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Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Police release details on UW-Madison student accused of killing mother

By Alison Bauter The Daily Cardinal

Ben Pierson/the daily cardinal

Union members attended the Common Council meeting to hear the Overture Center ownership proposal.

Council unable to decide Overture’s fate

By Maggie DeGroot The Daily Cardinal

Madison’s Common Council debated into the early hours of Wednesday on the future of the Overture Center.

Council members deliberated three different models proposed for the ownership and operation of the Overture Center.

The first model, which was announced in June, comprises of city ownership and private operation.

Under this model, the city would purchase the building for $1 and assume some maintenance costs and responsibilities. A separate non-profit entity would oversee the operation of the center.

The private model plan states the

Overture could have ownership under the private Overture Development Corporation or 201 State Foundation, the proposed non-profit operator of the Overture Center.

The most recent alternative model, proposed by Alders Chris Schmidt, Dist. 11, and Shiva BidarSielaff, Dist. 5, would place the Madison Cultural Arts District as the owner and operator of the Overture Center. This model would also establish a commitment for the city to support the center at $2 million per year starting in 2012.

Former Mayor Paul Soglin said none of the three proposed models bring closure to the issue with Overture. Soglin said the major concern is the issue of the Overture

McCain salutes Feingold, laments a ‘poorer’ Senate without Wi. legislator

By Patrick Tricker The Daily Cardinal

U.S. Senator John McCain, R-Arizona, took to the Senate floor Tuesday to praise U.S. Senator Russ Feingold’s character and accomplishments, while calling him a “true friend.”

“We are of different parties, and our political views are often opposed,” McCain said. “We’ve had many debates on many issues. But where we agreed—on wasteful spending, ethics reform, campaign finance reform and other issues—it was a privilege to fight alongside and not against Russ Feingold.”

Feingold worked with McCain to pass the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002—better known as the McCain-Feingold Act—which limited individual donations to a campaign, outlawed soft money from corporations and unions and required candi-

dates to approve their ads on camera.

“We don’t often hear anymore about members of Congress who distinguish themselves by having the courage of their convictions,” McCain said. “In his time in the Senate, Russ Feingold, every day and in every way, had the courage of his convictions. And … I confess I have always felt he was my superior in that cardinal virtue.”

McCain expressly noted that his comments were not a judgment of U.S. Senator-elect Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin, who defeated Feingold in the midterm elections. Johnson was not available for comment.

McCain said he will not forget Feingold’s dedication and virtue as a public servant.

“But I will miss him here. Every day. And I will try harder to become half the public servant he is,” McCain said.

Center’s revenue, not one of cost.

Local arts consultant Mary Berryman Agard said none of the options sounded perfect because there is risk in all of them.

“Frankly I don’t think you have in front of you any model that I would have confidence in to endorse as a long term solution,” Agard said.

After many hours of questioning and debate, some council members became visibly agitated.

“I have never been more embarrassed of us than I am tonight,” Ald. Julia Kerr, Dist. 13, said. “I am at my wits end.”

Common Council President Ald. Mark Clear, District 19, made council page 3

The Lincoln County Sherriff ’s office held a press conference Tuesday about the recent arrest for First degree intentional homicide of UW-Madison student and Iraqi War Veteran Chase Boruch.

Boruch, 24, was arrested Monday at his West Washington apartment in connection with his mother’s death last June.

The criminal complaint states Boruch was with his mother, 63-year-old Sally Pergolski, in their truck when it drove into Moraine Lake June 6.

According to Lincoln County Sherriff Jeff Jaeger, Boruch told police he was able to escape the vehicle before pulling his mother from the sinking truck and dialing 911.

The deputy who arrived on the

scene found Pergolski facedown on the shoreline and was unable to resuscitate her, Jaeger said.

In the press release Tuesday, Jaeger said police issued a warrant for Boruch after discovering he had taken out over $800,000 in insurance policies a month before the accident.

Jaeger also said authorities recently received the autopsy report, which stated that Pergolski suffered a brain injury at least two hours before police were notified.

According to the release, Boruch is currently being held at the Lincoln County jail on charges of First Degree Intentional Homicide.

Prior to enrolling at UW-Madison, Boruch attended UW-Marathon County in Wausau, student page 3

Marinette gunman dies morning after hostage crisis After taking 25 of his classmates and one teacher hostage at Marinette High School Monday and then turning his gun on himself, 15-year-old Samuel O. Hengel from Porterfield died Tuesday morning, according to police.

Hengel was declared dead at 10:44 a.m. at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Green Bay from injuries sustained in the shooting, which occurred around 8 P.M. Monday night.

Marinette Police Chief Jeffrey Skorik said Hengel was sitting in class at approximately 1:30 p.m. Monday when he asked to be excused to go to the bathroom, after which he returned with his weapons and fired the initial shots.

According to police, Marinette High School Principal Corry Lambie became aware of the situation and called the authorities at 3:48 p.m., at which point Hengel released one of the hostages.

Throughout the standoff, Hengel communicated to police through the teacher present, Valerie Burd. Five more hostages were released at approximately 7:40 p.m., shortly before Hengel shot himself and the rest of the victims emerged unharmed.

Skorik said the details of Hengel’s injuries from the shooting will not be revealed until the post-mortem investigation, and that Hengel’s motives for the incident are still unknown.

Some chords

Ben Pierson/the daily cardinal

Sophomore soprano Emily Worzalla performed Cantata “Gottes Rath ist wunderbar” accompanied by a trio during UW Early Music Ensemble at Morphy Recital Hall Tuesday night.

“…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: partly sunny hi 27º / lo 14º

tHURSDAY: partly cloudy hi 29º / lo 11º

2 • Wednesday, December 1, 2010

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

Why Thanksgiving is the biggest flirt ever

Volume 120, Issue 63

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

Kathleen Brosnan ‘leen back

News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com Editor in Chief Emma Roller Managing Editor Todd Stevens Campus Editor

Kayla Johnson City Editor Maggie DeGroot State Editor Ariel Shapiro Enterprise Editor Alison Dirr Associate News Editor Beth Pickhard Senior News Reporters Jamie Stark Ashley Davis Opinion Editors Dan Tollefson Samantha Witthuhn Editorial Board Chair Hannah Furfaro Arts Editors Jacqueline O’Reilly Jon Mitchell Sports Editors Mark Bennett Parker Gabriel Page Two Editor Victoria Statz Life & Style Editor Stephanie Rywak Features Editor Madeline Anderson Photo Editors Danny Marchewka Ben Pierson Graphics Editors

Caitlin Kirihara Natasha Soglin Multimedia Editors Eddy Cevilla Briana Nava Page Designers

Claire Silverstein Joy Shin Copy Chiefs Anna Jeon Margaret Raimann Nico Savidge Kyle Sparks Copy Editors Hannah Giese, Paige Veach, Sara Vinson

Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Cole Wenzel Advertising Manager Mara Greenwald Accounts Receivable Manager Michael Cronin Billing Manager Lizzie Breckenfelder Senior Account Executive Taylor Grubbs Account Executive Alyssa Flemmer Dan Kaplan Rick Maturo Nick Bruno Carly Ettinger Matt Jablon Graphic Designer Jaime Flynn Web Director Eric Harris Marketing Director Erica Rykal Public Relations Manager Becky Tucci Events Manager Bill Clifford Art Director Jaime Flynn Copywriters Dustin Bui Bob Sixsmith The Daily Cardinal is a nonprofit organization run by its staff members and elected editors. It receives no funds from the university. Operating revenue is generated from advertising and subscription sales.

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A

s I drove back to Madison Sunday in dreary weather, all I could think was, “What the heck am I doing? Did I really leave the comfort of my home for this crap?”

Don’t get me wrong, I love this school and this city just as much as everyone else on campus, but the weeks following Thanksgiving are pretty treacherous. You sit down at your desk and look over all the incomplete assignments you told yourself you’d start over break.

After all, being productive is a lot easier said than done when your whole family is sitting by the fire, snuggled on the couch watching “Planes, Trains and Automobiles” and they wave you in to join. Do you respond, “Nah. I have to write this 10-page research paper”? Of course you don’t. You make yourself a cup of hot chocolate, plop down next to your mom and enjoy one of the greatest Thanksgiving movies ever made.

It’s only Tuesday, and sitting by the fireplace with my family already seems like a distant memory. When I took a study break last night, I opened my fridge and moved things around in order to find the mashed potatoes. Oh wait. That was stupid of me, because you know where the mashed freaking potatoes are? They’re at home with my mom, where she’s probably playing

Christmas music and baking cookies. The only food in my fridge at school is expired lunchmeat and questionable string cheese.

Yes, Thanksgiving is indeed a tease; the pleasantness of the holiday squashed mercilessly by the reality of lengthy papers and exhausting finals. In order to get through the misery of dragging myself to class until winter break comes, I’ve decided to list a few smile-inducing moments from Thanksgiving break and hang them on my poorly-stocked fridge. I suggest you do the same.

Arriving home: When I walk into my house I’m greeted by my black lab, Lenny, wearing a gold ribbon and bow around his neck. My mom and I eat this cuteness up like it is gravy.

Yes, Thanksgiving is indeed a tease; the pleasantness of the holiday squashed mercilessly by the reality of lengthy papers and exhausting finals.

A surprise gift: Occasionally when I come home from school, my mom leaves a small gift on my bed, like a pair of socks or a box of Frango mints. A thoughtful gesture that says, “I bet you don’t get this kind of treatment at school. You may be able to party hardy at college, but at home you get chocolate on your pillow. Consider that before you think about moving far away

from me after graduation.”

Anyway, on this past homecoming, my dad left me the best gift— an online article titled, “Famous Left-Handers.” At the top of the page my dad wrote, “Since you’re left-handed, I thought you might enjoy this. Love, Dad.” The simplicity and randomness alone made it a gift I won’t forget, but on top of that, the article itself is hilarious.

What the heck am I doing?

Did I really leave the comfort of my home for this crap?

First of all, my dad highlighted “important parts” such as “International Left-Handers Day is August 13th.” I didn’t know such a day existed, but now that I am, I plan on hosting an annual BBQ to celebrate. All you left-handed readers are invited!

If you’re ambidextrous, you can come too. Right-handers, take a hike.

Second, some of the famous people on the list are “subject to be left-handed.” I’m assuming those people are the ones that have question marks next to their name, such as Joan of Arc. I would have loved to be in the conference room when they compiled the list. I imagine an old guy named Arthur says, “What about Joan of Arc?” Another old guy named Barty asks, “Any proof that she’s right handed?” Arthur answers, “Nope.” Barty points to the typist and directs, “Put her on

the list. But with a question mark.”

Third, some of the people on the list with question marks next their names are still alive.

I understand why the compilers may not be sure if Joan of Arc was left-handed, but Sylvester Stallone? Didn’t they have any means of determining his handedness? I just did a quick online search and found out he’s ambidextrous. If I were Stallone, I’d much rather have “ambidextrous” written next to my name than have my left-handed legitimacy in question. It’s a slap in the face!

Massive amounts of food: The morning after Thanksgiving I roll out of bed, go into the kitchen and pull mashed potatoes and stuffing out of the fridge for breakfast.

Shocked, my mom says, “It’s only 10:00 a.m.” I reply, “Don’t matter, don’t care.” She responds, “That’s pretty disgusting, and as your mother I can’t let you do this.” With one swift movement I deflect her hand away from my plate and refute, “Remember two Thanksgivings ago when I didn’t eat any food because I was sick in bed all day with a kidney stone? Well, I’m making up for lost time.” She shakes her head in defeat and says, “Well, you should get some protein too.

Better bring out the turkey.”

We all know the unfortunate fact that finals go until Dec. 23 is complete malarkey. E-mail Kathleen your Thanksgiving memories that might help you get through the terrible times ahead at kqbrosnan@ wisc.edu.

Delving into History

’s

A weekly dig through the bounds of our old issues

Monday Dec. 2, 1991

Editorial Board Hannah Furfaro • Miles Kellerman Emma Roller • Nico Savidge S. Todd Stevens • Dan Tollefson Samantha Witthuhn

Board of Directors Jason Stein, President Emma Roller • Cole Wenzel Samuel Todd Stevens • Mara Greenwald Vince Filak • Janet Larson Alex Kusters • Jenny Sereno Chris Drosner • Melissa Anderson Ron Luskin • Joan Herzing

© 2010, The Daily Cardinal Media Corporation ISSN 0011-5398

For the record Yesterday, the ALDO photo and “Red Monday” feature photo were taken by Matt Marheine, not Danny Marchewka, as credited.

Wisconsin will soon become the second state to implement a new technique to detect the HIV virus in its early stages, according to the head of the State Laboratory of Hygiene.

The Lab will follow Michigan’s lead and utilize the new technique, which enables doctors to test patients with the HIV virus more accurately, said Prof. Stanley Inhorn, medical director of the lab.

The new technique, the Polymerase Chain Reaction, was developed by the biotechnology company Cetus, and gives doctors the ability to separate blood cells from DNA molecules.

Since PCR gives doctors this new ability, they will be able to isolate the virus with about 94 percent accuracy, he said. It will also be able to detect the virus in a person within a week after infection.

The current method used for HIV testing, the Enzyme Linked Immunel Sorbant Assay test, does not detect the presence of HIV until after it settles into a person’s DNA and starts producing antibodies, Inhorn said.

PCR has been on the market since 1985 but has been used primarily in research.

“We will be the second laboratory in the country to start using PCR in HIV testing [because] ... only recently has this process been used for diagnostic purposes,” Inhorn said.

According to Inhorn, the Lab already has a verbal agreement with the Cetus corporation tostart using the PCR technique. “If everything falls into place, we can start as soon as January,” he said.

Testing is scheduled to begin on newborn babies, and move on to people considered to participate in high risk behaviors.

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Wednesday, December 1, 2010

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news

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Falk to step down in Dec., serve as interim exec. through April

By Adam Wollner The Daily Cardinal

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk announced Tuesday that although she will resign from her position Dec. 21, she will be appointed by Dane County Chairman Scott McDonnell to serve as interim county executive from January to April.

Once Falk resigns, McDonnell immediately becomes the acting county executive, giving him the power to appoint an interim country executive. McDonnell said he intends to select Falk, allowing her to keep her position until the April election.

“This accomplishes the goals I laid out when I made my initial announcement,” Falk said. “To serve until April to see through a number of important initiatives, ensure a smooth transition of the management of county government and step down

in a matter that doesn’t require a special election that costs taxpayers.”

Falk originally announced in October that she planned on stepping down in April. However, to avoid holding the special election in the summer instead of the spring, state law requires that she step down by Dec. 28.

“I think this is important that we have continuity in county government at this time. With all the upheaval going on at the capitol right now, there is real concern about what the Walker administration and Republicans will do to Dane County,” McDonnell said. “We need consistent leadership here in Dance County.”

McDonnell, who will be running for county executive in April, could have appointed himself to the position. However, McDonnell said he pledged not to appoint himself to the

Legislature Democrats continuing with labor deals Although Democrats have control over the legislature for only one more month, they are taking advantage of the time they have left, making no motion to stop proceedings with labor contracts as incoming Republican leaders have requested.

Governor-elect Scott Walker initially asked Gov. Jim Doyle two weeks ago to halt dealings with labor unions, which he ignored. Walker wrote another letter to state lawmakers Monday requesting they not hold a lame-duck session to establish new contracts.

“If approved, the contracts will tie the hands of the Governor and the newly elected Legislature as they work to balance the state budget,” Walker’s spokesperson Cullen Werwie said in a statement.

However, state Rep. Sondy Pope-

Roberts denied in a statement that these contracts would interfere with Walker’s goals.

“What Governor-elect Walker decides to do in the next contract is his prerogative,” Pope-Roberts said. “He’ll get the opportunity to oversee his own budget and contract negotiations soon enough after he is inaugurated.”

Incoming state Senate Majority Leader Sen. Scott Fitzgerald, R-Juneau, criticized, in a statement, the secretive nature of the bargaining procedures.

“The Democrats and the unions are holding all the cards at the moment, but the people of Wisconsin are still the ones paying the bill,” Fitzgerald said. “There’s no reason to keep the details and the price tag a secret like this.”

—Ariel Shapiro

Resnick announces candidacy for Common Council District 8 alder Scott Resnick announced Tuesday he will run for District 8 alder, a region representing many UW-Madison students.

Current District 8 alder, Bryon Eagon recently said he will not run for re-election in the spring.

Resnick, a UW-Madison alumnus, has lived in District 8 for five years. He is currently president of the State-Langdon Neighborhood Association and vice president of Hardin Design & Development, a small business in downtown Madison.

As a member of the StateLangdon Neighborhood Association,

student from page 1 after serving a tour in the Iraq War. At Marathon County, Boruch served as president of the University of Wisconsin Colleges Student Governance Council.

Another former CSGC president and current UW-Madison senior Dakota Kaiser said he remembered Boruch as “a really nice kid” who was quiet, dedicated to his job and ambitious.

“It’s really shocking, and it’s really strange,” Kaiser said. “[Boruch] was in a position of trust and he did a lot

Resnick has been interested in tenant relations, campus safety, economic development and alcohol policies, according to a statement.

“My leadership style is to eliminate adversity and create an open dialogue among community members in the neighborhood,” Resnick said in the statement.

Resnick’s campaign platform focuses on safety, tenant and landlord relations, development downtown and being accessible as an alder.

Resnick will run against UW-Madison student Kyle Szarzynski, who announced his candidacy earlier this month. of really good things, between his service in the military and the projects he did with student government.”

Kaiser said he knew Boruch primarily through the CSCG, where they had discussed law school, a “big goal” in Boruch’s life at that time, Kaiser said.

“Seeing this guy you’ve known as a strong social advocate and someone who really does the right thing in life being arrested for murdering his mother, I guess it’s just really a shock,” said Kaiser.

Boruch is expected in court early Wednesday afternoon.

seat because it seemed “undemocratic.”

County Board Supervisor Analiese Eicher, Dist. 5, who represents most of the UW-Madison, said the decision made by Falk and McDonnell was “smart and appropriate” and will provide a smooth transition.

“It allows Scott to campaign for the actual position that he’s announced that he’s running for and it allows Kathleen to continue doing the good work that she does in the county executive’s office,” Eicher said.

Falk also said that she is not planning on making an endorsement in the upcoming primary election.

Shortly before Falk’s announcement, state Rep. Joe Parsi, D-Madison, announced his candidacy for Dane County Executive. McDonell and Verona Mayor Jon Hochkammer are the only other candidates currently in the race.

Ben Pierson/the daily cardinal

Dane County Chairman Scott McDonnell will appoint Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk as interim executive after she steps down.

Cieslewicz, Monona Terrace committee reveal new director Mayor Dave Cieslewicz and the Monona Terrace Board of Directors nominated Gregg McManners as the new director of the Monona Terrace.

McManners will replace current Director Jim Hess, whose contract will end Dec. 10. McManners is currently the Director of Operations for the Monona Terrace. “[McManner’s] well-established

council from page 1 a motion to recess immediately and reconvene as a committee of the whole, where council members are able to speak freely. The council

network of connections in the Madison area enhances the breadth of experience he brings to the position,” Monona Terrace Board President Mona Adams Winston said in a statement.

McManners has held the position of Vice President of Operations for Madison-based developer T. Wall Properties and worked

as General Manager of national real estate developer the Richard E. Jacobs Group. He has also served on the Board of the Greater Madison Convention and Visitor’s Bureau and has a masters degree in business administration.

If approved by the Common Council, McManners will start the position Jan. 3.

members made recommendations to the entire council.

At this time, Ald. Brian Solomon, Dist. 10, said there isn’t any other option other than the need for more time, with others adding the issue is

too important to be rushed.

“This issue is bigger than Overture … [it] goes to the fundamental basics of democracy,” Soglin said.

Deliberations were not over as of press time.

science & technology Video games teach public about science

4 • Wednesday, December 1, 2010

By Caroline Schneider THE DAILY CARDINAL

Video games are not a new discovery, but researchers at the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery plan to use video games in an unexpected way: to teach the public about science.

The Institutes for Discovery, an interdisciplinary science building opening Dec. 2 at 330 N. Orchard St. on the UW–Madison campus, is an impressive workplace for those who enter its doors each day. An important aim for WID, however, is to impress communities far beyond those doors.

The Institutes, as a plural entity, is a partnership between a public center, the WID and the Morgridge Institute for Research.

In addition to the research that will take place in the building, science education and teaching will be one of the main goals of the Institutes.

John Wiley, former Chancellor of the UW–Madison and interim director of the Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, has high expectations for the building and the work that will come from it.

“The building itself was designed from the ground up

to foster collaboration and to encourage and support outreach and education, both public and student,” Wiley said.

Large teaching laboratories— one focused on biology, one on computer sciences and one on physical sciences—will provide learning opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students as well as K-12 teachers. Kiosks, video walls and a Mesozoic garden featuring plant life from the age of the dinosaurs will entertain and educate the public on the first floor. Restaurants and meeting spaces will also draw students and the public into the building.

“The first floor is entirely public space,” Wiley said, “I think someday that space will be as popular as the Union Terrace or the Rathskeller as a meeting place.”

Wiley also believes that the Institutes will further the Wisconsin Idea, a concept introduced in 1904 by then President Charles Van Hise which said the influence of the university should benefit all Wisconsin residents because they support the university with tax dollars.

“Everything about the center and the Morgridge Institute was designed to foster and encourage

the Wisconsin Idea,” Wiley said.

“The idea is that anything that goes on in our research can get out into the public domain and improve people’s lives.”

Susan Millar, a researcher in the Morgridge Institute, hopes to embody the Wisconsin Idea through her work to advance science education. Millar and her collaborators in both the private and public arms of the Institutes, aim to enhance student and public knowledge of science.

One way Millar and her group are working to do this is through production of educational video games involving topics such as oncology.

“People are already using games,” Millar said. “What we have to do is develop games that are as exciting as games for entertainment, but that have content that is meaningful for learning science.”

Video game themes will range from virus life cycles to land conservation to cancer treatment and many will be tested by local organizations, such as the Boys and Girls Clubs, introducing children to the excitement of scientific findings through a familiar medium.

Millar is also excited about people throughout the state and beyond having access to the games

dailycardinal.com

Danny Marchewka/Cardinal File Photo

The Wisconsin institutes for Discovery will officially open Thursday. she and her team create.

“Because the games are going to be online, anyone can play them,” Millar said. “We’re not place-bound like many face-toface education programs, so our games will circulate quickly.”

A driving force behind the education and outreach efforts at the WID is Tashia Morgridge, a former special education teacher with a lifelong love of learning and education. She and her husband, John Morgridge, former chairman of Cisco, are UW alumni now living in California. The couple donated $50 million to the building.

“Tashia insisted that we have teaching labs and that everything be available to students as well as science and math teachers in the K-12 school system,” said Wiley, who was instrumental in building the partnership between UW and the Morgridges.

In addition to educating the public, the WID also aims to jump-start research across cam-

pus. Five research themes—epigenetics, tissue engineering, health technology design, systems biology and optimization in biology and medicine—will be housed in the building. Each theme was conceived by a large group of researchers. Only one researcher from each group will move into the building, however.

The other members will remain in labs around campus, fostering new ideas in other buildings and departments.

“There’s a temptation to think of Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery as only what’s going on inside the walls of the building,” Wiley observes. “But that really isn’t true. I think every part of the campus as well as the public will benefit from the Institutes.”

A week-long opening celebration for the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery will begin Dec. 2. For more information and a schedule of public opening activities, visit discovery.wisc.edu.

Ask Mr. Scientist: Caramelized Food and Exploding Coke

By Michael Leitch THE DAILY CARDINAL

Dear Mr. Scientist: What’s the best way to caramelize food? I’ve heard for onions you’re supposed to go slow at a low heat, but then for scallops it should be fast and at a high heat. Why is there a difference?

—Deb S. What you’re describing are actually two different processes: Caramelization and something called a Maillard reaction. While caramelization occurs with foods that only contain sugar, Maillard reactions occur in foods like meat, bread and barley that contain both sugar and protein. Both processes involve multiple reactions that break down large molecules in the food and recombine them to form new, different-tasting compounds.

With caremelization, water is removed from large sugar molecules, the sugars are broken down into smaller molecules and the small molecules come together to form sweet, delicious caramel. When it comes to caramelization, low and slow is the way to go. It’s just like roasting a marshmallow; don’t get too close to the fire, take your time and you will be rewarded with a golden brown marshmallow, but stick it right into the flame and it will just start on fire

and end up burnt and black.

Scallops on the other hand involve the Maillard reaction. This process is very similar, except now the broken down sugars react with the amino acids from broken down proteins.

Again the smaller molecules recombine and produce larger molecules that give the food its new flavor and brown color.

Dear Mr. Scientist: I’m sure you’ve seen the Mentos and Diet Coke phenomenon. How does this work and does it have to be Diet Coke and Mentos or will other combinations of candy and soda work?

—Lori L. How these fountains work isn’t exactly understood, but thanks to the Discovery Channel’s “Mythbusters,” we’ve got a good idea. The potassium benzoate (a preservative), aspartame (an artificial sweetener) and carbonation from the Diet Coke, along with the gelatin and gum arabic from the Mentos react, quickly releasing all of the carbon dioxide . This reaction is further accelerated by the tiny holes on the surface of a Mentos where the CO2 bubbles are able to form and grow. If you don’t have Diet Coke or Mentos, using Lifesavers and most other diet sodas will do the trick.

arts

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Wednesday, December 1, 2010

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A link to the past: Chazen brings Middle Ages to life with manuscripts

Photo Courtesy Sesame Workshop

These days, it takes a great host to make “Saturday Night Live” must-see television. If hosted by the moster we all know and love, it is likely “SNL” will be able to achieve just that.

Live from New York, it’s Cookie Monster!

Todd Stevens the todday show

T

his Saturday, Robert De Niro will be hosting “Saturday Night Live.” It will be boring, and being Saturday night, you will invariably have better things to do and ignore it.

Would that be the case if, say, a “Sesame Street” muppet was hosting? I think not.

That’s exactly what the good folks at Sesame Workshop are banking on, as last week they kicked off a viral campaign to get Cookie Monster the coveted show business gig of “Saturday Night Live” host. And if SNL producer Lorne Michaels has any common sense, he would do best to listen.

“SNL” is currently suffering through its latest lull period, devoid of any big stars or presidential elections to keep things interesting. The current cast features nobody on the level of Tina Fey, Will Ferrell or Eddie Murphy, each of whom could make each episode worthwhile almost single-handedly. Even the show’s current top performers, Fred Armisen and Kristen Wiig, are not capable of such a feat.

Over the past few years, the “Sesame Street” gang has arguably been more cutting edge than anybody working under Seth Meyers.

As such, “SNL” has come to rely heavily on its guest hosts to make the show even somewhat interesting. When the host is good, such as Jon Hamm or Justin Timberlake, “SNL” can be must-see television. But when the host is anything less than stellar the show fails to click, perhaps generating one or two good sketches worth watching on Hulu the next day, but nothing more. Until the next election cycle comes around or the show lands its next blue chip star, this is the reality “SNL” faces.

But if that is the case, why not get a little creative? Why not mix it up and bring on a “Sesame Street” muppet?

It’s a question “SNL” needs to start asking, especially considering some of its most recent successes. Last year, the most hyped episode by far was hosted by Betty White,

who was buoyed to the stage by a viral campaign similar to Cookie Monster’s.

And the most watched episode of “SNL” in recent memory featured the stunt appearance of Sarah Palin as she tried desperately to prove to the United States that she wasn’t a shrill, callous dragon lady.

But just as important as the ratings were the jokes, which were what made both episodes actually funny for a change. Cookie Monster could inject the same level of life into the show, while at the same time providing the writers of “SNL”with a challenge. It’s hard to rest on your laurels when you’re writing material for a patch of fabric with googly eyes.

Even more importantly, “SNL” might actually learn a thing or two from their neighbors on “Sesame Street.” Over the past few years, the “Sesame Street” gang has arguably been more cutting edge than anybody working under Seth Meyers. Just check out “Sesame Street”’s parodies of “Mad Men” and “True Blood” on YouTube. And a segment featuring Grover riffing on Old Spice ads was funnier than anything performed in Studio 8H this year. Cookie Monster even has some prior experience in the realm of late night comedy, appearing on “The Colbert Report” two years ago in one of the show’s more memorable moments.

Granted, Cookie Monster does pose some difficulties as a host. The writers probably wouldn’t be able to go as risqué as they would like­—though considering so much of what they do is already bland, it might be hard to notice. And despite being a beloved character, Cookie Monster is still a one-joke premise. But that could be solved by bringing on other “Sesame Street” characters like Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch for guest appearances, just so long as they leave Elmo at home—that red tickle-me attention whore has long been the Scrappy to Cookie Monster’s ScoobyDoo. Even if it doesn’t succeed fully, it would be a great exercise in surreal humor.

So if you accidentally find yourself watching what we can only assume will be a less-than-inspired monologue from Robert De Niro this Saturday, think to yourself how much more exciting it would be to see Cookie Monster backed by the “Saturday Night Live” band. Then afterward, go “like” Cookie Monster’s campaign on Facebook and make the Snickerdoodle fanatic too big for Lorne Michaels to ignore.

Seriously, Elmo is a douchebag. If you agree, e-mail Todd at ststevens@wisc.edu and he’ll forward your hate mail onward.

a young abbey monk who undertakes the completion of the famous work of Irish monastic devotion, “The Book of Kells.” Stunningly animated, scored and told, the movie has blossomed here

By Kyrie Caldwell in the United States, receiving praise WUD Columnist from critics and gaining a loving folAs an avid participant in modern lowing that belies the notion that we, an life, it can be very easy to marvel at the American audience of the 21st century, swift progress of technology. I can take, cannot connect to the distant Ireland edit and post a picture on my phone as from over a millennia ago. The faith, easily as I can send e-mails on my com- legends and humanity are known to us, puter, automatically record television as is the sway of the film’s subject, the shows on my satbook itself. ellite receiver, play We can apprevideo games that ciate these as we look like movies can appreciate on my PlayStation the organic folds and boil a whole and vines, the pot of water in resplendent gold five minutes. and jewels and But there was a the vivid colors time in which I of the illuminatcould do none of ed manuscripts those things, a produced during time when most that time. Even if people were born not subscribed to and died within the faith behind a ten-mile radius such texts, in this Photo Courtesy Chazen Museum of art and all books were case Christianity, handwritten and “Hidden Treasures” will be on display at the artistic merit illustrated. The the Chazen from Dec. 18 to Feb. 27. of them is rarely Middle Ages were denied, just as the such a time, and on the surface it architectural splendor of Paris’ Sainte appears as if that period could not be Chapelle or Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia more disparate from our own. incite wonder in any who allow themArt, however, can be the bridge selves to fully experience them. between the modern world and that of Although one might have to pony eras long past. Indeed, this is the key up a plane ticket or two to see the latter concept behind the study of art his- examples, Madisonians need not ventory, as the tastes, beliefs, mistakes and ture far to see a selection of the texts. triumphs of our ancestors may very well Starting in December, the Chazen tell us a lot about ourselves. Perhaps this Museum of Art will feature an exhibit is why we find art so fascinating; it is of illuminated manuscripts complied timeless, often universal communica- from collections around the Midwest. tion between the artist and the viewer, Although I am not expecting the illusthe predecessor and the descendant, the trations to literally spring to life as religious faithful and those who may not they did in “The Secret of Kells,” I do believe. Thus, even though the Middle believe that a trip to the Chazen will Ages seem in no ways similar to the provide a relaxing, pretty and thoughtworld we inhabit now, there are elements provoking start to the holiday season. of their art to which we may relate.

Even if Christmas is not your holiday, perhaps the intricacies of the manuscripts will still stir up an inner sense of peace or at least curiosity. Perhaps they will lend themselves to warm Even if Christmas is not your holiday, drinks, a conversation with friends and perhaps the intricacies of the manufamily and a perfect end to the semesscripts will stir up an inner sense of ter. If so, then that will be the ultimate peace or at least curiosity. testament to art’s ability to affect the human spirit across centuries, oceans and states of mind.

The exhibit mentioned, Hidden For example, the beauty, narrative Treasures: Illuminated Manuscripts for power and transfixing detail of illumi- Midwestern Collections, will be on display nated manuscript can speak quite well at the Chazen Museum of Art from Dec. to a contemporary audience. This can 18 to Feb. 27. An opening reception and be seen through the recent Irish film curatorial lecture will be held Friday, Dec. “The Secret of Kells,” which is about 17 starting at 5:30 p.m.

Hey all! Meander on over to dailycardinal.com/media to check out an interview with Lori Berquam on campus safety.

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Search and Destroy: The bill of the platypus has electro-receptors to pick up the electrical fields of its prey.

Wednesday, December 1, 2010 dailycardinal.com/comics

Finishing your leftover Turduckhen

Today’s Sudoku

Evil Bird

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 Angel Lee alee23@wisc.edu

First in Twenty Answer key available at www.dailycardinal.com

INVEST WISELY

ACROSS 1 Broadway show about felines 5 Yemeni, for one 9 Type of insurance 13 Mata ___ 14 Form of lyric poem 15 ___ upswing (rising) 16 OPEC nation 17 Newspaper story tips 18 Sporting sandals, e.g.

19 Rental agreement covering 10 years or more 22 Trouser leg measurement 23 Sci-fi visitors 24 X-ray unit 27 Prepares to race 30 Still in the game 32 Audible breath 36 Firm’s worth 39 Legal memo starter 40 Tuneful threesomes 41 “Star Wars” character 42 Total dollars for retailers 44 One way to chatter 45 North Sea tributary 46 Starter home?

8 Rocker’s equipment 4 49 Metro maker 52 Origin 57 Technique of selling not-yet-owned stocks 61 Dentist visit initiator 63 Busy U.S. airport 64 Trojan princess of a Mozart opera 65 Hired heavy 66 Hemstitched 67 Post-Mardi Gras period 68 Makes a decision 69 Sea-loving birds 70 To be, to Caesar DOWN Tex-Mex dish Composer Copland Start to act?

Burn slightly Creator of impressions 6 Traipse 7 Discombobulate 8 Assailed on all sides 9 A no-win situation?

10 Received from an estate 11 ___ Schwarz 12 Terminus 14 Thallium and 1 2 3 4 5

mercury, e.g.

20 Wood-distillation product 21 Letters on a memo 25 Be of use 26 Postpone 28 Aloe ___ 29 Subway access 31 Leslie Caron film 32 Greek letter 33 How some legal proceedings are conducted 34 Photo taken at a party, perhaps 35 Dame Myra 37 Sorority gal 38 Made an appraisal of 43 Type of lily 47 “___ won’t be afraid” (“Stand by Me” lyric) 50 Notched, as a leaf 51 Questionnaire choice 53 Practical 54 Irritates 55 Nickel and dime 56 Maternally related 58 Rare as ___ teeth 59 Chess piece 60 They could use some refinement 61 Past 62 He may have a beat

Washington and the Bear

By Derek Sandberg kalarooka@gmail.com

opinion Empathy a solution for bad youth behavior dailycardinal.com/opinion Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Sam Witthuhn opinion columnist

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t comes as no surprise that Madison school districts are suffering. Public schools throughout the city struggle with a severe lack of state funding that only adds to the lack of authority figures—fueling the ideology of students who just don’t give a shit. And when you combine this lack of resources and educational programs with a student attitude that cares little about achievement, you get the perfect recipe for a continual decrease in graduation rates.

After all, students who fail to complete their homework or who show respect for their teachers can reasonably argue that if the state doesn’t show its support for education through monetary aid, why should they be expected to put in the extra effort? And while this argument lacks concrete support, a recent rise in poor behavior among middle school and high school students shows that they lust for learning and respect for fellow classmates is plummeting.

To be honest, kids just don’t care anymore.

According to a Wisconsin State Journal article by Matthew DeFour, reports of unlawful behavior among middle and high school students traveling to school via the Madison Metro bus system have significantly increased. Drivers reported a 19 percent increase in incidents relating to student rough-housing, vulgar shouting, vandalism, fighting and even the possession of illegal substances and weapons. There were 35 reports of

student fighting on the bus through the end of October, which is up from the 15 incidents recorded only one year ago.

Because Madison school districts provide about 4,400 free bus passes to low-income students each semester, Madison Metro justifiably asks that schools maintain some level of authority in unlawful incidents. As the policy is now though, students who receive free bus passes from school can use them whenever and wherever they please. Madison Metro hopes to change this in cases of disruptive and dangerous behavior.

Because the school district refrains from providing Madison Metro with the names of students receiving free passes, kids have no incentive to behave as there is virtually no threat of punishment. In response, Madison Metro conjured up a clever remedy to this problem. If students get too rowdy on the bus, the station will revoke their unlimited pass and supply them with a supplement card that grants students access to routes only going to and from school—adding an incentive to keep one’s behavior in check.

By risking students’ access to public transportation, Madison Metro is assuming authority over the lives of many students who often act only in their own self interest. But providing punishments only provides an incentive to behave properly; taking away privileges doesn’t target the root of the problem, something Hamilton Middle School Principle Hank Schmelz understands.

Schmelz sees the importance of humanizing the bus drivers in the eyes of the students. By introducing students to the workers who will most likely be driving them to school, middle school students are less likely to

cause trouble. In the same Wisconsin State Journal article, Schmelz said, “The more you can humanize people, the more people will empathize and won’t give the person a hard time.”

Students are more likely to be conscious of their effects on others when they take the time to get to know them, ultimately creating a sense of respect. By using programs that help students form a relationship with the bus company, unruly behavior among students is less likely to occur.

Madison schools need to continually promote these types of initiatives to truly impact students. Programs that directly target student behavior through relationship building instill a sense of respect in students.

Editorial Cartoon

Teachers constantly struggle to gain reverence from their students, which ultimately leads to a loss of student attention. Because students don’t care about the person teaching them, they tend to not care about their performance in the classroom—leading to underachievement.

State funding for schools to enhance teachers’ resources and programs is not likely to increase under the Walker administration, meaning it is up to the community to support school districts in their attempt to shape student behavior.

For instance, UW-Madison students can show middle school and high school students the importance of education by taking the time to

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volunteer and tutor. Forming bonds with students can give them the incentive to do well.

Simple encouragement can also go a long way. While students may see little help from the government, support and high expectations from the community can help them. By acting in the interest of others as role models, teachers, administration, community members and UW-Madison students can show middle and high schoolers the benefits of aiming high, shaping their behavior and goals for the future.

Sam Witthuhn is a junior majoring in political science and journalism. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

By John Liesveld opinion@dailycardinal.com

Safety a concern, but government overreached by banning drink Matt Payne opinion columnist

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s of Dec. 13, the popular energy drink Four Loko will no longer be on the shelves in any store in the country, at least, not in its current form.

The Chicago-based manufacturer Phusion Projects decided to pull the can after the Food and Drug Administration threatened to ban it outright. Several other alcoholic energy drink manufactures are also being targeted and therefore are also pulling their products.

The rationale behind the threats from the FDA is that Four Loko and other alcoholic energy drinks like it aren’t safe, because mixing a depressant (alcohol) with a stimulant (caffeine) was a bad idea. In the letter, the FDA wrote “Because caffeine alters the perception of alcohol intoxication, the consumption of premixed products containing added caffeine and alcohol may result in higher amounts of alcohol consumed per drinking occasion, a situation that is particularly dangerous for naïve drinkers.”

It’s true; the mixed ingredients found in Four Loko aren’t necessarily safe. The problem with the FDA’s rationale, however, is that there exists countless “particularly dangerous” foods

and drinks available to consumers. Red Bull and vodka, energy drinks and McDonald’s cheeseburgers (at least in the long run) are all “particularly dangerous” if consumed in excess. Alcohol in general is extremely dangerous for “naïve drinkers,” just ask the UW-Police how many people they have to drag to detox every Friday night.

The Four Loko debacle speaks to a larger issue of personal responsibility compared to a government nanny state.

When people drink Four Loko, they know what they are getting themselves into. If Four Loko tried to hide the fact that it contained so much caffeine and alcohol, the FDA would have a point, but it didn’t. In fact, the company marketed the product as a “Caffeinated Alcoholic Beverage.” Furthermore, the reports of hospitalizations from drinking Four Loko were a result of people drinking two or three in a very short time.

While college kids across the country will have to go back to drinking good ol’ fashioned kegs and mixing their own drinks for the first time since last semester, the Four Loko debacle speaks to a

larger issue of personal responsibility compared to a government nanny state.

What gives the federal government the power to tell you what you can and can’t drink? Is a ban on vodka and Red Bull in the near future? Should the beloved Fat Sandwich Company be shut down due to the fact that it may give you a heart attack if you eat it more than three times a week?

At the end of the day we are in charge of our own health and our own wellbeing. If we choose to choke down a meal from Fat Sandwich Company every day, then we will have to live with the possible consequence of being morbidly obese. If we drop a shot of Everclear into a Four Loko to make a Lokobomb, we will have to accept whatever disastrous consequences come of it.

The FDA certainly has a place when it comes to making sure that products aren’t outright deadly and ensuring that companies are advertising their product as it is. In the case of Four Loko, however, there was no evidence to suggest that drinking the can was any more dangerous than drinking Red Bull and vodka.

While campuses and local communities should have a little more leeway when it comes to banning products they deem detrimental to the community, unelected bureaucrats in Washington telling individuals what they can and can’t drink oversteps the bound-

aries of the federal government.

As college students, it is important that if we drink, we do so responsibly. It’s not the job of the federal government to hold our hand and make sure we don’t do anything that may be considered “naïve.” At least in part, this

country was founded on the principles of personal responsibility, not government intrusion from the cradle to the grave.

Matt Payne is a junior majoring in economics and Chinese. We welcome all feedback. Please send responses to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

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dailycardinal.com/sports

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Likely Rose Bowl opponent an unlikely center of attention

Men’s Basketball

parker gabriel

parks and rec

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Mattt marheine/cardinal file photo

Senior forward Jon Leuer is off to a good start this season, averaging 18.2 points and seven rebounds per game. He has put his versatility on display, converting 48 percent of his three-point attempts.

UW to host NC State in ACC/Big Ten Challenge

By Jeremy Wodajo the daily cardinal

After falling in the championship round of the Old Spice Classic this past weekend, the Badger basketball squad returns to the Kohl Center Wednesday night as they look to redeem themselves in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge.

Wisconsin is riding a fivegame win streak against ACC opponents as NC State visits the Kohl Center for a duel with the battle-tested Badgers. This will be the second straight season UW has drawn a home game for the challenge after defeating eventual national champion Duke last season, which helped the Big Ten secure its first ever victory in the event.

“I think we are a better shooting team than we showed but that remains to be seen.”

teams take pride in the challenge.”

After competing in Orlando, Fla., UW returns home having learned a lot about themselves.

One of the issues many players and coaches brought up was shot selection and shooting overall, as the Badgers shot only 35 percent from the field in the championship game against Notre Dame.

“We definitely did not shoot the ball well,” UW assistant coach Gary Close said. “I think we are a better shooting team than we showed but that remains to be seen.”

The Badgers’ below-average shooting performance was more than obvious this weekend as they only shot 10 percent from threepoint range in the first half against the Fighting Irish.

As in many of its games so far this year, Wisconsin was able to find a rhythm in the second half and went on a scoring run led by a barrage of threes. Despite the Baders’ ability to find their stroke later in games, the team sees con-

sistency as a big issue at this point in the season.

“We have stretches where we’re really good and then obviously we had some stretches where we would miss some shots and had some turnovers. It’s just about putting a full 40 minutes together for us,” Leuer said. “I think once we do that this team has a lot of potential but there were times when we were inconsistent and in the end that came back to hurt us.”

Although the team has had its bumps and bruises, the Badgers are confident in their personnel and see persistence as the key to overcoming their early season woes.

“We know we have guys on our team that can make plays and right now down the stretch we’re just not doing it,” junior guard Jordan Taylor said. “You’ve just got to keep trying and not lose confidence from that and just keep working at it and it’ll start falling our way.”

Gary Close assistant coach UW men’s basketball

Wisconsin is 5-6 in the challenge and 3-1 at the Kohl Center, having participated in each of the 11 seasons the event has been run. Although the victories come on an individual basis for each team, players and coaches see the challenge as beneficial to the conference as a whole in the long-run.

“We are focusing on one game at a time but you want to build a good resumé and if the Big Ten does [win] then it ultimately just helps every team in the conference,” senior forward Jon Leuer said. “We take pride in being a Big Ten team and I think all the other Big Ten

Matt marheine/cardinal file photo

Junior Jordan Taylor took a team-high 19 shots Sunday against Notre Dame. He is second on the team in scoring at 13.3 ppg.

ssuming No. 1 Auburn asserts the perceived superiority of the SEC’s Western division in the conference title game against South Carolina, and No. 2 Oregon manages to survive the Civil War against Oregon State Saturday, the Badgers will play TCU in the Rose Bowl on New Year’s Day. Anything but this situation would be the result of a shocking weekend in the college football world.

Here’s another surprise: Little Texas Christian University—with an enrollment of just 9,142 students—finds itself much more centrally fixed in the national spotlight than Wisconsin. If you think the Rose Bowl buzz in Madison is intense, look at all the news coming out of Ft. Worth, Texas these days.

National Championship conversation Head coach Gary Patterson led the Horned Frogs to a perfect 12-0 regular season and his squad finds itself at No. 3 in the latest Bowl Championship Series rankings. As a non-automatic qualifier, TCU received a tremendous boost in its chances when Nevada knocked off then-No. 4 Boise St. last Saturday.

A quick aside: Broncos fans and sympathizers should just be glad I don’t dedicate the next month to gloating about Boise’s blue-turf blues.

At this point, though, TCU is on the outside looking in as long as Auburn and Oregon take care of business. If I’m from the Dallas area or a TCU alum or just make a point of supporting ceratophrys calcarata (Venezuelan Horned Frog) in general, I’m not going to be very happy if a second consecutive undefeated regular season isn’t enough to get a crack at a national championship.

Whether or not TCU deserves that shot is debatable—personally I tend to think they don’t—but what is not debatable is that three undefeated teams is not good for the BCS. Even if the Frogs get frozen out of the title game again this year, it’s hard to argue that the Rose Bowl is a poor consolation prize. That leads right into my next point…

TCU’s likely opponent in the Rose Bowl Yes, that would be the Badgers.

A matchup with Wisconsin may not have the same sex appeal as a track meet like Ohio State against Arkansas, but it should pique national interest for a couple of reasons. First, TCU’s defensive front seven has dominated this season, limiting opponents to just 89.2 rushing yards per game and allowing just seven rushing touchdowns.

Even so, Wisconsin ran effectively—even dominated at times— against Ohio State and Iowa, two defensive fronts with similar statistics and tougher opponents.

TCU’s ability to stop UW might stand as a sort of indicator for the competency of this year’s non-automatic qualifiers. At this

point, it probably is not fair to judge anybody by how they handle Wisconsin’s offense, but that appears to be the hand that’s been dealt as TCU’s run defense ranks third in the nation.

The other topic that is sure to come up in national conversation pertains less to the Badgers directly and more to the conference they play in. A couple of weeks ago, Ohio State school president E. Gordon Gee ripped schools like TCU and Boise St. publicly, and implied their schedules amounted to regular matchups with “Little Sisters of the Poor.”

It’ll be interesting to see how the national rooting interest in the game shakes out. Will a nation fedup with computer rankings cheer for Bucky to roll, adding fuel to the argument that non-automatic qualifiers don’t belong? Or will they take the more traditional side of the underdog in hopes that it will shut the uninformed mouths of folks like Gee once and for all?

TCU is representing the little guys on a national stage this year, but they won’t be for long.

Future shift to the Big East As if TCU didn’t have enough to think about between scoreboard watching this weekend and an uncertain BCS destination, the school announced Tuesday that it will join the Big East for all sports beginning in the 2012’13 school year.

Even if the Frogs get frozen out of the title game again this year, it’s hard to argue the Rose Bowl is a poor consolation.

For Horned Frogs football, the incentive is obvious: The Big East holds an automatic BCS berth.

For pretty much everything else, though, I can’t see how this makes any sense. Take basketball, for instance. Beyond the fact that a 17-team league is ridiculous, the Horned Frogs are going to get worked just about every night.

Currently, the Big East has six teams in the AP Top 25. Last year, TCU went 13-19 overall and 5-11 in the Mountain West.

For all sports, but non-revenue teams in particular, the travel schedule is going to be terrible.

Fort Worth is west of every school in the Big East by a huge margin—the school is 1,545 miles from Syracuse, NY. Other schools are closer, but for good measure (no pun intended), the longest trip in the new-look Big Ten— Lincoln, Neb., to State College, Penn.,—is two thirds the distance at 1,088 miles.

It just doesn’t seem right for a school to make a decision based largely on one sport. Then again, at least the Big East might have a more legitimate BCS contender than this year’s 7-4 UConn team. That has to count for something.

What do you think of the waves TCU is making in the national media? E-mail Parker at pjgabriel@ dailycardinal.com.