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By Sreejita Patra SENIOR STAFF WRITER
More than 100 University of WisconsinMadison students and community members attended a Library Mall vigil Friday to mourn Marcellus “Khaliifah” Williams, a Black man executed by the state of Missouri last week over a chorus of objections and serious doubts surrounding his murder conviction.
Williams was convicted of first-degree murder, robbery and burglary in 2001 for the 1998 killing of Felicia “Lisha” Gayle, a 42-year-old reporter stabbed 43 times in her home. His conviction relied on two witnesses who later said they were paid for their testimony, according to the Midwest Innocence Project, and 2016 DNA testing conducted on the murder weapon “definitively excluded” Williams.
The vigil, hosted by the Wisconsin Black Student Union (WBSU), included speeches, a Muslim dua prayer and six minutes of silence to honor Williams as candle-holding attendees linked arms to form a giant circle. The event’s atmosphere was at turns somber and celebratory, with many attendees crying and hugging one another.
Despite always maintaining his innocence, and over the objections of the original prosecutor who obtained his murder conviction and the victim’s family, Republican Gov. Mike Parson and the Missouri Supreme Court ordered the execution to go through.
“We found out about the execution of Marcellus during one of our weekly meetings, and it was very important to us that we recognize a death occurred,” WBSU finance intern Godson Safo Ansah told The Daily Cardinal. “Whenever these types of things happen [...] I just really hope we take the time to make sure the names are engraved into history.”
Ansah accredited the idea for the vigil to WBSU volunteer coordinator Marques Watts and encouraged people to honor Williams through voting and political involvement, alongside WBSU Outreach Director Deanna Fratter and other student speakers.
“[Gov.] Mike Parson will forever be something that Williams never will — a murderer,” Fratter said.
Attendees at the vigil expressed frustration, despair and resolution to act in wake of Williams’ death.
“It’s very important to pay attention to people who are incarcerated because they’re hidden from our society. So even those who are innocent, those who are not innocent, they deserve your attention because they’re a humongous chunk of our population that is just erased from you,” UW-Madison student Zara Bangash told the Cardinal.
Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) board member Shafiq, who did not share his last name for fear of retribution, read aloud a poem written by Williams on death row titled “The Perplexing Smiles of the Children of Palestine.” “In the face of apex ignorance and ethnic cleansing by any definition, still your laughter can be heard,” one sentence read.
SJP spokesperson Dahlia Saba told the Cardinal Williams’ solidarity with Palestine represents the “interconnection of injustice” Black Americans and Palestinians face.
“The violence we see inflicted by our government on people abroad is the same violence we see the [U.S.] government inflict on its own people,” Saba said. “Carrying out Marcellus’ legacy means ending its imperialist arm and the way it folds back on people at home.”
Other students, particularly those who were Black and Muslim, focused on Williams’ execution as a symbol of bias in America’s legal system. Fewer than half of all states, including Wisconsin, have outlawed the death penalty, which critics have long described as racially unjust.
“It’s the same history repeating itself, and no one in the system wants to help our communities,” student Asma Sulieman said. “I don’t think I have any hope in the justice system to hold me versus someone who’s white to the same level of accountability.”
An immigrant studying at UW-Madison, who wished to stay anonymous for fear of deportation, said he hopes Williams is remembered as “one of the last people to go through this.” The student underlined that abolishing the death penalty would require widespread e ort.
“There’s what, [52,000] people at UW alone,” the student asked, before taking a long pause. “We’re not [all] here. My prayer is that more and more of us recognize it takes everything and everyone to get to the world we’re all dreaming of.”
Trump promises to ‘liberate’ Midwest from undocumented immigrants, promotes false claims on immigration
By Tomer Ronen Cameron Schneider
FEATURES EDITOR & STAFF WRITER
WAUNAKEE, Wis. — Former President Donald Trump promised to “liberate” the Midwest from “illegal aliens,” promoted false claims on immigration and attacked the Biden-Harris administration’s Middle Eastern policy in front of a fervent audience at a rally north of Madison Tuesday.
Tuesday’s visit hit both Dane County and Milwaukee, two of the most heavily Democratic areas in the state. Trump visited Milwaukee Tuesday evening, days after Trump visited Prairie Du Chien for another rally. It was the first visit to Dane County in an election year made by a Republican presidential nominee ahead of the general election in 26 years.
Following remarks from former Republican Govs. Scott Walker and Tommy Thompson, the crowd welcomed the former president to the stage as his signature “God Bless the U.S.A.” rang out at Dane Manufacturing, a manufacturing plant in Waunakee.
If Harris is elected, America will be “condemned” to decline and desperation, Trump said. He claimed “tens of millions” of illegal immigrants will “invade” cities and towns across the country if he loses in November.
There were roughly 10.5 million individuals living in the U.S. without legal status in 2021, or about 3% of the population. During the Trump admin-
istration, illegal immigration significantly rose with apprehensions at the Southwest border increasing by more than 100% between 2016 and 2019, according to a National Foundation for American Policy analysis.
These comments also follow his remarks on Haitian immigrants, accusing them of eating animals in Springfield, Ohio, and remarks made in Wilmington, North Carolina in which he said migrants are “attacking villages and cities all throughout the Midwest.”
Trump also claimed “Medicare and Social Security will buckle and collapse” because undocumented immigrants are “going onto your Social Security.”
“They can’t speak English. They came here illegally and they’re destroying Social Security,” he continued.
Undocumented immigrants liv-
ing in the U.S. are not eligible for Social Security benefits but may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income benefits if they meet certain criteria and received temporary permission to stay, according to a Newsweek fact check.
Trump claimed Harris communicates with “cartel heads” to shuttle planes carrying “hundreds of thousands” of people to places in the Midwest. Harris said she would “double” resources for the Department of Justice to go after cartels in a speech Sunday.
“I will send in federal law enforcement to liberate every Midwestern town that has been taken over by migrant gangs and criminal alien thugs,” Trump said. “We will send them back and we will take back our country.”
In reference to Iran’s attack
on Israel Tuesday, Trump said the Middle East is “very close to global catastrophe.
“I’ve been talking about World War III for a long time, and I don’t wanna make predictions, because the predictions always come true,” Trump said.
Trump “guaranteed” peace in the world if he gets elected again.
“If [Harris] gets four more years, the world goes up in smoke,” Trump said.
Trump also promised tax cuts for “workers, families and small businesses” in another presidency. Trump’s former administration cut business taxes by 18%, he said. The administration cut corporate taxes from 35 to 21% via the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.
Trump urged his supporters to vote in whatever way they can
through early mail and absentee voting. Trump has historically opposed absentee voting, blaming it for election fraud.
Democratic Gov. Tony Evers released a statement Tuesday ahead of the rally calling Trump’s first presidency a “disaster for Wisconsin.”
“Trump’s extreme Project 2025 agenda would hurt working families, cut Social Security and Medicare, dismantle support for public education across the country, and more,” the statement read. “I know Wisconsin families, and they’re going to reject him again in November.”
Supporters laud Trump’s ‘aura’
Trump supporters told The Daily Cardinal they were excited by Trump’s economic policies.
Dylan Lanz said he considers Trump a “businessman.”
“I think he has a very good grasp on how to run the economy in the U.S.,” Lanz said. “And compared to what we’ve had in the last four years, I think he can definitely do a better job.”
Sylvia, a supporter waiting in line to see the former president, said she likes Trump’s announcements about not taxing tips, Social Security and overtime. The former president is getting “youths, women and seniors” to vote in the election, she said.
“I think [Trump’s] aura is o the charts,” Jack Blitz, a young Trump supporter, said.
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“…the great state University of Wisconsin should ever encourage that continual and fearless sifting and winnowing by which alone the truth can be found.”
By Olivia Ruetten STAFF WRITER
For many students, college is a busy time. Students walk near and far to their classes, making time to study whenever they have a chance.
After classes, in order to make ends meet amid skyrocketing rent spikes and hefty tuition fees, many students have no choice but to head to work.
But getting a job on campus is more di cult than it may seem, a recruiter told The Daily Cardinal.
“Out of the whole 300 applicants, we took about 20 total,” said Tim, a person on a hiring committee for a sought-after position at UW-Madison whom the Cardinal is identifying by a pseudonym due to privacy concerns.
Jackson, a junior at UW-Madison whom the Cardinal is identifying by a pseudonym due to privacy concerns, said he has had tough luck with the competitive nature of applying for student jobs on campus.
“It was a long process,” Jackson said. “I wound up applying for 20 jobs just over one summer.”
Only two of the jobs reached out to Jackson for an interview, and only one interview actually happened, he told the Cardinal.
“I had to wait for literal months to the point where it was basically irrelevant to me,” Jackson said. “The lack of responses is really frustrating.”
Avery Doemel, a junior at UW-Madison shared the same senti-
ment. She applied to positions specific to her research interests, but struggled to get results.
“I want to get more involved with the research,” Doemel said. “I’m seeing everyone else my age have research jobs.”
Doemel worried it could be harder to get a job after graduation without the same research experience her classmates have.
Behind the scenes: how applications are reviewed, and how to land the job
With the recruitment process taking around 43 days to complete, students are seeing the impacts of an ever-changing job market at the university level.
“I need some sort of student job or some sort of opportunity that bolsters my resume, but I would have liked it if student jobs were a more ideal way to do that,” Jackson said. “It felt like a very one-ended process. I didn’t feel like I sent a lackluster resume to these jobs. I felt qualified.”
But experience learned from a job in customer service could be the reason that a student stands out of the applicant pool. A student could be well-suited for a position based on experience, but their application may be the reason for a lack of interviews, Tim said.
“It depends on who reviews your application,” Tim said.
An applicant could have many
qualifications that are suitable to the position they are applying for, but that doesn’t mean the reviewer will choose their application over one they deem more qualified, Tim said.
Having a cover letter makes an application stand out because committee members put a lot of value in the character presented in the cover letter, Tim said.
“I recommend visiting the job in person and asking a current employee what a day in the job looks like,” Tim said. “This shows real interest in the job.”
The applicant may better tailor their resume for the job, too, once they visit. Making sure the applicant has answers to open-ended questions that could be asked during the interview is important, as is looking professional, Tim said.
He also recommended interviewing in person.
“Zoom interviews can sometimes go badly,” Tim said. “In-person interviews give [the interviewer] a better sense of the applicant’s personality.”
Though it can be di cult getting a job in college that boosts a student’s resume, employers often appreciate time dedicated to jobs in the service industry, because it builds skills relevant to students’ future careers, Tim said.
Both Jackson and Doemel now have jobs they’re interested in because of their continued applications, they said. Now part of a research team studying evolutionary biology, the major she’s studying, Doemel is hopeful the experience will help land her a career in the same field.
By Gabriella Hartlaub
The University of WisconsinMadison updated the Registered Student Organization (RSO) code of conduct in August to require RSOs have an advisor and mandate RSOs participate in disciplinary investigations.
“RSO advising can be provided by a volunteer advisor chosen by or matched with the student organization; an assigned advisor provided by the departmental sponsor; or CfLI advising services,” an email sent to RSO contacts in early August said.
The new policy — that went into e ect Aug. 30 — outlines consequences for organizations that disa liate from the university during conduct investigations and disciplinary action for any RSO that knowingly collaborates, cosponsors or in any way participates in any event with an RSO that has disa li-
ated from the university during the conduct process.
Advisors are meant to be a contact for O ce of Student Conduct and Community Standards (OSCCS), which now handles RSO conduct enforcement including conduct investigations and enforcement sanctions, according to the updated policy.
Previously, the Committee on Student Organizations (CSO) handled all RSO non-compliance allegations. The university last updated RSO code in January 2022, UW Spokespon John Lucas told The Daily Cardinal.
These changes were made based on a recommendation from a “working group” made up of sta from the Center for Leadership and Involvement and student representatives, according to Lucas.
“We appreciate the working group’s commitment and e orts to clarify and improve the process,” Lucas said in a statement
to the Cardinal.
Another change states RSOs violate policy if they discriminate membership based on “sex or gender identity or expression.” The updated policy also changes the damage to property policy violation by defining “public property” as “buildings, fixtures, moveable property or personal property.”
The new rules also add “withholding information” as a disciplinary o ense. According to the policy, this includes refusing to attend investigatory meetings with university ocials or faculty.
According to documents obtained by The Daily Cardinal, the former RSO Anticolonial Scientists did not meet with disciplinary o cers before it disa liated with the university after antisemitism accusations.
These changes also follow the OSCCS investigation into Mecha de Teejop, formerly Mecha de
UW-Madison, where investigating o cer Tonya Schmidt accused Mecha of “withholding information” from her during an investigation into antisemitic chalkings found at the Dane County Farmers Market, initiating a second investigation. The CSO unanimously cleared Mecha of both antisemitism accusations and withholding information.
The new policy also allows “verbal reporting” of RSO conduct violations. Previously, allegations of misconduct were submitted through an online form or through a letter sent to the CSO o ce.
The new rules do not specify what counts as verbal reporting or give any link to guidelines for a verbal allegation. This section also says the OSCCS can receive referrals from media, social media and university departments. Previously, the policy only specified that the o ce could get referrals from law enforcement.
By Iain Chang SENIOR STAFF WRITER
GREEN BAY, Wis. — U.S. Rep.
candidate Dr. Kristin Lyerly discussed plans to restore abortion access nationwide and flip the district’s seat to Democratic control at a Lambeau Field tailgate hosted by 8th District Wisconsin Democrats on Sunday.
“This race could become the national referendum on abortion,” Lyerly told The Daily Cardinal.
Abortion has been a critical campaign issue for Wisconsin Democrats after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, ending constitutionally protected abortion access nationwide. The decision triggered an 1849 Wisconsin law to go back into effect that banned abortion procedures in the state with no exceptions for rape or incest.
In 2023, abortion rights played a crucial role in electing liberal-leaning Justice Janet Protasiewiecz to the Wisconsin State Supreme Court, and Lyerly said the issue could again
make a difference in the 8th Congressional District.
Lyerly, an OB-GYN and staunch defender of abortion rights, told the Cardinal she decided to enter the race after witnessing what she felt was “political interference in the practice of medicine” throughout Wisconsin.
“My patients can’t get the care that they need, and my colleagues are being threatened for delivering standard care,” she said.
Last year, U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin helped author the Women’s Health Protection Act, a bill that would codify Roe v. Wade’s abortion protections and restore abortion access nationwide. Baldwin has expressed confidence in the bill’s ability to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate but previously told the Cardinal that flipping the Republican-controlled House of Representatives is key for the bill to become law.
Lyerly expressed unwavering support for codifying abortion access into federal law and
restoring the precedent set by Roe v. Wade. If elected, she said her first priority would be to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act in the House.
Wisconsin’s 8th district, located in the northeast region of the state, has been under Republicans control since 2011. Former U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher won the seat in 2016 but resigned from Congress in April, leaving the seat vacant until the November 2024 election.
Republicans currently hold a 220-212 majority in the House. The 8th district is historically a swing district and one of three congressional vacancies in the U.S., making it a prime target for Democrats to help them win control of the House in November.
Wisconsin Democratic Party Chair Ben Wikler appeared alongside Lyerly at the tailgate and praised the OB-GYN’s campaign, saying she is “energizing” people in the region to vote for Democrats “up and down the ballot” in November.
“There’s more energy
By Alaina Walsh STAFF WRITER
The University of WisconsinMadison Police Department announced a recent surge in electric bicycle and scooter thefts across downtown Madison Thursday. At least eight e-bikes and scooters have been reported stolen since Sept. 13, according to a UWPD incident report and crime warning email sent to UW-Madison students and faculty last week.
The UWPD believes at least some of the thefts are linked to a single suspect or group. Four of those e-scooters were stolen in the same night.
“Secure your belongings, and if anything happens, report it right away,” Marc Lovicott, executive director of communications for UWPD, told The Daily Cardinal.
While bike theft has been a longstanding issue on campus, the recent spike appears to have targeted electric vehicles in particular. The rise in the number of these vehicles on campus increases the opportunity for theft, according to Lovicott.
“There’s really not a pattern as to what location is more of an issue,” he said. “We think it’s more a crime of oppor-
tunity. Whoever’s doing this, they’re scouring areas looking for e-bikes and e-scooters to steal.”
Lovicott said one of the most common mistakes students make is failing to properly secure their bikes or scooters, leaving them vulnerable to theft.
UWPD encourages students to invest in high quality U-locks, which are more difficult to break through than cheaper alternatives like cable locks. Additionally, students are recommended to record their serial numbers and utilize GPS devices in order to prevent bike thefts.
Lovicott also emphasized that students should never attempt to retrieve stolen property on their own even if they can track its location. Contact the police so officers can intervene safely, he said.
The use of tracking devices also aids in the recovery of stolen bikes or scooters, even if the original thief has already sold them for cash.
“We might not be able to find the suspect, but we can at least find the property and return it to that individual,” Lovicott said.
For any suspicious activity or to report a theft, students are encouraged to contact UWPD immediately.
among Democrats in northeast Wisconsin than any other time since I’ve been chair,” Wikler told the Cardinal.
Despite a stronghold of support, Lyerly still faces stiff competition at the ballot box from Republican candidate Tony Wied. A businessman and former president of Dino Stop gas stations, Wied boasts himself as a “political outsider” and hopes to bring that “perspective to
Washington, D.C.”, according to his campaign website.
Wied won a competitive threeway primary race in August after receiving the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, who gained majority support in the region during the 2020 election. Trump was favored in all but two counties in the district, and in some areas, Trump ran ahead of President Joe Biden by over 10 percentage points.
Madison Metropolitan School District
voters to approve referendum for facility upgrades, sta wages
By Jake Wesson STAFF WRITER
The Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) unanimously approved two new referendum questions in June that will appear on the Nov. 5 ballot on June 24 aimed to soften the blow amid budget challenges.
The district is asking voters to approve an operations referendum for $100 million to increase sta wages and a facilities referendum for $507 million to improve buildings. If the facilities referendum passes, the estimated property tax impact would be $27 per month over 23 years beginning in 2025, according to MMSD’s website. If the the operations referendum passes, the estimated property tax impact would build over four years beginning at $26 per month for the first year.
MMSD, described the operations referendum as a method to invest in early learning, attract and retain teaching sta and support students through behavioral and mental services, while the facilities referendum is a way for the district to combat aging physical infrastructure.
“These referenda aren’t just about sustaining, it’s about thriving. It’s about continuing to create environments where teachers flourish and students excel,” the district said in a statement on their website.
The state of Wisconsin imposes a limit on
how much a school district can receive in state and local levies for operation. This cap, in recent years, has failed to keep up with rapid inflation. Furthermore, special education mandates are only covered up to 31% by the state, meaning the district must cover the remaining costs.
With aid that has failed to meet inflation and state caps on district revenue, the district has been forced into di cult budget territory. A report by the Wisconsin Policy Forum (WPF) found MMSD can no longer rely on federal COVID-19 relief dollars and revenue raised from a 2020 referendum to bring enough money in. This contributes to an estimated $39 million deficit in 2024-25, according to the report. WPF estimated that, by 2028, property tax bills would increase by $1,376 on the average value of a Madison home if these two questions pass.
But MMSD is not alone in this challenge. Across Wisconsin, districts are finding themselves considering similar proposals. In the April 2024 election, 92 referenda were proposed across the state to combat similar issues.
“State cuts and restrictive limits will take a dangerous toll on our community’s public schools,” MMSD said.
Additional information and opportunities for feedback are listed on MMSD’s 2024 referenda webpage.
MMSD did not respond for a comment.
By Mary Bosch
PHOTO EDITOR
Mecha de Teejop, formerly Mecha de UW-Madison, cited their June 17 disa liation as a result of “hostile” university investigation tactics, including a “pattern of harassment and intentional intimidation of our already vulnerable Latine, Chicane and Indigenous members” in a statement announcing their independence from the university.
The University of WisconsinMadison Committee on Student Organizations (CSO) later found Mecha not responsible after investigation for antisemitic chalkings found at the Dane County Farmers’ Market.
Documents obtained by The Daily Cardinal show Mecha members criticized the UW-Madison Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards and Student Affairs staff members for engaging in intimidation tactics, hostility and “McCarthyism.”
UW-Madison Dean of Students Christina Olstad initially suspended Mecha on May 6 during an OSCCS investigation into the chalkings.
Records show students, parents and alumni submitted bias reports alleging members of campus organizations may have co-hosted a chalking event that resulted in chalkings that endorsed violence, supported terrorist organizations and contained antisemitic comments.
UW-Madison Hillel President Greg Steinberger originally submitted the Cardinal article as a part of a bias complaint and Olstad added the information to the CSO complaint against Mecha and Anticolonial.
The investigation originated from the Cardinal’s initial coverage of the chalkings and focused mainly on a shared Instagram post from Mecha, Anticolonial Sciences, Madison for Palestine and other groups advertising the chalking event.
Mecha members told Assistant
Dean of Students Tonya Schmidt they were not present at the chalking event but could not speak for other Mecha members and said they did not directly coordinate the chalking.
Mecha students said, “no one who created those graphics was from Mecha, it was only shared by us,” in a meeting with principal investigator Schmidt and Mecha advisor Ketzhally Lopez.
Some Mecha members said they believe“they [were] being targeted by someone saying their group chalked something that wasn’t chalked to get their group in trouble” in a meeting regarding the investigation May 22.
After their suspension, Mecha was barred from their space in the Red Gym. Members said they were locked out of their space before being notified of the suspension according to obtained documents. This comes after university officials temporarily relocated Mecha to the Red Gym due to Levy Hall construction disruptions.
“For her to change the locks on the door of our space before the letter was sent sends a message of hostility,” Mecha members said. It symbolized that “[Olstad] thinks we’re guilty.”
Student Affairs requested the lock to Mecha’s office in the Red Gym be changed the day that the organization received its interim suspension notice on May 6, according to Student Affairs Communications Director Jenny Bernhardt.
In addition, they voiced concerns about the Cardinal report that formed the basis of their investigation, including accusing the Cardinal of using language that, “more quickly admonishes certain groups like Chabad who bragged about killing babies,” and makes groups like Mecha de UW-Madison feel alienated by their coverage of
By Grace Carlson STAFF WRITER
Through the Green Fund, a financial support program for sustainability projects, University of WisconsinMadison students have pushed for campus environmental projects including B-Cycles, tower gardens and preventive stickers on building windows for birds.
UW-Madison Office of Sustainability interns Lily Jenkins, Catie Stympft and Jordyn Czyzewski led an environmentally focused tour on Friday as a part of the weeklong “Sustain-A-Bash” campus celebration. They stopped at residence halls, dining halls and the Nicholas Recreation Center to highlight student Green Fund projects in action.
pus buses are electric.
Stumpf said the roof and electrical systems of many older campus buildings can’t support solar panels, providing a barrier to additional clean energy installations. In the future, Stumpf said she hopes the university can integrate solar power into new construction builds as the need for cleaner energy becomes more prevalent.
Stumpf said Gordon’s has several other green initiatives including a Tower Garden, cardboard compactor and a living roof: a partially or completely covered waterproof membrane that supports plant life and helps pollinators, mitigates stormwater runoff and contributes to biodiversity.
the chalking event.
Following the May 22 meeting, Schmidt sent an email with additional questions about the chalking Instagram post on May 24, followed up on May 29 and emailed June 7 inquiring which students have access to the Mecha Instagram account.
Schmidt gave a response deadline of June 12 and after not receiving a response, Schmidt sent an additional investigatory letter charging Mecha with “Possessing or Providing False and Misleading Information” by “withholding related information.”
Following a second investigation for withholding information from Schmidt, CSO advisor Aaron Vieth also began communicating with Mecha and sent emails to the RSO’s entire mailing list after not receiving a response.
He said if he did not receive a response by June 18 he would open an investigation into Mecha for withholding information and require interviews with every student in the organization. Refusal to participate in an interview could result in an individual being charged with failure to comply with a reasonable request under UWS 17.09(11), according to emails sent from Vieth to Mecha members.
Ketzhally followed up about possible outcomes of the investigation for students and the organization on June 17 before sending the notice of disaffiliation later that day.
“It’s clear that your escalation and disposition from the May 22 meeting is an intimidation tactic,” Katzhally said in an email. “It is clear that Student Affairs and its affiliated offices and committees are more concerned with thought-terminating accusations of antisemitism and compliance with international waves of McCarthyism than with taking a stance on the genocide of Palestinians happening in real-time.”
Getting campus to “go green” has been a work in progress for Green Fund contributors and Office of Sustainability interns. They pushed for dining hall waste programs, greater installation of solar panels and for the university to get an environmental grounds certification.
“It’s one step at a time,” Jenkins told The Daily Cardinal.
The Green Fund has made moving in and out of residence halls less wasteful, Stumpf said during a tour stop at Smith Residence Hall.
“Before move-in, [we] encourage residents to think about what they’re choosing to bring with them on campus and what’s necessary,” Stumpf said. “During move-out, we also have donation drives too, so at the end of the school year, we’ll have staff that set up big trucks, and then anything that students have that they won’t use next year can get donated or repurposed.”
Altogether, the sustainable move-out program diverts more than 150,000 pounds of discarded material from landfills annually, Stumpf told the tour.
At Ogg Residence Hall, Czyzewski told the Cardinal about a project to put sticker dots on windows to discourage birds from flying into them. After an organization that collects data on bird collisions reported troubling data, the Green Fund stepped in to diminish the problem.
“By putting up these vinyl stickers, it acts as a distortion or to mute reflections that birds can tend to see. They’re like, ‘oh, I see a juniper tree,’ but it’s really just a reflection in the window,” Czyzweski said.
Dining goes green
At the top of the Nicholas Recreation Center, the tour viewed solar panels on Gordon Dining Hall’s roof. Jenkins said the panels generate enough electricity to “power five Wisconsin homes.”
Campus bus stops now have solar panels that power the bus map and lights, and some cam-
A cardboard compactor efficiently compresses cardboard waste into bales for easier transportation and storage. Gordon Dining Hall has utilized this machine so much that the dining hall has its own recycling pick up.
Gordon’s also has a Green Fund sponsored waste reduction program. Czyzewski said the project analyzes “where food waste is coming from in the dining halls and how we can reduce it.”
At a B-Cycle station, Stumpf discussed how B-Cycles came to campus in 2011 as a Green Fund and Campus Leaders for Energy Action Now (CLEAN) project. B-Cycles are electric bikes students can rent around campus.
The goal of the B-Cycles is a “sustainable commuter system” that will hopefully rely less on services like Uber in the future, Stumpf said during the tour.
“The university just realized a ton of new sustainability goals on campus, and every single project in different disciplines and intersectional environmental work plays its own role in advancing those interests,” Stumpf said.
The new campus sustainability goals include a project called Focus on Energy Higher Education Kit Challenge which helps UW-Madison students and staff save energy, launch of the Sustainability Research Hub and other goals Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin announced in February.
“Change takes a really long time to get instilled, but the fact that people are aware of sustainability issues and they’re able to relate to it in their own sense of place is a huge part of the movement,” Jenkins said. “Every project that the Green Fund, the Office and any other student organization does here makes a difference.”
By Owen Puckett SENIOR STAFF WRITER
It’s a common refrain in American politics: Republicans bring economic growth, while Democrats burden the economy with taxes, regulation and spending. This narrative has been reinforced for decades, ultimately shaping elections and voter perceptions.
But when we look at the data, this belief doesn’t reflect reality. In fact, by most economic measures — GDP growth, job creation and stock market performance — the Democratic Party has historically outperformed the Republicans. So why, despite decades of evidence to the contrary, do so many Americans still believe Republicans are better for the economy?
At the core of the Republican economic narrative is a simple and appealing formula: lower taxes and deregulation will lead to more growth. In theory, this approach sounds logical. If businesses keep more of their profits, they’ll invest more, hire more workers and stimulate the economy. This is the essence of “supply-side” or “trickle-down” economics, a theory that gained prominence during the Reagan years and has dominated Republican economic thinking ever since.
Part of the appeal of this Republican economic policy lies in its immediate impact. Tax cuts provide instant gratification. You feel it in your paycheck almost immediately. Corporations report higher profits, and the stock market often rises on the news of corporate tax reductions. These are tangible, short-term wins that create the perception of economic growth.
In practice, Republican administrations have presided over the start of the last five recessions. Reagan’s tax cuts combined with a significant increase in defense spending tripled the national debt during his presidency. George W. Bush turned the
Clinton-era surplus into a massive deficit through tax cuts and wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Trump administration’s 2017 tax overhaul promised that corporate tax cuts would spark a wave of new investment and wage growth. Instead, it will cost $1.9 trillion over the next 10 years and more than triple the total value of tax cuts received by the top 1-5% of households than those with incomes in the bottom 60%.
Though in theory tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations should provide long-term boosts, this has repeatedly failed in practice. As a result of cuts, the federal deficit typically expands, and the benefits of these cuts disproportionately go to the wealthiest individuals and largest corporations. According to a 2012 study by the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service, there is no significant correlation between lower tax rates on the wealthy and economic growth.
Meanwhile, despite being branded as “tax-and-spend” liberals, Democratic administrations have often presided over more balanced and inclusive growth. Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal played a crucial role in pulling the country out of the Great Depression. Bill Clinton left
o ce with a budget surplus following years of rapid economic expansion. Barack Obama inherited the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression and led the country through a sustained recovery that saw 75 consecutive months of job growth along with a significant reduction in the deficit.
The evidence is undeniable: Democratic policies have generally been better for the broader economy – particularly for the middle and working-class Americans – tending to focus on policies that promote shared prosperity, from expanding access to education and healthcare to raising the minimum wage and protecting labor rights.
Take the Obama administration’s investment in clean energy, health care and education through the 2009 stimulus package. Critics argued the stimulus didn’t do enough to immediately revive the economy, but these investments laid the groundwork for long-term growth, particularly in sectors that are now central to the U.S. economy.
The persistence of the Republican economic myth is also fueled by the media ecosystem, particularly the conservative media. Right-wing media
outlets like Fox news paint Democratic policies, particularly any form of government intervention or regulation, as inherently anti-business and damaging to growth.
This selective storytelling reinforces the idea that the Republican economic policies are superior, even when the data tells a di erent story. Under Obama, for instance, the stock market more than doubled, unemployment plummeted, and the economy added millions of jobs. Yet conservative media consistently portrayed his policies as hostile to business and responsible for “slow” recovery. In contrast, during the Trump administration, even as deficits soared and the economy grew slower than under Obama, the narrative was that Trump’s policies were creating a “historic” economic boom.
America didn’t always have an economy so skewed in favor of the rich. In fact, for much of the 20th century, the U.S. prospered under a tax structure that seems unimaginable today. During the postwar economic boom, top marginal tax rates reached over 90%, and yet this was a period of remarkable prosperity. The American middle class thrived, wages grew and the country built some of its most cru-
l
cial infrastructure, from the interstate highway system to public universities. By gutting the progressive tax system, Reagan shifted the burden onto the middle and working classes, entrenching a trickle-down ideology that has left us with rampant inequality and increased national debt. And yet, the wealthy and corporations sold this model to the public as the only path to prosperity. They hijacked the narrative and branded high taxes and government intervention as “unAmerican” despite the fact that these very tools had built the most prosperous and equitable economy the country had ever known.
This isn’t just a matter of failed policy — it’s a systemic campaign of corporate greed and manipulation. With their endless lobbying and political donations, corporations have convinced generations of Americans that reducing their taxes will somehow benefit the entire country, despite all evidence to the contrary. They’ve weaponized a false sense of economic freedom, framing any attempt to rein in corporate excess as a threat to individual liberty. The result is an economy that benefits the few at the expense of the many, with stagnant wages, weakened labor power and crumbling public infrastructure. But we must remember that these Republican policies are not a permanent feature of the American economy. They are not inevitable. We’ve been here before, and we know that the economy is not built on tax cuts and corporate profits alone. It thrives when there is real investment in people, when policies ensure that prosperity is shared across all income levels, and when the government plays an active role in balancing growth with fairness.
These ideas, now framed as “radical” by Republicans, are rooted in the very policies that built America’s middle class.
Readmoreatdailycardinal.com.
In defense of Chappell Roan, she did not need to endorse Kamala Harris
By Wesley Hoy STAFF WRITER
Last August, Chappell Roan decided to set boundaries with her fans. She told them to treat her like a normal person, and she received endless support. Her message even sparked discussions within the pop fandom on the normalization of parasocial relationships, a psychological relationship where a fan feels like they know their celebrity idol.
It forced people to reckon with the idea that celebrities are human too and that it’s unhealthy to idolize a stranger to the point of obsession. For once, it seemed like the internet learned that their obsessive actions do hurt celebrities’ personal, private lives.
But when Roan created two TikTok videos a few days ago stating she would not endorse the Harris-Walz ticket, it created an internet firestorm, and many of the same people who previously lauded Roan’s boundary-setting
turned on her.
Roan is justified in not endorsing the Harris-Walz ticket. Criticism of their platform and its policies makes their campaign stronger. It gives a politician greater insight into what their constituents want from them if they win office.
The harassment Roan received after this non-endorsement has noticeably caused a drain on her mental health, something that she already struggles with.
Days before this controversy, she announced she was diagnosed with severe depression. The harassment led to her canceling her performance at the All Things Go festival on September 28-29.
Some argue she is hurting the LGBTQ community with her lack of endorsement. They have called into question her support of gay people and transgender rights. This argument is completely out of touch with surveys of the LGBTQ community in this country.
More than 75% of LGBTQ adults believe that Democrats are not doing enough for the LGBTQ community, according to a recent Data for Progress poll. The word “transgender” was only spoken twice at the Democratic National Convention this summer even though transgender rights are increasingly under attack. Additionally, the Biden administration came out with a statement opposing gender-affirming surgery for minors last June.
The trend of LGBTQ+ people feeling alienated by present-day Democrats is one that Chappell Roan speaks to in her video.
Immigration is another valid reason why Roan might not lend her support to this Democratic ticket. In recent years, the Democrats have taken a much harder stance on immigration, alienating one of the fastest-growing groups of potential voters. They did this after polls showed the majority of the country now wants a
decrease in U.S. immigration. This is a very recent example of Democrats throwing a minority community under the bus for political gains. As anti-trans hate spreads in the United States, what’s to say that the Democratic Party wouldn’t throw transgender people under the bus for political gains too?
In her skepticism of the HarrisWalz campaign, Roan is advocating for the Democratic Party to shift toward her opinions.
And her opinions are shared
by many voters.
Due to Israel’s ongoing war and humanitarian situation in Gaza, and the current invasion of Lebanon, there’s plenty of reason for Americans, especially Arab Americans, to be upset with the Biden-Harris administration.
Only 29.4% of Muslims in the swing states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Arizona plan to vote for the Harris-Walz ticket, according to recent polling by the Council on Islamic Relations. Read more at dailycardinal.com.
By Dylan Goldman SENIOR STAFF WRITER
The Wisconsin Badgers football program is a ship without a clear direction right now.
The Badgers looked on their way to turning around their season last weekend, playing an almost flawless first half on the road against No.13 USC. Their o ense appeared to be showing signs of what was promised when Phil Longo was brought in by head coach Luke Fickell to revolutionize Wisconsin’s conservative o ense. Though the Badgers were helped significantly by three USC turnovers, Wisconsin’s o ense had three touchdown drives, including a 63-yard touchdown pass from Braedyn Locke to Vinny Anthony.
The second half, on the other hand, represented what many Badgers fans have worried for the past two years: the program is in the midst of an identity crisis.
Wisconsin scored zero points in the second half and failed to establish the run and set Locke up to lead more scoring drives. No moment was more confounding in that half than when the Badgers ran a 4th-and-1 play out of the shotgun. Running back Tawee Walker was stopped short of the line to gain, sparking outcries from Badgers legends of all kinds like Melvin Gordon and Frank Kaminsky.
Many Wisconsin fans were hesitant when the Badgers abandoned their decades-long identity of being a run-first team to bring the pass-first “air raid” to Madison. On the contrary, many felt the change was necessary for the Badgers to truly compete in the new age of college football.
So far, the returns are not looking strong for Fickell and Longo. It must be mentioned that health has played a big role in the last two years. Last year’s starting quarterback Tanner Mordecai missed a significant portion of that season with a hand injury.
This year, new starting quarterback Tyler Van Dyke tore his ACL in the third game of the season. While that is an unfortunate bit of injury luck, the reality of sports is that health is a big part of a team’s season, and everyone su ers from injuries at some point.
Regardless, the Badgers finished seventh in the Big Ten in total o ense last year and are 16th in that same category to start the season. Patience is required, even in this rapidly changing college football landscape. But the team is going to have to show true progress at some point. Seeing Indiana and Duke start 5-0 with new coaches this year makes one wonder when the Badgers will see similar results.
So far, Fickell’s signature win with the Badgers is against Minnesota — a critical rivalry game, but the Golden Gophers finished the 2023 season with a paltry 6-7 record.
In each of Fickell’s big tests so far, the Badgers have fallen short, and his team has yet to beat a program ranked in the AP Top 25. This year featured the 38-21 loss to USC and the 42-10 drubbing at the hands of Alabama. Last year, Wisconsin kept it close but fell to Ohio State 24-10.
These are all college football’s best programs and it might’ve been a reach to expect the Badgers to win any of these games. But isn’t that a problem? It’s starting to feel like the college football world and even some Badgers fans have forgotten what this program used to be about. This program made four Rose Bowls between 2010 and 2020 and posted the most wins of any program not to make the College Football Playo during its four-team era.
After that last Rose Bowl in 2020, the program has not measured up against the Big Ten’s elite. Questions for the Badgers remain: what is the best way forward? Is more time required for the Air Raid experiment? Is Wisconsin meant to operate its o ense using the classic “three yards and a cloud of dust” mantra?
A border battle and a trip out
There’s no easy answer, but the reality is the 18-team Big Ten is here to stay. The Badgers can no longer win a mediocre Big Ten West to compete for a conference title.
Now, they must match up with Ohio State, USC, Penn State, Oregon and reigning national champions Michigan. It’s hard to imagine the Badgers having better athletes and more blue-chip talent than those programs on a consistent basis.
Michigan won last year’s national championship with a very clear identity. The Wolverines had the nation’s best o ensive line in 2021 and 2022 and carried that strong play into 2023 to support running backs Blake Corum and
Edwards. Corum ran for over 1,000 yards and 27 touchdowns last year. Michigan did have quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who was a first-round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, but it was clear their identity was built at the line of scrimmage. Wisconsin is not going to succeed if they continue meandering with a diet version of the air raid. The Badgers have only played one game in the Big Ten so far and return home for their second to face Purdue Saturday. Badgers fans will need to see a coherent offensive game plan going forward, or else the questions and doubts will only continue to mount.
Here’s what you missed in Badgers women’s soccer
By Gabriella Hartlaub
ARTS EDITOR EMERITUS
The Wisconsin Badgers women’s soccer team (5-3-3) began their three-game slate with their 500th win in program history against Minnesota (8-2-0), but their trip out West to visit a pair of California schools did not prove to be as fruitful.
Minnesota
Wisconsin hosted Minnesota on Sept. 22 at the McClimon Soccer Complex in a border battle where the Badgers handed the Gophers their first loss of the season on a lone goal scored in the 15th minute.
The goal came from defender Peighton Steffen, a transfer from Creighton University. It was Ste en’s first goal with the Badgers after her shot on goal was blocked by BYU earlier in the season.
Minnesota outshot Wisconsin in the first and second half, though none of their two shots on goal made it past goalkeeper Drew Stover, who kept a clean sheet. Despite the Gophers overpowering the Badgers in terms of corner kicks, with eight compared to Wisconsin’s four, their attempts proved futile against Stover.
What the Badgers lacked in overall shots they made up for in accuracy with a little more than 30% of their shots on goal.
UCLA
Wisconsin’s Stover led a complete shutout against the UCLA Bruins in a 0-0 draw during the first stop of the Badgers’ trip to
the West Coast. The Badgers handed UCLA its first draw in conference play and the first in the two teams’ match-up history.
Stover truly proved as a standout for the Badgers. The Junior goalkeeper’s saves made up for the inability of the Badgers to get through the Bruins’ defense. UCLA had six shots on goal throughout the game, all of which Stover was able to block, keeping the score at 0-0.
The Badgers’ o ense struggled, amassing only two shots total with none of them on goal. Both attempts came from senior Ashley Martinez, a notable o ensive force from the Badgers. But even Martinez was unable to come close to finding the back of the UCLA net. The Bruins had seven corner kicks throughout the game while the Badgers had none, adding to their o ensive weaknesses throughout.
This is the first game in the history of the two teams that Wisconsin has not lost to UCLA, and it also handed the Bruins their first draw during conference play.
After a scoreless first half, it seemed the Badgers might be able to pull o a shutout against the third-ranked team in the Big Ten. A series of goals by USC in the second half, however, proved impossible for the Badgers to overcome during their 0-3 loss on Sunday.
USC, who was ranked 24th in the latest United Soccer Coaches poll, outshout the Badgers in both halves. Fifty percent of those shots were on goal. While Wisconsin’s Stover was able to save five of those shots, the goalkeeper allowed three goals that eventually gave USC the win.
Again, the Badgers struggled to put up shots against USC. While shots had been a strength of the team in the first half of the season, they have struggled to put up a significant number of shots in their last few games. In total, the Badgers had eight shots for the game, none of which were on goal.
Wisconsin also struggled to capitalize on the four corner kicks they were granted in the first half, as USC only had one. The final nail in the co n was a penalty on defender Ella Ottey in the 87th minute, for which USC was granted a penalty kick that they turned into a goal.
This game was the teams’ first meeting in 20 years, the last time being a 1-0 Badgers win.
The Badgers are now 5-3-3 for the season and 1-2-2 for conference play, which puts them at fourth in Big Ten standings. Next Sunday, the Badgers will return to Madison to host Nebraska, currently the lowest-ranked team in the Big Ten.
By Lauren Aguila PHOTO EDITOR EMERITUS
Located in the heart of Madison’s State Street, there stands a retail store unlike any other. From their misspelled “Wicisnosn” shirts to their quirky cornfield mesh shorts, Wisconsin Design Team knew their target audience from the beginning.
Wisconsin Design Team (WDT), founded in 2021 by UW alumni Sam Anglehart, Briar Ion and Josh Kuhn, represents how creativity can flourish in
the right setting. With their social media content — specifically their trendy TikTok videos — involvement in community events like the Madison Night Market and collaborations with city hotspots like The Kollege Klub, WDT is achieving big milestones for a rapidly-growing small business.
Madelyn Lawrence, the director of retail operations at WDT, graduated from the School of Human Ecology and joined the executive team in
2023. She is currently a member of their four-person design team, working closely with the custom design-making process and planning out their creative direction for the future. Lawrence also oversees the storefront and manages their sales associate team.
“We all went here at one point or another and saw this gap in the [collegiate apparel] market,” Lawrence told The Daily Cardinal. “There’s not much cool stu to wear to games or
it’s all the same — we’ll see the same stu .”
The three original WDT founders began their business’ journey with the iconic arc logo design with “Wisconsin” placed cleverly on a pair of colored sweatpants. Their streetwearesque approach instantly stood out on campus and led to their success. The team started posting on Instagram, and it “just blew up,” according to Lawrence.
“I think because we’re younger, we have a di erent eye,” Lawrence said. “We want the designs to be more fun and interesting than just the word ‘Wisconsin’ on a t-shirt.”
Having collaborated with Madison businesses and UW-Madison student organizations such as Moda Madison, WDT also partnered with local hospital departments of UnityPoint Meriter Hospital and the American Family Children’s Hospital to create customized apparel designs.
Looking ahead, Wisconsin Design Team plans to expand their presence beyond Madison, particularly by acquiring more licenses for other universities, Lawrence said. The company has already partnered with the
University of Iowa and hopes their parent company, Design Team Enterprises, can help them secure licenses for other schools.
WDT’s authenticity sets it apart from other collegiate apparel brands. You can tell if a clothing item is a Wisconsin Design Team piece or not. According to Lawrence, the entire team has “their own unique style,” and the energy you feel when in the store is “inviting and energetic.”
“We are like a big family,” Lawrence said. “When you see that aspect in a brand, it makes you want to shop there more.”
Despite their goals to incorporate other universities in their apparel designs, the WDT team will always consider Madison their home base.
“I think Wisconsin will always be a main focus for us because we’re all from here and it’s a homey place,” Lawrence said.
Wisconsin Design Team symbolizes many ideas: teamwork, school pride, self-identity, but believing in your brand is the strongest essence they hold. Lawrence’s best advice to future UW-Madison entrepreneurs: to use your local resources.
By Madison Moris STAFF WRITER
Stevie Wonder said in his song “Sir Duke,” “Music is a world within itself, it’s a language we all understand.” This is what ‘The Rewind’ is all about. Music carries di erent meanings for everyone, and it is really cool to dive deeper into it.
A niche I developed in the spring at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where I discuss album releases, single drops and anything else musically related for the corresponding week in history.
Without further ado, here is The Rewind: University of WisconsinMadison edition.
“Songs
On Sept. 28, 1976, Stevie Wonder released his 18th studio album “Songs In The Key Of Life.” The album was only the third to debut number one on the Billboard Pop Albums Chart and the first album by an American artist to do so.
The album features some of his arguably most recognizable songs including “Isn’t She Lovely,” “Contusion” and “Sir Duke.” This is definitely an album everyone must listen to in their lifetime. There’s a reason Olivia Pope praised the album in “Scandal.”
“Body Paint”
The Arctic Monkeys released their single “Body Paint” on Sept. 29, 2022, which was later featured on their seventh studio album “The Car.” This album was the first from the English band since 2018’s “Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino.”
This song and album really pushed the Arctic Monkeys in a di erent direction. Their earlier works captured teen-
age angst in the indie-rock genre, but “The Car” pushed back on this.
As someone who drained their bank account to see AM on their 2023 North American Tour, it was a different experience than other tours I’ve read about. This album has a “loungeact” feel which allows the band to experiment without the pressures of the music industry.
My dad, who went to the concert with me, described it as “Kings of Leon performing as a lounge-act with David Coverdale of Whitesnake in an English accent.”
While I would have described it as an amazing experience seeing my all time favorite band perform, my dad had a di erent opinion.
The death of Tom Petty
On Oct. 2, 2017, the world lost awardwinning musician Tom Petty at 66 years old. Petty found major success in his solo career and in his stints in Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Mudcrutch and The Traveling Wilburys.
Petty initially became interested in rock music after meeting Elvis Presely in 1961 and later went on to win three Grammy awards. I will be eternally jealous my dad saw Petty live several times in his home state of Florida.
“The Crane Wife”
The Decemberists released their fourth album, “The Crane Wife,” on Oct. 3, 2006. This is one of my favorite albums by the Portland, Oregon band. It is based on an old Japanese folk tale.
The story talks about a man who finds a wounded crane and nurses it back to health. When released, the bird turned into a woman and o ered to be the man’s wife. The album is filled with whimsical lore, which I love.
“Soy Pablo”
On Oct. 5, 2018, Norwegian music project Boy Pablo released their debut album “Soy Pablo.” This album is on the shorter side, clocking in at just over
21 minutes, making it a quick but enjoyable listening experience. Its style is similar to artists like Dayglow, with a warm pop bubbly feeling. It sounds as if it should be in a soundtrack for a coming-of-age movie.
By Annika Bereny SPECIAL PAGES EDITOR EMERITUS
Spoiler Alert: This article will discuss the season finales of season 21 of the Bachelorette and Season 6 of Love Island USA.
One month ago, the season finale of “The Bachelorette” aired with 2.9 million viewers tuning in to see whether Jenn Tran would find love. What they were treated to instead, though, was the live airing of Tran’s heartbreak.
What could have been a momentous season of “The Bachelorette,” with a happy, optimistic ending with representation of young Asian girls as a romantic lead for the first time, became a messy, disgusting and outright racist finale all because the producers failed to protect Tran.
Though the season ended in heartbreak for Tran, this incident was merely a microcosm of the struggles that so many other women of color have faced.
Jenn Tran was named by ABC to be the next Bachelorette and became the first ever Asian American lead in the franchise’s 22-year history on March 25. Tran, a University of Wisconsin-Madison alum, had finished fifth on the previous season of The Bachelor and was now ready to find love and break barriers after having her heart broken.
But immediately after her name was released, she was thrown into a cycle of internet discourse, with many lamenting her being the pick and wondering why fan favorites Daisy Kent or Maria Georgas weren’t chosen.
Many speculated the two had turned down an offer to be the next Bachelorette, with both continuing to perpetuate the rumor. Suddenly, this became the dominant narrative, despite Tran saying that she had been speaking to producers and being vetted for months before the reveal.
The damage had already been done though. Before her season had even begun, Tran was already being viewed as a third choice — a backup.
“Growing up, I always wanted to see Asian representation on TV, and I feel like it was really sparse,” Tran told host Jesse Palmer the night she was announced as the next Bachelorette.
She lamented how Asians in film and television have constantly been shunted into a side character role and that she had felt boxed in by that stereotype.
“To be here today, sitting in this position, being like, ‘I am going to lead my own love story. I am going to be the main character in my own story,’ I just can’t help but think of how many people I’m inspiring and how many lives I’m going to change,” she said.
In the press tours and podcast appearances before her season aired, Tran was constantly forced to defend her casting
against those who wished it wasn’t her or didn’t see her as interesting enough to lead the show — exactly the stereotype she was seeking to disprove.
“The show has been going on for years and years, 21 years of this show specifically, and every season there are multiple people in contention for the role. It’s never really you until it’s you. I came back from filming, and there was a lot of people wanting somebody else or wishing that I was American.” Tran said on the podcast “Call Her Daddy.”
In fact, Tran’s Vietnamese American and Buddhist identity made for some of the best moments in the franchise’s recent history, as she was able to learn about other cultures and teach the men she dated about hers.
But though she led the season, it seemed like Tran was still an afterthought.
While greeting the men in episode one, she was “on cloud nine,” but near the end of the episode became emotional as the realization of being the Bachelorette sunk in.
“It was really hard for me to believe I was everyone’s first choice,” she said in the scene. “I felt like I was in somebody else’s shoes.”
Unfortunately, the men would do nothing but disappoint her.
Contestant Sam McKinney, who was given the first impression rose and seemed to be a potential finalist for much of the show, admitted live on air during a date at Radio New Zealand that he had been disappointed to see Tran cast as the Bachelorette.
“This girl is not my type,” he said of stepping out of the limo on the first night. “I
thought the Bachelorette was gonna be Daisy or Maria.” McKinney was sent home that same episode and in a confessional said that Jenn brought “very dull” energy.
And, in the so-called “most dramatic finale” in the franchise’s history, Tran was left sobbing on stage as she was forced to watch back her proposal that ended in heartbreak. Her ex-fiancé Devin Strader had “ghosted” her just weeks after getting engaged and broke o the engagement months prior. And, she revealed, Strader followed Georgas on Instagram the day after he broke o the engagement.
“He said he didn’t love me anymore,” Tran said at the Finale. “He denied having ever been in love.”
Strader had, throughout the season, made enemies out of fellow male contestants due to his often aggressive pursuit of Tran, giving no regard to the other men.
Weeks after the finale, it also came out that a previous girlfriend of Strader’s had taken a restraining order out on him, begging the question of why contestants, especially for leads of color, are not being vetted more thoroughly.
Her other finalist, Marcus Shoberg, was unable to tell her that he loved her even in the days leading up to their potential engagement.
“Watching the current season of ‘The Bachelorette’ has felt like a horror movie to me. Men fighting over possession of Jenn Tran instead of — I don’t know — talking to Jenn Tran,” NPR podcast host B.A. Parker said in an episode of “Code Switch” that looked at race and romance in reality TV.
Tran also had only one Asian
South-themed plantation party in college. James, who is a black man, called the photos “incredibly disappointing” at the time, and urged then-Host Chris Harrison, who stepped down from his role after defending the photos against the “woke police,” to reconsider the racist history of the Antebellum South.
Rachael Lindsay, the franchise’s first lead of color, has constantly advocated for more diverse casting within the franchise, especially after one of the contestants on her season was revealed to have made racist comments on social media in the past. Additionally, she said several of the men of color on her season did not have a history of dating any Black women, which has led her to call for diversifying those behind and in front of the camera.
This situation also isn’t seen just in Bachelor nation. “Love Island USA” winner Serena Page and fellow finalist JaNa Craig, who are both Black women, spent the entire season facing multiple microaggressions.
suitor, who spent more screen time pu ng his chest than, as Parker said, pursuing Tran.
“I can’t really speak to the casting process and the decisions that were made,” Tran said in an interview with Glamour Magazine, “but it is unfortunate that there weren’t a lot of Asian men this season.”
Put simply, Tran was set up to fail from the beginning. Her men were hoping for another woman, specifically a white woman, as were many viewers. She received no support from production or fans, and her most devastating moments were played as drama for viewers.
In the season where she should choose a husband, it seemed like none of her men chose her.
An easy — and practical — solution here would be for UW-Madison, and the city of Madison, to ban these men from ever stepping foot in this town, a la Becca Kufrin’s home state of Minnesota. But the far harder thing to do here is interrogate the realities of how women of color are treated on reality dating shows. While absolutely heartbreaking for Tran as an individual, this incident was merely a microcosm of the struggles that so many others have faced.
“The Bachelor” franchise, specifically, continuously fails to protect its leads of color. In [year], when Matt James was announced as the Bachelor, in the midst of the Black Lives Matter movement and just weeks after the show had promised to have more diverse casting, the woman he proposed to (and is still with to this day) was discovered to have attended an Antebellum
During the midseason ‘Casa Amor,’ where men and women are split up and introduced to new singles to test their connections back in the villa, many of the men were unfaithful. At the end of the week, when Kenny Rodriguez and Kordell Beckham Jr., who had been coupled up with Craig and Page, respectively, brought back other women, Craig and Page were rightfully dismayed and angry.
When Page snapped at Beckham, multiple men in the villa asked him whether that was how he wanted a potential future wife to act, as if her being angry at him betraying her trust was an overreaction. Page was immediately thrust into the racist ‘angry Black woman’ stereotype despite other contestants being allowed to react in that same manner without criticism.
And for Craig, she was constantly having the validity of her relationship with Rodriguez being questioned, as if she was somehow undesirable or unworthy of his love. Earlier on in the season, the man she had been coupled up with had left her for a woman far lighter than she was, and then proceeded to make fun of Craig with the woman he was now in a couple with.
It was just another confirmation that women of color are damned if they do and damned if they don’t on reality TV. Their white counterparts are allowed to be fiery, messy and implicitly understood as attractive, while women of color have to fight to show they deserve love.
Jenn Tran deserved love. Jenn Tran deserved so much better than she was given. And future women of color on reality TV deserve more.