UWM Post 3-7-2011

inside News | page 2 Professor Christopher Willey uses cosmos as inspiration

The Student-Run Independent Newspaper at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

Monday, March 7, 2011

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Volume 55 | Issue 22

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Panthers advance to title game Hill, Williams pace Milwaukee to win over Valpo

By Jeremy Lubus Sports Editor sports@uwmpost.com

After the UW-Milwaukee men’s basketball team clinched a share of the Horizon League title and the right to host the conference tournament, head coach Rob Jeter gave an emphatic “Yes Sir” when leaving the locker room.

A week later, he saw the same “Yes Sir” on the back of every student’s gold T-shirt.

The Panthers controlled their Saturday night semifinal game against Valparaiso and junior Kaylon Williams hit back-to-back three pointers to help edge the Crusaders 70-63, punching their ticket to the title game against Butler Tuesday night.

“Yes, sir, we’re playing on Tuesday,” said Jeter. “To think about where we’ve come from and how we’ve arrived to this point is amazing. The guys have really committed to

An open letter to Ted Thompson

fringe | page 7 Oscars vs. Independent Spirit Awards New Pokemon games hit shelves soon

Ryan Allen soars to the basket Saturday night. The Panthers play Butler Tuesday for a berth in the NCAA Tourney. Post photo by Alison Korth

New voter laws Annual rally is fueled by Walker draw Dems to Union Day for education rights intersects with state protests

By Steve Garrison Staff Writer news@uwmpost.com

If protesters gathering across Wisconsin are simply “college students having a fun party,” as Republican State Sen. Glenn Grothman suggested on MSNBC’s “Last Word” on Tuesday, then UWMilwaukee certainly threw a party Wednesday afternoon.

The second protest in as many weeks, the noon walk-out was an effort coordinated by several Wisconsin labor and student organizations, including Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal employees (AFSCME), and the Milwaukee Graduate Assistants Association (MGAA).

The event was part of the annual “All Out For Education

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Rights!,” a nationwide campaign organized by the SDS, with over 20 chapters, from the University of California to the University of Minnesota, demonstrating “for a university that is for everyone,” according to the SDS website.

The rally culminated in a speech by Interim Chancellor Michael Lovell, calling upon students to become involved in oncampus discussions about the 2011-2013 budget proposals.

The event took on special significance this year because of the ongoing protests against Governor Scott Walker’s budget proposals, and several SDS chapters showed solidarity with Wisconsin in their individual protests.

In his 2011-2013 budget proposals, Walker included cutting UW System funding by about

See RIGHTS page 5

Sports | page 6 Womens basketball loses at Wright State

each other and it is great to see The Cell rocking and the fans and the city excited.”

Holding on to a slim lead through much of the second half, Crusaders guard Brandon Wood hit a three pointer over Williams to cut the deficit to only two at 4947 with 12:29 left to play. As the case has been all year, the Panthers had an answer.

Saturday night was William’s night to answer.

He dribbled to his right then crossed over while launching a three pointer that was good.

Wood was looking to answer but junior Tony Meier picked off a bad pass and passed ahead to Williams, who was looking for more. The junior college transfer didn’t hesitate when he drained another three pointer to give Milwaukee an eight point lead. Williams finished with 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

See PANTHERS page 2

Behind the scenes of UWM’s S.A.F.E. program

Editorial | page 15 PRELLWITZ: Giving your car its ultimate gas mileage BORNHOFT: Catholic voting trends

Milwaukee politicians hold public forum

By Zach Brooke Staff Writer news@uwmpost.com

Amidst the furor created by the state’s controversial budget showdown, the advance of the Voter Identification Act in the legislature has flown under the radar.

The Voter ID Act has completed the amendment process in the state Senate and is expected to pass through the chamber upon the return of the 14 missing Senate Democrats.

Aimed at preventing voter fraud, the act requires voters to present identification before Election Day or before casting an absentee ballot. On Monday Feb. 28, several state and local officials spoke in the UWMilwaukee’s Union Ballroom about the bill’s potential impact on voter registration and election outcomes in Wisconsin.

“I want everyone in this room to know that I as mayor

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… take election fraud very seriously,” said Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett. “We will do everything we can to make sure that this city has the fairest elections possible. It’s a commitment that I believe in to my core, but I also feel passionately that if a person has a right to vote, we should not be creating barriers.”

The meeting also included live video from two of the state’s absentee lawmakers. Speaking to an audience of roughly four dozen attendees and reporters via Google chat, State Senator Lena Taylor questioned the legality of requiring people to spend money on identification in order to vote.

“Why put a poll tax in place that requires people to spent $28 that requires people to have an ID to be able to vote?” Taylor said.

Senator Chris Larson, the other state legislator to address the audience via video chat, struck a somewhat more concil-

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iatory tone, saying, “Although I oppose this legislation, there are changes that could make it tenable, including making sure people are not restricted access, that we don’t get rid of sameday voter registration, to make sure that students can still use their student IDs, [and] basically making this as least restrictive as possible.”

Though the town hall meeting was ostensibly non-partisan, the affair took on a significant leftward lean, as all the speakers were members of a Democratic party and all stood in opposition to the proposed legislation. Yet the bill does enjoy a considerable support from state officials as well as a wide swath of the electorate.

Kate Edwards, the Chair of the College Republicans at UWM, is among the bill’s supporters.

“You need an ID on you to drive a car, to purchase alcohol

See FORUM page 5

sports.uwmpost.com

2 March 7, 2011

The UWM Post

News Briefs

Editor in Chief Kurt Raether

Editorial Editor Jackie Dreyer

Business Manager Simon Bouwman

Managing Editor Lindsey Millard

Production Editor Josh Evert

Advertising Manager Stephanie Fisher

News Editors Mike La Count

Multimedia Editor Sierra Riesberg

Advertising Designer Josh Evert

Zach Erdmann

Puzzle Editor Jonas Wittke

Distribution Patrick Quast

Copy Editors Sarah Hanneken

Alek Shumaker

Special Projects Editor Jonathan Anderson Fringe Editor Dustin Zarnikow Asst. Fringe Editors Steven Franz Patrice Vnük

Caitlin PenzeyMoog

Board of Directors Kurt Raether

Derek De Vinney

Simon Bouwman

Web Editor Kody Schafer

Zach Erdmann Dustin Zarnikow

Sports Editor Jeremy Lubus

Phone: (414) 229-4578 Fax: (414) 229-4579 post@uwmpost.com www.uwmpost.com

Josh Evert

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The first copy is free, additional copies $.75 each. The UWM Post, Inc. is a registered student organization at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and an independent nonstock corporation. All submissions become the property of The UWM Post, Inc. The UWM Post is published Mondays in the fall and spring semesters, except during spring break and exam periods. The UWM Post also publishes once in late summer.

The UWM Post is written and edited by students of the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and they are solely responsible for its editorial policy and content. The University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee is not liable for debts incurred by the publisher. The UWM Post is not an official publication of UWM.

The First Amendment Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Saudi Arabia bans protesting

Capitol damage costs challenged

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has placed a ban on protesting in hopes of keeping the unrest sweeping through the Middle East out of his country. A statement from the Saudi Interior Ministry said the prohibitions on marches, sitins, and other forms of demonstrations are in effect because they contradict Sharia law.

Abdullah’s decree came in response to protests in the Eastern Province, near much of the country’s oil supply, that demand prisoners who have been held without trial be released.

Abdullah also unveiled $37 billion in benefits for his citizens which includes funds for housing, education, social security and a 15 percent pay raise for state employees.

Housekeeping issues have arisen in Madison, as some are becoming concerned about the damage to the Wisconsin Capitol created by weeks of protestors. Last Thursday Cari Anne Renlund, chief legal counsel for the Department of Administration, claimed $7.5 million would be needed to have specialists clean up. The number quoted $6 million for damage inside the building, $1 million for the outside and $500,000 in miscellaneous costs. The topic first arose in the controversial court cases last week where state officials were arguing to restrict public access to the Capitol. Most notably the damage being cited is from tape residue left on marble from protestors signs. Jeff Plale, state facilities administrator, said he believes that may be a worst-case scenario, and any number given before an inspection would be a guess. Depending on the nature of the damage the Administration Department said it could be done for $347,500.

One stroke over the line The administration at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill. is investigating an on-campus live sex performance. Following his class on popular human sexuality, Psychology Professor J. Michael Bailey, organizes events for his students to attend. He claims the events are educational and interesting in non-traditional ways. Students are warned of their explicit nature beforehand and attendance is not required. The performance that raised controversy involved a man using a sex toy on a naked woman in front of more than 100 students.

Bailey stated that it was too soon to determine if he has any regrets; however, student feedback has been “uniformly positive.”

Events

is a member of:

Christopher Carroll of Manteca, Calif. is being charged with attempted murder and domestic violence after driving with his wife on the hood of their minivan for over 40 miles.

According to police, the methamphetamineriddled man reached speeds of over 100 mph.

Carroll’s wife apparently got on the hood of the van outside their home in an unsuccessful attempt to keep him from driving away. She rolled off the hood after her husband slowed down in Pleasanton, Calif., a little over 40 miles west of their home. Carroll was arrested back at the couple’s home.

Wednesday, March 9

Friday, March 10

At 7:30 p.m., Peck School of the Arts will begin their production of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. Tickets are $10 for students.

Lyrical Sanctuary will present Lotus Divine, author of Pregnant with Truth. Come by the Union Fireside Lounge from 8 until 10 p.m. to take a listen, or bring your own material and partake in the open mic.

The Jewish Student Services will be having a special Shabbat dinner at Hillel (3053 N. Stowell Ave.). The cost is $2 for students and $6 for alumni. Payments must be received in advance. For information, call (414) 961-2010.

Police Reports The UWM Post

California Love

Sunday, March 13 The UWM Adventure Center will be cleaning up the campus to celebrate the melting snow from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sign up by March 9 by calling (414) 229-5513. Lunch will be included and prizes will be awarded.

Feb. 28 at 3:15 p.m. there was a report of students throwing snowballs at students from the third floor deck at the Union. When officers arrived the students were gone but there were scoops in the snow and footprints leading away.

March 3 in the Fine Arts Theater at 12:24 p.m. a “peaceful” protestor requested police assistance with two to three individuals who entered the building and began destroying protest signs. The individuals described themselves as anarchists.

March 1 at 9:35 a.m. a UWM Physical Plant Services Employee was changing the ceiling tiles in the ninth floor men’s bathroom and a woman’s wallet fell out of the ceiling.

March 4 at 10:57 a.m. in the Northwest Quadrant parking garage a parking and transit employee reported that a fire extinguisher was emptied in the parking garage and thrown off the top level.

Shameless self promotion. uwmpost.com

At 6:36 p.m. graffiti was found in the parking garage and beer was left in the lower level stairway.

PANTHERS Continued from page 1

“I feel like when it’s a clutch situation, we have a lot of guys we can go to,” said Williams.

“We’ve proven it all year. Tony Meier proved it at Cleveland State, Tone Boyle proves it all the time, and obviously Anthony Hill. I know that I can do it, that I’m not just a passer, and tonight was my night.”

In front of a packed U.S. Cellular Arena of close to 8,000 fans, Milwaukee (19-12) got the Crusaders’ front line in foul trouble early, especially senior Cory Johnson.

The 6-foot-7-inch big man finished with 14 points and seven rebounds, but was in constant foul trouble throughout and could only watch from the bench for the fi nal four minutes of the game after fouling out.

Even more critical was the Panthers job shutting down Valpo sophomore Ryan

Broekhoff. The Australian native was frustrated all night by the Panthers defense, making just one shot from the field and finishing with two points. He missed all five attempts from three-point range and coming in Broekhoff averaged 10.4 points per game.

“Valpo is a tough team. You saw it all year the way they battled back,” said Jeter.

“Brandon Wood is a special player and Cory Johnson makes it difficult. But, I really thought our work on Broekhoff tonight was probably the difference because he is a player that can really fill up the stat sheet.”

Defensively the Panthers were top notch but senior Anthony Hill staying out of foul trouble might have been the difference for Milwaukee. The 6-foot-7-inch bruiser made his presence felt early and often. Hill poured in a double-double with a team-high 24 points, while hauling down 11 rebounds.

With his performance tonight, Hill surpassed the 1,000-point mark.

March 7, 2011 3

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Slam, dunked Genesis Renji sweeps the Poetry Slam Competition at UWM

“If there’s something strange, in your neighborhood…”

The Post illuminates the UWM SAFE Walker program

By Kevin Kaber Staff Writer news@uwmpost.com

In 2010 Milwaukee was home to one of 76 teams competing in the National Poetry Slam Competition. Post photo by Sierra Riesberg

By Aaron Knapp Special to the Post news@uwmpost.com

Elijah Furquan had a confident and steady stride as he made his way to the stage for the first time Friday evening, but he seemed like a typical, unassuming college freshman.

That changed when he began his first poem.

In “Childhood Games,” Furquan detailed the lifelong issues that can develop from girls playing dress up and boys playing cops and robbers, and suggested that we might solve some critical social issues if parents paid more attention to their children.

“History repeats itself, and playtime is the best time to tutor and expect progress,” he concluded.

This and his other poem, “For Superman,” both earned perfect scores from a panel of five judges – the only perfect scores of the night – making him the champion of the 2011 Region 8 Poetry Slam Competition and earning him a $300 scholarship to compete in this year’s College Union Poetry Slam Invitational.

“I’m exhilarated,” said Furquan afterwards. “I seem composed, because I’m kind of used to performing things.”

Furquan was one of seven poets to compete, each of whom recited two poems on topics ranging from the thoughts of one man who has learned that he has conceived a child with a woman he does not love, to a three minute riddle about butter.

The poems were rated on a scale of one-10 by a panel of five judges who were randomly selected from the audience, even though they rarely awarded anything less than a seven. The few fives awarded were met with a stern look by MC Dasha Kelly, who encouraged the audience to cheer loudly for the poets and ‘boo’ the judges who gave out few points.

“The more energy you give the poets, the more of them-

selves they give back,” said Kelly to the audience.

For UW-Milwaukee junior Marley Flueger, who tied for second place, it’s not always easy to recite poetry about some of her most vulnerable moments in front of a large crowd.

“The things I feel the most personal about are the ones that I can say the most intense things about,” she said. “So, I guess it’s kind of a double edged sword.”

In her first poem, Flueger guided the audience through a breakup during which she swung back and forth between heartache, anger and bitterness.

“We could have been divine if only we had reached a little further the first time,” she lamented.

Furquan, or Genesis Renji as he goes by on stage, has no trouble with sharing his emotions with an audience.

“It wasn’t hard,” he said. “I just wanted to make sure that I got it out right.”

This is Furquan’s first semester at UWM, after spending his first semester out of high school at Lyon College in Arkansas. He is majoring in art.

He started writing raps at the age of 12, then poems soon after, and has been performing since he was 13. Since then, he has developed two types of poems: those with which he can express his emotions and those with which he can be creative.

“Do something that’s never been done before, or do it better than it’s been done before,” he said, referring to the standard to which he holds his creative work.

This competition settled who would champion be of region 8, which in includes Wisconsin, Upper Michigan and the Chicago area. Furquan’s victory earned him a $300 scholarship towards competing in a national competition, the College Union Poetry Slam Invitational, in Ann Arbor, Mich., April 6 through 9.

You may have seen them out at night. They may have asked you how your night has been going. They may even have escorted you to your destination of the evening.

These guardians of the late night are no other than the UWMilwaukee Safety Awareness for Everyone (SAFE) Walkers, a group of individuals employed and trained by the UWM Police Department to patrol the areas around campus at night.

“A lot of people ask, ‘Are they police?’” says UWM Police Department Chief Michael Marzion. “No, they’re not law enforcement. All they do basically is observe and report criminal and suspicious activity.”

Sergeant Craig Rafferty has been in charge of the SAFE Walker program since October. As the new SAFE sergeant, Rafferty’s main goal has been to portray the SAFE Walkers in a new light after reviewing student surveys of the program.

“We get mixed reviews, but the majority of it is generally positive,” he said.

Some issues that have been raised in these surveys concern questions like: What do they do?

What authority do they have? And who is funding the program?

“The actual organizational goal is to provide an effective community service,” said Rafferty.

The SAFE Walkers patrol five different zones near the UWM

campus. Four of the five zones are within Oakland Avenue to the west, Edgewood Avenue to the north, Hackett Avenue to the east, and Locust Street to the south.

The fifth zone is located near the Cambridge and RiverView residence halls.

Within those zones, the SAFE Walkers observe criminal and suspicious behavior such as noise nuisances (including house parties), intoxicated individuals, and break-ins and report them to the proper authorities. They also provide safe escort services to areas within as well as outside the patrol zones.

Each night sees a different number of walkers on duty. There are about five on patrol Sundays through Wednesdays, and up to 15 on Thursdays through Saturdays.

The walkers themselves are typically college-aged, although some can be older, non-student workers. Most of the Walkers are interested in criminal justice.

The cost of training and equipping each individual SAFE walker comes to about $1,000 plus an $8.50 hourly wage; however, these costs are not derived from student fees. The SAFE Walker program is entirely funded through the UWM Police Department, which is funded by the State of Wisconsin.

“It’s all state-funded,” explained Marzion. “We’re funded through the State of Wisconsin, through the Board of Regents, through the chancellor, through the vice chancellor, then to us. But there are no student funds used up in this.”

Kyle Boehm, a SAFE walker and criminal justice student at UWM, joined the force to “get [his] foot in the door and gain some good experience.”

During the last week of February, Boehm and another SAFE walker witnessed a break-in at Knucklehead’s.

“I saw them take a few hookahs out of the store. I called it in right away and our UWM police were quick to apprehend the individuals.”

While the SAFE program offers walking escorts, they also work hand-in-hand with the driving escort service, B.O.S.S. “We actually have a channel designated from B.O.S.S directly to our dispatcher,” said Rafferty.

That line is used for B.O.S.S. drivers to report suspicious activities to the UWM Police, though they won’t report any houses that are a hotspot for pick-ups and drop-offs on a particular night.

“If they’re getting dropped off at house party, they’re going to a house party. B.O.S.S. is not coming back and informing us,” Rafferty explained.

Though it may seem to some that SAFE walkers are an ominous presence, out on the prowl searching and questioning young students, the UWM Police Dept. is confident and satisfied that the SAFE walker program has provided nothing but the best service to the community and students alike.

“I think it’s a very effective program, and I think it has contributed to a decrease in crime in the area,” Marzion said.

4 March 7, 2011

The UWM Post

Alluding the cosmos A profile on Professor Christopher Willey

Images courtesy of Christopher Willey

By Erin Nelson Staff Writer news@uwmpost.com

AN GO E R SW I AN OY S S O CO L AV E RE RO AT C X I T OM S NE

S HE E P OL K I N F E CK Y BE HA L H I OA UM B I R AN ROBE AM H EWA L AC E D I T E D

N E T S G O N A D S

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P A R

This week’s Goduku solution

T T O AP R UN U T O S T S AC I S H AT E T BRA AS K G E E T L O

This week’s In-Word solution

This week’s crossword solution C L AD H I F I I C E S N EWB A AGAR R I M BR I T OL DH R I S E S E T S S PR I OR AT T OW E

Puzzle solutions

Try your hand at this week’s puzzles, turn to page 19

This week’s Sudoku solution

In his fourth semester at UW-Milwaukee, Professor Christopher Willey is beginning to find his home as a 2D Designs professor for the Peck School of the Arts (PSOA).

As an artist, Willey takes his inspiration from the cosmos and uses that influence to help students along their own artistic paths.

Even from an early age, Willey’s artistic talents have been apparent. He remembers his kindergarten teacher telling him he would one day be an artist, saying that he had a strong eye for detail. He drew every pea on his plate when students were to draw their Thanksgiving meals.

The moment he said he knew art was his path was at his first pre-college Figure Drawing class he took at the Art Institute of Chicago. The professor running the class asked him if he was sure he’d never done this before, because his drawing was “beautiful.”

After touring several art schools around the country, Willey, a Kansas native, chose to study at the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design (MIAD) and graduated with a degree in Drawing. During his four years there, he spent two summers in Europe – one at the Studio Art Center International in Florence, Italy, and another at the Burren College of Art in Ireland.

After graduating with his Bachelor of Fine Arts, Willey chose to pursue graduate school and was recruited to the San Francisco Art Institute. There he studied the innovative focus of New Genre – a combination, as he puts it, of “all the artistic majors, with an emphasis on technology and performances.”

It was here that Willey found his artistic motivation: the cosmos, which he said influences many of his pieces. “Graduate school helps you discover not how to make, but why, as an artist, you create what you do,” said Willey.

Since graduating, Willey has been teaching at both MIAD and UWM. Here at PSOA he teaches 2D Design, which he has taught since his start. Willey is very enthusiastic about his classes, and said he “never thought he would like 2D as much” as he does.

With a refreshing approach to teaching, Willey starts all of his classes with an entire day of culture building, where students get to know one another, helping them create a comfort-

able atmosphere. Willey states that this process is necessary for a good creative environment, “creating a direct relationship from vulnerability to risk-taking, which leads ultimately to learning.”

His classroom processes first revolve around concepts and theories, and once they are understood, he believes students can begin to create expressive art and relate it to themselves, making projects real and not just an assignment.

He also takes a unique approach to structured learning because he always encourages cheating. He said it “always requires finding your own process, usually meaning more work overall and shows the student cares.” Willey also takes an entertaining approach to critiques, usually turning them into a game of some sort, which provides critical feedback while still always maintaining the vulnerable and comfortable classroom environment.

Willey is also active creating art outside of the classroom, both for galleries and the community. He is currently working on a solo exhibit, titled “Frontier,” which will be displayed at the Prairie Street Gallery in Rockford, Ill. in April.

This exhibit features paintings, illustrations, prints and mixed media designs that all allude to Willey’s overall artistic focus on the cosmos. He has other exhibits, both collectively and individually, with shows such as “Again, Again & Again” at the Mode Gallery in Davenport, Iowa and “Community” at the Northern Clay Center in Minneapolis, Minn.

Feeling that he’s found his home here in Milwaukee, Willey also strives to participate in and give back to our community as a whole. He recently finished collaborating on the “On and Off Capitol” project, one of IN:SITE’s Milwaukee-region endeavors. Five artists, including Willey, created large-scale pieces displayed along Capitol to capture the history and essence of our city and to “bring beauty back to this area.”

Willey said his teaching experience so far has given him “more clarity.” With each class, he said he works to adapt to the unique environment and constantly strives to challenge students to understand the concepts of art, the creative process, and finally why they create. Ultimately, Willey said his goal as a teacher is to help students along their artistic paths by “changing the way they see and experience.”

March 7, 2011 5

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Globetrotting librarian shares adventures and passion

By Zach Brooke Staff Writer news@uwmpost.com

While advances in communication technology have eroded the dictum “No talking in the library,” it’s unlikely the increased chatter means there’s more discussion about libraries themselves. For that the institutions must fi nd their own voice.

Peter Lor is one such advocate. Currently a visiting professor in the UW-Milwaukee School of Information Studies, you don’t need to read between the lines to realize that libraries leave him spellbound.

When the National Library of South Africa was created in 1999 Lor became the country’s first National Librarian. In 2005 he turned the page when he was appointed Secretary General of the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA), headquartered at The Hague in the Netherlands.

Founded in 1927, IFLA represents between 500,000 and 1 million library information workers worldwide and acts as the global voice of libraries.

According to Lor, IFLA “advocate[s] for the role of libraries in society. We advocate for freedom of expression. We advocate for equity of access to information and we advocate for inclusion.”

On Friday Feb 25, Lor spoke about his time at IFLA to an audience of around 60 in UWM’s American Geographical Society Library. Amid trays of tea and hors d’oeuvres, Lor described his experiences overseeing an international library science organization as well as the personal challenges that come with a crash

course in cosmopolitanism.

“Things are subtly different even within West European countries. When you go to France, of course, they’re unsubtly different,” said Lor. A Dutch citizen by birth who grew up in South Africa, Lor said his return to the Netherlands was closer to culture shock than to a homecoming.

“What I discovered was I was speaking 52-year-old Dutch. I had never been to school in Holland, and I have never been taught proper exaltations and those kinds of things,” he said.

But failure to foster crosscultural understanding played a big part in the departure of his predecessor.

“He was from Singapore,” Lor recalled. “A very nice guy, he was a friend, [but] he just didn’t fit into that Dutch set up at all, much less than I did.”

So Lor inherited an institution threatened by fissures in the organizational structure.

“The whole set up was very demoralized at that stage.

There was sort of a toxic residue left in the organization.

I said to myself these people decided before I came ‘Let’s put this guy in his place so he doesn’t get any fancy ideas.’”

Despite these initial obstacles, Lor and his co-workers were able to find common ground regarding IFLA’s stewardship, and together they soon drafted the organization’s most ambitious and overtly political document under Lor’s tenure, the so-called Alexandria Declaration.

“We said basically content and mediation are as important as information technology. It’s not necessary to invent new agencies to help disseminate new information. Such agencies already

exist and they are called libraries.”

The declaration was released shortly before the 2005 World Summit on the Information Society in Tunisia, where Lor saw firsthand the authoritarian regime that was toppled earlier this year.

“The police presence we saw was quite phenomenal.

Some of the routes between the convention center and the Niger Hotel which delegates stayed, there were policemen – plainclothes agents – standing every 20 yards or so. They lined the streets, and you could tell that they were plainclothes agents because they all wore ill-fitting suits of the same color and the same cut.”

Though his term as IFLA’s Secretary General has since ended, Lor remains as passionate as ever about the role of libraries in society, and is currently writing a book about their evolution and influence.

“The book is about international librarianship – not in the American sense of international,” which according to Lor, “refers to people from other countries, where I use the term international in terms of relationships between two or more countries.

I’m looking at a whole range of things. I’m looking at international comparisons of libraries.”

Comparisons such as, “The whole notion of a research library migrated from Germany to the United States, [and] on the other hand the notion of a free public library migrated from the United States to various countries in Europe. So those influences and the way innovations diff use through society are things that interest me.”

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$2.2 billion, essentially cutting it in half, as well as allowing UWMadison to withdraw from the system entirely.

Mike Gold, UWM student and SDS member, said, “I think [the budget bill] is a catastrophe for basic education,” Derek Counts, a UWM art history lecturer, says the bill is not just an assault on education at the university level, but for the K-12 system as well.

“Some system of self-sacrifice needs to be put in place, but it is unfair to defund the public sector to fund the private,” Counts said.

Chanting slogans, carrying signs, and banging on makeshift drums, the protesters gathered in Spaights Plaza before marching through the Union and taking to the streets, shutting down traffic surrounding the campus.

The disparate group of protesters included students, teachers, teaching assistants (TAs), municipal employees and community members.

After arriving again in Spaights Plaza, representatives delivered speeches against Walker’s “Trojan horse of corporate control,” as one organizer described it.

Brenda Cardenas, UWM lecturer and Milwaukee’s Poet Laureate, was acerbic as she spoke against the budget proposal’s attack on bargaining rights.

“Workers of Wisconsin unite!” she shouted out from the stage.

“We have nothing to lose but our governor!”

Following the speeches, pro-

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and cigarettes … It’s reasonable to expect that people would have an ID on them,” she said.

Questioning the tactics of the Senate Democrats, she added, “I think you need to be physically present at the Capitol on the floor to be voicing your opinion, and you have much of a better chance

testers were encouraged to continue the rally inside the Union Concourse, where Lovell addressed the crowd.

Lovell had previously contacted SDS requesting the opportunity to speak to the crowd about the impact Walker’s budget proposal would have on UWM. Lovell thanked the protesters for respectfully and peacefully representing the university, and encouraged students to attend the next all-campus budget forum on March 9.

“We welcome the governor’s commitment to give us greater flexibility; however, we don’t know what the impact of moving to a different governance system would be on our campus,” Lovell said in an e-mail to students.

Despite the heated discourse, the gathering was peaceful.

Protesters took advantage of the Alpha Kappa Psi food stand, serendipitously set up by the fraternity that afternoon to raise funds.

Aaron Levans has only been a member of SDS for a couple weeks, but was happy with the results of their work.

“It was a good surprise that this many people turned out,” Levans said. “We had a lot of people standing with us today.”

Levans was one of the speakers in Spaights Plaza; he said both of his parents have worked in the Milwaukee Public School system for 25 years, and Walker’s proposal was particularly destructive for his family.

Many students were disappointed, however, that the protest did not gather as many demonstrators as the previous rally.

of blocking it and making amendments then if you’re in a different state.”

Edwards went on to say, “I think it’s good legislation, so it doesn’t matter [when it passes].

The sooner the better.”

Changes to the bill may still be made when it’s taken up in the Assembly, but judging by the speed with which it’s advancing in the Senate, it will more likely be there sooner rather than later.

6 March 7, 2011

The UWM Post

Breaking down the best rotations Brewers move into top five

By Kris Gilson Staff Writer sports@uwmpost.com

You know when people say something is a good problem to have? The Brewers find themselves in that exact situation. New skipper Ron Roenicke hasn’t quite decided who will pitch on Opening Day against the Cincinnati Reds, but whoever he chooses will be the right pick.

Having two aces on your staff creates the problems that teams want to have.

The Brewers will head into the 2011 season with one of the strongest starting rotations in team history. GM Doug Melvin followed through on his word to acquire some quality arms in the offseason, and the acquisitions of Zack Greinke and Shaun Marcum have Brewers fans in an incredibly optimistic mood. But where does Milwaukee’s projected rotation stand in terms of other teams around the league? Here are the MLB’s top five rotations: 5. Oakland: Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, Gio Gonzalez, Dallas Braden and Rich Harden/ Brandon McCarthy.

Cahill, Anderson and Gonzalez might be the best young starting pitcher trio in the MLB. 2010 showed us the limitless potential for Gonzalez, while Cahill and Anderson continued their trek to

become among the game’s elite starters. Oh yeah, screwballer Braden threw a perfect game last year. GM Billy Beane is assembling a rotation that should be a force for years to come.

4. Milwaukee: Yovani Gallardo, Zack Greinke, Shaun Marcum, Randy Wolf and Chris Narveson.

Guess what, Brewer fans?

You’ve got a 60 percent chance to see one of Greinke, Gallardo, or Marcum start if you go see a game this season. Switching to the National League should only help Greinke and Marcum. Wolf rebounded in the second half to become the $30 million man the Brewers knew he could be. A lot of fans might be disappointed to see Narveson’s name there in the fifth spot, but the team could certainly do worse. Look for this staff to be among the game’s best in 2011.

3. Tampa Bay: David Price, James Shields, Wade Davis, Jeff Niemann and Jeremy Hellickson.

You know you’ve got a quality rotation when you can afford to trade away Matt Garza, a guy who threw a no-hitter in 2010, and that’s exactly what the Rays did. Price is a phenomenal lefty with a repertoire that is unhittable at times, while Shields and Niemann provide quality in the middle of the rotation. The Rays will rely heavily on young hurlers

Davis and Hellickson, but this is an organization that drafts and develops young pitching incredibly well – look for those two to have great years.

2.

San Francisco: Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, Jonathan Sanchez, Madison Bumgarner and Barry Zito.

Some may call it crazy to have a $126 million pitcher as your fifth starter, but that’s exactly what the Giants have. Zito isn’t the pitcher he once was, but he’ll provide some quality innings for the reigning World Series champs.

Lincecum and Cain are fireballers that no team wants to see in a three-game series, while Sanchez and Bumgarner are lefties with tremendous upside. Pitching in a pitcher-friendly ballpark helps this staff a great deal, but make no mistake about it – these guys are the reason San Francisco won the World Series.

1. Philadelphia: Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, Cole Hamels and Joe Blanton.

That’s right – Hamels is the fourth starter on this team. On any other staff, he’d be the number one or two option for sure, but this Phillies rotation is something special. Halladay is arguably the best pitcher in baseball, and one could argue that Lee, the Phillies’ new toy, is right behind him. Add in perennial winner Oswalt, and you’ve got potentially the best four starters for one team in baseball history.

Blanton is no slouch, either. The Phillies can’t keep all these guys together forever, so their time to win is right now, and with the MLB’s best pitching staff, they might bring the World Series title back to Philadelphia.

An open letter of apology to Ted Thompson

By Alex Wendland Special to the Post sports@uwmpost.com

Dear Ted, We’re sorry.

In 2005, you may have had the shortest honeymoon period of any NFL general manager. You stepped into an awful situation given to you by a man who was never made to handle both coaching and the GM position. The Packers went 4-12 and you ended the Mike Sherman era.

Anger ensued.

After Sherman, you hired the offensive coordinator of the San Francisco 49ers, Mike McCarthy, much to the ire of all of us. In the same offseason you signed a has-been, who didn’t even want to come to Green Bay, to a sevenyear contract. That has-been was Charles Woodson. Anger ensued.

The next season, Packers fans called for your job when you passed on the Randy Moss trade.

The calls were even louder when the Patriots got him for just a fourth-round pick. How did you respond, Ted? You traded for Ryan Grant and the Packers went to the NFC Championship, falling in overtime. The future looked bright.

Flash forward to March 2008.

Tears were shed, tractors were driven, Brett Favre retired. A new page was turned in Packer history, and for a while, there was shock in Packer Nation. We were ready to rally around our new Trinity: Aaron Rodgers, McCarthy and Thompson.

All was well until July, when Favre got football fever. Wisconsin immediately turned on you and wanted our old love back. You stayed the course, told us that Rodgers was our quarterback and McCarthy told us, “That train has left the station.” We again wished you’d left with that train; instead, our Brett went to the bright lights of New York. Anger ensued once more.

The Packers went 6-10; Brett went 9-7 in New York and missed the playoffs by this much.

Following a disappointing season, you traded into the end of the first round in the draft to take the third-best linebacker from USC, Clay Matthews, and you elected to not pursue Julius Peppers who wanted to be a part of the Packers new 3-4 scheme. Wisconsin didn’t know what to do with you.

The 2009 season looked better, but the Packers were the most penalized team in the NFL and the offensive line was just that: offensive. Your personnel decisions

were dubbed the downfall of the Packers, even though a trip to the playoffs had to be considered a success after a 6-10 season.

The situation was further exacerbated by our one true Brett.

He retired after his season with the Jets, then decided not to and convinced the Jets to release him. Brett stomped the Packers twice and then led the Vikings to the NFC Championship, ending his third-straight season with an interception. The damage was done, however, and we weren’t happy, Ted. The 2010 season, however, was a dream. The Packers fought through with 15 players on injured reserve. They never trailed by more than seven points. We beat Brett and the Vikings twice and Brett finished his fourth-straight season with an interception.

You led us to the promise land, Ted. You’re now etched in Packers history. You might even get a street named after you someday!

We know now that you’re just the strong, silent type and that you really do care about the history of our storied franchise.

Most importantly though, Ted, we’re sorry.

Truthfully yours, Wisconsin

Women fall at Wright State 31-5 run halts win streak

By Jeremy Lubus Sports Editor Sports@uwmpost.com

The UW-Milwaukee Panthers were riding high and had their sights on hosting a first round game of the Women’s Horizon League Tournament. However, Wright State had the same idea as well.

Wright State closed the first half with a crushing 31-5 run to create too big of a hole for Milwaukee to come back from, as they fell to the Raiders 8669 on Saturday afternoon at the Nutter Center. The loss sets up a rematch with Wright State this Wednesday in the first round of the conference tournament.

Panther’s freshman Angela Rodriguez drilled a three pointer and junior Jenilee Klomstad added a layup on their next possession to take a three point lead midway through the first half at 19-16. However, that would be the last time Milwaukee would have the lead, as turnovers and quick shots fueled Wright State’s 31-5 run to end the first half.

When it was all said and done Milwaukee looked up at a

23-point deficit that was insurmountable. After Klomstad’s layup, the Panthers made only one field goal, a three pointer

by Sami Tucker, in their next 16 possessions. Of those 16 possessions, five resulted in turnovers before Milwaukee could get a shot off. In all, the Panthers committed 14 turnovers leading to 19 points for the Raiders.

Milwaukee’s front court of freshman Courtney Lindfors and senior Lindsey Laur combined to make three shots from the field and totaling 12 points combined. Lindfors was forced to sit for much of the game in foul trouble, playing only 15 minutes.

Rodriguez had a team-high 19 points fueled by five three pointers. The Panthers tallied 11 three pointers in the contest but still only shot 33.3 percent from the field, compared to the Raiders who shot 50 percent.

Milwaukee (9-9, 12-17) was looking to become the fourth seed in the conference tournament and a win would have greatly helped their chances, but Wright State (11-7, 18-11) was in the same situation and now will host the meeting Wednesday.

Baseball suffers sweep from No. 16 Arkansas Team still getting into groove of season

By John Linn Staff Writer Sports@uwmpost.com

The UW-Milwaukee baseball team headed to Fayetteville Arkansas for a three-game weekend series against the nationally ranked Arkansas Razorbacks.

The weekend finished the way it started, with UWM taking a quick lead 1-0, but the lead would only last until the bottom of the first and the Panthers would never regain a lead as they fell 7-3.

Doug Dekoning led the team with three hits and Phil Striggow, Ryan Solberg and Tell Taylor added RBI’s. Chad Pierce pitched six and two-thirds innings for the Panthers and gave up five hits that led to five runs, four of them earned while striking out three.

Saturday the Panthers woke up a bit with leads of 4-0 and 8-5 in the second and fifth innings.

The Panthers tied the game at 9-9 in the fifth but Arkansas took over and added on as the game went on. Eventually

the Razorbacks took the game 13-9.

UWM (1-7) had 12 hits on the day. Jonathan Capasso has three hits and an RBI while Chad Pierce added another RBI for UWM. Dominic Ficociello led Arkansas with three hits and five RBIs. Jayme Sukowaty took the loss on two innings of work, giving up two hits and three runs, though only one was earned.

In their first meeting on Friday night, the Panthers and Razorbacks squared off at Baum Stadium in Arkansas. UWM fell behind and tried desperately to fight back in, moving to within one run of Arkansas 76 in the fifth inning, but a four run outburst in the sixth and eighth finished the Panthers off for good. UWM fell 15-6.

Doug Dekoning had five RBI’s with two homeruns on just two hits for the Panthers.

Eric Semmelhack took the loss after pitching two innings and giving up six runs on six hits.

UWM heads to the Jack Gifford Memorial tournament in California this week.

A no-b ullsh

it k i n

By Graham Marlowe Staff Writer fringe@uwm.edu

If you peeled the grit off of Texas songwriter Ryan Bingham’s first album, Mescalito (2007) – much like any early ’70s funk experiment – chances are you’d be able to start your car with it. And since Bingham comes from the land of Texas tea (the zenith of American oil refineries), the comparison is no longer far-fetched.

But even if greed usually wins out in the end, it’s safe to say that Hollywood won’t be sticking its dirty, greedy hands into the catalog of Ryan Bingham again anytime soon. His Grammystealing single “The Weary Kind” (from last year’s underdog smash Crazy Heart) was not played Saturday night during his scaledback show at The Rave Bar – but the recent commercialization of the song’s mythos was fairly predictable by music industry standards.

Bingham’s early life was characterized by cocaine-addled poverty and stands to explain his voice, which sounds as scarred as it did four years ago in Texas dive bars. And like Bingham and his Dead Horses showed us, people can learn a lot about pleasure and pain from the music. As he

insists, “[This] ain’t no place for the weary kind.”

With a mouthful of Dust Bowl truth (or was it Marlboro snus?), Bingham led roughly two hundred people down a long, winding road of sadness laced with hope. On Bingham’s records there is little, if any, resolution, and the songs themselves are desolate enough to make even the most hardened men run away from home.

Bingham is proud of all three of his records, and although the hipster floozies in attendance might not get it entirely, has become harder and harder to distinguish between recorded Bingham and the real one. What you see is what you get, and this guy truly makes music a cleansing experience again.

The barfly’s dollar-a-day tales are no longer on the periphery of the mainstream, and he used this to show his devotion to all of his records. With previously unknown pep, Bingham and his band brought out the inner hobo in all of us. Vintage Neil Young balladry (“Hard Rain,” “Strange Feelin’ in the Air”), woeful declarations in two parts

d of n

ight

(“Depression,” “Hallelujah”) and electric bluegrass breakdowns (“Tell My Mother I Miss Her So,” “Hobo”), resulted in the combination of Toys-era Aerosmith with the outlaw rock of Marshall Tucker Band at its least familiar.

All of this was capped off by tinny mandolin soloing that could have passed for nimble tack piano.

Despite all of his ramblin’, he also made room for rarity.

After playing Junky Star’s “The Poet” (a cruel tease to those who cried out for the evening’s missing artifact, “The Weary Kind”), Bingham slid comfortably into a Wisconsin-topical take on Woody Guthrie’s “This Land Is Your Land,” dedicating one substituted verse to those who are “[trying] to take our unions” before tackling Townes Van Zandt’s “White Freight Liner Blues.”

The real encore came with the roadside anthem, “Southside of Heaven,” his stop-you-in-yourtracks breakthrough single that brought lead guitarist Corby Schaub to frenetic heights as audience members swayed along in gospel-church redemption.

Towards the middle of the show the movie end-credit vibe began to wane, but when your audience reacts most dearly to your saddest songs, you know you’ve made a real connection.

Bingham covers too much ground to garner a label at this point, and when opener Liam Gerner joined him onstage for blues jamming in “Sunshine,” Bingham took pride in the onstage screw-ups, as Gerner covered his tracks with one muted Chuck Berry quotation after another before Bingham blew him away with his own self-reflexive slide work in “Bread & Water.”

Like most in attendance, it was difficult to predict that Bingham could be a fun live performer. For years his fans took comfort in knowing that his arid artistry would never break in to the mainstream. However, it appears Bingham has transcended the comfort that his solitude once provided. Just don’t be surprised if he brings gospel singers with next year.

fringe

8 March 7, 2011

The UWM Post

The Low Anthem Lucinda Williams’ guide With new album release, to counting your blessings

band continues to evade genre classification

Lucinda Williams is still running strong at age 58, releasing her 10th studio album Blessed.

Image courtesy of Lost Highway

By Timothy Sienko Staff Writer fringe@uwmpost.com

Image courtesy of Nonesuch Records

By Dustin Zarnikow fringe Editor fringe@uwmpost.com

The charmingly haunting sounds of The Low Anthem have returned with their fourth album, Smart Flesh, released on Nonesuch Records following last year’s popular selfproduced Oh My God Charlie Darwin.

The tunes that slowly pour out of their albums like a thick batter stand out as eerily upbeat. But oddly enough, the description seems to fit their work – Smart Flesh being no exception – and it almost seems fitting to give the vinyl a run against the needle without the speakers connected in order to experience the essence of the album’s sound.

The sounds of the album

sweep into your ears like a wallcloud bringing in the front of a slow-crawling storm over the hills. There are reasons behind the distinction of audio quality achieved on Smart Flesh’s sound: one of the largest being that the album was recorded in a vacant second-story pastasauce factory in Rhode Island.

While cold nights were surely spent in the decrepit redbrick building, hard work and passion helped produce warm vibes despite the often-somber lyrics that accompany them.

But when it comes to the composition of their sound, lyrics and all else, it becomes difficult to restrict The Low Anthem to specific genre definition. This was the case with Oh My God Charlie Darwin, and it is once

See SMART FLESH page 10

In a recent interview, Princeton professor Dr. Cornel West defined the blues as stemming from this question: “What will be your response to the catastrophic?”

West said Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan alongside B.B. King and Howlin’ Wolf found courage and love in the face of tragedy.

Lucinda Williams has always been a great cataloger of pain, but she fell into a period of fatalism and self-righteousness with her albums Essence, World Without Tears and West. These records were as shrill as they were sincere, but on 2008’s Little Honey, she started to show the courage and empathy that had made her a steel-skinned Blues woman in her early career. Now, with her 10th studio album, Williams is counting her blessings, even on the darkest nights.

Blessed opens with a sentiment as comfortable as a torn denim jacket to Williams’s fans, and it’s easy to miss the hand washing in the kiss-off in “Buttercup.” There is no redemp-

tion or forgiveness for the recipient of these lyrics, but unlike earlier songs in this juke joint mode, she lets him go, seeming to give up her vitriol and walk away.

“I Don’t Know How You’re Livin’” takes the next step toward empathy as Williams slides into her most vulnerable voice, admitting that she’s lost touch with someone close who “may not be willing / to open up the door” to her once-again extended hand.

But it’s after this that the album begins to fully shake hands with the blues.

On “Copenhagen,” she returns to one of her strengths as a lyricist, establishing a profound and meaningful place in a story where the narrator learns of the far-away death of a close friend. “Born to be Loved” is a smoldering ode to a world that, for all of its misfortune and injustice, still deserves our hearts.

Williams’ indignation returns on “Seeing Black” as she tries to reconcile herself to the suicide of a friend.

Through all of this, she still finds the courage to count her blessings on the title track. “We were blessed by the mother who gave up her child / We were

blessed by the soldier who gave up his life.” This simple and humble catalog of gifts from strangers is refreshing in a repertoire that seemed for so long to only exalt suffering to religious heights.

“Soldier’s Song” is perhaps the most accomplished track on Blessed. Williams has never before written a song from multiple perspectives, but she does so here with eloquence. She alternates between the physical hardships faced by a young soldier and the emotional trials of his wife, who is essentially a single mother while he’s away at war.

If Blessed is largely a quieter and more atmospheric album than her fans have come to expect, she sings with a deeper voice. That doesn’t mean she never lets loose. Elvis Costello brings some gnarly guitar riffs to compliment the brambles of “Seeing Black.” And the seething prayer of “Convince Me” is given a gospel-sized chorus complete with pulsing organs and towering vocal harmonies. Lucinda Williams has always been a blues woman, but she finally seems to recognize that her suffering should not be in vain.

fringe

uwmpost.com

The Independent Spirit Awards vs. the Academy Awards A changing landscape for independent cinema

By Steven Franz Asst. fringe Editor fringe@uwmpost.com

I guess it was a big deal when Melissa Leo dropped the F-bomb on “live” television during the 84th annual Academy Awards.

People in attendance seemed to make a big deal out of it, other presenters made reference to it, and Leo herself got a laugh out of it when she caught herself in the act.

One could spin the F-word (which was bleeped anyway since the broadcast was on delay, probably in reaction to the kerfuffle around U2 front man Bono’s unedited F-bomb during the 2003 Golden Globes) into a longwinded argument about the relevance of the edit to begin with – it’s not like it was a secret that Leo swore.

But the bleep functions much better as a launching point for comparisons between the Oscars and their smaller, hipper, tent-ier counterparts, the Film Independent Spirit Awards.

Because, oh boy, they cuss all the time at the Spirit Awards.

When the awards, which were founded in 1984, were first broadcast on the Independent Film Channel 10 years after their in-

The battle for stature and legitimacy continues between the titan and the underdog. ception, the concept of the broadcast was a looser, more permissive, less formal answer to the tight-knit Hollywood tradition of the Academy Awards.

Dress is casual, almost as a rule, and swearing and drinking are not only allowed but encouraged. This last characteristic of the ceremony has resulted in some particularly awkward moments, like when an obviously intoxicated Dustin Hoffman spun an observation that set decora-

tions resembled Stars of David into an uncomfortable joke-rant about Jews running Hollywood.

These awards in general are an anti-Oscars of sorts. They are not held in an auditorium, but in an ice-cold tent. They place no time limit on acceptance speeches, which can result in some tremendously long, rambling monologues. The traditional Oscars orchestra is replaced by indie rock, pumped in through speakers.

And, unlike the Academy Awards,

Running Out of Respect

ing in their new home. But they got through together and tried to get into college. Monica, who was living out of her car, lost it in the flood this past summer.

The members of Pathfinders and Q-Blok working directly with these five individuals are interviewed to detail the struggles of earning their trust. Having been abandoned by family and community, it is understandable that Josiah, Amber and the others would be skeptical of anyone offering a helping hand.

The great success of Out of Respect is its refusal to reduce the stories of its subjects to political or sentimental appeal. each situation speaks for itself, and the video gives each youth the ability to do the same for him- and herself. The crew gave each subject a camera to document their lives, resulting in many of the film’s most beautiful and human moments: making faces into the camera at the bus stop, staving off boredom; a stream-of-consciousness confession made to the camera because no one else is listening; in-the-moment details of yet another daily tragedy.

Although the feature ends with no conclusions to any of the stories (each of the subjects in just as precarious a situation as he or she was at the beginning), these young men and women were shown to have the tenacity to continue believing in themselves, even when few others do.

And though funding is short for the housing groups, those volunteers who do believe in Amber, Monica, Josiah, Josh, Jesse and all the others in their situation have that same tenacity and dedication. Without a victorious ending, Out of Respect seems to be a warning that despite the courage of its subjects, they may be running out of time.

Film depicts struggles of Milwaukee’s homeless LGBT youth

Image Courtesy of OutOfRespect.Evenbrite.com

By Timothy Sienko Staff Writer fringe@uwmpost.com

Nearly one quarter of Milwaukee’s homeless youth on any given night are LGBT-identified. This is a statistic as troubling as it is complex.

While there are community organizations that help homeless youth, not all are willing or prepared to confront the struggles specific to members of the queer

community. And those groups that are addressing this plight, including Pathfinders and Q-Blok, face the financial restrictions of any community-service group.

But what keeps these organizations engaged in the cause is the stories of the youth for whom they are fighting. Out of Respect: A Story of Five, a documentary by UW-Milwaukee journalism professor Tess Gallun and her students, follows five of these youth as they struggle in and out of housing, jobs and familial support. The feature-length video opened on Thursday, Feb. 24 at the Milwaukee Art Museum’s Lubar Auditorium.

U.S. Rep. Gwen Moore (D-Wis.) was in attendance and spoke briefly of her dedication to helping homeless youth, citing her own financial struggles as a young woman. “This is personal,” she told the audience.

And personal it is. Each of the video’s subjects – Amber, Monica, Josiah, Josh and Jesse – are united by a rejection from their immediate and extended families due to their personal identities. Although their struggles stem from this basic denial of human dignity, Gallun and her students carefully documented the daily courage and resilience each of the subjects displayed to overcome the great odds stacked against them.

Josh and Jesse, who have been together for a couple of years, spent time on the streets and hopping between short-term housing before facing the simple bad luck of cars breaking down and flood-

March 7, 2011 9

the Spirit Awards actually managed to be funny, thanks to host Joel McHale in particular.

McHale made special use of the permissible language in his opening skit, a hilarious bit in which vulgar camp master John Waters helped him free his arm from a 127 Hours-type boulder. It was a study in contrast to the predictably stiff, awkward clip riffs that Oscar hosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco came up with, the two of whom were incessantly catty and bored, respectively, for the duration of the show.

That’s not to say the Oscars weren’t funny at all – the upsettingly skeletal Kirk Douglas stole the show while he was onstage, and Randy Newman’s acceptance speech for Toy Story 3’s “We Belong Together” was as clever and funny as any of his 1970s material – but on the whole, the Spirit Awards successfully oneupped the massive void of humor that was the Academy Awards.

But while the overall presentation of the Spirit Awards was head-and-shoulders above that of the Oscars, a fact made all the more striking by how modernized the latter ceremony attempted to be, the actual point of the show, the films, is a little more muddled than at first glance. As much as the Spirit Awards were conceived to be a hipper event than the Academy Awards, their true purpose was to honor the films that the Academy overlooked in the shadow of the fledgling indie cinema scene of the 1980s.

The problem is that the Academy, while old and high-

strung and super-traditionalist, is no longer as closed-off to independent cinema as it once was. Although John Cassavetes Award-winner Daddy Longlegs is truly independent, having been made for less than $500,000, four of the five Best Feature nominees at the Spirit Awards were also nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars. The lone exception was Greenberg.

Danny Boyle and Darren Aronofsky were nominated in both Best Director categories.

James Franco, who was especially prominent at the Oscars, actually won the Best Actor Spirit Award he was nominated for during his hosting gig. And, most notably, Natalie Portman swept the Best Actress award, winning it at both ceremonies, which is totally notwithstanding the fact that Slumdog Millionaire, an independent film, won Best Picture just last year.

There are several often-ambiguous reasons for this. Film festivals are so prolific and accessible these days that most prestigious independent films are made readily available in major markets for a short period long before their wide release, which broadens the scope of their viewership and therefore makes them more notable. Precious, for example, was a huge hit at the Milwaukee International Film Festival (among others), which helped amp up its buzz in advance of the 2009-2010 award season.

Who buys or produces a

See INDEPENDENT page 14

fringe

10 March 7, 2011

The UWM Post

Patience brings virtue in Cedar Rapids Lippe has really never been outside of his metaphorical nest his whole life. For most of us, staying at an airport Holiday Inn would be a very bland experience; for Lippe, he may as well be in the penthouse at the Ballagio.

It is in this hotel that we meet Lippe’s soon to be partners in shenanigans: Ronald Wilkes (played by Isiah Whitlock Jr.), and Dean Ziegler (played by John C. Reilly). The two of them, along with their female companion Joan OstrowskiFox (played by Anne Heche), make it a mission to get Lippe to cut loose and live a little. It is only when they succeed in this mission that the comedy begins to start rolling in.

Cedar Rapids gained somewhat of a buzz since many of the characters in the fi lm are from actual places in Wisconsin. The humor is pretty middle-of-the-road since we have all seen Ed

By Casey Buchanan Staff Writer fringe@uwmpost.com

Ed Helms has always felt at home playing the awkward loser. Nobody can be sure why this role suits him so well.

Could it be the glasses?

Could it be the way he can go from having a calm demeanor one minute, and screaming like a five-year-old girl the next? Whatever the case may be, it should be said that he plays the loser character like a boss, and Cedar Rapids is no exception to this rule.

Cedar Rapids centers around the story of Tim Lippe (Helms) as he ventures out of his small Wisconsin hometown and into the bustling big city life of Cedar Rapids, Iowa for a convention that, excitingly enough, is about selling insurance.

Upon arrival in Cedar Rapids we truly realize that

Helms playing the nervous/ awkward character in films before and there are more sentimental moments than there should be for a movie that is meant to be off-thewall crazy humor.

The true bits of comedy gold come in the form of John C. Reilly’s character Ziegler.

He is your typical loud, obnoxious, drunk Wisconsin guy, who really couldn’t give a damn what other people think about him. His laugh out loud moments are saturated in a type of humor that almost seems as if he is giving a wink to the Wisconsin audiences in many of his drunken tirades.

Cedar Rapids is definitely worth seeing in the theater.

Don’t expect non-stop laughter coming at you a mile a minute; wait for the dialogue between Reilly and Helms and you will strike oil.

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Ed Helms letting loose from his normally reserved nerd-profile in Cedar Rapids. Image Courtesy of Collider.com

SMART FLESH Continued from page 8 again on Smart Flesh.

If you’ve ever seen them live (perhaps the last time they came through Milwaukee, opening for the Avett Brothers back in March 2010), you’ll know that their eclectic nature is present throughout their entire existence. They fill the stage with an assorted collection of old, sometimes antique instruments. Smart Flesh takes this identity, which was prominent on Oh My God Charlie Darwin, and runs with it.

You can hear the variation on tracks ranging from the distant echoing recollections in “Ghost Woman Blues” to the loud anthem of “Boeing 737,” from the subdued atonement “Burn” (complete with subtly rhythmatic banjo, eerie Theremin, and the sound of a roughed-up organ), to the country sounds of “Apothecary Love,” and from the beautifully overcast

clarinets of “Wire” (which reappear prominently again in “Golden Cattle”) to the footpump organ sounds of “Matter of Time.”

“By the time that your read this / I will have repented / I know I am a fool, for trying to play it cruel,” Ben Knox Miller softly proclaims in “Burn,” a suitable example of the often love-inspired ruminations that lace much of The Low Anthem’s work.

The album is not clean, it is not neat, and it is not polished.

It is, though, a gritty reflection of ghostly nights spent in the old building recording, remaining true to their labeldefying roots, and that reflection turns out to be a fantastic one, sprouted from a collective practice of bringing physicality back into music by hand-crafting an identity to keep the sounds alive and breathing. The understated slow-burn of the band’s craft has held fast and will keep fans pouring into their highly praised live shows, where so often less becomes more.

The Low Anthem recently released their latest album Smart Flesh, recorded in the massive empty second-floor of factory building which also served as their living space. Image Courtesy of The Low Anthem

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March 7, 2011 11

Street Style Fashion at the 2011 Oscars

By Patrice Vnük Asst. fringe Editor fringe@uwmpost.com

The snow is finally melting, it’s still light out as class is ending, and February is behind us. That means spring is here, right? Everyone can start dressing like the weather is warm, right? No. This is Wisconsin, and it’s

going to be cold for at least another month. Clearly, we need to have a refresher on what constitutes appropriate March attire. Just put the beachwear on hold a little while longer – your core body temperature will thank you. Take a bit of advice from these fellow students who are aware that there is still snow on the ground.

Francis Shoes, shirt: Goodwill in Wisconsin Suspenders: Goodwill in Arizona Jeans: Urban Outfitters What inspires your style? ’50s writers, like J.D. Salinger and Kurt Vonnegut.

Finding a style that you’d like to emulate is a good start if you aren’t sure how to dress. Classic icons like writers and artists are a foolproof basic and never go out of fashion. Adding your own pieces can build the look and update it a bit. Also, most pieces of this wardrobe can interchange easily to make a new outfit. Basically, if you wear the same pants two days in a row with a different shirt, no one will notice.

It’s the epitome of the college student lifestyle.

Emma Shoes: DSW Pants: Forever 21 Jacket: Wal-Mart Shirt: Pac Sun Favorite places to shop: Urban Outfitters and Forever 21 because you can always find something to make cute even if it isn’t by itself.

What inspires your style?

Throwing things that I like together. Also, the colors black and white.

If you absolutely insist on wearing warm-weather clothing, throwing on a jacket cannot hurt. It doesn’t have to be name brand, and it doesn’t have to cost $200. You can add in a bit of spring by wearing open-toed boots, which are always okay, even in the depths of winter.

(Seriously, they are, as long as you don’t have a mile-long trek to campus.) Black with denim is a good option that knows no season, and it will make you feel better about yourself if you’re low on self-esteem and want to look James Dean-cool.

Get high. Play Super Smash Brothers. Eat Pizza. Repeat.

Weekends.

ll the a e r e h w r de g e e , i w o np a p e r t o w e l w a s ot eu r UW M . . . a n d w e c a l l l y e nd s u p a n e n v i ro n m e n ta l i f . s e l v e s y c a m p u s , h a! a s friendl

Email your Post Scripts to postscripts@uwmpost.com

By Melissa Shaw Staff Writer fringe@uwmpost.com

If you are a fashion fanatic, you were probably camped out in front of the television anticipating who would be wearing the best and worst fashions on the red carpet of the annual 83rd Academy Awards.

On a night of such prestige, all in attendance are held to high standards when it comes to their choice of outfits. This year’s silhouettes were either structured or free flowing, the colors were hues of purples and neutrals, and textures were created with lace and sparkle.

Even though there were many beautifully dressed actors and actresses, there were five who radiantly worked their way down the red carpet: Mila Kunis, Marisa Tomei, Halle Berry, Cate Blanchett and Helen Mirren.

Mila Kunis, dressed in couture Elie Saab, looked elegant in lavender while hinting towards a youthful sex appeal with lace detail around the bust and through the skirt. With hair pulled loosely back from her face and adorned with sparkly jewels, Kunis could possibly have been one of the most graceful looking women of the evening.

Marisa Tomei blew paparazzi away wearing a navy 1950s couture gown from Charles James with a fitted bodice and an asymmetrical skirt puffed out in tulle. Fashion stylist Tim Gunn said that this look on Tomei would make Oscar fashion history. Dressed in a gown of this design against her fellow peers, Tomei definitely stood out in a strikingly different way.

Halle Berry looked gorgeous as always wearing a nude col-

ored Marchesa gown encrusted with crystals and fluffed silk and tulle ruffles on the bottom.

Enough said.

Cate Blanchett was wearing probably the most interestingly attractive gown of the evening.

In Givenchy, Blanchett wore a pale pink gown with structured shoulders and a free flowing bottom. The bodice was framed in a circular shape with pale pink pearl detailing that stretched toward the top of the skirt.

From the shoulders towards the back of the dress, a pop of yellow pearl detailing covered the straps that crossed her back.

Helen Mirren, dressed in a taupe satin Vivienne Westwood couture gown with Cartier jewelry, was undoubtedly the most sophisticated, classy woman at the Oscars. The design had a square neckline with puff y shoulders and long sleeves. The ruched bodice with the curve hugging bottom and slight train made Mirren look not only age appropriate, but also one of the best dressed of the night.

It was hard for critics to even create a worst-dressed list because almost everyone agreed that the majority of those at the Oscars dressed elegantly and beautifully. Unfortunately, there were two among the worst-dressed: Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence.

Amy Adams, a normally bubbly and lovely woman, wore a design by L’Wren Scott that made her look stifled and older than she is. The dress, a royal blue sequined gown with cap sleeves and an almost turtleneck neckline, didn’t fit her personality. Not to mention her hair, left down, looked unfinished, and the emerald green jewels around her neck looked as if they were choking her.

Jennifer Lawrence, also a

beautiful young woman, apparently missed the memo on the reputation of the Oscars.

Wearing a plain red dress with no detail or dimension, it looked like she picked it out last minute from her closet.

Of course, we couldn’t talk fashion at the Oscars if we didn’t mention host Anne Hathaway.

Styled by personal fashion guru Rachel Zoe, Anne showed off in eight different looks throughout the show. Each was customized and tailored especially for her for the show, and each by a different designer.

“The clothes weren’t only custom and couture, but they actually had to be functional,” said Rachel Zoe. “She had to be able to move … You have to be strategic, and we really had to run through the show several times and go through the order.”

A perfect example of this was when Anne performed a satirical song about Hugh Jackman, wearing a fitted Lavin tuxedo with custom designed platform pumps by Brian Atwood, dressed in 8,000 Swarovski crystals that sparkled brilliantly on stage. Yes, these shoes were stunning, but would have been impractical had she not been able to dance in them. Luckily, she could!

Perhaps the most gorgeous look on Anne was a strapless, deep crimson Versace gown laced with an hourglass pattern of burgundy sequins and draped with four silk chiffon overlays that created a whimsical skirt and train. As Tim Gunn says, “the dress doesn’t make the woman, the woman makes the dress.” In this case, I’m not sure if the dress or Anne made the other look better, but as a duo, they made each other stunningly beautiful.

12 March 7, 2011

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March 7, 2011 13

The truth is out there The Haggerty’s search for meaning in photos

By Justin Hamilton Staff Writer fringe@uwmpost.com

The Haggerty Museum of Art’s current exhibition, “The Truth is Not in the Mirror,” is a rare example of an art event that is equally thought provoking and accessible. The exhibition, which features the work of 23 high-profile photographers, is an exploration of the perceived truth in portraiture today.

Since its inception, photography has been held as a tool to document reality and show us something “real.”

But the artists collected here choose to imply narrative and blur the line between reality and fiction. The genius in this concept is that the viewer may not even be conscious of whether what they are looking at is “real” or not, and that is half the fun.

Indeed, this is the kind of show anybody can enjoy. No need to leave your “slightlyless-cultured” roommate at home for this one. The game of trying to figure out what

exactly is going on in each photo becomes an active part of the viewing, and knowing that your views should be skewed helps alleviate the dreaded “I don’t get it” moments too often associated with contemporary art.

When viewing the pieces, mounted artists’ statements read more like answer cards in a game of Trivial Pursuit, leaving either a sense of accomplishment for getting it right, or an often audible “ohhhh” when your perceptions get spun on their heads.

And they often will.

The range of tricks employed to imply narrative is astounding as well. Styles are varied enough to keep viewers guessing what will be around the next corner of the Haggerty’s spacious gallery, yet cohesive enough to flow well from piece to piece.

Standout contributor Alec Soth chose to use a variety of semi-spontaneous images of rural Americans juxtaposed against photos of humble childhood homes of American icons (Johnny Cash, Charles

Lindberg) to erode perceptions of class value.

Meanwhile, French photographer Valerie Belin questions standards of beauty by creating ambiguous visages of what may be living models or manikins to eerie effect.

If you are looking for another reason to check out the show, two favorites, Kelli Connell and Will Steacy, will both be speaking at the Haggerty this Wednesday.

Connell will be discussing her investigations into gender roles, as she plays all the subjects, male or female, in her photographs. Steacy’s work centers around overlooked people in American cities, and he often tries to build short friendships with his spontaneous subjects before photographing them so they are fully comfortable with him.

The artists will be speaking at 6 p.m., March 9 in Eckstein Hall-Appellate Courtroom at Marquette University with a reception to follow at the Haggerty Museum of Art.

Narrative photographic creations at the Haggerty Museum of Art lead the mind down wandering trails and leave it to find its own conclusions.

Post Photo by Sierra Riesberg

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14 March 7, 2011

Pokémon explosion Two new releases for Nintendo DS

that keeps track of day and night cycles which dictate what types of Pokémon appear in random battles. And, of course, you will explore a new world while you capture and collect hundreds of Pokémon on your quest.

What’s new:

Two of the latest versions of the fifth generation of Pokémon games.

Photo Courtesy of CSMonitor.com

By Tom Kosiec Staff Writer fringe@uwmpost.com

Watch out! Nintendo DS sales are going to explode this week: The fifth generation of Pokémon games have arrived. Pokémon is second only to Super Mario Brothers in the top-selling videogame franchises of all time.

With well over 150 million Pokémon games sold worldwide to date, the series is bound to overtake Mario’s benchmark of 200 million plus games sold sooner or later.

The titles for the new games (Pokémon Black and Pokémon White) will be out by the time you read this. This iteration of Pokémon is the radically different from the others and fea-

tures a lot of changes to the series. Whether you’ve grown tired of the franchise or have never played a Pokémon game before, there’s a lot to be excited about.

Pokémon Black and White are more of an evolution than a revolution for the series, but there are some big changes this time around: • 156 new Pokémon with new abilities (which brings the grand total up to 649) • New 3D-graphic engine: Towns and travel locations are no longer simple 2D sprites • Animation for Pokémon: They no longer remain static in battle and fight in real time • Seasonal game play: Depending on what time of year you play, new areas will become open and new Pokémon can be found • Both versions aren’t identical this time: Some areas will be exclusive to each game, and places you go will be represented differently

What’s stayed the same:

Changes to the battle system:

Just like every other Pokémon game, you take on the role of a Pokémon trainer (either as a boy or a girl) and choose between three types of starter Pokémon: a fire, grass or water type. You still battle eight gym leaders and, as always, fight with your rival every so often. And once again, you have to put a stop to some hooligan mischief (the new gang is called Team Plasma).

Touch-based interface controls from the DS games are back, too, as is the time-based system

This is a big one. Three-onthree battles and rotation-based battles are a first for the series.

Triple-based battles will force you to strategize in regard to how you position your Pokémon in combat. If your Pokémon are too far away from your opponent they won’t be able to attack, and if they’re too close, they will take more damage.

Rotation-based battles, on the other hand, let you fight oneon-one and let you switch out Pokémon on the fly.

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Other minor tweaks to the battle system include oath moves that let you combine Pokémon types like water and electricity to create new attacks. Technicalmachine (or TM) items now are infinite based, so you can teach your Pokémon a wide range of abilities. Finally, a new ability used during battle called “deru power” gives you access to special techniques like restoring your Pokémon’s heath faster.

Multiplayer: Online play has been streamlined considerably, and it’s easier than ever to connect wirelessly with your friends. A new system called Global Link lets you battle Pokémon with people all over the world and keeps track of your battle stats.

Global Trade lets you exchange Pokémon and items.

A new mode called Dream World lets you play with your Pokémon in mini games on a web browser and even lets you catch rare Pokémon. Video chat support for DSi and 3DS is confirmed, but Nintendo will make sure you keep it clean so the system doesn’t turn into Chatroulette. Last but not least is High Link mode, where you can play co-op missions with your friends.

Minor changes: Some alterations to the core game play include the first female professor and new areas like a theme park. Most surprising is that you won’t encounter any of the old Pokémon seen in previous versions until late in the game. Also, the games are much faster, and new dynamic camera angles make for a more cinematic experience.

INDEPENDENT Continued from page 9 film is also significant; the Weinsteins, who most famously produced the films of Quentin Tarantino through Miramax Entertainment, carry a huge amount of clout in Hollywood. And considering that the Oscars are essentially the result of a long, expensive political campaign for each category, having influential financial backers helps the cause of many independent films. This also ties back to the insanely popular festival season, the major events of which function as both huge draws and the very marketplace in which independent films are bought and sold to the highest-bidding studios.

No matter the cause, the playing field seems to have been truly leveled in recent years. The expansion of the Best Picture category to include 10 films is a symptom of this effect. As the Academy acknowledges the broader existence of quality films, the necessity for a more substantial category was paramount.

Of course, this effect only lies at the top. The Independent Film Awards still function as a wonderful vehicle for firsttime filmmakers, graduate students, and up-and-coming writers and actors. But it seems as though the landscape may be shifting enough that their necessity may be called into question at some point in the near future.

Maybe we’ll keep them around for the laughs.

March 7, 2011 15

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Charlie Sheen comes clean Drive to Atlanta and back Shifty Looks

When “winning” is actually losing

By Jackie Dreyer Editorial Editor editorial@uwmpost.com

Crazy can be a good thing. In a broad sense of the definition, I do believe that everyone should be a little crazy. It is healthy to have quirks, to have strange little things that probably only you get excited about.

And then there’s having a very obvious, very public mental breakdown – though presumably you do not see it as such when you are the one having it. Unless you’ve been hiding under a rock, you should know by now that I am referring to Charlie Sheen.

It’s hard to pick a starting point at which to begin detailing Sheen’s downward spiral, but most notable as of recent is the interview he did on ABC News’ “20/20” called “Charlie Sheen: In His Own Words.”

In this moment in Sheen’s mind, this is his world, and we’re just all living in it. His theatricality is at an all-time high (no pun intended).

Sheen is now drug-free, though the last time he used drugs seems to be uncertain.

He even went so far as to take a drug test during the interview, which came back clean, thus supporting his claim.

But based on Sheen’s physical appearance alone, the man’s body looks like it’s fighting hard against his long history of drug and alcohol abuse. His hair is askew and thinning, his skin red and tired. His behavior is shifty – he just can’t seem to sit still.

From different camera angles, you either see Sheen smoking the last little bit of a cigarette or just the secondhand smoke drifting off of it. He sounds agitated, at the very least, which is seemingly contradictory to the point he’s trying to make.

“I’ve just answered to a higher caller, and it happened in the blink of an eye, and I’m totally excited by it,” said Sheen in regards to his drug use. “[…] I cured my brain… Everyone has the power. Can’t is the cancer of happen.”

In this moment in Sheen’s mind, this is his world, and we’re just all living in it. His

theatricality is at an all time high (no pun intended). Of the main segment of the interview that has been passed around the Internet, my favorite line is easily when Sheen said, “You should have read the directions before you showed up at the party.”

His Twitter page has shot up to 1,420,133 followers as of 7:21 p.m. last Thursday. Jimmy Fallon filmed a spoof commercial for “Winning by Charlie Sheen,” a new men’s cologne.

Multiple glossaries for the verbiage he has been spouting have popped up across the web.

For example, NYMag.com defines winning as both “the act of triumphing over studio executives, famous fathers, and jerky show-runners, who then have no choice but to ‘lay down with their ugly wives and their ugly children and just look at their loser lives’” and “an exclamation point used at the end of a sentence, e.g., ‘Sorry, you thought you were just messing with one dude. Winning.’”

What the general public doesn’t seem to understand is that in playing into Sheen’s madness we are glorifying atrocious behavior. He is actively seeking media attention for his antics, and we are standing with arms wide open, cameras steady and microphones ready.

Readers’ love of the bizarre is touted in beginning journalism classes in college. We like strange. We like things that we can gawk at. It is the cause of the inexplicable, annoying traffic backup on the freeway, based solely on an accident that happened going the other direction. It’s why reality television programs garner the highest ratings – we have a strong desire to be voyeurs into people’s lives so drastically different from our own.

Will we ever tire of reveling in someone else’s mistakes?

Our society is currently hoisting Sheen up onto a pedestal that he does not deserve to be on. What he needs to do is privately and quietly deal with any and all of his physical and mental issues out of the public eye – not sit home and watch his narcissism grow as more and more Twitter users tweet his catchphrase hash tags, i.e., #WINNING, #teamsheen and #tigerblood.

Unfortunately, The Washington Post’s Ruth Marcus sums the inevitable up quite well: “We know the man is deeply troubled, self-absorbed to the point of being grandiose. We in the press know we are exploiting his obvious mania and egotism. […]

The decent thing to do would be to avert our eyes and hope he gets help. But human nature is what it is.”

on one tank of gas?

Hypermiling tricks save some serious fuel

By John Prellwitz Automotive Columnist editorial@uwmpost.com

Last fall, British journalist Gavin Conway set a Guinness World Record by traveling 1,531 miles on a single tank of fuel, averaging 90 miles per gallon.

What vehicle is capable of achieving such lofty numbers?

A single seat go-kart running on a hybrid of distilled unicorn blood and fairy dust? Nein. It was a 3,000 pound, four-door Volkswagen Passat with an un-modified 1.6 liter TDI engine rated at 50-60 mpg.

Now, of course, you’re wondering where Conway found an extra 30 mpg without performing any modifications. So am I. I read perhaps a dozen news articles on the story, and not one of them provided any insight as to what techniques were employed. Left to speculation, I began to research the practice of “hypermiling.”

Whether you’re a hypermiler or not, the first step to saving fuel in any vehicle is proper maintenance. The

cheapest, simplest maintenance item is tire pressure.

Underinflated tires increase rolling resistance, which consumes more fuel. The average car’s tires are so underinflated that refilling them would improve miles per gallon by 3.3 percent. Hypermilers take this to the extreme by far exceeding recommended levels.

Changing to lower weight motor oil can save another two percent or more. Many new cars trade some wear protection for better fuel economy by using 5w-20 or even 0w-20 versus the 5w-30 or 10w-30 of years past. Double-check your Owner’s Manual for the recommended weight and viscosity of your motor oil before adding a lighter, thinner mix.

While filling your tires and choosing more efficient motor oil can save pennies per gallon, the savings begin to get serious when it comes to changing the air filter and oxygen sensor. Regularly replacing the air filter can save two to six percent on fuel, while replacing a badly neglected one can save as much as 14 percent. If it’s been awhile since the oxygen sensor was

Friend or faux?

The fight against counterfeit fashion

By Carrie Jantzen Special to the Post editorial@uwmpost.com

Dolce and Gabbana, Prada, Fendi, Gucci, Chanel, Coach, Louis Vuitton … what do they all have in common besides being high-end and high-priced designer brands?

They have all been victims of intellectual property theft, more commonly known as counterfeiting.

What is counterfeiting?

Counterfeiting is the making and distributing of items that resemble and often times contain an altered logo of the designer that is being copied. Many of you have probably seen these products or maybe even own such products – after all, a knockoff Coach bag is far more affordable than the real thing.

What you may not know is what you’re supporting when purchasing these fake designer items. Counterfeit items are known to be tied to forced child labor, organized crime, extortion and even ter-

rorism. For instance, money raised through counterfeit sales has been reportedly believed to help fund terrorists responsible for the Madrid train bombing in 2004.

Counterfeiters are also known to run powerful international crime syndicates, launder money and smuggle in workers from Asia to New York and Los Angeles and keep them locked up like slaves to assemble fakes that are imported in pieces, according to a 2007 Harper’s Bazaar article. The publication has been covering this topic of counterfeiting since 2005, in attempts to raise awareness of what goes on behind the scenes with counterfeit products.

This industry has also taken jobs away from legitimate industries. In fact, an estimated 750,000 jobs and billions of tax revenue dollars have been taken from the United States. For every dollar spent on a fake item, one less dollar goes to a legitimate business and into

replaced (read, never for most of us), changing it out could net savings as high as 40 percent.

Maintenance done, you’re almost ready to move into the eerie realm of hypermile driving. To improve the fuel economy of any vehicle, regardless of driving style, minimize weight and maximize aerodynamics. That means ditching the 15-inch subwoofer and your fat, lazy roommate who’s always harping for a ride to McDonald’s. Remove that roof rack you never use, the Fast and Furious spoiler and – if you’re a true hypermiler – the side view mirrors. (The police won’t be amused by that last one.)

They say the technique for a proper golf swing is all in the wrist. When it comes to saving fuel, it’s almost entirely in your right foot. Aggressive acceleration wastes fuel, as does frequently fluctuating speed.

Maintain a consistent speed and use cruise control whenever possible. Speeding also comes at a sharp fuel cost.

As a general rule, every five

See HYPERMILING page 16 the U.S. economy. As Valerie Salembier, senior vice president and publisher of Harper’s Bazaar stated, counterfeiting is “illegal, immoral and un-American.”

Knock-off perfumes have been said to contain contaminated alcohol, anti-freeze, urine and other harmful substances. “Counterfeit fragrances have not been subjected to quality-control tests and research and development on which legitimate makers spend money and time,” according to a 2010 Harper’s Bazaar article.

The same holds true with other products – purses, wallets, jewelry and clothing. All are sold at significantly lower ticket prices than the real thing, but they are also made significantly cheaper than what you are paying for. Why spend $60-$200 on a fake designer handbag that will maybe last you a year when you can spend a couple hundred more on the real item, which will last you a lifetime?

The more consumers continue to consume these illicit products, the more illicit products will be made – thus continuing the cycle of illegal and dangerous activity.

Here are some tips for

See COUNTERFEITS page 16

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16 March 7, 2011

Catholics and The whole world is their political watching Wisconsin affiliations Why the left gets it right by taking care of the poor

By William Bornhoft Special to the Post editorial@uwmpost.com

In November 2008, an election took place that was expected to usher in a new era of hope and prosperity preceded by eight years of turmoil – regardless of who won. Among those who helped then-Senator Barack Obama get elected were the Roman Catholics. In fact, 54 percent of Catholics voted to elect Obama.

Without fail, the candidate who wins the Catholic vote also wins the election. This has been the case for the past nine elections, with the exception of Al Gore, who won the popular vote but not the electoral. Also notable is that the past nine presidents have not been of the same political party, which tells us that Catholics have never felt comfortable always voting for the same party, unlike their Protestant brethren who consistently vote Republican.

Both the Democrat and the Republican platforms represent only fractions of the Catholic doc-

Republicans and Catholics agree on the abortion issue, but Catholics and Democrats tend to agree on issues of war, poverty and health care.

trine. Republicans and Catholics agree on abortion, but Catholics and Democrats tend to agree on war, poverty and healthcare.

There is little in Catholic teachings that promote any type of a fiscally conservative policy, which is why many Catholics consider themselves Democrats, despite their disagreements with the party’s traditional stance on abortion.

However, make no mistake – there is nothing specifically “antiCatholic” about wanting to have a smaller government and keeping more of one’s own wages. But often times the smaller government

we envision is a government that also implements regressive, burdensome taxes, which oppress the poor and enacts laws that protect the rich but exploit the lower, working class. Personally, I would consider a government of that sort to be quite “anti-Catholic.”

Before his final term ended, Minnesota’s Republican former Governor Tim Pawlenty planned to cut General Assistance Medical Care, a program that provides health care for Minnesota’s poorest residents, from the Minnesota state budget. The Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis was one of the loudest voices protesting this budget cut. Paul Martodam, CEO of Catholic Charities of St. Paul and Minneapolis, was quoted in The Catholic Spirit saying: “The reality is, the more of these services we eliminate, the greater the cost will be – in the long run – to society,” he said.

“We can cut a few dollars today, but it’s going to cost a lot more down the road.”

Catholics who criticize publicly funded services to the poor often argue that they shouldn’t be “forced” to help the needy – that they would rather voluntarily donate their money or help out at a soup kitchen on their own time.

It’s unfortunate that more people don’t complain about their tax dollars going to fund the Iraq war, a war that both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict have criticized as having no moral justification.

The small donations and rare trips to the soup kitchens that practicing Catholics make neither come close to solving issues of poverty, nor do they fulfill the degree of help and love that Christ commanded humanity to do in the New Testament. To serve and love the poor is a requirement of the Catholic faith, but solving the issues that create poverty to begin with is no less important.

Is it right that those who cannot afford or get denied coverage of healthcare could die of a curable disease? Will more conservative Catholics use buzzwords and phrases such as “big government” to describe welfare programs that provide food for the hungry? Will they value lower taxes and a stronger military over providing health care for the sick and food for the needy? I hope not, because a “pro-life” stance shouldn’t end at birth.

The UWM Post invites readers to submit Letters to the Editor, as well as perspective pieces, counter-points to previously published pieces, opinions, rants and tauntings. To be eligible for publication, letters and opinion pieces must include the author’s name and contact information. Anonymous submissions will not be accepted.

Please submit to The UWM Post office (Union EG80), or via email at letters@uwmpost. com. Please title e-mail correspondence “Letter to the Editor.” The preferred length for letters is 350 words or less. Opinions and perspective pieces should be no longer than 750 words. Deadline for outside submission is Wednesday at noon. The UWM Post reserves the right to edit or reject your submission.

By Dawson Barrett Special to the Post editorial@uwmpost.com

In a recent letter of moral support, the Adjunct Project of the City University of New York wrote, “Education workers and students of Wisconsin, you are not alone.”

“Those of us who fight for the causes of justice, equality and democracy in other locations understand that this is not just an attack on the working people of Wisconsin,” added the Teaching Support Staff Union at Fraser University (Canada) in a similar statement of solidarity.

Ian’s Pizza in Madison has received food donations for Wisconsin protestors from all 50 states and over 60 countries, from India to Egypt to Finland. Meanwhile, Tom Morello (of Rage Against the Machine) and Jesse Jackson joined firefighters, teachers and ironworkers marching and chanting inside and around the Capitol. Sunday, Feb. 28, there were Wisconsin solidarity protests in every state, and the Milwaukee Graduate Assistants Association even received a donation from a famous comedian.

Indeed, the whole world is watching Wisconsin. Not be-

HYPERMILING Continued from page 15 miles per hour over 60 costs seven percent in fuel economy due to air resistance.

When stretching the tank to its absolute limit, find the vehicle’s optimum speed and stay there. Each vehicle is different – depending on aerodynamics, the engine’s power curve and the final drive ratio – but maximum efficiency is generally found between 40 and 50 mph with the windows up and air conditioning off.

When it’s time to slow down, coast as long as possible, leaving the vehicle in gear. It’s a common misconception that shifting to neutral saves fuel, but the opposite is true. When coasting in gear, most cars automatically cut fuel to the engine, because the motion of the wheels to the transmission will keep everything spinning.

The two most extreme hy-

COUNTERFEITS Continued from page 15 spotting a fake: The most legitimate place to purchase anything designer is at the brand’s store, on its website or at an authorized dealer. Say no to flea markets, home parties, street vendors and unauthorized websites.

cause Scott Walker is so charismatic (he’s not); not because unions are under attack (this is their usual condition); and not because Democrats are sore losers (many of Walker’s reforms are comfortably in line with the policies of both parties over the last 30 years or so).

“Education workers and students of Wisconsin, you are not alone.”

-The Adjunct Project

No, the whole world is watching to see if Wisconsin will allow Walker to dismantle the state’s education system through $800 million in K-12 cuts; $250 million in UW System cuts; the diversion of public money to private schools via vouchers; a shorter school year; and the so-called “repair” bill, which cuts the pay of the states’ teachers and thus makes the state a less attractive home for good teachers. Walker’s plan doesn’t just demonize teachers – it threatens the very concept of education itself.

The whole world is watchpermiler tricks are dangerous, illegal and a sure way to piss everyone off. The most commonly known is drafting, or closely following a semi to ease air resistance. As proven on the television show Mythbusters, following a truck from ten feet away can cut consumption by 40 percent.

To improve the fuel economy of any vehicle, regardless of driving style, minimize weight and maximize aerodynamics. That means ditching the 15inch subwoofer and fat, lazy roommate who’s always harping for a ride to McDonald’s.

The lesser-known method is the “pulse-and-glide” – acIf the price seems to be too good to be true, it probably is.

Packaging on true designer wear is meticulous and includes tissue paper, authenticity cards, product care information, high quality boxes and shopping bags.

If a product is solely in plastic covering or a flimsy dust bag, that is a warning sign.

The logo on a designer item will be on all the metal pieces

ing to see if the billionaire Koch brothers – who have financed Walker, the Tea Party, and the recent rash of proWalker commercials – can successfully move in to a state, destroy its middle-class and hand its public assets directly to private corporations (such as Koch Industries).

The fight right now is in Wisconsin. We are the proving ground for whether Koch and others can implement their plan all over the U.S. If we lose, our state, and our country, will offer far fewer opportunities to the next generation than we have to the current one.

Walker is on one side of this fight. On the other are Wisconsin’s teachers, students, firefighters, police, ironworkers, snowplow drivers, janitors, secretaries, members of the Green Bay Packers and many, many more.

So, who are you with: Walker or the teachers?

I’m with the teachers. I’m with Wisconsin.

Dawson Barrett is a doctoral student in the Department of History, a teaching assistant and a proud member of the Milwaukee Graduate Assistants Association.

celerating to a given speed, coasting for longer than it takes to accelerate and repeating that process ad nauseam. The truly brave will even shut off the engine during the “glide,” losing power steering and power-assisted brakes in the process.

So you have the latest VW Passat TDI with an empty trunk, no passengers, maintenance up to date and you drive like grandpa on a Sunday afternoon – can you scrape 1,531 miles out of that fuel tank? Maybe close, but not quite. See, Conway drove the European “V-dub,” and there are two important differences. One, the engine in our version is a 2.0-liter, not the 1.6. More importantly, the U.S. has stricter emissions requirements than Europe, costing our diesels 20-30 percent in efficiency.

Pulse-and-glide all you want – it’ll save fuel. Just don’t expect to set a world record anytime soon. (zippers, latches, snaps and buckles, for example).

The designer’s logo will never be cut off, or incomplete, on the bag, e.g. on Louis Vuitton items, the LV logo will never be cut off.

For more tips on distinguishing a fake from the real thing, visit www.myauthentic.com, and for more information on counterfeiting, visit www.fakesareneverinfashion.com.

March 7, 2011 17

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: e t a m m o T o m y riot w i t h t h e s t o p l i o. No o n e Co o s Co o l i o . like

The UWM Post

18 March 7, 2011

PRIMAL URGES

PRIMALURGES@UWMPOST.COM

ANDREW MEGOW

Pet of the Week Kush This is Kush. His kingdom is located on Bartlett Ave. He roams with the wolves.

Kush does whatever he pleases. If you get in Kush’s way, he will let it be known that you are in his domain. Kush rules all in his tower. But once you have complied with Kush’s demands, the reward is great indeed. Kush is Einstein in feline form.

CORPORATE HORROR

JOSEPH KUENZLE

Send us photos of your pet, with its name and a little about them to petoftheweek@uwmpost.com.

March 7, 2011 19

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Sudoku INSTRUCTIONS: Fill in the squares so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 exactly once.

©2011 Jonas Wittke

Solution found on page 4

THE UWM POST CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Word after scantily 5 Lie in the sun 8 Woolly mammal 13 Record player, once (hyph.)

14 Opposite of “for here” 15 “Roll Out the Barrel” genre 16 Cools down, in a way 17 Mimic 18 Derive as a conclusion 19 Canadian province (2 wds.)

22 Car 23 Some 24 Plead 27 Culture media 30 Gifts for kids 32 Angelic ring 33 Edge 34 Pouches 36 Buckeye State resident 38 Canadian province (2 wds.)

41 Nothing new (2 wds.)

42 Declare positively 43 Also 44 Move upward 45 Raison d’ ____ 47 After-bath garments 49 Word before go 50 Undergarment 51 Wander 53 Canadian province 58 Amount of parsley 61 Leave 62 Dress decoration 63 Give a speech 64 Selleck and Hanks 65 Revise 66 After-bath need 67 Early afternoon, maybe 68 Koppel and Danson DOWN 1 Goatee locale

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

28

30 34

38

36

26

56

57

40

44

45

43

46

47

50

51

53 60

25

37

42

59

Godoku

32

35

41

58

12

and every 3x3 box contains the following letters exactly once: T, O, I, L, C, V, E, K, S. One row or column will reveal a hidden word!

24

31

39

49

11

INSTRUCTIONS: Fill in the squares so that every row, every column,

23

29

33

10

21

22 27

9

48

52

54

55

61

62

63

64

65

66

67

68

Jonas Wittke, 2011

2 Head bugs 3 Some (2 wds.)

4 Pronounce unfit to practice law 5 First-rate (hyph.)

6 Gets older 7 Oslo’s country 8 Peppery 9 Beep 10 Santa helper 11 Stretch to make do (with “out”) 12 Standard or average 14 Tense 20 Moscow’s place 21 Shoe part 24 African tree 25 Character on “Seinfeld” 26 Reproductive glands 27 Shelters covered with vines 28 Word before mag

29 During 31 Award for Natalie Portman 32 That man 35 Certain flowers 37 Yippee!

39 Familiar article 40 After-hours pay 46 Words before task or heart (2 wds.)

48 Breakfast dish 50 Roll with a hole 52 Calendar mos.

53 Location 54 Nerve-cell process 55 Walk through water 56 Off base?

57 Fish catchers 58 Drunk 59 Am’s opp.

60 Uncooked solution found on page 4

©2011 Jonas Wittke

Solution found on page 4

In-word

THIS WEEK’S IN-WORD: ECONOMY

INSTRUCTIONS: Find as many words as possible using only the letters from this week’s IN-WORD. Words must be four or more letters long.

Slang words, proper nouns, and contractions are not permitted. Only one form of a verb is permitted. Words that become four or more letters by the addition of “s” are not permitted.

Can you find 8 or more words in “ECONOMY?”

©2011 Jonas Wittke

Solution found on page 4

20 March 7, 2011

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