Thursday, February 29, 2024

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Wisconsin adopted new legislative maps. Here’s what they mean

By Francesca Pica & Ava Menkes CITY NEWS EDITOR EMERITUS & STATE NEWS EDITOR

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers passed a proposal Feb. 19 to redraw Wisconsin’s legislative maps, changing the landscape of Wisconsin politics for years to come.

The new maps follow the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s 4-3 decision in December to rule the state’s maps unconstitutional because districts were not contiguous, meaning all parts of a voting district were not physically in contact.

Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, said the new maps still allow competitive elections for Republicans and end “decades of liberal special interest litigation over maps in Wisconsin.”

Wisconsin redraws its legislative and congressional district maps every 10 years using data from the decennial census. Last year, Evers could not reach an agreement for new maps with the Republican-controlled Legislature, leaving the then-conservative leaning Wisconsin Supreme Court to choose new maps. The court voted 4-3 in favor of a Republican plan similar to the 2011 legislative maps, which gave the GOP sizable electoral advantage.

Currently, Republicans hold a 64-35 majority in the Assembly and a 22-11 supermajority in the Senate.

All members of the Assembly and state senators in even-numbered districts will run in redrawn districts in 2024. State senators in odd-numbered districts will remain in o ce until their current term ends in 2026.

Here’s what we know about the new maps ahead the upcoming election:

Incumbencies may create turnover

Some incumbent lawmakers will now face conflict because they were moved to districts with other incumbents, according to University of Wisconsin-Madison politi-

cal science professor Barry Burden.

“People are very focused on the fact that Democrats and Republicans are now both going to be competitive to win [and] control the Legislature. An equally big consequence of these new maps is that a lot of incumbents are going to be uncomfortable,” Burden told The Daily Cardinal.

Burden anticipates many politicians will end their time in public o ce or find it too di cult to run against their colleague, resulting in historic turnover in the Legislature.

The 53rd Assembly District, represented by Rep. Michael Schraa, R-Oshkosh, has moved north to include Neenah, Menasha and parts of Appleton under Evers’ maps. The projected vote now stands at 49.53% Democratic and 47.43% Republican, according to the Wisconsin State Journal.

But Schraa is absorbed into the 55th district with Rep. Nate Gustafson, R-Fox Crossing, and both intend to run for o ce. Now, there is no incumbent in the 53rd district.

Additionally, Burden said Wisconsin’s partisan balance will become more competitive over time once the new maps go through two election cycles.

“There’s gonna be a lot of new blood in the Legislature, and that can be a good thing or a bad thing,” he said. “I think that will change how Republicans in the state Legislature operate.”

The Assembly is now competitive, but Republicans have a slight advantage

The previous legislative maps allowed Republicans to secure overwhelming majorities in both chambers despite the Wisconsin electorate’s near-even partisan split.

In the 2018 midterm elections, Democratic candidates received 53% of the statewide vote but won only 36 of the 99 Assembly seats.

The maps recently passed by the

Legislature and signed by Evers better reflect the state’s political environment and give both parties a good chance of taking control, Burden said.

However, Republicans still enjoy a slight advantage due to the geographic distribution of their voters. Republican voters are generally spread out throughout suburban and rural regions of the state, while Democratic voters are more concentrated in densely populated urban areas.

This geographic advantage translates to the legislative maps containing more Democratic-leaning swing districts than Republican-leaning swing districts. As a result, Republicans will have an easier time flipping these swing districts to take the majority in a favorable political environment.

“If Republicans have stronger candidates on average or it’s just a good year for Republicans, I think there’s more upside for Republicans in the maps,” Burden said. “There’s a better chance of them winning a bigger majority, and it would be harder for Democrats to get very far above half the seats.”

Democrats are unlikely to take control of the Senate in 2024

Since the Senate has staggered four-year terms, 17 of the 33 Senate seats will not be up for reelection until 2026. Senators in odd-numbered districts will serve out their terms until 2026 under the previous legislative maps, while Senators in even-numbered districts will run for reelection this year under the new maps.

As a result, it will take two election cycles before experts and candidates fully understand how the Senate maps will play out on the ground, Burden said.

It also means Democrats face an uphill battle to take control of the Senate in 2024, as approximately half of all senators will be holdovers from the previous maps after the

election, according to Burden.

Democrats need to pick up a net total of seven Senate seats to gain a majority. Of the 17 seats up for reelection in 2024, seven are held by a Republican, four are held by a Democrat and five are open seats.

Legislative races could get much more expensive

With fewer incumbents to scare away challengers, more competitive seats and control of the Legislature in play, Burden said he expects “more expensive and more active campaigns this year than we’ve seen in a long time.”

“Because Democrats sense there’s a chance they could win the majority, they will want to spend more,” he said. “Because Republicans will be in fear that they might lose their majority, they will want to spend more.”

Much of state parties’ e orts in the Assembly are likely to be concentrated in 15-20 key swing districts located primarily outside of smaller cities such as Eau Claire, La Crosse and Green Bay.

Joe Oslund, Democratic Party of Wisconsin spokesperson, told the Cardinal in a statement Wisconsin Democrats plan to focus on operating a year-round organizing program to build and engage relationships with communities across the state.

“We’ll also be expanding our hiring of organizers and investing in cutting edge relational organizing infrastructure, which empowers volunteers to reach out to their own networks to have meaningful conversations about voting,” the statement read.

Additionally, the Democrats will work closely with their Assembly and Senate leadership to “recruit great candidates and build campaign infrastructures” to compete in the new districts, Oslund said.

The Republican Party of Wisconsin did not respond to a request for comment.

Coffee controversy brewing: Students call for end to campus Starbucks

By Emmett Ga ney STAFF WRITER

The University of Wisconsin-Madison is one of 25 universities where students are calling for their university to cancel contracts with Starbucks due to allegations of union-busting and unfair treatment of workers.

UW-Madison student and State Street Starbucks shift supervisor Matthew Cartwright called on the university to support Starbucks workers and end its contract with Starbucks.

“No just higher education institution would continue to partner with a business which treats its workers unfairly,” Cartwright said.

“Students are simply asking for their univer-

sities to stand by the principles they claim to have, just as we union members ask the company we work for to stand by the principles they claim to have.”

There is one Starbucks located on the UW-Madison campus in Smith Residence Hall. There is another location just off campus on State Street. The State Street location has been vocal about worker mistreatment, including organizing protests and strikes.

Over 400 stores have joined the union Starbucks Workers United since December 2021, but none have reached contractual agreements yet, according to the Guardian.

Additionally, the

National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has filed hundreds of charges against Starbucks for

unfair labor practices. Starbucks spokesperson Andrew Trull denied the allegations, claiming

the company does not suppress workers’ rights to “organize, freely associate and collectively bargain.” The company operates “in compliance with all applicable labor laws,” he added. “As alleged unfair labor practice charges work their way through the dispute resolution process, we continue to act in a manner that is consistent with established law, rooted in our mission, values and promises and responsive to our partners — regardless of union status,” Trull told The Daily Cardinal. Students protesting on at least one campus, Cornell University, secured their demands. The university decided

not to renew its contract with the chain when it expires in 2025, according to The Cornell Daily Sun. While the Starbucks brand may appear across college and university campuses, “most Starbucks locations on campuses are operated and managed by licensees, and, in most instances, campuses do not have direct contracts with the Company,” Trull said.

However, Cartwright still demanded UW-Madison to take action.“It is about the accountability we all share,” he said. The Smith Hall Starbucks contract expires in 2030, and the State Street location has no affiliation with UW-Madison.

Grammy-nominated rapper D Smoke delivers keynote performance at Black History Month celebration.

HAILEY JOHNSON/ THE DAILY CARDINAL

Nonprofit organization Hearty Hands provides the homeless population of Madison with supplies during the winter.

By Ellie Bourdo FEATURES EDITOR

Hearty Hands, a nonprofit organization run by University of WisconsinMadison students, aims to heat the hands and hearts of the homeless population around Madison.

The organization began in 2018 by Meritt Schoenecker, who saw a need for winter supplies within the homeless population in the brutal cold of Wisconsin winters, according to Co-President Maggie Siepmann. She created the nonprofit to provide individuals experiencing homelessness with supplies to fulfill their basic needs.

The organization meets biweekly on Fridays at 3:30 p.m. at the bottom of Bascom Hill. From there, those in attendance walk along State Street o ering hats, gloves, hand warmers and other winter gear to individuals experiencing homelessness.

Siepmann said Hearty Hands is meaningful to her because it helps provide necessities in the harsh winters to individuals who are often overlooked.

“The Wisconsin winters can be brutally cold, and the homeless population of Madison is in need of help outside of the services provided by homeless shelters or other organizations,” Siepmann said. “It is important the work that we do because many times this population is overlooked in the community.”

Co-President Calli Huskisson shared a similar sentiment. She said one of the most important aspects of the organization providing a consistent means of supplies to those experiencing homelessness.

“Hearty Hands is a way to connect with people in Madison, to make them feel seen and cared for,” Huskisson said. “[It is] more than handing out resources such as gloves, hand warm-

ers, hats and granola bars to those on State Street. It is also the acknowledgment and appreciation for everyone we come in contact with.”

Huskisson joined Hearty Hands after spending multiple years volunteering in Milwaukee. Huskisson said she recognized there was a similar need in Madison, and wanted to make a di erence in her community.

Siepmann said she also joined Hearty Hands because she wanted to give back to her community.

“I believe everyone should feel seen and loved, and this is a way that I can do that for my community in Madison,” Huskisson said.

Huskisson said one of the most rewarding aspects of the organization is the people she interacts with. She said she made lasting relationships with some of the individuals on State Street who have shared their stories with her and added that the experiences she has heard and witnessed opened her eyes to systemic inequalities.

“Working with the homeless population has allowed me to meet and interact with so many new people,” Huskisson said. “The people I have met on the street are some of the strongest people I know, and I commend the battle they fight every day. Working with Hearty Hands and other outreach organizations changed how I treat others and emphasized the importance of building trusting and loving relationships.”

According to Siepmann, the organization is very intentional about which supplies it provides. The group receives direct feedback from those they serve and aims to o er the products that are most relevant and necessary.

She also said Hearty Hands makes cold nights a little more bearable for

positive impact.”

“We are very intentional about listening to the needs of the people we serve to provide relevant products that will meet some of their everyday needs, to the best of our ability,” Siepmann said. “Many homeless shelters have a limit on the number of nights spent below freezing in the shelter. The warm winter products that we provide aim to help the individuals who are within the community in the cold.”

Beyond providing warming supplies, Hearty Hands is a way for those experiencing homelessness to feel heard and share their stories, Huskisson said.

“They are real human beings and just like anyone, feeling loved and heard is so crucial,” Huskisson said. “Whether we are o ering warming materials that might make their next few days a little bit easier, or o ering

Siepmann said one of the most rewarding aspects of the organization is witnessing expressions of gratitude from individuals receiving supplies.

“The looks on the faces of the individuals we provide warm weather supplies with is so amazing to see the work we do really matter,” Siepmann said. “The best is when people are so kind and grateful for something that most people take for granted, like a hat or mittens.”

According to Huskisson, Hearty Hands is looking into ways it can continue to give back during the summer months. The group plans to listen to the feedback they receive from individuals they speak with on State Street as they continue giving back to the homeless population in Madison.

The organization is open to anyone interested in serving Madison’s homeless. For more information on how to join, visit heartyhands.org.

UW-Oshkosh proposes academic restructuring

By Mary Bosch PHOTO EDITOR

University of WisconsinOshkosh Provost Edwin Martini released new academic restructuring plans on Feb. 13 that would reduce the university’s budget deficit by condensing the number of colleges.

The proposed plans, which would take e ect by Jan. 25, 2025, come after stagnant state financial support in Wisconsin’s latest twoyear state budget and 200 sta layo s at the university.

“We have been living for some time with the significant headwinds of demographic, enrollment and economic pressures,” Martini said in an email to The Daily Cardinal. “This plan o ers a way forward that allows UWO to take greater control over its future.”

The plan’s main goals focus on student-centered career pathways, centering research prowess and honing in on student engagement and success.

Major budget deficits have taken a toll on students and faculty, forcing them to be “reactive” rather than “proactive” with financial decisions, according to Michael Ford, Director of the Masters of Public Administration

program at UW-Oshkosh.

UW-Oshkosh currently operates the College of Business, the College of Education and Human Services, the College of Letters and Science (COLS) and the College of Nursing as well as an honors college. Current structures mean COLS is larger than the other three colleges combined, with 226 tenured faculty compared to 90 tenured faculty across the three other colleges.

Through a collaborative process that included workshops, open houses and surveys, Models A and B were developed by a team of nearly 40 faculty, sta , administrators and students, according to Martini.

Model A creates three colleges and six schools, and it would save $1.75 million, according to analysis by UW-Oshkosh. The three colleges are the College of Business, Media and Communication; the College of Culture, Society and Education and the College of Nursing, Health Professions and STEM.

The six schools under the plan would be: Business; Culture and Society; STEM; Media, Communication and Arts; Education and Nursing and Health Professions.

According to the rationale report, Model A would help students transition between related disciplines and enable coordination between

similar curriculums.

Model B creates three colleges and eight schools, and it is estimated to save $1.5 million. The three colleges are the College of Business, Science & Technology; the College of Culture, Society & Education and the College of Nursing & Health Professions. UW-Oshkosh’s nursing program would still be contained in its own dedicated college.

The eight schools under this plan would be: Business; Culture and Society; Public Administration & Sustainability; STEM; Education; Media, Communication and Arts; Health Professions and Nursing.

Model B is more similar to UW-Oshkosh’s current structure and balances student headcounts between colleges and schools better than Model A, according to its rationale report.

“Until they’re actually implemented, on paper they don’t look all that di erent,” Ford said.

Ford said he hopes to solve the “disconnect between revenues and expenditures.” Better allocating funds to programs which pique student interest will improve UW-Oshkosh, he added.

Continuereadingatdailycardinal.com.

State Street who are unable to make it into a homeless shelter.

LIAM BERAN/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Construction in Board of Regentsowned house frustrates tenants

By Sanjeev Anand SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Ashley Cheung received an email on April 25, 2023 from her building’s management company notifying her that construction was starting next to her house for a significant portion of the following year.

According to Cheung, a University of Wisconsin-Madison student, the email from Smith Management Co. LLC said “a major utility project by the university” would take place at the corner of West Dayton and North Park streets. The email also informed her of plans to remove her three-story porch for safety reasons and that construction would start in July.

“It was very stressful because we weren’t sure about how much all of the construction was going to be impacting us,” Cheung said, referring to herself and her housemates. “There was no clarity at all about the timeline.”

As per the City of Madison Assessor’s O ce website, the property is owned by the UW System Board of Regents. The Board of Regents contract management of the property to Smith Management Co. LLC.

Since 2011, Smith Management has provided rental management services for some Board of Regentsowned properties in Madison — including renting, leasing, main-

tenance and repair of property — according to Lori Wilson, FP&M strategic communications and marketing director. This contract has led to ine ciencies in communication, according to Cheung.

“It just wasn’t communicative at all, using Smith Management as a middleman to deal with us,” Cheung said. “Because Smith Management didn’t have all the information they needed, and the university gives the bare minimum.”

UW-Madison Facilities Planning and Management (FP&M) said in an email that a State of Wisconsin utility project started May 30, involving the replacement and construction of steam and electrical communication utilities.

“This project supports campus by replacing failed piping with larger lines to provide adequate capacity and additional system improvements,” Wilson said in an email.

On the same block, planned construction for Levy Hall has already displaced two student groups, Zoe Bayliss Co-op and Mecha de UW-Madison, for at least one year.

According to Cheung, Smith Management informed her of the property owner’s willingness to let herself and her housemates out of their lease without penalty, provided the whole unit chose to

Wisconsin

vacate. No rent adjustments would be made if select residents chose to leave. Cheung added management informed the group of the owner’s o er of a month’s free rent for “the inconvenience [the construction] would cause.”

But the timing of the construction announcement did not give residents enough time to pivot, Cheung said. She and her roommates were notified about this disruption a month before it began and six months after they had already re-signed for the following year.

Units closest to the construction received a 25% monthly discount, and other units received a free month’s rent based on location and impact, Wilson said.

“Every morning at 7 a.m. I wake up to this jackhammer outside my window, and sometimes you can feel the vibrations from the construction,” Cheung said. “We had to really negotiate and ask for a 25% rent reduction for the disruption the construction has been causing.”

Cheung added that after the 25% monthly discount was finalized, in-room air conditioners were installed at no cost, with a monthly $25 air conditioning credit to oset the additional energy costs. Preventing smoky air from the construction from being blown inside was a major reason behind the

installation, according to Cheung. Cheung also said issues related to construction include repeated incidents of basement flooding, squirrels in the walls and bats in the unit.

“Sure, college housing isn’t in a great position, but I don’t understand why that’s the standard,” Cheung said. “It’s problematic when there’s no response to things like pest control.”

“Most of these problems are only dealt with at the bare minimum, and no one came when we called about mice,” Cheung added. “So we’re going to have to call pest control on our own and

charge it to them.”

Ryan Sippel, Director of Operations at Smith Management, told The Daily Cardinal in an email that a “shortage in maintenance technicians” led to certain repair tasks being prioritized over others.

Sippel also said the neighboring construction does not delay maintenance requests.

“The construction has no impact in any way on the time it takes to perform maintenance. The owner has been very good at providing us with every resource we need to take care of our residents in the best way possible,” Sippel said.

roads embrace cheesy solution: Using brine to melt ice and boost sustainability

By Celine Essaied STAFF WRITER

Combining the Badger State’s love for dairy with practical winter solutions, a Wisconsin county is revolutionizing road maintenance by swapping conventional salt for a surprising yet sustainable alternative: cheese brine.

The use of traditional road salt in Madison has been a source of concern for city officials due to its disadvantageous environmental effects, including water pollution, soil degradation, infrastructure corrosion and health risks to both aquatic ecosystems and human populations.

The city of Madison responded to concerns by reducing salt routes for the 2024 winter season by 6%. This reduction, estimated to cover over 50 miles of Madison’s roads, prevented approximately 270 tons of salt from entering local waterways.

However, this reduction is not without its challenges.

On average, 60 people die and 6,000 more sustain injuries in Wisconsin each winter due to accidents on roads covered in ice, snow and slush, according to the UW-Madison Police Department.

When temperatures dip below 20 degrees Fahrenheit in Madison, the city turns its de-icing focus from salt toward sand. At those tem-

peratures, the chemical process that typically melts snow slows down significantly, rendering the traditional method of road salt less effective.

Navigating through campus in these conditions presents its own challenges.

“Walking through campus and the mess is no joke,” said Hannah Koury, a UW-Madison student. “My shoes are constantly covered in what looks like mud, and it leaves a trail in every building I enter. We have to be extremely careful when walk-

ing because if you’re not, you find yourself slipping in front of everyone.”

Cheese brine poses a potential solution to some of the issues presented by road salt and sand.

Derived from the cheesemaking process, this dairy byproduct addresses multiple environmental concerns associated with traditional salt use. Apart from its environmental qualities, cheese brine boasts a lower freezing point than water.

Polk County, located in

northwest Wisconsin, adopted cheese brine in 2009.

“In 2008, I started working on using salt brine from F&A Dairy in Dresser, Wisconsin, for snow and ice control,” said Polk County administrator Emil Norby. “We were seeking a cost-effective measure to reduce salt and salt sand usage during winter while maintaining efficiency.”

Cheese brine’s adoption led to significant material savings, with a 30% reduction in costs, amounting to approximately $90,000 in the first year alone,

according to Norby. This success prompted further exploration of cheese brine’s potential benefits.

Initially, the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was concerned about the high levels of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in cheese brine. High levels of BOD in water are a key indicator of poor water quality and can a ect both the environment and health, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

After obtaining a conditional grant of low hazard exemption permit from the Department of Natural Resources in 2009 that would allow them to use the salt brine on highways, Polk County proceeded with testing, according to Norby.

The testing phase involved comparing the effectiveness of cheese brine-treated roads with those treated conventionally with salt or salt sand mixes. Results indicated that cheese brine-treated roads exhibited quicker response times and clearer conditions, even in extreme temperatures, he said.

“It was a win-win for both Polk County and F&A Dairy,” Norby said. “The tests showed that the use of the salt brine saved money within our snow and ice control budget, and not only was there material saving, but a quicker reaction time for the melt aided in clearing highways.”

CORA SPYCHALLA/THE DAILY CARDINAL

How much are students eating? Food access, insecurity at UW

Students are struggling to access nutritional, affordable food as demand increases for more resources.

By Shu Lan Schaut STAFF WRITER

The cost of living is increasing. Housing prices are soaring. Tuition has been raised. As living and academic expenditures rise, students are struggling to meet basic needs — including accessing food.

Nearly a quarter of undergraduate college students in the U.S. were considered food insecure in 2020, according to federal data gathered as part of the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study.

Additionally, an estimated 12% of University of WisconsinMadison students are food insecure, according to The Open Seat, a student-run campus food bank.

Food insecurity and its effects

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) defines food insecurity as the “lack [of] regular access to enough safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development and an active and healthy life.”

Food insecurity is a separate concern from hunger, which the FAO considers as the “uncomfortable or painful physical sensation caused by insufficient consumption of dietary energy.” The FAO clarifies that hunger and food insecurity are interrelated but not the same.

The lack of access to nutritious food negatively impacts students in multiple ways, often affecting their physical and mental health as well as their academic success, according to a 2022 report from Health Affairs, a health policy research journal.

The report found students with insufficient food access reported feeling indicators of stress and depression at higher rates than their food-secure peers and are more likely to fall into lower GPA categories.

Food insecure college students have been linked to lower graduation rates, according to a study from Johns Hopkins University.

“Lack of access to nutritious food is a serious problem,” said Bradley Bolling, an associate professor of food science at UW-Madison. “It can impact mental health, ability to focus and succeed in classes. Long term, it can also increase the rise of chronic diseases.”

Obstacles for students

The closest grocery stores to campus are Fresh Market, Trader Joe’s and Capitol Center Market.

But that isn’t enough for many students.

“I don’t like buying food anywhere near campus like Trader Joe’s or Fresh because it’s pretty unaffordable,” said Chloe Shomo, a sophomore and Associated Students of Madison (ASM) intern who is working on a project about food access.

Shomo said having a car on campus this year gave her a significant boost toward accessing cheaper grocery stores away from campus.

“[Last year] I used to wait until I could get to Woodman’s and stock up,” she said. Cost is also an issue for some students eating on campus.

“I think that UW dining halls are unaffordable for most students. The only reason I could afford them [last year] was my scholarship plan,” Shomo said.

Out of the dining plans available to students currently, the Go10 option is the cheapest at $1,925 a semester. The Go10 provides students with 10 meal swipes per week, which covers under 50% of the typical three meals a day diet.

Next year, the cost of all dining plans will increase. Go10 is estimated to increase to $2,000 per semester.

“There’s not a lot of affordable food options on campus in general,” said Christina Treacy, a senior and one of the co-presidents of the Food Recovery Network, a student organization focused on limiting food waste and alleviating food insecurity.

The unions on campus share a similar problem. Although the Wisconsin Union-owned restaurants include many dining options, they can be expensive to eat at. The majority of menu entree options average around or above $9 a meal. The average cost of a sandwich and a side at The Sett in Union South is $9.50.

Treacy also said time was a constraint limiting regular access to adequate meals.

“When I leave my house in the morning, I leave for the entire day. I have access to refrigerators and microwaves, so I pack lunch and dinner. But a lot of students don’t,” Treacy said. “Not having time to properly prepare food is a barrier to [food] security.”

Both Treacy and Shomo cited other expenses — such as tuition and housing — as stressors of food insecurity.

The UW Board of Regents voted last spring to increase tuition costs at UW schools for the first time in more than a decade, with an estimated $21.5 million increase in revenue. According to Apartment List, rent in Madison

has increased by 5.8% in the past 12 months.

“[Because of] the rising cost of tuition and housing, I think for myself and many other students, you can skip a meal, if it means you can have a roof over your head,” Shomo shared. “It’s the bargaining that you do every day in life.”

Increasing food access, keeping up with demand

In an effort to support food insecure students, multiple organizations say they do what they can to make food accessible.

The Open Seat is a food pantry available to any self-identified food insecure students at UW-Madison. Open three days a week, it functions primarily out of the Student Activity Center and has an additional distribution day once a week in Eagle Heights.

The pantry has items ranging from canned goods to hygienic products. The only requirement asked of students is to sign in when they arrive. Students can bring home any items they want, unrestricted.

Demand for resources has increased over time. The Open Seat served over an estimated 8,000 individual pantry visits in 2023 — though the number is likely greater, according to The Open Seat’s graduate student advisor Amelia Weidemann.

In contrast to January 2023, the Open Seat had 350 more visits to the pantry this past January, Weidemann said.

The Keep Food Pantry, located inside Lutheran Memorial Church, has also seen an increase in demand.

Open nearly every Thursday of the year, with one week o for Thanksgiving, Keep Food welcomes students, sta and faculty members from Madison College, Edgewood College and UW-Madison to shop their shelves for free. Visitors must have their university ID with them and are asked to register online before arriving.

Located in the same basement, Keep Food has shelves and fridges filled with both fresh and shelf stable food to choose from. There,

director of Slow Food UW and a senior at UW. “We want you to come to our space, we want you to take this food, we want you to be well nourished.”

Is it enough?

Kim, Shomo and Treacy all said they hope to destigmatize food insecurity for college students.

“No one wants to show they’re going through a hard time,” Kim said. “I don’t think utilizing these resources or getting food for free is anything to be ashamed of. It’s hard enough to be a college student, it’s hard enough to go to class, pay for rent [and] pay loans.”

“People are always joking about ‘Oh yeah, all I ate today was like a granola bar for lunch,’” Treacy said. “I think a lot of students may have challenges in reconciling with the fact that they are experiencing food insecurity.”

The lack of awareness of resources is another barrier to food security, said Treacy.

“As I look back [over] the last four years, the numbers doubled in size,” said Barb Ludeke, Keep Food Pantry coordinator. “Four years ago, if we saw 1,000 [visits], that would be significant. We [have] about 7,000-8,000 visits a year now.”

On average, 180 to 200 shoppers frequent the Keep Food Pantry over the course of three hours each week, said Luedke.

In addition to food pantries, multiple student groups center their mission around food access and student hunger.

Slow Food UW is a student nonprofit that functions out of the lower level of The Crossing, the same space where the Food Recovery Network and a freezer used by UW Frozen Meals. All three are student-led organizations independent of each other, but all work toward the same goal: helping students eat.

Both the Food Recovery Network and UW Frozen Meals focus on recovering unserved meals from university dining halls as a way to limit food waste while simultaneously providing free meals to students.

UW Frozen Meals repackages and freezes these meals, distributing them to partnered fridges around campus where students may pick them up for free, and the Food Recovery Network offers free hot meals for students. They are the only organization near campus that consistently offers a free hot meal, according to Treacy.

Meanwhile, Slow Food serves locally grown food at affordable rates to the greater Madison community twice a week. Prices for a meal of an entreé and two sides range from $6 to $9.

Between the Food Recovery Network and Slow Food, upward of 300 individuals are served each week.

“[These resources] are here for the students, by the students, because we all understand how difficult it is to be in college”

Celeste

Kim, the co-executive

Although many campus food access organizations advertise through social media accounts and websites, Luedke and Weidemann said many students only learn about their respective organizations through word of mouth.

More institutional support from the university is needed overall, according to Kim.

“I think that UW could do a better job with allowing these organizations that are here to help students advertise their services more,” Kim said.

Shomo and Treacy echoed Kim’s sentiments but highlighted a need for professional staff, a central principle of an upcoming ASM Sustainability campaign.

“Right now on campus, there is no full-time administrative position that just handles food insecurity on campus,” Shomo said. “The most educated people on this campus about food resources are students, and you just have to be lucky enough to find this information.”

According to Treacy, multiple programs and organizations on campus are becoming overwhelmed with the rise in demand, such as the Badger FARE program.

“We’ve been reaching beyond capacity,” Treacy said of the Food Recovery Network. “I don’t think it’s possible to continue to sustain all of these student organizations without that institutional support.”

ASM plans to release a food access survey to the student body in the coming weeks to gather data and in support of their campaign for a professional staff member focused on food insecurity, according to Treacy.

Their goal is to have the position created by the end of the academic year.

“It’s the university’s job to provide for the basic needs of their students, one of which is food access,” Treacy said. “Students can’t be students when they have to focus on sustaining themselves.”

Keep Food lends space to The Badger Caring Closet, a registered student organization that provides basic supplies to students in need.

NICK DUDA/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Badgers split topranked matchup to close out the regular season

By Shane Colpoys STAFF WRITER

The No. 2 Wisconsin Women’s Hockey team closed out their regular season on a high note, upsetting No. 1 Ohio State in a thrilling 4-2 comeback win on Saturday night after a 3-1 loss on Friday. Although the Buckeyes (293-0) had already clinched the Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular season title, the top-two showdown battled in Madison, splitting the series 1-1.

The Badgers also honored six graduating seniors before their game on Friday. Senior day celebrated Britta Curl, Chayla Edwards, Casey O’Brein, Maddie Wheeler, Katie Kotlowski and Anna Wilgren.

Despite outshooting Ohio State 18-2 in the first period on Friday night, the Badgers didn’t score until the second period. Maddie Wheeler was able to draw Ohio State’s goaltender, Raygen Kirk, out of the net and slot the puck past her, giving the Badgers a 1-0 lead.

A majority of the second period was fast-paced and aggressive, with both teams charging toward goal. However, Ohio State was able to take the lead at the end of the second period, scoring back-to-back goals on junior Jane Gervais.

In the third period, the Buckeyes were able to keep the Badgers out of their net and scored one more to lengthen their lead. Going into this series, both teams had 15 game-winning streaks, and the

Buckeyes were able to end the Badgers’ with their 3-1 victory on Friday.

The Badgers returned the favor, snapping the Buckeyes’ winning streak in their comeback win on Saturday.

Wisconsin fell behind early in the second period from a pair of goals by Ohio State’s Kenzie Hauswirth. But senior Casey O’Brein was able to sneak one through the legs of Kirk after receiving a through pass that cut out the Buckeyes’ entire defense, leaving O’Brein 1-on-1.

The Badgers held strong on defense, and with some help from the post, the score stayed at 2-1 going into the third period. Halfway into the last period, Wisconsin made four connecting passes that ended with a cross by Curl for O’Brein to tap in, tallying her second of the game and tying it 2-2.

Less than a minute later, Laila Edwards blasted the puck into the back of the net off of a no-look pass to take the lead, 3-2. Edwards then doubled the lead when O’Brein took advantage of a transition and found Edwards on an open net. The Badgers were able to secure the 4-2 win to close their season.

Ava MacNaughton earned her 15th win of the season in net for Wisconsin and had 33 saves.

The focus now is on another Frozen Four appearance and to become back-toback National Champions. The Badgers will be back at LaBahn Arena for the postseason next weekend on March 2-3 against St. Thomas.

The Bird’s Chirp: A weekend for some of the marbles?

By Ian Wilder SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The Wisconsin Badgers men’s hockey team have found themselves in a bit of a pickle.

On one hand, they’re in a really good position. They’re ranked fourth in the nation with a record of 24-8-2, third in pairwise rankings — which aim to replicate the NCAA’s tournament selection process — and second in the Big Ten. Even better, it’s a miraculous turnaround after finishing 13-23-0 overall and 6-18-0 in the Big Ten just a season ago. They’re also in reach of the Big Ten regular season championship.

On the other hand, they’re on thin ice. To win the aforementioned regular season championship, they’ll have to win both games against the fierce No. 6 Michigan State Spartans, who swept the Badgers earlier this season. They can afford to win one game in overtime or in a shootout, but they must win at least one game in regular time. Of course, the Badgers are an entirely different team now than in November, but that doesn’t make the Spartans any less scary of a matchup.

But how much does a regular season championship matter?

Well, a championship is a championship. It’s never bad to add another year up on the 300-level concourse of the Kohl Center. Looking up right now, 2021 is the only year currently listed under regular season Big Ten Champions, so adding a second wouldn’t hurt.

But there’s room for more glory. The Big Ten tournament follows quick and fast after the season, and the Badgers high-seeding and home-ice advantage — in the first round, at least — shows a promising chance to reach for glory there. However, losing out on the regular season

championship and therefore playing as a second seed would mean playing against Ohio State, who just swept Wisconsin on Feb. 16 and 17.

Then there’s the fight for all the marbles: the coveted Frozen Four and following NCAA Championship. It’s important to point out that regardless of how they fare in the last series and following tournament, both can potentially impact if they get a shot at the national championship.

Winning the Big Ten tournament comes with an automatic ticket, although 10 teams are selected outside of conference champions. Continued strong Badger performances in the next month could be a way to punch that ticket.

But qualifying is far from winning, and the Badgers would have to fight the best teams in the nation to make it to St. Paul in the Frozen Four and championship game.

This Badgers team has every chance ahead of them to make a significant dent in the record books. Likewise, they have every chance to drop the ball and win neither the regular season, conference championship or advance to — or even win — the national championship.

It’s still very much anyone’s ice at this point, and regardless of how the fight for one of those championship pieces may go this weekend, the Badgers will still have a very good chance to make their mark in the history books in the New Era of Wisconsin Hockey.

The Bird’s Chirp is The Daily Cardinal’s hockey column. Ian Wilder is the Cardinal’s hockey beat writer for the Badger men’s hockey team. Do you think this team has a chance to win some glory this season? Send all comments to ian.wilder@dailycardinal.com

ELLA STUFFT/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Dating has its problems, but swiping isn’t the solution

In a culture where convenience is king, dating as a young adult has lost its purpose.

By Blake Martin STAFF WRITER

If you’re single and in college, you’ve probably downloaded Tinder before. Maybe you downloaded it to get a confidence boost, because you were bored and had a few too many drinks, or to see what your ex was up to. Maybe you just wanted a new game on your phone.

Whatever the reason, the next 30 minutes of your life probably looked something like this: ten minutes hand-picking only the best pictures from your camera roll, five minutes picking a Spotify anthem that wouldn’t embarrass you and 15 minutes virtually speed dating. Left on the guy in your philosophy discussion, left on the girl from your floor freshman year, and right on that person you keep running into at the gym.

Assuming you’re more generous than the average user, you might give your potential future partners 10 seconds of attention each. Within 15 minutes, you’ve rejected — or confessed your admiration for — 90 di erent people without having to leave the comfort of your bed. Speed-dating 90 people in 15 minutes. Even on his best night out in 1990, that number would have left my dad in a comatose state.

Dating apps provide shortcuts to the horribly awkward world of dating as a young adult, and that’s tempting. But these quick-fix solutions might be stunting our growth and robbing us of important learning experiences.

I know I probably sound like your mother, but keep in mind that she had a front row seat to the changing dating world. So, per usual, your mother probably has a point.

Before 1995 and the development of Match. com, lonely singles on the hunt for love — or validation — were limited to three options: dating someone they already knew, striking up a conversation with a stranger or attending an in-person speed dating event, the latter of which is virtually extinct. Despite the longstanding limitations of in-person romance, online dating didn’t take o as a cultural phenomenon immediately upon release; by 2008, only 3% of American adults had used an online dating service.

Four years later, Tinder changed everything.

Upon first glance, the app has a similar feel to a mobile video game and is less like a standard matchmaking service. This is by design. Tinder and other dating apps that followed suit abandoned the text-heavy format of previous dating services. Instead, these apps opted for minimal text, flashy visual queues and simple rules for matching: swipe left for no and right for yes.

Dating apps like Tinder are incredibly lowmaintenance and user-friendly. The limited barriers to participation and widespread popularity have caused online dating participation to skyrocket.

As of 2023, around 53% of people under 30 had used at least one online dating service.

Why does this concern your mother and me? It’s because apps like Tinder have made dating easy, and that might not be for the best.

With the help of Tinder, you can expect rapid-fire instant gratification and a dating pool filtered to your perfect preferences. With the help of Tinder, you have complete and total control over your image and have time to craft the perfect witty text. With the help of

Tinder, you can make a move without moving from your couch, and you never have to worry about dealing with in-person rejection. Without Tinder, you’re forced to wait a little longer for a connection and challenged to reconsider hard and fast preferences. Without Tinder, you’re subjected to potential partners seeing every side of you, and you’re put on the spot to keep the conversation flowing. Without Tinder, making the first move requires more effort than the swipe of a thumb. You’re exposed to the possibility of getting turned down face-to-face, and you have to learn to deal with it. You’re better off for it.

If you’ve never downloaded Tinder before, I’m not telling you to avoid it like the plague. If you have Tinder on your phone, I don’t think you should run and delete your profile. However, it’s important to recognize that whether you choose to participate or not, dating apps have fundamentally changed the way we learn to date.

Dating is meant to be messy. Dating is meant to be slightly embarrassing. Most importantly, dating as a young adult is meant to be a learning experience. Don’t run to your phone and delete your profile, but don’t run from the discomfort that makes dating meaningful.

Is affordable student housing a myth?

By Kate Reuscher STAFF WRITER

Students and residents of Madison are no strangers to the fast-paced changes that frequently occur around campus. New high-rise luxury apartments and construction zones sprout up at every corner and street turn.

The Verve, Oliv and Atmosphere are three dominating apartment complexes slated to open in August 2024, just in time for a larger-than-ever student population. Student enrollment at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has topped 50,000 — the highest number yet — as of October 2023, with the highest number of applicants for the incoming freshman and transfer students at a staggering 67,979.

What does this mean for student housing?

While researching new apartment buildings going up in Madison, the word “luxury” quickly dominates. The Oliv boasts a clubroom with TVs and gaming, a rooftop sundeck with a pool and a year-round hot tub. Oliv is also introducing Elevate, a bundle of amenities tailored specifically toward students moving into the apartments. This experience includes a personal movein concierge team, professional movers and a complimentary trash pickup.

These complimentary amenities might just be the reason behind the $1,380 average monthly rent for student apartments in Madison, according to Rentable. While Oliv promises it will set aside 112 of the 1,001 apartments for affordable housing, that fraction will not sustain the number of students who don’t rely on financial aid to pay for tuition but still can’t afford to spend up to $1,875 on a studio apartment or $1,600 for a bed in a five-bedroom apartment.

This theme continues at the Verve, an apartment building located on Johnson Street, where students have signed leases of $1,619 a month for a room in a five-bedroom apartment. The pattern emerges again at Atmosphere, a new complex being built on Regent Street, with amenities such as a podcast room, meditation room and the lowest onebedroom rent per month being $1,974. While these amenities provide an element of luxury for students, most are just searching for a clean, well-managed apartment that won’t break the bank on top of their tuition costs. An in-building gym isn’t a make or break for most students, but somewhere within walking distance of campus will be.

Yet with every passing year in Madison, rents seem to jump regardless. The Four Seasons, an apartment complex managed by Madison Property Management on Park Street, recently announced its monthly rent would go up from $800 to $900. No new amenities or improvements have been made in this past year. Rental companies just know that students will pay it in comparison to the elevated rates at new complexes.

These advanced amenities and higher-than-average rents are not a new aspect in student housing — apartments like the Hub and The James completed construction in 2015 and 2017, respectively. A one-bed, one-bath unit in The James can start at $1,029 per person with a shared room and $2,019 for a single room.

These prices exceed average monthly rent prices in Madison, and it’s why students wait for hours in line outside leasing offices when they find an ideal location on campus and their own standard of affordable housing,

grappling at straws to live affordably in their college city.

However, there is hope and other options for students who cannot afford these high-rise apartments. Nonprofit tenant resource groups help students make well-educated and affordable choices when it comes to housing. These groups include the Tenant Resource Center (TRC) and the Madison Community Cooperative, both of which advocate for low-income individuals and solutions to the housing crisis, including positive relationships between tenants and landlords. Considering leasing applications in Madison often open in October, new students might struggle to acclimate to the fast-paced apartment scene. Resources like the TRC should be advertised as helpful advocates for affordable housing.

Another option for affordable housing has been proposed by Core Spaces, the builders behind Oliv. Its idea for

a four-building apartment complex with 465 units and more than 1,600 beds will offer rent that is 40% below market rate for 165 beds in the complex. This agreement states it will be offered for the next 40 years, providing relief for students as rent creeps up yearly. Three of the four complexes would exceed Madison’s height limit at 15 stories, but city officials reached an agreement with developers to build higher in exchange for lower tenant rates, a win for all students. While 165 beds might be a small fraction of affordable housing, it will hopefully encourage other complexes to factor in lower rates in the future.

Students have reasons to be concerned and subconsciously think the higher the building, the higher the rent. But new opportunities are slowly creeping into life affordably and comfortably. They just may not include rooftop pool decks.

life & style

A look at WUD’s Annual Student Art Show

By Annica Romano STAFF WRITER

The Wisconsin Union Directorate (WUD) Art Committee is currently celebrating its 96th Annual Student Art Show, showcasing the captivating artwork of passionate students from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

With more than 60 submissions, the committee meticulously selected each piece to highlight the diverse talents and creative visions of student artists, ensuring a dynamic and engaging exhibition.

The WUD Art Committee is devoted to presenting innovative exhibitions for the Madison community. From oil paintings to pottery, the show provides students with a platform to express themselves and acquire valuable experience within the art world.

Charlotte Knihtila, a UW-Madison freshman pursuing an art degree, earned the best-in-show award for her digital painting “Di erent Worlds.” She said most of her work aims to show humanity’s relationships with technology, but lately she redirected her focus to explore the emotions associated with the human experience.

Knihtila’s colored pencil drawing “The InterWeb” was also featured in the gallery. The montage piece is a portrayal of various personal moments from Knihtila’s life, with a prominent spider positioned at the top. She aimed to convey the freedom individuals have with posting online but also the lack of privacy that comes with it. She hopes viewers will relate to the positive images shown and analyze the dark undertone of the piece.

“The internet can be a wonderful tool and place to communicate, but there are downsides,” Knihtila said. “Everyone can view what you post publicly. The spider in the piece represents an observer who others may not want to view their intimate or happy moment.”

A freshman studying philosophy and world language, Lorelai Lewis’ artwork is also featured in the exhibition. Fascinated by art for as long as she can remem-

Union Terrace offseason: Where are the chairs?

By Erin Mercuri LIFE & SYTLE EDITOR

As the nip leaves the air and warmer temperatures arrive, the return of terrace season is on the minds of University of Wisconsin-Madison students.

With over 2,000 Sunburst chairs, the Memorial Union Terrace is a gathering spot for Wisconsin residents from near and far. The unique chairs serve as a symbol of Wisconsin’s seasonality, from their long-awaited appearance in the spring to their dreaded storage at a “top secret” location in the fall.

ber, Lewis said she only began oil painting a year ago. Her piece, “April,” is inspired by the fields of tulips that appear in the Netherlands — specifically Holland — during the month of April. It portrays a girl gazing directly at the viewer set against a backdrop of tulips and a tranquil body of water. Lewis hopes to evoke a sense of delight and calmness in those who interact with her piece.

“The expression of the figure in the painting changed several times throughout the painting process. I decided on this one because it is very neutral,” Lewis said. “Sometimes I will look back at the piece and find the expression of the girl to be hopeful or dreamy, and other times I find her to look more distraught, calling it a method of self-reflection on how the viewer is feeling.”

The opening ceremony, held on Feb. 9, gave artists an opportunity to present their artwork to the public, family and friends. Students expressed deep gratitude for the opportunity to have their art displayed in the exhibition, and Knihtila and Lewis underscored the crucial role art plays in unifying the Madison community.

“On a large campus, there is always a lot happening all at once, so being able to shrink down the environment to a digestible amount of people who share a common interest is a wonderful benefit of hosting an art show,” Lewis said. “This is a great reminder to all of us that art is valuable, deserves more funding and can bring a community together.”

WUD Art Coordinator Keeley Flynn encouraged students to apply for the upcoming exhibition season at the Wisconsin Union Galleries. Applications are due March 3 at 11:59 p.m. This free exhibition will remain open until March 15 and is located in the Main Gallery and the class of 1925 Gallery in Memorial Union. Galleries are open from 8 a.m. to 10

Monday through Sunday.

Paul Broadhead, assistant director for facilities management, operates and maintains the Memorial Union Terrace and supports the operation of the Wisconsin Union organization. This includes organizing volunteers to set up the furniture in April, working on Terrace refurbishment projects, and more.

Along with these tasks, Broadhead said he is a key player in a decision-making process that draws statewide attention: when the Terrace chairs head into hibernation and when they return.

Each year, the chairs are removed due to weather, lake temperature, and moving and storage resources — but most importantly, it all depends on Homecoming. In the fall, the Terrace chairs are certain to stay out for Badger alumni proud to return home, offering a spot of familiarity to reminisce over a pitcher of Unionsponsored beer. Broadhead said if Homecoming ever fell at the end of November, the chairs would enjoy an extended stay at Memorial Union.

Homecoming is at the tail end of a year full of celebratory events on the Memorial Union

Terrace, including Terrace opening day, commencement, a summer of movies and music, and miscellaneous wedding and birthday celebrations.

The Terrace holds a special place in the hearts of Wisconsinites, according to Shauna Breneman, the Wisconsin Union communications manager.

One of the most unique times throughout the year at the Terrace is early fall before the weather turns too cold to explore Madison without a coat. When students are back in the routine of school but not ready to say goodbye to warm weather quite yet, they default to using the Terrace as a library. But instead of books, the smell of brats and the sound of lively chatter surrounds them.

“[In the fall] you’re more likely to find a table that’s available, and it’s absolutely stunning. And, really, is it ever a bad day to come to a lakeside destination like the Memorial Union Terrace?” Breneman said.

“It’s always a good idea, but fall is especially beautiful,” she added.

The University of Wisconsin-Madison broke ground to construct the Memorial Union Terrace in 1928, quickly dubbing it an “undergraduate playground.” A place where students, parents and alumni could gather, participating in events such as “Venetian night, Cap night, University sings, fetes and alumni gatherings.”

In vibrant oranges, yellows and greens, the Terrace chairs have their own longstanding history. Each of these colors represent a varying aspect of Wisconsin agriculture: Allis Chalmers orange, John Deere green, and yellow

to pay tribute to Wisconsin’s farming tradition, according to UW-Madison. The three generations of Terrace chair iterations began with a rustic hickory design and eventually became the “Deauville,” a metal chair design similar to what is present on the Terrace today. However, the “Deauville” was replaced in the 1960s with the famous Sunburst chairs due to a design flaw causing water to catch and rust the seats.

The Memorial Union Terrace serves as a multi-generational hub for families and friends to gather in a familiar place that remains relatively unchanged.

“When folks come back that were from prior generations, the thing that I hear is, ‘Well, it changed a little bit, but it feels pretty much the same,’” Broadhead said. “We want the Terrace to feel comfortable for everyone, and that’s really been our goal from day one.”

Terrace season stretches from a long-awaited day in midApril, showing the first promises of warmer weather to the ambiguous fall day the chairs eventually leave for the winter. Breneman said she starts receiving questions about the return of the chairs the day they leave the Terrace.

“We are so grateful for the excitement that the Terrace chairs bring. We’re so grateful that people miss them,” Breneman said. “If not for the folks who have come here for the past 110 years, we would not be able to do what we do.”

Every year, Wisconsinites count down the days until warm weather and the chairs grace Memorial Union again. With 50-degree days that will soon become 70-degree days, the Madison community is gearing up to say hello to the famous Terrace emblems once again.

Knihtila's drawing, The InterWeb, was featured in this year's show.

CHARLOTTE KNIHTILA/”THE INTERWEB”

Rapper D Smoke performs Black History Month keynote

By Jakob Moe STAFF WRITER

Grammy-nominated rapper

D Smoke performed as a keynote artist for the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Black History Month celebration Wednesday at Memorial Union alongside his brother and R&B singer Davion Farris.

The performance included an extended spin on “Last Supper,” a song that awarded D Smoke first place on the hit Netflix show “Rhythm and Flow.”

D Smoke brought a strong energy to his set, inviting the audience to stand closer before the first song. The rapper interacted with the crowd constantly, taking selfies, inviting people on stage and teaching hook lyrics. D Smoke played most of his hit songs, including those from his sophomore album, “Black Habits.”

The rapper brought out his brother Davion Farris and featured him on the song “Fly.” Farris performed three solo songs toward the end of the event, capturing the crowd with his wide range and soulful voice.

D Smoke’s performance was one of many recent events hosted by the Black History Month Planning Committee. The Committee gave this month the theme of Legacy X, celebrating 10 years of the university’s formal celebration of Black History Month. Moreover, Legacy X pays homage to Civil Rights leader Malcolm X, who used X to denote his ancestral African surname.

“Our goal is to celebrate past, present and future Black students at UW–Madison who have — and always will — unapologetically take up space and always strive for excellence,” the Black History Month Planning Committee says on its website.

D Smoke is an intricate storyteller, roping together themes of consciousness and empowerment with Black and Latinx identities.

D Smoke is from Inglewood, California, and comes from a

family of musicians, including American singer and songwriter SiR as well as his cousin, Tiffany Gouché, who wrote songs for popular artists like Ginuwine. D Smoke, a former Spanish teacher, performed a handful of songs in both English and Spanish.

Toward the end of his set, D Smoke voiced his support for Palestine. D Smoke said he was a part of the SHAPE program when he attended UCLA in 2006, where he focused on providing

EMWAY to release single packed with scream vocals, upbeat guitar riffs

By Kaylie Wiedmeyer STAFF WRITER

Madison midwest emo band Excuse Me, Who Are You? (EMWAY), brings a refreshing voice to alternative music, with their upcoming single, “Maybe That Truck Hit Me… And This Was All a Dream,” set to release on March 8.

The single was produced by EMWAY with help from Alan Morris, member of fellow Madison band Endswell, and Gary Cioni from Sound Acres Studio. Also featured on the track is Tyler Stodghill, lead vocalist of Stars Hollow.

EMWAY’s members are guitarist Stuart Benjamin, vocalist Kyle Kinney, drummer Hayden Johnson and Jackson Pertzborn on bass. The band’s style strays from the now-popular emo pop genre and brings back a more punk style to the scene.

“Maybe That Truck Hit Me… And This Was All a Dream” follows a similar style to the songs featured on their EP. Featuring yell-scream style of vocals accompanied by chaotic, upbeat guitar riffs, EMWAY brings emotion

support to Black and Latinx communities in higher education.

“I remember being side-byside on UCLA’s campus fighting against genocide in Palestine back then… It’s crazy how many people think that this is a new fight. It’s not recent,” the rapper said during his performance.

D Smoke ended his concert by thanking the Black History Month Planning Committee for organizing the keynote event. He held a meet

into emo music through blunt, relatable lyrics.

EMWAY’s first EP, “About That Beer I Owed Ya,” released in 2022 and showcases their talent and unique sound, especially with the tracks “...In the Test Chamber’’ and “Urine Luck.”

EMWAY’s music has a raw and unpolished feel that connects listeners, allowing them to partake in the same catharsis EMWAY expresses through their songs.

“Maybe That Truck Hit Me…

And This Was All a Dream” channels feelings of self-depreciation, sadness, frustration and anger. The song puts into words what it feels like to get over someone you were once close with alongside the accompanying longing and disconnect. Their lyrics freely describe the anguish and sadness that comes with reminiscing on old memories, feelings of nostalgia and the acceptance and gratitude that comes with learning to be alone again.

Furthermore, the song touches on a theme that while we can be both fond and weary of memories, we can choose to appreciate them for all that they have to offer. “Maybe That Truck Hit Me…And This Was All a Dream” is the perfect song to listen to whether you’re getting over a breakup, going through life changes, missing an old friend or simply reflecting on life.

EMWAY has shown clear dedication and persistence in

and greet with the committee before his performance.

D Smoke recently collaborated with his cousin, SiR, on the single “Work Hard Play Hard” in mid 2023. Though a release date is not specified, the duo is expected to release a collaboration album in the near future. “Giving you guys an album is on the list of things to do,” SiR announced in a recent interview with his cousin and Apple Music.

sharing their voice and breaking into the emo scene beyond Madison. On the podcast “Beers With Bands,” the members of EMWAY expressed their goal to put Madison back on the map and draw more attention to its emo scene. They mentioned their appreciation for the Madison emo scene and discussed topics such as basement venues that were popular before the COVID19 pandemic. They also started playing shows on State Street, getting four-hour permits for $16 and performing for passersby and Madison tourists. They said that was one of the things that further prompted them to solidify the band, and they have shown to gain more popularity since as they stick with their sound.

EMWAY recently went on tour with Tiny Voices, another alternative band from Wisconsin, and will perform in Milwaukee on March 8 with the release of their new single.

EMWAY has shown a clear ability to write catchy songs within their genre of midwest emo and to also look beyond expectations and incorporate their own sound and voice in their music. One has to appreciate the way that EMWAY can so boldly express emotions and messages through their music. There is no doubt that with the authenticity they bring forward, they will continue to connect with listeners and gain success through their music.

JAKOB MOE/THE DAILY CARDINAL