Fall 2023 Farewell - Thursday, December 7, 2023 - The Daily Cardinal

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Thursday, December 7, 2023

FALL FAREWELL ISSUE 2023 Keep DEI, two professors say 2

Cardinal’s 2023 arts favorites 9

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Thursday, December 7, 2023

An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 133, Issue 17

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Professors of color are expected to be role models. DEI cuts would leave them unsupported

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SENIOR STAFF WRITER

For many of the students she teaches, Dr. Sami Schalk is the first out queer professor they’ll have. She said her students take notice.

“There are a lot of students who share identities with me who feel really seen and supported by me being here,” said Schalk, an associate professor in the UW-Madison Department of Gender and Women’s Studies.

To her, that experience represents the impact and value of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) in the classroom.

Meanwhile, Assembly Speaker Robin Vos — who works blocks from Schalk’s classroom — views DEI programs as divisive and an “institute of indoctrination” in the UW System.

Vos and other Republican state lawmakers for months have rallied against DEI programs. As part of their efforts to strip funding from university DEI programs, Republicans cut $32 million cut in UW System funding in June and later blocked UW employees from receiving pay raises approved in the latest two-year state budget.

Despite how Republican lawmakers view DEI initiatives, UW System leaders and University of WisconsinMadison professors like Schalk continue to highlight the importance of DEI initiatives on campus.

That includes Dr. Ramzi Fawaz, who said conversations that happen in humanities classrooms are the “opposite of divisive.”

“I think that Vos is saying ‘it’s divisive just to even talk about differences publicly.’ But that’s absurd because nobody is exactly like anyone else, and we have to learn how to negotiate our differences in a democratic society” Fawaz said. “In other words, Vos and his supporters

want to stop us from discussing the basic realities of everyday life with our students, which is just delusional.”

Professor calls crusade against DEI ‘self-destructive’ UW System diversity programs aim to cultivate inclusive and supportive learning and working environments that reflect diverse backgrounds, according to UW’s Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging.

Fawaz, an associate professor of English at UW-Madison, views DEI initiatives as having universal benefits for students.

As a queer Arab-American, Fawaz said he feels “privileged” that he can create space for his students to “negotiate our differences in a loving way that encourages our collective flourishing.”

“Ultimately, [DEI] doesn’t only serve underrepresented students,” Fawaz told The Daily Cardinal. “Part of what DEI infrastructure does is it creates the tools for all students to recognize what difference is in various contexts and to be able to respond to it in really complex, non-violent, and ethical ways.”

Fawaz said asking universities to “teach delusional thinking” means Republican lawmakers want the university to go against its mission.

“The reality is that people are different from one another.

That’s just a fact,” Fawaz said.

“Part of what we do in our classes is we study that reality and develop the imaginative capacity to reach out to others across our differences so we can commune freely.”

Fawaz said he thinks the crusade against diversity efforts on campus is “self-destructive” and “a way to dehumanize people in the name of a false unity.”

Genuine unity, he said, isn’t created by ignoring or “masking differences,” but rather

DR. SAMI SCHALK & DR. RAMZI FAWAZ, COURTESY OF PAULUIS MUSTEIKIS AND RAMZI FAWAZ

by supporting and nourishing spaces to “discourse about them in a loving, ethical, and insightful way,” like the humanities classroom.

Cutting DEI could put UW at odds with federal law, professor says Fawaz is not alone in his sentient. To Schalk, DEI is about “creating an environment that is more welcoming and accepting.”

Schalk said DEI initiatives on campus can bridge structural gaps to provide support to promote equity for all groups on campus.

She specifically cited what DEI initiatives do for faculty, staff and students with disabilities on campus. For people with disabilities, Schalk said positions included under DEI go beyond ADA guidelines to provide more resources and better support those with disabilities.

The ADA is federal law, Schalk explained, and university compliance with it is non-negotiable.

“I think that some of these positions, if they were cut, would risk us violating federal law by not having enough support for faculty, staff and students with disabilities,” Schalk said.

DEI ties into broader educational goals

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While UW System President Jay Rothman suggested some UW campuses “shift away” from liberal arts programs to address budget shortfalls, both Schalk and Fawaz stressed the importance of conversations that happen in humanities classrooms and the role they play in higher education.

“In some ways, humanities education is one of the last places that young people get to talk about the real difficulty and struggle of what the world is, and what we hope it will be,” Fawaz said.

Fawaz added that humanities professors are asked to do a lot of “therapeutic work” on top of teaching. DEI programs help evenly distribute the emotional labor professors often navigate, he said.

“It’s a huge amount of work we’re being asked to do, including tending to students’ interior or psychic lives during a period of huge mental health crisis” Fawaz said. “To eliminate [DEI] actively devalues humanities educators at the very same time that we’re also being asked to teach entire generations of youth about the most inspiring and transformative aspects of our society including art, culture, history and ethics.”

“We are in some sense the last opportunity students get to train for participating in democratic life,” Fawaz said.

Schalk also discussed the emotional labor expected of professors, especially professors of color. Without the “structural support” DEI initiatives provide, she worried the university would struggle to retain queer faculty and faculty of color.

“There are plenty of people who are often the only Black person in the department, the only queer person in the department,” Schalk said.

While Schalk said she feels supported by her department colleagues, she noted that gender and women’s studies is more diverse than the average department.

What’s more, Schalk said faculty members aren’t the only people who see the effects of wavering institutional support for diversity. “[It] matters to the students that faculty and staff are supported,” she said.

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Indigenous actor, activist Dallas Goldtooth headlines ‘Native November’ events

By Annika Bereny SPECIAL PAGES EDITOR

Writer, actor and organizer Dallas Goldtooth addressed students and community members Thursday evening as the keynote speaker for the University of WisconsinMadison’s “Native November.”

Goldtooth, of Dakota and Diné heritage, is best known for his role in the acclaimed FX series “Reservation Dogs” and as a cocreator of Native American sketch comedy group The 1491s. He came onstage at Gordon Dining & Event Center following a drum performance by Twin Tails Singers, a student-led powwow drum group.

The event boasted the highest attendance of all of the 2023 Native November events, and is believed to have the highest attendance of all time for any Native November event, according to the Indigenous Student Center.

This year’s Native November theme was “laughter as medicine,” and the night never ran short of laughs as Goldtooth told joke after clever joke to a large audience of

students and community members.

In “Reservation Dogs,” Goldtooth plays the spirit of William Knifeman, a bare-chested warrior on horseback who died in the Battle of Little Bighorn, an 1875 conflict that killed Gen. George Custer and all 200 of his men.

Goldtooth joked about the costuming in that role — or rather lack thereof — as he asked all of the white audience members if they were fans of the show.

“Your ancestors took my land,” he said. “Now you get to see my nipples.”

He admitted shortly after, however, that the trade was a bit more beneficial to one party.

When the show was first greenlit, Goldtooth recalled that fellow 1491s member Sterlin Harjo, the executive producer, director and co-writer of “Reservation Dogs,” made it non-negotiable the show would have an all-Native cast, writers room and directing group. Harjo also demanded it be filmed in Oklahoma, a state in which 43% of the land is considered “Indian Country.”

“This is a story of community,” Goldtooth said. “It has to be grounded in community.”

Representation as a concept was a strong theme of the night, with Goldtooth reminiscing on his childhood and how Native communities and traditions were often grouped together in media under the vague umbrella of “Indians.”

“As a young Dakota man, there wasn’t a lot of representations of my life on TV,” he said. “It may have been a representation of our past, but we rarely saw ourselves on TV, or our communities. We are taking power and telling our own stories.”

In this, Goldtooth said recognizing the variety of different experiences across tribes is important to any portrayals, but he also said they experience the same oppression.

“There’s so much diversity but also so much commonality in our struggles,” he said.

Goldtooth told the audience one of the most full-circle moments of his career came when he was able to work with Gary Farmer and Wes Studie — a pair he called leg-

COURTESY OF ROB SAN JUAN AND THE INDIGENOUS STUDENT CENTER

ends of the trade — on an episode of “Reservation Dogs.” If you can think of a Native American character in an older movie, he said, it was probably played by one of them.

Even then, those Native stories were almost always being told by non-Natives.

Goldtooth said he sees the work being done in “Reservation Dogs” — that is, the telling of Native stories by

Native storytellers — as a way of confronting power. Reflecting on his past as a community organizer in climate activism, he emphasized the power of an impactful story.

“We would not be seen as a danger to dominant society if our stories did not hold power,” he said, adding that “the purpose of an organizer, but also an artist, is to unveil a story that’s irresistible.”

Act 10 took their rights away. They’re fighting to get them back.

By Gavin Escott SENIOR STAFF WRITER

In the spring of 2010, Matthew Ziebarth, a veteran negotiator who served on the collective bargaining team for the Hartford Education Association for over a decade, was hearing whispers the Wisconsin Legislature had prepared a “dramatic move” for taxpayers that could impact unions.

Ziebarth initially dismissed the rumors.

But during annual negotiations over budgeting with the Hartford school district, he observed a shift in the attitude of administrators and the school board.

Then, he heard an ominous comment from the district administrator, who told Zeibarth he had “no idea what was coming.”

A few months later, Republican Gov. Scott Walker introduced his signature legislative achievement: Act 10, a controversial and sweeping law that — over months of fervent demonstrations in opposition — effectively eliminated collective bargaining rights for most public workers.

Labor organizations are trying to change that.

On Thursday, Ziebarth and seven unions representing teachers and other public employees launched a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of Act 10. The lawsuit alleges the exemption of some police, firefighters and other public safety workers from the bargaining restrictions violates the Wisconsin Constitution’s equal protection guarantee.

Union members said they filed the lawsuit due to “dire” situations in their workplaces: low pay, staffing shortages and worsening working conditions, the effects of Act 10.

“Grad students don’t make enough to live,” Madeline Topf, co-president of the UW-Madison Teaching Assistant Association (TAA), told the Cardinal. “People can’t afford their rent, they can’t afford food. As workers who are really under a lot of this pressure, one way to alleviate that is through collective bargaining — being able to negotiate over workplace issues.”

Act 10 leaves unions alone at the negotiating table, workers say Act 10 first divided public employees into two groups — “general” employees, which encompassed the majority of unions in Wisconsin, and “public safety employees,” such as police and firefighters.

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Public safety workers were untouched by the bill. But for general employees, the bill curbed their collective bargaining rights, with caps on wage negotiations tied to inflation. The law, passed in June 2011, precipitated a dramatic decrease in union membership and created a far weaker hand for teachers, nurses and other public servants in negotiations.

Today, Ziebarth, working as the Chief Negotiator for the Beaver Dam Education Association, compared negotiations after Act 10 to scripted “theater.” In his view, the school districts don’t have to truly engage with teachers in talks because the system favors them. “[We] can negotiate. But the way the law was written, the school board, in the midst of negotiations with [our union] — they ultimately have a final decision,” Ziebarth said. “They can basically say, ‘thank you very much, but we’re just going to impose what we want.’ So it’s not real negotiation.”

Ziebarth’s experiences are similar to stories shared by members of the TAA, a union that represents all graduate student workers at UW-Madison and is a plaintiff in the lawsuit.

The union has been vocal about the rising cost of living and other issues making life for its members untenable, according to TAA Co-President Nina Denne.

Denne said the union reached out to UW-Madison Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin

various times to establish regular meetings and discuss issues facing graduate students. But they were turned away, she said.

Prior to Act 10, Denne said the TAA was able to negotiate with the administration. But with the loss of collective bargaining rights, Mnookin can ignore their demands, she said.

Denne referenced a petition for paid family and medical leave from the chancellor that has garnered nearly 500 signatures, though Mnookin has still rebuffed calls for a meeting. “[Bringing back collective bargaining rights] would force them to listen to us,” Denne said. “If we had a seat at the table, they couldn’t [ignore us] — they would have to listen to us. They would have to negotiate a contract with us. And it puts us more firmly in their eyes in a way that they can’t ignore.”

Topf added this would go a long way in securing cost of living increases, paid family leave and other priorities to improve the lives of graduate workers.

She said graduate students, as stateemployed workers, don’t enjoy the same rights as public safety workers — the issue at the crux of the lawsuit.

Not all unions get same rights under Act 10 The recently filed lawsuit argues Act 10’s distinction between “public safety” and “general” employees is “irrational” and serves no legitimate state purpose, contending the classifica-

tions were politically motivated.

According to the lawsuit, only five public employee unions and associations publicly endorsed Walker’s 2010 gubernatorial campaign, all of which were later grouped as public safety employees. Unions that did not endorse Walker were given the disadvantaged “general” designation.

A federal lawsuit shortly after Act 10 passed relied on a similar argument, alleging Act 10 violated the equal protection guarantee in the U.S. Constitution. A federal appeals court ruled in 2013 Wisconsin was free to draw a line between public safety employees and other unions, and affirmed in 2014 that the law was constitutional.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court upheld the law as constitutional that same year.

Ziebarth, one of three individuals named in the lawsuit, said he thought the current makeup of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, which flipped to liberal control last spring, factored into the calculus behind a renewed Act 10 challenge.

However, Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz, whose April election propelled the court to a liberal majority, told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel she would consider recusing herself from any case challenging Act 10 because she participated in the 2011 protests and signed the petition to recall Walker.

UW-Madison Labor Education Professor Michael Childers said unions were looking at this case with a fresh perspective, referencing a 2021 Missouri Supreme Court decision that struck down a law resembling Act 10.

If this lawsuit is successful, public sector workers would have their collective bargaining powers restored to pre-Act 10 standards, though Ziebarth cautioned the damage wrought by Act 10 wouldn’t be fixed instantly.

Unlike other significant cases that have gone directly to the Supreme Court since its ideological shift, the union filed its lawsuit in a county circuit court. The lawsuit will likely take more than a year to make its way up for a final ruling.

Denne and Topf said they were prepared for a long process.

“This is a really exciting opportunity,” Denne said. “It’s a great moment to convey to graduate students that we are a fighting union — that we are fighting for our rights, and that this is really the time to get involved. We are on the fight to win back our rights and to be treated like everyone else.”

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An engineering student transferred to UW-Madison, and it didn’t go to plan. Here’s why.

By Ava Menkes STATE NEWS EDITOR

Kayla Romanovs-Malovrh, on the brink of a sharp decision, met with her academic advisor a week before the deadline in hopes of transferring to the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s engineering program.

Romanovs-Malovrh first applied to the program in 2021. But she did not get off the waitlist due to the high volume of applicants during her admission year.

In the meantime, RomanovsMalovrh who grew up in Wausau, chose to live in Menomonie, a city of less than 20,000 located hours away from Madison, to study mechanical engineering at UW-Stout.

“If you don’t get into Madison, where can you really go in the state of Wisconsin?” she told The Daily Cardinal. “Then you have to find other routes, less-known schools that don’t put as much funding into their engineering program. So you might not get as good of an education.”

In-state resident students like Romanovs-Malovrh have increasingly struggled to snag a spot at UW-Madison’s prestigious engineering program.

Kelly Tyrrell, UW-Madison Media Relations and Strategic Communication director, told the Cardinal in an email roughly half the engineering undergraduates are from in-state. To expand annual enrollment, the university would need to secure funding for a larger building to fit the needs of students.

“Currently, the college can accept fewer than 20% of its applicants.

The new building would provide the College of Engineering the space to grow undergraduate enrollment to 5,500 students and graduate student enrollment to 2,000 students,” Tyrell said.

But in May, the Legislature’s Republican-controlled budget-writing committee slashed $197 million in funding for a UW-Madison engineering building project approved by Gov.

Tony Evers in the state’s 2023-25 capital budget.

UW-Madison’s College of Engineering is ranked the 8th-best public engineering college and 15th overall in the United States, according to its website.

Tyrell emphasized UW-Madison wants to be able to compete nationally with other ranked universities to admit more talented students.

“The ability to graduate more engineers from UW-Madison allows the university to contribute additional engineers to the Wisconsin and U.S. workforce, which in turn benefits the economy. Wisconsin business leaders are asking for more top-quality engineers to meet their workforce demands,” she said.

Rising selectivity forces some to gamble on a ‘painful’ transfer process Republicans’ move to reject funding for UW-Madison’s proposed engineering building comes after years of funding neglect that have forced the university to turn to out-of-state enrollment and become more selective.

According to UW System data, outof-state enrollment at UW-Madison jumped more than 80% from 2013 to 2022. In-state enrollment sank by roughly 3.4% over the same period.

For Romanovs-Malovrh, tougher competition meant going to UW-Stout instead of Madison.

While she said she enjoyed UW-Stout’s hands-on labs and smaller lecture sizes, Romanovs-Malovrh chose to transfer to Madison for a scholarship, more challenging classes and its academic reputation.

“The reason I waited so long was because I didn’t know what I wanted to do. And at the last minute, I really thought about it. And I was like, ‘yeah, I think this is a great opportunity. And I think I should take it even though it’s a scary opportunity,’” she said.

Immediately after receiving acceptance in 2023, Romanov-Malovrh’s

transfer experience became an obstacle to success.

“Painful. The easiest word to say is painful,” she said about the experience.

After filling out eight forms to explain why her UW-Stout credits match with UW-Madison’s, the College of Engineering declared she did not meet progression standards for the major.

Students who are directly admitted into UW-Madison’s College of Engineering have the option to change majors by the end of their first year, according to its website. After year one, students must meet a set of requirements, such as courses and GPA requirements, to continue as an engineering major.

Romanovs-Malovrh satisfied the prerequisites for the major, but UW-Madison declared her Calculus II course fell short of the university’s standards. UW-Stout’s Calculus II curriculum was not as “in-depth” as they would have wanted, forcing the junior to take a credit examination in spring of 2024 for a chance to test out of the class.

Romanovs-Malovrh said failing to meet progression standards as a junior triggered a myriad of issues for her, including the option to select a separate minor or major outside the College of Engineering.

“I can only take certain classes in the College of Engineering, and I can’t take them,” Romanovs-Malovrh said.

“I was trying to get a data science certificate. They said I couldn’t until I’ve met progression, I can’t at all.”

Vos claims branch schools can take national students, funding says otherwise CEOs of over 40 companies in Wisconsin who put forth nearly half of the engineering building project funding ($147 million) said in a November open letter they would withdraw money if the state does not lend finan-

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cial assistance.

The advertisement followed the university’s worries that its aging facilities meant Wisconsin’s engineering programs were falling behind competitors in other states. The way to reverse that trend, university and business leaders said, is a state investment in the engineering workforce.

“This expansion will enable the university to serve more Wisconsin students and employers and will assist in the recruitment and retention of top-tier faculty members, sustaining its excellence in research and education,” the letter read.

Still, Vos told reporters in November he is not concerned about losing state engineers if UW-Madison’s engineering project remains unfunded through 2024.

Vos said UW-Platteville and UW-Whitewater have “spots for kids all over the country” to study engineering beyond UW-Madison.

“I think many of us here went to other campuses, so to think that the only place to get a great engineering degree is by attending UW-Madison, it’s a fallacy,” he added.

But Romanovs-Malovrh said other UW System campuses “would probably not” have the capacity to take national students.

“Most of the [UW-Stout] population was either from Minnesota or Wisconsin. I met maybe a few people

from out of state, but most of the people I met that were from out of state were on the gymnastics team,” she said.

Additionally, Romanovs-Malovrh said she was not aware of the funding cut.

She said it would be nice for the UW-Stout engineering program to receive more funding. According to Romanovs-Malovrh, there are times when classes taught by one professor create bottlenecks that delay graduation.

The Legislature’s budget-writing committee also cut $32 million from the UW System’s 2023-25 budget in June. University officials on Nov. 6 offered a plan to recoup the lost funds, but Vos said lawmakers will not restore the money until UW schools cut diversity programs.

Romanovs-Malovrh also said a funding cut to UW-Madison’s engineering program could impact the “academic rigor” as Madison has a standard to uphold.

While she is still not a declared engineering major, she does not regret transferring to UW-Madison.

“Knowing me I probably still would have done it because I’m just like, fuck it. Let’s do it. Sounds like a challenge,” Romanovs-Malovrh said.

“I’m actually enjoying my experience, even though it hasn’t been maybe the best experience,” she said.

A timeline of UW-Madison’s fight to fund its new engineering building

By Ella Hanley STAFF WRITER

The Republican-controlled Legislature denied funding for the University of Wisconsin-Madison engineering building project, which has remained the school’s top budget priority for years. As tensions rise with the Legislature, the future of the College of Engineering building is unknown.

The proposed project would replace the engineering facility on 1410 Engineering Drive, which is separate from Engineering Hall. The building would allow for significant expansion of the engineering program at UW-Madison, providing more research spaces, modernized technology, increased enrollment and extended program offerings.

At this time, the college can only accept fewer than 20% of its applicants, according to UW-Madison.

With a new building, undergraduate enrollment would increase to 5,500 students and graduate enrollment to 2,000 students.

June 2023: Lawmakers deny funding request for engineering facility Republican lawmakers on the state budget-writing committee denied a university funding request for the new engineering building in June, a decision met with disappointment and frustration from Democrats and UW-Madison leaders. This is the second biennial state budget where funds have been withheld for the building.

The building was the top budget priority for UW-Madison and was included in a list of projects proposed by Democratic Gov.Tony Evers in Wisconsin’s latest two-year state budget. $150 million of the project’s budgeted $347 million cost was sourced from private gifts and grants.

November 2023: Campaign announced On Nov. 6, a full-page letter of support for the engineering building appeared in newspapers across the state, urging legislators to advance a new College of Engineering building.

The engineering building was

expected to produce hundreds of new graduates in fields where Wisconsin employers face desperate need for talent, UW-Madison said in a statement.

“We hear repeatedly from employers across Wisconsin that more UW-Madison-trained engineers are needed in a wide array of industries,” College of Engineering Dean Ian Robertson said in a statement.

Over $100 million has already been pledged by donors. However, the letter warns that delaying the engineering building project to the next state budget would inflate the total cost to $400 million, and donor funds may not necessarily be available by that point.

“All of these donations are entirely contingent upon the state providing its share of the project in the 2023-25 biennium,” Robertson said. “Though we have committed to ambitious fundraising contributions toward the project, moving forward requires the Legislature’s support.”

MEGHAN SPIRITO/THE DAILY CARDINAL

November 2023: Vos uses engineering building funding to incentivize DEI budget cuts Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, told reporters in November he isn’t concerned about losing engineers if UW-Madison’s engineering project remains unfunded.

Vos said other UW schools, such as UW-Platteville and UW-Whitewater, have “spots for kids all over the country” to study engineering.

“I think many of us here went to other campuses, so to think that the only place to get a great engineering degree is by attending UW-Madison, it’s a fallacy,” he said.

Mnookin told the Cardinal in September that UW-Madison had plans to expand DEI programs after Vos threatened to prevent pay increases for UW System employees if the programming wasn’t cut.

Continue reading at dailycardinal. com.

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Duo Mobile announces update amid continuing concerns of inaccessibility

By Sanjeev Anand STAFF WRITER

The University of WisconsinMadison’s Department of Information Technology (DoIT) announced plans to update their Duo Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) service in January, which will change the appearance of Duo’s security prompt, DoIT said in a Nov. 13 press release.

The update, named Duo Universal Prompt, promises faster access to campus services via changes such as faster push notifications, support for more languages and an option to access Duo through the URL instead of UW-Madison’s NetID website.

“The new version of MFA-Duo scheduled to roll out next year includes new features, such as remembering your preferred authentication method and reducing clicks for sending a push notification,” Will Burns, DoIT director, told The Daily Cardinal.

The changes come as some student Duo users report accessibility concerns with the platform Megan Novotny, a UW-Madison senior who works for the School of Human Ecology as a financial coaching mentor, had difficulty accessing essential material for both classes and work after her phone was stolen in spring of 2022.

With her Duo operating system set up on her then-stolen phone, Novotny had no access to her assignments, email and software for both classes and work.

“I was falling behind. I couldn’t read any of my textbooks because they’re all

online,” Novotny said. “If I wanted to get onto Cengage, I couldn’t because you have to go specifically through Canvas for that.”

To log into Canvas, the university’s primary platform for accessing assignments and related school-material, students must go through Duo’s MFA process.

UW-Madison rolled out Duo on Sept.

9, 2019, as a mandated measure toward ensuring better cybersecurity for the campus community.

“Nearly all compromised email accounts the UW-Madison Office of Cybersecurity identifies are accounts that are not protected by MFA (for example, former student accounts),” said Jamie Gutkowski, UW-Madison director of user services. “These compromised accounts can be used maliciously by hackers to send phishing emails or other attacks.”

According to a 2019 news release by DoIT, the 4,946 stolen NetIDs and 92,483 phishing reports from campus members the previous year formed a major reason behind UW-Madison’s Duo mandate.

“The fact is that passwords alone are not good enough to protect sensitive data, personal information and UW-Madison’s online data,” UW-Madison said at the time.

“MFA does not eliminate the need to remember a password,” said Allen Monnette, UW-Madison associate director for cybersecurity operations. “It adds an additional layer of security by also requiring Duo authentication to make it more difficult for a hacker to attack an account.”

Duo’s MFA must be administered

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through a smartphone or tablet, with a token/fob and security key existing as alternatives, according to the 2019 press release.

According to UW-Madison’s Identity and Access Management Knowledgebase, students must contact the DoIT Help Desk to request a token/fob or security key.

Once her phone was stolen, Novotny couldn’t coordinate an alternative means of accessing her school work with DoIT due to the DoIT Help Desk’s limited spring recess hours.

“DoIT had reduced hours during that period of break, so they were pretty much closed,” Novotny said. “I was freaking out trying to contact them by email and calling, because my Duo mobile was linked to my [stolen] phone.”

Initially, Novotny couldn’t set up her Duo on another device because the service required her to access the previously registered device (her stolen phone) for identity verification.

“I emailed them with my regular email, which didn’t go very well because I think they thought it was spam,” Novotny said.

“And it just took a really long time for me to get through to them.”

Ultimately, using her newly bought phone and with DoIT’s assistance, Novonty was able to regain access to Duo. “I’m very lucky that I was in a position to have the money to go pay for and activate a new phone,” Novotny said. “It was definitely a very scary experience because everything is essentially connected online, and everything is specifically through Duo Mobile.”

Braca said these situations — questions and requests to DoIT about Duo — are becoming less common.

“With MFA becoming such a common technology, more and more students, faculty and staff understand the benefits and know how to use the technology,” Braca said.

City of Madison plans to conduct experimental pedestrian mall, incorporating local art, music

By Marin Rosen SENIOR STAFF WRITER

The City of Madison shared plans to convert part of State Street into an experimental pedestrian mall at a public meeting Monday.

The Common Council approved the experiment on Sept. 5, which will be located along the 400 to 600 blocks of State Street between Lake and Gorham Street, according to the city’s presentation. The blocks will be temporarily converted in summer 2024, and there is currently no determined end date for the experiment.

City of Madison planner Dan McAuliffe worked on the early plans to turn State Street into a pedestrian mall. He told The Daily Cardinal the project will not change existing streets and curbs and will be open for pedestrians and bikers to freely walk on the streets. All vehicle access will be prohibited except for emergency vehicles.

“We hope to improve the character of the space, resulting in a more active and vibrant State Street for businesses, residents and visitors,” McAuliffe said.

Plans include the addition of planter boxes, benches and street paintings to encourage pedestrian use of the public space and add character to the street. Selfie stations or photo frames will be available and incorporate the hashtag #FlockToState, accord-

CORA SYPCHALLA/THE DAILY CARDINAL

ing to McAuliffe.

District 8 Ald. MGR Govindarajan told the Cardinal he is excited to see changes made to State Street.

“The goal is to activate the area: road paintings, more places to sit and eat with friends, community areas for musicians and artists,” Govindarajan said.

“State Street has always been a cultural icon within Madison.

This experiment will explore ways to make it even better.”

District 2 Ald. Juliana Bennett hopes the experiment will create more diversity on State Street and draw in individuals of all backgrounds. “[The] experiment will give current residents a sense of ownership of the space and bring in new users to the space,” Bennett said. “I envision a colorful and

vibrant State Street with multicultural programming that encourages commerce of local and minority owned businesses.”

Additionally, gateway placemaking elements will illuminate the street to attract attention and create a “visual distinction for pedestrian blocks,” according to the presentation.

The project plans to include public art opportunities, including street performance and music stations.

“I think it’s purely a quality of life change. Having a selfie station, being able to listen to local artists play music or sing, join in on local events … that will drastically improve the lives of students,” Govindarajan said.

One issue McAuliffe aims to address as the project moves forward is deliveries for businesses on State Street as vehicle access will be restricted. Kyle Herman, owner of touring company Madtown Gem, previously told the Cardinal he opposes the experiment due to the road closures blocking traffic and potentially harming his business.

“One of our next steps will be trying to find the best times to close the street to vehicles.

Businesses will need deliveries, so some access is needed,” McAuliffe said. “Figuring out the hours of the pedestrian mall that balances vehicles and pedestrian times is important

and could take some time.”

Current deliveries on State Street are prohibited between 11:30 a.m and 1:30 p.m. In his proposal, McAuliffe planned for pedestrians to be allowed in the streets at all times but carve out potential time options for service and delivery vehicles to be present.

Govindarajan included a specific clause that required any feedback to specifically be done on a timeline that works for student involvement.

“It’s hard to predict the outcomes of this experiment, but one thing I’m looking forward to seeing is the engagement that’ll be sought after,” Govindarajan said. “City staff cannot do large opinion gathering methods over summer or during finals, which is huge for student involvement.”

Next steps for the project include revising and finalizing design features, ordering furniture and equipment, determining hours of operation, coordinating with local artists and gaining approval from the Common Council, McAuliffe said. His goal is to open the pedestrian mall by UW-Madison graduation weekend in spring of 2024.

“We hope to continue improving the public spaces that surround all of us, and in doing so, improve the experiences we share,” McAuliffe said.

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Nonprofit tenant resource groups help tenants amid housing crisis

By Ellie Bourdo FEATURES EDITOR

Amid the ongoing housing crisis in Madison, the Tenant Resource Center (TRC) and Madison Community Cooperative (MCC) aim to offer solutions to those who feel the effects firsthand.

The TRC is a nonprofit organization that has advocated for housing justice for over 40 years.

They provide numerous resources to educate tenants, landlords and property managers on how to make well-educated decisions.

The MCC is another nonprofit organization providing cooperative housing for lowincome individuals.

Hannah Renfro, TRC executive director, said the group’s ultimate goal is to provide solutions that ensure everyone in the Madison community has safe and affordable housing.

“We want everybody to be educated and empowered,” Renfro said. “And that they are in a place where they’re in stable housing for them, their families and their children.”

John Parsons, MCC coordinating officer, shared a similar sentiment. He said MCC aims to provide affordable housing through cooperative housing, especially for underrepresented and marginalized groups.

“Our mission is to provide affordable low-income housing to the people of Madison, including underrepresented people, and provide a sense of community,” Parsons said.

For those who face the

impacts of the ongoing housing crisis, Renfro said a lack of education between tenants and landlords has a role to play.

The TRC aims to provide this education to create a positive relationship between tenants and landlords.

“We really strongly believe that providing that education to both tenants and landlords about rental rights and having

“Our mission is to provide affordable low-income housing to the people of Madison” John Parsons Coordinating Officer Madison Community Cooperative

that positive landlord-tenant relationship is good for everybody,” Renfo said. “It benefits landlords, it benefits the tenants, it benefits the community when people are able to stay in their housing and find affordable housing.”

Olivia Pfeil, a University of Wisconsin-Madison senior, said she believes this type of education is necessary to avoid a negative relationship between tenants and landlords.

Pfeil said she experienced a negative relationship with a past landlord. She said her experiences and experiences she’s heard from others led her to believe it is rare to find a landlord who “genuinely cares about the well-being of their tenants and wants to form a connection with their tenants

as people.”

“I would say the power differences between tenants and landlords here are bigger than most other places due to the size of the student population, the size of the isthmus and how small it is and the fact that it is a college town,” Pfeil added.

There are numerous resources available for tenants, landlords and service providers through the TRC, including legal documents, educational blog posts, landlord training and more. The TRC provides all of their services in Spanish and English.

Renfro said various TRC teams provide aspects of solutions for individuals within the community.

Among these are a health and housing team, an eviction diversion and defense partnership team and a housing counseling services team. According to Renfro, the health and housing team works with individuals referred to the TRC by UW Health. Additionally, the eviction diversion and defense partnership team supports those in eviction court, while the housing counseling services team assists individuals visiting the TRC office.

The MCC provides lowincome housing for tenants around Madison, while the cooperative homes span throughout the Madison area.

Individuals can apply for housing through the MCC website.

The organization also provides educational resources for tenants and maintains a com-

munity by affiliating with other cooperatives, non-profit organizations, schools and more, according to its website.

Parsons said although some people criticize the MCC, many have a great appreciation for the organization.

“Lots of people love MCC,” Parsons said. “Everybody always has some kind of criticism, but I think people are glad that they get to live in cool, 100-year-old houses. Also, people love living in a community, but the affordability is also part of it. It’s some of the last affordable housing.”

Renfro said it is often difficult for the TRC to receive feedback because it is not often individuals return to the organization on multiple occasions.

However, she said individuals who use the TRC find it to be a valuable resource.

“The general consensus we hear from people is that having

this information is tremendously valuable to them,” Renfro said. “What we hear from so many folks is just this, ‘I just didn’t know this information, and I feel like now I can not just advocate for myself, but I can tell my neighbors and my friends and my family members, which is really wonderful.’ That’s what we love to hear from folks.”

Pfeil shared this sentiment and said TRC resources inform tenants about the legalities of a lease and prevent a negative relationship between tenants and landlords.

“I think it’s necessary, especially for first-time renters, that there’s widespread education about the legal part of the lease,” Pfeil said. “Like people knowing what a lease is, and that it is a legally binding contract. It’s not just a casual thing, to lease an apartment. It’s a really big deal.”

MEGHAN SPIRITO/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Republican leaders offer early look at 2024 convention in Milwaukee

By Ava Menkes STATE NEWS EDITOR

MILWAUKEE — With eight months until the 2024 Republican National Convention, GOP party leaders praised Wisconsin and convention host city Milwaukee during an event preview Thursday morning at Fiserv Forum.

Anne Hathaway, RNC chairwoman of the committee on arrangements, welcomed attendees into the arena with warm excitement about the convention’s location.

“I’m a Midwesterner. So having you all here in the Midwest means so much to me,” said Hathaway, who also chairs the

Indiana Republican Party. “Milwaukee and Wisconsin made it clear they wanted the 2024 Republican convention here in this city. And most importantly, the people made us feel welcome.”

Convention leaders project the event will bring in 50,000 new visitors and have up to a $200 million impact on Milwaukee’s economy, according to TMJ4.

Republican investments in Milwaukee come as the party struggles to find electoral success in Wisconsin, a swing state often described as “the center of the political universe.” The party, which has lost 15 of 18 statewide races

MARY BOSCH/THE DAILY CARDINAL

since 2018, hosted the first GOP presidential debate in Milwaukee in August.

Democrats have similarly invested in Wisconsin. Although Democrats held a scaled-back 2020 convention in the city amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Biden administration officials made numerous visits to the state in 2023.

Despite describing himself as a “proud Democrat,” Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson joined event leaders for Thursday’s walkthrough.

Johnson told reporters he appreciated the convention’s economic boon for the city.

“I’m not Republican,” Johnson said.

MARY BOSCH/THE DAILY CARDINAL

“But that means that my role here is different, right? I’m not here in a political capacity. In fact, I’m here because my goals include hosting a convention that brings attention to Milwaukee.”

Reince Priebus, 2024 Host Committee chairman and former RNC chair, and Elise Dickens, CEO of the 2024 Republican Convention, joined Hathaway on Thursday to acknowledge everyone who helped prepare the walkthrough and convention.

Milwaukee will host the Republican National Convention from July 15, 2024 through July 18, 2024.

MARY BOSCH/THE DAILY CARDINAL

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Dane County departments to leave ‘X’ by 2024, citing increase in hate speech

By Shu Lan Schaut STAFF WRITER

Dane County Executive Joe Parisi sent an email to all Dane County department heads and elected officials on Nov. 28 requesting all departments “phase out” use of social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, by Jan. 1, 2024.

Since billionaire Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter in October 2022, reported hate speech on the platform has substantially increased, according to a study from multiple universities. Parisi cites the reported increase in hate speech on the platform as the reason behind his request.

“As a county government, it’s important we lead by example and ensure the way we deliver services doesn’t inadvertently or unintentionally condone such behavior,” Parisi said in the email.

As of Dec. 1, two Dane County agencies have already ceased

use of the platform. The Dane County Regional Airport and Public Health Madison & Dane County posted on X that neither will continue actively using the platform and promoted accounts maintained on other social media sites.

Musk bought out the company for $44 billion. As part of his purchase, Musk promised to lessen content moderation and remove spam bots on the site.

In December 2022, X dissolved its Trust and Safety Council, an advisory group created in 2016 to help devise policies to combat hate speech, human rights exploitations and other ethical issues the platform faced.

Additionally, Musk reinstated previously banned accounts on X after tweeting a public poll on the subject; the “yes” vote won with 72.4%. Some of the reinstated accounts included former President Donald Trump and David Duke, for-

mer grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan.

“Increase in hate speech is something I’ve been noticing since the platform changed ownership. The decision was not driven by one event, but rather multiple that culminated in the final straw of what we’ve been seeing over the past couple of weeks,” Parisi told The Daily Cardinal. “The final event was when Elon Musk was liking antisemitic tweets.”

Last month, Musk tweeted his support for an antisemitic post on the platform that blamed Jewish people for creating hatred against white people, invoking backlash against himself and the platform. In the following weeks, multiple organizations paused advertisements on X, including the European Union, Disney and Comcast.

Parisi advised prudence regarding the use of social media for Dane County govern-

NICK DUDA/THE DAILY CARDINAL

ment, suggesting each department make their own informed decision based on what is most effective for them.

“I think it’s time we take a step back and take a conscious approach at how we use [social

media], what we use it for and how much we use it,” Parisi said. “It’s a very dynamic phenomenon that happened to us.

We need to be aware of all the impacts it has on us, both positive and negative.”

‘Not a zero-sum game’: UW-Madison panelists discuss teaching Asian-American history alongside other identities Panelists shared thoughts and challenges about Asian-American representation in schools and how they feel its presence could create a brighter future in education.

By Iain Chang STAFF WRITER

A panel of Asian-American educators of different ethnic backgrounds came together to discuss teaching and representing Asian-Americans in schools on Nov. 27 at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Teacher Education building.

The panel was led by Tony DelaRosa, an educator and UW-Madison PhD student currently touring for his book “Teaching the Invisible Race.”

The book addresses the lack of Asian-American histories in most K-12 curriculums in the U.S. “America still renders Asian-Americans invisible by gaslighting their oppression, excluding them from social justice education and conversations, and homogenizing their experience,” DelaRosa wrote.

DelaRosa said historical conversations should include perspectives of multiple ethnic groups as opposed to discussing only Black social movements “in reference to whiteness.”

“What happens in between?

Maybe they’ll sprinkle in a little bit of Latinx and Indigenous narratives, but with AsianAmericans, they don’t know what to do,” DelaRosa said.

According to a 2023 Columbia University report, 20% of Asian-Americans in New York City live in poverty. That statistic nearly matches the percentage for African-American and Latinx New Yorkers and is 13% higher than whites in the city.

DelaRosa said lack of con-

IAIN CHANG/THE DAILY CARDINAL

versations about Asian hardship in American history has caused people to think of AsianAmerican groups as more welloff compared to other minority groups and creates a false narrative that they are “not oppressed people”.

UW-Madison associate professor Nicole Louie discussed challenges in finding space to teach about Asian-Americans in schools. Louie said discussions about expanding curriculum coverage often result in conversations about how it would require teaching less Black history, something she feels is not the only solution.

“When we talk about teaching Asian-American history, I think it’s very easy to get into that zero-sum game,” Louie said.

Louie said curriculum rep-

resentation is crucial for students to feel they belong in their school communities.

“Having our histories taught in schools is a really important piece of how we learn that we’re all valuable and that our pasts, our presents and our futures are interconnected,” Louie said.

DelaRosa said the solution to representing Asian-Americans in curriculum is to teach an “intersectional” history focusing on the relationship between multiple races and ethnicities.

Expanding representation in Wisconsin In October, the Assembly Committee on Education unanimously passed a bill that would require Hmong and AsianAmerican history to be taught in Wisconsin public schools.

Current law requires Wisconsin schools teach African-American, Indigenous and Hispanic histories and human relations.

Asian American and Pacific Islander Coalition of Wisconsin representative Lorna Young said during the panel that current law renders Hmong and Asian Americans “totally invisible” in Wisconsin schools.

The bill hopes to amend the current law to include Hmong and Asian Americans in its wording and currently awaits a floor vote in the Assembly.

Panel’s experience Asian history

with

The panel shared their own revelations and perspectives on the rare Asian representation in history curriculums taught

at their schools.

Louie discussed a time in her undergraduate studies when she uncovered an important court case relating to Asian American history.

In Tape v. Hurley, the California State Supreme Court ruled the San Francisco School District could not exclude Chinese-American student Maimie Tape from enrolling in their all-white elementary school. The case preceded the well-known U.S. Supreme Court case Brown v.

Board of Education.

Louie said they were never taught this event in history, despite growing up in the same school district Tape went to in San Francisco.

“I always thought [AsianAmerican] history happened on the East Coast and that AsianAmericans were really incidental to history,” Louie said.

Next on the panel, UW-Madison Ph.D. student Miso Kwak talked about growing up as the only Korean kid in their small town of Rome, New York.

Kwak recalled their experience in an American middle school after moving from South Korea. Asian American history was “non-existent” in curriculum, she said, adding that much of her knowledge of East Asian history came from attending elementary school in Korea.

Kwak said conversations about teaching Asian histories are “really important” and that people are seeking representation “whether they know it or not.”

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Strike for Science sit down: UW climate action, researcher attends Fridays for resumes at COP28 global climate Future UW-Madison conference

By Ainsley Adams STAFF WRITER

For the first time in several years, Campus Leaders for Energy Action Now (CLEAN), Helios and the Student Voters Union collaborated to host Fridays for Future.

Fridays for Future is an international strike movement for climate action inspired by Greta Thumberg’s school strike outside of the Swedish Parliament building in August 2018, according to the organization’s website.

The outreach event hosted by the coalition of student organizations took place Friday, Dec. 1 on East Campus Mall.

Organizers Lillian Herling, Isabella Lubotsky and Winston Thompson joined other supporters and provided educational messages and materials to attendees and passersby.

Lubotsky described Friday’s event as a community builder. Lubotsky told The Daily Cardinal that organizers plan to focus on direct action events, including demonstrations, protests and sit-ins from the spring semester forward.

Organizers said the event’s objective was to encourage students to join the student organizations

in calling for urgent climate change reform. They intentionally kept the event small to demonstrate the ease of participation and to prevent burnout, which they have witnessed from organizers of similar outreach events.

According to Lubotsky, the goal of Fridays for Future and CLEAN’s mission statement is for UW-Madison to rely entirely on renewable electricity by 2030 and derive all operational energy from clean renewable sources by 2035.

Thousands demonstrated their commitment to this goal by signing CLEAN’s petition, a call to action from the UW-Madison community addressed to Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin.

Madison District 8 Ald. MGR Govindarajan attended the event and emphasized the movement’s importance.

“This is a great opportunity for students to come learn more about voting and sustainability efforts on campus,” Govindarajan said.

“Both are the most important things happening to our generation right now.”

Fridays for Future events will occur on the first Friday of every month beginning in February 2024, location to be determined.

HAILEY JOHNSON/THE DAILY CARDINAL

By Britta Wellenstein STAFF WRITER

The 28th U.N. Conference of Parties, COP28, is underway in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison has a seat at the table.

UW-Madison Law School professor and author Sumudu Atapattu is one of three university faculty attending the annual meeting, which began in 1995 and brings countries from all over the world to discuss international frameworks for climate change mitigation.

Atapattu is joined by health and climate researcher Johnathan Patz and Nelson Institute Ph.D. student Nova Tebbe. Conversations started on Nov. 30 and will end Dec. 12.

Atapattu told The Daily Cardinal she is looking forward to conversations around topics she researches at UW-Madison, such as environmental justice, international law and human rights.

Discussions focus on a myriad of issues, like fasttracking the renewable energy transition and climate financing. Atapattu is particularly interested in the “loss and damages fund,” which was formally established in the first days of COP28. The fund provides support to countries most vulnerable to cli-

mate change effects, like small island states.

“When it comes to these small island states, some are going to become uninhabitable. How do you compensate them for that kind of loss?”

Atapattu said. “How can bring focus to these communities that are disproportionately affected, who are more vulnerable to consequences of climate change, and whether a human rights focus would be beneficial to these communities?”

Climate-related health issues are also taking center stage at this year’s conference, with a full day devoted to discussing the topic.

“One of the biggest impacts that scientists are worried about with climate change is the impact on health. There will be more diseases associated with climate change as the temperatures get warmer” Atapattu said. “How do we cope with that kind of health impact?”

This year’s conference is also the first time countries take a global stocktake, a formal assessment of countries’ progress on the Paris Agreement set in COP21. The Paris Agreement set standards for decreasing global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

However, countries are well behind these goals. Activists like Greta Thunberg have cri-

tiqued the conference for the lack of significant progress, calling it more performative than productive.

COP28 in particular has been criticized for its president, Sultan al-Jaber, head of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company.

“Some of the limitations relate to the international system itself because we don’t really have a mechanism to police states at the national level,” Atapattu said. “We don’t have institutions to impose sanctions or punishments.”

However, Atapattu sees international conferences as an opportunity to bring countries together and give smaller countries a platform. “[This is] one time when all the states can get together in one place and negotiate,” she said. “A lot of decisions are made in the corridors — not so much in the negotiating room. The only way to facilitate that is to have these international conferences.”

But COP28 is only one part of a larger climate movement.

Atapattu said climate conversations can’t stop there.

“Although it’s a global issue and decisions are taken at the international level, the impacts are very much localized,” she said. “The adaptation methods, adaptation programs, and building resilience have to happen at the local level.”

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Cardinal staff favorites of 2023 ‘Fav Film: Oppenhiemer “Oppenheimer” is separated from other spectacular films that came out this year due to

‘Fav Film: Five Nights at Freddy’s I was a little late to the Five Nights at Freddy’s (FNaF) trend. However, after a friend

Christopher Nolan’s impeccable visual and narrative style.

attempted to explain the entire plot of the franchise to me on a walk home, I decided to

The nuclear bomb test sequence, codenamed “Trinity,” was a marvel to behold in IMAX

explore FNaF for myself.

and masterfully conveys the overwhelming destructive power of the bomb. As the columns

To call the series’ lore extensive is an understatement. Like many fans, what first attracted

of fire emanating from the mushroom cloud overwhelmed the frame, it became clear why

me to the franchise were the numerous easter eggs and hidden meanings woven into

Oppenheimer viewed that moment in his life as one of divine significance.

the games for more eagle-eyed players and franchise enjoyers. Five Nights at Freddy’s

Likewise, the inspired decision to tell the film in a non-chronological order, a rarity in

is nostalgic escapism that has united an online community around a simple video

mainstream American cinema, lent the story an almost stream-of-consciousness quality that

game about surviving five nights stalked by evil, possessed animatronic animals. Yes,

allowed the audience to experience the world as Oppenheimer did.

it may be cringe, but we cringe together.

Nolan is one of the few directors who can create a film which is monumentally grand in

I can also unabashedly say that the “Five Nights at Freddy’s” movie is one of my favorites,

its themes yet intimate in its presentation, and that is why “Oppenheimer” is one of

especially for its use of Josh Hutcherson and, like the games that inspired it, the film’s many

my favorite films of the year.

hidden easter eggs.

Joseph Panzer, Writer

Tess Voigt, Writer

TV Fav: Loki Season Two “Loki” Season 2 is the culmination of a character arc that’s spanned half my life. And, oh, is it glorious.

‘TV Fav: Succession “Rich people doing stupid things” is an increasingly hot genre, and no film or television series has done it better than “Succession.”

Over the course of 12 years, we’ve watched Loki evolve from an irredeemable villain into some-

The show is incredibly layered and complex, deftly weaving smart comedy, character-driven

one who cares so deeply for his friends that he’s willing to sacrifice his life for their safety.

drama and cultural satire without losing sight of itself. The talent on both sides of the camera

As a series, “Loki” serves as a model for all directors on how to approach the concept of

brings their A-game to every episode, and it’s impossible to find a weak link in the bunch.

the multiverse. The show demonstrates that, when dealing with a concept as expansive as the

This year’s fourth and final season stayed true to its characters, following every idiosyn-

multiverse, the most compelling approach is to concentrate on character-driven stories.

crasy and ambition to its Shakespearean conclusion. Secrets were revealed, politicians were

Tom Hiddleston, along with the rest of the cast of “Loki” — including Owen Wilson and

elected and corporate blood was shed in a whirlwind that deserves a spot in the pantheon of

Jonathan Majors — delivered a pitch-perfect performance that gave the former villain the most

all-time TV greats. Topping it all off is Nicholas Britell’s breathtaking score, which never ceases

complete character arc in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

to excite.

Jasper Bernstein, Associates Editor

Video Game Fav: The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom

Spencer Ball, Arts Writer

Music Fav: GUTS After two years of re-listening to Olivia Rodrigo’s debut album “Sour,” her sophomore

“Loki” Season 2 is the culmination of a character arc that’s spanned half my life. And, oh, is it glorious. album “GUTS’’ offers a vibrant comeback that mixes her slower breakup songs with a more Over the course of 12 years, we’ve watched Loki evolve from an irredeemable villain into someone who pop-punk sound. cares so deeply for his friends that he’s willing to sacrifice his life for their safety.

I always loved Rodrigo for her relatable lyrics centered on the teenage girl experience, and As a series, “Loki” serves as a model for all directors on how to approach the concept of the multiverse. she continues this trend in “GUTS” with tracks like “all-american bitch” and “lacy.” These The show demonstrates that, when dealing with a concept as expansive as the multiverse, the most compelsongs capture the confidence and self-consciousness a young girl can feel, whether conveyed ling approach is to concentrate on character-driven stories. through a piano ballad or tracks of her screaming.

Tom Hiddleston, along with the rest of the cast of “Loki” — including Owen Wilson and Jonathan Majors The album perfectly navigates a fine line between love, rage, obsession and revenge. It often — delivered a pitch-perfect performance that gave the former villain the most complete character arc in the feels as though she’s read lines out of your journal.

Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Ian Wilder, Senior Staff Writer

Ava Menkes, State Editor

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Cardinal confections: Staffers discuss holiday cookies The great cookie debate: which reigns supreme?

After polling staffers from The Daily Cardinal about their favorite cookies, Gingerbread and Sugar seem to lead the pack. When further examined, the act of decorating these cookies with family led to the love they associate for cookies and the love they have for the holiday season.

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Happy holidays from The Daily Cardinal!

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opinion dailycardinal.com

Thursday, December 7, 2023

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Universities nationwide are debuting their Taylor Swift era

By Hana Razvi STAFF WRITER

DRAKE WHITE-BERGEY/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Sen. Kelda Roys, D-Madison; Sen. Jeff Smith, D-Brunswick; and Sen. Chris Larson, D-Milwaukee, each serve on the state Senate Universities and Revenue Committee.

Letter to the Editor: The future demands unity in commitment to the Universities of Wisconsin

By Sen. Kelda Roys, Sen. Jeff Smith and Sen. Chris Larson Editor’s note: Letters to the Editor and open letters reflect the opinions, concerns and views of University of WisconsinMadison students and community. As such, the information presented may or may not be accurate. Letters to the Editor and open letters do not reflect the editorial views or opinions of The Daily Cardinal.

Wisconsin is rich with resources, and none are greater than our young people.

Our history of investing in higher education is perhaps our greatest commitment as a state.

Since its inception, the transformative impact of our UW System has been felt across our state and around the globe.

For decades, Wisconsin prioritized funding the UW System, knowing that it was the most important thing we could do to develop our workforce and innovate for our future. Our public universities attract people from the Great Lakes region and beyond because our institutions offer quality educational opportunities and affordable tuition.

For that reason, business leaders have historically been eager to establish businesses in our state, knowing that they will have a wellspring of talented UW System graduates to choose from, no matter the field. We continue to see the benefits of higher education in every community in our state.

We have a century of research and results, making it clear that education boosts our economy: investing in higher education leads to family-supporting jobs in our communities. Our universities help people establish careers, facilitate career transitions and make valuable contributions to their communities.

Whether it be innova-

tions in the Fox Valley paper industry from UW-Stevens Point or UW-Madison helping EXACT Sciences develop lifesaving colon cancer screening, Wisconsin’s public universities continue to embody the best of the Wisconsin Idea. Wisconsin became the agricultural giant that it is in part because of our commitment to water conservation and soil health, made possible by research and collaboration among farmers and faculty at the Universities of Wisconsin.

Despite the indisputable successes of our UW campuses, we’ve seen damaging disinvestment by lawmakers over the last several decades, which has greatly accelerated over the last 12 years of Republican rule in the legislature. This disinvestment always comes with excuses and often partisan culture wars.

The most recent example is Assembly Speaker Robin Vos’ tantrum about efforts to ensure that our universities are welcoming to — and inclusive of — all students.

Diversity, equity and inclusion programs help first-generation college students, veterans returning from service, women in STEM, single parents attending night classes, and many other students on every campus in the state. Despite their success, in the most recent budget, these programs were scapegoated when Vos and his allies cut $32 million from our UW campuses.

In budget after budget, Speaker Vos and Republicans have failed to invest in the UW, including in the most recent budget. Delaying investments in a new engineering building at UW-Madison, Prairie Springs Science Center at UW-La Crosse and Winther Hall at UW-Whitewater will have a lasting impact on our state. All of these projects are part of a

pattern of Republicans actively choosing to skip investments in our workforce to further their ideological agenda.

Speaker Vos’ latest scheme is withholding long overdue raises for UW employees unless each campus ends all diversity and inclusion efforts. This is a demand that no Fortune 500 company would agree to and that our schools simply cannot accept.

Unfortunately, Speaker Robin Vos seems to despise UW-Madison and our entire UW System more than he loves the state of Wisconsin. It’s a sad state of affairs when no legislative Republicans are willing to stand up to Speaker Vos, even though their constituents directly benefit from investments in UW. Instead of Republican cuts to UW in favor of their radical social agenda, we need to confront the challenges of our workforce shortage, fight climate change and meet our state’s growing healthcare needs. We need to ensure that everyone who seeks a highquality public education can receive it – that every UW campus can serve the tens of thousands of promising students who seek to further their education and participate in our economy. We need investments in social work and nursing programs, mental health care, childcare, education, scientific research, engineering, agriculture and sustainability.

The Universities of Wisconsin are the crown jewel in our state’s public education system. We must continue to support our public higher educational institutions if we are to have any hope of addressing our current economic and workforce challenges and to lay the groundwork for a brighter future for generations to come.

Over eight universities across the United States, most recently Harvard, have taken the lyric “Honey, life is just a classroom” a little too seriously.

American singer-songwriter Taylor Alison Swift has been one of the most popular musicians since her career began after releasing her self-titled debut album in 2006 at just 16 years old. Now, colleges are fiending to roll out courses about a multitude of topics related to Billboard Music’s Woman of the Decade and Time Magazine’s Person of the Year.

Enchanted by Swift, these colleges offer themed courses on the 12-time Grammy Award winner that focus on everything from her successful entrepreneurship skills and bond with her audience to studying the meaning behind her intricate song lyrics. However, the timing of these courses and enthusiasm from universities begs the question: Is it really necessary for colleges to teach classes about Taylor Swift?

Swift’s influence on pop culture and reinvention of the meaning behind a superstar is undeniable.

The Pennsylvania native has proven herself to be a prominent cultural figure in the 21st century this year with her constant success in music and world-renowned “Eras Tour.”

The recurring battle her audience will continue to fight for concert tickets, merchandise sales, documentary viewings and limited-edition songs is something out of this world.

It makes sense schools would offer a course on the artist. Considering how captivating the world of Swifties and Swift herself is, high enrollment numbers are guaranteed.

While courses across each universities have unique syllabi, they all share the same concept: the impact of Taylor Swift on society. However, between the universities listed, only one is in the top 10 colleges known for entertainment and media education.

Beyond knowing how captivating Swift and her body of work is, do these universities have enough acclaim to be teaching about her rise of fame and prominence?

Swift is insanely popular right now, teetering on the brink of overexposure. The media dissects every move she makes and then proceeds to study it, both fans and critics alike. This happened most recently with words she mouthed at the Chiefs vs.

Packers NFL game.

Educators and university administrators are aware of her prominence as the Eras Tour itself has managed to

garner millions of heartstrings and dollars across the globe. The fact that those who didn’t attend her shows were able to feel her presence through grainy Instagram and TikTok live streams in the comfort of their own homes speaks volumes.

A report surveyed by ECMC Group found Gen Z college students see a different future for themselves regarding education and work. They want to challenge the typical fouryear degree and design of higher education.

The idea of having Swift as the main subject of a course will introduce students to a new approach in education.

Harvard University is teaching their class under the English department, taught by professor Stephanie Burt for the first time in the spring of 2024. Titled “Taylor Swift & Her World,” nearly 300 students have enrolled, and many more are expected to be on the waitlist. The course focuses on the star’s upbringing, career trajectory and the comparison of her songwriting and lyrics to those of novelists such as James Weldon Johnson and Willa Cather.

On the other hand, the University of CaliforniaBerkeley is set to offer their business students an inside look at her entrepreneurial skills and how her artistry has skyrocketed her network from $550 million to $1.1 billion since the beginning of 2023. “Artistry and Entrepreneurship: Taylor’s Version,” will be offered in the spring of 2024 at the Haas School of Business.

Swift dominated 2023, making it by far her biggest year. From selling out stadiums on her 146-stop Eras Tour to re-releasing her third and fifth studio albums “Speak Now” and “1989,” respectively, she is unstoppable. Those constant career wins ultimately led to Swift being named TIME Magazine’s 2023 Person of the Year.

While there may never be a specific answer as to why universities decided to add classes exploring the global icon, it’s safe to say that no one is complaining.

In fact, it might be time the University of WisconsinMadison considers to follow in Harvard’s footsteps.

But… are they ready for it?

Hana Razvi is a junior studying journalism and strategic communication.

Do you agree that universities should be offering courses based on Taylor Swift? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com

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Badgers men’s hockey improves Big Ten record with sweep of Ohio State

By Ian Wilder SENIOR STAFF WRITER

TESSA BIANCHI/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Column: Sarah Franklin leads Badgers volleyball to another postseason run

By Annika Kandadai STAFF WRITER

Wisconsin Badgers volleyball senior outside hitter Sarah Franklin, a transfer from Michigan State, made her presence known this season as arguably one of the best hitters in not only the Big Ten but the entire nation.

Franklin averages 4.17 kills per set and is one of the highest scorers in the Big Ten. She is skilled at terminating from the outside, hitting at a percentage of .308 — an impressive number as an outside hitter, but even more so due to the fact she has done so against some of the best defenses in the country. Her high volleyball IQ and shot selection make it very hard to stop her as she is able to find the floor authoritatively time after time.

Alongside her dangerously terminal offensive ability, her ball control and defensive ability have been key to the Badgers’ success this season.

Her blocking ability from the left pin frustrates and shuts down other teams. She has

been a rock in serve receive all season as a solid, reliable passer. She is one of the team’s leaders in digs, moving with an agility that is almost remarkable at her height.

Franklin has only stepped up her play as the season’s gone on — over the course of a grueling Big Ten season, she w to hit .330 and averaged 4.39 kills per set. She’s done this while carrying a large weight of the Badger offense on her shoulders, averaging more than twice the swings of anyone else on the team. But that hasn’t stopped her as she continues to find success — being recently named Big Ten Player of the Week for the third time this season and is easily a top choice for Big Ten Player of the Year.

Franklin has been the hot hand for the Badgers numerous times this season and will continue to be their go-to player as they enter the NCAA Tournament this weekend. She was a crucial part to them earning the No. 3 overall seed and will very likely help lead this team deep into the tournament.

MEGHAN SPIRITO/THE DAILY CARDINAL

The Wisconsin Badgers men’s hockey team won both games against the Ohio State University (OSU) Buckeyes on Friday and Saturday.

The Badgers’ sweep brought their all-time series record against Ohio State back to a tie at 26-26-5. They’ll have a chance to retake the lead when they travel to Columbus in February.

In just eight games of conference play, the wBadgers have matched their six wins in the Big Ten from the end of last season. With the win on Saturday, the Badgers take second in the Big Ten with 18 points. Wisconsin narrowly trails the Michigan State Spartans, who also have 18 points but possess the headto-head advantage against the Badgers.

Friday’s game was a lot closer than the 3-0 scoreline might let on. The Badgers took an early lead as Zach Schulz put a rebound past Buckeye goaltender Logan Terness for his first NCAA goal.

Most of the plays made in game one were defensive. Kyle McClellan walked away with a shutout on 29 saves, his third of the season and the team’s fourth. William Gramme started on Saturday Nov. 25 to shut out Alaska Anchorage. “[We’re] feeding off of each other, we got a friendship going,” McClellan said after game one, dismissing any idea of a rivalry forming between the netminders. “It’s battling each and every day and as a duo so it’s been great.

Obviously, we got Benny [Garity], too, so it’s more of a friendly battle each and every day that makes it fun to come to the rink.”

The Badgers also posted a 22:29 block-to-save ratio. That

CAMERON SCHNEIDER/THE DAILY CARDINAL

means for almost every shot McClellan had to save, there was a defenseman sprawling out to stop the puck before it could get to him. Badgers captain Joe Palodichuk led the team with five blocks.

Head coach Mike Hastings noticed the contributions from his defensemen.

“From day one, we talked about trying to be selfless, and I think one of the most selfless acts you can do as a teammate is make sure a puck doesn’t get to your goaltender. Kudos to our defensive core for that,” Hastings said.

The Badgers sealed game one with two goals in the third period. Christian Fitzgerald scored his second goal of the season and the second point — with an assist in period one — of the game 13 minutes in the third. Cruz Lucius, who influenced the game every time he was on the ice, sealed the victory with an empty-net goal with 30 seconds to play.

Saturday’s game was a different story. Six Badgers scored six goals to take down the Buckeyes 6-1. Two of them

came on the power play, which had been missing the night before, and Owen Lindmark found the net shorthanded.

Kyle McClellan was within reach of a shutout again, but OSU scored a power-play goal to get one on the scoreboard this weekend. Nonetheless, McClellan received Big Ten Hockey’s first start of the week honors for his contributions to the series.

“It’s hard not to play the right way when you’ve got a guy back there playing the way that we’re playing right now,” Hastings said of McClellan after the series. “But I do think knowing that we have him back there… the guys don’t take it for granted and don’t put him out there and put him on his own little spot. I think [the] guys did a really good job of that tonight.”

The Badgers’ next game is Friday at the Kohl Center as they finish the six-game home stretch with two more Big Ten games against Penn State. Puck drop for game one is at 8 p.m.

AMILEAH SUTLIFF/THE DAILY CARDINAL

life & style Life & Style Wrapped: A fall 2023 Recap dailycardinal.com

Thursday, December 7, 2023

By Erin Mercuri and Hina Suzuki LIFE & STYLE EDITORS

The lives of University of Wisconsin-Madison students unfold in diverse and distinct ways. And as with everything else in life, no blueprint exists for how to be a Badger. Attending a public university in a bustling capital city, students have an expansive array of choices that allow them to shape their college journey in a way that is uniquely their own.

This is what The Daily Cardinal’s Life & Style writers aim to capture, and it is the reason why there is no definitive answer to the question of “what is Life & Style?”

Life & Style writers explore a wide range of experiences of being a Badger, whether in the capacity of a UW-Madison student or as a part of the wider Madison community.

For first-year students, the Life & Style desk may serve as a friendly guide for navigating their next stage in life in Madison.

From learning about how to pick your major to mastering how to dress in the harsh cold winter, the desk provides wisdom that assists them as they acclimate to

GRAPHIC BY TESS VOIGT/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Life & Style published 25 articles and had 57 writers on staff for the fall 2023 semester. their new environment.

For those who have been in Madison for a while, Life & Style articles are an encouragement to go explore and try something new. That may be going to the Crossing to enjoy a homemade meal from Slow Food UW or staying until the UW Marching Band’s Fifth Quarter. The articles invite students to continue discovering everything Madison and the university have to offer.

The Life & Style desk also provides a feeling of comfort and belonging by celebrating shared moments that come with being a student at UW-Madison.

The articles bothy recognize and embrace experiences that bring all of us together, whether it’s brief excitement sparked by rumors of Kendall Jenner’s visit or confusion and anxiety during the three-and-a-half-day UW Net shutdown.

And while all of these articles fall under the same desk, their authors each see Life & Style a little bit different.

In a survey, Cardinal writer Kaylie Wiedmeyer shared that, to her, Life & Style is “how people express themselves, both individually and within a community.”

During the Fall 2023 semester, the desk published 25 articles. Each article and writer brought their own unique per-

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spective, but one genre kept resurfacing — community.

UW-Madison and the city of Madison have a lot to offer Cardinal readers; the Life & Style desk strives to create a connection between the paper and the community.

That community reaches from the on-campus culture found in the deep rooted history of ‘Jump Around’ and other Badger songs to small businesses gathered on State Street for the Madison Night Market. The community even stretches east, outside of our campus bubble to local shops on Willy Street.

The desk is all about “highlighting the community, culture and people that make Madison what it is,” said Cate Schiller, incoming Life & Style editor.

All our college experiences are different, but we share more than meets the eye. Together, we make up parts of UW-Madison and the city of Madison, belonging and contributing to a shared community.

So, whatever Life & Style means to you, let this desk at The Daily Cardinal serve as your community and culture how-to and our writers as your personal guides.

That is a Life & Style wrap. We will see you in the spring, Badgers.

Technology, fashion in The Vault’s winter runway

By Madeline Wooten STAFF WRITER

Artificial intelligence, aviation, fiber optics and computer programming.

Different technologies are a part of our lives and are very different from the fashion world of fabric, sequins and threads.

On December 3rd, The Vault seamlessly intertwined the two into a jaw-dropping, mesmerizing fashion show influenced by cutting-edge technology in the Plenary Room, at Wisconsin School of Business.

Founded in early 2023, The Vault is a student-run organization at the University of Wisconsin-Madison that focuses on differing perspectives in the fashion industry. The Vault integrates fashion with other areas of study like business, marketing, communications and technology, according to Melina Zarboulas, The Vault Co-founder president.

The organization works to connect

members with professionals to help give students a jumpstart on their careers, Zarboulas said. The Vault has different committees besides fashion including finance, creativity, networking, and diversity, equity and inclusion.

Zarboulas founded the organization to “provide students with experiences that they can’t typically find in a classroom setting.”

“The camaraderie that they can find from other members in the club, hands-on interactions with industry professionals, and education about the business and fashion industries is unlike any other,” Zarboulas said.

“We really emphasize the value that anybody can get involved, regardless of their experience.”

The Vault’s winter fashion show — the first the organization has put on — took the audience through a vast

history showing how technology has revolutionized our lives today in every intricately designed piece.

From simple bolts and gears to technology used in submarines, host Daniella Orozco educated the audience on different types of technology as models strutted the runway showing off the different pieces created by student designers. Each model had a component of the technology in the design they wore.

Described by the president and vice president at the beginning of the show, The Vault wanted to have a lasting impact on their audience. By going through a history of each type of technology being shown to go with the models, the audience was able to learn and take away from the show.

“I was overwhelmed by how successful it was. I feel like it was so

PHOTO BY MADELINE WOOTEN/THE DAILY CARDINAL

The Vault is a new student-run organization that look at different perspectives of fashion.

great that we were able to educate our audiences and deconstruct the typical form of runway fashion, Zarboulas said. “The main mission of The Vault is to provide a unique lens on the fashion industry, and I feel like we really delivered that last night when we were able to warn about and simultaneously welcome in new technological advancements in society through the clothes and narration.”

Zaraboulas and Marlo Pulliam, The Vault co-founder and vice president, will be stepping down temporarily due to study abroad plans next semester.

Annelise McDonald and Vesa Lumani will take the roles as the new president and vice president. The duo said they plan to continue cultivating creativity in an inclusive, inspiring student organization here at UW-Madison.

PHOTO BY MADELINE WOOTEN/THE DAILY CARDINAL

The Vault hosted its first fashion show with a theme of technology.

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Ask Morgan, holiday special: How to deal with oversized trees, your boyfriend’s mom

By Morgan McCormack STAFF WRITER

Hey Morgan, I’m spending the holidays with my boyfriend’s family for the first time this year and I’m really excited, the only problem is his mother. I’ve met her a few times, and she’s always been cold and standoffish. Turns out she doesn’t like how I dress. The thing is I don’t even dress that weird, but she always makes snide comments about it. At this point, I don’t know if it’s actually my clothes or if she just doesn’t like me. What should I do?

Ah, a tale as old as time.

Sometimes it feels like your boyfriend’s mother is out to get you. Actually, sometimes it feels like any mother is out to get you. In fact, my own mother doesn’t like how I dress, but this sadly isn’t about me.

Listen, mothers have to go through a lot — society, patriarchy and failing marriages where their husbands talk about their secretaries a little too much. I am tempted to say cut her some slack. But if you don’t grow a backbone, what’s stopping you from becoming the mother that rips on the way their son’s girlfriend dresses in the future?

This is what you have to do. Calling her out is obviously out of the question because then you’re the bad guy. The only way to stop the comments is to have the source change her mind.

You may now say, “but I’ve tried everything!” Well, have you tried dressing like her?

Think about it — all you have to do is stalk her Facebook, make a style inspo Pinterest board and take a trip to Old Navy.

When she sees you this year looking like her twin, what’s she going to say?

Nothing negative, that’s for

sure. She’ll either be flattered and glad you listened to her comments or will be too stunned to even say anything. Either way is a win. I hope this helps!

Hey Morgan, my roommate put up this massive Christmas tree in our apartment, and it’s driving me crazy. First of all, it barely fits. I’ve run into it multiple times trying to go to the bathroom or the kitchen in the middle of the night. I also know it’s racking up our electrical bill because it’s wrapped with way too many lights. She seems like she really likes it and I don’t want to hurt her feelings by asking her to take it down, but I can’t take it anymore. What should I do?

This is a toughy because you don’t want to come across as a grinch not wanting to bask in the Christmas cheer or bright LED lights, but you still need to get that tree out of there.

Sometimes the only way to get rid of something is by causing a “little accident.” It’s like when I’m worried about not making any money with a creative writing degree, so I subtly butter my wealthy grandmother’s stairs. It hasn’t worked yet, but we’ll get there.

Anyway, let me shed some light on how to get rid of your problem. You say your tree is covered in those LED Christmas lights, right? Well, maybe one day when she’s in class, the lights begin to, I don’t know, “overheat” a bit. And let’s just say that, maybe, the tree starts on fire. A very small manageable controlled fire that only burns/melts the tree to the point it’s ruined.

Sure, your roommate will be upset. But she won’t be upset with you, which is all that really matters. If the fire does happen to get out of control, I hope you have renters insurance. Hope this helps!

COURTESY OF ALANS1948/FLICKR VIA CREATIVE COMMONS

ZOE BENDOFF/THE DAILY CARDINAL

snapper’s row A very merry Madison: Photos from a festive 2023 holiday season dailycardinal.com

Thursday, December 7, 2023

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MARY BOSCH/THE DAILY CARDINAL

MARY BOSCH/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Students decorate their dorm with wreath in Sellery Residence Hall.

The Holiday tree lights up the Wisconsin State Capitol after being lit on Dec. 2.

CHRISTOPHER HOVEL/THE DAILY CARDINAL

CHRISTOPHER HOVEL/THE DAILY CARDINAL

A car drives through the Madison Holiday Fantasy in Lights show at Olin Park.

A light fixture shines brightly at the Madison Holiday Fantasy in Lights show at Olin Park.

MARY BOSCH/THE DAILY CARDINAL

MARY BOSCH/THE DAILY CARDINAL

A tree and snowflakes light up the Lisa Link Peace Park on West Gilman and State Street.

A menorah's eight candles shine bright on Mifflin Street.

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16 Thursday, December 7, 2023 The Living Dead

by Hailey Johnson Bascom Buddies l

Holiday Dreams

Christmas Cardinal

by Paige Stevenson

Bikini Bucky

by Liam Beran Subzero Flamingo

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by Henry A. Moore

by Ellis Williams

by Henry A. Moore