Tuesday, September 7, 2010 - The Daily Cardinal by The Daily Cardinal

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UW wrong to deny Badger Catholic funds Court rules UW violated First Amendment By Anna Discher The Daily Cardinal

A federal appeals court ruled last Wednesday that UW-Madison was wrong to deny funds to Badger Catholic, a student group for religious activities. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals decided in a 2-1 decision that UW-Madison’s policy of withholding funding requests through segregated fees to students groups for activities involving prayer, worship and proselytizing was a violation of the groups’ First Amendment right to freedom of speech. During the 2006-07 and 200708 academic years, UW-Madison denied funding for some activities of Badger Catholic, arguing that six activities were strictly religious in nature. The activities included student mentoring sessions with Catholic nuns and priests and a retreat where participants held regular mass and prayer sessions. The UW-Madison legal department believed these activities were a violation of the separation of church

RECAP: Badgers defeat Rebels in Las Vegas

and state, and therefore the group should not be awarded student segregated fees for these activities. In a precedent court case in 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court accepted an assurance that funds are distributed without regard to the speakers’ perspectives. It concluded that a neutral program could be funded by a uniform fee collected from each student in University of Wisconsin System v. Southworth. Nico Fassino, UW-Madison student and leader of Badger Catholic, said Badger Catholic is a religious organization that fills a particular role on campus. “There are no other student organizations that try to serve or cater to students’ spiritual needs,” Fassino said. “Our goal is to connect students to a faith, help them to find a faith that will inspire them to be great drivers of positive change in the world.” According to Fassino, the goal of Badger Catholic is to reach out to as many people on campus regardless of their faith or background. Fassino said the lawsuit began in 2007 when Badger Catholic was denied reimbursement of a previously approved budget. “At the end of the year the legal department from the University catholic page 3

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Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Snake near the lake

Ben Pierson/the daily cardinal

Due to weather conditions, WSUM’s Snake on the Lake was held in the Rathskeller Friday. Maps & Atlases headlined the 2010 festival. Flight and Phonetic One opened.

Obama unveils infrastructure plan at Milwaukee’s Laborfest By Jamie Stark The Daily Cardinal

President Barack Obama visited Milwaukee Monday to address economic issues at Laborfest, a unionsponsored Labor Day celebration on the Summerfest grounds, and promoted his $50 billion plan to improve national infrastructure. Obama gave an energized speech as part of the approaching campaign season, marking his third visit to Wisconsin since July. The president made sure to address growing economic concerns. “The problems facing working families, they’re nothing new.” Obama said. “But they are more serious than ever. Obama lauded the middle class and unions and also highlighted tax

cuts passed by Democrats. He ridiculed Republicans, claiming they arbitrarily disagree with everything he does. He blamed the current economic doldrums on the recent Republican majority, calling it “a decade worth of policies that saw too few people being able to climb into the middle class.” Obama also gave a shout out to Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett in his speech. The Obama camp has made no secret that they want Barrett, a long-time Obama supporter, to win the Nov. 2 gubernatorial race. In November, Barrett will face either Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker or former congressman Mark Neumann, both of whom are vying for the

Republican nomination. Jill Bader, Walker’s spokesperson, said she was not surprised by Obama’s visit.

“We used to have the best infastructure in the world, we can have it again.” Barack Obama president

“Obama promised Barrett he would do everything possible to get Barrett elected governor to continue a third term of Gov. Jim Doyle’s obama page 3

Walker reveals plan for education reform By Ariel Shapiro The Daily Cardinal

ben pierson/the daily cardinal

UW denied Badger Catholic funding for “strictly religious” activities on the basis of separation of church and state.

Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, Republican gubernatorial candidate, unveiled his education plan Friday, calling for stricter evaluation of teachers and schools and more focus on literacy. “By ensuring students are learning a year’s worth of knowledge during each school year and giving schools the freedom to succeed, Wisconsin will once again become a model for the nation,” Walker said in a statement. His plan entails promoting literacy by barring entry into the fourth grade for children who cannot read. According to the National Assessment of Education Progress, 33 percent of fourth graders cannot

read at a proficient level. Walker also called for a grading system for both schools and teachers. Teachers are graded on a scale from “exemplary” to “ineffective,” and schools receive a grade on the A-F system. “In every other profession, excellence is rewarded and teaching should be no different,” the plan stated. The concept of a grading system for schools was presented in June by Walker’s rival for the Republican nomination, former congressman Mark Neumann. “This appears to be a shorter, similar version of a comprehensive education reform plan that Mark released back in June, which stresses grading schools and

teachers, and requiring students to measurably advance academically every year,” said Chris Lato, Neumann’s spokesperson. The Democratic Party of Wisconsin was also critical of the plan, saying this is not a solid plan for education reform, “but what is actually a lackluster collection of slogans and gimmicks meant to mask his plan to throw thousands of Wisconsin teachers out of jobs to fund his $1.8 billion tax cut for the richest one percent.” Walker said through this plan, “Wisconsin can again be a leader in educational excellence by refocusing on success in the classroom. Our students, our teachers, and our state’s future depend on us taking this action.”

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

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

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News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com Editor in Chief Emma Roller Managing Editor Todd Stevens Campus Editor Kayla Johnson City Editor Maggie DeGroot State Editor Ariel Shapiro Enterprise Editor Alison Dirr Associate News Editor Beth Pickhard Senior News Reporters Jamie Stark Ashley Davis Opinion Editors Dan Tollefson Samantha Witthuhn Editorial Board Chair Hannah Furfaro Arts Editors Jacqueline O’Reilly Jon Mitchell Sports Editors Mark Bennett Parker Gabriel Page Two Editor Victoria Statz Features Editor Madeline Anderson Photo Editors Danny Marchewka Ben Pierson Graphics Editors Caitlin Kirihara Natasha Soglin Multimedia Editors Eddy Cevilla Briana Nava Copy Chiefs Anna Jeon Margaret Raimann Nico Savidge Kyle Sparks Copy Editors Kevin Slane Aimee Katz

Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Cole Wenzel Advertising Manager Blair Pollard Accounts Receivable Manager Michael Cronin Billing Manager Mindy Cummings Senior Account Executive Mara Greenwald Account Executives Sasha Byaliy Taylor Grubbs Graphic Designer Jaime Flynn Web Director Eric Harris Marketing Director Erica Rykal Archivist Erin Schmidtke The Daily Cardinal is a nonprofit organization run by its staff members and elected editors. It receives no funds from the university. Operating revenue is generated from advertising and subscription sales. The Daily Cardinal is published weekdays and distributed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and its surrounding community with a circulation of 10,000. Capital Newspapers, Inc. is the Cardinal’s printer. The Daily Cardinal is printed on recycled paper. The Cardinal is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The Daily Cardinal are the sole property of the Cardinal and may not be reproduced without written permission of the editor in chief. The Daily Cardinal accepts advertising representing a wide range of views. This acceptance does not imply agreement with the views expressed. The Cardinal reserves the right to reject advertisements judged offensive based on imagery, wording or both. Complaints: News and editorial complaints should be presented to the editor in chief. Business and advertising complaints should be presented to the business manager. Letters Policy: Letters must be word processed and must include contact information. No anonymous letters will be printed. All letters to the editor will be printed at the discretion of The Daily Cardinal. Letters may be sent to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

Editorial Board Hannah Furfaro Kelsey Gunderson Emma Roller Nico Savidge S. Todd Stevens Dan Tollefson Samantha Witthuhn l

Board of Directors Board President: Jason Stein Emma Roller Cole Wenzel Samuel Todd Stevens Blair Pollard Vince Filak Janet Larson Alex Kusters Jenny Sereno Chris Drosner Melissa Anderson Ron Luskin Joan Herzing l

Professor’s sweet revenge: ratemystudent.com Phil vesselinovitcH the morning after phil

oology Professor Thomas Pottsworth has had enough of the online taunting he has received from former students at ratemyprofessor.com, so several months ago he decided to get what he described in his own words as “sweet, sweet revenge” by starting ratemystudent.com. The website allows TAs and professors to rate their students in a similar way that they are reviewed on ratemyprofessor.com, where teachers are assessed with a rating scale between good and poor quality. “I’m not saying that every goodlooking piece of ass that walks into my class give me a ‘hot pepper’, but I’d expect one or two by now.” Thomas Pottsworth zoology professor

There is also the option of clicking on the icon of a hot pepper if a student believes the professor or TA is sexually attractive.

Supposedly, that is exactly where all the trouble started for Potts. Recently, I had the chance to interview Mr. Pottsworth briefly for this article. “Look, I’m not expecting that every student who goes through my class will love it. I’m not saying that every good-looking piece of ass who walks into my class give me a ‘hot pepper’, but I’d expect one or two by now,” Pottsworth said. I mean, I’ve been teaching for thirty years. And when students write [hurtful comments] like they did, it really hurts my feelings.” Pottsworth wasn’t finished. “I remember reading one, and I could just tell from the tone of the post it was that little shit Justin Ferguson who got a D because he barely came to class, and it said that the student couldn’t concentrate during my lectures because, you know, I happen to have a small birthmark on my forehead,” Pottsworth said while pointing to a huge and disgusting hairy mole near the top of his head. At this point I asked professor Pottsworth how he planned to get revenge on certain students using the new site. “Oh, well in so many ways. The only difference between [the two sites] is that, on RateMyStudent, we rate them on overall class performance. We even kept the hot

Girl at Bob’s Copy Shop on University Ave: So, I’m wondering if you can tell me where University Avenue is? Clerk: Ummm, it’s right there. Outside the window. Guy in Asian One: I don’t need my food to be done. It just needs to be ready, you know? Guy 2: What? Do you want to get food poisoning? Guy 1: Look, my chicken doesn’t have to be cooked, I just really need to go watch this football game. Girl at Bed Bath & Beyond: You know what I hate? When my boyfriend doesn’t put his tools away after trying to fix something. Like the plunger or the pliers for example. Girl 2: I know what you mean. Mine never folds our towels correctly. I mean, who wants to use a towel that’s been folded the hot dog way and then rolled? You have to fold them in thirds, that’s the way to do it. Guy at Old Fashioned: Do you always get two orders of cheese curds? Guy 2: Yeah, why the hell not? They’re fucking delicious. Guy 1: You are from Wisconsin, aren’t

For the record Corrections or clarifications? Call The Daily Cardinal office at 608-262-8000 or send an e-mail to edit@dailycardinal.com.

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Volume 120, Issue 5

2142 Vilas Communication Hall 821 University Avenue Madison, Wis., 53706-1497 (608) 262-8000 l fax (608) 262-8100

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pepper icon to identify physically attractive students to other professors,” Pottsworth added excitedly. Pottsworth went on to explain his enormous feelings of satisfaction when he supposedly “totally destroyed all confidence” of his former student and current arch nemesis, Justin Ferguson, by writing on Rate My Student that Ferguson was “unresponsive and disinterested” during Pottsworth’s lectures.

Right after he was arrested I went to see him and he was all smiles.

When I asked how sure he was that students would even be aware of the site, let alone care about it, he responded quickly. “Well, obviously we’re still a growing site. We haven’t moved to other schools in the nation yet, but we’re up to three TAs participating, as well as myself. We have a total of nine students already assessed.” Before I wrapped up the interview, Pottsworth wanted to make it clear that while some of his reviews are negative, most are actually positive. “I’ve only written a few bad reviews, really. Many are positive. For example, that little number I had three semesters ago, Monica

you. Do you get entire half barrels of Spotted Cow for yourself too? Girl in Grainger: As soon as I get back to Grand Central, I’m going to dedicate a SO to Bop. They have soooo many cute pairs of acid wash jeggings! Guy in Espresso Royale Lower: Hey, do you guys want to get together and pick some banjo later? Guy in Chadbourne: You know what the best part about living in the dorms is? Guy 2: All the semi-hot chicks wanting to sleep on my futon? Guy 1: What? No. I was going to say the awesome high speed internet that allows me to online game at higher levels than ever before. Girl in Vilas: No, you can’t use that font. It’s the font that I used in middle school to make T-shirts that ended up making me hate myself. Guy on phone: I saw the hottest girl today on State Street. She had on these super sexy jeans that laced all the way up the sides. I bet she must have been, like, Romanian.

Perry—I mean, what a dish,” he said with delight. And not only was she stunningly beautiful, but she carried herself with the maturity of a woman twice her age. And despite her being only 18, she is very much a fully matured woman.” Two days ago a professor at UW-Weyauwega rated two students on the site, making it the second school to use the website, while bringing the total number of reviewed students to an impressive 11. I attempted to contact Mr. Pottsworth again for a brief comment on the website’s dramatic surge in popularity, but unfortunately I did not get the chance when his lawyer answered Potts’ cell and informed me that Mr. Potts could no longer speak to the media, pending the outcome of his trial concerning a recent arrest for sexual harassment and stalking of Monica Perry, among several other female students. But Pottsworth’s lawyer told me his client remains upbeat. Right after he was arrested I went to see him and he was all smiles. He told me he couldn’t wait to get revenge on all those “whores” once he gets access to a computer again. If you think you may know another professor with similar selfimages issues, or who has an even nastier mole, let Phil know at vesselinovit@wisc.edu.

Guy 1: Seriously, fuck school. I’m just going to drop out and live a freer lifestyle writing poems and shit. Like Charles Bukowski. Guy 2: Well, I guess that might be true, if by “freer lifestyle” you mean addiction to alcohol, cigarettes, etc, and writing those poems about women you want to fuck but can’t because you are so fucking destitute, or maybe fucked only once and then they left you because you were too damn obese and stunk perpetually like stale Schlitz. Unnamed Professor: This will be the best class you have ever taken. I have won awards. Some of you will hate me. Oh well. Maybe the rest of you will gain some knowledge for a change. The things you learn in this class will haunt you for the rest of your life. Girl: Do you realize that between the two of us we own four Homestar Runner T-shirts? Guy: Beauty. Guy 1: If there’s H20 on the inside of a fire hydrant, what’s on the outside? Guy 2: I give up, what’s on the outside. Guy 1: K9P!

You’re not listening intently to your friend’s lame anecdote about her cat. Good. Eavesdrop on someone spouting off about their illicit escapades instead. Submit your Overheards at dailycardinal.com/page-two.

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Robbery strikes Open Pantry for the sixth time since 2005 Maggie DeGroot The Daily Cardinal

The Open Pantry at 1401 Regent Street was robbed for the sixth time since 2005 early Sunday morning. The suspect entered the store at approximately 5 a.m. He picked up a bottle of soda then walked up to the clerk at the register, according to the police report. The suspect then displayed a small handgun. As the suspect came behind the counter he grabbed cash from the register. He fled on foot after the robbery. The man was described in the police report as being in his 40’s, around 200 lbs and balding. At the time of the robbery, he was

wearing a purple hooded sweatshirt with a white wing pattern, darkcolored pants and had no shoes on, police said. No one was injured during the incident. This is only the most recent of many robberies that have taken place at the Open Pantry on Regent Street. The first recorded robbery at the convenience store was in March 2005. The suspect then implied possession of weapon, according to the police report. Like the other robberies, the suspect took cash and fled the store. In June 2008 one suspect of a strong armed robbery punched a clerk working at the Open Pantry.

No injuries were reported. Two suspects robbed the convenience store December 2009. Like the most recent robbery, one suspect displayed a handgun and proceeded to steal money. There were no injuries. A white male robbed the Regent Street store in June 2007. The clerk was held at knifepoint while the suspect demanded money. The suspect left on foot after he was given money by the clerk, according to the police report. Another robbery took place early morning, September 2008. There were two black male suspects involved in the incident. One suspect pointed a gun at an employee and money was taken, police said.

Serving up a beatdown

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Jamal Jackson, 19, was arrested September 2 after allegedly taking off with two new Apple iPhones from the Apple store at West Towne Mall, police said. After the suspect fled, an officer arrived at the store. At the time of the officer’s arrival an Apple employee was tracking the stolen phones after activating the GPS technology on the iPhones. The employee explained to the officer the stolen phones were showing up as blue dots on the computer screen, and she had followed them along Highway 12, John Nolen Drive and Park Street, police said. The officer then saw the blue dots stop in what turned out to be the lot of a PDQ store on Fish Hatchery Road. He then notified the South Police District that responded and found the suspect pumping gas. The alleged thief was arrested after police located the stolen iPhones in a van.

Did you know?

45%

of UW-Madison students reported owning a smartphone—an internet handheld device such as a Droid, Blackberry or iPhone—according to DoIT’s 2010 Student Computing Survey Report.

[of Wisconsin] prevented reimbursement to Badger Catholic for some $40,000 program that had already been performed in accordance with the approved budget,” Fassino said. According to Fassino, the programs that the university was refusing to reimburse were in some aspect worship, prayer or proselytizing. According to the court case, the district court concluded that reimbursing the expenses of religious speakers, through a program equally available to secular speakers, does not violate the Establishment Clause, and that, having established a public forum, the university must not exclude speakers who

obama from page 1

Lorenzo zemella/the daily cardinal

iPhone technology saves the day

catholic from page 1

The women’s volleyball team defeated Loyola-Chicago 3-0 Saturday. The match was featured as Student Night with free admission and pizza for UW-Madison students.

news

policies,” Bader said. The speech’s focal point was the announcement of a new plan for updating American infrastructure, which the president claimed would help the economy and the middle class. “We used to have the best infrastructure in the world, we can have it again,” said Obama. The initiative would allocate

The Daily Cardinal Fall Recruitment Meeting 2195 Vilas This Friday, September 10th 4 p.m.

want to use the forum for worship. Fassino said the university and Badger Catholic now have a good relationship. “I think that immediately following the lawsuit during the year the lawsuit had begun, there was a lot of tension between the university and Badger Catholic,” Fassino said. “But in my two years here, there has been a very professional relationship.” According to Fassino, Badger Catholic is dedicated to serving all students on campus regardless of their faith or background and hopes to keep discussion of religion and faith alive on campus. Since this lawsuit started in September 2007, Badger Catholic received no damages in the court ruling. $50 billion over the next six years to rebuild 150,000 miles of roads, lay and maintain 4,000 miles of railways, restore 150 miles of runways and try to reduce airport delays. Obama promised the plan would focus on “smart” investments and cutting waste and bureaucracy. Scott Walker’s campaign said the plan is more of the same, evidence that Obama’s initial stimulus package had failed.

Tuesday, September 7, 2010

dailycardinal.com

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Tuesday, September 7, 2010

arts Thermals’ Life takes turn for the worse By Kyle Sparks

its position as a late-album placeholder. “I Don’t Believe You,” the The Thermals were always album’s first single and only time too fun to be viewed as the when singer Hutch Harris grows political band they saw them- a pair and demands something of selves as. Their 2006 LP, The the relationship, is also, incidenBody, The Blood, The Machine, tally, the only time the Thermals was perhaps the most seamless recapture their striking guitar critique the Bush Administration chords and sing-a-long oh-ohoh’s. However, ever received, but CD REVIEW the other, more The Thermals’ keen plain love songs Orwellian satire on Personal Life spared them from are doggedly the abrupt wristlinear, with flicking afforded more inertia to other groups than a dog with a political at a butcher’s bent. The overPersonal Life whelming charm door—which The Thermals that once excused is to say they’re the Portland threeboring. some, however, is now entirely “Not Like Any Other Feeling” absent. Personal Life, their lat- trips over itself until it finally just est output on Kill Rock Stars, takes a squat on the floor. “Only loses the emphasis on the punch- For You” is the kind of generic, ing guitar hooks and in-your- forced love song even Jennifer face sing-a-longs in favor of soft, Aniston would scoff at. And if melodious love songs. And it gets the 32-minute run time doesn’t tiresome. stop your record player, then the The Thermals have taken to calling this their “love” record, which should be warning enough. In and of itself, love is not an By deﬁnition love is static, altogether interesting topic. It’s unchanging--it’s just a shame only when pieces of art find a this band has to be, too. way to cover the yearning for, the absence of or the tectonic plates behind the construct of love that we get something more than nauseating navel-gazing. And at times, Personal Life profoundly dull one-two sendmanages as much. “Alone, A off of “A Reflection” and “You Fool” explores loss and regret with Changed My Life” will. Whereas quaint reservation well suited for affectionate Thermals stand-bys THE DAILY CARDINAL

PHOTO COURTESY OF ALICIA J.ROSE

These Portland Rockers might look like a fun-loving and engaging group, but with their “love” record, Personal Life, the Thermals fall ﬂat. like “A Stare Like Yours,” from 2002’s Fuckin’ A, managed to pair adoration with tumultuous jubilation, Personal Life is simply all bark and no bite. By definition love is static, unchanging— it’s just a shame this band has to be, too. It’s almost amazing to see how soft the band has gotten over the years. This is the band that once named an album Fuckin’’A simply to spite censorship and corporate influence. They wrote an entire

album criticizing Christians and fascists as if they were one and the same. But when Harris gently coos, “I’ll give you all that I have / I’ll tell you everything” over a stuttering guitar line that barely manages to glide over the tumbling bass riff, it’s easy to forget why we ever came to care for these Oregonians in the first place. In hindsight, a lot of the Thermals’ appeal seems like a shtick. They pretended to have

too much fun to acknowledge that they might have actually had something important to say. But for all the directionless tail-chasing they do on Personal Life, it’s a wonder it isn’t the least bit fun. I guess love might be more engulfing than religion or politics, and maybe this is one embrace they can’t get out of. They’re in love and they don’t care who knows it; but at the end of the day, one principle reigns supreme—some things are best left unsaid.

A September to remember? Keep your eyes peeled for these promising releases:

9/14 False Priest Of Montreal

9/14 Band of Joy Robert Plant

9/14 Business Casual Chromeo

9/14 Majesty Shredding

Superchunk

9/14 Lisbon The Walkmen

9/21 Pattern+Grid World Flying Lotus

9/28 Halcyon Digest Deerhunter

9/28 King Uncaged T.I.

First-run movies: direct to your house, no pirating required DAVID COTTRELL Film Columnist Do you immediately head out to your favorite movie theater when a newly released ﬂick piques your interest? Or are you content to kick back on the couch and do your movie-watching a few months later when the DVD is released? These questions may be completely obsolete within a couple of years, as soon enough you may be able to watch a movie from the comfort of your own home while it simultaneously opens in theaters. Last year, the Motion Picture Association of America, the lobbying organization of Hollywood studios, asked the Federal Communications Commission for approval to “send movies fresh from the box ofﬁce” directly to consumers’ homes. Basically, the studios are interested in taking the existing, though underdeveloped, Video On Demand infrastructure that exists on most cable and satellite providers, unifying it

and beefing it up. The studios want to release movies earlier, possibly even the same day as their theatrical release, and in High Definition. Despite their long-existing reputation for stifling companies’ liberties, the FCC was all in favor of the MPAA’s proposal. In fact, the FCC determined that this would be “in the public interest.” This formal request was necessary because of the complicated legal consequences of the landmark 1948 Supreme Court case, United States v. Paramount Pictures. In this case, it was determined that movie studios could not own movie theaters because of antitrust law violations. By distributing their own movies directly to consumers’ homes, studios would once again own their own means of distribution, and thus reenter some seriously dangerous legal territory. Part of the MPAA’s proposal included a new security against pirating called “selectable output control” or SOC. However, only time will tell how effective and practical the SOC will be at fighting piracy. The big studios clearly have their own doubts, and while the MPAA has been given

the legal go-ahead, no major studio has actually made moves themselves. Yet, Time Warner Cable recently pitched its own proposed system to the major Hollywood studios. They are calling it Home Theater On Demand, and the plan is that Time Warner would distribute recently released digital High Deﬁnition movies in the range of $20 to $30 to be viewed in the home. So far, no studio has announced participation in the program. If acted upon, these developments will undoubtedly damage the theater industry. Movie theaters have already been competing with the increased popularity of watching movies at home that came with the rapid rise of DVDs in the past decade. Previously, studios had promised not to release DVDs until at least four months after their theatrical release, but this Home Theater On Demand system would destroy that theatrical release window. Many theater chains may refuse to show ﬁlms that will be available on the system, leaving the studios in quite the quagmire: either forge ahead and hope that the new service gains enough popularity to more than make up for losses in

theatrical distribution or relent to the demands of the theaters and set extreme handicaps on the new system.

Movie theaters are so ingrained in our culture that giving them up may be both a psychological and practical issue for consumers.

The studios also stand to cannibalize their own DVD sales with the new system that adds Time Warner as a profit partner. If consumers spend thirty dollars for a one-time viewing of a movie at home, instead of the seven to ten that theaters are currently charging, are they really going to be willing to spend another fifteen to twenty later when the film gets released on DVD? How many consumers who usually wait for the DVD release to watch movies for the first time will instead be lured into the earlier viewing window offered by Time Warner’s system? The real deciding factor is how

quickly this direct-to-home concept will catch on with moviegoers. It is likely that the public will give it a reasonably warm response early on. With the proliferation of high-speed Internet and widescreen television, the groundwork is certainly set. But movie theaters are so ingrained in our culture that giving them up may be both a psychological and practical issue for consumers. Will convenience and comfort win out over tradition and atmosphere? Will theaters actively work to increase their amenities and overall attractiveness enough to stay relevant? It is inevitable that some system will eventually emerge to compete with movie theaters. How much longer theaters stick around in their current numbers and how large of a part they play in movie culture decades from now will be determined by their ability to perfect the experience they offer. The advent of modern luxury theaters is a sure sign of that. With Lay-Z-Boy recliners and Blu-Ray players at home beckoning to them, moviegoers want more than overpriced stale popcorn and uncomfortable seats. They want an experience worth leaving home for.

opinion 6

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Tuesday, September 7, 2010

Cardinal’s ombudsman promises to keep watch ALEX MORRELL ombudsman column

y first weeks as Daily Cardinal editor in chief in May 2008 were an unforgettable exercise in frustration and fuck up-ery: Merely weeks into the job, the Cardinal had a boycott on its hands. I kid you not, days into my reign I had already managed to alienate a portion of our university by running a comic strip for the student orientation issue that, though misunderstood, was taken by a vocal minority as irredeemably offensive and unwelcoming. Thus, our “welcome” issue to SOAR students and parents had hit its mark about as well as if we’d hired Klansmen to hand them out personally. Yeah, it was pretty annoying and discouraging, to be honest. But it was, in retrospect, a great primer for what would be one of my essential responsibilities as editor: conflict resolution. We organized a sit-down meeting with Dean of Students Lori Berquam and leadership from the Multicultural Student Coalition to address the snafu and discuss it semi-rationally.

As the year progresses, I hope to serve as a liasion between the readers and the Cardinal staff.

Did we see eye-to-eye on it? No. Not really. But we came to an understanding and took steps to repair the damage and move forward. The Cardinal successfully averted the disapproving frowns of the culturally smitten, and the ignominious comic that started it all became the most popular on campus—The Graph Giraffe. As editor of a UW college newspaper, you spend a lot of your time cleaning up messes. The Cardinal is a learning institution, and we screw up. Plenty. And as much as you revel in the victories and awards we earn, as editor the buck falls to you to mediate with unhappy readers or disgruntled staff members when conflicts pop up. So, why would I continue writing for the Cardinal having

Editorial Cartoon

By John Liesveld opinion@dailycardinal.com

graduated and entered the professional world of journalism? Why wouldn’t I be thrilled to simply let such harrowing memories wade through the recesses of my subconscious undisturbed? Well, for one, I loved every minute of it. Even the bad parts. I served as Daily Cardinal editor in chief from May, 2008 to May, 2009, and I’ve been a part of the Cardinal organization since I was a sophomore in 2006. If I had to do it over again, the only thing I’d do differently is start working for the Cardinal as a freshman.

If I had to do it over again the only thing I’d do differently is start working for the Cardinal as a freshman.

The truth is, I’m writing this as much for the Cardinal as I am for you—because it’s a column that I believe is a necessary service to our audience. I’m as passionate about the Cardinal as I am about the University of Wisconsin, and I’ll be writing this occasional (ombudsman / public editor) column from my love and pride for each institution and my sincere desire to see their respective communities not simply coexist but mutually thrive. Simply put: It’s something I wish we’d had when I was the Cardinal’s editor. Someone to hold us accountable and serve as an arbiter between the staff and the community when conflicts do arise. As the year progresses, I hope to serve as that liaison between the readers and the Cardinal staff. When criticisms of the paper and differences of opinion inevitably surface, from time to time I’ll weigh in on it from the perspective of a former editor who understands the Cardinal operation inside and out, but also as a former UW student who expects quality journalism from the campus papers. I’ll be evaluating the Cardinal’s impact on the community as a professional journalist with realworld experience, a former editor whose seen it all, both good and bad, and from a former student whose had to read it all—both good and bad. By no means mistake me for a press agent of the Cardinal. Ask any Cardinal staffer who knows me: I call it how I see it. I love this paper, but I have high standards for it. I want to hold it accountable and provide constructive criticism to help it improve. If you have a concern about the paper or its coverage, I want to hear about it. Planning on boycotting the Cardinal? I definitely want to hear about it. Chances are we won’t always see eye-to-eye. But I hope to provide a balanced perspective that helps you better understand the Cardinal and its role on campus. Alex Morrell will begin reporting for the Green Bay Press Gazette in October. Please send all feedback to ombudsman@dailycardinal.com.

Waupun Correctional in need of correction MILES KELLERMAN opinion columnist

a upun Correctional Institution mission statement: “To provide for the public, the staff and inmates incarcerated at the Waupun Correctional Institution, a safe institution and for inmates, a constructive environment which encourages positive growth and enables them to reenter and cope with an ever changing society, thereby, enhancing their probability of success.” A “constructive environment intended to increase an inmate’s probability of success” sounds like an appropriate goal for a prison that calls itself a correctional institution. However, in light of a recently settled lawsuit by Waupun’s prisoners, it has become clear that its mission statement is a sham. The inmates’ grievance regarded their treatment in Waupun’s maximum-security segregation area, created to hold prisoners who violate rules or are considered a danger to others. The two prisoners and their attorneys were awarded $113,000 and forced Waupun to spend $60,000 to renovate facilities and improve quality of life there. The conditions in Waupun make it clear why it has the highest rate of suicide of any state prison in the country. Inmates were not allowed to have pictures of loved ones, read, communicate with other prisoners or buy basic supplies. Lights were kept on twenty-four hours a day, and prisoners were not allowed to cover their eyes to sleep. They also spent their entire day within their cells, allowed only four hours a week of recreation in tiny outdoor cages with no cover during the winter. Is this the constructive environment Waupun strives to create? Is this how they plan to increase an inmate’s probability of success? To

be fair, their mission statement does not deﬁne what “success” means. If the conditions of their prison are any sign, then success must mean retaining prisoners, further dehumanizing them and guaranteeing their return if released. It’s no surprise that over half of all inmates in the United States return to prison. Our correctional facilities are failing to produce results by making little effort to aid those incarcerated. This ultimately leads to releasing criminals into a real-world environment that sends them right back behind bars.

The biggest challenge facing change in the prison system is a lack of sympathy.

The inhumane conditions of Waupun can be seen in state systems all around the country. And the debate over how to properly hold inmates raises complicated moral dilemmas. Perhaps the first step is to define what the role of a prison should be. The Federal Bureau of Prisons website states first and foremost that the goal is to protect society, but also claims to assist offenders into becoming law-abiding citizens. Criminals, especially those who have committed violent crimes, are a danger to society and need to be kept separated. But without rehabilitation or any attempt to educate and assist inmates, their imprisonment is dead weight morally and economically. The biggest challenge facing change in the prison system is a lack of sympathy. Much of the public feels that criminals deserve punishment, but this lack of sympathy puts improvements in prison life and rehabilitation far down on the political agenda. Even more importantly, prisoners and felons, who

constitute approximately 5.3 million Americans, are unable to vote. Many Republican politicians value this fact and strive to maintain it out of fear that the prison population would lean left. So how should we rehabilitate? Locking prisoners in cages and forcing an unhealthy environment is not the answer. When so many inmates have little to no education and suffer from a variety of mental illnesses, how are we helping their recovery when we treat them like animals? If we truly want our prisoners to change their ways and become lawabiding citizens, they need help, not punishment. The problem is that we don’t care if they do change, and those in charge of making such decisions profit greatly from the way things are now. Inmates provide an extremely cheap source of labor, and companies that profit from this inexpensive work lobby intensely to increase sentences to maintain this growing population of workers. When inmates are given the choice of working for 25 cents an hour or spending time in solitary confinement, as so many prison systems do, rehabilitation has been sacrificed for profit. So for now, let’s call it by its true name: a growing industry free from the pesky restraints of human rights. Autonomy and flexibility from the state allow correctional facilities to make the vision of “high quality at good value” a reality in the present economy. This demands us to rethink and debate the business model that underpins the university. I am pleased that our chancellor is leading that conversation and that our students are listening, thinking, and debating. It is the most important applied learning project we will undertake this year. Miles Kellerman is a sophomore with an undeclared major. Please send all feedback to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

sports

8 Tuesday, September 7, 2010

dailycardinal.com/sports

Football

Defense shines in Sin City showdown ANALYSIS

By Ben Breiner THE DAILY CARDINAL

The Badger offense garnered most of the offseason press, and with ten starters returning from the Big Ten’s most prolific attack, it was most likely deserved. After Saturday, though, it may be time to share some of that hype with the guys on the other side of the ball. Wisconsin almost completely shut down the UNLV attack in the first half, but the team needed more as it held just a three-point edge. The defense delivered more with a turnover and score on the opening series of the second half that ignited a runaway victory. “Our main focus was coming out of halftime, we need a turnover, and we need to give our offense a short field so they can score,” junior safety Aaron Henry said. “If we get them the ball inside the 50 or inside the 40 they definitely can do some damage and I think that turnover was crucial in setting them up for the rest of the game.”

On the third play of the second half, junior defensive end J.J. Watt hit UNLV’s receiver, Michael Johnson, from behind, jarring the ball free. Henry, in his first start at the safety position, scooped up the ball and went 20 yards to put his team ahead by 10 points. “I was chasing down the running back at first, but then when I saw the throw went outside and then I retreated outside and got lucky, I guess,” Watt said. “I didn’t even know I stripped the ball, I was just going for the tackle and all of a sudden I saw Aaron in the endzone.” Watt finished with three pass breakups and four tackles to go along with his momentum-shifting play. UNLV gained just four yards on their next two drives, and the Badgers rolled to two more scores. But it was the first half where Wisconsin’s defense really shined. The Rebels only managed 12 yards on 15 plays, and their only offensive score, a 16-yard TD pass, was set up by an 82-yard fumble return. Much of the credit went to the Badger defensive line that sacked

junior quarterback Mike Clausen three times and held UNLV to -9 yards on the ground. “The pass rush was great. My job was easy tonight,” senior safety Jay Valai said. “When we have a front seven like that playing great football like that, it’s a blessing being back there ... You have a great front seven like that, it’s an easy game.” That D-line also had to show off its depth as the coaches frequently rotated the players in the oppressive Las Vegas heat. “I know [defensive line coach] Charlie [Partridge] rolled all those guys through there,” UW head coach Bret Bielema said. “I thought to get [Tyler] Dippel and [Pat] Muldoon in there as well to get reps with Louis [Nzegwu] and David [Gilbert] and J.J. Watt. That’s a five-man rotation at both inside and outside.” With over eight minutes left in the third quarter,UNLV still had only amassed 16 yards and two plays longer than three yards. The rebel offense finally started moving the ball in the final 17 minutes, but much of that was done against Wisconsin’s reserves.

MARK BENNETT mark of the covenant

LORENZO ZEMELLA/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

Senior Aaron Nichols led his team to a season opening victory over Santa Clara Saturday scoring a goal in the 26th minute.

Badgers split pair of weekend matches THE DAILY CARDINAL

The Wisconsin men’s soccer team aplit a pair of games at the UC Irvine College Classic this weekend in California. The Badgers downed Santa Clara 2-1 in the opening match on Saturday for their first win of the season before falling to UC Irvine in the game two Monday. Senior Aaron Nichols scored the first goal of the Badgers’ 2010 campaign to lead Wisconsin over the Broncos in the first match. Wisconsin never trailed in the match and pulled ahead in the 26th minute after Nichols headed freshman Trevor Wheeler’s cross into the back of the net to put the Badgers up 1-0. Wisconsin maintained the lead until the 82nd minute, when Santa Clara’s Alex Fitschen tied the game 1-1 after capitalizing on a cross down the endline from teammate Murphy Campbell. With a little help from Santa Clara, the Badgers quickly responded. Less than a minute after the Bronco’s goal, Wisconsin freshman Chris Prince played a ball into the

When it was all ﬁnished, any talk of the offense carrying the defense was ﬁrmly laid to rest. “We don’t want to be, I guess, the downfall of the team,” Valai said. “So I think it’s good that we came out here,

responded and played good football.” “The first half was real good for us,” Watt added. “A couple blemishes in the second half, but overall the defense is proud of our performance.”

Wisconsin deserves better in new Big Ten divisional alignments

Men’s Soccer

By Jack Doyle

DANNY MARCHEWKA/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

Aaron Henry (center), led his defensive teammates in stiﬂing the UNLV offense Saturday night in the Badger’s season opening victory.

box, which then deﬂected off Santa Clara’s Mykell Bates and into the net for an own goal. Late runs into Wisconsin’s defensive third by Santa Clara came to no avail. Senior goalkeeper Ryan Vint and the Badger defense kept the Broncos’ furious attacking efforts in the closing minutes at bay to hold onto the 2-1 victory. Monday night, Wisconsin was unable to recover from early goal and fell to the UC Irvine Anteaters 1-0. The Anteaters capitalized early, scoring a goal in the 13th minute of the match after a throw-in into the Badgers’ penalty area connected with the head of UC Irvine’s Corey Attaway, who knocked it past Vint for the goal. The Badgers couldn’t find an answer to Attaway’s goal, as freshman forward Paul Yonga was the only Wisconsin player to put a shot on goal in the first half. The Badgers return home with a 1-1 season record as they prepare to face Florida International and Florida Atlantic next weekend.

uts and bolts. Nuts and bolts. Nuts and bolts. We got screwed. With last week’s announcement of the new divisional alignments for the Big Ten conference beginning in 2011 when Nebraska joins the league, came much expected scrutiny. Of course, with Michigan and Ohio State split up between divisions, Buckeye and Wolverine fans were given plenty of fuel for their self-centered fires (on behalf of the other ten teams now in the Big Ten Conference, I would like to personally extend my apologies for thinking that any of the rest of us mattered in this discussion). For Wisconsin, though, a first glance at the new alignments revealed two immediate topics of debate: the new divisional foes and the absence of Minnesota. Purdue, Illinois and especially Indiana have been relatively pitiful in Big Ten competition as of late. So, at least for the foreseeable future, expect Ohio State, Penn State, and Wisconsin to dominate any talk of division champions. Although both the Buckeyes and Nittany Lions will present a tough path for Wisconsin to forge on their way to any championship, Badger fans should also be excited by the guarantee of playing these two programs every season. Failure to find the Gophers in the same division as Bucky is reason for nothing but disappointment and confusion for the Wisconsin faithful, however. Just days before the official announcement, Wisconsin Athletic Director Barry Alvarez expressed almost certain, factual optimism

that Minnesota and Wisconsin would continue to play each year for Paul Bunyan’s Ax from within the same division. After all, Oct 9 marks to 120th meeting between the two teams— the longest running rivalry in college football. Once people begin to look past the lore of Ohio State- Michigan, the Wisconsin- Minnesota rivalry is one of the most intriguing and history-steeped traditions in all of college sports. But, you say, Ohio State and Michigan also suffered the merciless blade of divisional alignment. True, true. But the real issue Wisconsin can argue is the fact that the Badgers were left with no intradivisional rivalries. Michigan still has two other rivalries protected by the divisional split, Michigan State and Minnesota, while Ohio State retains one, Illinois. Meanwhile, Wisconsin is left to use their one “protected rivalry game” to save the annual matchup against Minnesota, while losing Iowa and the Heartland Trophy to occasional, staggered meetings. Of the 13 ofﬁcial intra-conference rivalry games in the Big Ten, only six were preserved by the new divisional alignments. However, all but three teams retained at least one of their rivalries within their dvisions, with four teams keeping two. Wisconsin, Northwestern, and Penn State were all left in the dark with none. A simple solution to the problem? Flip Illinois and Minnesota between the two new divisions. Northwestern and Illinois would then be able to retain their matchup for the Sweet Sioux Tomahawk without needing a “protected rivalry,” and Minnesota and Wisconsin could do the same. Wisconsin then would gain an additional, annual rivalry with Iowa as that protected game. Of course, this plan is still not perfect, as Penn State is still left without an intra-divisional rivalry. To put things in perspective

though, when Penn State, a member of the Big Ten for fewer than twenty years, and Michigan State first battled for the Land Grant Trophy in 1993, Minnesota and Wisconsin had already faced each other in 103 previous games. This plan also would rob Ohio State of their only intra-divisional rivalry, the Illibuck trophy with Illinois. From the beginning, Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany made it clear that no plan would be perfect, and certainly a simple flip of Minnesota and Illinois is likewise not a perfect option. It does, however, make the situation at least somewhat more fair across the board, and especially for the Badgers who were otherwise forgotten in the alignments. Although completely surrounded by states with teams in the Big Ten Conference, Wisconsin shares a border with just one intra-division rival: Illinois. Overall, the debate between geographical or winning percentage divisional distribution is really a toss-up. In twenty years, the oddity of these geographical alignments may leave some fans scratching their heads as suddenly five teams in one division are dominant, the plan drawn up by Delany should satisfy most people in the short-term. Delany certainly had the best interest of the Big Ten in mind throughout the entire process, with rivalries weighing heavily in the decision. And indeed, from an outsider’s perspective, things look pretty good. From a Badger’s perspective though, Wisconsin got a raw deal. Think the final alignment results really were the best possible option? Should ESPN be gagged from complaining about Michigan-Ohio State ever again? E-mail your thoughts to Mark at mdbennett2@dailycardinal.com.