Thursday, April 21, 2022 by The Daily Cardinal

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Thursday, April 21, 2022

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Three student’s candidacy for ASM Chair By Katrina Kallas STAFF WRITER

As the 2021-22 academic school year comes to a close, elections for the ASM Student Council are in full swing. The primary elections were held in late March to determine which students will sit on the council, which is made up of 33 elected members who work in legislative positions as the voice of students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. However, the role of ASM Chair, which comes with a number of responsibilities, has yet to be decided. Junior Steven Shi, sophomore Ndemazea Fonkem and junior Maxwell Laubenstein are all running for the position. “It’s like a moderator during the [student council] meetings, and it’s also the representation of the entire ASM,” Shi said. “We talk with university administrators and the legislature about things that we are considering.” The position requires a lot of work with both students, staff and university employers in order to create a cohesive environment at Madison. Shi has many goals that he plans to accomplish if elected,

most of which are for the direct benefit of students themselves. With a goal to raise the student minimum wage on campus, Shi hopes to see the plan for a $15 minimum wage go through for the 2022-23 school year. “The $15 minimum wage … that question is authored by me, and I want to see that go through,” he said. “I already talked [about] segregated fees funding some employers like Union, RecWell, [etc].” Shi also hopes to create a more inclusive space for all students at Madison, including international students. An international student himself, Shi would be the first international student elected to this position. “Being Chair will give me the loudest voice that hasn’t been given to international students for three decades,” Shi told the Cardinal. Hoping to raise the voices of minority groups on campus, Shi plans to work with the Diversity and Equity Coordinator on the subject. He hopes to create a space of diversity that addresses all minority groups, hoping to increase the sense of equity and equality across campus. “I find that the past practice of

diversity and inclusion has been focused on one or two specific minority groups so much that it neglected other minority groups, like Jewish students, international students,” he said. “What I envision is the kind of diversity and inclusion that addresses everyone’s problem, not just one or two specific groups.” Sophomore Charlie Fahey is campaigning for Vice Chair to work alongside Shi, hoping to play a major role in making changes for students on campus and helping their voices be heard. “[As] Vice Chair, unlike a lot of other roles, you really get to define what you want to do,” he said “There’s some basic responsibilities, but it gives me the freedom to pursue causes that I really care about.” If elected, Fahey has a variety of goals that he wants to accomplish in order to help Madison become a more tight-knit community. With a focus on making sure each student has a voice and is able to express their opinions freely, Fahey said he wants to create a place where “... any student, even if they’re not on the student council, can feel free

to come to our meetings and express themselves.” Fonkem is also running for ASM Chair, with a focus on both inclusion and monetary adjustments. Like Shi and Fahey, Fonkem also supports the push for a $15 minimum wage, as well as an adjustment to student housing. In her campaign declaration, Fonkem states that she wants to “advocate for more affordable student housing options, including the expansion of student cooperative housing like Zoe Bayliss.” With an emphasis on campus inclusion, she also plans to “cultivate community cohesion and belonging for

all students.” As chair, Laubenstein believes he could push ASM forward by supporting every student representative. “Every day in ASM has been a learning experience for me and the clearest thing that I have learned is that this organization is strongest when its members support each other,” he stated in his campaign declaration. Fonkem and Laubenstein did not respond to interview requests from The Daily Cardinal. The ASM Chair and Vice Chair for the 2022-23 academic school year will be announced on Sunday, April 24.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MAXWELL LAUBENSTEIN, STEVEN SHI AND NDEMAZEA FONKEM

Left to Right above: Steven Shi, Mdemazea Fonkem, and Maxwell Laubstein.

Gov. Evers releases the state’s first-ever clean energy plan By Alexander Tan STAFF WRITER

Gov. Tony Evers released the state’s first-ever Clean Energy Plan Tuesday after issuing an executive order that created the state’s Office of Sustainability and Clean Energy (OSCE). The effort is part of a broader collaborative effort to make all electricity consumed within the state of Wisconsin totally carbonfree by 2050. The Clean Energy Plan puts forth numerous strategies to lower energy prices for Wisconsin families, promote energy independence in the state by cutting reliance on out-of-state sources, improve water security and weather-resistant infrastructure and invest in job training to support industries and technologies, such as solar energy, that are conducive to cleaner energy. “Over the past two years the OSCE team worked to create a collaborative path forward to address emissions in our state,” OSCE Director Maria Redmond said. “I’m looking forward to implementation of this plan and to continuing to work with partners across the state to support sustainable local economies, environmental justice

and direct actions to address climate change. ” Evers believes that executing these recommendations will create more than 40,000 jobs by 2030. To bolster the workforce, the plan will work with technical colleges to develop pathways into the clean energy industry, support reentry skills training programs for incarcerated individuals and create a Clean Energy Workforce Advisory Council. “Our Clean Energy Plan can help us create good paying jobs that don’t require a college degree

and bring talented workers to Wisconsin while saving money, reducing energy costs and building the sustainable future we want for our state,” Evers said. Wisconsin in particular has much room to improve with its energy sourcing: a 2019 study conducted by the Center on Wisconsin Strategy estimated that Wisconsin annually sends $14.4 billion out of state due to the it’s dependence on out-of-state energy sources. The same study expects that 100% instate production would directly create an estimated 162,100 net

COURTESY OF JEFF MILLER

Gov. Evers and OSCE put out a plan to lower energy bills and invest in jobs.

jobs, increase the GDP due to instate spending and save the state several billion dollars of expenditure due to greater investment in energy efficiency. “By expanding and speeding up production of cheaper, cleaner energy like wind and solar here in Wisconsin, we can keep our money here at home rather than relying on unpredictable markets often disrupted by foreign leaders and conflicts,” Evers stated. In addition, the plan includes environmental justice directives meant to address the disproportionate impacts of the energy industry on low-income communities and communities of color. Some of these goals include equitable opportunities for the clean energy jobs and improvement of energy affordability. Wisconsin Conservation Voters have applauded Evers’ release of the Clean Energy Plan, declaring it “the strongest roadmap to climate justice and clean energy in Wisconsin history.” “This plan is a much needed step to addressing the climate crisis and creating economic opportunities for the people of Wisconsin,” Wisconsin Conservation Voters Executive Director Kerry

Schumann said. “We look forward to working with the governor to build a clean energy future that creates opportunities for everyone in the state.” The Clean Energy Plan builds on the previous work of the Evers Administration, including the Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change. Beyond energy infrastructure, it also rolls out a few subsidiary goals, including modernizing building methods, conserving forests and funding for electric and alternative transportation. It ultimately incorporated the suggestions of people throughout Wisconsin, including utilities, private industry, frontline communities, Tribal Nations, government partners and academic experts. “Wisconsin’s economy depends on fresh air, clean water and fruitful land. But it’s more than that — it’s part of who we are as a people, from handing down a family farm to teaching the next generation to hunt or fish to showing a loved one a new park or trail,” Evers said. “We must deliver on the promise we made to our kids by leaving them a better life and world than the one we inherited, and this plan will ensure we can deliver on that promise for generations to come.”

“…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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Thursday, April 21, 2022

An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 131, Issue 26

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Madison City Council Pres to WI Assembly By Gavin Escott STAFF WRITER

Madison City Council President Syed Abbas announced Sunday he would run for state assembly in the 46th District — a reversal of his decision two days earlier to run for the 37th district. The change came as a result of the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s decision to adopt Republicandrawn legislative maps on Friday. In a 4-3 decision, swing Justice Brian Hagedorn joined the rest of the court’s conservatives in selecting the legislative district proposals from Senate Majority Leader Devin LeMahieu (R) and Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R), which Gov. Tony Evers vetoed last November. Last month, Hagedorn sided with the court’s liberals to approve the Governor’s map that would have reduced state republicans’ entrenched advantages to alleviate Wisconsin’s notoriously gerrymandered districts. However, this map was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court, leading to last week’s decision that chose the maps drawn by the GOP in October. This new map will be in effect for this year’s legislative election. Prior to the court’s decision, Abbas had announced he would run for the 37th District, which is currently held by a Republican. But flipping the seat would have been a more attainable task under the map proposed by Gov. Evers, which would have extended the district’s lines into Madison. The adoption of the GOP legislative map prompted Abbas to run in the Democrat-friendly 46th District instead. In the most recent election, voters from the 46th District chose Rep. Gary Hebl over his Republican opponent with over two-thirds of the vote. Redistricting has made the 46th even more appealing

for Democrats since it now contains portions of Sun Prairie, Stoughton and rural areas east and south of Madison. The 46th District is currently held by longtime state Rep. Gary Hebl, who’s served since 2005. In a statement Wednesday, Hebl said he would not run for reelection, saying it was time to begin “the next chapter” in his life. Hebl becomes the 7th assembly Democrat to announce their retirement, in addition to thirteen assembly Republicans who have also declined to run for a second term. The State Assembly has 99 seats, all of which are up for election in November. Abbas, who plans to run as a Democrat, has represented Madison’s 12th district since 2019 and has served as Common Council President since last year, with that term ending next week. He intends to remain on the Common Council while he campaigns, but will resign if he is elected to the assembly. Born in Pakistan, Abbas is also the Business Development Manager for Slipstream, a nonprofit that looks for climate change solutions. On the City Council, he’s promoted affordable housing and racial justice initiatives, and has said that he would make affordable childcare and workforce development priorities if elected. “As a Democrat, I value investment in our future generations and building a society which creates opportunities for everyone,” Abbas said in a statement on Friday. “As a first-generation immigrant originally from Pakistan, I had to be focused and driven to get where I am today. I am passionate about bringing people together and my record shows I work hard to build bridges. I will work across the aisle to get things done.”

Abbas touted his record on Madison’s city council, saying that the problems facing Wisconsin are ones he’s suited to confront. “The issues of workforce development, inflation, environmental justice and racial equity need great leadership and bipartisan efforts,” Abbas said. “My track record is clear on this. Good leadership is all about uniting and not dividing people.” Abbas has been viewed as a potential challenger to Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway, who is up for re-election in April 2023, but with his announcement, Abbas shut down speculations about his mayoral ambitions. “I never made any kind of announcement that I was running for Mayor,” Abbas told the Isthmus. “But if you’re asking me now, the answer is no … I’m super pumped about running for Assembly.” Abbas is the second person to enter the race for the 46th District. Melissa Ratcliff, who represents Dis. 36 on the Dane

County Board of Supervisors, announced her intention to run for the seat a few hours after Hebl declined to run again. Ratcliff, who is also a Cottage Grove Village Board Trustee, has served in her position since 2018 and has said she would bring her skills working with the county board to the legislature. Candidates have until June 1 to file their campaign paperwork, with a primary held August 9 and a general election on November 8. In a statement, Hebl said he was excited to see what the future would look like for himself and the 46th District. Hebl expressed optimism that whoever his successor ended up being would be a strong advocate for his longtime home. “I am confident that my replacement will work hard for the district and find commonsense solutions to the problems facing Wisconsin. I look forward to getting to know my successor and helping them with their transition to the legislature.”

PHOTO COURTESY OF CITY OF MADISON VIA CITYOFMADISON.COM

The adoption of GOP-drawn maps is behind Abbas's switch to District 46 race.

‘Letters of Love’ supports kids battling illness By Caitlyn Halfon STAFF WRITER

Students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have started a brand new chapter of “Letters of Love” on campus, a club dedicated to writing letters to children battling cancer or other illnesses. The chapter is part of a greater national organization that aims to provide emotional support to children in hospitals across the country. UW-Madison’s chapter is only the second college chapter to continue the work of the original non-profit organization. Headed by sophomore Lucas Cates, Letters of Love was started at UW-Madison with the idea of kids supporting other kids. Cates and Vice President of Community Engagement Darby Sween originally became involved with the chapter at Orono High School in Minnesota, where it was founded by Grace Berbig. “[Grace] started it because she lost her mom to Leukemia at a young age and her mom loved getting handmade cards to brighten her day,” said Sween.

“This inspired her to create a club that did just that: kids helping other kids by creating handmade cards to brighten their day, even just a little bit.” Cates reiterated this view, noting the impact that handmade cards can have on those going through difficult times. “The idea of making a card

through the club, Cates said. “Letters of Love UW-Madison is more than just kids making cards,” Cates stated. “We hope to support each other as much as we work to support the children we make cards for.” At the UW-Madison chapter, Sween’s role as vice president of community engagement

PHOTO COURTESY OF DARBY SWEEN

UW-Madison officially recognized Letters of Love to be a student organization. for a child going through cancer treatment may seem trivial at first, but the fact of the matter is that these children’s most gloomy days can be upsetted and enlightened by the fact that they know someone outside of the hospital and their family is rooting for them,” Cates explained. Community is also formed

means she is in charge of connecting with other organizations and clubs on campus to facilitate card-making workshops for their members. According to Sween, this has been one of the most successful roles of the club thus far. “By working with other clubs, I have met so many fun

people who come in not having any idea about Letters of Love, and leave with really positive comments and appreciating the opportunity to help those who need it,” said Sween. As a chapter, Cates and his executive board hope to grow their membership and hopefully become one of the larger student organizations on campus. “We hope to advertise Letters of Love to incoming freshmen as well as to other students on campus through smaller club workshops,” said Cates. For those interested in getting involved, Letters of Love will be at the student organization fair on campus next year — their first as a registered organization at UW-Madison. “We want to bring students of many different backgrounds together to destress, have fun, listen to music and make meaningful connections while also serving an amazing cause,” said Cates. “We believe volunteer work should be something you look forward to and not just something you do because you feel obligated to. We hope to do just that.”

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Thursday, April 21, 2022

Rothman continues tradition of white, male leaders By Tyler Katzenberger STAFF WRITER

Earlier this year, the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents selected Jay O. Rothman as its next UW System President by unanimous vote in a closeddoor meeting. Rothman, a white man, will officially take over for current UW System Interim President Michael Falbo on June 1. The role was previously occupied by Tommy Thompson, who served as UW System President from July 2020 to March 2022. Rothman is only the second system president to have no prior experience working in higher education. The only other president with no prior higher education experience, Thompson, served four terms as Wisconsin’s governor. All of Rothman’s predecessors dating back to the origin of the system president position, including Falbo and Thompson, are white. Only one, Katharine C. Lyall, was a woman. Still, Vice President Karen Walsh asserted his experience is relevant to the position of system president, which she says is “a different kind of job” than a chancellor’s role. “[It] really requires quite a deft administrative skill, and we felt that Mr. Rothman had that. He’s an adroit manager; he asks very good questions. He’s a very collaborative leader.” Rothman’s leadership record is extensive. He has served as the chairman and CEO of Wisconsin law firm Foley & Lardner LLP since being elected in 2011, a position he achieved after 25 years of climbing through the company’s ranks. Rothman previously said he was interested in becoming UW System President because his term as CEO and chair of Foley & Lardner was ending without

opportunity for re-election. His goals as incoming leader are to listen to system employees and build relationships across the state. “I intend to lead by listening first, so that the experience I have gained over my lifetime in Wisconsin can help us build a great UW System together,” Rothman said in a press release. The UW System included four testimonials vouching for Rothman on their website, all of which were from Wisconsin CEOs. Each praised his leadership and collaboration skills. “The UW System is getting a leader of high intellect, integrity and exceptional work ethic,” Children’s Wisconsin President and CEO Peggy Troy wrote in her testimony. “Jay understood that it’s truly about people — whether the families we serve, or the faculty, providers and staff who make up the organization.” Chancellors have also expressed confidence in Rothman. UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank called his business relationships and fresh perspectives a “tremendous asset,” and UW-Eau Claire Chancellor Jim Schmidt, who Rothman beat out in the finalist stage, told The Daily Cardinal that Rothman will do a “fine job” and looks forward to working with him. “He’ll be surrounded by people with academic backgrounds,” Walsh said. “He’s also making very good use of the chancellors, who he plans to keep close to him as we chart a course going forward for the system.” Students, faculty concerned with Rothman’s selection Students and faculty are more cautious about Rothman’s selection than administrators. Many have taken issue with his lack of higher education experience, including UW-Stevens Point Student Government Association President Will Scheder.

COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

Dissonance among students and administration over new president.

Scheder acknowledged Thompson’s tenure as UW System President indicates an outsider can find success in the role, but called Thompson a “unicorn” situation due to his previous political experience. “Obviously, Jay has never been involved in higher education, so I think he’s gonna have a steep learning curve on how this system operates,” Scheder said. Student and faculty leaders were also upset that finalists were not made available for public interview. Both Scheder and Michael Bernard-Donals, steering committee president of UW faculty organization PROFS, said the lack of public interviews was “disappointing.” UW-Milwaukee professor Nick Fleisher went further, offering harsh critiques for the Board of Regents shortly after Rothman’s selection was announced. “No public interview. Never worked in higher ed. Announced on a Friday afternoon. Not a good look for the Regents,” Fleisher tweeted. “I think we have to reserve judgment on Rothman until we get a chance to know more about him. The process at the end here has ensured that we know very little.” Walsh and Board of Regents

“Not a good look for the Regents.”

Nick FLiesher UW-Milwaukee professor on Twitter

President Edmund Manydeeds III said there was no public interview for the finalists because of “extraordinary public input” throughout the process. “We decided that a public question and answer usually devolves into, depending on the questions coming from the audience, kind of a ‘gotcha’ scenario,” Walsh said. Walsh also added that a “wide range” of diverse voices were included throughout the finalist interview process, including “shared governance folks, students, regents and campus leaders.” Scheder, who participated as one of two student representatives for finalist interviews, corroborated Walsh’s claim but added that Rothman’s past experiences lack transparency. “I don’t know much about Rothman because he spent a lot of time in the private sector, so a lot of the way he might conduct himself as a leader is not really out there for the public to examine,” he said. Rothman’s only public appearance prior to his selection came during a 24-minute media conference, where four media outlets were invited to ask the finalists two questions each. The outlets were required to submit their questions before finalists were announced, and both Rothman and Schmidt were given the same questions. When asked about concrete steps during the media conference, Rothman responded, “... Do I have the answers now? No.” Rothman has spent time traveling around the state since then. According to UW System Media Relations Director Mark Pitsch,

Rothman has held meetings with multiple chancellors, Board of Regents members, and other campus leaders as part of his transition process. At an April 7 Board of Regents meeting in Stevens Point, Rothman said was devoting “as much time as [he could] listening to people within the system, as well as people outside the system.” He claimed he heard “varied and diverse perspectives” about the challenges facing the UW System, but did not elaborate and gave no specific examples. Current UW System Interim President Falbo also spoke to Rothman’s leadership ability at that meeting, expressing confidence in his “good friend” of 30 years. Falbo also served on the UW System Presidential Search Committee. “Disappointment” in lack of diversity The UW System faced transparency and diversity concerns with the last presidential selection process in 2020. The search committee for that process was half the size of previous ones and excluded faculty, staff and students. The process also broke precedent by returning just one finalist, then-University of Alaska System President Jim Johnsen. “They basically said, ‘Here’s your candidate, shut up and take it’,” Scheder recalled. “We weren’t consulted at all.” Johnsen later dropped out due to “process issues” with the UW System. Walsh said the Board of Regents learned from these criticisms and revised their approach to the most recent search process. 21 committee members were selected in July 2021, including two student regents and multiple faculty representatives. “There was a representative from each campus, including community folks,” Walsh said. “That broad stroke was done deliberately so we could get good feedback and a range of options.” According to an open records request of UW System data, the committee reviewed 44 applications. 23 of the applicants were white, 11 were people of color and 10 applicants did not report their race. Only seven applicants were women. Despite a larger committee, the process returned two white, male finalists: Rothman and Schmidt. Their selection was part of a larger trend among UW System Presidents, all of whom have been white. The most recent interim presidents and finalists have also been white men. Scheder says the lack of diversity among UW System Presidential candidates was “disappointing” but matches his expectations for the UW System. “They seemed like people [the UW] System would pick, I guess, which are people that are established, well connected, very experienced individuals,” Scheder said. When asked about the lack of diversity, Walsh said that the committee could not guarantee any finalist would have a specific racial or gender identity. “We went into this with a diverse pool of candidates, and the committee picked the top people,” Walsh explained. “We were look-

ing for the best candidate and I think we got that.”

“We were looking for the best candidate and I think we got that.” Karen Walsh Vice President of UW System

As for diversity within the search committee, Walsh believes the Board of Regents is capable of making the right choice. “I think it’s up to us to decide the numbers and whether we can get good feedback from whatever number of faculty, staff, or students we have,” Walsh said. A tough road ahead When Rothman assumes his position as UW System President, he will be thrust into the middle of multiple issues, including declining enrollment at branch campuses, empty regents seats and a potential tuition increase for the 2022-23 school year. Another situation facing Rothman is the Wisconsin Legislature, which proposed numerous bills earlier this year seeking to limit faculty and administrative reach at UW schools. The bills, if passed, would have altered UW ethnic studies requirements, banned select racial education topics and eliminated qualified immunity for campus administrators. During the same hearing, UW-Madison Vice Provost for Teaching and Learning John Zumbrennan raised concerns about the Legislature’s efforts to intervene in UW curriculum. “I myself routinely teach materials that a reasonable reader might conclude engage in race and sex stereotyping as defined by the proposed legislation,” Zumbrennan testified. “It might make me think twice about assigning texts by authors ranging from Malcolm X to Frederick Douglass to John C. Calhoun, texts that are in fact essential to understanding the American political tradition.” Rothman will also have to make a decision on the UW System’s free speech survey. The survey was scheduled to begin earlier this month, but was postponed to Fall 2022 due to student and faculty concerns. According to the Federal Elections Commission contribution database, Rothman has donated $105,500 to political candidates since 2008. He has donated to candidates from both major parties as well as nonpartisan organizations, but the majority of his donations (over 80%) went to Republicans. Rothman was unavailable for comment, but Walsh said Rothman is “quite non-partisan” from what she’s seen so far and was not concerned about political bias influencing his decisions as UW System Chancellor. Will Scheder said he was optimistic about Rothman’s ability to be an “operator” that works well with the Legislature — but was anxious to see how he performs. “With the current political climate of the state, it’s gonna be revealed rather quickly whether or not he has what it takes to be a good president.”

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Thursday, April 21, 2022

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NFL Draft pre- Badgers bounce back, view: Where sweep Michigan State will the Badgers end up?

TAYLOR WOLFRAM/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Leo Chenal figures to continue terrorizing quarterbacks in the NFL. By Matt Blaustein SPORTS WRITER

Next Thursday, the National Football League will hold the 2022 NFL Draft live from Las Vegas. The Wisconsin Badgers have several top prospects in this year’s draft class, including three players with All-Big Ten honors. But where will they end up? The star of this year’s class of NFL-ready Badgers is linebacker Leo Chenal. The Grantsburg, Wisconsin native was nothing short of a force on the nationwide-best Badgers defense this season, racking up 115 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks and two forced fumbles. After a dominant year, Chenal was named first-team All-Big Ten and received the Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the Year award, designated for the top linebacker in the Big Ten. Leo is an athletic freak—he scored a 9.99 RAS at the Combine out of a possible 10.00, which ranked fourth out of 2,188 linebackers from 1987 to 2022— and thrives in both run defense and pass rush. Where Chenal struggles is in coverage—he lacks NFL-level change-of-direction speed which is crucial in a league where linebackers are assigned to cover dynamic playmakers like Travis Kelce and George Kittle. Regardless, coverage skills can be taught—but Chenal’s pure athleticism can’t. Chenal most closely compares to New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis. Expect the Lions, Packers or Jets to target him in Round 2. The Badgers boasted not one but two All-Big Ten linebackers in 2021, with linebacker Jack Sanborn complementing the aforemen-

tioned Leo Chenal. Sanborn was a crucial member of the Badgers’ defense since his sophomore season and had his best output this past year, racking up 89 tackles, 16 tackles for loss and five sacks. Like Chenal, Sanborn thrives in both pass rush and run defense. However, Sanborn lacks the eyepopping athleticism his counterpart behind the line has, and as a result he will likely drop in the draft. Sanborn’s skillset resembles that of NFL veteran Kyle Van Noy, albeit as a middle linebacker. Look for a team like the Seattle Seahawks or Las Vegas Raiders to target Sanborn in the fourth round. Jake Ferguson, Barry Alvarez’s grandson, has finally declared for the NFL Draft after a spectacular four-year career at Wisconsin. Ferguson could be seen as a high ceiling, low floor prospect at the tight end position. He thrives in his ability to catch any pass thrown to him, and he regularly bailed out both Jack Coan and Graham Mertz when they were under pressure. Where Ferguson desperately needs to improve is pass protection, as he struggled against edge rushers like George Karlaftis and Boye Mafe. However, after notching AllBig Ten honors this past season and performing excellently at the Senior Bowl, Ferguson should go around the third or fourth round, especially in a draft mostly devoid of tight end talent. The Packers, Commanders and Giants all figure to have their eyes on Ferguson, who compares to longtime NFL tight end Owen Daniels, in those middle rounds.

TAYLOR WOLFRAM/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Jake Ferguson had a long and productive Wisconsin football career.

SHANE FRUCHTERMAN/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Ally Miklesh went 5-for-9 with six RBI and two walks versus Michigan State during their game.

By Ellie Scheirey SPORTS WRITER

After losing all three games at Illinois the previous weekend, the Wisconsin softball team returned home to do some damage against the Spartans. With their bats heating up, the Badgers took the series 3-2, 8-4, and 8-0. Game 1 on Friday was a pitchers’ duel decided by one run. Maddie Schwartz started in the circle and was dominant the entire game. Allowing just two runs off three hits while recording 10 strikeouts, she turned in a 99-pitch, completegame outing. Schwartz’s opponent, Michigan State’s Ashley Miller, impressed as well, yielding two runs on seven hits with nine strikeouts. The Badgers’ offense came alive as they turned the order over in the third inning. Ninehitter Lauren Foster led off with her first home run of the season, a shot to center field. Kayla Konwent followed with a double, then Fiona Girardot added an RBI single into right field to put Wisconsin up 2-0. Following a Christaana Angelopulos walk, Skylar Sirdashney reached on a fielder’s choice while Girardot came home on an MSU throwing error. Both offenses were quiet and the score remained 3-0 until Michigan State struck in the top of the sixth inning. With one out, Jessica Mabrey walked before Courtney Callahan homered to right field. The Spartans failed to add another run, however, and Wisconsin won 3-2. Schwartz added another win—her 16th of the season—to an already impressive 2022 statline. Less than 24 hours later, the teams were back at Goodman Softball Complex for Game 2. Miller returned to the circle after her complete game effort and yielded four runs (one earned) on five hits and a pair of walks. She exited after recording just six outs on 49 pitches. Wisconsin started Tessa Magnanimo, who allowed four hits and one earned run over

three innings while tallying five strikeouts. It was only her second start in 15 total appearances, but she was effective as usual and now has a 2.24 ERA in 2022. The Badgers scored four runs in the first two innings with help from the top half of the order. The first inning started with a Konwent single, a Girardot double and an Ally Miklesh RBI single. Wisconsin settled for just one run, though, as Girardot was thrown out at home for the second out. In the second inning, Konwent and Girardot both drew walks (Konwent’s being intentional) with two outs. A Miklesh single drove in three runs, all of which were unearned thanks to an error by Spartan center fielder Jessica Mabrey. No matter, Wisconsin led 4-0 after two innings and Miklesh was 2-for-2 with three RBI through two plate appearances. Michigan St. put one run on the board due to two thirdinning fielding errors by Wisconsin’s infield and a single by second baseman Caitie Ladd. Macy Lee doubled home another run in the fourth, narrowing the Badger lead to 4-2. That was all for Magnanimo, who handed the game to Schwartz with nobody out. The Badger ace, no stranger to heavy workloads, was tasked with recording 12 outs a day after throwing 99 pitches. Wisconsin quickly bounced back with two runs of their own as Sirdashney smacked a double and Konwent showed her signature power, crushing the ball over the right field fence for a 6-2 lead and her eighth bomb of the season. In the top of the sixth inning, Mabrey managed a two-run double to bring the Spartans within two runs. The top of Wisconsin’s order squashed any hopes of a comeback in the bottom half of the inning, though. Once again, Konwent and Girardot got on base before Miklesh drove them in with a single, tallying the fourth and fifth RBI of her 3-for-3 afternoon. The 8-4 score held and

Wisconsin had secured a series victory. Schwartz needed just 52 pitches to get through the final four innings and seize her 17th win, striking out three while allowing two runs (one earned). The Badgers looked to sweep Michigan State on Easter Sunday and did so with another outstanding performance by Schwartz as well as an unstoppable offense. Konwent went 2-for-2 with a pair of walks. Girardot was 1-for-2 with a triple and a walk. Foster, hitting cleanup in the series finale, went 2-for-4 with a double. Second baseman Ellie Hubbard was 1-for-3 with a triple. In total, Wisconsin recorded eight hits while playing a clean game defensively. Michigan State did manage six hits off Schwartz but couldn’t string enough offense together to score any runs. Schwartz pounded the strike zone, walking nobody in the 79-pitch, seven-strikeout game. The three-win weekend improved her record to 18-5 and lowered her ERA to 2.45 through 125.2 innings. Schwartz’s 93:28 K:BB is a testament to her dominant stuff and impressive control. This game did have an unexpected ending in the sixth inning, thanks to the mercy rule. The last play of the game was a wild one as well. Wisconsin had the bases loaded with two outs as outfielder Molly Schlosser stepped into the batter’s box. Schlosser reached first safely due to an error by MSU’s pitcher while both Konwent and Miklesh scored. Miklesh’s run was Wisconsin’s eighth, and in NCAA softball, if one team leads by eight or more runs after five innings, the game ends. With the weekend sweep, the Badgers improved to 23-11 overall and 8-4 in their conference. They’re now in fourth place in the Big Ten standings and will host a tough Nebraska team, undefeated in conference play and riding an 18-game winning streak overall, in a must-see series this weekend.

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Thursday, April 21, 2022

Spring Ephemerals: see them before they’re gone! By Joyce Riphagen SCIENCE EDITOR

It seems unlikely that anything would grow early in the Wisconsin spring, when the temperature is just as likely to be 20 degrees as it is 70. But if there’s water, sunlight and access to nutrients … life finds a way. In Wisconsin’s forests, that life is spring ephemerals, a photosynthetic guild that takes advantage of the open spring canopies despite the chilly temps. A photosynthetic guild is a group of herbaceous plants that all leaf and flower around the same point of the growing season — spring ephemerals are the earliest, and perhaps most well known, but others include groups like early and late summer plants. Each guild has common adaptations suited to its growing season — spring ephemerals, for instance, are typically short and compact, in order to conserve resources to put into potential storage organs. They leaf early in spring to take advantage of the still-open canopy, which will in time become more densely shaded. Spring ephemerals often have extensive relationships with mycorrhizal fungi in order to cope with the unfriendly conditions of early spring. The fungi allow for access to water and nutrients that would otherwise be locked away due to cold soil temperatures. One of the most charismatic spring ephemerals is Dicentra cucullaria, Dutchman’s Breeches. The leaves are feathery and, like all ephemerals, they’ll grow close to the ground. The name comes from their characteristic flowers, which look like a pair of old-timey pantaloons hanging from the stems. Dutchman’s breeches are in the same family as bleeding hearts, which you’ll see in many gardens around Madison during the summer. Dutchman’s Breeches are related to poppies, well-known for their role in opium production. These little pants pack quite a punch too — cows that graze on them will often stumble around due to the plant’s narcotic and toxic secondary metabolites. Another lovely ephemeral is Sanguinaria canadensis, Bloodroot. As they pop out of the soil, Bloodroot’s leaves will cling tightly to the

stem, eventually unfurling into beautiful lobed leaves very similar in shape to fig leaves. The flowers are dainty, with white-purple petals and vibrant yellow stamens. As the name suggests, S.canadensis’ roots are reddish-orange and leak a similarly coloured sap. Many Indigenous peoples used and use Bloodroot as a dye for textiles or baskets, though it can be dangerous to work with — the sap is poisonous, and certain extracts can be incredibly caustic. Like many plants, Bloodroot’s seeds are spread by ants, who are attracted to a fleshy organ attached to the seed. The ants take the seeds and eat the fleshy part, leaving the seed protected in their nests until germination. This benefits both ant and plant; the ants get a tasty snack, and the plants get a nutrient-rich, safe place to store seeds. The genus Trillium is also part of the spring ephemeral guild. There are many species of trillium, including the prairie trillium, giant trillium and many more. Trilliums grow from underground rhizomes — technically, they have no aboveground leaves, but the leaf-like bracts that surround the scape upon which the threepetaled flowers sit are arranged in a whorl, and often somewhat mottled. This mottling acts as a defense against herbivory — many ungulates, like deer, see in black and white, and the mottled leaves are difficult to distinguish from the leaf litter on the forest floor. M a ny hopeful Wisconsinites will try to plant trilliums in their own yards by transplanting specimens from the wild, but the trilliums rely on their belowground rhizomes and do not survive when transplanted. If you’d like to see some spring ephemerals, you’re in luck — this year’s late spring means that the ephemerals are just now beginning to bloom. The UW-Madison Arboretum is a great place to go ephemeral-hunting; the trails in Gallistel especially are lined by little green shoots. If you do go out, stay on the trails. Ephemerals are delicate and short-lived, and a single footstep can easily damage them.

PHOTO COURTESTY OF PATRICE78500/WIKIMEDIA

A red trillium in bloom.

PHOTO COURTESY OF FRITZFLOHRREYNOLDS/WIKIMEDIA

Dutchman's Breeches on a sunny day.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WILLTHOMAS/WIKIMEDIA

Bloodroot in bloom with it's leaves unfurled.

arts Department of Theatre and Drama kicks off ‘Heathers the Musical’ l

Thursday, April 21, 2022

By Athena Kafkas STAFF WRITER

On any given day, a student wandering into Vilas Hall might encounter a communication arts class, or potentially a student organization tucked away in a classroom. On the night of April 14, 2022, however, those who entered the glass doors of Ronald E. Mitchell Theatre were transported directly into the chaotic universe that is Westerberg High School. At approximately 7 p.m., 271 excited audience members filed into the small but inviting space located within the labyrinth of Vilas, and a light hum of anticipation hovered among the plush red seats. From the get-go, the stage immersed its viewers with curiosity, as it consisted almost completely of two tall staircases and a large posting of the infamous high school’s logo, which — if examined closely — resembled the scope of a pistol. Whether this was an intentional use of stage design freedom or not, its relevance to the story about to be played out is ironic, much like the majority of the cult classic musical’s script. Prior to the show, the entirety of the stage was bathed in an ambient red light, and the sound production team teased the audience with silly melodies composed of descending piano notes backed by the occasional beat of percussion, delivering an almost chilling sense of suspense. By the time the unmistakable shrill of a school bell cut through the theater, the audience was itching in their seats, as this would be the

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debut showing of the University of Wisconsin-Madison Department of Theatre and Drama’s production of “Heathers the Musical.”

of comedy to morbidity, drawing genuine reactions from the well-invested audience. Whilst setting forth the same horrific

entrance onto the stage, a blushing Veronica turned to the audience and sighed, “Why when you see boys fight does it look so hor-

PHOTO BY ATHENA KAFKAS/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Successfully creating an adaptation of “Heathers the Musical” takes guts: the wellknown dark comedy has an infamously ludacris plot that incorporates numerous controversial and adult themes. These themes include homophobia, murder, suicide and sex, as well as R-rated language scattered within foul punchlines. As a result of this, past adaptations of this musical have received an overwhelming amount of dissatisfaction from critics due to the fast-paced and inconclusive nature of the plot. Many believe that the script speeds past important lessons involving homophobia and classism, leaving the audience with discomfort and a lack of closure. As a viewer (not a Broadway critic), however, I disagree. The production had the perfect ratio

plot as the blockbuster film, the production crew incorporated a thrilling music score and intimacy between the cast and the audience to create a show well worth watching. The 20 cast members delivered lines effortlessly and constructed unique adaptations of their respective characters through dramatics, vocal expression and eccentric costume design. Veronica, for example, was portrayed as the witty and tortured protagonist that has made her mark on the entertainment industry since the release of the film “Heathers” in 1989; however, the very talented Caroline Hansen performed the character as spunky and relatable, yielding many a laugh from the audience. During a slow-motion fight scene that followed JD’s initial

campy take on a well-meaning but heavily misguided school counselor. Additionally, Michael Decker won the crowd over with

rible yet ... feel so right?” The show flowed effortlessly from scene to scene, and despite the director’s pre-show claim that that night’s preview would resemble a dress rehearsal, cast members navigated difficult songs, choreography and a complicated storyline with ease. The production involved a number of memorable scenes. Among these, Ms. Fleming’s performance of “Shine A Light” allowed for a short interaction with the audience. During this, a host of sparkly suit-clad cast members illuminated a few audience members under flashlights, expressing pointed glares at the line “So Steve! I’m ending our affair!” Ms. Fleming performed the song comfortably. She used her time with the microphone to entertain the crowd with her

his portrayal of the marginally off-his-rocker new guy in town, JD. Throughout performances of “Seventeen” and “Meant to Be Yours,” Decker’s remarkable vocals and acting successfully depicted his character’s unrelenting dark side that ultimately steered the plot toward murder and chaos. The Department of Theatre and Drama has successfully pulled off a trial run of their production of “Heathers the Musical,” and with seven more sold out shows, it can only go up from here. Despite the relatively underwhelming size of the theater and the controversy that so often surrounds the story, the production team’s otherworldly vocals and the use of lighting and sound effects proved this production fit for a much bigger stage.

Reeves’ ‘The Batman’: Caped Crusader Returns By Noah Fellinger STAFF WRITER

“The Batman” (2022), directed by Matt Reeves and co-written with Peter Craig, is the latest reimagining of the ubiquitous Dark Knight. The film stars Robert Pattinson as Batman, deciphering a trail of clues left by Paul Dano’s Riddler, a serial killer systematically targeting Gotham’s corrupt elite. As Batman and Lt. Jim Gordon (Jeffrey Wright) delve deeper into a vast web of conspiracies, they must contend with Gotham’s criminal underworld crossing paths with Carmine Falcone (John Turturro), the Penguin (Colin Farrell) and the curiously gray Selina Kyle (Zoë Kravitz). Despite the capes and larger-than-life villains, “The Batman” isn’t a superhero movie. Rather, it’s a noir-style mystery firmly rooted in Batman’s point of view. Action takes a backseat to witty detective work and gripping character drama, refocusing the caped crusader from MMA fighter to Sherlock Holmes. Considering the franchise’s history of action-oriented films, placing greater emphasis on the far more interesting “world’s greatest detective” side of the character helps to justify this new reboot. The film isn’t entirely without action, though. The movie keeps you on the hook with a steady build in suspense, only to startle you with an eruption of incredibly dynamic set-pieces. Michael Giacchino’s brilliant score especially shines in these moments. When Batman emerges from the shadows to serve brutal vengeance, the score, heavy with blaring trumpets and nerve-twist-

ing strings, inspires awe and terror in equal measure. In particular, there is an edge-of-your-seat chase scene featuring the Batmobile which will stick with you long after viewing. And speaking of shadows, this film excels in an area that few comic book movies do: cinematography. Some films, to appear gritty, darken every frame to the point that it looks like a flat gray puddle. But in “The Batman”, each shot is packed with depth. The lighting in the film is beautiful, especially its use of blues, reds and crisp, fiery orange. Paired with some excellent framing, the camera does half the story-telling and looks great while it does it. Ultimately, the performances tie the film together. Robert Pattinson — who has become known for eccentric and emotionally intense roles — was an inspired choice for this unstable, reclusive version of Batman. His strengths as an actor play perfectly into the obsessive nature of this iteration, and he conveys startling emotional depth, even with half his face covered. His chemistry with Zoë Kravitz’s Selina Kyle was delightful, and every scene between the two drips with sexual tension. The rest of the cast delivered as well, especially Jeffrey Wright as Jim Gordon and Colin Farrel as Penguin, who is unrecognizable in the role thanks to exceptional prosthetic and makeup work. However, Paul Dano’s Riddler may have fallen prey to over-acting. In Dano’s eagerness to convince the audience of the Riddler’s insanity, a few moments arise where the audience might chuckle at his absurd antics rather than shudder. Overall, however, Dano’s Zodiac-

inspired Riddler is effectively unsettling. This movie might not be for everyone. It’s a long film with a run time of nearly three hours, and moments of brevity are downplayed to avoid undercutting tension. In its drawn-out story, “The Batman” deals with many issues which are hot in the American consciousness, including dysfunctional policing, a corrupt political system and wealth inequality. A central theme is that beating up petty criminals doesn’t solve the structural issues that lead to crime. This is a sharp turn for Batman to take following Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy, which takes a decidedly conservative approach to the same issues. What’s disappointing, though, is that no real solution is arrived at by the end of the film. Overall, Matt Reeves’ reboot of this familiar hero exceeds expectations in terms of story, style and performances. While DC’s new strategy of more self-contained stories has been successful over the past couple of years, few of their movies have seen box office success or penetrated the public consciousness quite like “The Batman”, demonstrating that DC is capable of going toe-to-toe with Marvel without imitating them. “The Batman” lives up to the hype, and I can’t recommend it more. Final Grade: A“The Batman” is currently streaming on HBO MAX

opinion Amazon, Bezos’ fight against unions dailycardinal.com

By Graham Brown STAFF WRITER

The successful unionization effort at an Amazon warehouse in Staten Island, NY is a historic and unique moment in labor history that should be a catalyst for increased worker rights and progressive reform across the country. The Amazon Labor Union (ALU) is an independent union with no backing from a national group. They were running a shoestring campaign with a reported budget of $120,000 compared to a company valued at $1.5 trillion. A year ago, Amazon easily defeated a nationally-watched unionization drive in Bessemer, Ala. despite national news coverage and a statement of support from President Joe Biden. It appeared that an Amazon union was nothing more than a pipedream — still years away. Enter Chrisitan Smalls. A worker at the Staten Island plant, Smalls was fired in the early days of the pandemic for attempting to organize against the retail giant. In response to his walkout for safer working conditions, the company mobilized and crushed the effort with a vengeance. Smalls was swiftly fired for violating quarantine restrictions with the company thinking that would be the end of the demonstrations, according to the New York Times. However, with his friend

Thursday, April 21, 2022

Derrick Palmer, the two led a successful unionization effort that shocked the company. What they accomplished is nothing short of extraordinary. Amazon is widely known to be one of the most hostile anti-union companies in a staunchly anti-union country. Last year alone, the company spent $4.3 million on consultants specifically to crush unions and more than 10 internal divisions were mobilized to defeat the effort in Staten Island. More executives were alerted about the first walkout than employees attended. Smalls, who is Black, was smeared in internal Amazon memos as “not smart or articulate.” The truly historic part about ALU’s success is that it did not exist just 18 months ago. An independent labor union like the ALU winning is unprecedented in recent labor history. In recent memory, unionization drives have been led by powerful unions associated with the AFL-CIO. This centralization, it’s theorized, is better for the effort because major unions can write big checks and the drive can be led by professionals. Th e a f o r e m e nt i o n e d Bessemer campaign was led by the powerful Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) which has assets worth $43 million as of 2017. On the contrary, ALU fundraised

through Paypal and had no consultants to spearhead their effort. What does their victory say about the future of unionization in this country? Blue-blood unions should look at what happened in Staten Island as a wake-up call and it should influence their future moves. Unionization

an unbeatable power to create a better future for them and their families — and they won. Unionization is contagious. At Starbucks, one small shop in Buffalo voting to unionize in late 2021 has spread to 16 stores across the country and others filing to join. It is not crazy to think that this same phe-

PHOTO COURTESY OF SEATTLE CITY COUNCIL / WIKIMEDIA

efforts should not be led by outsiders and corner-office executives, but by workers on the ground. Smalls was able to build trust with the workers and counter corporate propaganda in a discreet, personal manner at barbecues and in the break room. Make no doubt about it — Christian Smalls is an American hero. Our country’s national origin is one where David defeated Goliath. A band of rebels rose up against

nomenon could be repeated at Amazon — and if that’s the case — it spells good news for workers across the country. The reason companies like Amazon and Starbucks are so vigilant in opposing these efforts is because they know that the benefits that unions bring do not just come to unionized workers. The pressure that the Starbucks union has put on the company has led them to consider expanding benefits to all workers.

This is not a decision that Howard Schultz is making out of the kindness of his heart. Throughout history, unions have been the driving force behind nearly all workplace benefits, such as the weekend and the 8-hour work day. These are benefits that all workers — not just unionized ones — enjoy today. The Amazon union has the power to create this spillover as well and, if done correctly, can bring a boon to all workers across industries and across the country. It will not be an easy task. Christian Smalls’ job is only getting started. He now finds himself as the president of the only Amazon union and already the company is working overtime to delegitimize the ALU. Expect Amazon to avoid bargaining in good faith, as any failure on the part of Smalls and the ALU will be used by Amazon to demonize the whole ideal and convince other workers that they are better off without a union. But Smalls has moved mountains already, and I wouldn’t bet against him again. Graham Brown is a freshman studying Political Science. Do you agree that Christain Small’s has sparked a much needed unionization movement? Send all comments to Opinion@dailycardinal.com.

Global effects of the 2022 Philippine presidential election By Bea Millan Windorski STAFF WRITER

70,000 incarcerations, 34,000 undocumented tortures, 3,275 extrajudicial killings and 77 disapperances of political dissidents. This is the legacy of the Marcos regime that ruled over the Philippines with the iron shackles of martial law and unprecedented executive power. Despite his 14-year reign being marked by corruption, the marginalization of civil liberties and economic stagnation, this dictator’s son — Bongbong Marcos Jr. — is projected to capture the Philippine Presidency in the 2022 election cycle.. The implications of this victory will not only mark an overall trend of rising authoritarianism across the world, but serve to erase the injustices under the Ferdinand Marcos Sr. regime, and challenge the geopolitical interests of the United States. Despite the Philippines being an ocean away, Southeast Asia will be a hotspot of particularly important geopolitical tensions due to the turning tide towards China. The Philippines has historically been an important ally in the region, and the election of Marcos Jr. will serve to challenge this precedence. The 1965 election of Marcos Sr. was supposed to usher in a beginning of political progress in the Philippines. In a country notorious for familial dynasties in politics, Marcos Sr. was

a relative outsider expected to bring a fresh perspective to the Presidency. He was a decorated military veteran, having claimed heroism in the brutal occupation of the Philippines by Japan in WWII. His glamorous wife, Imelda Marcos, helped catapult the couple to the Malacanang Palace due to her charisma and former-beauty queen status. However, his status of folk hero quickly disintegrated as he created an empire of corruption. The friends and family of the Marcoses were appointed to every relevant political and economic post, creating an oligarchy that would hinder the previous economic growth of the developing country. Marcos Sr. and his cronies systematically plundered the wealth of the country, amassing a $10 billion fortune stolen from the Filipino people. The family’s opulent tastes were often a point of contention while “70 percent of the Philippines’ 52 million people live in poverty with the average worker earning less than $50 a month.” Furthermore, martial law was declared in 1972 under the guise of combating an ongoing communist threat from the countryside, yet these powers were instead utilized to crush any political dissent. Marcos Sr.’s grip on the military forces precipitated an environment of terror, with political figures enduring torture described as a fate “worse than death.”

Often political prisoners were student protestors, journalists and any political opponents. In one particular case, Marcos Sr.’s primary adversary, Ninoy Aquino, was imprisoned while battling lung cancer and was only released to seek medical treatment under extreme public pressure. The conditions persisted to the point of becoming intolerable, and Marcos Sr. was removed from power in a surprisingly bloodless fashion given the brutality of his regime. The regime called for a snap election in 1986 as a misguided effort to consolidate his power. In response, the Filipino people came out in droves to vote for his challenger, Cory Aquino, the widow of Ninoy. After Ninoy was assassinated at point blank range, many theorized that he was killed in a plot by the Marcoses due to his popularity. Challenging years of voter fraud, civilian volunteers were mobilized by the thousands to observe polling stations and ensure the sanctity of the electoral process. The victory of Cory Aquino ushered in a new era of reforms — including election reform, a curbing of executive power, term limits and an attempted Constitutional amendment that would prevent familial dynasties from continuing to dominate politics. Despite these attempts at progress, the amendment was altered before ultimately

PHOTO COURTESY OF PATRICKROQUE01 / WIKIMEDIA

being discarded, and Marcos Jr. returned to the Philippines in 1991, capturing a seat in the House of Representatives. The Marcoses have continued to be active in politics since, with Marcos Jr. serving in the House of Representatives, as governor of Illocos Norte, in the Senate, and launching a failed bid for the Vice Presidency in 2016. Unsurprisingly, his political career has been marred by scandal and corruption — including a scheme where he funneled money through four fake Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Regardless of his father’s wrongs and Marcos Jr.’s own shortcomings as a politician, political memory in the Philippines is incredibly brief, with many seemingly forgetting the reign of terror. The Marcos Jr. campaign has been working

in overdrive to whitewash the history of his father’s dictatorship, arguing that Marcos Sr.’s attempts at a “New Society” ushered in a golden age for the Philippines. This coordinated social media misinformation campaign has overtaken Facebook, TikTok, YouTube and various other popular platforms. Beyond being a slap in the face to those who faced untold terror under martial law, the election of Marcos Jr. will serve to complicate geopolitical interests in the region. Due to its location, economy and history of military collaboration with the United States, the Philippines has historically served as a strategic ally. Yet, under the 20162022 Duterte administration, the country has taken a marked shift towards Beijing.