HAILEY JOHNSON/THE DAILY CARDINAL
IUD appointments surge in response to Trump win
By Annika Bereny
SPECIAL PAGES EDITOR EMERITUS
For many women on campus who voted for Vice President Kamala Harris, the next few days were filled with anxiety, worry and a decision to get an intrauterine device.
For Kat Sattel, a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, waking up Wednesday morning meant calling her mother to discuss contraceptive options.
“I had a phone call with my mom where I discussed how fearful I was,” Sattel said. “And by that afternoon, I had made an appointment with UHS to have a consultation about [getting an IUD].”
Demand for IUDs and other forms of birth control increased nearly 22% in the 30 days after President-elect
Donald Trump’s 2016 election, a 2019 study found. This election has shown similar, if not elevated, results of the same phenomenon. Searches for “IUD appointment” increased 100% on Nov. 5, and searches for ‘planned parenthood’ jumped 40% in the 24 hours after the election.
Sattel cited the potential repeal of the Affordable Care Act by the Trump administration, an Obama administration policy that makes the birth control pill free, as the main reason for her decision.
“It is not an easy expense, to have to pay for birth control every three months,” Sattel said. “The reason that I want to get an IUD is because of how long it lasts and that it would be longer than any presidential term.”
Sexual health company Winx Health reported a 966% increase in sales of their emergency contraceptive pill in the 60 hours following the election. Planned Parenthood reported appointments for IUDs across the nation increased by 760% in the 24 hours after the election, birth control implants saw a 350% increase and vasectomy appointments increased by 1200%.
In Wisconsin, there has long been worry about a ban on emergency contraception, but the elections of Democratic Gov.
don’t get that reproductive health care anymore, which is really disappointing and scary.”
In Wisconsin, calls to Planned Parenthood have increased since the election, Analiese Eicher, director of communications for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Wisconsin told The Daily Cardinal. “Our community-facing folks and our health centers are receiving a lot of questions, and there’s a lot of uncertainty,” she said.
UW-Madison junior Annabel Allen said she decided to get an IUD earlier in the summer because of the uncertainty surrounding who would win the election.
“‘I should definitely just get an IUD with the upcoming election,’” Allen said she remembered thinking. “‘Because I don’t want to take any chances.’”
Over the summer, Allen, a Louisiana native, visited her home of New Orleans and said it made her feel the stakes of the election even more. Louisiana is currently a state with a full abortion ban, except in cases where the mother’s life is in danger or the pregnancy is “medically futile.”
“Being home and being in Louisiana obviously makes those issues feel a little bit more present,” Allen said. “When Roe v. Wade got overturned, it was like Planned Parenthood disappeared off the face of the earth at home, and I just think about all the women who
But Allen had her IUD placed incorrectly and experienced severe side effects, such as hormonal mood swings, irregular bleeding and painful cramps for the six months she had it before ultimately removing it.
A 2014 UW-Stout study reported 78% of women who had never given birth experienced moderate to severe pain during their IUD placement.
Just months ago, in late August, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated their recommendations and now urge health care providers to counsel patients about pain management before the procedure.
“You can just feel your body trying to reject it, which is such an odd feeling,” Allen said. “It made me sad, because I was like, ‘Why do I have to do this?’ I’m glad that I have this option, and it was easy and it’s accessible, but I just was like, ‘Why do I even have to do this in the first place?’”
Dissonance between the severe pain felt from IUDs and the benefits it provides has led to disillusionment in some cases. But birth control has always been a form of reproductive autonomy in the face of what many women see as male apathy to the consequences of unprotected sex.
And, with young male voters’ rightward shift this election, more women are getting IUDs as a way to protect themselves and their reproductive rights.
“Prior to the election, I was speaking to a lot of guys our age who go to this university, and they were very secretive and almost ashamed of if they were voting for Trump,” Sattel said. “The second that he won the election, they’ve come out of the woodwork saying blatantly misogynistic, blatantly homophobic things. It’s really scary to know that they feel like they have that power and feel able to get away with that without any sort of repercussions.”
One viral tweet that circulated after the election and has become a phrase used to troll women upset about the results of the election came from neo-Nazi Nick Fuentes reading, “Your body, my choice. Forever.”
Allen said, like Sattel, she’s noticed men saying extremely “disrespectful and dehumanizing” statements online since Trump’s election.
“Clearly, I’ve been stuck in this little bubble,” Allen said. “There are lots of people and lots of men out there who have no respect for women or their bodies.”
But the election results and the emboldening of the anti-choice cause does not mean hope is lost, Eicher said. PPWI resumed performing abortions in Milwaukee and Madison clinics in late 2023, despite the 1848 ban still being in effect.
“We are open and provide this full spectrum of reproductive and sexual health care, including abortion. The Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin doors remain open,” Eicher said
Paul’s Book Store closes after 70-year run
By Mia Salbego SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Paul’s Book Store, a beloved fixture at 670 State St. known for its vintage charm and atmosphere, announced on Instagram on Nov. 28 that it will close in early 2025 after 70 years in business.
The bookstore’s social media page posted a farewell statement on Thanksgiving, not specifying a reason for the closure but extending thanks to employees and customers.
“It’s been an adventure and a labor of love,” read the caption. “And now it’s time to say goodbye.”
The shop opened in 1954 by founder Paul Askins and was later taken over by his widow Caryl Askins following his passing in 1975, according to Channel3000. Despite her limited experience in the business of books, her stewardship helped establish the store as a cherished spot on State Street.
A short distance from campus, the small, independent bookstore held a place in the hearts of many UW-Madison students.
“It’s very different from a Barnes & Noble, it’s very momand-pop vibes,” said Avery Doemel, a UW-Madison junior.
Doemel remembers the first time she noticed the shop, prior to her first semester at UW.
“I was walking down State
Street, and I noticed a really cute bookstore,” Doemel recalled. “I really liked the music that they played and how they used vinyls. It sets the mood and gives a whole new feel when you go inside.”
Sarah Kissel, a UW class of 1994 alum and current attorney at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, remembers buying books for her English literature classes at
Paul’s Book Store during her time as a student.
Kissel expressed disappointment but said she understood the business’s decision.
“Part of the reason owning a bookstore is such a grind today is the obvious competition with Amazon,” said Kissel. “How do you compete with being able to open the computer that you keep in your pocket and, in under a minute, order something at a lesser price?”
As a Madison community member and mother of a current UW student, Kissel hopes that whatever business moves in to fill the spot on State Street maintains the area’s charm.
“I hope that whatever it is, it maintains the continuity of weirdness for State Street,” said Kissel, referring to the book store’s eclectic collection of books and other items. “I hope that it’s somebody new’s dream.”
Tony Evers and liberal-leaning Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz have kept them at bay.
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JAKE PIPER/THE DAILY CARDINAL
UW-Madison climbs research ranking to sixth in 2024
By Ted Hyngstrom STAFF WRITER
The University of Wisconsin–Madison rose to sixth in research expenditure rankings published by the National Science Foundation (NSF) Nov. 25 after years of sitting at eighth place.
UW–Madison surpassed $1.7 billion in research expenditures in 2023, its highest amount ever, according to the NSF Higher Education Research and Development survey.
The NSF HERD is an annual census of U.S. colleges and universities that spent at least $150,000 in separately accounted for research and development in the fiscal year.
The new ranking shows a
two-spot increase over last year, along with an increase of over $208 million from July 2022-23. This is a 13.7% increase in research expenditures.
Some of the largest expenditures included $29 million to study and treat diseases that cause blindness, $15 million over the next three years to increase artificial intelligence research and education and a $22.3 million award for the Population Health Institute in the UW School of Medicine and Public Health to expand work on community health, according to a UW-Madison statement.
“UW-Madison has been a research powerhouse for generations,” UW–Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin
said in the statement. “This latest increase in both our research expenditures and our HERD ranking is further evidence of our deep commitment to bringing incredible UW–Madison expertise across disciplines to the grand challenges of our time and to translating our discoveries to improve lives at home in Wisconsin and beyond.”
The ranking increase marks a rise over the past decade. UW–Madison was ranked fourth in the nation for research spending in 2014 but had fallen to eighth by 2018, according to PBS Wisconsin.
At the time, former UW–Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank credited this fall to state funding cuts to the UW System.
UW-Madison reinstates, alters sex education module
By Jake Piper STAFF WRITER
The University of Wisconsin-Madison reinstated a sex education module after removing the module on Oct. 16, 2024 because an inquiry from conservative student newspaper, The Madison Federalist revealed the module contained a link to an adult film award site, the Feminist Porn Awards.
University Health Services offers the SexWise Canvas module as one of four violence prevention modules. UW-Madison first-years and transfers are required to complete one of the four modules before enrolling in classes and all other students are encouraged to take one GetWise module each year.
UW-Madison spokesperson Kelly Tyrrell told The Daily Cardinal the university conducted their yearly review of the module ahead of schedule after Federalist Editor-in-Chief Benjamin Rothove’s inquiry and reinstated the module with “updates throughout the program in support of clarity, plain language and inclusivity.”
“Research shows that comprehensive sex education can prevent people from both causing and experiencing sexual violence. SexWIse aims to provide information that meets students where they are — regardless of their sexuality, gender identity or level of knowledge,” Tyrrell said.
Spencer Runde, Promoting Awareness, Victim Empowerment UW member, told the Cardinal most changes to the module were “minor” and questioned the initial removal of the module.
“Even though just a small part of my experience was in that module, I still felt like
I got silenced by the university,” Runde said.
Rory Madden, Sex Out Loud chair, also worried about the module’s absence during the Red Zone, a period of time from September to Thanksgiving during which the majority of sexual assaults on college campuses occur.
“I want to go to a school knowing the administration supports me and all my identities and overall taking [GetWise] down was really hurtful to me as a queer person and as a survivor,” Madden said.
Runde and Madden were both “frustrated” by the Federalist article.
“I think that his article hurt a lot of people,” Madden said.
Madden supported some changes to the module, but overall she said “the cons outweigh the pros in this situation.”
The changes she disagreed with included removing words from the module’s “sex glossary,” resources surrounding safe intimacy and sex, the university’s land acknowledgement from all GetWIse modules, links to a “feminist, ethical porn blog” and rewording mentions of casual sex.
Madden disagreed with Rothove’s characterization of the link as a “pornographic website.” Instead, she argued the link was to “a blog that contained a link to an ethical porn site, which talked about where to find ethical porn.”
When asked about their thoughts on the removal of the website, Runde declined to comment.
Tyrrell said the university updated references in the module with “research-based evidence and to best align with the program’s goals.”
Instructors from conservative law firm will teach UW law course
By Wanwa Omot STAFF WRITER
University of Wisconsin-Madison law student Mary Berg was shocked and upset when she learned attorneys from conservative law firm the Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty (WILL), Skylar Croy and Daniel Lennington, would be teaching a Constitutional Amendments course next spring.
The course — “Selected Problems in Constitutional Law: Constitutional Litigation — focuses on the Reconstruction Amendments: the 13th, 14th and 15th Amendments of the United States Constitution. Students will draw expertise from landmark cases such as Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) and Brown v. Board of Education (1954), according to a draft syllabus obtained by The Daily Cardinal.
Berg says the hiring of Croy by the law school is “astounding” and “intentionally puts students in harm’s way,” according to her statement sent to UW Law School deans obtained by the Cardinal.
Berg participated in the Wisconsin State Bar’s Diversity Clerkship Program, a summer employment program for law students. WILL sued the State Bar in December 2023, claiming the program was unconstitutional for discriminating against students on the basis of race and other “immutable characteristics” in their diversity definition.
Croy told WPR in a statement defeating “unconstitutional DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) programs” has become the WILL’s area of expertise. The firm specializes in culture war topics and is also suing the federal government over the McNair Scholarship for underrepresented students.
During the lawsuit, partially redacted documents including student’s personal statements, resumes and contact information — including Berg’s — were made available on WILL’s website.
“That kind of freaked me out more than anything. Given the atmosphere surrounding these conversations…I think it’s pretty easy for you and I to conceptualize the kind of harassment,” Berg said. “Some people want to enroll in this course and really use this as a test of their ideological strength. I am not one of those people.”
The litigation of the constitutionality of programs like the Diversity Clerkship Program has increased since the U.S. Supreme Court rejected affirmative action in June 2023.
The State Bar and WILL settled in April 2024, with the program continuing with a modified version of the definition of diversity which includes more language of the diversity of experiences and viewpoints.
Croy and Lennigton have criticized the law school directly, demanding it remove content from the school’s “Re-Orientation” program, a mandatory program for all first-year law students. WILL argued that the school was “pushing racist ideology on law students.”
Despite their criticism of the law school, Croy says he has a lot of respect for the law school and the course will be neutral in viewpoints.
Students can expect a “run-of-the-mill” course, learning about procedural matters when arguing in cases involving the Reconstruction Amendments that outlawed slavery, granted citizenship to those born or naturalized in the United States and prohibited federal and state governments from denying citizen’s right to vote “on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude,” respectively.
“I think it would be very good for students to try to get in a class like this with instructors that they have some concerns about, because if your goal in life is to someday go to court and argue against organizations like WILL, what better way to prep for that?” Croy said.
Berg said she does not have a problem with the course itself but rather the fact that it’s being taught by Croy and Lennington.
UW-Madison spokesperson John Lucas told the Cardinal Croy and Lennington were fully qualified to teach the course.
“We are committed to fostering a diversity of viewpoints, and having these instructors teach this course furthers that goal,” Lucas said.
Other law students like Samantha Crane plan to take the course next semester and look forward to learning more about constitutional law. “Why are UW Law students upset about a reconstruction amendments course being taught this spring?,” Crane said in a Tweet.
“If people are upset about it, I would say that I think people should take the class,” Crane said.
Croy and Lennington have previously crossed paths with UW Law School. Croy graduated in 2019 second in his class from UW Law School, Order of the Coif, and served as the editor-in-chief of the Wisconsin Law Review. This will be both Croy and Lennington’s first time teaching at UW Law School.
COURTESY OF JEFF MILLER/UW-MADISON
UW System’s 2024 review proposes major changes amid financial debate
By Alaina Walsh STAFF WRITER
As spring unfolds its beauty across the state of Wisconsin, the looming threat of tornadoes and severe weather heightens, threatening both property and lives.
Peak tornado season takes place between March and June every year. In response to tornado season, the National Weather Service (NWS) conducts tornado drills in the spring, where officials help citizens practice and prepare for these weather events.
Tornado and Severe Weather Awareness Week in Wisconsin occurred from April 8-12, aiming to inform the public about severe weather conditions and subsequent safety protocols, according to Wisconsin Emergency Management. Citizens are encouraged to review their plans for when severe weather conditions occur.
“The goal is to get people
out of ‘winter mode’ and have them start to think about severe weather and the potential for tornadoes,” said Timothy Halbach, warning coordination meteorologist at the NWS in Milwaukee.
The NWS planned to conduct two tornado drills during the awareness week this year, both on April 11 at 1:45 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. However, due to severe thunderstorms in Wisconsin that night, the NWS canceled its 6:45 p.m. drill.
One of the biggest challenges faced when conducting a drill is the potential of a real severe weather threat, Halbach said.
“We don’t want people to get confused about whether it’s a drill or the real thing,” he said.
There are several factors the NWS takes into consideration when planning a drill, Halbach said. These involve tasks such as making sure that the drill coincides with severe weather awareness week, as well as ensuring schools are in session so that
children have time to practice the drills.“One of the things that we try to avoid is having [a drill] during the week of spring break. We like to have it as a time for schools to have a chance to go through and do their tornado drills,” Halbach said.
About a month before the drill, representatives from the NWS, the Wisconsin Educational Communications Board, the Wisconsin Broadcaster Association and public information officers meet to finalize drill plans. The representatives meet again the week of the drill to check the forecast.
Dane County Emergency Management also conducts monthly tests of tornado sirens. The sirens are tested on the first Wednesday of every month at approximately 12:00 p.m. — as long as there isn’t a threat of severe weather.
There are 141 outdoor warning sirens in Dane County, along with four sirens covering the
entire UW-Madison campus.
Dane County Emergency Management emphasizes the importance of hypervigilance around severe weather threats on its website. While warning sirens quickly communicate impending danger, the department recommends residents use NOAA weather radios, smartphone apps and local media to stay up-to-date when severe weather is near.
“We try to do as much as we can, but a lot of it is in people’s own hands,” Halbach said. “The success comes when the real days occur for severe weather and whether or not people are taking action at those points.”
Wisconsin has been the site of 1,537 documented tornadoes since 1844, according to the National Weather Service, with 511 fatalities attributed to these twisters.
Eastern European students willing to give Trump a shot on ending Russo-Ukraine war
By Peter Fishman STAFF WRITER
Many Eastern European University of Wisconsin-Madison students who went to the polls for the 2024 election paid close attention to the candidates’ foreign policy stances on Russia’s war in Ukraine and came away with a favorite.
“Overall, I was more receptive of Trump’s stance [because] I feel that Ukraine, even with arms support, doesn’t have the military capacity to take back more land and risks losing more [in a prolonged war],” said Mikhail, a UW-Madison sophomore originally from Austin, adding this view informed his vote.
Mikhail isn’t alone in his reasoning. While some Eastern European UW-Madison students expressed skepticism of Trump’s unpredictability, many students told the Cardinal they were willing to give Trump a chance to bring a quick end to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Trump’s pledge to end war attracts student support
Since Feb. 24, 2022, when Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the war has become a flashpoint in American politics.
The incumbent Biden administration has been a staunch defender of Ukraine, spending $106 billion in direct military aid which has helped the beleaguered country reclaim more than half of the territory Russia had taken since 2022.
In contrast, Trump has refused to say whether he wants Ukraine to win the war but has said he would end the war during his first day in office.
UW-Madison sophomore Georgii Sukhotin, originally from the suburbs of Moscow, didn’t vote in the 2024 election but said he appreciated Trump’s “initiative” in brokering a swift end to the war.
“He showed real interest in ending this war and this is what’s most important for me,” Sukhotin said, adding he doubted Ukraine could currently defeat Russia. “I don’t want more deaths, more fighting.”
Other students said Trump’s approach to diplomacy appealed to them.
UW-Madison junior Yaroslav Polyakov, a Muscovite Jew, said Biden’s aid to Ukraine has been insufficient and “minimal” in bringing an end to the war, while Trump would take decisive action.
“He’s not afraid to sit at the same table
with dictators like Putin and Kim Jong-Un,” Polyakov said.
Trump’s ‘unpredictability’ sparks concern
While students said they were open to Trump taking action to end the war, some expressed concern over how Trump would accomplish that.
Mikhail said his mom, a Russian-speaking Ukrainian from Kharkiv, disliked Trump’s “unpredictability” and potential he would “discard” Ukraine.
A Russian UW-Madison freshman, who requested to remain anonymous, echoed these concerns adding her belief that Trump would force an unequal deal on Ukraine.
“Trump will probably push Ukraine to give up the four occupied provinces to Russia in exchange for peace,” she said.
However, she said Trump would be a stronger negotiator than Biden.
Despite Trump’s pledges to cut aid to Ukraine, Polyakov voiced his belief that the Trump administration wouldn’t cease support.
“It’s obvious Trump will continue to support Ukraine in some form even if he claimed he’d stop sending weapons and money,” said Polyakov.
Why they voted for Trump
For some Eastern Europeans, the Democratic Party’s perceived promotion of “big government” values and support for social movements seemed foreign.
UW-Madison junior Andrei Vardanyan, from Armenia, voiced his belief that most Eastern European immigrants voted for Trump due to his outlook on the LGBTQ community.
“For those with post-Soviet outlooks, LGBT diversity is alien to them,” Vardanyan said. “Trump’s rhetoric that there are only two genders was more appealing to them, in my opinion.”
“While many Democrats are for societal progress by backing movements like BLM, Trans Lives Matter, and so on, many older post-Soviet people don’t understand these movements since promotions of such social issues didn’t exist back in the USSR,” said Mikhail. “As a result, they
think Republicans are less radical or more moderate than Democrats.”
Regarding pro-Russian or pro-Ukrainian sympathies, Vardanyan also drew comparisons between Eastern European youth in the U.S. and in Armenia.
Support for Ukraine is a “generational” issue, Vardanyan said. “The parents are more conservative and pro-Russian while the kids are largely liberal, sometimes even radically liberal, and more pro-western.”
Students see a murky future regardless of who’s in office
While desires to end the war were clear among all the students the Cardinal interviewed, no one is certain what the results of these peace talks would be and how it would shape the region for years to come.
A likely subject held over peace talks would be the status of the five provinces of Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson, all occupied by Russian forces.
Last year, Ukrainian president Volodymor Zelenskyy said Ukraine had no plans to stop fighting until all of Ukraine’s territories were recaptured.
Vardanyan believes peace with Russia would only be temporary before a new war with imperialist aims would erupt.
“If Russia wins the war and integrates parts of Ukraine into its territory, it won’t stop. Belarus will be next to fall, then Georgia, then Armenia, and likely the Central Asian countries too.”
Sukhotin is among the 650,000 emigres who left Russia in the wake of the mobilization order. Prior to moving to the U.S., he lived in Portugal, a popular destination for Russian, Belarusian and Ukrainian expats. He longs for the war to end so that he might return home and be reunited with his family.
“I hope everything will return to a state of normalcy at some point.” Sukhotin said. Polyakov expressed a similar sentiment.
“I hope this horrible war ends soon,” Polyakov said. “I miss my family, and with the ongoing war, I don’t have a chance to see them.”
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DRAKE WHITE-BERGEY/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Bus Rapid Transit has redefined Madison news
By John Ernst SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Chris Phistry has lived his whole life in Wisconsin’s capital. When he began working on the University of WisconsinMadison campus as a front desk agent at the Fluno Center five years ago, Phistry needed a way to commute into the city from his west side residence.
In Madison, the choice is clear: he takes the bus.
Five days a week, Phistry takes the bus to downtown, and in September, he began using the brand-new Bus Rapid Transit system.
“In the last 40 years, I’ve been paying attention to the bus system,” Phistry said. “I’ve seen it shift from a much wider coverage of the city to concentrating a lot more on the corridors that see the most service.”
BRT as a whole has been a growing movement in American cities, with cities like Madison receiving federal funding though the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and Small Starts Grants to implement and build their systems. Wisconsin’s capital city isn’t the first. The federal government has been funding BRT systems since the first lines debuted in Pittsburgh in the early 1980s. As of 2016, there were over 300 miles of BRT service in the U.S., according to the Federal Transit Administration.
Route A, the BRT line Phistry takes to and from work, services the east-west corridor of
Madison, running just past I-90 on the east side to Junction Road on the west side. On Sept. 22, Madison Metro Transit launched the line, debuting a project over 40 years in the making.
In 2012, Metro Transit Capital Projects Manager Mike Cechvala and his colleagues at the Greater Madison Metropolitan Planning Organization drew the first map of the BRT system, running through the same east-west corridor that Phristry and other commuters use every day. The city formally applied for a federal grant to fund the project in 2017 when Cechvala was working for Metro Transit, he told The Daily Cardinal.
After a $107 million investment in 2022, Madison received a $110.6 million construction grant for the project from the FTA in 2023. The Biden administration announced plans to allocate an additional $118.1 million in funding to Madison’s proposed second BRT line, running through the city’s north-south corridor, which is expected to open in 2028, Cechvala said.
‘A generational improvement’
Construction for Madison’s initial BRT project began in 2022 and was divided into three contracts: early works, main body and widen sidewalk. Cechvala said much of the construction dedicated to the new stations, bus lanes and infrastructure was
part of the main body project.
As part of the BRT system, Metro Transit implemented several new features for the ease of travel, streamlining of transit and sustainability efforts. On the roads, passengers can expect to see a few changes, including new stations and bus-designated lanes painted red.
There were 31 new stations constructed for the BRT, according to Cechvala. Stations are equipped with benches, heaters and overhead covering. Each contains a farebox where riders can reload their cards with cash, and real time tracking to give minuteby-minute updates on when passengers can expect the buses to arrive. They’re also raised off the ground, allowing for easier accessibility on and off the bus.
“I think [the stations] are super nice,” Jack, a graduate student at UW-Madison, said. “I haven’t used the heater yet, [but] I’m sure I’ll appreciate [it] when it’s zero degrees.”
Cechvala said the new stations offer good infrastructure and services that are simply easier to use.
“If you see a bus stop sign on the side of the street, I think to most people, they look at that and it’s just kind of invisible,” Cechvala said. “If you see the BRT stations and see the real time signs, it kind of feels [easier]. It’s respectful to people who ride the bus.”
Jack has noticed the busonly lanes have allowed buses to bypass traffic during particularly busy times of the day, such as weekday rush hour. Jack, who lives near the UW-Health University Hospital, has made Route A, which runs down University Avenue westbound, his main mode of transportation.
Madison’s BRT also debuted their new fleet of electric buses purchased from New Flyer, Cechvala said. The electric buses will work on Route A and service some of campus buses like Route 80. The buses will be charged on the opposite ends of the line, but also are capable of en route charging, allowing them to run throughout the day, he said.
The buses are also a crucial part of cooperation between the city of Madison and UW-Madison, with the latter assisting with the purchase of the
buses, according to UW-Madison Transportation Services.
A spokesperson for UW-Madison Transportation Services told the Cardinal that although the project predated Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin’s sustainability initiatives, the project will be a crucial part of her goals and help accelerate sustainable progress.
Metro Transit will spend the next few months improving the service of Route A before turning their attention to Route B, Cechvala said.
For Phistry, Jack and the thousands of others will use the BRT, the next months and years will determine the success of the new line.
“This is a generational improvement,” Cechvala said. “We really hope that this investment pays off, and we’re really excited about BRT and glad that people are using it.”
Trump’s proposal to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education would impact Wisconsin students
By Olivia Ruetten STAFF WRITER
While Republican President-elect Donald Trump has promised to overhaul many parts of the U.S. government, he’s said he wants to eliminate one entirely: the U.S. Department of Education (DOE).
Trump vowed to shut down the DOE, echoing calls from the conservative Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 to terminate the agency, which it calls a “convenient one-stop shop for the woke education cartel.” Throughout his campaign, Trump distanced himself from Project 2025 and has claimed that he had no idea who wrote it — however, recent cabinet picks may suggest otherwise.
The DOE has been a point of contention among politicians on both sides of the aisle since its creation in 1979. The conservative push to abolish the DOE comes from the Republican Party’s long-standing belief in smaller-scale government intervention into daily life. Republicans believe that education, like other mainstream issues like abortion and voting rights, should be up to states to decide.
In Wisconsin, Republican lawmakers have championed school choice, and have called for education policy to return to state and local governments. On the campaign trail, both Trump and U.S. Senate candidate Eric Hovde voiced their support for the elimination of the DOE and the localization of public schools.
At a campaign visit to Milwaukee in October, Trump singled out the city as the “home of the first and oldest school choice” program and declared education is “the civil rights issue of our age,” according to the New York Post.
Roughly 63% of Wisconsin Republicans said they were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied with Wisconsin’s public schools, according to an August 2024 Marquette Law School poll.
Republicans champion school choice, advo-
cate for the localization of schools
Republicans have strongly advocated for school choice, which they define as the right for parents to choose where their child goes to school, public or private, and what their school teaches them.
Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson spoke in favor of school choice and advocated for education policy to be handled at a local level during a Moms for Liberty event held at the Republican National Convention in July.
“I’m hoping that one result from Moms for Liberty is we start moving away from these massive, large schools, and we start moving more toward the old one-room school,” Johnson said at the event.
Former Wisconsin governor Tommy Thompson supported Wisconsin’s first school choice movement of the 1990s, which saw Milwaukee’s private school population increase from 341 students in 1990 to 29,000 students in 2021, according to School Choice Wisconsin.
Many conservative families fear public educational institutions are “woke,” meaning schools prioritize teaching children about social injustice and traditionally liberal values over actual educational material. This pushes families toward private or Christian schools that are privately run and funded.
Wisconsin offers options for parents who do not want to send their child to public school. Private schools service 13.5% of Wisconsin students, while homeschooling options service 2.96%, according to Johns Hopkins School of Education.
Additionally, Wisconsin’s private school voucher program services 43% of privately educated students, and this numb er is expected to grow by 60% once the voucher program’s enrollment cap sunsets in 2026.
Trump’s current pick for Secretary of Education is Linda McMahon, wife of former
WWE chairman Vince McMahon. She has advocated for school choice and said she will be a “fierce advocate for Parents.” The National Education Association has disavowed McMahon, saying she “has an agenda to privatize public education — much like Betsy DeVos before her.”
What is the state’s role in education, and what does the DOE actually do?
Wisconsin schools allocate state and local taxes to state and local schools, which are run by a board of elected or appointed officials who decide what is taught within the school district. What information is disseminated in schools is also not typically decided by the federal government.
Gov. Tony Evers recently signed a partial veto boosting school funding for the next 400 years. Evers provided the state of Wisconsin with 400 years of ongoing, predictable funding increases which aim to better fund Wisconsin’s public schools. State superintendent Jill Underly hopes to use the extra funding to boost mental health, school nutrition and special education resources.
One of the DOE’s responsibilities is distributing federal aid for K-12 schools and key federal student loans and aid for college and university students. For example, the DOE provided $190 billion to schools for emergency relief during the pandemic. Financial aid programs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison benefit 58% of first-year students, and the average financial aid package for first-year students is over $12,000.
Without the DOE, the responsibility of financial aid distribution would go to another federal department. Project 2025 suggests sending this responsibility to the Department of Treasury, though officials said moving the Office of Federal Student Aid out of the DOE would create chaos worse than the rollout of the 2024-2025 FAFSA form last fall.
Additionally, the DOE regulates programs
created under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that ensure children with disabilities and students ages 3 to 21 from low-income families have equitable access to educational resources. In Wisconsin, 14.1% of students have an Individualized Education Plan, 3% of students have a specific learning disability and 1.1% of students have a 504 plan.
Without the DOE, these programs may lose regulation and disabled students’ rights to an equitable education may be violated, according to nonprofit education reporting organization Chalkbeat.
People suggesting public schools are “woke” take issue with the DOE’s Office for Civil Rights, which addresses allegations of race, gender and sexuality-based discrimination. It also handles investigations of sexual assault. But guidelines introduced during President Barack Obama’s administration to enhance the handling of assault cases were rolled back by the Trump administration following criticism that the policies were “too harsh.”
Political experts said it’s unlikely Trump will follow through on his claims that he would close the DOE. The DOE could be divided and given to other government agencies to take care of, and Title I, the federal government’s main funding stream for K-12 schools, would be given to the states. States would be allowed to use this funding in different ways as they see fit, leading to an uneven distribution of educational material across the country, according to US News.
The process to eliminate the agency would take roughly 10 years, according to the New York Times. The resulting extreme funding cuts for public education would be unpopular, with Congress likely to vote against it.
DREW WESSON/THE
opinion
SAFEwalk hasn’t helped women feel any safer
UW-Madison
students are instead choosing to walk home alone at night.
By Lillie Sunby SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Content warning: This article contains mention of sexual assault and violence.
Two years ago, as I sat listening to SOAR presenters introduce a long list of safety resources available to incoming students, I felt relieved that I was going to attend a university that cared so much about the safety of the students. Among those resources was SAFEwalk, a system the University of WisconsinMadison made to help students get home safely at night.
It works by sending students in pairs to a person’s location to walk them anywhere on campus at night so they don’t need to go by themself. At the time, it seemed like a great idea — free, convenient and meant to protect students walking home alone after dark.
But after spending two years on campus, I’ve found that despite the university’s efforts to promote SAFEwalk, students still refuse to use it.
At the beginning of my freshman year, I vividly remember hearing stories of a girl who was brutally attacked by a stranger while walking home alone at night. The details were horrifying, and yet, the story didn’t stop me or other students from continuing to walk home alone. When I asked a fellow student why she avoided the system, she said it’s “become a joke with my friends, we make fun of it.”
She went on to explain how being escorted home by two people in neon jackets feels “embarrassing and dramatic,” even if the alternative is walking home completely by herself. She isn’t alone in thinking that way, especially among women, who face a greater risk of harassment or violence
when walking alone. Even with such a violent reminder of the potential dangers, many of us weigh the embarrassment of calling SAFEwalk against the risks and still choose to take our chances.
But the risks of using SAFEwalk run deeper than facing embarrassment — some students struggle to trust the system altogether. As a current sophomore I spoke with explained, sometimes “walking home with strangers seems even worse than walking alone.”
She expressed doubts that the training SAFEwalkers receive does much to build trust.
“A lot of police have training…that doesn’t make them trustworthy,” she said.
While SAFEwalkers are trained in basic safety and bystander intervention, there is still a lack of transparency about their qualifications, making it difficult to see them as reassuring figures.
It also doesn’t help that becoming a SAFEwalker doesn’t seem particularly challenging. The hiring process includes an online group interview followed by a brief training program. Once hired, workers are paid $11 per hour to walk students home between 7 p.m. and 1 a.m. Although it sounds good in theory, in practice, meeting strangers late at night — especially as a woman — can feel just as risky as walking alone.
For many students, especially those who are intoxicated after a night out, the option of walking home alone still feels like the safer and less embarrassing choice. The bottom line is, if the university wants to keep students safe, SAFEwalk needs to change. Now, students are forced to choose between the discomfort and awkwardness of calling SAFEwalk — even when
Cutting the Department of Education is dangerous for Wisconsin
By Maya Morvis STAFF WRITER
President-elect Donald Trump’s call to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education may sound like a bold move toward decentralizing control and restoring local power. But for Wisconsin’s public schools, it’s a risky proposition that could destabilize the very foundation of our education system.
The Department of Education plays a crucial role in ensuring equitable access to resources for K-12 schools and higher education institutions. Without it, Wisconsin could face significant challenges that would further deepen the divide between wealthy and underfunded districts, particularly in rural areas.
dismantled, tuition rates could skyrocket, and colleges may become less accessible for lowincome students.
Furthermore, the department enforces Title IX protections for students against discrimination, ensuring that all students, regardless of gender, are treated equally. Without this protection, Wisconsin’s colleges and universities could face increased legal challenges and potential violations of students’ rights.
it’s the smarter decision — and the dangers of walking home alone.
One potential solution for students living in residence halls could involve House Fellows making group chats for their floors to create walking groups made up of familiar faces. By encouraging students to form connections within their residence halls, they could more easily plan a walk home they feel comfortable with. This approach would get rid of that awkwardness of calling strangers while still addressing the safety concerns of walking alone
Another step in the right direction could involve making SAFEwalk feel more personal and transparent. Adding a human element, such as names, photos and short bios of SAFEwalkers, could increase trust and accountability. Sometimes, just knowing who is coming to walk you home could make the experience feel less like meeting a random stranger and more like being assisted by a fellow student. This small change could have the power to reduce feelings of unease that many students have about the service.
The bottom line is, even though SAFEwalk was made with good intentions, the program isn’t being used due to a combination of embarrassment, discomfort and lack of trust. If the university wants to make SAFEwalk safe and successful, they need to address these issues by creating a sense of community, increasing transparency and improving training. Until then, the choice between walking alone or calling SAFEwalk will remain a difficult one for many students, especially women, who just want to get home safely.
Federal funds, including Title I aid for low-income schools and special education funding, are critical to Wisconsin’s educational system. These programs help ensure that schools with the most need are able to offer a fair and equal education for all students. If Trump’s plan to eliminate the department comes to fruition, this funding could be at risk, forcing local districts to pick up the slack.
In a state where education funding is already a hot-button issue, this would likely lead to budget cuts, teacher layoffs or tax increases to cover the loss. Low-income students, students of color and those in rural areas would be hit hardest, losing access to programs and support that help level the playing field.
Moreover, eliminating the department would create a patchwork of state and local education policies, potentially leading to a fragmented educational experience for Wisconsin’s students. National standards on testing, teacher qualifications and school safety regulations would vanish, leaving each state to determine its own rules.
This could create a situation where students in Wisconsin’s wealthier districts continue to receive high-quality education, while those in underfunded areas are left behind. Inconsistent policies would also make it harder for families to navigate the educational system and ensure that their children are receiving a fair education.
The impact on higher education would also be felt across the state. Many Wisconsin students rely on federal student aid, including Pell Grants and student loans, to attend college. If the Department of Education is
Proponents of the plan argue that eliminating the Department of Education would give states and local communities more control over their educational systems. They claim that federal oversight stifles innovation and imposes a one-size-fits-all approach that doesn’t work for every state.
Advocates for local control, including Trump’s supporters, believe communities have a better understanding of their needs. They also argue that federal overreach has led to the politicization of education, with national mandates like Common Core stifling local decision-making.
While this argument holds some merit, it ignores the larger issues of equity that exist within Wisconsin’s education system. The federal government’s involvement ensures that lowincome districts and rural areas have access to the same resources as wealthier, more urban areas. Local control can work well for some districts, but it can also widen the gap for those that need support the most. Rather than eliminating the Department of Education, a better approach would be to reform it, making it more responsive to the needs of local communities while still ensuring that equity and accessibility remain at the forefront of educational policy.
Trump’s proposal to eliminate the Department of Education is a dangerous gamble for Wisconsin’s students and educators. The risks of cutting off federal funding, creating fragmented policies and undermining higher education outweigh the potential benefits of local control.
If we truly want to ensure that every student in Wisconsin has access to a high-quality education, we must look at ways to strengthen, not dismantle, the institutions that support it. Our students deserve better than the uncertainty that would come from eliminating the very agency that guarantees their right to an equitable education.
ELLIE HUBER/THE DAILY CARDINAL
MEGHAN SPIRITO/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Column: Wisconsin football hits rock bottom as 2024 season comes to a close sports
By Dylan Goldman SENIOR STAFF WRITER
Badger fans might as well put on a v-neck sweater and listen to Guns N’ Roses because the Wisconsin football program has dragged itself back to the 1980s. The Badgers, who had a respectable run of success from the mid-1990s to last year, have reached a nadir not seen in a long time.
After a dismal 24-7 drubbing against arch-rival Minnesota on Friday, the Badgers lost everything that made the program proud in one day. All at once, they relinquished the cherished Paul Bunyan’s axe to the Gophers and lost their 22-year bowl streak.
The Badgers last missed a bowl game in 2001, marking the last time they finished the season with a losing record. That year was an outlier, however, because then-head coach Barry Alvarez immediately corrected course before handing the program off to Bret Bielema.
Bielema led the program to three Rose Bowl appearances between 2010 and 2012. Paul Chryst later led the Badgers to victories in the Cotton and Orange Bowls alongside a Rose Bowl appearance in 2020.
While the Badgers didn’t compete for a national championship, they won Big Ten titles and made it to the nation’s premier bowl games during this period. When UW Athletics hired head coach Luke Fickell from Cincinnati in 2022, he was expected to take the program back to the heights it had reached in the last 20 years.
Fickell’s first season was a bumpy ride, but ended with a victory at Minnesota and a competitive loss in
the ReliaQuest Bowl against a strong LSU team.
Ideally, teams are supposed to continue progressing every year a new coach is around. This season started promising as the Badgers started 5-2 and played a competitive game against Penn State.
Then, the season quickly went off the rails. Wisconsin lost their third straight game to rival Iowa, this time 42-10 and in embarrassing fashion. A close game against Oregon was hopeful, but the Badgers failed to build off it. The Badgers still had a chance to close the season strong but failed miserably. They got blown out by Nebraska 44-25, giving over the Freedom Trophy to the Cornhuskers in their first loss to Nebraska since 2012.
Then came the abysmal showing against Minnesota. The Golden
Gophers, who came in with a 6-5 record, ran the Badgers out of Camp Randall in resounding fashion. The game showed that the Badgers have a massive void at the quarterback position, but the team also displayed a shocking level of apathy against a bitter rival.
In year two of the Fickell regime, there is nothing to write home about. Wisconsin lost all of its rivalry trophies and gave up the precious streaks the program had been celebrating as a sign of its consistency. The Badgers went a meager 3-6 in Big Ten play, with wins coming against a dismal Purdue team and the others against middling programs in Rutgers and Northwestern.
Players like linebacker Leon Lowery and cornerback Amare Snowden have already
announced their intentions to enter the transfer portal, and there will surely be more that join them in the coming days.
Wisconsin’s schedule was undoubtedly tough, but that does not excuse its performance in 2024. The Florida Gators faced an impossible schedule, but they still finished 7-5 with strong wins against LSU and No. 14 Ole Miss. If Florida could make a bowl game, so could Wisconsin.
While a lot of games on Wisconsin’s schedule were difficult, the fact that Fickell doesn’t have a marquee win so far is alarming. The Badgers have hosted Ohio State, Alabama, Penn State and Oregon in his tenure. While most of those games were competitive, Wisconsin came up short each time.
A quick autopsy of the team will
show that in addition to poor quarterback play, the defense regressed well below Wisconsin standards. Gone are the days of TJ Watt and others wreaking havoc. This year’s defense ranked No. 12 in the Big Ten and only forced eight turnovers.
The Badgers have gone from having reliable quarterback play, a dominant running game and a very strong defense to having nothing. Their identity in the Fickell era is still undefined, and they will have to figure it out quickly if the head coach wants to stick around Madison for long. Phil Longo and his “Air Raid” offense has been dispatched, and depending on the fate of defensive coordinator Mike Tressel, Fickell will get a mulligan at forging his team’s identity.
Fickell’s credentials are well understood. He has been successful before, and his accomplishments at Cincinnati prove he can build a program.
But this is not the American Athletic Conference. The new Big Ten is daunting. Oregon has run roughshod through the conference in its first year. USC and Washington are strong programs that can get going at any time. The Badgers need to figure out how to compete in the new era of conference realignment and NIL. They must re-establish their identity by finding one that contrasts them with conference powers like Oregon and Ohio State.
Considering Indiana went 11-1 this season, Wisconsin clearly can still find its way. But if they can’t, the Badgers risk being reduced to a college football afterthought.
Can men’s basketball maintain their hot start in Big Ten play?
By Daniel Desmond STAFF WRITER
The Badgers men’s basketball team is off to a surprising 8-0 start to begin the year and are currently ranked No. 11 in the most recent AP Poll.
With a blowout win against Arizona and commanding victories over the University of Central Florida and the University of Pittsburgh to win the Greenbrier Tip-Off Tournament, the Badgers have an impressive early season resume.
The Badgers are now set to enter their toughest stretch of the season, with their Big Ten conference schedule beginning at home against Michigan on Dec. 3.
What to expect from the newly expanded Big Ten this year
Oregon, Washington, UCLA and USC are all playing their inaugural seasons as members of the Big Ten conference.
These new schools add to an already competitive year in the Big Ten, which is currently the only Division I conference where every team has five or more wins to begin the year. Additionally, 11 teams in the conference have one or no losses so far.
Like the Badgers, Oregon is also off to a hot 8-0 start and are currently ranked No. 12 in the AP Poll.
No. 8 Purdue, the consensus preseason favorite to win the Big Ten, are off to a strong 7-1 start.
Before the season, Kevin Sweeney of Sports Illustrated predicted Rutgers would finish sixth in the Big Ten partly because the Scarlet Knights are led by Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey, two potential top-five picks in the upcoming NBA Draft in 2025.
Overall, the Big Ten will be highly competitive, and there are no “layup” games for any team.
What to expect from the Badgers in Big Ten play
Last season, the Badgers’ Big Ten conference schedule was a grind. Wisconsin went
11-9 and had a stretch where they lost seven out of nine games.
But this year’s roster is entirely different as Wisconsin lost and replaced eight players during the off-season. Despite the majority of the team having never played with each other before this season, Wisconsin’s offense is off to a tremendous start.
The Badgers average 80.3 points per game, the 23rd highest average in the country. They lead the nation in free throw percentage (86.4%) and have the 19th highest offensive rating in the country, according to KenPom.
Missouri transfer John Tonje has been the star of this potent Badgers offense. Tonje, who was named Big Ten Player of the Week the last two weeks, is averaging 22.9 points per game — the eighth highest out of any player in college basketball.
Will the Badgers be able to maintain their high-level offense during Big Ten play?
“It’s a long season. We’re not even a quarter of the way through it,” head coach Greg Gard said in a press conference following the team’s win over Chicago State on Saturday. “We’ll get ready to jump into Big Ten play.”
When asked about tough shooting stretches and the offense becoming stagnant, Gard said, “Just keep playing, right?”
“You know, there are gonna be ebbs and flows to the game. You make sure that you take care of the ball. But make sure you’re getting the right shots,” he said.
According to TeamRankings, the Badgers turn the ball over at the 14th low-
est rate and have the 18th best turnover-toassist ratio in the country.
As experience with the Big Ten gauntlet has taught Gard and his staff, if the Badgers continue to have efficient possessions and maintain their low turnover rate, the offense can continue their success as they make their way through the conference schedule.
Concerns ahead for Badgers on the road
Last year, the Badgers went 3-9 on the road and shot 11 of their 14 lowest field goal percentages of the season at opposing and neutral sites.
The Badgers have yet to take on an opponent’s home court this year, and their first big test will be this Saturday in Milwaukee against No. 5 Marquette.
Later on in the season, the Badgers have a slew of really tough conference away contests. Strong performances on the road against Rutgers on Jan. 6, Purdue on Feb. 5 and Michigan State on March 2 will be pivotal to the Badgers’ hopes of winning a Big Ten regular season title. With the 18-team expansion of the Big Ten, the Badgers will travel all the way out to Southern California to take on both the University of Southern California and the University of Los Angeles in January.
Big Ten play is always a challenge and there will be bumps along the way. However, if the Badgers can maintain their dominant offense and have players close out games in big moments on the road, this team has the potential to be atop the Big Ten standings and poised for a potential run in a Big Ten and NCAA tournament in March.
MEGHAN SPIRITO/THE DAILY CARDINAL
MEGHAN SPIRITO/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Fall 2024 Departing Editor Farewell: Facts & Favorites
By Zoe Kukla
Jasper Bernstien,
Hallie
Q&A: Mason Ramsey is more than his Walmart origins in new album, tour arts
By Bryna Goeking ARTS EDITOR
It’s been six years since the “Walmart Yodel Kid” stole the internet’s hearts, and now Mason Ramsey has grown up, redefining the limits of oldies and country music in his debut album, “I’ll See You In My Dreams” and his “Falls Into Place” tour.
And he has done the impossible — staying relevant beyond his 15 minutes of online fame. This year alone, he released his debut album, a Christmas EP, began his first headline tour and was featured on the soundtrack of “Twisters.” Despite critical acclaim across his projects, it’s a love of music, not fame, that drives his success.
His music blends his lifetime love of 1950s and 1960s country music with an Americana essence. After taking a few years off, his sound has grown up with him, carrying a soulful nostalgia beyond his age in songs like “Blue Over You” and “Cowboys Always Come Home.”
Days before his stop in Madison at the Majestic Theater on Dec. 8, Mason Ramsey spoke with The Daily Cardinal to reflect on his origins, inspirations and what lies ahead.
This interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Can you take us back to the Walmart video that went viral? How did it feel to become an internet sensation almost overnight at such a young age?
It was definitely something I didn’t expect. I didn’t know I was going viral when everything was going on because I wasn’t raised
on the Internet, so I wasn’t able to figure out what was going on until a week later. My cousin got a hold of my grandparents, and she was telling them my video had taken off, and all these crazy things started happening. Like “The Ellen Show,” the “Today” show, “The Tonight Show,” all the places started calling, and they wanted me on.
It was a big moment, a pretty crazy moment for me. Honestly, I didn’t realize how big it was, but now that I look back, I think that the reason behind it is because my love for music is everything, and I just love doing music. I really didn’t think of it as being any different. It was just more opportunities for me to get out there and to sing.
Is it difficult to redefine yourself in the public eye after such a viral moment? Do you embrace the “Walmart yodel boy” identity or reject it?
The past is something to remember, but, moving on to the future, I have to make sure people know me, the real me, and know my love for music and the artists that really inspired me to make my first album. I would say it was not easy to do at first. It took a little bit of time to transition from the Walmart thing to what I am now. I think everything is going very smoothly.
You started as a young performer. How has growing up in the spotlight shaped you personally and professionally?
When I first got started in the industry, I didn’t really have a lot
of songs I felt like fit me very well. I was just trying to figure out my style, and I thought, well, if it’s gonna be hard for me to make the kind of music that I want to make, then I probably have to go with this. And during COVID, that turned out not to be the case. Actually, I am able to make and create the music that I want to make, it just took some time. But I feel like now that I have an idea and kind of have a direction of where I want to go for the future, I think I want to stick with it. I’m just super happy [with] how everything’s turned out, and I’m super thankful for my fans and my audience for supporting me throughout the years.
Who are some of your musical influences?
I’m very inspired by artists such as Ricky Nelson, Johnny Cash, Roy Orbison and Elvis Presley. I actually picked up on a new inspiration, there’s a guy by the name of Gary Stewart. He’s pretty cool; he’s got some cool music I really like. That’s the great thing about music, it just keeps growing. You keep expanding your tastes and things you’re interested in. I’m always finding new music, and that’s why I have the influences and taste like I do. I just keep going.
Your album features many collaborations with your producer, Dan Ferndandez. How did you two develop such a unique sound?
I actually had a call with him before we started writing together and structuring things. But I just kind of talked about my musi-
cal influences, and I told them who they were. And I told him my story of being raised on Hank Williams music all throughout my life. I was looking to do the kind of the 50s, 60s, 70s thing throwback. He helped me find my style. I went in with a couple of songs and or future songs I had written down, he helped put the music and stuff to it and that’s how “Blue Over You” and all of the other songs off the album came along.
This has been a big year for you: turning 18, releasing your debut album, a Christmas EP and headlining your first tour. What has been the highlight, and what are you looking forward to?
Man, I’ve had so many highlights this year. Tour, my first album, having a, having a song on the “Twisters” soundtrack, which is really cool. I’ve had so many of them this year, and I’m just really
excited to be back out there doing music and stuff. Next year, we’ve already got things in plan, we’re super excited about some of the new material that we’re making already in the studio. So it’s gonna be really fun.
You joined Lana Del Rey in June for a performance of “Blue Over You.” What is your favorite Lana Del Rey song?
I like her song, “Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd.” I got chills just being on stage singing with her. I don’t know how to explain the feeling, other than I got chills in the best way. It was one of those things where you had to be there to really get the full experience. But it felt amazing just being in that environment at Fenway Park. Everything was perfect.
Arts editor Rebekah Irby contributed reporting to this article.
By Mary Bosch PHOTO EDITOR
Capital City Theatre premiered a modern but timeless musical adaptation of the Christmas classic “It’s a Wonderful Life” with music by Artistic Director Andrew Abrams and John Atkins at Mitby Theater from Nov. 22 to Dec. 1.
Small modernizations, such as having the traditionally male comedic duo played by women, fleshing out the female characters and taking a less shameful view on suicide, brought the traditional themes to a new audience.
“[The audience] sees the movie they love through the lens of where we are today and with more, I think the key word here is acceptance,” Abrams said. “I think everybody today needs more acceptance.”
Abrams and I agree — the cast is fantastic.
Eddie Egan perfectly embodied leading man George Bailey with a warm timbre and old-timey voice reminiscent of Sinatra. While Abrams said the New York professional did carried the show, he struggled on some high notes.
It was the small town Wisconsinites who stole the show.
The dancer with the cleanest lines and sharpest hits had to be University of Wisconsin-Madison freshman Izabel Nettey. From Menomonee Falls, Wis., Nettey landed the role of Ruth, George’s
sister-in-law, through a connection with the show’s choreographer Michael Staneck, who also choreographs the UW-Madison Wisconsin Singers.
The show taught her an important lesson, especially as a young adult.
“This musical has reminded me that I am going the right direction no matter where I go,” Nettey said.
Jessica Minter played Violet with infectious energy and controlled, methodical movements. In George’s alternate universe, she expertly shifted from a naive girl to a woman using her femininity for her own gain.
The angel Clarence, played by Jason
Williams, had fantastic physical comedy. Every lyric he sang went along with a precise choreographed movement.
And when George’s wife Mary sang, I swear I could hear her heart calling out for love. The gentle vibrato in Sarah Ellis’ voice held so much emotion.
In one of this adaptation’s major changes, the play sought to flesh out female characters’ stories.
“Especially in the case of Mary, she’s not just like a pretty face,” Nettey said. “She wants something. She wants a family, a life, and it’s not just because she’s a woman.”
One of the most striking aspects of the show was the set — the larger-than-
life buildings rolled on and off-stage by the actors brought the audience into the bustling little town of Bedford Falls.
“The town is a character in the show,” Abrams said. “Because in the movie, the care and community are so prominent.”
Abrams and John Atkins unknowingly wrote the first song for the musical 20 years ago in New York. Fast forward a decade, they decided to write the full show and eventually brought it to Capital City Theater.
Atkins wrote the lyrics while Abrams set it to music. Adam Lang assisted Atkins and Abrams by orchestrating and conducting the band on hand.
Atkins changed lines throughout the process, and Lang made changes to scores up until days before they opened, according to Abrams. The entire show was a collaborative effort, meaning the actors and musicians had to be on their game.
When all was said and done, Abrams couldn’t believe what they created.
“We just wrote a couple songs for this play, and look, it’s on a stage with all these people in an orchestra and in lighting,” he said. ”You just kind of can’t take it in when you write a new show, and all of a sudden it’s on stage, and you’re like, wait, we finished that, and people are doing it. It’s absolutely nuts. I mean, it’s crazy, it’s amazing.”
COURTESY OF ALEX CRAWFORD
COURTESY OF DARREN LEE
Researchers concerned as invasive insect kills Wisconsin ash trees science Agencies monitor bird flu in Wisconsin as cases rise nationally
By Nicole Steele STAFF WRITER
By Lindsay Pfeiffer SCIENCE EDITOR
An invasive insect, the emerald ash borer (EAB), continues to kill ash trees across southern Wisconsin, including Dane County, and officials said tree mortality rates have risen.
The insect is metallic green and only attacks ash trees. While the adult beetles eat ash leaves, EAB larvae eat the trees’ inner bark, killing them from the inside out.
Michael Hillstrom, the invasive forest pest coordinator at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, told The Daily Cardinal EAB is from east Asia and arrived in the United States in the early 2000s in packing crates.
Wisconsin has four types of ash trees: green, white, black and blue, according to PJ Liesch, entomologist for the University of WisconsinMadison Extension. Green and white are commonly found in urban and forested areas, while black is found in swampy areas in the north, and blue is exceedingly rare in Wisconsin, he said.
Hillstrom said that although EAB hasn’t reached the black ash yet, when it does it’ll be difficult to control.
“We’re going to have major issues, where you have large areas that there are no other trees in there other than black ash or very few other trees. So it’s really difficult to access those sites to do anything about it,” he said.
Wisconsin has a similar climate to EAB’s native range and is home to plenty of ash trees, making the state a perfect place for EAB to invade, according to Liesch. When EAB first arrived in Wisconsin in 2008, there were around 770 million ash trees in the state.
Liesch said this is in part due to the die-off of other species of trees, like elms. When Dutch Elm disease killed off elms, ash trees became the replacement tree in many urban centers such as Milwaukee, he said.
Why is EAB so threatening to ash trees?
EAB larvae make s-shaped galleries in the water and foodmoving tissues of the tree, which blocks the trees from moving nutrients around, Hillstrom said. As more and more larvae eat away the inner bark, the tree starts to die.
“Each individual emerald ash borer larva might get up to about an inch long, but it’s death by a thousand paper cuts,” Liesch told the Cardinal.
EAB is also incredibly hard to detect in the early stages.
Female beetles lay their eggs in the upper branches of the tree, making it hard to detect the presence of EAB until it’s too late, Liesch said.
Hillstrom said woodpeckers will eat EAB larvae, especially in the winter, by flicking off pieces of the bark in a process called “flecking.” However, woodpeckers also eat other insects, so officials have to check for other signs of EAB including D-shaped exit holes or S-shaped galleries formed by the larvae.
Currently, southern Wisconsin, including Dane County, has approximately a 99% mortality rate, according to Liesch. Mortality rates are highest where EAB has been present the longest, and northern Wisconsin still has lower rates for now, he said.
Hillstrom told the Cardinal that in the last few years, mortality rates have increased in Dane County, and the few ash trees left in urban areas are typically being treated for insecticide.
“The vast majority of ash [in Dane County] that are not being treated by humans to keep them alive are dead at this point,” he said.
How does EAB spread?
Both Hillstrom and Liesch agree the biggest factor contributing to the spread of EAB is
human activity. The adult beetles can fly but only up to a few miles, according to Hillstrom. The main way EAB is spread is through firewood, which is why it’s important to heat treat, age and buy local wood, he said.
“If somebody from Madison’s ash tree dies and they take that wood and move it up to their cabin up north somewhere, the insects can still hatch out of that firewood and start a population in a new area,” Hillstrom said.
How can EAB be controlled?
Hillstrom said the most important thing to slow the spread of EAB is to create time. This allows cities and forests to respond to the dying trees as they slowly replace ash trees with other species.
High-value ash trees, such as ones in residents’ yards, can be treated with insecticide, according to Hillstrom. Additionally, approximately 10,000 ash trees in Madison are treated by the city multiple times a year.
Another approach to controlling EAB is biological control, a small silver lining, according to Liesch. Scientists found a small species of wasp that lives in the native range of EAB and only parasitizes EAB, he said.
Hillstrom said these wasps don’t sting, and they feed on the larvae of EAB. They are released into forested areas with a lot of ash trees to combat EAB invasions.
Researchers spent a lot of time and money to make sure these wasps wouldn’t harm native insects, Hillstrom said.
“Those [wasps] can kill 20 to 80% of the larvae in an area, so it’s not something that’s going to get rid of emerald ash borer, but it’s another piece of that puzzle of knocking the population back, so it doesn’t spread as fast, and those trees have a chance to get bigger and produce seed,” Hillstrom said.
A highly contagious virus known as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, or the bird flu, has spread among poultry flocks and affected around 112 million birds since February 2022.
Though the bird flu primarily affects poultry, it has been spreading throughout the dairy cattle industry. Common symptoms for poultry include sudden death with no apparent illness, lack of energy or appetite, decrease in egg production, stumbling or diarrhea — however, poultry flocks can also be asymptomatic.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) monitors the amount of commercial and noncommercial bird operations that have been exposed to the bird flu. As of Monday, 21 Wisconsin counties, including southern Columbia, Rock, Sauk and Jefferson counties, have reported cases of bird flu, affecting a total of around 3.6 million birds since March 2022.
Among those affected are 17 commercial flocks and 19 backyard flocks in Wisconsin, according to the USDA. All commercial operations were or are being quarantined.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) monitors bird flu in wild bird and waterfowl populations. In some cases, wild birds and waterfowl carry the illness within their gastrointestinal tract without showing signs of sickness, while rare strains can cause severe disease. Symptoms for wild birds and waterfowl include sneezing, coughing, nasal discharge, falling, tremors, circling, abnormal head positions, diarrhea or green colored feces.
The risk of humans con-
tracting the virus without animal contact is quite low, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. People exposed to infected or potentially infected animals, or in environments with possible virus exposure, are at higher risk for contracting the bird flu.
The current risk of contracting the bird flu for the general public is low, and no human cases have currently been reported in Wisconsin.
The first case of avian influenza in dairy cattle in the United States was in March of 2024, and now 15 states and 695 dairy herds have been affected. The first human infection transmitted from a dairy cow in the United States was in April of 2024. There have been 57 total cases of human infection since April, with 34 of those cases being from cattle alone.
Human symptoms can range from mild eye infections and upper respiratory symptoms to more severe pneumonia and death. Humans can contract the virus through the nose, eyes or mouth by contact or breathing of air droplets, infected feces, saliva, mucous or touching areas with virus droplets and then touching themselves.
The bird flu can also spread to other mammals outside the dairy cattle industry including red foxes, otters, minks and bobcats. These mammals are at risk for ingesting the illness because they scavenge or hunt for birds.
The best way to prevent the spread of bird flu is through biosecurity measures, such as reducing visitors, washing hands frequently, wearing disposable boot covers or foot baths, changing clothes before and after exiting flocks and cleaning tools.
COURTESY OF THE WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
life & style
Success looks different for everyone. It’s about trusting the process
By Alexandra Malatesta
LIFE & STYLE EDITOR
Success: the word that haunts every walk of life. But what does it really mean? Does “being successful” mean graduating from Harvard University, growing up wealthy and owning a house in the Hamptons? Maybe. But in my wise 20 years of life, I’ve discovered that success has a different meaning to everyone.
I remember the days when success wasn’t even a thought in my mind. I’d come home from school, grab whatever snack I could find in the cupboard and relax, with no responsibilities except for making my bed in the morning. Then, as soon as I hit 18, life became real.
I went to college in a city I wasn’t sure of but adapted to the best of my ability. Slowly, the “reality of adulthood” came in doses. Suddenly, I had to think about money, where I was living and basic daily tasks like eating healthy and staying active — a balance I’m still figuring out. Now, as I navigate the second phase of college, I realized that this scary word, “success,” had started following me around. A mood killer, if you will.
Sophomore year was especially intimidating. Either people had amazing internships or none at all. I found myself overwhelmed, people I’d
assumed were coasting somehow had everything figured out. Meanwhile, I had no idea what I wanted to do post-grad or what direction I wanted to take my career. At 19, how was I supposed to know? Maybe some people do, but for me, my many interests made it impossible to choose a single path. So, I did what any confused college student would do: I applied to every internship that caught my eye.
Cutting to the chase, I landed an internship that was a goal of mine, the “Yale” of internships, as some might say. It was a great experience, and I learned more about myself than I ever imagined. But even with such a coveted opportunity, I found myself constantly looking for the next best thing. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I could do more. “How else can I feel ahead? How else can I succeed?”
The feeling of success continued to haunt me. Over the past few months since that internship, I’ve done a lot of self-reflection. I’ve always felt a little different from my peers, prioritizing things that most 20-year-olds might not. It’s not a cry for pity; it’s just given me time to understand why this thought of success has been bothering me.
I used to constantly compare
What I learned from college struggles: It’s all about perspective
By Hallie Albert LIFE & STYLE EDITOR
Flashback to September 2022, my freshman year of college, when I planned to obtain a biology degree, go to medical school and become a doctor. I was fixed on this path, thinking I was a failure if I did anything else.
As my freshman year began, I disliked my courses more than I could ever imagine. I forced myself to enjoy the work, and I wouldn’t admit to myself that I didn’t like it. I put intense amounts of pressure on myself and worked extremely hard. Despite my efforts, I continued to struggle not only academically, but socially and emotionally as well.
I finally made the decision to switch my major because I knew I had to, not because I wanted to. I couldn’t help the feelings of disappointment and confusion.
I started writing about these experiences, feelings and whatever else I wanted.
I was constantly writing, trying to figure out my interests and passions while navigating through new major choices. During this time, I continuously felt like I was the only one struggling. It genuinely seemed that everyone around me had their whole life perfectly planned out.
Let me tell you — that was far from true.
myself to others until I came to an important realization: everyone views success differently. I had to decide what success means to me and what’s most important for my life. For me, success boils down to three things:
Family: prioritizing my current family and envisioning the future one I hope to build. A goal of mine is to be a mom one day.
Health: remaining grateful for my health and using the resources I have to take care of myself. As long as I treat my body with care, I’ll be able to have as many life experiences as possible.
Community: surrounding myself with people who bring me joy. I’m incredibly thankful for the friendships that make life meaningful.
The more I think about it, the more I realize that being overwhelmed by the idea of success is a waste of time. Success will come, as long as you believe in it and trust the process. I believe my career will eventually fall into place, and I’ll be proud of my accomplishments. But true success — real fulfillment — looks different for everyone.
It’s easy to get caught up in the little things, but defining success for yourself early on can lead you toward internal peace and happiness much faster than you think.
This fueled my motivation to begin writing for The Daily Cardinal. I wanted to create articles and use my voice to share experiences and knowledge while reiterating that it is okay to struggle and sometimes even fail.
I went on to write many articles focusing on these themes, including the pressures facing students and switching majors during college, both sharing and reflecting on personal experiences.
Now, I thrive in my courses, enjoy what I am learning and, most importantly, I am happy with my achievements. That being said, I would not be where I am today without my struggles. I was constantly asking myself, “why is this happening to me?” and now I know.
Your hardships, struggles and failures may feel detrimental in the moment, but in the grand scheme of things, they are crucial to your success. These are the moments that help to make you stronger, resilient and overall the best version of yourself.
If it wasn’t for my rocky freshman year, failed relationships, academic confusion and various other challenges, I wouldn’t be the person I am today. It was through these hardships that I learned the most about myself, becoming wiser on the other side.
FINNEGAN RICCO/ THE DAILY CARDINAL
Vote me for ASM. I will add a Department of Efficiency and cut UHS the beet
In honor of Elon Musk: fuck UHS, drink raw milk, go Ozempic, vote Peter Pricket 2024.
By Peter Pricket SUPER SENIOR STAFF WRITER
All articles featured in The Beet are creative, satirical and/or entirely fictional pieces. They are fullyintendedassuchandshould not be taken seriously as news.
Fuck it. This campus has spent enough time pretending to know what the Associated Students of Madison is or what it does. Naturally, my only logical conclusion is to run for president of ASM.
While Trump has Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to run their new Department of Government Efficiency, I, Peter Pricket, am going to what the University of WisconsinMadison needs the most: become
an Elon Musk figure and cut this place to the bone. My flop ass friend Libby Demi can be Vivek.
I promise to slash excess regulations and cut wasteful expenditures, including University Health Services, by 50%.
Here’s why:
UHS doesn’t do shit. Who needs vaccines, testing for anything, therapy or whatever else when you can rely on more natural medicines like raw milk, Ozempic, yoga and essential oils.
The Europeans pay less for health care than we do in America, and even then, students pay more for UHS than their average health care in-state, so let’s maybe just slash the whole thing and see what happpens.
Truthfully, we need to build up immune systems anyway. If you need Emergen-C or cough medicine, you need to work for it. Survival of the fittest is the basis of life and a long forgotten practice I will revive. And you know what’s better than therapy? A subscription to betterhelp.com or ChatGPT.
And, as someone who likes my rose quartz and jade, if you hold it close to you and breathe deeply, it’s basically like taking an SSRI.
If you disagree with me on any of this, I am choosing a more efficient route of communication than in-person meetings. Please contact me on my X Space and we can schedule a time.
Undercover at Mnookin’s UWPD party
By Peter Pricket SUPER SENIOR STAFF WRITER
All articles featured in The Beet are creative, satirical and/or entirely fictional pieces. They are fully intended as such and should not be taken seriously as news.
Dear Diary, FIJI — To get the point, I went to a party that University of WisconsinMadison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin attended with the University of Wisconsin Police Department, and to my surprise, I found 90 Zyns in one of the officer’s vegan tote bags with some ketamine on the side.
I first walked into a medium-sized room with tons of people packed in. I was nestled in the coat closet at first, as guests funneled in with bright smiles and sparkly eyes after they dismantled the pro-Palestine encampment.
Now picture this: some Panera, snacks and awkward small talk between university administration and UWPD.
I heard some murmurs of “free speech advocacy,” “marketplaces of ideas” and “DEI.”
As I was in the coat room I was sifting around. Before you clutch your pearls, let me clarify: I fully support
everyone living a life of tranquility as our founding fathers intended. That’s totally chill and I support as a Zyn ally, but I just thought it would be a strange place to bring 90!
It was in a vegan tote bag. The ketamine also came as a surprise, as this party was described as a casual gettogether. I thought, ‘hey, maybe this one officer is just trying to relax,’ but as I left the coat room, I was in shock. The living room had a nice hummus platter and cheese board with an interesting combination of ketamine next to it!
No one noticed me, as at this point people were COOKED on ket within literally five to 10 minutes.
While I didn’t stick around long enough to see how the night unfolded (I need to get back to my monkey electrodick lab), one thing is for certain: this was no ordinary UWPD gathering.
It seemed like the start to a freaky Joe Gow episode to be honest. Like, as much as I thought they disliked the guy, they may even be inspired by him! Game recognizes game?
But hey, shoutout to Mnookin and crew for keeping things interesting! And if she needs a DJ next time, I’m currently training.
On Wisconsin, Peter Prickett
Conservative student discovers pleasure through UW sex ed module
By Peter Pricket SUPER SENIOR STAFF WRITER
All articles featured in The Beet are creative, satirical and/or entirely fictional pieces.Theyarefullyintendedassuchand should not be taken seriously as news.
Dear Diary,
Today in my conservative WILL law course, I was told to do course evaluations. But, through a turn of bad clicks, my mouse landed on “SexWise Module.”
I personally already completed my SexWise Module as a freshman, but my buddy next to me, Rom Romney, overlooked the page as it opened. His jaw dropped in shock as a glossary of sex terms appeared on the page.
But in a mere accident, Romney clicked a link to a feminist ethical porn award site when he was examining the module for himself.
Romney went too far. He soon saw people participating in fornication and intercourse. Romney was scared because he saw his old UW-La Crosse Chancellor Joe Gow and his wife Carmen on his screen on the porn website!!
I myself was left in utter disarray! Why is Mr. Gow doing that! Why is this linked to the SexWise Module!
“Oh!” Romney left out a huff and a sigh. He didn’t know what pleasure was until just now. Romney came from a nice God-fearing Catholic family in upper Michigan. He’s a sin of a baby and wasn’t supposed to be born but his nun mother is a sinner. His mother wanted to protect Romney from how babies are made so he wouldn’t repeat the mistakes she made.
“Romney… I didn’t want you to find out this way. You are one of my best friends! I was gonna tell you about sex after you got married,” I muttered to him.
SHAME on Jennifer Mnookin for exposing this innocent Christian child to the university’s woke DEI agenda!! HE WASN’T SUPPOSED TO KNOW.
Romney did not let out anything further. SexWise is nothing but a communist Marxist experiment of a module that hurts students by forcing them to be aware of sex.
I will fix this in ASM. Vote for me and check out my latest to see my campaign platform.
MEGHAN SPIRITO/THE DAILY CARDINAL
TAYLOR
MEGHAN
Lori Reesor speaks at spring convocation 2024
FINNEGAN RICCO/THE DAILY CARDINAL
UW-Madison students witness a solar eclpise on Apr. 8, 2024.
JULIAN MORALES/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Dog wears Harriz-Walz sign ahead of the Nov. 5 election on Oct. 29, 2024.
JAKE PIPER/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Memorial Union Terrace on April 21, 2024.
MARY BOSCH/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Memorial Union Terrace on Oct. 21, 2024.
KAYLA NELSON/THE DAILY CARDINAL
A Festive Sweater
by Paige Stevenson
If Snowmen Did Politics by Hailey Johnson
Loan Rates These Days Are Nuts! by Hailey Johnson
Migration Has Its Perks
by Isabella Barajas
Canadian-ish Goose
by Hailey Johnson
Graphics Recruitment by Zoe Kukla