask some people wear. Example: In October, the second-to-last time I was stoned, a boy and I had a conversation about our habitual heart breaking. He said, “My roommate told me he’s glad I’m a heartbreaker, because so many girls break his heart. He’s glad someone is getting revenge on them.” Then, he said, “You’re a heartbreaker, aren’t you?” Then, about the two of us, he said, “Do you think we’d just break each others’ hearts?” This guy has “heartbreaker” enmeshed in his own self-concept. However, “heartbreaker” is a mask we apply when it benefits us. It’s a role we play, a choice we make. Being a heartbreaker is not something this boy must become resigned to. It’s not a condition he must accept. One can choose not to be an asshole—I mean… a heartbreaker. During the last face-to-face conversation I had with this dude, I told him that calling myself a “heartbreaker” was a façade. I’m a lot more ambivalent about my identity than he is. Sure, I’ve “broken hearts” before, but my essence
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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© 2011, The Daily Cardinal
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(what I would be if everything extra were stripped away) does not involve heartbreaking. At least I hope it doesn’t, because that would mean I will grow old alone, which is quite obviously really sad. At the moment I write these words, it is six o’clock Friday evening. By the time this piece is published, we will all be different people.
At the moment I write these words, it is six o’clock Friday evening. By the time this piece is published we will all be different people.
In about two hours, Angelica will have the accidental property of drunkness. While wearing my drunk mask, I will act very differently than I do most of the time. Hopefully, my activities will be limited to skipping down the snowy street and yelling. If I have sex with somebody tonight, I will be so angry. Hi. Now it is 2:30 Saturday afternoon. In case you were won-
Psychology professor: I’d wager you that if you wanted to kill somebody, and I gave you 72 hours to plan it, you could get away with it.
Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Cole Wenzel Advertising Manager Alyssa Flemmer Accounts Receivable Manager Amanda Frankwick Billing Manager Katie Breckenfelder Senior Account Executive Taylor Grubbs Account Executives Nick Bruno • Alyssa Flemmer Matt Jablon • Anna Jeon Dan Kaplan • Mitchell Keuer Becca Krumholz • Daniel Rothberg Shinong Wang Graphic Designer Jaime Flynn Web Director Eric Harris Public Relations Manager Becky Tucci Events Manager Bill Clifford Art Director Jaime Flynn Copywriters Dustin Bui • Bob Sixsmith
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Girl in Potbelly: I don’t know what happened to my toes this weekend.
Guy in College Library: So my friend got really mad at this guy, so after he dissected a sheep’s brain in his neurobio lab he put it in this guy’s mailbox. Girl 1 at Fresh Madison Market: Hey do you want to go see
Wanna shout it
dering, last night, my friends and I successfully avoided writing a bad romance. Nonetheless, we were going har-har-ha-ha-ha-hard. But R we who we R? Fuck no! That’s what I’ve been saying this whole time. Last night at a certain bar, this douchey-looking dude complimented the color and solidity of our table, and then asked if he could set his drink on it. Shortly afterward, we witnessed him do this same thing to the girls at the table next to us. Later, we ran into him at another establishment. My drunk self yelled, “NO! Not YOU again!” and then ran away, up the stairs. Of course, neither of us were actually the same people who had interacted before. We just happened to inhabit the same bodies and possess what appear to be the same memories. What’s a memory? The problem with thinking about the fluidity of Self all the time is that it becomes extremely difficult to say anything. What mask would you put on if the professor yelled at you for reading this column in class? E-mail aengel2@ wisc.edu with your answers.
‘Blue Valentine’ this weekend? Girl 2: Finally I have something to look forward to in my life. Professor in Humanities: Honor is not something you can necessarily enjoy by yourself, like “I’m gonna listen to some great music about honor and feel honorable”. People say the darndest shit, so submit your Overheards to vstatz@dailycardinal.com or comment on this weeks’ submissions at dailycardinal.com/page-two.
from the rooftops?!
xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Write a message to a special (or not so special) someone for Valentine’s Day! To do so, submit a short message to vstatz@wisc.edu by Sat. Feb. 12 So it can be printed on the 14th.
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Tuesday, February 8, 2011
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Plan Commission puts off Mifflin decision The Commission will make its decision at their next meeting on Monday, Feb. 21 after more discussion takes place. By Scott Girard The Daily Cardinal
The City of Madison Plan Commission decided Monday to refer a vote on a proposed zoning amendment for West Mifflin Street to their next meeting, scheduled for Feb. 21. Ald. Mike Verveer, District 4, asked the commission to give interested parties, including the commission itself, more time to review changes developers made in building plans for the proposed apartment complex. “Frankly, I don’t believe that those modifications have been received in a timely fashion for the commission to consider this evening,” Verveer said. Prior to that request, students and neighborhood residents pleaded their cases on the issue to the commission. Including the developers, a total of 15 people spoke. Those arguing against the development included the four creators of the Facebook group, “Save Mifflin.” Co-creator and UW-Madison student Rachel Klaven touted the pop-
ularity of the group. “We attended the neighborhood meeting on Jan. 24, and after that we decided to make a Facebook group, ‘Save Mifflin,’” Klaven said. “We are now over 5,600 people.” Klaven said although some students may have thought the group centered on the annual block party, the creators have confidence at least 20 percent of the students in the group joined based on opposing the new building project. The lead developer, Pat McCaughey of McCaughey Properties, wanted to stop talk on social networking sites of a plan to develop the whole street. “Contrary to Twitter and Facebook, we’re not out there to tear down the rest of the block,” McCaughey said. “We’re not out there to take housing away from other people.” Much of the argument against the project focused on Mifflin’s historical significance as a neighborhood near campus with low rent for students.
“We do not want future individuals pushed out of this area due to prohibitive rent costs,” UW-Madison student and Facebook group co-creator Adam Milch said. Most homes’ rent range from $400-$600 per month currently. Milch is not confident the new apartments could stay in that range. McCaughey explained the fourstory height of the building, a problem for many of those opposing the development, was necessary and specifically designed to keep rent as low as possible. “If you build less units, you’re going to have to charge more rent on it,” McCaughey said. UW-Madison student and Facebook group co-creator Indy Stulka said he and others opposing the apartments do not oppose all development on Mifflin, just development which sets a precedent. “We actually want development,” Stulka said. “We don’t see this as a project that sets a good standard for development of the rest of the area.”
Mom drives teenage daughter to fight for the second time Police arrested a 35-year-old Madison woman for the second time in 10 days after she drove her daughter and others to the house of a girl her daughter wanted to fight. The woman’s 15-year-old daughter allegedly had a dispute on Facebook with a 17-year-old girl before the two confronted each
other at West Towne Mall, according to the police incident report. Multiple officers had to respond to the first situation Jan. 27, when someone reported a large disturbance outside of the home of the 17-year-old on New Berm Court. Officers cited the woman for Contributing to the Delinquency
of a Minor as a misdemeanor after the first incident, Madison Police Department spokesperson Joel DeSpain said. The second incident occurred early Saturday after another heated encounter between the two girls at the mall, DeSpain said. After Saturday’s incident, officers took the woman to jail.
Madison West student threatens ex-girlfriend in graveyard Police arrested a 16-year-old Madison West student Friday on tentative charges of False Imprisonment, Intimidation of a Victim and two charges of Disorderly Conduct. The boy pulled his 16-year-
faculty from page 1 Members of the Senate discussed a recommendation to create a research oversight committee. Professor Judith Burstyn spoke on behalf of the University
old ex-girlfriend out of school against her will before taking her to a nearby cemetery, according to the police incident report. After arriving at the cemetery, the boy allegedly threatened to hurt the girl but released her unharmed.
A friend of the girl’s tried to stop the boy from taking the victim out of school, but the boy allegedly pushed her down when she attempted to intervene, Madison Police Department spokesperson Joel DeSpain said.
Committee. She discussed a request to include graduate student representatives as members of the research oversight committee. “The University Committee is sympathetic to the request for student representation on governance
committees,” she said. “However, because this committee oversees research policies at the highest level, we stood by our conclusion that membership of this committee appropriately consists of those who are faculty and academic staff.”
BEN PIERSON/Cardinal File Photo
Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser will defend his seat against three other candidates on February 15.
Primary to narrow Supreme Court race By Adam Wollner The Daily Cardinal
In one week, Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice David Prosser will try to defend his seat against three challengers in the primary election. The two candidates with the most votes will move on to face each other in the April general election. “Supreme Court justices should not act as advocates for any cause or group, nor as legislators.” JoAnne Kloppenburg assistant attorney general Department of Justice
Prosser is running for re-election after serving on the Supreme Court for 12 years. Prosser has campaigned mostly on his experience, as he also has served 18 years in the legislature and is a former district attorney. He also describes himself as a judicial conservative. “I believe I have earned a reputation as a fair and reasonable justice who will apply the law fairly, not legislate from the bench,” Prosser said on his website. Prosser is being challenged by three people form Wisconsin’s legal community who all promise
healthcare from page 1 dates determining benefit rules. The governors threatened to take matters into their own hands if the HHS does not comply.
independence and impartiality. Joel Winnig has been an attorney in Madison for the past 33 years and specializes in divorce cases. He promises to be an “independent candidate” who will fight for working families. On his website, Winnig said he “wants to help take control of the Court away from special interests and return it to the people of Wisconsin.” Assistant Attorney General JoAnne Kloppenburg has worked for the Wisconsin Department of Justice since 1989 and has dealt with many environmental cases. She promises to be independent and impartial in her decisions. “Supreme Court Justices should not act as advocates for any cause or group, nor as legislators,” Kloppenburg said on her website. “Rather, Wisconsin residents deserve to have confidence that judges are impartial and independent decisionmakers who apply the law fairly and clearly based on the facts.” Marla Stephens was a member of the Judicial Council of Wisconsin for 15 years and is currently the director of the state public defender officer’s appellate division. Stephens said on her website she wants to “move towards a more independent, ethical judiciary with a nonpartisan advocate who reflects our values and not just those of the special interests.” “While we hope for your endorsement, if you do not agree, we will move forward with our own efforts regardless and HHS should begin making plans to run exchanges under its own auspices,” the letter said.
Bored? Kathryn Weenig/the daily cardinal
The UW-Madison Faculty Senate adopted the concepts of the New Badger Partnership, a proposed business plan that asks for more autonomy from the state, at their monthly meeting Monday.
Visit dailycardinal.com/media for weekly news briefs, interviews with Madison notables and much more!
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Tuesday, February 8, 2011
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Killer ‘Roommate’ issues By Paloma Trygar The Daily Cardinal
photo Courtesy Screen Gems
Leighton Meester’s performance as the crazed roommate of the title serves as the film’s center and lone redeeming grace.
Dorm-bound freshmen with random room assignments undoubtedly experience some level of anxiety when meeting their roommate for the first time. After all, the person with whom you share such small quarters for an entire year needs to be someone you can tolerate, and maybe even look forward to seeing every day. Will he or she be normal? Fun? A partier? A bookworm? The newly released film “The Roommate” depicts this exact scenario to the extreme. Minka Kelly plays Sara Matthews, a college freshman who doesn’t know anyone at her new college, and is randomly assigned a roommate. Unfortunately for Sarah, her roommate Rebecca, played by Leighton Meester of “Gossip Girl” fame, turns out to be anything but normal. In the beginning of the movie, Sara moves into her dorm and waits for her roommate to arrive. After a few hours pass without anyone showing up, Sara decides to spend the night out with newly acquainted friends from down the hall. When Sara returns to her dorm, drunk and clumsy, she meets Rebecca. Over the next few days the two girls bond over daily activities and forge what appears to be a normal friendship. But as days turn into weeks, Rebecca starts to exhibit strange behaviors.
Rebecca quickly becomes obsessive over Sara, calling her incessantly when she doesn’t come home at a certain time, and takes drastic measures to ensure that she is Sara’s only friend. As the movie progresses, more and more cringe-worthy scenes come into play. In the theater, audience members shriek in horror as Rebecca carries out the unfathomable in order to secure Sara as her best friend. Rebecca also begins to copy things about Sara. She gets the same tattoo and later dies her hair dark brown. “The Roommate” will not disappoint college students, as it is relatable and fast-paced. I went to see this movie with my actual roommate, which made the movie experience all that more frightening. I began to have flashbacks, like when my roommate bought a pair of leather boots that looked just like mine. Or the time she called me when I didn’t come home at 2 a.m. Was it all a ploy? During the movie, I would occasionally glance over at my roommate, wondering if she was getting ideas. The film’s plot keeps viewers on their toes with the originality of Rebecca’s schemes. Just when it appears Sara is finally alone, the camera changes focal points to show Rebecca watching in the background. There’s a cliché shower scene that most audiences have seen time and
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again in old thriller movies, yet it still creates a frightening effect. Yet although the movie keeps you on edge, the plot is somewhat predictable. When Sara tells Rebecca her fashion professor crossed the line and kissed her, it is no surprise Sara has a different professor the next day. This becomes a theme: Anyone who crosses Sara or threatens Rebecca’s friendship suffers a similar fate. Meester plays an astonishingly convincing sociopath. Her use of strange body movements and stalker behavior give off constant creepy, forboding vibes. Kelly, on the other hand, gives a mediocre performance. At times it feels like she’s putting more effort into appearing pretty than afraid, especially during the climax. Like Kristen Stewart’s performance in the “Twilight” series, Kelly comes off as corny and contrived, especially in scenes where Sara is supposedly bonding with Rebecca. Overall, the movie falls short of a true thriller, failing to startle its audience as Rebecca spins her devious web to keep Sara all to herself. I only jumped once during the whole film. Without Meester’s performance, “The Roommate” would have only been a mild success. But with Meester, it is great to watch the drama unfold.
‘Bellflower’ innovates and intrigues David Cottrell co-ttrell it on the mountain
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his was the second year that the Sundance Film Festival featured the NEXT program, a category for extremely lowbudget films, intended to give burgeoning filmmakers an opportunity to shine the spotlight on their labors of love. One of the films I saw at this year’s festival in the NEXT program was “Bellflower.” The movie didn’t win any awards, and I wouldn’t say it was one of the best films at the festival, but it was one of the most memorable. It was incredibly innovative and intriguing and helped its rag-tag group of creators garner some much-deserved attention. Written, directed, edited by and starring Evan Glodell, “Bellflower” is the story of two tough-guy gearhead buddies, Woodrow (Glodell) and Aiden (Tyler Dawson), who dream about starting their own gang to rule the wasteland when Armageddon finally comes. The two are life-long best friends from Wisconsin who moved out to California and spend their spare time building flamethrowers and working on outfitting their end-of-theworld muscle car, the Mother Medusa. Woodrow goes on a romantic journey with bohemian Milly (Jessie Wiseman) only to get his heart ripped out. That’s when things take a turn for the
Glodell as Woodrow photo Courtesy Coatwolf productions
dark and disturbing. The film defies categorization into any one genre in a way no film has in recent memory. It evolves from a mumblecore romance, to a gritty drama, and finally into a disturbing horror-esque tragedy that would put “Titus Andronicus” to shame. And to top it all off, the film has the genuinely warm heart of a bromance flick subtly beating throughout its entirety. Like “(500) Days of Summer” director Marc Webb, one of the breakout talents of Sundance 2009, Evan Glodell is also a Wisconsinite and former Madison resident. Originally from Baraboo, Glodell studied engineering at UW-Platteville for a semester, and studied filmmaking at UW-Milwaukee before moving to Madison. Ultimately he moved to California because, as he explained in the post-screening Q&A, “that’s what people from Wisconsin do.” At the Q&A after the screening, the first question came from a guy who said, “I just wanted to let you guys know that this is my second time seeing this movie. I passed up seeing other movies to see this again. That’s how badass it is.” Indeed, ‘badass’ seemed to be the word of the evening to describe the film. Although I witnessed several people walk out of the theater and never come back, a large portion of the midnightaudience was absolutely enamored with the film. I don’t necessarily think it is a totally polarizing film where you either love it or you hate it. I myself occupy a middle ground in which I appreciate the film for what it does right and where it innovates, but I also think it has some flaws. However, it did seem to push viewers to one extreme or the other. While Glodell wouldn’t reveal the film’s exact budget, he did note that it was “not even close” to the $50,000 limit for films in the NEXT category.
One of the most innovative aspects of the film was the camera it was shot on. Glodell designed it himself and co-star and producer Vince Grashaw likes to call him “an engineering madman” because of it. Glodell has dubbed the camera the “Coatwolf Model II” after his production company, Coatwolf Productions. The camera is a custom amalgamation of vintage camera parts, bellows and Russian lenses with the internal guts of an Si-2K Mini. In order to reposition the camera on set, four people were required to move in tandem, as the camera was also connected to a MacBook Pro, a deep-cycle battery, and a car inverter at all times. Glodell describes the process he went through to create the Coatwolf II as a bit like “camera hacking.” The footage produced by the Coatwolf II has a style totally its own. As one film blogger pointed out, it is a bit reminiscent of something that could come out of the popular Hipstermatic iPhone app—except that it’s high-definition digital video. The shots often seem like faux-vintage photographs that have come to life. The film’s distinct visual style and unconventional storytelling coalesce into something that can be simultaneously stunningly beautiful and absolutely horrifying. “Bellflower” has its fair share of problems, especially as the story debatably falls apart in the last act, and I would be hard-pressed to argue with anyone who genuinely disliked it. But it’s the type of movie you won’t soon forget after you see it, regardless of how you felt. And it will be quite a while before something else comes a long like it. The film was picked up for distribution by Oscilloscope, a relatively small indie-film distribution company that was founded by Adam Yauch, better known as MCA of the Beastie Boys. Oscilloscope is planning a limited release of “Bellflower” in theaters this summer. I highly suggest you go experience it for yourself. If you want to help David create his own version of the “Coatwolf Model II,” email him at dcottrell@wisc.edu.
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Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Today’s Sudoku
Making musical mishaps during the Super Bowl
Evil Bird
Oh.... Yum... Valentine candy “conversation hearts” have a shelf life of five years.
dailycardinal.com/comics By Caitlin Kirihara kirihara@wisc.edu
© Puzzles by Pappocom
Hot Sauce
By Oliver Buchino buchino@wisc.edu
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.
Eatin’ Cake
By Dylan Moriarty eatincake@gmail.com
Today’s Crossword Puzzle
Crustaches
By Patrick Remington premington@wisc.edu
By Dan Tollefson dtollefson@wisc.edu
Hoop Dreams Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com Let’s Swing
ACROSS 1 George Foreman, before fighting Ali 6 Where to find your balance 9 Angry fits 14 Worse, as an excuse 15 Tell’s home canton 16 What the game was to Sherlock 17 Select few 18 Reid of “WKRP in Cincinnati” 19 Oslo residents 20 Approaching 23 Recipe abbreviation 24 Where flocks frolic 25 Sofas 27 Without a single defeat 32 Bandy words 33 Type of leaf or service 34 Male operatic voice 36 What a tobacco chewer does 39 Oil corp. based in La Palma, Calif. 41 Yellower, as a banana 43 Storybook brute 44 Utter nonsense 46 Information bit 48 Shade or tint 49 Vittles on the trail
51 Digitize an old LP, perhaps 53 Foul atmospheres 56 Solid yellow ball on the pool table 57 Word with “twisting” or “wrestling” 58 Not ready to ship, in a way 64 Sahara transport 66 Place purveying potent pints 67 Regard lovingly 68 Show penitence 69 Strong and healthy 70 Razz 71 Takes an indirect route 72 Skating champion Midori 73 Messed up the math, say DOWN 1 Staff symbol 2 Sign of saintliness 3 Gulf state royalty (Var.) 4 Pluck 5 Warm up, as an oven 6 What you may set a camera on 7 Svelte 8 Impersonate 9 Emotional problems 10 Tabloid photo subject
1 Straight to the point 1 12 “All That Jazz” director 13 Some people take them up then down 21 Furnish with food 22 Rejections 26 Mob kingpin 27 Young state? 28 Emperor thought to be mad 29 Board game 30 Oklahoma city 31 Like some stocks 35 Nerve network 37 Test answer, sometimes 38 Soothsayer 40 Belonging to you and me 42 Bit of hearsay 45 Talks indistinctly 47 Authoritative command 50 Sheep sound 52 Tiller follower 53 Noisy parrot 54 Foaming at the mouth 55 Genre with time travel 59 Weave yarn 60 Well aware of 61 Be loud, as an engine 62 Gaelic tongue 63 Real estate document 65 It may be in sight
Washington and the Bear
By Derek Sandberg kalarooka@gmail.com
opinion Only time will decide Egypt’s political fate dailycardinal.com/opinion
Professor Jon PeveHouse guest columnist
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ith the outcome of the upheaval in Egypt still uncertain, both supporters and detractors of the Obama administration have already begun to dissect the administration’s strategy. There is no doubt that supporters noted the personal intervention by the president into the crisis as the violence in Tahrir Square began to escalate. Detractors will point out the relatively slow response as well as the seemingly abrupt change in tone of the administration, pushing back a long-time ally.
The question as to whether the U.S. should support a non-democratic ally to achieve American strategic interests is a long-running debate.
Yet, another important narrative developing around the events in Egypt involves a more general issue in American foreign policy: The question of democracy versus strategic interests. Although witnessed more starkly during the Cold War, the question as to whether the U.S. should support a non-democratic ally to achieve American strategic interests is a
Editorial Cartoon
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
long-running debate. Should America continue to support President Hosni Mubarak, the King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia or Meles Zenawi of Ethiopia to help achieve political or military goals? Why not push harder on these leaders to undertake democratic reform, respect human rights and tackle corruption? Anyone who quickly answers these questions on one extreme or the other has not contemplated what a difficult question it is. Yes, American foreign policy should promote human rights and democracy as well as pursue our national interests in promoting security and stability. In a perfect world, both sets of goals can be maximized. But this world does not exist and there are real tradeoffs and uncertainties that come with the pursuit of either course. And the case of Egypt throws these tradeoffs into sharp relief. This week, many people have discussed the dangers of promoting democratic change in Egypt. Foremost among these dangers, it is argued, is the inevitable rise of an Islamic state. This state would arise on the back of the Muslim Brotherhood who would undermine the peace treaty with Israel, which would work against American goals in the region and foment Islamic revolutions throughout the Levant. Democracy, after all, means power to the people. And the people of Egypt, according to the last Pew Global Attitudes Project, maintain a tepid 17 percent favorability rating toward the United States. Why would we expect a government elected by Egyptians to have
any sympathy toward the goals of American foreign policy? Yet, as we have been reminded by numerous commentators this week, the Muslim Brotherhood is not at the front of the Egyptian movement. They are chasing it. And divisions within the Brotherhood make their short-to-medium-term threat to “take over” Egyptian democracy quite low. Moreover, the Army would not standby if the Brotherhood attempts to undertake policy that threatened the Army’s interests (e.g., aid from the United States). Should the Brotherhood push too hard and too fast, a Turkey-type military guardianship with occasional “corrections” is a likely outcome.
Anyone who quickly answers these questions on one extreme or the other has not contemplated what a difficult question it is.
The move toward democracy can mean violence and war. And not during the transition itself, but during the electoral process that will inevitably follow. Real elections, after a long hiatus of no or sham elections, can lead to overheated nationalist or religious rhetoric to get votes. This rhetoric can create significant tensions within a country and can make neighbors nervous as relatively new political parties attempt to find their voices and attract voters. Israel, for example, could easily become the political
football thrown between competing parties in Egyptian elections, making the situation between those two states precarious. But if elections are held in a careful manner such dynamics can be minimized. Again, the Army is likely to keep some control of the electoral process, especially in the beginning stages. Egypt is not an ethnically heterogeneous country, which is a factor that has undermined other country’s attempts at electoral democracy. Finally, international assistance from the European Union could assist the process, as it has in various central and eastern European transition countries. What benefits can come from a wholesale adoption of a prodemocracy and human rights agenda? Most immediately, the open and sharp criticism of the Mubarak administration actually can assist the United States in a counter-terrorism goal. Al-Qaeda and other militant groups often recruit followers by highlighting the idea that oppression and frustration is caused by America’s support for tyrants. Of course, reality is more complex, but the narrative often sticks. Still, democracy is not risk-free. History is replete with those who rise by the ballot box only to close it. In a system with significant checks and balances, a healthy civil society and a strong history of representative institutions, these risks are low. Yet, other than the Army, it is not clear if Egypt possesses these characteristics. Which brings us back to American foreign policy. The narrative that has clearly emerged in
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this crisis is that it is Mubarak who is on trial. The discussion in much (although not all) of Egypt, the United States and Europe has become about getting Mubarak out and opening the space for participation, but leaving the larger roots of the regime unchanged. The Obama administration has contributed to this by personalizing the Egypt crisis around Mubarak. Such a strategy allows, as much as any, to push the democracy and the interest agendas. The tyrant must go, but many of his institutions stay.
A mass movement among frustrated people is hard to bet against, but old habits die hard.
Time will tell whether such moves to remove Mubarak in favor of a gradual transition will please the protesters in the streets, bring genuine freedom to the people of Egypt, satisfy American foreign policy goals, further stability in the region or lead to a further retrenchment of authoritarian power. But the administration is still trying to find the democracy-interest balance. A mass movement among frustrated people is hard to bet against, but old habits die hard. Professor Jon Pevehouse is a professor of political science. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
By John Liesveld opinion@dailycardinal.com
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dailycardinal.com/sports
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Packers on the verge of becoming football’s next great dynasty
Wrestling
Ryan Evans no, not that one
W Matt Marheine/Cardinal file photo
Coming off an injury, Trevor Brandvold will try to help the Wisconsin wrestling team reobund after three straight conference losses. The Badgers will look to bounce back against Norhwestern on Friday.
Tough stretch has Badgers looking to right the ship By Ted Porath The Daily Cardinal
Coming into last week, the Badger wrestlers were flying high, with only one loss in 11 matches and climbed to No. 3 in the country. This past week was a tough one for the Badgers wrestling team however, with the Badgers dropping three straight conference matches. The skid started on January 30, when the Badgers traveled to No. 4 Minnesota. The dual was close throughout, coming down to the final match. The Badgers trailed 18-15 heading into the heavyweight match, and had a great chance of tying or winning with No. 11 redshirt senior Eric Bugenhagen taking the mat. Bugenhagen lost a nail-biter 3-2 to Minnesota’s Ben Berhow. Bugenhagen scored two escapes in the match, but Berhow scored a takedown and an escape in the final period to ultimately come out on top, giving Minnesota a 21-15 victory. The loss dropped the Badgers to No. 6 nationally. The match was not all for naught as it saw the return of All-American fifth year senior Trevor Brandvold (197 lbs.) to the mat. The Badgers next match was in the UW Fieldhouse against No. 13 Michigan. This match was a tough one for the Badgers, who recorded only three victories in the entire match and lost 26-9. The victories came from No. 3 junior Travis Rutt (184
lbs.),Brandvold and No. 3 redshirt sophomore Tyler Graff (133 lbs.). When asked about how Brandvold looked coming off an injury, head coach Barry Davis was very positive. “Trevor’s looked great,” Davis said. “I think he’s back to his old form, actually better than that.”
“They’re doing the little things well and that’s the key.”
Barry Davis head coach Wisconsin wrestling
The most recent loss came on Sunday at the UW Fieldhouse to No. 24 Purdue. This was another heartbreakingly close loss for the Badgers. Despite winning half of the matches, the Badgers were not able to rack up enough bonus points to overcome the pin recorded by Purdue’s Camden Eppert against redshirt sophomore Tom Kelliher (125 lbs.) and ended up losing the match 18-16. This match, despite the loss was a bright spot for the Badgers, as No. 8 redshirt sophomore Cole Schmitt (149 lbs.) returned from injury and recorded a 10-5 win. The Badgers have been dealing with injury problems all year and
are still waiting for the return of defending national champion junior Andrew Howe (165 lbs.) from an injury sustained in the first match of Big Ten competition against Illinois. The fact that the Badgers have stayed in the top 10 all this time with the number of injuries they have sustained throughout the season is simply remarkable. It is a testament to the depth and coaching of the Badger team. The biggest reason for the Badgers recent slide, however, has been the inability to win close matches. If the Badgers are going to win the national title, this is something they will have to figure out. There have been two bright spots in this storm of injuries and close losses, however. Rutt and Graff have been outstanding this year, each with 23 wins and one loss. When asked about the success they are having this year, Coach Davis was adamant that it all starts in practice and training. “[The biggest reason is] the work ethic. The work ethic and mindset. They’re doing a great job in the wrestling room and just letting themselves wrestle,” Davis said. “They’re doing the little things well and that’s the key. They’re just doing things right day in and day out.” The Badgers hope to rebound off of these close losses as they travel to Evanston for their next dual against Northwestern Feb. 11.
atching Aaron Rodgers and the Packers lift the Lombardi Trophy on Sunday night is a memory that I can safely say will stay with me for a very long time. It was a surreal feeling after an amazing season that saw Green Bay overcome pretty much every obstacle the football gods had at their disposal. After Rodgers took that final knee my dad texted me saying, “cherish it,” and cherish it I will, because in my time as a sports fan I have never felt anything as immensely satisfying as watching the Packers take home the Super Bowl title. But looking at the Packers’ roster, it’s a feeling that I may have to get used to. Ted Thompson has done an amazing job at putting together a young and talented roster that looks primed to win at least a couple more championships. Call it premature if you want, but I believe we could be looking at the NFL’s next great dynasty. Thompson has put together a 53-man roster that is built to win. Much like New England Patriots —the NFL’s last great dynasty— the Packers have amazing depth on their roster, and that is key to being a championship team. That depth has been on display all year. As the Packers suffered injury after injury many pundits said that their season was over. There was just no way a team could recover from what the Packers suffered. Who could blame them for thinking that way? The Packers lost an all-pro corner in Al Harris before the season even began, their leading rusher Ryan Grant, arguably their most dangerous pass catcher Jermichael Finley, their starting middle linebacker Nick Barnett, a promising rookie strong safety Morgan Burnett and multiple other pieces of the puzzle. The fact that their replacements were able to step up and fill in the way they did is the reason Green Bay is Titletown once again. Tramon Williams emerged as one of the league’s premier cover corners and Sam Shields had a great season in his own right. James Starks single-handedly revived the
stagnant Packers’ running game in the playoffs, receivers like Jordy Nelson stepped up their game and Desmond Bishop and A.J. Hawk more than made up for the loss of Barnett. Though one player that I think goes unnoticed in the grand scope of things is Charlie Peprah. After Burnett went down and Atari Bigby was sidelined with his latest injury, Peprah stepped in admirably for the rest of the season opposite Nick Collins in the Packers secondary. It figures then that after a long season of overcoming injury, the Packers would have to do it again in their biggest game of the year. The Super Bowl was a microcosm of the Packers season as Charles Woodson and Donald Driver were sidelined with injuries, but yet again they were able to overcome. That is the mark of a truly great team, and that depth is what has this Packers team seemingly on the cusp of legendary status. I go back to the example of the Patriots’ teams of the early part of the last decade. I always remember thinking to myself how amazing it was that no matter what happened to those teams, no matter what injury occurred, they always had some replacement waiting in the wings that was just as good, if not better. I mean, even when Tom Brady went down a couple seasons back, Matt Cassel stepped in and had a Pro-Bowl caliber year. That, to me, is the mark of a great team, and that is what wins you multiple championships. And of course, let’s not forget the presence of a franchise, allpro caliber quarterback at the helm of one of the league’s most prolific offenses and a defense that was among the most stout in the league this past season. In Super Bowl XXVII the Cowboys won with a very young and talented team. People said they won it earlier than expected. They went on to win two of the next three. The same has been said about the Packers victory on Sunday: It came early. The Packers can only hope to mirror the success of those Dallas teams, but it would seem to me that the Packers have all of the pieces in place to be among the league’s elite for the foreseeable future. Think it is a bit premature to call the Packers a budding dynasty? E-mail Ryan at rmevans2@dailycardinal.com.
Men’s Hockey
After bye week Eaves and company ready for showdown with Nebraska-Omaha By Ryan Evans The Daily Cardinal
After a bye week the No.7 Wisconsin men’s hockey team should be rested and ready to go as they head out the road to face off with Nebraska-Omaha in a series that will have big implications for the WCHA conference standings. The Badgers are coming in riding a streak that has seen them win 11 of their past 12 games, including two consecutive series
sweeps over conference rivals peting last week,” he said. “We Minnesota-State Mankato and held our own skills competition to Michigan Tech. go along with a lot of toe Head coach Mike Eaves to toe stuff. We used that said that he made practices to help the players rest and during the off-week lighter recover, so we’re hoping to than usual in hopes that see a little more bounce in his team will come back their step this week.” refreshed and ready to go UNO will provide the this week in preparation surging Badgers with their for their upcoming series first real test in about EAVES with the Mavericks. a month, and this week“We did a lot of comend’s series at Qwest Center
Omaha will have a big effect on the conference standings as fifth place Wisconsin trails the fourth place Mavericks by a mere two points. Nebraska-Omaha has taken the WCHA by storm in the program’s first season in the conference, a feat that according to Eaves can be credited to the work of UNO head coach Dean Blais. “[Blais] has done a nice job this year in their first season in the WCHA,” Eaves said. “He is
one of the best coaches in college hockey, and everywhere he puts his footprint that team learns how to win.” “I think they surprised everyone with their success at first but it’s Dean’s team. He has a formula: Work hard, get good goaltending, work together and try to get some skill in there. You do that you’re going to have success, and he has done that wherever he has gone.”