The Dogg Haus: big weiner on campus fringe page 11
inside News | page 2
The Student-Run Independent Newspaper at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
uwmpost.com
Monday, February 16, 2009
“Pink Zone” events increase breast cancer awareness
Volume 53 | Issue 19
TURBULENT WEEK FOR SA Bahr to remain elections commissioner, was not enrolled last semester
Student Association vice president banned from his office
Plans to appoint Grover to run ‘day-to-day operations’
Hughes still contemplating student court lawsuit, resignation
By Kevin Lessmiller News Editor news@uwmpost.com
Despite the Student Association (SA) Senate’s rejection of former SA President Rob Grover as this spring’s independent elections commissioner (IEC), plans are in the works to bypass the Senate and empower Grover with substantial election oversight authority.
“Dan Bahr is the current IEC and will remain so.” – Tyler Draheim, SA President According to current SA President Tyler Draheim, the present elections commissioner is still former IEC Dan Bahr, who oversaw last year’s election. Bahr, a graduate student, was re-appointed this past summer to oversee a dispute the SA had with United Council. Draheim says that Bahr is still the IEC
because he was approved as the IEC this past summer during the current Senate term, and because no one else has been approved for the position. Bahr, who currently serves as chief of staff to State Representative Chris Danou (DTrempealeau) at the state capitol in Madison, told the Post he will likely appoint Grover to chief deputy IEC, to be overseen by him. “The IEC bylaws do give the approved IEC the right to appoint his or her own deputies,” he said. “If Rob is not approved by the Senate, I will appoint him to be the chief deputy IEC under which he will physically run the day-to-day operations of the election process.” Grover confirmed that there are no plans for him to be up for approval by the SA Senate again at its next meeting. “As of right now Dan Bahr still serves as IEC. I don’t believe I will be going through
UW-Milwaukee Student Association (SA) President Tyler Draheim has banned Vice President Tommy Hughes from entering the SA office and has asked for Hughes’ resignation. Draheim said he received a number of complaints, written by SA staff members, regarding Hughes’ behavior as vice president. In interviews with the Post, Draheim and Hughes explained how the situation has developed. “It had been building up for quite some time now, and I had mentioned certain issues to him periodically throughout the year,” said Draheim. According to Draheim, multiple SA directors began closing their doors when Hughes was in the office because they didn’t want to be subject to conversations that would make them
See IEC page 6
See HUGHES page 3
Sports | page 7
“Big Lumber” more than meets the eye
By Kevin Lessmiller News Editor news@uwmpost.com
fringe | page 11 Annual drag show coming to campus
Hughes
Franz Ferdinand return with their danceable 3rd album
Editorial | page 18 Ellis: Michael Phelps’ recent publicity unfounded? Draheim
Raatz: Social justice neither just nor sociable
Transit TVs may fade to black TV parent company files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy By Tammy McCubbin Special to the Post news@uwmpost.com
The company that broadcasts news briefs and weather reports and alerts riders to upcoming bus stops on the Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) buses has filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Transit Television Network LLC has TV monitors on many transit buses in Milwaukee and other cities around the nation. Jackie Janz, a spokeswoman for the transit system, said that MCTS received notice of the bankruptcy from the company late last week but is still unable to get more information on exactly when the TVs will be
uwmpost.com
shut down. Janz said a particular concern that comes with losing the TVs is the discontinuation of the bus stop announcement system, which alerts riders toapproaching stops along the route. “We really like the system,” Janz said. “It was definitely a benefit for disabled riders.” Janz says the yellow bar that streams along the Transit screens allows riders with hearing or sight impairments to be aware when their stop is coming up. “The [stop alert system] is helpful, especially to new bus riders who have never rode the bus before,” said Monika Harris, a UW-Milwaukee junior. Harris
also says that the Transit TVs can make a long bus ride go by more quickly.
“It was definitely a benefit for disabled riders.” – Jackie Janz, MCTS spokeswoman Rachel Dubinski is a sophomore at UWM who says she wouldn’t be too disappointed if there were no TVs on the bus. Dubinski says the TVs mainly broadcast “pop entertainment.” Transit TVs began installation in 2003. Janz described Transit Television Network LLC as a “profit organization that
uwmpostexchange.com
The future of Transit TV is in jeopardy amidst the failing economy. Post photo by Jared Guess sold commercial space.” Janz also made clear that all the equipment and installation of the TVs were provided by Transit Television Network LLC and not MCTS. Janz said MCTS is “looking into every option to
blog.uwmpost.com
see what we can do.” As of now, Transit TVs are still accompanying MCTS riders on their routes along, but it is unclear for how long the service will be provided.
sports.uwmpost.com
2 February 16, 2009
The UWM Post
News Briefs
Editor in Chief Jonathan Anderson
Editorial Editor Leslie Peckham
Account Executives Kurt Raether
News Editor Kevin Lessmiller
Production Editor Audrey Posl
Bryan Arnold
Asst. News Editors Marly Fink
Photo Editor Sam Hogerton
David Acker
Puzzle Editor Jonas Wittke
Fringe Editors Melissa Campbell
Advertising Manager Dena Nord Advertising Designer Heidi Cronce Distribution Patrick Quast
Alex Rewey
Chief Copy Editor Katie Visser
Asst. Fringe Editor Darin Kwilinski
Copy Editors Amanda Mitchell
Board of Directors Jonathan Anderson
Sports Editor Jimmy Lemke
Lindsey Millard
Melissa Campbell
Business Manager Simon Bouwman
Bryan Arnold
Asst. Sports Editor Tim Prahl
Bryan Arnold
Audrey Posl Kevin Lessmiller
Phone: (414) 229-4578 Fax: (414) 229-4579 post@uwmpost.com www.uwmpost.com
SHIPPING ADDRESS
MAILING ADDRESS
2200 Kenwood Blvd. Suite EG80 Milwaukee, WI 53211
Union Box 88 UWM P.O. Box 413 Milwaukee, WI 53201
THE UWM POST has a circulation of 10,000 and is distributed on campus and throughout the surrounding communities. 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 UWM Post is a student organization at 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.
The UWM Post is a member of:
Rothstein appointed to circuit court
Stimulus deal expected on Obama’s desk Monday
Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle announced the appointment of Stephanie Rothstein as a Milwaukee County Circuit Court judge Thursday Feb. 12. She will fill a vacancy created by the resignation of Judge John Franke. Rothstein has served as Assistant District Attorney for Milwaukee County since 1984.
Both houses of the U.S. Congress expect to have a final stimulus package on President Obama’s desk by Monday Feb. 16. The last draft of a reconciled version of the stimulus plan was set at $789 billion in total recovery and reinvestment funds as of Friday Feb. 13.
WISPIRG rallies for transit funding The UWM chapter of WISPIRG gathered signatures Tuesday Feb. 10 in hopes that Wisconsin congressional members will uphold mass transit funding plans contained in the House of Representatives’ economic stimulus plan. WISPIRG’s petition was directed towards Senators Russ Feingold and Herb Kohl, as well as local representative Gwen Moore.
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Bradley DeBraska, former president of the Milwaukee police union, is being targeted in a criminal forgery investigation. Charges are expected to be filed against him soon. DeBraska is currently chairman of the Police Officer Defense Fund, a non-profit organization.
Police Reports A highly intoxicated male student tried to enter Sandburg Hall at approximately 6 a.m. on Sunday Feb. 8. Security workers turned the man over to a “responsible party,” his roommate.
Three flash drives were turned in to UWM Police on the morning of Feb. 9. UWM Police say they have many unclaimed electronic devices and other items, and recommend students come identify their lost belongings.
A donation jar was stolen from the French Film Festival in the Union Theatre on Feb. 8 around 8:40 p.m. The jar, which contained $75, was recovered later without the money inside.
A purse was reported stolen from a BOSS van Feb. 11. However, the purse was later recovered and was determined to have been lost rather than stolen.
A laptop was stolen from the Union Terrace shortly after midnight on Monday Feb. 9. The suspect fled the building immediately and has yet to be apprehended.
A UWM student reported a gas leak at a construction site near the Zelazo Center on Wednesday Feb. 11. Officials from the Milwaukee Fire Department and WE Energies were called to the scene.
STATE NEWS
Doyle releases plans to cut budget gap Bill aims to reduce gap by $700 million By Yamin Masalkhi Staff Writer news@uwmpost.com
www.uwmpost.com
Forgery charges expected against DeBraska
Gov. Jim Doyle unveiled legislation on Wednesday Feb. 11 that will reduce the state’s current budget gap by $700 million. The legislation cuts state spending by $125 million and secures new federal revenues through an assessment of hospital revenues. It also invests in growing the state’s economy by expanding tax cuts for businesses as well as worker training programs and by authorizing the spending of federal stimulus funds so work can begin immediately on transportation projects. “This bill is an investment in Wisconsin’s economy and its workers and is what our families deserve,” Doyle said. Specifically, the economic recovery plan cuts $125 million in state spending, including $500,000 by the state legislature. It prohibits any reductions to highway construction activities. It also reduces health
care costs and expands access to health care by securing $900 million in new federal revenue through an assessment on hospital revenues. Another major benefit is the attraction of new businesses, creating new jobs for Wisconsin workers by expanding eligibility and access to tax credits. This is done by enhancing the Accelerate Wisconsin tax credit for investors in support of start-up technology companies and consolidating five existing tax credit programs.
“This bill is an investment in Wisconsin’s economy and its workers and is what our families deserve.” – Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle The recovery plan also brings to the table two new income tax credits for the modernization of dairy-manufacturing and meat-processing facilities. In addition, the plan pre-approves $300 million in spending of federal stimulus funds in order to immediately put Wisconsin people to work on transportation projects that modernize state
infrastructure. The plan will also invest $3.6 million in worker training, including training in green building, and authorizes combined reporting, bringing the state an additional $173 million for fiscal years 2008-2011. “This bill lays critical groundwork for getting our state’s economy back on track and creates a platform for putting federal stimulus dollars to work quickly and efficiently,” Doyle said. “It identifies expenditures that can be cut right now, and targets revenue we can begin raising today.” Homeowners and tenants facing foreclosure will be better protected by the plan, and childcare programs will have improved access and oversight. Legislative Fiscal Bureau forecasts have projected declining revenue in this year and the next. According to Doyle’s letter detailing the cuts, “The Nov. 20, 2008 budget deficit forecast of $5.4 billion by June 30, 2011 has now increased to more than $5.7 billion. This figure represents over 18 percent of general fund appropriations.” To view the Governor’s letter to the Legislature, visit this article on uwmpost.com.
February 16, 2009 3
uwmpost.com
SAC Notes The UW-Milwaukee Student Association’s (SA) Senate Appropriations Committee (SAC) held a meeting Wednesday Feb. 11, approving three grant requests. Some notes from the meeting: • There were no new grant eligibility forms to approve • One student organization charter was up for approval: the Graduate Student Sociological Association. SAC Chair Emily Grotz noted that their application listed no purpose or activities. Committee member Kyle Duerstein motioned to table the charter application until the next meeting, and the motion passed. • The Association of Grad Students in Psychology had one travel grant request for a psychological convention. A motion for a $700 travel blanket by Grotz passed.
The belongings of Vice President Tommy Hughes sit at the entrance of the SA office after being removed from his workroom. Post photo by Sam Hogerton
HUGHES Continued from page 1 uncomfortable. The Post viewed three of six total complaints against Hughes under the agreement that the writers of the complaints would not be identified. The remaining three complaints were formally written after the first three were shared with the Post. One complaint alleged Hughes threatened someone with being fired in a “public and humiliating way” if they didn’t support various SA initiatives. A second written complaint alleged that Hughes “created an environment of fear and manipulation.” Hughes told the Post he can “dismiss” the first two complaints because of political alliances and affiliation. “A lot of complaints that could be made from people in the office might be made for their own benefit,” said Hughes. “Not necessarily because they themselves felt uncomfortable with anything I might have been doing.” The third complaint alleged “sexist treatment of staff ” and repeated offensive remarks about the staff member’s religious views. Hughes said that complaint in particular was “rather legitimate.” “It was something that I mishandled personally,” Hughes told the Post. “I overreacted, and I had meant to apologize, but I never did. I can admit very openly that it was my fault. I didn’t supervise her in the right way.” Draheim said he can remove anybody from the SA office because he holds the office lease. He said that it is his job to make sure the SA office is a comfortable work environment. “The fact that he is vice president and was elected and not appointed or hired by me makes it a little bit different,” said Draheim. “But for the sake of myself and other directors that I did hire, I felt that it needed to be done.” Hughes said he thought about filing a University
• Black Cat Ultimate, an ultimate Frisbee student org, requested funds for general operations. A motion for $150 passed without objection. • The last request came from Hip Hop Scholars for an Old School Hip Hop Party event. An organization officer said the event will be for 30+ year olds and that they’d expect about 500 attendees. After back and forth motions and debate, a final motion of $375 passed. • The meeting lasted about 20 minutes. The next SAC meeting is Wednesday Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. in the SA office.
Student Court (USC) case, but said he would rather come to a compromise with Draheim. He said an “amenable” compromise would be him fulfilling his duties as vice president outside the SA office. When asked if Hughes would likely remain vice president for the rest of the semester, working outside the SA office, he replied, “If that’s what’s best.” “I don’t want to be going back to any atmosphere where I’m going to be causing problems,” said Hughes. Draheim said that he is still asking for Hughes’ resignation. “I did ask for his resignation, and I’m going to stand by that, but it is his ultimate decision. I won’t have any personal control of his removal beyond the resignation,” Draheim said. During his interview with the Post, Draheim took time to acknowledge positive aspects of Hughes’ time as vice president thus far. “Beyond this one issue, you could legitimately say that he served well as vice president. But I want it to be certain there were reasons behind my actions and it’s not me just acting unilaterally,” he said. Hughes told the Post he is still thinking about whether or not he will resign as SA vice president. He said, ultimately, his interests lie in what’s best for UWM’s student governing body. “What I’m most interested in is that the Student Association continues to be a successful and functioning organization,” he said.
Dan K's 824 E. LOCUST
~OPEN~
MON-FRI 12-8 SAT 12-7 SUN 12-6
*
Salvia 5x - 40x Grinders Scales De-tox Dug Outs Whipped Jewelry Cream Chargers Obscene array of Pipes
* * *
*
***
Voted Best Open Mic In all of Milwaukee - Now 2 years in a row! Grab your instrument and come play! Mondays at 9PM - 1216 E Brady St.
The UWM Post
4 February 16, 2009
Calls for change in Egypt “Pink Zone” events at UWM Political stagnation, economic woes overwhelm country By David Acker Assistant News Editor news@uwmpost.com
Dr. Amal Hamada, a Fulbright Scholar and native of Egypt, spoke out about the current troubles facing Egyptian citizens in her lecture entitled “Egypt: Preserving Stability, Promoting Reform” Feb. 10 in the UW-Milwaukee Union Ballroom. Hamada criticized Egypt’s current president, Mohamed Hosni Mubarak, and his administration for their refusal to move toward a genuine form of democracy in the country and for his negative response to the demands of his citizens and the changing times. “The Egyptian regime has put more emphasis on stability than promoting reform,” Hamata stated. “A large number of Egyptians have lost their faith in the regime, and they do not pay attention anymore. They know that they are not going to benefit from it.” Hamada says distrust and apathy toward the government are common sentiments among the Egyptian citizenry, “An old Egyptian proverb says that ‘If you have someone who you don’t like, ignore them and they will leave.’ This is the attitude of people toward the government.” Still, some Egyptians feel that there is some hope for the future of Egypt. According to Hamada this optimism is rooted in the youth of the country. “Regardless of all of the negativity, I still have hope in the Egyptian youth...They are full of energy to change their society and the world,” Hamada said. Of the approximately 81 million people living in Egypt only 10 percent, or a little more than 8 million, have access to the Internet. Hamada says that the youth use the Internet and their education to communicate and organize political movements
Events bring breast cancer awareness to campus By Marly Fink Assistant News Editor news@uwmpost.com
Fulbright scholar Amal Hamada delivers her lecture, regarding stability in Egypt, as part of the Great Decisions lecture series. Post photo by Sam Hogerton in Egypt. One such example took place in April of 2008 when a group of young Egyptians used Facebook to rally 80,000 supporters to go on strike and protest the increasing food prices. The strike had such an impact that President Mubarak considered blocking Facebook. On the negative side, Hamada says that current economic situations in Egypt may put a damper on the youth’s enthusiasm. “They have hard economic times right now; they have to fight against losing faith in their own future,” said Hamada. Indeed, what has been called an ‘economic crisis’ in some countries has become much worse for Egyptians. “There’s no denying that the economic crisis in the U.S. and Europe has hurt Egypt. It was already bad in Egypt before the crisis hit. The recession here, is a depression there,” she adds. Thomas Maguire, a member of UWM’s Center for International Education, lived in Cairo for two years as a Fulbright Scholar. He believes that the situation in Egypt is complicated, and at times, appears to be hopeless. “I think in the last few years it has gotten much worse, but it’s been bad for years. When
groups try to provide services they get repressed by the government… Poverty is really festering in Egypt.” Maguire also believes that Egypt’s economic reliance on tourism is one of the country’s key weak-points. “The tourist industry is kind of Egypt’s oil. It’s like their cash crop. So much of their country is oriented around that, so it is something that the economy thrives off of.” Calls for change in Egypt in recent years resulted in President Mubarak making political process changes, but Hamada says that the amendments made the system worse. “Reform turned out to be new measures for the government and political elite to tighten up the system and keep others out of the political process,” stated Hamada. The Egypt discussion was part four of the 2009 Great Decision lecture series at UWM. The next event in the series will be held on Feb. 17 in the UWM Student Union Ballroom and is titled “Human Rights: Restoring Moral Authority.” William Schultz, the former executive director of Amnesty International USA, will be the featured speaker. Admittance is free to UWM faculty, staff and students; $5 for the general public.
On Thursday Feb. 19, the UW-Milwaukee women’s basketball team will be decked out in pink jerseys in support of Pink Zone, a national women’s health campaign of the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association. Health Educator of the Norris Health Center Laura Stuart says this is the second year that UWM has participated in Pink Zone activities, which promote awareness about breast cancer, cervical cancer and other women’s health issues. Last year Panthers’ coach Sandy Botham and Associate Director of Athletics for UWM Kathy Litzau decided to participate in the campaign by fundraising in support of campus health resources at the Norris Health Center. “Being informed about breast cancer and cervical cancer is important for UWM students and all women, but it’s not enough to just be informed,” Stuart said. “Students also have to have access to prevention and treatment services.” Prior to the game, a women’s health resource fair will start at 5:30 p.m. with a complementary Qdoba Mexican Grill food bar, and the first 1,000 to enter the game will receive a pink t-shirt commemorating the event. On Tuesday Feb. 17, Norris representatives will be in the Union concourse distributing health information and promoting the game on Thursday. Also on Tuesday, Noodles and
Company on Oakland will donate 25 percent of their sales from 4 until 9 p.m. to the Pink Zone efforts. And on Wednesday, Qdoba Mexican Grill will donate 10 percent of their sales the entire day to the campaign.
“Funds raised at Pink Zone will help students who cannot afford to pay for those services obtain them at no cost.” – Laura Stuart, a Health Educator at Norris Health Center
“Most services at Norris Health Center are free for students, but some have a small fee,” Stuart explained. “Funds raised at Pink Zone will help students who cannot afford to pay for those services obtain them at no cost.” The game begins at 7 p.m. in the Klotsche Center and tickets are $3 for those sporting pink.
February 16, 2009 5
uwmpost.com
AROUND THE UW | STEVENS POINT
Missing: UWSP student vanishes By Justin Glodowski of the Pointer at UW-Stevens Point
“She was really outgoing; very nice person, very beautiful girl,” said Katie Kloth, referring to her friend Christine Walters, 23, who was officially reported missing Nov. 17, 2008. Many describe these same characteristics in speaking of Walters, who attended UWStevens Point until right before the beginning of the fall semester. She was studying botany and ethnobotany but had many other interests outside of campus that led her to the West Coast. It all started back in July when she went to Portland, Ore. to visit with friends for a few weeks. “She was always looking for adventure, and I think she always just wanted to keep traveling because she wanted to be a yoga instructor, and she didn’t know where she’d fit in,” Kloth says. “She thought out West would be better for her free-spirit mentality, and we all thought that would be good for her too.” Toni Osiecki, another friend, thinks that Walters’ going out West had a lot to do with a feeling of freedom after a recent breakup. “She had just gone through a move after she and her boyfriend broke up and felt like a big weight had been lifted off her shoulders,” Osiecki says. “She felt like she had a fresh start. She was going out to Oregon to visit a mutual friend and it was just a chance for her to get back to her authentic self and do something independent without having anyone to bounce ideas off. I feel like this gave her that empowering energy, to get her back to herself.” Despite her round-trip ticket, Walters chose not to return to UWSP, choosing to stay on the West Coast, in Humboldt County, Cali., to be specific. This area is known for its natural beauty, featuring redwood trees and stunning coasts. The private investigator believes this may be one of the reasons she remained behind, as the area embraced many of the same beliefs as she did.
“I think some of her interests were from Stevens Point. That is what got her interested in some of the things that led her to love Humboldt County,” says Chris Cook, private investigator. “People are interested in the similar type of character, philosophical beliefs and spirituality as her, and so that is what I think led her here.”
“We’re actively looking and working with the sheriff’s department, and every day we still hope that we can find out what happened to her since she disappeared.” – Chris Cook, private investigator Some of her closest friends questioned her sudden change of plans to stay, however, wondering whether she was really making the right decision. Other friends felt that maybe Walters was still finding herself in a much different world. “I think two or three weeks wasn’t enough, she was probably loving it, loving the weather and the scenery,” Osiecki explains. “She lived in Wisconsin all of her life and it was something she was doing solo. I can just see her living day-to-day and being happy with whatever that day brings.” Investigators find the events that unfolded around Walter’s disappearance which later become the most puzzling. “In 25 years, I’ve investigated hundreds of cases, and I’ve never seen any case with similar circumstances. And that is why it is very complex,” said Cook. An incident that occurred on Nov. 12 leaves many wondering whether something disturbing may have been going on. A call from a citizen of Humboldt County reported that they found Walters on their doorstep. She showed up without any clothing and seemed to be traumatized. The citizens contacted the Humboldt County Sheriff ’s Department who attempted to help Walters. Despite questioning, they were
Word of the week Keeping the English language alive, one word at a time
debonair • \deb-uh-NAIR\ • adjective 1 : suave, urbane 2 : lighthearted, nonchalant
unable to attain any information as to what might have happened to her. After contacting her mother, she seemed to recover and was ready to return home. “We didn’t think there was any evidence of drug use or mental illness,” said Cook. “She was just really frightened.” Two days later, she might have been trying to return home but was never heard from again. Her belongings were found at a spiritual center in Arcata, Calif. The owner of the center claimed this was a common occurrence while Walters was around. Hope still remains that Walters will be found and many avenues are being sought to find her, from psychics to search dogs. “We’re actively looking and working with the sheriff ’s department and every day we still hope that we can find out what happened to her since she disappeared,” said Cook. A fund has been established at the Bank of Deerfield to help with funding the private investigator looking for Walters. Students are raising awareness of the situation and bringing in funds to help find her. “We’re looking to do some awareness events outside of school and raise money to keep the private investigation open, because after a certain date they typically stop looking or that money the family has allocated themselves for the private investigator will run out,” said Kloth. “They’re stressed out enough that they probably are having a hell of a time figuring out where they’re going to get that money to keep that open.” Kloth and Osiecki are organizing a fundraiser in the coming weeks with donations from Adventure 212. Look for future details in The Pointer. Donations can be directed to Deerfield Bank c/o Christine Walters Fund, 15 S. Main St., Deerfield WI, 53531. If you have information contact Humboldt County Sheriff ’s Department investigator Dan Paris at (707) 445-7251 or Private Investigator Chris Cook at (707) 616-4507.
NOW OPEN AT NOON ON SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS!
BIG TEN
NETWORK * 10 TV’S * * 9 FT. PROJECTION TV *
YO U R PA N T H E R S P O R T S B A R
$1 HAPPY HOUR DAILY 3-9 .
VOTED BEST HAPPY HOUR ‘05, ’06, ‘07! SATURDAY NOON-9PM SUNDAY NOON - CLOSE
$1 DOMESTIC PINTS AND RAIL DRINKS
$1 Taps and Rail Cocktails 12 - CLOSE
Domestic Taps
$2 ANY TAP
9 TO CLOSE - 14 TAPS! $2 CALL COCKTAILS
KARAOKE 9:30 PM - 1:30 AM
$1 OFF ALL MILLER PRODUCTS
9 PM - CLOSE BOTTOMLESS MUG NITE
Including: Guinnes, Newcastle, Harp & 11 other Taps
COLLEGE NIGHT $1 SHOTS W/ COLLEGE ID $3 BOMB SHOTS
$
9 PM to close
2 SMIRNOFF COCKTAILS ANY FLAVOR
$1 Taps and Rail Cocktails Noon - 9 PM $1 Cans 9 PM -CLOSE
2311 N. MURRAY AVE. • 414-224-7084
OPEN MON-FRI 3 PM-CLOSE
SAT & SUN NOON - CLOSE
Where the successful business man goes for his news.
6 February 16, 2009
The UWM Post
UW system conducting AODA survey Board of Regents assessing alcohol and drug trends By Kevin Lessmiller News Editor news@uwmpost.com
The UW system will be conducting an undergraduate survey this month in order to “better understand the impact of alcohol and other drug use by UW students.” The survey will be online and students will be randomly selected via e-mail the last week of February. Sarah Belstock, UWM’s Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse (AODA) Outreach Coordinator, said the survey was prompted by a UW System Board of Regents initiative. “The survey is being conducted in response to a system-wide Board of Regents directive to assess levels and trends of student alcohol and drug use,” Belstock told the Post via e-mail. She added that the survey is largely intended to help students struggling with substance abuse. “It will also be useful in identifying the types of programs and services that will be most beneficial to our students, and will assist us in assessing the effectiveness of existing campus AODA programs,” said Belstock. The survey will examine alco-
IEC Continued from page 1
Puzzle solutions Last week’s In-Word solution In-Word: WINDOWS
Try your hand at this week’s puzzles, turn to page 27
Last week’s crossword solution
disown down snow sown widow wind window wino
Last week’s Word Search & Rescue solution RESCUE: “Good fences make good neighbors”
S T A B
T O R I
E D I T
O S C A R
F L O R A
T O O T H
F L R A OM ME
A R E A
M O O P D T E S I MOM B A P E L R A Y T P R A H A M I N E D N O D M
C R U Z
C O N E
U N I T
R E C O R G L A D E A S E N C H D I K E E S S E M H O T C ON E E P I N E I T T S
S T T A A X S T I O E Y C WH OR I P Y L R E A D H E E AU T R H O
O M I T
P E S O
B A T O N
S T O N E
T R E E
O A K S
This week’s Sudoku solution
G
V M O D
O C
E
P
A C
O
D
I
U
N
O
I
S
N
A M B
F
C
C
I
T
O W N
H
O
U
S
E
O
T
N
C
E
E
N
I
N
C
N
L
T
O
I
E
R
S
L
G G
O M A
T
R
M A
A
A
A
T
T
L
H
A
I
O
K
F
L
F
S
S
C
O N
G
A D
E
O
R
N
T
N
A G O
E
N
N
W O W A
A
S
O C
L
D
N
O
E
O
I
R
M G
M H
O
B
O
C
R
D
U
P
L
E
X
A
C
R
S
B
N
I
B
A
C
G
O
L
N
I
the Senate again,” Grover told the Post. “As is his right under the IEC bylaws, Dan will most likely appoint someone to serve in his stead, and that may or may not be myself.” UW-Milwaukee administration confirmed last week that Bahr was not a student this past fall, raising questions as to the validity of Bahr’s current status as IEC. Bahr says the relevant fact is that he is a student now. “I have been approved by the Senate with over two-thirds majority for this term, and I am currently enrolled as a student,” Bahr said. Both Draheim and Bahr say the IEC officeholder does not have to be a student, thus both contend that whatever Bahr’s student status was last semester does not matter. Draheim again expressed disappointment with the SA Senate’s Feb. 8 decision and said that an IEC needed to be assigned immediately to prepare for the upcoming SA elections. “The IEC appointment needed to be made when I came before the Senate last week,” Draheim said in an e-mail statement to the Post. “Though the Senate may not have agreed with my initial appointment, the fact of the matter is that there is an IEC in place and work for the upcoming election will begin immediately.” SA Vice President Tommy Hughes, who was banned from his office by Draheim last Monday, was accused of manipulating the
hol and drug use trends, consequences of such use, and the way students perceive using drugs and alcohol. Students who choose to participate in the survey will be provided with an instant analysis of how their own alcohol use affects them. Students can even get a calculated estimate of their average peak blood-alcohol concentration. Belstock encourages students to participate in the random survey, adding that they have no need to fear getting in trouble for their alcohol and drug habits. “While participation is voluntary, I sincerely hope that those students who are randomly selected to participate in this survey will choose to do so and will complete the survey in a thorough and honest manner,” she said. “All answers will remain anonymous.” Belstock told the Post that the survey will provide valuable information to those who work to ensure students have “relevant and effective” AODA programs and services. She said the survey will benefit students the most. “In short, your honest and thorough participation in this survey will help us to serve you better,” she said.
IEC Senate vote. Draheim said that the vote against Grover for IEC was the result of “improper” conduct. “The vote against Rob Grover as IEC last week was very unfortunate,” he said. “And I believe that there was improper influence going on at many levels which, in my opinion, definitely affected the outcome.” Grover said he is also familiar with alleged manipulation that occurred at the Feb. 8 meeting. “As I said last week, as a former president, I have much respect for the Senate,” he said. “But I did hear some senators complain about some unbecoming and inappropriate pressures being pushed onto them.” Hughes admitted to engaging in text message conversations with SA Senators during the Feb. 8 Senate meeting regarding the Grover vote. But he said that the messaging was based on previous in-person conversations and that, in some instances, Senators were texting him first. “I was absolutely texting people [during the meeting],” said Hughes. “I definitely did include ‘don’t vote yes for Rob’.” Draheim and Bahr are also business partners in the marketing firm Piwarun, Draheim and Bahr LLP. According to the firm’s Web site, the company specializes in marketing, advertising and public relations. Draheim has acknowledged a business relationship with Bahr, but says the company has yet to do any work. Jonathan Anderson contributed to this report.
uwmpost.com
February 16, 2009 7
uwmpost.com
“Big Lumber” more than meets the eye A closer look at JuCo transfer James Eayrs By Tim Prahl Assistant Sports Editor sports@uwmpost.com
When UW-Milwaukee basketball player James Eayrs takes the floor for the first time at opposing arenas, he usually gets a few quizzical looks from the fans in attendance, followed often enough by a few wise remarks from the loudest mouth in their student section. Why is this player being mocked even before he steps out onto the court? No, he isn’t being accused of juicing back in 2003 (i.e. A-Rod), bonging it up after the Olympics this summer (Michael Phelps), or of starting a shooting outside a nightclub (Pacman Jones and half the NBA). Rather, he’s judged on his physique. Let’s just say the 6-foot-7inch, 340-pound body he has doesn’t normally show up on hardwood courts these days. However, as soon as those same jeering fans see this big man in action, they usually tend to pipe down a bit. Eayrs, who transferred to Milwaukee from North Dakota State College of Science has certainly proven his critics wrong. He averages just under 10 points per game, and just over five rebounds. Not bad for a guy who doesn’t start. Wait, now Coach Jeter has thrown him into the starting mix, too? What can’t this young man accomplish?
In fact, when he was growing up, “Big James” wasn’t even a “big man.” He tells us that he played guard “on some AAU travelling teams growing up – played a little point (guard), shooting guard.” That would explain the fact that, although most people of his size are found camping out down in the lane, this center can actually shoot the ball as well. The “Dancing Polar Bear” has made 29 three-pointers this season and, despite a selfadmitted cold spell from long range over break, has converted on more than 34 percent of his shots from behind the arc. Just to put that into perspective, Stephen Curry shoots 37 percent. While that may not be up there with the Ray Allens or Kyle Korvers of the NBA, that percentage would slot him just outside the top-100 if he were in the pros right now. “It’s a lot easier for me to free myself up when I’m out by the three-point line, but I feel real comfortable down in the post too. When I’m out by the three though, it’s either pick-and-pop or pick-androll,” Eayrs said. That type of ability from someone of his size must make opposing coaches have to work a bit harder in practice before
The Madness is almost here Horizon League Tournament around the corner By Jimmy Lemke Sports Editor sports@uwmpost.com
There’s no point in lying–the chances of Milwaukee getting a bye to the semifinals of the conference tournament are very slim. The Panthers are 9-6 in the Horizon, two full games behind 2nd-place Green Bay and a game behind both Cleveland State and Wright State.
Eayrs playing Milwaukee. When big men are on him, he can swing outside and beat you with his shot. When smaller defenders try to chase him around, he can go down low and beat you with his footwork and low-post moves. Valparaiso head coach Homer Drew even admitted to telling his players not to treat Eayrs as a big man, but rather as more of a guard in a big man’s body. Whatever it is that makes this man with many nicknames (he admits, he likes “Big Lumber” the most) thrive so well on the court, it has brought instant energy into the U.S. Cellular Arena every time he steps out on the floor. Now that he’s in the starting lineup, the only question that remains is “What will James Eayrs show us next?”
As of today, Milwaukee can finish anywhere between 2nd and 6th in the conference. 2nd place gets a bye all the way to the semifinals of the conference tournament, while 3rd through 6th host the first round of the tournament. With the tournament right around the corner, we will be breaking down Milwaukee’s chances and different scenarios that could play out between today and the end of the regular season. For your reference, if there is a tie in the standingsthe first tiebreaker is head-to-head. Milwaukee is 0-2 against Green Bay and 1-1 against Cleveland State, so Green Bay would win a tiebreaker but Cleveland State would force us to the next tiebreaker, which is record against the top teams. As of today, Milwaukee and CSU are both 01 against the top team, Butler. That would take us to the next
team, Green Bay. As mentioned before, Green Bay is 2-0 against Milwaukee, but a loss to CSU on Saturday puts them at 1-1 against the Vikings, and Cleveland State would currently have the tiebreaker on Milwaukee. The way Milwaukee can trump that is by defeating nationally ranked Butler on Wednesday and seeing Butler defeat Cleveland State on the final day of the regular season. As of today, Milwaukee can finish anywhere between 2nd and 6th in the conference. 2nd place gets a bye all the way to the semifinals of the conference tournament, while 3rd through 6th host the first round of the tournament. The 3rd and 6thplace teams are on the same side of the bracket as the 2nd-place team. The 4th and 5th-place teams, should one advance to the semifinals, would play the top-ranked team in their own house. The Horizon League set this up for the 2004 tournament to give the No. 1 team the best opportunity to win the tournament; therefore, giving the conference the best chance in the NCAA tournament. This gets mixed reactions from fans, since the No. 1 and No. 2 teams only have to win two games to win the tournament as opposed to four by everyone else. Assuming that 2nd place is out of reach for the Panthers (Green Bay would have to lose all three of their final games with Milwaukee winning all three), the Panthers need to pick up a game on both Cleveland State and Wright State to have a chance at the No. 3 spot. The
See HORIZON page 10
Sulskis buries Panthers By Mitch Gallagher Staff Writer sports@uwmpost.com
formance and an injured Tone Boyle helped with 12, but neither could contribute when it really mattered as all of their points came in the first half. Milwaukee, who trailed by nine with about six minutes to go took the lead after a pair of steals on Penguin inbound passes and a basket by Avery Smith with a minute remaining. The Panthers had a 4136 advantage at half, but the Penguins came out hot in the second and by the 11-minute mark had a nine-point lead. The Panthers seem to live by the three, and die by the three and that held true on Saturday. In the first half Milwaukee sank 9-16 and 8-12 to start the game. But they went cold in the second half going 9-29 from the floor. The Panthers play their final two regular season games at home starting on Wednesday against Butler.
f the w o t e a t
ek
The UW-Milwaukee Panthers men’s basketball team got a taste of last-second heroics Saturday night. After overcoming a nine-point deficit late in the second half to tie the game, Vytas Sulskis hit a 19-foot jump shot with 1.4 seconds remaining to give the Youngstown State Penguins the 70-68 win over the Panthers. Milwaukee had it’s opportunity to take the lead twice with less than a minute remaining but came up empty on both possessions. Youngstown State had the ball with 30 seconds left and missed two shots on their possession but got the offensive rebound and called
timeout with 5 seconds remaining to set up the winning play. Following the shot by Sulskis, the Panthers had an opportunity to tie or win the game, but the inbound and shot couldn’t go. What makes the situation murkier is the fact that Head Coach Rob Jeter ran after the referees at the final buzzer, because he had been gesturing and yelling for a timeout since the second Sulskis’ shot went through. He didn’t reach them, because the referees ran off the court immediately, giving Jeter no chance to argue. Sirlester Martin the red hot Penguins with 20 points. Youngstown State has won four in a row, two against two of the top teams in the league, Milwaukee and Green Bay. James Eayrs earned a doubledouble for the Panthers with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Ricky Franklin added a 14-point per-
S
Wrong side of the game-winner
Women’s basketball has not lost two games in a row since the middle of January. They haven’t won two in a row since November.
The UWM Post
8 February 16, 2009
A Wink and a Nod
Packers
Let’s make a deal The 16th Thursday is near By Brett Winkler Staff Writer sports@uwmpost.com
Ah, the 16th Thursday of the NBA season. The 15 previous Thursdays this season have been fun and all, but there is nothing like the 16th Thursday. It’s the Thursday that’s brought Ben Wallace to Cleveland, Baron Davis to Golden State, and, yes, Gary Payton to Milwaukee. On this Thursday Feb. 19, teams will make their last attempts at acquiring talent, draft picks or cap space via trade. With economic factors possibly hindering owners around the league, this year’s NBA trade deadline could be one of the most exciting in recent memory. To get you ready for the big day, here’s a look at this year’s prized possessions.
Amaré Stoudemire, Phoenix Suns The Suns are shopping their power forward in an effort to shed some salary, but there’s a catch: Amaré will likely flee wherever he lands and opt for the much-hyped free agency of 2010. Nevertheless, he can give a team a good yearand-a-half before opting for greener pastures (since making $15-17 million a year is more of a yellowish-green situation).
Shawn Marion, Miami Heat There’s a good chance that “The Matrix” will find himself on his third team in two years, and his contract has a lot to do with it. While his roughly $17 million deal expires, whoever goes after Marion will likely do so with the hopes of locking him up for a few years. Buyer beware, though, because anyone with a nickname that directly correlates to a movie starring Keanu Reeves probably isn’t as good as advertised. Except for Brett “The Lake House” Winkler.
Jermaine O’Neal, Toronto Raptors The oft-injured O’Neal has already worn out his welcome up north. Toronto would love to blame the economy and trade O’Neal’s $20-something million contract off the books, which is fine, as long as “economy” is slang for “bad trade we made to acquire this guy.”
Raymond Felton, Charlotte Bobcats With the emergence of rookie D.J. Augustin, Felton has found himself on the block, joining every other Bobcat not named D.J. Augustin.
Leandro Barbosa, Phoenix Suns Barbosa has a lengthy contract, but his athleticism and shooting ability would be welcome additions to a number of contenders. That’s all I got.
Wally Szczerbiak, Cleveland Cavaliers Wally’s expiring $13 million deal is ripe for the plucking as the Cavs hope to bring one final piece to the LeBron puzzle. Cleveland was looking to add a player who clearly isn’t an All-Star, but whose decent enough numbers on a good team could earn him a spot in the All-Star Game after repetitive whining about being “snubbed.” They might, however, already have such a player on their roster.
Raef Lafrentz, Portland Blazers See Szczerbiak, Wally. But as an added bonus, in Raef’s case, as with all injured players, the majority of his contract is paid for by insurance rather than the team owner. So, although his hefty deal will count against his team’s salary cap for the rest of the year, the team will only be paying for part of it. Whether you’re a fan excited about your team’s prospects and intrigued at what deadline deals they might pull off, or you’re like Steve Manske and you prematurely lose all hope and encourage others to do the same (Yes, I just called out a fellow Post writer; yes, I know how lame that is.), may your 16th Thursday bring you all that you desire.
Spring training time, lads! Here’s to not being another 26 years away By Ken “Cheeks” Ryan Staff Writer sports@uwmpost.com
Well, the 2008 Green Bay Packers season is well in the rearview mirror, 2009 seems like light-years away (even with the draft approaching), and the UW-Milwaukee men’s and women’s basketball teams will face daunting tasks running the table in the league tournament. Plus, temperatures will yo-yo, giving hints of spring then punches of winter, and the economy will be a train wreck. In addition, spring break is still a month off and The Office is only on for half an hour each week.
The rotation is actually pretty set, but how will it perform? Well, Mr. Skip Brennan from the outskirts of Manitowoc, what to talk about next? Let’s talk baseball. A year after clinching the club’s first playoff appearance since losing the World Series in 1982 (they did lose), the Milwaukee Brewers take to Maryvale, Ariz. with a strange blend of a sense of accomplishment and unbridled enthusiasm for the future. Sure, losing CC Sabathia to the Yankees stings, as does having Rickie Weeks in the starting lineup. But hey, at least that’s not Ned Yost in the dugout. It’s Ken Macha, who brings a winning resumé from the Oakland Athletics.
Shaping the Rotation: Sabathia was legendary down the stretch, pitching on short rest and, along with Ryan Braun’s bat, carrying the club into the playoffs. Ben Sheets held the club together in the first half before pulling his usual trick of falling apart. Both are gone. The rotation is actually pretty set, but how will it perform? Yovani Gallardo had two knee injuries but is a number one without a doubt. His stuff is electric. Lefthander Manny Parra has a bright future ahead of him and is penciled in at number two, though he may not be at that level at this point. Without Dave Bush stepping up the way he did in the second half of last year, the club won’t make it in the postseason. He needs to remain on that track and not revert to doing Jamey Wright impressions. Jeff Suppan is a great human being, and that matters in a lot of aspects in life, just not in the standings. Brandon Looper, signed from St. Louis,
will invoke a line from Carl Spackler from “Caddyshack” (a caddy, a looper) but that’s pretty much it. Seth McClung, the odd man out, is a fan favorite but will have plenty of time to snack out a hangover with TGI Friday’s appetizers in the left field bullpen.
Who’s on second? (Will Weeks break out? 2009 edition): General Manager Doug Melvin believes strongly in Weeks, kind of like Mike Sherman believed strongly in Ahmad Carroll. Melvin is a great general manager, but it’s either now or never for Weeks. Luckily for Weeks, there is no immediate minor league threat at second as the organization’s depth is on the left side of the infield. Is a J.J. Hardy move to second in the future if Weeks continues to struggle?
And Who’s on third?: The vaunted Bill Hall/Mike Lamb platoon scares no one. We’ll see if hot-hitting, Roger Dorn-fielding Matt Gamel does well enough in spring training to invoke a Braun 2007-esque call up to infuse the lineup.
Bullpen Roles: Closer Trevor Hoffman obviously brings a ton of credibility to the pen. The guess here is he’ll still be good enough to be effective. The question lies in what roles McClung and Carlos Villanueva fill. The Brewers must be hoping Villanueva turns into last year’s McClung. Plus, Brian Shouse needs to be replaced as the lefty specialist. Mitch Stetter is likely the leading candidate. In addition to that, the likes of Tim Dillard, Jorge Julio, Mark DeFelice, David Riske and someone else I’m forgetting need roles.
Alcides Escobar: He’ll start the season in Triple-A, but like Gamel, if he puts on a show and this team is slow out of the gate, he’ll be on the big league club. Escobar is the team’s highest rated minor leaguer. So loosen up those mitts and clean off those grills, boys and girls. Opening day is less than two months away. Here are five things to look for in spring training as pitchers and catchers have reported to camp. The early report date is due to the World Baseball Classic. Opening day is April 6 in San Francisco. The home opener is April 10.
February 16, 2009 9
uwmpost.com
And the beat goes on
Crogan and Feuk lead Panthers
Women still going through ups and downs
Pair has good showing at Iowa State
By Jimmy Lemke Sports Editor sports@uwmpost.com
Perhaps the most perplexing team in Sandy Botham’s tenure as head coach of the Milwaukee Panthers has had yet another rollercoaster week. The Panthers, who haven’t won two games in a row since November, lost to Detroit on Thursday before defeating Wright State on Saturday. What makes that even more odd? They were on the other side for both of those games, and by double-digits each time. Wright State defeated Milwaukee by 20 points the last time the two teams met, which was at the U.S. Cellular Arena in Milwaukee. This time, the Panthers were to get the better of the Raiders. Behind 20 points and eight rebounds by Traci Edwards, the Milwakee Panthers took the second game against the Wright State Raiders, 70-64. The Panthers moved to 6-7 in the Horizon League, good for
sixth-place which would give the Panthers a conference tournament home game. “I am so proud of this basketball team,” head coach Sandy Botham told uwmpanthers.com. “They played with great focus and concentration for 40 minutes.” In Detroit, the Panthers were getting stomped by 17 points late in the game before making a serious run. Milwaukee went on a 20-5 run to bring the game within two to be down just 5250 with under three minutes remaining in the game. They got hot when they needed to, but they also went cold at the worst time, not scoring again for the rest of the game. Detroit answered the bell by hitting a three-pointer to make it 55-50, and scored the last seven points of the contest to win 59-50. Milwaukee was led by Ashley Imperiale, who scored 12 points, reeled in six rebounds and stole the ball three times. Traci Edwards had 12 points and seven rebounds, while Jineen Williams had seven and six and Lindsay Laur had seven and five. The Panthers look to sweep a week for the first time this season by playing Loyola and UIC. The Loyola game on Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Klotsche Center will be televised live.
Jeter and company snubbed by ESPN Worthy game not on television By John Parker Staff Writer sports@uwmpost.com
The UW-Milwaukee men’s basketball team will take on North Dakota State University Saturday Feb. 21. The two teams were in a pool of 102 with a chance to get into the ESPN Bracketbuster games, the games aired on ESPN networks. The game was not selected as one of those slated for TV, despite the fact that it seems to be
The game is at 7 p.m. on Feb. 21 at U.S. Cellular arena and will be aired on Horizon League Network. a better matchup than some of the others and has an enticing story behind it. The argument could be rather easily made that the game was “snubbed” by ESPN, and that it should have been put onto one of ESPN’s channels. The Horizon League will have three teams participating in the nationally televised games. Butler, who is in first place in the conference and ranked 15th nationally, will play against Davidson in the headline matchup, to be aired on ESPN. Green Bay, the second-place team in the Horizon League, plays Long Beach State in a game that will be aired on ESPNU. And Wright
State, currently tied for fourth in the conference, will play Northeastern, the top team in the Colonial Athletic Association. UWM, currently in third place in the Horizon League, appears to have a legitimate gripe with getting passed over for Wright State, a team they have already beaten. The other argument that can be made for UWM and North Dakota State is that their game was passed over in favor of Liberty and Old Dominion. The reason UWM was passed over is obvious. Seth Curry, the younger brother of Davidson star Stephen, is Liberty’s top scorer. So while both Milwaukee and North Dakota State are ranked higher in the Ratings Percentage Index, the ranking system that is used heavily to determine who makes it into the NCAA Tournament, the Panthers and Bison will have to settle for an Internet broadcast of their game. In addition to having a matchup of two teams that are ranked higher than those in some of the other games, UWM Head Coach Rob Jeter and North Dakota State Head Coach Saul Phillips were both players for Bo Ryan during his time at UWPlatteville, and later assistants under him at UWM and Wisconsin. Additionally, former UWM players Dan Weisse and Will Ryan, Bo’s son, are assistant coaches at North Dakota State. The game is at 7 p.m. on Feb. 21 at U.S. Cellular Arena and will be aired on the Horizon League Network.
By Jesse Tiedt Staff Writer sports@uwmpost.com
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee traveled to Iowa State for the Cyclone Classic Thursday and concluded the meet on Saturday. The Panthers were able to get huge days from freshmen Ben
Crogan and Drew Feuk in the Heptathlon event. Crogan finished fourth in the event with a score of 4,871, which was good enough for 2nd best in school history. His top performance came in the high jump where he cleared 67 ½. Right behind Crogan was Feuk who scored 4,411 points, which was good enough 3rd best in school history. The Panthers had sophomores Cory Yttre and Jared Foerch tie in the 200m with
times of 22.75. That time placed them both 10th all time in school history. Senior Adam Schleis placed 10th in the long jump on Friday with a jump of 22-11 ¾. Freshman Jake Whitewater was 13th in the long jump with a jump of 22-9 ¼. In the 5000m, Ryan Mleziva took 11th with a personal best of 15:20.54. Behind him was Jason Axt who placed 19th with a time of 15:39.20.
10 February 16, 2009
The UWM Post
Bucks
The remarkable return of Jody Crumble Devastating injury couldn’t keep her down By Steve Manske Staff Writer sports@uwmpost.com
As the season began at NC State, senior guard Jody Crumble of the UW-Milwaukee women’s basketball team could feel her season coming to an end even as it started. Crumble fell apart with a devastating ACL injury just three minutes into her season. There was a moment of disappointment, and she couldn’t believe this was
happening to her. However, after meeting with her doctor she was told that many athletes have returned from this injury the same season, and that was her goal knowing that this was her final year of college basketball. She was informed that in order to return she would have to go through intense rehabilitation, which she was willing to do. Crumble said, “If I worked hard I could play again, and I didn’t want to sit out the year, because I knew that was my only option to play my senior season.” She did rehab for the ACL injury an hour-and-a-half each day. The hard work would eventually pay off. On Saturday Feb. 7 against Youngstown State at the Klotsche Center her quest to return became reality. Head Coach
Sandy Botham put Crumble in late in the game in order to see how effective she could be to determine if she can help this team win for the remainder of the season.
“When I knocked it down I felt great and knew I was ready then.” – Jody Crumble, senior guard Crumble was filled with joy, and when she knocked down a three-point shot she proved she was back and ready to help this Panther team for the remainder of her final UWM athletics season. “When I knocked it down I felt great and knew I
was ready then,” Crumble said. Crumble hopes to build on this achievement and help the Panthers become a legitimate threat come conference tournament time. Crumble does know that the season is winding down and there will be other things she wants to do when her career is over at UWM. Crumble wants to pursue a career in acting. She wants to move to either Atlanta or Los Angeles to make this dream come true. Crumble would love to star in comedic or action-filled movies. The script of making an odds-defying comeback points to a bright future in pursuit of her dream. We as fans certainly hope it comes true for her.
HORIZON Continued from page 7 Panthers can do that fairly easily against Wright State while also picking up the tiebreaker with the Raiders by defeating them next week Thursday in Dayton. Cleveland State will be tougher, but beating Butler will give UWM a victory against the top team in the conference, something Wright State failed to do and Cleveland State has also not done so far (they play on the 28th). How does it play out for Milwaukee? The good news is that they basically control their own destiny. Defeating Butler will pick up a huge tiebreaker chip for the Panthers, as will Wright State next week Saturday. Going into Calihan Hall in
Detroit and winning is easier said than done, but it’s not out of the question; Milwaukee did it two years ago. Cleveland State has just as difficult a road as the Panthers. The Vikings must play Youngstown State, a team that defeated them earlier in the season, as well as make the dreaded Indiana trip to Butler and Valparaiso, two of the most difficult arenas to play in for the conference. Wright State has a game at UIC on Wednesday, which should be a victory for the Raiders, but they also host two of the top teams in conference the last week of the season in Milwaukee and Green Bay. For Milwaukee to finish well, beating Butler at home on Wednesday is a huge deal. A full student section will give that a big push. Got the hint?
What’s On Tap IS COMING!
Student orgs!! Make a float for the Mardi Gras parade and win awesome prizes!! WHO:
All student organizations
WHEN:
Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 3pm (Mardi Gras activities start at 11am)
WHERE: Starts in the Union Ballroom and goes down to the Rec Center WHY:
Because it’s fun! Because you’ll let everyone know about your great organization!
FIRST PRIZE
$100 OFF the catering of an event!
500 HANDBILLS SECOND PRIZE
for an event
THIRD PRIZE
FREE AD in the UWM Post
The Craft Centre (Union WG30) will have all sorts of supplies for you to use from Monday, Feb. 16 through Feb. 24 during their open hours. They’ll even show you how to make your float from big boxes they have for you! Call Linda for more info– 229-3111 or email lcpardee@uwm.edu
Wednesday | Men’s basketball vs. Butler at the U.S. Cellular Arena, 7 p.m. The biggest game of the semester is upon us, as nationally ranked Butler comes to town to try and sweep the Panthers. Coach Rob Jeter and Milwaukee will look to improve their stellar home record to 11-2. This game will be on live TV. Thursday | Women’s basketball vs. Loyola at the Klotsche Center, 7 p.m. Sandy Botham and the Panthers look to sweep the Ramblers for the season after defeating Loyola in Chicago, 83-74. This game will also be on live TV. Friday | Track and field takes part in the annual Panther Tune-Up event at the Klotsche Center. Saturday | Women’s basketball vs. UIC at the Klotsche Center, 2 p.m. The Panthers look to avenge a 71-57 loss to the Flames as well as solidify their position in the Horizon League race. Tennis looks to get their season headed in the right direction by playing IUPUI at the Paley Tennis Center at 5 p.m. Men’s basketball vs. North Dakota State at the U.S. Cellular Arena, 7 p.m. The ESPN BracketBusters event matches Saul Phillips and Rob Jeter, the only two Bo Ryan assistants to coach D-I basketball. Bison star Ben Woodside scored 60 points in a game earlier this year against Stephen F. Austin. Friday - Sunday | Baseball opens their season against No. 6 nationally ranked Arizona State in Tempe, Ariz. The highly rated Panther offense will look to pound Sun Devil pitchers in the four-game set that ends on Sunday.
SPONSORED BY UNION & SOCIOCULTURAL PROGRAMMING No state tax revenue supporting the printing of this ad.
The Dogg Haus, located on Downer Avenue just across from Mitchell Hall, serves up a variety of hot dogs late into the night. Post photo by Sam Hogerton
12 February 16, 2009
Downer Dogg Haus just one more step By Darin Kwilinski Assistant fringe Editor fringe@uwmpost.com
Mazen Muna is an energetic person with unparalleled ambition. His commitment to bringing something special to Milwaukee is something you don’t see everyday, and his contagious smile and upbeat attitude will make you a believer in his cause. It’s safe to say Mazen has accomplished his goal of introducing Milwaukee to specialized hot dogs, and he recently opened the fourth Dogg Haus right across from the UW-Milwaukee campus on Downer Avenue (2608 Downer Ave., to be exact). Complete with its signature mustard-yellow and ketchup-red paint scheme, the new addition has quickly become a shining beacon of hope for starving college students. But Mazen isn’t your typical hot dog joint owner. After obtaining a degree in finance and marketing from UWM, he quickly realized he did not want to work
fringe
The UWM Post
for someone else, and that he didn’t want to enter a saturated market or produce a clichéd product either. He started fishing for ideas. “I didn’t want to open up another sub shop,” he says. “Subs are kind of boring.” Back in 2005, Mazen would sit in his car at the Walgreens parking lot for hours and stare at the current Brady Street location, trying to visualize what it could become. After some inspiration from Chicago and their love of hot dogs, he settled on the Dogg Haus. Since opening on April 1, 2005, the Brady Street location has become a staple of the area. “There was nothing on this block before we opened here,” Mazen says. “There was Starbucks, then a dead zone.” In four short years Mazen has expanded from the Brady Street restaurant to three other locations, the newest being on Downer Ave. In the future Mazen hopes to offer a small delivery service to the dorms, but no date has been set for that. Until then, Mazen is working on his current projects to make them even better. The Dogg Haus will be adding brats to the menu soon, and The Burger Joint, another one of Mazen’s creations, is quickly becoming the place to get the best burgers around. The Burger Joint, also located on Brady Street, is part of Mazen’s vision to bring unique experiences to Milwaukee. He wanted to create a place that was dedicated to burgers as much as the Dogg Haus is dedicated to hot dogs. “It’s all fresh. The meat is delivered fresh daily to The Burger Joint and is never frozen,” says Mazen. “The bread is delivered fresh daily.” His endeavors have not gone unnoticed. along with numerous positive press articles, which he proudly hangs in all of his stores, The Dogg Haus has won the
Shepherd Express’s Milwaukee’s Best Award three years running. The Burger Joint has won the Blue Ribbon Award for Cleanliness from Channel 4. Humbly, Mazen praises his team of workers as well as the beneficiaries of his dogs. “Without the great team we have it wouldn’t have been possible. I thank everyone involved for their support, from the employees to the customers.” Mazen keeps an open line communication with his employees 24/7. He says communication plays a key role in his business plan, and he treats everyone like family, even the customers. He works alongside his employees at one store or another from open to close, sometimes 17 hours a day. He also schedules his workers at different locations so they meet and befriend new people, and it pays off.
Mazen would sit in his car at the Walgreens parking lot for hours and stare at the current Brady Street location, trying to visualize what it could become. After some inspiration from Chicago and their love of hot dogs, he settled on the Dogg Haus. “We were in New York once at the airport, and we ran into a customer,” Mazen recalls. “He remembered us. We sell to all sorts of people. Lawyers, judges, construction workers—they come from all over the place to eat here.” It’s those kinds of things that make Mazen proud of his restaurant. The relationship he forges with customers and employees is one of the most important things to him. The Dogg Haus already sells more hot dogs than Lambeau Field, so what’s next for Mazen and company to accomplish? “More stores,” says Mazen. “In and outside of Milwaukee.” As for the new Downer store, Mazen says it’s already beating expectations. “The staff loves the UWM students. We feel very comfortable of the UWM campus, and we’re not going anywhere for a long time.”
All in a day’s work at the Tool Shed A little striptease and some sexual education to boot
Inside the Toolshed at 2427 Murray Ave. Post photo by Daryl Stoll By Lia Manning Staff Writer fringe@uwmpost.com
Check out the fringe blog!! uwmpostfringe.wordpress.com
On Feb. 6, Bella Sue DeVianti and Vee Valentine graced the Tool Shed (2427 Murray Ave.) with their vivacious personalities. Their aim? To teach the 10 women present (myself included) the “Art of the Tease.” I had no idea what I really signed up for, but it sounded like a great time. And what woman can’t use a few sexy tricks to keep up her sleeve? Beforehand I had a chance to chat with Laura Stuart, the
newest owner of the Tool Shed. Stuart is a public health educator at UW-Milwaukee’s Norris Health Center, and she carries that teaching mentality over to her business. She wants the Tool Shed to be “not just a retail store, but an educational center and resource for people.” Most of us are likely quite shy when we enter a sex toy store, but the Tool Shed’s boutique-like feel takes away the skanky vibe common among “porn” stores. Stuart believes in stocking goods from local ven-
See SHED page 21
fringe
uwmpost.com
February 16, 2009 13
Dragalicious UWM’s Annual Drag Show coming up By Danielle Stevens Staff Writer fringe@uwmpost.com
A performer at last year’s drag show. File photo by Vanessa Weber
Are you looking for some excitement this month? Look no further. The UWM Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Resource Center is hosting its 7th annual drag show on Saturday Feb. 21 in the Union Ballroom. Doors will open at 7:30 p.m. with the show beginning at 8. The event is free and open to the public. All of the tips the performers receive will benefit Project Q, the youth program of the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center. Every year the show is held around the time as Mardi Gras festivities and it is typically very well attended. Weather has never reduced the turnout, a fact that caused co-emcee Isis to comment, “Mother Nature must’ve been a drag queen.” She recalls the crowd that showed up for last year’s show, despite brutally cold conditions.
Diversify your diet Eat healthier with a broader spectrum of fruits and veggies
Without a doubt the most important color when it comes to eating healthy is green.
Incorporating a wide variety into your diet can be a colorful pursuit. Post photo by Alana Soehartono By Becky Kolar Staff Writer fringe@uwmpost.com
I’m sure that at some point in your life you’ve heard eating a variety of foods with different hues is good for your health. Many necessary nutrients are associated with different natural colors, and if your diet doesn’t contain a healthy mix of all of them, then you’re almost certainly lacking some vital nutrients. For example, if you often get unexplained stomachaches, you’re probably deficient in green vegetables, which are necessary for healthy digestion. If you feel chronically sick, one explanation is that you are most likely not getting enough orange and yellow fruits and vegetables. In fact, nearly every color produce has some correlating health benefit. Without a doubt the most important color when it comes to eating healthy is green. Green fruits and vegetables are highly
nutritious, with dark leafy greens topping the list. Spinach, kale and kiwi are some examples of immensely healthy green fruits and vegetables. These green fruits and vegetables are extremely important for digestion, improving the immune system and even fighting cancer. Red fruits and vegetables are excellent sources of phytochemicals, which are also essential for fighting cancer. Great sources of these include cherries, apples and tomatoes. Red produce also helps decrease high blood pressure. Orange and yellow fruits and vegetables are usually lumped into one category. These fruits and vegetables are associated with beta carotene (Vitamin A), which is necessary for vision, skin health and immune function. Sources include carrots, sweet potatoes and mangoes. A common blue fruit is (surprise, surprise) blueberries, which are extremely important for improving your memory and decreasing your risk of heart
disease. Some similar choices would be grapes, eggplant and prunes. Lastly, white vegetables are also invaluable. Some examples include onions, cauliflower and dates. These white fruits and vegetables balance hormone levels and also provide powerful immune-boosting activity. Although you probably aren’t consuming all of these colors on a daily basis, it is a good idea to take in many of them as often as possible. Those who don’t eat fruits and vegetables may regularly feel fine, but the truth is that their bodies are not as healthy as they should and can be. It can take years for a vitamin deficiency to outwardly show. However, once the deficiency has surfaced there has already been an incredible amount of damage within the body. Instead of being at a high risk of cancer and heart disease, take care of your body and sit down to a tasty meal of kiwi, cauliflower and blueberries today.
There will be seating for about 500 people, and standing room for additional guests. more than 20 drag queens and kings will be performing, a mixture of students and professionals including Lady Gia, the Miltown Kings, Jessica Properties, Madam Sparkll, Mario Agustin and Belvidere Suave. Also emceeing will be Jo Mama. Madame Sparkll is coordinating things, and countless UWM student volunteers will be helping out. The show is sponsored by the UWM LGBT Resource Center, Alphabet Q at UWM and Queer People of Color (QPOC) at UWM. For further information on this and other LGBTRC events, visit www.lgbt.uwm.edu
If you go: UWM Annual Drag Show UWM Union Ballroom Saturday Feb. 21 8 p.m. Free and open to the public
fringe
14 February 16, 2009
The UWM Post
Nine women, ‘Nine Lives’ Garcia film interweaves relationship woes By Melissa Campbell fringe Editor fringe@uwmpost.com
We are all connected, even if we don’t know or realize it. Whether it be through geographical proximity or a shared experience, our lives form an intricate web. Rodrigo Garcia’s 2005 film “Nine Lives,” to be shown at the UW-Milwaukee Union Theatre Wednesday Feb. 18 at 7 p.m., explores this idea of shared experience. His film
presents the lives of nine different women in succession. There is no intercutting, no back-andforth dialogue, just one vignette after another. What ties the stories together and allows us to make connections between them is two-fold. First, it is the subtle reoccurrence of characters, and second, it’s the thematic commonalities. All the vignettes deal with the complications of relationships, albeit in very different ways—some are sad, some are awkward, some are violent. Yet above all they are about strength and perseverance. All the stories are told in single shots. There is camera movement throughout—in fact, the camera is very tied to the central figure and follows her
Still image courtesy Magnolia Pictures throughout the space—but no cuts. In that way, it feels almost like theater, rather than cinema, for we are so used to seeing the cut. These relationships are on display in front of us, and we are only afforded one look. There is, however, a moment that occurs during Sonia’s segment when her boyfriend airs very private laundry—the story of Sonia’s recent abortion—at the couple’s housewarming. He and Sonia sit on a couch, facing the camera, but just over their heads is a mirror that reflects the reactions of the other couple. In this way, Garcia gives us the shot-reaction shot we crave and typically see in films without actually having to cut. This film is not an easy one to describe. One could recite the events chronologically, but we don’t have any chronology to follow. In the first story, Sandra is a Los Angeles County Prison inmate. She goes to visit with her young daughter, but the prison’s broken phone prevents the visit, highlighting the disconnect prisoners have from their families and from the outside world in general. Later in the film, we see Sandra get arrested at a motel, as part of Ruth’s story.
Ruth contemplates having an affair when she sees the arrest; she walks into Sandra’s vacant room and chats with a hotel worker clearing up. After the woman leaves, Ruth finds a single shoe. Wait, she calls to the woman. But she is gone. Ruth is left with this single shoe, much like the prince was left with the glass slipper in Cinderella, though this is no fairytale.
“Nine Lives” came about amongst a sea of intertwined narratives like “Magnolia” and “Crash,” but it manages to stand apart. On and on go the stories. Maggie, who has lost her daughter, Holly, who is wrestling with her relationship with her father, Diana, whose life is turned upside down after running into an old flame at the supermarket. And Samantha, a teenager who constantly mediates between her tired mother and disabled father. This film showcases the who’s who of female actors today, including Glenn Close,
Holly Hunter, Amy Brenneman and Dakota Fanning. Each gives a stunning performance. There is no fancy camerawork here. The rawness of Garcia’s lens and his superb writing really allow the actresses and their supporting cast (who deserve mention as well) to show off their abilities and to really get inside their characters. “Nine Lives” came about amongst a sea of intertwined narratives like “Magnolia” and “Crash,” but it manages to stand apart. This film is about the individual. While the interconnectedness reminds us that we are not alone, that our problems are oftentimes universal, that lesson functions more as an aside. It’s the “Wow, it’s a small world” you might say to yourself after seeing an old friend in the supermarket, before retreating back into your own life.
If you go: “Nine Lives” UWM Union Theatre Wednesday, Feb. 18 7 p.m. Free screening
The same old story Saliva’s latest just another mediocre rock record By Michael Ray Special to the Post fringe@uwmpost.com
Saliva emerged several years ago as the rap-rock genre was prostituting itself to anyone who would listen and bands like Limp Bizkit and Linkin Park were making a name for themselves. Like a little brother longing to play with the big boys, Sal climbed on the bandwagon and churned out record after record of generic, forgettable Southern rock. Their latest effort, “Cinco Diablo,” left me longing for the days of “Click Click Boom.” It’s as if singer Josey Scott pulled out a rhyming dictionary and arbitrarily threw words onto the page with little forethought. “Another day in tribulation/ Dead set on annihilation/No thought for my preservation.” Someone missed their sell-by date. Musically, the album holds itself together but does nothing to distinguish itself. It’s heavy, but not heavy enough. It tries
to be loud, but comes across as sanitized. For hard-core Saliva fans, “Cinco Diablo” stays within their box, and you’ll probably like it just fine. For those who have little or no exposure to the band, do yourself a favor—skip this one. I think I figured out what about the album left such a bitter taste in my mouth: lyrics like “And I will gladly make you see/That you should not have messed with me” and “Any of you know it’s true/I’m just better than you.” The latter lines, from the song “I’m Coming Back,” remind me of bad highschool garage bands who are convinced they are the second coming. “What happened to the world where love was king/Is that so yesterday?” Really? So yesterday? Did you write this yourself or ask your fourteenyear-old cousin for help? On a different note, the song “Southern Girls” was not absolutely horrible. The guitar work here is adequate, but it was better the first time I heard it in 1987 when it was called “Girls,
Cover art courtesy Island Records Girls, Girls.” This is a strip-club anthem for a new generation. “They got long legs, big lips, baby face and orange knee-high hips/They can milk your cow/ They can climb your tree.” Or pole, whatever. Saliva might just become the poster child of mediocre rock records with their blend of predictable, stale lyrical hooks and guitar riffs reminiscent of everything I’ve heard on the radio for the past 10 years. True rock and roll has survived by evolution, not by going with the flow—a lesson that Saliva has yet to learn. The talent is there, buried beneath the manufactured Southern licks and the half-hearted, adrenaline-fueled voice of Josey Scott. Step up your game and I’ll be there, but I can’t sign onto a record that reads like the same old story.
fringe
uwmpost.com
A little old, a little new Franz’s new record pure, simple fun
Cover art courtesy Domino Records By Melissa Campbell fringe Editor fringe@uwmpost.com
Scottish rockers Franz Ferdinand deliver a deliciously retro disc with their junior release, “Tonight: Franz Ferdinand.” The album comes as a triumphant return to their disco-rock sound, begging listeners to get up and get moving.
It’s a fun record, pure and simple. Franz plays around with retro sounds, from disco to folk, but they never stray from a sound that’s charming and easy to listen to. The band bangs out disco rock early on tracks like “Turn it On” and “No, the Girls,” building up to a frenetic climax of complex compositions in later tracks like the rambling “Lucid Dreams” and post-sex cigarette, “Katherine Kiss Me.” It’s a fun record, pure and simple. Franz plays around with retro sounds, from disco to folk, but they never stray far from a sound that’s charming and easy to listen to. Their first single, “Ulysses,” has all the catchy poppiness of “Take Me Out,” though this time around it’s a little more subdued. It does, however, set the tone for a record that’s filled with playful, infectious melodies and irresistible dance beats. Lead vocalist Alex Kapranos’ deadpan delivery on all 12 tracks (he never seems to stray from a few sets of notes)
takes on an ironic quality that blends with the absurd lyrics: “I put your number into the calculator/ Where it spelled a dirty word/ When I turned it upside down,” Kapranos almost speaks in “Twilight Omens.” The record’s mid-point, “Bite Hard,” starts off as a lullaby, where Kapranos croons softly the opening stanza before the whole thing takes off with a driving drum beat. His delivery takes on a direct, almost harsh approach as they group leads into the chorus. Towards “Bite’s” conclusion, Kapranos’ guitar rocks out with a solo reminiscent of classic rock. This is definitely the “rock” track of the album, and it’s a nice surprise in the middle, where the weakest tracks often get buried. In the songs following “Bite Hard,” synthesizers and other New Wave influences start to creep in, culminating in the nearly eight-minute “Lucid Dreams,” where Kapranos’ voice imitates Roger Waters at points. Even some of the instrumentation even sounds Floydian. I guess every band needs one acid rock track. Or two, since Franz carries some of “Dreams” into the following track, “Dream Again.” The album’s conclusion, “Katherine Kiss Me,” is surprisingly simple and soft, though after the preceding dense tracks, its straightforwardness is greatly appreciated. It offers the album’s most poetic lyrics (“Your leather jacket lies/In sticky pools of cider blackberry”) and a Dylan-esque approach to the lead guitar and vocals. The hint of piano and the abrupt, unexpected ending gives us a strange sense of dissatisfaction that lead us right back to the beginning again.
February 16, 2009 15
Andrew Bird soars again Multi-instrumental architect Andrew Bird releases arguably his best album to date By Trapper Schoepp Special to the Post fringe@uwmpost.com
Andrew Bird’s standing reputation as a whistling violin virtuoso still holds true with his latest, and strongest studio effort, “Noble Beast.” Succeeding 2007’s highly acclaimed “Armchair Apocrypha,” “Noble Beast” shows the Chicago native tying his trademark loops and hooks into current musical evolutions. However, this time around Bird brings an ample number of hand claps, tambourines and orchestral swells to the mix. Bird’s new musical antics, coupled with his haunting vibrato whistling and looping violins create an exceptionally mysterious collection of songs. Bird’s brainy, and sometimes bizarre, lyrics throughout “Noble Beast” solidify a unique songwriting niche that he has been perfecting over the course of his past seven studio albums. However, the lyrics of the album seem much more personal than those of past releases. With a recent breakup with his longtime girlfriend and his developing persona of a loner setting the stage, Bird understandably spends much of his time reflecting on those two obstacles heavily throughout the album. Bird’s introversion is displayed poignantly in the violin, pizzicato-infested “Effigy,” while he croons alongside his
Cover art courtesy Fat Possum Records guitar, “The words of a man who’s spent a little too much time alone/When one has spent too much time alone.” Bird, who spends much of his time alone in his family’s rural farmhouse when he’s not on tour, is perhaps reflecting on the inherent relationship between his songwriting and his solitude. In the epic seven-minute, “Souverian,” Bird sings of a lost love, “Birds will sing still my lover won’t return to me/You promise spring still my lover won’t return to me.” While Bird’s unique lyrical schemes show traces of love and loneliness, they are also largely focused on the obscure imagery of the chaotic world around him. Bird also takes several cues from his backing band, who help lead him through the many
Check out the fringe blog!! uwmpostfringe.wordpress.com
dynamic shifts and meticulous string arrangements of “Noble Beast.” Innovative violin layering and stunning vocals slowly build the standout track of the album, “Anonanimal,” up to its climactic ending. While Bird is the noted mastermind behind the album, songs such as “Fitz & Dizzyspells,” and “Not a Ghost, But A Ghost” rely heavily on the ingenious drum and sampling work of Martin Dosh. With 14 songs spanning more than 50 minutes in length, most Andrew Bird fans will find an abundance of experimental hooks, loops and whistles to keep them satisfied. “Noble Beast” successfully blends aspects of indie rock, folk and classical genres in such a way that makes his listeners feel just as peculiar as the Birdman himself.
16 February 16, 2009
fringe
The UWM Post
Goodnight, Boss Springsteen pulls out all the stops on “Working on a Dream”
Cover art courtesy Columbia Records By Alex Rewey fringe Editor fringe@uwmpost.com
It’s been a strange year for The Boss. After a period of relative subtlety, a critically acclaimed comeback album, a performance for 400,000 inaugural attendees on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, one Golden Globe win and the Super Bowl Halftime Show crotch-shot seen round the world later, the old boy seems back on top again. Whew. Quick on the heels of 2007’s Grammy-Award winning album “Magic,” Springsteen presents “Working on a Dream,” a decidedly more upbeat installment recorded during breaks in the “Magic Tour.”
Without a doubt, “The Last Carnival” represents Springsteen at his songwriting finest. As such, “Working on a Dream” also finds the Boss collaborating with the regrouped E Street Band. Beginning with the mythical ballad “Outlaw Pete,” the album sounds stylistically more akin to the group’s magnum opus “Born in the USA,” than some of the their more sentimental team-ups. However, despite the morbid opening track that his solo efforts, early tracks of “Working on a Dream” are classic arena Springsteen with anthems like “My Lucky Day” and “What Love Can Do.” Yet, the album’s title track, as well as cuts like “This Life,” and the borderline giggle-inducing “Queen of the Supermarket,” may strike listeners as a bit too mainstream for the nearly 60year-old icon. Back-to-back tracks, “Good Eye” and “Tomorrow Never
Knows” come as the album’s mid-set curve balls, the former a down and dirty blues riff, and the latter a light and folksy romp that stands out from the rest of the album. Thankfully, any objectionable lulls are quickly overshadowed by the album’s nearly flawless third act. Buried amidst peppy E Street cuts, “Life Itself” channels the frantic agitation of the doomed protagonists of “Nebraska,” and “Darkness on the Edge of Town,” albeit with a more heavily orchestrated construction. “Kingdom of Days” and “Surprise, Surprise,” tone down the melancholy mood in preparation for the deservedly praised closers. Without a doubt, “The Last Carnival” represents Springsteen at his songwriting finest. A vivid lyrical requiem, Springsteen cries in tried and true Boss fashion, “We’ll be riding the train without you tonight, the train that keeps on moving,” before drowning the song with an ethereal choir outro. Without missing a beat, the album moves into the similarly styled bonus track, “The Wrestler.” The Golden Globe winning song was composed for the critically acclaimed Darron Aronofsky film. Like curtain closer “The Last Carnival,” “The Wrestler” plays like an introspective “Ghost of Tom Joad” for the artist himself. Lines like “If you’ve ever seen a onetrick pony then you’ve seen me,” might be a little hard to fathom coming from the accomplished musician, yet the theme of matured retrospection in the album’s final onetwo punch is unmistakable and wholly warranted. A legend in his own time, the Boss doesn’t look to fade away anytime soon, but after a slashand-burn-year-and-a-half, for now at least, he’s packing up and moving on down the road. Goodnight, Boss.
Shameless self promotion. www.uwmpost.com
uwmpost.com
The fringe five
Shoulda, woulda, coulda Oscar’s Best Picture Snubs By fringe Editors fringe@uwmpost.com
The Oscar for Best Picture has a longstanding history as the premiere award for American film. But that doesn’t mean they have always been right. The fringe editors band together to take a look at five glaring Best Picture decisions that should have gone another way.
1945 “Double Indemnity” loses to “Going My Way” One of the quintessential film noirs, reflecting a time of greed, lack of trust and damaged people, loses to a feel-good, upbeat comedy/musical about a parish in a deprived neighborhood. Really? People chose the church over sexual metaphors? Lame.
1964 “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb” loses to “My Fair Lady” “My Fair Lady” was great. But it was just another period-piece musical. “Dr. Strangelove,” on the other hand, from its brilliant performance by Peter Sellers to its sharp criticism of the Cold War, was revolutionary.
1998 “Saving Private Ryan” loses to “Shakespeare in Love” The only thing more boring than reading Shakespeare is watching him fictionally fall in love. The only thing more heart wrenching and intense than reading about D-Day is watching it on the silver screen with Tom Hanks leading the charge. Sorry, but Tom Hanks is more loveable than Shakespeare here.
2001 “Moulin Rouge!” loses to “A Beautiful Mind” Even the pity Oscar “Chicago” received for this Baz Luhrmann creation that revived the musical doesn’t make up for this snub.
2002 “The Pianist” loses to “Chicago!” Speaking of “Chicago”… maybe the 24-year-old pedophilia charges facing director Roman Polanski affected this decision. Regardless, it was a poor choice on the part of the Academy.
Film stills from top to bottom: “Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb,” “Double Indemnity,” “Saving Private Ryan,” “The Pianist”
fringe
February 16, 2009 17
The UWM Post
18 February 16, 2009
Solidarity | Working class perspective
Defend paid sick days! Businesses undermining democratic will of Milwaukee By Nathan Johnson Columnist editorial@uwmpost. com
Ima g in e yourself as a single working mother living paycheck to paycheck, and then your child becomes sick. You can’t send her to school, but you also can’t afford to miss a day of work. What do you do? In order to put an end to such intolerable predicaments, the National Association of Working Women, who refer to themselves as 9to5, recently led a campaign. Their aim was to provide paid sick leave for all private employees in Milwaukee. After 42,000 signatures were raised, a paid sick days referendum was included on the Nov. 4 ballot. It overwhelmingly passed with 69 percent of voters in favor. The referendum was binding, meaning it will become law within 90 days.
From day one the business class in Milwaukee has opposed the initiative. Unmoved by the arguments that paid sick days would create a healthier city and would enable parents to care for their sick children, business leaders callously care more about the health of their profit margins. According to 9to5’s Web site, the plan for the referendum was to provide “a minimum of one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked… [meaning] full time employees for large businesses will earn 72 hours a year… Small businesses with fewer than 10 employees will only be required to provide 40 hours of paid sick leave a year.” Similar legislation had already passed in San Francisco and Washington D.C. Such provisions are perfectly rational and humane. If somebody is sick, you wouldn’t want them coming to work and making everybody else sick, reducing overall productivity and causing unnecessary trouble for coworkers and clients. In fact, it’s unfortunate there’s no similar legislation providing compensated sick days for college studentsbecause nobody appreciates being crammed into a lecture hall at the peak of the flu season with sick students, coughing in chorus afraid to stay home lest they should fall behind. From day one, however, the business class in Milwaukee has opposed the initiative. Unmoved
by the arguments that paid sick days would create a healthier city and would enable parents to care for their sick children, business leaders callously care more about the health of their profit margins. The Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce (MMAC) – whose board of directors is packed with CEOs, chairmen and other leaders of Milwaukee’s most elite corporations – took the issue to court, where a judge recently decided to delay implementation of the paid sick leave ordinance, just four days before it was scheduled to take effect. Now the earliest that workers could see the ordinance take effect is sometime in May. The entire unfolding drama serves as an excellent case study in class struggle. The working class constitutes a large majority of the population in Milwaukee which, with its interests in mind, swiftly approved of paid sick days in a democratic manner (it doesn’t get much more democratic than referendums). The wealthy business class, constituting only a minority of Milwaukeeans, has a disproportionately large influence owing to its position at the pinnacle of society. As the business class conveniently owns the media, it had no trouble spewing scare tactics and deception in an effort to disorient the working class before the vote. Having only succeeded in producing a mini-renaissance of absurdist literature, the business class then began to maneuver in the courts so as to overturn the democratic will of Milwaukee. As Barbara Zack Quindel, a lawyer representing 9to5, explained, “They lost in the court of public opinion. They lost with the electorate. And now they’re trying to find another way to get around this very important regulation.” Millionaires not only don’t have to go to work when they are sick, they don’t have to work at all if they don’t want to. The working class, though, certainly don’t have this luxury. 9to5 reports that, “In Milwaukee, 122,230 workers (47 percent of private sector workers) currently do NOT have paid sick time; nationally, three out of four low wage workers do not have paid sick time.” We can see why such a victory for the working class would scare the business class. The fight for paid sick days is definitely a matter of class, affecting you directly. What can you do to help make paid sick days a reality in Milwaukee? You can write a letter (or e-mail: mayor@milwaukee.gov) to Mayor Tom Barrett, who opposes the ordinance. Tell him to respect the democratic will of Milwaukee and think of the children. But more importantly, you can get involved with 9to5 and reinforce its continued effort to raise the working class’ quality of life and labor.
On the subject of student elections By Sam Koller Staff Writer editorial@uwmpost.com
OK, since I am a political science major this one is a little personal. I think very few people are going to argue that elections are the legitimizing force in representative governance. If elections are in question, there is a snowball’s chance in hell that the government then elected will be viewed as credible. So I will presume that everyone can agree good elections make good government and bad elections have a like effect. I think our boy George just proved that in spades.
Whatever definition of “fair” you feel like using, writing rules you yourself are incapable of following probably does not fit inside it. Which brings us, once more, to the SA. I honestly hate ending up on this topic so much; it’s annoying. I would love to write about land use and wealth redistribution and demand-based economics, but I feel I have an obligation to point out to my fellow
students the fact that their government is failing them spectacularly. Government is not the problem; greedy and/or stupid people running government is. Recently, the SA executive branch tried to elect Rob Grover to the Independent Election Commissioner position. This office is supposed to oversee the elections in the spring to ensure they are fair to everyone running, that the election rules are not violated and that everybody has the same chance to get people to vote for them. Obviously, you are supposed to have someone who is neutral with regards to who is running, since you do not want them favoring their buddies. This makes the choice of Grover a little confusing. He was the president last year and hired most of the people in the current executive branch, and thus he’d be staggeringly biased toward his old friends and coworkers. It gets more confusing when we start looking at the history of this office. Last year, the IEC was Dan Bahr, who up until his election was the speaker of the Senate and co-founder of the majority party. The year before, there were unconfirmed rumors that the elections
commissioner was dating the majority party chairman (I exclude the names intentionally). Two years ago, the minority party was thrown off the ballot and the majority party won in a landslide. Last year, the margin was narrower, due to a massive write in campaign which Bahr tried to block by changing the election rules mid-way through Election Day. To say UW-Milwaukee has had some elections problems would probably be an understatement at this point. The SA is apparently taking no chances this year. On top of the nomination of a staggeringly unqualified and partisan Elections Commissioner, the SA has rewritten the elections rules to preclude, guess what, WRITEIN CAMPAIGNS! They have done this by the fascinating mechanism of banning people from bringing pieces of paper with names on them into the voting area. Now, I would like to do an experiment. Please try to remember how to spell the following names: Kristopeit, Voigtlander, Radomski, Rewolinski, Draheim and Knaapen. All of these are current members of the SA. Now
See ELECTIONS page 20
Michael Phelps’ newfound publicity Is the bad rap worth the wacky ‘baccy? By Cordelia Ano Ellis Special to the Post editorials@uwmpost.com
Michael Phelps is making headlines all over the country and the world, but it’s not about winning eight gold medals in the 2008 Olympics. Instead, he is making headlines because of photos showing him smoking marijuana. It’s hard to think of Michael Phelps as anything other than that awesome swimmer who won the U.S. all those shiny medals and bragging rights, but Phelps also makes mistakes. He made apologies over the Internet, on the news, so what more can the public want? And honestly, in this day and age, do we even give a second thought to Michael Phelps inhaling a gas other than oxygen? The Internet community has shown whose side they are on regarding Phelps, and it is mainly in his favor. A recent poll on Fox Sports online, asked Internet users if they were disgusted over the
photo of Phelps using marijuana or if they didn’t really care. Nearly 80 percent decided to support Phelps and said they didn’t care. But, it is not just Internet users and fans of Phelps that are standing behind the swimmer. Fox Sports Online also reports most of Phelps’ sponsors stand behind him in spite of his publicized behavior. Companies such as Visa Inc., Speedo and even luxury Swiss watchmaker Omega are so far choosing to stand behind Phelps regardless of his decision to inhale Mary Jane. This Michael Phelps “marijuana” blasting is all but too familiar in the sports world. Many Americans watched some of Super Bowl XLIII (if not for the game, at least for the commercials). Some may have witnessed Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Santonio Holmes catch the pass and make the winning touchdown leading the Steelers in victory over the Arizona Cardinals. Many, too, have forgotten that Holmes was nearly kicked out of the National Football League because he was caught with marijuana during a traffic stop, not even six months ago
according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette online. It seems to be water under the bridge now, as Holmes was voted the MVP of Super Bowl XLIII. In a related situation,
A recent poll on Fox Sports online asked Internet users if they were disgusted over the photo of Phelps using marijuana or if they didn’t really care. Nearly 80 percent decided to support Phelps and said they didn’t care. there is an Olympic snowboarder by the name of Ross Rebagliati who won a gold medal in the 1998 Winter Olympics in the men’s giant slalom. After Rebagliati’s win, he tested positive for marijuana and was stripped of his medal. The Olympic committee later returned the medal to Rebagliati, after it found that marijuana is not a sportenhancing drug like steroids.
See PHELPS page 20
February 16, 2009 19
uwmpost.com
Unnecessary risks Identifying the real hazards By Lorelei Savaryn Staff Writer editorial@uwmpost.com
This Sunday, between the hours of 11:40 p.m. and 8:50 a.m. someone decided to kick the driver’s side mirrors off of several cars in my parking lot, including mine. I began to wonder: what if I had come home a few hours later and the vandals had been in the parking lot when I pulled up? What if they had the capabilities to do more than simply kick off a mirror? What if they had a chain saw and a hockey mask?
We need to be careful about who we share information with and take steps to ensure that our real friends are the only ones who can see our personal information, especially on such rapidly growing social networks as Facebook. How, you might ask, did my mind travel from an act of vandalism to a Jason look-alike hiding in my bushes? Simply, because that’s what I was more afraid of. I considered the big fear occupying my head as the more worthy threat when, in fact, it was by far less likely to actually occur. The broken mirror, on the other hand, was entirely unexpected. But being vandalized was a much more realistic concern since several other cars had recently been vandalized in the area. I was prepared for Jason, but I don’t have a car alarm, there is no motion detector light where my car is parked and I park in an alley where my car is partially hidden by tall bushes. Through this situation, I realized that I and other women like me have been conditioned to spend a
lot of time worrying about things that are dangerous but highly unlikely. For example, in any horror movie ever made, there will be at least one woman who gets brutally attacked by a mysterious stranger because she was stupid enough to be outside, inside or basically anywhere alone. The fact of the matter is that most women will never face one of these horrifying and dramatized situations. While it is important to prepare ourselves for the worst, (self-defense classes, pepper spray, anyone?) we frequently put ourselves unnecessarily at risk by ignoring the important, yet common sense decisions we can make each day to lessen the chances of something Hollywood horror-worthy ever occurring. Take the common, though unlikely, fear women have that a complete stranger will jump out of the bushes and attack us. The more realistic scenario is that women, out with some friends at the bar, sometimes have a few too many drinks and begin flirting with a complete stranger. That frequent scenario is dangerous since women are statistically more likely to be victimized when drinking than when sober. That, plus the fact that 90 percent of college women who were victims of rape or attempted rape were somehow acquainted with their attacker means that this common situation, if we don’t make smart decisions, puts us unnecessarily at risk. UW-Milwaukee’s Neighborhood Housing has a house party guide with more useful tips to help women stay safe on their Web site. Being smart about partying, while not typically seen as a potentially dangerous situation, will lessen the risk that something bad will come out of a time when our judgment could be impaired. Another common fear women have is that we will be stalked by a random stranger who sees us out taking a jog, walking on the street, etc. The more realistic sce-
See SAFETY page 20
Switch already! DTV conversion delay wasteful and irresponsible By Jason Kopplin Staff Writer editorial@uwmpost.com
Television stations and the federal government have spent nearly two years and millions of dollars getting the word out about the switch to digital television on Feb. 17. Apparently, that was not enough. Citing millions of households still unprepared for the switch, President Obama asked Congress and the Federal Communications Commission to delay the changeover. Congress passed the DTV Delay Act, and the president has signed it into law. Now, this mess has to continue until June 12. If so many people are unprepared, perhaps the transition needs to be explained in better detail. For years now, the plan has been to change the way the United States broadcasts television over the air. Those using antennae receive analog signals transmitted by local television stations. This switch involves a change in the way television stations broadcast their signal. The new standard moves to a digital signal, which can broadcast high definition picture over the air. It is similar to the switch that cell phones made in recent years from analog to digital. Analog cellular service was actually discontinued about this time last year. To be clear, this transition will not affect anyone who uses cable or satellite. It will only affect people who receive their television signal over the air. Even then, every television set sold since 2005 has the necessary technology inside to receive the new digital signals. The government has been distributing $40 rebates good toward the purchase of converter boxes for older sets that will allow them to receive digital signals as well. The government has been letting us know about this for years now through numerous public service announcements. There is no excuse for not being ready. To make matters worse, more than 500 stations across the country are still planning on switching off their old analog signals on the original date of Feb. 17. The new law doesn’t require them to continue analog broadcasts until June; it only delays the mandatory stop of analog. If all the stations were to black out on the same day, the uninformed would likely figure out in
short order that they need to do something to get their sets to work. A quick phone call to a friend or a local station would get people on their way to joining the 21st century. Now imagine what is going to happen when half the stations in a given town go dark and the rest keep operating. If people haven’t caught wind of this transition in the last two years, they are not going to figure it out in four more months. This random transition is going to make matters much more confusing. There is little reason to keep analog signals going other than to coddle the remaining five percent of the population that is still unaware. If we wait for everyone to be ready, the transition will never happen. This delay is setting a dangerous precedent. What is to stop another bill being rushed through Congress in June delaying the transition until December and then again until June 2010? There are actually many positives associated with the end of analog television that go beyond the living room. Digital television is transmitted on an entirely different frequency than analog. Once analog broadcasts stop, that spectrum can be used for other services. Verizon and AT&T actually paid millions of dollars to the FCC in 2005 for the right to use that newly freed spectrum. They plan to use the spectrum for improved cell phone and wireless data service. By rights, they should have access to that spectrum on the date they were told they could start using it. Also, most television stations are already broadcasting in digital and analog, creating many redundant costs. As soon as the switch to digital is complete, they can shut down their analog equipment, resulting in significant savings. Perhaps the most important new use for the old analog spectrum is for emergency workers. Firefighters and others have been complaining for years that they need more dedicated radio spectrum for better communication. Part of the old analog spectrum has been set aside for emergency workers, but they can’t start using it until all the analog stations are shut down. Saving lives should take priority over making sure that last five percent of the population can still watch Oprah.
Social justice neither just nor sociable Justice is not plastic in nature By Johanan Raatz Staff Writer editorial@uwmpost.com
I’ve heard the term “justice” used in a number of ways. However, there is one way with which I take issue. In particular, I have a problem when the term ‘justice’ is used to mean “social justice.” See, I don’t believe that what people call social justice is really justice at all. What do I mean by “justice” and “social justice” here? I define “justice” in the actualized sense as equality before just laws. Social justice on the other hand is frequently used to mean equality of outcome. If two people measure up to a law differently, then according to social justice that law is unjust. At this point, one may ask
what makes a law just in the first place. Perhaps equality of outcome is the defining measure of what makes a law. However, this concept has a serious problem. It makes the individual the judge of the law rather than the law the judge of the individual. This doesn’t fit with the concept of justice. Does this mean that we can’t judge an unjust law as being unjust? No. We can judge laws as being just or unjust, but to judge them objectively we must judge them by some ideal external standard, not by whether the law fits with what we want. We can’t put ourselves above the ideal of justice and change it to produce the outcome we want. If we did that it would no longer be justice by definition. It seems that proponents of social justice don’t understand that. They seem to believe that justice is a social convention that can be changed at will rather than an ideal that cannot. If society decided that one
plus one does not equal two then society would be wrong. The definitions of one and two wouldn’t have changed, but rather what we call ‘one’ and ‘two’ would simply not be one and two.
As little kids, my siblings and I were proponents of what you might call social justice. However, it seemed that we only propounded this when we were losing in a game to each other. Likewise, if we redefine justice to mean whatever produces the outcome we desire, then we would not have true justice. We would have a misnomer that we merely call justice. Whenever I’ve heard social justice talked about, it’s always been in this fashion. If this is so-
cial justice, then social justice isn’t just. In addition to being unjust, social justice isn’t very sociable either. We can see why not when we get a better understanding of why it exists and what it does. As little kids, my siblings and I were proponents of what you might call social justice. However, it seemed that we only propounded this when we were losing in a game to each other. When one of us was losing in a game we would start to insist that the rules weren’t fair, and demand that they be changed to advance our position on the game board. Obviously this is ridiculous; everyone has to obey the rules equally. We can’t make them up as we go along. If we changed the rules to suit ourselves, then we would be treating everyone else who has to obey the rules unfairly. However, it seems that today in politics many people still haven’t matured and are
demanding that the rules be fixed such that they will have a better position in society. In doing this they treat other citizens unfairly. Affirmative action would be a good example of this. Ward Connerly, a regent of the University of California, noticed that affirmative action was causing unfair treatment to white and Asian students who would score higher on entrance exams but would be passed up by minorities because of their race. Instead of being just, these measures were discriminatory against whites and Asians. Connerly has since become a political activist, promoting anti-affirmative action measures in various states. If you wish to learn more about this, Connerly is coming to the student union on Wednesday Feb. 18 to speak out against affirmative action.
The UWM Post
20 February 16, 2009
Letters Thank you, Mr. President On the fateful break of day on Feb. 4, 2009 things were happening at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. As was promised, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is in progress. After being passed by the house, this act now lie in the hands of the Senate. Politicians have hypothesized their goals for each state. In all appropriateness, Wisconsin will be the focus of this article, being that you are reading the UWM Post. The main goals of this act include a nationwide effort to create jobs, help families afford bills and establish a foundation for future economic growth. In Wisconsin, a projected 74,000 jobs will be created or saved in the next two years, along with a generous tax cut to many, many workers.
Dear Chancellor Santiago, Campus Master Consultants, Master Plan Support Team and student body Earlier today I dropped in on a Master Plan listening session for a short time, perhaps 20 to 30 minutes. In that time a few things came to mind that I thought I’d pass along. What I saw at the meeting today was a room full of people who wanted to help. It is no surprise that we human beings are social creatures. We thrive on feeling useful and integrated in the society that surrounds us. Yet the planners looked very surprised that people did not come and go. Having people drop off their two cents at the door was apparently the planners’ plan for the afternoon. Rather, people came in, sat down and had a nice long discussion about the matter at hand. The situation has reminded me of some words from the author/historian David McCullough that have greatly influenced me. To paraphrase, I once heard him argue that the biggest problem with President Bush’s management of Sept. 11 was that he did not ask enough of the American people. When crowds were being turned away from blood banks, when entire communities were yearning to dig in and help, the message from Washington was that everything was fine. We were instructed to simply go about our daily lives, go shopping and let the government handle it. It was a tremendous waste of American spirit and a great frustration to millions of concerned citizens. I found the argument convincing in 2005 when I was privileged to hear McCullough speak, and I found it just as convincing again when I heard President Obama using the same argument throughout his 2008 campaign. Now, our present circumstances are not as dire as those faced nearly seven and a half years ago, but I think the feeling is the same. I think people rec-
Everybody knows that the easiest and fastest way to make money in America is by going to college. Sure some people can find loop holes around it, but the truth of the matter is, the more college education you have, the more money you will make. Many people in America never get the chance to go to college because either they can’t afford it or the environment they grew up in didn’t provide the basic means for success. Now the White House is going to do something about that. The goal of the act is to make 63,000 families eligible for a new American Opportunity Tax Credit in the hope that college will become more affordable. Thus opportunities will be created for those who never thought they would have a chance. Unemployment bene-
ognize a real need in this community, and the fact that you are making a serious and concerted effort to shape the future of this university is inspiring people. It is making people think about where we are, where we want to be and what we can do to make that happen. The listening session I attended was overflowing with such people. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but once I sat down and started listening I was drawn in. I was enticed. The bug – whatever it was – bit me. I wanted to know exactly what everyone was talking about, and I wanted to contribute to the discussion. It was really fun. Assuming I am no extraordinary person, that I’m just an average guy, we may conclude that if others were put in that situation they would respond likewise. Therefore, I think the people who attended the drop-in sessions are not peculiar specimens of the population. They only display the natural reaction of a person who feels they are legitimately being heard--which is, of course, the inclination to speak. I also believe they are, potentially, the beginning of many more such people to come. I noticed that for the time I was there, however, there weren’t many undergraduate students in the room. In fact, it may have only been me. One other young man may have been a student, but I didn’t ask. So, why was this? Everyone got an e-mail about it; was it simply because undergrads don’t care? I would like to propose that we, the undergraduate student body, do care. It is my opinion that if you had the chance to sit down and talk with us in the same way (I mean some real honest two-way communication like what was going on earlier today) you’d find some 25,000 individuals who would not only be engaged in the discussion but willing and able to put it into action. But, you say, we have reached out to the students and their response has been, shall we say, lackluster. My response to that is a question: how have you
ELECTIONS Continued from page 18
fits will be increased, and 138 schools will be modernized to an appropriate 21st century setting. Nationally, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act plans to double renewable energy, computerizing all medical records and in turn saving billions of dollars, and finally creating a school modernization program. Have you ever seen the public schools in the city? Some of them haven’t changed since the 70s and 80s. It’s time to do something about that. People wonder why education in Europe and Asia is so good. All you really have to do is look inside some of these urban public schools, and you’re not likely to like what you see. Thank you again, Mr. President, and good luck. Michael Glikin
reached out to us? From my own experience and not necessarily that of all my classmates, I’ll tell you the things I have noticed: paper signs and e-mails. This is not the way to communicate. This is how you sell things, poorly. No one reads junk mail, and 8- ½-inchby-11-inch posters are only read to pass the time. We, my peers and I, have become extremely adept at ignoring things like that. In the morning we check our e-mail and delete the spam. Then we get on the bus and put on headphones to drown out Transit TV. We make our way through the main concourse of the Union somehow oblivious to the walls covered in banners and then go up the stairs past a group of tablers without turning our heads, finally flicking the small advertisement off the table we’ve sat down at. Admit it. We’re good. Therefore, you’re going to have to figure out another way to reach us, and I can’t offer you a clear suggestion. I’ve reached the limits of my creativity and invite you to take the baton. I believe that if you make an effort to reach people on the personal level—face to face--they’ll respond to the sincerity. How to reach 25,000 faces, though, is currently beyond me. Even so, I’d like to make a petition: Let us help. We want to get involved. We want to feel useful. But we need you to sincerely invite us and show us what to do. Please do not tell us to go shopping while you take care of everything. School pride is not a matter of students feeling adequately taken care of or entertained by their school; it is a sense of ownership and, by extension, responsibility to her. If you get students involved – personally invested – in the Master Planning process, you will have access to the energy, resources and manpower to make these plans happen. And what’s more, the result will be worth infinitely more in the minds of the individuals whom it is designed to benefit. Sincerely Yours, Troy Rummler
put the paper down, count to 30 and write the correct spelling of each name on another piece of paper. Did you get it right? Probably not. The point of this is that if the current members of the SA had to try to run for a seat under their own writein rules, they would never have been elected in the first place. Whatever definition of “fair” you feel like using, writing rules you yourself are incapable of following probably does not fit within your definition. On top of this delightful little mechanism, they have banned political parties as well as the mention of former party affiliation during
PHELPS Continued from page 18 In fact, marijuana probably does more harm than good to an athlete’s performance. Marijuana contains the chemical THC, which can cause users to lose a sense of coordination and gain a poor sense of balance and slower reaction time. In Phelps’ case, all he would be hurting is himself if he were to use marijuana, because speed is one of his strong points in swimming. Given Holmes’ marijuana incident blown over and Rebagliati’s returned medal, it seems in due time Michael Phelps’ marijuana controversy will soon be too
SAFETY Continued from page 19 nario is that many women are Facebook friends with people they don’t know, allowing strangers a free and intimate look at their personal life. How many of us who have these random Facebook friends put status updates on our accounts that give information about our whereabouts? How many of us have our cell numbers on the profile? We need to be careful about who we share information with and take steps to ensure that our real friends are the only ones who can see our personal information, especially on such rapidly growing social
the campaign and lowered the number of infractions necessary for a candidate to be thrown off of the ballot to one. That’s right, the rules have been written such that last year’s SA president can throw anyone off the ballot for any of a dozen infractions, and the rules preclude anyone from running without being on the ballot. Oh, and saying that the IEC is the former leader of the former majority party is one of the violations that can get you thrown off the ballot. Isn’t that cute? I am actually annoyed enough about the election that I am going to take time off to send some legislation in the general direction of the SA. I encourage my fellow students to do the same.
vague to remember. This is not to say that he shouldn’t be punished at all for his use of drugs. USA Swimming has suspended Phelps from swimming for three months, and Phelps might have millions in endorsements but he lost millions by losing his deal with Kellogg’s. Phelps will have to deal and live with this bad publicity for the rest of his life and it adds to the DUI charge he received in 2004 along with an underage drinking charge. Now, Phelps is questioning if he will compete in the 2012 Olympic Games, so it seems as if in the end, the only person Phelps has smoked away is himself.
networks as Facebook. But once again, many women don’t see this common situation as dangerous, and we don’t take the precautions that we should. Knowledge of what the true and more likely risks are for women will help us be better prepared overall. While it is extremely unlikely some shadowy stranger is going to jump out of the bushes and attack me, I’m glad I know self-defense and carry pepper spray. But am I preparing myself against the more common dangers? Not as well as I should be. Now… if you’ll excuse me, I need to call my landlord and ask him to install motion detector lights in our parking lot.
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.
February 16, 2009 21
uwmpost.com
Summer In Maine! Males and females* Meet new friends! Travel! Teach your favorite activity.
• Tennis • Canoe • Waterski • Gymnastics • Silver Jewelry • English Riding • Copper Enameling • Basketball • Field Hockey • Softball • Newsletter • Lacrosse • Theater Costumer
• Swim • Sail • Kayak • Archery • Rocks • Ropes • Art • Pottery • Office • Photo • Soccer • Dance
June to August. Residential. Enjoy our website. Apply online.
Tripp Lake Camp for GIRLS 1-800-997-4347 www.tripplakecamp.com
EARN EXTRA MONEY STUDENTS NEEDED ASAP $150 PER DAY BEING A MYSTERY SHOPPER NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED CALL: 1-800-722-4791
Become a Social Worker.
Change the World.
The Loyola MSW at Carthage An accelerated, top-tier Master of Social Work Program
When you need anwsers.....
The UWM POST is there
Info Session
March 7, 2009 • 11 a.m.
Hedberg Library, Room 217 • Carthage
Traditional Program (29 months) Classes start March 28, 2009
Advanced Standing (15 months)* Classes start June 20, 2009
*Available for applicants with a bachelor’s in social work
SHED Continued from page 12 dors and only providing 100 percent non-toxic, body-safe toys. It’s a place where you can ask questions and attend sexuality education workshops and various other events. Back to the “Art of the Tease.” In between the harnesses and very life-like dildos, we began our class. Our skilled instructors gave us elbow-length satin gloves and feather boas, with which we slowly learned a burlesque routine. It isn’t too serious in terms of instruction, but it also isn’t a joke. It’s friendly, fun and flirty. We learned how to peel and nibble off our gloves, how to work a feather boa and how to work our hands up and down our bodies. It was a sexy and fun workout reminiscent of pole-dancing classes I’ve taken at Miss Pole in New Berlin. DeVianti and Valentine didn’t talk down to us even though
we were all complete novices. They never told us we were wrong, but just offered helpful guidance. And as a surprise, they let us know that we are invited to perform on Friday Feb. 13 on stage with the rest of the Alley Cat Revue. I’m unsure if I’ll take the opportunity to shake it, but I’ll likely go just to watch the girls in action. If you’re jealous and want to get in on some of the action, don’t fret—the burlesque group will be holding open auditions on Saturday Mar. 28. You can visit their Myspace page for details (myspace.com/thealleycatrevuemilwaukee) or send them a message with your questions. They’re looking for ladies of all shapes and sizes as well as a few lucky (and confident) men. When the class had finished, and we were all ready to leave, someone asked DeVianti what she wanted everyone to know about her group. “We are not strippers!” she forcefully responded.
The UWM Post: We’ve got issues.
QUESTIONS? 800-551-5343 www.loyolamsw.com
The UWM Post
22 February 16, 2009
PRESSED
RYAN PAGELOW
Pet of the week Wolfgang C. Meowington Wolfgang likes to eat human feet and calves, recite abstract poetry and watch 30 Rock
PILED HIGHER AND DEEPER
CORPORATE HORROR
JORGE CHAM
JOSEPH KUENZLE
Send us photos of your pet(s), with their name(s) and a little about them to post@uwmpost.com.
February 16, 2009 23
uwmpost.com
Word Search & Rescue
Sudoku
INSTRUCTIONS: Words from the list may appear forwards, backwards, horizontally, vertically, or diago-
INSTRUCTIONS: Fill in the squares so that every row, every column, and every 3x3 box contains the numbers 1 through 9 exactly once.
TM
nally in the grid. When all words from the list have been circled, place the remaining UNCIRCLED letters in the “RESCUE,” in order (starting with the top line, reading left-to-right), to spell out a familiar saying!
‘NURSERY’ Word List HAMPER HIGHCHAIR MOBILE MONITOR PLAYPEN STROLLER
BABYBLANKET BASSINET BEDDING BOUNCER CRADLE DRESSER GLIDER
I
T
T
A
E
L
I
B
O
M K
B
E
S M O N
I
T
O R
M R
A
R
A N
Y N
A
I
N
L
I
E
B
T
E
S
B
T
O
E
B
A
U
D
Y
E
I
L
L
O
P
D
H
A
C
I
B
N
H
R
L
Y
U
C
I
B
B
L
L
I
A U
A O
H
N
C
T
O G
A
S
M L
N
G
R
R
C
L
Y O N
S
P N
I
E
A
T
S
E
C
R
K
A
E H
E
D
W T
S
O
R
F
E
B
R
I
L
D
R
E
S
S
E
R
T
L
L
E
B
E
D
D
I
N
G
I
T
RESCUE: solution from last week found on page 6 Solution found on page 6
©2009 Jonas Wittke wordsearchandrescue@yahoo.com
©2009 Jonas Wittke
THE UWM POST CROSSWORD 1
2
3
4
5
6
7
14 15 1 Primary color 4 Loose piece of turf 17 18 9 Bronze, for example 14 Chopping tool 20 15 Ablaze 16 Wombs 22 23 24 25 17 35-Across movie from 29 30 2004 (3 wds.) 20 Canine annoyances 32 21 Soup spoon 22 Bound 35 36 23 Dismal 26 Feline 38 39 29 Compass pt. 30 Clothing stitches 40 41 31 Rash symptom 32 Flat-bottomed boat 45 46 47 33 Turn into 49 50 35 Star of 17-Across and 52-Across 52 53 54 38 Very small 39 Silk fabric 57 58 40 Religious division 41 Individualist 60 61 42 Numb3rs netwk. 45 Before Jonas Wittke, 2009 46 Prop bullets 48 Restore 7 Bobby of hockey 49 Dunce 8 Units of magnetic flux density 51 Car stopper 9 Wet and dirty 52 35-Across movie from 1999 (3 wds.) 10 And others (2 wds.) 57 Shoe bottom 11 Word after lie or smoke 58 Sugary 12 Exist 59 Work unit 13 Fleur de___ 60 Groups of beasts 18 Spigot 61 Adolescents 19 Sticky black substance 62 Tint 23 Horse race 24 Traditional Indian song DOWN 25 Ralph Waldo ___ 27 Summit 1 Lottery 28 Definite article 2 Banishes 30 Wood cutters 3 Loss 31 Computer symbol 4 Week parts 32 Angled 5 If and only if, in logic 33 Groups of eight bits 6 7, on a sundial 34 Islamic ruler
8
9
10
11
12
13
16
anagramcrackers@yahoo.com
TM
©2009 Jonas Wittke
INSTRUCTIONS: Unscramble the letters below to spell out everyday English words. When you’re finished, unscramble the circled letters to find the missing word from the quip! Solutions are published in the following issue.
LIFTH
19 21 26
27
28
CHABE
31 33
AMWALN
34
37
YOLLOW 42
43
Q: What do you get when you cross the Atlantic Ocean with the Titanic?
44
48
A: “ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ” 51
ANSWERS FROM LAST WEEK: YOURS, CHEST, CAPFUL, HYPING “PSYCHO PATH” 55
56 59 62
35 36 37 38 41 42 43 44 46 47 48 50 51 52 53 54 55 56
Stags Wide football player? Distinction Recipe meas. Most recent Halted Bread factory Hammer type Flying singers Toss Day pts. Deceased Drill accessories Extreme degree Bard’s before Ram’s mate Originally Barbie’s beau
last week’s solution found on page 6
In-word
THIS WEEK’S IN-WORD: EPISODE
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. Solutions are published in the following issue.
Can you find 19 or more words in “EPISODE?”
last week’s solution found on page 6
©2009 Jonas Wittke
UWMTRIVIA When was UWM’s Curtin Hall built? a) 1974 b) 1966 c) 1959 Answer a) Source: http://www.uwm.edu/map/buildings/vt-crt-prof.html
ACROSS
Anagram Crackers
24 February 16, 2009
Paid Advertisements
The UWM Post