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Thursday, February 6, 2020

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The future of Badger basketball after Kobe King’s departure

Oscar snubs show lack of diversity +ARTS, PAGE 4

+SPORTS, PAGE 5

Native mascot ban feasible despite failure

By Emma Grenzebach STAFF WRITER

Wisconsin school boards voted against a ban of Native American mascots at the Wisconsin Association of School Boards’ meeting Jan. 22, despite a lot of activist support.

While all 11 of Wisconsin’s federally recognized tribes and 18 different Wisconsin school boards — an unusually large amount of cosigners — signed in support of the resolution to ban the use of Native American names, the WASB still voted 218101 against the resolution.

“I figured [the delegates] would go to the data and leave their personal opinions out of it,” said Tricia Zunker, Wausau School Board president and member of the Ho-Chunk Nation.

She is also the Democratic candidate for the 7th Congressional District seat.

There are currently 28 school districts that still use a race-based mascot. Many of these logos depict images borrowed from Native American cultures such as sacred objects or traditional dress.

The efforts to ban the use of Native American mascots, symbols, images, logos and nicknames began in August when Wausau’s school board authored the one of the first state resolutions to do so.

Despite the failed resolution, some activists — like Barbara

Munson, chairperson of the Wisconsin Indian Education Association’s Indian Mascot and Logo Task Force — were happy the process drew the public’s attention.

“I was actually pleasantly surprised throughout much of the process, starting out with Wausau school district deciding to bring forward a resolution in the first place,” Munson said. “It brought in a lot of school districts that have never had an opinion aired in this dialogue before.”

The American Psychological Association (APA) called for the retirement of American Indian mascots, symbols, images and personalities in 2005 based on “a growing body of social science literature that shows the harmful effects.”

Many of the opponents of the resolution are not speaking against this claim, but argue there are other things for the WASB to focus on.

“I don’t know that it’s a good use of our time to debate the mascot/logo here, and instead focus on local control,” Erika Conner of the Mukwonago School Board said.

Munson said she thinks this idea is “ridiculous” and impacts multiple communities, not just the local schools.

“If anything, it’s a case of interscholastic racial discrimination,” Munson said. “No mascot is intended to impact only its own

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Thirty high schools in Wisconsin still use Native mascots and logos despite activist pressure to ban their use. community. Mascots go with teams outside of their own borders and they impact everybody that they meet.”

However, Zunker stated that it is not an issue of local decision-making.

“It is never good educational policy to stereotype against an entire race of people,” Zunker said.

The Oneida Nation Vice Chairman Brandon Yellow Bird Stevens released a statement that said the ban of Native American mascots will only be enacted through policy change.

Despite the need for a legislative change, Munson made it clear the Indian Mascot and Logo Task Force will continue to do what it can to educate and support the

ban of Native American mascots.

“As far as what should happen in the future with this dialogue through WASB, I hope it continues,” Munson added.

“I think it’s a really interesting start — 101 school districts stepping forward and saying that they felt that mascots should be changed is a real positive thing.”

Driving Wienermobile brings smiles to witnessers, riders

PHOTO COURTESY OF MITCH MCMAHON

Every year a UW alum is a part of a group of recent college graduates traveling the country aboard the Wienermobile to become a Hotdogger.

By Gina Musso STAFF WRITER

While most Grainger finance and economics majors

end up spending their careers in business or financial consultancy, 2019 UW-Madison grad and Green Bay native Mitch

McMahon decided to take a different route after graduation.

He became a Hotdogger.

Hotdoggers, a term coined by the Oscar Mayer meat company, are the 12 recent college graduates who spend a full-time, one-year assignment as a brand ambassador for Oscar Mayer.

While traveling around the country, these ambassadors are not selling hotdogs, McMahon clarified, but promoting the company and spreading smiles.

“We manage a PR firm on wheels,” McMahon said. “[We try to] make people’s day brighter in the hopes that when they experience the Weinermobile it is something that stays with them for the rest of their life.”

Oscar Mayer has deep roots in Madison and McMahon is joining a long line of past UW Hotdoggers — since the brand started recruiting college students to drive the

Wienermobile in 1988, there has been a UW grad in the vehicle every year.

Even before Oscar Mayer recruited college students for the Weinermobile’s annual national tour, the hotdog car was still spreading joy to Americans. It debuted in 1936 in the midst of the Great Depression.

“They literally just paraded it in downtown Chicago because people were very sad,” McMahon explained. “Carl Mayer Jr. and Oscar Mayer who came up with this idea were like, ‘Everyone deserves happiness no matter who you are, and this is how we can do that in a very small way,’ and people loved it.”

The company’s first major processing plant and headquarters were built in Madison in 1919. Although Kraft Heinz acquired Oscar Mayer in 2015 and relocated the plant and headquarters to Chicago in

2015, Oscar Mayer’s Madison roots remain strong.

“Even when the Oscar Mayer plant in Madison closed, they kept the Weinermobile program here because it’s such a staple of our town,” McMahon added.

Like many before him, McMahon was drawn into the Oscar Mayer program at UW while looking for a more creative post-graduation opportunity.

After attending a career fair, McMahon’s roommate was interested in the Hotdogger job, and he encouraged McMahon to join him at the information session.

“I tagged along and I fell in love with the job because the Weinermobile is kind of the catch-all for a lot of different roles,” McMahon said.

Along with driving the Weinermobile, McMahon’s job mainly consists of speaking on

Wienermobile page 2

“…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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Thursday, February 6, 2020

An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 129, Issue 17

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Editorial Board Robyn Cawley • Erin Jordan • Sam Jones • Anupras Mohapatra • Kavitha Babu • Max Homstad • Lauren Souza • Hazel Levy • Sam Nesovanovic Board of Directors Herman Baumann, President Jennifer Sereno • Don Miner • Scott Girard • Josh Klemons • Barbara Arnold • Robyn Cawley • Erin Jordan • Ignatius D. Devkalis • Nick Dotson

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Lawsuit fights student ID restrictions

By Michael Parsky ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

After the final votes were tallied in the 2016 general election, then-Republican candidate Donald Trump won the popular vote in Wisconsin over Hillary Clinton by just 22,748 votes.

Of the 2.9 million ballots cast, a significant and politically active segment of the population remained underrepresented at the polls: college students.

Amid rising political participation nationally, multiple advocacy groups pinpointed the decrease in Wisconsin’s student voter turnout to restrictive student ID voter legislation passed in the early 2010s and later upheld by the courts in 2016. And as another presidential election steadily approaches, a bevy of lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of the student ID voter restrictions have flooded state — and now federal — judiciaries.

Wisconsin experienced the second-largest decline in student voter turnout across the United States in 2016, with areas reporting 5 to 11 percent decreases. A 2017 study that surveyed Dane and Milwaukee counties determined anywhere from 16,000 to 23,500 college-aged voters were deterred from voting due to the restrictions.

AGF’s race against the clock In the latest attempt to restore equal voting rights for Wisconsin college students, the Andrew Goodman Foundation filed a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Election Commissioners in November 2019 in the United States District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin.

AGF is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that supports voting accessibility and social justice ini-

Wienermobile from page 1 behalf of the company during radio and television interviews, attending events and talking about the company’s promotions.

“Obviously you drive the Wienermobile, but that’s a very small aspect of what we do,” McMahon said. “You get the opportunity to work for a very large company and their marketing department.”

tiatives across college campuses.

Racing against time, a logjam in the courts and the state’s motion to halt the case, AGF recently submitted a memorandum on Jan. 22, seeking an injunction — halting a ruling —

restrictions on the use of student IDs — the very type of photo IDs that Wisconsin’s newest and youngest voters are most likely to present to vote,” according to the complaint.

The law stipulates that in

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College students have been deterred from voting by Wisconsin’s restrictive student ID voter laws. to interrupt the implementation of the restrictions.

Late Thursday, however, the court granted a stay, or freeze, on all legal action per a request from the Wisconsin Department of Justice, who represent the elections commissioners.

The downward trend in student voting roots itself in 2011, when a Republican-controlled legislature led by former Gov. Scott Walker signed Act 23 into the law. It placed “stringent

order for a college student ID to be deemed acceptable to be used to vote, it must contain “the issuance date, an expiration date no more than two years after the issuance date and the holder’s signature.”

Wisconsin colleges commonly attribute financial and security issues as reasons for not updating their student IDs to agree with the legislation, according to court documents.

AGF filed the lawsuit and cited a violation of the 26th

As similar lawsuits citing the 14th and 15th Amendment arguments lay idle after years of litigation, the AGF case asserts itself as a direct challenge to the state’s student ID voter restrictions and a necessary step to promote free and fair elections in Wisconsin.

“We’re in a position now where we can document the effects of this law on the 2016 and 2018 races and the ways in which

Though marketing is a key aspect of the job, McMahon emphasized it’s his everyday interactions — where he has the opportunity to brighten someone’s day — that he most enjoys.

He described one individual from the road who has stayed in his memory: Anne Marie.

Marie, a breast cancer survivor currently battling MS and taking care of her husband on kidney dialysis, has dreamed of seeing

the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile since she was a child.

“We got 25 of her closest friends to meet at one location and we paraded up the street to her house. She came up screaming, crying, kissing the Weinermobile — and at that moment it was like this entire job was worth it,” he shared.

Last week, McMahon and his colleagues collaborated with SuccessWorks to host

their annual information session to recruit Hotdoggers from UW’s 2020 graduating class.

All in all, they’re expecting a couple thousand graduates to apply from across the country.

When deciding who will be behind the wheel in 2020, Oscar Mayer looks for individuals who are people-orientated and ready for adventure.

“The Weinermobile is something that people want at their events, and you’ve got to be willing to do whatever it takes to get out there and make people happy,” McMahon said.

“Being able to be on the fly, live out of a suitcase for an entire year — it takes a certain type of person to be able to do that.”

Even though McMahon’s time as a Hotdogger ends in four months, he’s not ready to give up living out of a suitcase quite yet. He hopes to travel around Europe before pursuing a TV career in Chicago or Los Angeles.

McMahon noted the impact a positive mindset can have on others; it’s one of the main things he will carry with him after his year on the Weinermobile.

“Having a positive mindset, even if you’re in a bad mood, just makes the day better and that’s been a big lesson that I learned,” McMahon said.

For the record Corrections or clarifications? Call The Daily Cardinal office at 608262-8000 or send an email to edit@dailycardinal.com.

Amendment — which protects American citizens from being discriminated from voting based on age — as their main argument.

Additionally, AGF sought an injunction to prevent continued enforcement of the restrictions.

PHOTO COURTESY OF MITCH MCMAHON

Madison’s 2019 member Mitch McMahon reflects upon his travels on Oscar Mayer’s 27-foot hot dog on wheels.

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Former Westboro Baptist member speaks out

By Bremen Keasey STATE NEWS EDITOR

Megan Phelps-Roper grew up with 10 siblings, was an avid reader and loved school. To her, it was in many ways a happy, ideal childhood.

But at the same time, PhelpsRoper grew up in the infamous Westboro Baptist Church — an institution known for homophobic and racist rhetoric and labeled a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Phelps-Roper was a part of

the protests before she started kindergarten.

“Before I could read, I was learning why God despised gays, Jews and everyone who wasn’t part of our church,” Phelps-Roper said during a lecture Tuesday as part of the Wisconsin Union Directorate’s Distinguished Lecture Series.

That was life as Phelps-Roper knew it before she left the church — and her family — in 2012.

She was the granddaughter of the church’s founder, Fred

Phelps. During her childhood, she was convinced that everything the church was doing was “the epitome of goodness and righteousness” based on what her family taught her.

Her belief in the church started to waver in 2009 when she joined Twitter. Phelps-Roper said she read an article about the social media platform and felt it could be a new way to preach the Church’s message.

Phelps-Roper first targeted David Abitbol, the founder of a

KALLI ANDERSON/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Phelps-Roper grew up in the Westboro Baptist Church, a church known for its racist and homophobic rhetoric.

voting from page 2 students have or have not been able to navigate the law,” said AGF Chief Counsel on Voting Rights Yael Bromberg. “Once that record kind of became clear to us … it became clear that we needed to bring this lawsuit in order to fix the wrong that the law put into place.”

While the November election appears to be the ultimate goal, Bromberg pointed out that smaller races could be affected as well.

“In Wisconsin, there’s so much voter confusion around what the student ID means and how to qualify for it,” Bromberg said. “The motion focuses on the general election, but it could apply for the primary.”

The most recent court attempt

by AGF sought relief over student ID voter restrictions. The initial request was accompanied by three expert reports and multiple exhibits and testimony in support of an injunction.

One report written by UW-Madison Political Science Professor Kenneth Mayer concluded that the number of registered college students with on-campus addresses declined 10 percent between 2012-’16 and 19.4 percent from 2014-’18.

Total on-campus student turnout in Wisconsin only increased by 1 percent from 2012-’16 when national averages increased at 3.8 percent for public institutions and 5.6 percent at private schools.

Data taken from the National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement ranked Wisconsin 38th out of 39 states in turnout changes from 2012-2016 and 37th out of 42 states from 2014-2018.

The defense from the DOJ As the clock kept ticking, the Wisconsin Department of Justice ratcheted up its defense on behalf of the Wisconsin Election Commissioners. The DOJ filed a brief on Dec. 4, 2019, in favor of initiating a temporary stay on all litigation until further notice.

A central component of the DOJ’s argument charges that other lawsuit’s overlapped with AGF’s and the courts should “await the outcome of parallel proceedings as a matter of ‘wise judicial administration,’” the brief alleges.

The defense also challenged AGF’s decision to file a complaint so close to a general election and purported the laws solely intend to deter voter fraud. Another argument posited a ruling on a prior lawsuit would “streamline the issues,” according to the defense’s brief, even though individual cases are contending different perspectives.

Due to the case’s pending status, the Wisconsin Department of Justice declined to comment.

Currently, a ruling on a lawsuit between the Wisconsin Elections Commissioners and the former One Wisconsin Institute is still being considered in the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago. While the proximity

in arguments remains a subjective debate, the recent court ruling aligns with past precedent.

A judge ruled in the AGF case “the overlapping issues between that case and the present one, and the fact that the Seventh Circuit’s decision will likely provide significant, if not definitive, guidance in resolving the principal issues presented in this case, the court will grant defendant’s motion to stay,” the court order said.

AGF followed in the footsteps of an April 2019 lawsuit filed by Common Cause, Wisconsin’s largest non-partisan advocacy group, against the elections commissioners.

Common Cause originally fought against Act 23 in 2011, and even delayed its implementation until 2016. Its most recent lawsuit is now pending in the Wisconsin State Court of Appeals, awaiting a decision from the same case in Chicago, according to Common Cause ExecutiveDirector Jay Heck.

Heck acknowledged partisan undertones accentuated by the state’s effort to suppress young voters, who often hold liberal political values and pose threats to a Republicancontrolled state legislature.

He also refuted the DOJ’s arguments by noting no instance of widespread voter fraud occurred in Wisconsin and “there’s no reason why a student ID with a photo isn’t just as good as a driver’s license.”

“I think the Conservatives have deliberately made it more

Jewish blog. At first, they sent angry responses back and forth, but suddenly there was a shift — responses turned to friendly exchanges and questions about their differing ideologies, something Phelps-Roper was never expecting.

Westboro Baptist Church ended up picketing two events that Abitol attended, and the unlikely pair struck up a conversation. He brought her halva, a traditional Jewish candy.

“He flipped the bar over and started teaching me about the kosher symbols on the packaging while I listened earnestly and held my ‘God Hates Jews’ sign,” Phelps-Roper said.

Twitter helped Phelps-Roper develop a new rapport with those she fought online; she said the exposure to different ideas and people helped her see outside the ideologically isolated views of her upbringing.

“As I got to know them and to like them and ultimately to respect them, I started to care how what we were doing at Westboro was affecting and hurting them,” Phelps-Roper said. “For the first time in my life, I started to feel ashamed of what we were doing.”

When Phelps-Roper walked away from the Church in 2012, all her ties to the community — and therefore most of her family — were severed to the point where she was seen as an enemy. Once she left, she visited many different types of congregations and was impressed by the kindness and willingness of others to listen to her despite the fact she came from

the Westboro Baptist Church — and when she felt she deserved it the least.

“That kind of response is so much more effective than the shame and hatred and anger that people hurled at me all my life before then,” Phelps-Roper said.

Phelps-Roper said she understands the reasons for angry responses to the Church, but that it can cause people to double down on their harmful beliefs.

Since she left seven years ago, she has worked to try and repair some of the damage she caused as a member.

Looking back on the path to hatred and dismissal of other viewpoints, Phelps-Roper said it was illuminating to realize the consequences of blind belief.

Still, she expressed concern about the recent shift in public discourse to make nuanced topics very black and white.

Phelps-Roper hopes that people can learn from the lessons of discussion, kindness and empathy that helped bring her out from the Westboro Baptist Church.

While she said not everyone can be brought away from bigotry, she believes at times it’s more about the staying power of the bad ideas as opposed to deliberate ill-will. And she hopes more people can learn to fight those ideas with understanding.

“The more of us willing and able to reach out and disagree without demonizing, the more likely we are to change hearts and minds, to heal divisions and to create a better society for all of us in the process,” PhelpsRoper said.

difficult for college students to vote because they figured that more college students will vote for Democrats than Republicans,” Heck said. “It’s not coincidental that the groups [Republicans] try to make it more difficult to vote a lot more for Democrats.”

Like Bromberg, Heck fears students will be discouraged from voting in upcoming elections if they show up to the polls and are turned away.

Heck also believes out-of-state students may suffer as well — he added they now have to wait 30 days instead of 10 to become eligible to vote.

Campus impact As of 2018, the UW System accommodated 37,735 students from outside of Wisconsin. The increase in time for voting eligibility poses a conflict for the upcoming August primary as a significant amount of college students that do not live in-state could become ineligible to vote, creating a domino effect leading up to the general election, according to Heck.

“I think there will probably be a drop off [in student voter turnout] … and that’s by design,” Heck said. “And that just means that we’re going to have to make sure that students are informed that they need to get a different ID if they want to be able to vote.”

Students at UW-Madison can receive a free voter ID compliant card at the Wiscard office at Union South. The university also provided the special ID at all seven of

the campus’ polling locations during the 2018 midterm elections, according to UW-Madison News and Media Relations Director Meredith McGlone.

“UW-Madison believes that voting is critical to a healthy and vibrant democracy, which is why we are committed to reducing barriers and making voting accessible for all eligible student voters,” McGlone said.

UW-Madison Chancellor Rebecca Blank invested $10,000 to support the Big Ten Voting Challenge in 2018, which increased student voter turnout on campus from 35.6 percent in 2014 to 52.9 percent — second in the Big Ten. McGlone indicated Blank plans to spend another $10,000 for the 2020 presidential election.

Nonetheless, judicial impasse and the proximity to the next election now block any legal resolution. The recent court order confines AGF to the Chicago case — which has spent years in litigation with no ruling in sight.

The DOJ cited in multiple court documents a legal precedent stating judges should take caution in ruling on decisions that could impact an election and are too close in timing; according to Bromberg this attempts to maintain the status quo.

But for Wisconsin, the status quo can disenfranchise an important segment of voters.

“We can’t wait,” Bromberg said. “We have to move forward.”

arts Chazen display faculty art showcase 4 • Thursday, February 6, 2020

while simultaneously embracing, the future of society. simultaneously embracing, the future of society.

One of the featured artists displayed in the main floor Rowland Gallery is Jason Ruhl, who works in the School of Education. He created mixed-media collages which are inspired by the Chazen’s archive of Tandem Press prints.

The collages that he creates are chaotic but clearly exem-

By Sadona Thompson STAFF WRITER

This past Saturday was the opening of the 2020 faculty exhibition at the Chazen Museum. This year, which happens to be the museum’s 50th anniversary, the Chazen is putting on a show that exhibits the work of UW-Madison faculty and teaching staff who use art-making techniques in their teaching and research.

The new collection includes pieces from current faculty that are paired with pieces from the Chazen’s permanent collection, in an attempt to engage viewers with new pieces and those in the museum that are often overlooked by visitors.

The art in this exhibit explores the relationship between the artists’ work, and specific works within the museums collection.

The majority of the exhibition can be seen in the first floor Rowland Gallery, but there are a few other pieces that are spread out among the other galleries in the museum.

This exhibition expertly

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plify his artistic talent, and give admiration to the works that inspired him.

Overall, this exhibition demonstrated the incredible artistic talent that the faculty at UW-Madison possess.

Whether it is printmaking, painting, musical performance or sculpture, the staff at this university are able to use art to inspire and educate, making this exhibit, which runs until May 10, a must-see.

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The Madison community gather for an artistic night out, honoring faculty. paired performance art, music and visual art to create a holistic experience for the viewer.

One example of this is the work of Jean Laurenz, who is an assistant professor in the music department. Her performance art piece, titled “Koizumi”, explores how one can be skeptical of modernity, while still being forced to embrace it. Her work combines traditional chamber music with

digital art to show both the polarity and synergy that occur when pairing the traditional with the modern.

This work is situated next to a piece from the Chazen’s archives entitled “Meltdown”

by Manabu Ikeda. They utilize surrealism to showcase the push and pull which occurs when the delicate balance of the traditional world is upset.

Both of these works criticize,

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Local families attend opening night of the faculty exhibition on Saturday.

Greta Gerwig’s Oscar snub reflects lack of diversity

By Kavitha Babu SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Nominated for Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Costume Design and Best Original Score, “Little Women” is a film that has definitely garnered the attention of the Academy and movie-goers alike. Director Greta Gerwig — known for her 2017 directorial debut “Ladybird” which also stars Saoirse Ronan and Timothée Chalamet — effortlessly fuses this classic story of the 19th century with hints of modernity, garnering “Little Women” to be one for the books.

With a star-studded cast, the film is really an ensemble. The audience falls in love with Jo’s sense of self, Laurie’s passion, Marmee’s selflessness, Beth’s kindness, Meg’s humility and Amy’s resilience. From Laura Dern to Emma Watson, this cast brings to life a new, fresh version of characters readers across generations have come to know. Florence Pugh, especially, brings forth a side to Amy that renders the youngest March sister to become a fanfavorite, despite years of being maligned by readers. And Timothée Chalamet is just the perfect Laurie, to say the least.

The way in which “Little Women” is crafted is quite literally remarkable, at least in my eyes. The artistic nature of its cinematography grabs the audience’s attention through every scene as the story steadily jumps back and forth between two time periods — one of the characters’ childhoods and another seven years later during their adulthood.

Gerwig creates a color palette characterizing each time period, allowing for the audi-

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Gerwig, who directed one of 2019’s top movies was not included on the all-male list of best director nominees. ence to clearly follow the story arc of the film. With childhood radiating a “golden glow” as Gerwig calls it, the characters’ lives exhibit a sense of joyful warmth. Adulthood, on the other hand, emulates a range of somber blue hues, giving Jo’s present-day a feeling of solemn, cold reality.

As the movie seamlessly navigates its way through these two color palettes, the cinematic parallels that appear in their juxtaposition overwhelms the audience with emotion and nuance.

It almost resembles factors, specifically that of color and tone, which I really enjoyed about the 2016 movie “La La Land.”

There are even small components of the film that show the subtlety of Gerwig’s attention to detail. Whether it’s Laurie and Jo sharing costume pieces, thus blurring the line between gender, and as many fans have theorized - reflecting the two being halves of each other. Additionally, the focus

on detail can be seen in how different elements of the March siblings are present in Marmee through hair and costume.

Beyond its cinematic qualities though, “Little Women” is just that: a story of women by a woman. As Jo says herself in the film, “Women, they have minds and they have souls and they’ve got ambition.” Characters question societal expectations of women, structural barriers that limit their social and economic movement, while simultaneously enforcing the agency they do have.

Ironically, this major theme of the movie is only reinforced with Greta Gerwig being snubbed a nomination for Best Director at this year’s upcoming Academy Awards. Despite six other nominations, which in and of themselves insinuate a need for an outstanding directing, Gerwig is not recognized for her truly remarkable work behind the screen.

It’s awards season, and yet it’s

another year of all-male nominees across the board.

Even Florence Pugh commented on the lack of a nomination to Entertainment Weekly by stating, “She’s literally made a film about this… She made a film about women working and their relationship with money and their relationship with working in a man’s world.

That’s literally what “Little Women” is about, so [this] only underlines how important it is — because it’s happening.”

Though it’s shocking that Gerwig was not nominated, it doesn’t come as a surprise that no women were nominated for Best Director at all, for only five women have ever been nominated in Oscars history — one of which has been Gerwig for her aforementioned film “Ladybird.”

Beyond Gerwig’s “Little Women,” the Oscars left out some of the year’s top movies directed by women in many of it nomination categories, including Alma Har’el’s “Honey Boy,”

Lulu Wang’s “The Farewell,” Marielle Heller’s “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” and Joanna Hogg’s “The Souvenir.”

And not to mention the lack of women of color.

It’s quite interesting though.

These movies directed by women strike a stark contrast to what the Academy and many mainstream reviews have decided to reward as some of the year’s best films.

Whether it’s “The Irishmen” or “Joker” or “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” films centered around males, created by males, and often dealing with violence or brutality of some kind are deemed worthy of being recognized. Films with overarching notions of masculinity are given high praise and are ultimately rewarded.

Female filmmakers deserve the same high-profile recognition, for their stories are just as worthy, and they’re just as good, if not better. Not only would this provide and open doors to further opportunities, but it would normalize the role of women in the industry, especially as directors.

Female filmmakers — especially Greta Gerwig for her creation of “Little Women” — deserve to be awarded for their fruition; not just because they’re women, but because they’ve earned it.

So yes, it’s awards season, and yes, it’s another year of allmale nominees, but hopefully it can be one of the last. As our society continues to become more progressive, we can only hope that the biggest names of award ceremonies can start to do the same. It’s time we begin to demand accountability and more representation, so gems like Gerwig’s “Little Women,” no longer go unnoticed.

sports Badger Basketball far from being “over”

By Nathan Denzin SPORTS EDITOR

It has been quite the week for Badger basketball.

First Kobe King decided to sit out the Iowa game, then announced his intent to transfer days later.

Minutes later, Brad Davison was suspended by the Big Ten for a Flagrant one foul against Iowa.

If you were like most Badger fans on Twitter, then you lost your damn mind about all the news, and rightfully so.

But, though things are bad, they might not be as bad as they seem for the Badgers. In fact, I honestly think the team might get better from here on out.

First off, I need to address the Greg Gard slander that has been clogging my Twitter feed.

Greg Gard is a good coach.

Sam Dekker thinks so, Josh Gasser thinks so, Zak Showwalter thinks so and Ben Brust thinks so. So, if all our program greats from the Final Four years like him, I think it’s safe to say he’s at least alright.

Gard owns one of the top win percentages in school history through his first four-plus years — as high or higher than any similar stretch in Bo Ryan’s career — including an unbelievable five wins coming against topfive ranked opponents.

Despite strong criticism for a lack of recruiting, Gard got a 35th ranked recruiting class to Madison in 2017, and a 19th ranked class for 2020 as head coach, so he can clearly recruit players.

When he first took over in 201516, the Badgers were a train wreck at 8-8 in late December, and Gard got them to finish as the No. 16 team in coach polls and into the NCAA tournament.

The idea that “Gard can’t develop players” is ludicrous as well.

In 2017-18, the Badgers were hot garbage, shooting under 45 percent from the field all year, missing the tournament in a sub-.500 performance. Last I remember, that same team has both made it to the tournament in 2018-19, and are projected to make it again in 201920. That’s improvement by itself.

If you’re still not convinced, remember Gard has had control over his team for just four full years. Often in college sports you hear coaches lay out five or 10-year plans for their team and we haven’t even given Gard that chance.

So now we’ve established Gard is actually pretty good at his job, let’s tackle some other issues the Badgers have on the court using advanced statistics, everyone’s favorite type of statistics.

It’s no secret Wisconsin has been putrid on the road this season, just 3-8 on the year, but well above average at home with a 9-1 record. So, we’ll focus primarily on what’s been going wrong on the road this year, because clearly something about the Kohl Center makes this team tick.

On the road Wisconsin has mustered up under a 39.5 percent shooting percentage overall, and just 26 percent from deep. While those numbers are abysmal — and don’t get me wrong they are terrible — they aren’t unheard of for a Wisconsin team.

The 2012-13 Badger’s actually shot worse on the road — 38.7 percent from the field and 29.8 percent

from three-point range — but were able to scratch out a 8-9 record in those games, went 23-12 overall and finished the season at No. 18 in the AP poll before losing in the second round of the tournament.

They had wins against No. 4 Indiana, No. 7 Ohio State and No. 10 Michigan, in a typical up-anddown Wisconsin season. There were no calls for Bo’s job at any point in that season, and as far as I can remember fans were pretty content with the year.

So, why was that 2012-13 team able to have so much success despite putting up equally bad — if not worse — stats than the team this year?

Well, here’s where the advanced analytics get involved. Through 21 games, the 2019-20 Badgers offensive rating (ORtg) on the road is hovering around 89 this season, which means the Badgers score just 89 points per 100 possessions. During the 2012-13 season Wisconsin’s road ORtg was 96 through 21 games, a jump of seven (!) points-per-100 possessions.

However, like I said earlier, box score shooting percentages of those two teams are remarkably similar. The true shooting percentage (TS%) of those two teams backs that up too — in both years Wisconsin’s TS% is roughly 48 percent. So, if shooting numbers are the same between the teams, there must be another reason why the 2019-20 Badgers have such a low ORtg. Here’s where the bombs start to drop. Throughout all 10 years of Badger basketball analytic data I combed through, including the 2012-13 year, nine seasons had assist percentages per-100 possessions (AST%) above 53 — meaning 53 of every 100 possessions ended on an assist.

The one year that number has dropped? 2019-20.

Wisconsin is assisting on just 43.7 percent of all its possessions this season, a nearly 20 (!!) percent drop in AST% from most other years. That suggests something fans have been complaining about all season, the offense is not moving the ball effectively. It gets stagnant for long periods each game, when ball handlers just dribble around at the top of the key, or the ball gets stuck in the paint, before a hurried jumpshot or post fadeaway gets thrown up.

It’s always easier to make a shot if your teammates put you in positions to make baskets, so when Wisconsin lulls on offense, ball movement is particularly bad. But, as much as I’d love to pretend the Badger’s problems end there, they do not.

Former UW standout Ethan Happ was a monster for Wisconsin last year, averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds a game. But I argue his rebounds, not his points, were actually more instrumental for Wisconsin’s success.

Wisconsin, during the Greg Gard era, has averaged a true rebounding percentage (TRB%) averaging 55 percent on the road.

TRB% measures essentially how many available rebounds each player grabs while out on the floor — a 50 percent TRB% would mean the Badgers corral half of all available rebounds during a game.

A season ago, with Happ’s rebounds, Wisconsin’s road

TRB% was a respectable 53.5 percent. This season, without a defined rebounder down low, it has plummeted to 46.5 percent, lowest since 2012-13. That means more often than not Wisconsin is being out-rebounded on the road, and more often than not the team with the most rebounds wins the game in the end.

The loss of Happ has affected more than just rebounding however, as the team is shooting the “So why did I tell you everything was going to be ok at the beginning of this, despite Wisconsin losing its smoothest offensive player, while inefficiencies plague the rest of the team?

Because Kobe was actually part of the problem.”

ball much more.

Last season Wisconsin held a three-point attempt rate (3PAr) of 36 percent on the road, as the Badgers could just let Happ work in the post. Without Happ, this season the Badgers 3PAr has skyrocketed on the road compared to 2018-19, up to 44 percent.

This is in part due to the Badgers lack of a consistent post threat save Micah Potter, however I think the eye test works best to explain why Wisconsin is shooting so many more threes, and additionally, it ties into the low AST% and TRB% .

Like I said earlier, the Badgers offense has looked stagnant for long periods of just about every game this year. The ball gets stuck

in someone’s hand, or guards dribble around the top of the key for 10-15 seconds before finding a pass. It significantly lowers the Badgers chance at getting a good shot, because for most of the shot clock the opposing team doesn’t really have to defend.

When the shot clock finally hits under eight seconds or so, the team finally jumps into action, but it’s usually too little too late.

Defenders have already closed off the paint, and Wisconsin gets forced into taking a long two or three pointer, which points to the higher 3PAr and the lower AST%.

The long two’s and three’s usually don’t go in either, which often leads to a long rebound off the back of the rim to the other team.

A missed jump shot by a teammate is a difficult rebound to corral as it flies off the rim, which leads to fewer offensive rebounds by the Badgers, and a lower TRB%.

So why did I tell you everything was going to be ok at the beginning of this, despite Wisconsin losing its smoothest offensive player, while inefficiencies plague the rest of the team? Because Kobe was actually part of the problem.

Don’t get me wrong, the Badgers are a better team when he is out on the court, but his style of play never truly fit in with Wisconsin’s system. Wisconsin always has a “three” guard who can rebound, and King never really went for it on the glass.

This season, King’s statline was 10.0 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per-game. Previous Badger three-guard Khalil Iverson averaged about 5 rebounds a game throughout his career, on four less minutes-per-game than King this

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year. Before Iverson, it was Nigel Hayes, who nabbed 6.6 rebounds a game during his Senior campaign, before Hayes it was Ryan Evans, who recorded 7.3 rebounds-pergame his senior year.

King is good, but either he can’t, or he doesn’t want to rebound in-game, which is something Wisconsin needs their three to do.

Now that he’s gone, Wisconsin has a platoon of options to switch in for King who all bring better rebounding potential to the table.

Brevin Pritzl would be an unconventional pick for his size, but he’s averaging 3.3 rebounds-per-game and has the grit necessary to hang with larger guards.

Two other candidates, Tyler Wahl and Aleem Ford could fill the void King is leaving more traditionally. Both players have the height necessary to play and guard the three position more naturally, and both are averaging more boards on significantly less playing time than King — 3.3 and 3.5 rebounds a game respectively.

Ford and Pritzl are already scoring more than 7.5 points-pergame, so a slight offensive uptick from both of them, plus a few more points each night for Wahl, and the Badgers already have an answer for the slack King will leave with his scoring.

Again, I am NOT saying Wisconsin is better off without King — in fact I thought he was their best player before Tuesday — but I am saying all is not lost. Wisconsin has the pieces in place to weather this storm, and still make it into the tournament in March.

Don’t be surprised when they do it.

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Pixels

By Anupras Mohapatra opinion editor

Floating around in a sea of strangers Every face looks like a blurred pixel, part of a bigger picture Most of what I see seems so unfamiliar People looking so different yet so similar Amidst all the chaos, I find a face I know Standing out in the crowd with a seemingly unearthly glow I try locking eyes with eyes that don’t meet mine All I can do is look intently, as I run out of words and feel

ever so asinine My arms don’t move and my heart beats rapidly, like a hamster running on a wheel My head spins in circles, as I can no longer feel It’s only been a minute and the moment has now passed The face is now gone and I’m stuck in the past Wishing words had come out of my mouth Wishing things didn’t always go south Perhaps someday I can see clear, perhaps someday I can find my space Perhaps someday I’ll be a pixel truly part of the picture, no longer out of place.

An analysis of the phrase ‘hot as balls’

King confirms transfer after 1v1 with coach Gard graphic by jordan simon

By Taylor F. Selong Staff Writer

Late last Wednesday Kobe King announced his decision to immediately leave the Badger Men’s basketball team, citing a growing frustration with head coach Greg Gard as the reason for his departure. While the initial statement was shocking for many Badger fans, new revelations around King’s final meeting with Gard are coming to light.

When King met with Coach Gard to share his decision to leave the team, Gard posed one final challenge for him: a game of one-onone. Inspired by the classic 2000 movie, “Love & Basketball,” Gard figured that if King had any doubts about his decision, the game would be a lot closer than it should be.

“Truthfully, I just wanted to see how serious he was about leaving,” Gard said about the game. “I thought if we played a game of oneon-one, it would give him time to realize the monumental mistake

he was about to make. I honestly thought I would end up winning the game.”

Gard couldn’t have been more wrong. After deciding the first to five would be crowned the winner, King got off to a quick start. While Gard’s strategy was to dribble the ball around the perimeter until the absolute last second, King found success in taking the ball right at Gard and driving to the basket.

Soon enough, the score was 4-0 in favor of King. After having another shot blocked, Gard reportedly started pleading to King saying, “Kobe, our staff and I care about our players very deeply.” King responded with “actions speak louder than words” before dunking on Gard. With that final blow, King won the ability to leave the team and posted his announcement on Instagram shortly following the game.

King could not be reached at this time for comment.

This man just said, “it’s hot as balls out here!,” but in reality, he may or may not have correctly used the phrase.

By Jordan Simon almanac editor

I present you with a brief math problem: Candace sits outside in the grass on an August day with her friend Tony (he insists on being called Tonacious D but just fucking call him Tony). They both are drinking organic, fresh squeezed lemonade in a compostable cup. Candace got a large size, and her cup’s base has a 3 inch diameter, the lid has a 3.75 inch diameter and the cup’s height is 8 inches. Tony — for whom the nickname “The Tonado” is likewise unacceptable — does not have a lemonade because he is poor, I lied about the part where I said they were both drinking lemonade. He then turns to Candace and says, “it’s hot as balls out here.”

Has Tony used this phrase correctly? Let’s dive in.

The balls, anatomically speaking, are saggy.

Interestingly, there is a reason for this. You see, the testicles must be kept at a temperature slightly below that of body temperature: 98.6º Fahrenheit.

So, while we may not know the exact temperature of one’s balls unless we put a thermometer in our palm and prolongedly cup them, which unfortunately is not an option since my friend Reginald has said he will file charges if I do this once more, we do know that balls are always less than 98.6 degrees.

Now, back to our math problem…

It seems that if the temperature outside were slightly below 98.6º, then Tony

would be correct in comparing the temperature of testacles to the temperature outside. If the temperature were 98.6º or hotter, however, then it would be inappropriate for Tony (whose penis is referred to as the “microtone” and is spelled with all lowercase letters) to use this particular phrase.

Hopefully you have enjoyed learning the linguistic ins and outs of the phrase “hot as balls,” and I hope you will have more confidence than ever when using the phrase in your everyday vocabulary.

For more linguistic analysis, look for our article next week as we explore the use of another commonly used phrase: “You can’t bake banana bread after experimenting with anal beads!”

EU finally receives divorce it deserves from obnoxious, self-centered partner

By Jordan Simon Almanac Editor

photo courtesy of dunk / flickr

The European Union is finally free from Great Britain’s Euroskepicism.

Nearly three years after Theresa May invoked Article 50, setting forth a long and dramatic Brexit saga, the UK finally exited the European Union as Big Ben struck 11:00 p.m. on Jan. 31, 2020. Though the road ahead ushers in an era of great uncertainty as there is still much to sort out in regard to the divorce, the EU is rejoicing with glee after its freedom from what has been a toxic and unhealthy relationship for quite some time now.

If we’re being honest with ourselves, the UK gave off douchey and selfish vibes right from the beginning.

Back when the European Community first began talking with the Brits about integrating, it was clear that the UK only wanted Europe for its

free trade area – needless to say its intentions were impure.

As time drew on, however, it seemed as if Great Britain might actually be committed to taking part in the European integration project, and so in 1973 the UK joined the European Community. But after the UK refused to join the Eurozone, it should’ve been clear where Britain’s head was at.

“All I’m sayin’ is that if Great Britain wasn’t fully committed to the European integration project from the start, then it shouldn’t have wasted nobody’s goddamn time,” responded the European Union to Almanac’s request for comment. “Sovereignty my ass, Britain. Sovereignty.

My. Ass.” When Europe was asked if they were going to permit the entry of any other nations into

its union, it was made clear that to do so was not part of its current agenda. In addition, the EU stated that it had its own issues to focus on, such as mitigating the populist surge, improving the economy and recovering from Brexit.

That said, the EU did mention that it, “wouldn’t mind signing a free trade agreement with a country or two if you know what I mean. Drop the old tariff barrier. And there ain’t nothing Britain can do about it. They shoulda thought about that before they voted in the referendum but it’s too damn late now!”

The EU further remarked that, “I’ve got my eyes on that Scotland though. Foxy little thing. It’ll probably be a little bit, but its relationship with the UK is deteriorating as well and, boy, would I like to gobble that thing up.”

We’re always looking for more funny and insightful writers with fresh takes on topics ranging from the UW campus to international news. We accept and encourage creative submissions as well! Any and all submissions are more than welcome. You can send your submissions and any comments or questions to almanac@dailycardinal.com. All articles featured in Almanac are creative, satirical and/or entirely fictional pieces. They are fully intended as such and should not be taken seriously as news.

opinion As we continue to grieve, we must hold Kobe Bryant, perpetrators accountable dailycardinal.com

Thursday, February 6, 2019 • 7

By Dana Munro SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Amidst the whirlwind of the helicopter crash that killed Kobe Bryant, Gianna Bryant and seven others, a new piece of Bryant’s legacy has emerged: a case of sexually assaulting a 19-year-old woman.

Bryant believed the exchange was consensual. The victim did not.

The question of consent still hangs in that Edwards, Colorado hotel room.

Though this news has just been released, I feel I already know what topics of discussion this might yield. Perhaps it will raise questions about what is consent. Maybe it will call into question racial dynamics in cases of sexual assault. I’m sure there will be those who don’t want this circumstance to tarnish Bryant’s sterling legacy, while others will.

We get so trapped in the verbiage around consent, assault and rape, as if defining these terms will make sure those guilty are punished and those innocent are redeemed.

No amount of speculation will destroy the patriarchy and misogyny this nation thrives on.

And, no precision of language will ensure that perpetrators are served justice.

After I read this story, I imagined all the debates that would be made if the American people cared enough about sexual assault to give it its due time in our public discourse and courts of law.

But I know what will not happenThis story will disappear. And it will be but a mere speck of imperfection on Bryant’s golden image.

Was Bryant an icon? Of course.

Was he a legendary athlete? No doubt. But in 2003 he committed an unforgivable offense.

GRAPHIC BY SAM JONES

While the loss of the sports icon was tragic, successful men are never exempt from wrongdoing.

Whether consent was given or not is irrelevant. An incredibly prominent American hero asked a teenager to have sex with him.

By this point in NBA history, Bryant was already a tour de force and, whether or not he was asserting his authority over her, it rang in the air loud and clear.

Another important component of the situation was the victim’s age.

Only 19. If she had been slightly younger, she would have been considered a minor and this would have been a criminal offense whether or not consent was given.

Imagine being a young woman, just out of high school, and one of the top athletes in the country asked you to do something. You would be far more likely to do it under these circumstances.

Bryant should have known better. He knew the influence he wielded and the vulnerable stage this young person was at, in her maturity and decision-making process.

But we’ll forgive him. We will

read this story, feel a slight sense of unease, swallow it quickly and proceed to praise his achievements.

We will shove the feeling down as we are so apt to do these days when we learn an influential person has manipulated young women.

But when a female Washington Post reporter so much as mentioned the case on Twitter, she faced administrative leave. A punitive measure that far surpassed anything Bryant faced for actually committing the act.

In this situation there were three players. A reporter trying to honor Bryant’s legacy whose entire career was put in jeopardy.

A woman who was assaulted by Bryant at age 19 and has likely never been the same since. Perhaps she struggles to watch basketball or Nike ads on TV. Perhaps she can’t return to that hotel or city again. Perhaps her sleep has never been the same since. Perhaps her life has never been the same since. Consequences that are all quite commonplace after one faces sexual assault.

And then there’s Bryant. Who walked away scot-free and went on to another 17 years of an illustrious career and lush retirement.

I’m well past the point in even my young and idealistic life of believing that people ever face the consequences of sexual assault. In this country we punish sexual assault like we punish petty theft.

But it hadn’t occurred to me until this case that we are so much more willing to forgive perpetrators than victims.

We forgave Brock Turner.

Punished him for a few months and released him to rape others soon after. Sure, he may have raped and mutilated an unconscious young woman, but he’s a great swimmer.

We forgave Bill Cosby. Sure, he drugged and raped women but he made us laugh.

We forgave Harvey Weinstein.

Sure, he used his power to trick women into coming into his hotel rooms and violated them, but we still watch Pulp Fiction and Shakespeare

in Love.

Bryant’s offense doesn’t rise to nearly the same level of criminality as the rest. But we will award him the same degree of slack and I’m sure we will award it to men after him if they, too, wield their clout shrewdly enough.

This led me to think about an oft-used argument that makes my skin crawl. Perhaps my least favorite sentence in the English language.

“Well, it ruined his career.”

Perhaps swathes of women across the country will never be able to sleep again, never be able to have relationships again, never trust men again, never feel safe again. But, hey, it ruined his career.

I’m sure if you asked Turner if he’d rather never compete in a swim tournament again or never be able to sleep again, he would gladly give up swimming.

If you asked Weinstein if he’d rather retire early and coast on his fortune or never be able to feel safe again, he’d choose retirement.

A ruined career is not tantamount to a ruined life.

As we grieve the loss of Kobe Bryant, remember all the good he did. Remember the jaw-dropping games and the heart-breaking images of him and his family. Remember the Bryant you knew and loved, but don’t let this element of his past fade away. Remember it as tangibly as you remember his winning shots.

Hold him accountable. You’d want Bryant’s assault case remembered if you were that young, impressionable 19-year-old girl.

Dana is a senior studying Journalism and Theatre. Do you believe that we need to hold Kobe Bryant accountable despite his tragic death? How should sexual assault be handled when the perpetrator passes away? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

Starship dining hall delivery robots indicate groundbreaking food delivery technology advancing into local Madison scene

By Anthony Trombi STAFF WRITER

Students have been using food delivery apps such as Uber Eats, Grubhub, Eat Street and many others for a while. With a few seconds on a phone, food can be delivered to the door from various restaurants located here in Madison. All you have to do is pay a delivery fee and sometimes higher prices for food and your meal arrives at your doorstep.

Food delivery has now reached a new level here in Madison with the addition of self-driving delivery robots. University Housing has launched a program that allows dining hall food to be delivered in the same fashion as common delivery apps. The big difference is that people are not the ones delivering the food, but self-driving robots.

The University Housing and Dining is working with the company Starship, who are the creators of the new self-driving robots. The company was founded in 2014 and its headquarters are located in San Francisco, California. These robots weigh no more than 100 pounds and can carry items within a four-mile radius of their origin. With advanced programming and electric-run motors, these robots are now being

used on various college campuses besides our own.

According to University Housing, users can just open the Starship Deliveries app (available on iOS and Android), choose the items they would like from one of the dining halls, and drop a pin by selecting the location on the service map where they want their food to be delivered. The app allows users to watch the robot’s entire journey to them through an interactive map. Once the robot arrives, the user will receive an alert, and they can meet the robot and unlock it through the app.

The delivery usually takes just a matter of minutes, depending on the menu items ordered and the distance the robot must travel. Robots can carry up to 20 pounds of goods – the equivalent of about three shopping bags of groceries.

By now, almost every student has seen the little robots rolling around with the bright orange flag on top.

Students at first glance were confused and surprised by a robot moving along sidewalks and crossing streets — it is weird to see a bunch of robots moving about sidewalks and waiting alongside other pedestrians at traffic lights, after all.

Yet, the robots sometimes get

stuck (even multiple times per trip) and often are not able to move around certain obstacles. Now, three months after being introduced, these robots are in southeast and their AI (artificial intelligence) has greatly improved. They now cross streets faster, though still with some difficulty (missing traffic lights), and can navigate through more environments.

If a robot does get stuck, they can be remotely controlled by a human to help, but overall the robots are mainly self-driving. These robots even talk if you help them when stuck or if you are blocking its path.

The new technology being used with these robots is very promising and holds a lot of potential for the future. Right now, Madison is in the middle of the advancement of a new form of food delivery. Soon, these robots will become fast and smart enough to make these deliveries extremely efficient and easy to use.

If these robots become faster to use than walking to a dining hall and eating, robots will completely take away the need to travel to dining halls for food anymore. Potentially, restaurants on State Street could take advantage of this technology, and food delivery in Madison could

be groundbreaking. (I mean, robots delivering Chipotle or Qdoba to your front door seems more appealing than dining hall food).

Despite the benefits of these robots, there are a few downsides as well. When first launched in November, these robots were only able to deliver to lakeshore locations and had some difficulty navigating. Now, however, from lakeshore to southeast, these robots are everywhere and are actively making deliveries.

Dining halls are usually efficient and allow for relatively fast dining experiences. These delivery robots are no faster than walking to a dining hall and grabbing a to-go container.

Also, the idea of having dining hall food delivered is not very appealing to students currently.

The reason food delivery apps are great is that restaurants that normally take a while to get to or eat can be delivered in a speedy manner.

The demand for dining hall food is primarily freshman, and freshman dorms are located adjacent to dining halls. Thus, this new technology seems to only appeal to a small percentage of students.

They seem to move in spermatic fashion and can sometimes

cause problems when walking to and from class. These robots also line up outside dining halls which can cause slight traffic. Furthermore, dining hall employees are now having to delegate their time to assist in these delivery orders. If a robot is late or backup happens when the dining hall is busy, food orders will become delayed.

The future is unknown with these robots and how they will impact the students and the community of Madison. Yet, dining halls are incorporating more advanced tech besides just the robots. At the Bean & Creamery locations in housing, ordering happens through a touch screen with pictures of every item and customizable options.

Thus, it is safe to say that University Dining seems to be the testing ground for new technologies throughout the university.

Hopefully, this is just the beginning and technology continues to advance around campus to make life more efficient for students and faculty.

Anthony is a freshman studying Journalism. Do you think the Starship robots will lead to a greater trend in food deliver services? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

life&style

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‘Undecided’: When you don’t have a major

By Alexa Rose STAFF WRITER

“Undecided.” A word that can have many different meanings, but for me, it has been my answer to the daunting

This environment definitely has added an extra level of pressure and I will admit I have found myself wondering if I will ever decide on what I want to do. question that is: “what is your major?” Even before coming to college I dreaded thinking about putting a label on

my education, which is why I checked the box “Letters & Science” on my application as it gave me the most options.

However, now as a secondsemester college freshman, I feel as though I am constantly surrounded by people who seem to have their whole lives figured out. On top of that, I have had an overwhelming number of people express their concern for me through comments that generally point out how important it is for me to figure it out, as if I didn’t already know that.

To say the least, this environment definitely has added an extra level of pressure and I will admit I have found myself

GRAPHIC BY LYRA EVANS

wondering if I will ever decide on what I want to do.

Yet simultaneously, I am motivated by the prospect of taking a class and just knowing that the wait was all worth it because, in the end, I am exactly where I am meant to be.

I know for some the feeling of uncertainty is stressful and it might feel like you are falling behind your peers. However, with the flexibility that the University of Wisconsin gives its students in terms of declaring a major, you really are in no rush at all.

To be completely honest I have met more people that have changed their major than people who haven’t, which proves that just because you put a

label on it doesn’t mean it is going to solve all of your problems. Having your major be undecided might be criticized by some but in reality, it is fully normal and acceptable.

Yet simultaneously, I am motivated by the prospect of taking a class and just knowing that the wait was all worth it.

So take it from me, someone whose interests blow in every direction of the wind, you will figure it out.

Where to study when libraries are overbooked, crowded

By Samantha Benish STAFF WRITER

Let’s face it: the start of the spring semester hit us like a train. Classes are now in full swing, and the endless papers and lab assignments are beginning to pile up. Although I am a sucker for the impressive views from the tables of College Library, a change of scenery is always welcomed.

After doing some exploring

and asking around, I have compiled a brief list of underrated spaces around campus. You may just want to check them out the next time you need to grind out your work!

The first location on my list is the Educational Sciences building. Located across from Grand Central Apartments, this hidden gem is steps away from the hustle of campus. Take the elevator up to the 12th floor and find the

single set of stairs that leads to the mysterious 13th floor. There you will find glass windows that show a breathtaking view of both Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. The space itself is quiet, peaceful and rarely crowded. If you need a break from the tightness of College Library but want a beautiful view, the 13th floor of Educational Sciences is the way to go.

Next is the Wisconsin

Institute for Discovery. You may or may not have heard of this place, but trust me — it’s worth visiting! The first floor holds an abundant amount of plants that make you feel like you are sitting in the middle of the forest. Tranquil sounds of the many waterfalls focus and relax your mind. Hungry?

Three unique restaurants for every taste are located conveniently in the building!

If campus buildings aren’t your thing, State Street has a variety of cute coffee shops. One of my personal favorites is Grace Coffee. Its chill atmosphere and to-die-for crepes lead to great inspiration! However, there is bound to be a spot that you will fall in love with — from Colectivo to Fair Trade! So push yourself to explore a little this semester.

Who knows? Your grades might thank you for it.