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Thursday, March 11, 2021
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As restrictions ease, more students gather By Sophia Vento STAFF WRITER
As the weather warms and UW-Madison and Dane County COVID-19 restrictions have eased up, UW-Madison students are gathering outside and following varying degrees of COVID-19 public health guidelines — sparking concern among the campus community. Public Health Madison Dane County issued Emergency Order #14 last week, which loosened restrictions that affect gathering sizes. As of March 10 in Dane County, outdoor gatherings can now host up to 500 individuals while gatherings that are hosted inside and without food cannot exceed 350. Indoor gatherings with food and drink are limited to 150 people. At the university level, as of March 8, outdoor gatherings are limited to 150 people and indoor events are limited to 50 according to a recent university press release. Only individuals in compliance with the university’s Safer Badger program can attend. Food and drink are not permitted at these university events. Warmer temperatures have also inspired students to emerge and interact with the Madison community. Lakeshore Path and State Street have been bustling with students and residents. Lake Mendota has also hosted student gatherings, although these have often been large events with little to no mask-wearing or physical distancing and took place before the recent loosening of gathering limits. Many students, community members and student groups have expressed their concerns and frustrations with such events. Associated Students of Madison Chair Matthew Mitnick is among those who are “absolutely disgusted” with the gatherings. “I am really frustrated because their actions impact the health and lives of the greater Madison community,” Mitnick said. “Their actions should not be tolerated in any capacity.” A lack of physical distancing and mask-wearing as well as the littering of an “obscene amount of garbage” are unacceptable, according to Mitnick. “Maybe these students do not feel a sense of urgency in COVID19 safety because they are in immense places of privilege where they do not have to worry about being healthy enough to work a job to pay for their education or have concern about access to medical services in the event they test positive for COVID-19,” Mitnick said. “These same students will now put the health of local service
workers in jeopardy.” “It is the service workers who have no choice but to put themselves at risk to earn a living during the pandemic,” continued Mitnick. “On the other hand, these students can absolutely make the choice to not gather in large numbers.” Ryan Rezania, a member of the executive board of the Interfraternity Council, described the gatherings on Lake Mendota as “unfortunate,” as “people turned an eye to COVID regulations” and left trash on the lake. Rezania maintains that those in Greek life “care about campus and are responsible for [the] environment.” On Monday, the IFC organized a “Mend Mendota” event where eight
risks, both related to COVID-19 and the dangers of thinning ice,” said UW-Madison spokesperson Meredith McGlone. Both McGlone and University Health Services (UHS) Director of Marketing and Health Communications Marlena Holden uphold that it is critical for students to remain in compliance with campus testing and continue to follow public health guidelines and safety protocols. “We urge everyone to wear a mask and maintain six feet,” stressed Holden. Because the lake is not on campus, it is under the jurisdiction of Dane County and any concerns about events like those of this past
events occurring off-campus like those on Lake Mendota. “If we know about gatherings in advance that may violate our orders, we can reach out to the individual(s) planning to host the gatherings to ensure they understand the rules and we can do compliance checks as well,” said Mattes, emphasizing that it is important to provide as much information as possible when reporting a gathering either before it happens, during the event, or after. Like McGlone and Holden, Mattes maintains that although the gathering size limits in Dane County have increased this week, “distancing and masking is still required for the safety of individu-
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Members of the IFC and one Panhellenic sorority gathered to clean up littter left behind from Lake Mendota gatherings. IFC chapters and one Panhellenic Association sorority assembled to pick up trash left on the lake as a result of the weekend’s gatherings. The event was organized to reshape perceptions of the IFC. They pledged to be proactive in cleaning up litter, holding members accountable and taking more sustainable actions in the future. “It is irresponsible and because of actions like this, the pandemic continues to rage on,” Mitnick said about the gatherings as a whole. “Groups and gatherings on Lake Mendota can pose their own
weekend should be reported to PHMDC, the university said. Marc Lovicott, the Director of the University of Wisconsin Police Department, reiterated this sentiment and highlighted that any oncampus public health violations should be reported to the university’s student conduct office. “General public can call the non-emergency dispatch number if they would like to report a gathering that is not in compliance with the public health emergency order,” said Sarah Mattes, the PHMDC Communication Manager, about
als and the community.” “We continue to work with the university to ensure all gatherings comply with our orders and that appropriate action is taken by PHMDC, the city, the county or the university,” Mattes said. Some students, like Mitnick, believe that the large student gatherings are indicative of the UW-Madison administration’s lacking coronavirus response. “The university is not actively working to prevent events like this in any capacity,” Mitnick said, citing ASM’s failed Mask
Ambassador Committee. The Mask Ambassador Committee was intended to promote campus COVID-19 safety measures, with mask ambassadors serving in student government roles. This committee was designed as a way to promote COVID-19 protocols, but also as a legal loophole that ASM hoped would enable the creation of a COVID-19 student relief fund. According to Mitnick, Dean of Students, Christina Olstad, shut the program down and was unsupportive of its creation, describing it as “confusing and misleading to students” and “against campus communication and legal guidance.” “Within mere days of Dean Olstead saying this, hundreds of students gathered without masks, further proving the need for a Mask Ambassador program,” said Mitnick. Olstead did not respond to a request for comment about the recent events on Lake Mendota. When asked about the university’s handling of COVID-19 overall, Mitnick was transparent in his view. “The university has not promoted public health guidelines,” Mitnick said. “The administration continues to go against leading health experts by hosting in-person classes and activities.” Mitnick also highlighted how he feels that some students felt pressured to take in-person classes due to the “inequities of virtual learning” and that, despite student calls for a Pass/Fail grading option given the circumstances of the pandemic, the university has not acted. “The university must listen to the Teaching Assistant Association, United Faculty & Academic Staff, University Labor Council and the UW-Madison BIPOC Coalition in implementing a Moral Restart,” stressed Mitnick. “One in which students and workers do not bear the burden of COVID-19.” For gatherings happening in realtime, individuals can call the nonemergency Madison police line at 608-261-9684 to report events violating orders off-campus, as well as the non-emergency UWPD line at 608-264-2677 to report gatherings on university property, according to Mattes. Mattes emphasized that respective police departments will contact PHMDC, the City Attorney’s Office or the County Corporation Office when appropriate. “Unless the gathering is associated with a known organizer, it is hard for us to follow-up after the fact,” continued Mattes. The community can also contact PHMDC at compliance@publichealthmdc.com to share concerns about public health violations.
“…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, March 11, 2021
An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 130, Issue 19
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News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com Editors-in-Chief Kalli Anderson Will Cioci
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PFAS threaten Monona’s fishing culture By Anna Feldman STAFF WRITER
As the weather warms and the ice surrounding Madison’s isthmus begins to thin, ice fishermen come from far and wide to cast their line before spring arrives. But recent news from the Department of Natural Resources may have some fishermen scaling back on fish fries. Increasingly high levels of the toxic chemicals PFAS (perand polyfluoroalkyl substances) were found in Monona Bay, a popular spot for recreational fishing for the Bayview neighborhood, according to a DNR report released January 21st. The concentration of PFAS — a group of human-made chemicals used in products such as non-stick cookware and some types of fire foams — was found to be highest in Lake Monona of
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Editorial Board Kavitha Babu, Chair • Kalli Anderson • Will Cioci • Ian-Michael Griffin • Anupras Mohapatra • Riley Sumner • Gaby Vinick
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Ice fishing at Monona Bay is popular.
the lakes in Madison at 7.26 ppt (parts per trillion). And this buildup of chemicals has affected the entire ecosystem of the lake, including the fish. Stephan Reinke, the general manager of Brittingham Boats,
a boat rental service on Monona Bay, has lived in the Madison area for his entire life. He’s been fishing on the bay since 1991, but has stopped eating his catch due to the PFAS build-up. “Instead of going to afterschool when I was in kindergarten in Franklin Elementary, a friend of mine and I would grab sticks with strings and go fish on the rocks by the bay,” Reinke reminisced. “I don’t eat fish out of the bay anymore since [PFAS is] a forever chemical; it doesn’t go away.” PFAS do not break down in the environment. They bioaccumulate in fish and wildlife tissues, and in the human body. The Environmental Protection Agency has found increased cholesterol levels among populations exposed to PFAS, with more limited findings related to low infant birth weights and effects on the immune system. Cancer has been linked to PFOA exposure and thyroid hormone disruption to PFOS — the most extensively produced and studied PFAS chemicals. Reinke explained that since Monona Bay is one of the first bodies of water in Wisconsin to freeze over in the winter and one of the last to thaw, it’s become increasingly popular with ice fishermen. In particular, Reinke said it becomes “Wisconsin’s hottest bluegill pan-fishing spot.” Winter isn’t the only season that fishers flock to Monona. At any time of the year, you can see fishermen dot the shore of the bay. For some, it’s an important source of food. According to Reinke, Monona Bay feeds a lot of the families in the Bayview neighborhood, which is across from West Washington Ave. He recounted how people from the Hmong community fish at night, using illuminated bobbers off of the train tracks that run through the bay. In 2019, the DNR con-
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Ice fishermen come from far and wide to cast their line before spring arrives. firmed the presence of PFAS foam in Starkweather Creek, which flows into Monona, after department staff spotted the foam forming along the creek near the Olbrich Boat Launch. A water sample taken contained 400 ppt of PFOS with a sample of the foam containing approximately 92,000 ppt. This was the first time foam on Starkweather Creek or Lake Monona had been tested for PFAS compounds. The fish recently collected by the Wisconsin DNR from June to October in Monona Bay contained up to 110 ppb of PFOS, the Wisconsin State Journal reported. The DHS and DNR advisory recommends against eating fish with PFOS concentrations higher than 200 ppb. The recent health advisory suggested limiting fish intake caught in Lake Monona and Starkweather Creek to one meal of bluegill per week, and any other fish to one meal per month. For pregnant people, the advisory suggests not to eat any fish at all. But the recommended portion sizes are not nearly enough
to fill someone up. Reinke said that to actually have a good meal, he has to eat four or five bluegills in one sitting. “One bluegill is not enough for anybody,” he stated. “If you ripped a dollar bill in half, and ripped it again lengthwise, that’s the size of filet that you get.” Bluegills are safer to eat than other fish in the bay because they only live up to five years. Their shorter lifespans mean that they don’t have as much time to accumulate PFAS in their tissue, whereas other fish, such as carp, can live 20 years. A largemouth bass with a lifespan of 16 years that was caught off of Atwood Ave. and tested by the DNR in 2020 was found to contain 180 ppb of PFOS, just 20 ppb shy of the state’s recommended limit. The more of these PFAS-containing fish that people consume, the higher risk of health problems arise, such as higher cholesterol, negative effects on the immune system and even cancer. According to the DNR, PFAS contaminates bodies of
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Students discuss anti-Asian attitude amidst COVID By Abby Bradbury STAFF WRITER
The Wisconsin China Initiative and University of Wisconsin-Madison Asian American Studies Program hosted a Zoom panel discussion featuring undergraduate and graduate voices Tuesday evening. The panelists included Thida Hok Chong, a UW-Madison senior studying in the Business School and the former president of the Lao Cambodian Student Association, and Alex Chen, a UW-Madison alumni currently studying at the Yale School of Medicine. The virtual discussion — called “Anti-Asian Sentiment in the COVID-19 Era: The Student Experience,” — ran as a Q&A and was moderated by Tev Lee, the Program Coordinator at the UW-Madison Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA) Student Center. It was then opened up for audience questions surrounding the topic of anti-Asian sentiment. Chong and Chen both
addressed instances of antiAsian sentiment they’ve witnessed since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic last year. Both panelists noted an increase in common microaggressions toward Asian individuals, such as hearing racist remarks about physical appearances and being asked their country of origin. Chong mentioned an instance during which her close friends were the victims of a hate crime, where eggs were thrown at them while walking on the street. “This is the first confrontation I’ve had with direct violent racism as an Asian American,” said Chong. “At the beginning of the pandemic, I was more afraid of being a victim of a hate crime than I was of catching COVID.” Chen, who has been on clinical rotations since last March, said he witnessed racism toward Asian-Americans firsthand in hospitals. He has seen patients who contracted COVID-19 blame their Asian nurses and doctors for infection and wit-
nessed patients asking their Asian doctors to leave the room. “In some sense I’ve come to expect some degree of anti-Asian sentiment, although I’ve been very bothered when it occurs where I least expect it,” Chen said. When asked what role administration should play in protecting Asian students, both Chen and Chong said that universities need to take a stronger stance against racist acts, which starts with acknowledging the problem. Additionally, both panelists noted the necessity of instituting an anonymous hate/violence reporting system for victims to turn to feel heard and safe. The panelists also addressed ways non-Asian people can be allies to their Asian peers on a more individualized level. “You don’t have to be Asian to be offended by Asian slurs,” said Chen, emphasizing the importance of calling out anti-Asian racist comments. Both Chen and Chong acknowledged willingness to
listen and learn as a way for people to support Asian peers. They stressed that having open conversations can be a powerful way to break ethnic barriers. “Use your voice to amplify the voice of Asian-Americans, not speak over them,” said Chong. Chen touched on the importance of debriefing after stressful situations by talking about his experiences as an Asian student during the COVID-19 era with others. Though this past year has led to trauma and difficult experiences, both panelists talked about the connections and comfort they’ve found with their fellow friends and peers from Asian backgrounds. Chong mentioned that she chooses to focus on a mutual bond and shared experiences with empathy, rather than trauma. Chen said he remembers that many other people are feeling the same way during this time and keeps the perspective that his emotions are not unique to him alone.
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One year of COVID-19: Where Wisconsin stands now By Hope Karnopp STATE NEWS EDITOR
Over one million Wisconsin residents have received at least one vaccine dose, nearly double the number of cumulative total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state since the beginning of the pandemic. As of Wednesday, 19 percent of Wisconsinites have received at least one dose and 10.8 percent have completed the vaccine series. One third of residents over the age of 65 have been fully vaccinated and nearly two thirds have received at least one dose, according to state Department of Health Services (DHS) data. Significant racial disparities are still present in vaccinations, with 18.1 percent of white Wisconsinites receiving at least one dose compared to 6.4 percent of Black Wisconsinites. Wisconsin’s vaccine rollout continues to be ranked highly compared to other states. On Wednesday, Wisconsin ranked fourth in distributing the doses it was allocated at 84.8 percent, according to CDC data. Health officials are expected to announce a new round of eligible groups by the end of the week, which will include about 2 million residents with preexisting health conditions. DHS Deputy Secretary Julie Willems Van Dijk said last week that “eligibility for everybody in May is a very realistic goal.” “It will depend on how many people we already have vaccinated in May, whether we’ll be able
+ICE FISHING water, soil and groundwater in Madison. The Public Health of Madison and Dane County stated that in Madison, known sources of PFAS contamination are the Truax Field Air National Guard Base and the Regional Airport due the use of firefighting foams at their sites, as well as landfills and other businesses and manufacturers. Although there are multiple sources of the PFAS, much of them are suspected to come through stormwater from the Dane County Airport, where they travel through Starkweather Creek into Lake Monona. The chemicals have been detected in every lake in Madison, but have most severely impacted Lake Monona. Reinke recalled a chemical fire off of Badger Road in
to finish eligibility for everybody who wants in May,” Van Dijk said. “I think it’s likely to go into June, and maybe even early July. Because it just depends on how many people are going to raise their hand and want to be in line, because we are not going to have unlimited vaccine supply.” The seven-day average of newly confirmed cases has steadily declined since the beginning of 2021. On Tuesday, the average number of cases confirmed over the past week was 391. In comparison, Wisconsin’s seven-day average peaked in mid-November at 6,563 cases. The seven-day percent positive rate has also decreased since the beginning of the year, with the state reporting 2.1 percent and Dane County reporting a 0.8 percent positive rate over the past week. UW-Madison Associate Professor of Population Health Sciences and infectious disease expert Ajay Sethi said that vaccinations are not directly tied to the drop in cases across the state, rather “what’s really happening is that people’s behavior has changed.” Looking back and looking forward Friday will mark one year since Gov. Tony Evers first declared a public health emergency in Wisconsin in response to COVID-19. An emergency declaration and mask mandate are still in place, although Republicans continue to challenge the governor’s emergency powers. On March 24, Evers declared Madison in 2016 where PFAS foam was used to extinguish the fire, and traveled through rainwater into Monona Bay. “I noticed, and weed harvesters on the bay [said to me], ‘I’ve never seen so many dead turtles in my life. We were scooping them out with rakes and shovels. It was probably 50, 60 dead turtles in the week after that fire,’” Reinke recalled. The DNR report says that they are currently investigating the sources of the PFAS and working on how to prevent these issues in the future. According to the PHMDC, work is underway with the DNR, Wisconsin Air National Guard, Dane County and the city of Madison to address the PFAS contamination in the water in the area.
KALLI ANDERSON/THE DAILY CARDINAL
PFAS contaminates bodies of water, soil and groundwater in Madison.
his “safer-at-home” order, which permitted residents to leave their homes only for essential activities and closed schools and non-essential businesses. The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the order in May, and a case regarding Evers’ ability to declare multiple emergency declarations is still pending before the state’s high court. This week, Republican lawmakers introduced bills that would require legislative leaders to approve emergency declarations and prohibit the governor from issuing consecutive declarations on closely related issues. Gridlock between the Democratic governor and Republican-controlled legislature has continued throughout the pandemic. Evers vetoed a COVID-19 relief package in
early February after it had bounced between chambers. Meanwhile, new CDC guidance is offering hope to people who have been fully vaccinated, including older Americans who have not seen their grandchildren for months. On Monday, the CDC announced it is safe for fully vaccinated people to gather indoors without masks with others who are fully vaccinated or unvaccinated people from another household unless anyone has an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Still, the CDC said fully vaccinated people should still follow social distancing and mask wearing when in public. Sethi said that the new CDC guidelines take into account a growing body of evidence that suggests the vaccines can
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Over one million Wisconsin residents have received at least one vaccine dose.
reduce the risk of transmission. “The key thing is if someone is vaccinated, they can still get infected. But infected doesn’t mean you’re infectious,” Sethi explained. “There are some studies to show that people who have tested PCR positive despite vaccination have lower viral loads, indicating that the virus may not be replicating enough to be passed on.” The CDC’s background information for the new guidelines states that “taking steps toward relaxing certain measures for vaccinated persons may help improve COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and uptake.” Recent polling from the Pew Research Center shows 69 percent of the public intends to get vaccinated or already has — up from 60 percent in November. Sethi said that he’s hesitant to “give people an impression that we are on some path to herd immunity.” He said the range for people who should be vaccinated to reach a return to normal is about 70 to 80 percent. “That assumes absolutely everybody who is offered that vaccine accepts it, and that’s not going to happen,” he said. “Right now, we have been on a path to managing the spread of COVID because of mitigation, and that is much more desirable than sort of a path to herd immunity, which means people in the community will have immunity from the vaccine and also from past infection.”
Dane County COVID-19 cases trending down, restrictions easing By Molly Carmichael STAFF WRITER
A new emergency order enacted by Public Health Madison and Dane County loosens limits on indoor and outdoor gatherings for local restaurants and bars Wednesday. The order — which will be in effect until April 7 — has expanded the maximum size on indoor gatherings serving refreshments from 25 people to 150, gatherings without refreshments from 50 people to 350 and expanded the limit on outdoor gatherings to 500 people. This order comes in response to the county and state’s continual decreasing COVID-19 rates over the past month. PHMDC still requires individuals to be masked when not consuming food or drink, and also mandates at least six feet of physical distance between patrons when gathering with anyone outside of the household. In an email to the Cardinal, PHMDC Health Educator Christy Vogt said that the county’s gradual reopening of businesses is essential to maintaining a healthy environment while also aiding the local economy. “A cautious and stepwise reopening has remained Dane County’s approach— an approach that has likely contributed to Dane County having one of the lowest case and death rates in the state despite it being a population
center,” Vogt said. The new guidelines come amid a decrease in case numbers and hospitalizations related to COVID-19 since the release of Emergency Order #13 in early February with the PHMDC reporting “record lows” in the county’s ICU admittance. At the beginning of February, seven-day new case averages for the county were above 100 with nearly 70 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Currently, Dane County is down to 23 hospitalizations. Vogt emphasized that vaccines have played a significant role in the declining number of COVID-19 cases and that the county’s efforts to target vulnerable populations — especially seniors — has been essential to decreasing hospitalization rates. Over 75% of Dane County residents aged 65 and over have received at least one dose of the vaccine, according to Vogt. “We’re also already seeing the effect of having a large portion of our most vulnerable populations getting vaccinated: fewer cases overall, fewer hospitalizations and fewer cases in high-risk places like long-term care facilities,” Vogt said. About 20% of Dane County’s total population has been vaccinated as of March 10, a number that is expected to increase as the Wisconsin state govern-
ment will soon reveal plans to vaccinate approximately 2 million additional Wisconsin residents in the coming months
“A cautious and stepwise reopening has remained Dane County’s approach — an approach that has likely contributed to Dane County having one of the lowest case and death rates in the state...” Christy Vogt PHMDC Health Educator
— including many with underlying conditions. UW-Madison has also experienced a sustained decline in COVID-19 cases among students and staff, according to data from March 9. Although the new emergency order permits for larger gatherings, Vogt said residents should still be cautious, wear a mask, social distance and get a vaccine as soon as they are eligible to do so. “While an individual may not be concerned about getting the virus, they could pass it on to someone who could get very sick, so that is why it is especially important for us all to look out for each other,” Vogt said.
Life & Style A new bunny best friend named Bubbles l
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Thursday, March 11, 2021
By Haley Harris STAFF WRITER
I grew up with two older brothers. This means I was forced to participate in Nerf gun wars, Bionicle fights, Dinosaur hunts and Hot Wheel races as a child instead of playing dress-up with Barbie, conducting fashion shows with Bratz dolls, cleaning the diaper of a Baby Alive or braiding the hair of an American Girl doll. Don’t get me wrong, when raising a child I believe it is important to allow that child to play with whatever toy interests them, regardless of their gender and what society views as “normal.” However, I was definitely more interested in a Barbie than a Bionicle, but in my house the majority ruled. As you can probably imagine, picking out a movie, as compared to a toy, was no better. I have watched The Jungle Book more times than I can count, but if I wanted to watch something “girly,” say Cinderella, my brothers acted as if the world were ending. One of the only movies we could always agree on, though, was Finding Nemo.My favorite scene in Finding Nemo is when the yellow tang fish named Bubbles, who is trapped in the dentist’s fish tank with Nemo, screams: “BUBBLES! BUBBLES! BUBBLES! MY BUBBLES.” You may wonder why this is my favorite part of the
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movie, especially when there are so many other heart-felt moments, such as, Nemo finally being reunited with his father. However, as a kid, I really enjoyed playing with bubbles outside on a nice, warm day. Kind of like the Spring weather we are currently experiencing here in Madison. Also, I simply thought the scene was funny. Following Bubbles outburst, Gill, the leader of the trapped fish, tells Nemo: “Fish aren’t meant to be in a box kid, it does things to yah.” I don’t know about any of you, but during this pandemic, more times than once, I have felt confined to the four walls of my apartment. My apartment has felt like a “box” and it has definitely “done things to me.” I have struggled with over-eating, under-exercising, lack-of-motivation, anxiety, depression and so much more. Personally, when I am struggling, one of the only things that can help me through the difficult time is an animal. Honestly, not much can compare to the love an animal is willing to offer you, anytime and any day. In this article, I am going to vouch for the love Bubbles, the rabbit – not the fish in Finding Nemo, or the childhood activity – could provide for you during this difficult time. Bubbles is a male Dutch rabbit. He is four years old and currently resides at the Dane County Humane Society with his sister, Sprinkles. He weighs about six pounds and
has white fur with splotches of black around his eyes and backside. He loves affection from humans, such as petting, and he is soft-to-the-touch, so most people have no problem obliging in giving him what he loves most: Frequent pets. Currently, Bubbles appears to be a very healthy rabbit but it is always a good idea to visit a veterinarian soon after adoption for a routine check-up. Bubbles can be adopted as a bonded pair with his sister, Sprinkles, for an affordable $90 plus tax. Sprinkles is like Bubbles in every way stated above, except that she is a female. If you would like to move forward with this adoption process, please visit one of the following links: Dane County Humane Society – Bubbles or Dane County Humane Society – Sprinkles. Ultimately, no matter what struggles you have faced, or are currently facing during this pandemic, I know an animal like Bubbles can help you through it. And let’s not forget, these animals looking to be adopted have also gone through countless struggles of their own. Life can be hard for both humans and animals alike, and maybe all it takes to help one is to have the companionship of the other. However, it is up to you to take the initial step and adopt. As I talked about earlier, my brothers and I could not agree on much when it came to toys and movies, but we did
Rejuvenating during COVID-19 By Megan Girod STAFF WRITER
The age of Covid has brought on many people realizing that they don’t have many hobbies. The rush to find things to do has brought on a major wave of never ending ways to stay entertained through the various lockdowns that have happened. Keep reading to find out the ways some people are staying entertained during the age of COVID-19. Facetiming friends has become a popular way of staying close while staying far away from each other. As Zoom and Google Meet have made their way into classrooms, virtual study groups have become widely popular for students of
all ages. Convenient for those who are more anxious about Covid than others, virtual hangouts allow friends to connect and interact while still maintaining social distance and staying out of the cold winter air. Masked hangouts are going to increase when the weather gets nicer outside, and walking trails around campus are going to become increasingly popular with students just itching to get outside. Some students have found a passion for cooking, attempting to make a new recipe once a week. Doing this expands menu possibilities and is also a good way to interact with friends. You can even host a virtual dinner party!
Arts and crafts have soared in popularity since the beginning of Covid. Many have gotten into embroidery, knitting and crochet because of the various items you can make and the ease at getting started. Amazon and other websites are still able to deliver packages quickly, so if you order a few supplies online you can get crafting quickly! Many people have refound their love of reading, something many people don’t have time for most days. With Covid, people have found themselves with more free time than ever before which allows them to fall back into old, and new, reading habits.
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Group meditation can help ground and stabalize you during these uncertain and stressful times.
The calming practice of meditation By Vanessa Buckmelter STAFF WRITER
Close your eyes, relax into your breath, be still. This is how most meditation practices begin. Meditation is a mental practice of mindfulness. Through meditation, you train your consciousness and awareness at the art of being relaxed, still and peaceful. After the hectic, stressful and intense year that March 2020 to March 2021 has been, finding some peace is something most of us are craving. It might seem impossible to tune out the noise of the busy world we live in but through the addition of meditation practice in your life, you just might find that you are better equipped to do just that. Adding a meditation practice to your life empowers you with control and is a nurturance for
your mental health. The benefits that meditation can bring an individual can also translate to your friends, family and coworkers through group meditation. Practicing mediation as a group can lower the intimidation, help you build stronger relationships with those around you and align your energy. You might think you can’t possibly meditate. You might have found yourself saying it’s just not for you, but, if meditation is synonymous with intimidation in your eyes, it might be exactly what you need. Meditation can be daunting when you are starting out. The stillness and the silence might seem like a perfect time for a racing mind to run rampant. However, I urge you to invest a little time into a
meditation practice and you may just find that some time to be still, alone and neutral is exactly how you calm a racing mind. Meditation comes in a variety of forms with varying focuses from noise to sight to sensation which makes it even more adaptable to your own needs and desires. Part of the beauty of meditation is that the benefits it can bring to you as an individual can be magnified when the social circle of friends and family that you surround yourself with are finding the same benefits. Meditation helps to align energy and improve communication which is vital to healthy relationships. If you haven’t tried mediation it is never too late to start. Grab some friends or take a minute to yourself and explore the benefits of mindfulness practice!
BRYCE RICHTER /THE DAILY CARDINAL
Rejuvenate yourself during COVID so it does not feel like you life is on a constant, repeating cycle.
arts UW Art student is staying sustainable dailycardinal.com
Thursday, March 11, 2021
By Cailyn Schiltz STAFF WRITER
A shrine-like nook sits at the top of the stairs in Serendipity Stage’s studio apartment. Two wine bottles with tall candles in the spouts flank a triangular painting. Stage painted each corner a different primary color and connected each of them to the center with light swirls. The center features a tiny white stick-figure inside of a blue eyeball. A key floats underneath the eye, teeth facing up. “So this is called ‘Unlocking The Dream Body,’” said Stage as she presented her artwork. “I haven’t necessarily finished it because on the sides, I play with the whole thing. I need dimensions to it. Yeah. I want to say ‘the body holds all the answers, but some locks require keys,’ and so that’s what that’s going to say when it’s done.” Stage twirled the triangle, blurring the colors as she revealed the painting’s naked edges. She drew inspiration for “Unlocking The Dream Body” from her dance/movement therapy classes, specifically a reading on “moving the dream body.” Stage explained it as being in a state of constant dreaming to practice mindfulness throughout different levels of consciousness in the connected body and mind. Serendipity Stage is from St. Croix Falls, Wis., but considers the river valley that unites St. Croix Falls and Taylor’s Falls her real home. She is in her third year at UW-Madison working towards a Bachelor in Fine Arts with a certificate in dance/movement therapy.
CAILYN SCHILTZ
Previous clients have exchanged handwoven baskets for Stage's custom tattoos. Stage has been using her passion for art and the human experience to start a stick-and-poke tattoo collaboration that she runs out of her apartment. This December, she created a social sculpture entitled “Sculpting Skin and Spirit.” She sat down with three strangers and created a symbolic design based on ways they wanted“to transform themselves, then hand-poked the design into their skin. This inspired “New Moon
CAILYN SCHILTZ
The organic 'squiggles' characterize Stage's art across different mediums.
Magic,” a new, interactive facet of her tattoo business that creates a strong relationship with her customers. Once a month, at the beginning of the moon cycle, Stage gives someone a newlydesigned tattoo in exchange for whatever the client deems “of equal value.” In some spiritual practices, the new moon represents a time chock-full of potential, the perfect opportunity for someone to clarify intentions or manifest goals in their lives. Stage’s tattoos center on the recipient’s desire for intentional self-change. Previous “New Moon Magic” clients have exchanged handwoven baskets — pictured above — and handmade corset and skirt set and spell jars for Stage’s custom tattoos. Stage enjoys the dynamics she forms with her clients and approaches each unique tattoo appointment similar to that o an artistic collaboration. She intentionally creates a warm and welcoming environment in her home with scents and music to counteract the sterility and wastefulness of the tattooing supplies. “One of the things that I disliked about tattooing is [that] it’s very wasteful. Everything is single use. Obviously you’re being sterile and you don’t want to mess that up,” said Stage. Stage wiggled a small orange container filled with used needles, wrinkling up her nose. She found a company that creates biodegradable razors and bottle bags, which is an important step in making tattooing sustainable but also safe. “It’s such a quandary because it’s like, I can’t exist without making art, but I also want to not worsen than the state of the planet and the envi-
ronment,” said Stage. Emotional sustainability is also important in Stage’s tattooing practice. Stage sees tattooing as an emotional and therapeutic experience that can sometimes be draining. “I am pooped after a day of tattooing. It’s a total emotional exchange, that’s how I really relate it to therapy. We’re helping someone else work through their issues or just whatever’s on their mind, even if it’s not like this huge, deep, pressing matter,” said Stage. “It’s still being there for them. It’s like having a really long heart to heart with a friend and doing multiple of those in a day.” Stage finds emotional connections more inspiring than draining, though. She admires raw intensity in other people and speculates that it’s because she has had to work against depressive tendencies to instill passion in herself. “It’s kind of just really fun to draw off of someone’s energy and like, just keep going. Like, yes. Even if this is not what I’m intense about, let’s get it,”
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er on multiple musical art projects throughout the year. Arkley describes the project as a creative dialogue. She will go through the process of writing a song in Stage’s studio. Stage will create an artwork based on that process, and tattoo it onto Arkley. “I’m going to, as a gift, essentially give her the song. Like ‘this is for you! This is our artistic exchange! So I’m really, really excited for that,” said Arkley. Arkley is excited to work with Stage, specifically. Arkley appreciates her ability to “meet someone where they are” — a crucial skill in artistic collaboration. It involves understanding a person artistically, emotionally and spiritually, and using that knowledge to find boundaries to create within. “I’m fortunate to know her. I always walk away feeling very inspired, very filled, and like I just had a very meaningful experience,” said Arkley. “The way that I see her is like how her life is art, and she views people as art, and she views the Earth as art. And she’s very dedicated to
CAILYN SCHILTZ
Stage takes advantage of her artwork and tatooed this dagger on her hand. shared Stage. “I also love creating a very chill environment. I just like being able to explore both of those ends,” said Stage. “I guess I really love people who are very much so one of those ends of the spectrum.” Stage looks forward to collaborating with Abigail Arkley, a vocal performance student at UW-Madison. In 2018, they lived in The Studio, a learning community in Sellery Hall, and worked togeth-
not only understanding those things, but seeing them all the time and appreciating them.” Stage believes that the mind and body hold all the answers, but some locks require keys. Her artwork is not only unlocking her own doors, but inspiring others to unlock theirs. To enjoy more of Stage’s artwork or inquire about tattoos or commissions, look her up on Instagram @art.of.serendipity or browse her website, serendipitystage.com.
almanac
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6 Thursday, March 11, 2021 l
ing things up for students is by inserting random amounts of weed into different dishes at the dining halls. Every day, different foods will be infused, and students will never know whether or not they will be hit with 40 mg plus GRAPHIC BY ZOE BENDOFF of marijuana By Hannah Ritvo administration has de- after leaving our beautiALMANAC CONTRIBUTOR cided to wholeheartedly ful dining halls. Legal weed? What a endorse this Another idea they’re congame changer. Gov. Tony change when it comes. sidering is completely Evers has released a budAdministration is exper- shutting down the Nick, get plan that proposes imenting with ways they and creating the world’s legalizing medicinal will adapt to this new first five floor dispensary. and recreational marilegalization. One way This high-end dispensajuana in Wisconsin. The they’re planning on spic- ry would become an imUW-Madison
Sesh with Becky?
Interview with Tanner from the Phi Alpha Fraternity By Gillian Rawling ALMANAC EDITOR
As I was browsing twitter this week, I came across an unfamiliar face in the UW-Madison community. Member of the Phi Alpha Fraternity- notorious for excessive drinking and leaving mounds of trash on the frozen lake after dartys (as well as being completely made up)- Tanner Smith left a tweet that piqued my interest: “Listen. If you abolish Greek life, who’s gonna do the dirty work of making Madison objectively worse? This city needs us.” I set out to discover more about the mystery gentleman. Reaching out on twitter DMs I first extended a business opportunity and a writing position here at the almanac. After assuring me that he was far to busy with hazing pledges, Smith allowed me a brief interview to give us a
The Lake Flower By Ashton Jenks ALMANAC CONTRIBUTOR
Where were you a year ago? Well, I can tell you perfectly where I was, because it was a first and seemingly a last for me, as far as their state of the world goes. Soft fabric swishing on my legs, my converse thudded on the pave-
age of our school, and the first thing potential students and parents would see when visiting the UW-Madison website. Potentially, the Madison administration is even considering going as far as changing the classic ‘W’ logo to an image of Bucky Badger with a joint in his mouth. That would for sure draw people in to study at this amazing institution. Other initiatives include the creation of a mandated 4/20 holiday, which students must participate in, and employing the Duo Login Push feature in a whole new way. Administration is considering sending out a push every day at 4:20 — a.m. and p.m. of course — to remind kids what time it is and what they must do. Along with testing spit
for COVID-19, scientists will be testing for weed and disciplining students whose tests come up negative. Computer science majors are also working on programming the starship robots to be able to work for dispensaries, and deliver weed directly to dorms. Lastly, Becky will be picking one lucky student to sesh with. UW-Madison is even considering raising the cost of tuition to cover this sesh. Just remember, once weed is legal, you can legally get high whenever and wherever you are. The Dean’s Office? High. FAFSA interview? High. Your one in-person class? High. Internships at the local elementary school? Higher. Badgers will soon be unstoppable.
glimpse at what must be one of the most generic white guys at UW-Madison. Smith is a “seventh year” in “personal finance with a certificate in bartending.” A true jack of all trades if you will. When asked if he preferred the oceans or mountains, Smith asserted that it’s “Gotta be the ocean. You throw beer bottles in and you get fish back. That’s my type of exchange. Pops is a businessman; I know a deal when I see one.” Then we dove into the really important questions: Boxers or briefs? “Boxers. Gotta let that thang swang, if ya know what I’m sayin.” Phi Alpha’s favorite panhellenic member and pong partners were the coveted sisters of “Delta Delta Delta. Easy to remember. And hey, I’ve always been a fan of DDDs.” Although
he assured me that the ideal party would be “A Halloween party with all of Alpha Phi and me. Just me.” As spring is finally returning, as does the elusive darty szn, when asked if he had to choose between that and night ragers he answered “Darty. no question.” Going on to say that “My father, and his father before him, and his father before him, and his father before him all strongly believed in getting trashed before the sun hits its zenith. I’m just here to carry on tradition.” Despite the warming weather, many are still concerned about the risks of open gatherings. Smith seemed confused by my addressing this in asking him what his favorite covid precaution is, to which he responded: “What are you talking about?” When asked if he at least planned on getting the vaccine, Smith said, “That’s a decision that’ll be kept between me and the broth-
ers. We appreciate you respecting our privacy at this time.” Finally, I asked Smith what he would most like our dear readers to know about Phi Alpha. “I just wanna show the city of Madison that Greek life isn’t all bad. We get a
lot of hate on this platform, and I don’t think it’s fair. One day, I hope we can all come together and ignore the sexism, racism, and classism and focus on the good things. Like selling hot dogs. For the kids, yanno?”
ment ahead of me. Cracking ensued and soon the vulnerable blue blood of the lake was exposed, ready for infection by our small troupe. Already my bones were reflexively tugging my jacket back on but from the goading of my lovely friend, their blonde hair gracefully falling from behind their ear, the thing dropped to the ground, symbolic of the new flowering of spring. And for a while, I had needed this new flowering supposedly. Getting way into writing sad poetry, and staying huddled in my
dorm, coddling my zoloft, it had been a hard winter, my despair at existence hitting harder than ever before. I was lucky to even still have friends considering how much I had closed myself off for so long, I was afraid that I would never open back up. Nevertheless, here I was, with my lovely friends, stripping down to a swimsuit in front of a frozen lake. With most of them already submerged in the space in the ice, the one friend left offered their hand and led me to the edge, a dif-
ferent edge than I’d been consumed with before. Their lake blue veins blurred in my vision, and it was the last thing I saw before I fell in. With my legs and arms flailing, I sunk down into the lake, the sun shining further and further away, before I was yanked back to the world of the living, like so many times before. “That’s one way to make an entrance,’’ said Mac, their hair spiked with cold water, not quite icicles due to it not being cold enough. My arms flew to my shoulders and I
began shivering in response. “Hey, there’s another little hole over there in the ice!” shrieked Sam, holding themselves up on the edge of the ice to sea across. Slipping suddenly, Mac grabbed them and Adrienne, the one who had led me in, started splashing mac. When the fighting had stopped, Sam looked fiercely at all of us and sneered, “Race yah,” before slipping under the water.
IMAGE VIA TWITTER COURTESY OF @SIDNEY_GOOCH
Continue Reading on The Daily Cardinal Website....
We’re always looking for more funny and insightful writers with fresh takes on topics ranging from the UW campus to international news. We accept and encourage creative submissions as well! Any and all submissions are more than welcome. You can send your submissions and any comments or questions to almanac@dailycardinal.com. All articles featured in Almanac are creative, satirical and/or entirely fictional pieces. They are fully intended as such and should not be taken seriously as news.
opinion International Women’s Day in D.C. dailycardinal.com
By Em-J Krigsman STAFF WRITER
As we celebrate International Women’s Day, let’s look at one of the most absurd American traditions: The first lady. A first lady, the “hostess of the White House.” The mere fact that a hostess is the way first ladies are still categorized as is inherently sexist, insinuating first ladies serve at the beck and call of their allpowerful husband. In no way are these women running for office, and yet, when Americans go to the polls, they might as well check the name of the corresponding first lady. It is assumed without question that these women will drop everything to become state-sponsored caretakers. Every first lady adopts a platform, where, in tandem to their husband, they use their role to champion certain policy initiatives. Aside from this, however, most of their expected duties are shallow, largely revolving around White House upkeep and entertainment. Among the many superficial roles include picking the theme of the White House Christmas tree and selecting the pattern of the White House china set. This role is confining and discriminatory, reinforcing the passé expectation of women as “guardians of the house.” Further pushing the gender divide, the president is generously paid $400,000 for serving the country, while the first lady receives a whopping zero dollars. Arguably the greatest representation of a wage gap, the lack in pay not only portrays, but asserts, that the first lady is but a servant to the country. All the while the media loves to further belittle these women by hyper-fixating on the appearance of the first lady. The media relentlessly criticizes first ladies on surface-level criteria from their outfit choice to their facial expressions. Considering
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male spouses and politicians never endure similar scrutiny, this disproportionate obsession only reinforces gender roles. Rather than focusing on these women’s accomplishments or life stories, the media continues to “other” them, seemingly implying an incompatibility of femininity in the White House. Prior to delving into my own research, what I knew about first ladies fit the media set stereotype. My knowledge on Michelle Obama, for instance, was limited to her child obesity platform and muscular physique. In reality, these ladies are highly acclaimed, serving as much more than a pretty face. Michelle Obama worked at a firm where she specialized in intellectual property and marketing law, Jackie Kennedy was a photojournalist for the Washington Times-Herald and Laura Bush was a school teacher and librarian. Every first lady is no different than any other hard working American, yet as they step into the doors of the White House, their accomplishments are overshadowed with conventionalist wife expectations. Thanks to the media and the ingrained precedent for a first lady, our knowledge of these women, regarding what they did outside of their husband’s term, or who they are at all, is hindered because the role of the First Lady is a digression in gender equity. Many see a female president soon on the horizon, but I question how this same country that continues to maintain the importance of a first lady could possibly vote a female into the most powerful governmental seat. More so, when the long overdue day arrives when a female is inaugurated into office, it seems unlikely that our society would expect the first gentleman to pick up all these stereotypically feminine tasks. It may even force madam president into doing them on top of her obligations to the country.
Sustaining the expectations for a first lady insinuates that women can only have comparable political power because of their husband. This symbolic posi-
professor at Northern Virginia Community College. The decision to overturn 231 years worth of this socially set expectation insinuates that Dr.
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of life, gender divides continue to loom. By putting to rest outdated roles like that of the first lady we may finally overcome gender stereotypes, viewing every American
PHOTO COURTESY OF CHERISS MAY
Dr. Jill Biden has turned over an old and outdated practice of dropping everything to become "The First Lady." tion is keeping women’s political career in chains. The first lady is outdated. With 2020 being one of the most unparalleled years politically, socially and economically to date, the year of 2021 has brought vast hopes for improvement. As we emerge into not only the 46th presidency, but the 44th celebration of International Women’s Day — recognized each year on March 8 — it seems like the tides are finally set to change. Dr. Jill Biden is unprecedentedly keeping a paid job during her husband’s presidential term. As her husband is in D.C., Dr. Biden will be continuing her career as an English
Biden is a modern first lady. Rather than putting her life on hold for this symbolic prize, Dr. Biden has decided to live like most other twenty first century women — pursuing a career and maintaining a life outside of the realm of her husband. Kamala Harris represents yet another stepping stone, being the first female vice president. In truth, the key to gender equity is women. Empowering women means giving women the opportunity to hold positions of power, prove their worth and show society they can do a “man’s” work. In law, the rights granted to men and women are indistinguishable, but in social aspects
citizen as what our government has promised: Equal. International Women’s Day is not merely about celebrating women’s achievements, but giving attention to the realms in need of greater gender parity. As we commemorate women everywhere today, take a minute to really ponder the role of women in our society.
Em-J Krigsman is a freshman studying Political Science and Journalism. Do you think the role of the First Lady should be retired, or is this a symbolic position here to stay? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
Stimulus payments pass Senate, many Americans still waiting By Ethan Wollins STAFF WRITER
As the litigation-filled Trump administration has come to an end, newly elected President Biden has followed through with some of his economic campaign promises. The American Rescue Plan, a $1.9 trillion economic relief bill, passed the Senate narrowly with a vote of 50-49. The bill includes the long-awaited stimulus payments of $1,400. While the bill is not completely ready to be sent to Biden’s desk, it is almost certain that the Democratcontrolled House of Representatives will vote to pass the bill. However, distinguishing the many ways this type of economic relief can and cannot help this pandemic-induced recession is important, as this duality brought controversy and filibustering to the Senate floor and led on Americans who have needed this financial support for months. Democrats in the House and Senate could easily be held responsible for this delay, as their attempt at adding unpopular amendments to the bill furthered the debate over this massive relief plan. The relief bill is primarily com-
posed of stimulus checks, a boost to unemployment, monetary assistance for vaccine distribution and small business relief. In large part, it seems as though the bill is extremely similar to that of the CARES act, the first pandemic-related relief bill passed under President Trump in March of 2020. While this previous bill did guarantee $1,200 stimulus checks, any taxpayer whose single filing income was between $75,000 and $99,000 would have received a smaller stimulus check. However, Biden’s relief plan cut out this staggered payment scale, as anyone who has an income over $75,000 and is an independent will be cut out of the stimulus payments. This is unfortunate for many, as an added monetary cushion for those who fall between these thresholds would have most definitely helped their economic flexibility. For college students, this stimulus package could help many with their own expenses. With the generalization that most college students are making under $75,000, these stimulus payments may be available for many older students, as they may be classified as independent tax-
payers. Unfortunately, for those that are still claimed on their parent’s tax forms, the stimulus payments are not available. For an alternative, the CARES act has provided funding for universities with economically struggling students. The Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund (HEERF) gave $14 billion in emergency relief for higher education across the country; however, the fund can only be applied for through a university student’s institution. Aside from stimulus checks, other types of economic relief have shown to be successful. The Payroll Protection Program (PPP) was added to the CARES act to aid small businesses in keeping their employees on their payroll. Some even believe that this program might even benefit the recessionary economy more than stimulus payments, says Jonathan Rothwell, the Principal Economist at Gallup. He says that instead of giving tax payers a one-time injection into the economy, the PPP gives employers the option to keep their employees on their payroll, thus adding to their buying power in the economic market. Stimulus packages accomplish a similar goal, but the singu-
lar payments that are made make them somewhat less effective than the PPP. Yet, the nuanced American Rescue Plan was supposed to have much more economic legislation added to the bill. In a late push to stop former President Trump from four more years as president, Biden added to his long list of campaign promises that the federal minimum wage would be raised to $15. It was then added as an amendment to the American Relief Plan, as Biden and other Democratic Party officials were attempting to add amendments to push their economic agenda. This was later taken off the bill, as many moderate Democrats disagreed with raising the minimum wage, and thus voted against the amendment. This was an unfortunate defeat for the Biden administration, as raising the minimum wage has been a strong viewpoint for many Democrats for years, and the debate over a failed amendment that ended up wasting crucial time for Americans to get their monetary relief. In any event, the passing of these stimulus payments through
a divided Senate was a landmark for the Biden administration. This economic relief bill is extremely important for the many Americans who have lost their jobs, or are struggling to make ends meet as a result of the pandemic. Yet, it was a disappointment that this bill was extraordinarily delayed. By attempting to add amendments such as raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour, there was an obvious push back from the Republican minority and some moderate Democrats in the Senate. While raising the minimum wage would have been an exceptional policy to legislate, adding it as an amendment to a much needed economic relief bill was not the time to do so. If the Democratic legislators would not have focused on pushing Biden’s economic agenda this way, the American people could have begun to receive the economic relief they desperately need.
Ethan is a freshman and is studying Political Science. Do you think the stimulus check has become a partisan issue? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com
comics
8 • Thursday, March 11, 2021
WHY NOT HAPPY
dailycardinal.com
BY LYRA EVANS
SUDOKU
DIRECTIONS: Fill in each row, column and square with the numbers 1-9
CROSSWORD
DIRECTIONS: Fill in words via the prompts across or down via their respective numbers.
DO YOU LIKE TO DRAW? JOIN US!!
send your emails to: graphics@dailycardinal.com
Across 1. Pop 6. Three-seater 10. Daredevil’s specialty 14. Chilean resort 15. Writing on the wall, e.g. 16. In the old days 17. Uppity one 18. Indolent one 20. “Waiting for Godot” character
22. Animated pet dog 23. Outback bird 24. Indy 500 feature 26. Lively one 31. Actress Thurman 34.Verdi’s“D’amor sull’ali rosee,” e.g. 35. Some are high 36. Gear tooth 37. Uncover 38. Pretended 39. Harrow’s rival 40. Catered to
41. Steadier 42. It usually smells great 43. Start of a Musketeer credo 44. Happy one or 1958 Danny Kaye film 47. Proper Post 49. Inventive account 50. Holding of value 52. Smoothed feathers 57. Quick one 60. Give the slip 61. Up for the job
62. Teensy amount 63. Danish philosopher Kierkegaard 64. They’re caught at the beach 65. Homophone for pique 66. Papal council Down 1. It may be stolen in parks across the country 2. Grecian vessels 3. Run rampant 4. Bridge need 5. Japanese floor cover -ing 6. One way to fly 7. Muscat locale
8. Shriner’s hat 9. Take your pick 10. Shake awake 11. Teacher 12. Cicatrix 13. Atlantic City game 19. Some are stuffed with potatoes 21. Word with machine or ray 24. Like a hornet’s nest 25. Served perfectly, in tennis 26. Former Israeli city 27. An archangel 28. Without intellectual involvement 29. Indian taxi 30. It’s often wild
32. Bullwinkle, for one 33. 39th VP 38. Some add it to the fire 39. Goal 41. Strike down 45. Chicken ___ king 46. Tops in politeness 48. ___ and bounds 50. Yonder 51. Island in the West Indies 52. Pocket bread 53. Dike problem 54. Counterweight 55. Steinbeck title word 56. Fender find 58. Short swim 59. Female hare
sports Badger MBB ready to dance in Indy dailycardinal.com
By Joe Rickles SPORTS EDITOR
It’s finally March, which means two things: my birthday is coming up (I will not tell which day it is), and it’s men’s basketball tournament season. Despite being unranked for the first time this year, the Wisconsin Badgers (16-11 overall, 10-10 Big Ten) have a first-round bye in this week’s Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis. By late Wednesday night, the Badgers will know who their opponent is. The Nebraska Cornhuskers (7-19 overall, 3-16 Big Ten) are set to take on Penn State (10-13 overall, 7-12 Big Ten) at 8 p.m. Central on Wednesday evening. The Huskers were a rudderless, floundering program even before their leading scorer, Teddy Allen, decided to leave the team. The Nittany Lions, on the other hand, are fully capable of pulling off an upset, but lack the consistency to make a realistic push in any tournament. One such upset for Penn State was an 81-71 victory against the Badgers in University Park, Pa. This was a strange loss for the Badgers, because it wasn’t really due to the shooting woes that have plagued them all year long. Instead, they lost because of lackluster defensive effort and abundant turnovers, which have largely been their strong suit. The Nittany Lions outscored the
Thursday, March 11, 2021
Badgers 21-3 on the fastbreak thanks to 12 Wisconsin turnovers. The Badgers played Penn State a few days later in Madison and beat them handily by a score of 72-56. It isn’t really clear what factors led to that uncharacteristic loss in Happy Valley. Jet lag? A bad practice? Overthinking what “Happy Valley” even means? Whatever it was, the Badgers can’t let it happen again on Thursday afternoon.
head coach Greg Gard off on a tangent that reporters had rarely, if ever, seen before from the usually mild-mannered coach. Gard told reporters he spoke
Big Ten Player of the Year Luka Garza, the Badgers finally managed to consistently hit shots in the second half to bring the game as close as it was. Any Badger fan
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now is 0-0, and all that matters is the Big Ten Tournament right now. It also can’t be understated how Gard’s strong words in defense of Davison have lit a fire
Beyond Round One If – and with how the Badgers have been playing, that’s a big if – the Badgers do defeat Penn State, they’ll have a very quick turnaround to face a familiar opponent in the Iowa Hawkeyes. Badger fans surely remember the last time the Hawkeyes took on the Badgers, as it was one of the most controversial college basketball games in recent memory. The 77-73 loss in Madison stung not only to Badger fans, but to college basketball fans around the country who lambasted the late game refereeing that caused the final minute of play to take 19 minutes of real time. Of course, there was also the atrocious hook-and-hold flagrant call on senior guard Brad Davison that in part cost the Badgers the game. The call set
TAYLOR WOLFRAM /THE DAILY CARDINAL
The Badgers have dropped 5 of 6, but have put that out of mind as they get ready for tournament season. to the Big Ten office on Monday and that they had a good dialogue. It did not seem like Gard would be fined for publicly criticizing officials. Though the Badgers went 0-2 against the Hawkeyes this season, they showed vast improvement in the second time they faced off. While there was no stopping
should at least be more confident in their team after that performance, even if it wasn’t the result the team wanted. The Badgers have dropped five out of their last six games, but the team doesn’t seem to be too concerned about the past. Seniors D’Mitrik Trice and Micah Potter have reiterated that their record
under his players. Multiple players, including Potter and Trice, have said how important it is for a coach to have their back. Whether those words are enough to outplay their seed is yet to be seen, but the Badgers are far ahead where they were a few games ago. Even if they aren’t in the rankings anymore.
Weekend Recap: Overtime game-winner by freshman Lacey Eden locks up title for Johnson’s No. 2 Badgers By Ryan Cody STAFF WRITER
AJ HARRISON/UW ATHLETICS
Patty Kazmaier Award finalist Daryl Watts gets hounded by teammates after scoring in LaBahn.
In one of the best games of the season, the No. 1 Wisconsin Badgers overcame the No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes 3-2 to take home the WCHA Final Face-off championship. This game featured the usual two-pronged approach that the Badgers have thrived off of this season: The team’s veterans continued to show out, but brilliant performances from the younger players were able to make the difference. WCHA Player of the Year Daryl Watts continued to make the case for the Patty Kazmaier award, scoring both of the Badgers’ regulation goals in the second period. Goaltender Kennedy Blair continued her excellent season, stopping 18 of 20 shots from reaching the back of the net to improve her save percentage to .931 on the season. But the final blow was struck by Freshman Forward Lacey Eden, who not only assisted both of Watts’ goals, but sealed the game with an overtime goal after only 42 seconds of play. Head Coach Mark Johnson gave high
praise to Eden and the other young players for being able to step up in crunch time. “She’s earned her time,” Johnson said of Eden. “She’s played very well in the period of time that she’s been with us. She’s scored some big goals prior to tonight. You look at players and their willingness to earn more playing time and get put on a power play and maybe kill a penalty. It’s just the process of us getting to know her and her getting to know us. I couldn’t be happier for her.” After a stellar season, Eden commented on how the chemistry on the team has been able to propel them to where they are now. “It’s been an amazing experience so far and I’m so excited for the future,” Eden said. “Everything about it has been surreal. Everyone accepted me onto the team right away and we’ve just gotten so close over the past couple of months. Every single day in practice everybody is giving 100 percent, everybody wants to be there, everybody is so focused on the goal and that’s such a special environment to be in. There’s nothing quite like it.”
The Badgers made an excellent case for why they will be the team to beat during the NCAA tournament. Not only did the Badgers show off their grittiness in crunch time on the offensive side of the ice, but on the defensive side as well. The Badgers put up a nearly unbeatable penalty kill through six minutes, staving off 4-3, 5-3 and 5-4 disadvantages to keep the game tied. The next step for UW is the NCAA tournament, and Daryl Watts and the Badgers are looking forward to defending their title. “I think this team, we’re so deep... we’ve got so many skilled players,” Watts said postgame after the victory. “Even more than that, we get along so well off the ice. I couldn’t be happier to be part of this team. I really like our chances.” In a controversial decision, the Badgers were selected to be the number two seed in the NCAA tournament, despite finishing out the year ranked number one in the country and winning the WCHA tournament. They will face Providence on Mar. 16.