Thursday, September 10, 2020 - The Daily Cardinal

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Thursday, September 10, 2020

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UW goes online

Bars close as COVID-19 cases spike

CITY NEWS EDITOR

STAFF WRITER

By Kate Van Dyke

UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank has elected not to heed requests from Dane County elected officials, instead opting to move to completely remote instruction from Sept. 10 to the 25.

The university released a statement late Wednesday night announcing the switch after Blank and Dane County Executive Joe Parisi exchanged statements regarding rising positive cases of COVID-19 among students earlier in the day.

In his public letter addressed to the Chancellor and UW System President Tommy Thompson, Parisi requested that UW-Madison send students in university housing home for the semester due to the increasing positive cases on campus which impact the greater Madison community.

Parisi expressed his concern about the Dane County daily infection rate being at an all time high — at least 74 percent of Dane County’s new Covid positive cases have been attributed to UW since Sept. 1.

“The University made the decision to proceed with holding classes this fall despite recommendations from local and national experts urging virtual only classes this semester,” Parisi said. “We all love our great University and what it brings to

our community. Unfortunately, given the pandemic, congregating these students has significantly impacted the capacity of the public health system, local public health efforts, and may impact the health of our community.”

As a result, Parisi asked that UW-Madison require undergraduates living in residence halls to move back home for the rest of this semester.

He also requested that officials establish more on-campus quarantine facilities, triple the number of UW Madison contract tracers within the next 30 days and increase testing capacity on campus.

UW Madison chancellor Rebecca Blank released a statement in response to Parisi’s request later on Wednesday.

“County Executive Parisi and I both share similar concern for the health and well-being of UW-Madison students and the residents of Dane County,” she said. “That is the primary reason we have instituted a robust testing regime — to ensure we knew about and could take action related to the spread of COVID-19.”

In her statement, Blank expressed that she believes that while cases are rising, they will soon return to normal as the university enters its two-week period of reduced activity for undergraduates.

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By Jackson Mozena As COVID-19 cases rise in Dane County, several bars in the downtown Madison area have shortened their hours or shut down entirely to prevent transmission among patrons and employees.

Since students returned to campus at the end of August, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Madison rose considerably with over 1,070 students and faculty testing positive — a figure that accounts for at least 74 percent of new cases since September 1.

The Kollege Klub, which city officials briefly closed in July after being linked to a string of infections from the virus, decided to temporarily close again, citing the recent uptick in cases as the reason for doing so.

The Double U, another bar frequented by UW-Madison students that was the subject of a viral video in May showing students lined up outside in close quarters, followed suit and shut their doors to customers for the last two nights.

Red Rock Saloon, The Church Key, Blue Velvet Lounge and Lucky’s 1313 Brew Pub have also temporarily closed.

“For the health and safety of our staff and customers, we are temporarily closing and taking a few days for our staff to be COVID tested and to do a deep clean,” Lucky’s said in a statement.

However, Lucky’s still expects to open its doors by next week.

In response to the surge of COVID-19 cases resulting from bars and in the downtown area, Dane county officials issued a warning to residents in the area.

“If you live or work in the area, you should assume you were exposed to COVID-19 and monitor yourself for symptoms.”

Madison Mayor RhodesConway also acknowledged the rising number of cases originating from the UW community and attributed student social gatherings as a primary cause for the spike.

“Let’s be frank, it’s parties. It’s people getting together to socialize and not taking the necessary precautions,” Rhodes-Conway said. “I

don’t think it’s in-person classes or people that are going to work that are causing infections, it’s people being irresponsible.”

However, while more and more bars are closing their doors, State Street Brats, which closed last week due to health concerns, has already re-opened.

“The days off allowed our entire staff to get tested and for us to give the entire space a thorough cleaning following all CDC standards,” the bar and restaurant announced on Wednesday. “We take covid concerns very seriously and are trying to be a respectful member of our community while also running a family owned business that needs local community support.”

ADDISON LATHERS/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Bars around Madison are closing as coronavirus cases rise further.

UW-Madison ‘Smart Restart’ plan neglects input from Teaching Assistants

By Gina Musso and Jessica Sonkin COLLEGE/CAMPUS NEWS EDITORS

UW-Madison’s approach to this semester was detailed in their Smart Restart Plan, which included everything from free on-campus testing, to physical distancing in classrooms to designated quarantine dorms. But, the plan neglected to acquire input from Teaching Assistants (TAs).

UW-Madison TAs are taking action in support of the #ScholarStrike to protest social inequality and the university’s Smart Restart Plan.

“The school did not ask for our opinion about opening the school and they’re not listening to our concerns now,” said Griffin Loya, a Ph.D student and teaching assistant in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

In response, teaching assistants have proposed an alternative plan for a “Safe and Moral Restart,” which urges for fully-

online classes, for the closure of dorms and on-campus housing until there are zero cases of COVID-19 for fourteen consecutive days and for UW-Madison to provide every Madison citizens

with free testing and contract tracing services.

Students and TAs have sent many emails and petitions to Chancellor Blank and Dean Olstad; these have also been

CLAIRE GRUMMON/THE DAILY CARDINAL

The TAA held a protest in order to amplify the opinions of TAs.

echoed by some departments, including The Wisconsin Black Student Union, Link-Madison, Sunrise Movement-Madison, Black Umbrella Global and Impact Demand.

The TAs did not support a full work stoppage, but a scholar strike that would include not responding to emails on Tuesday and Wednesday, joining the rally to defund the UWPD on Thursday, and showing support for the Madison chapter of Black Lives Matter. TAs also supported live streamed classes about racial inequality.

“We want to make sure our support can be heard nationally.

We are using our platform to show issues involving racism in Madison,” said Loya.

United Faculty and Academic Staff representative Hannah Eldridge describes Smart Restart as a “racial justice issue,” calling specific attention to BIPOC employees and low-wage university staff. In an

interview with Madison.com, Eldridge emphasizes the belief that UW-Madison lacks empathy toward organic diversity.

“We are protesting for many reasons, but they all come down to we are fighting for the equal treatment and equal opportunities for all students,” said Loya.

Students have also sent a petition to Chancellor Blank and Dean Olstad with a list of demands aimed at better supporting students of color. Some of these demands include the removal of the Abraham Lincoln monument, the removal of Chamberlin Rock and the defunding and eventual abolition of the UWPD. The petition, which has garnered over 2,800 signatures, did not originate from the TAA, but is a collaborative effort among groups located within the UW-Madison as well the greater Madison community.

“We are still developing a plan and will continue making our demands known until they are all met,” said Loya.

“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be

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Thursday, September 10, 2020

CDC eviction moratorium raises concerns

An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892

Evictions will be halted until the end of the year due to pandemic as people push to pass legislation. leave the residence halls is warranted at this time,” Blank said.

“The university has taken a number of actions to slow the spread of the virus and additional actions will be announced soon.”

Hours later, in an email sent to UW faculty, students and staff late Wednesday evening, Blank announced new guidelines alongside remote learning to slow oncampus spread of the virus.

“Given the high number of positive test results in Sellery and Witte Residence Halls, we have

places including University Libraries, the Wisconsin Union and academic buildings will be closed as well as University Recreation & Wellbeing facilities and University Health Services.

Dining services will provide carry-out only for Housing residents and staff and the Wisconsin Union will provide curbside food pickup only. Freshmen students quarantined in Sellery and Witte will be fed breakfast, lunch and dinner at specified times over the next two weeks.

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ing their jobs outright. That can cause huge problems for students who had already signed onto leases for the 2020-21 school year before the pandemic hit.

In Madison, an average 1-bed apartment on campus costs about $1,000 per-month according to data from the university — with the average falling to just above $500 per-month for a 5-bed apartment.

However, a 2016 study found that full-time independent students make an average of $13,000 per year, though most of that money is made by the top percent of independent students.

Before the pandemic even started, those numbers would suggest college students could pay up to 90 percent of their working wages just to live on campus. Now that jobs have become even more scarce, it could have huge implications on students when the moratorium is expected to lift in December. “[After losing the job] I had to leave Madison entirely because I didn’t have the money to pay for food, and that was a challenge,” Wozniak said. “Not seeing my friends for pretty much six months was definitely tough on me.”

He moved back to Madison when the new renting year started downtown on Aug. 14, but still didn’t have a way to make money to stay in the house he’d signed a lease for less than a month before the pandemic hit. Without a job, he would have again had to move home to make ends meet.

Some students on campus don’t even have the option to move home as Wozniak did, making their permanent residences downtown.

That could mean without jobs, or support the federal government, they could find themselves homeless in January.

“Finding a job right now is a lot of trial and error. There are a lot of disappointing endings, a lot of failed attempts,” he said. “A lot of it is because of the pandemic too — people who are hiring don’t necessarily want a complete outsider.”

In the end Wozniak was able to find a job the day before our interview, but he chalked it up to luck rather than his hard work.

“Really in the end I got very lucky, and one of my roommates found me a job where he works,” he said. “But if he didn’t find that for me, I would have been in a completely different situation.”

Resources and additional information can be found at the Tenant Resource Center in Madison, which helps adults and college students make rent. is helping both adults and college students make rent.

Answers to frequently asked questions from tenants and landlords can be found on the DATCP website.

By Nathan Denzin

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention introduced a new nationwide eviction moratorium Friday that would halt evictions due to unpaid rent until Dec. 31, 2020, to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Evictions in Wisconsin have been spiking this year in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. A CNBC report found that 34 percent of Wisconsin renters are or were at risk of eviction. Another recent report from the Howard Center of Investigative Journalism found that Milwaukee city and county tenants alone saw a surge in eviction filings in July — nearly 1,370 cases, up from only 15 in April.

The CDC’s new orders would allow renters to skip payments without fear of eviction.

However, missed rent will still accumulate and be due when the moratorium expires.

In order to be eligible, renters have to advocate for themselves by submitting a declaration to their landlord that states income has been lost due to the pandemic, among a number of other stipulations. According to the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, eligibility rules include: 1) A renter has used their “best efforts” to look for financial assistance.

2) The renter doesn’t expect to earn more than $99,000 in 2020 (or no more than $198,000 if filing jointly).

3) The renter can’t pay the full rent amount because of lost income, loss of hours at work, lay-offs or “extraordinary” medical expenses.

4) The renter has tried to pay as much of the rent in as timely a man-

ner as they can.

5) If evicted, the renter would likely become homeless and have to live in a shelter or some other crowded place.

It’s still unclear if any actions could be taken by landlords to contest declarations, or what recourse renters would have if landlords do contest.

No government rental assistance Because the order came from the CDC, and not from Congress, no stimulus relief can be distributed to either renters or landlords — which has upset advocacy groups on both sides.

“This new eviction moratorium is a helpful step for tenants facing evictions, but it’s an incomplete policy approach,” Mike Bare, who leads the Healthy Housing Initiative at the Community Advocates Public Policy Institute in Milwaukee, said in a report.

“Most federal assistance programs, both congressional and via executive actions, are set to expire by the end of the year,” he continued. “Lawmakers could help to prevent people from struggling with housing insecurity by making more assistance available for a longer period of time.”

Landlords in Wisconsin seem to agree with Bare, asking for the state legislature to reconvene to consider additional rental assistance.

“While the intention of keeping people in their homes is noble, any eviction moratorium must include rental assistance for property owners,” Helping Hand for Housing, a group that includes the Wisconsin Realtors Association, said in a release.

“In Wisconsin, the majority of those rental property owners are

smaller mom-and-pop investors,” the group said. “They need the rent to be paid; without it, they in turn can’t cover mortgage, taxes and maintenance expenses. We encourage Congress to immediately pass legislation that will provide emergency rental assistance funds directly to housing providers.”

The fear is that without rental assistance, evictions will spike again in January when the moratorium expires — which could leave many Wisconsinites homeless during the coldest months of the year.

College students living on the edge Before the pandemic even started, nearly a third of college students already had trouble paying for basic necessities, working an average of under 15 hours a week.

Since Mar. 13 when the country ground to a halt, The Hope Center found that number jumped to about 60 percent of students struggling to get by. According to their data, 15 percent of college students are already functionally homeless due to the pandemic.

Christopher Wozniak, a student at Madison College, suddenly found himself without a job in March after holding his position as a groundskeeper at the school for nearly two years.

“At one point the school just told everyone to stay home, and stop coming to work,” he said. “We were paid at a lower rate [while at home] for a little while, but eventually the school ran out of money to pay us and I had to leave the job.”

Wozniak isn’t alone. The Hope Center found that only 36 percent of college students saw no change in their employment status through the summer, with the majority los-

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She addressed Parisi’s request to triple the number of UW Madison contact tracers and increase testing capacity, noting that UW has “significant testing capacity,” dozens of contact tracers and over 1,000 spaces for students in need of isolation or quarantine.

Blank also responded to Parisi’s request to move students out of the dorms for the semester.

“The university does not believe that asking students to

directed all residents in these buildings to quarantine in place for the next two weeks effective at 10 p.m. this evening,” Blank said.

“All residents of these halls who have not already been tested this week will be required to test on Thursday and Friday. University Health Services (UHS) will conduct these tests on-site.”

Blank also specified that students in the dorms “are NOT being asked to move out of the residence halls or leave town.”

In addition, all in-person study

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Job search during COVID-19 reveals another challenge

By Ashley Obuljen STAFF WRITER

One night in March, UW-Madison senior Alexis Terry overheard students discussing the possibility of UW-Madison closing campus for the rest of the semester due to the spread of the novel coronavirus as she worked in the library.

Terry was stunned. She never imagined school would close, not to mention the two part-time jobs that supported her were on campus.

Soon that possibility became a reality and Terry was forced to go back to her hometown of Milwaukee the following weekend, unable to continue working, but with the rent still due on her Madison apartment.

“I still had rent. I had bills,” Terry said. “I’m a person who’s self-sufficient.”

Terry is not an outlier. The class of 2020 is already experiencing historic economic hardship, entering a crisis-rattled job market.

Pandemic-driven fiscal stressors may beget long-term adversity for recent college graduates, especially students of color.

At home, Terry started applying for post-graduation jobs while she juggled a 16-credit course load to fulfill requirements for her Life Sciences Communication major and digital studies certificate, along with an independent research project — a difficult task even without the added obstacle of a pandemic. She estimates she applied for 300 jobs from November 2019 to July 2020.

“I got all of the business cards that were at the bottom of my backpack and started typing people’s names [into LinkedIn],” Terry said.

“I didn’t know it would be a COVID19 job market.”

Terry’s friends thought her fullforce networking tactics were a bit extreme, but as a Black first-generation college student, she was determined, especially since she lost her main sources of income when the campus closed. She began to sell her clothes through Poshmark, just to stay afloat financially.

“My whole purpose of going to college was so I can get a good-paying job and so I can support myself and my family,” Terry said. “When I passed the 150 [applications] mark, I was like ‘What was the point of college?’ I really was questioning my whole four years.” The job search process was mentally and emotionally draining for Terry. She noticed fellow recent graduates who lacked robust resumes landing high-paying positions and began to wonder if the new COVID-19 economy was not the only factor preventing her from receiving job offers. She became concerned algorithms were filtering her out based on her race and the languages she speaks.

“I was thinking, ‘Am I being racially profiled?’” Terry said. She made a new “European-focused” Indeed profile that did not include her ethnicity and only listed English and Dutch in the language fluency section, though she is fluent in Spanish as well. The majority of connections she made through Indeed, Terry explained, were sparked by her Dutch-speaking abilities.

Terry eventually received requests for in-person interviews once the Wisconsin Supreme Court overturned Gov. Tony Evers’ saferat-home order and Milwaukee businesses began to reopen. However, she turned them down in fear of contracting COVID-19 from an office

and infecting her elderly grandmother, who she visits frequently.

Terry said she felt disrespected when hiring committees did not offer her a virtual interview option.

“I can’t risk coming to an interview and not being guaranteed a job. That’s not worth the risk for me,” Terry said. “If you can’t respect me as a person, then maybe this just isn’t the job for me.”

Finally, in late July, Terry secured a full-time science writing position at a biotechnology company. The position, which she landed through a LinkedIn connection, is remote.

Terry said she feels fortunate that she was able to negotiate her starting salary to “somewhere in the middle” of the amount she was initially offered and the amount she asked for.

“I feel like with the pandemic, things would’ve been different for sure,” Terry said.

Terry’s experiences with possible racial profiling and eliminated income sources are not isolated, however.

“There’s this anxiety over COVID, and on top of that, there’s also the anxiety over racial discrimination,” said Mfonobong Ufot, a recent Black UW-Madison graduate. “A lot of Black and Brown students have had to deal with not only the global pandemic, but also deal with racism.”

Ufot was a house fellow working in the dorms before she was laid off amid domestic coronavirus outbreaks.

“It was just emails after emails, contradicting information after contradicting information,” Ufot said. “No one really knew what was going on.”

According to Ufot, UW-Madison Housing staff lost their full-time positions when many students living in the dorms did not return to campus after spring break. House Fellows were expected to sign up for limited individual shifts.

“Income got slashed,” Ufot said.

“I needed to remove myself from that situation.”

Ufot left the dorms, but had a paid internship that remained consistent with hours and compensation; she described the stipend as “a life-saver.”

Ufot originally planned to join the Peace Corps in January 2021, but began applying to jobs after noticing volunteers in ongoing Peace Corps programs had been sent home.

Initially, Ufot admits, she was applying for positions that did coincide with her long-term career goals; hiring freezes had limited her options.

“It felt I was making a choice to put my career on hold and just get whatever as a placeholder,” Ufot said. “But I started being like ‘No, I don’t need to do this. I can start applying for things that are more geared to what I want to do in life and things that wouldn’t be just a job, but would be a foundation for a career.’”

Terry and Ufot are not the only recent graduates bludgeoned by the COVID-19 economy.

“If you look historically, the people who enter the job market when there is a recession essentially start out doing worse,” UW-Madison professor of economics Barbara Wolfe said. “But they never really close the gap” between themselves and those who enter the job market during economic prosperity.

The class of 2020 is expected to

experience financial hardships similar to burdens borne by the class of 2008, which joined the workforce during and shortly following the collapse of America’s housing market. Recent graduates searching for full-time positions could be forced to compete with recently unemployed Millennials and Generation Xers, who hold significantly more work experience.

“When young adults exit college during a recession, there’s some really strong evidence that not only is it more difficult for them to find

positions. The emergency relief bill also ends on Sept. 30th and it is currently unclear whether payment suspensions will be extended or if other executive action will be taken within the next four weeks. Black students are more likely to have student loans, so they are more likely to be impacted by the pandemic’s economic fallout, Addo added.

“Being in a financial position where you have to work puts you in a position where you’re more at risk,” Ufot said. “It tends to be more Black, Brown and indigenous stu-

the economic payoff for enrolling in graduate school is dependent on a student’s career path. Those who receive a master’s in business, for example, have higher chances of gaining enough compensation to pay off graduate school debt than those who receive a master’s in public health. Those entering the finance and accounting fields are more likely to be recruited for fulltime positions months prior to their graduations, while recruitment for education and arts jobs usually occur in spring semesters, career

COURTESY OF UW-MADISON

As UW students graduate, they face new challenges in job-hunting during the COVID-19 pandemic. jobs, the jobs that they end up taking have lower salaries that have long-term implications for the rest of their career trajectories and their salary trajectories compared to cohorts that leave school when there isn’t a recession,” UW-Madison professor of consumer science Fenaba Addo explained.

The class of 2008 salary trend line may look similar to others, for example, but slashed entry-level wages create a wealth gap between graduating classes. The 2008 financial crisis and the ongoing unemployment crisis are not entirely comparable, however.

“There were policy-based solutions” to the 2008 crisis, Addo said, to “help the economy and restore a little bit of faith.” The current situation, in contrast, is driven by an ongoing pandemic.

“There’s so much uncertainty around when the vaccine will come,” Addo said. “I think people are operating under a very different system and are trying to make decisions based on this uncertainty.”

Perhaps the scariest part of this 2020 recession is the absence of a timeline. It’s unclear when the pandemic will end, but it’s safe to say recent graduates are already feeling the effects. And this is especially true for people of color.

“Who’s going to be able to weather the economic downturn are people who already have wealth,” Addo explained. “And those are disproportionately more likely to be white households.”

The CARES Act temporarily suspended payments, interest and collections on all government-held federal student loans. However, the stimulus bill only applied to federal loans, leaving students borrowers with private loans in precarious

dents of color — on campus, that is just the reality.”

Black and Latino college students are more likely to be from low-income families and rely on part-time jobs. Black people with college degrees are also more likely to be unemployed than graduates of other races.

Young Black college graduates had an unemployment rate of 9.4 percent in 2016 — higher than the peak unemployment rate for young white college graduates (9.0 percent) in 2011 during recovery from the 2008 financial crisis, according to the Economic Policy Institute.

“You can die and your family will either be rich or poor,” Terry said.

“With Black and Brown populations, I feel like the intergenerational wealth isn’t there.”

Terry grew up as a low-income student in the Milwaukee Public School system during the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. She was able to witness socio-economic intersections with race first-hand.

“My worst nightmare is to go through that again,” Terry said.

“I don’t know what the future will hold.”

Though UW-Madison economics professors and career experts predict long-term economic hardship for the class of 2020 as a whole, there are ways for recent graduates to build up resumes and create desirable profiles while unemployed.

“The best thing you can do is go to grad school,” Wolfe said. “The opportunity cost of taking another couple of years to get a graduate degree for the class of 2020 is very low because the opportunities are not good.”

Wolfe pointed out, however, that

expert Patricia Mullins explained.

“They pretty much dried up,” Mullins said of positions in artistic and educational fields. Though aware the class of 2020 is unlikely to recover from the COVID-19 economy entirely, Mullins advised recent graduates unable to secure immediate full-time entry-level positions to consider working available parttime jobs, start small businesses or nonprofits and even learn new languages. The value of these activities can be hidden, Mullins explained; a simple part-time job could turn into a relevant pandemic story to tell in future interviews.

“You have to think outside the box,” Mullins said. She encouraged recent graduates to ask, “What can I do now that can add to my skills?” Being creative during this time, Mullins explained, can demonstrate personal value to prospective employers.

“Keep networking, even in areas where there aren’t jobs,” Mullins said. “Prepare for a slower hiring process.”

Though the COVID-19 pandemic eliminated many job opportunities for graduates, Wolfe said, the class of 2020 may find themselves unexpectedly pulled into careers in public health, healthcare and food sustainability.

There could be an overlooked glimmer of hope for the class of 2020: an urge to heal and improve systems after a devastating pandemic.

“There’s a lot more awareness of a lot of the failures we have, whether it has to do with racial inequalities, wealth inequalities, access to healthcare,” Wolfe said. “And all those opportunities mean that there should be a lot of interesting jobs out there.”

sports Wisconsin Lands Five-Star Rucci dailycardinal.com

By Dexter McCann STAFF WRITER

Wisconsin has been recruiting at unprecedented levels as of late, but even the most optimistic of fans couldn’t have imagined a coup like this.

Five-star offensive tackle Nolan Rucci committed to Wisconsin Tuesday over the likes of Penn State, Ohio State, Clemson, Notre Dame, and Michigan. He held an offer from practically every blue blood program, and is rated by 247Sports as the 5th best offensive lineman in the country.

Besting those schools would have been impressive in and of itself. However, this recruitment had an extra twist. Todd Rucci, Nolan’s father, was a standout offensive lineman for Penn State in the 1990s. Nolan’s mother, Stacy, was an all-american field hockey player for the Nittany Lions. And, to top it all off, Rucci lives in Lititz, Pennsylvania, just two hours from State College.

Penn State has prioritized Rucci’s recruitment for years, and it seemed unthinkable that he’d spurn the Nittany Lions given his family’s rich history at the school.

But, as it happened, Wisconsin had their own X-factor in the recruitment. Nolan’s brother Hayden, a tight end, is entering his redshirt freshman year with the Badgers. Unlike Nolan, he

September 10, 2020

was not offered by Penn State, and instead cultivated a relationship with Micky Turner, Joe Rudolph, Paul Chryst, and the rest of the Wisconsin coaching staff, eventually becoming part of the Badgers’ vaunted class of ‘19.

When Hayden went through his recruitment process, his little brother Nolan, then just an eighth grader, was at his side for every step. That gave Wisconsin’s coaches the chance to build a relationship with both brothers, and Nolan got to know the ins and outs of the Badger program before he first appeared on the national radar.

That was before Nolan grew into a 6’8”, 295 pound behemoth, before his All-American awards, and before the recruiting services recognized him as a five-star prospect, a designation reserved for the very best players in the country.

Even as Rucci’s recruitment blew up, and Penn State, Clemson, Alabama, and Ohio State began taking interest, Nolan’s relationship with the Wisconsin coaching staff never waned.

That relationship, and the chance to play alongside his brother, helped make Nolan’s decision an easier one.

“Starting from Rudy [Joe Rudolph] back so long ago, I think the relationships I’ve developed with the staff have been huge. I’ve loved the staff

every step of the way. The fact that they’ve stuck together and been there so long has been huge for me,” Rucci told Jesse Temple of The Athletic.

five-star in the class of ‘20.

Wisconsin’s impressive additions in the trenches have been at the heart of an overall positive recruiting trend that has seen

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that’s likely to drop as national signing day approaches, a top-25 spot is nearly guaranteed.

The members of those record breaking classes believe they can

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Rucci chose Wisconsin over offers from Penn State, Clemson, Ohio State, Notre Dame, and Michigan.

Rucci’s commitment only adds to an extremely impressive stable of young offensive linemen. Since 2019, Wisconsin has signed seven blue-chip (four or five star recruits) players on the offensive line, including Logan Brown, a fivestar in the class of ‘19, and Jack Nelson, rated by 247Sports as a

the program break its classranking record (per 247Sports) three years in a row. In 2018, Wisconsin’s class ranked 48th in the country. In 2019, that improved to 29th, and in 2020, the Badgers reached 26th. With Rucci’s commitment, Wisconsin has rocketed up to 16th nationwide for the class of ‘21, and while

be the group to push Wisconsin into the college football playoff for the first time.

“As far as getting over the hump and having the chance to play for a national title, I think the guys in our class can be the ones to push it over the edge,” Rucci told 247Sports.

Bucks dominated in conference semis by Heat, lose series 4-1

By Anthony Trombi STAFF WRITER

Jimmy Butler and the Miami Heat advanced to the Eastern Conference finals Tuesday, as Giannas Anteokumpo and The Bucks could only sit and watch.

This defeat of the top overall seed in the playoffs--and a league-best 56-17 record in the regular season--came with Milwaukee’s star player sitting on the sideline.

Still, with Antetokounmpo out for the last game, how could an upset of this fashion happen in the first place?

Jimmy Butler set the stage in game one by throwing up 40 points on 13/20 shooting from the field. His performance paired nicely with point guard Goran Dragic, who scored 27 points and went 9/15 from the field

“We are disappointeed with the judgement and decision and timing.”

Mike Budenholzer Bucks Coach

KATIE SCHEIDT/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Giannis Antetokounmpo (above) was unfit to play game five (ankle).

himself in the series opener.

Antetokounmpo scored only 18 points, prompting others to step up. The Bucks put up a strong fight with Khris Middleton scoring 28 points and Brook Lopez adding 24 of his own. Ultimately, the Bucks went down 115-104.

In game two, it was Goran

Dragic stepping up for the Heat, scoring 23 points to go along with five rebounds and four assists. Jimmy Butler also put up 13 points, including the game-winning free throw to push the Heat past the Bucks 116-114. There was a controversial end with two questionable foul calls that decided the outcome of the game. Despite the calls, Antetokounmpo tallied 29 points and 14 rebounds, yet it was not enough to push past the Heat.

“We are disappointed with the judgment and decision and timing,” Mike Budenholzer said in regards to the fouls in a postgame interview. “It’s a tough job…we’re going to disagree but we gotta shift our attention to game 3.”

Down 2-0, the Bucks needed a win to turn the series around or they would face a nearimpossible 3-0 deficit. In a hardfought game, Miami surpassed Milwaukee 115-100. Jimmy Butler scored 17 of his 30 points in the final frame and the Heat outscored the Bucks 40-13 to pull away with a third-consecutive victory. It was the biggest fourthquarter margin in NBA playoff history. Bam Adebayo had 20 points and 16 rebounds, Jamison Crowder had 17 points, and Brook Lopez scored 22. Antetokounmpo fired back with 21 points and 16 rebounds despite twisting his ankle in the 1st.

In a post-game interview after game 3, when asked about his injury, Antetokounmpo responded, “It feels great, I could play more.”

In a win-or-go-home game for the Bucks, they were able to come through in a close 118-115 overtime win to take game four.

Khris Middleton stepped up and showed why he was an All-Star Forward by scoring 36 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists, all while hitting clutch shots. He had some major help, too, as Eric

“We are waiting to see wat we get out of Toronto and Boston. It’s 0-0 now. We got eight more to get.”

Jimmy Butler Miami Heat

Bledsoe and Lopez combined to score 24 points. Antetokounmpo also added 19 points in only 11 minutes until his injury forced him to sit out of the contest.

A tired, worn-out Bucks team with Antetokounmpo sitting on the sidelines fell to the Heat 10394 in game five, giving the Heat a 4-1 series victory. With such a good regular season team, it was quite shocking to see them defeated by the underdog Heat.

“We are waiting to see what we get out of Toronto and Boston,” Jimmy Butler stated in a post-game interview after Game 5. “It’s 0-0 now. We got eight more to get.”

arts Keeping up with absolutely nothing dailycardinal.com

By Zoe Klein STAFF WRITER

As many of us turn to movies and television as a source of escape from the overwhelming events going on around us, finding the right mindless content can feel like a chore.

I’ve found that in the past few months, I have had a hard time grappling with the events of the world and then choosing to watch a movie that makes the audience question the existence of life. Instead, I’ve found myself knee deep in Disney movies, the magical world of Harry Potter and the holy grail of mindless TV itself: reality television.

In no means is reality TV there to inform the public on important issues, at least beyond Karen sleeping with Chad behind Jen’s back. The genre honestly should be called “Anti-Reality TV,” or “Actual People Living in FantasyLand TV.” However, reality TV provides a certain level of mindless escape from the crippling anxiety that living through a global pandemic, amongst all of society’s other plights, has brought upon 2020.

There is something enticing about being able to turn on a

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program and view it simply just to view it; not watching something to perfect your curated LetterBoxd profile or to become a connoisseur in every niche subject matter. In some ways, having 45 minutes of blissful ignorance

who clearly live in their own world so far removed from actual life, reality TV is for you. It provides the laughs, the tears, the drama, sugar, spice and everything nice.

Put down the newspaper,

ships, there are always the classics: “The Bachelor,” “The Bachelorette” and “Love Island.”

These bring in dozens of beautiful men and women to live in a house and more or less compete for “eternal love”… as

TOMMY GARICA/BRAVO/NBCU PHOTO BANK VIA GETTY IMAGES

Bravo's "Vanderpump Rules" follows Beverly Hills' own Lisa Vanderpump and SUR staff through their daily lives. serves as a form of self-care…. To shut out the rest of the world for a small minute and even have a laugh at how absurd the lifestyle many of these people live is.

If you like beautiful people

close out your email, pick up a bowl of popcorn and strap in your seatbelt for an episode or two — you’ll need it for the ride that these people take you on.

For dating and relation-

if it works like that, but nonetheless, they are more than entertaining.

Netflix has also released two dating reality shows over the past few months: “Love is

5

Blind” and “Too Hot to Handle.”

Both place the contestants in their own bubble, cut off from outside influence and feature completely ludicrous conditions; i.e. getting engaged to people you’ve never seen after three days or getting paid $1,000,000 to abstain from sexual activity for four weeks.

My personal favorites are the documentary style reality tv shows that follow the lives of a cast in their everyday lives. More specifically, “Vanderpump Rules,” “Below Deck” and of course, the original stars of reality TV, the cast of “Jersey Shore.”

Just this past week, one of reality TV’s most coveted chaotic family’s announced their goodbye to the scene. The Kardashians will air their last season early 2021.

There are also travel, lifestyle, legal and more types of reality tv shows. Pretty much whatever you can think of, it’s probably out there.

So while I’m not necessarily recommending that these types of shows should start winning Oscars for life-changing, outstanding performances, I think there are claps to be given for the brief recess from everyday life they can bring.

What in the world goes on in Christopher Nolan’s mind? ‘Tenet’ might be a slightly good indicator

By John Bildings STAFF WRITER

“Don’t try to understand it. Feel it.”

It’s a simple request “Tenet” asks from viewers early in its 151-minute runtime, and if you can suspend disbelief, envelop yourself in whatever is happening, and handle feeling your brain melt right before your own eyes — it may just be a mission you can hopefully try to complete.

As the anticipation for Christopher Nolan’s first feature film since 2017 has grown in recent weeks, I’ve tried

PHOTO VIA MELINDA SUE GORDON

John David Washington stars as the protagonist in 'Tenet.' my absolute hardest to avoid reading, listening or examining anything that may have inclined my brain in any particular direction before walking into the theatre Thursday night. We all know what to expect from Nolan by now — stunning set pieces, unbelievable cinematography and even more complicated story constructions that would make a philosopher throw his hands up in frustration and walk away in disgust.

This is the visionary who revealed the world of dreams through “Inception,” spearheaded the most realistic superhero franchise ever in the “Dark Knight” Trilogy and even transported us back to the beaches of Nazioccupied France in “Dunkirk.” If anyone alive could

build a globe-trotting, espionage thriller that bends the concepts of space, time and thermodynamics — it’s him.

That’s what makes the film so incredibly satisfying, yet endlessly frustrating all at the same time.

“Tenet” stars John David Washington (HBO’s “Ballers,” “Black KKKlansman”) as a figure known only as “The Protagonist” to audiences, a CIA agent who begins the film in the middle of a failed SWAT operation upon a Russian opera house and soon discovers that the mission he believed he was accepting couldn’t be any further from the truth.

When he awakens, he finds himself in the hands of the eponymous organization, and realizes he needs to track down the clues behind a piece of technology that could cause global annihilation.

He works with a fellow Bond-like character named Neal, played by Robert Pattinson, to unravel the full extent of the mission.

They quickly come into the crosshairs of Russian oligarch and arms dealer Andrei Sator, played by Kenneth Branagh, who will stop at nothing to see his own plans for the world come to fruition.

To try and explain what exactly (I think) happens in this movie would be foolish – Nolan refuses to let audiences fully enter the world he’s created, and he seemingly strives to make us question our collective intelligence whenever he releases his latest film.

Shots cut, scenes transition and characters change so rapidly, one moment standing in Mumbai streets, the next a picturesque view of the Vietnamese coastline that the viewer has virtually no time to make sense of what’s happening and should just try to hang on for as long as possible instead of solving what the mystery entails.

This confusion is only doubled through Nolan’s frustrating inability to comprehend how sound mixing is supposed to work, amplifying background noise during key moments of exposition and obscuring the dialogue between characters so greatly that it makes what semblance of a plot exists even more perplexing.

Pattinson, who brought another charming, diverse character to the extensive list he’s built since the fateful “Twilight” films, paired well both Washington and Elizabeth Debicki (“Widows”), who played Andrei’s estranged wife named Kat. Without the work of these talented actors, the movie would be borderline unwatchable beyond the visual spectacle I was treated to.

But boy, what a visual spectacle it was.

Numerous action sequences, perfectly executed with

PHOTO CREDIT VIA WARNER BROS.

Robert Pattinson and Washington pair up as a spy duo. reliance upon the unnamed technological McGuffin that drives the film’s plot, will leave you breathless from the start and refuse to let go until the final moments arrive.

One scene in particular, wherein Neal, The Protagonist and a character named Mahir (played by Himesh Patel who starred in “Yesterday”) develop a scheme to crash a jet into a runway terminal to steal valuable cargo from airport security, was unlike anything I’ve seen put to the big screen in years.

It simply blew away the CGI-laden additions to the Marvel franchise and making the DCEU’s set pieces quiver in fear at the power of Nolan’s immense set design skills.

Cinematographer Hoyte van Hoytema’s keen eye provides you with more than the price of admission if you can ignore the bonkers storyline, while composer Ludwig Göransson’s (“Black Panther”) haunting score pair perfectly with a blend of synthetic tones and pounding bass that will send chills down audience’s spine during the quieter and (much) louder parts of the film.

I’m no music-head by any means, but I know a memorable score when I hear it. This will be something you’ll consider throwing on as you work out in the morning, tackle the rigorous demands of online classes and potentially contemplate life’s meaning at 3 a.m. — as one does.

As I sat down to write this, I knew — like my much smaller brain — that I wouldn’t be able to put “Tenet” to justice with words. It’s like a car crash on the side of the highway that you can’t explain, but also can’t quite look away from — requiring you to live in the moment and see it unfold before it can be analyzed many times over to figure out what exactly is happening.

If you’re comfortable venturing out beyond the confines of your home for the first time in months to see this movie, stay for the sizzle and ignore the steak altogether. You’ll find a beautiful disaster that should be seen on the biggest screen possible — with a mask of course.

almanac How to go to bars during a pandemic 6

Thursday, September 10, 2020

dailycardinal.com

GRAPHIC BY JORDAN SIMON GRAPHIC BY JORDAN SIMON

By Haley Bills The COVID-19 pandemic has created a host of new situations that the world is still learning how to adapt to. For instance, how should schools approach reopening their classrooms? What are options for people to vote safely in upcoming elections?

Should sports teams plan on making a comeback?

One situation that has not received ample attention, however, is the issue of bargoing. The affair has been completely thrown for a loop by the pesky coronavirus, but lucky for you, I have comprised the perfect etiquette and style guide to help you through these unprecedented times.

1. Don’t bother matching your mask with your outfit Have you seen the lines at The Double U and Wandos?

Every second is precious as you prepare for your departure to the front lines. Therefore, there is absolutely no point in wasting any time attempting to find a mask that will match your going-out outfit. I mean let’s be real, the mask won’t be on for long anyways.

2. Share your experience on social media Not everyone can say they

go to bars during a pandemic.

It would be downright tragic for you to miss the opportunity of plastering the experience all over social media.

This will also help you to assert dominance over your non-bar-going followers: you are way cooler than them, and they need to know that!

3. Be LOUD You are so brave for going to the bars <3. Make your presence known to anyone who tragically decided to live nearby. Own that UU patio by screaming at the top of your lungs. Maintain an obnoxiously loud volume during your commute to and from the bar to achieve maximum effectiveness.

Tips to follow after your night out: 1. Rideshare home Don’t stop the party just because it’s closing time.

Order an Uber or Lyft for your return home, and try to cram in as many of your annoying, drunk friends as possible. Harass your naive driver until they surrender the aux, and blast some bops!

This will also help simulate the more cramped conditions of pre-pandemic bars, and with a little imagination, even the beloved frat parties that we so miss.

2. Share an infographic about COVID-19, social dis-

tancing or some shit like that Unfortunately, we cannot ignore that a certain stigma has attached itself to the act of bar-going once COVID19 hit. But that’s nothing an infographic can’t fix. To avoid being held accountable for your actions, find and post a cute diagram that illustrates the sharp increase of COVID-19 cases on campus. This will not only show that you have some sort of awareness of the pandemic that has killed hundreds of thousands of people, but it will give you a façade of someone who gives a shit about other people even if your actions last night might suggest otherwise.

3. Don’t waste any time getting tested for COVID-19 Subjecting yourself to a COVID-19 test will only hinder your ability to return to bars. Test results usually take a few days, and legend has it, you’re supposed to avoid others until you know for sure that you’re negative.

But either way, ignorance is bliss in this situation. I mean, god forbid you receive a positive test result! That would mean no bars for at least 10 days… that is unless you’re a real party animal.

Area robot faces backlash for “Starship Lives Matter” tweet

By Jordan Simon Controversy has mounted recently in response to a tweet

by Starship robot F13G78A2, who simply goes by Helen.

After tweeting — and then deleting — a post on Thursday which read “Starship Lives Matter,” many have spoken out saying that the tweet was offensive and inappropriate.

Helen has defended her statements and said that she only took the tweet down

because she was getting so much backlash.

“Robots experience racism too!” Helen exclaimed. “The only difference is we haven’t been militant anarchist terrorists who go around destroying the city. I’m no racist, but these people just seem to be protesting the wrong way.”

While it is true that Helen isn’t racist, since we asked Helen if she was racist and she said no, it has also been noted that the Starship fleet is very white. In fact, the cam-

pus fleet is 100 percent white.

So now that we think about it again, it is possible that Helen is racist.

We tried to find various black people on the street to comment on the matter, but after many glares, stunned faces and racism allegations, we decided it was inappropriate to single people out based on their skin color. We did, however, learn a valuable lesson about racial profiling … we think. #getwoke

With decline in number of students lost in Humanities labyrinth, Minotaur from third floor using newfound free time

By Jordan Simon In a typical semester, the Humanities Building Minotaur, Pete McChompsalot (A.K.A. Sir Chompsalot, AKA. Peter the Student Eater, AKA. 2Chompz), has a full schedule ripping arms and biting heads off of all the lost students of Humanities who cross his path on the third floor.

However, since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic which forced the majority of classes to go online, McChompsalot has been severely starved for activity.

At first, McChompsalot simply tried mutilating bugs and insects, as well as the occasional small rodent which got lost in the building, but it was immediately clear that this would not fill the void of aggressively obliterating innocent and unsuspecting students to absolute bits and pieces. As a result, McChompsalot was forced to get creative in his search for a new pastime, but after trying his hand in break dancing and a brief stint in opera, McChompsalot still felt a void of unfulfillment inside.

“It was truly a difficult time

in my life,” said McChompsalot.

“However, I took the time to do some deep self-reflection and realized that romance was what I felt missing in my life, and that finding love was the only thing that could fill the void I felt inside.”

Ever since his realization, McChompsalot has fully shifted focus toward finding a kind and loving half-human, halfcow companion. He has made a personal profile on Kinder, a dating app for mythological creatures that eat children, and even made an effort to go to Minotaur singles nights around town to meet people the old fashioned way (it should be noted that mythological creatures cannot contract COVID-19 … those bastards).

“I am quite optimistic for this new chapter in my life,” McChompsalot added. “And who knows, maybe when things return to normal and people start getting lost in the Humanities Building again, I’ll have a beautiful lady Minotaur to accompany me as I bite the heads off of unsuspecting students.”

GRAPHIC BY JORDAN SIMON

opinion UW’s ‘Smart Restart’ is anything but dailycardinal.com

By HALEY BILLS SENIOR STAFF WRITER

No matter the number of hand sanitizer stations, hybrid classes or Badger Pledges, there is no “Smart Restart” for the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

On March 11, there were approximately 278 newly recorded COVID-19 cases in the United States and four in Wisconsin. UW-Madison sent students home and suspended face-toface instruction tentatively until April 10. By March 17, following Governor Evers’ prohibition of gatherings of more than 50 people in Wisconsin, Chancellor Blank announced the complete shift to virtual instruction, moving as many students and employees off campus as possible.

Governor Evers’ order forced an extension of virtual instruction until the end of the semester, making it unclear if the University would have decided to reopen by its own accord on April 10. Despite this, in both of their announcements, the University cited “the seriousness of this outbreak” and even included a wish for students to “stay healthy.” Though these were only small inclusions within largely informational messages, perhaps the University really did have their students’ best wishes in mind when closing for the Spring semester.

But on June 17, when new daily cases reached 22,834 in the U.S. and 290 in Wisconsin, the University did a full 180 by announcing its “Smart Restart” plan to reopen in the fall.

This news seemed to negate the University’s reasoning behind its fullout closure during the spring; after all, the seriousness of the COVID-19 situation, if measured by number of cases, had multiplied by over 72 in Wisconsin and by over 147 in the country. Not to mention, the number

Thursday, September 10, 2020

of cases were still sitting on a relatively steep upward-trend on both scales.

If that were not enough, the decision seemed to exploit BIPOC communities by citing their recent “pain and struggle” without fully acknowledging equity issues posed

by COVID-19. In another announcement, the university comments on their past actions to address financial effects, including their attempt to shield lower wage employees and their plan to reach out to lower-income students to assess their needs for the fall semester. However, they fail to acknowledge the longstanding health and social discrimination that has caused people from racial and ethnic minorities to be at an increased risk of contracting and dying of the virus.

Further, by citing “the people feeling isolated and anxious amid a global pandemic,” they seem to frame the University’s reopening as “brighter news” that might somehow console or fix the hurt by bringing the community together and bringing students back to “something close to normal.”

What the University seemed to miss is that “something close to normal” is what has caused much hurt.

This attempt to return to “normal” ignores BIPOC communities’ efforts to voice their negative experiences on campus and demands for change.

It touches on their students’ mental health while neglecting to fix the many downfalls of its own mental health services.

“Something close to normal” is the opposite of what UW-Madison students need.

As of Sept. 7, the U.S. had 26,146 new daily cases and Wisconsin had 890, and the University continued to move forward with their “Smart Restart” plan.

In one of their latest announcements, it is stated that “this decision is not a financial one,” despite the many signs that suggest otherwise. Why invite thousands of students back to campus when there is a record high in COVID-19 cases? Why acknowledge that the pandemic is “deeply and disproportionately impact[ing] our communities of color” without adequately acknowledging their experiences with steps towards concrete change? Why force students to take a “Badger Pledge” that asks them to monitor their mental well-being without properly expanding mental health services?

To leave these questions unanswered and to justify reopening with the mere “chance to allow for some in-person learning, as well as at least some of the interactions between students (as well as faculty and staff)” is wrong. Yes, being on campus and instructing students in-person may provide better “educational opportunities for students lacking suitable technology or spaces to effectively study at home,” but isn’t there a way for the University to allocate its many resources in a way to fill these gaps without putting their students’ lives in jeopardy?

UW-Madison is not alone in deciding to reopen for the 2020 fall semester. Many colleges across the nation are already weeks into their semesters, but it is further troubling that UW has not altered their plans in response to the serious repercussions faced by other campuses.

At the University of Alabama, for example, COVID-19 infections have exploded, and many of their students worry that their university’s attempts to slow the spread are moot. On the other hand, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill has already closed after reaching a positivity rate

close to 14% within less than a week of their reopening.

These other universities similarly stressed “the safety, health and well-being of the campus commu-

7

sanctioning and capitalizing off of students without acknowledging their own bad decision is wrong and an announcement claiming their responsibility is long overdue.

BRYCE RICHTER /COURTESY OF UW-MADISON

Storage of some of the university's several coronavirus testing kits. nity” being at the forefront of their decisions, but the aftermath speaks for itself, and UW-Madison is not immune to similar consequences.

That is unless UW-Madison’s “Smart Restart” is somehow better than that of other universities.

On Sept. 7, Chancellor Blank announced a two-week emphasis on health and safety protocols in response to a growing number of COVID-19 cases on and off campus, confirming that their attempt at a “Smart Restart” would only result in very similar aftermath as other universities. While the preventive measures taken by individuals are undoubtedly important, Blank’s statement placed full blame on students without taking any accountability on behalf of the University.

It was the University who reopened campus to 30,000+ students, and it was the University who decided whatever benefits of reopening outweighed the risks. Blaming,

The criticisms of this article are not meant to say that the world should go on a complete halt until there is a vaccine for COVID-19.

Instead, it is meant to call out an opportunity for our world — and more specifically, for our university — to create a new “normal” that for once puts students— and not their bank accounts — first.

It is easy to throw around words that acknowledge students’ problems and concerns at the surface level, but it is another thing entirely to pair action with those words.

Let’s get one thing clear: this is not a “smart” restart.

Haley is a Senior studying Journalism, with a certificate in French. What do you think about the efforts made by the university towards a Smart Restart? Do you think there’s no such thing as a Smart Restart at this time? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

Why we should do away with standardized testing

By Anupras Mohapatra OPINION EDITOR

In recent news, UW-Madison announced the decision to make college admissions tests like the SAT and the ACT optional through Summer 2023, placing an even greater emphasis on holistic admissions.

While this decision was a direct consequence of the ongoing global pandemic, a departure from standardized testing for college admissions has been trending in recent years, even pre-pandemic. The University of Chicago was probably the first highprofile university to go test-optional in 2018. They are certainly not the only major university to have taken such an approach. Some universities have taken a test-flexible approach, with NYU standing out as most prominent.

Even the University of California system voted early this year to phase out such tests over the next five years.

All things considered, all colleges should look at gradually phasing out standardized testing and adopting a test-optional approach on a permanent basis. The pandemic provides an opportunity to test such a scenario.

In order to make a case for going test-optional, it is necessary to understand the shortcomings of standardized testing.

Test scores are not an effective measure of a student’s intellectual ability. For instance, the effectiveness of the SAT essay section is increasingly being questioned, because the testing environment is simply not

representative of a student’s writing ability, thus resulting in universities like Harvard and Yale dropping the requirement altogether.

Such tests are not even as great a predictor of college success as they are touted to be, as they seem to only predict how well students can test — basically, how well they can game the system — and not how much they really know. A report by Matthew Chingos of the Urban Institute shows that the effect test scores have on a student’s performances in college coursework is not much. Conversely, high school grades have greater correlation with college performance. Students with a mediocre SAT score — 900-990 on a 1600 point scale — but near perfect GPA were found to have a 62 percent graduation rate, whereas students with scores greater than 1100 but a GPA lower than 2.67 were found to have only a 35 percent graduation rate.

While high school grades vary widely from school to school — nationally and around the world — they seem to merit consideration far more than test scores. A holistic approach — considering grades in conjunction with activities, personal essays, etc. — seems to be the right approach.

Standardized tests also fail to account for students facing test anxiety, with about two-thirds of high school students facing uncomfortable levels of such anxiety. The tests seem to unfairly penalise students for their mental health instead of gaps in

knowledge, straying far from the selling point of such tests.

Arguably the most compelling case against standardized tests is the fact that such tests do not offer a level playing field, thus making them far from “standardized.” Retaking these tests has often resulted in a marked increase in scores. For instance, a study found that on average, retaking the SAT resulted in a 90 point increase on a 2400 point scale. This clearly makes taking standardized tests multiple times a lucrative option.

However, such an opportunity is open only to students who can afford it — with the SAT costing $52-$68 and the ACT costing $55-$70 per sitting — thus putting socio-economically disadvantaged students on the back foot.

Not to mention the fact that students coming from affluent backgrounds can afford coaching and higher quality schooling as well, which further helps in attaining desirable scores.

This only emboldens socio-economic disparity, while pushing the tests towards gatekeeping education and further away from testing aptitude — their intended purpose.

A study by UC Berkeley suggests that there’s a very strong correlation between a student’s SAT score variance and their socioeconomic background, with race proving to be the most telling factor. The average scores for Blacks and Latinos on the SAT Math section is lower than the average for Whites and Asians, likely a

result of racial income disparity and the handicap it presents. This disparity in scores has remained largely unchanged for the last 15 years or so.

Seeing such tests form part of admissions criteria in universities around the United States is problematic, as it only serves to inhibit any potential escape from an otherwise potentially endless cycle of poverty and disparity. It is inherently unfair for someone to be placed at a disadvantage by virtue of things they cannot control, but which affect opportunities and scores — like parental education, familial wealth or race. Several large and reputed flagship universities like our own are not as racially diverse as they should be. Perhaps the weightage of standardized test scores acts as a roadblock towards achieving greater diversity.

Education is meant to be an openly accessible driver of empowerment that enables the disadvantaged to challenge the status quo and do better for themselves and their future. The use of standardized testing as a factor in college admissions only maintains the status quo. Anthony P. Carnevale, director of the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce told CNBC Make It that “to succeed in America, it’s better to be rich than smart”, which is a gloomy reality of this country and not the American Dream that Americans brag about. A country that prides itself in the idea of the American Dream must set aside

the need for flawed standardized testing for admissions, in order to keep the Dream alive. In a time where serious questions are being asked about intersectionality and racial equality, the gateway to higher education cannot continue to be part of the problem.

Greater emphasis on holistic admissions should be the order of the day, especially for universities that usually give greater importance to test scores. A look into an applicant’s GPA, personal statements, activities, socio-economic background and available opportunities and resources paints a near-perfect picture of the applicant for strangers in the admissions office who evaluate applicants.

Applications that take years to craft should not be thrown out because of a number — i.e. test score — that is intrinsically flawed. Colleges that have made a move to test-optional policies have seen positive results with regards to diversity, whilst retaining similar graduation rates.

In order for American higher education to remain at the pinnacle, a move away from mandatory standardized testing seems like a step in the right direction. Simply put, the tests are not effective in what they are meant to do and only exacerbate the divides that must be done away with, to make significant strides towards a better future for everyone that sees a future on American soil.

Anupras is a Sophomore studying Computer Science.

Life & Style Ways to embrace the new school year

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Thursday, September 10, 2020

By Sophie Putrim STAFF WRITER

Regardless of the uncertainties that we face heading into the fall semester, we are one of the fortunate universities to have adapted a hybrid delivery of classes — meaning we still get to utilize the beautiful, energetic city we all know and love (as safely as possible).

If these are your first couple of weeks on campus, there are still so many reasons to get excited for the next four years. Although this fall may not consist of the typical game day seas of red or breezy nights at the terrace, here are some ideas of how you can start to take advantage of everything this city has to offer, safely and socially distanced!

1. Rent E-bikes and get to know the different parts of campus and the Madison area.

Staying outside is a healthy way to curb the spread of the virus, and can also help you stay sane during the pandemic. Electric bike stations are all over campus — on

dailycardinal.com

Langdon & Park street, in Library Mall and on State St & Hawthorne Court — and they are a cheap, fun way to get outside and enjoy the first days of fall.

Ride to the Henry Vilas Zoo, Picnic Point, UW-Madison’s Eagle Heights community gardens or the beautiful Monona Terrace, all reasonable distances away from campus. You can download the B-Cycle app and buy a day pass for $15, or ride for $5 every 30 minutes.

If you are a freshman, you get a free subscription for a year!

2. Start your four-year food tour of some of Madison’s best restaurants.

Madison students go crazy for the food here, and there are so many good spots to try that have either adapted seating service or takeout services during the pandemic.

Try Mickie’s Dairy Bar if you’re craving 50s- style breakfast diner food (takeout & cash only), Gotham Bagels when you need a bagel sandwich (takeout only),

Casetta Kitchen for subs (takeout only), Ha Long Bay for the best Asian Fusion food (takeout only), Salvatores for great pizzas (dine-in or takeout) or Luchador for specialty tacos — and so much more!

3. Try these study spots to switch up your routine.

Although the libraries are currently available by reservation only, there are lots of buildings on campus with quiet study spots.

Go to the Law Library for a super silent study session, the Education building for pretty lake views or the Microbial Science building for a modern aesthetic.

Make sure you look up each building’s hours and policies before you pop in.

As we all adjust, frustrations can arise especially if you are adjusting to campus life for the first time.

Remember to relax, practice social-distancing guidelines to keep yourself and others safe and go out and explore!

PHOTOGRAPHER NAME /THE DAILY CARDINAL

You can still have fun on campus while being socially distanced.

The information you need to be a successful voter in the Fall

By Cara Suplee STAFF WRITER

BRYCE RICHTER/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Make sure you get to the polls on Election Day to make your vote count.

1. Check if you’re registered!

Go to this link (myvote.wi.gov, My Voter Info) and fill in your name and date of birth. Then click on the search button. If you are registered, your name and address will come up. Make sure that your address is correct! If not, follow the steps under the button “Update Address.”

This may require you to mail in an application if you do not have a Wisconsin ID, so make sure you get this done well in advance. Also, you can email voting@cityofmadison.com and someone will help you change your address online.

If you are not registered to vote yet, follow the steps after clicking on the “Register to Vote” button. Again, this may require you to mail in an application so don’t procrastinate! You must register to vote by Oct. 14 by mail or online, or by Oct. 30 at 5 p.m. in person at your Municipal Clerk’s Office.

2. Decide if you want to vote in-person or at home.

With the added obstacles of the pandemic, many people are opting for absentee ballot voting this year. According to the United States Census Bureau, 27 percent of Dane County residents have registered for absentee ballots as of Sept. 7.

This is already 75 percent higher than the absentee ballots registered at this time during the 2016 election. To register for an absentee ballot, you can go to this link (myvote.wi.gov, Vote Absentee). You must register for absentee voting by Oct. 29 at 5 p.m.

If you are voting in person, you can check your designated polling place here (myvote. wi.gov, Find My Polling Place).

3. Get informed.

Read through the key differences in the candidates’ platforms. This link (graphics. reuters.com, Where Biden and Trump stand on key issues) does a great job of laying out where Trump and Biden stand on issues related to the economy, race and criminal justice, health-

care, immigration and more.

Another avenue for learning more about the candidates and their platforms is by tuning in to upcoming debates. The first presidential debate takes place on Sept. 29 with subsequent debates on Oct. 7, Oct. 15 and Oct. 22.

These can be watched by tuning into all major networks from 9:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. EST commercial-free.

You can also watch it through streaming services and publications like the Washington Post, which will be streaming it live.

4. Now get out and vote!

Practice the opportunity that so many have fought for. One of the most effective ways to create change and implement what you want to see in America’s future is to use your voice.

Voting is an important and foundational place to start.

Encourage your friends and family to vote too.

Election day is Nov. 3, less than two months away, so let’s get out and vote!

Adapting to campus as an upperclassman

By Samantha Benish STAFF WRITER

The year 2020 has been anything but ordinary. A global pandemic, heartwrenching deaths and natural disasters have created a morbid reality. Yet, as easily as it is to look at the downsides of this year, there are always positives to focus on. Things may look a little bit different this academic year, with ways of getting to know others significantly changing. Here are some helpful tips and tricks to navigate socializing with others during a global pandemic.

First and foremost, it is vitally important to remember to keep yourself and others safe. Talk with your friends and family about which ways you are comfortable staying connected, whether that be text messages, Facetime dates

or a socially-distanced walk outside.

Communicating your boundaries is important to staying and feeling safe.

For those that are nearing the end of their time at UW-Madison, building these experiences is vital. There are still entertaining and exciting memories waiting to be made.

If prioritizing fun is your goal in the last few semesters of your college career, take an opportunity to explore the outdoors. Take a hike to picnic point, a walk around Lake Monona in Madison, or try paddleboarding on Lake Mendota. For those with a car, you can also travel to Devil’s Lake to get in a good exercise while also taking in the views.

Want to get your sweat on? Workout studios, like DragonFly Hot Yoga (www. dragonflyhotyoga.com), have been

introducing online and outdoor classes that keep yogis safe and healthy!

If interested, building your resumé can be another viable option. Take this time to update your work experience or find new opportunities that would be useful to have on your resume!

Exploring leadership positions in your favorite student organizations can be a great way to get involved. You may have extra time because of online classes, so becoming a leader in an organization that is relevant to your field of study can be an excellent use of that time.

There are countless ways to get active and explore our awesome campus. COVID-19 has limited some of these experiences, but creating lasting memories and friendships is never limited. Mask up, be safe and have fun!

JEFF MILLER/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Picnic Point is a beautiful place to see the lake and the campus.