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SOAR Issue 2022
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“…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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SOAR Issue 2022
An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 132, Issue 1
2142 Vilas Communication Hall 821 University Avenue Madison, Wis., 53706-1497 (608) 262-8000
News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com Editor-in-Chief Sophia Vento
Managing Editor !! Jessica Sonkin
News Team News Manager Hope Karnopp Campus Editor Alison Stecker College Editor Anthony Trombi City Editor Charlie Hildebrand State Editor Tyler Katzenberger Associate News Editor Ellie Bourdo Features Editor Annabella Rosciglione
Opinion Editors Priyanka Vasavan • Ethan Wollins Arts Editors Jeffrey Brown • Hannah Ritvo Sports Editors Donnie Slusher • Cole Wozniak The Beet Editor Mackenzie Moore Photo Editor Drake White-Bergey Graphics Editors Jennifer Schaller • Madi Sherman Science Editor Julia Wiessing Life & Style Editor Sophie Walk Copy Chiefs Kodie Engst • Ella Gorodetzky Social Media Manager Clare McManamon
Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Brandon Sanger Advertising Managers Noal Basil • Sydney Hawk Marketing Manager Mason Waas
The Daily Cardinal is a nonprofit organization run by its staff members and elected editors. It receives no funds from the university. Operating revenue is generated from advertising and subscription sales. The Daily Cardinal is published weekdays and distributed at the University of WisconsinMadison and its surrounding community with a circulation of 10,000. Capital Newspapers, Inc. is the Cardinal’s printer. The Daily Cardinal is printed on recycled paper. The Cardinal is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The Daily Cardinal are the sole property of the Cardinal and may not be reproduced without written permission of the editor in chief. The Daily Cardinal accepts advertising representing a wide range of views. This acceptance does not imply agreement with the views expressed. The Cardinal reserves the right to reject advertisements judged offensive based on imagery, wording or both. Complaints: News and editorial complaints should be presented to the editor in chief. Business and advertising complaints should be presented to the business manager. Letters Policy: Letters must be word processed and must include contact information. No anonymous letters will be printed. All letters to the editor will be printed at the discretion of The Daily Cardinal. Letters may be sent to opinion@ dailycardinal.com.
Editorial Board Em-J Krigsman • Anupras Mohapatra • Jessica Sonkin • Sophia Vento • Ethan Wollins
Board of Directors Scott Girard, President Herman Baumann • Ishita Chakraborty • Don Miner • Nancy Sandy • Phil Hands • Josh Klemons • Barbara Arnold • Jennifer Sereno
© 2022, The Daily Cardinal Media Corporation ISSN 0011-5398
For the record Corrections or clarifications? Call The Daily Cardinal office at 608-262-8000 or send an email to!edit@dailycardinal.com.
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GOP lawmakers criticize next Chancellor By Ian Wilder STAFF WRITER
The University of Wisconsin System Board of Regents announced University of California, Los Angeles Law School Dean Jennifer Mnookin as their selection for University of Wisconsin-Madison’s chancellor last month. Mnookin replaces Chancellor Rebecca Blank, who announced her plans to step down last October to take up a new role as President of Northwestern University. The decision comes at a crucial point for the Regents, half of whom were appointed by Gov. Tony Evers and have not been confirmed by the Senate. The unconfirmed Evers appointees could be replaced if the Republicans manage to flip the Governor’s seat in the 2022 election. Faculty members and Democratic lawmakers spoke highly of Mnookin throughout the selection process. UW Board of Regents President Edmund Manydeeds III told The Cap Times last month that Mnookin was the “right selection.”
“She was able to give us just a little bit more of an indication that she was aware of many facets in Wisconsin and the shareholders at the UW-Madison campus,” Manydeeds added. However, members of the Wisconsin GOP were quick to challenge Mnookin’s legitimacy following the May announcement. “I am disappointed in the Board of Regents’ blatant partisan selection of Dr. Mnookin as the next leader for UW-Madison,” Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) said in a statement. “You quickly find she wholeheartedly supports critical race theory being taught on campus [and] is in favor of widespread vaccine mandates.” “If the Board of Regents truly believes that Mnookin is the best choice, then the next Republican governor and Legislature should find it impossible to provide more taxpayer dollars or allow the Board to increase tuition,” added Sen. Steve Nass (R-Whitewater), a longtime critic of the UW System. Wisconsin GOP members previously threatened to take away funding from the UW System
over controversial topics. Republican lawmakers also encouraged System leaders to distribute a “free speech” survey this fall that was previously delayed due to campus community concerns. “It’s a free country and people can say what they want and honestly I don’t take those comments very seriously,” Regent Vice President Karen Walsh said in response to GOP reactions. “I would like for those folks to meet Chancellor Mnookin before they threaten our funding. I don’t think they really intend to do that. I think they’re much more interested in sitting in a room with us and talking about our differences.” The decision to select Mnookin was unanimous and included the votes of Regents selected by the former Republican Gov. Scott Walker. Mnookin did not seem bothered by the controversy, commenting that she plans to “reach out to everybody and to talk to those who are game to talk to [her].” “I look forward to creating constructive and productive relationships,” Mnookin stressed.
Concern over availability of menstrual products By Katrina Kallas STAFF WRITER
The University of WisconsinMadison is facing controversy from students around the lack of menstrual products in campus restrooms. Each women’s restroom has a dispenser where students can get period products such as pads and tampons, but according to a tweet from April 21, not all of them have been restocked on campus. “This morning I went to five university bathrooms (four of which were in Steenbock library) looking for a menstrual product and found not a single one was in stock,” junior Meghan Savaglia tweeted in April. “@ UWMadison @UHSMadison don’t bother offering free menstrual products if less trafficked areas of campus will not be stocked.” Recently, University Health Services (UHS) and the Division of Facility Planning & Management (FP&M) have not heard complaints about the lack of menstrual products on campus, according to UHS Chief of Staff Marlena Holden. “Access to menstrual products is considered a basic service at many higher education institutions, including UW-Madison,” Holden said.
Although students have not alerted UHS and FP&M of any issues regarding period products in campus restrooms, some still expressed concerns. “I think it’s definitely something that should be taken into account by administrators. I’m a part of [the] Associated Students of Madison (ASM), and there’s been a lot of push from student organizations to offer those products,” Savaglia, the Press Office Director of the student governance body, stated. “Things like Sex Out Loud, things like Promoting Awareness Victim Empowerment, where they push to have those materi-
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als distributed for free.” Savaglia remains frustrated as UW-Madison has been restocking toilet paper and cleaning campus restrooms on a daily basis. “ I don’t see why those dispensers have to be any different than those essentials for bathrooms across campus,” Savaglia said. UW’s Planned Parenthood Generation Action (PPGA) also advocated for increased menstrual product accessibility. Yearly, the club sets up a menstrual product drive and donates these necessities to different organizations within the community. “I think our campus and most campuses across the states are really long overdo in having period and menstrual products accessible in every single bathroom,” said PPGA member and senior Maya Cherins. “And I think this also touches on another issue of having gendered bathrooms where, on campus, if you do happen to find products, they’re really only in women’s restrooms, which is incredibly heteronormative.” Ultimately, the push for access to menstrual products at UW-Madison is not new. Students voiced concerns about accessible menstrual products
on campus for years. In 2017, ASM and administrators created a plan to provide free menstrual products in campus bathrooms. “[It] began as a pilot project that was a collaboration between FP&M and ASM in a subset of campus buildings,” Holden said. “The program was expanded to a wider range of campus buildings, focusing on facilities used by students.” The pilot program took into account the cost of making all products free, and the idea quickly spread across campus and through the University of Wisconsin System. FP&M was tasked with stocking and keeping track of menstrual dispensers, while the student council would promote and collect feedback about the program from other students. Each year, FP&M converted additional facilities as funds allow. “Currently, FP&M stocks free menstrual products in 330 bathrooms in 75 campus buildings,” Holden said. University custodial staff are in charge of restocking the dispensers. Anyone who finds empty dispensers is encouraged to let their building manager know or contact Physical Plant Customer Service.
Study abroad, the Wisconsin Experience By Ellie Bourdo ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
Studying abroad is a critical component of the Wisconsin Experience, said Daniel Gold, the director of International Academic Programs at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “The focus areas of ‘empathy and humility’ and ‘relentless curiosity’ are particularly well-suited to be developed through experiences abroad,” Gold said. “Engaging in a new social and cultural environment, being exposed to new ideas and perspectives, and challenging one’s worldview and sense of self is an unparalleled learning opportunity.” The Wisconsin Experience is based primarily on opportunities offered by the university, Gold explained. Gold said, “To me, [the Wisconsin Experience] is the great wealth of opportunities that UW-Madison provides to its students, in terms of helping to develop personal and intellectual growth and the focus that is placed on directing that growth in areas that
improve people’s lives through the Wisconsin idea.” The International Academic Programs work to create high-quality experiences for the 1,500 students participating annually. During the 202021 academic year, UW-Madison was ranked fourth among all universities across the nation for total students studying abroad. Gold explained how studying abroad is an off-campus program that promotes academic, personal and professional growth, and involves progress toward an academic degree. He also emphasized the many opportunities offered through the university for students to become involved. “UW-Madison offers over 250 opportunities for students both domestically and around the world from as short as a week to as long as one year, including opportunities to intern, complete research, fieldwork, or service learning for credit,” Gold stated. According to Gold, it is never too
early to study abroad. “Just as college is a tremendous opportunity for growth, study abroad opens up opportunities and challenges beyond what students can find within the boundaries of Madison,” continued Gold. “Want to immerse yourself in a non-English language speaking environment? Want to explore new places and cultures? Studying abroad can open up these opportunities, which complement and support what you are learning on-campus.” The International Academic Programs offer a variety of programs that are fit for any student. They are also committed to ensuring that every student deserves access to these programs. “Students can begin by exploring programs and resources on the study abroad website, by scheduling an advising session or attending a study abroad event,” Gold said. For incoming freshmen interested in studying abroad, Gold said there
are resources available to help students get involved. He recommended students speak with an advisor to help find the program that best suits their needs. “For some students, the idea of going away for a semester, or even a few weeks, may seem daunting. Our study abroad advisors are available to talk both virtually and in-person to help students navigate the study abroad planning process,” Gold said. “We are committed to supporting all students and showing them how study abroad can be a transformative experience for everyone.” On October 11, 2022, there will be a study abroad fair in the Gordon Commons Dining and Event Center. This event will allow students to explore different programs that are offered through the International Academics Programs and provide students more information regarding funding and scholarships, as well as opportunities to speak with program leaders and returned students.
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UW researchers continue to make significant advances By Beth Schoop STAFF WRITER
As many students celebrate the start of summer with relaxation, the University of WisconsinMadison campus is still filled with researchers working to make new discoveries and advances on today’s leading questions. Every summer, researchers conduct multiple major research projects on campus. This summer’s topics cover a wide range of fields including cancer treatment, Australian heritage, COVID-19 and structural brain changes. UW-Madison is a highly ranked research university that utilizes strong professors year round to problem solve and work towards solutions to great challenges. This is done through research teams built of current students who work alongside professors to study, analyze, research and gain experience that will prepare them to lead their own research teams in the future. Cancer Treatment Advances The development of a non-invasive, blood-based biopsy for kidney cancer now allows doctors to analyze patients’ responses to treatments without having to continuously perform biopsies of tumors on cancer patients, according to UW-Madison researchers. UW-Madison scientists did a study following over 100 patients facing renal cell carcinoma treatment. Researchers followed and analyzed circulating tumor cells to look at molecular changes that signal responses to treatment. “Cancer is not a static disease,” researcher Matthew Bootsma stated in a UW Madison news release. “As the disease progresses, molecular characteristics change over time, and these
changes are important to understand how the disease responds to treatment as well as how resistance develops.” Equipment from the Circulating Biomarker Core in the UW-Madison Carbone Cancer Center was utilized in order to quickly count and evaluate the circulating tumor cells. Increasing levels of circulation signaled a lifespan approximately four months shorter compared to that of patients with little blood change. According to UW-Madison professor Shuang Zhao, “These results make a lot of sense. Circulating tumor cells are a surrogate for tumor burden. If they are going up, that’s likely a bad sign. If they’re dropping, that’s promising that treatment is working.” In addition to cell counts, the equipment also measured proteins. Differing protein levels signal changes that can be analyzed by doctors to determine the effectiveness and progress of treatments. Fast treatment reactions to diseases can lead to better results. Using the newly developed liquid biopsies will allow for quick reactions because of the real time changes that can be followed and witnessed by doctors and researchers. Bootsma concluded by stating that “We hope to use this information to react faster going forward and get patients on a more appropriate therapy.” Science and Art Combined Much of Australian culture is preserved through different forms of art. Understanding the chemical composition of art materials used by aboriginal Australians is necessary for art conservators to recognize certain materials in ancient art pieces. “Researchers are turning to X-ray science to help reveal the composition
of the materials used in Aboriginal Australian cultural heritage – starting with the analysis of century-old samples of plant secretions, or exudates,” according to a UW-Madison press release. The researchers’ primary focus of analysis is plant secretion or exudates. Many Australian art pieces use this material. Meaning, analyzing the exudates with X-rays to see the molecular structure enables researchers to properly link art pieces to Australian heritage. With the samples being collected over a century ago, researchers understood that changes to the surface layers of the materials occurred. This meant the X-rays needed to reach deeper into the samples to create high quality data. The team used “hard” X-rays to reach beyond the surface levels of the sample where photons spread-out showing silicon crystals in a repeating pattern, as well as one type of wavelength. “For the first time, we were able to see the molecular structure of a well-preserved collection of native Australian plant samples, which might allow us to discover their existence in other important cultural heritage objects,” the press release stated. The team found great success and gained strong data that clearly showed the structure of the exudates. Given the success of the X-ray technology, members of the research team hope the science community, as well as cultural heritage analysts, will look toward this technology in the future when it comes to learning more about samples. “Now we can go ahead and study other organic materials of cultural importance using this
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Undergrad Eryne Jenkins at the Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility Lab powerful X-ray technique,” physicist Rafaella Georgiou said. COVID-19 Variants Another research project headed by the university concerns COVID-19 sub-variants. Findings by Yoshihiro Kawaoka — a UW-Madison virologist and professor at both the UW School of Veterinary Medicine and the University of Tokyo — and associates in Japan show that the omicron sub-variants BA.2 and BA.1 are very similar. The results of this study come in opposition to a recent study by another research team. While Kawaoka’s findings show great similarities in the severity and cause of the sub-variants, other studies suggest BA.2 is more likely to cause severe sickness. “That study indicated BA.2 may be more pathogenic than BA.1. But when
we used authentic virus, we found that BA.2 is not more pathogenic,” Kawaoka stated in a press release. Tests were conducted on rodent samples as opposed to humans, and data showed that both sub-variants were less severe when compared to previous strains such as delta and the original strain of the virus. Evidence showed that antibodies and antiviral drugs were effective against the newest sub-variant, but plasma from vaccinated people, as well as those who were previously affected by COVID, is less likely to neutralize the omicron sub-variants. More recent sub-variants are now being tested by Kawaoka and his team. He wants people to understand that, “if you’re vaccinated and then infected, you’re protected against many different variants.”
Sen. Johnson faces backlash over comments about shooting By Alexander Tan STAFF WRITER
Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) is facing a spate of harsh headlines ahead of his reelection bid this November after making politicizing statements in the wake of the massacre in Uvalde, Texas, in which 19 students and two teachers were killed in May. Uvalde police are still under scrutiny from local residents and federal investigators for failing to stop the rampage for nearly an hour, instead directing force towards restraining distraught
parents who were attempting to save their children. The gunman was able to cause widespread harm after legally purchasing two semi-automatic rifles and hundreds of rounds of ammunition within days of the shooting despite clear signs of mental distress. In stark contrast to calls for stricter gun laws and expanded background checks, Johnson opposed new firearm restrictions and blamed “wokeness,” “liberal indoctrination,” “secularization of society” and critical race theory for school shooting tragedies
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like Uvdale. “The solution lies in stronger families, more supportive communities [and] I would argue renewed faith,” he said in an appearance on Fox Business. “We’ve lost that. We stopped teaching values in so many of our schools. Now we’re teaching wokeness. We’re indoctrinating our children with things like [critical race theory], telling – you know – some children they’re not equal to others and they’re the cause of other people’s problems.” Johnson also argued against stricter background checks as a solution to gun violence. “No matter what you do, people fall through the cracks,” he equivocated. School shootings have been commonplace in the United States since the Columbine tragedy in 1999, long before critical race theory became a talking point at school board meetings. When presented with this fact, Johnson shot back, “I think CRT has been going on under the radar for quite some time as well… wokeness has been, liberal indoctrination has been. This is a much larger issue than what a simple new gun law’s going to, it’s not going to solve it.” The ambiguous talking point of “critical race theory” is often conflated with culturally relevant teaching. Conservative pundits have politicized the term in the past two years, leading school boards and state legislatures
across America to eliminate lessons about racism in classrooms or ban young adult books about racism and police brutality, such as “The Hate U Give,” for being “pervasively vulgar.” In actuality, critical race theory is a graduate-level legal studies concept coined by University of Wisconsin-Madison alumna Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw that explains how institutions like the criminal justice system or housing market proliferate racism through implicitly biased policy. It neither demonizes white people nor encourages gun violence, and is scarcely found in the K-12 curriculum. Academic criticisms of critical race theory exist but few extend beyond the courtroom. Johnson’s unsupported claim that critical race theory is related to gun violence elicited the ire of Democratic candidates vying to replace him in the U.S. Senate. “[Johnson] and his gun lobbyfunded colleagues are the reason we haven’t been able to pass common-sense gun reform,” Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes said. Barnes wondered how Wisconsinites could trust “anything that comes out of the mouth of a self-serving politician” whose “loyalty can be bought – even when children’s lives are on the line.” Democratic Senate candidate and Milwaukee Bucks executive Alex Lasry also took issue with
Johnson’s inaction. “Doing nothing has resulted in one thing: more dead children and the people of Wisconsin are tired of having a do-nothing Senator in Washington,” Lasry said. “We need to ban assault weapons, expand background checks, and make our communities safer. The only way to change the deadly status quo in this country is to get Ron Johnson out of the Senate.” Wisconsin State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski bashed Republicans such as Johnson who she said are “bought and paid for by the gun lobby.” “It is incomprehensible that Congress would leave for a two week holiday while the body count continues to rise out of Texas,” she added. “Thoughts and prayers ring hollow when they come from a spineless politician who doesn’t have the guts to stand up to the NRA’s corrupt influence.” Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson said Johnson was “bearing false witness when he refuses to name the cause of these mass tragedies, which is our nation’s lunatic access to weapons of mass destruction of the type used to slaughter these children in Uvalde.” Nelson later showed up at Johnson’s Oshkosh office brandishing a $1.2 million check, representing the donations from the NRA to Johnson over the past decade.
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UW working to accommodate vegan, vegetarian diets By Ellie Bourdo ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR
As plant-based diets are becoming increasingly popular around the nation, University of Wisconsin-Madison dining services are working to provide a more inclusive menu for students with these dietary restrictions. Within the last 15 years, the popularity of vegetarian, vegan and flexitarian diets has only increased. This growth includes a rise in popularity at colleges and universities. UW-Madison took this task head-on. Agnes Sherman, a dietitian for the university dining halls, explained the vegan and vegetarian options offered by the dining services, and their plans for expanding their menu. “We are running at about 20% of our menus geared to being vegan and/or vegetarian,” Sherman said. “The standard guidance to our unit chefs that have to develop these menus is every venue should have some sort of vegan and/or vegetarian option.” The dining halls around campus currently offer a variety of plant-based options. These options range from organic options to processed plant-based meat products, including Beyond Meat burgers and brats, Morning Star vegetarian breakfast sausages and some Dr. Praeger items. The menu at the university’s dining halls currently runs on a four-week rotation at every location, and offers vegan and vegetarian options. The chefs have creative
freedom to design the menu, but items must be able to be produced on a large scale. While the UW-Madison dining hall staff works to extend their menu, Carly Robbins, a vegan student, felt that her options were limited in the dining halls her freshman year. “The dining hall always had options, but they were pretty repetitive and there wasn’t a lot of them,” Robbins explained. “Probably only two or three.” Although her options were limited, Robbins appreciated the effort she saw from dining hall workers. She understood the limited number of options due to the percentage of vegan students compared to those that are not. “I try to look at the offerings places have
relative to the percentage of the population that makes that lifestyle choice, so I think that for the number of students that are vegan, I understand why they had the limited options.” Robbins said. UW-Madison dining offers a vegan focus group that allows students to provide feedback to dining hall staff about menu options they enjoyed or recommendations for dishes that could be implemented. “It’s an open-door policy. We have some food items to test or some new products to test,” Sherman explained. “It’s really just a way for [students] to try new things and give us feedback on existing things. It’s good information for us to take back on how we can do better.” Although UW-Madison dining services
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Gordon Dining Center is one of the options that students have to get food on campus.
continue to try and provide more vegan and vegetarian options, some students continue to face problems with the menu options available. Maria Lianos, an incoming sophomore who lived in the dorms this past year, recently went vegetarian for the first time. She underscored the struggles she experienced with on-campus dining. “[Memorial Union] has one or two salad options and every sandwich has meat on it. Pizza and pasta are really the only things that are offered without meat.” Lianos explained. “So, before I would do burgers and sandwiches and chicken on my salad, but now I’m either eating a lot of the same thing or I just choose not to eat there.” Lianos also described what she would change about the options offered at the dining halls. “I think if they were to be more creative and try and include grains and beans and other things that aren’t just lettuce and noodles because those aren’t always super filling,” Lianos said. “I think that if they just expanded and tried more.” Although students struggle with the options available in the dining halls, Sherman still ensures that dining services on campus are working to create menus with a greater vegan focus. “We are pushing forward to including even more [vegan and vegetarian options]. We are working with the humane society and their Forward Food initiative, so we’re looking at how we can build out our menus even further,” Sherman said.
Progress Center CEO highlights supporting Black women By Gavin Escott STAFF WRITER
Coming home to Madison, Wisconsin after a public speaking engagement in Atlanta, Sabrina Madison expected to see another Black woman at the organization that booked her, especially since the organization served people of color. However, when she arrived, Madison recalled, “it was all white women looking back at me. And I was so disappointed.” In early 2016, Madison had been speaking in cities across the United States and noticed that Black people, particularly Black women, did not receive the same access and opportunities as white people. There was an absence of women of color in leadership positions, and seeing the all-white crowd in an organization that served people of color really hurt. Two weeks later she quit her job at Madison Area Technical College. “I’m like, I’m just going to go to work for Black women, I’m going to create leadership opportunities for us,” Madison said. Madison emphasized centering Black women and families. Wisconsin ranks among the highest states for Black poverty, with Black Wisconsinites being 5.3 times more likely to live in poverty than their white neighbors — the second highest poverty disparity in the country. More specifically, in Dane County, Black women earn $15,000 less annually than white women. “The city still has a ways to go for the average Black person,” Madison said. “It’s difficult to retain Black folks in a community where you may feel unsupported.”.” Under her brand name “Heymiss Progress,” Madison created the Black Women’s Leadership Conference, a conference for Black women across Wisconsin looking for leadership opportunities. The conference has sold out every year since its inception, attracting people from states ranging from California to North Carolina. Following the conference’s success, Madison created the Black Business Expo and the Black Excellence Youth conference. But, in 2017, still traveling the country as an entrepreneur, she realized a key environment missing in Madison was a co-working
space that centered Black women. “[It looked like I had] to create a space where when I walk in, I feel comfortable,” Madison said. “The Black woman that I serve feels comfortable. Their kids feel comfortable.” In October 2017, Madison launched the Progress Center for Black Women, where she is the CEO. Through a fundraising campaign, the center opened its doors in Fitchburg in November 2018, serving the community and testing out new ways to help people. A nonprofit, the center focuses primarily on entrepreneurship, professional development and financial health, helping members through a variety of specialized programming and support services. One of the center’s programs, Under One Roof, provides both immediate interventions and long-term strategies to help support people in need. “Someone coming to us who needs a little bit more support, whether it’s financial, whether it’s mental health, [we] just really wrap our resources around them, and support them with education, sometimes with funding, just really helping them reach some sort of short and long term goal,” Madison explained. “We [also] do a bunch of community stuff, like we have kids who visit our space and hang out because we might do some pop ups with our progress van. So a little bit of everything.” Another program is The Financial Health Academy, an individualized six to eight week program launched to assist those struggling financially. With funding from the UW Credit Union through United Way, the center pairs financial health programming with mental health professionals, addressing two major concerns. The program includes the entire family, which Madison said helps alleviate the stress of doing it alone and creates generational knowledge around financial health. At the end of the program, each family is given $1000 to invest toward financial security. Although anyone can take part in programming, Madison said the center focuses more on registered members since they spent more time with them and are able to personalize programs to meet their needs.
Members are able to take advantage of the co-working space, and a private membership site exists for people to network and engage with one another. There are different tiers of membership, ranging from $25 to $50 a month that grant access to different programs, though Madison said that if someone is unable to pay, the Center often provides them a complimentary membership. Problems that drove people to the center were exacerbated during the pandemic, which also created a host of new problems. In response, the center shifted 100% of its time to respond to the immediate mental health and financial needs of the community. “[When the pandemic hit we had] folks reaching out, feeling isolated and you can just hear their mental health has taken a hit,” Sabrina said. “[We had] folks who were just calling us just for conversation. And so what happened is that we shifted all of our financial, all of our resources to respond to those immediate needs, like eviction prevention, transportation, food, household cleaning products, etc.” Last summer, the center made the move to Capitol Square, becoming the first Blackdirected and owned space downtown. “When we created the Progress Center, there was not another space in the area that was created by a Black woman, led by Black women where there was no white leadership directing me like I was, am the leadership,” Madison said. “Folks have created other spaces since then. But we were literally the first one.” Her hope is that the center’s downtown location can lead to more businesses owned by people of color in the area, especially on State Street where she observed a glaring absence of Black culture or Blackowned businesses. Newcomers to the center — who often come from word of mouth — look for help with anything ranging from domestic abuse to confusion about how to complete tax forms. The center not only works to address people’s struggles but also to improve their overall wellbeing. “We’re nosy,” Madison said. “We want to know what else is going on in your household,
[we’ll help] you generate more income. Make sure that you don’t face eviction again. So we really look at our work like that, like, we take a holistic approach to the work.” Looking to the future, the center’s next big goal is to launch a capital campaign to buy their own building. They just launched a program called F.O.C.U.S., an eight to ten week accelerator designed to help Black entrepreneurs get familiarized with key aspects of running a business while providing a supportive atmosphere where they can thrive. Madison highlighted how the program was built with the entrepreneurs it will serve, which will ensure it more effectively helps entrepreneurs and their needs. The orientation for the program starts the last week of June. You can donate to the Progress Center for Black Women here. Check out their Instagram: @center4blkwomen and their Twitter: @center4blkwomen to receive updates on upcoming events.
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‘Happy Landings’ is why Broom Street Theater is a special place By Jeffrey Brown ARTS EDITOR
I am so very fortunate to have both learned about and been welcomed to Madison’s own Broom Street Theater for opening night of “Happy Landings,” a hilarious ode to Shakespearean comedy written by a Madison community member. Located on Willy Street and a little more than halfway up the isthmus — nowhere near Broom Street — Broom Street Theater is the oldest continuously operating experimental theater in the country. The theater is a beautiful, tiny little treasure tucked behind a couple houses. I showed my vaccine card before heading inside to the box office table. After collecting my ticket, I turned around to see a set of bleachers. There were two rows of six seats on either side of a set of stairs with a bench on the third row. So you don’t have to do the math, that’s around thirty seats. In front of me was the stage, not elevated. There was no curtain. The box office table then rolled away into the back. This was it, and that’s all it needed. A woman stepped forward to give a brief history of the theater, stating that it started in 1969 then found a home in its current location in 1977. Wikipedia states the theater has never been on Broom Street. She then passed around a basket. The theater has operated on a pay-what-you-can basis since the beginning of the pandemic. After that, she pointed to a box by the door that served as a tip jar for the entirely volunteer cast. With a reminder not to interact with the eight cast members as they moved on and off stage, the show began.
“Happy Landings” follows Floyd Tucker, a writer for a publishing company for which the show is named. His job is to edit literature classics to have happy endings. The show occasionally takes intermissions to act out these comical alterations — such as Beth of Little Women recovering from illness and becoming a pianist or Romeo and Juliet both faking their deaths and living happily ever after. While his coworkers, recently wed Mickey Reynolds and Belinda Rapp — who decided to hyphenate their names — are perfectly content being hacks, Floyd yearns for more. He wants to be a great writer like those whose works he adjusts to be less tragic. Unfortunately, his writing is bad. “I forked the Jell-O which waved like a newly plucked bowstring,” is one of the many humorously dreadful lines from his book that the publishers scoff at. Tucker reads out the equally hilarious harsh responses from publishers before concocting a scheme to fake his death so his book will be published. Claiming to be his fictional brother John, who has taken a solemn vow to never read, Tucker delivers the news to a publisher. He provides her with another copy of the manuscript, along with a diary filled with romantic letters to his “dearest.” While believing him to be deceased, the editor-in-chief of the publication falls in love with him through his diary. The playbill states that “Happy Landings” writer Pamela Monk, who was sitting directly in front of me, ultimately wishes “to be like Shakespeare, dead 400 years and produced everywhere.” This inspiration is palpable. The
Go check out the Chazen! By Hannah Ritvo ARTS EDITOR
Home to a splendid array of paintings, photographs, prints and sculptures, the Chazen Museum of Art sits conveniently on University Avenue and only a block away from bustling State Street.
The variety of art on display at the Chazen is remarkable. If you’re looking for some creative inspiration or if you’re just looking to lift your spirits on a bad day, the Chazen has acted as a source of wonder to all those who have passed through its halls since it first
DRAKE WHITE-BERGEY/THE DAILY CARDINAL
This prime location allows University of Wisconsin-Madison students and residents of Madison the opportunity to visit the free museum whenever they want and recharge their creative energy.
opened in 1970. The first time I stopped in at the Chazen, I was just passing by when I had a spare 30 minutes in between classes and thought I’d walk around the
PHOTO COURTESY OF BROOM STREET THEATER VIA FACEBOOK
ridiculousness of the core concept as well as the silliness of both the one-line and recurring jokes are reminiscent of Shakespeare’s sense of humor. The actors were all unbelievable. Their passion shone through as they created entirely believable characters. They are the reason the theater has a budget of just $500 for the props of each of its shows. I was sitting in a shed on Willy Street; the props were a couple desks, a couch, a table with two chairs and a bleacher, yet I was transported to
offices, restaurants and scenes from my English course’s required texts. I went into “Happy Landings” expecting a cute local theater performance from passionate artists but left amazed at the talent of those in my city. This is a special place. If you are in Madison from June 3 to June 25 or August 12 to August 27 and looking for something to do on a Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night at 8 p.m., head over to Broom Street Theater — located on Willy Street — for Madison arts at its very best.
museum for a little while. I was blown away by the collection of work that the Chazen hosted. In fact, the Chazen is the largest museum art collection in the Big Ten. As the second-largest art collection in Wisconsin, the Chazen hosts a massive variety of work including “approximately 23,000 works of art covering diverse historical periods, cultures and geographic locations, from ancient Greece, Western Europe and the Soviet Empire to Moghul India, 18th-century Japan and modern Africa.” Canadian artist Amanda McCavour’s “Suspended Landscapes’’ will be at the museum until September 11. “Suspended Landscapes” is a breathtakingly gorgeous work of embroidery depicting Wisconsin flora. McCavour sews into fabric that dissolves into water, essentially “drawing with thread.” This sewn flora sways due to the Chazen’s airflow, as if it truly was real plants being caressed gently by the wind. It is an unforgettable sight. While you’re there, make sure to check out Kota Ezawa’s exhibition “City of Nature,” a video collage combining seventy nature scenes from different movies. This will also be on display at the museum until September 11. Using computer-assisted digital drawing and animation tools, Exawa recreates movie scenes and the result is an extremely captivating six minute video. Another memorable exhibition is “Echoing Overseas,” a collection of 50 works representative of artistic and cultural exchanges across Asia. The sorts of objects on display inspired massive transformation in all sectors of life in Asia. “Echoing Overseas” perfectly cap-
tures the trajectory of art in Asia and around the world. “Sifting and Reckoning: UW-Madison’s History of Exclusion and Resistance” will be a crucial exhibition demonstrating the discrimination and resistance that haunts the university’s past. Starting September 12 and ending December 30, 2022, “visitors will engage with objects from the UW Archives that are rarely displayed, including the Pipe of Peace, a ceremonial object used by white students in a popular mock Native ceremony; protest flyers created by students fighting against racism; buttons and athletic memorabilia; and yearbooks and photographs illustrating the culture of exclusion on campus.” The exhibition will feature opportunities for visitors to interact on a personal level and reflect on UW-Madison’s history. It is extremely critical that UW-Madison students come to this exhibition and reflect upon their school’s horrific history, for awareness of the past is the first step to laying down the foundation for a more equitable future. The Chazen is a perfect place to go for all occasions — whether you are taking a new date out, hanging out with your friends, or looking for somewhere where you can spend some time immersed alone in beautiful art. For as many years you’ll be in Madison, the Chazen will be there for you. If you find yourself with free time while you’re here, there are few worse ways to spend a couple minutes or hours. The museum is free and open 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday or 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
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Offseason storylines as ‘22 opener nears By Justin Alpert STAFF WRITER
MICKEY WELSH/USA TODAY NETWORK
Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher share a cold handshake after a game.
Column: Welcome to the Wild West era of college sports By Seamus Roher SENIOR STAFF WRITER
One of the most electrifying SEC battles in recent memory took place not on the gridiron in the fall, but in the press room in May, between two of college football’s most legendary coaches. Nick Saban and Jimbo Fisher, head football coaches of the University of Alabama and Texas A&M University, went toe-to-toe like gunslingers at high noon and engaged in a war of words so heated that the Alabama-Texas A&M football game on Oct. 8 might have to go to five or six overtimes to rival the intensity of the coaches’ feud. Saban unloaded on Texas A&M in a direct and personal attack: “We were second in recruiting last year, A&M was first. A&M bought every player on their team — made a deal for name, image and likeness.” Soon after, Fisher called a press conference to respond to Saban’s allegations, and it didn’t disappoint. Within the first three minutes of the presser, Fisher referred to Saban, his former boss, as a “narcissist” once, “god” twice and “despicable” six times. This rather unprecedented public display of animosity between two National C h a m p i o n s h i p -w i n n i n g coaches is indicative of where the college sports world currently stands. It’s chaos. There are no rules. And my gosh, is it entertaining. On July 1, 2021, the NCAA rules allowing athletes to be compensated for their name, image and likeness went into effect. Finally, the athletes that generate billions of dollars for the NCAA could market themselves to earn a slice of the massive revenue pie that is college sports. It didn’t take long for college sports to become a cutthroat world. While Marshall offensive lineman Will Ulmer III was using NIL to finally perform live music under his real name, wealthy boosters of the nations most storied programs were compiling millions in funds and forming collectives, independently organized groups of boosters that work to strike NIL deals with athletes to lure them
to their alma mater. In a weak attempt to tame the lawless prairie of college sports, the NCAA established rules that forbade collectives from contacting athletes to pitch them NIL deals before they committed to their school. Additionally, opposing schools weren’t supposed to be able to reach out to athletes on other schools’ rosters to try to entice them with NIL. A major alarm was sounded when Miami point guard Isaiah Wong spent three seasons in Coral Gables, and after putting up 15.3 points-per-game in 2021, the NBA beckoned. But Wong, seeing his opportunity to cash in, threatened to transfer if his cash-based NIL demands weren’t met. Vociferous players like Wong used to have to take what their program gave them, without a seat at the table. Now, the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Soon after, Wong struck a new deal and elected to return to Miami for his senior season. The NIL era has caused some to fear that college sports are on the brink of destruction. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. College sports are undergoing a much needed renaissance, slowly emerging from the dark ages of oligarchical power and an underground recruiting economy. High-profile college athletes being compensated is nothing new. Southern Methodist University - a small, private university in Dallas that competes with much larger and more storied programs in Texas, landed the No. 1 halfback in the nation, Eric Dickerson, and fellow stud running back Craig James to form the almighty “Pony Express.” I wonder how they did it. Saban’s comments depict him as a frightened old man, not hip to the times and terrified that the grossly exploitative system upon which he built his legacy is shaking at the foundations. Regardless, the NIL era is here to stay. It’s clear that the NCAA needs to implement more rules and crack down harder on boosters living a little too vicariously through their college teams. But for now, it’s high noon on the college sports landscape — and if you truly love the game, you should enjoy it while it lasts.
Three months from now, the University of Wisconsin-Madison will open its 2022 season at Camp Randall Stadium against Illinois State University. Last fall, the Badgers transformed from inept to stellar before ultimately disappointing with a late-season loss at the University of Minnesota. In that November defeat, Wisconsin lost not only the Paul Bunyan Axe but a berth in the Big Ten Championship Game. Instead, they settled for a trip to the Las Vegas Bowl, where they defeated Arizona State University to end 2021 on a positive, albeit disappointing, note. Now, Wisconsin will return to action without a number of departing seniors. Linebacker Leo Chenal, tight end Jake Ferguson and cornerback Caesar Williams make up the list of longtime Badgers whose contributions will be sorely missed. Now, the team must lean on younger, lesser known talent in order to remain competitive. Here are some key storylines as the Badgers hit the field this summer and continue preparing for the 2022 season. No Williams, but pressure builds as Mertz enters third year In late January, reports surfaced that quarterback Caleb Williams, a sophomore Heisman candidate who was then in the transfer portal, was strongly considering becoming a Badger. He did not, instead following his coach Lincoln Riley to the University of Southern California. It’s unclear how legitimate a shot Wisconsin had at landing Williams, but there’s no doubt quarterback Graham Mertz heard the rumors of his potential replacement. It remains to be seen how Mertz handles the rising pressure to perform in his third year under center. Through two seasons, Mertz has completed 61 percent of his passes for 3,269 yards, 19 touch-
downs and 16 interceptions. While he’s certainly flashed the accuracy and arm talent that made him a lauded recruit, he has yet to find any real consistency. Luckily for Mertz, he can continue playing second-fiddle to running back Braelon Allen in the Badgers’ run-heavy offense. That said, he’ll have to lead a competent passing game and do so with unfamiliar pass catchers. Bobby Engram’s hire and the receiving corps Wisconsin hired Bobby Engram as its new offensive coordinator in January. Engram, whose son Dean plays for the Badgers, has served as wide receivers and tight ends coach in the NFL, most recently with the Baltimore Ravens. His expertise figures to better incorporate Wisconsin’s pass catchers into the offense and make for a more balanced unit than last year, when Allen was the only truly impactful Badger skill player. But who are those receivers? Receiver Chimere Dike, who caught 19 passes for 272 yards and a touchdown last season, is now Wisconsin’s top wide receiver, at least in terms of experience. Markus Allen returns, too, after recording 65 receiving yards on three catches in just two games in 2021. Newcomers to the group include Dean Engram, who impressed as a slot cornerback a year ago and has converted to wide receiver. It’s unclear how impactful he’ll be in his new role, but his familiarity with the system is a plus. University of California, Los Angeles transfer and former three-star recruit Keontez Lewis brings good size at 6’2,” although he appeared in only one game for the Bruins last season. Preseason practices will be crucial for Mertz to establish a rapport with returning Badgers as well as new teammates. Although Wisconsin opens its schedule with three manageable opponents, Engram’s offense
can’t completely rely on the running game while the passing game adjusts. Holes to fill across the defense The defensive line will be without defensive end Matt Henningsen, a major factor in Wisconsin’s formidable run defense last season. Lineman Isaiah Mullens, an honorable mention for the All-Big Ten teams, figures to emerge from his rotational role and become an every-down staple. Wisconsin’s linebacker corps must fill the massive voids left by Leo Chenal and Jack Sanborn, standout players who both landed on NFL rosters this spring. Their excellence as run defenders and pass rushers made them the centerpieces of defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard’s unit. Jordan Turner could emerge as the primary inside linebacker. He played only three games in 2021, recording six total tackles and a pair of garbage-time interceptions. Sanborn’s brother Bryan, a redshirt freshman, should also see plenty of action. It may take some unexpected breakout performances in this group for the Badgers to replicate their absurdly good 2021 run defense. Edge rusher Nick Herbig returns after leading the team with nine sacks and he appears primed to lead in that stat once again. That said, he’ll likely face stiffer pass protection with the loss of key pass-rushers. Starting safeties Collin Wilder and Scott Nelson, as well as starting cornerbacks Caesar Williams and Faion Hicks, have all graduated. Engram, as mentioned, now plays offense. Thus, Wisconsin’s base and nickel defenses will feature an entirely different secondary personnel in 2022. Leonhard’s defense could feature fewer consistent pieces, at least earlier in the 2022 campaign. Rather, the unit may utilize its solid depth and rotate players at several positions until clear starters emerge.
PHOTO COURTESY OF LAWRENCE ILES VIA GETTY IMAGES
University of Wisconsin-Madison sophomore running back Braelon Allen leads the young Badger offense.
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‘The Cosmic Perspective:’ learning with UW-Madison astronomers By Samuel Mayo STAFF WRITER
Within a room in Sterling Hall, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, a group of college students prepared for their first astronomy club meeting. More than 30 people showed up for the meeting, which was an introduction and trivia night. Members of the club said they had a curiosity as to what is beyond our home planet, Earth. It’s that curiosity of what is beyond the cosmos that led so many astronomers to recognize the cosmic perspective. The cosmic perspective is the idea that, after learning about what is beyond the Earth and the entire universe, you get an idea of how insignificant your actions as a human being are, gaining a new perspective on life. Astronomers at UW-Madison have varying degrees of interest when it comes to the cosmic perspective. One can be indifferent to how big the universe is, while one can find comfort in it, while others can
become terrified by it. The astronomy club’s members range from stargazing enthusiasts to astrophysics majors. For the next generation of UW-Madison astronomy students, their interest in the subject began while camping under the night sky or looking through a family member’s telescope. “Looking through a telescope feels amazing,” Will Jarvis, an executive board member of the UW-Madison astronomy club and undergraduate student, said. Jarvis’ expertise is in black holes and galaxies, and he is concentrating on galaxy classification. At the meeting, Jarvis told the story about how the Voyager mission control did not want to turn the camera to photograph Earth because they were afraid of damaging the camera by turning it towards the sun. “Voyager Mission Control was worried that the camera would be damaged when they swung it around and pointed back at Earth because the Sun
was there as well, so it took a lot of convincing for them to make that picture happen,” Jarvis said. “Luckily we instead got one of the most famous pictures of all time.” “Pale Blue Dot” — a photo that shows Earth from 3.7 billion miles away — is still passed among astronomers around the world. Richard Townsend is an astronomy professor who focuses on theoretical research. He is the current chair of the Department of Astronomy at the UW-Madison. As a child, Townsend’s grandfather had a love for science fiction novels. He showed Townsend these books at a young age, which provoked his interest in the possibility of what was beyond Earth. Townsend and his grandfather would also go outside, look through a bird watching telescope and look to the sky for certain planets. As for his research, Townsend focuses on theoretical or computer simulations. One of his bigger
projects concerns the magnetic braking in an ordinary star. Most of Townsend’s work occurs in his office. He is not outside as much as you think an astronomer would be. However, during a trip to Governor Dodge State Park, Townsend had a moment to reconsider his mindset about his career. “It was just one of those reset moments for me where I just stopped thinking about everything that’s going on in the world and just thought, ‘Oh my goodness, just being part of this universe is incredible,’” he said. “There are day-to-day things that can absorb all of our attention, and sometimes you know we go around with our heads bowed looking at the ground.” UW-Madison graduate student Daniel Rybarczyk said he didn’t have one single moment of realization that led him to astronomy. Instead, he said a couple of events, such as visits to the Museum of Science in Rochester and Buffalo, New York contrib-
uted to his interest. How Rybarcyzk got into astronomy was different. He has had an interest in science since a young age, but Rybarcyzk never had a moment when he knew what he wanted to do. His research focuses on the interstellar medium, which is the dust and gas in our solar system. “I think Earth’s position in the universe can be humbling,” he said. “It’s understandable if many people don’t find immediate comfort in the cosmic perspective.” Rybarczyk thinks it’s important to recognize the social privilege that comes with the cosmic perspective. “I think Neil deGrasse Tyson put it well, saying, ‘But who gets to think that way? Who gets to celebrate this cosmic view of life? Not the migrant farmworker. Not the sweatshop worker. Certainly not the homeless person rummaging through the trash for food. You need the luxury of time not spent on mere survival,’” Rybarcyzk said.
PHOTO COURTESY OF WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
The Milky-Way, home to our solar system, spans 100,000 light years and contains over 100 billion stars. At the heart of the Milky-Way is a super massive black hole 4.1 million times heavier than our sun.
University study disproves eight week mindfulness program’s brain-changing claims ByJulia Wiessing SCIENCE EDITOR
College and stress are ubiquitous. You’ll be hard pressed to find anyone at the University of WisconsinMadison who hasn’t felt the crushing weight of stress from life, classes and current events. Mindfulness practices, such as yoga and mediation, are often touted as ways to relieve stress and anxiety. In recent years, publications such as the Harvard Business Review and Forbes reported that mindfulness training can actually change your brain structure. These findings are based on previous research into the eight week Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program. This MBSR study, however, was recently disproved by a team of UW-Madison researchers from the Center for Healthy Minds. In a paper published on May 20 in Science Advances, the Center for Healthy
Minds team, led by Richard J. Davidson, found that short term mindfulness training has no effect on brain structure and gray matter density. This discovery contradicts several views regarding MSBR as a therapeutic treatment. Emerging therapeutic treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, can change the gray matter distribution in our brain. Gray matter comprises the outermost layer of our brain and is responsible for controlling our movements, forming memories and regulating emotions. Traumatic experiences can change the density and distribution of gray matter in our brains, oftentimes negatively affecting our brain processes. If MSBR has measurable changes to gray matter, like previous research indicates, it may be a useful way of treating chronic conditions such as PTSD, chronic migraines and depression. Unfortunately, while an
eight-week MSBR program may help with your anxiety and stress, it will not change your brain structure, according to the university study. This brings the question of how the original study came to the conclusion that MSBR changed gray matter density. The sample size and sampling technique were one of the core reasons why the original study came to this conclusion. In the original study, 17 participants were selected from a population that was already enrolled in an eightweek MSBR class. Instead of comparing against a control group, these 17 individuals were given an MRI scan before and after the MSBR program. These brain scans were compared in order to gauge structural brain changes pre-treatment and post-treatment. The small sample size and participant pool may have skewed the results of the original study. Behavioral scientist and first author on the
Davidson team’s study, Tammi Krall, asserts that because the participants in the original study chose to enroll in MSBR prior to the study, MSBR may have an increased benefit when compared to the healthy population in the study. This, combined with the small sample size, may have produced the conclusion that MSBR does in fact change brain structure. Davidson’s team, by contrast, drew from meditation naive participants who had not been enrolled in MSBR training. A total of 263 participants were studied across two trials. Participants were sorted into three groups: the control group, which did not receive any mindfulness training, a group enrolled in MSBR and a group enrolled in the Health Enhancement Program (HEP), a non-mindfulness based self help program. At the end of the trial, the team found that there was no significant difference between the MSBR group, the HEP group and the
control group. The Davidson team has theories as to why this kind of short term mindfulness training doesn’t specifically change brain structure. MSBR doesn’t target just one part of your brain. Rather, it spans a broad range of psychological areas including attention, compassion and emotion. Because this training spans such a wide range, it is hard to see changes across the whole brain. Additionally, these changes may be unique to individuals, making it hard to compare. Training that targets specific parts of the brain, however, may have effects on brain structure. This research is just the tip of the iceberg, and we really don’t know a lot about how meditation and mindfulness affect our brain. “We are still in the stages of research on the effects of meditation training on the brain,” Davidson stated. “There is much to be discovered.”
life & style Reflecting back on my freshman year l
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By Hina Suzuki STAFF WRITER
Navigating my life on my own at a college in a new city was something I worked hard for in my secondary school years. Though stressful, spending the fall semester of my senior year of high school filling out many college applications was exciting because it meant that the next chapter in my life was approaching. Graduation day came and went, and I spent the summer patiently waiting for move-in day at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. My high school self would be devastated if she learned how I spent my freshman year in college. I was alone most of the time, staring at my computer screen for hours in a dorm room I shared with a roommate I barely talked to. When I first came to UW-Madison, I was not worried about not knowing a single student here because it is a school with more than 40,000 students. I assumed it would be a year of socializing — even during a pandemic. At the end of the year, there were two people I called my friends. My freshman year was also the first time I experi-
enced the feeling of being lost. Throughout my first 18 years on earth, I was surrounded by people who took care of me whenever hardships in life happened. However, that was no longer the case. Suddenly, I was responsible for almost everything in my life. At the time, I was frustrated and disappointed because my first year of college did not meet the high expectations I had created over the years. I didn’t go to a library to study or a party to make new friends. But now, looking back as a rising junior, I see it as a year of growth and maturity. I was challenged in ways I had never been before. When I graduated high school, I thought I was ready for college. I learned many facts about UW-Madison through research I did on the university during class in high school. I knew which dining hall was the best and what student organizations were on campus. But what I didn’t know was the number of unexpected challenges I would face, such as building a productive schedule and coping with loneliness. The truth is there wasn’t anything I could have done to better prepare myself for college. Instead, what I had to learn was how to embrace the unknown.
As a person who prefers to remain in the known, this was a challenging lesson to understand. However, growth happens when you are uncomfortable. At first, I avoided my challenges because it was easier and less scary than facing them. I was also scared of failure. For example, I distracted myself from the feeling of loneliness by mindlessly scrolling through social media instead of talking to my neighbors or reaching out to my classmates, even though I knew it was making me feel more isolated. As I kept ignoring them, I was becoming anxious because I felt stuck. The only solution was to leave my comfort zone. I started by taking small steps toward the fear I was trying to overcome. It was terrifying because I had no idea where the steps I was taking would lead me. Ultimately, I realized that every time I made progress in overcoming an obstacle, I became a stronger version of myself — someone willing to take risks. Of course, I am still learning about conquering my fear of the unknown. However, I now remind myself that pushing my boundaries is a conduit for improving myself and widening my learning potential.
Things you need, don’t need for your first year By Sophie Walk STAFF WRITER
CORA SPYCHALLA/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Bascom Hill is a famous summer staple at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Wait a minute, I’m a senior? By Samantha Benish SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The way that time passes quite honestly astonishes me. We grow up as adolescents desperately yearning for the future, just waiting to be a year older than the last. Yet, the older we get, the more we wish to turn back the clock and return to what once was. I still vividly remember moving into my freshman year dorm. I remember attending my first “big” lecture and my first “real” college party. I remember all of it, all of the little moments that made my first year at the University of WisconsinMadison so special. I also remember the not-so-good feelings: feeling anxious about my first in-person midterm, mustering up the courage to talk to others in my discussion section or coming to terms with my freshman year
ending because of some new disease sweeping the nation. In those moments, I desperately wished time would pass more quickly. All I wanted was to move onto the next hour, the next day, the next month. Yet, as soon as those moments were over, I realized just how much I wanted them back. It is only after an experience has passed that we look beyond the hardships. Eating alone gained me confidence. Stressing for an exam rewarded me with a good grade. Inviting that girl in my hall to lunch granted me a best friend. I am just starting to understand this all now, as a rising senior here at UW. I am a senior. Wow — that feels strange to say. Despite COVID-19 snatching away a year and a half of my time here, I am thankful to say that the past three years have been kind to
me. I am still incredibly close to my freshman year friends, and I only continue to meet new ones. I’ve gotten to join some of the best clubs on campus, and I’ve racked up over six internships. I’ve attended some wild Badger games and tried some of the best food in Madison. For my final year here, I don’t want to worry about the minor details. I just want to enjoy it. I want to enjoy staying out late, waking up early, attending my lectures and simply watching a sunset at Memorial Union. Whether you are a rising freshman, senior or anything in-between, I urge you to do the same. Don’t wish it away. Embrace every struggle, every victory and every ‘Jump Around’ in Camp Randall you can get. Because one day, there won’t be a “first” time for something — there will be a last.
As I reflect on my freshman year, I think about all the things I used in my room constantly — but also the many belongings that made me think ‘Why did I even buy this?’ I plan to use my experience to suggest three items that you really need for your dorm — and three that you absolutely do not. Things you DO need: A backrest pillow – This pillow saved my back this past year. At times, you will be hanging out in other people’s rooms, and those dorm futons only fit so many people. You might end up sitting on the floor, and having this pillow is a lifesaver for those moments. A fan – You will really want a fan in your room, no matter how small — trust me. Those dorm AC
units are not reliable at all. Portable speaker – I think most people forget about this item. I used my speaker in the shower while doing homework, and even just while cleaning the dorm. You will also be thankful to have a portable speaker if you plan to spend some nice days hammocking in Lakeshore or tanning at Memorial Union — both serotoninboosting activities. Things you DON’T need: Fancy Clothes – It is good to have one or two professional outfits in case you have a job interview or another event of that nature, but you will probably be living in sweatshirts. Take it from me, and bring comfy, casual clothes. Whiteboard calendar – I watched many videos that said you should invest in a whiteboard calendar to plan your month out in
advance. Unless you are the type of person who has been writing out your schedule for years now and can stick to it, do not buy this item. Trust me, you will keep it up-to-date for the first few months, but you will eventually stop using it, and it will be stuck in November for the rest of the year. Multiple throw pillows – This one is not talked about enough. I brought about four throw pillows to put on my bed, and yes, it did look super cute. Well, at least for the first month when I actually put them back on my bed. Making your bed every day is already a challenge in itself, especially if your bed is lofted. Just buy one pillow — it will make your bed look more put together but also save you from pillows covering your floor.
TAYLOR WOLFRAM/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Your dorm is your home away from home, and it's important to figure out what you should have in it!
opinion A new generation of the Wisconsin Idea dailycardinal.com
By Natalie Suri STAFF WRITER
I am frustrated and embarrassed. Why can’t we pass common sense gun legislation like a real democracy? Most Americans recognize that their children’s safety is under attack without strict gun control. Yet, our governments have failed to deliver. Despite signing up to serve the public, many of our leaders do not embody the University of Wisconsin’s Wisconsin Idea: to improve people’s lives beyond the borders of our institutions. Steven Olikara, a candidate running in the Democratic primary to challenge Ron Johnson, offers a much needed alternative to this frustration. When asked in an interview how his time at UW-Madison inspired him to become involved in public service, Olikara pointed to the Wisconsin Idea. In 1904, President Charles R.Van Hise created a partnership between the university and legislators to ensure that what happened at the university impacted the public. While this idea is not reflected in our leadership today, in the early 20th century, Wisconsin was considered a pioneer and laboratory for New Deal legislation such as worker’s compensation laws. Olikara was influential in getting the Wisconsin Idea boulder placed in front of Bascom Hall — a reminder that what students learn in the classroom reverberates beyond the borders of our university. This, his time as student body president and his dedication to founding of the Millennial Action
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Project all show Olikara’s commitment to serve the public. Thanks to Olikara’s leadership as student body president, the university can now pay non-UW alumni to speak at commencement while also encouraging student involvement in the selection process. Shortly after graduating, Olikara founded the Millennial Action Project, the largest organization of young elected leaders in the country. As CEO, he encouraged young leaders to focus on the issues that affect young Americans, preaching bipartisanship as they work together to pass legislation. Through this organization, Olikara has been involved in creating and passing legislation including the Gun Violence Research Act of 2017, passed in a 2018 appropriations bill, which repealed the prohibition on federally sponsored gun violence research. He is the only candidate in the Democratic primary directly involved in passing legislation related to gun safety. Olikara has committed that once elected, his first piece of legislation will be to “get big money out of politics.” Most scholars, teachers and parents believe gun control is the best way to protect the safety of children. Evidence shows that under the 1994 Brady Bill, which banned the sale of assault weapons until 2004, there were fewer school shootings. The principal issue is not a lack of capable leaders and experts but the incentives decision makers face. “If you look at any industry, if there’s a financial incentive to do something, most people are going to
do it,” Olikara stated. “And in the case of politics, there’s a financial incentive to neglect your job and just spend most of your time fundraising.” Legislators feel obligated to appease the Political Action Committees (PACs) that got them
PHOTO COURTESY OF JOLIESPIEGELMAN VIA WIKIMEDIA
elected. Since divisive rhetoric is effective at raising money, legislators are incentivized to divide and polarize for the next campaign season rather than work together to help citizens. They may not decide to compromise on an issue because having it unsolved helps them on the campaign trail. Instead of changing federal gun policies to protect Texas children, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) spoke at an NRA convention because he is dependent on the NRA for his reelection campaign. If our elected officials were incentivized to listen to experts and constituents more than PACs and rich corporations, the safety of children in America would improve. “There’s a financial incentive to manipulate the tax code for big, special interests and promote legisla-
Mental health: The hidden pandemic By Luke Pierce STAFF WRITER
To say that the college transition is a sharp adjustment is an understatement. Whether you move to a four-year university close to home or across the country, the years that follow high school introduce unfamiliar and arduous new challenges for students to navigate. Unlike the educational experiences of past decades, students have now attempted to face these same challenges amidst a once-in-a-century pandemic. Subsequently, the economic and social disruption across university campuses from COVID-19 has been devastating to say the least. Although, there is another disease among us, one we too often choose to ignore. Colleges and universities across the country are facing huge increases in the number of students who need mental health care. This growing demand has left many schools unprepared to support their students in need. The top schools in the nation dumped millions of dollars into COVID-19 mitigation efforts. Subsequently, many of these institutions invested heavily in mandatory testing. However, given the financial strain presented by the pandemic, the prevalence of mental health issues seems to be outpacing the number of students finding and receiving support. While this existent disparity is not completely at the fault of universities, this is not a singular spike of a nationwide mental health concern. Rather, it is a
continuous and disturbing trend. Pre-pandemic data shows that approximately 100 U.S. college students die by suicide each month. Apart from this, 73% of students reported they experienced some sort of mental health crisis during college prior to the pandemic. Although the data found during the pandemic is more difficult to quantify, it is well known that the issue of mental health is an ever-growing one. A national survey of college students in 2020 found that nearly 40% of participants experienced depression. One in three reported having had anxiety, and one in seven said they thought about suicide in the past year. It doesn’t stop there, but why is this becoming so much worse if it’s being recognized? If this information wasn’t startling enough, the American Psychological Association reported that, on college campuses, the ratio of certified counselors to students overall is about 1:1,000 – 2,000 for small to moderate size schools and 1:2,000 – 3,500 for large universities. Furthermore, many students don’t even know where to find counseling or psychiatric services on their campuses. With limited clinical services, poor student insurance plans and minimal knowledge about how and where to get help, the barriers to care remain, and the cry for help continues to grow. Even as our country sees the downturn of the many implications exacted by the pandemic, students are fighting a new pandemic with no backup support.
tion for some of the most entrenched industries because you get financially rewarded for that. And so that to me is not sustainable for a democracy,” Olikara explained. Olikara’s proposal to get big money out of politics includes pro-
Despite the collective decline in mental health stigma over recent years, we still find those who are unaware of the truly imperative correlation between one’s mental stability and their social, psychological and emotional wellbeing. More prominently, someone’s ability to produce constructive behaviors, thoughts and emotional responses can be severely hindered by poor mental stability. Mental health is a crucial determinant in a student’s productivity, personable communication and relationship connections and daily academic practices. Nurturing one’s mental health isn’t only applicable to our daily functions, but also to our physical health. For example, research tells us that heart disease is related to stress, which is an effect of many different mental health conditions. So, in turn, managing stress may have a positive outcome on heart disease. For most, juggling the challenges of independence, social expectations, financial uncertainty, time management and the adaptation to an unfamiliar environment is stressful enough. It all comes very quickly, and usually with time those challenges are replaced with new ones. While battling these personal trials outside of the classroom, students do not escape the unnerving reality of their mental health issues within their schoolwork. Mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety, often affect memory and concentration, which makes it more difficult to acquire new knowl-
hibiting legislators from fundraising while Congress is in session and passing a program to encourage leaders to swear off PAC money. This will help make the Senate more responsive to Americans’ needs and our democracy more effective. Olikara’s focus on entrepreneurship corresponds with many of the concerns facing students and underrepresented Wisconsinites. Many people are encouraged to work for national corporations that they do not like because benefits such as healthcare are tied to their employers. “If we guarantee healthcare and guarantee that benefits travel with workers wherever they go, it’s gonna facilitate a boost in entrepreneurship growth because [they] are going to
edge and cope with examination situations. In simpler terms, struggles with any sort of mental health issue will more than likely hinder a student’s academic performance — even if this student finds the motivation to make it to every class and complete every assignment. This translates to the reinforced perception of hopelessness and inadequacy, and in many cases it will sustain those issues into an aggressive cycle. It is not a coincidence that these are connected — anecdotal data from all over proves this cycle time and time again. So this begs the question, what do we do about this? With any issue, recognizing the causes and educating the population on prevention is the most reliable approach. The need for established educational platforms
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be more willing to take the risk,” Olikara said. When I graduate college, I want to be able to move professions or start a company without fearing that I will put my family or my health at risk. More entrepreneurship would benefit all Wisconsinites as young companies are the main source of job creation in America. The pandemic has made it clear to many citizens that work should offer more than just enough money to pay their bills. People want to work in environments where they feel respected and fulfilled. With portable benefits, more workers would be able to find work. As Olikara asserts, economic success should not be measured only by GDP. “We should also look at fulfillment, happiness and [if] your employer affirms your dignity,” Olikara emphasized. We need someone in office who will address this generational change in how young people view work. Olikara’s appeal is not just about the ideas he promotes, but about how he leads today and plans to lead in the Senate. Olikara cares about supporting the next generation of leaders and approaches leadership as a collaborative process. This is exemplified in his plans to convene “a statewide public service leadership conference for young people who want to go into public service.”
“Our legislative process in our office in the Senate is going to be so collaborative that I am going to literally be writing bills with you,” Olikara stated. Read more @dailycardinal.com lessen the severity of such issues. There is no simple path, but there is a simple answer: increase access to mental health resources. This generation must be proactive in its efforts to urge college administrators to modify the system, but above all, we need to promote the normality of mental health struggles. As students, peers and humans there is no mental health issue that someone else does not share. Conquering the stigma and supporting those who are open about their struggles is absolutely imperative to the direction of this conversation. With any recurrent issue, change
is the only option in the pursuit of solution. Whether financial, socially reconstructed or collectively encouraged, this is what is necessary. This
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to promote mental health education and early intervention is greater than ever. Taking the initiative to spread necessary awareness and information could be vital to our efforts to mitigate the rise of the mental health crisis on college campuses. Not only is the prevention of this wave necessary, but so are the resources to
movement could save lives while transforming campus culture for the better, so why not commit to it? Luke Pierce is a Junior studying Political Science and Journalism. Do you agree mental health is a problem plaguing our society and college campuses? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com
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By Mackenzie Moore THE BEET EDITOR
In the past year, students have raised concerns about the presence of black mold in University of WisconsinMadison dorms. Just this past December, a Sellery resident posted a TikTok showcasing a mold test kit that was growing the dangerous microfungus — finally giving a cause for her months-long illness. At first glance, this is a troubling trend. After all, exposure to black mold can cause symptoms such as rashes, sore throats and sinus infections. While not inherently deadly, mold poisoning is neither as trendy as COVID-19 or as war bonding as the frat flu. However, UW-Madison Housing begs to differ. “College is a special time in a person’s life when they’re supposed to embrace the awful things that are thrown at them with joy,” said University Housing director Jeff Novak.
“Like bug infestations that powerful landlords refuse to take care of and apartments with floors that are about as level as a halfpipe, black mold is simply part of the experience.” Novak does have a point. After all, sketchy frat parties, professors that would quit their jobs before agreeing to let their students go one week without an assignment-induced breakdown and — above all — beer that tastes like someone urinated on wheat and blended it with pond water are all pillars of the UW-Madison experience. Freshmen, keep in mind that you will develop in such a way that things you once found revolting will simply become “silly.” Walking 30 minutes to class when it’s -20 degrees outside? Silly. Buying hundreds of dollars worth of “required” textbooks, only for your professor to never mention them outside of syllabus week? Silly. A homeless man locking eyes with you while
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masturbating behind a newspaper in a Starbucks? Now that’s worthy of a good chuckle and a handshake. Look — this campus isn’t exactly a penthouse suite. Rather, it’s more like one of those iconic hotel rooms that people have to book really far
in advance because a famous person died on the bed. One rarely gets the opportunity to buy peanut M&Ms from a vending machine, then walk 20 feet and sit on the freshly-laundered sheets that Janis Joplin overdosed on in 1970. That’s what you’re getting here.
But isn’t that more interesting? Would you rather have squeaky-clean floors, $10 bottles of water and high-class food for a little while, or some damn good stories that you’ll be able to tell for the rest of your life to the horror of your parents and the laughter of your other friends and loved ones? If you’re smart enough to get into UW-Madison, but not nearly classy or intelligent enough for Yale University or that college just outside of Boston, you’ve found your place. Put yourself out there — make some good friends, have a great time and just try to get your homework in a few minutes before it’s due. Also, buy some band-aids. You shouldn’t need them that often, but you’ll be so relieved to have them when you do. Welcome to our historic, crunchy and beloved university, fellow Badger. Take care of yourself, but not too much. On, Wisconsin!
Six things you need to know Freshman Year Essentials to be safe around Bucky By Mackenzie Moore THE BEET EDITOR
As a freshman, it can be difficult to adjust to living without your parents. Being new to independence means there will almost certainly be a few missteps along the way. While those blunders are often the catalyst for growth, we here at The Beet are not about that. In the interest of not having to learn the hard way, here’s what you absolutely need to have either in your dorm or on you at all times during your first year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
By Jeffrey Brown CONTRIBUTOR
While Buckingham U. Badger is a beloved school mascot, it is important to remember that he is both a wild animal and an individual with feelings of his own. Despite decades of training, he will always have instincts deep within him that, if you’re not careful, may cause him to be a danger to himself and others. Here’s what you should know to keep yourself safe. First and foremost, do not make direct eye contact with Bucky. In the wild, eye contact is a threat, and Bucky does not stand down when he is threatened. If you must look at him, look at the tip of his nose. He can tell the difference and, boy, what a difference it makes. Badgers are scavengers, so their sense of smell is crucial to their survival. Paying attention to his nose is a massive compliment, and he will be incredibly gracious. Second, do not ask Bucky about his GPA. He has been enrolled at the university for over 80 years. He is incredibly self-conscious about his academic performance. More than that, he attends university and athletics events as a healthy outlet. He loves showing school spirit, but remember that Bucky’s story is one of perseverance.
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Third — and this should go without saying — keep your fingers away from his mouth. While he is usually seen with a massive smile due to his love of the University of WisconsinMadison, Bucky’s teeth are razor sharp. Even a gentle or accidental bite will send you to the hospital with your fingers in a cooler. Fourth, do not offer Bucky any food or alcohol. His trainers will not appreciate it if you give him any food outside his strict diet. Additionally, Bucky has been on the wagon for almost six years and does not need the temptation to ruin that hard work. We all love the badger he has become, so seeing him relapse would devastate our campus and community. Fifth, if you see Bucky at the supermarket, treat him as you would anyone else. He is a celebrity; he knows you recognize him. Please, don’t take away his abil-
ity to feel like just another member of the community. Ensuring Bucky feels comfortable around town is one of the greatest traditions of UW-Madison — respect it accordingly. Lastly, do not ask Bucky where he was on November 24, 1971. My freshman year roommate made that mistake at our very first football game. I am not permitted to share more than that. There is more to keep in mind, but hopefully they are common sense like never letting Bucky know your social security number and never high-fiving him with your left hand. Please, for Bucky’s sake, keep in mind that ignoring these tips may lead to him acting in ways that force the university to consider putting him down. Whether you’re a student, family or just a fan, I hope this helps you stay safe during your time at UW-Madison. Go Badgers!
1. Letters and Science t-shirt. You’ve gotta start with a classic. The great thing about this item is that it can get a few points across. First off, “I’m a freshman and haven’t had the chance to buy a different shirt yet.” Second, “I’m not really into sports, so I settled for this.” Lastly, “I don’t care what you think about this shirt — I like it and we won’t have sex unless you let me wear it the whole time.” Choose your character. 2. Sketchbook. If you go out to bars, you could be waiting in line for a long time — pull out a sketchbook and start drawing those around you. Strangers love to be stared at. If you make eye contact with one of your subjects and they look angry, scrunch up your face as if to say “Woof, my bad — I didn’t see how ugly you are until just now” and make it look like you’re erasing the drawing. However, don’t — you may become friends with that person later on in the night and they might want to hang it on the wall when you become roommates next year. 3. High school letterman jacket. Nothing says “My life peaked when I was the #2 running back on a high school football team” like this item. Worst case scenario, you’ll get sympathy points, and you’ll be glammed up “Clueless” style. No matter your sexuality, a scenario that ends with kissing Paul Rudd is a good one. 4. Pocket Bible. Campus Ministry is a college staple. Stand outside of the Buffalo Wild Wings on East Campus Mall (bonus points if you bring your own soapbox to stand on) and start reading from the Old Testament — the far trippier half of the Good Book. You might not make friends doing this, but people will talk about you often. 5. Five pound block of cheddar cheese. You have no idea how much cheese you’ll be eating and, trust me, you don’t want to be the person that runs out. Other people will have to pull their personal cheese blocks out of their backpacks to give you a fix and it really disrupts the class. Add this to your weekly shopping list. 6. Baggie full of glitter. The time to make your mark is now. Sprinkle a little glitter wherever you go. If you want it to be your thing, use a specific color. If you want it to be more of a Superman secret identity thing, opt for rainbow glitter. That way, people may think there are multiple offenders. 7. Gallon of egg yolks. This is for the apocalyptic scenario where campus grocery stores run out of cheese. There will be some long days away from your dorm, and snacks can get expensive. Go easy on yourself and swig down some warm egg gloops when the hunger pangs start. Refrigerate never.
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 The Beet are creative, satirical and/or entirely fictional pieces. They are fully intended as such and should not be taken seriously as news.
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SOAR Issue 2022
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Many students have left for the summer, but State Street is still a hub of restaurants and shopping.
Skateboarders take advantage of the low traffic on State Street to show off their tricks.
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DRAKE WHITE-BERGEY/THE DAILY CARDINAL
The Memorial Union Terrace is a popular hub for grabbing a drink and watching the sun set.
The sunset can be seen from many places on campus, especially across Lake Mendota.
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DRAKE WHITE-BERGEY/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Even during the summertime, students can be found studying, writing and reading all over campus.
Bucky Badger can often be found around campus engaging in shenanigans with students.
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Welcome to UW-Madison! A letter from the Editor By Sophia Vento EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
As outgoing seniors depart, a new flock of students arrive at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. A temporarily deserted campus comes alive as fresh faces explore Bascom Hill and State Street throughout the summer months during orientation. For us at The Daily Cardinal, it is an exciting time as there are thousands of new potential writers, photographers, social media gurus, graphic artists, ads salespeople and copy editors roaming campus. As the university’s oldest
independent student newspaper, serving UW-Madison and the surrounding community since 1892, we are energized by the new stories and new voices on campus. Regardless of intended major, past experience or future hopes and dreams, students of all backgrounds are welcome to join our team. Reflecting back to my time as a first year student, it was an intimidating endeavor to join a student newspaper. Yes, it was during the fall of 2020 and I was “joining” from the solitude of my dorm via email to the then Editor-In-Chief.
However, it was the best decision I have ever made. Without any journalism experience in high school, I began writing campus and college news articles. It was exhilarating, and I loved every minute of it. Yet, it was not without any insecurity or doubt. College is scary. Joining a student organization is scary. Especially as a first year student in a new city trying to settle into living alone and making a new group of friends. However, here at the Cardinal, we welcome students of all backgrounds and all sorts of experienc-
es with open arms. You do not have to be a journalism major or have had worked at a high school newspaper. You can be a biology major with an interest in indie pop. You can be an undecided transfer student who loves to draw comics. You can be an international student studying political science and Spanish interested in reporting on Wisconsin’s 2022 U.S. Senate election. All you have to be is a Badger. We believe in producing the best student journalism on campus, and supporting and encouraging our writers, photographers, artists and
editors to flourish within their own personal, academic and professional goals — all while making friends that will last a lifetime. Even if I don’t see you at our fall recruitment meeting or you decide to join the other campus newspaper, just know we at the Cardinal are excited to have you as a part of our community, and we wish you the best. On, Wisconsin! UW-Madison students can join the Daily Cardinal at www.dailycardinal.com/page/join-the-flock or reach out to the Editor-In-Chief at editor@dailycardinal.com with any questions.
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