Weekend, November 9-12, 2017 - The Daily Cardinal

University of Wisconsin-Madison

Since 1892 dailycardinal.com

Volleyball's emerging dynamic duo

+SPORTS page 8

Weekend, November 9-12, 2017

Mayhem at the Majestic +ARTS page 4

Drinking age could drop to 19 under new bill

By Andy Goldstein SENIOR STAFF WRITER

environment in the process.

Peter Testory, the Director of Dining and Culinary Services, told The Daily Cardinal that there are three definitions of

As Wisconsin lawmakers debate a controversial immigration bill, Madison’s future as a so-called sanctuary city remains uncertain.

The new legislation would bar local governments from enacting “sanctuary” policies that block or hinder federal immigration enforcement. If passed, non-compliant cities would face fines of up to $5,000 a day, and would not be eligible for some state funding.

Earlier this year, Mayor Paul Soglin said Madison has “made the point” that it is a sanctuary city — but because there is no legal definition of the term, assistant City Attorney Marci Paulsen was unable to say whether or not it officially is.

“We’re sitting back and monitoring it, but it’s open for interpretation,” she said.

Madison police still comply with requests from federal immigration authorities — such as Immigration and Customs Enforcement — when those requests are legal, accord-

Already one of the booziest states in the union, Wisconsin could allow residents as young as 19 to belly up to the bar and walk through liquor stores under proposed legislation.

The bill, introduced by three Republican state legislators, would set Wisconsin apart from the rest of the country by lowering the drinking age from the federally-mandated 21 to 19.

Wisconsin’s alcohol regulation policies already stand out nationally, as minors are allowed to consume alcohol with a guardian of legal age.

Departing from federal standards, however, does not come free: States that do so lose crucial federal money.

In Wisconsin, that loss could amount to over $50 million per year.

“At 19 years old, there are very few things that you cannot do,” state Rep. Adam Jarchow, R-Balsam Lake, told colleagues in a memo seeking their support. “They are adults eligible for military service, but cannot ‘enjoy an alcoholic beverage,’” he said.

Jarchow pushed for 19, as opposed to the popular European alternative of 18, to ensure that drinking would not become a distraction for high school students.

The bill’s other co-sponsors include state Reps. Rob Swearingen, R-Rhinelander and former president of the Tavern League of Wisconsin, and. Rep. Cindi Duchow, R-Delafield.

Jarchow also emphasized that no longer having to enforce federal alcohol standards would significantly cut law enforcement costs.

“Those efforts could be used for other important issues such as drug abuse and sexual assaults,” Jarchow added.

The legislation includes a clause that would only it take effect if the state could avoid losing its federal funds, which makes the prospect of its implementation bleak.

On top of that, the measure is opposed by Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, who heavily influences the chamber’s legislative agenda.

Beyond procedural difficulty, some experts believe the measure would actively harm the 19-year-olds it

local page 2

city page 3

drinking age page 3

CAMERON LANE-FLEHINGER/THE DAILY CARDINAL

While some conservative campus groups are still hesitant to align with President Donald Trump, UW-Madison College Republicans has embraced him.

One year later, some right-wing students remain wary of Trump

By Noah Habenstreit ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

Abby Streu is no moderate — an unapologetic conservative on UW-Madison’s campus and the leader of a prominent right-wing student organization, she has worked to bring numerous highprofile conservative speakers to a campus traditionally seen as a

bastion of liberalism.

But when asked about President Donald Trump, her reaction is lukewarm.

“I don’t think Trump is a conservative,” Streu, the president of the UW-Madison chapter of Young Americans for Freedom, said. “I think he’s a populist.”

Streu made clear that she

wasn’t speaking on behalf of her entire organization, which includes roughly 30 members who regularly attend meetings. Certainly, she said, Young Americans for Freedom includes people who are more friendly to the president. But her comments follow a trend among conservative students

and groups on campus: They’re not thrilled with Trump.

However, for members of College Republicans of UW-Madison, the largest and best-known campus organization for ideologically conservative students, the trend is actual-

trump page 3

Is Madison a sanctuary city? It’s still up for debate

By Adam Maisto STAFF WRITER

MAX HORNSTAD/THE DAILY CARDINAL

UW-Madison’s Dining and Culinary Services wants students to know where their food comes from.

Dining halls aim for more local food

By Lauren Sorensen STAFF WRITER

Over half of the food found in the university’s dining halls can be categorized as “local.” But the administrators in charge of dining are looking to make that

percentage even higher.

UW-Madison’s Dining and Culinary Services wants students to know their food is sourced from the Madison area and the state as much as possible, while supporting local businesses and protecting the

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

news 2

l

Weekend, November 9-12, 2017

Cook’s lawyers ask to relocate 7 trials

An independent student newspaper, serving the University of Wisconsin-Madison community since 1892 Volume 127, Issue 21

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

By Ellie Borstad STAFF WRITER

News and Editorial edit@dailycardinal.com

Editor-in-Chief Madeline Heim

Managing Editor Andrew Bahl

News Team News Manager Nina Bertelsen Campus Editor Lawrence Andrea College Editor Maggie Chandler City Editor Gina Heeb State Editor Lilly Price Associate News Editor Noah Habenstreit Features Editor Sammy Gibbons Opinion Editors Madison Schultz • Samantha Wilcox Editorial Board Chair Jack Kelly Arts Editors Ben Golden • Samantha Marz Sports Editors Ethan Levy • Ben Pickman Gameday Editors Ben Blanchard • Bremen Keasey Almanac Editors Ayomide Awosika • Patrick Hoeppner Photo Editors Cameron Lane-Flehinger Brandon Moe Graphics Editors Amira Barre • Laura Mahoney Multimedia Editor Jessica Rieselbach Science Editor Julie Spitzer Life & Style Editor Cassie Hurwitz Copy Chiefs Sam Nesovanovic • Haley Sirota Justine Spore • Sydney Widell Copy Editors Dana Brandt • Kara Martin Kelly Ward Social Media Manager Jenna Mytton Special Pages Amileah Sutliff • Yi Wu

Business and Advertising business@dailycardinal.com Business Manager Matt Wranovsky Advertising Manager Mckenzie Halling • Caleb Bussler Marketing Director Ryan Jackson 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.

Editorial Board Madeline Heim • Andrew Bahl Dylan Anderson• Jack Kelly Ben Pickman • Madison Schultz Amileah Sutliff • Samantha Wilcox

Board of Directors Herman Baumann, President Phil Brinkman • Madeline Heim Andrew Bahl • Matt Wranovsky Phil Hands • Don Miner Nancy Sandy • Jennifer Sereno Ryan Jackson • Caleb Bussler Scott Girard • Alex Kusters

© 2015, The Daily Cardinal Media Corporation ISSN 0011-5398

For the record A Nov. 2 article incorrectly quoted the UW Foundation’s Michael Knetter as saying private donations would surpass combined state and tuition revenue. The Daily Cardinal regrets this error. Corrections or clarifications? Call The Daily Cardinal office at 608-262-8000 or send an email to edit@dailycardinal.com.

dailycardinal.com

RENA NEWMAN/THE DAILY CARDINAL

A sign reading “It’s okay to be white” was found on Bascom Hill, continuing the trend at colleges across the United States.

‘It’s okay to be white’ flyers found at UW, other schools

By Lawrence Andrea CAMPUS NEWS EDITOR

Continuing a trend found on other college campuses, a poster reading “IT’S OKAY TO BE WHITE” was found taped to a lamp post on Bascom Hill earlier this week.

The message — which has been found on campuses ranging from the University of Alberta in Canada to Tulane University in New Orleans — appears to have originated from the anonymous online message board 4chan.

Posts on the board suggest the goal of the campaign is to “trigger” people by posting these signs around college campuses and other locations. Members of the anonymous board predict that this message will begin to expose liberals as “anti-white” and “create a division amongst the left even more.”

One post found on the message board encourages viewers to fax these posters to their local politicians, while another anonymous user suggests spray painting the message, saying, “That shit won’t come off easy.”

The poster found on Bascom follows incidents of white nationalism on the UW-Madison campus.

Recently, a university graduate student left his teaching

local from page 1 “local” food used by the university: “Local food,” “local vendor” and “manufactured in Wisconsin.” Altogether, these make up about 59 percent of food served by the department on campus.

“I don’t want to say that local products are higher quality, because that is not necessarily the case,” Testory said.

“But there is something nice about knowing where your food comes from.”

To be considered “local food,” all ingredients must be grown, processed and packaged in Wisconsin. About 12 percent of the food served in the dining halls currently meets this standard. Local vendors, on the other hand, don’t necessarily have to raise their food in the state, but they must contribute to its production within the City of Madison or the surrounding

duties after a blog post claiming he posts racist messages to social media and currently belongs to a white supremacist group went viral. The student, Dylan Bleier, had previously left Oberlin College after allegedly vandalizing buildings with anti-Semitic and racist messages in 2013.

Rena Newman, a UW-Madison student who tore down one of these posters on Bascom, called the campaign “white nonsense” and a symbol of hate. “[The movement is] responding to a strawman argument — no one has ever said it isn’t okay to be white, and to post something like this is to frame white people as victims in America,” Newman said in a Facebook post.

UW-Madison spokesperson Meredith McGlone said the posters were removed from Bascom because they were in violation of a policy prohibiting flyers, posters and other similar items anywhere except on established bulletin boards and locations authorized by the chief administrative officer.

McGlone said in an email that the university works “to enforce this policy consistently, without regard to the content of the posters.”

area. Roughly 10 percent of food found in the dining halls can be defined this way.

“If a student...knows where their food is coming from, it is automatically a better experience.”

Peter Testroy director Dining and Culinary Services

The largest percentage of local food used by dining halls are products manufactured in Wisconsin, but are not always grown in the state. For example, Brakebush Chickens, which are not necessarily born or raised in Wisconsin but are processed and packaged in the state, fall under this category.

The definition of local food should also be fair to local businesses and producers, Testory said.

Defense lawyers for former UW-Madison student Alec Cook believe his trials should take place outside of Madison and want evidence they say was obtained illegally to be excluded, according to court documents.

Cook, who is accused on 21 counts, including seconddegree sexual assault, stalking and strangulation, will go to trial seven separate times, in cases involving 11 women.

Defense attorneys Chris Van Wagner and Jessa Nicholson filed motions Monday to move the trials outside Dane County, and suppress some evidence in the case against Cook, reports Channel3000.

The lawyers argue that a large number of students, staff and community members have received information on Cook and the high-profile case in a sensationalized way. In order to ensure a fair trial and lower the risk of juror prejudice, they believe the trials should be moved outside the Madison area.

“We believe that if we tried to pit a jury in Dane County, we could never get 44 prospective jurors who didn’t have at least 10 people who received alerts that there was a dangerous man on the loose on campus,” Van Wagner told reporters in September.

Van Wagner said the problem is that with Madison’s reputa-

tion as a media hub of the state, many people paying attention to the news or using social media have seen Cook’s face and heard details of the reported assaults and harassment. He said it is unlikely they would be able to find people who haven’t already formed an opinion on the case.

“We’ve got a really polarized campus community and we have concerns about that,” Nicholson added.

The defense attorneys also filed a motion to suppress evidence that was allegedly obtained illegally, including notebooks and journals belonging to Cook.

Investigators initially searched Cook’s apartment with his consent, according to court documents. They were looking for materials belonging to women and biological evidence when they came across a closed notebook in a drawer. They opened it and found a list of women’s names, which they photographed.

Cook’s defense team says that since investigators took pictures of the notebook’s contents before obtaining a search warrant for it, the evidence should be suppressed, or not shown in the trials. And since its contents led to the obtainment of other journals and documents, they argue those should be excluded as well.

The first of Cook’s seven trials is set for Februrary 26. 2018.

CAMERON LANE-FLEHINGER/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Expelled UW-Madison student Alec Cook will go to the Dane County Circuit Court for seven separate trials in two cases.

Testory said he believes that expecting a product to be 100 percent locally sourced can be unfair. Local businesses have to charge higher prices for their products, and requiring them to source local ingredients may drive these prices up and reduce their competitiveness.

“At the end of the day, it is not important to me what it is labeled,” said Testory. “It is important to me that we are reducing the carbon footprint, supporting our local businesses and being good stewards of our students’ money.”

Local products and the associated increase in costs must be balanced with smart business decisions, Testory explained.

One of these decisions, Testory says, was the switch this year from Starbucks Coffee to locally roasted coffee. Not only is the coffee roasted, ground and delivered within 48 hours, it is also cheaper. Dining

and Culinary Services was able to apply those savings to salad and fruit.

Looking ahead, Testory said his department hopes to further improve upon “telling the story” — that is, explaining to students what products are used and where they come from. This would not only apply to local products, but also to other sustainable products like seafood.

“There is something nice about knowing where your food comes from.”

Peter Testroy director Dining and Culinary Services

“If a student, or if anybody, knows where their food is coming from, it is automatically a better experience,” Testory said.

news dailycardinal.com

Weekend, November 9-12, 2017

l

3

Bassem Youssef talks on Arab Spring, importance of satire

By Luisa De Vogel SENIOR STAFF WRITER

Comedian Bassem Youssef, dubbed by many the “Egyptian Jon Stewart,” was greeted by a lively crowd of UW-Madison students and community members at Memorial Union Wednesday night.

Youssef, a native Egyptian, described his experiences, ranging from mocking former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi to questioning the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in the aftermath of the Arab Spring on his political satire show. He fled Egypt in 2014 after receiving threats from both the government and the public.

Throughout his talk, Youssef often used jokes about President Donald Trump and islamophobia to draw parallels between the current political climate in the U.S. and Egypt’s political history.

Although the Egyptian government seemed to disagree, humor like Youssef ’s can be used as a tool to fight systematic inequality, according to UW-Madison professor of Middle Eastern Studies Nevine

El-Nossery, who introduced Youssef Wednesday night.

“Satire is always at its most valuable when freedom of the press is constrained,” El-Nossery said. “Satire is a way of challenging power when the legitimate ways of challenging power are closed off.”

El-Nossery added that satire engages its audience, generating political activism.

“Satire and sarcasm are the antidote to fear.”

Bassam Youssef satirist

“Satirical TV shows allow their audiences to stay well informed about what is happening in the world,” El-Nossery said. “They also encourage critical thinking and push their audiences to think around locally and worldwide.”

Youssef said he used satire to “poke fun at” fake news. Satire, he said, is a means of propaganda — one he said is new to the U.S., but

has been used in Egypt for decades.

“When it comes to fabricating news and brainwashing the public, we’re way ahead of you,” Youssef said. “For once, Americans are looking up to us.

The Middle East and Egypt gave the world algebra and astronomy, and now [the United States’] gift to the world: Fake news.”

When an audience member shouted to the crowd demanding freedom for Palestine, Youssef further emphasized his views on political activism.

“It doesn’t help the cause to just shout it when it’s not asked for,” Youssef said. “You can help your cause by listening and interacting and having some fun and you can educate people about what’s happening in the Middle East.”

Drawing comparisons to the election of President Donald Trump and past political unrest in Egypt, Youssef concluded his speech by once again noting the importance of satire in a free society.

“Satire and sarcasm are the antidote to fear,” he said.

trump from page 1

AMILEAH SUTLIFF/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

Mayor Paul Soglin said city leaders have “made the point” that Madison is a sanctuary city, though it lacks that official status.

city from page 1 ing to Paulsen. But according to Madison Police Chief Mike Koval, immigration enforcement is not a high priority in Madison’s model of community policing.

“We are not a federal immigration authority,” Koval said in a November 2016 press conference. “Their mission is not our mission.”

And city lawmakers have echoed the same sentiment.

“We do not think that municipalities should be in charge of federal law enforcement on immigration,” said Ald. Shiva Bidar-Sielaff, District 5.

“I forcefully oppose [the state immigration bill]. I think it’s an ill-placed piece of legislation.”

In February, the Common Council passed a resolution that condemned three of President Donald Trump’s immigrationrelated executive orders. BidarSielaff, who sponsored the resolution, said that its passage reflected the Common Council’s steadfast stance against the use of city resources for federal immigration enforcement.

“We have clear policies that state that our police department is not going to be asking for immigration status as part of their day-to-day interactions with residents of our city,” she said.

But even as the resolution gained

traction at City Hall, Soglin seemed to have second thoughts on how far local ordinances should go in resisting state immigration policy. Worried Madison could take financial hits from the Republican-controlled legislature, he said he would veto the resolution if it created a “safe space” in City Hall. The bill later passed with revised language.

“Let us understand that we are far more vulnerable from a state government, which has far more power to remove our funding than the federal government,” Soglin wrote. “We do not have the supportive network of other cities if action is taken against us.”

“We have made the point that we are a sanctuary city,” he continued.

“We are committed to justice. The law is on our side. Let us avoid a futile gesture that may make us feel good, but that does not add to the sanctity of our position and only creates enormous risk.”

Other Wisconsin cities have grappled with the definition of what it means to be a sanctuary city. Earlier this year, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett resisted efforts to classify Milwaukee as a sanctuary city, citing concerns over loss of federal funding.

Senate Bill 275 was approved by the Committee on Labor and Regulatory Reform on Nov. 3, and is now available for scheduling before the full body of the State Senate.

ly the opposite, said the group’s spokesperson Emelia Rohl.

A month before the 2016 election, the campus College Republicans endorsed Trump, but put out a statement saying the group does not accept all of the then-candidate’s statements and policies and noted that not all members agreed with the endorsement.

In contrast, one year later, “basically everyone is in agreement” on supporting the president, Rohl said.

“Around election time, there was a lot of debate about supporting our president,” Rohl said. “But over the past year, we’ve seen a big shift in College Republicans because now everyone is very open about their support for President Trump.”

Rohl blamed biased media coverage and a “hostile campus environment” during the 2016 election for members’ original hesitation about backing Trump.

“If you tuned in and watched the news before the election, there was all this controversy surrounding President Trump,” Rohl said. “The media, on top of campus climate, could have made some individuals uncomfortable when it came to who they were supporting for president.”

The tepid word choice in College Republicans’ 2016 Trump endorsement was an effort to make all Republicans feel welcome in the organization, “whether they were a huge supporter” of Trump or not, Rohl said. Now, their days of cautious optimism are over.

College Republicans is a different breed of organization than other conservative groups on campus. Its goal is to elect

drinking age from page 1 would allow to drink legally.

“I think the larger story is the link between alcohol, excessive drinking, and cancer, which

JUNAID KHALID/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Youssef, an Egyptian satirist often compared with Jon Stewart, spoke to the campus community at Memorial Union Wednesday.

Republicans in the state and nationally, in contrast to other organizations, which promote conservative ideals but don’t always endorse candidates and are not necessarily tied to one party. In campus groups where there is no pressure to support Trump, leaders are not shy about expressing their doubts.

UW-Madison’s Luce Society, a group for conservative women on campus, recently hosted Bay Buchanan, a conservative commentator who pushed for a border wall in the early 1990s — 24 years before Trump did. But the group’s chair, Ellen Schutt, said the organization still “echoes” Streu’s belief that Trump is not

“I don’t think Trump is a conservative...I think he’s a populist.”

Abby Streu president Young Americans for Freedom

a true conservative.

If another Republican decided to run against Trump in the 2020 primary, Streu, who is also vice chair of the Luce Society, said she would “vote for [her] values” — that is, vote against Trump.

“I was a Ted Cruz girl myself …

I’d like to see someone fall in line with me [in 2020],” Streu said, while acknowledging that a primary challenge to Trump would have the potential to hurt the party.

As for student organizations on the other end of the political spectrum, there has been no disagreement — groups like the Student Coalition for Progress, the campus appears to be pretty indisputable,” said Julia Sherman, coordinator of the Alcohol Policy Project.

“We know that the younger a person begins to drink, the more likely they are to have

chapter of the National Organization for Women and UW-Madison’s various socialist organizations have focused their energy around resisting Trump’s agenda.

College Democrats of UW-Madison is no exception.

Claudia Koechell, the group’s spokesperson, said that Trump has “deepened the divide” in the country and “exacerbated hatred” during his time in office.

“It’s surprising that anyone would increase their support for Donald Trump after the first year of his presidency, which has proven to be quite the disaster … but it’s not surprising at all that [College Republicans] would just continue to do what the party [does],” Koechell said.

There may be rifts in the national Republican party — U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., recently gave a scathing address denouncing Trump before announcing his resignation — but College Republicans doesn’t see them within their organization. Rohl said she is “surprised” some other rightwing groups have not united around Trump.

“His proposed policies and the work his administration is doing obviously represent conservative ideals and Republican ideals,” Rohl said.

Whether or not they agree with Rohl, even groups that criticize the president are not ready to write Trump off entirely.

Despite her doubts, Streu said the current political situation isn’t as bad as it could have been.

“We critique what [Trump] has done wrong, and applaud what he’s done right,” Streu said. “We prefer it to whatever Hillary would have done.”

alcohol-related problems in their future.”

The bill is unlikely to attract much support under current conditions.

arts

4

l

Weekend, November 9-12, 2017

dailycardinal.com

Mayhem bring black metal to Majestic

By Dylan Anderson DAILY CARDINAL

Norwegian black metal moguls Mayhem put on a dramatic exhibit at the Majestic Theatre Tuesday night, playing the entirety of their highly influential 1994 debut album, De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas. Known for using pseudonyms for their stage aliases, the active lineup featured one founding member, bassist Necrobutcher, who was absent from the group during the record’s production. Active in Mayhem since 1988, drummer Jan Blomberg, who is known for his work as Hellhammer in many black metal groups, was present for the entirety of the album’s development. Singer Attila Csihar joined on temporarily to track its vocals before becoming a permanent member more than a decade later.

The Latin title of their debut album roughly translates to “About the Mystery of the Lord Satan.” Though I am unfamiliar with Satanism, the performance featured elaborate costumes and pantomimed rituals, likely pertaining to death. Of course, the songwriting process for the landmark album began in 1987, with then vocalist Per “Dead” Ohlin and guitarist Øystein “Euronymous” Aarseth spearheading the composition. Neither would live to see its release.

Dead’s 1991 suicide prompted Necrobutcher to leave the band.

Later, Euronymous was killed by temporary bassist Varg “Count Grishnackh” Vikernes in 1993.

Vikernes served a 14-year prison sentence for Euronymous’s

murder and his role in several church arsons. His bass tracks are included in the final cut of the record.

It bears mentioning that, in addition to band member deaths, Mayhem’s history is shrouded by an extensive array of problematic issues of which I learned researching for this review. The band has sold merchandise bearing swastikas and has been connected with the Norwegian church-burning movement in the 1990s. Hellhammer has been quoted expressing homophobic and white supremacist views. I condemn the violent and hateful nature of Mayhem’s past and current members. A disappointingly small amount of coverage of these transgressions is present in the American press. It is unclear to what extent, if any, Blomberg’s views have impacted his commercial success, or if he has apologized for them.

In addition to the three aforementioned members, guitarists Teloch and Ghul rounded out the touring act, who have been together unchanged since 2011. From my spot on the floor, Hellhammer was mostly out of sight, covered by a cage-like percussion apparatus, including a pair of kick drums and numerous cymbals. The other four members donned hooded cloaks, resembling Jedi knights.

Teloch and Csihar wore corpse paint on their faces. Fronting the quintet, Csihar emerged last onto the stage, departed for costume changes and enacted ritualistic choreography, dancing with a skull prop near the end of the set.

Mayhem’s act commenced with

DYLAN ANDERSON/THE DAILY CARDINAL

Mayhem gave a theatrical performance at Majestic on Tuesday, complete with Satanic costumes and props. lighting and church bells prior to the musicians taking the stage, eliciting cheers and shrieks from audience members. The band would leave stage several more times during the set, while lighting and instrumentation persisted. Amid one such interval, a round of deafening bass filled the theatre, crushing my eardrums.

Generally, the electric guitars and bass were indistinguishable from each other, as their collaborative sound was recognizable but generally drowned out by the ringing of Hellhammer’s ferocious blast beat.

Sung in English with some Latin, Csihar’s growled lyrics were nearly incomprehensible, as they are on the recording.

Having listened to De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas several times prior to witnessing it live, the familiar percussion in most of

the songs coupled with the generally muddled nose from the rest of the group tricked my brain into mixing some of the eight songs up, though they were played in order. During choruses, onlookers reached out toward Csihar with their hands open. It felt cult-like.

In accordance with the title of the genre, the crowd dressed almost exclusively in black. Many adorned biker jackets affixed with patches of metal artists could be seen. Some wore capes and studded accessories. At least one crowd member’s face and head were entirely blanketed by tattoos, save their eyes. My companion noted I was one of the only guests not wearing black.

Mayhem have toned down the stage antics from their earlier days, when they famously

injured a crowd member with a flying sheep’s head that was severed on stage, a regular practice they have since abandoned.

The moshpit was small and not excessively violent to my tastes. I participated at times, and acquired several harmless bruises on my left arm and one moderately painful one near my right elbow. A mosher wearing a spiked bracelet apologized to another concertgoer when the bracelet struck their eye.

Many slipped and fell on the beersoaked floor — a staple of concerts at the Majestic. Though eerie, the setting felt warm and welcoming. Mayhem never spoke to the crowd, but at the conclusion of the set, Necrobutcher and Csihar took separate bows. Csihar went last and gestured to the crowd gratefully, much like a leading player would after an opera.

Showtime’s ‘Shameless,’ ‘SMILF’ feature bad, badass women

PHOTO COURTESY OF IMDB

Frankie Shaw created and stars in Showtime’s new show, “SMILF,” which premiered on Sunday.

By Monique Scheidler TV COLUMNIST

As some of our favorite shows are winding down to an end, Showtime has stepped up to fill in the gaps. This past Sunday they brought back a longtime fan-favorite, “Shameless,” and premiered a brand new show, “SMILF.” Both premieres were an hour filled with badass (or maybe just bad) women, ridiculous antics and so many laughs.

The eighth season of “Shameless” was delayed due to a wage dispute between the

show and Emmy Rossum, who plays Fiona Gallagher. She finally is getting paid the amount she deserves — especially seeing as she’s now stepped into the ring of directing as of last season.

But clearly anticipation was only building while fans were waiting because the new season for the premiere on Sunday was the highest-rated since season three.

We jumped right back in with the Gallagher family falling back into routine following the death (SPOILER) of the matriarch, Monica. Fiona is diving

head-first into her newest business venture — an old apartment building — and giving up Tinder while she’s at it. At the new building, she meets an incredibly involved tenant, Nessa (Jessica Szohr), who despite telling Fiona that she’s “not her type” has incredible chemistry and tension with her. Lip is working his hardest to maintain his sobriety, which includes taking seven mile runs to work at 5 in the morning. Carl is selling all of Monica’s meth she left behind so the family can have their “inher-

itance money,” as well as trying to keep himself in shape while he has the summer off from military school. Liam is still at his fancy private school but continues to be exploited by them in an effort to make their school look diverse. Ian is working hard to win back the affections of Trevor after ghosting him for Mickey.

Debbie is thriving in her welder’s program but struggling to be a mom on top of it all. And Frank is back from his meth bender, where he became enlightened and returned to town to make amends for all the wrongs he’s made in the past.

Nothing all that exciting happened in the premiere, but just getting back in touch with the family was enough to make the episode fly by. They’ve set up what I can already tell is going to be a season of pure craziness, especially with the ladies this season. Fiona and Debbie (played by the always great Emma Kenney) were the showstoppers last season and both women have a big season ahead of them that will undoubtedly exceed expectations.

And speaking of incredible women, the premiere of “SMILF” (Single Mom I’d Like to F***) introduced us to another wild and unruly lady of TV. Frankie Shaw not only plays the protagonist, single mom Bridgette, but she’s also the show’s creator,

writer and director of the pilot.

The show is based off of Shaw’s short film of the same title.

Bridgette gives us a new representation of single motherhood — which is already hugely unrepresented in media. Bridgette isn’t necessarily a good mom. She makes a lot of really questionable decisions in the pilot — she leaves her two-year-old son, Larry Bird, home alone to fill up on junk food at the convenience store, as well as hooking up with a guy in the same bed Larry’s asleep in. But in the show, she’s not the only look into motherhood that we get. Bridgette’s own mom, Tutu (played by the incredible Rosie O’Donnell), is just as unconventional. She helps Bridgette out by taking care of Larry, and we get a glimpse that she’s struggling with her own mental health as well.

The pilot was hysterical and had moments that were so ridiculous that you just couldn’t help but laugh out loud — namely, when Bridgette masturbates to photos of Larry’s dad’s new girlfriend. Obviously, it’s not a representation of great motherhood, but it never claims to be. We’ve gotten shows and films on horrible dads and anti-hero patriarchs of the family, it’s about time we get a disgusting and horrible mom that you can’t help but root for. “SMILF” is unapologetic, honest and already one of my favorite fall shows.

comics dailycardinal.com

Weekend, November 9-12, 2017 • 5 © Puzzles by Pappocom

Today’s Sudoku

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9.

Midterm Week

By: Liqi Shenq graphics@dailycardinal.com

The Lizard Seat

By Sophia Silva graphics@dailycardinal.com

Today’s Crossword Puzzle

How About That Test

CLUMSY AND THEN SOME By Timothy E. Parker ACROSS

1 Whisky barrel

58 “___ Beacon Teaches Typing”

27 Blackberry drupelets, e.g.

5 Visit on the go

62 Moves on to a new topic

28 Divisions or offshoots

10 “Ready, willing and ___”

65 Climax

30 “I’ll have the same”

14 Source of pain

66 Ship’s low deck

32 Concerning birth

15 Wait patiently

67 Sandwich cookie

33 Transported by van

16 ___ Bator (Mongolian capital)

68 Cry of glee on the playground

34 Sleeping disorder, for some

17 Sinks quickly

69 Invalidates or voids

37 Valerie Harper’s TV series

20 Start taking effect, as winter

70 Husky voice characteristic

40 One being held for ransom (Var.)

21 Hoop locale, often

DOWN

41 “___ Under the Sun”

22 Pout

1 Dirty rotters

42 Deaden or dull

25 Clothing line

2 Unit of land

47 Clumsy one’s exclamation

26 Faux things?

3 Close-up or cutaway, e.g.

48 Meat from a sheep

29 Supply startup money

4 French soldiers’ hats

52 Kind of jacket worn in the ‘60s

31 East African republic

5 Buddy

54 Captain’s superior

35 Biggest club

6 Japanese “belt”

55 Bow of the foot

36 Distinctive style

7 State highway

56 Rotunda topper

38 It keeps the infield dry

8 What creative brainwaves produce

57 Wooded valley

39 Takes over responsibility for something

9 Not as far off

59 Aloe ___

43 Detractor

10 Robots, collectively

60 Desserts that can produce chills

44 Kitchen appliance

11 Slimy menace of ‘50s horror

61 Common street sign’s command

45 Address abbr., sometimes

12 Country pathway

62 Crow relative

46 “Conventional” accumulated knowledge

13 New Orleans-to-Atlanta dir.

63 Fa-la link

49 Supreme Norse god

18 Extinguishes (with “out”)

64 They deliver the goods

50 Field covered with grass

19 Shredded cabbage

51 Grammar class subject

23 “Little” comic strip character created in

53 Student no more

55 Rolled with the punches

1935

24 Breaks small pieces off from 26 Largest indigenous American fruit

By Alexandra Steffeck graphics@dailycardinal.com

almanac 6

l

Weekend, November 9-12, 2017

dailycardinal.com

Local stay-at-home mom dismantles NRA

By Michael Kowalski THE DAILY CARDINAL

“After three years of diligent commenting on the Facebook, my efforts have finally produced the results I’ve been expecting,” stated Madison resident and stay-at-home mom, Barb Suzanna. Despite tens of millions of members and supporters, the NRA recently declared the abolishment of its storied organization. The group has been on the tipping point due to a nationwide surge in gun violence over the past few years, but Barb’s comment finally pushed them over the edge, sparking the dissolution of the organization, which has existed since 1871.

A spokesman for the NRA said that being called

“‘a bunch of no-good, guntoting, heartless Trump lovers’ really made our entire organization take a step back and evaluate our core beliefs.

After years of dedicated work defending a Constitutional right, Barb did something that thousands of policy analysts over several decades have not been able to — hurt our feelings.”

He went on to say, “Barb just really knew how to strike a chord in our hearts. That, plus her long record of previous Facebook comments on other domestic policies among foreign affairs gave her the legitimacy she needed to chalk up this victory.”

When asked to comment, Barb told the Daily Cardinal

that, “You know, it’s about time people started listening to my opinions. I might not directly be involved in politics or policy, but I sure do have a grasp on what social media says about the issues —and that’s what really counts.”

Now with a winning record, Barb said she will continue to fight the man on Facebook.

“I don’t have to get up off the couch to make a real difference,” she said. “I can sit right here on my keister and tell the rest of the world what they’re doing wrong.

Why would I want to waste my energy going out there to attempt something myself when I can just criticize others?”

It remains unclear what is going to happen to gun rights nationwide without

IMAGE COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

Local mom, Barb Suzanna wistfully recalls when her heroically delivered Facebook comment made the last remnants of the NRA crumble. the lead defender of them in the Washington ring.

However, several comments replying to Barb from card-holding Republican

and Waukesha resident Al Kilszusky suggest that a grassroots movement to replace the controversial NRA is on its way.

United States apparently on the brink of nuclear war with Canada

By Samantha Munro Jones THE DAILY CARDINAL

IMAGE COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

Canadian officials apologize to the nukes as they prepare to launch.

It is true: The screeching antiTrump millennials were right. The United States is on the brink of an eradication-worthy nuclear war with Canada. Justin Trudeau may be the hottest leader of all time (sorry JFK), but all is not well in the land of Tim Horton’s, universal healthcare, and “some good ole’ puck.” They may be passive aggressive, but Canadians are very upset.

In fact, Canadians are so upset that they made a list of grievances comparable to those angrily scribbled sticky notes your roommate from freshman year left you. The grievances have recently been leaked from the FBI and are

as follows: 1. Correct the definition of “eh” in all American dictionaries.

“Exclamation used to represent a sound made in speech in a variety of situations, in particular to ask for something to be repeated or explained or to elicit agreement” lacks character. Insulting.

2. Collect and destroy all copies of the movie “Elf” for inappropriate use of maple syrup.

3. Bring back poutine at McDonalds. Or just replace all McDonalds with Timmies. Okay, yeah scratch that first part, they somehow managed to mess up fries with gravy and cheese.

4. Change the name of the National Hockey League to the

Binational Hockey League. We have seven of the teams, y’know?

5. Impeach the cheeto already, guy’s a hoser.

6. Declare the Gulf of Maine a free whaling zone.

7. Follow these directions or we will blow you Yankees up. (Sorry if that came across as rude).

Canada’s ultimatum came on the heels of a border dispute between American Department of Homeland Security officers and a Canadian maple syrup tanker at the border between Detroit and Windsor, Ontario.

“The maple syrup truck was found to be carrying a highly modified and volatile grade of genetically modified tree sap,”

a border guard said. “The shipment was seized and the drivers apprehended.”

Canada’s Justin Trudeau condemned the action as an “act of American nationalism,” and ordered that Canada enter a state of nuclear emergency, with all the nation’s intermediate and long-range ICBMs primed, armed and ready for a frontal, full-scale conflict.

As can be seen, Americans are in real and immediate danger, and as of now, we are suggesting that all capable evacuate and change their names if they even slightly indicate American heritage. Best of luck and stay tuned for updates from up North — winter is coming.

EPA chief Scott Pruitt says wind turbines are responsible for recent increase in hurricane activity

By Marc Tost THE DAILY CARDINAL

In a move that continues this week’s trend of surprising decisions from President Trump’s executive branch, the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, Scott Pruitt, announced that he would demand a large-scale investigation into the role that off-shore wind turbines played in the series of devastating hurricanes that hit Florida and Texas this summer.

At a press conference on Tuesday, Pruitt made the announcement directly after a 15-minute speech about the benefits of coal. The attendees, roughly split between reporters and miners, chuckled a little bit, but lapsed into silence when they realized the former Oklahoma Attorney General was not joking, but rather continued to outline who was going to run the investigation, and what time scale it was going to take place on.

“Have you seen those things? They’re giant fans in the middle of the ocean, causing all kinds of wind!”

Scott Pruitt Director Environmental Protection Agency

After the announcement was made, Mr. Pruitt responded to multiple questions about

what caused him to think that wind turbines could have any relationship with hurricanes by simply responding “Have you seen those things? They’re giant fans, in the middle of the ocean, causing all kinds of wind! It’s a wonder these tragedies haven’t happened earlier.”

Later that day, top scientists of the agency met with their head to explain to him that wind turbines turn wind into power, instead of generating wind.

However, according to reports, Pruitt simply responded that the only way he knew of to make power was to set various things on fire, whether it be coal, gas, or something else. These facts were confirmed by Secretary of Energy Rick Perry.

Making the story even more surprising, multiple environmental groups have come out in favor of the study. In a closed door meeting with the heads of these groups, Daily Cardinal reporters were told “Between you and me, I’m glad he’s focusing on this. I mean, the man’s a moron. At least this way EPA scientists are looking at wind turbines, not finding a way to get coal miners on TV even more often.”

Unconfirmed reports go on to suggest that when initial findings showed Pruitt that the tops of wind turbines could be rotates remotely, he went into a rage and accused Obama of trying to get back at Texas for not voting for him.

At press time, Pruitt had commandeered all the desk fans in the EPA building, and was attempting to recreate hurricane conditions in his office.

IMAGE COURTESY OF CREATIVE COMMONS

Wind turbines preparing to blow the small boat in front of them, resulting in hurricanes brewing throughout the Atlantic Ocean.

Weekend, November 9-12, 2017

dailycardinal.com

l

opinion

7

Mass shootings will not end until better gun control enacted ASHLEY OBULJEN opinion columnist

G

ALICIA SHOBERG/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

Republican candidates gain popularity by spouting hateful rhetoric instead of focusing on actual policies.

Conservative policies not good selling points JACOB PRICE opinion columnist

T

he state elections on Tuesday were a resounding success for Democrats.

Ralph Northam beat out Republican opponent Ed Gillespie for Virginia in a 9-point victory, and Republicans lost at least 14 seats in the House of Delegates which could potentially cause the majority to shift to Democrats.

Additionally, New Jersey elected Philip Murphy to the office of governor, defeating the Republican opponent Kim Guadagno.

The campaign tactics used by Gillespie and Guadagno mimicked the astonishingly divisive rhetoric that came to the forefront in American politics last year during the Trump campaign. Consequently, the largerthan-expected Democratic turnout and the victories that came with it appear to indicate a growing and motivated opposition to the Trump administration.

While the victories will undoubtedly bring about liberal policies and prevent conservative ones, it is also important to understand why the nature of the Republican campaigns are trending towards fear-mongering and bigotry.

The simple fact of why these strategies were utilized in the elections, first by Trump and followed by Gillespie and Guadagno, is to stir up rightwing populist anger in an effort to cover up a lack of popular policies. Trump’s inevitable push to gut healthcare and push for huge tax breaks for millionaires at the expense of the working class and the deficit are not popular, even from the base that supported him in the general election.

The same can be said for Gillespie valuing the interests of big corporations over the basic needs of most Virginians. The actual policies brought about by a Gillespie term would have been wildly unpopular across the board, so to generate support he

decided to appeal to the southern white identity by focusing on topics such as preserving confederate monuments and Colin Kaepernick’s protest.

This masking of conservative economic policies is of course intentional. Driven by wealthy donors, the push for tax cuts for the rich has been proven time and time again to not drive sustainable economic growth, nor increase the overall well-being of the working class. As evident by the details of the congressional GOP tax plan, the proposed tax increases are in no means intended to help the working class, but instead designed to fatten the pockets of the rich.

These holes in conservative policy can be covered up during campaigns.

Even if one subscribes to this form of economic theory, the objective truth is that it is not particularly favorable to the working-class base, where the Republicans have targeted their political efforts.

To anyone who disagrees with the argument that conservative economic policies are not a popular selling point in elections, I would simply ask: why have conservative politicians time and time again focused on divisive cultural rhetoric instead of promoting their “growth-oriented” economic plans?

Furthermore, exit polls indicated that the most important issue to Virginian voters was healthcare. Approximately 37 percent of the voters stated that healthcare was the issue that most determined their vote, and 78 percent of those people voted for Northam.

This evidence points to the obvious fact that taking away healthcare from constituents would not be an effective campaign strategy. These holes in conservative policy can be covered up during campaigns, which are designed to appeal to fears and emotion, but they are glaringly obvious when it is time for policies to be passed and bills to be signed. Luckily, a substantial number of voters in Virginia were able to anticipate this and voted accordingly.

In short, the recent examples of Republican campaigns have shown one huge thing to be true.

Being transparent about their economic and healthcare plans does not produce enthusiasm that leads to victories in the same way that targeting liberal protests and using explosively racist rhetoric does. Although Gillespie did not win in Virginia, his campaign tactics helped to keep him relatively close in a race that should have favored Northam substantially.

While spawning fear about immigrants, Muslims and other forms of identity politics was above the moral compass of former Republican candidates like Mitt Romney and John McCain, they did not win.

Historical trends indicate that politics is a game of imitation, so one can only hope that the defeats of Gillespie and Guadagno discourage these tactics from being implemented by Republicans in 2018. However, in the likely scenario that these trends persist, it is important for voters and Democratic nominees to focus on the issues that most greatly affect them.

Jake is a junior majoring in economics and history with a certificate in environmental studies. What are your thoughts on the recent elections? Please send any and all of your questions, comments and concerns to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

un control doesn’t work!” Except for in Australia, Scotland and Japan…

The recent shootings we have experienced show that gun violence is a uniquely American problem and it’s time to stop pretending that consistent mass shootings are “unavoidable.” By extension, it’s time to recognize that we need stricter gun control.

There are too many weapons in the wrong hands. How many more people need to be killed by guns for us to wake up and realize that we aren’t in the 1780s anymore? Guns have changed significantly over the past few centuries and our gun laws should too. The rest of the world understands this, so why can’t us Americans get it through our heads? There is an unhealthy obsession with guns and violence in American culture. It overrides our will to enhance safety. In light of recent events, however, it is more important than ever to seriously reconsider our current gun laws, which are filled with loopholes and ineffective background checks.

Unfortunately, a number of Republican lawmakers have stated that the recent shootings with horrifying death counts shouldn’t be politicized out of so-called respect for the victims. However, not to politicize these incidents would be an insult to the memories of those lost. Their lives could have been saved if the shooter was prevented from obtaining a gun in the first place. After the Las Vegas shooting, the response was “we know that current gun laws placed a semi-automatic weapon and a bump stock in the wrong hands, but the right to own a gun is more important.” Bill O’Reilly even called the shooting, in which over fifty people were killed, “the price of freedom.” It’s disgusting. What kind of a person thinks that their right to purchase a deadly weapon is more important than saving the lives of fellow citizens?

Furthermore, after the Texas shooting, the response, or excuse, rather, was that the

shooter had a rough childhood and possibly a mental illness.

This is exactly why we need better background checks.

Instead of using mental illness as an excuse for a shooting, we need to address why a mentally ill person had access to a gun. What’s even worse is that President Trump has introduced ideas to provide those with mental illnesses more access to weapons.

Following these devastating instances, many conservatives have only offered “thoughts and prayers” rather than actual efforts to try and prevent more shootings. They are avoiding the dilemma. Many, but not all, Republicans are utilizing the grief of families who have lost loved ones for their own gain.

They are making excuses so their political agendas won’t be compromised. The fact is that stricter gun laws work and gun regulations implemented in nations such as Australia are proof. But, Trump and his supporters would rather innocent people keep dying than admit it.

Congress needs to start doing its job. “Thoughts and prayers” aren’t going to fix the problem, but passing legislation will. There are a few changes that need to be made. A ban on bump stocks along with much stricter background checks on those wanting to purchase guns are necessities. Additionally, it is time to end the gun show loophole for good. Why do we need all of this? Because mass shootings happen when guns are put in the wrong hands. A common pro-gun notion is that “guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” Well, of course. We need to have stricter background checks on people, not guns. We need to close loopholes for people to get guns without regulation. It is all about people. It’s about determining if a person should be able to have a gun or not — and that’s done through implementation of stricter background checks and closing loopholes. Haven’t enough people died for us to realize that there are too many guns in the hands of killers?

Ashley is a freshman intending on majoring in journalism.

Send any and all questions to opinion@dailycardinal.com.

JON YOON/CARDINAL FILE PHOTO

Mass shootings frequently occuring is a uniquely American issue.

sports

8 • Weekend, November 9-12, 2017

dailycardinal.com

l

Volleyball

BRANDON MOE/THE DAILY CARDINAL

After the graduation of Lauren Carlini and Haleigh Nelson, Sydney Hilley and Dana Rettke have looked like the next duo that will guide the Badgers going forward.

Fresh aces: Hilley, Rettke paving path for Badgers’ prosperous future

By David Gwidt THE DAILY CARDINAL

When setter Sydney Hilley and middle blocker Dana Rettke were first brought together for a campus visit in 2014, they didn’t interact much with each other.

Sophomores in high school at the time of their trip to Madison, the two prospects were invited to attend the Big Ten Championship match at the Field House, meeting one another while watching the Badgers take on the Purdue Boilermakers from the bleachers.

Aside from a brief introduction and a few other idle exchanges, both players mostly kept to themselves, unsure of exactly what to say to each other.

“I take a lot of pride in inspiring other people and making them happy, so if other people can get joy out of watching me, that’s great.”

Dana Rettke freshman hitter

By time they arrived at Wisconsin as students last January, the two freshman, who had seemed so reserved in

that first meeting, became fast friends. Electing to graduate a semester early from high school to get a headstart on their volleyball careers, Hilley, Rettke and Mariah Whalen made the move to Madison without even the faintest idea of what to expect.

This precarious period drew the three freshmen closer together, as they all learned to lean on one another for help navigating uncharted territory.

“Having Dana and Mariah here — it was everything,” Hilley said of her experience last spring. “We always joked that we were like eighth graders trying to be in high school. They knew exactly what I was going through and we could work through stuff together. I don’t know what I would’ve done if it was just me.”

Early enrollment also gave the young Badgers an opportunity to find themselves in the college ranks. When Hilley and Rettke took the floor for the first time in practice, it was obvious that there was much work to be done. They had trouble finding the proper timing and tempo, and Hilley had to refine her set to cater to Rettke’s 6’8’’ frame.

“It was a completely new system for both of us and a way faster set for me,” Hilley said.

Rettke and Hilley By the Numbers: Rettke’s match-highs:

Hilley’s match-highs:

-Kills: 22 at Minnesota -Attacks: 34 vs. Michigan State -Blocks: 9 vs. Maryland -Points: 24.5 at Minnesota -Service aces: 5 vs. Michigan -Digs: 4 vs. Louisville

-Assists: 56 vs. Minnesota -Digs: 14 vs. Michigan State -Points: 7.5 vs. Minnesota -Kills: 5 vs. Marquette -Attacks: 14 at Nebraska -Double-doubles: 7

“For Dana, she had never run anything that fast, so her footwork needed to get better, and my consistency needed to get better. Either one of us would be off one time, or we both would be off.”

But things started to turn the corner once the regular season rolled around. After a full semester’s worth of practice, the connection between Hilley and Rettke finally began to manifest itself on the floor.

In the Big Ten/ACC Challenge to open the season, Rettke exploded with 30 kills as Hilley piled up 79 assists, culminating in a fantastic first impression.

After that initial outburst, the nascent freshmen have become the prevailing narrative surrounding No. 10 Wisconsin (7-7 Big Ten, 17-7 overall) in 2017.

Among a long list of impressive feats, Rettke’s current hitting percentage of .434 would go down as the highest mark ever achieved by a freshman and also would set a new school record.

Hilley, for her part, has collected an average of 11.63 assists per set, ranking as the second most ever recorded by a freshman at Wisconsin, surpassing even the likes of her legendary predecessor Lauren Carlini.

The fluidity of Rettke’s game makes her an anomaly given her size. Despite standing at near seven feet tall, the Illinois native effortlessly runs the floor, nimble enough to bound around the court at will, seemingly unperturbed by the usual constraints felt by athletes of similar stature. This uncanny ability allows her physical gifts to be harnessed in many different ways.

“Dana has really become more versatile on offense,” said Wisconsin assistant coach Gary White. “She can hit a variety of shots. She can hit down the line, she can tip over the block, she can throw over the corner.

She can dictate what the defense does because she can attack you from different points.”

Rettke credits her rare athleticism to participation in a wide range of sports, a long list that includes soccer, horseback riding, dancing, swimming and basketball.

“I was very versatile in the sports I played when I was younger,” Rettke said. “I did it all, and I think the skills I developed in those sports definitely carry over to volleyball.”

The distributing end of that connection, Hilley, is more cerebral, capable of mastering the nuances of the game and reading the defense. A capable setter has to be cognizant of not only herself but the people around her, as directing an offense requires intimate knowledge of how each particular player operates.

“You’re learning a whole new system, but you’re also learning how everyone likes to be set,” Hilley said. “You’re giving everyone the same ball and you realize, ‘hey, Gilly [Lauryn Gillis] likes it higher and loopier and Molly [Haggerty] likes it flatter and faster.’ You need to know how each hitter is going to be most successful hitting. You need to know as much as you can about everybody and then make adjustments. That’s something Dana and I have been great with.”

Melding individual talent together necessitates constant

communication. On that front, Rettke believes their friendship has played an instrumental role.

“I think what really helps is that we’re best friends off the court,” Rettke said. “We just know how to communicate with each other and know how each one of us works. That builds trust on the court.”

“You need to know as much as you can about everybody and then make adjustments.

That’s something Dana and I have been great with. ” Sydney Hilley freshman setter

“When she gives me a call, we look each other in the eye, and I know that she’s gonna put all of her effort into getting the best setup for me, and I’m gonna do the same on the other end.”

The duo has impressed so much that some have already drawn comparisons to a former great setter-middle blocker combination — Lauren Carlini and Haleigh Nelson. Rettke seemed taken aback by the implication that she could be a future household name, honored to be held in that high of regard.

“Wow, that’s crazy, right? I take a lot of pride in inspiring other people and making them happy, so if other people can get joy out of watching me, that’s awesome,” Rettke said. “I take so much pride in this school and this program, so that’s really humbling to me.”