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Are we fulfilling the Wisconsin Idea?
Implications of Genomic Science
+OPINION, PAGE 7
+SCIENCE, PAGE 4
Wiscards to have suicide prevention hotline By Dana Brandt COLLEGE NEWS EDITOR
For UW-Madison students experiencing a mental health crisis next year, the number to call for help could be as close as the back of their student ID. A new bill passed in the state Legislature this month mandates all student ID cards for colleges and universities in Wisconsin to include phone numbers for suicide prevention hotlines. The bill has bipartisan support and only awaits Gov. Tony Evers’ signature. But the state legislation wasn’t the first UW-Madison heard of adding a crisis hotline to the back of Wiscards. Associated Students of Madison, the campus’ student government, already put the idea in motion thanks to a campaign started back in October. ASM Rep. Yogev BenYitschak introduced the student council legislation at their Oct. 2 meeting after being inspired at a summer student government conference. Northwestern University students’ ID cards, which have multiple hotline numbers, made him realize adding similar numbers to Wiscards could work at UW-Madison. “It seemed like a campaign that [ASM] could really get behind in terms of what it was trying to do — I think ASM as a whole has been really trying to focus more on mental health this year,” Ben-Yitschak said. “This campaign fit very nicely
in terms of making sure everybody knows where to reach out during a mental health crisis.” A University Health Services
Police Department phone number and the Rape Crisis Line. Around the same time ASM passed its legislation, the state’s
with it.” He added that the biggest challenge was not getting people to agree on the motion, but
GRAPHIC BY MAX HOMSTAD
Students’ Wiscards will have the suicide prevention hotline on the back starting in the next academic year. study reported 15 percent of UW-Madison students had thoughts of suicide in 2018; it is the second-leading cause of death among college students. The ASM legislation proposed adding a total of three numbers to the back of Wiscards: the UHS Mental Health Crisis Line, the UW
bipartisan mental health task force recommended adding the suicide prevention hotline number to student IDs, Ben-Yitschak said. While he communicated with representatives about the progress of this suggestion, Ben-Yitschak also worked with UW-Madison “in case the state legislation [did] nothing else
timely action. “Nobody was against [adding the numbers], but nobody was really taking the lead on it,” Ben-Yitschak stated. “It was mainly fighting against inaction of everybody saying, ‘I support this, but do we really need to do this now? Can it wait another year?’”
The campaign faced the most direct pushback at the student council meeting when it was first introduced. Other ASM representatives raised “a lot of really good questions” about whether the numbers could potentially be triggering, scare freshmen entering college for the first time or not be the best way to solve the problem, Ben-Yitschak said. At the meeting, Ben-Yitschak cited the state of California and other schools, such as Northwestern University and Ohio State University, that already mandate similar emergency numbers on the backs of their student ID cards. And research doesn’t support that adding the numbers causes harm to students, he added. The UW-Madison Faculty Senate and Academic Staff Assembly both passed resolutions in support of ASM’s campaign to add the three phone numbers to the back of Wiscards. The support from all the campus’ shared governance groups encouraged both the university and the state representatives, Ben-Yitschak said. After the state legislation passed in the Senate, UW-Madison was “ready to move” on the project, said Director of the Wisconsin Union Mark Guthier. A team of people led by
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Chabad encourages discussion on anti-Semitism at town hall By Claudia Belawski STAFF WRITER
“2020 feels worse, as far as regards to the safety of Jewish people, than it did in 2010,” Head of Chabad House Rabbi Mendel said. “That, of course, is working backward.” Following Holocaust Remembrance Day, Jewish students at UW-Madison’s Chabad House reflected Tuesday on both their positive and negative experiences of being Jewish. The Chabad House provides a safe space for the Jewish community to come together and celebrate their faith. Rabbi Mendel organized yesterday’s event focusing on issues of anti-Semitism on campus — and throughout the country. Anti-Semitism can be defined as hostility toward or discrimination against Jews as a religious, ethnic, or racial group, according to the Mirriam Webster Dictionary.
UW-Madison has had previous instances of anti-Semitism on campus. While blatant accounts of anti-Semitism are rare on campus, it is social exclusion that comes from being underrepresented that bothered students most, according to Markus Brauer, a UW-Madison social psychology professor. Over 80 percent of Jewish Americans believe anti-Semitism is a problem in the United States, according to The Chicago Tribune, while 84 percent say it has gotten worse in the last five years. At Tuesday’s event, students spoke out about their personal experiences with anti-Semitism in the dorms, classrooms, clubs and from professors on campus. All students who participated wished to remain anonymous. One student expressed that dorms were a particularly hard
place for Jewish Americans, stating that residence halls were supposed to be a place for people of all different cultures coming to connect with one another — but that is not what they found. “Unfortunately, this is real,” Mendel said. “But often, you find people who really want to learn, who ask questions, who really want to be involved.” Yet, some students were able to discuss the positive aspects of being Jewish. Students shared stories about people who were interested to know about Jewish culture, educating their peers, and engaging with respectful professors who were understanding of their holiday celebrations. Mendel created an acronym for students, “ACT” — Acknowledge, Challenge, Teach. It is a suggestion for Jewish students to engage with their Jewish identity, speak
up, challenge and teach classmates on the meaning of being Jewish. “I think we have to be aware that people are still unaware of the
oppression Jews have faced,” one student said. “The first steps in fighting anti-Semitism may be as simple as educating and listening.”
BRYCE RICHTER/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Rabbi Mendel facilitated discussion with students on what being Jewish on campus means to them, both the positive and negative aspects of it.
“…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 Volume 129, Issue 16
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News Team News Manager Allison Garfield Campus Editor Morgan Lock College Editor Dana Brandt City Editor Addison Lathers State Editor Bremen Keasey Associate News Editor Michael Parsky Features Editor Sonya Chechik Opinion Editors Sam Jones • Anupras Mohapatra Arts Editors Raynee Hamilton • Emily Knepple Sports Editors Nathan Denzin • Jared Schwartz Almanac Editors Haley Bills •Jordan Simon Photo Editors Kalli Anderson • Taylor Wolfram Graphics Editor Max Homstad Multimedia Editor Ethan Huskey Science Editor Alberto Kanost Life & Style Editor Allie Sprink Copy Chiefs Grace Hodgman • Emily Johnson Haley Mades Social Media Manager Miriam Jaber Special Pages Kayla Huynh • Lauren Souza
Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Managers Ignatius D. Devkalis • Asher Anderson Advertising Manager Nick Dotson The Daily Cardinal is a nonprofit organization run by its staff members and elected editors. It receives no funds from the university. Operating revenue is generated from advertising and subscription sales. The Daily Cardinal is published weekdays and distributed at the University of WisconsinMadison and its surrounding community with a circulation of 10,000. Capital Newspapers, Inc. is the Cardinal’s printer. The Daily Cardinal is printed on recycled paper. The Cardinal is a member of the Associated Collegiate Press and the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. All copy, photographs and graphics appearing in The Daily Cardinal are the sole property of the Cardinal and may not be reproduced without written permission of the editor in chief. The Daily Cardinal accepts advertising representing a wide range of views. This acceptance does not imply agreement with the views expressed. The Cardinal reserves the right to reject advertisements judged offensive based on imagery, wording or both. Complaints: News and editorial complaints should be presented to the editor in chief. Business and advertising complaints should be presented to the business manager. Letters Policy: Letters must be word processed and must include contact information. No anonymous letters will be printed. All letters to the editor will be printed at the discretion of The Daily Cardinal. Letters may be sent to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
UW student to be next District 8 Alder ByAddison Lathers CITY NEWS EDITOR
Eighteen-year-old Max Prestigiacomo will serve as Madison’s Common Council District 8 alder after the upcoming April election. Prestigiacomo launched his campaign in November with platforms focused on fair housing, sustainability and social justice. While elections for the position will be held April 7, Prestigiacomo is the only person who filed as a candidate listed for the position, according to the city’s website. He is running unopposed. “It’s not the campaign I thought it was going to be. Civically, it’s not a great thing that I don’t have an opponent,” Prestigiacomo said in a statement. “It’s the exact reason I’m in this race. No one really realizes that there’s an election and people aren’t connected to city issues.” Prestigiacomo is a freshman at UW-Madison majoring in Political Science and History. He was the Wisconsin State Leader for the March 15 Climate Strike, previously serving as the executive director of the Youth Climate Action Team. He is currently endorsed by Sally Rohrer — the current
District 8 seat holder — Avra Reddy — the former elected District 8 alder — and Hayley Young, the District 5 supervisor. When he is elected, Prestigiacomo will also be the youngest elected official in Wisconsin — though he hasn’t always wanted to serve in local government. “I didn’t like politics ever. I didn’t want to be involved. And then the 2016 election came around and I started realizing that people need to step up,” Prestigiacomo said. Prestigiacomo was inspired by Bernie Sanders at a rally at the Alliant Energy Center. Hearing the presidential candidate talk about young people motivated Prestigiacomo to re-examine his frustration with the political system and put it into action. “I realized that I can’t be relying on international institutions when they’re so bogged down with bureaucratic systems that prevent them from actually doing the work that’s stated in their mission,” Prestigiacomo said. “So I thought, city council, local government — that’s the most efficient, most powerful way that we can make change.” Prestigiacomo plans on being
By Anabella Rosciglione STAFF WRITER
Democratic lawmakers introduced new legislature Monday to invest millions of dollars to expand access to
broadband in rural Wisconsin. The Better Broadband legislative package would provide $100 million dollars for investment into the expansion of broadband throughout the state, along with
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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Democratic legislators proposed a package of bills designed to provide $100 million for investment in the expansion of broadband Internet.
Wiscard from page 1
For the record Corrections or clarifications? Call The Daily Cardinal office at 608262-8000 or send an email to edit@dailycardinal.com.
more vocal than past alders as he approaches the position from an activist’s perspective — as opposed to a politician. He wants to see new efforts in the city’s plans to use renewable energy by 2050, as well as forestry efforts as it pertains to the climate crisis. Prestigiacomo plans on running again after his first term
to ensure that he has time to complete his goals regarding Madison’s Sustainability Plan and representation for youths in local government. “I’m focused on making positive change for my community — the community I love, the community I was born in and the community that raised me,” he said.
TAYLOR WOLFRAM/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Running unopposed in the April 7 election, Max Prestigiacomo will be the youngest elected official in Wisconisn as the District 8 alder.
Democrats announce rural broadband expansion bills
Editorial Board Robyn Cawley • Erin Jordan • Sam Jones • Anupras Mohapatra • Kavitha Babu • Max Homstad • Lauren Souza • Hazel Levy • Sam Nesovanovic
© 2015, The Daily Cardinal Media Corporation ISSN 0011-5398
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Guthier — including BenYitschak and other representatives from ASM, UHS, UWPD and the Wiscard office, with input from UW Communications and UW Office of Legal Affairs — will spend a little over a month redesigning the backs of the Wiscards to fit the suicide prevention hotline. Although the bill only requires the suicide prevention hotline, Ben-Yitschak is still aiming for all three numbers from his original ASM campaign to end up on the IDs. The
inclusion of the Rape Crisis Line and UWPD’s phone number will be discussed at the design meetings, but Ben-Yitschak doesn’t think it will be too difficult to get the other two numbers approved. Guthier agreed, as he previously approved all three numbers and believes the team will too. “We’re happy to help make it work, however many can fit on the back,” Guthier said. The bill also allows for the substitution of a local suicide prevention hotline. BenYitschak stated the group may decide to swap the national hotline for the UHS Mental Health Crisis Line.
higher quality mapping to assist the Public Service Commission with the subsequent grant applications. In 2019, 486,000 rural Wisconsinites lacked access to broadband service — about 28 percent of Wisconsin’s rural population — according to the Federal Trade Commission. Sen. Patty Schachtner, D-Somerset, and other leaders behind the proposal emphasized how a lack of internet access can impact agricultural economy. “Without reliable internet access, our small family farmers don’t have access to the latest agricultural technology or marketing and outreach opportunities that can support their farm’s viability,” Schachtner said. The Map Accuracy and Investment bill, also included inside the Better Broadband package, would allow electric companies to be reimbursed for taking customer surveys of their broadband service. Rep. Katrina Shankland, D-Stevens Point, stated that outdated maps have caused
Wisconsin’s broadband to “lag behind other states,” and believes this bill could help speed up the implementation. “By focusing on improving our broadband mapping accuracy, we can ensure the Public Service Commission has the information it needs to maximize its reach and work towards connecting every home and business in Wisconsin,” Shankland said. Sen. Je f f S m it h , D-Brunswick, hoped the Truth and Advertising bill — which requires providers to advertise their service as being broadband only if it meets a certain download speed requirement — will help rural farmers who previously received slower service. “At almost every event I attend, the constituents I talk to feel shortchanged by companies promising internet service and failing to provide broadband speeds,” Smith said. “We must improve our program and invest if rural communities are going to join the digital age.”
The goal is to redesign the Wiscards in time for Student Orientation Advising and Registration, when incoming freshmen typically pick up their ID cards. In order to do so, the design needs to be finished by the March 15 deadline, according to Ben-Yitschak. At the moment, only incoming freshmen will be receiving the new Wiscards, Guthier said. Students will also be able to get one of the new ID cards if they lose theirs and need a new one printed. Since Wiscards are printed on demand, the redesign will not add any extra costs for students or UW-Madison.
Ben-Yitschak said he is proud of how the campaign has grown — from a way to help students who aren’t able to search emergency hotline numbers online to a broader way to show support for people struggling on campus. “It’s symbolic in the sense of we’re telling our students that we know this is an issue, and there is always help for them if they need it,” he said. “This is [our] way of saying we’re here for each other and the university is here for us — that we’re willing to change our design so that students have the resources they need during whatever they’re going through.”
photo Snapper’s Row: A Break in Photos
KALLI ANDERSON/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Tik Tok-ers obsess over the Tik Tok dances that have been taking the internet by storm.
TAYLOR WOLFRAM/THE DAILY CARDINAL
Demonstrators sing protest songs outside of the Capitol during VP Mike Pence’s speech.
TÉALIN ROBINSON/THE DAILY CARDINAL
A surfer walks down a foggy Bradford beach in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in a late December morning.
KALLI ANDERSON/THE DAILY CARDINAL
A surfer in Southern California washes his board after catching waves.
KALLI ANDERSON/THE DAILY CARDINAL
The sun sets over the waves at Sunset Cliffs in San Diego, California, on a pleasant January evening.
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Genetic scoring opens host of ethical concerns, implications
COURTESY OF JEFF MILLER
Genetic testing and genetic risk scoring is now more accessible, but determining what the results and possibilties mean from both a scientific and ethical standpoint is challenging. By Alejandra Canales STAFF WRITER
A world where we can predict what traits and diseases that a baby will be born with is nearly upon us. With the expanding availability of genetic data, researchers in both universities and industry are trying to figure out the complicated relationship between our DNA and human health. For traits and diseases that reflect the interaction between many genetic and oftentimes environmental risk factors, these sorts of predictions are more difficult to make. Scientists use genomewide association studies with very large sample sizes to calculate polygenic scores, which correlate genetic factors with complex traits, like height or BMI, and risk for complex diseases, like heart disease or autism. “Almost everything you can think of is highly polygenic — meaning [that] many, many, many genes or hun-
Ask Ms. Scientist is written by Alberto Kanost, science editor. Burning science questions? science@dailycardinal.com
dreds of thousands of genetic locations could be affecting [a complex trait],” Jason Fletcher, a UW-Madison professor of public affairs studying some of the ethical, legal and social implications of genomic science, said. Since an individual’s genome generally does not change over the course of their lifetime, polygenic scores could offer an avenue for identifying individuals for specialized treatments or early interventions, Fletcher adds. “The positive case might be something like thinking about an instance where there is polygenic score for dyslexia and potentially being able to use a score like that very early in a child’s life as a way of collecting individuals who might benefit from specific learning interventions,” Fletcher said. Intellectual disabilities and learning disabilities often go unnoticed for years, which can leave a child to struggle. Lauren Schmitz, a UW-Madison assistant professor of public affairs, also notes that whereas for heart disease, preventative measures are viewed favorably, for intellectual disability the measures used to intervene would need to be carefully considered to avoid stigmatizing individuals. Schmitz also stresses that although the science is moving fast, the predictive accuracy of these polygenic risk scores varies depending on the trait or disease in question. However, the for-profit, direct-to-consumer DNA testing industry is blurring the lines on what genomic science can say. “The way I see it, it is the next frontier in personalized things,” Schmitz said. “I think we’re a culture that loves things that are personalized to us — me and my experience — and so I think the genome is the next marketing frontier.”
For example, last November the biotech company Genomic Prediction claimed it could offer polygenic scores for traits including diabetes, heart disease and even IQ as an additional amenity for parents having children through in vitro fertilization. Currently, IVF clinics test fertilized embryos before they are implanted into a uterus to check for inherited genetic disease, like cystic fibrosis or Tays-Sachs disease, or for major chromosome abnormalities that can dramatically decrease the likelihood of a fetus being carried to term. The announcement has been met with concern from scientists about the accuracy of these new preimplantation tests as well as the long-term effects of selecting on the basis of these traits. Additionally, the uncertainty raises question on the accuracy of the score to predict whether or not someone will have a certain disease or trait. “There’s all sorts of things where we don’t even understand how these different mechanisms are operating and how they’re correlated with other aspects of the genome,” Schmitz said. Measurements of intelligence like IQ tests are controversial, and as Angela Saini writes in “Superior: The Return of Race Science,” much of the work correlating educational attainment with genetics has direct ties to the vestiges of the eugenics movement in the early 20th century. Additionally, for many complex traits and diseases in combination with social and environmental factors at play, these polygenic scores are not necessarily an indicationt that the trait or disease will manifest. “We should be clear that the scores are not destiny, and there’s an upper limit on how predictive it could be,” Fletcher said.
COURTESY OF PATRICK DUFOUR
DNA contains genes that express the traits inside of the body.
sports Kobe King to transfer out of Wisconsin By Jared Schwartz SPORTS EDITOR
The Wisconsin Badgers will be without one of their top scorers going forward. Redshirt sophomore Kobe King hasdecided to leave the team, he announced on Wednesday. King is the team’s second-leading scorer, recorded 10 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists a game through 19 games played this season. He did not travel with the team to Iowa City for UW’s 68-62 loss to Iowa on Monday. “After talking with family and friends I have decided that the best step for my future basketball aspirations, as well as my love for the game, is to immediately step away from the University of Wisconsin Men’s basketball program,” King announced on his Instagram. “This has been a very tough decision for me, however after spending almost 3 years in the Wisconsin program I have realized that this program is not the right fit for me as a player and person. Being a Wisconsin kid my whole life, I always dreamed about being a Badger and representing this state every game. I am grateful that I was able to get the opportunity to play for such a great University.” King had grown unhappy in recent weeks with the direction of the team, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Although he’s shot just 25 percent from behind
the arc this season, the La Crosse native is perhaps UW’s most dynamic player on offense. On a team that often struggles through prolonged scoring droughts, King is often the bestequipped on the court to create his own shot and generate scoring. At his best, King is one of the more talented and athletic slashers in the Big Ten, providing the Badgers a consistent source of production. “Being a student-athlete in the Wisconsin men’s basketball program is a special privilege and opportunity and I’m disappointed that Kobe has chosen to leave, particularly at this point in time,” head coach Greg Gard said in a statement. “But I respect his right to do what he feels is in his best interest. I wish Kobe all the best.” The decision mostly came as a surprise. The team found out they would be without King just moments before they set out for Iowa City. “Yeah, it did [catch us off guard],” junior guard D’Mitrik Trice told reporters after the game Monday. “For the most part, we weren’t really sure why. We still don’t really know why. We think he’s just attending to his personal issues, coaches are telling us that. Whatever he’s doing I hope he’s figuring it out.” Growing up in Wisconsin, King represented a major in-state recruiting win for Gard – he was the Gatorade Player of the Year
Badgers sweep Gophers in a gritty border battle By Kalli Anderson PHOTO EDITOR
In the final contest between border rivals No. 1 Wisconsin (13-2-1-0 WCHA, 23-2-1 overall) and No. 2 Minnesota (12-4-2-1 WCHA, 20-4-3 overall) for the regular season, the Badgers shut out the Golden Gophers 3-0. They dominated this weekend’s series, after an overtime win by Wisconsin Friday night. The teams were deadlocked at 1-1-1 this season before today’s win by the Badgers. Wisconsin earned their top spot in the NCAA polls after the hard-fought battle against the No. 2 team in the nation. It marked the first time the Golden Gophers have been shut out this season, and almost a year since the last
time they were blanked, when Wisconsin beat them 2-0 in the NCAA Championship Game. “Obviously, having no goals against us is huge in a hockey game,” senior forward Presley Norby said. “We’ve been working on our zone defensively and just doing the little things that will help us make the playoffs this year.” After its success last night, Head Coach Mark Johnson started his second line, which consists of senior forward Abby Roque, sophomore forward Britta Curl and senior forward Alexis Mauermann. However, because the new line-up paid off so well for the Badgers last night -- where Roque captured the first score of the game within three min-
in the state and won the State Championship his senior year. King was a three-star recruit out of La Crosse Central, joined by Brad Davison and Nate Reuvers in Gard’s 2017 class. King missed much of his freshman year, scoring just 5.2 points a game in 10 games played. A fractured patella in his left knee derailed the rest of that season, and the effects could clearly be felt when he came back last year. He scored 4.2 points and recorded 2.1 rebounds and 0.5 assists in 34 games a season ago, often providing a scoring-punch off the bench. After losing Ethan Happ and Khalil Iverson, King earned a starting role this season and gained a bigger responsibility in the offense. King led the team in scoring in conference play, and his teammates have often noted his potential to reach another level. After picking up multiple top25 wins last week, the Badgers have lost two in a row and will host No. 14 Michigan State at the Kohl Center on Saturday. UW will enter the matchup with a 12-9 overall record and 5-5 mark in the conference. Wisconsin currently sits seventh in the Big Ten. “We are a resilient team,” Gard said in the statement. “I am confident in our staff and players. We are moving forward fully committed to each other and to achieving our collective goals.” utes of the puck dropping — the Golden Gophers were on their toes and ready for this switch-up from Wisconsin. While Roque and her previous lineman junior forward Daryl Watts almost slipped one past Minnesota senior goaltender Sydney Scobee in the same time frame as last night, the seasoned goalkeeper was able to shut down the dominant forwards. Scobee kept up her dominance throughout the first frame, not letting a single one of the Badgers’ 10 shots on goal past her, even against the sole power play in the period. While forwards Roque and Curl sent rockets at the net, Scobee kept true to her season record of 1.63 goals allowed per game and let none slip past. Wisconsin redshirt senior goalkeeper Kristen Campbell kept up the same ferocity, keeping the Golden Gophers’ eight shots on goal out of her net in the period.
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Norby was critical for the Badgers Saturday, netting two Badger goals and bringing energy to the ice all night.
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King was averaging 10 points and two rebounds a game before transfering. “We’re ready for anything that comes our way, and I think that’s a real positive thing when you’re facing all these different bounces and game scores and being in different game situations,” Campbell said. “Obviously, shut-outs are nice, but I think the main goal is always to get the win, and that’s what we focus on as a team. Getting the win is the most important thing.” Although nobody could get a puck past these top goalkeepers in the first period, the second frame proved to be more of a challenge for Scobee. Five minutes in, Norby took a shot from just below the blue line, and doinked the puck off the right goalpost into the Minnesota net. It was her eighth goal of the season, and the first score of the night. “You talk about getting pucks in net, the first one wasn’t going very fast,” Johnson said with a smirk. “But, you know, if it’s in the right spot, it goes go in. Whoever was gonna score first today… was gonna create energy. When its us to score [first], the crowd’s energy is gonna help us, which is what happened.” After being badgered on the ice for a full minute after Norby’s score, the Golden Gophers’ head coach Brad Frost called for a time out to regroup his team. Frost must have devised a good plan for the players to listen to, as sophomore defender Gracie Ostertag almost nailed one past Campbell right after the timeout. But, even after Frost’s prodding, Minnesotan still couldn’t knock one past the Badgers, even on their lone power play
after Norby was called for roughing. Norby regrouped after her team stepped up to ice the power play, and closed the hole she left by scoring again with five minutes left, marking her second of the night. “There’s always a little extra fire [when we play the Gophers]. Obviously, those are my friends from when I was growing up, being from Minnesota, and there’s always a little bit of a competitive edge when we play them and obviously we respect them a lot, so I try and bring my best game.” While the refs let the players play (evident after Minnesota wasn’t called for checking Watts up against the boards), this was another clean period of hockey for the top two NCAA women’s hockey teams. After a scoreless 19 and a half minutes of tough defense in the third, deafening cheers erupted from the LaBahn crowd as Watts — who leads both the Badgers and the nation in points – drove down the side of the ice to score an empty netter on the Golden Gophers. “They’re a good opponent, and I’m sure we’ll see them again, and they’ll see us, and it’s been that way since I started coaching on the women’s side,” Johnson said. “It’s fun to play. We’re gonna win some, they’re gonna win some, and we become better by playing each other, especially in the second half of the season.” The Badgers hit the ice next weekend against the St. Cloud State Huskies in Madison at LaBahn Arena on Feb. 1 and 2 at 3:07 p.m. and 2:07 p.m. respectively.
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Student crosses crosswalk with no sense of urgency with only two seconds left on crossing signal By Haley Bills ALMANAC EDITOR
PHOTO COURTESY OF PXFUEL.COM
Poor crosswalk man powerless.
Though students are only in their second week of the 2020 spring semester at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, spirits are already quite low. This is most clearly seen on the campus’s many crosswalks, especially those that intersect with some of Madison’s most busy roads: it seems that students have developed a total disregard for crossing signals. On Tuesday, January 28, an unidentified Badger unknowingly started the pitiful trend when crossing University
Avenue around 9:32 in the morning, probably making them late for whichever 9:30 class they were attempting to attend that day. The lone individual stepped foot into the pedestrian crossing with only two seconds left on the crossing signal. They proceeded to walk at a leisurely, yet glacial pace to the other side of the street. While many were skeptical of the tale, several eyewitnesses confirmed that the individual was indeed aware of the time left on the crossing signal. Some said this was evident in the “cold, hard eye contact the individual kept with the electronic warning
device during his journey across University Avenue.” Still, others insisted the individual had ample time to cross but purposely waited until the signal dwindled to its final numbers. Whether purposeful or not, this Badger inspired many with his careless crosswalk etiquette. Within the same day, students all across campus refused to step foot into any crosswalk unless the crossing signal had reduced to its last two seconds. “Actions speak louder than words,” one particularly brave student who crossed a street with no time left at all on its crossing
signal said. “So, yes, I suppose I could say ‘I don’t want to go to class today’ or ‘I’m incredibly overwhelmed, and quite frankly, depressed.’ But acting as though I have enough time to cross a street when I really don’t expresses my feelings in a much more resounding fashion.” Needless to say, college education and its rigorous nature has certainly been predictable with its lengthy track record of taking a toll on students, but the creative (and sometimes alarming) responses to such adversary are anything but.
Preston: A post-apocalyptic social commentary of germ-normous importance [Sponsored by Lysol]
GRAPHIC BY JORDAN SIMON
It was just another day in West Bakteriabad, a city located on the desk of fourth-grader Jimmy Sutton, but suddenly a big cloud appeared in the sky. That was all that Preston remembered.
By Jordan Simon ALMANAC EDITOR
Preston awoke from his daze. Feeling foggy, groggy and unmoored, he slowly began to collect himself. As he regained awareness, he couldn’t help but notice the lack of familiarity of his surroundings. Everywhere he looked was barren and the ground was coated is some form of soapy residue, the likes of which he had never seen. Whatever this strange place was, it was certain that Preston was very far from his home. Perhaps even as much as forty centimeters away. Suddenly, he was overtaken by a sharp pain in his side. As he glanced down, he noticed that his polysaccharide capsule was severely scraped and bruised. Upon closer examination, there was a deep puncture at the center of the wound in which the cell wall was exposed. Mortified, Preston attempted to maintain his composure. He decided he must search the area. As he wagged his achy flagellum, he soon became aware of his jostled cytoplasm and displaced ribosomes. As much as it pained him, he began to move forward.
But as Preston soldiered on, flagellum flutter after flagellum flutter, nothing was to be found. Only the bareness and the strange residue surrounded him. Twenty-five seconds passed. Then fifty seconds. Then a hundred. Still nothing. Eventually, after what felt like eons – perhaps as much as three hundred seconds – Preston saw a silhouette in the distance, and so he flagellum fluttered forward towards the silhouette he saw. Upon his arrival, Preston’s discovery was to his great dismay. There laid four dead bodies. Petrified and shocked, his mesosomes churned inside him as he fought back against vomiting up his nucleoid. How could something so horrible have happened to these bacteria? As the sheer trauma of the sight set in, what Preston experienced before he woke up in the strange land started to come back to him. It was like just any other day in West Bakteriabad, a city located on the classroom desk of fourthgrader Jimmy Sutton. Preston had gone to the market to buy some fresh yeast for his week’s meals. While he was there he bumped
into his neighbor, Patho Jen. They started talking, and she was telling Preston about her trip to Cyanobacteria City, a town at the top left corner of the desk about a ninety second flagellum flutter away. She told him about how the townspeople there had survived for hundreds of minutes off of an ancient yogurt spill that was never properly cleaned and dated back nearly three days ago. “What a cool place!” Preston thought. Maybe he ought to visit Cyanobacteria City one day. But just then, a big cloud appeared and cast a shadow over the entire area. Only, this was no cloud. This thing was cloth-like. It shined bright white and oozed disgusting bubbles out of its side. The entire market turned its head toward the frightening object in the sky. As Preston took a closer look, it seemed as if this blood-curdling thing was wielded by one of the hosts which walked the classroom. Then in an instant, the object rapidly descended. That was the last thing Preston remembered before he awoke so far away from his home. Now his attention refocused back to
where he was. As chilling as they were, Preston couldn’t redirect his attention away from the bodies. The stench of the residue surrounded him. “It’s an unfortunate sight isn’t it,” called a gravelly voice from behind him. Preston turned around to find an old bacteria staring back at him. The first bacteria he’d seen after centimeters of flagellum fluttering. “It is indeed,” Preston sighed. “Who are you?” “My name is Clarasite,” the so-recently identified and aptly named Clarasite responded, “but you can call me Clara.” “How could this have happened? What has happened?” Preston desperately inquired. “It was the lambasting linen! The sinister serviette! Haven’t you known the prophecy?” croaked Clara. Preston shook his head. “Ah, a westerner. The last two times the disaster missed the top left corner, and so your people have forgotten.” “What is the prophecy?” asked Preston “Every Friday around 2:00 p.m.
it comes. It destroys everything in sight. It kills all of us, about 99.9 percent of us. Even the viruses do not survive.” Preston’s eyes widened and his body sank as Clara told of the prophecy. “What is this thing?” he asked. “The Lysol Disinfectant Wipe, my child.” Preston was stunned. It couldn’t be. He had heard of the LDW but was sure that it was only a myth. Preston shrieked to Clara, “how could this be? I thought the LDW was only a myth.” “Oh, it is no myth! Just look around you! It is a killing machine, and it works brilliantly on most hard, non-porous surfaces. You may think the mess you live in tough, but Lysol is strong enough for even the toughest messes. You and I are the lucky ones. We are some of only 0.1 percent of bacteria and viruses to survive.” “No! No, it can’t –” “I’m sorry, but you must believe it, my child.” Right then, Preston felt a cool wind on his back. Then quickly, a large shadow appeared over him and Preston turned his head to the sky. There it was.
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 Are we fulfilling the Wisconsin Idea? dailycardinal.com
Thursday, January 30, 2020
By Sam Jones OPINION EDITOR
One of the reasons I — and I am sure some of my peers — chose UW as a primetime undergraduate destination was due to the university’s commitment to the impacts of education outside of the classroom, lab and discussion section. Our thriving student org population, rapidly evolving city surrounding campus and seemingly never-ending opportunities to do research or join unique projects was more than enough to pull my bright-eyedand-bushy-tailed freshman self to Madison. These attributes are a partial reflection of the ‘Wisconsin Idea,’ a valued principle among the UW system that has been in existence since initially introduced by our school’s then-president, Charles Van Hise, in 1905. “I shall never be content until the beneficent influence of the University reaches every family of the state.” This statement led to a greater relationship between UW and state government, and eventually a slew of initiatives, research and development as well as statewide projects orchestrated by Badger students and faculty. UW students have provided lavender farms with market expertise, created language software to help students improve their communication skills out-
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
The notion of the Wisconsin Idea is integral to much of the ethos, outreach, and course work at UW. side of the classroom, taught healthcare providers across the state how to enhance their HIV treatment and prevention programs and so much more. These projects hardly make a dent in the whopping heap of good things that UW has done for the state, but it can be easy to forget about these efforts when we find ourselves entrenched in the campus bubble. Classes speed up, orgs get hec-
tic and this commitment to the people of Wisconsin and beyond may become quieter and quieter. If you ask a student on campus about continuing concerns over PFAS contamination in Madison’s wells, resistance against welcoming F-35 fighter jets to Truax Field, who their state and local representatives are, or the like, they probably won’t have much to say. This isn’t to say that we don’t
love Madison, but rather than we as a student body should pay a bit more attention to the city’s offcampus concerns and ordeals. We are an extremely involved group of students, so we should take even further advantage of this. We live here — and we should act like it. We should take advantage of Madison’s culture beyond State Street, indulge in the local food and arts scenes, attend community meetings and
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stand up for what we believe in. We should become more to our ‘real adult’ neighbors than annoying drunk kids, and show that we are here to make our community a better place — regardless of if it only lasts for four years. We should care about Madison’s public school system, and defend the fight for racial equity and a minimization of inschool violence. We should make our voices heard when it comes to environmental threats or the gentrification plaguing State Street with franchises rather than quirky, locally-owned shops. We should continue the great work Badgers past and present have done for our prized Dairy State, and push it a step further. We should flock to the polls, pay attention to what is happening city-wide and if we decide to leave to go on to other cities and states, leave behind a legacy worth being proud of that isn’t a resume or GPA. So let’s all take the Wisconsin Idea just a little bit more seriously, and continue to prove to our community what an asset Badgers can be. Sam is a senior studying journalism, with certificates in development economics and environmental studies. Do you think that UW students should be doing more to fulfill the Wisconsin Idea? Send all comments to opinion@dailycardinal.com.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-MADISON
These photos represent varying event programming, research and development, and outreach programs put on for the community in Madison and the rest of Wisconsin.
Student phone numbers are sensitive information, should be protected by university, under FERPA By Anupras Mohapatra OPINION EDITOR
I will admit this — I have looked my name up on Google in the past, multiple times. Some of the search results that come up make me feel quite proud of whatever I have done in life so far, while others make me turn red in embarrassment. However, one day, I found something that ticked me off. I found my name listed on the University’s public directory and at first, I was not too bothered by it, but upon further inspection, I found my phone number as part of the listing. My phone number was out there for anyone to see. Out of curiosity, I decided to look up some of my friends — whose numbers I had — and sure enough, their numbers were out in the public too. The fact that I could find the numbers so easily made me think that literally anybody could access these numbers, and it scared me. In today’s digital age, phone numbers are often connected to sensitive personal information. The public availability of phone numbers could easily enable
someone to hijack the number, thus gaining access to emails, social media accounts and even bank details. Most attacks are likely to catch the victim unawares, with a sense of realization dawning on them only when it is too late. The public availability of phone numbers could also provide stalkers the information needed to harass somebody. While someone may try changing their phone number to try and ward off a toxic ex or invasive stalker, they would also need to update records with the university, which would reflect in the database and they would be back at square one. Students being stalked are affected in a multitude of ways mentally, physically, socially and even financially. No one should have to contend with such situations under any circumstances. Furthermore, placing phone numbers publicly in the form of directory information makes it very easy for scam callers to target students. In the last few years, there have been many reports of phone scam-
mers targeting international students, often posing as bank officials demanding sensitive information or police officers falsely accusing students of committing crimes and demanding monetary payment to avoid arrest. International students — forever in fear of expulsion and deportation — often give up information and money and only realize the truth when they reach a point of no return. The university and the police work hard to provide resources and information to combat most of these issues but this begs the question — why place the phone numbers in a public directory in the first place? This question could be answered upon perusal of FERPA. FERPA provides all students at American postsecondary institutions some rights regarding educational records, including some control over disclosure of personally identifiable information. However, this set of rights comes with a set of exceptions, most notable being the control of “directory information.” Directory information is defined
as “information contained in an education record of a student that would not generally be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed.” The release of such information does not require the student’s written consent. UW-Madison has a defined list of information deemed to be “directory information,” with most of it being quite harmless. But the list also includes phone numbers. It is important to remember that FERPA was signed into law in 1974, a time when phone numbers falling in the wrong hands did not pose nearly as much harm or risk of invasion of privacy. But things have changed in the years since, as phone numbers are now inextricably linked to sensitive information and are thus, sensitive information in themselves. While there are ways to limit the display of such “directory information” too, it can have unexpected effects on students. Protecting such information could affect students’ in search of employment or deprive them of places in Dean’s lists—some-
thing which hard-working students do not deserve. The display of phone numbers should be an opt-in and not an opt-out thing. Considering the technological advancements of the world in the last 45 years or so, phone numbers of students enrolled in American postsecondary institutions should be protected under FERPA as nondirectory information. A public database has many useful applications, especially at a large institution like UW, but the database could be established with wisc.e emails alone. Public availability of phone numbers today is most certainly harmful and puts students’ privacy at risk, thus endangering students and preventing them from making the most of the opportunities afforded to them on campus with a clear mind. Anupras is a freshman studying Computer Science. Do you think that students’ phone numbers should be protected under FERPA laws? Should the University take student privacy more seriously? Send all comments to opinion@ dailycardinal.com.
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dailycardinal.com
Whitney brings unique set to Madison By Anna Patterson STAFF WRITER
Chicago-based band Whitney’s fourth show in Madison proved to fans that their unique musical talent is here to stay. As someone who’s been a fan of theirs since the release of their 2016 album, Light Upon the Lake, I knew I had to finally see them at the Sylvee: the first stop on the tour for their sophomore album, Forever Turned Around. Whitney’s performance last Friday was also their first with the Japanese, four-member female band, CHAI, as their opener. The pigtail-wearing, punk rock group elevated the crowd’s energy with their contagious smiles, laughs, and spirit. I wouldn’t have necessarily paired the pink-loving girl-band with the low-key, somewhat melancholic sounding Whitney, but the combination of the two actually proved to be complementary. After CHAI waved their final good-byes, the crowd’s anticipatory energy for the main performers was palpable. Luckily, we didn’t have long to wait before the 7-member band took the stage, with drummer/singer Julien Ehrlich in the center. The lead singer, along with guitarist, Max Kakacek, greeted the crowd with a warm, familiar welcome. Though it was the band’s first
PHOTO COURTESY OF OLIVIA BEE
Julien Ehrlich and Max Kakacek are Chicago natives, roommates and also the frontmen of Whitney. time performing at the Sylvee, the band members are no strangers to Madison and it felt as if the band was just a group of friends visiting to hang out for the weekend. The band opened with a crowd-favorite “Polly,” from their first album, followed by another classic, “No Matter Where We Go.” After these first two, the energy shifted as they began to play music from Forever Turned Around — FTA — starting with the reflective “Giving Up.”
Ehrlich, Kakacek and their entourage played track after track from FTA before pressing pause to chat with the audience for a bit about their favorite places to eat and hang in Madison, as well as to mix in the instrumental “Rhododendron.” A few songs later, the mood once again shifted as the group dedicated “Follow” to the loved ones they’ve lost, followed by a couple more somber pieces. The crowd couldn’t get too emotional,
though, because the group picked up the pace at just the right time with their cover of “Magnets” and “Day n Night.” Their short and sweet songs made the first 45 minutes of the concert feel more like 10. After this, Ehrlich nonchalantly admitted, “Yeah so we’re going to play two more songs then take like a minute break then play like four more songs. Got it? So yeah that’s what’s gonna happen. Cool.” I thought the laid-back honesty
about the trajectory of the performance was a refreshing change from the “fake last song” charade that too many performers do before the encore. These last four songs proved to be my favorite part of the whole night. The first song they played after their brief beer break, “Used To Be Lonely,” sent everyone in the room swaying in camaraderie. I predicted that “No Woman” would be their closing song, being one of their most well-known. To my surprise, Ehrlich sang “I left drinking on the city train…” after the encore’s second song. I realized that this meant the new song, “Valleys,” would be their last song, and couldn’t wait to hear them perform it live. Their final song exceeded my expectations. I got chills as they played their final chords to an eruption of cheers. All in all, Whitney’s chill, modern-day orchestra performance set the bar pretty high for the 2020 list of Sylvee performers. If you were unable to make the snowy trek to the east side on Friday to see them play, I highly recommend trying to catch them at another tour location. Plus, if they stay true to their track record like I hope, it won’t be too long before they turn around and come back to Madison for another night of great music. To read the whole story, go to dailycardinal.com
Crime meets supernatural in HBO’s ‘The Outsider’ By John Bildings STAFF WRITER
‘The Outsider’ crime procedural with supernatural for a rewarding watch. If you thought Michael Bluth’s “Arrested Development” shenanigans or Marty Byrde’s “Ozark” misfortunes were the worst problems Jason Bateman would face in his career, the one he faces in HBO’s new Stephen King miniseries “The Outsider” will leave you surprised and horrified. Lucky for viewers, his adaptation of the 2018 novel may just be some of his best work yet. “The Outsider” follows Detective Ralph Anderson (Ben Mendelsohn) as he investigates the kidnapping and brutal murder of young Frankie Peterson in the fictional town of Cherokee City, Georgia. When physical evidence and circumstances behind the crime implicate beloved community member and baseball coach Terry Maitland (Bateman) as the man responsible, Anderson moves for a shocking public arrest. Community members quickly turn as fingerprints, DNA and other pieces stack up to create a lack of doubt, until shocking new evidence unearthed by the defense places Maitland far away from the crime scene when the murder took place. Unable to explain how one man could possibly be in two places at once, Anderson and other detectives are forced to consult private investigator Holly Gibney, played by recent Oscar-nominee Cynthia Erivo, for private work. Holly’s savant-like detective skills, photographic memory and other special talents make her a bit of an outsider herself when formally introduced,
PHOTO COURTESY OF HBO
The new Stephen King-adapted suspense story proves that HBO still owns the miniseries market. but as clues become more mysterious and circumstances more paramount, the findings they uncover lead them to suspect that something far more sinister may be at work. Executive produced by Bateman, with a script penned by veteran writer Richard Price (“The Wire, “The Night Of”), the draw about “Outsider” lies not in the mysticism surrounding the murder investigation, which fans of HBO’s similarly-toned “True Detective” should enjoy. Rather, a strong combination of those elements, alongside realistic depictions of true crime investigation and procedure, work to scare you far more than just ordinary bumps in the night. Scenes that could seem improbable surrounding the typical “wrong man accused” storyline become enriched by Price’s ability to create emotional and resonant dialogue, littered with moments
that genuinely showcase a sense of hopelessness for everyone involved. Highlighted through a menacing scene involving Maitland and his cellmates at the end of the first episode, the rippling effects of these character-driven interactions not only work to create a much stronger feeling of empathy for Bateman’s character as the show progresses, but also provides a greater sense of connection for viewers to understand the sense of shock experienced by his loved ones, particularly his wife Glory — played by Julianne Nicholson. The show may have the King name attached, but supernatural elements largely remain in the peripheral. It’s the real people involved in the case that beg further questions about how quickly our society condemns those who are initially accused in the legal system, and makes audiences consider whether similar circum-
stances could be happening now — hopefully with a few less monsters involved. While the teleplay enhances the series far beyond other King adaptations, wonderful performances from both Mendelsohn and Erivo provide audiences with contrasting positions for analyzing a wide range of possibilities surrounding the mystery. Shedding his antagonist reputation from previous work on Netflix’s “Bloodline” and films like “Rogue One” and “Ready Player One,” Mendelsohn excels as Anderson – an ordinary, small town cop still grieving the death of his own teenage son, unable to accept that anything beyond human could have caused such a heinous crime. The grounded performance keeps the show ashore in those practical elements in early episodes, later setting up the arrival of Gibney to bring her eccentric personality
and superstitious beliefs towards the forefront as the season progresses. Character actors Bill Camp and Jeremy Bobb also provide strong supporting performances, each serving as seasoned members of the defense team looking to prove Maitland’s innocence in the case. Despite only sitting in the director’s chair for the first two episodes, Bateman’s dark, gloomy style from “Ozark” returns and continues to emerge as one of the best working directors in the television industry. Although some moments contain such dark visual choices that audiences to strain their eyes in order to interpret what exactly is happening before them, the sense of atmospheric unease provided by the cinematography places viewers directly in the somber mood the teleplay aims to portray – especially as the clues that may lead to Maitland’s innocence mount even higher. Intercuts between current moments and flashbacks, especially between Anderson and his grief, are swiftly placed together and made seamless during real time. They help reveal the true motivations behind the man’s immediate condemnation of Maitland, later working to forecast why he seems so despondent in moments of reflection. As the series progresses, I am curious to see where the investigation ends up – especially as the paranormal becomes more involved. Very few moments in the episodes released so far have made me question whether or not I was watching a horror story or the latest episode of “48 Hours” on a lonely Saturday night with my parents, which is the ultimate goal of great storytelling.